thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--As Many As 35 Million People Haven't Yet Received Stimulus Checks

As many as 35 million people entitled to stimulus payments from the U.S. government haven ’ t yet received them , according to a House Ways and Means Committee analysis .
Congress allocated the money , officially called economic impact payments , as part of the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act , or CARES Act , in late March .
The legislation provides up to $ 1,200 to U.S. citizens and noncitizens with green cards or work visas , and an additional $ 500 for each dependent child under 17 years of age .
Last Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 159 million stimulus payments to eligible individuals and families .
That means between 30 million and 35 million payments have not yet gone out , the Ways and Means Committee estimated in an analysis released Friday .
That includes 13 million to 18 million people who filed tax returns and who are below the income thresholds outlined in the CARES Act ; 7.5 million Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits recipients who do not file tax returns ; and millions of people who receive Supplemental Security Income or Veterans Administration benefits and do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department , which houses the IRS , should have the necessary information for most of these individuals to deliver the stimulus payments , according to the Ways and Means Committee .
However , the department may not have information for the roughly 10.7 million people who are entitled to stimulus payments but do not file tax returns and do not receive federal government benefits , the committee said .
What ’ s more , the IRS has yet to open and process an estimated 10 million pieces of mail , including over 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House committee .
Some of these returns may be from first-time filers who would qualify for stimulus payments .
More than 40 million Americans have filed jobless claims since mid-March amid the pandemic ’ s devastating impact on the economy .
Some who have not yet received a stimulus check have waited months to receive much-needed unemployment benefits , including the pandemic assistance outlined in the CARES Act .
While millions of people continue to wait for their stimulus checks , Congress is debating a second round of payments .
The Health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or HEROES Act which would provide for the next stimulus checks , has passed the House , but has met resistance in the Republican-controlled Senate .
“ If Congress fails to continue to respond to the emergency , we could quickly lose what progress we ’ ve made and prolong our nation ’ s suffering , ” Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard E. Neal ( D-Mass . )
said in a statement Friday .
“ Senate Republicans need to stop stalling , step up , and do their jobs .
”

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As many as 35 million people entitled to stimulus payments from the U.S. government haven’t yet received them, according to a House Ways and Means Committee analysis.
Congress allocated the money, officially called economic impact payments, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, in late March. The legislation provides up to $1,200 to U.S. citizens and noncitizens with green cards or work visas, and an additional $500 for each dependent child under 17 years of age.
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Last Wednesday, the IRS announced it had delivered 159 million stimulus payments to eligible individuals and families. That means between 30 million and 35 million payments have not yet gone out, the Ways and Means Committee estimated in an analysis released Friday.
That includes 13 million to 18 million people who filed tax returns and who are below the income thresholds outlined in the CARES Act; 7.5 million Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits recipients who do not file tax returns; and millions of people who receive Supplemental Security Income or Veterans Administration benefits and do not file tax returns.
The Treasury Department, which houses the IRS, should have the necessary information for most of these individuals to deliver the stimulus payments, according to the Ways and Means Committee. However, the department may not have information for the roughly 10.7 million people who are entitled to stimulus payments but do not file tax returns and do not receive federal government benefits, the committee said.
What’s more, the IRS has yet to open and process an estimated 10 million pieces of mail, including over 4 million tax returns, according to the House committee. Some of these returns may be from first-time filers who would qualify for stimulus payments.
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The Treasury Department did not immediately return HuffPost’s request for comment.
More than 40 million Americans have filed jobless claims since mid-March amid the pandemic’s devastating impact on the economy. Some who have not yet received a stimulus check have waited months to receive much-needed unemployment benefits, including the pandemic assistance outlined in the CARES Act.
While millions of people continue to wait for their stimulus checks, Congress is debating a second round of payments. The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or HEROES Act which would provide for the next stimulus checks, has passed the House, but has met resistance in the Republican-controlled Senate.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--Little Evidence Of Antifa Links In Protest Violence Prosecutions

ASSOCIATED PRESS Attorney General William Barr speaks during a roundtable discussion with President Donald Trump and law enforcement officials , Monday , June 8 , 2020 , at the White House in Washington .
( AP Photo/Patrick Semansky ) But a Reuters examination of federal court records related to the charges , social media posts by some of the suspects and interviews with defense lawyers and prosecutors found mostly disorganized acts of violence by people who have few obvious connections to antifa or other left-wing groups .
Reuters reviewed only federal cases , both because of the allegations by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and similar groups , and since federal charges generally carry harsher penalties .
In some of the charging documents reviewed by Reuters , no violent acts are alleged at all .
The Department of Justice declined to comment on Reuters ’ findings and referred to an interview that Barr gave to Fox News on Monday .
He said there that while his department had some investigations under way into antifa , it was still in the “ initial phase of identifying people.
” Looting and violence broke out at some of the hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd , an African American , after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him with a knee to the neck for almost nine minutes .
While Barr and President Donald Trump have repeatedly singled out antifa , an amorphous movement of primarily leftist anti-authoritarians ( the name is derived from “ anti-fascist ” ) , as a major instigator of the unrest , the term does not appear in any of the federal charging documents reviewed by Reuters .
It is possible that more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Massachusetts , 18-year-old Vincent Eovacious was charged with possession of a Molotov cocktail and - according to the complaint against him - told his arresting officer he was “ with the anarchist group.
” The U.S. attorney ’ s office in the state said there was no additional information on what that meant .
Ca ’ Quintez Gibson , 26 , was arrested for allegedly using Facebook live posts and emoji-filled messages to encourage people to loot in Peoria , Illinois .
But John Milhiser , the U.S. attorney in Springfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case , told Reuters that Gibson had “ no connection ” with any political group or motive .
Gibson ’ s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment .
Michael German , a former FBI agent and current fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice , said the government could produce more evidence at trial , but the “ lack of clear indications of involvement of anti-fascists in these protests I think shows they are not leading in any way the protest violence.
” Another man charged in Wisconsin , Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intoxicated on the grass near the Wisconsin state capitol with a serious gunshot wound to his leg , which he said he had accidentally inflicted on himself .
Krohn ’ s attorney , Peter Moyers , said his client had “ no history of political activism .
”

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WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department moved swiftly to bring federal charges against 53 individuals accused of violence during nationwide protests that swept across the United States calling for an end to police brutality.
Attorney General William Barr promised a crackdown on members of the anti-fascist movement known as antifa and other “extremists” he blamed for helping to drive the violence.
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But a Reuters examination of federal court records related to the charges, social media posts by some of the suspects and interviews with defense lawyers and prosecutors found mostly disorganized acts of violence by people who have few obvious connections to antifa or other left-wing groups.
Reuters reviewed only federal cases, both because of the allegations by the Justice Department about the involvement of antifa and similar groups, and since federal charges generally carry harsher penalties. In some of the charging documents reviewed by Reuters, no violent acts are alleged at all.
The Department of Justice declined to comment on Reuters’ findings and referred to an interview that Barr gave to Fox News on Monday. He said there that while his department had some investigations under way into antifa, it was still in the “initial phase of identifying people.”
Looting and violence broke out at some of the hundreds of largely peaceful demonstrations over the past week sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd, an African American, after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him with a knee to the neck for almost nine minutes.
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The policeman, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with second-degree murder, and three other officers with aiding and abetting.
While Barr and President Donald Trump have repeatedly singled out antifa, an amorphous movement of primarily leftist anti-authoritarians (the name is derived from “anti-fascist”), as a major instigator of the unrest, the term does not appear in any of the federal charging documents reviewed by Reuters. It is possible that more evidence could emerge as the cases progress.
Only one group was called out by name in a federal complaint: the so-called boogaloo movement, whose followers, according to prosecutors, believe in an impending civil war.
Hate group experts say boogaloo’s followers are largely an assortment of right-wing extremists. Prosecutors alleged three men affiliated with “the movement” plotted to set off explosives in Las Vegas in the hopes of touching off rioting before a protest.
The three suspects are scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday and have not yet entered a plea. Their lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.
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Police officers look on as a car burns in the back as protesters continue to rally against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, near the White House, in Washington, U.S., May 30, 2020. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst) Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
NO CLAIMS OF ALLEGIANCE
In three other criminal complaints, individuals told police about their ideological leanings without claiming allegiance to any particular group.
In Massachusetts, 18-year-old Vincent Eovacious was charged with possession of a Molotov cocktail and - according to the complaint against him - told his arresting officer he was “with the anarchist group.” The U.S. attorney’s office in the state said there was no additional information on what that meant.
His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Another man, Brian Bartels, arrested in Pennsylvania for spray painting and destroying a police vehicle, described himself as “far left” and said he lashed out in a “fuck-it moment,” according to the charging documents. His lawyer, Joseph Otte, declined to comment.
A man in Lubbock, Texas, 25-year-old Emmanuel Quinones, brandished an assault rifle at a protest and shouted: “This is a revolution” and “President Trump must die” as he was arrested, according to prosecutors. He admitted to posting messages on social media aimed at intimidating Trump supporters. Quinones’ attorney declined to comment.
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On social media, 17 individuals espoused violence - like threatening to start riots or harm police - or organized themselves using encrypted communications, the complaints alleged. Social media profiles reviewed by Reuters showed a range of views, including anarchism, anti-racism and anti-government messages.
Ca’Quintez Gibson, 26, was arrested for allegedly using Facebook live posts and emoji-filled messages to encourage people to loot in Peoria, Illinois. But John Milhiser, the U.S. attorney in Springfield, Illinois, whose office is prosecuting the case, told Reuters that Gibson had “no connection” with any political group or motive. Gibson’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
Barbara McQuade, who was U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan during President Barack Obama’s administration, said prosecutors were generally cautious about making allegations based on someone’s ideology, owing to constitutional guarantees of free speech.
Michael German, a former FBI agent and current fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice, said the government could produce more evidence at trial, but the “lack of clear indications of involvement of anti-fascists in these protests I think shows they are not leading in any way the protest violence.”
Still, Trump’s campaign for re-election in November is sending out pleas for campaign donations touting the president’s “100%” stand against antifa.
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MOLOTOV COCKTAILS
Most of the individuals charged - about 40 - were accused of violent acts around the protests, from throwing Molotov cocktails to setting fires or looting stores, according to photographs and affidavits included in the criminal complaints.
In the rest of the cases, no serious violence was alleged, Reuters found. Some of those arrested were charged only with possessing illegal drugs or firearms.
One man arrested in Florida, John Wesley Mobley Jr., was charged with impersonating a police officer when he was found carrying a BB gun that looked like a Glock pistol and a fake U.S. Marshal’s badge, according to the federal charging documents.
Mobley had a history of felonies and had impersonated police in the past, the complaint said. His attorney, Karla Mariel Reyes, declined to comment.
A man arrested in Madison, Wisconsin, Kyle Olson, was carrying a loaded handgun, which he said he brought to the protests “for protection,” court records stated. Joseph Bugni, the public defender who is representing Olson, said his client had “no political motivation.”
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Another man charged in Wisconsin, Anthony Krohn, was found by police lying intoxicated on the grass near the Wisconsin state capitol with a serious gunshot wound to his leg, which he said he had accidentally inflicted on himself. Krohn’s attorney, Peter Moyers, said his client had “no history of political activism.”
Attorneys for some of the individuals charged said they were surprised the FBI was getting involved in cases that would usually be handled by state prosecutors.
The FBI referred questions to the Justice Department.
The head of the New York Police Department’s intelligence unit, John Miller, told reporters at a briefing there were definitely signs of organized violence by “anarchist groups” that came “prepared to commit property damage” in “high-end stores run by corporate entities” and developed a “complex network of bicycle scouts” to report on police movements.
But none of the eight people charged by the Justice Department in New York were alleged to have ties to specific anarchist groups, according to court papers.
The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Reuters’ findings.
(Reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York City; Sarah N. Lynch, Mark Hosenball and Brad Heath in Washington; Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Ross Colvin and Peter Cooney)


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--George Floyd's Brother To Congress: 'Stop The Pain'

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Philonese Floyd challenged Congress on Wednesday to “ stop the pain ” so that his brother George wouldn ’ t be just “ another name ” on a growing list of those killed during interactions with police .
Floyd ’ s appearance before a House hearing came a day after funeral services for his bother , the 46-year-old Minnesota man whose death has become a worldwide symbol in demonstrations over calls for changes to police practices and an end to racial prejudices .
“ I ’ m here today to ask you to make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philonese Floyd told the silenced hearing room .
Choking back tears , he said he wants to make sure that his brother , whom he called “ Perry , ” is “ more than another face on a t-shirt .
More than another name on a list that won ’ t stop growing.
” Floyd directly challenged lawmakers to step up .
“ The people marching in the streets are telling you enough is enough .
Be the leaders that this country , this world , needs .
Do the right thing.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the session as Democrats review the Justice in Policing Act , a far-ranging package of proposals amid a national debate on policing and racial inequity in the United States .
Lawmakers will also hear testimony from civil rights and law enforcement leaders at the congressional hearing on proposed changes to police practices and accountability after the Minnesota man ’ s death in police custody and the worldwide protests that followed .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi watched from the hearing audience and the GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy joined on the dais .
Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also criticizing calls from activists across the country who want to “ defund the police ” ― a catch-all term for re-imagining law enforcement , but one that President Trump and his allies have seized on to portray Democrats as extreme .
“ The American people understand that it ’ s time for a real discussion , ” said Rep. Jim Jordan , R-Ohio , the ranking Republican on the panel .
But he said what they also understand , Jordan said , is that “ it is pure insanity to defund @ @ @ @

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Philonese Floyd challenged Congress on Wednesday to “stop the pain” so that his brother George wouldn’t be just “another name” on a growing list of those killed during interactions with police.
Floyd’s appearance before a House hearing came a day after funeral services for his bother, the 46-year-old Minnesota man whose death has become a worldwide symbol in demonstrations over calls for changes to police practices and an end to racial prejudices.
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“I’m here today to ask you to make it stop. Stop the pain,” Philonese Floyd told the silenced hearing room.
Choking back tears, he said he wants to make sure that his brother, whom he called “Perry,” is “more than another face on a t-shirt. More than another name on a list that won’t stop growing.”
Floyd directly challenged lawmakers to step up. “The people marching in the streets are telling you enough is enough. Be the leaders that this country, this world, needs. Do the right thing.”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler gaveled in the session as Democrats review the Justice in Policing Act, a far-ranging package of proposals amid a national debate on policing and racial inequity in the United States.
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Lawmakers will also hear testimony from civil rights and law enforcement leaders at the congressional hearing on proposed changes to police practices and accountability after the Minnesota man’s death in police custody and the worldwide protests that followed.
“Today we answer their call,” Nadler said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi watched from the hearing audience and the GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy joined on the dais.
Republicans are rushing to draft their own proposal but also criticizing calls from activists across the country who want to “defund the police” ― a catch-all term for re-imagining law enforcement, but one that President Trump and his allies have seized on to portray Democrats as extreme.
“The American people understand that it’s time for a real discussion,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the ranking Republican on the panel. But he said what they also understand, Jordan said, is that “it is pure insanity to defund the police.”
Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--Tear Gas Is Banned In Warfare But Not Against Protesters. A New Bill Could Change That.

On Monday , a group of lawmakers introduced a draft of a bill that would ban the use of tear gas by police , after the repeated emergence of videos of law enforcement gassing civilians protesting against racism and police brutality .
In the last three weeks , protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd have spread throughout the country .
Demonstrators are also calling for reforming ― or in some cases defunding ― police departments .
The protests have also shown the extent to which a militarized police force will combat its own citizens .
Earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were tear-gassed by U.S. Park Police so that President Donald Trump could use a nearby church for a photo-op .
“ Last week , people were just so shocked to see this administration tear-gas its own people , ” Ocasio-Cortez said during a phone call with the Los Angeles Times this week .
The new bill “ is one of the most basic steps we can take , ” she said .
Though tear gas is banned in war , it ’ s currently classified as a “ riot control agent ” that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Its use against protesters is especially dangerous as the country is still fighting COVID-19 , a respiratory disease that has killed more than 100,000 Americans and infected nearly 2 million .
“ As an immunologist , it scares me , ” Dr. Purvi Parikh , an allergy and immunology doctor at NYU Langone Health , told Pro Publica about the use of tear gas .
“ We just got through a brutal two months , and I ’ m really scared this will bring a second wave [ of COVID-19 ] sooner.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that ’ s also triggered by eating wasabi , said Sven-Eric Jordt , a professor of anesthesiology at Duke University .
But CS is much more powerful , up to 100,000 times stronger than the sting from wasabi , he said .
“ They are really pain nerve gases .
They are designed to induce pain.
” CS is particularly painful when it gets on your skin or in your eyes .
( Doctors have advised protesters not to wear contact lenses . )
When inhaled , the pain induces people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ membranes in your eyes , nose , mouth and lungs — the layers of cells that help protect people from viruses and bacteria .
A 22-year-old Ohio woman died two days after she attended a demonstration in Columbus last month where police shot tear gas and pepper spray at protesters .
The woman ’ s sister said she believed the chemical agents contributed to her sister ’ s death , which remains under investigation .
Last week , 1,300 medical and public health professionals signed a letter asking police to stop using “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respiratory irritants , which could increase risk for COVID-19 by making the respiratory tract more susceptible to infection , exacerbating existing inflammation , and inducing coughing.
” “ To stop us from protesting the death of a Black man who was suffocated by police , law enforcement is using a weapon that restricts our lungs ― during a respiratory pandemic , ” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement about the new bill .
Sometimes it isn ’ t even the chemical itself , but the projectile it comes in that can cause lasting damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his right eye during a May protest after he said a tear gas canister was shot at his head .
Police could also be harming themselves in their use of tear gas : In Atlanta , the chemical was carried by the wind right back to the officers who released it .
“ I strongly believe that gas should not be used to disperse crowds of non-violent protesters or for general crowd management purposes , ” Wheeler said in a statement .
“ It should only be used in response to violence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Durkan announced a 30-day ban on police using tear gas .
( However , three days later , police ignored the ban and fired the chemical at protesters . )
The city of Berkley , California , voted to prohibit the use of tear gas .
Police in Louisville , Kentucky , may now only use tear gas at the chief ’ s orders .
And hundreds of health care professionals in New Orleans are demanding police stop the use of tear gas on protesters .
Interest groups may make it difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level , though .
Safariland , the maker of the gas that was used to attack protesters outside the White House , have made more than $ 137 million in sales to the U.S. government in the past three and a half years , according to CBS MoneyWatch .
“ It is a horror on top of a horror on top of a horror — and it must end , ” Ocasio-Cortez said in her statement .
“ Banning tear gas is one of many steps we must take in this moment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the communities they are supposed to protect and serve .
”

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Police are routinely using a chemical weapon banned in international warfare against peaceful protesters during a pandemic — but a new bill would stop the practice all together.
On Monday, a group of lawmakers introduced a draft of a bill that would ban the use of tear gas by police, after the repeated emergence of videos of law enforcement gassing civilians protesting against racism and police brutality.
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The bill, first proposed last week by Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Ill.), would pull federal funding from police agencies that continue using tear gas, pepper spray, or other chemical weapons.
In the last three weeks, protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd have spread throughout the country. Demonstrators are also calling for reforming ― or in some cases defunding ― police departments.
The protests have also shown the extent to which a militarized police force will combat its own citizens. Earlier this month, protesters outside the White House were tear-gassed by U.S. Park Police so that President Donald Trump could use a nearby church for a photo-op.
Tear gas floats in the air as a line of police move demonstrators away from St. John's Church near the White House on June 1. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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“Last week, people were just so shocked to see this administration tear-gas its own people,” Ocasio-Cortez said during a phone call with the Los Angeles Times this week. The new bill “is one of the most basic steps we can take,” she said.
Though tear gas is banned in war, it’s currently classified as a “riot control agent” that can be used for crowd control. Its use against protesters is especially dangerous as the country is still fighting COVID-19, a respiratory disease that has killed more than 100,000 Americans and infected nearly 2 million.
“As an immunologist, it scares me,” Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergy and immunology doctor at NYU Langone Health, told Pro Publica about the use of tear gas. “We just got through a brutal two months, and I’m really scared this will bring a second wave [of COVID-19] sooner.”
Tear gas is a generic term for the chemical chlorobenzalmalononitrile, or C2. More from Pro Publica:
CS activates a specific pain receptor, one that’s also triggered by eating wasabi, said Sven-Eric Jordt, a professor of anesthesiology at Duke University. But CS is much more powerful, up to 100,000 times stronger than the sting from wasabi, he said. “They are really pain nerve gases. They are designed to induce pain.” CS is particularly painful when it gets on your skin or in your eyes. (Doctors have advised protesters not to wear contact lenses.) When inhaled, the pain induces people to cough. The compound degrades the mucus membranes in your eyes, nose, mouth and lungs — the layers of cells that help protect people from viruses and bacteria.
A 22-year-old Ohio woman died two days after she attended a demonstration in Columbus last month where police shot tear gas and pepper spray at protesters. The woman’s sister said she believed the chemical agents contributed to her sister’s death, which remains under investigation.
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Last week, 1,300 medical and public health professionals signed a letter asking police to stop using “tear gas, smoke, or other respiratory irritants, which could increase risk for COVID-19 by making the respiratory tract more susceptible to infection, exacerbating existing inflammation, and inducing coughing.”
“To stop us from protesting the death of a Black man who was suffocated by police, law enforcement is using a weapon that restricts our lungs ― during a respiratory pandemic,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement about the new bill.
Sometimes it isn’t even the chemical itself, but the projectile it comes in that can cause lasting damage. A 21-year-old Indiana Tech student lost his right eye during a May protest after he said a tear gas canister was shot at his head.
Police could also be harming themselves in their use of tear gas: In Atlanta, the chemical was carried by the wind right back to the officers who released it.
We have gas in Atlanta. Most of it is blowing back onto police. pic.twitter.com/ZOtbJKGe8S — Charlie Gile (@CharlieGileNBC) June 1, 2020
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Some cities are now starting to question the chemical’s use. Portland, Oregon, Mayor Ted Wheeler told police Saturday to only use tear gas as a last resort.
“I strongly believe that gas should not be used to disperse crowds of non-violent protesters or for general crowd management purposes,” Wheeler said in a statement. “It should only be used in response to violence that threatens life safety.”
Interest groups may make it difficult to change tear gas policy on a national level, though. Safariland, the maker of the gas that was used to attack protesters outside the White House, have made more than $137 million in sales to the U.S. government in the past three and a half years, according to CBS MoneyWatch.
“It is a horror on top of a horror on top of a horror — and it must end,” Ocasio-Cortez said in her statement. “Banning tear gas is one of many steps we must take in this moment to fundamentally restructure the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they are supposed to protect and serve.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--Anna Wintour Apologizes For Race-Related `Mistakes' In Vogue Magazine

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Vogue ’ s Anna Wintour has apologized in an internal email for “ mistakes ” made in her 32-year tenure in not doing enough to elevate black voices on her staff and publishing images and stories that have been racially and culturally “ hurtful or intolerant.
” The magazine ’ s editor in chief , who is also Conde Nast ’ s artistic director and global content adviser , had no further comment Wednesday on the email obtained by The Associated Press .
It was first revealed Tuesday in the New York Post .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Adam Rapoport , the editor in chief of another Condé Nast title , Bon Appetit , resigned after a photo surfaced of him in brownface , amplifying outrage over how the food magazine treats employees of color .
Meanwhile , Samira Nasr on Wednesday was named the first editor in chief of color in the 153-year history of U.S. Harper ’ s Bazaar .
In her email , Wintour referenced the country ’ s “ historic and heartbreaking moment ” after the death of George Floyd and other people of color at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have sparked rage and grief in protests that have played out for more than two weeks around the world .
“ I want to start by acknowledging your feelings and expressing my empathy towards what so many of you are going through : sadness , hurt , and anger too .
I want to say this especially to the Black members of our team — I can only imagine what these days have been like .
But I also know that the hurt , and violence , and injustice we ’ re seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time .
Recognizing it and doing something about it is overdue , ” Wintour told her staff .
She called for the tumult to be a “ time of listening , reflection , and humility for those of us in positions of privilege and authority .
It should also be a time of action and commitments.
” Wintour didn ’ t specify what content she was referring to as offensive , or what steps will be taken to rectify hiring and bring on a new creative approach .
She pledged , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being done to support organizations in a real way .
These actions will be announced as soon as possible.
” She wrote : “ Meanwhile , I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors , writers , photographers , designers and other creators .
We have made mistakes too , publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant .
I take full responsibility for those mistakes.
” “ I know that it is not enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will — and please know that I value your voices and responses as we move forward .
”

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NEW YORK (AP) — Vogue’s Anna Wintour has apologized in an internal email for “mistakes” made in her 32-year tenure in not doing enough to elevate black voices on her staff and publishing images and stories that have been racially and culturally “hurtful or intolerant.”
The fashion doyenne wrote in Thursday’s email: “I take full responsibility for those mistakes.”
The magazine’s editor in chief, who is also Conde Nast’s artistic director and global content adviser, had no further comment Wednesday on the email obtained by The Associated Press. It was first revealed Tuesday in the New York Post.
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Wintour’s mea culpa surfaced soon after Adam Rapoport, the editor in chief of another Condé Nast title, Bon Appetit, resigned after a photo surfaced of him in brownface, amplifying outrage over how the food magazine treats employees of color.
On Monday, editor of the lifestyle site Refinery29, Christene Barberich, resigned after reports surfaced of staff members saying they had experienced racial discrimination at the company.
Meanwhile, Samira Nasr on Wednesday was named the first editor in chief of color in the 153-year history of U.S. Harper’s Bazaar.
In her email, Wintour referenced the country’s “historic and heartbreaking moment” after the death of George Floyd and other people of color at the hands of police, events which have sparked rage and grief in protests that have played out for more than two weeks around the world.
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“I want to start by acknowledging your feelings and expressing my empathy towards what so many of you are going through: sadness, hurt, and anger too. I want to say this especially to the Black members of our team — I can only imagine what these days have been like. But I also know that the hurt, and violence, and injustice we’re seeing and talking about have been around for a long time. Recognizing it and doing something about it is overdue,” Wintour told her staff.
She called for the tumult to be a “time of listening, reflection, and humility for those of us in positions of privilege and authority. It should also be a time of action and commitments.”
Wintour didn’t specify what content she was referring to as offensive, or what steps will be taken to rectify hiring and bring on a new creative approach. She pledged, “On a corporate level, work is being done to support organizations in a real way. These actions will be announced as soon as possible.”
She wrote: “Meanwhile, I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators. We have made mistakes too, publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant. I take full responsibility for those mistakes.”
Wintour said her staff includes “too few” black employees. She didn’t say how many.
“I know that it is not enough to say we will do better, but we will — and please know that I value your voices and responses as we move forward.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--With Trump's Approval Plunging, Republicans Say It's Too Early To Panic

Democrats have a real shot at taking control of the Senate this year , but Republican senators , at least publicly , are saying it ’ s too early to panic .
“ It ’ s a long time till November .
November ’ s a lot further in the future than impeachment was in the past , and impeachment seems like it was forever ago , ” Sen. Roy Blunt ( R-Mo . )
, vice chairman of the Senate GOP conference , told HuffPost on Wednesday .
In its latest tracking poll on Wednesday , Gallup found Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , a double-digit drop from two weeks ago when he stood at 49 % .
The collapse in the president ’ s approval was confirmed by other public opinion surveys , including ones conducted by Fox News , The Economist , Rasmussen , Morning Consult and CNN .
In an extraordinary move on Wednesday , Trump ’ s reelection campaign demanded that CNN retract and apologize for a recent poll that showed him well behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
The poll showed Trump trailing Biden by 14 points , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered voters .
Last week , Trump announced he had retained a pollster with a mixed history of success , McLaughlin & Associates , to push back against CNN ’ s polling , “ which I felt were FAKE based on the incredible enthusiasm we are receiving , ” he said .
The pollster said the survey was biased against the president and offered an analysis that attempted to “ unskew ” its findings .
Trump ’ s increased focus on his sliding poll numbers follows a meeting last month in which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brad Parscale for his current standing the 2020 race .
But if Trump is increasingly worried about his reelection prospects , his allies on Capitol Hill aren ’ t showing it ― at least not publicly .
Top Republican senators said it was far too early to be hitting the alarm bells given that the November election is still months away , and the economy has only begun to recover amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Ask me after the [ party ] conventions after both sides have had to make their case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better idea of what the public says , ” Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) said .
Sen. Richard Shelby ( R-Ala. ) , meanwhile , said to check back with him about the state of the race in September , after the Labor Day holiday .
“ I ’ ve long predicted the president will be re-elected .
I continue to believe that ’ s going to be the case , ” Romney , a frequent critic of the president , told HuffPost .
Democrats ’ prospects have begun to brighten in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona , Colorado , North Carolina , Maine and even Montana and Georgia .
Democrats probably need to flip four seats and the White House to gain a majority in the upper chamber .
Trump on Wednesday met privately with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to discuss the Senate map at the White House .
McConnell , who has urged GOP senators to stick with Trump in November or risk alienating his core supporters , told reporters afterward they had a “ good discussion.
” While Democrats see plenty of reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate can often turn unpredictable .
Most Senate candidates , for example , have yet to participate in debates that can turn the tide in fortunes for incumbents and challengers alike .
“ Obviously you ’ d be foolish not to look at the current situation and think , ‘ This is fine , ’ ” said CNN commentator and former McConnell adviser Scott Jennings .
“ Still a lot of runway left out there and some undercurrents in the electorate that probably aren ’ t being picked up yet , too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats could also overreach , as they often do .
”

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Democrats have a real shot at taking control of the Senate this year, but Republican senators, at least publicly, are saying it’s too early to panic.
“It’s a long time till November. November’s a lot further in the future than impeachment was in the past, and impeachment seems like it was forever ago,” Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), vice chairman of the Senate GOP conference, told HuffPost on Wednesday.
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Trump’s standing with Americans has dropped sharply following his response to the nationwide protests over police brutality and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In its latest tracking poll on Wednesday, Gallup found Trump’s approval rating falling to 39%, a double-digit drop from two weeks ago when he stood at 49%. The collapse in the president’s approval was confirmed by other public opinion surveys, including ones conducted by Fox News, The Economist, Rasmussen, Morning Consult and CNN.
In an extraordinary move on Wednesday, Trump’s reelection campaign demanded that CNN retract and apologize for a recent poll that showed him well behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The poll showed Trump trailing Biden by 14 points, 41% to 55%, among registered voters.
Last week, Trump announced he had retained a pollster with a mixed history of success, McLaughlin & Associates, to push back against CNN’s polling, “which I felt were FAKE based on the incredible enthusiasm we are receiving,” he said. The pollster said the survey was biased against the president and offered an analysis that attempted to “unskew” its findings.
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Trump’s increased focus on his sliding poll numbers follows a meeting last month in which he reportedly erupted at his campaign manager, Brad Parscale for his current standing the 2020 race.
But if Trump is increasingly worried about his reelection prospects, his allies on Capitol Hill aren’t showing it ― at least not publicly. Top Republican senators said it was far too early to be hitting the alarm bells given that the November election is still months away, and the economy has only begun to recover amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Ask me after the [party] conventions after both sides have had to make their case, then you’ll get a better idea of what the public says,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), meanwhile, said to check back with him about the state of the race in September, after the Labor Day holiday.
But one GOP senator, Mitt Romney of Utah, said he was confident his party would prevail in November.
“I’ve long predicted the president will be re-elected. I continue to believe that’s going to be the case,” Romney, a frequent critic of the president, told HuffPost.
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Democrats’ prospects have begun to brighten in Senate contests in battleground states such as Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Maine and even Montana and Georgia. Democrats probably need to flip four seats and the White House to gain a majority in the upper chamber.
Trump on Wednesday met privately with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to discuss the Senate map at the White House. McConnell, who has urged GOP senators to stick with Trump in November or risk alienating his core supporters, told reporters afterward they had a “good discussion.”
While Democrats see plenty of reason for optimism, the battle for the Senate can often turn unpredictable. Most Senate candidates, for example, have yet to participate in debates that can turn the tide in fortunes for incumbents and challengers alike.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--Public Opinion On Taking Down Confederate Monuments Hasn't Budged In The Last Three Years

ASSOCIATED PRESS An inspection crew from the Virginia Department of General Services takes measurements as they inspect the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue June 8 , 2020 , in Richmond , Virginia .
Gov .
Ralph Northam has ordered the removal of the statue .
( AP Photo/Steve Helber ) Americans disapprove of flying the Confederate flag , but remain opposed to removing monuments and changing the names of buildings that honor the Confederacy , a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds .
Views on the issue have remained largely unmoved in recent years , a contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues regarding racism and policing .
The anti-racism protests mounting across the U.S. in past weeks have also spurred a new wave of efforts to uproot tributes to the Confederacy .
In Virginia , which houses a lion ’ s share of such monuments , Gov .
Ralph Northam ( D ) has pledged to take down a statute of Robert E. Lee “ as soon as possible , ” and the mayor of Richmond has introduced a resolution to remove additional statues .
The Marine Corps has barred its troops from displaying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbol “ presents a threat to our core values , unit cohesion , security and good order and discipline ” ; NASCAR also announced it would ban the flag from events .
The Army has signaled an openness to renaming bases named for Confederate generals , which President Donald Trump opposes .
“ The symbols help sustain racist policies and racist policies help sustain the symbols ... To take down those statues is to make a statement about how a community ’ s values are changing.
” James Grossman , the executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HuffPost ’ s Travis Waldron .
Just one-third , however , say they favor removing statues and memorials of Confederate leaders , with 49 % opposed and the rest unsure .
There ’ s an identical divide on changing the names of streets , schools and public buildings named after Confederate leaders .
A 57 % majority of Black Americans , but just 28 % of whites , favor removing Confederate statues and memorials .
A 52 % majority of Black Americans strongly favor such a move , while just 19 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 54 % majority of Democrats favor removal , compared to 17 % of Republicans .
Republicans are considerably more likely to express strong opposition than Democrats are to register strong support .
Polling on Confederate symbols has proved to be especially sensitive to the way survey questions are framed .
In the summer of 2017 , support polls placed support for keeping Confederate memorials at anywhere from 62 % ( when asked as a choice between letting statues “ remain as a historical symbol ” and removing them “ because they are offensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 % ( when the choice was between keeping monuments on government property or relocating them “ to museums or other historic sites where they can be viewed in proper historical context.
” ) But comparing back to a 2017 HuffPost/YouGov poll , which posed the same set of questions , the new survey finds that opinions have not significantly changed in the intervening years .
Then , support for taking down Confederate monuments also stood at just 33 % in the aftermath of a violent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville , Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee .
Opinions on the Confederate flag did shift considerably in 2015 , following the murder of nine black churchgoers by a white supremacist in Charleston , South Carolina .
Prior to the shooting , Americans said by a 10-point margin that the flag was a “ symbol of Southern pride ” rather than one of racism ; three months later , they said by a 6-point margin that it was a symbol of racism .
That wave of condemnation , however , appeared to ebb .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ call the flag a racist symbol by only a 3-point margin .

An inspection crew from the Virginia Department of General Services takes measurements as they inspect the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue June 8, 2020, in Richmond, Virginia. Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered the removal of the statue. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Americans disapprove of flying the Confederate flag, but remain opposed to removing monuments and changing the names of buildings that honor the Confederacy, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds. Views on the issue have remained largely unmoved in recent years, a contrast to shifting opinions recently seen on some issues regarding racism and policing.
The anti-racism protests mounting across the U.S. in past weeks have also spurred a new wave of efforts to uproot tributes to the Confederacy. In Virginia, which houses a lion’s share of such monuments, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) has pledged to take down a statute of Robert E. Lee “as soon as possible,” and the mayor of Richmond has introduced a resolution to remove additional statues. The Marine Corps has barred its troops from displaying the Confederate battle flag, saying the symbol “presents a threat to our core values, unit cohesion, security and good order and discipline”; NASCAR also announced it would ban the flag from events. The Army has signaled an openness to renaming bases named for Confederate generals, which President Donald Trump opposes.
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“The symbols help sustain racist policies and racist policies help sustain the symbols ... To take down those statues is to make a statement about how a community’s values are changing.” James Grossman, the executive director of the American Historical Association, told HuffPost’s Travis Waldron.
Americans say, 51% to 34%, that they disapprove of displaying the Confederate flag in public places.
Just one-third, however, say they favor removing statues and memorials of Confederate leaders, with 49% opposed and the rest unsure. There’s an identical divide on changing the names of streets, schools and public buildings named after Confederate leaders.
A 57% majority of Black Americans, but just 28% of whites, favor removing Confederate statues and memorials. A 52% majority of Black Americans strongly favor such a move, while just 19% of white Americans say the same.
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A 54% majority of Democrats favor removal, compared to 17% of Republicans. Republicans are considerably more likely to express strong opposition than Democrats are to register strong support.
Polling on Confederate symbols has proved to be especially sensitive to the way survey questions are framed. In the summer of 2017, support polls placed support for keeping Confederate memorials at anywhere from 62% (when asked as a choice between letting statues “remain as a historical symbol” and removing them “because they are offensive to some people”) to just 26% (when the choice was between keeping monuments on government property or relocating them “to museums or other historic sites where they can be viewed in proper historical context.”)
But comparing back to a 2017 HuffPost/YouGov poll, which posed the same set of questions, the new survey finds that opinions have not significantly changed in the intervening years. Then, support for taking down Confederate monuments also stood at just 33% in the aftermath of a violent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which opposed efforts to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Chart showing the results of a new HuffPost/YouGov survey on Confederate symbols. Ariel Edwards-Levy/HuffPost
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Opinions on the Confederate flag did shift considerably in 2015, following the murder of nine black churchgoers by a white supremacist in Charleston, South Carolina. Prior to the shooting, Americans said by a 10-point margin that the flag was a “symbol of Southern pride” rather than one of racism; three months later, they said by a 6-point margin that it was a symbol of racism. That wave of condemnation, however, appeared to ebb. In the most recent survey, Americans call the flag a racist symbol by only a 3-point margin.
The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted June 4-6 among U.S. adults, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--Nancy Pelosi Calls For Removing Confederate Statues From U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON ― House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday called for “ immediately ” removing 11 Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol , calling them “ monuments to men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly racist end.
” “ Their statues pay homage to hate , not heritage , ” the California Democrat said in a letter to the congressional panel with jurisdiction over a display of statues at the Capitol .
“ They must be removed.
” The Capitol ’ s National Statuary Hall features statues donated by states ― two from each ― to honor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s history .
The collection of 100 statues is overseen by the Architect of the Capitol .
Pelosi ’ s letter to Sen. Roy Blunt ( R-Mo . )
and Rep. Zoe Lofgren ( D-Calif. ) , the chair and vice chair of the joint committee , respectively , urges them to direct the Architect of the Capitol to take steps to remove the statues .
“ Indeed , what the Confederate statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection represent is anathema to who we are as a Congress and a country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I agree that the Joint Committee and Architect of the Capitol should expediently remove these symbols of cruelty and bigotry from the halls of the Capitol .
I stand ready , and call on the Chair of the Joint Committee to swiftly approve the removal of these statues.
” Blunt seemed inclined to let states decide which statues they want to represent them .
He noted that some states have already been rotating new ones in .
“ There are at least 3 or 4 new statues in process right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harry Truman in and taking Thomas Hart Benton out , who happened to be a slaveholder , ” Blunt told reporters .
“ Congress can do whatever they want to , but I think my view would be , unless there ’ s specific congressional action that voids the agreement with the states , the states appear to be headed in this direction anyway and that ’ s the better way to deal with it.
” A spokeswoman for the Architect of the Capitol did not immediately respond to a request for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues from the Capitol in 2017 , when former Rep. Paul Ryan ( R-Wis. ) was speaker .
Nothing came of that request .

ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON ― House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday called for “immediately” removing 11 Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol, calling them “monuments to men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly racist end.”
“Their statues pay homage to hate, not heritage,” the California Democrat said in a letter to the congressional panel with jurisdiction over a display of statues at the Capitol. “They must be removed.”
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Here’s a copy of Pelosi’s letter:
The Capitol’s National Statuary Hall features statues donated by states ― two from each ― to honor people notable in a particular state’s history. The collection of 100 statues is overseen by the Architect of the Capitol.
Pelosi’s letter to Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the chair and vice chair of the joint committee, respectively, urges them to direct the Architect of the Capitol to take steps to remove the statues.
Lofgren is already on board.
“Indeed, what the Confederate statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection represent is anathema to who we are as a Congress and a country,” she said in a statement. “I agree that the Joint Committee and Architect of the Capitol should expediently remove these symbols of cruelty and bigotry from the halls of the Capitol. I stand ready, and call on the Chair of the Joint Committee to swiftly approve the removal of these statues.”
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Blunt seemed inclined to let states decide which statues they want to represent them. He noted that some states have already been rotating new ones in.
“There are at least 3 or 4 new statues in process right now, including Missouri, that’s putting Harry Truman in and taking Thomas Hart Benton out, who happened to be a slaveholder,” Blunt told reporters. “Congress can do whatever they want to, but I think my view would be, unless there’s specific congressional action that voids the agreement with the states, the states appear to be headed in this direction anyway and that’s the better way to deal with it.”
A spokeswoman for the Architect of the Capitol did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pelosi previously called for removing Confederate statues from the Capitol in 2017, when former Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was speaker. Nothing came of that request.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Politicians Tell Trump To Go Back To The Bunker After His Threat To ‘Take Back’ Seattle

President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to “ take back ” Seattle from protesters , tweeting that “ ugly anarchists must be stooped.
” In response , state and local politicians told him to go back to his bunker beneath the White House ― and keep out of local business .
Seattle had been marked by violent clashes with police amid the demonstrations that broke out after a cop killed George Floyd , a Black man , in Minneapolis last month .
But earlier this week , Seattle police left the area and demonstrators took over , cordoning off several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone ” or “ CHAZ , ” now the site of peaceful ongoing protests .
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan ( D ) said the police pullback was done “ to proactively de-escalate interactions between protestors and law enforcement.
” But Trump was unhappy with the move even though it ― at least temporarily ― worked .
He tweeted : Radical Left Governor @ JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before .
Take back your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t do it , I will .
This is not a game .
These ugly Anarchists must be stooped IMMEDIATELY .
MOVE FAST !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) June 11 , 2020 Durkan fired back by referring to the White House bunker Trump was rushed to as demonstrations broke out in D.C. : Trump claimed he was only inspecting the bunker when Secret Service agents rushed him there as protesters gathered outside the White House at the end of May .
However , earlier this week , Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to the bunker for his own safety .
Rep. Pramila Jayapal ( D-Wash. ) , who represents Seattle in Congress , also made a reference to the bunker incident : Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee ( D ) , who has clashed with Trump repeatedly over the federal government ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic , also told the president to butt out :

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to “take back” Seattle from protesters, tweeting that “ugly anarchists must be stooped.” In response, state and local politicians told him to go back to his bunker beneath the White House ― and keep out of local business.
Seattle had been marked by violent clashes with police amid the demonstrations that broke out after a cop killed George Floyd, a Black man, in Minneapolis last month. But earlier this week, Seattle police left the area and demonstrators took over, cordoning off several blocks which they’ve declared the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” or “CHAZ,” now the site of peaceful ongoing protests.
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Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (D) said the police pullback was done “to proactively de-escalate interactions between protestors and law enforcement.” But Trump was unhappy with the move even though it ― at least temporarily ― worked. He tweeted:
Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before. Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020
Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle, run by Radical Left Democrats, of course. LAW & ORDER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020
Durkan fired back by referring to the White House bunker Trump was rushed to as demonstrations broke out in D.C.:
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Make us all safe. Go back to your bunker. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/H3TXduhlY4 — Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020
Trump claimed he was only inspecting the bunker when Secret Service agents rushed him there as protesters gathered outside the White House at the end of May. However, earlier this week, Attorney General Bill Barr confirmed that the president was taken to the bunker for his own safety.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who represents Seattle in Congress, also made a reference to the bunker incident:
Don’t you have a bunker to be in? https://t.co/pywCiDfCml — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) June 11, 2020
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who has clashed with Trump repeatedly over the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, also told the president to butt out:
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--Statues Linked To Racist Past Toppled And Vandalized Around The U.S.

Nationwide anger over police brutality and systemic racism has turned toward symbols of America ’ s troubled past still scattered across the country : statues honoring Confederate figures and colonizers that have long invited heated debate .
In Portsmouth , Virginia , protesters covered a large Confederate monument dating to the 1800s with trash bags and spray paint on Wednesday .
A crowd of largely celebratory demonstrators later took bolt cutters and sledgehammers to the heads of the statues , removing them as a marching band blasted triumphantly in the background .
Outside the Minnesota state Capitol , a statue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ropes as protesters cheered .
And in other cities this week , similar monuments were beheaded , toppled into lakes , spray painted or ordered removed by local lawmakers .
The demonstrations began after the death of George Floyd , a Black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis last month .
But they ’ ve since grown to nationwide and global calls for change and an end to violent policing tactics .
The destruction of the controversial monuments adds to an ongoing reckoning with America ’ s fascination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday , NASCAR , which has a loyal fan base of largely white , Southern viewers , banned the Confederate flag at its events and properties a day after the racing body ’ s only full-time Black driver said it should be prohibited .
“ The presence of the confederate flag at NASCAR events runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans , our competitors and our industry , ” the company said .
The U.S. Marine Corps also banned its troops from displaying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbol had often been co-opted by “ violent extremists and racist groups.
” Lawmakers have treated such calls with vastly different levels of support .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) said Wednesday she supported the immediate removal of 11 Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol , calling them “ monuments to men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly racist end.
” President Donald Trump , on the other hand , said he would “ not even consider ” renaming a slate of Army bases that honor Confederate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to doing just that .
“ My Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations , ” he wrote on Twitter .
“ Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with .
Respect our Military !
”

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Nationwide anger over police brutality and systemic racism has turned toward symbols of America’s troubled past still scattered across the country: statues honoring Confederate figures and colonizers that have long invited heated debate.
In Portsmouth, Virginia, protesters covered a large Confederate monument dating to the 1800s with trash bags and spray paint on Wednesday. A crowd of largely celebratory demonstrators later took bolt cutters and sledgehammers to the heads of the statues, removing them as a marching band blasted triumphantly in the background.
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In Richmond, Virginia late Wednesday, demonstrators removed a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis:
Images show police on scene in Richmond, Virginia, after protesters tore down a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis along the city's Monument Avenue. https://t.co/t2Mf80kd1n pic.twitter.com/V5zaTdYBDG — ABC News (@ABC) June 11, 2020
Outside the Minnesota state Capitol, a statue of Christopher Columbus was pulled down with ropes as protesters cheered. And in other cities this week, similar monuments were beheaded, toppled into lakes, spray painted or ordered removed by local lawmakers.
Protestors have now toppled Christopher Columbus statue outside Minnesota State Capitol.
Organizers were from American Indian Movement & footage from moments ago: pic.twitter.com/nZIb780wva — Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) June 10, 2020
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All four have been beheaded tonight pic.twitter.com/uMRKFziPYb — Saleen Martin (@Saleen_Martin) June 11, 2020
The demonstrations began after the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis last month. But they’ve since grown to nationwide and global calls for change and an end to violent policing tactics.
The destruction of the controversial monuments adds to an ongoing reckoning with America’s fascination with symbols long affiliated with racism. On Wednesday, NASCAR, which has a loyal fan base of largely white, Southern viewers, banned the Confederate flag at its events and properties a day after the racing body’s only full-time Black driver said it should be prohibited.
“The presence of the confederate flag at NASCAR events runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry,” the company said.
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The U.S. Marine Corps also banned its troops from displaying the flag earlier this month, saying the symbol had often been co-opted by “violent extremists and racist groups.”
Lawmakers have treated such calls with vastly different levels of support. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday she supported the immediate removal of 11 Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol, calling them “monuments to men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly racist end.”
“Their statues pay homage to hate, not heritage,” she wrote in a letter.
President Donald Trump, on the other hand, said he would “not even consider” renaming a slate of Army bases that honor Confederate generals amid reports the Pentagon was open to doing just that.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Republican Group Says Trump Just Became The 'Confederacy's Second President'

A group of President Donald Trump ’ s conservative critics says he ’ s just earned a terrible new title after he again defended the Confederacy and vowed to continue to honor its leaders and generals .
“ For all intents and purposes , Donald Trump today became the Confederacy ’ s second president , ” the Lincoln Project said in a statement : Confederate statues are coming down ― some by choice , some by force ― and the Confederate flag is being removed from public view amid anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag would no longer be allowed at its events .
The Pentagon also said it was open to a bipartisan discussion on renaming the numerous U.S. Army bases that honor Confederate figures .
But Trump intervened and said he “ will not even consider ” it .
That ’ s when the Lincoln Project called him out .
“ No American should celebrate traitorous Generals whose actions resulted in the deaths of 620,000+ Americans , ” the Lincoln Project wrote on Facebook .
The group was co-founded by conservative attorney George Conway ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conway ― and a number of other longtime GOP insiders , including Rick Wilson , Jennifer Horn and Steve Schmidt .
Last month , the Lincoln Project released a video that described the Confederate flag as the “ flag of treason , ” and noted that it keeps showing up at Trump and white supremacist events .
“ What does it say that they ’ re all in for Trump ?
” the voice in the spot asks :

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A group of President Donald Trump’s conservative critics says he’s just earned a terrible new title after he again defended the Confederacy and vowed to continue to honor its leaders and generals.
“For all intents and purposes, Donald Trump today became the Confederacy’s second president,” the Lincoln Project said in a statement:
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Today @realDonaldTrump became the Confederacy’s second president.
Our full statement: pic.twitter.com/p7PaeZdKWc — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) June 10, 2020
Confederate statues are coming down ― some by choice, some by force ― and the Confederate flag is being removed from public view amid anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. Earlier this week, NASCAR announced the flag would no longer be allowed at its events.
The Pentagon also said it was open to a bipartisan discussion on renaming the numerous U.S. Army bases that honor Confederate figures.
But Trump intervened and said he “will not even consider” it. That’s when the Lincoln Project called him out.
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“No American should celebrate traitorous Generals whose actions resulted in the deaths of 620,000+ Americans,” the Lincoln Project wrote on Facebook.
The group was co-founded by conservative attorney George Conway ― husband of counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway ― and a number of other longtime GOP insiders, including Rick Wilson, Jennifer Horn and Steve Schmidt.
Last month, the Lincoln Project released a video that described the Confederate flag as the “flag of treason,” and noted that it keeps showing up at Trump and white supremacist events.
“What does it say that they’re all in for Trump?” the voice in the spot asks:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--Trump Has Lost His Favorite Talking Point About Black Unemployment

Over and over and over , President Donald Trump has bragged that , thanks to his brilliant leadership , Black Americans have enjoyed lower unemployment than ever before .
“ Black American unemployment has reached an all-time low in the history of our country , ” he said in February .
“ It ’ s the best — best we ’ ve ever done .
“ Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies , Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED !
” he tweeted in January 2018 .
As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially saying it would go away like magic , the unemployment rate for Black people is now 16.8 % ― equal to its peak in the aftermath of the 2007 financial crisis .
Amid a historic , global wave of Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and a reckoning with systemic racism in the U.S. , Trump has lost the Black unemployment security blanket that he ’ s used for three years to wave away accusations of white supremacy .
On Wednesday , in a White House meeting with Black administration officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump acknowledged that his job numbers are no longer good .
He noted that he ’ d had “ the best unemployment rate in history , just before the plague came in , and it ’ s going to be back again soon .
I think it ’ s going to be back again a lot sooner than people think.
” But even before he ’ d lost the talking point , it wasn ’ t a good one .
The Black unemployment rate reached its record low , 5.4 % , last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice the rate it was for white people at that time .
“ Black people should be happy with scraps ― that ’ s what they ’ re basically saying when they tout that , ” Olugbenga Ajilore , a senior economist at the left-leaning Center for American Progress , said in an interview .
Until the coronavirus pandemic , the Black unemployment rate has almost always been more than twice as high as the rate for white people , according to Ajilore ’ s research .
No matter how much that rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , always reflecting the systemic racism that excludes African Americans from economic opportunity .
If they really wanted to improve Black unemployment rates , policymakers should do something about mass incarceration and enforce anti-discrimination laws , Ajilore wrote in a brief earlier this year .
The coronavirus has shaken up the Black-white unemployment ratio , but not in a good way .
In the first monthly jobs report to reflect the impact of the pandemic , the Labor Department said overall unemployment skyrocketed to 14.7 % in April , with jobless rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16.7 % for Black people ― the narrowest-ever gap between the two .
The white unemployment rate declined to 12.4 % in May , however , while the rate for Black people actually rose a 10th of a percentage point to 16.8 % .
Ajilore said the increase reflects the loss of government jobs that Black Americans hold disproportionately .
On Monday , in prepared remarks at the beginning of a briefing , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany pointed to an increase of nearly 300,000 African Americans who were counted as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a 1.7 % increase , ” McEnany said , calling the numbers “ very encouraging ” but not mentioning that because of a larger fluctuation in the estimate of the number of Black people in the labor force , the unemployment rate actually increased , too .
At a separate briefing where Trump touted the decline in the national jobless rate , White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor pointed out to the president that the African American rate had increased .
“ How is that a victory ?
” she asked .

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Over and over and over, President Donald Trump has bragged that, thanks to his brilliant leadership, Black Americans have enjoyed lower unemployment than ever before.
“Black American unemployment has reached an all-time low in the history of our country,” he said in February. “It’s the best — best we’ve ever done.
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“Unemployment rates among African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans have all reached record lows,” he said in January.
“Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!” he tweeted in January 2018.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, despite the president initially saying it would go away like magic, the unemployment rate for Black people is now 16.8% ― equal to its peak in the aftermath of the 2007 financial crisis.
Amid a historic, global wave of Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and a reckoning with systemic racism in the U.S., Trump has lost the Black unemployment security blanket that he’s used for three years to wave away accusations of white supremacy.
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On Wednesday, in a White House meeting with Black administration officials, media personalities and community leaders, Trump acknowledged that his job numbers are no longer good. He noted that he’d had “the best unemployment rate in history, just before the plague came in, and it’s going to be back again soon. I think it’s going to be back again a lot sooner than people think.”
But even before he’d lost the talking point, it wasn’t a good one. The Black unemployment rate reached its record low, 5.4%, last August ― but it was still nearly twice the rate it was for white people at that time.
“Black people should be happy with scraps ― that’s what they’re basically saying when they tout that,” Olugbenga Ajilore, a senior economist at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, said in an interview.
Until the coronavirus pandemic, the Black unemployment rate has almost always been more than twice as high as the rate for white people, according to Ajilore’s research. No matter how much that rate has improved, it never quite catches up, always reflecting the systemic racism that excludes African Americans from economic opportunity.
“Black people should be happy with scraps ― that’s what they’re basically saying when they tout that.” - Olugbenga Ajilore, senior economist, Center for American Progress
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If they really wanted to improve Black unemployment rates, policymakers should do something about mass incarceration and enforce anti-discrimination laws, Ajilore wrote in a brief earlier this year.
The coronavirus has shaken up the Black-white unemployment ratio, but not in a good way. In the first monthly jobs report to reflect the impact of the pandemic, the Labor Department said overall unemployment skyrocketed to 14.7% in April, with jobless rates of 14.2% for white people and 16.7% for Black people ― the narrowest-ever gap between the two.
The white unemployment rate declined to 12.4% in May, however, while the rate for Black people actually rose a 10th of a percentage point to 16.8%. Ajilore said the increase reflects the loss of government jobs that Black Americans hold disproportionately.
On Monday, in prepared remarks at the beginning of a briefing, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany pointed to an increase of nearly 300,000 African Americans who were counted as “employed” in May.
“That was a 1.7% increase,” McEnany said, calling the numbers “very encouraging” but not mentioning that because of a larger fluctuation in the estimate of the number of Black people in the labor force, the unemployment rate actually increased, too.
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At a separate briefing where Trump touted the decline in the national jobless rate, White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor pointed out to the president that the African American rate had increased. “How is that a victory?” she asked.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--GOP State Senator's Question Seems To Blame Blacks For Contracting Coronavirus

Ohio state Sen. Steve Huffman ( R ) sparked anger this week as he pondered why “ the colored population ” is more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus .
Huffman , an emergency room physician , asked the offensive question during an Ohio Senate Health Committee hearing on Tuesday to determine whether the state should declare racism a public health crisis .
“ I understand that African Americans have a higher incidence of prior conditions and it makes them more susceptible to death from COVID , ” Huffman said .
“ But why it does not make them more susceptible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued : “ We know it ’ s twice as often .
Correct ?
Could it just be that African Americans or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups ?
Or wear a mask ?
Or do not socially distance themselves ?
Could that just be maybe the explanation of why there ’ s a higher incidence ?
” “ That is not the opinion of leading medical experts in this country , ” responded Angela Dawson , the director of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the reasons why some populations are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others would not be found in handwashing data .
Instead , it was preexisting disparities in chronic conditions and health care , she said .
Around 33 % of people who have been hospitalized with the contagion in the United States are Black , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
State Rep. Stephanie Howse ( D ) told the Dayton Daily News that Huffman had highlighted “ what racism is from a systematic perspective.
” State Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ an example of why we have to have this discussion about racism and how it impacts people.
” Huffman later attempted to clarify his comments , reported The Columbus Dispatch , saying he ’ d asked the question “ in an unintentionally awkward way that was perceived as hurtful and was exactly the opposite of what I meant.
” “ I was trying to focus on why COVID-19 affects people of color at a higher rate since we really do not know all the reasons , ” he added .

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Ohio state Sen. Steve Huffman (R) sparked anger this week as he pondered why “the colored population” is more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus.
Huffman, an emergency room physician, asked the offensive question during an Ohio Senate Health Committee hearing on Tuesday to determine whether the state should declare racism a public health crisis.
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“I understand that African Americans have a higher incidence of prior conditions and it makes them more susceptible to death from COVID,” Huffman said. “But why it does not make them more susceptible just to get COVID?”
He continued: “We know it’s twice as often. Correct? Could it just be that African Americans or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups? Or wear a mask? Or do not socially distance themselves? Could that just be maybe the explanation of why there’s a higher incidence?”
Check out Huffman’s comments from the 49:40 mark in the video here.
“That is not the opinion of leading medical experts in this country,” responded Angela Dawson, the director of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.
Dawson, who is Black, said the reasons why some populations are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others would not be found in handwashing data. Instead, it was preexisting disparities in chronic conditions and health care, she said.
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Around 33% of people who have been hospitalized with the contagion in the United States are Black, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Current data suggest a disproportionate burden of illness and death among racial and ethnic minority groups,” the CDC notes on its website.
Huffman’s comments were fiercely condemned by Ohio Democrats and people on Twitter.
State Rep. Stephanie Howse (D) told the Dayton Daily News that Huffman had highlighted “what racism is from a systematic perspective.” State Sen. Cecil Thomas (D) said Huffman is “an example of why we have to have this discussion about racism and how it impacts people.”
Huffman later attempted to clarify his comments, reported The Columbus Dispatch, saying he’d asked the question “in an unintentionally awkward way that was perceived as hurtful and was exactly the opposite of what I meant.”
“I was trying to focus on why COVID-19 affects people of color at a higher rate since we really do not know all the reasons,” he added.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--Wisconsin Gym Under Fire For 'I Can't Breathe' Workout

Talk about failing to exercise good judgment : A Wisconsin gym is under fire after promoting an “ I Can ’ t Breathe ” workout .
The Anytime Fitness in Wauwatosa recently offered a 35-minute drill of burpees and row exercises that was meant to honor the memory of George Floyd , a Black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer , Derek Chauvin , knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes .
The “ I Can ’ t Breathe ” routine was written on a dry-erase board and featured the image of a kneeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t you dare lay down ” at the bottom , according to NBC News .
Although it ’ s common for CrossFit to create workouts to honor those who died , some locals felt the “ I Can ’ t Breathe ” set was in bad taste considering the brutal way Floyd died .
It is absolutely disgusting .
I saw this earlier and my jaw dropped .
I am so glad I canceled my membership with them .
# PowerToThePeople pic.twitter.com/UVqbNA84Rc — Magnus ( @ PhloatinDave ) June 10 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executives at Anytime Fitness , which has more than 4,000 franchised locations in 50 countries .
The execs quickly apologized for the workout and promised to bolster training efforts to prevent similar gaffes .
Jen Dunnington , who co-owns the Anytime Fitness in Wauwatosa , said the workout was meant as a sincere tribute by a trainer .
The workout , she told TMZ , was meant to be “ so hard that we felt what he felt .
”

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Talk about failing to exercise good judgment: A Wisconsin gym is under fire after promoting an “I Can’t Breathe” workout.
The Anytime Fitness in Wauwatosa recently offered a 35-minute drill of burpees and row exercises that was meant to honor the memory of George Floyd, a Black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
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The “I Can’t Breathe” routine was written on a dry-erase board and featured the image of a kneeling man and the words “And don’t you dare lay down” at the bottom, according to NBC News.
The image quickly went viral on social media.
Really concerned that @AnytimeFitness finds mocking the death of George Floyd appropriate🤬 racism is alive in Wauwatosa #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/9HZ7TyBqtw — kⓋ (@cashewcruise) June 10, 2020
Although it’s common for CrossFit to create workouts to honor those who died, some locals felt the “I Can’t Breathe” set was in bad taste considering the brutal way Floyd died.
It is absolutely disgusting. I saw this earlier and my jaw dropped. I am so glad I canceled my membership with them. #PowerToThePeople pic.twitter.com/UVqbNA84Rc — Magnus (@PhloatinDave) June 10, 2020
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Among those in agreement were the corporate executives at Anytime Fitness, which has more than 4,000 franchised locations in 50 countries.
The execs quickly apologized for the workout and promised to bolster training efforts to prevent similar gaffes.
A statement from Anytime Fitness Co-Founders and Brand President regarding Wauwatosa, WI incident pic.twitter.com/qUmeaeQ5eT — Anytime Fitness (@AnytimeFitness) June 10, 2020
Jen Dunnington, who co-owns the Anytime Fitness in Wauwatosa, said the workout was meant as a sincere tribute by a trainer.
The workout, she told TMZ, was meant to be “so hard that we felt what he felt.”
Community members felt otherwise, hence the backlash.
Anytime Fitness apology Facebook


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Pulitzer-Winning Pandemic Reporter On Coronavirus: We're Far From Out Of The Woods

Pulitzer Prize-winning science reporter Laurie Garrett on Wednesday issued a stark warning about the continuing coronavirus threat , saying “ we are far from being out of the woods on this.
” Garrett , who wrote the 1994 book “ The Coming Plague : Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance , ” told MSNBC ’ s Lawrence O ’ Donnell that “ most of America ” seems to have been “ lulled into a kind of happy complacency ” about the public health crisis that has now killed at least 115,000 people nationwide .
“ Nobody likes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m sick and tired of it , right , we all are , ” Garrett acknowledged .
“ But , to have a president just sort of shrug it off and move on to the next topic , as if it was all over , merely is encouraging millions and millions of Americans to believe you can go back outside , you don ’ t need the mask , you don ’ t need the gloves and so on.
” “ And nothing could be further from the truth , ” Garrett continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the weeks since Memorial Day , as many states lifted restrictions and allowed businesses to reopen .
“ We are far from being out of the woods on this , ” Garrett said .
She warned the virus could kill 250,000 in the U.S. by September if infections continue to spread at the same rate as they are now .

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Pulitzer Prize-winning science reporter Laurie Garrett on Wednesday issued a stark warning about the continuing coronavirus threat, saying “we are far from being out of the woods on this.”
Garrett, who wrote the 1994 book “The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance,” told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell that “most of America” seems to have been “lulled into a kind of happy complacency” about the public health crisis that has now killed at least 115,000 people nationwide.
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“Nobody likes to be under lockdown. I’m sick and tired of it, right, we all are,” Garrett acknowledged. “But, to have a president just sort of shrug it off and move on to the next topic, as if it was all over, merely is encouraging millions and millions of Americans to believe you can go back outside, you don’t need the mask, you don’t need the gloves and so on.”
“And nothing could be further from the truth,” Garrett continued.
The number of infections have surged in the weeks since Memorial Day, as many states lifted restrictions and allowed businesses to reopen.
“We are far from being out of the woods on this,” Garrett said.
She warned the virus could kill 250,000 in the U.S. by September if infections continue to spread at the same rate as they are now.
Check out the interview above.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-10--Jon Ossoff Wins Democratic Senate Nomination in Georgia

Georgia Democrats selected Jon Ossoff , who narrowly lost the most expensive House race in United States history in 2017 , as their nominee to challenge GOP Sen. David Perdue in November .
Ossoff topped a seven-candidate field that included Teresa Tomlinson , a lawyer and former mayor of Columbus , and Sarah Riggs Amico , a businesswoman who was the Democratic Party ’ s candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018 .
Democrats in the state didn ’ t expect Ossoff to top the 50 % mark necessary to avoid an August runoff , but a strong performance in Atlanta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of the vote .
His victory should allow the party to consolidate behind him earlier than expected .
National Democrats had avoided endorsing in the race after failing to recruit 2018 gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams into the contest , but they are likely to quickly line up behind Ossoff .
Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff appeared to pass the 50 % mark in his primary to move on to the general election without a runoff .
The contest was marred by incredibly long lines to vote in many Black neighborhoods , which led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican leadership was working to suppress the vote .
While President Donald Trump ’ s unpopularity during the coronavirus pandemic and widespread protests over police brutality have combined with longstanding demographic shifts to potentially put the state in play for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in November , defeating Perdue may prove more difficult .
Perdue , a businessman who self-funded his 2014 election , is the cousin of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue , a former Georgia governor .
He ’ s stuck close to Trump on every major issue of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia remain stronger than those of vulnerable incumbent Republicans in states like Arizona and Colorado .
David Perdue also has a financial advantage : He has more than $ 9.3 million on hand , according to campaign finance records , while Ossoff has less than a million in the bank after spending to win the primary .
Still , operatives in both parties and polling indicate the state could be close in November , and a Biden victory would likely help Ossoff cross the finish line .
Neither party ’ s national political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state , a sign that it remains a second-tier contest for now .
Ossoff spent much of the contest airing television ads aimed at the Black voters who make up a majority of the Democratic primary electorate in the state .
Two of his ads highlighted the endorsement of Rep. John Lewis ( D-Ga. ) , a legend of the civil rights movement , for whom the 33-year-old Ossoff once worked .
“ Friends , I ’ m calling on you to support Jon Ossoff and send Donald Trump a message he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the ad .
The race is one of two Senate contests set for Georgia in November .
The other , an all-party contest triggered by the resignation of Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson for health reasons , pits incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler against fellow Republican Rep. Doug Collins and Democrat Raphael Warnock , the pastor of Atlanta ’ s Ebenezer Baptist Church .
If no candidate wins 50 % of the vote on Election Day , the race will head to a January runoff .

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Georgia Democrats selected Jon Ossoff, who narrowly lost the most expensive House race in United States history in 2017, as their nominee to challenge GOP Sen. David Perdue in November.
Ossoff topped a seven-candidate field that included Teresa Tomlinson, a lawyer and former mayor of Columbus, and Sarah Riggs Amico, a businesswoman who was the Democratic Party’s candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018.
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Democrats in the state didn’t expect Ossoff to top the 50% mark necessary to avoid an August runoff, but a strong performance in Atlanta and its suburbs lifted him to a majority of the vote. His victory should allow the party to consolidate behind him earlier than expected.
National Democrats had avoided endorsing in the race after failing to recruit 2018 gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams into the contest, but they are likely to quickly line up behind Ossoff.
Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff appeared to pass the 50% mark in his primary to move on to the general election without a runoff. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
The contest was marred by incredibly long lines to vote in many Black neighborhoods, which led many Democrats to suggest Georgia’s Republican leadership was working to suppress the vote.
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While President Donald Trump’s unpopularity during the coronavirus pandemic and widespread protests over police brutality have combined with longstanding demographic shifts to potentially put the state in play for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in November, defeating Perdue may prove more difficult.
Perdue, a businessman who self-funded his 2014 election, is the cousin of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, a former Georgia governor. He’s stuck close to Trump on every major issue of his presidency, but his approval ratings in Georgia remain stronger than those of vulnerable incumbent Republicans in states like Arizona and Colorado.
David Perdue also has a financial advantage: He has more than $9.3 million on hand, according to campaign finance records, while Ossoff has less than a million in the bank after spending to win the primary.
Still, operatives in both parties and polling indicate the state could be close in November, and a Biden victory would likely help Ossoff cross the finish line. Neither party’s national political operations have reserved television ad time in the state, a sign that it remains a second-tier contest for now.
Ossoff spent much of the contest airing television ads aimed at the Black voters who make up a majority of the Democratic primary electorate in the state. Two of his ads highlighted the endorsement of Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a legend of the civil rights movement, for whom the 33-year-old Ossoff once worked.
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“Friends, I’m calling on you to support Jon Ossoff and send Donald Trump a message he will never forget,” Lewis says in the ad.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Don Lemon Exposes ‘White Mansplaining’ Of Donald Trump, White House Officials

CNN ’ s Don Lemon on Wednesday hammered President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration for “ white mansplaining ” with their denials about the existence of systemic racism in the United States .
The “ CNN Tonight ” host aired a montage of clips in which Trump and top officials dismissed questions about the issue .
“ White men denying the existence of systemic racism , that is the essence of white entitlement , ” he said .
“ We do not need their permission or their signoff on what we know to be true .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white mansplaining.
” He continued : “ How can you solve this problem , this systemic racism that is killing people of color if you won ’ t even admit there ’ s a problem ?
First step is admitting there ’ s a problem .
America knows which way the wind is blowing .
Check out the full segment here : “ How can you solve this problem , the systemic racism that is killing people of color if you won ’ t even admit there is a problem ?
” - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that systemic racism is not an issue— even as many Americans protest against racism and police violence .
pic.twitter.com/JwwSDi1ZDZ — CNN Tonight ( @ CNNTonight ) June 11 , 2020

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CNN’s Don Lemon on Wednesday hammered President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration for “white mansplaining” with their denials about the existence of systemic racism in the United States.
The “CNN Tonight” host aired a montage of clips in which Trump and top officials dismissed questions about the issue.
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“Hmm,” responded Lemon after broadcasting the supercut.
“White men denying the existence of systemic racism, that is the essence of white entitlement,” he said. “We do not need their permission or their signoff on what we know to be true. And what we have lived. That is white mansplaining.”
He continued: “How can you solve this problem, this systemic racism that is killing people of color if you won’t even admit there’s a problem? First step is admitting there’s a problem. America knows which way the wind is blowing.
“Even NASCAR is banning Confederate flags right now.”
Check out the full segment here:
“How can you solve this problem, the systemic racism that is killing people of color if you won’t even admit there is a problem?” - @DonLemon on several WH officials claiming that systemic racism is not an issue— even as many Americans protest against racism and police violence. pic.twitter.com/JwwSDi1ZDZ — CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) June 11, 2020