thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--The Senate Is Back To Work And Its First Order Of Business Is... More Judges

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , who has long said his top priority is getting President Donald Trump ’ s nominees settled into lifetime federal court seats , didn ’ t disappoint on Wednesday .
At a time when nearly 190,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and unemployment is at 8.4 % , the Senate kicked off its first full day of business with a vote to confirm a district court judge , procedural votes to advance two more district court nominees , another vote to confirm one of those nominees , and two more procedural votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats and Republicans are in a standoff over coronavirus relief legislation .
The House passed a sweeping $ 3 trillion package in May that has gone nowhere in the Senate , where Democrats are ready to pass the House bill but Republicans don ’ t even agree with each other on what to do .
Some prefer no action at all on another coronavirus package because it would add to the growing federal deficit .
McConnell will try to pass a narrowly focused COVID-19 relief bill this week , but it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to give vulnerable Republicans something to run on ahead of the November elections .
It includes funding for small businesses and schools and enhanced $ 300-a-week unemployment benefits .
It leaves out another round of stimulus checks , which Republicans previously supported , and does not include rental assistance or aid to cities and states , which Democrats have insisted on .
And it ’ s not even clear if a majority of Republicans will support the bill .
The Senate Judiciary Committee also met Wednesday for the first time in more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) , has jurisdiction over a number of issues related to the health and economic fallout from COVID-19 .
Graham could , for example , hold hearings that looked at the needs of state and local law enforcement on the front lines of the pandemic .
He could hold hearings on the health and safety of corrections staff and incarcerated people .
He could hold hearings on changes in immigration policy tied to the pandemic .
One of those nominees isn ’ t even qualified to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American Bar Association .
Just as the hearing got underway , the ABA released an embarrassing “ not qualified ” rating for Kathryn Kimball Mizelle , Trump ’ s nominee for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida .
The ABA , which reviews every judicial nominee put forward by a president , sets a minimum of 12 years practicing law as one general standard for someone to be qualified to sit on the federal bench .
Mizelle , 33 , is eight years out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years .
She has participated in a total of two trials ( as a law student ) and has not tried a case , civil or criminal , as lead or co-counsel .
Civil rights groups have already announced their opposition to Mizelle , both because of her lack of experience and because of her record in rolling back civil rights .
Mizelle was counsel to the associate attorney general in Trump ’ s Justice Department in 2017 and 2018 , and she supervised litigation relating to Ohio ’ s effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguing that businesses have a right to discriminate against LGBTQ customers , and asserting that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity , a position ultimately rejected by the Supreme Court .
“ This nominee has been put forward not only because she is an ultraconservative ideologue , but also because she is a Trump loyalist , having worked in the Trump Justice Department to dismantle many critical civil rights protections , ” reads a Tuesday letter to senators from the Leadership Conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition of more than 220 national civil rights groups .
“ The Senate must reject her nomination.
” Trump ’ s most lasting legacy will arguably be his judges , who will sit on the nation ’ s courts for decades after he ’ s left the White House .
He has had confirmed a total of 204 Article III judges , including two Supreme Court justices , 53 appeals court judges and 147 district court judges .
A common thread among his court picks is that many are young , white , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion , LGBTQ rights and other civil rights .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell loves confirming Trump's judicial picks more than anything else. Yuri Gripas/Reuters
WASHINGTON ― The Senate is back in session after a month of recess and Republicans’ first order of business isn’t a comprehensive coronavirus relief bill. Or emergency stimulus in response to high unemployment. Or legislation addressing nationwide unrest over police violence targeting Black Americans.
It’s confirming more judges.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has long said his top priority is getting President Donald Trump’s nominees settled into lifetime federal court seats, didn’t disappoint on Wednesday. At a time when nearly 190,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and unemployment is at 8.4%, the Senate kicked off its first full day of business with a vote to confirm a district court judge, procedural votes to advance two more district court nominees, another vote to confirm one of those nominees, and two more procedural votes to advance two more district court nominees.
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Democrats and Republicans are in a standoff over coronavirus relief legislation. The House passed a sweeping $3 trillion package in May that has gone nowhere in the Senate, where Democrats are ready to pass the House bill but Republicans don’t even agree with each other on what to do. Some prefer no action at all on another coronavirus package because it would add to the growing federal deficit.
McConnell will try to pass a narrowly focused COVID-19 relief bill this week, but it’s purely a political exercise ― an effort to give vulnerable Republicans something to run on ahead of the November elections. It includes funding for small businesses and schools and enhanced $300-a-week unemployment benefits. It leaves out another round of stimulus checks, which Republicans previously supported, and does not include rental assistance or aid to cities and states, which Democrats have insisted on. And it’s not even clear if a majority of Republicans will support the bill.
The Senate Judiciary Committee also met Wednesday for the first time in more than a month. The panel, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), has jurisdiction over a number of issues related to the health and economic fallout from COVID-19. Graham could, for example, hold hearings that looked at the needs of state and local law enforcement on the front lines of the pandemic. He could hold hearings on the health and safety of corrections staff and incarcerated people. He could hold hearings on changes in immigration policy tied to the pandemic.
Instead, the committee held a hearing to advance five more of Trump’s judicial nominees.
One of those nominees isn’t even qualified to be a federal judge, according to the American Bar Association. Just as the hearing got underway, the ABA released an embarrassing “not qualified” rating for Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, Trump’s nominee for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
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“The nominee presently does not meet the requisite minimum standard of experience necessary to perform the responsibilities required by the high office of a federal trial judge,” reads the ABA’s review of Mizelle’s nomination.
The ABA, which reviews every judicial nominee put forward by a president, sets a minimum of 12 years practicing law as one general standard for someone to be qualified to sit on the federal bench. Mizelle, 33, is eight years out of law school and has practiced law for four years. She has participated in a total of two trials (as a law student) and has not tried a case, civil or criminal, as lead or co-counsel.
Civil rights groups have already announced their opposition to Mizelle, both because of her lack of experience and because of her record in rolling back civil rights. Mizelle was counsel to the associate attorney general in Trump’s Justice Department in 2017 and 2018, and she supervised litigation relating to Ohio’s effort to purge registered voters from its rolls, arguing that businesses have a right to discriminate against LGBTQ customers, and asserting that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, a position ultimately rejected by the Supreme Court.
“This nominee has been put forward not only because she is an ultraconservative ideologue, but also because she is a Trump loyalist, having worked in the Trump Justice Department to dismantle many critical civil rights protections,” reads a Tuesday letter to senators from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 220 national civil rights groups. “The Senate must reject her nomination.”
Trump’s most lasting legacy will arguably be his judges, who will sit on the nation’s courts for decades after he’s left the White House. He has had confirmed a total of 204 Article III judges, including two Supreme Court justices, 53 appeals court judges and 147 district court judges. A common thread among his court picks is that many are young, white, male and hold extreme ideological views on abortion, LGBTQ rights and other civil rights.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--New Hampshire Voter Goes Topless After Her Anti-Trump Shirt Is Banned

RedBubble.com A voter who was told she couldn ’ t wear an anti-Trump shirt at a polling place because it violated electioneering rules simply whipped it off and did her civic duty topless .
EXETER , N.H. ( AP ) — A voter who was told she couldn ’ t wear an anti-Trump shirt at a polling place because it violated electioneering rules simply whipped it off and did her civic duty topless .
The woman walked into a polling place in Exeter , New Hampshire , on Tuesday ’ s primary election wearing a “ McCain Hero , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scafidi told her she couldn ’ t wear a shirt featuring a political candidate while she voted , Seacoastonline.com reported in a story that did not identify the woman .
No person “ shall distribute , wear , or post at a polling place any campaign material , ” according to state law .
People who are convicted can be fined as much as $ 1,000 .
Neither Trump nor McCain , who died in 2018 , were on Tuesday ’ s ballot , which featured races for governor and Congress .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was wearing a T-shirt in support of the American flag , Scafidi said .
He answered that an American flag was not electioneering and that the “ Trump Zero ” shirt would have to be covered .
So the woman asked if he wanted her to take her shirt off .
She wasn ’ t wearing anything underneath .
“ I said I ’ d rather she not , ” Scafidi said .
“ But she took it off so fast , no one had time to react .
So the whole place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she walked away , and I let her vote.
” He noted that she could have just gone into the hallway and turned it inside out .
There were about 15 other voters around , Scafidi said , and he didn ’ t notice any children present .
Scafidi could have had her removed for violating the state indecency law , he said , but he didn ’ t want to inflame the situation further , and “ we had more important things to worry about ; we had to get 2,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and count 2,000 absentee ballots .
”

A voter who was told she couldn’t wear an anti-Trump shirt at a polling place because it violated electioneering rules simply whipped it off and did her civic duty topless. RedBubble.com
EXETER, N.H. (AP) — A voter who was told she couldn’t wear an anti-Trump shirt at a polling place because it violated electioneering rules simply whipped it off and did her civic duty topless.
The woman walked into a polling place in Exeter, New Hampshire, on Tuesday’s primary election wearing a “McCain Hero, Trump Zero” T-shirt. Town moderator Paul Scafidi told her she couldn’t wear a shirt featuring a political candidate while she voted, Seacoastonline.com reported in a story that did not identify the woman.
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No person “shall distribute, wear, or post at a polling place any campaign material,” according to state law. People who are convicted can be fined as much as $1,000.
Neither Trump nor McCain, who died in 2018, were on Tuesday’s ballot, which featured races for governor and Congress.
The woman pointed out that another woman nearby was wearing a T-shirt in support of the American flag, Scafidi said. He answered that an American flag was not electioneering and that the “Trump Zero” shirt would have to be covered.
So the woman asked if he wanted her to take her shirt off. She wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
“I said I’d rather she not,” Scafidi said. “But she took it off so fast, no one had time to react. So the whole place just went, ‘whoa,’ and she walked away, and I let her vote.”
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He noted that she could have just gone into the hallway and turned it inside out.
After voting, Scafidi said, the woman put her shirt back on and left.
There were about 15 other voters around, Scafidi said, and he didn’t notice any children present.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Trump Effort To Roll Back Worker Protections Knocked Down In Court

The fast-food president suffered a major setback in federal court on Tuesday , when a judge ruled that one of the Trump administration ’ s signature workplace reforms was “ arbitrary and capricious.
” The “ joint employer ” rule issued by Trump ’ s Labor Department earlier this year would make it harder for workers to sue big chains like McDonald ’ s if they ’ ve been stiffed on the minimum wage or overtime pay .
The new ruling issued in federal court sides with the 17 states and the District of Columbia that sued to stop that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District Judge Gregory Woods said the Labor Department under Trump and Secretary Eugene Scalia strayed from the agency ’ s earlier interpretation of the issue without explanation .
Woods , who was appointed by former President Barack Obama , wrote in his decision that the Trump administration also failed to adequately consider how much the new rule would cost workers .
Federal agencies have been wrestling for years over the concept of joint employment : the idea that a single worker may be employed by more than one company .
The question is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , temporary staffing firms or franchised businesses , like those found throughout fast food .
Advocates for low-wage workers argue that even if a McDonald ’ s worker is technically employed by a franchisee , McDonald ’ s itself helps set the working conditions .
The Obama administration took a broader interpretation of joint employment that pleased worker groups and infuriated business groups .
The Trump administration took the opposite tack and tried to issue a rule that would cement their more restrictive , employer-friendly interpretation .
That , in turn , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDonald ’ s when low-wage workers ’ paychecks come up short .
Woods found that the Labor Department glossed over how much the rule could cost workers by making it harder to recoup wages .
The administration argued that , in theory , it shouldn ’ t cost workers anything , because they could still collect back pay from their primary employer ( e.g.
, the franchisee ) even if they couldn ’ t go after the secondary employer ( McDonald ’ s ) .
“ [ E ] mployers do not uniformly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ That is the whole point of joint employer liability : Workers can recover from a joint employer when their primary employer flakes on its legal obligations.
” The Economic Policy Institute , a left-leaning think tank that opposed the Trump administration ’ s rule , issued a study estimating it would cost workers $ 1 billion per year in lost wages .
Woods wrote that the administration “ did not have to agree with that estimate ” but they ignored it instead of doing an analysis of their own .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers nothing ― an obviously unreasonable assumption , ” he wrote .
The lawsuit against the Labor Department rule was brought by 18 Democratic attorneys general , led by New York and Pennsylvania .
In a statement Tuesday , New York Attorney General Letitia James called the ruling “ a critical win for the many American workers who would experience wage theft or a decrease in income due to this reckless rule.
” The decision effectively puts the new rule on ice , but the administration has the option to appeal .

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The fast-food president suffered a major setback in federal court on Tuesday, when a judge ruled that one of the Trump administration’s signature workplace reforms was “arbitrary and capricious.”
The “joint employer” rule issued by Trump’s Labor Department earlier this year would make it harder for workers to sue big chains like McDonald’s if they’ve been stiffed on the minimum wage or overtime pay. The new ruling issued in federal court sides with the 17 states and the District of Columbia that sued to stop that rule from going into effect.
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U.S. District Judge Gregory Woods said the Labor Department under Trump and Secretary Eugene Scalia strayed from the agency’s earlier interpretation of the issue without explanation. Woods, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, wrote in his decision that the Trump administration also failed to adequately consider how much the new rule would cost workers.
Federal agencies have been wrestling for years over the concept of joint employment: the idea that a single worker may be employed by more than one company. The question is most salient when it comes to subcontractors, temporary staffing firms or franchised businesses, like those found throughout fast food. Advocates for low-wage workers argue that even if a McDonald’s worker is technically employed by a franchisee, McDonald’s itself helps set the working conditions.
The Obama administration took a broader interpretation of joint employment that pleased worker groups and infuriated business groups. The Trump administration took the opposite tack and tried to issue a rule that would cement their more restrictive, employer-friendly interpretation. That, in turn, could reduce the legal threat for corporations like McDonald’s when low-wage workers’ paychecks come up short.
Trump with Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Woods found that the Labor Department glossed over how much the rule could cost workers by making it harder to recoup wages. The administration argued that, in theory, it shouldn’t cost workers anything, because they could still collect back pay from their primary employer (e.g., the franchisee) even if they couldn’t go after the secondary employer (McDonald’s).
Woods called that argument “silly.”
“[E]mployers do not uniformly fulfill their legal obligations,” he wrote. “That is the whole point of joint employer liability: Workers can recover from a joint employer when their primary employer flakes on its legal obligations.”
The Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank that opposed the Trump administration’s rule, issued a study estimating it would cost workers $1 billion per year in lost wages. Woods wrote that the administration “did not have to agree with that estimate” but they ignored it instead of doing an analysis of their own. They assumed their rule “would cost workers nothing ― an obviously unreasonable assumption,” he wrote.
The lawsuit against the Labor Department rule was brought by 18 Democratic attorneys general, led by New York and Pennsylvania. In a statement Tuesday, New York Attorney General Letitia James called the ruling “a critical win for the many American workers who would experience wage theft or a decrease in income due to this reckless rule.”
The decision effectively puts the new rule on ice, but the administration has the option to appeal.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Criminal Complaint Filed In North Carolina Against Postmaster General Louis DeJoy

The complaint , filed with North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein ( D ) and the state ’ s Board of Elections , alleges that DeJoy ran an illegal straw donor scheme while serving as CEO of New Breed Logistics .
He allegedly pressured his employees to make contributions to Republican politicians , then reimbursed them .
DeJoy is alleged to have reimbursed New Breed employees by paying them bonuses equal to the contributions he requested they make from 2000 to 2014 , according to The Washington Post .
During that period , New Breed employees donated over $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Democrats .
Common Cause and its North Carolina affiliate filed the complaint with the North Carolina Attorney General ’ s office on Wednesday , as the five-year federal statute of limitations for the alleged crimes has passed .
There is no statute of limitations for felonies in North Carolina .
“ This troubling fundraising scheme allegedly perpetrated by Louis DeJoy has the appearance of bypassing North Carolina ’ s campaign finance limits in order to illicitly buy political access and curry favor with elected officials , ” Bob Phillips , executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
“ These allegations should be thoroughly investigated and , if true , Mr. DeJoy must be held accountable.
” Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testifies during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on Aug. 24 .
The U.S .
Postal Service has been in turmoil ever since DeJoy assumed his position in June .
The U.S .
Postal Service has been in turmoil ever since DeJoy assumed his position in June .
The agency was already suffering from a revenue shortfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic , but DeJoy sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a radical degradation of mail delivery across the country .
However , it ’ s expected that there will be a huge increase in the number of American voters casting their ballots through the mail this fall as people try to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
President Donald Trump explicitly stated he did not want the Postal Service to receive proper funding because it would help the post office deliver mailed ballots , and he believes he has a greater likelihood of winning reelection if fewer Americans vote .
This created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowdown was part of Trump ’ s voter suppression campaign .
The ensuing coverage of DeJoy ’ s history as a CEO of a delivery logistics firm that contracts with the post office ― and as a Republican donor ― led to the allegations that he reimbursed employees for political donations via corporate bonuses .
The straw donor scheme that DeJoy is alleged to have operated is the most commonly prosecuted campaign finance law violation .
It is often easy to detect , and the commission of the crime is evidence that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law to evade individual contribution limits by paying for other people ’ s donations .

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Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is the subject of a criminal complaint filed by the nonpartisan nonprofit group Common Cause North Carolina.
The complaint, filed with North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D) and the state’s Board of Elections, alleges that DeJoy ran an illegal straw donor scheme while serving as CEO of New Breed Logistics. He allegedly pressured his employees to make contributions to Republican politicians, then reimbursed them.
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DeJoy is alleged to have reimbursed New Breed employees by paying them bonuses equal to the contributions he requested they make from 2000 to 2014, according to The Washington Post. During that period, New Breed employees donated over $1 million to Republicans and just $700 to Democrats.
Common Cause and its North Carolina affiliate filed the complaint with the North Carolina Attorney General’s office on Wednesday, as the five-year federal statute of limitations for the alleged crimes has passed. There is no statute of limitations for felonies in North Carolina.
“This troubling fundraising scheme allegedly perpetrated by Louis DeJoy has the appearance of bypassing North Carolina’s campaign finance limits in order to illicitly buy political access and curry favor with elected officials,” Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause NC, said in a statement. “These allegations should be thoroughly investigated and, if true, Mr. DeJoy must be held accountable.”
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testifies during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on Aug. 24. The U.S. Postal Service has been in turmoil ever since DeJoy assumed his position in June. Tom Williams/Pool via AP
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The U.S. Postal Service has been in turmoil ever since DeJoy assumed his position in June. The agency was already suffering from a revenue shortfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but DeJoy sought to institute corporate efficiency reforms that led to a radical degradation of mail delivery across the country.
However, it’s expected that there will be a huge increase in the number of American voters casting their ballots through the mail this fall as people try to curb the spread of COVID-19. President Donald Trump explicitly stated he did not want the Postal Service to receive proper funding because it would help the post office deliver mailed ballots, and he believes he has a greater likelihood of winning reelection if fewer Americans vote. This created an impression that DeJoy’s mail slowdown was part of Trump’s voter suppression campaign.
The ensuing coverage of DeJoy’s history as a CEO of a delivery logistics firm that contracts with the post office ― and as a Republican donor ― led to the allegations that he reimbursed employees for political donations via corporate bonuses.
The straw donor scheme that DeJoy is alleged to have operated is the most commonly prosecuted campaign finance law violation. It is often easy to detect, and the commission of the crime is evidence that the perpetrator was aware it was against the law to evade individual contribution limits by paying for other people’s donations.
Past successful prosecutions of straw donor schemes have included conservative propagandist Dinesh D’Souza, Democratic Party donor Jeffrey Thompson, earmark lobbyist Paul Magliocchetti and Nevada real estate mogul F. Harvey Whittmore.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Global Temperature Could Exceed Limit Set By World Leaders In Next Decade: UN Report

The world is getting closer to passing a temperature limit set by global leaders five years ago and may exceed it in the next decade or so , according to a new United Nations report .
In the next five years , the world has nearly a 1-in-4 chance of experiencing a year that ’ s hot enough to put the global temperature at 2.7 degrees ( 1.5 degrees Celsius ) above pre-industrial times , according to a new science update released Wednesday by the U.N. , World Meteorological Organization and other global science groups .
That 1.5 degrees Celsius @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set in 2015 by world leaders in the Paris climate change agreement .
A 2018 U.N. science report said a world hotter than that still survives , but chances of dangerous problems increase tremendously .
The report comes on the heels of a weekend of weather gone wild around the U.S. : Scorching heat , record California wildfires and two more Atlantic storms that set records for earliest 16th and 17th named storms .
The warming that has already occurred has “ increased the odds of extreme events that are unprecedented in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientist Noah Diffenbaugh said .
For example , historical global warming has increased the odds of record-setting hot extremes at more than 80 % of the globe , and has “ doubled or even tripled the odds over the region of California and the western U.S. that has experienced record-setting heat in recent weeks , ” Diffenbaugh added .
The world already has warmed nearly 2 degrees ( 1.1 degrees Celsius ) since the late 1800s , and the last five years are hotter than the previous five years , the report said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or it might not be .
There ’ s both man-made warming and natural warming from a strong El Nino weather pattern in the past five years , said World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas .
“ The probability of 1.5 degrees ( Celsius ) is growing year by year , ” Taalas told The Associated Press .
“ It ’ s very likely to happen in the next decade if we don ’ t change our behavior.
” Breakthrough Institute climate scientist Zeke Hausfather , who wasn ’ t part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good update of what scientists already know .
It is “ abundantly clear that rapid climate change is continuing and the world is far from on track ” toward meeting the Paris climate goals , he said .
Some countries , including the U.S. and many in Europe , are reducing emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide , but Taalas said the world is on a path that will be 5.4 degrees ( 3 degrees Celsius ) warmer compared with the late 19th century .
That would be above the Paris accord ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest report was the U.N. ’ s annual update on “ climate disruption ” caused by the burning of coal , oil and gas .
It highlighted more than just increasing temperatures and rising sea levels .
“ Drought and heat waves substantially increased the risk of wildfires , ” the report said .
“ The three largest economic losses on record from wildfires have all occurred in the last four years.
” Carbon dioxide emissions will be down 4 % to 7 % this year because of reduced travel and industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heat-trapping gas stays in the air for a century so the levels in the atmosphere continue to go up , Taalas said .
And , he said , so will the warming .
So far , this year is the second hottest on record and has a 37 % chance of surpassing the global record set in 2016 , according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .

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The world is getting closer to passing a temperature limit set by global leaders five years ago and may exceed it in the next decade or so, according to a new United Nations report.
In the next five years, the world has nearly a 1-in-4 chance of experiencing a year that’s hot enough to put the global temperature at 2.7 degrees (1.5 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial times, according to a new science update released Wednesday by the U.N., World Meteorological Organization and other global science groups.
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That 1.5 degrees Celsius is the more stringent of two limits set in 2015 by world leaders in the Paris climate change agreement. A 2018 U.N. science report said a world hotter than that still survives, but chances of dangerous problems increase tremendously.
The report comes on the heels of a weekend of weather gone wild around the U.S.: Scorching heat, record California wildfires and two more Atlantic storms that set records for earliest 16th and 17th named storms.
Earlier this year, Death Valley hit 130 degrees (54.4 degrees Celsius) and Siberia hit 100 degrees (38 degrees Celsius).
A sign warns of extreme heat danger at Badwater Basin, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Death Valley National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The warming that has already occurred has “increased the odds of extreme events that are unprecedented in our historical experience,” Stanford University climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh said.
For example, historical global warming has increased the odds of record-setting hot extremes at more than 80% of the globe, and has “doubled or even tripled the odds over the region of California and the western U.S. that has experienced record-setting heat in recent weeks,” Diffenbaugh added.
The world already has warmed nearly 2 degrees (1.1 degrees Celsius) since the late 1800s, and the last five years are hotter than the previous five years, the report said. The speed-up could be temporary, or it might not be. There’s both man-made warming and natural warming from a strong El Nino weather pattern in the past five years, said World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
“The probability of 1.5 degrees (Celsius) is growing year by year,” Taalas told The Associated Press. “It’s very likely to happen in the next decade if we don’t change our behavior.”
That’s potentially faster than what a 2018 U.N. report found: that the world was likely to hit 1.5 degrees sometime between 2030 and 2052.
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Breakthrough Institute climate scientist Zeke Hausfather, who wasn’t part of the new report, said the document was a good update of what scientists already know. It is “abundantly clear that rapid climate change is continuing and the world is far from on track” toward meeting the Paris climate goals, he said.
Some countries, including the U.S. and many in Europe, are reducing emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, but Taalas said the world is on a path that will be 5.4 degrees (3 degrees Celsius) warmer compared with the late 19th century. That would be above the Paris accord’s less stringent 2-degree Celsius target.
Flames lick above vehicles on Highway 162 as the Bear Fire burns in Oroville, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) ASSOCIATED PRESS
The latest report was the U.N.’s annual update on “climate disruption” caused by the burning of coal, oil and gas. It highlighted more than just increasing temperatures and rising sea levels.
“Record heat, ice loss, wildfires, floods and droughts continue to worsen, affecting communities, nations and economies around the world,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote in a foreword.
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The report spotlights unprecedented wildfires in the Amazon, the Arctic and Australia. California is fighting record wildfires as the report was issued.
“Drought and heat waves substantially increased the risk of wildfires,” the report said. “The three largest economic losses on record from wildfires have all occurred in the last four years.”
Carbon dioxide emissions will be down 4% to 7% this year because of reduced travel and industrial activities during the coronavirus pandemic, but the heat-trapping gas stays in the air for a century so the levels in the atmosphere continue to go up, Taalas said. And, he said, so will the warming.
So far, this year is the second hottest on record and has a 37% chance of surpassing the global record set in 2016, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
___
Follow AP’s climate coverage here. Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter: @borenbears ___
The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Kamala Harris Takes Center Stage In Democratic Advertising

Scott Olson via Getty Images California Sen. Kamala Harris , the Democratic vice presidential nominee , is planning a much larger role in campaign advertising than your typical running mate .
A set of new advertisements and mailers from BlackPAC , a political action committee that focuses on turning out Black voters in the presidential race and in key Senate races , puts Harris front and center : A television and digital ad uses the speech that Harris delivered at her own presidential campaign kickoff in 2019 as narration .
One of the group ’ s mailers outlines Harris ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University and how she was “ raised with the values of the civil rights movement.
” And Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign is giving Harris , also the first South Asian woman to run on a major party ticket , a far more prominent role in campaign ads than vice presidential candidates have traditionally warranted .
Last week , the campaign released a 60-second digital and television ad , titled “ We ’ re Listening , ” featuring Harris speaking directly to the camera about police reform and racial justice .
Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both her ability to reach voters – especially young people – who remain skeptical of Biden and the general jolt of energy she ’ s brought to the ticket since her selection shortly before the Democratic National Convention last month .
( Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised more than $ 360 million in August , with much of that cash pouring in after the Harris announcement . )
Many Harris allies also see the ads as crucial to protecting a candidate who they think was unfairly treated during her own presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the target of misogynistic and racist attacks from President Donald Trump and other Republicans .
“ Voters already know how much Trump has hurt their lives .
We don ’ t need to tell them about that , ” said Adrianne Shropshire , executive director of BlackPAC .
“ What feels most important to do is to define Kamala Harris and Joe Biden for Black voters in relation to the issues that Black voters have said they care the most about.
” “ This is a crisis .
But we can fix it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eject those who deal in hate and elect those who help us elevate , ” a narrator says in one of the ads .
“ This is the time to make our voice , our vote and our power heard.
” BlackPAC is a super PAC , which means it can spend and raise unlimited sums of money as long as it does not coordinate directly with a political campaign .
Most of the group ’ s funding this cycle comes from the Sixteen Thirty Fund , a liberal nonprofit that does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.25 million .
It also received $ 500,000 from the nonprofit group America Votes and $ 120,000 from James Murdoch and his wife .
( Murdoch , the son of News Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch , has donated extensively to Democratic causes this election cycle . )
Biden has held a consistent lead over Trump in most public polls , both nationally and in major swing states .
While his advantage among Black voters is massive , it remains smaller than Hillary Clinton ’ s edge over Trump four years ago , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from young Black men .
High Black voter turnout could prove crucial in nearly every key presidential swing state : Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin , North Carolina and Florida .
Harris ’ campaign travel so far indicates that Biden ’ s team plans to use her to reach out to voters of color .
On Monday , she traveled to Milwaukee , the largest city in Wisconsin , where Black turnout dipped in 2016 .
There , she met with the family of Jacob Blake , then with a group of Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economic plans , and finally with a group of Latino community organizers .
“ We have to get this done , ” Harris told a group of roughly 45 supporters who had gathered on the sidewalk outside her meeting with business owners .
“ I need your help in Milwaukee , OK ?
We ’ re going to get this done.
” ( A video of Harris ’ brief remarks went viral on Tuesday , racking up more than 3 million views , with many people commenting on her footwear : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All-Stars . )
“ Donald Trump ’ s campaign is built around one person : Donald Trump , ” Hill wrote in an email to HuffPost .
“ That ’ s why they appease him with DC cable news buys , profit his pockets spending millions at Trump properties , and make sure he is the only star of their ads .
Joe Biden is running for President not for himself , but for the country ― and that ’ s why we not only proudly feature the whole ticket across our paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working Americans who are voting Biden-Harris too.
” Officials at the progressive group NextGen America , which focuses on turning out youth voters , said their polling showed Harris was already making young women , especially Black and Latina women , more excited about voting in November .
They noted that both Harris ’ inspiring personal story ― she ’ s the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica who has ascended to the highest levels of American politics ― and her ability to deliver biting attacks on the president could fire up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to put Kamala Harris in the key , grabbing rebounds and throwing elbows .
Joe Biden gets to be the person floating above all of this , pointing out that Donald Trump is a crazy person , ” said Heather Greven , communications director at NextGen .
“ Our audience is going to love the Kamala debate against Mike Pence.
” If the Biden campaign wants to cement a relationship between Harris and young voters of color , it will need to address criticisms of Harris ’ record as a prosecutor in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California .
Throughout the Democratic presidential primaries , progressives assailed Harris as part of the machinery of mass incarceration .
“ Some of these negative ads are landing , ” Shropshire said , citing both the shorthand perception that “ Kamala is a cop ” and the idea that Biden only selected her as a way to pander to Black voters .
“ Some are sticking .
Some people are spouting right-wing talking points , since that ’ s all they ’ ve heard .
”

California Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, is planning a much larger role in campaign advertising than your typical running mate. Scott Olson via Getty Images
California Sen. Kamala Harris has assumed a central role in Democratic advertising as the presidential campaign enters its final weeks, a sign that party operatives are counting on the first Black woman to appear on a major party’s presidential ticket to fire up young people and Black voters in key swing states.
A set of new advertisements and mailers from BlackPAC, a political action committee that focuses on turning out Black voters in the presidential race and in key Senate races, puts Harris front and center: A television and digital ad uses the speech that Harris delivered at her own presidential campaign kickoff in 2019 as narration. One of the group’s mailers outlines Harris’ biography, noting her education at Howard University and how she was “raised with the values of the civil rights movement.”
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And Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is giving Harris, also the first South Asian woman to run on a major party ticket, a far more prominent role in campaign ads than vice presidential candidates have traditionally warranted. Last week, the campaign released a 60-second digital and television ad, titled “We’re Listening,” featuring Harris speaking directly to the camera about police reform and racial justice.
Democratic operatives said Harris’ outsized role reflects both her ability to reach voters – especially young people – who remain skeptical of Biden and the general jolt of energy she’s brought to the ticket since her selection shortly before the Democratic National Convention last month. (Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised more than $360 million in August, with much of that cash pouring in after the Harris announcement.)
Many Harris allies also see the ads as crucial to protecting a candidate who they think was unfairly treated during her own presidential run, and who has already been the target of misogynistic and racist attacks from President Donald Trump and other Republicans.
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“Voters already know how much Trump has hurt their lives. We don’t need to tell them about that,” said Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPAC. “What feels most important to do is to define Kamala Harris and Joe Biden for Black voters in relation to the issues that Black voters have said they care the most about.”
BlackPAC’s ads are part of a seven-figure buy aimed at boosting Black turnout in Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The group’s other spots and mailers emphasize how voting is a significant part of building political power for the Black community, and how the coronavirus pandemic has hit Black people especially hard.
“This is a crisis. But we can fix it by organizing the power of our community to eject those who deal in hate and elect those who help us elevate,” a narrator says in one of the ads. “This is the time to make our voice, our vote and our power heard.”
BlackPAC is a super PAC, which means it can spend and raise unlimited sums of money as long as it does not coordinate directly with a political campaign. Most of the group’s funding this cycle comes from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a liberal nonprofit that does not disclose its donors, giving $2.25 million. It also received $500,000 from the nonprofit group America Votes and $120,000 from James Murdoch and his wife. (Murdoch, the son of News Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch, has donated extensively to Democratic causes this election cycle.)
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Biden has held a consistent lead over Trump in most public polls, both nationally and in major swing states. While his advantage among Black voters is massive, it remains smaller than Hillary Clinton’s edge over Trump four years ago, and Democratic strategists are particularly worried about enthusiasm from young Black men. High Black voter turnout could prove crucial in nearly every key presidential swing state: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Florida.
Harris’ campaign travel so far indicates that Biden’s team plans to use her to reach out to voters of color. On Monday, she traveled to Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, where Black turnout dipped in 2016. There, she met with the family of Jacob Blake, then with a group of Black business owners to discuss the Biden campaign’s economic plans, and finally with a group of Latino community organizers.
“We have to get this done,” Harris told a group of roughly 45 supporters who had gathered on the sidewalk outside her meeting with business owners. “I need your help in Milwaukee, OK? We’re going to get this done.” (A video of Harris’ brief remarks went viral on Tuesday, racking up more than 3 million views, with many people commenting on her footwear: a pair of black low-rise Chuck Taylor All-Stars.)
Matt Hill, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, said the ads featuring Harris were part of the campaign’s broad advertising strategy, a contrast to Republicans’ Trump-centric approach.
“Donald Trump’s campaign is built around one person: Donald Trump,” Hill wrote in an email to HuffPost. “That’s why they appease him with DC cable news buys, profit his pockets spending millions at Trump properties, and make sure he is the only star of their ads. Joe Biden is running for President not for himself, but for the country ― and that’s why we not only proudly feature the whole ticket across our paid media, but the broad coalition of working Americans who are voting Biden-Harris too.”
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Officials at the progressive group NextGen America, which focuses on turning out youth voters, said their polling showed Harris was already making young women, especially Black and Latina women, more excited about voting in November. They noted that both Harris’ inspiring personal story ― she’s the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica who has ascended to the highest levels of American politics ― and her ability to deliver biting attacks on the president could fire up young people.
“They’re going to put Kamala Harris in the key, grabbing rebounds and throwing elbows. Joe Biden gets to be the person floating above all of this, pointing out that Donald Trump is a crazy person,” said Heather Greven, communications director at NextGen. “Our audience is going to love the Kamala debate against Mike Pence.”
If the Biden campaign wants to cement a relationship between Harris and young voters of color, it will need to address criticisms of Harris’ record as a prosecutor in San Francisco and as attorney general of California. Throughout the Democratic presidential primaries, progressives assailed Harris as part of the machinery of mass incarceration.
“Some of these negative ads are landing,” Shropshire said, citing both the shorthand perception that “Kamala is a cop” and the idea that Biden only selected her as a way to pander to Black voters. “Some are sticking. Some people are spouting right-wing talking points, since that’s all they’ve heard.”
Harris allies plan to instead highlight her record as a senator, including her lead role in the Justice in Policing Act, the Democratic proposal to reform police departments that was written after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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BlackPAC, along with three other super PACs led by women, is slated to spend $10 million to combat criticisms of Harris online. Republicans have already made it clear that they plan to attack Harris aggressively, with Trump taking direct aim at her during a rally Tuesday night in North Carolina.
“She could never be the first woman president. She could never be. That would be an insult to our country,” Trump said.
Regardless of Trump’s attacks, however, Democratic operatives said the centrality of Harris to the presidential campaign was an inherent shift.
“Going from picking [Clinton’s running mate] Tim Kaine to having ads and messaging that really centered white voters to now, where Kamala Harris is on the top of the ticket, speaking about racial justice,” said Aimee Allison, founder and president of She The People, which advocated for Biden to pick a woman of color as his running mate. “Things really have changed.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Trump's COVID-19 Response, Disdain For Slain Troops Mocked By Performance Artists

Here ’ s one statue of a racist figure that President Donald Trump may actually like to tear down .
The president , who has a penchant for preserving public monuments to racist historical figures , was on Tuesday taunted by a performance art piece in New York City that depicted him driving a golf cart through a graveyard .
The Trump Statue Initiative put on this performance art piece that criticized the president 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic as well as his insults of America 's war dead .
The performance art piece — which was put on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project conceived by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bryan Buckley — featured a mock-Fox News cameraman filming alongside the president ’ s gilded golf cart , pushed by prominent commentators from the conservative network .
It was performed in Manhattan ’ s Battery Park City area .
The Final Push , coming to you live from NYC .
Boosted by Fox News , doing what Agent Orange does best : golfing right over the graves of those who deemed “ losers and suckers ” for serving our country , and the 180,000+ who perished from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — TrumpStatueInitiative ( @ RelicTrump ) September 8 , 2020 The tombstones on the set of the performance piece read “ In Tragic Memory Of : ‘ It Is What It Is ’ ” ( referencing Trump ’ s dismissal of the country ’ s soaring death toll from COVID-19 ) and “ In Tragic Memory Of : Loser , ” a reference to comments confirmed by multiple outlets that Trump reportedly made about fallen American soldiers in 2018 .
The inscription on the main plinth of the living statue described Trump as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberties ” and suggested his presidency will end in 2020 .
The initiative , which did not immediately reply to HuffPost ’ s request for comment , describes itself on its website as “ a way for artists to share their point of view on our 45th President ’ s most notoriously self-serving , narcissistic , and racist moments ... in a way our President can truly relate to : Realistic , Heroic Statues .
“ Yeah , unfortunately , statues and monuments are something the big guy is spending a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while we scramble to find funding to fight surging COVID-19 infections , historic unemployment , and daily racist attacks , ” the project ’ s website adds .

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Here’s one statue of a racist figure that President Donald Trump may actually like to tear down.
The president, who has a penchant for preserving public monuments to racist historical figures, was on Tuesday taunted by a performance art piece in New York City that depicted him driving a golf cart through a graveyard.
The Trump Statue Initiative put on this performance art piece that criticized the president's handling of the coronavirus pandemic as well as his insults of America's war dead. BRYAN R. SMITH via Getty Images
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The performance art piece — which was put on by the Trump Statue Initiative, a project conceived by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bryan Buckley — featured a mock-Fox News cameraman filming alongside the president’s gilded golf cart, pushed by prominent commentators from the conservative network. It was performed in Manhattan’s Battery Park City area.
The Final Push, coming to you live from NYC. Boosted by Fox News, doing what Agent Orange does best: golfing right over the graves of those who deemed “losers and suckers” for serving our country, and the 180,000+ who perished from COVID-19. #FDT #Vote2020 pic.twitter.com/pYLx9utTSt — TrumpStatueInitiative (@RelicTrump) September 8, 2020
The tombstones on the set of the performance piece read “In Tragic Memory Of: ‘It Is What It Is’” (referencing Trump’s dismissal of the country’s soaring death toll from COVID-19) and “In Tragic Memory Of: Loser,” a reference to comments confirmed by multiple outlets that Trump reportedly made about fallen American soldiers in 2018.
Trump has denied disparaging the war dead.
VIDEO: A 'living statue' depicting US President Donald Trump driving a golf cart over coronavirus and military themed tombstones while being followed by Fox News anchors is unveiled in Battery Park in New York pic.twitter.com/XvThIBMaBJ — AFP news agency (@AFP) September 9, 2020
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The inscription on the main plinth of the living statue described Trump as the “Destroyer of Civil Rights and Liberties” and suggested his presidency will end in 2020.
The artists also performed a piece titled “THE GIANT VS THE STEALER” on Tuesday.
The initiative, which did not immediately reply to HuffPost’s request for comment, describes itself on its website as “a way for artists to share their point of view on our 45th President’s most notoriously self-serving, narcissistic, and racist moments ... in a way our President can truly relate to: Realistic, Heroic Statues.
“Yeah, unfortunately, statues and monuments are something the big guy is spending a lot of tax payer dollars protecting right now, while we scramble to find funding to fight surging COVID-19 infections, historic unemployment, and daily racist attacks,” the project’s website adds.
The Trump Statue Initiative has previously performed similar anti-Trump pieces in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Trump Brags About Rally Crowds, Mockingly Calls Supporters 'Peaceful Protesters'

President Donald Trump had nothing but praise for his supporters at a campaign rally in Winston-Salem , North Carolina , on Tuesday , seemingly overlooking the fact that they had gathered en masse in the midst of an ongoing pandemic .
“ I don ’ t know how many people [ are ] here , but there ’ s a lot , ” Trump said , looking out at a closely packed crowd , many of whom were without masks .
“ We said let ’ s keep it down .
They didn ’ t do too good a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These crowds , I tell you it ’ s beyond what we had in terms of enthusiasm , beyond what we had four years ago in 2016 , and that was a record enthusiasm and we are breaking that record by a lot.
” Trump then launched into praise for “ Republican cities ” and condemnation of “ Democrat-run cities , ” utilizing rhetoric that he has amplified both online and in person to slam the likes of Chicago , Minneapolis , New York and Portland .
“ Republican cities and towns are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re doing great .
And we don ’ t have crime and we don ’ t have this violence ... Joe Biden and his party spent the entire summer cheering on the rioters rampaging through Democrat-run cities , falsely labeling them as peaceful protesters .
And you know , we call you peaceful protesters , you know why ?
Because they have rules in these Democrat-run states that if you ’ re campaigning , you can ’ t have more than five people.
” Trump went on to argue that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless they were willing “ to riot and stand on top of each other ’ s face and do whatever the hell you want to do.
” “ You ’ re allowed to do that because you ’ re considered a peaceful protester , ” Trump said .
“ So we decided to call all our rallies peaceful protests.
” Trump ’ s claims that Republican-run cities are without violence ignore rising murder rates over the past year in cities like Jacksonville and Fort Worth , both of which have Republican mayors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimal campaign rallies in Democrat-run states — a talking point echoed on Labor Day by his son , Eric Trump — also ignore the fact that Democratic nominee Joe Biden ’ s small-scale events have seen participants wearing masks and observing social distancing guidelines , while Trump ’ s packed rallies have been linked with surges in coronavirus cases .
Biden has also repeatedly condemned violence at protests , another fact ignored by Trump during his speech .
Aside from these blatant claims , Trump boasted that reelection would have been easy if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ China plague , ” and stated that Mexico was still going to pay for the border wall that had been a major talking point of his 2016 campaign via “ toll booths ” — without offering further details on how these tolls would actually be implemented .

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President Donald Trump had nothing but praise for his supporters at a campaign rally in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Tuesday, seemingly overlooking the fact that they had gathered en masse in the midst of an ongoing pandemic.
“I don’t know how many people [are] here, but there’s a lot,” Trump said, looking out at a closely packed crowd, many of whom were without masks. “We said let’s keep it down. They didn’t do too good a job, but that’s good. These crowds, I tell you it’s beyond what we had in terms of enthusiasm, beyond what we had four years ago in 2016, and that was a record enthusiasm and we are breaking that record by a lot.”
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Trump then launched into praise for “Republican cities” and condemnation of “Democrat-run cities,” utilizing rhetoric that he has amplified both online and in person to slam the likes of Chicago, Minneapolis, New York and Portland.
“Republican cities and towns are doing great,” Trump said. “We’re doing great. And we don’t have crime and we don’t have this violence ... Joe Biden and his party spent the entire summer cheering on the rioters rampaging through Democrat-run cities, falsely labeling them as peaceful protesters. And you know, we call you peaceful protesters, you know why? Because they have rules in these Democrat-run states that if you’re campaigning, you can’t have more than five people.”
Trump went on to argue that coronavirus restrictions confined citizens to their homes unless they were willing “to riot and stand on top of each other’s face and do whatever the hell you want to do.”
“You’re allowed to do that because you’re considered a peaceful protester,” Trump said. “So we decided to call all our rallies peaceful protests.”
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Trump’s claims that Republican-run cities are without violence ignore rising murder rates over the past year in cities like Jacksonville and Fort Worth, both of which have Republican mayors.
The president’s mocking words against minimal campaign rallies in Democrat-run states — a talking point echoed on Labor Day by his son, Eric Trump — also ignore the fact that Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s small-scale events have seen participants wearing masks and observing social distancing guidelines, while Trump’s packed rallies have been linked with surges in coronavirus cases. Biden has also repeatedly condemned violence at protests, another fact ignored by Trump during his speech.
Aside from these blatant claims, Trump boasted that reelection would have been easy if it hadn’t been for the “China plague,” and stated that Mexico was still going to pay for the border wall that had been a major talking point of his 2016 campaign via “toll booths” — without offering further details on how these tolls would actually be implemented.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--New Trump Rule Threatens Public Universities That Don't Support Religious Clubs

The rule was issued by the Education Department Wednesday , less than two months before the election , and cements much of what President Donald Trump outlined in a March 2019 executive order demanding wider speech protections at U.S. colleges .
In taking up the issue , Trump highlighted concerns from conservatives who complained that their voices had been suppressed on university campuses .
As part of the policy , the Education Department can suspend or terminate grants to public universities found in court to have violated the First Amendment .
In extreme cases , schools could become ineligible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be taken against private universities found in court to have violated their own speech codes .
Public universities could also lose funding if they fail to provide religious student groups the same rights and benefits as other campus groups , including the use of campus facilities and access to student fee funding .
That edict does not apply to private colleges , which have more flexibility in limiting speech on their campuses .
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the new rule protects the rights of students , teachers and faith-based institutions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose between their faith and their education , and an institution controlled by a religious organization should not have to sacrifice its religious beliefs to participate in Department grants and programs , ” DeVos said in a statement .
In his March 2019 executive order , Trump directed a dozen federal agencies to tie their university funding to free speech rules .
The new policy applies only to certain Education Department grants , however , and does not cover much larger pools of research funding .
It was not immediately clear if similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The policy was welcomed by a variety of religious groups that say colleges too often discriminate against students based on their faith .
Some groups cited a 2018 case at the University of Iowa , which disbanded several religious groups that declined to adopt a policy forbidding discrimination based on , among other classifications , sexual orientation or preference .
Greg Jao , a spokesman for the evangelical Christian group InterVarsity Fellowship , said the rule is needed to protect student groups that want leaders who agree with their religious beliefs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ equally , in order to encourage tolerance , pluralism and religious diversity , ” he said in a statement .
The policy benefits Muslim student groups by allowing them to choose their own leaders according to their faith ’ s principles , said Ismail Royer , director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team for the Religious Freedom Institute .
“ This right should be reserved for all student religious organizations , and not usurped by university officials based on their own shifting , unpredictable standards , ” Royer said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see it as an unnecessary intrusion .
They say the penalties are too severe and that it would be too easy to trigger a loss of funding .
The American Council on Education , a group of college presidents , previously said the policy would lead to “ a flood of frivolous lawsuits.
” “ We see this as a politically motivated solution in search of a problem , being issued in an election year , ” he said .
“ This is being done to appeal to a particular part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially proposed his executive order last year , he highlighted the case of an activist who was punched while recruiting for the conservative group Turning Point USA at the University of California , Berkeley .
Trump revived the topic in July when he threatened to withdraw tax-exempt status for schools and universities .

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The Trump administration is moving forward with a policy that expands protections for religious groups on college campuses and threatens to cut federal education funding to colleges that violate free speech rules.
The rule was issued by the Education Department Wednesday, less than two months before the election, and cements much of what President Donald Trump outlined in a March 2019 executive order demanding wider speech protections at U.S. colleges. In taking up the issue, Trump highlighted concerns from conservatives who complained that their voices had been suppressed on university campuses.
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As part of the policy, the Education Department can suspend or terminate grants to public universities found in court to have violated the First Amendment. In extreme cases, schools could become ineligible for any further grants. The same actions could be taken against private universities found in court to have violated their own speech codes.
Public universities could also lose funding if they fail to provide religious student groups the same rights and benefits as other campus groups, including the use of campus facilities and access to student fee funding. That edict does not apply to private colleges, which have more flexibility in limiting speech on their campuses.
Students pray during an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship meeting at Cal State Northridge in September 2014. Bob Chamberlin via Getty Images
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the new rule protects the rights of students, teachers and faith-based institutions. “Students should not be forced to choose between their faith and their education, and an institution controlled by a religious organization should not have to sacrifice its religious beliefs to participate in Department grants and programs,” DeVos said in a statement.
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In his March 2019 executive order, Trump directed a dozen federal agencies to tie their university funding to free speech rules. The new policy applies only to certain Education Department grants, however, and does not cover much larger pools of research funding. It was not immediately clear if similar policies are being prepared by other agencies.
The policy was welcomed by a variety of religious groups that say colleges too often discriminate against students based on their faith. Some groups cited a 2018 case at the University of Iowa, which disbanded several religious groups that declined to adopt a policy forbidding discrimination based on, among other classifications, sexual orientation or preference.
The university launched its crackdown after a gay student was rejected from a leadership position in a campus Christian group.
In its policy, the Education Department specifically forbids colleges from discriminating against religious student groups based on “leadership standards” that are “informed by sincerely held religious beliefs.”
Greg Jao, a spokesman for the evangelical Christian group InterVarsity Fellowship, said the rule is needed to protect student groups that want leaders who agree with their religious beliefs. “Universities should welcome all religious groups equally, in order to encourage tolerance, pluralism and religious diversity,” he said in a statement.
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InterVarsity Christian Fellowship members worship during a weekly meeting at California State University Long Beach in September 2014. MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images via Getty Images
The policy benefits Muslim student groups by allowing them to choose their own leaders according to their faith’s principles, said Ismail Royer, director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team for the Religious Freedom Institute.
“This right should be reserved for all student religious organizations, and not usurped by university officials based on their own shifting, unpredictable standards,” Royer said in a statement.
Many universities, however, see it as an unnecessary intrusion. They say the penalties are too severe and that it would be too easy to trigger a loss of funding. The American Council on Education, a group of college presidents, previously said the policy would lead to “a flood of frivolous lawsuits.”
Terry Hartle, the group’s senior vice president, called it a political move designed to energize Trump’s Christian supporters.
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“We see this as a politically motivated solution in search of a problem, being issued in an election year,” he said. “This is being done to appeal to a particular part of the president’s base.”
When Trump initially proposed his executive order last year, he highlighted the case of an activist who was punched while recruiting for the conservative group Turning Point USA at the University of California, Berkeley. Trump revived the topic in July when he threatened to withdraw tax-exempt status for schools and universities.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Mike Pence To Attend Event Hosted By QAnon Conspiracy Backers

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Vice President Mike Pence and top officials from President Donald Trump ’ s campaign are slated to attend a Montana fundraiser next week hosted by a couple who have expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory , according to an event invitation obtained by The Associated Press and a review of social media postings .
The hosts of the fundraiser , Caryn and Michael Borland , have shared QAnon memes and retweeted posts from QAnon accounts , their social media activity shows .
The baseless conspiracy theory posits that Trump is fighting entrenched enemies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child sex trafficking .
Beyond Pence , the Sept. 14 fundraiser in Bozeman , Montana , is expected to draw influential figures in the president ’ s orbit including Kimberly Guilfoyle , a top Trump fundraising official who is dating Donald Trump Jr. , GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel , Republican National Committee finance chairman Todd Ricketts and RNC co-chairman Tommy Hicks Jr. , the event invitation shows .
While many Republicans have dismissed QAnon , the fundraiser is another sign of how the conspiracy theory is gaining a foothold in the party .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor Greene , another QAnon supporter , as a “ future Republican star.
” The president has refused to condemn QAnon , recently telling reporters that the conspiracy theory is “ gaining in popularity ” and that its supporters “ like me very much.
” Representatives for the Trump campaign didn ’ t immediately comment on the fundraiser .
Caryn and Michael Borland did not return a call seeking comment on the event .
QAnon is a wide-ranging conspiracy fiction spread largely through the internet , centered on the baseless belief that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the “ deep state ” and a child sex trafficking ring run by satanic pedophiles and cannibals .
It is based on cryptic postings by the anonymous “ Q , ” purportedly a government insider .
The story has grown to include other long-standing conspiracy theories , gaining traction among some extreme Trump supporters .
The movement is often likened to a right-wing cult ; some followers have run for office , primarily in the Republican Party , though some have been independent or run as third-party candidates .
Trump has refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Borland prominently features several QAnon “ Q ” logos on his Facebook page .
One features a flaming “ Q ” with a Christian cross in the middle .
He has also shared the QAnon oath as well as its slogan , which states : “ Where We Go One We Go All.
” From his Twitter account , which also features the “ Q ” logo , he also shared a post that labeled the Black Lives Matter movement “ terrorists ” and made his own threat to shoot protesters , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple has donated over $ 220,000 to Trump ’ s reelection , the bulk of which was made in Caryn Borland ’ s name .
They were guests at the president ’ s renominating convention last month .
They posed for photos from the White House South Lawn , including one that shows Michael Alfaro , a Trump fundraiser from Illinois , in the foreground .
Alfaro , who is also slated to attend the Montana fundraiser , responded in the comments : “ Working for the Borland family on South Lawn !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky , according to a caption on a Aug. 27 Facebook photo of the couple and Paul .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence and top officials from President Donald Trump’s campaign are slated to attend a Montana fundraiser next week hosted by a couple who have expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to an event invitation obtained by The Associated Press and a review of social media postings.
The hosts of the fundraiser, Caryn and Michael Borland, have shared QAnon memes and retweeted posts from QAnon accounts, their social media activity shows. The baseless conspiracy theory posits that Trump is fighting entrenched enemies in the government and also involves satanism and child sex trafficking.
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Beyond Pence, the Sept. 14 fundraiser in Bozeman, Montana, is expected to draw influential figures in the president’s orbit including Kimberly Guilfoyle, a top Trump fundraising official who is dating Donald Trump Jr., GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committee finance chairman Todd Ricketts and RNC co-chairman Tommy Hicks Jr., the event invitation shows.
While many Republicans have dismissed QAnon, the fundraiser is another sign of how the conspiracy theory is gaining a foothold in the party. Trump has hailed Georgia congressional candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene, another QAnon supporter, as a “future Republican star.” The president has refused to condemn QAnon, recently telling reporters that the conspiracy theory is “gaining in popularity” and that its supporters “like me very much.”
Representatives for Pence declined to comment on the fundraiser, though the vice president has previously called QAnon a “conspiracy theory.”
“I don’t know anything about QAnon, and I dismiss it out of hand,” he told CBS last month.
Representatives for the Trump campaign didn’t immediately comment on the fundraiser. Caryn and Michael Borland did not return a call seeking comment on the event.
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QAnon is a wide-ranging conspiracy fiction spread largely through the internet, centered on the baseless belief that Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in the “deep state” and a child sex trafficking ring run by satanic pedophiles and cannibals. It is based on cryptic postings by the anonymous “Q,” purportedly a government insider.
The story has grown to include other long-standing conspiracy theories, gaining traction among some extreme Trump supporters. The movement is often likened to a right-wing cult; some followers have run for office, primarily in the Republican Party, though some have been independent or run as third-party candidates. Trump has refused to say QAnon is false.
The Borlands have shared multiple QAnon social media posts, as well as other discredited conspiracies.
Michael Borland prominently features several QAnon “Q” logos on his Facebook page. One features a flaming “Q” with a Christian cross in the middle. He has also shared the QAnon oath as well as its slogan, which states: “Where We Go One We Go All.”
From his Twitter account, which also features the “Q” logo, he also shared a post that labeled the Black Lives Matter movement “terrorists” and made his own threat to shoot protesters, according to a June 25 post.
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Caryn Borland has retweeted or engaged with QAnon Twitter accounts. In April, she responded to a pro-Trump Tweet from a QAnon account by replying “Always” with a praying hands emoji.
The couple has donated over $220,000 to Trump’s reelection, the bulk of which was made in Caryn Borland’s name.
They were guests at the president’s renominating convention last month. They posed for photos from the White House South Lawn, including one that shows Michael Alfaro, a Trump fundraiser from Illinois, in the foreground. Alfaro, who is also slated to attend the Montana fundraiser, responded in the comments: “Working for the Borland family on South Lawn!”
The couple also said they dined with Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, according to a caption on a Aug. 27 Facebook photo of the couple and Paul.
Michael Borland also posed for a photo that same day with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, Borland’s Facebook account shows.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Veteran GOP Election Lawyer Takes Down Trump's Voter Fraud Lies In Damning Op-Ed

Benjamin Ginsburg , a veteran election law attorney and longtime fixture of the GOP ’ s legal team , has written a searing op-ed blasting President Donald Trump for his harmful rhetoric about electoral fraud .
In his nearly four decades practicing law , Ginsburg has represented key Republican figures , groups and campaigns .
He ’ s worked for the Republican National Committee , played a leading role in former President George W. Bush ’ s Florida recount in 2000 , and counseled four of the past six Republican presidential nominees .
Jones Day , the firm where Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , works for Trump ’ s 2020 campaign .
That makes the attorney ’ s Washington Post op-ed , published on Tuesday , all the more striking , since it tore into the president and Republicans for baselessly sowing doubt about the integrity of the U.S. election system .
″ Legions of Republican lawyers have searched in vain over four decades for fraudulent double voting .
At long last , they have a blatant example of a major politician urging his supporters to illegally vote twice .
The only hitch is that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued for months without evidence that voting by mail leads to fraudulent activity — part of his larger effort to create uncertainty and doubt ahead of the November presidential election .
Despite railing against fraud , last week , he actually urged voters in North Carolina to commit it by voting twice ― once by mail and again in person ― to test their state ’ s system .
Voting more than once is illegal .
“ The president ’ s words make his and the Republican Party ’ s rhetoric look less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transactional hypocrisy designed to provide an electoral advantage , ” Ginsburg wrote .
“ And they come as Republicans trying to make their cases in courts must deal with the basic truth that four decades of dedicated investigation have produced only isolated incidents of election fraud.
” Ginsburg said these were “ painful conclusions ” for him to reach after 38 years in the GOP ’ s legal trenches .
“ The truth is that after decades of looking for illegal voting , there ’ s no proof of widespread fraud , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are isolated incidents — by both Democrats and Republicans .
Elections are not rigged.
” He noted that the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity that Trump launched in 2017 disbanded without finding any evidence of fraud .
The Heritage Foundation Election Fraud Database , which has compiled every instance of voter fraud it could find since 1982 , has found only a “ minuscule percentage ” of fraud in the votes cast , Ginsburg said .
Other studies have produced similar findings .
And Trump ’ s language , the lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position in court cases they are currently litigating on claims he believes hold more merit .
“ The president ’ s rhetoric has put my party in the position of a firefighter who deliberately sets fires to look like a hero putting them out , ” he wrote .
“ Calling elections ‘ fraudulent ’ and results ‘ rigged ’ with almost nonexistent evidence is antithetical to being the ‘ rule of law ’ party.
” Read the full op-ed at The Washington Post .

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Benjamin Ginsburg, a veteran election law attorney and longtime fixture of the GOP’s legal team, has written a searing op-ed blasting President Donald Trump for his harmful rhetoric about electoral fraud.
In his nearly four decades practicing law, Ginsburg has represented key Republican figures, groups and campaigns. He’s worked for the Republican National Committee, played a leading role in former President George W. Bush’s Florida recount in 2000, and counseled four of the past six Republican presidential nominees.
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Jones Day, the firm where Ginsburg was employed until he retired last month, works for Trump’s 2020 campaign.
That makes the attorney’s Washington Post op-ed, published on Tuesday, all the more striking, since it tore into the president and Republicans for baselessly sowing doubt about the integrity of the U.S. election system.
Ginsburg began:
″Legions of Republican lawyers have searched in vain over four decades for fraudulent double voting. At long last, they have a blatant example of a major politician urging his supporters to illegally vote twice. The only hitch is that the candidate is President Trump.”
Trump has argued for months without evidence that voting by mail leads to fraudulent activity — part of his larger effort to create uncertainty and doubt ahead of the November presidential election. Despite railing against fraud, last week, he actually urged voters in North Carolina to commit it by voting twice ― once by mail and again in person ― to test their state’s system. Voting more than once is illegal.
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“The president’s words make his and the Republican Party’s rhetoric look less like sincere concern — and more like transactional hypocrisy designed to provide an electoral advantage,” Ginsburg wrote.
“And they come as Republicans trying to make their cases in courts must deal with the basic truth that four decades of dedicated investigation have produced only isolated incidents of election fraud.”
Ginsburg said these were “painful conclusions” for him to reach after 38 years in the GOP’s legal trenches.
“The truth is that after decades of looking for illegal voting, there’s no proof of widespread fraud,” he said. “At most, there are isolated incidents — by both Democrats and Republicans. Elections are not rigged.”
He noted that the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity that Trump launched in 2017 disbanded without finding any evidence of fraud. The Heritage Foundation Election Fraud Database, which has compiled every instance of voter fraud it could find since 1982, has found only a “minuscule percentage” of fraud in the votes cast, Ginsburg said. Other studies have produced similar findings.
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After publication, a representative of the Heritage Foundation contacted HuffPost to dispute Ginsburg’s characterization of the database, noting that it is “a sampling and not an exhaustive list” and, for example, does not contain allegations of fraud that are not investigated or prosecuted.
Ginsburg said Trump’s language puts Republicans in a difficult position in court cases they are currently litigating on claims he believes hold more merit.
“The president’s rhetoric has put my party in the position of a firefighter who deliberately sets fires to look like a hero putting them out,” he wrote.“Calling elections ‘fraudulent’ and results ‘rigged’ with almost nonexistent evidence is antithetical to being the ‘rule of law’ party.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Kool & The Gang Co-Founder Ronald 'Khalis' Bell Dead At 68

Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP , file Ronald “ Khalis ” Bell , a co-founder and singer of the group Kool & the Gang , has died at the age of 68 .
LOS ANGELES ( AP ) — Ronald “ Khalis ” Bell , a co-founder and singer of the group Kool & the Gang , has died .
He was 68 .
Bell died at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands Wednesday morning with his wife by his side , publicist Sujata Murthy said .
The cause of death has not been released .
Kool & the Gang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to become one of the major groups of the 1970s , blending jazz , funk , R & B and pop .
After a brief downturn , the group enjoyed a return to stardom in the ’ 80s .
The group won a Grammy in 1978 for their work on the soundtrack for “ Saturday Night Fever.
” Bell wrote and composed some of the group ’ s biggest songs including “ Celebration , ” “ Cherish , ” “ Jungle Boogie ” and “ Summer Madness , ” which was used in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Baby Boy.
” The song was also used in a Nike shoe commercial featuring LeBron James .
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Ronald “Khalis” Bell, a co-founder and singer of the group Kool & the Gang, has died at the age of 68. Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, file
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ronald “Khalis” Bell, a co-founder and singer of the group Kool & the Gang, has died. He was 68.
Bell died at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands Wednesday morning with his wife by his side, publicist Sujata Murthy said. The cause of death has not been released.
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Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. After a brief downturn, the group enjoyed a return to stardom in the ’80s.
The group won a Grammy in 1978 for their work on the soundtrack for “Saturday Night Fever.”
Bell wrote and composed some of the group’s biggest songs including “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie” and “Summer Madness,” which was used in several films including “Rocky” and “Baby Boy.” The song was also used in a Nike shoe commercial featuring LeBron James.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Facebook Engineer Pens Scathing Letter Saying Company Is 'On The Wrong Side of History'

A Facebook software engineer named Ashok Chandwaney publicly quit on Tuesday morning after posting a lengthy letter to the company ’ s intranet , claiming that Facebook was “ profiting off hate in the US and globally.
” “ It is clear to me that despite the best efforts of many of us who work here ... Facebook is choosing to be on the wrong side of history , ” Chandwaney wrote , arguing that Facebook was failing to embody its much-touted five core values — be bold , focus on impact , move fast , be open and build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the looting starts , the shooting starts ’ stays up is a day that we choose to minimize regulatory risk at the expense of the safety of Black , Indigenous , and people of color , ” Chandwaney wrote , referencing the inflammatory language that Trump used in that post .
“ Violent hate groups and far-right militias are out there , and they ’ re using Facebook to recruit and radicalize people who will go on to commit violent hate crimes .
So where ’ s the metric about this ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple civil rights organizers and a July internal audit , which now seemed like little more than a “ PR deflection strategy , ” Facebook had remained resistant to change .
“ What I wish I saw were a serious prioritization of social good even when there isn ’ t an immediately obvious business value to it , or when there may be business harm that comes from it - for instance , removing the sitting president ’ s incitement to violence , which could lead to regulatory action , ” Chandwaney wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t found the business value to be had in aggressively pursuing the existing credible strategies to remove hate from the platform - despite pressure from civil society.
” In a statement sent to The Washington Post , Facebook spokesperson Liz Bourgeois rejected Chandwaney ’ s claims , arguing that the social media giant was not profiting from hate .
“ We invest billions of dollars each year to keep our community safe and are in deep partnership with outside experts to review and update our policies , ” she said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy to go after QAnon , grew our fact-checking program , and removed millions of posts tied to hate organizations — over 96 % of which we found before anyone reported them to us.
” The same day that Chandwaney ’ s letter went public , Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg denied that the social platform is a “ right-wing echo chamber ” and pledged that Facebook would work to limit misinformation about any eventual COVID-19 vaccine .
Zuckerberg added that with the November elections looming , his team would also “ very aggressively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are going to be involved in doing the counting and making sure that the election goes the way it ’ s supposed to .
”

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A Facebook software engineer named Ashok Chandwaney publicly quit on Tuesday morning after posting a lengthy letter to the company’s intranet, claiming that Facebook was “profiting off hate in the US and globally.”
“It is clear to me that despite the best efforts of many of us who work here ... Facebook is choosing to be on the wrong side of history,” Chandwaney wrote, arguing that Facebook was failing to embody its much-touted five core values — be bold, focus on impact, move fast, be open and build social value.
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“Every day ‘the looting starts, the shooting starts’ stays up is a day that we choose to minimize regulatory risk at the expense of the safety of Black, Indigenous, and people of color,” Chandwaney wrote, referencing the inflammatory language that Trump used in that post. “Violent hate groups and far-right militias are out there, and they’re using Facebook to recruit and radicalize people who will go on to commit violent hate crimes. So where’s the metric about this?”
Chandwaney said that despite the recommendations of multiple civil rights organizers and a July internal audit, which now seemed like little more than a “PR deflection strategy,” Facebook had remained resistant to change.
“What I wish I saw were a serious prioritization of social good even when there isn’t an immediately obvious business value to it, or when there may be business harm that comes from it - for instance, removing the sitting president’s incitement to violence, which could lead to regulatory action,” Chandwaney wrote. “It seems that Facebook hasn’t found the business value to be had in aggressively pursuing the existing credible strategies to remove hate from the platform - despite pressure from civil society.”
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In a statement sent to The Washington Post, Facebook spokesperson Liz Bourgeois rejected Chandwaney’s claims, arguing that the social media giant was not profiting from hate.
“We invest billions of dollars each year to keep our community safe and are in deep partnership with outside experts to review and update our policies,” she said. “This summer we launched an industry leading policy to go after QAnon, grew our fact-checking program, and removed millions of posts tied to hate organizations — over 96% of which we found before anyone reported them to us.”
The same day that Chandwaney’s letter went public, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg denied that the social platform is a “right-wing echo chamber” and pledged that Facebook would work to limit misinformation about any eventual COVID-19 vaccine.
Zuckerberg added that with the November elections looming, his team would also “very aggressively take down any threats against those people who are going to be involved in doing the counting and making sure that the election goes the way it’s supposed to.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Joe Exotic Formally Requests Pardon, Maintains Innocence

OKLAHOMA CITY ( AP ) — A former Oklahoma zookeeper sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot and violating federal wildlife laws has formally requested a pardon .
Attorneys for Joseph Maldonado-Passage , also known as “ Joe Exotic , ” filed his application Tuesday with the U.S. Department of Justice .
In it , attorneys for Maldonado-Passage , 57 , say he maintains his innocence and that he was “ railroaded and betrayed ” by others .
“ Joseph is scheduled to be released from ( Bureau of Prisons ) custody in 2037 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he will likely die in prison , ” attorneys wrote in the 257-page application .
“ He humbly requests a pardon to correct the injustices he has experienced and to have the opportunity to return to providing meaningful contributions to his community.
” The application also includes several character affidavits , letters of support and various trial documents .
A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said it would be premature to comment on the application .
Maldonado-Passage was convicted last year of trying to arrange the killing of a Florida animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized his treatment of animals .
Baskin wasn ’ t harmed .
Maldonado-Passage also was convicted of killing five tigers , selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records .
The blond mullet-wearing zookeeper , known for his expletive-laden rants on YouTube and a failed 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial campaign , is prominently featured in the popular Netflix documentary “ Tiger King : Murder , Mayhem and Madness.
” Maldonado-Passage is currently housed at the Federal Medical Center , a 1,500-inmate facility in Forth Worth , Texas , prison records show .

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A former Oklahoma zookeeper sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot and violating federal wildlife laws has formally requested a pardon.
Attorneys for Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as “Joe Exotic,” filed his application Tuesday with the U.S. Department of Justice. In it, attorneys for Maldonado-Passage, 57, say he maintains his innocence and that he was “railroaded and betrayed” by others.
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“Joseph is scheduled to be released from (Bureau of Prisons) custody in 2037; however, with his comprised health, he will likely die in prison,” attorneys wrote in the 257-page application. “He humbly requests a pardon to correct the injustices he has experienced and to have the opportunity to return to providing meaningful contributions to his community.”
The application also includes several character affidavits, letters of support and various trial documents. A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said it would be premature to comment on the application.
Maldonado-Passage was convicted last year of trying to arrange the killing of a Florida animal sanctuary founder, Carole Baskin, who criticized his treatment of animals. Baskin wasn’t harmed. Maldonado-Passage also was convicted of killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records.
The blond mullet-wearing zookeeper, known for his expletive-laden rants on YouTube and a failed 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial campaign, is prominently featured in the popular Netflix documentary “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Apocalyptic Orange Haze And Darkness Blanket California Amid Fires

The San Francisco Bay Area awoke to a disorienting sight on Wednesday morning : deep orange skies and a smoky darkness lingered hours after sunrise , serving as a stark reminder of the wildfires still raging across California .
The phenomenon ― which was also seen in Oregon on Tuesday ― is a result of 16 different fire complexes burning in the region , dispersing smoke with the help of gusty wind .
“ Strong winds over the past few days transported ash from fires in northern California and the Sierra Nevada into the region , ” the Bay Area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air quality control agency , explained in a tweet .
“ If smoke becomes too thick in a certain area , most of the light will be scattered & absorbed before reaching the surface , which may cause dark skies.
” A thick layer of marine fog below the smoky skies aided the effect .
The National Weather Service ’ s Bay Area branch warned that even though the air quality in the region was moderate on Wednesday morning , the “ unprecedented smoke ” hanging high in the air will likely descend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes on , making the air more dangerous to breathe .
It ’ s a familiar warning for Californians .
Uncontrolled blazes across the state this year have so far burned a historic 2.3 million acres , representing a nearly 2,000 % increase in land burned compared with this time last year , according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
“ This is yet another reminder though that we ’ re living with the effects of climate change in real time , ” San Francisco Mayor London Breed tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Wednesday ’ s orange skies , which many compared to a scene from Mars .
“ This is feeding into my mind that this is a dream , ” McVeigh told the San Francisco Chronicle .
“ The problem is it ’ s not bright enough to clean this.
” He called it quits after an hour because of the poor light .
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ’ Oakland Temple was engulfed by smoke from surrounding wildfires .
Two people take photos of the unusual light over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , California .

The San Francisco Bay Area awoke to a disorienting sight on Wednesday morning: deep orange skies and a smoky darkness lingered hours after sunrise, serving as a stark reminder of the wildfires still raging across California.
The phenomenon ― which was also seen in Oregon on Tuesday ― is a result of 16 different fire complexes burning in the region, dispersing smoke with the help of gusty wind.
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“Strong winds over the past few days transported ash from fires in northern California and the Sierra Nevada into the region,” the Bay Area Air District, the region’s air quality control agency, explained in a tweet.
“If smoke becomes too thick in a certain area, most of the light will be scattered & absorbed before reaching the surface, which may cause dark skies.” A thick layer of marine fog below the smoky skies aided the effect.
The National Weather Service’s Bay Area branch warned that even though the air quality in the region was moderate on Wednesday morning, the “unprecedented smoke” hanging high in the air will likely descend closer to street level as the day goes on, making the air more dangerous to breathe.
It’s a familiar warning for Californians. Uncontrolled blazes across the state this year have so far burned a historic 2.3 million acres, representing a nearly 2,000% increase in land burned compared with this time last year, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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“This is yet another reminder though that we’re living with the effects of climate change in real time,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed tweeted Wednesday morning.
Here are some images of Wednesday’s orange skies, which many compared to a scene from Mars.
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images via Getty Images
Jim McVeigh, a custodian, cleans the entrance of Children’s Fairyland, a small amusement park in Oakland, California, on Wednesday morning.
Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
“This is feeding into my mind that this is a dream,” McVeigh told the San Francisco Chronicle. “The problem is it’s not bright enough to clean this.” He called it quits after an hour because of the poor light.
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San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images via Getty Images
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Oakland Temple was engulfed by smoke from surrounding wildfires.
Yalonda M. James/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
A person exercises at an orange-tinted Lake Merritt in Oakland.
Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Two people take photos of the unusual light over the bay at Cesar Chavez Park in Berkeley, California.
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Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
A ferry terminal in San Francisco is illuminated by the orange glow.
Stephen Lam / Reuters
Visitors to San Francisco’s Dolores Park observe the darkening sky.
Stephen Lam / reuters