thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Our Neighbors Called The Police On Our Black Son With Autism For Making Too Much Noise

Given his sensory issues , we can not help the “ noise ” our 7-year-old makes .
His shouting , leaping , dancing , jumping and stomping are unpredictable .
We instruct him to “ walk like you are in school ” when moving throughout our apartment .
We practice with him how to softly jump and how to do a soft dismount off the trampoline his school ’ s occupational therapist recommended we use .
We redirect him when he stomps on one foot out of frustration .
We reward him for quiet walking .
Fortunately , our discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our 7-year-old stayed quiet and calm , sitting on the floor mat nearby , but our 8-year-old was unsettled .
He broke down and cried .
I hugged him and asked the officer , “ Before you go , would you mind reassuring our son that everything is OK ?
He is really shaken up by having the police called on us.
” The officer bent down and looked our son eye to eye .
In a father-figure tone , he reassured him that none of us were in trouble .
He asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and about the things he liked to do .
I told the officer that he is in the district ’ s gifted and talented program and about the different projects they build such as model cities and squirrel-proof bird feeders .
I wanted to humanize our son and our family .
Since the boys were babies , whenever we have taken strolls in the local parks and bumped into an officer or sheriff , I have always made it a point to introduce myself and my sons to them and vice versa .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope that whenever an officer sees us , they recognize us as part of the community because ( ideally ) I as my sons ’ mother have built enough social capital that the police see we are not a threat .
Without having to say it aloud , my husband and I knew what just went down .
Our neighbors had weaponized the police against us .
So much is at stake for our family whenever the police are called to our home .
This could have ended differently had we not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more so , fortunate to meet an officer with civility , good training and humility .
We have a litany of names this year alone , and historically , as to why this concern is justified .
Like our eldest son , our 7-year-old is not unscathed .
The day after the police visit , while sitting next to his father , he let out a sudden yell like nothing we had ever heard .
Yelling like a lost animal , wounded and stranded , in a place we did not know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to retrieve him .
Yelling from a place , we guessed , of angry helplessness .
While not yet able to verbalize what he feels , he is highly capable of showing it .
Ever since the police visit , we have been peppered with his harsh screams .
July is when his extended school year started , but because of the pandemic , all his classes and therapies were now virtual .
He continued this aberrant screaming .
His occupational therapist and autism support teacher noted his atypical and unusual behavior and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s board-certified behavioral analyst ’ s guidance and intervention .
Like us , they too were unnerved by this newly triggered behavior now taking root in an otherwise bright , compliant and doting child .
My family is trying hard to make the best of our lives within the walls of our small apartment .
Our kids are active .
Our eldest loves all things Star Wars and is always innovating new Jedi moves , to the chagrin of our walls , couch and floors .
The agility of our youngest rivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As brothers , they tussle .
As a family , we dance to Kidz Bop and disco music .
We are just like any other family .
But , given his speech delay , we fear what may occur as he gets older and becomes a young man .
What happens if he is by himself or walking alone , having a bad day , and , in his case when he expresses frustration , makes aberrant noises , or in his own way of self-preservation , falls to the ground and curls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
How will his behavior be interpreted by neighbors or passersby ?
Will they deem his behavior as unstable and endangering ?
What will they tell the police ?
And how will the police construe ( or misconstrue ) the call ?
He is coping with our new daily life through the resurgence of spitting and hitting ( which were extinguished back in kindergarten when he was less able to communicate through words ) , running and jumping ( he still needs to move ) , hiding in closets or unlit bathrooms ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one foot like a jackhammer ( when he is angry or frustrated ) , and running water in the bathroom and kitchen sinks ( for sensory stimulation ) .
All the people , places and things that were bringing out the best of him are shut down .
The clinic where he was receiving his applied behavior analysis , speech and occupational therapy sessions abruptly went out of business due to the pandemic .
Over the summer , his fantastic school and support staff were reduced to only working with him remotely .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ education peers became nonexistent .
One of the greatest places of compassion has been from our police department .
Our community liaison officer contacted me the day after I emailed him asking for advice about our circumstance .
At his urging , we listed our son on the special needs registry so that going forward all officers have advance notice of his disability .
His support and affirmation were a welcome change , especially in these politicized and polarized times .
My family ’ s current fear is what is next .
Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of 2020 .
For children with individualized education programs , it is experimenting with a hybrid model , which brings with it its own new set of worries .
This October , our youngest son starts ABA therapy after school in our home .
It is highly likely our kids will be in virtual schooling for the entire school year .

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During lunchtime on Sunday, July 5, the police knocked on our front door. When we opened the door, the officer informed us our neighbors had complained about the noise coming from our apartment. The “noise” was coming from our 7-year-old son with autism and speech delay, who earlier was running and jumping.
Given his sensory issues, we cannot help the “noise” our 7-year-old makes. His shouting, leaping, dancing, jumping and stomping are unpredictable. We instruct him to “walk like you are in school” when moving throughout our apartment. We practice with him how to softly jump and how to do a soft dismount off the trampoline his school’s occupational therapist recommended we use. We redirect him when he stomps on one foot out of frustration. We reward him for quiet walking.
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“This is the noise they are complaining about,” I said, lifting my 7-year-old and bringing him to the front door. I wanted the officer to see the “reason” behind his call.
Fortunately, our discussion with the officer deescalated the situation. Our 7-year-old stayed quiet and calm, sitting on the floor mat nearby, but our 8-year-old was unsettled. He broke down and cried. I hugged him and asked the officer, “Before you go, would you mind reassuring our son that everything is OK? He is really shaken up by having the police called on us.”
The officer bent down and looked our son eye to eye. In a father-figure tone, he reassured him that none of us were in trouble. He asked our son what grade he was in and about the things he liked to do. I told the officer that he is in the district’s gifted and talented program and about the different projects they build such as model cities and squirrel-proof bird feeders. I wanted to humanize our son and our family.
As an African American mother, humanizing my family to others has been at the forefront of my thoughts and actions ever since becoming a mother, especially with interactions with the police.
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Since the boys were babies, whenever we have taken strolls in the local parks and bumped into an officer or sheriff, I have always made it a point to introduce myself and my sons to them and vice versa. Then and now, it is my hope that whenever an officer sees us, they recognize us as part of the community because (ideally) I as my sons’ mother have built enough social capital that the police see we are not a threat.
We thanked the officer. After closing our front door, we sat quietly. Scared. Angry.
Without having to say it aloud, my husband and I knew what just went down. Our neighbors had weaponized the police against us. So much is at stake for our family whenever the police are called to our home. This could have ended differently had we not been practiced in how to present ourselves, and more so, fortunate to meet an officer with civility, good training and humility. We have a litany of names this year alone, and historically, as to why this concern is justified.
Like our eldest son, our 7-year-old is not unscathed. The day after the police visit, while sitting next to his father, he let out a sudden yell like nothing we had ever heard. Yelling like a lost animal, wounded and stranded, in a place we did not know how to reach, let alone how to retrieve him. Yelling from a place, we guessed, of angry helplessness. While not yet able to verbalize what he feels, he is highly capable of showing it.
Ever since the police visit, we have been peppered with his harsh screams. July is when his extended school year started, but because of the pandemic, all his classes and therapies were now virtual. He continued this aberrant screaming. His occupational therapist and autism support teacher noted his atypical and unusual behavior and told us they would seek the school’s board-certified behavioral analyst’s guidance and intervention. Like us, they too were unnerved by this newly triggered behavior now taking root in an otherwise bright, compliant and doting child.
My family is trying hard to make the best of our lives within the walls of our small apartment. Our kids are active. Our eldest loves all things Star Wars and is always innovating new Jedi moves, to the chagrin of our walls, couch and floors. The agility of our youngest rivals those of ballet dancers and gymnasts. As brothers, they tussle. As a family, we dance to Kidz Bop and disco music. We are just like any other family.
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Across apartments, across state lines, we are all living among one another’s disrupted routines and discombobulation. Trying to peacefully exist. Everyone is home with few outlets for escape. All of us are being pushed supernaturally in our tolerance of one another.
But, as conscientious citizens, we all can at least try to be empathetic about one another’s living situations. And hopefully, not intentionally engineer bringing one another into harm’s way. Especially children.
Luckily, our 7-year-old has us to speak for him and advocate on his behalf.
But, given his speech delay, we fear what may occur as he gets older and becomes a young man. What happens if he is by himself or walking alone, having a bad day, and, in his case when he expresses frustration, makes aberrant noises, or in his own way of self-preservation, falls to the ground and curls himself into the shape of a pretzel? How will his behavior be interpreted by neighbors or passersby? Will they deem his behavior as unstable and endangering? What will they tell the police? And how will the police construe (or misconstrue) the call?
We are not always privy to know what is going on behind each other’s closed doors. Speaking for our son with autism, this pandemic has taxed his vulnerability. He is in a tough place given his diagnosis, made tougher by staying sheltered in his home.
He is coping with our new daily life through the resurgence of spitting and hitting (which were extinguished back in kindergarten when he was less able to communicate through words), running and jumping (he still needs to move), hiding in closets or unlit bathrooms (to be alone), hopping on one foot like a jackhammer (when he is angry or frustrated), and running water in the bathroom and kitchen sinks (for sensory stimulation).
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All the people, places and things that were bringing out the best of him are shut down. The clinic where he was receiving his applied behavior analysis, speech and occupational therapy sessions abruptly went out of business due to the pandemic. Over the summer, his fantastic school and support staff were reduced to only working with him remotely. Peer interaction with his autistic and general education peers became nonexistent.
Still, what this experience is teaching me is a lesson in tolerance and humanity. We are all struggling emotionally and economically in coping with the abrupt change in our lifestyle this pandemic has caused. So, we should try to deal with one another from a position of compassion.
One of the greatest places of compassion has been from our police department. Our community liaison officer contacted me the day after I emailed him asking for advice about our circumstance. At his urging, we listed our son on the special needs registry so that going forward all officers have advance notice of his disability. His support and affirmation were a welcome change, especially in these politicized and polarized times.
My family’s current fear is what is next. Our school district has gone completely virtual for the rest of 2020. For children with individualized education programs, it is experimenting with a hybrid model, which brings with it its own new set of worries. This October, our youngest son starts ABA therapy after school in our home. It is highly likely our kids will be in virtual schooling for the entire school year.
What will happen if we make too much “noise” again?
Moving forward, not in bitterness but in benevolence, we are taking steps to support our community’s growing awareness of children with special needs. My husband has applied to become a member of the township citizen board to build awareness about autism. I am working toward the same by writing children’s literature with children who have autism spectrum disorder as central characters.
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I share this story because we are all in the same situation. In some form or other, we are working, schooling and living most of our hours inside our homes, trying to live one day at a time until a vaccine becomes a universal reality.
In this intense test of personal strength and resilience, the pandemic calls for us to examine what it means to be conscientious neighbors. I write to appeal to all in our community to minimize weaponizing the police beyond their rightful call of duty, and instead use goodwill to support each other in adapting to life in these unprecedented times. My sons’ lives depend on it.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--'Just Grab The Bitch': Militia Plotted To Kidnap Michigan Governor, Feds Say

In an affidavit , an FBI agent wrote that the bureau learned through social media in early 2020 that a group was “ discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law-enforcement components.
” At a meeting in June , defendants Fox and Croft allegedly met with about 13 others in Dublin , Ohio , where they discussed “ creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient.
” Several members of the group “ talked about murdering ‘ tyrants ’ or ‘ taking ’ a sitting governor.
” Fox then reached out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wolverine Watchmen , which was already on the FBI ’ s radar after a local police department said the group was trying to get addresses of local law enforcement officers .
One of the members of that militia group was interviewed by the FBI and agreed to become an FBI informant because they were “ concerned about the group ’ s plans to target and kill police officers , ” according to the affidavit .
Fox later said he needed 200 men to “ storm ” the Capitol building and take hostages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would put on trial for “ treason.
” The plan would be executed before the November 2020 election , the FBI affidavit said .
The Wolverine Watchmen belong to a far-right , anti-government extremist movement called the “ Boogaloo , ” Michigan state court records revealed .
Members of the group met in remote areas where “ they engaged in firearms training and tactical drills to prepare for the ‘ boogaloo , ’ ” according to court records .
In June , a follower of the Boogaloo movement allegedly killed a federal protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring , Whitmer came under fire for statewide restrictions related to COVID-19 .
Trump referred to her as that “ woman in Michigan ” and claimed she “ doesn ’ t have a clue.
” Whitmer later said she ’ s had to censor herself so as not to endanger her state ’ s receipt of federal aid .
Trump tweeted “ LIBERATE MICHIGAN ” during a tweetstorm in April .
By July 18 , the plan had shifted .
Members of the group met in Ohio , and Garbin suggested “ shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Garbin said he no longer wanted to go after the state Capitol .
Days later , Fox said that going after Whitmer at her vacation home or official summer residence was the best path forward .
By Aug. 9 , the group ’ s plan against Whitmer were still unfolding .
In one chat , Harris suggested that someone go to her house , knock on the door , and “ just cap her ” when she answered .
There was discussion of using a boat to escape on the lake .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I just wan na make the world glow , dude .
I ’ m not even fuckin ’ kidding .
I just wan na make it all glow , dude .
I don ’ t fuckin ’ care anymore , I ’ m just so sick of it .
That ’ s what it ’ s gon na take for us to take it back , we ’ re just gon na have to ― everything ’ s gon na have to be annihilated , man , ” Fox said in one phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ na topple it all , dude .
It ’ s what great frickin ’ conquerors , man , we ’ re just gon na conquer every fuckin ’ thing , man.
” The group later discussed blowing up a bridge leading to Whitmer ’ s vacation home , and an FBI undercover agent said explosives would cost $ 4,000 .
Several members of the group ― Fox , Garbin , Harris and Franks ― planned to meet with the undercover agent on Wednesday to pay for the explosives .
Caserta couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while Croft had returned to Delaware .
At a press conference Thursday , Whitmer drew a line linking the alleged plot and Trump ’ s rhetoric surrounding extremists and private militias over the past week .
During the presidential debate last week , he told the Proud Boys , an extremist gang , to “ stand back and stand by ” after he was pressed on his repeated failure to decry white supremacy and violence carried out in his name .
The Proud Boys celebrated the mention .

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A Michigan militia was plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who has come under fire from President Donald Trump, according to the FBI.
Defendants Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, according to court documents. The domestic terrorism investigation involved both confidential informants and undercover employees who recorded conversations, texts, online chats and phone calls with the defendants.
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In an affidavit, an FBI agent wrote that the bureau learned through social media in early 2020 that a group was “discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law-enforcement components.” At a meeting in June, defendants Fox and Croft allegedly met with about 13 others in Dublin, Ohio, where they discussed “creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient.” Several members of the group “talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor.”
Fox then reached out to a Michigan militia group, the Wolverine Watchmen, which was already on the FBI’s radar after a local police department said the group was trying to get addresses of local law enforcement officers. One of the members of that militia group was interviewed by the FBI and agreed to become an FBI informant because they were “concerned about the group’s plans to target and kill police officers,” according to the affidavit.
In June, Fox met with defendant Garbin at a rally supporting the Second Amendment at the Michigan State Capitol, where Fox allegedly told Garbin and one of the informants that he planned to attack the Capitol.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer introduces Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris in Detroit in September. A militia was plotting to kidnap Whitmer, according to the FBI. JEFF KOWALSKY via Getty Images
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Fox later said he needed 200 men to “storm” the Capitol building and take hostages, including Whitmer, whom they said they would put on trial for “treason.” The plan would be executed before the November 2020 election, the FBI affidavit said.
The Wolverine Watchmen belong to a far-right, anti-government extremist movement called the “Boogaloo,” Michigan state court records revealed. Members of the group met in remote areas where “they engaged in firearms training and tactical drills to prepare for the ‘boogaloo,’” according to court records. In June, a follower of the Boogaloo movement allegedly killed a federal protective security officer in California.
Joseph Morrison, who also faces terrorism charges in connection to the kidnapping plot, is considered to be the group’s “commander” and went by the online screen name “Boogaloo Bunyan.”
In the spring, Whitmer came under fire for statewide restrictions related to COVID-19. Trump referred to her as that “woman in Michigan” and claimed she “doesn’t have a clue.” Whitmer later said she’s had to censor herself so as not to endanger her state’s receipt of federal aid. Trump tweeted “LIBERATE MICHIGAN” during a tweetstorm in April.
On June 20, Fox, Garbin and several others met at a business Fox ran in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The group, according to the FBI affidavit, went through a hidden trap door in the shop and met in the basement. “Fox collected all of their cellular phones in a box and carried them upstairs to prevent any monitoring,” the FBI affidavit states. But one of the confidential informants was wearing a recording device and managed to capture audio as they discussed plans to destroy police vehicles.
Later, in a private Facebook group, Fox livestreamed a rant about the state of Michigan controlling the opening of gyms, calling Whitmer a “tyrant bitch” and saying members of the group “gotta do something.”
In July, they conducted firearms training and some tried to construct improvised explosive devices, which did not detonate as planned.
By July 18, the plan had shifted. Members of the group met in Ohio, and Garbin suggested “shooting up the Governor’s vacation home.” Garbin said he no longer wanted to go after the state Capitol. Days later, Fox said that going after Whitmer at her vacation home or official summer residence was the best path forward.
“Snatch and grab, man. Grab the fuckin’ Governor. Just grab the bitch,” Fox said. They wanted to take her to a secure location in Wisconsin, where they planned to put her on “trial.”
By Aug. 9, the group’s plan against Whitmer were still unfolding. In one chat, Harris suggested that someone go to her house, knock on the door, and “just cap her” when she answered. There was discussion of using a boat to escape on the lake. Fox seemed prepared for action.
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“I just wanna make the world glow, dude. I’m not even fuckin’ kidding. I just wanna make it all glow, dude. I don’t fuckin’ care anymore, I’m just so sick of it. That’s what it’s gonna take for us to take it back, we’re just gonna have to ― everything’s gonna have to be annihilated, man,” Fox said in one phone call. “We’re gonna topple it all, dude. It’s what great frickin’ conquerors, man, we’re just gonna conquer every fuckin’ thing, man.”
When members of the group met at Harris’ residence on Aug. 23, they were concerned about law enforcement infiltration, and members of the group brought personal documents to reassure the others of their identities.
Not long after, on Aug. 29, Fox, an informant and another individual surveilled the governor’s vacation home, even estimating how long it would take the police to respond.
“We ain’t gonna let ‘em burn our fuckin’ state down. I don’t give a fuck if there’s only 20 or 30 of us, dude, we’ll go out there and use deadly force,” Fox said.
Fox later said that Whitmer “fucking goddamn loves the power she has right now” and has “no checks and balances at all.”
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The group later discussed blowing up a bridge leading to Whitmer’s vacation home, and an FBI undercover agent said explosives would cost $4,000. Several members of the group ― Fox, Garbin, Harris and Franks ― planned to meet with the undercover agent on Wednesday to pay for the explosives. Caserta couldn’t make it because he was at work, while Croft had returned to Delaware.
Court records indicate five defendants were arrested by the FBI on Wednesday, while Croft’s status is unclear.
At a press conference Thursday, Whitmer drew a line linking the alleged plot and Trump’s rhetoric surrounding extremists and private militias over the past week. During the presidential debate last week, he told the Proud Boys, an extremist gang, to “stand back and stand by” after he was pressed on his repeated failure to decry white supremacy and violence carried out in his name. The Proud Boys celebrated the mention.
“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry — as a call to action,” Whitmer said.
Seven additional defendants face state terrorism charges in connection with a plot to attack the state capitol, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. These defendants — members of the Wolverine Watchmen, who are likely not facing federal charges due to the lack of a broad domestic terrorism statute — allegedly researched the home addresses of members of law enforcement, and trained and planned for an operation to attack the state capitol building.
The Detroit News first reported the news Thursday morning.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Mitch McConnell Whacks White House Over Lax Coronavirus Protocols

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) suggested on Thursday that the White House could do a better job of taking precautions against the coronavirus , following a possible superspreader event that may have led to the infections of President Donald Trump , the first lady , several Republican senators and dozens of White House aides last month .
McConnell , who is notoriously loath to criticize Trump or break with him in any way , said he ’ s personally avoided visiting the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue because of the White House ’ s lax virus protocols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been to the White House since August the 6th because my impression was their approach to how to handle this is different from mine and what I insisted that we do in the Senate , which is to wear a mask and practice social distancing , ” the 78-year-old majority leader said at an event in Kentucky .
“ If any of you have been around me since May the 1st , I ’ ve said , ‘ Wear your mask .
Practice social distancing.
’ ... Now , you ’ ve heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different view , and they are , you know , paying the price for it , ” he added at another event .
In sharp contrast to Trump , McConnell has placed a big emphasis on mask-wearing and social distancing in the Senate and at public events in his home state , touting those steps as the most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable groups .
The recent outbreak that has infected at least 30 White House staffers and other GOP officials has directly threatened McConnell ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racing to confirm a conservative Supreme Court justice before the Nov. 3 presidential election .
Three Republican senators , including two Judiciary Committee members , have announced testing positive for the virus following the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony .
Sens .
Mike Lee ( Utah ) , Thom Tillis ( N.C. ) and Ron Johnson ( Wis. ) are all currently quarantining .
If any more GOP senators contract the virus , it could derail the confirmation process and postpone a final vote on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may also threaten the reelection bids of GOP incumbents facing tough fights , which could hand Democrats control of the Senate .
The president is likely still contagious and on steroids since leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center earlier this week .
He took off his mask prior to walking into the White House on Monday and actually worked out of the Oval Office on Wednesday , possibly putting other White House staff at risk .
“ I ’ m a senior .
I know you don ’ t know that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have to tell ‘ em , but I ’ m a senior , ” Trump said in the video .
“ You ’ re not vulnerable , but they like to say ‘ the vulnerable , ’ but you ’ re the least vulnerable .
But , for this one thing , you are vulnerable .
So am I .
”

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggested on Thursday that the White House could do a better job of taking precautions against the coronavirus, following a possible superspreader event that may have led to the infections of President Donald Trump, the first lady, several Republican senators and dozens of White House aides last month.
McConnell, who is notoriously loath to criticize Trump or break with him in any way, said he’s personally avoided visiting the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue because of the White House’s lax virus protocols.
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“I actually haven’t been to the White House since August the 6th because my impression was their approach to how to handle this is different from mine and what I insisted that we do in the Senate, which is to wear a mask and practice social distancing,” the 78-year-old majority leader said at an event in Kentucky.
“If any of you have been around me since May the 1st, I’ve said, ‘Wear your mask. Practice social distancing.’ ... Now, you’ve heard of other places that have had a different view, and they are, you know, paying the price for it,” he added at another event.
In sharp contrast to Trump, McConnell has placed a big emphasis on mask-wearing and social distancing in the Senate and at public events in his home state, touting those steps as the most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable groups.
The recent outbreak that has infected at least 30 White House staffers and other GOP officials has directly threatened McConnell’s majority in the Senate, which is racing to confirm a conservative Supreme Court justice before the Nov. 3 presidential election.
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Three Republican senators, including two Judiciary Committee members, have announced testing positive for the virus following the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony. Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Ron Johnson (Wis.) are all currently quarantining. If any more GOP senators contract the virus, it could derail the confirmation process and postpone a final vote on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior this week may also threaten the reelection bids of GOP incumbents facing tough fights, which could hand Democrats control of the Senate.
The president is likely still contagious and on steroids since leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center earlier this week. He took off his mask prior to walking into the White House on Monday and actually worked out of the Oval Office on Wednesday, possibly putting other White House staff at risk.
On Thursday, Trump posted to Twitter a video message addressing senior citizens, a group that polls have shown him losing by large margins to Democratic rival Joe Biden.
“I’m a senior. I know you don’t know that. Nobody knows that. Maybe you don’t have to tell ‘em, but I’m a senior,” Trump said in the video. “You’re not vulnerable, but they like to say ‘the vulnerable,’ but you’re the least vulnerable. But, for this one thing, you are vulnerable. So am I.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--White House Chief Of Staff Mark Meadows Hosted Large Wedding Despite COVID-19 Restrictions

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows ignored coronavirus restrictions when he hosted a large , mostly mask-less wedding for his daughter .
About 70 people attended the May 31 wedding for Haley Meadows Kocher , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported .
The wedding , hosted indoors at the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta , featured dozens of mask-less attendees , according to photos reviewed by the publication .
At the time of the wedding , Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) had issued an order banning gatherings of more than 10 people amid the deadly pandemic .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through with the wedding , with one attendee telling CNN that there was no social distancing during the event .
“ I did not feel safe , ” the guest told CNN .
“ I made a decision that I was gon na get COVID anyway because I made a decision to go , so I kind of assumed I had a bigger chance of getting it by going.
” Meadows had his Secret Service detail with him during the wedding , and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan ( R ) was also reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , The New York Times and CNN .
HuffPost has reached out to Jordan for comment .
Mike Moon , a photographer for the event , told The New York Times Thursday that workers wore masks , but many attendees did not .
“ Vendors wore masks and so did some of the guests off and on when they wanted to , ” Moon told the publication .
The coronavirus has killed more than 7,000 people in Georgia .
And Meadows must now contend with a White House that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― including President Donald Trump ― become infected with the virus .

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White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows ignored coronavirus restrictions when he hosted a large, mostly mask-less wedding for his daughter.
About 70 people attended the May 31 wedding for Haley Meadows Kocher, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported. The wedding, hosted indoors at the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta, featured dozens of mask-less attendees, according to photos reviewed by the publication.
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At the time of the wedding, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) had issued an order banning gatherings of more than 10 people amid the deadly pandemic. That didn’t stop Meadows from going through with the wedding, with one attendee telling CNN that there was no social distancing during the event.
“I did not feel safe,” the guest told CNN. “I made a decision that I was gonna get COVID anyway because I made a decision to go, so I kind of assumed I had a bigger chance of getting it by going.”
Meadows had his Secret Service detail with him during the wedding, and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan (R) was also reportedly in attendance.
Meadows declined comment to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The New York Times and CNN. HuffPost has reached out to Jordan for comment.
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Mike Moon, a photographer for the event, told The New York Times Thursday that workers wore masks, but many attendees did not.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Links Kidnapping Plot To Trump's Hate Rhetoric

Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer drew a strong line between an alleged plot to kidnap her and the rhetoric of President Donald Trump , whose recent comments have been interpreted by right-wing militia groups as encouragement .
“ Just last week , the president of the United States stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacists and hate groups , ” Whitmer , a Democrat , said at a press conference Thursday afternoon .
Six men involved with a militia group called Wolverine Watchmen are facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping , and an additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection with the alleged scheme .
The men wanted to “ storm ” the state Capitol in Lansing with 200 men to take hostages including the governor , court documents say .
Trump failed to speak out against hate groups during his first presidential debate with Democratic contender Joe Biden last Tuesday .
Pressed to condemn the Proud Boys , a group of violent right-wing extremists , Trump replied : “ Proud boys , stand back and stand by.
” Members of the Proud Boys quickly turned the president ’ s words into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also deflected criticism at the debate by claiming ― against the analysis of his own top law enforcement officials ― that the problem comes mainly “ from the left wing , not the right wing.
” The FBI warned as recently as two weeks ago that right-wing militia groups pose a “ violent extremist threat , ” particularly as the election approaches .
She continued : “ When our leaders speak , their words matter .
They carry weight .
When our leaders meet with , encourage or fraternize with domestic terrorists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are complicit .
When they stoke and contribute to hate speech , they are complicit.
” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded to Whitmer in a statement claiming that Trump “ has continually condemned white supremacists and all forms of hate , ” and that the Michigan governor was “ sowing division.
” Trump has danced around hate groups that profess to support him throughout his presidency ; it took him two days after the debate to say the words “ I condemn all white supremacists , ” which he eventually did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program .
Whitmer had been attacked by the president at the start of the coronavirus crisis for issuing strict lockdown orders that are credited with preventing statewide outbreaks .
In April , Trump reacted to news of Michigan lockdowns by tweeting , “ LIBERATE MICHIGAN.
” Heavily armed Michiganders began showing up in Lansing around that time to intimidate lawmakers and demand an end to lockdown measures .
One of the men charged with plotting against Whitmer , Adam Fox , called her a “ tyrant bitch ” in a private Facebook group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called the decisions she has had to make in the pandemic “ gut-wrenching , ” adding that “ 2020 has been a hard year for all of us.
” “ It ’ s been hard for the teachers , students and parents .
Hard for those who have had to stay isolated to stay safe .
But here ’ s what I know .
We are Michiganders .
We have grit .
We have heart .
And we are tough as hell , ” she said .

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer drew a strong line between an alleged plot to kidnap her and the rhetoric of President Donald Trump, whose recent comments have been interpreted by right-wing militia groups as encouragement.
“Just last week, the president of the United States stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacists and hate groups,” Whitmer, a Democrat, said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
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Six men involved with a militia group called Wolverine Watchmen are facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and an additional seven people are facing state charges in connection with the alleged scheme. The men wanted to “storm” the state Capitol in Lansing with 200 men to take hostages including the governor, court documents say.
Whitmer said Thursday that the suspects aimed to “possibly kill” her.
Trump failed to speak out against hate groups during his first presidential debate with Democratic contender Joe Biden last Tuesday. Pressed to condemn the Proud Boys, a group of violent right-wing extremists, Trump replied: “Proud boys, stand back and stand by.” Members of the Proud Boys quickly turned the president’s words into a T-shirt and other merchandise.
Heavily armed anti-lockdown protesters began showing up at the Michigan State Capitol in April around the time President Donald Trump tweeted "LIBERATE MICHIGAN." JEFF KOWALSKY via Getty Images
Trump also deflected criticism at the debate by claiming ― against the analysis of his own top law enforcement officials ― that the problem comes mainly “from the left wing, not the right wing.” The FBI warned as recently as two weeks ago that right-wing militia groups pose a “violent extremist threat,” particularly as the election approaches.
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“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry — as a call to action,” Whitmer said.
She continued: “When our leaders speak, their words matter. They carry weight. When our leaders meet with, encourage or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions, and they are complicit. When they stoke and contribute to hate speech, they are complicit.”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded to Whitmer in a statement claiming that Trump “has continually condemned white supremacists and all forms of hate,” and that the Michigan governor was “sowing division.”
Trump has danced around hate groups that profess to support him throughout his presidency; it took him two days after the debate to say the words “I condemn all white supremacists,” which he eventually did on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program.
Whitmer had been attacked by the president at the start of the coronavirus crisis for issuing strict lockdown orders that are credited with preventing statewide outbreaks. In April, Trump reacted to news of Michigan lockdowns by tweeting, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN.” Heavily armed Michiganders began showing up in Lansing around that time to intimidate lawmakers and demand an end to lockdown measures.
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When asked by reporters whether he thought Trump’s tweet had influenced militias like Wolverine Watchmen, Biden responded Thursday afternoon, “Yes, I do.”
“Why won’t the president just say ‘stop. Stop, stop, stop,’” Biden said.
One of the men charged with plotting against Whitmer, Adam Fox, called her a “tyrant bitch” in a private Facebook group, according to the FBI.
“Snatch and grab, man. Grab the fuckin’ Governor. Just grab the bitch,” Fox allegedly wrote. He is currently facing life in prison.
Whitmer called the decisions she has had to make in the pandemic “gut-wrenching,” adding that “2020 has been a hard year for all of us.”
“It’s been hard for the teachers, students and parents. Hard for those who have had to stay isolated to stay safe. But here’s what I know. We are Michiganders. We have grit. We have heart. And we are tough as hell,” she said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Presidential Debates In Chaos After Trump Refuses To Attend Virtual Event

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he wouldn ’ t participate in next week ’ s presidential debate after organizers announced it would be held virtually “ in order to protect the health and safety of all involved.
” Democratic nominee Joe Biden initially agreed to take part , but suggested the debate be postponed after Trump rejected the new format .
The debate commission had said the next event would take place Oct. 15 in a town hall format as previously planned , but that each candidate would participate remotely .
Town hall participants and the debate moderator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in person at the debate venue in Miami .
Biden ’ s campaign quickly said the Democratic nominee would participate and “ looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump ’ s failed leadership on the coronavirus.
” But later , after Trump declared he would not participate , Biden urged that the town hall event be postponed until Oct. 22 , when a third presidential debate was already scheduled to take place .
The Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate .
“ Trump ’ s erratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar , and pick new dates of his choosing , ” said Biden ’ s communications manager , Kate Bedingfield .
She noted that Oct. 22 was already one of the latest debate dates in recent history .
“ Donald Trump clearly does not want to face questions from the voters about his failures on COVID and the economy , ” Bedingfield said .
“ As a result , Joe Biden will find an appropriate place to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as he has done on several occasions in recent weeks.
” “ The voters should have a chance to ask questions of both candidates , directly , ” Bedingfield said .
“ Every Presidential candidate since 1992 has participated in such an event , and it would be a shame if Donald Trump was the first to refuse.
” President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden at the presidential debate on Sept. 29 .
Trump has said he wo n't participate in the second debate scheduled for Oct. 15 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be held remotely .
The Trump campaign appeared to agree to the new date of Oct. 22 , and , as opposed to the Biden campaign , called for the third and final debate to shift to Oct. 29 .
It also accused the nonpartisan debate commission of being favorable to Biden and resumed attacking the former vice president for taking COVID-19 safety measures , such as falsely suggesting he was “ hiding ” in his “ basement bunker.
” “ As President Trump said , a virtual debate is a non-starter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden because he would be relying on his teleprompter from his basement bunker , ” Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said in a statement .
“ The CPD and the media can not hide Joe Biden forever .
Americans deserve to hear directly from both presidential candidates on these dates , October 22 and 29.
” Days after last week ’ s presidential debate in Cleveland , Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized for three days .
Since his diagnosis , dozens of people in his orbit have also tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aides and associates who helped in his debate preparations .
On Friday , hours after Trump announced he had tested positive , Biden said he tested negative for COVID-19 .
He has since tested negative several more times , according to his campaign .
“ I don ’ t wear face masks like him , ” the president said during last week ’ s debate .
“ Every time you see him , he ’ s got a mask .
He could be speaking 200 feet away ... and he shows up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he wouldn’t participate in next week’s presidential debate after organizers announced it would be held virtually “in order to protect the health and safety of all involved.” Democratic nominee Joe Biden initially agreed to take part, but suggested the debate be postponed after Trump rejected the new format.
Trump, still recovering from COVID-19, said the altered debate format that the Commission on Presidential Debates announced earlier in the day was unacceptable.
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“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate,” the president, in a hoarse voice, told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo in a phone interview.
The debate commission had said the next event would take place Oct. 15 in a town hall format as previously planned, but that each candidate would participate remotely. Town hall participants and the debate moderator, C-SPAN anchor Steve Scully, would attend in person at the debate venue in Miami.
Biden’s campaign quickly said the Democratic nominee would participate and “looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump’s failed leadership on the coronavirus.”
But later, after Trump declared he would not participate, Biden urged that the town hall event be postponed until Oct. 22, when a third presidential debate was already scheduled to take place. The Biden campaign said that should be the final debate.
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“Trump’s erratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar, and pick new dates of his choosing,” said Biden’s communications manager, Kate Bedingfield. She noted that Oct. 22 was already one of the latest debate dates in recent history.
Biden plans to dedicate Oct. 15 to another event.
“Donald Trump clearly does not want to face questions from the voters about his failures on COVID and the economy,” Bedingfield said. “As a result, Joe Biden will find an appropriate place to take questions from voters directly on October 15th, as he has done on several occasions in recent weeks.”
Bedingfield added that the commission could delay the planned town hall debate for one week “so that the President is not able to evade accountability.”
“The voters should have a chance to ask questions of both candidates, directly,” Bedingfield said. “Every Presidential candidate since 1992 has participated in such an event, and it would be a shame if Donald Trump was the first to refuse.”
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden at the presidential debate on Sept. 29. Trump has said he won't participate in the second debate scheduled for Oct. 15, which the Commission on Presidential Debates decided should be held remotely. AP Photo/Julio Cortez
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The Trump campaign appeared to agree to the new date of Oct. 22, and, as opposed to the Biden campaign, called for the third and final debate to shift to Oct. 29. It also accused the nonpartisan debate commission of being favorable to Biden and resumed attacking the former vice president for taking COVID-19 safety measures, such as falsely suggesting he was “hiding” in his “basement bunker.”
“As President Trump said, a virtual debate is a non-starter and would clearly be a gift to Biden because he would be relying on his teleprompter from his basement bunker,” Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said in a statement. “The CPD and the media cannot hide Joe Biden forever. Americans deserve to hear directly from both presidential candidates on these dates, October 22 and 29.”
Earlier, Stepien, who also has tested positive for COVID-19, called the virtual format a “sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden” and said in a statement that Trump would “do a rally instead.”
Days after last week’s presidential debate in Cleveland, Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized for three days. Since his diagnosis, dozens of people in his orbit have also tested positive, including White House officials, campaign aides and associates who helped in his debate preparations.
On Friday, hours after Trump announced he had tested positive, Biden said he tested negative for COVID-19. He has since tested negative several more times, according to his campaign.
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Meanwhile, Trump and his team have flouted coronavirus health guidelines, such as wearing face masks. Members of Trump’s family refused a doctor’s admonition to keep their masks on in the debate audience in Cleveland.
Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate was held in person with a plexiglass barrier between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Audience members were required to wear masks.
However, at the end of the debate, Pence’s wife Karen appeared on stage without one, ignoring guidelines both campaigns had agreed to observe.
Throughout the pandemic, Trump has continued to hold campaign rallies with mostly maskless crowds. He also has mocked Biden for wearing a face mask and observing other coronavirus health guidelines.
“I don’t wear face masks like him,” the president said during last week’s debate. “Every time you see him, he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away ... and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”
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Nearly 212,000 people in the U.S. have died of COVID-19.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Trump Calls Kamala Harris A 'Communist' And 'Monster' In Rambling Fox Interview

Donald Trump went on a rampage against vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) in a nearly hourlong phone interview with Fox Business on Thursday morning , calling the senator a “ communist ” and a “ monster.
” Speaking with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo , Trump ― who is only three days out of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , where he was hospitalized for COVID-19 ― launched into an assessment of Harris ’ performance during the vice presidential debate .
“ I thought that wasn ’ t even a contest last night , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I don ’ t think you can get worse .
And totally unlikeable .
And she is .
She ’ s a communist .
She ’ s left of Bernie .
She ’ s rated left of Bernie by everybody .
She ’ s a communist.
” Trump ― who has been releasing bizarre videos in recent days and pitching an experimental drug from Regeneron that hasn ’ t completed testing in clinical trials ― went on to argue that Joe Biden was “ not mentally capable of being president ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job .
He then called Harris a “ monster ” twice .
“ This monster that was onstage with Mike Pence , who destroyed her last night , by the way , ” Trump said .
“ This monster , she says , ‘ No no , there won ’ t be fracking , ’ there won ’ t be this .
Everything she said is a lie.
” Harris repeatedly stressed that Joe Biden would not ban fracking over the course of Wednesday ’ s debate , and the Pennsylvania State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union that represents workers in Pennsylvania ’ s fracking industry , endorsed Biden for president in September .
Aside from insulting Harris , Trump declared that he would not engage in a virtual debate against Democratic nominee Joe Biden , calling the process a waste of his time , and claimed that he was looking forward to holding future rallies ― despite multiple members of his inner circle testing positive for COVID-19 last week due to his events .
The president also declared himself a “ perfect physical specimen ” and that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the experimental nature of the Regeneron drug , as well as the fact that as president , he had access to health care unavailable to the majority of Americans .
Furthermore , there is no known cure for COVID-19 .
Trump has long painted Harris ’ policies as more radical than those of Sen. Bernie Sanders , who ran squarely to Harris ’ left in the Democratic primary .
And he previously drew flak from even the conservative New York Post for referring to Harris as a “ mad woman.
” His analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by other pundits and GOP politicians , such as Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) , who also zeroed in on her mannerisms and “ likability ” with equally sexist undertones .

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Donald Trump went on a rampage against vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) in a nearly hourlong phone interview with Fox Business on Thursday morning, calling the senator a “communist” and a “monster.”
Speaking with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, Trump ― who is only three days out of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he was hospitalized for COVID-19 ― launched into an assessment of Harris’ performance during the vice presidential debate.
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“I thought that wasn’t even a contest last night,” Trump said. “She was terrible. I don’t think you can get worse. And totally unlikeable. And she is. She’s a communist. She’s left of Bernie. She’s rated left of Bernie by everybody. She’s a communist.”
Trump ― who has been releasing bizarre videos in recent days and pitching an experimental drug from Regeneron that hasn’t completed testing in clinical trials ― went on to argue that Joe Biden was “not mentally capable of being president” and wouldn’t last two months on the job. He then called Harris a “monster” twice.
“This monster that was onstage with Mike Pence, who destroyed her last night, by the way,” Trump said. “This monster, she says, ‘No no, there won’t be fracking,’ there won’t be this. Everything she said is a lie.”
Harris repeatedly stressed that Joe Biden would not ban fracking over the course of Wednesday’s debate, and the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, a union that represents workers in Pennsylvania’s fracking industry, endorsed Biden for president in September.
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"She's a communist," Trump says of Kamala Harris, adding without a shred of irony that "Biden won't make it two months as president" pic.twitter.com/DpwtPh6NSF — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 8, 2020
Trump refers to Kamala Harris as "this monster" pic.twitter.com/hcnUpV8PBf — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 8, 2020
Aside from insulting Harris, Trump declared that he would not engage in a virtual debate against Democratic nominee Joe Biden, calling the process a waste of his time, and claimed that he was looking forward to holding future rallies ― despite multiple members of his inner circle testing positive for COVID-19 last week due to his events.
The president also declared himself a “perfect physical specimen” and that he had been cured of COVID-19, ignoring the experimental nature of the Regeneron drug, as well as the fact that as president, he had access to health care unavailable to the majority of Americans. Furthermore, there is no known cure for COVID-19.
"I'm back because I'm a perfect physician specimen," Trump claims, before falsely describing Regeneron as "a cure" pic.twitter.com/UjecdXEC4F — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 8, 2020
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Trump has long painted Harris’ policies as more radical than those of Sen. Bernie Sanders, who ran squarely to Harris’ left in the Democratic primary. And he previously drew flak from even the conservative New York Post for referring to Harris as a “mad woman.”
His analysis of Harris’ debate performance was echoed by other pundits and GOP politicians, such as Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who also zeroed in on her mannerisms and “likability” with equally sexist undertones.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Marco Rubio's Vice Presidential Debate Review Goes Viral For The Wrong Reason

Sen. Marco Rubio ( R-Fla. ) was left with egg on his face after he attempted to criticize Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris ’ performance in Wednesday ’ s debate .
Rubio tweeted footage of what appeared to be a missile test , that was originally aired on the state-run China Central Television network , and encouraged his 4.2 million followers to “ think hard about what you just saw…then decide who you want just one heartbeat away from the Presidency.
” Think hard about what you just saw ... then decide who you want just one heartbeat away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ marcorubio ) October 8 , 2020 Many critics mockingly suggested Rubio had inadvertently endorsed the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Harris against President Donald Trump in the 2020 election .
Others accused Rubio of misogyny and sexism and reminded him of his claim in 2016 , when he was running for president , that his GOP rival Trump could not be trusted with the nuclear codes .
Well that ’ s rich considering a nuclear football carrier is in isolation due to GOP hubris and carelessness https : //t.co/l8dxBovN8L — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) October 8 , 2020 I do n't think this plays the way Rubio thinks it does .
https : //t.co/ogeRhTmCnB — Charlie Sykes ( @ SykesCharlie ) October 8 , 2020 i 'm totally not misogynistic , now excuse me while i post some sky penises while asking this question https : //t.co/grb77h1RTS — Jodi Beggs ( @ jodiecongirl ) October 8 , 2020 Well , I ’ d say no one from the administration that gave the ‘ rona to the guy who carries around the nuclear football .
☢ 🏈 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ rumpfshaker ) October 8 , 2020 So , the woman on the ticket that is n't trying to go to war with China , did I get it right https : //t.co/ILMFP1jmBD — Jeff Yang ( @ originalspin ) October 8 , 2020 Thank you for reminding us that a President needs a cool and calm demeanor when making life-and-death decisions .
— Seth Masket ( @ smotus ) October 8 , 2020 Oh wow , Marco coming out against Trump like this , finally got his moral courage back .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ epicciuto ) October 8 , 2020 The classic read unto this as you wish message - it 's easy to interpret this as being against your own party 's candidate 😂 — grant christopher ( @ gechristopher ) October 8 , 2020 Answer : Certainly not a rude and vacuous man who agrees to rules and then continually violated them , demonstrating contempt for women while channeling his boss , as well as evading answers to questions that should be easy to answer .
https : //t.co/AMBp3mzCfq — David Cay Johnston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 We 're missing the main point : a Republican Senator implied a woman is too emotional to be Vice President of the United States .
In 2020 .
Let that sink in .
I 'm calling it - @ GOP is not salvageable .
Period .
Pence lowered the coffin , Rubio set it ablaze , Trump nuked it .
— E pluribus unum ( @ HRRevels1 ) October 8 , 2020 What is your point exactly with this ?
Is this some way to say a man is better than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matthewjdowd ) October 8 , 2020

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Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was left with egg on his face after he attempted to criticize Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ performance in Wednesday’s debate.
Rubio tweeted footage of what appeared to be a missile test, that was originally aired on the state-run China Central Television network, and encouraged his 4.2 million followers to “think hard about what you just saw…then decide who you want just one heartbeat away from the Presidency.”
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Think hard about what you just saw...then decide who you want just one heartbeat away from the Presidency pic.twitter.com/f6j8T3QiB2 — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 8, 2020
But the post backfired.
Many critics mockingly suggested Rubio had inadvertently endorsed the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Harris against President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
Others accused Rubio of misogyny and sexism and reminded him of his claim in 2016, when he was running for president, that his GOP rival Trump could not be trusted with the nuclear codes.
Is Rubio endorsing #BidenHarris2020 here? Because a reminder that Donald Trump controls the nukes is...not confidence-building. https://t.co/xwhuMg4KUH — Laura Seay (@texasinafrica) October 8, 2020
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Well that’s rich considering a nuclear football carrier is in isolation due to GOP hubris and carelessness https://t.co/l8dxBovN8L — Emily Deans MD 👻 (@evolutionarypsy) October 8, 2020
I don't think this plays the way Rubio thinks it does. https://t.co/ogeRhTmCnB — Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) October 8, 2020
i'm totally not misogynistic, now excuse me while i post some sky penises while asking this question https://t.co/grb77h1RTS — Jodi Beggs (@jodiecongirl) October 8, 2020
Marco, you are very bad at Twitter. https://t.co/2vuh5X0136 — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) October 8, 2020
Well, I’d say no one from the administration that gave the ‘rona to the guy who carries around the nuclear football. ☢ 🏈 🦠 https://t.co/HVs9nuOFZU — Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) October 8, 2020
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So, the woman on the ticket that isn't trying to go to war with China, did I get it right https://t.co/ILMFP1jmBD — Jeff Yang (@originalspin) October 8, 2020
Thank you for reminding us that a President needs a cool and calm demeanor when making life-and-death decisions. — Seth Masket (@smotus) October 8, 2020
Oh wow, Marco coming out against Trump like this, finally got his moral courage back. https://t.co/QOpOqjqzk8 — Elizabeth Picciuto 💨🍂 (@epicciuto) October 8, 2020
wow this is a remarkable self-own https://t.co/8TlHcdk2Tk — stuart andrew thompson (@stuartathompson) October 8, 2020
The classic read unto this as you wish message - it's easy to interpret this as being against your own party's candidate 😂 — grant christopher (@gechristopher) October 8, 2020
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Yeah...think who controls the nuclear football right now https://t.co/A5TklYcHnb — Person Woman Man Camera TV (@ClaraJeffery) October 8, 2020
I have. Kamala. — Stuart Hazeldine (@stuarthazeldine) October 8, 2020
BREAKING!!!! Marco Rubio endorses Joe Biden. https://t.co/WtH2Qv7zTS — Machine Pun Kelly (@KellyScaletta) October 8, 2020
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Answer: Certainly not a rude and vacuous man who agrees to rules and then continually violated them, demonstrating contempt for women while channeling his boss, as well as evading answers to questions that should be easy to answer. https://t.co/AMBp3mzCfq — David Cay Johnston (@DavidCayJ) October 8, 2020
thanks marco I agree it's obviously Kamala — Bill (@Bill_TPA) October 8, 2020
We're missing the main point: a Republican Senator implied a woman is too emotional to be Vice President of the United States. In 2020. Let that sink in.
I'm calling it - @GOP is not salvageable. Period. Pence lowered the coffin, Rubio set it ablaze, Trump nuked it. — E pluribus unum (@HRRevels1) October 8, 2020
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What is your point exactly with this? Is this some way to say a man is better than a woman? — Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) October 8, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Feds Charge GOP Fundraiser Elliott Broidy In Scheme To Lobby Trump Administration, DOJ

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Elliott Broidy , a fundraiser for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party , has been charged in an illicit lobbying campaign aimed at getting the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the multibillion-dollar looting of a Malaysian state investment fund .
Broidy is the latest person accused by the Justice Department of participating in the covert lobbying effort , which also sought to arrange for the return of a Chinese dissident living in the U.S. A consultant , Nickie Lum Davis , agreed to plead guilty in federal court in Hawaii in August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in federal court in Washington , D.C. , with Broidy facing a single conspiracy charge related to his failure to register his efforts under the Foreign Agents Registration Act , which requires people lobbying in the U.S. for a foreign entity to disclose that work to the Justice Department .
Prosecutors allege that Broidy worked with Davis and others to get the Justice Department to abandon its pursuit of billions of dollars that officials say were pilfered from 1MDB , a Malaysian wealth fund that was established more than a decade ago to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The effort was done on behalf of a fugitive Malaysian financier , Jho Low , who has been charged in the U.S. with conspiring to launder billions of dollars from the fund .
The attempt to wipe away legal troubles was ultimately unsuccessful : The Justice Department in 2018 charged Low , who remains at large , in connection with the alleged money laundering and last year reached a civil settlement to recover more than $ 700 million in assets that officials say are traceable to the looted funds .
Broidy has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned in 2018 from his role as deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee after it was revealed that he paid $ 1.6 million to a Playboy Playmate with whom he had an extramarital affair .
A lawyer for Broidy declined to comment on Thursday .
The allegations are contained in a charging document known as an information , which typically signals an intent to plead guilty .

Elliot Broidy is facing federal charges in a lobbying scheme. Stefanie Keenan via Getty Images
WASHINGTON (AP) — Elliott Broidy, a fundraiser for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, has been charged in an illicit lobbying campaign aimed at getting the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the multibillion-dollar looting of a Malaysian state investment fund.
Broidy is the latest person accused by the Justice Department of participating in the covert lobbying effort, which also sought to arrange for the return of a Chinese dissident living in the U.S. A consultant, Nickie Lum Davis, agreed to plead guilty in federal court in Hawaii in August.
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The case was filed this week in federal court in Washington, D.C., with Broidy facing a single conspiracy charge related to his failure to register his efforts under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people lobbying in the U.S. for a foreign entity to disclose that work to the Justice Department.
Prosecutors allege that Broidy worked with Davis and others to get the Justice Department to abandon its pursuit of billions of dollars that officials say were pilfered from 1MDB, a Malaysian wealth fund that was established more than a decade ago to accelerate the country’s economic development.
The effort was done on behalf of a fugitive Malaysian financier, Jho Low, who has been charged in the U.S. with conspiring to launder billions of dollars from the fund.
The attempt to wipe away legal troubles was ultimately unsuccessful: The Justice Department in 2018 charged Low, who remains at large, in connection with the alleged money laundering and last year reached a civil settlement to recover more than $700 million in assets that officials say are traceable to the looted funds.
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Low has denied wrongdoing and did not admit blame in that settlement.
Broidy has been a top fundraiser for Trump but resigned in 2018 from his role as deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee after it was revealed that he paid $1.6 million to a Playboy Playmate with whom he had an extramarital affair.
A lawyer for Broidy declined to comment on Thursday. The allegations are contained in a charging document known as an information, which typically signals an intent to plead guilty.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Like Clockwork, Kamala Harris Criticized As 'Unlikable' Because She's A Woman In Politics

Similarly , Fox News host Geraldo Rivera took issue with her “ over-smirking , over-smiling.
” Overall though , he said , he felt she did well in showing debate viewers she was “ not a scary lady.
” In a tweet , Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) wrote that he would prefer to have dinner with Vice President Mike Pence , the “ MOST LIKEABLE ” of the two .
President Donald Trump , who has used no shortage of racist and sexist attacks against Harris , weighed in too .
In what amounted to a call-in therapy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the president called Harris “ totally unlikable.
” Later , Trump referred to the senator as “ this monster that was on stage with Mike Pence.
” Throughout the debate , Pence repeatedly interrupted and talked over both Harris and moderator Susan Page .
As Pence told a series of lies and tried to deflect from the Trump administration ’ s failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic , Harris ’ facial expressions summed it all up , as if to say : “ Can you believe this guy ?
” Sen. Kamala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice presidential nominee , debated Vice President Mike Pence at the University of Utah on Wednesday night .
Throughout the debate , Pence talked for longer than his allotted time and talked over Harris .
For many women and women of color , it was all too eerily familiar .
Harris endured Pence ’ s gaslighting , interrupting and mansplaining , all while being hyperaware that her every move was being scrutinized .
She had to perform the impossible gymnastics of being assertive and direct — without seeming too “ aggressive ” or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and showing emotion — without seeming too “ hysterical ” or “ weak ” or “ shrill.
” At times , Harris looked like she was trying to show restraint and not display her emotions , and to figure out the most diplomatic way to call out Pence .
It was yet another manifestation of that vicious cycle : be firm , but not angry ; advocate for yourself , but do it respectfully .
If you ’ re a woman and especially a woman of color in politics , it seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

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As soon as Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate ended, like clockwork, cable news pundits and focus groups assessed Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ performance using sexist and racist undertones.
Republican pollster Frank Luntz said his focus group of undecided voters deemed Harris, the first Black and Asian American woman on a major-party presidential ticket, “condescending” and “abrasive.”
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Fox News host Bret Baier asked Karl Rove if the California senator was “likable.”
“If she was trying to, she failed at it,” Rove said.
Similarly, Fox News host Geraldo Rivera took issue with her “over-smirking, over-smiling.” Overall though, he said, he felt she did well in showing debate viewers she was “not a scary lady.”
In a tweet, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) wrote that he would prefer to have dinner with Vice President Mike Pence, the “MOST LIKEABLE” of the two.
After the pence/Harris debate the winner is usually the one u would want to have dinner with.... I think pence would get the invitation MOST LIKEABLE — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 8, 2020
And on and on and on.
President Donald Trump, who has used no shortage of racist and sexist attacks against Harris, weighed in too.
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In what amounted to a call-in therapy session on Fox Business on Thursday morning, the president called Harris “totally unlikable.” Later, Trump referred to the senator as “this monster that was on stage with Mike Pence.”
Trump refers to Kamala Harris as "this monster" pic.twitter.com/hcnUpV8PBf — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 8, 2020
All of it is exhausting — and exhaustingly predictable.
Throughout the debate, Pence repeatedly interrupted and talked over both Harris and moderator Susan Page. As Pence told a series of lies and tried to deflect from the Trump administration’s failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Harris’ facial expressions summed it all up, as if to say: “Can you believe this guy?”
Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, debated Vice President Mike Pence at the University of Utah on Wednesday night. Throughout the debate, Pence talked for longer than his allotted time and talked over Harris. Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
For many women and women of color, it was all too eerily familiar. Harris endured Pence’s gaslighting, interrupting and mansplaining, all while being hyperaware that her every move was being scrutinized. She had to perform the impossible gymnastics of being assertive and direct — without seeming too “aggressive” or “bitchy” or “unlikable” — and showing emotion — without seeming too “hysterical” or “weak” or “shrill.”
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At times, Harris looked like she was trying to show restraint and not display her emotions, and to figure out the most diplomatic way to call out Pence. It was yet another manifestation of that vicious cycle: be firm, but not angry; advocate for yourself, but do it respectfully.
If you’re a woman and especially a woman of color in politics, it seems like you can never win.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Families Of MLK, Jackie Robinson Bash Trump Over New Ad: 'Beyond Insulting'

The families of Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson demanded that President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign remove images of the late Black icons from one of its newest political ads .
Bernice King , the youngest daughter of the late civil rights leader , called the inclusion of her father ’ s image in the ad “ beyond insulting.
” “ My father should not be used in ways strongly misaligned with his vision and values , ” Bernice King tweeted Wednesday .
“ My father was working for an America with leaders who have answered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she added .
“ He said , ’ We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice .
Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity .
... America needs this type of leader NOW.
” I find President Trump ’ s use of my father ’ s image in his political ad beyond insulting and not reflective of # MLK ’ s commitment to creating the # BelovedCommunity .
My father should not be used in ways strongly misaligned with his vision and values , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Be A King ( @ BerniceKing ) October 7 , 2020 The ad , titled “ We Will Never Surrender America , ” appeared to target Black voters .
The nearly one-and-a-half-minute video includes images of King and Robinson , Major League Baseball ’ s first Black player since a color line was established in the late 19th century .
“ The Trump campaign is in opposition to all that Jackie Robinson stood for and believed in , ” she said .
“ We ’ re insulted and demand that his image @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request for comment Jackie Robinson ’ s family strongly objects to the use of Jackie Robinson ’ s image in a Donald Trump @ JRFoundation The Trump campaign is in opposition to all that Jackie Robinson stood for and believed in .
We ’ re insulted and demand that his image be removed !
@ realDonaldTrump — Sharon Robinson ( @ sharonarobinson ) October 8 , 2020 The Trump campaign regularly faces calls from musicians ― Rihanna , Axl Rose , Neil Young and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his rallies because they strongly dislike him and his message .
But Trump ’ s inclusion of King and Robinson in a political ad especially enraged some Twitter users , who pointed out that the president has a history of making bigoted comments and pushing racist policies .
In August , Trump encouraged a racist conspiracy theory that Sen. Kamala Harris of California is not be eligible to be Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s running mate .
Last week , during the first 2020 presidential debate , Trump refused to condemn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and several Republicans .
Following days of that backlash , Trump eventually denounced white supremacists in an interview on Fox News .

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The families of Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson demanded that President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign remove images of the late Black icons from one of its newest political ads.
Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the late civil rights leader, called the inclusion of her father’s image in the ad “beyond insulting.”
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“My father should not be used in ways strongly misaligned with his vision and values,” Bernice King tweeted Wednesday.
“My father was working for an America with leaders who have answered the call to conscience and compassionate action,” she added. “He said, ’We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity. ... America needs this type of leader NOW.”
I find President Trump’s use of my father’s image in his political ad beyond insulting and not reflective of #MLK’s commitment to creating the #BelovedCommunity. My father should not be used in ways strongly misaligned with his vision and values, @realDonaldTrump. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/7AwySnFFOw — Be A King (@BerniceKing) October 7, 2020
The ad, titled “We Will Never Surrender America,” appeared to target Black voters. The nearly one-and-a-half-minute video includes images of King and Robinson, Major League Baseball’s first Black player since a color line was established in the late 19th century.
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“Jackie Robinson’s family strongly objects to the use of Jackie Robinson’s image in a Donald Trump [ad],” Robinson’s daughter, Sharon Robinson, tweeted Thursday.
“The Trump campaign is in opposition to all that Jackie Robinson stood for and believed in,” she said. “We’re insulted and demand that his image be removed!”
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment
Jackie Robinson’s family strongly objects to the use of Jackie Robinson’s image in a Donald Trump @JRFoundation The Trump campaign is in opposition to all that Jackie Robinson stood for and believed in. We’re insulted and demand that his image be removed! @realDonaldTrump — Sharon Robinson (@sharonarobinson) October 8, 2020
The Trump campaign regularly faces calls from musicians ― Rihanna, Axl Rose, Neil Young and others ― to stop playing their music during his rallies because they strongly dislike him and his message.
But Trump’s inclusion of King and Robinson in a political ad especially enraged some Twitter users, who pointed out that the president has a history of making bigoted comments and pushing racist policies.
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In August, Trump encouraged a racist conspiracy theory that Sen. Kamala Harris of California is not be eligible to be Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Coronavirus Billows From White House On Time Magazine's New Cover

A President obsessed with strength and dominance could never stand to be revealed as a sick , vulnerable old man @ @ @ @ @ flesh like the rest of us , ashes to ashes , writes @ mollyesque in @ @ @ @ @ .
There could never be a Wizard of Oz moment for Donald J. Trump , @ @ @ @ @ politics .
In recent weeks , he has bullied the Congress , his political opponent @ @ @ @ @ democracy itself , all while mocking health precautions , practically daring the virus to infect @ @ @ @ @ those around him , the country and even potentially his own health—anything it took not @ @ @ @ @ Trump , science is just another biased Deep State lie , another loser to be @ @ @ @ @ could have done the responsible thing , but his ideology is strength .
It is @ @ @ @ @ epitaph of the Trump presidency , but one day we may look back and see @ @ @ @ @ .
Read more at the link in bio .
Illustration by TIME

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A President obsessed with strength and dominance could never stand to be revealed as a sick, vulnerable old man, a mortal made of flesh like the rest of us, ashes to ashes, writes @mollyesque in this week's cover story. There could never be a Wizard of Oz moment for Donald J. Trump, with his might-makes-right brand of politics. In recent weeks, he has bullied the Congress, his political opponent and the very machinery of democracy itself, all while mocking health precautions, practically daring the virus to infect him. He would sacrifice those around him, the country and even potentially his own health—anything it took not to appear weak. To Trump, science is just another biased Deep State lie, another loser to be bullied into submission. He could have done the responsible thing, but his ideology is strength. It is too soon to write the epitaph of the Trump presidency, but one day we may look back and see this as his ultimate weakness. Read more at the link in bio. Illustration by TIME


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--GOP Senator Called Fascist After Declaring The U.S. Isn't A Democracy

Utah Sen. Mike Lee spent much of Wednesday night ’ s debate live-tweeting and , at one point , made a particularly bold declaration : “ We ’ re not a democracy.
” Less than an hour into the debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic nominee Sen. Kamala Harris , Lee shared his interpretation of the American government : Lee was not commenting on his party ’ s widespread voter suppression efforts ; instead , he was supporting the right-wing political argument that the United States is a “ republic ” and not a “ democracy.
” That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ describe who we are , but to claim and co-opt the founding for right-wing politics — to naturalize political inequality and make it the proper order of things .
What lies behind that quip , in other words , is an impulse against democratic representation , ” Jamelle Bouie wrote in The New York Times last year .
The argument is based on the belief that in the United States — which is very much a democracy because the people are , in fact , responsible for electing those in power — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all other political considerations .
The senator expressed this idea when he briefly elaborated in a follow-up tweet : Such a brazen admission only confirms what many already know : Conservative efforts to suppress voters , gerrymander districts , and skew the census are all part of a strategy to remove power from voters and concentrate it in one party , the GOP .
This , critics argued , was an admission by Lee of his sympathies for fascism , which seeks the absolute rule of a one-party state .
Authoritarianism in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Orbán .
GOP has judged the time right to come out and say it .
As their Leader just declared , “ the gloves are off.
” https : //t.co/QQyGHX6tPa — Ruth Ben-Ghiat ( @ ruthbenghiat ) October 8 , 2020 This went over my head but it ’ s from Mein Kampf .
Fitting .
And Mike Lee ‘ s not alone .
With actions being louder than words , the position of the Republican Party in 2020 is squarely centered around fascism .
Mike Lee was foolish enough to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them are all in .
https : //t.co/7UZdAAhtJ7 — Walter Shaub ( @ waltshaub ) October 8 , 2020 Another fascist is taking his mask off , but this time it ’ s the senior US Senator from Utah .
The @ GOP is a direct threat to American Democracy , and Mike Lee isn ’ t even pretending otherwise .
https : //t.co/JweODZ6e9E — You Need To Vote ( @ Mysterious_Andy ) October 8 , 2020

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Utah Sen. Mike Lee spent much of Wednesday night’s debate live-tweeting and, at one point, made a particularly bold declaration: “We’re not a democracy.”
Less than an hour into the debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic nominee Sen. Kamala Harris, Lee shared his interpretation of the American government:
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We’re not a democracy. — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 8, 2020
That claim is used by Republicans not to “describe who we are, but to claim and co-opt the founding for right-wing politics — to naturalize political inequality and make it the proper order of things. What lies behind that quip, in other words, is an impulse against democratic representation,” Jamelle Bouie wrote in The New York Times last year.
The argument is based on the belief that in the United States — which is very much a democracy because the people are, in fact, responsible for electing those in power — the general concept of liberty should supersede all other political considerations.
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The senator expressed this idea when he briefly elaborated in a follow-up tweet:
Democracy isn’t the objective; liberty, peace, and prospefity are. We want the human condition to flourish. Rank democracy can thwart that. — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 8, 2020
Such a brazen admission only confirms what many already know: Conservative efforts to suppress voters, gerrymander districts, and skew the census are all part of a strategy to remove power from voters and concentrate it in one party, the GOP. This, critics argued, was an admission by Lee of his sympathies for fascism, which seeks the absolute rule of a one-party state.
Lee’s tweets were quickly ratioed, and many called the senator a fascist:
Wow, a US Senator openly opposing Democracy! This violates his oath and should be called out as fascist lingo. #Mikelee #traitorsinsenate https://t.co/vyQwqwOOIT — Gregory McGillivary (@WizardCat1) October 8, 2020
Authoritarianism in a nutshell. Same words said from Mussolini to Orbán. GOP has judged the time right to come out and say it. As their Leader just declared, “the gloves are off.” https://t.co/QQyGHX6tPa — Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat) October 8, 2020
Going full on fascist so early in the morning. How special. — 🏳🌈NastyNEGirl 🏳🌈 (@PatsGirls67) October 8, 2020
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This went over my head but it’s from Mein Kampf. Fitting. And Mike Lee‘s not alone. With actions being louder than words, the position of the Republican Party in 2020 is squarely centered around fascism. Mike Lee was foolish enough to say it out loud, but all of them are all in. https://t.co/7UZdAAhtJ7 — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) October 8, 2020
Who had @SenMikeLee on their 2020 Fascist Bingo Card? https://t.co/3hOCgMVHYT — Regina Marston for Congress - CA 42 in 2022 (@Marston4ca42) October 8, 2020
Let the record reflect: Mike Lee, Senator from the great state of Utah, is a fascist. https://t.co/SU37Hzx6GF — Ryan Block (@ryan) October 8, 2020
Mike Lee seems to be a fascist. https://t.co/j5wjhI2OPM — Omri Marian (@Omri_Marian) October 8, 2020
Another fascist is taking his mask off, but this time it’s the senior US Senator from Utah.
The @GOP is a direct threat to American Democracy, and Mike Lee isn’t even pretending otherwise. https://t.co/JweODZ6e9E — You Need To Vote (@Mysterious_Andy) October 8, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Facebook Removes Network Of Fake, Pro-Trump Conservative Accounts

In a blog post discussing the action , Facebook security policy head Nathaniel Gleicher said the accounts , some of which date back to 2018 , were engaged in “ election-focused behavior ” in an attempt to manipulate public opinion .
Using “ thinly veiled personas , ” the accounts posted comments on pages belonging to popular news outlets , seeking to create the perception of widespread support for various , typically conservative causes .
“ These comments included topics like trophy or sport hunting in the US and Kenya , the midterm elections in 2018 , the 2020 presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic party and presidential candidate Joe Biden , and praise of President Trump and the Republican party , ” Gleicher said .
Some of the accounts posed as left-leaning individuals in 2018 .
Pages belonging to The Washington Post , The New York Times , Fox News , MSNBC and CNN received most of the accounts ’ recent comments .
Russian troll farms engaged in similar manipulative behavior on social media during the 2016 and 2018 election cycles .
About 373,000 accounts followed one or more of the fraudulent Facebook pages , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fake profiles on Instagram .
That reach wasn ’ t achieved organically .
The group spent about $ 973,000 on ads across Facebook and Instagram to boost a mix of fake and real profiles .
Facebook said Thursday it has banned the U.S. marketing firm Rally Forge LLC from the platform , which it says was working on behalf of Turning Point USA and Inclusive Conservation Group , another nonprofit that was involved in the scheme .
Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk is among a vocal group of conservatives who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of anti-conservative bias , even though publicly available data shows the opposite is true .
In a statement to HuffPost , Turning Point USA distanced itself from the activity and blamed Rally Forge and its sister organization , Turning Point Action .
Unlike Turning Point USA , which is registered as a nonprofit , Turning Point Action is a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) and doesn ’ t have to disclose its donors .
Kirk oversees both groups .
An example of one of the `` inauthentic '' comments posted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of one of the `` inauthentic '' comments posted by the pro-Trump conservative network .

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Facebook said Thursday it’s removed a network of 200 accounts, 55 pages and 76 Instagram accounts linked to the pro-Trump conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA.
In a blog post discussing the action, Facebook security policy head Nathaniel Gleicher said the accounts, some of which date back to 2018, were engaged in “election-focused behavior” in an attempt to manipulate public opinion.
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Using “thinly veiled personas,” the accounts posted comments on pages belonging to popular news outlets, seeking to create the perception of widespread support for various, typically conservative causes.
“These comments included topics like trophy or sport hunting in the US and Kenya, the midterm elections in 2018, the 2020 presidential election, COVID-19, criticism of the Democratic party and presidential candidate Joe Biden, and praise of President Trump and the Republican party,” Gleicher said. Some of the accounts posed as left-leaning individuals in 2018.
Pages belonging to The Washington Post, The New York Times, Fox News, MSNBC and CNN received most of the accounts’ recent comments. Russian troll farms engaged in similar manipulative behavior on social media during the 2016 and 2018 election cycles.
About 373,000 accounts followed one or more of the fraudulent Facebook pages, with 22,000 people following one or more of the fake profiles on Instagram.
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That reach wasn’t achieved organically. The group spent about $973,000 on ads across Facebook and Instagram to boost a mix of fake and real profiles.
Facebook said Thursday it has banned the U.S. marketing firm Rally Forge LLC from the platform, which it says was working on behalf of Turning Point USA and Inclusive Conservation Group, another nonprofit that was involved in the scheme.
Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk is among a vocal group of conservatives who have repeatedly accused Facebook, Google and Twitter of anti-conservative bias, even though publicly available data shows the opposite is true.
In a statement to HuffPost, Turning Point USA distanced itself from the activity and blamed Rally Forge and its sister organization, Turning Point Action. Unlike Turning Point USA, which is registered as a nonprofit, Turning Point Action is a 501(c)(4) and doesn’t have to disclose its donors. Kirk oversees both groups.
See a sample of the comments below:
An example of one of the "inauthentic" comments posted by the pro-Trump conservative network. Facebook
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Trump Aide Calls Gretchen Whitmer, Target Of Abduction Plot, A 'Complete Phony'

“ Hate groups heard the president ’ s words not as a rebuke , but as a rallying cry — @ @ @ @ @ , ” Whitmer said in her Thursday press conference .
“ When our leaders speak @ @ @ @ @ They carry weight .
When our leaders meet with , encourage or fraternize with domestic @ @ @ @ @ actions , and they are complicit .
When they stoke and contribute to hate speech @ @ @ @ @ Asked about Miller ’ s remarks , Whitmer said on CNN later on Thursday that @ @ @ @ @ you need to know about the White House.
” “ After a plot to kidnap @ @ @ @ @ this is what they come out with .
They start attacking me , ” she @ @ @ @ @ to what good , decent people would do , which is to check in and @ @ @ @ @ OK ?
’ — which is what Joe Biden did .
And I think that @ @ @ @ @ s at stake in this election .
”

“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry — as a call to action,” Whitmer said in her Thursday press conference.
“When our leaders speak, their words matter. They carry weight. When our leaders meet with, encourage or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions, and they are complicit. When they stoke and contribute to hate speech, they are complicit.”
Asked about Miller’s remarks, Whitmer said on CNN later on Thursday that “it tells you everything you need to know about the White House.”
“After a plot to kidnap and to kill me, this is what they come out with. They start attacking me,” she said. “As opposed to what good, decent people would do, which is to check in and say, ‘Are you OK?’ — which is what Joe Biden did. And I think that tells you everything that’s at stake in this election.”