thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--Congress Showing Renewed Interest In COVID-19 Relief Bill

Their $ 908 billion proposal would reauthorize federal unemployment programs and resurrect a federal supplement that expired in July , though at only $ 300 per week instead of the previous $ 600 , for an additional four months .
The package would give state governments $ 160 billion , which has been a priority for Democratic lawmakers , and offer businesses a Republican-sought temporary ban on coronavirus lawsuits .
“ We worked night and day throughout the Thanksgiving recess , ” Collins said at a press conference where the lawmakers praised themselves and said their work showed Congress could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the product of their talks as a “ framework ” that could break a persistent stalemate .
Congressional negotiations over a coronavirus stimulus bill have been at a standstill for months , with no talks occurring between the parties or with the administration .
Democrats have demanded a more comprehensive $ 2 trillion package they say is needed to adequately address the crisis ; Republicans say a slimmed-down measure of about $ 500 billion is needed .
Pelosi still has leverage .
Even if the Senate is able to reach a compromise and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of struggling Americans , a bill would still need to get through the Democratic-controlled House .
Any deal would ultimately need support from Pelosi , who has insisted on a larger bill .
“ The real question is not the money involved ― I think this is a reasonable amount of money ― the real question is whether the House of Representatives and Speaker Pelosi are ready to drop their policy demands , ” Sen. Mike Rounds ( R-S.D . )
told HuffPost when asked about the new proposal on Tuesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however .
The Kentucky Republican unveiled a similar $ 1 trillion stimulus package in July but was quickly forced to abandon it after fierce opposition from conservatives in his caucus who have renewed their opposition to deficit spending .
“ Leader McConnell has long said that he thought that we should have another bill brought to the floor .
Obviously , our bill isn ’ t drafted yet and I ’ m sure he ’ d want to see it , ” Collins told HuffPost on Monday .
McConnell ’ s top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiyear liability shield for businesses , hospitals and schools from lawsuits dealing with the pandemic .
The “ epidemic of lawsuits ” he warned about earlier this year never really materialized , but Senate Republicans have continued to insist on its inclusion in the next relief bill .
It ’ s unclear how the temporary liability shield proposed by the bipartisan Senate group would work exactly .
But labor groups and worker advocates say broad immunity from lawsuits would strip away one of the main incentives businesses have for keeping workers and consumers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the country .
“ What we have seen is that companies are wantonly disregarding the health and safety of their workers , ” Muraskin said .
“ The government , at both the state and federal levels , has shown no interest in protecting its people .
This is where the legal system is supposed to step in.
” An extra $ 300 per week in unemployment — while only half what Congress provided in the early months of the pandemic — is still more than the federal government had ever added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In response to the worst recession since the Great Depression , for instance , Congress in 2009 added just $ 25 to weekly benefits , which average around $ 300 .
Richard Coulter is a career bartender in Palm Springs , California .
His bar closed in March and has since reopened in a limited capacity , but not yet called him back to work ― and likely won ’ t soon so long as a deadly virus is spreading in California and the rest of the country .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation , which provides 13 weeks of payments for people who use up their state-funded unemployment insurance .
It ’ s one of the federal benefits that will expire on Dec. 26 if Congress fails to act , stranding 12 million with no income .
The bipartisan compromise would preserve the extra weeks of payments through another four months for those currently receiving them , but it ’ s unclear whether the proposal would also add additional weeks of benefits for those who have already run out or are @ @ @ @ @

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After weeks of stalemate, party leaders are once again trading proposals to address the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, and rank-and-file lawmakers are newly agitating for a deal by negotiating among themselves.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) spoke Tuesday to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin about another pandemic response bill for the first time since talks broke down shortly before the election. Pelosi also revealed that she and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had sent Republicans a new offer on Monday evening.
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“Additional COVID relief is long overdue and must be passed in this lame-duck session,” Pelosi said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), meanwhile, is pushing his own smaller relief measure, while a bipartisan group of rank-and-file lawmakers are pursuing a compromise between the two sides.
Their $908 billion proposal would reauthorize federal unemployment programs and resurrect a federal supplement that expired in July, though at only $300 per week instead of the previous $600, for an additional four months. The package would give state governments $160 billion, which has been a priority for Democratic lawmakers, and offer businesses a Republican-sought temporary ban on coronavirus lawsuits.
It would not include another round of stimulus checks.
The compromise was negotiated by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Angus King (I-Maine), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.). The framework also has the support of several House members.
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“We worked night and day throughout the Thanksgiving recess,” Collins said at a press conference where the lawmakers praised themselves and said their work showed Congress could rise to the occasion. They described the product of their talks as a “framework” that could break a persistent stalemate.
Party leaders still control what legislation gets votes in the House and Senate and will control the final details of any COVID-19 relief package that passes Congress, but the ad hoc bipartisan proposal could increase pressure on leaders to reach a compromise.
Nearly 12 million people are set to lose federal unemployment benefits at the end of the month unless lawmakers agree to a deal extending relief measures they passed early in the pandemic. A moratorium on evictions, student debt forbearance and tax breaks are also at risk of expiring.
Congressional negotiations over a coronavirus stimulus bill have been at a standstill for months, with no talks occurring between the parties or with the administration. Democrats have demanded a more comprehensive $2 trillion package they say is needed to adequately address the crisis; Republicans say a slimmed-down measure of about $500 billion is needed.
Pelosi still has leverage. Even if the Senate is able to reach a compromise and finally pass additional relief to aid millions of struggling Americans, a bill would still need to get through the Democratic-controlled House. Any deal would ultimately need support from Pelosi, who has insisted on a larger bill.
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“The real question is not the money involved ― I think this is a reasonable amount of money ― the real question is whether the House of Representatives and Speaker Pelosi are ready to drop their policy demands,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told HuffPost when asked about the new proposal on Tuesday.
The deal would first need support from McConnell, however. The Kentucky Republican unveiled a similar $1 trillion stimulus package in July but was quickly forced to abandon it after fierce opposition from conservatives in his caucus who have renewed their opposition to deficit spending.
“Leader McConnell has long said that he thought that we should have another bill brought to the floor. Obviously, our bill isn’t drafted yet and I’m sure he’d want to see it,” Collins told HuffPost on Monday.
McConnell’s top priority amid the negotiations has been a multiyear liability shield for businesses, hospitals and schools from lawsuits dealing with the pandemic. The “epidemic of lawsuits” he warned about earlier this year never really materialized, but Senate Republicans have continued to insist on its inclusion in the next relief bill.
It’s unclear how the temporary liability shield proposed by the bipartisan Senate group would work exactly. But labor groups and worker advocates say broad immunity from lawsuits would strip away one of the main incentives businesses have for keeping workers and consumers safe, especially as coronavirus cases balloon around the country.
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David Muraskin said a proposal for immunity would be a “cynical exploitation of a crisis.” His legal group, Public Justice, has sued employers whose workers got sick with COVID-19 in crowded workplaces, including at a Smithfield meatpacking plant in Missouri.
“What we have seen is that companies are wantonly disregarding the health and safety of their workers,” Muraskin said. “The government, at both the state and federal levels, has shown no interest in protecting its people. This is where the legal system is supposed to step in.”
HuffPost asked Warner how long the shield would remain in place.
“We’re still working through that,” Warner said, adding that the group was considering “making the state aid contingent” on states changing their own liability law. McConnell’s proposal would preempt state laws for as many as four years.
An extra $300 per week in unemployment — while only half what Congress provided in the early months of the pandemic — is still more than the federal government had ever added to unemployment benefits prior to this year. In response to the worst recession since the Great Depression, for instance, Congress in 2009 added just $25 to weekly benefits, which average around $300.
A group of Senate Democrats on Tuesday is separately pushing to revive the full $600, a number lawmakers came up with because it represents the difference between the average weekly benefit and the average weekly wage.
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Richard Coulter is a career bartender in Palm Springs, California. His bar closed in March and has since reopened in a limited capacity, but not yet called him back to work ― and likely won’t soon so long as a deadly virus is spreading in California and the rest of the country.
Lawmakers understood that the virus would be an obstacle to employment when they expanded unemployment benefits in March, but have lost their appetite for decisive action even though the pandemic is worse than ever.
Coulter, 52, said the extra $600 per week helped him stay current on his bills. Since the supplemental benefit lapsed in July, he’s given up all nonessential spending and fallen behind on credit card payments.
“I was making $80,000 a year and living comfortably and now I’m waiting in food lines,” he said.
He’s now receiving about $450 per week in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which provides 13 weeks of payments for people who use up their state-funded unemployment insurance. It’s one of the federal benefits that will expire on Dec. 26 if Congress fails to act, stranding 12 million with no income.
The bipartisan compromise would preserve the extra weeks of payments through another four months for those currently receiving them, but it’s unclear whether the proposal would also add additional weeks of benefits for those who have already run out or are close to running out.
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Coulter said he’s been following the news closely and is disgusted by the lack of progress on a pandemic relief bill. He thinks Democrats ought to take what they can get from Republicans.
“I’m for everything Pelosi wants, I’m on her side, and I think McConnell’s a jerk, but she’s got to realize Republicans are never going to accept her offer, ever,” Coulter said. “She’s got to compromise. Isn’t something better than nothing?”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--Former Trump Associate Felix Sater Must Face Money Laundering Suit

Former Donald Trump associate Felix Sater will have to face a lawsuit accusing him of laundering stolen funds in part through Trump properties , a federal judge ruled on Monday .
Sater , a longtime former business associate of Trump ’ s linked to the mob , is accused of laundering millions of dollars stolen by Khazakh officials from a Kazakhstan bank and the the city of Almaty .
He and his partner Daniel Ridloff , another former Trump business associate , allegedly laundered the money through businesses they controlled and Trump properties .
The pair also allegedly planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow , but discussions to develop the high-rise fell by the wayside during Trump ’ s presidential campaign in 2016 .
U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan tossed two of five claims in the suit Monday , but rejected a motion to dismiss the case , Law & Crime first reported .
Kazakh bank BTA Bank and the city of Almaty filed the suit in Manhattan federal court in March 2019 .
They seek to recover the laundered funds , which they say are a portion of the billions stolen by a bank executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is not named in the suit , but the schemes allegedly involve Manhattan ’ s Trump Soho ( now called The Dominick ) and the proposed Trump Tower Moscow .
In her ruling Monday , Nathan warned that the Kazakh parties will need to provide more evidence to prove in “ significantly greater detail ” the “ Sater defendants ’ deceptive conduct ” as the case progresses .
“ BTA Bank and the City of Almaty are committed to holding [ the ] co-conspirators responsible for the theft and laundering of billions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proving their case before a jury of New Yorkers , ” he told Law & Crime .
Sater ’ s attorney Jill Levi emphasized that the case must still be proven .
She also noted that the ruling did not explicitly mention Trump properties .
The lawsuit itself , however , accuses Sater of helping Kazakh businessman Ilyas Khrapunov , the son of Almaty ’ s mayor , to launder stolen funds in five different schemes in the U.S. , including via $ 3 million in down payments for three condos in Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Khrapunov in Trump Tower to discuss laundering the stolen funds , but he also personally arranged meetings between Ilyas and Donald J. Trump to discuss possible investments , ” the complaint alleges .
In 2012 , Sater was a senior adviser to Trump , had an office in Trump Tower in Manhattan and had Trump ’ s name on his business cards .
Sater suggested to Trump ’ s then-attorney Michael Cohen in 2015 that Russian President Vladimir Putin be offered a free $ 50 million condo in a planned Moscow tower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it never came to be .
Sater , who once spent a year in prison for stabbing a man in the face during a bar fight , has called the accusations “ baseless .
”

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Former Donald Trump associate Felix Sater will have to face a lawsuit accusing him of laundering stolen funds in part through Trump properties, a federal judge ruled on Monday.
Sater, a longtime former business associate of Trump’s linked to the mob, is accused of laundering millions of dollars stolen by Khazakh officials from a Kazakhstan bank and the the city of Almaty. He and his partner Daniel Ridloff, another former Trump business associate, allegedly laundered the money through businesses they controlled and Trump properties.
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The pair also allegedly planned to launder money through the proposed Trump Tower Moscow, but discussions to develop the high-rise fell by the wayside during Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016.
U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan tossed two of five claims in the suit Monday, but rejected a motion to dismiss the case, Law & Crime first reported.
Kazakh bank BTA Bank and the city of Almaty filed the suit in Manhattan federal court in March 2019. They seek to recover the laundered funds, which they say are a portion of the billions stolen by a bank executive and the city’s mayor.
Trump is not named in the suit, but the schemes allegedly involve Manhattan’s Trump Soho (now called The Dominick) and the proposed Trump Tower Moscow.
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In her ruling Monday, Nathan warned that the Kazakh parties will need to provide more evidence to prove in “significantly greater detail” the “Sater defendants’ deceptive conduct” as the case progresses.
Almaty’s attorney Matthew Schwartz praised the ruling.
“BTA Bank and the City of Almaty are committed to holding [the] co-conspirators responsible for the theft and laundering of billions of dollars, and look forward to proving their case before a jury of New Yorkers,” he told Law & Crime.
Sater’s attorney Jill Levi emphasized that the case must still be proven. She also noted that the ruling did not explicitly mention Trump properties.
The lawsuit itself, however, accuses Sater of helping Kazakh businessman Ilyas Khrapunov, the son of Almaty’s mayor, to launder stolen funds in five different schemes in the U.S., including via $3 million in down payments for three condos in Trump Soho.
“Sater not only met with Khrapunov in Trump Tower to discuss laundering the stolen funds, but he also personally arranged meetings between Ilyas and Donald J. Trump to discuss possible investments,” the complaint alleges.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--Georgia Elections Official Pleads With Trump To Stop Inspiring Violence

“ It has to stop , ” said Sterling , who is a Republican , on Tuesday .
“ Mr .
President , you have not condemned these actions or this language .
Senators , you have not condemned this language or these actions .
This has to stop .
We need you to step up , and if you ’ re going to take a position of leadership , show some.
” The election official was visibly shaken as he addressed reporters at the Georgia State Capitol , telling them he would do his best to keep it together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President , it looks like a likely loss in the state of Georgia , ” he said .
“ We ’ re investigating , there ’ s always a possibility .
I get it .
You have the right to go through the courts.
” He continued : “ What you don ’ t have is the ability to — and you need to step up and say this — is stop inspiring people to commit potential violence .
Someone ’ s going to get hurt , someone ’ s going to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get killed .
It ’ s not right.
” Trump has refused to accept his loss in Georgia and in the 2020 presidential election as a whole , asserting falsely that he fell victim to widespread voter fraud .
He has attacked election officials , many in his own party , who say the election was secure .
In particular , he has directed his ire at Georgia ’ s secretary of state , Brad Raffensperger , and Gov .
Brian Kemp , both Republicans .
Raffensperger has maintained that he has confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
The state is completing a second recount requested by the Trump campaign .
Sterling said Raffensberger , his boss , has had intruders at his home and that his wife has received “ sexualized threats ” on her cellphone .
“ This is elections .
This is the backbone of democracy , and all of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this , ” he said .
“ It ’ s too much.
” Sterling also referred to violent rhetoric a day earlier from Joe diGenova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who said that former U.S. cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs should be shot for defending the integrity of the election .
Trump fired Krebs earlier this month for doing so .
The straw that broke the camel ’ s back on Tuesday , Sterling said , was news that a contractor for a voting system company in his 20s was being harassed .
“ His family is getting harassed now .
There ’ s a noose out there with his name on it , ” he said .
Sterling said he and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which he could come to terms with , given that he took a high-profile position .
The Trump campaign ’ s baseless conspiracy theories and lies about a rigged election are a threat to voters ’ faith in U.S. democracy , but current and former law enforcement officials have also raised concerns that they could become fodder for extremist violence .

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Georgia’s voting systems manager Gabriel Sterling fervently denounced the threats and harassment directed at election workers, imploring President Donald Trump to stop provoking such behavior and to condemn it instead.
“It has to stop,” said Sterling, who is a Republican, on Tuesday. “Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This has to stop. We need you to step up, and if you’re going to take a position of leadership, show some.”
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The election official was visibly shaken as he addressed reporters at the Georgia State Capitol, telling them he would do his best to keep it together during his remarks.
“Mr. President, it looks like a likely loss in the state of Georgia,” he said. “We’re investigating, there’s always a possibility. I get it. You have the right to go through the courts.”
He continued: “What you don’t have is the ability to — and you need to step up and say this — is stop inspiring people to commit potential violence. Someone’s going to get hurt, someone’s going to get shot, someone’s going to get killed. It’s not right.”
Outraged Georgia election official decries threatening rhetoric against election staff: "Mr. President...senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This has to stop! We need you to step up—and if you're going to take a position of leadership, show some." pic.twitter.com/48hxIJn33k — ABC News (@ABC) December 1, 2020
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Trump has refused to accept his loss in Georgia and in the 2020 presidential election as a whole, asserting falsely that he fell victim to widespread voter fraud. He has attacked election officials, many in his own party, who say the election was secure.
In particular, he has directed his ire at Georgia’s secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, and Gov. Brian Kemp, both Republicans. Raffensperger has maintained that he has confidence in the election results. Kemp certified them. The state is completing a second recount requested by the Trump campaign.
The first audit confirmed that President-elect Joe Biden won by roughly 12,000 votes.
GOP leaders have stayed largely silent about Trump’s onslaught on the state’s voting system.
Sterling said Raffensberger, his boss, has had intruders at his home and that his wife has received “sexualized threats” on her cellphone.
“This is elections. This is the backbone of democracy, and all of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this,” he said. “It’s too much.”
Sterling also referred to violent rhetoric a day earlier from Joe diGenova, a lawyer for the Trump campaign, who said that former U.S. cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs should be shot for defending the integrity of the election. Trump fired Krebs earlier this month for doing so.
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The straw that broke the camel’s back on Tuesday, Sterling said, was news that a contractor for a voting system company in his 20s was being harassed.
“His family is getting harassed now. There’s a noose out there with his name on it,” he said.
Sterling said he and his boss had police protection at their houses, which he could come to terms with, given that he took a high-profile position.
But “this kid took a job,” he said. “He just took a job.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--A Former Principal, Jamaal Bowman Has A List Of Names For Joe Biden’s Education Secretary

Well , there are many amazing educators across the country .
Many can do the job .
I just tried to narrow it down to a short list of people .
So , first , someone I mentioned : Dr. Betty Rosa is currently the commissioner of education in New York state .
She was formally the chancellor of the .
Board of Regents of New York state , but more importantly , she ’ s a former English language learner in New York city schools .
And she has been a teacher , school principal and school superintendent before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And it ’ s just that intimate experience , knowledge and understanding of what happens in our K-12 schools from the perspective of a student and someone who was a teacher , school leader and district leader is paramount .
For someone who ’ s looking to lead education throughout the country , there ’ s so many kids with so many different needs , but when you ’ re an ESL student , you have the empathy to understand kids who struggle with learning and how learning could be foreign to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitely someone I want to mention as part of this conversation .
I also want to mention Randi Weingarten , who some may think , wait a minute , she ’ s a labor leader .
One of the things about Randi is Randi was also a classroom teacher .
She ’ s not just a labor union leader , but the leader of the second largest labor union in the country .
An organizer from that space , really working to pull groups together , from different backgrounds , from different parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , not just for teachers , but for kids as well .
She has a grassroots spirit to her .
I also wanted to mention Freeman Hrabowski , who ’ s the president of University of Maryland , Baltimore County .
He ’ s been in that position for quite some time and is constantly rated as one of the highest-ranking educators in the country .
And someone who does particularly well with Black children in both STEM fields and the medical field .
That ’ s just remarkable because Black children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those fields .
I wanted to mention those three .
Well , it depends on who President-elect Joe Biden chooses , right ?
But I think this time in our country ’ s history , not just when it comes to education , but when it comes to labor overall , it ’ s time for the resurgence of labor , the rebirth of labor , as opposed to what ’ s been in place for the last several decades , which is the concentration of wealth , and labor not really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a corporate , private industry perspective .
Teachers themselves have been under attack and under assault from the charter lobby , from the privatization lobby , for the last 20 years .
When you look at No Child Left Behind policies , and their support of charter schools , you see that we still have an achievement gap .
Looking at performance , on average , charter school students and public school students perform about the same , and the benefit has been mostly to hedge fund investors who ’ ve invested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , teachers have been abused over the last several decades .
And now ’ s the time for not just teachers unions to come back but for organized labor to come back stronger than ever .
Well , the implementation of the Common Core standards is one of those moments .
What we had at the time was the implementation of new standards , implementation of new testing that was high stakes , all at the same time .
And it was just dumped on our schools and dumped on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unpack and gain an understanding of the type of the standards .
And what happened was our kids bombed the test and teachers in schools were held accountable .
I ’ m not against standards .
I ’ m for standards .
I ’ m against the misuse of high-stakes testing and the alignment of standards , especially when those tests are not created by teachers who are going to be implementing the standards , and how those tests are more about punishment than they are about support and intervention .
Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending standardized tests in grades three through eight .
That absolutely needs to happen , and we need to take a different approach there .
I haven ’ t seen conversation around the implementation of anti-bias , anti-racist and anti-bigotry curriculum .
I think the age of Trump has revealed to all of us that we need to attack this issue of racism very explicitly in our K-12 system , so that we can learn and understand that we are more alike than we are different .
All I can say is I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Betsy DeVos were good villains , in terms of pushing back on their education policy and looking at Betsy DeVos ’ record in Michigan in terms of the charter school implementation she tries to do there .
They were good villains .
But we also need to understand that there are many people who present differently than Trump and DeVos , but share a similar ideology .
And that ’ s the key , right ?
The key is understanding that what we ’ ve been doing over the last 20 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Student Succeeds Act continues to fail our kids .
Well , specifically to those running the school districts in Chicago and Baltimore , they have experience and alignment with the charter school lobby that has been part of the attacks on teacher ’ s unions and the closing of public schools .
So I would not include them in this list because I think the failure of charter schools and the charter school is well-documented , and that ’ s not something we need to continue as we go forward .
The Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s huge .
There are many educators who could do this job .
I chose to go with people more on the state or federal level , not city level — or a college president in terms of Freeman ’ s experience .

Jamaal Bowman ran for office after a long career in New York City public schools. AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez
Before he ousted longtime Democrat Rep. Eliot Engel in a stunning primary win earlier this year, Representative-elect Jamaal Bowman was a public middle school principal in New York City. Now, as he prepares to enter the House, Bowman hopes to push President-elect Joe Biden to choose a Secretary of Education that would understand the struggles faced by public school educators.
Bowman’s short list includes Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, the second largest teacher’s union in the country; Dr. Betty Rosa, New York’s state education commissioner; and Freeman Hrabowski, the long time president of University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
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The three represent an important set of criteria for Bowman: Rosa and Weingarten were in-classroom educators. All three have experience focusing on underrepresented kids — whether as first-time English learners like Rosa, or an administrator who has emphasized opportunities for Black students in the science and medical fields, like Hrabowski. In Weingarten’s case, Bowman said she also fits the need for a “resurgence of labor.”
Bowman has been a vocal critic of policies put in place in recent years — including by the Obama administration. He’s a staunch critic of charter schools and has advocated against the Common Core standards and the emphasis on standardized testing, despite his own school’s high performance in them. He said his conversations with the Biden team have been positive — but he’s still operating with caution.
Democrats were united in their opposition to the Trump administration’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, but there are still a lot of unresolved policy disputes within the Democratic Party around reforming the education system and holding schools accountable to universal standards.
“I think Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos were good villains, in terms of pushing back on their education policy and looking at Betsy DeVos’ record in Michigan in terms of the charter school implementation she tries to do there,” Bowman said. “But we also need to understand that there are many people who present differently than Trump and DeVos, but share a similar ideology.”
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Obama’s Department of Education received a lot of flack during his tenure, both from conservatives, but also from teacher’s unions who argued the administration’s policies punished underperforming schools instead of supporting them. The National Education Association called for Obama’s Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s resignation because of his support for standardized testing. The American Federation of Teachers came very close to doing the same.
As Biden’s transition team continues to roll out its cabinet nominees, there’s been a lot of speculation around the Department of Education. Weingarten and Lily Eskelsen García, former president of the National Education Association, have been floated. Pro-charter school groups instead have been pushing for the superintendents of school systems in major cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago.
Bowman said Biden’s selection will show whether the party has internalized that Obama-era criticism.
Here is HuffPost’s conversation with Bowman on his view of the future of the Department of Education.
I heard you have some people you would be happy to see as the next Secretary of Education. Why don’t you talk me through that?
Well, there are many amazing educators across the country. Many can do the job. I just tried to narrow it down to a short list of people. So, first, someone I mentioned: Dr. Betty Rosa is currently the commissioner of education in New York state. She was formally the chancellor of the. Board of Regents of New York state, but more importantly, she’s a former English language learner in New York city schools. And she has been a teacher, school principal and school superintendent before, before moving to the state level. And it’s just that intimate experience, knowledge and understanding of what happens in our K-12 schools from the perspective of a student and someone who was a teacher, school leader and district leader is paramount.
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For someone who’s looking to lead education throughout the country, there’s so many kids with so many different needs, but when you’re an ESL student, you have the empathy to understand kids who struggle with learning and how learning could be foreign to you. So, Betty Rosa is definitely someone I want to mention as part of this conversation.
On April 27, 2018, teachers rally outside the Capitol in Phoenix, in a series of strikes across the nation over low teacher pay. AP Photo/Matt York
I also want to mention Randi Weingarten, who some may think, wait a minute, she’s a labor leader. One of the things about Randi is Randi was also a classroom teacher. She’s not just a labor union leader, but the leader of the second largest labor union in the country. An organizer from that space, really working to pull groups together, from different backgrounds, from different parts of the country to work for education justice, not just for teachers, but for kids as well. She has a grassroots spirit to her.
I also wanted to mention Freeman Hrabowski, who’s the president of University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He’s been in that position for quite some time and is constantly rated as one of the highest-ranking educators in the country. And someone who does particularly well with Black children in both STEM fields and the medical field. That’s just remarkable because Black children are often written off when it comes to those fields. I wanted to mention those three.
“Teachers themselves have been under attack and under assault from the charter lobby, from the privatization lobby, for the last 20 years. Now’s the time for not just teachers unions to come back but for organized labor to come back stronger than ever.” - Representative-elect Jamaal Bowman
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There was a lot of pushback from organized labor against the Obama administration’s education department. Do you sense there’s a serious divergence between what the Biden administration is signaling?
Well, it depends on who President-elect Joe Biden chooses, right? But I think this time in our country’s history, not just when it comes to education, but when it comes to labor overall, it’s time for the resurgence of labor, the rebirth of labor, as opposed to what’s been in place for the last several decades, which is the concentration of wealth, and labor not really sharing equitably in the wealth they create from a corporate, private industry perspective.
Teachers themselves have been under attack and under assault from the charter lobby, from the privatization lobby, for the last 20 years. When you look at No Child Left Behind policies, and their support of charter schools, you see that we still have an achievement gap. Looking at performance, on average, charter school students and public school students perform about the same, and the benefit has been mostly to hedge fund investors who’ve invested in charter schools and the charter lobby. So, teachers have been abused over the last several decades. And now’s the time for not just teachers unions to come back but for organized labor to come back stronger than ever.
Can you share a personal story, from the perspective of an educator, seeing policy federally that just didn’t resonate with the needs in the classroom?
Well, the implementation of the Common Core standards is one of those moments. What we had at the time was the implementation of new standards, implementation of new testing that was high stakes, all at the same time. And it was just dumped on our schools and dumped on our kids without teachers given an opportunity to unpack and gain an understanding of the type of the standards. And what happened was our kids bombed the test and teachers in schools were held accountable. I’m not against standards. I’m for standards. I’m against the misuse of high-stakes testing and the alignment of standards, especially when those tests are not created by teachers who are going to be implementing the standards, and how those tests are more about punishment than they are about support and intervention.
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That was a huge deal in our schools both here in New York City and across the country. We need to take a much more bottom-up approach.
One other policy that I will mention is the policy of mayoral control. Mayoral control is something that disempowers communities from having a seat at the table to make the education decisions that best benefit their children. The mayors unilaterally make decisions for the entire school system. That’s another policy that has been harmful because it’s taken the voice of parents out of the equation.
Second grade student Khalil Morgan, left, reacts after completing an interactive math problem solving on his computer in teacher Jillian Martin, standing right, math class at Turner Elementary School in southeast Washington, Aug. 29, 2017. Student Noah Fox, right, looks at his computer at right. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Are there specific policies that the Biden campaign and now the transition team have not yet adopted that you want to push them toward?
Well, I haven’t heard conversation on ending standardized tests in grades three through eight. That absolutely needs to happen, and we need to take a different approach there. I haven’t seen conversation around the implementation of anti-bias, anti-racist and anti-bigotry curriculum. I think the age of Trump has revealed to all of us that we need to attack this issue of racism very explicitly in our K-12 system, so that we can learn and understand that we are more alike than we are different.
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I’m happy to see that President-elect Biden has talked about canceling student debt, which is huge. And I hope that he and the new secretary of education really focus on that and get that done. And I’m also happy with seeing a president-elect focused on early childhood education and really understanding the needs to pass bold policy in the area of universal child care and early childhood education.
“I haven’t heard conversation on ending standardized tests in grades three through eight, That absolutely needs to happen, and we need to take a different approach there. I haven’t seen conversation around the implementation of anti-bias, anti-racist and anti-bigotry curriculum.” - Bowman
Do you think the Democratic Party has learned lessons in the last four years on education policy?
All I can say is I hope so. I think Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos were good villains, in terms of pushing back on their education policy and looking at Betsy DeVos’ record in Michigan in terms of the charter school implementation she tries to do there. They were good villains. But we also need to understand that there are many people who present differently than Trump and DeVos, but share a similar ideology. And that’s the key, right? The key is understanding that what we’ve been doing over the last 20 years with No Child Left Behind and Every Student Succeeds Act continues to fail our kids.
I’ve seen the names of those who run school districts in major cities like Baltimore, Chicago and Philadelphia also floated. Why are they not on your list?
Well, specifically to those running the school districts in Chicago and Baltimore, they have experience and alignment with the charter school lobby that has been part of the attacks on teacher’s unions and the closing of public schools. So I would not include them in this list because I think the failure of charter schools and the charter school is well-documented, and that’s not something we need to continue as we go forward. The Department of Education is a monster. It’s huge. There are many educators who could do this job. I chose to go with people more on the state or federal level, not city level — or a college president in terms of Freeman’s experience.
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These names that you’ve shared with me, you’ve shared with the Biden team already?
Yes.
And did you get the impression that they’re on their shortlist as well?
I don’t know. I think Randi may have been, but I don’t know that for sure.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--Top Democrats Tap Gregory Meeks For Foreign Affairs Chair, Dashing Joaquin Castro's Bid

Keith Bedford / Reuters Rep. Gregory Meeks ( D-N.Y. ) looks set to become the next chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee .
Top House Democrats tapped Rep. Gregory Meeks ( D-N.Y. ) for the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday evening , an aide told HuffPost , effectively ending a surprisingly competitive race for the chief foreign policy job in the lower chamber that highlighted shifts in thinking on global affairs within the party .
Meeks is running against Reps. Joaquin Castro ( D-Texas ) and Brad Sherman ( D-Calif. ) .
The full Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , but the recommendation from the Democratic steering and policy committee is an important and often decisive signal for party members .
Meeks comfortably won the endorsement , securing 29 votes from committee members compared to 13 for Castro and 10 for Sherman .
The chairmanship role opened up after the current chairman , Rep. Eliot Engel ( D-N.Y. ) , lost to a primary challenger who emphasized Engel ’ s hawkish record on national security , including his voting for the Iraq War and against President Barack Obama ’ s nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running weeks later , calling for a dramatic shift within the powerful committee to question America ’ s penchant for using military force abroad and to promote diplomacy .
Castro ’ s move turned what would likely have been a closed-door tussle into a public spectacle .
Influential progressive and anti-war groups saw the contest as an opportunity for a rare debate about foreign policy , and Meeks and Sherman began loudly selling themselves as keen to use the chairmanship in transformative ways as well .
Meeks was the front-runner throughout because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where he has served since 1998 , and crucial backing from the Congressional Black Caucus .
If and when he does officially secure the post , he will be the first Black chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee .
He is expected to cooperate closely with the Biden administration , particularly on resuscitating the Iran nuclear accord , and to pay more attention to South America and other regions that have traditionally received less of the panel ’ s focus than the Middle East .
He is an establishment figure , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have successfully pushed Democrats to the left on international relations and have big ambitions to , for instance , rein in presidential war-making powers , Meeks is not a natural ally .
Leading advocacy groups made a last-minute push for Castro as labor organizations condemned Meeks ’ record of backing huge international trade deals .
Meeks , meanwhile , secured endorsements from influential fellow members of Congress , including progressive Rep. Andy Levin ( D-Mich. ) , which he circulated throughout the House .
“ The overall fight has been successful regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has done the thing we wanted to do all along , to democratize foreign policy and get the public more involved , and it has put a burden on Meeks to live up to some of the things that he came out of the gate with .
”

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) looks set to become the next chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Keith Bedford / Reuters
Top House Democrats tapped Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) for the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday evening, an aide told HuffPost, effectively ending a surprisingly competitive race for the chief foreign policy job in the lower chamber that highlighted shifts in thinking on global affairs within the party.
Meeks is running against Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.). The full Democratic caucus will choose the ultimate winner on Thursday, but the recommendation from the Democratic steering and policy committee is an important and often decisive signal for party members. Meeks comfortably won the endorsement, securing 29 votes from committee members compared to 13 for Castro and 10 for Sherman.
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The chairmanship role opened up after the current chairman, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), lost to a primary challenger who emphasized Engel’s hawkish record on national security, including his voting for the Iraq War and against President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. Castro entered the running weeks later, calling for a dramatic shift within the powerful committee to question America’s penchant for using military force abroad and to promote diplomacy.
Castro’s move turned what would likely have been a closed-door tussle into a public spectacle. Influential progressive and anti-war groups saw the contest as an opportunity for a rare debate about foreign policy, and Meeks and Sherman began loudly selling themselves as keen to use the chairmanship in transformative ways as well.
Meeks was the front-runner throughout because of both his strong ties on Capitol Hill, where he has served since 1998, and crucial backing from the Congressional Black Caucus. If and when he does officially secure the post, he will be the first Black chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He is expected to cooperate closely with the Biden administration, particularly on resuscitating the Iran nuclear accord, and to pay more attention to South America and other regions that have traditionally received less of the panel’s focus than the Middle East.
He is an establishment figure, however. For more liberal lawmakers and advocates who have successfully pushed Democrats to the left on international relations and have big ambitions to, for instance, rein in presidential war-making powers, Meeks is not a natural ally. Leading advocacy groups made a last-minute push for Castro as labor organizations condemned Meeks’ record of backing huge international trade deals. Meeks, meanwhile, secured endorsements from influential fellow members of Congress, including progressive Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), which he circulated throughout the House.
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Speaking on background to protect relationships, a left-leaning activist expressed disappointment about Castro but also some optimism.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--Mitt Romney Succinctly Sums Up Need For COVID-19 Relief: 'This Is A Crisis'

Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) spoke on Tuesday as part of a bipartisan group of senators proposing a COVID-19 relief bill , arguing that even he , a self-described “ deficit hawk , ” saw the need to assist Americans living through a global pandemic .
“ COVID has created a crisis , and in a crisis , people expect Congress to act , ” the Republican said in a press briefing .
“ This group has come together to propose action that could respond to this crisis , ” he added , saying it would be “ simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romney added that he doesn ’ t like borrowing money or “ spending money we don ’ t have , ” but that “ the time to borrow money — maybe the only time to borrow money — is when there ’ s a crisis , and this is a crisis.
” .
@ SenatorRomney : `` I happen to be a deficit hawk .
I do n't like borrowing money .
I do n't like spending money we do n't have .
But the time to borrow money , maybe the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's a crisis and this is a crisis .
We want to help people . ''
pic.twitter.com/v8C6HxolLj — CSPAN ( @ cspan ) December 1 , 2020 Romney clarified that the bipartisan proposal is not a “ $ 1.8 trillion stimulus bill , ” but rather a “ relief measure ” for half that amount .
Specifically , the $ 908 billion plan is intended as a middle ground to break the monthslong congressional stalemate during which Democrats under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) and Republicans under Senate Majority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to agree on a singular economic response plan .
The House passed both a $ 3 trillion stimulus package in May and a smaller $ 2.2 trillion plan in October that failed to get through the Senate , with McConnell calling the price tag “ outlandish.
” McConnell , for his part , has attempted to pass a $ 500 billion package that Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) have blocked , arguing that it is not enough .
Aside from Romney , the lawmakers negotiating the compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) , Mark Warner ( D-Va. ) , Bill Cassidy ( R-La . )
, Jeanne Shaheen ( D-N.H. ) , Lisa Murkowski ( R-Alaska ) , Angus King ( I-Maine ) and Maggie Hassan ( D-N.H. ) .

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Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) spoke on Tuesday as part of a bipartisan group of senators proposing a COVID-19 relief bill, arguing that even he, a self-described “deficit hawk,” saw the need to assist Americans living through a global pandemic.
“COVID has created a crisis, and in a crisis, people expect Congress to act,” the Republican said in a press briefing.
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“This group has come together to propose action that could respond to this crisis,” he added, saying it would be “simply unacceptable” not to do so.
Romney added that he doesn’t like borrowing money or “spending money we don’t have,” but that “the time to borrow money — maybe the only time to borrow money — is when there’s a crisis, and this is a crisis.”
.@SenatorRomney: "I happen to be a deficit hawk. I don't like borrowing money. I don't like spending money we don't have. But the time to borrow money, maybe the only time to borrow money, is where there's a crisis and this is a crisis. We want to help people." pic.twitter.com/v8C6HxolLj — CSPAN (@cspan) December 1, 2020
Romney clarified that the bipartisan proposal is not a “$1.8 trillion stimulus bill,” but rather a “relief measure” for half that amount.
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Specifically, the $908 billion plan is intended as a middle ground to break the monthslong congressional stalemate during which Democrats under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Republicans under Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have been unable to agree on a singular economic response plan.
The House passed both a $3 trillion stimulus package in May and a smaller $2.2 trillion plan in October that failed to get through the Senate, with McConnell calling the price tag “outlandish.” McConnell, for his part, has attempted to pass a $500 billion package that Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have blocked, arguing that it is not enough.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--Huge Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope In Puerto Rico Collapses

RICARDO ARDUENGO via Getty Images This aerial view shows a hole in the dish panels of the Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo , Puerto Rico , on November 19 , 2020 .
( Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images ) SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico ( AP ) — A huge , already damaged radio telescope in Puerto Rico that has played a key role in astronomical discoveries for more than half a century completely collapsed on Tuesday .
The U.S. National Science Foundation had earlier announced that the Arecibo Observatory would be closed .
An auxiliary cable snapped in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1,000-foot-wide ( 305-meter-wide ) reflector dish and damaged the receiver platform that hung above it .
Then a main cable broke in early November .
The collapse stunned many scientists who had relied on what was until recently the largest radio telescope in the world .
“ It ’ s a huge loss , ” said Carmen Pantoja , an astronomer and professor at the University of Puerto Rico who used the telescope for her doctorate .
“ It was a chapter of my life.
” Scientists worldwide had been petitioning U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision to close the observatory .
The NSF said at the time that it intended to eventually reopen the visitor center and restore operations at the observatory ’ s remaining assets , including its two LIDAR facilities used for upper atmospheric and ionospheric research , including analyzing cloud cover and precipitation data .
The telescope was built in the 1960s with money from the Defense Department amid a push to develop anti-ballistic missile defenses .
It had endured hurricanes , tropical humidity and a recent string of earthquakes in its 57 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been used to track asteroids on a path to Earth , conduct research that led to a Nobel Prize and determine if a planet is potentially habitable .
It also served as a training ground for graduate students and drew about 90,000 visitors a year .
“ I am one of those students who visited it when young and got inspired , ” said Abel Méndez , a physics and astrobiology professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo who has used the telescope for research .
“ The world without the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more.
” He last used the telescope on Aug. 6 , just days before a socket holding the auxiliary cable that snapped failed in what experts believe could be a manufacturing error .
The National Science Foundation , which owns the observatory that is managed by the University of Central Florida , said crews who evaluated the structure after the first incident determined that the remaining cables could handle the additional weight .
A spokesman for the observatory said there would be no immediate comment , and a spokeswoman for the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .
Scientists had used the telescope to study pulsars to detect gravitational waves as well as search for neutral hydrogen , which can reveal how certain cosmic structures are formed .
About 250 scientists worldwide had been using the observatory when it closed in August , including Méndez , who was studying stars to detect habitable plantes .

This aerial view shows a hole in the dish panels of the Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, on November 19, 2020. (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images) RICARDO ARDUENGO via Getty Images
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A huge, already damaged radio telescope in Puerto Rico that has played a key role in astronomical discoveries for more than half a century completely collapsed on Tuesday.
The telescope’s 900-ton receiver platform fell onto the reflector dish more than 400 feet below.
The U.S. National Science Foundation had earlier announced that the Arecibo Observatory would be closed. An auxiliary cable snapped in August, causing a 100-foot gash on the 1,000-foot-wide (305-meter-wide) reflector dish and damaged the receiver platform that hung above it. Then a main cable broke in early November.
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The collapse stunned many scientists who had relied on what was until recently the largest radio telescope in the world.
“It’s a huge loss,” said Carmen Pantoja, an astronomer and professor at the University of Puerto Rico who used the telescope for her doctorate. “It was a chapter of my life.”
Scientists worldwide had been petitioning U.S. officials and others to reverse the NSF’s decision to close the observatory. The NSF said at the time that it intended to eventually reopen the visitor center and restore operations at the observatory’s remaining assets, including its two LIDAR facilities used for upper atmospheric and ionospheric research, including analyzing cloud cover and precipitation data.
The telescope was built in the 1960s with money from the Defense Department amid a push to develop anti-ballistic missile defenses. It had endured hurricanes, tropical humidity and a recent string of earthquakes in its 57 years of operation.
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The telescope has been used to track asteroids on a path to Earth, conduct research that led to a Nobel Prize and determine if a planet is potentially habitable. It also served as a training ground for graduate students and drew about 90,000 visitors a year.
“I am one of those students who visited it when young and got inspired,” said Abel Méndez, a physics and astrobiology professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo who has used the telescope for research. “The world without the observatory loses, but Puerto Rico loses even more.”
He last used the telescope on Aug. 6, just days before a socket holding the auxiliary cable that snapped failed in what experts believe could be a manufacturing error. The National Science Foundation, which owns the observatory that is managed by the University of Central Florida, said crews who evaluated the structure after the first incident determined that the remaining cables could handle the additional weight.
But on Nov. 6, another cable broke.
A spokesman for the observatory said there would be no immediate comment, and a spokeswoman for the University of Central Florida did not return requests for comment.
Scientists had used the telescope to study pulsars to detect gravitational waves as well as search for neutral hydrogen, which can reveal how certain cosmic structures are formed. About 250 scientists worldwide had been using the observatory when it closed in August, including Méndez, who was studying stars to detect habitable plantes.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--Monolith Visitor Says It Was Toppled By Group Who Said 'Leave No Trace'

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) — New clues have surfaced in the disappearance of a gleaming monolith in Utah that seemed to melt away as mysteriously as it appeared in the red-rock desert — though it ’ s no longer the only place where a strange structure has been discovered .
A Colorado photographer told KSTU-TV that he saw four men come to the remote Utah site Friday night and push over the hollow , stainless steel object .
“ Right after it had fallen over and made a loud thud , one of them said , ‘ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trash in the desert , ’ ” Ross Bernards told the Salt Lake City TV station .
“ As they were loading it up and walking away , they just said , ‘ Leave no trace , ’ ” he said .
The sheriff ’ s office in San Juan County , Utah , has said it ’ s not planning an investigation into the disappearance of the monolith , which had been placed without permission on public land .
But authorities also said they would accept tips from any of the hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the otherworldly gleaming object deep in the desert .
The sheriff and the Bureau of Land Management , which oversees the land where the object appeared , didn ’ t immediately respond to messages seeking comment on whether they are investigating the removal that Bernards ’ group photographed .
Visitors have left behind a mess of human waste , cars parked on vegetation and other debris , the land agency said .
The mysterious structure that evoked the movie “ 2001 : A Space Odyssey ” generated international attention and drew plenty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was an earthly creation of riveted plates of stainless steel .
For Bernards , the visitors ’ damage to the environment convinced him that the remote area was better off without the structure .
“ Leave the art to places where art should be and let Mother Nature have her space for art , ” he said .
Utah isn ’ t the only place a monolith emerged .
A similar metal structure was found on a hill in northern Romania , in the city of Piatra Neamt .
Like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t follow the proper steps and get a building permit , Mayor Andrei Carabelea said in a Facebook post over the weekend .
Still , he took it in stride , joking that some “ cheeky and terrible ” alien teenagers were likely putting them up around the world .

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — New clues have surfaced in the disappearance of a gleaming monolith in Utah that seemed to melt away as mysteriously as it appeared in the red-rock desert — though it’s no longer the only place where a strange structure has been discovered.
A Colorado photographer told KSTU-TV that he saw four men come to the remote Utah site Friday night and push over the hollow, stainless steel object.
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“Right after it had fallen over and made a loud thud, one of them said, ‘This is why you don’t leave trash in the desert,’” Ross Bernards told the Salt Lake City TV station.
The group broke down the structure into pieces, loaded it into a wheelbarrow and left.
“As they were loading it up and walking away, they just said, ‘Leave no trace,’” he said.
The sheriff’s office in San Juan County, Utah, has said it’s not planning an investigation into the disappearance of the monolith, which had been placed without permission on public land. But authorities also said they would accept tips from any of the hundreds of visitors who trekked out to see the otherworldly gleaming object deep in the desert.
The sheriff and the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the land where the object appeared, didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment on whether they are investigating the removal that Bernards’ group photographed.
Visitors have left behind a mess of human waste, cars parked on vegetation and other debris, the land agency said. The mysterious structure that evoked the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” generated international attention and drew plenty of speculation about otherworldly origins, though officials said it was an earthly creation of riveted plates of stainless steel.
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For Bernards, the visitors’ damage to the environment convinced him that the remote area was better off without the structure.
“Leave the art to places where art should be and let Mother Nature have her space for art,” he said.
Utah isn’t the only place a monolith emerged. A similar metal structure was found on a hill in northern Romania, in the city of Piatra Neamt.
Like the Utah structure, whoever placed the object didn’t follow the proper steps and get a building permit, Mayor Andrei Carabelea said in a Facebook post over the weekend. Still, he took it in stride, joking that some “cheeky and terrible” alien teenagers were likely putting them up around the world.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--Sarah Silverman: 'Liberal Douchiness' Let Me Get Away With Offensive Jokes

Comedian Sarah Silverman has long been known for making outrageous , offensive jokes in the name of comedy ― even wearing blackface .
Now she admits that being known as a liberal has allowed her to get away with it without suffering much of a career backlash .
Silverman made the admission while appearing on “ SmartLess , ” a podcast hosted by Jason Bateman , Sean Hayes and Will Arnett , adding that the free rein she has received represents a form of “ liberal douchiness.
” After Hayes asked Silverman why she thinks she has been able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained that her fans see the higher purpose behind her humor .
“ I think it ’ s the intention behind it , ” Silverman said , before reflecting on her earlier , darker humor .
“ I always said the opposite of what I thought , and that was the joke , kind of , but hopefully the truth transcends that I don ’ t really feel this way.
” That ’ s not to say there hasn ’ t been any backlash .
Last year , Silverman said she had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw a 2007 episode of her Comedy Central series where she wore blackface .
The comedian said , “ I ’ m not that person anymore , ” and added , “ I understand that it ’ s never OK. ” Still , Silverman said that being known as a liberal had allowed her freedom to push boundaries that other more conservative comedians might not get .
“ That comedy I did , it was like , ‘ Oh , it ’ s OK because you know I don ’ t mean it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But then it also is kind of like , ‘ We ’ re liberal , so we can say anything .
We can say the words that are unsayable .
You know I don ’ t mean it , so I can say it.
’ ” You can hear the complete interview below .
Silverman ’ s comments about her comedy career begin around the 4:30 mark .

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Comedian Sarah Silverman has long been known for making outrageous, offensive jokes in the name of comedy ― even wearing blackface.
Now she admits that being known as a liberal has allowed her to get away with it without suffering much of a career backlash.
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Silverman made the admission while appearing on “SmartLess,” a podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, adding that the free rein she has received represents a form of “liberal douchiness.”
After Hayes asked Silverman why she thinks she has been able to make a career pushing taboos, she explained that her fans see the higher purpose behind her humor.
“I think it’s the intention behind it,” Silverman said, before reflecting on her earlier, darker humor. “I always said the opposite of what I thought, and that was the joke, kind of, but hopefully the truth transcends that I don’t really feel this way.”
That’s not to say there hasn’t been any backlash. Last year, Silverman said she had been dropped from a film after the filmmakers saw a 2007 episode of her Comedy Central series where she wore blackface.
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The comedian said, “I’m not that person anymore,” and added, “I understand that it’s never OK.”
Still, Silverman said that being known as a liberal had allowed her freedom to push boundaries that other more conservative comedians might not get.
“That comedy I did, it was like, ‘Oh, it’s OK because you know I don’t mean it,’” she said. “But then it also is kind of like, ‘We’re liberal, so we can say anything. We can say the words that are unsayable. You know I don’t mean it, so I can say it.’”
She added: “There is kind of a liberal douchiness about it in retrospect. It’s a weird balance.”
You can hear the complete interview below. Silverman’s comments about her comedy career begin around the 4:30 mark.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-02--‘Very Dark Couple Of Weeks’: Morgues And Hospitals Overflow

Nearly 37,000 Americans died of COVID-19 in November , the most in any month since the dark early days of the pandemic , engulfing families in grief , filling newspaper obituary pages and testing the capacity of morgues , funeral homes and hospitals .
Amid the resurgence , states have begun reopening field hospitals to handle an influx of patients that is pushing health care systems — and their workers — to the breaking point .
Hospitals are bringing in mobile morgues .
And funerals are being livestreamed or performed as drive-by affairs .
Health officials fear the crisis will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after many Americans ignored pleas to stay home over Thanksgiving and avoid people who don ’ t live with them .
“ I have no doubt that we ’ re going to see a climbing death toll ... and that ’ s a horrific and tragic place to be , ” said Josh Michaud , associate director of global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation .
“ It ’ s going to be a very dark couple of weeks.
” November ’ s toll was far lower than the 60,699 recorded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total of almost 42,000 in May , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Deaths had dropped to just over 20,000 in June after states closed many businesses and ordered people to stay at home .
At Mercy Hospital Springfield in Missouri , a mobile morgue that was acquired in 2011 after a tornado ripped through nearby Joplin and killed about 160 people has been put into use again .
On Sunday it held two bodies until funeral home workers could arrive .
At the Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year compared with last year , and the cremated remains of about 20 people are sitting in storage while their families wait for a safer time to hold memorial services .
The dead include a husband and wife in their 80s who succumbed to COVID-19 five days apart .
“ You want to be safe at the gravesite so you don ’ t have to do another graveside service ” for another family member , said Richard Lay , Bellefontaine Cemetery ’ s vice president .
The Star Tribune in Minneapolis-St. Paul saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pages dedicated to paid obituaries in November , largely because of COVID-19 , a spokesman said .
By Nov. 29 , the newspaper had 11 pages of obituaries , compared with about half that many on a typical Sunday .
Rhode Island opened two field hospitals with more than 900 beds combined .
The state ’ s regular hospitals reached their coronavirus capacity on Monday .
New York City , the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak earlier in the year , reopened a field hospital last week on Staten Island .
Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to take overflow patients .
A Nevada hospital has added hospital bed capacity in an adjacent parking garage .
“ Hospitals all around the country are worried on a day-to-day basis about their capacity ... and we ’ re not really even into winter season and we haven ’ t seen the impact of Thanksgiving travel and Thanksgiving gatherings , ” said Dr. Amesh Adalja , a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security .
The number of hospital beds is just one concern .
Many hospitals are scrambling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients as the virus surges almost everywhere at once , Adalja said .
“ You can ’ t just say we ’ ll have doctors and nurses from other states come because those other states are also dealing with COVID patients , ” he said .
The virus is blamed for over 268,000 deaths and more than 13.5 million confirmed infections in the United States .
A record 96,000 people were in the hospital with the virus in the U.S. as of Monday .
The U.S. is seeing on average more than 160,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths — equal to what the country was witnessing in mid-May .
California officials said the state could see a tripling of hospitalizations by Christmas and is considering stay-home orders for areas with the highest case rates .
Los Angeles County already has told its 10 million residents to stay home .
“ I believe we must continue to ask God to heal those who are sick , comfort those who are hurting and provide renewed strength and wisdom to all who are managing the effects of COVID-19 , ” he said in @ @ @

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Nearly 37,000 Americans died of COVID-19 in November, the most in any month since the dark early days of the pandemic, engulfing families in grief, filling newspaper obituary pages and testing the capacity of morgues, funeral homes and hospitals.
Amid the resurgence, states have begun reopening field hospitals to handle an influx of patients that is pushing health care systems — and their workers — to the breaking point. Hospitals are bringing in mobile morgues. And funerals are being livestreamed or performed as drive-by affairs.
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Health officials fear the crisis will be even worse in coming weeks, after many Americans ignored pleas to stay home over Thanksgiving and avoid people who don’t live with them.
“I have no doubt that we’re going to see a climbing death toll ... and that’s a horrific and tragic place to be,” said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “It’s going to be a very dark couple of weeks.”
November’s toll was far lower than the 60,699 recorded in April but perilously close to the next-highest total of almost 42,000 in May, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Deaths had dropped to just over 20,000 in June after states closed many businesses and ordered people to stay at home.
The fast-deteriorating situation is particularly frustrating because vaccine distribution could begin within weeks, Michaud said.
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At Mercy Hospital Springfield in Missouri, a mobile morgue that was acquired in 2011 after a tornado ripped through nearby Joplin and killed about 160 people has been put into use again. On Sunday it held two bodies until funeral home workers could arrive.
At the Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, burials are up by about one-third this year compared with last year, and the cremated remains of about 20 people are sitting in storage while their families wait for a safer time to hold memorial services. The dead include a husband and wife in their 80s who succumbed to COVID-19 five days apart.
“You want to be safe at the gravesite so you don’t have to do another graveside service” for another family member, said Richard Lay, Bellefontaine Cemetery’s vice president.
The Star Tribune in Minneapolis-St. Paul saw a 40% increase in the number of pages dedicated to paid obituaries in November, largely because of COVID-19, a spokesman said. By Nov. 29, the newspaper had 11 pages of obituaries, compared with about half that many on a typical Sunday.
In Worcester, Massachusetts, the National Guard trucked in cots, medical supplies, tables and other items needed to operate a 250-bed field hospital in the event the state’s medical centers become overwhelmed.
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Rhode Island opened two field hospitals with more than 900 beds combined. The state’s regular hospitals reached their coronavirus capacity on Monday. New York City, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak earlier in the year, reopened a field hospital last week on Staten Island. Wisconsin has a field hospital in West Allis ready to take overflow patients. A Nevada hospital has added hospital bed capacity in an adjacent parking garage.
“Hospitals all around the country are worried on a day-to-day basis about their capacity ... and we’re not really even into winter season and we haven’t seen the impact of Thanksgiving travel and Thanksgiving gatherings,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
The number of hospital beds is just one concern. Many hospitals are scrambling to find enough staff to care for patients as the virus surges almost everywhere at once, Adalja said.
“You can’t just say we’ll have doctors and nurses from other states come because those other states are also dealing with COVID patients,” he said.
The virus is blamed for over 268,000 deaths and more than 13.5 million confirmed infections in the United States. A record 96,000 people were in the hospital with the virus in the U.S. as of Monday. The U.S. is seeing on average more than 160,000 new cases per day and almost 1,470 deaths — equal to what the country was witnessing in mid-May.
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State and local officials also are responding with shutdowns, curfews, quarantines and mask mandates.
California officials said the state could see a tripling of hospitalizations by Christmas and is considering stay-home orders for areas with the highest case rates. Los Angeles County already has told its 10 million residents to stay home.
In Oklahoma, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt declared Thursday a day of prayer and fasting as the state’s confirmed coronavirus infections neared 200,000. State health authorities Tuesday reported a one-day high of over 1,700 hospitalizations.
Stitt, who tested positive for the virus in July, has donated plasma to help other patients recover and said he will do it again.
“I believe we must continue to ask God to heal those who are sick, comfort those who are hurting and provide renewed strength and wisdom to all who are managing the effects of COVID-19,” he said in a statement.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-02--When Should You Replace Your COVID-19 Face Mask?

Reusable cloth face masks are thus far our best tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
They ’ re also a better solution for mass use than disposable surgical masks , which are a potential source of microplastic pollution , according to a recent study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin .
With this in mind , it ’ s important to look out for the signs that your mask is no longer safely filtering out the respiratory droplets that carry the virus .
Besides all the homemade facial coverings we ’ ve been using , many commercially made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s time to toss the product .
So we tapped an infectious disease expert , a dermatologist , a licensed physician and a laundry expert to weigh in on all the signs you need to replace a mask .
From loose straps to exposed threads , below are the warning signs your mask may be on its last legs .
The straps are worn out .
Rather than the mask fabric itself , it ’ s the elastic ear loops ( or ties ) that are the first place to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask has been exposed to high heat in the dryer , advised Hannah Yokoji , brand director of The Laundress , which sells nontoxic laundry and home cleaning products .
“ The biggest thing to watch out for is the straps that keep the mask in place , ” Yokoji said .
“ If these ties become loose or stretched , you need to stop using it straight away , because if the mask isn ’ t fitted properly to your face , you could be putting yourself and others in danger of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snug .
If you ’ ve been wearing your mask for a while and the fit is starting to loosen ― especially if the mask no longer securely covers your nose and mouth ― Yokoji advised either replacing the worn-out elastic or retiring the mask altogether .
There are exposed threads , tears or holes .
Retire any mask that has “ threads , tears and holes that are exposed or torn , ” Madison advised .
Never use a mask with rips in it , she said , because the virus can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holes and gaps in your mask may be more obvious , Sobel said that testing for worn fabric can also be easily done in several ways .
“ You will probably be able to tell a cotton mask has become thinner by look and feel , ” he explained to HuffPost .
“ A way to test is to try blowing out a candle with your mask on .
If you are able to blow it out , the mask is not effective at protecting you.
” “ If you hold the mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light through it , it is probably too thin to be effective , ” she said .
“ Another option is to blow through the mask and see if you feel your breath or see it , especially if it is cold outside.
” You haven ’ t been washing the mask according to the manufacturer ’ s instructions .
“ Not all face masks are made the same , ” she explained .
“ It ’ s best to look at the care instructions provided with the product .
If the product @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be machine-washed , it ’ s best to wash it by hand and then allow it to air-dry .
”

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Reusable cloth face masks are thus far our best tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They’re also a better solution for mass use than disposable surgical masks, which are a potential source of microplastic pollution, according to a recent study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.
But as eco-friendly as cloth masks may be, they do become less effective at blocking the coronavirus when they’ve been worn thin by repeated washing and wearing.
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With this in mind, it’s important to look out for the signs that your mask is no longer safely filtering out the respiratory droplets that carry the virus. Besides all the homemade facial coverings we’ve been using, many commercially made masks come with no warning of when it’s time to toss the product.
So we tapped an infectious disease expert, a dermatologist, a licensed physician and a laundry expert to weigh in on all the signs you need to replace a mask. From loose straps to exposed threads, below are the warning signs your mask may be on its last legs.
The straps are worn out.
Rather than the mask fabric itself, it’s the elastic ear loops (or ties) that are the first place to show signs of wear ― especially if the mask has been exposed to high heat in the dryer, advised Hannah Yokoji, brand director of The Laundress, which sells nontoxic laundry and home cleaning products.
“The biggest thing to watch out for is the straps that keep the mask in place,” Yokoji said. “If these ties become loose or stretched, you need to stop using it straight away, because if the mask isn’t fitted properly to your face, you could be putting yourself and others in danger of COVID-19.”
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Chansom Pantip via Getty Images If you can blow out a candle through your face mask, it's too thin to be effective.
The fit is no longer snug.
If you’ve been wearing your mask for a while and the fit is starting to loosen ― especially if the mask no longer securely covers your nose and mouth ― Yokoji advised either replacing the worn-out elastic or retiring the mask altogether.
“Your mask needs to fit snug under the chin, across the cheeks and around the nose,” she told HuffPost. “It shouldn’t have any gaps at all.”
A mask should also be replaced “if the nose clip no longer fits tightly around your nose,” said clinical public health and infectious disease expert Christina M. Madison.
There are exposed threads, tears or holes.
Retire any mask that has “threads, tears and holes that are exposed or torn,” Madison advised. Never use a mask with rips in it, she said, because the virus can enter and exit this way.
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The mask is stained.
Whether they’re caused by coffee spills or makeup, licensed physician Leann Poston said that stains on a mask can also be a sign that it’s worn out.
“If the mask is visibly soiled and washing does not remove the stain, it’s probably time to toss it,” she added. “A stained mask has probably been overused and needs replacing.”
The fabric has worn thin.
Mask materials can become thinner the more you wash them, and thinner fabric provides a weaker barrier to the transmission of COVID-19, according to cosmetic dermatologist Howard Sobel, founder of Sobel Skin.
Though holes and gaps in your mask may be more obvious, Sobel said that testing for worn fabric can also be easily done in several ways.
“You will probably be able to tell a cotton mask has become thinner by look and feel,” he explained to HuffPost. “A way to test is to try blowing out a candle with your mask on. If you are able to blow it out, the mask is not effective at protecting you.”
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Similarly, Poston suggested checking whether you can see through the fabric or, outside in colder temperatures, whether your breath is visible.
“If you hold the mask up to the light and can see light through it, it is probably too thin to be effective,” she said. “Another option is to blow through the mask and see if you feel your breath or see it, especially if it is cold outside.”
You haven’t been washing the mask according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
To preserve a mask, Madison said it’s important to wash it correctly.
“Not all face masks are made the same,” she explained. “It’s best to look at the care instructions provided with the product. If the product doesn’t specifically state that it can be machine-washed, it’s best to wash it by hand and then allow it to air-dry.”
Yokoji suggested investing in laundry mesh bags, which help protect delicate fabrics.
“If you prefer to machine-wash your masks, be sure to place them in a mesh washing bag to prevent snagging and tearing,” she said.
You’ve washed a mask more than 30 times.
In any case, “frequent washing will stretch the fibers in some fabrics,” Poston said. This makes it crucial to wash your masks carefully but also to recognize when they’ve reached the end of their lifespan.
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If you are using a high-quality mask, Madison advised a guideline of 30 washes or 30 wearings.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-02--Anderson Cooper Delivers Lengthy Takedown Of Donald Trump's Latest 'Con'

Anderson Cooper placed Donald Trump ’ s latest “ con ” under the microscope Tuesday , breaking down the president ’ s bid to raise money from supporters off the back of his election defeat against President-elect Joe Biden .
Cooper pointed out how instead of tackling the coronavirus pandemic , Trump is focused on “ a con game over the election he lost.
” That ’ s despite the fact that even Attorney General William Barr , a key Trump ally , acknowledged Tuesday that the Justice Department has not uncovered evidence of widespread voter fraud , even as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozens of lawsuits in a bid to overturn the result .
“ The president is peddling an idea that is not true to people who want it to be true .
In exchange , he ’ s taking their money — about $ 170 million so far , ” Cooper said .
Donors are being led to believe their money “ is going toward legal expenses related to the election , ” he said .
“ It ’ s largely not .
That is the definition of what a confidence game is .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ does , and that is what the president seems to be doing.
” He also noted how Trump ’ s campaign team has bombarded supporters with emails asking for donations , but due to the nature of the so-called “ leadership ” PAC to which their cash is going , there are largely no limits on what the money can be spent on .
“ The people giving him money don ’ t even get those old Trump steaks or a worthless diploma from Trump University , ” Cooper said .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another con , '' says @ AndersonCooper of President Trump 's scheme to raise money by lying to his supporters about the election .
`` The people giving him money do n't even get those old Trump steaks or a worthless diploma from Trump University . ''
# KeepingThemHonest pic.twitter.com/TuvwVaqahe — Anderson Cooper 360° ( @ AC360 ) December 2 , 2020

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Anderson Cooper placed Donald Trump’s latest “con” under the microscope Tuesday, breaking down the president’s bid to raise money from supporters off the back of his election defeat against President-elect Joe Biden.
Cooper pointed out how instead of tackling the coronavirus pandemic, Trump is focused on “a con game over the election he lost.”
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That’s despite the fact that even Attorney General William Barr, a key Trump ally, acknowledged Tuesday that the Justice Department has not uncovered evidence of widespread voter fraud, even as Trump’s legal team has filed dozens of lawsuits in a bid to overturn the result.
“The president is peddling an idea that is not true to people who want it to be true. In exchange, he’s taking their money — about $170 million so far,” Cooper said.
Donors are being led to believe their money “is going toward legal expenses related to the election,” he said. “It’s largely not. That is the definition of what a confidence game is. That’s what a con man does, and that is what the president seems to be doing.”
He also noted how Trump’s campaign team has bombarded supporters with emails asking for donations, but due to the nature of the so-called “leadership” PAC to which their cash is going, there are largely no limits on what the money can be spent on.
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“The people giving him money don’t even get those old Trump steaks or a worthless diploma from Trump University,” Cooper said. “This is another con.”
Check out the video here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-02--Chris Wallace Reveals His 'Trap Door’ Thought During Rowdy Trump-Biden Debate

Fox News ’ Chris Wallace revealed he had a cartoonish thought while moderating the first presidential debate to stop President Donald Trump from interrupting then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
His director admonished him via an earpiece to get control of an off-the-rails debate widely remembered for Trump ’ s lies and repeated interruptions , Wallace recalled , telling the story on Tuesday in a webinar for the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs : “ And I ’ m thinking , what does he expect me to do ?
Does he expect me to hit a trap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States go down ?
You know , there ’ s not much you can do in that situation.
” Wallace , who has previously lamented the way the debate played out and said Trump bore “ primary responsibility , ” also had a definitive answer when asked during the webinar if moderating was like parenting .
“ As the father of six children and the grandfather of seven , no , ” he replied .
“ Because my children and grandchildren are much better behaved than that.
” Check out Wallace ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video here :

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Fox News’ Chris Wallace revealed he had a cartoonish thought while moderating the first presidential debate to stop President Donald Trump from interrupting then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
His director admonished him via an earpiece to get control of an off-the-rails debate widely remembered for Trump’s lies and repeated interruptions, Wallace recalled, telling the story on Tuesday in a webinar for the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs:
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“And I’m thinking, what does he expect me to do? Does he expect me to hit a trap door and have the president of the United States go down? You know, there’s not much you can do in that situation.”
Wallace, who has previously lamented the way the debate played out and said Trump bore “primary responsibility,” also had a definitive answer when asked during the webinar if moderating was like parenting.
“As the father of six children and the grandfather of seven, no,” he replied. “Because my children and grandchildren are much better behaved than that.”
Check out Wallace’s comments from the 1:17 mark in the video here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-01--Lou Dobbs Rages At William Barr, Suggests He Might Be 'Compromised' Or 'Ill'

Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs fumed on Tuesday after William Barr said there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the recent election , and suggested that the attorney general must have been “ compromised ” or unwell to have said such a thing .
Dobbs , who has devotedly parroted Trump ’ s baseless “ stolen election ” claims since his loss to Democrat Joe Biden , went at Barr with full force even though Barr ― a loyal Trump ally himself ― waited nearly a month after the Nov. 3 election to publicly state that no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s claims the election had been rigged .
“ For the attorney general of the United States to make that statement , he is either a liar or a fool or both , ” Dobbs declared .
“ He may be , uh , perhaps compromised .
He may be simply unprincipled .
Or he may be personally distraught or ill. ” The “ Lou Dobbs Tonight ” host also complained that Barr was joining in with the “ radical Dems and the deep state and the resistance ” by announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any proof of wrongdoing in the election .
Lou Dobbs absolutely loses it over Bill Barr saying there 's no evidence of widespread voter fraud , accusing Barr of joining `` the Deep State and the Resistance '' before saying this : '' He is either a liar or a fool or both .
He may be – perhaps compromised . ''
pic.twitter.com/x9kU5xkctV — Justin Baragona ( @ justinbaragona ) December 1 , 2020 Barr told The Associated Press on Tuesday that U.S. attorneys and FBI agents have been following up on specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that , “ to date , we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election.
” The Trump campaign and the president ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani have been on a crusade alleging a nationwide conspiracy by Democrats and other hidden players to rig the election for Biden , who received 6 million more votes than the president and reaped 306 electoral votes to Trump ’ s 232 .
These unsubstantiated claims have repeatedly been dismissed and debunked in the courts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justice Department .
It ’ s particularly striking that Dobbs would allege Barr is working against the president , but his claims were no more outrageous than other disinformation he ’ s shared on his show in the past .
His segments about Trump routinely earn him comparisons to state television propaganda in North Korea .

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Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs fumed on Tuesday after William Barr said there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the recent election, and suggested that the attorney general must have been “compromised” or unwell to have said such a thing.
Dobbs, who has devotedly parroted Trump’s baseless “stolen election” claims since his loss to Democrat Joe Biden, went at Barr with full force even though Barr ― a loyal Trump ally himself ― waited nearly a month after the Nov. 3 election to publicly state that no evidence had been unearthed to support the president’s claims the election had been rigged.
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“For the attorney general of the United States to make that statement, he is either a liar or a fool or both,” Dobbs declared. “He may be, uh, perhaps compromised. He may be simply unprincipled. Or he may be personally distraught or ill.”
The “Lou Dobbs Tonight” host also complained that Barr was joining in with the “radical Dems and the deep state and the resistance” by announcing the Justice Department had failed to find any proof of wrongdoing in the election.
Lou Dobbs absolutely loses it over Bill Barr saying there's no evidence of widespread voter fraud, accusing Barr of joining "the Deep State and the Resistance" before saying this:
"He is either a liar or a fool or both. He may be – perhaps compromised." pic.twitter.com/x9kU5xkctV — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) December 1, 2020
Barr told The Associated Press on Tuesday that U.S. attorneys and FBI agents have been following up on specific complaints and information they’ve received but that, “to date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election.”
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The Trump campaign and the president’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani have been on a crusade alleging a nationwide conspiracy by Democrats and other hidden players to rig the election for Biden, who received 6 million more votes than the president and reaped 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232. These unsubstantiated claims have repeatedly been dismissed and debunked in the courts, by bipartisan election officials and now by the Justice Department.