thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--I'm A Nurse Who Cares For Gender Surgery Patients. Here's Why I Love It So Much.

I ’ m an intensive care unit nurse in Austin .
I work with the number one gender confirmation surgical team in the world , in a tiny hospital , in the middle of Texas .
I get to tell my dad and strangers at parties , “ I help make dicks and vaginas , ” and that ’ s really fun , because my dad gets embarrassed easily .
But what I should say is , “ I help make people whole , ” because that ’ s actually what my job is .
When my groggy patients open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgery , I say , “ Congratulations !
Want to see ?
” I gently pull back the covers to reveal their new and appropriate parts and they well up with tears and then I well up with tears and we celebrate with morphine , because gender confirmation surgery hurts .
As they nod back off I pat their hand and walk away , thinking , Goodnight , little bunny .
When people ask me why I became a nurse , I have to tell them , “ I don ’ t really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by an academic scholarship , and I thought I might use it to become an artist , or a writer , or an archeologist .
My parents , who desperately wanted me to have a stable job with an actual income , put me on the phone with my aunt , who was a nurse .
She told me all about job security , only working three days a week , and getting to wear pajamas to work .
I loved science and biology and pajamas and thought , why not ?
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got hired into a cardiovascular ICU , where we took care of patients after their open-heart surgery .
This was a trial by fire , and I went home after my shifts for the first two years to cry and drink a lot .
People were code-bluing left and right , I had to yell “ CLEAR ” almost every shift ( yes , we do that in real life ) , and I gave countless units of blood .
It was hard , but it was also exciting and challenging , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much , in fact , that I got a tattoo of an anatomical heart on my arm .
I , myself , am genderqueer .
I was born into the wrong body , or more likely without the proper hormones , and ended up with a vagina where my penis was supposed to be .
I was a child of the ’ 70 ’ s , though , so there was no discussion of tragedies like this .
I thought I was a monster , I thought I ’ d have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luckily , I was blessed with an innate sense of optimism AND really dirty dreams .
So , instead of killing myself , I distracted myself with intricate blowjob fantasies and learned to cope , or at least not let my despair consume me , and I made it to the present with a great acceptance and love for who I am .
Now , I know I could transition , but I have grown used to who I am and choose instead to live in the middle and have great hair and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For many people , this is not possible .
They can not abide the overwhelming grief and shame of living as the wrong person ; it ’ s terribly lonely to have people know you as an incomplete or incorrect version of yourself .
With the technology we now have ― that this unique surgical team has brought to this small hospital and that I can be a part of ― we can offer people the relief that most take for granted : the chance to be their authentic selves .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is overwhelmingly serendipitous and important to me ?
I ’ m helping these people , and in the process , healing the version of myself that thought it had to die all those years ago .
I ’ m using my pain and struggles to relate to my patients and let them know that they ’ re safe , that they ’ ll be well taken care of , and that they are seen .
I feel so lucky that I get to be the one they wake up to , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a celebration each time .
Gender confirmation surgery , otherwise known as bottom surgery , is generally the last step in a person ’ s transition .
It ’ s the grand finale on their very long road .
So we have a good time when we can , in between the pain meds and attempting to get out of bed for the first time and the walking in the halls with new body parts .
All the while I am almost constantly examining their new dicks or vaginas to make sure everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dick expert now , folks !
But I ’ m never getting one tattooed on my arm .
On top of this , if they are lucky enough to make it onto our schedule and have the date stick and the operation completed , no family members are allowed in as support .
Take a moment to consider that ― how frightening that must be , especially if there are complications .
I do my best to step up and to be the point guard for the parents , wives and husbands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now I need a secretary to help with all the extra communication .
Newsflash : Nurses don ’ t get secretaries .
Now I punch into work , get a report , and do genital checks with the off-going nurses , just to make sure everything looks right .
If it ’ s a new dick , I get to do the hard work of checking circulation every hour in between asking the patient if they want me to measure it ( always met with an excited YES ) and coming up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I love naming dicks , and I ’ m good at it .
Just ask the patients with the dicks named Bilbo Baggins , Louis Batton , or my favorite : 7 & 7 , given right after I measured it .
I am very professional .
My job is absurd and amazing , but it can be very difficult if there is a complication .
Hands down the hardest part is watching someone who has just had the biggest and most important surgery of their life suffer a serious complication .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could happen after someone waits their entire life to that point to be corrected , and it breaks my heart .
Even more than the code blues used to .
When it ’ s time for them to go home , I ’ m always so happy to help them get dressed .
Not because I ’ ve been staring at their genitals for days , but because it suddenly turns them into not just patients , but people who exist in their lives away from me .
People who have struggled and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemingly insurmountable problem and do something big to fix it .

Work selfie Photo Courtesy of Holly Lorka
I’m an intensive care unit nurse in Austin. I work with the number one gender confirmation surgical team in the world, in a tiny hospital, in the middle of Texas. I get to tell my dad and strangers at parties, “I help make dicks and vaginas,” and that’s really fun, because my dad gets embarrassed easily. But what I should say is, “I help make people whole,” because that’s actually what my job is.
When my groggy patients open their eyes for the first time after surgery, I say, “Congratulations! Want to see?” I gently pull back the covers to reveal their new and appropriate parts and they well up with tears and then I well up with tears and we celebrate with morphine, because gender confirmation surgery hurts. As they nod back off I pat their hand and walk away, thinking, Goodnight, little bunny.
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When people ask me why I became a nurse, I have to tell them, “I don’t really know.” My college was paid for by an academic scholarship, and I thought I might use it to become an artist, or a writer, or an archeologist. My parents, who desperately wanted me to have a stable job with an actual income, put me on the phone with my aunt, who was a nurse. She told me all about job security, only working three days a week, and getting to wear pajamas to work. I loved science and biology and pajamas and thought, why not?
After I graduated I was very lucky and got hired into a cardiovascular ICU, where we took care of patients after their open-heart surgery. This was a trial by fire, and I went home after my shifts for the first two years to cry and drink a lot. People were code-bluing left and right, I had to yell “CLEAR” almost every shift (yes, we do that in real life), and I gave countless units of blood. It was hard, but it was also exciting and challenging, and I dug it. I liked it so much, in fact, that I got a tattoo of an anatomical heart on my arm.
Fifteen years into my career as a CVICU nurse, I moved to Austin and took a job at this very small hospital. Three years ago, I found out the gender confirmation team was coming to where I worked. The team wanted a small place with the right culture to ensure the proper treatment of their patients, because trans folks are often discriminated against even by medical professionals, even though gender dysphoria is a valid medical diagnosis.
The team did a check of our facility, realized we were all pretty decent humans who understood that being transgender is an actual thing, and decided to set up shop. My boss called me into her office to tell me and broke out into a big smile when she said, “They’ll need to be recovered in the ICU.”
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My boss knows some things about me.
I, myself, am genderqueer. I was born into the wrong body, or more likely without the proper hormones, and ended up with a vagina where my penis was supposed to be. I was a child of the ’70’s, though, so there was no discussion of tragedies like this. I thought I was a monster, I thought I’d have to kill myself ― the usual things.
I felt trapped in a body that I didn’t recognize, and that feeling just got worse with puberty. There was nothing I could do, nowhere I could go to escape, except into my dreams, in which I was the most handsome fuckboy that ever lived.
Luckily, I was blessed with an innate sense of optimism AND really dirty dreams. So, instead of killing myself, I distracted myself with intricate blowjob fantasies and learned to cope, or at least not let my despair consume me, and I made it to the present with a great acceptance and love for who I am. Now, I know I could transition, but I have grown used to who I am and choose instead to live in the middle and have great hair and confuse lots of folks at airport security.
I don’t want to make light of this situation. I am still overcome with waves of great longing for the body I didn’t get, the identity I don’t have. It never goes away. It’s just that I have found a place to put it.
For many people, this is not possible. They cannot abide the overwhelming grief and shame of living as the wrong person; it’s terribly lonely to have people know you as an incomplete or incorrect version of yourself. With the technology we now have ― that this unique surgical team has brought to this small hospital and that I can be a part of ― we can offer people the relief that most take for granted: the chance to be their authentic selves.
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Holly's memoir, out in October. She Writes Press
So, do you see how all of this is overwhelmingly serendipitous and important to me? I’m helping these people, and in the process, healing the version of myself that thought it had to die all those years ago. I’m using my pain and struggles to relate to my patients and let them know that they’re safe, that they’ll be well taken care of, and that they are seen. I feel so lucky that I get to be the one they wake up to, and I do my best to make it a celebration each time.
Gender confirmation surgery, otherwise known as bottom surgery, is generally the last step in a person’s transition. It’s the grand finale on their very long road. So we have a good time when we can, in between the pain meds and attempting to get out of bed for the first time and the walking in the halls with new body parts. All the while I am almost constantly examining their new dicks or vaginas to make sure everything is going well. I’m a dick expert now, folks! But I’m never getting one tattooed on my arm.
In the time of COVID-19, things are quite different. Because of lower bed availability, the number of surgeries we can do is strictly limited, so those who have been on a year-long wait list are now pushed back even further. I hate this for them.
On top of this, if they are lucky enough to make it onto our schedule and have the date stick and the operation completed, no family members are allowed in as support. Take a moment to consider that ― how frightening that must be, especially if there are complications. I do my best to step up and to be the point guard for the parents, wives and husbands, but my job is busy already. Now I need a secretary to help with all the extra communication. Newsflash: Nurses don’t get secretaries.
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We are all doing our best, but this is just a little extra important to me. This isn’t a knee replacement or a cellulitis patient ― these are MY people.
Now I punch into work, get report, and do genital checks with the off-going nurses, just to make sure everything looks right. If it’s a new dick, I get to do the hard work of checking circulation every hour in between asking the patient if they want me to measure it (always met with an excited YES) and coming up with a ridiculous name for it. I love naming dicks, and I’m good at it. Just ask the patients with the dicks named Bilbo Baggins, Louis Batton, or my favorite: 7 & 7, given right after I measured it. I am very professional.
Vaginas are easier to make surgically and need less time and attention, so I don’t get to name many of them. They tend to bleed, however, and we have to put these patients in mesh panties with a pad; you’ve never seen someone so excited to wear a pad.
My job is absurd and amazing, but it can be very difficult if there is a complication. Hands down the hardest part is watching someone who has just had the biggest and most important surgery of their life suffer a serious complication. It seems really unfair that such a thing could happen after someone waits their entire life to that point to be corrected, and it breaks my heart. Even more than the code blues used to.
But when things go well, as they usually do, it’s the best feeling to discharge these patients ― to release them out into the world as their true selves with their new and improved parts.
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When it’s time for them to go home, I’m always so happy to help them get dressed. Not because I’ve been staring at their genitals for days, but because it suddenly turns them into not just patients, but people who exist in their lives away from me. People who have struggled and have been brave enough to face a seemingly insurmountable problem and do something big to fix it.
I’m humbled by these people and their courage to become whole, and I get excited to see what they put on their new bodies. The guys inevitably pull out shiny gym shorts. My God, what is it with the shiny gym shorts?
The women, however, pull out all sorts of pretty things: summer dresses, cute slippers, and ALWAYS some great sunglasses ― which I let them wear in the hospital without giving them shit ― because they are newly on parade, and they’ve earned it. They’ve earned all of it.
Holly Lorka is a writer, storyteller, ICU nurse, and retired standup comedian. Her memoir, Handsome, will be released in October.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--Even The New York Post Is Done With Donald Trump’s ‘Nasty’ Attacks On Kamala Harris

Even the editorial board for the New York Post is getting fed up with President Donald Trump ’ s personal attacks on Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) .
The Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper ’ s board used an editorial on Thursday to warn Trump that he “ continues to be his own worst enemy ” by calling Harris , the presumptive vice-presidential nominee , a “ mad woman ” and “ nasty.
” Trump risked turning off voters “ who like his policies but dislike his rhetoric , ” wrote the newspaper , which endorsed Trump for the 2016 GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s insults are “ just , as Trump would say , mean and nasty , ” it added in the column headlined “ Lose the nasty words , Mr. President — it does you no good.
” The tabloid instead encouraged Trump to attack presumptive Democratic rival Joe Biden and running mate Harris on “ substantive issues , ” such as the economy and foreign policy .
“ Why not focus on that , Mr. President — instead of resorting to callous insults that do you no good .
Your goal is @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Even the editorial board for the New York Post is getting fed up with President Donald Trump’s personal attacks on Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).
The Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper’s board used an editorial on Thursday to warn Trump that he “continues to be his own worst enemy” by calling Harris, the presumptive vice-presidential nominee, a “mad woman” and “nasty.”
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Trump risked turning off voters “who like his policies but dislike his rhetoric,” wrote the newspaper, which endorsed Trump for the 2016 GOP primary in New York.
The president’s insults are “just, as Trump would say, mean and nasty,” it added in the column headlined “Lose the nasty words, Mr. President — it does you no good.”
The tabloid instead encouraged Trump to attack presumptive Democratic rival Joe Biden and running mate Harris on “substantive issues,” such as the economy and foreign policy.
“Why not focus on that, Mr. President — instead of resorting to callous insults that do you no good. Your goal is to get reelected, right?”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Michael Cohen Vows Trump 'Golden Showers' Revelation In New Book Excerpt

Michael Cohen , the former longtime personal attorney to President Donald Trump , is promising to release salacious details about his old boss , including an incident involving “ golden showers in a sex club in Vegas.
” “ I know where the skeletons are buried , ” he writes , “ because I was the one who buried them.
” In the excerpt , Cohen confirms that Trump colluded with Russia to help win the 2016 election , “ but not in the sophisticated ways imagined by his detractors.
” Instead , he promises to detail in the book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cheat during the election .
Cohen also details what he ’ s done for Trump and plans to reveal within the book : “ I stiffed contractors on his behalf , ripped off his business partners , lied to his wife Melania to hide his sexual infidelities , and bullied and screamed at anyone who threatened Trump ’ s path to power .
From golden showers in a sex club in Vegas , to tax fraud , to deals with corrupt officials from the former Soviet Union , to catch and kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lovers , I wasn ’ t just a witness to the president ’ s rise — I was an active and eager participant.
” Steele alleged that Trump hired sex workers to urinate on a bed in a Moscow hotel room that had once been used by then-President Barack Obama and his wife , Michelle Obama .
However , the report compiled by special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s team mentions a text Cohen received from a Russian associate who claimed to have “ stopped flow of tapes from Russia.
” Cohen served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fixer for years , a job that included both media appearances as well as threatening the media behind the scenes .
In one infamous instance , he threatened a Daily Beast reporter on Trump ’ s behalf : “ What I ’ m going to do to you is going to be fucking disgusting.
” However , Cohen later turned on Trump , cooperating with federal investigators and testifying before Congress .
He also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress and to campaign finance violations for hush-money payments on behalf of Trump to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model Karen McDougal .
Both claim to have had affairs with Trump , which the president has denied .
Cohen was initially sent to prison for his three-year sentence but was released to home confinement amid the coronavirus pandemic .
He was returned to custody for violations of his agreement , which a judge later ruled was retaliation for the upcoming book , and he was released again to home confinement .
“ Disloyal ” is set for release Sept. 8 , when it will become the latest in a long line of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which have been highly critical of the president .

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Michael Cohen, the former longtime personal attorney to President Donald Trump, is promising to release salacious details about his old boss, including an incident involving “golden showers in a sex club in Vegas.”
Cohen makes the claim in the foreword of his upcoming book about the president, “Disloyal: A Memoir.”
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“I know where the skeletons are buried,” he writes, “because I was the one who buried them.”
In the excerpt, Cohen confirms that Trump colluded with Russia to help win the 2016 election, “but not in the sophisticated ways imagined by his detractors.”
Instead, he promises to detail in the book how Trump used “Russian connivance” to cheat during the election.
Cohen also details what he’s done for Trump and plans to reveal within the book:
“I stiffed contractors on his behalf, ripped off his business partners, lied to his wife Melania to hide his sexual infidelities, and bullied and screamed at anyone who threatened Trump’s path to power. From golden showers in a sex club in Vegas, to tax fraud, to deals with corrupt officials from the former Soviet Union, to catch and kill conspiracies to silence Trump’s clandestine lovers, I wasn’t just a witness to the president’s rise — I was an active and eager participant.”
The reference to “golden showers” calls to mind a salacious incident detailed in the unverified Trump dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele.
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Steele alleged that Trump hired sex workers to urinate on a bed in a Moscow hotel room that had once been used by then-President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama.
The hotel room, the dossier claimed, was outfitted with cameras by Russian intelligence ― raising the possibility of a “pee-pee tape.”
The incident remains unverified, and no such tape has ever surfaced.
However, the report compiled by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team mentions a text Cohen received from a Russian associate who claimed to have “stopped flow of tapes from Russia.”
It’s not clear what he was referring to.
Cohen served as Trump’s personal attorney and fixer for years, a job that included both media appearances as well as threatening the media behind the scenes.
In one infamous instance, he threatened a Daily Beast reporter on Trump’s behalf: “What I’m going to do to you is going to be fucking disgusting.”
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However, Cohen later turned on Trump, cooperating with federal investigators and testifying before Congress. He also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress and to campaign finance violations for hush-money payments on behalf of Trump to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Both claim to have had affairs with Trump, which the president has denied.
Cohen was initially sent to prison for his three-year sentence but was released to home confinement amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He was returned to custody for violations of his agreement, which a judge later ruled was retaliation for the upcoming book, and he was released again to home confinement.
“Disloyal” is set for release Sept. 8, when it will become the latest in a long line of books from former Trump insiders, most of which have been highly critical of the president.
“This is a book the President of the United States does not want you to read,” he writes.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Trump Had No Response When Asked If He Regrets All His Lies

Donald Trump , a president whose persistent untruths and obfuscation led to a disastrous pandemic response that has left more than 165,000 people dead in the U.S. , was asked if he regrets all the lies he ’ s told to the American people .
He skipped the question .
HuffPost senior White House correspondent S.V .
Dáte asked the president during Thursday ’ s coronavirus task force briefing if , after 3½ years , “ do you regret at all all the lying you ’ ve done to the American people ?
All the dishonesties ?
” “ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who wrote at length about Trump ’ s “ Ministry of Untruth ” earlier this year .
In his report , Dáte noted that Trump ’ s stream of falsehoods across nearly every topic and in any setting is corroding America ’ s democracy as it normalizes lies coming from the nation ’ s highest office .
According to a running fact-check database by The Washington Post , Trump has made more than 20,000 false or misleading claims since taking office .
Last month , as the tracker passed the shocking milestone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kessler , and fact-check reporters Salvador Rizzo and Meg Kelly wrote , “ The notion that Trump would exceed 20,000 claims before he finished his term appeared ludicrous when The Fact Checker started this project during the president ’ s first 100 days in office.
” In that time , its authors noted , Trump on average made fewer than five false claims a day .
“ But the tsunami of untruths just keeps looming larger and larger , ” they said .
The events of the past 15 months ― including Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic that ’ s infected millions and shattered the economy , and nationwide anti-racism protests over the death of George Floyd and other Black men and women in police custody ― have filled an entirely new ballpark of falsehoods from the president , and the tally continues to climb .
According to the database , he reached nearly a thousand false claims about coronavirus alone in just a matter of months .
His persistent downplaying of the virus , suppression of warnings from experts and repeated pushes to prematurely reopen businesses , speculating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away , ” has contributed to a resurgence of COVID-19 in the U.S. that ’ s killing more than a thousand people each day .

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Donald Trump, a president whose persistent untruths and obfuscation led to a disastrous pandemic response that has left more than 165,000 people dead in the U.S., was asked if he regrets all the lies he’s told to the American people. He skipped the question.
HuffPost senior White House correspondent S.V. Dáte asked the president during Thursday’s coronavirus task force briefing if, after 3½ years, “do you regret at all all the lying you’ve done to the American people? All the dishonesties?”
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“That who has done?” Trump replied.
“You have done,” said Dáte, who wrote at length about Trump’s “Ministry of Untruth” earlier this year.
Trump paused and then moved on to the next question.
Question: Do you regret at all the lying you’ve done to the American people? pic.twitter.com/FUh5jYHs0o — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) August 13, 2020
In his report, Dáte noted that Trump’s stream of falsehoods across nearly every topic and in any setting is corroding America’s democracy as it normalizes lies coming from the nation’s highest office.
According to a running fact-check database by The Washington Post, Trump has made more than 20,000 false or misleading claims since taking office. Last month, as the tracker passed the shocking milestone, the project’s editor, Glenn Kessler, and fact-check reporters Salvador Rizzo and Meg Kelly wrote, “The notion that Trump would exceed 20,000 claims before he finished his term appeared ludicrous when The Fact Checker started this project during the president’s first 100 days in office.”
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In that time, its authors noted, Trump on average made fewer than five false claims a day. “But the tsunami of untruths just keeps looming larger and larger,” they said.
The events of the past 15 months ― including Trump’s impeachment trial, the coronavirus pandemic that’s infected millions and shattered the economy, and nationwide anti-racism protests over the death of George Floyd and other Black men and women in police custody ― have filled an entirely new ballpark of falsehoods from the president, and the tally continues to climb.
According to the database, he reached nearly a thousand false claims about coronavirus alone in just a matter of months. His persistent downplaying of the virus, suppression of warnings from experts and repeated pushes to prematurely reopen businesses, speculating that the virus will just “go away,” has contributed to a resurgence of COVID-19 in the U.S. that’s killing more than a thousand people each day.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Dares Donald Trump To A Grades Fight After ‘Poor Student’ Dig

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) took Donald Trump to school after the president attacked the progressive lawmaker as a “ poor student.
” “ I won ’ t say where she went to school .
It doesn ’ t matter , ” Trump told Fox Business ’ Maria Bartiromo on Thursday .
“ This is not even a smart person other than she ’ s got a good line of stuff .
I mean she goes out and she yaps and they ’ re all afraid of her because if you notice , the progressives are beating the regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AOC was a poor student ... this is not even a smart person , other than she 's got a good line of stuff .
I mean , she goes out and she yaps . ''
pic.twitter.com/usijJRqlqK — Aaron Rupar ( @ atrupar ) August 13 , 2020 In the same interview , Trump appeared to admit his administration is blocking funding for the U.S .
Postal Service in a bid to undermine mail-in voting ahead of the 2020 election .
Ocasio-Cortez , who graduated from Boston University with degrees in economics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter : Let ’ s make a deal , Mr. President : You release your college transcript , I ’ ll release mine , and we ’ ll see who was the better student .
Loser has to fund the Post Office .
https : //t.co/OXnmJxufIw — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( @ AOC ) August 13 , 2020 Trump has often bragged about his alleged academic prowess .
But Michael Cohen , the president ’ s former personal attorney , claimed that Trump during the 2016 campaign threatened his alma maters with legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mary Trump , the president ’ s niece , alleged in her tell-all book about her uncle that he cheated his way into college by paying a friend to take the SAT on his behalf .

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) took Donald Trump to school after the president attacked the progressive lawmaker as a “poor student.”
“I won’t say where she went to school. It doesn’t matter,” Trump told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo on Thursday. “This is not even a smart person other than she’s got a good line of stuff. I mean she goes out and she yaps and they’re all afraid of her because if you notice, the progressives are beating the regular Democrats.”
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Check out Trump’s comments here:
Trump on AOC: "AOC was a poor student ... this is not even a smart person, other than she's got a good line of stuff. I mean, she goes out and she yaps." pic.twitter.com/usijJRqlqK — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 13, 2020
In the same interview, Trump appeared to admit his administration is blocking funding for the U.S. Postal Service in a bid to undermine mail-in voting ahead of the 2020 election.
Ocasio-Cortez, who graduated from Boston University with degrees in economics and international relations, responded to the president on Twitter:
Let’s make a deal, Mr. President:
You release your college transcript, I’ll release mine, and we’ll see who was the better student.
Loser has to fund the Post Office. https://t.co/OXnmJxufIw — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 13, 2020
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Trump has often bragged about his alleged academic prowess.
But Michael Cohen, the president’s former personal attorney, claimed that Trump during the 2016 campaign threatened his alma maters with legal action if they released his records.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--'Urine Trouble Trump' Sprays Twitter As New Golden Showers Allegations Emerge

Donald Trump got a splash of publicity on Thursday after his former personal attorney Michael Cohen published an excerpt from an upcoming book .
And it ’ s not the kind of publicity the president typically craves .
Cohen , who eventually turned on Trump and is now serving a 3-year prison sentence in home confinement , wrote in the foreword of Disloyal : A Memoir : “ From golden showers in a sex club in Vegas , to tax fraud , to deals with corrupt officials from the former Soviet Union , to catch and kill conspiracies to silence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t just a witness to the president ’ s rise — I was an active and eager participant.
” The passage called to mind allegations in the unverified dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele that Trump had hired prostitutes in Moscow to pee on a bed once used by then-President Barack Obama .
Although Trump once reportedly visited a night club in Las Vegas known for a simulated golden shower routine , it ’ s not known if he ever witnessed that specific act , according to the 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Story of Putin ’ s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump .
Cohen ’ s excerpt caused # UrineTroubleTrump and other “ golden ” phrases to trend on Twitter : Now I know why he is so worried about shower pressure # UrineTroubleTrump https : //t.co/CqcGbg3ncy — Patricia Arquette ( @ PattyArquette ) August 14 , 2020 Looks like # MichaelCohen has written the last words on the worst human living in the US , aside for his bestie , # GhislaineMaxwell .
And the last words appear to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
# disloyal — bettemidler ( @ BetteMidler ) August 14 , 2020 When reporters start asking your stupid , lying ass about the Golden Showers in Michael Cohen 's book , # UrineTroubleTrump .
— BrooklynDad_Defiant !
( @ mmpadellan ) August 14 , 2020 A lot of people are saying that @ realDonaldTrump likes to get peed on by prostitues .
Maybe it ’ s true .
Maybe it ’ s not .
Check it out .
# UrineTroubleTrump — Hamish Mitchell ( @ H_MitchellPhoto ) August 14 , 2020 The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true .
Multiple people inside Justice Dept told me years ago .
And I find it odd that anyone would doubt that story given Donald Trump 's absolute documented HATED for women .
— Don Winslow ( @ donwinslow ) August 13 , 2020 Somehow , we also managed to get # UrineTroubleTrump to the top of what 's trending ?
😂😂 Today was a good day .
pic.twitter.com/vgwzP34KbR — Strictly BLM ( @ christoq ) August 14 , 2020

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Donald Trump got a splash of publicity on Thursday after his former personal attorney Michael Cohen published an excerpt from an upcoming book.
And it’s not the kind of publicity the president typically craves.
Cohen, who eventually turned on Trump and is now serving a 3-year prison sentence in home confinement, wrote in the foreword of Disloyal: A Memoir:
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“From golden showers in a sex club in Vegas, to tax fraud, to deals with corrupt officials from the former Soviet Union, to catch and kill conspiracies to silence Trump’s clandestine lovers, I wasn’t just a witness to the president’s rise — I was an active and eager participant.”
The passage called to mind allegations in the unverified dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele that Trump had hired prostitutes in Moscow to pee on a bed once used by then-President Barack Obama.
Although Trump once reportedly visited a night club in Las Vegas known for a simulated golden shower routine, it’s not known if he ever witnessed that specific act, according to the 2018 book, Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump.
Cohen’s excerpt caused #UrineTroubleTrump and other “golden” phrases to trend on Twitter:
Now I know why he is so worried about shower pressure#UrineTroubleTrump https://t.co/CqcGbg3ncy — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) August 14, 2020
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Looks like #MichaelCohen has written the last words on the worst human living in the US, aside for his bestie, #GhislaineMaxwell. And the last words appear to be, “Golden Showers”. Ewww. #disloyal — bettemidler (@BetteMidler) August 14, 2020
#UrineTroubleTrump is trending. That should piss him off. — Duty To Warn 🔉 (@duty2warn) August 14, 2020
When reporters start asking your stupid, lying ass about the Golden Showers in Michael Cohen's book, #UrineTroubleTrump. — BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) August 14, 2020
Golden Showers is trending.
Congratulations, Republicans. The party of family values, God and morality. — Wajahat "Wears a Mask Because of a Pandemic" Ali (@WajahatAli) August 13, 2020
A lot of people are saying that @realDonaldTrump likes to get peed on by prostitues. Maybe it’s true. Maybe it’s not. Check it out. #UrineTroubleTrump — Hamish Mitchell (@H_MitchellPhoto) August 14, 2020
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#UrineTroubleTrump tinkle tinkle little czar..Putin put you where you are.. pic.twitter.com/5T5CQAAhMC — Adrienne Young #Resistance (@gentlemindmom) August 14, 2020
The "Golden showers" story was always true.
Multiple people inside Justice Dept told me years ago.
And I find it odd that anyone would doubt that story given Donald Trump's absolute documented HATED for women. — Don Winslow (@donwinslow) August 13, 2020
Somehow, we also managed to get #UrineTroubleTrump to the top of what's trending? 😂😂
Today was a good day. pic.twitter.com/vgwzP34KbR — Strictly BLM (@christoq) August 14, 2020
Q: What type of people does Trump like best?
A: European.#UrineTroubleTrump — JRehling (@JRehling) August 14, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--Mike Pence Says He'll Keep Kamala Harris From Meddling With America's Meat

Vice President Mike Pence pledged that he and President Donald Trump would protect America ’ s red meat from former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) in a speech to Iowa farmers on Thursday .
“ During her short campaign for president , [ Harris ] said Americans needed to be , and I quote , ‘ educated of the effect of our eating habits on our environment , ’ ” Pence said at the “ Farmers & Ranchers For Trump ” event : VP Mike Pence : `` Sen. Kamala Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this country to reduce the amount of red meat that Americans can eat . ''
Crowd boos .
VP : `` Well I 've got some red meat for you : We 're not going to let Joe Biden & Kamala Harris cut America 's meat ! ''
pic.twitter.com/TPqcy92rdw — The Hill ( @ thehill ) August 13 , 2020 Pence was referring to comments that Harris made to CNN while on a climate change panel in 2019 .
At the time , Harris argued that while she did have a fondness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor of changing dietary guidelines and would encourage moderation to promote healthy eating , revise the food pyramid and protect the environment .
Pro-Trump Twitter accounts were quick to ignore Harris ’ comment about moderation at the time , and on Wednesday , the official Trump YouTube channel posted footage of the old interview to lambaste the senator : Social media lit up after Pence made his remarks , with commentators pointing out that they were looking forward to the vice president engaging in meat debates with Harris on the national stage : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country for months because of repeated COVID-19 outbreaks at processing plants , contributing to the 170,000+ dead Americans during Mike Pence 's tenure as resident dietician ] https : //t.co/T5Fs8uM90b — T. Greg Doucette ( @ greg_doucette ) August 14 , 2020 Mike Pence saying in a quasi-nasty way , “ Well , I ’ ve got some red meat for you.
” will never get old .
But watching @ KamalaHarris tear apart that meat like a lioness on a wildebeest at the VP debate ?
That will be epic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kenolin1 ) August 14 , 2020 According to @ VP , this administration will let people die of coronavirus and gun violence but they will protect your meat .
Thanks Mike .
America will be voting for @ JoeBiden and @ KamalaHarris .
https : //t.co/fMj0OxLOBM — Fred Guttenberg ( @ fred_guttenberg ) August 13 , 2020 '' We 're not going to let Kamala Harris cut America 's meat . ''
~ Mike Pence The man has some seriously weird fantasies , does n't he ?
— Annie Gabston-Howell- ( @ AnnieGabstonH @ @ @ @ @

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Vice President Mike Pence pledged that he and President Donald Trump would protect America’s red meat from former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) in a speech to Iowa farmers on Thursday.
“During her short campaign for president, [Harris] said Americans needed to be, and I quote, ‘educated of the effect of our eating habits on our environment,’” Pence said at the “Farmers & Ranchers For Trump” event:
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VP Mike Pence: "Sen. Kamala Harris said she would change the dietary guidelines of this country to reduce the amount of red meat that Americans can eat."
Crowd boos.
VP: "Well I've got some red meat for you: We're not going to let Joe Biden & Kamala Harris cut America's meat!" pic.twitter.com/TPqcy92rdw — The Hill (@thehill) August 13, 2020
Pence was referring to comments that Harris made to CNN while on a climate change panel in 2019. At the time, Harris argued that while she did have a fondness for cheeseburgers, she was also in favor of changing dietary guidelines and would encourage moderation to promote healthy eating, revise the food pyramid and protect the environment.
Pro-Trump Twitter accounts were quick to ignore Harris’ comment about moderation at the time, and on Wednesday, the official Trump YouTube channel posted footage of the old interview to lambaste the senator:
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Social media lit up after Pence made his remarks, with commentators pointing out that they were looking forward to the vice president engaging in meat debates with Harris on the national stage:
[There have been chronic meat shortages across the country for months because of repeated COVID-19 outbreaks at processing plants, contributing to the 170,000+ dead Americans during Mike Pence's tenure as resident dietician] https://t.co/T5Fs8uM90b — T. Greg Doucette (@greg_doucette) August 14, 2020
Mike Pence saying in a quasi-nasty way, “Well, I’ve got some red meat for you.” will never get old. But watching @KamalaHarris tear apart that meat like a lioness on a wildebeest at the VP debate? That will be epic. pic.twitter.com/i8LkJLJuLx — ken olin (@kenolin1) August 14, 2020
According to @VP, this administration will let people die of coronavirus and gun violence but they will protect your meat. Thanks Mike. America will be voting for @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. https://t.co/fMj0OxLOBM — Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) August 13, 2020
"We're not going to let Joe Biden and Kamala Harris cut America's meat."
-- A thing Mike Pence said. — Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) August 14, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--Republican Group Uses Trump's Words On Coronavirus Against Him In Scathing Ad

Republican Voters Against Trump is firing a new salvo against President Donald Trump , using his own words on the coronavirus against him .
In its latest ad , Republican Voters Against Trump pairs stark footage of coronavirus victims and healthcare workers with the words of the president as he downplays the threat and claims the infection will “ disappear.
” The spot will air during the Republican National Convention later this month in the swing states of Arizona , Michigan , Wisconsin , North Carolina , Florida and Pennsylvania , and will be promoted digitally to swing voters as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and callousness while Americans crave honesty and guidance in a crisis , ” Sarah Longwell , the group ’ s strategic director , said in a news release , adding that the issue “ caused many former Trump supporters to look to [ former Vice President ] Joe Biden in November.
” Republican Voters Against Trump is one of several groups on the right working against the president ’ s reelection , often highlighting voices from within the party in confessional-style videos .
However , Trump ’ s approval rating remains high among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ipsos poll released this week .
It ’ s unclear if such ads will help swing the party ’ s voters toward Biden .

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Republican Voters Against Trump is firing a new salvo against President Donald Trump, using his own words on the coronavirus against him.
In its latest ad, Republican Voters Against Trump pairs stark footage of coronavirus victims and healthcare workers with the words of the president as he downplays the threat and claims the infection will “disappear.”
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The spot will air during the Republican National Convention later this month in the swing states of Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania, and will be promoted digitally to swing voters as well.
“President Trump spews misinformation and callousness while Americans crave honesty and guidance in a crisis,” Sarah Longwell, the group’s strategic director, said in a news release, adding that the issue “caused many former Trump supporters to look to [former Vice President] Joe Biden in November.”
Republican Voters Against Trump is one of several groups on the right working against the president’s reelection, often highlighting voices from within the party in confessional-style videos. However, Trump’s approval rating remains high among Republicans, hitting 87 percent in an Ipsos poll released this week. It’s unclear if such ads will help swing the party’s voters toward Biden.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--USPS Warns At Least 2 States That Mail-In Ballots May Not Be Delivered On Time

The U.S .
Postal Service has warned at least two states — Washington and the battleground state of Pennsylvania — that some mail-in ballots are at risk of not being delivered on time to be counted in the November general election because the states ’ deadlines are too tight for its “ delivery standards.
” Thomas J. Marshall , general counsel and executive vice president of USPS , expressed the agency ’ s concern regarding this “ mismatch ” in two separate letters to Kathy Boockvar , Pennsylvania ’ s secretary of state , and Kim Wyman , Washington ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inquirer was the first to report on the letters , which were dated July 29 and July 31 , respectively .
Marshall warned in the letters that some of the states ’ deadlines concerning mail-in ballots were “ incongruous ” and “ incompatible ” with the Postal Service ’ s delivery standards .
“ This mismatch , ” he wrote , “ creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed concern over voters who may register to vote or update their registration information very close to Nov. 3 .
In Pennsylvania , Marshall said voters are allowed to request a ballot as late as one week before Election Day , but , he said , there ’ s a “ significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back.
” Boockvar ’ s department has asked the court to allow mail-in ballots to be counted so long as they are received up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are postmarked on or before Election Day .
“ [ J ] udicial relief is needed to protect Pennsylvanians ’ fundamental right to vote , ” Boockvar ’ s department wrote to the court , adding that Marshall ’ s letter had revealed “ an overwhelming , statewide risk of disenfranchisement for significant numbers of voters utilizing mail-in ballots.
” Wyman , Washington ’ s secretary of state , had earlier expressed her own worries about the effect postal delivery delays could have on the election .
″I ’ m very concerned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a negative effect on absentee ballots and vote-by-mail elections , ” Wyman , a Republican , told NPR earlier this month .
“ I think it really shatters people ’ s confidence in the process , ” Wyman said .
“ We need to make sure we ’ re inspiring confidence in the public that this is a fair election .
And the way you do that is balancing access and security.
” Trump on Thursday admitted in an interview with Fox Business that he was pushing back against Democrats ’ demands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition to “ universal mail-in voting.
” “ If we don ’ t make a deal , that means they don ’ t get the money , ” Trump said , referring to ongoing negotiations over a coronavirus relief package .
“ That means they can ’ t have universal mail-in voting .
They just can ’ t have it.
” Facing criticism for his remarks , Trump later said he would not veto a relief bill just because it included added USPS funding .
He , however , again pushed the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfair election .
“ We have to have an honest election .
And if it ’ s not going to be an honest election , I guess people have to sit down and think really long and hard about it , ” he told reporters .

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The U.S. Postal Service has warned at least two states — Washington and the battleground state of Pennsylvania — that some mail-in ballots are at risk of not being delivered on time to be counted in the November general election because the states’ deadlines are too tight for its “delivery standards.”
Thomas J. Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of USPS, expressed the agency’s concern regarding this “mismatch” in two separate letters to Kathy Boockvar, Pennsylvania’s secretary of state, and Kim Wyman, Washington’s secretary of state. The Philadelphia Inquirer was the first to report on the letters, which were dated July 29 and July 31, respectively.
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Marshall warned in the letters that some of the states’ deadlines concerning mail-in ballots were “incongruous” and “incompatible” with the Postal Service’s delivery standards. “This mismatch,” he wrote, “creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them.”
In Washington’s case, Marshall expressed concern over voters who may register to vote or update their registration information very close to Nov. 3. In Pennsylvania, Marshall said voters are allowed to request a ballot as late as one week before Election Day, but, he said, there’s a “significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back.”
USPS says Pennsylvania mail ballots may not be delivered on time. The PA Dept. of State warns of "overwhelming" risk to voters & asks its Supreme Court to allow ballots to be counted if they're received up to three days after Nov. 3.
W/ @Elaijuh & @sbcmwhttps://t.co/neVPtl2k9Y — Ellie Rushing (@EllieRushing) August 14, 2020
According to the Inquirer, Marshall’s letter to Boockvar was made public on Thursday in a filing submitted to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
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Boockvar’s department has asked the court to allow mail-in ballots to be counted so long as they are received up to three days after Nov. 3 ― and are postmarked on or before Election Day.
Pennsylvania law currently requires mail-in ballots be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
“[J]udicial relief is needed to protect Pennsylvanians’ fundamental right to vote,” Boockvar’s department wrote to the court, adding that Marshall’s letter had revealed “an overwhelming, statewide risk of disenfranchisement for significant numbers of voters utilizing mail-in ballots.”
Wyman, Washington’s secretary of state, had earlier expressed her own worries about the effect postal delivery delays could have on the election.
″I’m very concerned that delays in postal delivery are going to have a negative effect on absentee ballots and vote-by-mail elections,” Wyman, a Republican, told NPR earlier this month.
She added that she was troubled by President Donald Trump’s repeated ― and baseless ― insistence that mail-in voting will lead to widespread fraud.
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“I think it really shatters people’s confidence in the process,” Wyman said. “We need to make sure we’re inspiring confidence in the public that this is a fair election. And the way you do that is balancing access and security.”
Trump on Thursday admitted in an interview with Fox Business that he was pushing back against Democrats’ demands for additional USPS funding because of his opposition to “universal mail-in voting.”
“If we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money,” Trump said, referring to ongoing negotiations over a coronavirus relief package. “That means they can’t have universal mail-in voting. They just can’t have it.”
Facing criticism for his remarks, Trump later said he would not veto a relief bill just because it included added USPS funding. He, however, again pushed the idea that mail-in voting would lead to an unfair election.
“We have to have an honest election. And if it’s not going to be an honest election, I guess people have to sit down and think really long and hard about it,” he told reporters.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--Australian Newspaper Under Fire For Racist Kamala Harris Cartoon

A cartoon of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris , has been condemned as racist after it was published in a national Australian newspaper .
The illustration was printed in The Australian , one of the country ’ s only two nationally distributed daily newspapers .
The cartoon , which imagines Biden giving a missive to heal America ’ s racial divisions , depicts him deferring to Harris and saying , “ I ’ ll hand you over to this little brown girl while I go for a lie-down.
” The conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publish it after it drew outcry online .
“ Racism has no place in Australian public life .
The Australian should pull today ’ s offensive cartoon off their website , and issue an immediate apology , ” Leigh said in a tweet .
Dreyfus said the newspaper should apologize immediately and never publish anything similar if it has “ any respect for decency and standards.
” And Tim Soutphommasane , the former race discrimination commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission , said commentary of this type “ diminishes our society.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described this newspaper as a poor man ’ s Breitbart .
It indulges racism , and uses it as part of its business model , ” he tweeted .
The cartoonist , Johannes Leak , has previously sparked outcry for his offensive illustrations , including a cartoon published in The Australian last November that showed a refugee family in a bushfire-ravaged town saying it “ feels just like home.
” His father , Bill Leak , a former cartoonist for the same paper , was repeatedly called out for producing inflammatory and racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black and brown girls ” belong to US presidential candidate Joe Biden , not Johannes Leak .
When Johannes used those words , expressed in a tweet by Biden yesterday , he was highlighting Biden ’ s language and apparent attitudes , not his own .
The intention of the commentary in the cartoon was to ridicule racism , not perpetuate it .
In the context of Biden ’ s words , this is evident .
Clearly some , including those without that context , have wrongly attributed Biden ’ s words to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attributed abhorrent and inaccurate motives to him .
The Australian , and Johannes , opposes racism in all of its guises.
” This morning , little girls woke up across this nation — especially Black and Brown girls who so often may feel overlooked and undervalued in our society — potentially seeing themselves in a new way : As the stuff of Presidents and Vice Presidents .
— Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) August 12 , 2020 Dore had no further response when it was pointed out that the words in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s words ― which referred to children of color uplifted by Harris ’ s achievement , not to the senator from California herself .
News Corp publications in Australia have come under fire similarly in the past .
In 2018 , Melbourne newspaper Herald Sun published a cartoon of tennis champion Serena Williams that sparked outrage in Australia and from civil rights leaders and others in the U.S. and abroad .

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A cartoon of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, has been condemned as racist after it was published in a national Australian newspaper.
The illustration was printed in The Australian, one of the country’s only two nationally distributed daily newspapers. The cartoon, which imagines Biden giving a missive to heal America’s racial divisions, depicts him deferring to Harris and saying, “I’ll hand you over to this little brown girl while I go for a lie-down.” The conservative News Corp-owned paper defended its decision to publish it after it drew outcry online.
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National politicians Andrew Giles, Mark Dreyfus and Andrew Leigh, all members of the left-leaning Australian Labor Party, denounced its publication.
“Racism has no place in Australian public life. The Australian should pull today’s offensive cartoon off their website, and issue an immediate apology,” Leigh said in a tweet.
Dreyfus said the newspaper should apologize immediately and never publish anything similar if it has “any respect for decency and standards.”
And Tim Soutphommasane, the former race discrimination commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, said commentary of this type “diminishes our society.”
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“In the past I’ve described this newspaper as a poor man’s Breitbart. It indulges racism, and uses it as part of its business model,” he tweeted.
Here's your little reminder of how ludicrously racist Australian commercial media are. This is in the country's only national daily newspaper: pic.twitter.com/7oN7bjRWLO — Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0) August 13, 2020
The cartoonist, Johannes Leak, has previously sparked outcry for his offensive illustrations, including a cartoon published in The Australian last November that showed a refugee family in a bushfire-ravaged town saying it “feels just like home.” His father, Bill Leak, a former cartoonist for the same paper, was repeatedly called out for producing inflammatory and racist content.
In a statement to HuffPost, The Australian Editor in Chief Christopher Dore said:
“The words “little black and brown girls” belong to US presidential candidate Joe Biden, not Johannes Leak. When Johannes used those words, expressed in a tweet by Biden yesterday, he was highlighting Biden’s language and apparent attitudes, not his own. The intention of the commentary in the cartoon was to ridicule racism, not perpetuate it. In the context of Biden’s words, this is evident. Clearly some, including those without that context, have wrongly attributed Biden’s words to Johannes, and in doing so have attributed abhorrent and inaccurate motives to him. The Australian, and Johannes, opposes racism in all of its guises.”
These are the words in Biden’s tweet:
This morning, little girls woke up across this nation — especially Black and Brown girls who so often may feel overlooked and undervalued in our society — potentially seeing themselves in a new way: As the stuff of Presidents and Vice Presidents. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 12, 2020
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Dore had no further response when it was pointed out that the words in the cartoon were entirely different from Biden’s words ― which referred to children of color uplifted by Harris’s achievement, not to the senator from California herself.
News Corp publications in Australia have come under fire similarly in the past. In 2018, Melbourne newspaper Herald Sun published a cartoon of tennis champion Serena Williams that sparked outrage in Australia and from civil rights leaders and others in the U.S. and abroad.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--Tucker Carlson: Liberal Elites Have Ruined U.S. Cities And Should Have Their Passports Seized

Tucker Carlson went on an extended rant about America ’ s cities on Thursday , arguing that their current struggles were exacerbated by liberal elites who needed to have their passports seized before they tried to escape the United States .
The Fox News host ’ s message was laid out in two headings on screen : “ OUR LEADERS DON ’ T CARE ABOUT OUR REAL PROBLEMS ” and “ AMERICA ’ S CITIES ARE COLLAPSING BEFORE OUR EYES.
” To prove his statements , he displayed crime statistics showing increased shootings in New York City , instances of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by pedestrians and large retail chains leaving Manhattan .
Carlson then focused on protests in other American cities , such as Chicago , Minneapolis and Bend , Oregon .
Rather than analyzing the Trump administration ’ s poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic , which brought many of these issues to the forefront , or the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of the police , Carlson blamed “ BLM and antifa , crazed ideologues , grifters , criminals , antisocial thugs with no stake in society and nothing better to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ American cities didn ’ t collapse by accident .
Sociopathic children may have burned Wendy ’ s and looted the Gucci store , but rich adults made it possible .
They paid for it all , ” he said .
“ The entire subscriber base of The New York Times has been seized by a frenzy of destructive rage .
They ’ re throwing plates around the kitchen , beating the dogs , smashing the windows , ” Carlson said .
“ At some point , they ’ re going to wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve destroyed their own home .
And their first instinct , as it always is , will be to leave , to split for St. Bart ’ s .
But we should not let them .
We should seize their passports now .
They did this ; they should have to live with the consequences ― in midtown.
” Carlson has regularly spun the argument that “ elites ” were manipulating America .
He even wrote a book on the subject in 2018 titled Ship of Fools : How a Selfish Ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Revolution .
According to a Vox video in 2019 , Carlson ― the son of a former Voice of America director and stepson of an heiress to the Swanson food empire ― is as much of an “ elite ” as the nebulous group he often targets .
He admitted as much in a 2008 interview on “ The Bubba the Love Sponge Show , ” calling himself an “ out-of-the-closet elitist ” who was “ absolutely not a man of the people at all .
”

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Tucker Carlson went on an extended rant about America’s cities on Thursday, arguing that their current struggles were exacerbated by liberal elites who needed to have their passports seized before they tried to escape the United States.
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Rather than analyzing the Trump administration’s poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought many of these issues to the forefront, or the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of the police, Carlson blamed “BLM and antifa, crazed ideologues, grifters, criminals, antisocial thugs with no stake in society and nothing better to do than hurt people and destroy things.”
But the majority of his ire was aimed at wealthy Americans.
“American cities didn’t collapse by accident. Sociopathic children may have burned Wendy’s and looted the Gucci store, but rich adults made it possible. They paid for it all,” he said.
Carlson also argued that elites were striving to punish America’s middle class for voting for Donald Trump.
“The entire subscriber base of The New York Times has been seized by a frenzy of destructive rage. They’re throwing plates around the kitchen, beating the dogs, smashing the windows,” Carlson said. “At some point, they’re going to wake up from this bender and realize they’ve destroyed their own home. And their first instinct, as it always is, will be to leave, to split for St. Bart’s. But we should not let them. We should seize their passports now. They did this; they should have to live with the consequences ― in midtown.”
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Carlson has regularly spun the argument that “elites” were manipulating America. He even wrote a book on the subject in 2018 titled Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution.
According to a Vox video in 2019, Carlson ― the son of a former Voice of America director and stepson of an heiress to the Swanson food empire ― is as much of an “elite” as the nebulous group he often targets. He admitted as much in a 2008 interview on “The Bubba the Love Sponge Show,” calling himself an “out-of-the-closet elitist” who was “absolutely not a man of the people at all.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--Don Lemon Cuts To The Chase On Donald Trump: 'This Man Is So Full Of It, Y’all'

CNN ’ s Don Lemon on Thursday slammed President Donald Trump for using the same racist attacks on presumptive Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris that he used on former President Barack Obama .
“ Every single day , another lie , another conspiracy theory , another racist dog whistle , ” Lemon began Thursday ’ s broadcast of “ CNN Tonight.
” “ It ’ s like the Groundhog ’ s Day for alternative realities , ” he continued .
“ It is clear that this president will stop at nothing to try to win reelection , using everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” During a White House briefing earlier on Thursday , Trump did not explicitly dismiss a birther conspiracy theory about Harris , who was born in California .
The baseless claim had been raised by a law professor in a discredited op-ed for Newsweek .
“ Can you believe it ?
Is it 2011 all over again ?
What is going on ?
” Lemon asked .
“ Birtherism now against Kamala Harris , Joe Biden ’ s vice presidential nominee , who is a Black woman .
Does that ring a bell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is so full of it , y ’ all .
Come on , he knows better than that , ” Lemon said , later adding that there ’ s “ no other words but disgusting and racist ” to describe “ a white man questioning a Black woman ’ s birthplace in America in 2020 .
”

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CNN’s Don Lemon on Thursday slammed President Donald Trump for using the same racist attacks on presumptive Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris that he used on former President Barack Obama.
“Every single day, another lie, another conspiracy theory, another racist dog whistle,” Lemon began Thursday’s broadcast of “CNN Tonight.”
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“It’s like the Groundhog’s Day for alternative realities,” he continued. “It is clear that this president will stop at nothing to try to win reelection, using everything at his disposal to achieve his goal.”
During a White House briefing earlier on Thursday, Trump did not explicitly dismiss a birther conspiracy theory about Harris, who was born in California. The baseless claim had been raised by a law professor in a discredited op-ed for Newsweek.
“Can you believe it? Is it 2011 all over again? What is going on?” Lemon asked. “Birtherism now against Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s vice presidential nominee, who is a Black woman. Does that ring a bell to you?”
“This man is so full of it, y’all. Come on, he knows better than that,” Lemon said, later adding that there’s “no other words but disgusting and racist” to describe “a white man questioning a Black woman’s birthplace in America in 2020.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--Cory Gardner Runs Pro-Trump Facebook Ad Being Seen Everywhere -- Except In Colorado

Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images Sen. Cory Gardner ( R-Colo. ) is one of the most at-risk senators up for reelection in 2020 .
“ We ’ re asking patriots nationwide to show that they support the pro-growth , conservative agenda that President Trump and I are fighting for ― will you join them ?
Sign your name now to say ‘ thanks ’ to President Trump for delivering REAL results on behalf of ALL Americans !
” reads the text of the Facebook ad , which also has a little video featuring pictures of Gardner and Trump side-by-side .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running Monday .
According to Facebook data , the ad has been seen the least in Gardner ’ s own state .
In theory , the campaign may not have chosen any geographic targeting , and the ad has simply been seen by lots of people not in Colorado .
That explanation is far-fetched , however , considering Gardner is the senator from Colorado and presumably has a significant number of Colorado connections on Facebook .
Gardner is one of the most at-risk senators in the 2020 cycle , with Democrats looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities .
The state increasingly leans blue , and Democrats have won the presidential election there the past three cycles .
The Trump relationship is tricky for Gardner .
On the one hand , completely disowning the president could anger GOP voters , donors and even Trump himself , but being seen as too close to Trump could turn off energize Democrats and turn off independent voters who make up a sizable chunk of the electorate .
Gardner refused to vote for Trump in 2016 ― he said he “ can not and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degrading and assaulting women ” ― but he has endorsed the president ’ s reelection bid this time around .
Though he has distanced himself from Trump ’ s remarks or positions at times , he doesn ’ t go out of his way to forcefully denounce the president .
And when Trump came to Colorado in February for a rally , Gardner appeared with him and said the president had “ done so much good for Colorado.
” “ You are going to help us get Cory Gardner across that line because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , ” Trump told the crowd .
“ There was no waver .
He ’ s been with us .
There was no waver with Cory , and we appreciate that.
” “ There are no two ways about it : Sen. Gardner has pledged his allegiance to Donald Trump at the expense of Coloradans , ” said Eli Rosen , spokesperson for the Colorado Democratic Party .
“ As Trump said himself , Gardner is with him ‘ 100 % , ’ ”

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) is one of the most at-risk senators up for reelection in 2020. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) is running a new Facebook ad, touting his close relationship with President Donald Trump.
“We’re asking patriots nationwide to show that they support the pro-growth, conservative agenda that President Trump and I are fighting for ― will you join them? Sign your name now to say ‘thanks’ to President Trump for delivering REAL results on behalf of ALL Americans!” reads the text of the Facebook ad, which also has a little video featuring pictures of Gardner and Trump side-by-side.
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But if you’re a voter in Colorado, you probably haven’t seen it.
There are four versions of the ad that began running Monday. According to Facebook data, the ad has been seen the least in Gardner’s own state.
An Aug. 10 Facebook ad highlighting the close relationship between President Donald Trump and Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) has been seen the least in Colorado. Facebook
Gardner’s reelection campaign did not return requests for comment on why Colorado voters aren’t seeing the ad.
In theory, the campaign may not have chosen any geographic targeting, and the ad has simply been seen by lots of people not in Colorado. That explanation is far-fetched, however, considering Gardner is the senator from Colorado and presumably has a significant number of Colorado connections on Facebook.
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Additionally, every other Facebook ad Gardner is running is being seen in Colorado.
The other explanation is that the Gardner campaign deliberately excluded it from Colorado.
Gardner is one of the most at-risk senators in the 2020 cycle, with Democrats looking at it as one of their best pickup opportunities. The state increasingly leans blue, and Democrats have won the presidential election there the past three cycles.
Gardner is facing off against John Hickenlooper, a former governor who remains popular but who had a series of missteps this spring.
The Trump relationship is tricky for Gardner. On the one hand, completely disowning the president could anger GOP voters, donors and even Trump himself, but being seen as too close to Trump could energize Democrats and turn off independent voters who make up a sizable chunk of the electorate.
Gardner refused to vote for Trump in 2016 ― he said he “cannot and will not support someone who brags about degrading and assaulting women” ― but he has endorsed the president’s reelection bid this time around.
Though he has distanced himself from Trump’s remarks or positions at times, he doesn’t go out of his way to forcefully denounce the president.
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And when Trump came to Colorado in February for a rally, Gardner appeared with him and said the president had “done so much good for Colorado.”
“You are going to help us get Cory Gardner across that line because he’s been with us 100%,” Trump told the crowd. “There was no waver. He’s been with us. There was no waver with Cory, and we appreciate that.”
“There are no two ways about it: Sen. Gardner has pledged his allegiance to Donald Trump at the expense of Coloradans,” said Eli Rosen, spokesperson for the Colorado Democratic Party. “As Trump said himself, Gardner is with him ‘100%,’”
UPDATE, 8/17 ― The Gardner campaign told a Colorado Sun reporter that it did not deliberately hide the ad from voters in the state: “Facebook’s algorithms are just optimizing based on people who engage with similar content.” It also said that it ran a nearly identical ad from February to June, reaching only Colorado voters, so it wasn’t trying to hide this spot now.
A Republican strategist offered a fuller potential explanation, telling Colorado Politics that the ad looked like it was intended to collect contact information from potential voters, donors and volunteers. Since it had already run in Colorado ― and presumably resulted in a sizable number of email sign-ups ― the Gardner campaign could have asked for the ad to exclude people already on its list. That would have resulted in a larger share of national viewers.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-14--Donald Trump Gets A Withering Reminder After ‘Guided By Science’ Claim

Twitter users were quick to remind President Donald Trump of just some of the bonkers things he ’ s said about the coronavirus after he claimed his administration was “ guided by science ” in its response to the pandemic .
“ Unlike the Biden approach , our approach is guided by science , ” Trump declared during Thursday ’ s White House coronavirus briefing .
The president then upped his attack on presumptive 2020 Democratic rival Joe Biden by falsely claiming Biden “ rejects the scientific approach in favor of locking all Americans in their basements for months on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down our economy , close our schools and grind society to a halt , ” Trump falsely added .
Trump has drawn intense criticism over his handling of the public health crisis that has now claimed the lives of more than 160,000 people in the U.S .
The president has ignored the advice of public health officials and downplayed the seriousness of the pandemic .
He contradicted scientific advice to push for the premature reopening of schools and businesses .
Critics in response recalled Trump ’ s bizarre anti-scientific musings , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You mean the demon sperm/alien dna lady or the injecting disinfectants/ very powerful light inside the body stuff ?
🤔 — Jo ( @ JoJoFromJerz ) August 14 , 2020 Trump told people to ingest bleach with a UV light Trump wanted to try insulin for fun Trump toted # Hydroxychloroquine which has sometimes deadly side effects for patients and does n't treat Covid19 Trump said that one day Covid19 would just disappear What is science to you @ GOP ?
— But I Just Wan na Hug ( @ ButIJustWanna ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slapped science in the face every step of the way — IamCanadian🇨🇦 ( @ LaurenToronto4 ) August 14 , 2020 '' I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute .
One minute .
And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning ? ''
-President Donald Trump https : //t.co/BSFAkeAib9 — Jory Rand ( @ ABC7Jory ) August 13 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Twitter users were quick to remind President Donald Trump of just some of the bonkers things he’s said about the coronavirus after he claimed his administration was “guided by science” in its response to the pandemic.
“Unlike the Biden approach, our approach is guided by science,” Trump declared during Thursday’s White House coronavirus briefing.
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The president then upped his attack on presumptive 2020 Democratic rival Joe Biden by falsely claiming Biden “rejects the scientific approach in favor of locking all Americans in their basements for months on end.”
Biden “wants to shut down our economy, close our schools and grind society to a halt,” Trump falsely added.
Check out Trump’s comments here:
“Unlike the Biden approach, our approach is guided by science.” -@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/KdrtjBVP17 — GOP (@GOP) August 13, 2020
Trump has drawn intense criticism over his handling of the public health crisis that has now claimed the lives of more than 160,000 people in the U.S. The president has ignored the advice of public health officials and downplayed the seriousness of the pandemic. He contradicted scientific advice to push for the premature reopening of schools and businesses.
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Critics in response recalled Trump’s bizarre anti-scientific musings, such as injecting disinfectant as a cure for COVID-19.
You mean the demon sperm/alien dna lady or the injecting disinfectants/ very powerful light inside the body stuff? 🤔 — Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) August 14, 2020
Trump told people to ingest bleach with a UV light
Trump wanted to try insulin for fun
Trump toted #Hydroxychloroquine which has sometimes deadly side effects for patients and doesn't treat Covid19
Trump said that one day Covid19 would just disappear What is science to you @GOP? — But I Just Wanna Hug (@ButIJustWanna) August 13, 2020
🤣🤣🤣 The science of drinking BLEACH! — Sheila (@deburgha9141) August 13, 2020
Science says lockdown, wear a mask, wash your hands, stop the spread.. NOT OPEN EVERYTHING — Truth2Power 🏳🌈 🇺🇸 #BidenHarris2020 (@RobHunyady) August 13, 2020
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🤣🤣🤣 you have slapped science in the face every step of the way — IamCanadian🇨🇦 (@LaurenToronto4) August 14, 2020
"I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning?"
-President Donald Trump https://t.co/BSFAkeAib9 — Jory Rand (@ABC7Jory) August 13, 2020
Thank you! Been waiting to use this!😂 pic.twitter.com/Y4gadHIU68 — Huey 'Good Trouble' Newton (@HueyPNewton13) August 14, 2020