thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Mike Bloomberg Gets Testy After Being Pressed About Dropping Out

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday bristled at the suggestion that he should follow the lead of Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar by dropping out of the presidential race in order to clear a path for former Vice President Joe Biden .
At a campaign stop in Miami , reporters asked Bloomberg whether he had concerns that his presidential bid would end up boosting Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) by peeling moderate voters away from Biden , who gained a slew of top party endorsements after his blowout win in South Carolina over the weekend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from me ... have you asked Joe if he ’ s going to drop out ?
” Bloomberg shot back .
“ I have no intention of dropping out.
” Bloomberg entered the race late , in November , and decided not to compete in any of the first four nominating states .
Asked about his path forward if he doesn ’ t win any primaries on Tuesday , Bloomberg said , “ You don ’ t have to win states , you have to win delegates , ” suggesting he planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Convention in Wisconsin later this year .
“ I don ’ t think that I can win any other ways , but a contested convention is a democratic process , ” the billionaire former Republican added .
After Associated Press reporter Alexandra Jaffe attempted to ask him about the daunting delegate math once more , Bloomberg appeared to get visibly frustrated , saying , “ Miss , are you gon na ask or are you gon na give a lecture ?
” Tuesday is a pivotal day in the race for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegates up for grabs , the results from 14 different states heading to the polls will help determine the path forward for the remaining candidates , as well the Democratic Party itself .
Bloomberg , in particular , is facing growing pressure to drop out so as to not help Sanders , a scenario many establishment Democrats fear would lead to Donald Trump ’ s reelection .
“ There ’ s only one viable candidate Bloomberg ’ s campaign is advancing , and that ’ s Bernie Sanders .
He ’ s just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying in , but the countdown clock is ticking .
Even billionaires aren ’ t impervious to irony that thick , ” said one Biden ally who requested anonymity to speak freely .
Bloomberg on Tuesday also took a swing at Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , the other progressive in the race .
In Miami , a reporter noted that Bloomberg may end up landing in fourth place , behind the senator , who is similarly planning on staying in the race until the convention .
Bloomberg replied , “ I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , is she ?
”

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday bristled at the suggestion that he should follow the lead of Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar by dropping out of the presidential race in order to clear a path for former Vice President Joe Biden.
At a campaign stop in Miami, reporters asked Bloomberg whether he had concerns that his presidential bid would end up boosting Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) by peeling moderate voters away from Biden, who gained a slew of top party endorsements after his blowout win in South Carolina over the weekend.
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“Joe’s taking votes away from me ... have you asked Joe if he’s going to drop out?” Bloomberg shot back. “I have no intention of dropping out.”
During a press conference in Miami, FL I asked @MikeBloomberg why he doesn’t drop out to clear a path for former VP Joe Biden.
“Have you asked Joe whether he’s going to drop out?” Bloomberg responded. pic.twitter.com/irb3DgPSEn — Tim Perry (@tperry518) March 3, 2020
Bloomberg entered the race late, in November, and decided not to compete in any of the first four nominating states.
Asked about his path forward if he doesn’t win any primaries on Tuesday, Bloomberg said, “You don’t have to win states, you have to win delegates,” suggesting he planned to stay in the race until the Democratic National Convention in Wisconsin later this year.
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“I don’t think that I can win any other ways, but a contested convention is a democratic process,” the billionaire former Republican added.
After Associated Press reporter Alexandra Jaffe attempted to ask him about the daunting delegate math once more, Bloomberg appeared to get visibly frustrated, saying, “Miss, are you gonna ask or are you gonna give a lecture?”
Tuesday is a pivotal day in the race for the Democratic nomination. With more than 1,000 delegates up for grabs, the results from 14 different states heading to the polls will help determine the path forward for the remaining candidates, as well the Democratic Party itself. Bloomberg, in particular, is facing growing pressure to drop out so as to not help Sanders, a scenario many establishment Democrats fear would lead to Donald Trump’s reelection.
“There’s only one viable candidate Bloomberg’s campaign is advancing, and that’s Bernie Sanders. He’s just functioning as a pro-Bernie super PAC by staying in, but the countdown clock is ticking. Even billionaires aren’t impervious to irony that thick,” said one Biden ally who requested anonymity to speak freely.
Bloomberg on Tuesday also took a swing at Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, the other progressive in the race. In Miami, a reporter noted that Bloomberg may end up landing in fourth place, behind the senator, who is similarly planning on staying in the race until the convention. Bloomberg replied, “I didn’t realize she’s still in, is she?”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Report: Texas Rapidly Reduced Number Of Polling Sites In Black and Latino Communities

Erich Schlegel via Getty Images A sign shows the way to the polling station at Austin Community College on Nov. 4 , 2014 in Austin , Texas .
Voters headed to the polls today to decide a number of tight races .
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg , Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar , and former Texas congressman Beto O ’ Rourke all suggested Biden would propel down-ballot Democrats to victory in politically moderate regions of the country .
O ’ Rourke specifically said Biden would help Texas Democrats win the nine seats they need to reclaim the state legislature for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing Black and Latino communities in Texas mark a demographic shift in the state , many pollsters believe Texas is a toss-up to swing either Republican or Democrat in the 2020 elections and for years to come .
For the former candidates , a Biden endorsement is key for a new blue wave .
But recently compiled data and analysis show Texas Democrats face structural obstacles to victory that Biden alone can not fix , including the closures of hundreds of polling places in counties with large or growing Black and Latino populations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conference Education Fund ( LCEF ) , a civil rights organization , reveals Texas officials began rapidly decreasing the number of polling places in these counties with significant communities of color around the time the Supreme Court overturned a key provision of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 .
The provision , Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act , required certain states with histories of racist voting practices to get clearance from the federal government before closing polling places or changing their voting laws .
Furthermore , analysis reported by The Guardian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gained the most Black and Latino residents between 2012 and 2018 closed 542 polling sites over that span , while the 50 counties that gained the fewest Black and Latino residents during that time only closed 34 sites .
“ This is despite the fact that the population in the former group of counties has risen by 2.5 million people , ” The Guardian reports , “ whereas in the latter category the total population has fallen by over 13,000.
” Three Texas counties ― Somervell County , Jackson County , and Lanier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation in percentage of polling places closed since the Supreme Court ’ s Voting Rights Act ruling .
And when looking at the total number of polling places closed nationwide , six of the 10 counties with the most closures are in Texas , according to the LCEF report .
The organization found Texas closed 750 polling places statewide following the Supreme Court decision .
Texas is one of several states that allows the use of “ vote centers ” in place of regular polling sites .
One major difference between a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter can cast votes at a vote center , regardless where they live , whereas voters are assigned polling places by the county .
For that reason , vote centers are sometimes seen as a convenient alternative to typical polling places .
But in Texas , counties can close several polling places and erect only few vote centers in their place .
“ While generally intended to enhance access to voting locations , this model often leads to massive reductions in polling places , ” the report says , adding that contrary to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in full effect , Texas officials are now not required to determine whether the changes impose disparate impacts on Black and brown voters .
“ Republicans ’ only way to retain power is to basically curb the vote , and we ’ re fighting back against all of those attempts , ” he added .

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Former Vice President Joe Biden visited Dallas on Monday to collect a few major campaign endorsements from some of his former Democratic primary competitors.
Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke all suggested Biden would propel down-ballot Democrats to victory in politically moderate regions of the country. O’Rourke specifically said Biden would help Texas Democrats win the nine seats they need to reclaim the state legislature for the first time in decades.
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“You, Mr. President, as the top of the ticket, can help us do that,” he said.
Because growing Black and Latino communities in Texas mark a demographic shift in the state, many pollsters believe Texas is a toss-up to swing either Republican or Democrat in the 2020 elections and for years to come. For the former candidates, a Biden endorsement is key for a new blue wave.
But recently compiled data and analysis show Texas Democrats face structural obstacles to victory that Biden alone cannot fix, including the closures of hundreds of polling places in counties with large or growing Black and Latino populations.
A sign shows the way to the polling station at Austin Community College on Nov. 4, 2014 in Austin, Texas. Voters headed to the polls today to decide a number of tight races. Erich Schlegel via Getty Images
A 2019 report from The Leadership Conference Education Fund (LCEF), a civil rights organization, reveals Texas officials began rapidly decreasing the number of polling places in these counties with significant communities of color around the time the Supreme Court overturned a key provision of the Voting Rights Act in 2013. The provision, Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, required certain states with histories of racist voting practices to get clearance from the federal government before closing polling places or changing their voting laws.
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Furthermore, analysis reported by The Guardian found that the 50 Texas counties that gained the most Black and Latino residents between 2012 and 2018 closed 542 polling sites over that span, while the 50 counties that gained the fewest Black and Latino residents during that time only closed 34 sites.
“This is despite the fact that the population in the former group of counties has risen by 2.5 million people,” The Guardian reports, “whereas in the latter category the total population has fallen by over 13,000.”
Two Texas counties ― Somervell County and Jackson County ― rank in the top 10 in the nation in percentage of polling places closed since the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act ruling. And when looking at the total number of polling places closed nationwide, six of the 10 counties with the most closures are in Texas, according to the LCEF report. The organization found Texas closed 750 polling places statewide following the Supreme Court decision.
Texas is one of several states that allows the use of “vote centers” in place of regular polling sites. One major difference between a vote center and typical polling places is any voter can cast votes at a vote center, regardless where they live, whereas voters are assigned polling places by the county. For that reason, vote centers are sometimes seen as a convenient alternative to typical polling places. But in Texas, counties can close several polling places and erect only few vote centers in their place.
“While generally intended to enhance access to voting locations, this model often leads to massive reductions in polling places,” the report says, adding that contrary to the period when the Voting Rights Act was in full effect, Texas officials are now not required to determine whether the changes impose disparate impacts on Black and brown voters.
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A spokesperson for the Texas Democratic Party said the raft of polling place closures in diverse communities are attempts by conservative election officials to shrink and restrict the electorate.
“People have died to fight for the sanctity of the vote,” the spokesperson, Abhi Rahman, told HuffPost.
“Republicans’ only way to retain power is to basically curb the vote, and we’re fighting back against all of those attempts,” he added.
Rahman said the Texas Democratic Party is conducting the “most expansive voter protection program in Texas Democratic Party history” in partnership with the organization Fair Fight, a voting rights group founded by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams.
“We have an around-the-clock voter protection team working to fight back and make sure voting is more convenient than it ever has been in the past,” Rahman said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Fox News' Brit Hume Proves Why You Should Always Check Screenshots Before Tweeting

Someone remind Fox News ’ Brit Hume to close down the tabs on his internet browser the next time he decides to share a screenshot online .
On Tuesday morning , the conservative network ’ s senior political analyst posted a screen grab of primary election betting odds showing former Vice President Joe Biden as the Democratic 2020 front-runner , ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) .
Twitter users were more titillated , however , by an open browser tab reading “ Sexy Vixen Vinyl.
” Biden now clear favorite in betting odds as of 5:30 a.m. Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brithume ) March 3 , 2020 Hume tweeted the screenshot at 5:37 a.m.
It ’ s unclear what the Sexy Vixen Vinyl browser tab may have featured .
The post , that remained online for almost three hours before being deleted , caught the attention of plenty of people on social media : You should zoom in on Brit 's tabs here .
You wo n't be disappointed .
https : //t.co/QQqedMO4VJ — Praying for the President - Psalms 109:8 ( @ coryprovost ) March 3 , 2020 in Brit Hume ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an acknowledged classic https : //t.co/lcQ2Mmynj6 — The Mountain Goats ( @ mountain_goats ) March 3 , 2020 “ Brit Hume Sexy Vixen Vinyl ” is a phrase that works to the rhythm of the “ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ” theme and now I can ’ t unhear it .
— Kevin M. Kruse ( @ KevinMKruse ) March 3 , 2020 For historical purposes , tfw u doing some political analysis for Fox News then check ur bank account before hunting down some sexy vinyl vixens pic.twitter.com/8jMNsT9Qus — Aaron Stewart-Ahn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 Hi Brit !
This is fascinating ... but please tell us more about your `` Sexy Vixen '' tab .
pic.twitter.com/6EZtuITXbN — Old Rant Dump ( @ TrumpinTheShark ) March 3 , 2020 The ole Vixen tab is still there , and at 5:35 am on a Tuesday no less !
Brit needs to be ready to go at all hours !
— Wade ( @ WadeStevenson74 ) March 3 , 2020 Brit checking his money , his cash , his hoes , his health status , and election results at 5:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
https : //t.co/mZU5dIbkfj — # BlackWomensHistoryWeek 2/25-3/3 ( @ FeministaJones ) March 3 , 2020 So i think @ brithume it trying to send a message to America .
And that message is : I ’ m a naughty , naughty boy , and I need a good spanking .
https : //t.co/K3SqihrqPC — eric ½ 🐝 ( @ PSeigh ) March 3 , 2020 I too look at 'sexy vixen vinyl ' when i ca n't sleep waiting for my betting odds to change .
— Lumpy Louise , Text `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LumpyLouish ) March 3 , 2020 Unless Sexy Vixen is parlaying election odds , not sure you meant to screenshot this as is .
— Christopher Toth ( @ MCTothSTL ) March 3 , 2020 Love to wake up early in the morning and research my three favorite things : viral outbreaks , politics , and sexy vixen vinyl .
pic.twitter.com/BXHkBXgeaE — AndyH 🍻 ( @ AndyGHardman ) March 3 , 2020 People keep laughing about the sexy vixen tab but honestly my first thing was “ who banks at SunTrust ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ bendreyfuss ) March 3 , 2020

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Someone remind Fox News’ Brit Hume to close down the tabs on his internet browser the next time he decides to share a screenshot online.
On Tuesday morning, the conservative network’s senior political analyst posted a screen grab of primary election betting odds showing former Vice President Joe Biden as the Democratic 2020 front-runner, ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
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Twitter users were more titillated, however, by an open browser tab reading “Sexy Vixen Vinyl.”
Biden now clear favorite in betting odds as of 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/cmaIztNLlk — Brit Hume (@brithume) March 3, 2020
Hume tweeted the screenshot at 5:37 a.m. It’s unclear what the Sexy Vixen Vinyl browser tab may have featured.
The post, that remained online for almost three hours before being deleted, caught the attention of plenty of people on social media:
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You should zoom in on Brit's tabs here. You won't be disappointed. https://t.co/QQqedMO4VJ — Praying for the President - Psalms 109:8 (@coryprovost) March 3, 2020
in Brit Hume’s defense the first Sexy Vixen Vinyl tape is an acknowledged classic https://t.co/lcQ2Mmynj6 — The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) March 3, 2020
“Brit Hume Sexy Vixen Vinyl” is a phrase that works to the rhythm of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” theme and now I can’t unhear it. — Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) March 3, 2020
You laugh, Sexy Vixen Vinyl Vampiresses has excellent has excellent political analysis. — Dennis DiClaudio (@dennisdiclaudio) March 3, 2020
For historical purposes, tfw u doing some political analysis for Fox News then check ur bank account before hunting down some sexy vinyl vixens pic.twitter.com/8jMNsT9Qus — Aaron Stewart-Ahn (@somebadideas) March 3, 2020
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Hi Brit!
This is fascinating... but please tell us more about your "Sexy Vixen" tab. pic.twitter.com/6EZtuITXbN — Old Rant Dump (@TrumpinTheShark) March 3, 2020
I'm voting for Sexy Vixen Vinyl — Clancy Moped (@CreldBrumple) March 3, 2020
The ole Vixen tab is still there, and at 5:35 am on a Tuesday no less! Brit needs to be ready to go at all hours! — Wade (@WadeStevenson74) March 3, 2020
Brit checking his money, his cash, his hoes, his health status, and election results at 5:30 am on a Tuesday
Same as me. https://t.co/mZU5dIbkfj — #BlackWomensHistoryWeek 2/25-3/3 (@FeministaJones) March 3, 2020
So i think @brithume it trying to send a message to America. And that message is: I’m a naughty, naughty boy, and I need a good spanking. https://t.co/K3SqihrqPC — eric ½ 🐝 (@PSeigh) March 3, 2020
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I too look at 'sexy vixen vinyl' when i can't sleep waiting for my betting odds to change. — Lumpy Louise, Text "F*ck You Mike" to 80510 (@LumpyLouish) March 3, 2020
Unless Sexy Vixen is parlaying election odds, not sure you meant to screenshot this as is. — Christopher Toth (@MCTothSTL) March 3, 2020
Love to wake up early in the morning and research my three favorite things: viral outbreaks, politics, and sexy vixen vinyl. pic.twitter.com/BXHkBXgeaE — AndyH 🍻 (@AndyGHardman) March 3, 2020
People keep laughing about the sexy vixen tab but honestly my first thing was “who banks at SunTrust?” https://t.co/eQf1bLTEaD — Ben Dreyfuss (@bendreyfuss) March 3, 2020
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I hear sexy vixen vinyl gots a 60% upswing — crossfaded tourettes greatest hits 🐒🔧 (@Finkelmeister) March 3, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Donald Trump's Latest Twitter Typo Is A Real 'Chocker'

You 're such an idiot.. `` Chocker '' Rule # 1 when it comes to talking shit about someone else @ @ @ @ @ your insults correctly .
Just a side note .
When you 're president of The @ @ @ @ @ you should be better than this .
We deserve better than you .

You're such an idiot.. "Chocker"
Rule #1 when it comes to talking shit about someone else, make sure you spell your insults correctly.
Just a side note. When you're president of The United States of America, you should be better than this. We deserve better than you.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--8 Down-Ballot Races To Watch On Super Tuesday

If Cisneros manages to pull off an upset in the socially conservative , working-class district in South Texas , where turnout has historically been low , it could send a signal that no incumbent Democrat is safe from the wave of progressive energy unleashed by Ocasio-Cortez in 2018 .
A victory for Cisneros also almost certainly depends on higher-than-normal turnout among young Latinos , which is likely to benefit Sanders and portend well for Democrats ’ efforts to turn Texas blue in November .
Now voters have two races on their ballot : a special election primary to replace Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a general election primary for the next Congress .
Because California uses an open primary system , candidates from all political parties compete in the same primary , and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election .
In a special election , a candidate can win outright by receiving more than 50 % of the vote .
Sessions , of course , was the very first senator to endorse Trump , lending him a bit of establishment credibility during the 2016 presidential campaign .
Trump rewarded him with a job as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Sessions refused to act as Trump ’ s personal protector and recused himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Tuberville has been in second place in most polls , and both he and Byrne have been going after Sessions for not being loyal enough to the president .
But both Byrne and Tuberville have also criticized the president in the past .
In September , Tuberville said he was ” pissed off″ at Trump over veterans ’ health care issues , and Byrne said Trump was ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Access Hollywood ” comments about sexual assault came out in 2016 .
The race to replace him is crowded with nine candidates , but the tentative front-runners , according to recent polling , are Ammar Campa-Najjar , the only Democrat remaining in the race , and former Rep. Darrell Issa .
When Issa was in Congress , he led several investigations targeting the Obama administration , including probes into the 2012 embassy attack in Benghazi , Libya , the supposed IRS targeting of conservatives , and the Fast and Furious gun trafficking @ @

Fourteen states are holding presidential primary elections on Super Tuesday, but five of those states are also holding critical primary contests for House, Senate and other down-ballot races.
Some of the key contests on the Democratic side will test whether progressives can defeat candidates with significant fundraising power and establishment support. And perhaps the most-watched Republican primary has candidates competing to prove who has most solidly stood by the side of President Donald Trump.
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Here are eight races we’re watching on Super Tuesday:
Texas’s 28th Congressional District Democratic Primary
Jessica Cisneros is trying to win the Democratic nomination from Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), a more conservative member of the House. Cisneros has picked up the backing of progressives including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Thomas McKinless/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Immigration attorney Jessica Cisneros’s tough battle to unseat conservative Rep. Henry Cuellar in Texas’s 28th Congressional District has become one of the most closely watched primary challenges against an incumbent House Democrat this election cycle.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and with a host of labor, environmental and abortion rights groups have jumped in the race on Cisneros’s side. Meanwhile, the unlikely coalition of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, conservative billionaire Charles Koch’s super PAC Americans for Prosperity Action and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has stepped up to help Cuellar.
If Cisneros manages to pull off an upset in the socially conservative, working-class district in South Texas, where turnout has historically been low, it could send a signal that no incumbent Democrat is safe from the wave of progressive energy unleashed by Ocasio-Cortez in 2018. A victory for Cisneros also almost certainly depends on higher-than-normal turnout among young Latinos, which is likely to benefit Sanders and portend well for Democrats’ efforts to turn Texas blue in November.
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California’s 25th Congressional District Race
California state Rep. Christy Smith (D) is considered likely to proceed to a runoff in the 25th Congressional District campaign. Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press
California’s 25th is a swing district in northern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County that went blue for the first time in decades in 2018 when former Rep. Katie Hill (D) pulled off a surprising 9-percentage-point victory over incumbent Republican Steve Knight. Hill resigned in October after apologizing for a sexual relationship with a campaign staffer, which became public when a conservative news site published leaked nude pictures of Hill without her consent.
Now voters have two races on their ballot: a special election primary to replace Hill for the rest of the year and a general election primary for the next Congress. Because California uses an open primary system, candidates from all political parties compete in the same primary, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. In a special election, a candidate can win outright by receiving more than 50% of the vote.
There are 14 candidates running in the two races — including former Donald Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos, who served 12 days in prison for lying to the FBI. Democrats’ leaked internal polling shows Democratic state Assemblywoman Christy Smith and Knight — the Republican who lost to Hill in 2018 — as the candidates most likely to proceed to a runoff.
Smith is the Democratic Party favorite, and she also has backing from Hill. She is facing a challenge from the left from Cenk Uygur, the founder and longtime host of the progressive news network The Young Turks. But the Democrats’ internal polling shows Uygur trailing Smith, Knight and Mike Garcia, a former Navy combat pilot running as a Republican.
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Democratic operatives have touted Uygur’s history of offensive comments, many of which he has apologized for and disavowed. And Uygur’s campaign suffered a self-inflicted stumble last month when HuffPost reported that he urged TYT staffers not to unionize.
Alabama Republican Senate Primary
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions is campaigning to return to the U.S. Senate in Alabama, running for the GOP nomination. If he doesn't get a majority of the vote, he'll head to a runoff election later this month. Vasha Hunt/Associated Press
The Alabama Senate race is all about President Donald Trump.
Rep. Bradley Byrne (R), former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville and former Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) are all vying for the Republican nomination to take on Sen. Doug Jones (D) in November. And it’s a contest to see who can tie themselves closest to the president.
Sessions, of course, was the very first senator to endorse Trump, lending him a bit of establishment credibility during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump rewarded him with a job as attorney general but then soured on him when Sessions refused to act as Trump’s personal protector and recused himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
In Alabama, if no candidate gets a majority on Tuesday, there will be a runoff on March 31. Sessions is expected to get the most votes, but it’s unclear whether he’ll have to compete in a runoff and whether Byrne or Tuberville will join him there.
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Tuberville has been in second place in most polls, and both he and Byrne have been going after Sessions for not being loyal enough to the president. But both Byrne and Tuberville have also criticized the president in the past. In September, Tuberville said he was ”pissed off″ at Trump over veterans’ health care issues, and Byrne said Trump was ”not fit to be president″ after his “Access Hollywood” comments about sexual assault came out in 2016.
So far, Trump has not weighed in on the race.
Texas Democratic Senate Primary
Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez is one of 12 Democrats running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas. She recently picked up the support of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and many national Democrats have thrown their support behind MJ Hegar, a former Air Force pilot and Purple Heart recipient who ran in a competitive House race in 2016. She lost, but she closed the gap in the GOP district significantly.
Hegar has also raised the most money ― more than $3.8 million, which is more than all the other candidates combined.
Hegar has been polling ahead and is expected to do well, but if she doesn’t get a majority, she’ll head to a May 26 runoff with the other top-two vote-getter.
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There are five other candidates in the 12-person race vying for the second-place spot: former state Rep. Chris Bell, Houston City Councilmember Amanda Edwards, activist Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez and state Sen. Royce West.
Tzintzún Ramirez has emerged as a progressive alternative to Hegar, receiving a boost recently when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) endorsed her. The campaign said Ocasio-Cortez’s support led to $20,000 and 3,000 new donors. She’s the only one in the top tier of candidates who supports “Medicare for All” and a Green New Deal.
California’s 50th Congressional District Race
Former Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is attempting to return to Congress after retiring in 2018. He previously represented the 49th District, which became more heavily Democratic over time. Gregory Bull/Associated Press
Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter vacated this seat this year, resigning after pleading guilty to stealing $250,000 in campaign donations to pay for things like fancy vacations, extramarital affairs and airfare for his pet rabbit.
The race to replace him is crowded with nine candidates, but the tentative front-runners, according to recent polling, are Ammar Campa-Najjar, the only Democrat remaining in the race, and former Rep. Darrell Issa. When Issa was in Congress, he led several investigations targeting the Obama administration, including probes into the 2012 embassy attack in Benghazi, Libya, the supposed IRS targeting of conservatives, and the Fast and Furious gun trafficking scandal.
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Campa-Najjar nearly flipped the conservative San Diego district blue in 2018, when he ran as a relatively unknown first-time candidate. He faced a series of Islamophobic ads from Hunter, who falsely accused him of being a national security threat with links to terrorism.
Because of California’s open primary system, in which the top two vote-recipients advance to the general election regardless of political party, it is possible (but unlikely) for two Republicans to compete against each other in November.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Race
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey has come under fire from civil rights and criminal justice reform activists and is facing two progressive challengers. Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey is facing two progressive challengers: former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón and former public defender Rachel Rossi.
Lacey, who ran unopposed for reelection in 2012, is extremely unpopular with civil rights activists and criminal justice reform advocates. She has opposed nearly every criminal justice reform measure that’s come up during her time as district attorney. Her office has prosecuted only one case involving a police officer killing a civilian — despite more than 500 people dying at the hands of law enforcement under her watch.
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On Monday, the day before the election, Lacey’s husband pointed a gun at a Black Lives Matter activist who showed up at their house to request a meeting and to protest Lacey’s record.
The two candidates with the most votes will proceed to the general election. Gascón, who is endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democrats, is expected to outperform Rossi, who, despite attracting support from people typically skeptical of prosecutors, lacks Gascón’s name recognition.
Los Angeles’ police union has poured money into labeling Gascón as dangerously lenient on crime. It’s unclear to what extent Monday’s gun incident will hurt Lacey, but a progressive win in America’s second-biggest city would represent a major achievement for the nationwide progressive prosecutor movement.
North Carolina Democratic Senate Primary
Former North Carolina state Rep. Cal Cunningham (D) is widely expected to win the Democratic primary to challenge Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Gerry Broome/Associated Press
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans up for reelection in 2020. Tuesday’s Democratic primary is largely between Cal Cunningham, who is an Army veteran and former state lawmaker, and state Sen. Erica Smith, who is African American. Cunningham is widely favored to win, and he has the backing of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
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Cunningham has raised more than $4.7 million, compared with Smith’s $238,000.
Republicans have meddled in the race, with a super PAC funded exclusively by a group with ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) dumping $3 million in to help Smith ― an indication that the GOP sees Cunningham as the bigger threat. Smith has denounced the “assistance” from the super PAC, but she has also said she’s disappointed that national Democrats decided to weigh in on behalf of Cunningham.
Polling has shown Cunningham with a growing lead, and he’s likely to win more than the 30% of the vote necessary to avoid a runoff.
California’s 16th Congressional District Race
Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) is facing a challenge from Fresno City Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria, a progressive. Caroline Brehman/Getty Images
Young progressive Fresno City Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria is running a competitive campaign against Blue Dog Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.).
Costa has outraised Soria nearly by $1 million and received endorsements from establishment Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein.
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But Soria has received several local union endorsements and has the backing of labor leader Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the American Farmworkers Association with Cesar Chavez. Soria also received the endorsement of the California Young Democrats.
A Soria win would advance the idea that young progressives could take on entrenched, more conservative Democratic incumbents and win.
Costa has skipped three opportunities to debate his challenger, and in February, he released two negative ads that struck a chord among diverse Fresno community members.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--White House Withdraws Nomination Of Pentagon Official Who Questioned Ukraine Aid

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The White House has withdrawn President Donald Trump ’ s nomination for the post of Defense Department comptroller , an official who had questioned the suspension of military assistance to Ukraine , which was at the center of Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
Elaine McCusker has been deputy undersecretary of defense , comptroller , since 2017 .
Her nomination as comptroller last November followed David L. Norquist ’ s resignation from the post and his confirmation in July as deputy defense secretary .
In the impeachment trial , Trump was accused of withholding aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corruption investigation of political rival Joe Biden .
Trump denied a quid pro quo linking the delivery of aid to investigations .
Sen. Jack Reed , D-R.I. , said McCusker repeatedly raised concerns about the president ’ s hold on Ukraine security assistance and sought to ensure that the administration complied with the law .
Her nomination was effectively killed by the White House in retaliation for her questioning a freeze in aid , he said .
“ Elaine McCusker is another casualty of the Trump administration ’ s efforts to purge public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president , ” Reed said .
McCusker was part of an email exchange obtained by The Center for Public Integrity in which administration officials had tried to shift blame for the delay in funding from the White House to the Pentagon .
Administration officials who testified during the impeachment proceedings only to lose their jobs include Gordon Sondland , former ambassador to the European Union , and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , a White House national security aide who was reassigned .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has withdrawn President Donald Trump’s nomination for the post of Defense Department comptroller, an official who had questioned the suspension of military assistance to Ukraine, which was at the center of Trump’s impeachment trial.
Elaine McCusker has been deputy undersecretary of defense, comptroller, since 2017. Her nomination as comptroller last November followed David L. Norquist’s resignation from the post and his confirmation in July as deputy defense secretary.
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In the impeachment trial, Trump was accused of withholding aid to Ukraine until its president announced a corruption investigation of political rival Joe Biden. Trump denied a quid pro quo linking the delivery of aid to investigations.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said McCusker repeatedly raised concerns about the president’s hold on Ukraine security assistance and sought to ensure that the administration complied with the law. Her nomination was effectively killed by the White House in retaliation for her questioning a freeze in aid, he said.
“Elaine McCusker is another casualty of the Trump administration’s efforts to purge public servants who put country before fealty to the president,” Reed said.
McCusker was part of an email exchange obtained by The Center for Public Integrity in which administration officials had tried to shift blame for the delay in funding from the White House to the Pentagon.
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“You can’t be serious,” she replied. “I am speechless.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Elizabeth Warren Straight-Up Reveals What She Doesn’t Like About Michael Bloomberg

Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
on Monday made it clear what she really thinks of her Democratic 2020 rival Michael Bloomberg .
“ It seems like you don ’ t like him that much ?
” Warren was asked by late night TV comedian Jimmy Kimmel .
Look , here is this guy who makes a bazillion dollars and says , ‘ Well that must mean that he ’ s qualified to be president of the United States.
’ And then thinks he can run for president when he ’ s got a record of embracing racist policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Does any of this sound familiar ?
Warren repeatedly attacked billionaire media mogul Bloomberg during the Democratic presidential debate in Charleston , South Carolina , last month .
Kimmel likened it to a Comedy Central-style roast , asking Warren if she ’ d been tempted to play a bit nicer , given how Bloomberg may end up donating to the eventual nominee ’ s campaign if he doesn ’ t secure it himself .
“ No , ” she replied , later describing the potential sway that billionaires hold over the political process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent somewhere approaching a half a billion dollars to buy his way onto that debate stage , ” Warren explained .
“ But it raises this fundamental question , are we going to be a Democratic Party where the only way you get to be the nominee is you either are a billionaire or you go spend 70 % of your time sucking up to the billionaires ?
”

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday made it clear what she really thinks of her Democratic 2020 rival Michael Bloomberg.
“It seems like you don’t like him that much?” Warren was asked by late night TV comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
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“True,” she responded.
Then came the zinger:
But it’s not personal. It’s just everything about him.
Continued Warren:
Look, here is this guy who makes a bazillion dollars and says, ‘Well that must mean that he’s qualified to be president of the United States.’ And then thinks he can run for president when he’s got a record of embracing racist policies, when he hides his taxes. Does any of this sound familiar?
Warren repeatedly attacked billionaire media mogul Bloomberg during the Democratic presidential debate in Charleston, South Carolina, last month.
Kimmel likened it to a Comedy Central-style roast, asking Warren if she’d been tempted to play a bit nicer, given how Bloomberg may end up donating to the eventual nominee’s campaign if he doesn’t secure it himself.
“No,” she replied, later describing the potential sway that billionaires hold over the political process as “really scary.”
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“He spent somewhere approaching a half a billion dollars to buy his way onto that debate stage,” Warren explained. “But it raises this fundamental question, are we going to be a Democratic Party where the only way you get to be the nominee is you either are a billionaire or you go spend 70% of your time sucking up to the billionaires?”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Read Live Updates On Super Tuesday 2020

Read Live Updates On Super Tuesday 2020

Today is Super Tuesday , a pivotal moment in the Democratic presidential primary that will shape the rest of the race .
Fourteen states head to the polls and 1,357 delegates are up for grabs ( 1,991 delegates are required for a candidate to reach a majority ) .
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) currently leads the delegate race , having essentially tied for first place in Iowa and having won the New Hampshire primary and Nevada caucuses .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , coming off a dominant win in South Carolina , is in second .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eastern time , both men nabbed predictable wins .
Biden was projected to win the Virginia primary , while Sanders was projected to win his home state of Vermont .
Today is the first time former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg , whose record-setting spending has significantly outpaced the rest of the field , will be on a presidential ballot .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( Mass . )
is hoping for a better showing than she has seen so far , including in her home state .
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ( Hawaii @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a poor showing at the polls so far .
Billionaire activist Tom Steyer , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( Minn. ) all dropped out of the primary in the days ahead of Super Tuesday .
Those shakeups will undoubtedly have an impact on the results of today ’ s elections , and some voters who cast their ballots early were feeling regret over their choices .
The American Samoa Democratic Caucus , with six delegates , also takes place today .
The Democrats Abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows Americans living outside the U.S. to vote , begins today and ends next week .
To see results as they come in , visit the HuffPost Elections HQ .

The American Samoa Democratic caucus, with six delegates, also took place today. Bloomberg was projected to win. The Democrats Abroad primary, which has 13 delegates and allows Americans living outside the U.S. to vote, begins today and ends next week.
To see results as they come in, visit the HuffPost Elections HQ.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Farmers Convicted Of Fraud Still Got Trump Bailout Funds

Three farm operations accused of violating federal farm subsidy rules received more than $ 300,000 in payments from the $ 28 billion agriculture bailout Trump launched in 2018 , according to data that the Environmental Working Group , a liberal nonprofit that wants to reform farm subsidies , shared with HuffPost .
Farmers are supposed to lose all eligibility for U.S. Department of Agriculture programs if they ’ re convicted of felony fraud , a department spokesperson said , and they can be barred from other USDA programs for some time if the agency finds violations of crop insurance rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but dramatic illustration of how the Trump administration has created generous new benefits for farmers while cracking down on food assistance for the poor , ostensibly because people abuse the benefits when they should be working instead .
The Environmental Working Group ’ s farm subsidy database , which it compiles annually from formal records requests to the USDA , shows at least three farmers accused — and in two cases , convicted — of fraud among the 600,000 who received payments from the Market Facilitation Program , otherwise known as Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been generous with programs that help people grow food , but stingy with ones that help people eat , issuing regulations to tighten eligibility rules for food benefits and saying that too many people get help they don ’ t deserve .
But the USDA ’ s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , commonly known as food stamps , may have stricter and more elaborate penalties for fraud than the agency ’ s various agriculture subsidy programs .
If the agency catches someone misrepresenting their economic circumstances in order to win food benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Repeat offenses or a felony conviction result in a lifetime ban .
Republicans were unable to win tighter eligibility in the 2018 farm bill , but the Trump administration has been putting some of its proposals into a series of regulations that would trim SNAP enrollment by as much as 10 % if finalized .
At the same time , to compensate farmers for China ’ s tariffs on American agriculture exports , the Trump administration in 2018 launched the $ 28 billion Market Facilitation Program on top of the roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spends on farmers each year .
The USDA characterized China ’ s tariffs as “ unjustified , ” though they were a predicted retaliation against Trump ’ s tariffs on Chinese imports .
Carr described the trade assistance as a vote-buying program for the president .
Most farmers still support Trump , despite the trade war cutting into their already-shrunken incomes .
Meanwhile , the richest 10 % of farms received more than half of the bailout funds , according to EWG .
The USDA said its farm payment programs automatically check for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a second party , and that the agency follows up with spot checks on a percentage of applications each year .
“ One of the basic steps taken to minimize fraud in farm programs is to require new producers to present a government issued photo ID to verify their legal name , and if possible , their address , ” the USDA spokesperson said .
“ Producers are also required to present copies of lease agreements or a signed certification from the landowner so they can not claim to farmland they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats said the Government Accountability Office , an investigative arm of Congress , would look into their complaints about the farm assistance program .
While that investigation isn ’ t necessarily looking at whether bailout beneficiaries committed fraud in the past , Sen. Debbie Stabenow ( D-Mich. ) , said it seemed inappropriate .
“ If , in fact , people convicted of crop insurance fraud are now getting these payments , that certainly doesn ’ t seem right to me , ” Stabenow told HuffPost .
“ And at the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to set these standards and paperwork and bureaucracy around making it harder for people to be able to eat and have access to food.
” But the rules for the trade payments have gotten less stringent .
The USDA has increased the payment limit from $ 125,000 to $ 250,000 per crop category , and last year started allowing farm households with incomes above $ 900,000 to participate as long as three-quarters of their income derived from farming .

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WASHINGTON ― Some farmers who received payments from President Donald Trump’s farm bailout program had previously been convicted or accused of fraudulently obtaining federal agriculture subsidies.
Three farm operations accused of violating federal farm subsidy rules received more than $300,000 in payments from the $28 billion agriculture bailout Trump launched in 2018, according to data that the Environmental Working Group, a liberal nonprofit that wants to reform farm subsidies, shared with HuffPost.
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Farmers are supposed to lose all eligibility for U.S. Department of Agriculture programs if they’re convicted of felony fraud, a department spokesperson said, and they can be barred from other USDA programs for some time if the agency finds violations of crop insurance rules.
The fraud cases are a small but dramatic illustration of how the Trump administration has created generous new benefits for farmers while cracking down on food assistance for the poor, ostensibly because people abuse the benefits when they should be working instead.
The Environmental Working Group’s farm subsidy database, which it compiles annually from formal records requests to the USDA, shows at least three farmers accused — and in two cases, convicted — of fraud among the 600,000 who received payments from the Market Facilitation Program, otherwise known as Trump’s farm bailout.
“That farm subsidy and crop insurance fraudsters can get government checks from president Trump’s bailout underscores just how deeply flawed and rushed out the door the program is,” said Don Carr, a senior adviser for the Environmental Working Group.
President Donald Trump at a rally with local farmers on Feb. 19, 2020, in Bakersfield, California. David McNew via Getty Images
The Trump administration has been generous with programs that help people grow food, but stingy with ones that help people eat, issuing regulations to tighten eligibility rules for food benefits and saying that too many people get help they don’t deserve.
The laxity of food benefit rules is “so egregious that a millionaire living in Minnesota successfully enrolled in the program simply to highlight the waste of taxpayer money,” Sonny Perdue, the U.S. agriculture secretary, said last year.
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But the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, may have stricter and more elaborate penalties for fraud than the agency’s various agriculture subsidy programs. If the agency catches someone misrepresenting their economic circumstances in order to win food benefits, they’re banned for a year. Repeat offenses or a felony conviction result in a lifetime ban.
Congress sets policy for food benefits and farm programs as part of a “farm bill” every five years, a political tradition that pairs the interests of poor people and farmers in order to make the legislation unstoppable.
Republicans were unable to win tighter eligibility in the 2018 farm bill, but the Trump administration has been putting some of its proposals into a series of regulations that would trim SNAP enrollment by as much as 10% if finalized.
At the same time, to compensate farmers for China’s tariffs on American agriculture exports, the Trump administration in 2018 launched the $28 billion Market Facilitation Program on top of the roughly $20 billion the federal government already spends on farmers each year. The USDA characterized China’s tariffs as “unjustified,” though they were a predicted retaliation against Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports.
Carr described the trade assistance as a vote-buying program for the president. Most farmers still support Trump, despite the trade war cutting into their already-shrunken incomes. Meanwhile, the richest 10% of farms received more than half of the bailout funds, according to EWG.
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“If, in fact, people convicted of crop insurance fraud are now getting these payments, that certainly doesn’t seem right to me,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). Barcroft Media via Getty Images
The USDA said its farm payment programs automatically check for ineligible producers, that applications are reviewed by a second party, and that the agency follows up with spot checks on a percentage of applications each year.
“One of the basic steps taken to minimize fraud in farm programs is to require new producers to present a government issued photo ID to verify their legal name, and if possible, their address,” the USDA spokesperson said. “Producers are also required to present copies of lease agreements or a signed certification from the landowner so they cannot claim to farmland they are not really farming.”
Senate Democrats have complained that the program has disproportionately benefited Southern farmers and even foreign-owned farms, such as the Brazilian meat-processing firm JBS.
Last week, Democrats said the Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress, would look into their complaints about the farm assistance program. While that investigation isn’t necessarily looking at whether bailout beneficiaries committed fraud in the past, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), said it seemed inappropriate.
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“If, in fact, people convicted of crop insurance fraud are now getting these payments, that certainly doesn’t seem right to me,” Stabenow told HuffPost. “And at the same time that [the USDA is] trying to set these standards and paperwork and bureaucracy around making it harder for people to be able to eat and have access to food.”
“The Trump administration has been generous with programs that help people grow food, but stingy with ones that help people eat.”
The USDA has broad authority to throw money at farmers. The agency patterned the bailout program after existing commodity subsidies, which, like food benefits, include payment limitations, means testing, and work requirements. And farmers are ineligible if they’ve ever committed a controlled substance violation.
But the rules for the trade payments have gotten less stringent. The USDA has increased the payment limit from $125,000 to $250,000 per crop category, and last year started allowing farm households with incomes above $900,000 to participate as long as three-quarters of their income derived from farming.
Federally subsidized crop insurance, which does not have income or payment limits, is the main farm safety net program. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, said last month that one of his greatest fears is a big crop insurance fraud case landing on “60 Minutes” and cratering public support for the program.
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Conaway told HuffPost, however, that so long as a convicted fraudster has complied with the terms of their sentence, they should be allowed to participate in farm programs once again.
“You don’t want your reward bad behavior, but by the same token, we’re a nation of second chances,” Conaway said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Watergate Prosecutor Issues Chilling Warning About Donald Trump’s Reelection

Jill Wine-Banks , a prosecutor in the Watergate scandal , is sounding the alarm about democracy should President Donald Trump win a second term in office .
“ I really fear for democracy and if he is reelected , I lose all hope for democracy , and I ’ m not being overly dramatic .
I really , truly do , ” the lawyer said in a new interview with Salon published Monday .
“ Everything that he has done has been so , I mean , the gender and racial bias is horrible .
The rule of law is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now a legal analyst for MSNBC .
“ I ’ m not talking about his policies .
I ’ m not talking about whether he ’ s right or wrong on taxes , ” she continued .
“ I ’ m talking about what he has done to unleash hatred in this country and to make us not a democracy anymore .
So , I think it ’ s a very serious thing.
” Wine-Banks , who last week said there was “ no question in my mind ” that Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy than Richard Nixon was , ” also warned citizens about becoming desensitized to the gradual erosion of rights .
“ America , don ’ t be desensitized , ” she cautioned .
“ Don ’ t forget that we ’ re losing our rights , one at time .
”

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Jill Wine-Banks, a prosecutor in the Watergate scandal, is sounding the alarm about democracy should President Donald Trump win a second term in office.
“I really fear for democracy and if he is reelected, I lose all hope for democracy, and I’m not being overly dramatic. I really, truly do,” the lawyer said in a new interview with Salon published Monday.
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“Everything that he has done has been so, I mean, the gender and racial bias is horrible. The rule of law is horrible,” noted Wine-Banks, who is now a legal analyst for MSNBC.
“I’m not talking about his policies. I’m not talking about whether he’s right or wrong on taxes,” she continued. “I’m talking about what he has done to unleash hatred in this country and to make us not a democracy anymore. So, I think it’s a very serious thing.”
Wine-Banks, who last week said there was “no question in my mind” that Trump is “a much more existential threat to democracy than Richard Nixon was,” also warned citizens about becoming desensitized to the gradual erosion of rights.
“America, don’t be desensitized,” she cautioned. “Don’t forget that we’re losing our rights, one at time.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--On 'Ellen,' Elizabeth Warren Shares What Super Tuesday Could Mean For Her

Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
marked Super Tuesday with an appearance on “ The Ellen DeGeneres Show , ” where she discussed how the first multi-state referendum of the 2020 Democratic primary might impact her presidential campaign .
Though Warren is currently in third place behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , she didn ’ t appear discouraged .
She said she always knew that “ it was going to be a long , long race.
” “ This is kind of , for me , the fight of my life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her mother had to take a job outside of the home for the first time after her father had a heart attack , Warren added , “ No matter how hard it looks , no matter how scared you are , you get out there and you fight for your family , you fight for the people you love .
That ’ s why I ’ m in this race.
” Elsewhere in the interview , Warren responded to Judge Judy Sheindlin , who ― in explaining her decision to back former New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― accused the senator of “ finger-wagging vitriol.
” “ I get pretty passionate about a lot of these issues , ” she said .
“ This is a fight from the heart .
... [ Bloomberg ] may not be accountable when he lives in his billionaire bubble with all of his ‘ yes ’ men , but he gets on that debate stage with me , he ’ s accountable.
” If Warren winds up with the Democratic presidential nomination , she pledged to defeat President Donald Trump in November by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the America we build together.
” “ We ’ ve had it with schoolyard bullies , ” she said .
“ You stand up the first time and a lot of the air goes out of him , and that man has a lot of air .
”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) marked Super Tuesday with an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” where she discussed how the first multi-state referendum of the 2020 Democratic primary might impact her presidential campaign.
Though Warren is currently in third place behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), she didn’t appear discouraged. She said she always knew that “it was going to be a long, long race.”
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“This is kind of, for me, the fight of my life,” she said. Recalling how her mother had to take a job outside of the home for the first time after her father had a heart attack, Warren added, “No matter how hard it looks, no matter how scared you are, you get out there and you fight for your family, you fight for the people you love. That’s why I’m in this race.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Warren responded to Judge Judy Sheindlin, who ― in explaining her decision to back former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg last week ― accused the senator of “finger-wagging vitriol.”
“I get pretty passionate about a lot of these issues,” she said. “This is a fight from the heart. ... [Bloomberg] may not be accountable when he lives in his billionaire bubble with all of his ‘yes’ men, but he gets on that debate stage with me, he’s accountable.”
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If Warren winds up with the Democratic presidential nomination, she pledged to defeat President Donald Trump in November by talking about the “positive vision of the America we build together.”
“We’ve had it with schoolyard bullies,” she said. “You stand up the first time and a lot of the air goes out of him, and that man has a lot of air.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--The Supreme Court Case That Could Gut Roe v. Wade

In 2016 , the Supreme Court struck down key parts of HB2 in a historic victory for abortion rights .
In Whole Woman ’ s Health , the court found that Texas ’ s admitting privileges requirement provided no health benefit and imposed an “ undue burden ” ― the test for whether a law regulating abortion is unconstitutional ― on a woman ’ s fundamental right to an abortion .
( Much of the damage was already done ; most of the clinics that closed have not reopened . )
In 2017 , a federal district court in Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privileges requirement , citing Whole Woman ’ s Health .
It found that the law would “ cripple women ’ s ability to have an abortion , ” and force clinic closures , much like HB2 did in Texas .
If it went into effect , the court concluded , Louisiana would be left with only one doctor to care for the approximately 10,000 women seeking abortions each year .
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit later reversed the district court ruling .
It found the law did not impose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking abortions , arguing that the closure of clinics would not impose driving distances as long as those in Texas and that it was easier to get hospital admitting privileges in Louisiana .
Doctors there had simply not tried hard enough .
Generally , people have to defend their own constitutional rights in court .
But since 1976 , the Supreme Court has allowed clinics and doctors to sue on behalf of patients .
This is called “ third-party standing.
” These days , the plaintiffs in most major abortion cases are clinics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortions .
In the case currently before the Supreme Court , the plaintiffs are June Medical Services ― the corporate name of Hope clinic ― and two of its doctors .
Louisiana is now asking the court to upend decades of precedent and reconsider “ third-party standing ” in abortion cases .
The state contends that patients are capable of filing suits themselves and , as the law is intended to protect patients from bad doctors , there is an inherent conflict of interest between providers and patients .
The state is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clarence Thomas , who made the case against third-party standing in his dissent in Whole Woman ’ s Health .
Another option is that the court finds that the facts in Louisiana are substantially different than in Texas , allowing it to uphold the law while keeping Whole Woman ’ s Health mostly intact .
This could still encourage a slew of new abortion restrictions , Ziegler said , as states could argue that their laws will not have the same impact as HB2 did in Texas .
“ If you have years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person on the Supreme Court changes and all the precedent goes away , it does make it seem as if the court can ’ t stay above the political fray , “ Ziegler said , “ which is something Roberts very much would like the court to do .
”

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On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the first major abortion case of the Trump era.
The case centers on a restrictive Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals — a measure opponents say is medically unnecessary and will result in the closure of all but one clinic in the state. Louisiana claims it protects the health and safety of those seeking abortions.
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The court struck down a virtually identical Texas law in 2016, in the landmark Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt decision. The only thing that has changed since then is the composition of the court.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, a longtime swing vote who often sided with liberal justices on abortion rights, retired in 2018. And Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, two conservatives appointed by President Donald Trump, have joined the bench.
The Louisiana case, June Medical Services v. Russo, comes amid an unprecedented wave of anti-abortion legislation pushed by state lawmakers seemingly emboldened by Trump’s judicial picks and his inflammatory rhetoric.
The justices will issue a ruling by the end of June, potentially making abortion a key issue in the upcoming presidential election.
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While it is unlikely the court will use this case to revisit Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that recognized a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion, the decision could still dramatically shape the future of abortion access in America.
“If the Supreme Court reverses on admitting privileges, it essentially becomes a green light for all red states to reintroduce restrictions that courts have ruled unconstitutional in the past,” said Robin Marty, author of “Handbook for a Post-Roe America.”
Gretchen Borchelt, vice president for reproductive rights at the National Women’s Law Center, warned that a Louisiana victory would “propel us towards the total demise of the right to abortion in this country.”
The majority of Americans support abortion rights, she added. “This decision will reveal if the Court is in touch with that reality – or willfully disregarding it.”
Abortion rights activists outside the U.S. Supreme Court on May 21, 2019, to protest against abortion laws passed across the country. NurPhoto via Getty Images
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A Sneaky Way To Close Clinics
In 2014, Louisiana enacted the Louisiana Unsafe Abortion Protection Act, which requires doctors who perform abortions to be able to admit patients to a hospital within 30 miles of the place where the abortion is performed.
The prevailing medical consensus is that admitting privileges are unnecessary. Abortion is very safe, and serious complications are rare, estimated to occur in fewer than 1% of abortions. If hospitalization is needed, patients will receive the same quality of care, regardless of whether their doctor has admitting privileges or not.
“The admitting privileges requirement does not improve the health or safety of patients,” the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a Supreme Court brief. “It does, however, impede patients’ access to abortion, especially for already vulnerable demographic groups.”
According to T.J. Tu, a senior counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights, whose attorneys will argue the case before the Supreme Court, it can be difficult for doctors who provide abortions to get admitting privileges because they so rarely need to admit patients.
At Hope Medical for Women, the Shreveport abortion clinic challenging the Louisiana law (and one of only three clinics left in the state), the clinic’s primary physician tried for more than a year to get admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and was denied, Tu said, for reasons unrelated to the doctor’s competency.
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Admitting privileges represent a business relationship between hospitals and physicians, he explained. Hospitals want to make sure their beds are filled so they can charge for their services. “They extend privileges to physicians who routinely send patients to the hospital,” he said during a briefing call for the media. “Abortion is so safe that you almost never send a patient to a hospital.”
Reproductive rights groups refer to requirements such as Louisiana’s as TRAP laws, which stands for “targeted regulation of abortion providers.” Such laws impose an ever-growing list of expensive and unnecessary regulations on abortion clinics under the guise of improving patient safety.
“It’s a way to close clinics in Louisiana,” said Kathaleen Pittman, an administrator at Hope. “Despite their claims that it is out of concern for the health and welfare of women, we know that cannot be true.”
Texas As Harbinger
Louisiana began considering its admitting privileges law in 2014, just months after the passage of a similar law in Texas ― HB2 — resulted in the closure of half that state’s clinics. Louisiana modeled its legislation on the Texas measure, plaintiffs say, knowing that it would have a comparable effect.
In 2016, the Supreme Court struck down key parts of HB2 in a historic victory for abortion rights. In Whole Woman’s Health, the court found that Texas’s admitting privileges requirement provided no health benefit and imposed an “undue burden” ― the test for whether a law regulating abortion is unconstitutional ― on a woman’s fundamental right to an abortion. (Much of the damage was already done; most of the clinics that closed have not reopened.)
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In 2017, a federal district court in Louisiana blocked the state from implementing its admitting privileges requirement, citing Whole Woman’s Health. It found that the law would “cripple women’s ability to have an abortion,” and force clinic closures, much like HB2 did in Texas. If it went into effect, the court concluded, Louisiana would be left with only one doctor to care for the approximately 10,000 women seeking abortions each year.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit later reversed the district court ruling. It found the law did not impose an “undue burden” on people seeking abortions, arguing that the closure of clinics would not impose driving distances as long as those in Texas and that it was easier to get hospital admitting privileges in Louisiana. Doctors there had simply not tried hard enough.
Hours before the law was to go into effect, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked it. Notably, Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court’s four liberal justices in voting for the emergency stay. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh opposed it.
"This case is not just about abortion. It’s also a case about precedent and the court’s attitude towards its own precedent," says Mary Ziegler, a professor at Florida State University and noted historian of abortion law. Leah Millis / Reuters
The Question Of Standing
Beyond the question of whether Louisiana’s law imposes an undue burden on someone’s ability to obtain an abortion, the court must consider another, wonkier issue: whether the plaintiffs have standing to bring the case in the first place.
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Generally, people have to defend their own constitutional rights in court. But since 1976, the Supreme Court has allowed clinics and doctors to sue on behalf of patients. This is called “third-party standing.” These days, the plaintiffs in most major abortion cases are clinics and physicians, not pregnant people seeking abortions. In the case currently before the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs are June Medical Services ― the corporate name of Hope clinic ― and two of its doctors.
Louisiana is now asking the court to upend decades of precedent and reconsider “third-party standing” in abortion cases. The state contends that patients are capable of filing suits themselves and, as the law is intended to protect patients from bad doctors, there is an inherent conflict of interest between providers and patients. The state is likely to find a sympathetic ear in Justice Clarence Thomas, who made the case against third-party standing in his dissent in Whole Woman’s Health.
What’s At Stake
Mary Ziegler, a professor at Florida State University and noted historian of abortion law, laid out a handful of different possible outcomes in June Medical Services v. Russo.
The court could strike down Louisiana’s law on the grounds it will put an undue burden on those seeking abortions, and affirm the 2016 precedent. “They could say this is an identical law, and just because the court’s membership has changed doesn’t mean the lower courts can ignore Supreme Court precedent,” she said.
The justices could uphold Louisiana’s law and overrule Whole Woman’s Health. Advocates say this would decimate abortion access in Louisiana and allow states across the country to essentially regulate abortion clinics out of existence. As it stands, six U.S. states have only one abortion clinic left, and many people in rural areas have to travel hundreds of miles to receive care.
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Another option is that the court finds that the facts in Louisiana are substantially different than in Texas, allowing it to uphold the law while keeping Whole Woman’s Health mostly intact. This could still encourage a slew of new abortion restrictions, Ziegler said, as states could argue that their laws will not have the same impact as HB2 did in Texas.
The court could also sidestep the merits of the case by ruling that the plaintiffs lack standing. If the justices rule that abortion providers can no longer challenge abortion restrictions on behalf of their patients, it would drastically change how such cases are litigated across the country, Ziegler said. Pregnant plaintiffs would likely have to file suit themselves.
The case is unlikely to result in overturning Roe, she said, but it could be a step toward eliminating nationwide abortion rights.
“A lot of the arguments in the case center on the claim that abortion hurts women,” she said. “If the court shows an openness to those arguments, then we would expect to see more of those arguments being made, because it would suggest that that might be the most effective strategy to chip away at Roe.”
Ziegler said she would have her eye on Chief Justice John Roberts, whom she considers the swing vote.
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“There’s not much to suggest that he is sympathetic to arguments for abortion rights on the merits but this case is not just about abortion,” she said. “It’s also a case about precedent and the court’s attitude towards its own precedent.”
Roberts may worry that if the court reverses itself so quickly, the public will view the highest court in the land as a partisan institution.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Trump Slams 'Politically Correct' Fox News

President Donald Trump accused Fox News of turning “ politically correct ” on Monday in a fresh swipe at the conservative cable network over coverage he views as unfavorable to him .
The conservative channel routinely features coverage lauding Trump and his administration .
However , the president wasn ’ t happy with it for hosting Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg on Monday night .
“ He ’ s being interviewed tonight on Fox .
Can you believe it ?
Fox !
” Trump said at a campaign rally in North Carolina .
“ They want to be politically correct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Republicans , I don ’ t know what ’ s going on with Fox.
” Trump frequently praises many of the network ’ s personalities , including those on the morning show “ Fox & Friends ” and evening opinion hosts such as Sean Hannity .
But he has raged at the network for reporting on , for example , polls that showed him behind Democratic rivals or legal analysis critical of him and his administration .
In January , Trump asked , “ What the hell has happened ” to Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathetic ” after an interview with Sen. Chris Van Hollen ( D-Md. )
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Last year , Trump said that there was “ something going on ” at Fox and that he was “ not happy ” with the network after it released a poll showing Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden with a 12-point lead .
And in December , he warned the network that “ only pro Trump Fox shows do well .
”

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President Donald Trump accused Fox News of turning “politically correct” on Monday in a fresh swipe at the conservative cable network over coverage he views as unfavorable to him.
The conservative channel routinely features coverage lauding Trump and his administration. However, the president wasn’t happy with it for hosting Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg on Monday night.
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“He’s being interviewed tonight on Fox. Can you believe it? Fox!” Trump said at a campaign rally in North Carolina. “They want to be politically correct, they end up interviewing more Democrats than Republicans, I don’t know what’s going on with Fox.”
Trump frequently praises many of the network’s personalities, including those on the morning show “Fox & Friends” and evening opinion hosts such as Sean Hannity. But he has raged at the network for reporting on, for example, polls that showed him behind Democratic rivals or legal analysis critical of him and his administration.
In January, Trump asked, “What the hell has happened” to Fox News, and called the network “pathetic” after an interview with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). Last year, Trump said that there was “something going on” at Fox and that he was “not happy” with the network after it released a poll showing Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden with a 12-point lead. And in December, he warned the network that “only pro Trump Fox shows do well.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Amid An Anti-Muslim Pogrom In India, A Search For Any Concern At CPAC

But what Brownback did not mention to the CPAC audience was that Trump had publicly praised Modi as a champion of “ religious freedom ” during a press conference in New Delhi , despite the Indian prime minister being the leader of a blood-and-soil Hindu nationalist movement that seeks to expel Muslims from India .
The ambassador did not mention that , during Trump ’ s visit , at least 42 people were killed as Hindu nationalist mobs roamed the city ’ s streets .
Instead , he moved on to other topics .
After the panel concluded , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gaylord National Conference and Convention Center — past groups of college-aged Republicans in oversized suits toward “ Broadcast Row , ” where far-right news outlets like Breitbart and the Epoch Times had booths — a member of his staff prevented HuffPost from questioning him about Trump ’ s actions in New Delhi .
Rabbi Aryeh Spero , a frequent Fox News guest and a spokesman for the conservative National Conference on Jewish Affairs , stepped out of the main ballroom at CPAC on Saturday and browsed the booths in the hallway .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canton , Ohio , he said , to hear the president ’ s speech and to be amongst like-minded people .
Grizzly Joe declined to criticize President Donald Trump over India 's anti-Muslim riots .
`` To work on everything with India that he needs to work on , you know , all of our interests , all of India ’ s interests , sometimes you got ta unfortunately look the other way , '' he said .
Down the hall from Spero , a gregarious middle-aged man with a long white beard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skullcap walked around starting conversations with fellow attendees .
He said he was a retired New York City cop who goes by the name Grizzly Joe .
A business card he handed HuffPost described him as “ The Original Blue Supremacist ” who blogs about “ politics and counter-jihad.
” “ Counter-jihad , to be clear , does not mean anti-Islam , ” Grizzly Joe explained .
“ For me , I don ’ t care if you ’ re Muslim , atheist , Christian , whatever .
Counter-jihad , to me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literalism .
The Islam , if you will , of al Qaeda , etc.
, etc .
The Taliban .
Not westernized Islam.
” “ To work on everything with India that he needs to work on , you know , all of our interests , all of India ’ s interests , sometimes you got ta unfortunately look the other way , with the little specific points that go on here and there , ” Grizzly Joe reasoned .
And yet at this year ’ s CPAC , King was a speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , giving opening remarks in which he lashed out against the “ politically correct police ” around the world and recommended that people read the work of fellow panelist Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff , an anti-Muslim activist convicted of hate speech in Austria .
When it was Sabaditsch-Wolff ’ s turn to speak , she told the audience about how her activism against the “ Islamization of our societies ” had made her a pariah in her home country .
“ I am unemployable , ” she lamented .
“ Not even McDonald ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hire someone like me , right ?
” As the speech ended and the crowd erupted in cheers and applause , Trump walked over to an American flag on stage — just like he did last year — and gave it a hug .

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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — As news stories emerged from New Delhi on Thursday evening, all offering proof of an appalling anti-Muslim pogrom there, 50 or so American conservatives, many in red “Make America Great Again” hats, filed into a windowless hotel conference room in suburban Maryland to watch a panel discussion called “Without Religious Freedom, What’s Left?”
The panel was part of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the premier annual gathering of the American right, where Republican senators and representatives mingled with pundits, activists and journalists inside a sprawling convention center outside Washington, D.C.
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The urgent plight of India’s Muslims earned only 15 seconds of discussion during the hourlong CPAC panel on religious freedom. The brief mention came when Sam Brownback, the U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom, described President Donald Trump’s visit two days earlier to India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“He had a great trip there,” Brownback said of the president. “Thirty-six hours, and in a private meeting with Modi he’s going, ‘Look, you gotta take care of the religious freedom business. You got a persecution taking place of a lot of your population here.’”
But what Brownback did not mention to the CPAC audience was that Trump had publicly praised Modi as a champion of “religious freedom” during a press conference in New Delhi, despite the Indian prime minister being the leader of a blood-and-soil Hindu nationalist movement that seeks to expel Muslims from India. The ambassador did not mention that, during Trump’s visit, at least 42 people were killed as Hindu nationalist mobs roamed the city’s streets.
Instead, he moved on to other topics. After the panel concluded, as Brownback walked through the halls of the Gaylord National Conference and Convention Center — past groups of college-aged Republicans in oversized suits toward “Broadcast Row,” where far-right news outlets like Breitbart and the Epoch Times had booths — a member of his staff prevented HuffPost from questioning him about Trump’s actions in New Delhi.
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A group of men chanting pro-Hindu slogans beat Mohammad Zubair, 37, during protests sparked by a new citizenship law in New Delhi on Feb. 24, 2020. "What kind of humanity is this?" asked the Muslim man. Danish Siddiqui / Reuters
At this year’s CPAC, organized by the American Conservative Union, attendees everywhere expressed a deep loyalty to Trump and refused to entertain criticisms about his response to what’s happening in India — a response the Council on American-Islamic Relations said has only “added fuel to the fire” there.
More importantly, though, CPAC 2020 served as yet another demonstration of the Islamophobia that animates modern American conservatism and that makes it an active partner in the tide of anti-Muslim violence and repression sweeping the globe, including in Modi’s India.
The man all the CPAC attendees were here to celebrate, after all, once stated, “I think Islam hates us.”
Rabbi Aryeh Spero, a frequent Fox News guest and a spokesman for the conservative National Conference on Jewish Affairs, stepped out of the main ballroom at CPAC on Saturday and browsed the booths in the hallway. He’d traveled to the conference from Canton, Ohio, he said, to hear the president’s speech and to be amongst like-minded people.
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He told HuffPost that he wasn’t familiar with the violence in New Delhi, but that regardless, “I wouldn’t criticize the president. I have a lot of faith in what he says.”
“There are wars there, I know, between the Hindu population and the Muslim population,” Spero said. “They’ve had these wars for a long time. I don’t think any of these things are one-sided.”
HuffPost offered Spero some details about the current situation: Since August, Modi’s government has implemented a series of Hindu-first citizenship laws that could render many of India’s 200 million Muslims stateless. The government has also started to construct massive detention camps for those affected by the law.
Scholars of fascism say these developments mirror 1930s Germany, and in fact, Hindu nationalists and members of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party have long drawn inspiration from Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Modi himself is a member of a BJP-affiliated paramilitary group modeled explicitly after the Nazis.
Spero appeared to grow defensive at the suggestion that what’s happening in India might be fascist.
“What about the Muslims around the world that are attacking Christians?” he said. “Does that bother you too? Do you have a report about that? Do you interview people about that?”
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“Have you talked about maybe all the Muslim states being fascist because they’re killing Christians?” he continued. “I just hope that your good feelings regarding religious freedom would be equally distributed.”
Grizzly Joe declined to criticize President Donald Trump over India's anti-Muslim riots. "To work on everything with India that he needs to work on, you know, all of our interests, all of India’s interests, sometimes you gotta unfortunately look the other way," he said. Christopher Mathias / HuffPost
Down the hall from Spero, a gregarious middle-aged man with a long white beard, black sunglasses and a bald eagle skullcap walked around starting conversations with fellow attendees. He said he was a retired New York City cop who goes by the name Grizzly Joe. A business card he handed HuffPost described him as “The Original Blue Supremacist” who blogs about “politics and counter-jihad.”
“Counter-jihad, to be clear, does not mean anti-Islam,” Grizzly Joe explained. “For me, I don’t care if you’re Muslim, atheist, Christian, whatever. Counter-jihad, to me, is more about what I call Quranic literalism. The Islam, if you will, of al Qaeda, etc., etc. The Taliban. Not westernized Islam.”
Grizzly Joe emphasized that he’s not one of those guys who thinks Trump “walks on water.” Still, he thought the president’s approach to the violence in India was probably pragmatic.
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“To work on everything with India that he needs to work on, you know, all of our interests, all of India’s interests, sometimes you gotta unfortunately look the other way, with the little specific points that go on here and there,” Grizzly Joe reasoned.
The same kind of Islamophobia that’s driving the repression and violence in India — which views Muslims as invaders and infiltrators —was everywhere on display at CPAC.
In the exhibit hall, a vendor hawked copies of books by anti-Muslim fanatics like Robert Spencer, including “The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam” and “The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran.”
In the hallways, white supremacist Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) wandered around shaking hands and posing for photos with fans, including anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. (“Text me,” the congressman could be heard telling Loomer.)
Walked past white supremacist congressman Steve King talking to anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist Laura Lo*mer at CPAC. Didn’t hear what they were talking about, but they exchanged numbers and at the end King said “text me.” pic.twitter.com/pV7F4b7Me5 — Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) February 27, 2020
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In 2018, HuffPost discovered that King sat down for an interview with a neo-fascist publication in Austria to discuss the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, which holds that Muslim immigration to Europe and North America amounts to an extinction-level event for white culture and identity. A year ago, Republican House leadership stripped King of his committee assignments over separate comments he made condoning white supremacy.
And yet at this year’s CPAC, King was a speaker on a panel about freedom of speech, giving opening remarks in which he lashed out against the “politically correct police” around the world and recommended that people read the work of fellow panelist Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff, an anti-Muslim activist convicted of hate speech in Austria.
When it was Sabaditsch-Wolff’s turn to speak, she told the audience about how her activism against the “Islamization of our societies” had made her a pariah in her home country. “I am unemployable,” she lamented. “Not even McDonald’s will hire me. Who would want to hire someone like me, right?”
Someone in the audience jokingly offered her a job.
Trump kisses the U.S. flag at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on Feb. 29, 2020. Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images
By the time Trump took the CPAC stage on Saturday to give the closing speech of the conference, the violence in New Delhi had stopped, but yet more harrowing tales of the pogrom were emerging in the news: two Muslim brothers beaten to death, their bodies tossed into a sewer drain; an 85-year-old woman burned alive in her home; mosques set on fire.
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The president did not address this violence in his remarks. Instead, he offered what was essentially a standup routine, ranting about windmills, “sleepy Joe” Biden, Mike Bloomberg’s height, “Never Trumpers,” “crazy” Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg’s resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-03--Pro-Trump Media Is Pushing Coronavirus Conspiracies To Defend Trump

The coronavirus outbreak has spread to nearly a 100,000 people across at least 71 countries , resulting in its first deaths in the United States .
But while public health officials rush to contain the virus and inform the public , the pro-Trump media world has been spreading misinformation and downplaying the disease in a fevered attempt to defend the president and his administration .
Trump-aligned media and pundits have variously suggested that the virus is a Democratic hoax , a Chinese bioweapon , an attempt to destabilize the stock market or is no more harmful than the common cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of these conspiratorial claims , some of which are directly misinforming the public about the dangers of a potentially deadly disease .
Radio host and recent presidential medal of freedom honoree Rush Limbaugh , along with far-right media outlet Gateway Pundit , groundlessly suggested that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was overblowing the threat of COVID-19 in an attempt to damage Trump .
Their attacks focused on top CDC official Nancy Messonnier , the sister of former deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein who oversaw the special counsel investigation into foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family connection ― earlier noticed by QAnon conspiracy supporters ― was enough to baselessly allege Messonnier ’ s accurate warnings about the virus were attacks on Trump .
But pro-Trump media and officials haven ’ t settled on one cohesive narrative , instead reaching for anything that deflects from criticism of the administration ’ s haphazard handling of the virus and falling stock markets to refocus the story on familiar targets .
Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-Ark . )
and pro-Trump sites have pushed a debunked conspiracy that the virus is a Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went even further to suggest it may involve billionaire George Soros ― a favorite target of anti-Semitic conspiracies and the far-right .
The right-wing coverage of the virus has created a dangerous echo chamber filled with claims that public health officials are not to be trusted and anyone contradicting Trump on the outbreak is a target for derision .
It ’ s exactly the kind of misinformation that experts warn can make it harder to contain the disease and create confusion among the public .
And as is often the case , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message .
Donald Trump Jr. on Fox and Friends last week accused Democrats of “ [ trying ] to take a pandemic and seemingly hope that it comes here and kills millions of people , so that they could end Donald Trump ’ s streak of winning.
” Vice President Mike Pence defended Trump Jr. ’ s comments on Monday , saying he was merely “ pushing back ” against Democrats .
Trump , who has tried to gut global health budgets and forced out top disease prevention officials , has claimed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States .
He has consistently tried to dismiss the severity of the outbreak and claimed at a rally on Friday that Democrats were politicizing the coronavirus as “ their new hoax ” ― likening it to the impeachment proceedings against him .

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The coronavirus outbreak has spread to nearly a 100,000 people across at least 71 countries, resulting in its first deaths in the United States. But while public health officials rush to contain the virus and inform the public, the pro-Trump media world has been spreading misinformation and downplaying the disease in a fevered attempt to defend the president and his administration.
Trump-aligned media and pundits have variously suggested that the virus is a Democratic hoax, a Chinese bioweapon, an attempt to destabilize the stock market or is no more harmful than the common cold. There is no factual basis for any of these conspiratorial claims, some of which are directly misinforming the public about the dangers of a potentially deadly disease.
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Radio host and recent presidential medal of freedom honoree Rush Limbaugh, along with far-right media outlet Gateway Pundit, groundlessly suggested that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was overblowing the threat of COVID-19 in an attempt to damage Trump. Their attacks focused on top CDC official Nancy Messonnier, the sister of former deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein who oversaw the special counsel investigation into foreign interference in the 2016 election. This family connection ― earlier noticed by QAnon conspiracy supporters ― was enough to baselessly allege Messonnier’s accurate warnings about the virus were attacks on Trump.
Rush Limbaugh shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida on Dec. 21, 2019. Limbaugh has pushed misinformation about the COVID-19 outbreak. NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images
But pro-Trump media and officials haven’t settled on one cohesive narrative, instead reaching for anything that deflects from criticism of the administration’s haphazard handling of the virus and falling stock markets to refocus the story on familiar targets. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and pro-Trump sites have pushed a debunked conspiracy that the virus is a Chinese bioweapon, while a GOP congressional candidate went even further to suggest it may involve billionaire George Soros ― a favorite target of anti-Semitic conspiracies and the far-right.
The right-wing coverage of the virus has created a dangerous echo chamber filled with claims that public health officials are not to be trusted and anyone contradicting Trump on the outbreak is a target for derision. It’s exactly the kind of misinformation that experts warn can make it harder to contain the disease and create confusion among the public. And as is often the case, Trump and his top surrogates have embraced the message.
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Donald Trump Jr. on Fox and Friends last week accused Democrats of “[trying] to take a pandemic and seemingly hope that it comes here and kills millions of people, so that they could end Donald Trump’s streak of winning.” Vice President Mike Pence defended Trump Jr.’s comments on Monday, saying he was merely “pushing back” against Democrats.