thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--DOJ Frees Federal Prosecutors To Take Steps That Could Interfere With Elections, Weakening Long-Stan

DOJ Frees Federal Prosecutors To Take Steps That Could Interfere With Elections, Weakening Long-Standing Policy

HuffPost US An email sent Friday by an official in the Department of Justice ’ s Public Integrity Section announced “ an exception to the general non-interference with elections policy.
” ( Drew Angerer/Getty Images ) Avoiding election interference is the overarching principle of DOJ policy on voting-related crimes .
In place since at least 1980 , the policy generally bars prosecutors not only from making any announcement about ongoing investigations close to an election but also from taking public steps — such as an arrest or a raid — before a vote is finalized because the publicity could tip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to an email sent Friday by an official in the Public Integrity Section in Washington , now if a U.S. attorney ’ s office suspects election fraud that involves postal workers or military employees , federal investigators will be allowed to take public investigative steps before the polls close , even if those actions risk affecting the outcome of the election .
The email announced “ an exception to the general non-interference with elections policy.
” The new exemption , the email stated , applied to instances in which “ the integrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is implicated by election offenses within the scope of the policy including but not limited to misconduct by federal officials or employees administering an aspect of the voting process through the United States Postal Service , the Department of Defense or any other federal department or agency.
” Specifically citing postal workers and military employees is noteworthy , former DOJ officials said .
But the exception is written so broadly that it could cover other types of investigations as well , they said .
Both groups have been falsely singled out , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his campaign for being involved in voter fraud .
Trump has repeatedly attempted to delegitimize ballots sent through the postal service , just as the country experiences increased voting by mail spurred by the coronavirus pandemic .
He has also raised the specter that the ballots of military members , among whom he enjoys broad support , might be suppressed .
“ It ’ s unusual that they ’ re carving out this exception , ” said Vanita Gupta , the former head of the DOJ Civil Rights Division under President Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a predicate for the Justice Department to make inflated announcements about mail-in vote fraud and the like in the run-up to the election.
” In a break from long-standing practice last month , a U.S. attorney in Pennsylvania publicly announced that the DOJ was investigating whether local elections officials illegally discarded nine mail-in military ballots .
Attorney General William Barr personally briefed Trump on the case before it was publicly announced , The Washington Post reported .
Trump later cited it as an example to support his claims of widespread mail-in voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped amplify .
It ’ s not clear where the federal probe stands , but Pennsylvania ’ s top elections official said early indications point to an error , not fraud .
The new policy carveout , Gupta said , could be designed to both justify the widely criticized Pennsylvania announcement and open the door for more such moves in the coming weeks .
Justin Levitt , a former deputy assistant attorney general in the DOJ ’ s civil rights division , also expressed concern that the department could be encouraging prosecutors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as they did in the Pennsylvania case .
“ It alarms me that the DOJ would want to authorize more of the same in and around the election , ” he said .
“ It ’ s incredibly painful for me to say , but given what we ’ ve seen recently , Americans shouldn ’ t trust DOJ announcements right now.
” The Friday email was sent to a group of dozens of prosecutors around the country known as district election officers .
They monitor election procedures and take complaints on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes and serve as the federal points of contact for local election officials .
Such a step , the handbook says , “ runs the obvious risk of chilling legitimate voting and campaign activities .
It also runs the significant risk of interjecting the investigation itself as an issue , both in the campaign and in the adjudication of any ensuing election contest.
” One current DOJ official told ProPublica that prosecutors have historically been warned not to allow themselves to be dragged into candidate disputes .
“ That ’ s what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-interference and never , ever , ever announce an investigation , ” the official said .

An email sent Friday by an official in the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section announced “an exception to the general non-interference with elections policy.” (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) HuffPost US
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The Department of Justice has weakened its long-standing prohibition against interfering in elections, according to two department officials.
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Avoiding election interference is the overarching principle of DOJ policy on voting-related crimes. In place since at least 1980, the policy generally bars prosecutors not only from making any announcement about ongoing investigations close to an election but also from taking public steps — such as an arrest or a raid — before a vote is finalized because the publicity could tip the balance of a race.
But according to an email sent Friday by an official in the Public Integrity Section in Washington, now if a U.S. attorney’s office suspects election fraud that involves postal workers or military employees, federal investigators will be allowed to take public investigative steps before the polls close, even if those actions risk affecting the outcome of the election.
The email announced “an exception to the general non-interference with elections policy.” The new exemption, the email stated, applied to instances in which “the integrity of any component of the federal government is implicated by election offenses within the scope of the policy including but not limited to misconduct by federal officials or employees administering an aspect of the voting process through the United States Postal Service, the Department of Defense or any other federal department or agency.”
Specifically citing postal workers and military employees is noteworthy, former DOJ officials said. But the exception is written so broadly that it could cover other types of investigations as well, they said.
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Both groups have been falsely singled out, in different ways, by President Donald Trump and his campaign for being involved in voter fraud. Trump has repeatedly attempted to delegitimize ballots sent through the postal service, just as the country experiences increased voting by mail spurred by the coronavirus pandemic. He has also raised the specter that the ballots of military members, among whom he enjoys broad support, might be suppressed.
The DOJ and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Experts who reviewed the revision said they were concerned it could be exploited to help the DOJ bolster Trump’s campaign.
“It’s unusual that they’re carving out this exception,” said Vanita Gupta, the former head of the DOJ Civil Rights Division under President Barack Obama. “It may be creating a predicate for the Justice Department to make inflated announcements about mail-in vote fraud and the like in the run-up to the election.”
In a break from long-standing practice last month, a U.S. attorney in Pennsylvania publicly announced that the DOJ was investigating whether local elections officials illegally discarded nine mail-in military ballots. Attorney General William Barr personally briefed Trump on the case before it was publicly announced, The Washington Post reported. Trump later cited it as an example to support his claims of widespread mail-in voter fraud, a false assertion Barr has has helped amplify. It’s not clear where the federal probe stands, but Pennsylvania’s top elections official said early indications point to an error, not fraud.
The new policy carveout, Gupta said, could be designed to both justify the widely criticized Pennsylvania announcement and open the door for more such moves in the coming weeks.
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Justin Levitt, a former deputy assistant attorney general in the DOJ’s civil rights division, also expressed concern that the department could be encouraging prosecutors to make more public announcements about incomplete investigations, as they did in the Pennsylvania case.
“It alarms me that the DOJ would want to authorize more of the same in and around the election,” he said. “It’s incredibly painful for me to say, but given what we’ve seen recently, Americans shouldn’t trust DOJ announcements right now.”
The Friday email was sent to a group of dozens of prosecutors around the country known as district election officers. They monitor election procedures and take complaints on Election Day from the public about alleged crimes and serve as the federal points of contact for local election officials.
For decades, the work of federal prosecutors has been guided by a strict policy of non-interference in elections.
A 281-page document titled “Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses” is the handbook for district election officers. The latest edition, from 2017, warns against launching public investigations, without approval granted for extraordinary cases, into alleged fraud before an election is over.
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Such a step, the handbook says, “runs the obvious risk of chilling legitimate voting and campaign activities. It also runs the significant risk of interjecting the investigation itself as an issue, both in the campaign and in the adjudication of any ensuing election contest.”
One current DOJ official told ProPublica that prosecutors have historically been warned not to allow themselves to be dragged into candidate disputes. “That’s what they drill into us: the policy of non-interference and never, ever, ever announce an investigation,” the official said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Republican Congressman Refuses COVID-19 Test After Staffers Test Positive

Several congressional staffers working in the D.C. office of Rep. Doug Lamborn ( R-Colo. ) reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus this week .
But Lamborn has so far refused to get tested himself .
Anonymous sources told The Denver Post that Lamborn ’ s deputy chief of staff tested positive this weekend and his military legislative assistant tested positive on Tuesday .
Other staffers in the office , where Lamborn worked last week , have also been experiencing symptoms , a source told Colorado Politics .
The congressman returned to his district in central Colorado this week .
Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at least one in person , on behalf of Republican candidate Steve House in his attempt to unseat Rep. Jason Crow ( D ) : Just talked with Steve House , who was w/Doug Lamborn today .
Said they never shook hands .
Lamborn was doing “ elbow thing.
” Lamborn gave speech outside , then House.
# copolitics https : //t.co/GOXP6VidD9 — Marshall Zelinger ( @ Marshall9News ) October 7 , 2020 Lamborn spokesperson Cassandra Sebastian told KKTV that he isn ’ t exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and is “ actively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the congressman “ was advised ” that he didn ’ t need to seek out a test or voluntarily quarantine after discussing his situation with the Attending Physician ’ s Office for the U.S. House of Representatives .
The congressman ’ s staff ― but not the congressman himself ― will work remotely for the next two weeks “ in an abundance of caution , ” said Sebastian .
It ’ s unclear how much time Lamborn spent in his own office last week , but Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close contact ” with someone who tested positive take a test themselves .
The positive cases on Lamborn ’ s staff are the latest in an expanding COVID-19 outbreak in the nation ’ s capital , where at least 35 high-level Republicans have tested positive since a late-September Rose Garden event , including President Donald Trump and some of his top aides .
The White House has deliberately chosen not to investigate the source of the outbreak or trace those who have been in contact with the president .

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Several congressional staffers working in the D.C. office of Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus this week.
But Lamborn has so far refused to get tested himself.
Anonymous sources told The Denver Post that Lamborn’s deputy chief of staff tested positive this weekend and his military legislative assistant tested positive on Tuesday.
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Other staffers in the office, where Lamborn worked last week, have also been experiencing symptoms, a source told Colorado Politics.
The congressman returned to his district in central Colorado this week. Social media indicates that Lamborn is attending fundraisers, at least one in person, on behalf of Republican candidate Steve House in his attempt to unseat Rep. Jason Crow (D):
Just talked with Steve House, who was w/Doug Lamborn today.
Said they never shook hands. Lamborn was doing “elbow thing.” Lamborn gave speech outside, then House.#copolitics https://t.co/GOXP6VidD9 — Marshall Zelinger (@Marshall9News) October 7, 2020
Lamborn spokesperson Cassandra Sebastian told KKTV that he isn’t exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and is “actively monitoring his health condition.”
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Sebastian said the congressman “was advised” that he didn’t need to seek out a test or voluntarily quarantine after discussing his situation with the Attending Physician’s Office for the U.S. House of Representatives.
The congressman’s staff ― but not the congressman himself ― will work remotely for the next two weeks “in an abundance of caution,” said Sebastian.
It’s unclear how much time Lamborn spent in his own office last week, but Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommend that anyone who has “had close contact” with someone who tested positive take a test themselves.
The positive cases on Lamborn’s staff are the latest in an expanding COVID-19 outbreak in the nation’s capital, where at least 18 high-level Republicans have tested positive since a late-September Rose Garden event, including President Donald Trump and some of his top aides.
The White House has deliberately chosen not to investigate the source of the outbreak or trace those who have been in contact with the president.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Surprise, Surprise: Reports Debunk Viral Project Veritas Video About Harvesting Ballots

Samuel Corum via Getty Images Far-right propagandist James O'Keefe would like you to believe his latest video offers proof of election fraud in Minnesota .
Do not believe him .
But on Monday , the Minneapolis-based Fox affiliate KMSP published an explosive exclusive interview with a Minneapolis man named Liban Osman , a main subject of the video , who recounted how a man working with Project Veritas had offered him $ 10,000 to claim that he was harvesting ballots for Omar .
Osman told KMSP he rejected the offer .
This type of so-called “ ballot harvesting ” — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick , elderly or otherwise unable to get their votes in the mail — may not have even been illegal .
In Minnesota , campaigns are typically allowed to collect only three ballots at a time , but a district court ruling earlier this year permitted the collection of more ballots over a five-week period from July 28 to Sept. 4 .
Last week , the Daily Dot published a report that discredited Project Veritas ’ key “ source ” from the Somali community in Minneapolis .
In the video , Omar Jamal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Somali Watchdog Group ” and says he “ works with the Ramsey County Sheriff Department in Minnesota.
” He repeatedly accuses Osman and Omar ’ s campaign of a coordinated , widespread election fraud campaign .
But several damning revelations in the Daily Dot report call into question Jamal ’ s credibility .
The “ Somali Watchdog Group ” he chairs ?
Jamal only registered its website in late August , seemingly after Project Veritas began producing its video about supposedly illegal ballot harvesting .
The group ’ s bare-bones website doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affiliates .
The Daily Dot reached out to the Ramsey County Sheriff ’ s Office to confirm whether Jamal is or has ever been employed by the office , but never received a response , according to the outlet .
The Project Veritas video also includes more allegations that Democratic operatives tied to Omar ’ s campaign paid people to hand over blank mail-in ballots which the campaign then filled out .
The allegations , however , are made by unidentified people whose faces are never shown on camera .
This year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in voting , a goal it shares with the White House .
One source close to Project Veritas even told The New Republic that the group ’ s sole aim this year is “ literally to get Trump reelected.
” But the MPD hasn ’ t yet released an update on its findings , despite the mounting evidence against O ’ Keefe ’ s claims .
A spokesperson for the MPD did not immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request for comment .

Far-right propagandist James O'Keefe would like you to believe his latest video offers proof of election fraud in Minnesota. Do not believe him. Samuel Corum via Getty Images
A viral video produced by the fraudulent far-right propaganda outlet Project Veritas and widely promoted by major Republican figures, which claimed to show Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s reelection campaign illegally collecting ballots in Minnesota, continues to be discredited.
Multiple media reports since the video was published on Sept. 27 have detailed ways in which Project Veritas used untrustworthy sources and deceptively edited clips to smear Omar, who is the frequent target of right-wing attacks.
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The Project Veritas video, produced by the organization’s head huckster James O’Keefe, was promoted by President Donald Trump on Twitter and purports to show that Omar committed election fraud by hiring people to “harvest ballots” in exchange for money.
But on Monday, the Minneapolis-based Fox affiliate KMSP published an explosive exclusive interview with a Minneapolis man named Liban Osman, a main subject of the video, who recounted how a man working with Project Veritas had offered him $10,000 to claim that he was harvesting ballots for Omar. Osman told KMSP he rejected the offer.
The Project Veritas video includes footage that Osman himself posted to Snapchat, showing off ballots he’d collected. But Osman was not collecting ballots for Omar, but for a local city council candidate in Minneapolis.
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This type of so-called “ballot harvesting” — collecting mail-in ballots from voters who are sick, elderly or otherwise unable to get their votes in the mail — may not have even been illegal. In Minnesota, campaigns are typically allowed to collect only three ballots at a time, but a district court ruling earlier this year permitted the collection of more ballots over a five-week period from July 28 to Sept. 4.
Whereas Project Veritas claims Osman posted the Snapchat videos in early July, he told KMSP the videos were posted in late July.
“So you’re saying a coordinated misinformation campaign by a known fraud was actually…a fraud?!” Rep. Omar tweeted Tuesday in response to the KMSP report. Omar’s campaign has repeatedly denied committing any type of election fraud.
“This is on brand for Trump and his stooges, fraudsters who love concocting desperate racist conspiracies and chaos in an effort to distract the public from their failures,” Omar wrote.
So you’re saying a coordinated misinformation campaign by a known fraud was actually…a fraud?!
This is on brand for Trump and his stooges, fraudsters who love concocting desperate racist conspiracies and chaos in an effort to distract the public from their failures. https://t.co/myA0KOVJCA — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 6, 2020
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The KMSP report was not the first to debunk Project Veritas’ claims about Omar.
Last week, the Daily Dot published a report that discredited Project Veritas’ key “source” from the Somali community in Minneapolis. In the video, Omar Jamal identifies himself as the chair of the “Somali Watchdog Group” and says he “works with the Ramsey County Sheriff Department in Minnesota.” He repeatedly accuses Osman and Omar’s campaign of a coordinated, widespread election fraud campaign.
But several damning revelations in the Daily Dot report call into question Jamal’s credibility. The “Somali Watchdog Group” he chairs? Jamal only registered its website in late August, seemingly after Project Veritas began producing its video about supposedly illegal ballot harvesting. The group’s bare-bones website doesn’t mention any other members or affiliates.
The Daily Dot reached out to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office to confirm whether Jamal is or has ever been employed by the office, but never received a response, according to the outlet.
A spokesman for Project Veritas could not confirm the authenticity of the Somali Watchdog Group or whether Jamal actually ever worked with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.
“He represented to us that he was — had a relationship with the Ramsey County Sheriff Department,” the spokesman told the Daily Dot.
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On his LinkedIn page, Jamal states he is a “Somali Permanent Representative” at the United Nations and a former student of Tufts University’s Fletcher School of international affairs.
But the Daily Dot found that neither of these claims is true.
“Fuck you,” Jamal told the publication when asked about the inconsistencies. “I’m going to report you … I want to fuck your mother, that’s the school I went to!”
Moreover, according to a report in the Sahan Journal, Jamal recently appeared on Somali American TV and walked back claims made in the Project Veritas video that he witnessed cash being exchanged for votes for Omar.
Jamal is the man Osman claims told him that Project Veritas would give him $10,000 to say he was collecting ballots for Omar.
Reached for comment by HuffPost, a Project Veritas spokesman sent a link to a YouTube video in which O’Keefe denies that the organization offered bribes.
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The Project Veritas video also includes more allegations that Democratic operatives tied to Omar’s campaign paid people to hand over blank mail-in ballots which the campaign then filled out. The allegations, however, are made by unidentified people whose faces are never shown on camera.
Project Veritas is a “right-wing disinformation outfit,” according to researchers at Harvard University, with a long history of conducting elaborate undercover “sting” operations it documents in deceptively edited videos to smear liberals.
James O'Keefe, the well-funded far-right propagandist behind Project Veritas, infamous for creating deceptively edited videos, is cozy with major GOP figures including the president. Here, he is speaking on the main stage at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference. Yuri Gripas / Reuters
This year, Project Veritas has been focused on delegitimizing mail-in voting, a goal it shares with the White House. One source close to Project Veritas even told The New Republic that the group’s sole aim this year is “literally to get Trump reelected.”
It’s unsurprising then that many prominent figures in the MAGAverse, including the president himself, promoted the latest Project Veritas video.
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“What about Omar that she gets caught harvesting,” Trump told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Minnesota shortly after he contracted the coronavirus. “What the hell is going on?”
The president and his son Donald Trump Jr. both promoted the video to their millions of followers on Twitter.
A damning report from the Stanford Internet Observatory uncovered evidence that Project Veritas coordinated the release of its latest video with the Republican Party in an attempt to draw attention away from a major New York Times investigation on Trump’s tax dodging.
Project Veritas — which has received millions of dollars in funding from organizations connected to billionaire conservative megadonors, including the Koch Brothers — has enjoyed close ties with the GOP. Earlier this year, O’Keefe was a featured speaker on the main stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the premier annual gathering of the American right.
The Minneapolis Police Department has also helped lend credibility to O’Keefe’s latest sham investigation, tweeting a day after its release that the allegations were “being evaluated” by police.
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“The MPD is aware of the allegations of vote harvesting,” the department tweeted Sept. 28. “We are in the process of looking into the validity of those statements. No further information is available at this time on this.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Trump Must Turn Over Taxes To Prosecutors, Appeals Court Rules

NEW YORK ( AP ) — President Donald Trump ’ s accountant must turn over his tax records to a New York state prosecutor , an appeals court ruled Wednesday in a decision that likely sets up a second trip to the U.S. Supreme Court over the issue .
The 2nd U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said in a written decision that a stay of a lower-court decision will remain in effect so Trump ’ s lawyers can appeal the ruling to the high court .
A district court judge had rejected their renewed efforts to invalidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. issued to Trump ’ s accounting firm .
Part of Vance ’ s probe pertains to an investigation related to payoffs to two women — porn actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal — to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about alleged extramarital affairs with Trump .
Trump has denied the affairs .
Vance , Jr. is seeking eight years of the Republican president ’ s personal and corporate tax records , but has disclosed little about what prompted him to request the records .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lawyers have said he was justified in demanding them because of public reports of “ extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.
” The Supreme Court in July ruled 7-2 against the president , rejecting Trump ’ s arguments that he can ’ t even be investigated , let alone charged with any crime , while he is in office .
But the court said Trump can challenge the subpoena on other grounds like anyone else who receives a subpoena .
The likelihood that the taxes would be released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November election , especially since the high court is down to eight justices after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Through his lawyers , Trump argued that the subpoena was issued in bad faith , might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment of him , especially since the wording copied the language in congressional subpoenas .
“ We hold that none of the President ’ s allegations , taken together or separately , are sufficient to raise a plausible inference that the subpoena was issued ‘ out of malice or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the appeals court said .

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NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s accountant must turn over his tax records to a New York state prosecutor, an appeals court ruled Wednesday in a decision that likely sets up a second trip to the U.S. Supreme Court over the issue.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said in a written decision that a stay of a lower-court decision will remain in effect so Trump’s lawyers can appeal the ruling to the high court.
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A district court judge had rejected their renewed efforts to invalidate a subpoena that the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. issued to Trump’s accounting firm.
Part of Vance’s probe pertains to an investigation related to payoffs to two women — porn actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal — to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about alleged extramarital affairs with Trump. Trump has denied the affairs.
Vance, Jr. is seeking eight years of the Republican president’s personal and corporate tax records, but has disclosed little about what prompted him to request the records. In one recent court filing, Vance’s lawyers have said he was justified in demanding them because of public reports of “extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.”
A Justice Department spokesperson said the department was reviewing the ruling.
The Supreme Court in July ruled 7-2 against the president, rejecting Trump’s arguments that he can’t even be investigated, let alone charged with any crime, while he is in office. But the court said Trump can challenge the subpoena on other grounds like anyone else who receives a subpoena.
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The likelihood that the taxes would be released was unlikely to be resolved before the November election, especially since the high court is down to eight justices after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Through his lawyers, Trump argued that the subpoena was issued in bad faith, might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment of him, especially since the wording copied the language in congressional subpoenas.
In its decision, the 2nd Circuit rejected all of those arguments.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Trump Campaign Trolls Kamala Harris With Debate Ticket For Tupac Shakur

On Wednesday , the Trump camp confirmed that it had left a ticket for Shakur at will call .
It ’ s unlikely that the rap legend will show up , considering he was killed in 1996 at the age of 24 , but Trump officials seem okay with that uncertainty .
The ticket for Shakur is a reference to a comment Harris made last month during an interview at the NAACP ’ s virtual convention where she called him “ the best rapper alive.
” She quickly corrected herself with a laugh , saying , “ Not alive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kamala Harris asked , who ’ s the best rapper alive ?
She answers @ 2PAC Then says “ Not alive , I know , I keep doing that.
” Tries to think of another living rapper .
“ There ’ s some I would not mention right now because they should stay in their lane.
” pic.twitter.com/MZJ5FZC4qP — Emily Larsen ( @ emilyelarsen ) September 25 , 2020 As might be expected , many Twitter users had strong opinions about the Trump campaign ’ s attempt to get under Harris ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager both have COVID because of their own negligence this is the type of gimmick the remaining staffers come up with .
https : //t.co/OyFMw99R1F — Tim Miller ( @ Timodc ) October 7 , 2020 Brilliant move !
This will surely help close a 16-point polling gap resulting from everyone being focused on the 210,000+ people who died on your watch .
https : //t.co/CVrIJ5ZPCj — Tim Hogan ( @ timjhogan ) October 7 , 2020 The ticket for Shakur isn ’ t the first time that Republicans have obsessed over Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , right-wingers clutched their pearls after Harris did an interview with the hosts of the New York City radio show “ The Breakfast Club ” that , touched on , among various topics , what music she liked .
At one point , host DJ Envy asked the senator what music she liked while another host , Charlamagne Tha God , chimed in to ask what music she listened to while high in college .
But the way the two questions were asked rapid-fire made it sound to some as if Harris were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dogg in college ― which would be impossible since she graduated from Howard University in 1986 , five years before Tupac ’ s first album and six before Snoop Dogg ’ s recording debut .

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That includes inviting rapper Tupac Shakur to attend the event in Salt Lake City, Utah.
On Wednesday, the Trump camp confirmed that it had left a ticket for Shakur at will call.
It’s unlikely that the rap legend will show up, considering he was killed in 1996 at the age of 24, but Trump officials seem okay with that uncertainty.
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The Trump campaign is leaving a ticket for Tupac Shakur at tonight’s VP debate because Kamala Harris called him her favorite rapper alive — Amber Athey (@amber_athey) October 7, 2020
The ticket for Shakur is a reference to a comment Harris made last month during an interview at the NAACP’s virtual convention where she called him “the best rapper alive.”
She quickly corrected herself with a laugh, saying, “Not alive, I know. I keep doing that.”
Kamala Harris asked, who’s the best rapper alive?
She answers @2PAC
Then says “Not alive, I know, I keep doing that.”
Tries to think of another living rapper. “There’s some I would not mention right now because they should stay in their lane.” pic.twitter.com/MZJ5FZC4qP — Emily Larsen (@emilyelarsen) September 25, 2020
As might be expected, many Twitter users had strong opinions about the Trump campaign’s attempt to get under Harris’ skin.
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Wow, this is a HUGE issue for Trumps base, “who is good at rapping” https://t.co/TiMiyj20HQ — The Gregory Brothers want you to register to vote (@gregorybrothers) October 7, 2020
oooh oooh sit him next to Jimmy Hoffa https://t.co/hv34NUQ2ay — Michael Dunlap (@DunlapSports) October 7, 2020
Tupac showing up to the debate is the real October surprise https://t.co/FX6kRbXMnv — Grace Segers (@Grace_Segers) October 7, 2020
At least he’s an unlikely COVID-19 spreader. https://t.co/cDF8wk52pK — Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 7, 2020
When your candidate and campaign manager both have COVID because of their own negligence this is the type of gimmick the remaining staffers come up with. https://t.co/OyFMw99R1F — Tim Miller (@Timodc) October 7, 2020
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gonna be mighty awkward when Jeffrey Epstein walks in and takes that seat. https://t.co/tvp2d1LQ7o — Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) October 7, 2020
Brilliant move! This will surely help close a 16-point polling gap resulting from everyone being focused on the 210,000+ people who died on your watch. https://t.co/CVrIJ5ZPCj — Tim Hogan (@timjhogan) October 7, 2020
The ticket for Shakur isn’t the first time that Republicans have obsessed over Harris’ hip-hop tastes.
In February 2019, right-wingers clutched their pearls after Harris did an interview with the hosts of the New York City radio show “The Breakfast Club” that, touched on, among various topics, what music she liked.
At one point, host DJ Envy asked the senator what music she liked while another host, Charlamagne Tha God, chimed in to ask what music she listened to while high in college.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Here's What Voters Make Of President Trump's COVID-19 Diagnosis

Erin Scott / Reuters President Donald Trump pulls off his protective face mask as he poses atop the Truman Balcony of the White House after returning from being hospitalized for COVID-19 , Oct. 5 , 2020 .
Sixty percent of voters say Trump ’ s campaign has taken too many risks during the coronavirus outbreak , with 30 % saying the campaign has handled it about right , and just 2 % saying it ’ s been too cautious .
About half of voters , 53 % , say that former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s campaign has handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 % say the Biden camp has been too cautious and 7 % say they ’ ve taken too many risks .
Views are largely divided along partisan lines , but with Republicans somewhat less unanimous : Eighty-one percent of Democratic voters think the Biden campaign ’ s handling of coronavirus precautions has been about right , while a smaller 62 % majority of GOP voters say the same about Trump ’ s campaign .
Only 1 in 5 voters say they ’ re very confident that information from the White House about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurate .
Forty-eight percent say they ’ re at least somewhat confident , and 44 % say they ’ re not very or not at all confident .
A 58 % majority of voters say that a presidential candidate should publicly release all medical information that might affect his or her ability to serve as president , with just 31 % saying that candidates should have the same right as other citizens to keep medical records private .
About half of voters , 49 % , say they believe Trump is in good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , with just 34 % saying he ’ s not in good enough condition .
That places him ahead of his opponent : Just 39 % say Biden is in good enough condition , and 42 % say he is not .
Partisanship on this question runs in a different direction , with GOP voters more unanimous in asserting Trump ’ s well-being , and Biden ’ s lack of it , than Democratic voters are in saying the opposite .
Views have not changed significantly following Trump ’ s diagnosis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of voters said Biden was in good enough physical condition , with 51 % saying the same of Trump .
Just 12 % of voters say they ’ re very concerned about Trump ’ s medical condition at this time .
About half , 49 % , say they ’ re at least somewhat concerned , and 46 % say they ’ re not very or not at all concerned .
A 46 % plurality of voters say they ’ re very concerned about the spread of coronavirus in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the week prior , Sept. 25-29 , but well within the range of surveys conducted throughout the year .
About one-third say they ’ re very concerned that they or a family member will contract this disease .
Seventy percent expect the outbreak to have a lasting effect on the U.S. , with just 18 % believing things will soon go back to normal .
Voters disapprove of Trump ’ s handling of coronavirus issues by an 18-point margin , and of the federal government ’ s handling of those issues by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s poll , voters disapproved of Trump by a 13-point margin , and of the government by an 18-point margin .
Support for mask-wearing remains high .
Voters say , 72 % to 24 % , that deciding to wear a face mask is more a matter of public health than one of personal choice .
By an even broader margin , 83 % to 11 % , voters say that , generally speaking , people should wear face masks when in public around others .
This level of support for masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to both questions are comparable to those in a July poll , when 71 % of voters called masks a matter of public health , and 79 % said people should generally wear them .
The share of Trump voters who said they believe people should generally wear masks , however , ticked up by 9 points in the most recent survey .
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov survey , using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted Oct. 2-7 among U.S. adults who are registered voters , using a sample selected from YouGov ’ s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the population .

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President Donald Trump’s recent diagnosis with COVID-19 hasn’t substantially increased voters’ concerns about his physical condition, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds. But most say that the president’s campaign, unlike his rival’s, has engaged in overly risky behavior.
Sixty percent of voters say Trump’s campaign has taken too many risks during the coronavirus outbreak, with 30% saying the campaign has handled it about right, and just 2% saying it’s been too cautious. About half of voters, 53%, say that former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign has handled precautions around the outbreak correctly, while 21% say the Biden camp has been too cautious and 7% say they’ve taken too many risks.
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Views are largely divided along partisan lines, but with Republicans somewhat less unanimous: Eighty-one percent of Democratic voters think the Biden campaign’s handling of coronavirus precautions has been about right, while a smaller 62% majority of GOP voters say the same about Trump’s campaign.
President Donald Trump pulls off his protective face mask as he poses atop the Truman Balcony of the White House after returning from being hospitalized for COVID-19, Oct. 5, 2020. Erin Scott / Reuters
Only 1 in 5 voters say they’re very confident that information from the White House about Trump’s health is reliable and accurate. Forty-eight percent say they’re at least somewhat confident, and 44% say they’re not very or not at all confident.
A 58% majority of voters say that a presidential candidate should publicly release all medical information that might affect his or her ability to serve as president, with just 31% saying that candidates should have the same right as other citizens to keep medical records private.
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About half of voters, 49%, say they believe Trump is in good enough physical condition to serve effectively as president, with just 34% saying he’s not in good enough condition. That places him ahead of his opponent: Just 39% say Biden is in good enough condition, and 42% say he is not. Partisanship on this question runs in a different direction, with GOP voters more unanimous in asserting Trump’s well-being, and Biden’s lack of it, than Democratic voters are in saying the opposite.
Views have not changed significantly following Trump’s diagnosis. In a mid-September HuffPost/YouGov poll, 36% of voters said Biden was in good enough physical condition, with 51% saying the same of Trump.
Just 12% of voters say they’re very concerned about Trump’s medical condition at this time. About half, 49%, say they’re at least somewhat concerned, and 46% say they’re not very or not at all concerned.
A 46% plurality of voters say they’re very concerned about the spread of coronavirus in the U.S., a 6-point uptick from a survey conducted the week prior, Sept. 25-29, but well within the range of surveys conducted throughout the year. About one-third say they’re very concerned that they or a family member will contract this disease. Seventy percent expect the outbreak to have a lasting effect on the U.S., with just 18% believing things will soon go back to normal.
Voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of coronavirus issues by an 18-point margin, and of the federal government’s handling of those issues by a 23-point margin. In the previous week’s poll, voters disapproved of Trump by a 13-point margin, and of the government by an 18-point margin.
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Support for mask-wearing remains high. Voters say, 72% to 24%, that deciding to wear a face mask is more a matter of public health than one of personal choice. By an even broader margin, 83% to 11%, voters say that, generally speaking, people should wear face masks when in public around others.
This level of support for masks isn’t new ― the responses to both questions are comparable to those in a July poll, when 71% of voters called masks a matter of public health, and 79% said people should generally wear them. The share of Trump voters who said they believe people should generally wear masks, however, ticked up by 9 points in the most recent survey.
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov survey, using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups:
The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted Oct. 2-7 among U.S. adults who are registered voters, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the population.
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HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--GOP Congressional Candidate Won't Say If He Thinks The KKK Is A Terrorist Group

Seated close to his guest ( with neither wearing a mask ) in a what appears to be a bar and with a bottle of Tito ’ s Vodka on the table , the host brought up a pro-Gonzales campaign ad that claims he is committed to designating “ violent gangs like MS-13 as terrorists.
” The ad is funded by Future Leaders Fund , a super PAC founded by retiring GOP Rep. Will Hurd , who currently represents the seat Gonzales is running for .
The group has spent nearly $ 200,000 in support of Gonzales ’ campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ MS-13 as a terrorist group , the host asked if he similarly plans to push to label the KKK as a terrorist group .
“ So , Futures [ sic ] Leaders Fund is not an organization that I ’ m ― like , it ’ s an outside group , ” said Gonzales .
“ There ’ s all these outside groups that do all this stuff.
” “ Did you not say that ?
” asked the host , confused .
“ Do you not think that MS-13 should be labeled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So then I ’ m asking you , on the level , would you push for both of them to be labeled as a terrorist organization ?
” said the host .
“ I would push for this : for us to talk about racism .
Nobody talks about it .
Nobody wants to talk about it , ” said Gonzales .
“ They want to talk about organizations.
” They went back and forth several times , with Gonzales saying he does think that MS-13 is a terrorist group but then avoiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re living in COVID .
There ’ s a million things going on .
You have this much oxygen in the room , ” replied Gonzales .
“ And it ’ s not to talk about the KKK.
” In reality , there is no legal mechanism in the United States for labeling a purely domestic organization as a terrorist group .
That point was never made in the interview .
But as the University of Wisconsin ’ s Anna Meier argues , people ’ s desire to apply the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signaling what types of groups and political actions are acceptable to the U.S. government .
Gonzales campaign spokesman Matt Mackowiak on Tuesday initially dismissed HuffPost ’ s request for comment on whether Gonzales thinks the KKK is a terrorist group .
He asked who flagged the video clip to HuffPost and said , “ What does any of this have to do with KKK ?
” But he followed up Wednesday with a statement saying that Gonzales “ believes any organization that uses violence to terrorize our communities should be designated a terrorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Antifa.
” “ Trying to imply that a Hispanic veteran is somehow sympathetic to the KKK demonstrates just how desperate the Jones campaign has become , ” said Mackowiak , suggesting Gonzales ’ opponent , Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones , sent the clip to HuffPost .
Gonzales and Jones are locked in a tight race in Texas ’ 23rd Congressional District , though Jones appears to have the edge .
FiveThirtyEight has her with a slight lead in the polls and The Cook Political Report puts the House seat at “ lean @ @ @

Texas Republican congressional candidate Tony Gonzales. Tony Gonzales for Congress Campaign
Is the Ku Klux Klan a terrorist group? Texas Republican congressional candidate Tony Gonzales dodged the question multiple times in an awkward exchange with a local talk show host.
Gonzales spent two solid minutes avoiding the question in an interview posted last Thursday on “The Carpenters Apprentice,” a San Antonio-based talk show that streams on Instagram.
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Seated close to his guest (with neither wearing a mask) in a what appears to be a bar and with a bottle of Tito’s Vodka on the table, the host brought up a pro-Gonzales campaign ad that claims he is committed to designating “violent gangs like MS-13 as terrorists.” The ad is funded by Future Leaders Fund, a super PAC founded by retiring GOP Rep. Will Hurd, who currently represents the seat Gonzales is running for. The group has spent nearly $200,000 in support of Gonzales’ campaign.
Since Gonzales plans to push to label MS-13 as a terrorist group, the host asked if he similarly plans to push to label the KKK as a terrorist group.
“So, Futures [sic] Leaders Fund is not an organization that I’m ― like, it’s an outside group,” said Gonzales. “There’s all these outside groups that do all this stuff.”
“Did you not say that?” asked the host, confused. “Do you not think that MS-13 should be labeled as a terrorist organization?”
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“I think MS-13 terrorizes people,” said Gonzales.
“You don’t think the KKK does?” asked the host.
“Absolutely,” replied Gonzales.
“So then I’m asking you, on the level, would you push for both of them to be labeled as a terrorist organization?” said the host.
“I would push for this: for us to talk about racism. Nobody talks about it. Nobody wants to talk about it,” said Gonzales. “They want to talk about organizations.”
They went back and forth several times, with Gonzales saying he does think that MS-13 is a terrorist group but then avoiding the same question about the KKK.
“Why isn’t that, like, a simple yes or no?” asked the host.
“We’re living in COVID. There’s a million things going on. You have this much oxygen in the room,” replied Gonzales. “And it’s not to talk about the KKK.”
Here’s a video of their exchange.
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In reality, there is no legal mechanism in the United States for labeling a purely domestic organization as a terrorist group. That point was never made in the interview. But as the University of Wisconsin’s Anna Meier argues, people’s desire to apply the label to certain organizations is more about signaling what types of groups and political actions are acceptable to the U.S. government.
Gonzales campaign spokesman Matt Mackowiak on Tuesday initially dismissed HuffPost’s request for comment on whether Gonzales thinks the KKK is a terrorist group. He asked who flagged the video clip to HuffPost and said, “What does any of this have to do with KKK?” But he followed up Wednesday with a statement saying that Gonzales “believes any organization that uses violence to terrorize our communities should be designated a terrorist organization — including MS-13, the KKK and Antifa.”
“Trying to imply that a Hispanic veteran is somehow sympathetic to the KKK demonstrates just how desperate the Jones campaign has become,” said Mackowiak, suggesting Gonzales’ opponent, Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, sent the clip to HuffPost.
Gonzales and Jones are locked in a tight race in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, though Jones appears to have the edge. FiveThirtyEight has her with a slight lead in the polls and The Cook Political Report puts the House seat at “lean Democratic.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--White House: 'Too Close To The Election' For Coronavirus Relief But Not A Supreme Court Justice

There isn ’ t enough time to pass additional coronavirus relief for millions of struggling Americans before the presidential election because the Supreme Court needs a new justice , White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Wednesday .
“ We only got four weeks to the election , and we got a justice of the Supreme Court to get passed .
It ’ s too close to the election .
Not enough time to get stuff done at this stage of the game , ” Kudlow told CNBC .
President Donald Trump called off negotiations over a coronavirus stimulus package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , delaying aid to thousands of airline workers facing layoffs , millions of small businesses , and 26 million unemployed Americans .
The two sides were said to be far apart on a deal , with financial aid to cities and states , liability protections for businesses , and the overall cost of the package as just some of the major sticking points .
House Democrats passed a scaled-down $ 2.2 trillion bill last week ; Republicans , particularly in the Senate , opposed such a large package .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the pending election we simply weren ’ t able to get together , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) told Fox News on Tuesday , agreeing with Trump about holding off on further negotiations .
Senate Republicans are instead racing to confirm Amy Coney Barrett , Trump ’ s nominee to the high court .
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin hearings for the conservative judge next week , with a final vote expected just days away from next month ’ s election ― making Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in history .
GOP officials believe a high-profile Supreme Court confirmation that could cement a conservative majority for decades will help their vulnerable incumbents by driving enthusiasm among their base voters , as it did during the 2018 midterm elections following Justice Brett Kavanaugh ’ s nomination .
But the decision to pull the plug on the talks and push forward with confirming a Supreme Court justice in a presidential election year ― something the party opposed in 2016 ― also opened them up to attacks from Democrats , who slammed them for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ President Trump showed his true colors : putting himself first at the expense of the country , with the full complicity of the GOP Members of Congress , ” Pelosi said in a letter to her members on Tuesday .
In some mixed messaging , Trump said on Tuesday he would be willing to sign a stand-alone bill providing Americans with another round of stimulus checks .
But Democrats have made clear for months that additional coronavirus relief must be negotiated as a broader package because of competing needs in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think we have been very flexible and the view of the president and the view of Senate leader Mitch McConnell is that we do not think the Democrats have been not only not flexible , but indeed they don ’ t really want to play ball , ” Kudlow said Wednesday on CNBC .

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There isn’t enough time to pass additional coronavirus relief for millions of struggling Americans before the presidential election because the Supreme Court needs a new justice, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Wednesday.
“We only got four weeks to the election, and we got a justice of the Supreme Court to get passed. It’s too close to the election. Not enough time to get stuff done at this stage of the game,” Kudlow told CNBC.
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President Donald Trump called off negotiations over a coronavirus stimulus package on Tuesday until after the Nov. 3 election, delaying aid to thousands of airline workers facing layoffs, millions of small businesses, and 26 million unemployed Americans.
The two sides were said to be far apart on a deal, with financial aid to cities and states, liability protections for businesses, and the overall cost of the package as just some of the major sticking points. House Democrats passed a scaled-down $2.2 trillion bill last week; Republicans, particularly in the Senate, opposed such a large package.
“I think we do need another rescue package but because of the pending election we simply weren’t able to get together,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told Fox News on Tuesday, agreeing with Trump about holding off on further negotiations.
Senate Republicans are instead racing to confirm Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s nominee to the high court. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin hearings for the conservative judge next week, with a final vote expected just days away from next month’s election ― making Barrett’s confirmation one of the quickest in history.
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GOP officials believe a high-profile Supreme Court confirmation that could cement a conservative majority for decades will help their vulnerable incumbents by driving enthusiasm among their base voters, as it did during the 2018 midterm elections following Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination.
But the decision to pull the plug on the talks and push forward with confirming a Supreme Court justice in a presidential election year ― something the party opposed in 2016 ― also opened them up to attacks from Democrats, who slammed them for ignoring people suffering amid a deadly pandemic.
“President Trump showed his true colors: putting himself first at the expense of the country, with the full complicity of the GOP Members of Congress,” Pelosi said in a letter to her members on Tuesday.
In some mixed messaging, Trump said on Tuesday he would be willing to sign a stand-alone bill providing Americans with another round of stimulus checks. But Democrats have made clear for months that additional coronavirus relief must be negotiated as a broader package because of competing needs in other sectors of the economy.
“We think we have been very flexible and the view of the president and the view of Senate leader Mitch McConnell is that we do not think the Democrats have been not only not flexible, but indeed they don’t really want to play ball,” Kudlow said Wednesday on CNBC.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Former Pence Aide Pitches Damning Coronavirus Debate Questions For Ex-Boss

Olivia Troye , a former aide to Mike Pence , knows exactly what damning questions she ’ d ask the vice president at Wednesday ’ s debate with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris .
Troye , who served on the White House coronavirus task force led by Pence , on Tuesday told MSNBC ’ s Lawrence O ’ Donnell that she ’ d ask the vice president to explain President Donald Trump ’ s questionable behavior during the pandemic ( such as removing his mask outside the White House on Monday , while he was likely still highly contagious ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messaging .
She ’ d also grill Pence on how he could continue to stand by the president .
“ How does he explain that ?
” said Troye .
“ I would love an explanation of how you explain all of the work that we have done , you know since January , all of these months on this pandemic to keep Americans safe , how do you explain the behavior of the president and how do you stand by it ?
” Troye , a lifelong Republican , left the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence ’ s adviser on homeland security and counterterrorism and then the coronavirus .
In September , she endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden via a video released by the group Republican Voters Against Trump .
“ I am voting for Joe Biden because I truly believe we are at a time of constitutional crisis .
At this point it ’ s country over party , ” she said in the clip .
Troye has since slammed Trump ’ s “ flat-out disregard for human life ” during the pandemic and claimed the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News instead of tackling critical issues about the crisis .

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Olivia Troye, a former aide to Mike Pence, knows exactly what damning questions she’d ask the vice president at Wednesday’s debate with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Troye, who served on the White House coronavirus task force led by Pence, on Tuesday told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell that she’d ask the vice president to explain President Donald Trump’s questionable behavior during the pandemic (such as removing his mask outside the White House on Monday, while he was likely still highly contagious) and constant undermining of the government’s messaging.
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She’d also grill Pence on how he could continue to stand by the president.
“How does he explain that?” said Troye. “I would love an explanation of how you explain all of the work that we have done, you know since January, all of these months on this pandemic to keep Americans safe, how do you explain the behavior of the president and how do you stand by it?”
Troye, a lifelong Republican, left the White House in August after two years as Pence’s adviser on homeland security and counterterrorism and then the coronavirus.
In September, she endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden via a video released by the group Republican Voters Against Trump. “I am voting for Joe Biden because I truly believe we are at a time of constitutional crisis. At this point it’s country over party,” she said in the clip.
Troye has since slammed Trump’s “flat-out disregard for human life” during the pandemic and claimed the president once spent 45 minutes ranting about Fox News instead of tackling critical issues about the crisis.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Sen. Martha McSally Avoids Saying She Supports Trump During Debate

You ’ d think a simple question would get a simple response , but not if the question involves President Donald Trump .
That ’ s what happened Tuesday night during the debate between Republican Sen. Martha McSally and her Democratic challenger Mark Kelly in Arizona .
McSally , who was appointed to her Senate seat in 2018 , was asked point-blank if she was proud of the way she has supported him .
“ I ’ m proud to be fighting for Arizona every single day , ” she said evasively .
“ Is that a yes or no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McSally talked over him about “ putting legislation on President Trump ’ s desk.
” “ You look at the legislation we put on his desk and it ’ s to cut Arizona taxes , ” she continued .
“ It sounds like she is proud of her support for President Trump , ” the moderator theorized .
“ I ’ m proud to be fighting for Arizonans here , ” she said .
McSally did attempt to separate herself from Trump when it came to John McCain .
McSally was appointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death and has praised his service to his country .
However , she has rarely publicly rebuked the president ’ s rude comments toward the deceased Arizona senator .
At Tuesday ’ s debate , she claimed that she has criticized the president ’ s treatment of McCain to his face .
“ I publicly and privately repeatedly talked to President Trump and asked him to stop attacking John McCain , ” McSally said .
“ Quite frankly , it pisses me of when he does it.
” Because the Arizona Senate race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCain ’ s Senate seat , the winner of the race will be inducted into office by Nov. 30 .

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You’d think a simple question would get a simple response, but not if the question involves President Donald Trump.
That’s what happened Tuesday night during the debate between Republican Sen. Martha McSally and her Democratic challenger Mark Kelly in Arizona.
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McSally, who was appointed to her Senate seat in 2018, was asked point-blank if she was proud of the way she has supported him.
She wouldn’t answer the question directly.
“I’m proud to be fighting for Arizona every single day,” she said evasively.
“Is that a yes or no?” the moderator asked, while McSally talked over him about “putting legislation on President Trump’s desk.”
“So you’re proud of your support,” the moderator reiterated.
“You look at the legislation we put on his desk and it’s to cut Arizona taxes,” she continued.
“It sounds like she is proud of her support for President Trump,” the moderator theorized.
“I’m proud to be fighting for Arizonans here,” she said.
Martha McSally refusing to answer a debate question about whether she’s proud of her support for Trump is peak cringe pic.twitter.com/NaLpoeqPsU — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 7, 2020
McSally did attempt to separate herself from Trump when it came to John McCain.
McSally was appointed to McCain’s Senate seat after his death and has praised his service to his country. However, she has rarely publicly rebuked the president’s rude comments toward the deceased Arizona senator.
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At Tuesday’s debate, she claimed that she has criticized the president’s treatment of McCain to his face.
“I publicly and privately repeatedly talked to President Trump and asked him to stop attacking John McCain,” McSally said. “Quite frankly, it pisses me of when he does it.”
Because the Arizona Senate race is a special election meant to fill McCain’s Senate seat, the winner of the race will be inducted into office by Nov. 30.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Vice Presidential Debate Could Plausibly Feature Both The 46th And 48th Presidents

The ages of Donald Trump , 74 ― who is the 45th president ― and Democratic challenger Joe Biden , 78 , already put additional scrutiny on their running mates .
Add in the coronavirus pandemic and Trump ’ s recent positive diagnosis for the illness , and the undercard matchup suddenly becomes even more relevant .
“ You realize that due to how old and ill Donald Trump is , that Mike Pence could be president next week , ” said Rice University historian Douglas Brinkley .
“ Conversely , Joe Biden would be the oldest president ever elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris.
” Vice presidential debates have never attracted as much attention as those between the presidential nominees .
The faceoff between Pence , then the governor of Indiana , and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine ( D ) in 2016 was not particularly memorable .
Nor was the one between then-Vice President Biden and then-Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan ( R ) in 2012 .
The debate between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joe Lieberman in 2000 was more of a quiet conversation .
In none of these and other recent vice presidential debates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility that either of the participants would become president in the near future .
But Wednesday night , Pence will take the stage as Trump remains in the residence at the White House , battling a virus that is particularly deadly to the elderly and the obese .
While the White House physician has been reporting that Trump is doing well and improving , he could easily deteriorate , forcing him to transfer power to Pence if he requires sedation .
In a worst-case scenario ― but one that has happened to 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly happened to a much younger Boris Johnson , the British prime minister ― the disease could prove fatal .
Brinkley said the only previous occasion he can recall where a presidential nominee ’ s health was a serious concern during an election was in 1956 , the year after President Dwight Eisenhower had suffered a heart attack in his first term .
“ Some people were wondering if Richard Nixon was cut out to be president , ” Brinkley said of Eisenhower ’ s vice president , who would a dozen years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s age , meanwhile , will likely push Harris into a different role than that of the traditional running mate .
Rather than focus primarily on attacking Trump and Pence , Harris will have to show her ability to step into the top job if necessary , Brinkley said .
Should he win , Biden ’ s age could also mean that he might choose not to run for a second term ― making Harris ’ performance at the debate a potential early audition for the Democratic primary in 2024 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ election next month and serve a full second term , Pence could himself run to be the 46th president in 2024 ― or run to be the 47th president should Trump lose .
His prospects in the latter scenario , however , would depend on the margin of Trump ’ s loss , whether Republicans also lose control of the Senate , and the complexion of a post-Trump party , particularly if Trump loses badly .
“ It ’ s really hard to tell at this moment what will be left of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Amanda Carpenter , a former aide to Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) , who is likely to run for the presidency again after losing to Trump in the 2016 primaries .
“ It could end up as a really small party of bitter-enders.
” We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ @ @

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WASHINGTON ― When Mike Pence and Kamala Harris take the debate stage Wednesday evening, Americans could potentially be watching both the 46th and 48th presidents of the United States.
The ages of Donald Trump, 74 ― who is the 45th president ― and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, 77, already put additional scrutiny on their running mates. Add in the coronavirus pandemic and Trump’s recent positive diagnosis for the illness, and the undercard matchup suddenly becomes even more relevant.
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“You realize that due to how old and ill Donald Trump is, that Mike Pence could be president next week,” said Rice University historian Douglas Brinkley. “Conversely, Joe Biden would be the oldest president ever elected, so people will be looking at Kamala Harris.”
Vice presidential debates have never attracted as much attention as those between the presidential nominees. The faceoff between Pence, then the governor of Indiana, and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine (D) in 2016 was not particularly memorable. Nor was the one between then-Vice President Biden and then-Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan (R) in 2012. The debate between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joe Lieberman in 2000 was more of a quiet conversation.
In none of these and other recent vice presidential debates, however, was there a foreseeable possibility that either of the participants would become president in the near future.
But Wednesday night, Pence will take the stage as Trump remains in the residence at the White House, battling a virus that is particularly deadly to the elderly and the obese.
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While the White House physician has been reporting that Trump is doing well and improving, he could easily deteriorate, forcing him to transfer power to Pence if he requires sedation. In a worst-case scenario ― but one that has happened to 5% of patients over 70 and that nearly happened to a much younger Boris Johnson, the British prime minister ― the disease could prove fatal.
Brinkley said the only previous occasion he can recall where a presidential nominee’s health was a serious concern during an election was in 1956, the year after President Dwight Eisenhower had suffered a heart attack in his first term.
“Some people were wondering if Richard Nixon was cut out to be president,” Brinkley said of Eisenhower’s vice president, who would a dozen years later win the White House himself.
Biden’s age, meanwhile, will likely push Harris into a different role than that of the traditional running mate. Rather than focus primarily on attacking Trump and Pence, Harris will have to show her ability to step into the top job if necessary, Brinkley said.
Should he win, Biden’s age could also mean that he might choose not to run for a second term ― making Harris’ performance at the debate a potential early audition for the Democratic primary in 2024.
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“She knows people have to see her as president,” Brinkley said.
Of course, should Trump win the election next month and serve a full second term, Pence could himself run to be the 46th president in 2024 ― or run to be the 47th president should Trump lose.
His prospects in the latter scenario, however, would depend on the margin of Trump’s loss, whether Republicans also lose control of the Senate, and the complexion of a post-Trump party, particularly if Trump loses badly.
“It’s really hard to tell at this moment what will be left of the GOP at all if Trump gets creamed,” said Amanda Carpenter, a former aide to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is likely to run for the presidency again after losing to Trump in the 2016 primaries. “It could end up as a really small party of bitter-enders.”
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated Joe Biden’s age. He is 77 now (and will turn 78 in late November).


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Tucker Carlson Wildly Attacks Critics Of Trump's 'Don't Be Afraid' COVID-19 Comment

Tucker Carlson offered a head-spinning response Tuesday to critics of Donald Trump after he made controversial comments about COVID-19 .
( See the video below . )
Upon his return to the White House this week following his hospitalization for the coronavirus , the president told Americans not to fear it .
He said they could “ beat it ” with the “ best medical equipment , the best medicines ” developed under his administration .
“ Don ’ t let it dominate , ” he urged .
Many took the remarks as another example of the president downplaying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Not to mention that he seemed to conveniently forget the 210,000 killed by it on his bungled watch .
“ Encouraging hope in your country is now ‘ heartless , ’ ” he said on Tucker Carlson Tonight .
“ Staying cheerful is an insult to the rest of us .
Our leaders have an obligation to confirm our most irrational fears , that ’ s what compassion looks like .
That ’ s what they ’ re telling us .
It ’ s deranged .
But it ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many ghouls in Washington who forced our military to wage pointless wars around the Middle East , but when you point out how destructive all of that has been , they whip around and accuse you of insulting the memory of our soldiers , that is the thousands of unfortunate young Americans who have died in their pointless wars .
How do you respond to an attack like that ?
It ’ s almost too irrational to rebut .
That ’ s why they use it .
And that ’ s why they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Carlson continued , visiting familiar Trump claims on the way : “ They wreck our economy with lockdowns .
They keep our children stunted and ignorant by shutting down their schools .
They drive our entire country to the brink of madness with politically motivated hysteria , but if you dare to say a word about it , if you dare to complain in any way , you are the monster .
In fact , you ’ re a killer .
”

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Tucker Carlson offered a head-spinning response Tuesday to critics of Donald Trump after he made controversial comments about COVID-19. (See the video below.)
Upon his return to the White House this week following his hospitalization for the coronavirus, the president told Americans not to fear it. He said they could “beat it” with the “best medical equipment, the best medicines” developed under his administration. “Don’t let it dominate,” he urged.
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Many took the remarks as another example of the president downplaying the pandemic while disrespecting the millions affected by it. Not to mention that he seemed to conveniently forget the 210,000 killed by it on his bungled watch.
But the Fox News host accused the president’s “deranged” opponents of stoking “irrational fears” while Trump generated hope through “cheerful” optimism.
“Encouraging hope in your country is now ‘heartless,’” he said on Tucker Carlson Tonight. “Staying cheerful is an insult to the rest of us. Our leaders have an obligation to confirm our most irrational fears, that’s what compassion looks like. That’s what they’re telling us. It’s deranged. But it’s also recognizable. It reminds you of the many ghouls in Washington who forced our military to wage pointless wars around the Middle East, but when you point out how destructive all of that has been, they whip around and accuse you of insulting the memory of our soldiers, that is the thousands of unfortunate young Americans who have died in their pointless wars. How do you respond to an attack like that? It’s almost too irrational to rebut. That’s why they use it. And that’s why they’re using the same strategy here.”
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Huh?


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Jeff Sessions, Top DOJ Officials 'Were A Driving Force' Behind Family Separations: Report

Jeff Sessions , Rod Rosenstein and other former top Justice Department officials were instrumental in the infamous Trump administration practice of separating young undocumented immigrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border , an inspector general ’ s draft report concludes .
A two-year investigation by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz reportedly deems Sessions , President Donald Trump ’ s first attorney general , and Rosenstein , the former deputy attorney general , “ a driving force ” of the administration ’ s “ zero tolerance ” immigration policy , according to a draft of the inspector general ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times and NBC News Tuesday .
“ We need to take away children , ” Sessions reportedly told a group of federal prosecutors during a May 2018 conference call shortly after the policy was announced , the Times reported .
The prosecutors wanted the separation policy to exclude very young children .
But Rosenstein reportedly chided them for rejecting some immigration prosecutions based on children ’ s youth , and “ instructed that , per the A.G. ’ s policy , we should NOT be categorically declining immigration prosecutions of adults in family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child , ” according to the draft report .
Trump administration officials defended the policy at the time and said it wasn ’ t intended to separate families .
But the officials “ were aware that full implementation of the zero-tolerance policy ” would lead to undocumented immigrants with children being prosecuted , “ and that the prosecution of these family-unit adults would result in children being separated from families , ” the report says , the Times wrote .
Horowitz reportedly concluded that the DOJ had “ a single-minded focus on increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy aimed to deter undocumented immigrants , including those fleeing violence in Central America , from crossing the border .
“ It is the hope that this separation will act as a deterrent to parents bringing their children into the harsh circumstances that are present when trying to enter the United States illegally , ” a Border Patrol official wrote in 2017 , according to the draft .
Trump eventually abandoned the child-separation policy in the face of global outrage .
A DOJ spokesperson told the Times that the draft report “ contains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While DOJ is responsible for the prosecutions of defendants , it had no role in tracking or providing custodial care to the children of defendants , ” the spokesperson said in a statement .
“ Finally , both the timing and misleading content of this leak raise troubling questions about the motivations of those responsible for it.
” Trump fired Sessions two years ago for recusing himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Rosenstein , who appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to probe the Russian involvement , @ @ @ @

Jeff Sessions, Rod Rosenstein and other former top Justice Department officials were instrumental in the infamous Trump administration practice of separating young undocumented immigrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, an inspector general’s draft report concludes.
A two-year investigation by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz reportedly deems Sessions, President Donald Trump’s first attorney general, and Rosenstein, the former deputy attorney general, “a driving force” of the administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy, according to a draft of the inspector general’s report obtained by The New York Times and NBC News Tuesday.
“We need to take away children,” Sessions reportedly told a group of federal prosecutors during a May 2018 conference call shortly after the policy was announced, the Times reported.
The prosecutors wanted the separation policy to exclude very young children. But Rosenstein reportedly chided them for rejecting some immigration prosecutions based on children’s youth, and “instructed that, per the A.G.’s policy, we should NOT be categorically declining immigration prosecutions of adults in family units because of the age of a child,” according to the draft report.
Trump administration officials defended the policy at the time and said it wasn’t intended to separate families. But the officials “were aware that full implementation of the zero-tolerance policy” would lead to undocumented immigrants with children being prosecuted, “and that the prosecution of these family-unit adults would result in children being separated from families,” the report says, the Times wrote.
Horowitz reportedly concluded that the DOJ had “a single-minded focus on increasing prosecutions,” and that the zero-tolerance policy aimed to deter undocumented immigrants, including those fleeing violence in Central America, from crossing the border.
“It is the hope that this separation will act as a deterrent to parents bringing their children into the harsh circumstances that are present when trying to enter the United States illegally,” a Border Patrol official wrote in 2017, according to the draft.
Trump eventually abandoned the child-separation policy in the face of global outrage.
A DOJ spokesperson told the Times that the draft report “contains numerous factual errors and inaccuracies.”
“While DOJ is responsible for the prosecutions of defendants, it had no role in tracking or providing custodial care to the children of defendants,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Finally, both the timing and misleading content of this leak raise troubling questions about the motivations of those responsible for it.”
Trump fired Sessions two years ago for recusing himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Rosenstein, who appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to probe the Russian involvement, resigned in 2019.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Derek Chauvin, Ex-Cop Charged In George Floyd's Death, Freed On $1 Million Bond

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) — The former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the death of George Floyd posted bail on Wednesday and was released from prison .
According to court documents , Derek Chauvin posted $ 1 million bond , and the Department of Corrections confirmed he was no longer in custody at the state ’ s facility in Oak Park Heights , where he had been detained .
Hennepin County jail records show he was released shortly before 11:30 a.m. Floyd , a Black man in handcuffs , died May 25 after Chauvin , who is white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s neck for several minutes as Floyd said he couldn ’ t breathe .
Floyd ’ s death was captured in widely seen bystander video that set off protests around the world .
Chauvin and three other officers were fired .
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder , third-degree murder and manslaughter ; Thomas Lane , J. Kueng and Tou Thao are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter .
It was not immediately clear where Chauvin got the money to pay his bond .
The Minnesota Police and Peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense fund , did not provide any money for bail , a spokeswoman said .
A message left with the union representing Minneapolis police officers was not returned .
Chauvin had the option of posting bail for $ 1.25 million without conditions or $ 1 million with conditions .
Under the conditions of his release , he must attend all court appearances , can not have any direct or indirect contact — including social media — with any members of Floyd ’ s family , can not work in law enforcement or security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ammunition .
The other three officers previously posted bail amounts of $ 750,000 and have been free pending trial .
Currently , all four men are scheduled to face trial together in March , but the judge is weighing a request to have them tried separately .

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the death of George Floyd posted bail on Wednesday and was released from prison.
According to court documents, Derek Chauvin posted $1 million bond, and the Department of Corrections confirmed he was no longer in custody at the state’s facility in Oak Park Heights, where he had been detained. Hennepin County jail records show he was released shortly before 11:30 a.m.
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Floyd, a Black man in handcuffs, died May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for several minutes as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. Floyd’s death was captured in widely seen bystander video that set off protests around the world. Chauvin and three other officers were fired. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter; Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
It was not immediately clear where Chauvin got the money to pay his bond. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, which has a legal defense fund, did not provide any money for bail, a spokeswoman said. A message left with the union representing Minneapolis police officers was not returned.
Chauvin had the option of posting bail for $1.25 million without conditions or $1 million with conditions. Under the conditions of his release, he must attend all court appearances, cannot have any direct or indirect contact — including social media — with any members of Floyd’s family, cannot work in law enforcement or security, and must not possess any firearms ammunition.
The other three officers previously posted bail amounts of $750,000 and have been free pending trial. Currently, all four men are scheduled to face trial together in March, but the judge is weighing a request to have them tried separately.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Donald Trump Says He Feels Great Despite COVID-19. If Only We Could Believe Him.

President Donald Trump posted a video Wednesday evening on Twitter to say he ’ s doing fine ― “ like , perfect , ” even ― in spite of his COVID-19 diagnosis .
Standing outside the White House , where he ’ s insisted on working with staff despite being contagious , Trump looked more stable than he did Monday evening , when he appeared on a White House balcony sans protective mask , seemingly struggling to breathe .
Trump insisted in the video that one of his medications , from the manufacturer Regeneron , was a “ cure ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It was like , unbelievable .
I felt good immediately , ” the president said .
“ I felt as good three days ago as I do now.
” The video was nearly five minutes long .
But like the other updates the president , his doctors and his aides have given since his diagnosis last week , it raised more questions than it answered .
We are a month from an election and know very little about the president ’ s health .
Reporters have not been allowed to ask questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing about his illness .
And as much as the president insists he ’ s all better , that isn ’ t the case : The most dangerous period for COVID-19 patients comes seven to 10 days after being infected , when some patients have a hyperactive immune response that can lead to organ failure or death .
We don ’ t know when Trump was infected , but he tested positive less than a week ago .
The president isn ’ t cured .
He ’ s contagious and at risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that Trump has been “ symptom-free for over 24 hours ” and “ fever-free for more than 4 days.
” Conley said that Trump has not required any supplemental oxygen since his hospitalization and noted that the president said , “ I feel great !
” But Conley ’ s one-paragraph update failed to mention whether Trump is still taking dexamethasone , an immune system-calming steroid that the World Health Organization recommends only in “ severe and critical ” cases of COVID-19 .
While the steroid can indeed make a person feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body ’ s ability to fight coronavirus if administered too early .
Prolonged use can cause cognitive impairment .
Conley ’ s dispatch also mentioned that Trump ’ s lab results from Monday revealed the president had “ detectable levels ” of coronavirus antibodies in his blood , a change from when he was tested last Thursday and found to have none of the immunoglobulin G antibodies in his system .
On Friday at Walter Reed , however , Trump was given a high dose of an experimental drug therapy from biotechnology company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IgG antibodies .
“ Why would you test for antibodies when you ’ ve given someone such a high dose of antibodies ?
That wouldn ’ t have been a good test to do .
I don ’ t know how much it cost them , but they should get their money back , ” Eric Topol , a cardiologist and clinical trial expert at the Scripps Research Translational Institute , told BuzzFeed News .
″ [ G ] iven the volume of IgG antibodies delivered in our therapy , and the timing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the second test is detecting REGN-COV2 antibodies , ” said Hala Mirza , a spokeswoman for the biotech company , which received $ 450 million in government funding to develop a vaccine and other COVID-19 treatments and whose CEO has been a member of Trump ’ s golf club in Westchester , New York .
It ’ s unclear if the more than 24-hour “ symptom-free ” period Conley reported on Wednesday includes a time when Trump self-reported his symptoms .
But the White House has made it very little clear about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is well enough to perform his duties .
Trump ’ s video referenced going back to the White House from the hospital “ a day ago , ” which means he may have filmed it Tuesday rather than Wednesday .
He did , according to aides , walk over to the Oval Office on Wednesday ― risking infecting others in the process ― for briefings .
The message seems to be that he ’ s back to work , everything is normal and no one should worry that the president was hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has killed more than 211,000 Americans .
That ’ s not how illness works .
But the president apparently believes both that he ’ s been “ cured ” of COVID-19 and that , since it would benefit his reelection , other Americans can be , too .

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President Donald Trump posted a video Wednesday evening on Twitter to say he’s doing fine ― “like, perfect,” even ― in spite of his COVID-19 diagnosis. Standing outside the White House, where he’s insisted on working with staff despite being contagious, Trump looked more stable than he did Monday evening, when he appeared on a White House balcony sans protective mask, seemingly struggling to breathe.
Trump insisted in the video that one of his medications, from the manufacturer Regeneron, was a “cure” and immediately set about selling it. “It was like, unbelievable. I felt good immediately,” the president said. “I felt as good three days ago as I do now.”
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The video was nearly five minutes long. But like the other updates the president, his doctors and his aides have given since his diagnosis last week, it raised more questions than it answered. We are a month from an election and know very little about the president’s health. Reporters have not been allowed to ask questions. The White House has revealed almost nothing about his illness.
And as much as the president insists he’s all better, that isn’t the case: The most dangerous period for COVID-19 patients comes seven to 10 days after being infected, when some patients have a hyperactive immune response that can lead to organ failure or death. We don’t know when Trump was infected, but he tested positive less than a week ago. The president isn’t cured. He’s contagious and at risk of getting sicker.
Instead of information, he has left us with propagandistic White House videos, a stream of unhinged, apocalyptic tweets, false claims of an easy “cure” and cryptic, misleading dispatches from the White House physician, Sean Conley.
On Wednesday, Conley reported that Trump has been “symptom-free for over 24 hours” and “fever-free for more than 4 days.” Conley said that Trump has not required any supplemental oxygen since his hospitalization and noted that the president said, “I feel great!”
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But Conley’s one-paragraph update failed to mention whether Trump is still taking dexamethasone, an immune system-calming steroid that the World Health Organization recommends only in “severe and critical” cases of COVID-19. While the steroid can indeed make a person feel great, it can also undermine the body’s ability to fight coronavirus if administered too early. Prolonged use can cause cognitive impairment.
Conley’s dispatch also mentioned that Trump’s lab results from Monday revealed the president had “detectable levels” of coronavirus antibodies in his blood, a change from when he was tested last Thursday and found to have none of the immunoglobulin G antibodies in his system. On Friday at Walter Reed, however, Trump was given a high dose of an experimental drug therapy from biotechnology company Regeneron that is made up of those IgG antibodies.
Meaning that Conley’s good news about antibodies is meaningless. And misleading.
“Why would you test for antibodies when you’ve given someone such a high dose of antibodies? That wouldn’t have been a good test to do. I don’t know how much it cost them, but they should get their money back,” Eric Topol, a cardiologist and clinical trial expert at the Scripps Research Translational Institute, told BuzzFeed News.
Even Regeneron publicly undercut Conley and the Trump administration on Wednesday.
″[G]iven the volume of IgG antibodies delivered in our therapy, and the timing of these tests, it is likely that the second test is detecting REGN-COV2 antibodies,” said Hala Mirza, a spokeswoman for the biotech company, which received $450 million in government funding to develop a vaccine and other COVID-19 treatments and whose CEO has been a member of Trump’s golf club in Westchester, New York.
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President Donald Trump salutes from a White House balcony on Monday after returning from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Alex Brandon/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Still, Conley’s update from Wednesday was more informative than the dispatch he released Tuesday, in which he seemed to rely on Trump to self-report his symptoms.
“He had a restful first night at home, and today he reports no symptoms,” Conley wrote. “Overall he continues to do extremely well.”
It’s unclear if the more than 24-hour “symptom-free” period Conley reported on Wednesday includes a time when Trump self-reported his symptoms. But the White House has made it very little clear about the president’s illness and whether he is well enough to perform his duties.
Trump’s video referenced going back to the White House from the hospital “a day ago,” which means he may have filmed it Tuesday rather than Wednesday. He did, according to aides, walk over to the Oval Office on Wednesday ― risking infecting others in the process ― for briefings. The message seems to be that he’s back to work, everything is normal and no one should worry that the president was hospitalized just days ago for an illness that has killed more than 211,000 Americans.
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That’s not how illness works. But the president apparently believes both that he’s been “cured” of COVID-19 and that, since it would benefit his reelection, other Americans can be, too.