thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Twitter Users Imagine How Trump's Debate Prep Is Going (And It's Hilarious)

The first of three debates between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden takes place Tuesday night and both @ @ @ @ @ ways .
CBS News reports that Biden ’ s camp has been reviewing the Trump @ @ @ @ @ demeaning the former vice president , his record and his family as examples of the @ @ @ @ @ the president will focus on .
Meanwhile , Trump is taking a looser approach .
@ @ @ @ @ with formal rehearsals and scripted practices in favor of reviewing flashcards and videos , the @ @ @ @ @ attorney and author Rabia O ’ Chaudry couldn ’ t help but wonder how a @ @ @ @ @ Trump is actually preparing , and she reached out to Twitter for help .
So @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's debate prep is looking like — rabia O'chaudry ( @ rabiasquared ) September @ @ @ @ @ were very imaginative , very hilarious and , possibly , closer to the truth than @ @ @ @ @ But one tweet in particular may be the most prescient .

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The first of three debates between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden takes place Tuesday night and both candidates are preparing in different ways.
CBS News reports that Biden’s camp has been reviewing the Trump’s almost daily tweets demeaning the former vice president, his record and his family as examples of the type of attacks they think the president will focus on.
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Meanwhile, Trump is taking a looser approach. CBS reported he has dispensed with formal rehearsals and scripted practices in favor of reviewing flashcards and videos, the network reported.
Still, attorney and author Rabia O’Chaudry couldn’t help but wonder how a hard-to-pin-down and off-the-cuff guy like Trump is actually preparing, and she reached out to Twitter for help.
So what do you guys think Trump's debate prep is looking like — rabia O'chaudry (@rabiasquared) September 28, 2020
The responses were very imaginative, very hilarious and, possibly, closer to the truth than anyone wants to admit.
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Something along these lines pic.twitter.com/WjjzaLDNGC — Jeff Nienhuis (@eljefenienhuis) September 28, 2020
But one tweet in particular may be the most prescient.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Kamala Harris To Break From Campaign For Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation Hearing

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will leave the campaign trail and resume her seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee for Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Supreme Court confirmation hearing , according to a Harris aide .
It ’ s not clear if the California senator will meet with Barrett ahead of her hearing .
Some Democrats on the committee have said they won ’ t , including Sens .
Richard Blumenthal ( Conn. ) and Mazie Hirono ( Hawaii ) .
Harris has made it clear that she will oppose Barrett .
“ With the next Supreme Court Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those with preexisting health conditions , and reproductive health options , I will continue to fight on behalf of the people and strongly oppose the president ’ s nomination , ” she said in a Sunday statement .
Harris was one of the toughest questioners on the panel during Brett Kavanaugh ’ s Supreme Court confirmation hearing in 2018 .
She was relentless in her questioning about whether Kavanaugh had had conversations regarding special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation with anyone employed at the law firm of President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When Kavanaugh said he couldn ’ t be sure , Harris told him , “ I think you ’ re thinking of someone , and you don ’ t want to tell us .
”

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Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will leave the campaign trail and resume her seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee for Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing, according to a Harris aide.
It’s not clear if the California senator will meet with Barrett ahead of her hearing. Some Democrats on the committee have said they won’t, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) and Mazie Hirono (Hawaii).
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Harris has made it clear that she will oppose Barrett.
“With the next Supreme Court Justice set to determine the fate of protections for those with preexisting health conditions, and reproductive health options, I will continue to fight on behalf of the people and strongly oppose the president’s nomination,” she said in a Sunday statement.
Harris was one of the toughest questioners on the panel during Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing in 2018. She was relentless in her questioning about whether Kavanaugh had had conversations regarding special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation with anyone employed at the law firm of President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Marc Kasowitz.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Conservatives In Washington Seek To Overturn Sex Ed Bill With Statewide Referendum

SEATTLE ( AP ) — Democrats in the Washington state Legislature thought they had passed a routine sex education requirement for public schools earlier this year .
But a coalition of Republicans and religious conservatives launched a swift , historic backlash that ’ s led to a bitter partisan fight and an effort to overturn the measure on the November ballot .
Democrats in the famously liberal state say they want to protect young people from sexual abuse , diseases and infections .
But the increasingly outnumbered and aggrieved Republicans have taken issue with the content of the standards as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wide-ranging bill , kindergarteners would be taught how to manage feelings and make friends , while older kids will learn about consent and how to respond to violence .
The curriculum must also address issues faced by LGBTQ students .
At least 29 states plus Washington , D.C. , require public schools to teach sex education , but the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Education Commission of the States — two organizations that track policy trends — said it has never appeared on a statewide ballot .
Instead , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and statehouses .
A Washington state group funded by Republican leaders called Parents for Safe Schools forced the issue onto the ballot by submitting over 264,000 signatures , the most gathered for a referendum to overturn an existing bill or law in the past four decades , according to the secretary of state .
It was double the minimum number needed to make the ballot , with two-thirds coming from church sites .
“ It feels like we ’ re just not being listened to and I think this is a very large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Wirth , a one-time Republican candidate who lost a bid for state Senate in 2016 .
Courtney Normand , director of a Planned Parenthood-affiliated political group in the state , is leading the campaign in support of the sex ed bill .
She said her coalition didn ’ t mobilize during the referendum petition because of the pandemic and was dismayed that the opposition ’ s in-person signature-gathering took place despite Democratic Gov .
Jay Inslee ’ s stay-at-home order .
Republicans have slammed the mandate as an affront to local and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boards have the authority to create or adopt their own curriculum , opponents said the bill would still dictate what must be covered in classes .
Opposition leaders say they aren ’ t necessarily opposed to sex education but see the statewide mandate as heavy-handed .
“ When you get into the issues of how do you say ‘ yes ’ or how do you say ‘ no , ’ that can easily open the door to that ‘ It ’ s OK.
It ’ s OK to say yes and no , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sexual activity is to be reserved for the sacrament of marriage , ” said Mario Villanueva , executive director of the conference .
Maia Espinoza , who was a single mother after having her first child at 19 years old , said she decided to run against incumbent Superintendent Chris Reykdal because she is horrified by the sex ed mandate that his administration requested .
Two years ago , Espinoza ran as a Republican in a losing bid for a seat in the state House .
Those in support of comprehensive sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and safety measure needed to protect children , and that there is a wide disparity among the nearly 300 public school districts in the state , a small number of which do not teach any sex education .
Reykdal , who previously served three terms as a Democrat in the state House , said the state education department routinely reviews content standards .
He said the Legislature was mindful of the sensitivity of the sex ed topic , issuing age-appropriate concepts by grade level and allowing families to opt out of the lessons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their local school district adopts curriculum .
State Sen. Claire Wilson , a Democrat from the Seattle suburbs , said she was moved to sponsor the bill based on her experience as an educator working with pre-teen mothers and also by hearing from men and women who said they didn ’ t even know the words needed to describe sexual abuse they endured as children .

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SEATTLE (AP) — Democrats in the Washington state Legislature thought they had passed a routine sex education requirement for public schools earlier this year. But a coalition of Republicans and religious conservatives launched a swift, historic backlash that’s led to a bitter partisan fight and an effort to overturn the measure on the November ballot.
Democrats in the famously liberal state say they want to protect young people from sexual abuse, diseases and infections. But the increasingly outnumbered and aggrieved Republicans have taken issue with the content of the standards as they rally for local control.
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The resulting referendum on the November ballot marks the first time in the country that such a decision on sex ed will be decided by voters.
Under the wide-ranging bill, kindergarteners would be taught how to manage feelings and make friends, while older kids will learn about consent and how to respond to violence. The curriculum must also address issues faced by LGBTQ students.
At least 29 states plus Washington, D.C., require public schools to teach sex education, but the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Education Commission of the States — two organizations that track policy trends — said it has never appeared on a statewide ballot. Instead, the curriculum has been debated at school boards and statehouses.
Mindi Wirth, who heads a group called Parents for Safe Schools that is seeking to overturn a sex education requirement for public schools, poses for a photo Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Lynnwood, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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A Washington state group funded by Republican leaders called Parents for Safe Schools forced the issue onto the ballot by submitting over 264,000 signatures, the most gathered for a referendum to overturn an existing bill or law in the past four decades, according to the secretary of state. It was double the minimum number needed to make the ballot, with two-thirds coming from church sites.
The group helmed by Mindie Wirth, a tech company manager who lives in the Seattle suburb of Bothell, was aided by Catholic church parishes that served as signature-gathering locations while the pandemic limited traditional petitioning activities.
“It feels like we’re just not being listened to and I think this is a very large part of what this represents,” said Wirth, a one-time Republican candidate who lost a bid for state Senate in 2016.
Courtney Normand, director of a Planned Parenthood-affiliated political group in the state, is leading the campaign in support of the sex ed bill. She said her coalition didn’t mobilize during the referendum petition because of the pandemic and was dismayed that the opposition’s in-person signature-gathering took place despite Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order.
“It seems to be a political, partisan turn-out goal rather than really an intention about student safety,” Normand said of the Republican-led efforts.
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Courtney Normand is the director of the Planned Parenthood-affiliated political group Safe & Healthy Youth Washington, which is supporting a sex education requirement for public schools. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
As of Sept. 24, almost half of the $1.1 million raised for Safe & Healthy Youth Washington, the campaign in support of sex ed, has come from Planned Parenthood affiliates.
Parents for Safe Schools ― the campaign against the sex ed bill — has amassed $245,000 in contributions. Most came from the Reagan Fund, the political action committee of the Washington State House Republican Leadership.
Republicans have slammed the mandate as an affront to local and parental control of education. Though school boards have the authority to create or adopt their own curriculum, opponents said the bill would still dictate what must be covered in classes. Opposition leaders say they aren’t necessarily opposed to sex education but see the statewide mandate as heavy-handed.
The Washington State Catholic Conference, the policy arm of church leadership in the state, is especially opposed to the affirmative consent aspect of the curriculum because the church opposes premarital sex.
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“When you get into the issues of how do you say ‘yes’ or how do you say ‘no,’ that can easily open the door to that ‘It’s OK. It’s OK to say yes and no,’ and that steps on our teaching that sexual activity is to be reserved for the sacrament of marriage,” said Mario Villanueva, executive director of the conference.
The fiercely partisan fight has carried over into the non-partisan race for state schools chief.
Maia Espinoza, who was a single mother after having her first child at 19 years old, said she decided to run against incumbent Superintendent Chris Reykdal because she is horrified by the sex ed mandate that his administration requested. Two years ago, Espinoza ran as a Republican in a losing bid for a seat in the state House.
Those in support of comprehensive sex ed say it’s a health and safety measure needed to protect children, and that there is a wide disparity among the nearly 300 public school districts in the state, a small number of which do not teach any sex education.
Reykdal, who previously served three terms as a Democrat in the state House, said the state education department routinely reviews content standards. He said the Legislature was mindful of the sensitivity of the sex ed topic, issuing age-appropriate concepts by grade level and allowing families to opt out of the lessons. Families also have a say when their local school district adopts curriculum.
State Sen. Claire Wilson, a Democrat from the Seattle suburbs, said she was moved to sponsor the bill based on her experience as an educator working with pre-teen mothers and also by hearing from men and women who said they didn’t even know the words needed to describe sexual abuse they endured as children.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Trump Played Populist 'Con' On The 'Rubes,' Says Former Republican Official

Self-proclaimed billionaire Donald Trump ’ s astonishingly low federal income tax payments shut down his “ economic populism con ” that faked out the “ rubes ” who supported him , declared a former spokesperson for the Republican National Committee .
“ While he was living a life of luxury that most Americans can only dream of , he was racked with massive debts and paying no income tax thanks to business write-offs on flamboyant haircuts , consulting fees paid to his daughter , and a summer retreat where his large adult sons liked to ride ATVs and laugh at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lawn , ” Tim Miller , deputy communications director for the RNC in 2012 and 2013 , wrote Monday on the conservative news website The Bulwark .
Miller was reacting to a New York Times report on Sunday that said Trump paid only $ 750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and again in 2017 .
In 10 of the previous 15 years , he paid none at all , according to the Times , which analyzed several years of Trump ’ s tax returns .
“ Trump was not the brilliant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been promised .
He was a fraud who was paying nothing at all .
Literally , ” Miller noted .
Yet , during his last campaign , Trump purported to be a champion of Middle America and vowed to raise taxes on the wealthy because the “ middle class is getting clobbered.
” Trump said he “ wouldn ’ t mind paying ” more taxes , which no one realized at the time would have been right next to nothing .
Instead , the tax bill Trump signed into law was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he “ billed the American people for millions upon millions of their hard-earned tax dollars ” for golf holidays at his own resorts , Miller said .
Trump ’ s campaign promises were nothing more than “ a story for the rubes , ” added Miller , who is currently the political director of Republican Voters Against Trump .
The only “ populist ” action of the Trump era has been unleashing “ cultural grievance ” — using his bully pulpit to take down those “ uppity athletes ... shutting the door on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ racial slurs without getting ‘ canceled , ’ ” he wrote .

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Self-proclaimed billionaire Donald Trump’s astonishingly low federal income tax payments shut down his “economic populism con” that faked out the “rubes” who supported him, declared a former spokesperson for the Republican National Committee.
“While he was living a life of luxury that most Americans can only dream of, he was racked with massive debts and paying no income tax thanks to business write-offs on flamboyant haircuts, consulting fees paid to his daughter, and a summer retreat where his large adult sons liked to ride ATVs and laugh at the poor suckers who had to mow the lawn,” Tim Miller, deputy communications director for the RNC in 2012 and 2013, wrote Monday on the conservative news website The Bulwark.
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Miller was reacting to a New York Times report on Sunday that said Trump paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and again in 2017. In 10 of the previous 15 years, he paid none at all, according to the Times, which analyzed several years of Trump’s tax returns.
“Trump was not the brilliant businessman skilled at tax write-offs that we had been promised. He was a fraud who was paying nothing at all. Literally,” Miller noted.
Yet, during his last campaign, Trump purported to be a champion of Middle America and vowed to raise taxes on the wealthy because the “middle class is getting clobbered.” Trump said he “wouldn’t mind paying” more taxes, which no one realized at the time would have been right next to nothing.
But there “was no economic populist agenda” after he was elected, Miller pointed out.
Instead, the tax bill Trump signed into law was a “boon to the wealthy” while he “billed the American people for millions upon millions of their hard-earned tax dollars” for golf holidays at his own resorts, Miller said.
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Trump’s campaign promises were nothing more than “a story for the rubes,” added Miller, who is currently the political director of Republican Voters Against Trump.
The only “populist” action of the Trump era has been unleashing “cultural grievance” — using his bully pulpit to take down those “uppity athletes ... shutting the door on new immigrants and refugees” and using “racial slurs without getting ‘canceled,’” he wrote.
Miller concluded: It’s the “same old racist, nativist nonsense wrapped in a phony soak-the-rich package.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Military Suicides Up As Much As 20% During Coronavirus Era

And senior Army leaders — who say they ’ ve seen about a 30 % jump in active duty suicides so far this year — told The Associated Press that they are looking at shortening combat deployments .
Such a move would be part of a broader effort to make the wellbeing of soldiers and their families the Army ’ s top priority , overtaking combat readiness and weapons modernization .
The Pentagon refused to provide 2020 data or discuss the issue , but Army officials said discussions in Defense Department briefings indicate there has been up to a 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
The numbers vary by service .
The active Army ’ s 30 % spike — from 88 last year to 114 this year — pushes the total up because it ’ s the largest service .
The Army Guard is up about 10 % , going from 78 last year to 86 this year .
The Navy total is believed to be lower this year .
Preliminary data for the first three months of 2020 show an overall dip in military suicides across the active duty and reserves , compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early numbers , fueled by declines in Navy and Air Force deaths , gave hope to military leaders who have long struggled to cut suicide rates .
But in the spring , the numbers ticked up .
“ COVID adds stress , ” said Gen. Charles Brown , the Air Force chief , in public remarks .
“ From a suicide perspective , we are on a path to be as bad as last year .
And that ’ s not just an Air Force problem , this is a national problem because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear of the unknown for certain folks.
” The active duty Air Force and reserves had 98 suicides as of Sept. 15 , unchanged from the same period last year .
But last year was the worst in three decades for active duty Air Force suicides .
Officials had hoped the decline early in the year would continue .
Civilian suicide rates have risen in recent years , but 2020 data isn ’ t available , so it ’ s difficult to compare with the military .
A Pentagon report on 2018 suicides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to that of the U.S. general population , after adjusting for the fact that the military is more heavily male and younger than the civilian population .
The 2018 rate for active duty military was 24.8 per 100,000 , while the overall civilian rate for that year was 14.2 , but the rate for younger civilian men ranged from 22.7 to 27.7 per 100,000 , according to the National Institute of Mental Health .
“ We were very focused on readiness four years ago because we had some readiness challenges , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very , very ready now .
But I think it ’ s time now to focus on people , ” he told the AP .
McConville and Army Sgt .
Maj. Michael Grinston said units have begun “ stand-up ” days , where commanders focus on bringing people together , making sure they connect with each other and their families and ensuring they have strong values in how they treat each other .
While he once feared that strangers passing by might hurt him , now he fears people may have COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support groups , he said , “ are just sick of living this way , worried about what ’ s coming over the next hill , what next horrible thing are we going to be confronted with .
”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Military suicides have increased by as much as 20% this year compared to the same period in 2019, and some incidents of violent behavior have spiked as service members struggle under COVID-19, war-zone deployments, national disasters and civil unrest.
While the data is incomplete and causes of suicide are complex, Army and Air Force officials say they believe the pandemic is adding stress to an already strained force.
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And senior Army leaders — who say they’ve seen about a 30% jump in active duty suicides so far this year — told The Associated Press that they are looking at shortening combat deployments. Such a move would be part of a broader effort to make the wellbeing of soldiers and their families the Army’s top priority, overtaking combat readiness and weapons modernization.
The Pentagon refused to provide 2020 data or discuss the issue, but Army officials said discussions in Defense Department briefings indicate there has been up to a 20% jump in overall military suicides this year. The numbers vary by service. The active Army’s 30% spike — from 88 last year to 114 this year — pushes the total up because it’s the largest service. The Army Guard is up about 10%, going from 78 last year to 86 this year. The Navy total is believed to be lower this year.
Army leaders say they can’t directly pin the increase on the virus, but the timing coincides.
“I can’t say scientifically, but what I can say is - I can read a chart and a graph, and the numbers have gone up in behavioral health related issues,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said in an AP interview.
Pointing to increases in Army suicides, murders and other violent behavior, he added, “We cannot say definitively it is because of COVID. But there is a direct correlation from when COVID started, the numbers actually went up.”
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Preliminary data for the first three months of 2020 show an overall dip in military suicides across the active duty and reserves, compared to the same time last year. Those early numbers, fueled by declines in Navy and Air Force deaths, gave hope to military leaders who have long struggled to cut suicide rates. But in the spring, the numbers ticked up.
“COVID adds stress,” said Gen. Charles Brown, the Air Force chief, in public remarks. “From a suicide perspective, we are on a path to be as bad as last year. And that’s not just an Air Force problem, this is a national problem because COVID adds some additional stressors – a fear of the unknown for certain folks.”
The active duty Air Force and reserves had 98 suicides as of Sept. 15, unchanged from the same period last year. But last year was the worst in three decades for active duty Air Force suicides. Officials had hoped the decline early in the year would continue.
Navy and Marine officials refused to discuss the subject.
Civilian suicide rates have risen in recent years, but 2020 data isn’t available, so it’s difficult to compare with the military. A Pentagon report on 2018 suicides said the military rate was roughly equivalent to that of the U.S. general population, after adjusting for the fact that the military is more heavily male and younger than the civilian population. The 2018 rate for active duty military was 24.8 per 100,000, while the overall civilian rate for that year was 14.2, but the rate for younger civilian men ranged from 22.7 to 27.7 per 100,000, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
James Helis, director of the Army’s resilience programs, said virus-related isolation, financial disruptions, remote schooling and loss of child care all happening almost overnight has strained troops and families.
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“We know that the measures we took to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID could amplify some of the factors that could lead to suicide,” said Helis, who attended department briefings on suicide data.
Army leaders also said troops have been under pressure for nearly two decades of war. Those deployments, compounded by the virus, hurricane and wildfire response and civil unrest missions, have taken a toll.
Soldiers’ 10-month deployments have been stretched to 11 months because of the two-week coronavirus quarantines at the beginning and end. McCarthy said the Army is considering shortening deployments.
Gen. James McConville, Army chief of staff, said there’s new attention to giving service members “the time that they need to come back together and recover.”
“We were very focused on readiness four years ago because we had some readiness challenges, and we did a great job. The force is very, very ready now. But I think it’s time now to focus on people,” he told the AP.
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McConville and Army Sgt. Maj. Michael Grinston said units have begun “stand-up” days, where commanders focus on bringing people together, making sure they connect with each other and their families and ensuring they have strong values in how they treat each other.
The isolation is also taking a toll on veterans, particularly the wounded.
Sergio Alfaro, who served in the Army for 4 1/2 years, said fears associated with the virus intensified his PTSD and suicidal thoughts.
“It’s definitely something that’s made things a bit more chaotic, trying to plan for the future, do things together,” said Alfaro, who deployed near Baghdad in 2003, facing daily mortar rounds, including one that killed his commander. “It’s almost like adding more trash on the heap.”
While he once feared that strangers passing by might hurt him, now he fears people may have COVID and not show symptoms. Others in support groups, he said, “are just sick of living this way, worried about what’s coming over the next hill, what next horrible thing are we going to be confronted with.”
Roger Brooks, a senior mental health specialist at the Wounded Warrior Project, said veterans are reporting increased suicidal symptoms and anxiety. Between April and the end of August, the group saw a 48% jump in referrals to mental health providers and a 10% increase in mental health calls and virtual support sessions, compared to the previous five months.
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Brooks said there’s anecdotal evidence that the pandemic has made wounded warriors like amputees feel more isolated, unable to connect as well with support groups. He said injured vets have seen disruptions in medical visits for pain management and other treatments.
Within the Army, Helis said the virus has forced an increase in telehealth calls and online visits with mental health providers. That has generated some positive results, such as fewer missed appointments.
“And we also think there was a reduction in the stigma of seeking behavioral health because you can do it from the privacy of your home,” he said.
Military leaders also are encouraging troops to keep a closer eye on their buddies and ensure that those who need help get it.
That message was conveyed in a remarkable public statement this month by Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said he sought help while heading U.S. Strategic Command from 2016 to 2019. He didn’t reveal details but said he saw a psychiatrist – a rare public admission by a senior officer.
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“I felt like I needed to get some help,” Hyten said in a video message. “I felt like I needed to talk to somebody.” He encouraged others to do the same, if needed, without fear of hurting their career.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Dr. Fauci Calls Out Fox News For Misleading Reports About Coronavirus

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday singled out Fox News for what he called its sometimes “ outlandish ” reporting on COVID-19 at a time when the public needs vital facts about the pandemic .
The nation ’ s top infectious disease expert was interviewed by CNN ’ s Brian Stelter .
In highlights from the conversation aired on “ The Situation Room , ” Fauci spoke of misinformation in the media and also discussed concerns relating to President Donald Trump ’ s controversial new coronavirus task force adviser , Dr. Scott Atlas .
“ The bad guy is the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person on the other side of your opinion , ” Fauci said .
“ There is so much misinformation during this very divisive time that we ’ re in , and the public really needs to know the facts , ” he added .
“ Some of the media that I deal with really kind of , I wouldn ’ t say distort things , but certainly give opposing perspectives on what seems to be a pretty obvious fact.
” “ If you listen to Fox News , with all due respect to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good reporters , some of the things that they report there are outlandish , to be honest with you.
” Dr. Fauci : “ If you listen to Fox News , with all due respect to the fact that they do have some good reporters , some of the things that they report there are outlandish , to be honest with you.
” Fauci also says he has `` differences '' with Scott Atlas , who he calls an `` outlier . ''
pic.twitter.com/JZvSAwK4MP — Justin Baragona ( @ justinbaragona ) September 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked if he believes Atlas is providing inaccurate information to the president .
Atlas , a neuroradiologist with no background in infectious diseases , has shared information about the virus that has been rebuked by scores of experts in the medical community .
“ I ’ m concerned that sometimes things are said that are really taken either out of context or are actually incorrect , ” Fauci said .
He said most members of the White House coronavirus task force were working together , however , referenced Atlas as an “ outlier.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlas .
I ’ m always willing to sit down and talk with him and see if we could resolve those differences , ” he said .
Dr. Robert Redfield , the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , also expressed concerns about Atlas sharing falsehoods during a phone call overheard by an NBC News reporter .
“ Everything he says is false , ” Redfield said .
He later confirmed that he was speaking about Atlas .
Atlas has taken on a leading role in the task force since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular appearances on Fox News and embraced a number of outlying views throughout the pandemic , including questioning the use of masks and embracing the controversial “ herd immunity ” strategy .
His former colleagues at Stanford medical school , where he was a professor , published an open letter warning that “ many of his opinions and statements run counter to established science ” and undermine public health authorities .
He is currently a senior fellow at Stanford University ’ s conservative Hoover Institution .

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Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday singled out Fox News for what he called its sometimes “outlandish” reporting on COVID-19 at a time when the public needs vital facts about the pandemic.
The nation’s top infectious disease expert was interviewed by CNN’s Brian Stelter. In highlights from the conversation aired on “The Situation Room,” Fauci spoke of misinformation in the media and also discussed concerns relating to President Donald Trump’s controversial new coronavirus task force adviser, Dr. Scott Atlas.
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“The bad guy is the virus. The bad guy is not the person on the other side of your opinion,” Fauci said.
“There is so much misinformation during this very divisive time that we’re in, and the public really needs to know the facts,” he added. “Some of the media that I deal with really kind of, I wouldn’t say distort things, but certainly give opposing perspectives on what seems to be a pretty obvious fact.”
“If you listen to Fox News, with all due respect to the fact that they do have some good reporters, some of the things that they report there are outlandish, to be honest with you.”
Dr. Fauci: “If you listen to Fox News, with all due respect to the fact that they do have some good reporters, some of the things that they report there are outlandish, to be honest with you.”
Fauci also says he has "differences" with Scott Atlas, who he calls an "outlier." pic.twitter.com/JZvSAwK4MP — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) September 28, 2020
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Fauci also expressed unease when asked if he believes Atlas is providing inaccurate information to the president. Atlas, a neuroradiologist with no background in infectious diseases, has shared information about the virus that has been rebuked by scores of experts in the medical community.
“I’m concerned that sometimes things are said that are really taken either out of context or are actually incorrect,” Fauci said.
He said most members of the White House coronavirus task force were working together, however, referenced Atlas as an “outlier.”
“My difference is with Dr. Atlas. I’m always willing to sit down and talk with him and see if we could resolve those differences,” he said.
Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also expressed concerns about Atlas sharing falsehoods during a phone call overheard by an NBC News reporter. “Everything he says is false,” Redfield said. He later confirmed that he was speaking about Atlas.
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Atlas has taken on a leading role in the task force since joining in August. He has made regular appearances on Fox News and embraced a number of outlying views throughout the pandemic, including questioning the use of masks and embracing the controversial “herd immunity” strategy.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Fox News' Andrew Napolitano Faces Another Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Fox News analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano , a regular on “ Fox & Friends , ” is facing a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault for the second time this month .
Napolitano , a New Jersey Superior Court judge from 1987 to 1995 , is being sued by a man who claims the judge “ developed a strong attraction to him ” and harassed him on several occasions , including following him into the bathroom and groping him , drugging him , attempting to rape him and forcing him into sex from 2014 to 2017 .
The accuser , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2014 and working as a waiter at a Sparta , New Jersey , restaurant , where he says he first met Napolitano .
He ’ s seeking $ 15 million in damages in the suit , filed in Essex County , New Jersey , Superior Court .
The lawsuit contends that on multiple occasions when Kruzelnick was seeking legal assistance for unrelated incidents , Napolitano suggested he ’ d only help in return for sex acts .
On one occasion , Kruzelnick says he agreed to have a drink at Napolitano ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly shocked ” by what he encountered , according to the lawsuit .
The suit continued : Napolitano said , “ I am really into certain things , ” and threw himself onto Mr. Kruzelnick ’ s lap , asking , “ I want you to start slapping me really hard.
” Napolitano demanded that Mr. Kruzelnick spank his exposed buttocks while Napolitano masturbated .
Mr. Kruzelnick was repelled by Napolitano ’ s demand and told him so , but Napolitano shouted back : “ just f**king do it !
” Mr. Kruzelnick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Napolitano demanded that Mr. Kruzelnick play the role of “ daddy , ” and call him “ son ” while he was being spanked , and then ejaculated onto one of Mr. Kruzelnick ’ s shoes .
Kruzelnick said his final encounter with Napolitano was in 2017 , when he visited the Fox News personality ’ s farm to swim .
“ While changing into a swimsuit , Napolitano violently attacked Mr. Kruzelnick , attempted to anally rape him , then tried to forcibly sodomize him , ” the lawsuit alleges .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kruzelnick , who got dressed and fled.
” “ This is our second case for sexual assault and battery against Napolitano , ” Joseph said in a statement .
“ We see a disturbing pattern emerging of Napolitano sexually assaulting much younger men and then using his power and influence to silence these victims .
We hope that other potential victims who read about Napolitano ’ s abhorrent actions will have the courage to come forward and speak up.
” Joseph ’ s Manhattan-based law firm also represents Charles Corbishley , who sued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexually assaulted him in 1988 .
Napolitano has denied both men ’ s allegations .
When Kruzelnick announced last week that he intended to sue , Napolitano ’ s lawyer issued a statement saying the judge “ denies unequivocally ” Kruzelnick ’ s claim .
The statement called the allegation “ copycat nonsense ” meant “ to prop up Mr. Corbishley ’ s doomed lawsuit ” and smear Napolitano .

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Fox News analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano, a regular on “Fox & Friends,” is facing a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault for the second time this month.
Napolitano, a New Jersey Superior Court judge from 1987 to 1995, is being sued by a man who claims the judge “developed a strong attraction to him” and harassed him on several occasions, including following him into the bathroom and groping him, drugging him, attempting to rape him and forcing him into sex from 2014 to 2017.
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The accuser, James Kruzelnick, was 20 years old in 2014 and working as a waiter at a Sparta, New Jersey, restaurant, where he says he first met Napolitano. He’s seeking $15 million in damages in the suit, filed in Essex County, New Jersey, Superior Court.
The lawsuit contends that on multiple occasions when Kruzelnick was seeking legal assistance for unrelated incidents, Napolitano suggested he’d only help in return for sex acts.
On one occasion, Kruzelnick says he agreed to have a drink at Napolitano’s house and ended up being “truly shocked” by what he encountered, according to the lawsuit. The suit continued:
Napolitano said, “I am really into certain things,” and threw himself onto Mr. Kruzelnick’s lap, asking, “I want you to start slapping me really hard.” Napolitano demanded that Mr. Kruzelnick spank his exposed buttocks while Napolitano masturbated. Mr. Kruzelnick was repelled by Napolitano’s demand and told him so, but Napolitano shouted back: “just f**king do it!” Mr. Kruzelnick complied and spanked Napolitano while Napolitano masturbated. Napolitano demanded that Mr. Kruzelnick play the role of “daddy,” and call him “son” while he was being spanked, and then ejaculated onto one of Mr. Kruzelnick’s shoes.
Kruzelnick said his final encounter with Napolitano was in 2017, when he visited the Fox News personality’s farm to swim.
“While changing into a swimsuit, Napolitano violently attacked Mr. Kruzelnick, attempted to anally rape him, then tried to forcibly sodomize him,” the lawsuit alleges. “Napolitano eventually let go of Mr. Kruzelnick, who got dressed and fled.”
Kruzelnick’s attorney, Bennitta Joseph, suggested there may be “other potential victims.”
“This is our second case for sexual assault and battery against Napolitano,” Joseph said in a statement. “We see a disturbing pattern emerging of Napolitano sexually assaulting much younger men and then using his power and influence to silence these victims. We hope that other potential victims who read about Napolitano’s abhorrent actions will have the courage to come forward and speak up.”
Joseph’s Manhattan-based law firm also represents Charles Corbishley, who sued Napolitano earlier this month alleging the judge sexually assaulted him in 1988.
Napolitano has denied both men’s allegations. When Kruzelnick announced last week that he intended to sue, Napolitano’s lawyer issued a statement saying the judge “denies unequivocally” Kruzelnick’s claim. The statement called the allegation “copycat nonsense” meant “to prop up Mr. Corbishley’s doomed lawsuit” and smear Napolitano.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Coronavirus Live Updates: Global Death Toll Passes 1 Million

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and its effects .
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here . )
Coronavirus Is Now Responsible For At Least 1 Million Deaths Worldwide — 9/28/20 , 9:30 p.m .
ET The number of coronavirus-linked deaths worldwide surpassed the 1 million mark on Monday , nearly 10 months after China reported the world ’ s first COVID-19 virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The United States has recorded the highest number of cases and deaths to date , with more than 7 million cases and at least 205,000 deaths .
Brazil has the second-highest death toll , with just over 142,000 deaths , and India with the third highest at over 95,000 deaths .
The U.S. death toll is on track to surpass targets set by President Donald Trump ’ s administration .
Trump said in April that models estimated the virus could kill as many as 220,000 people nationwide , though he predicted the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below 100,000 .
Several countries — including the U.S. , the United Kingdom and China — have taken the lead in vaccine development as coronavirus cases continue climbing .
Researchers were conducting clinical trials on humans for at least 40 vaccines as of Monday .
China and Russia have granted limited approval for a handful of vaccines without awaiting the results of late-stage trials , moves that public health experts say could pose safety risks .
Several vaccines are undergoing late-stage trials in the U.S .
Though Trump has promised a vaccine would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the year , his own health officials and scientists have said that hundreds of millions of doses of a potential vaccine likely wouldn ’ t be available until at least mid-2021 .
Trump Announces 150 Million Rapid COVID-19 Tests To Help States Reopen Economies , Schools — 9/28/20 , 5:10 p.m .
ET President Donald Trump said Monday that the federal government plans to distribute 150 million rapid COVID-19 tests nationwide in the coming weeks , a move aimed at helping states reopen schools despite the virus surging in several parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 100 million of the rapid antigen paper tests from Abbott Laboratories will go to governors , including 6.5 million that will be deployed this week .
Though the governors get to ultimately decide who gets the tests , the administration is encouraging them to direct rapid tests to K-12 schools so they can restart and maintain in-person teaching .
“ The support my administration is providing would allow every state to , on a very regular basis , test every teacher who needs it , ” Trump said .
“ This continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect high-risk communities .
These new Abbott rapid point-of-care tests are easy to use and return results within just minutes.
” The remaining tests will go toward populations vulnerable to the virus .
This includes nursing homes , assisted-living facilities , home health care and hospice , historically Black colleges and universities , and tribal nation universities .
The Abbott BinaxNOW test ― which Adm. Brett Giroir , the assistant secretary for health , demonstrated at Monday ’ s briefing ― is a single-use device about the size of a credit card .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nasal swab that would then be applied on the device for testing .
The test produces results in about 15 minutes .
The shipments come from an order of tests the federal government arranged to buy and announced last month .
The Department of Health and Human Services said on Aug. 27 that the Trump administration planned to deploy 150 million rapid tests for the remainder of the year as part of a contract with Abbott , though the announcement did not include when the tests would be districted .
The Food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the test just a day before that announcement .
Vice President Mike Pence said that Americans should expect a rise in COVID-19 cases “ in days ahead ” due to increased testing , but cases have already been rising as states struggling to contain the virus choose to reopen economies and schools anyway .
Experts have warned that the U.S. could see a spike in infections this fall and winter , and early evidence shows children could be contributing to the spread .
CDC Staffers Voice Worry Over Trump Admin Meddling In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m .
ET In recent months , several incidents have heightened concerns among Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials that the Trump administration intends to transform the agency by ensuring its health guidance to Americans matches the president ’ s cheery messaging about the coronavirus pandemic .
The Washington Post reported Monday that morale is low at the agency following President Donald Trump ’ s public condemnations of CDC Director Robert Redfield , Health and Human Services spokesman Marc Caputo alleging without evidence that CDC staffers are working to oppose the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others to alter the CDC ’ s “ Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports ” in ways that favor Trump politically .
The report says the CDC currently faces a credibility crisis that could become worse if , as some staffers suspect , the Trump administration moves to replace Redfield with a director who is even more deferential to Trump ’ s self-serving wishes .
Scott Atlas , a Trump pandemic adviser and Stanford University professor with no public health experience , reportedly may be Trump ’ s pick to replace Redfield if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some staffers said they would resign if Atlas took over the role .
Monday ’ s report paints a picture of an agency facing an onslaught of political influence from an executive branch obsessed with manipulating the message .
“ The worst is the silence , ” one CDC scientist told the Post .
“ You can ’ t explain what ’ s going on , correct mistakes , clarify things quickly before they spin up and out of control.
” Fauci Calls Florida Fully Reopening Bars And Restaurants ‘ Very Concerning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ET Dr. Anthony Fauci , the leading infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force , said Monday that Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ’ decision to allow bars and restaurants to fully reopen is “ very concerning.
” “ That is something we really need to be careful about , because when you ’ re dealing with community spread and you have the kind of congregate setting where people get together ― particularly without masks ― you ’ re really asking for trouble , ” Fauci said when asked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ Good Morning America.
” DeSantis , a Republican , signed an executive order Friday to allow bars and restaurants to immediately begin operating at 100 % capacity .

Biden campaign officials told several news outlets they had no prior notification from the Trump campaign about the president’s COVID-19 exposure, and learned about Trump’s diagnosis through news reports.
—Marina Fang
Pelosi: Trump Flouting COVID-19 Guidelines Was ‘A Brazen Invitation For This To Happen’ — 10/2/20, 10:30 a.m. ET
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said President Donald Trump frequently flouting and dismissing COVID-19 health guidelines “was sort of a brazen invitation for something like this to happen,” after the president announced early Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.
“This is tragic. It’s very sad,” she said on MSNBC Friday. “But it also is something that, again, going into crowds unmasked and all the rest was sort of a brazen invitation for something like this to happen.”
Pelosi said she had prayed for Trump and his family, and hoped that, for those who continue to doubt the gravity of the pandemic and dismiss the advice of public health experts, the president’s COVID-19 diagnosis “will be a transition to a saner approach to what this virus is all about.”
She said she had received a COVID-19 test earlier Friday morning and was awaiting the results.
Read more here.
— Marina Fang
Donald And Melania Trump Test Positive For COVID-19 ― 10/2/20, 12:55 a.m. ET
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Trump announced the news with a tweet just before 1 a.m. on Friday morning. The news came after one of Trump’s most senior advisers, Hope Hicks, tested positive for the virus Thursday after traveling with Trump on board Air Force One earlier this week.
The president’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, wrote in a White House memo that he received confirmation of the diagnosis on Thursday evening.
“The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence,” Conley wrote. He claimed Trump would “continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
— Josie Harvey
Spain Set To Lock Down 3 Million People In Madrid — 10/1/20, 4:30 a.m. ET
The Spanish government is set to order the lockdown of Madrid, barring residents from leaving except on essential trips, setting up a legal battle with local authorities. The capital city, with more than 3 million people, and nine surrounding municipalities with at least 100,000 residents each, are to see borders closed to outsiders for non-essential visits.
Other measures will include the closure of bars and restaurants at 11 p.m., from a previous curfew of 1 a.m., as well as shutting parks and playgrounds. Social gatherings will be limited to six people.
“Madrid’s health is Spain’s health. Madrid is special,” Health Minister Salvador Illa told a news conference to announce the new regulations, due to come into force in days.
However, the president of Madrid’s regional government, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, says the measures will “destroy” Madrid, and is now considering an appeal, HuffPost Spain reports.
Madrid has 735 cases per 100,000 people, one of the highest of any region in Europe and double Spain’s national rate. Spain has recorded 769,188 cases — the highest in Western Europe — and 31,791 deaths.
— James Martin
Moderna Says Its Coronavirus Vaccine Will Not Be Ready Until Spring 2021 — 9/30/20, 9:22 p.m. ET
Moderna Therapeutics said Wednesday that the drug-making company’s coronavirus vaccine won’t be available for widespread distribution until at least next spring
CEO Stéphane Bancel told the Financial Times that Moderna would not apply for emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration until at least Nov. 25. An emergency use authorization lets frontline medical workers and at-risk individuals use the vaccine during the pandemic.
Bancel also told the publication that his company will not seek FDA approval for vaccine use in the general population until late January, adding that such an approval will more likely come closer to late March or early April.
Moderna is one of four drugmakers whose vaccine is currently in late-stage testing in people in the United States. The U.S. government announced in August that it purchased 100 million doses of the company’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine for $1.5 billion — or $15 per dose.
Moderna joined several other drugmakers in September in signing a pledge to put safety first and adhere to scientific guidelines when developing a COVID-19 vaccine. The vow came amid growing public skepticism as pressure grew from the White House to release a vaccine by the end of the year.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that a vaccine will be ready for widespread distribution before the end of the year and has accused the FDA, without evidence, of intentionally delaying vaccine efforts in order to hurt his reelection bid this November.
Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testified to Congress that it’s more likely that a vaccine won’t be widely available until the second or third quarter of 2021.
— Sanjana Karanth
Biden Attacks Trump On Virus Response At First Presidential Debate — 9/30/20, 7:00 a.m. ET
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tore into President Donald Trump over his response to the coronavirus at the first presidential debate held Tuesday night in Cleveland, Ohio.
“He knew all the way back in February how serious this crisis was,” Biden said. “He knew it was a deadly disease. What did he do? He’s on tape acknowledging he knew it. He said he didn’t tell us or give people a warning because he didn’t want to panic the American people. You don’t panic. He panicked.”
Trump claimed, falsely, that his campaign rallies, some of which were held inside with large crowds, haven’t contributed to the spread of the disease. He also mocked Biden for wearing a mask too much and again claimed that a vaccine was right around the corner.
Read more about the debate here and here.
— Liza Hearon
Bars And Restaurants In Paris Face Shutdown Amid Rapid Rise In Cases — 9/30/20, 6:30 a.m. ET
Bars and restaurants could soon be completely closed in Paris as France battles a new rise in COVID-19 infections and an increase in hospital admissions.
French health authorities on Tuesday reported 8,051 new COVID-19 infections over the past 24 hours, up sharply from Monday’s 4,070, while intensive care admissions were also on the rise.
As of Tuesday, a total of 6,500 people were hospitalized for a COVID-19 infection in France, 85 more over 24 hours. This included 1,204 patients in intensive care units, a rise of 40 since Monday.
A rise in cases in Paris has seen it hit two of the three criteria that would push it into the so-called “scarlet zone,” which could see it join Marseille in closing down bars and restaurants, HuffPost France reports.
Should Paris ICU beds reach 30% of capacity the capital would hit France’s maximum alert level. “We are a little below 30% in Paris,” local government official Anne Souyris said. “At 30%, that means that we find ourselves in a situation where we have to choose who we are going to be able to put in intensive care.”
France imposed one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns between March 17 and May 11 to prevent its hospital system from being overwhelmed.
— Paul Guyonnet and James Martin
UK Daily Cases Hit Record High As Thousands Face New Restrictions — 9/30/20, 5:50 a.m. ET
The U.K. has recorded more than 7,000 new cases of coronavirus, according to the latest government statistics, the highest single number since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Britain, which has the worst official death toll in Europe and fifth highest in the world, reported 7,143 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, and 71 deaths, the worst daily toll since July.
The figures come as tougher restrictions banning people from mixing with other households were introduced in large parts of northeast England, HuffPost UK reports.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold a news conference on COVID-19 on Wednesday as he grapples with the second wave and growing anger within his own Conservative party over restrictions imposed on citizens.
— Léonie Chao-Fong and James Martin
New York City Infection Rate Spikes To Over 3%, Highest Since June — 9/29/20, 12:30 p.m. ET
After months of hovering around 1 or 2%, the COVID-19 infection rate in New York City spiked to 3.25% on Monday, the highest single-day infection rate since June, city officials said Tuesday.
The spike came on the same day the city’s elementary schools reopened to some in-person classes.
Once the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S., New York City has largely contained the virus over the last few months. But the alarming uptick raises the already mounting concerns over a second wave as the weather gets colder.
In recent days, city hospitals have reported an increase in COVID-19 cases. City and state officials believe the spike is primarily due to clusters of new infections in several predominantly orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in south Brooklyn and Queens. Residents in some of these areas have been lax about social distancing and mask-wearing. Some residents falsely believe they have herd immunity because their neighborhoods were among the hardest hit by the virus in the spring.
On Wednesday, indoor dining is set to resume at 25% capacity, and on Thursday, middle and high school students are set to return to some in-person learning.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has said schools will shut down if the seven-day rolling average reaches 3%. As of Tuesday, the seven-day rolling average was 1.38%.
He announced Tuesday that anyone not wearing a mask will be fined, and said he is considering other measures such as business closures if the clusters continue.
— Marina Fang
Tennessee Titans Report 8 New Positive Cases, Force Evacuation Of Minnesota Vikings Facilities — 9/29/20, 11:30 a.m. ET
The Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings suspended in-person club activities Tuesday after eight Titans players and personnel tested positive for COVID-19. The two teams played against each other on Sunday.
NFL reporter Tom Pelissero said the Vikings also evacuated their team facility Tuesday after personnel had already reported to work, though no known positive cases have been reported there.
In a statement, the NFL said it was working with infectious disease experts to evaluate people who were in close contact with the positive cases, perform additional tests, and monitor developments.
— Ryan Grenoble
Coronavirus Is Now Responsible For At Least 1 Million Deaths Worldwide — 9/28/20, 9:30 p.m. ET
The number of coronavirus-linked deaths worldwide surpassed the 1 million mark on Monday, nearly 10 months after China reported the world’s first COVID-19 virus, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
The United States has recorded the highest number of cases and deaths to date, with more than 7 million cases and at least 205,000 deaths. Brazil has the second-highest death toll, with just over 142,000 deaths, and India with the third highest at over 95,000 deaths.
The U.S. death toll is on track to surpass targets set by President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump said in April that models estimated the virus could kill as many as 220,000 people nationwide, though he predicted the death toll would actually be “substantially” below 100,000.
Several countries — including the U.S., the United Kingdom and China — have taken the lead in vaccine development as coronavirus cases continue climbing. Researchers were conducting clinical trials on humans for at least 40 vaccines as of Monday.
China and Russia have granted limited approval for a handful of vaccines without awaiting the results of late-stage trials, moves that public health experts say could pose safety risks.
Several vaccines are undergoing late-stage trials in the U.S. Though Trump has promised a vaccine would be available to most Americans by the end of the year, his own health officials and scientists have said that hundreds of millions of doses of a potential vaccine likely wouldn’t be available until at least mid-2021.
— Sanjana Karanth
Trump Announces 150 Million Rapid COVID-19 Tests To Help States Reopen Economies, Schools — 9/28/20, 5:10 p.m. ET
President Donald Trump said Monday that the federal government plans to distribute 150 million rapid COVID-19 tests nationwide in the coming weeks, a move aimed at helping states reopen schools despite the virus surging in several parts of the country.
The president said that 100 million of the rapid antigen paper tests from Abbott Laboratories will go to governors, including 6.5 million that will be deployed this week. Though the governors get to ultimately decide who gets the tests, the administration is encouraging them to direct rapid tests to K-12 schools so they can restart and maintain in-person teaching.
“The support my administration is providing would allow every state to, on a very regular basis, test every teacher who needs it,” Trump said. “This continues our critical effort to use testing to protect high-risk communities. These new Abbott rapid point-of-care tests are easy to use and return results within just minutes.”
The remaining tests will go toward populations vulnerable to the virus. This includes nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, home health care and hospice, historically Black colleges and universities, and tribal nation universities.
The Abbott BinaxNOW test ― which Adm. Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health, demonstrated at Monday’s briefing ― is a single-use device about the size of a credit card. The test can be self-administered and involves a nasal swab that would then be applied on the device for testing. The test produces results in about 15 minutes.
The shipments come from an order of tests the federal government arranged to buy and announced last month. The Department of Health and Human Services said on Aug. 27 that the Trump administration planned to deploy 150 million rapid tests for the remainder of the year as part of a contract with Abbott, though the announcement did not include when the tests would be districted. The Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization for the test just a day before that announcement.
Vice President Mike Pence said that Americans should expect a rise in COVID-19 cases “in days ahead” due to increased testing, but cases have already been rising as states struggling to contain the virus choose to reopen economies and schools anyway.
Experts have warned that the U.S. could see a spike in infections this fall and winter, and early evidence shows children could be contributing to the spread.
— Sanjana Karanth
CDC Staffers Voice Worry Over Trump Admin Meddling In Public Health Messaging ― 9/28/2020, 11:45 a.m. ET
In recent months, several incidents have heightened concerns among Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials that the Trump administration intends to transform the agency by ensuring its health guidance to Americans matches the president’s cheery messaging about the coronavirus pandemic.
The Washington Post reported Monday that morale is low at the agency following President Donald Trump’s public condemnations of CDC Director Robert Redfield, Health and Human Services spokesman Marc Caputo alleging without evidence that CDC staffers are working to oppose the president, and various efforts by Caputo and others to alter the CDC’s “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports” in ways that favor Trump politically.
The report says the CDC currently faces a credibility crisis that could become worse if, as some staffers suspect, the Trump administration moves to replace Redfield with a director who is even more deferential to Trump’s self-serving wishes. Scott Atlas, a Trump pandemic adviser and Stanford University professor with no public health experience, reportedly may be Trump’s pick to replace Redfield if the director were to resign or be fired. Some staffers said they would resign if Atlas took over the role.
Monday’s report paints a picture of an agency facing an onslaught of political influence from an executive branch obsessed with manipulating the message.
“The worst is the silence,” one CDC scientist told the Post. “You can’t explain what’s going on, correct mistakes, clarify things quickly before they spin up and out of control.”
― Ja’han Jones
Fauci Calls Florida Fully Reopening Bars And Restaurants ‘Very Concerning’ ― 9/28/2020, 11:20 a.m. ET
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force, said Monday that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to allow bars and restaurants to fully reopen is “very concerning.”
“That is something we really need to be careful about, because when you’re dealing with community spread and you have the kind of congregate setting where people get together ― particularly without masks ― you’re really asking for trouble,” Fauci said when asked about the move during an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
DeSantis, a Republican, signed an executive order Friday to allow bars and restaurants to immediately begin operating at 100% capacity.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Joe Montana And Wife Confront Intruder Who Tried To Kidnap Infant Grandchild

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) — Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their 9-month-old grandchild over the weekend , law enforcement officials confirmed on Sunday .
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department , Montana told deputies that his grandchild was sleeping in a playpen on Saturday when an unknown woman entered their home in Malibu and grabbed the child .
Montana and his wife , Jennifer , confronted the woman , whom authorities later identified as Sodsai Dalzell , tried to “ de-escalate the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their grandchild .
After a tussle , law enforcement officials say Jennifer Montana pried the child out of Dalzell ’ s arms .
“ Thank you to everyone who has reached out , ” the former San Francisco 49ers star tweeted .
“ Scary situation , but thankful that everybody is doing well .
We appreciate respect for our privacy at this time.
” Former NFL player Joe Montana and Jennifer Montana attend the Sports Illustrated Experience Friday Night Party on Feb. 5 , 2016 in San Francisco .
The sheriff ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but was later arrested .
She faces kidnapping and burglary charges .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if Dalzell had a lawyer who could speak on her behalf .
The sheriff ’ s office declined to release anymore information , citing that the case was still ongoing .
Montana , 64 , retired after the 1994 season , playing 13 years of his 15 year-career with the San Francisco 49ers , which won four Super Bowls with him as starting quarterback .

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their 9-month-old grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement officials confirmed on Sunday.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Montana told deputies that his grandchild was sleeping in a playpen on Saturday when an unknown woman entered their home in Malibu and grabbed the child.
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Montana and his wife, Jennifer, confronted the woman, whom authorities later identified as Sodsai Dalzell, tried to “de-escalate the situation” and asked her to give back their grandchild.
After a tussle, law enforcement officials say Jennifer Montana pried the child out of Dalzell’s arms.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out,” the former San Francisco 49ers star tweeted. “Scary situation, but thankful that everybody is doing well. We appreciate respect for our privacy at this time.”
Former NFL player Joe Montana and Jennifer Montana attend the Sports Illustrated Experience Friday Night Party on Feb. 5, 2016 in San Francisco. Phillip Faraone via Getty Images
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The sheriff’s office says that Dalzell fled the home but was later arrested. She faces kidnapping and burglary charges.
It wasn’t immediately known if Dalzell had a lawyer who could speak on her behalf.
The sheriff’s office declined to release anymore information, citing that the case was still ongoing.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Ex-Watergate Prosecutor Says 'No Question' Trump And Ivanka Could Both Face Prison

A former federal prosecutor during the Watergate proceedings that brought down President Richard Nixon says new tax revelations about President Donald Trump could ultimately send him to prison .
“ No question about it , ” Nick Akerman said Monday on CNN .
“ And his daughter could go to jail , too.
” Both the president and his oldest daughter , Ivanka Trump , who also serves as a White House adviser , are named in the New York Times report detailing the schemes that allowed Donald Trump to avoid taxes for much of the past decade and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five-year felony , ” said Akerman , who was an assistant special Watergate prosecutor investigated Nixon ’ s taxes .
“ It ’ s a pretty serious crime , and the more money that ’ s stolen , the longer you go to jail for.
” Trump has denied any wrongdoing .
However , he has also refused to publicly disclose his tax returns , as has been customary for presidential candidates for nearly half a century .
Akerman said the Times report details “ a whole series of activities that could qualify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Avoidance , he said , is merely taking advantage of the tax code in legal ways to maximize deductions .
Fraud , on the other hand , involves lying about income and deductions .
He pointed specifically to consultant fees paid by Donald Trump to Ivanka Trump .
Since Ivanka Trump was already an employee of the Trump Organization , Akerman said , there was “ no legitimate reason ” for those payments .
He speculated the two could have been shifting the money around to avoid paying taxes on it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an ominous development for the president should he leave office in January .
“ The only thing that ’ s saving him at this point is the Department of Justice ’ s guideline that says you can ’ t indict a sitting president , ” Akerman said .
“ Once he ’ s no longer a sitting president , he is subject to being indicted.
” Ex-Watergate prosecutor Nick Akerman says the NYT ’ s report on Trump ’ s taxes shows that both he and his daughter , Ivanka could face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saving him at this point is the Department of Justice ’ s guideline that says you can ’ t indict a sitting president.
” pic.twitter.com/4YI1qDhI5g — OutFrontCNN ( @ OutFrontCNN ) September 28 , 2020 Akerman also tweeted his reaction to the Times report on Trump ’ s tax filings on Sunday : The phrase `` Tax Avoidance '' in the NYT headline should read Trump 's `` Tax Evasion . ''
Payments of sham consulting fees to Ivanka to evade income taxes is like what Trump 's father did in paying bogus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estate taxes .
— Nick Akerman ( @ nickakerman ) September 28 , 2020 I investigated Nixon 's taxes .
Compared to Trump , Nixon was a rookie amateur .
Despite back dating a deed to deduct a gift of papers to the government , Nixon at least paid taxes .
Trump never paid any income tax for 10 years and only $ 750 in 2016 and 2017 .
— Nick Akerman ( @ nickakerman ) September 28 , 2020

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A former federal prosecutor during the Watergate proceedings that brought down President Richard Nixon says new tax revelations about President Donald Trump could ultimately send him to prison.
“No question about it,” Nick Akerman said Monday on CNN. “And his daughter could go to jail, too.”
Both the president and his oldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, who also serves as a White House adviser, are named in the New York Times report detailing the schemes that allowed Donald Trump to avoid taxes for much of the past decade and a half.
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“Tax evasion is a five-year felony,” said Akerman, who was an assistant special Watergate prosecutor investigated Nixon’s taxes. “It’s a pretty serious crime, and the more money that’s stolen, the longer you go to jail for.”
Trump has denied any wrongdoing. However, he has also refused to publicly disclose his tax returns, as has been customary for presidential candidates for nearly half a century.
Akerman said the Times report details “a whole series of activities that could qualify as tax fraud, not tax avoidance.”
Avoidance, he said, is merely taking advantage of the tax code in legal ways to maximize deductions. Fraud, on the other hand, involves lying about income and deductions.
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He pointed specifically to consultant fees paid by Donald Trump to Ivanka Trump. Since Ivanka Trump was already an employee of the Trump Organization, Akerman said, there was “no legitimate reason” for those payments.
He speculated the two could have been shifting the money around to avoid paying taxes on it.
That, he said, could lead to an ominous development for the president should he leave office in January.
“The only thing that’s saving him at this point is the Department of Justice’s guideline that says you can’t indict a sitting president,” Akerman said. “Once he’s no longer a sitting president, he is subject to being indicted.”
He added that “any decent prosecutor” could make a “pretty viable” case:
Ex-Watergate prosecutor Nick Akerman says the NYT’s report on Trump’s taxes shows that both he and his daughter, Ivanka could face legal liabilities. “The only thing saving him at this point is the Department of Justice’s guideline that says you can’t indict a sitting president.” pic.twitter.com/4YI1qDhI5g — OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) September 28, 2020
Akerman also tweeted his reaction to the Times report on Trump’s tax filings on Sunday:
The phrase "Tax Avoidance" in the NYT headline should read Trump's "Tax Evasion." Payments of sham consulting fees to Ivanka to evade income taxes is like what Trump's father did in paying bogus expenses to a phony company to evade estate taxes. — Nick Akerman (@nickakerman) September 28, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Trump's Tax Debt Could Make Him A National Security Risk, Ethics Experts Say

New scrutiny of Trump , who claims great success as a private businessman , comes after The New York Times reported that tax records show he is personally carrying a staggering amount of debt ― including more than $ 300 million in loans that will come due in the next four years .
“ Americans should be concerned about the president ’ s debt because it ’ s a national security risk for our country , ” said Donald Sherman , deputy director of the nonprofit government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington ( CREW ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has aggressively and repeatedly tried to keep away from the public.
” Trump , citing an ongoing Internal Revenue Service audit , has refused to follow the post-Watergate precedent set by other presidents of releasing his tax returns , so the complexities of his financial interests and who he does business with have remained opaque .
He ’ s fighting ongoing court battles with New York ’ s attorney general , Manhattan ’ s district attorney and two House committees who want the records .
Trump during an appearance on Monday ignored a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might release such a statement , and the White House would not comment on when he might follow through .
He said repeatedly before his election that he would release his actual taxes but never has .
“ The Trump Organization consists of hundreds of LLCs ( limited liability corporations ) that have been listed on his financial disclosure forms , ” Clark said .
“ One of the things that Trump has benefitted from and that oligarchs and money launderers benefit from is opaqueness of LLCs , ... the ease of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hide their financial interests.
” Trump refused to divest his business interests after his 2016 victory , and left day-to-day operation of his family ’ s real estate and other holdings to his sons Donald Jr. and Eric .
Still , the president has benefitted personally from U.S. and foreign government activity at his properties since his election and hasn ’ t shied away from promoting his hotels and golf courses .
The administration drew criticism last year when Vice President Mike Pence , while visiting Dublin for meetings , lodged at Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 180 miles away in Doonbeg , Ireland .
And Trump scrapped a plan to hold a meeting of the Group of 7 world leaders at one of his Florida properties last year after bipartisan criticism .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on MSNBC that “ our responsibility is to protect and defend and we have to make sure we know what exposure the president of the United States has , and what an impact it has on national security decisions for our country.
” Painter said that if Trump were attempting to appoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high-profile government position , the nominee would almost certainly face trouble getting a security clearance .
Indeed , inability or unwillingness to satisfy debts and a history of not meeting financial obligations could disqualify any federal employee from receiving a security clearance , according to government guidelines .
Peter Schweizer , the president of the Government Accountability Institute , said , “ The question is also one of whether the loans are tied to actual assets such as buildings , etc.
, or was the political figure granted special favors in getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage in commercial transactions , the question is whether the loans are unusual and unique compared to others in the marketplace .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Revelations that President Donald Trump is personally liable for more than $400 million in debt are casting a shadow over his presidency that ethics experts say raises national security concerns he could be manipulated to sway U.S. policy by organizations or individuals he’s indebted to.
New scrutiny of Trump, who claims great success as a private businessman, comes after The New York Times reported that tax records show he is personally carrying a staggering amount of debt ― including more than $300 million in loans that will come due in the next four years.
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The politically damaging revelations about Trump’s tax avoidance, however, are perhaps less concerning than word the president is holding hundreds of millions of dollars of soon-to-mature debt, ethics experts said. Dennis Van Tine/STAR MAX/IPx
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was blunt about the potential implications. “He may be vulnerable to financial blackmail from a hostile foreign power and God knows what else,” said Warren, a frequent Trump critic.
The Times said the tax records also show that Trump did not pay any federal income taxes in 11 years between 2000 and 2018, raising questions about the fairness of a president ― who purports to be a billionaire ― paying less in taxes than most Americans.
The politically damaging revelations about Trump’s tax avoidance, however, are perhaps less concerning than word the president is holding hundreds of millions of dollars of soon-to-mature debt, ethics experts said.
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“Americans should be concerned about the president’s debt because it’s a national security risk for our country,” said Donald Sherman, deputy director of the nonprofit government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “This is information that the president has aggressively and repeatedly tried to keep away from the public.”
Trump, citing an ongoing Internal Revenue Service audit, has refused to follow the post-Watergate precedent set by other presidents of releasing his tax returns, so the complexities of his financial interests and who he does business with have remained opaque. He’s fighting ongoing court battles with New York’s attorney general, Manhattan’s district attorney and two House committees who want the records.
Richard Painter, who served as chief ethics attorney in Republican George W. Bush’s White House, also noted that Trump-owned companies have declared bankruptcy six times, raising the question: Why have lenders been willing to keep risking loans of such enormous amounts?
“Why would banks assume the risk on these loans?” Painter said. “Or did someone else quietly assume risk of that loan for the bank to make it happen?”
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Trump, according to his latest financial disclosure statement, reported that he had 14 loans on 12 properties.
One lender, Germany-based Deutsche Bank, continued to do business with Trump even after he defaulted in 2008 on a loan for his Chicago hotel and condo development. Trump filed suit against the bank and others whom he blamed for his inability to repay.
But Deutsche Bank’s private banking division continued to lend to Trump, including $125 million to finance the purchase and renovation of his Doral golf resort in 2012, according to previous disclosures.
Trump on Monday suggested that his debt load is hardly unusual in comparison with his assets, claiming in a tweet that he’s in fact “extremely under leveraged.”
“I have very little debt compared to the value of assets,” he wrote, adding that he may release a financial statement that spells out all assets, properties and debts.
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Trump during an appearance on Monday ignored a reporter’s question about when he might release such a statement, and the White House would not comment on when he might follow through. He said repeatedly before his election that he would release his actual taxes but never has.
Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at Washington University in St. Louis, said that a separate financial statement from Trump would shed little light on his business dealings if he does not disclose who his business partners are in his various holdings.
“The Trump Organization consists of hundreds of LLCs (limited liability corporations) that have been listed on his financial disclosure forms,” Clark said. “One of the things that Trump has benefitted from and that oligarchs and money launderers benefit from is opaqueness of LLCs, ... the ease of which individuals can hide their assets, can hide their financial interests.”
Trump refused to divest his business interests after his 2016 victory, and left day-to-day operation of his family’s real estate and other holdings to his sons Donald Jr. and Eric. Still, the president has benefitted personally from U.S. and foreign government activity at his properties since his election and hasn’t shied away from promoting his hotels and golf courses.
Republicans have held at least 88 political events at his properties, the president has visited his hotels and golf courses more than 500 times, and at least 13 foreign governments have held events at Trump establishments, according to a tally by CREW.
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The administration drew criticism last year when Vice President Mike Pence, while visiting Dublin for meetings, lodged at Trump International Golf Links and Hotel more than 180 miles away in Doonbeg, Ireland. And Trump scrapped a plan to hold a meeting of the Group of 7 world leaders at one of his Florida properties last year after bipartisan criticism.
In the runup to his 2016 election victory, Trump played down his bankruptcies as a smart business strategy and even referred to himself as the “king of debt.”
“I’ve always loved debt, I must be honest with you,” Trump said during a campaign rally. “I don’t love it for countries, but I love it individually. If things work out good that’s great, if they don’t, you go renegotiate.”
The New York Times, citing the tax records it obtained, also revealed that Trump did not pay federal income tax in 11 of 18 years, and just $750 each year for 2017 and 2018, as he claimed millions of dollars in business losses.
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Top Democratic lawmakers on Monday called Trump’s tax avoidance galling, but seized on his debt as perhaps more concerning.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on MSNBC that “our responsibility is to protect and defend and we have to make sure we know what exposure the president of the United States has, and what an impact it has on national security decisions for our country.”
Painter said that if Trump were attempting to appoint someone with his massive debt load to a high-profile government position, the nominee would almost certainly face trouble getting a security clearance. Indeed, inability or unwillingness to satisfy debts and a history of not meeting financial obligations could disqualify any federal employee from receiving a security clearance, according to government guidelines.
Peter Schweizer, the president of the Government Accountability Institute, said, “The question is also one of whether the loans are tied to actual assets such as buildings, etc., or was the political figure granted special favors in getting loans. Politicians and their families can engage in commercial transactions, the question is whether the loans are unusual and unique compared to others in the marketplace.
Trump is hardly the first president to contend with debt, either in office or later in life.
Thomas Jefferson, whose peak net worth in current dollars reached $236.8 million according to research by 24/7 Wall Street, died in debt. The debt was accrued during and after his presidency ― as well as by relatives ― and his family sold dozens of enslaved people from his Monticello estate to satisfy his liabilities.
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On the other hand, Barack Obama, in his second term, encouraged American homeowners to refinance their mortgages as rates dropped well below what he was paying, but he said he and his wife were holding off.
“When you’re president, you have to be a little careful about these transactions, so we haven’t refinanced,” Obama explained at the time.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Carl Bernstein: Trump Has Created 'First Grifter Presidency' In America's History

In the wake of an explosive New York Times investigation revealing Donald Trump ’ s alleged tax avoidance and extensive debts , journalist Carl Bernstein said it was the “ smoking gun ” that exposes the truth of the Trump presidency .
“ Donald Trump and his family are grifters , ” the famed Watergate reporter said on CNN ’ s “ New Day ” on Monday morning .
“ He has created the first grifter presidency in the history of the United States in which his purpose in running for the presidency and exercising the powers of the presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself and his family out.
” The New York Times , which obtained more than two decades ’ worth of Trump ’ s tax records , described a gathering storm of financial threats as the president ’ s property and business struggles , his tax audit battle and his more than $ 421 million in debts converge .
The Times also reported that Trump paid just $ 750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017 .
He did not pay a dime for 10 of the 15 years prior to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created the first grifter presidency in the history of the united states , in which his purpose in running for the presidency and exercising the powers of the presidency , the fundamental reason is to bail himself and his family out . ''
pic.twitter.com/tUVDzQkvGp — The Hill ( @ thehill ) September 28 , 2020 Bernstein said it shows in Trump ’ s policy and in his relationships with foreign powers .
“ It shows the fundamental corruption and criminality of Donald Trump , and now we have the definitive evidence , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the press the issue instead of the conduct of himself in his refusal to pay taxes adequately , and also to keep them secret , ” he said .
“ This is the smoking gun about who Donald Trump really is and what his presidency really is .
”

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In the wake of an explosive New York Times investigation revealing Donald Trump’s alleged tax avoidance and extensive debts, journalist Carl Bernstein said it was the “smoking gun” that exposes the truth of the Trump presidency.
“Donald Trump and his family are grifters,” the famed Watergate reporter said on CNN’s “New Day” on Monday morning. “He has created the first grifter presidency in the history of the United States in which his purpose in running for the presidency and exercising the powers of the presidency ― the fundamental reason is to bail himself and his family out.”
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The New York Times, which obtained more than two decades’ worth of Trump’s tax records, described a gathering storm of financial threats as the president’s property and business struggles, his tax audit battle and his more than $421 million in debts converge.
The Times also reported that Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017. He did not pay a dime for 10 of the 15 years prior to that.
Carl Bernstein: "He has created the first grifter presidency in the history of the united states, in which his purpose in running for the presidency and exercising the powers of the presidency, the fundamental reason is to bail himself and his family out." pic.twitter.com/tUVDzQkvGp — The Hill (@thehill) September 28, 2020
Bernstein said it shows in Trump’s policy and in his relationships with foreign powers.
“It shows the fundamental corruption and criminality of Donald Trump, and now we have the definitive evidence, and he is trying to make the conduct of the press the issue instead of the conduct of himself in his refusal to pay taxes adequately, and also to keep them secret,” he said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--CNN's Poppy Harlow Shuts Down Trump Official On Times-Democratic Party Conspiracy Theory

A White House official tried to spin a conspiracy fantasy Monday about The New York Times and the Democratic Party colluding on a bombshell report on Donald Trump ’ s taxes — but CNN host Poppy Harlow wasn ’ t having it .
“ I ’ m just going to stop you there , ” Harlow snapped as she cut into a baseless jab by White House deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern .
“ These are remarkable reporters from The New York Times that went through 20 years of documents .
It ’ s not OK to accuse them — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic Party .
Please stop doing that or this interview will end.
” She added : “ Stop attacking the press .
Stop doing that .
I am asking you direct questions.
” Harlow was grilling Morgenstern on the Times ’ exposé Sunday — based on years of Trump ’ s tax records — that the self-proclaimed billionaire paid just $ 750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017 .
In 10 of the previous 15 years , he paid none , according to the newspaper .
Trump called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but still refuses to make good on his promise to release his returns to prove otherwise .
Harlow told Morgenstern : “ You can put the entire thing to bed if the president would release the records and show the American people what he says is true .
Why will he not do that ?
” He said Trump had paid “ quite a lot ” in taxes , pointed out that Trump donates his presidential salary each year and then asked Harlow how much Hunter Biden , the son of Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There have been no accusations or evidence that Hunter Biden has dodged federal income taxes .
“ I absolutely should not be asking the president ’ s spokesman about someone who is not germane to this conversation , who is not running for president , ” said a perturbed Harlow .
I asked White House Deputy Press Secretary @ Bmorgenstern45 for some clarity this morning .
“ What is true ?
How much did the President pay in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017 ?
” And then I asked again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harlow ( @ PoppyHarlowCNN ) September 28 , 2020 “ Federal income taxes pay for things like the military , that the president has said he so strongly supports , ” Harlow noted .
“ It pays the salary of Secret Service members that secure him every single day .
It pays for roads , bridges , I could go on .
The average American in 2017 paid $ 12,199 in federal income taxes .
Why does the president believe that he owes 16 times less ?
” Check out Harlow ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory in the clip up top .

“I’m just going to stop you there,” Harlow snapped as she cut into a baseless jab by White House deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern. “These are remarkable reporters from The New York Times that went through 20 years of documents. It’s not OK to accuse them — with no facts — of coordinating with the Democratic Party. Please stop doing that or this interview will end.”
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She added: “Stop attacking the press. Stop doing that. I am asking you direct questions.”
Harlow was grilling Morgenstern on the Times’ exposé Sunday — based on years of Trump’s tax records — that the self-proclaimed billionaire paid just $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017. In 10 of the previous 15 years, he paid none, according to the newspaper.
Trump called the Times report “fake news,” but still refuses to make good on his promise to release his returns to prove otherwise.
Harlow told Morgenstern: “You can put the entire thing to bed if the president would release the records and show the American people what he says is true. Why will he not do that?”
Morgenstern tried to pivot and stumbled badly.
He said Trump had paid “quite a lot” in taxes, pointed out that Trump donates his presidential salary each year and then asked Harlow how much Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, paid in taxes. There have been no accusations or evidence that Hunter Biden has dodged federal income taxes.
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“I absolutely should not be asking the president’s spokesman about someone who is not germane to this conversation, who is not running for president,” said a perturbed Harlow.
I asked White House Deputy Press Secretary @Bmorgenstern45 for some clarity this morning. “What is true? How much did the President pay in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017?”
And then I asked again.
And Again. pic.twitter.com/Y94Q2T5ARh — Poppy Harlow (@PoppyHarlowCNN) September 28, 2020
“Federal income taxes pay for things like the military, that the president has said he so strongly supports,” Harlow noted. “It pays the salary of Secret Service members that secure him every single day. It pays for roads, bridges, I could go on. The average American in 2017 paid $12,199 in federal income taxes. Why does the president believe that he owes 16 times less?”
Check out Harlow’s takedown of Morgenstern over his shot-in-the-dark conspiracy theory in the clip up top.