thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--The Fed Is Ducking Its Responsibilities To Main Street

Tasos Katopodis/Pool via REUTERS Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testifies before the House Financial Services Committee during a June 30 hearing on the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve response to the coronavirus .
The American economy is in bad shape .
Unemployment is at 8.4 % , more than 1 million people are losing their jobs every week and retail sales appear to be slipping again after crashing this spring .
According to a new Federal Reserve survey , 23 % of households report that they are “ just getting by ” financially , or worse .
The central bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress has abandoned the field .
On July 31 , the last of the support for households and small businesses that lawmakers approved in the spring expired .
Senate Republicans have decided to let us fend for ourselves .
But despite the Fed ’ s insistence on sustained economic support , Powell and the central bank have left one of their most powerful tools to rot during the pandemic : a $ 500 billion fund to help state and local governments weather the storm , which Congress authorized in March .
Like other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the fund to provide loans on generous terms ― only to governments , instead of corporations .
These funds , in turn , would prevent them from having to make layoffs and cut public services amid a historic loss of tax revenue caused by the pandemic .
To date , only the state of Illinois and the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority have drawn from the fund ― for a combined $ 1.65 billion , or about a third of a single percentage point of the amount available .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate and delay , decided to make funds for the program available only at punitive rates .
It ’ s cheaper for governments to get money elsewhere .
According to the progressive Center on Budget and Policy Priorities , state and local governments are facing a massive fiscal crunch from the collapse of tax revenue during the pandemic ― all told , the hole is expected to be at least $ 555 billion , excluding the shortfalls for tribal governments and U.S. territories .
This is all the more astonishing given how creative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living up to other aspects of its legal mandate to secure maximum employment .
The Fed purchased billions of dollars in corporate debt over the summer ― a relatively small dollar amount that nevertheless demonstrated to financial markets that the central bank was willing to take new steps to help should it be necessary .
More recently , it has openly embraced a higher inflation target , signaling to the world that it will seek slightly higher inflation ― 2 % and a bit more ― as an acceptable price of stronger economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been welcome .
Without it , the economy would have collapsed even further in March and April , and it would have climbed back even more slowly than it has in the months since .
High interest rates make it harder for businesses of all sizes to stay afloat , and businesses pay people to work .
Making it cheaper and easier to borrow money is almost always a worker-friendly policy .
The Fed ’ s most reliable tools benefit the economy primarily by helping some of its most powerful actors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their operations and the large banks that make money by providing their financing .
For central bankers around the world , such support has long been considered apolitical ― they ’ re just doing they ’ re jobs making sure the wheels don ’ t fly off .
But when it comes to supporting another critical sector of the economy ― state and local government ― the Fed ’ s generosity disappears .
Though they don ’ t usually say so in public , central bankers have long objected to such ideas because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they reason , is a political choice to be decided by taxpayers , not central bankers in Washington .
All this sounds very humble and democratic , the kind of qualities we generally like in our leaders .
But taxpayers are also voters , and voters are represented by members of Congress .
Congress created the Fed and delineates its powers , and Congress decided in March that the Fed needed to help state and local governments .
That ’ s why it explicitly authorized a fund at the central bank to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Congressional Oversight Commission for the coronavirus rescue , Commissioner Bharat Ramamurti pointedly questioned Fed official Tim Hiteshew about the central bank ’ s inaction on state and local government relief .
Why was Phillip Morris able to take advantage of Fed programs to borrow money at 0.75 % while the state of Kentucky was offered 2 % ― more than double ― even though Kentucky ’ s loan would be repaid sooner ?
Hiteshew resorted to boilerplate .
“ We agree with you that state and local governments can not cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in revenues and the rapid decline in revenues that we ’ ve seen , ” he said .
“ But neither can they borrow their way out of it.
” And this again carries some rhetorical appeal , which is way Hiteshew said it instead of saying , “ We don ’ t want to do what Congress asked us to do.
” It would , after all , be nice if the federal government just did the sane thing and approved a load of direct cash to help keep state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t do that ― it authorized the Fed to figure it out .
Hiteshew ’ s testimony was essentially a declaration that the Fed has decided to shirk that particular duty .
Hiteshew ’ s pushback , moreover , assumes away much of the Fed ’ s authority .
Yes , saddling local governments with debt could force more painful decisions later ― but not necessarily .
A lot of things that are hard during a once-in-a-century crisis will not be so difficult later , once the crisis has passed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could provide governments with all-but-zero-interest loans at extremely long durations ― say , 25 or 50 years ― to ensure that state and local governments get through the next few budgeting cycles without laying people off .

The American economy is in bad shape. Unemployment is at 8.4%, more than 1 million people are losing their jobs every week and retail sales appear to be slipping again after crashing this spring. According to a new Federal Reserve survey, 23% of households report that they are “just getting by” financially, or worse.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is causing tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world,” the Fed reported on Wednesday, as Chairman Jerome Powell pledged a sustained commitment to supporting economic recovery.
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The central bank will have to be creative, because Congress has abandoned the field. On July 31, the last of the support for households and small businesses that lawmakers approved in the spring expired. Senate Republicans have decided to let us fend for ourselves.
But despite the Fed’s insistence on sustained economic support, Powell and the central bank have left one of their most powerful tools to rot during the pandemic: a $500 billion fund to help state and local governments weather the storm, which Congress authorized in March. Like other Fed rescue programs, the idea was for the fund to provide loans on generous terms ― only to governments, instead of corporations. These funds, in turn, would prevent them from having to make layoffs and cut public services amid a historic loss of tax revenue caused by the pandemic.
To date, only the state of Illinois and the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority have drawn from the fund ― for a combined $1.65 billion, or about a third of a single percentage point of the amount available. That’s because the Fed, after weeks of debate and delay, decided to make funds for the program available only at punitive rates. It’s cheaper for governments to get money elsewhere.
State and local governments employ about 16 million people nationwide. Everyone relies on the services they provide, which account for a whopping 10% of the country’s total economic output ― from park maintenance to public schooling to firefighting to public transportation to basic road repair ― and on and on.
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According to the progressive Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, state and local governments are facing a massive fiscal crunch from the collapse of tax revenue during the pandemic ― all told, the hole is expected to be at least $555 billion, excluding the shortfalls for tribal governments and U.S. territories.
It is frankly astonishing that at this stage of the crisis, the Fed would continue to deny aid to what may well be the most imperiled sector of the economy, effectively overruling a congressional authorization through bureaucratic maneuvering.
This is all the more astonishing given how creative the Fed has proved to be in living up to other aspects of its legal mandate to secure maximum employment. The Fed purchased billions of dollars in corporate debt over the summer ― a relatively small dollar amount that nevertheless demonstrated to financial markets that the central bank was willing to take new steps to help should it be necessary. More recently, it has openly embraced a higher inflation target, signaling to the world that it will seek slightly higher inflation ― 2% and a bit more ― as an acceptable price of stronger economic growth and higher employment.
All of this combined with the 0% interest rates, a $700 billion round of quantitative easing and trillions of dollars in purchases of mortgage-backed securities ― tactics that were innovative in the response to the 2008 financial crisis, but which Powell has now cemented as de rigeur crisis-fighting.
Such creativity has been welcome. Without it, the economy would have collapsed even further in March and April, and it would have climbed back even more slowly than it has in the months since. High interest rates make it harder for businesses of all sizes to stay afloat, and businesses pay people to work. Making it cheaper and easier to borrow money is almost always a worker-friendly policy.
Advertisement
The Fed’s most reliable tools benefit the economy primarily by helping some of its most powerful actors, specifically large corporations that borrow money for their operations and the large banks that make money by providing their financing. For central bankers around the world, such support has long been considered apolitical ― they’re just doing they’re jobs making sure the wheels don’t fly off.
But when it comes to supporting another critical sector of the economy ― state and local government ― the Fed’s generosity disappears. Though they don’t usually say so in public, central bankers have long objected to such ideas because they consider it political. Financing governments, they reason, is a political choice to be decided by taxpayers, not central bankers in Washington.
All this sounds very humble and democratic, the kind of qualities we generally like in our leaders. But taxpayers are also voters, and voters are represented by members of Congress. Congress created the Fed and delineates its powers, and Congress decided in March that the Fed needed to help state and local governments. That’s why it explicitly authorized a fund at the central bank to provide aid.
At a Thursday meeting of the Congressional Oversight Commission for the coronavirus rescue, Commissioner Bharat Ramamurti pointedly questioned Fed official Tim Hiteshew about the central bank’s inaction on state and local government relief. Why was Phillip Morris able to take advantage of Fed programs to borrow money at 0.75% while the state of Kentucky was offered 2% ― more than double ― even though Kentucky’s loan would be repaid sooner?
Hiteshew resorted to boilerplate. “We agree with you that state and local governments cannot cut their way out of the steep decline in revenues and the rapid decline in revenues that we’ve seen,” he said. “But neither can they borrow their way out of it.”
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And this again carries some rhetorical appeal, which is way Hiteshew said it instead of saying, “We don’t want to do what Congress asked us to do.” It would, after all, be nice if the federal government just did the sane thing and approved a load of direct cash to help keep state and local governments afloat. But the federal government didn’t do that ― it authorized the Fed to figure it out. Hiteshew’s testimony was essentially a declaration that the Fed has decided to shirk that particular duty.
Hiteshew’s pushback, moreover, assumes away much of the Fed’s authority. Yes, saddling local governments with debt could force more painful decisions later ― but not necessarily. A lot of things that are hard during a once-in-a-century crisis will not be so difficult later, once the crisis has passed. If it wanted to, the Fed could provide governments with all-but-zero-interest loans at extremely long durations ― say, 25 or 50 years ― to ensure that state and local governments get through the next few budgeting cycles without laying people off.
The Fed routinely devises inventive new ways to make money cheaper for large corporations. Why stop there? The central bank’s congressional mandate is to ensure maximum employment, not maximum private-sector employment.
Zach Carter is the author of the New York Times bestseller “The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes,” available from Random House wherever books are sold.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--Dozens Gather Outside Sen. Lindsey Graham's House To Protest Supreme Court Hypocrisy

Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham ’ s home in Washington on Monday to protest his support for a Senate vote on President Donald Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee ahead of the election .
Democrats have condemned the South Carolina senator and other Republicans for flip-flopping on their opposition to filling a Supreme Court vacancy during a presidential election year .
In 2016 , Graham supported Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s decision to block Senate consideration of Merrick Garland , then-President Barack Obama ’ s pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ key Judiciary Committee , appeared to change his tune following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday , saying he would support Trump “ in any effort to move forward ” in filling her seat .
Trump said on Monday that he ’ d announce his nomination Friday or Saturday , and that a Senate vote on his nominee should happen before the Nov. 3 election .
Protesters on Monday showed up to Graham ’ s townhouse around 6 a.m. , where they banged drums , blared air horns and demanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote before Election Day .
“ We can ’ t sleep so neither should Lindsey , ” read one sign held by a protester .
Other signs in the crowd labeled Graham a “ two-faced coward ” and a “ hypocrite.
” It ’ s unclear whether Graham was inside the house during the demonstration , which was organized by Shut Down DC and the Washington chapter of the Sunrise Movement , two groups focused on tackling the climate crisis .
Trump and many of his Republican allies have called for a swift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court .
Ginsburg was one of the court ’ s most liberal judges , making Republicans eager to fill her seat with a conservative .
If they succeed , the court will have a 6-3 conservative majority .
When Scalia died in 2016 , McConnell blocked Garland from receiving a hearing in the Senate , claiming the winner of the 2016 presidential election should pick the nominee .
Scalia died 269 days before the 2016 presidential election .
Ginsburg died 46 days before the 2020 presidential election .
Graham stood by McConnell ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time that he strongly supports “ giving the American people a voice in choosing the next Supreme Court nominee by electing a new president.
” “ I want you to use my words against me , ” Graham said at the time .
“ If there ’ s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term , you can say Lindsey Graham said , ‘ Let ’ s let the next president , whoever it might be , make that nomination.
’ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you ’ d be absolutely right.
” Graham reiterated his stance in 2018 during a forum with The Atlantic , stating that “ if an opening comes in the last year of President Trump ’ s term , and the primary process has started , we ’ ll wait until the next election.
” “ I fully understand where [ Trump ] is coming from , ” Graham tweeted Saturday in response to the president ’ s statement that the GOP has an “ obligation ” to fill the Supreme Court vacancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protested outside McConnell ’ s home in Louisville , Kentucky , on Saturday , calling on the Republican leader to allow whoever is elected in November to pick the next Supreme Court nominee .

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Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham’s home in Washington on Monday to protest his support for a Senate vote on President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee ahead of the election.
Democrats have condemned the South Carolina senator and other Republicans for flip-flopping on their opposition to filling a Supreme Court vacancy during a presidential election year. In 2016, Graham supported Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to block Senate consideration of Merrick Garland, then-President Barack Obama’s pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
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But Graham, who now chairs the key Judiciary Committee, appeared to change his tune following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday, saying he would support Trump “in any effort to move forward” in filling her seat.
Trump said on Monday that he’d announce his nomination Friday or Saturday, and that a Senate vote on his nominee should happen before the Nov. 3 election.
Protesters on Monday showed up to Graham’s townhouse around 6 a.m., where they banged drums, blared air horns and demanded that he oppose a Supreme Court confirmation vote before Election Day.
“We can’t sleep so neither should Lindsey,” read one sign held by a protester. Other signs in the crowd labeled Graham a “two-faced coward” and a “hypocrite.”
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It’s unclear whether Graham was inside the house during the demonstration, which was organized by Shut Down DC and the Washington chapter of the Sunrise Movement, two groups focused on tackling the climate crisis.
Trump and many of his Republican allies have called for a swift confirmation of his nominee to the Supreme Court. Ginsburg was one of the court’s most liberal judges, making Republicans eager to fill her seat with a conservative. If they succeed, the court will have a 6-3 conservative majority.
Hours after Ginsburg’s death, McConnell said Trump’s nominee would receive a vote on the Senate floor.
When Scalia died in 2016, McConnell blocked Garland from receiving a hearing in the Senate, claiming the winner of the 2016 presidential election should pick the nominee. Scalia died 269 days before the 2016 presidential election. Ginsburg died 46 days before the 2020 presidential election.
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Graham stood by McConnell’s decision in 2016, stating at the time that he strongly supports “giving the American people a voice in choosing the next Supreme Court nominee by electing a new president.”
“I want you to use my words against me,” Graham said at the time. “If there’s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said, ‘Let’s let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination.’ And you could use my words against me and you’d be absolutely right.”
GOOD MORNING @LindseyGrahamSC!! The sun hasn't even risen yet outside the Senator's house this morning. We are taking his own advice: using his words against him. We won't let him replace #RBG!! #usemywordsagainstme #DefendDemocracy #HonorRBG #HonorHerWishes pic.twitter.com/E7CFJCV1yq — ShutDownDC (@ShutDown_DC) September 21, 2020
Graham reiterated his stance in 2018 during a forum with The Atlantic, stating that “if an opening comes in the last year of President Trump’s term, and the primary process has started, we’ll wait until the next election.”
But Graham now seems unfazed by his pledges.
“I fully understand where [Trump] is coming from,” Graham tweeted Saturday in response to the president’s statement that the GOP has an “obligation” to fill the Supreme Court vacancy “without delay.”
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About 100 demonstrators protested outside McConnell’s home in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, calling on the Republican leader to allow whoever is elected in November to pick the next Supreme Court nominee.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--Trump On Pushing SCOTUS Vote: You Can 'Do What You Want' When You Have The Senate

President Donald Trump offered a blunt explanation for Republicans ’ hypocritical support for confirming a Supreme Court nominee ahead of the November election : When you control the Senate , you can “ sort of do what you want.
” During a Monday phone interview with “ Fox & Friends , ” Trump was asked whether he understood why Republicans are facing criticism for appearing to flip-flop on the issue of Supreme Court confirmations during a presidential election year .
After Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016 , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) blocked a confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama ’ s nominee .
McConnell claimed at the time that the vote was too close to the 2016 election , and that whoever won that election should pick the nominee .
But hours after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died last Friday , McConnell said Trump ’ s nominee would receive a vote on the Senate floor .
The president said Monday that he would announce his nominee this Friday or Saturday , and that a vote should be held before Election Day .
“ I think Merrick Garland is an outstanding judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friends ” on Monday .
“ But the only problem was — and this is up to the Senate — the only problem was , President Obama did not have the Senate.
” ″ [ Obama ] didn ’ t get a lot of judges through because you know why ?
He didn ’ t have the Senate , ” he said .
“ So again , that ’ s an election of a different kind .
We had the Senate and the Senate didn ’ t want to do that , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that.
” “ So there ’ s a difference .
When you have the Senate , when you have the votes , you can sort of do what you want as long as you have it , ” Trump continued .
“ So now we have the presidency and we have the Senate , and we have every right to do it , and we have plenty of time.
” Trump said it might “ look a little bit bad ” if the Republican-controlled Senate were to vote on his nominee a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we have tremendous amount of time , ” the president said , undermining McConnell ’ s purported justification for blocking Garland ’ s confirmation in 2016 .
Scalia died 269 days before the 2016 presidential election , while Ginsburg died 46 days before the 2020 presidential election .
“ I think it should be voted on and done before the election , ” Trump continued .
“ I think that will be good for the Republican Party , and I think it would be good for everybody to get it over with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This trump quote probably sounds familiar from 2016 , ” Rep. Bill Pascrell ( D-N.J. ) tweeted Monday .
“ It is also an encapsulation of modern republicanism .
Raw power trump all other considerations .
‘ We win , the hell with you.
’ That should [ be ] the GOP ’ s permanent slogan.
” Twitter users noted that Trump ’ s call for the confirmation vote to happen before the election was impossible since in-person early voting has already begun in at least four states .
Others suggested that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Access Hollywood ” tape that surfaced ahead of the 2016 election , in which Trump bragged that he could “ grab ” women by their genitals because he ’ s famous .

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President Donald Trump offered a blunt explanation for Republicans’ hypocritical support for confirming a Supreme Court nominee ahead of the November election: When you control the Senate, you can “sort of do what you want.”
During a Monday phone interview with “Fox & Friends,” Trump was asked whether he understood why Republicans are facing criticism for appearing to flip-flop on the issue of Supreme Court confirmations during a presidential election year.
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After Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blocked a confirmation vote on Merrick Garland, then-President Barack Obama’s nominee. McConnell claimed at the time that the vote was too close to the 2016 election, and that whoever won that election should pick the nominee.
But hours after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died last Friday, McConnell said Trump’s nominee would receive a vote on the Senate floor. The president said Monday that he would announce his nominee this Friday or Saturday, and that a vote should be held before Election Day.
“I think Merrick Garland is an outstanding judge,” Trump told “Fox & Friends” on Monday. “But the only problem was — and this is up to the Senate — the only problem was, President Obama did not have the Senate.”
″[Obama] didn’t get a lot of judges through because you know why? He didn’t have the Senate,” he said. “So again, that’s an election of a different kind. We had the Senate and the Senate didn’t want to do that, and Mitch didn’t want to do that.”
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“So there’s a difference. When you have the Senate, when you have the votes, you can sort of do what you want as long as you have it,” Trump continued. “So now we have the presidency and we have the Senate, and we have every right to do it, and we have plenty of time.”
Brian Kilmeade asks President Trump to "understand" where liberals are coming from when they mention Merrick Garland, but Trump suggests that doesn't matter because Obama "didn't have the Senate ... that's an election of a different kind." pic.twitter.com/tcoT18TYN3 — Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) September 21, 2020
Trump said it might “look a little bit bad” if the Republican-controlled Senate were to vote on his nominee a couple of days before Nov. 3.
“But we have tremendous amount of time,” the president said, undermining McConnell’s purported justification for blocking Garland’s confirmation in 2016. Scalia died 269 days before the 2016 presidential election, while Ginsburg died 46 days before the 2020 presidential election.
“I think it should be voted on and done before the election,” Trump continued. “I think that will be good for the Republican Party, and I think it would be good for everybody to get it over with because it’s always controversial.”
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Some Democrats were quick to decry Trump’s “do what you want” remarks.
“This trump quote probably sounds familiar from 2016,” Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) tweeted Monday. “It is also an encapsulation of modern republicanism. Raw power trump all other considerations. ‘We win, the hell with you.’ That should [be] the GOP’s permanent slogan.”
Twitter users noted that Trump’s call for the confirmation vote to happen before the election was impossible since in-person early voting has already begun in at least four states.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--New Yorkers' Tweets About Living In An ‘Anarchist Jurisdiction’ Are A Riot

On Monday , the New York Post reported that the Justice Department has designated New York City , Seattle , and Portland , Oregon , as “ anarchist jurisdictions ” and they may lose federal funding as a result .
The thinly veiled threat aimed at three cities with Democratic mayors followed a Sept. 2 memo by President Donald Trump that attacked those cities — where anti-racism protests persevere — by saying they have “ permitted violence and destruction of property to persist and have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities.
” “ When state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and agencies from doing their jobs , it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected , including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest , ” Attorney General William Barr said in a statement .
“ We can not allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance .
It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that New York City has turned into a real-life version of “ Mad Max : Fury Road ” was news to many New Yorkers .
Many rebelled against the designation on Twitter — and you can read their hilarious responses below : This morning in my Anarchist jurisdiction , I enjoyed a skim milk cappuccino in the bike lane and then I bought a few Bouquets of overpriced flowers .
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 ( @ MollyJongFast ) September 21 , 2020 It ’ s complete anarchy out here - people picnicking in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , families walking dogs together , enjoying a boat ride in the Hudson .
Whatever will we do ?
!
pic.twitter.com/cFpjxXuJmu — Cookie Bear & Noodles ( @ cookie_noodles ) September 21 , 2020 I have been planning my move back to an anarchist jurisdiction for a while but if anyone has intel on a two-bedroom with outdoor space or I ’ ll be fine w/o if it ’ s very close to a park !
Hard to do anarchy indoors .
— Akilah Hughes ( @ AkilahObviously ) September 21 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anarchist jurisdiction '' means rent prices go down ...
YES it 's anarchy here , OH THE HORROR !
!
!
!
Everyone PLEASE keep saying how bad and scary it is !
!
!
!
— Emma Vigeland ( @ EmmaVigeland ) September 21 , 2020 With NYC being named an `` Anarchist Jurisdiction '' it seems important to remind everyone of the complete & utter warzone it 's become on the streets .
I mean ... gay ice cream ?
Those terrorists !
!
!
pic.twitter.com/U2jbgqZz7r — Jake Lobin ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think NYC is an “ anarchist jurisdiction ” , I am once again begging you to read about anarchism — Merrick for America ( Anarcho-Waifu ) ( @ merrickdeville ) September 21 , 2020 🙋🏻♀ New Yorker here .
This is news to me !
Because my New York looks like this .
Delicious ices !
Ping pong in a public park !
AL FRESCO DINING !
THE END IS NEAR !
!
!
pic.twitter.com/NCIHqMHrvV — KareBearScare ( @ KareBearScare ) September 21 , 2020 In my corner of the Anarchist Jurisdiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one chair has been moved out of its masking tape Covid cube .
pic.twitter.com/ZWhnI0OBko — Bill Weir ( @ BillWeirCNN ) September 21 , 2020 Do anarchists patiently stand in chalk squares six feet apart while waiting in line so as to be courteous to those around them and limit the spread of disease ?
— Regina Borsellino ( @ ReginaWrites11 ) September 21 , 2020

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Well, this is lawless.
On Monday, the New York Post reported that the Justice Department has designated New York City, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon, as “anarchist jurisdictions” and they may lose federal funding as a result.
The thinly veiled threat aimed at three cities with Democratic mayors followed a Sept. 2 memo by President Donald Trump that attacked those cities — where anti-racism protests persevere — by saying they have “permitted violence and destruction of property to persist and have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities.”
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“When state and local leaders impede their own law enforcement officers and agencies from doing their jobs, it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected, including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest,” Attorney General William Barr said in a statement. “We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance. It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.”
The Justice Department’s assertion that New York City has turned into a real-life version of “Mad Max: Fury Road” was news to many New Yorkers. Many rebelled against the designation on Twitter — and you can read their hilarious responses below:
*exhales cigarette smoke*
New York City hasn't been an anarchist jurisdiction since CBGB closed, man. — Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) September 21, 2020
I don't know what "anarchist jurisdiction" means. Then again, I went to law school. Not despot school. — Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) September 21, 2020
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ANARCHY IN NEW YORK CITY pic.twitter.com/vALR8YimUT — Max Burns (@themaxburns) September 21, 2020
REMINDER: In this anarchist jurisdiction, alternate-side parking rules are in effect. — David Gura (@davidgura) September 21, 2020
riding my bike with a wicker basket full of fruit thru the anarchist jurisdiction of NYC — JP (@jpbrammer) September 21, 2020
This morning in my Anarchist jurisdiction, I enjoyed a skim milk cappuccino in the bike lane and then I bought a few Bouquets of overpriced flowers. — Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) September 21, 2020
Hello from New York City, anarchist jurisdiction. pic.twitter.com/Pqqa76Fi8O — Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) September 21, 2020
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definitely saw Anarchist Jurisdiction open for Fugazi in 1991 — Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) September 21, 2020
It’s complete anarchy out here - people picnicking in the park, having frosé at outdoor patios, families walking dogs together, enjoying a boat ride in the Hudson. Whatever will we do?! pic.twitter.com/cFpjxXuJmu — Cookie Bear & Noodles (@cookie_noodles) September 21, 2020
I have been planning my move back to an anarchist jurisdiction for a while but if anyone has intel on a two-bedroom with outdoor space or I’ll be fine w/o if it’s very close to a park! Hard to do anarchy indoors. — Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) September 21, 2020
what kind of shithole country labels its greatest city an 'anarchist jurisdiction' — Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) September 21, 2020
If declaring New York City an "anarchist jurisdiction" means rent prices go down... YES it's anarchy here, OH THE HORROR!!!! Everyone PLEASE keep saying how bad and scary it is!!!! — Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) September 21, 2020
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With NYC being named an "Anarchist Jurisdiction" it seems important to remind everyone of the complete & utter warzone it's become on the streets.
I mean... gay ice cream? Those terrorists!!!pic.twitter.com/U2jbgqZz7r — Jake Lobin (@JakeLobin) September 21, 2020
If you think NYC is an “anarchist jurisdiction”, I am once again begging you to read about anarchism — Merrick for America (Anarcho-Waifu) (@merrickdeville) September 21, 2020
🙋🏻♀ New Yorker here. This is news to me! Because my New York looks like this. Delicious ices! Ping pong in a public park! AL FRESCO DINING! THE END IS NEAR!!! pic.twitter.com/NCIHqMHrvV — KareBearScare (@KareBearScare) September 21, 2020
In my corner of the Anarchist Jurisdiction, the jazz is getting noticeably looser and one chair has been moved out of its masking tape Covid cube. pic.twitter.com/ZWhnI0OBko — Bill Weir (@BillWeirCNN) September 21, 2020
New York City, an anarchist jurisdiction pic.twitter.com/MuFI4WE3HR — Jillian Jorgensen (@Jill_Jorgensen) September 21, 2020
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See that wrapper on the floor? Pure anarchy. #AnarchistJurisdiction #nyc pic.twitter.com/AlpXN1lo7U — ((( Lawless GothamNurse RN ))) VOTE EARLY (@GothamNurse) September 21, 2020
Shit's out of control in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/F73eEWfpT0 — stay 6 feet away, my breath smells (@wookietv) September 21, 2020
Do anarchists patiently stand in chalk squares six feet apart while waiting in line so as to be courteous to those around them and limit the spread of disease? — Regina Borsellino (@ReginaWrites11) September 21, 2020
I was able to document the “anarchy” in NYC yesterday after my 5 mile bike ride with my son and wife yesterday. Truly terrifying. https://t.co/ca9RRHD2v8 — Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) September 21, 2020
All jokes aside, Bill Barr is right... NYC is anarchy
The DOJ needs to step in and end the corruption and rampant criminal activity in Wall Street. — Andrew Kuo (@earlboykins) September 21, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--Trump Hails Robert E. Lee In Minnesota, State That Lost Thousands To Confederate Troops

President Donald Trump hailed Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee during a campaign rally in Minnesota , a state that lost thousands of soldiers to Confederate troops in the Civil War .
Trump , apparently unaware of the state ’ s sacrifice in the Civil War , hailed Lee during a speech in Bemidji on Friday as a “ great general ” who “ won many , many battles in a row.
” '' [ Lincoln ] was getting beaten a lot by Robert E Lee .
They want to rip down his statue all over the place ... he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were incredible things '' -- Trump praises the top general who fought on behalf on slavery pic.twitter.com/7dnzZ9nQJV — Aaron Rupar ( @ atrupar ) September 19 , 2020 Some 2,500 Minnesota soldiers lost their lives to battles and disease as they fought against slavery and to protect the Union .
“ Had [ Lee ] won , we would be two countries , ” state Sen. Jerry Newton , a veteran who served in the Vietnam War and in the Middle East , told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Saturday .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him to make those statements.
” Trump ’ s praise for Lee “ hurt for those of us who have served and who have lost friends in the service , ” Newton added .
The state senator ’ s great-grandfather fought for the Union against treasonous Confederate troops before moving to Minnesota , where he settled down using land grants offered to Civil War veterans .
Trump claimed at his rally that he would protect monuments to Lee .
There are none in Minnesota .
But a historical museum does display a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the enemy .
Ken Martin , chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party , said in a statement that “ the blood , sweat , and sacrifice of Minnesota ’ s brave soldiers helped turn the tide at Gettysburg ... We will not allow Donald Trump to divide us and insult our state ’ s proud legacy.
” Minnesota Gov .
Alexander Ramsey was the first to offer troops to President Abraham Lincoln after the Confederacy ’ s assault on Fort Sumter in Charleston , which launched the Civil War in 1861 .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially deployed to battle Southern troops .
By war ’ s end , close to 24,000 Minnesota soldiers had served .
An outnumbered unit of about 262 Minnesotans charged at close to 1,200 Confederate troops at Gettysburg in the summer of 1863 .
The attack was aimed at buying the Union time to move reinforcements into the area .
“ It ’ s essentially suicidal to do that , and still Minnesota troops did that , ” Randal Dietrich , director of the Minnesota Military Museum , told The Star Tribune .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the battle of Gettysburg .
Their gallantry on that day is extraordinary.
” Twitter critics speculated that Trump forgot he was in a former Union state as he tried to woo voters by praising Lee .

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President Donald Trump hailed Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee during a campaign rally in Minnesota, a state that lost thousands of soldiers to Confederate troops in the Civil War.
Trump, apparently unaware of the state’s sacrifice in the Civil War, hailed Lee during a speech in Bemidji on Friday as a “great general” who “won many, many battles in a row.”
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"[Lincoln] was getting beaten a lot by Robert E Lee. They want to rip down his statue all over the place ... he would have won except for Gettysburg ... these were incredible things" -- Trump praises the top general who fought on behalf on slavery pic.twitter.com/7dnzZ9nQJV — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 19, 2020
Some 2,500 Minnesota soldiers lost their lives to battles and disease as they fought against slavery and to protect the Union.
“Had [Lee] won, we would be two countries,” state Sen. Jerry Newton, a veteran who served in the Vietnam War and in the Middle East, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Saturday. “That’s just unconscionable for me, for him to make those statements.”
Trump’s praise for Lee “hurt for those of us who have served and who have lost friends in the service,” Newton added.
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The state senator’s great-grandfather fought for the Union against treasonous Confederate troops before moving to Minnesota, where he settled down using land grants offered to Civil War veterans.
Trump claimed at his rally that he would protect monuments to Lee. There are none in Minnesota. But a historical museum does display a Confederate flag that state troops captured from the enemy.
Ken Martin, chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, said in a statement that “the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of Minnesota’s brave soldiers helped turn the tide at Gettysburg ... We will not allow Donald Trump to divide us and insult our state’s proud legacy.”
Minnesota soldiers played a key role on the bloody fields of Gettysburg.
Minnesota Gov. Alexander Ramsey was the first to offer troops to President Abraham Lincoln after the Confederacy’s assault on Fort Sumter in Charleston, which launched the Civil War in 1861. Some 1,000 men from the new state were initially deployed to battle Southern troops. By war’s end, close to 24,000 Minnesota soldiers had served.
An outnumbered unit of about 262 Minnesotans charged at close to 1,200 Confederate troops at Gettysburg in the summer of 1863. The attack was aimed at buying the Union time to move reinforcements into the area.
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“It’s essentially suicidal to do that, and still Minnesota troops did that,” Randal Dietrich, director of the Minnesota Military Museum, told The Star Tribune. “I would argue Minnesotans ... arguably saved the battle of Gettysburg. Their gallantry on that day is extraordinary.”
Hillary Clinton won Minnesota’s 10 electoral college votes in the last presidential election.
Twitter critics speculated that Trump forgot he was in a former Union state as he tried to woo voters by praising Lee.
He does know he's in the North right? I live in MN, nobody here gives a sh!t about confederate statues. — 🇺🇸Riogirl9909🇵🇹 (@riogirl9909) September 19, 2020
In Minnesota, noted redoubt of the confederacy. — kevin “pidgin” collins (@voxkev) September 19, 2020
Weird to pitch the Confederacy to Minnesota...the first state to volunteer soldiers to Lincoln and the Union. — maureen (@maureen1255) September 19, 2020
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Lee was a traitor to the United States of America, you idiot. A murderous traitor who wanted to keep slavery as the law of the land. https://t.co/SXUlW1lxjN — Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP (@JayGordonMDFAAP) September 20, 2020
Is this the “Patriotic History” he wants to be taught in the schools? — Louise (@clwtweet) September 19, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--A Tech Company Cut Ties With The Trump Campaign Because It Violated Its Values

Last week , a tech analytics company called Hotjar announced the unusual decision to block President Donald Trump and the Republican Party from using its services to promote Trump ’ s reelection campaign .
Hotjar ’ s logic was remarkably straightforward : The company prides itself on standing against racial injustice , and Trump , with the support of the GOP , has said and done a lot of racist things .
Trump and the Republican Party “ are clearly not aligned with our values as a company , and in the spirit of living our value of working with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action ” two Hotjar executives wrote in a post explaining the move .
The Trump campaign was using Hotjar to optimize the user experience in its online merchandise store .
Hotjar is the first software company to publicly drop the Trump campaign as a customer , according to Nandini Jammi , a marketing industry advocate who has called on companies to stop working with groups and individuals that promote hate .
Most tech companies share ( or at least claim to ) Hotjar ’ s progressive values .
But few are as ideologically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baseless allegations of anti-conservative bias , tech companies generally try to excuse themself of responsibility for their role in promoting hateful ideologies .
They default to claims of objectivity , neutrality and an insistence that no one should want them to be the arbiter of morality .
Several tech companies have even been hesitant to cut off services to violent neo-Nazis .
“ There is this false assumption that staying on the sidelines is the objective thing to do , ” Mohannad Ali , the chief product and technology officer at Hotjar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ to choose not to do something is , in itself , a subjective stance , ” he said .
Jammi , who helped convince Hotjar to cut ties with the Trump campaign , has flagged at least four other tech companies who claim to be committed to fighting racial injustice but whose services are supporting the reelection effort of a president who has repeatedly incited violence against anti-racist protesters .
Ian Colley , The Trade Desk ’ s vice president of communications , told HuffPost his company ’ s platform is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Algolia did not respond to requests for comment , although an Algolia software engineer defended her company ’ s conduct in a since-deleted tweet and suggested that donating to nonprofits offsets the harm in working with groups and individuals who are at odds with the company ’ s values .
“ Most tech companies already have policies against hate speech and violence , but they ’ re reluctant to enforce them , ” Jammi told HuffPost .
“ Tech CEOs still tend to think of their platforms as public utilities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piping running through a house .
I don ’ t think people are buying that anymore.
” Unlike public utilities , a top priority for tech companies is to profit off of the people who use their services , making it harder to claim moral distance .
( Hotjar says it plans to donate the approximately $ 920 it made from the GOP . )
Hotjar ’ s decision is a testament to the effectiveness of public pressure from people like Jammi , who co-founded Sleeping Giants , a group that uses social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting the far-right through advertising revenue .
Jammi called out Hotjar in August as one of several companies that claims to be anti-racist while helping Trump ’ s reelection effort .
Two weeks later , she posted a message from a Hotjar customer service representative saying the company planned to update its acceptable use policy to prohibit sites promoting hate speech from using its services — but that the change likely would not impact the Trump campaign ’ s merch store .
Hotjar employees were immediately uncomfortable with that solution , Ali said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jammi , they decided to update the policies to prohibit any sites that promote organizations , platforms , or people that promote hate , a broader description that encompasses the Trump campaign ’ s merch store .
“ I feel you ’ re sort of forced to believe that the line between what is racist or hateful and what is not has become not very clear anymore — some of these things have become all of a sudden debatable , ” he said .
“ And this has translated to an implicit expectation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make is to stay objective , stay on the sideline , accept that there are opposing ideologies or political views that we should respect equally .
I think it ’ s very easy to fall into this trap of false objectivity .
We almost actually fell into it ourselves.
” In its statement explaining its decision , Hotjar directly confronted some of the most common reasons its competitors give for allowing inciters of hate to use their products .
“ You might be wondering if this is considered an attack on freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Darmanin wrote .
“ Our decision to stop working with any customer has no impact on their ability to speak freely or express themselves .
When we decide to stop working with a website that violates our Acceptable Use Policy , it is simply a decision to not participate in amplifying a message that contradicts our values.
” Hotjar was “ brave to be so transparent about the thought process behind their decision , ” Jammi said .
“ In doing so , they ’ ve provided the tech industry with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision .
I wouldn ’ t be surprised if more companies follow in their footsteps .
”

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
Last week, a tech analytics company called Hotjar announced the unusual decision to block President Donald Trump and the Republican Party from using its services to promote Trump’s reelection campaign. Hotjar’s logic was remarkably straightforward: The company prides itself on standing against racial injustice, and Trump, with the support of the GOP, has said and done a lot of racist things. Trump and the Republican Party “are clearly not aligned with our values as a company, and in the spirit of living our value of working with respect, we have decided to take action” two Hotjar executives wrote in a post explaining the move.
The Trump campaign was using Hotjar to optimize the user experience in its online merchandise store. Hotjar is the first software company to publicly drop the Trump campaign as a customer, according to Nandini Jammi, a marketing industry advocate who has called on companies to stop working with groups and individuals that promote hate. Most tech companies share (or at least claim to) Hotjar’s progressive values. But few are as ideologically consistent in their actions. Fearful of baseless allegations of anti-conservative bias, tech companies generally try to excuse themself of responsibility for their role in promoting hateful ideologies. They default to claims of objectivity, neutrality and an insistence that no one should want them to be the arbiter of morality. Several tech companies have even been hesitant to cut off services to violent neo-Nazis.
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“There is this false assumption that staying on the sidelines is the objective thing to do,” Mohannad Ali, the chief product and technology officer at Hotjar, told HuffPost in an interview. But “to choose not to do something is, in itself, a subjective stance,” he said.
Jammi, who helped convince Hotjar to cut ties with the Trump campaign, has flagged at least four other tech companies who claim to be committed to fighting racial injustice but whose services are supporting the reelection effort of a president who has repeatedly incited violence against anti-racist protesters.
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Ian Colley, The Trade Desk’s vice president of communications, told HuffPost his company’s platform is “neutral and objective.” Shopify, Optimizely, and Algolia did not respond to requests for comment, although an Algolia software engineer defended her company’s conduct in a since-deleted tweet and suggested that donating to nonprofits offsets the harm in working with groups and individuals who are at odds with the company’s values.
“Most tech companies already have policies against hate speech and violence, but they’re reluctant to enforce them,” Jammi told HuffPost. “Tech CEOs still tend to think of their platforms as public utilities, as if they’re just the piping running through a house. I don’t think people are buying that anymore.” Unlike public utilities, a top priority for tech companies is to profit off of the people who use their services, making it harder to claim moral distance. (Hotjar says it plans to donate the approximately $920 it made from the GOP.)
Hotjar’s decision is a testament to the effectiveness of public pressure from people like Jammi, who co-founded Sleeping Giants, a group that uses social media to pressure companies to stop financially supporting the far-right through advertising revenue. Jammi called out Hotjar in August as one of several companies that claims to be anti-racist while helping Trump’s reelection effort. Two weeks later, she posted a message from a Hotjar customer service representative saying the company planned to update its acceptable use policy to prohibit sites promoting hate speech from using its services — but that the change likely would not impact the Trump campaign’s merch store.
“We’re planning to update our policy to include hate speech but we will invent reasons to keep servicing the Trump campaign.” pic.twitter.com/bcR1hsyF12 — Nandini Jammi (@nandoodles) August 31, 2020
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Hotjar employees were immediately uncomfortable with that solution, Ali said. After further deliberation and conversations with Jammi, they decided to update the policies to prohibit any sites that promote organizations, platforms, or people that promote hate, a broader description that encompasses the Trump campaign’s merch store.
That Trump is an elected official and part of a mainstream political party made the decision especially tricky, Ali said.
“I feel you’re sort of forced to believe that the line between what is racist or hateful and what is not has become not very clear anymore — some of these things have become all of a sudden debatable,” he said. “And this has translated to an implicit expectation within the industry that the right decision to make is to stay objective, stay on the sideline, accept that there are opposing ideologies or political views that we should respect equally. I think it’s very easy to fall into this trap of false objectivity. We almost actually fell into it ourselves.”
In its statement explaining its decision, Hotjar directly confronted some of the most common reasons its competitors give for allowing inciters of hate to use their products. “You might be wondering if this is considered an attack on freedom of speech,” Ali and CEO David Darmanin wrote. “Our decision to stop working with any customer has no impact on their ability to speak freely or express themselves. When we decide to stop working with a website that violates our Acceptable Use Policy, it is simply a decision to not participate in amplifying a message that contradicts our values.”
Hotjar was “brave to be so transparent about the thought process behind their decision,” Jammi said. “In doing so, they’ve provided the tech industry with a blueprint for how to approach a difficult decision. I wouldn’t be surprised if more companies follow in their footsteps.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--'Fox & Friends’ Apologizes For Falsely Alleging Nashville Coronavirus ‘Cover-Up’

“ Fox & Friends ” issued an apology Monday after it aired a segment last week that falsely claimed the Democratic mayor of Nashville , Tennessee , tried to “ cover up ” data that showed low transmission rates of coronavirus at bars and restaurants .
The allegation stemmed from a report published Wednesday by Fox 17 , a TV station in Nashville .
The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group , a brazenly pro-Trump media group .
Fox 17 has since retracted the report and removed it from its website .
During Monday ’ s broadcast , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apologized for “ any confusion ” that might have occurred as a result of his show spreading false information about the Nashville mayor ’ s handling of the coronavirus crisis .
“ We wanted to give you an update on a story we shared last week , ” Doocy said .
“ On Friday , we reported on allegations that the mayor of Nashville had hidden coronavirus numbers .
That was according to our local Nashville Fox affiliate .
They have since retracted their story .
And we now know the mayor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers and did release them to the public.
” CNN ’ s Oliver Darcy wrote a thorough breakdown of what went wrong with Ferrier ’ s reporting , but essentially Ferrier grossly misrepresented what was said in the emails between the city officials .
A city health department official told an aide with the mayor ’ s office that they ’ ve refused to publicly release some coronavirus “ counts per bar because those numbers are low per site.
” But the full context of the emails shows this wasn ’ t an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but to protect COVID-19 patients ’ privacy .
“ I do not see a problem with releasing the number of cases that are due to clusters at bars ... it is just the issue of whether we can or should release the names of the bars , ” one Nashville health official reportedly wrote in the email exchange .
The official added : “ Releasing the names of bars or schools especially when there haven ’ t been many cases makes it possible to identify the individual ( s ) that were positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide any information that may help identify an individual.
” What ’ s more , the data was disclosed during a July press conference ( which was attended by a Fox 17 reporter , a Nashville official told CNN ) .
The data was also referenced in a report published last month by The Tennessee Lookout .
“ In a segment that aired earlier this week , we incorrectly asserted that Mayor Cooper ’ s office withheld COVID-19 data from the public , which implied that there had been a cover up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to CNN .
“ We want to clarify that we do not believe there was any cover-up , and we apologize for the error and oversight in our reporting.
” At that point , the story had been picked up by several Fox News programs , including on “ Fox & Friends , ” which averages more than 1.5 million daily viewers .
“ There is a lot of people who have paid the price because he ’ s playing politics by lying about the number of positive cases in Nashville , basically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the restaurants , ” host Brian Kilmeade said during Friday ’ s segment about the later-retracted story .
Kilmeade later called on Cooper to resign : “ The mayor denies the cover-up even though we have the emails .
...
The mayor comes back and tries to cover himself when he should just quit.
” Joining the segment was Fox News ’ Jeanine Pirro , one of President Donald Trump ’ s loudest cheerleaders on the network , who falsely claimed Cooper was attempting to meddle in the upcoming presidential election by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m telling you , it ’ s about the election , ” Pirro said .
“ They want to keep people home and afraid and use those mail-in ballots .
...
In the end , this is going to be fine .
”

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“Fox & Friends” issued an apology Monday after it aired a segment last week that falsely claimed the Democratic mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, tried to “cover up” data that showed low transmission rates of coronavirus at bars and restaurants.
The allegation stemmed from a report published Wednesday by Fox 17, a TV station in Nashville. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, a brazenly pro-Trump media group. Fox 17 has since retracted the report and removed it from its website.
Advertisement
During Monday’s broadcast, “Fox & Friends” host Steve Doocy apologized for “any confusion” that might have occurred as a result of his show spreading false information about the Nashville mayor’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.
“We wanted to give you an update on a story we shared last week,” Doocy said. “On Friday, we reported on allegations that the mayor of Nashville had hidden coronavirus numbers. That was according to our local Nashville Fox affiliate. They have since retracted their story. And we now know the mayor’s office apparently did not conceal those numbers and did release them to the public.”
Fox & Friends apologizes for its Friday segment demanding the resignation of the Nashville mayor over some leaked emails hyped into a secret lockdown conspiracy by a Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate. https://t.co/m8O0YNk7ir pic.twitter.com/tjo2WmCnfR — Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) September 21, 2020
In his initial story, Fox 17’s Dennis Ferrier reported about an email exchange that he obtained between Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s office and the city’s health department.
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CNN’s Oliver Darcy wrote a thorough breakdown of what went wrong with Ferrier’s reporting, but essentially Ferrier grossly misrepresented what was said in the emails between the city officials.
A city health department official told an aide with the mayor’s office that they’ve refused to publicly release some coronavirus “counts per bar because those numbers are low per site.” But the full context of the emails shows this wasn’t an attempt to cover up low numbers, but to protect COVID-19 patients’ privacy.
“I do not see a problem with releasing the number of cases that are due to clusters at bars ... it is just the issue of whether we can or should release the names of the bars,” one Nashville health official reportedly wrote in the email exchange.
The official added: “Releasing the names of bars or schools especially when there haven’t been many cases makes it possible to identify the individual(s) that were positive and HIPPA says you can’t provide any information that may help identify an individual.”
What’s more, the data was disclosed during a July press conference (which was attended by a Fox 17 reporter, a Nashville official told CNN). The data was also referenced in a report published last month by The Tennessee Lookout.
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Fox 17 removed the report from its website and issued a retraction on Friday after Cooper’s office demanded an apology.
“In a segment that aired earlier this week, we incorrectly asserted that Mayor Cooper’s office withheld COVID-19 data from the public, which implied that there had been a cover up,” Fox 17 said in a statement to CNN. “We want to clarify that we do not believe there was any cover-up, and we apologize for the error and oversight in our reporting.”
At that point, the story had been picked up by several Fox News programs, including on “Fox & Friends,” which averages more than 1.5 million daily viewers.
“There is a lot of people who have paid the price because he’s playing politics by lying about the number of positive cases in Nashville, basically shutting down the honky-tonks, the bars and the restaurants,” host Brian Kilmeade said during Friday’s segment about the later-retracted story.
Kilmeade later called on Cooper to resign: “The mayor denies the cover-up even though we have the emails. ... The mayor comes back and tries to cover himself when he should just quit.”
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Joining the segment was Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro, one of President Donald Trump’s loudest cheerleaders on the network, who falsely claimed Cooper was attempting to meddle in the upcoming presidential election by suppressing information about the virus.
“I’m telling you, it’s about the election,” Pirro said. “They want to keep people home and afraid and use those mail-in ballots. ... In the end, this is going to be fine.”
Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham also peddled the story on their respective shows.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--Ocasio-Cortez Joins Schumer Rallying Voters Against Quickie Supreme Court Pick

In an unusual new partnership , Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) joined forces Sunday night with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) to mobilize voters against the Republican plan to ram through their pick to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
“ We need to make sure that we mobilize on an unprecedented scale to ensure this vacancy is reserved for the next president , ” Ocasio-Cortez said at a news conference outside Brooklyn ’ s James Madison High School , which Ginsburg and Schumer attended .
Ocasio-Cortez and Schumer called on voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold fast against a rushed confirmation of a new justice .
“ It ’ s extraordinarily important that we understand the stakes of this vacancy , ” Ocasio-Cortez warned .
“ Our reproductive rights are on the line .
Our labor rights are on the line .
Our right to health care is on the line.
” She and Schumer also sounded the alarm about threats to voting rights and the environment , and the worsening plight of immigrants .
Asked whether the House would launch another impeachment against President Donald Trump or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination , Ocasio-Cortez said : “ We must consider ... all of the tools [ at ] our disposal.
” “ We all need to be more courageous and ... make sure that our rights are stabilized , ” said Ocasio-Cortez .
And to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky ) : “ We need to tell him that he is playing with fire .
We need to make sure that this vacancy is protected , that our election continues and that the American people have their say.
” All our rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , everyday people must mobilize in unprecedented ways to keep the SCOTUS vacancy open & win back the White House + Senate .
Meanwhile , the House & Senate must consider using every procedural tool available to buy the country time .
https : //t.co/z9aGIHTBCz — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( @ AOC ) September 21 , 2020 “ We ’ re here because the American people want .. rights preserved .
We do not want to turn the clock back , ” he said .
“ And we only need two more senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RBG ’ s wish ” not to fill her spot until after the election , Schumer added .
Two Republican senators — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine — have already issued statements that the Senate shouldn ’ t replace Ginsburg until after the election .
Schumer cited a Reuters poll released Sunday which found that 62 % of Americans , including many Republicans , believe November ’ s winner should nominate a justice to fill the vacancy .
“ We ’ re not close to an election , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer said .
“ To try to decide this at this late moment is despicable and wrong , and against democracy .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
In an unusual new partnership, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) joined forces Sunday night with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to mobilize voters against the Republican plan to ram through their pick to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“We need to make sure that we mobilize on an unprecedented scale to ensure this vacancy is reserved for the next president,” Ocasio-Cortez said at a news conference outside Brooklyn’s James Madison High School, which Ginsburg and Schumer attended.
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Ocasio-Cortez and Schumer called on voters to pressure their senators to demand they hold fast against a rushed confirmation of a new justice.
“It’s extraordinarily important that we understand the stakes of this vacancy,” Ocasio-Cortez warned. “Our reproductive rights are on the line. Our labor rights are on the line. Our right to health care is on the line.”
She and Schumer also sounded the alarm about threats to voting rights and the environment, and the worsening plight of immigrants.
Asked whether the House would launch another impeachment against President Donald Trump or Attorney General William Barr to stall a nomination, Ocasio-Cortez said: “We must consider ... all of the tools [at] our disposal.”
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“We all need to be more courageous and ... make sure that our rights are stabilized,” said Ocasio-Cortez. And to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky): “We need to tell him that he is playing with fire. We need to make sure that this vacancy is protected, that our election continues and that the American people have their say.”
All our rights are on the line.
To protect them, everyday people must mobilize in unprecedented ways to keep the SCOTUS vacancy open & win back the White House + Senate.
Meanwhile, the House & Senate must consider using every procedural tool available to buy the country time. https://t.co/z9aGIHTBCz — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 21, 2020
Schumer warned darkly that 100 years of progress could be at stake.
“We’re here because the American people want .. rights preserved. We do not want to turn the clock back,” he said. “And we only need two more senators to say that they will abide by RBG’s wish” not to fill her spot until after the election, Schumer added.
Two Republican senators — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine — have already issued statements that the Senate shouldn’t replace Ginsburg until after the election.
Schumer cited a Reuters poll released Sunday which found that 62% of Americans, including many Republicans, believe November’s winner should nominate a justice to fill the vacancy.
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“We’re not close to an election, we’re in an election,” Schumer said. “To try to decide this at this late moment is despicable and wrong, and against democracy.”
He added: “If we win the majority, everything is on the table.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--Wisconsin Judge Extends Mailed Ballot Receipt Deadline, Ensuring More Votes Are Counted

Wisconsin voters will have until Nov. 9 for their mailed absentee ballots to arrive so long as they are postmarked by Election Day , according to an order issued by a federal judge on Monday .
The order states that all ballots postmarked before or on Nov. 3 will count even if they arrive as late as six days after Election Day .
In addition , the ruling extends the deadline for Wisconsinites to register to vote online or through the mail by changing the registration deadline from Oct. 14 to Oct. 21 .
The extension of the absentee ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights advocates in states across the country during the coronavirus pandemic .
The pandemic and self-inflicted efficiency reforms instituted by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have caused a degradation in mail delivery across the country .
The Postal Service even warned 46 states in a letter that it could not guarantee the delivery of mail ballots in time for them to count .
This extension will allow tens of thousands of votes to be counted that otherwise would have been invalidated due to no fault of the voter .
The ruling is also yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which brought this challenge to the receipt deadline in Wisconsin .
It is the third such judicial ruling to extend the deadline in the past six days , including rulings in Michigan and Pennsylvania .
With Wisconsin , these states delivered the White House to President Donald Trump in 2016 .
Trump won Wisconsin by a mere 23,000 votes .
In each court case , Trump and his fellow Republicans opposed the extension of the ballot receipt deadline .
Trump has sought to delegitimize the 2020 election by sowing doubt about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As for the ballot receipt deadline , Trump states , falsely , that any ballots counted after election day should not count .
After the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Trump stated his desire to fill her seat before the election so that his nominee could help him steal the election by stopping legitimate vote counting .
“ Now we ’ re counting on the federal court system to make it so that we can actually have an evening where we know who wins .
Not where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week later or two weeks later , ” Trump said on Saturday .
Monday ’ s order in Wisconsin mirrors a series of rulings handed down ahead of the state ’ s April 7 primary ― the first election held in the United States during the pandemic ― that extended the ballot receipt deadline to three days after that election .
Tens of thousands of ballots that otherwise would have been excluded solely for arriving too late by mail were counted in the primary election thanks to this change .

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Wisconsin voters will have until Nov. 9 for their mailed absentee ballots to arrive so long as they are postmarked by Election Day, according to an order issued by a federal judge on Monday.
The order states that all ballots postmarked before or on Nov. 3 will count even if they arrive as late as six days after Election Day. In addition, the ruling extends the deadline for Wisconsinites to register to vote online or through the mail by changing the registration deadline from Oct. 14 to Oct. 21.
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The extension of the absentee ballot receipt deadline has been sought by voting rights advocates in states across the country during the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic and self-inflicted efficiency reforms instituted by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have caused a degradation in mail delivery across the country. The Postal Service even warned 46 states in a letter that it could not guarantee the delivery of mail ballots in time for them to count.
This extension will allow tens of thousands of votes to be counted that otherwise would have been invalidated due to no fault of the voter.
The ruling is also yet another major win for the Democratic Party, which brought this challenge to the receipt deadline in Wisconsin. It is the third such judicial ruling to extend the deadline in the past six days, including rulings in Michigan and Pennsylvania. With Wisconsin, these states delivered the White House to President Donald Trump in 2016. Trump won Wisconsin by a mere 23,000 votes.
In each court case, Trump and his fellow Republicans opposed the extension of the ballot receipt deadline. Trump has sought to delegitimize the 2020 election by sowing doubt about the absentee voting with a series of lies. As for the ballot receipt deadline, Trump states, falsely, that any ballots counted after election day should not count.
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After the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump stated his desire to fill her seat before the election so that his nominee could help him steal the election by stopping legitimate vote counting.
“Now we’re counting on the federal court system to make it so that we can actually have an evening where we know who wins. Not where the votes are going to be counted a week later or two weeks later,” Trump said on Saturday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--Ocasio-Cortez Fires Back After GOP QAnon Supporter's Crude Swipe At Her Intellect

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) shut down Republican House candidate and QAnon supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday after Greene made a crude attempt to attack the lawmaker ’ s intellect .
Greene , who ’ s been endorsed by President Donald Trump in her run for the open seat in Georgia ’ s 14th Congressional District , invoked the sexist “ dumb blonde ” trope in an effort to insult Ocasio-Cortez over the weekend .
Greene tweeted that “ as a blonde woman , ” she wanted to take a moment to thank the brunette congresswoman .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put an end to all ‘ dumb blonde ’ jokes .
Blondes everywhere appreciate your service and your sacrifice !
” Greene tweeted .
Ocasio-Cortez snapped back that she could “ completely understand why you need to swing + miss at my intellect to make yourself feel better , ” pointing out that Greene had spelled her put-down wrong .
Don ’ t worry Mrs. Greene , I completely understand why you need to swing + miss at my intellect to make yourself feel better .
You seem to have some trouble spelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try “ single-handedly , ” it ’ ll work better .
Good luck writing legislation !
https : //t.co/y33JXVfxDc — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( @ AOC ) September 21 , 2020 Greene has gone after Ocasio-Cortez in the past .
Earlier this month , Greene seemed to threaten her and two other members of the progressive “ Squad ” of first-term congresswomen ― Reps. Rashida Tlaib ( D-Mich. ) and Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) ― when the candidate posted an image of herself with a rifle beside images of the three women on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go on the offense against these socialists who want to rip our country apart.
” Omar tweeted that posting a photo with a gun next to the faces of three women of color was “ incitement.
” Greene ’ s post was removed by Facebook for violating the company ’ s policies .
Greene , who is all but assured of winning the seat in the heavily Republican district after her August primary victory , has also promoted the baseless QAnon conspiracy movement that has been deemed a potential domestic terrorism threat by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) shut down Republican House candidate and QAnon supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday after Greene made a crude attempt to attack the lawmaker’s intellect.
Greene, who’s been endorsed by President Donald Trump in her run for the open seat in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, invoked the sexist “dumb blonde” trope in an effort to insult Ocasio-Cortez over the weekend. Greene tweeted that “as a blonde woman,” she wanted to take a moment to thank the brunette congresswoman.
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“She has single handily [sic] put an end to all ‘dumb blonde’ jokes. Blondes everywhere appreciate your service and your sacrifice!” Greene tweeted.
Ocasio-Cortez snapped back that she could “completely understand why you need to swing + miss at my intellect to make yourself feel better,” pointing out that Greene had spelled her put-down wrong.
“Good luck writing legislation!” Ocasio-Cortez added.
Don’t worry Mrs. Greene, I completely understand why you need to swing + miss at my intellect to make yourself feel better.
You seem to have some trouble spelling your own insults correctly.
Next time try “single-handedly,” it’ll work better.
Good luck writing legislation! https://t.co/y33JXVfxDc — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 21, 2020
Greene has gone after Ocasio-Cortez in the past. Earlier this month, Greene seemed to threaten her and two other members of the progressive “Squad” of first-term congresswomen ― Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) ― when the candidate posted an image of herself with a rifle beside images of the three women on Facebook. She urged conservatives to “go on the offense against these socialists who want to rip our country apart.”
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Omar tweeted that posting a photo with a gun next to the faces of three women of color was “incitement.” Greene’s post was removed by Facebook for violating the company’s policies.
Greene, who is all but assured of winning the seat in the heavily Republican district after her August primary victory, has also promoted the baseless QAnon conspiracy movement that has been deemed a potential domestic terrorism threat by the FBI.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--Trump Blew A Big Cash Advantage But Still Puts Campaign Dollars In His Own Pocket

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Bill Stepien ( standing to the left of President Donald Trump on Air Force One ) took a big pay cut the same month he was promoted to campaign manager .
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump forced both his current and former campaign managers to take pay cuts in the last two months , but nevertheless funneled another quarter-million dollars into his own cash registers .
Even as his reelection operation lost a once-dominating fundraising advantage to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , new filings with the Federal Election Commission show that Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another $ 203,000 at his hotel a few blocks from the White House and another $ 37,542 to rent space at his Trump Tower in Manhattan ― although the campaign is based at a high-rise in Arlington , Virginia .
Total reported payments in August from the campaign and the RNC to the president ’ s own businesses amounted to $ 251,409 .
Biden started the year essentially broke and largely written off .
But thanks to a combination of staggering fundraising and low spending , he entered the final two months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compared to Trump ’ s $ 325 million .
“ Everybody thought when Trump opened his reelection campaign the day of his inauguration that he would have a huge financial advantage , ” said Brendan Fischer , a lawyer with the watchdog group Campaign Legal Center .
“ It seems like a lot of that money is gone.
” The president , meanwhile , has cut payments to the firm of Bill Stepien , who was promoted from deputy campaign manager to the top job in mid-July , from $ 15,000 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting with July ’ s payment .
Bradley Parscale , the previous campaign manager whose consulting firm had been receiving $ 47,797 a month from the Trump campaign for the past year , saw that figure drop to $ 32,797 in August .
It was unclear from the FEC filings whether that was a reduction in pay only to himself or if the $ 15,000 was the cumulative cut for a number of individuals .
Parscale confirmed to HuffPost earlier this year that $ 15,000-a-month payments each to the girlfriend of the eldest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle son were going through his private firm , rather than through the campaign , for their work .
“ I can pay them however I want to pay them , ” he said at the time .
One source close to the campaign said on condition of anonymity that Parscale did not take a personal pay cut when he was demoted from campaign manager to head of the digital operation , but would not elaborate on how much Parscale personally has been making .
And Jason Miller , who is described as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” does not appear in the FEC filings at all , neither personally nor through his firm , SHW Partners .
Miller is the subject of a lawsuit seeking back child support payments by a 2016 campaign subordinate who is raising their son in Florida .
If a court finds that Miller has hidden income , it could require him to increase child support payments .
He said he doesn ’ t know why the campaign is trying to obscure these payments in particular .
“ There ’ s so much money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be multiple reasons , ” he said .
“ The point of the law ’ s transparency is to prevent us from having to ask these questions.
” 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 .

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WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump forced both his current and former campaign managers to take pay cuts in the last two months, but nevertheless funneled another quarter-million dollars into his own cash registers.
Even as his reelection operation lost a once-dominating fundraising advantage to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, new filings with the Federal Election Commission show that Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee spent another $203,000 at his hotel a few blocks from the White House and another $37,542 to rent space at his Trump Tower in Manhattan ― although the campaign is based at a high-rise in Arlington, Virginia. Total reported payments in August from the campaign and the RNC to the president’s own businesses amounted to $251,409.
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Since he took office in January 2017, the political committees under Trump’s control have spent a total of $7,231,392 at Trump’s various businesses, according to a HuffPost analysis of FEC records.
Bill Stepien (standing to the left of President Donald Trump on Air Force One) took a big pay cut the same month he was promoted to campaign manager. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Biden started the year essentially broke and largely written off. But thanks to a combination of staggering fundraising and low spending, he entered the final two months of the campaign with $466 million available, compared to Trump’s $325 million.
“Everybody thought when Trump opened his reelection campaign the day of his inauguration that he would have a huge financial advantage,” said Brendan Fischer, a lawyer with the watchdog group Campaign Legal Center. “It seems like a lot of that money is gone.”
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The president, meanwhile, has cut payments to the firm of Bill Stepien, who was promoted from deputy campaign manager to the top job in mid-July, from $15,000 a month to $10,000 a month, starting with July’s payment.
Bradley Parscale, the previous campaign manager whose consulting firm had been receiving $47,797 a month from the Trump campaign for the past year, saw that figure drop to $32,797 in August. It was unclear from the FEC filings whether that was a reduction in pay only to himself or if the $15,000 was the cumulative cut for a number of individuals.
Parscale confirmed to HuffPost earlier this year that $15,000-a-month payments each to the girlfriend of the eldest Trump son and the wife of the middle son were going through his private firm, rather than through the campaign, for their work. “I can pay them however I want to pay them,” he said at the time.
The Trump campaign did not respond to queries about Parscale’s individual compensation or that of Kimberly Guilfoyle and Lara Trump.
One source close to the campaign said on condition of anonymity that Parscale did not take a personal pay cut when he was demoted from campaign manager to head of the digital operation, but would not elaborate on how much Parscale personally has been making.
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And Jason Miller, who is described as the campaign’s “chief strategist,” does not appear in the FEC filings at all, neither personally nor through his firm, SHW Partners.
Neither Miller nor the campaign responded to queries about his compensation, either.
Miller is the subject of a lawsuit seeking back child support payments by a 2016 campaign subordinate who is raising their son in Florida. If a court finds that Miller has hidden income, it could require him to increase child support payments.
Fischer’s group filed a complaint with the FEC in July, accusing the Trump campaign of violating election law by using private firms like Parscale’s to hide the amounts and purposes of payments.
He said he doesn’t know why the campaign is trying to obscure these payments in particular. “There’s so much money that is not being disclosed that there could be multiple reasons,” he said. “The point of the law’s transparency is to prevent us from having to ask these questions.”
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-21--Judge Orders Postal Service To Process Election Mail On Time

NEW YORK ( AP ) — For the second time in a week , a federal judge said a nationwide order is necessary to ensure mail for November ’ s election is delivered on time , and he is threatening to demand weekly updates on efforts by the U.S .
Postal Service to process election mail .
On Monday , U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan largely sided with several people across the country , including candidates for public office , who claimed in a lawsuit that President Donald Trump , the Postal Service and the new postmaster general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to vote is too vital a value in our democracy to be left in a state of suspense in the minds of voters weeks before a presidential election , raising doubts as to whether their votes will ultimately be counted , ” Marrero said .
He ruled after conducting a hearing Wednesday .
“ There should be no doubt , however , that the Postal Service is ready and fully committed to handling expected increased volumes of Election Mail between now and the conclusion of the November 3rd election , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority is to deliver the nation ’ s Election Mail securely and in a timely fashion.
” Last week , U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian in Yakima , Washington , ordered an end to postal practices nationwide that slowed mail delivery since July , saying 14 states had made a “ strong showing ” that the Trump administration was using the Postal Service “ as a tool in partisan politics.
” Marrero ’ s 87-page ruling was more specific than Bastian ’ s 13-page order as he cited public statements , including from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t trust government assurances that new policies hampering mail delivery had been fully suspended .
“ Substantial evidence indicates that the supposed rollback of the challenged practices is either unenforced and not yet fully implemented or possibly insincere , ” Marrero said .
“ The controversy Plaintiffs raise remains very much alive.
” He said Trump , Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the Postal Service “ have not provided trusted assurance and comfort that citizens will be able to cast ballots with full confidence that their votes would be timely collected and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their actions have given “ rise to management and operational confusion , to directives that tend to generate uncertainty as to who is in charge of policies that ultimately could affect the reliability of absentee ballots , thus potentially discouraging voting by mail.
” “ Conflicting , vague , and ambivalent managerial signals could also sow substantial doubt about whether the USPS is up to the task , ” he said .
Marrero cited “ a stunning lack of uniformity and a high level of confusion at various points in the USPS hierarchy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USPS employees on the ground.
” “ The Court is left with little reason to believe that the USPS policy and operational picture will be any clearer for postal employees as the November election approaches , ” he added .
If they fail , Marrero said , he will impose an order that requires weekly reports to himself and the plaintiffs and ensures postal workers can make late and extra delivery trips , as well as work overtime from Oct. 26 through Nov. 6 .
“ There is simply no reason for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country is in the middle of a deadly pandemic , that only five states require an affirmative excuse for citizens to vote by mail , and one state ( Oregon ) conducts elections entirely by mail , ” he said .
The controversy regarding delivery arose this summer as many more voters prepared to vote by mail this November because of the coronavirus pandemic .
DeJoy , a major donor to Trump and the GOP , imposed cost-cutting changes that he later said he suspended .
Lawsuits followed .

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NEW YORK (AP) — For the second time in a week, a federal judge said a nationwide order is necessary to ensure mail for November’s election is delivered on time, and he is threatening to demand weekly updates on efforts by the U.S. Postal Service to process election mail.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan largely sided with several people across the country, including candidates for public office, who claimed in a lawsuit that President Donald Trump, the Postal Service and the new postmaster general were endangering election mail.
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“The right to vote is too vital a value in our democracy to be left in a state of suspense in the minds of voters weeks before a presidential election, raising doubts as to whether their votes will ultimately be counted,” Marrero said. He ruled after conducting a hearing Wednesday.
Officials at the Postal Service are reviewing the ruling, spokesperson Marti Johnson said in a written statement.
“There should be no doubt, however, that the Postal Service is ready and fully committed to handling expected increased volumes of Election Mail between now and the conclusion of the November 3rd election,” the statement said. “Our number one priority is to deliver the nation’s Election Mail securely and in a timely fashion.”
Last week, U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian in Yakima, Washington, ordered an end to postal practices nationwide that slowed mail delivery since July, saying 14 states had made a “strong showing” that the Trump administration was using the Postal Service “as a tool in partisan politics.”
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Like Bastian, Marrero said the agency’s workers must treat election mail as First Class Mail.
Marrero’s 87-page ruling was more specific than Bastian’s 13-page order as he cited public statements, including from Trump, to explain why he can’t trust government assurances that new policies hampering mail delivery had been fully suspended.
“Substantial evidence indicates that the supposed rollback of the challenged practices is either unenforced and not yet fully implemented or possibly insincere,” Marrero said. “The controversy Plaintiffs raise remains very much alive.”
He said Trump, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the Postal Service “have not provided trusted assurance and comfort that citizens will be able to cast ballots with full confidence that their votes would be timely collected and counted.”
Instead, he said, their actions have given “rise to management and operational confusion, to directives that tend to generate uncertainty as to who is in charge of policies that ultimately could affect the reliability of absentee ballots, thus potentially discouraging voting by mail.”
“Conflicting, vague, and ambivalent managerial signals could also sow substantial doubt about whether the USPS is up to the task,” he said.
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Marrero cited “a stunning lack of uniformity and a high level of confusion at various points in the USPS hierarchy regarding the standards to be followed by USPS employees on the ground.”
“The Court is left with little reason to believe that the USPS policy and operational picture will be any clearer for postal employees as the November election approaches,” he added.
Marrero gave both sides until noon Friday to settle the case in a manner consistent with his findings.
If they fail, Marrero said, he will impose an order that requires weekly reports to himself and the plaintiffs and ensures postal workers can make late and extra delivery trips, as well as work overtime from Oct. 26 through Nov. 6.
The judge rejected the U.S. government’s claims that the court case does not involve the counting of votes.
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“There is simply no reason for the Court to ignore the severe reality that the country is in the middle of a deadly pandemic, that only five states require an affirmative excuse for citizens to vote by mail, and one state (Oregon) conducts elections entirely by mail,” he said.
The controversy regarding delivery arose this summer as many more voters prepared to vote by mail this November because of the coronavirus pandemic. DeJoy, a major donor to Trump and the GOP, imposed cost-cutting changes that he later said he suspended. Lawsuits followed.
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