thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Jane Roe Said She Was Paid To Become An Anti-Abortion Crusader

Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc via Getty Images Norma McCorvey , aka Jane Roe , made a “ deathbed confession ” in a forthcoming documentary : Evangelical leaders paid to switch sides in the abortion debate .
Norma McCorvey , the woman whose fight for abortion rights manifested in Roe v. Wade , made a shocking admission in an upcoming documentary about her late-in-life conversion into an anti-abortion crusader , The Daily Beast reported Tuesday .
In the “ deathbed confession , ” McCorvey , who died in 2017 , revealed to the makers of the FX documentary “ AKA Jane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious movement paid her to switch sides on the issue .
The moment reportedly occurs in the final minutes of the film , which airs Friday .
“ I took their money and they took me out in front of the cameras and told me what to say .
That ’ s what I ’ d say , ” McCorvey said , referring to herself as “ a good actress , ” according to The Daily Beast .
The late McCorvey is well known by the legal pseudonym Jane Roe , the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court case that established abortion as a constitutional right .
In the mid-1990s , McCorvey underwent a religious conversion and became an outspoken opponent of abortion , even going so far as to petition the court to overturn the ruling in her favor .
The forthcoming documentary examines her sudden change of course after befriending two evangelical leaders , the Rev .
Flip Benham and the Rev .
Rob Schenck .
“ I was the Big Fish , ” McCorvey reportedly says in the film , referencing how valuable the anti-abortion movement viewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard her say anything like this .
… But I knew what we were doing .
And there were times when I was sure she knew .
And I wondered , ‘ Is she playing us ?
’ What I didn ’ t have the guts to say was , ‘ because I know damn well we ’ re playing her , ’ ” he says upon hearing her confession , according to The Daily Beast .
In this April 26 , 1989 , file photo , Norma McCorvey , Jane Roe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her attorney Gloria Allred hold hands as they leave the Supreme Court building in Washington after sitting in while the court listened to arguments in a Missouri abortion case .
While Benham denied paying McCorvey , the filmmakers behind “ AKA Jane Roe ” uncovered documents revealing she received more than $ 450,000 in gifts from his movement .
The revelation of McCorvey ’ s admission comes as abortion rights in the U.S. face an onslaught of state-level efforts to dismantle them .
One of those , a Louisiana law that drastically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subject of a case the Supreme Court heard in March .
It ’ s the first major abortion case to come before the court under President Donald Trump , whose nominations have made the court more conservative .
A decision is expected next month .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Norma McCorvey, the woman whose fight for abortion rights manifested in Roe v. Wade, made a shocking admission in an upcoming documentary about her late-in-life conversion into an anti-abortion crusader, The Daily Beast reported Tuesday.
Norma McCorvey, aka Jane Roe, made a “deathbed confession” in a forthcoming documentary: Evangelical leaders paid to switch sides in the abortion debate. Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc via Getty Images
Advertisement
In the “deathbed confession,” McCorvey, who died in 2017, revealed to the makers of the FX documentary “AKA Jane Roe” that leaders of the evangelical religious movement paid her to switch sides on the issue. The moment reportedly occurs in the final minutes of the film, which airs Friday.
“I took their money and they took me out in front of the cameras and told me what to say. That’s what I’d say,” McCorvey said, referring to herself as “a good actress,” according to The Daily Beast.
The late McCorvey is well known by the legal pseudonym Jane Roe, the name she used in the landmark 1973 Supreme Court case that established abortion as a constitutional right. In the mid-1990s, McCorvey underwent a religious conversion and became an outspoken opponent of abortion, even going so far as to petition the court to overturn the ruling in her favor.
Advertisement
The forthcoming documentary examines her sudden change of course after befriending two evangelical leaders, the Rev. Flip Benham and the Rev. Rob Schenck.
“I was the Big Fish,” McCorvey reportedly says in the film, referencing how valuable the anti-abortion movement viewed her conversion.
Schenck reportedly corroborated McCorvey’s account.
“I had never heard her say anything like this. … But I knew what we were doing. And there were times when I was sure she knew. And I wondered, ‘Is she playing us?’ What I didn’t have the guts to say was, ‘because I know damn well we’re playing her,’” he says upon hearing her confession, according to The Daily Beast.
In this April 26, 1989, file photo, Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe in the 1973 court case, left, and her attorney Gloria Allred hold hands as they leave the Supreme Court building in Washington after sitting in while the court listened to arguments in a Missouri abortion case. ASSOCIATED PRESS
While Benham denied paying McCorvey, the filmmakers behind “AKA Jane Roe” uncovered documents revealing she received more than $450,000 in gifts from his movement.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Ford Motor Co. Changes Mind, Won't Insist Trump Wear Mask During Visit [UPDATE]

UPDATE : 4:53 p.m .
ET ― Officials for Ford Motor Co. have backpedaled on a decree that President Donald Trump wear a mask when he visits a plant in Ypsilanti , Michigan , on Thursday , Bloomberg reported .
A company spokeswoman told the outlet Ford would defer to the White House ’ s own policies on mask-wearing .
When President Donald Trump visits a Ford Motor Co. plant on Thursday , he may finally have to do something he ’ s resisted up to this point : wear a mask .
The president is scheduled to visit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even though the visit technically violates an executive order from Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer that prohibits “ nonessential ” plant tours .
However , the governor ’ s office has signaled it will not stand in the way of the visit , Whitmer spokesman Zack Pohl told Crain ’ s Detroit .
“ While the president ’ s visit is contrary to the governor ’ s order , this is an opportunity to showcase how important Michigan is to the response to COVID-19 and rebuilding our nation ’ s economy.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they will insist the mask-averse president will have to wear one during his visit .
“ Our policy is that everyone wears PPE to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , ” a Ford spokesperson told The Detroit Bureau .
“ We shared all of Ford ’ s safety protocols , including our manufacturing playbook , employee pamphlet and self-assessment survey with the White House ahead of time and in preparation for this trip.
” It remains to be seen whether Trump will follow the reasonable request , especially since he wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask factory in Arizona earlier this month .
“ I don ’ t think that I ’ m going to be doing it , ” he said after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines to encourage mask usage .
White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the president planned to go along with the mask order .
When asked Tuesday whether he would don the mask on Thursday , the president told reporters , “ Where it ’ s appropriate , I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says he has n't `` even thought of '' whether he 'll wear a mask when he visits a Ford plant in Michigan on Thursday : `` Where it 's appropriate , I would do it , certainly '' https : //t.co/Nj065CIsxp pic.twitter.com/cOuU62vHli — CBS News ( @ CBSNews ) May 19 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
UPDATE: 4:53 p.m. ET ― Officials for Ford Motor Co. have backpedaled on a decree that President Donald Trump wear a mask when he visits a plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on Thursday, Bloomberg reported.
A company spokeswoman told the outlet Ford would defer to the White House’s own policies on mask-wearing.
Advertisement
PREVIOUSLY:
When President Donald Trump visits a Ford Motor Co. plant on Thursday, he may finally have to do something he’s resisted up to this point: wear a mask.
The president is scheduled to visit the Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, even though the visit technically violates an executive order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that prohibits “nonessential” plant tours.
However, the governor’s office has signaled it will not stand in the way of the visit, Whitmer spokesman Zack Pohl told Crain’s Detroit.
“While the president’s visit is contrary to the governor’s order, this is an opportunity to showcase how important Michigan is to the response to COVID-19 and rebuilding our nation’s economy.”
Advertisement
But there is a catch: Ford officials say they will insist the mask-averse president will have to wear one during his visit.
“Our policy is that everyone wears PPE to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” a Ford spokesperson told The Detroit Bureau. “We shared all of Ford’s safety protocols, including our manufacturing playbook, employee pamphlet and self-assessment survey with the White House ahead of time and in preparation for this trip.”
It remains to be seen whether Trump will follow the reasonable request, especially since he wouldn’t wear a mask when touring a mask factory in Arizona earlier this month.
“I don’t think that I’m going to be doing it,” he said after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines to encourage mask usage.
White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the president planned to go along with the mask order.
Advertisement
When asked Tuesday whether he would don the mask on Thursday, the president told reporters, “Where it’s appropriate, I would do it, certainly.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Ousted Designer Of Florida's COVID-19 Dashboard Says She Was Asked To Censor Data

The Florida official in charge of designing and managing the state ’ s online dashboard of COVID-19 data says she was fired after refusing to censor and “ manually change data ” in order to present a picture justifying the state ’ s process of reopening and loosening COVID-19 restrictions .
Rebekah Jones , who led a group of data scientists and public health experts at Florida ’ s Department of Health , announced her departure in an email to colleagues late Friday , according to Florida Today .
On Monday , Jones told Florida ’ s CBS12 that her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ not voluntary , ” saying she was dismissed after refusing to “ manually change data to drum up support for the plan to reopen.
” Representatives for the state ’ s Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday .
“ The Florida COVID-19 Dashboard was created by the Geographic Information System ( GIS ) team in the Division of Disease Control and Health Protection at the Florida Department of Health , ” she said .
“ Although Rebekah Jones is no longer involved , the GIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dashboard providing accurate and important information that is publicly accessible.
” In her email Friday , Jones said the management of the dashboard — which initially earned widespread praise for its transparency and accessibility , and has since been replicated by officials in other states — was now under a new team for “ reasons beyond my division ’ s control.
” At several points , she expressed concern about the new team , such as “ what data they are now restricting.
” “ As a word of caution , I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same level of accessibility and transparency that I made central to the process during the first two months , ” she wrote , according to Florida Today .
“ After all , my commitment to both is largely ( arguably entirely ) the reason I am no longer managing it.
” Officials in Georgia , where the state ’ s rapid reopening has come under much scrutiny , have also faced questions about misrepresenting COVID-19 data .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The Florida official in charge of designing and managing the state’s online dashboard of COVID-19 data says she was fired after refusing to censor and “manually change data” in order to present a picture justifying the state’s process of reopening and loosening COVID-19 restrictions.
Rebekah Jones, who led a group of data scientists and public health experts at Florida’s Department of Health, announced her departure in an email to colleagues late Friday, according to Florida Today.
Advertisement
On Monday, Jones told Florida’s CBS12 that her removal from the dashboard position, effective May 5, was “not voluntary,” saying she was dismissed after refusing to “manually change data to drum up support for the plan to reopen.”
A spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, Helen Ferre, confirmed Jones’ departure in a statement to the Miami Herald.
“The Florida COVID-19 Dashboard was created by the Geographic Information System (GIS) team in the Division of Disease Control and Health Protection at the Florida Department of Health,” she said. “Although Rebekah Jones is no longer involved, the GIS team continues to manage and update the Dashboard providing accurate and important information that is publicly accessible.”
Ferre added in a statement to HuffPost that Jones “exhibited a repeated course of insubordination during her time with the Department, including her unilateral decisions to modify the Department’s COVID-19 dashboard without input or approval from the epidemiological team or her supervisors.”
Advertisement
In her email Friday, Jones said the management of the dashboard — which initially earned widespread praise for its transparency and accessibility, and has since been replicated by officials in other states — was now under a new team for “reasons beyond my division’s control.”
At several points, she expressed concern about the new team, such as “what data they are now restricting.”
“As a word of caution, I would not expect the new team to continue the same level of accessibility and transparency that I made central to the process during the first two months,” she wrote, according to Florida Today. “After all, my commitment to both is largely (arguably entirely) the reason I am no longer managing it.”
Officials in Georgia, where the state’s rapid reopening has come under much scrutiny, have also faced questions about misrepresenting COVID-19 data.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Top Medical Journal Refutes Trump Statement On WHO's Response To COVID-19 In China

The Lancet , a respected medical journal , has pushed back against President Donald Trump ’ s criticism of how the World Health Organization responded to the coronavirus pandemic .
In a letter to WHO ’ s director-general , Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , dated Monday , Trump sought to justify the sudden halt of U.S. funding to the public health organization ordered last month by outlining what he claimed were more than a dozen “ missteps ” by WHO in the earliest weeks and months of the crisis .
“ The World Health Organization consistently ignored credible reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 2019 or even earlier , including reports from the Lancet medical journal , ” read Trump ’ s letter .
The Lancet ’ s first article warning about the effects of the new coronavirus was published on Jan. 24 , the journal said .
It described what doctors and researchers had observed about 41 early cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
Trump ’ s phrasing suggested that WHO was ignoring credible reports in The Lancet as far back as December ― reports that did not exist .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump ’ s letter are serious and damaging to efforts to strengthen international cooperation to control this pandemic .
It is essential that any review of the global response is based on a factually accurate account of what took place in December and January , ” The Lancet said .
The U.S. federal government has been excoriated by critics for its slow response to the virus , which has so far claimed nearly 100,000 American lives .
Trump himself called accusations that his administration wasn ’ t moving fast enough a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the earliest days of the crisis , despite reported warnings from U.S. health experts at WHO .
In April , public health experts condemned Trump ’ s decision to halt funding to the organization as he looked to deflect blame from his administration .
The president said on Saturday that he was considering restoring a small fraction of that funding ― around 10 % of what the U.S. was otherwise expected to contribute ― but he did not mention any such plan in Monday ’ s letter , which threatened to cut off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major substantive improvements within the next 30 days.
” He did not say what those changes might look like .
The United States is WHO ’ s largest contributor .
In the current pandemic , the global organization needs funding more than ever .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The Lancet, a respected medical journal, has pushed back against President Donald Trump’s criticism of how the World Health Organization responded to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter to WHO’s director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, dated Monday, Trump sought to justify the sudden halt of U.S. funding to the public health organization ordered last month by outlining what he claimed were more than a dozen “missteps” by WHO in the earliest weeks and months of the crisis.
Advertisement
He erred where he mentioned The Lancet.
“The World Health Organization consistently ignored credible reports of the virus spreading in Wuhan in early December 2019 or even earlier, including reports from the Lancet medical journal,” read Trump’s letter.
“This statement is factually incorrect,” the journal responded on Tuesday morning.
Statement from The Lancet in response to President Donald Trump’s May 18 letter to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization pic.twitter.com/JX8orfpMPB — The Lancet (@TheLancet) May 19, 2020
The Lancet’s first article warning about the effects of the new coronavirus was published on Jan. 24, the journal said. It described what doctors and researchers had observed about 41 early cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Trump’s phrasing suggested that WHO was ignoring credible reports in The Lancet as far back as December ― reports that did not exist.
But the journal also took issue with the president’s argument overall.
“The allegations levelled against WHO in President Trump’s letter are serious and damaging to efforts to strengthen international cooperation to control this pandemic. It is essential that any review of the global response is based on a factually accurate account of what took place in December and January,” The Lancet said.
Advertisement
The U.S. federal government has been excoriated by critics for its slow response to the virus, which has so far claimed nearly 100,000 American lives. Trump himself called accusations that his administration wasn’t moving fast enough a “new hoax” from the Democrats in the earliest days of the crisis, despite reported warnings from U.S. health experts at WHO.
In April, public health experts condemned Trump’s decision to halt funding to the organization as he looked to deflect blame from his administration. The president said on Saturday that he was considering restoring a small fraction of that funding ― around 10% of what the U.S. was otherwise expected to contribute ― but he did not mention any such plan in Monday’s letter, which threatened to cut off funding permanently unless WHO commits to “major substantive improvements within the next 30 days.” He did not say what those changes might look like.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Tiffany Trump Graduates From Georgetown Law: 'We Did It!'

Tiffany Trump graduated from Georgetown University Law Center over the weekend without much pomp and circumstance due to the coronavirus pandemic .
But President Donald Trump ’ s youngest daughter still got to celebrate on Instagram .
Georgetown Law ’ s traditional ceremony was canceled because of the pandemic .
Trump received her degree virtually and marked her achievement electronically as well , fielding congratulations from boyfriend Michael Boulos .
“ Congratulations Tiffy !
” Boulos wrote in a note , shown with a collage of images in screen grabs posted by People and legal news site Above the Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long way to get to this point and after all the hard work and sleepless nights , you more than deserve it , it ’ s only the beginning now , love you honey and congrats again.
” Trump also shared a Georgetown Law video in which students reminisced about their time at the school and faculty hailed them for a job well done , People noted .
Trump , 26 , is the fourth of the president ’ s five children and the only one he had with his second wife , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her daughter for finishing her studies .
“ I am so , so proud of my beautiful daughter as last night she finished her final law school exam !
Hallelujah !
The best Mother ’ s Day gift of all , ” Maples wrote , as seen in the “ Access ” video at the top .
Georgetown Law announced Tiffany Trump ’ s admission in 2017 .
Her brother , Eric Trump , has an undergraduate degree from Georgetown , and her older sister Ivanka Trump went to Georgetown for two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Wharton School .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Tiffany Trump graduated from Georgetown University Law Center over the weekend without much pomp and circumstance due to the coronavirus pandemic. But President Donald Trump’s youngest daughter still got to celebrate on Instagram.
“We did it!” she wrote in her story.
Instagram
Advertisement
Georgetown Law’s traditional ceremony was canceled because of the pandemic. Trump received her degree virtually and marked her achievement electronically as well, fielding congratulations from boyfriend Michael Boulos.
“Congratulations Tiffy!” Boulos wrote in a note, shown with a collage of images in screen grabs posted by People and legal news site Above the Law. “You’ve come a long way to get to this point and after all the hard work and sleepless nights, you more than deserve it, it’s only the beginning now, love you honey and congrats again.”
Instagram
Trump also shared a Georgetown Law video in which students reminisced about their time at the school and faculty hailed them for a job well done, People noted.
Advertisement
Trump, 26, is the fourth of the president’s five children and the only one he had with his second wife, Marla Maples.
Maples this month praised her daughter for finishing her studies. “I am so, so proud of my beautiful daughter as last night she finished her final law school exam! Hallelujah! The best Mother’s Day gift of all,” Maples wrote, as seen in the “Access” video at the top.
Georgetown Law announced Tiffany Trump’s admission in 2017. Her brother, Eric Trump, has an undergraduate degree from Georgetown, and her older sister Ivanka Trump went to Georgetown for two years before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Scarborough Spots Moment Trump Hurt 2020 Chances More 'Than Any Democrat Ever Could'

Joe Scarborough on Tuesday pointed out when he believes President Donald Trump did the most damage to his 2020 reelection @ @ @ @ @ co-host of MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe , ” Trump likely doomed himself in @ @ @ @ @ pondered injecting disinfectant to treat COVID-19 , talked about taking an unproven cure and declared @ @ @ @ @ and “ every doctor or every scientist or every person who had spent their entire @ @ @ @ @ when it came to vaccines.
” If Trump ends up losing the election in November @ @ @ @ @ be those two months that would go down in infamy .
“ Historians , Americans @ @ @ @ @ to these months and decide , this is when Donald Trump did more damage to @ @ @ @ @ ever could , ” he said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Joe Scarborough on Tuesday pointed out when he believes President Donald Trump did the most damage to his 2020 reelection campaign.
According to the co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Trump likely doomed himself in April and May when he pondered injecting disinfectant to treat COVID-19, talked about taking an unproven cure and declared war on various government agencies and “every doctor or every scientist or every person who had spent their entire life planning for this moment when it came to vaccines.”
Advertisement
If Trump ends up losing the election in November, Scarborough predicted it would be those two months that would go down in infamy.
“Historians, Americans are going to look back to these months and decide, this is when Donald Trump did more damage to his campaign than any Democrat ever could,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Democrats Press Trump Administration On Forcing People Back To Work

People receiving unemployment insurance should not lose their benefits if they refuse to return to an unsafe workplace during the coronavirus pandemic , Senate Democrats said in a letter Tuesday to the Trump administration .
Businesses are recalling workers who ’ ve been unemployed during the coronavirus outbreak , and the Trump administration has said people can ’ t keep their jobless benefits if they refuse the work , with limited exceptions .
Twenty-two Senate Democrats , led by Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) , said in a letter to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia that the department should give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they fear risking serious illness or death if they contract or spread the virus .
“ Given that returning to work during the current public health emergency presents a serious risk to the health and safety of many workers , ” the letter says , “ it is crucial that the Department make clear that individuals can not be forced to choose between keeping their income and putting their lives in danger.
” President Donald Trump wants economic activity to pick up , even though public health experts within his administration have said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and death .
More than 90,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , so far .
Trump can ’ t force states to reopen schools and lift restrictions on commerce , but his Labor Department could be a powerful tool , making it much harder for workers to stay home .
The administration has said someone can refuse a job offer only if they ’ re already sick from the coronavirus , if they have to care for their children while schools are closed or if a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home due to a compromised immune system .
If someone is just afraid of catching the coronavirus and becoming severely ill or infecting others , that doesn ’ t count .
And the department has even encouraged states to be proactive about yanking benefits from people who stay home .
Some workers have now returned to their jobs before their state government has managed to send them a single dollar of jobless benefits for the time they missed .
Some have refused , saying they ’ d rather lose their income than their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the definition of “ suitable work , ” with the administration telling states , which administer unemployment insurance , that an offer to return to one ’ s job will generally count as suitable .
That guidance ignores the federal regulation governing unemployment benefits in a disaster , which states that “ a position shall not be deemed to be suitable for an individual if the circumstances present any unusual risk to the health , safety , or morals of the individual.
” Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) said in the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be given more leeway to refuse to return to jobs they fear would put them at risk .
Democrats cited the regulation in their letter , saying any workplace that ’ s not following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s guidelines is unsuitable .
The Labor Department told HuffPost last week , however , that although it was aware of the regulation , its own guidance is more important .
HuffPost readers : Have you returned to work even though you don ’ t think it ’ s safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though you ’ re afraid of losing unemployment benefits ?
Tell us about it ― email arthur @ huffpost.com .
Please include your phone number if you ’ re willing to be interviewed .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
People receiving unemployment insurance should not lose their benefits if they refuse to return to an unsafe workplace during the coronavirus pandemic, Senate Democrats said in a letter Tuesday to the Trump administration.
Businesses are recalling workers who’ve been unemployed during the coronavirus outbreak, and the Trump administration has said people can’t keep their jobless benefits if they refuse the work, with limited exceptions.
Advertisement
Twenty-two Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), said in a letter to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia that the department should give people more leeway to refuse work if they fear risking serious illness or death if they contract or spread the virus.
“Given that returning to work during the current public health emergency presents a serious risk to the health and safety of many workers,” the letter says, “it is crucial that the Department make clear that individuals cannot be forced to choose between keeping their income and putting their lives in danger.”
President Donald Trump wants economic activity to pick up, even though public health experts within his administration have said doing so could result in excessive sickness and death. More than 90,000 Americans have died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, so far.
Trump can’t force states to reopen schools and lift restrictions on commerce, but his Labor Department could be a powerful tool, making it much harder for workers to stay home.
Advertisement
The administration has said someone can refuse a job offer only if they’re already sick from the coronavirus, if they have to care for their children while schools are closed or if a medical professional has told them to stay home due to a compromised immune system.
If someone is just afraid of catching the coronavirus and becoming severely ill or infecting others, that doesn’t count. And the department has even encouraged states to be proactive about yanking benefits from people who stay home.
Some workers have now returned to their jobs before their state government has managed to send them a single dollar of jobless benefits for the time they missed. Some have refused, saying they’d rather lose their income than their health.
The policy argument hinges on the definition of “suitable work,” with the administration telling states, which administer unemployment insurance, that an offer to return to one’s job will generally count as suitable.
That guidance ignores the federal regulation governing unemployment benefits in a disaster, which states that “a position shall not be deemed to be suitable for an individual if the circumstances present any unusual risk to the health, safety, or morals of the individual.”
Advertisement
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said in the letter to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia that workers should be given more leeway to refuse to return to jobs they fear would put them at risk. Andrew Harnik/Associated Press
Democrats cited the regulation in their letter, saying any workplace that’s not following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines is unsuitable. The Labor Department told HuffPost last week, however, that although it was aware of the regulation, its own guidance is more important.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--New York Nurses Union Endorses Progressive House Challenger

Jamaal Bowman for Congress Jamaal Bowman distributes food at a food bank in Yonkers , New York .
His presence in the district has helped win him the backing of an influential union .
The largest nurses union in New York endorsed the House bid of middle school principal Jamaal Bowman on Tuesday , providing a major boost for the progressive candidate ’ s uphill effort to unseat Rep. Eliot Engel in the Democratic primary for New York ’ s 16th congressional district .
The New York State Nurses Association , which has 40,000 members and is not affiliated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if ever , endorsed a primary challenger in a race against an incumbent Democrat .
In a statement announcing the endorsement , the union pointed to Bowman ’ s ardent support for “ Medicare for All ” and his in-person participation in the union ’ s protest for safer conditions and more personal protective equipment ( PPE ) in April .
“ The COVID-19 crisis has shown more clearly than ever that our health care system is broken , and that we must push for a more just Medicare for All system where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they need , ” NYSNA President Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez said .
“ NY-16 ’ s nurses and essential workers are grateful for Jamaal Bowman ’ s partnership throughout the ongoing crisis , including joining nurses rallying at St. Joseph ’ s Hospital to demand an increased production of PPE , and repeatedly calling out the corrupt price gouging of this life-saving equipment.
” The union was careful not to disparage Engel , who is also a longtime supporter of Medicare for All .
But its reference to Bowman ’ s participation in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distinction between Bowman and Engel .
Bowman was able to join the demonstration because he has remained in the district , which includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester County , throughout the pandemic .
Engel has stayed in his family ’ s home in Potomac , Maryland , a ritzy suburb of Washington , D.C. Engel , who is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has been in Congress since 1989 , still boasts a massive fundraising advantage over Bowman .
The primary is June 23 .
The contest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the activist left ’ s last opportunities this election cycle to unseat an incumbent Democrat in Congress with someone more progressive .
Engel has a relatively progressive record on domestic policy , but is a foreign policy hawk .
He is one of Congress ’ most ardent supporters of the Israeli government and opposed then-President Barack Obama ’ s 2015 deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program .
Perhaps more importantly , Engel is a loyal soldier for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) .
Bowman would become part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers who try to assert power independent of party leadership .
So far this cycle , the group has not landed a victory comparable in scope to Ocasio-Cortez ’ s upset .
Justice Democrats endorsed successful Illinois primary challenger Marie Newman .
But she was a second-time candidate who also had the backing of much more influential and deep-pocketed pro-choice groups .
Bowman has struggled at times to elicit sustained attention in a media environment dominated first by the Democratic presidential primary and then by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Ocasio-Cortez and other high-profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s bid .
Bowman has tried to find creative ways to communicate with prospective voters in a racially diverse and impoverished district that is home to one of the most acute concentrations of coronavirus cases in the country .
Drawing attention to Engel ’ s absence in the district may be a game-changer for Bowman , however .
Ocasio-Cortez won in part by hammering then-Rep. Joseph Crowley for lacking a permanent residence in his district — though Engel , unlike Crowley , has a second home in the district .

Jamaal Bowman distributes food at a food bank in Yonkers, New York. His presence in the district has helped win him the backing of an influential union. Jamaal Bowman for Congress
The largest nurses union in New York endorsed the House bid of middle school principal Jamaal Bowman on Tuesday, providing a major boost for the progressive candidate’s uphill effort to unseat Rep. Eliot Engel in the Democratic primary for New York’s 16th congressional district.
The New York State Nurses Association, which has 40,000 members and is not affiliated with an international union, has rarely, if ever, endorsed a primary challenger in a race against an incumbent Democrat.
Advertisement
In a statement announcing the endorsement, the union pointed to Bowman’s ardent support for “Medicare for All” and his in-person participation in the union’s protest for safer conditions and more personal protective equipment (PPE) in April.
“The COVID-19 crisis has shown more clearly than ever that our health care system is broken, and that we must push for a more just Medicare for All system where everyone can access and afford the care that they need,” NYSNA President Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez said. “NY-16’s nurses and essential workers are grateful for Jamaal Bowman’s partnership throughout the ongoing crisis, including joining nurses rallying at St. Joseph’s Hospital to demand an increased production of PPE, and repeatedly calling out the corrupt price gouging of this life-saving equipment.”
The union was careful not to disparage Engel, who is also a longtime supporter of Medicare for All.
But its reference to Bowman’s participation in a protest outside a hospital highlights a key distinction between Bowman and Engel. Bowman was able to join the demonstration because he has remained in the district, which includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester County, throughout the pandemic. Engel has stayed in his family’s home in Potomac, Maryland, a ritzy suburb of Washington, D.C.
Engel, who is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has been in Congress since 1989, still boasts a massive fundraising advantage over Bowman. The primary is June 23.
Advertisement
The contest in New York’s 16th is one of the activist left’s last opportunities this election cycle to unseat an incumbent Democrat in Congress with someone more progressive.
Engel has a relatively progressive record on domestic policy, but is a foreign policy hawk. He is one of Congress’ most ardent supporters of the Israeli government and opposed then-President Barack Obama’s 2015 deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program.
Perhaps more importantly, Engel is a loyal soldier for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Bowman would become part of a small but growing bloc of progressive lawmakers who try to assert power independent of party leadership.
Justice Democrats, the left-wing group that helped elect Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), recruited and endorsed Bowman, who announced his candidacy last June.
So far this cycle, the group has not landed a victory comparable in scope to Ocasio-Cortez’s upset. Justice Democrats endorsed successful Illinois primary challenger Marie Newman. But she was a second-time candidate who also had the backing of much more influential and deep-pocketed pro-choice groups.
Advertisement
Bowman has struggled at times to elicit sustained attention in a media environment dominated first by the Democratic presidential primary and then by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ocasio-Cortez and other high-profile progressive lawmakers have yet to endorse Bowman’s bid.
Bowman has tried to find creative ways to communicate with prospective voters in a racially diverse and impoverished district that is home to one of the most acute concentrations of coronavirus cases in the country.
For example, he has taken to giving home-schooling tips via video livestream on his campaign’s Facebook page.
Drawing attention to Engel’s absence in the district may be a game-changer for Bowman, however. Ocasio-Cortez won in part by hammering then-Rep. Joseph Crowley for lacking a permanent residence in his district — though Engel, unlike Crowley, has a second home in the district.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--New York's Presidential Primary Is Back On, Pleasing Progressives

JEFF KOWALSKY/Getty Images Sen. Bernie Sanders withdrew from the presidential primary in April but wants to stay on the ballot in states that have yet to vote .
Democratic officials on the New York State Board of Elections announced in late April that they were canceling the presidential primary on the grounds that former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s bid for the nomination is now uncontested .
The board argued that , in light of the circumstances , holding the election would impose unnecessary financial costs and public health risks .
Larry Cohen , chairman of Our Revolution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 presidential bid , cited the 2nd Circuit ’ s decision as a significant win for those advocating for “ democratic reform within the Democratic Party.
” Cohen , who is also a member of the Democratic National Committee , had threatened to try to disqualify New York ’ s entire convention delegation absent a primary , arguing that allocating delegates without such a contest violated party rules .
The board of elections appealed the decision to the 2nd Circuit with help from the New York attorney general ’ s office .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeals court judges were skeptical of the state ’ s arguments , noting that other states where the coronavirus pandemic is also raging have proceeded with their elections .
It also came out during the hearing that just two counties in the state lacked other contested races and would therefore cancel their primaries entirely .
That fact cast doubt on the cost savings of canceling the presidential primary alone and contradicted earlier assertions from the board of elections and the New York Democratic Party that as many as 20 counties would not hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the Democratic Party is going to defeat Donald Trump and mobilize its base — many of whose lives have been upended by the COVID-19 crisis — it needs to put forward a platform that matches the scale of the crisis , and transforms our country for the better .
Thanks to an executive order issued by New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) in response to the pandemic , New Yorkers are receiving absentee ballot request forms in the mail .
State residents can obtain ballots to vote by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their absentee status .
Sanders and his supporters hope to win enough votes in New York and other forthcoming primaries to secure some 25 % of the seats on two influential Democratic convention committees : the panel overseeing the party platform and the panel with authority over party rules and bylaws .
With that level of representation on the key committees , Sanders partisans could submit a minority report for consideration on the convention floor that could help nudge the party platform to the left and make permanent the reforms that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as the disempowerment of “ super-delegates.
” “ If the Democratic Party is going to defeat Donald Trump and mobilize its base — many of whose lives have been upended by the COVID-19 crisis — it needs to put forward a platform that matches the scale of the crisis , and transforms our country for the better , ” said Sochie Nnaemeka , director of the New York Working Families Party , in a statement applauding the appeals court ’ s decision .
Sanders has already reached a deal with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his supporters will fill statewide convention delegate spots , which losing candidates have traditionally forfeited .
But in the remaining primaries , he remains free to contest for the delegates awarded by congressional district .
He will have to receive more than 15 % of the vote in a district to win delegates there .
Although Sanders withdrew from the presidential race and subsequently endorsed Biden in early April , he made clear that he wanted to stay on the ballot in states that had yet to vote .
An attorney for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New York Board of Elections in April arguing in favor of preserving the primary .
And Jeff Weaver , a top adviser to Sanders , decried the board ’ s decision against him when it came out .
But the burden of mobilizing voters to cast ballots is likely to fall on progressive groups like the Working Families Party , Our Revolution and Once Again PAC .
The latter organization was formed specifically to help Sanders amass convention delegates and fund expenses associated with helping those delegates participate in the convention .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ early April that contained an obscure provision enabling the primary ’ s cancellation by empowering the board of elections to remove candidates from the ballot who were no longer in the running .
And though the board is technically independent , one of its two Democratic commissioners , Andrew Spano , was appointed at the request of the state ’ s Democratic Party , which Cuomo effectively controls .

Sen. Bernie Sanders withdrew from the presidential primary in April but wants to stay on the ballot in states that have yet to vote. JEFF KOWALSKY/Getty Images
The New York Democratic presidential primary will proceed on June 23, following a second ruling in federal court on Tuesday.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd
Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling that earlier this month had reinstated the election.
Advertisement
Democratic officials on the New York State Board of Elections announced in late April that they were canceling the presidential primary on the grounds that former Vice President Joe Biden’s bid for the nomination is now uncontested. The board argued that, in light of the circumstances, holding the election would impose unnecessary financial costs and public health risks.
But former presidential candidate and entrepreneur Andrew Yang sued to overturn the decision, arguing that New Yorkers have a right to cast a ballot in favor of another candidate.
Ultimately that argument won out, overjoying progressive activists in general and supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in particular. Sanders seeks to amass enough convention delegates in New York and other states to give him a voice in shaping the Democratic Party platform and rules.
“This is a great day for democracy, both for N.Y. voters and for all Americans who cherish their right to vote,” said George Albro, a pro-Sanders New York attorney who joined Yang in the lawsuit.
Advertisement
Larry Cohen, chairman of Our Revolution, the group that emerged from Sanders’ 2016 presidential bid, cited the 2nd Circuit’s decision as a significant win for those advocating for “democratic reform within the Democratic Party.” Cohen, who is also a member of the Democratic National Committee, had threatened to try to disqualify New York’s entire convention delegation absent a primary, arguing that allocating delegates without such a contest violated party rules.
“Democrats have a right to elect their delegates in New York as they do in every other state,” he said.
The 2nd Circuit ruling upholds a May 5 decision by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres of the Southern District of New York, who maintained that canceling the election violated the voting rights of New York residents who wanted to support delegates for Sanders or other candidates.
The board of elections appealed the decision to the 2nd Circuit with help from the New York attorney general’s office. But in a hearing last Friday, the appeals court judges were skeptical of the state’s arguments, noting that other states where the coronavirus pandemic is also raging have proceeded with their elections.
It also came out during the hearing that just two counties in the state lacked other contested races and would therefore cancel their primaries entirely. That fact cast doubt on the cost savings of canceling the presidential primary alone and contradicted earlier assertions from the board of elections and the New York Democratic Party that as many as 20 counties would not hold elections if there were no presidential contest.
Advertisement
Following Tuesday’s ruling, the board of elections said it would not appeal the ruling further.
“If the Democratic Party is going to defeat Donald Trump and mobilize its base — many of whose lives have been upended by the COVID-19 crisis — it needs to put forward a platform that matches the scale of the crisis, and transforms our country for the better.” - Sochie Nnaemeka, New York Working Families Party
Thanks to an executive order issued by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) in response to the pandemic, New Yorkers are receiving absentee ballot request forms in the mail. State residents can obtain ballots to vote by mail without having to cite any reason for their absentee status.
Sanders and his supporters hope to win enough votes in New York and other forthcoming primaries to secure some 25% of the seats on two influential Democratic convention committees: the panel overseeing the party platform and the panel with authority over party rules and bylaws. With that level of representation on the key committees, Sanders partisans could submit a minority report for consideration on the convention floor that could help nudge the party platform to the left and make permanent the reforms that the party adopted for the 2020 nominating contest, such as the disempowerment of “super-delegates.”
“If the Democratic Party is going to defeat Donald Trump and mobilize its base — many of whose lives have been upended by the COVID-19 crisis — it needs to put forward a platform that matches the scale of the crisis, and transforms our country for the better,” said Sochie Nnaemeka, director of the New York Working Families Party, in a statement applauding the appeals court’s decision.
Sanders has already reached a deal with the Biden campaign that a total of 300 of his supporters will fill statewide convention delegate spots, which losing candidates have traditionally forfeited. But in the remaining primaries, he remains free to contest for the delegates awarded by congressional district. He will have to receive more than 15% of the vote in a district to win delegates there.
Advertisement
Sanders’ presence on the primary ballot is also liable to help down-ballot progressive candidates by increasing progressive turnout. A number of primary challengers, such as Bronx middle-school principal Jamaal Bowman, are taking on entrenched Democratic incumbents in Congress and the state legislature.
Although Sanders withdrew from the presidential race and subsequently endorsed Biden in early April, he made clear that he wanted to stay on the ballot in states that had yet to vote. An attorney for the Sanders campaign submitted a letter to the New York Board of Elections in April arguing in favor of preserving the primary. And Jeff Weaver, a top adviser to Sanders, decried the board’s decision against him when it came out.
But the burden of mobilizing voters to cast ballots is likely to fall on progressive groups like the Working Families Party, Our Revolution and Once Again PAC. The latter organization was formed specifically to help Sanders amass convention delegates and fund expenses associated with helping those delegates participate in the convention.
“We join Berniecrats across the state in celebrating the opportunity to vote for him and welcome all progressives interested in reform to join us,” said Charles Lenchner, a co-founder of Once Again PAC.
Their long-standing disdain for Gov. Cuomo provides New York progressives with an extra source of motivation as they try to rally Sanders diehards to the polls.
Advertisement
Cuomo signed a budget into law in early April that contained an obscure provision enabling the primary’s cancellation by empowering the board of elections to remove candidates from the ballot who were no longer in the running. And though the board is technically independent, one of its two Democratic commissioners, Andrew Spano, was appointed at the request of the state’s Democratic Party, which Cuomo effectively controls.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Demonizing China Dominates GOP Political Ads During Coronavirus Pandemic

ASSOCIATED PRESS President Donald Trump has been demonizing China — and shifting attention away from his response to the coronavirus .
During the height of the presidential primary , China was not at the front of the campaign .
But during the coronavirus , President Donald Trump and his allies have attempted to shift attention from the White House by blaming China for the global pandemic .
Another ad with a similar message , from America First Action , goes after the presumptive Democratic nominee for praising China over the years , warning , “ Now , more than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop China , you have to stop Joe Biden.
” “ The bottom line is no matter who wins in November , China is going to be a major geopolitical issue the President is going to have to deal with , ” she said .
“ The coronavirus started in China and China covered it up , allowing it to spread internationally .
Biden has a 47 year history of coddling China - from granting them permanent trade relations , supporting their entry into the WTO , and most recently calling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ racist and xenophobic.
’ ” Sadler said America First has spent $ 9.2 million in Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin with its ads and expects to spend $ 10 million by the end of the month .
( Not all of the spending is reflected in the Kantar/CMAG data because it does not track ads that run on cable . )
Other spots tout Trump ’ s travel bans on Chinese and European travelers , going after Biden for allegedly calling them xenophobic .
( The Biden campaign has said that Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically about the travel ban , but “ Trump ’ s long record of scapegoating others ” more generally . )
“ Donald Trump had countless opportunities to mobilize against the outbreak , as Joe Biden called on him to do , ” Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates said .
“ But instead he spent months disregarding repeated alarms sounded by his own advisers while downplaying the threat .
As coronavirus spread like wildfire , he continuously echoed Chinese government propaganda about the threat being contained ― despite Joe Biden publicly warning him not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get our experts on the ground there.
” But the rhetoric has shifted significantly in the last couple of months , and the president ’ s campaign isn ’ t the only one focusing on China .
Sen. Martha McSally , a Republican facing a tough reelection fight in Arizona , put out an ad recently going after China for its handling of the virus .
The Biden campaign has run two digital ads hitting Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus , highlighting how he downplayed the severity of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , “ rolled over for the Chinese.
” Shah said the Trump focus on China “ looks desperate , but just because something reeks of desperation doesn ’ t mean you can let it go unchecked , and we thought it was important to counter their ads with a counterpunch.
” “ Both parties agree that the Chinese government was a bad actor early in this crisis and there will be a policy debate about what to do in response , but Trump is using China to try to distract voters from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The fact is , China lied to everyone , not just us , ” said Josh Schwerin , spokesman for the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA Action .

President Donald Trump has been demonizing China — and shifting attention away from his response to the coronavirus. ASSOCIATED PRESS
China is now at the top of the list of issues in political ads these days, right up there with the intertwined issues of the coronavirus and health care.
Republicans are driving the push, spending far more than Democrats on presidential campaign ads that mention China. From April 1-May 15, Republicans spent $8.3 million on TV ads (excluding cable) referencing China, compared to the $1.7 million spent by Democrats, according to data compiled by Kantar/CMAG for HuffPost.
Advertisement
Democrats, meanwhile, spent $5.8 million on non-China-related ads, and Republicans spent just $64,000.
Republicans focused their messaging on China during the coronavirus pandemic, according to data compiled by Kantar/CMAG for HuffPost. The data excludes TV ads on cable. HuffPost
During the height of the presidential primary, China was not at the front of the campaign. But during the coronavirus, President Donald Trump and his allies have attempted to shift attention from the White House by blaming China for the global pandemic.
“I think it’s a giant attempt to deflect, and they recognize there is a giant vulnerability on their end. It reeks of desperation,” said Shripal Shah, vice president of American Bridge PAC, which has run a response ad hitting Trump on his China policies.
Advertisement
The Trump campaign and a pro-Trump super PAC, America First Action, have led the China ad spending.
“The coronavirus infected millions. Crushed the world economy. One nation deserves the blame: China. They lied about it. Covered it up. Joe Biden coddles China,” goes one ad from the Trump campaign.
Another ad with a similar message, from America First Action, goes after the presumptive Democratic nominee for praising China over the years, warning, “Now, more than ever, America must stop China. And to stop China, you have to stop Joe Biden.”
Kelly Sadler, a spokesperson for America First, said the super PAC bought BeijingBiden.com in May 2019, expecting China policy “to be a contrast in the general election.”
“The bottom line is no matter who wins in November, China is going to be a major geopolitical issue the President is going to have to deal with,” she said. “The coronavirus started in China and China covered it up, allowing it to spread internationally. Biden has a 47 year history of coddling China - from granting them permanent trade relations, supporting their entry into the WTO, and most recently calling the President’s travel ban from China ‘racist and xenophobic.’”
Sadler said America First has spent $9.2 million in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin with its ads and expects to spend $10 million by the end of the month. (Not all of the spending is reflected in the Kantar/CMAG data because it does not track ads that run on cable.)
Advertisement
Polls show that the American public views China unfavorably and worries about its global influence.
Other spots tout Trump’s travel bans on Chinese and European travelers, going after Biden for allegedly calling them xenophobic. (The Biden campaign has said that Biden’s charge of xenophobia was not specifically about the travel ban, but “Trump’s long record of scapegoating others” more generally.)
In April, the Trump campaign also released an ad that falsely implied that Gary Locke, a former Democratic governor and U.S. ambassador to China, is a Chinese government official.
“Donald Trump had countless opportunities to mobilize against the outbreak, as Joe Biden called on him to do,” Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates said. “But instead he spent months disregarding repeated alarms sounded by his own advisers while downplaying the threat. As coronavirus spread like wildfire, he continuously echoed Chinese government propaganda about the threat being contained ― despite Joe Biden publicly warning him not to believe it and that he had to get our experts on the ground there.”
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
In late January, Trump did put restrictions on travelers from China. And he has repeatedly referred to the coronavirus as the “China virus.” But for weeks, beginning in late January, Trump praised Chinese officials for their response to the virus.
Advertisement
“China is working very hard,” Trump said on Feb. 7. “They’re working really hard, and I think they are doing a very professional job.”
“President Xi loves the people of China, he loves his country, and he’s doing a very good job with a very, very tough situation,” he added on Feb. 18.
But the rhetoric has shifted significantly in the last couple of months, and the president’s campaign isn’t the only one focusing on China. Sen. Martha McSally, a Republican facing a tough reelection fight in Arizona, put out an ad recently going after China for its handling of the virus.
America is learning that the Communist Chinese government lied & continues to coverup about the Coronavirus. We will come back from this stronger than ever, but the Chinese government must be held accountable, and we must never again rely on them for critical supply chain needs. pic.twitter.com/LX13VbSXEb — Martha McSally for U.S. Senate (@MarthaMcSally) May 15, 2020
On the Democratic side, the mentions of China tend to focus on Trump praising the country’s leadership during the early days of the pandemic as a counterpoint to the anti-China rhetoric he is now using.
Advertisement
The Biden campaign has run two digital ads hitting Trump’s response to the coronavirus, highlighting how he downplayed the severity of the virus and, as one of the spots states, “rolled over for the Chinese.”
American Bridge PAC launched a TV ad specifically meant to counter America First’s shot at Biden on China. It spent approximately $2 million on a spot that ran from April 21-May 4 in the same three states as the GOP ads ― Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
“Trump trusted China. Sent China our supplies. And just look at the mess we’re in now,” the ad states.
Advertisement
Shah said the Trump focus on China “looks desperate, but just because something reeks of desperation doesn’t mean you can let it go unchecked, and we thought it was important to counter their ads with a counterpunch.”
“Both parties agree that the Chinese government was a bad actor early in this crisis and there will be a policy debate about what to do in response, but Trump is using China to try to distract voters from his disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic. The fact is, China lied to everyone, not just us,” said Josh Schwerin, spokesman for the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA Action.
“That doesn’t explain why we now have more deaths and cases than any country in the world and our economy is in shambles,” he added. “Trump was faced with a real challenge and his failures have had deadly consequences.”
The rhetoric about China ― and the use of terms like “China virus” and “Wuhan virus” ― worries Manju Kulkarni, executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), a coalition of organizations and individuals in Los Angeles County.
“There’s no question that I think these messages are harmful,” she said.
A3PCON, Chinese for Affirmative Action and the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University launched STOP AAPI HATE, creating a form for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to report incidents of racism related to the coronavirus. Kulkarni said that so far, they have received more than 1,800 incident reports, including instances of people being called racial slurs or being physically assaulted.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Trump Hopes You Forget How He Praised China And The WHO Before Blaming Them

“ China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus , ” Trump wrote in a Jan. 24 Twitter post .
“ The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency .
It will all work out well .
In particular , on behalf of the American People , I want to thank President Xi !
” It was neither the first nor the last such tribute .
On Jan. 22 , the first day Trump spoke publicly about the coronavirus , he told Fox News there was nothing to worry about .
“ It ’ s all taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very hard on the problem .
We spoke about it and China is working very hard on it.
” Even two months later , Trump was still lauding China and Xi .
“ Look , I have a very good relationship with President Xi and they went through a lot .
You know some people say other things .
They went through a lot .
They lost thousands of people .
They ’ ve been through hell , ” he told reporters on March 24 .
“ Trump ’ s failure to act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America and he now hopes that if the whole world is set ablaze , nobody will notice the damage he did at home , ” Schwerin said .
“ Trump lies to distract from his early failures but his ongoing failures should worry us just as much.
” Alyssah Farah , director of strategic communications at the White House , said Trump ’ s earlier public comments about China were mindful of the bigger picture , including a trade agreement the president signed with that nation on Jan. 15 .
“ The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ The president has a duty to try to maintain healthy diplomatic relations .
However , less than a week later , the president shut down travel from China , saving countless American lives .
Actions speak louder than words.
” But public health experts believe that Trump ’ s Jan. 31 decision to stop foreigners who had been in China during the previous 14 days from entering the U.S. ― which both Trump and his supporters have touted for months as having solved the coronavirus problem ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to prepare for the pandemic ’ s spread here .
Trump did little to almost nothing to prepare , though , in January , February and right up till March 16 , when he first appeared to take the threat seriously .
Trump now claims that China and the WHO withheld information from him and the world .
Ironically , his letter lays out a clear timeline of the various events associated with the virus ’ s outbreak that Trump ignored for months ― events that his own agencies had noted and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yet those details and many more were also known to U.S. intelligence agencies , the State Department and even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention largely in real time , according to one former White House official , who spoke on condition of anonymity .
This material began showing up in Trump ’ s intelligence briefing material in early January , the official said .
But Trump did not have an intelligence briefing scheduled until Jan. 6 and only nine scheduled all month .
“ The entire month of January was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s jarring to see Trump ’ s letter invoke many of the data points that were publicly available in December and January to which he continued to turn a blind eye long after the WHO started sounding the alarm about the impending pandemic , ” said Ned Price , a former CIA analyst and a spokesman for the National Security Council under President Barack Obama .
“ You don ’ t have to believe the WHO ’ s response was perfect ― it wasn ’ t , of course ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply flawed approach , which essentially amounted to empty praise of Beijing until his sudden 180 , after which he ’ s offered nothing but blame.
” Trump repeatedly criticized Democrats in Congress , mayors and governors , the news media and Obama for the pandemic , even as he continued to praise Xi for his actions to contain the disease ― despite the facts that Xi did not contain the disease and that his cover-up efforts hastened its spread around the world .
On April 7 , Trump accused the WHO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat , but then explicitly stated why he had praised Xi for being “ transparent ” when he had not been .
If that deal was the reason for treating China with kid gloves , though , it may already be for naught .
The accord is not a traditional free trade agreement , but more of a partial unwinding of Trump ’ s trade war with China in return for its promise to buy certain quantities of exports from the U.S .
The pandemic ’ s damage to the economies of both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put that promise in doubt , trade experts said .
If China doesn ’ t buy the promised goods , it is unclear what recourse Trump will have , other than reimposing high tariffs , which would further hurt American manufacturers , who rely on materials from China , and U.S. consumers , who would face higher prices in stores .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump’s stepped-up efforts to blame China and the World Health Organization for the coronavirus pandemic’s toll may require collective amnesia of his recent lavish praise of both to work.
“The World Health Organization failed to independently investigate credible reports that conflicted directly with the Chinese government’s official accounts,” Trump wrote in a new letter to the WHO threatening to end U.S. funding permanently. “The World Health Organization has been curiously insistent on praising China for its alleged ‘transparency.’”
Advertisement
What the five-page letter, dated Monday, fails to note is his own repeated praise of both China and its dictator, Xi Jinping ― including for that same “alleged transparency.”
“China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus,” Trump wrote in a Jan. 24 Twitter post. “The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”
It was neither the first nor the last such tribute. On Jan. 22, the first day Trump spoke publicly about the coronavirus, he told Fox News there was nothing to worry about. “It’s all taken care of. And China is working very hard on the problem. We spoke about it and China is working very hard on it.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands after a bilateral meeting at Mar-a-Lago on April 7, 2017, in Palm Beach, Florida. Alex Brandon/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Advertisement
Even two months later, Trump was still lauding China and Xi. “Look, I have a very good relationship with President Xi and they went through a lot. You know some people say other things. They went through a lot. They lost thousands of people. They’ve been through hell,” he told reporters on March 24.
Josh Schwerin, senior strategist with the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA, said Trump’s ploy is obvious.
“Trump’s failure to act let the virus spread like wildfire in America and he now hopes that if the whole world is set ablaze, nobody will notice the damage he did at home,” Schwerin said. “Trump lies to distract from his early failures but his ongoing failures should worry us just as much.”
Alyssah Farah, director of strategic communications at the White House, said Trump’s earlier public comments about China were mindful of the bigger picture, including a trade agreement the president signed with that nation on Jan. 15. “The U.S.’s relationship with China is multifaceted,” she said. “The president has a duty to try to maintain healthy diplomatic relations. However, less than a week later, the president shut down travel from China, saving countless American lives. Actions speak louder than words.”
But public health experts believe that Trump’s Jan. 31 decision to stop foreigners who had been in China during the previous 14 days from entering the U.S. ― which both Trump and his supporters have touted for months as having solved the coronavirus problem ― at best bought a few weeks of time to prepare for the pandemic’s spread here. Trump did little to almost nothing to prepare, though, in January, February and right up till March 16, when he first appeared to take the threat seriously.
Advertisement
Trump now claims that China and the WHO withheld information from him and the world. Ironically, his letter lays out a clear timeline of the various events associated with the virus’s outbreak that Trump ignored for months ― events that his own agencies had noted and informed him about starting in early January.
The president’s letter mentions reports in Chinese media in December of an outbreak in the city of Wuhan and how that information was passed on to the WHO by Taiwanese officials on Dec. 31.
Yet those details and many more were also known to U.S. intelligence agencies, the State Department and even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention largely in real time, according to one former White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
This material began showing up in Trump’s intelligence briefing material in early January, the official said. But Trump did not have an intelligence briefing scheduled until Jan. 6 and only nine scheduled all month. “The entire month of January was lost,” the official said.
“It’s jarring to see Trump’s letter invoke many of the data points that were publicly available in December and January to which he continued to turn a blind eye long after the WHO started sounding the alarm about the impending pandemic,” said Ned Price, a former CIA analyst and a spokesman for the National Security Council under President Barack Obama. “You don’t have to believe the WHO’s response was perfect ― it wasn’t, of course ― to find fault with Trump’s deeply flawed approach, which essentially amounted to empty praise of Beijing until his sudden 180, after which he’s offered nothing but blame.”
Advertisement
Trump repeatedly criticized Democrats in Congress, mayors and governors, the news media and Obama for the pandemic, even as he continued to praise Xi for his actions to contain the disease ― despite the facts that Xi did not contain the disease and that his cover-up efforts hastened its spread around the world. On April 7, Trump accused the WHO of failing to warn the world about the threat, but then explicitly stated why he had praised Xi for being “transparent” when he had not been.
“Well, I did a trade deal with China, where China is supposed to be spending $250 billion in our country,” Trump told reporters, in an explanation he has repeated frequently.
If that deal was the reason for treating China with kid gloves, though, it may already be for naught. The accord is not a traditional free trade agreement, but more of a partial unwinding of Trump’s trade war with China in return for its promise to buy certain quantities of exports from the U.S.
The pandemic’s damage to the economies of both China and the United States has already put that promise in doubt, trade experts said. If China doesn’t buy the promised goods, it is unclear what recourse Trump will have, other than reimposing high tariffs, which would further hurt American manufacturers, who rely on materials from China, and U.S. consumers, who would face higher prices in stores.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Republicans Ignore Trump's Purge Of Government Watchdogs

Five of the nation ’ s top government watchdogs have been stripped of their positions by President Donald Trump in recent weeks , prompting an outcry from critics who say the president is silencing those with investigatory powers over his administration .
“ They all shared one thing in common : They had the audacity to do their jobs and speak the truth .
They had the audacity to try and drain the swamp , ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) said this week , referring to Trump ’ s 2016 campaign “ swamp ” slogan about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Linick was reportedly investigating why Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fast-tracked more than $ 8 billion in weapon sales to Saudi Arabia and its allies , as well as whether Pompeo made a staffer run personal errands for him .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) said Sunday that Trump ’ s firing of Linick “ could be unlawful ” if it was intended to retaliate against one of his investigations .
“ I don ’ t know him at all .
I never even heard of him , ” Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the White House , adding that Pompeo should have fired Linick a long time ago since “ he ’ s an Obama appointment , and he had some difficulty.
” Linick ’ s ouster prompted a letter to Trump from Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) , a longtime advocate of inspectors general , urging the president to detail the reasons behind his removal .
Grassley said Trump ’ s claim that he lost confidence in Linick was “ not sufficient ” as an explanation .
“ Inspectors General help ensure transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical for taxpayers to have confidence in their government , ” Grassley said in the letter .
“ They should be free from partisan political interference , from either the Executive or Legislative branch.
” Grassley requested the Trump administration provide a fuller explanation within 30 days .
The senator made a similar written request of Trump after his removal of Michael Atkison as intelligence community inspector general over a month ago , in April .
Trump has not responded to that letter .
At a Senate GOP policy lunch that Trump attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked the president about his legislation to lower prescription drug prices but Linick ’ s ouster did not come up , according to an attendee .
While Sens .
Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine tweeted about Linick ’ s ouster over the weekend , most of the GOP conference defended Trump over the matter .
“ I ’ m not crying big crocodile tears over this termination .
Let ’ s put it that way , ” Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-Wis. ) said over the weekend in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Union.
” “ They serve at the pleasure of the president , and I take at face value [ Trump ] had valid reasons for making the move , ” Tillis said .
Obama ousted Gerald Walpin , the inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service , in June of 2009 .
His removal elicited criticism at the time from some conservative outlets and Fox News , according to The Washington Post .
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey , the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to introduce legislation aimed at shielding inspectors general for the State Department and other foreign affairs agencies from removal .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Five of the nation’s top government watchdogs have been stripped of their positions by President Donald Trump in recent weeks, prompting an outcry from critics who say the president is silencing those with investigatory powers over his administration.
“They all shared one thing in common: They had the audacity to do their jobs and speak the truth. They had the audacity to try and drain the swamp,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said this week, referring to Trump’s 2016 campaign “swamp” slogan about rooting out corruption in the government.
Advertisement
But their ouster didn’t trouble most Senate Republicans, who maintain that it is within Trump’s authority to remove inspectors general as he wishes.
“He gets to hire and fire under the Constitution all people under the executive branch,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters on Tuesday.
President Trump speaks to the press after a policy meeting with Republican senators Tuesday. Drew Angerer via Getty Images
In a late Friday evening announcement, Trump notified Congress he was removing State Department Inspector General Steve Linick from his post and replacing him with Stephen Akard, a trusted ally of Vice President Mike Pence.
Advertisement
The move follows similar personnel changes at government watchdog offices in charge of the departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and the intelligence community.
Linick was reportedly investigating why Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fast-tracked more than $8 billion in weapon sales to Saudi Arabia and its allies, as well as whether Pompeo made a staffer run personal errands for him. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Sunday that Trump’s firing of Linick “could be unlawful” if it was intended to retaliate against one of his investigations.
“I don’t know him at all. I never even heard of him,” Trump said of Linick on Monday at an event at the White House, adding that Pompeo should have fired Linick a long time ago since “he’s an Obama appointment, and he had some difficulty.”
Linick’s ouster prompted a letter to Trump from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a longtime advocate of inspectors general, urging the president to detail the reasons behind his removal. Grassley said Trump’s claim that he lost confidence in Linick was “not sufficient” as an explanation.
“Inspectors General help ensure transparency and accountability, both of which are critical for taxpayers to have confidence in their government,” Grassley said in the letter. “They should be free from partisan political interference, from either the Executive or Legislative branch.”
Advertisement
Grassley requested the Trump administration provide a fuller explanation within 30 days. The senator made a similar written request of Trump after his removal of Michael Atkison as intelligence community inspector general over a month ago, in April. Trump has not responded to that letter.
At a Senate GOP policy lunch that Trump attended on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Grassley asked the president about his legislation to lower prescription drug prices but Linick’s ouster did not come up, according to an attendee.
While Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine tweeted about Linick’s ouster over the weekend, most of the GOP conference defended Trump over the matter.
“I’m not crying big crocodile tears over this termination. Let’s put it that way,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said over the weekend in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“I don’t,” Sen. Steve Daines of Montana said when asked if he had any concerns about the removal of the State Department inspector general.
Advertisement
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, meanwhile, noted former President Barack Obama also removed an inspector general during his tenure.
“They serve at the pleasure of the president, and I take at face value [Trump] had valid reasons for making the move,” Tillis said.
Obama ousted Gerald Walpin, the inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service, in June of 2009. His removal elicited criticism at the time from some conservative outlets and Fox News, according to The Washington Post.
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Monday announced he intended to introduce legislation aimed at shielding inspectors general for the State Department and other foreign affairs agencies from removal.
The bill would limit the removal of inspectors general only for explicit cause, such as malfeasance, misuse of funds, abuse of authority or violation of the law.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Trump's New Coronavirus Czar Divesting From Vaccine Company After Ethics Concerns

President Donald Trump ’ s new COVID-19 czar Moncef Slaoui is divesting from a leading vaccine company following criticism that his millions of dollars in stock options represented a major conflict of interest .
The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced Slaoui ’ s divestiture from the Massachusetts biotech company Moderna .
The company ’ s shares soared 20 % Monday following positive results for eight patients in its Phase 1 trial of a potential COVID-19 vaccine , climaxing a 309 % rally this year .
Slaoui , a former pharmaceutical company executive , gave up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump named him to head the president ’ s reformatted coronavirus task force , now named Operation Warp Speed and aimed at vaccine development .
But Slaoui continued to hold more than 155,000 options for Moderna shares , which were reported in required federal financial filings .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
called the options , already worth some $ 10 million before Monday ’ s surge , a “ huge conflict of interest ” and demanded Slaoui divest .
According to the HHS statement , Slaoui has “ directed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that sale should be effective [ Tuesday ] morning.
” He ’ ll also “ donate to cancer research all incremental value ” of the Moderna shares between May 14 — the day before his White House position was announced —and the time of sale .
Moderna last month announced that it received $ 483 million in federal funding for vaccine development , which sent its share price up 15 % , CNBC reported .
Moderna ’ s vaccine is one of eight around the world that have already begun human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Moderna threatened to sway his decisions on the task force to benefit his own financial interest , rather than the public interest .
When Slaoui was introduced by Trump on Friday , he said the president ’ s aim to develop a vaccine by the end of the year was “ credible , ” but “ extremely challenging.
” He referred to positive results from a clinical study ― likely Moderna ’ s , but he did not name the company .
NEW : Pres .
Trump appoints former pharmaceutical executive Moncef @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead vaccine development .
The two struck notes of optimism about the hoped-for pace of development , while conceding it will be a `` herculean task . ''
https : //t.co/rjsMyBH5T0 pic.twitter.com/ztPaVJXGoO — ABC News ( @ ABC ) May 15 , 2020 Slaoui joined the Moderna board of directors in 2017 .
He worked for several years before that as head of research and development at GlaxoSmithKline .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced Slaoui’s divestiture from the Massachusetts biotech company Moderna. The company’s shares soared 20% Monday following positive results for eight patients in its Phase 1 trial of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, climaxing a 309% rally this year.
Advertisement
Slaoui, a former pharmaceutical company executive, gave up a position on Moderna’s board when Trump named him to head the president’s reformatted coronavirus task force, now named Operation Warp Speed and aimed at vaccine development. But Slaoui continued to hold more than 155,000 options for Moderna shares, which were reported in required federal financial filings.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called the options, already worth some $10 million before Monday’s surge, a “huge conflict of interest” and demanded Slaoui divest.
According to the HHS statement, Slaoui has “directed the divestiture of his equity holdings in Moderna, and that sale should be effective [Tuesday] morning.” He’ll also “donate to cancer research all incremental value” of the Moderna shares between May 14 — the day before his White House position was announced —and the time of sale.
Moderna last month announced that it received $483 million in federal funding for vaccine development, which sent its share price up 15%, CNBC reported.
Advertisement
Moderna’s vaccine is one of eight around the world that have already begun human testing. Slaoui’s financial stake in Moderna threatened to sway his decisions on the task force to benefit his own financial interest, rather than the public interest.
When Slaoui was introduced by Trump on Friday, he said the president’s aim to develop a vaccine by the end of the year was “credible,” but “extremely challenging.” He referred to positive results from a clinical study ― likely Moderna’s, but he did not name the company.
NEW: Pres. Trump appoints former pharmaceutical executive Moncef Slaoui and Army Gen. Gustave Perna to lead vaccine development.
The two struck notes of optimism about the hoped-for pace of development, while conceding it will be a "herculean task." https://t.co/rjsMyBH5T0 pic.twitter.com/ztPaVJXGoO — ABC News (@ABC) May 15, 2020
Slaoui joined the Moderna board of directors in 2017. He worked for several years before that as head of research and development at GlaxoSmithKline.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--U.S. Extends Heightened Border Enforcement During Coronavirus

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is indefinitely extending a policy of strict border enforcement because of the COVID-19 outbreak .
An order signed by Dr. Robert Redfield , the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said it should remain because of public health conditions in the U.S. , Canada and Mexico as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
The order enables U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to immediately expel anyone stopped trying to enter the country without authorization , including people seeking asylum .
The CDC will review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the policy should remain in effect .
The previous two versions had a 30-day limit at the outset .
The latest extension was due to expire Wednesday .
Department of Homeland Security officials say the COVID-19 pandemic makes it too dangerous to hold people in their detention facilities .
CBP is now expelling most captured migrants in about two hours , instead of the days or weeks it took previously .
Immigrant advocates say it deprives people of the legal right to seek asylum under international law .
Acting U.S. Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extension that the order has been “ one of the most critical tools the department has used to prevent the further spread of the virus and to protect the American people , DHS frontline officers , and those in their care and custody from COVID-19 .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is indefinitely extending a policy of strict border enforcement because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
An order signed by Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said it should remain because of public health conditions in the U.S., Canada and Mexico as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Advertisement
The order enables U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to immediately expel anyone stopped trying to enter the country without authorization, including people seeking asylum.
The CDC will review health conditions every 30 days to determine if the policy should remain in effect.
The previous two versions had a 30-day limit at the outset. The latest extension was due to expire Wednesday.
Department of Homeland Security officials say the COVID-19 pandemic makes it too dangerous to hold people in their detention facilities. CBP is now expelling most captured migrants in about two hours, instead of the days or weeks it took previously.
Advertisement
Immigrant advocates say it deprives people of the legal right to seek asylum under international law.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-19--Nancy Pelosi Surprised Trump Is 'So Sensitive' About 'Morbidly Obese' Crack

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi managed to insult President Donald Trump for the second time in two days by using what can only be termed “ fake concern.
” It came after Trump griped about comments that Pelosi had made to Anderson Cooper on Monday about the president ’ s admission he was taking hydroxychloroquine , an anti-malaria drug , to avoid catching COVID-19 .
Pelosi said she would prefer that the nation ’ s leader not rely on a treatment for the coronavirus that has not been approved by scientists , adding , “ Especially in his age group , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , weight group , what is morbidly obese , they say.
” “ I don ’ t respond to her .
I think she ’ s a waste of time , ” Trump said , according to Bloomberg White House reporter Josh Wingrove .
President Trump , leaving a meeting with Republican senators , was asked about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's comments about his weight and use of hydroxychloroquine , per @ Jordanfabian .
“ I don ’ t respond to her .
I think she ’ s a waste of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wingrove ( @ josh_wingrove ) May 19 , 2020 Trump later called Pelosi a “ sick woman ” with “ a lot of problems .
A lot of mental problems , ” according to Bloomberg ’ s Jordan Fabian .
Pelosi pretended to be surprised by Trump ’ s reaction when MSNBC ’ s Nicolle Wallace asked her about it a short time later , but also twisted the knife a little deeper .
“ I didn ’ t know that he would be so sensitive , he ’ s always talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said , before adding , “ I think he should recognize his words weigh a ton.
” The president is no stranger to fat-shaming .
He once referred to one former Miss Universe as “ an eating machine ” and told an overweight man attending a rally to ” go home , start exercising .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi managed to insult President Donald Trump for the second time in two days by using what can only be termed “fake concern.”
It came after Trump griped about comments that Pelosi had made to Anderson Cooper on Monday about the president’s admission he was taking hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, to avoid catching COVID-19.
Advertisement
Pelosi said she would prefer that the nation’s leader not rely on a treatment for the coronavirus that has not been approved by scientists, adding, “Especially in his age group, and in his, shall we say, weight group, what is morbidly obese, they say.”
When a reporter asked Trump about Pelosi’s comments on Tuesday, he wasn’t happy.
“I don’t respond to her. I think she’s a waste of time,” Trump said, according to Bloomberg White House reporter Josh Wingrove.
President Trump, leaving a meeting with Republican senators, was asked about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's comments about his weight and use of hydroxychloroquine, per @Jordanfabian.
“I don’t respond to her. I think she’s a waste of time," Trump said. — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) May 19, 2020
Trump later called Pelosi a “sick woman” with “a lot of problems. A lot of mental problems,” according to Bloomberg’s Jordan Fabian.
Advertisement
Then when discussing the Russia probe, Trump called Pelosi a “sick woman”
“She has a lot of problems. A lot of mental problems,” he told reporters — Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) May 19, 2020
Pelosi pretended to be surprised by Trump’s reaction when MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace asked her about it a short time later, but also twisted the knife a little deeper.
“I didn’t know that he would be so sensitive, he’s always talking about other people’s weight,” she said, before adding, “I think he should recognize his words weigh a ton.”
You can see Pelosi’s comments below:
The president is no stranger to fat-shaming. He once referred to one former Miss Universe as “an eating machine” and told a man attending a rally to ”go home, start exercising.”