thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Trump To Women: 'We're Getting Your Husbands Back To Work'

In yet another appeal to female voters ahead of Election Day , Trump pledged on Tuesday that if reelected , he ’ d be sure to get their “ husbands back to work.
” He made the astonishing remark during a campaign rally in Lansing , Michigan , after falsely bragging that he “ did great with women ” in the 2016 election .
“ And that ’ s going to happen again .
Because women , suburban or otherwise , they want security , they want security , they want safety .
They want law and order , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attack Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D ) ― the target of a violent kidnapping plot recently foiled by the FBI ― for her coronavirus lockdown measures , before returning to his pitch to women on COVID-19 economic recovery .
“ You know what else ?
I ’ m also getting your husbands ― they wan na get back to work .
... We ’ re getting your husbands back to work .
Everybody wants it , ” Trump said .
Women accounted for 55 % of the 20.5 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to coronavirus-related business closures .
And women have continued to bear the brunt of the pandemic recession .
According to the National Women ’ s Law Center , of the 1.1 million workers who dropped out of the labor force last month , 865,000 were women , including 324,000 Latinas and 58,000 Black women .
Amid falling poll numbers in the suburbs , particularly among white women , Trump has been framing himself as a champion of women in the suburbs , which he claims are under siege .
He has repeatedly asserted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by ending a federal effort to encourage low-income housing there ― rhetoric that critics have labeled a racist dog whistle about keeping people of color out of those neighborhoods .
In August , Trump wondered why suburban women would vote for Democrats when Democratic-run cities are “ rampant with crime.
” ( This is not true . )
And earlier this month , he resorted to a more direct approach at a Pennsylvania rally , begging suburban women to “ please like me ” because “ I saved your damn neighborhood.
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with women in 2016 , female voters supported Hillary Clinton over Trump by 54 % to 42 % , according to the Pew Research Center .
He won 52 % of the vote from white women .
Wait , just cause this year has been so fucked up , have to ask ... What century are we currently living in now ?
https : //t.co/BDUbSH21lo — YS ( @ NYinLA2121 ) October 27 , 2020 Trump just now : `` Your husbands , they want to get back to work .
We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Did we hate 2020 so hard we accidentally got thrown back to 1952 ?
— Ida Skibenes ❄ ( @ ida_skibenes ) October 27 , 2020 Guessed there might be some mitigating context to Trump 's remark to suburban women .
Nope .
`` And you know what else ?
I 'm also getting your husbands - they wan na get back to work , right ?
They wan na get back to work .
We 're getting your husbands back to work , and everybody wants it . ''
— Daniel Dale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 The preceding context was Trump saying , before getting distracted with some other stuff , that `` I 'm getting your kids back to school . ''
So the pitch to women was : 1 ) I 'm getting your kids back to school , 2 ) I 'm getting your husbands back to work .
— Daniel Dale ( @ ddale8 ) October 27 , 2020 We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

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President Donald Trump might need a refresher on what century he’s living in.
In yet another appeal to female voters ahead of Election Day, Trump pledged on Tuesday that if reelected, he’d be sure to get their “husbands back to work.” He made the astonishing remark during a campaign rally in Lansing, Michigan, after falsely bragging that he “did great with women” in the 2016 election.
“And that’s going to happen again. Because women, suburban or otherwise, they want security, they want security, they want safety. They want law and order,” he said.
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The president detoured briefly to attack Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) ― the target of a violent kidnapping plot recently foiled by the FBI ― for her coronavirus lockdown measures, before returning to his pitch to women on COVID-19 economic recovery.
“You know what else? I’m also getting your husbands ― they wanna get back to work. ... We’re getting your husbands back to work. Everybody wants it,” Trump said.
Women accounted for 55% of the 20.5 million people who lost their jobs in April due to coronavirus-related business closures. And women have continued to bear the brunt of the pandemic recession. According to the National Women’s Law Center, of the 1.1 million workers who dropped out of the labor force last month, 865,000 were women, including 324,000 Latinas and 58,000 Black women.
Trump: We’re getting your husbands back to work pic.twitter.com/MOHh0d1Vu7 — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) October 27, 2020
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Amid falling poll numbers in the suburbs, particularly among white women, Trump has been framing himself as a champion of women in the suburbs, which he claims are under siege. He has repeatedly asserted that he “saved” the suburbs by ending a federal effort to encourage low-income housing there ― rhetoric that critics have labeled a racist dog whistle about keeping people of color out of those neighborhoods.
In August, Trump wondered why suburban women would vote for Democrats when Democratic-run cities are “rampant with crime.” (This is not true.) And earlier this month, he resorted to a more direct approach at a Pennsylvania rally, begging suburban women to “please like me” because “I saved your damn neighborhood.”
As for his claim that he did great with women in 2016, female voters supported Hillary Clinton over Trump by 54% to 42%, according to the Pew Research Center. He won 52% of the vote from white women.
The president’s 1950s-esque remark on Tuesday did not fly with critics.
Do.... "suburban women".... not... work? Because... I live in the suburbs and.... I work. Am I doing it wrong? Was there a memo? https://t.co/Bcec1iXr0s — April (@ReignOfApril) October 27, 2020
America's labor force includes about 80 million women https://t.co/35Z4k3Kq7s — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 27, 2020
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865,000 women left the workforce last month, compared to 216,000 men. https://t.co/PMBBJwPfMW — Gillian Branstetter (@GBBranstetter) October 27, 2020
Don Draper will be pleased to her this, it's boring hanging around the house being waited upon https://t.co/2ABSuspwB6 — David Frum (@davidfrum) October 27, 2020
The longer @realDonaldTrump speaks, the more his true character is revealed which is very good news for Biden https://t.co/o0IWH8YzzC — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) October 27, 2020
Wait, just cause this year has been so fucked up, have to ask...
What century are we currently living in now? https://t.co/BDUbSH21lo — YS (@NYinLA2121) October 27, 2020
Trump just now: "Your husbands, they want to get back to work. We're getting your husbands back to work.”
Did we hate 2020 so hard we accidentally got thrown back to 1952? — Ida Skibenes ❄ (@ida_skibenes) October 27, 2020
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A century after the 19th Amendment, Trump tells Lansing crowd, “We’re getting your husbands back to work." — Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) October 27, 2020
Guessed there might be some mitigating context to Trump's remark to suburban women. Nope.
"And you know what else? I'm also getting your husbands - they wanna get back to work, right? They wanna get back to work. We're getting your husbands back to work, and everybody wants it." — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) October 27, 2020
The preceding context was Trump saying, before getting distracted with some other stuff, that "I'm getting your kids back to school." So the pitch to women was: 1) I'm getting your kids back to school, 2) I'm getting your husbands back to work. — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) October 27, 2020
Yes little ladies, Trump is getting your husbands back to work so you can go back to sitting around on the couch eating bon bons. https://t.co/MyQfaNX9dw — Mark Schweitzer (@MarkSchweitzer) October 27, 2020
Donald Trump’s antiquated attempt at grasping for suburban women
“ I’m getting your husbands back to work?” This year women overtook men as the majority of the US workforce. https://t.co/u6UcbTD3sn — Samantha Barry (@samanthabarry) October 27, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Trump’s Weakness With Older Voters Could Cost Him Florida – And The White House

“ I voted for him because I wasn ’ t a Hillary Clinton fan .
I said , gosh , he couldn ’ t be worse than Hillary Clinton .
I was mistaken , ” he said after emerging from the Pinellas County office building after casting his ballot for Trump ’ s Democratic opponent .
“ We know who he is this time around .
This time around , he ’ s a known quantity.
” This newly minted Democratic voter spoke on condition of anonymity because , as a real estate agent , a good number of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are Trump supporters .
He ’ s a mirror of the so-called “ shy Trump voter ” who will not admit to supporting the president because of peer pressure .
And how common or uncommon he is in Florida , with its vast 50-and-older population , will likely determine whether Trump keeps his job next week or retires to his newly adopted home state himself .
“ Right now , Trump has a bare majority with them in Florida .
That ’ s a very bad outcome for him , ” said Rick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state and a prominent Trump critic .
He attributed the president ’ s problem with the group “ almost 100 % ” to his response to the coronavirus pandemic , which included downplaying it from the outset and at one point calling it a hoax .
Losing Voters With Little Margin To Lose We know who he is this time around .
This time around , he ’ s a known quantity .
58-year-old former Trump voter who voted for Biden in 2020 Ed Carron , a 55-year-old who lives with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have done the best job with the pandemic .
“ Maybe his COVID handling could have been better , ” he said , but added that he doubted anyone else would have done it much differently and that Trump likely gets more criticism because of his bombastic approach to everything .
“ His mouth does get him into trouble .
”

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Think of him as an older, shier Biden voter.
Male, 58 years old, a lifelong Republican. Voted for candidate Donald Trump in 2016 yet refuses to have anything to do with President Donald Trump in 2020 for a host of reasons, but especially his botched response to the pandemic.
“I voted for him because I wasn’t a Hillary Clinton fan. I said, gosh, he couldn’t be worse than Hillary Clinton. I was mistaken,” he said after emerging from the Pinellas County office building after casting his ballot for Trump’s Democratic opponent. “We know who he is this time around. This time around, he’s a known quantity.”
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This newly minted Democratic voter spoke on condition of anonymity because, as a real estate agent, a good number of people in his social group and his clients are Trump supporters. He’s a mirror of the so-called “shy Trump voter” who will not admit to supporting the president because of peer pressure. And how common or uncommon he is in Florida, with its vast 50-and-older population, will likely determine whether Trump keeps his job next week or retires to his newly adopted home state himself.
With its 29 electoral votes, Florida has more than Michigan and Wisconsin combined, and would almost certainly guarantee a Trump loss should Democrat Joe Biden manage to win the state.
“If you bring Florida home, this thing’s over,” former President Barack Obama said during a weekend visit to the Miami Springs campaign office of his vice president.
Bringing Florida home for Biden doesn’t even require winning those older voters who make up fully half of the state’s likely electorate. It just means cutting into Trump’s enormous margins with that group four years ago — a phenomenon that appears to be happening already.
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“Right now, Trump has a bare majority with them in Florida. That’s a very bad outcome for him,” said Rick Wilson, a longtime GOP consultant in the state and a prominent Trump critic. He attributed the president’s problem with the group “almost 100%” to his response to the coronavirus pandemic, which included downplaying it from the outset and at one point calling it a hoax.
“When Granny realizes she’s not going to see her grandson’s graduation or go to a family reunion, or pretty much anything, without the risk of dying, it tends to have a negative political impact,” Wilson said.
Losing Voters With Little Margin To Lose
Trump, for his part, has always counted on winning Florida and has boasted of it with a certainty not necessarily warranted by facts.
In 2016, while the Hillary Clinton campaign had built an expensive voter turnout machine that, in the end, failed to bring younger Black and Latino voters to the polls, Trump was helped by the perennially effective operation created in recent decades by the state Republican Party.
Trump managed to win the state, but only by 1.2 percentage points, or 112,911 votes. A big part of that win was maintaining support among older voters, many of them retirees, who have traditionally supported Republicans because of their opposition to tax increases.
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According to the 2016 exit polls, Trump defeated Clinton 55-43, or 12 percentage points, among voters aged 50-64, who made up 29% of the state’s electorate. Among voters 65 and older, who made up 21% of the electorate, Trump won by a staggering 17 percent margin, 57-40.
Recent polling, though, shows that Trump has lost that big margin with Florida’s seniors. A recent CBS/YouGov poll conducted over three days last week finds Trump with just an 8-point margin over Biden among both the 45-64 age group as well as 65 and over.
“We know who he is this time around. This time around, he’s a known quantity.” - 58-year-old former Trump voter who voted for Biden in 2020
That change with older Floridians tracks Trump’s slippage nationally, where his problem with those high-propensity voters is even worse.
In 2016, Trump won the 50-64 age group by 8 points and the 65 and over group by 7 points. According to a recent Economist/YouGov poll, Trump is now actually trailing Biden among voters aged 45-64 by 3 points. Among voters 65 and over, he is down 10 points, 51-41.
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That swing does not surprise David Longacre, 61, who said Trump’s repeated minimizing of the coronavirus has enraged the cohort most susceptible to the disease’s deadly complications.
“He wouldn’t listen to anyone,” said Longacre, a regional sales manager for an air conditioning firm, after casting his ballot for Biden at the downtown St. Petersburg early voting site. “He wanted to think he knew everything, and he didn’t.”
One top Republican close to Trump, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the campaign feels confident it has not lost that much ground with older voters and predicted a 3-point win next week.
“We’re in really good shape in Florida,” he said, but then added that knowing this with any certainty was difficult because the campaign is not conducting a tracking poll in a number of key states. “Florida, and we’re not polling. It’s weird.”
Trump’s Most Loyal Fans Still Loyal
While claiming that the Trump campaign is carrying out all the necessary activities of a normal campaign, spokesperson Tim Murtaugh would not address the specific question of a Florida tracking poll, which closely monitors the electorate in a race’s closing days.
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However, Wilson, the GOP consultant, said there’s nothing weird about not having a daily tracking poll — once it’s understood that the campaign is running out of money.
“A lot of their polling contractors stopped getting paid in September, so they’re not doing work,” he said. “They’re broke. They’re largely flying blind right now.”
Whether Trump is monitoring the strength of his support or not, though, most longtime Republicans remain in his corner — even as they make excuses for his coronavirus response.
Nancy Cullinane, a 71-year-old retired teacher and administrator who moved to Florida from Kentucky, defended Trump’s continued downplaying of the disease. “I don’t think you want to share that fear with 300 million people,” she said after emerging from the North Collier Regional Park offices in Naples, where she had just cast her vote for Trump.
“I think the president has done a wonderful job keeping an even keel,” said Joanne Joachim, a 64-year-old retiree originally from Rhode Island, after voting for Trump at the Laurel Manor Recreation Center in The Villages, a central Florida Republican stronghold. “Nobody’s perfect. ... We’re still under 300,000 deaths. I believe that’s a small percentage of the population.”
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Ed Carron, a 55-year-old who lives with his parents there, acknowledged that Trump may not have done the best job with the pandemic. “Maybe his COVID handling could have been better,” he said, but added that he doubted anyone else would have done it much differently and that Trump likely gets more criticism because of his bombastic approach to everything. “His mouth does get him into trouble.”
Carolee McReynolds, 77, staffs a lonely pro-Biden outpost at an early voting site in The Villages, long a Republican stronghold in central Florida. S.V. Date/HuffPost
That trouble, though, may result in Trump losing enough of his 2016 older voters to lose the state.
Even in The Villages, Biden campaign volunteer Carolee McReynolds, 77, said she has seen signs of defections. In the recreation center parking lot, sitting in front of her 2009 Ford minivan emblazoned with Biden-Harris signs, she waved and shouted out as the occasional pro-Biden voter would walk or drive past.
“He’s a disaster as a human being,” she said of Trump. “I think he’s losing support.”
Joe Eisegruber, 80, is a Villages resident who says he was once a straight-ticket Republican voter but, in the age of Trump, has started backing Democrats in other races, too. “I wouldn’t vote for that son of a bitch for all the tea in China,” he said of Trump. “I don’t think he knows what he’s doing.”
Some 300 miles to the south, Julie Rivas has come to that same conclusion.
The 64-year-old retiree, who does not follow politics particularly closely, said she voted for Trump in 2016. But walking out of Miami Beach City Hall on a recent rainy evening after casting a ballot for Biden, she said the president’s inability to deliver on his promises, as well as his cavalier handling of the coronavirus, made her change her mind.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Facebook Let Trump Launch New Political Ads After Ban Went Into Effect

President Donald Trump ’ s campaign launched more than a dozen new political ads on Facebook on Tuesday , despite the platform ’ s ban on such ads in the week leading up to the election .
Political ads in the U.S. “ must be created and start delivering before October 27 , ” according to Facebook ’ s widely touted policy , which was implemented to prevent unsubstantiated information from spreading through ads in the run-up to Nov. 3 .
Existing political ads that went live prior to the ban are allowed to run throughout the restriction period ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ [ Facebook ’ s ] implementation certainly has only inspired more fears over how they ’ re going to be able to handle these last-minute election-specific rollouts , ” said Jesse Lehrich , cofounder of the nonprofit Accountable Tech .
“ It constantly feels like they ’ re dealing with optics — they ’ re thinking of everything as optical problems and never as structural problems.
” The ads , which primarily targeted residents of Georgia , Arizona , Florida and Iowa , had a combined potential reach of more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraged their audiences to vote .
Several even included the misleading messages , “ ELECTION DAY IS TODAY ” and “ Vote Today , ” which Facebook prohibits .
By contrast , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s campaign has not released any new ads since the ban took effect .
Although Facebook ’ s ad library appears to show active ads from Biden that launched on Oct. 27 , they are actually snapshots of existing ads that had gone live prior to the ban date , and subsequently had their targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ library also shows several new snapshots of this nature from Trump , in addition to his violative ads .
“ In the final days of an election there may not be enough time to contest new claims .
So in the week before the election , we won ’ t accept new political or issue ads , ” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a post upon announcing the ban last month .
“ I ’ m also worried that with our nation so divided and election results potentially taking days or even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be an increased risk of civil unrest across the country.
” Social media experts expect to see a deluge of hyperpartisan disinformation on Facebook and other platforms ahead of Election Day .
Given Trump ’ s refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power , many are also concerned that if he loses , he will use his social channels to falsely claim victory , make baseless declarations of electoral fraud to undermine the results , or worse .
We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

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President Donald Trump’s campaign launched more than a dozen new political ads on Facebook on Tuesday, despite the platform’s ban on such ads in the week leading up to the election.
Political ads in the U.S. “must be created and start delivering before October 27,” according to Facebook’s widely touted policy, which was implemented to prevent unsubstantiated information from spreading through ads in the run-up to Nov. 3. Existing political ads that went live prior to the ban are allowed to run throughout the restriction period; new ads cannot be launched post-ban.
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But data from Facebook’s ad library shows that Trump’s latest ads launched on Oct. 27 — not before it — suggesting Facebook cannot enforce its own policies just days ahead of Election Day.
After HuffPost flagged the ads to Facebook, the company removed most, but not all, of them for violating its policies.
“[Facebook’s] implementation certainly has only inspired more fears over how they’re going to be able to handle these last-minute election-specific rollouts,” said Jesse Lehrich, cofounder of the nonprofit Accountable Tech. “It constantly feels like they’re dealing with optics — they’re thinking of everything as optical problems and never as structural problems.”
Some of the Trump campaign's political ads that launched post-ban on Facebook. Facebook
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The ads, which primarily targeted residents of Georgia, Arizona, Florida and Iowa, had a combined potential reach of more than 12 million people. All of them encouraged their audiences to vote. Several even included the misleading messages, “ELECTION DAY IS TODAY” and “Vote Today,” which Facebook prohibits.
“As we made clear in our public communications and directly to campaigns, we prohibit ads that say ‘Vote Today’ without additional context or clarity,” a company spokesperson told HuffPost in a statement.
By contrast, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign has not released any new ads since the ban took effect. Although Facebook’s ad library appears to show active ads from Biden that launched on Oct. 27, they are actually snapshots of existing ads that had gone live prior to the ban date, and subsequently had their targeting or budget criteria adjusted. The ad library also shows several new snapshots of this nature from Trump, in addition to his violative ads.
“During Facebook’s restriction period ... advertisers can adjust the budget or targeting criteria on an existing ad, which generates a new ad snapshot with a new start date,” Facebook notes in a disclaimer.
Facebook scored widespread praise for its decision to halt political advertising ahead of the election — a policy that it recently extended indefinitely “to reduce opportunities for confusion or abuse.”
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“In the final days of an election there may not be enough time to contest new claims. So in the week before the election, we won’t accept new political or issue ads,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a post upon announcing the ban last month. “I’m also worried that with our nation so divided and election results potentially taking days or even weeks to be finalized, there could be an increased risk of civil unrest across the country.”
Social media experts expect to see a deluge of hyperpartisan disinformation on Facebook and other platforms ahead of Election Day. Given Trump’s refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, many are also concerned that if he loses, he will use his social channels to falsely claim victory, make baseless declarations of electoral fraud to undermine the results, or worse.
The political ad ban was part of a broader attempt to prevent such chaos. But so far, its rollout has been disastrous.
Facebook mistakenly blocked some of Biden’s existing, preapproved ads on Tuesday due to reported “data lags,” Protocol reported. Political groups including DSPolitical and Defending Democracy Together told the news outlet that their ads had also been affected.
And even though Trump’s campaign seemingly managed to skirt the ban, it still preemptively launched Facebook ads on Monday claiming record-setting GDP growth — citing figures that won’t be released until Oct. 29.
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The campaign also prepared an apparent victory ad, which appeared in the ad library on Monday but remains inactive.
“It’s morning in America. Donald J. Trump is still president of the United States,” a video featured in the ad states over cries of despair, supposedly from liberals.
Facebook’s ad policies clearly prohibit “premature declarations of victory.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--GOP Ads Use The Same 'Voter' To Bash Dems In Three Different Senate Races

Two Republican super PACs used the same supposed voter in newly released ads for at least three different Senate races , including those in Maine , Iowa and Kansas .
“ She wants to take away all guns , ” the woman in the ad says of Bollier .
( In fact , Bollier has said she supports the Second Amendment . )
“ Too extreme for Kanas ” flashes on the ad next to Bollier ’ s name , giving the impression that the woman in the ad is a voter in Kansas .
But that same woman has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Iowa as well , making it clear that she ’ s an actor and revealing the conservative groups ’ apparent deception .
“ Families across Iowa are struggling , ” the woman says in an ad paid for by the Senate Leadership Fund .
“ With the economy , with this pandemic , keeping our health care is crucial.
” “ We can ’ t trust Sara Gideon , ” she says in another SLF ad , this time attacking Republican Sen. Susan Collins ’ Democratic challenger in Maine .
“ She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The groups also used the same-white haired man for ads in Iowa and Kansas , which was first reported by the Iowa Starting Line .
Using actors and stock images in political ads is not new , but it can be risky — the ads are ripe for mockery and accusations of inauthenticity when the tactic is discovered .
Neither American Crossroads nor SLF immediately returned HuffPost ’ s requests for comment .
Both groups are led by Steven Law , who previously served as chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ads are sanctioned by the Republican campaigns they seek to boost .
“ Putting a flannel shirt on an out-of-state actor doesn ’ t make them any more in touch with Maine values , ” Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Lisa Roberts said in a statement .
“ And no matter how much money Mitch McConnell and his allies spend on false attacks to boost Senator Collins ’ campaign , they can ’ t erase her record of voting to put Mainers ’ health care and rights at risk.
” We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting — or suspicious !
— campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

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Two Republican super PACs used the same supposed voter in newly released ads for at least three different Senate races, including those in Maine, Iowa and Kansas.
In an ad produced by American Crossroads that aired in Kansas, a brown-haired woman criticizes Democratic Senate candidate Barbara Bollier.
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“She wants to take away all guns,” the woman in the ad says of Bollier. (In fact, Bollier has said she supports the Second Amendment.)
“Too extreme for Kanas” flashes on the ad next to Bollier’s name, giving the impression that the woman in the ad is a voter in Kansas.
But that same woman has appeared in Senate race ads in Maine and Iowa as well, making it clear that she’s an actor and revealing the conservative groups’ apparent deception.
“Families across Iowa are struggling,” the woman says in an ad paid for by the Senate Leadership Fund. “With the economy, with this pandemic, keeping our health care is crucial.”
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“We can’t trust Sara Gideon,” she says in another SLF ad, this time attacking Republican Sen. Susan Collins’ Democratic challenger in Maine. “She’s just too risky a choice.”
The same purported voter appears in pro-Republican ads for Senate races in three different states. Admo/YouTube
The groups also used the same-white haired man for ads in Iowa and Kansas, which was first reported by the Iowa Starting Line.
Using actors and stock images in political ads is not new, but it can be risky — the ads are ripe for mockery and accusations of inauthenticity when the tactic is discovered.
Neither American Crossroads nor SLF immediately returned HuffPost’s requests for comment. Both groups are led by Steven Law, who previously served as chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
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None of the ads are sanctioned by the Republican campaigns they seek to boost.
“Putting a flannel shirt on an out-of-state actor doesn’t make them any more in touch with Maine values,” Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Lisa Roberts said in a statement. “And no matter how much money Mitch McConnell and his allies spend on false attacks to boost Senator Collins’ campaign, they can’t erase her record of voting to put Mainers’ health care and rights at risk.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--EPA Cancels LGBTQ Pride And Resilience Event Due To Trump Crackdown

“ What ’ s so insidious and tyrannical about the executive orders and memos and guidances is they just cast such a broad net that anything falling into diversity and inclusion is now under threat , ” one EPA employee , who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation , told HuffPost .
“ People are afraid of getting in trouble because it ’ s like [ a ] McCarthyism communist Red Scare.
” Political appointees at the agency have largely avoided communicating restrictions on diversity events in writing , instead announcing cancellations and concerns during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EPA employee who also spoke on the condition of anonymity .
The prohibitions are unevenly applied across the agency ’ s offices , the employee said , with a near-blanket ban on diversity-related programs in place at the agency ’ s Washington , D.C. , headquarters .
The EPA also halted efforts to address complaints of racist messages scrawled on a shared wall calendar in the Office of Public Affairs two years ago , the second EPA employee told HuffPost .
After hiring California-based consultancy Crossroads to advise managers on how better to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , political leadership at the agency intervened in September to cancel three upcoming consultation sessions .
The Trump administration ’ s executive order on diversity training fundamentally misunderstands how such training works , according to the many experts who have spoken with HuffPost on the subject .
But even by the definitions of its own order , it ’ s hard to see how the resilience talk planned at the EPA violated the guidelines .
Under the executive order , training that suggests that “ men and members of certain races , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are inherently sexist and racist ” and encourages “ conformity ” is prohibited .
( The executive order says this is to avoid perpetuating “ racial stereotypes.
” ) “ [ The order has ] had a massive chilling effect because nobody knows what they can or can ’ t do , ” the second EPA employee said .
“ There ’ s a lot of frustration and resentment , and a lot of people very upset by the particularly outrageous language the president used about what ’ s ‘ unAmerican.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event was Harold Kooden , a longtime gay rights activist who lived through the AIDS epidemic in New York City .
He shared a draft of his speech with HuffPost .
It is an eight-page heartfelt meditation on his life and experiences as a psychologist treating men with HIV during the height of that public health crisis .
He connects those moments to the present day .
“ Rather than looking outside ourselves , it is in moments like that we need to look inwards for our guidance and strength to find resilience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are now in the fight for our democracy .
Harold Kooden , gay rights activist who was set to speak at the canceled event “ We received word of the ‘ postponement ’ the day after the presidential debate in which Trump mentioned the Proud Boys , ” Cruz-Herr said in an email .
“ It occurred to me that , under this administration , apparently only Proud Boys are the ones allowed to have Pride.
” “ Describe which one of these strengths is most serving you now as you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is one prompt that was planned for the session , according to a draft viewed by HuffPost .
“ It is both an overt and covert insidiousness that is pervasive .
It is being done in front of us and in so many other ways of which we are totally unaware , ” he wrote in an email to his friends and colleagues that was shared with HuffPost .
“ We are now in the fight for our democracy .
”

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The Environmental Protection Agency canceled a virtual event on LGBTQ pride and resilience that was to be given by an 84-year-old psychologist and longtime gay rights activist, because of President Donald Trump’s executive order banning diversity training, HuffPost has learned.
The event, “What LGBT Pride and Resilience Can Teach Us About Navigating Covid and Beyond,” was scheduled for Oct. 7.
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But a month before that, in a memo, the White House ordered federal agencies to stop holding diversity trainings, which it called “divisive, anti-American propaganda.” In a subsequent order, Trump extended the ban to all companies that contract with, or receive funding from, the federal government.
Though the orders appear to mostly concern trainings that focus on race and sex, the bans have had a far more broad effect, as the EPA action shows.
“People are afraid of getting in trouble because it’s like [a] McCarthyism communist Red Scare.” - EPA employee
“What’s so insidious and tyrannical about the executive orders and memos and guidances is they just cast such a broad net that anything falling into diversity and inclusion is now under threat,” one EPA employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, told HuffPost. “People are afraid of getting in trouble because it’s like [a] McCarthyism communist Red Scare.”
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“We aren’t familiar with” the canceled event, EPA spokesman James Hewitt told HuffPost. “EPA is committed to ensuring that all employees fully understand the laws and policies regarding civil rights, affirmative action, and equal access/equal opportunity. All EPA employees are expected to be familiar with and have a full understanding of the federal laws relating to civil rights.”
Political appointees at the agency have largely avoided communicating restrictions on diversity events in writing, instead announcing cancellations and concerns during virtual office-hour sessions, according to another EPA employee who also spoke on the condition of anonymity. The prohibitions are unevenly applied across the agency’s offices, the employee said, with a near-blanket ban on diversity-related programs in place at the agency’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.
In recent weeks, the agency canceled several internal events examining how pollution disproportionately affects the poor and communities of color, Politico first reported. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, meanwhile, had recently promised to focus on the issue during a second Trump term.
The EPA also halted efforts to address complaints of racist messages scrawled on a shared wall calendar in the Office of Public Affairs two years ago, the second EPA employee told HuffPost. After hiring California-based consultancy Crossroads to advise managers on how better to respond to racist incidents in the future, political leadership at the agency intervened in September to cancel three upcoming consultation sessions.
Andrew Wheeler, the EPA Administrator, in Pittsburgh in August. He's said he'll focus on environmental justice concerns in a second Trump term, but his agency recently canceled several events on the topic. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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“We were surprised that they were required to cancel these consultations considering they were part of a contract that focused on conflict resolution,” Debra Russell, Crossroads’ national program director, said by phone.
The Trump administration’s executive order on diversity training fundamentally misunderstands how such training works, according to the many experts who have spoken with HuffPost on the subject. But even by the definitions of its own order, it’s hard to see how the resilience talk planned at the EPA violated the guidelines.
Under the executive order, training that suggests that “men and members of certain races, as well as our most venerable institutions, are inherently sexist and racist” and encourages “conformity” is prohibited. (The executive order says this is to avoid perpetuating “racial stereotypes.”)
“[The order has] had a massive chilling effect because nobody knows what they can or can’t do,” the second EPA employee said. “There’s a lot of frustration and resentment, and a lot of people very upset by the particularly outrageous language the president used about what’s ‘unAmerican.’”
The main speaker for the canceled LGBTQ event was Harold Kooden, a longtime gay rights activist who lived through the AIDS epidemic in New York City. He shared a draft of his speech with HuffPost. It is an eight-page heartfelt meditation on his life and experiences as a psychologist treating men with HIV during the height of that public health crisis.
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He connects those moments to the present day. “Rather than looking outside ourselves, it is in moments like that we need to look inwards for our guidance and strength to find resilience,” he planned on saying.
““We are now in the fight for our democracy.” - Harold Kooden, gay rights activist who was set to speak at the canceled event
The event was organized by TransClue, a trans-owned training and consulting company, founded by Sterling Cruz-Herr.
“We received word of the ‘postponement’ the day after the presidential debate in which Trump mentioned the Proud Boys,” Cruz-Herr said in an email. “It occurred to me that, under this administration, apparently only Proud Boys are the ones allowed to have Pride.”
Kooden’s remarks were to be followed by a panel discussion with another diversity consultant on coming out and how the process did or did not make participants stronger.
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“Describe which one of these strengths is most serving you now as you navigate this time of tremendous uncertainty,” is one prompt that was planned for the session, according to a draft viewed by HuffPost.
There was also time built-in for Q&A.
Kooden said about 300 people had signed up for the event and that they were in the late stages of planning when he heard it would be postponed indefinitely.
He was horrified, and said the administration had effectively censored him and so many others.
“It is both an overt and covert insidiousness that is pervasive. It is being done in front of us and in so many other ways of which we are totally unaware,” he wrote in an email to his friends and colleagues that was shared with HuffPost. “We are now in the fight for our democracy.”
Are you a government employee who has seen a training canceled or experienced other fallout from the White House executive order? Email emily.peck@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Judge Blocks Justice Department's Bid To Shield Trump From Rape Defamation Lawsuit

NEW YORK ( AP ) — A federal judge on Tuesday denied President Donald Trump ’ s request that he be replaced as the defendant in a defamation lawsuit alleging he raped a woman in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s .
The decision by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan came after the Justice Department argued that the United States — and by extension U.S. taxpayers — should replace Trump as the defendant in a lawsuit filed by the columnist E. Jean Carroll .
The government ’ s lawyers contended that the United States could step in as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to her lawsuit to prove he was physically and mentally fit for the job .
The judge ruled that a law protecting federal employees from being sued individually for things they do within the scope of their employment didn ’ t apply to a president .
But even if it did , Kaplan ruled , Trump ’ s public denials of the rape allegation would have come outside the scope of his employment .
Lawyers for Carroll had written that “ only in a world gone mad could it somehow be presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slander a woman who he sexually assaulted.
” The Justice Department relied solely on written arguments after its lawyer was banned from a Manhattan federal courthouse last week because he had not quarantined for two weeks after traveling to New York from a state on a list of those whose coronavirus test rates were high .
Carroll , a former longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine , said in her lawsuit that in the fall of 1995 or spring of 1996 she and Trump met in a chance encounter when they recognized each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said they engaged in a lighthearted chat about trying on a see-through lilac gray bodysuit when they made their way to a dressing room , where she said Trump pushed her against a wall and raped her .
Trump said Carroll was “ totally lying ” to sell a memoir and that he ’ d never met her , though a 1987 photo showed them and their then-spouses at a social event .
He said the photo captured a moment when he was standing in a line .
Carroll , who wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s statements , also seeks a DNA sample from Trump to see whether it matches as-yet-unidentified male genetic material found on a dress that she says she was wearing during the alleged attack .
The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly , as Carroll has done .

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NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday denied President Donald Trump’s request that he be replaced as the defendant in a defamation lawsuit alleging he raped a woman in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan came after the Justice Department argued that the United States — and by extension U.S. taxpayers — should replace Trump as the defendant in a lawsuit filed by the columnist E. Jean Carroll.
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The government’s lawyers contended that the United States could step in as the defendant because Trump was forced to respond to her lawsuit to prove he was physically and mentally fit for the job.
The judge ruled that a law protecting federal employees from being sued individually for things they do within the scope of their employment didn’t apply to a president. But even if it did, Kaplan ruled, Trump’s public denials of the rape allegation would have come outside the scope of his employment.
Lawyers for Carroll had written that “only in a world gone mad could it somehow be presidential, not personal, for Trump to slander a woman who he sexually assaulted.”
The Justice Department relied solely on written arguments after its lawyer was banned from a Manhattan federal courthouse last week because he had not quarantined for two weeks after traveling to New York from a state on a list of those whose coronavirus test rates were high.
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E. Jean Carroll, right, talks to reporters outside a courthouse in New York, Wednesday, March 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Carroll, a former longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine, said in her lawsuit that in the fall of 1995 or spring of 1996 she and Trump met in a chance encounter when they recognized each other at the Bergdorf Goodman store.
She said they engaged in a lighthearted chat about trying on a see-through lilac gray bodysuit when they made their way to a dressing room, where she said Trump pushed her against a wall and raped her.
Trump said Carroll was “totally lying” to sell a memoir and that he’d never met her, though a 1987 photo showed them and their then-spouses at a social event. He said the photo captured a moment when he was standing in a line.
Carroll, who wants unspecified damages and a retraction of Trump’s statements, also seeks a DNA sample from Trump to see whether it matches as-yet-unidentified male genetic material found on a dress that she says she was wearing during the alleged attack.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Arizona Congressman Compares His Grueling Harvard Admission Story To Jared Kushner's

Rep. Ruben Gallego ( D-Ariz. ) , a former Harvard classmate of Jared Kushner ’ s , blasted the president ’ s son-in-law and senior adviser for his comments on Fox News insinuating that Donald Trump couldn ’ t help Black Americans if they didn ’ t “ want to be successful.
” “ This is how the 1 % look at minorities , ” Gallego wrote on Monday .
Then in a powerful Twitter thread , he broke down what he , as a Latino teen not born with a silver spoon in his mouth , had to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studying for exams in between flipping burgers , borrowing a friend ’ s computer to finish his application and riding public transportation to meet his interviewers .
In contrast , the young Kushner had a father , real estate developer Charles Kushner , who was able to donate $ 2.5 million to the Ivy League university .
Kushner ’ s comments , made on a Monday episode of “ Fox & Friends , ” attracted condemnation from a variety of other voices , including former President Barack Obama , who criticized Kushner during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other lawmakers , including Rep. Cedric Richmond ( D-La . )
, argued that Kushner ’ s remarks revealed “ white privilege ” and “ ignorance , ” while Rep. Barbara Lee ( D-Calif. ) tweeted that Kushner was the “ last person that should be lecturing the Black community on the value of ‘ hard work.
’ ” Following the backlash , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Kushner ’ s remarks , claiming that “ internet trolls ” had taken his statement out of context .
Watch Kushner ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friends ” below , with relevant comments beginning around the 6-minute mark .

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Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a former Harvard classmate of Jared Kushner’s, blasted the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser for his comments on Fox News insinuating that Donald Trump couldn’t help Black Americans if they didn’t “want to be successful.”
“This is how the 1% look at minorities,” Gallego wrote on Monday.
Then in a powerful Twitter thread, he broke down what he, as a Latino teen not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, had to do to gain acceptance into Harvard, including studying for exams in between flipping burgers, borrowing a friend’s computer to finish his application and riding public transportation to meet his interviewers.
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In contrast, the young Kushner had a father, real estate developer Charles Kushner, who was able to donate $2.5 million to the Ivy League university.
My freshman year of HS. I realized that the only way college was gonna happen was that first I had to do well on my exams. So I started buying used prep exam books and copying exams from the library. The school librarian is a close friend to this day. (Thanks Mrs. Conley) — Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 26, 2020
Not knowing anyone that went to Harvard let along college, I looked up students in the student directory. I called anyone that had a Latino sounding name and left messages. A few returned my calls and helped guide me to get ready to apply for college. Thank you Gus! — Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 26, 2020
Senior year! I am might be the only student to apply to Harvard using money orders but did it. Use a friends computer to apply (thank you Kobelt family) Figure our how to do estimated taxes, to do the FAFSA. — Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 26, 2020
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My interviewer hadn’t ever had an applicant take public transportation to see her. Was surprised when I told her I was taking it back home. She was kind enough to drop me off at the CTA stop. — Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 26, 2020
Accepted!! I also was lucky to have a supportive Mom and sisters that encouraged me the whole way. They did countless things to make it happen. Thank you familia! — Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 26, 2020
I apologize for the grammar. I am a little heated. — Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 26, 2020
Kushner’s comments, made on a Monday episode of “Fox & Friends,” attracted condemnation from a variety of other voices, including former President Barack Obama, who criticized Kushner during a Tuesday rally in Orlando, Florida. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), argued that Kushner’s remarks revealed “white privilege” and “ignorance,” while Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) tweeted that Kushner was the “last person that should be lecturing the Black community on the value of ‘hard work.’”
Following the backlash, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Kushner’s remarks, claiming that “internet trolls” had taken his statement out of context.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--The Left Has Given Joe Biden Space. They Won’t If He Wins.

“ The left is pushing forward because they realized that when they stepped out in 2016 and they just threw up their hands and said , ‘ Screw all of this , ’ that we were dealt the consequences .
We were dealt the Trump administration , ” said Austin Fisher , the spokesman for the progressive group Southpaw Michigan .
Southpaw was started by Abdul El-Sayed , who ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018 and was a prominent supporter of Sanders in the presidential primary .
But by listening to everyone , Biden is pleasing everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ court-packing , ” or adding more justices to the Supreme Court , is a prime example .
Biden was not one of the presidential candidates who endorsed court-packing during the primary .
But facing a party incensed at Republicans ramming Amy Coney Barrett into place as a new justice just a week out from the election , Biden has not ruled it out .
If elected , he said last week , he will convene a commission to study the court system .
The Revolving Door Project has already been putting together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been floated , arguing , for example , that Dent “ voted with Trump 93 % of the time on key issues such as corporate tax cuts and Wall St. deregulation ” despite his reputation as an anti-Trump Republican and retired from Congress early “ so that he would finish his mandatory one-year lobbying ban just ahead of his Republican colleagues and beat them to the most lucrative lobbying gigs.
” “ Progressives are much better educated about how power works in Washington in November 2020 than they were in November 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result ... the transition process will be monitored extremely closely .
That did not occur in 2008 .
Progressives weren ’ t really even necessarily super familiar with who Tim Geithner was , let alone worry he might become treasury secretary .
Whereas now , I think there is the potential for controversy at several levels below the treasury secretary , in terms of prominence .
”

Joe Biden has assembled a large, ideologically diverse coalition in his run for president. Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press
Joe Biden was the target of fierce criticism from the party’s left wing in the Democratic presidential primary. He opposed “Medicare for All.” He relied on big fundraisers and bundlers to fund his campaign. He preached the gospel of moderation and bipartisanship, seeming to truly believe that Republicans were sensible and would work with Democrats once President Donald Trump was gone.
Zephyr Teachout, an associate professor at Fordham Law School who supported Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), said in a January op-ed that Biden represented “the transactional, grossly corrupt culture in Washington that long precedes Trump.”
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But the left has been far less vocally critical of Biden in the general election. Even Teachout tweeted out praise for Biden’s final debate performance.
Biden started speaking to me when he was saying we can't measure the economy with the stock market and started going off about billionaires. — Zephyr Teachout (@ZephyrTeachout) October 23, 2020
Progressives say part of the show of unity is strategic, since the No. 1 priority is defeating Trump. But they also acknowledge that Biden has made real and meaningful overtures in his policies and the people he’s consulting.
Still, if Biden wins, it will be with a large, ideologically divergent coalition. He’s getting the backing of progressives, as well as Republicans who are fed up with Trump. Young voters seem like they’re being drawn to him, but so are voters older than 65.
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Right now, Biden is keeping everyone happy. But that’s likely to change if he becomes president, when he has to start making decisions on personnel and policy priorities. And the left is ready.
“We and our allies are actively preparing ourselves and the broader left to, if needed, orient towards a more confrontational posture and fight fights over Cabinet secretaries and encourage Chuck Schumer and other Democratic senators to oppose particular people for confirmation, if they’re put forth,” said David Segal, executive director of the group Demand Progress.
Teachout said she is “all in for Biden,” but once he’s elected, she’s “all in for making sure workers and small businesses who are suffering so badly are the constituents he serves.”
“The left is going to fight like hell to elect Biden, and then we’re going to fight like hell to push Biden on the kind of big structural change Americans need right now,” progressive strategist Rebecca Katz said.
Ready To Fight For Biden
On April 13, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsed Joe Biden for president in a streaming broadcast. Handout via Getty Images
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The left wants to defeat Trump just as much as the rest of the Democratic Party does. It’s not rocket science to figure that giving Biden some breathing room and showing party unity helps in that goal.
“The left is pushing forward because they realized that when they stepped out in 2016 and they just threw up their hands and said, ‘Screw all of this,’ that we were dealt the consequences. We were dealt the Trump administration,” said Austin Fisher, the spokesman for the progressive group Southpaw Michigan. Southpaw was started by Abdul El-Sayed, who ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018 and was a prominent supporter of Sanders in the presidential primary.
Derek Cataldi, 39, a politically active member of the Carpenters union Local 167 outside of Philadelphia, supported both of Sanders’ runs. But the prospect of a second term for Trump is enough to get him enthusiastically behind Biden ― and Cataldi thinks his fellow Berniecrats have a similar attitude.
“Last election cycle, the Bernie supporters were anti-Hillary and now they’re like, ‘Eh’ ― it’s just whoever against Trump,” Cataldi said. “It could be a mannequin with no dialogue and they would vote for that over Trump.”
Another progressive operative who requested anonymity to speak freely emphasized that the danger of Trump is no longer theoretical, and no one can make the argument that the two parties are the same as an excuse to not vote.
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“The existential danger of a second Trump term has just relegated that rationalization to not voting for Biden to a small desk drawer,” they said.
But even just beyond pure necessity, every progressive who spoke with HuffPost agreed that Biden is doing better listening to the left than Hillary Clinton did after she defeated Sanders in 2016.
“Biden’s doing a good job of making people feel listened-to, which did not occur in 2016,” said Jeff Hauser, director of the Revolving Door Project, a progressive group that focuses on executive branch personnel. “I think the Clinton team was sort of averse to the left, in a way that Biden is not of the left but is not adversarial toward it.”
On Friday, the Biden campaign hosted a “Progressives for Biden Unity Town Hall” featuring prominent progressive lawmakers including Sanders and the co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Reps. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Mark Pocan (Wis.).
And on Tuesday, the campaign held a fundraiser on Big Tech featuring some of the sector’s biggest critics, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and New York Attorney General Tish James.
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An early, and significant, step toward bringing the party together were joint task forces put together by the Biden and Sanders campaigns after the primary, where the two sides came up with policy recommendations for Biden. The 100-page document formed the basis for the Democratic Party platform and endorsed a number of progressive policies, including a ban on for-profit charter schools and a mandate for net-zero emissions for all buildings by 2030.
El-Sayed, a doctor, was a Sanders representative on the health care task force. He praised the process for doing “a lot of work to bring people together and hash out a conversation about how we move forward.”
“I’ve been working to move things forward on the campaign, even if there’s still space between how far I think we need to go on health care and where the vice president is,” he added. “But this is the time to move forward.”
A progressive activist also said that they have received some pushback when they’ve criticized people close to Biden ― “even people who are obviously deserving of critique” ― because the entire party is so nervous about hurting his chances against Trump.
Biden’s exact positions ― and what he would do if he is inaugurated in January ― remain a bit unclear. Some of that is by necessity. The country is still in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s difficult to predict what will be happening in three months. Having a concrete plan for January may not make sense right now.
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But by listening to everyone, Biden is pleasing everyone — for now. The issue of “court-packing,” or adding more justices to the Supreme Court, is a prime example. Biden was not one of the presidential candidates who endorsed court-packing during the primary. But facing a party incensed at Republicans ramming Amy Coney Barrett into place as a new justice just a week out from the election, Biden has not ruled it out. If elected, he said last week, he will convene a commission to study the court system.
It’s not a “no,” but it’s also far from a “yes.” For now, however, it keeps both sides content.
Ready To Fight Against Biden
The left is already gearing up to make the case to the Biden team that tilting conservative once in office is a bad idea. And if it doesn’t get that message, progressives are ready to fight.
For as much outreach that Biden has done to progressives, he’s done the same with disaffected Republicans.
“For those of you who are Republicans, I promise, I’m not going to embarrass you,” he said at a recent fundraiser.
Politico recently reported that the Biden transition team is looking at Republicans as potential Cabinet picks. Meg Whitman, the former CEO of eBay, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.) ― who is now a lobbyist ― are among the names being mentioned.
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“There are live fights around basically all of his top several Cabinet picks and chief of staff and so on. It’s by no means definitive that progressives are going to win a single one of those.” - David Segal, Demand Progress
Warren declined to comment on the possibility of GOP Cabinet picks last week, telling HuffPost, “I’m just not focused on anything that happens after Nov. 3. For me it’s all about what happens in the next 14 days.”
Many progressives weren’t entirely surprised that Biden is considering some Republicans. He is running with a large, ideologically diverse coalition, hoping to heal the country after a radically far-right president. But that doesn’t mean he will get a pass if he chooses someone ― whether a Republican or more conservative Democrat ― who is anathema to the values of progressives.
The American Prospect reported Tuesday that Biden is considering centrist Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) as treasury secretary, a selection that immediately set off alarm bells with progressives. Raimondo is a former venture capitalist who angered unions when she cut pension benefits for public employees as state treasurer.
Segal, a former member of the Providence city council and state representative in Rhode Island, said her selection would be “an affront to organized labor.”
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“There are live fights around basically all of his top several Cabinet picks and chief of staff and so on,” Segal told HuffPost. “It’s by no means definitive that progressives are going to win a single one of those. So people need to not be seduced by the fact that the campaign has been willing to talk to them.”
The Revolving Door Project has already been putting together research on some of the names that have been floated, arguing, for example, that Dent “voted with Trump 93% of the time on key issues such as corporate tax cuts and Wall St. deregulation” despite his reputation as an anti-Trump Republican and retired from Congress early “so that he would finish his mandatory one-year lobbying ban just ahead of his Republican colleagues and beat them to the most lucrative lobbying gigs.”
Hauser and other progressives who spoke for this piece said that Biden will face far more scrutiny than Obama did when he took office.
“Progressives are much better educated about how power works in Washington in November 2020 than they were in November 2008,” he said. “As a result ... the transition process will be monitored extremely closely. That did not occur in 2008. Progressives weren’t really even necessarily super familiar with who Tim Geithner was, let alone worry he might become treasury secretary. Whereas now, I think there is the potential for controversy at several levels below the treasury secretary, in terms of prominence.”
“It is going to be so important after a Biden win that he immediately let the country know he understands the magnitude of the crisis and that he will be the opposite of Trump,” Teachout added. “That means no corporate lobbyists in his administration, not even a whiff of revolving door corporate coziness that has been so gross and destructive during the Trump years.”
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Maegan Llerena, executive director of Make the Road Action Pennsylvania, the political arm of an immigrant rights group that endorsed Sanders in the presidential primary, said that the organization is working energetically to mobilize the state’s Latino voters to the polls for Biden.
Make the Road Action is clear-eyed about its disagreements with Biden. The organization wants to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, defund the police and cancel Puerto Rico’s debt, whereas Biden favors much more moderate approaches on those issues.
But rather than downplay those differences, Make the Road Action hopes that by helping win Pennsylvania for Biden, it can hold him accountable more effectively once he is in office.
Llerena said the group plans to tell Biden, “We are your voting base. We are the ones who voted for you. We’re the reason you won ― so that means you have to listen to us.”
As logical as that pitch sounds, Llerena concedes that it might not be easy to prevail on Biden.
“It may take a significant amount of time,” she said. “But we want to start holding folks accountable on Day 1 ― on Nov. 4.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Ted Cruz On Trump's Hunter Biden Obsession: It Doesn't Move 'A Single Voter'

Sen. Ted Cruz wrote off President Donald Trump ’ s repeated efforts to accuse Joe Biden ’ s son Hunter Biden of corruption , saying in an interview that the narrative doesn ’ t move “ a single voter.
” The Texas Republican spoke with Axios ’ Jonathan Swan after last week ’ s presidential debate for an interview released Monday .
Cruz complimented Biden at one point , telling Swan that one of the former vice president ’ s “ best points ” was when he said all of the attacks back and forth about his family and Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter .
What matters is your family.
” “ That may have been Biden ’ s best moment , actually , ” said Cruz .
Swan countered by asking , “ So you don ’ t believe voters are moved by the Hunter Biden story ?
” In an interview with @ jonathanvswan right after the last debate , @ TedCruz weighed in on the Hunter Biden story : `` I do n't think it moves a single voter '' pic.twitter.com/5ZvYy7ZkNt — Andrew Solender ( @ AndrewSolender ) October 27 , 2020 Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaging in corruption with Ukraine , declaring in the first presidential debate that the younger Biden got “ millions of dollars ” from China , Moscow and Ukraine .
These claims remain unproven .
The president has also lambasted Hunter Biden , both during debates and elsewhere , for his struggles with addiction .
Outside of Cruz , other conservatives have also criticized Trump ’ s repeated attacks on Hunter Biden .
Fox News pundit and former Arkansas Gov .
Mike Huckabee has called that narrative a “ mistake ” because “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is too complicated , ” according to Forbes .
Conservative pollster Frank Luntz has called the focus on Hunter Biden part of “ the worst campaign I ’ ve ever seen.
” Notably , after a particularly crude political hit in the New York Post earlier this month that sent many Trump supporters into a tailspin online , the Trump campaign has since quieted substantially on its rhetoric against the Biden family .

Sen. Ted Cruz wrote off President Donald Trump’s repeated efforts to accuse Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden of corruption, saying in an interview that the narrative doesn’t move “a single voter.”
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The Texas Republican spoke with Axios’ Jonathan Swan after last week’s presidential debate for an interview released Monday. Cruz complimented Biden at one point, telling Swan that one of the former vice president’s “best points” was when he said all of the attacks back and forth about his family and Trump’s family “don’t matter. What matters is your family.”
“That may have been Biden’s best moment, actually,” said Cruz.
Swan countered by asking, “So you don’t believe voters are moved by the Hunter Biden story?”
“I don’t think it moves a single voter,” Cruz replied.
In an interview with @jonathanvswan right after the last debate, @TedCruz weighed in on the Hunter Biden story: "I don't think it moves a single voter" pic.twitter.com/5ZvYy7ZkNt — Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) October 27, 2020
Trump has accused Joe and Hunter Biden of engaging in corruption with Ukraine, declaring in the first presidential debate that the younger Biden got “millions of dollars” from China, Moscow and Ukraine. These claims remain unproven.
The president has also lambasted Hunter Biden, both during debates and elsewhere, for his struggles with addiction.
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Outside of Cruz, other conservatives have also criticized Trump’s repeated attacks on Hunter Biden. Fox News pundit and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has called that narrative a “mistake” because “the average person doesn’t understand it, it is too complicated,” according to Forbes. Conservative pollster Frank Luntz has called the focus on Hunter Biden part of “the worst campaign I’ve ever seen.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Neo-Nazi Ex-Marine And Porn Actor Arrested In Conspiracy To Hide Weapons From Government

HuffPost first found the cases in federal court records after Alicia Garza , one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement , tweeted on Friday that the FBI had visited her home .
She said agents had told her the FBI found her name on a list in the Idaho home of a man they ’ d arrested on weapons charges and suspected of associating with white supremacist groups .
Authorities have kept some court records sealed to date , so details about whether any of the defendants had a list that included Garza ’ s name are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , between these cases and the one Garza mentioned : Both involve white men , recently arrested by federal authorities on weapons charges in Idaho , at least one of whom has confirmed white supremacist ties .
In an unusual move , federal prosecutors unsealed the charge against one of the defendants but kept an underlying affidavit written by a special agent with Naval Criminal Investigative Service under seal .
The U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina did not respond to HuffPost ’ s question about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed much more about how authorities came to investigate the defendants , remained under seal .
Kryscuk , according to an indictment , used the alias “ Shaun Corcoran ” to mail a pistol and suppressor to Jacksonville , where former Marine Lance Corporal Collins was residing at the time .
The pair , according to the indictment , entered into a conspiracy to “ unlawfully enrich themselves and others , by among other things , manufacturing and selling hard to obtain firearms and firearm parts in a manner that the ‘ government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them.
” On Tuesday , a spokesperson for the Marines confirmed that Collins , a lance corporal most recently assigned to Camp Lejeune , left the service last month after only three years in the service .
“ Collins ’ premature discharge is indicative of the fact that the character of his service was incongruent with Marine Corps ’ expectations and standards , ” the spokesperson said .
“ Due to the associated administrative processes , further details are not releasable.
” All three men were taken into custody in Idaho , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a detention hearing and was committed to the custody of the Eastern District of North Carolina .
Duncan and Kryscuk both had detention hearings set for Tuesday , and Kryscuk has asserted his Fifth and Sixth Amendment Rights .
Both waived detention hearings and will be transferred to North Carolina by the U.S .
Marshals Service .
Initially , the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina declined to comment on any of the cases , and several attorneys for the defendants did not respond to requests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some additional details about the men in a press release on Tuesday when Duncan and Kryscuk appeared in virtual court hearings .
Collins and Kryscuk were indicted by a grand jury , while Duncan was charged via criminal complaint by a special agent with Naval Criminal Investigative Service .
Authorities kept the affidavit against Duncan under seal , and U.S. District Judge Ronald E. Bush did not allow it to be read during Duncan ’ s hearing , as Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Kocher , the federal prosecutor in North Carolina who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ retain the supporting affidavit under seal at this time ” last week .
The press release from the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office , run by Trump appointee U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon , does not directly reveal any information about the underlying ideology associated with the defendants .
Higdon , who one former federal prosecutor described to Talking Points Memo as a “ diehard , unapologetic conservative Republican , ” has taken an aggressive posture toward voting cases , prosecuting legal immigrants who voted by mistake .
Higdon was not quoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the three defendants .
The indictment against Collins and Kryscuk lays out some basic details .
On April 24 , Collins , the indictment said , “ accepted $ 1,500 transferred to his personal account in payment for a 9 mm pistol and suppressor ” which Kryscuk was going to manufacture .
Kryscuk then received $ 1,500 into his Venmo account , transferred the money to his personal bank account , and made “ purchases from vendors known to sell solvent traps .
”

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A porn actor and two former Marines, one of whom was recently discharged from the service after being exposed as a white supremacist, were arrested on federal weapons charges last week, although federal officials are keeping many of the details under wraps.
HuffPost first found the cases in federal court records after Alicia Garza, one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, tweeted on Friday that the FBI had visited her home. She said agents had told her the FBI found her name on a list in the Idaho home of a man they’d arrested on weapons charges and suspected of associating with white supremacist groups.
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Authorities have kept some court records sealed to date, so details about whether any of the defendants had a list that included Garza’s name are not available. Several similarities exist, however, between these cases and the one Garza mentioned: Both involve white men, recently arrested by federal authorities on weapons charges in Idaho, at least one of whom has confirmed white supremacist ties.
In an unusual move, federal prosecutors unsealed the charge against one of the defendants but kept an underlying affidavit written by a special agent with Naval Criminal Investigative Service under seal. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina did not respond to HuffPost’s question about why that affidavit, which would have revealed much more about how authorities came to investigate the defendants, remained under seal.
The defendants include Paul Kryscuk, 35, as well as two former Marines previously assigned to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina: Liam Collins, 21, and Jordan Duncan, 25.
Kryscuk, according to an indictment, used the alias “Shaun Corcoran” to mail a pistol and suppressor to Jacksonville, where former Marine Lance Corporal Collins was residing at the time. The pair, according to the indictment, entered into a conspiracy to “unlawfully enrich themselves and others, by among other things, manufacturing and selling hard to obtain firearms and firearm parts in a manner that the ‘government would not know’ the purchasers had them.”
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Kryscuk was a porn actor who went by the name of “Pauly Harker,” and has appeared in adult films that degrade Black women, according to websites that track abusive porn.
Collins was among a group of U.S. servicemen exposed in 2019 as frequent posters to an infamous neo-Nazi message board, leading the Marines Corps to launch an investigation into his extremist ties.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Marines confirmed that Collins, a lance corporal most recently assigned to Camp Lejeune, left the service last month after only three years in the service. “Collins’ premature discharge is indicative of the fact that the character of his service was incongruent with Marine Corps’ expectations and standards,” the spokesperson said. “Due to the associated administrative processes, further details are not releasable.”
Duncan served in the Marines for five years, the spokesperson said, leaving the service in 2018 as a corporal. He had worked as a cryptologic language analyst.
All three men were taken into custody in Idaho, where Kryscuk had an address. Collins waived a detention hearing and was committed to the custody of the Eastern District of North Carolina. Duncan and Kryscuk both had detention hearings set for Tuesday, and Kryscuk has asserted his Fifth and Sixth Amendment Rights. Both waived detention hearings and will be transferred to North Carolina by the U.S. Marshals Service.
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Liam Collins was among a trio of U.S. servicemen found to have posted on the neo-Nazi Iron March message board. He was previously assigned to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Fred Marie/Art in All of Us via Getty Images
Initially, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina declined to comment on any of the cases, and several attorneys for the defendants did not respond to requests for comment. But the Justice Department revealed some additional details about the men in a press release on Tuesday when Duncan and Kryscuk appeared in virtual court hearings.
Collins and Kryscuk were indicted by a grand jury, while Duncan was charged via criminal complaint by a special agent with Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Authorities kept the affidavit against Duncan under seal, and U.S. District Judge Ronald E. Bush did not allow it to be read during Duncan’s hearing, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Kocher, the federal prosecutor in North Carolina who is handling the case, made a motion to “retain the supporting affidavit under seal at this time” last week.
The press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, run by Trump appointee U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon, does not directly reveal any information about the underlying ideology associated with the defendants. Higdon, who one former federal prosecutor described to Talking Points Memo as a “diehard, unapologetic conservative Republican,” has taken an aggressive posture toward voting cases, prosecuting legal immigrants who voted by mistake. Higdon was not quoted in a press release announcing the charges against the three defendants.
Trump and the Justice Department have played up the threats by anti-racist protesters while downplaying the threats posed by white supremacists. Garza said in a tweet last week that Trump “is so dangerous” because he’s “stoking fires he has no intention of controlling.”
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The indictment against Collins and Kryscuk lays out some basic details. On April 24, Collins, the indictment said, “accepted $1,500 transferred to his personal account in payment for a 9 mm pistol and suppressor” which Kryscuk was going to manufacture. Kryscuk then received $1,500 into his Venmo account, transferred the money to his personal bank account, and made “purchases from vendors known to sell solvent traps.”
On Sept. 11, the indictment stated, Collins and Kryscuk “knowingly transported and delivered” a firearm “from Idaho to Pennsylvania.” The indictment states that a 9mm pistol and suppressor, which were not serialized, were seized on June 18 from an individual identified as “JH.” September was the same month that Collins left the Marines.
Collins was among a trio of U.S. servicemen in 2019 who were found to have posted on the infamous Iron March message board, which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as an “influential online gathering place for young neo-Nazis and neo-fascists.”
According to Newsweek, a username associated with Collins’ IP address posted multiple racist messages on Iron March.
“I have a lot of Fascist friends in the Army,” Collins allegedly wrote. “They say there are a lot of “Red-pilled” Soldiers due to the fact that major bases like Fort Bragg are infested with N****rs.”
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In another conversation with a fellow fascist poster, Collins said he planned on working as a private military contractor or “creating a Paramilitary” after his time in the Marines.
Extremists and far-right actors have confronted or violently attacked anti-racist protesters throughout 2020.
In the three months after Minneapolis cops killed George Floyd — which set off a wave of historic uprisings against police brutality — right-wingers confronted Black Lives Matter protesters about 500 times, according to data collected by Alexander Reid Ross, a doctoral fellow at the Center for Analysis of the Radical Right.
These confrontations included multiple shootings.
A U.S. Army sergeant, who had previously posted statements online targeting Black Lives Matter activists, shot and killed a protester in Austin, Texas. A white man opened fire on Black Lives Matter protesters marching through a rural part of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, striking one demonstrator in the face. And a member of a right-wing paramilitary group in New Mexico shot an anti-racist protester in Albuquerque.
Federal authorities also arrested three men in Nevada earlier this summer who were allegedly planning on using explosives to cause chaos at an anti-racist demonstration in Las Vegas. The men were part of the right-wing Boogaloo movement.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Gretchen Whitmer Rebukes Trump In Powerful Essay: He's 'Failed Our Country'

Just weeks after it was revealed that Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer was the target of a militia group ’ s kidnapping plot , she ’ s written a scathing essay against President Donald Trump that implores Americans to vote him out of office .
On Tuesday , The Atlantic published an essay by the Democrat and frequent target of Trump ’ s ire , in which she slams the president for creating a “ divide in our country.
” Whitmer cites his refusal to “ denounce white supremacists on a national debate stage , ” his “ cruel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris and public-health leaders like Anthony Fauci ” and his “ violent rhetoric ” as actions that “ put my colleagues and fellow Americans in danger.
” “ Every time he fires up Twitter to launch another broadside against me , my family and I see a surge of vicious attacks sent our way .
This is no coincidence , and the president knows it .
He is sowing division and putting leaders , especially women leaders , at risk .
And all because he thinks it will help his reelection , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — which is headlined “ The Plot To Kidnap Me ” — by directly addressing the far-right threat against her , and how Trump had stoked it : Earlier this month , I learned that a multistate terrorist group was planning to kidnap and possibly kill me .
Law enforcement announced charges against 14 people as part of the plot .
As jarring as that was , just over a week later , President Donald Trump traveled to Michigan , and when a crowd chanted “ Lock her up ” after he mentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them all up.
” The FBI learned through social media earlier this year that far-right group Wolverine Watchman was “ discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law-enforcement components ” and had Whitmer as its target , after Trump repeatedly assailed her for her statewide restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic .
In addition to referring to her as that “ woman in Michigan ” and claiming she “ doesn ’ t have a clue , ” Trump tweeted “ LIBERATE MICHIGAN ” in April .
“ We can not count on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not expect him to unite us against violence and hate .
Fueling the deep divisions within our country is a tactic he has been using for years , often with the help of social-media platforms like Facebook , which domestic terrorists used to organize the plot against me , ” writes Whitmer , before adding that the last four years “ have been the worst version of America.
” She concludes by saying simply , “ This president has failed our country , and it is on all of us to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserve better.
” While Whitmer did not endorse Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in her essay , she stressed the importance of voting on social media earlier this week and has canvassed and hosted events on Biden ’ s behalf in Michigan .
Someone once referred to me as “ Your friend in Michigan , ” but I believe that @ JoeBiden has a lot of friends in Michigan .
And we are going to prove it on Election Day !
pic.twitter.com/5Fqkja9gL7 — Gretchen Whitmer ( @ gretchenwhitmer ) October 25 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest of the alleged would-be kidnappers , Trump egged on supporters chanting “ lock her up !
” about Whitmer .
She expressed her deep concern about the president ’ s ongoing inflammatory rhetoric to NBC ’ s Meet the Press .
“ It ’ s incredibly disturbing that the president of the United States , 10 days after a plot to kidnap , put me on trial and execute me — 10 days after that was uncovered — the president is at it again and inspiring and incentivizing and inciting this kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Just weeks after it was revealed that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was the target of a militia group’s kidnapping plot, she’s written a scathing essay against President Donald Trump that implores Americans to vote him out of office.
On Tuesday, The Atlantic published an essay by the Democrat and frequent target of Trump’s ire, in which she slams the president for creating a “divide in our country.” Whitmer cites his refusal to “denounce white supremacists on a national debate stage,” his “cruel, adolescent attacks on women like Senator Kamala Harris and public-health leaders like Anthony Fauci” and his “violent rhetoric” as actions that “put my colleagues and fellow Americans in danger.”
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“Every time he fires up Twitter to launch another broadside against me, my family and I see a surge of vicious attacks sent our way. This is no coincidence, and the president knows it. He is sowing division and putting leaders, especially women leaders, at risk. And all because he thinks it will help his reelection,” writes Whitmer.
She opens the essay — which is headlined “The Plot To Kidnap Me” — by directly addressing the far-right threat against her, and how Trump had stoked it:
Earlier this month, I learned that a multistate terrorist group was planning to kidnap and possibly kill me. Law enforcement announced charges against 14 people as part of the plot. As jarring as that was, just over a week later, President Donald Trump traveled to Michigan, and when a crowd chanted “Lock her up” after he mentioned me, he said, “Lock them all up.”
The FBI learned through social media earlier this year that far-right group Wolverine Watchman was “discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law-enforcement components” and had Whitmer as its target, after Trump repeatedly assailed her for her statewide restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to referring to her as that “woman in Michigan” and claiming she “doesn’t have a clue,” Trump tweeted “LIBERATE MICHIGAN” in April.
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“We cannot count on President Trump to rebuild America. We cannot expect him to unite us against violence and hate. Fueling the deep divisions within our country is a tactic he has been using for years, often with the help of social-media platforms like Facebook, which domestic terrorists used to organize the plot against me,” writes Whitmer, before adding that the last four years “have been the worst version of America.”
She concludes by saying simply, “This president has failed our country, and it is on all of us to come together to turn things around. We deserve better.”
While Whitmer did not endorse Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in her essay, she stressed the importance of voting on social media earlier this week and has canvassed and hosted events on Biden’s behalf in Michigan.
Someone once referred to me as “Your friend in Michigan,” but I believe that @JoeBiden has a lot of friends in Michigan.
And we are going to prove it on Election Day! pic.twitter.com/5Fqkja9gL7 — Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) October 25, 2020
Just days after the FBI announced the arrest of the alleged would-be kidnappers, Trump egged on supporters chanting “lock her up!” about Whitmer. She expressed her deep concern about the president’s ongoing inflammatory rhetoric to NBC’s Meet the Press.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Ilhan Omar Graces Teen Vogue Cover With Her Teen Activist Daughter Isra Hirsi

Rep. lhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) and her teenage daughter Isra Hirsi are Teen Vogue ’ s November cover stars .
The mother-daughter duo tackled community organizing , racism and brutality and the 2020 presidential election in a wide-ranging interview published Tuesday .
Throughout the cover story , Omar , who represents Minnesota ’ s 5th Congressional District , touched on her Minneapolis community , the uprisings that took place in her city after George Floyd ’ s killing and community protests of “ decades and centuries of brutality.
” “ There are a lot of leaders who will talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a degree of separation from the pain that people are feeling , ” the representative told Teen Vogue .
“ And it ’ s like , no , I ’ m feeling that pain as well , as a part of that community.
” Hirsi , 17 , Omar ’ s eldest of three children , also talked about her passion for the Minneapolis community , noting that she had taken a “ big step back ” from organizing on a national level to focus on her community .
“ ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is so much more important , and that ’ s what I ’ m doing now , ” the activist said .
The 17-year-old , who co-founded the U.S .
Youth Climate Strike , was recognized for her activism surrounding racial and environmental justice .
Hirsi regularly uses Twitter and TikTok as platforms to discuss politics , systemic racism and social justice issues .
She told NBC News last year that she had never labeled herself as an activist growing up but that she had always had the mentality of “ wanting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up going to protests as a kid , ” Hirsi said , noting that the first protest she remembers going to was when she was 6 years old .
Like Hirsi , Omar similarly uses her Twitter account as a platform to discuss progressive policies and often to denounce racist attacks — like from President Donald Trump , who regularly spews racist remarks about Omar .
On Monday , Omar retweeted an interview she did with NBCUniversal ’ s streaming service Peacock , in which she addressed Trump , who referred to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Ayanna Pressley ( Mass . )
and Rashida Tlaib ( Mich. ) as “ AOC plus three ” during the final presidential debate last week .
“ The president has really carried himself in the most trashiest and disturbing ways , ” Omar said .
She later added , “ You are having a hard time distinguishing him from a pro wrestler in the ring , in the ways in which he speaks .
It ’ s quite disrespectful to the office that he holds and the kind of leader that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I love the truthtelling `` directness '' of @ IlhanMN & @ israhirsi , their vision for a just world , & the urgency with which they pursue it .
They are the mother daughter duo in good the movement deserves & our TL needs .
Stunning @ TeenVogue .
https : //t.co/XiDl1cDoyx — Ayanna Pressley ( @ AyannaPressley ) October 27 , 2020

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Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and her teenage daughter Isra Hirsi are Teen Vogue’s November cover stars. The mother-daughter duo tackled community organizing, racism and brutality and the 2020 presidential election in a wide-ranging interview published Tuesday.
Throughout the cover story, Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, touched on her Minneapolis community, the uprisings that took place in her city after George Floyd’s killing and community protests of “decades and centuries of brutality.”
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“There are a lot of leaders who will talk about needing to have empathy because there’s a degree of separation from the pain that people are feeling,” the representative told Teen Vogue. “And it’s like, no, I’m feeling that pain as well, as a part of that community.”
Hirsi, 17, Omar’s eldest of three children, also talked about her passion for the Minneapolis community, noting that she had taken a “big step back” from organizing on a national level to focus on her community.
“ ... I think doing shit for my community is so much more important, and that’s what I’m doing now,” the activist said.
me trolling my mom made it on print!!
thank you @TeenVogue for shedding light on this pressing issue! https://t.co/76hyMhfG6u — isra hirsi (@israhirsi) October 27, 2020
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Last month, Hirsi landed a spot on Fortune’s 40 under 40 list that highlighted influential leaders in government and politics.
The 17-year-old, who co-founded the U.S. Youth Climate Strike, was recognized for her activism surrounding racial and environmental justice.
Hirsi regularly uses Twitter and TikTok as platforms to discuss politics, systemic racism and social justice issues. She told NBC News last year that she had never labeled herself as an activist growing up but that she had always had the mentality of “wanting to change the world.”
“I grew up going to protests as a kid,” Hirsi said, noting that the first protest she remembers going to was when she was 6 years old.
Like Hirsi, Omar similarly uses her Twitter account as a platform to discuss progressive policies and often to denounce racist attacks — like from President Donald Trump, who regularly spews racist remarks about Omar.
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On Monday, Omar retweeted an interview she did with NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock, in which she addressed Trump, who referred to her and Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) as “AOC plus three” during the final presidential debate last week.
“The president has really carried himself in the most trashiest and disturbing ways,” Omar said. She later added, “You are having a hard time distinguishing him from a pro wrestler in the ring, in the ways in which he speaks. It’s quite disrespectful to the office that he holds and the kind of leader that he is supposed to be ... ”
On Tuesday, Pressley celebrated Omar and Hirsi’s Teen Vogue cover, writing on Twitter that they are the mother-daughter duo “the movement deserves.”
I love the truthtelling "directness" of @IlhanMN & @israhirsi, their vision for a just world, & the urgency with which they pursue it. They are the mother daughter duo in good the movement deserves & our TL needs. Stunning @TeenVogue. https://t.co/XiDl1cDoyx — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) October 27, 2020