thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s Husband Bought Stock In Sectors Set To Benefit From Then-Secret Bill

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler faces a runoff election in January that will help determine control of the U.S. Senate for the next two years .
For weeks , the couple had done almost nothing but sell .
Loeffler was one of several senators who faced public outrage for unloading millions of dollars in stock before most Americans understood the towering threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic .
Then shortly before the CARES Act , a $ 2 trillion emergency stimulus package , was introduced in the Senate , her husband reversed course and purchased up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a HuffPost investigation has found .
Those purchases are just the latest to raise questions about whether Loeffler , the Senate ’ s richest member , has ever used the insider knowledge she gleans on Capitol Hill to inform her own portfolio .
Loeffler is locked in an intense runoff election in Georgia that will help decide which party controls the U.S. Senate when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office , and her challenger , Democrat Raphael Warnock , has made accusations that she uses her seat for personal enrichment a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The appearance of conflict is terrible for maintaining the public ’ s trust in government , ” said Kedric Payne , general counsel to the Campaign Legal Center , a nonpartisan government watchdog .
“ There ’ s a reason all our ethics rules focus on the appearance of there being conflict of interest : because perception is reality .
It ’ s really difficult to maintain credibility when your constituents don ’ t know if you ’ re focused on their interests or your own financial interests.
” The carryback provision was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about days before the Senate bill went public .
In the three days just before its unveiling , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met twice with Senate Republicans behind closed doors to discuss the bill ’ s particulars , and Senate Republicans held a private lunch to brief their members on some specific proposals the bill would contain .
The day after the Republican luncheon , March 19 , the CARES Act was publicly introduced in the Senate , complete with the carryback provision .
It ’ s really difficult to maintain credibility when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re focused on their interests or your own financial interests .
Kedric Payne , general counsel to the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center Assurant is also one of the companies on which Sprecher placed a lucky bet : On March 18 , the day before the CARES Act was introduced , Loeffler ’ s husband purchased between $ 250,000 and $ 500,000 of the company ’ s stock .
Later , when the couple faced pressure to clear their holdings of individual stocks , he appears to have sold those shares at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales within dollar ranges , making it impossible to say precisely how much the couple made . )
Still , “ it ’ s a fairly safe bet that if a company had a great loss in 2018 or was anticipating a big loss in 2020 and could suddenly carry those losses back to prior tax rate years , you were looking at the companies that would get some of the most relief ” under the CARES Act , said Steven Rosenthal , a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ profit more , he added .
The energy sector , in particular , benefited because the price of oil tanked in 2019 .
In the days before the terms of the CARES Act became public , Loeffler ’ s husband bought up to $ 250,000 in Chevron stock .
The insurance sector also tends to benefit from the opportunity to carry back losses because its profits are so volatile — susceptible as they are to unpredictable disasters .
On the same days as those closed-door Senate meetings , Loeffler ’ s husband purchased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in insurance companies like AIG , Prudential Financial and Assurant .
After the Daily Beast revealed the extent of Loeffler ’ s pre-pandemic selloff , investigators for the FBI contacted her for evidence related to her trades .
Soon after , Loeffler said she provided records to the Justice Department , the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Senate Ethics Committee that showed her lack of day-to-day involvement in her and her husband ’ s investment accounts .
In May , The Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department had closed investigations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing a lack of proof they had violated the law , but that the inquiry into Burr remained open .
Prosecutions against members of Congress for insider trading are also rare , said Payne , the ethics expert , because they require a mountain of evidence .
In a recent successful case against then-Rep. Chris Collins ( R-N.Y. ) , federal prosecutors had emails , phone records , bank records and video footage that allowed them to reconstruct his crime beat-by-beat .
In the minutes after Collins , who sat on the board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email with bad news about a drug trial , he phoned his son , who unloaded his shares in the company , the records show .

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In mid-March, with the American economy in free fall, Jeffrey Sprecher, husband to Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and chair of the company that owns the New York Stock Exchange, made an unusual change to his stock portfolio: He started buying.
For weeks, the couple had done almost nothing but sell. Loeffler was one of several senators who faced public outrage for unloading millions of dollars in stock before most Americans understood the towering threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Then shortly before the CARES Act, a $2 trillion emergency stimulus package, was introduced in the Senate, her husband reversed course and purchased up to $1 million in new shares, a HuffPost investigation has found.
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The terms of the CARES Act were still mostly a secret, known primarily to Republican senators while members of their party crafted the legislation. But in the days before the bill’s introduction, Sprecher managed to invest in several industries — insurance and energy — that were poised to take advantage of the bill’s very specific provisions.
Those purchases are just the latest to raise questions about whether Loeffler, the Senate’s richest member, has ever used the insider knowledge she gleans on Capitol Hill to inform her own portfolio. Loeffler is locked in an intense runoff election in Georgia that will help decide which party controls the U.S. Senate when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office, and her challenger, Democrat Raphael Warnock, has made accusations that she uses her seat for personal enrichment a constant theme of his attacks.
GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler faces a runoff election in January that will help determine control of the U.S. Senate for the next two years. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
Trading on nonpublic congressional information is illegal — and the very idea is so corrosive that many lawmakers forgo trading in individual stocks altogether.
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“The appearance of conflict is terrible for maintaining the public’s trust in government,” said Kedric Payne, general counsel to the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan government watchdog. “There’s a reason all our ethics rules focus on the appearance of there being conflict of interest: because perception is reality. It’s really difficult to maintain credibility when your constituents don’t know if you’re focused on their interests or your own financial interests.”
Loeffler, though, has not supported calls for reform. In a tense debate with Warnock on Sunday night, she refused to say that senators should be banned from trading individual stocks, instead suggesting that criticism of such trades was “an attack on the American dream.”
Deep inside the CARES Act, which became law in late March, was a tremendous tax break that disproportionately benefited some of the very same industries on which Sprecher had placed a bet. As a way of quickly injecting corporations with billions in ready cash, the CARES Act allowed businesses to “carry back” certain losses to previous tax years and claim a retroactive tax refund.
The carryback provision was one Loeffler could very well have learned about days before the Senate bill went public. In the three days just before its unveiling, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met twice with Senate Republicans behind closed doors to discuss the bill’s particulars, and Senate Republicans held a private lunch to brief their members on some specific proposals the bill would contain. The day after the Republican luncheon, March 19, the CARES Act was publicly introduced in the Senate, complete with the carryback provision.
“It’s really difficult to maintain credibility when your constituents don’t know if you’re focused on their interests or your own financial interests.” - Kedric Payne, general counsel to the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center
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The terms of the carryback are extraordinarily generous. Corporations can deduct losses they incur this year or even before the pandemic — as far back as 2018 — from a previous tax year and obtain a retroactive refund. For that deduction, companies can select a year as far back as the Obama administration, when corporate tax rates were 67% higher ― which drives their potential refund even higher.
Assurant, a financial behemoth that sells life, catastrophe and property insurance, is a prime example of how much a single corporation could benefit. In May, the company announced that it had used its 2018 tax loss to book a one-time tax savings of $79 million.
Assurant is also one of the companies on which Sprecher placed a lucky bet: On March 18, the day before the CARES Act was introduced, Loeffler’s husband purchased between $250,000 and $500,000 of the company’s stock. Later, when the couple faced pressure to clear their holdings of individual stocks, he appears to have sold those shares at a profit. (Senators report stock sales within dollar ranges, making it impossible to say precisely how much the couple made.)
Corporate tax payments are not publicly reported, meaning investors could not know exactly which companies would benefit from the carryback provision and to what extent.
Still, “it’s a fairly safe bet that if a company had a great loss in 2018 or was anticipating a big loss in 2020 and could suddenly carry those losses back to prior tax rate years, you were looking at the companies that would get some of the most relief” under the CARES Act, said Steven Rosenthal, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.
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One could predict that boom-and-bust sectors would profit more, he added. The energy sector, in particular, benefited because the price of oil tanked in 2019. In the days before the terms of the CARES Act became public, Loeffler’s husband bought up to $250,000 in Chevron stock. The insurance sector also tends to benefit from the opportunity to carry back losses because its profits are so volatile — susceptible as they are to unpredictable disasters. On the same days as those closed-door Senate meetings, Loeffler’s husband purchased up to $650,000 worth of stock in insurance companies like AIG, Prudential Financial and Assurant.
Prudential said in a May financial filing that it was calculating whether it could profit from the carryback provision.
A company spokesman stressed this week that Prudential has had no contact with Loeffler’s office about the CARES Act or other policies. An Assurant spokeswoman said the same.
In April, facing public pressure about their pre-pandemic selling spree, Loeffler and Sprecher announced they would liquidate all of their individual stock holdings.
Loeffler said this spring that before she and her husband divested from individual stocks, any individual trades were made by a third party who informed them afterward. An FBI inquiry into her pre-pandemic selloff ended without criminal charges. “I’ve been completely exonerated,” she said in Sunday’s debate. Her campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
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Loeffler’s runoff election will take place Jan. 5. In Georgia, where winners are required to capture 50% of the vote, the November election left both Senate seats undecided. Democrats can effectively retake the Senate if they win Loeffler’s seat and that of her fellow GOP senator, David Perdue. Both parties are flooding the state with election cash and advertising.
“There is no way that the public can’t sense, can’t absolutely smell, that this is corrupt, that you have it in the back of your mind when you vote.” - Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)
Loeffler’s are not the only stock trades to raise questions about whether senators have been exploiting their insider knowledge. Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) also went on stock selling sprees well before the public and the stock market understood the coronavirus threat, allowing them to escape massive losses when the market nosedived in mid-March.
Some of the most eyebrow-raising trades this year came from Perdue, the other Georgia senator facing a runoff election. Over the course of 2020, he has traded vastly more in stocks than any other senator, including shares in companies that received lucrative government contracts thanks to committees on which Perdue serves.
After the Daily Beast revealed the extent of Loeffler’s pre-pandemic selloff, investigators for the FBI contacted her for evidence related to her trades. Soon after, Loeffler said she provided records to the Justice Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Senate Ethics Committee that showed her lack of day-to-day involvement in her and her husband’s investment accounts. In May, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department had closed investigations into Loeffler, Inhofe and Feinstein, citing a lack of proof they had violated the law, but that the inquiry into Burr remained open.
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Federal law ― including the Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 ― prohibits members of Congress from trading on the private knowledge they glean as lawmakers. But it is not illegal for them to buy and sell stocks or even to vote on legislation that may enrich them.
Prosecutions against members of Congress for insider trading are also rare, said Payne, the ethics expert, because they require a mountain of evidence. In a recent successful case against then-Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), federal prosecutors had emails, phone records, bank records and video footage that allowed them to reconstruct his crime beat-by-beat. In the minutes after Collins, who sat on the board of a drug company, got an email with bad news about a drug trial, he phoned his son, who unloaded his shares in the company, the records show.
“It’s very difficult to show that magical moment when the information is passed on,” Payne said. In relation to Loeffler, he added, “It’s definitely not clear there is insider training here, but one thing for certain is the senator owes the public an explanation of these suspiciously timed trades.”
In contrast to congressional lawmakers, executive branch officials are discouraged from holding individual stocks and rarely do.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) has sponsored a bill to ban individual stock trading by members of Congress altogether.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Arizona GOP Asks If Supporters Willing To Die For Trump's Election Fraud Lies

The Arizona Republican Party ignited backlash on Tuesday after firing off a pair of tweets that appeared to encourage President Donald Trump ’ s supporters to give their lives as part of an effort to overturn the election results .
The controversy started late Monday when the group retweeted Ali Alexander , a leader of “ Stop the Steal ” ― a movement that embraces the debunked conspiracy theory that there was widespread election fraud and that Trump , not Democrat Joe Biden , actually won the contest .
“ I am willing to give my life for this fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which the Arizona GOP shared with its more than 61,000 Twitter followers .
About an hour later , the Arizona GOP tweeted a clip from the 2008 film “ Rambo ” in which the titular character issues a call to action to soldiers : “ This is what we do , who we are .
Live for nothing , or die for something.
” The “ Rambo ” tweet was removed late Tuesday morning after racking up hundreds of thousands of views .
Zachary Henry , a spokesman for the Arizona GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair use law ” when asked about its removal .
“ The Republican Party of Arizona condemns all forms of violence in the strongest terms , ” Henry said .
“ Fictional movie scenes should be weighed in their proper context.
” He did not respond to a request for comment about what the Arizona GOP meant when it asked if people were willing to give their lives for “ Stop the Steal ” and whether the pair of tweets could be viewed as encouraging violence .
“ If some random yahoo in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump staying in office , will Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward be charged as an accessory ?
” tweeted Philadelphia Inquirer opinion columnist Will Bunch .
Elections officials , Democrats and some Republican lawmakers have urged Trump and his allies to stop spreading lies about the election results and tone down their divisive rhetoric , warning that such remarks could lead to violence .
“ It has to stop .
Mr. President , you have not condemned these actions or this language , ” Gabriel Sterling , a Republican and the voting implementation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office , said during a press conference last week .
“ Stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence , ” Sterling continued .
“ Someone ’ s going to get hurt , someone ’ s going to get shot , someone ’ s going to get killed .
And it ’ s not right.
” Trump and his supporters in the “ Stop the Steal ” movement have baselessly claimed Democrats “ rigged ” the election against Trump .
Election officials nationwide , including Republicans , have rejected such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump appointee Attorney General William Barr ― has also dismissed allegations of widespread fraud .

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The Arizona Republican Party ignited backlash on Tuesday after firing off a pair of tweets that appeared to encourage President Donald Trump’s supporters to give their lives as part of an effort to overturn the election results.
The controversy started late Monday when the group retweeted Ali Alexander, a leader of “Stop the Steal” ― a movement that embraces the debunked conspiracy theory that there was widespread election fraud and that Trump, not Democrat Joe Biden, actually won the contest.
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“I am willing to give my life for this fight,” Alexander wrote in the tweet, which the Arizona GOP shared with its more than 61,000 Twitter followers.
“He is,” Arizona GOP added in their retweet. “Are you?”
Official Arizona GOP Twitter account overnight: pic.twitter.com/lspQunuRGU — Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) December 8, 2020
About an hour later, the Arizona GOP tweeted a clip from the 2008 film “Rambo” in which the titular character issues a call to action to soldiers: “This is what we do, who we are. Live for nothing, or die for something.”
The “Rambo” tweet was removed late Tuesday morning after racking up hundreds of thousands of views. Zachary Henry, a spokesman for the Arizona GOP, cited “concerns about copyright and fair use law” when asked about its removal.
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“The Republican Party of Arizona condemns all forms of violence in the strongest terms,” Henry said. “Fictional movie scenes should be weighed in their proper context.”
He did not respond to a request for comment about what the Arizona GOP meant when it asked if people were willing to give their lives for “Stop the Steal” and whether the pair of tweets could be viewed as encouraging violence.
“If some random yahoo in AZ kills somebody in the name of Trump staying in office, will Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward be charged as an accessory?” tweeted Philadelphia Inquirer opinion columnist Will Bunch.
Elections officials, Democrats and some Republican lawmakers have urged Trump and his allies to stop spreading lies about the election results and tone down their divisive rhetoric, warning that such remarks could lead to violence.
“It has to stop. Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language,” Gabriel Sterling, a Republican and the voting implementation manager in the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, said during a press conference last week.
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“Stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence,” Sterling continued. “Someone’s going to get hurt, someone’s going to get shot, someone’s going to get killed. And it’s not right.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Trump Legal Adviser Jenna Ellis Tests Positive For COVID-19

Ellis was a guest of Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro and was photographed not wearing a mask , according to reporting by Axios and later confirmed by ABC News .
Both outlets cite unnamed sources who say Ellis has told people close to her about her status .
Rudy Giuliani , Trump ’ s personal attorney , also confirmed that Ellis was positive for the coronavirus in a local New York City radio interview .
“ Funny how MSM is quick to believe one or two unnamed ‘ sources ’ every time , ” Ellis wrote , using the abbreviation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the right .
Funny how MSM is quick to believe one or two unnamed “ sources ” every time , and yet refuses to acknowledge hundreds of eye witnesses across six states who signed affidavits under oath .
— Jenna Ellis ( @ JennaEllisEsq ) December 8 , 2020 Ellis has been working to overturn the results of the presidential election , saying Monday that she believes she is “ doing the right thing for God and my country.
” The White House holiday party she attended now has the potential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration , following a Rose Garden ceremony in late September that has been linked to at least eight cases .
Other gatherings , including a debate preparation session and an election night watch party , were also linked to several new cases .
An extraordinary number of high-level officials and advisers in Trump ’ s orbit have come down with the virus in recent months , including the president , his wife , and at least two of his children .
Since the start of the crisis , Trump has consistently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the necessity of wearing masks in public spaces , a trend that continued even after he was hospitalized for coronavirus symptoms that made it difficult for him to breathe .
On Sunday , Trump tweeted that Giuliani , who has been leading efforts to challenge the results of the presidential election in key states , had also tested posted for COVID-19 .
Giuliani is currently hospitalized for his symptoms .
Both Giuliani and Ellis have helped Trump file dozens of lawsuits challenging various aspects of the electoral process , nearly all of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no credible evidence that widespread election fraud occurred in any state .
Trump ’ s efforts to overturn his loss are now alarming Republican Party officials , some of whom believe that his attacks on the integrity of the voting process could discourage people from turning out in the Georgia Senate runoffs in January — two races that will decide which party controls the upper chamber .

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Jenna Ellis, a legal adviser for President Donald Trump, has tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a White House Christmas party for senior staff last week.
Ellis was a guest of Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro and was photographed not wearing a mask, according to reporting by Axios and later confirmed by ABC News. Both outlets cite unnamed sources who say Ellis has told people close to her about her status. Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, also confirmed that Ellis was positive for the coronavirus in a local New York City radio interview.
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However, Ellis appeared to deny testing positive for the virus in a tweet posted Tuesday afternoon.
“Funny how MSM is quick to believe one or two unnamed ‘sources’ every time,” Ellis wrote, using the abbreviation for “mainstream media” often invoked by the right.
Funny how MSM is quick to believe one or two unnamed “sources” every time, and yet refuses to acknowledge hundreds of eye witnesses across six states who signed affidavits under oath. — Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) December 8, 2020
Ellis has been working to overturn the results of the presidential election, saying Monday that she believes she is “doing the right thing for God and my country.”
The White House holiday party she attended now has the potential to become yet another superspreader event hosted by the Trump administration, following a Rose Garden ceremony in late September that has been linked to at least eight cases. Other gatherings, including a debate preparation session and an election night watch party, were also linked to several new cases.
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An extraordinary number of high-level officials and advisers in Trump’s orbit have come down with the virus in recent months, including the president, his wife, and at least two of his children. Since the start of the crisis, Trump has consistently downplayed the threat of the virus and the necessity of wearing masks in public spaces, a trend that continued even after he was hospitalized for coronavirus symptoms that made it difficult for him to breathe.
On Sunday, Trump tweeted that Giuliani, who has been leading efforts to challenge the results of the presidential election in key states, had also tested posted for COVID-19. Giuliani is currently hospitalized for his symptoms.
Both Giuliani and Ellis have helped Trump file dozens of lawsuits challenging various aspects of the electoral process, nearly all of which have been thrown out. There is no credible evidence that widespread election fraud occurred in any state.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Lou Dobbs Explodes On Stephen Miller In A Bonkers Meltdown

You and I , we ’ re reasonably smart and decent fellas .
Why don ’ t you answer me @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m asking here , Stephen .
Why don ’ t you guys jump @ @ @ @ @ say , “ Yes , we want you on the team now.
” My God @ @ @ @ @ time for internecine nonsense on the part of the Republican Party , which is watching @ @ @ @ @ streets because they ’ re gutless !

You and I, we’re reasonably smart and decent fellas. Why don’t you answer me? That’s all I’m asking here, Stephen. Why don’t you guys jump and salute Ted Cruz and say, “Yes, we want you on the team now.” My God, this is not a time for internecine nonsense on the part of the Republican Party, which is watching its blood drain into the streets because they’re gutless!


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Democrats Voice Concerns With Joe Biden's Pick To Lead Pentagon

Austin , a respected former commander of the U.S. military effort in Iraq and a member of Raytheon ’ s board of directors , would make history as the first Black American to lead the Pentagon .
Defense secretaries are legally required to have been retired from active duty for at least seven years .
The law is meant to uphold the long-standing principle of civilian control of the military and to discourage political acts from active-duty military officers who may one day go on to lead the Pentagon .
Congress voted to waive that requirement for President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gen. Jim Mattis , in 2017 , however .
Mattis was similarly out of the service for less than seven years and was only the second nominee for whom a president requested a waiver in U.S. history .
Seventeen members of the Democratic Senate caucus voted against approving the waiver for Mattis .
Now , some of those same senators say they ’ re unlikely to do so for Austin , even though they approve of his nomination .
“ It is exciting and historic , but I believe that a waiver of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principle that there should be civilian control over a nonpolitical military , ” Sen. Richard Blumenthal ( D-Conn. ) said Tuesday .
“ The principle is essential to our democracy ... which I think has to be applied unfortunately in this instance.
” Sen. Jon Tester ( D-Mont . )
added : “ I think this guy is gon na be a great secretary of defense .
I just think that we ought to look at the rules.
” Rep. Elissa Slotkin ( D-Mich. ) , who as a member of the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiver to Austin but not on his nomination , said she was wary of placing another retired general atop the Pentagon .
“ After the last 4 years , civil-military relations at the Pentagon definitely need to be rebalanced , ” Slotkin , a former CIA analyst , wrote on Twitter .
“ Gen .
Austin has had an incredible career––but I ’ ll need to understand what he and the Biden Administration plan to do to address these concerns before I can vote for his waiver.
” In his op-ed , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austin ’ s many strengths and his intimate knowledge of the Department of Defense and our government are uniquely matched to the challenges and crises we face.
” “ I hope that Congress will grant a waiver to Secretary-designate Austin , just as Congress did for Secretary Jim Mattis , ” Biden wrote .
“ Given the immense and urgent threats and challenges our nation faces , he should be confirmed swiftly.
” “ This appointment reverberates throughout the history of military service and courage in United States Armed Forces , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Black Americans have sacrificed their lives for this country in every war since the Revolutionary War .
Appointing Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to a position of command and authority over the United States military , second only to the President of the United States , is historic and well-deserved.
” “ Although this is becoming a trend and I don ’ t like it , it is difficult to imagine voting for a Mattis waiver and not an Austin waiver , ” Sen. Brian Schatz ( D-Hawaii ) told reporters on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who initially said he wouldn ’ t support a waiver for Austin , told reporters the quality of the nominee should be the top concern , but “ the preference would be for someone who ’ s not recently retired .
”

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Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of defense, is drawing opposition from some Democratic senators because he’s only been retired from active military duty for four years.
Austin, a respected former commander of the U.S. military effort in Iraq and a member of Raytheon’s board of directors, would make history as the first Black American to lead the Pentagon.
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Biden formally announced his intention to nominate the retired general in an op-ed in The Atlantic on Tuesday afternoon.
Defense secretaries are legally required to have been retired from active duty for at least seven years. The law is meant to uphold the long-standing principle of civilian control of the military and to discourage political acts from active-duty military officers who may one day go on to lead the Pentagon.
Congress voted to waive that requirement for President Donald Trump’s Pentagon chief, retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, in 2017, however. Mattis was similarly out of the service for less than seven years and was only the second nominee for whom a president requested a waiver in U.S. history.
Seventeen members of the Democratic Senate caucus voted against approving the waiver for Mattis. Now, some of those same senators say they’re unlikely to do so for Austin, even though they approve of his nomination.
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“It is exciting and historic, but I believe that a waiver of the seven-year rule would contravene the basic principle that there should be civilian control over a nonpolitical military,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Tuesday. “The principle is essential to our democracy ... which I think has to be applied unfortunately in this instance.”
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) added: “I think this guy is gonna be a great secretary of defense. I just think that we ought to look at the rules.”
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who as a member of the House will vote on whether to grant a waiver to Austin but not on his nomination, said she was wary of placing another retired general atop the Pentagon.
“After the last 4 years, civil-military relations at the Pentagon definitely need to be rebalanced,” Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, wrote on Twitter. “Gen. Austin has had an incredible career––but I’ll need to understand what he and the Biden Administration plan to do to address these concerns before I can vote for his waiver.”
In his op-ed, Biden justified the waiver request by arguing “Austin’s many strengths and his intimate knowledge of the Department of Defense and our government are uniquely matched to the challenges and crises we face.”
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“I hope that Congress will grant a waiver to Secretary-designate Austin, just as Congress did for Secretary Jim Mattis,” Biden wrote. “Given the immense and urgent threats and challenges our nation faces, he should be confirmed swiftly.”
The Congressional Black Caucus, which has pushed for more Black Cabinet appointees and is extremely influential within the Democratic caucus, also signaled its support for Austin.
“This appointment reverberates throughout the history of military service and courage in United States Armed Forces,” the group said in a statement Tuesday. “Black Americans have sacrificed their lives for this country in every war since the Revolutionary War. Appointing Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to a position of command and authority over the United States military, second only to the President of the United States, is historic and well-deserved.”
Austin’s path to confirmation could ultimately hinge on the support of a mix of centrist Democrats and Republicans. Secretaries of defense have traditionally garnered wide bipartisan support in the Senate; Mattis was confirmed 98-1.
“Although this is becoming a trend and I don’t like it, it is difficult to imagine voting for a Mattis waiver and not an Austin waiver,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told reporters on Tuesday.
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Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who initially said he wouldn’t support a waiver for Austin, told reporters the quality of the nominee should be the top concern, but “the preference would be for someone who’s not recently retired.”
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which would first process Austin’s nomination, said he would support a waiver for Austin “in a heartbeat” because of his general opposition to the seven-year requirement.
Asked whether he had any concerns about Austin, Inhofe said, “I really don’t.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Mitch McConnell's Liability Shield Is Major Holdup For COVID-19 Deal

One of the biggest obstacles to passing a bill before the end of the year has been McConnell ’ s monthslong insistence on giving businesses and organizations broad protections from coronavirus-related lawsuits , which is opposed by Democrats .
Senators discussed the contentious issue during a closed-door meeting on Monday evening but reached no deal .
McConnell on Tuesday suggested dropping his demand for a near-total ban on coronavirus-related lawsuits if Democrats also gave up their calls for extra funding for cash-strapped state and local governments , whose tax revenues have been badly hit amid the pandemic .
Democrats say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to retain firefighters , police and teachers .
“ What I recommend is we set aside liability , and set aside state-and-local , and pass those things we agree on knowing full well we ’ ll be back at this after the first of the year , ” McConnell said Tuesday , urging lawmakers to pass a bill with aid for schools , businesses and the unemployed ― areas where there is broad agreement .
But Democrats quickly shot down his suggestion that both sides ditch their top priorities , accusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bipartisan negotiations .
Their demands for added state and local aid has support among several Senate Republicans , they added .
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire , a Democratic member of the bipartisan group , also rejected McConnell ’ s approach , saying Congress needs to “ provide help for cities and towns and states that have been on the front lines of this crisis.
” The $ 908 billion bipartisan framework that a group of eight senators proposed last week would extend federal unemployment insurance programs for four months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekly benefits .
It would provide $ 288 billion for small businesses and $ 160 billion in assistance to state governments that have seen tax revenues drop due to lost economic activity .
And it would include a temporary moratorium on personal injury lawsuits related to coronavirus exposure — a watered-down version of McConnell ’ s original proposal .
Democrats had already come down from their demand for $ 436 billion in assistance to state and local governments .
Most states expect less revenue in 2021 thanks to diminished economic activity resulting from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid exposure to the coronavirus .
Revenue projections are down by as much 20 % or 30 % in some states , according to a Ballotpedia analysis of National Conference of State Legislatures data .
The liability proposal from McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn ( R-Texas ) would preempt state laws until 2024 , requiring complainants to prove in federal court that a business or other institution essentially got them sick on purpose , while also providing an inventory of every place they visited and every person who came to their home in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms ― and that ’ s before a trial could even start .
A source familiar with the negotiations said that while Republicans in the working group , such as Sens .
Mitt Romney ( Utah ) and Bill Cassidy ( La . )
, have been willing to compromise , McConnell has not .
“ He ’ s not budging at all , ” the source said .
But of the more than 6,500 coronavirus-related lawsuits tracked by the law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth , fewer than 400 are the kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many more are from businesses suing each other or suing the government over coronavirus restrictions .
“ Far from the pandemic of lawsuits there ’ s barely been a trickle , and yet the Republican leader continues to prevent Americans from getting the aid they so desperately need and deserve until he gets this piece of partisan ideological legislation , ” Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday .
Remington Gregg , counsel for civil justice and consumer rights at the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen , said the Republican liability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one brought by poultry plant workers against the meatpacker Tyson Foods .
A wrongful death suit alleges that supervisors made employees work while sick and bet money on how many would get COVID-19 .
Romney on Monday floated a compromise ― limiting the federal liability shield for companies and other organizations to the year 2020 , while giving states time to pass legislation of their own to address the issue in 2021 .
It ’ s unclear whether McConnell would go for it , however .

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A bipartisan group of lawmakers is trying to negotiate a compromise involving Republican and Democratic priorities for another coronavirus relief bill, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has pointedly refused to go along.
One of the biggest obstacles to passing a bill before the end of the year has been McConnell’s monthslong insistence on giving businesses and organizations broad protections from coronavirus-related lawsuits, which is opposed by Democrats. Senators discussed the contentious issue during a closed-door meeting on Monday evening but reached no deal.
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McConnell on Tuesday suggested dropping his demand for a near-total ban on coronavirus-related lawsuits if Democrats also gave up their calls for extra funding for cash-strapped state and local governments, whose tax revenues have been badly hit amid the pandemic. Democrats say states and local governments need more aid in order to retain firefighters, police and teachers.
The idea would be to punt two divisive issues into the new year and a new administration.
“What I recommend is we set aside liability, and set aside state-and-local, and pass those things we agree on knowing full well we’ll be back at this after the first of the year,” McConnell said Tuesday, urging lawmakers to pass a bill with aid for schools, businesses and the unemployed ― areas where there is broad agreement.
But Democrats quickly shot down his suggestion that both sides ditch their top priorities, accusing him of trying to “sabotage” the bipartisan negotiations. Their demands for added state and local aid has support among several Senate Republicans, they added.
“State and local funding is bipartisan, unlike the extreme corporate liability proposal Leader McConnell made, which has no Democratic support,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) noted at a press conference.
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Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, a Democratic member of the bipartisan group, also rejected McConnell’s approach, saying Congress needs to “provide help for cities and towns and states that have been on the front lines of this crisis.”
The $908 billion bipartisan framework that a group of eight senators proposed last week would extend federal unemployment insurance programs for four months, along with an extra $300 in weekly benefits. It would provide $288 billion for small businesses and $160 billion in assistance to state governments that have seen tax revenues drop due to lost economic activity. And it would include a temporary moratorium on personal injury lawsuits related to coronavirus exposure — a watered-down version of McConnell’s original proposal.
In a Senate floor speech on Monday, McConnell talked as though he were the one who had shown a willingness to compromise, and Democrats had not.
“Their strategy has been all or nothing,” he said.
Democrats had already come down from their demand for $436 billion in assistance to state and local governments. Most states expect less revenue in 2021 thanks to diminished economic activity resulting from social distancing regulations and consumers trying to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. Revenue projections are down by as much 20% or 30% in some states, according to a Ballotpedia analysis of National Conference of State Legislatures data.
McConnell said Tuesday that a lot of Senate Republicans “wonder if there’s a demonstrable need” for the state funding.
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The liability proposal from McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) would preempt state laws until 2024, requiring complainants to prove in federal court that a business or other institution essentially got them sick on purpose, while also providing an inventory of every place they visited and every person who came to their home in the two weeks before the onset of symptoms ― and that’s before a trial could even start.
Companies would be able to sue people just for making settlement demands, and U.S. attorneys could then prosecute them.
A source familiar with the negotiations said that while Republicans in the working group, such as Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah) and Bill Cassidy (La.), have been willing to compromise, McConnell has not. “He’s not budging at all,” the source said.
When McConnell introduced the liability shield concept earlier this year, he said it was necessary to prevent “an epidemic of lawsuits” against schools, health care providers and businesses that threatened the economy.
But of the more than 6,500 coronavirus-related lawsuits tracked by the law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth, fewer than 400 are the kind of personal injury complaint McConnell had in mind. Many more are from businesses suing each other or suing the government over coronavirus restrictions.
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“Far from the pandemic of lawsuits there’s barely been a trickle, and yet the Republican leader continues to prevent Americans from getting the aid they so desperately need and deserve until he gets this piece of partisan ideological legislation,” Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday.
Remington Gregg, counsel for civil justice and consumer rights at the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, said the Republican liability proposal would even squelch suits like the one brought by poultry plant workers against the meatpacker Tyson Foods. A wrongful death suit alleges that supervisors made employees work while sick and bet money on how many would get COVID-19.
“The procedural hurdles would make it nearly impossible to bring a lawsuit and the substantive changes to the law would create an almost insurmountable difficulties in proving their case,” Gregg said.
Romney on Monday floated a compromise ― limiting the federal liability shield for companies and other organizations to the year 2020, while giving states time to pass legislation of their own to address the issue in 2021. It’s unclear whether McConnell would go for it, however.
“Ultimately it’s going to have to satisfy Sen. McConnell because it’s been one of his leading priorities since the beginning of this,” Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters on Monday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Trump: Millions Of Americans Getting COVID-19 Is 'Terrific' And A 'Powerful Vaccine'

President Donald Trump on Tuesday spun the high number of Americans who have been infected with COVID-19 as “ terrific , ” claiming falsely that all those cases serve as a “ powerful vaccine.
” “ I think that the vaccine was our goal , that was number one , because that was the way , that was the way it ends , ” Trump said at a White House coronavirus vaccine summit .
“ Plus , you do have an immunity , you develop immunity over a period of time , and I hear we ’ re close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , and that is terrific .
That ’ s a very powerful vaccine in itself and just tremendous progress has been made , ” he added .
It seems the president was suggesting that the country is approaching herd immunity via the rising number of infections .
Public health experts predict that herd immunity from COVID-19 will be achieved when roughly 60 % to 70 % of the population has been vaccinated .
It ’ s not clear where Trump ’ s “ 15 % ” figure came from .
The Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positivity rate of 11.7 % on Nov. 28 .
However , that number refers to the percentage of coronavirus tests with positive results over the course of a week , not the total number of people who have been infected in the United States since the pandemic began .
The U.S. just passed 15 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
That amounts to roughly 4.5 % of the 331 million population having been infected .
Experts warn that pursuing herd immunity via infection , rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million lives .
More than 285,000 people in the U.S. have already died from COVID-19 .
There is also evidence to suggest that people who have been sick with the coronavirus can be reinfected .
After his remark Tuesday , he went on to boast that the U.S. only has so many cases because there is so much testing ― another claim he has made for months .
His comments came in response to a reporter who asked for the president ’ s message to the American people about what they should do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic ’ s hardships given the surge in cases around the country .

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday spun the high number of Americans who have been infected with COVID-19 as “terrific,” claiming falsely that all those cases serve as a “powerful vaccine.”
“I think that the vaccine was our goal, that was number one, because that was the way, that was the way it ends,” Trump said at a White House coronavirus vaccine summit.
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“Plus, you do have an immunity, you develop immunity over a period of time, and I hear we’re close to 15%, I’m hearing that, and that is terrific. That’s a very powerful vaccine in itself and just tremendous progress has been made,” he added.
It seems the president was suggesting that the country is approaching herd immunity via the rising number of infections.
Public health experts predict that herd immunity from COVID-19 will be achieved when roughly 60% to 70% of the population has been vaccinated.
Narrator: A 15-percent infection rate is not "a really powerful vaccine." It is not a vaccine. https://t.co/r6mvl17nG5 — David Corn (@DavidCornDC) December 8, 2020
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It’s not clear where Trump’s “15%” figure came from. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded a positivity rate of 11.7% on Nov. 28. However, that number refers to the percentage of coronavirus tests with positive results over the course of a week, not the total number of people who have been infected in the United States since the pandemic began.
The U.S. just passed 15 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That amounts to roughly 4.5% of the 331 million population having been infected.
The White House did not immediately return HuffPost’s request for clarification on the 15% figure.
Experts warn that pursuing herd immunity via infection, rather than a vaccine, would cost several million lives. More than 285,000 people in the U.S. have already died from COVID-19. There is also evidence to suggest that people who have been sick with the coronavirus can be reinfected.
Nonetheless, Trump has embraced the idea of herd immunity via infection for months.
After his remark Tuesday, he went on to boast that the U.S. only has so many cases because there is so much testing ― another claim he has made for months.
His comments came in response to a reporter who asked for the president’s message to the American people about what they should do over Christmas and how they should face the pandemic’s hardships given the surge in cases around the country.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--14 Fort Hood Soldiers Fired, Suspended Over Violence At Base

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Army on Tuesday said it had fired or suspended 14 officers and enlisted soldiers at Fort Hood , Texas , and ordered policy changes to address chronic leadership failures at the base that contributed to a widespread pattern of violence including murder , sexual assaults and harassment .
Two general officers were among those being removed from their jobs , as top Army leaders announced the findings of an independent panel ’ s investigation into problems at the Texas base .
The actions , taken by Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy , come in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldiers assigned to Fort Hood die due to suicide , homicide or accidents , including the bludgeoning death of Spc .
Vanessa Guillen .
Guillen was missing for about two months before her remains were found .
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon , McCarthy said that based on the panel ’ s review , he concluded that the issues at Fort Hood , including major flaws in the reporting and response to sexual assault and harassment , “ are directly related to leadership failures.
” He said he was gravely disappointed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without leadership , systems don ’ t matter.
” Gen. James McConville , the chief of staff of the Army , told reporters that he spoke to Guillen ’ s mother on Tuesday morning and told her , “ We are holding leaders accountable , and we will fix this.
” The firings and suspensions include Army Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt , who was left in charge of the base earlier this year when Guillen was killed , as well as Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater , commander of the 1st Cavalry Divisions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations that could lead to a wide range of punishments .
Those punishments could go from a simple letter of reprimand to a military discharge .
The base commander , Army Lt. Gen. Pat White , will not face any administrative action .
He was deployed to Iraq as the commander there for much of the year .
McCarthy also ordered a new Army policy that changes how commanders deal with missing soldiers , requiring them to list service members as absent-unknown for up to 48 hours and to do everything they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if their absence is voluntary or not before declaring anyone AWOL , or absent without leave .
Army leaders had already delayed Efflandt ’ s planned transfer to Fort Bliss , where he was slated to take over leadership of the 1st Armored Division .
Command of a division is a key step in an Army officer ’ s career .
Efflandt ’ s move to the division was paused while the team of independent investigators conducted its probe into whether leadership failures contributed to the killings of several people , including Guillen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to investigators , Guillen , 20 , was bludgeoned to death at Fort Hood by Spc .
Aaron Robinson , who killed himself on July 1 as police were trying to take him into custody .
Her family has said Robinson sexually harassed her , though the Army has said there is no evidence supporting that claim .
Also in July , the body of Pvt .
Mejhor Morta was found near a reservoir by the base .
And in June , officials discovered the remains of another missing soldier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lake .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army on Tuesday said it had fired or suspended 14 officers and enlisted soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, and ordered policy changes to address chronic leadership failures at the base that contributed to a widespread pattern of violence including murder, sexual assaults and harassment.
Two general officers were among those being removed from their jobs, as top Army leaders announced the findings of an independent panel’s investigation into problems at the Texas base.
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The actions, taken by Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, come in the aftermath of a year that saw 25 soldiers assigned to Fort Hood die due to suicide, homicide or accidents, including the bludgeoning death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen. Guillen was missing for about two months before her remains were found.
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, McCarthy said that based on the panel’s review, he concluded that the issues at Fort Hood, including major flaws in the reporting and response to sexual assault and harassment, “are directly related to leadership failures.” He said he was gravely disappointed in the commanders there, adding, “without leadership, systems don’t matter.”
Candles and flowers adorn a mural of Vanessa Guillen, a soldier based at nearby Fort Hood on July 6, 2020 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Sergio Flores/Getty Images) Sergio Flores via Getty Images
Gen. James McConville, the chief of staff of the Army, told reporters that he spoke to Guillen’s mother on Tuesday morning and told her, “We are holding leaders accountable, and we will fix this.”
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The firings and suspensions include Army Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, who was left in charge of the base earlier this year when Guillen was killed, as well as Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, commander of the 1st Cavalry Divisions. The administrative actions are expected to trigger investigations that could lead to a wide range of punishments. Those punishments could go from a simple letter of reprimand to a military discharge.
The base commander, Army Lt. Gen. Pat White, will not face any administrative action. He was deployed to Iraq as the commander there for much of the year.
McCarthy also ordered a new Army policy that changes how commanders deal with missing soldiers, requiring them to list service members as absent-unknown for up to 48 hours and to do everything they can to locate the service members to determine if their absence is voluntary or not before declaring anyone AWOL, or absent without leave.
Army leaders had already delayed Efflandt’s planned transfer to Fort Bliss, where he was slated to take over leadership of the 1st Armored Division. Command of a division is a key step in an Army officer’s career.
Efflandt’s move to the division was paused while the team of independent investigators conducted its probe into whether leadership failures contributed to the killings of several people, including Guillen, and who should be held accountable.
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According to investigators, Guillen, 20, was bludgeoned to death at Fort Hood by Spc. Aaron Robinson, who killed himself on July 1 as police were trying to take him into custody. Her family has said Robinson sexually harassed her, though the Army has said there is no evidence supporting that claim.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Jim Mattis Privately Defends Trump's Biggest Arms Sale As Congressional Opposition Grows

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is trying to save President Donald Trump ’ s massive weapons sale to the United Arab Emirates as skeptical senators worry about the country ’ s brutal track record across the Middle East , three people familiar with Mattis ’ involvement in the sale told HuffPost .
The potential deal would be the largest weapons sale of Trump ’ s presidency .
Mattis became involved in the congressional fight over the sale earlier this week ahead of a looming vote on bipartisan legislation to block the transfer , one of the sources said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Al Otaiba , has told more than one senator with concerns about the sale to call Mattis , another one of the sources said .
Mattis ’ participation shows how the debate in Congress has quickly become a major national security flashpoint ― one that could cause a key defeat for Trump and for an influential U.S. partner that has so far escaped the kind of rebukes Capitol Hill has dished out to Saudi Arabia , despite the two countries ’ close cooperation .
Mattis and a spokeswoman for the consulting firm where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request for comment .
The U.A.E .
embassy also did not respond .
Mattis resigned from the Trump administration in 2018 over disagreements with the president and has since called him a threat to the Constitution .
But he appears willing to align with Trump on the U.A.E.
, which he ’ s previously praised as a powerful U.S. partner he views as “ little Sparta.
” Prior to joining the Trump administration , Mattis advised the Emirati military in an unpaid capacity , CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the deal is striking .
It casts the widely respected former Pentagon chief in the less savory role of an advocate for a repressive monarchy responsible for many human rights abuses and humanitarian crises , notably in Yemen and Libya .
It threatens to sully the reputation Mattis cultivated just a few years ago when he pressured the Emirates and the Saudis to rein in their vicious military campaign in Yemen .
And it underscores how former U.S. officials cultivate foreign relationships that can lead to post-administration opportunities and use their credibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no indication that Mattis is being paid for his current work , but the Cohen Group , where he is a senior counselor , has an extensive business relationship with the defense industry , which stands to gain from the gigantic U.A.E .
arms purchase .
Mattis also sits on the board of directors of General Dynamics , a major defense firm with operations in the U.A.E .
Senators will vote this week , likely Wednesday or Thursday , on one or all of the resolutions to block the transfer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cite a number of problems .
They say the Trump administration is speeding it through , breaking with past practices of consultation , while risking sensitive technology .
The sale would include F-35 fighter jets and armed Reaper drones , which lawmakers don ’ t want U.A.E .
partners and U.S. adversaries China and Russia to learn more about .
Skeptics are also anxious about the possibility of the U.A.E .
becoming stronger than Israel , which the U.S. is legally bound to keep militarily stronger than its neighbors , and using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its ongoing interventions in regional civil wars .
Opponents of the arms deal have gained ground in recent days .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) told HuffPost late last week that he will vote against it , boosting the likelihood that the entire Senate Democratic Caucus will follow and rejecting the deal will only require a handful of Republican votes .
One crucial GOP figure , Sen. Lisa Murkowski ( R-Alaska ) , seems willing to break with Trump and her party on the deal , an activist who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HuffPost .
Asked about the Mattis news , one human rights advocate rallying votes against the arms deal called it a sign that his coalition has been far more successful than Trump , the U.A.E .
or their supporters expected .

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Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is trying to save President Donald Trump’s massive weapons sale to the United Arab Emirates as skeptical senators worry about the country’s brutal track record across the Middle East, three people familiar with Mattis’ involvement in the sale told HuffPost.
The potential deal would be the largest weapons sale of Trump’s presidency. Mattis became involved in the congressional fight over the sale earlier this week ahead of a looming vote on bipartisan legislation to block the transfer, one of the sources said. The U.A.E.’s well-connected ambassador, Yousef Al Otaiba, has told more than one senator with concerns about the sale to call Mattis, another one of the sources said.
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Mattis’ participation shows how the debate in Congress has quickly become a major national security flashpoint ― one that could cause a key defeat for Trump and for an influential U.S. partner that has so far escaped the kind of rebukes Capitol Hill has dished out to Saudi Arabia, despite the two countries’ close cooperation.
Mattis and a spokeswoman for the consulting firm where he works, the Cohen Group, did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment. The U.A.E. embassy also did not respond.
Mattis resigned from the Trump administration in 2018 over disagreements with the president and has since called him a threat to the Constitution. But he appears willing to align with Trump on the U.A.E., which he’s previously praised as a powerful U.S. partner he views as “little Sparta.” Prior to joining the Trump administration, Mattis advised the Emirati military in an unpaid capacity, CNN revealed.
For Mattis to become involved in the deal is striking. It casts the widely respected former Pentagon chief in the less savory role of an advocate for a repressive monarchy responsible for many human rights abuses and humanitarian crises, notably in Yemen and Libya. It threatens to sully the reputation Mattis cultivated just a few years ago when he pressured the Emirates and the Saudis to rein in their vicious military campaign in Yemen. And it underscores how former U.S. officials cultivate foreign relationships that can lead to post-administration opportunities and use their credibility to help whitewash alarming behavior internationally.
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There is no indication that Mattis is being paid for his current work, but the Cohen Group, where he is a senior counselor, has an extensive business relationship with the defense industry, which stands to gain from the gigantic U.A.E. arms purchase. Mattis also sits on the board of directors of General Dynamics, a major defense firm with operations in the U.A.E.
Senators will vote this week, likely Wednesday or Thursday, on one or all of the resolutions to block the transfer to the Emirates. Critics of the sale cite a number of problems. They say the Trump administration is speeding it through, breaking with past practices of consultation, while risking sensitive technology. The sale would include F-35 fighter jets and armed Reaper drones, which lawmakers don’t want U.A.E. partners and U.S. adversaries China and Russia to learn more about.
Skeptics are also anxious about the possibility of the U.A.E. becoming stronger than Israel, which the U.S. is legally bound to keep militarily stronger than its neighbors, and using the weaponry, particularly bombs and missiles, in its ongoing interventions in regional civil wars.
Opponents of the arms deal have gained ground in recent days. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told HuffPost late last week that he will vote against it, boosting the likelihood that the entire Senate Democratic Caucus will follow and rejecting the deal will only require a handful of Republican votes. One crucial GOP figure, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), seems willing to break with Trump and her party on the deal, an activist who spoke with her office on Monday told HuffPost.
Asked about the Mattis news, one human rights advocate rallying votes against the arms deal called it a sign that his coalition has been far more successful than Trump, the U.A.E. or their supporters expected.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Puerto Rico Becomes Flashpoint In Jon Ossoff’s Senate Race In Georgia

Getty Images Former Rep. Luis Gutiérrez ( D ) , at right , has withdrawn his support from Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff 's Senate campaign pending assurances about Puerto Rican self-determination .
Former Rep. Luis Gutiérrez , a Chicago Democrat and prominent Puerto Rican voice in U.S. politics , has withdrawn his support for Jon Ossoff , the Democratic Senate candidate in Georgia , after failing to elicit assurances from Ossoff that he supports letting the Puerto Rican people determine the future status of the U.S. commonwealth .
His response prompted Gutiérrez , who supports independence rather than statehood for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with Ossoff ’ s campaign .
Gutiérrez was looking for confirmation that despite his position , Ossoff would allow the people of Puerto Rico to decide whether they want to become a state or adopt a different status , he told HuffPost .
President-elect Joe Biden ’ s comments supporting statehood , while emphasizing that it should be solely up to Puerto Ricans to decide their future status , are a fine model for Democrats like Ossoff to emulate , according to Gutiérrez .
But because Gutiérrez , who reached out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Ossoff , did not succeed in establishing contact with Ossoff ’ s team , he announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he is withdrawing his support for Ossoff ’ s candidacy .
To that end , Gutiérrez has canceled plans to spend six days in Georgia campaigning for Ossoff with the labor union UNITE HERE ’ s political arm .
( UNITE HERE , which represents hospitality industry workers , is sending 500 canvassers to knock an estimated 1 million doors . )
“ How come the white privilege man from Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , maybe I might want to do what Biden says ?
’ ” Gutiérrez asked while speaking to HuffPost .
“ When they try to unilaterally impose their will on the people of Puerto Rico , there have to be consequences , and Ossoff is simply the first.
” But Gutiérrez may have some leverage .
The outspoken advocate for immigration reform , who served in Congress for 26 years and moved to Puerto Rico after he left Capitol Hill in 2019 , retains a following among many Puerto Ricans .
And thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maria in 2017 , Georgia is now home to an estimated 100,000 Puerto Ricans — all of whom , as U.S. citizens , are eligible to vote once they reach the age of 18 .
Gutiérrez is a proponent of a bill introduced by New York Democratic Reps. Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that would create a formal mechanism through which Puerto Ricans could democratically determine the future of their relationship to the United States .
Although Republicans have fretted that Democratic control of the Senate would result in Puerto Rican statehood and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the cause of statehood is more closely associated on the island with the more conservative New Progressive Party .
Members of the center-left Popular Democratic Party , such as San Juan , Puerto Rico , Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz , tend to be more supportive of Puerto Rican autonomy or independence .

Former Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D), right, temporarily withdrew his support from Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff, pending assurances about Puerto Rican self-determination. Getty Images
Former Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, a Chicago Democrat and prominent Puerto Rican voice in U.S. politics, withdrew his support for Jon Ossoff, the Democratic Senate candidate in Georgia, on Tuesday afternoon before changing course after speaking with Ossoff later that day.
Ossoff, a supporter of Puerto Rican statehood, had failed to adequately assure Gutiérrez, a supporter of Puerto Rican independence, that he is committed to letting the Puerto Rican people determine the future of the U.S. commonwealth.
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In response to Gutiérrez’s announcement, Ossoff reached out to the former congressman by phone on Tuesday night and assured him of their shared commitment to Puerto Rican self-determination.
“I was so happy to hear from my brother Jon. Neither one of us has changed our positions on the future status of Puerto Rico. That’s not what’s important,” Gutiérrez told HuffPost on Tuesday night. “What’s important is that we talked tonight and recognized there is a lack of communication. We support an open and democratic process of self-determination where Puerto Rico decides its own future.”
Gutiérrez said he will now resume plans to travel to Georgia to campaign for Ossoff with San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz. He also deleted tweets from earlier on Tuesday that were critical of Ossoff and that had announced the suspension of his support for Ossoff’s bid.
Gutiérrez’s issue with Ossoff began in early November, when Ossoff told Axios that he supports Puerto Rican statehood.
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His response prompted Gutiérrez, who supports independence rather than statehood for the island, to scramble to establish contact with Ossoff’s campaign. Gutiérrez was looking for confirmation that despite his position, Ossoff would allow the people of Puerto Rico to decide whether they want to become a state or adopt a different status, he told HuffPost.
President-elect Joe Biden’s comments supporting statehood, while emphasizing that it should be solely up to Puerto Ricans to decide their future status, are a fine model for Democrats like Ossoff to emulate, according to Gutiérrez.
But because Gutiérrez, who reached out to U.S. senators to try to get through to Ossoff, did not succeed in establishing contact with Ossoff’s team, he announced on Tuesday that he would be suspending his support for Ossoff’s candidacy pending an explicit commitment from Ossoff to respect the island’s right to self-determination. To that end, Gutiérrez immediately canceled plans to spend six days in Georgia campaigning for Ossoff with the labor union UNITE HERE’s political arm. (UNITE HERE, which represents hospitality industry workers, is sending 500 canvassers to knock an estimated 1 million doors.)
“How come the white privilege man from Georgia doesn’t say, ‘Hmmm, maybe I might want to do what Biden says?’” Gutiérrez asked while speaking to HuffPost. “When they try to unilaterally impose their will on the people of Puerto Rico, there have to be consequences, and Ossoff is simply the first.”
In recent years, U.S. policy toward Puerto Rico has rarely played a pivotal role in mainland elections.
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But Gutiérrez has some leverage. The outspoken advocate for immigration reform, who served in Congress for 26 years and moved to Puerto Rico after he left Capitol Hill in 2019, retains a following among many Puerto Ricans. And thanks to emigration from the island after Hurricane Maria in 2017, Georgia is now home to an estimated 100,000 Puerto Ricans — all of whom, as U.S. citizens, are eligible to vote once they reach the age of 18.
Gutiérrez is a proponent of a bill introduced by New York Democratic Reps. Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that would create a formal mechanism through which Puerto Ricans could democratically determine the future of their relationship to the United States. In their call on Tuesday night, Gutiérrez said Ossoff told him that he supports Velázquez and Ocasio-Cortez’s bill.
Although Republicans have fretted that Democratic control of the Senate would result in Puerto Rican statehood and permanently entrench two new Democratic Senate seats, the cause of statehood is more closely associated on the island with the more conservative New Progressive Party. Members of the center-left Popular Democratic Party — like Cruz, the mayor of San Juan — tend to be more supportive of Puerto Rican autonomy or independence.
A slim majority of Puerto Ricans voted to approve statehood in a nonbinding vote in November, but critics like Gutiérrez note that a binary “yes” or “no” vote on statehood excludes other options.
“We are a Latin American country that is a colony of the United States,” Gutiérrez said. “How do you end colonialism? By allowing people to be free.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Report From Katie Porter Shows 1 In 5 Women Have Left Workforce Since Pandemic

Rep. Katie Porter ( D-Calif. ) is calling out how the COVID-19 pandemic and its related economic crisis have disproportionately pushed women out of the workforce .
About 22 % — or over 1 in 5 — women in the U.S. have left the labor force since the start of the pandemic , according to a report released Tuesday by Porter ’ s office , citing an October survey from the Bipartisan Policy Center .
As the pandemic has led to virtual schooling and the closure of day care centers , women have borne the brunt of child care at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women with kids under 2 years old reported leaving the workforce during the pandemic .
“ Without action , the pandemic will likely erase decades of progress for working women , who are now being forced to shoulder the burden of childcare , ” Porter wrote in the report , noting she is a single mother of three young children .
“ Working women have always had to make difficult choices to balance their careers and their families , but the pandemic has made these decisions nearly impossible.
” The report goes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus crisis have especially affected women of color , who are disproportionately employed by many of the hardest-hit businesses — including hotels , restaurants , retail and other jobs in the service industry .
No matter how we look at the data—by race , by sector , by income—it 's clear the burden of the pandemic is falling hardest on women .
Today , our office released a report detailing how decades of progress could be erased unless we take action .
( THREAD ) https : //t.co/zV0BJl6TlC — Rep. Katie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 Porter ’ s report cites a Washington Post analysis that found that white women had recovered 61 % of the jobs they lost during the pandemic by September , while Black women had recovered only 34 % of their lost jobs by then , according to Labor Department data .
Porter called on Congress to take action to support working women and families , including by funding more paid leave and unemployment benefits to “ replace lost wages.
” Congress has yet to pass a new coronavirus relief bill .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous coronavirus legislation , passed in the spring , are set to expire at the end of the month .

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Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) is calling out how the COVID-19 pandemic and its related economic crisis have disproportionately pushed women out of the workforce.
About 22% — or over 1 in 5 — women in the U.S. have left the labor force since the start of the pandemic, according to a report released Tuesday by Porter’s office, citing an October survey from the Bipartisan Policy Center.
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As the pandemic has led to virtual schooling and the closure of day care centers, women have borne the brunt of child care at home. A whopping 42% of women with kids under 2 years old reported leaving the workforce during the pandemic.
“Without action, the pandemic will likely erase decades of progress for working women, who are now being forced to shoulder the burden of childcare,” Porter wrote in the report, noting she is a single mother of three young children. “Working women have always had to make difficult choices to balance their careers and their families, but the pandemic has made these decisions nearly impossible.”
The report goes on to detail how widespread job losses due to the coronavirus crisis have especially affected women of color, who are disproportionately employed by many of the hardest-hit businesses — including hotels, restaurants, retail and other jobs in the service industry.
No matter how we look at the data—by race, by sector, by income—it's clear the burden of the pandemic is falling hardest on women. Today, our office released a report detailing how decades of progress could be erased unless we take action. (THREAD)https://t.co/zV0BJl6TlC — Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) December 8, 2020
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Porter’s report cites a Washington Post analysis that found that white women had recovered 61% of the jobs they lost during the pandemic by September, while Black women had recovered only 34% of their lost jobs by then, according to Labor Department data.
Porter called on Congress to take action to support working women and families, including by funding more paid leave and unemployment benefits to “replace lost wages.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--SpaceX To Stage Key High-Altitude Test Of Next-Generation 'Starship'

WASHINGTON , Dec 8 ( Reuters ) - Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX was set to launch a prototype of its Mars rocket Starship in its highest-altitude “ hop ” test from the space company ’ s Texas facilities on Tuesday , a key trial for a rocket system that Musk hopes will land humans on the moon and eventually Mars .
Musk sought to tamp down expectations for Starship ’ s first suborbital flight using three of its new Raptor rocket engines , predicting a 30 % chance of success in reaching an altitude of more than 40,000 feet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vehicle ’ s first two tests at altitudes of 500 feet .
“ With a test such as this , success is not measured by completion of specific objectives but rather how much we can learn , ” SpaceX said on its website Monday .
Starship , a rocket system standing 394 feet ( 120.09 m ) tall when mated with its super-heavy first-stage booster , is designed to carry humans and 100 tons of cargo to the moon and Mars .
It is the space company ’ s planned next-generation fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Musk ’ s ambitions to make human space travel affordable .
Space enthusiasts look at a prototype of SpaceX 's Starship spacecraft at the company 's Texas launch facility on September 28 , 2019 in Boca Chica near Brownsville , Texas .
( Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images ) SpaceX has carried out two hop tests this year using rudimentary , single-engine rocket prototypes at its Boca Chica , Texas , launch site .
Those prototypes launched about 500 feet into the air and landed on a concrete slab roughly a minute later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major advance for Starship , putting to the test the rocket ’ s aerodynamic design at altitudes higher than commercial airliners typically fly .
Such heights will test how Starship returns back to its landing pad , carrying out a “ landing flip maneuver ” mid-air before touching down .
SpaceX had originally planned to fly Starship at an altitude of 50,000 feet , but changed the target to 41,000 feet in its launch application with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration last week , according to a person familiar with the filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule is likely to change , has launch opportunities all day Wednesday and Thursday should Tuesday ’ s attempt be delayed , according to filings with the FAA .

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WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Elon Musk’s SpaceX was set to launch a prototype of its Mars rocket Starship in its highest-altitude “hop” test from the space company’s Texas facilities on Tuesday, a key trial for a rocket system that Musk hopes will land humans on the moon and eventually Mars.
Musk sought to tamp down expectations for Starship’s first suborbital flight using three of its new Raptor rocket engines, predicting a 30% chance of success in reaching an altitude of more than 40,000 feet. That would be vastly higher than the vehicle’s first two tests at altitudes of 500 feet.
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“With a test such as this, success is not measured by completion of specific objectives but rather how much we can learn,” SpaceX said on its website Monday.
Starship, a rocket system standing 394 feet (120.09 m) tall when mated with its super-heavy first-stage booster, is designed to carry humans and 100 tons of cargo to the moon and Mars. It is the space company’s planned next-generation fully reusable launch vehicle, the center of Musk’s ambitions to make human space travel affordable.
Space enthusiasts look at a prototype of SpaceX's Starship spacecraft at the company's Texas launch facility on September 28, 2019 in Boca Chica near Brownsville, Texas. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Loren Elliott via Getty Images
SpaceX has carried out two hop tests this year using rudimentary, single-engine rocket prototypes at its Boca Chica, Texas, launch site. Those prototypes launched about 500 feet into the air and landed on a concrete slab roughly a minute later.
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Tuesday’s planned flight is a major advance for Starship, putting to the test the rocket’s aerodynamic design at altitudes higher than commercial airliners typically fly. Such heights will test how Starship returns back to its landing pad, carrying out a “landing flip maneuver” mid-air before touching down.
SpaceX had originally planned to fly Starship at an altitude of 50,000 feet, but changed the target to 41,000 feet in its launch application with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration last week, according to a person familiar with the filing.
SpaceX, which said its launch schedule is likely to change, has launch opportunities all day Wednesday and Thursday should Tuesday’s attempt be delayed, according to filings with the FAA.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--Trump Administration Lowballs Unemployment Benefits In New COVID-19 Offer

The new proposal offered by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin swapped the $ 300 unemployment supplement that has bipartisan support on Capitol Hill with a single round of direct payments worth up to $ 600 , according to a person familiar with the negotiations .
Mnuchin said earlier Tuesday that he had spoken to congressional leaders about the administration ’ s support for a $ 916 billion package , noting that it was “ a slightly larger package ” than the $ 908 billion deal under discussion by a bipartisan working group .
But whatever “ progress ” lawmakers were making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) used that word after learning that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell apparently supported the offer — Pelosi said it was “ unacceptable ” to only provide $ 40 billion worth of federal unemployment insurance instead of the $ 180 billion that had been under discussion by the bipartisan group .
The new offer from the Trump administration capped a day of confusion on Capitol Hill , where lawmakers are struggling to reach a deal on another coronavirus relief package before the end of the year .
The bipartisan group of eight senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits , a top priority of McConnell , as well as provide aid for state and local governments .
The senators are hoping to finalize their package sometime this week .
Meanwhile , McConnell suggested on Tuesday dropping both state and local aid as well as liability protections from the coronavirus relief bill in order to bolster chances of its passage this year .
The “ new administration , ” he said , would get another chance to resolve the issue .
“ Mitch doesn ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , noting there is bipartisan support for aid to state and local governments .
The framework also has funds for distributing a coronavirus vaccine , meaning that , without a deal , the pandemic could drag on longer .
The $ 600 payments in the White House proposal reflect recent calls for another round of rebates like the $ 1,200 payments included in the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act .
Lawmakers involved in the recent bipartisan negotiations , however , have said such payments , which go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are “ stimulus ” when “ relief ” is much more urgent for struggling workers and businesses .
The tentative Manchin-Romney compromise on unemployment would add $ 300 per week to state and federal benefits for four months , and also preserve federal programs for gig workers and the long-term jobless for the same amount of time .
The lawmakers involved have provided no other details .
In March , when the coronavirus pandemic had barely started , lawmakers rushed to pass trillions in new spending with unprecedented support for the unemployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding an unheard-of $ 600 to all weekly unemployment payments .
Economists credited the extra money with propping up the economy , but lawmakers thought the pandemic would end in a few months .
The $ 600 expired in July and the other programs will lapse at the end of the month , cutting off income for nearly 12 million workers as job growth sputters .
House Democrats seem ready to support almost any deal .
When HuffPost asked Transportation Chairman Pete DeFazio ( D-Ore. ) Tuesday night about the negotiations in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We should take whatever we can get.
” But a deal without extra unemployment benefits may also be a bridge too far for Democrats .
One of the main points of compromising for Democrats is to get unemployed people extra money after their extra benefits expired .
Rep. Derek Kilmer ( D-Wash. ) noted to HuffPost that he had spent hours on the phone talking with unemployed people who are hurting , which is why he was so ready to make a deal — even if it were ultimately insufficient .

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The latest stimulus offer from the White House comes with one-time $600 payments for most Americans and a lump of coal for the unemployed.
The new proposal offered by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin swapped the $300 unemployment supplement that has bipartisan support on Capitol Hill with a single round of direct payments worth up to $600, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
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Mnuchin said earlier Tuesday that he had spoken to congressional leaders about the administration’s support for a $916 billion package, noting that it was “a slightly larger package” than the $908 billion deal under discussion by a bipartisan working group.
But whatever “progress” lawmakers were making — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) used that word after learning that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell apparently supported the offer — Pelosi said it was “unacceptable” to only provide $40 billion worth of federal unemployment insurance instead of the $180 billion that had been under discussion by the bipartisan group.
Pelosi added that the president’s proposal shouldn’t “obstruct” the negotiations led by moderate senators, including Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
“The bipartisan talks are the best hope for a bipartisan solution,” she said.
The new offer from the Trump administration capped a day of confusion on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are struggling to reach a deal on another coronavirus relief package before the end of the year. The bipartisan group of eight senators is hung up on figuring out how to protect businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits, a top priority of McConnell, as well as provide aid for state and local governments. The senators are hoping to finalize their package sometime this week.
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Meanwhile, McConnell suggested on Tuesday dropping both state and local aid as well as liability protections from the coronavirus relief bill in order to bolster chances of its passage this year. The “new administration,” he said, would get another chance to resolve the issue.
Democrats quickly shot down the idea, however, accusing McConnell of trying to “sabotage” the talks.
“Mitch doesn’t want a deal,” Manchin told reporters, noting there is bipartisan support for aid to state and local governments. The framework also has funds for distributing a coronavirus vaccine, meaning that, without a deal, the pandemic could drag on longer.
The $600 payments in the White House proposal reflect recent calls for another round of rebates like the $1,200 payments included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Lawmakers involved in the recent bipartisan negotiations, however, have said such payments, which go to the vast majority of U.S. households, are “stimulus” when “relief” is much more urgent for struggling workers and businesses.
The tentative Manchin-Romney compromise on unemployment would add $300 per week to state and federal benefits for four months, and also preserve federal programs for gig workers and the long-term jobless for the same amount of time. The lawmakers involved have provided no other details.
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Both the White House proposal and McConnell’s most recent offer include $0 for supplementing weekly unemployment payments, even though both previously supported bringing back the extra benefits at a reduced level.
In March, when the coronavirus pandemic had barely started, lawmakers rushed to pass trillions in new spending with unprecedented support for the unemployed, providing benefits to gig workers and adding an unheard-of $600 to all weekly unemployment payments.
Economists credited the extra money with propping up the economy, but lawmakers thought the pandemic would end in a few months. The $600 expired in July and the other programs will lapse at the end of the month, cutting off income for nearly 12 million workers as job growth sputters.
House Democrats seem ready to support almost any deal. When HuffPost asked Transportation Chairman Pete DeFazio (D-Ore.) Tuesday night about the negotiations in the Senate, he snapped back: “We should take whatever we can get.”
That was a sentiment expressed by a number of Democrats, though many lawmakers did mention the liability shield as a potential redline.
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But a deal without extra unemployment benefits may also be a bridge too far for Democrats. One of the main points of compromising for Democrats is to get unemployed people extra money after their extra benefits expired.
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) noted to HuffPost that he had spent hours on the phone talking with unemployed people who are hurting, which is why he was so ready to make a deal — even if it were ultimately insufficient.
Even Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) seemed ready to make a deal, though she made it clear she wanted the stimulus to include cash payments.
Ocasio-Cortez was so ready to compromise that she was even talking about agreeing to a short-term liability shield in some fashion.
“It’s a bitter pill; I think it’s one that we could swallow if it’s really limited in scope,” she said.
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But Democrats still feel like it’s on Republicans to meet them at this point, and some aren’t sure that GOP leaders are all that interested.
Rules Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said it was tough to make a deal with an “irrational person” like McConnell.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--MSNBC Names Rashida Jones President, Making History For Major Cable News Networks

MSNBC has named Rashida Jones its next president , making her the first Black executive to run a major general news cable network , The Wall Street Journal reported .
Jones , who currently serves as the senior vice president of NBC News and MSNBC , will replace longtime president Phil Griffin , who is stepping down after leading the network since 2008 , the network announced Monday .
In her current role , Jones has led programming for major recent events , including the coronavirus pandemic , the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump and two 2020 Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend programming , and oversees a number of NBC News series , including “ Justice for All.
” Before joining MSNBC , Jones served as the news director for the NBC affiliate in Columbia , South Carolina .
She also served as The Weather Channel ’ s director of live programming , her NBC profile states .
Jones is a graduate of Hampton University , one of the nation ’ s historically Black colleges and universities , known as HBCUs .
She will begin her new role as MSNBC president on Feb. 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching with pride as she becomes President of MSNBC !
” Ryan added .
Congratulations to a wonderful person and Broadcast titan !
Rashida Jones is everything !
We will we watching with pride as she becomes President of MSNBC !
pic.twitter.com/8Bt0An6IJD — AprilDRyan ( @ AprilDRyan ) December 7 , 2020 NBC News and MSNBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff tweeted about Jones ’ new role , writing that “ good things happen to good people.
” Other Twitter users who joined in the celebration of Jones also recognized that an HBCU grad is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaking barriers this year .
“ Let this be another reminder of the impact of HBCUs , ” wrote Spectrum News journalist Shakari Briggs .
“ HBCUs continue to come up with wins in 2020 , ” wrote Candace Amos , The Daily Beast ’ s deputy director of audience development .
In an email memo to NBC News staff , NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde wrote that Jones “ knows and understands MSNBC , in part because it ’ s where she started when she first joined NBCU seven years ago @ @

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MSNBC has named Rashida Jones its next president, making her the first Black executive to run a major general news cable network, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Jones, who currently serves as the senior vice president of NBC News and MSNBC, will replace longtime president Phil Griffin, who is stepping down after leading the network since 2008, the network announced Monday.
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In her current role, Jones has led programming for major recent events, including the coronavirus pandemic, the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump and two 2020 Democratic presidential debates. She leads MSNBC daytime and weekend programming, and oversees a number of NBC News series, including “Justice for All.”
Before joining MSNBC, Jones served as the news director for the NBC affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina. She also served as The Weather Channel’s director of live programming, her NBC profile states.
Jones is a graduate of Hampton University, one of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities, known as HBCUs. She will begin her new role as MSNBC president on Feb. 1.
News media professionals celebrated Jones’ appointment on Twitter.
CNN White House correspondent April D. Ryan wrote that Jones “is everything!”
“We will [be] watching with pride as she becomes President of MSNBC!” Ryan added.
Congratulations to a wonderful person and Broadcast titan! Rashida Jones is everything! We will we watching with pride as she becomes President of MSNBC! pic.twitter.com/8Bt0An6IJD — AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) December 7, 2020
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Yamiche Alcindor, White House correspondent for “PBS Newshour,” tweeted a congratulatory note to Jones on Monday.
NBC News and MSNBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff tweeted about Jones’ new role, writing that “good things happen to good people.”
Other Twitter users who joined in the celebration of Jones also recognized that an HBCU grad is, yet again, making headlines for breaking barriers this year.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is notably a graduate of Howard University – also an HBCU.
“Let this be another reminder of the impact of HBCUs,” wrote Spectrum News journalist Shakari Briggs.
“HBCUs continue to come up with wins in 2020,” wrote Candace Amos, The Daily Beast’s deputy director of audience development.
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Rashida Jones, the newly appointed president of MSNBC, is an HBCU graduate. She attended Hampton University.
HBCUs continue to come up with wins in 2020 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾https://t.co/PhUSgOd6y5 — Candace Amos (@CandaceAmos) December 7, 2020
In an email memo to NBC News staff, NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde wrote that Jones “knows and understands MSNBC, in part because it’s where she started when she first joined NBCU seven years ago.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-08--John Lennon's Death Remembered By Yoko Ono, Fellow Beatles And Fans

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Fans remembered John Lennon with flowers , candles and songs Tuesday , the 40th anniversary of the former Beatle 's death after being shot outside his New York City apartment building .
In Central Park 's Strawberry Fields section , which is steps from where he was shot and is dedicated to Lennon , photos of the icon ringed the inlaid “ Imagine '' mosaic , along with a magazine , a small tree and other memorabilia , as musicians played nearby .
It was Dec. 8 , 1980 , when the world-famous musician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and was shot by Mark David Chapman outside the Dakota apartments on Manhattan ’ s Upper West Side .
Chapman remains in prison .
At the time , The Associated Press reported , “ Lennon and his wife were walking through the Dakota ’ s big , arched entryway about 10:50 p.m. when a man approached them and fired five shots from a .38-caliber pistol .
Lennon yelled ‘ I ’ m shot ' and staggered up a few steps into the building and collapsed . ''
The anniversary was marked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr , the two surviving members of the quartet that made up the Beatles .
George Harrison died in 2001 .
“ The death of a loved one is a hollowing experience .
After 40 years , Sean , Julian and I still miss him , '' Ono said , referring to Lennon 's two sons .
She also highlighted the toll of gun violence , posting an image of Lennon 's bloody eyeglasses and listing the number of people she said have been killed by guns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCartney and Starr both made posts with images of them in their younger days with Lennon .

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NEW YORK (AP) — Fans remembered John Lennon with flowers, candles and songs Tuesday, the 40th anniversary of the former Beatle's death after being shot outside his New York City apartment building.
In Central Park's Strawberry Fields section, which is steps from where he was shot and is dedicated to Lennon, photos of the icon ringed the inlaid “Imagine" mosaic, along with a magazine, a small tree and other memorabilia, as musicians played nearby.
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It was Dec. 8, 1980, when the world-famous musician was with his wife, Yoko Ono, and was shot by Mark David Chapman outside the Dakota apartments on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Chapman remains in prison.
At the time, The Associated Press reported, “Lennon and his wife were walking through the Dakota’s big, arched entryway about 10:50 p.m. when a man approached them and fired five shots from a .38-caliber pistol. Lennon yelled ‘I’m shot' and staggered up a few steps into the building and collapsed."
The anniversary was marked on social media by Ono, as well as by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the two surviving members of the quartet that made up the Beatles. George Harrison died in 2001.
“The death of a loved one is a hollowing experience. After 40 years, Sean, Julian and I still miss him," Ono said, referring to Lennon's two sons.
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She also highlighted the toll of gun violence, posting an image of Lennon's bloody eyeglasses and listing the number of people she said have been killed by guns in the U.S. since his death.