thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--Judge Orders Trump Administration To Give Tribes Their COVID-19 Relief Funds

WASHINGTON ― A federal judge on Monday ordered Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to distribute $ 679 million in emergency COVID-19 relief funds to Native American tribes that should have gotten it months ago , and he chided the agency for causing “ irreparable harm ” with its delays .
“ Continued delay in the face of an exceptional public health crisis is no longer acceptable , ” said U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta , who gave Mnuchin until Wednesday to disburse the funds .
The judge ’ s order comes after the Treasury Department has blown past deadlines , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribal governments , who have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic .
Congress set aside $ 8 billion for tribes when it passed the CARES Act stimulus package in late March , and directed the Treasury Department to get the money out the door by April 26 .
That didn ’ t happen .
The agency distributed about $ 4.8 billion in late May , and most of the remaining $ 3.2 billion wasn ’ t distributed until last Friday .
The delays have stemmed largely from the Treasury Department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lawsuit over Alaska Native Corporations ’ eligibility for funds also complicated matters .
The latest problem is that Mnuchin has been withholding $ 679 million of tribes ’ money while a separate court challenge plays out over the agency ’ s methodology for calculating how much money tribes get .
Mnuchin had argued that he needs to hold on to the $ 679 million in the event the Treasury Department loses the case and needs to pay out more money to the tribe claiming it was underpaid .
But Mehta said Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disproportionate ” to the amount of money that Treasury could have to pay out ― the tribe in the case claims it was underpaid by $ 7.65 million ― and there is no court order preventing the agency from releasing that money to tribes .
“ That amount is being withheld of the Secretary ’ s own accord , ” Mehta said .
“ The Secretary ’ s withholding of $ 679 million ‘ to resolve any potentially adverse decision in litigation ’ … simply can not be justified.
” Lawmakers on Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fumed that tribes have had to wait this long to get their emergency COVID-19 relief .
“ The Court is absolutely correct : this administration has and continues to do ‘ irreparable harm ’ to Indian Country as it inexplicably holds back funds that Congress intended to get to Tribal governments urgently , ” Sen. Tom Udall ( D-N.M. ) , vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee , told HuffPost in a statement .
“ It continues to be a shameful scandal that the Trump administration has dawdled with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting sick and dying , and while businesses and essential services are shuttering.
” “ It is unconscionable that it has taken court action to force this administration to distribute relief to Tribal governments as Congress intended and the law requires , ” said Rep. Ruben Gallego ( D-Ariz. ) , chairman of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States on the House Natural Resources Committee .
Rep. Deb Haaland ( D-N.M. ) , one of two Native American women in Congress , said it is outrageous that a court had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get their federal funds .
“ Sovereign Nations shouldn ’ t have to fight for money that Congress approves , ever , ” Haaland tweeted .
“ It ’ s shameful that a judge has to force the Treasury to do their job.
” Mehta did allow Mnuchin to withhold a bit of the tribal funding : $ 7.65 million , in the event the tribe claiming it was underpaid wins its case , and an undisclosed amount that is reserved for the case involving Alaska Native Corporations .

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WASHINGTON ― A federal judge on Monday ordered Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to distribute $679 million in emergency COVID-19 relief funds to Native American tribes that should have gotten it months ago, and he chided the agency for causing “irreparable harm” with its delays.
“Continued delay in the face of an exceptional public health crisis is no longer acceptable,” said U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who gave Mnuchin until Wednesday to disburse the funds.
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Here’s a copy of Mehta’s opinion:
The judge’s order comes after the Treasury Department has blown past deadlines, for months, for distributing coronavirus aid to tribal governments, who have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Congress set aside $8 billion for tribes when it passed the CARES Act stimulus package in late March, and directed the Treasury Department to get the money out the door by April 26. That didn’t happen. The agency distributed about $4.8 billion in late May, and most of the remaining $3.2 billion wasn’t distributed until last Friday.
The delays have stemmed largely from the Treasury Department’s incompetence in working with tribes, but a lawsuit over Alaska Native Corporations’ eligibility for funds also complicated matters. The latest problem is that Mnuchin has been withholding $679 million of tribes’ money while a separate court challenge plays out over the agency’s methodology for calculating how much money tribes get.
Mnuchin had argued that he needs to hold on to the $679 million in the event the Treasury Department loses the case and needs to pay out more money to the tribe claiming it was underpaid. But Mehta said Monday that $679 million is “grossly disproportionate” to the amount of money that Treasury could have to pay out ― the tribe in the case claims it was underpaid by $7.65 million ― and there is no court order preventing the agency from releasing that money to tribes.
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So, Mehta concluded, Mnuchin needs to release the funds to tribes ― now.
“That amount is being withheld of the Secretary’s own accord,” Mehta said. “The Secretary’s withholding of $679 million ‘to resolve any potentially adverse decision in litigation’ … simply cannot be justified.”
A Treasury Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) called it "a shameful scandal" that the Trump administration has delayed the distribution of COVID-19 relief funds to tribes. Alex Edelman via Getty Images
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill praised the court’s decision and fumed that tribes have had to wait this long to get their emergency COVID-19 relief.
“The Court is absolutely correct: this administration has and continues to do ‘irreparable harm’ to Indian Country as it inexplicably holds back funds that Congress intended to get to Tribal governments urgently,” Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, told HuffPost in a statement. “It continues to be a shameful scandal that the Trump administration has dawdled with this funding while people in Native communities are getting sick and dying, and while businesses and essential services are shuttering.”
“It is unconscionable that it has taken court action to force this administration to distribute relief to Tribal governments as Congress intended and the law requires,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), chairman of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States on the House Natural Resources Committee.
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Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), one of two Native American women in Congress, said it is outrageous that a court had to intervene in order for tribes to get their federal funds.
“Sovereign Nations shouldn’t have to fight for money that Congress approves, ever,” Haaland tweeted. “It’s shameful that a judge has to force the Treasury to do their job.”
Mehta did allow Mnuchin to withhold a bit of the tribal funding: $7.65 million, in the event the tribe claiming it was underpaid wins its case, and an undisclosed amount that is reserved for the case involving Alaska Native Corporations.
A Navajo family wears masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19 in Monument Valley, Arizona. grandriver via Getty Images


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--White House Steps Up Effort To Downplay Coronavirus Concerns

NEW YORK ( AP ) — President Donald Trump has long been fond of crafting his own version of the facts .
But when he said “ if we stop testing right now we ’ d have very few cases ” of coronavirus , he may have written a new line of attack for critics who question his commitment to following the science .
Trump ’ s comment Monday was part of a broader administration effort to play down the pandemic , a push that public health experts and Democratic officials worry is sending a dangerous message to the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen a surge in cases in recent weeks .
Last week , the University of Washington ’ s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation published new projections that show COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. could surpass 200,000 by Oct. 1 .
The institute said rising rates of infections , hospitalizations and death “ are now occurring in the wake of eased or ended distancing policies.
” Trump offered more rosy talk Tuesday , predicting that a vaccine would be available by year ’ s end and adding that “ even without it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that optimistic outlook just one day after he attributed surging positive cases to testing in the United States that is “ so much bigger and more advanced than any other country.
” But public health experts say Trump and Pence ’ s ebullience papers over concerning data that suggests that the virus remains a serious threat to Americans ’ health and the economy and that the slowing of social distancing and mitigation efforts risks a second wave of the coronavirus in the fall .
The Trump administration ’ s push to diminish concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks to resume his reelection campaign in earnest .
Trump has seen his support erode over his handling of the pandemic and nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd , the African American Minneapolis man who died after a white policeman pressed his knee onto Floyd ’ s neck .
In recent weeks , leading public health experts on the White House coronavirus task force have made less frequent public appearances as the White House has sought to focus on the economic recovery from the pandemic .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview on NPR ’ s “ 1A ” that he last spoke to Trump about two weeks ago .
The coronavirus task force coordinator , Deborah Birx , hasn ’ t given a major media interview since late May .
Trump is set to hold his first campaign rally since early March on Saturday in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
Ticketholders were required to acknowledge the risk of exposure to coronavirus and absolve the campaign of liability if they fall ill. Trump also has moved his August nomination acceptance speech at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after North Carolina ’ s Democratic governor said he couldn ’ t assure that the convention could go on as planned in Charlotte without some social distancing measures .
Pence pointed to data showing more than half of states are actually seeing cases decline or remain stable .
In the six states that have been recording 1,000 new cases a day , increased testing has allowed public health officials to determine that most of the outbreaks are occurring in particular settings — prisons , nursing homes and meatpacking facilities .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decreased in the Northeast and much of the Midwest , while increasing in several states in the South and West .
But in Arizona and some other states , the increases are more widespread and suggest community spread that seems to have erupted after the states lifted stay-at-home orders , school and business closures , and other restrictions that were put in place during the spring to stop outbreaks from ever taking off .

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NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump has long been fond of crafting his own version of the facts. But when he said “if we stop testing right now we’d have very few cases” of coronavirus, he may have written a new line of attack for critics who question his commitment to following the science.
His statement overlooks other important measures of the ongoing coronavirus threat, including hospitalizations and deaths.
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Trump’s comment Monday was part of a broader administration effort to play down the pandemic, a push that public health experts and Democratic officials worry is sending a dangerous message to the American public as some parts of the country have seen a surge in cases in recent weeks.
“An ostrich puts his head in the sand because he doesn’t want to see what’s around him,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University. “It’s the same thing with Trump.”
Last week, the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation published new projections that show COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. could surpass 200,000 by Oct. 1. The institute said rising rates of infections, hospitalizations and death “are now occurring in the wake of eased or ended distancing policies.”
Trump offered more rosy talk Tuesday, predicting that a vaccine would be available by year’s end and adding that “even without it, it goes away.” He offered that optimistic outlook just one day after he attributed surging positive cases to testing in the United States that is “so much bigger and more advanced than any other country.”
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Vice President Mike Pence, for his part, pushed back in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the potential for a second wave of the virus was “overblown.’
“Less than 2 percent of the counties in the entire country are seeing any significant increase in cases,” Pence said in a separate Fox News interview. “That’s a tribute to the American people.”
But public health experts say Trump and Pence’s ebullience papers over concerning data that suggests that the virus remains a serious threat to Americans’ health and the economy and that the slowing of social distancing and mitigation efforts risks a second wave of the coronavirus in the fall.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic minority leader, criticized the vice president for ridiculing concerns about a second wave.
“Dr. Pence would not be someone I’d go to for a medical checkup, or for medical advice,” he said.
The Trump administration’s push to diminish concerns about the virus comes as the president looks to resume his reelection campaign in earnest. Trump has seen his support erode over his handling of the pandemic and nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd, the African American Minneapolis man who died after a white policeman pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck.
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In recent weeks, leading public health experts on the White House coronavirus task force have made less frequent public appearances as the White House has sought to focus on the economic recovery from the pandemic. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top epidemiologist, said in an interview on NPR’s “1A” that he last spoke to Trump about two weeks ago. The coronavirus task force coordinator, Deborah Birx, hasn’t given a major media interview since late May.
Trump is set to hold his first campaign rally since early March on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ticketholders were required to acknowledge the risk of exposure to coronavirus and absolve the campaign of liability if they fall ill. Trump also has moved his August nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention to Jacksonville, Florida, after North Carolina’s Democratic governor said he couldn’t assure that the convention could go on as planned in Charlotte without some social distancing measures.
“He continues to put politics over public health,” Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez said of Trump.
Pence pointed to data showing more than half of states are actually seeing cases decline or remain stable. In the six states that have been recording 1,000 new cases a day, increased testing has allowed public health officials to determine that most of the outbreaks are occurring in particular settings — prisons, nursing homes and meatpacking facilities.
But experts say testing is identifying just a small fraction of the actual number of infections in this country.
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In the last several weeks, new cases have decreased in the Northeast and much of the Midwest, while increasing in several states in the South and West.
In the past week, hospitalization rates have increased in 11 states in the South and West, according to The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer organization that collects coronavirus data in the United States. The states are Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.
Several of those states have also seen recent increases in the seven-day rolling average on the percent of tests coming back positive, another worrying sign.
The reason for the increases can vary. In Arkansas, health officials say it’s specific to a few counties and seems to be largely driven by localized outbreaks related to poultry processing plants.
But in Arizona and some other states, the increases are more widespread and suggest community spread that seems to have erupted after the states lifted stay-at-home orders, school and business closures, and other restrictions that were put in place during the spring to stop outbreaks from ever taking off.
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Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said Arizona residents are hearing “mixed messages” from Trump and Pence as well as Arizona’s Republican governor, Doug Ducey, about how careful they need to be.
Arizona was among the first to lift its stay-at-home order last month, quickly allowing restaurants, barbershops and even nightclubs to reopen. Ducey has declined to require residents wear masks in public spaces where social distancing is difficult. The state reported 2,392 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, a new daily high, and 25 additional deaths.
“We are still very much climbing towards our peak,” Gallego said. “The problem is getting worse in Arizona.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--Donald Trump Gets Hit With Blunt Fact-Check Over AIDS Vaccine Falsehood

Well , now that Trump has let us know there is an AIDS vaccine available , since it did not @ @ @ @ @ said it does ...
I 'm sure there is a punchline to this but I @ @ @ @ @ because my mouth still hurts from having hit the floor when he said it .

Well, now that Trump has let us know there is an AIDS vaccine available, since it did not exist until today when he said it does...I'm sure there is a punchline to this but I can't think of it because my mouth still hurts from having hit the floor when he said it.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--3 States See Record High In Daily Coronavirus Infections After Reopening

Texas , Arizona and Florida all reported their highest daily increases in new coronavirus cases on Tuesday , even after all three states implemented and later lifted stay-at-home orders meant to stop the spread of infections .
State officials in Florida reported 2,783 new cases , in Texas , 2,622 , and in Arizona , 2,392 .
All three states have seen social distancing regulations relaxed for weeks , and most businesses have been allowed to reopen in some capacity .
The figures come amid ongoing efforts by President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders to downplay the ongoing spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states have seen rates of new cases increase over the last two weeks as a majority of the country reopens .
At the same time , Trump has been pushing misleading claims that infections are only increasing because there ’ s more testing , going so far as to claim Monday , without evidence , that “ if we stop testing right now , we ’ d have very few cases , if any.
” The president is also preparing to hold a massive rally in Oklahoma this weekend with 20,000 attendees at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local officials and health professionals that the event could quickly lead to a renewed outbreak in the state .
Infection rates in Oklahoma rose 68 % in the second week of June .
“ I ’ m extremely concerned , ” Bruce Dart , the executive director of the Tulsa health department , told the Tulsa World .
“ I think we have the responsibility to stand up when things are happening that I think are going to be dangerous for our community , which it will be .
It hurts my heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to happen.
” But in Florida , Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) said he was not considering another shutdown despite the surge in cases .
He also rolled out the White House ’ s misleading talking point that cases were rising only because of increased testing .
“ We ’ re not rolling back , ” DeSantis said during a press briefing , according to the Miami Herald .
“ The reason we did the mitigation was to protect the hospital system.
” “ You have to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ To suppress a lot of working-age people at this point I don ’ t think would be very effective.
” In Arizona , some health officials were already reporting a strain on hospitals ’ intensive care capacity due to a spike in coronavirus cases , even as Gov .
Doug Ducey ( R ) said any concern was “ misinformation ” and said the facilities were prepared to handle an influx in patients .
“ The more Texans protect their own health , the safer our state will be and the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for business , ” he said Tuesday .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the country ’ s top infectious disease expert , said that , despite the attempts to alleviate any concern , some states jumped the gun on reopening before meeting White House criteria on case levels .
“ There certainly were states that did not strictly follow the guidelines that we put out about opening America again , ” Fauci said in an interview with NPR .
“ Clearly there were states that ― left to their own decision about that ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree ... certainly before they got to the benchmarks that they needed to get .
”

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Texas, Arizona and Florida all reported their highest daily increases in new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, even after all three states implemented and later lifted stay-at-home orders meant to stop the spread of infections.
State officials in Florida reported 2,783 new cases, in Texas, 2,622, and in Arizona, 2,392. All three states have seen social distancing regulations relaxed for weeks, and most businesses have been allowed to reopen in some capacity.
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The figures come amid ongoing efforts by President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders to downplay the ongoing spread of the virus. At least 21 states have seen rates of new cases increase over the last two weeks as a majority of the country reopens.
At the same time, Trump has been pushing misleading claims that infections are only increasing because there’s more testing, going so far as to claim Monday, without evidence, that “if we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any.”
The president is also preparing to hold a massive rally in Oklahoma this weekend with 20,000 attendees at an indoor arena, despite pleas from local officials and health professionals that the event could quickly lead to a renewed outbreak in the state. Infection rates in Oklahoma rose 68% in the second week of June.
“I’m extremely concerned,” Bruce Dart, the executive director of the Tulsa health department, told the Tulsa World. “I think we have the responsibility to stand up when things are happening that I think are going to be dangerous for our community, which it will be. It hurts my heart to think about the aftermath of what’s going to happen.”
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Other state leaders have pushed back their own reopening efforts as cases have surged, including the governors of Utah and Oregon.
But in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said he was not considering another shutdown despite the surge in cases. He also rolled out the White House’s misleading talking point that cases were rising only because of increased testing.
“We’re not rolling back,” DeSantis said during a press briefing, according to the Miami Herald. “The reason we did the mitigation was to protect the hospital system.”
“You have to have society function,” he added. “To suppress a lot of working-age people at this point I don’t think would be very effective.”
In Arizona, some health officials were already reporting a strain on hospitals’ intensive care capacity due to a spike in coronavirus cases, even as Gov. Doug Ducey (R) said any concern was “misinformation” and said the facilities were prepared to handle an influx in patients.
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And in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said that, despite his own state’s figures, hospital capacity remained “abundant.”
“The more Texans protect their own health, the safer our state will be and the more we will be able to open up for business,” he said Tuesday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, said that, despite the attempts to alleviate any concern, some states jumped the gun on reopening before meeting White House criteria on case levels.
“There certainly were states that did not strictly follow the guidelines that we put out about opening America again,” Fauci said in an interview with NPR. “Clearly there were states that ― left to their own decision about that ― went ahead and opened to a varying degree ... certainly before they got to the benchmarks that they needed to get.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--Mike Pence Hammered Over Coronavirus Editorial: 'As Pathetic As It Reckless'

The damning reviews are in for Vice President Mike Pence ’ s glowing editorial praising the way in which the United States has tackled the coronavirus pandemic .
Pence , who leads the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , attempted to deliver an upbeat assessment of the federal response to the ongoing public health crisis in the opinion piece ― headlined “ There Isn ’ t a Coronavirus ‘ Second Wave ’ ” ― that the Wall Street Journal published Tuesday .
“ We are winning the fight against the invisible enemy , ” Pence declared , dismissing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , even as multiple states registered a significant uptick in cases following the easing of lockdown orders .
Pence also praised President Donald Trump ’ s leadership ( which has been widely condemned ) and accused the media of attempting to “ scare the American people every step of the way ” with its coverage of the outbreak that ’ s now killed more than 119,000 people nationwide .
Globally , the coronavirus has sickened more than 8 million and claimed at least 446,000 lives .
Critics of the column accused Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
described it “ as pathetic as it is reckless.
” So that ’ s it , @ VP Pence ?
You ’ re just going to close your eyes , plug your ears , & pat yourself on the back for the public health catastrophe under your watch ?
This is as pathetic as it is reckless .
https : //t.co/qDhLpg7sbG — Elizabeth Warren ( @ SenWarren ) June 17 , 2020 Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) mockingly tweeted that “ Dr .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ d go to for a medical checkup or for medical advice.
” CNN ’ s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta warned via a lengthy Twitter thread that “ we are still in the thick of the first wave ” and “ the fight is far from over.
” The truth is - we are still in the thick of the first wave , technically , so we can not even begin talking about what a second wave might look like .
Take a look .
( 14/24 ) pic.twitter.com/6uLHU1y2mI — Dr. Sanjay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 While we have flattened the curve in some places , the fight is far from over .
And the way to win is not by declaring a premature victory .
Yes , scientists all over the world are working to find a vaccine , but we still have to buy them time to do their job .
( 23/24 ) — Dr. Sanjay Gupta ( @ drsanjaygupta ) June 17 , 2020 Others echoed the sentiment about still being in the first wave : Oh FFS .
Vice President Pence is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no `` second wave '' of # SARSCoV2 # COVID19 # coronavirus .
We 're still in the first wave , and that wave has n't crested yet.https : //t.co/XFP5wLDj50 — Dr. Angela Rasmussen ( @ angie_rasmussen ) June 16 , 2020 Partially true , because a second wave would have to imply that the first wave is over https : //t.co/Xs116SDZlG — Adam Taylor ( @ mradamtaylor ) June 16 , 2020 Pretty bold effort by Pence that might end up becoming a `` Mission Accomplished '' moment .
But a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ > https : //t.co/efOVJmQxKZ pic.twitter.com/GuwR6ERP7X — Glenn Kessler ( @ GlennKesslerWP ) June 16 , 2020 '' our whole-of-America approach has been a success .
We ’ ve slowed the spread , we ’ ve cared for the most vulnerable , we ’ ve saved lives ... That ’ s a cause for celebration . ''
120,000 Americans are dead .
1,000 more will die tomorrow .
Fuck your celebration , Mike.https : //t.co/GVtvoMnkWx — Ben Hunt ( @ EpsilonTheory ) June 17 , 2020 And called the vice president out for failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erasure of over 100,000 American deaths by our federal government is sickening .
This is some 1984 stuff .
“ The truth is , whatever the media says , our whole-of-America approach has been a success.
” —Mike Pence https : //t.co/Q6Avb8LMcN — Colleen Farrell , MD ( @ colleenmfarrell ) June 16 , 2020 Many suggested the piece will not age well : “ Just wait a few weeks and it tells you whether you ’ ve been truthful about it or not , ” he said Tuesday .
“ The answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates and its devastating impact on human lives .
”

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The damning reviews are in for Vice President Mike Pence’s op-ed praising the way the United States has handled the coronavirus pandemic.
Pence, who leads the White House coronavirus task force, attempted an upbeat assessment of the federal response to the public health crisis in the opinion piece ― headlined “There Isn’t a Coronavirus ‘Second Wave’” ― that The Wall Street Journal published Tuesday.
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“We are winning the fight against the invisible enemy,” Pence declared, dismissing fears of a second wave of the pandemic, even as multiple states registered record numbers of new infections following the easing of lockdown orders.
Pence also praised President Donald Trump’s leadership (which has been widely condemned) and accused the media of attempting to “scare the American people every step of the way” with coverage of the outbreak that’s now killed more than 119,000 people nationwide.
Critics of the column accused Pence of trying to gaslight the public.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) described it “as pathetic as it is reckless.”
So that’s it, @VP Pence? You’re just going to close your eyes, plug your ears, & pat yourself on the back for the public health catastrophe under your watch? This is as pathetic as it is reckless. https://t.co/qDhLpg7sbG — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 17, 2020
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) mockingly tweeted that “Dr. Pence would not be somebody I’d go to for a medical checkup or for medical advice.”
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Dr. Pence would not be somebody I’d go to for a medical checkup or for medical advice. https://t.co/V0wsdm2eea — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 16, 2020
CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta warned via a lengthy Twitter thread that “we are still in the thick of the first wave” and “the fight is far from over.”
The truth is - we are still in the thick of the first wave, technically, so we cannot even begin talking about what a second wave might look like. Take a look. (14/24) pic.twitter.com/6uLHU1y2mI — Dr. Sanjay Gupta (@drsanjaygupta) June 17, 2020
While we have flattened the curve in some places, the fight is far from over. And the way to win is not by declaring a premature victory. Yes, scientists all over the world are working to find a vaccine, but we still have to buy them time to do their job. (23/24) — Dr. Sanjay Gupta (@drsanjaygupta) June 17, 2020
Others echoed the sentiment about still being in the first wave:
Oh FFS. Vice President Pence is right about one thing: there is no "second wave" of #SARSCoV2 #COVID19 #coronavirus.
We're still in the first wave, and that wave hasn't crested yet.https://t.co/XFP5wLDj50 — Dr. Angela Rasmussen (@angie_rasmussen) June 16, 2020
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Partially true, because a second wave would have to imply that the first wave is over https://t.co/Xs116SDZlG — Adam Taylor (@mradamtaylor) June 16, 2020
Some people accused Pence of taking a premature ― and undeserved ― victory lap:
Pretty bold effort by Pence that might end up becoming a "Mission Accomplished" moment. But a few things to note about this op-ed --> https://t.co/efOVJmQxKZ pic.twitter.com/GuwR6ERP7X — Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) June 16, 2020
"our whole-of-America approach has been a success. We’ve slowed the spread, we’ve cared for the most vulnerable, we’ve saved lives ... That’s a cause for celebration."
120,000 Americans are dead. 1,000 more will die tomorrow.
Fuck your celebration, Mike.https://t.co/GVtvoMnkWx — Ben Hunt (@EpsilonTheory) June 17, 2020
And called the vice president out for failing to acknowledge the death toll:
The erasure of over 100,000 American deaths by our federal government is sickening. This is some 1984 stuff.
“The truth is, whatever the media says, our whole-of-America approach has been a success.” —Mike Pence https://t.co/Q6Avb8LMcN — Colleen Farrell, MD (@colleenmfarrell) June 16, 2020
Many suggested Pence’s column will not age well:
Just gonna bookmark this op-ed by Mike Pence and check back in a month or two. https://t.co/unbQdqoy69 — John Russell (@JohnRussell99) June 16, 2020
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This is going to age deliciously well https://t.co/qHEiDpJckx — Ryan Gorman (@GormoExJourno) June 16, 2020
This one is going to age like mackerel in an Arizona parking lot https://t.co/IqSepu4nHW — Max Nisen (@MaxNisen) June 16, 2020
CNN’s Anderson Cooper, meanwhile, noted “there’s no better BS detector out there than COVID-19.”
“Just wait a few weeks and it tells you whether you’ve been truthful about it or not,” Cooper said Tuesday. “The answer comes back in case counts, hospitalization rates and its devastating impact on human lives.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-16--New Mexico Shooting Raises Specter Of Right-Wing Violence Around Statue Protests

The removal of statues commemorating Confederate leaders , slaveholders and colonial despots has become a flashpoint for conflict and right-wing vigilantism , most notably during the deadly “ Unite the Right ” rally in August 2017 , when hundreds of white nationalists traveled to Charlottesville , Virginia , to protest the city ’ s plan to take down a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee .
During the riot that ensued , far-right militia members inserted themselves into the fray and trained automatic weapons on anti-racist counterprotesters , heightening the potential for bloodshed .
When protesters tried to pull down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members , heavily armed and clad in camouflage , moved to stop them .
The crowd grew agitated .
A man in a blue T-shirt later identified as Steven Ray Baca , 31 , waded into the protesters and , according to local news reports and multiple videos , grabbed a woman from behind and threw her to the ground before scuffling with other people in the crowd and being forced out onto a street .
It is unknown if Baca has any affiliation with the New Mexico Civil Guard militia group , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Albuquerque Police Department took them and Baca into custody .
A county chapter of the militia group issued a statement on Facebook denying that Baca was a member .
Though the group started organizing in February and might have only about 20 to 25 members , according to Mark Pitcavage , a senior research fellow with the Anti-Defamation League ’ s Center for Extremism and an expert on the militia movement , its armed paramilitaries can inflame tensions at protests .
Like many militia groups , the New Mexico Civil Guard claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranks and displays an antipathy toward the Black Lives Matter movement .
In early June , the members of the group made a frightening appearance with guns at a peaceful BLM protest .
On its Facebook page , which was recently taken down , the group , which wants a “ hard reset ” of the government ― through insurrection , if necessary ― published posts promoting “ ambushing ” techniques and urban warfare .
“ It ’ s just more gunpowder in the barrel , ” Pitcavage said .
“ When you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ type of protest , that is a potential danger .
They could be motivated to action in some way or provoked in some way.
” With President Donald Trump and his proxies falsely fearmongering about the danger of anti-fascist activists ― in some cases , when white nationalists spread disinformation about “ antifa ” being bused in to majority white locales to maraud ― the ongoing protests against racial injustice and police brutality have attracted a variety of armed extremists and right-wing vigilantes whose mere presence can incite violence .
Despite the hysteria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only one known fatality caused by a member of an antifa group has been recorded during antifa ’ s 30-year existence in America , when in 1993 a multiracial anti-fascist shot a neo-Nazi skinhead during a fight at a gas station in Portland , Oregon , and was convicted of manslaughter .
Far-right extremists , on the other hand , have murdered and injured thousands of Americans .
A report from the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point found that from 1990 to 2012 , far-right extremists were responsible for 670 fatalities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
Since 2012 , far-right extremists have killed at least 75 other people and injured hundreds more in the United States .
On Sunday , a Black Lives Matter demonstration organized by residents in the tiny town of Bethel , Ohio , which hasn ’ t had a protest in decades , was overrun by about 700 right-wing counterprotesters who stormed into town , many of them members of motorcycle clubs , many of them carrying rifles and bats .
The bikers allegedly attacked the demonstrators .
Police were overwhelmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Philadelphia in recent days , a racist Trump-supporting mob armed with bats , guns , knives and other weapons massed in Marconi Plaza , ostensibly to defend a statue of Christopher Columbus .
On Saturday and Sunday , with police watching at times and intervening at others , members of the mob called Native Americans “ savages ” and roughed up Chris Schiano , a reporter from independent media outlet Unicorn Riot , who was filming the scene , hitting him , damaging his camera and slashing the tires of his bike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated with the Proud Boys , a neo-fascist street gang that has sparked violent confrontations in cities around the country , stalked into the “ Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone , ” a six-block area in the city where protesters are attempting to create a police-free neighborhood , seemingly looking to cause trouble .
Among them was Tusitala “ Tiny ” Toese , a hulking goon who has been arrested repeatedly for attacking protesters .
After leaving the autonomous zone , Toese and his associates did , in fact , get into a brawl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and smashing his phone before jumping in a minivan with the license plates removed and fleeing the scene .
This bronze statue of Don Juan de Oñate leading a group of Spanish settlers from an area near what is now Ciudad Chihuahua , Mexico , to what was then the northernmost province of New Spain in 1598 , stands outside the Albuquerque Museum on June 12 .
Two public statues of Oñate in New Mexico are drawing renewed criticism as memorials erected to honor Confederate leaders become a focus of protests .

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A demonstration on Monday demanding the removal of a statue depicting a repressive Spanish colonial official in New Mexico resulted in bloodshed when one person was shot after agitated counterprotesters, including a small right-wing militia, crashed the protest. It was not the first time protests around toxic monuments ended in apparently politically motivated right-wing violence.
The removal of statues commemorating Confederate leaders, slaveholders and colonial despots has become a flashpoint for conflict and right-wing vigilantism, most notably during the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in August 2017, when hundreds of white nationalists traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest the city’s plan to take down a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee. During the riot that ensued, far-right militia members inserted themselves into the fray and trained automatic weapons on anti-racist counterprotesters, heightening the potential for bloodshed.
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Monday’s shooting in Albuquerque occurred after a far-right militia group called the New Mexico Civil Guard showed up at a demonstration near the statue of Juan de Oñate, New Mexico’s 16th century colonial governor, who brutally oppressed New Mexico’s indigenous population. Oñate massacred 800 inhabitants of the Acoma Pueblo and ordered the right feet cut off of 24 captives.
When protesters tried to pull down the statue of Oñate, the militia members, heavily armed and clad in camouflage, moved to stop them. The crowd grew agitated. A man in a blue T-shirt later identified as Steven Ray Baca, 31, waded into the protesters and, according to local news reports and multiple videos, grabbed a woman from behind and threw her to the ground before scuffling with other people in the crowd and being forced out onto a street.
There, police say, Baca, the son of a former sheriff of Bernalillo County and a candidate for Albuquerque City Council in 2019, pulled out a pistol and fired four shots, striking one man, identified as Scott Williams, 39, who remains in the hospital in critical but stable condition.
Police charged Baca with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a felony, according to a criminal complaint.
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On Tuesday, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) called on the Department of Justice to investigate the shooting.
“This is not the first report of heavily armed civilian militias appearing at protests around New Mexico in recent weeks,” Heinrich said on Twitter. “These extremists cannot be allowed to silence peaceful protests or inflict violence.”
It is unknown if Baca has any affiliation with the New Mexico Civil Guard militia group, which encircled him protectively before members of the Albuquerque Police Department took them and Baca into custody. A county chapter of the militia group issued a statement on Facebook denying that Baca was a member.
Albuquerque police detain members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed civilian group, following the shooting of a man during a protest over a statue of Spanish colonial official Juan de Oñate on Monday. Adolphe Pierre-Louis/The Albuquerque Journal via Associated Press
Though the group started organizing in February and might have only about 20 to 25 members, according to Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow with the Anti-Defamation League’s Center for Extremism and an expert on the militia movement, its armed paramilitaries can inflame tensions at protests. Like many militia groups, the New Mexico Civil Guard claims to have former military members in its ranks and displays an antipathy toward the Black Lives Matter movement.
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In early June, the members of the group made a frightening appearance with guns at a peaceful BLM protest. On its Facebook page, which was recently taken down, the group, which wants a “hard reset” of the government ― through insurrection, if necessary ― published posts promoting “ambushing” techniques and urban warfare.
“It’s just more gunpowder in the barrel,” Pitcavage said. “When you have armed extremists showing up for any type of protest, that is a potential danger. They could be motivated to action in some way or provoked in some way.”
With President Donald Trump and his proxies falsely fearmongering about the danger of anti-fascist activists ― in some cases, when white nationalists spread disinformation about “antifa” being bused in to majority white locales to maraud ― the ongoing protests against racial injustice and police brutality have attracted a variety of armed extremists and right-wing vigilantes whose mere presence can incite violence.
Despite the hysteria about antifa spread by right-wing propagandists, only one known fatality caused by a member of an antifa group has been recorded during antifa’s 30-year existence in America, when in 1993 a multiracial anti-fascist shot a neo-Nazi skinhead during a fight at a gas station in Portland, Oregon, and was convicted of manslaughter.
Far-right extremists, on the other hand, have murdered and injured thousands of Americans. A report from the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point found that from 1990 to 2012, far-right extremists were responsible for 670 fatalities, 3,053 injuries and 4,420 violent attacks in the United States. Since 2012, far-right extremists have killed at least 75 other people and injured hundreds more in the United States.
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Pitcavage added that the unrest roiling America this year is intensifying the danger. “We’ve seen a lot of these situations in the past few months starting with the anti-lockdown protests and moving into the protests of the last few weeks.”
On Sunday, a Black Lives Matter demonstration organized by residents in the tiny town of Bethel, Ohio, which hasn’t had a protest in decades, was overrun by about 700 right-wing counterprotesters who stormed into town, many of them members of motorcycle clubs, many of them carrying rifles and bats. The bikers allegedly attacked the demonstrators. Police were overwhelmed. The mayor imposed a curfew.
In Philadelphia in recent days, a racist Trump-supporting mob armed with bats, guns, knives and other weapons massed in Marconi Plaza, ostensibly to defend a statue of Christopher Columbus. On Saturday and Sunday, with police watching at times and intervening at others, members of the mob called Native Americans “savages” and roughed up Chris Schiano, a reporter from independent media outlet Unicorn Riot, who was filming the scene, hitting him, damaging his camera and slashing the tires of his bike.
“I was knocked down a few times, punched, kicked and hit, and had my camera swung into a tree,” Schiano told HuffPost. “At the time, it was a surreal bizarre experience, but in hindsight, I should have been afraid for my life.”
Two weeks ago, a bat-wielding group of men in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia threatened Black Lives Matter protesters and attacked a producer at a local radio station, putting him in the hospital.
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On Monday in Seattle, people associated with the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist street gang that has sparked violent confrontations in cities around the country, stalked into the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone,” a six-block area in the city where protesters are attempting to create a police-free neighborhood, seemingly looking to cause trouble. Among them was Tusitala “Tiny” Toese, a hulking goon who has been arrested repeatedly for attacking protesters. After leaving the autonomous zone, Toese and his associates did, in fact, get into a brawl with a man, roughing him up and smashing his phone before jumping in a minivan with the license plates removed and fleeing the scene.
This bronze statue of Don Juan de Oñate leading a group of Spanish settlers from an area near what is now Ciudad Chihuahua, Mexico, to what was then the northernmost province of New Spain in 1598, stands outside the Albuquerque Museum on June 12. Two public statues of Oñate in New Mexico are drawing renewed criticism as memorials erected to honor Confederate leaders become a focus of protests. Susan Montoya Bryan/ASSOCIATED PRESS
There’s no sign the peaceful protests around police violence will slow down, nor will revived demands to remove monuments to toxic historical figures. Some political leaders are warning that militant right-wingers are a danger to these movements. Late Monday, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) addressed the shooting at the Oñate statue, the latest violent incident in a long, sorrowful history of them.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--Laura Ingraham Shows She’s Either Oblivious To Trump's Racism — Or Is Gaslighting You

Fox News ’ Laura Ingraham on Tuesday night complained that Democrats are calling President Donald Trump racist “ with zero @ @ @ @ @ ’ s primetime personality appeared to conveniently forget that Trump has a long history of @ @ @ @ @ engaging in and embracing racist behavior .
Ingraham herself has repeatedly used her widely watched @ @ @ @ @ talking points .
“ Now their next trick is to launch a desperate campaign to @ @ @ @ @ , as the villain who threatens us all , ” Ingraham said of Democrats .
@ @ @ @ @ like him as a person , ” she continued .
“ So what they have @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s done anything at all good for America .
And of course they @ @ @ @ @ racist ’ with zero evidence.
” Ingraham later railed against the lack of praise that @ @ @ @ @ day for signing an executive order intended to tackle police brutality .
Critics , however @ @ @ @ @ short of what is needed to address the problem .

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Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Tuesday night complained that Democrats are calling President Donald Trump racist “with zero evidence.”
The conservative network’s prime time personality appeared to conveniently forget that Trump has a long history of making racist remarks and embracing racist behavior.
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Ingraham herself has repeatedly used her widely watched show to peddle white nationalist talking points.
“Now their next trick is to launch a desperate campaign to cast President Trump, though, as the villain who threatens us all,” Ingraham said of Democrats.
“They don’t like him as a person,” she continued. “So what they have to do is deny that he’s done anything at all good for America. And of course they need to call him racist with zero evidence.”
Ingraham later railed against the lack of praise Trump received earlier in the day for signing an executive order intended to address police brutality. Critics, however, said the order falls way short of what is needed to address the problem.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--Bolton Claims Trump Asked China's President For Favor To Boost Reelection Chances

President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help him win reelection in 2020 by purchasing agricultural products from key U.S. states , former national security adviser John Bolton wrote in his new book .
During a Group of 20 summit meeting in Japan last summer , Trump was “ pleading with Xi to ensure he ’ d win , ” Bolton wrote in a book excerpt published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal .
Trump stressed the importance of farmers and of “ increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat ” to his electoral success , Bolton wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ printed Trump ’ s exact words , but the “ government ’ s prepublication review process has decided otherwise.
” Trump ’ s conversations with Xi reflected not only the incoherence in his trade policy but also the confluence in Trump ’ s mind of his own political interests and U.S. national interests .
Trump commingled the personal and the national not just on trade questions but across the whole field of national security .
I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my White House tenure that wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these accounts are true , it ’ s not only morally repugnant , it ’ s a violation of Donald Trump ’ s sacred duty to the American people to protect America ’ s interests and defend our values , ” the former vice president said of Bolton ’ s allegation that Trump had sought Xi ’ s help to get reelected .
Biden also issued a warning to China ’ s leaders “ or anyone else who President Trump might invite to interfere : Stay out of our democracy .
Stay out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone will decide the future of this country , and I am confident in the choice they will make.
” According to the excerpt in the Journal , Trump also encouraged Xi to build camps to imprison Uighur Muslims in China .
Bolton said Xi had told Trump during a 2019 G-20 meeting that he was “ basically building concentration camps ” to detain Uighurs .
“ Trump said that Xi should go ahead with building the camps , which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do , ” Bolton wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bolton also wrote that Trump was willing to intervene in Justice Department investigations into Chinese and Turkish companies to curry personal favor with the countries ’ autocratic leaders .
The Trump administration sued Bolton on Tuesday to block the publication of the book , arguing that it contains classified information .
In response , Bolton ’ s attorney accused the White House of using national security information as a pretext to censor Bolton .
Bolton , the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush , served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 2018 to September 2019 .
He resigned amid reports that he disagreed with Trump on certain foreign policy issues , including strategy on North Korea .
Trump claimed he fired Bolton , but Bolton has said this isn ’ t true and that he was never directly or indirectly asked to resign .
In his book , Bolton bashed House Democrats for focusing too much on Trump ’ s Ukraine dealings during the impeachment proceedings and not targeting the president ’ s other foreign policy debacles .
Democrats asked Bolton to testify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he refused .
He said he would testify during the Senate trial if he was issued a subpoena .
The Republican-controlled Senate voted 51-49 against calling new witnesses and ultimately acquitted the president .
On Wednesday , Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-Calif. ) , who led the prosecution in the impeachment trial , skewered Bolton over his refusal to testify before the House .
Bolton ’ s staff were asked to testify before the House to Trump ’ s abuses , and did .
They had a lot to lose and showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he refused , and said he ’ d sue if subpoenaed .
Instead , he saved it for a book .
Bolton may be an author , but he ’ s no patriot .
— Adam Schiff ( @ RepAdamSchiff ) June 17 , 2020 “ It was clear then and could not be any clearer now : the vote to convict and remove Donald Trump from office was absolutely the right vote , ” Schumer wrote .
“ The revelations in Mr. Bolton ’ s book make Senate Republicans ’ craven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and history will judge them for it .
”

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President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help him win reelection in 2020 by purchasing agricultural products from key U.S. states, former national security adviser John Bolton wrote in his new book.
During a Group of 20 summit meeting in Japan last summer, Trump was “pleading with Xi to ensure he’d win,” Bolton wrote in a book excerpt published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal.
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Trump stressed the importance of farmers and of “increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat” to his electoral success, Bolton wrote. He added that he would have printed Trump’s exact words, but the “government’s prepublication review process has decided otherwise.”
Bolton added:
Trump’s conversations with Xi reflected not only the incoherence in his trade policy but also the confluence in Trump’s mind of his own political interests and U.S. national interests. Trump commingled the personal and the national not just on trade questions but across the whole field of national security. I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my White House tenure that wasn’t driven by reelection calculations.
He said he reported such incidents to Attorney General William Barr and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, The New York Times reported.
Neither the Justice Department nor the White House immediately responded to HuffPost’s requests for comment.
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Reacting to Bolton’s highly anticipated memoir, “The Room Where It Happened,” Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, blasted Trump in a statement.
“If these accounts are true, it’s not only morally repugnant, it’s a violation of Donald Trump’s sacred duty to the American people to protect America’s interests and defend our values,” the former vice president said of Bolton’s allegation that Trump had sought Xi’s help to get reelected.
Biden also issued a warning to China’s leaders “or anyone else who President Trump might invite to interfere: Stay out of our democracy. Stay out of our elections. The American people alone will decide the future of this country, and I am confident in the choice they will make.”
Bolton makes several startling revelations in his book, which is set to be released Tuesday.
According to the excerpt in the Journal, Trump also encouraged Xi to build camps to imprison Uighur Muslims in China. Bolton said Xi had told Trump during a 2019 G-20 meeting that he was “basically building concentration camps” to detain Uighurs.
“Trump said that Xi should go ahead with building the camps, which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do,” Bolton wrote of the exchange, quoting an interpreter.
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Bolton also wrote that Trump was willing to intervene in Justice Department investigations into Chinese and Turkish companies to curry personal favor with the countries’ autocratic leaders.
The Trump administration sued Bolton on Tuesday to block the publication of the book, arguing that it contains classified information. In response, Bolton’s attorney accused the White House of using national security information as a pretext to censor Bolton.
Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, served as Trump’s national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019. He resigned amid reports that he disagreed with Trump on certain foreign policy issues, including strategy on North Korea.
Trump claimed he fired Bolton, but Bolton has said this isn’t true and that he was never directly or indirectly asked to resign.
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In his book, Bolton bashed House Democrats for focusing too much on Trump’s Ukraine dealings during the impeachment proceedings and not targeting the president’s other foreign policy debacles.
Democrats asked Bolton to testify as part of the impeachment inquiry, but he refused. He said he would testify during the Senate trial if he was issued a subpoena. The Republican-controlled Senate voted 51-49 against calling new witnesses and ultimately acquitted the president.
On Wednesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who led the prosecution in the impeachment trial, skewered Bolton over his refusal to testify before the House.
“Bolton may be an author, but he’s no patriot,” Schiff wrote on Twitter.
Bolton’s staff were asked to testify before the House to Trump’s abuses, and did. They had a lot to lose and showed real courage.
When Bolton was asked, he refused, and said he’d sue if subpoenaed. Instead, he saved it for a book.
Bolton may be an author, but he’s no patriot. — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) June 17, 2020
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that the revelations in Bolton’s book validated House Democrats’ vote to impeach Trump and cast a harsh light on Senate Republicans’ subsequent decision to acquit him.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--‘That '70s Show’ Actor Danny Masterson Charged With Raping 3 Women

Actor and active Scientologist Danny Masterson has been charged with forcibly raping three women , the Los Angeles County District Attorney ’ s Office announced Wednesday .
Masterson , 44 , faces charges on three separate incidents that occurred between 2001 and 2003 .
A news release from District Attorney Jackie Lacey ’ s office only stated that two of the women were 23 , one was 28 and that he allegedly raped all three of them in his Hollywood Hills home .
If found guilty , the “ That ’ 70s Show ” actor faces a possible maximum sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison .
The charges come after four women filed sexual assault allegations against Masterson in 2017 , claiming he ’ d raped them years earlier .
In 2019 , four of those women sued Masterson , the Church of Scientology and church leader David Miscavige , accusing the organization of stalking and intimidating them and attempting to obstruct justice as Los Angeles officials were investigating the claims .
The charges announced Wednesday are the first he ’ s faced since police began investigating the rape allegations .
Masterson and the Church of Scientology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective of its members and defensive against any accusations , deny all of the claims .
Lacey ’ s office reviewed two other sexual assault charges against Masterson and declined to proceed with charges on them , “ one for insufficient evidence and the other based upon the statute of limitations for the crime alleged , ” the news release said .

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Actor and active Scientologist Danny Masterson has been charged with forcibly raping three women, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Masterson, 44, faces charges on three separate incidents that occurred between 2001 and 2003. A news release from District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s office only stated that two of the women were 23, one was 28 and that he allegedly raped all three of them in his Hollywood Hills home.
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If found guilty, the “That ’70s Show” actor faces a possible maximum sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.
The charges come after four women filed sexual assault allegations against Masterson in 2017, claiming he’d raped them years earlier. In 2019, four of those women sued Masterson, the Church of Scientology and church leader David Miscavige, accusing the organization of stalking and intimidating them and attempting to obstruct justice as Los Angeles officials were investigating the claims.
The charges announced Wednesday are the first he’s faced since police began investigating the rape allegations.
Masterson and the Church of Scientology, which is known to be fiercely protective of its members and defensive against any accusations, deny all of the claims.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--Carol Barr, Wife Of GOP Rep. Andy Barr, Dies Suddenly At Age 39

LEXINGTON , Ky. ( AP ) — The wife of a U.S .
Congressman from Kentucky died unexpectedly in the family ’ s home Tuesday night at the age of 39 , news outlets reported .
Eleanor Carol Leavell Barr , the wife of U.S. Rep. Andy Barr , passed away in Lexington , Barr ’ s Chief of Staff Mary Rosado said in a statement .
The Fayette County coroner was called to the family ’ s home following the announcement of her passing , WKYT-TV reported .
“ During this tragic time , we respectfully ask for privacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grieve Mrs. Barr being called home to heaven , ” the statement added .
“ Congressman Barr may release a more detailed statement at a later date , but right now is solely focused on being a father to his two beautiful daughters.
” U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement he and his wife are “ stunned and heartbroken ” by the news , and send their “ sincere condolences to Andy , their family and his staff at this terribly painful time . ''
Condolences for her passing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kentucky politicians , including Gov .
Andy Beshear and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul .
Barr , who went by Carol , grew up in the state , and went on to attend the University of Kentucky , news outlets reported .
She married Andy Barr in 2008 and the couple went on to have two children .
She had worked for Pfizer , and as the executive director of Lexington ’ s Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship .
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr represents Kentucky 's sixth district , which includes the cities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The wife of a U.S. Congressman from Kentucky died unexpectedly in the family’s home Tuesday night at the age of 39, news outlets reported.
Eleanor Carol Leavell Barr, the wife of U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, passed away in Lexington, Barr’s Chief of Staff Mary Rosado said in a statement. The Fayette County coroner was called to the family’s home following the announcement of her passing, WKYT-TV reported.
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“During this tragic time, we respectfully ask for privacy for Congressman Barr and his family to grieve Mrs. Barr being called home to heaven,” the statement added. “Congressman Barr may release a more detailed statement at a later date, but right now is solely focused on being a father to his two beautiful daughters.”
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement he and his wife are “stunned and heartbroken” by the news, and send their “sincere condolences to Andy, their family and his staff at this terribly painful time."
Condolences for her passing flowed in through the night from other Kentucky politicians, including Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul.
Barr, who went by Carol, grew up in the state, and went on to attend the University of Kentucky, news outlets reported. She married Andy Barr in 2008 and the couple went on to have two children. She had worked for Pfizer, and as the executive director of Lexington’s Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--Bolton Claims Trump Encouraged Xi To Build 'Concentration Camps' For Uighurs

President Donald Trump didn ’ t merely stand idly by as Xi Jinping detained Uighur Muslims en masse — but encouraged the Chinese leader to build facilities akin to “ concentration camps ” to imprison members of the minority group , former national security adviser John Bolton claims in his new bombshell book , “ The Room Where It Happened.
” The Trump administration has sued Bolton to block the publication of the book , an excerpt of which was published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal and which The New York Times has described as a “ withering portrait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts about the world.
” The White House claims the book contains classified information .
The excerpt contains several damning details about Trump ’ s relationship with Xi and China .
In it , Bolton claims that Trump had asked him in 2018 “ why we were considering sanctioning China over its treatment of the Uighurs , a largely Muslim people who live primarily in China ’ s northwest Xinjiang Province.
” At the opening dinner of the Osaka G-20 meeting in June 2019 , with only interpreters present , Xi had explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concentration camps in Xinjiang .
According to our interpreter , Trump said that Xi should go ahead with building the camps , which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do .
The National Security Council ’ s top Asia staffer , Matthew Pottinger , told me that Trump said something very similar during his November 2017 trip to China .
Xi ’ s government has been accused of imprisoning at least 1 million Uighurs in detention camps , where inmates have reported torture , sexual assault and other crimes .
China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-education centers.
” The excerpt of Bolton ’ s book was published on the same day that Trump signed legislation aimed at punishing China for its treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minority groups .
Trump said in a statement that the bill , which includes sanctions on specific Chinese officials involved in the repression of Uighurs , would hold accountable “ perpetrators of human rights violations such as the systematic use of indoctrination camps , forced labor , and intrusive surveillance to eradicate the ethnic identity and religious beliefs ” of minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , that some parts of the bill could limit his executive authority to engage with diplomats , so he said his administration would treat those as “ advisory and non‑binding.
” In his book , Bolton also wrote that Trump sought Xi ’ s help to win reelection in 2020 by purchasing agricultural products from key farm states in the U.S. Bolton said Trump was heard “ pleading with Xi to ensure he ’ d win ” during a Group of 20 summit meeting last year .
Trump “ stressed the importance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome , ” Bolton wrote .

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President Donald Trump didn’t merely stand idly by as Xi Jinping detained Uighur Muslims en masse — but encouraged the Chinese leader to build facilities akin to “concentration camps” to imprison members of the minority group, former national security adviser John Bolton claims in his new bombshell book, “The Room Where It Happened.”
The Trump administration has sued Bolton to block the publication of the book, an excerpt of which was published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal and which The New York Times has described as a “withering portrait of a president ignorant of even basic facts about the world.” The White House claims the book contains classified information.
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The excerpt contains several damning details about Trump’s relationship with Xi and China.
In it, Bolton claims that Trump had asked him in 2018 “why we were considering sanctioning China over its treatment of the Uighurs, a largely Muslim people who live primarily in China’s northwest Xinjiang Province.”
He continued:
At the opening dinner of the Osaka G-20 meeting in June 2019, with only interpreters present, Xi had explained to Trump why he was basically building concentration camps in Xinjiang. According to our interpreter, Trump said that Xi should go ahead with building the camps, which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do. The National Security Council’s top Asia staffer, Matthew Pottinger, told me that Trump said something very similar during his November 2017 trip to China.
Xi’s government has been accused of imprisoning at least 1 million Uighurs in detention camps, where inmates have reported torture, sexual assault and other crimes. China has defended these camps as anti-terrorism “re-education centers.”
The excerpt of Bolton’s book was published on the same day that Trump signed legislation aimed at punishing China for its treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minority groups.
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Trump said in a statement that the bill, which includes sanctions on specific Chinese officials involved in the repression of Uighurs, would hold accountable “perpetrators of human rights violations such as the systematic use of indoctrination camps, forced labor, and intrusive surveillance to eradicate the ethnic identity and religious beliefs” of minority groups in China.
Trump noted, however, that some parts of the bill could limit his executive authority to engage with diplomats, so he said his administration would treat those as “advisory and non‑binding.”
In his book, Bolton also wrote that Trump sought Xi’s help to win reelection in 2020 by purchasing agricultural products from key farm states in the U.S.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--Senate Passes Major Public Lands Bill

Senate Passes Major Public Lands Bill

In a rare display of bipartisanship , the U.S. Senate has passed a sweeping public lands package that both addresses the ballooning maintenance backlog at national parks and provides full , permanent funding for the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund , a program established in 1964 to protect natural areas and water resources .
Co-sponsors of the legislation , which passed Wednesday by an overwhelming 73-25 vote , have hailed it as the most important conservation bill in a generation ― one that will preserve public lands and create thousands of jobs at a time when communities across America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It now heads to the House for consideration , and President Donald Trump has promised to sign it into law .
“ By helping the land , we ’ re helping the communities , because it ’ s there for future generations , ” Gardner said .
“ This really is an opportunity for this nation to come together at a time of great need , economically and I think spiritually , quite frankly.
” The Great American Outdoors Act combines two bills that might otherwise not have passed on their own .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ address the estimated $ 12 billion maintenance backlog at national parks , which has been a priority of the Trump administration .
The other permanently supports the Land and Water Conservation Fund at the maximum $ 900 million per year .
Often described as one of America ’ s most important conservation tools , LWCF uses offshore fossil-fuel revenue to establish and protect parks , wildlife refuges , forests and important wildlife habitat .
But the 50-plus year program has been plagued by funding shortfalls , only twice receiving the full $ 900 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vote , Sen. Martin Heinrich ( D-N.M. ) applauded the Senate for coming together , at a time when the nation is divided , to rally around “ one thing that truly unites us.
” “ This bill would make major investments in the landscapes and landmarks vital to our economic , emotional and societal well-being , ” she said in a statement .
“ By protecting important natural spaces and investing in their care , this bill will help create jobs , rebuild local economies and expand access to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoy.
” It is indeed a huge victory for America ’ s public lands , which have borne the brunt of the fossil fuel-friendly Trump administration ’ s “ energy dominance ” agenda .
And while Gardner and Sen. Steve Daines ( R-Mont . )
have been fierce supporters of Trump ’ s agenda and are relatively new to the fight to protect the LWCF , they championed the bill through the Senate and are credited with convincing the president to reverse his stance on LWCF after years of trying to gut the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we get one step closer to protecting our outdoor heritage for our children , our grandchildren , for future generations of Montanans and all Americans , ” Daines said in a floor speech ahead of the vote .
Trump ’ s newfound support appears largely aimed at securing wins for two vulnerable Senate allies in the 2020 election , which could prove key to Republicans maintaining control of the Senate .
Still , environmentalists and public lands advocates are celebrating the victory .
Sen. Tom Udall ( D-N.M. ) , a longtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week that , although many were surprised by Trump ’ s reversal , it is important that Congress “ seize the opportunity .
”

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In a rare display of bipartisanship, the U.S. Senate has passed a sweeping public lands package that both addresses the ballooning maintenance backlog at national parks and provides full, permanent funding for the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program established in 1964 to protect natural areas and water resources.
Co-sponsors of the legislation, which passed Wednesday by an overwhelming 73-25 vote, have hailed it as the most important conservation bill in a generation ― one that will preserve public lands and create thousands of jobs at a time when communities across America are reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. It now heads to the House for consideration, and President Donald Trump has promised to sign it into law.
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In a speech on the Senate floor last week, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) called the legislation a “chance in a lifetime.”
“By helping the land, we’re helping the communities, because it’s there for future generations,” Gardner said. “This really is an opportunity for this nation to come together at a time of great need, economically and I think spiritually, quite frankly.”
Visitors Thursday at Yosemite National Park in California. Ezra Shaw via Getty Images
The Great American Outdoors Act combines two bills that might otherwise not have passed on their own. One sets aside $9.5 billion to address the estimated $12 billion maintenance backlog at national parks, which has been a priority of the Trump administration. The other permanently supports the Land and Water Conservation Fund at the maximum $900 million per year.
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Often described as one of America’s most important conservation tools, LWCF uses offshore fossil-fuel revenue to establish and protect parks, wildlife refuges, forests and important wildlife habitat. But the 50-plus year program has been plagued by funding shortfalls, only twice receiving the full $900 million.
During a floor speech ahead of the vote, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) applauded the Senate for coming together, at a time when the nation is divided, to rally around “one thing that truly unites us.”
“The outdoors is not just a luxury, it’s something we need,” he said.
Environmental, outdoor sporting and public lands advocacy groups around the country celebrated Wednesday’s vote. Jennifer Morris, chief executive officer at The Nature Conservancy, called it “a historic win for the conservation of America’s natural landscapes.”
“This bill would make major investments in the landscapes and landmarks vital to our economic, emotional and societal well-being,” she said in a statement. “By protecting important natural spaces and investing in their care, this bill will help create jobs, rebuild local economies and expand access to the outdoors that everyone has a right to enjoy.”
It is indeed a huge victory for America’s public lands, which have borne the brunt of the fossil fuel-friendly Trump administration’s “energy dominance” agenda. And while Gardner and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) have been fierce supporters of Trump’s agenda and are relatively new to the fight to protect the LWCF, they championed the bill through the Senate and are credited with convincing the president to reverse his stance on LWCF after years of trying to gut the program’s funding.
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“Today, we get one step closer to protecting our outdoor heritage for our children, our grandchildren, for future generations of Montanans and all Americans,” Daines said in a floor speech ahead of the vote.
Trump’s newfound support appears largely aimed at securing wins for two vulnerable Senate allies in the 2020 election, which could prove key to Republicans maintaining control of the Senate. Still, environmentalists and public lands advocates are celebrating the victory.
Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), a longtime champion of the LWCF, told HuffPost last week that, although many were surprised by Trump’s reversal, it is important that Congress “seize the opportunity.”
“We will keep having the conversation about the administration’s unending attacks on conservation, our public lands and the environment more broadly,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--GOP Cowardice On Trump Takes Center Stage In Scathing New Supercut

Republican senators are accused of cowardice when it comes to President Donald Trump in a withering new supercut .
GOP lawmakers who defend Trump to the hilt in public , or claim not to have seen his latest offensive action to avoid commenting on it , are called out in the montage that the progressive Meidas Touch political action committee released late Tuesday .
Check out the video here : 📺 NEW VIDEO The GOP can try to run from @ realDonaldTrump , but they can ’ t hide from voters this November.
# GOPCowards pic.twitter.com/QbLCMl6nUl — MeidasTouch.com ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the 55-second clip , viewers are encouraged to vote 11 GOP lawmakers out of office in November , including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) and Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) .
“ The GOP can try to run from @ realDonaldTrump , but they can ’ t hide from voters this November , ” tweeted the PAC that was founded by Ben Meiselas , the lawyer who represented former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his settlement with the NFL .
The # GOPCowards hashtag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viral early Wednesday .
The PAC , whose previous videos have attacked Ivanka Trump and the president ’ s violent rhetoric on anti-racism protests , also inspired mocking new slogans for the GOP following this request : If the # GOPCowards had a slogan , what would it be ?
🤔 — MeidasTouch.com ( @ MeidasTouch ) June 17 , 2020 They have a slogan .
It 's : Pay to Play .
You pay them enough money and they 'll consider what you want .
Other than that , they could n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Ghost ( @ UROCKlive1 ) June 17 , 2020 '' We are n't cheap , but we can be had . ''
# GOPCowards https : //t.co/6uNP2PrIE7 — KC Compton ( @ KCCompton ) June 17 , 2020

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Republican senators are accused of cowardice when it comes to President Donald Trump in a withering new supercut.
GOP lawmakers who defend Trump to the hilt in public, or claim not to have seen his latest offensive action to avoid commenting on it, are called out in the montage that the progressive Meidas Touch political action committee released late Tuesday.
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Check out the video here:
📺 NEW VIDEO
The GOP can try to run from @realDonaldTrump, but they can’t hide from voters this November.#GOPCowards pic.twitter.com/QbLCMl6nUl — MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) June 17, 2020
At the end of the 55-second clip, viewers are encouraged to vote 11 GOP lawmakers out of office in November, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
“The GOP can try to run from @realDonaldTrump, but they can’t hide from voters this November,” tweeted the PAC that was founded by Ben Meiselas, the lawyer who represented former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his settlement with the NFL.
The #GOPCowards hashtag trended on Twitter as the footage went viral early Wednesday. The PAC, whose previous videos have attacked Ivanka Trump and the president’s violent rhetoric on anti-racism protests, also inspired mocking new slogans for the GOP following this request:
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If the #GOPCowards had a slogan, what would it be? 🤔 — MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) June 17, 2020
They have a slogan. It's: Pay to Play. You pay them enough money and they'll consider what you want. Other than that, they couldn't care less about you. — Khashoggi’s Ghost (@UROCKlive1) June 17, 2020
We never saw his presidency — TG221 (@TG22110) June 17, 2020
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I live in fear of a nick name and a mean tweet https://t.co/KUNAEsl6fk — Christine Henderson (@Cdurbin33) June 17, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--Tulsa Health Official Urges Rally Postponement As Oklahoma Sees Spike In COVID-19 Cases

The top health official in Tulsa , Oklahoma , urged the Trump campaign Wednesday to postpone its upcoming rally in the city , pointing out that the state just saw its largest daily increase in COVID-19 cases and that a massive public gathering could cause another spike .
“ I know so many people are over COVID , but COVID is not over , ” Bruce Dart , executive director of the Tulsa Health Department , said in a news briefing .
He pleaded with people to wear masks and take precautions .
The virus is still a major problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 2.1 million cases in the country and more than 117,000 deaths ― but Trump has pushed to reopen the country and restart public campaign events .
This worries some officials in Oklahoma , where there have been 8,904 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 364 deaths , according to totals released Wednesday .
The state reported its largest single-day increase in cases , up 259 from the day before .
Tulsa County has reported 1,825 confirmed cases and 64 deaths so far .
The rally ’ s large crowd in an indoor venue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that attendees wear masks , poses risks to those who attend .
The campaign is even making attendees agree not to sue if they do get COVID-19 .
“ If you look , the numbers are very minuscule compared to what it was , ” he said .
“ It ’ s dying out .
... We ’ re not concerned .
Actually , Oklahoma has had a very low rate relatively speaking .
It is a little spike , a small spike for a specific reason.
” “ If you have comorbidities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have other health issues , don ’ t come .
Watch it on TV , ” Sen. James Lankford ( R-Okla. ) said Wednesday on MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe , ” adding that he encourages attendees to wear masks , but “ that ’ s gon na be an individual decision.
” Despite the concerns , the campaign is moving ahead with the rally .
Kellyanne Conway , a top White House adviser to the president , told reporters Wednesday that “ people are going to go if they feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary Kayleigh McEnany repeatedly declined on Wednesday to tell reporters which health officials Trump consulted before picking Oklahoma as a site for the rally .
The White House has not offered up any other experts to vouch for the safety of the rally .
“ I ’ m in a high risk category , ” Fauci told The Daily Beast on Tuesday .
“ Personally , I would not .
Of course not.
” He added that “ outside is better than inside , no crowd is better than crowd ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state has several large outdoor venues , including the University of Oklahoma football stadium in Norman , the Oklahoma State University football stadium in Stillwater and the University of Tulsa football stadium .
Each can handle the same number of people as the BOK Center arena .
Lankford said the rally would be held indoors because of the heat .
“ Was the nation ’ s first large campaign rally after the arrival of COVID-19 my idea ?
No , ” Bynum said in a Facebook post .
“ Do I share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the BOK Center ?
Of course .
As someone who is cautious by nature , I don ’ t like to be the first to try anything .
I would have loved some other city to have proven the safety of such an event already.
” But Oklahoma ’ s GOP Gov .
Kevin Stitt has been very receptive to the idea of Trump ’ s coming to Tulsa and even invited him to visit the Greenwood District , site of the Tulsa Race Massacre that occurred 99 years ago , sparking outrage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns , the rally was controversial for its location and its initial date .
The fact that the campaign picked Tulsa , where the racist massacre took place , was offensive to many , given the ongoing protests against racism and police brutality .

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The top health official in Tulsa, Oklahoma, urged the Trump campaign Wednesday to postpone its upcoming rally in the city, pointing out that the state just saw its largest daily increase in COVID-19 cases and that a massive public gathering could cause another spike.
“I know so many people are over COVID, but COVID is not over,” Bruce Dart, executive director of the Tulsa Health Department, said in a news briefing. He pleaded with people to wear masks and take precautions.
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Supporters of President Donald Trump are expected to completely fill Tulsa’s 19,000-seat BOK Center indoor arena Saturday for Trump’s first rally since the campaign paused events because of the pandemic.
The virus is still a major problem in the U.S. ― there have been more than 2.1 million cases in the country and more than 117,000 deaths ― but Trump has pushed to reopen the country and restart public campaign events.
This worries some officials in Oklahoma, where there have been 8,904 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 364 deaths, according to totals released Wednesday. The state reported its largest single-day increase in cases, up 259 from the day before. Tulsa County has reported 1,825 confirmed cases and 64 deaths so far.
The rally’s large crowd in an indoor venue, and the lack of a requirement that attendees wear masks, poses risks to those who attend. The campaign is even making attendees agree not to sue if they do get COVID-19.
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The campaign will check attendees’ temperatures and give out hand sanitizer and face masks before entry, Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale tweeted on Monday.
Trump told Gray Television on Wednesday that he was not concerned about people getting sick at the rally, even though cases are rising in Oklahoma.
“If you look, the numbers are very minuscule compared to what it was,” he said. “It’s dying out. ... We’re not concerned. Actually, Oklahoma has had a very low rate relatively speaking. It is a little spike, a small spike for a specific reason.”
“We’ll go there, everyone is going to be safe,” Trump added.
Top Trump backers acknowledged the rally won’t be safe for some supporters.
“If you have comorbidities, if you are older or if you have other health issues, don’t come. Watch it on TV,” Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said Wednesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” adding that he encourages attendees to wear masks, but “that’s gonna be an individual decision.”
Despite the concerns, the campaign is moving ahead with the rally. Kellyanne Conway, a top White House adviser to the president, told reporters Wednesday that “people are going to go if they feel comfortable going.”
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But White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany repeatedly declined on Wednesday to tell reporters which health officials Trump consulted before picking Oklahoma as a site for the rally. The White House has not offered up any other experts to vouch for the safety of the rally.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, an infectious disease expert and member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, said he personally would not attend a rally.
“I’m in a high risk category,” Fauci told The Daily Beast on Tuesday. “Personally, I would not. Of course not.” He added that “outside is better than inside, no crowd is better than crowd” and “crowd is better than big crowd.”
The state has several large outdoor venues, including the University of Oklahoma football stadium in Norman, the Oklahoma State University football stadium in Stillwater and the University of Tulsa football stadium. Each can handle the same number of people as the BOK Center arena. Lankford said the rally would be held indoors because of the heat.
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, a Republican, on Tuesday also voiced his concerns about the rally coming into his city.
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“Was the nation’s first large campaign rally after the arrival of COVID-19 my idea? No,” Bynum said in a Facebook post. “Do I share anxiety about having a full house at the BOK Center? Of course. As someone who is cautious by nature, I don’t like to be the first to try anything. I would have loved some other city to have proven the safety of such an event already.”
But Oklahoma’s GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt has been very receptive to the idea of Trump’s coming to Tulsa and even invited him to visit the Greenwood District, site of the Tulsa Race Massacre that occurred 99 years ago, sparking outrage among Black Oklahomans.
Stitt declined HuffPost’s request for a comment on the potential dangers of increased COVID-19 and the measures the state is taking to promote safety among rally attendees.
Beyond the COVID-19 concerns, the rally was controversial for its location and its initial date. The fact that the campaign picked Tulsa, where the racist massacre took place, was offensive to many, given the ongoing protests against racism and police brutality.
In addition, the campaign initially scheduled the rally for Juneteenth (which takes place Friday), a holiday that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. The campaign pushed the rally to Saturday in light of that concern.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-17--Mississippi Official: Black People 'Dependent' Since Slavery

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) — After rejecting a proposal to move a Confederate monument , a white elected official in Mississippi said this week that African Americans “ became dependent ” during slavery and as a result , have had a harder time “ assimilating ” into American life than other mistreated groups .
Critics said his remarks were outrageous and called on him to resign .
Confederate symbols are being debated in many states amid widespread protests across the U.S. against racism and police violence .
Monuments that have stood for more than a century outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been removed or relocated in other Southern states in recent days , and supervisors in several Mississippi counties are discussing the matter .
In northeastern Mississippi ’ s Lowndes County , supervisors voted along racial lines Monday against moving a Confederate monument that has stood outside the county courthouse in Columbus since 1912 .
The monument depicts a Confederate soldier and says the South fought for a “ noble cause.
” Three white supervisors voted against the proposal and two black supervisors voted for it .
“ We need to be reminded of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ If we are not reminded about it , we are going to have a tendency to forget it and ( the history ) is going to repeat itself.
” After the meeting , Sanders , a Republican , was quoted by the Commercial Dispatch as saying that other groups of people who had also been mistreated in the past — he cited Irish , Italian , Polish and Japanese immigrants — were able to successfully “ assimilate ” afterward .
In my opinion , they were slaves .
And because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to go out and earn any money , they didn ’ t have to do anything . ''
“ The only ones that are having the problems : Guess who ?
The African Americans , ” Sanders said .
“ You know why ?
In my opinion , they were slaves .
And because of that , they didn ’ t have to go out and earn any money , they didn ’ t have to do anything .
Whoever owned them took care of them , fed them , clothed them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that dependency is still there .
The Democrats right here who depend on the black vote to get elected , they make them dependent on them.
” “ It ’ s really unforgivable how outlandish they were , knowing that he has black people in his district , ” Karriem said .
“ His revisionist history is not accurate at all .
Our ancestors didn ’ t want to be slaves.
” A Mississippi law enacted in 2004 says no war monument may be “ relocated , removed , disturbed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law also says : “ The governing body may move the memorial to a more suitable location if it is determined that the location is more appropriate to displaying the monument.
” Lowndes County is 53 % white and 45 % black .
Several black and white residents asked supervisors on Monday to move the Confederate monument .
One of the two black supervisors , Democrat Leroy Brooks , said people were not trying to change history , but wanted to “ rechannel some things that are offensive.
” “ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brooks said .
“ We are saying relocate it , so when people come to the courthouse and they look at it from a certain angle , they don ’ t see something that looks like a Ku Klux Klan.
” Several other Mississippi cities and counties and all eight of the state ’ s public universities have stopped flying the state flag in recent years , saying that the Confederate symbol does not properly represent a state with a 38 % black population .
People who voted in a 2001 statewide election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag , but recent protests are reviving debate about changing the design .

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — After rejecting a proposal to move a Confederate monument, a white elected official in Mississippi said this week that African Americans “became dependent” during slavery and as a result, have had a harder time “assimilating” into American life than other mistreated groups. Critics said his remarks were outrageous and called on him to resign.
Confederate symbols are being debated in many states amid widespread protests across the U.S. against racism and police violence. Monuments that have stood for more than a century outside courthouses and on other public property have been removed or relocated in other Southern states in recent days, and supervisors in several Mississippi counties are discussing the matter.
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In northeastern Mississippi’s Lowndes County, supervisors voted along racial lines Monday against moving a Confederate monument that has stood outside the county courthouse in Columbus since 1912. The monument depicts a Confederate soldier and says the South fought for a “noble cause.” Three white supervisors voted against the proposal and two black supervisors voted for it.
Lowndes County supervisor Harry Sanders listens as Bishop Scott Volland, unseen, asks the county to consider removing a Confederate monument from the courthouse lawn during a Lowndes County Board of Supervisors meeting on June 15. ASSOCIATED PRESS
At one point during the meeting, a white supervisor, Harry Sanders, said moving the monument would solve nothing and would be an attempt to erase history.
“We need to be reminded of some atrocity that happened,” he said. “If we are not reminded about it, we are going to have a tendency to forget it and (the history) is going to repeat itself.”
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After the meeting, Sanders, a Republican, was quoted by the Commercial Dispatch as saying that other groups of people who had also been mistreated in the past — he cited Irish, Italian, Polish and Japanese immigrants — were able to successfully “assimilate” afterward.
“In my opinion, they were slaves. And because of that, they didn’t have to go out and earn any money, they didn’t have to do anything."” - Lowndes County supervisor Harry Sanders
“The only ones that are having the problems: Guess who? The African Americans,” Sanders said. “You know why? In my opinion, they were slaves. And because of that, they didn’t have to go out and earn any money, they didn’t have to do anything. Whoever owned them took care of them, fed them, clothed them, worked them. They became dependent, and that dependency is still there. The Democrats right here who depend on the black vote to get elected, they make them dependent on them.”
Democratic State Rep. Kabir Karriem of Columbus, who is African American, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Sanders should resign. Karriem called Sanders’ remarks “appalling.”
“It’s really unforgivable how outlandish they were, knowing that he has black people in his district,” Karriem said. “His revisionist history is not accurate at all. Our ancestors didn’t want to be slaves.”
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Sanders did not immediately respond to a message the AP left on his cellphone voicemail Tuesday.
John Lewis, left, and Sonniah Ramirez, 12, protest for the removal of the Confederate monument that stands on the Lowndes County Courthouse lawn, Monday, June 15, 2020 in Columbus, Miss. ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Mississippi law enacted in 2004 says no war monument may be “relocated, removed, disturbed, altered, renamed or rededicated.” But the law also says: “The governing body may move the memorial to a more suitable location if it is determined that the location is more appropriate to displaying the monument.”
Lowndes County is 53% white and 45% black. Several black and white residents asked supervisors on Monday to move the Confederate monument. One of the two black supervisors, Democrat Leroy Brooks, said people were not trying to change history, but wanted to “rechannel some things that are offensive.”
“We are not saying tear it down,” Brooks said. “We are saying relocate it, so when people come to the courthouse and they look at it from a certain angle, they don’t see something that looks like a Ku Klux Klan.”
In Mississippi’s second-largest city, Gulfport, officials voted Tuesday to stop flying the state flag on city property because it includes the Confederate battle emblem that critics say is racist. Workers quickly removed the banner from City Hall.
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Mississippi is the only state with a flag that includes the emblem: a red field topped with a blue X with 13 white stars. White supremacists embedded it in the upper left corner of the flag in 1894.
Several other Mississippi cities and counties and all eight of the state’s public universities have stopped flying the state flag in recent years, saying that the Confederate symbol does not properly represent a state with a 38% black population. People who voted in a 2001 statewide election chose to keep the symbol on the flag, but recent protests are reviving debate about changing the design.