crooksandliars--2020-09-10--Kristi Noem Takes $5mil Of Coronavirus Relief Funds For Tourism Ad Despite COVID Surge

Noem is another one of those slick opportunists that has used the pandemic to raise her own profile among the Fox News crowd who view with suspicion anything COVID related .
She did n't lockdown her state , has never had any mask mandates or really any measures to speak of .
And she could get away with that when South Dakota was relatively unaffected by the coronavirus .
But since the Sturgis motorcyle rally South Dakota has now surged to second in states with the highest new cases per capita .
South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem 's administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus relief funds to pay for a $ 5 million tourism ad campaign aimed at drawing people to the state .
The move comes even as the state emerges as one of the nation 's top hot spots for COVID-19 infections .
The 30-second spot , which premiered on Fox News alongside Noem 's speech at the Republican National Convention last month , features the governor saying that `` with our breathtaking landscapes and wide-open spaces , we 're a place to safely explore . ''
But the state currently ranks second in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the last two weeks , with 439 new cases per 100,000 people .
The ad is narrated by Noem .
It offers dramatic footage of South Dakota scenery such as Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park , then concludes with the governor introducing herself and pitching a visit to South Dakota .
Noem defended her negligence yesterday for allowing Sturgis to go ahead by going on the place where wingers go to defend their stupidity , Fox News .
Noem whined that researchers were being mean to her when they found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounted for over 250,000 new cases of coronavirus throughout the United States .

Noem is another one of those slick opportunists that has used the pandemic to raise her own profile among the Fox News crowd who view with suspicion anything COVID related. She didn't lockdown her state, has never had any mask mandates or really any measures to speak of. And she could get away with that when South Dakota was relatively unaffected by the coronavirus. But since the Sturgis motorcyle rally South Dakota has now surged to second in states with the highest new cases per capita.
Source: CBS News
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's administration announced Tuesday that it is using federal coronavirus relief funds to pay for a $5 million tourism ad campaign aimed at drawing people to the state. The move comes even as the state emerges as one of the nation's top hot spots for COVID-19 infections. The 30-second spot, which premiered on Fox News alongside Noem's speech at the Republican National Convention last month, features the governor saying that "with our breathtaking landscapes and wide-open spaces, we're a place to safely explore." But the state currently ranks second in the country for new cases per capita over the last two weeks, with 439 new cases per 100,000 people. The ad is narrated by Noem. It offers dramatic footage of South Dakota scenery such as Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park, then concludes with the governor introducing herself and pitching a visit to South Dakota.
Noem defended her negligence yesterday for allowing Sturgis to go ahead by going on the place where wingers go to defend their stupidity, Fox News. Noem whined that researchers were being mean to her when they found that Sturgis was a superspreader event which likely accounted for over 250,000 new cases of coronavirus throughout the United States.


crooksandliars--2020-09-10--Whistleblower: I Was Told To Downplay White Supremacy, Russia Threats In Briefings

As Willie Geist noted , on any other morning , this would have been a huge story .
`` This is the whistle-blower accusing those at the Department of Homeland Security of downplaying domestic terrorists to fit the president 's agenda , '' he said .
`` Yesterday he submitted complaints on actions taken by Kirstjen Nielsen , among others .
On the subject of domestic terrorism , the complaint alleges Mr. ( Brian ) Murphy was instructed by Mr. Wolf and/or Mr. Cuccinelli to modify intelligence assessments to ensure they matched up with the public comments by President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
`` He added they needed to specifically modify the section on white supremacy that made the threat appear less severe .
Mr. Murphy made disclosures regarding a repeated pattern of abuse of authority , attempted censorship of intelligence analysis and improper administration of an intelligence program related to Russian efforts to influence and undermine U.S. interests .
Mr. Wolf instructed Mr. Murphy to cease providing intelligence assessments on the threat of Russian interference by the United States .
`` For his part , Mr. Murphy informed Mr. Wolf he would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country in substantial and specific danger . ''
They brought on Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut .
`` Congressman Himes , you sit on the committee here .
These are breathtaking claims in the whistle-blower report .
The impeachment of Donald Trump started last year with a simple whistle-blower complaint .
So what are we looking at here specifically ?
You read through these documents .
Is it as bad as it appears from the outside ? ''
Geist said .
`` In any ordinary presidency , on any given day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an impeachable offense , '' Himes said .
`` Obviously we 're going to have Mr. Murphy in front of the committee on the 21st to get the details here .
But you have to put this in context .
The country spends some $ 80 billion $ 80 billion a year on intelligence .
That 's taxpayer money .
It 's designed to keep us safe , not designed to make the president feel good .
If our viewers think this is another example of the president trying to wake up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember , here 's what 's at stake .
`` Remember that almost 20 years ago , George Tenant , then director of the CIA , when asked by the administration whether there were weapons of destruction in Iraq , he said , 'It 's a slam dunk ' because that intelligence had been badly corrupted .
What 's the wages of that sin ?
4,420 dead American soldiers , hundreds of thousands of people dead in Iraq because the intelligence was warped to fit the narrative of the administration .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when intelligence becomes politicized , the country becomes less safe and tragedy can ensue . ''

As Willie Geist noted, on any other morning, this would have been a huge story.
"This is the whistle-blower accusing those at the Department of Homeland Security of downplaying domestic terrorists to fit the president's agenda," he said.
"Yesterday he submitted complaints on actions taken by Kirstjen Nielsen, among others. On the subject of domestic terrorism, the complaint alleges Mr. (Brian) Murphy was instructed by Mr. Wolf and/or Mr. Cuccinelli to modify intelligence assessments to ensure they matched up with the public comments by President Trump on the subject of antifa and anarchists groups.
"He added they needed to specifically modify the section on white supremacy that made the threat appear less severe. Mr. Murphy made disclosures regarding a repeated pattern of abuse of authority, attempted censorship of intelligence analysis and improper administration of an intelligence program related to Russian efforts to influence and undermine U.S. interests. Mr. Wolf instructed Mr. Murphy to cease providing intelligence assessments on the threat of Russian interference by the United States.
"For his part, Mr. Murphy informed Mr. Wolf he would not comply, as doing so would put the country in substantial and specific danger."
They brought on Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut.
"Congressman Himes, you sit on the committee here. These are breathtaking claims in the whistle-blower report. The impeachment of Donald Trump started last year with a simple whistle-blower complaint. So what are we looking at here specifically? You read through these documents. Is it as bad as it appears from the outside?" Geist said.
"In any ordinary presidency, on any given day, this would be moving the needle to an impeachable offense," Himes said.
"Obviously we're going to have Mr. Murphy in front of the committee on the 21st to get the details here. But you have to put this in context. The country spends some $80 billion $80 billion a year on intelligence. That's taxpayer money. It's designed to keep us safe, not designed to make the president feel good. If our viewers think this is another example of the president trying to wake up in the morning to information he likes, remember, here's what's at stake.
"Remember that almost 20 years ago, George Tenant, then director of the CIA, when asked by the administration whether there were weapons of destruction in Iraq, he said, 'It's a slam dunk' because that intelligence had been badly corrupted. What's the wages of that sin? 4,420 dead American soldiers, hundreds of thousands of people dead in Iraq because the intelligence was warped to fit the narrative of the administration.
"So we're not just playing with fire when intelligence becomes politicized, the country becomes less safe and tragedy can ensue."


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Fox News Insinuates Biden Was Privy To Intel About Covid In February

Joe Biden did n't start getting intelligence briefings until June , but that did n't stop Fox News ' John Roberts from insinuating that they started in February so he and Neil Cavuto could `` both-sides '' Trump 's disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Here 's Roberts and Neil Cavuto following Trump 's lie-filled campaign event disguised as a press briefing , discussing some comments by Biden 's staff on what the former VP knew and what Trump knew in the beginning of the year : CAVUTO : The Biden people with whom we 've chatted have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparison , saying what Joe Biden knew at the time versus the president , because the president has all this information that the former as vice president did not .
Do we know , and this is a mug 's game here , when Joe Biden started receiving intelligence and related briefings that would by and large corroborate what the White House is hearing .
ROBERTS : No , I do n't know when Biden would have had those briefings on coronavirus , but there does come a time when a candidate looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee that they get in on these intelligence briefings .
That probably would have happened around that time .
But I do remember , whether it was Biden , whether it was de Blasio , Cuomo or Nancy Pelosi , during the month of February and the early part of March , the Democrats were playing this down themselves .
So for them to turn around now and say the president 's guilty of that , well , they were doing the same thing back then .
CUVUTO : Yeah , I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he had a large rally himself and in fact had criticized the president 's move to ban flights from Asia and the rest , so it does seem that we should judge both men and what they were saying and doing by the same means .
Last time I checked , Joe Biden was n't president when this pandemic hit .
This is on Trump , no matter how desperately he and his enablers on his propaganda network try to distract from that fact and deflect blame onto anyone and everyone else @ @ @

Joe Biden didn't start getting intelligence briefings until June, but that didn't stop Fox News' John Roberts from insinuating that they started in February so he and Neil Cavuto could "both-sides" Trump's disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here's Roberts and Neil Cavuto following Trump's lie-filled campaign event disguised as a press briefing, discussing some comments by Biden's staff on what the former VP knew and what Trump knew in the beginning of the year:
CAVUTO: The Biden people with whom we've chatted have been talking about it's not a fair comparison, saying what Joe Biden knew at the time versus the president, because the president has all this information that the former as vice president did not. Do we know, and this is a mug's game here, when Joe Biden started receiving intelligence and related briefings that would by and large corroborate what the White House is hearing. ROBERTS: No, I don't know when Biden would have had those briefings on coronavirus, but there does come a time when a candidate looks like they were going to become the nominee that they get in on these intelligence briefings. That probably would have happened around that time. But I do remember, whether it was Biden, whether it was de Blasio, Cuomo or Nancy Pelosi, during the month of February and the early part of March, the Democrats were playing this down themselves. So for them to turn around now and say the president's guilty of that, well, they were doing the same thing back then. CUVUTO: Yeah, I believe in Joe Biden's case in March, he had a large rally himself and in fact had criticized the president's move to ban flights from Asia and the rest, so it does seem that we should judge both men and what they were saying and doing by the same means.
Last time I checked, Joe Biden wasn't president when this pandemic hit. This is on Trump, no matter how desperately he and his enablers on his propaganda network try to distract from that fact and deflect blame onto anyone and everyone else but Trump.


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Chuck Todd Destroys Trump’s Excuse For COVID Lies: ‘Panic Is His Go-To Move’

Trump has been pathetically trying to defend himself from the shocking revelations from Bob Woodward .
But the best he can seem to come up with , as far his lying to the public about the dangers of coronavirus , is his ridiculous claim that he didn ’ t want to panic anybody .
Todd made quick work of that one : TODD : I ’ m going to pick up on the panic point because this is where I think the president 's really off-key here .
He says he did n't want to panic the public .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of actually - panic is his go-to move .
Panic is his political sort of -- it 's his , sort of how he drives to the hoop , if he were a basketball player .
It ’ s the only way he knows how to go : fear of the caravans , fear [ for ] the police , fear in the suburbs , fear of Joe Biden .
I mean , his entire campaign is fear and panic .
So it is hard -- I think that excuse ends up looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every other issue he touches .
New York Times reporter Peter Baker agreed .
And he predicts more bombshells to drop and wound .
BAKER : The tweets just this morning about how - you know , people are going to -- if Biden wins , they 'll come invading your suburbs and everything will be chaos on the planet .
And the dichotomy between the `` nothing to see here '' approach to the coronavirus and the almost -- and the exaggerated discussion of violence in the streets , it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drip , drip , drip effect , right ?
Bob 's book will not be the end of this .
There will be more .
There 's going to be a whole series of books this fall .
And who knows what - as you say , people are waiting in the wings .
If you are somebody who found Donald Trump to be dangerous and you were working for him and you have n't said anything up until this point , and you plan to , you presumably are waiting until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum damage .
That 's what the White House is worried about .
And they should be because there is a real danger … that they never get back on their own message , they 're constantly reacting to other people 's .
But it would n't be Chuck Todd without bothsidesism .
Here he is equating Trump 's lies about a deadly pandemic , among other misdeeds , to the fake scandals ginned up by the media about Hillary Clinton .
TODD : In some ways , he 's a victim of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years ago .
Hillary Clinton was a magnet for this stuff and could n't get away from it .
And now Trump is the magnet .
And I think he 's now seeing the shoe is on the other foot .

Trump has been pathetically trying to defend himself from the shocking revelations from Bob Woodward. But the best he can seem to come up with, as far his lying to the public about the dangers of coronavirus, is his ridiculous claim that he didn’t want to panic anybody.
Todd made quick work of that one:
TODD: I’m going to pick up on the panic point because this is where I think the president's really off-key here. He says he didn't want to panic the public. The problem is, he has a history of actually - panic is his go-to move. Panic is his political sort of -- it's his, sort of how he drives to the hoop, if he were a basketball player. It’s the only way he knows how to go: fear of the caravans, fear [for] the police, fear in the suburbs, fear of Joe Biden. I mean, his entire campaign is fear and panic. So it is hard -- I think that excuse ends up looking even more ridiculous considering his tactics on every other issue he touches.
New York Times reporter Peter Baker agreed. And he predicts more bombshells to drop and wound.
BAKER: The tweets just this morning about how - you know, people are going to -- if Biden wins, they'll come invading your suburbs and everything will be chaos on the planet. And the dichotomy between the "nothing to see here" approach to the coronavirus and the almost -- and the exaggerated discussion of violence in the streets, it is a powerful contrast. … It’s the drip, drip, drip effect, right? Bob's book will not be the end of this. There will be more. There's going to be a whole series of books this fall. And who knows what - as you say, people are waiting in the wings. If you are somebody who found Donald Trump to be dangerous and you were working for him and you haven't said anything up until this point, and you plan to, you presumably are waiting until October when it will have the most maximum damage. That's what the White House is worried about. And they should be because there is a real danger … that they never get back on their own message, they're constantly reacting to other people's.
But it wouldn't be Chuck Todd without bothsidesism. Here he is equating Trump's lies about a deadly pandemic, among other misdeeds, to the fake scandals ginned up by the media about Hillary Clinton.
TODD: In some ways, he's a victim of the same campaign he was successful with four years ago. Hillary Clinton was a magnet for this stuff and couldn't get away from it. And now Trump is the magnet. And I think he's now seeing the shoe is on the other foot.
Greg Greene has a good response:


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Maddow Interview: Former FBI Agent Peter Strzok Says Trump Is Compromised

Peter Strzok , the former top FBI counterintelligence official , was interviewed by Rachel Maddow .
Strzok says the president is compromised , and Russia has `` enormous leverage '' over Trump that is financial .
The former FBI agent 's new book , 'Compromised : Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump , ' is a disturbing account of Trump and his crew .
Mueller did not investigate the counterintelligence threat against Donald Trump , and the FBI did not conduct a counterintelligence deep-dive into Trump because Strzok was forced out .
Here are a few of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strzok : • Strzok says that , when they began their investigation , the Gang of 8 was briefed and no one objected .
• Strzok says Paul Manafort shared detailed polling data from key battleground states with Russian intelligence agent Konstantin Kilimnik to help Trump • Strzok told Maddow that Michael Flynn lied to the FBI because the White House directed him to do so .
This information sheds light on Trump 's and Barr 's attempts to intervene in Flynn 's case '' Do I think he 's a Manchurian candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do I think he 's doing things in the interest of the national security of the U.S. because of all the things Russia holds over him that he does n't want known ?
Absolutely I believe that .
If you step back , if you look at that as a patriot , as an American citizen , it 's horrifying !
But it exists , and it 's real , and it 's something that every American should be concerned about . ''
Before the interview , Rachel Maddow read from 'Compromised ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book sounds like a must-read before the election .

Peter Strzok, the former top FBI counterintelligence official, was interviewed by Rachel Maddow. Strzok says the president is compromised, and Russia has "enormous leverage" over Trump that is financial.
The former FBI agent's new book, 'Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump,' is a disturbing account of Trump and his crew.
Mueller did not investigate the counterintelligence threat against Donald Trump, and the FBI did not conduct a counterintelligence deep-dive into Trump because Strzok was forced out.
Here are a few of the highlights from Maddow's interview with Peter Strzok:
Strzok says that, when they began their investigation, the Gang of 8 was briefed and no one objected.
Strzok says Paul Manafort shared detailed polling data from key battleground states with Russian intelligence agent Konstantin Kilimnik to help Trump
Strzok told Maddow that Michael Flynn lied to the FBI because the White House directed him to do so. This information sheds light on Trump's and Barr's attempts to intervene in Flynn's case
"Do I think he's a Manchurian candidate? No, I don't. Do I think he's doing things in the interest of the national security of the U.S. because of all the things Russia holds over him that he doesn't want known? Absolutely I believe that. If you step back, if you look at that as a patriot, as an American citizen, it's horrifying! But it exists, and it's real, and it's something that every American should be concerned about."
Before the interview, Rachel Maddow read from 'Compromised', and it's terrifying. This book sounds like a must-read before the election.


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Doctor Asks His Employer For A COVID-19 Test; It Cost $10,984

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom .
Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox .
When Dr. Zachary Sussman went to Physicians Premier ER in Austin for a COVID-19 antibody test , he assumed he would get a freebie because he was a doctor for the chain .
Instead , the free-standing emergency room charged his insurance company an astonishing $ 10,984 for the visit — and got paid every penny , with no pushback .
The bill left him so dismayed he quit his job .
And now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parent company of his insurer said the case is being investigated and could lead to repayment or a referral to law enforcement .
The case is the latest to show how providers have sometimes charged exorbitant prices for visits for simple and inexpensive COVID-19 tests .
ProPublica recently reported how a $ 175 COVID-19 test resulted in charges of $ 2,479 at a different free-standing ER in Texas .
In that situation , the health plan said the payment for the visit would be reduced and the facility said the family would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s case , the insurer paid it all .
But those dollars come from people who pay insurance premiums , and health experts say high prices are a major reason why Americans pay so much for health care .
Sussman , a 44-year-old pathologist , was working under contract as a part-time medical director at four of Physicians Premier ’ s other locations .
He said he made $ 4,000 a month to oversee the antibody tests , which can detect signs of a previous COVID-19 infection .
It was a temporary position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austin and New Mexico , where he now lives and works .
In May , before visiting his family in Scottsdale , Arizona , Sussman wanted the test because he had recently had a headache , which can be a symptom of COVID-19 .
He decided to go to one of his own company ’ s locations because he was curious to see how the process played out from a patient ’ s point of view .
He knew the materials for each antibody test only amounted to about $ 8 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar to an at-home pregnancy test .
He could even do the reading himself .
So he assumed Physicians Premier would comp him and administer it on the house .
But the staff went ahead and took down his insurance details , while promising him he would not be responsible for any portion of the bill .
He had a short-term plan through Golden Rule Insurance Company , which is owned by UnitedHealthcare , the largest insurer in the country .
( The insurance was not provided through his work . )
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chatted with the emergency room doctor , whom he didn ’ t know .
He said there was no physical examination .
“ Never laid a hand on me , ” he said .
His vitals were checked and his blood was drawn .
He tested negative .
He said the whole encounter took about 30 minutes .
About a month later , Golden Rule sent Sussman his explanation of benefits for the physician portion of the bill .
The charges came to $ 2,100 .
Sussman was surprised by the expense but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Physicians Premier high-dollar business model , in which the convenience of a free-standing ER with no wait comes at a cost .
“ It may as well say Gucci on the outside , ” he said of the facility .
Physicians Premier says on its website that it bills private insurance plans , but that it is out-of-network with them , meaning it does not have agreed-upon prices .
That often leads to higher charges , which then get negotiated down by the insurers , or result in medical bills getting passed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the insurance document say , “ Payable at : 100 % .
” So apparently Golden Rule hadn ’ t fought for a better deal and had paid more than two grand for a quick , walk-in visit for a test .
He was happy not to get hit with a bill , but it also didn ’ t feel right .
He said he let the issue slide until a few weeks later when a second explanation of benefits arrived from Golden Rule , for the Physicians Premier facility charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as USA Emergency sought $ 8,884.16 .
Again , the insurer said , “ Payable at : 100 % .
” USA Emergency Centers says on its website that it licenses the Physicians Premier ER name for some of its locations .
Now Sussman said he felt spooked .
He knew Physicians Premier provided top-notch care and testing on the medical side of things .
But somehow his employer had charged his health plan $ 10,984.16 for a quick visit for a COVID-19 test .
And even more troubling to Sussman : Golden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was so shaken he resigned .
“ I have decided I can no longer ethically provide Medical directorship services to the company , ” he wrote in his July 13 resignation email .
“ If not outright fraudulent , these charges are at least exorbitant and seek to take advantage of payers in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic.
” Sussman agreed to waive his patient privacy so officials from the company could speak to ProPublica .
USA Emergency Centers declined interview requests and provided a statement , saying “ the allegations are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say which ones .
The statement also said the company “ takes all complaints seriously and will continue to work directly with patients to resolve issues pertaining to their emergency room care or bill .
…The allegations received pertain to a former contracted employee , and we can not provide details or further comment at this time.
” Physicians Premier advertises itself as a COVID-19 testing facility on its website , with “ results in an hour.
” According to the claims submitted by Physicians Premier to Golden Rule , obtained by Sussman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were coded as emergency room visits of moderate complexity .
That would mean his visit included an expanded , problem-focused history and examination .
But Sussman said the staff only took down a cursory medical history that took a few minutes related to his possible exposure to COVID-19 .
And he said no one examined him .
The claims also included codes for a nasal swab coronavirus test .
But that test was not performed , Sussman said .
The physician ’ s orders documented in the facility ’ s medical record also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those charges came to $ 4,989 .
The claims show two charges totaling $ 1,600 for the antibody test Sussman received .
In a spreadsheet available on its website on Friday , Physicians Premier lists a price of $ 75 for the antibody test .
For comparison , Medicare lists its payment at $ 42.13 for COVID-19 antibody tests .
That ’ s because Medicare , the government ’ s insurance plan for the disabled and people over 65 , sets prices .
Complicating matters , Texas is the nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not connected to hospitals .
Vivian Ho , an economist at Rice University who studies the facilities , said their business model is based on “ trying to mislead the consumer.
” They set up in locations where a high proportion of people have health insurance , but they don ’ t have contracted rates with the insurers , Ho said .
They are designed to look like lower-priced urgent care centers or walk-in clinics , Ho said , but charge much higher emergency room rates .
( The centers have defended their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as emergency rooms and are equipped to handle serious emergencies , and that patients value the convenience . )
The day after he resigned , Sussman texted an acquaintance who works as a doctor at Physicians Premier .
The acquaintance said the facility typically only collects a small percentage of what gets billed .
“ I just don ’ t want to be part of the game , ” Sussman texted to him .
Shelley Safian , a Florida health care coding expert who has written four books on medical coding , reviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at ProPublica ’ s request .
The records do not document a case of a complex patient that would justify the bills used to code the patient visit , she said .
For example , the chief complaint is listed as : “ A generic problem ( COVID TESTING ) .
” Under “ final acuity , ” the medical record says , “ less urgent.
” Under the medical history it says , “ NO SYMPTOMS.
” Safian described the charges as “ obscene ” and said she was shocked the insurer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the exact opposite of an employee discount , ” she said .
“ Obviously nobody is minding the store.
” Congress opened the door to profiteering during the pandemic when it passed the CARES Act .
The legislation , signed into law in March , says health insurers must pay for out-of-network testing at the cash price a facility posts on its website , or less .
But there may be other charges associated with the tests , and insurers generally have tried to avoid making patients pay any portion of costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The charges for Sussman ’ s COVID-19 test visit are “ ridiculous , ” said Niall Brennan , president and CEO of the Health Care Cost Institute , a nonprofit organization that studies health care prices .
Brennan wondered whether the CARES Act has made insurers feel legally obligated to cover COVID-19 costs .
He called it “ well intentioned ” public policy that allows for “ unscrupulous behavior ” by some providers .
“ Insurance companies and patients are reliant on the good will and honesty of providers , ” Brennan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combined with the CARES Act provision , seems designed for unscrupulous medical providers to exploit.
” It ’ s illegal for medical providers to charge for services they did not provide .
But ProPublica has previously reported how little insurers , including UnitedHealthcare , do to prevent fraud in their commercial health plans , even though experts estimate it consumes about 10 % of all health care costs .
For-profit insurance companies don ’ t want to spend the time and money it takes to hold fraudulent medical providers accountable , former fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the insurance companies want to keep providers in their networks , so they easily cave .
In mid-July , Sussman used the messenger system on Golden Rule ’ s website to report his concerns about the case .
Short-term health plans are typically less expensive because they offer less comprehensive coverage .
Sussman said he appreciated that his plan covered the charges , and felt compelled to tell the company what had happened .
That led to a phone conversation with a fraud investigator .
They went line by line through the charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services had not been provided .
“ His attitude was kind of passive , ” Sussman said of the fraud investigator .
“ There was no indignation .
He took in stride , like , ‘ Yep , that ’ s what happens.
’ ” The investigator said he would escalate the case and see if the facility had submitted any other suspect claims .
But Sussman never heard back .
Maria Gordon-Shydlo , a spokeswoman for UnitedHealthcare , which owns Golden Rule , would not provide anyone to be interviewed .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company ’ s first priority during the pandemic “ has been to ensure our members get the care they need and are not billed for COVID testing and treatment .
Unfortunately , there are some providers who are trying to take advantage of this and are inappropriately or even fraudulently billing.
” “ Golden Rule has put processes in place to address excessive COVID-related billing , ” the statement said .
“ We are currently investigating this matter and , if appropriate , will seek to recoup any overpayment and potentially refer this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 100 % payment of the charges may simply come down to “ incompetence , ” said Dr. Eric Bricker , a Texas internist who spent years running a company that advised employers who self-fund their insurance .
Insurance companies auto-adjudicate millions of claims on software that may be decades old , said Bricker , who produces videos to help consumers and employers understand health care .
If bills are under a certain threshold , like $ 15,000 , they may sail through and get paid without a second look , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of $ 6.6 billion in the second quarter of 2020 .
Bricker said the company may be paying bills without questioning them because it doesn ’ t “ want to create any noise ” by saying no at a time its own earnings are so high , Bricker said .
Texas has a consumer protection law that ’ s designed to prevent businesses from exploiting the public during a disaster .
The attorney general ’ s office has received and processed 52 complaints about health care businesses and billing or price gouging related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office said in an email .
The agency does not comment on the existence of any investigations , but has not filed any cases related to overpriced COVID-19 tests .
Sussman said he got one voicemail from a billing person at Physicians Premier , saying she wanted to explain the charges , but he did not call back .
He said he spoke out about it to ProPublica because he opposes Medicare-for-all health care reform proposals .
Bad actors in the profession could cause doctors to lose their privilege to bill and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most physicians are fair with their billing , or even conservative , he said .
“ If instances like these go unchecked it will provide more ammo for advocates of a single-payer system .
”

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
When Dr. Zachary Sussman went to Physicians Premier ER in Austin for a COVID-19 antibody test, he assumed he would get a freebie because he was a doctor for the chain. Instead, the free-standing emergency room charged his insurance company an astonishing $10,984 for the visit — and got paid every penny, with no pushback.
The bill left him so dismayed he quit his job. And now, after ProPublica’s questions, the parent company of his insurer said the case is being investigated and could lead to repayment or a referral to law enforcement.
The case is the latest to show how providers have sometimes charged exorbitant prices for visits for simple and inexpensive COVID-19 tests. ProPublica recently reported how a $175 COVID-19 test resulted in charges of $2,479 at a different free-standing ER in Texas. In that situation, the health plan said the payment for the visit would be reduced and the facility said the family would not receive a bill. In Sussman’s case, the insurer paid it all. But those dollars come from people who pay insurance premiums, and health experts say high prices are a major reason why Americans pay so much for health care.
Sussman, a 44-year-old pathologist, was working under contract as a part-time medical director at four of Physicians Premier’s other locations. He said he made $4,000 a month to oversee the antibody tests, which can detect signs of a previous COVID-19 infection. It was a temporary position holding him over between hospital gigs in Austin and New Mexico, where he now lives and works.
In May, before visiting his family in Scottsdale, Arizona, Sussman wanted the test because he had recently had a headache, which can be a symptom of COVID-19. He decided to go to one of his own company’s locations because he was curious to see how the process played out from a patient’s point of view. He knew the materials for each antibody test only amounted to about $8, and it gets read on the spot — similar to an at-home pregnancy test.
He could even do the reading himself. So he assumed Physicians Premier would comp him and administer it on the house. But the staff went ahead and took down his insurance details, while promising him he would not be responsible for any portion of the bill. He had a short-term plan through Golden Rule Insurance Company, which is owned by UnitedHealthcare, the largest insurer in the country. (The insurance was not provided through his work.)
During the brief visit, Sussman said he chatted with the emergency room doctor, whom he didn’t know. He said there was no physical examination. “Never laid a hand on me,” he said. His vitals were checked and his blood was drawn. He tested negative. He said the whole encounter took about 30 minutes.
About a month later, Golden Rule sent Sussman his explanation of benefits for the physician portion of the bill. The charges came to $2,100. Sussman was surprised by the expense but he said he was familiar with the Physicians Premier high-dollar business model, in which the convenience of a free-standing ER with no wait comes at a cost.
“It may as well say Gucci on the outside,” he said of the facility. Physicians Premier says on its website that it bills private insurance plans, but that it is out-of-network with them, meaning it does not have agreed-upon prices. That often leads to higher charges, which then get negotiated down by the insurers, or result in medical bills getting passed on to patients.
Sussman felt more puzzled to see the insurance document say, “Payable at: 100%.” So apparently Golden Rule hadn’t fought for a better deal and had paid more than two grand for a quick, walk-in visit for a test. He was happy not to get hit with a bill, but it also didn’t feel right.
He said he let the issue slide until a few weeks later when a second explanation of benefits arrived from Golden Rule, for the Physicians Premier facility charges. This time, an entity listed as USA Emergency sought $8,884.16. Again, the insurer said, “Payable at: 100%.”
USA Emergency Centers says on its website that it licenses the Physicians Premier ER name for some of its locations.
Now Sussman said he felt spooked. He knew Physicians Premier provided top-notch care and testing on the medical side of things. But somehow his employer had charged his health plan $10,984.16 for a quick visit for a COVID-19 test. And even more troubling to Sussman: Golden Rule paid the whole thing.
Sussman was so shaken he resigned. “I have decided I can no longer ethically provide Medical directorship services to the company,” he wrote in his July 13 resignation email. “If not outright fraudulent, these charges are at least exorbitant and seek to take advantage of payers in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic.”
Sussman agreed to waive his patient privacy so officials from the company could speak to ProPublica. USA Emergency Centers declined interview requests and provided a statement, saying “the allegations are false,” though it did not say which ones.
The statement also said the company “takes all complaints seriously and will continue to work directly with patients to resolve issues pertaining to their emergency room care or bill. …The allegations received pertain to a former contracted employee, and we cannot provide details or further comment at this time.”
Physicians Premier advertises itself as a COVID-19 testing facility on its website, with “results in an hour.” According to the claims submitted by Physicians Premier to Golden Rule, obtained by Sussman, the physician fee and facility fees were coded as emergency room visits of moderate complexity. That would mean his visit included an expanded, problem-focused history and examination. But Sussman said the staff only took down a cursory medical history that took a few minutes related to his possible exposure to COVID-19. And he said no one examined him.
The claims also included codes for a nasal swab coronavirus test. But that test was not performed, Sussman said. The physician’s orders documented in the facility’s medical record also do not mention the nasal swab test. Those charges came to $4,989.
The claims show two charges totaling $1,600 for the antibody test Sussman received. In a spreadsheet available on its website on Friday, Physicians Premier lists a price of $75 for the antibody test.
For comparison, Medicare lists its payment at $42.13 for COVID-19 antibody tests. That’s because Medicare, the government’s insurance plan for the disabled and people over 65, sets prices.
Complicating matters, Texas is the nation’s epicenter for free-standing emergency rooms that are not connected to hospitals. Vivian Ho, an economist at Rice University who studies the facilities, said their business model is based on “trying to mislead the consumer.” They set up in locations where a high proportion of people have health insurance, but they don’t have contracted rates with the insurers, Ho said. They are designed to look like lower-priced urgent care centers or walk-in clinics, Ho said, but charge much higher emergency room rates. (The centers have defended their practices, saying that they clearly identify as emergency rooms and are equipped to handle serious emergencies, and that patients value the convenience.)
The day after he resigned, Sussman texted an acquaintance who works as a doctor at Physicians Premier. The acquaintance said the facility typically only collects a small percentage of what gets billed. “I just don’t want to be part of the game,” Sussman texted to him.
Shelley Safian, a Florida health care coding expert who has written four books on medical coding, reviewed Sussman’s medical records and claims at ProPublica’s request. The records do not document a case of a complex patient that would justify the bills used to code the patient visit, she said. For example, the chief complaint is listed as: “A generic problem (COVID TESTING).” Under “final acuity,” the medical record says, “less urgent.” Under the medical history it says, “NO SYMPTOMS.”
Safian described the charges as “obscene” and said she was shocked the insurer paid them in full. “This is the exact opposite of an employee discount,” she said. “Obviously nobody is minding the store.”
Congress opened the door to profiteering during the pandemic when it passed the CARES Act. The legislation, signed into law in March, says health insurers must pay for out-of-network testing at the cash price a facility posts on its website, or less. But there may be other charges associated with the tests, and insurers generally have tried to avoid making patients pay any portion of costs related to COVID-19 testing or treatment.
The charges for Sussman’s COVID-19 test visit are “ridiculous,” said Niall Brennan, president and CEO of the Health Care Cost Institute, a nonprofit organization that studies health care prices. Brennan wondered whether the CARES Act has made insurers feel legally obligated to cover COVID-19 costs. He called it “well intentioned” public policy that allows for “unscrupulous behavior” by some providers. “Insurance companies and patients are reliant on the good will and honesty of providers,” Brennan said. “But this whole pandemic, combined with the CARES Act provision, seems designed for unscrupulous medical providers to exploit.”
It’s illegal for medical providers to charge for services they did not provide. But ProPublica has previously reported how little insurers, including UnitedHealthcare, do to prevent fraud in their commercial health plans, even though experts estimate it consumes about 10% of all health care costs. For-profit insurance companies don’t want to spend the time and money it takes to hold fraudulent medical providers accountable, former fraud investigators have told ProPublica. Also, the insurance companies want to keep providers in their networks, so they easily cave.
In mid-July, Sussman used the messenger system on Golden Rule’s website to report his concerns about the case. Short-term health plans are typically less expensive because they offer less comprehensive coverage. Sussman said he appreciated that his plan covered the charges, and felt compelled to tell the company what had happened.
That led to a phone conversation with a fraud investigator. They went line by line through the charges and Sussman told him many of the services had not been provided. “His attitude was kind of passive,” Sussman said of the fraud investigator. “There was no indignation. He took in stride, like, ‘Yep, that’s what happens.’” The investigator said he would escalate the case and see if the facility had submitted any other suspect claims. But Sussman never heard back.
Maria Gordon-Shydlo, a spokeswoman for UnitedHealthcare, which owns Golden Rule, would not provide anyone to be interviewed. She said in an emailed statement that the company’s first priority during the pandemic “has been to ensure our members get the care they need and are not billed for COVID testing and treatment. Unfortunately, there are some providers who are trying to take advantage of this and are inappropriately or even fraudulently billing.”
“Golden Rule has put processes in place to address excessive COVID-related billing,” the statement said. “We are currently investigating this matter and, if appropriate, will seek to recoup any overpayment and potentially refer this case to law enforcement.”
Golden Rule’s 100% payment of the charges may simply come down to “incompetence,” said Dr. Eric Bricker, a Texas internist who spent years running a company that advised employers who self-fund their insurance. Insurance companies auto-adjudicate millions of claims on software that may be decades old, said Bricker, who produces videos to help consumers and employers understand health care. If bills are under a certain threshold, like $15,000, they may sail through and get paid without a second look, he said.
UnitedHealth Group reported net earnings of $6.6 billion in the second quarter of 2020. Bricker said the company may be paying bills without questioning them because it doesn’t “want to create any noise” by saying no at a time its own earnings are so high, Bricker said.
Texas has a consumer protection law that’s designed to prevent businesses from exploiting the public during a disaster. The attorney general’s office has received and processed 52 complaints about health care businesses and billing or price gouging related to the pandemic, a spokeswoman from the office said in an email. The agency does not comment on the existence of any investigations, but has not filed any cases related to overpriced COVID-19 tests.
Sussman said he got one voicemail from a billing person at Physicians Premier, saying she wanted to explain the charges, but he did not call back. He said he spoke out about it to ProPublica because he opposes Medicare-for-all health care reform proposals. Bad actors in the profession could cause doctors to lose their privilege to bill and be reimbursed independently, he said. Most physicians are fair with their billing, or even conservative, he said. “If instances like these go unchecked it will provide more ammo for advocates of a single-payer system.”


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--'Compromised':  Chilling New Book By Former FBI Agent Peter Strzok

Former FBI agent Peter Strzok 's new book , 'Compromised : Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump , ' is chilling .
In the book , Strzok outlines why Donald Trump is a national security threat .
The former FBI agent has been talking to the media about his book , 'Compromised ' which contains alarming information about the 2016 pre-election investigations .
According to the New York Times , the book is a scathing appraisal of Donald J. Trump : 'Compromised : Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump ' allows Strzok to tell his story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining silent as the President and his followers have smeared him .
Peter was the FBI Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence and a 22-year veteran of the Bureau , considered one of the agency 's experts on the Russian threat .
The President has used his office to tarnish the FBI veteran in particularly cruel ways , accusing Strzok of treason and leading a `` coup '' against Trump .
Two years ago , Rachel Maddow featured Peter Strzok and the GOP 's stunts to smear the counter-intel expert .
News broke Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homeland Security team .
Senior official Brian Murphy said in a whistleblower complaint that he was told to stop providing intelligence analysis on the Russian threat in the 2020 election .
According to the DHS report , Murphy was told to stop because it “ made the President look bad , ” an instruction he believed would jeopardize national security .
From Wednesday 's news it appears that Trump 's Russian mandate continues to get worse .
Despite the attacks and threats against him and his family , Strzok wrote the book and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump poses to our country , according to Peter :

Former FBI agent Peter Strzok's new book, 'Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump,' is chilling. In the book, Strzok outlines why Donald Trump is a national security threat.
The former FBI agent has been talking to the media about his book, 'Compromised' which contains alarming information about the 2016 pre-election investigations. According to the New York Times, the book is a scathing appraisal of Donald J. Trump:
"Mr. Strzok concludes that Mr. Trump is hopelessly corrupt and a national security threat. The investigations that Mr. Strzok oversaw showed the President's "willingness to accept political assistance from an opponent like Russia — and, it follows, his willingness to subvert everything America stands for."
'Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump' allows Strzok to tell his story after being fired by the FBI and remaining silent as the President and his followers have smeared him. Peter was the FBI Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence and a 22-year veteran of the Bureau, considered one of the agency's experts on the Russian threat.
The President has used his office to tarnish the FBI veteran in particularly cruel ways, accusing Strzok of treason and leading a "coup" against Trump. Two years ago, Rachel Maddow featured Peter Strzok and the GOP's stunts to smear the counter-intel expert.
News broke Wednesday from a whistleblower within the Department of Homeland Security team. Senior official Brian Murphy said in a whistleblower complaint that he was told to stop providing intelligence analysis on the Russian threat in the 2020 election. According to the DHS report, Murphy was told to stop because it “made the President look bad,” an instruction he believed would jeopardize national security.
From Wednesday's news it appears that Trump's Russian mandate continues to get worse.
Despite the attacks and threats against him and his family, Strzok wrote the book and spoke out because of the danger Donald Trump poses to our country, according to Peter:
"Without exaggeration, President Trump's counterintelligence vulnerabilities are exponentially greater than [those of] any president in modern history."
Buy the book here:


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--McConnell's 'Skinny' COVID Bill, Which Helps The Coal Industry More Than Hungry Americans, Fails In

McConnell's 'Skinny' COVID Bill, Which Helps The Coal Industry More Than Hungry Americans, Fails In The Senate

It 's been 118 days since the House passed the $ 3 trillion HEROES Act , which Sen. Mitch McConnell has refused to take up , and it 's 20 days until the government runs out of funding with the end of the fiscal year .
Millions of Americans—across the country—say it is likely they will lose their homes in the next two months .
We are in a `` deep state budget crisis '' that is `` causing sizable public-sector job losses , especially in K-12 and higher education . ''
State and local governments are hemorrhaging workers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' bill , to be voted on Thursday , that partially funds school reopening , and does n't do a whole lot else .
Oh , except the coal industry bailout .
There is n't funding to make sure the 14 million children who are food insecure can be fed .
There is n't funding to make sure people do n't lose their homes .
There is n't even the measly second round of $ 1,200 payments to individuals that even the Trump White House wants to see happen .
This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of this writing it 's not even clear that McConnell has 51 Republicans to pass it .
That 's because there are n't 51 Republicans in the Senate who give a damn about your livelihood .
Or your life , for that matter .
This is a $ 500 billion bill—down from the unacceptable $ 1 trillion HEALS Act McConnell tried to push back in July .
It was slashed in half because he really could n't get 51 Republicans behind that figure .
He 's holding this vote , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass the House , for his vulnerable Republicans who feel like they have to have another vote before they go home to campaign .
The outcome matters naught to them .
Just have the vote .
As Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer says , it 's a `` check the box '' vote .
There 's minimal assistance to the unemployed—a $ 300/week bump to replace the $ 600/week enhancement that expired in July .
There 's Payment Protection Program money , allowing companies who 've already gotten one loan to get another .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paycheck Protection Program loan . )
It does not include any aid to state and local governments .
Meaning more people will lose their public sector jobs and more people will be needing unemployment insurance , Medicaid , and food stamps .
More people will lose their homes .
`` Instead of improving their offer , Senate Republicans have made it stingier and even less appropriate to the looming crisis that we have , '' Schumer says of the bill .
`` I 'm not sure what kind of negotiating strategy that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy , and it sure wo n't be successful . ''
The real problem is that McConnell is framing this as the last train out of the station for coronavirus relief before the election .
He fully intends to do no more on the crisis .
UPDATE : The bill failed , as predicted , 52-47 ( it was a cloture vote , needing 60 votes to advance .
Sen. Harris was not there to vote , Sen. Rand Paul voted “ no ” and no Democrats voted with Republicans .
McConnell will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he got more than 51 votes and all he cares about is keeping his conference together .
It does not matter to him that millions of people are facing life and death struggles .

It's been 118 days since the House passed the $3 trillion HEROES Act, which Sen. Mitch McConnell has refused to take up, and it's 20 days until the government runs out of funding with the end of the fiscal year. Millions of Americans—across the country—say it is likely they will lose their homes in the next two months. We are in a "deep state budget crisis" that is "causing sizable public-sector job losses, especially in K-12 and higher education." State and local governments are hemorrhaging workers.
McConnell is responding with a "skinny" bill, to be voted on Thursday, that partially funds school reopening, and doesn't do a whole lot else. Oh, except the coal industry bailout. There isn't funding to make sure the 14 million children who are food insecure can be fed. There isn't funding to make sure people don't lose their homes. There isn't even the measly second round of $1,200 payments to individuals that even the Trump White House wants to see happen. This is a bill entirely negotiated with Republicans, and as of this writing it's not even clear that McConnell has 51 Republicans to pass it. That's because there aren't 51 Republicans in the Senate who give a damn about your livelihood. Or your life, for that matter.
This is a $500 billion bill—down from the unacceptable $1 trillion HEALS Act McConnell tried to push back in July. It was slashed in half because he really couldn't get 51 Republicans behind that figure. He's holding this vote, which is obviously entirely symbolic because it will never pass the House, for his vulnerable Republicans who feel like they have to have another vote before they go home to campaign. The outcome matters naught to them. Just have the vote. As Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer says, it's a "check the box" vote.
There's minimal assistance to the unemployed—a $300/week bump to replace the $600/week enhancement that expired in July. There's Payment Protection Program money, allowing companies who've already gotten one loan to get another. (Disclosure: Kos Media received a Paycheck Protection Program loan.) It does not include any aid to state and local governments. Meaning more people will lose their public sector jobs and more people will be needing unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and food stamps. More people will lose their homes.
"Instead of improving their offer, Senate Republicans have made it stingier and even less appropriate to the looming crisis that we have," Schumer says of the bill. "I'm not sure what kind of negotiating strategy that is, but it sure isn't serious strategy, and it sure won't be successful." The real problem is that McConnell is framing this as the last train out of the station for coronavirus relief before the election. He fully intends to do no more on the crisis.
UPDATE: The bill failed, as predicted, 52-47 (it was a cloture vote, needing 60 votes to advance. Sen. Harris was not there to vote, Sen. Rand Paul voted “no” and no Democrats voted with Republicans. McConnell will call it a “win” because he got more than 51 votes and all he cares about is keeping his conference together. It does not matter to him that millions of people are facing life and death struggles.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Trump Campaign Ad Misspells Nobel Peace Prize

A couple of years ago we found out that Trump 's nomination was forged , twice .
Well , in 2020 Trump gets his nomination from some nutcase in Norway and to celebrate the `` achievement '' they put out this .
So it goes .
It was embarrassing enough this week when President Donald Trump celebrated being put forward for the Nobel Peace Prize by a publicity-hungry anti-immigration crank from Norway .
Now that cringe factor has been turbo-charged by an official Trump campaign ad on social media that managed to misspell Nobel as “ Noble.
” The unintentionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president “ has achieved PEACE in the MIDDLE EAST , ” and attached a graphic of a grinning Trump with the caption : “ President Trump was nominated for the Noble Peace Prize.
” The ad was confirmed as authentic by The Daily Beast .
( Trump himself misspelled it in April in a tweet attacking journalists covering his Russia investigation . )
Even if it was spelled correctly , the nomination is barely worth celebrating .
As has been widely noted , anyone can be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Therefore , all it proved is that one crackpot member of the Norwegian parliament is simultaneously a fan of Trump and cheap publicity .

A couple of years ago we found out that Trump's nomination was forged, twice. Well, in 2020 Trump gets his nomination from some nutcase in Norway and to celebrate the "achievement" they put out this.
So it goes.
Source: Daily Beast


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Trump Admits He Had Time To Watch 8 Hours Of Fox In One Day

Mango Mussolini admits in yesterday 's presser that he has all the time in the world to watch Fox News .
But you knew that .
Transcript via Media Matters .
SO-CALLED PRESIDENT : Now , what the Durham report is going to say , I ca n't tell you .
But if they say half as much as I already know just from seeing it -- you have people -- I watch some of the shows .
I watch Liz MacDonald , she 's fantastic .
I watched Fox Business .
I watched Lou Dobbs last night , Sean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Laura .
I watched `` Fox and Friends '' in the morning .
You watch these shows .
You do n't have to go too far into the details , they cover things that are -- it 's really an amazing thing .
They got caught in the biggest political scandal in the history of our country .
If you 're dying of COVID , behind in your rent , trying to figure out how to feed and educate your kids , just be aware that your so-called president is watching TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confesses to watching eight hours of Fox News last night and this morning .
To quote Republican analysist David Frum : `` If you get all your news from Fox , you know less about what 's going on in the world than if you get no news at all . ''
— Just a Pilgrim on this Road ( @ just_pilgrim ) September 10 , 2020

Mango Mussolini admits in yesterday's presser that he has all the time in the world to watch Fox News. But you knew that. Transcript via Media Matters.
SO-CALLED PRESIDENT: Now, what the Durham report is going to say, I can't tell you. But if they say half as much as I already know just from seeing it -- you have people -- I watch some of the shows. I watch Liz MacDonald, she's fantastic. I watched Fox Business. I watched Lou Dobbs last night, Sean Hannity last night, Tucker last night, Laura. I watched "Fox and Friends" in the morning. You watch these shows. You don't have to go too far into the details, they cover things that are -- it's really an amazing thing. They got caught in the biggest political scandal in the history of our country.
Joe Biden's response on Twitter was sharp af:
More than 1,000 people died from COVID yesterday.@realDonaldTrump watched eight hours of TV.
If I’m president, you might not always agree with me. But I promise you I will always show up and fight for you. pic.twitter.com/HvVJLS83TZ — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 11, 2020
If you're dying of COVID, behind in your rent, trying to figure out how to feed and educate your kids, just be aware that your so-called president is watching TV.
And the day before he tweeted 101 times.
On average, that's 1 tweet every 15 minutes in 24 hours. — 🐶 Dogs CAN sense evil 🐶 America Vote - PLEASE!!! (@MarleyResists) September 11, 2020
In today's presser, Trump confesses to watching eight hours of Fox News last night and this morning. To quote Republican analysist David Frum: "If you get all your news from Fox, you know less about what's going on in the world than if you get no news at all." — Just a Pilgrim on this Road (@just_pilgrim) September 10, 2020
He doesn't. They count television watching, tweeting, getting his hair and makeup done, his time on planes, his eating and golfing. 😂 — Nina (@Ninamarie76) September 11, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Trump Bragged To Woodward About Helping To Cover Up The Murder Of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi

There ’ s no doubt that the recordings made by Bob Woodward of his 18 separate interviews with Donald Trump are going to contain any number of bombshells .
On Tuesday , it was revelations that Trump knew about the danger posed by COVID-19 and deliberately covered up the threat to the American people .
On Thursday , more of Trump ’ s darkest actions are coming to light .
A copy of the book made available to Business Insider makes it clear that Donald Trump was not only aware that Saudi usurper Mohammed bin Salman was behind the kidnapping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and burning of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi : Trump deliberately acted to provide cover for that murder .
In fact , Trump called up Woodward to brag that he had protected bin Salman from investigations by Congress .
`` I saved his ass , '' said Trump .
`` I was able to get Congress to leave him alone .
I was able to get them to stop . ''
To do this , Trump did what he always does—he lied about it .
And he also refused to hand over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The deliberate brutality of Khashoggi ’ s murder can not be exaggerated .
After Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner was suspected of providing bin Salman with a list of Saudi dissidents—a list that may have included Khashoggi—the journalist was lured into the Saudi embassy in Turkey on the pretense of completing some paperwork for his upcoming marriage .
Once inside he was captured by an assassination squad sent by bin Salman .
That squad , who had flown in on a special plane and came equipped with bone saws , beat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fingers as he screamed and the Saudi ambassador complained how how much blood was getting on the floor .
Turkish authorities were aware of the murder within minutes .
A special UN investigation concluded that the blame for the murder , and everything that led up to it , fell squarely on bin Salman .
But Trump refused to hand over a report demanded by the Senate on a bipartisan vote .
Instead of a report , Trump waited until Feb. 8 and then sent Congress a statement that he “ reserved the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When Trump outright thumbed his nose at the authority of the Senate , Republican senators did exactly what they have in every other such instance : nothing .
Exactly nothing .
Maine ’ s Susan Collins didn ’ t even pucker for a finger wag of “ concern.
” Republican Rob Portman did say that Trump owed the Senate a report and that “ We can make a fuss about it.
” There was no fuss .
No muss .
No report .
That refusal to provide a report came three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've gotten involved very much .
I know everything about the whole situation .
`` Trump then reminded Woodward that bin Salman denied any involvement in the murders .
That was when Trump cut off the conversation .
The relationship between Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman predates Trump ’ s time in office .
Trump bypassed the usual allies to make his first outside-the-country trip to Saudi Arabia .
He supported bin Salman in a blockade of U.S. ally Qatar—a blockade that put pressure on that tiny country to the tune of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in an amazing last-minute $ 1.8 billion save of Kushner ’ s failing business .
In addition to refusing to provide the report required by law under the Magnitsky Act , Trump used his veto to block congressional efforts at sanction following Khashoggi ’ s murder .
He also vetoed a bill to end support for bin Salman ’ s war in Yemen , where tens of thousands have died to U.S. bombs sold by Trump on that first official visit .
Trump even used emergency authority to rush another $ 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his supporters , again over bipartisan opposition from Congress .
And again , over ringing Republican silence .
It was always clear that Trump knew bin Salman murdered Khashoggi , because it was always immediately obvious to even the most casual observer .
But what Woodward ’ s book makes clear is just how proud Trump was to support this authoritarian murderer over demands of Congress and attempts to get at the truth .

There’s no doubt that the recordings made by Bob Woodward of his 18 separate interviews with Donald Trump are going to contain any number of bombshells. On Tuesday, it was revelations that Trump knew about the danger posed by COVID-19 and deliberately covered up the threat to the American people. On Thursday, more of Trump’s darkest actions are coming to light.
A copy of the book made available to Business Insider makes it clear that Donald Trump was not only aware that Saudi usurper Mohammed bin Salman was behind the kidnapping, torture, dismemberment, murder, and burning of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi: Trump deliberately acted to provide cover for that murder. In fact, Trump called up Woodward to brag that he had protected bin Salman from investigations by Congress.
"I saved his ass," said Trump. "I was able to get Congress to leave him alone. I was able to get them to stop." To do this, Trump did what he always does—he lied about it. And he also refused to hand over a report that was required by law.
The deliberate brutality of Khashoggi’s murder cannot be exaggerated. After Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner was suspected of providing bin Salman with a list of Saudi dissidents—a list that may have included Khashoggi—the journalist was lured into the Saudi embassy in Turkey on the pretense of completing some paperwork for his upcoming marriage. Once inside he was captured by an assassination squad sent by bin Salman. That squad, who had flown in on a special plane and came equipped with bone saws, beat and tortured Khashoggi, including clipping off his fingers as he screamed and the Saudi ambassador complained how how much blood was getting on the floor.
Turkish authorities were aware of the murder within minutes. A special UN investigation concluded that the blame for the murder, and everything that led up to it, fell squarely on bin Salman. But Trump refused to hand over a report demanded by the Senate on a bipartisan vote. Instead of a report, Trump waited until Feb. 8 and then sent Congress a statement that he “reserved the right to decline” doing an investigation.
When Trump outright thumbed his nose at the authority of the Senate, Republican senators did exactly what they have in every other such instance: nothing. Exactly nothing. Maine’s Susan Collins didn’t even pucker for a finger wag of “concern.” Republican Rob Portman did say that Trump owed the Senate a report and that “We can make a fuss about it.” There was no fuss. No muss. No report.
That refusal to provide a report came three weeks after Trump told Woodward, “I've gotten involved very much. I know everything about the whole situation.
"Trump then reminded Woodward that bin Salman denied any involvement in the murders.
Woodward: "Do you believe that he did it?" Trump: "No, he says that he didn't do it.” Woodward: "I know, but do you really believe—"
That was when Trump cut off the conversation.
The relationship between Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman predates Trump’s time in office. Trump bypassed the usual allies to make his first outside-the-country trip to Saudi Arabia. He supported bin Salman in a blockade of U.S. ally Qatar—a blockade that put pressure on that tiny country to the tune of $20 billion a month, and resulted in an amazing last-minute $1.8 billion save of Kushner’s failing business. In addition to refusing to provide the report required by law under the Magnitsky Act, Trump used his veto to block congressional efforts at sanction following Khashoggi’s murder. He also vetoed a bill to end support for bin Salman’s war in Yemen, where tens of thousands have died to U.S. bombs sold by Trump on that first official visit. Trump even used emergency authority to rush another $8 billion worth of arms to bin Salman and his supporters, again over bipartisan opposition from Congress. And again, over ringing Republican silence.
It was always clear that Trump knew bin Salman murdered Khashoggi, because it was always immediately obvious to even the most casual observer. But what Woodward’s book makes clear is just how proud Trump was to support this authoritarian murderer over demands of Congress and attempts to get at the truth.
“Saudi Arabia—and I get along great with all of them. They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much.” —Donald Trump, at a campaign rally in 2015
Republished with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Stable Genius Invents Imaginary Auto Plants That He 'Brought Back To US'

No , there has been a net loss of auto plants in the US during the Trump administration .
But Stable Genius opened his Michigan rally last night with , `` '' We brought you a lot of car plants , Michigan .
We brought you a lot of car plants .
You know that , right ?
... You better vote for me ; I got you so many damn car plants . ''
Does Donald Trump believe the s**t that comes outta his mouth ?
Steve Benen at Maddowblog is asking the same question : All of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington Post examined the boasts in more detail .
The newspaper found that there have been no new plants built in Ohio , North Carolina , or South Carolina in the Trump era ; investments in auto manufacturing actually slowed after Trump took office as compared to a comparable period from Barack Obama 's second term ; and `` there 's no evidence that Trump 's threat of tariffs led to more auto investment . ''
I have no idea whether the president believes his own nonsense .
It 's possible that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true , but he 's hoping to fool just enough for voters to help him stay in power .
But it would also be consistent with Trump 's style if he convinced himself that his falsehoods were factual .
He likes the idea of new plants , so he tells the public that the imagined new plants exist , and he starts to believe that the non-existent new plants are actually there .

No, there has been a net loss of auto plants in the US during the Trump administration.
But Stable Genius opened his Michigan rally last night with, ""We brought you a lot of car plants, Michigan. We brought you a lot of car plants. You know that, right? ...You better vote for me; I got you so many damn car plants."
Does Donald Trump believe the s**t that comes outta his mouth? Steve Benen at Maddowblog is asking the same question:
All of this sounded quite impressive, right up until the Washington Post examined the boasts in more detail. The newspaper found that there have been no new plants built in Ohio, North Carolina, or South Carolina in the Trump era; investments in auto manufacturing actually slowed after Trump took office as compared to a comparable period from Barack Obama's second term; and "there's no evidence that Trump's threat of tariffs led to more auto investment." I have no idea whether the president believes his own nonsense. It's possible that he realizes none of these claims is true, but he's hoping to fool just enough for voters to help him stay in power. But it would also be consistent with Trump's style if he convinced himself that his falsehoods were factual. He likes the idea of new plants, so he tells the public that the imagined new plants exist, and he starts to believe that the non-existent new plants are actually there.
I could care less about a Teleprompter. I care more about the lie of 200 new auto plants opening up in Michigan. That’s a complete lie and everyone knows it.
instead of drinking bleach maybe he could drink the flint Michigan water. — Walter (@wallydog12967) September 11, 2020
What exactly is he claiming ?
They opened 200 Auto plants and 200 Auto parts plants ?
400 plants ?
I expect most of the crowd doesn't care as long as they get to shout 'Lock her up' or some such nonsense. — Young Frank Einstein (@nochalbestiny) September 11, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Friday News Dump: Trump Siphons $4M From 9/11 Healthcare Program, And Other News

The Orange Mango is just completely indifferent to the needs of anyone but himself , and September 11th is a perfect example : Willie Nelson has often told of smoking marijuana on the roof of the White House at the tail end of Carter ’ s term in 1980 .
Willie said that his companion that shared the pot with him was one of the servants at the White House .
Jimmy Carter corrects the record : https : //t.co/wPXvobXZC4 My new column : on Woodward , Trump 's cynicism , & whether you should be mad at all those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have the courage to speak out publicly https : //t.co/0vC8eRQJsS Proportional representation in Austria seems like a reasonable model of how the US would turn out : Center-right : 34 % Center-left : 25 % Far-right : 23 % Libertarians : 7 % Greens : 8 % , but split between multiple parties due to infighting that cost them most of their seats last cycle .
https : //t.co/g1kUV1nNAa I have 1.1 million Facebook followers .
Almost all are Trump supporters .
They used to be my supporters .
I posted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Almost every response accused me of lying .
That it was only like 10,000 dead .
That CDC said only 6 % REALLY died from Covid .
So sad .
https : //t.co/i0Df2Jg0C4 The best story I ’ ve ever read about the horrors of Sept. 11 , one I revisit at this time every year .
It has lost none of its impact with the passage of time .
DEPT .
OF 'WE NEED THESE MOMENTS MORE THAN EVER' These ppl found a baby goat trapped in a pit .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overnite .
The next day they tried to find the owner but had no luck .
While looking - they found a group of goats with the same white fur .
Then this happened .
Humanity.🌎❤pic.twitter.com/tMR4hqmedY Have a wonderful weekend !
Wear your masks and be kind to others .
Be really careful filling out your ballots , we 're almost there :

The Orange Mango is just completely indifferent to the needs of anyone but himself, and September 11th is a perfect example:
EXCLUSIVE | The Trump administration has secretly siphoned nearly $4 million away from a program that tracks and treats FDNY firefighters and medics suffering from 9/11 related illnesses. https://t.co/FwDPsNL9WK — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) September 10, 2020
Donald Trump and 9/11: the lies, exaggerations and eye-popping claims https://t.co/e5Wg3r8uxW — Suburban Guerrilla Ω (@SusieMadrak) September 11, 2020
Regular reminder that Trump profited off of 9/11, bragged about how now his building was the tallest in Manhattan hours after the attack, and told a bunch of lies about how he “helped” https://t.co/QOurSmStir — Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) September 11, 2020
A reminder: Trump's long history of lying about 9/11 and exploiting it for personal gain. https://t.co/4mWwyPM5av — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 11, 2020
******************
Willie Nelson has often told of smoking marijuana on the roof of the White House at the tail end of Carter’s term in 1980. Willie said that his companion that shared the pot with him was one of the servants at the White House. Jimmy Carter corrects the record: https://t.co/wPXvobXZC4 — Sanho Tree (@SanhoTree) September 11, 2020
Michael Cohen: "If he wins, he's going to automatically Day # 1 start thinking about how he can change the Constitution for a third term and then a fourth term." https://t.co/9Ldj2OpQZg pic.twitter.com/y162hucmjQ — The Hill (@thehill) September 11, 2020
My new column:
on Woodward, Trump's cynicism, & whether you should be mad at all those Trump enablers who talk anonymously but do not have the courage to speak out publicly https://t.co/0vC8eRQJsS — Susan Glasser (@sbg1) September 11, 2020
Last night at the Trump Hotel in Washington, DC pic.twitter.com/rS1mNS0QQJ — David Corn (@DavidCornDC) September 11, 2020
Proportional representation in Austria seems like a reasonable model of how the US would turn out:
Center-right: 34%
Center-left: 25%
Far-right: 23%
Libertarians: 7%
Greens: 8%, but split between multiple parties due to infighting that cost them most of their seats last cycle. https://t.co/g1kUV1nNAa — (((David Shor))) (@davidshor) February 8, 2019
As NYC gears up to begin indoor dining on Sept. 30, @CDCgov study shows link between restaurant visits and symptoms: "Case-patients were more likely to have reported dining at a restaurant....in the 2 weeks before illness onset."https://t.co/G0lPMkFu65https://t.co/SJzGHAiCDf — Jesse McKinley (@jessemckinley) September 11, 2020
Don't underestimate the virus & stick to the science — Tony Fauci talks about lessons learned to date about #Covid19 in a medical grand rounds at Harvard Medical School. https://t.co/UPTIXtixCo — Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) September 10, 2020
Precipitation in August was in the driest third of the historical record, NOAA says. Minimal precipitation in the Pacific Northwest, parts of the Midwest, Southern Plains, the Rockies and Southwest. #drought #ClimateChange #wildfires pic.twitter.com/Nir6UDFKJy — Tom Frank (@ByTomFrank) September 11, 2020
When >100 Stanford faculty sound alarm about a fellow at a Stanford institution, its time to pay careful attention. They write that newest WH advisor, Dr Scott Atlas has misrepresented science in ways that could "lead to immense avoidable harm." https://t.co/YQBgvPa32S — Tom Inglesby (@T_Inglesby) September 10, 2020
Remember the sky that day? It was what pilots call "severe clear." So, so blue. This is one of the best pieces of public art, created in response to the day:https://t.co/3hA1sYKGpn — Suburban Guerrilla Ω (@SusieMadrak) September 11, 2020
Some days I wonder why I bothered getting out of bed at all. https://t.co/p6tiKBbnhv — Melissa Ryan (@MelissaRyan) September 11, 2020
Joe Biden, doing that thing that Joe Biden does, but that we haven’t seen much of during the pandemic pic.twitter.com/J9W0rnN2Bq — Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) September 11, 2020
I have 1.1 million Facebook followers. Almost all are Trump supporters. They used to be my supporters. I posted the updated Covid #’s 192,000 dead. Almost every response accused me of lying. That it was only like 10,000 dead. That CDC said only 6% REALLY died from Covid.
So sad. — Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) September 11, 2020
so portland faces potential evacuation and white house response appears to be "sucks to be you" https://t.co/bbNOoIUabg — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 11, 2020
Up against a deadline next week for sending out nearly one million absentee ballots, elections officials in Wisconsin were ordered by the state Supreme Court to temporarily suspend mailing them so a lawsuit over candidate eligibility could be resolved.https://t.co/7JbTq5iPkQ — The New York Times (@nytimes) September 10, 2020
.@Acosta: "Why are you not wearing a mask?"
Trump supporter: "BECAUSE THERE'S NO COVID!" 😯 pic.twitter.com/eUjPia2xKb — Matt Rogers 🗳 (@Politidope) September 11, 2020
It’s like Trump is tryin’ to lose. https://t.co/1Uulmmg1T6 — Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) September 11, 2020
Vibranium particles are sandy, and can act as smart particles to form real life structures, communication devices, weapons etc - theres some really interesting articles about the real life science Coogler used to portray it https://t.co/RDi98uzTcI — Richie Nakano (@linecook) September 10, 2020
September 2001.
September 2020.
The only black-border TIME covers in the magazine’s history. pic.twitter.com/m0grsmalLZ — ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) September 11, 2020
https://t.co/i0Df2Jg0C4
The best story I’ve ever read about the horrors of Sept. 11, one I revisit at this time every year. It has lost none of its impact with the passage of time. — Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) September 10, 2020
Sorry, no. If your university COVID plan hinges on students not drinking and partying, it’s not a “great plan.” https://t.co/cfN2uKqhkC — Jeremy Konyndyk (@JeremyKonyndyk) September 11, 2020
Lyrics of Fortunate Son
"Some folks are born, silver spoon in hand
Lord, don't they help themselves, y'all
But when the taxman comes to the door
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yeah" https://t.co/KxI04p4YT2 — Mark Elliott (@markmobility) September 11, 2020
"Take it out": On 9/11, Dick Cheney’s harrowing orders to shoot down U.S. airliners https://t.co/AbfJixFLV3 — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 11, 2020
Here's the stop-motion video BB talked about earlier @wxpnfm for #yusufCatStevens' re-do of "Father & Son"- https://t.co/xVJIPJPmMs — XPN Morning Show (@xpnmorningshow) September 11, 2020
Rudy Giuliani has apparently been in cahoots with a full-blown Russian spy this whole time.
A KGB-trained Russian agent was slapped with U.S. sanctions for allegedly orchestrating a baseless smear campaign against Joe Biden.https://t.co/zY1LOrCWEd — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) September 10, 2020
@doctorow Straight outta 1984... “Education Department to Scrutinize Employee Book Clubs for ‘Anti-American Propaganda’” https://t.co/rrmEJbD1Ui — Agarthan Nephilim (@agarthan) September 11, 2020
DEPT. OF 'WE NEED THESE MOMENTS MORE THAN EVER'
My Pet Duck. Only in New York. pic.twitter.com/MdiN9QgrPg — gregarious (@mistergeezy) September 11, 2020
Just love Dave Grohl so much 10-yr-old drum prodigy challenged Dave Grohl to a drum battle, and it's SO fun to watch - Upworthy https://t.co/BSOSxl5Wxf — North Texas Progressive (@NTXProgressive) September 5, 2020
These ppl found a baby goat trapped in a pit. They took him home & cared for him overnite.
The next day they tried to find the owner but had no luck. While looking - they found a group of goats with the same white fur.
Then this happened.
Humanity.🌎❤pic.twitter.com/tMR4hqmedY — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) September 10, 2020
this is fiona, she made a new friend today
(viralhog) pic.twitter.com/j0kaO5DsKQ — Humor And Animals (@humorandanimals) September 5, 2020
Denver is sending mental health experts instead of cops in response to nonviolent calls.https://t.co/aC2JZerEjd pic.twitter.com/cS3HrFXoje — Upworthy (@Upworthy) September 9, 2020
Have a wonderful weekend! Wear your masks and be kind to others. Be really careful filling out your ballots, we're almost there:


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Republican Rally-Goers Don't Care If They're Superspreaders Because Trump Is King

[ Above , Jim Acosta interviews maskless Trump rally-goers , who are defiant against charges they may be spreading a deadly virus .
-- eds ] The lack of both face masks and social distancing on display at President Donald Trump 's packed campaign rally in Freeland , Michigan Thursday evening deeply alarmed epidemiologists , journalists , and other observers who warned the gathering could turn out to be a Covid-19 `` superspreader event '' that endangers the lives of the thousands of attendees and those they come in contact with in the near future .
Reporters covering the rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to note the lack of face coverings in the crowd of more than 5,000 Michiganders who assembled in support of Trump 's reelection bid just 24 hours after the president admitted he has been downplaying the severity of the virus from the start because he did n't `` want people to be frightened . ''
`` This is the crap that makes grown epidemiologists cry , '' epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding , a fellow at the Federation of American Scientists , said in response to photos emerging from the campaign event , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to state health officials , more than 120,000 Michiganders have contracted Covid-19 and at least 6,900 have died .
Several rally attendees expressed complete indifference about the threat the event posed to their own health and that of others , with one Trump supporter telling CNN 's Jim Acosta , `` There 's no Covid . ''
`` It 's a fake pandemic created to destroy the United States of America , '' the man said .
Another supporter of the president told Acosta that he is `` not afraid '' of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes care of me . ''
`` If I die , I die , '' the man added .
`` We got ta get this country moving . ''
Veteran Michigan reporter and New York Times correspondent Kathy Gray said Trump campaign officials tracked her down and escorted her out of the event after she tweeted pictures of rallygoers without face coverings .
Gray estimated that `` maybe 10 % '' of the thousands of attendees were wearing face coverings .
`` I 've just been kicked out of the Trump rally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his rambling and lie-filled speech Thursday , Trump bragged about the number of people who turned out for the event without voicing any public health concerns , declaring , `` This is not the crowd of a person who comes in second place . ''
Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D-Calif. ) warned during the rally that `` the lives of everyone in these photos—and of everyone they come into contact with in the next few weeks—are now at risk .
But Donald Trump does n't care , so long as his ego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Free Press reported , the dangerously crowded Trump rally was `` in stark contrast '' to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's visit to the state on Wednesday .
`` That speech was closed to the public , '' the Free Press reported , `` with media and a handful of attendees asked to remain in chairs spaced throughout a parking lot . ''

[Above, Jim Acosta interviews maskless Trump rally-goers, who are defiant against charges they may be spreading a deadly virus. -- eds]
The lack of both face masks and social distancing on display at President Donald Trump's packed campaign rally in Freeland, Michigan Thursday evening deeply alarmed epidemiologists, journalists, and other observers who warned the gathering could turn out to be a Covid-19 "superspreader event" that endangers the lives of the thousands of attendees and those they come in contact with in the near future.
Reporters covering the rally on the ground in Freeland were quick to note the lack of face coverings in the crowd of more than 5,000 Michiganders who assembled in support of Trump's reelection bid just 24 hours after the president admitted he has been downplaying the severity of the virus from the start because he didn't "want people to be frightened."
"This is the crap that makes grown epidemiologists cry," epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding, a fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, said in response to photos emerging from the campaign event, which was held at a Freeland aircraft hangar. According to state health officials, more than 120,000 Michiganders have contracted Covid-19 and at least 6,900 have died.
Several rally attendees expressed complete indifference about the threat the event posed to their own health and that of others, with one Trump supporter telling CNN's Jim Acosta, "There's no Covid."
"It's a fake pandemic created to destroy the United States of America," the man said.
Another supporter of the president told Acosta that he is "not afraid" of the virus because "the good lord takes care of me."
"If I die, I die," the man added. "We gotta get this country moving."
Veteran Michigan reporter and New York Times correspondent Kathy Gray said Trump campaign officials tracked her down and escorted her out of the event after she tweeted pictures of rallygoers without face coverings. Gray estimated that "maybe 10%" of the thousands of attendees were wearing face coverings.
"I've just been kicked out of the Trump rally," wrote Gray.
Crammed in crowd in the rain for trump rally in michigan. Not many masks pic.twitter.com/5DZ6JBVNK8 — Kathy Gray (@michpoligal) September 10, 2020
At one point during his rambling and lie-filled speech Thursday, Trump bragged about the number of people who turned out for the event without voicing any public health concerns, declaring, "This is not the crowd of a person who comes in second place."
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) warned during the rally that "the lives of everyone in these photos—and of everyone they come into contact with in the next few weeks—are now at risk. But Donald Trump doesn't care, so long as his ego is fed."
As the Detroit Free Press reported, the dangerously crowded Trump rally was "in stark contrast" to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's visit to the state on Wednesday.
"That speech was closed to the public," the Free Press reported, "with media and a handful of attendees asked to remain in chairs spaced throughout a parking lot."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons License.


crooksandliars--2020-09-11--Reality Check: Memories Of Donald Trump And His Lies About 9/11

New Day 's Alysin Camerota introduced John Avlon 's look back at 9/11 and Donald Trump .
`` Today is September 11th , and you are looking at live pictures of the Pentagon .
This morning , Washington and Shanksville , Pennsylvania , and New York City commemorate the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on this day 19 years ago , '' she said .
`` President Trump was in New York during that terrible time and he has told stories about his experience , but his stories about those days often include conspiracy theories .
They remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was working for Rudy Giuliani at that time , has a reality check about all of this . ''
`` We see a president who likes to talk tough about radical Islamic terrorism , insulting the courage of the soldiers and generals who have been fighting the war on terror ever since .
So let 's look back to see what Donald Trump was doing on 9/11 , after the first responders ran into the fire . ''
40 Wall Street actually was the second tallest building in downtown Manhattan .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he managed to use a tragic terrorist attack in real time to pump up the size of his skyscraper .
Years later , Trump bragged about being on the rubble of Ground Zero . ''
Everyone who helped clear the rubble , and I was there , and I watched , and I helped a little bit , you did n't know what was going to come down on all of us .
`` There 's no record of Donald Trump being at the pile at Ground Zero , but maybe he 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
It 's a common rich guy mistake .
But even that claim , that Trump paid hundreds of guys to search through the rubble after the attack , would have to be false , because the Ground Zero perimeter was restricted in the days after the attacks .
I remember , because I was working at City Hall at the time .
`` Trump said he saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating the attacks .
There 's no evidence this happened .
Trump said he 'd donate $ 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's no record of that .
There 's actually no record of 9/11-related donations from the alleged billionaire before he ran for president .
And with so many firefighter funerals held at St. Patrick 's cathedral , just four blocks from Trump Tower , there 's also no record of Trump attending a service to pay his respects .
`` So if you 're surprised by the Atlantic 's reporting that President Trump said American soldiers who died in wars are losers and suckers and did n't want to see disabled vets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denigrated dead Marines buried in a World War I cemetery , or that he stood next to his former chief of staff , John Kelly , at the grave of his son , Robert Kelly , who died in Afghanistan , and said , ' I do n't get it .
What was in it for them ? '
, well , you 're right to be outraged , but you have n't within paying attention .
`` Because this is a guy who has a long history of insulting military heroes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bush to Admiral McCraven to the gold star Khan family .
This is a guy who dodged the draft during Vietnam , who calls his general slang for female genitalia for standing by our allies while he negotiates with the Taliban , abandoned the Kurds in Syria and puts 14,000 new troops in the Middle East .
Team Trump will deny it all , just like they desperately tried to deny Trump 's comments caught on tape .
`` But do n't believe it for a second .
Because all the evidence suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirit of sacrifice , because it 's never been about public service .
It 's always been about himself .
And that 's your reality check . ''

New Day's Alysin Camerota introduced John Avlon's look back at 9/11 and Donald Trump.
"Today is September 11th, and you are looking at live pictures of the Pentagon. This morning, Washington and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and New York City commemorate the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on this day 19 years ago," she said.
"President Trump was in New York during that terrible time and he has told stories about his experience, but his stories about those days often include conspiracy theories. They remain unproven. CNN's John Avlon, who was working for Rudy Giuliani at that time, has a reality check about all of this."
"Today marks 19 years since 9/11," Avlon said.
"We see a president who likes to talk tough about radical Islamic terrorism, insulting the courage of the soldiers and generals who have been fighting the war on terror ever since. So let's look back to see what Donald Trump was doing on 9/11, after the first responders ran into the fire."
40 Wall Street actually was the second tallest building in downtown Manhattan. Now it's the tallest.
Yes, he managed to use a tragic terrorist attack in real time to pump up the size of his skyscraper. Years later, Trump bragged about being on the rubble of Ground Zero."
Everyone who helped clear the rubble, and I was there, and I watched, and I helped a little bit, you didn't know what was going to come down on all of us.
"There's no record of Donald Trump being at the pile at Ground Zero, but maybe he's conflating himself with people who work for him. It's a common rich guy mistake. But even that claim, that Trump paid hundreds of guys to search through the rubble after the attack, would have to be false, because the Ground Zero perimeter was restricted in the days after the attacks. I remember, because I was working at City Hall at the time.
"Trump said he saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating the attacks. There's no evidence this happened. Trump said he'd donate $10,000 to the Twin Towers fund. There's no record of that. There's actually no record of 9/11-related donations from the alleged billionaire before he ran for president. And with so many firefighter funerals held at St. Patrick's cathedral, just four blocks from Trump Tower, there's also no record of Trump attending a service to pay his respects.
"So if you're surprised by the Atlantic's reporting that President Trump said American soldiers who died in wars are losers and suckers and didn't want to see disabled vets in his military parades, or that he denigrated dead Marines buried in a World War I cemetery, or that he stood next to his former chief of staff, John Kelly, at the grave of his son, Robert Kelly, who died in Afghanistan, and said, 'I don't get it. What was in it for them?', well, you're right to be outraged, but you haven't within paying attention.
"Because this is a guy who has a long history of insulting military heroes, from John McCain to George H.W. Bush to Admiral McCraven to the gold star Khan family. This is a guy who dodged the draft during Vietnam, who calls his general slang for female genitalia for standing by our allies while he negotiates with the Taliban, abandoned the Kurds in Syria and puts 14,000 new troops in the Middle East. Team Trump will deny it all, just like they desperately tried to deny Trump's comments caught on tape.
"But don't believe it for a second. Because all the evidence suggests that Donald Trump doesn't understand the spirit of sacrifice, because it's never been about public service. It's always been about himself. And that's your reality check."