thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-16--Fire, Flood, Smoke, Cyclones: The Climate Crisis Is Everywhere

In the last two weeks , wildfires fueled by extreme heat and drought have consumed a combined 5 million acres in California , Oregon and Washington , killing at least 33 people and displacing tens of thousands .
Residents in cities coast to coast , from San Francisco to Chicago to New York City , found themselves under hazy orange skies this week as smoke from the West Coast blazes stretched for thousands of miles .
Off the Atlantic coast , a record-tying five tropical cyclones swirled simultaneously on Tuesday ― the latest in what federal forecasters say is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of those systems , Hurricane Sally , made landfall in Alabama early Wednesday as a slow-moving Category 2 storm that is dumping as much as 20 inches of rain on parts of the Florida panhandle and causing widespread flooding .
“ Climate and ecological breakdown are impossible to ignore at this point , ” Peter Kalmus , a climate scientist and author , told HuffPost .
“ The reason it ’ s seemed so bad over the last few weeks is because it ’ s getting that bad .
And the thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that it ’ s going to keep getting worse.
” He painted the infernos as simply the result of the state ’ s poor “ forest management , ” even though the federal government controls 57 % of California ’ s 33 million forested acres , compared with just 3 % under state management .
And many of the recent blazes in California burned shrublands and grasslands , not forest .
“ You can knock this down to nothing , ” Trump said of the fires , ignoring the complexity of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that must be eradicated .
In fact , fire is a natural and critical part of many forest ecosystems .
Today ’ s catastrophic blazes are due to a combination of factors , including decades of fire suppression that left America ’ s forests overgrown ; climate change driving up temperatures , fueling drought and drying out vegetation ; and increased development in and around wildland areas .
“ If you give a climate arsonist four more years in the White House , why would anyone be surprised if we have more of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If you give a climate denier four more years in the White House , why would anyone be surprised when more of America is under water ?
We need a president who respects science.
” In the past , Trump has marveled at the size of major hurricanes ― only to downplay their ferocity when asked about the role climate change plays in strengthening them .
Much like Hurricane Laura last month , Hurricane Dorian last year and Hurricane Florence in 2018 , Sally gained strength very rapidly , fueled by warm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It made landfall moving at just 3 miles per hour , delivering what one National Hurricane Center forecaster described as “ catastrophic and life-threatening ” rain .
A federal study in May concluded that climate change is supercharging cyclones , making them larger and more intense .
Research also shows there ’ s been a marked slowdown in the speed of hurricanes over water and land , leading to an increased risk of torrential rains , flooding and storm surges .
A year brought to its knees by a global pandemic , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. alone , is also shaping up to be another historically devastating one for climate breakdown and climate-linked disasters .
Last decade , the U.S. experienced at least 119 billion-dollar climate and weather disasters , more than double the number during the 2000s , according to a federal report released in January .
Costs from those events over the last 10 years exceeded $ 800 billion .
With the U.S. and other major global polluters failing to take swift action to curb carbon emissions , climate-linked disasters and extreme weather events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries will ultimately adapt to climate breakdown not by choice but by necessity .
“ There will come a point when we abandon parts of major coastal cities , not just in the United States but around the world , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t see how that could possibly be avoided at this point .
And similarly , I think there will come a time when homes are no longer insured in wildfire-prone areas because of the worsening climate wildfires.
” “ I ’ ve always been terrified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular , but it feels so much more real now .
This is the kind of stuff I thought they would be dealing with , and now we ’ re dealing with it now .
So what does that mean they are going to be dealing with in 10 years or 30 years ?
I can ’ t even imagine .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
With the deadly coronavirus pandemic raging into its seventh month, communities across the country now find themselves unable to escape the rapidly worsening effects of global climate change.
In the last two weeks, wildfires fueled by extreme heat and drought have consumed a combined 5 million acres in California, Oregon and Washington, killing at least 33 people and displacing tens of thousands. Residents in cities coast to coast, from San Francisco to Chicago to New York City, found themselves under hazy orange skies this week as smoke from the West Coast blazes stretched for thousands of miles.
Advertisement
Off the Atlantic coast, a record-tying five tropical cyclones swirled simultaneously on Tuesday ― the latest in what federal forecasters say is an “extremely active” hurricane season. One of those systems, Hurricane Sally, made landfall in Alabama early Wednesday as a slow-moving Category 2 storm that is dumping as much as 20 inches of rain on parts of the Florida panhandle and causing widespread flooding.
#GOESEast view of Hurricanes Sally and Paulette, as well as the smoke from the western US fires being transported across the country by the upper level winds. pic.twitter.com/q7soyDef1q — NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) September 14, 2020
All this comes before what is typically peak wildfire season in the West and with 2½ months left in the official Atlantic hurricane season.
“Climate and ecological breakdown are impossible to ignore at this point,” Peter Kalmus, a climate scientist and author, told HuffPost. “The reason it’s seemed so bad over the last few weeks is because it’s getting that bad. And the thing that’s really terrifying to me is that it’s going to keep getting worse.”
Advertisement
The simultaneous disasters highlight the many faces of the growing crisis, Kalmus added.
They have also exposed the stark divide between President Donald Trump’s and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s views on climate and science in general.
During a visit Monday to fire-scorched California, Trump once again dismissed the role climate change plays in extreme wildfires. “It will start getting cooler. You just watch,” Trump said, tossing aside decades of climate science.
He painted the infernos as simply the result of the state’s poor “forest management,” even though the federal government controls 57% of California’s 33 million forested acres, compared with just 3% under state management. And many of the recent blazes in California burned shrublands and grasslands, not forest.
“You can knock this down to nothing,” Trump said of the fires, ignoring the complexity of the problem and painting fire as an evil that must be eradicated. In fact, fire is a natural and critical part of many forest ecosystems. Today’s catastrophic blazes are due to a combination of factors, including decades of fire suppression that left America’s forests overgrown; climate change driving up temperatures, fueling drought and drying out vegetation; and increased development in and around wildland areas.
A firefighting tanker jet drops fire retardant to slow the Bobcat fire in the Angeles National Forest on Sept. 10. David McNew via Getty Images
Advertisement
At his own event Monday, Biden blasted Trump for his denial of climate science and his failure to rein in planet-warming greenhouse gases.
“If you give a climate arsonist four more years in the White House, why would anyone be surprised if we have more of America ablaze?” Biden said. “If you give a climate denier four more years in the White House, why would anyone be surprised when more of America is under water? We need a president who respects science.”
In the past, Trump has marveled at the size of major hurricanes ― only to downplay their ferocity when asked about the role climate change plays in strengthening them. Much like Hurricane Laura last month, Hurricane Dorian last year and Hurricane Florence in 2018, Sally gained strength very rapidly, fueled by warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. It made landfall moving at just 3 miles per hour, delivering what one National Hurricane Center forecaster described as “catastrophic and life-threatening” rain.
A federal study in May concluded that climate change is supercharging cyclones, making them larger and more intense. Research also shows there’s been a marked slowdown in the speed of hurricanes over water and land, leading to an increased risk of torrential rains, flooding and storm surges.
A year brought to its knees by a global pandemic, which has so far killed nearly 200,000 people in the U.S. alone, is also shaping up to be another historically devastating one for climate breakdown and climate-linked disasters. Last decade, the U.S. experienced at least 119 billion-dollar climate and weather disasters, more than double the number during the 2000s, according to a federal report released in January. Costs from those events over the last 10 years exceeded $800 billion.
Advertisement
With the U.S. and other major global polluters failing to take swift action to curb carbon emissions, climate-linked disasters and extreme weather events are expected to mount. Kalmus expects countries will ultimately adapt to climate breakdown not by choice but by necessity.
“There will come a point when we abandon parts of major coastal cities, not just in the United States but around the world,” he said. “I don’t see how that could possibly be avoided at this point. And similarly, I think there will come a time when homes are no longer insured in wildfire-prone areas because of the worsening climate wildfires.”
Five years ago, Kalmus felt there was still time to stave off catastrophic climate impacts. Now he says he fears we’ve run out of time.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-15--Scientific American Makes First Political Endorsement In 175 Years

Scientific American has dipped a toe into political waters for the first time in its 175-year history and is endorsing Joe Biden for president .
The science and research publication is publishing the endorsement in a two-page statement in its upcoming October issue .
“ Scientific American has never endorsed a presidential candidate in its 175-year history , ” the editors wrote .
“ This year we are compelled to do so .
We do not do this lightly.
” As would be expected of a science-focused publication , the editors rested their argument on facts and evidence , concluding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and evidence “ has badly damaged the U.S. and its people.
” In everything from Trump ’ s “ dishonest and inept response to the COVID-19 pandemic ” to his attacks on “ environmental protections , medical care , and the researchers and public science agencies that help this country prepare for its greatest challenges , ” Trump ’ s refusal to make fact-based , data-driven decisions has pushed the U.S. far off course , they argued .
The editorial board highlighted Trump ’ s pandemic response as a particularly deleterious example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse ― not better .
The statement noted that , among other failures , the president lied about the severity of the disease , leading many to believe it ’ s “ like the flu , ” when in fact he knew it was far more lethal and easily spread ; he advocated for less COVID-19 testing when more would have been helpful ; he failed to develop a national strategy to procure and allocate PPE , despite having been warned about COVID-19 many times in January and February ; and his opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If almost everyone in the U.S. wore masks in public , it could save about 66,000 lives by the beginning of December , according to projections from the University of Washington School of Medicine .
Such a strategy would hurt no one .
It would close no business .
It would cost next to nothing .
But Trump and his vice president flouted local mask rules , making it a point not to wear masks themselves in public appearances .
“ His administration has been even worse for science than we feared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told HuffPost in an email .
“ We couldn ’ t include all of our objections to his record in two print pages.
” Helmuth stressed that the endorsement isn ’ t partisan ; neither major political party was even mentioned in the explanation .
Biden , however , is “ the clear choice when you compare the candidates on science , health , the environment and other research-related concerns .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Scientific American has dipped a toe into political waters for the first time in its 175-year history and is endorsing Joe Biden for president.
The science and research publication is publishing the endorsement in a two-page statement in its upcoming October issue.
Advertisement
“Scientific American has never endorsed a presidential candidate in its 175-year history,” the editors wrote. “This year we are compelled to do so. We do not do this lightly.”
As would be expected of a science-focused publication, the editors rested their argument on facts and evidence, concluding that Trump’s rejection of facts and evidence “has badly damaged the U.S. and its people.”
In everything from Trump’s “dishonest and inept response to the COVID-19 pandemic” to his attacks on “environmental protections, medical care, and the researchers and public science agencies that help this country prepare for its greatest challenges,” Trump’s refusal to make fact-based, data-driven decisions has pushed the U.S. far off course, they argued.
The editorial board highlighted Trump’s pandemic response as a particularly deleterious example of Trump making the health and economic fallout worse ― not better.
Advertisement
The statement noted that, among other failures, the president lied about the severity of the disease, leading many to believe it’s “like the flu,” when in fact he knew it was far more lethal and easily spread; he advocated for less COVID-19 testing when more would have been helpful; he failed to develop a national strategy to procure and allocate PPE, despite having been warned about COVID-19 many times in January and February; and his opposition to masks continues to defy all logic.
As the editors wrote:
If almost everyone in the U.S. wore masks in public, it could save about 66,000 lives by the beginning of December, according to projections from the University of Washington School of Medicine. Such a strategy would hurt no one. It would close no business. It would cost next to nothing. But Trump and his vice president flouted local mask rules, making it a point not to wear masks themselves in public appearances.
“His administration has been even worse for science than we feared,” Scientific American Editor-in-Chief Laura Helmuth told HuffPost in an email. “We couldn’t include all of our objections to his record in two print pages.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Parents Send Child To School Who Is Knowingly Infected With COVID-19

Nearly 30 Massachusetts students must quarantine for 14 days after a fellow student went to school despite having tested positive for COVID-19 .
The Attleboro High School student was tested for coronavirus on Wednesday , Sept. 9 , and received a positive result on Friday , Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux told HuffPost .
The parents then sent the student to school on Monday .
Heroux said the student should have been kept isolated after the test date .
The city ’ s contact tracing team identified the issue on Monday afternoon .
When authorities contacted the family Tuesday morning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were aware their child was infected but thought they could still go to school after quarantining for several days .
He said that the student had posted about his diagnosis on Snapchat , prompting chatter on social media pages .
“ A lot of parents are very angry at the parents who sent the kid to school , ” the mayor said .
Authorities have not identified the student .
There are currently six known active coronavirus infections in the school district of 6,000 students .
“ If parents know that they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to keep the kid home .
If they are awaiting results , they really should keep the kid home , ” Heroux said .
” If the child has come into contact with someone who is COVID-positive , we encourage them to reach out to the nurse , the school or to contact the city health nurse .
Everybody should be self-monitoring for symptoms.
” “ This unacceptable outcome was caused by delays in the reporting timeline , not a breakdown in our safety protocols , ” he said in a copy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I understand that this inevitable moment is stressful for many , ” he said .
“ However , it shouldn ’ t change anything .
The guidance from the state can not ensure a virus-free environment , especially considering we know that some carriers are asymptomatic.
” Sawyer said that contact tracing and daily prescreening were in place to help reduce the threat .
“ We will have to wait for the end of the quarantines to be certain we were successful , but there is no reason at this moment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Nearly 30 Massachusetts students must quarantine for 14 days after a fellow student went to school despite having tested positive for COVID-19.
The Attleboro High School student was tested for coronavirus on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and received a positive result on Friday, Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux told HuffPost. The parents then sent the student to school on Monday.
Advertisement
Heroux said the student should have been kept isolated after the test date. The city’s contact tracing team identified the issue on Monday afternoon. When authorities contacted the family Tuesday morning, he said, the parents confirmed they were aware their child was infected but thought they could still go to school after quarantining for several days. He said that the student had posted about his diagnosis on Snapchat, prompting chatter on social media pages.
“A lot of parents are very angry at the parents who sent the kid to school,” the mayor said.
Authorities have not identified the student. There are currently six known active coronavirus infections in the school district of 6,000 students.
“If parents know that they have a child who is COVID-positive, they need to keep the kid home. If they are awaiting results, they really should keep the kid home,” Heroux said. ”If the child has come into contact with someone who is COVID-positive, we encourage them to reach out to the nurse, the school or to contact the city health nurse. Everybody should be self-monitoring for symptoms.”
Superintendent David Sawyer notified other parents in a letter Tuesday night.
“This unacceptable outcome was caused by delays in the reporting timeline, not a breakdown in our safety protocols,” he said in a copy of the letter provided to HuffPost.
Advertisement
“I understand that this inevitable moment is stressful for many,” he said. “However, it shouldn’t change anything. The guidance from the state cannot ensure a virus-free environment, especially considering we know that some carriers are asymptomatic.”
Sawyer said that contact tracing and daily prescreening were in place to help reduce the threat.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--'Cheer' Star Jerry Harris Accused Of Making Child Pornography

Celebrity cheerleader Jerry Harris was arrested Thursday on federal charges that accuse him of soliciting a 13-year-old for sex at a cheer competition and pressing teens to send him sexually explicit photos and videos .
He was scheduled to appear later Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago .
Harris , 21 , who rose to fame as a cast member on the Netflix series “ Cheer , ” was charged with one count of producing child pornography , punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison , the Chicago Tribune reported .
The arrest comes days after USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations that Harris solicited photos and sex from minors .
On Monday , Harris was sued in Texas by twin teenage brothers who accused him of sending them lewd photos and videos of himself starting when they were 13 and was 19 .
One of the brothers alleged Harris cornered him in a bathroom at a 2019 cheer competition and begged for oral sex , according to USA Today .
A lawyer for Harris couldn ’ t be reached on Thursday , the Tribune reported .
A rep didn ’ t immediately reply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A spokesperson for Harris earlier denied the allegations in the brothers ’ lawsuit to CNN .
“ We categorically dispute the claims made against Jerry Harris , which are alleged to have occurred when he was a teenager , ” the spokesperson said .
“ We are confident that when the investigation is completed the true facts will be revealed .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Celebrity cheerleader Jerry Harris was arrested Thursday on federal charges that accuse him of soliciting a 13-year-old for sex at a cheer competition and pressing teens to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. He was scheduled to appear later Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Harris, 21, who rose to fame as a cast member on the Netflix series “Cheer,” was charged with one count of producing child pornography, punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Advertisement
The arrest comes days after USA Today reported that the FBI was investigating allegations that Harris solicited photos and sex from minors. On Monday, Harris was sued in Texas by twin teenage brothers who accused him of sending them lewd photos and videos of himself starting when they were 13 and was 19.
One of the brothers alleged Harris cornered him in a bathroom at a 2019 cheer competition and begged for oral sex, according to USA Today.
A lawyer for Harris couldn’t be reached on Thursday, the Tribune reported. A rep didn’t immediately reply to HuffPost’s request for comment.
A spokesperson for Harris earlier denied the allegations in the brothers’ lawsuit to CNN.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Officer Charged After Ordering Police Dog To Bite Black Man On His Knees

A Utah police officer was charged with aggravated assault almost five months after body camera footage showed him ordering his K-9 police dog to bite a Black man who was on his knees with his hands in the air , prosecutors said .
Salt Lake City Police Officer Nickolas Pearce was charged Wednesday with second-degree felony aggravated assault in the April 24 incident that left 36-year-old Jeffrey Ryans with lasting leg injuries and disfigurement , the Salt Lake County District Attorney ’ s office said .
Ryans “ wasn ’ t resisting arrest , ” District Attorney Sam Gill told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly wasn ’ t posing an imminent threat of violence or harm to anyone , and he certainly wasn ’ t concealed .
He was fenced in an area and was being compliant.
” Authorities responded to a domestic violence call at Ryans ’ house , where officers confronted Ryans outside .
The officers said they believed that Ryans — who had an existing protective order prohibiting him from going to the home — was trying to flee the scene , according to a report by the city ’ s Civilian Review Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow Pearce ’ s order to get on the ground , but Ryans did appear to comply before Pearce ordered the dog four times to “ hit , ” the command for bite , the Civilian Review Board reported .
The dog first bit Ryans while he was on his knees with his arms raised .
Pearce placed Ryans in handcuffs , and the dog continued to bite Ryans as he fell to the ground , crying in pain as Pearce intermittently told the dog “ hit ” and “ good boy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m on the ground !
I ’ m on the ground .
Why are you biting me ?
” Ryans cried out at one point .
Ryans needed surgery for two lacerations on his left leg , one approximately 4 inches wide and 3 inches long and the second approximately 5 inches long and 1 inch wide , prosecutors said .
“ Complications resulting from the dog bites have resulted in protracted impairment of his leg and permanent disfigurement of the leg due to visible scarring from the dog bites , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the charging documents .
The incident did not come to the attention of senior police officials until August when Ryans filed a civil lawsuit and the Tribune published body camera footage of Ryans ’ arrest .
Gill ’ s office also began investigating the incident at that time .
Pearce was placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigations , and the department suspended its K-9 apprehension program amid an external review of its policies , procedures , training and application in the field , the department announced in August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken into account as the Department is finalizing its Internal Affairs investigation , ” it said .
“ If Internal Affairs finds that Officer Pearce committed a policy violation , the Chief ’ s Office will follow the disciplinary process required under state and federal law .
This can take some time , but we will carry this out as expediently as possible to bring a prompt conclusion to this matter .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
A Utah police officer was charged with aggravated assault almost five months after body camera footage showed him ordering his K-9 police dog to bite a Black man who was on his knees with his hands in the air, prosecutors said.
Salt Lake City Police Officer Nickolas Pearce was charged Wednesday with second-degree felony aggravated assault in the April 24 incident that left 36-year-old Jeffrey Ryans with lasting leg injuries and disfigurement, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office said.
Advertisement
Ryans “wasn’t resisting arrest,” District Attorney Sam Gill told The Salt Lake Tribune. “He certainly wasn’t posing an imminent threat of violence or harm to anyone, and he certainly wasn’t concealed. He was fenced in an area and was being compliant.”
Pearce, who is white, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Salt Lake City Police Officer Nickolas Pearce was charged Wednesday with second-degree felony aggravated assault following the April 24 arrest of Jeffrey Ryans. Salt lake City PD
Authorities responded to a domestic violence call at Ryans’ house, where officers confronted Ryans outside. The officers said they believed that Ryans — who had an existing protective order prohibiting him from going to the home — was trying to flee the scene, according to a report by the city’s Civilian Review Board.
Ryans did not appear to immediately follow Pearce’s order to get on the ground, but Ryans did appear to comply before Pearce ordered the dog four times to “hit,” the command for bite, the Civilian Review Board reported.
Advertisement
The dog first bit Ryans while he was on his knees with his arms raised. Pearce placed Ryans in handcuffs, and the dog continued to bite Ryans as he fell to the ground, crying in pain as Pearce intermittently told the dog “hit” and “good boy,” the video showed.
“I’m on the ground! I’m on the ground. Why are you biting me?” Ryans cried out at one point.
Ryans needed surgery for two lacerations on his left leg, one approximately 4 inches wide and 3 inches long and the second approximately 5 inches long and 1 inch wide, prosecutors said.
“Complications resulting from the dog bites have resulted in protracted impairment of his leg and permanent disfigurement of the leg due to visible scarring from the dog bites,” the district attorney’s office said in the charging documents.
The incident did not come to the attention of senior police officials until August when Ryans filed a civil lawsuit and the Tribune published body camera footage of Ryans’ arrest. Gill’s office also began investigating the incident at that time.
Pearce was placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigations, and the department suspended its K-9 apprehension program amid an external review of its policies, procedures, training and application in the field, the department announced in August.
Advertisement
The police department said in a statement Wednesday that it took the district attorney’s decision and the Civilian Review Board’s findings “very seriously.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Cubs-Indians Game Delayed After Drone Lands In Wrigley Field's Outfield

A drone lies on the grass after it landed in center field , before taking off again and flying out @ @ @ @ @ the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 , in Chicago .
Play was briefly suspended .
( AP Photo/Mark Black @

A drone lies on the grass after it landed in center field, before taking off again and flying out of the stadium, during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, in Chicago. Play was briefly suspended. (AP Photo/Mark Black) ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO (AP) — Umpires hastily cleared the field during a game between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night when a small drone flew into Wrigley Field over the bleachers and landed on the grass in deep left center.
As Willson Contreras came to bat with two outs in the bottom of the fifth and the game tied at 2, the device was spotted over the left-center stands. Before the drone landed, umpires rushed players into the dugouts.
Advertisement
The blinking drone took off, hovered at about 100 feet, then pulled away and vanished past the vintage center-field scoreboard.
Following a 7-minute delay, Contreras resumed his at-bat and grounded out to end the inning.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--South Faces Widespread Flooding, Power Outages In Hurricane Sally's Wake

PENSACOLA , Fla. ( AP ) — Rescuers along the Gulf Coast used high-water vehicles Thursday to reach people cut off by flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally , even as the region braced for a delayed , second round of floods in the coming days from rivers and creeks swollen by the storm ’ s heavy rains .
Across southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle , homeowners and businesses began cleaning up , and officials inspected bridges and highways for safety , a day after Sally rolled through with winds up to 105 mph ( 165 kph ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.3 to 1 meter ) of rain in many places before it began to break up .
In hard-hit Pensacola and surrounding Escambia County , where Sally ’ s floodwaters had surged through downtown streets and lapped at car door handles on Wednesday before receding , authorities went door-to-door to check on residents and warn them they were not out of danger .
At least eight waterways in Alabama and the Panhandle were expected to hit major flood stage by Thursday .
Forecasters warned that some could break records , submerge bridges and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday on Innerarity Point , a narrow strip of land close to Pensacola that is home to waterfront homes and businesses .
Floodwaters covered the only road out , though authorities said no one was in immediate danger .
Richard Wittig and his family were among scores of people hemmed in by floodwaters on the island .
Two generators were powering his house , fueled by 30 gallons of gasoline Wittig bought ahead of the storm .
“ If I didn ’ t have a working generator , we ’ d be dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said the 77-year-old Wittig , who said he and his son rely on oxygen machines to keep them alive .
The Florida National Guard said it had deployed about 500 soldiers and airmen to help local authorities evacuate 113 people , though it did not say when and where the rescues took place .
About 35 miles ( 56 kilometers ) inland , a swollen Murder Creek cut off access between the Alabama towns of Brewton and East Brewton , inundating a grocery store , a tobacco shop , a park and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gazed at the neighboring city across fast-moving water covering a bridge .
East Brewton resident Brenda Davenport said it took only four hours for the water to rise .
“ It could take two days for it to go down , ” she said .
Picking up soggy debris in her yard in Orange Beach , Alabama , Janice Sullivan swore she would never ride out a hurricane again .
She and her daughter huddled in a second-floor bathroom as Sally blew ashore .
The winds grew so violent Sullivan feared the roof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear everything hitting the house , ” she said .
“ You could hear the house moving back and forth .
It was literally moaning and cracking.
” At least one death , in Alabama , was blamed on the hurricane , and a half-million businesses were without electricity Thursday afternoon in Florida , Alabama and Georgia .
A section of the main bridge between Pensacola and Pensacola Beach collapsed after it was hit by a barge that broke loose during the storm .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Rescuers along the Gulf Coast used high-water vehicles Thursday to reach people cut off by flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally, even as the region braced for a delayed, second round of floods in the coming days from rivers and creeks swollen by the storm’s heavy rains.
Across southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, homeowners and businesses began cleaning up, and officials inspected bridges and highways for safety, a day after Sally rolled through with winds up to 105 mph (165 kph) and 1 to 3 1/2 feet (0.3 to 1 meter) of rain in many places before it began to break up.
Advertisement
Its remnants continued to push deep inland with heavy downpours, threatening flooding across the South all the way to Virginia.
Cars and a motorcycle are underwater as water floods a street, Wednesday in Pensacola, Fla. ASSOCIATED PRESS
In hard-hit Pensacola and surrounding Escambia County, where Sally’s floodwaters had surged through downtown streets and lapped at car door handles on Wednesday before receding, authorities went door-to-door to check on residents and warn them they were not out of danger.
At least eight waterways in Alabama and the Panhandle were expected to hit major flood stage by Thursday. Forecasters warned that some could break records, submerge bridges and swamp homes.
Advertisement
“Please, please, we’re not out of the woods even if we’ve got beautiful skies today,” said Escambia County emergency manager Eric Gilmore.
Vehicles maneuver on a flooded road Wednesday near a washed-up boat after Hurricane Sally moved through the area in Orange Beach, Ala. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Crews carried out at least 400 rescues in the Escambia County by such means as high-water vehicles, boats and water scooters, authorities said.
Rescuers focused their efforts Thursday on Innerarity Point, a narrow strip of land close to Pensacola that is home to waterfront homes and businesses. Floodwaters covered the only road out, though authorities said no one was in immediate danger.
Richard Wittig and his family were among scores of people hemmed in by floodwaters on the island. Two generators were powering his house, fueled by 30 gallons of gasoline Wittig bought ahead of the storm.
Advertisement
“If I didn’t have a working generator, we’d be dead. Nobody can get to us,” said the 77-year-old Wittig, who said he and his son rely on oxygen machines to keep them alive.
The Florida National Guard said it had deployed about 500 soldiers and airmen to help local authorities evacuate 113 people, though it did not say when and where the rescues took place.
In Alabama, on both sides of Mobile Bay, National Guard soldiers from high-water evacuation teams used big trucks Thursday to rescue at least 35 people, authorities said.
Downed trees and flooding are seen in West Pensacola near the Bayou Grove and Mulworth neighborhoods. The Washington Post via Getty Images
About 35 miles (56 kilometers) inland, a swollen Murder Creek cut off access between the Alabama towns of Brewton and East Brewton, inundating a grocery store, a tobacco shop, a park and more. Residents behind a police roadblock gazed at the neighboring city across fast-moving water covering a bridge.
Advertisement
“Mama, look. Water’s all the way up in here!” 11-year-old Rachana Matthews said.
East Brewton resident Brenda Davenport said it took only four hours for the water to rise. “It could take two days for it to go down,” she said.
Picking up soggy debris in her yard in Orange Beach, Alabama, Janice Sullivan swore she would never ride out a hurricane again. She and her daughter huddled in a second-floor bathroom as Sally blew ashore. The winds grew so violent Sullivan feared the roof would fly off.
“You could hear everything hitting the house,” she said. “You could hear the house moving back and forth. It was literally moaning and cracking.”
At least one death, in Alabama, was blamed on the hurricane, and a half-million businesses were without electricity Thursday afternoon in Florida, Alabama and Georgia. A section of the main bridge between Pensacola and Pensacola Beach collapsed after it was hit by a barge that broke loose during the storm.
A few people cleaned up in Bristol Park, a creekside neighborhood where as much as 4 feet (1.2 meters) of water-filled brick homes north of Pensacola.
Advertisement
A U.S. flag flies from a boat damaged by Hurricane Sally in Pensacola, Florida, on Wednesday. Jonathan Bachman / reuters
Susan Cutts’ parents fled rising water inside their home into the garage, where they desperately called for help on a dying cellphone until aid arrived.
“They were on top of their car when they got to them,” Cutts said.
At a downtown marina, at least 30 sailboats, fishing boats and other vessels were found clumped together in a mass of fiberglass hulls and broken docks. Some boats rested atop sunken ones.
The hurricane also drove two large ferry boats into a concrete seawall and left them grounded. The boats had been purchased with BP oil spill money.
“This is kind of the initial salvo,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said of the hurricane’s onslaught, “but there is going to be more that you’re going to have to contend with.”
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Sally’s rainy remnants caused flooding in Georgia, closing streets and highways, and threatened more of the same on Friday in North Carolina and Virginia. Forecasters said Georgia could get up to a foot (30 centimeters), and South Carolina 10 inches (25 centimeters).
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Triumph The Insult Comic Dog Exposes The Trump Cult's Utter Devotion To Him

There ’ s nothing too bad or bonkers that President Donald Trump can say or do to keep this group @ @ @ @ @ him in the 2020 election .
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog , the puppet creation @ @ @ @ @ , hosted a focus group for Trump voters in a bit that aired on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
” And when faced with outrageous comments purportedly made @ @ @ @ @ series of fake ads , Trump fans repeatedly gave him the benefit of the doubt @ @ @ @ @ the off-the-rails claims .
“ The Late Show ” confirmed to HuffPost that real Trump @ @ @ @ @ segment , reminding viewers of the cultish nature of Trump ’ s base .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ campaign he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and not @ @ @ @ @ Check out the full video here :

LOADING ERROR LOADING
There’s nothing too bad or bonkers that President Donald Trump can say or do to keep this group of supporters from voting for him in the 2020 election.
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the puppet creation of the comedian Robert Smigel, hosted a focus group for Trump voters in a bit that aired on Wednesday’s episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Advertisement
And when faced with outrageous comments purportedly made by the president in a series of fake ads, Trump fans repeatedly gave him the benefit of the doubt and tried to positively spin the off-the-rails claims.
“The Late Show” confirmed to HuffPost that real Trump voters are featured in the segment, reminding viewers of the cultish nature of Trump’s base. Trump himself boasted during the 2016 campaign he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and not lose a single vote.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Coronavirus Danger Continues To Drive Joblessness In The U.S.

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to 860,000 , a @ @ @ @ @ economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak .
Before the pandemic hit the economy , the @ @ @ @ @ aid had never exceeded 700,000 in a week , even in the depths of the @ @ @ @ @ Labor Department also said Thursday that 12.6 million are collecting traditional unemployment benefits , up @ @ @ @ @ ago .

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to 860,000, a historically high figure that reflects economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak.
Before the pandemic hit the economy, the number signing up for jobless aid had never exceeded 700,000 in a week, even in the depths of the 2007-2009 Great Recession. The Labor Department also said Thursday that 12.6 million are collecting traditional unemployment benefits, up from 1.7 million a year ago.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--The Swing District In The Middle Of Wildfire Country

Justin Sullivan via Getty Images A melted Trump campaign sign sits in front of a home in Butte County that was destroyed by the North Complex fire , which has burned over 260,000 acres and killed at least 14 people .
SACRAMENTO , Calif. ― In November 2018 , Audrey Denney lost to incumbent Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa by just under 10 % of the vote .
The Democrat didn ’ t have much time to wallow .
Two days later , the Camp fire started in the northern California district she had hoped to represent , wiping out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was the deadliest wildfire in the state to date , and in its wake came a scourge of houselessness , financial insecurity and displacement .
Denney , a 37-year-old agricultural educator , is hoping that her plans to deal with these issues will flip the seat , which has been held by LaMalfa since 2013 .
Like other Democratic women across the country , Denney decided to run after the election of President Donald Trump in 2016 , and she knew it might take her more than one campaign cycle to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outraised him by nearly half a million dollars and has received a number of high-profile progressive endorsements .
On Wednesday , Denney was endorsed by EMILY ’ s List , and she ’ s also got the nod from Planned Parenthood , Moms Demand Action , the California Democratic Party , SEIU California , and California senator and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris .
A June poll released by her campaign showed Denney trailing by just 5 percentage points on the initial ballot question ― and in a dead heat with LaMalfa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were given more information about the candidates .
Last week , as the North Complex fire merged several outbreaks into the massive , smoky blaze that it is now , the Republican congressman posted a wildfire-related meme on his personal Facebook page asking if California could “ please blow your # % & % candles out.
” Soon after , he deleted it without apology .
But not before Denney screen-grabbed it and posted it to her campaign ’ s Instagram account .
“ I don ’ t know how the Congressman justifies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while his constituents lose their homes , lives , businesses , and sense of security as wildfires rage in our region , ” Denney wrote .
“ All I can really say is , I am so sorry that this is the kind of commentary we have come to expect from Rep. LaMalfa .
You deserve so much better.
” The 1st District encompasses much of Northern California ’ s most rural areas , stretching from just north of Sacramento up to the Oregon border and all the way east to the Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region has made it vulnerable to more than just dry heat and wildfires .
There are only 11 hospitals in the district , and two of them don ’ t have maternity wards .
One in five residents suffer from a physical disability ( a rate two times higher than the rest of California ) .
Butte County , one of the most populated counties in the district , currently has the highest ACE score in the state .
ACEs ― short for adverse childhood experiences ― are traumatic life events that occur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the age of 17 , include witnessing or experiencing violence , experiencing neglect , having an incarcerated parent , and living in a home with substance misuse .
Children with high ACE scores are more likely to suffer from long-term health afflictions like depression , substance misuse and heart disease .
“ We ’ ve dealt with alcohol addiction issues for several generations on both sides of my family , and there is such a stigma around addiction , ” Denney told HuffPost in the spring .
“ A lot of who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world comes from ... growing up in a household with an addictive family system .
It makes it very personal for me.
” Denney has also vocally supported harm reduction efforts that have been proven to prevent infectious disease and increase the safe disposal of needles .
In some parts of the 1st District , like Shasta and Sierra counties , syringe exchanges have been successful .
But elsewhere , in the college town of Chico , the Northern Valley Harm Reduction Coalition was recently forced to shutter its syringe exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But not everyone on the left is thrilled with Denney ’ s campaign .
Last year , the vice chair of a local Democratic Socialists of America branch wrote that the Sunrise Movement should revoke its endorsement of her campaign after she endorsed two candidates for the California state legislature who don ’ t support a Green New Deal .
Denney is “ a candidate who simply lacks a moral center when it comes to the ongoing climate crisis , ” wrote Anthony Haddad .
“ Are we to take her seriously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress , LaMalfa has voted consistently , traditionally Republican .
He supports fully repealing the Affordable Care Act , has voted to chip away at abortion access since gaining public office , and has voted in support of banning Dreamers from serving in the military .
More recently , he chided California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) for his coronavirus-related shutdowns , and he has shown support for President Donald Trump by denying claims that the president is racist and calling this year ’ s impeachment proceedings “ revenge ” after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
”

A melted Trump campaign sign sits in front of a home in Butte County that was destroyed by the North Complex fire, which has burned over 260,000 acres and killed at least 14 people. Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
SACRAMENTO, Calif. ― In November 2018, Audrey Denney lost to incumbent Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa by just under 10% of the vote. The Democrat didn’t have much time to wallow. Two days later, the Camp fire started in the northern California district she had hoped to represent, wiping out the Butte County towns of Paradise and Magalia. It was the deadliest wildfire in the state to date, and in its wake came a scourge of houselessness, financial insecurity and displacement.
This year, Denney is making another bid for the seat. And yet again, California’s 1st Congressional District is facing catastrophic fires. Its residents are still struggling to access health care and addiction treatment, two of Denney’s top priorities. And the coronavirus pandemic has killed nearly 200,000 people across the country and put millions out of work.
Advertisement
Denney, a 37-year-old agricultural educator, is hoping that her plans to deal with these issues will flip the seat, which has been held by LaMalfa since 2013. Like other Democratic women across the country, Denney decided to run after the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, and she knew it might take her more than one campaign cycle to beat LaMalfa.
She has thus far outraised him by nearly half a million dollars and has received a number of high-profile progressive endorsements. On Wednesday, Denney was endorsed by EMILY’s List, and she’s also got the nod from Planned Parenthood, Moms Demand Action, the California Democratic Party, SEIU California, and California senator and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. A June poll released by her campaign showed Denney trailing by just 5 percentage points on the initial ballot question ― and in a dead heat with LaMalfa, at 47% each, when people were given more information about the candidates.
Denney sees the fires as evidence the district needs a change. To her, there are two traumas facing the community: the trauma of the actual damage being done now, but also the trauma of reliving the Camp fire. She argues LaMalfa has failed to take either issue seriously.
Advertisement
Last week, as the North Complex fire merged several outbreaks into the massive, smoky blaze that it is now, the Republican congressman posted a wildfire-related meme on his personal Facebook page asking if California could “please blow your #%&% candles out.” Soon after, he deleted it without apology. But not before Denney screen-grabbed it and posted it to her campaign’s Instagram account.
“I don’t know how the Congressman justifies making harmful and distasteful jokes like these while his constituents lose their homes, lives, businesses, and sense of security as wildfires rage in our region,” Denney wrote. “All I can really say is, I am so sorry that this is the kind of commentary we have come to expect from Rep. LaMalfa. You deserve so much better.”
Reducing Harm In The North Country
The 1st District encompasses much of Northern California’s most rural areas, stretching from just north of Sacramento up to the Oregon border and all the way east to the Nevada state line. The geography of the region has made it vulnerable to more than just dry heat and wildfires. There are only 11 hospitals in the district, and two of them don’t have maternity wards. One in five residents suffer from a physical disability (a rate two times higher than the rest of California).
Butte County, one of the most populated counties in the district, currently has the highest ACE score in the state. ACEs ― short for adverse childhood experiences ― are traumatic life events that occur in a person’s life up to the age of 17, include witnessing or experiencing violence, experiencing neglect, having an incarcerated parent, and living in a home with substance misuse. Children with high ACE scores are more likely to suffer from long-term health afflictions like depression, substance misuse and heart disease.
Addiction is a major problem in the region, and in Butte County alone, the rate of drug-induced deaths is roughly 2.5 times higher than for the state overall. Denney sees substance misuse as an increasingly real threat to the health of her would-be constituents. It’s also something that’s devastated her own tight-knit family.
Advertisement
“We’ve dealt with alcohol addiction issues for several generations on both sides of my family, and there is such a stigma around addiction,” Denney told HuffPost in the spring. “A lot of who I am and the way I operate in the world comes from ... growing up in a household with an addictive family system. It makes it very personal for me.”
She won’t bring up those stories, but if you ask, she’ll discuss them: her Vietnam veteran father’s post-traumatic stress disorder, his legal issues, the loss of their Central California family farm in the 2008 recession, her parents’ divorce and ― perhaps most painfully ― a long family tradition of substance misuse.
Indeed, it’s her connection to an issue that so plagues the district that has won her support among the electorate ― and her understanding that this issue is inextricably intertwined with climate change, displacement and homelessness, poverty, mental health, race, and health care access.
The Camp fire exacerbated these preexisting problems. The Feather River Hospital in Paradise was damaged to the point of closing down, and most of the district is designated as a medically underserved area by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.
“We’re the size of the state of South Carolina, and yet folks have to drive hours and hours for basic care,” Denney said. “There’s two counties where women can’t even deliver babies ... and along with that, the care that they can and do get is too expensive.”
Advertisement
Because of the inconvenience and financial burden of obtaining medical care, she said her would-be constituents also generally avoid preventative care altogether, leading to declines in both physical and mental health.
Denney’s solution is a popular one among progressive lawmakers, and if she wins the election this November, she’ll join a growing group of congressional representatives pushing for “Medicare for All.” “Working toward a Medicare for All system where every single person has coverage is the best way to shore up rural hospitals,” she said.
Denney has also vocally supported harm reduction efforts that have been proven to prevent infectious disease and increase the safe disposal of needles. In some parts of the 1st District, like Shasta and Sierra counties, syringe exchanges have been successful. But elsewhere, in the college town of Chico, the Northern Valley Harm Reduction Coalition was recently forced to shutter its syringe exchange program after drawing controversy in the community.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who has represented California's 1st District since 2013, made a joke about the wildfires that are destroying his constituents' homes last week. Bill Clark via Getty Images
“I feel this on so many issues right now,” Denney said. “We’re politicizing so many things that should be data-driven.”
Advertisement
And for Denney, that data-based approach to harm reduction should apply to the environment, too. She supports a Green New Deal and includes wildfire prevention and forest health in her platform. Denney’s environmental stances have earned her endorsements from the Sunrise Movement, the Sierra Club, the California League of Conservation Voters and a smattering of local Northern California unions.
But not everyone on the left is thrilled with Denney’s campaign. Last year, the vice chair of a local Democratic Socialists of America branch wrote that the Sunrise Movement should revoke its endorsement of her campaign after she endorsed two candidates for the California state legislature who don’t support a Green New Deal. Denney is “a candidate who simply lacks a moral center when it comes to the ongoing climate crisis,” wrote Anthony Haddad. “Are we to take her seriously?”
Will Rural California Ever Swing Blue?
In his four terms in Congress, LaMalfa has voted consistently, traditionally Republican. He supports fully repealing the Affordable Care Act, has voted to chip away at abortion access since gaining public office, and has voted in support of banning Dreamers from serving in the military. More recently, he chided California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for his coronavirus-related shutdowns, and he has shown support for President Donald Trump by denying claims that the president is racist and calling this year’s impeachment proceedings “revenge” after Democrats “never recovered from their loss in 2016.”
Is the region ― where voters swung for Trump by a 20-point margin four years ago, where “Recall Newsom” signs and signature collection booths are commonplace, and where support for a small-government separatist movement continues to grow despite its white supremacist undercurrents ― ready for a young Democratic woman to lead them into the next decade?
It may well depend on wildfire season.
With less than 50 days to go until Election Day, the number of people killed by the North Complex fire continues to rise. The quality of the air seems indefinitely stuck somewhere between “Hazardous” and “Unhealthy.” LaMalfa’s stance on ― or rather, his denial of ― the climate crisis may be his undoing.
Advertisement
If they held a debate or town hall gathering, Denney would likely call out LaMalfa’s lack of attention to the climate crisis. But he hasn’t shown up for one. Last week, the two were finally set to face off at the Nevada County Association of Realtors Forum on Sept. 9. LaMalfa canceled the day before.
In the meantime, Denney is continuing to campaign and urge her would-be constituents to take care of themselves.
“Today is not a day to hide your fears and anxieties that may be reactivated due to the smoke and ash in the sky,” Denney wrote on her campaign social media last week. “Today is a day to reach out for support and share that experience, whether to a loved one or to a support hotline.”
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Samantha Bee's PSA About Voting Is The Stuff Of Nightmares

Samantha Bee dialed up the fear factor with her call to vote in the 2020 election .
In the bit on Wednesday , The “ Full Frontal ” host reimagined several classic horror movies to warn against a second term with President Donald Trump .
In one spoof scene of “ Scream , ” the masked Ghostface tells Bee that he ’ s chosen to scare her because “ I know in 2016 , you think you had it in the bag and we ’ ve been living in a straight-up horror flick ever since.
” On Twitter , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst using these movie posters : We ’ re big horror movie fans here at Full Frontal and couldn ’ t resist the opportunity to use classic movie posters to let everyone know we don ’ t want a sequel in 2020 .
We know how you voted last election .
Let ’ s end this once and for all .
# ExpectTheWorst pic.twitter.com/QDOpcyYj9u — Full Frontal ( @ FullFrontalSamB ) September 16 , 2020 Do you like scary movies ?
No ?
Then vote .
# ExpectTheWorst pic.twitter.com/vTz4oR8a1E — Full Frontal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 Two is scarier than one .
Let ’ s make sure he only gets one term .
# ExpectTheWorst pic.twitter.com/RpVX2rc1ZM — Full Frontal ( @ FullFrontalSamB ) September 16 , 2020 We ’ re not saying a demonic baby would make a better president than Trump but we are saying we could try it out !
# ExpectTheWorst pic.twitter.com/Gc4MCFUg5H — Full Frontal ( @ FullFrontalSamB ) September 16 , 2020 Elsewhere on the show , Bee talked about the importance of down-ballot races :

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Samantha Bee dialed up the fear factor with her call to vote in the 2020 election.
In the bit on Wednesday, The “Full Frontal” host reimagined several classic horror movies to warn against a second term with President Donald Trump.
In one spoof scene of “Scream,” the masked Ghostface tells Bee that he’s chosen to scare her because “I know in 2016, you think you had it in the bag and we’ve been living in a straight-up horror flick ever since.”
Advertisement
Check out the clip here:
On Twitter, “Full Frontal” warned voters to expect the worst using these movie posters:
We’re big horror movie fans here at Full Frontal and couldn’t resist the opportunity to use classic movie posters to let everyone know we don’t want a sequel in 2020. We know how you voted last election. Let’s end this once and for all. #ExpectTheWorst pic.twitter.com/QDOpcyYj9u — Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) September 16, 2020
Two is scarier than one. Let’s make sure he only gets one term. #ExpectTheWorst pic.twitter.com/RpVX2rc1ZM — Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) September 16, 2020
Advertisement
We’re not saying a demonic baby would make a better president than Trump but we are saying we could try it out! #ExpectTheWorst pic.twitter.com/Gc4MCFUg5H — Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) September 16, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Twitter Users Dunk On GOP Senator’s ‘Shameful’ Defense Of Donald Trump

Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-Wis. ) declared Donald Trump to be “ the most transparent president in history ” ― and was immediately taken to task on Twitter .
“ I don ’ t think anything he says to any reporter , or reported in any book , really comes across as a surprise to anybody , because he ’ s already said it publicly , ” Johnson said on Greta Van Susteren ’ s show , “ Full Court Press , ” in a clip he shared on social media Wednesday .
Johnson was responding to the damning revelations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist Bob Woodward ’ s “ Rage , ” which details how the president knew about the threat of the coronavirus as early as February but misled the American public for months by downplaying its severity .
Critics on Twitter explained why Johnson should not describe Trump as “ transparent ” by listing some of the president ’ s opaque scandals ― from his unwillingness to share his financial records with the public to his efforts to thwart the congressional investigation into his Ukraine misconduct .
Wow Ron you have gone full blown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
His Walter Reed visit ?
Did he sit with Mueller ?
Those phone calls with Putin ?
I could go on and on — Suzanne Lindbergh ( @ suzannebuzz ) September 15 , 2020 Back to reality , Donald Trump is still refusing to disclose his : * Tax returns and financial records .
* His high school and college degrees .
* His medical records .
* His DNA .
* Phone transcripts of his phone calls with Putin.
# TrumpHidTheTruth — Republicans for Joe Biden ( @ RepsForBiden ) September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same way Saran Wrap is the most opaque food wrap in history https : //t.co/19dAlOYCfW — Steven Mazie ( @ stevenmazie ) September 15 , 2020 This is actually kind of true , which makes the senator 's support for Trump all the more shameful https : //t.co/QHM2dbEKZu — David Frum ( @ davidfrum ) September 16 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) declared Donald Trump to be “the most transparent president in history” ― and was immediately taken to task on Twitter.
“I don’t think anything he says to any reporter, or reported in any book, really comes across as a surprise to anybody, because he’s already said it publicly,” Johnson said on Greta Van Susteren’s show, “Full Court Press,” in a clip he shared on social media Wednesday.
Advertisement
Johnson was responding to the damning revelations about Trump in books such as Watergate journalist Bob Woodward’s “Rage,” which details how the president knew about the threat of the coronavirus as early as February but misled the American public for months by downplaying its severity.
Check out the video here:
.@realDonaldTrump is the most transparent president in history. pic.twitter.com/NSRohCgh4K — Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) September 15, 2020
Critics on Twitter explained why Johnson should not describe Trump as “transparent” by listing some of the president’s opaque scandals ― from his unwillingness to share his financial records with the public to his efforts to thwart the congressional investigation into his Ukraine misconduct.
Wow Ron you have gone full blown loony. Where are his tax returns? His Walter Reed visit? Did he sit with Mueller? Those phone calls with Putin? I could go on and on — Suzanne Lindbergh (@suzannebuzz) September 15, 2020
Advertisement
Back to reality, Donald Trump is still refusing to disclose his:
* Tax returns and financial records.
* His high school and college degrees.
* His medical records.
* His DNA.
* Phone transcripts of his phone calls with Putin.#TrumpHidTheTruth — Republicans for Joe Biden (@RepsForBiden) September 15, 2020
Trump's tax returns and White House visitor logs could not be reached for comment. — Paul 👻 (@pablo_honey1) September 15, 2020
Yes! in the same way Saran Wrap is the most opaque food wrap in history https://t.co/19dAlOYCfW — Steven Mazie (@stevenmazie) September 15, 2020
Transparently corrupt, yes. — Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) September 15, 2020
This is actually kind of true, which makes the senator's support for Trump all the more shameful https://t.co/QHM2dbEKZu — David Frum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2020
Advertisement
Is this The Onion? White House visitor logs? His tax returns? Should I go on? https://t.co/m5w8ImtAmO — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 15, 2020
How does anyone make such claims with a straight face? https://t.co/ztCQpRNSXz — Jonathan H. Adler (@jadler1969) September 16, 2020
Reminder: Donald Trump has refused to release his tax returns https://t.co/UVoyTECYe3 — The Hardy Report Podcast (@EdwardTHardy) September 15, 2020
Sir, if you need to be rescued, blink twice. https://t.co/XIqbIRtMmp — Jesse Wegman (@jessewegman) September 15, 2020
he's not but thanks for reminding us that you're not a serious person https://t.co/JF2FfTain8 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 15, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--CNN Host Delivers 6-Minute Takedown Of Fox News’ Coronavirus Misinformation

CNN “ Newsroom ” host Brianna Keilar on Thursday dedicated a six-minute segment to ripping rival network Fox News for @ @ @ @ @ guests have spread on-air about COVID-19 .
“ We have pointed out that millions go @ @ @ @ @ , or should I say misinformation , and that includes the president , ” Keilar @ @ @ @ @ “ if you only watched Fox News , you might think hydroxychloroquine is to coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ headache , or that gathering in large crowds indoors without masks is safe , or @ @ @ @ @ businesses to be closed forever.
” Keilar highlighted just some of the “ false ” @ @ @ @ @ that have been made in recent weeks on the conservative network that is often watched @ @ @ @ @ whose hosts frequently guide his policy decisions ― from the dismissal of face masks to @ @ @ @ @ of herd immunity .
“ Misinformation is a virus unto itself .
And Fox News @ @ @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
CNN “Newsroom” host Brianna Keilar on Thursday dedicated a six-minute segment to ripping rival network Fox News for the misinformation its personalities and guests have spread on-air about COVID-19.
“We have pointed out that millions go to Fox News for information, or should I say misinformation, and that includes the president,” Keilar began. She noted that “if you only watched Fox News, you might think hydroxychloroquine is to coronavirus what Tylenol is to a headache, or that gathering in large crowds indoors without masks is safe, or that Democrats want schools and businesses to be closed forever.”
Advertisement
Keilar highlighted just some of the “false” and “dangerous” claims that have been made in recent weeks on the conservative network that is often watched by President Donald Trump and whose hosts frequently guide his policy decisions ― from the dismissal of face masks to the promotion of the concept of herd immunity.
Keilar concluded:
“Misinformation is a virus unto itself. And Fox News is the vector.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Bob Woodward Clashes With Fox News Host Over His Conclusions About Trump

Journalist Bob Woodward pushed back during an at-times combative interview Thursday on Fox News after host Dana Perino confronted him about his personal political judgments about President Donald Trump .
In Woodward ’ s new book , “ Rage , ” which is partly based on 19 interviews with the president , the journalist ultimately concludes that Trump is not fit for the Oval Office , a judgment he has repeatedly said is based on overwhelming evidence .
This includes his conversations with Trump , other top White House and government officials , and Trump ’ s deliberate downplaying of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , has killed more than 197,000 people in the U.S. “ What I did in the last 4½ years is report on Trump , I think as much as any outsider , get close to him and his operations , so I ’ m able to make the judgment , as I do , that I believe ― with overwhelming evidence ― he is the wrong man for the job , ” Woodward said .
“ I have not reported in depth on Joe Biden .
I am not endorsing anyone.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump `` is the wrong man for the job ... the evidence is overwhelming .
It is one of the saddest moments for this country to have a leader who has failed to tell the truth , who has failed to warn the people . ''
pic.twitter.com/kfIpabAQz4 — Lis Power ( @ LisPower1 ) September 17 , 2020 Perino also asked her guest what Ben Bradlee , the legendary Washington Post editor whom Woodward credits with teaching him journalism , would have thought of him weighing in on Trump ’ s fitness for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always told him to be “ tough on everyone ... we ’ re not in the political game.
” “ Dana , if you ’ ve been able to read the book , the evidence is overwhelming , ” Woodward answered .
“ It ’ s one of the saddest moments for this country to have a leader who has failed to tell the truth , who has failed to warn the people.
” “ The confusion in the message for somebody trying to figure this out : Should I send my kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grocery store ?
...
The president has that megaphone , and people look to him as the one who is going to say , ‘ Here ’ s the reality.
’ And if you distort the reality , you have failed in your job , and you ’ re the wrong man for that job , ” he said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Journalist Bob Woodward pushed back during an at-times combative interview Thursday on Fox News after host Dana Perino confronted him about his personal political judgments about President Donald Trump.
In Woodward’s new book, “Rage,” which is partly based on 19 interviews with the president, the journalist ultimately concludes that Trump is not fit for the Oval Office, a judgment he has repeatedly said is based on overwhelming evidence. This includes his conversations with Trump, other top White House and government officials, and Trump’s deliberate downplaying of the coronavirus pandemic that, as of Thursday, has killed more than 197,000 people in the U.S.
Advertisement
Perino questioned Woodward’s journalistic authority to make that call and asked for his judgment on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
“What I did in the last 4½ years is report on Trump, I think as much as any outsider, get close to him and his operations, so I’m able to make the judgment, as I do, that I believe ― with overwhelming evidence ― he is the wrong man for the job,” Woodward said. “I have not reported in depth on Joe Biden. I am not endorsing anyone.”
Bob Woodward appearing on Fox News: Trump "is the wrong man for the job ... the evidence is overwhelming. It is one of the saddest moments for this country to have a leader who has failed to tell the truth, who has failed to warn the people." pic.twitter.com/kfIpabAQz4 — Lis Power (@LisPower1) September 17, 2020
Perino also asked her guest what Ben Bradlee, the legendary Washington Post editor whom Woodward credits with teaching him journalism, would have thought of him weighing in on Trump’s fitness for office. Woodward had said that Bradlee always told him to be “tough on everyone ... we’re not in the political game.”
Advertisement
“Dana, if you’ve been able to read the book, the evidence is overwhelming,” Woodward answered. “It’s one of the saddest moments for this country to have a leader who has failed to tell the truth, who has failed to warn the people.”
“The confusion in the message for somebody trying to figure this out: Should I send my kids to school? Can I go to the grocery store? ... The president has that megaphone, and people look to him as the one who is going to say, ‘Here’s the reality.’ And if you distort the reality, you have failed in your job, and you’re the wrong man for that job,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Mary Trump Shares Surefire Way For Biden To Get Under Trump’s Skin In Debates

Mary Trump on Thursday shared a surefire way for Democratic nominee Joe Biden to get under the skin of her uncle , President Donald Trump , during the 2020 presidential debates .
The president ’ s niece , speaking on MSNBC ’ s “ The Last Word , ” told host Lawrence O ’ Donnell that Biden should address the president only by his first name , Donald .
“ First of all , and I mean this sincerely , I hope Vice President Biden refers to Donald as Donald just because that ’ s an easy way to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrespected the office as much as Donald has , so he doesn ’ t deserve the cover of the respect of the office of the presidency , ” she said .
Mary Trump , who in July released a tell-all book about her uncle titled “ Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created The World ’ s Most Dangerous Man , ” also suggested Biden call out her uncle ’ s lies to his face if the moderators don ’ t .
“ Even if it feels rude , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interrupting , it ’ s too important for us to sit on ceremony here , ” she said .
Trump has told more than 20,000 lies during his time as president , according to The Washington Post .
Lying is “ almost like breathing ” to the president , his niece said .
Fox News will air the first presidential debate — moderated by Chris Wallace — from Cleveland on Sept. 29 .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Mary Trump on Thursday shared a surefire way for Democratic nominee Joe Biden to get under the skin of her uncle, President Donald Trump, during the 2020 presidential debates.
The president’s niece, speaking on MSNBC’s “The Last Word,” told host Lawrence O’Donnell that Biden should address the president only by his first name, Donald.
Advertisement
“First of all, and I mean this sincerely, I hope Vice President Biden refers to Donald as Donald just because that’s an easy way to get under his skin and nobody’s disrespected the office as much as Donald has, so he doesn’t deserve the cover of the respect of the office of the presidency,” she said.
Mary Trump, who in July released a tell-all book about her uncle titled “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created The World’s Most Dangerous Man,” also suggested Biden call out her uncle’s lies to his face if the moderators don’t.
“Even if it feels rude, even if it feels like he’s interrupting, it’s too important for us to sit on ceremony here,” she said.
Trump has told more than 20,000 lies during his time as president, according to The Washington Post. Lying is “almost like breathing” to the president, his niece said.
Advertisement
Fox News will air the first presidential debate — moderated by Chris Wallace — from Cleveland on Sept. 29.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--CNN Sums Up Donald Trump's Lack Of Scientific Credentials With 1 Stinging Graphic

CNN used a stinging graphic to point out the folly of President Donald Trump ’ s contradiction of his own administration ’ s experts during the coronavirus pandemic .
On Thursday ’ s broadcast of “ New Day , ” host John Berman compared Trump ’ s medical qualifications with those of Robert Redfield , the Trump-appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Trump this week contradicted Redfield on the timeline for a vaccine ( the president said it would be available as soon as October ; Redfield said mid-2021 ) and on the importance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The left side of CNN ’ s graphic showed Redfield ’ s extensive credentials — from his medical degree from Georgetown University to his 20 years serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps .
On the right appeared Trump ’ s sole medical-related achievement — that his uncle , John Trump , was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
“ He also lies about everything from crowd sizes to injecting disinfectant , so there ’ s that , ” added Berman .
JUST NOW : `` Dr. Redfield has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a professor at the University of Maryland , he served on an advisory counsel on HIV/AIDS , he 's been CDC director since 2018 .
As for Donald Trump , his uncle taught at M.I.T .
`` @ NewDaypic.twitter.com/wQ5nnA18BO — John Berman ( @ JohnBerman ) September 17 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
CNN used a stinging graphic to point out the folly of President Donald Trump’s contradiction of his own administration’s experts during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday’s broadcast of “New Day,” host John Berman compared Trump’s medical qualifications with those of Robert Redfield, the Trump-appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Advertisement
Trump this week contradicted Redfield on the timeline for a vaccine (the president said it would be available as soon as October; Redfield said mid-2021) and on the importance of wearing face masks during the pandemic.
The left side of CNN’s graphic showed Redfield’s extensive credentials — from his medical degree from Georgetown University to his 20 years serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
On the right appeared Trump’s sole medical-related achievement — that his uncle, John Trump, was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“He also lies about everything from crowd sizes to injecting disinfectant, so there’s that,” added Berman.
Advertisement
Check out the clip here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Betsy DeVos's Former Chief Of Staff Joins Anti-Trump Group

The Washington Post via Getty Images A former aide to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos , shown here at a 2018 White House event with President Donald Trump , has joined a group that opposes the president 's reelection .
The former chief of staff to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos joined an anti-Donald Trump group being led by former White House officials .
Josh Venable , who worked for DeVos from 2017 to 2018 , joined the Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform ( REPAIR ) as an adviser , Politico reported Thursday .
REPAIR is made up of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the group ’ s founders , Miles Taylor and Elizabeth Neumann , who both previously served in the Department of Homeland Security .
The intention of REPAIR , which formed in late August , is to act as a “ cleanup crew for the Republican Party , ” Taylor told ABC News last month .
Taylor , a longtime Republican , served in the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019 .
Last month , he officially endorsed Joe Biden for president in an op-ed in The Washington Post .
Neumann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterterrorism and threat prevention in the Department of Homeland Security in April after three years .
Olivia Troye , a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence , is also a member of REPAIR , according to Politico .
Troye was Pence ’ s homeland security , counterterrorism and coronavirus adviser and also served on the White House ’ s coronavirus task force .
In an interview with the Post , Troye announced that she was voting for Biden in response to what she described as President Donald Trump ’ s failed leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his own attacks against people in his administration trying to do the work , as well as the promulgation of false narratives and incorrect information of the virus , have made this ongoing response a failure , ” Troye said .
NEW : Testimonial ad from Trump 's Former DHS Chief of Staff @ MilesTaylorUSA , declaring his support for Joe Biden and describing Trump 's presidency as `` terrifying '' and `` actively doing damage to our security . ''
WATCH & go to https : //t.co/Nz2NiSCquN for more .
pic.twitter.com/iChqOdIIew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RVAT2020 ) August 17 , 2020 In his op-ed , Taylor described Trump as a “ dangerous ” figure whose policies had “ damning results ” for national security .
He also blamed Trump for bungling the government ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic and for “ stoking hatred and division ” in the country .
“ It is more than a little ironic that Trump is campaigning for a second term as a law-and-order president , ” Taylor wrote .
“ His first term has been dangerously chaotic .
Four more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told NBC News in August that there were two senior officials in the Trump administration who were joining the group who were remaining anonymous , “ at least at the outset .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The former chief of staff to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos joined an anti-Donald Trump group being led by former White House officials.
Josh Venable, who worked for DeVos from 2017 to 2018, joined the Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform (REPAIR) as an adviser, Politico reported Thursday.
Advertisement
REPAIR is made up of current and former administration officials, according to the group’s founders, Miles Taylor and Elizabeth Neumann, who both previously served in the Department of Homeland Security.
The intention of REPAIR, which formed in late August, is to act as a “cleanup crew for the Republican Party,” Taylor told ABC News last month.
Taylor, a longtime Republican, served in the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019. Last month, he officially endorsed Joe Biden for president in an op-ed in The Washington Post. Neumann left her post as assistant secretary of counterterrorism and threat prevention in the Department of Homeland Security in April after three years.
Olivia Troye, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence, is also a member of REPAIR, according to Politico. Troye was Pence’s homeland security, counterterrorism and coronavirus adviser and also served on the White House’s coronavirus task force.
Advertisement
In an interview with the Post, Troye announced that she was voting for Biden in response to what she described as President Donald Trump’s failed leadership.
“The president’s rhetoric and his own attacks against people in his administration trying to do the work, as well as the promulgation of false narratives and incorrect information of the virus, have made this ongoing response a failure,” Troye said.
NEW: Testimonial ad from Trump's Former DHS Chief of Staff @MilesTaylorUSA, declaring his support for Joe Biden and describing Trump's presidency as "terrifying" and "actively doing damage to our security."
WATCH & go to https://t.co/Nz2NiSCquN for more. pic.twitter.com/iChqOdIIew — Republican Voters Against Trump (@RVAT2020) August 17, 2020
In his op-ed, Taylor described Trump as a “dangerous” figure whose policies had “damning results” for national security. He also blamed Trump for bungling the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and for “stoking hatred and division” in the country.
“It is more than a little ironic that Trump is campaigning for a second term as a law-and-order president,” Taylor wrote. “His first term has been dangerously chaotic. Four more years of this are unthinkable.”
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-17--Alabama Senate Candidate Tommy Tuberville Struggles To Discuss Voting Rights Act

Alabama Republican Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville struggled to explain his position on questions surrounding the Voting Rights Act and had difficulty describing the law , according to audio obtained by HuffPost on Thursday .
The former Auburn University football coach , a political neophyte running to unseat Sen. Doug Jones ( D ) , was asked whether he supported extending the landmark 1965 civil rights statute during a Sept. 1 call with the Birmingham , Alabama , Sunrise Rotary Club .
His answer ( which can be listened to in the clip above ) verges on the incomprehensible and raises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was key to ending the sweeping suppression of voting by Black people in the South : “ You know , the thing about the Voting Rights Act it ’ s , you know ― there ’ s a lot of different things you can look at it as , you know , who ’ s it going to help ?
What direction do we need to go with it ?
I think it ’ s important that everything we do we keep secure .
We keep an eye on it .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it ’ s run to the , to the point that we , it ’ s got structure to it .
It ’ s like education .
I mean , it ’ s got to have structure .
Now for some reason , we look at things to change , to think we ’ re gon na make it better , but we better do a lot of work on it before we make a change.
” The Supreme Court dealt a major blow to the act in 2013 when it struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alabama among them ― need to clear proposed changes in voting laws and procedures with the federal government .
Chief Justice John Roberts , who wrote the majority 5-4 opinion , said the requirement was outdated and invited Congress to update the law .
The House voted last year to restore its core provisions with a new preclearance formula based on a state ’ s record on voting rights violations .
Senate Republicans have resisted such changes , however , and declined to take up an update of the act .
Tuberville , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , overwhelmed former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Alabama ’ s GOP Senate primary in mid-July .
Sessions sought to regain the seat he gave up to serve as the chief law enforcement official in the Trump administration .
But the president quickly grew disenchanted with Sessions when the attorney general agreed that a special counsel ’ s office was needed to probe Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Trump forced Sessions out of his Cabinet , and then turned on him in his bid for a political rebirth .
The Alabama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s best chance for a pickup in November ’ s election .
Winning it is absolutely critical to the Republican prospects for maintaining a Senate majority , and Tuberville is heavily favored to prevail in the deep-red state .
A poll conducted last month found Tuberville with a 17-percentage-point lead over Jones , who was the victor in a December 2017 special election to fill the remaining years in the term Sessions ’ had won in 2014 .
Sessions first won his Senate seat in 1996 .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Alabama Republican Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville struggled to explain his position on questions surrounding the Voting Rights Act and had difficulty describing the law, according to audio obtained by HuffPost on Thursday.
The former Auburn University football coach, a political neophyte running to unseat Sen. Doug Jones (D), was asked whether he supported extending the landmark 1965 civil rights statute during a Sept. 1 call with the Birmingham, Alabama, Sunrise Rotary Club.
Advertisement
His answer (which can be listened to in the clip above) verges on the incomprehensible and raises doubts about his understanding of the law that was key to ending the sweeping suppression of voting by Black people in the South:
“You know, the thing about the Voting Rights Act it’s, you know ― there’s a lot of different things you can look at it as, you know, who’s it going to help? What direction do we need to go with it? I think it’s important that everything we do we keep secure. We keep an eye on it. It’s run by our government. And it’s run to the, to the point that we, it’s got structure to it. It’s like education. I mean, it’s got to have structure. Now for some reason, we look at things to change, to think we’re gonna make it better, but we better do a lot of work on it before we make a change.”
Tuberville’s campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.
The Supreme Court dealt a major blow to the act in 2013 when it struck down its requirement that certain jurisdictions ― Alabama among them ― need to clear proposed changes in voting laws and procedures with the federal government. Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the majority 5-4 opinion, said the requirement was outdated and invited Congress to update the law.
The House voted last year to restore its core provisions with a new preclearance formula based on a state’s record on voting rights violations. Senate Republicans have resisted such changes, however, and declined to take up an update of the act.
Advertisement
Tuberville, with strong support from President Donald Trump, overwhelmed former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Alabama’s GOP Senate primary in mid-July. Sessions sought to regain the seat he gave up to serve as the chief law enforcement official in the Trump administration. But the president quickly grew disenchanted with Sessions when the attorney general agreed that a special counsel’s office was needed to probe Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump forced Sessions out of his Cabinet, and then turned on him in his bid for a political rebirth.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Donald Trump’s Latest Coronavirus Comment Slammed As ‘So Cruel And Cynical’

Donald Trump ’ s latest reported insensitive comment about COVID-19 sparked anger on Twitter Thursday , with accusations the president again has shown his contempt for Americans .
In a video released by the Republican Voters Against Trump group , former White House official Olivia Troye claimed the president ( a notorious germaphobe ) once said an upside of the coronavirus pandemic was that he ’ d no longer “ have to shake hands with these disgusting people.
” “ Those disgusting people are the same people that he claims to care about , ” Troye said .
“ These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his rallies today who have complete faith in who he is.
” The recollection of Troye , a longtime Republican who during her time as an aide to Vice President Mike Pence sat on the White House coronavirus task force , drew widespread condemnation on social media .
In the same video , Troye slammed Trump ’ s response to the pandemic and endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 election .
Trump last month callously dismissed the soaring death toll from the crisis , telling Jonathan Swan of Axios that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When a former top Pence staffer goes on the record to say that Trump described *his own supporters* as ‘ disgusting people ’ ― it becomes even more credible than it already was that he referred to America ’ s war dead as ‘ losers ’ and ‘ suckers , ’ ” tweeted David Frum , a speechwriter for former President George W. Bush .
Carol Giacomo , a member of The New York Times ’ editorial board , described Trump ’ s comment as “ so cruel and cynical.
” When a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record to say that Trump described *his own supporters* as `` disgusting people '' - it becomes even more credible than it already was that he referred to America 's war dead as `` losers '' and `` suckers '' — David Frum ( @ davidfrum ) September 17 , 2020 Wow .
`` Disgusting people '' -- that 's the phrase which jumped out to me .
Listen and remember that Olivia Troye is a former official in Trump 's White House .
https : //t.co/pU1SZRFSNJ — Michael McFaul ( @ McFaul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olivia Troye ( pence wh aid ) report of Trump saying he was happy about coronavirus bc it means he doesn ’ t have to ‘ shake the hands of disgusting people anymore ’ .
Y ’ all trump fans go so hard for a guy that doesn ’ t even want to touch your ass 😩😂 — Aubrey O'Day ( @ AubreyODay ) September 18 , 2020 And this comment Troye attributes to @ realDonaldTrump is so cruel and cynical : At one coronavirus task force meeting , she said Trump suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good thing ...
I do n't like shaking hands w/people .
I do n't have to shake hands w/these disgusting people . ''
https : //t.co/3cUGzwuZcC — Carol Giacomo ( @ giacomonyt ) September 17 , 2020 Most damning part of her testimonial is her quote of Trump : '' Maybe this COVID thing is a good thing ...
I do n't like shaking hands with people .
I do n't have to shake hands with these disgusting people . ''
The `` disgusting people '' Trump was referring to were his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CollierForTexas ) September 17 , 2020 Listen to her .
Trump has contempt for the health of millions and for his own supporters , adding that COVID could be “ good ” b/c he would no longer have to shake hands with “ these disgusting people.
” https : //t.co/gpp5ZMnbk5 — Robert Shrum ( @ BobShrum ) September 17 , 2020 The President of the United States thinks you are disgusting .
`` I do n't like shaking hands with people .
I do n't have to shake hands with these disgusting people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the meeting .
https : //t.co/ie1Gefm7Eq — Rep. Eric Swalwell ( @ RepSwalwell ) September 17 , 2020 Tonight in Wisconsin thousands of Trump supporters are putting their lives at risk to support their President who , in a WH coronavirus task force meeting , referred to his supporters as disgusting people .
— Joe Lockhart ( @ joelockhart ) September 17 , 2020 '' I do n't have to shake hands with these disgusting people '' Dear @ realDonaldTrump supporters : he thinks you 're `` disgusting '' .
He thinks your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are `` losers '' & `` suckers '' .
Are you ready to dump him yet ?
# Trump https : //t.co/KlLgsinz9i — Andy Ostroy ( @ AndyOstroy ) September 18 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Donald Trump’s latest reported insensitive comment about COVID-19 sparked anger on Twitter Thursday, with accusations the president again has shown his contempt for Americans.
In a video released by the Republican Voters Against Trump group, former White House official Olivia Troye claimed the president (a notorious germaphobe) once said an upside of the coronavirus pandemic was that he’d no longer “have to shake hands with these disgusting people.”
Advertisement
“Those disgusting people are the same people that he claims to care about,” Troye said. “These are the same people still going to his rallies today who have complete faith in who he is.”
Check out the video here:
The recollection of Troye, a longtime Republican who during her time as an aide to Vice President Mike Pence sat on the White House coronavirus task force, drew widespread condemnation on social media. In the same video, Troye slammed Trump’s response to the pandemic and endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
Trump last month callously dismissed the soaring death toll from the crisis, telling Jonathan Swan of Axios that “it is what it is.”
Advertisement
“When a former top Pence staffer goes on the record to say that Trump described *his own supporters* as ‘disgusting people’ ― it becomes even more credible than it already was that he referred to America’s war dead as ‘losers’ and ‘suckers,’” tweeted David Frum, a speechwriter for former President George W. Bush.
Carol Giacomo, a member of The New York Times’ editorial board, described Trump’s comment as “so cruel and cynical.”
“I don’t have to shake hands with these disgusting people.” — President Donald J. Trump.
Baskets of deplorables, perhaps? — Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) September 18, 2020
When a former top Pence staffer goes on the record to say that Trump described *his own supporters* as "disgusting people" - it becomes even more credible than it already was that he referred to America's war dead as "losers" and "suckers" — David Frum (@davidfrum) September 17, 2020
Wow. "Disgusting people" -- that's the phrase which jumped out to me. Listen and remember that Olivia Troye is a former official in Trump's White House. https://t.co/pU1SZRFSNJ — Michael McFaul (@McFaul) September 17, 2020
Advertisement
Ummm this Olivia Troye (pence wh aid) report of Trump saying he was happy about coronavirus bc it means he doesn’t have to ‘shake the hands of disgusting people anymore’. Y’all trump fans go so hard for a guy that doesn’t even want to touch your ass 😩😂 — Aubrey O'Day (@AubreyODay) September 18, 2020
And this comment Troye attributes to @realDonaldTrump is so cruel and cynical: At one coronavirus task force meeting, she said Trump suggested "maybe this Covid thing is a good thing ...I don't like shaking hands w/people. I don't have to shake hands w/these disgusting people." https://t.co/3cUGzwuZcC — Carol Giacomo (@giacomonyt) September 17, 2020
Most damning part of her testimonial is her quote of Trump:
"Maybe this COVID thing is a good thing... I don't like shaking hands with people. I don't have to shake hands with these disgusting people."
The "disgusting people" Trump was referring to were his own supporters. — Mike Collier (@CollierForTexas) September 17, 2020
Listen to her. Trump has contempt for the health of millions and for his own supporters , adding that COVID could be “good” b/c he would no longer have to shake hands with “these disgusting people.” https://t.co/gpp5ZMnbk5 — Robert Shrum (@BobShrum) September 17, 2020
The President of the United States thinks you are disgusting. "I don't like shaking hands with people. I don't have to shake hands with these disgusting people," Troye claimed Trump said at the meeting. https://t.co/ie1Gefm7Eq — Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) September 17, 2020
Advertisement
Tonight in Wisconsin thousands of Trump supporters are putting their lives at risk to support their President who, in a WH coronavirus task force meeting, referred to his supporters as disgusting people. — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) September 17, 2020
"I don't have to shake hands with these disgusting people"
Dear @realDonaldTrump supporters: he thinks you're "disgusting". He thinks your friends & relatives who died defending America are "losers" & "suckers". Are you ready to dump him yet? #Trump https://t.co/KlLgsinz9i — Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) September 18, 2020