thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-24--Bernie Sanders: 'Unfair To Say Everything Is Bad' About Cuban Revolution

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) refused to condemn everything about the communist Cuban revolution in the 1950s during an interview that aired Sunday on CBS News ’ “ 60 Minutes , ” prompting heated criticism from some Cuban Americans and Democrats .
Host Anderson Cooper asked the Democratic presidential hopeful to explain his comments from 1985 , in which he called Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega a “ very impressive guy ” and praised some of the social programs implemented by Cuban dictator Fidel Castro .
Ortega ’ s regime has been accused of violently oppressing anti-government protesters and silencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Critics of Castro , a die-hard socialist who remained in power for nearly 50 years , say he oversaw human rights abuses and crippled the island nation ’ s economy .
Sanders told Cooper that he ’ s “ very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba , ” but said it ’ s “ unfair to simply say everything is bad.
” “ When Fidel Castro came into office , you know what he did ?
He had a massive literacy program , ” Sanders said .
“ Is that a bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ?
” “ That ’ s right , and we condemn that , ” Sanders said .
“ Unlike Donald Trump ― let ’ s be clear ― I do not think that [ North Korean leader ] Kim Jong Un is a good friend .
I don ’ t trade love letters with a murdering dictator .
[ Russian President ] Vladimir Putin : not a great friend of mine.
” The comments are likely to further fuel criticisms over Sanders ’ position as a self-described democratic socialist , which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview as using “ the federal government to protect the interests of working families.
” His exchange with Cooper echoes comments he made on the 2016 campaign trail when asked about Cuba during a Democratic presidential debate against Hillary Clinton .
Clinton categorically denounced Castro ’ s regime .
Sanders , on the other hand , acknowledged that the country is undemocratic and authoritarian , but expressed hope that the country would change for the better .
“ It would be wrong not to state in Cuba they have made some good advances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time .
“ They are sending doctors all over the world .
They have made some progress in education .
I think by restoring full diplomatic relations with Cuba , it will result in significant improvements to the lives of Cubans and it will help the United States.
” His stance drew outrage from Cuban Americans in 2016 and again on Sunday .
Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell ( D-Fla. ) , who represents many Cuban Americans in her southern Florida district , denounced Sanders ’ comments as “ absolutely unacceptable.
” Political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , joined the chorus of online voices speaking out against Sanders ’ remarks .
Some suggested his Cuba comments could have a devastating impact on his support from Latino voters .
“ For Cuban American voters , hearing [ Sanders ] praise murderous , totalitarian dictator Fidel Castro ’ s regime for ‘ literacy programs ’ is like telling the Jewish community Hitler wasn ’ t so awful because the Third Reich invented the Volkswagen automobile , ” Miami-based pollster Fernand Amandi tweeted about Sanders , who is Jewish .

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) refused to condemn everything about the communist Cuban revolution in the 1950s during an interview that aired Sunday on CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” prompting heated criticism from some Cuban Americans and Democrats.
Host Anderson Cooper asked the Democratic presidential hopeful to explain his comments from 1985, in which he called Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega a “very impressive guy” and praised some of the social programs implemented by Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
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Ortega’s regime has been accused of violently oppressing anti-government protesters and silencing a newspaper that covered those protests. Critics of Castro, a die-hard socialist who remained in power for nearly 50 years, say he oversaw human rights abuses and crippled the island nation’s economy.
“[Castro] educated the kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society,” Sanders said in a clip of his 1985 comments shown on “60 Minutes.”
Sanders told Cooper that he’s “very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba,” but said it’s “unfair to simply say everything is bad.”
“When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program,” Sanders said. “Is that a bad thing, even though Fidel Castro did it?”
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Cooper noted that Castro’s administration imprisoned dissidents.
“That’s right, and we condemn that,” Sanders said. “Unlike Donald Trump ― let’s be clear ― I do not think that [North Korean leader] Kim Jong Un is a good friend. I don’t trade love letters with a murdering dictator. [Russian President] Vladimir Putin: not a great friend of mine.”
Bernie Sanders defends his 1980s comments about Fidel Castro in an interview on 60 Minutes. https://t.co/ySqvQKoiBU pic.twitter.com/lTwuXWp9sA — 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) February 24, 2020
The comments are likely to further fuel criticisms over Sanders’ position as a self-described democratic socialist, which he defined during the “60 Minutes” interview as using “the federal government to protect the interests of working families.”
His exchange with Cooper echoes comments he made on the 2016 campaign trail when asked about Cuba during a Democratic presidential debate against Hillary Clinton.
Clinton categorically denounced Castro’s regime. Sanders, on the other hand, acknowledged that the country is undemocratic and authoritarian, but expressed hope that the country would change for the better.
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“It would be wrong not to state in Cuba they have made some good advances in health care,” Sanders said at the time. “They are sending doctors all over the world. They have made some progress in education. I think by restoring full diplomatic relations with Cuba, it will result in significant improvements to the lives of Cubans and it will help the United States.”
His stance drew outrage from Cuban Americans in 2016 and again on Sunday. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.), who represents many Cuban Americans in her southern Florida district, denounced Sanders’ comments as “absolutely unacceptable.”
“As the first South American immigrant member of Congress who proudly represents thousands of Cuban Americans, I find Senator Bernie Sanders’ comments on Castro’s Cuba absolutely unacceptable,” she tweeted.
As the first South American immigrant member of Congress who proudly represents thousands of Cuban Americans, I find Senator Bernie Sanders’ comments on Castro’s Cuba absolutely unacceptable. — Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (@DebbieforFL) February 24, 2020
Political pundits, including CNN commentator Ana Navarro-Cárdenas, joined the chorus of online voices speaking out against Sanders’ remarks. Some suggested his Cuba comments could have a devastating impact on his support from Latino voters.
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Recent polls show Sanders, who handily won Nevada’s Democratic caucuses on Saturday, has grown his support among Latino voters, trailing only former Vice President Joe Biden by a slim margin.
“For Cuban American voters, hearing [Sanders] praise murderous, totalitarian dictator Fidel Castro’s regime for ‘literacy programs’ is like telling the Jewish community Hitler wasn’t so awful because the Third Reich invented the Volkswagen automobile,” Miami-based pollster Fernand Amandi tweeted about Sanders, who is Jewish.
Others, like Cuban American journalist Gary Suarez, were less willing to “cancel” Sanders over comments from 35 years ago.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-24--Bernie Sanders Rolls Out $1.5 Trillion Plan For Free, Universal Child Care

The Sanders plan , which campaign officials provided to reporters over the weekend , is the latest major proposal on early childhood to come from a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate .
And with a projected budget of $ 1.5 trillion over 10 years , the Sanders plan may also be the biggest .
Child care has gotten more attention than ever in this presidential campaign , in part because so many families are struggling to find it .
Child care can cost more than college tuition in some parts of the country , while even well-off families can struggle to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care .
Sanders has his own extensive record of advocacy on this issue .
He has long backed universal child care in principle , invoking the idea in his stump speeches and debate performances .
But this new proposal represents the first time he has sketched out exactly how he would like to see such a program work in practice .
Under the Sanders plan , the federal government would provide that $ 1.5 trillion to states , who in turn would create and maintain their own networks of child care centers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other quality measures .
The assumption is that most states would start by financing and expanding the child care services that are already available , whether through small , independent providers or larger ones affiliated with organizations like the YMCA .
Home-based providers could also be part of the program .
But the Sanders plan also includes funding to underwrite the construction of new facilities , especially when it comes to increasing capacity for pre-kindergarten ― that is , for kids in the year or two before kindergarten starts ― on the theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so through their public school systems .
That means , among other things , focusing on raising qualifications and pay for the adults who care for children .
Following a phase-in period , child care providers would have to meet the same training standards they do for the federal Head Start program , in which , for example , all lead preschool teachers must have a bachelor ’ s degree in early childhood education or some related field .
In return , the program envisions paying child care providers more like public school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living wage .
Although the plan does not specify what that means , it ’ s bound to be a lot higher than existing wages , which are about $ 12 an hour or roughly the median wage for retail cashiers .
Those low wages make it difficult to attract or retain the most talented workers .
The other way the Sanders plan treats child care like public education is by making it free at the point of service .
It would be open to all families , regardless of income , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care has become something of a signature issue for Warren .
She emphasizes her plan in campaign appearances , frequently referencing her own experiences as a working mother who struggled to find care for her kids .
But while the Warren and Sanders plans have a lot in common , including the emphasis on quality , hers would guarantee free child care only for families with incomes of up to twice the poverty line , which works out to about $ 52,000 a year for a family of four .
For families making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require fees , albeit on a sliding scale pegged to income and with a guarantee that no family would have to pay more than 7 % of its income on child care .
That decision to make child care free for all , rather than free for just lower income families , reflects Sanders ’ long-standing commitment to full universality ― the idea that programs are most resilient , most equitable and , ultimately , most effective when they are available to all people under the same conditions .
The Sanders campaign says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by using money from its proposed wealth tax that it has not yet allocated for other purposes .
It also points out that investments in early childhood can pay off over the long run , because , according to a large body of research , kids who get high quality care tend to be healthier and more successful later in life .

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Monday rolled out a plan under which the federal government would make child care and pre-kindergarten available to all American families, with no tuition or fees.
The Sanders plan, which campaign officials provided to reporters over the weekend, is the latest major proposal on early childhood to come from a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. And with a projected budget of $1.5 trillion over 10 years, the Sanders plan may also be the biggest.
Advertisement
Child care has gotten more attention than ever in this presidential campaign, in part because so many families are struggling to find it. Child care can cost more than college tuition in some parts of the country, while even well-off families can struggle to find providers that offer safe, quality care.
Sen Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced a sweeping child care plan more than a year ago, while former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg rolled out his proposal in December.
Sanders has his own extensive record of advocacy on this issue. He has long backed universal child care in principle, invoking the idea in his stump speeches and debate performances. But this new proposal represents the first time he has sketched out exactly how he would like to see such a program work in practice.
Under the Sanders plan, the federal government would provide that $1.5 trillion to states, who in turn would create and maintain their own networks of child care centers that meet federal standards on adult-to-child ratios and other quality measures.
Advertisement
The assumption is that most states would start by financing and expanding the child care services that are already available, whether through small, independent providers or larger ones affiliated with organizations like the YMCA. Home-based providers could also be part of the program.
But the Sanders plan also includes funding to underwrite the construction of new facilities, especially when it comes to increasing capacity for pre-kindergarten ― that is, for kids in the year or two before kindergarten starts ― on the theory that states will frequently choose to do so through their public school systems.
Indeed, a major theme of the Sanders proposal is to treat child care as an extension of public education.
That means, among other things, focusing on raising qualifications and pay for the adults who care for children. Following a phase-in period, child care providers would have to meet the same training standards they do for the federal Head Start program, in which, for example, all lead preschool teachers must have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or some related field.
In return, the program envisions paying child care providers more like public school teachers by requiring that they make a living wage. Although the plan does not specify what that means, it’s bound to be a lot higher than existing wages, which are about $12 an hour or roughly the median wage for retail cashiers. Those low wages make it difficult to attract or retain the most talented workers.
Advertisement
The other way the Sanders plan treats child care like public education is by making it free at the point of service. It would be open to all families, regardless of income, at no direct cost to them.
This is also the most conspicuous difference between the plan from Sanders and the plans from other Democrats, especially Warren.
Child care has become something of a signature issue for Warren. She emphasizes her plan in campaign appearances, frequently referencing her own experiences as a working mother who struggled to find care for her kids.
But while the Warren and Sanders plans have a lot in common, including the emphasis on quality, hers would guarantee free child care only for families with incomes of up to twice the poverty line, which works out to about $52,000 a year for a family of four.
For families making more than that, child care would require fees, albeit on a sliding scale pegged to income and with a guarantee that no family would have to pay more than 7% of its income on child care.
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This is the same basic approach in the Buttigieg plan and on Capitol Hill, in legislation introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.).
That decision to make child care free for all, rather than free for just lower income families, reflects Sanders’ long-standing commitment to full universality ― the idea that programs are most resilient, most equitable and, ultimately, most effective when they are available to all people under the same conditions.
But that decision also means the federal government would have to spend more money on the program. And that money would have to come from somewhere.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-24--India Welcomes Trump With Pageantry, Praise And Protests

More than 100,000 people packed the world ’ s largest cricket stadium in Modi ’ s home state to give Trump the biggest rally crowd of his political career .
The event was the pinnacle of the day ’ s enviable trio of presidential photo-ops , and was sandwiched between Trump ’ s visits to a former home of independence leader Mohandas Gandhi and a planned tour of the famed Taj Mahal .
But miles away in the capital of New Delhi , Indian police used tear gas and smoke grenades to disperse a crowd of clashing protesters hours before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence broke out over a new citizenship law that excludes Muslims .
Anti-Trump street demonstrations also erupted in Delhi , Kolkata , Hyderabad and Gauhati , but not in the city where Trump was welcomed to India .
The boisterous scene featured musicians on camels and a musical medley of Bollywood hits and Trump ’ s campaign rally playlist , including numerous Elton John songs that seemed to puzzle most of the crowd .
Trump basked in the raucous reception that has eluded him on many foreign trips , some of which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world leaders .
In India , he instead received a warm embrace — literally — from the ideologically aligned and noted hugger Modi .
The sun-baked city of Ahmedabad bustled as Trump arrived , its streets teeming with people eager to catch a glimpse of the American president .
Newly cleaned roads and planted flowers dotted the roads amid hundreds of billboards featuring the president and first lady Melania Trump .
Thousands lined his motorcade route , shy of the up to 10 million that Trump speculated would be on hand .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where Trump donned a prayer shawl and removed his shoes to create the incongruous image of a grandiose president quietly walking through the humble ashram .
He inspected the spinning wheel used by the famed pacifist and looked at a statue of monkeys representing Gandhi ’ s mantra of “ See no evil , Hear no evil , Speak no evil ” before departing for a far more boisterous setting : the mega-rally at the world ’ s largest cricket stadium .
Trump ’ s motorcade traveled amid cheers from a battery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and workers from his Bharatiya Janata Party who stood for hours alongside the neatly manicured 22-kilometer ( 14-mile ) stretch of road to accord the president a grand welcome on his way to the newly constructed stadium .
Tens of thousands of police officers were on hand to keep security tight and a new wall has come up in front of a slum , apparently to hide it from presidential passers-by .
On the way to the stadium , Trump ’ s motorcade crossed a river where a barge was emblazoned with “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” The stadium was packed with revelers , many of whom sported Trump and Modi masks , as they sat in 80-degree heat .
Scores of attendees , particularly those sitting in the sun , streamed out before Trump finished his 27-minute speech .
The “ Namaste Trump ” rally was , in a way , the back half of home-and-home events for Modi and Trump , who attended a “ Howdy Modi ” rally in Houston last year that drew 50,000 people .
Trump lavished praise on both Modi and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lift residents out of extreme poverty , saying “ India gives hope to all of humanity.
” Trump ’ s foreign visits typically are light on sightseeing , but he and the first lady were to visit the Taj Mahal , the immense white marble mausoleum built in Agra in the 17th century .
Stories in local media warn of the monkeys that inhabit the landmark pestering tourists for food and , on occasion , menacing both visitors and slingshot-carrying security guards .
Images of American presidents being feted on the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their rivals in the opposing party slogging through diners in early-voting states and clashing in debate .
This trip , in particular , reflects a Trump campaign strategy to showcase him in his presidential role during short , carefully managed trips that provide counter-programming to the Democrats ’ primary contest and produce the kinds of visuals his campaign can use in future ads .
His aides also believe the visit could help the president woo tens of thousands of Indian-American voters before the November election .
The visit also comes at a crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has provided over a steep economic downturn and unfulfilled campaign promises about job creation .
When Trump touches down in Delhi later Monday , he will find a bustling , noisy , colorful capital that also is dotted with half-finished construction projects stalled due to disappearing funding .
The president will conclude his whirlwind visit to India on Tuesday in the capital , including meetings with Modi over stalled trade talks and a gala dinner .
The two nations are closely allied , in part to act as a bulwark against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced at the stadium that India would soon buy $ 3 billion of American military equipment .
But trade tensions between the two countries have escalated since the Trump administration imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum from India .
India responded with higher penalties on agricultural goods and restrictions on U.S. medical devices .
The U.S. retaliated by removing India from a decades-old preferential trade program .
Eyes will also be on whether Trump weighs in on the protests enveloping India over a new citizenship law that provides a fast track to naturalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegally while fleeing religious persecution , but excludes Muslims , raising fears that the country is moving toward a religious citizenship test .
Passage has prompted large-scale protests and a violent crackdown .

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AHMEDABAD, INDIA (AP) — Basking in adulation from a massive, colorful crowd, President Donald Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi lavished each other with praise Monday in a reaffirmation of U.S.-India ties as the subcontinent poured on the pageantry in a joyful welcome for the U.S. president.
More than 100,000 people packed the world’s largest cricket stadium in Modi’s home state to give Trump the biggest rally crowd of his political career. The event was the pinnacle of the day’s enviable trio of presidential photo-ops, and was sandwiched between Trump’s visits to a former home of independence leader Mohandas Gandhi and a planned tour of the famed Taj Mahal.
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More than 100,000 people attend the 'Namaste Trump' event at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, India on Monday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nearly everyone in the newly constructed stadium in Ahmedabad in western India sported a white cap with the name of the event, “Namaste, Trump” or “Welcome, Trump,” and roared for the introductions of both leaders.
But miles away in the capital of New Delhi, Indian police used tear gas and smoke grenades to disperse a crowd of clashing protesters hours before Trump was due to arrive, as violence broke out over a new citizenship law that excludes Muslims. Anti-Trump street demonstrations also erupted in Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Gauhati, but not in the city where Trump was welcomed to India.
Indian police in Hyderabad detained members of Centre of Indian Trade Unions who demonstrated against Trump's visit to India. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Embarking on a whirlwind 36-hour visit, Trump opened his speech in Ahmedabad by declaring that he had traveled 8,000 miles to deliver the message that “America loves India, America respects India and America will always be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people.”
The boisterous scene featured musicians on camels and a musical medley of Bollywood hits and Trump’s campaign rally playlist, including numerous Elton John songs that seemed to puzzle most of the crowd. Trump basked in the raucous reception that has eluded him on many foreign trips, some of which have featured massive protests and icy handshakes from world leaders. In India, he instead received a warm embrace — literally — from the ideologically aligned and noted hugger Modi.
The sun-baked city of Ahmedabad bustled as Trump arrived, its streets teeming with people eager to catch a glimpse of the American president. Newly cleaned roads and planted flowers dotted the roads amid hundreds of billboards featuring the president and first lady Melania Trump. Thousands lined his motorcade route, shy of the up to 10 million that Trump speculated would be on hand.
His first stop was Gandhi’s home, where Trump donned a prayer shawl and removed his shoes to create the incongruous image of a grandiose president quietly walking through the humble ashram. He inspected the spinning wheel used by the famed pacifist and looked at a statue of monkeys representing Gandhi’s mantra of “See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil” before departing for a far more boisterous setting: the mega-rally at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Trump’s motorcade traveled amid cheers from a battery of carefully picked and vetted Modi loyalists and workers from his Bharatiya Janata Party who stood for hours alongside the neatly manicured 22-kilometer (14-mile) stretch of road to accord the president a grand welcome on his way to the newly constructed stadium. Tens of thousands of police officers were on hand to keep security tight and a new wall has come up in front of a slum, apparently to hide it from presidential passers-by.
Advertisement
On the way to the stadium, Trump’s motorcade crossed a river where a barge was emblazoned with “TRUMP” and onlookers chanted “Modi!” The stadium was packed with revelers, many of whom sported Trump and Modi masks, as they sat in 80-degree heat. Scores of attendees, particularly those sitting in the sun, streamed out before Trump finished his 27-minute speech.
The “Namaste Trump” rally was, in a way, the back half of home-and-home events for Modi and Trump, who attended a “Howdy Modi” rally in Houston last year that drew 50,000 people. Trump lavished praise on both Modi and the democracy he leads, touting an effort to lift residents out of extreme poverty, saying “India gives hope to all of humanity.”
Trump’s foreign visits typically are light on sightseeing, but he and the first lady were to visit the Taj Mahal, the immense white marble mausoleum built in Agra in the 17th century. Stories in local media warn of the monkeys that inhabit the landmark pestering tourists for food and, on occasion, menacing both visitors and slingshot-carrying security guards.
Images of American presidents being feted on the world stage stand in contrast to those of their rivals in the opposing party slogging through diners in early-voting states and clashing in debate. This trip, in particular, reflects a Trump campaign strategy to showcase him in his presidential role during short, carefully managed trips that provide counter-programming to the Democrats’ primary contest and produce the kinds of visuals his campaign can use in future ads. His aides also believe the visit could help the president woo tens of thousands of Indian-American voters before the November election.
Advertisement
The visit also comes at a crucial moment for Modi, a fellow populist, who has provided over a steep economic downturn and unfulfilled campaign promises about job creation. When Trump touches down in Delhi later Monday, he will find a bustling, noisy, colorful capital that also is dotted with half-finished construction projects stalled due to disappearing funding.
The president will conclude his whirlwind visit to India on Tuesday in the capital, including meetings with Modi over stalled trade talks and a gala dinner. The two nations are closely allied, in part to act as a bulwark against the rising influence of China. Trump announced at the stadium that India would soon buy $3 billion of American military equipment.
But trade tensions between the two countries have escalated since the Trump administration imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum from India. India responded with higher penalties on agricultural goods and restrictions on U.S. medical devices. The U.S. retaliated by removing India from a decades-old preferential trade program.
Trump voiced optimism that a deal could be reached but also lightheartedly told the rally crowd about Modi: “Everybody loves him, but I will tell you this. He’s very tough.”
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Eyes will also be on whether Trump weighs in on the protests enveloping India over a new citizenship law that provides a fast track to naturalization for some migrants who entered the country illegally while fleeing religious persecution, but excludes Muslims, raising fears that the country is moving toward a religious citizenship test. Passage has prompted large-scale protests and a violent crackdown.
Trump has refrained from publicly rebuking world leaders for human rights abuses during his overseas trips. He made no specific mention of the citizenship debate during the rally, but included passing references to religious tolerance for all faiths, including Islam. He also specifically referred to the United States’ success combating “radical Islamic terrorism,” particularly originating from India’s longtime rival, Pakistan.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-24--Car Plows Into German Carnival Parade 'At Full Throttle,' Injuring 10

ELMAR SCHULTEN via Getty Images A broken handcart is seen in front of cars of the police , the fire brigades and an ambulance on Rose Monday , February 24 , 2020 in Volkmarsen near Kassel , central Germany .
- Several people were injured when a car drove into a carnival procession in Volksmarsen , police said , adding that the driver had been arrested .
( Photo by Elmar SCHULTEN / AFP ) ( Photo by ELMAR SCHULTEN/AFP via Getty Images ) BERLIN ( Reuters ) - Ten people were injured on Monday after a car ploughed into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town of Volkmarsen , police said , adding that the driver had been arrested .
Police declined to say if was an accident or if the driver had deliberately rammed the car into the crowd .
German news website HNA cited witnesses as saying that the driver appeared to have deliberately targeted children and that he had driven into the crowd “ at full throttle.
” The incident comes less than a week after a gunman gunned down 11 people , including himself , in one of the worst racist attacks in Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ambulances rushed to the scene in Volkmarsen , 263 miles , 423 km west of Berlin .
Carnival is hugely popular in parts of western Germany , especially in Rhineland cities such as Cologne and Duesseldorf , where festivities peak on “ Rose Monday ” with tens of thousands attending street parades featuring comical or satirical floats .

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BERLIN (Reuters) - Ten people were injured on Monday after a car ploughed into a carnival parade in the western German town of Volkmarsen, police said, adding that the driver had been arrested.
Police declined to say if was an accident or if the driver had deliberately rammed the car into the crowd.
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German news website HNA cited witnesses as saying that the driver appeared to have deliberately targeted children and that he had driven into the crowd “at full throttle.”
A broken handcart is seen in front of cars of the police, the fire brigades and an ambulance on Rose Monday, February 24, 2020 in Volkmarsen near Kassel, central Germany. - Several people were injured when a car drove into a carnival procession in Volksmarsen, police said, adding that the driver had been arrested. (Photo by Elmar SCHULTEN / AFP) (Photo by ELMAR SCHULTEN/AFP via Getty Images) ELMAR SCHULTEN via Getty Images
The incident comes less than a week after a gunman gunned down 11 people, including himself, in one of the worst racist attacks in Germany since World War Two.
Police cars and ambulances rushed to the scene in Volkmarsen, 263 miles, 423 km west of Berlin.
Carnival is hugely popular in parts of western Germany, especially in Rhineland cities such as Cologne and Duesseldorf, where festivities peak on “Rose Monday” with tens of thousands attending street parades featuring comical or satirical floats.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-24--Supreme Court To Hear Philadelphia Dispute Over Same-Sex Foster Parents

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a dispute over a Philadelphia Catholic agency that won ’ t place foster children with same-sex couples .
The justices will review an appeals court ruling that upheld the city ’ s decision to stop placing children with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia ’ s agency because it would not permit same-sex couples to serve as foster parents .
The 3rd U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled the city did not target the agency because of its religious beliefs , but acted only to enforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what seemed to be a clear violation .
The case will not be argued until the fall .
Among the issues the justices will take up is whether to overrule a 30-year-old Supreme Court decision that does not allow for religious exemptions from laws that apply generally and neutrally to everyone .
The federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act , approved by Congress to counteract the court ruling , does not apply to state and local government action .
Philadelphia ’ s contract with the agency , Catholic Social Services , has expired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court order requiring the city to renew the contract .
Catholic Social Services won ’ t certify same-sex married couples because of religious principles , and it also doesn ’ t allow unmarried couples who live together to foster children under its program .
The agency had worked with the city for years , but its policy only came to the city ’ s attention in March 2018 , when a reporter with The Philadelphia Inquirer asked about it , the appeals court said .
The Inquirer reported that Catholic Social Services placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has contracts with more than two dozen agencies that help find foster homes for about 5,000 children , a city spokesman said .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a dispute over a Philadelphia Catholic agency that won’t place foster children with same-sex couples.
The justices will review an appeals court ruling that upheld the city’s decision to stop placing children with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s agency because it would not permit same-sex couples to serve as foster parents.
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The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled the city did not target the agency because of its religious beliefs, but acted only to enforce its own nondiscrimination policy in the face of what seemed to be a clear violation.
The case will not be argued until the fall.
Among the issues the justices will take up is whether to overrule a 30-year-old Supreme Court decision that does not allow for religious exemptions from laws that apply generally and neutrally to everyone. The federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, approved by Congress to counteract the court ruling, does not apply to state and local government action.
Philadelphia’s contract with the agency, Catholic Social Services, has expired. But the agency is seeking a court order requiring the city to renew the contract.
Catholic Social Services won’t certify same-sex married couples because of religious principles, and it also doesn’t allow unmarried couples who live together to foster children under its program.
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The agency had worked with the city for years, but its policy only came to the city’s attention in March 2018, when a reporter with The Philadelphia Inquirer asked about it, the appeals court said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-24--Joe Biden's Last Stand

Joe Biden's Last Stand

CHARLESTON , S.C. ― It ’ s come to this : Former Vice President Joe Biden badly needs a primary victory to keep alive his chances of winning the Democratic nomination , and his firewall state of South Carolina is finally heading to the polls later this week .
But in a place where he once looked unassailable ( with support as high as 46 % at one point ) , Biden is suddenly facing a competitive fight as other candidates in the race continue to make inroads with Black voters , his core constituency .
A disappointing finish here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his path forward , especially after repeated assurances from his staff that he was positioned to do best in more diverse communities like those in the Palmetto State .
“ It ’ s not looking great .
He has the opposite of momentum , ” South Carolina Democratic strategist Tyler Jones told HuffPost .
“ He ’ s got ta win South Carolina convincingly to stay in the race .
Expectations are also very high for him , which they set for themselves .
It ’ s win or go home for him.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend , Biden is projected to come in a distant second behind Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , whose decisive win there solidified his status as the front-runner in the race .
It was a badly needed finish for Biden after poor showings in the first two contests in Iowa and New Hampshire .
Still , his chances of stopping Sanders , who is on track to take a huge delegate lead in the Super Tuesday primaries early next month , will hinge on how well he does in South Carolina .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has fallen by double digits in recent weeks , however .
According to a CBS News poll released Sunday , the former vice president leads Sanders by only 5 points , 28 % to 23 % .
Sanders and billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer , who has 18 % support in the poll , have made sizable gains in the state , especially with its large population of Black voters .
Steyer , in particular , has put significant time and money into the state ’ s Democratic primary .
His campaign has essentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spending millions on TV and radio ads .
He ’ s scheduled to hold many events in the state this week and will appear on stage at Tuesday ’ s Democratic primary debate in Charleston .
Even if he doesn ’ t win , however , Steyer could stand in the way of Biden winning in a total blowout .
Biden had a strong performance in last week ’ s primary debate in Las Vegas , joining in on attacks on billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg over his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been his best debate yet , yielding strong fundraising for his struggling campaign .
He ’ ll need to post another good showing at Tuesday ’ s debate in Charleston in order to fend off Steyer and Sanders and prove he can win a primary .
“ I ’ m not saying Tom Steyer ’ s a bad guy , but Tom Steyer was one of the largest investors in private prisons in the United States of America while I was trying to get rid of private prisons and Barack was trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Biden told reporters , referring to the former president .
Biden has also begun to sharpen his criticisms of Sanders , whose path to the nomination is getting clearer by the day .
Last week , he criticized the senator for his past votes against gun control measures in the 1990s , including the Brady Act , which mandated federal background checks and a waiting period for some handgun purchases .
Though Sanders now supports gun control measures , Biden is likely to use a similar strategy and focus on gun violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an infamous 2015 church shooting .
What could trip up the vice president this week is a New York Times report about a story he ’ s been telling on the campaign trail in recent weeks : that on a visit to South Africa decades ago , he tried to visit Nelson Mandela in prison and got arrested .
The Times was unable to verify the claim about his arrest , and Biden ’ s campaign has notably not responded to queries about it .
“ I think it would be a real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional districts that we have to do well in , ” Clyburn said in the interview .
“ If you look at how well we did the last time ... these were not liberal or what you might call progressive districts .
These were basically moderate and conservative districts that we did well in .
And in those districts , it ’ s going to be tough to hold on to these jobs if you have to make the case for accepting a self-proclaimed democratic socialist .
”

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CHARLESTON, S.C. ― It’s come to this: Former Vice President Joe Biden badly needs a primary victory to keep alive his chances of winning the Democratic nomination, and his firewall state of South Carolina is finally heading to the polls later this week.
But in a place where he once looked unassailable (with support as high as 46% at one point), Biden is suddenly facing a competitive fight as other candidates in the race continue to make inroads with Black voters, his core constituency.
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A disappointing finish here would be devastating to his campaign and his path forward, especially after repeated assurances from his staff that he was positioned to do best in more diverse communities like those in the Palmetto State.
“It’s not looking great. He has the opposite of momentum,” South Carolina Democratic strategist Tyler Jones told HuffPost. “He’s gotta win South Carolina convincingly to stay in the race. Expectations are also very high for him, which they set for themselves. It’s win or go home for him.”
It's "win or go home" for Joe Biden in South Carolina. Ethan Miller via Getty Images
In the Nevada caucuses over the weekend, Biden is projected to come in a distant second behind Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), whose decisive win there solidified his status as the front-runner in the race. It was a badly needed finish for Biden after poor showings in the first two contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. Still, his chances of stopping Sanders, who is on track to take a huge delegate lead in the Super Tuesday primaries early next month, will hinge on how well he does in South Carolina.
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Biden’s support in the state has fallen by double digits in recent weeks, however. According to a CBS News poll released Sunday, the former vice president leads Sanders by only 5 points, 28% to 23%. Sanders and billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, who has 18% support in the poll, have made sizable gains in the state, especially with its large population of Black voters.
“I feel good about where we are. I feel good about going into South Carolina,” Biden told CBS’ “Face the Nation” in that aired Sunday. “And I feel good about the kind of support I’ve had with African Americans around the country.”
Steyer, in particular, has put significant time and money into the state’s Democratic primary. His campaign has essentially had the airwaves to itself for months, spending millions on TV and radio ads. He’s scheduled to hold many events in the state this week and will appear on stage at Tuesday’s Democratic primary debate in Charleston. Even if he doesn’t win, however, Steyer could stand in the way of Biden winning in a total blowout.
“Tom Steyer could play spoiler in the South Carolina primary,” Jones added. “I never thought I’d say Biden’s career could be ended by Tom Steyer, but here we are.”
Tom Steyer could spoil Biden's victory party in South Carolina. Alex Wong via Getty Images
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Biden had a strong performance in last week’s primary debate in Las Vegas, joining in on attacks on billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg over his administration’s stop-and-frisk policy. It may have been his best debate yet, yielding strong fundraising for his struggling campaign. He’ll need to post another good showing at Tuesday’s debate in Charleston in order to fend off Steyer and Sanders and prove he can win a primary.
At a campaign stop in South Carolina on Sunday, Biden took jabs at Steyer over his hedge fund’s past investments of millions of dollars in the nation’s leading private prison corporation.
“I’m not saying Tom Steyer’s a bad guy, but Tom Steyer was one of the largest investors in private prisons in the United States of America while I was trying to get rid of private prisons and Barack was trying to get rid of private prisons,” Biden told reporters, referring to the former president.
Biden has also begun to sharpen his criticisms of Sanders, whose path to the nomination is getting clearer by the day. Last week, he criticized the senator for his past votes against gun control measures in the 1990s, including the Brady Act, which mandated federal background checks and a waiting period for some handgun purchases. Though Sanders now supports gun control measures, Biden is likely to use a similar strategy and focus on gun violence prevention in Charleston, the site of an infamous 2015 church shooting.
What could trip up the vice president this week is a New York Times report about a story he’s been telling on the campaign trail in recent weeks: that on a visit to South Africa decades ago, he tried to visit Nelson Mandela in prison and got arrested. The Times was unable to verify the claim about his arrest, and Biden’s campaign has notably not responded to queries about it.
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But a highly influential endorsement could boost Biden’s chances in South Carolina ahead of Saturday’s primary vote. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), who is the highest-ranking Black member of Congress, is expected to announce his preferred choice to lead the Democratic Party on Wednesday, and it’s likely it’ll be Biden.
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, Clyburn expressed concern about the prospect of nominating Sanders due to how it might impact Democrats’ chances of retaining the House and recapturing the Senate in November.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-24--Village People OK With Trump Playing 'Macho Man' Before India Speech

We have received numerous requests demanding that we prevent or ban President Donald Trump ’ s use of our songs @ @ @ @ @ and “ Macho Man.
” With the latest use of “ Macho Man ” in @ @ @ @ @ inundated and can no longer remain silent .
Since our music is not being used @ @ @ @ @ the President ’ s use is “ perfect [ ly ] ” legal .
He @ @ @ @ @ use of our songs and has not crossed the line ; if he or any @ @ @ @ @ any of our songs in a manner that would suggest our endorsement , or in @ @ @ @ @ would cross the line .
Like millions of Village People fans worldwide , the President @ @ @ @ @ a genuine like for our music .
Our music is all-inclusive and certainly everyone is @ @ @ @ @ dance , regardless of their political affiliation .

We have received numerous requests demanding that we prevent or ban President Donald Trump’s use of our songs, particularly “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man.”
With the latest use of “Macho Man” in India, we are being inundated and can no longer remain silent.
Since our music is not being used for a specific endorsement, the President’s use is “perfect[ly]” legal.
He has remained respectful in his use of our songs and has not crossed the line; if he or any other candidate were to use any of our songs in a manner that would suggest our endorsement, or in a promotional advertisement, that would cross the line.
Like millions of Village People fans worldwide, the President and his supporters have shown a genuine like for our music.
Our music is all-inclusive and certainly everyone is entitled to do the YMCA dance, regardless of their political affiliation.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-24--Some 17-Year-Olds Can Vote In Colorado's Presidential Primary This Year

Coloradans who are 17 years old , your time is now .
But only if you ’ ll be 18 by Nov. 3 .
For the first time , teenagers in the state who will turn 18 by the date of the election in November will be allowed to vote in the state ’ s presidential primary .
The new law went into effect in August 2019 , but this is the first time it will be put it to use .
The Colorado Secretary of State ’ s office estimates that as a result of the law , about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the primary .
The state ’ s contest is one of 16 held on March 3 ― Super Tuesday ― in the Democratic presidential race .
Colorado has 3.9 million registered voters , so the new , younger cohort is unlikely to significantly alter the outcome of the state ’ s primary .
“ That ’ s a small number of new active voters , and chances are that turnout won ’ t be very high among this group , since it tends to be low among young people in general , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t aware they can vote now , ” Seth Masket , a political science professor at the University of Denver , told the Aurora Sentinel .
“ However , if we see a particularly close race in Colorado , and some 17-year old voters are particularly attached to one candidacy , that bit of extra turnout could make a difference , ” he added .
At least seven other states and the District of Columbia have similar statutes on the books , according to The Associated Press .

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Coloradans who are 17 years old, your time is now. But only if you’ll be 18 by Nov. 3.
For the first time, teenagers in the state who will turn 18 by the date of the election in November will be allowed to vote in the state’s presidential primary. The new law went into effect in August 2019, but this is the first time it will be put it to use.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s office estimates that as a result of the law, about 24,000 more people are eligible to vote in the primary. The state’s contest is one of 16 held on March 3 ― Super Tuesday ― in the Democratic presidential race.
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Colorado has 3.9 million registered voters, so the new, younger cohort is unlikely to significantly alter the outcome of the state’s primary.
“That’s a small number of new active voters, and chances are that turnout won’t be very high among this group, since it tends to be low among young people in general, and probably a lot of them aren’t aware they can vote now,” Seth Masket, a political science professor at the University of Denver, told the Aurora Sentinel. “However, if we see a particularly close race in Colorado, and some 17-year old voters are particularly attached to one candidacy, that bit of extra turnout could make a difference,” he added.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-24--Advocacy Groups Renew Calls For Bloomberg To Renounce NYPD's Muslim Surveillance

In the days after a New York Times report indicated Michael Bloomberg ’ s financial influence may have led a major think tank to remove his name from a report on Islamophobia , Muslim groups and advocates have renewed their calls for the presidential candidate to apologize for his treatment of American Muslims .
Senior-level members of the Center for American Progress removed eight mentions of Bloomberg ’ s name ― and more than 4,000 words about the New York City Police Department surveilling Muslim communities ― from a 2015 report because the organization was worried about blowback from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bloomberg , a billionaire , had given the organization nearly $ 1.5 million worth of grants by the time the report was published .
The edited CAP report is yet another example of Bloomberg ’ s problematic record on policing and violating Muslim civil rights , advocates say .
The former New York City mayor has refused to accept responsibility for the NYPD ’ s surveillance program , has a dismissive attitude toward the Muslim community ’ s civil rights and has repeatedly used his wealth to silence his critics — which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous candidate for president .
Under the NYPD program that started in 2011 , law enforcement placed undercover informants in predominately Muslim communities .
They took pictures and video of mosquegoers , recorded the license plate numbers of worshippers , chatted up Muslim business owners , hung out in hookah bars — and reported everything back to the NYPD .
“ In perpetuating bigoted stereotypes , your actions as Mayor of New York City , and your rhetoric on this issue has put the lives of American Muslims at risk of prejudice and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We call on you to apologize unequivocally for the harm you have done and condemn the implementation of any similar programs.
” But CAP ’ s “ Fear Inc 2.0.
” report ― which the organization ’ s website says addresses the rise of “ politically motivated Islamophobia , ” and particularly the influence Islamophobia had on law enforcement training ― ended up not mentioning Bloomberg ’ s ties to the program .
“ My job was to ensure that the report that we were putting out at captain was factual , detailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We weren ’ t going to put out a product with our names on it that was going to whitewash the NYPD ’ s egregious actions .
To me , it was unthinkable .
There was no way I was going to do that and I know that CAP knew that.
” “ The sort of message that it sends to our community and other communities that have been targeted by Mayor Bloomberg policies is that ultimately you take a backseat to Mayor Bloomberg money , ” she added .
CAP told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revise the section of the report that tied Bloomberg to the NYPD surveillance program .
The organization did not respond to HuffPost ’ s request for comment .
Several Muslim groups have called on CAP to explain exactly why the chapter about the NYPD was removed from its report , and to release it to the public .
They also proposed creating a consultation process for future reports documenting issues facing the Muslim , Arab and South Asian communities .
“ The removal of the NYPD spying program from this report compromises the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state in advancing Islamophobia , ” several local and national organizations that work with those communities wrote in an open letter to CAP .
The sort of message that it sends to our community and other communities that have been targeted by Mayor Bloomberg policies is that ultimately you take a backseat to Mayor Bloomberg money .
For this to have happened at a liberal organization that claims to be nonpartisan was particularly alarming , said Darakshan Raja , the co-director of the Justice For Muslims Collective , a D.C.-based grassroots group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s important for the average person to see the influence and particular relationship with big money into these organizations and how that can have indirectly or directly can have an influence on the type of information that is put out or not put out , ” Raja told HuffPost .
“ For Muslim communities who ’ ve gone through the brutality of the NYPD surveillance and mapping program , in addition to the hate violence that community experiences , we don ’ t have the privilege to cut out that part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Unlike this chapter , we can ’ t say , let ’ s just take one part of myself out that was experiencing hate and NYPD mapping and yet you can focus on all other aspects of my life .
”

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In the days after a New York Times report indicated Michael Bloomberg’s financial influence may have led a major think tank to remove his name from a report on Islamophobia, Muslim groups and advocates have renewed their calls for the presidential candidate to apologize for his treatment of American Muslims.
Senior-level members of the Center for American Progress removed eight mentions of Bloomberg’s name ― and more than 4,000 words about the New York City Police Department surveilling Muslim communities ― from a 2015 report because the organization was worried about blowback from the wealthy politician, according to the Times. Bloomberg, a billionaire, had given the organization nearly $1.5 million worth of grants by the time the report was published.
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The edited CAP report is yet another example of Bloomberg’s problematic record on policing and violating Muslim civil rights, advocates say. The former New York City mayor has refused to accept responsibility for the NYPD’s surveillance program, has a dismissive attitude toward the Muslim community’s civil rights and has repeatedly used his wealth to silence his critics — which civil rights activists say make him a dangerous candidate for president.
Bloomberg’s campaign did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Under the NYPD program that started in 2011, law enforcement placed undercover informants in predominately Muslim communities. They took pictures and video of mosquegoers, recorded the license plate numbers of worshippers, chatted up Muslim business owners, hung out in hookah bars — and reported everything back to the NYPD.
A coalition of leading Muslim advocacy organizations sent a letter to Bloomberg last week in which they demanded an apology for his role in the program during his tenure as mayor.
“In perpetuating bigoted stereotypes, your actions as Mayor of New York City, and your rhetoric on this issue has put the lives of American Muslims at risk of prejudice and violence,” they wrote. “We call on you to apologize unequivocally for the harm you have done and condemn the implementation of any similar programs.”
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Demonstrators outside One Police Plaza in New York City on June 18, 2013. TIMOTHY CLARY via Getty Images
The surveillance tarnished the relationship between Muslims and law enforcement, even after it was shut down. Bloomberg has firmly defended the program, which Donald Trump praised during his presidential campaign.
But CAP’s “Fear Inc 2.0.” report ― which the organization’s website says addresses the rise of “politically motivated Islamophobia,” and particularly the influence Islamophobia had on law enforcement training ― ended up not mentioning Bloomberg’s ties to the program.
Yasmine Taeb, a co-author of the report and a former CAP employee hired to manage the Islamophobia project, told HuffPost she was disappointed to see the final version.
“My job was to ensure that the report that we were putting out at CAP was factual, detailed and impactful,” Taeb said. “We weren’t going to put out a product with our names on it that was going to whitewash the NYPD’s egregious actions. To me, it was unthinkable. There was no way I was going to do that and I know that CAP knew that.”
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“The sort of message that it sends to our community and other communities that have been targeted by Mayor Bloomberg policies is that ultimately you take a backseat to Mayor Bloomberg money,” she added.
CAP told the Times there were other reasons to revise the section of the report that tied Bloomberg to the NYPD surveillance program. The organization did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Several Muslim groups have called on CAP to explain exactly why the chapter about the NYPD was removed from its report, and to release it to the public. They also proposed creating a consultation process for future reports documenting issues facing the Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities.
“The removal of the NYPD spying program from this report compromises the important structural analysis of the role of the state in advancing Islamophobia,” several local and national organizations that work with those communities wrote in an open letter to CAP.
“The sort of message that it sends to our community and other communities that have been targeted by Mayor Bloomberg policies is that ultimately you take a backseat to Mayor Bloomberg money.” - Yasmine Taeb
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For this to have happened at a liberal organization that claims to be nonpartisan was particularly alarming, said Darakshan Raja, the co-director of the Justice For Muslims Collective, a D.C.-based grassroots group that fights institutional Islamophobia.
“It’s important for the average person to see the influence and particular relationship with big money into these organizations and how that can have indirectly or directly can have an influence on the type of information that is put out or not put out,” Raja told HuffPost.
It is especially critical for such reports to accurately depict the traumatizing result the surveillance program had on Muslims, Raja said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Trump Supporters Flip Out After Completely Misreading Garth Brooks' Shirt

“ If this is for Bernie Sanders , I ’ m done with you .
I thought you were a @ @ @ @ @ Country ?
” “ Weird .
That a millionaire would like a socialist .
Hey @ @ @ @ @ distribute your millions ?
” “ Good grief .
Can ’ t you just do @ @ @ @ @ do ?
?
?
?
Why why why does it have to involve politics !
@ @ @ @ @ We don ’ t pay good money for anything other than to watch you perform @ @

“G is a Democrat socialist!”
“Sanders???? WTF Garth???”
“If this is for Bernie Sanders, I’m done with you. I thought you were a true American that loves Our Country?”
“Weird. That a millionaire would like a socialist. Hey Garth are you going to distribute your millions?”
“Sanders is a foolish , crazy socialist!”
“Good grief. Can’t you just do what you get paid to do ???? Why why why does it have to involve politics !!! So sad. We don’t pay good money for anything other than to watch you perform.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Anderson Cooper Hits Donald Trump With Stark Reality Check About Coronavirus

CNN ’ s Anderson Cooper on Thursday issued a stark reminder to President Donald Trump and his administration about the @ @ @ @ @ ’ t kill viruses , ” warned the host of “ Anderson Cooper 360° ” @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the COVID-19 virus to dozens of countries around the world .
Federal @ @ @ @ @ that a widespread outbreak in the U.S. may be imminent .
“ And wishful thinking @ @ @ @ @ ’ t contain outbreaks or reassure investors or employers or any of us , ” @ @ @ @ @ the conflicting , and often confusing , messages coming from Trump and various government officials @ @ @ @ @ out the full clip here :

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CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Thursday issued a stark reminder to President Donald Trump and his administration about the coronavirus.
“Ignorance doesn’t kill viruses,” warned the host of “Anderson Cooper 360°” as he reported developments in the spread of the COVID-19 virus to dozens of countries around the world.
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Federal health officials announced this week that a widespread outbreak in the U.S. may be imminent.
“And wishful thinking or vague happy talk won’t contain outbreaks or reassure investors or employers or any of us,” added Cooper, picking apart the conflicting, and often confusing, messages coming from Trump and various government officials about the virus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--The New Yorker Slaps Donald Trump With Sarcastic Coronavirus Cover

The New Yorker takes a sarcastic swipe at President Donald Trump over his administration ’ s messy handling of the coronavirus outbreak with its latest cover .
Trump screams ― with a surgical mask over his eyes ― in artist Brian Stauffer ’ s front-page image for the March 9 issue , headlined “ Under Control.
” “ Coronavirus claimed its first victims in China , and the illness has now appeared in at least forty-eight countries , with cases soaring in Europe and the Middle East , ” wrote Françoise Mouly , the magazine ’ s art editor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , in response to criticism about his Administration ’ s response , President Trump held a press conference addressing the epidemic , ” Mouly added .
“ His performance — as Brian Stauffer ’ s cover for next week ’ s magazine suggests — was not entirely persuasive.
” Trump on Wednesday appointed Vice President Mike Pence to take charge of the response to the outbreak , a move that was widely criticized , as he acknowledged there was a chance the spread of the virus “ could get fairly , substantially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus in the U.S. is highly likely .

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The New Yorker takes a sarcastic swipe at President Donald Trump over his administration’s messy handling of the coronavirus outbreak with its latest cover.
Trump screams ― with a surgical mask over his eyes ― in artist Brian Stauffer’s front-page image for the March 9 issue, headlined “Under Control.”
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An early look at next week’s cover, “Under Control,” by Brian Stauffer: https://t.co/jbWDbmDyRl pic.twitter.com/mBpv1VYMsX — The New Yorker (@NewYorker) February 27, 2020
“Coronavirus claimed its first victims in China, and the illness has now appeared in at least forty-eight countries, with cases soaring in Europe and the Middle East,” wrote Françoise Mouly, the magazine’s art editor, in explaining the image.
“On Wednesday, in response to criticism about his Administration’s response, President Trump held a press conference addressing the epidemic,” Mouly added. “His performance — as Brian Stauffer’s cover for next week’s magazine suggests — was not entirely persuasive.”
Trump on Wednesday appointed Vice President Mike Pence to take charge of the response to the outbreak, a move that was widely criticized, as he acknowledged there was a chance the spread of the virus “could get fairly, substantially worse.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-27--What Would Happen If U.S. Schools Close Because Of Coronavirus?

The world is on high alert as cases of the new coronavirus , named COVID-19 , continue to bubble up across the globe .
On Thursday , Japan took the extraordinary step of asking all schools in the country to close for about a month in an effort to curb contagion .
The broader economic impact of widespread school closures could be significant , said Dean Baker , an economist with the progressive Center for Economic and Policy Research and a visiting professor at the University of Utah .
Some companies would be unable to fill orders due to absent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait times for services .
Workers , for their part , could lose income and have to cut back on spending .
Right now , parents don ’ t have solutions for emergency child care problems .
They don ’ t even have solutions for everyday child care problems .
Julie Kashen , director for women ’ s economic justice at The Century Foundation Workers without paid sick leave , who make about 30 % of the private sector workforce , will be hit the hardest , Kashen said , while office professionals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flexibility they need to take care of their kids .
Access to paid sick leave is particularly low among Latinx workers , said Vicki Shabo , a senior fellow at New America and an expert on workplace equity .
Undocumented immigrants or any individual with a vulnerable immigration status may worry about trying to assert any workplace rights they have to stay at home with their children during a potential outbreak .
The CDC ’ s Messonnier said she told her children this week that while they ’ re not at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for disruptions to their lives .
She said she called their school and asked about their plans , and encouraged others to do the same .
“ It ’ s the same situation that happens in the summer when kids go hungry , ” Shabo said .
“ Certainly some school districts have dealt with that at a predictable time , but if you ’ re talking about a public health emergency , obviously that ’ s not the same planning and ... risk of contagion could limit this.
” The World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health emergency of international concern ” on Jan. 30 .
The death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 2,800 worldwide as of Thursday afternoon , with the vast majority of cases in mainland China , where the virus originated .
China has reported more than 77,000 confirmed cases .
At least 59 Americans have been diagnosed with coronavirus , according to the CDC ’ s website .
“ It seems really extreme and really sudden , ” Chelsea Szendi Schieder , an associate professor of economics at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closures in Japan .
“ And the implications for people and their daily lives is going to be so big that I ’ m not sure it ’ s worth it in terms of public health.
” “ There are approximately 30 million families with children , ” Zandi said .
“ If schools and day care centers are closed nationwide , and say , a parent in 10 % of these families can ’ t go to work because they need to take care of their children , then employment would decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Millions of others may have to cut back their hours to get home to take over from caregivers .
”

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The world is on high alert as cases of the new coronavirus, named COVID-19, continue to bubble up across the globe. On Thursday, Japan took the extraordinary step of asking all schools in the country to close for about a month in an effort to curb contagion.
Should the coronavirus begin to spread throughout the U.S., as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Wednesday, American schools could also be subject to mass closures, creating a potential mess for working parents and the economy.
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Bothell High School in Washington state was closed Thursday after a staff member’s relative fell ill following international travel. The family member is being tested for coronavirus while the school disinfects the campus.
The CDC has encouraged parents to start asking their local schools about contingency plans.
Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said school closures would be one of the most effective measures local governments can take to mitigate the spread of the virus. She acknowledged that some parents would miss work.
“I understand this whole situation may seem overwhelming and that disruption to everyday life may be severe,” Messonnier said. “But these are things that people need to start thinking about now.”
In a guidance document for employers, the CDC said firms should prepare for “possible increased numbers of employee absences due to illness in employees and their family members, dismissals of early childhood programs and K-12 schools due to high levels of absenteeism or illness.”
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The broader economic impact of widespread school closures could be significant, said Dean Baker, an economist with the progressive Center for Economic and Policy Research and a visiting professor at the University of Utah. Some companies would be unable to fill orders due to absent workers, and customers could face longer wait times for services. Workers, for their part, could lose income and have to cut back on spending.
“All in all, it is likely to be a really big deal if it comes to schools shutting across the country,” Baker said.
A team of researchers evaluated the impact of an unplanned eight-day school closure due to flooding in rural Illinois in 2013. In a survey of families, 17% said they struggled with uncertainty about the duration of the closure, making alternate child care arrangements, and losing pay.
The report, which was published in the Journal of School Health in 2017, said unplanned school closures can be particularly difficult for low-income households.
“Right now, parents don’t have solutions for emergency child care problems,” said Julie Kashen, the director for women’s economic justice at The Century Foundation. “They don’t even have solutions for everyday child care problems. This is just going to exacerbate the problems that already exist but also make stark economic inequalities.”
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“Right now, parents don’t have solutions for emergency child care problems. They don’t even have solutions for everyday child care problems.” - Julie Kashen, director for women’s economic justice at The Century Foundation
Workers without paid sick leave, who make about 30% of the private sector workforce, will be hit the hardest, Kashen said, while office professionals and other white-collar workers will likely have the flexibility they need to take care of their kids.
“It’s just a reminder of how much we need child care for all,” Kashen said, referring to the movement to make tuition-free child care available to all Americans through public funding appropriated by the federal government.
Access to paid sick leave is particularly low among Latinx workers, said Vicki Shabo, a senior fellow at New America and an expert on workplace equity. Undocumented immigrants or any individual with a vulnerable immigration status may worry about trying to assert any workplace rights they have to stay at home with their children during a potential outbreak.
“Employers hold a lot of power in this scenario,” Shabo said. “It leaves the workers who really don’t have much voice in their workplace or guaranteed time off very vulnerable to economic loss and job loss.”
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Parents who cannot afford to risk losing their jobs by staying home during school closures may be forced to leave their child alone or with an older sibling, or make unpredictable care arrangements that could present potential safety concerns, Shabo said.
The CDC’s Messonnier said she told her children this week that while they’re not at risk right now, they need to prepare for disruptions to their lives. She said she called their school and asked about their plans, and encouraged others to do the same.
“You should ask your children’s school about their plans for school dismissals or school closures,” Messonnier said. “Ask if there are plans for teleschool.”
Beyond interruptions to education, school closures could create additional financial stress for families who depend on school-based services such as meals subsidized by the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Roughly 22 million children rely on free or reduced-price lunch at school and are eligible for free breakfast.
“It’s the same situation that happens in the summer when kids go hungry,” Shabo said. “Certainly some school districts have dealt with that at a predictable time, but if you’re talking about a public health emergency, obviously that’s not the same planning and ... risk of contagion could limit this.”
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“You should ask your children’s school about their plans for school dismissals or school closures. Ask if there are plans for teleschool,” says Nancy Messonnier of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Mint Images via Getty Images
The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” on Jan. 30. The death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 2,800 worldwide as of Thursday afternoon, with the vast majority of cases in mainland China, where the virus originated. China has reported more than 77,000 confirmed cases. At least 59 Americans have been diagnosed with coronavirus, according to the CDC’s website.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said blanket closure of all schools in the country was meant to put “a priority on children’s health and safety,” though some medical professionals thought the action was premature, noting that children do not seem to be easily susceptible to the virus.
There is some evidence that children affected with the virus have relatively mild symptoms, including runny nose and cough, though there’s still a lot that researchers don’t know about it.
“It seems really extreme and really sudden,” Chelsea Szendi Schieder, an associate professor of economics at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, told The New York Times of the school closures in Japan. “And the implications for people and their daily lives is going to be so big that I’m not sure it’s worth it in terms of public health.”
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It’s unlikely the entire U.S. national school system would shut down, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, but such a scenario would be “highly disruptive to the economy” if it did occur.
“There are approximately 30 million families with children,” Zandi said. “If schools and day care centers are closed nationwide, and say, a parent in 10% of these families can’t go to work because they need to take care of their children, then employment would decline by as much as 3 million jobs. Millions of others may have to cut back their hours to get home to take over from caregivers.”
Parents who work in the service industry, such as restaurant workers or housekeepers, could be impacted significantly. About 48% of these workers don’t have access to paid sick days.
Kashen, of the Century Foundation, said she hasn’t heard many parents talking about their plans for child care should schools close.
“Probably, in part, because there’s not a great option,” she said. “No great answers besides relying on neighbors, friends and families.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Amy Klobuchar Has Been Weirdly Quiet About A Massive Mining Controversy In Her Home State

On a snowy afternoon last February , Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) announced her bid for president of the United States while standing on the bank of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis .
She noted how waterways like the Mississippi unite us and how they have helped many cities prosper .
And she told the story of her immigrant grandparents , who ’ d arrived with only a suitcase and managed to build a life as her grandfather found work underground in the iron-ore districts of northern Minnesota , known as the Iron Range .
Now Twin Metals Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mining giant Antofagasta , is looking to breathe new life into this small sector of the state ’ s economy with a $ 1.7 billion underground copper-nickel mine just a few miles from Minnesota ’ s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness .
The pristine 1.09-million-acre landscape near the Canadian border is the most visited wilderness area in the country , a vast network of protected rivers , lakes and creeks that has helped small towns throughout northeastern Minnesota get ahead .
It ’ s a proposal that many Democrats and environmentalists fear could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extracting sulfide-bearing minerals like copper and nickel can lead to acid mine drainage that can persist indefinitely .
Klobuchar has largely avoided talking about the planned mine since launching her presidential campaign , turning down or not responding to several interview requests from the media .
The campaign declined HuffPost ’ s interview request , but a spokeswoman said in a statement : “ Senator Klobuchar has consistently and publicly called for the thorough environmental review of this project ; this has always been her position and continues to be her position.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mine proposal as one of the more significant stains on Klobuchar ’ s environmental record .
While she has a 96 % lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters , the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund gave Klobuchar a “ D ” grade ― the lowest tally out of the leading Democratic candidates ― in its environmental voting guide last month , in no small part because of her stance on Twin Metals and even clearer support for PolyMet , a second planned copper-nickel mine just 15 miles to the southwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the company ’ s defense .
In a public statement on Dec. 16 , 2016 , that Twin Metals took as a sign it had an ally in the Democratic senator , Klobuchar laid out her concerns and said she had “ worked very hard to protect our environment while at the same time preserving mining jobs in northern Minnesota.
” And in a private email that same day to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack , soon to be replaced in the incoming Trump administration , she said she was “ floored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision .
Shortly after Trump ’ s election in November 2016 , Andrónico Luksic , the billionaire whose family controls Antofagasta , purchased a $ 5.5 million home in an affluent area of Washington .
Within a couple of months , Trump ’ s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner had moved in , becoming tenants of a man whose company was then suing the federal government over the Obama-era decision not to renew its mineral leases near the Boundary Waters , as The Wall Street Journal first reported .
A White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump ’ s relatives were not aware of their new landlord ’ s business interests ; Luksic has said he doesn ’ t know Trump or any member of his family .

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On a snowy afternoon last February, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) announced her bid for president of the United States while standing on the bank of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. She noted how waterways like the Mississippi unite us and how they have helped many cities prosper. And she told the story of her immigrant grandparents, who’d arrived with only a suitcase and managed to build a life as her grandfather found work underground in the iron-ore districts of northern Minnesota, known as the Iron Range.
“I stand before you as the granddaughter of an iron ore miner,” Klobuchar said, promising to fight for “every worker, farmer, dreamer and builder” if elected to the White House.
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Yet those underground mines where Klobuchar’s grandfather toiled morphed into massive open-pit operations ― the scars of which can easily be spotted from satellites. And even those operations, like the nation’s mining industry as a whole, have struggled in recent decades as the number of jobs declined by about 22% from 2000 to 2018.
Now Twin Metals Minnesota, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chilean mining giant Antofagasta, is looking to breathe new life into this small sector of the state’s economy with a $1.7 billion underground copper-nickel mine just a few miles from Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The pristine 1.09-million-acre landscape near the Canadian border is the most visited wilderness area in the country, a vast network of protected rivers, lakes and creeks that has helped small towns throughout northeastern Minnesota get ahead. It’s a proposal that many Democrats and environmentalists fear could forever destroy the beloved wilderness, as extracting sulfide-bearing minerals like copper and nickel can lead to acid mine drainage that can persist indefinitely.
The planned mine, unlike anything the Land of 10,000 Lakes has ever seen before, has become a political lightning rod. In the final weeks of President Barack Obama’s administration, federal agencies blocked the Twin Metals mine only to have the industry-friendly Trump administration move quickly to revive it. Five current 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have pledged to protect the Boundary Waters from the proposed sulfide-ore mine. Notably missing from that opposition: home state Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces her candidacy for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in February 2019. Eric Miller / Reuters
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Klobuchar has largely avoided talking about the planned mine since launching her presidential campaign, turning down or not responding to several interview requests from the media. The campaign declined HuffPost’s interview request, but a spokeswoman said in a statement: “Senator Klobuchar has consistently and publicly called for the thorough environmental review of this project; this has always been her position and continues to be her position.”
Her silence has been largely interpreted as support, raising environmentalists’ fears about what a Klobuchar administration would mean for the remote and fragile ecosystem.
“Given how bold Sen. Klobuchar generally is to take on the Trump administration, it’s especially disappointing that she hasn’t taken the lead to permanently protect this national treasure, especially when virtually all of the other candidates for president have unequivocally endorsed permanent protection,” said Dan Hartinger of The Wilderness Society Action Fund.
To be sure, many view the mine proposal as one of the more significant stains on Klobuchar’s environmental record. While she has a 96% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters, the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund gave Klobuchar a “D” grade ― the lowest tally out of the leading Democratic candidates ― in its environmental voting guide last month, in no small part because of her stance on Twin Metals and even clearer support for PolyMet, a second planned copper-nickel mine just 15 miles to the southwest, near Hoyt Lakes.
In 2018, Klobuchar co-sponsored an amendment to a military spending bill that would have cemented a land exchange between PolyMet and the U.S. Forest Service, effectively ending lawsuits brought by environmental groups and paving the way for the mine’s development. That provision was removed during committee negotiations.
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In its guide, the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund writes that Klobuchar “supports mines that threaten waterways in her own home state” and “would be an unmitigated disaster for the environment” as president.
It remains to be seen if copper mining and the accompanying threats will be an issue on Minnesotans’ minds when they head to the polls for the Super Tuesday Democratic primaries on March 3.
A majority of registered Minnesota voters, 60%, oppose new mining near the Boundary Waters, while just 22% support it, according to a poll Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune newspaper released in late February. Still, a University of Massachusetts-Lowell poll this month had Klobuchar leading the presidential field at home with 27% of likely Minnesota voters.
A palisade on South Fowl Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via Getty Images
In its Dec. 15, 2016, decision to revoke Twin Metals’ leases, the Obama administration cited concerns that the mine could spoil the wilderness and harm the area’s $45 million tourism sector. It ordered an additional study of the potential environmental impacts and moved to withdraw sensitive areas of the watershed from new mineral leases.
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Then-Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell called it “the right action to take to avoid irrevocably damaging this watershed and its recreation-based economy.”
Twin Metals warned that the move would “have a devastating impact on the future economy of the Iron Range and all of Northeast Minnesota, eliminating the promise of thousands of good-paying jobs and billions of dollars in investment in the region.”
Klobuchar came to the company’s defense. In a public statement on Dec. 16, 2016, that Twin Metals took as a sign it had an ally in the Democratic senator, Klobuchar laid out her concerns and said she had “worked very hard to protect our environment while at the same time preserving mining jobs in northern Minnesota.” And in a private email that same day to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, soon to be replaced in the incoming Trump administration, she said she was “floored” by the Obama administration’s decision.
“Trump will reverse this,” Klobuchar wrote in the Vilsack email, which a columnist at The Wall Street Journal obtained from “government sources” within a few weeks after the Trump administration officially renewed the company’s leases in May 2019. “When you guys leave and are out talking about a job message for rural America, I will be left with the mess and dealing with the actual jobs.”
Klobuchar added that she was “not for or against this project but I just wanted a fair process based on science that told us the truth” about whether it would be environmentally safe.
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Her email included a press release from the Republican Party of Minnesota in which its chairman, Keith Downey, slammed the move as a “cruel attack on Iron Range families right before Christmas.” Downey also called out Klobuchar and other Minnesota Democrats by name, accusing them of “shamefully” claiming to support mining while likely knowing the Obama order was coming down the pike.
The timing of the email’s leak suggests that the Trump administration saw Klobuchar’s letter slamming the Obama administration as a solid defense of its decision to revive the project. “Minnesota Democrat skewers her party for putting politics ahead of the law,” the WSJ columnist declared.
Forced to do damage control over the email release, Klobuchar’s state director, Ben Hill, issued a statement saying that the senator “continues to have serious concerns about this project being so close to the Boundary Waters” and “does not believe this administration will move forward in good faith to protect the environment.”
“She can say all she wants that she’s not necessarily for putting a mine there, but there’s only one thing that company wants to do with that lease: that’s put a mine in there,” said Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota and the former chief ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush.
As Painter sees it, Klobuchar is happy to be an environmentalist so long as it doesn’t affect special interests on home turf. He pointed to her support for removing Endangered Species Act protections for Minnesota’s gray wolves and her failure to take a public stand against the proposed $2.6 billion, 337-mile Enbridge Line 3 pipeline, which would carry Canadian crude oil through wetlands and tribal land in northern Minnesota to Wisconsin.
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“When we pick a president, we look for someone who sort of rises above constituent service,” Painter said. “They have a theme and a main cause they are fighting for.”
My grandpa was an iron ore miner who worked 1,500 feet underground in the mines his whole life.
I don't come from money, and I believe no matter where you come from, you should be able to make it in America.
Donate to our grassroots campaign today: https://t.co/2UmMOdE6U5 pic.twitter.com/isAlS5aUcl — Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) February 8, 2020
The copper mining industry has a toxic legacy, even in recent years. A 2012 study by conservation group Earthworks reviewed data for 14 out of the nation’s 16 operating copper mines and found that all had reported spills or accidental releases of contaminants. The nonprofit American Rivers put the Boundary Waters on its annual list of “most endangered rivers” in 2018, noting that “this wild freshwater haven will be gravely threatened by acid mine drainage” if the mine is built.
Kathy Graul, a spokeswoman for Twin Metals, told HuffPost “there will be no acid mine drainage at our site due to the unique geology of the mineral deposit we will be mining and the way in which we will process the ore.”
Although not as well known as Twin Metals, the $1 billion proposed PolyMet mine has also faced years of controversy. And unlike the Twin Metals project, it would be a massive open-pit copper-nickel mine in the watershed that drains into Lake Superior.
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State Sen. John Marty, who represents a suburban district northeast of Minneapolis, noted that PolyMet’s proposed barrier to keep mine pollution from contaminating nearby waters ― a structure of trapezoidal embankments called an upstream tailings dam ― have a legacy of disaster. He pointed to the 2014 Mount Polley mining disaster in British Columbia and last year’s catastrophic dam burst in Brazil’s state of Minas Gerais, which prompted the notoriously anti-environment government of President Jair Bolsonaro to ban tailings dams.
“Even the government of Brazil is so concerned about this style of dam they say, ‘We can’t do this anymore,’” said Marty, who is backing Sanders. “Yet Minnesota is charging ahead.”
Last summer, a handful of Iron Range Democrats joined Republicans to publicly back new mining. Union officials who support the project say that “you’ve got to trust” the engineers the mining companies hire to maintain safety.
“We think, from conversations with the company, that a tailings dam is proper,” said Emil Ramirez, the director for the United Steelworkers district that includes nine Midwestern and mountain states. He added that unemployment is low in Minnesota’s mining industry, but the union sees new mining projects as crucial to keeping it that way.
Further complicating Klobuchar’s position on copper mining are Trump family ties to the Chilean billionaire behind the Twin Metals mine and his company’s record of contamination in Chile.
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President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in October. Leah Millis / Reuters
Shortly after Trump’s election in November 2016, Andrónico Luksic, the billionaire whose family controls Antofagasta, purchased a $5.5 million home in an affluent area of Washington. Within a couple of months, Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner had moved in, becoming tenants of a man whose company was then suing the federal government over the Obama-era decision not to renew its mineral leases near the Boundary Waters, as The Wall Street Journal first reported. A White House official told the WSJ at the time that Trump’s relatives were not aware of their new landlord’s business interests; Luksic has said he doesn’t know Trump or any member of his family.
That didn’t deter scrutiny from ethics experts and Democratic lawmakers. In a March 2019 letter to Trump’s interior and agriculture secretaries, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, called the tenant-landlord relationship an “interesting coincidence” and demanded documents related to the administration’s efforts to advance construction of the mine.
Antofagasta is one of the top 10 largest copper mining companies in the world. Its subsidiary Twin Metals has spent approximately $1.2 million lobbying government agencies since Trump took office, according to federal filings.
Many concerns about the Twin Metals project stem from Antofagasta’s track record in its home country. In a 2017 report, the London Mining Network detailed a history of pollution, worker fatalities and archeological damage at Antofagasta’s Los Pelambres copper mine. The report notes that the Chilean Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that the mine’s tailings dam posed a “danger to human life” and cites a 2012 independent study that found high levels of mercury and other heavy metals in drinking water resources near the mine. In 2016, Chile’s environmental regulator charged Los Pelambres mine with nine violations.
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“If Senator Klobuchar wants to prove she’s serious about protecting the environment, she needs to fight the foreign special interests teaming up with the Trump administration to pollute Minnesota’s wilderness,” Kyle Herrig, president of the Washington-based oversight nonprofit Accountable.US, said in a statement accompanying a new report that highlights many of Antofagasta’s alleged offenses overseas.
An Antofagasta spokesperson told The New York Times last year that it is proud of its environmental record and dismissed a 2016 analysis in which the head of the U.S. Forest Service warned that the proposed Twin Metals mine “might cause serious and irreplaceable harm” to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters as “riddled with errors.”
Many Minnesotans simply aren’t willing to gamble with one of their state’s crown jewels. And they expect the state’s senior senator to step forward as well.
Meanwhile, House Republicans last month tried to recruit Klobuchar in their fight against a bill introduced by Rep.Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) that would permanently block the Twin Metals mine by banning future sulfide-ore mining on 234,000 federal acres adjacent to the Boundary Waters wilderness.
“Many individuals, yourself included, have stressed the importance of allowing a thorough review of this project before determining if it should be permitted,” Reps. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) wrote in a Jan. 30 letter requesting that Klobuchar submit testimony against the bill.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Comedians 'Honor' White Nationalist Rep. Steve King With His Own Confederate Statue

Racist Rep. Steve King ( R-Iowa ) now has his very own Confederate statue , courtesy of comedy duo The Good Liars .
The New York-based pranksters ― aka Davram Stiefler and Jason Selvig ― placed what they said was a small sculpture of King outside the Iowa Statehouse in Des Moines .
“ This site is dedicated to Confederate sympathizer and White Nationalist , Steve King , ” they wrote on a plaque affixed to the base .
“ Here , King is honored with the world ’ s smallest Confederate statue .
A tiny statue for a tiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statue honoring confederate sympathizer Steve King .
Hopefully he will honor his heritage and not take it down .
pic.twitter.com/TuhKTmut1q — The Good Liars ( @ TheGoodLiars ) February 27 , 2020 The pair expressed hope on Twitter that King ― who has a lengthy history of making racist comments ― would “ honor his heritage and not take it down.
” “ Steve King is a White Nationalist who displayed the Confederate flag on his desk and we thought he deserves a lasting honor to remind citizens of Iowa who he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photos of the stunt online , told HuffPost in an email on Friday .
“ We ’ ve seen a lot of Republicans fighting the removal of Confederate monuments .
So we are going to honor these modern day Confederate defenders by creating monuments for them around the country , ” they added .
“ That way their racism can be preserved forever .
After all it ’ s part of history and shouldn ’ t be forgotten.
” The comedians also recently trolled Donald Trump Jr. with fake covers of his book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DonaldJTrumpJr ’ s book to make it a little more honest and put them up in @ BNBuzz .
You 're welcome , Junior !
# DonnyLovesDaddy cc : @ realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/cJssiXadtw — The Good Liars ( @ TheGoodLiars ) November 7 , 2019 And also tricked Trump supporters into carrying self-owning signs at his rallies :

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Racist Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) now has his very own Confederate statue, courtesy of comedy duo The Good Liars.
The New York-based pranksters ― aka Davram Stiefler and Jason Selvig ― placed what they said was a small sculpture of King outside the Iowa Statehouse in Des Moines.
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“This site is dedicated to Confederate sympathizer and White Nationalist, Steve King,” they wrote on a plaque affixed to the base. “Here, King is honored with the world’s smallest Confederate statue. A tiny statue for a tiny man.”
We put up a confederate statue honoring confederate sympathizer Steve King. Hopefully he will honor his heritage and not take it down. pic.twitter.com/TuhKTmut1q — The Good Liars (@TheGoodLiars) February 27, 2020
The pair expressed hope on Twitter that King ― who has a lengthy history of making racist comments ― would “honor his heritage and not take it down.”
“Steve King is a White Nationalist who displayed the Confederate flag on his desk and we thought he deserves a lasting honor to remind citizens of Iowa who he is,” the comedians, who shared photos of the stunt online, told HuffPost in an email on Friday.
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“We’ve seen a lot of Republicans fighting the removal of Confederate monuments. So we are going to honor these modern day Confederate defenders by creating monuments for them around the country,” they added. “That way their racism can be preserved forever. After all it’s part of history and shouldn’t be forgotten.”
The comedians also recently trolled Donald Trump Jr. with fake covers of his book:
We changed the cover of @DonaldJTrumpJr’s book to make it a little more honest and put them up in @BNBuzz. You're welcome, Junior! #DonnyLovesDaddy
cc: @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/cJssiXadtw — The Good Liars (@TheGoodLiars) November 7, 2019
And they’ve targeted Fox News: