bipartisanreport--2020-10-09--Trump Coughs, Hacks, & Slurs During His Most Unhinged Interview Yet

With just 25 days left before the 2020 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden to go , the incumbent president called into Sean Hannity ’ s Fox News show and coughed his way through an interview , clearly still affected by COVID-19 , and spewed desperate levels of craziness about his intention to hold rallies while still infected , lock up his political opponent for spying on him , and his opponent ’ s intentions to turn the country into a “ ninth world country , ” whatever that means .
When asked if he had been tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump deflected by saying that he ’ s “ in great shape , ” that he took a medicine called Regeneron that “ his ” medical people had developed to address the vaccine…and didn ’ t answer the question until he was pressed three times .
Finally , he said that doctors had detected “ a little ” of the virus , but that he ’ s fine .
Just as no one can trust anything else Trump said during the interview , Regeneron has been in development for years .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for infectious diseases in medical journals from 2013 , during Obama ’ s presidency .
Trump had no hand in developing it .
At one point , Trump had so “ little ” of the virus that he began coughing in earnest , his voice quickly giving out as he struggled to get it back and speak .
For a moment , the mic feeding his voice through the phone for Hannity ’ s show went silent as he tried to recover .
He then said he fully intends to hold a rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he says he first tested positive for the virus .
The CDC recommends quarantining for at least 14 days after testing positive .
After being asked about VP Mike Pence ’ s non-answer about committing to a peaceful transition of power should Trump lose the election during his Wednesday night debate with Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) , Biden ’ s running mate , Trump said it was the best answer he gave all night .
Trump believes that there should be no transition of power because his political opponent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary Clinton , and his predecessor , President Obama , committed grave crimes against him and should be in prison .
Then , with no understanding of the irony of his statement , he said Biden would turn the country into “ worse than a third world country , ” even a NINTH world country .

With just 25 days left before the 2020 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden to go, the incumbent president called into Sean Hannity’s Fox News show and coughed his way through an interview, clearly still affected by COVID-19, and spewed desperate levels of craziness about his intention to hold rallies while still infected, lock up his political opponent for spying on him, and his opponent’s intentions to turn the country into a “ninth world country,” whatever that means.
Trump won't tell Hannity if he's had a negative coronavirus test. He just ignores the question and starts ranting. pic.twitter.com/GOtYbRCDqv — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2020
When asked if he had been tested since being released from the hospital, Trump deflected by saying that he’s “in great shape,” that he took a medicine called Regeneron that “his” medical people had developed to address the vaccine…and didn’t answer the question until he was pressed three times. Finally, he said that doctors had detected “a little” of the virus, but that he’s fine.
Just as no one can trust anything else Trump said during the interview, Regeneron has been in development for years. There are mentions of its use in clinical trials for infectious diseases in medical journals from 2013, during Obama’s presidency. Trump had no hand in developing it.
Yikes. Trump's voice is extremely hoarse and at one point gave out. pic.twitter.com/kf0gwNyPCI — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2020
At one point, Trump had so “little” of the virus that he began coughing in earnest, his voice quickly giving out as he struggled to get it back and speak. For a moment, the mic feeding his voice through the phone for Hannity’s show went silent as he tried to recover. He then said he fully intends to hold a rally this Saturday night, just nine days after he says he first tested positive for the virus. The CDC recommends quarantining for at least 14 days after testing positive.
Trump concludes his interview with Hannity by claiming that Mike Pence refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power during the VP debate was his "best answer" of the night pic.twitter.com/qsqzKIGhyW — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2020
After being asked about VP Mike Pence’s non-answer about committing to a peaceful transition of power should Trump lose the election during his Wednesday night debate with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Biden’s running mate, Trump said it was the best answer he gave all night. Trump believes that there should be no transition of power because his political opponent, Biden, his 2016 political opponent, Hillary Clinton, and his predecessor, President Obama, committed grave crimes against him and should be in prison.
Then, with no understanding of the irony of his statement, he said Biden would turn the country into “worse than a third world country,” even a NINTH world country.
"He wants to take buildings down and rebuild them with tiny little windows. He will make America a 9th world country" ~Trump (heavily medicated) on Hannity pic.twitter.com/ZP12ZwiuOd — Super Saiyan Serfs (@theserfstv) October 9, 2020


bipartisanreport--2020-10-09--Supreme Court Rejects Trump Admin Over Abortion Restriction Attempt

On Thursday , the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a request from the Trump administration to reinstate restrictions on abortion that had been temporarily lifted amidst the Coronavirus pandemic .
Originally , the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) issued an order in 2000 that demanded that abortion-inducing drugs only be taken in the presence of a doctor , but amidst possible dangers of in-person travel and contact , U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang paused that restriction in July in response to a lawsuit from the American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a coalition of doctors and patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinstatement of the rule .
The Supreme Court has sent the abortion restrictions case to a federal trial court in Maryland and ordered that court to decide on the Trump administration ’ s request within 40 days .
Apparently , only two members of the Supreme Court — Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas — dissented with the decision to turn down the Trump administration ’ s request to act and send the case over to a lower court .
Currently , the court has a total of just eight members following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , five of whom lean conservatively — but only two of whom lean conservatively enough to have wanted action on the Trump administration ’ s request , apparently .
Alito and Thomas also recently presented a dissenting opinion in which they argued on behalf of overturning the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage across the country .
They are also the only two Justices who ruled in favor of the president in an infamous case that the court dealt with recently in which Trump had been trying to evade compliance with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vance , who is after Trump ’ s financial records .
( That case is ongoing . )
Both of Trump ’ s own nominees , including Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , ruled against him on the tax case .
Trump and his Republican allies have faced steep criticism for rushing to confirm a replacement for Ginsburg before Election Day , despite the fact that the election is already ongoing .
During the first and so far only presidential debate , Trump belligerently contested the idea that his nominee to replace Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herself go after abortion .
Trump ranted at Biden that Biden doesn ’ t “ know [ Barrett ’ s ] view on Roe v. Wade , ” as if trying to suggest that Democrats ’ concern is unfounded .

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a request from the Trump administration to reinstate restrictions on abortion that had been temporarily lifted amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. Originally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an order in 2000 that demanded that abortion-inducing drugs only be taken in the presence of a doctor, but amidst possible dangers of in-person travel and contact, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang paused that restriction in July in response to a lawsuit from the American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a coalition of doctors and patients. The Trump Administration is seeking the reinstatement of the rule.
The Supreme Court has sent the abortion restrictions case to a federal trial court in Maryland and ordered that court to decide on the Trump administration’s request within 40 days. Apparently, only two members of the Supreme Court — Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas — dissented with the decision to turn down the Trump administration’s request to act and send the case over to a lower court. Currently, the court has a total of just eight members following the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, five of whom lean conservatively — but only two of whom lean conservatively enough to have wanted action on the Trump administration’s request, apparently.
Alito and Thomas also recently presented a dissenting opinion in which they argued on behalf of overturning the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage across the country. They are also the only two Justices who ruled in favor of the president in an infamous case that the court dealt with recently in which Trump had been trying to evade compliance with a subpoena from Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, who is after Trump’s financial records. (That case is ongoing.) Both of Trump’s own nominees, including Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, ruled against him on the tax case.
Trump and his Republican allies have faced steep criticism for rushing to confirm a replacement for Ginsburg before Election Day, despite the fact that the election is already ongoing. During the first and so far only presidential debate, Trump belligerently contested the idea that his nominee to replace Ginsburg — Judge Amy Coney Barrett — would herself go after abortion. Trump ranted at Biden that Biden doesn’t “know [Barrett’s] view on Roe v. Wade,” as if trying to suggest that Democrats’ concern is unfounded.


bipartisanreport--2020-10-10--Trump Gives Insane Friday Night ‘Examination’ With Quack Doctor

On Friday night , Fox News viewers were promised an interview by Tucker Carlson with President Donald Trump , followed by a live-on-television medical evaluation of Trump eight days after first notifying the public that he had contracted the coronavirus .
What they got was not quite what was expected .
There was an interview .
It consisted mostly of Carlson doting on the president and remarking on his rapid recovery from COVID-19 even though he wasn ’ t in the same room with the president , who appeared virtually from the White House .
His proof that Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The medical examination was a joke , at best .
Trump spoke to Fox News contributor Dr. Siegel , the same doctor who diagnosed Hillary Clinton with a blood clot in her brain when she had pneumonia in 2016 without ever having examined her .
The “ examination ” consisted of the doctor asking Trump questions and Trump being allowed to say whatever he wished with absolutely no medical proof that he was telling the truth .
‘ Siegel , the same doctor who irresponsibly speculated that former Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Adderall ” ahead of the first presidential debate and later downplayed the severity of Trump ’ s diagnosis , began his exam by asking , “ How are you feeling now ?
” ‘ Trump said he ’ s feeling “ really , really strong , ” unlike other people who have contracted the “ China virus , ” as he likes to call it .
He insisted that he had no problems breathing , despite reports that his oxygen levels fell dangerously low at times .
The president also admitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detected during a CAT scan , which is more than his personal doctor was willing to reveal to reporters earlier in the week.
’ Trump seemed to have absorbed the message that his bragging is insensitive considering the quality of healthcare he has access to when so many others do not , but it didn ’ t last long .
He went right back to throwing out possible reasons that he was able to “ recover ” so quickly .
‘ When the doctor asked the president what “ lessons ” he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhibited a brief flash of self-awareness .
“ It ’ s a lot easier for me than someone who doesn ’ t have access to a doctor so easily.
” But moments later , he was again talking about how he ’ s too important to simply hide in his basement .
‘ “ The big secret for me was I got there very early , ” Trump added , saying he thinks his condition “ would have gotten a lot worse ” if he had waited to go to the hospital .
@

On Friday night, Fox News viewers were promised an interview by Tucker Carlson with President Donald Trump, followed by a live-on-television medical evaluation of Trump eight days after first notifying the public that he had contracted the coronavirus. What they got was not quite what was expected.
Trump: I have been retested and I haven’t even found out numbers or anything yet but I’ve been retested and I know I’m either at the bottom of the scale or free pic.twitter.com/aM6f3pREKs — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) October 10, 2020
There was an interview. It consisted mostly of Carlson doting on the president and remarking on his rapid recovery from COVID-19 even though he wasn’t in the same room with the president, who appeared virtually from the White House. His proof that Trump is fully recovered comes only from Trump himself.
The Daily Beast writes that:
‘“By any measure, it’s been a remarkable turnaround,” Carlson insisted of Trump’s apparent recovery, before revealing that the White House camera team—and not Fox News—were the ones filming Trump remotely (and therefore presumably had some control over the edit).’
Trump is NOT being examined by a doctor or taking a COVID test, he is being interviewed by a fox TV doctor REMOTELY. And the whole thing was pre-recorded. Trump said he never had ANY problems breathing at all, "none of that."
And he said he has been "off medication for 8 hours." — Bill Maxwell 😷 ByeDon2020 (@Bill_Maxwell_) October 10, 2020
The medical examination was a joke, at best. Trump spoke to Fox News contributor Dr. Siegel, the same doctor who diagnosed Hillary Clinton with a blood clot in her brain when she had pneumonia in 2016 without ever having examined her. The “examination” consisted of the doctor asking Trump questions and Trump being allowed to say whatever he wished with absolutely no medical proof that he was telling the truth.
‘Siegel, the same doctor who irresponsibly speculated that former Vice President Joe Biden might be on “speed” or “Adderall” ahead of the first presidential debate and later downplayed the severity of Trump’s diagnosis, began his exam by asking, “How are you feeling now?” ‘Trump said he’s feeling “really, really strong,” unlike other people who have contracted the “China virus,” as he likes to call it. He insisted that he had no problems breathing, despite reports that his oxygen levels fell dangerously low at times. The president also admitted to some “congestion” in his lungs detected during a CAT scan, which is more than his personal doctor was willing to reveal to reporters earlier in the week.’
Trump has turned again to Dr. Siegel in a deeply bizarre, made-for-reality TV on-air “medical evaluation” on Tucker Carlson’s show Friday night. “By any measure, it’s been a remarkable turnaround,” Carlson insisted of Trump’s apparent recovery. https://t.co/ZEfpGk8fRK — The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) October 10, 2020
Trump seemed to have absorbed the message that his bragging is insensitive considering the quality of healthcare he has access to when so many others do not, but it didn’t last long. He went right back to throwing out possible reasons that he was able to “recover” so quickly.
‘When the doctor asked the president what “lessons” he’s learned from his experience, Trump exhibited a brief flash of self-awareness. “It’s a lot easier for me than someone who doesn’t have access to a doctor so easily.” But moments later, he was again talking about how he’s too important to simply hide in his basement. ‘“The big secret for me was I got there very early,” Trump added, saying he thinks his condition “would have gotten a lot worse” if he had waited to go to the hospital.’
Trump claims Secret Service agents "had no problem" with his hospital coronavirus drive-by photo op of well-wishers outside Walter Reed, adding, "the people in were protected, heavily protected." (He doesn't say how they were protected.) pic.twitter.com/7P46l0OFUz — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 10, 2020


bipartisanreport--2020-10-10--Trump Tweets Friday Night Debate Drop Out Gibberish Like A Lunatic

So far , President Donald Trump has said the following people , institutions , processes , and groups are biased against him in the 2020 elections : the presidential debate commission , debate moderators , mail-in voting , the FBI , his own appointed attorney general , his own appointed FBI director , Twitter , Facebook , the media , election officials in Philadelphia , postal carriers , the CDC , the medical community , polls , and Fox News .
This list is not exhaustive .
On Friday night , he continued with the same theme , pointing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even be moderating the next debate because Trump refused to do it virtually despite being positive for COVID-19 , as well as the investigators in the Gen. Michael Flynn , Trump ’ s former national security advisor , who pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI .
It ’ s a long-standing pattern with Trump .
Anytime something doesn ’ t go his way – he loses a debate , is investigated for a handful of crimes , is revealed to have said horrible things , like fallen soldiers are “ losers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his poll numbers are tanking – it ’ s always because everyone is against him .
As the 2020 elections wind down and Trump ’ s poll numbers show him at an abysmal average behind his opponent , Joe Biden , that rhetoric is ramping up to dramatic level .
The truth is that he ’ s losing the election because his four years in office have had disastrous results .
The continued growth in the economy after the Obama years crashed when Trump failed to step up and address the coronavirus when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead because of his COVID response .
The country just didn ’ t warm to locking up infants separated from their mothers the way he had hoped .
What ’ s happening today is on him and his administration .
Twitter was quick to respond to Trump ’ s Friday night conspiracy theory fest .
Read some of their comments below :

So far, President Donald Trump has said the following people, institutions, processes, and groups are biased against him in the 2020 elections: the presidential debate commission, debate moderators, mail-in voting, the FBI, his own appointed attorney general, his own appointed FBI director, Twitter, Facebook, the media, election officials in Philadelphia, postal carriers, the CDC, the medical community, polls, and Fox News. This list is not exhaustive.
On Friday night, he continued with the same theme, pointing to a debate moderator who won’t even be moderating the next debate because Trump refused to do it virtually despite being positive for COVID-19, as well as the investigators in the Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security advisor, who pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI.
It’s a long-standing pattern with Trump. Anytime something doesn’t go his way – he loses a debate, is investigated for a handful of crimes, is revealed to have said horrible things, like fallen soldiers are “losers” and “suckers,” or his poll numbers are tanking – it’s always because everyone is against him. As the 2020 elections wind down and Trump’s poll numbers show him at an abysmal average behind his opponent, Joe Biden, that rhetoric is ramping up to dramatic level.
The truth is that he’s losing the election because his four years in office have had disastrous results. The continued growth in the economy after the Obama years crashed when Trump failed to step up and address the coronavirus when he should have. 210,000 Americans are dead because of his COVID response. The country just didn’t warm to locking up infants separated from their mothers the way he had hoped. What’s happening today is on him and his administration.
Twitter was quick to respond to Trump’s Friday night conspiracy theory fest. Read some of their comments below:


bipartisanreport--2020-10-09--NY Times Strikes Again With Trump Tax Records Reveal

According to President Donald Trump ’ s tax records , which have been reviewed by The New York Times , the eventual president “ engineered a sudden financial windfall ” of “ more than $ 21 million in what experts describe as highly unusual one-off payments from the Las Vegas hotel he owns with his friend the casino mogul Phil Ruffin ” back in 2016 .
These sudden payments to Trump — at least some of which may have been legally dubious — may have been the source of $ 10 million that Trump suddenly came up with in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his presidential campaign .
According to the Times , most of the Trump-directed payments in question from Trump and Ruffin ’ s joint hotel venture went to a firm called Trump Las Vegas Sales and Marketing , which “ had little previous income , no clear business purpose and no employees.
” This lack of just about any appreciable business structure suggests that the stated explanation for the payments — the Trump-Ruffin venture wrote the money off as a business expense — may have been a fiction .
If the money was specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential campaign , then these details could constitute another campaign finance scandal involving the president .
Even claiming a tax deduction for the payments to Trump without actual work underlying the transactions could be illegal , no matter any campaign connection .
In response to the revelations from the Times , White House spokesman Judd Deere said that Trump “ was longtime partners with Phil Ruffin and earned whatever payments he received.
” Did he though ?
Before the mysterious payments from the Trump-Ruffin venture to the then-struggling presidential candidate , Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rush for money .
In the first few months of 2016 alone , he sold a whopping $ 38.6 million worth of stock , and by the end of the year , he had sold almost $ 30 million more .
The more than $ 21 million included a $ 13,756,623 payment that went out to that mysterious Trump firm called Trump Las Vegas Sales and Marketing .
Also in the mix was $ 2,685,000 that was split between the two firms that hold Trump ’ s share of the hotel .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Meanwhile , the over $ 21 million also includes a $ 4.8 million “ development fee ” that seems to have been paid out to a Trump firm called Trump Las Vegas Development .
Interestingly enough , Ruffin seems to have a Trumpian penchant for lying .
In 2015 , Ruffin claimed that Trump “ gave $ 20 million to the St. Jude children ’ s home.
” No evidence has ever emerged that this donation was ever actually made .
Ultimately , Ruffin has been associated with Trump for awhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Moscow when he hosted his “ Miss Universe ” pageant in the city .
In a letter signed by Trump from the immediate aftermath of the event , Trump said that it was “ great… making the rounds of the city in the hopes of the purchase or development of a project ” with Ruffin .
Infamously , the Trump Organization has pursued business opportunities in Russia in fits and starts over the years .
Trump ’ s tax returns are among the targets of an ongoing investigation led by Manhattan-area District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the documents .

According to President Donald Trump’s tax records, which have been reviewed by The New York Times, the eventual president “engineered a sudden financial windfall” of “more than $21 million in what experts describe as highly unusual one-off payments from the Las Vegas hotel he owns with his friend the casino mogul Phil Ruffin” back in 2016. These sudden payments to Trump — at least some of which may have been legally dubious — may have been the source of $10 million that Trump suddenly came up with in late October of that year and donated to his presidential campaign.
According to the Times, most of the Trump-directed payments in question from Trump and Ruffin’s joint hotel venture went to a firm called Trump Las Vegas Sales and Marketing, which “had little previous income, no clear business purpose and no employees.” This lack of just about any appreciable business structure suggests that the stated explanation for the payments — the Trump-Ruffin venture wrote the money off as a business expense — may have been a fiction. If the money was specifically meant to help Trump financially fuel his presidential campaign, then these details could constitute another campaign finance scandal involving the president. Even claiming a tax deduction for the payments to Trump without actual work underlying the transactions could be illegal, no matter any campaign connection.
In response to the revelations from the Times, White House spokesman Judd Deere said that Trump “was longtime partners with Phil Ruffin and earned whatever payments he received.” Did he though? Before the mysterious payments from the Trump-Ruffin venture to the then-struggling presidential candidate, Trump had been on what seems like a desperate rush for money. In the first few months of 2016 alone, he sold a whopping $38.6 million worth of stock, and by the end of the year, he had sold almost $30 million more.
The more than $21 million included a $13,756,623 payment that went out to that mysterious Trump firm called Trump Las Vegas Sales and Marketing. Also in the mix was $2,685,000 that was split between the two firms that hold Trump’s share of the hotel. That money was subsequently paid out directly to Trump. Meanwhile, the over $21 million also includes a $4.8 million “development fee” that seems to have been paid out to a Trump firm called Trump Las Vegas Development.
Interestingly enough, Ruffin seems to have a Trumpian penchant for lying. In 2015, Ruffin claimed that Trump “gave $20 million to the St. Jude children’s home.” No evidence has ever emerged that this donation was ever actually made. Ultimately, Ruffin has been associated with Trump for awhile. Ruffin even flew the eventual president to Moscow when he hosted his “Miss Universe” pageant in the city. In a letter signed by Trump from the immediate aftermath of the event, Trump said that it was “great… making the rounds of the city in the hopes of the purchase or development of a project” with Ruffin. Infamously, the Trump Organization has pursued business opportunities in Russia in fits and starts over the years.
Trump’s tax returns are among the targets of an ongoing investigation led by Manhattan-area District Attorney Cy Vance, who has subpoenaed the documents.


bipartisanreport--2020-10-09--Trump Declares COVID ‘Cure’ 25 Days Before Election

This Friday afternoon , President Donald Trump spent a big chunk of his time ranting and raving on a live broadcast phone conversation with longtime conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh .
The conversation , which was broadcast as a part of Limbaugh ’ s radio show , lasted for a staggering two hours .
During that timeframe , Trump covered a wide array of topics .
At one point , he even claimed that there ’ s a “ cure ” for the Coronavirus , which is a lie — but which his eager followers may take to heart as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatments that the president has taken following his own positive Coronavirus test results , which he was discussing with Limbaugh , are not a cure .
The nonsense will help fuel a continuing failure to implement the widespread public health measures that are needed to control the Coronavirus .
It ’ s not the first time that Trump has spread Coronavirus treatment-related nonsense .
He also spent awhile touting the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as an effective anti-Coronavirus drug , despite the complete lack of systematic evidence .
During his long talk with Limbaugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Freedom to earlier this year — the president also essentially cursed out Iran , which is an absurd notion to consider .
He insisted that the message to Iran is that if they “ fuck around with ” the United States , then the U.S. will respond with retaliation the likes of which the world has never seen .
Besides the unhinged nature of the president ’ s threats , his comments also reveal a simply breathtakingly imbecilic “ understanding ” of foreign policy and the world around him .
Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency , and at close to no point during his time in office has he seemed interested in learning from those who do know what they ’ re talking about on these subjects .
During the Limbaugh interview , Trump majorly fumbled over another major policy issue yet again .
Discussing the Coronavirus-connected economic relief efforts , he insisted that he was “ telling [ Limbaugh ] something [ he doesn ’ t ] tell anybody else , because maybe it helps or maybe it hurts negotiations ” — remember this was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he “ wants to see a bigger package.
” Just recently , Trump insisted that he had ordered a halt to negotiations with the House over a potential comprehensive economic relief package , which he followed up by claiming that he actually supports certain relief measures after all .
Does Trump even know his own position on this matter ?
Fittingly , the chaotic Limbaugh interview ended with music playing over what sounded like the president still talking .

This Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump spent a big chunk of his time ranting and raving on a live broadcast phone conversation with longtime conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. The conversation, which was broadcast as a part of Limbaugh’s radio show, lasted for a staggering two hours. During that timeframe, Trump covered a wide array of topics.
“If you fuck around with us, if you do something bad to us, we are going to do things to you that have never been done before" Trump tells Rush Limbaugh with respect to Iran. Imagine if we actually had a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear capabilities? — Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) October 9, 2020
At one point, he even claimed that there’s a “cure” for the Coronavirus, which is a lie — but which his eager followers may take to heart as supposedly heaven-sent truth anyway. The experimental treatments that the president has taken following his own positive Coronavirus test results, which he was discussing with Limbaugh, are not a cure. The nonsense will help fuel a continuing failure to implement the widespread public health measures that are needed to control the Coronavirus. It’s not the first time that Trump has spread Coronavirus treatment-related nonsense. He also spent awhile touting the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as an effective anti-Coronavirus drug, despite the complete lack of systematic evidence.
Trump repeatedly called Regeneron's therapeutic a "cure" during his Limbaugh interview. There is no cure for the coronavirus. That is a lie. — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 9, 2020
During his long talk with Limbaugh — who Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to earlier this year — the president also essentially cursed out Iran, which is an absurd notion to consider. He insisted that the message to Iran is that if they “fuck around with” the United States, then the U.S. will respond with retaliation the likes of which the world has never seen. Besides the unhinged nature of the president’s threats, his comments also reveal a simply breathtakingly imbecilic “understanding” of foreign policy and the world around him. Trump had no experience in public service prior to the presidency, and at close to no point during his time in office has he seemed interested in learning from those who do know what they’re talking about on these subjects.
“If you fuck around with us, if you do something bad to us, we are gonna do things to you that have never been done before.” — the President of the United States pic.twitter.com/RfDKchaw7i — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2020
During the Limbaugh interview, Trump majorly fumbled over another major policy issue yet again. Discussing the Coronavirus-connected economic relief efforts, he insisted that he was “telling [Limbaugh] something [he doesn’t] tell anybody else, because maybe it helps or maybe it hurts negotiations” — remember this was a live broadcast radio interview — insisting that he “wants to see a bigger package.” Just recently, Trump insisted that he had ordered a halt to negotiations with the House over a potential comprehensive economic relief package, which he followed up by claiming that he actually supports certain relief measures after all. Does Trump even know his own position on this matter? Fittingly, the chaotic Limbaugh interview ended with music playing over what sounded like the president still talking.
2 hours Trump spent on Rush Limbaugh's show…and it ends with music playing over Trump talking. — Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) October 9, 2020


bipartisanreport--2020-10-09--‘The Lincoln Project’ Hits Trump’s #1 Grifter With Viral Video Take-Down

On Thursday , the anti-Trump conservative group known as The Lincoln Project released a new ad spotlighting the televangelist grifters who have fallen in line behind President Donald Trump .
One such grifter , who makes an appearance in the ad , is Paula White , who serves as a spiritual adviser for the president and his administration .
In one particularly choice rant that ’ s featured in the new Lincoln Project ad , White bellows from a stage that “ we command all Satanic pregnancies to miscarry right now.
” This nonsense is the kind of stuff that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to the president of the United States .
Check out the new Lincoln Project ad below : The video also features televangelist Kenneth Copeland , who shouted “ I execute judgment on you , COVID , ” as if that would somehow whisk the virus out of the United States .
Notably enough , the president himself has used this same kind of fantastical thinking in his approach to the Coronavirus pandemic .
He has repeatedly suggested , for instance , that the virus might go away on its own , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at any point , had any solid foundation in facts and reality .
The idea does , however , provide an excuse for the Trump administration ’ s own abject failures .
The irony of much of evangelical Christian support for Trump is that he , in many ways , does not at all represent the ideals that they claim to espouse .
He is a liar , a cheater — in his marriages and in business , a credibly accused sexual predator , a belligerent bully , and more .
Yet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The original Twitter post containing the new ad has been viewed 1.2 million times as of Friday afternoon .
Check out Twitter ’ s response to the Lincoln Project ad below :

On Thursday, the anti-Trump conservative group known as The Lincoln Project released a new ad spotlighting the televangelist grifters who have fallen in line behind President Donald Trump. One such grifter, who makes an appearance in the ad, is Paula White, who serves as a spiritual adviser for the president and his administration. In one particularly choice rant that’s featured in the new Lincoln Project ad, White bellows from a stage that “we command all Satanic pregnancies to miscarry right now.” This nonsense is the kind of stuff that’s been elevated to a position close to the president of the United States.
Check out the new Lincoln Project ad below:
That's some holy sh*t. pic.twitter.com/rBSNonqkG0 — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) October 8, 2020
The video also features televangelist Kenneth Copeland, who shouted “I execute judgment on you, COVID,” as if that would somehow whisk the virus out of the United States. Notably enough, the president himself has used this same kind of fantastical thinking in his approach to the Coronavirus pandemic. He has repeatedly suggested, for instance, that the virus might go away on its own, which is an idea that has never, at any point, had any solid foundation in facts and reality. The idea does, however, provide an excuse for the Trump administration’s own abject failures.
The irony of much of evangelical Christian support for Trump is that he, in many ways, does not at all represent the ideals that they claim to espouse. He is a liar, a cheater — in his marriages and in business, a credibly accused sexual predator, a belligerent bully, and more. Yet, many conservative evangelicals stick by him anyway.
The original Twitter post containing the new ad has been viewed 1.2 million times as of Friday afternoon. Check out Twitter’s response to the Lincoln Project ad below:


bipartisanreport--2020-10-09--Ret. General & Republican Ditches GOP Over Trump

Members of the military , most especially top military officials , are usually reluctant to weigh in on political issues .
But when a military general who has actively fought against the nefarious goals of another country to the United States sees the president spouting the same rhetoric as that foreign adversary , it ’ s hard not be alarmed .
That ’ s what retired Gen. Chuck Boyd of the United States Air Force says happened to him .
At first , he says , Trump ’ s rhetoric and style of leadership made him uncomfortable , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular , his rhetoric against the legitimacy of the U.S. election process has him more than a little concerned .
During an interview with NPR , Boyd said : ‘ As I watched him over the years , my unease with his presidency has increased .
It increased to the point that I believe that our democracy will be in shatters by the time he has served two terms .
While I am reticent about getting involved in presidential politics by any military men , in this case , keeping out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t feel like I can do.
’ What sparked Gen. Boyd ’ s decision to warn the American people about their president was Trump ’ s repeated insistence that mail-in voting , a part of the election system since the Civil War , is rife with fraud .
After working to thwart the Kremlin ’ s attempts to undermine American democracy , Gen. Boyd says Trump ’ s rhetoric is far too familiar for comfort .
‘ I think the point at which he began telling the American people that the election process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a disaster , was terrible .
I thought if our citizens lose faith in how they go about electing their leaders , then democracy itself is at risk , at deep risk .
That ’ s the point at which I said I ’ ve got to get involved in this in some way .
‘ What really worries me — and this is one of the objectives of the Russians for a long time — is to cause people to lose faith in democratic processes .
A lot of other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States as an example of democracy in action .
And when they see our democratic processes not functioning , then I think other nations lose faith in their own process.
’ Gen. Boyd also said that , while he had already decided to speak out against the president far before the story by The Atlantic was published saying that Trump referred to fallen soldiers as “ losers ” and “ suckers , ” he also believes that the reporting in that story is true and disgusting .
‘ I found it sickening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .
To know that the commander in chief holds those who serve in disdain , that ’ s a knife right straight into the heart of any military man .
… To call those people suckers is one of the most disgusting things I can imagine .
That ’ s one of the reasons I ’ ve made the commitment to support and endorse Joe Biden for president .
’

Members of the military, most especially top military officials, are usually reluctant to weigh in on political issues. But when a military general who has actively fought against the nefarious goals of another country to the United States sees the president spouting the same rhetoric as that foreign adversary, it’s hard not be alarmed.
Retire Gen Chuck Boyd says he has been a Republican, but quietly. "I fervently believe that military officers should not get involved in presidential politics, even when retired. But this year is different," because Trump is 'a danger to democracy.' https://t.co/sqDIPhPuP3 — Shibley Telhami (@ShibleyTelhami) October 9, 2020
That’s what retired Gen. Chuck Boyd of the United States Air Force says happened to him. At first, he says, Trump’s rhetoric and style of leadership made him uncomfortable, and that ease only grew over time. In particular, his rhetoric against the legitimacy of the U.S. election process has him more than a little concerned.
During an interview with NPR, Boyd said:
‘As I watched him over the years, my unease with his presidency has increased. It increased to the point that I believe that our democracy will be in shatters by the time he has served two terms. While I am reticent about getting involved in presidential politics by any military men, in this case, keeping out of the political process is something I don’t feel like I can do.’
That the commander in chief holds those who serve in disdain,… To call those people suckers is one of the most disgusting things I can imagine. That's one of the reasons I support and endorse Joe Biden for president.
– Gen. Chuck Boyd (AF, Ret.)#VoteBidenHarris — Star Aasved (@StarAasved) October 9, 2020
What sparked Gen. Boyd’s decision to warn the American people about their president was Trump’s repeated insistence that mail-in voting, a part of the election system since the Civil War, is rife with fraud. After working to thwart the Kremlin’s attempts to undermine American democracy, Gen. Boyd says Trump’s rhetoric is far too familiar for comfort.
‘I think the point at which he began telling the American people that the election process itself was fraudulent, that mail-in balloting was a disaster, was terrible. I thought if our citizens lose faith in how they go about electing their leaders, then democracy itself is at risk, at deep risk. That’s the point at which I said I’ve got to get involved in this in some way. ‘What really worries me — and this is one of the objectives of the Russians for a long time — is to cause people to lose faith in democratic processes. A lot of other countries, fragile democracies, look to the United States as an example of democracy in action. And when they see our democratic processes not functioning, then I think other nations lose faith in their own process.’
Retired General Chuck Boyd spent 7 years in a POW camp in Viet Nam. This year, for the first time in his life, he is voting for a Democrat for President.https://t.co/UgWEkL41sO — Mark McDonald (@LangleyGrad) October 9, 2020
Gen. Boyd also said that, while he had already decided to speak out against the president far before the story by The Atlantic was published saying that Trump referred to fallen soldiers as “losers” and “suckers,” he also believes that the reporting in that story is true and disgusting.
‘I found it sickening — and I believe it by the way. To know that the commander in chief holds those who serve in disdain, that’s a knife right straight into the heart of any military man. … To call those people suckers is one of the most disgusting things I can imagine. That’s one of the reasons I’ve made the commitment to support and endorse Joe Biden for president.’


bipartisanreport--2020-10-09--Kayleigh McEnany Idiotically Invokes 25th Amendment On Nancy Pelosi

President Donald Trump ’ s erratic behavior has sometimes sparked concern to the point of questioning whether or not the 25th Amendment should be invoked .
That amendment provides for a process by which executive authority can be transferred away from the president if they are determined to lack the capacity to fulfill the office ’ s responsibilities .
Now , House Democrats have unveiled legislation that , if enacted , would create a Commission on Presidential Capacity , whose job it would be to work on these issues .
This commission , which would be permanent and made up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would follow in line with the 25th Amendment ’ s provision that allows the vice president to operate in tandem with “ such other body as Congress may by law provide ” when involuntarily transferring power away from the president , if necessary .
Without this separate body — which Democrats now seek to create — the vice president would have to work with a majority of the administration ’ s top Cabinet officials in order to invoke the 25th Amendment .
There ’ s obviously the potential in that latter scenario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judgment .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) has suggested in the wake of the president ’ s treatment regimen for his Coronavirus diagnosis that Trump could be or at least could have been in an altered state of mind .
He ’ s behaved bizarrely , veering from 15 all-caps tweets in a row to abruptly demanding the end of negotiations over a potential comprehensive Coronavirus-connected economic relief package — to then backtracking and insisting that there are actually specific relief measures that he wants to see accomplished , pronto .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ News that Trump “ is , shall we say , in an altered state right now.
” On Friday , Pelosi cast the new legislation as part of Democrats ’ broader plans for reform in the looming post-Trump era .
There is , of course , essentially no chance of many of these reforms making it anywhere with the Republicans in control of the Senate — although FiveThirtyEight currently estimates that Democrats are slightly favored to win control of the Senate this November .
Meanwhile , Pelosi commented about the new legislation : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are petty insults , on Friday , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany suggested on Twitter that Pelosi herself is unfit for office .
Her “ evidence ” is a clip in which Pelosi says “ Good morning , Sunday morning , ” in the middle of an interview .
She may have been speaking to someone off-camera — this concept really isn ’ t difficult .
As has been suggested elsewhere , it also might have just been a joke .
Suggesting that she is somehow unfit for office is just ridiculous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by and large , not credible people at this point .
Trump himself has addressed questions about his mental capacity in the past .
He has repeatedly referred to himself as a “ stable genius , ” but in reality , he has repeatedly spiraled wildly through public meltdown after public meltdown .
Trump insisted that “ Crazy Nancy is the one who should be under observation , ” adding that “ they don ’ t call her Crazy for nothing !
” — but it is Donald Trump himself , not some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have come up with the “ Crazy Nancy ” moniker .

President Donald Trump’s erratic behavior has sometimes sparked concern to the point of questioning whether or not the 25th Amendment should be invoked. That amendment provides for a process by which executive authority can be transferred away from the president if they are determined to lack the capacity to fulfill the office’s responsibilities. Now, House Democrats have unveiled legislation that, if enacted, would create a Commission on Presidential Capacity, whose job it would be to work on these issues.
This commission, which would be permanent and made up of medical professionals and experienced political leaders, would follow in line with the 25th Amendment’s provision that allows the vice president to operate in tandem with “such other body as Congress may by law provide” when involuntarily transferring power away from the president, if necessary. Without this separate body — which Democrats now seek to create — the vice president would have to work with a majority of the administration’s top Cabinet officials in order to invoke the 25th Amendment. There’s obviously the potential in that latter scenario for political conflicts of interest to cloud judgment.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has suggested in the wake of the president’s treatment regimen for his Coronavirus diagnosis that Trump could be or at least could have been in an altered state of mind. He’s behaved bizarrely, veering from 15 all-caps tweets in a row to abruptly demanding the end of negotiations over a potential comprehensive Coronavirus-connected economic relief package — to then backtracking and insisting that there are actually specific relief measures that he wants to see accomplished, pronto. On Thursday, Pelosi commented to Bloomberg News that Trump “is, shall we say, in an altered state right now.”
On Friday, Pelosi cast the new legislation as part of Democrats’ broader plans for reform in the looming post-Trump era. There is, of course, essentially no chance of many of these reforms making it anywhere with the Republicans in control of the Senate — although FiveThirtyEight currently estimates that Democrats are slightly favored to win control of the Senate this November.
Meanwhile, Pelosi commented about the new legislation:
‘This is not about President Trump; he will face the judgment of the voters. But he shows the need for us to create a process for future presidents.’
As if all they’ve got are petty insults, on Friday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany suggested on Twitter that Pelosi herself is unfit for office. Her “evidence” is a clip in which Pelosi says “Good morning, Sunday morning,” in the middle of an interview. She may have been speaking to someone off-camera — this concept really isn’t difficult. As has been suggested elsewhere, it also might have just been a joke. Suggesting that she is somehow unfit for office is just ridiculous.
The only one who needs the 25th Amendment is Nancy Pelosi herself. “Good Morning, Sunday Morning,” she bizarrely blurts out after suggesting impeaching President @realDonaldTrump for exercising his Art. II, Sec. II power! Stop projecting, Nancy! ⬇pic.twitter.com/QXBVhKqwLd — Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) October 9, 2020
White House staffers are just, by and large, not credible people at this point. Trump himself has addressed questions about his mental capacity in the past. He has repeatedly referred to himself as a “stable genius,” but in reality, he has repeatedly spiraled wildly through public meltdown after public meltdown. Trump insisted that “Crazy Nancy is the one who should be under observation,” adding that “they don’t call her Crazy for nothing!” — but it is Donald Trump himself, not some mythical “they,” who seems to have come up with the “Crazy Nancy” moniker.
Crazy Nancy is the one who should be under observation. They don’t call her Crazy for nothing! https://t.co/7vE0Jvq0dM — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2020


bipartisanreport--2020-10-09--Trump Family Blindsided By Surprise New York State Investigation

President Donald Trump is facing an ongoing investigation from New York Attorney General Letitia James over a $ 21 million tax break that he received after pledging to conserve most of the land on a New York property that he owns that ’ s known as Seven Springs .
The problem is that the size of the tax break is based on an appraisal for the property , and the Trump Organization relied on a potentially artificially inflated appraisal for the property .
This appraisal was conducted by a third-party firm called Cushman & Wakefield , which set the value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ more than double the value assessed by the three Westchester county towns that each contained a piece of the property , ” The Washington Post reports .
After legal wrangling over his reluctance to comply with a subpoena , Eric Trump — who has been helping run for the family business in his father ’ s absence — recently sat for a deposition in the New York Attorney General ’ s investigation .
According to the Post , Cushman & Wakefield founded their high appraisal for Seven Springs on the assumption that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sell 24 mansions on the land , without providing evidence that such a subdivision would meet local regulations.
” Trump himself spent years trying to build on the property , to no avail .
Thus , this assumption that a future buyer could construct these homes of great value on the land seems unsupported by evidence .
One appraiser who viewed the Cushman & Wakefield document at the request of The Washington Post commented : There ’ s another glaring issue with the Trump Organization ’ s treatment of the Seven Springs property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way back in 1995 .
In 2014 , Trump categorized the property as an investment property ( rather than a personal residence ) and concurrently wrote off a staggering $ 2.2 million in property taxes as a business expense , according to The New York Times , which recently published details from Trump ’ s tax returns .
The problem is that “ Trump ’ s family members have described the home as a family retreat in the past , and the Trump Organization ’ s website still characterizes Seven Springs that way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump Organization may have misrepresented their actual usage of the property in those original records .
Besides the investigation from Letitia James , Manhattan-area District Attorney Cy Vance has also been investigating potential financial crimes at the Trump Organization .
He has subpoenaed financial records including the president ’ s tax returns as a part of that case .
The James and Vance investigations “ both appear to be issues the president and his family will have to deal with whether he wins in November or not , ” according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies have consistently claimed that the New York investigations are politically motivated .
As it turns out , these sham arguments aren ’ t enough to stop the wheels of justice from turning .

President Donald Trump is facing an ongoing investigation from New York Attorney General Letitia James over a $21 million tax break that he received after pledging to conserve most of the land on a New York property that he owns that’s known as Seven Springs. The problem is that the size of the tax break is based on an appraisal for the property, and the Trump Organization relied on a potentially artificially inflated appraisal for the property. This appraisal was conducted by a third-party firm called Cushman & Wakefield, which set the value at $56.5 million — which is “more than double the value assessed by the three Westchester county towns that each contained a piece of the property,” The Washington Post reports.
After legal wrangling over his reluctance to comply with a subpoena, Eric Trump — who has been helping run for the family business in his father’s absence — recently sat for a deposition in the New York Attorney General’s investigation. According to the Post, Cushman & Wakefield founded their high appraisal for Seven Springs on the assumption that “a future buyer could build and sell 24 mansions on the land, without providing evidence that such a subdivision would meet local regulations.” Trump himself spent years trying to build on the property, to no avail. Thus, this assumption that a future buyer could construct these homes of great value on the land seems unsupported by evidence.
One appraiser who viewed the Cushman & Wakefield document at the request of The Washington Post commented:
‘This is not a good appraisal, and it’s misleading, and it’s thin as all get out. What you get is appraised values for these 24 hypothetical lots that appear to be much higher than they ought to be.’
There’s another glaring issue with the Trump Organization’s treatment of the Seven Springs property, which Trump originally purchased all the way back in 1995. In 2014, Trump categorized the property as an investment property (rather than a personal residence) and concurrently wrote off a staggering $2.2 million in property taxes as a business expense, according to The New York Times, which recently published details from Trump’s tax returns. The problem is that “Trump’s family members have described the home as a family retreat in the past, and the Trump Organization’s website still characterizes Seven Springs that way,” as the Post reports. The Trump Organization may have misrepresented their actual usage of the property in those original records.
Besides the investigation from Letitia James, Manhattan-area District Attorney Cy Vance has also been investigating potential financial crimes at the Trump Organization. He has subpoenaed financial records including the president’s tax returns as a part of that case. The James and Vance investigations “both appear to be issues the president and his family will have to deal with whether he wins in November or not,” according to the Post.
The president and his closest allies have consistently claimed that the New York investigations are politically motivated. As it turns out, these sham arguments aren’t enough to stop the wheels of justice from turning.


bipartisanreport--2020-10-10--Pennsylvania Federal Judge Thwarts Trump’s Mail-In Voting Sabotage

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by the Trump campaign against expanded access to voting options in the state of Pennsylvania .
Specifically , the Trump campaign had sought to get a court to block the usage of drop boxes for mail-in ballots in the state , and they also wanted to compel authorities to match the signatures on submitted mail-in ballots to the signatures on the respective voters ’ registration records .
The campaign also wanted poll watchers to be allowed to serve at polling locations that weren ’ t in their home communities , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtain judicial permission for voter intimidation .
It ’ s all been thrown out .
Federal Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania , who has been handling the federal court case that the Trump campaign brought and was actually appointed by Donald Trump himself , dismissed the Trump campaign ’ s lawsuit on the basis of the fact that they ’ d failed to substantively prove that there ’ s some looming threat of fraud accompanying mail-in voting in the state .
Speculation isn ’ t enough to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to get the judiciary to force a rewrite of state election rules in the service of some dubiously defined notion of security that would benefit the president if enacted .
Because of their high usages of the mail-in/absentee balloting system , marginalized communities and Democratic voters may be the populations most affected by restrictions on voting through means other than in-person polling places .
Ranjan had previously ordered the Trump campaign to produce any evidence that they had indicating any fraud that had accompanied the election procedures that they were challenging when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s primary elections earlier this year .
The Trump campaign produced no evidence , and they claimed that they should not have even been required to produce any evidence of past election fraud in the first place .
In his new ruling , Ranjan countered : That ’ s how a federal judge describes some of the Trump campaign ’ s claims about the potential for fraudulent mail-in ballots — a “ sequence of uncertain assumptions , ” at best .
These assumptions are part of an ongoing nationwide Republican campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a slew of lawsuits around the country .
A recent “ review by The Washington Post of dozens of lawsuits around the country found that judges appointed by Republicans and Democrats alike have been dubious of GOP arguments that lowering barriers to mail voting could lead to widespread fraud , ” that paper reported .
These baseless claims could have real-world consequences .
Besides their usage as fuel for lawsuits meant to curtail access to voting , the president himself has already suggested that he may not accept the election results if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be used as an excuse for him to desperately cling to power .

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by the Trump campaign against expanded access to voting options in the state of Pennsylvania. Specifically, the Trump campaign had sought to get a court to block the usage of drop boxes for mail-in ballots in the state, and they also wanted to compel authorities to match the signatures on submitted mail-in ballots to the signatures on the respective voters’ registration records. The campaign also wanted poll watchers to be allowed to serve at polling locations that weren’t in their home communities, which sounds like a potential veiled attempt to obtain judicial permission for voter intimidation. It’s all been thrown out.
Federal Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania, who has been handling the federal court case that the Trump campaign brought and was actually appointed by Donald Trump himself, dismissed the Trump campaign’s lawsuit on the basis of the fact that they’d failed to substantively prove that there’s some looming threat of fraud accompanying mail-in voting in the state. Speculation isn’t enough to move a lawsuit forward! Neither is speculation enough to get the judiciary to force a rewrite of state election rules in the service of some dubiously defined notion of security that would benefit the president if enacted. Because of their high usages of the mail-in/absentee balloting system, marginalized communities and Democratic voters may be the populations most affected by restrictions on voting through means other than in-person polling places.
Ranjan had previously ordered the Trump campaign to produce any evidence that they had indicating any fraud that had accompanied the election procedures that they were challenging when those same procedures were used in the state’s primary elections earlier this year. The Trump campaign produced no evidence, and they claimed that they should not have even been required to produce any evidence of past election fraud in the first place.
In his new ruling, Ranjan countered:
‘While Plaintiffs may not need to prove actual voter fraud, they must at least prove that such fraud is ‘certainly impending.’ They haven’t met that burden. At most, they have pieced together a sequence of uncertain assumptions.’
That’s how a federal judge describes some of the Trump campaign’s claims about the potential for fraudulent mail-in ballots — a “sequence of uncertain assumptions,” at best. These assumptions are part of an ongoing nationwide Republican campaign against mail-in voting. There have already been a slew of lawsuits around the country. A recent “review by The Washington Post of dozens of lawsuits around the country found that judges appointed by Republicans and Democrats alike have been dubious of GOP arguments that lowering barriers to mail voting could lead to widespread fraud,” that paper reported.
These baseless claims could have real-world consequences. Besides their usage as fuel for lawsuits meant to curtail access to voting, the president himself has already suggested that he may not accept the election results if he loses. These baseless fraud claims could be used as an excuse for him to desperately cling to power.


bipartisanreport--2020-10-10--Electoral Projection Model Post-Trump COVID Confirms Blue Tsunami

Although polls in 2016 weren ’ t far off the mark – Clinton was expected to win the popular vote by around 3.2 percentage points and she won by 2.9 – those reading the polls today are more savvy as to what they mean .
In 2020 , it is most important to look at the polls in individual states rather than national polling averages , and a new NPR electoral map allows for just that .
To put the map into perspective , if all the states where Trump has a solid lead go to him in 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes and will need another 159 electoral college votes from swing states .
Apply the same to Biden and he has 212 electoral college votes , so he will need 58 electoral college votes from swing states to reach 270 .
There are 78 votes up for grabs in states that lean toward Biden and 52 in states that lean toward Trump .
65 votes are in toss-up states .
Trump will have to win all of the states where he has a solid lead , all of the states leaning Republican , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in toss-up states .
Biden , on the other hand , only needs 58 votes from the states leaning his way today .
In swing states , the chances of either candidate winning have changed rather dramatically over the past three weeks in which a Supreme Court justice and American icon passed away and Trump announced that he and a significant number of White House staff had contracted COVID-19 after holding large , indoor rallies .
Wisconsin , Nebraska ’ s 2nd district , and Arizona have all been considered a toss-up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now lean Democrat .
Iowa leaned toward Republicans , but has now become a toss-up state .
Nebraska ’ s 1st district , Missouri , and Alaska were all likely to go Trump ’ s way , now they are less likely to according to polls .
Surprisingly , even some of the “ lean GOP ” states these days are states where Republicans have had a stronghold for years .
Texas , who hasn ’ t elected a Democrat since 1976 following Richard Nixon ’ s Watergate scandal , is within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The same is true of Kansas and Arizona , neither of whom have went blue in any recent election .

Although polls in 2016 weren’t far off the mark – Clinton was expected to win the popular vote by around 3.2 percentage points and she won by 2.9 – those reading the polls today are more savvy as to what they mean. In 2020, it is most important to look at the polls in individual states rather than national polling averages, and a new NPR electoral map allows for just that.
To put the map into perspective, if all the states where Trump has a solid lead go to him in 2020, he’ll have 111 electoral college votes and will need another 159 electoral college votes from swing states. Apply the same to Biden and he has 212 electoral college votes, so he will need 58 electoral college votes from swing states to reach 270.
There are 78 votes up for grabs in states that lean toward Biden and 52 in states that lean toward Trump. 65 votes are in toss-up states. Trump will have to win all of the states where he has a solid lead, all of the states leaning Republican, and an additional 46 electoral college votes in toss-up states. Biden, on the other hand, only needs 58 votes from the states leaning his way today.
In swing states, the chances of either candidate winning have changed rather dramatically over the past three weeks in which a Supreme Court justice and American icon passed away and Trump announced that he and a significant number of White House staff had contracted COVID-19 after holding large, indoor rallies. Wisconsin, Nebraska’s 2nd district, and Arizona have all been considered a toss-up, likely to go either way, but now lean Democrat. Iowa leaned toward Republicans, but has now become a toss-up state. Nebraska’s 1st district, Missouri, and Alaska were all likely to go Trump’s way, now they are less likely to according to polls.
New polls show Trump's support is collapsing nationally. He's trailing not just in battlegrounds but, according to private GOP surveys, he's repelling independents to the point where Biden has drawn closer red states like Montana, Kansas and Missouri. https://t.co/3De2jGYINq — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 10, 2020
Surprisingly, even some of the “lean GOP” states these days are states where Republicans have had a stronghold for years. Texas, who hasn’t elected a Democrat since 1976 following Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal, is within the margin of error between Trump and Biden. The same is true of Kansas and Arizona, neither of whom have went blue in any recent election.
Joe Biden's current lead in the RCP average of polls is the biggest general-election lead of any race this century. https://t.co/0w9bHs3Zwb — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 7, 2020


bipartisanreport--2020-10-10--Trump Embarrasses Himself During W.H. Balcony Speech Debacle

On Saturday , President Donald Trump delivered his first public address following his recent positive Coronavirus test results .
He was speaking from a White House balcony to supporters who had gathered on the White House lawn , and it was a doozy — for reasons well beyond the fact that the president seems eager to get back on the campaign trail despite the recency of his revelation that he ’ d tested positive for the Coronavirus .
After lengthy screams of adulation from his supporters , Trump began his remarks by insisting that folks have “ got ta get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sounds like something that some folks could take as a side-door endorsement of physical intimidation and/ or violence .
After the screams from his supporters died down , Trump said : He then insisted that he was “ feeling great.
” The White House has consistently been nearly opaque on the issue of the president ’ s health .
As of Friday , the White House still wouldn ’ t even confirm the last occasion on which the president tested negative for the Coronavirus .
In light of the fact that the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee Joe Biden in the days before his positive Coronavirus diagnosis was revealed , what if his team exposed the Biden team to the Coronavirus at the debate ?
During his Saturday rant at the White House , Trump totally misrepresented the actual state of the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States .
He ranted that the virus was supposedly “ disappearing , ” but by any reasonable measurement , it is not .
The United States is about to hit 8 million cases and 220,000 deaths .
There ’ s an arduous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially with a willfully ignorant person like Donald Trump as president .
‘ I want you to know our nation ’ s going to defeat this terrible China Virus… and we ’ re producing powerful therapies and drugs and we ’ re healing the sick , and we ’ re going to recover , and the vaccine is coming out very very quickly , in record time , as you know… Through the power of the American spirit , science medicine will eradicate the China Virus once and for all… it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ The virus isn ’ t disappearing .
During the president ’ s weekend White House meltdown , Trump also claimed , among other things , that he has “ done more for the black community than any president since Abraham Lincoln.
” This claim is ludicrous on its face .
Watch the president ’ s comments below :

On Saturday, President Donald Trump delivered his first public address following his recent positive Coronavirus test results. He was speaking from a White House balcony to supporters who had gathered on the White House lawn, and it was a doozy — for reasons well beyond the fact that the president seems eager to get back on the campaign trail despite the recency of his revelation that he’d tested positive for the Coronavirus. After lengthy screams of adulation from his supporters, Trump began his remarks by insisting that folks have “gotta get rid of” Democratic politicians — which sounds like something that some folks could take as a side-door endorsement of physical intimidation and/ or violence.
After the screams from his supporters died down, Trump said:
‘Well thank you very much, and keep that enthusiasm going — get out and vote. We gotta vote. We gotta vote these people into oblivion. Vote ’em into oblivion. Gotta get rid of ’em — so bad for our country.’
Watch his comments below:
Trump begins his first post-coronavirus diagnosis speech by telling his adoring fans at the White House, "we gotta vote these people into oblivion. Into oblivion. Gotta get rid of 'em. So bad for our country." pic.twitter.com/RtH7O8jYY7 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 10, 2020
He then insisted that he was “feeling great.” The White House has consistently been nearly opaque on the issue of the president’s health. As of Friday, the White House still wouldn’t even confirm the last occasion on which the president tested negative for the Coronavirus. In light of the fact that the president attended an in-person debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the days before his positive Coronavirus diagnosis was revealed, what if his team exposed the Biden team to the Coronavirus at the debate?
During his Saturday rant at the White House, Trump totally misrepresented the actual state of the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. He ranted that the virus was supposedly “disappearing,” but by any reasonable measurement, it is not. The United States is about to hit 8 million cases and 220,000 deaths. There’s an arduous road still ahead for the country, especially with a willfully ignorant person like Donald Trump as president.
On Saturday, Trump said:
‘I want you to know our nation’s going to defeat this terrible China Virus… and we’re producing powerful therapies and drugs and we’re healing the sick, and we’re going to recover, and the vaccine is coming out very very quickly, in record time, as you know… Through the power of the American spirit, science medicine will eradicate the China Virus once and for all… it’s going to disappear. It is disappearing.’
The virus isn’t disappearing. During the president’s weekend White House meltdown, Trump also claimed, among other things, that he has “done more for the black community than any president since Abraham Lincoln.” This claim is ludicrous on its face. Watch the president’s comments below:
Trump falsely claims the coronavirus is "disappearing," then suggests the situation in the US isn't that different from elsewhere, saying, "very big flareup in Canada." Canada had about 2,500 new coronavirus cases on Friday, whereas the US had more than 58,000. pic.twitter.com/gzeHPZ2O6O — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 10, 2020
"I have done more for the black community than any president since Abraham Lincoln. Nobody can dispute it. Nobody can dispute it. Nobody can dispute it." — Trump's material is unchanged pic.twitter.com/E8EnpYhuOi — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 10, 2020


bipartisanreport--2020-10-10--Cindy McCain Snubs Trump Again With Saturday Rallying-Cry To Save America

If it ’ s difficult to imagine a Republican icon and a Democratic congressional leader being best friends in the deeply divided political era we live in , but it ’ s even more difficult to imagine the wife of a former Republican presidential candidate endorsing the Vice President of the candidate who beat him endorsing that candidate in a new election .
In the age of Trump , anything is possible .
On Saturday , Cindy McCain , wife of the late Sen. John McCain ( R-AZ ) appeared in a 60-second ad in support of her husband ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Vice President Joe Biden .
The ad is planned for release in McCain ’ s home state of Arizona on Fox News Sunday and on 60 Minutes .
‘ The spot , titled “ Like John Did , ” comes a few weeks after McCain announced her endorsement of Biden .
It will run statewide in Arizona beginning Saturday and nationally during “ Fox News Sunday ” and CBS ’ “ 60 Minutes , ” as well as during some football games later Sunday .
‘ McCain , whose late husband was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimonial ad that Biden would be a president who would honor service members and fallen soldiers.
’ Making an unspoken reference to the article in The Atlantic released in recent weeks in which sources close to the president say that they witnessed him referring to fallen soldiers as “ losers ” and “ suckers , ” McCain said that America needs a president who will honor our soldiers “ like John did.
” ‘ ” Now more than ever , ” she says , the nation needs “ a president who will respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their families , a president who ’ ll honor our fallen heroes and a president who will bring out the best in us , not the worst.
” ‘ In an interview with CNN , McCain laid out her hopes for the message she ’ s sending with her support of Biden .
She hopes to encourage Republican voters un ‘ ” I hope that they will follow me and listen to me and know that stepping outside your comfort zone might be the right thing to do in this race .
@

If it’s difficult to imagine a Republican icon and a Democratic congressional leader being best friends in the deeply divided political era we live in, but it’s even more difficult to imagine the wife of a former Republican presidential candidate endorsing the Vice President of the candidate who beat him endorsing that candidate in a new election. In the age of Trump, anything is possible.
Cindy McCain for Joe Biden. pic.twitter.com/w4fxWCbdQ4 — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) October 10, 2020
On Saturday, Cindy McCain, wife of the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) appeared in a 60-second ad in support of her husband’s good friend and former political rival, Vice President Joe Biden. The ad is planned for release in McCain’s home state of Arizona on Fox News Sunday and on 60 Minutes.
‘The spot, titled “Like John Did,” comes a few weeks after McCain announced her endorsement of Biden. It will run statewide in Arizona beginning Saturday and nationally during “Fox News Sunday” and CBS’ “60 Minutes,” as well as during some football games later Sunday. ‘McCain, whose late husband was a war hero, argues in the testimonial ad that Biden would be a president who would honor service members and fallen soldiers.’
Making an unspoken reference to the article in The Atlantic released in recent weeks in which sources close to the president say that they witnessed him referring to fallen soldiers as “losers” and “suckers,” McCain said that America needs a president who will honor our soldiers “like John did.”
‘”Now more than ever,” she says, the nation needs “a president who will respect the sacrifices made by our service members and their families, a president who’ll honor our fallen heroes and a president who will bring out the best in us, not the worst.”‘
Biden campaign up with new ad featuring CINDY MCCAIN that will be airing in Arizona. https://t.co/j05ps37ZO4 — Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) October 10, 2020
In an interview with CNN, McCain laid out her hopes for the message she’s sending with her support of Biden. She hopes to encourage Republican voters un
‘”I hope that they will follow me and listen to me and know that stepping outside your comfort zone might be the right thing to do in this race.”
Featured image screen grab via YouTube


bipartisanreport--2020-10-10--Federal Appeals Court Orders Immediate Halt To Border Wall Construction

The Trump agenda was dealt another setback heading into this weekend .
On Friday , the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling upholding a previous lower court conclusion that found that President Donald Trump ’ s redirection of billions of dollars of military construction money for his southern border wall was illegal .
In conjunction with their earlier ruling , the lower court paused the official order demanding a stop to border wall construction while the appeals process played out further .
Now , the appeals court has lifted that pause , re-instituting the demand for an immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered stop to construction seems to cover most if not the entirety of the “ wall , ” since the illegally transferred money is what the administration had been using .
One of the original filings against the Trump administration that has driven this court battle was a request for the Defense and Homeland Security departments to be barred “ from using military construction funds appropriated for other purposes to build a border wall.
” After Congress failed to provide the wall money that he wanted , Trump declared a national emergency over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used his subsequent emergency powers as an excuse to transfer the Defense Department money to the border wall project .
This emergency declaration was unfounded , and both chambers of Congress have twice passed joint measures to overturn it — and Trump has vetoed both of them .
Gloria Smith , who serves as the managing attorney at the Sierra Club — which is one of the groups that challenged the administration in court over the wall funding scheme — lauded the new appeals court ruling as “ monumental for border communities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ We should be protecting communities , our democracy , and the environment , not tearing these things apart as Trump was doing .
We rise with border communities to stop this administration from further inflicting its relentless agenda and will continue fighting illegal wall construction at all levels.
’ The battle over the border wall construction doesn ’ t seem to be over .
After all , there ’ s the apparent option for the Trump administration to appeal the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court , which currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
This past July , a three-judge panel on the same federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration had violated the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution via their financing scheme — but then a U.S. Supreme Court ruling blocked that ruling from taking effect .

The Trump agenda was dealt another setback heading into this weekend. On Friday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling upholding a previous lower court conclusion that found that President Donald Trump’s redirection of billions of dollars of military construction money for his southern border wall was illegal. In conjunction with their earlier ruling, the lower court paused the official order demanding a stop to border wall construction while the appeals process played out further. Now, the appeals court has lifted that pause, re-instituting the demand for an immediate stop to border wall construction. The ordered stop to construction seems to cover most if not the entirety of the “wall,” since the illegally transferred money is what the administration had been using.
One of the original filings against the Trump administration that has driven this court battle was a request for the Defense and Homeland Security departments to be barred “from using military construction funds appropriated for other purposes to build a border wall.” After Congress failed to provide the wall money that he wanted, Trump declared a national emergency over the situation at the southern border and used his subsequent emergency powers as an excuse to transfer the Defense Department money to the border wall project. This emergency declaration was unfounded, and both chambers of Congress have twice passed joint measures to overturn it — and Trump has vetoed both of them.
Gloria Smith, who serves as the managing attorney at the Sierra Club — which is one of the groups that challenged the administration in court over the wall funding scheme — lauded the new appeals court ruling as “monumental for border communities, wildlife and lands.” She added:
‘We should be protecting communities, our democracy, and the environment, not tearing these things apart as Trump was doing. We rise with border communities to stop this administration from further inflicting its relentless agenda and will continue fighting illegal wall construction at all levels.’
The battle over the border wall construction doesn’t seem to be over. After all, there’s the apparent option for the Trump administration to appeal the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which currently has 8 members following the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This past July, a three-judge panel on the same federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration had violated the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution via their financing scheme — but then a U.S. Supreme Court ruling blocked that ruling from taking effect.


bipartisanreport--2020-10-10--New Polling Data Shows Terrible News For Trump & Republicans

Some of the latest polling data shows terrible news for Donald Trump and the Republican Party — although the news is , of course , a boost for those who are working to get Trump and his enablers out of office .
In recent data , Trump fares startlingly poorly with groups including non-white voters and population hubs across the so-called Sun Belt , which includes states like Texas and Georgia .
In years past , it might have been a wonder to see significant Democratic potential in Texas — but as of early Saturday , FiveThirtyEight reports that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average of merely 1.7 percent .
Since 2016 , a whopping total of over 1.5 million new voters have registered in the state , suggesting that big shifts could be on the horizon .
The New York Times reports that Trump “ is trailing not just in must-win battlegrounds but according to private G.O.P .
surveys , he is repelling independents to the point where Mr. Biden has drawn closer in solidly red states , including Montana , Kansas and Missouri , people briefed on the data said.
” The apparent monumental blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to Trump in GOP-leaning states like Kansas and Missouri in private Republican polling could be truly paradigm-shifting .
In the meantime , it ’ s worth noting that the Trump administration has never had much of a “ mandate ” from the American people — millions more voted for Hillary Clinton , after all , and millions of others didn ’ t vote at all .
The Times adds that “ [ nowhere ] has Mr. Trump harmed himself and his party more than across the Sun Belt , where the electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominance is in danger of coming apart.
” In Florida , which Trump won in 2016 and which FiveThirtyEight estimates is the swing state that ’ s second most likely to deliver the decisive winning boost to the eventually victorious presidential candidate , Biden led in polling by an average of 4.4 percent as of early Saturday .
In Arizona , which FiveThirtyEight estimates is also in the top 10 swing states most likely to be the election ’ s “ tipping point , ” Biden led by an average of 3.8 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a recent Fox News survey , the GOP faced some truly monumental results among the choices of the non-white respondents .
Among “ likely ” voters , Biden nabbed a staggering 80 percent of the support among non-white respondents .
Trump had a mere 16 percent of the support from the same group , making the Biden supporters five times more numerous among these non-white likely voters .

Some of the latest polling data shows terrible news for Donald Trump and the Republican Party — although the news is, of course, a boost for those who are working to get Trump and his enablers out of office. In recent data, Trump fares startlingly poorly with groups including non-white voters and population hubs across the so-called Sun Belt, which includes states like Texas and Georgia. In years past, it might have been a wonder to see significant Democratic potential in Texas — but as of early Saturday, FiveThirtyEight reports that Trump is up in state polls by an average of merely 1.7 percent. Since 2016, a whopping total of over 1.5 million new voters have registered in the state, suggesting that big shifts could be on the horizon.
The New York Times reports that Trump “is trailing not just in must-win battlegrounds but according to private G.O.P. surveys, he is repelling independents to the point where Mr. Biden has drawn closer in solidly red states, including Montana, Kansas and Missouri, people briefed on the data said.” The apparent monumental blue wave that has driven Biden “closer” to Trump in GOP-leaning states like Kansas and Missouri in private Republican polling could be truly paradigm-shifting. In the meantime, it’s worth noting that the Trump administration has never had much of a “mandate” from the American people — millions more voted for Hillary Clinton, after all, and millions of others didn’t vote at all.
The Times adds that “[nowhere] has Mr. Trump harmed himself and his party more than across the Sun Belt, where the electoral coalition that secured a generation of Republican dominance is in danger of coming apart.” In Florida, which Trump won in 2016 and which FiveThirtyEight estimates is the swing state that’s second most likely to deliver the decisive winning boost to the eventually victorious presidential candidate, Biden led in polling by an average of 4.4 percent as of early Saturday. In Arizona, which FiveThirtyEight estimates is also in the top 10 swing states most likely to be the election’s “tipping point,” Biden led by an average of 3.8 percent as of the same point.
Meanwhile, in a recent Fox News survey, the GOP faced some truly monumental results among the choices of the non-white respondents. Among “likely” voters, Biden nabbed a staggering 80 percent of the support among non-white respondents. Trump had a mere 16 percent of the support from the same group, making the Biden supporters five times more numerous among these non-white likely voters.


bipartisanreport--2020-10-10--Ex-Trump Goon Delivers Public Rebuke Against The Flailing President

President Donald Trump doesn ’ t exactly seem to be popular among former members of his administration .
Now , in response to an article in The Washington Post outlining the president ’ s recent demands for Justice Department action against his political opponents , former deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has spoken out .
Rosenstein served alongside Attorney General Jeff Sessions , who is also no longer in the administration , and the then-deputy AG took over the Russia investigation after Sessions recused himself .
Rosenstein was responsible for the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel .
Late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule of law ” in a Twitter post .
As mentioned , he was speaking in response to a piece outlining Trump ’ s recent threats against the orderly procession of the rule of law .
Trump has insisted as recently as this week that Hillary Clinton should be thrown in jail , which is , quite simply , nonsensical but also reveals the president ’ s brazenly dictatorial leanings .
Notably , Rosenstein turned off comments on his post .
He commented : Rosenstein ’ s apparent confidence might be a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as Attorney General Bill Barr is in charge at the Justice Department .
Barr has repeatedly proven his willingness to go the distance for Trump .
He has , for example , expressed public support for the president ’ s conspiracy theories ranging from the baseless idea that there ’ s potential systematic fraud that accompanies the usage of mail-in ballots to the also systematically unsupported idea that the Obama administration spied on the Trump campaign .
Barr has also used the wheels of the Justice Department for the benefit of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Barr ’ s rush to declare the president to be innocent following the conclusion of Mueller ’ s investigation to his team ’ s ongoing attempt to drop the criminal case against Trump ally Michael Flynn , who once pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about his contacts with a Russian ambassador but eventually walked that back .

President Donald Trump doesn’t exactly seem to be popular among former members of his administration. Now, in response to an article in The Washington Post outlining the president’s recent demands for Justice Department action against his political opponents, former deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has spoken out. Rosenstein served alongside Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who is also no longer in the administration, and the then-deputy AG took over the Russia investigation after Sessions recused himself. Rosenstein was responsible for the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel. Late Friday evening, Rosenstein touted the “rule of law” in a Twitter post.
As mentioned, he was speaking in response to a piece outlining Trump’s recent threats against the orderly procession of the rule of law. Trump has insisted as recently as this week that Hillary Clinton should be thrown in jail, which is, quite simply, nonsensical but also reveals the president’s brazenly dictatorial leanings.
Notably, Rosenstein turned off comments on his post. He commented:
‘The Department of Justice will ignore the President’s threats against his political opponents, as it has in the past, because prosecutors who take an oath to support and defend the Constitution must uphold the rule of law.’
The Department of Justice will ignore the President's threats against his political opponents, as it has in the past, because prosecutors who take an oath to support and defend the Constitution must uphold the rule of law. https://t.co/zFUKekZO4t — Rod Rosenstein (@RodRosenstein) October 10, 2020
Rosenstein’s apparent confidence might be a little difficult to see real-world evidence for as long as Attorney General Bill Barr is in charge at the Justice Department. Barr has repeatedly proven his willingness to go the distance for Trump. He has, for example, expressed public support for the president’s conspiracy theories ranging from the baseless idea that there’s potential systematic fraud that accompanies the usage of mail-in ballots to the also systematically unsupported idea that the Obama administration spied on the Trump campaign.
Barr has also used the wheels of the Justice Department for the benefit of Trump and his political allies. Examples range from Barr’s rush to declare the president to be innocent following the conclusion of Mueller’s investigation to his team’s ongoing attempt to drop the criminal case against Trump ally Michael Flynn, who once pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about his contacts with a Russian ambassador but eventually walked that back.