thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Melania Trump Dismisses ‘Malicious Gossip’ After Ex-Adviser Releases Memoir

First lady Melania Trump spoke out Thursday after her former adviser and longtime confidant published a memoir full of details about the president ’ s wife .
Trump tweeted to encourage the media “ to focus & report on the nation ’ s drug crisis , not on delusional & malicious gossip , ” and said she plans to host a roundtable with people in substance use recovery and supporting organizations .
The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request for comment on whether Trump ’ s mention of “ delusional & malicious gossip ” was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s tell-all book , “ Melania and Me : The Rise and Fall of My Friendship With the First Lady.
” The book , which the White House has called “ revisionist history , ” was published Tuesday with new revelations about the author ’ s 15-year friendship with the first lady and the current administration .
Winston Wolkoff , who helped organize President Donald Trump ’ s inauguration , confirmed on Tuesday that she had secretly taped her conversations with Melania Trump after she was publicly spurned by the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a paid staff member at the White House , did not reveal the contents of those recordings .
However , reports indicated last week that the tapes involved the first lady making disparaging comments about her family , including stepdaughter Ivanka Trump .
First lady Melania Trump arriving to speak to the 2020 Republican National Convention on Aug. 25 .
Her former adviser has released a tell-all book this week , in which she alleges the first lady made disparaging comments about the Trump family .
The Post said it reviewed several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be from the first lady .
The messages reportedly included details about government contracts , presidential schedules during state visits and financial details of the inauguration .
The first lady does not hold a government position , but the Post reported that all government business must be conducted under a White House email address to ensure the records are safely maintained .
The Trumps ’ relationship with Winston Wolkoff soured after reports in 2018 that the inauguration committee paid almost $ 26 million to her company ― and $ 1.62 million to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times .
Winston Wolkoff said she began recording her conversations with Melania Trump in February 2018 out of fear of becoming the “ fall guy ” should the investigation into inauguration spending grow more serious , according to the Post .
“ Melania and the White House had accused me of criminal activity , had publicly shamed and fired me , and made me their scapegoat .
At that moment in time , that ’ s when I pressed record , ” the former adviser told MSNBC ’ s Rachel Maddow on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my friend .
And she was willing to let them take me down , and she told me herself , ‘ This is the way it has to be .
’ ”

First lady Melania Trump spoke out Thursday after her former adviser and longtime confidant published a memoir full of details about the president’s wife.
Trump tweeted to encourage the media “to focus & report on the nation’s drug crisis, not on delusional & malicious gossip,” and said she plans to host a roundtable with people in substance use recovery and supporting organizations.
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This afternoon I will be hosting a roundtable with some incredible citizens in recovery & the amazing organizations that support them. I encourage the media to focus & report on the nation's drug crisis, not on delusional & malicious gossip. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) September 3, 2020
The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on whether Trump’s mention of “delusional & malicious gossip” was a direct reference to Stephanie Winston Wolkoff’s tell-all book, “Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship With the First Lady.” The book, which the White House has called “revisionist history,” was published Tuesday with new revelations about the author’s 15-year friendship with the first lady and the current administration.
Winston Wolkoff, who helped organize President Donald Trump’s inauguration, confirmed on Tuesday that she had secretly taped her conversations with Melania Trump after she was publicly spurned by the White House. The former adviser, who was not a paid staff member at the White House, did not reveal the contents of those recordings. However, reports indicated last week that the tapes involved the first lady making disparaging comments about her family, including stepdaughter Ivanka Trump.
First lady Melania Trump arriving to speak to the 2020 Republican National Convention on Aug. 25. Her former adviser has released a tell-all book this week, in which she alleges the first lady made disparaging comments about the Trump family. AP Photo/Evan Vucci
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The Post said it reviewed several messages dated after the inauguration that appeared to be from the first lady. The messages reportedly included details about government contracts, presidential schedules during state visits and financial details of the inauguration. The first lady does not hold a government position, but the Post reported that all government business must be conducted under a White House email address to ensure the records are safely maintained.
The Trumps’ relationship with Winston Wolkoff soured after reports in 2018 that the inauguration committee paid almost $26 million to her company ― and $1.62 million to her personally, according to The New York Times. Winston Wolkoff said she began recording her conversations with Melania Trump in February 2018 out of fear of becoming the “fall guy” should the investigation into inauguration spending grow more serious, according to the Post.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Rep. Ted Lieu Needs Just One Sentence To Insult Bill Barr's Legal Skills

In a moment that left many people scratching their heads , Attorney General William Barr didn ’ t seem too sure about whether voting once by mail and a second time in person is illegal when asked about it during a Wednesday interview with CNN ’ s Wolf Blitzer .
Luckily , Rep. Ted Lieu ( D-Calif. ) was there to help .
Although it ’ s illegal to vote more than once in a given election , President Donald Trump suggested just that during a stop in North Carolina on Wednesday , saying voters should test their state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail and then in person .
North Carolina officials have noted that attempting to vote twice is a crime .
When Blitzer asked Barr about Trump ’ s comment , the nation ’ s leading law enforcement official declined to say it was illegal , adding that he did not know the specific law in North Carolina .
On Thursday , Lieu decided to troll help out Barr by tweeting a single sentence aimed at making the attorney general more familiar with the laws he ’ s supposed to defend .
And he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General of the United States is ignorant of basic voting laws .
So today I sent Bill Barr an official one-sentence letter to educate him .
cc : @ TheJusticeDept pic.twitter.com/OkniCvNfDd — Ted Lieu ( @ tedlieu ) September 3 , 2020 Oh burn 🔥🔥🔥 ... how the hell is Bill Barr a 2-time Attorney General again if he ’ s so ignorant of the law ?
https : //t.co/PDC3rKa9z1 — Eric Feigl-Ding ( @ DrEricDing ) September 3 , 2020 The Attorney General of the US would not directly confront this Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is trying to wreck our democratic voting system .
Where are the Republicans in Congress to not respond .
America is sliding forward the edge .
https : //t.co/VOt6QZt3XY — Barry R McCaffrey ( @ mccaffreyr3 ) September 3 , 2020

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In a moment that left many people scratching their heads, Attorney General William Barr didn’t seem too sure about whether voting once by mail and a second time in person is illegal when asked about it during a Wednesday interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
Luckily, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) was there to help.
Although it’s illegal to vote more than once in a given election, President Donald Trump suggested just that during a stop in North Carolina on Wednesday, saying voters should test their state’s election system by voting both by mail and then in person. North Carolina officials have noted that attempting to vote twice is a crime.
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When Blitzer asked Barr about Trump’s comment, the nation’s leading law enforcement official declined to say it was illegal, adding that he did not know the specific law in North Carolina.
On Thursday, Lieu decided to troll help out Barr by tweeting a single sentence aimed at making the attorney general more familiar with the laws he’s supposed to defend.
And he did it on letterhead!
The Attorney General of the United States is ignorant of basic voting laws. So today I sent Bill Barr an official one-sentence letter to educate him.
cc:@TheJusticeDept pic.twitter.com/OkniCvNfDd — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 3, 2020
Many Twitter users appreciated Lieu’s legal lesson and the implicit Barr putdown.
Oh burn 🔥🔥🔥 ...how the hell is Bill Barr a 2-time Attorney General again if he’s so ignorant of the law? https://t.co/PDC3rKa9z1 — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) September 3, 2020
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The Attorney General of the US would not directly confront this Trump call for criminal voter fraud. Trump is trying to wreck our democratic voting system. Where are the Republicans in Congress to not respond. America is sliding forward the edge. https://t.co/VOt6QZt3XY — Barry R McCaffrey (@mccaffreyr3) September 3, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--People Are Feeling All Kinds Of Weird About One Of Donald Trump’s Latest Tweets

Twitter users said they felt all kinds of weird after President Donald Trump used emoji in a post on Wednesday .
Trump used what appeared to be the winking face and the worried face emoji in this tweet attacking Democratic 2020 rival Joe Biden and boasting about the rising stock market : The Dow Jones Industrial just closed above 29,000 !
You are so lucky to have me as your President😉With Joe Hiden ’ it would crash😧 — Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) September 2 , 2020 “ Has the president ever tweeted a wink emoji before ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBS White House reporter Kathryn Watson .
Joked another user : “ Pretty sure Trump learning how to use emojis was the last foretold sign of the end of the world ?
” Critics pointed out that the stock market is not the economy and suggested Trump had not written the post himself .
Has the president ever tweeted a wink emoji before ?
This feels so weird https : //t.co/MPrURisfky — Kathryn Watson ( @ kathrynw5 ) September 2 , 2020 How long before he only uses emojis ?
🤔 https : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ColleenBoykin1 ) September 3 , 2020 Oh my fuck ... he figured out how to do emojis .
https : //t.co/jrth9Jk3J6 — TradeTheTrader ( @ TradeTraders ) September 2 , 2020 The president sends a winking face followed by a sad face in his latest message about the economy .
https : //t.co/BZTUZgmUwh — Philip Melanchthon Wegmann ( @ PhilipWegmann ) September 2 , 2020 pretty sure Trump learning how to use emojis was the last foretold sign of the end of the world ?
https : //t.co/NyboIB8Mok — Luke ( @ LukeVurens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we enter the emoji era https : //t.co/H9B8Eag3o0 — Daniel Van Boom ( @ dvanboom ) September 3 , 2020 Trump is now officially the apex boomer replete with weirdly spaced emojis which make little sense https : //t.co/QVYeTACOt0 — Saagar Enjeti ( @ esaagar ) September 2 , 2020 Two months to go and he 's upping his game with emojis ... https : //t.co/r4xTZmhRwt — Matt Rooney ( @ MattRooneyNJ ) September 2 , 2020 It took Trump nearly his entire term to discover emojis despite tweeting nonstop , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep the nuke codes ?
?
?
?
folks , https : //t.co/phX30gtb25 — Brett _________ ( @ BrettRedacted ) September 2 , 2020

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Twitter users said they felt all kinds of weird after President Donald Trump used emoji in a post on Wednesday.
Trump used what appeared to be the winking face and the worried face emoji in this tweet attacking Democratic 2020 rival Joe Biden and boasting about the rising stock market:
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The Dow Jones Industrial just closed above 29,000! You are so lucky to have me as your President😉With Joe Hiden’ it would crash😧 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 2, 2020
“Has the president ever tweeted a wink emoji before? This feels so weird,” tweeted CBS White House reporter Kathryn Watson.
Joked another user: “Pretty sure Trump learning how to use emojis was the last foretold sign of the end of the world?”
Critics pointed out that the stock market is not the economy and suggested Trump had not written the post himself.
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Has the president ever tweeted a wink emoji before? This feels so weird https://t.co/MPrURisfky — Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) September 2, 2020
How long before he only uses emojis?🤔 https://t.co/025azbbLDx pic.twitter.com/GpaqPBmLRE — Colleen Boykin (@ColleenBoykin1) September 3, 2020
Oh no he discovered emojis https://t.co/NNPipaPPe4 — Thor Benson (@thor_benson) September 2, 2020
Oh my fuck... he figured out how to do emojis. https://t.co/jrth9Jk3J6 — TradeTheTrader (@TradeTraders) September 2, 2020
The president sends a winking face followed by a sad face in his latest message about the economy. https://t.co/BZTUZgmUwh — Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) September 2, 2020
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Oh fuck, it's discovered emojis. https://t.co/JSqqpQsvz3 — Person in the Dark Shadows Shelly (@TexHellCat) September 2, 2020
Uh oh. The President has discovered emojis. https://t.co/xI4EIs7t3A — Ryan Schuiling (@RyanSchuiling) September 2, 2020
emojis are no longer cool https://t.co/5gGLFWiA8J — Austin Braun (@AustinOnSocial) September 2, 2020
pretty sure Trump learning how to use emojis was the last foretold sign of the end of the world? https://t.co/NyboIB8Mok — Luke (@LukeVurens) September 3, 2020
And now, we enter the emoji era https://t.co/H9B8Eag3o0 — Daniel Van Boom (@dvanboom) September 3, 2020
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Trump is now officially the apex boomer replete with weirdly spaced emojis which make little sense https://t.co/QVYeTACOt0 — Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) September 2, 2020
Two months to go and he's upping his game with emojis... https://t.co/r4xTZmhRwt — Matt Rooney (@MattRooneyNJ) September 2, 2020
When 74-year-old Twitter obsessives discover how to use emojis. https://t.co/guQrIJePCf — Jason Marc-Gasol (@markusoff) September 2, 2020
TRUMP HAS FOUND THE EMOJI BUTTON https://t.co/xNqXlCoGiw — Chris Sommerfeldt (@C_Sommerfeldt) September 2, 2020
It took Trump nearly his entire term to discover emojis despite tweeting nonstop, and people still want to let this guy keep the nuke codes????
folks, https://t.co/phX30gtb25 — Brett _________ (@BrettRedacted) September 2, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Trump Campaign Running Photo Ads Edited To Make Joe Biden Appear Older

President Donald Trump ’ s campaign launched a series of Facebook ads on Thursday featuring a manipulated photo of his presidential opponent Joe Biden edited to make the former vice president appear older .
The ads , which label Biden “ Sleepy Joe , ” show him gazing out against a dark background with his mouth slightly agape .
The Trump campaign is also running near-identical Facebook ads featuring the same text along with the original , unedited photo of Biden , in which his skin looks much brighter and healthier .
It ’ s among the latest examples of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deceptively altered or pulled out of context to attack Biden .
An original photo of Joe Biden in one Trump campaign Facebook ad , left , and a manipulated image , right .
On Sunday , White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino tweeted a fake video that appeared to show Biden sleeping through a TV interview .
A day later , the campaign ’ s “ Trump War Room ” Twitter account shared a truncated clip of Biden saying , “ You won ’ t be safe in Joe Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which the clip did not include , Biden said : “ Trump and Pence are running on this , and I find it fascinating : Quote , ‘ You won ’ t be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America.
’ And what ’ s their proof ?
The violence we ’ re seeing in Donald Trump ’ s America.
” Trump , 74 , who melted down on Twitter this week over rumors that he had suffered “ a series of mini-strokes , ” has spent months implying that Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be president .
The Biden campaign didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment about the ads , which first appeared on Facebook in August .
The Trump campaign told HuffPost that it applied a filter to the photo of Biden and declined to answer why .
As a policy , Facebook does not fact-check political ads , giving politicians a green light to spread false and misleading information to millions of people in the midst of an election cycle .
Trump ’ s team has paid Facebook to run numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including that Biden wants to “ defund ” police forces .
Biden ’ s campaign , on the other hand , “ has not taken similar advantage of Facebook ’ s leniency about political claims , ” according to an analysis by The Washington Post .
Facebook announced Thursday that it would ban new political ads from running in the week before the November vote .

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President Donald Trump’s campaign launched a series of Facebook ads on Thursday featuring a manipulated photo of his presidential opponent Joe Biden edited to make the former vice president appear older.
The ads, which label Biden “Sleepy Joe,” show him gazing out against a dark background with his mouth slightly agape. The Trump campaign is also running near-identical Facebook ads featuring the same text along with the original, unedited photo of Biden, in which his skin looks much brighter and healthier.
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It’s among the latest examples of Trump officials circulating imagery that has been deceptively altered or pulled out of context to attack Biden.
An original photo of Joe Biden in one Trump campaign Facebook ad, left, and a manipulated image, right. Facebook
On Sunday, White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino tweeted a fake video that appeared to show Biden sleeping through a TV interview. A day later, the campaign’s “Trump War Room” Twitter account shared a truncated clip of Biden saying, “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”
In the full quote, which the clip did not include, Biden said: “Trump and Pence are running on this, and I find it fascinating: Quote, ‘You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.’ And what’s their proof? The violence we’re seeing in Donald Trump’s America.”
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Trump, 74, who melted down on Twitter this week over rumors that he had suffered “a series of mini-strokes,” has spent months implying that Biden, 77, is senile and unfit to be president.
The Biden campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the ads, which first appeared on Facebook in August. The Trump campaign told HuffPost that it applied a filter to the photo of Biden and declined to answer why.
As a policy, Facebook does not fact-check political ads, giving politicians a green light to spread false and misleading information to millions of people in the midst of an election cycle. Trump’s team has paid Facebook to run numerous ads containing claims that are demonstrably false, including that Biden wants to “defund” police forces.
Biden’s campaign, on the other hand, “has not taken similar advantage of Facebook’s leniency about political claims,” according to an analysis by The Washington Post.
Facebook announced Thursday that it would ban new political ads from running in the week before the November vote.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Trump Reportedly Referred To American War Dead As 'Losers' And 'Suckers'

President Donald Trump , who has been criticized in the past for making disparaging remarks about veterans and military families , reportedly referred to American service members who ’ d died in World War I as “ losers ” and “ suckers ” in conversations with his staff .
The Atlantic ’ s Jeffrey Goldberg , citing multiple anonymous sources who had firsthand knowledge of the conversations , reported Thursday on the president ’ s comments .
A senior Defense Department official I just spoke with confirmed this story by @ JeffreyGoldberg in its entirety .
Especially the grafs about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marine Gen. John Kelly , President @ realDonaldTrump former chief of staff .
https : //t.co/ol2lhBbgv8 — James LaPorta ( @ JimLaPorta ) September 3 , 2020 According to Goldberg , Trump uttered the belittling remarks about the American war dead while in France in 2018 .
During that trip , the president nixed a planned visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery ― a World War I cemetery in Belleau , France , near the site of the Battle of Belleau Wood .
Trump blamed rain for the cancellation at the time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had actually “ rejected the idea of the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain , and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead.
” In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit , Trump said , “ Why should I go to that cemetery ?
It ’ s filled with losers.
” In a separate conversation on the same trip , Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Goldberg said later in the article that Trump had also referred separately to John McCain , the late senator and war veteran , as a “ fucking loser.
” Trump has previously been criticized for denigrating McCain , who was held for 5½ years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam .
Not a soul brave enough to put their name on any of these accusations .
That 's because they are false .
Just another anonymously sourced story meant to tear down a Commander-in-Chief who loves our military and has delivered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What a disgrace !
https : //t.co/NInGxeDcI2 — Judd Deere ( @ JuddPDeere45 ) September 3 , 2020 HuffPost ’ s S.V .
Dáte reported earlier this week that Trump had refused for two years to go to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to receive the bodies of U.S. soldiers ― despite his insistence that he ’ s paid his respects to “ many , many ” U.S. soldiers killed in the line of duty .
A former White House aide told Dáte that Trump had stopped going to the base after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slain Navy SEAL , refused to shake the president ’ s hand at a 2017 meeting and lambasted Trump for his incompetence .
“ He refused to go back for two years , he was so rattled , ” the aide said of the president .
Trump never served in the military .
He received five military deferments , including one for alleged bone spurs in his feet and four for education , during the Vietnam War .

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President Donald Trump, who has been criticized in the past for making disparaging remarks about veterans and military families, reportedly referred to American service members who died in World War I as “losers” and “suckers” in conversations with his staff.
The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, citing multiple anonymous sources who had firsthand knowledge of the conversations, reported Thursday on the president’s comments.
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According to Goldberg, Trump uttered the belittling remarks about the American war dead while in France in 2018.
During that trip, the president nixed a planned visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery ― a World War I cemetery in Belleau, France, near the site of the Battle of Belleau Wood. Trump blamed rain for the cancellation at the time.
Goldberg said, however, that Trump had actually “rejected the idea of the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead.”
Goldberg added:
In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed.
Goldberg said later in the article that Trump had also referred separately to John McCain, the late senator and war veteran, as a “fucking loser.”
Trump has previously been criticized for denigrating McCain, who was held for 5½ years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
“He’s not a war hero,” Trump said in 2015 of McCain. “I like people who weren’t captured.”
Associated Press reporter James LaPorta later corroborated Goldberg’s article, saying a senior Defense Department official had confirmed the information.
A senior Defense Department official I just spoke with confirmed this story by @JeffreyGoldberg in its entirety. Especially the grafs about the late Sen. John McCain and former Marine Gen. John Kelly, President @realDonaldTrump former chief of staff. https://t.co/ol2lhBbgv8 — James LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) September 3, 2020
The Washington Post also confirmed the story, with a former senior administration official telling the paper that the president “frequently made disparaging comments about veterans and soldiers missing in action, referring to them at times as ‘losers.’”
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On Friday, Fox News too lent credence to the report, saying two former Trump administration officials had confirmed details in the story.
According to Jennifer Griffin, a national security correspondent for the network, one of the officials said Trump had also trivialized the Vietnam War.
“When the President spoke about the Vietnam War, he said, ‘It was a stupid war. Anyone who went was a sucker,’” Griffin said, quoting the official.
Two former sr Trump admin officials confirm .@JeffreyGoldberg reporting that President Trump disparaged veterans and did not want to drive to honor American war dead at Aisne-Marne Cemetery outside Paris. — Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) September 4, 2020
Earlier, a separate Fox News report had disputed the claims in Goldberg’s article, and the network’s hosts had spent hours on air Friday attacking The Atlantic’s anonymous sourcing.
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White House spokesperson Alyssa Farah told HuffPost that Goldberg’s report was “false.”
“President Trump holds the military in the highest regard. He’s demonstrated his commitment to them at every turn: delivering on his promise to give our troops a much needed pay raise, increasing military spending, signing critical veterans reforms and supporting military spouses,” Farah said.
Trump himself later denied Goldberg’s report, insisting that he never called McCain a “loser” and that he “never called our great fallen soldiers anything other than HEROES.”
John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, said Friday that he had not personally heard the president utter the denigrating remarks about the fallen WWI soldiers, though he had been present at the discussion in France.
“I didn’t hear that,” Bolton told The New York Times. “I’m not saying he didn’t say them later in the day or another time but I was there for that discussion.”
....John a loser and swear on whatever, or whoever, I was asked to swear on, that I never called our great fallen soldiers anything other than HEROES. This is more made up Fake News given by disgusting & jealous failures in a disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 Election! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2020
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HuffPost’s S.V. Dáte reported earlier this week that Trump had refused for two years to go to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to receive the bodies of U.S. soldiers ― despite his insistence that he has paid his respects to “many, many” U.S. soldiers killed in the line of duty.
A former White House aide told Dáte that Trump had stopped going to the base after Bill Owens, the father of a slain Navy SEAL, refused to shake the president’s hand at a 2017 meeting and lambasted Trump for his incompetence.
“He refused to go back for two years, he was so rattled,” the aide said of the president.
Trump never served in the military. He received five military deferments, including one for alleged bone spurs in his feet and four for education, during the Vietnam War.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden responded to the report on Twitter, writing: “If I have the honor of serving as the next commander in chief, I will ensure that our American heroes know that I will have their back and honor their sacrifice. Always.”
Vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris backed up Biden’s comments. Biden “knows firsthand the sacrifices members of our military and their families make for our nation. As president, he will always have their backs—just as they’ve had ours,” she wrote on Twitter.
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This story has been updated with confirmation from other outlets, including Fox News.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Senate Republicans Up For Reelection Aren't Following Trump's Lead On Crime Issue

In key races that may decide who controls the upper chamber next year , GOP incumbents in Maine , Colorado , Arizona , Iowa , and North Carolina are instead playing up key coronavirus relief measures Congress passed into law earlier this year .
In light-hearted , positive television ads , these Republicans also are emphasizing mask-wearing and social distancing to stem the pandemic , as well as popular issues like preserving the environment , lowering prescription drug costs , and insurance protections for those with pre-existing medical conditions .
It ’ s all part of the extremely difficult balancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lashing themselves to a polarizing president out of fear of alienating his most fervent supporters , thus undercutting their own political prospects .
They must now attempt to at least appear independent as they seek support among Trump-weary voters and face a crop of new Democratic challengers who have raised massive sums of money looking to kick them out of office .
“ It ’ s important , especially in this environment , for candidates to give independent and undecided voters ― there are less of them than at this point in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rationale for giving them another six years ” in the Senate , said Doug Heye , a former Republican Party spokesman .
“ You can ’ t do that with [ plays to the GOP base ] like the culture wars alone .
That ’ s where it ’ s important to show that you can get the big things done.
” Trump ’ s campaign may believe that his reelection chances are best served by warning about crime and pressing for “ law and order , but evidence has emerged that voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll , only 8 % of American adults listed crime as a top priority for the country , compared with 30 % who named the economy or jobs , and 16 % who said it was the health care system .
In Maine , Sen. Susan Collins , a big Democratic target , has aired several TV and radio ads touting her role co-authoring the Paycheck Protection Program , which gave thousands of small businesses forgivable loans if they kept their employees on salary during coronavirus lockdowns .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has been criticized for not doing enough to prevent the wave of permanent business closures across the country , especially in low-income and minority communities .
Insisting she ’ s focused on her own race , she said at a stop in Bangor , “ I am not getting involved in the presidential race .
...
But I will tell you this , that regardless of who is elected president , I will work with that person to advance causes that are important to our state , ” Another of the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gardner of Colorado , has portrayed himself as a champion of public lands and parks following the passage of a major law earlier this year that will fully fund a decades-old federal program that acquires and protects federal recreation holdings .
( The program had broad bipartisan support and conservatives stymied its funding in previous years , but nevermind that . )
Gardner , who has endorsed a second term for Trump reelection after opposing his election in the final days of the 2016 campaign , is one of the most at-risk senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue , and Democrats have won the presidential election there the past three cycles .
Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona might face the biggest dilemma of all GOP senators on the ballot this year .
One the one hand , she needs to appease Trump supporters who saw her as insufficiently embracing Trump when she lost the 2018 race for an open Senate seat to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema .
Just after that vote , McSally was appointed to the state ’ s other Senate seat that Republican John McCain had held before his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fill out the last two years of McCain ’ s term , she must also appeal to GOP voters who appreciated his maverick politics , as well as Trump-weary independents .
She also stresses her support for maintaining the pre-existing conditions insurance protections .
But this is a particularly brazen claim for which she ’ s been hammered .
As a House member in 2017 , she voted for her party ’ s bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act , which would have wiped out the regulations that block insurers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( In a closed-door meeting on the day of that vote , McSally reportedly stood up and told colleagues that it was time to get this “ f**king thing ” done . )
“ These health care providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if COVID is tied to it , so what do you think they ’ re doing ?
” she said to the crowd on Monday , adding that she is “ so skeptical ” of the official coronavirus numbers .
In North Carolina , Sen. Thom Tillis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stronger-than-expected challenge from former North Carolina state Sen. Cal Cunningham by leaning into a message of creating jobs and expanding the economy .
Tillis ’ gambit as he seeks a second term is that voters will judge him and his party by the state of the economy as of seven months ago ― before the coronavirus hit ― and not its current state of 10 % unemployment .
“ The stakes are very high this election , but you know why I know we ’ re going to win ?
” Tillis said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Republican convention , held virtually because of the spread of the coronavirus .
“ Because people remember how good their lives were back in February .
”

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Senate Republicans facing tough reelection fights this November aren’t echoing President Donald Trump’s dark warnings about crime-infested cities and violent mobs wreaking havoc across the country. In fact, they’re barely mentioning that topic ― or Trump ― at all.
In key races that may decide who controls the upper chamber next year, GOP incumbents in Maine, Colorado, Arizona, Iowa, and North Carolina are instead playing up key coronavirus relief measures Congress passed into law earlier this year. In light-hearted, positive television ads, these Republicans also are emphasizing mask-wearing and social distancing to stem the pandemic, as well as popular issues like preserving the environment, lowering prescription drug costs, and insurance protections for those with pre-existing medical conditions.
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The messaging effectively portrays an alternate world where Trump and his incendiary Twitter account barely exists, the administration’s response to the pandemic has been largely successful, and the more than 185,000 deaths in the U.S. due to COVID-19 don’t get mentioned.
It’s all part of the extremely difficult balancing act for Republicans who spent three years lashing themselves to a polarizing president out of fear of alienating his most fervent supporters, thus undercutting their own political prospects. They must now attempt to at least appear independent as they seek support among Trump-weary voters and face a crop of new Democratic challengers who have raised massive sums of money looking to kick them out of office.
“It’s important, especially in this environment, for candidates to give independent and undecided voters ― there are less of them than at this point in 2016, but they still exist ― a rationale for giving them another six years” in the Senate, said Doug Heye, a former Republican Party spokesman. “You can’t do that with [plays to the GOP base] like the culture wars alone. That’s where it’s important to show that you can get the big things done.”
Trump’s campaign may believe that his reelection chances are best served by warning about crime and pressing for “law and order, but evidence has emerged that voters have other concerns on their minds. In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 8% of American adults listed crime as a top priority for the country, compared with 30% who named the economy or jobs, and 16% who said it was the health care system.
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In Maine, Sen. Susan Collins, a big Democratic target, has aired several TV and radio ads touting her role co-authoring the Paycheck Protection Program, which gave thousands of small businesses forgivable loans if they kept their employees on salary during coronavirus lockdowns. While the program did save many jobs, it has been criticized for not doing enough to prevent the wave of permanent business closures across the country, especially in low-income and minority communities.
Tim Tower, small business owner: "Barnacle Billy's is important to our family & to our employees & their families. When COVID hit, I didn't think we were going to make it. One of the major things that helped us get through this was the PPP, written by Susan Collins." #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/T0NSXKG361 — Susan Collins for Senator (@SenSusanCollins) August 25, 2020
Collins, who seeks a fifth term and has been touring her state on a campaign bus in recent weeks while rigorously adhering to mask-wearing protocols, declined to say if she will be endorsing Trump when asked about it on Monday.
Insisting she’s focused on her own race, she said at a stop in Bangor, “I am not getting involved in the presidential race. ... But I will tell you this, that regardless of who is elected president, I will work with that person to advance causes that are important to our state,”
Another of the Senate’s most vulnerable Republicans, Cory Gardner of Colorado, has portrayed himself as a champion of public lands and parks following the passage of a major law earlier this year that will fully fund a decades-old federal program that acquires and protects federal recreation holdings. (The program had broad bipartisan support and conservatives stymied its funding in previous years, but nevermind that.)
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Gardner, who won his seat in 2014, has featured images of himself speaking at the White House ceremony for the bill’s signing and has run ads touting his efforts working “across party lines to get the tough job done.”
The Great American Outdoors Act will create thousands of jobs in Colorado and make it possible for Americans to enjoy the wonders of our country and state for generations to come. pic.twitter.com/Lz2ntTOgt3 — Cory Gardner (@CoryGardner) August 5, 2020
Gardner, who has endorsed a second term for Trump reelection after opposing his election in the final days of the 2016 campaign, is one of the most at-risk senators in the 2020 cycle. Colorado leans blue, and Democrats have won the presidential election there the past three cycles.
Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona might face the biggest dilemma of all GOP senators on the ballot this year. One the one hand, she needs to appease Trump supporters who saw her as insufficiently embracing Trump when she lost the 2018 race for an open Senate seat to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. Just after that vote, McSally was appointed to the state’s other Senate seat that Republican John McCain had held before his death. As she now seeks election to fill out the last two years of McCain’s term, she must also appeal to GOP voters who appreciated his maverick politics, as well as Trump-weary independents.
McSally’s ads have placed a heavy focus on health care, including a bill she proposed aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs and curbing price gouging.
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Arizonans should not have to choose between paying rent and buying their prescriptions. We must lower the cost of prescription drugs and relieve the financial stress it puts on Arizonans. My legislation will make that happen. pic.twitter.com/kvojflQ4XW — Martha McSally for U.S. Senate (@MarthaMcSally) August 28, 2020
She also stresses her support for maintaining the pre-existing conditions insurance protections. But this is a particularly brazen claim for which she’s been hammered. As a House member in 2017, she voted for her party’s bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would have wiped out the regulations that block insurers from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions. (In a closed-door meeting on the day of that vote, McSally reportedly stood up and told colleagues that it was time to get this “f**king thing” done.)
A new Fox News poll released found Democrat Mark Kelly, who has a massive cash advantage over the incumbent, leading McSally, 56% to 39%.
In Iowa, GOP Sen. Joni Ernst faces an unexpectedly competitive race in her bid for a second term. The Hawkeye State trended Republican in 2016, with Trump carrying the state by eight percentage points. But the coronavirus pandemic and Trump’s bungled response to it has put Ernst’s seat back in play.
Ernst’s TV messaging has touted her Senate work calling for increased access to child care and veterans’ care, among other issues. A former member of the Iowa Army National Guard has also highlighted her bill, which became law, aimed at helping curb veteran suicide.
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No veteran should have to wait weeks to see someone when they are struggling. That’s why I wrote the law to expand veterans’ mental health services, and continue to fight to ensure our veterans get the care they need. pic.twitter.com/imsabVPFgt — Joni Ernst (@joniernst) July 29, 2020
But Ernst has suffered from missteps, including her embrace this week of a discredited conspiracy theory suggesting that government statistics on coronavirus infections and deaths have been inflated.
“These health care providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if COVID is tied to it, so what do you think they’re doing?” she said to the crowd on Monday, adding that she is “so skeptical” of the official coronavirus numbers.
Public health experts ― including members of Trump’s coronavirus task force ― have repeatedly rejected the theory. They say the numbers are, if anything, underinflated.
In North Carolina, Sen. Thom Tillis is similarly trying to fend off a stronger-than-expected challenge from former North Carolina state Sen. Cal Cunningham by leaning into a message of creating jobs and expanding the economy. Tillis’ gambit as he seeks a second term is that voters will judge him and his party by the state of the economy as of seven months ago ― before the coronavirus hit ― and not its current state of 10% unemployment.
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“The stakes are very high this election, but you know why I know we’re going to win?” Tillis said earlier this year at his state’s Republican convention, held virtually because of the spread of the coronavirus. “Because people remember how good their lives were back in February.”
Tillis’s campaign has aired ads touting his working-class background and has tried to paint Cunningham as a hypocrite for saying the Paycheck Protection Program needed to do a better job of getting funding to minority-owned businesses while working at a firm that received a PPP loan.
While GOP candidates are sticking to mostly positive messaging about their work in the Senate, national Republican groups invoked Trump’s “law-and-order” message in a digital ad on Wednesday. Titled “Say No To The Mob,” the 2-minute spot features images of looting and protests against police brutality in several U.S. cities, accompanied by images of top Democrats like presidential nominee Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
“The juxtaposition between parties could not be more clear ― in November, a vote for Democrats is a vote for the mob,” a spokesperson for National Republican Senatorial Committee told The Hill.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Kanye West Disqualified From Running For President In Virginia

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) — A judge on Thursday ordered rapper Kanye West ’ s name removed from presidential ballots in Virginia .
West was disqualified because he failed to meet a requirement that 13 people pledge their support for his campaign , Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Taylor said .
Taylor ruled that 11 of the 13 “ Elector Oaths ” the West campaign submitted were invalid , including some that were “ obtained by improper , fraudulent and/or misleading means.
” Earlier this week , a law firm with ties to prominent Democrats sued on behalf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tricked into signing such an oath .
An attorney for West did not respond to an email seeking comment .
West announced a presidential bid in July , saying he ’ s seeking the nation ’ s highest office on a ticket he calls the “ Birthday Party.
” His quixotic campaign has led to lawsuits in several states over whether his name should be on ballots .
Democrats claim Republicans are pushing West ’ s candidacy in swing states to siphon Black votes from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden .
Important conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A judge on Thursday ordered rapper Kanye West’s name removed from presidential ballots in Virginia.
West was disqualified because he failed to meet a requirement that 13 people pledge their support for his campaign, Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Taylor said.
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Taylor ruled that 11 of the 13 “Elector Oaths” the West campaign submitted were invalid, including some that were “obtained by improper, fraudulent and/or misleading means.”
Earlier this week, a law firm with ties to prominent Democrats sued on behalf of two people who said they were tricked into signing such an oath.
An attorney for West did not respond to an email seeking comment.
West announced a presidential bid in July, saying he’s seeking the nation’s highest office on a ticket he calls the “Birthday Party.” His quixotic campaign has led to lawsuits in several states over whether his name should be on ballots.
Democrats claim Republicans are pushing West’s candidacy in swing states to siphon Black votes from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--How Nancy Pelosi’s Salon Trip Became The Right's Latest Outlet For Outage

The squabble over the California Democrat ’ s hair salon appointment in San Francisco , where she lives when she ’ s not in Washington , began unfolding Tuesday after Fox News published security camera footage showing her walking across the salon with her mask hanging around her neck .
The problem ?
San Francisco has not yet allowed salons to reopen indoors , and anyone entering any business in the city now is required to wear a mask to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Pelosi said Wednesday that the footage doesn ’ t tell the whole story and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s salon rules .
“ I take responsibility for trusting the word of the neighborhood salon that I ’ ve been to over the years many times , and when they said , ‘ We ’ re able to accommodate people , one person at a time , ’ I trusted that , ” she told reporters at an event in San Francisco .
As for wearing a mask , behavior she strongly advocates and models in public , she said her mask was off in the footage only because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Do you wear a mask when you ’ re washing your hair ?
” Pelosi asked reporters when challenged on it .
According to California ’ s salon rules , people must .
Though it ’ s worth noting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says masks are ineffective when they get wet .
Jonathan DeNardo , the stylist who did Pelosi ’ s hair , says the salon owner gave him permission two days ahead of time for Pelosi to come in , but then the owner sent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for DeNardo also says the owner “ made several vitriolic and incendiary comments about Speaker Pelosi , ” suggesting the disclosure of the video was politically motivated .
Trump cheered on the scandal , tweeting Wednesday that Pelosi went to a salon “ despite constantly lecturing everyone else.
” He ’ s since tweeted three more times about it , asking Thursday is anyone wants “ a Speaker of the House who can be so easily SET UP ?
” “ Apparently , the rules do not apply to Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ down but only reopened for her convenience , ” she said .
“ Do as I say , not as I do , says Nancy Pelosi.
” As opposed to Trump , Pelosi has advocated for a more gradual , science-based reopening schedule across the country , and though it ’ s hard to believe she wouldn ’ t know the rules in San Francisco , she had nothing to do with establishing them .
Under Trump ’ s leadership , all COVID-19 guidance has been left up to states and local governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day and night against the challenges we have at the White House , ” Breed said .
“ It ’ s unfortunate this conversation has blown up in the way it has and distracted us from the real issue.
” “ She had called the stylist ... the appointment was already booked , so there ’ s no way I could have set that up , ” she said , though she didn ’ t refute the stylist ’ s claim that she gave him permission to have Pelosi come in .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually came in and didn ’ t have a mask on , and I just thought , you know , my staff and people haven ’ t been able to work and make money and provide for their families , and if she ’ s in there comfortably without a mask and feeling safe , then why are we shut down ?
Why am I not able to have clients come in ?
” Kious says she ’ s since been inundated with hateful text messages , bad Yelp reviews , death threats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She now doesn ’ t plan to reopen her business in San Francisco .
A GoFundMe for her had raised more than $ 90,000 as of Thursday evening .

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A controversy involving House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a hair salon escalated Thursday as President Donald Trump seized on the visit to score political points.
The squabble over the California Democrat’s hair salon appointment in San Francisco, where she lives when she’s not in Washington, began unfolding Tuesday after Fox News published security camera footage showing her walking across the salon with her mask hanging around her neck.
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The problem? San Francisco has not yet allowed salons to reopen indoors, and anyone entering any business in the city now is required to wear a mask to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Pelosi said Wednesday that the footage doesn’t tell the whole story and implied she wasn’t aware of the city’s salon rules. “I take responsibility for trusting the word of the neighborhood salon that I’ve been to over the years many times, and when they said, ‘We’re able to accommodate people, one person at a time,’ I trusted that,” she told reporters at an event in San Francisco.
As for wearing a mask, behavior she strongly advocates and models in public, she said her mask was off in the footage only because she had just had her hair washed. “Do you wear a mask when you’re washing your hair?” Pelosi asked reporters when challenged on it. According to California’s salon rules, people must. Though it’s worth noting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says masks are ineffective when they get wet.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) addressed the hair salon controversy during an event at a San Francisco school Wednesday. Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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“I think that this salon owes me an apology for setting me up,” Pelosi said.
Jonathan DeNardo, the stylist who did Pelosi’s hair, says the salon owner gave him permission two days ahead of time for Pelosi to come in, but then the owner sent the footage to Fox News. A lawyer for DeNardo also says the owner “made several vitriolic and incendiary comments about Speaker Pelosi,” suggesting the disclosure of the video was politically motivated.
Trump cheered on the scandal, tweeting Wednesday that Pelosi went to a salon “despite constantly lecturing everyone else.” He’s since tweeted three more times about it, asking Thursday if anyone wants “a Speaker of the House who can be so easily SET UP?”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany opened her briefing Thursday with a recap of the incident, flanked by two TVs playing the salon security footage on a loop.
“Apparently, the rules do not apply to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She wants small businesses to stay shut down but only reopened for her convenience,” she said. “Do as I say, not as I do, says Nancy Pelosi.”
As opposed to Trump, Pelosi has advocated for a more gradual, science-based reopening schedule across the country, and though it’s hard to believe she wouldn’t know the rules in San Francisco, she had nothing to do with establishing them. Under Trump’s leadership, all COVID-19 guidance has been left up to states and local governments.
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San Francisco Mayor London Breed dismissed the attention Trump, Fox News and other conservative media outlets have placed on the issue.
“We have our speaker working day and night against the challenges we have at the White House,” Breed said. “It’s unfortunate this conversation has blown up in the way it has and distracted us from the real issue.”
The salon owner, Erica Kious of eSalonSF, appeared on Fox News after the story first broke, telling Tucker Carlson on Wednesday that she wasn’t trying to embarrass Pelosi.
“She had called the stylist ... the appointment was already booked, so there’s no way I could have set that up,” she said, though she didn’t refute the stylist’s claim that she gave him permission to have Pelosi come in.
“It’s the fact that she actually came in and didn’t have a mask on, and I just thought, you know, my staff and people haven’t been able to work and make money and provide for their families, and if she’s in there comfortably without a mask and feeling safe, then why are we shut down? Why am I not able to have clients come in?”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Trump Is Trying To Rig The Census And Hopes You Won't Notice, Key Senator Warns

“ They don ’ t really want the American people to know what ’ s going on with the census , ” New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen , the top Democrat on the Senate subcommittee charged with funding the census , said in a Monday interview .
“ The administration from the very beginning has tried to meddle in the appropriate counting of all Americans.
” Trump has been trying to weaken the 2020 census count for years .
It ’ s no coincidence that his efforts would disproportionately hurt minorities .
He unsuccessfully tried to add a citizenship question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an effort that may still deter immigrants and people of color from participating .
He created two new top-level positions at the Census Bureau and filled them with political appointees from outside the agency , an unprecedented move .
He directed the federal government not to count undocumented immigrants when redrawing congressional districts next year , an act that constitutional experts say would be illegal .
Last month , the Census Bureau unexpectedly announced that it is ending its field operations early ― even after it had lost months of data collection time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency said census takers will only be knocking on doors until Sept. 30 instead of Oct. 31 , the original cutoff , because it wants to stick to a Dec. 31 deadline to report the final U.S. population count .
Shaheen said this is nonsense .
After the pandemic-related difficulties , the Trump administration knows Congress is willing to extend census deadlines , she said .
The House has already passed a bill to do so and there is bipartisan support to do it in the Senate .
But the administration is insisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though it means “ we aren ’ t going to be able to ensure a fair and accurate count , ” said Shaheen .
To be fully counted , minority and rural communities are more dependent on census takers coming to their homes in the final stage of data collection in what are known as “ nonresponse follow-ups.
” It is difficult to reach some of these communities via the internet , by phone or by mail .
Some tribal reservations , for example , have no internet access at all .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also made it much harder to connect people to their households .
When the Census Bureau gets no response from a household , it sends out a field worker to knock on their door and interview them in person .
This is the most effective way to make sure everyone gets counted .
Census data is used to draw congressional districts .
Given both political pressures and legal concerns , the more members of a minority community are counted in a given area , the more likely they will be kept together in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice in Congress .
If fewer people of color are counted in a given area , their community is more likely to be broken apart among several districts , making it harder to elect a lawmaker responsive to them .
Census data is also used to distribute hundreds of billions of federal dollars to communities across the country .
For each person who isn ’ t counted in the census , their community loses thousands of dollars every year for the next 10 years .
That money would have been used for essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infrastructure and housing assistance .
Several census takers emailed HuffPost to share anecdotes about how tainted the public has come to see the process under Trump .
They described encounters with people refusing to participate because they think the census is political or they don ’ t trust census workers .
All of the census takers requested some degree of anonymity for fear of getting in trouble at work .
“ My first day a man refused to take it because it ’ s a ‘ Democrat ’ thing , ” said Krissy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarmed and I ’ m seeing it firsthand who won ’ t be counted .
I do not believe it is just because of the pandemic .
Of course , it set us back , but there ’ s no reason to cut it short.
” “ I can attest that the challenges we are seeing are not just time crunch , but massive resistance and distrust from [ the ] Hispanic community , ” said Jason in Oregon , speculating that some are afraid the information will be used by U.S. Immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I OFTEN have to act like a detective and get neighborhood kids to give me info about a house and then start going door to door piecing together details to fill out a census by proxy .
... ICE has ruined the census in my neighborhood.
” “ I have done this before .
It was never this bad , ” said John in California .
“ I am blown away by how many people flat-out refuse to want to have anything to do with the 2020 Census .
It is mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with it .
I have no idea what the results will be but they will not be as correct as past ones.
” For now , the Census Bureau remains on track to wrap up the count by the end of the month .
In fact , the agency is cutting off the count even earlier in some parts of the country .
This is happening despite a Census Bureau analysis concluding that its rushed schedule increases the risk of “ serious errors ” in the national headcount , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House Oversight and Reform Committee .

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WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump is trying to rig the 2020 census for political gain and his administration’s effort to quietly rush the national headcount will leave millions of people ― particularly communities of color ― politically weakened for at least a decade, a key senator is warning.
“They don’t really want the American people to know what’s going on with the census,” New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate subcommittee charged with funding the census, said in a Monday interview. “The administration from the very beginning has tried to meddle in the appropriate counting of all Americans.”
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Trump has been trying to weaken the 2020 census count for years. It’s no coincidence that his efforts would disproportionately hurt minorities. He unsuccessfully tried to add a citizenship question to this year’s form, an effort that may still deter immigrants and people of color from participating. He created two new top-level positions at the Census Bureau and filled them with political appointees from outside the agency, an unprecedented move. He directed the federal government not to count undocumented immigrants when redrawing congressional districts next year, an act that constitutional experts say would be illegal.
Last month, the Census Bureau unexpectedly announced that it is ending its field operations early ― even after it had lost months of data collection time because of the coronavirus pandemic. The agency said census takers will only be knocking on doors until Sept. 30 instead of Oct. 31, the original cutoff, because it wants to stick to a Dec. 31 deadline to report the final U.S. population count.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate subcommittee charged with funding the 2020 census, accused President Donald Trump of trying to politicize the count. Tom Williams via Getty Images
Shaheen said this is nonsense. After the pandemic-related difficulties, the Trump administration knows Congress is willing to extend census deadlines, she said. The House has already passed a bill to do so and there is bipartisan support to do it in the Senate. But the administration is insisting on its rushed timeline anyway, even though it means “we aren’t going to be able to ensure a fair and accurate count,” said Shaheen.
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To be fully counted, minority and rural communities are more dependent on census takers coming to their homes in the final stage of data collection in what are known as “nonresponse follow-ups.” It is difficult to reach some of these communities via the internet, by phone or by mail. Some tribal reservations, for example, have no internet access at all. The shift from landline phones to cellphones has also made it much harder to connect people to their households. When the Census Bureau gets no response from a household, it sends out a field worker to knock on their door and interview them in person. This is the most effective way to make sure everyone gets counted.
The final round of door-knocking is the only stage of the census count being cut short. The pandemic has already delayed census takers from contacting many of these harder-to-reach communities. Now, with the Census Bureau ending field operations early, census takers simply won’t reach some people at all.
“It’s clear they’re trying to manipulate the census,” Shaheen said. “In the Constitution, they said that ... every 10 years there should be a count of all Americans. That’s what the census is trying to do. Unfortunately, this administration has politicized that count.”
Demonstrators rally at the U.S. Supreme Court in April 2019 to protest a proposal to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
The census is not a sexy subject. It’s easy to miss stories about it in a news cycle consumed by COVID-19, racial justice protests and the November elections. But it happens only once every 10 years, and the resulting count has huge, long-term implications for every community’s economic and political power.
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Census data is used to draw congressional districts. Given both political pressures and legal concerns, the more members of a minority community are counted in a given area, the more likely they will be kept together in one district and end up with a voice in Congress. If fewer people of color are counted in a given area, their community is more likely to be broken apart among several districts, making it harder to elect a lawmaker responsive to them.
Census data is also used to distribute hundreds of billions of federal dollars to communities across the country. For each person who isn’t counted in the census, their community loses thousands of dollars every year for the next 10 years. That money would have been used for essential services like health care, education, infrastructure and housing assistance.
Native Americans were the most undercounted population in the country the last time the census was taken in 2010. This time, it’s going to be even worse because of the Census Bureau’s decision to end field operations early.
“It ensures a historic, devastating undercount for Native Americans,” Natalie Landreth, senior staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund, told HuffPost last month. “Think of being powerless and poor. That’s what this does.”
Native Americans in remote tribal villages like this one in Kivalina, Alaska, are already hard to reach in the decennial census count. This year it's even more likely that they will simply be passed over. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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Several census takers emailed HuffPost to share anecdotes about how tainted the public has come to see the process under Trump. They described encounters with people refusing to participate because they think the census is political or they don’t trust census workers. All of the census takers requested some degree of anonymity for fear of getting in trouble at work.
“My first day a man refused to take it because it’s a ‘Democrat’ thing,” said Krissy in Florida. “We are all alarmed and I’m seeing it firsthand who won’t be counted. I do not believe it is just because of the pandemic. Of course, it set us back, but there’s no reason to cut it short.”
“I can attest that the challenges we are seeing are not just time crunch, but massive resistance and distrust from [the] Hispanic community,” said Jason in Oregon, speculating that some are afraid the information will be used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport them. “I OFTEN have to act like a detective and get neighborhood kids to give me info about a house and then start going door to door piecing together details to fill out a census by proxy. ... ICE has ruined the census in my neighborhood.”
“I have done this before. It was never this bad,” said John in California. “I am blown away by how many people flat-out refuse to want to have anything to do with the 2020 Census. It is mostly Hispanic and younger people wanting nothing to do with it. I have no idea what the results will be but they will not be as correct as past ones.”
“ICE has ruined the census in my neighborhood.” - Jason, an Oregon census taker
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HuffPost reached out to the Census Bureau to ask why the agency isn’t pushing back its deadlines to ensure a more accurate count. An agency spokesperson did not answer the question; instead, the spokesperson sent a link to a statement about 73% of U.S. households being counted.
Congress could still pass a bill legally extending the deadline for census data collection, although it’s not a given in the Senate. Shaheen said the votes are “absolutely” there but could not say if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would let such a bill come to a vote.
A McConnell spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
For now, the Census Bureau remains on track to wrap up the count by the end of the month. In fact, the agency is cutting off the count even earlier in some parts of the country. This is happening despite a Census Bureau analysis concluding that its rushed schedule increases the risk of “serious errors” in the national headcount, according to a leaked internal bureau document released Thursday by the House Oversight and Reform Committee.
The question nobody seems to be able to answer is why the Census Bureau abruptly changed its deadline for data collection to Sept. 30 after it had spent months planning for and publicizing an Oct. 31 deadline ― a deadline that local governments and advocacy groups all over the country had been planning around, too. The agency has never given an official reason.
“All I can figure is that there’s political interference there,” said Shaheen. “If this administration messes this up, it’s going to have implications for at least the next decade and possibly longer.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Joe Biden Speaks To Police Shooting Victim Jacob Blake By Phone During Kenosha Visit

Joe Biden spoke with police shooting victim Jacob Blake over the phone and met with Blake ’ s family in person during his visit to Kenosha , Wisconsin , on Thursday .
While speaking to community leaders at Grace Lutheran Church , Biden said he spent an hour with the Blake family and spoke with Blake , who is paralyzed from the waist down and remains hospitalized , on the phone for about 15 minutes .
“ He talked about how nothing was going to defeat him .
How , whether he walked again or not , he was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
While responding to “ a reported domestic incident ” on Aug. 23 , Kenosha police officers confronted Blake , a 29-year-old Black father , who walked away from them and toward his parked SUV with his children inside .
A white officer was videotaped shooting Blake in the back several times .
Community anger over the shooting prompted days of protests and unrest in the city .
On Aug. 25 , a white teen vigilante fatally shot two protesters and wounded a medic at a Kenosha protest .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-degree intentional homicide .
Biden said that Blake ’ s mother , Julia Jackson , who was speaking over the phone during his visit , offered a prayer for her son and for the police .
Ben Crump , the attorney for Blake ’ s family , confirmed in a statement later Thursday that Biden and his wife , Jill , paid a visit to the Blakes in Kenosha .
“ Mr .
Blake Sr. talked about the need for systematic reform because the excessive use of force against minorities has been going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crump said in the statement .
Biden ’ s visit to Kenosha was markedly different from President Donald Trump ’ s visit earlier this week .
Biden focused on a message of “ healing ” and uniting the community , and he spoke to Kenosha residents , community leaders and Blake ’ s family .
Trump focused on law and order , meeting with police officials and touring the burned buildings left behind after rioting erupted during the protests .
Trump said he didn ’ t meet with the Blake family because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is my son ’ s life we are talking about , ” he told CNN .
“ I am not getting into politics .
It is all about my son , man .
It has nothing to do with a photo-op .
It has to do with Jacob ’ s operation.
” Evers had asked Trump to “ reconsider ” his visit to the city , which has recently calmed down after a week of violence and conflict .
Evers told reporters on Thursday that he would “ prefer that no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or candidate Biden .
”

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Joe Biden spoke with police shooting victim Jacob Blake over the phone and met with Blake’s family in person during his visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Thursday.
While speaking to community leaders at Grace Lutheran Church, Biden said he spent an hour with the Blake family and spoke with Blake, who is paralyzed from the waist down and remains hospitalized, on the phone for about 15 minutes.
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“He’s out of ICU,” the Democratic presidential nominee said.
“He talked about how nothing was going to defeat him. How, whether he walked again or not, he was not going to give up,” Biden said.
While responding to “a reported domestic incident” on Aug. 23, Kenosha police officers confronted Blake, a 29-year-old Black father, who walked away from them and toward his parked SUV with his children inside. A white officer was videotaped shooting Blake in the back several times.
Community anger over the shooting prompted days of protests and unrest in the city. On Aug. 25, a white teen vigilante fatally shot two protesters and wounded a medic at a Kenosha protest. He’s been charged with several counts, including first-degree intentional homicide.
Biden said that Blake’s mother, Julia Jackson, who was speaking over the phone during his visit, offered a prayer for her son and for the police.
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“I’m praying for Jacob and I’m praying for the policeman as well,” Biden recalled Jackson as saying. “I’m praying that things change.’”
Ben Crump, the attorney for Blake’s family, confirmed in a statement later Thursday that Biden and his wife, Jill, paid a visit to the Blakes in Kenosha.
Crump described the visit as an “engaging, 90-minute in-person meeting” that included Blake’s father, sisters and brother.
“Mr. Blake Sr. talked about the need for systematic reform because the excessive use of force against minorities has been going on for far too long,” Crump said in the statement.
.@AttorneyCrump’s statement on Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden’s visit today with the family of #JacobBlake. pic.twitter.com/II0FvUzfHU — Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) September 3, 2020
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Biden’s visit to Kenosha was markedly different from President Donald Trump’s visit earlier this week. Biden focused on a message of “healing” and uniting the community, and he spoke to Kenosha residents, community leaders and Blake’s family.
Trump focused on law and order, meeting with police officials and touring the burned buildings left behind after rioting erupted during the protests. Trump said he didn’t meet with the Blake family because they wanted lawyers to be present.
A day before Trump landed in Wisconsin, Jacob Blake Sr. told CNN he wasn’t “going to play politics”
“This is my son’s life we are talking about,” he told CNN. “I am not getting into politics. It is all about my son, man. It has nothing to do with a photo-op. It has to do with Jacob’s operation.”
Both presidential candidates visited the tense city despite Gov. Tony Evers’ (D) wishes.
Evers had asked Trump to “reconsider” his visit to the city, which has recently calmed down after a week of violence and conflict.
Evers told reporters on Thursday that he would “prefer that no one be here, be it candidate Trump or candidate Biden.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Cuomo Rebukes Trump For Threat To Cut Federal Funds To Democratic Cities

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) on Wednesday personally assailed President Donald Trump , in response to Trump ’ s threat to defund cities like New York City as part of his election year culture war against largely Democratic areas .
“ He better have an army if he thinks he ’ s going to walk down the streets in New York , ” Cuomo told reporters on a call Wednesday night .
“ He is persona non grata in New York City , and I think he knows that , and he ’ ll never come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yorkers will never forget how gratuitously mean he has been.
” Earlier on Wednesday , Trump issued a memo directing federal agencies to “ review the use of Federal funds by jurisdictions that permit anarchy , violence , and destruction in America ’ s cities.
” Alleging with little evidence that they are “ lawless ” and “ anarchist , ” he listed major cities where police have responded with excessive force to this summer ’ s anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests , including New York City ; Washington , D.C. ; Seattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat appears to be part of his “ law and order ” reelection strategy designed to appeal to white voters , and another attempt to downplay his shambolic response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Throughout the call , Cuomo continued to attack Trump personally , and brought up the leaked recording of his sister , retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry .
On the recording , which was obtained by The Washington Post , Barry is heard attacking her brother ’ s “ phoniness ” and “ cruelty , ” and saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ you can ’ t trust him.
” “ Those that know him best like him least .
That ’ s true about New York City , that ’ s true about his own family , ” Cuomo said .
“ His sister , a former federal judge , is disgraced by him .
What does that say about a person ?
”

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Wednesday personally assailed President Donald Trump, in response to Trump’s threat to defund cities like New York City as part of his election year culture war against largely Democratic areas.
“He better have an army if he thinks he’s going to walk down the streets in New York,” Cuomo told reporters on a call Wednesday night. “He is persona non grata in New York City, and I think he knows that, and he’ll never come back to New York, because New Yorkers will never forget how gratuitously mean he has been.”
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Earlier on Wednesday, Trump issued a memo directing federal agencies to “review the use of Federal funds by jurisdictions that permit anarchy, violence, and destruction in America’s cities.” Alleging with little evidence that they are “lawless” and “anarchist,” he listed major cities where police have responded with excessive force to this summer’s anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests, including New York City; Washington, D.C.; Seattle; and Portland, Oregon.
The threat appears to be part of his “law and order” reelection strategy designed to appeal to white voters, and another attempt to downplay his shambolic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout the call, Cuomo continued to attack Trump personally, and brought up the leaked recording of his sister, retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry. On the recording, which was obtained by The Washington Post, Barry is heard attacking her brother’s “phoniness” and “cruelty,” and saying that he “has no principles” and “you can’t trust him.”
“Those that know him best like him least. That’s true about New York City, that’s true about his own family,” Cuomo said. “His sister, a former federal judge, is disgraced by him. What does that say about a person?”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Labor Unions Plan To Turn Out An Army Of Poll Workers For The Election

In a normal election year , labor unions would be kicking their canvassing programs into high gear right about now , sending members door to door to talk with voters .
But the coronavirus has made this election anything but normal , and unions are changing their game plans accordingly .
Election officials fear a historic shortage of poll workers due to the pandemic , since such workers tend to be senior citizens at high risk for the coronavirus .
So , in a bid to keep voter turnout high , some of the largest unions are recruiting their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and during early voting .
A lack of poll workers can lead to a lack of available polling places ― and voter disenfranchisement .
Given that the pandemic has made door-knocking infeasible in so many areas , labor groups are diverting some of that energy and resources to the poll worker cause .
“ With COVID , door-to-door has gone by the wayside .
So this is how we show up for the moment , ” said Michael Podhorzer , who leads political strategy at the AFL-CIO labor federation , which includes 55 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million-person workforce that kind of has to be replaced .
This has to get done.
” The AFL-CIO ’ s executive council discussed the poll worker issue in June and decided to make it a priority , Podhorzer said .
Several of the federation ’ s member unions ― including UNITE HERE , the United Steelworkers , the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State , County and Municipal Employees ― are contributing to the effort with their own recruiting programs launched this summer .
The goal is to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to COVID-19 and get them to sign up to work a polling place through their local election office .
Working the polls is a nonpartisan duty that requires training and often comes with a stipend .
This year it will involve a few wrinkles , like wearing protective equipment , guiding people on social distancing and disinfecting voting machines .
“ We ’ ve never had to do it before , but we have to do it now because of the pandemic , and because of the issues the president is raising , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way Donald Trump has tried to undermine mail-in voting ahead of the election .
“ We ’ re convinced that there ’ s going to be voter suppression efforts .
We just have to be prepared for this .
Using our members is a smart thing to do because of their political activism.
” Unions do seem like a natural fit for recruiting poll workers .
They have a direct line to their members , many of whom already volunteer for political work through canvassing and phone-banking .
The networks unions have built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an envious ground game every election year , helping drive turnout typically for Democratic candidates .
This year ’ s primaries already demonstrated how a shortage of poll workers could lead to disaster , particularly for Black and Latino communities in densely populated areas .
The stakes are particularly high for presidential nominee Joe Biden and other Democrats , since obstacles to voting in cities could tip elections in battleground states to Trump and Republicans seeking statewide office .
The AFL-CIO and most major unions have endorsed Biden for president .
Milwaukee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an election .
For this year ’ s primary , it had just five .
The Brennan Center for Justice says such precinct closures would be offset partly by the increase in mail-voting , but turnout would still be depressed , particularly among Black voters .
The dearth of poll workers is understandable .
For years , the workforce has been stocked mostly by retirees .
According to the Pew Research Center , nearly 60 % of poll workers in the 2018 election were over 60 year old ― a demographic highly vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local election offices were already having a hard time recruiting poll workers before the coronavirus , and the pandemic has only made the problem worse .
The AFL-CIO and several unions have partnered with a new organization called Power the Polls , a collaboration between businesses and nonprofits that ’ s recruiting poll workers through digital advertising .
The group helps pair potential poll workers with the thousands of different local bodies that oversee elections .
Scott Duncombe , Power the Polls ’ co-director , said it has already surpassed its original goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Teachers said its own president , Randi Weingarten , will be working at a precinct on Election Day .
The union ’ s retirees have a tradition of working the polls , but now AFT is urging current teachers and their family members to take on the task if they are low-risk for COVID-19 .
Many of its local unions have negotiated Election Day as a holiday in their contracts with school districts , making it easier for them to sign up to be trained and work at a precinct for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get creative in addressing their worker shortages .
Wisconsin and New Jersey activated their National Guards to assist at polling places during the primaries earlier this year , while other jurisdictions may pay government employees to staff precincts on Election Day .
Tennessee lowered the required age for poll workers in order to recruit teens and avoid consolidating precincts .
“ I think we ’ re making a lot of progress , ” he said .
“ You have to find people who are willing to do it .
This is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election if there aren ’ t enough places to vote .
”

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In a normal election year, labor unions would be kicking their canvassing programs into high gear right about now, sending members door to door to talk with voters. But the coronavirus has made this election anything but normal, and unions are changing their game plans accordingly.
Election officials fear a historic shortage of poll workers due to the pandemic, since such workers tend to be senior citizens at high risk for the coronavirus. So, in a bid to keep voter turnout high, some of the largest unions are recruiting their own members to staff precincts on Nov. 3 and during early voting.
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A lack of poll workers can lead to a lack of available polling places ― and voter disenfranchisement. Given that the pandemic has made door-knocking infeasible in so many areas, labor groups are diverting some of that energy and resources to the poll worker cause.
“With COVID, door-to-door has gone by the wayside. So this is how we show up for the moment,” said Michael Podhorzer, who leads political strategy at the AFL-CIO labor federation, which includes 55 unions. “It’s a million-person workforce that kind of has to be replaced. This has to get done.”
The AFL-CIO’s executive council discussed the poll worker issue in June and decided to make it a priority, Podhorzer said. Several of the federation’s member unions ― including UNITE HERE, the United Steelworkers, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ― are contributing to the effort with their own recruiting programs launched this summer.
The goal is to find members who aren’t especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and get them to sign up to work a polling place through their local election office. Working the polls is a nonpartisan duty that requires training and often comes with a stipend. This year it will involve a few wrinkles, like wearing protective equipment, guiding people on social distancing and disinfecting voting machines.
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“This is how we show up for the moment.” - Michael Podhorzer, AFL-CIO
AFSCME President Lee Saunders said his union just launched its poll worker recruitment program, with a target of enlisting 1,200 members in a handful of battleground states. The program is new for this election, and reflects how the coronavirus has shifted the union’s political strategy.
“We’ve never had to do it before, but we have to do it now because of the pandemic, and because of the issues the president is raising,” Saunders said, alluding to the way Donald Trump has tried to undermine mail-in voting ahead of the election. “We’re convinced that there’s going to be voter suppression efforts. We just have to be prepared for this. Using our members is a smart thing to do because of their political activism.”
Unions do seem like a natural fit for recruiting poll workers. They have a direct line to their members, many of whom already volunteer for political work through canvassing and phone-banking. The networks unions have built through workers and their family members make for an envious ground game every election year, helping drive turnout typically for Democratic candidates.
Voters waiting in line in Milwaukee for the primary on April 7. The state had trouble finding poll workers so had to consolidate precincts. Daniel Acker / reuters
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This year’s primaries already demonstrated how a shortage of poll workers could lead to disaster, particularly for Black and Latino communities in densely populated areas. The stakes are particularly high for presidential nominee Joe Biden and other Democrats, since obstacles to voting in cities could tip elections in battleground states to Trump and Republicans seeking statewide office. The AFL-CIO and most major unions have endorsed Biden for president.
Wisconsin had a deficit of some 7,000 poll workers on primary day in April, forcing jurisdictions to consolidate precincts and leading to ridiculously long lines. The impact was felt disproportionately in cities like Milwaukee.
Milwaukee normally has around 180 polling places for an election. For this year’s primary, it had just five. The Brennan Center for Justice says such precinct closures would be offset partly by the increase in mail-voting, but turnout would still be depressed, particularly among Black voters.
The dearth of poll workers is understandable. For years, the workforce has been stocked mostly by retirees. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 60% of poll workers in the 2018 election were over 60 year old ― a demographic highly vulnerable to the coronavirus. Surveys have shown local election offices were already having a hard time recruiting poll workers before the coronavirus, and the pandemic has only made the problem worse.
The AFL-CIO and several unions have partnered with a new organization called Power the Polls, a collaboration between businesses and nonprofits that’s recruiting poll workers through digital advertising. The group helps pair potential poll workers with the thousands of different local bodies that oversee elections. Scott Duncombe, Power the Polls’ co-director, said it has already surpassed its original goal of 250,000 sign-ups.
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“We’ve never had to do it before, but we have to do it now.” - Lee Saunders, AFSCME president
Duncombe said a shortage of precincts could not only disenfranchise voters but endanger them because of crowding. He thinks unions could play an especially helpful role due to members’ political engagement.
“The real tragedy, like in Milwaukee and Georgia … is you end up with in-person voting that’s even more unsafe,” he said of a poll worker shortage. “It really compounds the level of risk, and we’re trying to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The American Federation of Teachers said its own president, Randi Weingarten, will be working at a precinct on Election Day. The union’s retirees have a tradition of working the polls, but now AFT is urging current teachers and their family members to take on the task if they are low-risk for COVID-19. Many of its local unions have negotiated Election Day as a holiday in their contracts with school districts, making it easier for them to sign up to be trained and work at a precinct for the day.
AFT said it is focusing its efforts in nine states where it anticipates a greater need, all battlegrounds: Arizona, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
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The United Steelworkers kicked off its recruitment program on Sept. 1 and signed up more than 80 members in a matter of hours, said Roxanne Brown, a union vice president. The Steelworkers are targeting 50 cities and hoping to turn younger members into regular poll workers each election cycle.
“It has been older Americans in this role,” Brown said. “This is also about building the next generation of poll workers.”
Some states have tried to get creative in addressing their worker shortages. Wisconsin and New Jersey activated their National Guards to assist at polling places during the primaries earlier this year, while other jurisdictions may pay government employees to staff precincts on Election Day. Tennessee lowered the required age for poll workers in order to recruit teens and avoid consolidating precincts.
Podhorzer, of the AFL-CIO, said unions are ideally equipped to help staff precincts because of their organizing power.
“I think we’re making a lot of progress,” he said. “You have to find people who are willing to do it. This is one of the things that could really derail the election if there aren’t enough places to vote.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--White House Press Secretary Offers No Clarity On Trump's Call To Vote Twice

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany offered no clarity Thursday on President Donald Trump ’ s call for people to try voting twice , once by mail and once in person , to test the U.S. electoral system .
The subject came up when a reporter asked her to acknowledge that voting twice in the same election is illegal .
“ The president does not condone unlawful voting , ” McEnany responded .
“ The president ’ s been very clear about this .
Once again , not surprised the media is taking the president out of context.
” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told a group of supporters in North Carolina that they should vote by mail ― a process he has repeatedly claimed without evidence is ripe for voter fraud― and then see what happens when they try to vote in-person , too .
“ If you get the unsolicited ballots , send it in and then go — make sure it counted , ” he said .
“ And if it doesn ’ t tabulate , you vote .
You just vote .
And then if they tabulate it very late , which they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll see you voted , and so it won ’ t count .
So , send it in early , and then go and vote .
And if it ’ s not tabulated — you vote .
And the vote is going to count.
” He said the same to reporters that day : “ Let them send it in and let them go vote , and if their system ’ s as good as they say it is , then obviously they won ’ t be able to vote .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll be able to vote.
” The president later tweeted the suggestion , too .
( Twitter partially blocked those posts on the grounds that they violated its rules on “ civic and election integrity.
” ) McEnany argued that Trump ’ s suggestion was simply a way for people to “ verify that your vote ’ s been counted ” if they mailed it in .
“ If it is not tabulated , meaning your mail-in vote , then you will be able to vote in person , ” she stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to correct Trump ’ s misinformation .
The executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections issued a warning about the penalties that come with voting twice and emphasized that the state carries out an audit after each election to identify double voters and ensure only one of their ballots is counted .
McEnany argued Thursday that people need ways to verify that their votes are counted because of the 319,000 mail-in ballots that weren ’ t counted in the 2016 election .
That amounted to about 1 % of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those were rejected because they missed the voting deadline or had a problem with the envelope or signature on the ballot .
The number of in-person votes that ultimately weren ’ t counted in 2016 was about a third less .

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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany offered no clarity Thursday on President Donald Trump’s call for people to try voting twice, once by mail and once in person, to test the U.S. electoral system.
The subject came up when a reporter asked her to acknowledge that voting twice in the same election is illegal.
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“The president does not condone unlawful voting,” McEnany responded. “The president’s been very clear about this. Once again, not surprised the media is taking the president out of context.”
Trump caused a stir on Wednesday when he told a group of supporters in North Carolina that they should vote by mail ― a process he has repeatedly claimed without evidence is ripe for voter fraud― and then see what happens when they try to vote in-person, too.
“If you get the unsolicited ballots, send it in and then go — make sure it counted,” he said. “And if it doesn’t tabulate, you vote. You just vote. And then if they tabulate it very late, which they shouldn’t be doing, they’ll see you voted, and so it won’t count. So, send it in early, and then go and vote. And if it’s not tabulated — you vote. And the vote is going to count.”
He said the same to reporters that day: “Let them send it in and let them go vote, and if their system’s as good as they say it is, then obviously they won’t be able to vote. If it isn’t tabulated, they’ll be able to vote.”
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The president later tweeted the suggestion, too. (Twitter partially blocked those posts on the grounds that they violated its rules on “civic and election integrity.”)
Double voting is illegal and carries felony charges in some states.
McEnany argued that Trump’s suggestion was simply a way for people to “verify that your vote’s been counted” if they mailed it in. “If it is not tabulated, meaning your mail-in vote, then you will be able to vote in person,” she stated.
That’s not entirely true. In 14 states, including a few battleground ones, officials won’t start authenticating any mail-in ballots until Election Day, let alone begin tabulating them.
State election officials are now scrambling to correct Trump’s misinformation. The executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections issued a warning about the penalties that come with voting twice and emphasized that the state carries out an audit after each election to identify double voters and ensure only one of their ballots is counted.
McEnany argued Thursday that people need ways to verify that their votes are counted because of the 319,000 mail-in ballots that weren’t counted in the 2016 election. That amounted to about 1% of all mail-in ballots submitted, and most of those were rejected because they missed the voting deadline or had a problem with the envelope or signature on the ballot. The number of in-person votes that ultimately weren’t counted in 2016 was about a third less.