thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Mark Cuban Tells Ted Cruz He's 'Full Of S**t' In Twitter Battle Royale

They really do everything bigger in Texas : especially Twitter beefs .
That was the case on Tuesday morning when Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) got into a battle royale with Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban .
It all started when the Texas Republican tweeted a story from Sean Hannity ’ s website noting that ratings for the NBA finals are down this year .
It ’ s “ not surprising , ” Cruz claimed , ending his tweet with the snarky hashtag # GoWokeGoBroke , a suggestion that NBA support for the Black Lives Matter movement is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuban was quick to respond , accusing the senator of “ rooting ” for a business that employs many Texans not to do well this year .
A US Senator with 3 @ NBA teams in his state , employing thousands of people and he is rooting for their businesses to do poorly .
This is who you are @ tedcruz .
Every minute of your life , this is exactly who you are .
https : //t.co/rnCV3qJTfQ — Mark Cuban ( @ mcuban ) October 6 , 2020 Cruz then insisted he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Houston Rockets , and attempted to blame the low ratings on what he called the NBA ’ s effort to “ turn every game into a left-wing political lecture.
” Although Cuban has been out in front supporting Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements , other NBA owners haven ’ t been as open .
But Commissioner Adam Silver reportedly told owners that the phrase “ Black Lives Matter ” would be on NBA courts regardless of their own personal opinions .
The NBA is also donating $ 300 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next decade .
I love @ HoustonRockets & have rooted for them my entire life .
I happily cheer for the Spurs & Mavericks against any non-TX team .
But @ mcuban the NBA is engaged in a concerted effort to ( 1 ) insult their fans & ( 2 ) turn every game into a left-wing political lecture .
That ’ s dumb .
https : //t.co/uKSgvPhEcq — Ted Cruz ( @ tedcruz ) October 6 , 2020 Cuban bit back .
Hard .
And he didn ’ t mince words , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shit ” and asking “ You haven ’ t watched a game of the finals , how would you know what is being said or done ?
” You are so full of shit .
You have n't watched a game of the finals , how would you know what is being said or done ?
Since when is a desire to end racism an insult to anyone or political ?
And you do n't think using # GetWokeGoBroke is a partisan insult ?
Again , this is who you are .
https @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mcuban ) October 6 , 2020 “ I wish @ mcuban loved his fans as much as he loves Chinese money , ” Cruz shot back , a reference to the way the NBA pressured Houston Rockets ’ general manager , Daryl Morey , to delete a tweet critical of the Chinese government ’ s anti-democratic practices after blowback from China , an important NBA market .
Cuban didn ’ t take the bait .
He seemed to get the last word in by pointing out that Cruz himself doesn ’ t seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
They really do everything bigger in Texas: especially Twitter beefs.
That was the case on Tuesday morning when Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) got into a battle royale with Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban.
It all started when the Texas Republican tweeted a story from Sean Hannity’s website noting that ratings for the NBA finals are down this year.
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It’s “not surprising,” Cruz claimed, ending his tweet with the snarky hashtag #GoWokeGoBroke, a suggestion that NBA support for the Black Lives Matter movement is somehow to blame for low ratings.
Not surprising. Personally speaking, this is the first time in years that I haven’t watched a single game in the NBA Finals. #GoWokeGoBroke https://t.co/ygIp60EKHi — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 6, 2020
Cuban was quick to respond, accusing the senator of “rooting” for a business that employs many Texans not to do well this year.
A US Senator with 3 @NBA teams in his state, employing thousands of people and he is rooting for their businesses to do poorly. This is who you are @tedcruz . Every minute of your life, this is exactly who you are. https://t.co/rnCV3qJTfQ — Mark Cuban (@mcuban) October 6, 2020
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Cruz then insisted he does root for Texas teams, especially the Houston Rockets, and attempted to blame the low ratings on what he called the NBA’s effort to “turn every game into a left-wing political lecture.”
Although Cuban has been out in front supporting Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements, other NBA owners haven’t been as open. But Commissioner Adam Silver reportedly told owners that the phrase “Black Lives Matter” would be on NBA courts regardless of their own personal opinions. The NBA is also donating $300 million to causes promoting Black empowerment over the next decade.
I love @HoustonRockets & have rooted for them my entire life. I happily cheer for the Spurs & Mavericks against any non-TX team.
But @mcuban the NBA is engaged in a concerted effort to (1) insult their fans & (2) turn every game into a left-wing political lecture. That’s dumb. https://t.co/uKSgvPhEcq — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 6, 2020
Cuban bit back. Hard. And he didn’t mince words, telling Cruz he was “full of shit” and asking “You haven’t watched a game of the finals, how would you know what is being said or done?”
You are so full of shit. You haven't watched a game of the finals, how would you know what is being said or done? Since when is a desire to end racism an insult to anyone or political? And you don't think using #GetWokeGoBroke is a partisan insult? Again, this is who you are. https://t.co/uKfHGV7IGc — Mark Cuban (@mcuban) October 6, 2020
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“I wish @mcuban loved his fans as much as he loves Chinese money,” Cruz shot back, a reference to the way the NBA pressured Houston Rockets’ general manager, Daryl Morey, to delete a tweet critical of the Chinese government’s anti-democratic practices after blowback from China, an important NBA market.
I wish @mcuban loved his fans as much as he loves Chinese money. https://t.co/Wm4qkRMStP — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 6, 2020
Cuban didn’t take the bait. He seemed to get the last word in by pointing out that Cruz himself doesn’t seem to support policies that really help Americans.
Shame on me for putting American Civil Rights and Justice, creating jobs, growing our economy and healthcare reform over twitter proclamations. https://t.co/MPMBPVKKgI — Mark Cuban (@mcuban) October 6, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Trump Coronavirus Update: The Latest On The President's Health And The GOP COVID-19 Outbreak

Read the latest updates below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the White House outbreak , go here . )
Biden : Debate Shouldn ’ t Happen If Trump Has COVID-19 ― 10/6/20 , 7:51 p.m .
ET Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Tuesday that the Oct. 15 debate scheduled with President Donald Trump should not take place if the president still has coronavirus at that time .
“ If he still has COVID , we shouldn ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hagerstown , Maryland .
Trump tweeted earlier Tuesday he is “ looking forward ” to it despite his diagnosis .
Top White House adviser Stephen Miller has tested positive for the coronavirus .
“ Over the last 5 days I have been working remotely and self-isolating , testing negative every day through yesterday .
Today , I tested positive for COVID-19 and am in quarantine , ” Miller said in a statement .
Miller attended debate preparations with President Donald Trump last week , during which attendees did not wear masks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , have since tested positive for the virus .
Pence ’ s Team Doesn ’ t Want Plexiglass Protection At Debate With Harris — 10/6/20 , 4:55 p.m .
ET Vice President Mike Pence ’ s team does not want a plexiglass barrier on his side of the stage to prevent the spread of coronavirus at Wednesday ’ s vice presidential debate , CNN reported .
Democratic nominee Sen. Kamala Harris plans to have a plexiglass barrier on her side , between herself and Pence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly doesn ’ t think it is “ necessary ” to have on on his side , too .
More than a dozen people surrounding Trump , including the president himself , the first lady and at least three Republican senators , have tested positive for coronavirus in recent days .
Pence so far has tested negative .
Trump ’ s Doctor Says President Reported ‘ No Symptoms , ’ But Offers Few Details — 10/6/20 , 1:30 p.m .
ET White House physician Sean Conley gave an update Tuesday on President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s doing “ extremely well , ” but giving almost no details about his COVID-19 infection .
In a letter , Conley said that Trump reported no symptoms to the team of physicians who met with him at the White House .
However , what is contained in the letter is the medical information that Trump allowed him to make public , Conley said .
“ Vital signs and physical exam remain stable , with an ambulatory oxygen saturation level of 95-97 % , ” Conley wrote .
“ Overall he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will provide updates as we know more.
” Conley has refused to be fully transparent to the press and the public about the president ’ s health since he tested positive for the virus on Thursday .
The doctor acknowledged that he tried to paint a rosy image of Trump ’ s condition in his first briefing of the weekend “ and in doing so , came off like we ’ re trying to hide something.
” On Saturday , Conley refused to directly say whether the president was given any oxygen — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had ordered oxygen for Trump on Friday morning .
On Sunday , the doctor said Trump was doing well enough to send him back to the White House from Walter Reed Military Medical Center , while simultaneously announcing the president ’ s blood oxygen levels twice dropped below 95 % and that he was given a steroid only recommended for the very sick .
Conley ’ s letter on Tuesday did not say whether Trump has received his scheduled fifth and final dose of remdesivir , an antiviral drug authorized by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients .
The medical team has also still not said when Trump last tested negative for COVID-19 .
Pence ‘ Encouraged To Go About His Normal Activities , ’ Doctor Says — 10/6/20 , 1:20 p.m .
ET Vice President Mike Pence “ has remained healthy ” and is “ encouraged to go about his normal activities , ” according to a note from White House physician Jesse Schonau released Tuesday afternoon .
Pence does not need to quarantine , the doctor said .
He undergoes rapid antigen tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus , which have “ all resulted as negative , ” the memo said .
The vice president is not considered a “ close contact ” of the president or senior members of the administration , according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines .
Trump , meanwhile , has continued to recuperate in his White House residence following his coronavirus diagnosis .
The most senior U.S. military officer , Gen. Mark Milley , and several other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are reportedly quarantining on Tuesday after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the coronavirus .
Though Milley has so far tested negative , he and other defense officials are taking precautionary measures after the vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard , Adm. Charles Ray , tested positive on Monday .
The Coast Guard said Ray is quarantining at home and officials have begun the contact tracing process .
Meanwhile , Trump returned to the White House on Monday , still infected with the virus .
Immediately after stepping off Marine One , Trump stood on the White House balcony and removed his mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Post For Spreading COVID-19 Misinformation — 10/6/20 , 11:25 a.m .
ET Facebook on Tuesday removed one of President Donald Trump ’ s posts because it violated the site ’ s rules against spreading COVID-19 information , CNN reported .
The post , shared on Trump ’ s Facebook account earlier Tuesday , downplayed the threat of the coronavirus and compared it to the flu .
He said many people die from the flu every year and that Americans have “ learned to live with it.
” “ Just like we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most populations far less lethal !
!
!
” the president wrote on Facebook .
As of Tuesday , there have been at least 210,000 coronavirus-linked deaths in the United States .
About 22,000 people in the U.S. died from the flu during the 2019-20 flu season .
The U.S. has recorded more coronavirus cases ― more than 7.4 million ― than any country in the world .
Trump also shared the same coronavirus misinformation in a tweet Tuesday .
Following Facebook ’ s removal of Trump ’ s post , Twitter added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet stating that it violated the site ’ s rules on “ spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19.
” “ However , Twitter has determined that it may be in the public ’ s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible , ” Twitter ’ s label stated .

Christie was one of several people who helped the president prepare for his first debate against Democratic challenger Joe Biden. The debate prep group reportedly worked for prolonged periods of time in enclosed spaces without masks. Of all the Republicans in Trump’s orbit who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past two weeks, Christie’s case appeared to be the most severe.
— Sara Boboltz
Trump And Biden’s Debate Next Week Is Canceled ― 10/9/20, 7:45 p.m. ET
The Commission on Presidential Debates canceled the presidential debate scheduled for next Thursday after President Donald Trump refused to participate in a virtual event.
Friday’s decision comes a week after Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, which he appears to still be battling.
After the president’s campaign said it wasn’t on board with shifting to a virtual format, Joe Biden’s camp said it would not agree to new dates on the calendar, noting how close Election Day is. Both candidates have now scheduled other events for next Thursday, which left the commission no choice but to cancel the debate.
“It is now apparent there will be no debate on October 15, and the CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate scheduled for October 22,” the group said on Friday.
― Lydia O’Connor
Trump To Address Crowd At White House Saturday, Hold Campaign Rally Monday — 10/9/20, 5:20 p.m. ET
Trump will deliver remarks to a large crowd assembled on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday, according to multiple reports. His appearance from a White House balcony will come around one week after he was airlifted to Walter Reed medical center for coronavirus symptoms that included a high fever and trouble breathing. His campaign also announced an in-person rally Monday evening at an airport in Sanford, Florida, as the time left until Election Day dwindles.
The president’s insistence on returning to the White House this past Monday — after only three days in the hospital — sparked concern over his potential to spread the coronavirus widely. Both of his upcoming events will be held outdoors; however, the president’s Supreme Court nomination event late last month was also held outside and nonetheless became a super spreader event, likely due to many attendees’ failure to wear masks. It is not clear whether masks will now be required or encouraged at either of the upcoming events.
— Sara Boboltz
Students Test Positive For Coronavirus At Amy Coney Barrett’s Kids’ School: NYT — 10/9/20, 2:55 pm ET
One teacher and two high school students tested positive for COVID-19 at Trinity School, which some of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s children attend, reported The New York Times.
Barrett’s nomination event at the White House Rose Garden less than two weeks ago has come under scrutiny after multiple guests — including President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and two Republican senators — later tested positive for coronavirus. There have since been over two dozen cases of COVID-19 connected to the White House.
Washington, D.C., officials urged Rose Garden event attendees and anyone in contact with them to contact their health departments, showing little confidence in the White House and CDC’s belated efforts with contact tracing.
— Sarah Ruiz-Grossman
Mike Pence Tests Negative For COVID-19 ― 10/9/2020, 12:50 p.m. ET
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife reportedly tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday.
The results come a day after Pence canceled his plans to vote in-person in Indiana, raising questions about the vice president’s health.
President Donald Trump’s coronavirus status, meanwhile, remains unclear. He dodged questions about whether he had recently been tested during a Fox News interview Thursday night, only saying he’d seen his doctor and that he would likely be tested Friday.
― Lydia O’Connor
Trump Will Give On-Camera Interview With Tucker Carlson — 10/9/20, 7:35 a.m. ET
Trump plans to give his first on-camera interview since contracting COVID-19, speaking with Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Friday night, the network said.
While still recovering from the virus, Trump has been all over the right-wing airwaves. On Thursday, he gave two telephone interviews while sounding hoarse and coughing: one with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo and another with Fox News host Sean Hannity. On Friday, he is also planning a “virtual rally” on conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh’s show.
Despite still recovering from the virus and still potentially being contagious, Trump has insisted on resuming large, in-person rallies, potentially as soon as Saturday.
— Marina Fang
Trump Campaign Now Says In-Person Debate Should Proceed Next Week — 10/8/20, 8:45 p.m. ET
After saying Thursday morning that President Donald Trump would not participate in next week’s debate — which the debate commission had changed to a virtual format — Trump’s campaign then said late Thursday that the debate should be held in-person, per multiple reports.
However, the chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates said it wouldn’t change the second debate from virtual back to in-person, The Associated Press reported.
Trump tested positive for coronavirus last Thursday and was hospitalized for three days. Over two dozen people connected to the White House have also tested positive in recent days. It is not clear when the president will no longer be contagious.
Organizers had changed the planned debate in Miami to a virtual format “in order to protect the health and safety of all involved.” Midday Thursday, after Trump pulled out of the virtual debate, Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s campaign said he’d hold a town hall event that day in its stead.
— Sarah Ruiz-Grossman
White House Finally Taps CDC To Help Contact-Trace ‘Superspreader’ Event — 10/8/2020, 8:05 p.m. ET
With nearly three dozen confirmed COVID-19 cases in the White House in the past week, President Donald Trump’s administration is now working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to control the virus’ spread.
CDC spokesperson Jason McDonald confirmed the news with The Washington Post on Thursday. Another unnamed CDC official told the Post that the agency’s officials had reached out to the White House last week to help but that the offer was rebuffed.
The Trump administration has come under fire for not quickly working to stop the spread of the disease and for failing to reach out to all people who came into contact with those now known to be sick. Many of those infected were at a large event that Trump, who is among the confirmed cases, hosted in the Rose Garden.
— Lydia O’Connor
White House Physician Says Trump Could Return To Public Events On Saturday — 10/8/20, 7:15 p.m. ET
President Donald Trump should be able to safely hold public events by Saturday, 10 days since his first positive test for COVID-19, White House physician Sean Conley said Thursday.
“Since returning home, his physical exam has remained stable and devoid of any indications to suggest progression of illness,” Conley wrote in a health update for the president. “Overall he’s responded extremely well to treatment, without evidence on examination of adverse therapeutic effects.”
Conley did not say if Trump had returned a negative coronavirus test. “I fully anticipate the president’s safe return to public engagements at that time,” the doctor wrote.
—Nick Visser
D.C. Health Dept. Urges Anyone Who Attended Rose Garden Event To Take COVID-19 Test — 10/08/20, 3:15 p.m. ET
In an extraordinary step, the Washington, D.C., Department of Health has released an open letter appealing to all White House staff and anyone who attended the Sept. 26 event in the Rose Garden to seek medical advice and take a COVID-19 test.
The letter indicates a lack of confidence in the White House medical team’s own contact tracing efforts regarding an ongoing virus outbreak that has infected the president, multiple senior staff members and two U.S. senators, among others.
Co-signed by nine other local health departments from neighboring jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia, the letter flatly states a belief that contact tracing of the outbreak has been insufficient.
It says the public appeal is based on “our preliminary understanding that there has been limited contact tracing performed to date, there may be other staff and residents at risk for exposure to COVID positive individuals.”
Read more from The Associated Press here.
— Hayley Miller
Trump Says He Wants To Fast-Track Experimental COVID-19 Drugs For Senior Citizens — 10/08/20, 2:05 p.m. ET
In a video addressed to senior citizens on Thursday, President Donald Trump said he is working to secure the release of experimental drugs that he was given during his hospitalization for COVID-19, saying “I want you to get the same care that I got.”
“I took this medicine and it was incredible. It was incredible. I could have walked out the following day. Sooner. It was incredible the impact it had,” Trump said in the video, going so far as to call the drugs he was given “a cure” ― even though there is no cure for the coronavirus.
The president did not specify the drugs he was given in the video, but he has previously said that he was given an antibody cocktail by drugmaker Regeneron. The New York-based biotechnology company, which received $450 million in government funding to develop COVID-19 treatments, said Wednesday that it has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization for its experimental monoclonal antibody therapy. If approved, Regeneron said it would provide doses to Americans at no cost.
“It’s totally safe, but it’s powerful against this disease,” Trump said in the video.
— Nina Golgowski
Nancy Pelosi Hints At Invoking 25th Amendment — 10/8/20, 12:25 p.m. ET
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters on Thursday that she’s planning to discuss the option of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.
The Democratic leader spoke at a press conference focused on the stalled negotiations in Congress over the passing of another stimulus package to provide economic relief to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.
“When we hear people saying, ‘I’m young and I’m a perfect specimen’ instead of addressing the facts that 50,000 people were infected yesterday, nearly 1,000 people died. What are we talking about here?” Pelosi said. “Tomorrow, by the way, come here tomorrow. We’re going to be talking about the 25th Amendment.”
Pelosi was alluding to Trump’s interview Thursday morning with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo, in which the COVID-19 patient claimed he’s “not contagious at all” because he is a “perfect physical specimen” and “extremely young.”
The 25th Amendment to the Constitution outlines how the vice president would replace the sitting president if the latter dies, becomes sick or is deemed incapable of fulfilling the duties of the office. The removal process requires the vice president and a majority of cabinet officials (or members of another group chosen by Congress) to declare that the president is unable to do his job.
The process has never been invoked, though several lawmakers have called for it in the past.
CNN’s Manu Raju asked Pelosi to clarify if she is saying that Congress should invoke the 25th Amendment, to which the speaker repeated that she will wait to speak about it on Friday. Pelosi told Bloomberg TV later on Thursday that Trump is in an “altered state right now,” likely referring to the drug cocktail that the president is taking as part of his COVID-19 treatment.
The president has been irresponsible about taking safety precautions, especially since testing positive last week for COVID-19. Trump returned to the White House while still infected, and has since been having erratic Twitter tantrums.
— Sanjana Karanth
After Trump Backs Out Of Debate, Biden Says He’ll Take Questions From Voters Instead — 10/08/2020, 12:00 p.m. ET
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he plans to take questions from voters after President Donald Trump backed out from participating in a planned presidential debate that would have been held virtually because of the president’s coronavirus diagnosis.
“Joe Biden was prepared to accept the [Commission on Presidential Debates’] proposal for a virtual Town Hall, but the President has refused, as Donald Trump clearly does not want to face questions from the voters about his failures on COVID and the economy,” Biden’s team said in a statement. “As a result, Joe Biden will find an appropriate place to take questions from voters directly on October 15th, as he has done on several occasions in recent weeks.”
“Given the President’s refusal to participate on October 15th, we hope the Debate Commission will move the Biden-Trump Town Hall to October 22nd, so that the President is not able to evade accountability,” the statement continued. “The voters should have a chance to ask questions of both candidates, directly. Every Presidential candidate since 1992 has participated in such an event, and it would be a shame if Donald Trump was the first to refuse.”
Trump said Thursday morning that he wouldn’t participate in a virtual debate.
“I am not going to do a virtual debate,” Trump said on Fox Business. “I am not going to waste my time on a virtual debate.”
— Sebastian Murdock
Trump Claims ‘You Don’t Really Need Drugs’ To Recover From COVID-19. (He Has Taken Drugs.) — 10/8/2020, 9:55 a.m. ET
President Donald Trump falsely stated that “you don’t really need drugs” to recover from COVID-19, after several days of taking a variety of drugs to help him recover from COVID-19.
“I will tell you right now: I walked in, I didn’t feel great,” Trump told Fox News on Thursday, referring to being admitted to Walter Reed medical center last week. “I think I would have done it fine without drugs. You don’t really need drugs. ... So they gave me a steroid, which is a very easy thing to take.”
Trump has actually been administered several drugs over the course of his illness, including the steroid dexamethasone, antiviral drug remdesivir, and a single infusion of an experimental coronavirus treatment developed by the biotech company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. (Regeneron’s CEO is a member of Trump’s golf club in Westchester, New York, and his company received $450 million in government funding in July to quickly develop COVID-19 treatments.)


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Trump DOJ 'Technical Concerns' Help Block Bill Targeting White Supremacists

Shawn Thew/Pool via REUTERS Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ron Johnson is seen on screen as he speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill , Sept. 23 .
“ We have technical concerns with the legislation and are reviewing it closely after its passage in the House , ” Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi told HuffPost .
“ We appreciate Senator Johnson ’ s willingness to step in and object and relay those concerns .
That being said , we always welcome Congress ’ s interest in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President ’ s own FBI Director called this ‘ the top threat we face from domestic violent extremists , ’ so there is no question we need to allocate resources toward specifically addressing the threat posed by the Proud Boys , Boogaloos , and other white nationalist thugs , whose stated means and goals are simply violence , ” Rep. Brad Schneider ( D-Ill. ) , the House sponsor of the bill , told HuffPost in a statement .
“ I am very skeptical and I think any pushback on domestic terrorism legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evaluated through the lens of the cult of personality driving executive branch decision-making , ” said Jason Blazakis , the director of the Center on Terrorism , Extremism , and Counterterrorism at Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a former State Department official .
Mary McCord , the former top national security official at DOJ , said that she wasn ’ t sure how the bill would “ seriously impede ” DOJ ’ s work in the domestic terrorism space .
She said there could be legitimate objections to aspects of the legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it could impede any of DOJ ’ s domestic terrorism work .
“ I can understand that the department might have concerns about providing an explanation about domestic terrorism-related investigations that remain open at the time of the required reporting , depending on what level of detail is expected in the ‘ explanation.
’ I don ’ t think this bill will fill the current gaps in our domestic terrorism statutes , but I also don ’ t think it seriously impedes DOJ ’ s existing ability to use existing authority to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has pushed for an expanded federal criminal statute that would cover deadly acts of domestic terrorism .
The legislation cites a New York Times op-ed by former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Thomas Cullen , a Trump appointee , who called white supremacy and far-right extremism “ among the greatest domestic-security threats facing the United States.
” Cullen , who was confirmed as a federal judge last month , was outspoken about the rise of white supremacists and called for elected officials to consider a federal domestic terrorism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorism prosecution of people who commit acts of violence , threats and other criminal activities aimed at intimidating or coercing civilians.
” Wray , a Republican Trump appointed to head the FBI after Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey , has also spoken more clearly on the threat of domestic terrorism in ways that have aggravated the president .
Last year , Wray said that arrests of FBI domestic terrorism targets were on the rise ( although ― due to the lack of a domestic terrorism statute ― many of the targets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or arrested by state authorities ) .
A top FBI counterterrorism official has called domestic terrorism cases “ challenging ” for the bureau and that they would “ use anything [ in federal law ] we can that fits , that ’ s appropriate ” to go after domestic terrorists .
In the case of former Coast Guard Lt. Christopher Hasson , that meant the feds charged a man they said was plotting a domestic terrorism attack with a variety of weapons charges .
Hasson was sentenced to 13 years in prison back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a threat to the American people and our democracy , and acts of violence intended to intimidate civilian populations or to influence or affect government policy should be prosecuted as domestic terrorism regardless of the ideology behind them .
FBIAA continues to urge Congress to make domestic terrorism a federal crime , ” O ’ Hare said .
“ This would ensure that FBI Agents and prosecutors have the best tools to fight domestic terrorism .
FBIAA agrees with FBI Director Christopher Wray that Congress should act quickly to unite the nation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ron Johnson is seen on screen as he speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Sept. 23. Shawn Thew/Pool via REUTERS
The Justice Department won’t fully explain why it’s opposed to a bill that would enhance its ability to combat white supremacist violence, adding to concerns that the agency under President Donald Trump is continuing to downplay or ignore the threat of far-right terror.
Senate Republicans prevented a vote on the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act late last week. The bill, which passed the House unanimously, would establish offices in the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI dedicated to combating the rising threat of far-right extremist violence.
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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) on Friday blocked an attempt by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the bill’s sponsor, to advance the measure by unanimous consent. Speaking on the Senate floor, Johnson claimed the DOJ told him the bill would “seriously impede their ability to work in the domestic terrorism space.”
A spokesman for Johnson — a close Trump ally who, like the president, recently tested positive for COVID-19 — would not elaborate on how specifically the bill would impede the Justice Department’s work.
“We have technical concerns with the legislation and are reviewing it closely after its passage in the House,” Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi told HuffPost. “We appreciate Senator Johnson’s willingness to step in and object and relay those concerns. That being said, we always welcome Congress’s interest in our fight against domestic terrorism.”
Raimondi would not elaborate on what “technical concerns” the Justice Department had about the legislation.
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In addition to authorizing the agency offices dedicated to monitoring, investigating and prosecuting cases of domestic terrorism, the bill would require these offices to issue biannual reports to Congress analyzing the state of terror threats, with a particular focus on white supremacists and other far-right extremists.
These reports would include tallies of incidents in which neo-Nazis and other white supremacists infiltrated the ranks of law enforcement and the U.S. military.
The legislation would also have federal agencies train state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies on how to detect and deter white supremacist threats.
The bill’s rejection in the Senate Friday comes amidst years of the Trump administration promoting white supremacist talking points, condoning right-wing extremist violence, and downplaying domestic terror threats.
Last month a DHS whistleblower complaint alleged that Kenneth Cuccinelli, the department’s second-highest-ranking official, ordered intelligence reports be revised to make white supremacist threats “appear less severe” and to add “information on the prominence of violent ‘left-wing’ groups” like antifa.
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And in the first presidential debate last week, Trump refused to condemn white supremacists and also told the neo-fascist group the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.”
Democrats and civil rights groups have expressed anger over Senate Republicans’ rejection of the Domestic Terror Prevention Act.
“The President’s own FBI Director called this ‘the top threat we face from domestic violent extremists,’ so there is no question we need to allocate resources toward specifically addressing the threat posed by the Proud Boys, Boogaloos, and other white nationalist thugs, whose stated means and goals are simply violence,” Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), the House sponsor of the bill, told HuffPost in a statement.
“Senator [Mitch] McConnell and Attorney General [William] Barr’s positions represent a giveaway to terrorists in order to score political points with the President,” he added.
Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., sponsored the Domestic Terror Prevention Act in the House. Bill Clark via Getty Images
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Durbin said in a statement that it was “a sad moment” to see the bill not come to a vote.
“I do believe the Senator from Wisconsin and many others when they say that they are against extremists,” Durbin said. “They had a chance to prove it. They objected.”
And the Anti-Defamation League wrote in a tweet that the bill “cannot wait.”
“It should be an uncontroversial priority to establish federal offices to address domestic terrorism and ensure federal employees are trained on the threat,” the ADL wrote. “We urge @SenRonJohnson to immediately explain and to reconsider.”
National security experts said DOJ should clarify their specific objections to the legislation, especially given the political environment and Trump’s opposition to legislation which might target white supremacists, a group he’s been hesitant to condemn.
“I am very skeptical and I think any pushback on domestic terrorism legislation by a Barr-run DOJ needs to be evaluated through the lens of the cult of personality driving executive branch decision-making,” said Jason Blazakis, the director of the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a former State Department official.
Mary McCord, the former top national security official at DOJ, said that she wasn’t sure how the bill would “seriously impede” DOJ’s work in the domestic terrorism space. She said there could be legitimate objections to aspects of the legislation, even if she didn’t think it could impede any of DOJ’s domestic terrorism work.
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“I can understand that the department might have concerns about providing an explanation about domestic terrorism-related investigations that remain open at the time of the required reporting, depending on what level of detail is expected in the ‘explanation.’ I don’t think this bill will fill the current gaps in our domestic terrorism statutes, but I also don’t think it seriously impedes DOJ’s existing ability to use existing authority to investigate domestic terrorism,” said McCord, who has pushed for an expanded federal criminal statute that would cover deadly acts of domestic terrorism.
McCord did say that the bill “fails to describe the categories for reporting statistics about domestic terrorism investigations, leaving it to the reporting agencies” which “leaves ambiguity in the legislation.”
DOJ, McCord said, “may have some concerns about viewpoint discrimination because some parts of the bill are focused on one particular ideology, though again, I’m not sure this is the basis for the complaint.”
As HuffPost first reported following the 2017 attack in Charlottesville, the Justice Department had internally discussed whether the to push Congress for a domestic terrorism law, but the effort fell off during the Trump administration.
There are limited circumstances when federal terrorism laws apply to domestic terrorists, like the armed white supremacist who took over an Amtrak train and three Trump supporters who plotted to bomb a community of Muslims in Kansas.
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Federal agents, generally speaking, have been hesitant about calling white mass killers domestic terrorists, in large part because there’s no broad federal domestic terrorism statute that allows them to charge many domestic terrorists with federal terrorism-related crimes.
A man prays at a makeshift memorial outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Oct. 31, 2018, after a white nationalist massacred worshippers there. Cathal McNaughton / Reuters
The legislation cites a New York Times op-ed by former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, who called white supremacy and far-right extremism “among the greatest domestic-security threats facing the United States.” Cullen, who was confirmed as a federal judge last month, was outspoken about the rise of white supremacists and called for elected officials to consider a federal domestic terrorism statute “that would allow for the terrorism prosecution of people who commit acts of violence, threats and other criminal activities aimed at intimidating or coercing civilians.”
Wray, a Republican Trump appointed to head the FBI after Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey, has also spoken more clearly on the threat of domestic terrorism in ways that have aggravated the president. Last year, Wray said that arrests of FBI domestic terrorism targets were on the rise (although ― due to the lack of a domestic terrorism statute ― many of the targets are ultimately charged with other federal crimes or arrested by state authorities). A top FBI counterterrorism official has called domestic terrorism cases “challenging” for the bureau and that they would “use anything [in federal law] we can that fits, that’s appropriate” to go after domestic terrorists. In the case of former Coast Guard Lt. Christopher Hasson, that meant the feds charged a man they said was plotting a domestic terrorism attack with a variety of weapons charges. Hasson was sentenced to 13 years in prison back in January.
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Trump has expressed frustration with Wray, and hasn’t closed the door to firing yet another FBI director. Wray has also made factual statements about voter fraud that are politically inconvenient for a president hoping to sow discord and doubts about the integrity of the upcoming election, and has called antifa an ideology rather than an organization.
Most Americans, according to a HuffPost/YouGov survey in 2018, are not aware that there’s no broad federal statute that outlaws acts of domestic terrorism, although most think there should be. An organization for FBI agents has pushed Congress to pass domestic terrorism legislation that would cover a wider range of deadly attacks with politically motivated bases.
While the FBI Agents Association has not taken a position on the new bill, FBIAA President Brian O’Hare said in a statement to HuffPost that lawmakers “must grapple with domestic terrorism directly, responsibly, and Constitutionally.”
“Domestic terrorism is a threat to the American people and our democracy, and acts of violence intended to intimidate civilian populations or to influence or affect government policy should be prosecuted as domestic terrorism regardless of the ideology behind them. FBIAA continues to urge Congress to make domestic terrorism a federal crime,” O’Hare said. “This would ensure that FBI Agents and prosecutors have the best tools to fight domestic terrorism. FBIAA agrees with FBI Director Christopher Wray that Congress should act quickly to unite the nation to fight against domestic terrorism and violent extremism.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Tomi Lahren Ticks Off Twitter With 'Purse' Dig At Biden's Mask-Wearing

Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren got savaged on Twitter Monday for suggesting that Joe Biden wearing a mask was somehow womanly .
Biden posted a tweet blasting President Donald Trump ’ s theatrical mask removal upon his return to the White House while still contagious from COVID-19 .
The clip featured a dual screen of Trump taking off his face covering and the Democratic nominee putting one on .
Lahren somehow made the message a gender issue .
“ Might as well carry a purse with that mask , Joe , ” she wrote .
Might as well carry a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //t.co/RugCFkC1GQ — Tomi Lahren ( @ TomiLahren ) October 6 , 2020 Critics on Twitter accused Lahren , a conservative media personality known for her hot takes , of “ misogyny ” and “ toxic masculinity.
” “ It ’ s almost as if you ’ re implying that being a woman makes one weak and inferior .
Weird , ” one user wrote .
Read some of the responses here : This misogyny is strong little one .
— Professional Tax Avoider ( @ dlvest ) October 6 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re implying that being a woman makes one weak and inferior .
Weird .
— Jill ( @ jilljurenka ) October 6 , 2020 Oh , what a zinger !
It ’ s so funny because women carry purses and he ’ s man !
Also , women are weak and that ’ s why they carry purses so that means he ’ s a weak woman !
Your tweet is so deeply layered I ’ m only now discovering the nuance .
— Mrs. Bacon ( @ mrsbacon ) October 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strange to me when a woman tries to insult a man by calling him a woman — ブランドン IG : ilikebrandon ( @ i_likebrandon ) October 6 , 2020 As a healthcare worker , I am saddened to read this from you .
Masks save peoples health and sometimes even their lives .
It is not masculine or feminine .
It is human .
— Sarty ( @ sartytf ) October 6 , 2020 Maybe @ JoeBiden will go purse shopping with me ?
!
pic.twitter.com/3Ukxf067zT — Steve ( @ SEmerson1021 ) October @ @ @

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Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren got savaged on Twitter Monday for suggesting that Joe Biden wearing a mask was somehow womanly.
Biden posted a tweet blasting President Donald Trump’s theatrical mask removal upon his return to the White House while still contagious from COVID-19. The clip featured a dual screen of Trump taking off his face covering and the Democratic nominee putting one on.
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“Masks matter. They save lives,” the caption reads.
Lahren somehow made the message a gender issue. “Might as well carry a purse with that mask, Joe,” she wrote.
Might as well carry a purse with that mask, Joe. https://t.co/RugCFkC1GQ — Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) October 6, 2020
Critics on Twitter accused Lahren, a conservative media personality known for her hot takes, of “misogyny” and “toxic masculinity.”
“It’s almost as if you’re implying that being a woman makes one weak and inferior. Weird,” one user wrote.
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Read some of the responses here:
This misogyny is strong little one. — Professional Tax Avoider (@dlvest) October 6, 2020
It’s almost as if you’re implying that being a woman makes one weak and inferior. Weird. — Jill (@jilljurenka) October 6, 2020
Oh, what a zinger! It’s so funny because women carry purses and he’s man! Also, women are weak and that’s why they carry purses so that means he’s a weak woman! Your tweet is so deeply layered I’m only now discovering the nuance. — Mrs. Bacon (@mrsbacon) October 6, 2020
The definition of toxic masculinity. — Ross Cornel (@ross_corn) October 6, 2020
It’s always so strange to me when a woman tries to insult a man by calling him a woman — ブランドン IG: ilikebrandon (@i_likebrandon) October 6, 2020
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As a healthcare worker, I am saddened to read this from you. Masks save peoples health and sometimes even their lives. It is not masculine or feminine. It is human. — Sarty (@sartytf) October 6, 2020
Better than an oxygen tank 🤦♀ — Stephanie Lucille (@lucille_fer) October 6, 2020
Someone hold my purse for a sec... pic.twitter.com/kgN8d9Jbt1 — tara strong (@tarastrong) October 6, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Patti LuPone Shreds Trump's 'Evita' Balcony Moment At White House

If President Donald Trump ’ s photo op at the White House after his coronavirus hospitalization had been a tryout for a Broadway musical , there ’ d be no callback .
Trump was discharged from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda , Maryland , on Monday after three days of treatment for COVID-19 .
Upon returning to the White House , the president removed his face mask and appeared on the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn to pose for photographs .
The moment looked an awful lot like “ Evita , ” Andrew Lloyd Webber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life of former Argentine first lady Eva Perón .
In the show ’ s most famous scene , Evita appears on a balcony after her husband , President Juan Perón , is elected and sings “ Don ’ t Cry for Me , Argentina ” to a crowd of supporters .
Patti LuPone , who originated the role of Eva Perón on Broadway in 1979 , wasn ’ t impressed with Trump ’ s version .
The legendary actor and singer shared her less-than-enthusiastic review of the president ’ s performance on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is closing November 3rd.
” Others , including CNN ’ s Jim Acosta and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker , picked up on the resemblance , too .
It isn ’ t the first time LuPone , a two-time Tony winner who ’ d been slated to return to Broadway in a revival of “ Company ” this spring , has criticized the president .
Appearing at the Tony Awards in 2017 , she told Variety that Trump shouldn ’ t come see “ War Paint , ” the Broadway show in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I hope he doesn ’ t , because I won ’ t perform if he does , ” she said , adding : “ Because I hate the motherfucker .
”

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If President Donald Trump’s photo op at the White House after his coronavirus hospitalization had been a tryout for a Broadway musical, there’d be no callback.
Trump was discharged from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Monday after three days of treatment for COVID-19. Upon returning to the White House, the president removed his face mask and appeared on the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn to pose for photographs.
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The moment looked an awful lot like “Evita,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway musical based on the life of former Argentine first lady Eva Perón. In the show’s most famous scene, Evita appears on a balcony after her husband, President Juan Perón, is elected and sings “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” to a crowd of supporters.
Patti LuPone, who originated the role of Eva Perón on Broadway in 1979, wasn’t impressed with Trump’s version. The legendary actor and singer shared her less-than-enthusiastic review of the president’s performance on Twitter, dryly noting: “This revival is closing November 3rd.”
I still have the lung power and I wore less makeup. This revival is closing November 3rd. pic.twitter.com/vRQ4LepACv — Patti LuPone (@PattiLuPone) October 6, 2020
Others, including CNN’s Jim Acosta and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker, picked up on the resemblance, too.
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He loved the balcony scene in Evita https://t.co/5GZ7ZhaxY0 — Susan Glasser (@sbg1) October 5, 2020
It isn’t the first time LuPone, a two-time Tony winner who’d been slated to return to Broadway in a revival of “Company” this spring, has criticized the president.
Appearing at the Tony Awards in 2017, she told Variety that Trump shouldn’t come see “War Paint,” the Broadway show in which she was starring at the time.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Donald Trump Still Doesn't Care If You Die From The Coronavirus

“ Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘ drive-by ’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days .
They might get sick .
They may die .
For political theater .
Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater .
This is insanity , ” he added .
Even before Trump became one of the more than 7.4 million Americans who have caught the coronavirus , he made clear he really didn ’ t care at all about what people were going through .
Of the 13 hours Trump spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which were stopped in late April after his aides argued that they were hurting his popularity ― Trump spent two hours attacking people and 45 minutes praising himself .
He spent just four and a half minutes expressing condolences for coronavirus victims .
In May , Trump said the American people “ should think of themselves as warriors ” in the battle to reopen the economy .
( Warriors , of course , often die . )
And in March , Trump reportedly considered just letting the coronavirus sweep over the country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then having immunity .
“ Why don ’ t we let this wash over the country ?
” Trump asked , according to The Washington Post .
Administration officials said he had “ repeatedly ” raised this scenario in conversations in the Oval Office .
All of these comments were on top of the months that Trump spent downplaying the disease ― insisting it would go away on its own by April ― and promoting quack “ cures , ” such as drinking bleach .
( Trump has not taken his own advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment . )
Trump ’ s supporters are cheering him along , prematurely declaring his victory over the disease .

“Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity,” he added.
Even before Trump became one of the more than 7.4 million Americans who have caught the coronavirus, he made clear he really didn’t care at all about what people were going through.
Of the 13 hours Trump spent talking in his daily coronavirus briefings ― which were stopped in late April after his aides argued that they were hurting his popularity ― Trump spent two hours attacking people and 45 minutes praising himself. He spent just four and a half minutes expressing condolences for coronavirus victims.
In May, Trump said the American people “should think of themselves as warriors” in the battle to reopen the economy. (Warriors, of course, often die.) And in March, Trump reportedly considered just letting the coronavirus sweep over the country and kill people, with those who survived then having immunity. “Why don’t we let this wash over the country?” Trump asked, according to The Washington Post. Administration officials said he had “repeatedly” raised this scenario in conversations in the Oval Office. All of these comments were on top of the months that Trump spent downplaying the disease ― insisting it would go away on its own by April ― and promoting quack “cures,” such as drinking bleach. (Trump has not taken his own advice and consumed disinfectants as part of his treatment.)
Trump’s supporters are cheering him along, prematurely declaring his victory over the disease.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Top U.S. General, Members Of Joint Chiefs Of Staff Quarantining After Virus Exposure

Gen. Mark Milley , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , and several other top military leaders are reportedly quarantining on Tuesday after a senior Coast Guard official tested positive for the coronavirus .
Though Milley has so far tested negative for the virus , he and other defense officials are taking precautionary measures after the vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard , Adm. Charles Ray , tested positive on Monday .
The Coast Guard said Ray is quarantining at home and officials have started contact tracing .
Ray recently attended several meetings at the Pentagon with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CNN reported .
Adm. Michael Gilday , the chief of Naval operations ; Gen. Charles Brown , the chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force ; and Gen. John Raymond , the chief of space operations , are all working from home , sources told CNN .
Meanwhile , President Donald Trump returned to the White House Monday after a three-day stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , where he was being treated for the coronavirus .
Still infected on Monday evening , Trump stood on the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo op .
“ Don ’ t be afraid of Covid , ” Trump tweeted earlier that day .
“ Don ’ t let it dominate your life.
” The virus has been spreading rapidly throughout Trump ’ s orbit in the last week .
More than 210,000 Americans have died from the virus .

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Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and several other top military leaders are reportedly quarantining on Tuesday after a senior Coast Guard official tested positive for the coronavirus.
Though Milley has so far tested negative for the virus, he and other defense officials are taking precautionary measures after the vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Adm. Charles Ray, tested positive on Monday. The Coast Guard said Ray is quarantining at home and officials have started contact tracing.
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Ray recently attended several meetings at the Pentagon with members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, CNN reported. Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of Naval operations; Gen. Charles Brown, the chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force; and Gen. John Raymond, the chief of space operations, are all working from home, sources told CNN.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump returned to the White House Monday after a three-day stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he was being treated for the coronavirus. Still infected on Monday evening, Trump stood on the White House balcony and removed his mask for a photo op.
“Don’t be afraid of Covid,” Trump tweeted earlier that day. “Don’t let it dominate your life.”
The virus has been spreading rapidly throughout Trump’s orbit in the last week.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Obama Photographer Swipes At Trump With Sweet Message To White House Staff

Thinking of the permanent White House staff and Secret Service today .
  I miss you and love you @ @ @ @ @ country thanks you for your service .
  Don ’ t let the bastard @ @ @ @ @  # TheWayISeeIt

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Former White House photographer Pete Souza sent a sweet message of support to Secret Service agents and the permanent staff at the White House, where multiple people in the past week have tested positive for COVID-19 ― including President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
“I miss you and love you all,” Souza wrote in his caption for seven pictures of government employees that he took during his time as the official photographer for President Barack Obama’s administration. Souza also served in the role under President Ronald Reagan.
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“The country thanks you for your service. Don’t let the bastard get you down,” Souza added on Instagram Monday.
Check out Souza’s post on Instagram here:
Souza posted the photos as Trump returned to the White House after three days in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for coronavirus treatment.
One of the president’s first acts was to remove his face mask in front of the cameras. The stunt sparked widespread anger, given how Trump is still likely highly contagious and may have put staff and agents at risk. The coronavirus has killed more than 210,000 in the U.S. as Trump downplayed the danger, touted dangerous treatments and urged states to ignore public health recommendations.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Milwaukee Cuts Two Major Early Voting Sites

Two major early-voting sites in Milwaukee — one of Wisconsin ’ s largest Democratic strongholds — have been cut , as the city preempts any legal action from state Republicans .
On Tuesday , the city announced that Miller Park and the Fiserv Forum , home to the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks , respectively , will no longer be used for early voting .
The city ’ s decision was a small victory for the Wisconsin GOP , which has been focused on shutting down these high-profile early voting locations .
Milwaukee is one of Wisconsin ’ s largest Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depressed turnout in the city in 2016 .
“ Unfortunately , the addition of these two sites could be legally challenged due to a recent court ruling , and we don ’ t want to do anything that could risk a City of Milwaukee voter ’ s ballot being counted , ” Claire Woodall-Vogg , the executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission , said in a statement Tuesday .
“ We want residents of Milwaukee to feel complete and unwavering confidence that their ballot will be counted in the election and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to a federal court ruling in September which extended the deadline for absentee ballots to be counted to Nov. 9 , six days past Election Day .
That decision also reaffirmed that early voting locations for November had to be determined by June 11 .
City officials first announced Fiserv Forum and Miller Park as early voting sites in late August — after the deadline — saying the addition of the two sites would allow for voters to more safely cast their ballots during the pandemic .
They failed to win an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin Republicans had already been threatening legal action around those two early voting sites .
The party sent Woodall-Vogg a letter last week claiming that the presence of any Bucks or Brewers players or mascots at the two sporting venues — including the giant racing sausages — would constitute as electioneering , because it would encourage voting .
Woodall-Vogg , who brushed off the letter and pointed out that the racing sausages were non-partisan , said those concerns didn ’ t play a roll in the city ’ s decision to cut the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , Republican rhetoric around absentee ballots , including that of Trump , had been concerning enough .
Early voting in Wisconsin is technically considered in-person absentee voting .
“ As rhetoric continues across the nation talking about challenging the validity of absentee ballots , it was extremely important to me that I make decisions that will protect City of Milwaukee voters and ensure that we are taking every measure to protect their ballots , ” Woodall-Vogg told HuffPost .
“ I was concerned that these ballots could be challenged after they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used these sites completely voiceless if successfully challenged.
” Milwaukee will have 13 in-person voting sites open as of Oct. 20 , when Wisconsin begins early voting .
Republicans are continuing to fight the court ’ s extension of the absentee ballot deadline ; the case is expected to go to the U.S. Supreme Court .

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Two major early-voting sites in Milwaukee — one of Wisconsin’s largest Democratic strongholds — have been cut, as the city preempts any legal action from state Republicans.
On Tuesday, the city announced that Miller Park and the Fiserv Forum, home to the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks, respectively, will no longer be used for early voting.
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The city’s decision was a small victory for the Wisconsin GOP, which has been focused on shutting down these high-profile early voting locations. Milwaukee is one of Wisconsin’s largest Democratic strongholds; President Donald Trump benefitted from depressed turnout in the city in 2016.
“Unfortunately, the addition of these two sites could be legally challenged due to a recent court ruling, and we don’t want to do anything that could risk a City of Milwaukee voter’s ballot being counted,” Claire Woodall-Vogg, the executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, said in a statement Tuesday. “We want residents of Milwaukee to feel complete and unwavering confidence that their ballot will be counted in the election and this action reflects that commitment.”
Woodall-Vogg was referring to a federal court ruling in September which extended the deadline for absentee ballots to be counted to Nov. 9, six days past Election Day. That decision also reaffirmed that early voting locations for November had to be determined by June 11.
City officials first announced Fiserv Forum and Miller Park as early voting sites in late August — after the deadline — saying the addition of the two sites would allow for voters to more safely cast their ballots during the pandemic. They failed to win an extension beyond June in the courts.
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Wisconsin Republicans had already been threatening legal action around those two early voting sites. The party sent Woodall-Vogg a letter last week claiming that the presence of any Bucks or Brewers players or mascots at the two sporting venues — including the giant racing sausages — would constitute as electioneering, because it would encourage voting.
Woodall-Vogg, who brushed off the letter and pointed out that the racing sausages were non-partisan, said those concerns didn’t play a roll in the city’s decision to cut the two voting locations.
But, she said, Republican rhetoric around absentee ballots, including that of Trump, had been concerning enough. Early voting in Wisconsin is technically considered in-person absentee voting.
“As rhetoric continues across the nation talking about challenging the validity of absentee ballots, it was extremely important to me that I make decisions that will protect City of Milwaukee voters and ensure that we are taking every measure to protect their ballots,” Woodall-Vogg told HuffPost. “I was concerned that these ballots could be challenged after they were cast, which could leave voters who used these sites completely voiceless if successfully challenged.”
Milwaukee will have 13 in-person voting sites open as of Oct. 20, when Wisconsin begins early voting. Republicans are continuing to fight the court’s extension of the absentee ballot deadline; the case is expected to go to the U.S. Supreme Court.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Trump's No-Stimulus Stance Has Some Convinced He Really Wants To Lose

The president said Tuesday that he has instructed his representatives to “ stop negotiating until after the election when , @ @ @ @ @ we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business.
@ @ @ @ @ appeal to very fiscally conservative types , it ’ s not good news for the @ @ @ @ @ could use some help paying bills as the economic setbacks of the pandemic continue .
@ @ @ @ @ plunged more than 600 points after the president ’ s decree .
Considering the timing @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t understand what the president ’ s end game could be .

The president said Tuesday that he has instructed his representatives to “stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business.”
Although that announcement might appeal to very fiscally conservative types, it’s not good news for the millions of unemployed Americans who could use some help paying bills as the economic setbacks of the pandemic continue.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 600 points after the president’s decree.
Considering the timing of the announcement, many couldn’t understand what the president’s end game could be.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Florida Investigating Voter Registration System Crash On Day Of Deadline

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. ( AP ) — Florida is investigating why its online voter registration system crashed just before the deadline for the upcoming presidential election , saying unexpectedly heavy traffic that can ’ t be immediately explained poured in during the closing hours .
A state official told The Associated Press on Tuesday that at times more than half a million attempts an hour hit the system Monday .
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the issue .
Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee , who oversees the voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voter registration deadline across Florida to Tuesday at 7 p.m .
ET after discussing the system breakdown with Gov .
Ron DeSantis .
“ We ’ re exploring all options to ensure that all eligible registrants have the ability to register to vote and will work with our state and federal law-enforcement partners to ensure this was not a deliberate act against the voting process , ” Lee said .
A civil rights group is threatening to sue if the governor does not extend the deadline .
The Lawyers ’ Committee for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would unjustly deprive thousands of casting ballots for president and other offices .
“ We are not going to stand by idly , ” said Kristen Clarke , the group ’ s president .
She said the group sued Virginia in 2016 after its computer system crashed just before the deadline , winning an extension that allowed thousands of additional voters to register .
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned elections officials nationwide last week that cyberattacks could disrupt their systems during the run-up to the election .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which inundate a computer system with requests , potentially clogging up servers until the system becomes inaccessible to legitimate users .
The potential for outside meddling is an especially sensitive issue in Florida , a key battleground state in November ’ s election between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger , former Vice President Joe Biden .
The state has lingering questions about Russian hacking during the election four years ago .
Last year , state officials confirmed that election-related servers of at least two Florida counties were breached by Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tampered with .
Whatever caused the disruption , it potentially stopped thousands from registering .
Sarah Dinkins , a Florida State University student , tried to help her younger sister register Monday night .
They began trying about 9 p.m. and by 10:30 p.m. had not been successful .
This is not the first major computer shutdown to affect the state government this year .
For weeks in the spring , tens of thousands of Floridians who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic couldn ’ t file for unemployment benefits because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , delaying their payments .
DeSantis replaced the director overseeing that system but blamed the problems on his predecessor , fellow Republican Rick Scott , who is now a U.S. senator .
Democrats jumped on the latest issue , saying it and the unemployment fiasco show that the DeSantis administration is inept and accused it of trying to stop people from voting .
“ The utter incompetence of Gov .
Ron DeSantis in allowing the state ’ s voter registration website to crash on the very last day to register for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely believable , ” U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said .
“ His administrative buffoonery in operating the state ’ s unemployment system telegraphed today ’ s executive ineptitude .
However , this particular blunder intimates a continuing pattern of voter suppression that the governor has become notorious for .
”

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida is investigating why its online voter registration system crashed just before the deadline for the upcoming presidential election, saying unexpectedly heavy traffic that can’t be immediately explained poured in during the closing hours.
A state official told The Associated Press on Tuesday that at times more than half a million attempts an hour hit the system Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the issue.
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Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee, who oversees the voting system, said that she is extending the voter registration deadline across Florida to Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET after discussing the system breakdown with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
JUST IN: The @FLSecofState is extending voter registration deadline to TONIGHT at 7 p.m. across Florida after issues reported with online registration last night. — Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) October 6, 2020
“We’re exploring all options to ensure that all eligible registrants have the ability to register to vote and will work with our state and federal law-enforcement partners to ensure this was not a deliberate act against the voting process,” Lee said.
A civil rights group is threatening to sue if the governor does not extend the deadline. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law said the breakdown would unjustly deprive thousands of casting ballots for president and other offices.
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“We are not going to stand by idly,” said Kristen Clarke, the group’s president. She said the group sued Virginia in 2016 after its computer system crashed just before the deadline, winning an extension that allowed thousands of additional voters to register.
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned elections officials nationwide last week that cyberattacks could disrupt their systems during the run-up to the election. They particularly noted “distributed denial-of-service” attacks, which inundate a computer system with requests, potentially clogging up servers until the system becomes inaccessible to legitimate users.
The potential for outside meddling is an especially sensitive issue in Florida, a key battleground state in November’s election between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden. The state has lingering questions about Russian hacking during the election four years ago.
Last year, state officials confirmed that election-related servers of at least two Florida counties were breached by Russian meddlers. No votes or records were tampered with.
Whatever caused the disruption, it potentially stopped thousands from registering. Sarah Dinkins, a Florida State University student, tried to help her younger sister register Monday night. They began trying about 9 p.m. and by 10:30 p.m. had not been successful.
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“I feel very frustrated,” she said. “If the voting website doesn’t work, fewer people potentially Democratic voters will be able to vote.”
This is not the first major computer shutdown to affect the state government this year. For weeks in the spring, tens of thousands of Floridians who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic couldn’t file for unemployment benefits because of repeated crashes by that overwhelmed computer system, delaying their payments. DeSantis replaced the director overseeing that system but blamed the problems on his predecessor, fellow Republican Rick Scott, who is now a U.S. senator.
Democrats jumped on the latest issue, saying it and the unemployment fiasco show that the DeSantis administration is inept and accused it of trying to stop people from voting.
“The utter incompetence of Gov. Ron DeSantis in allowing the state’s voter registration website to crash on the very last day to register for the upcoming November election is, sadly, completely believable,” U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said. “His administrative buffoonery in operating the state’s unemployment system telegraphed today’s executive ineptitude. However, this particular blunder intimates a continuing pattern of voter suppression that the governor has become notorious for.”
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Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale. AP writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Mary Trump Hits 'Entitled' Cousins Donald Jr., Ivanka And Eric With Damning Question

In an interview with CNN ’ s Don Lemon on Monday , Mary Trump slammed Ivanka Trump , Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump ’ s “ breathtaking ” entitlement for refusing to wear masks during last week ’ s presidential debate between their father and Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
She asked why they chose “ not only to put other people but themselves and their children at incredible risk ” for COVID-19 , which has now killed more than 210,000 people nationwide .
“ My guess is that my cousins ’ relationship with their father is entirely transactional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ s conditional , just as my grandfather ’ s relationship with his children was , ” continued Trump , a psychologist who in July published a tell-all book about the president .
“ But there should be a line you ’ re not willing to cross , right ?
” she said .
“ So , I ’ m not surprised that they don ’ t care about the people around them who aren ’ t related to them .
It is a bit shocking to me that they seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their own families at risk.
” The president tested positive for COVID-19 last week .
He returned to the White House on Monday night following treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , sparking backlash when he removed his face mask for the cameras ― while still sick and contagious .
Also in the interview , Mary Trump criticized the president ’ s lack of empathy , suggested why he was appearing to downplay his own diagnosis and described his administration ’ s catastrophic handling of the coronavirus pandemic as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first part of Mary Trump ’ s interview with Don Lemon here : On Pres .
Trump ’ s return to the White House , Mary Trump , the President 's niece , says her uncle subscribes to “ the doctrine of the power of positive thinking.
” “ It makes perfect sense to me that Donald no matter how sick he may or may not be would pull this kind of stunt.
” pic.twitter.com/9O4GaKjTbU — CNN Tonight ( @ CNNTonight ) October 6 , 2020 Mary Trump , President Trump 's niece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the American people and put who knows how many millions of them at risk by pretending that the coronavirus is not something to be afraid of when it is . ''
https : //t.co/5QmXRTKHB8 pic.twitter.com/8kNzoXuYgC — CNN Tonight ( @ CNNTonight ) October 6 , 2020

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Mary Trump, the niece of President Donald Trump, has a damning question for her cousins.
In an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon on Monday, Mary Trump slammed Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump’s “breathtaking” entitlement for refusing to wear masks during last week’s presidential debate between their father and Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
She asked why they chose “not only to put other people but themselves and their children at incredible risk” for COVID-19, which has now killed more than 210,000 people nationwide.
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“For what exactly?” Mary Trump demanded. “That’s my question, for what?”
“My guess is that my cousins’ relationship with their father is entirely transactional. And I’m also certain that it’s conditional, just as my grandfather’s relationship with his children was,” continued Trump, a psychologist who in July published a tell-all book about the president.
“But there should be a line you’re not willing to cross, right?” she said. “So, I’m not surprised that they don’t care about the people around them who aren’t related to them. It is a bit shocking to me that they seem to be perfectly willing to put themselves and their own families at risk.”
The president tested positive for COVID-19 last week. He returned to the White House on Monday night following treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, sparking backlash when he removed his face mask for the cameras ― while still sick and contagious.
Also in the interview, Mary Trump criticized the president’s lack of empathy, suggested why he was appearing to downplay his own diagnosis and described his administration’s catastrophic handling of the coronavirus pandemic as “mass murder.”
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Check out the first part of Mary Trump’s interview with Don Lemon here:
On Pres. Trump’s return to the White House, Mary Trump, the President's niece, says her uncle subscribes to “the doctrine of the power of positive thinking.”
“It makes perfect sense to me that Donald no matter how sick he may or may not be would pull this kind of stunt.” pic.twitter.com/9O4GaKjTbU — CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) October 6, 2020
And the second segment here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Biden Says Next Debate Shouldn't Happen If Trump Still Has Coronavirus

HAGERSTOWN , MD , Oct 6 ( Reuters ) - Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said on Tuesday he and @ @ @ @ @ have their scheduled debate on Oct. 15 if Trump still had the coronavirus infection at @ @ @

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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Texas Officer Charged With Murdering Black Man Outside Convenience Store

WOLFE CITY , Texas ( AP ) — A white police officer has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Black man following a reported disturbance at a convenience store in a small East Texas town over the weekend , authorities said .
Lucas , 22 , was booked Monday into the Hunt County Jail on Monday night , the Texas Rangers said in a statement released by the Texas Department of Public Safety .
Jail records show bail was set at $ 1 million .
“ The preliminary investigation indicates that the actions of Officer Lucas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement said .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if Lucas had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf .
According to the statement , Lucas responded to a disturbance call on Saturday night following a report of a possible fight .
He encountered Price , 31 , who was reportedly involved in the disturbance , and Price “ resisted in a non-threatening posture and began walking away , ” the Texas Rangers said .
Lucas used a stun gun before shooting Price , who was taken to a hospital and died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a march , rally and candle light vigil in honor Jonathan Price on October 5 , 2020 in Wolfe City , Texas .
( Photo by Montinique Monroe/Getty Images ) Police didn ’ t release details about the disturbance , but family and friends of Price said Monday that the one-time college football player was intervening in a domestic disturbance when he was shot .
“ When police arrived , I ’ m told , he raised his hands and attempted to explain what was going on , ” said civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Police fired Tasers at him and when his body convulsed from the electrical current , they ‘ perceived a threat ’ and shot him to death.
” After Lucas ’ arrest was announced , Merritt posted : “ This didn ’ t happen quickly .
It should ( have ) happened the day he murdered JP .
John should still be here.
” Price ’ s relatives and friends said Price , a Wolfe City employee , was a figure well-known about the closely knit community .
The town has about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kilometers ) northeast of Dallas .
Price played football in 2008 for Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene , Texas .
Hardin-Simmons football coach Jesse Burleson tweeted that the university “ lost one of our own in a terrible situation .
Jonathan Price was an awesome young man during his time with Cowboy football.
” Former Major League Baseball third baseman Will Middlebrooks , who grew up with Price , said on Facebook : “ I ’ m sick .
I ’ m heartbroken ... and I ’ m furious.
” Middlebrooks started an online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surpassed its $ 50,000 goal in less than 24 hours .

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WOLFE CITY, Texas (AP) — A white police officer has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Black man following a reported disturbance at a convenience store in a small East Texas town over the weekend, authorities said.
Jonathan Price was walking away from Wolfe City Police Officer Shaun Lucas when Lucas opened fire Saturday night, killing Price, the Texas Rangers said.
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Lucas, 22, was booked Monday into the Hunt County Jail on Monday night, the Texas Rangers said in a statement released by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Jail records show bail was set at $1 million.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that the actions of Officer Lucas were not objectionably reasonable,” the statement said.
It wasn’t immediately known if Lucas had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.
According to the statement, Lucas responded to a disturbance call on Saturday night following a report of a possible fight. He encountered Price, 31, who was reportedly involved in the disturbance, and Price “resisted in a non-threatening posture and began walking away,” the Texas Rangers said.
Lucas used a stun gun before shooting Price, who was taken to a hospital and died, the statement said.
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People gather for a march, rally and candle light vigil in honor Jonathan Price on October 5, 2020 in Wolfe City, Texas. (Photo by Montinique Monroe/Getty Images) Montinique Monroe via Getty Images
Police didn’t release details about the disturbance, but family and friends of Price said Monday that the one-time college football player was intervening in a domestic disturbance when he was shot.
“When police arrived, I’m told, he raised his hands and attempted to explain what was going on,” said civil rights attorney Lee Merritt in a Facebook posting. “Police fired Tasers at him and when his body convulsed from the electrical current, they ‘perceived a threat’ and shot him to death.”
After Lucas’ arrest was announced, Merritt posted: “This didn’t happen quickly. It should (have) happened the day he murdered JP. John should still be here.”
Price’s relatives and friends said Price, a Wolfe City employee, was a figure well-known about the closely knit community. The town has about 1,500 residents about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northeast of Dallas.
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Price played football in 2008 for Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Hardin-Simmons football coach Jesse Burleson tweeted that the university “lost one of our own in a terrible situation. Jonathan Price was an awesome young man during his time with Cowboy football.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--E. Jean Carroll: 'Inconceivable' That Barr Could Defend Trump In Personal Defamation Lawsuit

The president of the United States denigrating a person accusing him of sexual assault is not part of his official duties , regardless of what his attorney general claims , lawyers for journalist E. Jean Carroll asserted Monday in a court filing .
“ There is not a single person in the United States — not the President and not anyone else — whose job description includes slandering women they sexually assaulted .
That should not be a controversial proposition .
Remarkably , however , the Justice Department seeks to prove it wrong , ” wrote lawyers for Carroll , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defamation .
Last month , the Department of Justice took the highly unusual step of seeking to make the U.S. government the defendant in the case , not Trump and his personal lawyers .
If approved by a judge , the request would mean Attorney General William Barr would in effect be defending Trump — cementing the alarming trend of Barr ’ s DOJ becoming a self-serving instrument of the president .
Barr , who later said he was acting at the request of the White House , argued that Trump was acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States when he attacked Carroll following her allegation last June .
In the court filing , they pointed out the ways Trump has taken “ a broad view ” in declaring what is personal and what is part of his duties as president , frequently trying to bend the rules to suit whatever he deems favorable to himself .
They cited his attempts to block Twitter users from his account , which he also uses for official presidential announcements , and his use of the presidency to personally profit from his hotels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is not a President who views his every word and deed as Presidential , ” they wrote .
“ By his own confession , Trump sometimes perceives himself as acting in a purely personal capacity — and as pursuing his own private purposes — while in office.
” The court filing is the latest turn of events in Carroll ’ s defamation lawsuit , which Trump and his lawyers have continually attempted to derail and have unsuccessfully tried to get dismissed .
Trump and the White House accused her of lying and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her book .
He falsely claimed they had never met , even though there is a photo of them together , and both were prominent fixtures on the New York social scene at the time of the alleged incident .
The president asserted with no evidence whatsoever that Carroll was part of a conspiracy set up by Democrats .
He also attacked her appearance , saying she “ was not my type.
” Carroll sued Trump for defamation last November , arguing that her reputation as a longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected the trust she had built with her readers .
In the lawsuit , she said Trump had “ smeared her integrity , honesty , and dignity , ” “ inflicted emotional pain and suffering , ” “ damaged her reputation ” and “ caused substantial professional harm.
” In February , she said the magazine had fired her after nearly three decades because Trump had “ dragged me through the mud.
” Carroll said she told two friends about the alleged incident at the time , but decided not to report it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the power differential between her and Trump — and like many survivors of sexual assault , she said she blamed herself for it .
She is one of more than 20 women who have accused the president of sexual misconduct .
Trump has accused them of lying , and has attacked many of them personally , including by suggesting they were not physically attractive enough .

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The president of the United States denigrating a person accusing him of sexual assault is not part of his official duties, regardless of what his attorney general claims, lawyers for journalist E. Jean Carroll asserted Monday in a court filing.
“There is not a single person in the United States — not the President and not anyone else — whose job description includes slandering women they sexually assaulted. That should not be a controversial proposition. Remarkably, however, the Justice Department seeks to prove it wrong,” wrote lawyers for Carroll, who is suing President Donald Trump for defamation.
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Trump sought to undermine Carroll in response to her allegation that he raped her in the 1990s.
“Trump acted for decidedly personal reasons unrelated to furthering any interests of the United States,” the lawyers added. “Moreover, it is inconceivable that Trump’s employers — a.k.a., the American people — expect his job to include viciously defaming a woman he sexually assaulted.”
“Only in a world gone mad could it somehow be presidential, not personal, for Trump to slander a woman who he sexually assaulted.” - lawyers for E. Jean Carroll
Last month, the Department of Justice took the highly unusual step of seeking to make the U.S. government the defendant in the case, not Trump and his personal lawyers. If approved by a judge, the request would mean Attorney General William Barr would in effect be defending Trump — cementing the alarming trend of Barr’s DOJ becoming a self-serving instrument of the president.
Barr, who later said he was acting at the request of the White House, argued that Trump was acting in his capacity as president of the United States when he attacked Carroll following her allegation last June.
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“Only in a world gone mad could it somehow be presidential, not personal, for Trump to slander a woman who he sexually assaulted,” Carroll’s lawyers wrote Monday.
In the court filing, they pointed out the ways Trump has taken “a broad view” in declaring what is personal and what is part of his duties as president, frequently trying to bend the rules to suit whatever he deems favorable to himself.
They cited his attempts to block Twitter users from his account, which he also uses for official presidential announcements, and his use of the presidency to personally profit from his hotels and other real estate properties.
“This is not a President who views his every word and deed as Presidential,” they wrote. “By his own confession, Trump sometimes perceives himself as acting in a purely personal capacity — and as pursuing his own private purposes — while in office.”
E. Jean Carroll waits to enter a courtroom in New York on March 4. AP Photo/Seth Wenig
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The court filing is the latest turn of events in Carroll’s defamation lawsuit, which Trump and his lawyers have continually attempted to derail and have unsuccessfully tried to get dismissed.
In her memoir last summer, excerpts of which were published by New York magazine, Carroll alleged that Trump raped her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
Trump and the White House accused her of lying and fabricating the incident in order to sell her book. He falsely claimed they had never met, even though there is a photo of them together, and both were prominent fixtures on the New York social scene at the time of the alleged incident.
The president asserted with no evidence whatsoever that Carroll was part of a conspiracy set up by Democrats. He also attacked her appearance, saying she “was not my type.”
Carroll sued Trump for defamation last November, arguing that her reputation as a longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine had suffered because Trump’s attacks affected the trust she had built with her readers. In the lawsuit, she said Trump had “smeared her integrity, honesty, and dignity,” “inflicted emotional pain and suffering,” “damaged her reputation” and “caused substantial professional harm.”
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In February, she said the magazine had fired her after nearly three decades because Trump had “dragged me through the mud.”
“I don’t blame Elle,” she wrote on Twitter. “I blame @realdonaldtrump.”
Carroll said she told two friends about the alleged incident at the time, but decided not to report it out of fear for her safety and because of the power differential between her and Trump — and like many survivors of sexual assault, she said she blamed herself for it.
She is one of more than 20 women who have accused the president of sexual misconduct. Trump has accused them of lying, and has attacked many of them personally, including by suggesting they were not physically attractive enough.
Four years ago this week, The Washington Post published the now-infamous “Access Hollywood” recording of Trump openly bragging in 2005 about sexually assaulting women.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Tucker Carlson: Donald Trump Proves That Coronavirus Isn't 'Quite As Scary'

Tucker Carlson used President Donald Trump ’ s departure from the hospital Monday to attack the media and re-amplify right-wing cries that the coronavirus isn ’ t as dangerous as reports say it is .
Meanwhile , the U.S. passed 210,000 COVID-19 deaths and 7.4 million cases .
( See Carlson ’ s segment below . )
The Fox News personality accused news outlets of rooting for the president to die and being “ angry ” that he has not succumbed to COVID-19 .
Trump , hospitalized for three days , is continuing his recovery at the White House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re not even pausing , ” Carlson said on “ Tucker Carlson Tonight .
“ They ’ re too angry .
Donald Trump is alive .
They were hoping that wouldn ’ t happen .
Worse , Trump walked out of the hospital under his own steam after just three days ― 74 years old and the virus didn ’ t really slow him down.
” Carlson framed Trump ’ s experience as “ dangerous facts ” that discredit the media ( and perhaps the scientists they rely on ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about them too much , you might draw the wrong conclusions , ” he said .
“ You might conclude the coronavirus isn ’ t quite as scary as they ’ re telling you it is .
You might regret giving up your constitutional rights in a panic last spring or letting them destroy the American economy in response .
You might find yourself enraged that they ’ re keeping your kids from getting an education and have for six months .
And above all , you might stop believing the news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crap ?
It ’ s not news , it ’ s propaganda .
They ’ re lying to us .
”

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Tucker Carlson used President Donald Trump’s departure from the hospital Monday to attack the media and re-amplify right-wing cries that the coronavirus isn’t as dangerous as reports say it is. Meanwhile, the U.S. passed 210,000 COVID-19 deaths and 7.4 million cases. (See Carlson’s segment below.)
The Fox News personality accused news outlets of rooting for the president to die and being “angry” that he has not succumbed to COVID-19. Trump, hospitalized for three days, is continuing his recovery at the White House.
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“The media are not stopping, they’re not even pausing,” Carlson said on “Tucker Carlson Tonight. “They’re too angry. Donald Trump is alive. They were hoping that wouldn’t happen. Worse, Trump walked out of the hospital under his own steam after just three days ― 74 years old and the virus didn’t really slow him down.”
Carlson framed Trump’s experience as “dangerous facts” that discredit the media (and perhaps the scientists they rely on).
“If you’re allowed to think about them too much, you might draw the wrong conclusions,” he said. “You might conclude the coronavirus isn’t quite as scary as they’re telling you it is. You might regret giving up your constitutional rights in a panic last spring or letting them destroy the American economy in response. You might find yourself enraged that they’re keeping your kids from getting an education and have for six months. And above all, you might stop believing the news media. Why are we watching this crap? It’s not news, it’s propaganda. They’re lying to us.”