thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Court-Packing Is Not New. Republicans Have Been Trying To Do It For Years.

The idea started to gain more support in Democratic circles after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) refused to allow a vote on President Barack Obama ’ s Supreme Court nominee after the death of Antonin Scalia .
McConnell argued it was just too close to the election for such a major move .
Donald Trump won , and Democrats felt cheated out of a court seat .
But talk of trying to pack the court has been revived now that McConnell is rushing through Amy Coney Barrett , Trump ’ s nominee to replace liberal icon Ruth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even closer to the election than it was when Obama nominated Merrick Garland in 2016 .
“ [ Y ] our party is actually openly advocating adding seats to the Supreme Court , which has had nine seats for 150 years , if you don ’ t get your way .
This is a classic case of if you can ’ t win by the rules , you ’ re going to change the rules , ” Vice President Mike Pence said to Sen. Kamala Harris ( Calif. ) at the vice presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 20 bills to increase , or decrease , the size of supreme courts in 11 states over the past decade , according to a new study by Duke University law professor Marin K. Levy .
The vast majority of them have been by Republicans , and attempts have been on the rise compared to decades past .
Legislatures in Arizona , Georgia , Florida , Iowa , South Carolina and Louisiana have all tried to add justices , while Montana , Oklahoma , Washington , Alabama and Pennsylvania have tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in all those states over the past decade , aside from Democratic bills in Louisiana and Alabama .
( The instances in Pennsylvania and Alabama were less clear in whether the motivations were partisan though . )
“ The most discernible pattern is also the one that should be the least surprising : it appears that various elected officials pushed for changes to their state supreme court when doing so was in their political interest , ” Levy wrote .
Two of those attempts , in Arizona and Georgia , were successful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislature and the GOP governor had significant power to appoint the judges he wanted to the court .
In 2011 , Republicans controlled the Montana state legislature while a Democrat was governor .
Lawmakers tried to “ unpack ” the state supreme court by reducing the number of justices from seven to five ― removing the seats held by two of the most liberal members .
“ So how do we get to tort reform ?
I would suggest that if we took the Supreme Court from 7 to 5 , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becomes our ally in tort reform ?
The Supreme Court , ” said then-state Rep. Derek Skees .
In other instances , changing the size of the state ’ s highest court came after a decision that the party in control of the legislature didn ’ t like .
In 2009 , the Iowa Supreme Court struck down a state law banning same-sex marriage .
In response , a Republican lawmaker introduced a bill to increase the number of justices .
( It ended up going nowhere because Democrats controlled the legislature and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period I examine — the last decade — there were more Republican-controlled state legislatures in all years but one ( 2010 ) , ” she said .
“ And in most years , there were two or three times as many states with Republican-controlled state legislatures than Democrat-controlled ones.
” But , she added , “ there is compelling evidence that Republicans have played constitutional hardball more frequently and with a greater intensity than Democrats at the federal level .
It is possible that we are witnessing similar dynamics at the state level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff Flake ( Ariz. ) ― who was seen as a moderate Republican ― tried to break up the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , which is traditionally liberal .
He argued that its caseload had become too big , even though the 9th circuit ’ s chief judge said the size of the court had nothing to do with productivity .
“ These efforts have nothing to do with caseload , ” Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D-Calif. ) said in a statement at the time .
“ In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge waste of taxpayer dollars .
The simple fact is that calls by President Trump and Senate Republicans to split the 9th Circuit are simply a political response to decisions they don ’ t like.
” And in 2013 , Sen. Charles Grassley ( R-Iowa ) tried to strip the D.C .
Circuit Court of Appeals ― considered the second-most powerful court in the country ― of three of its seats , preventing Obama from filling the vacancies .
Grassley argued that the court wasn ’ t busy enough to justify having 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fill every vacancy on the court during President George W. Bush ’ s administration when the court ’ s caseload was even lower .
Nothing in the constitution mandates nine justices on the Supreme Court .
The Judiciary Act of 1789 originally set the number of justices at six .
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was famous for trying to pack the court , but it ’ s been done for partisan purposes at other points as well .
In 1863 , Congress actually expanded the Supreme Court to 10 , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move understood to allow President Abraham Lincoln to shift the Court favorably toward the Republican agenda at the time .
”

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Republicans have been aghast at the idea that Democrats might try to add more justices to the Supreme Court.
The idea started to gain more support in Democratic circles after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused to allow a vote on President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee after the death of Antonin Scalia. McConnell argued it was just too close to the election for such a major move. Donald Trump won, and Democrats felt cheated out of a court seat.
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But talk of trying to pack the court has been revived now that McConnell is rushing through Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s nominee to replace liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg ― even though it is even closer to the election than it was when Obama nominated Merrick Garland in 2016.
“[Y]our party is actually openly advocating adding seats to the Supreme Court, which has had nine seats for 150 years, if you don’t get your way. This is a classic case of if you can’t win by the rules, you’re going to change the rules,” Vice President Mike Pence said to Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.) at the vice presidential debate on Wednesday.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has refused to take a firm stance on court-packing, saying people will “know my opinion on court-packing when the election is over.”
Pence shouldn’t act so outraged. His party has been trying to change the size of courts at both the state and federal levels for years.
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There have been at least 20 bills to increase, or decrease, the size of supreme courts in 11 states over the past decade, according to a new study by Duke University law professor Marin K. Levy. The vast majority of them have been by Republicans, and attempts have been on the rise compared to decades past.
Legislatures in Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Iowa, South Carolina and Louisiana have all tried to add justices, while Montana, Oklahoma, Washington, Alabama and Pennsylvania have tried to remove some. Republicans drove the changes in all those states over the past decade, aside from Democratic bills in Louisiana and Alabama. (The instances in Pennsylvania and Alabama were less clear in whether the motivations were partisan though.)
“The most discernible pattern is also the one that should be the least surprising: it appears that various elected officials pushed for changes to their state supreme court when doing so was in their political interest,” Levy wrote.
Two of those attempts, in Arizona and Georgia, were successful. In both cases, the GOP controlled the legislature and the GOP governor had significant power to appoint the judges he wanted to the court.
In many of the instances examined by Levy, the partisan motivations for changing the size of the court were stated quite plainly.
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In 2011, Republicans controlled the Montana state legislature while a Democrat was governor. Lawmakers tried to “unpack” the state supreme court by reducing the number of justices from seven to five ― removing the seats held by two of the most liberal members.
The GOP sponsor of the unpacking bill outright said that his aim was to make it harder for victims to sue for damages.
“So how do we get to tort reform? I would suggest that if we took the Supreme Court from 7 to 5, they have a higher workload, guess who becomes our ally in tort reform? The Supreme Court,” said then-state Rep. Derek Skees.
In other instances, changing the size of the state’s highest court came after a decision that the party in control of the legislature didn’t like. In 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court struck down a state law banning same-sex marriage. In response, a Republican lawmaker introduced a bill to increase the number of justices. (It ended up going nowhere because Democrats controlled the legislature and governorship.)
Levy told HuffPost that Republicans have had more opportunities to engage in court-packing and unpacking than Democrats have.
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“During the time period I examine — the last decade — there were more Republican-controlled state legislatures in all years but one (2010),” she said. “And in most years, there were two or three times as many states with Republican-controlled state legislatures than Democrat-controlled ones.”
But, she added, “there is compelling evidence that Republicans have played constitutional hardball more frequently and with a greater intensity than Democrats at the federal level. It is possible that we are witnessing similar dynamics at the state level as well.”
In 2017, then-Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) ― who was seen as a moderate Republican ― tried to break up the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is traditionally liberal. He argued that its caseload had become too big, even though the 9th circuit’s chief judge said the size of the court had nothing to do with productivity.
“These efforts have nothing to do with caseload,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said in a statement at the time. “In fact, splitting the 9th Circuit would be a huge waste of taxpayer dollars. The simple fact is that calls by President Trump and Senate Republicans to split the 9th Circuit are simply a political response to decisions they don’t like.”
And in 2013, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) tried to strip the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ― considered the second-most powerful court in the country ― of three of its seats, preventing Obama from filling the vacancies. Grassley argued that the court wasn’t busy enough to justify having 11 judges. Republicans, however, pushed to fill every vacancy on the court during President George W. Bush’s administration when the court’s caseload was even lower.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--'Choose Your Humans Wisely,' Urges Viral Video That Hits Trump For Not Having A Dog

Dog lovers are urged to “ choose your humans wisely ” in the 2020 election in a new viral video that points out a big difference between President Donald Trump and his predecessors .
The clip — released by a group called Dog Lovers For Joe — highlights how Trump ( who reportedly hates dogs ) is the first president in more than a century who doesn ’ t have a pet pooch in the White House .
The video begins with photos of Presidents Ronald Reagan , George H.W .
Bush , Bill Clinton , George W. Bush and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then it cuts to footage of Trump mocking the idea of owning a dog and shows Democratic nominee Joe Biden with one of his German shepherds , Champ .
“ This is the work of concerned Americans who don ’ t like the direction our country has taken over the last four years , ” New York advertising boss Rob Schwartz , a co-founder of Dog Lovers for Joe , told HuffPost via email on Friday .
“ We wrote the video to inspire people in Red states , Blue states and Swing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man .
Usually , good people are good to their dogs .
And dogs love them back , ” Schwartz explained .
“ The fact that Trump doesn ’ t have a dog , and is the first president without a best friend in the White House in over 100 years really says something about him.
” Schwartz added : “ Dogs also bring out the best in humans .
Trump has brought out the worst in humanity .
This lack of dog is simply a microcosm of his selfish , insensitive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garnered hundreds of thousands of views on social media , which thrills Dog Lovers for Joe , said Schwartz .
“ I ’ d really love it if some MAGA folks stopped for a second , looked at their pooches and were reminded of their own humanity and decency .
And then saw that in Joe , ” Schwartz said .
“ The mission now is to turn all of this goodwill into the energy to vote , ” Schwartz said .
“ We must turn likes into votes .
”

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Dog lovers are urged to “choose your humans wisely” in the 2020 election in a new viral video that points out a big difference between President Donald Trump and his predecessors.
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The video begins with photos of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama playing with their pets. Then it cuts to footage of Trump mocking the idea of owning a dog and shows Democratic nominee Joe Biden with one of his German shepherds, Champ.
The slogan — “Choose your humans wisely” — then flashes onto the screen.
Check out the video here:
“This is the work of concerned Americans who don’t like the direction our country has taken over the last four years,” New York advertising boss Rob Schwartz, a co-founder of Dog Lovers for Joe, told HuffPost via email on Friday.
“We wrote the video to inspire people in Red states, Blue states and Swing states that Joe Biden is a good man. Usually, good people are good to their dogs. And dogs love them back,” Schwartz explained. “The fact that Trump doesn’t have a dog, and is the first president without a best friend in the White House in over 100 years really says something about him.”
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Schwartz added: “Dogs also bring out the best in humans. Trump has brought out the worst in humanity. This lack of dog is simply a microcosm of his selfish, insensitive and cynical world view.”
Red State person or Blue State person, I think we can all agree it’s time we had a Dog person in the White House. Watch: https://t.co/Neu2dkvZU0 pic.twitter.com/ivbj6w6YUA — Rob Schwartz (@Schwartzie14) September 29, 2020
The video has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on social media, which thrills Dog Lovers for Joe, said Schwartz.
“I’d really love it if some MAGA folks stopped for a second, looked at their pooches and were reminded of their own humanity and decency. And then saw that in Joe,” Schwartz said.
“The mission now is to turn all of this goodwill into the energy to vote,” Schwartz said. “We must turn likes into votes.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Supreme Court Allows Women To Continue Receiving The Abortion Pill By Mail For Now

Illustration : HuffPost ; Photo : Getty Images The Supreme Court declined to reinstate FDA restrictions on the abortion pill that require patients to pick up the medicine in person .
Women seeking the abortion pill during the coronavirus pandemic can continue to receive the medicine by mail for now , the Supreme Court said on Thursday .
It was the court ’ s first action on reproductive rights since the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , and it amounted to a punt : The unsigned order called for a lower court judge to take another look at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deadline that falls after the presidential election .
Medication abortion , or the abortion pill as it is called colloquially , is actually a combination of two medicines , mifepristone and misoprostol .
When taken together , they essentially induce a miscarriage .
It is one of the most common methods used to end pregnancies in the U.S. Women can take the pills in the privacy of their own home , at a time of their choosing , in the first 10 weeks of a pregnancy .
These days , about 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done using medication .
Longstanding Food and Drug Administration regulations on mifepristone , called REMS , mandate that the drug can only be distributed by a health care provider in a medical setting .
Patients must physically pick up the drug from a medical provider , even though they can swallow the pill at home .
Under these rules , mifepristone can not be dispensed at pharmacies or sent through the mail .
In May , reproductive health care providers , including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , sued the FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtain medication abortion in person during the pandemic .
They argued that the dispensing requirement puts patients and clinicians at unnecessary risk of contracting the virus .
The lawsuit notes that of more than 20,000 FDA-approved drugs , mifepristone is the only one that patients must obtain in person in a clinical setting but are allowed to ingest elsewhere , unsupervised .
In July , U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang issued a nationwide injunction against the FDA requirement , allowing women to get the abortion pill through the mail for the duration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , combined with the COVID19 pandemic , place a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking a medication abortion and that may delay or preclude a medication abortion and thus may necessitate a more invasive procedure , ” Chuang wrote .
“ Particularly in light of the limited timeframe during which a medication abortion or any abortion must occur , such infringement on the right to an abortion would constitute irreparable harm.
” In August , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit rejected the FDA ’ s request to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the FDA appealed .
The Trump administration then went to the Supreme Court .
“ It is a relief that , for the next few weeks at least , the Trump administration can not force patients seeking an early abortion to needlessly risk contracting a life-threatening disease as a condition of obtaining care , ” said Julia Kaye , staff attorney at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project , in a statement .
“ But when the president has vowed to appoint a new justice who will overrule Roe v. Wade , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay out of this particular fight for now is hardly an indication that the right to abortion is secure.
” “ The in-person dispensing requirement ... is not necessary for patient safety , and it is yet another example of women ’ s health being held to a different standard than the rest of medicine , ” Perryman said .

The Supreme Court declined to reinstate FDA restrictions on the abortion pill that require patients to pick up the medicine in person. Illustration: HuffPost; Photo: Getty Images
Women seeking the abortion pill during the coronavirus pandemic can continue to receive the medicine by mail for now, the Supreme Court said on Thursday.
The court rejected a Trump administration bid to reinstate a requirement that patients must visit a clinic or doctor’s office in person to obtain the pill.
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It was the court’s first action on reproductive rights since the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and it amounted to a punt: The unsigned order called for a lower court judge to take another look at the issue and rule within 40 days, a deadline that falls after the presidential election.
Medication abortion, or the abortion pill as it is called colloquially, is actually a combination of two medicines, mifepristone and misoprostol. When taken together, they essentially induce a miscarriage. It is one of the most common methods used to end pregnancies in the U.S.
Women can take the pills in the privacy of their own home, at a time of their choosing, in the first 10 weeks of a pregnancy. These days, about 40% of abortions in the U.S. are done using medication.
Longstanding Food and Drug Administration regulations on mifepristone, called REMS, mandate that the drug can only be distributed by a health care provider in a medical setting. Patients must physically pick up the drug from a medical provider, even though they can swallow the pill at home. Under these rules, mifepristone cannot be dispensed at pharmacies or sent through the mail.
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In May, reproductive health care providers, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, sued the FDA to temporarily block the requirement that patients obtain medication abortion in person during the pandemic. They argued that the dispensing requirement puts patients and clinicians at unnecessary risk of contracting the virus. The lawsuit notes that of more than 20,000 FDA-approved drugs, mifepristone is the only one that patients must obtain in person in a clinical setting but are allowed to ingest elsewhere, unsupervised.
In July, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang issued a nationwide injunction against the FDA requirement, allowing women to get the abortion pill through the mail for the duration of the pandemic.
“The In-Person Requirements, combined with the COVID19 pandemic, place a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking a medication abortion and that may delay or preclude a medication abortion and thus may necessitate a more invasive procedure,” Chuang wrote. “Particularly in light of the limited timeframe during which a medication abortion or any abortion must occur, such infringement on the right to an abortion would constitute irreparable harm.”
In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit rejected the FDA’s request to put Chuang’s order on hold while the FDA appealed. The Trump administration then went to the Supreme Court.
Medication abortion has emerged as a new battlefront as reproductive rights groups push for increased access, while conservatives are trying to scale it back.
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“It is a relief that, for the next few weeks at least, the Trump administration cannot force patients seeking an early abortion to needlessly risk contracting a life-threatening disease as a condition of obtaining care,” said Julia Kaye, staff attorney at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, in a statement. “But when the president has vowed to appoint a new justice who will overrule Roe v. Wade, the fact that the Supreme Court decided to stay out of this particular fight for now is hardly an indication that the right to abortion is secure.”
The FDA restrictions on medication abortion are not grounded in science, said Skye Perryman, chief legal officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in a statement.
Research has shown that medication abortion is safe and effective. Over 3.7 million women have used it to end their pregnancies since its approval.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Why Joe Biden Keeps Dodging Whether He Supports Court Packing

Since the Sept. 18 death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the likelihood Republicans will replace her with staunch conservative Amy Coney Barrett , Biden has steadfastly refused to take a position on whether the agenda for a Democratic-controlled White House and Congress should include expanding the nine-person high court to offset what would be its pronounced rightward tilt .
He ’ s argued it ’ s a distraction from more pressing issues , especially President Donald Trump ’ s ineffectual response to the coronavirus pandemic and his support of a GOP-fueled lawsuit that could strip many Americans of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a legitimate question , ” Biden acknowledged in an interview with a Green Bay , Wisconsin , TV station shortly after Ginsburg ’ s death .
“ But let me tell you why I ’ m not going to answer that question : because it will shift all the focus .
That ’ s what [ Trump ] wants .
He never wants to talk about the issue at hand .
He always tries to change the subject.
” The Biden campaign is instead hoping to keep the focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination shortly before the election and the threat Barrett ’ s confirmation by the Senate to replace Ginsburg poses to the Affordable Care Act .
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments shortly after the election on the GOP lawsuit that Trump backs to throw out the health care law .
“ We are not engaging in hypotheticals that Trump and Senate Republicans are pushing to distract from the fact they are trying to ram a nomination through while an election is underway , ” a Biden aide told HuffPost on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the immediate crises facing working families across the country.
” Republicans said Biden ’ s refusal to dismiss the court-expansion idea outright shows he ’ s secretly the radical liberal they ’ ve tried to portray him as all along ― with little success .
After his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris of California , similarly dodged the question during her Wednesday debate with Vice President Mike Pence , he insisted , “ The straight answer is they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP has stolen , in essence , multiple seats on the court , either by backing nominees who lied during their confirmation processes or by blocking President Barack Obama ’ s from filling a vacancy that occurred early in 2016 .
At the time , Republicans who controlled the Senate argued that whoever won that year ’ s presidential election should pick the next justice ― a position they ’ ve now abandoned in moving forward to confirm Barrett as this year ’ s vote looms .
Biden took a hardline stance against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would threaten the legitimacy of the judiciary , which polls have shown has long been regarded by the public as the most trustworthy part of the federal government .
He stressed that Democrats should focus on winning control of the Senate to make their own judicial appointments .
The question now is whether Ginsburg ’ s death Trump ’ s push to replace her with Barrett has changed the political calculation for Biden and the broader Democratic coalition .
Those backing an expansion of the court argue that Republicans filling Ginsburg ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justifies a more aggressive response to seize control of a court they argue is already hopelessly politicized .
After steadily opposing the idea throughout the Democratic primary , Biden said in July his willingness to eliminate the filibuster would hinge on whether Republicans unfairly obstruct his agenda if he were to assume the presidency next year .
More Senate Democrats have warmed to the move after Obama endorsed it earlier this year .
More broadly , little evidence exists that the public cares a great deal about the fight over expansion .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court as a top issue in the election since Ginsburg ’ s death , it remains less important than health care , the pandemic and the economy in most surveys .
Buttigieg , now an adviser to Biden ’ s campaign , said the former vice president was right not to take the bait and generate headlines about a hypothetical that could drown out what Democrats want to talk right now : next week ’ s confirmation hearings for Barrett and what a 6-3 conservative majority could mean for health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and other hot-button issues .

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The only thing clear about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s position on whether he supports the push by some in his party to add justices to the Supreme Court is that it will apparently remain unclear until the Nov. 3 election.
Since the Sept. 18 death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the likelihood Republicans will replace her with staunch conservative Amy Coney Barrett, Biden has steadfastly refused to take a position on whether the agenda for a Democratic-controlled White House and Congress should include expanding the nine-person high court to offset what would be its pronounced rightward tilt. He’s argued it’s a distraction from more pressing issues, especially President Donald Trump’s ineffectual response to the coronavirus pandemic and his support of a GOP-fueled lawsuit that could strip many Americans of their health care insurance and protections.
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“It’s a legitimate question,” Biden acknowledged in an interview with a Green Bay, Wisconsin, TV station shortly after Ginsburg’s death. “But let me tell you why I’m not going to answer that question: because it will shift all the focus. That’s what [Trump] wants. He never wants to talk about the issue at hand. He always tries to change the subject.”
He’s been repeating that answer, most recently on Thursday. “You’ll know my position on court-packing the day after the election,” he told reporters in Arizona.
Biden’s evasiveness should and will draw continued scrutiny from the press and Republicans. But the electorate is unlikely to put much pressure on him to take a hard stance on expanding a court whose operations and impact are mainly understood by committed partisan voters.
The Biden campaign is instead hoping to keep the focus on both the hypocrisy of moving on a nomination shortly before the election and the threat Barrett’s confirmation by the Senate to replace Ginsburg poses to the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments shortly after the election on the GOP lawsuit that Trump backs to throw out the health care law.
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“We are not engaging in hypotheticals that Trump and Senate Republicans are pushing to distract from the fact they are trying to ram a nomination through while an election is underway,” a Biden aide told HuffPost on Friday. “We’ll keep focusing on the immediate crises facing working families across the country.”
Republicans said Biden’s refusal to dismiss the court-expansion idea outright shows he’s secretly the radical liberal they’ve tried to portray him as all along ― with little success. After his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, similarly dodged the question during her Wednesday debate with Vice President Mike Pence, he insisted, “The straight answer is they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election.”
Liberal groups have argued that the GOP has stolen, in essence, multiple seats on the court, either by backing nominees who lied during their confirmation processes or by blocking President Barack Obama’s from filling a vacancy that occurred early in 2016. At the time, Republicans who controlled the Senate argued that whoever won that year’s presidential election should pick the next justice ― a position they’ve now abandoned in moving forward to confirm Barrett as this year’s vote looms.
The progressive groups assert that especially given this context, a failure to expand the court by adding liberal-leaning justices would amount to letting Republicans seize control of one branch of government for decades even as conservative positions and policies decline in popularity.
The expansion proposal did not attract significant support during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. While a host of candidates, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey, said they were open to the idea, only one ― billionaire party donor Tom Steyer ― actually committed to it.
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Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders explicitly rejected it. Instead, he, along with Warren and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, said they preferred efforts aimed at making the court less political.
Biden took a hardline stance against the idea during the primary, saying it would threaten the legitimacy of the judiciary, which polls have shown has long been regarded by the public as the most trustworthy part of the federal government. He stressed that Democrats should focus on winning control of the Senate to make their own judicial appointments.
“I’m not prepared to go on and try to pack the court, because we’ll live to rue that day,” he told Iowa Starting Line in July 2019.
“We begin to lose any credibility the court has at all,” he said in an October Democratic primary debate. “I would not pack the court.”
The question now is whether Ginsburg’s death Trump’s push to replace her with Barrett has changed the political calculation for Biden and the broader Democratic coalition. Those backing an expansion of the court argue that Republicans filling Ginsburg’s seat after blocking Obama in 2016 justifies a more aggressive response to seize control of a court they argue is already hopelessly politicized.
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“I think the reason Republicans keep raising this is a matter of political strategy. Their political strategy is to get Americans talking about anything but the immediate issue at hand.” - Former Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg
Part and parcel of that more aggressive approach is the idea that a Democratic-controlled White House and Congress should also move to eliminate the Senate filibuster rule that means a super-majority of 60 votes is needed to advance major legislation in the 100-member chamber.
Although Biden is known as a defender of Senate tradition, having served there for more than four decades, he recently opened the door to nixing the supermajority requirement that has become increasingly pervasive in recent years.
After steadily opposing the idea throughout the Democratic primary, Biden said in July his willingness to eliminate the filibuster would hinge on whether Republicans unfairly obstruct his agenda if he were to assume the presidency next year. More Senate Democrats have warmed to the move after Obama endorsed it earlier this year.
If the GOP’s goal is to drive a wedge between Biden and his left flank by demanding he take a position on court-packing, it’s not clear they’re having much success. Brian Fallon, founder and executive director of Demand Justice, a progressive judicial advocacy group, called Biden’s non-answer on court-packing “great.”
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In a Twitter post Fallon said it seemed “perfectly reasonable to me” if Biden’s position “depends on knowing whether [the] GOP truly follows through on jamming Amy Coney Barrett through before the election,”
More broadly, little evidence exists that the public cares a great deal about the fight over expansion. Although in polling, more voters have named the Supreme Court as a top issue in the election since Ginsburg’s death, it remains less important than health care, the pandemic and the economy in most surveys.
Voters generally know little about the court: A 2018 C-SPAN survey found 52% of Americans couldn’t name a single one of the nine justices, even as an overwhelming majority of likely voters said they believed the court played a major role in shaping their lives.
A Fox News survey released earlier this week showed that the court-packing battle hasn’t become a political flashpoint. Among registered voters, 39% supported increasing the number of justices and 39% opposed the idea. Notably, the partisan split was smaller than on most policy issues ― 42% of Democrats supported an increase, as did 39% of Republicans ― indicating most voters have relatively little idea of the political and policy consequences.
Buttigieg, now an adviser to Biden’s campaign, said the former vice president was right not to take the bait and generate headlines about a hypothetical that could drown out what Democrats want to talk right now: next week’s confirmation hearings for Barrett and what a 6-3 conservative majority could mean for health care, abortion rights, workers’ rights, and other hot-button issues.
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“I think the reason Republicans keep raising this is a matter of political strategy. Their political strategy is to get Americans talking about anything but the immediate issue at hand,” Buttigieg said Friday during a live interview with The Washington Post.
“It could also distract from the simple fact that the majority of Americans agree with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris that the winner of this presidential election ought to be the one to pick the next Supreme Court Justice,” he added.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Hurricane Delta Makes Landfall In Louisiana As Category 2 Storm

The center of the hurricane blew ashore about 6 p.m. near the town of Creole with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 kph ) , pushing a storm surge that could reach up to 11 feet ( 3.4 meters ) , the National Hurricane Center said .
People in south Louisiana steeled themselves as Delta delivered bands of rain , strong winds and rising water as the storm neared landfall in a part of the state still recovering from a deadly catastrophic hurricane six weeks ago .
In the city of Lake Charles , about 30 miles ( 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landfall , rain pelted the tarp-covered roofs of buildings that Hurricane Laura battered when it barreled through in late August and killed at least 27 people in the state .
Forecasters reported 7 feet ( 2 meters ) of storm surge east of Cameron , a sparely populated coastal community devastated by 2005′s Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ike in 2008 , and warned that some areas could see water reach 11 feet ( 3.3 meters ) above ground along the Louisiana coast .
As Delta approached , winds picked up in inland areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gusts buffeted trees and sheets of rain were falling .
Many parishes and towns implemented curfews Friday until Saturday morning to encourage people to stay off the roads during the worst of the storm .
“ No other storm really threatened us , ” Trosclair said as she watched the gusting winds .
“ Laura was far enough away and the winds were going to be mild enough here where we didn ’ t leave.
” Laura damaged about 95 % of the homes and buildings in Lake Charles , while up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population — remain displaced , the mayor said .
Piles of moldy mattresses , sawed-up trees and other leftover debris lined the city ’ s largely vacant streets Friday , arousing concern they could cause more damage and deaths when the new storm strikes .
“ We just got lights back on like two weeks ago and then evacuating again ?
It ’ s extremely hard , ” said Roslyn Kennedy .
She was among a handful of evacuees at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles , waiting to be transported , again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that it ’ s weakening should not cause anyone to lose focus or lose vigilance , because this is still a very strong storm , ” Gov .
John Bel Edwards said during a news conference .
Some residents were staying put , despite the danger .
Ernest Jack remained in his Lake Charles house , one of those with a blue-tarped roof .
He had gathered food , plenty of water and had covered his windows to protect against flying debris during Delta .
Delta , the latest in a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists largely blame on global warming , appeared destined to set records at landfall .
It would be the 10th named storm to hit the continental United States this year , surpassing the number that hit in 1916 , according to Colorado State University researcher Phil Klotzbach .
Delta would also be the first Greek-alphabet-named hurricane to hit the continental U.S. And as the fourth hurricane or tropical storm to hit Louisiana in a year , it would tie a 2002 record , Klotzbach said .
Concern wasn ’ t limited to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Laura came ashore in late August .
Further east , in Acadiana region towns like New Iberia and Abbeville , people took the storm seriously .
“ You can always get another house , another car , but not another life , ” said Hilton Stroder as he and his wife , Terry , boarded up their Abbeville home Thursday night with plans to head to their son ’ s house further east .
This week marked the sixth time of the current season that Louisiana has been threatened by tropical storms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marco , fizzled as it hit the southeast Louisiana tip , and others veered elsewhere , but Tropical Storm Cristobal caused damage in southeast Louisiana in June .
New Orleans , to the east , was expected to escape Delta ’ s worst .
But tropical storm-force winds were still likely in the city Friday , and local officials said they were preparing for the possibility of tornadoes .

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LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Hurricane Delta made landfall in southwestern Louisiana as a Category 2 storm Friday, compounding misery along a path of destruction left by Hurricane Laura only six weeks earlier.
The center of the hurricane blew ashore about 6 p.m. near the town of Creole with top winds of 100 mph (155 kph), pushing a storm surge that could reach up to 11 feet (3.4 meters), the National Hurricane Center said.
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People in south Louisiana steeled themselves as Delta delivered bands of rain, strong winds and rising water as the storm neared landfall in a part of the state still recovering from a deadly catastrophic hurricane six weeks ago.
In the city of Lake Charles, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) inland from where Delta made landfall, rain pelted the tarp-covered roofs of buildings that Hurricane Laura battered when it barreled through in late August and killed at least 27 people in the state.
“It’s devastating and it’s emotional for the citizenry,” Mayor Nic Hunter said as he prepared to ride out the storm in downtown Lake Charles.
Delta weakened to a Category 2 storm with maximum winds of 100 mph (169 km/h) Friday evening.
Forecasters reported 7 feet (2 meters) of storm surge east of Cameron, a sparely populated coastal community devastated by 2005′s Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ike in 2008, and warned that some areas could see water reach 11 feet (3.3 meters) above ground along the Louisiana coast.
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As Delta approached, winds picked up in inland areas such as Lafayette, where occasionally strong gusts buffeted trees and sheets of rain were falling. Many parishes and towns implemented curfews Friday until Saturday morning to encourage people to stay off the roads during the worst of the storm.
Dawn Trosclair checked into a hotel Friday, worried about trees falling on her home in Lafayette.
“No other storm really threatened us,” Trosclair said as she watched the gusting winds. “Laura was far enough away and the winds were going to be mild enough here where we didn’t leave.”
Laura damaged about 95% of the homes and buildings in Lake Charles, while up to 8,000 residents — 10% of the population — remain displaced, the mayor said. Piles of moldy mattresses, sawed-up trees and other leftover debris lined the city’s largely vacant streets Friday, arousing concern they could cause more damage and deaths when the new storm strikes.
“We just got lights back on like two weeks ago and then evacuating again? It’s extremely hard,” said Roslyn Kennedy. She was among a handful of evacuees at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, waiting to be transported, again, to safer destinations.
Forecasters said the 25th named storm of an unprecedented Atlantic hurricane season would likely crash ashore Friday evening somewhere on southwest Louisiana’s coast. Hurricane warnings stretched from High Island, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana.
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Earlier Friday, it had sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph), putting it at Category 3 strength. Though the storm weakened as it approached land, officials cautioned that it remained dangerous.
“The fact that it’s weakening should not cause anyone to lose focus or lose vigilance, because this is still a very strong storm,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said during a news conference.
Some residents were staying put, despite the danger. Ernest Jack remained in his Lake Charles house, one of those with a blue-tarped roof. He had gathered food, plenty of water and had covered his windows to protect against flying debris during Delta.
“I just didn’t want to leave. I stayed during Hurricane Laura, too. I just put it in the Lord’s hands,” Jack said, pointing skyward.
Delta, the latest in a recent flurry of rapidly intensifying Atlantic hurricanes that scientists largely blame on global warming, appeared destined to set records at landfall. It would be the 10th named storm to hit the continental United States this year, surpassing the number that hit in 1916, according to Colorado State University researcher Phil Klotzbach.
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Delta would also be the first Greek-alphabet-named hurricane to hit the continental U.S. And as the fourth hurricane or tropical storm to hit Louisiana in a year, it would tie a 2002 record, Klotzbach said.
Concern wasn’t limited to the Lake Charles and Cameron Parish areas, where Laura came ashore in late August. Further east, in Acadiana region towns like New Iberia and Abbeville, people took the storm seriously.
“You can always get another house, another car, but not another life,” said Hilton Stroder as he and his wife, Terry, boarded up their Abbeville home Thursday night with plans to head to their son’s house further east.
This week marked the sixth time of the current season that Louisiana has been threatened by tropical storms or hurricanes. One, Tropical Storm Marco, fizzled as it hit the southeast Louisiana tip, and others veered elsewhere, but Tropical Storm Cristobal caused damage in southeast Louisiana in June.
New Orleans, to the east, was expected to escape Delta’s worst. But tropical storm-force winds were still likely in the city Friday, and local officials said they were preparing for the possibility of tornadoes.
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In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency, as did his counterpart Edwards in Louisiana. Forecasters said southern Mississippi could see heavy rain and flash flooding.
The hurricane was expected to weaken rapidly over land. Forecasters predicted Delta would be downgraded to a tropical storm late Friday. The storm’s projected path showed it moving into northern Mississippi on Saturday and then into the Tennessee Valley as a tropical depression.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Sacha Baron Cohen: Trump's 'Conspiratorial Madness' Threatens U.S. Democracy

Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen , whose upcoming sequel to the madcap 2006 mockumentary “ Borat ” is set to be released on Oct. 23 , penned a stark editorial in Time magazine on Thursday condemning coronavirus conspiracy theories and questioning the future of democracy in the United States .
Cohen , who previously blasted the spread of misinformation and hate speech on social media last year , wrote that the “ toxic brew ” of conspiracy theories had only grown worse during 2020 , largely due to the president .
“ Donald Trump — who averages 23 lies a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superspreader of coronavirus conspiracies — has caught the virus himself , ” Cohen wrote .
“ He has a dutiful ally in Facebook — the greatest propaganda machine in history .
And this is a time when Americans are especially vulnerable to lies and conspiracies .
This trifecta has created a whirlwind of conspiratorial madness.
” Cohen listed a number of recent Trump rants — including theories that China deliberately spread the coronavirus and mail-in voting will result in voter fraud — and argued that the American public has been told , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deny the very existence of our external reality.
” “ Conspiracies are lethal — to our health and to our democracy — and Election Day is now only weeks away , ” Cohen wrote .
“ Even as Trump is being treated for COVID-19 , he continues to rage-tweet lies and conspiracy theories so fast , it ’ s virtually impossible to correct them all ...
The fate of U.S. democracy now rests with voters and whether they stand up in record numbers and choose truth over lies.
” In the conclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close call while secretly filming his “ Borat ” sequel in June .
At the time , he masqueraded as a right-wing singer at a conservative rally in Olympia , Washington , and pranked willing participants into singing a number of racist lyrics — including lines about injecting liberals with the “ Wuhan flu.
” When the joke was revealed and the rally participants — many of whom had semiautomatic weapons — tried to stop Cohen from leaving , the comedian wrote that he feared for his life .
“ I was fortunate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cohen concluded .
“ The next few weeks will determine whether America will be so lucky .
”

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Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, whose upcoming sequel to the madcap 2006 mockumentary “Borat” is set to be released on Oct. 23, penned a stark editorial in Time magazine on Thursday condemning coronavirus conspiracy theories and questioning the future of democracy in the United States.
Cohen, who previously blasted the spread of misinformation and hate speech on social media last year, wrote that the “toxic brew” of conspiracy theories had only grown worse during 2020, largely due to the president.
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“Donald Trump — who averages 23 lies a day and is the world’s greatest superspreader of coronavirus conspiracies — has caught the virus himself,” Cohen wrote. “He has a dutiful ally in Facebook — the greatest propaganda machine in history. And this is a time when Americans are especially vulnerable to lies and conspiracies. This trifecta has created a whirlwind of conspiratorial madness.”
Cohen listed a number of recent Trump rants — including theories that China deliberately spread the coronavirus and mail-in voting will result in voter fraud — and argued that the American public has been told, “without any sense of Orwelian irony, to deny the very existence of our external reality.”
“Conspiracies are lethal — to our health and to our democracy — and Election Day is now only weeks away,” Cohen wrote. “Even as Trump is being treated for COVID-19, he continues to rage-tweet lies and conspiracy theories so fast, it’s virtually impossible to correct them all ... The fate of U.S. democracy now rests with voters and whether they stand up in record numbers and choose truth over lies.”
In the conclusion of his piece, Cohen described a close call while secretly filming his “Borat” sequel in June. At the time, he masqueraded as a right-wing singer at a conservative rally in Olympia, Washington, and pranked willing participants into singing a number of racist lyrics — including lines about injecting liberals with the “Wuhan flu.” When the joke was revealed and the rally participants — many of whom had semiautomatic weapons — tried to stop Cohen from leaving, the comedian wrote that he feared for his life.
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“I was fortunate to make it out in one piece,” Cohen concluded. “The next few weeks will determine whether America will be so lucky.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

We ’ re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of Oct. 3 to 9 Check them @ @ @ @ @ A woman dives into the clear water of “ Suluada ” ( meaning “ watery @ @ @ @ @ , Turkey , on Oct. 5. Credit : Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

We’re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of Oct. 3 to 9
Check them out below.
Above: A woman dives into the clear water of “Suluada” (meaning “watery island”) in Antalya, Turkey, on Oct. 5. Credit: Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Doc Antle Of 'Tiger King' Indicted On Animal Cruelty, Wildlife Trafficking Charges

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) — A wild animal trainer featured in the popular “ Tiger King ” series on Netflix has been indicted in Virginia on animal cruelty and wildlife trafficking charges .
Attorney General Mark Herring said Friday that a months-long investigation found that Bhagavan “ Doc ” Antle and the owner of a roadside zoo in Virginia trafficked lion cubs between Virginia and South Carolina .
Antle , the owner of the Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina , is one of the characters in “ Tiger King : Murder , Mayhem and Madness , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on tiger breeders in Florida and Oklahoma .
Antle was indicted Thursday by a Frederick County grand jury on felony counts of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy , plus multiple misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act .
Two of his daughters also have been indicted on charges of animal cruelty and violating the Endangered Species Act .
Antle could not immediately be reached for comment .
Online court documents do not list the name of an attorney .
A public relations representative for Myrtle Beach Safari did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email seeking comment from Antle .
Doc Antle with two big cats during an interview with `` Tonight Show '' host Jay Leno on May 1 , 2002 .
Keith Wilson , owner of Wilson ’ s Wild Animal Park in Winchester , Virginia , was indicted by the same grand jury on charges of wildlife trafficking , conspiracy , animal cruelty and violating the Endangered Species Act .
In August 2019 , 119 animals — including lions , tigers , bears , camels , goats , and water buffalo — were seized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a judge found that Wilson “ cruelly treated , neglected , or deprived ” the animals of adequate care .
Wilson and his nephew were indicted in November on 46 counts of animal cruelty .
A trial in that case is scheduled in June .
Wilson could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday .
A message was left with an attorney who represented him in the 2019 case .

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A wild animal trainer featured in the popular “Tiger King” series on Netflix has been indicted in Virginia on animal cruelty and wildlife trafficking charges.
Attorney General Mark Herring said Friday that a months-long investigation found that Bhagavan “Doc” Antle and the owner of a roadside zoo in Virginia trafficked lion cubs between Virginia and South Carolina.
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Antle, the owner of the Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina, is one of the characters in “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” a 2020 Netflix documentary miniseries that focused on tiger breeders in Florida and Oklahoma.
Antle was indicted Thursday by a Frederick County grand jury on felony counts of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy, plus multiple misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act. Two of his daughters also have been indicted on charges of animal cruelty and violating the Endangered Species Act.
Antle could not immediately be reached for comment. Online court documents do not list the name of an attorney. A public relations representative for Myrtle Beach Safari did not immediately respond to a call and email seeking comment from Antle.
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Doc Antle with two big cats during an interview with "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno on May 1, 2002. Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
Keith Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Wild Animal Park in Winchester, Virginia, was indicted by the same grand jury on charges of wildlife trafficking, conspiracy, animal cruelty and violating the Endangered Species Act.
In August 2019, 119 animals — including lions, tigers, bears, camels, goats, and water buffalo — were seized from Wilson’s roadside zoo after a judge found that Wilson “cruelly treated, neglected, or deprived” the animals of adequate care.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Donald Trump's Shout Out To Leif Erikson Day Gets Snippy Twitter Response

President Donald Trump recognized Oct. 9 as Leif Erikson Day — a celebration of the Norse explorer who set foot on the North American continent about 500 years before Christopher Columbus — and it wasn ’ t long before critics took to social media Friday to blast the acknowledgment .
A White House news release described Eirkson as the “ first European to discover the New World ” and praised him as an exemplar of Nordic immigration to America .
“ Accomplished in the face of daunting danger and carried out in service of Judeo-Christian values , Leif Erikson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American character , ” the release , signed by Trump , said .
“ On a mission to evangelize Greenland , Leif Erikson and his crew were blown off course .
They had to brave the cold waters of the northern Atlantic to find safe harbor on the North American coastline .
In surviving this ordeal , these hardened Vikings tested the limits of human exploration in a way that continues to inspire us today.
” Leif Erikson Day is not a new holiday .
States with prominent Nordic American populations have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted it since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 .
Canada and Iceland , Erikson ’ s birthplace , also commemorate his travels and the establishment of a Norse settlement in Vinland — now thought to be somewhere near Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence .
But Twitter critics seized on the language of Trump ’ s news release , particularly its emphasis on “ Judeo-Christian values ” and “ Nordic Americans whose firm faith and resolve are woven into the fabric of our Nation.
” Some commentators of Nordic descent voiced their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Others opined that Trump should look at the universal health care systems of Nordic countries as an example for the U.S .
Still others argued that the Trump administration ’ s language was aimed at white supremacists , whom the president failed to outright condemn during his first presidential debate last week .
Many white supremacist organizations have co-opted Nordic imagery for their own purposes , and neo-Nazi groups such as the Vinlanders Social Club promote “ a racist , pagan religion known as Odinism once practiced by Vikings , ” according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hmmmm ... as a descendant of Leif Erikson , I 'm much more interested in getting out the vote for Biden and doing off every tRump sign/flag I see .
( My nordic contribution ) https : //t.co/oAElstG0Kh — BearHugger ( @ whitbit06 ) October 9 , 2020 Presidents have been proclaiming Leif Erikson Day since 1964 ; it ’ s just another part of the job , like pardoning the turkey or letting kids run around the lawn looking for Easter eggs .
But one suspects it ’ s among the few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genuine enthusiasm for .
https : //t.co/w3198F7pN0 — Ron Hogan ( @ RonHogan ) October 9 , 2020 Lief Erikson day has apparently been around for like fifty years -- never heard of it -- but we should ABSOLUTELY be on guard for the weird dog-whistle that is `` nordic '' contributions to America from our white-supremacist-in-chief # medievaltwitter https : //t.co/juiaVs7qcG — Chris 👻 tHe JoB mArKeT 👻 Halsted ( @ HalstedMedieval ) October 8 , 2020 I ’ m Scandinavian American , born in America .
I celebrate my ancestry proudly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by taking Valhalla back from those who would use it in the name of hate ... mostly impostors .
Today would be a good day for the one in the White House to resign .
— Candy England ( @ Izziebettz2 ) October 9 , 2020 Twitter critics were also keen to point out that Erikson may have been the first European to venture upon North American shores , but praising him for any “ discovery ” overlooked the Indigenous people who already lived there for many centuries .

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President Donald Trump recognized Oct. 9 as Leif Erikson Day — a celebration of the Norse explorer who set foot on the North American continent about 500 years before Christopher Columbus — and it wasn’t long before critics took to social media Friday to blast the acknowledgment.
A White House news release described Eirkson as the “first European to discover the New World” and praised him as an exemplar of Nordic immigration to America.
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“Accomplished in the face of daunting danger and carried out in service of Judeo-Christian values, Leif Erikson’s story reflects the fundamental truths about the American character,” the release, signed by Trump, said.
“On a mission to evangelize Greenland, Leif Erikson and his crew were blown off course. They had to brave the cold waters of the northern Atlantic to find safe harbor on the North American coastline. In surviving this ordeal, these hardened Vikings tested the limits of human exploration in a way that continues to inspire us today.”
Leif Erikson Day is not a new holiday. States with prominent Nordic American populations have celebrated the day, and presidents have noted it since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
Canada and Iceland, Erikson’s birthplace, also commemorate his travels and the establishment of a Norse settlement in Vinland — now thought to be somewhere near Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
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A statue of Leif Erikson in the center of Reykjavik, Iceland. RPBMedia via Getty Images
But Twitter critics seized on the language of Trump’s news release, particularly its emphasis on “Judeo-Christian values” and “Nordic Americans whose firm faith and resolve are woven into the fabric of our Nation.”
Some commentators of Nordic descent voiced their support of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Others opined that Trump should look at the universal health care systems of Nordic countries as an example for the U.S.
Still others argued that the Trump administration’s language was aimed at white supremacists, whom the president failed to outright condemn during his first presidential debate last week.
Many white supremacist organizations have co-opted Nordic imagery for their own purposes, and neo-Nazi groups such as the Vinlanders Social Club promote “a racist, pagan religion known as Odinism once practiced by Vikings,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
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2020 will mark the 56th year since Leif Erickson Day was created by a congressional resolution and has been proclaimed by presidents ever since — Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) October 8, 2020
White supremacist says what https://t.co/BUuK0q5Kyu — Catherynne M. Valente (@catvalente) October 9, 2020
How about he can celebrate Leif Erikson Day and Nordic Americans by acknowledging the importance of universal healthcare, paid parental leave, environmental protections, diplomacy, a woman's right to choose, female heads of state, gun control, and automatic voter registration? https://t.co/e6sjvgtngq — Kreidy Giantsbane (@kreidy_b) October 9, 2020
Hmmmm...as a descendant of Leif Erikson, I'm much more interested in getting out the vote for Biden and doing off every tRump sign/flag I see. (My nordic contribution) https://t.co/oAElstG0Kh — BearHugger (@whitbit06) October 9, 2020
Presidents have been proclaiming Leif Erikson Day since 1964; it’s just another part of the job, like pardoning the turkey or letting kids run around the lawn looking for Easter eggs. But one suspects it’s among the few parts of the job Trump works up genuine enthusiasm for. https://t.co/w3198F7pN0 — Ron Hogan (@RonHogan) October 9, 2020
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Lief Erikson day has apparently been around for like fifty years -- never heard of it -- but we should ABSOLUTELY be on guard for the weird dog-whistle that is "nordic" contributions to America from our white-supremacist-in-chief#medievaltwitter https://t.co/juiaVs7qcG — Chris 👻 tHe JoB mArKeT 👻 Halsted (@HalstedMedieval) October 8, 2020
I’m Scandinavian American, born in America. I celebrate my ancestry proudly. And one way I do is by taking Valhalla back from those who would use it in the name of hate... mostly impostors. Today would be a good day for the one in the White House to resign. — Candy England (@Izziebettz2) October 9, 2020
Twitter critics were also keen to point out that Erikson may have been the first European to venture upon North American shores, but praising him for any “discovery” overlooked the Indigenous people who already lived there for many centuries.
It's Leif Erikson day.
Good time to remind everyone that white people didn't "discover" North America, people already lived here. — Lils but Spooky (@AnarchistAuthor) October 9, 2020
Leif Erikson is great & I'm a second generation descendent of Norwegian immigrants myself so I'm down to hear about the Vinland saga, but enough with this "discovery" bullshit.
Nobody from Europe "discovered" North America. Indigenous Americans already lived here for millenia. https://t.co/f0xIUO2ntQ — Dr. Angela Rasmussen (@angie_rasmussen) October 9, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--UN: New Daily Record As COVID-19 Cases Hit More Than 350,000

GENEVA ( AP ) — The World Health Organization has announced a new daily record high in coronavirus cases confirmed worldwide , with more than 350 , 000 infections reported to the U.N. health agency on Friday .
The new daily high of 350,766 cases surpasses a record set earlier this week by nearly 12,000 .
That tally includes more than 109,000 cases from Europe alone .
In a press briefing on Friday , the WHO emergencies chief , Dr. Michael Ryan , acknowledged that even as COVID-19 continues to surge across the world , “ there are no new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency wants countries to avoid the punishing lockdowns that have devastated economies , governments must ensure the most vulnerable people are protected and that numerous measures must be taken .
“ The majority of people in the world are still susceptible to this disease , ” Ryan warned .
He said countries should focus not just on restrictive measures , but on bolstering their surveillance systems , testing , contact tracing , and ensuring populations are engaged .
As the virus continues to surge across Europe and elsewhere , he acknowledged that restrictive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
British scientists reported this week that the COVID-19 outbreak is doubling every few weeks , French hospitals are running out of ICU beds and Spain declared a state of emergency in Madrid as coronavirus cases soar .
Ryan said lockdowns “ may be unavoidable where the disease has got out of control again , but we shouldn ’ t accept that in every country , the return of cases should be seen with an immediate return of the need for lockdown restrictions .
”

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GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization has announced a new daily record high in coronavirus cases confirmed worldwide, with more than 350, 000 infections reported to the U.N. health agency on Friday.
The new daily high of 350,766 cases surpasses a record set earlier this week by nearly 12,000. That tally includes more than 109,000 cases from Europe alone.
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In a press briefing on Friday, the WHO emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, acknowledged that even as COVID-19 continues to surge across the world, “there are no new answers.”
He said that although the agency wants countries to avoid the punishing lockdowns that have devastated economies, governments must ensure the most vulnerable people are protected and that numerous measures must be taken.
“The majority of people in the world are still susceptible to this disease,” Ryan warned. He said countries should focus not just on restrictive measures, but on bolstering their surveillance systems, testing, contact tracing, and ensuring populations are engaged.
As the virus continues to surge across Europe and elsewhere, he acknowledged that restrictive measures might be warranted at some point. British scientists reported this week that the COVID-19 outbreak is doubling every few weeks, French hospitals are running out of ICU beds and Spain declared a state of emergency in Madrid as coronavirus cases soar.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Danbury, Connecticut, To Rename Sewage Plant For John Oliver

It ’ s official .
Every time residents of Danbury , Connecticut , flush , they will be sending their special deliveries to the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant .
The City Council voted 18-1 Thursday night to rename the sewage plant after the comedian , who began a tongue-in-cheek battle with Danbury when he went on an expletive-filled rant against the city on HBO ’ s “ Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ” in August .
Mayor Mark Boughton didn ’ t waste any time responding on social media .
He posted a video of himself at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to name it after Oliver .
That drew a delighted response from Oliver , but he went off against the city again because Boughton later said he was just joking .
Oliver upped the stakes on his Aug. 30 show by offering to donate $ 55,000 to local charities if Danbury actually followed through with renaming the plant .
“ I didn ’ t know that I wanted my name on your ( expletive ) factory but now that you floated it as an option , it is all that I want , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the feud has been a good distraction from the coronavirus and other troubles of the times .
He also said Oliver ’ s promised donations have helped spur local fundraising efforts for area food banks that could end up collecting a few hundred thousand dollars to feed needy families .
The mayor added he will be offering tours of the sewer plant for $ 500 donations to local food pantries .
“ I think it ’ s been a home run .
It ’ s been a lot of fun , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If I can put food on people ’ s table for Thanksgiving by naming a sewer plant after a very popular comedian , we ’ ll do it all day long.
” Oliver has offered to provide the new sign for the plant that includes his name , as well as attend the ribbon-cutting , Boughton said .
A timeline has not been finalized .
It ’ s still not clear why Oliver singled out Danbury for a tongue-lashing .
He first brought up the city during an August segment on racial disparities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems in a few Connecticut towns from decades ago .
He noted Danbury ’ s “ charming railway museum ” and its “ historic Hearthstone Castle.
” “ I know exactly three things about Danbury , ” he said .
“ USA Today ranked it the second-best city to live in in 2015 , it was once the center of the American hat industry and if you ’ re from there , you have a standing invite to come get a thrashing from John Oliver — children included — ( expletive ) you @ @

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It’s official. Every time residents of Danbury, Connecticut, flush, they will be sending their special deliveries to the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant.
The City Council voted 18-1 Thursday night to rename the sewage plant after the comedian, who began a tongue-in-cheek battle with Danbury when he went on an expletive-filled rant against the city on HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” in August.
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Mayor Mark Boughton didn’t waste any time responding on social media. He posted a video of himself at the sewage plant saying the city was going to name it after Oliver.
“Why?” the Republican mayor asked. “Because it’s full of crap just like you, John.”
That drew a delighted response from Oliver, but he went off against the city again because Boughton later said he was just joking.
Oliver upped the stakes on his Aug. 30 show by offering to donate $55,000 to local charities if Danbury actually followed through with renaming the plant.
“I didn’t know that I wanted my name on your (expletive) factory but now that you floated it as an option, it is all that I want,” Oliver said.
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Boughton said Friday that the feud has been a good distraction from the coronavirus and other troubles of the times. He also said Oliver’s promised donations have helped spur local fundraising efforts for area food banks that could end up collecting a few hundred thousand dollars to feed needy families.
The mayor added he will be offering tours of the sewer plant for $500 donations to local food pantries.
“I think it’s been a home run. It’s been a lot of fun,” Boughton said of the spat. “If I can put food on people’s table for Thanksgiving by naming a sewer plant after a very popular comedian, we’ll do it all day long.”
Oliver has offered to provide the new sign for the plant that includes his name, as well as attend the ribbon-cutting, Boughton said. A timeline has not been finalized.
Representatives for Oliver and HBO had no immediate comment Friday.
It’s still not clear why Oliver singled out Danbury for a tongue-lashing. He first brought up the city during an August segment on racial disparities in the jury selection process, citing problems in a few Connecticut towns from decades ago. He noted Danbury’s “charming railway museum” and its “historic Hearthstone Castle.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Judge Lets Derek Chauvin, Ex-Cop Charged In George Floyd's Death, To Live Out Of State

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) — Citing safety concerns , a Minnesota judge on Friday issued new conditions of release for an ex-Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of George Floyd that would allow him to live in a neighboring state while he awaits trial .
Derek Chauvin posted $ 1 million bond on Wednesday and was allowed to walk free from the maximum security state prison where he had been held for his safety since shortly after his arrest .
Floyd died after Chauvin , who is white , pressed his knee against Floyd ’ s neck for several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleaded for air before his death May 25 .
Chauvin was later charged with second-degree unintentional murder , third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter .
Chauvin ’ s release triggered two nights of protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul .
Gov .
Tim Walz mobilized National Guard troops and state law enforcement officers to help keep the peace .
Three other fired former officers who also face charges in the case were released on bond earlier .
Their trial is set for March .
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said the state Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while he ’ s on release , presented evidence in private “ supporting safety concerns that have arisen.
” The order did not say what that evidence entailed .
Chauvin ’ s previous conditions prohibited him from leaving Minnesota without court permission and ordered him to sign extradition waivers if he was released .
Under the new conditions , he “ must establish residency somewhere in the State of Minnesota or a contiguous state as soon as possible ” and report it to his supervising officer .
His address will be shared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is given his address is ordered to keep it confidential .
The former officer must also carry a cellphone and keep it on , charged and in range so that the Department of Corrections can reach him at all times .
He must also surrender his passport .
Cahill ’ s order said the defense and prosecution had agreed to the new terms .

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Citing safety concerns, a Minnesota judge on Friday issued new conditions of release for an ex-Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of George Floyd that would allow him to live in a neighboring state while he awaits trial.
Derek Chauvin posted $1 million bond on Wednesday and was allowed to walk free from the maximum security state prison where he had been held for his safety since shortly after his arrest. Floyd died after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for several minutes even after the handcuffed Black man pleaded for air before his death May 25. Chauvin was later charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
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Chauvin’s release triggered two nights of protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Gov. Tim Walz mobilized National Guard troops and state law enforcement officers to help keep the peace. Three other fired former officers who also face charges in the case were released on bond earlier. Their trial is set for March.
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said the state Department of Corrections, which is supervising Chauvin while he’s on release, presented evidence in private “supporting safety concerns that have arisen.” The order did not say what that evidence entailed.
Chauvin’s previous conditions prohibited him from leaving Minnesota without court permission and ordered him to sign extradition waivers if he was released. Under the new conditions, he “must establish residency somewhere in the State of Minnesota or a contiguous state as soon as possible” and report it to his supervising officer. His address will be shared with local law enforcement, but anyone who is given his address is ordered to keep it confidential.
The former officer must also carry a cellphone and keep it on, charged and in range so that the Department of Corrections can reach him at all times. He must also surrender his passport.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Whitey Ford, Yankees Pitching Legend, Dies At 91

LAKE SUCCESS , N.Y. ( AP ) — Whitey Ford , the street-smart New Yorker who had the best winning percentage of any pitcher in the 20th century and helped the Yankees become baseball ’ s perennial champions in the 1950s and ’ 60s , has died .
He was 91 .
A family member told The Associated Press on Friday that Ford died at his Long Island home Thursday night .
The cause was not known .
Nicknamed the “ Chairman of the Board , ” Ford was a wily left-hander who pitched from 1950-67 in the major leagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was among the most dependable pitchers in baseball history .
He won 236 games and lost just 106 , a winning percentage of .690 .
He would help symbolize the almost machinelike efficiency of the Yankees in the mid-20th century , when only twice between Ford ’ s rookie year and 1964 did they fail to make the postseason .
The World Series record book is crowded with Ford ’ s accomplishments .
His string of 33 consecutive scoreless innings from 1960-62 broke a record of 29 2-3 innings set by Babe Ruth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Series games and starts ( 22 ) , innings pitched ( 146 ) , wins ( 10 ) and strikeouts ( 94 ) .
Ford was in his mid-20s when he became the go-to guy in manager Casey Stengel ’ s rotation , the pitcher Stengel said he would always turn to if he absolutely needed to win one game .
Ford was Stengel ’ s choice to pitch World Series openers eight times , another record .
Ford ’ s best seasons came in 1961 and 1963 , in the midst of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Yankees , when new manager Ralph Houk began using a 4-man rotation instead of 5 .
Ford led the league in victories with 25 in 1961 , won the Cy Young Award and was the World Series MVP after winning two more games against Cincinnati .
In 1963 , he went 24-7 , again leading the league in wins .
Eight of his victories that season came in June .
He also led the AL in earned run average in 1956 ( 2.47 ) and 1958 ( 2.01 ) and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have his World Series disappointments .
He spoke bitterly of the 1960 championship , when he shut out Pittsburgh twice but was used by Stengel in Game 3 and Game 6 and so was unavailable for the finale , won 10-9 by the Pirates after a Bill Mazeroski home run in the bottom of the ninth .
In 1963 , Ford was outmatched twice by Sandy Koufax as the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Yankees .

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LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. (AP) — Whitey Ford, the street-smart New Yorker who had the best winning percentage of any pitcher in the 20th century and helped the Yankees become baseball’s perennial champions in the 1950s and ’60s, has died. He was 91.
A family member told The Associated Press on Friday that Ford died at his Long Island home Thursday night. The cause was not known.
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Nicknamed the “Chairman of the Board,” Ford was a wily left-hander who pitched from 1950-67 in the major leagues, all with the Yankees. He was among the most dependable pitchers in baseball history.
He won 236 games and lost just 106, a winning percentage of .690. He would help symbolize the almost machinelike efficiency of the Yankees in the mid-20th century, when only twice between Ford’s rookie year and 1964 did they fail to make the postseason.
Former New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford waves to fans from outside the dugout at the Yankees' annual Old Timers Day baseball game in 2016 in New York. AP Photo/Kathy Willens
Ford’s death is the latest this year of a number of baseball greats: Al Kaline, Tom Seaver, Lou Brock and Bob Gibson.
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The World Series record book is crowded with Ford’s accomplishments. His string of 33 consecutive scoreless innings from 1960-62 broke a record of 29 2-3 innings set by Babe Ruth. Ford still holds records for World Series games and starts (22), innings pitched (146), wins (10) and strikeouts (94).
Ford was in his mid-20s when he became the go-to guy in manager Casey Stengel’s rotation, the pitcher Stengel said he would always turn to if he absolutely needed to win one game. Ford was Stengel’s choice to pitch World Series openers eight times, another record.
Ford’s best seasons came in 1961 and 1963, in the midst of a stretch of five straight AL pennants for the Yankees, when new manager Ralph Houk began using a 4-man rotation instead of 5. Ford led the league in victories with 25 in 1961, won the Cy Young Award and was the World Series MVP after winning two more games against Cincinnati. In 1963, he went 24-7, again leading the league in wins. Eight of his victories that season came in June.
He also led the AL in earned run average in 1956 (2.47) and 1958 (2.01) and was a six-time All-Star selection.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--Newman From ‘Seinfeld’ Doesn't Mail It In When Calling Out Trump

“ All right , Donnie .
You know those tax returns , the ones you don ’ t want anyone @ @ @ @ @ have mailed those , ” Knight says , adding Newman ’ s maniacal laugh .
@ @ @ @ @ , you control ... .
information .
And no one knows that better than Newman @ @ @ @ @ s seeming return in the ad below .

“All right, Donnie. You know those tax returns, the ones you don’t want anyone seeing? You should never have mailed those,” Knight says, adding Newman’s maniacal laugh.
When you control the mail, you control .... information. And no one knows that better than Newman. See the character’s seeming return in the ad below.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--2 Former eBay Employees Plead Guilty To Harassing Journalists

BOSTON ( AP ) — Two former eBay Inc. employees pleaded guilty Thursday to their roles in a campaign to terrorize a publisher and editor of an online newsletter critical of the company with a scheme that included live spiders and other disturbing deliveries sent to their home .
Stephanie Popp , former senior manager of global intelligence ; and Veronica Zea , a former eBay contractor who worked as an intelligence analyst in eBay ’ s Global Intelligence Center , pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses .
They are scheduled to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven former eBay employees charged in the scheme that involved other anonymous deliveries sent to the couple ’ s home , including a funeral wreath and a bloody pig Halloween mask .
Three others are expected to plead guilty later this month The employees also sent pornographic magazines with the husband ’ s name on them to their neighbor ’ s house , planned to break into the couple ’ s garage to install a GPS device on their car , and posted the couple ’ s names and address online , advertising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to knock on the door if the pair wasn ’ t outside , officials said .
The couple was targeted after their newsletter published an article about a lawsuit filed by eBay accusing Amazon of poaching its sellers , investigators said .
An email seeking comment were sent Friday to an attorney for Zea .
An attorney for Popp declined to comment .

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BOSTON (AP) — Two former eBay Inc. employees pleaded guilty Thursday to their roles in a campaign to terrorize a publisher and editor of an online newsletter critical of the company with a scheme that included live spiders and other disturbing deliveries sent to their home.
Stephanie Popp, former senior manager of global intelligence; and Veronica Zea, a former eBay contractor who worked as an intelligence analyst in eBay’s Global Intelligence Center, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses. They are scheduled to be sentenced in February.
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They are among seven former eBay employees charged in the scheme that involved other anonymous deliveries sent to the couple’s home, including a funeral wreath and a bloody pig Halloween mask. Three others are expected to plead guilty later this month
The employees also sent pornographic magazines with the husband’s name on them to their neighbor’s house, planned to break into the couple’s garage to install a GPS device on their car, and posted the couple’s names and address online, advertising things like yard sales and encouraging strangers to knock on the door if the pair wasn’t outside, officials said.
The couple was targeted after their newsletter published an article about a lawsuit filed by eBay accusing Amazon of poaching its sellers, investigators said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-09--AG: Michigan Governor, Family Were Moved As Plotters Tracked

LANSING , Mich. ( AP ) — Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and her family were at times moved around by authorities as law enforcement tracked the men who allegedly plotted for months to kidnap her , the state ’ s attorney general said Friday .
Dana Nessel disclosed the detail to “ CBS This Morning.
” She said the Democratic governor was consistently updated about the investigation over the past couple of months .
“ She was aware of things that were happening , ” Nessel said .
“ At times , she and her family had been moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement was aware of.
” Authorities announced Thursday that they foiled a stunning plot to kidnap Whitmer in a scheme that involved months of planning and even rehearsals to snatch her from her vacation home before the Nov. 3 elections .
Whitmer ’ s first term as governor does not end until 2022 .
Six men were charged in federal court with conspiring to kidnap the governor in reaction to what they viewed as her “ uncontrolled power , ” according to a federal complaint .
Separately , seven others linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were charged in state court for allegedly seeking to storm the Michigan Capitol and seek a “ civil war , ” including four who allegedly helped to surveil Whitmer ’ s house .
Surveillance for the kidnapping plot took place in August and September , according to an FBI affidavit , and four of the men had planned to meet Wednesday to “ make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear.
” Whitmer , who was considered as Biden ’ s running mate , has been widely praised for her response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican lawmakers and people in conservative areas of the state .
The Capitol has been the site of many rallies , including ones with gun-toting protesters calling for her ouster .
The FBI quoted one of the men accused of conspiring to kidnap Whitmer as saying she “ has no checks and balances at all .
She has uncontrolled power right now .
All good things must come to an end.
” That same man , Adam Fox , who was described as one of the leaders in the alleged plot , live-streamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ in which he complained about the judicial system and the state controlling the opening of gyms , ” according to the federal complaint .
Authorities said the plots were stopped with the work of undercover agents and informants .
The men were arrested Wednesday night .
The six charged in federal court face up to life in prison if convicted .
State terrorism charges the other seven men face carry a possible 20-year sentence .
Andrew Birge , the U.S. attorney in western Michigan , called the men “ violent extremists.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under a highway bridge — to divert police from the area near Whitmer ’ s vacation home and Fox bought a Taser to use in the kidnapping , Birge said .
“ All of us in Michigan can disagree about politics , but those disagreements should never , ever amount to violence .
Violence has been prevented today , ” Detroit U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said Thursday .
A few hours later , Whitmer pinned some blame on President Donald Trump , noting that he did not condemn white supremacists in last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead told a far-right group to “ stand back and stand by.
” Trump tweeted that the governor “ has done a terrible job ” and again called on her to “ open up your state.
” He said he does not tolerate any extreme violence .
Whitmer had put major restrictions on personal movement and the economy to control the spread of the coronavirus , although many of those limits have been lifted since spring .

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LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her family were at times moved around by authorities as law enforcement tracked the men who allegedly plotted for months to kidnap her, the state’s attorney general said Friday.
Dana Nessel disclosed the detail to “CBS This Morning.” She said the Democratic governor was consistently updated about the investigation over the past couple of months.
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“She was aware of things that were happening,” Nessel said. “At times, she and her family had been moved around as a result of activities that law enforcement was aware of.”
Authorities announced Thursday that they foiled a stunning plot to kidnap Whitmer in a scheme that involved months of planning and even rehearsals to snatch her from her vacation home before the Nov. 3 elections. Whitmer’s first term as governor does not end until 2022.
Six men were charged in federal court with conspiring to kidnap the governor in reaction to what they viewed as her “uncontrolled power,” according to a federal complaint. Separately, seven others linked to a paramilitary group called the Wolverine Watchmen were charged in state court for allegedly seeking to storm the Michigan Capitol and seek a “civil war,” including four who allegedly helped to surveil Whitmer’s house.
The two groups trained together and planned “various acts of violence,” according to the state police.
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Surveillance for the kidnapping plot took place in August and September, according to an FBI affidavit, and four of the men had planned to meet Wednesday to “make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear.”
“We thought it was time to move in before anybody lost their lives,” Nessel said.
Whitmer, who was considered as Biden’s running mate, has been widely praised for her response to the coronavirus but also sharply criticized by Republican lawmakers and people in conservative areas of the state. The Capitol has been the site of many rallies, including ones with gun-toting protesters calling for her ouster.
The FBI quoted one of the men accused of conspiring to kidnap Whitmer as saying she “has no checks and balances at all. She has uncontrolled power right now. All good things must come to an end.” That same man, Adam Fox, who was described as one of the leaders in the alleged plot, live-streamed a video to a private Facebook group “in which he complained about the judicial system and the state controlling the opening of gyms,” according to the federal complaint.
Whitmer closed gyms in March but reopened them in some areas in June and statewide in September.
Authorities said the plots were stopped with the work of undercover agents and informants. The men were arrested Wednesday night. The six charged in federal court face up to life in prison if convicted. State terrorism charges the other seven men face carry a possible 20-year sentence.
Andrew Birge, the U.S. attorney in western Michigan, called the men “violent extremists.” They discussed detonating explosive devices — including under a highway bridge — to divert police from the area near Whitmer’s vacation home and Fox bought a Taser to use in the kidnapping, Birge said.
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“All of us in Michigan can disagree about politics, but those disagreements should never, ever amount to violence. Violence has been prevented today,” Detroit U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said Thursday.
A few hours later, Whitmer pinned some blame on President Donald Trump, noting that he did not condemn white supremacists in last week’s debate with Joe Biden and instead told a far-right group to “stand back and stand by.”
“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry, as a call to action,” Whitmer said.
Trump tweeted that the governor “has done a terrible job” and again called on her to “open up your state.” He said he does not tolerate any extreme violence.
Whitmer had put major restrictions on personal movement and the economy to control the spread of the coronavirus, although many of those limits have been lifted since spring.
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The governor has exchanged barbs with Trump before on social media, with the president declaring in April, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” There is no indication in the criminal complaint, however, that the men were inspired by Trump.
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