thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--In William Barr, Trump Has Powerful Ally For Challenging Mail Voting

That ’ s important — and worrisome to Democrats — because Barr is no ordinary Cabinet member .
As head of the Justice Department , he can shape investigations into election interference and voting fraud .
Though the department doesn ’ t oversee elections , it could inject itself into court fights over disputed contests .
And any statements from America ’ s top law enforcement officer questioning election results could further shake public confidence in the vote at a time of widespread disinformation and rumors .
“ Those who think that Barr is watching over the interests of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reason to be concerned that he would weaponize the Justice Department ’ s investigative authority to help Trump at least politically , if not legally , in any post-election challenge , ” said Richard Hasen , an election law expert at the University of California , Irvine .
Concerns about Barr among Democrats and election experts outside the department are heightened because he is seen as a loyalist to the president , as well as an ardent defender of broad executive power and a passionate critic of the FBI ’ s Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most recently in a CNN interview Wednesday , have been consistent with efforts by Trump and his campaign to attack mail voting as rife with fraud and to potentially lay the groundwork for lawsuits challenging election results .
The attacks have continued even though research contradicts the idea of pervasive fraud in the vote-by-mail process and even though intelligence officials say they don ’ t have information to suggest some of Barr ’ s gravest concerns , like adversaries printing counterfeit ballots , are close to becoming reality .
Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and again to make decisions according to the law and facts , without regard to political considerations.
” Barr has also said he will abide by longstanding Justice Department policy against taking any investigative steps , including prosecutions , designed to affect the outcome of an election .
Though the department can prosecute voter fraud cases , it is not empowered to decide which votes count and which do not , nor could it intervene in an unresolved local election and declare a winner , said Justin Levitt , a Loyola Law School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official in the Obama administration .
“ There is no piece of litigation , there is no case that I can think of , that the attorney general can bring in mid-November to sort out who won , ” Levitt said .
But , he added , Barr and the department could very well “ take to the airwaves and take to the TV stations ” and bang the drum against mail-voting .
A potent public messaging campaign from the Justice Department bully pulpit could go a long way in weakening confidence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a challenge over a disputed election , brought by an aggrieved campaign or someone else , the Justice Department probably wouldn ’ t have grounds to initiate a lawsuit but could try to intervene or file a brief supporting a campaign ’ s argument .
Such a move may not have much practical sway on a court but would have symbolic value .
Having to wait until a campaign files a lawsuit , “ would not be an enormous barrier to the Justice Department still being able to play a very active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York University law school professor Richard Pildes .
The department ’ s National Security Division was intimately involved in the 2016 election as it investigated ties between the Trump campaign and Russia .
This week , Barr tightened restrictions for national security surveillance of federal candidates and advisers , and though he said Wednesday that Russia may look to interfere again , he believes China is a more assertive threat .
He did not disclose the intelligence he said had led him to the conclusion , but an intelligence assessment last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s interference was so far more direct than Beijing .
Historically , and particularly before foreign interference came to occupy public attention , the Justice Department ’ s most direct connection to the election process has been through its Civil Rights Division , which enforces laws including the Voting Rights Act and generally brings cases designed to ensure that voters are not denied access at the polls .
“ We used to get immense pressure from the liberal advocacy organizations who wanted us to get involved and wanted us to put our thumb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever policy aims they wanted , ” said Bradley Schlozman , who led the division during the Bush administration and supervised voting rights issues .
In the last few months , as states have scrambled to adjust to the coronavirus pandemic , the public discussion from the Justice Department has centered less on general voting access and more on the possibility of fraud in a vote-by-mail system expected to be in far broader use this year .
“ The notion that the attorney general would invent widespread fraud in a system that many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use in November is deeply concerning , ” Levitt said .
“ The notion that he would cast doubt on the validity of the election results even before the election has happened is deeply concerning .
”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump sows doubt about the legitimacy of the 2020 election, he’s found a powerful partner in Attorney General William Barr.
Like Trump, Barr has repeatedly sounded alarms about the November vote despite a lack of evidence pointing to pervasive problems with the process.
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That’s important — and worrisome to Democrats — because Barr is no ordinary Cabinet member. As head of the Justice Department, he can shape investigations into election interference and voting fraud. Though the department doesn’t oversee elections, it could inject itself into court fights over disputed contests. And any statements from America’s top law enforcement officer questioning election results could further shake public confidence in the vote at a time of widespread disinformation and rumors.
“Those who think that Barr is watching over the interests of Trump rather than the interests of the country have reason to be concerned that he would weaponize the Justice Department’s investigative authority to help Trump at least politically, if not legally, in any post-election challenge,” said Richard Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine.
Concerns about Barr among Democrats and election experts outside the department are heightened because he is seen as a loyalist to the president, as well as an ardent defender of broad executive power and a passionate critic of the FBI’s Russia probe.
Barr’s comments, most recently in a CNN interview Wednesday, have been consistent with efforts by Trump and his campaign to attack mail voting as rife with fraud and to potentially lay the groundwork for lawsuits challenging election results. The attacks have continued even though research contradicts the idea of pervasive fraud in the vote-by-mail process and even though intelligence officials say they don’t have information to suggest some of Barr’s gravest concerns, like adversaries printing counterfeit ballots, are close to becoming reality.
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Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said Barr “has pledged again and again to make decisions according to the law and facts, without regard to political considerations.” Barr has also said he will abide by longstanding Justice Department policy against taking any investigative steps, including prosecutions, designed to affect the outcome of an election.
Attorney General William Barr has assisted President Donald Trump in sowing doubt about the voting process. Evan Vucci/Associated Press
There are critical limits on the Justice Department’s potential impact on the election. The federal government, for instance, doesn’t administer elections and most core voting functions, like tallying ballots and certifying results, are the responsibility of state and local governments.
Though the department can prosecute voter fraud cases, it is not empowered to decide which votes count and which do not, nor could it intervene in an unresolved local election and declare a winner, said Justin Levitt, a Loyola Law School professor and former Justice Department voting rights official in the Obama administration.
“There is no piece of litigation, there is no case that I can think of, that the attorney general can bring in mid-November to sort out who won,” Levitt said.
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But, he added, Barr and the department could very well “take to the airwaves and take to the TV stations” and bang the drum against mail-voting. A potent public messaging campaign from the Justice Department bully pulpit could go a long way in weakening confidence in the election results.
In the event of a challenge over a disputed election, brought by an aggrieved campaign or someone else, the Justice Department probably wouldn’t have grounds to initiate a lawsuit but could try to intervene or file a brief supporting a campaign’s argument. Such a move may not have much practical sway on a court but would have symbolic value.
Having to wait until a campaign files a lawsuit, “would not be an enormous barrier to the Justice Department still being able to play a very active role in the litigation,” said New York University law school professor Richard Pildes.
The department’s National Security Division was intimately involved in the 2016 election as it investigated ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. This week, Barr tightened restrictions for national security surveillance of federal candidates and advisers, and though he said Wednesday that Russia may look to interfere again, he believes China is a more assertive threat.
He did not disclose the intelligence he said had led him to the conclusion, but an intelligence assessment last month indicated the opposite: that Russia’s interference was so far more direct than Beijing.
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Historically, and particularly before foreign interference came to occupy public attention, the Justice Department’s most direct connection to the election process has been through its Civil Rights Division, which enforces laws including the Voting Rights Act and generally brings cases designed to ensure that voters are not denied access at the polls.
That includes a 2009 lawsuit in the waning days of the George W. Bush administration alleging voter intimidation by the New Black Panther Party and a 2013 case challenging North Carolina provisions seen as discriminating against minority voters.
“We used to get immense pressure from the liberal advocacy organizations who wanted us to get involved and wanted us to put our thumb on the scale in order to achieve whatever policy aims they wanted,” said Bradley Schlozman, who led the division during the Bush administration and supervised voting rights issues.
He said he didn’t view Barr as sowing doubt in the process but rather vowing to address what he sees as a legitimate problem.
In the last few months, as states have scrambled to adjust to the coronavirus pandemic, the public discussion from the Justice Department has centered less on general voting access and more on the possibility of fraud in a vote-by-mail system expected to be in far broader use this year.
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Barr described that rapid expansion on Wednesday as “playing with fire.” Experts say while voting by mail raises additional concerns in relation to in-person voting, there is no evidence of rampant fraud.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Biden Calls QAnon 'Dangerous,' Recommends Followers Seek Mental Health Care

“ If the president doesn ’ t know better — which I , he has to know better — then my Lord , we ’ re in much more trouble than I ever thought we were , ” Biden said at a press conference on Friday when pressed to comment on QAnon and Trump ’ s refusal to reject the movement .
# BREAKING : Joe Biden has a message for QAnon supporters : `` I 've been a big supporter of mental health .
I 'd recommend the people who believe it take advantage while it still exists in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — The Hill ( @ thehill ) September 4 , 2020 Referring to himself as a “ big supporter of mental health , ” Biden said he ’ d “ recommend the people who believe [ in QAnon ] should maybe take advantage of it while it still exists in the Affordable Care Act.
” “ It ’ s bizarre .
Totally bizarre .
And now , have you guys found that planeload of people in uniforms and weapons , flying around ?
Have you found them yet ?
” the former vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theory repeated by Trump this week that a plane “ loaded with thugs ” had attempted to disrupt the Republican National Convention .
“ What in God ’ s name are we doing ?
Look at how it makes us look around the world .
It ’ s mortifying , it ’ s embarrassing and it ’ s dangerous , ” Biden said of QAnon .
Followers of QAnon , which has been identified by the FBI as a potential domestic terrorism threat , believe that an individual nicknamed “ Q ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information online about Trump and other high-profile individuals .
Among the wild conspiracy theories pushed by QAnon believers — some of whom have been implicated in criminal behavior in recent years , including kidnappings and murder — include the claim that Trump has been working to uncover a “ deep state ” cabal of Satan-worshipping and child-trafficking liberals and Hollywood elites .
Trump said last month that he “ appreciates ” the support of QAnon believers who , he said , “ like me very much.
” “ I don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I understand they like me very much , which I appreciate , ” he said .
“ I have heard that is gaining in popularity … I ’ ve heard these are people that love our country .
”

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden called QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory movement, “mortifying” and “dangerous,” and suggested its believers consider seeking mental health care.
He also criticized President Donald Trump for pushing “bizarre” conspiracy theories himself.
“If the president doesn’t know better — which I, he has to know better — then my Lord, we’re in much more trouble than I ever thought we were,” Biden said at a press conference on Friday when pressed to comment on QAnon and Trump’s refusal to reject the movement.
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#BREAKING: Joe Biden has a message for QAnon supporters: "I've been a big supporter of mental health. I'd recommend the people who believe it take advantage while it still exists in the Affordable Care Act." pic.twitter.com/m5WvKlYpNG — The Hill (@thehill) September 4, 2020
Referring to himself as a “big supporter of mental health,” Biden said he’d “recommend the people who believe [in QAnon] should maybe take advantage of it while it still exists in the Affordable Care Act.”
“It’s bizarre. Totally bizarre. And now, have you guys found that planeload of people in uniforms and weapons, flying around? Have you found them yet?” the former vice president continued, referring to a baseless conspiracy theory repeated by Trump this week that a plane “loaded with thugs” had attempted to disrupt the Republican National Convention.
“What in God’s name are we doing? Look at how it makes us look around the world. It’s mortifying, it’s embarrassing and it’s dangerous,” Biden said of QAnon.
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Followers of QAnon, which has been identified by the FBI as a potential domestic terrorism threat, believe that an individual nicknamed “Q” has been dropping “breadcrumbs” of information online about Trump and other high-profile individuals.
Among the wild conspiracy theories pushed by QAnon believers — some of whom have been implicated in criminal behavior in recent years, including kidnappings and murder — include the claim that Trump has been working to uncover a “deep state” cabal of Satan-worshipping and child-trafficking liberals and Hollywood elites.
Trump said last month that he “appreciates” the support of QAnon believers who, he said, “like me very much.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Former NASA Astronaut: Dealing With Police As A Black Man Is Scarier Than Space

Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin , who is Black , said Monday that the anxiety of traveling into space was nothing compared to the fear he felt when confronted by police officers .
Leland addressed racial inequality in the United States at a panel entitled “ Celebrating Black Lives in the Space Industry , ” part of an online summit pushing for Mars exploration by 2030 .
“ I remember , I was in high school , and I was in a car with my girlfriend , and a police officer rolled up on us , ” Melvin said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ car and told her that I was raping her because he wanted me to go to jail .
And , you know , when young Black men get into the prison system , that they really never get out and have a second chance.
” Melvin said that all fathers in the Black community advise their sons to be “ real respectful ” when addressing law enforcement , adding that he was more nervous speaking with that officer than he ever felt on a shuttle blasting through the atmosphere .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve ridden this rocket with millions of pounds of thrust , and not once was I afraid of going to space , ” Melvin said .
“ It ’ s when I ’ ve been stopped by police officers that I didn ’ t even know that I was starting to sweat and that I was holding the steering wheel really hard.
” Anti-racism needs to be instilled in everyone , Melvin said , adding that it is worth considering matters from an astronaut ’ s point of view .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the space station , if any one of us makes a mistake , we ’ re all gone , ” Melvin said .
“ We need to bring that reality back down here to Earth , especially when we go to Mars.
” Melvin retired from NASA in 2014 after flying on the space shuttle Atlantis in 2008 and 2009 and working to build the International Space Station .
Before that , the Detroit Lions drafted him in 1986 to play football until hamstring injuries ended his professional career .
He is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, who is Black, said Monday that the anxiety of traveling into space was nothing compared to the fear he felt when confronted by police officers.
Leland addressed racial inequality in the United States at a panel entitled “Celebrating Black Lives in the Space Industry,” part of an online summit pushing for Mars exploration by 2030.
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“I remember, I was in high school, and I was in a car with my girlfriend, and a police officer rolled up on us,” Melvin said. “He took her out of the car and told her that I was raping her because he wanted me to go to jail. And, you know, when young Black men get into the prison system, that they really never get out and have a second chance.”
Melvin said that all fathers in the Black community advise their sons to be “real respectful” when addressing law enforcement, adding that he was more nervous speaking with that officer than he ever felt on a shuttle blasting through the atmosphere.
“I’ve been into space two times. I’ve ridden this rocket with millions of pounds of thrust, and not once was I afraid of going to space,” Melvin said. “It’s when I’ve been stopped by police officers that I didn’t even know that I was starting to sweat and that I was holding the steering wheel really hard.”
Anti-racism needs to be instilled in everyone, Melvin said, adding that it is worth considering matters from an astronaut’s point of view.
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“When we look at the planet from the space station, if any one of us makes a mistake, we’re all gone,” Melvin said. “We need to bring that reality back down here to Earth, especially when we go to Mars.”
Melvin retired from NASA in 2014 after flying on the space shuttle Atlantis in 2008 and 2009 and working to build the International Space Station.
Before that, the Detroit Lions drafted him in 1986 to play football until hamstring injuries ended his professional career. He is the only NFL player to go into space.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Trump Calls Story On Anti-Military Comments A 'Hoax,' Slams McCain

President Donald Trump bashed reports that he often has disparaged U.S. military members , including soldiers who died in World War I , but at a Friday press conference then went on to say he doesn ’ t regret saying the late Sen. John McCain , who spent years as a prisoner of war , was not a hero .
“ There is nobody that feels more strongly about our soldiers , our wounded warriors , our soldiers that died in war than I do , ” Trump said when a reporter asked him about the Thursday article in The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoax .
Just like the fake dossier was a hoax , just like the ‘ Russia , Russia , Russia ’ was a hoax , ” he said , referring to investigations that , in fact , detailed Russian efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election , in part to aid him .
The series of revelations in The Atlantic story included the allegation that while on a trip to France in 2018 , the president referred to the U.S. soldiers killed in World War I as “ losers ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He allegedly made one of the comments while refusing to visit a cemetery where some of the casualties are buried , saying , “ Why should I go to that cemetery ?
It ’ s filled with losers.
” The Washington Post confirmed the gist of the story , citing a former senior administration official who said Trump regularly made such remarks about fallen and wounded veterans .
Other confirmations of aspects of the story came from The Associated Press and Fox News .
The Atlantic said it contacted the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday that , “ Nobody called me from the magazine .
...
They just write whatever they want to write.
” The article revived comments Trump made about McCain , a Navy pilot who spent more than five years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese , in 2015 , early in his first presidential campaign : “ He ’ s not a war hero .
He ’ s a war hero because he was captured .
I like people that weren ’ t captured.
” Trump also called McCain , an Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 presidential nominee , a “ loser ” ― a comment the president denied in a tweet Thursday despite there being footage of the insult .
Asked during Friday ’ s briefing if he regretted those remarks , Trump replied , “ I say what I say.
” He then went on to list criticisms of McCain , one of the president ’ s most vocal GOP critics until his death in 2018 .
“ I never got along with John McCain , ” Trump said .
“ I disagreed with John McCain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fan .
I disagreed with many of his views , I disagreed with his views on these ridiculous endless wars , I disagreed with the way he handled the vets , the ( Veterans Affairs Department ) ― the VA is running much better now.
” Trump also lashed out at his former White House chief of staff John Kelly , a retired Marine Corps general who he suggested could be a source for The Atlantic ’ s report .
“ Didn ’ t do a good job , had no temperament , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was petered out , he was exhausted .
This man was totally exhausted .
He wasn ’ t even able to function in the last number of months.
” One of Kelly ’ s sons was a Marine killed in Afghanistan .
According to The Atlantic , when Trump and Kelly visited the son ’ s grave at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day in 2017 , the president said , “ I don ’ t get it .
What was in it for them ?
”

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President Donald Trump bashed reports that he often has disparaged U.S. military members, including soldiers who died in World War I, but at a Friday press conference then went on to say he doesn’t regret saying the late Sen. John McCain, who spent years as a prisoner of war, was not a hero.
“There is nobody that feels more strongly about our soldiers, our wounded warriors, our soldiers that died in war than I do,” Trump said when a reporter asked him about the Thursday article in The Atlantic.
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“It’s a hoax. Just like the fake dossier was a hoax, just like the ‘Russia, Russia, Russia’ was a hoax,” he said, referring to investigations that, in fact, detailed Russian efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election, in part to aid him.
The series of revelations in The Atlantic story included the allegation that while on a trip to France in 2018, the president referred to the U.S. soldiers killed in World War I as “losers” and “suckers,” according to multiple sources. He allegedly made one of the comments while refusing to visit a cemetery where some of the casualties are buried, saying, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.”
The Washington Post confirmed the gist of the story, citing a former senior administration official who said Trump regularly made such remarks about fallen and wounded veterans. Other confirmations of aspects of the story came from The Associated Press and Fox News.
The Atlantic said it contacted the White House multiple times for comment. Trump insisted Friday that, “Nobody called me from the magazine. ... They just write whatever they want to write.”
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The article revived comments Trump made about McCain, a Navy pilot who spent more than five years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese, in 2015, early in his first presidential campaign: “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured.”
Trump also called McCain, an Arizona Republican who was the party’s 2008 presidential nominee, a “loser” ― a comment the president denied in a tweet Thursday despite there being footage of the insult.
Asked during Friday’s briefing if he regretted those remarks, Trump replied, “I say what I say.” He then went on to list criticisms of McCain, one of the president’s most vocal GOP critics until his death in 2018.
“I never got along with John McCain,” Trump said. “I disagreed with John McCain. ... I wasn’t a fan. I disagreed with many of his views, I disagreed with his views on these ridiculous endless wars, I disagreed with the way he handled the vets, the (Veterans Affairs Department) ― the VA is running much better now.”
However, he continued, “that doesn’t mean I don’t respect him.”
Trump also lashed out at his former White House chief of staff John Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general who he suggested could be a source for The Atlantic’s report.
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“Didn’t do a good job, had no temperament,” Trump said. “And ultimately he was petered out, he was exhausted. This man was totally exhausted. He wasn’t even able to function in the last number of months.”
One of Kelly’s sons was a Marine killed in Afghanistan. According to The Atlantic, when Trump and Kelly visited the son’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day in 2017, the president said, “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Jacob Blake's Dad Says Paralyzed Son Remains Optimistic After Shooting

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) — Jacob Blake 's father said Friday that his “ happy-go-lucky ” son is optimistic for his future , although he remains paralyzed from the waist down after being shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha , Wisconsin , police officer .
A clearly exhausted Jacob Blake Sr. , speaking by video chat from a Milwaukee hotel , told The Associated Press that the past two weeks have been “ surreal ” and “ like a dream ” and he ’ s mentally worn out .
He said he ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he couldn ’ t talk about in detail .
Jacob Blake , a 29-year-old Black man , was shot Aug. 23 , setting off days of protests that made Wisconsin the epicenter of the nation ’ s ongoing debate over police violence and racial injustice .
Over three days , dozens of fires were set and some Kenosha businesses destroyed .
On Aug. 25 , prosecutors say a 17-year-old from Illinois shot and killed two demonstrators .
His attorneys say the teenager , who was patrolling the streets with a rifle , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AP he talks with his son about what he ’ ll be able to do once he ’ s released from the hospital , rather than his limitations if he remains paralyzed .
“ We ’ ll go fishing together in the chair , ” he said .
“ I ’ ve got the perfect spot for us .
Things of that nature , things that have nothing to do with the sickness or anything.
” Five days after the shooting , Blake Sr. followed through on his plans to attend the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s capital .
His father had marched with Martin Luther King Jr. , and Jacob Blake Sr. said he considered it his “ duty ” to still attend the march even though his son was hospitalized .
Earlier this week , Blake Sr. said another one of his sons had a nervous breakdown and was admitted to the hospital .
Two days after that , members of the Blake family met with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in Kenosha .
Jacob Blake spoke to Biden by phone from the hospital .
President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He thanked law enforcement for their efforts in quelling violence and met with people whose businesses were destroyed in fires , but he did not meet with Blake ’ s family .
Blake Sr. said Trump made clear he has no interest in his family .
He said meeting with Biden and his wife was like speaking with an uncle and aunt .
The Blake family told Biden that they want all police to be required to have body cameras , something the Kenosha officers did not have .
Blake Sr. said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president they want police trained in de-escalation techniques .
And they want the officer who shot Blake to be fired .
The Justice Department has said a knife was recovered from an SUV he was leaning into when he was shot , but has not said whether he was holding it when officers tried to arrest him .
The man who made widely seen cellphone video of the shooting , 22-year-old Raysean White , said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell , “ Drop the knife !
Drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said he didn ’ t see a knife in Blake ’ s hands .
The Kenosha police union said Blake had the knife and refused orders to drop it .
Blake fought with police , including putting one officer in a headlock , the union said .
Police twice used a Taser , which did not stop Blake .
Blake , who had an outstanding arrest warrant when he was shot , pleaded not guilty Friday to charges accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman in May and waived his right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remotely via video conference from his Milwaukee hospital bed , wearing a dress shirt and tie .
He spoke only to respond to the judge 's questions .
A trial date was set for Nov. 9 .
Blake Sr. said that two hours before the shooting , he spoke with his son and a grandson who was celebrating a birthday .
That child , along with two of Blake ’ s other children , were in the SUV when he was shot .
Blake Sr. said he has not talked with his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting .

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Jacob Blake's father said Friday that his “happy-go-lucky” son is optimistic for his future, although he remains paralyzed from the waist down after being shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer.
A clearly exhausted Jacob Blake Sr., speaking by video chat from a Milwaukee hotel, told The Associated Press that the past two weeks have been “surreal” and “like a dream” and he’s mentally worn out. He said he’s been receiving death threats, which he said he couldn’t talk about in detail.
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“It’s been hard on everybody,” Blake Sr., who drove from North Carolina to be with his hospitalized son, said.
Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot Aug. 23, setting off days of protests that made Wisconsin the epicenter of the nation’s ongoing debate over police violence and racial injustice. Over three days, dozens of fires were set and some Kenosha businesses destroyed. On Aug. 25, prosecutors say a 17-year-old from Illinois shot and killed two demonstrators. His attorneys say the teenager, who was patrolling the streets with a rifle, was acting in self-defense.
Blake was released from intensive care this week and “is doing a little bit better,” his father said.
Still, “from the waist down, no movement,” Blake Sr. said. “He can’t move.”
Blake Sr. told the AP he talks with his son about what he’ll be able to do once he’s released from the hospital, rather than his limitations if he remains paralyzed.
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“We’ll go fishing together in the chair,” he said. “I’ve got the perfect spot for us. Things of that nature, things that have nothing to do with the sickness or anything.”
Five days after the shooting, Blake Sr. followed through on his plans to attend the March on Washington commemoration in the nation’s capital. His father had marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and Jacob Blake Sr. said he considered it his “duty” to still attend the march even though his son was hospitalized.
Earlier this week, Blake Sr. said another one of his sons had a nervous breakdown and was admitted to the hospital. Two days after that, members of the Blake family met with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in Kenosha. Jacob Blake spoke to Biden by phone from the hospital.
President Donald Trump traveled to Kenosha on Tuesday. He thanked law enforcement for their efforts in quelling violence and met with people whose businesses were destroyed in fires, but he did not meet with Blake’s family.
Blake Sr. said Trump made clear he has no interest in his family. He said meeting with Biden and his wife was like speaking with an uncle and aunt.
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“He came in that room with sympathy, empathy, a caring nature,” Blake Sr. said. “It was not an interview, it was not a political thing.”
The Blake family told Biden that they want all police to be required to have body cameras, something the Kenosha officers did not have. Blake Sr. said the family also told the former vice president they want police trained in de-escalation techniques. And they want the officer who shot Blake to be fired.
All three officers present when Blake was shot are on administrative leave during the investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
The state agency said police were sent to the scene after a woman reported her boyfriend was present and wasn't supposed to be on the premises.
Blake's attorney Ben Crump has said that Blake was trying to break up a domestic dispute.
The Justice Department has said a knife was recovered from an SUV he was leaning into when he was shot, but has not said whether he was holding it when officers tried to arrest him.
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The man who made widely seen cellphone video of the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell, “Drop the knife! Drop the knife!” before gunfire erupted. He said he didn’t see a knife in Blake’s hands.
The Kenosha police union said Blake had the knife and refused orders to drop it. Blake fought with police, including putting one officer in a headlock, the union said. Police twice used a Taser, which did not stop Blake.
Blake, who had an outstanding arrest warrant when he was shot, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman in May and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Blake appeared remotely via video conference from his Milwaukee hospital bed, wearing a dress shirt and tie. He spoke only to respond to the judge's questions. A trial date was set for Nov. 9.
Blake Sr. said that two hours before the shooting, he spoke with his son and a grandson who was celebrating a birthday. That child, along with two of Blake’s other children, were in the SUV when he was shot. Blake Sr. said he has not talked with his son about what happened just prior to the shooting.
“There’s nothing that my son did that justifies getting shot seven times in his back,” Blake Sr. said. “Nothing.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Trump To Award Football Coach Lou Holtz With Medal of Freedom

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump said Friday he intends to give the Presidential Medal of Freedom , @ @ @ @ @ civilian honor , to longtime football coach Lou Holtz .
Trump made the announcement at @ @ @ @ @ looked on .
The president did not announce a date for the ceremony but said @ @ @ @ @ Holtz spent 34 years coaching both college and professional football teams and is perhaps best @ @ @ @ @ as Notre Dame ’ s head coach .
Holtz ended his career at the University @ @ @ @ @ he was head coach for six seasons from 1999-2004 .
Holtz was among those who @ @ @ @ @ s Republican National Convention .
In his remarks , Holtz called Democratic presidential candidate Joe @ @ @ @ @ name only.
” Biden is a practicing Catholic .
Important conversations are happening now .
@ @ @ @ @ HuffPost Today !

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday he intends to give the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to longtime football coach Lou Holtz.
Trump made the announcement at the White House as Holtz looked on. The president did not announce a date for the ceremony but said it would be soon.
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Holtz spent 34 years coaching both college and professional football teams and is perhaps best known for an 11-season stint as Notre Dame’s head coach. Holtz ended his career at the University of South Carolina, where he was head coach for six seasons from 1999-2004.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--'Deadly' Heat Wave To Hit California Over Labor Day Weekend

Sept 4 ( Reuters ) - A record heat wave with temperatures of up to 125 Fahrenheit ( 49 Celsius ) was set to punish California starting on Friday as another extreme weather event raised risks of more forest fires and rolling blackouts .
The “ deadly heat wave ” of “ rare , dangerous and very possibly fatal ” temperatures was forecast across Southern California for the U.S. Labor Day holiday weekend , the National Weather Service ( NWS ) in Los Angeles said .
Record or excessive heat was also expected in Nevada and western Arizona with “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday and continue into Monday , the service said .
“ There is a high risk for heat illness along with heightened fire weather concerns , ” the NWS Los Angeles office reported , forecasting record high temperatures on Saturday and Sunday .
Climate scientists blame human activities for a two to three degree Fahrenheit rise in average temperatures in California since the early 20th century and say extreme wet-dry cycles are creating abundant parched vegetation to supercharge wildfires .
The long weekend ’ s heat event is expected to be hotter than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second and third largest forest fires in California history that are still burning .
Death Valley in California ’ s Mojave desert recorded one of the hottest air temperatures ever on the planet of 130F on Aug. 17 , and highs of around 124F were expected there on Sunday , the NWS said .
The California power grid asked power generators to delay any maintenance until after the weekend to prevent blackouts like the two nights of rolling outages seen in mid-August as residents cranked up their air conditioning .
( Reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown )

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Sept 4 (Reuters) - A record heat wave with temperatures of up to 125 Fahrenheit (49 Celsius) was set to punish California starting on Friday as another extreme weather event raised risks of more forest fires and rolling blackouts.
The “deadly heat wave” of “rare, dangerous and very possibly fatal” temperatures was forecast across Southern California for the U.S. Labor Day holiday weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Los Angeles said.
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Record or excessive heat was also expected in Nevada and western Arizona with “brutal” temperatures set to peak on Sunday and continue into Monday, the service said.
“There is a high risk for heat illness along with heightened fire weather concerns,” the NWS Los Angeles office reported, forecasting record high temperatures on Saturday and Sunday.
Climate scientists blame human activities for a two to three degree Fahrenheit rise in average temperatures in California since the early 20th century and say extreme wet-dry cycles are creating abundant parched vegetation to supercharge wildfires.
The long weekend’s heat event is expected to be hotter than the one in mid-August that helped trigger the second and third largest forest fires in California history that are still burning.
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Death Valley in California’s Mojave desert recorded one of the hottest air temperatures ever on the planet of 130F on Aug. 17, and highs of around 124F were expected there on Sunday, the NWS said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Serbia And Kosovo Normalize Economic Ties In U.S.-Brokered Talks

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — After two days of meetings with Trump administration officials , Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo ’ s Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti agreed to cooperate on a range of economic fronts to attract investment and create jobs .
The White House announcement provided President Donald Trump with a diplomatic win ahead of the November presidential election and furthers his administration ’ s push to improve Israel ’ s international standing .
“ Truly , it is historic , ” Trump said , standing alongside the two leaders in the Oval Office .
“ I look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the not too distant future.
” Serbia ’ s decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a nod to both Israel and the United States .
The Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel ’ s capital in late 2017 and moved the U.S. embassy there in May 2018 .
The administration has encouraged other countries to do the same but has been widely criticized by the Palestinians and many in Europe because the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved .
Kosovo , a predominantly Muslim country , has never before recognized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The gestures to Israel are part of the Trump administration ’ s push to improve the Jewish state ’ s international standing , which has included forceful denunciations of criticism of Israel at the United Nations and in other international venues .
Most recently , the administration brokered a deal for Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations .
That was followed by the first commercial flight between Israel and the UAE , with neighboring Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to allow such flights to pass through their airspace .
Additional Arab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oman , have been identified as countries that may soon also normalize relations with Israel .
Most Western nations have recognized Kosovo ’ s independence , but Serbia and its allies Russia and China have not .
The ongoing deadlock and Serbia ’ s unwillingness to recognize Kosovo have kept tensions simmering and prevented full stabilization of the Balkan region after the bloody wars in the 1990s .
“ We haven ’ t resolved all our problems .
There are still differences , ” the Serbian leader said , but he added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a “ huge step forward.
” Hoti also described the economic cooperation as a “ huge step forward ” in the relationship and said the two leaders were committed to working together .
Serbia and Kosovo have already OK ’ d air , rail and transit agreements , including one that would clear the way for the first flight between Pristina and Belgrade in 21 years .
The new agreement comprises many more areas of economic cooperation .
Business leaders in both nations have been frustrated and have been talking among themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ongoing political talks brokered by the European Union .
On Monday , Vucic and Hoti are scheduled to go to Brussels to hold talks under the auspices of the EU ’ s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak .
The EU has mediated the talks between the two former wartime foes for more than a decade , and the parallel U.S. effort , although focused on economic development , has not been fully embraced by some EU officials .
The White House summit was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was canceled after Kosovo President Hashim Thaci , who was to lead the Kosovo delegation , was indicted for war crimes by an international court .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — After two days of meetings with Trump administration officials, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti agreed to cooperate on a range of economic fronts to attract investment and create jobs. The White House announcement provided President Donald Trump with a diplomatic win ahead of the November presidential election and furthers his administration’s push to improve Israel’s international standing.
“Truly, it is historic,” Trump said, standing alongside the two leaders in the Oval Office. “I look forward to going to both countries in the not too distant future.”
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Serbia’s decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a nod to both Israel and the United States. The Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in late 2017 and moved the U.S. embassy there in May 2018.
The administration has encouraged other countries to do the same but has been widely criticized by the Palestinians and many in Europe because the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved. Kosovo, a predominantly Muslim country, has never before recognized Israel nor has Israel recognized Kosovo.
The gestures to Israel are part of the Trump administration’s push to improve the Jewish state’s international standing, which has included forceful denunciations of criticism of Israel at the United Nations and in other international venues. Most recently, the administration brokered a deal for Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations. That was followed by the first commercial flight between Israel and the UAE, with neighboring Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to allow such flights to pass through their airspace. Additional Arab states, including Sudan, Bahrain and Oman, have been identified as countries that may soon also normalize relations with Israel.
Kosovo’s Parliament declared independence from Serbia in 2008, nine years after NATO conducted a 78-day airstrike campaign against Serbia to stop a bloody crackdown against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.
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Most Western nations have recognized Kosovo’s independence, but Serbia and its allies Russia and China have not. The ongoing deadlock and Serbia’s unwillingness to recognize Kosovo have kept tensions simmering and prevented full stabilization of the Balkan region after the bloody wars in the 1990s.
“We haven’t resolved all our problems. There are still differences,” the Serbian leader said, but he added that having a unified economic zone with Kosovo was a “huge step forward.”
Hoti also described the economic cooperation as a “huge step forward” in the relationship and said the two leaders were committed to working together.
Serbia and Kosovo have already OK’d air, rail and transit agreements, including one that would clear the way for the first flight between Pristina and Belgrade in 21 years. The new agreement comprises many more areas of economic cooperation. Business leaders in both nations have been frustrated and have been talking among themselves about ways to foster investment outside of the ongoing political talks brokered by the European Union.
On Monday, Vucic and Hoti are scheduled to go to Brussels to hold talks under the auspices of the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak.
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The EU has mediated the talks between the two former wartime foes for more than a decade, and the parallel U.S. effort, although focused on economic development, has not been fully embraced by some EU officials.
The White House summit was originally scheduled for June, but it was canceled after Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, who was to lead the Kosovo delegation, was indicted for war crimes by an international court.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Taxidermized Squirrel Beer Among Offerings At Disgusting Food Museum

MALMO , Sweden ( AP ) — Desperate for a drink ?
There is spit-fermented wine , liquor fermented in prison toilets , and a strong Scottish brew served from the mouth of a taxidermied squirrel .
The Disgusting Food Museum in Malmo , Sweden , which has served up displays of bull testicles and maggot-infested cheese , is now introducing a drinks menu in the form of a temporary exhibition opening Saturday .
Museum director Andreas Ahrens said he wants to encourage people to examine their relationship with alcohol by showing the extreme measures people have taken to concoct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desperate to get drunk around the world , ” Ahrens said .
“ So whenever we find ourselves in a situation where there is no alcohol , we get quite inventive and we ’ ve been doing this for millennia.
” Most of the drinks on display are beverages that are commonly consumed somewhere in the world but which would revolt outsiders unfamiliar with the taste .
The museum in the Swedish city of Malmo opened two years ago .
The idea was to revolt and to entertain ― but also to provoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is delicious , or disgusting , are culturally determined .
The dozens of food items on regular display include a bull ’ s penis , frog smoothies from Peru , a wine made of baby mice that is consumed in China and Korea , and Sweden ’ s “ surstromming , ” an infamously putrid fermented herring .
Ahrens points to a jug with a milky liquid , brewed with the help of a donation produced by his youngest daughter .
He explained that the “ poo wine ” was part of South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bruises , but it is not anything familiar to Koreans today .
Other beverages on display include chicha de muko , which is spit-fermented corn meal beer from Peru , a Ugandan gin made from fermented bananas , and a wine made from an overripe orange fermented in the tank of a prison toilet .
One display tells what happened in the Soviet Union when the government closed alcohol stores to reduce drunkenness : people began drinking perfumes and varnish , leading to the deaths of many .
Another liquid refreshment featured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made with whale testicle that ’ s been smoked in sheep ’ s dung .
“ Some of these things are so normal in some societies .
Should it really be that normal ?
” Ahrens said .
“ Why don ’ t we listen to our brains and go , ‘ Hey , if this tastes this way , maybe we shouldn ’ t drink it ?
’ ” At the entrance to the downtown museum , marks on a blackboard indicate each time someone has vomited while visiting .
Ahrens corrects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since last vomit .
”

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MALMO, Sweden (AP) — Desperate for a drink? There is spit-fermented wine, liquor fermented in prison toilets, and a strong Scottish brew served from the mouth of a taxidermied squirrel.
The Disgusting Food Museum in Malmo, Sweden, which has served up displays of bull testicles and maggot-infested cheese, is now introducing a drinks menu in the form of a temporary exhibition opening Saturday.
Advertisement
Museum director Andreas Ahrens said he wants to encourage people to examine their relationship with alcohol by showing the extreme measures people have taken to concoct mind-altering brews.
“People are very desperate to get drunk around the world,” Ahrens said. “So whenever we find ourselves in a situation where there is no alcohol, we get quite inventive and we’ve been doing this for millennia.”
Most of the drinks on display are beverages that are commonly consumed somewhere in the world but which would revolt outsiders unfamiliar with the taste.
These include bitter herbal liquors like Gammel Dansk, drunk in Denmark, as well as Fernet-Branca, an Italian amaro.
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“So much of what we drink is an acquired taste,” Ahrens said.
The museum in the Swedish city of Malmo opened two years ago. The idea was to revolt and to entertain ― but also to provoke reflection on how our notions about what is delicious, or disgusting, are culturally determined.
The dozens of food items on regular display include a bull’s penis, frog smoothies from Peru, a wine made of baby mice that is consumed in China and Korea, and Sweden’s “surstromming,” an infamously putrid fermented herring.
Many of the fermented beverages now being exhibited are equally stomach-churning.
One is an ancient Korean beverage concocted for medicinal purposes from fermented child’s feces and rice.
Ahrens points to a jug with a milky liquid, brewed with the help of a donation produced by his youngest daughter. He explained that the “poo wine” was part of South Korean traditional medicine to help broken bones and bruises, but it is not anything familiar to Koreans today.
Other beverages on display include chicha de muko, which is spit-fermented corn meal beer from Peru, a Ugandan gin made from fermented bananas, and a wine made from an overripe orange fermented in the tank of a prison toilet.
Advertisement
One display tells what happened in the Soviet Union when the government closed alcohol stores to reduce drunkenness: people began drinking perfumes and varnish, leading to the deaths of many.
Another liquid refreshment featured in the exhibition is an Icelandic beer made with whale testicle that’s been smoked in sheep’s dung.
“Some of these things are so normal in some societies. Should it really be that normal?” Ahrens said. “Why don’t we listen to our brains and go, ‘Hey, if this tastes this way, maybe we shouldn’t drink it?’”
At the entrance to the downtown museum, marks on a blackboard indicate each time someone has vomited while visiting. Ahrens corrects a number to read “2 days since last vomit.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--You Haven't Lived Until You Heard Gilbert Gottfried Recite 'WAP'

“ There ’ s a certain je ne sais quoi to the way he tackles each new line , enunciating @ @ @ @ @ in your face , swipe your nose like a credit card ’ with an intensity @ @ @ @ @ your speakers should be boxed up and deposited at a nuclear waste facility .
“ @ @ @ @ @ out , ‘ spit in my mouth !
’ and ’ make it cream !
@ @ @ @ @ to tell if your eyes are filled with tears because it ’ s so goddamned @ @ @ @ @ ve been overwhelmed by facing up against some ineffable perversity that words struggle to define @ @

“There’s a certain je ne sais quoi to the way he tackles each new line, enunciating ‘put this pussy right in your face, swipe your nose like a credit card’ with an intensity that makes you feel like your speakers should be boxed up and deposited at a nuclear waste facility.
“By the time he yells out, ‘spit in my mouth!’ and ’make it cream!’ it’s hard to tell if your eyes are filled with tears because it’s so goddamned funny or because you’ve been overwhelmed by facing up against some ineffable perversity that words struggle to define.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Grave Mistake: ‘Casket’ Seen In Maryland River Turns Out To Be Dock

A hydrographic operations team pulls what turned out to be a floating dock from the South River , a tributary @ @ @ @ @ Annapolis , Md.
, Thursday , Sept. 3 , 2020 .
The agency was investigating @ @ @ @ @ thought they saw a casket bobbing up and down in the river .
( Maryland @ @ @ @ @ AP )

A hydrographic operations team pulls what turned out to be a floating dock from the South River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, Md., Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. The agency was investigating reports from community members who thought they saw a casket bobbing up and down in the river. (Maryland Department of Natural Resources via AP) ASSOCIATED PRESS
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Police in Maryland investigating reports of a casket photographed bobbing up and down in a river discovered the object was something far less macabre.
A post to a local radio station’s Facebook page Tuesday showed a rectangular object with flat sides and a curved top floating in the South River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis.
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The concrete slab, resembling a coffin, sparked complaints of a possible hazard in the water, The Capital Gazette reported.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Projected To More Than Double By January

( Reuters ) - U.S. deaths from the coronavirus will reach 410,000 by the end of the year , more than double the current death toll , and deaths could soar to 3,000 per day in December , the University of Washington ’ s health institute forecast on Friday .
Deaths could be reduced by 30 % if more Americans wore face masks as epidemiologists have advised , but mask-wearing is declining , the university ’ s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation said .
The U.S. death rate projected by the IHME model , which has been cited by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would more than triple the current death rate of some 850 per day .
“ We expect the daily death rate in the United States , because of seasonality and declining vigilance of the public , to reach nearly 3,000 a day in December , ” the institute , which bills itself as an independent research center , said in an update of its periodic forecasts .
“ Cumulative deaths expected by January 1 are 410,000 ; this is 225,000 deaths from now until the end of the year , ” the institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the world was even more dire , with deaths projected to triple to 2.8 million by Jan. 1 , 2021 .
The United States , which has the world ’ s third largest population , leads the planet with more than 186,000 COVID-19 deaths and 6.1 million coronavirus infections .
The institute made waves earlier this year when its aggressive forecasts contrasted with President Donald Trump ’ s repeated statements that the coronavirus would disappear .
But deaths have surpassed some of the institute ’ s dire predictions , which have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revised assumptions and more sophisticated information sources .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues forecasts only four weeks in advance , and its latest estimate is for 200,000 to 211,000 dead by Sept. 26 .
But the institute said with so many Americans still refusing to wear masks , there remains “ an extraordinary opportunity ” to save lives .
“ Increasing mask use to the levels seen in Singapore would decrease the cumulative death toll to 288,000 , or 122,000 lives saved compared to the reference scenario , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decline from a peak in early August .
Declines are notable throughout the Midwest , including in some states such as Illinois and Iowa with increasing case numbers , ” the report said .
Although U.S. infections have declined to around 45,000 per day from a peak of around 70,000 per day in July , COVID-19 was the second leading cause of death , the institute said .
That would place it behind only heart disease , having surpassed cancer as a cause of death in the United States .
But 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Midwest , still average more than one secondary case per infected person , an indication of rapid spreading , the report said .

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(Reuters) - U.S. deaths from the coronavirus will reach 410,000 by the end of the year, more than double the current death toll, and deaths could soar to 3,000 per day in December, the University of Washington’s health institute forecast on Friday.
Deaths could be reduced by 30% if more Americans wore face masks as epidemiologists have advised, but mask-wearing is declining, the university’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation said.
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The U.S. death rate projected by the IHME model, which has been cited by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, would more than triple the current death rate of some 850 per day.
“We expect the daily death rate in the United States, because of seasonality and declining vigilance of the public, to reach nearly 3,000 a day in December,” the institute, which bills itself as an independent research center, said in an update of its periodic forecasts.
“Cumulative deaths expected by January 1 are 410,000; this is 225,000 deaths from now until the end of the year,” the institute said.
It previously projected 317,697 deaths by Dec. 1.
The model’s outlook for the world was even more dire, with deaths projected to triple to 2.8 million by Jan. 1, 2021.
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The United States, which has the world’s third largest population, leads the planet with more than 186,000 COVID-19 deaths and 6.1 million coronavirus infections.
The institute made waves earlier this year when its aggressive forecasts contrasted with President Donald Trump’s repeated statements that the coronavirus would disappear. But deaths have surpassed some of the institute’s dire predictions, which have been frequently updated to reflect new data, revised assumptions and more sophisticated information sources.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues forecasts only four weeks in advance, and its latest estimate is for 200,000 to 211,000 dead by Sept. 26.
But the institute said with so many Americans still refusing to wear masks, there remains “an extraordinary opportunity” to save lives.
“Increasing mask use to the levels seen in Singapore would decrease the cumulative death toll to 288,000, or 122,000 lives saved compared to the reference scenario,” it said.
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“Mask use continues to decline from a peak in early August. Declines are notable throughout the Midwest, including in some states such as Illinois and Iowa with increasing case numbers,” the report said.
Although U.S. infections have declined to around 45,000 per day from a peak of around 70,000 per day in July, COVID-19 was the second leading cause of death, the institute said. That would place it behind only heart disease, having surpassed cancer as a cause of death in the United States.
Infection rates have recently fallen in large states such as Texas, Florida and California, leading to the national decline in cases.
But 10 states, many of them in the Midwest, still average more than one secondary case per infected person, an indication of rapid spreading, the report said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Biden Confirms Receiving Coronavirus Test, Says He'll Be Tested Regularly

WILMINGTON , Del .
( AP ) — Joe Biden said Friday that he ’ s been tested at least once for the COVID-19 virus and promised he will be tested regularly during his general election campaign against President Donald Trump .
The Democratic presidential nominee told reporters of his testing protocol during a wide-ranging news conference in which he blasted Trump for downplaying the coronavirus and thus ensuring that it will continue to kill Americans and ravage the economy .
For much of the summer , Biden ’ s advisers deflected questions about whether the former vice president was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign almost exclusively from his Delaware home , traveling sparingly as a precaution .
He noted that the Secret Service agents assigned to protect him and “ everyone ” else who comes into his home is tested already .
Biden said he didn ’ t know specifically when his next test would be .
“ I just , ‘ yes , sir , ’ show up and put my head back , ” Biden said .
“ I imagine it ’ ll be sometime this week , but it will be a regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , Trump hailed a new jobs report and repeated his optimism that a COVID-19 vaccine could be available even before the Nov. 3 election .
Hours later , during a fundraiser , Biden said , “ I hope like hell they have a vaccine , ” but questioned Trump ’ s timeline and ability to distribute it .
“ We ’ ve got to make sure they ’ re not just hyping … that they actually finish all the testing , ” Biden said , adding that Trump ’ s public questioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidence in a vaccine whenever it comes online .
Further , the former vice president questioned how well the administration is planning for distribution , given the White House ’ s rocky distribution of COVID-19 tests and protective equipment .
“ Discovery of a safe vaccine isn ’ t enough , ” Biden said .
“ The road from approval to injection is a long road.
” Biden said Trump ’ s statements about an impending vaccine and the August unemployment rate ( it fell to 8.4 % from 10.2 % in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its full effects on the economy , especially the working class .
“ We can ’ t deal with an economic crisis until you beat the pandemic , ” Biden said .
“ It ’ s almost like he doesn ’ t care , doesn ’ t affect him , because it doesn ’ t affect him or his class of friends.
” Defying public health experts ’ guidance on social distancing , Trump has resumed regular campaign travel to events where his supporters crowd airplane hangars , most of them without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t wear a mask regularly himself , has mocked Biden for covering his face as infectious disease experts advise .
“ Did you ever see a man that likes a mask as much as him ?
” Trump asked a rally crowd Thursday night in Pennsylvania .
He added : “ You know what , it gives him a feeling of security .
If I were a psychiatrist — right ?
I ’ d say , this guy ’ s got some big issues.
” Biden smiled widely Friday when asked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m a smart fella .
I listen to scientists , ” Biden said , before turning serious .
“ This is not a game .
Life and death .
Life and death .
… It ’ s hard to respond to something so idiotic .
”

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WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden said Friday that he’s been tested at least once for the COVID-19 virus and promised he will be tested regularly during his general election campaign against President Donald Trump.
The Democratic presidential nominee told reporters of his testing protocol during a wide-ranging news conference in which he blasted Trump for downplaying the coronavirus and thus ensuring that it will continue to kill Americans and ravage the economy.
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For much of the summer, Biden’s advisers deflected questions about whether the former vice president was being tested himself as he anchored his campaign almost exclusively from his Delaware home, traveling sparingly as a precaution.
“They’re going to do it on a regular basis,” Biden said of the testing.
He noted that the Secret Service agents assigned to protect him and “everyone” else who comes into his home is tested already. Biden said he didn’t know specifically when his next test would be.
“I just, ‘yes, sir,’ show up and put my head back,” Biden said. “I imagine it’ll be sometime this week, but it will be a regular basis.”
Biden and Trump offer voters a sharp contrast on the pandemic and its economic fallout.
In the Oval Office on Friday, Trump hailed a new jobs report and repeated his optimism that a COVID-19 vaccine could be available even before the Nov. 3 election.
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Hours later, during a fundraiser, Biden said, “I hope like hell they have a vaccine,” but questioned Trump’s timeline and ability to distribute it. “We’ve got to make sure they’re not just hyping … that they actually finish all the testing,” Biden said, adding that Trump’s public questioning of scientists and medical experts will reduce confidence in a vaccine whenever it comes online.
“People don’t trust a damn thing he says,” Biden quipped.
Further, the former vice president questioned how well the administration is planning for distribution, given the White House’s rocky distribution of COVID-19 tests and protective equipment. “Discovery of a safe vaccine isn’t enough,” Biden said. “The road from approval to injection is a long road.”
Biden said Trump’s statements about an impending vaccine and the August unemployment rate (it fell to 8.4% from 10.2% in July) still underplays the severity of coronavirus and its full effects on the economy, especially the working class.
“We can’t deal with an economic crisis until you beat the pandemic,” Biden said. “It’s almost like he doesn’t care, doesn’t affect him, because it doesn’t affect him or his class of friends.”
The gulf between the two rivals extends even to masks.
Defying public health experts’ guidance on social distancing, Trump has resumed regular campaign travel to events where his supporters crowd airplane hangars, most of them without masks. The president, who doesn’t wear a mask regularly himself, has mocked Biden for covering his face as infectious disease experts advise.
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“Did you ever see a man that likes a mask as much as him?” Trump asked a rally crowd Thursday night in Pennsylvania. He added: “You know what, it gives him a feeling of security. If I were a psychiatrist — right? I’d say, this guy’s got some big issues.”
Biden smiled widely Friday when asked about the president’s remarks. “I’m a smart fella. I listen to scientists,” Biden said, before turning serious. “This is not a game. Life and death. Life and death. … It’s hard to respond to something so idiotic.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-05--People Can’t Get Over Mike Pence’s Latest 'Ridiculous' Praise Of Donald Trump

Do you think these guys wake up in the morning and say to themselves ‘ What is the craziest thing @ @ @ @ @ of the boss today ?
’ Or maybe they have a bet going with other @ @ @ @ @ can go out furthest on a limb for POTUS ?
https : //t.co/xsvQdsisrj

Do you think these guys wake up in the morning and say to themselves ‘What is the craziest thing I can say in defense of the boss today?’ Or maybe they have a bet going with other WH colleagues as to who can go out furthest on a limb for POTUS? https://t.co/xsvQdsisrj


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--White House Orders End Of 'Un-American' Racial Sensitivity Training At Federal Agencies

The Trump administration has issued a memo ordering federal agencies to end racial sensitivity training , declaring it “ un-American propaganda , ” according to the document obtained by The Washington Post .
The two-page memo released Friday notes that President Donald Trump seeks to prevent federal agencies from spending “ millions in taxpayer dollars ” on the training sessions — and that any contracts involving instruction on “ white privilege ” or “ critical race theory ” be canceled immediately if possible .
“ The President has directed me to ensure that federal agencies cease and desist from using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ un-American propaganda training sessions , ” states the memo , written by Office and Management and Budget Director Russell Vought .
The memo says trainings that mention white privilege or asserting that racism is part of the country ’ s foundation “ engender division and resentment ” and “ undercut ” the federal government ’ s “ core values.
” It also directs agencies to end contracts for sensitivity training which teaches that America is an “ inherently racist or evil country.
” Vought referred to an unnamed “ press report ” that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been required to attend trainings where they are told that ‘ virtually all white people contribute to racism ’ or where they are required to say that they ‘ benefit from racism.
’ ” The memo was issued as Trump this week slammed “ anarchist ” participants in protests against police killings of unarmed Black Americans .
The memo concluded that the president and his administration “ are fully committed to the fair and equal treatment of all individuals in the United States .
”

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The Trump administration has issued a memo ordering federal agencies to end racial sensitivity training, declaring it “un-American propaganda,” according to the document obtained by The Washington Post.
The two-page memo released Friday notes that President Donald Trump seeks to prevent federal agencies from spending “millions in taxpayer dollars” on the training sessions — and that any contracts involving instruction on “white privilege” or “critical race theory” be canceled immediately if possible.
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“The President has directed me to ensure that federal agencies cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund these divisive, un-American propaganda training sessions,” states the memo, written by Office and Management and Budget Director Russell Vought.
The memo says trainings that mention white privilege or asserting that racism is part of the country’s foundation “engender division and resentment” and “undercut” the federal government’s “core values.”
It also directs agencies to end contracts for sensitivity training which teaches that America is an “inherently racist or evil country.”
Vought referred to an unnamed “press report” that he claimed says federal workers “have been required to attend trainings where they are told that ‘virtually all white people contribute to racism’ or where they are required to say that they ‘benefit from racism.’”
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The memo was issued as Trump this week slammed “anarchist” participants in protests against police killings of unarmed Black Americans.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Fox Is So Rattled By Trump Military Story That It Confirms, Debunks, Then Reconfirms It

Fox News was so flustered by The Atlantic article on insults by President Donald Trump against military service members that it initially didn ’ t know where to land on the report .
It attacked the article , then eventually confirmed it .
Then it bashed it again soon afterward — before reconfirming it .
Fox News ’ national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin posted a long Twitter thread Friday afternoon confirming key points of the bombshell article that cited multiple reports of Trump denigrating fallen service members by saying they were “ losers ” and “ suckers , ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to visit the graves of America ’ s war dead at Aisne-Marne Cemetery while he was in France in 2018 .
Griffin also tweeted that she discovered Trump once said it was “ not a good look ” to include “ wounded guys ” in a Fourth of July military parade .
Regarding Trump 's July 4th military parade , during a planning session at the White House after seeing the Bastille Day parade in 2017 , the President said regarding the inclusion of `` wounded guys '' `` that 's not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like that , '' source confirms .
— Jennifer Griffin ( @ JenGriffinFNC ) September 4 , 2020 Two former sr Trump admin officials confirm .
@ JeffreyGoldberg reporting that President Trump disparaged veterans and did not want to drive to honor American war dead at Aisne-Marne Cemetery outside Paris .
— Jennifer Griffin ( @ JenGriffinFNC ) September 4 , 2020 According to one former senior Trump administration official : `` When the President spoke about the Vietnam War , he said , 'It was a stupid war .
Anyone who went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jennifer Griffin ( @ JenGriffinFNC ) September 4 , 2020 I read the source a few quotes from The Atlantic article .
This former Trump admin official said , `` The President would say things like that .
He does n't know why people join the military .
He would muse , 'Why do they do it ' ? ''
— Jennifer Griffin ( @ JenGriffinFNC ) September 4 , 2020 After the media widely reported on Griffin ’ s tweets , declaring that Fox News had confirmed the report , Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” bashed the “ debunked ” and “ outrageous ” report as a “ scam ” and a “ hoax.
” No one on the program cited the findings of their own Pentagon reporter .
But wait .
Scratch that .
An hour after that , Griffin appeared on Fox News to discuss the confirmation she had tweeted about .
And there it is .
Fox News confirms the story that the White House has been denying all day .
This thing 's a done deal.pic.twitter.com/7kVY3vmAwB — Brian Tyler Cohen ( @ briantylercohen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosts for much of the day also slammed The Atlantic ’ s use of anonymous sources , then used its own anonymous sources to debunk — and then confirm — the article .
Despite the waffling , by late Friday evening Fox News seemed to be sticking to its position that the Atlantic article was essentially true .
Fox News ’ confirmation of the story is viewed by political observers as particularly harmful to Trump because the media outlet usually backs the president .

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Fox News was so flustered by The Atlantic article on insults by President Donald Trump against military service members that it initially didn’t know where to land on the report.
It attacked the article, then eventually confirmed it. Then it bashed it again soon afterward — before reconfirming it.
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Fox News’ national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin posted a long Twitter thread Friday afternoon confirming key points of the bombshell article that cited multiple reports of Trump denigrating fallen service members by saying they were “losers” and “suckers,” and details of the president’s refusal to visit the graves of America’s war dead at Aisne-Marne Cemetery while he was in France in 2018.
Griffin also tweeted that she discovered Trump once said it was “not a good look” to include “wounded guys” in a Fourth of July military parade.
Regarding Trump's July 4th military parade, during a planning session at the White House after seeing the Bastille Day parade in 2017, the President said regarding the inclusion of "wounded guys" "that's not a good look" "Americans don't like that," source confirms. — Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) September 4, 2020
Two former sr Trump admin officials confirm .@JeffreyGoldberg reporting that President Trump disparaged veterans and did not want to drive to honor American war dead at Aisne-Marne Cemetery outside Paris. — Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) September 4, 2020
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According to one former senior Trump administration official: "When the President spoke about the Vietnam War, he said, 'It was a stupid war. Anyone who went was a sucker'." — Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) September 4, 2020
I read the source a few quotes from The Atlantic article. This former Trump admin official said, "The President would say things like that. He doesn't know why people join the military. He would muse, 'Why do they do it'?" — Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) September 4, 2020
After the media widely reported on Griffin’s tweets, declaring that Fox News had confirmed the report, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld on “The Five” bashed the “debunked” and “outrageous” report as a “scam” and a “hoax.” No one on the program cited the findings of their own Pentagon reporter.
But wait. Scratch that. An hour after that, Griffin appeared on Fox News to discuss the confirmation she had tweeted about.
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And there it is. Fox News confirms the story that the White House has been denying all day. This thing's a done deal.pic.twitter.com/7kVY3vmAwB — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) September 4, 2020
Fox News hosts for much of the day also slammed The Atlantic’s use of anonymous sources, then used its own anonymous sources to debunk — and then confirm — the article.
Despite the waffling, by late Friday evening Fox News seemed to be sticking to its position that the Atlantic article was essentially true.
Fox News’ confirmation of the story is viewed by political observers as particularly harmful to Trump because the media outlet usually backs the president.
Trump has denied the accusations raised in The Atlantic.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-05--Washington Post Editorial Board Pulls No Punches With Latest Searing Trump Critique

The Washington Post ’ s editorial board spelled out in its latest column why it believes that four more years of Donald Trump as president may irrevocably damage the civic fabric of America .
Trump “ is a president who does not so much govern the country as harass it , ” the newspaper ’ s board wrote in the piece published Friday .
In its column ― headlined “ Presidents are expected to set the national tone .
What we got with Trump has been catastrophic.
” — the board recalled Trump ’ s “ repeated use of xenophobic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ No postwar president even approached this level of conduct unbecoming the position he holds , ” it continued .
“ Even at his nastiest , Richard M. Nixon generally saved ugly comments about his political foes , the media and minority ethnic groups for the privacy of the Oval Office.
” The board ― which has called out and fact-checked Trump , his administration and his GOP enablers on multiple previous occasions ― concluded with a warning of what may happen if the precedents that Trump has set during his time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The necessary condition of reversing the damage to the nation ’ s civic fabric , though , is denying him another four years in office , ” it wrote .
“ Otherwise , it could be permanent .
”

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The Washington Post’s editorial board spelled out in its latest column why it believes that four more years of Donald Trump as president may irrevocably damage the civic fabric of America.
Trump “is a president who does not so much govern the country as harass it,” the newspaper’s board wrote in the piece published Friday.
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In its column ― headlined “Presidents are expected to set the national tone. What we got with Trump has been catastrophic.” — the board recalled Trump’s “repeated use of xenophobic, racist and misogynistic themes and tropes.”
“No postwar president even approached this level of conduct unbecoming the position he holds,” it continued. “Even at his nastiest, Richard M. Nixon generally saved ugly comments about his political foes, the media and minority ethnic groups for the privacy of the Oval Office.”
The board ― which has called out and fact-checked Trump, his administration and his GOP enablers on multiple previous occasions ― concluded with a warning of what may happen if the precedents that Trump has set during his time in office are allowed to continue.
“The necessary condition of reversing the damage to the nation’s civic fabric, though, is denying him another four years in office,” it wrote. “Otherwise, it could be permanent.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-05--Gold Star Families Issue Stinging Message To Donald Trump Over Reported War Dead Insults

Gold Star families condemn Donald Trump ’ s reported insulting of America ’ s war dead in just one of a series of new attack ads released by critics of the president on both sides of the aisle .
The parents of fallen U.S. service members denounce Trump for allegedly referring to Americans who died fighting in World War I as “ suckers ” and “ losers ” during a 2018 visit to France in the spot shared online Friday by the progressive PAC VoteVets .
Trump denies making the comments , first reported by The Atlantic this week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
You have no right being commander in chief , ” one Gold Star mother said in the video , here : Donald Trump called our fallen troops `` suckers '' and `` losers . ''
They ca n't speak for themselves , but these 6 Gold Star families speak for our fallen .
Here is their POWERFUL message.
# GoldStarParentsAgainstTrump # VeteransAgainstTrump pic.twitter.com/ZnbFevqkNR — VoteVets ( @ votevets ) September 4 , 2020 The progressive Meidas Touch PAC highlighted Trump ’ s multiple deferments from the military with its critical ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made up of anti-Trump Republicans , and Veterans for Responsible Leadership called out Trump with this clip : Democratic 2020 candidate Joe Biden ’ s campaign , meanwhile , superimposed Trump ’ s reported comments over poignant photos .
“ If you don ’ t respect our troops , you can not lead them , ” read text on the screen at the end .
It ’ s unclear which , if any , of the ads will be aired on television .
The jury also remains undecided as to whether online ads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swing voters .
That said , a poll released by Military Times this week showed support for Trump was falling amid active-duty officers and troops .
There has been “ a steady drop in troops ’ opinion of the commander in chief since his election four years ago , ” reported the independent news website .

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Gold Star families condemn Donald Trump for reportedly insulting America’s war dead in just one of a series of new attack ads released by critics of the president on both sides of the aisle.
The parents of fallen U.S. service members denounce Trump for allegedly referring to Americans who died fighting in World War I as “suckers” and “losers” during a 2018 visit to France. Trump denies making the comments, first reported by The Atlantic this week.
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“My message to Donald Trump is this: You have no right being commander in chief,” one Gold Star mother said in the video, which was shared online Friday by the progressive PAC VoteVets.
Donald Trump called our fallen troops "suckers" and "losers."
They can't speak for themselves, but these 6 Gold Star families speak for our fallen.
Here is their POWERFUL message.#GoldStarParentsAgainstTrump #VeteransAgainstTrump pic.twitter.com/ZnbFevqkNR — VoteVets (@votevets) September 4, 2020
The progressive Meidas Touch PAC highlighted Trump’s multiple deferments from the military with its critical ad:
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The Lincoln Project, which is made up of anti-Trump Republicans, and Veterans for Responsible Leadership called out Trump with this clip:
Donald Trump thinks these heroes are losers. pic.twitter.com/BDaadXsWVU — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) September 4, 2020
Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s campaign, meanwhile, superimposed Trump’s reported comments over poignant photos. “If you don’t respect our troops, you cannot lead them,” read text on the screen at the end.
Mr. President, if you don’t respect our troops, you can’t lead them. pic.twitter.com/hcX9hGgdm5 — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 4, 2020
It’s unclear which, if any, of the ads will be aired on television. It’s also unclear whether online ads that go viral are effective in swaying swing voters.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-05--Michael Cohen Reveals His 'Biggest Fear' About Donald Trump And The 2020 Election

President Donald Trump “ will do anything and everything ” to win the 2020 election , according to Michael Cohen .
The president may manipulate ballots and “ even go so far as to start a war in order to prevent himself from being removed from office ” if he loses , Cohen told NBC ’ s Lester Holt in a clip released Friday .
“ My biggest fear is that there will not be a peaceful transition of power in 2020 , ” added Cohen , Trump ’ s former personal lawyer .
Cohen ’ s memoir about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fixer , titled “ Disloyal : A Memoir : The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump , ” is set to be released this week .
The book reportedly contains salacious details about Trump , including the story of an alleged incident involving “ golden showers in a sex club in Vegas , ” according to the foreword written by Cohen .
The White House has dismissed the tell-all book as “ fan-fiction.
” In 2018 , Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation and violating campaign finance laws .
He served the first year in prison before being released under house arrest because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Michael Cohen tells @ LesterHoltNBC that President Trump will do “ anything and everything ” to win another term .
The White House calls his new book “ fiction.
” https : //t.co/nyQh2nuVs1 Tune in to @ NBCNightlyNews on Tuesday , September 8 , for more of the interview .
pic.twitter.com/pq7tjxfx3r — NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt ( @ NBCNightlyNews ) September 4 , 2020

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President Donald Trump “will do anything and everything” to win the 2020 election, according to Michael Cohen.
The president may manipulate ballots and “even go so far as to start a war in order to prevent himself from being removed from office” if he loses, Cohen told NBC’s Lester Holt in a clip released Friday.
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“My biggest fear is that there will not be a peaceful transition of power in 2020,” added Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer.
Cohen’s memoir about the years he spent as Trump’s fixer, titled “Disloyal: A Memoir: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump,” is set to be released this week. The book reportedly contains salacious details about Trump, including the story of an alleged incident involving “golden showers in a sex club in Vegas,” according to the foreword written by Cohen.
The White House has dismissed the tell-all book as “fan-fiction.”
In 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for crimes including lying to Congress amid the Russia investigation and violating campaign finance laws. He served the first year in prison before being released under house arrest because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cohen’s full interview with Holt will air Tuesday on NBC.
Check out the preview clip here:
Michael Cohen tells @LesterHoltNBC that President Trump will do “anything and everything” to win another term. The White House calls his new book “fiction.” https://t.co/nyQh2nuVs1
Tune in to @NBCNightlyNews on Tuesday, September 8, for more of the interview. pic.twitter.com/pq7tjxfx3r — NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) September 4, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-05--Hero Airline Pilot Capt. Sully Is 'Disgusted' By Trump, He Reveals In Blistering Attack

Retired Capt .
Chesley “ Sully ” Sullenberger , America ’ s favorite airline pilot , is “ disgusted ” by the “ current occupant of the White House , ” he tweeted Friday in an uncharacteristic attack on President Donald Trump .
The easygoing pilot , who safely landed a crippled commercial airliner in the Hudson River 11 years ago to save every one of his 155 passengers , erupted over a report Thursday in The Atlantic about Trump ’ s shocking insults labeling fallen service members as “ losers ” and “ suckers.
” As part of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his father , who , like him , was a war veteran .
“ His generation saved the world from fascism , ” he wrote .
Sullenberger , an Air Force veteran , volunteered for military service during the Vietnam War .
“ I have long known that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling , whether in the military or in civilian life , ” he added in a following tweet .
“ And I have always tried to be a voice of reason and to speak in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls for a much more direct approach .
It is time to call out egregious behavior for what it is , ” he flatly stated .
“ For the first time in American history , a president has repeatedly shown utter and vulgar contempt and disrespect for those who have served and died serving our country , ” Sullenberger noted .
“ While I am not surprised , I am disgusted by the current occupant of the Oval Office .
He has repeatedly and consistently shown himself to be completely unfit for and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he holds , ” Sullenberger added .
“ He can not understand selflessness because he is selfish .
He can not conceive of courage because he is a coward.
” He concluded : “ We owe it not only to those who have served and sacrificed for our nation , but to ourselves and to succeeding generations to vote him out.
” Sullenberger is a registered Republican who was approached by the GOP in 2009 about running for Congress .
He endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president earlier this year .
2/9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I have always made it a point to visit military bases , hospitals and cemeteries , to meet and honor those who serve and have served our nation .
— Sully Sullenberger ( @ Captsully ) September 4 , 2020 3/9 I have long known that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling , whether in the military or in civilian life .
And I have always tried to be a voice of reason and to speak in a measured way .
— Sully Sullenberger ( @ Captsully ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation calls for a much more direct approach .
It is time to call out egregious behavior for what it is .
— Sully Sullenberger ( @ Captsully ) September 4 , 2020 5/9 For the first time in American history , a president has repeatedly shown utter and vulgar contempt and disrespect for those who have served and died serving our country .
— Sully Sullenberger ( @ Captsully ) September 4 , 2020 6/9 While I am not surprised , I am disgusted by the current occupant of the Oval Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself to be completely unfit for and to have no respect for the office he holds .
— Sully Sullenberger ( @ Captsully ) September 4 , 2020 7/9 He took an oath of office that is similar to the one that each person takes who enters the U.S. Military .
But he has completely failed to uphold his oath .
Now we know why .
He has admitted that he can not comprehend the concept of service above self .
— Sully Sullenberger ( @ Captsully ) September 4 , 2020 8/9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is selfish .
He can not conceive of courage because he is a coward .
He can not feel duty because he is disloyal .
— Sully Sullenberger ( @ Captsully ) September 4 , 2020

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Retired Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, America’s favorite airline pilot, is “disgusted” by the “current occupant of the White House,” he tweeted Friday in an uncharacteristic attack on President Donald Trump.
The easygoing pilot, who safely landed a crippled commercial airliner in the Hudson River 11 years ago to save every one of his 155 passengers, erupted over a report Thursday in The Atlantic about Trump’s shocking insults labeling fallen service members as “losers” and “suckers.”
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As part of his nine-tweet attack, Sullenberger began by honoring his father, who, like him, was a war veteran. “His generation saved the world from fascism,” he wrote. Sullenberger, an Air Force veteran, volunteered for military service during the Vietnam War.
“I have long known that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling, whether in the military or in civilian life,” he added in a following tweet. “And I have always tried to be a voice of reason and to speak in a measured way.”
But “this situation calls for a much more direct approach. It is time to call out egregious behavior for what it is,” he flatly stated.
“For the first time in American history, a president has repeatedly shown utter and vulgar contempt and disrespect for those who have served and died serving our country,” Sullenberger noted.
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“While I am not surprised, I am disgusted by the current occupant of the Oval Office. He has repeatedly and consistently shown himself to be completely unfit for and to have no respect for the office he holds,” Sullenberger added.
“He cannot understand selflessness because he is selfish. He cannot conceive of courage because he is a coward.”
He concluded: “We owe it not only to those who have served and sacrificed for our nation, but to ourselves and to succeeding generations to vote him out.”
Sullenberger is a registered Republican who was approached by the GOP in 2009 about running for Congress. He endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president earlier this year.
Check out the thread below.
1/9 I am a veteran. I volunteered for military service during wartime. So did my father. His generation saved the world from fascism. pic.twitter.com/0tWKdMYDKs — Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) September 4, 2020
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2/9 In our travels, my wife Lorrie and I have always made it a point to visit military bases, hospitals and cemeteries, to meet and honor those who serve and have served our nation. — Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) September 4, 2020
3/9 I have long known that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling, whether in the military or in civilian life. And I have always tried to be a voice of reason and to speak in a measured way. — Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) September 4, 2020
4/9 But this situation calls for a much more direct approach. It is time to call out egregious behavior for what it is. — Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) September 4, 2020
5/9 For the first time in American history, a president has repeatedly shown utter and vulgar contempt and disrespect for those who have served and died serving our country. — Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) September 4, 2020
6/9 While I am not surprised, I am disgusted by the current occupant of the Oval Office. He has repeatedly and consistently shown himself to be completely unfit for and to have no respect for the office he holds. — Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) September 4, 2020
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7/9 He took an oath of office that is similar to the one that each person takes who enters the U.S. Military. But he has completely failed to uphold his oath.
Now we know why. He has admitted that he cannot comprehend the concept of service above self. — Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) September 4, 2020
8/9 He cannot understand selflessness because he is selfish. He cannot conceive of courage because he is a coward. He cannot feel duty because he is disloyal. — Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) September 4, 2020