thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Joe Biden Is The Nominee, But The Democratic Party Belongs To Barack Obama

Democrats did their best to make the untested virtual format all about Uncle Joe .
A parade of amiable celebrities and charming family members offered up home videos and testimonials about how much they like the Democratic nominee .
Julia Louis-Dreyfus gushed about the prospect of returning “ decency and normalcy ” to the White House .
Biden ’ s grandchildren said he calls them every day .
Thirteen-year-old Brayden Harrington offered a genuinely moving note about Biden ’ s support for a fellow stutterer .
When Biden finally took the podium for a recorded address , he suggested that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead the country out of “ shadow and suspicion , ” bathing it in “ hope and light.
” “ Character is on the ballot , ” he said .
“ Compassion is on the ballot .
Decency , science , democracy ― they ’ re all on the ballot.
” It was a speech devoid of big ideas , and also devoid of small ideas , like most of the four-day event preceding it .
Biden does indeed seem like a nice guy .
But almost nowhere did anyone talk about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
Nothing of substance on climate change , nor on inequality , nor on corruption or war or even how to deal with the myriad effects of the mismanaged pandemic , beyond testing and masks .
And based on the early reviews , that ’ s just fine with most Democrats .
Biden didn ’ t run his primary campaign on big ideas ; he ran on being friends with Obama , and that was good enough to win him a smashing victory over his qualified and impressive challengers left , right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama to instill this week ’ s festivities with significance , and he did so with a remarkable speech Wednesday night ― perhaps the most important of his career ― against which the rest of the convention can only be understood as an afterthought .
“ Whatever our backgrounds , we ’ re all the children of Americans who fought the good fight .
Great-grandparents working in firetraps and sweatshops without rights or representation .
Farmers losing their dreams to dust .
Irish and Italians and Asians and Latinos told to go back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholics , Muslims and Sikhs , made to feel suspect for the way they worshiped .
Black Americans chained and whipped and hanged .
Spit on for trying to sit at lunch counters .
Beaten for trying to vote .
If anyone had a right to believe that this democracy did not work , and could not work , it was those Americans .
Our ancestors .
They were on the receiving end of a democracy that had fallen short all their lives .
They knew how far the daily reality of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , instead of giving up , they joined together and said somehow , some way , we are going to make this work .
We are going to bring those words , in our founding documents , to life.
” For most Democrats , I suspect , Obama ’ s words were simply common sense ― the idea of the country they have treasured all their lives .
But Obama ’ s national biography is decidedly out of tune with left-wing intellectual discourse , in which the stated ideals of the Declaration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whitewash for a legacy of horror ― from slavery to the incarceration of Japanese Americans in the Second World War to the 2 million civilians killed in the Vietnam War to the invasion of Iraq .
Obama ’ s rosier version of events also elides more mainstream critiques of American neoliberalism , a history in which Democrats and Republicans have joined hands since the late 1970s in an economic project that stripped wealth from the American middle class and delivered it to the wealthy and well-connected .
In Obama ’ s tale , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titanic structural forces , inducing change through the magic of activism , much as other presenters at the convention suggested Biden would charm America to prosperity .
They struggle not against governing decisions made by particular politicians , but against an ancient , unchanging evil .
Obama ’ s story of America matters because it was the only point in this four-day convention in which anyone offered a plausible positive rationale for people to get out and vote .
Every other voice raised for Biden relied on the prospective cataclysm Trump will wreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
Vote or die , the choice is yours .
Obama alluded to the same potential destruction but gave his listeners a political tradition from which to rise , a historical cause to embrace , and a set of animating ideas .
The election is a fight for democracy itself and for the idea of America that Obama , deep in his bones , knows to be True .
It is not politicians who make history , Obama insists , but protesters and peoples demanding change .
The way Obama talks about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about America , and the way most Democrats want to think about it .
It is a story in which change is not only necessary but possible , in which respect for our collective humanity is not only an ideal but a historical reality we can resurrect together .
Like all narratives from politicians , Obama ’ s story is self-serving .
He suggests that his administration failed to overcome important obstacles , but elides those it created of its own accord .
Obama oversaw a foreclosure program that threw struggling homeowners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deported more immigrants than any president in history , ignored an opioid crisis that took millions of lives , droned a wedding , bombarded a Doctors Without Borders hospital and repeatedly protected American torturers .
For the Democratic Party faithful , the Obama years remain the good old days , but a great many lost faith along the way .
This was not a speech intended to transform his intraparty critics into defenders .
It was intended to marshall them to the polls .
And on this point , I suspect Obama will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustained Obama as the most popular Democrat in the country for more than a decade .
The way Obama talks about the country is the way most Democrats think about America , and the way most Democrats — even lapsed Democrats — want to think about it .
It is a story in which change is not only necessary but possible , in which respect for our collective humanity is not only an ideal but a historical reality we can resurrect together .
There is no real choice in this presidential election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has enabled the deaths of 173,000 Americans and all but destroyed the American economy .
So far as our votes are concerned , it doesn ’ t really matter whether Biden is a nice guy with no ideas or a lousy friend with brilliant white papers .
But there will be governing decisions to be made come January , should Biden prevail in November .
And the stakes of those decisions will be very high .
The parade of Trumpian atrocities makes it difficult for most Americans to imagine a more horrifying alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama noted in her convention speech Tuesday night : “ If you think things can not possibly get worse , trust me , they can.
” Biden will inherit the worst economy since 1933 and an American society more fractured than any since 1865 .
The fight for democracy will not only be at the polls but in policymaking , where the administration will have to take bold action to persuade the country that democracy can , in fact , tackle the challenges of this era .
If the American left hopes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another authoritarian slide , it will have to mold its ideas about sweeping change to a narrative that resembles what Obama presented on Wednesday night .
Right or wrong , it ’ s what Democrats want to hear .
And there is no way forward for democracy outside the world ’ s oldest political party .

The 2020 Democratic National Convention was, officially, a program celebrating Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the party’s nominees for president and vice president. But throughout the past week, it was clear the event belonged to former President Barack Obama.
Democrats did their best to make the untested virtual format all about Uncle Joe. A parade of amiable celebrities and charming family members offered up home videos and testimonials about how much they like the Democratic nominee. Julia Louis-Dreyfus gushed about the prospect of returning “decency and normalcy” to the White House. Biden’s grandchildren said he calls them every day. Thirteen-year-old Brayden Harrington offered a genuinely moving note about Biden’s support for a fellow stutterer.
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When Biden finally took the podium for a recorded address, he suggested that the power of his sheer goodness would lead the country out of “shadow and suspicion,” bathing it in “hope and light.” “Character is on the ballot,” he said. “Compassion is on the ballot. Decency, science, democracy ― they’re all on the ballot.”
It was a speech devoid of big ideas, and also devoid of small ideas, like most of the four-day event preceding it. Biden does indeed seem like a nice guy. But almost nowhere did anyone talk about what Biden and Harris might actually do with power. Nothing of substance on climate change, nor on inequality, nor on corruption or war or even how to deal with the myriad effects of the mismanaged pandemic, beyond testing and masks.
And based on the early reviews, that’s just fine with most Democrats. Biden didn’t run his primary campaign on big ideas; he ran on being friends with Obama, and that was good enough to win him a smashing victory over his qualified and impressive challengers left, right and center.
That left it to Obama to instill this week’s festivities with significance, and he did so with a remarkable speech Wednesday night ― perhaps the most important of his career ― against which the rest of the convention can only be understood as an afterthought.
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Former President Barack Obama addresses the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2020, from Philadelphia. Handout via Getty Images
Over the course of 20 minutes, Obama, at times tearing up, presented a deep meditation on the meaning of America, a narrative that sought to grapple with the country’s shortcomings while insisting that it is and always has been founded on a fundamentally democratic ideal worth saving and serving.
“Whatever our backgrounds, we’re all the children of Americans who fought the good fight. Great-grandparents working in firetraps and sweatshops without rights or representation. Farmers losing their dreams to dust. Irish and Italians and Asians and Latinos told to go back where they came from. Jews and Catholics, Muslims and Sikhs, made to feel suspect for the way they worshiped. Black Americans chained and whipped and hanged. Spit on for trying to sit at lunch counters. Beaten for trying to vote. If anyone had a right to believe that this democracy did not work, and could not work, it was those Americans. Our ancestors. They were on the receiving end of a democracy that had fallen short all their lives. They knew how far the daily reality of America strayed from the myth. And yet, instead of giving up, they joined together and said somehow, some way, we are going to make this work. We are going to bring those words, in our founding documents, to life.”
For most Democrats, I suspect, Obama’s words were simply common sense ― the idea of the country they have treasured all their lives. But Obama’s national biography is decidedly out of tune with left-wing intellectual discourse, in which the stated ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are whitewash for a legacy of horror ― from slavery to the incarceration of Japanese Americans in the Second World War to the 2 million civilians killed in the Vietnam War to the invasion of Iraq.
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Obama’s rosier version of events also elides more mainstream critiques of American neoliberalism, a history in which Democrats and Republicans have joined hands since the late 1970s in an economic project that stripped wealth from the American middle class and delivered it to the wealthy and well-connected. In Obama’s tale, activists and dreamers have always struggled against titanic structural forces, inducing change through the magic of activism, much as other presenters at the convention suggested Biden would charm America to prosperity. They struggle not against governing decisions made by particular politicians, but against an ancient, unchanging evil.
Obama’s story of America matters because it was the only point in this four-day convention in which anyone offered a plausible positive rationale for people to get out and vote. Every other voice raised for Biden relied on the prospective cataclysm Trump will wreak if Democrats do not vote him from power. Vote or die, the choice is yours.
Obama alluded to the same potential destruction but gave his listeners a political tradition from which to rise, a historical cause to embrace, and a set of animating ideas. The election is a fight for democracy itself and for the idea of America that Obama, deep in his bones, knows to be True. It is not politicians who make history, Obama insists, but protesters and peoples demanding change.
“The way Obama talks about the country is the way most Democrats think about America, and the way most Democrats want to think about it. It is a story in which change is not only necessary but possible, in which respect for our collective humanity is not only an ideal but a historical reality we can resurrect together.”
Like all narratives from politicians, Obama’s story is self-serving. He suggests that his administration failed to overcome important obstacles, but elides those it created of its own accord. Obama oversaw a foreclosure program that threw struggling homeowners to Wall Street’s wolves, deported more immigrants than any president in history, ignored an opioid crisis that took millions of lives, droned a wedding, bombarded a Doctors Without Borders hospital and repeatedly protected American torturers. For the Democratic Party faithful, the Obama years remain the good old days, but a great many lost faith along the way.
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This was not a speech intended to transform his intraparty critics into defenders. It was intended to marshall them to the polls. And on this point, I suspect Obama will succeed. Personal charisma alone has not sustained Obama as the most popular Democrat in the country for more than a decade. The way Obama talks about the country is the way most Democrats think about America, and the way most Democrats — even lapsed Democrats — want to think about it. It is a story in which change is not only necessary but possible, in which respect for our collective humanity is not only an ideal but a historical reality we can resurrect together.
There is no real choice in this presidential election. Trump is a racist authoritarian whose incompetence has enabled the deaths of 173,000 Americans and all but destroyed the American economy. So far as our votes are concerned, it doesn’t really matter whether Biden is a nice guy with no ideas or a lousy friend with brilliant white papers.
But there will be governing decisions to be made come January, should Biden prevail in November. And the stakes of those decisions will be very high. The parade of Trumpian atrocities makes it difficult for most Americans to imagine a more horrifying alternative, but as former first lady Michelle Obama noted in her convention speech Tuesday night: “If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can.”
Biden will inherit the worst economy since 1933 and an American society more fractured than any since 1865. The fight for democracy will not only be at the polls but in policymaking, where the administration will have to take bold action to persuade the country that democracy can, in fact, tackle the challenges of this era.
If the American left hopes to see the transformative action necessary for averting another authoritarian slide, it will have to mold its ideas about sweeping change to a narrative that resembles what Obama presented on Wednesday night. Right or wrong, it’s what Democrats want to hear. And there is no way forward for democracy outside the world’s oldest political party.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Shipped Chicks Dying In Delayed Mail, Horrifying Farmers

Pingree said the chicks were victims of the “ chaos they ’ ve created at the post office [ that @ @ @ @ @ they were thinking of slowing down the mail.
” Slowed mail is also creating first-ever @ @ @ @ @ pharmacy Honeybee Health said about 20 % of patients who order delivery via first-class mail @ @ @ @

Pingree said the chicks were victims of the “chaos they’ve created at the post office [that] nobody thought through when they were thinking of slowing down the mail.”
Slowed mail is also creating first-ever delays of medicines. Online pharmacy Honeybee Health said about 20% of patients who order delivery via first-class mail have experienced delays.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--California's 2 Emergencies: How To Shelter People Fleeing Wildfires In A Pandemic

MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images Traffic begins to move in both directions again as hot spots continue burning guardrails after the LNU Lightning Complex Fire forced the I-80 freeway to temporarily shut down in Fairfield , California , on Aug. 19 .
This is Rachel Beer ’ s third time organizing a wildfire evacuation shelter .
Part of her job as a parks and recreation worker in Sonoma County , California , is disaster preparedness and response .
She helped organize and manage shelters during the Tubbs Fire in 2017 ( at the time the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the similarly devastating Kincade Fire in 2019 .
But now , as more than 560 fires blaze up and down the entire state of California , Beer ’ s job is significantly more complicated : She ’ s trying to put together a shelter amid a pandemic that ’ s killed 175,000 people in the U.S. alone , and climbing .
“ My biggest concerns are safety for any at-risk , vulnerable or immunocompromised populations , ” Beer said on Wednesday .
“ I worry that people will not evacuate when told to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay in a shelter or feel that they have nowhere to go.
” Without a coronavirus vaccine or even widely available rapid testing for COVID-19 , it ’ s even more difficult for Beer and others to find safe spaces for people during a fire .
It ’ s a monumental task to provide immediate shelter for hundreds of frightened people fleeing a raging fire while maintaining all the necessary precautions required by an uncontrolled virus : social distancing , masks and frequent cleaning .
It ’ s a job Beer never imagined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge surge of COVID-19 cases after businesses began to reopen in June and July , and the state quickly surpassed New York to record the most confirmed cases in the country .
Sonoma County , in the northern part of the San Francisco Bay Area , was not immune to this surge ; earlier this week , six skilled nursing residents died of the virus , and more than 4,700 people have been infected in the county of nearly 495,000 people .
While the virus spreads , so too do the fires across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday .
More than 8,000 residents in Sonoma County had been ordered to evacuate , as of Tuesday , amid several fires continuing to spread throughout the area .
“ We are going to try to work to reduce the stress and reduce the need , ” Newsom said at a Tuesday news conference .
“ But these next few days , we are anticipating being challenged as it relates to all of these conditions that have precipitated at once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing to open shelters should more people be ordered to evacuate in her area .
To protect against COVID-19 , staff members ― those who are willing and able to work in a shelter , that is ― will have to do constant health and wellness screenings and temperature checks , as well as set up isolation units for those who do get sick .
Beer is working on mapping out each facility to allow for social distancing between cots and common areas .
Sanitation stations and cleaning measures will need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Health Officer and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
But the number of people any shelter can take will be limited , given the fact that congregate indoor settings are about the ripest places for viruses to spread .
After the Camp Fire displaced thousands in Butte County , California , in November 2019 , several shelters experienced norovirus outbreaks , adding an extra layer of stress for exhausted evacuees and similarly exhausted shelter organizers who had to provide additional care .
“ We have been in discussion regarding outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lodging , and using campgrounds as an evacuation site , ” said Beer .
“ During a global pandemic such as COVID-19 , indoor sheltering poses many risks and complications , so outdoor sheltering or hotels are the first option , ” she noted .
“ We know that wildfire exposure to communities increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infection , ” such as acute bronchitis and pneumonia , Dr. John Balmes , a physician at the University of California , San Francisco , told HuffPost ’ s Lydia O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern in the context of the pandemic that wildfire smoke exposure would increase the risk of moving from mild to more severe COVID-19.
” “ It was a terrifying feeling to leave home and not know if you would be able to return , or what state your home would be in when you returned .
...
I was able to keep my spirits high while working in the shelter because I knew there were people from my community that needed help , ” she said .
I worry that people will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are afraid to stay in a shelter or feel that they have nowhere to go .
In Solano County , east of the San Francisco Bay Area where the cities of Vacaville and Fairfield are issuing evacuation orders , shelter organizers are trying to keep up with the demand while keeping evacuees safe .
Shelters have been established at school buildings ( which are largely empty anyway ) and community centers .
“ We ’ ve got these shelters , but we ’ re encouraging people to stay with family or friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Thursday , the shelters had quite a bit of room for people to spread out and weren ’ t anywhere near capacity .

Traffic begins to move in both directions again as hot spots continue burning guardrails after the LNU Lightning Complex Fire forced the I-80 freeway to temporarily shut down in Fairfield, California, on Aug. 19. MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images
This is Rachel Beer’s third time organizing a wildfire evacuation shelter. Part of her job as a parks and recreation worker in Sonoma County, California, is disaster preparedness and response. She helped organize and manage shelters during the Tubbs Fire in 2017 (at the time the state’s most destructive fire in history) and the similarly devastating Kincade Fire in 2019.
But now, as more than 560 fires blaze up and down the entire state of California, Beer’s job is significantly more complicated: She’s trying to put together a shelter amid a pandemic that’s killed 175,000 people in the U.S. alone, and climbing.
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“My biggest concerns are safety for any at-risk, vulnerable or immunocompromised populations,” Beer said on Wednesday. “I worry that people will not evacuate when told to do so because they are afraid to stay in a shelter or feel that they have nowhere to go.”
Without a coronavirus vaccine or even widely available rapid testing for COVID-19, it’s even more difficult for Beer and others to find safe spaces for people during a fire. It’s a monumental task to provide immediate shelter for hundreds of frightened people fleeing a raging fire while maintaining all the necessary precautions required by an uncontrolled virus: social distancing, masks and frequent cleaning. It’s a job Beer never imagined eight months ago.
“We are having to alter our plan tremendously,” she said.
California saw a huge surge of COVID-19 cases after businesses began to reopen in June and July, and the state quickly surpassed New York to record the most confirmed cases in the country. Sonoma County, in the northern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, was not immune to this surge; earlier this week, six skilled nursing residents died of the virus, and more than 4,700 people have been infected in the county of nearly 495,000 people.
While the virus spreads, so too do the fires across the state and in Northern California specifically. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday. More than 8,000 residents in Sonoma County had been ordered to evacuate, as of Tuesday, amid several fires continuing to spread throughout the area.
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“We are going to try to work to reduce the stress and reduce the need,” Newsom said at a Tuesday news conference. “But these next few days, we are anticipating being challenged as it relates to all of these conditions that have precipitated at once in this historic moment.”
Beer is preparing to open shelters should more people be ordered to evacuate in her area. To protect against COVID-19, staff members ― those who are willing and able to work in a shelter, that is ― will have to do constant health and wellness screenings and temperature checks, as well as set up isolation units for those who do get sick. Beer is working on mapping out each facility to allow for social distancing between cots and common areas. Sanitation stations and cleaning measures will need to be increased to comply with recommendations from the County Health Officer and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Wildfire evacuees sit at a Red Cross center set up in Vacaville, California, on Aug. 19. At least 50 structures had burned to the ground in the LNU Lightning Complex Fire as of Wednesday morning, with many more damaged or threatened. MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images
But the number of people any shelter can take will be limited, given the fact that congregate indoor settings are about the ripest places for viruses to spread. After the Camp Fire displaced thousands in Butte County, California, in November 2019, several shelters experienced norovirus outbreaks, adding an extra layer of stress for exhausted evacuees and similarly exhausted shelter organizers who had to provide additional care.
Because of this, Beer and her colleagues are getting creative with solutions.
“We have been in discussion regarding outdoor sheltering for evacuees, working with hotels and lodging, and using campgrounds as an evacuation site,” said Beer. “During a global pandemic such as COVID-19, indoor sheltering poses many risks and complications, so outdoor sheltering or hotels are the first option,” she noted.
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But doctors are also concerned about how smoke from wildfires might exacerbate the effects of COVID-19.
“We know that wildfire exposure to communities increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infection,” such as acute bronchitis and pneumonia, Dr. John Balmes, a physician at the University of California, San Francisco, told HuffPost’s Lydia O’Connor. “So there’s concern in the context of the pandemic that wildfire smoke exposure would increase the risk of moving from mild to more severe COVID-19.”
People who run shelters are determined to find solutions that work. Beer was herself evacuated from her home in Windsor, California, amid the 2019 Kincade Fire, and instead of leaving town with her family, she pulled a five-day shift at a shelter in nearby Petaluma.
“It was a terrifying feeling to leave home and not know if you would be able to return, or what state your home would be in when you returned. ... I was able to keep my spirits high while working in the shelter because I knew there were people from my community that needed help,” she said.
“I worry that people will not evacuate when told to do so because they are afraid to stay in a shelter or feel that they have nowhere to go.” - Rachel Beer on organizing wildfire shelters amid a pandemic
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The American Red Cross is helping some evacuees secure hotel and motel rooms in Northern California. But it’s not abandoning its shelter model altogether, putting safety measures in place like temperature checks, not feeding evacuees buffet-style, and regularly cleaning all of the facilities.
In Solano County, east of the San Francisco Bay Area where the cities of Vacaville and Fairfield are issuing evacuation orders, shelter organizers are trying to keep up with the demand while keeping evacuees safe. Shelters have been established at school buildings (which are largely empty anyway) and community centers.
“It is incredibly difficult” to organize, said Solano County Sheriff’s Deputy Cully Pratt, who called it a “disaster on steroids.”
“We’ve got these shelters, but we’re encouraging people to stay with family or friends if they can,” he said. As of Thursday, the shelters had quite a bit of room for people to spread out and weren’t anywhere near capacity.
Still, Pratt said they’re concerned about providing safe landing zones for the elderly and ensuring that they avoid a COVID-19 breakout.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Postmaster General Louis DeJoy To Testify In Senate On Mail

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Facing public backlash , Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is set to testify Friday about disruptions in mail delivery as a Senate committee digs into changes in postal operations being made just as millions of Americans will be relying on mail-in ballots for the November election .
President Donald Trump praises the new head of the Postal Service , a Republican donor and ally .
But Democrats warn DeJoy ’ s cost-cutting initiatives since arriving in June are causing an upheaval that threatens the election .
Trump raised the stakes by saying he wants to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Postal Service to handle the expected surge of mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 crisis .
“ It is Postmaster DeJoy ’ s commendable attempt to reduce those excess costs that are now being cynically used to create this false political narrative , ” the Wisconsin senator will say , according to prepared remarks .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , whose role in postal operations is being questioned by Senate Democrats , said in a letter to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer that he had no hand in “ recruiting or suggesting ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing will be held remotely as Congress is on recess and lawmakers have been conducting much of their business during the coronavirus outbreak in virtual settings .
The outcry over mail delays and warnings of political interference have put the Postal Service at the center of the nation ’ s tumultuous election year , with Americans rallying around one of the nation ’ s oldest and more popular institutions .
With mounting pressure , DeJoy abruptly reversed course this week , vowing to postpone any further changes until after the election , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perception ” of any interference .
Blue mailboxes were being been removed , back-of-shop sorting equipment shutdown and overtime hours kept in check .
House Democrats are pushing ahead with a rare Saturday session to pass legislation that would prohibit the actions and send $ 25 billion to shore up postal operations .
Some 20 states , along with voting rights advocates , have sued to reverse the changes .
During an interview Thursday on Washington Post Live , Pelosi said Republicans “ have been after the post office for a while ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a profitable business .
“ The Post Office is not in trouble , ” the GOP leader said Thursday during a home-state stop in Paducha , Ky. “ We ’ re going to make sure that they are able to deliver our ballots on time.
” For many , the Postal Service provides a lifeline , sending not just cards and letters , but prescription drug delivery , financial statements and other items that are especially needed by mail during the pandemic .
The choice of DeJoy to lead the service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades who is not a career postal employee , is coming under increased scrutiny .
The postal service board of governors , appointed by Trump , selected DeJoy in May to take the job .
A GOP donor , he previously owned a logistics business that was a longtime Postal Service contractor .
He maintains significant financial stakes in companies that do business or compete with the agency , raising conflict of interest questions .
In a statement , the Postal Service said DeJoy has made all required financial disclosures but that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflicts arise .
Schumer said this week he has asked for an accounting of how DeJoy was selected , but was previously told by the board of governors some information remains confidential .
Schumer had said Mnuchin played a role in the process .
David C. Williams , the former vice chairman of the U.S .
Postal Service Board of Governors , on Thursday told lawmakers that he resigned from the board , in part , over DeJoy ’ s selection , and because he believed the White House was taking extraordinary steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ political tool .
”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing public backlash, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is set to testify Friday about disruptions in mail delivery as a Senate committee digs into changes in postal operations being made just as millions of Americans will be relying on mail-in ballots for the November election.
President Donald Trump praises the new head of the Postal Service, a Republican donor and ally. But Democrats warn DeJoy’s cost-cutting initiatives since arriving in June are causing an upheaval that threatens the election. Trump raised the stakes by saying he wants to block agency funds to make it harder for the Postal Service to handle the expected surge of mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, will gavel open the session dismissing the “false political narrative” that DeJoy is trying to “sabotage” the election.
“It is Postmaster DeJoy’s commendable attempt to reduce those excess costs that are now being cynically used to create this false political narrative,” the Wisconsin senator will say, according to prepared remarks.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, whose role in postal operations is being questioned by Senate Democrats, said in a letter to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer that he had no hand in “recruiting or suggesting” DeJoy for the job.
“In fact, I was surprised to learn that Mr. DeJoy was a candidate for the position,” Mnuchin wrote in a letter late Thursday to Schumer.
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The morning hearing will be held remotely as Congress is on recess and lawmakers have been conducting much of their business during the coronavirus outbreak in virtual settings.
It’s unclear if Sen. Kamala Harris of California, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, will be among those beaming into the session as the week-long Democratic National Convention comes to a close.
The outcry over mail delays and warnings of political interference have put the Postal Service at the center of the nation’s tumultuous election year, with Americans rallying around one of the nation’s oldest and more popular institutions.
With mounting pressure, DeJoy abruptly reversed course this week, vowing to postpone any further changes until after the election, saying he wanted to avoid even the “perception” of any interference. Blue mailboxes were being been removed, back-of-shop sorting equipment shutdown and overtime hours kept in check.
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said DeJoy told her in a subsequent phone call he had no intention of restoring the equipment.
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An internal directive to postal staff said, “They are not to reconnect/reinstall machines,” according to an email obtained by The Associated Press.
House Democrats are pushing ahead with a rare Saturday session to pass legislation that would prohibit the actions and send $25 billion to shore up postal operations. Some 20 states, along with voting rights advocates, have sued to reverse the changes.
During an interview Thursday on Washington Post Live, Pelosi said Republicans “have been after the post office for a while” as they try to run it more like a profitable business.
“A business? No it’s a service,” Pelosi said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is eyeing a $10 billion postal rescue as part of the next COVID-19 relief package.
“The Post Office is not in trouble,” the GOP leader said Thursday during a home-state stop in Paducha, Ky. “We’re going to make sure that they are able to deliver our ballots on time.”
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The White House has said it would be open to more postal funding as part of a broader virus aid package.
The Postal Service is struggling financially under a decline in mail volume, rising costs from the coronavirus pandemic and a rare, and some say cumbersome congressional requirement to fund in advance its retiree health care benefits.
For many, the Postal Service provides a lifeline, sending not just cards and letters, but prescription drug delivery, financial statements and other items that are especially needed by mail during the pandemic.
The choice of DeJoy to lead the service, the first postmaster general in nearly two decades who is not a career postal employee, is coming under increased scrutiny.
The postal service board of governors, appointed by Trump, selected DeJoy in May to take the job. A GOP donor, he previously owned a logistics business that was a longtime Postal Service contractor. He maintains significant financial stakes in companies that do business or compete with the agency, raising conflict of interest questions.
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In a statement, the Postal Service said DeJoy has made all required financial disclosures but that he might have to divest some holdings if conflicts arise.
Schumer said this week he has asked for an accounting of how DeJoy was selected, but was previously told by the board of governors some information remains confidential. Schumer had said Mnuchin played a role in the process.
David C. Williams, the former vice chairman of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, on Thursday told lawmakers that he resigned from the board, in part, over DeJoy’s selection, and because he believed the White House was taking extraordinary steps to turn the independent agency into a “political tool.”
He said, “I was convinced that its independent role had been marginalized.”
Williams, who resigned in April, told members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus at an online forum that DeJoy “didn’t strike me as a serious candidate.”
___
Associated Press writer Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Ky., contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Movement For Black Lives Joins Jewish Groups In New Statement Against Anti-Semitism

“ Far-right extremists in government , media , law enforcement , business , and militia groups have spent the past four years escalating the violence and harm they enact on our communities , ” the statement says .
“ They have murdered Jews , Muslims , Black folks , Latinx people.
” “ We will continue to fight back , side-by-side , to reject the antisemitism Trump and his allies foment , ” the statement continues , “ just as we reject the Islamophobia , anti-Blackness , anti-Arab and anti-Asian hate they promote , and the racist and anti-immigrant ideologies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The United Against Hate coalition has formed during an alarming rise in anti-Semitism .
Just this week , President Donald Trump tacitly endorsed the QAnon conspiracy theory , which is rife with anti-Jewish sentiment , and earlier this month , he pushed the anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Black Lives Matter uprisings were being funded by Jewish billionaire George Soros .
Yet media attention during the Trump administration has often focused on right-wing allegations of anti-Semitism against the left .
A study from Media Matters , a liberal media watchdog group , found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged anti-Semitic rhetoric on the left almost twice as much as anti-Semitic rhetoric on the right .
“ The fight against anti-Semitism has been kind of claimed and owned by the right for a while and by mainstream Jewish organizations , and major Jewish establishments , and they have failed to meet the moment , ” Morriah Kaplan , director of political education at IfNotNow , told HuffPost .
“ So this initiative is in response to that and really a recognition of the need for this fight against anti-Semitism to live within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hugs a friend as she prepares for the beginning of a demonstration and Iftar celebration during Ramadan outside of Trump Tower in New York on June 1 , 2017 .
Kaplan added that the American right “ has been so effective at kind of co-opting and marshaling or exploiting anti-Semitism and fears of anti-Semitism and using it to target progressives , mostly women of color.
” She pointed to right-wing “ smears ” in 2017 claiming that Women ’ s March leaders were anti-Semitic , as well as allegations in 2016 that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lives — which included language criticizing Israel — were anti-Semitic .
The “ United Against Hate ” coalition , Kaplan said , will make sure the right “ won ’ t succeed in sowing mistrust among our movements and among our communities in an effort to divide us.
” An example of this kind of division was on display this week at the Democratic National Convention .
After Republicans spoke out against Palestinian American activist Linda Sarsour appearing at one of the convention ’ s forums , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has been a strong supporter of Israel and a vehement opponent of anti-Semitism his entire life , and he obviously condemns her views and opposes BDS , as does the Democratic platform , ” Andrew Bates , a Biden campaign spokesman , told CNN , referring to Sarsour ’ s support of the Boycott , Divestment and Sanctions movement aimed at Israel .
“ She has no role in the Biden campaign whatsoever.
” Sarsour , who was a surrogate for the Jewish candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at MPower Change , one of the groups in the “ Unite Against Hate ” coalition against anti-Semitism .
Rachel Gilmer , a co-director at Dream Defenders , said conservatives are “ trying to get us to see each other as the enemy , as opposed to pointing the finger at the people in power who are trying to maintain and monopolize power against working people , against poor people , against everyday people in this country.
” “ It ’ s a classic divide and conquer tactic , ” she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequently in the run-up to the presidential election this November .

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Eight prominent American racial justice organizations have formed a new coalition with progressive Jewish groups called “United Against Hate” to fight anti-Semitism as the presidential election nears, according to a statement published Friday.
“Far-right extremists in government, media, law enforcement, business, and militia groups have spent the past four years escalating the violence and harm they enact on our communities,” the statement says. “They have murdered Jews, Muslims, Black folks, Latinx people.”
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“We will continue to fight back, side-by-side, to reject the antisemitism Trump and his allies foment,” the statement continues, “just as we reject the Islamophobia, anti-Blackness, anti-Arab and anti-Asian hate they promote, and the racist and anti-immigrant ideologies their policies are built to advance.”
It was published in partnership with five progressive Jewish groups: IfNotNow Movement, The Jewish Vote, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, Never Again Action, and JVP Action.
The United Against Hate coalition has formed during an alarming rise in anti-Semitism. Just this week, President Donald Trump tacitly endorsed the QAnon conspiracy theory, which is rife with anti-Jewish sentiment, and earlier this month, he pushed the anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Black Lives Matter uprisings were being funded by Jewish billionaire George Soros.
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Yet media attention during the Trump administration has often focused on right-wing allegations of anti-Semitism against the left. A study from Media Matters, a liberal media watchdog group, found that news coverage in 2018 and 2019 referenced alleged anti-Semitic rhetoric on the left almost twice as much as anti-Semitic rhetoric on the right.
“The fight against anti-Semitism has been kind of claimed and owned by the right for a while and by mainstream Jewish organizations, and major Jewish establishments, and they have failed to meet the moment,” Morriah Kaplan, director of political education at IfNotNow, told HuffPost. “So this initiative is in response to that and really a recognition of the need for this fight against anti-Semitism to live within the progressive movement.”
Activist Linda Sarsour hugs a friend as she prepares for the beginning of a demonstration and Iftar celebration during Ramadan outside of Trump Tower in New York on June 1, 2017. Lucas Jackson / reuters
Kaplan added that the American right “has been so effective at kind of co-opting and marshaling or exploiting anti-Semitism and fears of anti-Semitism and using it to target progressives, mostly women of color.”
She pointed to right-wing “smears” in 2017 claiming that Women’s March leaders were anti-Semitic, as well as allegations in 2016 that the stated values of the Movement 4 Black Lives — which included language criticizing Israel — were anti-Semitic.
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The “United Against Hate” coalition, Kaplan said, will make sure the right “won’t succeed in sowing mistrust among our movements and among our communities in an effort to divide us.”
An example of this kind of division was on display this week at the Democratic National Convention. After Republicans spoke out against Palestinian American activist Linda Sarsour appearing at one of the convention’s forums, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign disavowed her.
“Joe Biden has been a strong supporter of Israel and a vehement opponent of anti-Semitism his entire life, and he obviously condemns her views and opposes BDS, as does the Democratic platform,” Andrew Bates, a Biden campaign spokesman, told CNN, referring to Sarsour’s support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement aimed at Israel. “She has no role in the Biden campaign whatsoever.”
Sarsour, who was a surrogate for the Jewish candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) during the Democratic presidential primaries, is executive director at MPower Change, one of the groups in the “Unite Against Hate” coalition against anti-Semitism.
Rachel Gilmer, a co-director at Dream Defenders, said conservatives are “trying to get us to see each other as the enemy, as opposed to pointing the finger at the people in power who are trying to maintain and monopolize power against working people, against poor people, against everyday people in this country.”
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“It’s a classic divide and conquer tactic,” she said, and one she believes will be deployed frequently in the run-up to the presidential election this November.
What’s important now, Gilmer argued, is for the left to form a “strong united front against white supremacist, far-right violence.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--At The DNC, Democrats Embraced The Civil Rights Movement To Explain Their Place In The Present

Today , the Democratic Party tells a different story of its place in American history .
Speaker after speaker at the 2020 Democratic National Convention reached to the more recent , but increasingly distant history of the civil rights movement to explain its purpose in the 21st century .
Democratic nominee Joe Biden opened his acceptance speech Thursday night with a quote from civil rights icon Ella Baker , and other leaders like Martin Luther King , Jr. , C.T .
Vivian , Fannie Lou Hamer , Diane Nash and the late Georgia congressman John Lewis were invoked during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living speaker at the March on Washington , who died on July 17 , was repeatedly memorialized , including with a five-minute video eulogy that linked the party to the spirit of the movement through him .
When politicians and political parties reach into the past for historical reference they do so in order to tell a story about the present .
But America ’ s racism , white supremacy and xenophobia pose a complicating problem for politicians looking to explain themselves in American history for nonwhite audiences .
That is a task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has transformed itself since the mid-20th century into the party of minority groups that were left out of the traditional American mythos , must do .
The civil rights movement itself is the most consequential political event in American politics in the past century and is now viewed as akin to a refounding of the nation .
President Barack Obama implied as much by bestowing upon Lewis the label of “ Founding Father ” at his funeral .
And the movement provides a link to the nation ’ s original founding that runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its leaders cast their own arguments for equality , justice and jobs through a story about the Constitution .
“ America has given the Negro people a bad check , a check which has come back marked ‘ insufficient funds , ’ ” King said , adding , “ we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt .
We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation .
And so we have come to cash this check , a check that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of freedom and the security of justice.
” This is what can be called the myth of the Constitution .
That myth sees the Constitution as a promise of ever-expanding freedom and liberty as expressed in that document ’ s preamble , “ We the People of the United States , in Order to form a more perfect Union.
” These were the words Abraham Lincoln called upon in his first inaugural address , which inaugurated this myth of the Constitution , and by President Barack Obama in his most famous speech on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was this myth that prevailed throughout the convention as speakers wrapped themselves in the legend of the civil rights movement and the words “ We the People ” featured in every visual presentation for the party ’ s many policy stances .
“ They were on the receiving end of a democracy that had fallen short all their lives , ” he said .
“ They knew how far the daily reality of America strayed from the myth .
And yet , instead of giving up , they joined together and said somehow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make this work .
We are going to bring those words , in our founding documents , to life.
” When Roosevelt sought to appeal to class-based economic appeals in 1936 he reached back to the party ’ s touchstones of Jefferson and Andrew Jackson , who both evinced suspicion and hostility to organized wealth and monopoly .
Those two ― particularly Jackson ― may be off-limits as a political party ’ s organizing mythos if it seeks to appeal to the younger generation due to their role as enslavers , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dozens of state and local Democratic Party committees have already renamed their annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinners to remove the names of the two former presidents .
As the Democratic Party moves forward , each faction can find something to use in the mythos of the civil rights movement that might bring them closer together .
But for now party supporters and civil rights activists will judge a Biden-Harris administration , if it comes to pass , on whether or not its actions live up to the myths they ’ ve wrapped themselves in .

The official program book for the 1936 Democratic National Convention featured a circular emblem with the names Roosevelt and Jefferson running around it, as if the then-president and his long-ago predecessor Thomas Jefferson were running mates. In President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous speech accepting his party’s nomination, he placed his fight against the “economic royalists” who had “carved new dynasties” and caused the Great Depression as a continuation of America’s historic opposition to tyranny, whether it be a British King or centralized wealth.
“Our allegiance to American institutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power,” Roosevelt said.
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Today, the Democratic Party tells a different story of its place in American history. Speaker after speaker at the 2020 Democratic National Convention reached to the more recent, but increasingly distant history of the civil rights movement to explain its purpose in the 21st century. Democratic nominee Joe Biden opened his acceptance speech Thursday night with a quote from civil rights icon Ella Baker, and other leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., C.T. Vivian, Fannie Lou Hamer, Diane Nash and the late Georgia congressman John Lewis were invoked during the week too. Lewis, the last living speaker at the March on Washington, who died on July 17, was repeatedly memorialized, including with a five-minute video eulogy that linked the party to the spirit of the movement through him.
When politicians and political parties reach into the past for historical reference they do so in order to tell a story about the present. But America’s racism, white supremacy and xenophobia pose a complicating problem for politicians looking to explain themselves in American history for nonwhite audiences. That is a task that the Democratic Party, as it has transformed itself since the mid-20th century into the party of minority groups that were left out of the traditional American mythos, must do.
The late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who passed away on July 17, 2020, was the last living speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. Afro Newspaper/Gado via Getty Images
Biden has made civil rights, and the fight against bigotry and racism, his origin story for seeking the presidency.
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When Trump said there were “very fine people” among “those neo-Nazis and Klansmen and white supremacists coming out of the fields with lighted torches,” in Charlottesville, Virginia on Aug. 12, 2017, Biden said Thursday night that “I knew I’d have to run.” Klansmen and white supremacists, “coming out of fields,” as if emerging from America’s history ― the same history the civil rights movement squared up against. He sought to join the battle for “the soul of America,” he said.
“To save the soul of America.” That was the motto adopted by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference when it was formed under the leadership of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1957 as the civil rights movement ramped up in the South.
Vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) traced her political roots to her parents ― a Black Jamaican man and an Indian woman ― who “fell in love … while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.” Harris, herself, “got a stroller’s-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called ‘good trouble.’”
Harris accepted her party’s vice presidential nomination on behalf of the values her mother taught her. “And to a vision passed on through generations of Americans — one that Joe Biden shares,” she noted.
The vision of America Harris sought to make real is of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Beloved Community,” she said, “where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love.”
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“Joe and I believe that we can build that Beloved Community, one that is strong and decent, just and kind,” Harris said. “One in which we all can see ourselves.”
The civil rights movement is the historical point of reference that the party sees as its central animating mythos. It situates the party’s rights-based program within American history and gives meaning to the party among its base of Black Americans and other groups that continue to agitate for the expansion of rights and equal treatment before the law.
It also comes as the party casts President Donald Trump’s open racism, virulent xenophobia, opposition to voting and civil rights and general indecency as in opposition to the United States itself and it looks to embrace the 21st century civil rights movement of Black Lives Matter.
Biden praised the Movement for Black Lives, linked it to the mid-20th century movement and called on this generation of Americans to be the one that “finally wipes the stain of racism from our national character.”
In this image from video, Cedric Richmond Jr., recites the Pledge of Allegiance in front of images of civil rights movement protestors during the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 20, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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“Maybe George Floyd’s murder was the breaking point,” he said. “Maybe John Lewis’ passing the inspiration. However it has come to be, America is ready to in John’s words, to lay down ‘the heavy burdens of hate at last’ and to do the hard work of rooting out our systemic racism.”
The civil rights movement itself is the most consequential political event in American politics in the past century and is now viewed as akin to a refounding of the nation. President Barack Obama implied as much by bestowing upon Lewis the label of “Founding Father” at his funeral. And the movement provides a link to the nation’s original founding that runs through America’s minority groups as its leaders cast their own arguments for equality, justice and jobs through a story about the Constitution.
The “magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence,” were “a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir,” Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. said at the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963. But the nation had “defaulted on this promissory note,” King said, “in so far as her citizens of color are concerned.”
“America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds,’” King said, adding, “we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we have come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”
This is what can be called the myth of the Constitution. That myth sees the Constitution as a promise of ever-expanding freedom and liberty as expressed in that document’s preamble, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union.” These were the words Abraham Lincoln called upon in his first inaugural address, which inaugurated this myth of the Constitution, and by President Barack Obama in his most famous speech on race and America in 2008. It was this myth that prevailed throughout the convention as speakers wrapped themselves in the legend of the civil rights movement and the words “We the People” featured in every visual presentation for the party’s many policy stances.
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Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden and vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) both invoked and alluded to the civil rights movement as they accepted their party's nominations. OLIVIER DOULIERY via Getty Images
The Constitution “wasn’t a perfect document,” Obama said Wednesday night from the Museum of the Constitution in Philadelphia, as it allowed slavery and did not grant the right to vote to women. “But embedded in this document was a North Star that would guide future generations; a system of representative government — a democracy — through which we could better realize our highest ideals,” he said.
This is not new territory for Obama, who praised “the true genius of America: that America can change” in his 2008 victory address. “Our union can be perfected. What we’ve already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow,” he said then.
But Obama’s references to the Constitution and the civil rights movement on Wednesday did not evince the hope and joy of his 2008 run. It was rather a dire warning that Donald Trump represented the forces of reaction that lost to the civil rights movement reborn in a new era. That the arc of history may not bend toward justice if the people stop pulling it that way.
For this reason, it was vital to still believe in the promise of the Constitution. The civil rights generation and those before them, Obama said, “had a right to believe that this democracy did not work, and could not work.”
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“They were on the receiving end of a democracy that had fallen short all their lives,” he said. “They knew how far the daily reality of America strayed from the myth. And yet, instead of giving up, they joined together and said somehow, some way, we are going to make this work. We are going to bring those words, in our founding documents, to life.”
Today, he said, he saw the same spirit in the Movement for Black Lives and other movements for climate justice and gun control fueled by youth activism.
“You can give our democracy new meaning,” he said. “You can take it to a better place. You’re the missing ingredient — the ones who will decide whether or not America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed.”
Former President Barack Obama spoke from the Museum of the Constitution in Philadelphia during the 2020 virtual Democratic National Convention. Handout via Getty Images
The adoption of a civil rights movement mythos by the party is not mere nostalgia. It is necessary to situate the party in a history accessible to younger generations, who will be less and less white. The nation as a whole is expected to be 50% nonwhite in approximately 25 years.
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Those young Democratic Party voters also have policy priorities that diverge from the top of the ticket and the current party establishment. That’s why large numbers of them supported the primary runs of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in 2016 and 2020 and support more populist economic appeals.
When Roosevelt sought to appeal to class-based economic appeals in 1936 he reached back to the party’s touchstones of Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, who both evinced suspicion and hostility to organized wealth and monopoly. Those two ― particularly Jackson ― may be off-limits as a political party’s organizing mythos if it seeks to appeal to the younger generation due to their role as enslavers, and Jackson’s ethnic cleansing policies. Dozens of state and local Democratic Party committees have already renamed their annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinners to remove the names of the two former presidents.
But a civil rights movement mythos needn’t be restricted to the struggle for voting rights and against Jim Crow that it is most commonly deployed to argue for in the present. It was also a movement for issues beyond the voting booth that ranged from housing policy to monetary policy to banking policy to labor policy, all of which were fully represented in the multiracial 1968 Poor People’s Campaign push for economic and social justice.
John Lewis’ mentor Rev. James Lawson, Jr. detailed this broader version of the civil rights movement in the eulogy he delivered for his former pupil.
The late Lewis, Lawson said, “practiced the politics of the preamble to the Constitution of the United states.” But those politics were not limited to voting rights.
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“The media makes a mistake when John is seen only in relation to the Voting Rights bill of ’65,” Lawson said. “However important that is you must not remember that Lyndon Johnson and the Congress of the United States passed the most advanced legislation on behalf of ‘We the People’ of the United States that was ever passed.”
Education programs like Head Start, billions in funding for public housing, Medicare and anti-poverty programs, Lawson listed.
These were the precursors to the, “21st century social, economic, and human rights,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said at the convention on Tuesday night that Sanders’ young supporters campaigned and voted for in 2020.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Conservative Group Can't Sue Over Chick-Fil-A Airport Rejection, Court Rules

SAN ANTONIO ( AP ) — A group of conservatives doesn ’ t have the legal standing to sue San Antonio over its rejection of a Chick-fil-A restaurant at the city ’ s airport , a Texas appeals court ruled .
The San Antonio City Council approved a contract last year with an Atlanta-based company to bring new vendors to San Antonio International Airport but told it to strike Chick-fil-A and find another food vendor , the San Antonio Express-News reported .
Councilman Roberto Treviño cited the fast food chain ’ s history of donating to groups opposed to LGBT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council candidate Patrick Von Dohlen , sued the city seven months later , alleging that the council had violated a so-called Save Chick-fil-A law that Texas lawmakers passed last year that bars government agencies from punishing companies or people for donating to or affiliating with religious organizations .
The Fourth Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the activists had no grounds to sue the city , reversing a lower court ’ s ruling .
Chief Justice Sandee Bryan Marion wrote for the majority that the group was essentially seeking “ to undo and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city council , compel the city to re-open the contract approval process , and require the city to re-award the contract to a subcontractor that will operate a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the airport.
” Marion concluded that the city has governmental immunity on those particular grounds .
Von Dohlen and fellow plaintiff Michael Knuffke said they would appeal to the Texas Supreme Court .
“ This is not unexpected with a court of two progressive liberal Democrat judges and one conservative judge , ” the pair wrote in a joint statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to advance a political agenda , and we ’ re glad to see this matter put to rest , ” Segovia said in a statement .

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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A group of conservatives doesn’t have the legal standing to sue San Antonio over its rejection of a Chick-fil-A restaurant at the city’s airport, a Texas appeals court ruled.
The San Antonio City Council approved a contract last year with an Atlanta-based company to bring new vendors to San Antonio International Airport but told it to strike Chick-fil-A and find another food vendor, the San Antonio Express-News reported. Councilman Roberto Treviño cited the fast food chain’s history of donating to groups opposed to LGBT rights.
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Five conservatives, including former council candidate Patrick Von Dohlen, sued the city seven months later, alleging that the council had violated a so-called Save Chick-fil-A law that Texas lawmakers passed last year that bars government agencies from punishing companies or people for donating to or affiliating with religious organizations.
The Fourth Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the activists had no grounds to sue the city, reversing a lower court’s ruling. Chief Justice Sandee Bryan Marion wrote for the majority that the group was essentially seeking “to undo and invalidate a contract previously approved by the city council, compel the city to re-open the contract approval process, and require the city to re-award the contract to a subcontractor that will operate a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the airport.”
Marion concluded that the city has governmental immunity on those particular grounds.
Von Dohlen and fellow plaintiff Michael Knuffke said they would appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.
“This is not unexpected with a court of two progressive liberal Democrat judges and one conservative judge,” the pair wrote in a joint statement.
The city’s attorney, Andy Segovia, lauded the ruling.
“The plaintiffs tried to use the court to advance a political agenda, and we’re glad to see this matter put to rest,” Segovia said in a statement.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--The Sprint To November: Join A Post-Convention Chat With HuffPost Reporters

Andrew Harnik/Associated Press Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris , right , join hands at the Democratic National Convention Thursday .
The most intense period of campaigning before the November election is about to begin .
The virtual conventions are unlike anything that ’ s ever happened before , but they still offer a chance for the parties to get their candidates and messages in front of millions of voters as always .
On average , presidential candidates get a 6-point convention bounce in the polls , although it ’ s not clear if that effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the change in format .
The sprint to November will look different , too : fewer ― if any ― big political rallies , casual stops at diners and door-knocks .
Former President Barack Obama said in his speech at the Democratic National Convention that nothing less than the future of American democracy is at stake in this election .
President Donald Trump has already begun laying the groundwork for rejecting the results in November if he loses .
What were the biggest and best moments from the conventions ?
How did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race ?
And what should we be looking out for over the next two months ?
Please join us on Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. EST for a virtual discussion moderated by HuffPost Executive Editor Hillary Frey , with Washington Bureau Chief Amanda Terkel and senior political reporters S.V .
Dáte and Kevin Robillard , to chat about the Democratic and Republican conventions and what we ’ ll be looking at in the run-up to November .
Go here to sign-up for the event .
After registration , you will get a confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoom .

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris, right, join hands at the Democratic National Convention Thursday. Andrew Harnik/Associated Press
The most intense period of campaigning before the November election is about to begin.
The virtual conventions are unlike anything that’s ever happened before, but they still offer a chance for the parties to get their candidates and messages in front of millions of voters as always.
On average, presidential candidates get a 6-point convention bounce in the polls, although it’s not clear if that effect will be different this year because of the change in format.
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The sprint to November will look different, too: fewer ― if any ― big political rallies, casual stops at diners and door-knocks.
What were the biggest and best moments from the conventions? How did the conventions affect the dynamics of the presidential race? And what should we be looking out for over the next two months?
Please join us on Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. EST for a virtual discussion moderated by HuffPost Executive Editor Hillary Frey, with Washington Bureau Chief Amanda Terkel and senior political reporters S.V. Dáte and Kevin Robillard, to chat about the Democratic and Republican conventions and what we’ll be looking at in the run-up to November.
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Go here to sign-up for the event. After registration, you will get a confirmation email with a link to register on Zoom.
We look forward to chatting with you!


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Trump Warns U.S. May 'Never' Know The Results Of The Presidential Election

Donald Trump again attacked the integrity of the American voting system Friday by warning that the country may “ never know ” the results of the upcoming presidential election because of mail-in ballots .
The astonishing comment was the president ’ s latest evidence-free claim that casting mail-in ballots is “ fraudulent ” — before a single vote has even been cast in this year ’ s general election .
Americans are likely to use mail-in voting more than ever to avoid the risk of contracting COVID-19 at polling stations in November .
A large volume of mail-in ballots would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , ” Trump insisted in a speech in Virginia to the conservative Council for National Policy .
Critics say Trump ’ s assault on mail-in ballots is his attempt to sway the vote in his favor by reducing the number of voters , especially supporters of his rival , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden — and to establish a fake justification for rejecting results in the event of his loss .
“ You ’ ll never have an election count on November 3rd , ” Trump declared .
“ You ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of this election , in my opinion , for weeks , months — maybe never .
It may be years , but maybe never , ” he added .
“ Because once you go past the first week , you ’ re never going to know.
” The president claimed that after a week of counting votes , “ they ” are going to be “ taking them and hiding them.
” He didn ’ t identify who “ they ” are .
Trump also inaccurately indicated that Speaker of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace him if the election isn ’ t settled when his term is up .
“ You know , there ’ s a theory that if you don ’ t have it by the end of the year , crazy Nancy Pelosi would become president .
You know that , right ?
” Trump asked .
“ I don ’ t know if it ’ s a theory or a fact [ but ] ... that ’ s not good , ” he added .
“ That ’ s part of their whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theories that there is some kind of plot against him .
“ Put that in the hopper .
Add that to everything else , ” the president said .
“ It ’ s a disgrace.
” Ellen Weintraub , a member of the Federal Election Commission , warned earlier this month that there ’ s a “ substantial chance ” election winners , including for the presidency , won ’ t be called the night of the vote .
The commissioner urged voters to be patient while extra care is taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to “ ensure that everyone ’ s vote counts.
” Weintraub assured voters , however , that mail-in voting is “ absolutely ” reliable , noting that one-quarter of all votes in the 2016 presidential election were cast with mail-in ballots ( which can also be dropped off at polling stations or in drop boxes , she pointed out ) .

Donald Trump again attacked the integrity of the American voting system Friday by warning that the country may “never know” the results of the upcoming presidential election because of mail-in ballots.
The astonishing comment was the president’s latest evidence-free claim that casting mail-in ballots is “fraudulent” — before a single vote has even been cast in this year’s general election. Americans are likely to use mail-in voting more than ever to avoid the risk of contracting COVID-19 at polling stations in November.
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A large volume of mail-in ballots would be a “tremendous embarrassment to our country,” Trump insisted in a speech in Virginia to the conservative Council for National Policy.
Trump voted by mail last week in Florida’s primary.
Critics say Trump’s assault on mail-in ballots is his attempt to sway the vote in his favor by reducing the number of voters, especially supporters of his rival, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden — and to establish a fake justification for rejecting results in the event of his loss.
“You’ll never have an election count on November 3rd,” Trump declared. “You’re not going to be able to know the end of this election, in my opinion, for weeks, months — maybe never. It may be years, but maybe never,” he added. “Because once you go past the first week, you’re never going to know.”
The president claimed that after a week of counting votes, “they” are going to be “taking them and hiding them.” He didn’t identify who “they” are.
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“I don’t like this mail-in ballot deal,” he said earlier. “It’s so mixed up, so fraudulent.”
Trump also inaccurately indicated that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) would replace him if the election isn’t settled when his term is up.
“You know, there’s a theory that if you don’t have it by the end of the year, crazy Nancy Pelosi would become president. You know that, right?” Trump asked. “I don’t know if it’s a theory or a fact [but] ... that’s not good,” he added.
“That’s part of their whole act,” Trump noted, reinforcing conspiracy theories that there is some kind of plot against him. “Put that in the hopper. Add that to everything else,” the president said. “It’s a disgrace.”
Ellen Weintraub, a member of the Federal Election Commission, warned earlier this month that there’s a “substantial chance” election winners, including for the presidency, won’t be called the night of the vote. The commissioner urged voters to be patient while extra care is taken to tally all the votes “accurately” in order to “ensure that everyone’s vote counts.”
Weintraub assured voters, however, that mail-in voting is “absolutely” reliable, noting that one-quarter of all votes in the 2016 presidential election were cast with mail-in ballots (which can also be dropped off at polling stations or in drop boxes, she pointed out).


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

We ’ re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of Aug. 15-21 .
Check them out @ @ @ @ @ from the LNU Lightning Complex fires spread in unincorporated Napa County , California , on @ @ @ @ @ homes near Lake Berryessa .
Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of @ @ @ @ @ a statewide heatwave .
Credit : Noah Berger/Associated Press

We’re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of Aug. 15-21. Check them out below.
Above: Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires spread in unincorporated Napa County, California, on Tuesday. The blaze destroyed homes near Lake Berryessa. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning during a statewide heatwave. Credit: Noah Berger/Associated Press


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Lori Loughlin Sentenced To 2 Months In Prison Over College Admissions Scandal

Lori Loughlin , the “ Full House ” actor who paid half a million dollars in a scam to get her two daughters into college , was sentenced Friday to two months in prison .
Loughlin and her husband , fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli , pleaded guilty in May to charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for their roles in “ securing the fraudulent admission ” of their daughters , Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose , to the University of Southern California “ as purported athletic recruits ” on the crew team , the U.S. attorney ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
The pair paid $ 500,000 to William Rick Singer , the ringleader behind the scam , to secure their daughters ’ place on the crew team even though the two girls never took part in the sport before .
Giannulli was sentenced to five months behind bars .
Loughlin , best known for her role as Aunt Becky on “ Full House , ” was among dozens of prominent public figures charged in the scandal , which was exposed in March 2019 in what the FBI called a nationwide conspiracy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ participant in the scheme ” and said Loughlin “ took a less active role , but was nonetheless fully complicit.
” The two initially pleaded not guilty , which would have led to a court trial that could have landed them in prison for as many as 20 years if they were found guilty .
Instead , the couple entered May ’ s plea deal , which significantly reduced the potential sentence .
As part of the deal , Loughlin will pay a $ 150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and perform 250 hours of community service .

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Lori Loughlin, the “Full House” actor who paid half a million dollars in a scam to get her two daughters into college, was sentenced Friday to two months in prison.
Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, pleaded guilty in May to charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for their roles in “securing the fraudulent admission” of their daughters, Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose, to the University of Southern California “as purported athletic recruits” on the crew team, the U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts said at the time.
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The pair paid $500,000 to William Rick Singer, the ringleader behind the scam, to secure their daughters’ place on the crew team even though the two girls never took part in the sport before. Giannulli was sentenced to five months behind bars.
Loughlin, best known for her role as Aunt Becky on “Full House,” was among dozens of prominent public figures charged in the scandal, which was exposed in March 2019 in what the FBI called a nationwide conspiracy.
Prosecutors called Giannulli “the more active participant in the scheme” and said Loughlin “took a less active role, but was nonetheless fully complicit.”
The two initially pleaded not guilty, which would have led to a court trial that could have landed them in prison for as many as 20 years if they were found guilty. Instead, the couple entered May’s plea deal, which significantly reduced the potential sentence.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo Sentenced To Life In Prison

DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murder-related charges and 13 rape-related charges in a plea deal that allowed his victims and their surviving family members to avoid a lengthy trial .
He admitted to around 50 rapes in total , but most were not prosecutable because the statute of limitations had long expired .
Investigators believe he is also responsible for hundreds of burglaries .
Several people close to the convicted killer said in statements read aloud by his attorney that his crimes contradict the image of the man they had known as a loving father .
DeAngelo ’ s sister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a stern military career man and also a womanizer ” who abused his children .
“ When I took my first steps toward the yellow crime scene tape around our house in 1981 , I knew my life was changing , ” Debbie Domingo McMullan , daughter of Cheri , told the court .
McMullan explained that although her circumstances are now stable , she floundered after high school and at one point lost custody of her children .
Many of the rape survivors described mental health troubles that plagued them in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often late at night , and assaulted them while threatening to kill them .
One woman flipped him off in court .
A few commented on the small size of his penis , which had been one of very few personally identifying qualities known at the time of the attacks .
Equipped with a gun or knife , DeAngelo was known for binding the hands and feet of the male partners of his female victims during attacks , and several of the women described how their relationships subsequently fell apart .
Only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in court .
Between the 1970s and 1980s , DeAngelo earned several nicknames : He was called the Visalia Ransacker in his earlier days , the East Area Rapist as he started attacking women in the Sacramento area , and the ( Original ) Night Stalker or Diamond Knot Killer as he began a killing spree in Southern California .
But investigators did not initially realize these serial crimes were committed by the same man , although a couple suspected it .
After the link was confirmed by DNA analysis , crime writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Golden State Killer .
When he was older , DeAngelo joined the Navy during the Vietnam War before pursuing a college degree in criminal justice .
There , he met a woman named Bonnie Colwell , who dated DeAngelo but broke off their engagement after feeling threatened by him , she told the Los Angeles Times .
In response , Colwell said , he came to her window one night with a gun and attempted to kidnap her for the purpose of getting married ; her father talked him out of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman named Sharon Huddle and took a job with the Exeter Police Department in small-town Central California .
Around this time , burglaries began to occur in the nearby town of Visalia ― but instead of going after obvious valuables , the culprit appeared more interested in small items of personal value .
He then became an officer for the Auburn Police Department further north , but was fired after store employees caught him trying to steal a can of dog repellant and a hammer .
Nick Willick , DeAngelo ’ s former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeAngelo may have attempted to kill him , but supposedly could not find the right bedroom window .
DeAngelo and Huddle have three children ― all girls ― but moved apart in the early 1990s .
The daughters have refused to speak with journalists about the case , as did their mother , who filed for divorce after learning about her estranged husband ’ s past .
Huddle released a short statement expressing sympathy for the victims while requesting privacy for her family in the summer of 2018 .

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Joseph James DeAngelo, 74, will be spending the rest of his days behind bars for a litany of crimes he committed as the Golden State Killer after a California judge imposed the maximum penalty of 12 life sentences plus an additional eight years on Friday.
“You may have escaped earthly justice altogether,” Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman told him. “Are you capable of comprehending the pain and anguish you have caused?”
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For more than four decades, DeAngelo evaded capture and lived a quiet suburban life as a married father of three until investigators linked him to the crimes through DNA evidence, leading to his arrest on April 25, 2018.
DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murder-related charges and 13 rape-related charges in a plea deal that allowed his victims and their surviving family members to avoid a lengthy trial. He admitted to around 50 rapes in total, but most were not prosecutable because the statute of limitations had long expired. Investigators believe he is also responsible for hundreds of burglaries.
Before the sentencing, DeAngelo spent three days sitting in court, not appearing to react behind his mask as dozens of heartfelt and often emotional victim impact statements were read to Judge Bowman.
“I listened to all your statements. Each one of them, and I’m truly sorry to everyone I’ve hurt,” DeAngelo said haltingly on Friday.
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Several people close to the convicted killer said in statements read aloud by his attorney that his crimes contradict the image of the man they had known as a loving father. DeAngelo’s sister blamed their father, whom she called “a stern military career man and also a womanizer” who abused his children.
Family and friends of murder victims Claude Snelling, Katie and Brian Maggiore, Robert Offerman, Debra Manning, Charlene and Lyman Smith, Keith and Patrice Harrington, Manuela Witthuhn, Gregory Sanchez, Cheri Domingo and Janelle Cruz spoke to the court on Thursday.
“When I took my first steps toward the yellow crime scene tape around our house in 1981, I knew my life was changing,” Debbie Domingo McMullan, daughter of Cheri, told the court. McMullan explained that although her circumstances are now stable, she floundered after high school and at one point lost custody of her children.
“But I would never blame past trauma for my decisions,” she said. “I alone am responsible for my ways and deeds just as DeAngelo is responsible for his.”
Jennifer Carole, daughter of Lyman Smith, spoke about the pain of becoming a suspect in her father and stepmother’s murder, despite the fact her stepmother had been raped. Her younger brother had been the one to find their father.
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“I was an 18-year-old young woman, barely an adult and a suspect in my own father’s murder,” she said through tears, narrowing her eyes to add, “Thank you, Joe. Thanks. That was awesome.”
Kris Pedretti, whom DeAngelo raped when she was 15, aimed a question at her attacker: “If I could speak directly to DeAngelo, I would ask him, do you feel any remorse for what you did to me?”
She told the court that she would “ask him to imagine his wife, daughters and granddaughter at 15 years old,” tied as she was, while a masked assailant “held power over their life or death.”
Many of the rape survivors described mental health troubles that plagued them in the decades after DeAngelo broke in, often late at night, and assaulted them while threatening to kill them. One woman flipped him off in court. A few commented on the small size of his penis, which had been one of very few personally identifying qualities known at the time of the attacks.
Dolly Kreis holds a photo of her daughter Deborah Strouse, a victim of Joseph James DeAngelo, on the first day of victim impact statements. Santiago Mejia/Pool via REUTERS
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Equipped with a gun or knife, DeAngelo was known for binding the hands and feet of the male partners of his female victims during attacks, and several of the women described how their relationships subsequently fell apart. Only a few male victims wished to speak up in court.
Between the 1970s and 1980s, DeAngelo earned several nicknames: He was called the Visalia Ransacker in his earlier days, the East Area Rapist as he started attacking women in the Sacramento area, and the (Original) Night Stalker or Diamond Knot Killer as he began a killing spree in Southern California. But investigators did not initially realize these serial crimes were committed by the same man, although a couple suspected it. After the link was confirmed by DNA analysis, crime writer Michelle McNamara gave him a new name: Golden State Killer.
The scope and depravity of DeAngelo’s crimes inspired a recent HBO documentary based on McNamara’s book “I’ll Be Gone In The Dark,” a volume her writing partners and comedian husband, Patton Oswalt, completed after her death.
In the documentary, survivors and investigators remembered a pervasive fear throughout communities in California, where gun sales soared along with the prevalence of self-defense classes.
Gay Hardwick is comforted by her spouse Robert Hardwick as they confront their attacker Joseph James DeAngelo, known as the Golden State Killer, on the second day of victim impact statements. POOL New / reuters
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DeAngelo was born to a military family in 1945. Two relatives have alleged that while the family was living in Germany, a young DeAngelo witnessed two officers rape his 7-year-old little sister ― an event they believe to have had a lasting effect on him.
When he was older, DeAngelo joined the Navy during the Vietnam War before pursuing a college degree in criminal justice. There, he met a woman named Bonnie Colwell, who dated DeAngelo but broke off their engagement after feeling threatened by him, she told the Los Angeles Times. In response, Colwell said, he came to her window one night with a gun and attempted to kidnap her for the purpose of getting married; her father talked him out of it.
Her name came up in a police report after a victim said she heard DeAngelo mutter it in anger.
“A lot of people go through bad times, and they don’t decide to be serial rapists and murderers,” Gay Hardwick, who had been raped by DeAngelo, said in court Wednesday.
DeAngelo went on to marry a woman named Sharon Huddle and took a job with the Exeter Police Department in small-town Central California. Around this time, burglaries began to occur in the nearby town of Visalia ― but instead of going after obvious valuables, the culprit appeared more interested in small items of personal value.
He then became an officer for the Auburn Police Department further north, but was fired after store employees caught him trying to steal a can of dog repellant and a hammer. Nick Willick, DeAngelo’s former boss, told the LA Times that DeAngelo may have attempted to kill him, but supposedly could not find the right bedroom window.
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Later he took a job as a mechanic near the Citrus Heights home where he was living at the time of his arrest.
DeAngelo and Huddle have three children ― all girls ― but moved apart in the early 1990s. The daughters have refused to speak with journalists about the case, as did their mother, who filed for divorce after learning about her estranged husband’s past. Huddle released a short statement expressing sympathy for the victims while requesting privacy for her family in the summer of 2018.
DeAngelo’s attacks appeared to stop for five years around the time his first daughter was born, several weeks after the brutal slaying of Domingo and Sanchez in 1981.
The final known Golden State Killer attack, the murder of 18-year-old Janelle Cruz, came a few months before the birth of DeAngelo’s second daughter in 1986. After that, he went quiet, leading some to speculate the killer had died. Instead, he appears to have settled into suburban life, where neighbors described him as a grumpy man who rode a motorcycle and got into occasional nasty arguments, particularly over pet dogs.
DeAngelo finally emerged as a suspect after now-retired Sacramento investigator Paul Holes entered his DNA into GEDmatch, a service that allows people to upload DNA profiles obtained through testing companies, such as 23andMe, to search for relatives. Since then, this novel method has been used in other cold cases around the country.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Jamie Miller Sends A Much-Needed Love Letter To New York With Dreamy Pop Debut

The British singer-songwriter made his major label debut in July with his sterling single , “ City That Never Sleeps.
” Co-written with MNEK , Noise Club and Asia Whitacre , the track finds Miller in a wistful mood .
The 22-year-old croons of a lost love while reminiscing about a bustling Manhattan in nonpandemic times .
“ Everybody goes through heartbreak , especially in a big city where you have memories [ attached to ] restaurants , cinemas and arcades , ” Miller told HuffPost .
“ I love New York because it reminds me of London .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to pay my respects to that , too.
” Miller unveiled the music video for “ City That Never Sleeps , ” showing him on a Big Apple rooftop and at the piano in a warehouse space , last month .
Unable to hit the road , he performed the song live for the first time alongside a socially distanced band for a virtual Atlantic Records showcase days later .
`` Everybody goes through heartbreak , especially in a big city , '' singer Jamie Miller said of his debut single , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three weeks after its release , “ City That Never Sleeps ” continues to resonate with music fans .
As of Friday morning , the track had been streamed over 459,000 times on Spotify , and its music video had received more than 861,000 YouTube views .
Such figures are impressive , given that Miller has until now been known primarily for his video covers of mainstream hits .
His talents have caught the eye of stars like Kelly Clarkson , Pink and Sam Smith , each of whom have praised his performances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At first , Miller was humbled by that superstar support .
In hindsight , it ’ s given him confidence to forge ahead with his own career as a singer-songwriter .
Growing up in Cardiff , Wales , Miller demonstrated musical talent at an early age , but didn ’ t think a career in the arts would be stable , much less lucrative .
“ I love my hometown , but it ’ s a really hard place for opportunity , ” he said .
“ I loved music , I loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being creative .
But I was taught I was only made for the street I lived on.
” After graduating from secondary school ― the U.K. equivalent of high school ― Miller landed a job at a local call center .
One day , he started singing to himself ― or so he thought .
A manager happened to overhear the impromptu performance over the intercom and urged Miller to pursue singing and songwriting .
In 2017 , he landed a stint as a contestant on the U.K. edition of “ The Voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A year later , he relocated to Los Angeles , and has been primarily holed up in the studio since then .
His second single , “ Onto Something , ” is due for release later this year ahead of a forthcoming EP .
Of course , he couldn ’ t have anticipated the challenges of launching a solo career during a pandemic , when opportunities to perform and engage with new fans are limited .
Citing Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake as sonic influences , he ’ s “ learned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view songwriting as a personal form of therapy .
“ I vibe off of other people , so it ’ s hard to stay creative when you ’ re in the same space , 24/7 , ” he said .
“ All I ever wanted to do was music , so I don ’ t think I ’ ve wasted this time .
We ’ re lucky to be alive .
At least I can still perform from my bedroom .
”

Jamie Miller has no time for armchair critics who’ve sounded the death knell for New York City from the COVID-19 crisis.
The British singer-songwriter made his major label debut in July with his sterling single, “City That Never Sleeps.” Co-written with MNEK, Noise Club and Asia Whitacre, the track finds Miller in a wistful mood. The 22-year-old croons of a lost love while reminiscing about a bustling Manhattan in nonpandemic times.
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“Everybody goes through heartbreak, especially in a big city where you have memories [attached to] restaurants, cinemas and arcades,” Miller told HuffPost. “I love New York because it reminds me of London. With everything going on right now, I want to pay my respects to that, too.”
Miller unveiled the music video for “City That Never Sleeps,” showing him on a Big Apple rooftop and at the piano in a warehouse space, last month. Unable to hit the road, he performed the song live for the first time alongside a socially distanced band for a virtual Atlantic Records showcase days later.
Catch the chilling live performance of “City That Never Sleeps” above.
"Everybody goes through heartbreak, especially in a big city," singer Jamie Miller said of his debut single, "City That Never Sleeps." Jimmy Fontaine
Three weeks after its release, “City That Never Sleeps” continues to resonate with music fans. As of Friday morning, the track had been streamed over 459,000 times on Spotify, and its music video had received more than 861,000 YouTube views.
Advertisement
Such figures are impressive, given that Miller has until now been known primarily for his video covers of mainstream hits. His talents have caught the eye of stars like Kelly Clarkson, Pink and Sam Smith, each of whom have praised his performances of their songs on social media.
At first, Miller was humbled by that superstar support. In hindsight, it’s given him confidence to forge ahead with his own career as a singer-songwriter. Growing up in Cardiff, Wales, Miller demonstrated musical talent at an early age, but didn’t think a career in the arts would be stable, much less lucrative.
“I love my hometown, but it’s a really hard place for opportunity,” he said. “I loved music, I loved art, I loved every aspect of being creative. But I was taught I was only made for the street I lived on.”
After graduating from secondary school ― the U.K. equivalent of high school ― Miller landed a job at a local call center. One day, he started singing to himself ― or so he thought. A manager happened to overhear the impromptu performance over the intercom and urged Miller to pursue singing and songwriting. In 2017, he landed a stint as a contestant on the U.K. edition of “The Voice,” ending up in third place.
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A year later, he relocated to Los Angeles, and has been primarily holed up in the studio since then. His second single, “Onto Something,” is due for release later this year ahead of a forthcoming EP.
Of course, he couldn’t have anticipated the challenges of launching a solo career during a pandemic, when opportunities to perform and engage with new fans are limited. Citing Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake as sonic influences, he’s “learned to appreciate his wings” in self-isolation and view songwriting as a personal form of therapy.