crooksandliars--2020-08-16--White Man Gets Scolded For Assaulting 'Nazis' At BLM Protest: 'Black People Are Going To Get Blamed'

A white Black Lives Matter activist was castigated by a Black man after he brought a baseball bat to a @ @ @ @ @ captured by Jorge Ventura shows a group of Black Lives Matter activists forcing several white @ @ @ @ @ to as Nazis , to leave the area where they are protesting .
One white @ @ @ @ @ into the men , forcing them to move forward .
As the video continues , @ @ @ @ @ men who are being pursued flee the scene .
In a second video , a @ @ @ @ @ scolding the white man who had used the baseball bat on the so-called Nazis .
@ @ @ @ @ , you know what I did ? ''
the Black man shouts .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ office .
I do n't bring that shit down here .
Realize what 's going @ @ @ @ @ going to get blamed for that .
They are going to sit up here and @ @ @ @ @ protest . ''

A white Black Lives Matter activist was castigated by a Black man after he brought a baseball bat to a protest in Portland.
Video captured by Jorge Ventura shows a group of Black Lives Matter activists forcing several white men, who were referred to as Nazis, to leave the area where they are protesting. One white man repeatedly pushes a bat into the men, forcing them to move forward.
As the video continues, the confrontation escalates until the men who are being pursued flee the scene.
In a second video, a Black man can be seen scolding the white man who had used the baseball bat on the so-called Nazis.
"I got a gun, you know what I did?" the Black man shouts. "I left that shit in my office. I don't bring that shit down here. Realize what's going to happen... Black people going to get blamed for that. They are going to sit up here and change the narrative of this protest."
Watch the video clips below.
BLM supporter assaults counter-protester with baseball bat. Portland PD declare riot moments after. #Portland pic.twitter.com/DUBvFVv9Vv — Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) August 16, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-08-16--Jared Kushner Tries To Change Subject On CBS Host After She Asks About COVID-19

White House adviser Jared Kushner appeared to be irritated with CBS host Margaret Brennan on Sunday after she asked about COVID-19 and President Donald Trump 's crusade against mail-in voting .
Brennan began her interview with Kushner by offering her condolences on the loss of the president 's brother , Robert Trump .
`` Obviously a very tough moment for the president , but he is looking forward to continuing to do great things and make his brother proud , '' Kushner said .
The CBS host went on to press Kushner about his role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has control of the virus , and what do you think you 've done wrong ? ''
Brennan wondered .
After several more questions about the pandemic , Kushner tried to push back .
`` I came on today to talk about the historic breakthrough that the president achieved for peace in the Middle East , '' the president 's adviser complained .
`` This has been a strategy we 've been working on for the past three and a half years . ''
Brennan , however , pressed Kushner about whether he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school in person .
`` Children have a six times higher chance to die from the flu than from the coronavirus , '' Kushner opined .
`` So based on the data I 've seen , I do n't believe that is a risk . ''
Kushner also revealed that he would be sending his children to a school that is not open for a full five days a week .
`` I want to ask you about the election before we go to the Middle East , '' Brennan said , further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are you worried you may disfranchise some of your voters by not giving aid to the postal service now ? ''
`` I 'll give you a quick answer on that , '' Kushner offered .
`` I have a friend in New Jersey who just got married , and she got sent two ballots , one in her old name and one in her new name .
I think what President Trump wants is a fair system . ''
`` You 're not afraid this could backfire on your own campaign ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we have a great operation .
We 're very confident .
We 're in much better shape than in 2016 , '' Kushner shot back .
`` We think we have a great opportunity .
Again , just like President Trump achieved the historic Middle East deal , which I hope we 'll get to talk about . ''
Brennan finally turned to the subject of the Middle East , but Kushner was not happy when she observed that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians `` remains unaddressed with what you just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very negative framing , '' he insisted .
Read the transcript of Jared Kushner 's interview on CBS .

White House adviser Jared Kushner appeared to be irritated with CBS host Margaret Brennan on Sunday after she asked about COVID-19 and President Donald Trump's crusade against mail-in voting.
Brennan began her interview with Kushner by offering her condolences on the loss of the president's brother, Robert Trump.
"Obviously a very tough moment for the president, but he is looking forward to continuing to do great things and make his brother proud," Kushner said.
The CBS host went on to press Kushner about his role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Do you believe the administration has control of the virus, and what do you think you've done wrong?" Brennan wondered.
After several more questions about the pandemic, Kushner tried to push back.
"I came on today to talk about the historic breakthrough that the president achieved for peace in the Middle East," the president's adviser complained. "This has been a strategy we've been working on for the past three and a half years."
Brennan, however, pressed Kushner about whether he would be sending his children back to school in person.
"Children have a six times higher chance to die from the flu than from the coronavirus," Kushner opined. "So based on the data I've seen, I don't believe that is a risk."
Kushner also revealed that he would be sending his children to a school that is not open for a full five days a week.
"I want to ask you about the election before we go to the Middle East," Brennan said, further frustrating the White House adviser. "Are you worried you may disfranchise some of your voters by not giving aid to the postal service now?"
"I'll give you a quick answer on that," Kushner offered. "I have a friend in New Jersey who just got married, and she got sent two ballots, one in her old name and one in her new name. I think what President Trump wants is a fair system."
"You're not afraid this could backfire on your own campaign?" Brennan asked again.
"Look, we have a great operation. We're very confident. We're in much better shape than in 2016," Kushner shot back. "We think we have a great opportunity. Again, just like President Trump achieved the historic Middle East deal, which I hope we'll get to talk about."
Brennan finally turned to the subject of the Middle East, but Kushner was not happy when she observed that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians "remains unaddressed with what you just negotiated."
"That's a very negative framing," he insisted.
Read the transcript of Jared Kushner's interview on CBS.


crooksandliars--2020-08-16--ICE Officers 'Systematically' Sexually Assault Detainees In El Paso Detention Center, Lawyers Say

This article is co-published with The Texas Tribune , a nonprofit , nonpartisan local newsroom that informs and engages with Texans .
Sign up for The Brief weekly to get up to speed on their essential coverage of Texas issues .
Guards in an immigrant detention center in El Paso sexually assaulted and harassed inmates in a “ pattern and practice ” of abuse , according to a complaint filed by a Texas advocacy group urging the local district attorney and federal prosecutors to conduct a criminal investigation .
The allegations , detailed in a filing first obtained by ProPublica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guards systematically assaulted at least three people in a facility overseen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement — often in areas of the detention center not visible to security cameras .
The guards told victims that no one would believe them because footage did not exist and the harassment involved officers as high-ranking as a lieutenant .
According to the complaint filed with the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Office of Inspector General and shared with prosecutors , several guards “ forcibly ” kissed and touched the intimate parts of at least one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — meaning investigators could lose a key witness .
Her attorneys have requested that immigration officials pause her deportation pending a review of the matter .
The woman said in a telephone interview that she would rather return to Mexico , even though she is in danger there .
She said she worried about being targeted in the detention center for speaking up about the abuse .
“ It ’ s going to get worse now , ” she said .
“ I can ’ t handle this anymore.
” Since the complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including one who is currently detained in the El Paso facility and one who was previously held there , have come forward with abuse allegations .
At least one other woman was deported after a guard assaulted her , detainees told lawyers .
An El Paso County District Attorney ’ s Office spokesperson said that the agency had forwarded “ potentially criminal allegations ” to the DHS ’ Office of Inspector General , which did not respond to emails seeking comment .
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had received the complaint and takes allegations of “ misconduct by public officials extremely seriously.
” A spokesperson for ICE wrote in an email that the agency was aware of the accusations and that they would be investigated , including by its Office of Professional Responsibility .
A 2003 law intended to protect against such abuses sets stringent standards for detention facilities .
ICE has “ zero tolerance for any form of sexual abuse or assault against individuals in the agency ’ s custody and takes very seriously all allegations of employee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When substantiated , appropriate action is taken.
” A spokesperson for Global Precision Systems , a subsidiary of Bering Straits Native Corporation , which contracts with ICE to run the El Paso facility , wrote in an email that she could not comment on pending legal matters .
The El Paso allegations are the latest instance of sexual abuse complaints related to detention centers run by ICE , which imprisons about 50,000 immigrants across the country each year — mostly through contractors at a taxpayer expense of almost $ 2.7 billion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse were lodged against ICE between 2010 and 2016 , according to federal data obtained by the advocacy group Freedom for Immigrants .
The group found that only a small fraction were investigated by the Office of Inspector General .
In 2018 , the most updated statistics available online , ICE reported 374 formal accusations of sexual assault , of which 48 were substantiated by the agency and 29 remained pending an investigation as of that year .
Most recently , in a May federal court filing in Houston , a Mexican woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility there in 2018 when she and two female detainees were moved to an isolated cell .
Around midnight , three men wearing facial coverings entered the cell .
They raped and beat them , according to the complaint .
The immigrants were bused to Mexico hours later , where the woman eventually discovered she was pregnant from the assault .
A spokesperson for the company overseeing that detention center , CoreCivic , denied the allegations , calling them “ slanderous.
” The woman ’ s attorney , Michelle Simpson Tuegel , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s stay in ICE detention .
The civil lawsuit is ongoing .
The El Paso accusations that are the subject of this latest complaint to authorities came to light when one of the women , a 32-year-old Salvadoran , was released because of a medical condition and told an attorney that she feared for the detainees still there .
“ She was that disturbed by what was happening , ” said Linda Corchado , director of legal services for Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center , who filed the complaint .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women are.
” She said they are especially vulnerable because many will probably be deported , making it more unlikely that their abusers face consequences .
The Salvadoran woman told Corchado that she was detained in the El Paso facility for about three months where she was repeatedly harassed .
A guard said that if she would “ fool around ” with him he would give her clean uniforms and soap .
He told her that he would pay her “ a lot of money ” to meet him for sex in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other officers also repeatedly targeted her , according to the complaint .
One sent her messages through other women even after she was released .
She said in a telephone interview that guards encouraged women to sign up for anti-anxiety medication and antidepressants because they oversee the dispensing of medication at night and have access to an enclosed off-camera area .
“ Most women who are still there are scared of saying anything , ” she said .
“ You don ’ t know what they can do.
” A male detainee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laundering , said that an officer in the detention center stared at him while rubbing his genitals as he showered in July , according to the complaint .
After he reported the incident to a captain , the detainee was placed in solitary confinement .
He began a hunger strike and was transferred to another ICE facility .
Lawyers said that he speaks English and is better able to advocate for himself than most of the female victims , who speak only Spanish .
The woman who remains in the El Paso detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a 35-year-old mother from Mexico who was charged with a drug-related crime and illegally entering the country .
During her 11 months in the ICE facility , she told lawyers that two guards assaulted her .
In November , an officer touched her private areas and kissed her while she was in an area not visible to cameras .
The assault happened as she was walking back from the medical unit to her barrack .
Days later , the guard did so again .
“ If she behaved , ” he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ he would help her be released.
” He stared at her through a window while she used the bathroom .
When she complained to a captain , she said he dismissed her .
She said she did not see that officer for several months but that he later returned , becoming “ increasingly aggressive and intimidating.
” “ She has lived in constant panic that he may do something against her again , ” according to the document .
The woman said another officer also assaulted her at least twice in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and kissing her .
These attacks also happened when she was returning from the medical unit to her cell .
A lieutenant passed messages through her to other detained women .
If she reported them , an officer warned , “ No one would believe her.
” Do you have access to information about sexual assault or harassment in the El Paso ICE detention center or any ICE detention centers ?
Email lomi.kriel @ propublica.org .
Here ’ s how to send tips and documents to ProPublica securely .
For more coverage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration .
Republished with permission from ProPublica under Creative Commons .

This article is co-published with The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan local newsroom that informs and engages with Texans. Sign up for The Brief weekly to get up to speed on their essential coverage of Texas issues.
Guards in an immigrant detention center in El Paso sexually assaulted and harassed inmates in a “pattern and practice” of abuse, according to a complaint filed by a Texas advocacy group urging the local district attorney and federal prosecutors to conduct a criminal investigation.
The allegations, detailed in a filing first obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, maintain that guards systematically assaulted at least three people in a facility overseen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement — often in areas of the detention center not visible to security cameras. The guards told victims that no one would believe them because footage did not exist and the harassment involved officers as high-ranking as a lieutenant.
According to the complaint filed with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and shared with prosecutors, several guards “forcibly” kissed and touched the intimate parts of at least one woman. She faces deportation next week — meaning investigators could lose a key witness. Her attorneys have requested that immigration officials pause her deportation pending a review of the matter.
The woman said in a telephone interview that she would rather return to Mexico, even though she is in danger there. She said she worried about being targeted in the detention center for speaking up about the abuse.
“It’s going to get worse now,” she said. “I can’t handle this anymore.”
Since the complaint was filed Wednesday, two more women, including one who is currently detained in the El Paso facility and one who was previously held there, have come forward with abuse allegations. At least one other woman was deported after a guard assaulted her, detainees told lawyers.
An El Paso County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson said that the agency had forwarded “potentially criminal allegations” to the DHS’ Office of Inspector General, which did not respond to emails seeking comment. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas said that it had received the complaint and takes allegations of “misconduct by public officials extremely seriously.”
A spokesperson for ICE wrote in an email that the agency was aware of the accusations and that they would be investigated, including by its Office of Professional Responsibility. A 2003 law intended to protect against such abuses sets stringent standards for detention facilities.
ICE has “zero tolerance for any form of sexual abuse or assault against individuals in the agency’s custody and takes very seriously all allegations of employee misconduct,” the spokesperson wrote. “When substantiated, appropriate action is taken.”
A spokesperson for Global Precision Systems, a subsidiary of Bering Straits Native Corporation, which contracts with ICE to run the El Paso facility, wrote in an email that she could not comment on pending legal matters.
The El Paso allegations are the latest instance of sexual abuse complaints related to detention centers run by ICE, which imprisons about 50,000 immigrants across the country each year — mostly through contractors at a taxpayer expense of almost $2.7 billion.
About 14,700 complaints alleging sexual and physical abuse were lodged against ICE between 2010 and 2016, according to federal data obtained by the advocacy group Freedom for Immigrants. The group found that only a small fraction were investigated by the Office of Inspector General.
In 2018, the most updated statistics available online, ICE reported 374 formal accusations of sexual assault, of which 48 were substantiated by the agency and 29 remained pending an investigation as of that year.
Most recently, in a May federal court filing in Houston, a Mexican woman said that she was in an ICE facility there in 2018 when she and two female detainees were moved to an isolated cell. Around midnight, three men wearing facial coverings entered the cell. They raped and beat them, according to the complaint. The immigrants were bused to Mexico hours later, where the woman eventually discovered she was pregnant from the assault.
A spokesperson for the company overseeing that detention center, CoreCivic, denied the allegations, calling them “slanderous.” The woman’s attorney, Michelle Simpson Tuegel, said the pregnancy aligns with the woman’s stay in ICE detention. The civil lawsuit is ongoing.
The El Paso accusations that are the subject of this latest complaint to authorities came to light when one of the women, a 32-year-old Salvadoran, was released because of a medical condition and told an attorney that she feared for the detainees still there.
“She was that disturbed by what was happening,” said Linda Corchado, director of legal services for Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, who filed the complaint. “It’s awful to think how disposable these women are.”
She said they are especially vulnerable because many will probably be deported, making it more unlikely that their abusers face consequences.
The Salvadoran woman told Corchado that she was detained in the El Paso facility for about three months where she was repeatedly harassed. A guard said that if she would “fool around” with him he would give her clean uniforms and soap. He told her that he would pay her “a lot of money” to meet him for sex in a spot not visible to cameras.
Two other officers also repeatedly targeted her, according to the complaint. One sent her messages through other women even after she was released.
She said in a telephone interview that guards encouraged women to sign up for anti-anxiety medication and antidepressants because they oversee the dispensing of medication at night and have access to an enclosed off-camera area.
“Most women who are still there are scared of saying anything,” she said. “You don’t know what they can do.”
A male detainee, a legal permanent resident convicted of money laundering, said that an officer in the detention center stared at him while rubbing his genitals as he showered in July, according to the complaint. After he reported the incident to a captain, the detainee was placed in solitary confinement. He began a hunger strike and was transferred to another ICE facility. Lawyers said that he speaks English and is better able to advocate for himself than most of the female victims, who speak only Spanish.
The woman who remains in the El Paso detention center and is set to be deported is a 35-year-old mother from Mexico who was charged with a drug-related crime and illegally entering the country.
During her 11 months in the ICE facility, she told lawyers that two guards assaulted her. In November, an officer touched her private areas and kissed her while she was in an area not visible to cameras. The assault happened as she was walking back from the medical unit to her barrack.
Days later, the guard did so again.
“If she behaved,” he told her, according to the filing, “he would help her be released.”
He stared at her through a window while she used the bathroom.
When she complained to a captain, she said he dismissed her. She said she did not see that officer for several months but that he later returned, becoming “increasingly aggressive and intimidating.”
“She has lived in constant panic that he may do something against her again,” according to the document.
The woman said another officer also assaulted her at least twice in a camera “blind spot,” touching and kissing her. These attacks also happened when she was returning from the medical unit to her cell.
A lieutenant passed messages through her to other detained women.
If she reported them, an officer warned, “No one would believe her.”
Do you have access to information about sexual assault or harassment in the El Paso ICE detention center or any ICE detention centers? Email lomi.kriel@propublica.org. Here’s how to send tips and documents to ProPublica securely.
For more coverage, read ProPublica’s previous reporting on immigration.
Republished with permission from ProPublica under Creative Commons.


crooksandliars--2020-08-16--White House Chief Of Staff Meadows Pushes Lies About 'Widespread Voter Fraud' Again

The Trump administration continues to assert that there 's a problem with `` widespread voter fraud '' to justify their sabotage of the United States Postal Service , despite the fact that they had to disband their own `` voter fraud '' commission back in 2018 , because even their minion Kris Kobach could n't find any , and the fact that there is extensive research that reveals that incidents of voter fraud are actually very rare .
CNN 's Jake Tapper did n't bother to bring any of that up during an interview with White House Chief of Staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed Meadows to steamroll right over him with a barrage of lies during the entire interview , with only tepid push back like we saw during this portion of the exchange : MEADOWS : Sending ballots out , just based on a voter roll , registration ... any time you move , if you do n't change your driver 's license , if you do n't call up and say ... TAPPER : But there 's no evidence of widespread voter fraud though .
[ ... ] MEADOWS : There 's no evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that 's the definition of fraud , Jake .
It really does not benefit the public one iota to allow these liars on your network if you are n't going to sufficiently push back against the gaslighting and make it crystal clear to the viewers that what they are saying is not true .
They need to quit putting them on , or hire some anchors that are better at their jobs .

The Trump administration continues to assert that there's a problem with "widespread voter fraud" to justify their sabotage of the United States Postal Service, despite the fact that they had to disband their own "voter fraud" commission back in 2018, because even their minion Kris Kobach couldn't find any, and the fact that there is extensive research that reveals that incidents of voter fraud are actually very rare.
CNN's Jake Tapper didn't bother to bring any of that up during an interview with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows this Sunday, where he allowed Meadows to steamroll right over him with a barrage of lies during the entire interview, with only tepid push back like we saw during this portion of the exchange:
MEADOWS: Sending ballots out, just based on a voter roll, registration... any time you move, if you don't change your driver's license, if you don't call up and say... TAPPER: But there's no evidence of widespread voter fraud though. [...] MEADOWS: There's no evidence that's there's not either, but that's the definition of fraud, Jake.
It really does not benefit the public one iota to allow these liars on your network if you aren't going to sufficiently push back against the gaslighting and make it crystal clear to the viewers that what they are saying is not true. They need to quit putting them on, or hire some anchors that are better at their jobs.


crooksandliars--2020-08-16--Jason Miller Calls It A 'Very Solemn Day' For Trump After He Plays Golf While Brother Was Dying

Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller lamented the death of President Donald Trump 's brother , Robert Trump , as the @ @ @ @ @ weekend playing golf .
During an interview on ABC 's This Week program , host @ @ @ @ @ to Miller .
`` Thank you very much , '' Miller replied .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ here in Trump headquarters .
I know the president would very much appreciate those words @ @ @ @ @ went on to say that the campaign would make an announcement in coming days about @ @ @ @ @ due to the death of the president 's brother .
Trump faced criticism over the @ @ @ @ @ while his brother was dying on Saturday .
It was not immediately clear if the @ @ @ @ @ day playing golf on Sunday .

Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller lamented the death of President Donald Trump's brother, Robert Trump, as the president spent part of the weekend playing golf.
During an interview on ABC's This Week program, host George Stephanopoulos offered his condolences to Miller.
"Thank you very much," Miller replied. "It's a very solemn day here in Trump headquarters. I know the president would very much appreciate those words, George."
Miller went on to say that the campaign would make an announcement in coming days about a possible change in schedule due to the death of the president's brother.
Trump faced criticism over the weekend after he played golf while his brother was dying on Saturday.
Had the distinct honor to play golf today with @POTUS and be his partner!
Truly enjoyed talking about our families, politics and his earnest desires for our great country.
he’s still got game. pic.twitter.com/h25q446Stb — Jay Feely (@jayfeely) August 15, 2020
It was not immediately clear if the president planned to spend another day playing golf on Sunday.


crooksandliars--2020-08-16--Biden's VP Choice Kamala Harris Sparks Right-wing Media Meltdown

Published with permission of PRESS RUN , Eric Boehlert ’ s new must-read media newsletter .
Subscribe here .
Taking their cues from Trump and dropping any pretense of not being blatantly sexist and racist , the right-wing media immediately dove into a feeding trough of ugly rhetoric this week when Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate .
The conservative media machine set off allegorical bomb blasts around Harris , frantically trying to depict as radical and dangerous a mainstream U.S. senator from the largest state in the union .
`` In style and policy , Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Review gasped .
The far-right Federalist warned panicked readers that Harris , a former prosecutor , represents a `` radical threat to America . ''
And Fox News ' Sean Hannity announced the Biden-Harris ticket was `` the most radical ticket of a political party in our lifetime by far . ''
With the Harris pick , and the front-row seat she 'll occupy during the fall campaign , Fox News is officially bringing back the ugly race baiting that defined the channel during Barack Obama 's presidency .
That 's when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's birthplace , mocking his connection to Black culture , and one prominent host even calling America 's first Black president a `` racist , '' who flashed a “ deep-seated hatred of white people . ''
Even with Obama 's exit from the national stage , racism never left Fox News ' programming stable .
The network has been relentlessly bigoted in its Black Lives Matter coverage this year , warning viewers about BLM 's `` Marxist and LGBT '' agenda .
Fox News spent weeks embracing a `` conspiratorial , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranging from an insistence that systemic racism isn ’ t real , to uncritical parroting of the Trump campaign ’ s attempt to induce panic over antifascist activists , to an embrace of Infowars ’ conspiracy theories related to the death of George Floyd , '' according to Media Matters .
But in terms of partisan political coverage , Harris gives Fox News , and the rest of the right-wing media , a chance to bring back overt racism and apply it to an electoral news story — and misogyny .
With Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that racism and sexism is even more repugnant and unapologetic than it was during the Obama years .
Culturally , Trump has signaled to his base that there are no rules , and unvarnished hate speech is welcomed .
That 's what fueled this week 's guttural roar over Harris .
You can sense the joy and excitement Fox News pundits and right-wing radio hosts have when given to chance to wallow in racists and sexist tropes ; to question Harris ' `` relentless pursuit of power '' ( because apparently men are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and purposefully mangle her name .
It 's an orgy of pointed disrespect .
This is not the typical partisan media response that 's generated when a VP pick is announced , and players on the other side of the aisle detail all the policy reasons why the new contender is n't worthy .
This is unserious hate speech , the kind that Trump wallows in and wants the Republican Party to be synonymous with .
We 've seen one Fox News guest claim that Harris should n't be considered `` African-American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legacy of '' slave owners .
Laura Ingraham says Joe Biden prioritizing women of color for running mate was a racist violation of his moral obligations .
Tucker Carlson insisted it was `` illegal '' for Biden to make women of color central in his choice .
Former Fox News commentator Silk , of the Diamond and Silk talking duo , announced `` Kamala is not even Black , '' and Rush Limbaugh passed along sleazy commentary about Harris 's personal life .
The ugly eruptions come in the wake of the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runaway sexism .
During that season , Hillary Clinton was on the receiving end of a brutal one-two punch — sexist attacks from the right-wing media , and sexist attacks echoed by the Beltway press .
During the primary season , Fox News ' Geraldo Rivera suggested Clinton `` scream [ s ] '' because she `` may be hard of hearing , '' the network claimed her campaign was nothing more than `` bra burning , '' while other conservatives mocked her `` grating '' voice .
At the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` She shouts . ''
Adding , `` There is something unrelaxed about the way she is communicating , and I think that just jumps off the television screen . ''
Recently , there have been some encouraging signs that the Beltway press might be getting serious about how it treats women on the national stage .
Although virtually no members of the press have stepped forward to apologize for the 2016 media debacle , there does seem to be a raised awareness about abolishing long-running double standards that have been applied to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others in the news media should be on red alert , '' urged Washington Post media critic Margaret Sullivan .
`` It ’ s going to be a perilous tightrope walk to cover this inevitable ugliness without making it much , much worse .
How do you examine without amplifying ? ''
For the right-wing media , the only goal this season is to amplify hate .

Published with permission of PRESS RUN, Eric Boehlert’s new must-read media newsletter. Subscribe here.
Taking their cues from Trump and dropping any pretense of not being blatantly sexist and racist, the right-wing media immediately dove into a feeding trough of ugly rhetoric this week when Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate. The conservative media machine set off allegorical bomb blasts around Harris, frantically trying to depict as radical and dangerous a mainstream U.S. senator from the largest state in the union.
"In style and policy, Harris epitomizes an authoritarian," the National Review gasped. The far-right Federalist warned panicked readers that Harris, a former prosecutor, represents a "radical threat to America." And Fox News' Sean Hannity announced the Biden-Harris ticket was "the most radical ticket of a political party in our lifetime by far."
With the Harris pick, and the front-row seat she'll occupy during the fall campaign, Fox News is officially bringing back the ugly race baiting that defined the channel during Barack Obama's presidency. That's when the network spent hundreds of hours questioning the president's birthplace, mocking his connection to Black culture, and one prominent host even calling America's first Black president a "racist," who flashed a “deep-seated hatred of white people."
Even with Obama's exit from the national stage, racism never left Fox News' programming stable. The network has been relentlessly bigoted in its Black Lives Matter coverage this year, warning viewers about BLM's "Marxist and LGBT" agenda. Fox News spent weeks embracing a "conspiratorial, propagandistic, and outright dishonest tone, ranging from an insistence that systemic racism isn’t real, to uncritical parroting of the Trump campaign’s attempt to induce panic over antifascist activists, to an embrace of Infowars’ conspiracy theories related to the death of George Floyd," according to Media Matters.
But in terms of partisan political coverage, Harris gives Fox News, and the rest of the right-wing media, a chance to bring back overt racism and apply it to an electoral news story — and misogyny. With Trump now the voice of the GOP, that racism and sexism is even more repugnant and unapologetic than it was during the Obama years. Culturally, Trump has signaled to his base that there are no rules, and unvarnished hate speech is welcomed.
That's what fueled this week's guttural roar over Harris. You can sense the joy and excitement Fox News pundits and right-wing radio hosts have when given to chance to wallow in racists and sexist tropes; to question Harris' "relentless pursuit of power" (because apparently men are never ambitious), her family lineage, and purposefully mangle her name. It's an orgy of pointed disrespect.
This is not the typical partisan media response that's generated when a VP pick is announced, and players on the other side of the aisle detail all the policy reasons why the new contender isn't worthy. This is unserious hate speech, the kind that Trump wallows in and wants the Republican Party to be synonymous with.
We've seen one Fox News guest claim that Harris shouldn't be considered "African-American" because she "is from the legacy of" slave owners. Laura Ingraham says Joe Biden prioritizing women of color for running mate was a racist violation of his moral obligations. Tucker Carlson insisted it was "illegal" for Biden to make women of color central in his choice. Former Fox News commentator Silk, of the Diamond and Silk talking duo, announced "Kamala is not even Black," and Rush Limbaugh passed along sleazy commentary about Harris's personal life.
The ugly eruptions come in the wake of the 2016 campaign coverage, which was hallmarked by runaway sexism. During that season, Hillary Clinton was on the receiving end of a brutal one-two punch — sexist attacks from the right-wing media, and sexist attacks echoed by the Beltway press.
During the primary season, Fox News' Geraldo Rivera suggested Clinton "scream[s]" because she "may be hard of hearing," the network claimed her campaign was nothing more than "bra burning," while other conservatives mocked her "grating" voice. At the same time, Washington Post editor Bob Woodward complained, "She shouts." Adding, "There is something unrelaxed about the way she is communicating, and I think that just jumps off the television screen."
Recently, there have been some encouraging signs that the Beltway press might be getting serious about how it treats women on the national stage. Although virtually no members of the press have stepped forward to apologize for the 2016 media debacle, there does seem to be a raised awareness about abolishing long-running double standards that have been applied to women.
"Reporters, news executives and others in the news media should be on red alert," urged Washington Post media critic Margaret Sullivan. "It’s going to be a perilous tightrope walk to cover this inevitable ugliness without making it much, much worse. How do you examine without amplifying?"
For the right-wing media, the only goal this season is to amplify hate.


crooksandliars--2020-08-16--Trump Calls His Postmaster General Flunky A 'Fantastic Man' Who 'Wants To Make The Post Office Great

Trump Calls His Postmaster General Flunky A 'Fantastic Man' Who 'Wants To Make The Post Office Great Again'

It seems completely destroying something is Trump 's idea of `` making it great . ''
Trump was asked about the sabotage of the United States Postal Service that 's being done in plain sight during a press conference Saturday night , and pretended he cares about funding the agency , lied again about vote-by-mail , and blamed the Democrats for refusing to fund the Post Office , even though he himself admitted that was why the negotiations on the coronavirus stimulus bill were at an impasse .
Trump also admitted he has absolutely no idea what his flunky was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great '' , but he 'll be looking into it shortly .
REPORTER : Does Postmaster DeJoy have your backing for the actions he is taken in the last several weeks ?
TRUMP : Yeah , He 's a fantastic man .
He wants to make the Post Office great again .
You ever hear the expression ?
He wants to make the Post Office great again .
The Post Office is a catastrophe .
REPORTER : The sorting machines nationwide .
That 's one of the things ... TRUMP : I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can only tell you is a very smart man .
He 'll be a great Postmaster General and he needs obviously , if you are going to do these millions of ballots out of nowhere , he 's going to obviously need funding , but the Democrats are n't willing to provide other things and therefore they are not going to get the funding for that .
You are going to have a catastrophic situation with universal mail-in votes and on top of it the Democrats are n't willing to give the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money .
So seniors and veterans not getting their prescriptions , people being charged late fees because their bills are n't payed on time , small businesses who rely on the Post Office having their packages delayed in the middle of a pandemic on top of the mistrust that 's being generated intentionally in our election system is `` making it great again . ''
Tell that to the people being directly affected by the sabotage .

It seems completely destroying something is Trump's idea of "making it great." Trump was asked about the sabotage of the United States Postal Service that's being done in plain sight during a press conference Saturday night, and pretended he cares about funding the agency, lied again about vote-by-mail, and blamed the Democrats for refusing to fund the Post Office, even though he himself admitted that was why the negotiations on the coronavirus stimulus bill were at an impasse.
Trump also admitted he has absolutely no idea what his flunky was doing to make the Post Office "great", but he'll be looking into it shortly.
REPORTER: Does Postmaster DeJoy have your backing for the actions he is taken in the last several weeks? TRUMP: Yeah, He's a fantastic man. He wants to make the Post Office great again. You ever hear the expression? He wants to make the Post Office great again. The Post Office is a catastrophe.
REPORTER: The sorting machines nationwide. That's one of the things... TRUMP: I don't know what he's doing. I can only tell you is a very smart man. He'll be a great Postmaster General and he needs obviously, if you are going to do these millions of ballots out of nowhere, he's going to obviously need funding, but the Democrats aren't willing to provide other things and therefore they are not going to get the funding for that. You are going to have a catastrophic situation with universal mail-in votes and on top of it the Democrats aren't willing to give the people the money and the Post Office the money.
So seniors and veterans not getting their prescriptions, people being charged late fees because their bills aren't payed on time, small businesses who rely on the Post Office having their packages delayed in the middle of a pandemic on top of the mistrust that's being generated intentionally in our election system is "making it great again." Tell that to the people being directly affected by the sabotage.


crooksandliars--2020-08-16--'Why Not Just Say It's Wrong?' Chris Wallace Grills Steve Cortes Over Birtherism Against Kamala Harr

'Why Not Just Say It's Wrong?' Chris Wallace Grills Steve Cortes Over Birtherism Against Kamala Harris

Fox News host Chris Wallace faced off against Trump campaign adviser Steve Cortes on Sunday after President Donald Trump falsely suggested that presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris is not qualified to be vice president .
Harris was , in fact , born in California and is qualified .
During an interview on Fox News Sunday , Wallace noted that Trump had questioned Harris ' eligibility , much like he questioned former President Barack Obama 's birthplace .
For his part , Cortes insisted that the president `` had made this clear that this is not an issue that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` On the other hand , he did n't strike down the claim , '' Wallace observed .
`` I 'm asking about that because he was once again offered the opportunity to dismiss the false claim that because her parents were immigrants , that she is not eligible to run , even though she was born in the state of California . ''
`` Nothing could be easier than to say it 's a false claim , she is eligible , '' the Fox News host continued .
`` Not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to make an issue of it . '
Why not just say it 's wrong ?
It 's false ? ''
Cortes again insisted that Trump `` made it very clear '' that the campaign would not `` pursue '' eligibility claims against Harris .
`` I 'm just going to press it one more time , '' Wallace said .
`` You can accuse me of being one of those media people .
Why not say it 's wrong ?
She is eligible .
It 's one thing to say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it . '
It 's a different thing to say , 'It 's flat wrong , she 's eligible to be the vice president . '
Why does n't he say that ? ''
`` I do n't know why it 's incumbent upon him to opine on legal scholarship of the Constitution and the 14th Amendment , '' Cortes replied .
`` I do n't think that 's his place as president . ''
Wallace went on to challenged the Trump campaign 's assertion that Harris is on the `` far left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Look , I would say this about Kamala Harris , '' Cortes opined .
`` She seems to be an opportunist and to do whatever is most expedient at the moment for political power . ''

Fox News host Chris Wallace faced off against Trump campaign adviser Steve Cortes on Sunday after President Donald Trump falsely suggested that presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris is not qualified to be vice president. Harris was, in fact, born in California and is qualified.
During an interview on Fox News Sunday, Wallace noted that Trump had questioned Harris' eligibility, much like he questioned former President Barack Obama's birthplace.
For his part, Cortes insisted that the president "had made this clear that this is not an issue that we're going to be pursuing."
"On the other hand, he didn't strike down the claim," Wallace observed. "I'm asking about that because he was once again offered the opportunity to dismiss the false claim that because her parents were immigrants, that she is not eligible to run, even though she was born in the state of California."
"Nothing could be easier than to say it's a false claim, she is eligible," the Fox News host continued. "Not just say, 'Well, I'm not going to make an issue of it.' Why not just say it's wrong? It's false?"
Cortes again insisted that Trump "made it very clear" that the campaign would not "pursue" eligibility claims against Harris.
"I'm just going to press it one more time," Wallace said. "You can accuse me of being one of those media people. Why not say it's wrong? She is eligible. It's one thing to say, 'I'm not going to pursue it.' It's a different thing to say, 'It's flat wrong, she's eligible to be the vice president.' Why doesn't he say that?"
"I don't know why it's incumbent upon him to opine on legal scholarship of the Constitution and the 14th Amendment," Cortes replied. "I don't think that's his place as president."
Wallace went on to challenged the Trump campaign's assertion that Harris is on the "far left" of the political spectrum.
"Look, I would say this about Kamala Harris," Cortes opined. "She seems to be an opportunist and to do whatever is most expedient at the moment for political power."


crooksandliars--2020-08-17--Expert Explains How Mail-In Voting Will Be Affected By Cuts In USPS Overtime

ProPublica reporter Jessica Huseman was on CNN 's New Day this morning to talk about the capacity of the United @ @ @ @ @ called the Trump administration 's pledge to stop removing sorters and mail boxes `` a @ @ @ @ @ said those plans have been in place for a long time and most of them @ @ @ @ @ They 're not the real problem at all , she said .
The real problem @ @ @ @ @ Louis DeJoy 's decision to cut overtime , which is what gets our letters and @ @ @ @ @ timely manner .
`` The capacity is certainly there , but these policy changes about @ @ @ @ @ could really hamper the ability of ballots to get from Point A to Point B @ @

ProPublica reporter Jessica Huseman was on CNN's New Day this morning to talk about the capacity of the United States Postal Service.
She called the Trump administration's pledge to stop removing sorters and mail boxes "a PR stunt."
She said those plans have been in place for a long time and most of them predate the Trump administration. They're not the real problem at all, she said.
The real problem, Huseman said, is Louis DeJoy's decision to cut overtime, which is what gets our letters and packages to us in a timely manner.
"The capacity is certainly there, but these policy changes about overtime and about multiple runs could really hamper the ability of ballots to get from Point A to Point B."
In the meantime:
INBOX: Top House Dem Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Ted Lieu are urging the FBI “to evaluate whether Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, or Members of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service, committed any crimes in light of nationwide delays and issues with USPS.” — Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 17, 2020
The potential effectiveness of an order issued Sunday to stop the removal of United States Postal Service sorting machines is now in question. https://t.co/GsV92Nd48P — CNN (@CNN) August 17, 2020
Several states say they are considering legal action against the Trump administration and the United States Postal Service to stop them from using new operational changes that could slow mail service leading up to the presidential election https://t.co/CpvoVR1cMN — CNN (@CNN) August 17, 2020
One USPS carrier says he’s not worried about the agency handling mail-in voting—yet. https://t.co/S50CeFviwN — Slate (@Slate) August 17, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-08-17--Why Is The Thoroughly Unlikeable Dinesh D'Souza So Popular With Right-Wingers?

In the past few days , Dinesh D'Souza has been binge-tweeting dishonest attacks on Kamala Harris , focusing specifically on her racial identity .
Does this hectoring persuade anyone apart from committed Trump-loving right-wingers ?
No , Harris is not descended from slaves who lived in the United States .
But she has black Jamaican ancestors .
Black people came to Jamaica the same way they came to America : on slave ships .
Yes , Harris is descended from a slave owner , but she 's undoubtedly descended from slaves as well .
That 's also true of many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plantations .
Apart from rage-junkie Republicans , does anyone seriously want to have this debate ?
Do even moderates want to challenge Harris 's identification with other black Americans ?
And do moderates even pay attention to Dinesh D'Souza ?
His audience seems to consist exclusively of right-wingers ( and liberals who hate-follow his career ) .
Theres no evidence that D'Souza ever changes anyone 's mind .
So why do right-wingers like him ?
The short answer , obviously , is because they think he `` owns the libs . ''
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being owned appears as primal as normal people 's desire for food or sex .
But the right also likes D'Souza because he postures as an intellectual .
Now , I 'm not saying that right-wingers like intellectuals .
They despise intellectuals -- or , to be more precise , they despise legitimate intellectuals , who generally disagree with them .
But they love anyone on the right who acts as a ... what 's the right term ?
A `` counter-intellectual '' ?
They want someone who seems to talk like an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by actual intellectuals and other well-informed people .
That 's why they like Newt Gingrich , who was once an actual professor ( of sorts ) , and especially liked him early in the 2012 presidential campaign , when he kept demanding Lincoln-Douglas debates , first with Mitt Romney and then with President Obama .
The way the latter challenge was received on the right was : Everyone thinks that Kenyan socialist is so smart , but he ca n't even speak without a teleprompter !
And no one 's ever seen his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Obama is !
Obama is afraid to debate him !
Ted Cruz , an Ivy-educated lawyer who clerked at the Supreme Court , has a similar reputation : He 's seen as a counter-intellectual who can bring the libs down a few pegs .
Hell , even Donald Trump , who brags that he 's `` really smart '' and a `` genius , '' is seen as able to defeat the evil libs in a battle of thinkology .
I see the popularity of D'Souza as of a piece with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's not that intellectualism is bad exactly , it 's that the sign of true genius is that you disagree with whatever is said by people who are generally regarded as credentialed or well informed .
So D'Souza fights with historians who know their stuff , or Trump fights with Anthony Fauci , and they must be brilliant because , in the modern world , disagreeing with established facts , and with people who have expert knowledge , does n't make you a crank -- it makes you a person who 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The notion that believing experts and established facts makes you a naive sheep and believing crackpottery makes you a true thinker is n't confined to the right , of course , but the right is its natural home , because right-wingers regard thinkers , intellectuals , and people who actually know what they 're talking about as a genuine threat to their movement .
They want all those people to lose at their own game -- and they genuinely believe defeat can come at the hands of clowns like D'Souza .
Posted with @ @ @ @ @ @ @

In the past few days, Dinesh D'Souza has been binge-tweeting dishonest attacks on Kamala Harris, focusing specifically on her racial identity.
Kamala Harris’s mom is Asian Indian. Her dad Donald Harris is by his own account descended from one of the largest slave planters in Jamaica. In what sense then can she claim the African American experience of being descended from slaves and subject to segregation and Jim Crow? — Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) August 12, 2020
If the Democrats want to dissociate themselves from all connections to slavery and the old plantation, shouldn’t they dissociate themselves from Kamala Harris? — Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) August 12, 2020
Seeking to cover up for Kamala Harris, some leftist historians now insist her ties to slaveowner Hamilton Brown must be due to rape on the plantation. Nope! Harris’ great-grandmother was a white Irish woman, Christiana Brown. Harris is linked to Hamilton Brown through her — Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) August 12, 2020
If we’re honest about it, Kamala Harris is an Indo-Jamaican posing as an African American — Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) August 14, 2020
I get that Kamala Harris “identifies” as an African American, but does that by itself make her one? Could Trump become African American the same way? If I identify with a bowl of cheese, does that make me a bowl of cheese? — Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) August 15, 2020
Does this hectoring persuade anyone apart from committed Trump-loving right-wingers? No, Harris is not descended from slaves who lived in the United States. But she has black Jamaican ancestors. Black people came to Jamaica the same way they came to America: on slave ships. Yes, Harris is descended from a slave owner, but she's undoubtedly descended from slaves as well. That's also true of many blacks who trace their lineage to Southern plantations.
Apart from rage-junkie Republicans, does anyone seriously want to have this debate? Do even moderates want to challenge Harris's identification with other black Americans? And do moderates even pay attention to Dinesh D'Souza? His audience seems to consist exclusively of right-wingers (and liberals who hate-follow his career).
Theres no evidence that D'Souza ever changes anyone's mind. So why do right-wingers like him?
The short answer, obviously, is because they think he "owns the libs." For Republicans, the drive to see libs being owned appears as primal as normal people's desire for food or sex.
But the right also likes D'Souza because he postures as an intellectual. Now, I'm not saying that right-wingers like intellectuals. They despise intellectuals -- or, to be more precise, they despise legitimate intellectuals, who generally disagree with them.
But they love anyone on the right who acts as a ... what's the right term? A "counter-intellectual"? They want someone who seems to talk like an intellectual while disputing everything recognized as true by actual intellectuals and other well-informed people.
That's why they like Newt Gingrich, who was once an actual professor (of sorts), and especially liked him early in the 2012 presidential campaign, when he kept demanding Lincoln-Douglas debates, first with Mitt Romney and then with President Obama. The way the latter challenge was received on the right was: Everyone thinks that Kenyan socialist is so smart, but he can't even speak without a teleprompter! And no one's ever seen his college records! Newt is much smarter than Obama is! Obama is afraid to debate him!
Ted Cruz, an Ivy-educated lawyer who clerked at the Supreme Court, has a similar reputation: He's seen as a counter-intellectual who can bring the libs down a few pegs. Hell, even Donald Trump, who brags that he's "really smart" and a "genius," is seen as able to defeat the evil libs in a battle of thinkology.
I see the popularity of D'Souza as of a piece with the rise of Jordan Peterson and QAnon. It's not that intellectualism is bad exactly, it's that the sign of true genius is that you disagree with whatever is said by people who are generally regarded as credentialed or well informed. So D'Souza fights with historians who know their stuff, or Trump fights with Anthony Fauci, and they must be brilliant because, in the modern world, disagreeing with established facts, and with people who have expert knowledge, doesn't make you a crank -- it makes you a person who's "taken the red pill."
The notion that believing experts and established facts makes you a naive sheep and believing crackpottery makes you a true thinker isn't confined to the right, of course, but the right is its natural home, because right-wingers regard thinkers, intellectuals, and people who actually know what they're talking about as a genuine threat to their movement. They want all those people to lose at their own game -- and they genuinely believe defeat can come at the hands of clowns like D'Souza.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-08-17--The Postal Service Scandal Doesn't Belong Only To Donald Trump. Mitch McConnell Played A Big Role

Once upon a time , most Americans would have been hard-pressed to name the postmaster general .
That fabled time was any time before May of this year , when Donald Trump replaced Postmaster General Megan Brennan with Louis DeJoy .
And yes , I had to look up Megan Brennan .
What position of power did Brennan occupy before taking over the Postal Service under Barack Obama ?
None .
Brennan started as a mail carrier at the Postal Service in 1986 , delivering letters to neighborhoods in Lancaster , Pennsylvania .
She worked her way through the ranks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decade , she headed up distribution and transportation in the Northeast before taking over as postmaster in her 27th year with the Postal Service .
Compare that Louis DeJoy .
His postal-related career was almost as long as Brennan ’ s .
It ’ s just that DeJoy spent that career practicing what he ’ s doing now : Tearing the post office down .
And DeJoy doesn ’ t just owe his new role to Donald Trump—he ’ s hugely in debt to Mitch McConnell .
Before stepping into the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total of zero time with the actual USPS .
However , he did have two decades of experience as CEO of a freight company that competed against the Postal Service—making it no surprise that his stock portfolio is full of reasons to destroy the institution where he works .
Much more importantly in terms of landing his current position , DeJoy has long been a big fundraiser for the Republican Party in general and for Donald Trump in particular .
In fact , DeJoy was named one of four finance chairs for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Steve Wynn and Michael Cohen .
And DeJoy ’ s contact with Republican leadership didn ’ t end with cutting checks for their campaigns .
According to The Washington Post , shortly before Donald Trump met with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer at the White House , he was visited by Louis DeJoy .
At the meeting with Democratic leaders , Trump made it clear that he wasn ’ t providing any funding for the Postal Service .
In two later interviews , Trump made it absolutely clear he was depriving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its ability to deal with mail-in ballots .
And shortly after meeting with Trump , DeJoy removed the officials in charge of day-to-day operations , reassigning 23 top executives and clearing the ranks for more Trump loyalists .
But Trump isn ’ t the only Republican who ’ s been visiting with DeJoy , and DeJoy isn ’ t the only Postal Service leader who can thank Republicans for his sudden rise .
As Yahoo !
News reports , DeJoy is in `` in frequent contact with top Republican Party officials.
” Presumably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite the coincidence seeing that every single member of the current all-white , all-male Postal Service board of governors can thank McConnell for that role .
As it turns out , since 1970 , members of the board of governors have served in staggered 9-year terms .
The idea is to have a board whose membership is spread across multiple administrations and which owes allegiance to no particular White House .
That should mean that about half those currently seated on the board are left over from Obama ’ s term in office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But that ’ s not what happened .
In 2015 , Obama re-nominated most of the existing board members for a second term , including those members appointed under Bush .
Those six members should all still be on the board .
None of them are .
That ’ s because McConnell did what he did so often—blocked those nominations .
By the time Trump stepped in , the number of remaining Bush- and Obama-appointed board members was exactly zero .
Then , as with federal judges , McConnell abruptly got out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single current member of the United States Postal Service board of governors was appointed by Donald Trump .
That board then officially ousted lifelong Postal Service employee Megan Brennan , and replaced her with Republican fundraiser Louis DeJoy .
Those thinking that McConnell might rise up to fight against Trump aren ’ t just backing the wrong turtle .
They ’ re backing the guy who co-owns this mess .

Once upon a time, most Americans would have been hard-pressed to name the postmaster general. That fabled time was any time before May of this year, when Donald Trump replaced Postmaster General Megan Brennan with Louis DeJoy. And yes, I had to look up Megan Brennan.
What position of power did Brennan occupy before taking over the Postal Service under Barack Obama? None. Brennan started as a mail carrier at the Postal Service in 1986, delivering letters to neighborhoods in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She worked her way through the ranks at the USPS. For more than a decade, she headed up distribution and transportation in the Northeast before taking over as postmaster in her 27th year with the Postal Service.
Compare that Louis DeJoy. His postal-related career was almost as long as Brennan’s. It’s just that DeJoy spent that career practicing what he’s doing now: Tearing the post office down. And DeJoy doesn’t just owe his new role to Donald Trump—he’s hugely in debt to Mitch McConnell.
Before stepping into the top job in May, DeJoy had a total of zero time with the actual USPS. However, he did have two decades of experience as CEO of a freight company that competed against the Postal Service—making it no surprise that his stock portfolio is full of reasons to destroy the institution where he works. Much more importantly in terms of landing his current position, DeJoy has long been a big fundraiser for the Republican Party in general and for Donald Trump in particular. In fact, DeJoy was named one of four finance chairs for the Republican Party, along with such luminaries as Steve Wynn and Michael Cohen. And DeJoy’s contact with Republican leadership didn’t end with cutting checks for their campaigns.
According to The Washington Post, shortly before Donald Trump met with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer at the White House, he was visited by Louis DeJoy. At the meeting with Democratic leaders, Trump made it clear that he wasn’t providing any funding for the Postal Service. In two later interviews, Trump made it absolutely clear he was depriving the Post Office of funds specifically to hinder its ability to deal with mail-in ballots. And shortly after meeting with Trump, DeJoy removed the officials in charge of day-to-day operations, reassigning 23 top executives and clearing the ranks for more Trump loyalists.
But Trump isn’t the only Republican who’s been visiting with DeJoy, and DeJoy isn’t the only Postal Service leader who can thank Republicans for his sudden rise. As Yahoo! News reports, DeJoy is in "in frequent contact with top Republican Party officials.” Presumably that means Mitch McConnell. Which is quite the coincidence seeing that every single member of the current all-white, all-male Postal Service board of governors can thank McConnell for that role.
As it turns out, since 1970, members of the board of governors have served in staggered 9-year terms. The idea is to have a board whose membership is spread across multiple administrations and which owes allegiance to no particular White House. That should mean that about half those currently seated on the board are left over from Obama’s term in office, with others appointed by Trump. But that’s not what happened. In 2015, Obama re-nominated most of the existing board members for a second term, including those members appointed under Bush. Those six members should all still be on the board. None of them are.
That’s because McConnell did what he did so often—blocked those nominations. By the time Trump stepped in, the number of remaining Bush- and Obama-appointed board members was exactly zero. Then, as with federal judges, McConnell abruptly got out of the way. That means that every single current member of the United States Postal Service board of governors was appointed by Donald Trump. That board then officially ousted lifelong Postal Service employee Megan Brennan, and replaced her with Republican fundraiser Louis DeJoy.
Those thinking that McConnell might rise up to fight against Trump aren’t just backing the wrong turtle. They’re backing the guy who co-owns this mess.
USPS Board of Governors are running for cover todfay and not putting a stop to DeJoy and Trump's destruction of the Post Office.
Don't let them hide. pic.twitter.com/5IkQYsR09g — Margot Channing (@jeffreyjonsmith) August 15, 2020
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-08-17--Progressive Democrats Have Clear Shots To Flip Red Districts Blue

In an OpEd for the Wall Street Journal on Saturday , Rahm Emanuel celebrated the idea of `` Biden Republicans , '' basically conservative GOP voters who have had enough of Trump and are eager to vote him out of office by electing Joe Biden who was long bragged about being the most conservative Democrat in the Senate .
`` This year , '' he wrote , `` Democrats have an opportunity to chisel off a demographic that will come to be known as 'Biden Republicans . '
The question is whether Democrats will let these voters migrate back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our party will become their permanent safe harbor ... Democrats have the chance to achieve a generational transformation .
Beyond broadening the coalition to include moderate voters who oppose President Trump , we could deepen our base by turning disaffected Republicans into Democrats .
Voters in places that were once beyond our reach -- suburban parts of Maricopa County , Arizona ; Mecklenburg County , North Carolina ; and Bucks County , Pennsylvania , for example -- are open to conversion . ''
What 's a Democrat ?
Is it someone who supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it someone willing to support -- with votes and cash -- Team Blue , Inc ?
That 's where normal Democrats part company with party hacks and Wall Street whores like Emanuel .
His claim to fame -- aside from twisting enough Democratic congressional arms for Bill Clinton to get NAFTA passed -- was , as DCCC chair , when in 2006 , the Democrats captured just 30 seats .
30 seats .
That 's part of Emanuel 's legend -- although few people talk about how all of the conservatives he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on issue after issue and were subsequently either defeated or forced to retire once they saw polls showing they would be defeated .
None remained in Congress .
Elizabeth Warren was once a Republican -- well into adulthood , as a matter of fact -- and switched parties ... but not just a partisan designation at the board of elections , which would certainly be good enough for Emanuel , Warren , as you know , is pro-choice , pro-worker and comes down firmly on the side of Main Street rather than Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a racist and when she came to the Democratic Party , she did n't bring all the baggage with her that appalls most Democrats , though not Rahmish Democrats from the growing Republican wing of the Democratic Party -- the Blue Dogs and the New Dems .
And most of the Democrats -- oh , I do n't know ... 90 % of them , who have migrated over to the Democratic Party have brought their old conservative perspectives .
That 's the problem .
And that 's why , unlike the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generic Democrats .
We 're working hard to help primary winners like Kara Eastman , Mike Siegel , Liam O'Mara and Jon Hoadley , who defeated Emanuel-oriented candidates in districts held by Republicans , flip those seats from red to blue .
An Emanuel-protégée , Cheri Bustos -- a Blue Dog/New Dem from Illinois -- has Emanuel 's old job at the DCCC .
Will she cut the progressives off before the election the way he did ?
We 'll see .
But right now I want to urge you to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by clicking on the thermometer on the right , and contributing what you can to these men and women -- each of whom is aware that they can only win my appealing to cross-over voters -- independents and moderate Republicans , not hard-core Trump voters who already have their candidates ... real Republicans , like Donald J. Bacon , Trump appendage in Omaha , who Kara Eastman is currently leading in the polls , not by going the Republican-lite way but by talking with her neighbors about solving real problems that plague their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me that she believes `` The way we win as Democrats , '' top Texas House candidate Mike Siegel told me today , `` is to show every community that we will fight for them .
This is how this plays in my district , which is perceived as conservative ( R+9 ) but in reality is more dynamic , and certainly very winnable .
Michael McCaul has voted to cut healthcare 46 times -- during a pandemic , while rural hospitals close -- while I am fighting for universal healthcare ( Medicare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to think twice about seeing a doctor , getting a COVID test , picking up a prescription .
McCaul calls this 'socialism ' but the voters can see -- I ’ m fighting for their lives , while McCaul sees them as a profit center .
Climate is another key issue .
While the rural and Houston-side voters may not understand what we mean by a 'Green New Deal , ' each element of this policy is popular .
Voters like a national jobs program -- especially in this economic crisis we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- they want to stop the coal plant and fracking that ’ s poisoning the air and water .
And they want to stop climate change , which has caused five '500 year ' flood events in Houston in the last five years .
`` McCaul , '' he continued , `` represents the corruption of our democracy .
Taking $ 60K from Big Pharma while stopping the government from negotiating drug prices .
Investing more of his own money in Oil and Gas than any member of Congress -- while refusing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a renewable economy .
By drawing these contrasts -- by showing I am unbought and unbossed , fighting for the people not corporations -- I can build a truly big tent .
One that is not simply left versus right , but bottom versus top .
And once we win this race -- and show not only that progressives can win primaries , that we can also flip seats red to blue -- we will give more fuel to this fire , and advance the movement to build a more equitable society .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can to make a better world ,

In an OpEd for the Wall Street Journal on Saturday, Rahm Emanuel celebrated the idea of "Biden Republicans," basically conservative GOP voters who have had enough of Trump and are eager to vote him out of office by electing Joe Biden who was long bragged about being the most conservative Democrat in the Senate.
"This year," he wrote, "Democrats have an opportunity to chisel off a demographic that will come to be known as 'Biden Republicans.' The question is whether Democrats will let these voters migrate back to the GOP after November, or whether our party will become their permanent safe harbor... Democrats have the chance to achieve a generational transformation. Beyond broadening the coalition to include moderate voters who oppose President Trump, we could deepen our base by turning disaffected Republicans into Democrats. Voters in places that were once beyond our reach-- suburban parts of Maricopa County, Arizona; Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, for example-- are open to conversion."
What's a Democrat? Is it someone who supports a set of shared progressive values or is it someone willing to support-- with votes and cash-- Team Blue, Inc?
That's where normal Democrats part company with party hacks and Wall Street whores like Emanuel. His claim to fame-- aside from twisting enough Democratic congressional arms for Bill Clinton to get NAFTA passed-- was, as DCCC chair, when in 2006, the Democrats captured just 30 seats.
30 seats. That's part of Emanuel's legend-- although few people talk about how all of the conservatives he recruited, first voted with the GOP on issue after issue and were subsequently either defeated or forced to retire once they saw polls showing they would be defeated. None remained in Congress.
Elizabeth Warren was once a Republican-- well into adulthood, as a matter of fact-- and switched parties... but not just a partisan designation at the board of elections, which would certainly be good enough for Emanuel, Warren, as you know, is pro-choice, pro-worker and comes down firmly on the side of Main Street rather than Wall Street. She isn't a bigot or a racist and when she came to the Democratic Party, she didn't bring all the baggage with her that appalls most Democrats, though not Rahmish Democrats from the growing Republican wing of the Democratic Party-- the Blue Dogs and the New Dems. And most of the Democrats-- oh, I don't know... 90% of them, who have migrated over to the Democratic Party have brought their old conservative perspectives. That's the problem.
And that's why, unlike the DCCC, Blue America supports progressives not generic Democrats. We're working hard to help primary winners like Kara Eastman, Mike Siegel, Liam O'Mara and Jon Hoadley, who defeated Emanuel-oriented candidates in districts held by Republicans, flip those seats from red to blue.
An Emanuel-protégée, Cheri Bustos-- a Blue Dog/New Dem from Illinois-- has Emanuel's old job at the DCCC. Will she cut the progressives off before the election the way he did? We'll see.
But right now I want to urge you to go to the Blue America 2020 congressional ActBlue page by clicking on the thermometer on the right, and contributing what you can to these men and women-- each of whom is aware that they can only win my appealing to cross-over voters-- independents and moderate Republicans, not hard-core Trump voters who already have their candidates... real Republicans, like Donald J. Bacon, Trump appendage in Omaha, who Kara Eastman is currently leading in the polls, not by going the Republican-lite way but by talking with her neighbors about solving real problems that plague their lives.
This morning, Kara told me that she believes
"you show you are standing for Main Street over Wall Street by advocating for those crucial pocketbook issues every day: health care, economic fairness, and tax equity. But change won’t happen in DC if the same Washington lobbyists continue to set the agenda. This is why I came out of the gate rejecting all corporate PAC contributions. This has never been a popular position for entrenched interests; but, the more of us that stand up, the more they will back down and come around. You can’t just check off a box, you have to be vocal, visible and very hard-working."
"The way we win as Democrats," top Texas House candidate Mike Siegel told me today, "is to show every community that we will fight for them. This is how this plays in my district, which is perceived as conservative (R+9) but in reality is more dynamic, and certainly very winnable. Michael McCaul has voted to cut healthcare 46 times-- during a pandemic, while rural hospitals close-- while I am fighting for universal healthcare (Medicare for All), so you never have to think twice about seeing a doctor, getting a COVID test, picking up a prescription.
McCaul calls this 'socialism' but the voters can see-- I’m fighting for their lives, while McCaul sees them as a profit center. Climate is another key issue. While the rural and Houston-side voters may not understand what we mean by a 'Green New Deal,' each element of this policy is popular. Voters like a national jobs program-- especially in this economic crisis we are in. They like environmental protection-- they want to stop the coal plant and fracking that’s poisoning the air and water. And they want to stop climate change, which has caused five '500 year' flood events in Houston in the last five years.
"McCaul," he continued, "represents the corruption of our democracy. Taking $60K from Big Pharma while stopping the government from negotiating drug prices. Investing more of his own money in Oil and Gas than any member of Congress-- while refusing to support the most basic transitional steps to a renewable economy. By drawing these contrasts-- by showing I am unbought and unbossed, fighting for the people not corporations-- I can build a truly big tent. One that is not simply left versus right, but bottom versus top. And once we win this race-- and show not only that progressives can win primaries, that we can also flip seats red to blue-- we will give more fuel to this fire, and advance the movement to build a more equitable society."
Thanks for always doing what you can to make a better world,
Howie, for the entire Blue America team


crooksandliars--2020-08-18--WATCH LIVE:  Democratic National Convention For Monday

The DNC website has the details , Michelle Obama is the headliner for tonight .
The theme of Monday ’ s program is “ We the People.
” America is facing a series of monumental challenges—as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its rampage , tens of millions of people are out of work , and our nation confronts a legacy of racial injustice that has marginalized too many .
But as we have learned throughout our history , when we stand united , we can overcome anything .
Tonight the nation will hear from the many Americans who are rising up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and who will join Joe Biden in building back better and moving this country forward .
With Joe Biden as president , ‘ we the people ’ will mean all the people .
Highlights from tonight ’ s program are listed below , with additional special guests slated to join throughout the evening : Everyday Americans will read the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution , before Convention Chair and The Honorable Bennie Thompson officially gavels in the 2020 Democratic National Convention .
Call to Order The Honorable Bennie Thompson Permanent Chair of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. House of Representatives , Mississippi National Anthem A multicultural choir performing virtually with singers representing all 50 states , the District of Columbia , the Cherokee Nation and five territories , including Puerto Rico , Guam , American Samoa , the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands .
Invocation Reverend Gabriel Salguero President of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition Co-lead pastor of The Lamb ’ s Church in New York , New York Remarks The Honorable Gwen Moore Sergeant-at-Arms of the 2020 Democratic National Convention Member of the U.S. House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forward ” : A Conversation with Vice President Biden on Racial Justice Vice President Biden engages with , and listens to , social justice activist Jamira Burley , Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot , Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo , NAACP President Derrick Johnson , and author Gwen Carr , mother of Eric Garner , about how America can move forward towards equality , fairness , and justice for all .
Remarks The Honorable James Clyburn House Democratic Whip Member of the U.S. House of Representatives , South Carolina WE THE PEOPLE HELPING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Cuomo Governor of the State of New York Remarks Kristin Urquiza A woman whose father lost his life to COVID-19 .
A Conversation with Healthcare Workers on the Front Lines A conversation with a doctor , paramedic , and two nurses on the front lines of this pandemic about what they ’ ve endured , and what ’ s at stake in this election for America ’ s essential medical workers .
Introduction of Performer The Honorable Sara Gideon Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Remarks The Honorable Gretchen Whitmer Governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PEOPLE PUTTING COUNTRY OVER PARTY Remarks The Honorable Christine Whitman Former Governor of New Jersey The Honorable Susan Molinari Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives , New York Remarks The Honorable John Kasich Former Governor of the State of Ohio “ United We Stand ” Former 2020 Democratic candidates for president of the United States will come together once again to talk about why they ran , what they ’ re fighting for , and why they believe Joe Biden will bring the nation together , move the nation out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward —featuring Vice Presidential Nominee and Senator Kamala Harris , Senator Cory Booker , Senator Kirsten Gillibrand , Governor Jay Inslee , Senator Amy Klobuchar , U.S. Representative Seth Moulton , Former U.S. Representative Beto O ’ Rourke , Tom Steyer , and Andrew Yang .
Remarks The Honorable Cedric Richmond Member of the U.S. House of Representatives , Louisiana Keynote Remarks Michelle Obama Former First Lady of the United States The live stream will begin at 9 Eastern .
Get a drink and some snacks and join us !

The DNC website has the details, Michelle Obama is the headliner for tonight.
The theme of Monday’s program is “We the People.” America is facing a series of monumental challenges—as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its rampage, tens of millions of people are out of work, and our nation confronts a legacy of racial injustice that has marginalized too many. But as we have learned throughout our history, when we stand united, we can overcome anything.
Tonight the nation will hear from the many Americans who are rising up to take on these three crises, and who will join Joe Biden in building back better and moving this country forward. With Joe Biden as president, ‘we the people’ will mean all the people.
Highlights from tonight’s program are listed below, with additional special guests slated to join throughout the evening:
WE THE PEOPLE
Introduction
Eva Longoria
American actress
“We the People” Gavel In
Everyday Americans will read the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, before Convention Chair and The Honorable Bennie Thompson officially gavels in the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Call to Order
The Honorable Bennie Thompson
Permanent Chair of the 2020 Democratic National Convention
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mississippi
Pledge of Allegiance
National Anthem
A multicultural choir performing virtually with singers representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Cherokee Nation and five territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Invocation
Reverend Gabriel Salguero
President of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition
Co-lead pastor of The Lamb’s Church in New York, New York
Remarks
The Honorable Gwen Moore
Sergeant-at-Arms of the 2020 Democratic National Convention
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin
WE THE PEOPLE DEMANDING RACIAL JUSTICE
Remarks
The Honorable Muriel Bowser
Mayor of Washington, D.C.
Performance
Leon Bridges
American singer
“The Path Forward”: A Conversation with Vice President Biden on Racial Justice
Vice President Biden engages with, and listens to, social justice activist Jamira Burley, Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, and author Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, about how America can move forward towards equality, fairness, and justice for all.
Remarks
The Honorable James Clyburn
House Democratic Whip
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, South Carolina
WE THE PEOPLE HELPING EACH OTHER THROUGH COVID-19
Remarks
The Honorable Andrew Cuomo
Governor of the State of New York
Remarks
Kristin Urquiza
A woman whose father lost his life to COVID-19.
A Conversation with Healthcare Workers on the Front Lines
A conversation with a doctor, paramedic, and two nurses on the front lines of this pandemic about what they’ve endured, and what’s at stake in this election for America’s essential medical workers.
Introduction of Performer
The Honorable Sara Gideon
Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
Performance
Maggie Rogers
American singer-songwriter
Remarks
The Honorable Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of the State of Michigan
WE THE PEOPLE PUTTING COUNTRY OVER PARTY
Remarks
The Honorable Christine Whitman
Former Governor of New Jersey
Meg Whitman
Former CEO of Hewlett Packard
The Honorable Susan Molinari
Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New York
Remarks
The Honorable John Kasich
Former Governor of the State of Ohio
Remarks
The Honorable Doug Jones
United States Senator, Alabama
Remarks
The Honorable Catherine Cortez Masto
United States Senator, Nevada
Remarks
The Honorable Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator, Minnesota
“United We Stand”
Former 2020 Democratic candidates for president of the United States will come together once again to talk about why they ran, what they’re fighting for, and why they believe Joe Biden will bring the nation together, move the nation out of crisis and chaos, and move us forward —featuring Vice Presidential Nominee and Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Governor Jay Inslee, Senator Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Representative Seth Moulton, Former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke, Tom Steyer, and Andrew Yang.
WE THE PEOPLE RECOVERING
Remarks
The Honorable Cedric Richmond
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Louisiana
Remarks
The Honorable Bernie Sanders
United States Senator, Vermont
WE THE PEOPLE RISE
Keynote Remarks
Michelle Obama
Former First Lady of the United States
Performance
Billy Porter and Steven Stills
American singer-songwriters
Benediction
Reverend Dr. Jerry Young
18th President of the National Baptist Convention, USA
The live stream will begin at 9 Eastern. Get a drink and some snacks and join us!


crooksandliars--2020-08-17--UNC-Chapel Hill Switches To Online Classes After 135 New COVID-19 Cases In First Week

It 's worth mentioning that this swift action would not have occurred without the involvement of student journalists demanding to know what was really going on as the University of North Carolina reopened .
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Monday it was converting to virtual classes after reporting 135 new COVID-19 cases and four clusters within a week of starting classes for the fall semester — an outcome many critics feared as the university decided to reopen its campus .
“ After consultation with state and local health officials , # UNC ’ s infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is making two changes to de-densify campus , ” the school announced on Twitter Monday afternoon .
“ On Wednesday , Aug. 19 , all undergraduate instruction will shift to remote learning.
” The shift was announced within an hour of the updated case counts being added on the school ’ s CV-19 dashboard , which tracks metrics like tests conducted , positive cases , and isolation and quarantine capacity .
The dashboard shows 135 new positive COVID-19 cases — 130 students and fives employees — for the week of Aug. 10 to @ @ @

It's worth mentioning that this swift action would not have occurred without the involvement of student journalists demanding to know what was really going on as the University of North Carolina reopened.
Source: NBC News
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Monday it was converting to virtual classes after reporting 135 new COVID-19 cases and four clusters within a week of starting classes for the fall semester — an outcome many critics feared as the university decided to reopen its campus.
“After consultation with state and local health officials, #UNC’s infectious disease experts and the UNC system, Carolina is making two changes to de-densify campus,” the school announced on Twitter Monday afternoon. “On Wednesday, Aug. 19, all undergraduate instruction will shift to remote learning.”
The shift was announced within an hour of the updated case counts being added on the school’s CV-19 dashboard, which tracks metrics like tests conducted, positive cases, and isolation and quarantine capacity.
The dashboard shows 135 new positive COVID-19 cases — 130 students and fives employees — for the week of Aug. 10 to Aug. 16.


crooksandliars--2020-08-17--Former Trump DHS Official Endorses Biden, Scorches Trump As Threat To National Security

Miles Taylor , who served for two and a half years as the DHS Chief of Staff in the Trump administration , wrote a blistering op-ed published in the Washington Post AND recorded a video ad for RVAT ( Republican Voters Against Trump ) .
Both are sending shockwaves through social media and the political world .
In his op-ed he says that after serving at the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019 , he can not vote for Donald Trump .
He describes Donald Trump exactly as we feared he is : Stupid , vengeful , cocky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous .
Taylor describes Trump as a man who governs `` by whim , political calculation and self-interest . ''
He tells the story of a man who has harnessed the Department of Homeland Security for his own personal gain - particularly in respect to political gain .
He `` insisted on a near-total focus on issues that he said were central to his reelection — in particular building a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico . ''
Not surprising , as this was one of the central themes of his first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
When faced with an impending government shutdown , Trump remained focused on the wall - mainly the color .
One of the more disturbing aspects of both the video and the op-ed were instances where Trump used his personal views or his hatred of states that or countries that he did n't feel adequately supported him as a reason to shut off federal support .
Taylor said : Top DHS officials were regularly diverted from dealing with genuine security threats by the chore of responding to these inappropriate and often absurd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day and night .
One morning it might be a demand to shut off congressionally appropriated funds to a foreign ally that had angered him , and that evening it might be a request to sharpen the spikes atop the border wall so they ’ d be more damaging to human flesh ( “ How much would that cost us ?
” ) .
Meanwhile , Trump showed vanishingly little interest in subjects of vital national security interest , including cybersecurity , domestic terrorism and malicious foreign interference in U.S. affairs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our country in ways that involve hatred and divisiveness , something we all know , but it is interesting to hear it from someone who worked at the Department of Homeland Security .
In the RVAT video , Taylor gets even more blunt .
What we saw week in and week out , for me , after two and a half years in that administration , was terrifying .
We would go in to try to talk to him about a pressing national security issue -- cyberattack , terrorism threat -- he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , they were n't priorities .
He explains further how Trump withheld FEMA funding following the California wildfires because the state did not support him for President .
This is criminal .
He is not the President for just the states that voted for him !
Taylor said : He told us to stop giving money to people whose houses had burned down from a wildfire because he was so rageful that people in the state of California did n't support him and that politically it was n't a base for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse Trump wanted the child separation policy to be .
Taylor said : He said he wanted to go further and have a deliberate policy of ripping children away from their parents to show those parents that they should n't come to the border in the first place .
It 'll be interesting to see how quickly Trump tweets about Taylor , calling him a `` disaster '' or a `` coffee boy . ''
You know it 's coming .

Miles Taylor, who served for two and a half years as the DHS Chief of Staff in the Trump administration, wrote a blistering op-ed published in the Washington Post AND recorded a video ad for RVAT (Republican Voters Against Trump). Both are sending shockwaves through social media and the political world.
In his op-ed he says that after serving at the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019, he cannot vote for Donald Trump. He describes Donald Trump exactly as we feared he is: Stupid, vengeful, cocky, unwilling to learn, inattentive and dangerous. Taylor describes Trump as a man who governs "by whim, political calculation and self-interest."
He tells the story of a man who has harnessed the Department of Homeland Security for his own personal gain - particularly in respect to political gain. He "insisted on a near-total focus on issues that he said were central to his reelection — in particular building a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico." Not surprising, as this was one of the central themes of his first campaign - "Build The Wall!". When faced with an impending government shutdown, Trump remained focused on the wall - mainly the color.
One of the more disturbing aspects of both the video and the op-ed were instances where Trump used his personal views or his hatred of states that or countries that he didn't feel adequately supported him as a reason to shut off federal support. Taylor said:
Top DHS officials were regularly diverted from dealing with genuine security threats by the chore of responding to these inappropriate and often absurd executive requests, at all hours of the day and night. One morning it might be a demand to shut off congressionally appropriated funds to a foreign ally that had angered him, and that evening it might be a request to sharpen the spikes atop the border wall so they’d be more damaging to human flesh (“How much would that cost us?”). Meanwhile, Trump showed vanishingly little interest in subjects of vital national security interest, including cybersecurity, domestic terrorism and malicious foreign interference in U.S. affairs.
Even worse, Donald Trump has damaged our country in ways that involve hatred and divisiveness, something we all know, but it is interesting to hear it from someone who worked at the Department of Homeland Security.
In the RVAT video, Taylor gets even more blunt.
What we saw week in and week out, for me, after two and a half years in that administration, was terrifying. We would go in to try to talk to him about a pressing national security issue -- cyberattack, terrorism threat -- he wasn't interested in those things. To him, they weren't priorities.
He explains further how Trump withheld FEMA funding following the California wildfires because the state did not support him for President. This is criminal. He is not the President for just the states that voted for him! Taylor said:
He told us to stop giving money to people whose houses had burned down from a wildfire because he was so rageful that people in the state of California didn't support him and that politically it wasn't a base for him.
Even more grotesque is how much worse Trump wanted the child separation policy to be. Taylor said:
He said he wanted to go further and have a deliberate policy of ripping children away from their parents to show those parents that they shouldn't come to the border in the first place.
It'll be interesting to see how quickly Trump tweets about Taylor, calling him a "disaster" or a "coffee boy." You know it's coming.