thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Rush Limbaugh Says Latest Cancer Treatment Is ‘Kicking My Ass’

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh revealed this week that the treatment he is currently receiving for advanced lung cancer is “ kicking my ass.
” “ There have been many cycles but this is the third wave and this current wave , I have to tell you , is kicking my ass , ” the controversial 69-year-old political commentator said during Tuesday ’ s broadcast of his nationally-syndicated “ The Rush Limbaugh Show.
” “ For the last seven days , I have been virtually worthless , virtually useless , ” he continued .
“ I haven ’ t left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done much of anything , except just try to rest and relax .
All of this was told to me , it was gon na be a factor.
” “ It ’ s the price that you pay if you make the decision to go ahead and do treatment to try to prolong your life , ” the broadcaster added .
Limbaugh , a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump who has often used his popular show to espouse conspiracy theories , said he ’ d been reluctant in recent weeks to divulge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vowed not to be a cancer patient on the radio.
” He also feared attacks from the media , claiming : “ If I were to go into much greater detail , you know , the media would start researching everything I said.
” Limbaugh later appeared to suggest he may soon have to take more time off from hosting his show because of the physical and mental toll it takes on him .
“ I hope that that doesn ’ t happen .
And I ’ m not , at the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do feel the need to keep you informed , ” he said .
Limbaugh announced his diagnosis on air in early February , one day before Trump presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union address .

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Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh revealed this week that his treatment for advanced lung cancer is “kicking my ass.”
“There have been many cycles but this is the third wave and this current wave, I have to tell you, is kicking my ass,” the controversial 69-year-old political commentator said during Tuesday’s broadcast of his nationally syndicated “The Rush Limbaugh Show.”
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“For the last seven days, I have been virtually worthless, virtually useless,” he continued. “I haven’t left the house. I haven’t done much of anything, except just try to rest and relax. All of this was told to me, it was gonna be a factor.”
He added: “It’s the price that you pay if you make the decision to go ahead and do treatment to try to prolong your life.”
Limbaugh, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump who has often used his popular show to espouse conspiracy theories, said he’d been reluctant in recent weeks to talk about his condition “because I vowed not to be a cancer patient on the radio.”
He also feared attacks, claiming: “If I were to go into much greater detail, you know, the media would start researching everything I said.”
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Limbaugh appeared to suggest he may soon have to take more time off from hosting his show because of the physical and mental toll.
“I hope that that doesn’t happen. And I’m not, at the same time, making any excuses. But I do feel the need to keep you informed,” he said.
Limbaugh announced his diagnosis on air in early February, one day before Trump presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union address.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Trump Signs Social Media Executive Order

The move , which may expose social media companies to liability for what gets posted on their platforms , dramatically escalates a confrontation between Trump and his favored mode of communication , where the president can address his more than 80 million followers directly without relying on news conferences or the traditional media .
Trump and his backers claimed Twitter was suppressing free speech by labeling his tweets , which falsely claimed mail-in ballots would be “ substantially fraudulent.
” The president typically uses the platform to brag , attack rivals , bolster allies and spread falsehoods .
When a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t simply stop using using the platform , the president retorted , “ If we had fair press in this country , I would do that in a heartbeat.
” It wasn ’ t immediately clear how , if at all , the order can be enforced .
The president can not regulate tech companies without congressional approval and any challenge to their autonomy is sure to end up in court .
“ Much as he might wish otherwise , Donald Trump is not the president of Twitter .
This order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blatant and unconstitutional threat to punish social media companies that displease the president , ” the American Civil Liberties Union noted on Twitter .
“ The president has no authority to rewrite a congressional statute with an executive order imposing a flawed interpretation of Section 230 , ” the ACLU continued , referring to the section of the Communications Decency Act that shields platforms from being held liable for what users publish on them .
“ Ironically , Donald Trump is a big beneficiary of Section 230 , ” the legal nonprofit continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the law , then they would not risk the legal liability that could come with hosting Trump ’ s lies , defamation , and threats.
” But Trump insisted Thursday that he would go as far as shutting down Twitter if his lawyers found a way .
“ I ’ d have to go through a legal process , ” he said .
Still , Twitter labeled two of Trump ’ s tweets with a fact-check warning for the first time on Tuesday after the president ’ s mail-in fraud claim .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the coronavirus pandemic , including California , which said this month all registered voters would be sent ballots for the general election .
Twitter “ is now interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election , ” Trump wrote .
He later said the social media giant was “ completely stifling FREE SPEECH , and I , as President , will not allow it to happen !
” Trump doubled down on that criticism Thursday afternoon , tagging Twitter ’ s head of site integrity Yoel Roth in a separate tweet and deriding him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the second time in as many days the White House has specifically targeted Roth .
White House adviser Kellyanne Conway spelled out his Twitter handle on Fox News Wednesday , ominously predicting “ he ’ s about to get a lot more followers.
” “ I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn ’ t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online , ” Zuckerberg said .
“ I think in general , private companies probably shouldn ’ t be — especially these platform companies — shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey fired back at the criticism , saying the company would “ continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally .
And we will admit to and own any mistakes we make.
” “ This does not make us an ‘ arbiter of truth , ’ ” Dorsey said .
“ Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves .
More transparency from us is critical so folks can clearly see the @ @ @ @ @ @

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that could weaken legal protections for social media companies, days after Twitter labeled two of his misleading missives with a fact-check addendum.
The move, which may expose social media companies to liability for what gets posted on their platforms, dramatically escalates a confrontation between Trump and his favored mode of communication, where the president can address his more than 80 million followers directly without relying on news conferences or the traditional media.
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Trump and his backers claimed Twitter was suppressing free speech by labeling his tweets, which falsely claimed mail-in ballots would be “substantially fraudulent.” The president typically uses the platform to brag, attack rivals, bolster allies and spread falsehoods.
When a reporter asked at the signing why Trump didn’t simply stop using using the platform, the president retorted, “If we had fair press in this country, I would do that in a heartbeat.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how, if at all, the order can be enforced. The president cannot regulate tech companies without congressional approval and any challenge to their autonomy is sure to end up in court.
“Much as he might wish otherwise, Donald Trump is not the president of Twitter. This order, if issued, would be a blatant and unconstitutional threat to punish social media companies that displease the president,” the American Civil Liberties Union noted on Twitter.
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“The president has no authority to rewrite a congressional statute with an executive order imposing a flawed interpretation of Section 230,” the ACLU continued, referring to the section of the Communications Decency Act that shields platforms from being held liable for what users publish on them.
“Ironically, Donald Trump is a big beneficiary of Section 230,” the legal nonprofit continued. “If platforms were not immune under the law, then they would not risk the legal liability that could come with hosting Trump’s lies, defamation, and threats.”
But Trump insisted Thursday that he would go as far as shutting down Twitter if his lawyers found a way. “I’d have to go through a legal process,” he said.
Social media companies have enjoyed legal protections for what gets posted on their platforms and have resisted tampering with even vile falsehoods, including Trump’s aspersions that MSNBC host Joe Scarborough committed murder.
Still, Twitter labeled two of Trump’s tweets with a fact-check warning for the first time on Tuesday after the president’s mail-in fraud claim. Many states have moved to expand vote-by-mail during the coronavirus pandemic, including California, which said this month all registered voters would be sent ballots for the general election.
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There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed. The Governor of California is sending Ballots to millions of people, anyone..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2020
The Twitter addendum tells readers they can “get the facts” about mail-in ballots and directs them to news reports that debunk Trump’s claims.
The move, however, sparked a dramatic outburst from the Oval Office.
Twitter “is now interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election,” Trump wrote. He later said the social media giant was “completely stifling FREE SPEECH, and I, as President, will not allow it to happen!”
Trump doubled down on that criticism Thursday afternoon, tagging Twitter’s head of site integrity Yoel Roth in a separate tweet and deriding him as a “hater.” It’s the second time in as many days the White House has specifically targeted Roth. White House adviser Kellyanne Conway spelled out his Twitter handle on Fox News Wednesday, ominously predicting “he’s about to get a lot more followers.”
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he disagreed with Twitter’s policy in an interview with Fox News set to air Thursday.
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“I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn’t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online,” Zuckerberg said. “I think in general, private companies probably shouldn’t be — especially these platform companies — shouldn’t be in the position of doing that.”
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey fired back at the criticism, saying the company would “continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally. And we will admit to and own any mistakes we make.”
“This does not make us an ‘arbiter of truth,’” Dorsey said. “Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves. More transparency from us is critical so folks can clearly see the why behind our actions.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Trump Says 'Thank You' To Video Declaring 'The Only Good Democrat Is A Dead Democrat'

President Donald Trump tweeted a note of thanks in response to a video of a supporter of his exclaiming , “ The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.
” On Wednesday , the president quote-tweeted a video shared by Cowboys for Trump .
In the video , the group ’ s founder , Couy Griffin , is speaking in front of a New Mexico church , encouraging his audience to violate stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I ’ ve come to a conclusion where the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat , ” says Griffin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t mean that in a “ physical sense , ” but in a “ political sense.
” Cowboys for Trump tweeted the video in response to a report in The Daily Beast about the rally shown in the video — which included a clear explanation of Griffin ’ s actions and words — that the group decided was “ fake.
” Trump then responded to the video by thanking them and saying that he ’ d see the group in New Mexico .
Notably , The Daily Beast article features an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have “ chosen a different verbiage , you know.
” “ I guess I need to be more careful when I choose the words that I speak , ” he told the publication .
“ But you know , it ’ s just so hypocritical of the left how they ’ re blowing this up , like I ’ m some hate-speech murderer.
” But despite that moment of second-guessing , Griffin doubled down on his claim that “ the only good Democrat is a dead one , ” telling The Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Govs .
Ralph Northam of Virginia and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan “ could be guilty of treason and the punishment that comes with it.
” “ You get to pick your poison : You either go before a firing squad , or you get the end of the rope , ” he said .

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President Donald Trump tweeted a note of thanks in response to a video of a supporter of his exclaiming, “The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.”
On Wednesday, the president quote-tweeted a video shared by Cowboys for Trump. In the video, the group’s founder, Couy Griffin, is speaking in front of a New Mexico church, encouraging his audience to violate stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic.
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“I’ve come to a conclusion where the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat,” says Griffin, going on to add that he doesn’t mean that in a “physical sense,” but in a “political sense.”
Cowboys for Trump tweeted the video in response to a report in The Daily Beast about the rally shown in the video — which included a clear explanation of Griffin’s actions and words — that the group decided was “fake.”
Trump then responded to the video by thanking them and saying that he’d see the group in New Mexico.
Thank you Cowboys. See you in New Mexico! https://t.co/aCRJeskUA8 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2020
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Notably, The Daily Beast article features an interview with Griffin who says that he could have “chosen a different verbiage, you know.”
“I guess I need to be more careful when I choose the words that I speak,” he told the publication. “But you know, it’s just so hypocritical of the left how they’re blowing this up, like I’m some hate-speech murderer.”
But despite that moment of second-guessing, Griffin doubled down on his claim that “the only good Democrat is a dead one,” telling The Daily Beast that he thinks some top Democrats like Govs. Ralph Northam of Virginia and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan “could be guilty of treason and the punishment that comes with it.”
“You get to pick your poison: You either go before a firing squad, or you get the end of the rope,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Kellyanne Conway Voted By Mail — But She Thinks You Should Have To Wait In Line

WASHINGTON — White House aide Kellyanne Conway — who , like her boss , the president , is falsely attacking voting by mail as prone to fraud — cast her own ballot by mail to vote in Bergen County , New Jersey , in the 2018 midterm election .
“ I mean , they wait in line for a Georgetown Cupcake for an hour , to get a cupcake , ” she told reporters at the White House .
“ So , I think they can probably wait in line to do something as consequential and critical and constitutionally significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was apparently unwilling to make that time commitment herself on Nov. 6 , 2018 , when she voted by mail , according to the Bergen County supervisor of elections .
Conway , who with her husband continues to own a home in northern New Jersey , tried to draw a distinction between an absentee ballot and a mail ballot , although many states — including New Jersey ― have no such distinction and allow voters to cast ballots by mail without having to assert that they will be out of town .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One completes it and posts it by U.S. Mail , ” Conway wrote in response to a HuffPost query .
“ Don ’ t confuse it with a ( non-absentee ) ‘ mail-in ballot ’ to serve your purposes.
” Records from the New Jersey Division of Elections show that the 2018 midterm was the first election in which Conway voted by mail rather than in person .
The records also indicate she failed to vote at all in the 2017 election , in which Democrat Phil Murphy defeated Republican Kim Guadagno @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally have been repeating President Donald Trump ’ s claims that mail balloting is rife with fraud .
“ There is NO WAY ( ZERO ! )
that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent , ” Trump wrote in a post this week that earned a first-ever fact check warning from Twitter .
“ Mail boxes will be robbed , ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed.
” But Trump himself voted by mail in the Florida presidential primary election in March , even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location on March 7 and 8 on his way to and from playing golf .
Instead , an RNC operative picked up his ballot for him on March 9 — an action that Trump and many Republicans have argued is an invitation to fraud .
The White House has refused to explain how Trump ’ s ballot got from Florida to the White House and then back to West Palm Beach on March 16 , the day it was hand-delivered to the elections office .
Trump , though , likely revealed his true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with Fox News on March 30 , when he explained why he opposed Democratic efforts to include an expansion of mail voting in the coronavirus relief legislation .
“ They had levels of voting , that if you ever agreed to it , you ’ d never have a Republican elected in this country again , ” Trump said .
“ This all comes from fear by Trump and like Republicans that more people voting means more non-white voters , ” said Stuart Stevens , a GOP consultant who worked on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romney .
“ Data doesn ’ t support that , but data doesn ’ t support hydroxychloroquine , either.
” Conway ’ s colleague in the White House , press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , also voted by mail in Florida — and , in fact , has only voted by mail since she began voting at age 20 in 2008 , according to Hillsborough County records .
“ Trump , Kayleigh , and now Kellyanne .
What a bunch of elitists , ” said Joe Walsh , the former GOP congressman who unsuccessfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They get to vote by mail but they don ’ t want their voters to ?
Further proof that Trump et al can ’ t stand their supporters .
”

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WASHINGTON — White House aide Kellyanne Conway — who, like her boss, the president, is falsely attacking voting by mail as prone to fraud — cast her own ballot by mail to vote in Bergen County, New Jersey, in the 2018 midterm election.
On Wednesday, Conway said voters should vote in person and compared it to the sacrifice involved in buying designer cupcakes.
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“I mean, they wait in line for a Georgetown Cupcake for an hour, to get a cupcake,” she told reporters at the White House. “So, I think they can probably wait in line to do something as consequential and critical and constitutionally significant as cast their ballot.”
Yet Conway was apparently unwilling to make that time commitment herself on Nov. 6, 2018, when she voted by mail, according to the Bergen County supervisor of elections.
Conway, who with her husband continues to own a home in northern New Jersey, tried to draw a distinction between an absentee ballot and a mail ballot, although many states — including New Jersey ― have no such distinction and allow voters to cast ballots by mail without having to assert that they will be out of town.
“That’s called an absentee ballot. One completes it and posts it by U.S. Mail,” Conway wrote in response to a HuffPost query. “Don’t confuse it with a (non-absentee) ‘mail-in ballot’ to serve your purposes.”
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Records from the New Jersey Division of Elections show that the 2018 midterm was the first election in which Conway voted by mail rather than in person. The records also indicate she failed to vote at all in the 2017 election, in which Democrat Phil Murphy defeated Republican Kim Guadagno to become governor.
White House officials generally have been repeating President Donald Trump’s claims that mail balloting is rife with fraud. “There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent,” Trump wrote in a post this week that earned a first-ever fact check warning from Twitter. “Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed.”
But Trump himself voted by mail in the Florida presidential primary election in March, even though he drove right past an early voting location on March 7 and 8 on his way to and from playing golf. Instead, an RNC operative picked up his ballot for him on March 9 — an action that Trump and many Republicans have argued is an invitation to fraud.
The White House has refused to explain how Trump’s ballot got from Florida to the White House and then back to West Palm Beach on March 16, the day it was hand-delivered to the elections office.
The RNC has also declined to comment.
Trump’s claims notwithstanding, elections experts have found that voting by mail does not lead to significant voter fraud.
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Trump, though, likely revealed his true reason for opposing mail voting in an interview with Fox News on March 30, when he explained why he opposed Democratic efforts to include an expansion of mail voting in the coronavirus relief legislation. “They had levels of voting, that if you ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again,” Trump said.
“This all comes from fear by Trump and like Republicans that more people voting means more non-white voters,” said Stuart Stevens, a GOP consultant who worked on the campaigns of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney. “Data doesn’t support that, but data doesn’t support hydroxychloroquine, either.”
Conway’s colleague in the White House, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, also voted by mail in Florida — and, in fact, has only voted by mail since she began voting at age 20 in 2008, according to Hillsborough County records.
“Trump, Kayleigh, and now Kellyanne. What a bunch of elitists,” said Joe Walsh, the former GOP congressman who unsuccessfully challenged Trump for the 2020 presidential nomination. “They get to vote by mail but they don’t want their voters to? Further proof that Trump et al can’t stand their supporters.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--George Floyd's Death Resurfaces Amy Klobuchar's Tough-On-Crime, Easy-On-Cops Record

Throughout her presidential campaign , and as recently as this week , Klobuchar has said she believes prosecutors — and not grand juries — should ultimately decide whether or not to charge police officers .
In many of the cases cited in the Post , grand juries ultimately decided not to hand up charges .
But an investigation by The Associated Press in February found that there were many outstanding questions about the evidence that Klobuchar ’ s office used to convict Myon Burrell , who was 16 at the time of the shooting and is serving a life sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participated in the shooting .
Biden “ uses all the language of [ Black Lives Matter ] and liberal racial justice advocates but you look at what a person does , ” said a Minneapolis progressive strategist , who asked for anonymity to speak freely .
“ Picking Klobuchar , given the record she has , especially in this moment , seems like nothing less than an admission that he doesn ’ t seriously care about these issues.
” “ The Black community in Minnesota has consistently expressed concern about Amy Klobuchar ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecuting Myon Burrell , an innocent Black teenager whose case was used by her for political gain , including during her campaign for President , ” Levy Armstrong said .
“ Another deeply troubling aspect of Klobuchar ’ s record was her failure to hold a single officer accountable for police shootings , dozens of which happened on her watch.
” Derek Chauvin , the police officer seen kneeling on Floyd , had previously been involved in two other violent incidents with civilians .
One happened in late October 2006 , when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man who they said aimed a shotgun at them .
Only days later , Klobuchar was elected to the Senate and remained Hennepin County district attorney for two more months .
In October 2007 , ten months after Klobuchar joined the Senate , a grand jury declined to bring charges against Chauvin and the other officers .
Biden ’ s campaign looked like it was over , until South Carolina voters ― primarily , Black voters in the state ― delivered him a knock-out victory .
In recognition of that support , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman of color ― or , at the very least , not to pick someone who has had such a strained relationship with the Black community .
In a recent Washington Post op-ed , a group of six Black female activists specifically named Klobuchar as an unacceptable vice presidential option if he wants to win over Black voters : “ Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , does not need help winning white , working-class voters — he serves that function himself .
A choice such as [ Klobuchar ] , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is responsible for the imprisonment of Myon Burrell , will only alienate black voters.
” Last week , Biden made supporters cringe when he told Charlamagne tha God , a popular Black radio host , “ If you have a problem figuring out whether you ’ re for me or Trump , then you ain ’ t Black.
” He apologized later that day in a call with Black business leaders , saying he was “ too cavalier ” and did not take the Black vote for granted .
“ There are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to hurt her , ” they said of Klobuchar .
“ One was Biden ’ s real big gaffe , which now I think forces his hand in more ways than one to pick a woman of color .
But two , now this [ Floyd killing ] is going to raise all the issues , particularly with the Minneapolis NAACP and the African-American community .
It ’ s going to dredge all that back up again.
” “ There ’ s an incredible amount of pain and we have an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things were , but to create a better future , ” she said .
“ If I was advising Vice President Biden , I would not point to Sen. Klobuchar as a vice presidential pick who could stand next to him and be part of building a new future .
”

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The death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck earlier this week, has resurrected Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s record as a prosecutor in the state ― including her tense relationship with the Black community there ― at the politically sensitive time that she’s being considered by Joe Biden to be his running mate.
“There is absolutely no way that she is qualified to become Biden’s VP nominee,” said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights lawyer who served as head of the Minneapolis NAACP from 2015 to 2016.
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Kenza Hadj-Moussa, a spokeswoman for the progressive group Take Action Minnesota said Klobuchar’s actions as a prosecutor “caused trauma that’s been long lasting.”
“With everything that’s happened in Minneapolis and across the country,” she said, Klobuchar would put Biden at even more of a “disadvantage” politically.
“This does not work in Amy’s favor because she had such a strained relationship with that community for years,” added a prominent Democrat.
Four Minnesota police officers were fired this week after video emerged showing one of the men, a white officer, kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he pleaded for help, saying ”I can’t breathe.” They detained him Monday evening on suspicion of trying using a fake $20 bill at a convenience store. Floyd was declared dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Two days of protests in Minneapolis have followed, with police using rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds.
Klobuchar received her start in politics right there, in Hennepin County, where she served as the top prosecutor for eight years, beginning in 1999. She employed a tough-on-crime approach, pushing, among other things, more convictions of minor offenses like graffiti and school truancy.
Klobuchar’s methods were not exceptional for the time period, when cities were struggling to reduce the high crime rates of the 1980s and ’90s.
But reformers now blame the techniques that she and others adopted for swelling the country’s disproportionately non-white jail and prison populations.
“Minnesota leadership has really supported police and the expansion of policing,” said Isabela Escalona, a spokesperson for the Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha, a worker center that has fought against increases in Minneapolis’ police budget. “She’s a part of the problem and we must find community solutions to safety beyond police.”
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During her presidential campaign, Klobuchar faced deep skepticism from many Black voters, in part because of her record in Hennepin County. “As a prosecutor in heavily white Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar declined to go after police involved in fatal encounters with black men,” read the headline of a Washington Post article in March 2019 that examined her record on criminal justice.
As county attorney in Hennepin County, Amy Klobuchar had a tense relationship with the Black community for her refusal to bring charges against police officers in certain cases. Patrick Semansky/Associated Press
According to The Washington Post, Klobuchar chose not to bring charges against officers in more than two dozen cases where people were killed in police encounters.
Throughout her presidential campaign, and as recently as this week, Klobuchar has said she believes prosecutors — and not grand juries — should ultimately decide whether or not to charge police officers. In many of the cases cited in the Post, grand juries ultimately decided not to hand up charges.
“I think it just makes for much more responsibility if you basically make the decision yourself,” she told CNN’s Chris Cuomo in an interview earlier this week. “Back then it was thought, let the community help decide how these cases should be handled.”
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As a presidential candidate, and before that as a Senate candidate, Klobuchar cited the prosecution of the alleged perpetrators of a 2002 shooting that killed 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards as evidence that her prosecutorial style came in response to genuine concern from the state’s Black community about gun violence plaguing urban neighborhoods.
But an investigation by The Associated Press in February found that there were many outstanding questions about the evidence that Klobuchar’s office used to convict Myon Burrell, who was 16 at the time of the shooting and is serving a life sentence. His co-defendants now deny that he participated in the shooting.
Protesters angered by the case stormed the stage ahead of a planned rally in a Minneapolis suburb two nights before Super Tuesday in early March. The demonstration prompted Klobuchar to cancel the rally; she dropped out of the presidential race the next day.
The Burrell case looms large for activists wary of Biden picking her as a running mate.
Biden “uses all the language of [Black Lives Matter] and liberal racial justice advocates but you look at what a person does,” said a Minneapolis progressive strategist, who asked for anonymity to speak freely. “Picking Klobuchar, given the record she has, especially in this moment, seems like nothing less than an admission that he doesn’t seriously care about these issues.”
“The Black community in Minnesota has consistently expressed concern about Amy Klobuchar’s prosecutorial record and her involvement in prosecuting Myon Burrell, an innocent Black teenager whose case was used by her for political gain, including during her campaign for President,” Levy Armstrong said. “Another deeply troubling aspect of Klobuchar’s record was her failure to hold a single officer accountable for police shootings, dozens of which happened on her watch.”
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Klobuchar has called for an independent investigation into Burrell’s case, a move that drew praise from an attorney for the Burrell family and Leslie Redmond, the head of the Minneapolis NAACP who has protested Klobuchar in the past.
Klobuchar’s office declined to comment on the record for this story.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who is Black and a former criminal defense attorney, defended Klobuchar’s prosecutorial record, maintaining that she was “not unusually tough” and has since become a “voice for criminal justice reform in the context of race.”
Derek Chauvin, the police officer seen kneeling on Floyd, had previously been involved in two other violent incidents with civilians. One happened in late October 2006, when he and five other officers shot and killed a man who they said aimed a shotgun at them. Only days later, Klobuchar was elected to the Senate and remained Hennepin County district attorney for two more months. In October 2007, ten months after Klobuchar joined the Senate, a grand jury declined to bring charges against Chauvin and the other officers.
Klobuchar put out a statement on Floyd’s death, describing it as a ”horrifying and gut wrenching instance of an African-American man dying.” She also called for a “complete and thorough outside investigation into what occurred, and those involved must be held accountable.”
Her office did not return a request for comment for this piece.
Biden has publicly said he is going to choose a woman as his running mate and that Klobuchar is someone he is considering. But he has also been under significant pressure to choose a woman of color.
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Biden’s campaign looked like it was over, until South Carolina voters ― primarily, Black voters in the state ― delivered him a knock-out victory. In recognition of that support, many Democrats have urged him to choose a woman of color ― or, at the very least, not to pick someone who has had such a strained relationship with the Black community.
In a recent Washington Post op-ed, a group of six Black female activists specifically named Klobuchar as an unacceptable vice presidential option if he wants to win over Black voters: “Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, does not need help winning white, working-class voters — he serves that function himself. A choice such as [Klobuchar], who failed to prosecute controversial police killings and is responsible for the imprisonment of Myon Burrell, will only alienate black voters.”
Last week, Biden made supporters cringe when he told Charlamagne tha God, a popular Black radio host, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t Black.” He apologized later that day in a call with Black business leaders, saying he was “too cavalier” and did not take the Black vote for granted.
The prominent Democrat who spoke with HuffPost said the comments underscored why Biden needed to choose a woman of color ― or someone who can help him talk to voters of color.
“There are a couple of things that I think are going to hurt her,” they said of Klobuchar. “One was Biden’s real big gaffe, which now I think forces his hand in more ways than one to pick a woman of color. But two, now this [Floyd killing] is going to raise all the issues, particularly with the Minneapolis NAACP and the African-American community. It’s going to dredge all that back up again.”
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Ellison, who supported Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential run, said he does not think Biden should be limited to choosing a woman of color as his running mate.
Klobuchar would “make a great vice president. She’d be a tireless campaigner too,” he said. “She’ll help us win the upper Midwest.”
Biden released a statement on Floyd on Wednesday, saying it was “not an isolated incident, but a part of an ingrained systemic cycle of justice that still exists in this country.”
The former vice president is set to deliver a keynote at the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s state convention on Sunday, introduced by Klobuchar. His team has not yet released his remarks, but some allies have urged him to address Floyd’s death.
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Biden has enjoyed high support among older Black voters, but has struggled with young voters of all races, who typically have more progressive views on a host of issues. Hillary Clinton’s failure to generate higher turnout among Black voters in general, and young Black voters in particular, is widely considered a key reason for her loss to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race.
Those younger voters are looking for a vice presidential pick who demonstrates that Biden is committed to a world with fewer deaths like George Floyd’s, according to Hadj-Moussa.
“There’s an incredible amount of pain and we have an opportunity to not go back to the way things were, but to create a better future,” she said. “If I was advising Vice President Biden, I would not point to Sen. Klobuchar as a vice presidential pick who could stand next to him and be part of building a new future.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Fraternal Order Of Police Condemns Police Killing Of George Floyd

“ Bro , he ’ s not fucking moving !
” an onlooker shouts in the video .
“ Get off of his neck !
” Floyd closes his eyes and stops moving in the video .
He was later pronounced dead .
“ Based on the by-stander ’ s video from this incident , we witnessed a man in distress pleading for help , ” Yoes said in the statement .
“ The fact that he was a suspect in custody is immaterial—police officers should at all times render aid to those who need it .
Police officers need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect and understanding and should be held to the very highest standards for their conduct.
” Chauvin , along with three other officers involved in the incident , was fired .
But protestors and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are demanding Chauvin be charged and placed in custody .
“ If you had done it , or I had , you ’ d be behind bars right now , ” Frey said at a press conference on Wednesday .
“ I ’ m calling on the Hennepin County attorney to charge the arresting officer @ @ @ @ @

“Bro, he’s not fucking moving!” an onlooker shouts in the video. “Get off of his neck!”
Floyd closes his eyes and stops moving in the video. He was later pronounced dead.
“Based on the by-stander’s video from this incident, we witnessed a man in distress pleading for help,” Yoes said in the statement. “The fact that he was a suspect in custody is immaterial—police officers should at all times render aid to those who need it. Police officers need to treat all of our citizens with respect and understanding and should be held to the very highest standards for their conduct.”
Chauvin, along with three other officers involved in the incident, was fired. But protestors and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are demanding Chauvin be charged and placed in custody.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Cameron Winklevoss Claims Fact-Checking Is Censorship And Gets Fact-Checked

No , fact checking is investigating an issue in order to verify the facts .
Facts exist .
The truth @ @ @ @ @ president of the U.S. pushes a lie about widespread voter fraud for which there is @ @ @ @ @ 100 % within Twitter 's rights to fact check him on that .

No, fact checking is investigating an issue in order to verify the facts. Facts exist. The truth exists. And when the president of the U.S. pushes a lie about widespread voter fraud for which there is no evidence, it is 100% within Twitter's rights to fact check him on that.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Texas Towns Change Ordinances That Labeled Abortion Rights Groups 'Criminal'

Ilana Panich-Linsman for HuffPost Protesters in Big Spring , Texas , ahead of a vote on a city ordinance prohibiting abortions within city limits .
Big Spring was not one of the towns sued by the ACLU .
Last summer , Waskom , a city in Texas with under 2,000 residents , passed an ordinance claiming to ban abortion .
It was a mostly symbolic measure ― abortion is legal in all 50 states and Waskom doesn ’ t have an abortion clinic ― but it kicked off a movement .
In the months that followed , a handful of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declaring themselves “ sanctuary cities for the unborn.
” Exacerbating that confusion was the fact that the measures also banned reproductive rights groups from operating within city limits , deeming them “ criminal organizations.
” That meant the very organizations that could help women sort legal fact from fiction were barred from doing so .
In February , two of those groups , the Lilith Fund and Texas Equal Access Fund , sued seven of the towns that passed the measures .
The abortion rights organizations argued that the ordinances violated their rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the First Amendment and , by designating them criminal , illegally imposed punishment without a fair trial .
On Tuesday , the ACLU of Texas , which represented the groups , said the lawsuit had already achieved its goal : All seven towns have since amended their ordinances and no longer refer to reproductive rights groups as criminal organizations .
That means that they can continue their work of education , advocacy and outreach in the towns .
“ Cities can not punish pro-abortion organizations for carrying out their important and constitutionally protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney for the ACLU of Texas , said in a statement .
“ While what ’ s left of the ordinances is far from perfect , we have succeeded in defending our right of our clients and other organizations to freely advocate for abortion care throughout Texas.
” In a statement posted to Twitter , the Texas Equal Access Fund said it was proud to have “ fought back against anti-abortion extremist efforts to limits access to and stigmatize abortion.
” The Lilith Fund shared a similar sentiment : “ Take note .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the constitutional right to perform their work in these communities and everywhere !
” Mark Lee Dickson , the traveling pastor behind the original ordinances , disputed that his movement had suffered a setback .
On Facebook , he posted a photo online of a baby raccoon ripping up the ACLU lawsuit .
“ This is a total and complete victory for the cities that have enacted these ordinances , ” Dickson said in a statement .
“ This lawsuit was nothing but a publicity stunt to deter other cities from creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will end up having the opposite effect .
Now even the ACLU acknowledges that there is no grounds for challenging these ordinances , and this will embolden other cities and towns to join the movement.
” The “ sanctuary cities for the unborn ” movement comes at a time of heightened activity by pro-life legislators and activists eager to overturn Roe v. Wade , the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide .
Earlier this year , HuffPost followed Dickson as he peddled these ordinances across Texas .
Currently , 12 Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACLU ’ s dropped lawsuit — have similar measures on the books .
The ACLU of Texas said it will continue to monitor the language in anti-abortion ordinances and will challenge any attempt to enforce them on a case-by-case basis .

Protesters in Big Spring, Texas, ahead of a vote on a city ordinance prohibiting abortions within city limits. Big Spring was not one of the towns sued by the ACLU. Ilana Panich-Linsman for HuffPost
Last summer, Waskom, a city in Texas with under 2,000 residents, passed an ordinance claiming to ban abortion. It was a mostly symbolic measure ― abortion is legal in all 50 states and Waskom doesn’t have an abortion clinic ― but it kicked off a movement. In the months that followed, a handful of other Texas towns passed similar ordinances, declaring themselves “sanctuary cities for the unborn.”
While unconstitutional, the ordinances sowed confusion among residents who were unsure of their legal rights.
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Exacerbating that confusion was the fact that the measures also banned reproductive rights groups from operating within city limits, deeming them “criminal organizations.” That meant the very organizations that could help women sort legal fact from fiction were barred from doing so.
In February, two of those groups, the Lilith Fund and Texas Equal Access Fund, sued seven of the towns that passed the measures. The abortion rights organizations argued that the ordinances violated their rights to free expression and association protected by the First Amendment and, by designating them criminal, illegally imposed punishment without a fair trial.
Now, three months later, the plaintiffs are dropping the lawsuit and declaring victory.
On Tuesday, the ACLU of Texas, which represented the groups, said the lawsuit had already achieved its goal: All seven towns have since amended their ordinances and no longer refer to reproductive rights groups as criminal organizations. That means that they can continue their work of education, advocacy and outreach in the towns.
“Cities cannot punish pro-abortion organizations for carrying out their important and constitutionally protected work,” Anjali Salvador, staff attorney for the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement. “While what’s left of the ordinances is far from perfect, we have succeeded in defending our right of our clients and other organizations to freely advocate for abortion care throughout Texas.”
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In a statement posted to Twitter, the Texas Equal Access Fund said it was proud to have “fought back against anti-abortion extremist efforts to limits access to and stigmatize abortion.” The Lilith Fund shared a similar sentiment: “Take note. Abortion funds, providers, & advocates have the constitutional right to perform their work in these communities and everywhere!”
Mark Lee Dickson, the traveling pastor behind the original ordinances, disputed that his movement had suffered a setback. On Facebook, he posted a photo online of a baby raccoon ripping up the ACLU lawsuit.
“This is a total and complete victory for the cities that have enacted these ordinances,” Dickson said in a statement. “This lawsuit was nothing but a publicity stunt to deter other cities from creating sanctuaries for the unborn. But it will end up having the opposite effect. Now even the ACLU acknowledges that there is no grounds for challenging these ordinances, and this will embolden other cities and towns to join the movement.”
Mark Lee Dickson posted a photo of a baby raccoon playing with an ACLU lawsuit against seven towns in Texas. Photo credit: Mark Lee Dickson
The “sanctuary cities for the unborn” movement comes at a time of heightened activity by pro-life legislators and activists eager to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Earlier this year, HuffPost followed Dickson as he peddled these ordinances across Texas. Currently, 12 Texas cities — including the seven in the ACLU’s dropped lawsuit — have similar measures on the books.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Trump Readies Executive Order Targeting Protections For Social Media Companies

ASSOCIATED PRESS In this Tuesday , May 26 , 2020 file photo , President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during an event on protecting seniors with diabetes in the Rose Garden White House in Washington .
( AP Photo/Evan Vucci , File ) WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order Thursday aimed at curbing liability protections for social media companies , two days after he lashed out at Twitter for applying fact checks to two of his tweets .
His proposed order would direct executive branch agencies including the Federal Communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study whether they can place new rules on the companies — though experts expressed doubts much could be done without an act of Congress .
Two administration officials outlined the draft order on the condition of anonymity because it was still being finalized Thursday morning .
But a draft was circulating on Twitter — where else ?
Trump on Wednesday claimed tech giants “ silence conservative voices.
” “ We will strongly regulate , or close them down , before we can ever allow this to happen.
” Trump and his campaign reacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Trump tweets that called mail-in ballots “ fraudulent ” and predicted “ mail boxes will be robbed.
” Under the tweets , there ’ s now a link reading “ Get the facts about mail-in ballots ” that guides users to a page with fact checks and news stories about Trump ’ s unsubstantiated claims .
Trump accused Twitter of interfering in the 2020 presidential election ” and declared “ as president , I will not allow this to happen.
” His campaign manager , Brad Parscale , said Twitter ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign to pull “ all our advertising from Twitter months ago.
” In fact , Twitter has banned political advertising since last November .
Dorsey added : “ This does not make us an ‘ arbiter of truth.
’ Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves.
” “ I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn ’ t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online , ” he said .
Twitter ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in balloting came as the president was sparking another social media firestorm , continuing to stoke a debunked conspiracy theory suggesting MSNBC host Joe Scarborough killed a congressional office staffer .
Prominent Republicans , including Rep. Liz Cheney and Sen. Mitt Romney , have criticized him over that attack , which hasn ’ t been marked with a fact check by the social media company .
Trump and his allies have long accused the tech giants in liberal-leaning Silicon Valley of targeting conservatives on social media by fact-checking them or removing their posts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meanwhile , have scolded the platforms for allowing him to put forth false or misleading information that could confuse voters .
Some Trump allies have questioned whether platforms like Twitter and Facebook should continue to enjoy liability protections as “ platforms ” under federal law or be treated more like publishers , which can face lawsuits over content .
The executive order was expected to make that argument .
Meanwhile , the companies are gearing up to combat misinformation around the November elections .
Twitter and Facebook have begun rolling out dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the false postings about the candidates and the voting process that marred the 2016 election .
Last month , Twitter began a “ Get the Facts ” label to direct social media users to news articles from trusted outlets next to tweets containing misleading or disputed information about the virus .
Company leaders said the new labels could be applied to anyone on Twitter and they were considering using them on other topics .

In this Tuesday, May 26, 2020 file photo, President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during an event on protecting seniors with diabetes in the Rose Garden White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order Thursday aimed at curbing liability protections for social media companies, two days after he lashed out at Twitter for applying fact checks to two of his tweets.
Trump had threatened social media companies with new regulation or even shuttering, lambasting the new policy he believed interfered with his political messaging.
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But he alone can’t do that.
His proposed order would direct executive branch agencies including the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to study whether they can place new rules on the companies — though experts expressed doubts much could be done without an act of Congress.
A similar executive order was previously considered by the administration but shelved over concerns it couldn’t pass legal muster and that it violated conservative principles on deregulation and free speech.
Two administration officials outlined the draft order on the condition of anonymity because it was still being finalized Thursday morning. But a draft was circulating on Twitter — where else?
“This will be a Big Day for Social Media and FAIRNESS!” Trump tweeted.
Trump on Wednesday claimed tech giants “silence conservative voices.” “We will strongly regulate, or close them down, before we can ever allow this to happen.”
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Trump and his campaign reacted after Twitter added a warning phrase to two Trump tweets that called mail-in ballots “fraudulent” and predicted “mail boxes will be robbed.” Under the tweets, there’s now a link reading “Get the facts about mail-in ballots” that guides users to a page with fact checks and news stories about Trump’s unsubstantiated claims.
Trump accused Twitter of interfering in the 2020 presidential election” and declared “as president, I will not allow this to happen.” His campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said Twitter’s “clear political bias” had led the campaign to pull “all our advertising from Twitter months ago.” In fact, Twitter has banned political advertising since last November.
Late Wednesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted, “We’ll continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally.”
Dorsey added: “This does not make us an ‘arbiter of truth.’ Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves.”
On the other hand, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Fox News his platform has “a different policy, I think, than Twitter on this.”
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“I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn’t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online,” he said.
Twitter’s decision to mark Trump’s tweets regarding mail-in balloting came as the president was sparking another social media firestorm, continuing to stoke a debunked conspiracy theory suggesting MSNBC host Joe Scarborough killed a congressional office staffer. Prominent Republicans, including Rep. Liz Cheney and Sen. Mitt Romney, have criticized him over that attack, which hasn’t been marked with a fact check by the social media company.
Trump and his allies have long accused the tech giants in liberal-leaning Silicon Valley of targeting conservatives on social media by fact-checking them or removing their posts. The president’s critics, meanwhile, have scolded the platforms for allowing him to put forth false or misleading information that could confuse voters.
Some Trump allies have questioned whether platforms like Twitter and Facebook should continue to enjoy liability protections as “platforms” under federal law or be treated more like publishers, which can face lawsuits over content. The executive order was expected to make that argument.
The order was also expected to try to hold back federal advertising dollars from Twitter and other social media companies that “violate free speech principles.”
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Meanwhile, the companies are gearing up to combat misinformation around the November elections. Twitter and Facebook have begun rolling out dozens of new rules to avoid a repeat of the false postings about the candidates and the voting process that marred the 2016 election.
The coronavirus pandemic has further escalated the platforms’ response, leading them to take actions against politicians — a move they’ve long resisted — who make misleading claims about the virus.
Last month, Twitter began a “Get the Facts” label to direct social media users to news articles from trusted outlets next to tweets containing misleading or disputed information about the virus. Company leaders said the new labels could be applied to anyone on Twitter and they were considering using them on other topics.
The Democratic National Committee said Trump’s vote-by-mail tweets should have been removed, not just flagged, for violating the company’s rules on posting false voting information.
“After taking too long to act, Twitter once again came up short out of fear of upsetting Trump,” the party said in a statement.
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___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Right-Wing Radio Reaches Tens Of Millions. Its Coronavirus Conspiracies Are Out Of Control.

Limbaugh is the top-rated talk radio host in the country .
Among conservative Republicans , he is the second most trusted source for news , behind only Fox News .
He is estimated to reach a cumulative audience of around 15.5 million people each week , according to Talkers Magazine , a radio trade publication .
Vice President Mike Pence has repeatedly appeared on Limbaugh ’ s show since the start of the coronavirus outbreak , and Limbaugh claims that President Donald Trump calls him on a weekly basis .
Much of the media coverage of right-wing pundits tends to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tucker Carlson , who can count on Trump watching their shows and are able to serve as informal advisers .
But conservative talk radio is an immensely important part of the pro-Trump media ecosystem .
Nationally syndicated shows such as Limbaugh ’ s , as well as a sprawling network of local hosts , function as a means of reaching the Republican base and gauging its feelings .
“ One of the roles of Rush Limbaugh is to bridge that distance , trying to convince listeners that either Trump knows what he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those around him , but that he himself is not wrong , ” Hemmer said .
Trump is an active participant himself , already beginning to use conservative radio shows to target voters ahead of the November election and shape the narrative around his coronavirus response .
He appeared on conservative host Simon Conway ’ s influential Iowa radio show earlier this month , touting his supposed achievements and claiming China “ sent us a plague , ” as Conway lobbed softball questions .
Days later , Trump was a guest on New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio show , where he promoted ending social distancing and lockdown measures .
Spadea declared Americans will not wear masks for the rest of their lives , something no one is advocating .
Trump agreed and downplayed the threat of the virus .
“ So few people are impacted by this , you know if you look ― if they catch it they get better and people have to remember that , ” Trump said of the virus , which at the time of his interview had killed nearly 90,000 Americans .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have diabetes or you ’ re not in good shape it ’ s a different thing , but so few people .
You see all the bad cases on television.
” Limbaugh is only the biggest name in an array of conservative talk radio stars who together reach tens of millions of listeners every week , and who have spent the pandemic downplaying the crisis , promoting conspiracy theories and sycophantically praising Trump .
These hosts have created an alternate reality that exists largely outside the scrutiny of fact-checkers and mainstream press coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health .
Scanning through top conservative radio hosts ’ recent coronavirus coverage reveals a staggering number of falsehoods and facile arguments .
Glenn Beck , who Talkers estimates reaches 10.5 million people each week on his radio show , interviewed a cryptocurrency investor falsely claiming to be affiliated with Stanford University School of Medicine who touted an unproven coronavirus treatment as a miracle cure .
Beck regularly rails against social distancing measures and has defended armed lockdown protests .
“ Even if we all get sick , I ’ d rather die than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late March .
“ Because it ’ s not the economy that ’ s dying , it ’ s the country.
” Some hosts have used their immense platforms to promote anti-vaccine conspiracy theories , helping reenergize the movement at a time when it ’ s especially dangerous to public health .
Right-wing host Wayne Allen Root ’ s nationally syndicated radio show featured a lengthy segment with anti-vaccine movement leader Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , where the two spouted wild anti-vaxxer conspiracies .
Root falsely claimed that “ there was no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then they gave kids 72 injections of vaccines and there was an invasion of autism , ” and suggested a conspiracy between Bill Gates and top U.S. infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci .
Pro-Trump host Joe Pags , who has 4.5 million estimated weekly listeners , similarly floated anti-vaxxer conspiracy talking points and insisted there should be a debate over vaccinations .
The Most Trusted Names In News Limbaugh and Hannity ’ s radio shows rank second and third in terms of most trusted news sources for conservative Republicans , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January .
Republicans and conservative-leaning voters receive their news from a smaller range of sources than their liberal counterparts and have high degrees of distrust for major news outlets such as The New York Times , making it less likely they ’ ll see information that disputes the narratives in their media bubble .
Conservative radio listeners also tend to skew older and male ― demographics that are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus .
Limbaugh is no longer the undisputed leader of conservative media he once was .
( Republicans made him an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he signed an eight-year deal in 2008 for his show that was worth around $ 400 million . )
But the pandemic has shown he is still one of the country ’ s most influential hosts , more than capable of shaping public opinion .
His shows have been less frequent since he announced in February he has advanced lung cancer , but his message on the coronavirus has been consistent .

Since Rush Limbaugh received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in February, the right-wing radio star has inaccurately compared the coronavirus to the common cold, praised anti-lockdown protests, accused Democrats of “weaponizing” the virus, suggested the virus is an actual bioweapon, promoted conspiracy theories about death tolls and described wearing masks as a “sign of weakness.”
Limbaugh is the top-rated talk radio host in the country. Among conservative Republicans, he is the second most trusted source for news, behind only Fox News. He is estimated to reach a cumulative audience of around 15.5 million people each week, according to Talkers Magazine, a radio trade publication. Vice President Mike Pence has repeatedly appeared on Limbaugh’s show since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and Limbaugh claims that President Donald Trump calls him on a weekly basis.
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Much of the media coverage of right-wing pundits tends to focus on Fox News hosts such as Tucker Carlson, who can count on Trump watching their shows and are able to serve as informal advisers. But conservative talk radio is an immensely important part of the pro-Trump media ecosystem. Nationally syndicated shows such as Limbaugh’s, as well as a sprawling network of local hosts, function as a means of reaching the Republican base and gauging its feelings.
“One of the big roles of conservative media in the past 20 to 30 years has been doing the mediation between Republican office holders and the conservative base,” said Nicole Hemmer, author of “Messengers of the Right” and a research scholar at Columbia University.
When Republican voters have felt confusion or frustration with Trump’s reactions to the coronavirus pandemic, hosts have stepped in to reassure listeners and mend those rifts while validating their audience’s grievances.
“One of the roles of Rush Limbaugh is to bridge that distance, trying to convince listeners that either Trump knows what he’s doing or is being misled by those around him, but that he himself is not wrong,” Hemmer said.
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Trump is an active participant himself, already beginning to use conservative radio shows to target voters ahead of the November election and shape the narrative around his coronavirus response. He appeared on conservative host Simon Conway’s influential Iowa radio show earlier this month, touting his supposed achievements and claiming China “sent us a plague,” as Conway lobbed softball questions. Days later, Trump was a guest on New Jersey conservative host Bill Spadea’s radio show, where he promoted ending social distancing and lockdown measures. Spadea declared Americans will not wear masks for the rest of their lives, something no one is advocating. Trump agreed and downplayed the threat of the virus.
“So few people are impacted by this, you know if you look ― if they catch it they get better and people have to remember that,” Trump said of the virus, which at the time of his interview had killed nearly 90,000 Americans. “If you’re old or you have diabetes or you’re not in good shape it’s a different thing, but so few people. You see all the bad cases on television.”
On conservative radio, Trump finds extremely sympathetic hosts who have been calling for months for an end to social distancing measures, and who are ready to embrace the idea that the United States should accept the deaths of elderly and vulnerable people as the price of economic recovery.
“The average age of death [is] 80 from coronavirus, which is higher than the median life expectancy in the U.S. ― it’s killing people who’ve exceeded their life expectancy on average, and this is what we shut down the economy for?” John Kobylt, co-host of a popular drive-time show in Los Angeles, said on the air in late April.
“We have to remember that people die every day in America, before the coronavirus came along,” Limbaugh told listeners.
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President Donald Trump alongside Rush Limbaugh at a 2018 rally. JIM WATSON via Getty Images
Conspiracies, Anti-Vaxxers And Millions Of Listeners
Limbaugh is only the biggest name in an array of conservative talk radio stars who together reach tens of millions of listeners every week, and who have spent the pandemic downplaying the crisis, promoting conspiracy theories and sycophantically praising Trump. These hosts have created an alternate reality that exists largely outside the scrutiny of fact-checkers and mainstream press coverage, spreading unchallenged misinformation that threatens public health.
Scanning through top conservative radio hosts’ recent coronavirus coverage reveals a staggering number of falsehoods and facile arguments. Glenn Beck, who Talkers estimates reaches 10.5 million people each week on his radio show, interviewed a cryptocurrency investor falsely claiming to be affiliated with Stanford University School of Medicine who touted an unproven coronavirus treatment as a miracle cure. Beck regularly rails against social distancing measures and has defended armed lockdown protests. “Even if we all get sick, I’d rather die than kill the country,” he said in late March. “Because it’s not the economy that’s dying, it’s the country.”
Conservative radio host Mark Levin inaccurately likened the coronavirus to the flu in late April and listed how many people die each year from things like accidental poisoning and diabetes. (The comparison is nonsensical, since poisonings and diabetes cannot infect others or exponentially increase like a virus.) Levin is estimated to reach a cumulative weekly audience of around 11 million people, according to Talkers.
Fox News host and informal Trump adviser Sean Hannity has meanwhile dismissed the severity of the virus, lashed out at journalists and fawningly praised the administration’s disastrous response to the pandemic. “It’s like [Trump’s opponents] are hoping Americans die and get sick and that we all lose a fortune in the stock market,” Hannity has told listeners. His cumulative weekly audience is an estimated 15 million people.
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Some hosts have used their immense platforms to promote anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, helping reenergize the movement at a time when it’s especially dangerous to public health. Right-wing host Wayne Allen Root’s nationally syndicated radio show featured a lengthy segment with anti-vaccine movement leader Robert F. Kennedy Jr., where the two spouted wild anti-vaxxer conspiracies. Root falsely claimed that “there was no autism when I was a kid, then they gave kids 72 injections of vaccines and there was an invasion of autism,” and suggested a conspiracy between Bill Gates and top U.S. infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci. Pro-Trump host Joe Pags, who has 4.5 million estimated weekly listeners, similarly floated anti-vaxxer conspiracy talking points and insisted there should be a debate over vaccinations.
“Any opinion on why somebody like Bill Gates is trying to force us all to get vaccinated? I mean he really, really wants this to happen,” Pags asked a guest.
Right-wing radio hosts are not entirely a monolith. Top host Michael Savage broke from the conservative media line on the pandemic by taking the virus seriously and criticizing pundits, including Hannity and Limbaugh, for downplaying the danger. But even he has remained defensive of Trump and blamed White House failures on bad advisers rather than the president himself.
The misinformation spread through conservative radio has contributed to what experts and leading health organizations have termed an “infodemic” of falsehoods about the virus. A disturbingly high percentage of Republican voters believe in anti-vaccine conspiracies, unproven coronavirus treatments and misleading pro-Trump narratives, according to a recent Yahoo News and YouGov poll ― beliefs that closely align with the messaging coming from conservative radio and other right-wing media.
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Fox News Channel and radio talk show host Sean Hannity interviews Trump before a campaign rally in 2018. Hannity has sycophantically defended Trump throughout the pandemic. Ethan Miller via Getty Images
The Most Trusted Names In News
Talk radio audiences are large (though experts say they are difficult to quantify accurately, and hosts often exaggerate the figures). But what makes these programs especially dangerous carriers of misinformation is the relationship hosts have with their audiences.
“Hosts are friends with their listeners on some level,” said Brian Rosenwald, author of “Talk Radio’s America” and a fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.
Radio’s long, conversational shows, where hosts speak directly to audiences, creates a different kind of programming than most other news media, Rosenwald says. Listeners often develop almost intimate connections to their favorite hosts, routinely tuning in during work or their commutes for hours at a time.
“They may listen 15 hours a week to that host. For Rush, they might have been doing that for 30 years and they might spend more time with him than they spend with their spouse,” Rosenwald said. “It’s a deeper bond.”
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Limbaugh and Hannity’s radio shows rank second and third in terms of most trusted news sources for conservative Republicans, according to a Pew Research Center study published in January. Republicans and conservative-leaning voters receive their news from a smaller range of sources than their liberal counterparts and have high degrees of distrust for major news outlets such as The New York Times, making it less likely they’ll see information that disputes the narratives in their media bubble. Conservative radio listeners also tend to skew older and male ― demographics that are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus.
Unlike digital right-wing media and cable news, radio shows offer a way for audiences to engage directly with hosts. Call-in portions of shows create a sense of community and let hosts tailor their messaging to reflect the grievances and sentiments of their listeners.
“Audience interaction is a huge thing. It makes the audience much more invested in the programming, it makes it feel much more like a dialogue with the hosts,” Hemmer said. “It positions the audience not as a passive recipient like with Fox News but as a co-creator of the programming.”
The call-in segments are also where conspiracy theories tend to thrive, which can result in unchecked misinformation about the virus being broadcast to millions of people.
“There’s much more space to float a variety of different conspiracy theories when they’re coming from calls,” Hemmer said. “This happens all the time on Limbaugh’s show.”
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Limbaugh is no longer the undisputed leader of conservative media he once was. (Republicans made him an honorary member of Congress in 1994, and he signed an eight-year deal in 2008 for his show that was worth around $400 million.) But the pandemic has shown he is still one of the country’s most influential hosts, more than capable of shaping public opinion. His shows have been less frequent since he announced in February he has advanced lung cancer, but his message on the coronavirus has been consistent.
“If you were to tune in today he would talk about it as basically just a flu,” Hemmer said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Cortez Masto Withdraws Consideration To Be Biden's Running Mate

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) — Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada said Thursday that she ’ s not interested in serving as running mate to presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Cortez Masto , who in 2016 became the first Latina elected to the U.S. Senate , said in a statement that she supports the former vice president and will work tirelessly to get him elected but does not want to join the presidential ticket .
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto says it was `` an honor to be considered '' for Joe Biden 's running mate .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a potential running mate but I have decided to withdraw my name from consideration , ” she said in a statement .
“ Nevada ’ s economy is one of the hardest hit by the current crisis and I will continue to focus on getting Nevadans the support they need to get on back on their feet.
” Cortez Masto is one of more than 10 women whose names have been suggested as possible running mates for Biden , who has committed to picking a woman .
Cortez Masto , 56 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed to be on Biden ’ s short list of potential running mates , and a pick that some activists have said would have helped Biden win over Hispanics whose support could be crucial to winning the presidency in November .

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada said Thursday that she’s not interested in serving as running mate to presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Cortez Masto, who in 2016 became the first Latina elected to the U.S. Senate, said in a statement that she supports the former vice president and will work tirelessly to get him elected but does not want to join the presidential ticket.
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Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto says it was "an honor to be considered" for Joe Biden's running mate. Bill Clark via Getty Images
“It is an honor to be considered as a potential running mate but I have decided to withdraw my name from consideration,” she said in a statement. “Nevada’s economy is one of the hardest hit by the current crisis and I will continue to focus on getting Nevadans the support they need to get on back on their feet.”
Cortez Masto is one of more than 10 women whose names have been suggested as possible running mates for Biden, who has committed to picking a woman.
Cortez Masto, 56, was one of the highest profile Latinas believed to be on Biden’s short list of potential running mates, and a pick that some activists have said would have helped Biden win over Hispanics whose support could be crucial to winning the presidency in November.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--George Floyd's Brother Calls For Officers To Get Death Penalty: 'They Executed My Brother'

In an interview with CNN ’ s Alisyn Camerota on Thursday , Philonise Floyd spoke about his brother , an unarmed Black man who died Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck , and the resulting protests that have erupted this week in the city .
The demonstrations turned violent in some areas , leading to looting and one person being shot and killed at a pawn shop .
Philonise Floyd compared protesters to children who act out because they aren ’ t being heard and want attention .
“ I want everybody to be peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hurt because they ’ re tired of seeing Black men die .
Constantly , over and over again , ” he said .
He went on to call for the arrest of the police officers who were involved in the incident .
The four unnamed officers were fired on Tuesday .
“ These officers , they need to be arrested right now .
They need to be arrested and held accountable about everything because these people want justice right now , ” Philonise Floyd told Camerota , before explaining that justice to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be arrested , convicted of murder , and given the death penalty.
” “ They need to .
They took my brother ’ s life .
He will never get that back .
I will never see him again .
My family will never see him again .
His kids will never see him again , ” he said .
“ People are torn and hurt because they 're tired of seeing black men die constantly , over and over again , ” says Philonise Floyd , George Floyd 's brother .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He will never get that back .
I will never see him again .
My family will never see him again.
” pic.twitter.com/p2oa0iVxor — New Day ( @ NewDay ) May 28 , 2020 Through tears , Philonise Floyd said that no one showed “ compassion ” in the resulting videos of the moments before , during , and after his brother ’ s death .
“ It hurts a lot .
I grew up with him .
That was my oldest brother .
I love him .
I ’ m never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said through sobs .
“ We need justice .
We need justice .
Those four officers need to be arrested .
They executed my brother in broad daylight .
People had to film that .
People had to see that .
People pleaded for his life ... Nobody should have to witness that.
” Philonise Floyd addressed the protests again , stressing that he doesn ’ t want people to “ lash out like that , but I can ’ t stop people right now because they have pain.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel .
I want everything to be peaceful , but I can ’ t make everybody be peaceful , ” he said .
“ I would like for those officers to be charged with murder because that ’ s exactly what they did .
They murdered my brother ; he was crying for help , ” she said , wearing a shirt reading , “ I can ’ t breathe , ” which is what her brother told the officers arresting him before he died .
“ I don ’ t need them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in another state or another county .
Their licenses should be taken away ; their jobs should be taken away , and they should be put in jail for murder , ” she said .
“ I ’ ve wrestled with one fundamental question : Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail ?
” said Frey in a press conference .
“ If you had done it , or I had , you ’ d be behind bars right now .
I ’ m calling on the Hennepin County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case.
” Frey also stressed the need for justice for not only the Floyd family : “ George Floyd deserves justice , his family deserves justice , the Black community deserves justice .
”

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Philonise Floyd is calling on four police officers to get the death penalty after his brother George Floyd died in their custody.
In an interview with CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on Thursday, Philonise Floyd spoke about his brother, an unarmed Black man who died Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck, and the resulting protests that have erupted this week in the city.
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The demonstrations turned violent in some areas, leading to looting and one person being shot and killed at a pawn shop. Philonise Floyd compared protesters to children who act out because they aren’t being heard and want attention.
“I want everybody to be peaceful right now, but people are torn and hurt because they’re tired of seeing Black men die. Constantly, over and over again,” he said.
He went on to call for the arrest of the police officers who were involved in the incident. The four unnamed officers were fired on Tuesday.
“These officers, they need to be arrested right now. They need to be arrested and held accountable about everything because these people want justice right now,” Philonise Floyd told Camerota, before explaining that justice to him meant “these guys need to be arrested, convicted of murder, and given the death penalty.”
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“They need to. They took my brother’s life. He will never get that back. I will never see him again. My family will never see him again. His kids will never see him again,” he said.
“People are torn and hurt because they're tired of seeing black men die constantly, over and over again,” says Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother.
“...They took my brother's life. He will never get that back. I will never see him again. My family will never see him again.” pic.twitter.com/p2oa0iVxor — New Day (@NewDay) May 28, 2020
Through tears, Philonise Floyd said that no one showed “compassion” in the resulting videos of the moments before, during, and after his brother’s death.
“It hurts a lot. I grew up with him. That was my oldest brother. I love him. I’m never going to get my brother back,” he said through sobs. “We need justice. We need justice. Those four officers need to be arrested. They executed my brother in broad daylight. People had to film that. People had to see that. People pleaded for his life ... Nobody should have to witness that.”
Philonise Floyd addressed the protests again, stressing that he doesn’t want people to “lash out like that, but I can’t stop people right now because they have pain.”
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“They have the same pain that I feel. I want everything to be peaceful, but I can’t make everybody be peaceful,” he said.
On Wednesday, George Floyd’s sister Bridgett Floyd spoke to “Today” and also called for the officers involved to be charged.
“I would like for those officers to be charged with murder because that’s exactly what they did. They murdered my brother; he was crying for help,” she said, wearing a shirt reading, “I can’t breathe,” which is what her brother told the officers arresting him before he died.
Bridgett Floyd also stressed the importance of these officers being barred from working in another state.
“I don’t need them to be suspended and able to work in another state or another county. Their licenses should be taken away; their jobs should be taken away, and they should be put in jail for murder,” she said.
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Also on Wednesday, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey called on the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to criminally charge the police officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck and “not turn a blind eye.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Joe Biden Unveils 2 Separate Proposals To Help Americans With Disabilities

More than a year after he first announced his presidential bid , former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday released two separate plans to support Americans with disabilities — one detailing his proposals for ensuring full equality for the disability community , and another focusing on supporting disabled Americans during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Thanks to the leadership of people with disabilities , disability advocates , and their allies , we have made progress towards the goals of this law — ‘ equality of opportunity , full participation , independent living , and economic self-sufficiency ’ for people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a copy of which the campaign shared with HuffPost prior to its release .
“ But , there is much more work to do in order to ensure that all people with disabilities are able to participate fully in our communities and enjoy the same kinds of choices and opportunities that many Americans take for granted.
” In the plan , titled “ The Biden Plan For Full Participation And Equality For People With Disabilities , ” the former vice president says his administration would continue to build on the Affordable Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and says he would ensure that people with low incomes would be covered .
He says he would increase tax credits to lower premiums and deductibles , implement a proposal created by Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
that makes it easier for people with large amounts of debt to obtain relief , and integrate mental health care into primary care settings .
Like many of his former Democratic rivals , Biden would fully fund and enforce the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , which ensures disabled students the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan also says he would recruit and retain special education teachers from marginalized backgrounds and , as Warren previously proposed , encourage schools to include the disability movement in history lessons .
The plan also touches on immigration rights , saying Biden would revoke the Trump administration ’ s public charge so immigrants — including those with disabilities — would not be discouraged from accessing health care or other public benefits out of fear of blocking their path to citizenship or residency .
“ Despite decades of progress , our work to achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done , ” Sen. Tammy Duckworth ( D-Ill. ) said in a statement to HuffPost .
“ I ’ m proud to see Joe Biden advance his disability rights agenda that will help break down the barriers that remain in our country for the many Americans with disabilities , and I am confident that when he is President , Joe Biden will work to make our society more inclusive and accessible for all.
” Access to health care and disability rights as a whole have become even more urgent since the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunocompromised people are among those most vulnerable to the virus .
When the $ 2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package was passed in late March , advocates argued that it failed to provide necessary support for Americans with disabilities and chronic illnesses .
“ In a time of pandemic , when people with disabilities may be particularly vulnerable to this virus , we must redouble our efforts to ensure they have the resources and the protections to support their health , well-being and independence , ” Biden said in a Medium post published Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to a comprehensive disability policy , I ’ m also releasing a COVID-19 specific policy to ensure the needs of people with disabilities are being addressed during this crisis.
” Biden said he would expand access to home- and community-based services , including hiring additional caregivers .
Personal care attendants would be classified as “ essential workers ” so they would be provided with personal protective equipment , since caregiving requires in-person contact and leaves both disabled people and caregivers at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus .
He also proposed passing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , including caregivers , and eliminating the “ benefit cliff ” that prevents Social Security Disability Insurance recipients from earning above a certain income without losing their benefits .
In addition , Biden would make it easier to receive prescribed medication through mail and expand access to Medicaid , including temporarily increasing Medicaid funding .
Disability advocates have urged Biden to release a disability platform for well over a year , going so far as to create the hashtag # AccesstoJoe in hopes of turning the former vice president ’ s attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who make up nearly a quarter of the entire U.S. population .
During the Democratic primary race , Biden was the only leading candidate who did not reveal a specific disability platform .
Disability advocates said the 900 or so words he had dedicated to “ Americans With Disabilities ” on his campaign website just wasn ’ t enough .

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More than a year after he first announced his presidential bid, former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday released two separate plans to support Americans with disabilities — one detailing his proposals for ensuring full equality for the disability community, and another focusing on supporting disabled Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.
The first plan includes a wide-ranging list of issues that the presumed Democratic nominee plans to tackle as president, including recruiting disabled policymakers to play key roles in his administration, promoting inclusive education, ending abuses of power in the pharmaceutical industry, expanding access to equal employment opportunities, protecting economic security for disabled people and providing affordable housing and accessible transportation.
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“Thanks to the leadership of people with disabilities, disability advocates, and their allies, we have made progress towards the goals of this law — ‘equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency’ for people with disabilities,” reads the 18-page plan, a copy of which the campaign shared with HuffPost prior to its release. “But, there is much more work to do in order to ensure that all people with disabilities are able to participate fully in our communities and enjoy the same kinds of choices and opportunities that many Americans take for granted.”
In the plan, titled “The Biden Plan For Full Participation And Equality For People With Disabilities,” the former vice president says his administration would continue to build on the Affordable Care Act. He promises “universal coverage” and says he would ensure that people with low incomes would be covered. He says he would increase tax credits to lower premiums and deductibles, implement a proposal created by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) that makes it easier for people with large amounts of debt to obtain relief, and integrate mental health care into primary care settings.
Like many of his former Democratic rivals, Biden would fully fund and enforce the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which ensures disabled students the right to an accessible education. Biden’s plan also says he would recruit and retain special education teachers from marginalized backgrounds and, as Warren previously proposed, encourage schools to include the disability movement in history lessons.
The plan also touches on immigration rights, saying Biden would revoke the Trump administration’s public charge so immigrants — including those with disabilities — would not be discouraged from accessing health care or other public benefits out of fear of blocking their path to citizenship or residency.
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Another section states that Biden would expand the Violence Against Women Act to apply to women and young people with disabilities, as well as end the Title IX rule that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos passed to roll back the rights of sexual assault survivors.
Other proposals include safeguarding the rights of disabled parents, expanding access to housing, increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour, training law enforcement on how to interact with and protect people with disabilities, and passing the Accessible Voting Act so disabled voters can cast their ballots more easily.
“Despite decades of progress, our work to achieve full accessibility for all Americans is not done,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said in a statement to HuffPost. “I’m proud to see Joe Biden advance his disability rights agenda that will help break down the barriers that remain in our country for the many Americans with disabilities, and I am confident that when he is President, Joe Biden will work to make our society more inclusive and accessible for all.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden delivering remarks about the coronavirus outbreak on March 12. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Disability rights have become a spotlight issue during the 2020 election cycle, earning significant airtime at one Democratic primary debate. Multiple candidates, including Warren, former Housing Secretary Julián Castro and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, also participated in Twitter town halls and answered questions directly submitted by people with disabilities.
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Access to health care and disability rights as a whole have become even more urgent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as elderly and immunocompromised people are among those most vulnerable to the virus. When the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package was passed in late March, advocates argued that it failed to provide necessary support for Americans with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
In Biden’s plan specifically about supporting people with disabilities during the current pandemic, he notably proposes enforcing nondiscrimination laws and prohibiting “the rationing of health care that refuses or diverts hospitalization, treatment, or supplies based on a patient’s disability” — an ableist practice in the health care system that the disability community has widely condemned.
“In a time of pandemic, when people with disabilities may be particularly vulnerable to this virus, we must redouble our efforts to ensure they have the resources and the protections to support their health, well-being and independence,” Biden said in a Medium post published Thursday afternoon. “So today, in addition to a comprehensive disability policy, I’m also releasing a COVID-19 specific policy to ensure the needs of people with disabilities are being addressed during this crisis.”
Biden said he would expand access to home- and community-based services, including hiring additional caregivers. Personal care attendants would be classified as “essential workers” so they would be provided with personal protective equipment, since caregiving requires in-person contact and leaves both disabled people and caregivers at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus.
He also proposed passing an emergency 14-day paid leave for all workers, including caregivers, and eliminating the “benefit cliff” that prevents Social Security Disability Insurance recipients from earning above a certain income without losing their benefits. In addition, Biden would make it easier to receive prescribed medication through mail and expand access to Medicaid, including temporarily increasing Medicaid funding.
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Disability advocates have urged Biden to release a disability platform for well over a year, going so far as to create the hashtag #AccesstoJoe in hopes of turning the former vice president’s attention toward the needs of disabled people, who make up nearly a quarter of the entire U.S. population.
During the Democratic primary race, Biden was the only leading candidate who did not reveal a specific disability platform. Disability advocates said the 900 or so words he had dedicated to “Americans With Disabilities” on his campaign website just wasn’t enough.
When asked why the candidate waited so long to release the disability plans, a campaign spokesperson said, “Joe Biden has introduced policies throughout the entirety of his campaign and incorporated the disability community key proposals on health care, education, and more.”
“The timing and order of his policies are not reflective of his unwavering commitment to Americans of all stripes,” the spokesperson told HuffPost.
The comprehensive new disability plans Biden dropped Thursday signal a more direct and engaging approach to amplifying disability rights moving forward. The spokesperson added that Biden consulted with experts in disability policy as well as advocates in the disability community to develop the plans.
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Biden and his campaign introduced the plans at a disability policy briefing Thursday afternoon featuring Duckworth, Deaf actor and activist Nyle DiMarco, and world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman, who is a wheelchair user.