thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Critics, Commentators Call First Presidential Debate Unequivocally A 'Train Wreck'

While “ dumpster fire , ” “ train wreck , ” and “ monstrous ” could all be used to describe most of 2020 , they were instead used to describe the first presidential debate .
President Donald Trump faced off against former Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday in the first of a series of presidential debates ahead of the upcoming election .
The pair of septuagenarians pulled no punches on Tuesday night , engaging in heated , if not downright incoherent , arguments within nearly the first five minutes .
With no commercial breaks , viewers were subjected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while moderator Chris Wallace poorly attempted to restore order .
At the close of the debate , many commentators on cable networks responded to the night with perplexed faces and bold declarations of how much of a “ shitshow ” it was .
“ That was the worst debate I have ever seen .
It wasn ’ t even a debate .
It was a disgrace .
And it ’ s primarily because of President Trump , ” he said , noting Trump ’ s lies , repeated interruptions of Biden , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dana Bash responded to Tapper by calling the night a pure “ shitshow , ” because it ’ s the “ only phrase I can think of to really describe it.
” '' That was a hot mess , inside a dumpster fire , inside a train wreck , '' @ jaketapper says .
`` That was the worst debate I have ever seen .
It was n't even a debate .
It was a disgrace . ''
`` That was a shit show , '' @ DanaBashCNN adds .
pic.twitter.com/EhTIeM7Skc — Oliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 Also on CNN , Wolf Blitzer said : “ Clearly this debate was an embarrassment for the United States.
” Savannah Guthrie told NBC News viewers that she thought the debate was “ crazy , ” while Chuck Todd echoed Tapper ’ s sentiments : “ It was a train wreck .
But it was a train wreck of the making of one person .
We know who did it .
President Trump did this.
” WATCH : After more than an hour and a half of the first presidential debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a train wreck . ''
`` I do n't know how that helped anybody '' # debates2020 pic.twitter.com/ZrUjSbPnyW — Meet the Press ( @ MeetThePress ) September 30 , 2020 “ I have to speak personally here as someone who ’ s watched presidential debates for 40 years , as somebody who ’ s moderated presidential debates , as somebody who ’ s prepared candidates for presidential debates , as someone who ’ s covered presidential debates — that was the worst presidential debate I ’ ve ever seen in my life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , critics abounded on social media as many explored the English lexicon to find their own creative descriptors for the evening : This debate was a train wreck .
A mess that isn ’ t good for our country .
The President interrupted too much .
Biden returned the fire , and neither candidate came across well .
Both should knock it off in time for the next debate .
Debates should air differences .
Not be food fights .
— Ari Fleischer ( @ AriFleischer ) September 30 , 2020 This debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and truly think that mans cares about anyone but himself you are fooling yourself .
He wants division , he wants chaos .
— Sev ( @ sevian_frang ) September 30 , 2020 Trump obviously “ lost.
” But the real loser was America .
The president made a fool of himself , lied , yowled like an imbecile , broke rules , incited violence , threatened not to leave office , and refused to condemn the white supremacists he courts .
This debate was FUBAR !
— Walter Shaub ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are calling this the worst debate they ’ d ever watched .
For me , it was the most instructive .
The fact that America has millions of people who voted this president to office speaks more about our country than it does about him .
Let ’ s not shy away .
Let ’ s learn .
# debates — José Vilson ( @ TheJLV ) September 30 , 2020 That debate was a shit show because Trump is a pile of shit .
But we can also see this moment as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our action and our hope for the future !
— Sally Kohn ( @ sallykohn ) September 30 , 2020

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While “dumpster fire,” “train wreck,” and “monstrous” could all be used to describe most of 2020, they were instead used to describe the first presidential debate.
President Donald Trump faced off against former Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday in the first of a series of presidential debates ahead of the upcoming election. The pair of septuagenarians pulled no punches on Tuesday night, engaging in heated, if not downright incoherent, arguments within nearly the first five minutes.
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With no commercial breaks, viewers were subjected to 90 minutes of intense intervals of cross-talk while moderator Chris Wallace poorly attempted to restore order. At the close of the debate, many commentators on cable networks responded to the night with perplexed faces and bold declarations of how much of a “shitshow” it was.
Jake Tapper told viewers on CNN that the debate “was a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, inside a train wreck.”
“That was the worst debate I have ever seen. It wasn’t even a debate. It was a disgrace. And it’s primarily because of President Trump,” he said, noting Trump’s lies, repeated interruptions of Biden, and refusal to condemn white supremacists throughout.
Dana Bash responded to Tapper by calling the night a pure “shitshow,” because it’s the “only phrase I can think of to really describe it.”
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"That was a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, inside a train wreck," @jaketapper says. "That was the worst debate I have ever seen. It wasn't even a debate. It was a disgrace."
"That was a shit show," @DanaBashCNN adds. pic.twitter.com/EhTIeM7Skc — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) September 30, 2020
Also on CNN, Wolf Blitzer said: “Clearly this debate was an embarrassment for the United States.”
Savannah Guthrie told NBC News viewers that she thought the debate was “crazy,” while Chuck Todd echoed Tapper’s sentiments: “It was a train wreck. But it was a train wreck of the making of one person. We know who did it. President Trump did this.”
WATCH: After more than an hour and a half of the first presidential debate, @chucktodd says, "It was a train wreck."
"I don't know how that helped anybody" #debates2020 pic.twitter.com/ZrUjSbPnyW — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 30, 2020
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow told viewers that what Americans witnessed tonight was a “monstrous, unintelligible display of logorrhea.”
ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos called the debate the “worst” he’s watched in 40 years.
“I have to speak personally here as someone who’s watched presidential debates for 40 years, as somebody who’s moderated presidential debates, as somebody who’s prepared candidates for presidential debates, as someone who’s covered presidential debates — that was the worst presidential debate I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.
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In contrast, Fox News aired a chyron declaring that Biden stumbled his way through the debate.
FoxNews of course nailing the big story of the debate. pic.twitter.com/0EqsZh2w8F — Will McAvoy (@WillMcAvoyACN) September 30, 2020
Pundits aside, critics abounded on social media as many explored the English lexicon to find their own creative descriptors for the evening:
This debate was a train wreck. A mess that isn’t good for our country. The President interrupted too much. Biden returned the fire, and neither candidate came across well. Both should knock it off in time for the next debate. Debates should air differences. Not be food fights. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 30, 2020
This debate is madness. If you support Trump, and truly think that mans cares about anyone but himself you are fooling yourself. He wants division, he wants chaos. — Sev (@sevian_frang) September 30, 2020
Trump obviously “lost.” But the real loser was America. The president made a fool of himself, lied, yowled like an imbecile, broke rules, incited violence, threatened not to leave office, and refused to condemn the white supremacists he courts. This debate was FUBAR! — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) September 30, 2020
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People are calling this the worst debate they’d ever watched. For me, it was the most instructive. The fact that America has millions of people who voted this president to office speaks more about our country than it does about him.
Let’s not shy away. Let’s learn. #debates — José Vilson (@TheJLV) September 30, 2020
That debate was a shit show because Trump is a pile of shit. But we can also see this moment as manure — to fertilize our outrage, our action and our hope for the future! — Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) September 30, 2020
Don’t know about you, but this trash debate makes me want to dig deep, organize, and fight even harder.
I know we are better than this. — Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) September 30, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--5 Racist Trump Moments From The First 2020 Presidential Debate

Aside from a bevy of personal attacks , misinformation and chaotic interruption , Trump regularly waded into racist tropes and outright refused to condemn violent right-wing militia groups as moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News sought to ask the candidates about COVID-19 , the nation ’ s summer of racial justice protests and their support for Americans of color .
The president , long known for using insulting nicknames for his political opponents , questioned Tuesday if Biden would have won the Democratic nomination if Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
hadn ’ t dropped out .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] two days earlier , ” Trump said , Biden wouldn ’ t have been on the debate stage .
Wallace asked Trump directly to condemn white supremacists and right-wing militia groups during the debate , but the president repeatedly dodged the invitation , instead lambasting Democrats and social justice protesters .
“ I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing , not from the right wing , ” Trump said when asked about the protests demanding an end to systemic racism and police brutality .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to see peace.
” “ Who would you like me to condemn ?
The Proud Boys ?
” Trump asked when Wallace pressed the president to condemn such groups .
“ Stand back and stand by .
But I ’ ll tell you what , I ’ ll tell you what .
Somebody ’ s got to do something about antifa and the left , because this is not a right-wing problem.
” The Daily Beast reported that the Proud Boys were already celebrating the name check by the president on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance his response to the COVID-19 crisis and the more than 200,000 people who have died in the U.S. by blaming the pandemic on China .
He did so again during the debate , repeatedly referring to the virus as the “ China plague.
” Trump repeated a broad , and false , claim that a Biden presidency would threaten American suburbs , saying that if the former vice president is elected , “ our suburbs would be gone.
” “ What really is a threat to the suburbs and the safety is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the former vice president said .
The president said Tuesday night that he ’ d pushed a recent widening of a ban on racial sensitivity training because he believed the programs were “ racist.
” “ If you were a certain person , you had no status in life .
It was sort of a reversal , ” Trump said .
“ And if you look at the people , we were paying people hundreds of thousands of dollars to teach very bad ideas and , frankly , very sick ideas.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued a memo to federal agencies ordering them to end the trainings , declaring them “ un-American propaganda ” and ordering the government to stop spending millions of dollars on the “ divisive … propaganda training sessions .
”

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President Donald Trump regularly waded into racist tropes while up against former Vice President Joe Biden in the first 2020 presidential debate.
Aside from a bevy of personal attacks, misinformation and chaotic interruption, Trump regularly waded into racist tropes and outright refused to condemn violent right-wing militia groups as moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News sought to ask the candidates about COVID-19, the nation’s summer of racial justice protests and their support for Americans of color.
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Trump called Sen. Elizabeth Warren “Pocahontas” again.
The president, long known for using insulting nicknames for his political opponents, questioned Tuesday if Biden would have won the Democratic nomination if Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) hadn’t dropped out.
“If Pocahontas would have left [the race] two days earlier,” Trump said, Biden wouldn’t have been on the debate stage.
He once more refused to condemn right-wing extremist groups.
Wallace asked Trump directly to condemn white supremacists and right-wing militia groups during the debate, but the president repeatedly dodged the invitation, instead lambasting Democrats and social justice protesters.
“I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing,” Trump said when asked about the protests demanding an end to systemic racism and police brutality. “I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace.”
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Trump after being asked to condemn white supremacists: ‘Proud boys, stand back and stand by’ pic.twitter.com/4Pw2z3FsUO — NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 30, 2020
“Who would you like me to condemn? The Proud Boys?” Trump asked when Wallace pressed the president to condemn such groups. “Stand back and stand by. But I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you what. Somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left, because this is not a right-wing problem.”
The Daily Beast reported that the Proud Boys were already celebrating the name check by the president on social media.
He continued to call COVID-19 the “China plague.”
Trump has regularly sought to distance his response to the COVID-19 crisis and the more than 200,000 people who have died in the U.S. by blaming the pandemic on China.
He did so again during the debate, repeatedly referring to the virus as the “China plague.”
He suggested a Biden presidency would threaten suburbia.
Trump repeated a broad, and false, claim that a Biden presidency would threaten American suburbs, saying that if the former vice president is elected, “our suburbs would be gone.”
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Biden fired back at Trump’s statement, saying, “This is not 1950. All these dog whistles are not working anymore.”
“What really is a threat to the suburbs and the safety is his failure to deal with COVID,” the former vice president said.
Joe Biden calls Donald Trump a "racist" to his face on the debate stage. Moments later, Biden says: "This is not 1950. All these dog whistles on racism don't work anymore. Suburbs are by and large integrated." — Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) September 30, 2020
Trump said anti-racist training initiatives were “racist.”
The president said Tuesday night that he’d pushed a recent widening of a ban on racial sensitivity training because he believed the programs were “racist.”
“If you were a certain person, you had no status in life. It was sort of a reversal,” Trump said. “And if you look at the people, we were paying people hundreds of thousands of dollars to teach very bad ideas and, frankly, very sick ideas.”
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Biden shot back, saying nobody had done so, adding about Trump: “He’s a racist.”
Earlier this month, the White House issued a memo to federal agencies ordering them to end the trainings, declaring them “un-American propaganda” and ordering the government to stop spending millions of dollars on the “divisive … propaganda training sessions.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--CNN Fact Checker Daniel Dale Calls Trump's Debate Performance 'An Avalanche Of Lying'

Dale scrutinized claims made by both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden during Tuesday ’ s chaotic debate in Cleveland .
Biden and debate moderator Chris Wallace often struggled to get a word in edgewise as Trump steamrolled through the 90-minute session , spewing falsehoods about voting by mail , health care , climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ We had an avalanche of lying from President Trump .
Biden , conversely , made at least a couple of false or misleading claims , but , honestly , he was largely accurate , ” Dale told CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that at certain points during the debate , almost everything Trump said ― particularly while discussing mail-in voting ― was not true .
“ These weren ’ t one-time slips or gaffes or errors , ” he said .
“ These have been fact-checked and he keeps saying them and they ’ re still wrong.
” We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at scoops @ huffpost.com

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Dale scrutinized claims made by both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden during Tuesday’s chaotic debate in Cleveland. Biden and debate moderator Chris Wallace often struggled to get a word in edgewise as Trump steamrolled through the 90-minute session, spewing falsehoods about voting by mail, health care, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“We had an avalanche of lying from President Trump. Biden, conversely, made at least a couple of false or misleading claims, but, honestly, he was largely accurate,” Dale told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer afterward.
Dale said that at certain points during the debate, almost everything Trump said ― particularly while discussing mail-in voting ― was not true.
“These weren’t one-time slips or gaffes or errors,” he said. “These have been fact-checked and he keeps saying them and they’re still wrong.”
Watch Dale debunk specific claims below:
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--5 Takeaways From The First 2020 Presidential Debate Between Trump And Biden

The only difference between Tuesday night ’ s debate between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump and a train wreck was that many Americans were able to ― and likely did ― look away from the debate .
Biden responded by occasionally confronting Trump and sometimes treating him as , to use Biden ’ s words , “ a clown ” who deserved only scorn and eye-rolling .
His efforts to engage in substance were often met by interruptions from Trump , who was only sporadically kept in check by Wallace ’ s admonishments .
The overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of American political culture , which did relatively little to inform Americans further about how either candidate would solve the numerous crises facing the country today .
Trump created the mess , which was unlikely to help him climb out of his polling deficit against Biden .
One of the lowest moments of the 90 minutes came toward the end of the debate , when Trump unleashed a string of lies about mail-in voting , falsely claiming it would lead to fraud as he sowed doubt about the legitimacy of the Nov. 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least according to the instant polls that news networks conducted of people who watched the debate , did almost nothing to change the minds of voters .
What Trump Didn ’ t Say Might Matter Most If there was a newsmaking moment across the hour and half , it was Trump ’ s refusal to condemn white supremacist violence , a moment reminiscent of his infamous “ both sides ” comments following a violent white supremacist rally in Virginia in 2017 .
After twice claiming he was willing to condemn white supremacist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow through .
The moment is likely to only lead to further questions about Trump ’ s affinity for racists , which is unlikely to help either the Trump campaign ’ s efforts to peel away Black and Latino voters from Democrats or with Trump ’ s efforts to repair his standing among white women , who are frequently disgusted by the president ’ s uncouth behavior .
Trump Thinks Biden Has A Problem With The Left Trying to drive a wedge between Democratic establishment candidates and their party ’ s left wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He deployed it regularly in 2016 against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and has occasionally hit Biden in a similar fashion .
But Biden ’ s problems with supporters of progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) have been significantly lower profile , and less electorally significant , than Clinton ’ s were four years ago .
Trump will likely make further efforts to dampen Democratic enthusiasm as Election Day nears .
So far , Democrats have mostly worried about Trump attempting to discourage Black voters , but this could be a sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and progressives more broadly from casting ballots for Biden .
Biden is winning in public polling , both nationally and in the swing states .
The election is far from over , and Trump ’ s strength among white voters without college degrees means he will have a chance to triumph again in the Electoral College without winning the popular vote .
Are Changes Coming To The Debates ?
In a post-debate call with reporters , Biden ’ s campaign said the candidate would show up at the next two debates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 22 in Nashville .
But they also said discussions with the Commission on Presidential Debates were “ ongoing.
” Trump ’ s constant interruptions clearly overwhelmed Fox News anchor Wallace , and it ’ s unclear if there was anything he or any moderator could have done to keep the president in check .
The Biden campaign is almost certain to push to have moderators take a more assertive role in the remaining debates .
The Trump campaign is likely to resist .

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The only difference between Tuesday night’s debate between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump and a train wreck was that many Americans were able to ― and likely did ― look away from the debate.
Trump spent almost the entire debate interrupting both moderator Chris Wallace and Democratic rival Biden, which he mixed with lying about both his and Biden’s positions, wrapping it up with a refusal to condemn white supremacists and repeated attacks on Biden’s family.
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Biden responded by occasionally confronting Trump and sometimes treating him as, to use Biden’s words, “a clown” who deserved only scorn and eye-rolling. His efforts to engage in substance were often met by interruptions from Trump, who was only sporadically kept in check by Wallace’s admonishments.
The overall result was nothing short of a condemnation of American political culture, which did relatively little to inform Americans further about how either candidate would solve the numerous crises facing the country today. Trump created the mess, which was unlikely to help him climb out of his polling deficit against Biden.
Former Vice President Joe Biden (left) and President Donald Trump meet at the first 2020 presidential debate Tuesday at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. JIM WATSON via Getty Images
One of the lowest moments of the 90 minutes came toward the end of the debate, when Trump unleashed a string of lies about mail-in voting, falsely claiming it would lead to fraud as he sowed doubt about the legitimacy of the Nov. 3 election.
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And all of this, at least according to the instant polls that news networks conducted of people who watched the debate, did almost nothing to change the minds of voters.
Here are four additional takeaways from an absurd and messy debate.
What Trump Didn’t Say Might Matter Most
If there was a newsmaking moment across the hour and half, it was Trump’s refusal to condemn white supremacist violence, a moment reminiscent of his infamous “both sides” comments following a violent white supremacist rally in Virginia in 2017. After twice claiming he was willing to condemn white supremacist groups, Trump didn’t actually follow through.
“Who do you want me to condemn?” Trump asked Biden and Wallace.
“The Proud Boys,” Biden responded.
“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” Trump said. “But I’ll tell you what. Somebody has to do something about antifa and the left. This is not a right-wing problem.”
The moment is likely to only lead to further questions about Trump’s affinity for racists, which is unlikely to help either the Trump campaign’s efforts to peel away Black and Latino voters from Democrats or with Trump’s efforts to repair his standing among white women, who are frequently disgusted by the president’s uncouth behavior.
And for low-information voters who did not watch the debate, it’s likely to be one of the only clips they see from Tuesday night.
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Trump’s campaign staffers seemed to realize their bosses’ error, quickly sending out clips of Trump condemning racism in the past, including “7 Examples of President Trump Condemning the KKK.”
Trump Thinks Biden Has A Problem With The Left
Trump repeatedly suggested Biden was unwilling to adopt centrist positions for fear of alienating his left flank, including at one point bizarrely challenging him to say the words “law and order.” Biden quickly said he believed most law enforcement officers were good people.
At another point early in the debate, Biden reiterated his opposition to a “Medicare for All” plan after Trump accused him of supporting one.
“You just lost the left,” Trump said.
Trying to drive a wedge between Democratic establishment candidates and their party’s left wing is not a new tactic from Trump. He deployed it regularly in 2016 against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and has occasionally hit Biden in a similar fashion. But Biden’s problems with supporters of progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have been significantly lower profile, and less electorally significant, than Clinton’s were four years ago.
Trump will likely make further efforts to dampen Democratic enthusiasm as Election Day nears. So far, Democrats have mostly worried about Trump attempting to discourage Black voters, but this could be a sign his campaign also intends to discourage young people and progressives more broadly from casting ballots for Biden.
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Biden Wins A Draw
Biden is winning in public polling, both nationally and in the swing states. The election is far from over, and Trump’s strength among white voters without college degrees means he will have a chance to triumph again in the Electoral College without winning the popular vote.
But the president needs to make up ground with senior citizens, women and college-educated white voters, and almost nothing suggests he did so on Tuesday night. Biden automatically wins by not losing.
That’s not to say Biden’s performance was perfect. He lacked energy at times early in the debate, and he occasionally tripped over his words, at one point accidentally implying he supports the Green New Deal.
Biden’s best moments came when defending his family, including discussing his son Hunter’s drug problem and angrily insisting his son Beau was not a “loser” for serving as a military lawyer in Iraq.
Are Changes Coming To The Debates?
In a post-debate call with reporters, Biden’s campaign said the candidate would show up at the next two debates, scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami and Oct. 22 in Nashville. But they also said discussions with the Commission on Presidential Debates were “ongoing.”
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“I would imagine there would be some additional conversations,” Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield said.
Trump’s constant interruptions clearly overwhelmed Fox News anchor Wallace, and it’s unclear if there was anything he or any moderator could have done to keep the president in check. The Biden campaign is almost certain to push to have moderators take a more assertive role in the remaining debates. The Trump campaign is likely to resist.
Robert Gibbs, who was President Barack Obama’s first White House press secretary, suggested the commission needed to give moderators the power to cut off the candidate’s mics.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--Oregon Sheriff Hits Trump With Brutal Fact-Check Over False Debate Claim

During Tuesday night ’ s debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden , President Donald Trump claimed that the “ Portland sheriff ” endorsed him .
“ Portland , the sheriff just came out today , and he said , I support President Trump , ” Trump said .
Turns out that was among the many whoppers told by Trump during the contentious debate .
And when it was over , Trump received a fact-check from the sheriff himself .
In tonight ’ s presidential debate the President said the “ Portland Sheriff ” supports him .
As the Multnomah County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will never support him .
— Mike Reese ( @ SheriffReese ) September 30 , 2020 Donald Trump has made my job a hell of a lot harder since he started talking about Portland , but I never thought he 'd try to turn my wife against me !
# PortlandSheriff # Debates2020 # DebateNight — Mike Reese ( @ SheriffReese ) September 30 , 2020 Portland has become a focal point for protests , which have erupted in violence between pro-Trump factions and anti-Trump demonstrators .
One member of a right-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
The suspect , who had described himself as “ 100 % ANTIFA , ” was later shot and killed by law enforcement .
Although Trump has attempted to claim the “ law and order ” mantle , ex-White House aide Kellyanne Conway admitted in August that the violence helps the president .
“ The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns , the better it is for the very clear choice on who ’ s best on public safety and law and order , ” she said on Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the debate .
Trump claimed she never said them , but the video remains online .
The former vice president said Trump was trying to “ rile everything up ” and instigate clashes in Portland and elsewhere .
We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com

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During Tuesday night’s debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden, President Donald Trump claimed that the “Portland sheriff” endorsed him.
“Portland, the sheriff just came out today, and he said, I support President Trump,” Trump said.
Turns out that was among the many whoppers told by Trump during the contentious debate. And when it was over, Trump received a fact-check from the sheriff himself.
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Mike Reese ― sheriff of Multnomah County, Oregon, which includes Portland ― tweeted:
In tonight’s presidential debate the President said the “Portland Sheriff” supports him. As the Multnomah County Sheriff I have never supported Donald Trump and will never support him. — Mike Reese (@SheriffReese) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump has made my job a hell of a lot harder since he started talking about Portland, but I never thought he'd try to turn my wife against me! #PortlandSheriff #Debates2020 #DebateNight — Mike Reese (@SheriffReese) September 30, 2020
Portland has become a focal point for protests, which have erupted in violence between pro-Trump factions and anti-Trump demonstrators. One member of a right-wing group was shot to death earlier this month. The suspect, who had described himself as “100% ANTIFA,” was later shot and killed by law enforcement.
Although Trump has attempted to claim the “law and order” mantle, ex-White House aide Kellyanne Conway admitted in August that the violence helps the president.
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“The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who’s best on public safety and law and order,” she said on Fox News.
Biden referred to those comments during the debate. Trump claimed she never said them, but the video remains online. The former vice president said Trump was trying to “rile everything up” and instigate clashes in Portland and elsewhere.
“He just pours gasoline on the fire, constantly, every single, solitary time,” Biden said.
―-


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--GOP Pollster Asks For 1-Word Reviews Of Trump's Debating. The Answers Are Wild.

A Republican pollster asked a focus group of undecided voters to weigh in on the two presidential candidates after their first debate Tuesday .
Many said they were still unsure who they would vote for , but there was one general consensus : President Donald Trump ’ s performance was not good .
Conservative public opinion pundit Frank Luntz asked 16 voters from assorted states for their takeaways after watching Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden go head to head Tuesday night .
The 90-minute roller coaster was characterized by incessant crosstalk and interruptions from the president .
Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump on multiple occasions for talking over both Biden and himself .
Luntz asked his participants to each provide one word to describe Trump ’ s performance .
The responses were : Asked about how Trump could improve , Michelle from Florida said he needed to stop talking over people .
“ It ’ s very rude and just gives a bad impression , ” she said .
The voters were overall more positive about Biden ’ s performance .
The short descriptions were : “ Surprised at how well he did , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ more professional , ” “ confident , ” “ politician ” ( twice ) , “ restraint and compassion , ” “ predictable ” ( three times ) , “ nice guy but lacking vision , ” “ coherent , ” “ leader , ” “ attentive and rehearsed , ” “ evasive ” and “ humanity and integrity.
” Voters in past versions of this panel voiced similar objections to Trump ahead of the 2016 election .
After one GOP primary debate , the majority of Republican voters in one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d changed their opinion of Trump from positive to negative after his performance .
And ahead of the 2016 GOP convention , where Trump was awarded the Republican nomination , a focus group described Trump with terms like “ fascist ” and “ dumpster fire.
” Though , the reviews of his then-opponent Hillary Clinton , whom they described as “ corrupt ” and “ dishonest , ” were not much better .
Watch the virtual focus group convene on the first 2020 presidential debate below .

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A Republican pollster asked a focus group of undecided voters to weigh in on the two presidential candidates after their first debate Tuesday. Many said they were still unsure who they would vote for, but there was one general consensus: President Donald Trump’s performance was not good.
Conservative public opinion pundit Frank Luntz asked 16 voters from assorted states for their takeaways after watching Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden go head to head Tuesday night. The 90-minute roller coaster was characterized by incessant crosstalk and interruptions from the president. Fox News moderator Chris Wallace was forced to scold Trump on multiple occasions for talking over both Biden and himself.
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Luntz asked his participants to each provide one word to describe Trump’s performance. The responses were:
“Horrid,” “chaotic,” “unpolished,” “crackhead,” “eh,” “puzzling,” “Un-American,” “unhinged” (twice), “an ass, but a confident ass,” “classic Trump,” “forceful,” “bully,” “arrogant” (twice) and “typical.”
Asked about how Trump could improve, Michelle from Florida said he needed to stop talking over people. “It’s very rude and just gives a bad impression,” she said.
The voters were overall more positive about Biden’s performance. The short descriptions were:
“Surprised at how well he did,” “better than expected,” “more professional,” “confident,” “politician” (twice), “restraint and compassion,” “predictable” (three times), “nice guy but lacking vision,” “coherent,” “leader,” “attentive and rehearsed,” “evasive” and “humanity and integrity.”
Voters in past versions of this panel voiced similar objections to Trump ahead of the 2016 election.
After one GOP primary debate, the majority of Republican voters in one of Luntz’s groups said they’d changed their opinion of Trump from positive to negative after his performance.
And ahead of the 2016 GOP convention, where Trump was awarded the Republican nomination, a focus group described Trump with terms like “fascist” and “dumpster fire.”
Though, the reviews of his then-opponent Hillary Clinton, whom they described as “corrupt” and “dishonest,” were not much better.
Watch the virtual focus group convene on the first 2020 presidential debate below.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Trump Slammed For Claim Rallies Had No Negative Effects: 'Tell That To Herman Cain'

President Donald Trump falsely claimed at Tuesday ’ s presidential debate that there has been “ no negative effect ” from the campaign rallies he ’ s held for thousands of attendees amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ We ’ ve had no negative effect .
We ’ ve had no negative effect , ” Trump said , adding a boast that “ we ’ ve had 35 , 45,000 people at these rallies.
” Herman Cain , a 2012 Republican presidential candidate and tea party activist , was diagnosed with COVID-19 less than two weeks after he attended Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Oklahoma .
Cain died on July 30 at age 74 .
Since Cain ’ s death , his family has continued to operate his Twitter account to praise Trump and spread falsehoods , even insisting that the coronavirus is “ not as deadly ” as the media says .
The Tulsa Health Department also recorded a surge in cases a little over two weeks after the event at the city ’ s BOK Center ― which housed roughly 6,000 attendees despite Trump boasting a million people had registered to attend .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely the source of the spike .
This month , Trump hosted an indoor rally in Henderson , Nevada , breaking state laws and earning a sharp rebuke from the governor , who has banned gatherings of more than 50 people since May .
Guests were seen without masks and not socially distancing at the event .
His outdoor events have appeared to similarly flout public health guidelines .
Critics slammed the president ’ s careless remark as they pointed to the fate of his former ally .

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President Donald Trump falsely claimed at Tuesday’s presidential debate that there has been “no negative effect” from the campaign rallies he’s held for thousands of attendees amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve had no negative effect. We’ve had no negative effect,” Trump said, adding a boast that “we’ve had 35, 45,000 people at these rallies.”
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Herman Cain, a 2012 Republican presidential candidate and tea party activist, was diagnosed with COVID-19 less than two weeks after he attended Trump’s June 29 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cain died on July 30 at age 74. Since Cain’s death, his family has continued to operate his Twitter account to praise Trump and spread falsehoods, even insisting that the coronavirus is “not as deadly” as the media says.
The Tulsa Health Department also recorded a surge in cases a little over two weeks after the event at the city’s BOK Center ― which housed roughly 6,000 attendees despite Trump boasting a million people had registered to attend. A top health official said the event was likely the source of the spike.
This month, Trump hosted an indoor rally in Henderson, Nevada, breaking state laws and earning a sharp rebuke from the governor, who has banned gatherings of more than 50 people since May. Guests were seen without masks and not socially distancing at the event. His outdoor events have appeared to similarly flout public health guidelines.
Critics slammed the president’s careless remark as they pointed to the fate of his former ally.
Trump: We had no problem with Covid at my rallies
Herman Cain's Twitter: Tell em Donald! — Janelle James (@janellejcomedy) September 30, 2020
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Trump: "We've had no problem whatsoever" with big rallies.
Herman Cain died of COVID-19 after attending one. #Debates2020 — Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) September 30, 2020
We should ask Herman Cain https://t.co/GsA5GYXfMK — annie barrett (@anniebee1962) September 30, 2020
“So far we’ve had no problem [Trump on Covid at his rallies].”
Herman Cain unavailable for comment — Evan Siegfried (@evansiegfried) September 30, 2020
"We've no ill effect from our rallies." Herman Cain would like a word. #Debate2020 — shauna (@goldengateblond) September 30, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--Livid Van Jones Rages Against Trump’s ‘Wink And A Nod’ To Nazis During Debate

CNN commentator Van Jones said only three things happened during the debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night .
Boiled down , it was really just one thing : Trump ’ s outright refusal to condemn white supremacist hate groups .
“ Number one : Donald Trump refused to condemn white supremacy , ” Jones said , adding : “ Number two : The president of the United States refused to condemn white supremacy .
Number three : the commander-in-chief refused to condemn white supremacy on the global stage in front of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s families.
” Urged to condemn violent white supremacist groups by moderator Chris Wallace , Trump at first ducked , played coy and demanded a name of one .
Biden suggested Trump denounce the neo-fascist hate group called Proud Boys .
But rather than do so , Trump advised them to “ stand back and stand by.
” Jones called that a “ wink and a nod ” to “ a racist , Nazi , murderous organization.
” Indeed , the group is now celebrating Trump ’ s shout-out online , with replies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So far as the CNN commentator was concerned , that made it the only moment that mattered .
“ That ’ s the only thing that happened tonight , ” he said , his voice rising with rage .
“ That ’ s what happened tonight.
” Only three things happened tonight : 1 .
# DonaldTrump refused to condemn white supremacy .
2 .
The # POTUS refused to condemn white supremacy .
3 .
The # CommanderInChief REFUSED to condemn white supremacy on the GLOBAL STAGE .
NOW LOOK AT WHAT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OKAY .
pic.twitter.com/OhANFUYqNS — Van Jones ( @ VanJones68 ) September 30 , 2020

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CNN commentator Van Jones said only three things happened during the debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night.
Boiled down, it was really just one thing: Trump’s outright refusal to condemn white supremacist hate groups.
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“Number one: Donald Trump refused to condemn white supremacy,” Jones said, adding:
“Number two: The president of the United States refused to condemn white supremacy. Number three: the commander-in-chief refused to condemn white supremacy on the global stage in front of my children, in front of everybody’s families.”
Urged to condemn violent white supremacist groups by moderator Chris Wallace, Trump at first ducked, played coy and demanded a name of one.
Biden suggested Trump denounce the neo-fascist hate group called Proud Boys. But rather than do so, Trump advised them to “stand back and stand by.”
Jones called that a “wink and a nod” to “a racist, Nazi, murderous organization.”
Indeed, the group is now celebrating Trump’s shout-out online, with replies such as “standing by sir.”
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So far as the CNN commentator was concerned, that made it the only moment that mattered.
“That’s the only thing that happened tonight,” he said, his voice rising with rage. “That’s what happened tonight.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--Biden Pitched A Climate Plan. Trump Rambled About ‘Immaculate Air’ And Cleaning Forests

Nearly 2,000 miles west of the Cleveland auditorium where President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden sparred in their first televised debate Tuesday night , fires have scorched a record 2.5 million acres and incinerated entire towns ― and there are still several months left in the fire season .
“ That ’ s burning down because of lack of management , ” he said , echoing past arguments that raking leaves and other forest management tasks were all that is needed to combat wildfires that in the past decade have burned more than twice as many acres per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pressed on whether he understands the role that human-caused emissions are playing in heating the planet , causing prolonged droughts and extending a fire season that has already doubled in length since the 1970s , Trump extolled the need for “ immaculate air and immaculate water.
” That there was any climate question at all was a surprise from Fox News moderator Chris Wallace , and it offered one of the clearest contrasts in a 90-minute verbal cacophony of disinformation , petty jabs and schoolyard squabbling .
Biden pitched his plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created by new efforts to eliminate the energy sector ’ s emissions by 2035 and build 500,000 charging stations for electric vehicles .
He vowed to halt Trump ’ s chaotic withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and marshal U.S. allies to fund efforts to stop deforestation in countries such as Brazil .
“ We ’ re going to be in a position where we can create good jobs by making sure the environment is clean and we are all in better shape , ” Biden said .
Climate is perhaps Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his party ’ s opposition to climate science has been out of step with the American public , which overwhelmingly has favored clean-energy incentives and has understood that the climate is , in fact , changing .
Sixty percent of registered voters in eight battleground states said they or someone they know have experienced the effects of climate change , according to a Public Policy Polling survey of 896 registered voters earlier this month .
Fifty-five percent said they “ trust Joe Biden more to address climate change , ” compared with just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
A Guardian-Vice poll released last week found two-thirds of U.S. voters favored a presidential candidate who would completely shift the United States ’ electricity generation to renewables , such as wind and solar power .
“ Joe Biden spoke directly to voters , most of whom support climate action , ” Tamara Toles O ’ Laughlin , the North America director of the climate group 350 Action , said in a statement .
“ He laid out his plans for addressing the climate crisis , the pandemic , and racial and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided Wallace ’ s question about the future of hydraulic fracturing in the United States .
Under the Obama administration , in which Biden served as vice president , the drilling technique known as fracking took off , transforming the country into one of the world ’ s top producers and exporters of oil and gas .
Scientists and policymakers across the world have called for the rapid phase-out of fossil fuels , the primary source of planet-warming pollution .
Despite calls from experts and some Democrats to end fracking altogether , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still needed to replace more carbon-intensive fuels like coal and oil .
Still , Trump tried to paint the Democrat as a stooge of the climate hard-liners to Biden ’ s left .
The president repeatedly pressed Biden to swear his fealty to the Green New Deal , the policy framework that progressive Democrats have outlined for a sweeping , World War II-style economic mobilization to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels and industrial farming and remake the United States as a green manufacturing powerhouse .
The core demands of the movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year of unfounded smears from Republicans , amplified on partisan networks such as Fox News , have spread the lie that the Green New Deal is a costly boondoggle that would mean the end of all air travel or meat production .
Trump parroted those falsehoods on stage with little pushback from the moderator , claiming the Green New Deal would cost “ $ 100 trillion , ” a figure based on a bogus number fabricated by a conservative think tank .
Biden said the plan would “ pay for itself as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs of extreme weather catastrophes , though he still distanced himself from the Green New Deal .

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Nearly 2,000 miles west of the Cleveland auditorium where President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden sparred in their first televised debate Tuesday night, fires have scorched a record 2.5 million acres and incinerated entire towns ― and there are still several months left in the fire season.
The president shrugged off a question about what should be done about it.
“That’s burning down because of lack of management,” he said, echoing past arguments that raking leaves and other forest management tasks were all that is needed to combat wildfires that in the past decade have burned more than twice as many acres per year on average than in the 1990s.
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Pressed on whether he understands the role that human-caused emissions are playing in heating the planet, causing prolonged droughts and extending a fire season that has already doubled in length since the 1970s, Trump extolled the need for “immaculate air and immaculate water.”
“You know, we’re planting a billion trees,” Trump said.
That there was any climate question at all was a surprise from Fox News moderator Chris Wallace, and it offered one of the clearest contrasts in a 90-minute verbal cacophony of disinformation, petty jabs and schoolyard squabbling.
President Trump's longstanding dismissal of climate science became a point of contention in the presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday, in particular his take on why Western wildfires are increasing in devastation. Brian Snyder/Reuters
Biden pitched his plan to add “millions of good-paying jobs” created by new efforts to eliminate the energy sector’s emissions by 2035 and build 500,000 charging stations for electric vehicles. He vowed to halt Trump’s chaotic withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and marshal U.S. allies to fund efforts to stop deforestation in countries such as Brazil.
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“We’re going to be in a position where we can create good jobs by making sure the environment is clean and we are all in better shape,” Biden said.
Climate is perhaps Trump’s greatest weakness. For years, his party’s opposition to climate science has been out of step with the American public, which overwhelmingly has favored clean-energy incentives and has understood that the climate is, in fact, changing.
Sixty percent of registered voters in eight battleground states said they or someone they know have experienced the effects of climate change, according to a Public Policy Polling survey of 896 registered voters earlier this month. Fifty-five percent said they “trust Joe Biden more to address climate change,” compared with just 38% who said the same of Trump. A Guardian-Vice poll released last week found two-thirds of U.S. voters favored a presidential candidate who would completely shift the United States’ electricity generation to renewables, such as wind and solar power.
“Joe Biden spoke directly to voters, most of whom support climate action,” Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, the North America director of the climate group 350 Action, said in a statement. “He laid out his plans for addressing the climate crisis, the pandemic, and racial and economic injustice.”
The former vice president avoided Wallace’s question about the future of hydraulic fracturing in the United States. Under the Obama administration, in which Biden served as vice president, the drilling technique known as fracking took off, transforming the country into one of the world’s top producers and exporters of oil and gas.
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“Nobody is going to build another coal-fired plant in America. Nobody is going to build another oil-fired plant in America.” - Joe Biden
Scientists and policymakers across the world have called for the rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, the primary source of planet-warming pollution. Despite calls from experts and some Democrats to end fracking altogether, Biden has said the natural gas it produces is still needed to replace more carbon-intensive fuels like coal and oil.
“Nobody is going to build another coal-fired plant in America,” Biden said. “Nobody is going to build another oil-fired plant in America.”
Trump gave no direct response. Despite running in 2016 on restoring coal as the nation’s primary fuel for electricity, coal plants have closed at the fastest rate to date under Trump, a sign of decline for the industry.
Still, Trump tried to paint the Democrat as a stooge of the climate hard-liners to Biden’s left. The president repeatedly pressed Biden to swear his fealty to the Green New Deal, the policy framework that progressive Democrats have outlined for a sweeping, World War II-style economic mobilization to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels and industrial farming and remake the United States as a green manufacturing powerhouse.
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The core demands of the movement remain popular. But more than a year of unfounded smears from Republicans, amplified on partisan networks such as Fox News, have spread the lie that the Green New Deal is a costly boondoggle that would mean the end of all air travel or meat production. Trump parroted those falsehoods on stage with little pushback from the moderator, claiming the Green New Deal would cost “$100 trillion,” a figure based on a bogus number fabricated by a conservative think tank.
“It’s the dumbest,” Trump said. “They want to take out the cows.”
Biden said the plan would “pay for itself as we move forward” by mitigating the mounting costs of extreme weather catastrophes, though he still distanced himself from the Green New Deal.
“I support the Biden plan that I put forward,” he said. “The Biden plan, which is different than what he called the radical Green New Deal.”
Green New Deal supporters didn’t seem fazed by the apparent wedge. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the legislative godfather of the Green New Deal whose ties to the movement beat back a heated primary challenge earlier this month, quickly issued a statement in support of the Democratic nominee.
“I support the Green New Deal and I’m voting for Vice President Joe Biden,” he said after the debate late Tuesday night. “Donald Trump is wrong. The progressive left is with Joe Biden, and we will pass a Green New Deal.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Biden Skewers Trump On COVID-19 Response

Biden rattled through the devastating effects of COVID-19 in the U.S. : more than 200,000 total deaths , 40,000 new cases per day and 750 to 1,000 daily deaths .
The Democratic candidate noted that when Trump was presented with the dire statistics in an August interview with Axios , he dismissed them with “ It is what it is.
” “ It is what it is because you are who you are .
That ’ s why it is , ” Biden said during the first of three scheduled presidential debates .
“ The president has no plan.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , casting doubts on his own public health experts and flouting public safety rules by holding mass campaign rallies as the coronavirus spread throughout the nation .
In his new book , “ Rage , ” journalist Bob Woodward revealed that Trump told him COVID-19 was “ deadly stuff ” as he was publicly saying it was no more dangerous than the flu .
“ He knew all the way back in February how serious this crisis was , ” Biden said .
“ He knew it was a deadly disease .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on tape acknowledging he knew it .
He said he didn ’ t tell us or give people a warning because he didn ’ t want to panic the American people .
You don ’ t panic .
He panicked.
” Biden also slammed Trump ’ s economic policies during the coronavirus crisis .
“ You can ’ t fix the economy until you fix the COVID crisis , ” he said .
“ And he has no intention of doing anything about making it better for you all at home in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden shot back when Trump brought up a common campaign talking point on the suburbs .
He said that Biden would create safety concerns in suburban communities because the former vice president vowed to reinstate low-income housing if elected .
“ What really is a threat to the suburbs and the safety is his failure to deal with COVID , ” Biden said .
“ Don ’ t ever use the word ‘ smart ’ with me , ” Trump said at one point .
“ There ’ s nothing smart about you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could “ never have done the job we did ” and claimed “ millions of people ” would have died if the decision-making had been left to him .
The president also refuted any notion that his campaign rallies , some of which were held inside with large crowds , contributed to the spread of the coronavirus .
“ So far we have had no problem whatsoever , ” he said .
“ We have tremendous crowds as you see , and literally on 24 hours notice.
” You can ’ t fix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
And he has no intention of doing anything about making it better for you all at home in terms of your health and your safety .
Trump ’ s rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , which attracted more than 6,000 supporters and was held indoors , was “ likely ” the source of a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases in the area in late June , the Tulsa City-County Health Department said .
A reporter , six of Trump ’ s campaign staffers and two members of the Secret Service tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Herman Cain , the tea party activist who ran for president in 2012 , tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks after the rally , from where he tweeted a photo of himself without a mask , and died a month later .
The White House denied that Cain contracted the virus at Trump ’ s rally .
When the topic of mask-wearing came up , Trump pulled one out of his jacket pocket and said he wears a mask “ when needed ” but then mocked Biden for wearing a mask too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said masks were not effective in March when the pandemic first hit the U.S. Fauci , along with other experts , were slow to recommend universal mask-wearing because little was known at that time about how the coronavirus spread .
By April , many experts , including Fauci , urged the public to wear masks after research showed they could curb the spread of the virus .
“ This is the same man that told you by Easter this would be gone away , by the warm weather it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a miracle , ” Biden said , referencing Trump ’ s past statements .
“ And , by the way , maybe you can inject some bleach in your arm and that would take care of it .
”

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden eviscerated President Donald Trump during Tuesday’s debate for his botched response to the coronavirus pandemic, accusing Trump of panicking in the face of a historic public health crisis and hiding the threat from the American people.
Biden rattled through the devastating effects of COVID-19 in the U.S.: more than 200,000 total deaths, 40,000 new cases per day and 750 to 1,000 daily deaths. The Democratic candidate noted that when Trump was presented with the dire statistics in an August interview with Axios, he dismissed them with “It is what it is.”
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“It is what it is because you are who you are. That’s why it is,” Biden said during the first of three scheduled presidential debates. “The president has no plan.”
Trump has consistently downplayed the virus publicly, casting doubts on his own public health experts and flouting public safety rules by holding mass campaign rallies as the coronavirus spread throughout the nation. In his new book, “Rage,” journalist Bob Woodward revealed that Trump told him COVID-19 was “deadly stuff” as he was publicly saying it was no more dangerous than the flu.
“He knew all the way back in February how serious this crisis was,” Biden said. “He knew it was a deadly disease. What did he do? He’s on tape acknowledging he knew it. He said he didn’t tell us or give people a warning because he didn’t want to panic the American people. You don’t panic. He panicked.”
Biden also slammed Trump’s economic policies during the coronavirus crisis. “You can’t fix the economy until you fix the COVID crisis,” he said. “And he has no intention of doing anything about making it better for you all at home in terms of your health and your safety.”
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Biden shot back when Trump brought up a common campaign talking point on the suburbs. He said that Biden would create safety concerns in suburban communities because the former vice president vowed to reinstate low-income housing if elected. “What really is a threat to the suburbs and the safety is his failure to deal with COVID,” Biden said.
Trump defended his response to the coronavirus crisis by blaming the death of 200,000 Americans on China and hurling insults at Biden.
“Don’t ever use the word ‘smart’ with me,” Trump said at one point. “There’s nothing smart about you, Joe.” Trump added that Biden could “never have done the job we did” and claimed “millions of people” would have died if the decision-making had been left to him.
The president also refuted any notion that his campaign rallies, some of which were held inside with large crowds, contributed to the spread of the coronavirus. “So far we have had no problem whatsoever,” he said. “We have tremendous crowds as you see, and literally on 24 hours notice.”
“We’ve had no negative effect,” Trump claimed, falsely.
“You can’t fix the economy until you fix the COVID crisis. And he has no intention of doing anything about making it better for you all at home in terms of your health and your safety.” - Joe Biden
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Trump’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which attracted more than 6,000 supporters and was held indoors, was “likely” the source of a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases in the area in late June, the Tulsa City-County Health Department said. A reporter, six of Trump’s campaign staffers and two members of the Secret Service tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the rally. Herman Cain, the tea party activist who ran for president in 2012, tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks after the rally, from where he tweeted a photo of himself without a mask, and died a month later. The White House denied that Cain contracted the virus at Trump’s rally.
When the topic of mask-wearing came up, Trump pulled one out of his jacket pocket and said he wears a mask “when needed” but then mocked Biden for wearing a mask too much.
“He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen,” Trump said.
The president has consistently resisted the idea that masks help curb the spread of COVID-19, and didn’t wear one publicly until mid-July, after more than 130,000 Americans had died of the virus.
Biden pushed back on the idea that mask-wearing isn’t effective in combating COVID-19, saying that “masks make a big difference” and thousands of lives would have been saved if Trump had implemented mandatory mask-wearing early in the pandemic.
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Trump responded that infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said masks were not effective in March when the pandemic first hit the U.S. Fauci, along with other experts, were slow to recommend universal mask-wearing because little was known at that time about how the coronavirus spread. By April, many experts, including Fauci, urged the public to wear masks after research showed they could curb the spread of the virus.
When Trump promised, as he’d done repeatedly in recent weeks, that a vaccine is right around the corner, Biden again pointed at the president’s record of downplaying and dismissing COVID-19 science.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--Trump Lied And Bullied Through The Debate -- But Also Saw His ‘Senile Biden’ Claim Fall Apart

As Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and all of America learned Tuesday night , you can not , as President Donald Trump made a farce of the faceoff ’ s format .
But in the process , Trump undid a major theme he and his campaign had been pushing for months : that Biden is not mentally up to the job .
Biden did not fall asleep .
He did not lose his place in answers .
And while at times he stuttered ― a childhood difficulty that he has largely overcome ― he was forceful and stood up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even telling him to be quiet .
He claimed that his policies had brought hundreds of thousands of jobs back to the U.S. from overseas .
He claimed he had created the strongest economy in history .
He claimed he totally rebuilt the military .
And , more broadly , he claimed he had accomplished more in his term so far than any previous administration .
Due to Trump ’ s trade war , manufacturing was actually in a recession even before the coronavirus pandemic struck and hobbled the economy .
As moderator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more jobs were created in the final three years of former President Barack Obama ’ s administration than in the first three years of Trump ’ s .
While the military has received larger budgets after congressional Republicans agreed to undo the Budget Control Act they had insisted upon under Obama , the massive new deliveries of planes and ships that Trump claims have not occurred .
And Trump has come nowhere close to any number of previous presidencies in terms of major legislation or executive actions .
The president falsely claimed he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes in 2016 and 2017 –- directly counter to reporting by the New York Times in a series of recent reports that , relying on IRS records , found he paid only $ 750 those two years .
And , in closing , Trump lied repeatedly about the security and accuracy of mail ballots , once again questioning the legitimacy of an election already underway .
He even refused to tell his supporters not to engage in civil unrest during the counting process .
Biden on multiple occasions flatly called Trump a liar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former vice president also told voters in his closing argument that they had the country ’ s future in their hands .
“ Is it going to change , or is going to be four more years of those lies ?
” he asked .
And while candidates typically try to raise expectations for their opponents ahead of debates ― the easier to claim victory for their own performance afterward ― Trump and his campaign did exactly the opposite .
In the past month alone , Trump has called Biden “ stupid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his “ prime time.
” This past weekend , Trump invented out of whole cloth a lie that Biden ’ s ability to perform well at debates was due to performance-enhancing drugs , and demanded that Biden be given a drug test .
His campaign , meanwhile , has spent tens of millions on TV and digital ads over the spring and summer portraying Biden as senile .
Many of the ads were deceptively edited to make Biden seem incoherent or manipulated to make him appear older and sickly .
That strategy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as Biden showed he could stand up to Trump ’ s badgering for an hour-and-a-half and remain coherent , without any significant stumbles .

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How do you debate an endless liar who constantly interrupts and will not let his opponent speak?
As Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and all of America learned Tuesday night, you cannot, as President Donald Trump made a farce of the faceoff’s format. But in the process, Trump undid a major theme he and his campaign had been pushing for months: that Biden is not mentally up to the job.
Biden did not fall asleep. He did not lose his place in answers. And while at times he stuttered ― a childhood difficulty that he has largely overcome ― he was forceful and stood up to Trump, calling him a liar and even telling him to be quiet.
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“Will you shut up, man?” he asked at one point early in the proceedings.
Trump, who lies on a near-daily basis on topics great and small, started his falsehoods early and never let up.
He claimed that his policies had brought hundreds of thousands of jobs back to the U.S. from overseas. He claimed he had created the strongest economy in history. He claimed he totally rebuilt the military. And, more broadly, he claimed he had accomplished more in his term so far than any previous administration.
Every claim is demonstrably false.
Due to Trump’s trade war, manufacturing was actually in a recession even before the coronavirus pandemic struck and hobbled the economy. As moderator Chris Wallace noted, some 1.5 million more jobs were created in the final three years of former President Barack Obama’s administration than in the first three years of Trump’s. While the military has received larger budgets after congressional Republicans agreed to undo the Budget Control Act they had insisted upon under Obama, the massive new deliveries of planes and ships that Trump claims have not occurred. And Trump has come nowhere close to any number of previous presidencies in terms of major legislation or executive actions.
Trump lied about Biden’s climate change plan, his own health-care proposals, and about the dealings by Biden’s son Hunter with foreign businesses.
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The president falsely claimed he had paid “millions” in income taxes in 2016 and 2017 –- directly counter to reporting by the New York Times in a series of recent reports that, relying on IRS records, found he paid only $750 those two years.
And, in closing, Trump lied repeatedly about the security and accuracy of mail ballots, once again questioning the legitimacy of an election already underway. He even refused to tell his supporters not to engage in civil unrest during the counting process.
“If I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated, I can’t go along with that,” Trump told Wallace.
Biden on multiple occasions flatly called Trump a liar and ignorant of various facts. The former vice president also told voters in his closing argument that they had the country’s future in their hands. “Is it going to change, or is going to be four more years of those lies?” he asked.
The debate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland was the first of three planned heading into the Nov. 3 election.
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And while candidates typically try to raise expectations for their opponents ahead of debates ― the easier to claim victory for their own performance afterward ― Trump and his campaign did exactly the opposite.
In the past month alone, Trump has called Biden “stupid,” “dumb” and well past his “prime time.” This past weekend, Trump invented out of whole cloth a lie that Biden’s ability to perform well at debates was due to performance-enhancing drugs, and demanded that Biden be given a drug test.
His campaign, meanwhile, has spent tens of millions on TV and digital ads over the spring and summer portraying Biden as senile. Many of the ads were deceptively edited to make Biden seem incoherent or manipulated to make him appear older and sickly.
That strategy, though, may have run its course, as Biden showed he could stand up to Trump’s badgering for an hour-and-a-half and remain coherent, without any significant stumbles.
Trump and Biden are to meet again next in Miami on Oct. 15, and then a third time in Nashville on Oct. 22. Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris are set to debate a single time, on Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--Trump Interrupts Joe Biden's Tribute To His Late Son To Attack His Other Son

Biden had been answering a question from debate moderate Chris Wallace of Fox News about why voters should choose him over Trump in the 2020 election .
“ The fact is that I ’ ve gone head to head with Putin and made it clear we ’ re not going to take any of his stuff , ” Biden said , referencing his experience with the Russian president during his tenure as vice president .
The president , interrupting Biden , fired back that Hunter was paid $ 3.5 million by “ Putin ’ s best friend.
” The accusation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a report released last week by the Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Finance Committees .
In the report , the committees allege a Russian businesswoman wired millions of dollars to an investment firm co-founded by Hunter in 2014 .
Hunter ’ s attorney has refuted the allegation , stating Hunter neither co-founded the firm nor had a financial relationship with the woman .
After Wallace urged Trump to stick to the debate rules and stop interrupting , Biden continued to state why he believes Trump is a weak president .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you talk about the military , the way you talk about them being losers and just being suckers , ” Biden said , referring to a report published in The Atlantic earlier this month that alleged Trump repeatedly disparaged U.S. service members .
“ My son was in Iraq , ” Biden continued .
“ He spent a year there .
He got the Bronze Star .
He got the Conspicuous Service Medal .
He was not a loser .
He was a patriot .
And the people left behind there were heroes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” But before Biden could finish his statement about his eldest son , Beau , the former Delaware attorney general who died of brain cancer in 2015 , Trump interrupted him again to attack Hunter .
“ I don ’ t know Beau , ” Trump said .
“ I know Hunter .
Hunter got thrown out of the military .
He was thrown out ― dishonorably discharged.
” Hunter was discharged from the Navy in 2013 after testing positive for cocaine .
Trump ’ s claim that he was dishonorably discharged , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general court-martial , is false .
“ My son , like a lot of people ... had a drug problem , ” Biden shot back at Trump .
“ He ’ s overtaken it .
He ’ s fixed it .
He ’ s worked on it .
And I ’ m proud of him.
” NEW : Joe Biden defends his son after Trump 's attacks '' My son , like a lot of people , like a lot of people you know at home , had a drug problem .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
He 's worked on it , and I 'm proud of him . ''
pic.twitter.com/5aRWuoNmvA — Yahoo News ( @ YahooNews ) September 30 , 2020

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During the presidential debate Tuesday, President Donald Trump interrupted Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s tribute to his late son, Beau, to attack Biden’s other son, Hunter.
Biden had been answering a question from debate moderate Chris Wallace of Fox News about why voters should choose him over Trump in the 2020 election.
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“The fact is that I’ve gone head to head with Putin and made it clear we’re not going to take any of his stuff,” Biden said, referencing his experience with the Russian president during his tenure as vice president.
“He’s Putin’s puppy,” Biden said of Trump.
The president, interrupting Biden, fired back that Hunter was paid $3.5 million by “Putin’s best friend.” The accusation appeared to stem from a claim made in a report released last week by the Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Finance Committees.
In the report, the committees allege a Russian businesswoman wired millions of dollars to an investment firm co-founded by Hunter in 2014. Hunter’s attorney has refuted the allegation, stating Hunter neither co-founded the firm nor had a financial relationship with the woman.
After Wallace urged Trump to stick to the debate rules and stop interrupting, Biden continued to state why he believes Trump is a weak president.
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“And speaking of my son, the way you talk about the military, the way you talk about them being losers and just being suckers,” Biden said, referring to a report published in The Atlantic earlier this month that alleged Trump repeatedly disparaged U.S. service members.
“My son was in Iraq,” Biden continued. “He spent a year there. He got the Bronze Star. He got the Conspicuous Service Medal. He was not a loser. He was a patriot. And the people left behind there were heroes. And I resent like hell ―”
But before Biden could finish his statement about his eldest son, Beau, the former Delaware attorney general who died of brain cancer in 2015, Trump interrupted him again to attack Hunter.
“I don’t know Beau,” Trump said. “I know Hunter. Hunter got thrown out of the military. He was thrown out ― dishonorably discharged.”
Hunter was discharged from the Navy in 2013 after testing positive for cocaine. Trump’s claim that he was dishonorably discharged, a punitive discharge handed down by a general court-martial, is false.
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“My son, like a lot of people ... had a drug problem,” Biden shot back at Trump. “He’s overtaken it. He’s fixed it. He’s worked on it. And I’m proud of him.”
Watch the exchange below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--Kamala Harris Slams Trump's Debate Rhetoric: 'A Dog Whistle Through A Bullhorn'

Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) , the Democratic vice presidential nominee , on Tuesday lambasted President Donald Trump ’ s performance in the first presidential debate with former Vice President Joe Biden .
In an interview after the debate , Harris told viewers of CBS that she believes Trump “ really denigrated the office of the president of the United States as much as he has done over the course of the last four years.
” The senator then went on to tell MSNBC viewers that Trump ’ s rhetoric was “ a dog whistle through a bullhorn.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be anything other than what he is : someone who will not condemn white supremacists .
Someone who can not say the phrase ‘ Black lives matter.
’ Someone who is getting rid of training of federal employees around the issue of race and the need to be aware of implicit bias , ” she told Brian Williams .
“ It ’ s not a dog whistle .
Literally he ’ s talking through a bullhorn.
” When moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump if he would condemn white supremacists , the president instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by ” and that “ almost everything I see is from the left wing , not from the right wing.
” '' Donald Trump is not pretending to be anything other than what he is : someone who will not condemn white supremacists .
Someone who can not say the phrase 'Black lives matter . '
'' — @ KamalaHarris # Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/X9otkxRDFe — CAP Action ( @ CAPAction ) September 30 , 2020 In an interview on CNN , Harris told Jake Tapper that Biden had shown “ maturity ” during three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an economic crisis and a climate crisis — and called Trump ’ s repeated interruptions of both Biden and Wallace “ bullying ” behavior .
“ I do believe the American people benefitted from a clear contrast of what they ’ ve got right now , but also what they can get , ” she said .
.
@ JakeTapper : Do you think the country benefitted from what we all saw this evening ?
@ KamalaHarris : `` I think the American people benefitted from a very clear contrast . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ PodSaveAmerica ) September 30 , 2020 When Tapper asked Harris whether Biden would participate in the upcoming debates , Harris said : “ Joe Biden is never going to refuse to talk to the American people .
”

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Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, on Tuesday lambasted President Donald Trump’s performance in the first presidential debate with former Vice President Joe Biden.
In an interview after the debate, Harris told viewers of CBS that she believes Trump “really denigrated the office of the president of the United States as much as he has done over the course of the last four years.”
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The senator then went on to tell MSNBC viewers that Trump’s rhetoric was “a dog whistle through a bullhorn.”
“Donald Trump is not pretending to be anything other than what he is: someone who will not condemn white supremacists. Someone who cannot say the phrase ‘Black lives matter.’ Someone who is getting rid of training of federal employees around the issue of race and the need to be aware of implicit bias,” she told Brian Williams. “It’s not a dog whistle. Literally he’s talking through a bullhorn.”
When moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump if he would condemn white supremacists, the president instead said that Proud Boys should “stand by” and that “almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing.”
"Donald Trump is not pretending to be anything other than what he is: someone who will not condemn white supremacists. Someone who cannot say the phrase 'Black lives matter.'" —@KamalaHarris #Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/X9otkxRDFe — CAP Action (@CAPAction) September 30, 2020
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In an interview on CNN, Harris told Jake Tapper that Biden had shown “maturity” during three major crises ― a public health crisis, an economic crisis and a climate crisis — and called Trump’s repeated interruptions of both Biden and Wallace “bullying” behavior.
“I do believe the American people benefitted from a clear contrast of what they’ve got right now, but also what they can get,” she said.
.@JakeTapper: Do you think the country benefitted from what we all saw this evening?@KamalaHarris: "I think the American people benefitted from a very clear contrast." pic.twitter.com/zXopo15NxB — Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) September 30, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-30--Michael Flynn's Lawyer Says She Asked Trump Not To Pardon Her Client

The attorney , Sidney Powell , was initially reluctant to discuss her conversations with the president or the White House , saying she believed they were protected by executive privilege .
But under persistent questioning from U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan , she acknowledged having spoken to the president within the last few weeks to update him and to request that he not pardon Flynn .
She did not elaborate on the request , but it presumably reflected the defense team ’ s desire to secure a legal , rather than political , victory for their client and to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s assertion that the prosecution should be abandoned .
Attorney General William Barr , who appointed a U.S. attorney from Missouri to investigate the handling of the case , moved in May to dismiss the case despite Flynn ’ s own guilty plea in the Russia investigation .
Powell ’ s acknowledgement that she had recently spoken with the president about the case that arose from special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia probe underscored the politically charged nature of the prosecution .
Flynn has emerged as something of a cause célèbre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr ’ s action — including former FBI and Justice Department officials — have decried what they see as the politicization of law enforcement in the move to drop the case .
Current Justice Department officials vigorously rejected that characterization at Tuesday ’ s hearing , the first since a federal appeals court ruled last month that Sullivan did not have to immediately dismiss the prosecution just because the government wants him to .
That decision returned the case to Sullivan for additional proceedings .
At issue before the judge Tuesday was what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ request to abandon a case they had once brought , and to what extent a judge can second-guess the motives behind such an effort .
Flynn has twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about a conversation with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period in December 2016 , when he encouraged the diplomat not to escalate tensions over sanctions that had just been imposed by the Obama administration for election interference .
At the time , the FBI was investigating whether the Trump campaign had coordinated with Russia to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor .
But the Justice Department moved in May to dismiss the case , saying there had been insufficient basis to interview Flynn and that the questioning of Flynn and the statements he made were not relevant to the FBI ’ s broader counterintelligence investigation into the campaign and Russia .
Sullivan has so far resisted efforts to dismiss the prosecution and appointed a former federal judge to argue against the Justice Department ’ s position .
That ex-judge , John Gleeson , has accused the department of acting for political reasons when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of shifting its rationale over several months for doing so .
Lawyers for the federal government revived their efforts to persuade Sullivan that dismissing the Flynn case was in the interests of justice .
The lawyers cited what they said was internal uncertainty within the FBI about whether Flynn had even committed a crime , as well as questions about the credibility of law enforcement officials in the case .
“ I ’ ve never seen it in my career in ( this ) office , and it didn ’ t happen here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m here to say that the U.S. Attorney ’ s office ’ s decision to dismiss this case was the right call for the right reasons.
” He also suggested that the case would be impossible for the Justice Department to prove beyond a reasonable a doubt because of credibility issues involving witnesses .
He cited the actions of Peter Strzok , an FBI agent who interviewed Flynn but was later fired from the bureau because of pejorative texts about Trump , and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department ’ s inspector general over a news media disclosure .
In recent weeks , as part of the review of the Flynn case being conducted by U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Jensen of St. Louis , the Justice Department has identified correspondence that it regards as possibly favorable to Flynn and supportive of the decision to drop the case .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A lawyer for former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn told a judge Tuesday that she recently updated President Donald Trump on the case and asked him not to issue a pardon for her client.
The attorney, Sidney Powell, was initially reluctant to discuss her conversations with the president or the White House, saying she believed they were protected by executive privilege. But under persistent questioning from U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, she acknowledged having spoken to the president within the last few weeks to update him and to request that he not pardon Flynn.
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She did not elaborate on the request, but it presumably reflected the defense team’s desire to secure a legal, rather than political, victory for their client and to have the judge concur with the Justice Department’s assertion that the prosecution should be abandoned. Attorney General William Barr, who appointed a U.S. attorney from Missouri to investigate the handling of the case, moved in May to dismiss the case despite Flynn’s own guilty plea in the Russia investigation.
That request is pending, with Sullivan not immediately ruling one way or the other on Tuesday.
Powell’s acknowledgement that she had recently spoken with the president about the case that arose from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe underscored the politically charged nature of the prosecution. Flynn has emerged as something of a cause célèbre for Trump supporters, while critics of Barr’s action — including former FBI and Justice Department officials — have decried what they see as the politicization of law enforcement in the move to drop the case.
Current Justice Department officials vigorously rejected that characterization at Tuesday’s hearing, the first since a federal appeals court ruled last month that Sullivan did not have to immediately dismiss the prosecution just because the government wants him to. That decision returned the case to Sullivan for additional proceedings.
At issue before the judge Tuesday was what role courts may play in scrutinizing prosecutors’ request to abandon a case they had once brought, and to what extent a judge can second-guess the motives behind such an effort.
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Flynn has twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about a conversation with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period in December 2016, when he encouraged the diplomat not to escalate tensions over sanctions that had just been imposed by the Obama administration for election interference. At the time, the FBI was investigating whether the Trump campaign had coordinated with Russia to tip the election in Trump’s favor.
But the Justice Department moved in May to dismiss the case, saying there had been insufficient basis to interview Flynn and that the questioning of Flynn and the statements he made were not relevant to the FBI’s broader counterintelligence investigation into the campaign and Russia.
Powell, Flynn’s attorney, added her own criticism, calling the case and the way it was handled a “hideous abuse of power that continues until this very minute.”
“This is the most egregious injustice I have ever seen in my 30-plus years of practice,” Powell said.
Sullivan has so far resisted efforts to dismiss the prosecution and appointed a former federal judge to argue against the Justice Department’s position. That ex-judge, John Gleeson, has accused the department of acting for political reasons when it moved to drop the case and of shifting its rationale over several months for doing so.
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“These reasons are so patently pretextual that the government feels the need to keep coming up with more of them,” Gleeson said.
Lawyers for the federal government revived their efforts to persuade Sullivan that dismissing the Flynn case was in the interests of justice. The lawyers cited what they said was internal uncertainty within the FBI about whether Flynn had even committed a crime, as well as questions about the credibility of law enforcement officials in the case.
Allegations of improper political motives are “just not true,” said federal prosecutor Ken Kohl, who identified himself as the most senior career official in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington.
“I’ve never seen it in my career in (this) office, and it didn’t happen here,” Kohl said. “I’m here to say that the U.S. Attorney’s office’s decision to dismiss this case was the right call for the right reasons.”
He also suggested that the case would be impossible for the Justice Department to prove beyond a reasonable a doubt because of credibility issues involving witnesses. He cited the actions of Peter Strzok, an FBI agent who interviewed Flynn but was later fired from the bureau because of pejorative texts about Trump, and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was fired amid allegations that he misled the Justice Department’s inspector general over a news media disclosure.
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“Are we going to call Pete Strzok in this case?” Kohl asked rhetorically. “Or do we call the deputy director who ordered the interview, Andy McCabe?”
A spokeswoman for McCabe declined to comment, as did a lawyer for Strzok.
In recent weeks, as part of the review of the Flynn case being conducted by U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Jensen of St. Louis, the Justice Department has identified correspondence that it regards as possibly favorable to Flynn and supportive of the decision to drop the case.
That includes the recent interview of an FBI agent who was part of the Russia investigation and had expressed misgivings about the Flynn case, and had also come to believe that some on the Mueller team exhibited a “get Trump” attitude.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Spreading Voter Fraud Fears, Trump Urges Supporters To 'Go Into The Polls' And Watch

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump 's reactions during the first presidential debate Tuesday with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in Cleveland , Ohio .
President Donald Trump used the first presidential debate on Tuesday to cast doubt on the upcoming election , urging supporters to “ go into the polls and watch very carefully ” and refusing to commit to waiting for the election to be independently certified before declaring victory .
Trump , who won the Electoral College in 2016 but has refused to accept the fact that he lost the popular vote , has repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
With a record number of Americans planning to vote by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic , Trump has called mail-in ballots “ a disaster ” and claimed there was widespread voting fraud , a claim that has been nearly universally rejected by voting experts .
Debate moderator Chris Wallace asked both men whether they would commit to not declaring victory until the election can be independently certified and whether they would encourage their supporters to stay calm and not engage in civil unrest .
Trump did not .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polls and watch very carefully , because that ’ s what has to happen .
I am urging them to do it , ” Trump said .
Due to the number of mail-in ballots , the election result will likely be certified well after Election Day .
But Trump and the Republican Party are fighting in court against measures meant to extend the counting of ballots and insist only the Election Day totals should be considered legitimate .
Trump also said that he was counting on the Supreme Court ― including his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coney Barrett ― to “ look at the ballots , definitely.
” “ I hope we don ’ t need them , in terms of the election itself , ” Trump said .
Trump and the GOP ― as they have for years ― have been spreading fears about mail-in ballots .
The Justice Department , as The New York Times wrote , has aided the Trump administration in its efforts to spread fears about election fraud .
Vice President Joe Biden , the Democratic presidential nominee , did commit to keeping his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time when election results are finalized .
“ He has no idea what he ’ s talking about , ” Biden said .
“ Once the winner is declared after all the ballots are counted , all the votes are counted , that ’ ll be the end of it .
”

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President Donald Trump used the first presidential debate on Tuesday to cast doubt on the upcoming election, urging supporters to “go into the polls and watch very carefully” and refusing to commit to waiting for the election to be independently certified before declaring victory.
Trump, who won the Electoral College in 2016 but has refused to accept the fact that he lost the popular vote, has repeatedly claimed the election is being rigged against him. With a record number of Americans planning to vote by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has called mail-in ballots “a disaster” and claimed there was widespread voting fraud, a claim that has been nearly universally rejected by voting experts.
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Debate moderator Chris Wallace asked both men whether they would commit to not declaring victory until the election can be independently certified and whether they would encourage their supporters to stay calm and not engage in civil unrest. Trump did not.
“I am urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully, because that’s what has to happen. I am urging them to do it,” Trump said.
Though “poll watching” is a legitimate practice observed by both parties, Democrats and election experts warned Trump’s remarks sounded like they were encouraging a different kind of action: voter intimidation, which is illegal under federal and state laws.
Trump “wasn’t talking about poll watching,” Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford tweeted after the debate Tuesday. “He was talking about voter intimidation. FYI ― voter intimidation is illegal in Nevada. Believe me when I say it: You do it, and you will be prosecuted.”
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Due to the number of mail-in ballots, the election result will likely be certified well after Election Day. But Trump and the Republican Party are fighting in court against measures meant to extend the counting of ballots and insist only the Election Day totals should be considered legitimate.
Trump also said that he was counting on the Supreme Court ― including his nominee for the court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett ― to “look at the ballots, definitely.”
“I hope we don’t need them, in terms of the election itself,” Trump said.
Trump and the GOP ― as they have for years ― have been spreading fears about mail-in ballots. The Justice Department, as The New York Times wrote, has aided the Trump administration in its efforts to spread fears about election fraud.
Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, did commit to keeping his supporters calm in between Election Day and the time when election results are finalized.
“He has no idea what he’s talking about,” Biden said. “Once the winner is declared after all the ballots are counted, all the votes are counted, that’ll be the end of it.”
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