thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--COVID-19 Is A Rolling Disaster For Working Mothers

The coronavirus pandemic has been hard on all parents , but especially on working mothers .
A report out Tuesday from the Census Bureau offers a new look at the breadth of the crisis .
Close to 31 % of women ages 25 to 44 with children at home are not working because of COVID-19-related child care issues , compared with 11.6 % of men , according to a survey conducted by the Census Bureau from July 16 to July 21 .
Put another way , working mothers are three times more likely to have been sidelined from their jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fathers .
And the coming school year will offer little relief .
Many school systems are still going with remote learning for 2020-21 , while some are trying out hybrid schedules that mix in-person and at-home schedules .
Some child care centers have permanently shuttered , and after-school and before-school care is still curtailed in many places .
The leave gap between moms and dads has been fairly consistent since the census started coronavirus-related surveys in April .
The agency is collecting pandemic-specific information ― including whether Americans are having more trouble affording @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also yes ) .
Women in the U.S. have long been stymied in their attempts to work by lousy policies that encourage them to stay home with children ― a lack of paid parental leave , expensive and insufficient child care options and workplaces built by and for men , who don ’ t have primary child care responsibilities .
Working mothers also face pay discrimination and bias in promotions and hiring .
And , of course , looming over all of this is the default expectation that mothers must be the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and biases to an extreme degree , just as it has exposed every other inequality plaguing the U.S .
Working mothers report higher levels of food insecurity in the pandemic .
Nearly 23 % of women in households with children at home told the census that they had low confidence in their ability to afford food in the coming weeks , compared with 16.7 % of those without children at home .
“ I ’ m the breadwinner here and if I don ’ t go to work and we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we don ’ t have food on the shelves , ” Angela Hatem , a single mother with a 15-month-old in Indianapolis , told HuffPost recently .
Hatem was one of a number of women agonizing over whether to send their children back to school , or to reopened child care centers , who recently spoke to HuffPost about their decisions .
She planned to send her baby back to day care , but she was nervous .
“ The minute he gets that first day care cold I ’ m going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the start of the pandemic , Laurin Scarpelli and her partner took unpaid leave from their jobs in Prescott , Arizona , working in group homes for people with Alzheimer ’ s and dementia .
Their children have cystic fibrosis and are at high risk for coronavirus .
But their leave ran out and they both were fired .
They had been getting by on the federal government ’ s enhanced unemployment benefit that was meant to help deal with the pandemic ’ s economic crisis .
But those benefits ran out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on an extension .
“ After September , when things are running out , we won ’ t have enough to pay rent , utilities , our phone bills , medical supplies , plus groceries for the kids , all their special needs , ” Scarpelli told HuffPost last month .
“ It ’ s scary right now .
”

The coronavirus pandemic has been hard on all parents, but especially on working mothers. A report out Tuesday from the Census Bureau offers a new look at the breadth of the crisis.
Close to 31% of women ages 25 to 44 with children at home are not working because of COVID-19-related child care issues, compared with 11.6% of men, according to a survey conducted by the Census Bureau from July 16 to July 21.
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Percentage of adults with children not working because of COVID-related issues. U.S. Census Bureau
Put another way, working mothers are three times more likely to have been sidelined from their jobs by COVID-19 child care issues than working fathers.
And the coming school year will offer little relief. Many school systems are still going with remote learning for 2020-21, while some are trying out hybrid schedules that mix in-person and at-home schedules. Some child care centers have permanently shuttered, and after-school and before-school care is still curtailed in many places.
With so much muddled and inconsistent scheduling, parents are hardly going to be able to slide back into a full-time workday.
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The leave gap between moms and dads has been fairly consistent since the census started coronavirus-related surveys in April. The agency is collecting pandemic-specific information ― including whether Americans are having more trouble affording food (yes) and shelter (also yes).
Percentage of adults not working because of COVID-19, by week. U.S. Census Bureau
Women in the U.S. have long been stymied in their attempts to work by lousy policies that encourage them to stay home with children ― a lack of paid parental leave, expensive and insufficient child care options and workplaces built by and for men, who don’t have primary child care responsibilities. Working mothers also face pay discrimination and bias in promotions and hiring.
And, of course, looming over all of this is the default expectation that mothers must be the primary caretaker.
COVID-19 has exacerbated these policies and biases to an extreme degree, just as it has exposed every other inequality plaguing the U.S.
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While media outlets have spotlighted how this gender imbalance in pandemic parenting could impact women’s careers ― and surely it will ― there’s a more urgent danger as well.
Working mothers report higher levels of food insecurity in the pandemic. Nearly 23% of women in households with children at home told the census that they had low confidence in their ability to afford food in the coming weeks, compared with 16.7% of those without children at home.
“I’m the breadwinner here and if I don’t go to work and we don’t have a roof over our head and we don’t have food on the shelves,” Angela Hatem, a single mother with a 15-month-old in Indianapolis, told HuffPost recently.
Hatem was one of a number of women agonizing over whether to send their children back to school, or to reopened child care centers, who recently spoke to HuffPost about their decisions. She planned to send her baby back to day care, but she was nervous. “The minute he gets that first day care cold I’m going to spiral out,” she said.
Hatem has been able to work remotely since her child care center shut down in the spring. Other women don’t have that option.
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Laurin Scarpelli and her daughter Courtesy of Laurin Scarpelli
At the start of the pandemic, Laurin Scarpelli and her partner took unpaid leave from their jobs in Prescott, Arizona, working in group homes for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Their children have cystic fibrosis and are at high risk for coronavirus. But their leave ran out and they both were fired.
They had been getting by on the federal government’s enhanced unemployment benefit that was meant to help deal with the pandemic’s economic crisis. But those benefits ran out this month and Washington has been deadlocked on an extension.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Kamala Harris, Barack Obama To Speak On Night 3 Of Democratic Convention

Barack Obama , the nation ’ s first Black president , and Hillary Clinton , the first woman nominated for president by a major party , are speaking on Biden ’ s behalf Tuesday night .
And Kamala Harris , Biden ’ s running mate and the first Black woman on a major party ticket , will deliver highly anticipated remarks that will serve as her first introduction to millions of voters .
Just 76 days before the election , voters in both parties are as engaged in politics as they have ever been , even while battling a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and millions more out of work .
Having formally been nominated by their party , the Biden-Harris ticket is now the Democrats ' best and only hope to deny Trump another four years in office .
The pandemic has forced Biden 's team to abandon the traditional convention format in favor of an all-virtual affair that has eliminated much of the pomp and circumstance that typically defines political conventions .
It 's also produced opportunities to create new traditions .
On Tuesday night , Biden celebrated his formal nomination in a school library @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Milwaukee convention hall as initially planned , the roll call of convention delegates played out in a combination of live and recorded video feeds from American landmarks packed with meaning : Alabama ’ s Edmund Pettus Bridge , the headwaters of the Mississippi River and Washington ’ s Black Lives Matter Plaza .
Trump has spent much of this week hosting campaign events in battleground states in an attempt to distract from the Democrats ' virtual festivities .
While there is no travel expected on Wednesday , Trump on Tuesday claimed that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of illegal immigration like the world has never seen ” during an Arizona appearance near the Mexican border .
Such divisive rhetoric , which is not supported by Biden ’ s positions , has become a hallmark of Trump ’ s presidency , which has inflamed tensions at home and alienated allies around the world .
Still , Biden 's team acknowledged that the Biden-Harris ticket must do more than promise a return to normalcy should they defeat Trump .
The speakers Wednesday are expected to outline Biden 's path toward legitimate progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s so much more to be had , ” she said .
“ Joe Biden ’ s a champion , and all ally we can trust in the White House , and by his side we ’ ll have the first female vice president in our history in Kamala Harris .
As Joe often says , our nation was founded on a simple idea .
We ’ re all created equal .
We ’ ve never fully lived up to it but that is our north star.
” Obama , who remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party , will deliver a live address Wednesday night as well .
He hopes to serve as a bridge between those reassured by Biden ’ s lengthy resume and more moderate record , and a younger generation of Democrats agitating for more dramatic change .
Obama confidants say that the former president ’ s support for Biden is unequivocal , but he does worry about enthusiasm among younger voters , particularly younger voters of color .
Democrats concede that one of the reasons Trump won the presidency in 2016 is because those voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large numbers for Clinton as they did when Obama was on the ballot .
The first two days of the convention have featured a diverse lineup , although Biden 's team has largely showcased the more moderate wing of his party — and even a half dozen Republicans such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich .

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WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The Democrats' historic boundary breakers are joining forces at the party’s national convention in an unprecedented effort to mobilize the diverse coalition Joe Biden will need to defeat President Donald Trump this fall.
Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black president, and Hillary Clinton, the first woman nominated for president by a major party, are speaking on Biden’s behalf Tuesday night. And Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate and the first Black woman on a major party ticket, will deliver highly anticipated remarks that will serve as her first introduction to millions of voters.
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Just 76 days before the election, voters in both parties are as engaged in politics as they have ever been, even while battling a pandemic that has left more than 172,000 dead and millions more out of work. Having formally been nominated by their party, the Biden-Harris ticket is now the Democrats' best and only hope to deny Trump another four years in office.
The pandemic has forced Biden's team to abandon the traditional convention format in favor of an all-virtual affair that has eliminated much of the pomp and circumstance that typically defines political conventions. It's also produced opportunities to create new traditions.
On Tuesday night, Biden celebrated his formal nomination in a school library with his family. Instead of a Milwaukee convention hall as initially planned, the roll call of convention delegates played out in a combination of live and recorded video feeds from American landmarks packed with meaning: Alabama’s Edmund Pettus Bridge, the headwaters of the Mississippi River and Washington’s Black Lives Matter Plaza.
The Democratic convention will build to a finale Thursday night when Biden will deliver his acceptance speech Thursday in a mostly empty convention hall near his Delaware home.
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Next week it's Trump's turn.
The president, who abandoned plans to host his convention in North Carolina and Florida, is expected to break tradition and accept his nomination from the White House lawn.
Trump has spent much of this week hosting campaign events in battleground states in an attempt to distract from the Democrats' virtual festivities. While there is no travel expected on Wednesday, Trump on Tuesday claimed that a Biden presidency would trigger “a flood of illegal immigration like the world has never seen” during an Arizona appearance near the Mexican border.
Such divisive rhetoric, which is not supported by Biden’s positions, has become a hallmark of Trump’s presidency, which has inflamed tensions at home and alienated allies around the world.
Still, Biden's team acknowledged that the Biden-Harris ticket must do more than promise a return to normalcy should they defeat Trump. The speakers Wednesday are expected to outline Biden's path toward legitimate progress for all Americans.
“Joe knows its not enough to build back. We’ve got to build back better than ever," Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in previewing Wednesday's program.
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Whitmer noted, for example, that women have made significant progress in politics recent years.
“But there’s so much more to be had,” she said. “Joe Biden’s a champion, and all ally we can trust in the White House, and by his side we’ll have the first female vice president in our history in Kamala Harris. As Joe often says, our nation was founded on a simple idea. We’re all created equal. We’ve never fully lived up to it but that is our north star.”
Obama, who remains perhaps the biggest star in the Democratic Party, will deliver a live address Wednesday night as well. He hopes to serve as a bridge between those reassured by Biden’s lengthy resume and more moderate record, and a younger generation of Democrats agitating for more dramatic change.
Obama confidants say that the former president’s support for Biden is unequivocal, but he does worry about enthusiasm among younger voters, particularly younger voters of color. Democrats concede that one of the reasons Trump won the presidency in 2016 is because those voters didn't show up in the same large numbers for Clinton as they did when Obama was on the ballot.
The first two days of the convention have featured a diverse lineup, although Biden's team has largely showcased the more moderate wing of his party — and even a half dozen Republicans such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel said on Fox News Channel on Wednesday she wasn’t concerned, adding that Powell “hasn’t been a Republican since the early 2000s.”
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“This isn’t surprising,” McDaniel said. “This group of Never Trumpers has left the Republican party.”
It remains to be seen whether the unconventional convention will give Biden the momentum he’s looking for.
Preliminary estimates show that television viewership for the first night of the virtual convention was down compared with the opening of Hillary Clinton’s onsite nominating party four years ago.
An estimated 18.7 million people watched coverage between 10 and 11 p.m. on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC, the Nielsen company said. Four years ago, the opening night drew just under 26 million viewers.
Biden’s campaign said an additional 10.2 million streamed the convention online Monday night.
___
Price reported from Las Vegas and Peoples from New York. AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--All Cher Really Wants To Do Is Volunteer At The Post Office

If Cher could turn back time , she ’ d likely get the U.S .
Postal Service out of the trouble it ’ s currently in .
The legendary singer spent much of Wednesday tweeting her thoughts about Americans ’ favorite federal agency , which is flailing financially in part due to the coronavirus pandemic .
She initially asked her followers if it ’ s possible for people to volunteer at their local post office .
Not long after , she emphasized that she wasn ’ t kidding and really wanted to know .
Frustrated , Cher followed up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ONE GOING TO HELP ME WITH POST OFFICE , ” she inquired .
Do you believe that the 74-year-old then picked up the phone and called two post offices in Malibu ?
The “ Mamma Mia 2 : Here We Go Again ” star had apparently had enough with asking Twitter for help and decided to see herself if the Postal Service would graciously accept her offer to volunteer .
Sadly , one woman Cher spoke to on the phone “ didn ’ t know ” about volunteer opportunities at the post office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s supervisor , told Cher that the organization does not accept volunteers .
OK , Called 2 post offices In Malibu.They were polite .
I Said ” Hi This Is Cher , & I Would like to know If you ever take Volunteers⁉Lady Said She Didn ’ t Know & Gave Me # Of Supervisor.I Called & Said Hi This is Cher Do U Accept volunteers.
” NO , Need Fingerprints & Background Check ” 😥 — Cher ( @ cher ) August 19 , 2020 Much like Cher , HuffPost was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a knife and drove it deep in my heart , upon learning from the Postal Service ’ s press representative that volunteering for the agency is not possible .
But the spokesperson did refer HuffPost to the “ many opportunities for employment at the Postal Service , including seasonal hiring , ” which you can find here .
So , Cher , we got you , babe .
We recommend you check there if you ’ re feeling up for a part-time job or even buying some USPS merchandise .

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If Cher could turn back time, she’d likely get the U.S. Postal Service out of the trouble it’s currently in.
The legendary singer spent much of Wednesday tweeting her thoughts about Americans’ favorite federal agency, which is flailing financially in part due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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She initially asked her followers if it’s possible for people to volunteer at their local post office. Not long after, she emphasized that she wasn’t kidding and really wanted to know.
Can ppl volunteer at post office⁉ — Cher (@cher) August 19, 2020
NO,IM NO KIDDING...COULD I
VOLUNTEER AT MY POST OFFICE ⁉ — Cher (@cher) August 19, 2020
Frustrated, Cher followed up a little while later: “IS NO ONE GOING TO HELP ME WITH POST OFFICE,” she inquired.
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IS NO ONE GOING TO HELP ME
WITH POST OFFICE 🙄 — Cher (@cher) August 19, 2020
Do you believe that the 74-year-old then picked up the phone and called two post offices in Malibu?
The “Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again” star had apparently had enough with asking Twitter for help and decided to see herself if the Postal Service would graciously accept her offer to volunteer.
Sadly, one woman Cher spoke to on the phone “didn’t know” about volunteer opportunities at the post office. A second person, that woman’s supervisor, told Cher that the organization does not accept volunteers.
OK,Called 2 post offices In Malibu.They were polite.
I Said”Hi This Is Cher,& I Would like to know If you ever take Volunteers⁉Lady Said She Didn’t Know & Gave Me # Of Supervisor.I Called & Said Hi This is Cher Do U Accept volunteers.”NO,Need
Fingerprints & Background Check”😥 — Cher (@cher) August 19, 2020
Much like Cher, HuffPost was shattered and torn apart, like someone took a knife and drove it deep in my heart, upon learning from the Postal Service’s press representative that volunteering for the agency is not possible.
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But the spokesperson did refer HuffPost to the “many opportunities for employment at the Postal Service, including seasonal hiring,” which you can find here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Christian Groups Launch Police Reform Initiative

A coalition of Christian groups including the Church of God in Christ and the National Association of Evangelicals is launching a new criminal justice reform push that seeks to rally believers behind policing changes grounded in biblical principles .
Set to be announced Wednesday , the Prayer & Action Justice Initiative has its roots in a campaign started in the aftermath of the coronavirus to help save small churches at risk of closing , with top contributors to that work now channeling their energy toward the criminal justice project .
It is expected to include prayer gatherings , nonviolent protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advancing the cause of racial equity in the justice system .
“ This initiative is confronting the fact that some parts of the church have failed on this , that the church hasn ’ t been clear , ” Justin Giboney , president of the AND Campaign , a Christian social justice advocacy group that is leading the initiative , told The Associated Press .
Nationwide protests that flared for weeks after the police killings of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Ahmaud Arbery and other Black Americans galvanized engagement by faith leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice reform .
But the issue has faded from public view somewhat as the coronavirus continues to spread , and Giboney described the new project ’ s mission as , in part , ensuring “ that when it ’ s not on the front page , that we ’ re still working on it like it is.
” In this Sunday , June 14 , 2020 , file photo , Benjamin Watson , a former New England Patriots football player , addresses a Boston prayer event held to call for an end to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd .
Other groups participating in the new coalition include the Center for Public Justice , Prison Fellowship , the American Bible Society , the Asian American Christian Collaborative , the National Day of Prayer and World Relief .
Former pro football player and outspoken Christian Benjamin Watson also is part of the coalition .
Giboney predicted that its numbers would grow as other Christian organizations and congregations sign on .
At the heart of the nonpartisan effort are a set of broad priorities that include some specific policy changes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for greater public disclosure of reports on use of force by law enforcement agents , deaths in custody and other metrics .
Other elements of its agenda include easing sentencing laws and limits on parole releases , as well as the use of faith-based prison programs and other infrastructure to help inmates prepare for life after release .
The project comes two years after President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill into law that moved ahead thanks in part to the support of some leading Christians , including evangelicals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes that measure made were widely seen as only a beginning of work on the issue .
Among the Christian leaders backing the initiative are Rev .
Samuel Rodriguez , president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference as well as a past faith adviser to Trump , and Rev .
Gabriel Salguero , president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition , a speaker at this week ’ s Democratic National Convention .
Giboney said the new initiative will largely emphasize state and local progress even as it keeps a nationwide focus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York , Atlanta , Chicago and Philadelphia .
Despite the partisan heat of the impending election , Giboney — an attorney and political strategist who served as a Democratic National Convention delegate in 2012 and 2016 — vowed to separate its work from ideological divisions .

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A coalition of Christian groups including the Church of God in Christ and the National Association of Evangelicals is launching a new criminal justice reform push that seeks to rally believers behind policing changes grounded in biblical principles.
Set to be announced Wednesday, the Prayer & Action Justice Initiative has its roots in a campaign started in the aftermath of the coronavirus to help save small churches at risk of closing, with top contributors to that work now channeling their energy toward the criminal justice project. It is expected to include prayer gatherings, nonviolent protests and policy advocacy — all aimed at advancing the cause of racial equity in the justice system.
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“This initiative is confronting the fact that some parts of the church have failed on this, that the church hasn’t been clear,” Justin Giboney, president of the AND Campaign, a Christian social justice advocacy group that is leading the initiative, told The Associated Press.
Nationwide protests that flared for weeks after the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other Black Americans galvanized engagement by faith leaders from multiple denominations to press for criminal justice reform.
But the issue has faded from public view somewhat as the coronavirus continues to spread, and Giboney described the new project’s mission as, in part, ensuring “that when it’s not on the front page, that we’re still working on it like it is.”
In this Sunday, June 14, 2020, file photo, Benjamin Watson, a former New England Patriots football player, addresses a Boston prayer event held to call for an end to racial injustice, triggered by the death of George Floyd. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
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Other groups participating in the new coalition include the Center for Public Justice, Prison Fellowship, the American Bible Society, the Asian American Christian Collaborative, the National Day of Prayer and World Relief. Former pro football player and outspoken Christian Benjamin Watson also is part of the coalition. Giboney predicted that its numbers would grow as other Christian organizations and congregations sign on.
At the heart of the nonpartisan effort are a set of broad priorities that include some specific policy changes. For example, the initiative is calling for greater public disclosure of reports on use of force by law enforcement agents, deaths in custody and other metrics.
Other elements of its agenda include easing sentencing laws and limits on parole releases, as well as the use of faith-based prison programs and other infrastructure to help inmates prepare for life after release.
The project comes two years after President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill into law that moved ahead thanks in part to the support of some leading Christians, including evangelicals and Black ministry leaders. However, the changes that measure made were widely seen as only a beginning of work on the issue.
Among the Christian leaders backing the initiative are Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference as well as a past faith adviser to Trump, and Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, a speaker at this week’s Democratic National Convention.
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Federal criminal justice reform legislation remains stalled in Congress despite broad public support for action, though several state legislatures have made progress on policing overhauls following Floyd’s killing and the resulting unrest.
Giboney said the new initiative will largely emphasize state and local progress even as it keeps a nationwide focus, with organizing efforts already underway in New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Despite the partisan heat of the impending election, Giboney — an attorney and political strategist who served as a Democratic National Convention delegate in 2012 and 2016 — vowed to separate its work from ideological divisions.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Immigrant Detention Center Fed Muslims Pork During Pandemic, Activists Say

A Florida immigration facility repeatedly served pork to Muslim detainees despite the fact the immigrants did not consume pork in accordance with their faith , several civil rights organizations said on Wednesday .
Detainees at the Krome Service Processing Center , an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Miami , were given the choice of pre-packaged pork-based meals or expired halal meals at least two to three times a week , according to a letter to ICE sent by Muslim Advocates , Americans for Immigrant Justice and the law firm King & Spalding LLP .
Several dozen of Krome ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pork meals violated the immigrants ’ religious practices ― but the expired halal meals made them sick .
Those who ate the expired meals consequently suffered from “ stomach pain , vomiting , and diarrhea , ” according to the letter .
“ ICE is choosing to act in a way that not only hurts the rights of these people to practice their faith , while in detention , which is legally protected but also hurts their health , ” said Nimra Azmi , staff attorney at Muslim Advocates and one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It puts them in a place where they ’ re not able to eat food that can fully sustain them in the middle of a pandemic.
” Prior to the coronavirus pandemic , Muslim detainees were able to choose their meals at a cafeteria .
But the facility switched to prepackaged meals when it suspended large gatherings to limit the spread of the virus .
When Muslim immigrants complained to ICE staff and Krome ’ s chaplain , they were repeatedly ignored , and the chaplain told them , “ it is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An ICE spokesperson told HuffPost that its “ Performance-Based National Detention Standards cover all aspects of detention to include reasonable accommodation of religious dietary practices ” and that claims stating otherwise were “ false.
” Despite making up only 1 % of the U.S. population , Muslims make up about 9 % of the total U.S. prison population .
In some states , such as Maryland , New Jersey and Pennsylvania , that number is higher than 20 % .
This is is not the first time Muslim detainees were forced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Out of the 163 Muslim prisoner-related federal lawsuits pertaining to religious freedoms filed by Muslim Advocates between October 2017 and January 2019 , 64 complaints , or nearly 40 % , were about dietary needs .
Earlier this month , the Arizona Department of Corrections dropped its kosher menu used by both Jewish and Muslim inmates to meet their religious dietary needs .
In June , Muslim inmates at a Virginia prison did not receive meals on time needed to fast during the holy month of Ramadan .
In 2019 , border patrol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Texas .
That same year , the Alaska Department of Corrections settled a lawsuit and agreed to serve Muslim inmates two hot meals a day during the month of Ramadan .
The Florida case sparked outrage from advocates and politicians alike .
Rep. Judy Chu ( D-Calif. ) called the incident “ a disgusting outrage ” and that “ Donald Trump and Republicans claim they care about freedom of religion , but that has always been code for discrimination.
” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that Wednesday ’ s reports were “ horrifying ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ ICE is structured for dehumanization.
” In the letter sent Wednesday to ICE , the groups demanded that the agencies immediately stop forcing Muslim detainees to choose between eating pork or expired halal meat and noted that it was a clear violation of federal law and First Amendment rights .
“ When [ the Muslim detainees ] tried to go through all the channels for the facility , they ’ re being dismissed , ignored , and dehumanized , ” Azmi told HuffPost .

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A Florida immigration facility repeatedly served pork to Muslim detainees despite the fact the immigrants did not consume pork in accordance with their faith, several civil rights organizations said on Wednesday.
Detainees at the Krome Service Processing Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Miami, were given the choice of pre-packaged pork-based meals or expired halal meals at least two to three times a week, according to a letter to ICE sent by Muslim Advocates, Americans for Immigrant Justice and the law firm King & Spalding LLP. Several dozen of Krome’s nearly 440 detainees are Muslim.
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The pork meals violated the immigrants’ religious practices ― but the expired halal meals made them sick. Those who ate the expired meals consequently suffered from “stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea,” according to the letter.
“ICE is choosing to act in a way that not only hurts the rights of these people to practice their faith, while in detention, which is legally protected but also hurts their health,” said Nimra Azmi, staff attorney at Muslim Advocates and one of the signatories on the letter. “It puts them in a place where they’re not able to eat food that can fully sustain them in the middle of a pandemic.”
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Muslim detainees were able to choose their meals at a cafeteria. But the facility switched to prepackaged meals when it suspended large gatherings to limit the spread of the virus. When Muslim immigrants complained to ICE staff and Krome’s chaplain, they were repeatedly ignored, and the chaplain told them, “it is what it is,” Azmi told HuffPost.
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An ICE spokesperson told HuffPost that its “Performance-Based National Detention Standards cover all aspects of detention to include reasonable accommodation of religious dietary practices” and that claims stating otherwise were “false.”
DHS did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on the allegations.
Despite making up only 1% of the U.S. population, Muslims make up about 9% of the total U.S. prison population. In some states, such as Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, that number is higher than 20%.
This is is not the first time Muslim detainees were forced to eat pork at various American facilities. Out of the 163 Muslim prisoner-related federal lawsuits pertaining to religious freedoms filed by Muslim Advocates between October 2017 and January 2019, 64 complaints, or nearly 40%, were about dietary needs.
FILE PHOTO: Foreign nationals at the Krome detention center in Miami in September 2015. Jose A. Iglesias/Miami Herald/Getty Images
Earlier this month, the Arizona Department of Corrections dropped its kosher menu used by both Jewish and Muslim inmates to meet their religious dietary needs. In June, Muslim inmates at a Virginia prison did not receive meals on time needed to fast during the holy month of Ramadan. In 2019, border patrol officers fed pork to a Muslim detainee in Texas. That same year, the Alaska Department of Corrections settled a lawsuit and agreed to serve Muslim inmates two hot meals a day during the month of Ramadan.
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The Florida case sparked outrage from advocates and politicians alike. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) called the incident “a disgusting outrage” and that “Donald Trump and Republicans claim they care about freedom of religion, but that has always been code for discrimination.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that Wednesday’s reports were “horrifying” and “not one-off incidents” and that “ICE is structured for dehumanization.”
In the letter sent Wednesday to ICE, the groups demanded that the agencies immediately stop forcing Muslim detainees to choose between eating pork or expired halal meat and noted that it was a clear violation of federal law and First Amendment rights.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Trump's Acting Public Lands Chief Can Head Agency Indefinitely, Thanks To Order He Signed

It was through a series of controversial ― if not illegal ― temporary reappointments that William Perry Pendley , an anti-public lands extremist , ascended to the top of the Bureau of Land Management , an agency that oversees 245 million acres of federal land .
In late May , approximately two weeks before one of those controversial extensions was set to expire , Pendley — a former property rights lawyer who spent his career arguing that public lands should not even exist — crafted and signed an order to keep himself at the helm of the bureau indefinitely .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first reported on Wednesday , states that in the absence of a permanent Bureau of Land Management director , the director ’ s authority and responsibility falls to none other than the bureau ’ s deputy director of policy and programs , the position Pendley has held since last July .
Two weeks after Pendley ’ s appointment to that position , Interior Secretary David Bernhardt elevated him to the role of acting director , and he has continued to lead the bureau for more than a year without ever having to face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Donald Trump formally nominated Pendley to the director post in late June , but on Saturday , the White House said Trump is withdrawing him from consideration , signaling doubts about whether he ’ d get enough votes for Senate confirmation .
The move also frees two vulnerable Republican allies , Sens .
Cory Gardner ( Colo. ) and Steve Daines ( Mont . )
, from having to vote him up or down .
Daines and Gardner , who are both touting their roles in the passage of a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head into the November election , have avoided taking a firm stance on Pendley , at times dodging media questions entirely .
Daines signaled in November that he ’ d back Pendley for the director post , only to later walk back his support .
A vote for Pendley would not have landed well with environmental and public land advocacy groups .
But the withdrawal changes nothing in the near term .
Thanks to his own self-serving succession order , Pendley continues to lead the bureau .
“ The Trump administration and complicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans have to hear and review the positions and beliefs of Senate-confirmable executive positions as required by the constitution , ” said Jayson O ’ Neill , director of public lands watchdog group Western Values Project .
Pendley ’ s order became official on May 22 , when he and Casey Hammond , the Interior Department ’ s principal deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management , both signed the document .
It came on the heels of a federal lawsuit that two conservation groups , Western Watersheds Project and Public Employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legality of Pendley ’ s backdoor appointment , and about a month before Trump formally nominated him .
The legal challenge from the conservation groups and a separate lawsuit filed last month by Montana Gov .
Steve Bullock ( D ) , who is running to unseat Daines in November , both argue that Pendley ’ s ongoing tenure violates the Federal Vacancies Reform Act , which limits the amount of time Cabinet officials may serve in an acting role to 210 days .
The lawsuits , which Interior has dismissed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his acting duties .
“ These delegations under succession orders , which have existed and been updated throughout this administration and many prior administrations , comply with the Vacancies Reform Act , ” he added in an email .
Swanson did not respond to HuffPost ’ s specific questions .
However , legal experts were quick to question the legality of Pendley ’ s self-appointment order .
“ It is the ultimate in bootstrapping because Pendley , who is in my view not serving legally in this job , is naming himself at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Nina Mendelson , a professor of law at the University of Michigan and an expert on administrative law , told The Hill .
Others saw it as the latest sign that the Washington “ swamp ” Trump vowed to “ drain ” of special interests is indeed thriving under his administration .

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It was through a series of controversial ― if not illegal ― temporary reappointments that William Perry Pendley, an anti-public lands extremist, ascended to the top of the Bureau of Land Management, an agency that oversees 245 million acres of federal land.
In late May, approximately two weeks before one of those controversial extensions was set to expire, Pendley — a former property rights lawyer who spent his career arguing that public lands should not even exist — crafted and signed an order to keep himself at the helm of the bureau indefinitely.
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Seriously.
The order, which The Associated Press first reported on Wednesday, states that in the absence of a permanent Bureau of Land Management director, the director’s authority and responsibility falls to none other than the bureau’s deputy director of policy and programs, the position Pendley has held since last July.
Two weeks after Pendley’s appointment to that position, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt elevated him to the role of acting director, and he has continued to lead the bureau for more than a year without ever having to face the scrutiny of a Senate confirmation process.
William Perry Pendley speaks at a conference in Fort Collins, Colorado, in October 2018. AP Photo/Matthew Brown
President Donald Trump formally nominated Pendley to the director post in late June, but on Saturday, the White House said Trump is withdrawing him from consideration, signaling doubts about whether he’d get enough votes for Senate confirmation. The move also frees two vulnerable Republican allies, Sens. Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Steve Daines (Mont.), from having to vote him up or down.
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Daines and Gardner, who are both touting their roles in the passage of a major public lands package last month as they head into the November election, have avoided taking a firm stance on Pendley, at times dodging media questions entirely. Daines signaled in November that he’d back Pendley for the director post, only to later walk back his support. A vote for Pendley would not have landed well with environmental and public land advocacy groups.
But the withdrawal changes nothing in the near term. Thanks to his own self-serving succession order, Pendley continues to lead the bureau.
“The Trump administration and complicit senators are purposefully avoiding the only opportunity Americans have to hear and review the positions and beliefs of Senate-confirmable executive positions as required by the constitution,” said Jayson O’Neill, director of public lands watchdog group Western Values Project.
Pendley’s order became official on May 22, when he and Casey Hammond, the Interior Department’s principal deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management, both signed the document. It came on the heels of a federal lawsuit that two conservation groups, Western Watersheds Project and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, filed to challenge the legality of Pendley’s backdoor appointment, and about a month before Trump formally nominated him.
The legal challenge from the conservation groups and a separate lawsuit filed last month by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D), who is running to unseat Daines in November, both argue that Pendley’s ongoing tenure violates the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which limits the amount of time Cabinet officials may serve in an acting role to 210 days. The lawsuits, which Interior has dismissed as frivolous, seek to remove Pendley from his acting duties.
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Interior Department spokesperson Conner Swanson said Pendley’s May 22 order provides “the same legal standing as prior actions and ensure[s] the smooth continuity of operations for leadership positions.”
“These delegations under succession orders, which have existed and been updated throughout this administration and many prior administrations, comply with the Vacancies Reform Act,” he added in an email. Swanson did not respond to HuffPost’s specific questions.
However, legal experts were quick to question the legality of Pendley’s self-appointment order. “It is the ultimate in bootstrapping because Pendley, who is in my view not serving legally in this job, is naming himself at the top in the order of succession,” Nina Mendelson, a professor of law at the University of Michigan and an expert on administrative law, told The Hill.
Others saw it as the latest sign that the Washington “swamp” Trump vowed to “drain” of special interests is indeed thriving under his administration.
“Swamp creatures, at work,” tweeted David Hayes, who served as deputy Interior secretary under President Barack Obama.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Hillary Clinton At The DNC: 'Vote Like Our Lives Are On The Line'

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , returning to center stage at the virtual Democratic National Convention on Wednesday , said Donald Trump ’ s presidency has been “ dangerous ” and called on Democrats to vote as early as possible .
“ I wish Donald Trump had been a better president .
But , sadly , he is who he is , ” Clinton , the Democratic Party ’ s 2016 presidential nominee , said on the third night of the 2020 convention .
“ For four years , people have said to me , ‘ I didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ I wish I could go back and do it over.
’ Or worse , ‘ I should have voted , ’ ” Clinton continued .
“ Well , this can ’ t be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election .
If you vote by mail , request your ballot now and send it back as soon as you can .
If you vote in person , do it early , ” she said .
“ Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line , because they are.
” Clinton had already endorsed Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual “ Women ’ s Town Hall ” in April , at which time she noted that she and Biden had “ a lot of the same values in common.
” While she has thrown her full support behind the former vice president , Clinton and Biden had a long rivalry behind the scenes , according to a New York Times report in 2015 .
Clinton ’ s speech was reminiscent of another emotional moment when she spoke to the Democratic Party at large : after she lost the 2016 election to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vocal public presence , often using Twitter to jab at Trump ’ s policies and the various scandals plaguing his administration .
“ There ’ s a lot of heartbreak in America right now ― and the truth is , many things were broken before the pandemic , ” Clinton said on Wednesday .
“ But , as the saying goes , the world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places , ” she added .
“ Joe Biden knows how to heal , unify and lead because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his family and his country.
” Clinton spoke the same night as rising Democratic star and California Sen. Kamala Harris , whom Biden has chosen as his running mate .

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, returning to center stage at the virtual Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, said Donald Trump’s presidency has been “dangerous” and called on Democrats to vote as early as possible.
“I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. But, sadly, he is who he is,” Clinton, the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nominee, said on the third night of the 2020 convention.
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“For four years, people have said to me, ‘I didn’t realize how dangerous he was.’ ‘I wish I could go back and do it over.’ Or worse, ‘I should have voted,’” Clinton continued.
“Well, this can’t be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election. If you vote by mail, request your ballot now and send it back as soon as you can. If you vote in person, do it early,” she said.
“Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are.”
Clinton had already endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president at a virtual “Women’s Town Hall” in April, at which time she noted that she and Biden had “a lot of the same values in common.”
While she has thrown her full support behind the former vice president, Clinton and Biden had a long rivalry behind the scenes, according to a New York Times report in 2015.
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A little hint about who the surprise guest will be for @JoeBiden's 3pm ET town hall today:
(She's excited.) pic.twitter.com/iGHo6a6G1s — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 28, 2020
Clinton’s speech was reminiscent of another emotional moment when she spoke to the Democratic Party at large: after she lost the 2016 election to Trump.
Following that loss, Clinton remained a vocal public presence, often using Twitter to jab at Trump’s policies and the various scandals plaguing his administration.
“There’s a lot of heartbreak in America right now ― and the truth is, many things were broken before the pandemic,” Clinton said on Wednesday.
“But, as the saying goes, the world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places,” she added. “Joe Biden knows how to heal, unify and lead because he’s done all of that for his family and his country.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Megachurch Pastor Is Packing People Into Church In Defiance Of LA County Rules

“ Although we in America may be unaccustomed to government intrusion into the church of our Lord Jesus Christ , this is by no means the first time in church history that Christians have had to deal with government overreach or hostile rulers , ” Grace Community Church ’ s elders wrote in a statement first posted on the church ’ s website on July 24 .
“ Persecution of the church by government authorities has been the norm , not the exception , throughout church history.
” As of July 29 , the county ’ s guidelines for houses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are socially distanced .
Indoor services are limited to a maximum of 100 people or 25 % of the building ’ s capacity , whichever is lower .
The guidelines also require houses of worship to discontinue indoor singing and chanting because those activities “ negate the risk reduction achieved through six feet of physical distancing.
” ( Indoor choir rehearsals and performances have been linked to outbreaks of COVID-19 around the world . )
Grace Community Church has been ignoring these guidelines .
MacArthur told CNN earlier this month that his indoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
Video of the church ’ s Aug. 16 Sunday service showed orchestra members playing woodwind instruments , children singing from the stage , and a musical conductor standing at the pulpit encouraging parishioners to sing .
Footage from a July 26 service showed hundreds of people packed tightly into the pews of the church .
Many appeared to be unmasked .
“ The County always wants to amicably resolve these issues with all members of the community , including churches , We use education as the primary step in gaining compliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieved , we must use the other tools at our disposal , ” Los Angeles County said in an Aug. 13 statement obtained by NBC News .
Last Friday , a county Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the church , allowing services to go forward as long as congregants wear masks and socially distance .
Los Angeles County pushed the matter further and on Saturday , the California Court of Appeal granted a temporary stay of the lower court ’ s order because the case involved “ difficult questions of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly .
The appeals court set a Sept. 4 court date to hear arguments from both sides in the case .
MacArthur has carved out a reputation for making statements that are controversial even among other evangelicals .
In 2018 , he helped put together a statement decrying the social justice movement as anti-Christian and disparaging the idea that systemic racism exists .
MacArthur has also fiercely criticized female preachers , insisting that women should not assume positions of authority over men in the church or in society at large .
The statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romans 13 , that instruct Christians to obey governing authorities .
Under the Trump administration , evangelical leaders have often cited passages about submitting to the government to justify their support for policies that could seem uncharitable .
In the past , MacArthur himself has interpreted Romans 13 quite literally ― even claiming that the American Revolution was sinful because it violated the Bible ’ s call for Christians to submit to authority .
Now , MacArthur is promoting a more nuanced approach to this passage .
Church elders initially complied with coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health against serious contagions is a rightful function of Christians as well as civil government , ” their statement reads in an Aug. 19 addendum .
But now they believe that “ the virus is nowhere near as dangerous as originally feared ” and that the spiritual consequences of not worshipping together in person are too great .
In this particular case , the elders suggested it ’ s fine to disobey authorities because the government has meddled in the affairs of the church .
While evangelicals have been at the forefront of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there appears to be some disagreement within this religious group about whether houses of worship should get special treatment .
Most evangelicals ( 62 % ) agree that houses of worship should be required to follow the same rules about social distancing and large gatherings as other organizations or businesses in their local area , according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in mid-July .
And only about 44 % of evangelicals who regularly go to church said they had attended in person within the last month .
Evangelical leaders have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen churches .
Ronnie Floyd , a prominent voice in the Southern Baptist Convention , wrote on Twitter that he ’ s praying for MacArthur and “ other pastors across the country who are facing government encroachment on the fundamental rights to free exercise of religion and freedom of assembly.
” On the other hand , J.D .
Greear , the president of the Southern Baptist Convention , has taken the position that the church hasn ’ t closed just because the community isn ’ t meeting in the same building .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it will be hosting small gatherings in congregants ’ homes for the remainder of the year .

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A California megachurch is openly defying Los Angeles County’s coronavirus guidelines by welcoming its thousands of congregants to worship inside its doors.
John MacArthur, the 81-year-old conservative Christian preacher and writer who leads Grace Community Church in LA’s Sun Valley neighborhood, has been painting the government’s efforts to restrict the church’s large gatherings as a form of persecution ― similar to the persecution that Christian martyrs have faced over the centuries.
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“Although we in America may be unaccustomed to government intrusion into the church of our Lord Jesus Christ, this is by no means the first time in church history that Christians have had to deal with government overreach or hostile rulers,” Grace Community Church’s elders wrote in a statement first posted on the church’s website on July 24. “Persecution of the church by government authorities has been the norm, not the exception, throughout church history.”
On Tuesday, church leaders urged congregants to email Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors with messages declaring that “church is essential.”
“Our government is obligated to protect our liberties and freedoms, especially our free exercise of religion, and we ask you to fulfill that obligation to us,” they wrote in a sample email offered to parishioners.
The email campaign is the latest salvo in an ongoing battle between Grace Community Church and state and local authorities. The megachurch initially closed its doors in mid-March and moved services online in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Church leaders decided to reopen on July 26, defying the county’s restrictions on indoor worship services.
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Packed pews are seen at Grace Community Church's July 26 morning service. Grace Community Church/Vimeo Screenshot
As of July 29, the county’s guidelines for houses of worship allow for outdoor services that are socially distanced. Indoor services are limited to a maximum of 100 people or 25% of the building’s capacity, whichever is lower. The guidelines also require houses of worship to discontinue indoor singing and chanting because those activities “negate the risk reduction achieved through six feet of physical distancing.” (Indoor choir rehearsals and performances have been linked to outbreaks of COVID-19 around the world.)
Grace Community Church has been ignoring these guidelines. MacArthur told CNN earlier this month that his indoor services have been attracting up to 7,000 people. Video of the church’s Aug. 16 Sunday service showed orchestra members playing woodwind instruments, children singing from the stage, and a musical conductor standing at the pulpit encouraging parishioners to sing. Footage from a July 26 service showed hundreds of people packed tightly into the pews of the church. Many appeared to be unmasked.
A video recording of Grace Community Church’s July 26 morning service can be seen below.
The county sent MacArthur a cease-and-desist letter noting that violating its health orders is a crime punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment of up to 90 days. Each day of indoor services is counted as a separate offense, the letter stated.
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The church, represented by the Thomas More Society, a conservative public interest law firm, filed a lawsuit against California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and county officials on Aug. 12, arguing that the restrictions on houses of worship were unfair and unconstitutional. Los Angeles County filed a dueling lawsuit the next day, insisting that the church’s actions put people’s health at risk.
“The County always wants to amicably resolve these issues with all members of the community, including churches, We use education as the primary step in gaining compliance; however, when compliance is not achieved, we must use the other tools at our disposal,” Los Angeles County said in an Aug. 13 statement obtained by NBC News.
Last Friday, a county Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the church, allowing services to go forward as long as congregants wear masks and socially distance. Los Angeles County pushed the matter further and on Saturday, the California Court of Appeal granted a temporary stay of the lower court’s order because the case involved “difficult questions of law” that couldn’t be resolved quickly. The appeals court set a Sept. 4 court date to hear arguments from both sides in the case.
The temporary stay effectively barred Grace Community Church from holding in-person worship services indoors. But that didn’t stop MacArthur from moving forward.
A musical minister at Grace Community Church leads the congregation in a hymn on Aug. 16. Grace Community Church / Facebook Video
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On Sunday, MacArthur told his congregation that the order was a blessing in disguise.
“The good news is that you’re here, you’re not distancing, and you’re not wearing masks,” MacArthur said from the pulpit, eliciting loud and hearty cheers from the pews.
“And it’s also good news that you’re not outside because it’s very hot out there,” he added. “So the Lord knew you needed to be inside and unmasked. So he did us that gracious favor.”
MacArthur has led Grace Community Church, a non-denominational Protestant congregation, since 1969. He’s a popular pastor whose Bible commentaries have influenced generations of conservative evangelicals, particularly those who subscribe to Calvinism. He’s also the founder of The Master’s Seminary, a pastoral training program in Santa Clarita, California.
MacArthur has carved out a reputation for making statements that are controversial even among other evangelicals. In 2018, he helped put together a statement decrying the social justice movement as anti-Christian and disparaging the idea that systemic racism exists. MacArthur has also fiercely criticized female preachers, insisting that women should not assume positions of authority over men in the church or in society at large.
Musicians play instruments at an Aug. 16 worship service at Grace Community Church. Grace Community Church / Facebook Video
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Grace Community Church’s refusal to comply with government orders now places it in a difficult theological position because of MacArthur’s previous teachings about the submissive relationship that Christians should have with the government ― a discrepancy that church elders tried to smooth over in that long statement on its website.
The statement referred to Bible passages, such as Romans 13, that instruct Christians to obey governing authorities. Under the Trump administration, evangelical leaders have often cited passages about submitting to the government to justify their support for policies that could seem uncharitable. In the past, MacArthur himself has interpreted Romans 13 quite literally ― even claiming that the American Revolution was sinful because it violated the Bible’s call for Christians to submit to authority.
Now, MacArthur is promoting a more nuanced approach to this passage. Church elders initially complied with coronavirus restrictions because they believed “guarding public health against serious contagions is a rightful function of Christians as well as civil government,” their statement reads in an Aug. 19 addendum. But now they believe that “the virus is nowhere near as dangerous as originally feared” and that the spiritual consequences of not worshipping together in person are too great. In this particular case, the elders suggested it’s fine to disobey authorities because the government has meddled in the affairs of the church.
“It has never been the prerogative of civil government to order, modify, forbid, or mandate worship,” the elders originally wrote. “[Pastors and elders] have no duty to follow orders from a civil government attempting to regulate the worship or governance of the church.”
John MacArthur, the lead pastor at Grace Community Church, speaks to the congregation on Aug. 16. Grace Community Church / Facebook Video
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While evangelicals have been at the forefront of movements to reopen churches during the pandemic, there appears to be some disagreement within this religious group about whether houses of worship should get special treatment. Most evangelicals (62%) agree that houses of worship should be required to follow the same rules about social distancing and large gatherings as other organizations or businesses in their local area, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in mid-July. And only about 44% of evangelicals who regularly go to church said they had attended in person within the last month.
Evangelical leaders have also been divided about whether and how to reopen churches. Ronnie Floyd, a prominent voice in the Southern Baptist Convention, wrote on Twitter that he’s praying for MacArthur and “other pastors across the country who are facing government encroachment on the fundamental rights to free exercise of religion and freedom of assembly.”
On the other hand, J.D. Greear, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, has taken the position that the church hasn’t closed just because the community isn’t meeting in the same building. His own North Carolina church has said that it will be hosting small gatherings in congregants’ homes for the remainder of the year.
On Wednesday, a group of evangelical leaders published a statement calling on Christians to follow the advice of public health experts during the pandemic.
Grace Community Church’s elders said in July that they hoped other congregations would follow their example in standing up to the government’s restrictions on worship. Pastors who fail to do so will effectively be abdicating their “responsibility before their Lord,” the elders wrote.
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“We must recognize that the Lord may be using these pressures as means of purging to reveal the true church. Succumbing to governmental overreach may cause churches to remain closed indefinitely,” the elders wrote. “How can the true church of Jesus Christ distinguish herself in such a hostile climate? There is only one way: bold allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
California now leads the country with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, with over 640,000 people infected, according to data from the Los Angeles Times. Over 11,000 people have died. The statewide positivity rate among those tested has increased to 6.8%.
Los Angeles County has seen over 224,000 confirmed cases. According to the Times, the number of confirmed infections in the county is now doubling every 117 days.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Twitter Users Aghast Over Trump's Positive QAnon Comments: 'This Is Madness'

Commentators were left aghast on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he appreciates his support from followers of QAnon , a fringe-right conspiracy theory linked to acts of violence .
“ I don ’ t know much about the movement , other than I understand they like me very much , which I appreciate , ” he told a reporter when asked about QAnon at a White House press briefing .
“ I have heard that it is gaining in popularity.
” “ I ’ ve heard these are people that love our country , ” he added .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the convoluted theory believe that Trump is secretly saving the world from a satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals , Trump said , “ I haven ’ t heard that .
But is that supposed to be a bad thing ?
...
If I can help save the world from problems , I ’ m willing to do it.
” QAnon has fostered an online extremist movement that has been identified by the FBI as a potential domestic terrorism threat .
Among other baseless conspiracy theories peddled by its followers , some claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global band of “ deep state ” Hollywood elites and politicians who worship Satan and traffic children for sex .
The group has been linked to kidnappings , murder and other violent crimes .
Earlier Wednesday , Facebook announced it had removed and restricted thousands of pages , groups , accounts and ads linked to QAnon and offline anarchist and militia groups in an effort to stifle their spread .
The president ’ s blasé praise for the conspiracy ’ s supporters and failure to condemn them stunned journalists and commentators online , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group ’ s dangerous actions and beliefs .
This QAnon answer is a fucking disgrace .
It 's a death cult .
The FBI identified QAnon as a violent domestic terrorism threat and Trump is pretending not to know what it is while absolutely encouraging them and incentivizing more insane behavior .
— Tommy Vietor ( @ TVietor08 ) August 19 , 2020 “ I don ’ t know much , except that they like me very much , which I appreciate , ” says Trump on : QAnon — a conspiracy group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domestic terrorist threat .
This is madness ... pic.twitter.com/qfe3jFm45a — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 ( @ RexChapman ) August 19 , 2020 Want to know more about what QAnon is , how it got so prominent so fast , and how it captured some of your family members ?
Here ’ s my best stab at what it ’ s become today , in podcast form , with @ trymainelee.https : //t.co/O8TjSzfifj — Ben Collins ( @ oneunderscore__ ) August 19 , 2020 Worth noting that what @ realDonaldTrump said today about QAnon — “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other than they do supposedly like me ” — is exactly what he says about white supremacists who endorse him .
— Andrew Feinberg ( @ AndrewFeinberg ) August 19 , 2020 People .
Trump doesn ’ t understand QAnon .
He ’ s a narcissist who can ’ t retain knowledge and is perpetually incurious .
All he knows is that they worship him and that ’ s more than enough to earn the full-endorsement of a broken president for a fascist , terrorist movement .
— Jared Yates Sexton ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the 2020 Republican National Convention next week , President Donald Trump is publicly embracing the dangerous fringe QAnon movement and singing their praises .
Will this be in the @ GOP platform ?
Will Republicans condemn this group the FBI has called a domestic threat ?
https : //t.co/q5BmRCsKtj — Josh Campbell ( @ joshscampbell ) August 19 , 2020 Trump refuses to denounce one of the most toxic and dangerous conspiracies in America .
He embraces QAnon 's support for him .
He was told part of their belief system and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the leader of the Republican Party .
— Kyle Griffin ( @ kylegriffin1 ) August 19 , 2020 going to revise my timeline here and say QAnon will be GOP orthodoxy next year if Biden wins and takes office .
https : //t.co/h8vdmFPatA — b-boy bouiebaisse ( @ jbouie ) August 19 , 2020 Trump embraced QAnon and did n't disavow them .
The FBI says its now a domestic terror threat and the insane and dangerous conspiracy theory might radicalize individuals and groups ahead of the 2020 election .
How is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans ?
The GOP is lost .
— Wajahat `` Wears a Mask Because of a Pandemic '' Ali ( @ WajahatAli ) August 19 , 2020 This is going to be a huge validation for QAnon believers .
I wish the reporter had also mentioned the results of QAnon belief : the child kidnappings , the harassment and death threats , the murders , the terrorism , the estranged families .
https : //t.co/9UZnmMDRFN — Will Sommer ( @ willsommer ) August 19 , 2020 President Trump has trafficked in conspiracy theories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( i.e .
birtherism ) and continues to do so regularly .
Now , he 's not denouncing QAnon .
That is unprecedented , breaking norms , untraditional ... but not surprising .
— Yamiche Alcindor ( @ Yamiche ) August 19 , 2020 I am watching Trump talk about Qanon and how great it is that they love him , and all I can think of right now is that @ brithume thinks that the problem is Joe Biden ‘ s mental condition .
— Tom Nichols ( @ RadioFreeTom ) August @ @ @

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Commentators were left aghast on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he appreciates his support from followers of QAnon, a fringe-right conspiracy theory linked to acts of violence.
“I don’t know much about the movement, other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate,” he told a reporter when asked about QAnon at a White House press briefing. “I have heard that it is gaining in popularity.”
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“I’ve heard these are people that love our country,” he added.
When the reporter pointed out that followers of the convoluted theory believe that Trump is secretly saving the world from a satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals, Trump said, “I haven’t heard that. But is that supposed to be a bad thing? ... If I can help save the world from problems, I’m willing to do it.”
QAnon has fostered an online extremist movement that has been identified by the FBI as a potential domestic terrorism threat. Among other baseless conspiracy theories peddled by its followers, some claim that Trump is taking down a secret global band of “deep state” Hollywood elites and politicians who worship Satan and traffic children for sex. The group has been linked to kidnappings, murder and other violent crimes.
Earlier Wednesday, Facebook announced it had removed and restricted thousands of pages, groups, accounts and ads linked to QAnon and offline anarchist and militia groups in an effort to stifle their spread.
The president’s blasé praise for the conspiracy’s supporters and failure to condemn them stunned journalists and commentators online, many of whom shared resources about the group’s dangerous actions and beliefs.
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This QAnon answer is a fucking disgrace. It's a death cult. The FBI identified QAnon as a violent domestic terrorism threat and Trump is pretending not to know what it is while absolutely encouraging them and incentivizing more insane behavior. — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) August 19, 2020
QAnon groups are going nuts. pic.twitter.com/BHM7KYXWjk — Kevin Roose (@kevinroose) August 19, 2020
FBI: The deranged QAnon conspiracy theory poses a potential domestic terrorism threat
Combating Terrorism Center at West Point: it's a public security threat & potential domestic terror threat
Trump: "these are people that love our country." — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 19, 2020
“I don’t know much, except that they like me very much, which I appreciate,” says Trump on:
QAnon — a conspiracy group the FBI has said is a potential domestic terrorist threat.
This is madness...pic.twitter.com/qfe3jFm45a — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) August 19, 2020
Want to know more about what QAnon is, how it got so prominent so fast, and how it captured some of your family members?
Here’s my best stab at what it’s become today, in podcast form, with @trymainelee.https://t.co/O8TjSzfifj — Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) August 19, 2020
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Why Trump's comments about QAnon are dangerous. https://t.co/74jZN2VAnp — Philip Bump (@pbump) August 19, 2020
Worth noting that what @realDonaldTrump said today about QAnon — “I don't know anything about it other than they do supposedly like me” — is exactly what he says about white supremacists who endorse him. — Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) August 19, 2020
People. Trump doesn’t understand QAnon. He’s a narcissist who can’t retain knowledge and is perpetually incurious.
All he knows is that they worship him and that’s more than enough to earn the full-endorsement of a broken president for a fascist, terrorist movement. — Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) August 19, 2020
Just before the 2020 Republican National Convention next week, President Donald Trump is publicly embracing the dangerous fringe QAnon movement and singing their praises.
Will this be in the @GOP platform? Will Republicans condemn this group the FBI has called a domestic threat? https://t.co/q5BmRCsKtj — Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) August 19, 2020
Trump refuses to denounce one of the most toxic and dangerous conspiracies in America. He embraces QAnon's support for him. He was told part of their belief system and he didn't reject it. This is the leader of the Republican Party. — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 19, 2020
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going to revise my timeline here and say QAnon will be GOP orthodoxy next year if Biden wins and takes office. https://t.co/h8vdmFPatA — b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) August 19, 2020
Trump embraced QAnon and didn't disavow them. The FBI says its now a domestic terror threat and the insane and dangerous conspiracy theory might radicalize individuals and groups ahead of the 2020 election. How is he the law and order President, Republicans? The GOP is lost. — Wajahat "Wears a Mask Because of a Pandemic" Ali (@WajahatAli) August 19, 2020
This is going to be a huge validation for QAnon believers. I wish the reporter had also mentioned the results of QAnon belief: the child kidnappings, the harassment and death threats, the murders, the terrorism, the estranged families. https://t.co/9UZnmMDRFN — Will Sommer (@willsommer) August 19, 2020
President Trump has trafficked in conspiracy theories since the beginning of his political career (i.e. birtherism) and continues to do so regularly. Now, he's not denouncing QAnon.
That is unprecedented, breaking norms, untraditional ... but not surprising. — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 19, 2020
I am watching Trump talk about Qanon and how great it is that they love him, and all I can think of right now is that @brithume thinks that the problem is Joe Biden‘s mental condition. — Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 19, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Former DHS Chief: Trump Wanted To Swap Puerto Rico For Greenland

Elaine Duke , former acting secretary of homeland security , made a similar claim last month , saying the president @ @ @ @ @ Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria .
Trump has publicly berated local leaders and the public @ @ @ @ @ the island is corrupt and ungrateful to him .
Taylor , who worked as Department @ @ @ @ @ staff to then-Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen from 2017 to 2019 , previously spoke of Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ via the group Republican Voters Against Trump and also in an opinion piece for The @ @ @ @ @ president wanted to exploit the Department of Homeland Security for his own political purposes and @ @ @ @ @ , ” Taylor wrote in the op-ed , arguing that Trump was vindictive , favored @ @ @ @ @ their [ migrant ] parents ” at the border and had attempted to cut off @ @ @ @ @ the 2018 wildfires — simply because the people in the state didn ’ t support @ @ @

Elaine Duke, former acting secretary of homeland security, made a similar claim last month, saying the president asked about “selling” Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Trump has publicly berated local leaders and the public multiple times, tweeting that the island is corrupt and ungrateful to him.
Taylor, who worked as Department of Homeland Security chief of staff to then-Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen from 2017 to 2019, previously spoke of Trump’s “terrifying” behavior via the group Republican Voters Against Trump and also in an opinion piece for The Washington Post.”
“The president wanted to exploit the Department of Homeland Security for his own political purposes and to fuel his own agenda,” Taylor wrote in the op-ed, arguing that Trump was vindictive, favored “ripping children away from their [migrant] parents” at the border and had attempted to cut off federal support for California following the 2018 wildfires — simply because the people in the state didn’t support him politically.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Trump Raved About The Stock Market Recovery. The Actual Economy Is Faring Much Worse.

Spencer Platt via Getty Images Critics have long argued the stock market is a poor indicator of the country ’ s overall economic performance , and Tuesday ’ s resounding stock market success juxtaposed against widespread economic despair brought that reality into stark relief .
On Tuesday , the S & P 500 , a measurement indicating the financial success of several large companies listed in the stock market , posted record highs as the market closed .
Tuesday ’ s news means these large companies have collectively recouped their financial losses incurred since the pandemic was declared in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterintuitive that any company could flourish during a deadly outbreak that ’ s shuttering local economies around the country and , in turn , forcing the U.S. unemployment rate to hover above 10 percent .
Critics have long argued the stock market is a poor indicator of the country ’ s overall economic performance , and Tuesday ’ s resounding stock market success juxtaposed against widespread economic despair brought that reality into stark relief .
Early Tuesday morning , far before the markets closed , Donald Trump was already claiming credit for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeting “ Jobs are flowing , NASDAQ is already at a record high , the rest to follow.
” But in reality , the Labor Department reported job growth slowed during the month of July , as several states experiencing spikes in COVID-19 cases were forced to close local businesses again to curb the spread of the disease .
The 1.8 million jobs added in July reflected those closures , marking a significant decrease from the 4.8 million jobs added in June .
Amid growing concern over new coronavirus hotspots , the investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ significant risk for a reversal ” in hiring numbers for the month of August .
More than 55 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since March , according to the Labor Department .
So when Trump claimed in his tweet that “ jobs are flowing ” and that he ’ s building “ an even greater economy than it was before , ” his choice to root those claims in the success of the stock market shows he ’ s really only measuring the success of some of the world ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of American businesses , which are largely suffering under the pandemic .
“ What ’ s driving the returns in the S & P 500 right now are the big tech companies .
So Apple , Microsoft , Google , Facebook and Amazon , ” said Amanda Fischer , policy director for the Washington Center for Equitable Growth , a research and grantmaking organization .
“ The five I named have seen returns on average of 35 percent growth in their stock price , compared to 5 percent losses for the remaining 495 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
The disparate business outcomes are clear even among the large corporations listed on the S & P 500 , but the inequality is far more pronounced when you factor in the race of business owners and expand the pool of outcomes beyond some of the wealthiest companies in the world .
A recent report compiled by the New York Federal Reserve found more than 40 percent of Black-owned businesses were forced to close down between the months of February and April .
A similar study conducted by the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage of Latinx-owned businesses lost during that span was roughly 32 percent ; the number of Asian-owned businesses lost was roughly 26 percent ; and the number of white-owned businesses lost was roughly 17 percent .
The overwhelming majority of those businesses have no connection to the S & P 500 .
Fischer , the economic policy director , said the unequal dispersal of government-backed loans at the outset of the pandemic is largely responsible for the disparate business outcomes , and warned the racial inequality in particular could have a long-lasting impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse job than the small banks at getting the PPP money out , ” she said , referring to the loan program established for small businesses earlier this year .
She added that big banks are more accommodating to large businesses than small ones , and because Black and Latinx business owners are disproportionately based in large cities with large banks , that ― in addition to outright racism ― led to a large number of business closures in these communities .
“ We know that the wealth gap between Black and white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealth gap between Black and white workers , ” she said .
“ So if we lose a generation of Black entrepreneurs like this , it ’ s going to have a lot of consequences .
”

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On Tuesday, the S&P 500, a measurement indicating the financial success of several large companies listed in the stock market, posted record highs as the market closed. Tuesday’s news means these large companies have collectively recouped their financial losses incurred since the pandemic was declared in March.
To some, it may seem counterintuitive that any company could flourish during a deadly outbreak that’s shuttering local economies around the country and, in turn, forcing the U.S. unemployment rate to hover above 10 percent. Critics have long argued the stock market is a poor indicator of the country’s overall economic performance, and Tuesday’s resounding stock market success juxtaposed against widespread economic despair brought that reality into stark relief.
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Early Tuesday morning, far before the markets closed, Donald Trump was already claiming credit for what he insisted was an economic resurgence, tweeting “Jobs are flowing, NASDAQ is already at a record high, the rest to follow.” But in reality, the Labor Department reported job growth slowed during the month of July, as several states experiencing spikes in COVID-19 cases were forced to close local businesses again to curb the spread of the disease.
Critics have long argued the stock market is a poor indicator of the country’s overall economic performance, and Tuesday’s resounding stock market success juxtaposed against widespread economic despair brought that reality into stark relief. Spencer Platt via Getty Images
The 1.8 million jobs added in July reflected those closures, marking a significant decrease from the 4.8 million jobs added in June. Amid growing concern over new coronavirus hotspots, the investment firm Morgan Stanley recently warned of a “significant risk for a reversal” in hiring numbers for the month of August. More than 55 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since March, according to the Labor Department.
So when Trump claimed in his tweet that “jobs are flowing” and that he’s building “an even greater economy than it was before,” his choice to root those claims in the success of the stock market shows he’s really only measuring the success of some of the world’s largest companies ― not the majority of American businesses, which are largely suffering under the pandemic.
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“What’s driving the returns in the S&P 500 right now are the big tech companies. So Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Amazon,” said Amanda Fischer, policy director for the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, a research and grantmaking organization.
Fischer said the S&P 500 is a poor measurement for economic health because the success of these uber-rich corporations skews the data.
“The five I named have seen returns on average of 35 percent growth in their stock price, compared to 5 percent losses for the remaining 495 stocks in the stock market,” she said.
“Obviously, the tech companies are doing well, because everyone’s working from home, and we’re ordering our groceries and our medicine online.”
The disparate business outcomes are clear even among the large corporations listed on the S&P 500, but the inequality is far more pronounced when you factor in the race of business owners and expand the pool of outcomes beyond some of the wealthiest companies in the world.
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A recent report compiled by the New York Federal Reserve found more than 40 percent of Black-owned businesses were forced to close down between the months of February and April. A similar study conducted by the University of California, Santa Cruz, found the percentage of Latinx-owned businesses lost during that span was roughly 32 percent; the number of Asian-owned businesses lost was roughly 26 percent; and the number of white-owned businesses lost was roughly 17 percent. The overwhelming majority of those businesses have no connection to the S&P 500.
Fischer, the economic policy director, said the unequal dispersal of government-backed loans at the outset of the pandemic is largely responsible for the disparate business outcomes, and warned the racial inequality in particular could have a long-lasting impact.
“The big banks did a worse job than the small banks at getting the PPP money out,” she said, referring to the loan program established for small businesses earlier this year. She added that big banks are more accommodating to large businesses than small ones, and because Black and Latinx business owners are disproportionately based in large cities with large banks, that ― in addition to outright racism ― led to a large number of business closures in these communities.
Black entrepreneurs use business ownership to narrow the wealth gap between themselves and their white counterparts, Fischer noted.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-19--Ex-Soldier With Neo-Nazi Ties Sentenced To 2.5 Years In Bomb Plot

TOPEKA , Kan. ( AP ) — An ex-soldier described by prosecutors as a Satanist and linked to a neo-Nazi group was sentenced Wednesday to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for distributing information through social media about building a bomb and making napalm .
A federal judge rejected a request from Jarrett William Smith ’ s attorney for a lenient sentence of 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation .
Federal law called for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $ 250,000 , but sentencing guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offender like Smith was 2 1/2 years to a little over three years in prison .
U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree also ordered the three years of supervised probation for Smith after his release from prison .
The judge said he was surprised that federal sentencing guidelines called for such a “ low ” prison sentence for “ troubling and serious ” criminal behavior , adding that Smith wanted to start a race war and shared on social media “ multistep plans to create chaos.
” Crabtree In seeking the lighter sentence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a cleft lip and palate , Smith had endured a lifetime of victimization , isolation and trauma , which led him to become involved with online extremist groups .
The Anti-Defamation League has said Smith was associated with the neo-Nazi Feuerkrieg Division , which it says advocates for a race war and promotes some of the most extreme views of the white supremacist movement .
Prosecutors argued that Smith admitted to providing information about making explosives to an FBI undercover agent in September 2019 and that FBI bomb technicians determined that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in February to two felony charges of distributing explosives information and admitted that he intended for it to be used .
Prosecutors said that Smith planned to overthrow the government , with attacking a news organization as a first step .
They said he told an FBI agent that he distributed explosives information “ for the glory of his Satanist religion , ” though they provided few other details , other than saying that Smith liked “ black metal ” music designed to attract people to Satan .
Federal investigators have said Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who this year planned to bomb a Kansas City-area hospital because he was distressed by the government ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic .
That man killed himself in March during a firefight with FBI agents as they served an arrest warrant , according to the FBI .
Smith admitted in his plea agreement that he spoke to others about his desire to travel to Ukraine to fight with “ a violent , far-right paramilitary group.
” Smith previously was stationed at Fort Bliss , Texas .
He was discharged from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges .
In 2010 , when he was a freshman in high school , Smith learned he had been on a classmate ’ s “ hit list ” as the intended target of a school shooting and bomb plot .
The attempt was thwarted .

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An ex-soldier described by prosecutors as a Satanist and linked to a neo-Nazi group was sentenced Wednesday to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for distributing information through social media about building a bomb and making napalm.
A federal judge rejected a request from Jarrett William Smith’s attorney for a lenient sentence of 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation. Federal law called for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, but sentencing guidelines said the presumed punishment for a first-time offender like Smith was 2 1/2 years to a little over three years in prison.
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U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree also ordered the three years of supervised probation for Smith after his release from prison. The judge said he was surprised that federal sentencing guidelines called for such a “low” prison sentence for “troubling and serious” criminal behavior, adding that Smith wanted to start a race war and shared on social media “multistep plans to create chaos.” Crabtree
“His planned actions, if executed, would have endangered countless members of the public,” Crabtree said from the bench.
In seeking the lighter sentence, Smith’s attorney said that because of a cleft lip and palate, Smith had endured a lifetime of victimization, isolation and trauma, which led him to become involved with online extremist groups. The Anti-Defamation League has said Smith was associated with the neo-Nazi Feuerkrieg Division, which it says advocates for a race war and promotes some of the most extreme views of the white supremacist movement.
Smith, 24, was a private first class stationed at Fort Riley when he was arrested last year.
Federal public defender Rich Federico said Smith lacked the basic knowledge to actually build explosive devices and was often “just regurgitating” what he’d seen online.
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“He’s not far removed from adolescence,” Federico told the judge. “He is particularly vulnerable to extremists online.”
Prosecutors argued that Smith admitted to providing information about making explosives to an FBI undercover agent in September 2019 and that FBI bomb technicians determined that his recipes were viable. He pleaded guilty in February to two felony charges of distributing explosives information and admitted that he intended for it to be used.
Prosecutors said that Smith planned to overthrow the government, with attacking a news organization as a first step. They said he told an FBI agent that he distributed explosives information “for the glory of his Satanist religion,” though they provided few other details, other than saying that Smith liked “black metal” music designed to attract people to Satan.
Federal investigators have said Smith had encrypted communications with a Missouri man who this year planned to bomb a Kansas City-area hospital because he was distressed by the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. That man killed himself in March during a firefight with FBI agents as they served an arrest warrant, according to the FBI.
Smith admitted in his plea agreement that he spoke to others about his desire to travel to Ukraine to fight with “a violent, far-right paramilitary group.”
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Smith previously was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was discharged from the military after pleading guilty to the two charges.
Federico said in a court filing that Smith endured a near-daily barrage of bullying as a child and had repeated, painful reconstructive surgeries.
In 2010, when he was a freshman in high school, Smith learned he had been on a classmate’s “hit list” as the intended target of a school shooting and bomb plot. The attempt was thwarted.
“That has a huge impact on who you are,” Federico told Crabtree on Wednesday.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mattivi countered that Smith wasn’t examined for or diagnosed with a mental illness.
“What the defendant experienced is sad, and I have sympathy for him,” Mattivi told the judge. “But it has to be balanced against what he did.”
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