Amazon Echo Secretly Recorded Family’s Conversation, Sent It To Random Person

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The Echo device in your room could be secretly recording your conversation — and in some cases, could send it to a random person, according to a report from local Seattle TV network KIRO7. . .

The report said the family was alerted by a colleague in Seattle who had received the audio file. After confirming the audio file was indeed a recording of their private conversation, the family went on to unplug all of their Alexa-powered devices, the report said. . .

In a statement to CNBC, Amazon blamed Alexa misinterpreting background conversation as a set of commands to send a message to a contact:

Echo woke up due to a word in background conversation sounding like “Alexa.” Then, the subsequent conversation was heard as a “send message” request. At which point, Alexa said out loud “To whom?” At which point, the background conversation was interpreted as a name in the customers contact list. Alexa then asked out loud, “[contact name], right?” Alexa then interpreted background conversation as “right”. As unlikely as this string of events is, we are evaluating options to make this case even less likely.

The incident raises privacy concerns of voice-assistant devices, like the Echo, as they gain more popularity. These devices are typically placed in living rooms and kitchens, and are capable of listening to private conversations, although Amazon claims that they are only supposed to be activated when the “Alexa” command word is triggered. (Read more from “Amazon Echo Recorded Family’s Conversation, Sent It To Random Person” HERE)

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New Poll Reveals How America Feels About Trump’s ‘Animal’ Comment

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A majority of Americans in a new poll believe it’s fair to characterize members of the MS-13 gang as “animals,” according to the survey taken after President Trump faced controversy for remarks during an immigration meeting.

Fifty-six percent of American adults in the Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll said referring to members of the gang as “animals” is fair, compared to 44 percent who said the characterization was unfair . . .

The question stems from Trump’s comments last week during an immigration roundtable. A California sheriff criticized “sanctuary cities” and said there could be an “MS-13 member I know about” that she can’t take action against because state officials are ordered to ignore federal immigration laws.

In response, Trump said, “We are taking people out of the country, you wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people. These are animals, and we’re taking them out of the country at a rate that’s never happened before.” . . .

Almost two-thirds said they’d back a deal that provides Dreamers with a pathway to citizenship in exchange for shifting immigration rules to prioritize merit over family ties, eliminating the diversity visa lottery, and funding “barrier security” on the southern border. (Read more from “New Poll Reveals How America Feels About Trump’s ‘Animal’ Comment” HERE)

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Buyer’s Remorse: Is the Mueller Investigation Helping Trump?

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After a full year of nonstop Russia collusion coverage by the mainstream media, are media types finally figuring out the error of their ways? Despite all the attacks on the president and cheering of the Mueller investigation, has the investigation actually helped Trump? The Daily Caller’s Peter Hasson has the details of how the New York Times’ Frank Bruni has reached that conclusion.

Bruni believes that the focus on the investigation has diverted attention from other things Trump has done that he believes people would not like. As examples, Bruni cites Trump’s use of an unsecured phone and Scott Pruitt. Here’s the thing Bruni doesn’t realize: A focus on what Trump has actually accomplished might be even worse for him and his fellow leftists. For example, household income is at its highest level ever in the U.S., and the rubes are giving Trump credit.

Can Cillizza handle the truth? … CNN’s Chris Cillizza asked – probably rhetorically – his followers on Twitter the following question yesterday:

This is simple, Chris. Bill Clinton wasn’t the president in 2016. Donald Trump is the president. He has the power under Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution to run the government of the United States. There is no such thing as an independent agency. That’s why we have elections.

Independent agencies not subject to control by the elected executive, nor subject to oversight by the people’s legislature, have no place in a government of, by, and for the people. I answered Cillizza on Twitter, but he probably didn’t really want responses.

Say what? … The mainstream media’s favorite arbiter of “hate groups” aka “people they disagree with” is the Southern Poverty Law Center, a once proud institution that has turned itself into a hatemonger for hire. Just how outside the mainstream is the SPLC? It just tweeted that Donald Trump and the White House staff are racists, wait for it, because they called MS-13 members “animals.”

The SPLC wasn’t talking about Trump’s misconstrued comments last week. No, it included a screenshot of a White House webpage on MS-13. You’ve got to see this ridiculousness to believe it.

(For more from the author of “Buyer’s Remorse: Is the Mueller Investigation Helping Trump?” please click HERE)

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12 Faces: Some Truly Disturbing Images of James Clapper on the View

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As The Federalist points out, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper appeared on The View today and did what was expected. He lied. Yet again.

In watching the clip, what struck me were the obvious signs of anxiety, paranoia, and deception. Judge for yourself by watching the clip or simply inspect the images I snapped below, which were not by any means cherry-picked.

Looking down, looking away, grimacing, and gesticulating wildly — why, yes, all signs of someone completely in his element and comfortable explaining their part in what will surely turn out to be the greatest political scandal in American history.

See for yourself at The Timeline of Treason. (For more from the author of “12 Faces: Some Truly Disturbing Images of James Clapper on the View” please click HERE)

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Exposed: Obama Advisor’s Emails in Immediate Sandy Hook Aftermath Reveal Anti-Gun Agenda

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According to emails obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, first reported by The Baltimore Post, advisors to then-President Barack Obama immediately strategized how to exploit the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary school to push their gun control agenda. “Tap peoples [sic] emotions,” Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel advised then-Education Secretary Arne Duncan on December 16, 2012, just two days after the massacre that left 26 dead. The victims’ bodies were yet to be laid to rest.

The two discussed how they could exploit the tragedy to bring about their anti-gun agenda. “What are your thoughts?” Duncan asked Emanuel on an email with the subject line, “CT shooting.”

“Go for a vote this week asap before it fades,” replied Emanuel. “Tap peoples [sic] emotion. Make it simple assault weapons.” . . .

Emanuel served as the Obama White House Chief of Staff from 2008 to January of 2009. Fittingly, the ruthless politico famously said, “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste, and what I mean by that is, it’s an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.” The murder of 20 children included, apparently. . .

Duncan has been under fire following the Parkland, Florida school shooting that transpired earlier this year, as the shooter’s repeated bad behavior was reportedly swept under the rug due to a school program intended to close the gap in the racial disparity in public school disciplinary records, including criminal actions. Such a program was a model for the Obama Administration’s infamous “Dear Colleague” letter in 2014 directing schools to do the same. As reported by The Daily Wire in April, the seemingly well-intentioned program has resulted in alleged rape, violence, murder, extreme bullying, and cover-ups. (Read more from “Exposed: Obama Advisor’s Emails in Immediate Sandy Hook Aftermath Reveal Anti-Gun Agenda” HERE)

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NFL Owners Announce Proposed Policy Change, Penalty for Kneeling During Anthem

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On the same day the NFL announced a $89 million commitment to social justice programs to combat inequality, team owners met for what’s being described as “a privileged session to speak about the most sensitive of topics,” to include players kneeling during the national anthem.

And in a clear sign owners understand the divisive issue hurt the league, and that President Donald Trump was right in taking a stance against players who disrespect the American flag — the president called on the NFL to “change policy” — the owners reportedly discussed the idea of imposing a 15-yard penalty for kneeling, according to Sports Illustrated.

The idea discussed, according to the sports magazine, was that home teams would decide if the teams are to come out for the playing of the national anthem, and if so, any players kneeling would draw a 15-yard penalty. . .

The league was rocked with controversy last season after former NFL player Colin Kaepernick began a trend in the 2016 season of kneeling during the national anthem to protest racism and police brutality.

The protests took off in 2017 after then-Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett — now with Philadelphia — claimed that he was detained outside a Las Vegas casino for “simply being a black man.” The 6′ 4″ 274 lb. professional football player said officers used excessive force that was “unbearable,” and that one cop threatened to “blow my f**king head off.” (Read more from “NFL Owners Announce Proposed Policy Change, Penalty for Kneeling During Anthem” HERE)

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Sickened FBI Agents Ready to Blow Whistle, Stick It to Bosses

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Joe DiGenova, the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said this week there are many agents in the FBI waiting on Congress to subpoena them so they tell them what they know about the actions of former FBI Director James Comey and former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe.

In an interview with the Daily Caller, DeGenova said the agents are “sickened” by all the charges of corruption being leveled against the FBI.

“There are agents all over this country who love the bureau and are sickened by Comey’s behavior, and McCabe, and [Eric] Holder and [Loretta] Lynch and the thugs like [John] Brennan – who despise the fact that the bureau was used as a tool of political intelligence by the Obama administration thugs,” DiGenova said. . .

“Every special agent I have spoken to in the Washington Field Office wants to see McCabe prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the agent said, according to the transcripts of the interview. “They feel the same way about Comey.” . . .

“All Congress needs to do is subpoena involved personnel and they will tell you what they know. These are honest people,” the agent said. “Leadership cannot stop anyone from responding to a subpoena. Those subpoenaed also get legal counsel provided by the government to represent them.” (Read more from “Sickened FBI Agents Ready to Blow Whistle, Stick It to Bosses” HERE)

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Judge Just Made Major Ruling on Trump’s Twitter

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President Donald Trump cannot block users on his Twitter feed, a federal judge in New York City ruled Wednesday.

Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald said in her ruling that Trump is violating the U.S. Constitution by preventing certain Americans from viewing his tweets on @realDonaldTrump.

The social media platform, Buchwald said, is a “designated public forum” from which Trump cannot exclude individual plaintiffs. She rejected an argument by the Justice Department that the president had a right to block Twitter followers because of his “associational freedoms.”

The judge’s ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed last July by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, as well as seven other plaintiffs whom Trump had personally blocked from following him.

The plaintiffs included a journalist who had tweeted at Trump that “Russian won” the presidential election for him, a surgeon and a Texas police officer.

(Read more from “Judge Just Made Major Ruling on Trump’s Twitter” HERE)

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Pitcher Accused of Writing ‘Bush Did 9/11’ on Mound

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Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer responded to the controversy that he appeared to carve “BD 911” into the mound as a reference to a conspiracy theory about September 11.

Bauer denied the allegations, saying he carved “BD 91.1” on the mound instead of “BD 911.” Many people were assuming “BD 911” was a reference to the “Bush Did 9/11” theory.

But Bauer said the numbers and letters are related to him personally and are “completely unrelated to the senseless tragedy we endured on September 11.”

(Read more from “Pitcher Accused of Writing ‘Bush Did 9/11’ on Mound” HERE)

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School Freaks Over Pro-Trump Shirt, Gets Sued

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When Liberty High School senior Addison Barnes wore his new T-shirt last January to his Friday morning, first-period “People and Politics” class, he knew he was making a statement, but he also was confident it fell within the Hillsboro, Oregon, school district’s standards for student speech – after all, it directly quoted the president of the United States.

Specifically, the words on the shirt read: “Donald J. Trump Border Wall Construction Co.,” with “The Wall Just Got 10 Feet Taller” in quotes . . .

The teen’s confidence was short-lived, however. During class, Assistant Principal Amanda Ryan-Fear came to the classroom and removed Barnes, directing him to cover the shirt because, she claimed, at least one other student and a teacher had said the shirt “offended” them.

Barnes complied and was sent back to class. But as he sat in his seat, thinking over what had just happened, he decided the assistant principal was wrong and had no right to order him to cover the shirt, so he uncovered it . . .

Later in the period, Ryan-Fear returned to the classroom and observed Barnes and his shirt. She had him removed to her office by a security guard and threatened him with suspension for “defiance,” reiterating the claim others were “offended.” Given the choice to cover the shirt or be sent home for the day, Barnes went home. (Read more from “School Freaks Over Pro-Trump Shirt, Gets Sued” HERE)

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