thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Single At 38, I Decided I Wanted Kids. I Wasn’t Prepared For What I’d Have To Do.

I always assumed that once I made the decision to start a family , and put myself in the stirrups , that science and my body would just do their jobs .
After all , I come from a long line of reproductively gifted people .
My mom is one of 12 , and my father is one of eight .
Hell , I am the oldest of five .
My family makes babies .
That ’ s what we do .
My mom once joked she could get pregnant sitting next to a man ’ s hat .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very uncomfortable ultrasound and some lackluster bloodwork , I could be sitting on that man ’ s hat , in my birthday suit , on ovulation day , and I still might not get pregnant .
I knew that once I decided to begin a family that there would be battles to fight .
For starters , I was unattached with no plans or desires to get married .
To have a baby , I was going to have to mix and mingle with a vial of sperm provided by an anonymous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal-breaker .
Secondly , I was a bit riper on the vine than science would like ; I was 38 , and at my age , becoming pregnant can be a bit more difficult .
I didn ’ t procrastinate having kids , I just kept thinking I had time .
I thought seriously about becoming a mom at 35 , but at that point , even I was a little wary of the unconventionality of it all .
Getting married was never a goal , but I thought it was a possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rush to jump on the turkey baster .
Then suddenly I was 38 .
I wasn ’ t married , I didn ’ t have a partner and I also knew , more than anything , I wanted to have a kid .
Never getting married would not be a life regret for me .
Not trying to have my own child would .
It was exciting and puke-on-my-shoes frightening once I decided to begin the whole process .
My age was a motivator , but it was also one of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t really faze me , maybe it should have , but honestly I didn ’ t feel so alone .
For the most part , my family and friends were really supportive .
I was living in Indianapolis , near most of my extended family , while my immediate family was still living the tropical dream in South Florida .
There were a few folks who gave me side-eye and encouraged me to get a cat .
Then there was my 95-year-old grandmother , who wanted me to run to the nearest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girl baby .
Truth be told , I looked into private adoption , and it isn ’ t cheaper than in vitro fertilization .
I was also worried about being passed over by birth mothers because of not having a partner .
Adoption was never off the table , and I think any parent/caregiver route is admirable , but for me , I knew in my heart that I really wanted to birth my child , and that ’ s the route I wanted to try before relying on the kindness and generosity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my resolve and supported by my people .
On the financial side , I wasn ’ t rich , but I was resourceful .
Fertility care is not covered by insurance in Indiana , so I had to dip into my savings and take on a part-time job as an Uber driver to make treatment financially possible .
With my support system and my small stash of cash , I was ready to face my battles with everything I had .
What I wasn ’ t prepared for was a blood test that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before it even began .
I hadn ’ t even passed go yet , and I felt like a fertility failure .
I come from the big , fat , fertile family .
I honestly thought fertility was inherited , and like the thousands of baby-making Catholics that came before me , that I would just fire out kids , age be damned .
Unfortunately for me , fertility is not inherited .
For the first time in my life , I felt like my body and I were at odds .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me or challenge me .
But there I was , an eggless reject with a jerk for a body .
So I tried and I failed .
I tried some more and I failed some more .
I underwent seven inseminations and was empty ― in every way possible .
An insemination is the least invasive method in fertility care , and though it ’ s not physically grueling , it ’ s emotionally taxing .
I had to purchase sperm from a federally regulated cryobank for about $ 740 , which includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pee stick to tell me it ’ s showtime .
Then I had to rush to a clinic , where they thread a catheter locked and loaded into my uterus , and then I had the pleasure of waiting for two weeks to take a pass-fail pregnancy test .
Each time it failed , I had to wait for my period to start , and then the whole thing starts over again .
It ’ s a vicious cycle that comes with a ton of effort and , for me , a whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my heart , empty in my wallet for paying for treatment , empty where it really mattered .
Finally , my fertility specialist told me my best chance to conceive was through IVF , but IVF is expensive and not a guarantee .
One round of treatment in Indianapolis would cost me a fortune .
I was still committed to becoming a mother , but after seven insemination attempts , I was starting to get the feeling that I was being priced out of a life I really wanted .
If my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on biologically having my own child , I could find a way to accept that and happily pursue other options if I knew I had tried everything I could .
Stopping because of money didn ’ t feel like trying everything , so I started researching affordable fertility clinics out of state and came across one in Syracuse , New York , called CNY Fertility .
There , they offered IVF treatment at $ 3,900 a cycle , a huge difference from the quote I had received in Indianapolis .
A lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially were now beginning to have their doubts .
I could feel their pity , and I could see from their faces that they thought I was beating a dead horse .
It hurt because it felt like they didn ’ t believe in me , and it hurt because a part of me thought they were right .
As committed as I was to my last try , I was equally embarrassed and ashamed .
I hated being pitied , I hated feeling like the fool who couldn ’ t see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , I hated surrender , too .

The author and her son. Courtesy of Angela Hatem
I always assumed that once I made the decision to start a family, and put myself in the stirrups, that science and my body would just do their jobs. After all, I come from a long line of reproductively gifted people. My mom is one of 12, and my father is one of eight. Hell, I am the oldest of five. My family makes babies. That’s what we do. My mom once joked she could get pregnant sitting next to a man’s hat. As I found out, by way of a very uncomfortable ultrasound and some lackluster bloodwork, I could be sitting on that man’s hat, in my birthday suit, on ovulation day, and I still might not get pregnant.
I knew that once I decided to begin a family that there would be battles to fight. For starters, I was unattached with no plans or desires to get married. To have a baby, I was going to have to mix and mingle with a vial of sperm provided by an anonymous donor. Tricky, but not a deal-breaker. Secondly, I was a bit riper on the vine than science would like; I was 38, and at my age, becoming pregnant can be a bit more difficult.
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I didn’t procrastinate having kids, I just kept thinking I had time. I thought seriously about becoming a mom at 35, but at that point, even I was a little wary of the unconventionality of it all. Getting married was never a goal, but I thought it was a possibility, so I didn’t want to rush to jump on the turkey baster. Then suddenly I was 38. I wasn’t married, I didn’t have a partner and I also knew, more than anything, I wanted to have a kid. Never getting married would not be a life regret for me. Not trying to have my own child would.
So four years ago, when I was 38, I decided it was my window. That the time had come to put my money where my uterus is.
“Suddenly I was 38. I wasn’t married, I didn’t have a partner and I also knew, more than anything, I wanted to have a kid.”
It was exciting and puke-on-my-shoes frightening once I decided to begin the whole process. My age was a motivator, but it was also one of my biggest fears. My single life didn’t really faze me, maybe it should have, but honestly I didn’t feel so alone. For the most part, my family and friends were really supportive. I was living in Indianapolis, near most of my extended family, while my immediate family was still living the tropical dream in South Florida. There were a few folks who gave me side-eye and encouraged me to get a cat.
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Then there was my 95-year-old grandmother, who wanted me to run to the nearest Catholic orphanage and grab a cute little girl baby. Truth be told, I looked into private adoption, and it isn’t cheaper than in vitro fertilization. I was also worried about being passed over by birth mothers because of not having a partner. Adoption was never off the table, and I think any parent/caregiver route is admirable, but for me, I knew in my heart that I really wanted to birth my child, and that’s the route I wanted to try before relying on the kindness and generosity of others.
I was armed with my resolve and supported by my people. On the financial side, I wasn’t rich, but I was resourceful. Fertility care is not covered by insurance in Indiana, so I had to dip into my savings and take on a part-time job as an Uber driver to make treatment financially possible. With my support system and my small stash of cash, I was ready to face my battles with everything I had. What I wasn’t prepared for was a blood test that told me my fight might be over before it even began.
My bloodwork revealed that I had low ovarian reserve. This is science-speak for “there weren’t a bunch of eggs left in my basket.” My levels weren’t just low for my age, they were low for a woman years older than me.
I hadn’t even passed go yet, and I felt like a fertility failure. I come from the big, fat, fertile family. I honestly thought fertility was inherited, and like the thousands of baby-making Catholics that came before me, that I would just fire out kids, age be damned. Unfortunately for me, fertility is not inherited. For the first time in my life, I felt like my body and I were at odds. I had never known it to turn against me or challenge me. But there I was, an eggless reject with a jerk for a body.
“What I wasn’t prepared for was a blood test that told me my fight might be over before it even began.”
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I was scared and shaken, but I was still eligible to compete. My doctor tried to build me back up with inspiring fertility slogans: “Quality not quantity” and “It only takes one.” I chose to suspend my disbelief and actively believe. Not because I was convinced, but because the alternative might break me.
So I tried and I failed. I tried some more and I failed some more. I underwent seven inseminations and was empty ― in every way possible. An insemination is the least invasive method in fertility care, and though it’s not physically grueling, it’s emotionally taxing. I had to purchase sperm from a federally regulated cryobank for about $740, which includes shipping, then wait for an ovulation pee stick to tell me it’s showtime. Then I had to rush to a clinic, where they thread a catheter locked and loaded into my uterus, and then I had the pleasure of waiting for two weeks to take a pass-fail pregnancy test.
Each time it failed, I had to wait for my period to start, and then the whole thing starts over again. It’s a vicious cycle that comes with a ton of effort and, for me, a whole lot of emptiness. I was empty in my heart, empty in my wallet for paying for treatment, empty where it really mattered.
Finally, my fertility specialist told me my best chance to conceive was through IVF, but IVF is expensive and not a guarantee. One round of treatment in Indianapolis would cost me a fortune. I was still committed to becoming a mother, but after seven insemination attempts, I was starting to get the feeling that I was being priced out of a life I really wanted.
“I was still committed to becoming a mother, but after seven insemination attempts, I was starting to get the feeling that I was being priced out of a life I really wanted.”
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If my body was going to shoot me down on biologically having my own child, I could find a way to accept that and happily pursue other options if I knew I had tried everything I could. Stopping because of money didn’t feel like trying everything, so I started researching affordable fertility clinics out of state and came across one in Syracuse, New York, called CNY Fertility. There, they offered IVF treatment at $3,900 a cycle, a huge difference from the quote I had received in Indianapolis.
So I got in my car and I took my measly basket of eggs to New York for IVF.
At CNY, I underwent two failed IVF attempts. At this point, I was 39 and, much like my ovarian reserve, my hope was low. I was doing the most aggressive thing science could do for a woman like me, and it was not working. Correction, I was failing.
I was a hard worker who rarely surrendered. Failure didn’t seem to make sense. I was doing the work and going the extra mile. Hell, I was going 600-plus extra miles, and I was still coming up short. I was fighting as hard as I could, but I didn’t have much fight or money left in me.
I made a promise to myself that I would give this one more chance. One more round of IVF before I would move on to a different way to become a mother.
A lot of my people who had been so supportive initially were now beginning to have their doubts. I could feel their pity, and I could see from their faces that they thought I was beating a dead horse. It hurt because it felt like they didn’t believe in me, and it hurt because a part of me thought they were right. As committed as I was to my last try, I was equally embarrassed and ashamed. I hated being pitied, I hated feeling like the fool who couldn’t see the writing on the wall. Lucky for me, I hated surrender, too.
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“As committed as I was to my last try, I was equally embarrassed and ashamed. I hated being pitied, I hated feeling like the fool who couldn’t see the writing on the wall.”
So I kept going for what would be the last time, and I came out with a positive pregnancy test.
For 10 minutes after that gorgeous plus sign appeared, I was filled with a happiness I had never known. It was the type of euphoria reserved for Disney princesses who get their houses cleaned and their dresses made by cartoon bluebirds.
Then the twelfth minute struck, and that’s when the terror and “what ifs” started to roll in. I had spent the better part of two years being clobbered by bad news. You don’t just get over that in a heartbeat.
It’s been almost four years since my fertility journey began and I was told I had low ovarian reserve. It wasn’t an easy conception, but my son was worth the two years of trying and all the pain, tears, energy and money.
Have a compelling first-person story or experience you want to share? Send your story description to pitch@huffpost.com.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Joe Biden Nears Final Decision On Running Mate

The campaign hasn ’ t finalized a date for naming a running mate , but three people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans said a public announcement likely wouldn ’ t happen before the week of Aug. 10 .
That ’ s one week before Democrats will hold their convention to officially nominate Biden as their presidential nominee .
Biden said in May that he hoped to name his pick around Aug. 1 and told reporters this week that he would “ have a choice in the first week of August.
” He notably stopped short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice .
Running mates are often announced on the eve of a convention .
As Biden prepares to make his choice , a committee established to vet running mates has provided him with briefing materials .
Biden will likely soon begin one-on-one conversations with those under consideration , which could be the most consequential part of the process for a presidential candidate who values personal connections .
The selection amounts to the most significant choice Biden has confronted in his nearly five-decade political career .
He has pledged to select a woman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black woman to compete on a presidential ticket .
On Friday , more than 60 Black clergy leaders called on Biden in an open letter to pick a Black woman as his running mate , saying the U.S. is facing a “ moment of racial reckoning ” that can not be ignored .
“ Too much is at stake for our community and we believe having a Black woman vice presidential candidate is the clearest path to the victory in November that our country needs to move forward , ” said Rev .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church in Silver Spring , Maryland , who signed the letter .
“ There will be a resistance to your ambition .
There will be people who say to you : ‘ You are out of your lane , ’ ” she said during the digital summit .
“ They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be.
” Biden allies say his wife , Jill , and sister , Valerie Biden Owens , are likely to play a key role in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Biden ’ s biggest political decisions throughout his career .
Jill Biden has held online campaign events and fundraisers with virtually all the potential contenders in recent weeks , as has Biden himself , effectively offering the contenders a try-out opportunity with the presumptive Democratic nominee .
“ The Church of Scientology I know has made a difference , because your creed is a universal creed and one that speaks to all people everywhere , ” Bass said of an organization that has come under criticism following allegations of criminal activity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Back in 2010 , I attended the event knowing I was going to address a group of people with beliefs very different than my own , and spoke briefly about things I think most of us agree with , and on those things — respect for different views , equality , and fighting oppression — my views have not changed , ” she said .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — As Joe Biden nears the announcement of his vice presidential choice, the top contenders and their advocates are making final appeals.
The campaign hasn’t finalized a date for naming a running mate, but three people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans said a public announcement likely wouldn’t happen before the week of Aug. 10. That’s one week before Democrats will hold their convention to officially nominate Biden as their presidential nominee.
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Biden said in May that he hoped to name his pick around Aug. 1 and told reporters this week that he would “have a choice in the first week of August.” He notably stopped short of saying when he would announce that choice.
Running mates are often announced on the eve of a convention. As Biden prepares to make his choice, a committee established to vet running mates has provided him with briefing materials. Biden will likely soon begin one-on-one conversations with those under consideration, which could be the most consequential part of the process for a presidential candidate who values personal connections.
The leading contenders include California Sen. Kamala Harris, California Rep. Karen Bass and Obama national security adviser Susan Rice. The deliberations remain fluid, however, and the campaign has reviewed nearly a dozen possible running mates.
Representatives for Biden declined to comment.
The selection amounts to the most significant choice Biden has confronted in his nearly five-decade political career. He has pledged to select a woman and is facing calls to choose the first Black woman to compete on a presidential ticket.
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On Friday, more than 60 Black clergy leaders called on Biden in an open letter to pick a Black woman as his running mate, saying the U.S. is facing a “moment of racial reckoning” that cannot be ignored.
“Too much is at stake for our community and we believe having a Black woman vice presidential candidate is the clearest path to the victory in November that our country needs to move forward,” said Rev. Matthew Watley, of Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, who signed the letter.
As a decision looms, the camps are jockeying for position.
Harris’ allies mobilized this week after Politico reported that the co-chair of the vetting committee, former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, was concerned about Harris’ tough debate stage performance and that she hasn’t expressed regret.
Several California elected officials and labor leaders initiated a call with the vetting team to emphasize that Harris has strong support among labor and political leaders in her home state. The call was organized by Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis.
“A group of us really felt we needed to organize and speak out and correct the record because she has tremendous support,” Kounalakis said.
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They also pushed back against the idea that Harris wouldn’t be a loyal partner, a sentiment echoed by a number of prominent donors.
“By all objective standards, Kamala Harris should be the overwhelming favorite for the job,” said Michael Kempner, a major Democratic donor based in New York.
Harris, while not directly addressing her vice presidential prospects, told a group of young Black women Friday that it’s common for Black women to face resistance when they exercise their power.
“There will be a resistance to your ambition. There will be people who say to you: ‘You are out of your lane,’” she said during the digital summit. “They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be.”
Biden allies say his wife, Jill, and sister, Valerie Biden Owens, are likely to play a key role in the decision, as they have with many of Biden’s biggest political decisions throughout his career. Jill Biden has held online campaign events and fundraisers with virtually all the potential contenders in recent weeks, as has Biden himself, effectively offering the contenders a try-out opportunity with the presumptive Democratic nominee.
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On Thursday night, Bass joined Biden for a virtual fundraiser that raked in $2.2 million. She has also taken steps to build her national profile, including providing interviews to multiple outlets over the past week.
But she’s facing growing scrutiny over past remarks. A video surfaced of a 2010 speech in which she praised Scientology during an opening ceremony for a church facility in Los Angeles.
“The Church of Scientology I know has made a difference, because your creed is a universal creed and one that speaks to all people everywhere,” Bass said of an organization that has come under criticism following allegations of criminal activity and mistreatment of members and employees.
She tweeted a statement on Saturday noting that she attends First New Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in South Los Angeles.
“Back in 2010, I attended the event knowing I was going to address a group of people with beliefs very different than my own, and spoke briefly about things I think most of us agree with, and on those things — respect for different views, equality, and fighting oppression — my views have not changed,” she said.
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Bass also faced criticism over a 2016 statement in which she said the death of former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was “a great loss to the people of Cuba.”
Some Democrats have expressed concern that the comment could hurt the party with Hispanic voters in the critical swing state of Florida.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, seized on that point Saturday.
“If, God forbid, Joe Biden is elected president and Congresswoman Bass becomes vice president, she’ll be the highest-ranking Castro sympathizer in the history of the United States government,” Rubio said.
Bass has said she better understands the sensitivity of her comment after speaking with Florida colleagues, and she believes she can still reach out to Cuban voters in the state, where the coronavirus is a top issue.
___
Associated Press writers Julie Pace, Kevin Freking and Brian Slodysko in Washington, Steve Peoples in New York, Bill Barrow in Atlanta and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, Calif., contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Alexander Vindman Takes Parting Shot At Donald Trump In Military Retirement Op-Ed

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman on Saturday took aim at President Donald Trump in an op-ed announcing his retirement from the military , in which he likened the Trump administration to an authoritarian regime .
In a column for The Washington Post , Vindman explained that he ’ d “ made the difficult decision to retire ” after 21 years service “ because a campaign of bullying , intimidation and retaliation by President Trump and his allies forever limited the progression of my military career.
” Vindman , a Purple Heart recipient , was a key witness in the impeachment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was accused of pressuring Ukraine ’ s president to dig up dirt on Democratic rival Joe Biden in exchange for withheld military aid .
But he acknowledged he was “ not alone in this ignominious fate , ” saying his circumstances were “ little different from those of dozens of other lifelong public servants who have left this administration with their integrity intact but their careers irreparably harmed.
” America has thrived because citizens have been willing to contribute their voices and shed their blood to challenge injustice ...
It is in keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this moment , I feel the burden to advocate for my values and an enormous urgency to act .
https : //t.co/6w5Sq1zB86 — Alexander S. Vindman ( @ AVindman ) August 1 , 2020 “ At no point in my career or life have I felt our nation ’ s values under greater threat and in more peril than at this moment , ” Vindman warned .
“ Our national government during the past few years has been more reminiscent of the authoritarian regime my family fled more than 40 years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life to serving.
” Vindman also criticized Trump ’ s disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent collapse of the economy .
But he ended on an optimistic note , describing himself as hopeful “ for the future for both my family and for our nation ” and vowing to “ continue to defend my nation.
” “ Impeachment exposed Trump ’ s corruption , but the confluence of a pandemic , a financial crisis and the stoking of societal divisions has roused the soul of the American people , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite everything that has happened , I continue to believe in the American Dream , ” Vindman concluded .
“ I believe that in America , right matters .
I want to help ensure that right matters for all Americans .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman on Saturday took aim at President Donald Trump in an op-ed announcing his retirement from the military, in which he likened the Trump administration to an authoritarian regime.
In a column for The Washington Post, Vindman explained that he’d “made the difficult decision to retire” after 21 years service “because a campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation by President Trump and his allies forever limited the progression of my military career.”
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Vindman, a Purple Heart recipient, was a key witness in the impeachment of Trump over the Ukraine scandal. Trump was accused of pressuring Ukraine’s president to dig up dirt on Democratic rival Joe Biden in exchange for withheld military aid.
Trump fired Vindman, a Ukrainian American, from the National Security Council in February in retaliation for his testimony.
The whole experience was “painful,” Vindman wrote in the editorial.
But he acknowledged he was “not alone in this ignominious fate,” saying his circumstances were “little different from those of dozens of other lifelong public servants who have left this administration with their integrity intact but their careers irreparably harmed.”
America has thrived because citizens have been willing to contribute their voices and shed their blood to challenge injustice... It is in keeping with that history of service that, at this moment, I feel the burden to advocate for my values and an enormous urgency to act. https://t.co/6w5Sq1zB86 — Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) August 1, 2020
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“At no point in my career or life have I felt our nation’s values under greater threat and in more peril than at this moment,” Vindman warned. “Our national government during the past few years has been more reminiscent of the authoritarian regime my family fled more than 40 years ago than the country I have devoted my life to serving.”
Vindman also criticized Trump’s disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent collapse of the economy.
But he ended on an optimistic note, describing himself as hopeful “for the future for both my family and for our nation” and vowing to “continue to defend my nation.”
“Impeachment exposed Trump’s corruption, but the confluence of a pandemic, a financial crisis and the stoking of societal divisions has roused the soul of the American people,” he said.
“To this day, despite everything that has happened, I continue to believe in the American Dream,” Vindman concluded. “I believe that in America, right matters. I want to help ensure that right matters for all Americans.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--North Dakota GOP's Platform Is So Anti-LGBTQ Nobody Will Say Who Wrote It

Chris Maddaloni via Getty Images North Dakota Republican Party Chair Rick Berg said he 's sorry that his party 's 2020 platform includes incredibly offensive language about LGBTQ people .
Also , did n't he just vote to approve this language ?
But in a bizarre twist , after it started getting press attention last week , the same GOP officials who voted on the homophobic language are now condemning it and saying they don ’ t know who wrote it or where it came from .
The anti-LGBTQ section of the platform , referred to as Resolution 31 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its claims about queer people .
You won ’ t find it on the party ’ s website anymore because the party pulled it down .
But a reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead nabbed a copy of the platform before it disappeared .
“ SOGI bills grant protection to voyeurs who wish to prey on members of the opposite sex.
” “ SOGI laws empower those practicing LGBT behaviors to assume positions of mentorships of minors often over objections of parents influencing their emotions and thereby recruiting for their lifestyles.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made uncomfortable as a result of their gender dysphoria by compromising the potential comfort and safety of an untold number of innocent individuals.
” “ Proponents of SOGI bills routinely advance the false narrative that they ‘ just want the same rights and protections [ you ] already have.
’ Every right and protection enshrined in statute applies to every North Dakotan equally .
There is no legal remedy against suffering discrimination as a result of the heterosexuality of any given subject.
” “ Many LGBT practices are unhealthy and dangerous , sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society at large.
” More than 700 state GOP delegates voted on this language in April , with the full platform approved 621-139 by a mail-in vote because of the coronavirus pandemic .
It was circulated among all levels of Republican leadership in North Dakota , including the governor , the GOP party chair , state legislators and the North Dakota congressional delegation .
And yet , nobody raised concerns with it until last week , when it started getting press attention .
Now it ’ s all apologies and an apparent mystery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota Republican Party Chair Rick Berg said Monday that he was sorry about Resolution 31 and directed the party ’ s executive committee to vote to disavow it .
But he didn ’ t say who put it in the platform in the first place .
“ As leaders of the State Party , we would like to offer a sincere apology for the inclusion of these unacceptable , hurtful sentiments as part of our official business , ” Berg said in a statement .
The party added in a statement that participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 resolutions but that delegates did not consider each resolution individually for a vote .
Asked if Berg reviewed his party ’ s platform before voting on it in April and why the platform wasn ’ t on the party ’ s website anymore , North Dakota Republican Party executive director Corby Kemmer told HuffPost the group had no further comment beyond the official statement .
Republican Gov .
Doug Burgum recently criticized the platform ’ s anti-LGBTQ language , calling it “ hurtful and divisive.
” And the state ’ s only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its GOP senators , John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer , said they were disappointed by the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric , The Forum reported .
They all voted on the platform in April .
A Burgum spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on whether the governor or his staff read the platform before voting on it and how Resolution 31 ended up in it .
State Rep. Josh Boschee , who is the House Democratic leader and the only openly LGBTQ member of the North Dakota legislature , said the current situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language that they just voted to approve is as bonkers as it sounds .
“ It ’ s even more insane than it usually is here , ” Boschee told HuffPost .
“ No one seems to know where it came from .
I grew up Catholic , so we ’ d call it lying.
” He said it ’ s not hard to see who helped put that language together : The GOP ’ s resolutions committee .
Each of the state ’ s 47 legislative districts has a representative in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in discussions on Resolution 31 , he said .
Boschee gave credit to the governor for being a “ good partner ” on LGBTQ issues and said he ’ s been receptive to meeting with community LGBTQ groups .
But Boschee said the governor needs to do a lot more work within his party and that he ’ s been telling some of his GOP colleagues in the state House who are friends that they ’ re going to be tied to their party ’ s hateful anti-LGBTQ platform until someone confesses to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say I want nothing to do with this , ” Boschee said .
“ It ’ s time to do the hard work of standing up for LGBTQ families .
You need to spend time listening to LGBTQ North Dakotans about what their reality is and how this clearly does not help them and their image of North Dakota .
”

North Dakota Republican Party Chair Rick Berg said he's sorry that his party's 2020 platform includes incredibly offensive language about LGBTQ people. Also, didn't he just vote to approve this language? Chris Maddaloni via Getty Images
WASHINGTON ― The North Dakota Republican Party voted this spring to approve its 2020 platform and included language calling LGBTQ people unhealthy, dangerous, manipulative to children and “voyeurs who wish to prey on members of the opposite sex.”
But in a bizarre twist, after it started getting press attention last week, the same GOP officials who voted on the homophobic language are now condemning it and saying they don’t know who wrote it or where it came from.
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The anti-LGBTQ section of the platform, referred to as Resolution 31, is as offensive as it is outdated in its claims about queer people. You won’t find it on the party’s website anymore because the party pulled it down. But a reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead nabbed a copy of the platform before it disappeared.
Resolution 31 is titled “In Opposition to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Bills,” which it refers to as “SOGI bills.” It includes statements such as this:
“SOGI bills grant protection to voyeurs who wish to prey on members of the opposite sex.” “SOGI laws empower those practicing LGBT behaviors to assume positions of mentorships of minors often over objections of parents influencing their emotions and thereby recruiting for their lifestyles.” “SOGI bills seek to pacify those made uncomfortable as a result of their gender dysphoria by compromising the potential comfort and safety of an untold number of innocent individuals.” “Proponents of SOGI bills routinely advance the false narrative that they ‘just want the same rights and protections [you] already have.’ Every right and protection enshrined in statute applies to every North Dakotan equally. There is no legal remedy against suffering discrimination as a result of the heterosexuality of any given subject.” “Many LGBT practices are unhealthy and dangerous, sometimes endangering or shortening life and sometimes infecting society at large.”
The last line reads, “Therefore, be it resolved: The Republican Party of North Dakota opposes the passage of legislation which adds sexual orientation and gender identity to our Century code as protected classes.”
More than 700 state GOP delegates voted on this language in April, with the full platform approved 621-139 by a mail-in vote because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was circulated among all levels of Republican leadership in North Dakota, including the governor, the GOP party chair, state legislators and the North Dakota congressional delegation. And yet, nobody raised concerns with it until last week, when it started getting press attention. Now it’s all apologies and an apparent mystery where this language came from.
North Dakota Republican Party Chair Rick Berg said Monday that he was sorry about Resolution 31 and directed the party’s executive committee to vote to disavow it. But he didn’t say who put it in the platform in the first place.
The party suggested that delegates who voted for the platform weren’t actually voting for its anti-LGBTQ section as they voted for the entire platform, not individual resolutions.
“As leaders of the State Party, we would like to offer a sincere apology for the inclusion of these unacceptable, hurtful sentiments as part of our official business,” Berg said in a statement.
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The party added in a statement that participants were asked to vote on more than 50 resolutions but that delegates did not consider each resolution individually for a vote.
Asked if Berg reviewed his party’s platform before voting on it in April and why the platform wasn’t on the party’s website anymore, North Dakota Republican Party executive director Corby Kemmer told HuffPost the group had no further comment beyond the official statement.
Republican Gov. Doug Burgum recently criticized the platform’s anti-LGBTQ language, calling it “hurtful and divisive.” And the state’s only congressional representative, Kelly Armstrong, and its GOP senators, John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, said they were disappointed by the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, The Forum reported. They all voted on the platform in April.
A Burgum spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on whether the governor or his staff read the platform before voting on it and how Resolution 31 ended up in it.
State Rep. Josh Boschee, who is the House Democratic leader and the only openly LGBTQ member of the North Dakota legislature, said the current situation of GOP officials scrambling to rebuke homophobic language that they just voted to approve is as bonkers as it sounds.
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“It’s even more insane than it usually is here,” Boschee told HuffPost. “No one seems to know where it came from. I grew up Catholic, so we’d call it lying.”
He mocked Republicans for being “afraid of their own shadow” on Twitter.
Now it’s getting ridiculous! None of these cowards will fess up to being the responsible person(s) or knowing who amended and with a majority vote of a 50-person committee approved updated, harmful and bigoted language in 2018. @NDGOP is clearly afraid of their own shadow! https://t.co/7b5OBCBLhD — Joshua Boschee (@JoshBoschee) July 29, 2020
He said it’s not hard to see who helped put that language together: The GOP’s resolutions committee. Each of the state’s 47 legislative districts has a representative in that committee, and they were all involved in discussions on Resolution 31, he said.
Republican state Rep. Mike Lefor, the chair of the resolutions committee, did not respond to a request for comment about the origins of the resolution.
Boschee gave credit to the governor for being a “good partner” on LGBTQ issues and said he’s been receptive to meeting with community LGBTQ groups. But Boschee said the governor needs to do a lot more work within his party and that he’s been telling some of his GOP colleagues in the state House who are friends that they’re going to be tied to their party’s hateful anti-LGBTQ platform until someone confesses to writing it.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Trump Urges Voters To Use Absentee Ballots, Which Are, Uh, Mailed In

After railing about “ fraudulent ” mail-in ballots without any basis in fact , President Donald Trump bizarrely urged Americans on Friday to use absentee ballots — which are mailed in .
“ People should go and they should vote — or do it absentee ballot , ” he told reporters Friday , a day after he floated delaying the election .
Absentee ballots “ are great because absentee ballots you have to go through a process to get ’ em , ” Trump explained .
“ It ’ s actually a great thing , absentee ballots .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump told reporters .
Voters have to go through a process for any mail-in ballots .
Just hours earlier , Michael Steele , former head of the Republican National Committee reminded Trump that the absentee ballots he ( and many others in his administration ) cast in elections are the same mail-in ballots he insists are fraudulent .
“ Mail-in balloting , mail-in voting is legitimate .
... Every state has some form of it , ” Steele said on MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe.
” ( Check out the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) “ You know it as absentee balloting , ” Steele added .
“ I loved yesterday the president was like , ‘ Well , I love absentee balloting , just this mail-by-vote thing.
’ Mr. President , they ’ re the same thing , OK ?
Just so you understand : An absentee ballot is the same as a mail-in ballot.
” David Becker , the founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research , told CNN last month : “ You request a ballot , you get a ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , and there are protections in place .
It doesn ’ t matter whether you call it mail voting or absentee voting .
It ’ s the same thing.
” Trump insisted Thursday that “ mail-in voting ” is so fraudulent that the election should possibly be delayed .
Trump does not have the power to postpone the election .
Mail-in ballot fraud is extremely rare .
With Universal Mail-In Voting ( not Absentee Voting , which is good ) , 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the USA .
Delay the Election until people can properly , securely and safely vote ?
?
?
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) July 30 , 2020 On Friday , he claimed the election is “ fixed ” and “ rigged ” and that it will be the “ greatest election disaster in history ” — even before a single vote has been cast .
Trump ’ s proposal to delay the U.S. election has infuriated Democrats and has not been supported by Republicans .

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After railing about “fraudulent” mail-in ballots without any basis in fact, President Donald Trump bizarrely urged Americans on Friday to use absentee ballots — which are mailed in.
“People should go and they should vote — or do it absentee ballot,” he told reporters Friday, a day after he floated delaying the election.
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Absentee ballots “are great because absentee ballots you have to go through a process to get ’em,” Trump explained. “It’s actually a great thing, absentee ballots. I’m going to be voting absentee,” Trump told reporters.
Voters have to go through a process for any mail-in ballots.
Just hours earlier, Michael Steele, former head of the Republican National Committee reminded Trump that the absentee ballots he (and many others in his administration) cast in elections are the same mail-in ballots he insists are fraudulent.
“Mail-in balloting, mail-in voting is legitimate. ... Every state has some form of it,” Steele said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” (Check out the video up top at the 7:00 mark.)
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“You know it as absentee balloting,” Steele added. “I loved yesterday the president was like, ‘Well, I love absentee balloting, just this mail-by-vote thing.’ Mr. President, they’re the same thing, OK? Just so you understand: An absentee ballot is the same as a mail-in ballot.”
David Becker, the founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research, told CNN last month: “You request a ballot, you get a ballot, you vote, you send it in, and there are protections in place. It doesn’t matter whether you call it mail voting or absentee voting. It’s the same thing.”
Trump insisted Thursday that “mail-in voting” is so fraudulent that the election should possibly be delayed. Trump does not have the power to postpone the election. Mail-in ballot fraud is extremely rare.
With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote??? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2020
On Friday, he claimed the election is “fixed” and “rigged” and that it will be the “greatest election disaster in history” — even before a single vote has been cast.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Progressive Challenger Cori Bush Is Outspending Rep. Lacy Clay On TV

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Cori Bush , who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. William `` Lacy '' Clay ( D-Mo . )
in 2018 , is getting more traction this cycle .
In the last two weeks before the election , Bush booked about $ 184,000 in TV ads , compared with just over $ 118,000 from Clay , according to data obtained by HuffPost .
( Clay ’ s spending was higher , however , in the week of July 22 to 26 . )
“ From the second quarter of 2020 on , Cori Bush has built a clear advantage over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson Keenan Korth said .
“ As his fundraising ability evaporates in real time , our campaign continues to bring in thousands of small-dollar donations daily , all without taking a single dime of corporate money.
” Jeff Smith , a former state senator who now runs the Missouri Workforce Housing Association , said Bush ’ s spending edge “ indicates either that [ Clay ] underestimated her fundraising capacity and didn ’ t boost his own fundraising in response or that he has internal polling suggesting that he ’ s got a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2018 primary by nearly 20 percentage points .
But in a four-candidate field , Clay , who has been in Congress since 2001 , received less than 57 % of the vote .
This cycle , fresh off her appearance in the Netflix documentary “ Knock Down the House , ” Bush has been able to raise significantly more money .
And unlike 2018 , she enjoys the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , successful insurgent candidate Jamaal Bowman , the Democratic Socialists of America and the Sunrise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bush attributed her tax debts to the money troubles of a single mother paying off student debt and added that she regained her nursing license after paying off what she owed .
She has indeed paid herself just over $ 6,000 a month starting in April , a practice that is increasingly common among candidates who lack independent wealth .
The campaign also paid nearly $ 30,000 to a firm run by Michelle Clay ’ s husband , Anthony Alexis , for “ internet engineering.
” Alexis ’ firm , Maryland-based Evolving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good standing ” with the state of Maryland because it has failed to file annual reports with the state since it came into existence in 2017 .
That means the firm is operating illegally , Meghann Malone , a spokesperson for Maryland ’ s Department of Assessments and Taxation , told HuffPost .
Members of Congress are forbidden to hire family members to work in their Capitol Hill offices , but they are permitted to employ them on their campaigns as long as they pay them a market rate for their services and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are doing .
It ’ s fairly common for congressional campaigns to hire family members .
In the 2008 and 2010 election cycles , 82 members of Congress from both parties paid family members through their campaigns , political action committees or other arrangements , according to a 2012 report conducted by the watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington .
The report singled out Lacy Clay as one of the members of Congress who has engaged in the practice the most .
In those two cycles , he paid Michelle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Neither election was competitive : He ran unopposed in the 2008 Democratic primary and won more than 81 % of the vote in the 2010 primary .
( Missouri ’ s 1st Congressional District , which includes St. Louis and adjacent suburbs , is not competitive in the general election . )
It is hard to know for sure whether Clay is paying his sister a market rate for her services this cycle .
Her firm , located at her home address in Maryland , appears to consist of just her .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign paid her this cycle was labeled in official disclosures as having to do with fundraising and compliance .
Veteran Democratic campaign officials told HuffPost that campaigns ’ total fundraising and compliance budgets rarely exceed 10 % to 15 % of the total money they raise .
In addition to Michelle Clay ’ s services , the campaign paid the Washington-based fundraising firm Fraioli and Associates more than $ 30,000 for fundraising work and spent thousands more on fundraising venues and other expenses .
House members are expected , though not required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members from the House Ethics Committee , said Kedric Payne , a former deputy chief counsel at the Office of Congressional Ethics , who is now an ethics specialist at the Campaign Legal Center .

Cori Bush, who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. William "Lacy" Clay (D-Mo.) in 2018, is getting more traction this cycle. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Progressive challenger Cori Bush is outspending Missouri Rep. William Lacy Clay on television ads in the final weeks before their showdown in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
In the last two weeks before the election, Bush booked about $184,000 in TV ads, compared with just over $118,000 from Clay, according to data obtained by HuffPost. (Clay’s spending was higher, however, in the week of July 22 to 26.)
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In addition, Justice Democrats, a left-wing group backing Bush, has spent more than $146,000 on TV ads boosting her candidacy in the final week of the race.
Bush also outspent Clay on the radio: nearly $6,400 in ads, compared to Clay’s $4,000.
“From the second quarter of 2020 on, Cori Bush has built a clear advantage over the 20-year incumbent,” Bush campaign spokesperson Keenan Korth said. “As his fundraising ability evaporates in real time, our campaign continues to bring in thousands of small-dollar donations daily, all without taking a single dime of corporate money.”
Jeff Smith, a former state senator who now runs the Missouri Workforce Housing Association, said Bush’s spending edge “indicates either that [Clay] underestimated her fundraising capacity and didn’t boost his own fundraising in response or that he has internal polling suggesting that he’s got a comfortable lead.”
Bush’s advantage on the airwaves suggests that a primary challenge that has attracted less national attention than other contests this cycle could be every bit as competitive.
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Bush lost to Clay in the 2018 primary by nearly 20 percentage points. But in a four-candidate field, Clay, who has been in Congress since 2001, received less than 57% of the vote.
This cycle, fresh off her appearance in the Netflix documentary “Knock Down the House,” Bush has been able to raise significantly more money. And unlike 2018, she enjoys the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), successful insurgent candidate Jamaal Bowman, the Democratic Socialists of America and the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led climate action group.
“Clay has precious little money to spend because he has siphoned much of it to his sister’s law firm.” - Sean McElwee, Data for Progress
Bush has also sought to highlight her deep roots in the Black Lives Matter movement amid growing outcry over racist policing practices.
Bush’s 30-second TV spot featured images of her participating in demonstrations.
“Lacy Clay hasn’t risen to meet this moment,” she said in the ad. “He’s presided over 20 years of decline. It’s time for a change.”
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Clay responded with an ad likening Bush to President Donald Trump for paying herself a salary and falling into arrears on her state taxes, which resulted in the temporary revocation of her nursing license.
Bush attributed her tax debts to the money troubles of a single mother paying off student debt and added that she regained her nursing license after paying off what she owed. She has indeed paid herself just over $6,000 a month starting in April, a practice that is increasingly common among candidates who lack independent wealth.
Sean McElwee, a co-founder of the think tank Data for Progress, which conducts polling for Justice Democrats, blamed Clay’s reliance on family members to provide essential campaign services for his relatively modest footprint on the airwaves.
“Clay has precious little money to spend because he has siphoned much of it to his sister’s law firm,” McElwee said.
Clay’s campaign paid the law office of Michelle Clay, the congressman’s sister, $180,000 this cycle ― more than one-quarter of the entire sum Clay raised as of mid-July.
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The campaign also paid nearly $30,000 to a firm run by Michelle Clay’s husband, Anthony Alexis, for “internet engineering.” Alexis’ firm, Maryland-based Evolving International Technology, is “not in good standing” with the state of Maryland because it has failed to file annual reports with the state since it came into existence in 2017. That means the firm is operating illegally, Meghann Malone, a spokesperson for Maryland’s Department of Assessments and Taxation, told HuffPost.
Members of Congress are forbidden to hire family members to work in their Capitol Hill offices, but they are permitted to employ them on their campaigns as long as they pay them a market rate for their services and the relatives do what the campaign claims they are doing.
Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), who has represented the St. Louis area since 2001, paid the law office of his sister, Michelle Clay, $180,000 in this election cycle. Tom Williams/Getty Images
It’s fairly common for congressional campaigns to hire family members. In the 2008 and 2010 election cycles, 82 members of Congress from both parties paid family members through their campaigns, political action committees or other arrangements, according to a 2012 report conducted by the watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
The report singled out Lacy Clay as one of the members of Congress who has engaged in the practice the most. In those two cycles, he paid Michelle Clay’s firm almost $300,000. Neither election was competitive: He ran unopposed in the 2008 Democratic primary and won more than 81% of the vote in the 2010 primary. (Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, which includes St. Louis and adjacent suburbs, is not competitive in the general election.)
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It is hard to know for sure whether Clay is paying his sister a market rate for her services this cycle. Her firm, located at her home address in Maryland, appears to consist of just her. All but $3,000 of the money the campaign paid her this cycle was labeled in official disclosures as having to do with fundraising and compliance.
Veteran Democratic campaign officials told HuffPost that campaigns’ total fundraising and compliance budgets rarely exceed 10% to 15% of the total money they raise. In addition to Michelle Clay’s services, the campaign paid the Washington-based fundraising firm Fraioli and Associates more than $30,000 for fundraising work and spent thousands more on fundraising venues and other expenses.
It looks like Michelle Clay provided a broader set of services than fundraising and compliance, though. The campaign referred HuffPost to her as a spokesperson.
House members are expected, though not required, to seek approval for hiring family members from the House Ethics Committee, said Kedric Payne, a former deputy chief counsel at the Office of Congressional Ethics, who is now an ethics specialist at the Campaign Legal Center.
The staff director of the House Ethics Committee did not respond to a request for comment.
Michelle Clay did not respond to an inquiry from HuffPost about whether the Clay campaign obtained formal approval for her hiring.
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The Clay campaign referred all other requests for comment to Michelle Clay, who did not respond to them.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Carl Bernstein Names Nixon-Era Move GOPers Should Pull To Protect U.S. From Trump

Carl Bernstein on Friday urged Republican leaders to stand up to President Donald Trump by taking a page out of the GOP ’ s Nixon-era playbook .
The famed Watergate reporter noted how the top GOP leaders in Congress in 1974 “ marched to the White House ” and told then-President Richard Nixon “ he had to leave office because of what he had done to undermine the national interest through his reckless and outrageous and illegal acts ” during the Watergate scandal .
“ Something similar is needed now , ” Bernstein said on CNN ’ s “ New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous ” and “ not capable or stable enough ” to lead the country .
“ If only the Republican leadership and other Republicans would go , publicly , and say to this president , ‘ Alright , you want to stay through the rest of your term , but we ’ re going to be a caretaker until this election and you must begin to act in the national interest , and in fact , we would like to find another alternative to run as the Republican nominee , ’ ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Republicans to act , ” he later added .
“ We need them to set up a guardrail to protect us from this president ” until the 2020 election .
Bernstein said Republicans “ understand the danger of this president ” and that “ it ’ s damn past time that some of them step up and say we have to save the republic in these next few months , in this national emergency ” of the coronavirus pandemic , social unrest and the faltering economy .
It ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the United States of America from this president , ” added Bernstein , who said his comments were “ based on the demonstrable facts that those closest to the president know about him and have expressed to reporters and to the public about his incompetence , ignorance , and danger .
”

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Carl Bernstein on Friday urged Republican leaders to stand up to President Donald Trump by taking a page out of the GOP’s Nixon-era playbook.
The famed Watergate reporter noted how the top GOP leaders in Congress in 1974 “marched to the White House” and told then-President Richard Nixon “he had to leave office because of what he had done to undermine the national interest through his reckless and outrageous and illegal acts” during the Watergate scandal.
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“Something similar is needed now,” Bernstein said on CNN’s “New Day,” describing Trump as “dangerous” and “not capable or stable enough” to lead the country.
“If only the Republican leadership and other Republicans would go, publicly, and say to this president, ‘Alright, you want to stay through the rest of your term, but we’re going to be a caretaker until this election and you must begin to act in the national interest, and in fact, we would like to find another alternative to run as the Republican nominee,’” said Bernstein.
“It’s time for the Republicans to act,” he later added. “We need them to set up a guardrail to protect us from this president” until the 2020 election.
Bernstein said Republicans “understand the danger of this president” and that “it’s damn past time that some of them step up and say we have to save the republic in these next few months, in this national emergency” of the coronavirus pandemic, social unrest and the faltering economy.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Silent Republicans Get Stark Reminder Of Their Complicity In Joe Scarborough Column

Republicans who continue to defend President Donald Trump amid his myriad controversies provoked the anger of MSNBC host Joe Scarborough in his latest column for The Washington Post .
In the piece published Friday , Scarborough chastised the self-described constitutional conservatives who remained silent this week even after Trump touted the idea of delaying the 2020 election over debunked concerns about mail-in voter fraud .
Trump does not have the authority to move the vote .
Scarborough , himself a former GOP representative who ’ s been at the sharp end of Trump ’ s baseless conspiracy theories , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out after Trump claimed to have “ unlimited powers ” ; when he said there were “ very fine people on both sides ” during a white supremacist rally ; and when he repeatedly sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin .
“ I know Trump ’ s devotion to Putin deeply disturbs you , but somehow you swallow that bile and keep running cover for them both , ” Scarborough wrote .
He concluded : “ None dare call it treason , but perhaps one day they will.
” Important conversations are happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HuffPost Today !

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Republicans who continue to defend President Donald Trump amid his myriad controversies provoked the anger of MSNBC host Joe Scarborough in his latest column for The Washington Post.
In the piece published Friday, Scarborough chastised the self-described constitutional conservatives who remained silent this week even after Trump touted the idea of delaying the 2020 election over debunked concerns about mail-in voter fraud.
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Trump does not have the authority to move the vote.
Scarborough, himself a former GOP representative who’s been at the sharp end of Trump’s baseless conspiracy theories, also hammered the Republicans who failed to speak out after Trump claimed to have “unlimited powers”; when he said there were “very fine people on both sides” during a white supremacist rally; and when he repeatedly sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I know Trump’s devotion to Putin deeply disturbs you, but somehow you swallow that bile and keep running cover for them both,” Scarborough wrote.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Critics Convinced Trump Wants TikTok Banned Because Sarah Cooper Is Driving Him Nuts

There ’ s a new conspiracy theory in town : Donald Trump wants TikTok drop-kicked out of the U.S. because he can ’ t stand comedian Sarah Cooper ’ s blistering presidential impersonations .
Trump told reporters on Friday that he plans to ban the Chinese-owned short-form video-sharing app from operating in the U.S. “ As far as TikTok is concerned , we ’ re banning them from the United States , ” he declared aboard Air Force One .
The president claimed he could use emergency economic powers to ban the app — possibly as early as Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ TikTok becasue it ’ s owned by the Chinese .
But perhaps not so coincidentally many users have forged a strong anti-Trump identity .
TikTok users in June flooded the Trump campaign with fake requests for seat reservations at the president ’ s Tulsa , Oklahoma , rally , and proudly took a bow for the thousands of empty seats on the big day .
More recently , they savaged the Trump campaign app with vicious reviews to hit back at the president following his first announcement last month — after the Tulsa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut TikTok down .
Cooper was back trolling Trump on Friday over his threats against TikTok in a skit called “ How to tick tock ” on YouTube ( see the video up top ) , and “ How to tick tack ” on Twitter .
“ This wasn ’ t made with TikTok , ” Cooper smirked when reposting another skit Friday about Trump ’ s cognitive abilities .
BREAKING : Trump says he 's issuing an executive order to ban TikTok in the United States and we all know it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
— Brandon Besserer ( @ BrandonBesserer ) August 1 , 2020 Trump : Sarah Cooper is being mean to me !
I don ’ t like it when girls are mean to me !
Ban Tik Tok because girls are mean to me !
— Meredith Lee ( @ meralee727 ) August 1 , 2020 Trump wants to get rid of • The Post Office • Moms in Portland • Obama • Sarah Cooper • TikTok Trump does n't want to get rid of • The KKK • Ghislaine Maxwell • Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 , 2020 Trump can try & ban TikTok but one thing he ca n't undo is the fact that the platform helped fuel the fame & success of one particular comedian , Sarah Cooper , whose work consistently exposes the absurdity & stupidity of so much of what Trump says & does !
— MURRAY 🗽 ( @ murray_nyc ) August 1 , 2020 Y ’ all Sarah Cooper is great .
But please stop treating Trump like a joke .
First time people did that he became president .
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upsets him .
Zuckerburg is literally rolling out a competitor next month .
— Joshua Potash ( @ JoshuaPotash ) August 1 , 2020 Microsoft was rumored to be in discussions with TikTok owner ByteDance to buy the app .
But Trump reportedly made it clear he is not in favor of allowing a U.S. company to purchase it .

There’s a new conspiracy theory in town: Donald Trump wants TikTok drop-kicked out of the U.S. because he can’t stand comedian Sarah Cooper’s blistering presidential impersonations.
Trump told reporters on Friday that he plans to ban the Chinese-owned short-form video-sharing app from operating in the U.S. “As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States,” he declared aboard Air Force One. The president claimed he could use emergency economic powers to ban the app — possibly as early as Saturday.
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Trump says he has security concerns about TikTok becasue it’s owned by the Chinese. But perhaps not so coincidentally many users have forged a strong anti-Trump identity.
TikTok users in June flooded the Trump campaign with fake requests for seat reservations at the president’s Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally, and proudly took a bow for the thousands of empty seats on the big day.
More recently, they savaged the Trump campaign app with vicious reviews to hit back at the president following his first announcement last month — after the Tulsa rally — that he was going to shut TikTok down.
Cooper was back trolling Trump on Friday over his threats against TikTok in a skit called “How to tick tock” on YouTube (see the video up top), and “How to tick tack” on Twitter. “This wasn’t made with TikTok,” Cooper smirked when reposting another skit Friday about Trump’s cognitive abilities.
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How to tick tack pic.twitter.com/1Mn8nk363f — Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) July 31, 2020
That’s just what Trump doesn’t appreciate, Cooper fans responded.
Who else thinks that Donald Trump wants to ban TickTock because of Sarah Cooper’s hilarious videos? — HippieChick (@DetHippieChick) July 31, 2020
I think it's because of the TikTok kids that signed up for Tulsa rally tickets — DCPeskin 💙 🇺🇸 🌊 🏳🌈 🤦🏻♀ (@DCPeskin) July 31, 2020
BREAKING: Trump says he's issuing an executive order to ban TikTok in the United States and we all know it's because Sarah Cooper made fun of him. — Brandon Besserer (@BrandonBesserer) August 1, 2020
Trump: Sarah Cooper is being mean to me! I don’t like it when girls are mean to me! Ban Tik Tok because girls are mean to me! — Meredith Lee (@meralee727) August 1, 2020
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I don't think banning TikTok is going to slow Sarah Cooper down one bit! Nice try, Chump. 😆🤣 — Strictly BLM (@christoq) August 1, 2020
Sarah Cooper is the real reason Trump is banning TikTok https://t.co/VBXT9SBoE5 — Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) August 1, 2020
Literally the ONLY way I can listen to his voice. — BillH (@mrhortywho) July 31, 2020
Trump wants to get rid of
• The Post Office
• Moms in Portland
• Obama
• Sarah Cooper
• TikTok
Trump doesn't want to get rid of
• The KKK
• Ghislaine Maxwell
• Coronavirus — JRehling (@JRehling) August 1, 2020
Sarah Cooper now occupies the first floor of trump’s head. — Baligubadle (@Baligubadle1) August 1, 2020
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Trump can try & ban TikTok but one thing he can't undo is the fact that the platform helped fuel the fame & success of one particular comedian, Sarah Cooper, whose work consistently exposes the absurdity & stupidity of so much of what Trump says & does! — MURRAY 🗽 (@murray_nyc) August 1, 2020
Y’all Sarah Cooper is great. But please stop treating Trump like a joke. First time people did that he became president. He’s not just banning TikTok because she upsets him. Zuckerburg is literally rolling out a competitor next month. — Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) August 1, 2020
Microsoft was rumored to be in discussions with TikTok owner ByteDance to buy the app. But Trump reportedly made it clear he is not in favor of allowing a U.S. company to purchase it.
POTUS made clear he is against proposed spinoff of Tik Tok with a resale to Microsoft or another company. — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 1, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Ivanka Trump And Jared Kushner Raked In $36 Million Last Year While Serving In The White House

President Donald Trump ’ s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband , Jared Kushner , earned at least $ 36.2 million in outside income last year while serving as senior White House advisers , according to their latest financial filings , released Friday .
That ’ s an apparent bump in a combined income of about $ 7 million over 2018′s reported $ 29 million , The Washington Post noted .
Real estate and Trump Organization hotels accounted for much of the income .
The income is reported only within very broad ranges , so the first daughter and Kushner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to $ 157 million , according to the Post ’ s analysis .
They reported a combined income of at least $ 82 million in 2017 .
Though White House advisers typically divest from investments and companies , particularly when they could represent potential conflicts of interest , both Ivanka Trump and Kushner have retained multiple holdings .
Kushner , for example , held on to a part ownership of his family-run real estate business , Kushner Cos. , even though he gave up running the firm .
Ivanka Trump reported earning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump International Hotel in Washington for the third year running .
The first daughter was criticized last month for being outrageously out of touch when she suggested millions of Americans who have lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 crisis simply look elsewhere for work as part of her Find Something New Campaign .
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President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, earned at least $36.2 million in outside income last year while serving as senior White House advisers, according to their latest financial filings, released Friday.
That’s an apparent bump in a combined income of about $7 million over 2018′s reported $29 million, The Washington Post noted. Real estate and Trump Organization hotels accounted for much of the income.
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The income is reported only within very broad ranges, so the first daughter and Kushner actually reported income ranging from $36.2 million to $157 million, according to the Post’s analysis.
They reported a combined income of at least $82 million in 2017.
Though White House advisers typically divest from investments and companies, particularly when they could represent potential conflicts of interest, both Ivanka Trump and Kushner have retained multiple holdings. Kushner, for example, held on to a part ownership of his family-run real estate business, Kushner Cos., even though he gave up running the firm.
Ivanka Trump reported earning $3.9 million from her stake in the Trump International Hotel in Washington for the third year running.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Human Sperm Swim Like 'Playful Otters,' New Study Finds

A new study has revealed that everything we thought we knew about sperm movement was a lie : Those persistent little swimmers don ’ t wiggle their way towards an egg like a snake , but rather roll around like an otter .
That revelation , published Friday in the journal “ Science Advances , ” came from scientists at the University of Bristol and the National Autonomous University of Mexico , who reconstructed the movement of a sperm tail using three-dimensional microscopy .
The researchers ’ findings go against the observations of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek , the Dutch scientist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was the first to document bacteria and red blood cells .
Van Leeuwenhoek also just happens to hold the unique distinction of having studied his own sperm under a microscope in 1677 , with his erudite ejaculate evaluation published by the Royal Society of London a year later .
At the time , van Leeuwenhoek described his sperm cells as “ animalcules ” and observed that the sperm tail , “ when swimming , ... lashes with a snakelike movement , like eels in water.
” The idea of this “ snakelike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by viewing sperm from above with a two-dimensional microscope , said Hermes Gadelha of the University of Bristol ’ s Polymaths Laboratory , one of the lead scientists on the study , in a statement .
In reality , sperm wobble through the water in a manner quite unlike an eel , with their tails rotating repeatedly only on one side , like a spinning top .
“ Human sperm figured out if they roll as they swim , much like playful otters corkscrewing through water , their one-sided stoke would average itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Gadelha said , calling this corkscrew method of movement “ a swimming technique to compensate for their lop-sidedness.
” Gadelha added that the “ otter-like spinning ” of sperm might seem unusual but holds an inner complexity reminiscent of the planets .
“ The sperm head spins at the same time that the sperm tail rotates around the swimming direction .
This is known in physics as precession , much like when the orbits of Earth and Mars precess around the sun.
” Alberto Darszon of the National Autonomous University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolutionize our understanding of sperm motility and its impact on natural fertilization , ” potentially providing new insight into how sperm swimming affects fertilization .
He said the finding shows that there is still much misunderstood about the human body .
“ Sperm are very cheeky little creatures , ” Gadelha told CNN .
“ Our new research using 3D microscopy shows that we have all been victims of a sperm deception .
”

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A new study has revealed that everything we thought we knew about sperm movement was a lie: Those persistent little swimmers don’t wiggle their way towards an egg like a snake, but rather roll around like an otter.
That revelation, published Friday in the journal “Science Advances,” came from scientists at the University of Bristol and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, who reconstructed the movement of a sperm tail using three-dimensional microscopy.
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The researchers’ findings go against the observations of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the Dutch scientist often known as the father of microbiology who was the first to document bacteria and red blood cells.
Van Leeuwenhoek also just happens to hold the unique distinction of having studied his own sperm under a microscope in 1677, with his erudite ejaculate evaluation published by the Royal Society of London a year later. At the time, van Leeuwenhoek described his sperm cells as “animalcules” and observed that the sperm tail, “when swimming, ... lashes with a snakelike movement, like eels in water.”
The idea of this “snakelike movement” is an optical illusion caused by viewing sperm from above with a two-dimensional microscope, said Hermes Gadelha of the University of Bristol’s Polymaths Laboratory, one of the lead scientists on the study, in a statement. In reality, sperm wobble through the water in a manner quite unlike an eel, with their tails rotating repeatedly only on one side, like a spinning top.
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“Human sperm figured out if they roll as they swim, much like playful otters corkscrewing through water, their one-sided stoke would average itself out, and they would swim forwards,” Gadelha said, calling this corkscrew method of movement “a swimming technique to compensate for their lop-sidedness.”
Gadelha added that the “otter-like spinning” of sperm might seem unusual but holds an inner complexity reminiscent of the planets. “The sperm head spins at the same time that the sperm tail rotates around the swimming direction. This is known in physics as precession, much like when the orbits of Earth and Mars precess around the sun.”
Alberto Darszon of the National Autonomous University of Mexico said that the discovery will “revolutionize our understanding of sperm motility and its impact on natural fertilization,” potentially providing new insight into how sperm swimming affects fertilization. He said the finding shows that there is still much misunderstood about the human body.
“Sperm are very cheeky little creatures,” Gadelha told CNN. “Our new research using 3D microscopy shows that we have all been victims of a sperm deception.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Rep. Karen Bass Defends Past Remarks Praising Scientology

Rep. Karen Bass ( D-Calif. ) , one of the top candidates under consideration to become Joe Biden ’ s running mate , has spoken up in defense of remarks she made a decade ago praising the Church of Scientology .
Conservative news outlet The Daily Caller surfaced a video of Bass ’ comments on Friday .
In the clip , Bass — who was then the speaker of the California State Assembly — addressed congregants at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a renovated Scientology church in Los Angeles .
She lauded the church and its founder , L. Ron Hubbard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ The Church of Scientology , I know , has made a difference , because your creed is a universal creed and one that speaks to all people everywhere .
That is why the words are exciting of your Founder L. Ron Hubbard , in the creed of the Church of Scientology : That all people of whatever race , color or creed are created with equal rights.
” Karen Bass in 2010 at a ribbon-cutting for a Scientology church : `` That is why the words are exciting of your Founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scientology I know has made a difference , because your creed is a universal creed and one that speaks to all people everywhere '' pic.twitter.com/EghkCwqHi6 — Alex Thompson ( @ AlxThomp ) July 31 , 2020 The Church of Scientology has been accused by former members of abuse , human trafficking , forced labor and intimidation .
Though most of these allegations have surfaced in more recent years , some ex-members had already begun to speak out prior to Bass ’ remarks at the California church .
In her statement , Bass said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she would be addressing a “ group of people with beliefs very different than my own.
” Her intention , she said , had been to touch on “ an area of agreement in their beliefs — where all people , of whatever race , color , or creed are created with equal rights.
” Since her speech , “ published first-hand accounts in books , interviews and documentaries ” have exposed the church and “ everyone is now aware of the allegations against Scientology , ” Bass said .
The congresswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address had focused on “ things I think most of us agree with ... respect for different views , equality and fighting oppression.
” With regards to those values , she said , “ my views have not changed.
” Bass is reportedly among the top three contenders to become Biden ’ s candidate for vice president .
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is also considering Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) and Susan Rice , a former national security advisor under President Barack Obama , for the job , CNN reported .

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Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), one of the top candidates under consideration to become Joe Biden’s running mate, has spoken up in defense of remarks she made a decade ago praising the Church of Scientology.
Conservative news outlet The Daily Caller circulated a video of Bass’ comments on Friday. In the clip, Bass — who was then the speaker of the California State Assembly — addressed congregants at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a renovated Scientology church in Los Angeles.
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She lauded the church and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, for its humanitarian efforts, saying, “The Church of Scientology, I know, has made a difference, because your creed is a universal creed and one that speaks to all people everywhere. That is why the words are exciting of your Founder L. Ron Hubbard, in the creed of the Church of Scientology: That all people of whatever race, color or creed are created with equal rights.”
Karen Bass in 2010 at a ribbon-cutting for a Scientology church:
"That is why the words are exciting of your Founder L. Rob Hubbard...The Church of Scientology I know has made a difference, because your creed is a universal creed and one that speaks to all people everywhere" pic.twitter.com/EghkCwqHi6 — Alex Thompson (@AlxThomp) July 31, 2020
The Church of Scientology has been accused by former members of abuse, human trafficking, forced labor and intimidation. Though most of these allegations have surfaced in more recent years, some ex-members had already begun to speak out prior to Bass’ remarks at the California church.
In her statement, Bass said she’d been aware in 2010 that she would be addressing a “group of people with beliefs very different than my own.” Her intention, she said, had been to touch on “an area of agreement in their beliefs — where all people, of whatever race, color, or creed are created with equal rights.”
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Since her speech, “published first-hand accounts in books, interviews and documentaries” have exposed the church and “everyone is now aware of the allegations against Scientology,” Bass said.
The congresswoman stressed, however, that her 2010 address had focused on “things I think most of us agree with ... respect for different views, equality and fighting oppression.”
With regards to those values, she said, “my views have not changed.”
Just so you all know, I proudly worship at First New Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in South LA. pic.twitter.com/1sEpF5KpRF — Karen Bass (@KarenBassTweets) August 1, 2020
Bass is reportedly among the top three contenders to become Biden’s vice presidential running mate.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is also considering Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Susan Rice, a former national security adviser under President Barack Obama, according to CNN.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Executive Producer Of 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' Denies Cancellation Rumors

An executive producer of “ The Ellen DeGeneres Show ” denied rumors that the long-running show is facing cancellation after employees alleged a toxic work culture .
“ Nobody is going off the air , ” Andy Lassner , who has co-produced the daytime talk show since 2003 , said on Twitter this week after one of his followers suggested that “ Ellen ” could be axed .
Earlier , Lassner joked in a tweet that he hoped the year would “ turn around and start getting better ” but that 2020 had other plans — alluding to the scrutiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations surfaced last month .
Several “ Ellen ” staffers told BuzzFeed that they endured racism , fear and intimidation while working on the show .
Following the allegations , Lassner and the program ’ s two other executive producers — Ed Glavin and Mary Connelly — said in a statement that they were “ heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience.
” Glavin , who was singled out in the employees ’ allegations , is reportedly expected to exit the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that DeGeneres addressed the criticism and apologized to her staff in a letter .
“ On day one of our show , I told everyone in our first meeting that ‘ The Ellen DeGeneres Show ’ would be a place of happiness ― no one would ever raise their voice , and everyone would be treated with respect , ” DeGeneres wrote .
“ Obviously , something changed , and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case .
And for that , I am sorry .
Anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show.
” DeGeneres said that an internal investigation into the allegations had launched and stressed her commitment to “ ensuring this does not happen again .
”

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An executive producer of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” denied rumors that the long-running show is facing cancellation after employees alleged a toxic work culture.
“Nobody is going off the air,” Andy Lassner, who has co-produced the daytime talk show since 2003, said on Twitter this week after one of his followers suggested that “Ellen” could be axed.
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Earlier, Lassner joked in a tweet that he hoped the year would “turn around and start getting better” but that 2020 had other plans — alluding to the scrutiny “Ellen” has faced since misconduct allegations surfaced last month.
Me: I really think 2020 is gonna turn around and start getting better
2020: Lol, I’m gonna make your bed the epicenter — andy lassner (@andylassner) July 30, 2020
Several “Ellen” staffers told BuzzFeed that they endured racism, fear and intimidation while working on the show.
Following the allegations, Lassner and the program’s two other executive producers — Ed Glavin and Mary Connelly — said in a statement that they were “heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience.”
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Glavin, who was singled out in the employees’ allegations, is reportedly expected to exit the show.
From left: Ed Glavin, Andy Lassner and Mary Connelly. Christopher Polk via Getty Images
The Hollywood Reporter said this week that DeGeneres addressed the criticism and apologized to her staff in a letter.
“On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ would be a place of happiness ― no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect,” DeGeneres wrote. “Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it’s the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--'Inseparable' Lion Pair Euthanized At L.A. Zoo Because Of Age, Declining Health

Two older African lions known for their devotion to one another were euthanized this week at the Los Angeles Zoo , which cited the pair ’ s diminishing health .
Lions Hubert and Kalisa were both 21 .
The staff made the “ difficult decision ” to euthanize the pair because of “ their declining health and age-related illnesses that diminished their quality of life , ” the zoo said a statement .
“ This is a very hard loss for our Zoo community , ” curator of mammals Alisa Behar said in the statement .
“ In the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s waking roars , and I will personally miss hearing them on my walks around the ground .
You can not think of Hubert without thinking of his companion , Kalisa ; they ’ ve been an inseparable couple for years.
” Hubert was born at Chicago ’ s Lincoln Park Zoo and Kalisa at Seattle ’ s Woodland Park Zoo .
They ultimately met at the Woodland Park Zoo and were transferred together to the L.A .
Zoo in 2014 .
Though Hubert fathered cubs prior to meeting Kalisa , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director Beth Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times that the lions ’ bond was obvious to both employees and visitors to the zoo .
“ These lions were charismatic both together as partners and separately , but they were hardly ever apart from one another , ” she said .
“ Their undivided attention was always on the other as they rested together , cuddled and nuzzled often.
” A tribute to the lions posted on social media shows multiple photos of the big cats doing exactly those things .
“ While it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say goodbye to this iconic pair , we can take comfort in knowing they left together , ” Zoo Director Denise Verret said in a statement accompanying the photos .
In the wild , female lions live 14 to 16 years on average , and male lions 12 to 13 years on average , according to Panthera , a wild cat conservation group .
They are classified as “ vulnerable ” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature ’ s Red List of Threatened Species .
Threats to their survival in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the depletion of prey species and habitat loss .

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Two older African lions known for their devotion to one another were euthanized this week at the Los Angeles Zoo, which cited the pair’s diminishing health.
Lions Hubert and Kalisa were both 21. The staff made the “difficult decision” to euthanize the pair because of “their declining health and age-related illnesses that diminished their quality of life,” the zoo said a statement.
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“This is a very hard loss for our Zoo community,” curator of mammals Alisa Behar said in the statement. “In the early mornings, staff would routinely hear Hubert’s waking roars, and I will personally miss hearing them on my walks around the ground. You cannot think of Hubert without thinking of his companion, Kalisa; they’ve been an inseparable couple for years.”
Hubert (right) and Kalisa spent years as devoted companions. Los Angeles Zoo
Hubert was born at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo and Kalisa at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. They ultimately met at the Woodland Park Zoo and were transferred together to the L.A. Zoo in 2014. Though Hubert fathered cubs prior to meeting Kalisa, they had no cubs together.
Animal programs director Beth Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times that the lions’ bond was obvious to both employees and visitors to the zoo.
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“These lions were charismatic both together as partners and separately, but they were hardly ever apart from one another,” she said. “Their undivided attention was always on the other as they rested together, cuddled and nuzzled often.”
A tribute to the lions posted on social media shows multiple photos of the big cats doing exactly those things.
“While it is truly heart-wrenching that we had to say goodbye to this iconic pair, we can take comfort in knowing they left together,” Zoo Director Denise Verret said in a statement accompanying the photos.
In the wild, female lions live 14 to 16 years on average, and male lions 12 to 13 years on average, according to Panthera, a wild cat conservation group. They are classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Threats to their survival in the wild include conflict with humans over livestock, the depletion of prey species and habitat loss.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-01--Airplane Midair Collision Kills 7, Including Alaska State Legislator

Alaska State Troopers said state Rep. Gary Knopp , 67 , of Kenai was the sole occupant of one plane .
The other plane was flown by a local pilot , and carried a guide from Kansas and four people from South Carolina .
“ This is an unfathomable tragedy for multiple families today , ” Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner Amanda Price said .
“ Troopers and partner agencies have worked together diligently at the scene and have reached out to next of kin to notify them of this heartbreaking incident.
” A plane rests in brush and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soldotna , Alaska , on Friday , July 31 , 2020 .
Seven people , including an Alaska state lawmaker , died Friday when two small airplanes collided in midair near the airport on Alaska ’ s Kenai Peninsula .
Alaska State Troopers say state Rep. Gary Knopp was the sole occupant of one plane .
The other plane was flown by a local pilot , and carried a guide from Kansas and four people from South Carolina .
Rita Geller , who works at a golf course near the airport , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planes hit , and watched one fall to the ground , “ I ran to more of a clearing and basically saw it explode , ” she told the Anchorage Daily News .
“ The engine , things were flying off of it .
I didn ’ t see the second plane , but I saw a lot of debris flying around .
It was horrific .
It was just like 9/11.
” Troopers say six of the seven people were pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident .
The seventh person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We live in a small , tight community here in the Central Peninsula .
When I heard the horrific sounds of a plane crash this morning , which occurred very close to my home , I knew there was a high probability it involved someone we knew well , ” state Sen. Peter Micciche said in a statement .
“ I have known Gary Knopp and Greg Bell for most of my life .
Gary has served the Kenai Peninsula community for decades .
I have flown with Greg and never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety-focused hands while in the air .
We are reeling from the loss to our community , ” he said .
“ The first lady and I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to Rep. Knopp ’ s family as they mourn his untimely passing , ” Dunleavy said in a statement .
“ Throughout his 42 years on the Kenai Peninsula , Gary became well known as an avid outdoorsman , a skilled pilot , and a dedicated public servant .
His presence will no doubt be missed by those he faithfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dillingham said he was shocked and devastated upon hearing of Knopp ’ s death .
“ Gary was a one-of-a-kind leader and a true Alaskan who worked tirelessly for his district in the Legislature .
He will be missed by many.
” The Federal Aviation Administration initially said the two planes involved were a single-engine de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver and a twin-engine Piper Aztec , However , the FAA later said it did not believe the second plane was a Piper Aztec , but it had not yet confirmed the make and model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Republican challengers in the Aug. 18 primary .
A message sent to the state Division of Elections to see if Knopp ’ s name would remain on the ballot was not immediately returned .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Seven people, including an Alaska state lawmaker, died Friday when two small airplanes collided in midair near the airport in Soldotna, a small community on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.
Alaska State Troopers said state Rep. Gary Knopp, 67, of Kenai was the sole occupant of one plane. The other plane was flown by a local pilot, and carried a guide from Kansas and four people from South Carolina.
“This is an unfathomable tragedy for multiple families today,” Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner Amanda Price said. “Troopers and partner agencies have worked together diligently at the scene and have reached out to next of kin to notify them of this heartbreaking incident.”
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A plane rests in brush and trees after a midair collision outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, July 31, 2020. Seven people, including an Alaska state lawmaker, died Friday when two small airplanes collided in midair near the airport on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Alaska State Troopers say state Rep. Gary Knopp was the sole occupant of one plane. The other plane was flown by a local pilot, and carried a guide from Kansas and four people from South Carolina. Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion via AP
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the fatal accident, which occurred just before 8:30 a.m.
Rita Geller, who works at a golf course near the airport, said she started running when she heard the planes hit, and watched one fall to the ground,
“I ran to more of a clearing and basically saw it explode,” she told the Anchorage Daily News. “The engine, things were flying off of it. I didn’t see the second plane, but I saw a lot of debris flying around. It was horrific. It was just like 9/11.”
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Troopers say six of the seven people were pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident. The seventh person died while being transported to a hospital.
Besides Knopp, troopers identified the other six people killed as pilot Gregory Bell, 57, of Soldotna; guide David Rogers, 40, of Kansas; and Caleb Hulsey, 26; Heather Hulsey, 25; Mackay Hulsey, 24, and Kirstin Wright, 23, all of South Carolina.
Bell was one of the owners of High Adventure Air Charter in Soldotna, which offers bear viewing adventures, fishing and hunting trips and glacier tours, according to its website.
A person who answered the phone at the charter business Friday afternoon said the company had no comment.
“We live in a small, tight community here in the Central Peninsula. When I heard the horrific sounds of a plane crash this morning, which occurred very close to my home, I knew there was a high probability it involved someone we knew well,” state Sen. Peter Micciche said in a statement.
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“I have known Gary Knopp and Greg Bell for most of my life. Gary has served the Kenai Peninsula community for decades. I have flown with Greg and never felt to be in better, more safety-focused hands while in the air. We are reeling from the loss to our community,” he said.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered U.S. and state flags to be lowered to half-staff and to remain in that position of honor for Knopp until sunset Monday.
“The first lady and I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to Rep. Knopp’s family as they mourn his untimely passing,” Dunleavy said in a statement. “Throughout his 42 years on the Kenai Peninsula, Gary became well known as an avid outdoorsman, a skilled pilot, and a dedicated public servant. His presence will no doubt be missed by those he faithfully served.”
House Speaker Bryce Edgmon of Dillingham said he was shocked and devastated upon hearing of Knopp’s death. “Gary was a one-of-a-kind leader and a true Alaskan who worked tirelessly for his district in the Legislature. He will be missed by many.”
Senate President Cathy Giessel, a Republican from Anchorage, called it “a heart-breaking tragedy. More than a legislator, Gary Knopp was a husband, father, son, brother, grandfather, and friend. He will be tremendously missed.”
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The Federal Aviation Administration initially said the two planes involved were a single-engine de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver and a twin-engine Piper Aztec, However, the FAA later said it did not believe the second plane was a Piper Aztec, but it had not yet confirmed the make and model of the airplane involved.
The NTSB later tweeted the second plane was a Piper PA-12.
The two planes collided approximately 2 miles northeast of the Soldotna Airport, the FAA statement said after crash.
The FAA sent two investigators to the crash site, which is about 150 miles (241 kilometres) southwest of Anchorage.
Knopp, a Republican, left the House GOP caucus and served in a coalition of Democrats, independents and GOP lawmakers that comprised the House Majority. That left the remaining House Republicans in the minority.
Knopp faced two Republican challengers in the Aug. 18 primary. A message sent to the state Division of Elections to see if Knopp’s name would remain on the ballot was not immediately returned.
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Knopp was first elected to the state House in 2016, and served for years before that on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly.
He was born in Whitefish, Montana, and moved to Alaska in 1979. He eventually settled in Kenai and worked as a general contractor.