thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-31--What Happens After Brexit? Here’s What It Means For The UK

It ’ s official : Britain will be leaving the European Union at 11pm this evening .
More than three years of bitter chaos and division is over .
We can all now look forward to the introduction of blue passports , spending a new 50p Brexit coin , and the end of hearing about lengthy EU summits .
But what will actually happen in the next 24 hours and beyond ?
And is the political chaos of the last three years really over ?
We take a look at what lies on the horizon .
What changes now Brexit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now ?
The government also believes it can take advantage of the EU ’ s drawn-out process for finalizing its negotiating position , which will not be set in stone until February 25 , having passed around all 27 EU countries , by kickstarting trade talks with the U.S. in the meantime in an effort to gain leverage in the Brexit talks .
Who are the key players in Brexit ?
What will be the major flashpoints ?
Will we get a trade deal with the United States ?
But in reality the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will depend on the UK-EU deal , and these things take years to sort out , so we are unlikely to see a big , deep deal any time soon .
Will there be more political chaos in the UK ?
There are unlikely to many , if any , knife-edge votes - perhaps unless he makes concessions so great that the Tory European Research Group ( ERG ) of hard Brexiteers , which has gone into semi-retirement as a political force , are suitably energised .

It’s official: Britain will be leaving the European Union at 11pm this evening. More than three years of bitter chaos and division is over. We can all now look forward to the introduction of blue passports, spending a new 50p Brexit coin, and the end of hearing about lengthy EU summits.
But what will actually happen in the next 24 hours and beyond? And is the political chaos of the last three years really over? We take a look at what lies on the horizon.
Advertisement
What changes now Brexit has happened?
Barely anything will change in day-to-day life for people in Britain this year.
That’s because the withdrawal agreement simply sets the terms of Britain’s exit, and starts a so-called standstill transition period to last until December 31.
That means the UK will stay in the European single market and customs union and EU laws will still apply until the end of the transition.
Free movement of people will also continue for that period, meaning people’s holidays will not be affected.
Perhaps the biggest change is the UK will be able to start negotiating its own free trade deals with countries.
Advertisement
Blue passports will also begin to be issued, alongside the 50p Brexit coin.
Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell.
The new 50p Brexit coin, which bears the inscription 'Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations' and the date the UK leaves the EU. PA Wire/PA Images
The UK will no longer have seats at the European Parliament, Commission or Council, where laws will be made which still affect this country, no matter how close or loose a trading relationship it decides to have in the future.
Britain will also no longer sit with the EU at international meetings, and will engage with Brussels as it does with other countries around the world.
In the Belgian city, the UK’s permanent representation (UKRep) will be replaced by a new organisation called the UK mission to the European Union (UKmis), in line with other countries.
Tim Barrow will become the UK’s ambassador to the EU.
So what actually happens now?
More Brexit negotiations.
And not only more negotiations but far more significant, deep and potentially fractious negotiations than what has gone before - as they will determine the UK’s future for years to come.
Advertisement
The future relationship talks will cover trade, travel, environmental protections, worker’s rights, fishing rights, financial services, security, data and much more.
Both sides are expected to waste little time in setting out their stalls.
Irish deputy PM Simon Coveney has confirmed the European Commission will publish its draft negotiating mandate on Monday.
Government sources are promising to take a different approach to negotiations than the first phase, when Theresa May’s insistence on not giving a “running commentary” allowed Brussels to set the agenda.
So Boris Johnson is expected to be fairly quick out of the blocks in publishing his own negotiating objectives to ensure the EU does not set the terms of talks in public.
Taking a leaf out of May’s book, a big Brexit speech is also planned.
The government also believes it can take advantage of the EU’s drawn-out process for finalizing its negotiating position, which will not be set in stone until February 25, having passed around all 27 EU countries, by kickstarting trade talks with the U.S. in the meantime in an effort to gain leverage in the Brexit talks.
Advertisement
Who are the key players in Brexit?
EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will continue in his job. SIPA USA/PA Images
EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will continue in his job, while Clara Martínez Alberola takes over as his deputy from Sabine Weyand.
On the UK side, there are bigger changes as the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) is now defunct and Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay out of a job.
Rather than replacing Barlcay with another minister, Johnson’s chief Brexit “sherpa” David Frost will lead the talks.
And DExEU will be replaced by a new 40-strong “task force Europe” team based in No.10 and headed up by Johnson.
Advertisement
Cabinet office minister Michael Gove will resume his key role preparing the UK for the end of the transition period, with another cliff-edge looming if the government fails to reach a deal with the EU.
Britain will also need to pass a number of new laws to ensure new immigration, agriculture and fisheries systems, among others, are in place for 2021.
What will be the major flashpoints?
Boris Johnson has made it illegal to extend the transition period beyond December 2020, meaning there is very little time to get a deal done.
EU sources have indicated that negotiations will need to be wrapped up around October for the European Parliament and other institutions to have time to sign off on whatever deal emerges.
That leaves at best around seven to eight months - which most experts say is nowhere near enough time to conclude a comprehensive free trade deal.
Advertisement
So the first big argument is likely to focus on what to actually argue about in the limited time available.
The central debate of the entire exercise will then be on how much the UK is willing to align with EU rules in return for market access.
Brussels wants the UK to sign up to a so-called level playing field to ensure it does not undercut EU worker’s rights, environmental protections and state aid rules.
But Johnson has pledged “no alignment” and has all but ruled out a level playing field.
Boris Johnson will be confronted by a daunting set off trade-offs PA Wire/PA Images
The UK and EU have also technically agreed in the political declaration which accompanies Johnson’s deal to conclude agreements on fish and financial services by July.
Advertisement
And senior figures including Irish PM Leo Varadkar have suggested the UK will have to trade fishing rights for access to European markets for financial services.
Downing Street has not ruled out that possibility, insisting only that the UK will have the right to control who fishes in its waters, but is likely to push back on the timetable, which is not legally binding.
The Times meanwhile reported this week that the EU is going to play hardball in the negotiations and try and lock a role in for the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to oversee the terms of any deal, which Johnson is unlikely to agree to.
What about Northern Ireland?
While the negotiations go on, Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement will need implementing.
This includes provisions on EU citizens’ rights, the payment of the £39bn “divorce bill”, and most significantly new arrangements for Northern Ireland.
The PM has promised not to impose checks on goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland - but this is exactly what the deal states he must do.
Advertisement
But he has been warned that the EU “will not tolerate any backsliding or half measures” - setting up a potentially almighty clash.
Will we get a trade deal with the United States?
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Donald Trump has said he is ready to do a “massive” free trade deal with the UK after Brexit and negotiations are expected to run in parallel with the Brexit talks.
But in reality the type of deal that can be done will depend on the UK-EU deal, and these things take years to sort out, so we are unlikely to see a big, deep deal any time soon.
Will there be more political chaos in the UK?
Johnson’s thumping general election victory, in which he secured an 80-seat majority, means we are unlikely to see the kind of parliamentary chaos witnessed in recent years.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-02--Trump Fumbles After Kansas City Chiefs Win Super Bowl, Names The Wrong State

Just one problem : The Chiefs aren ’ t based in Kansas but rather in Missouri .
Trump deleted the tweet , but it was preserved in a screenshot : Trump soon deleted the tweet and issued a new one with the correct state .
Kansas City , Kansas , and Kansas City , Missouri , share a border , and the Chiefs have a fanbase in both states .
But the Missouri city is significantly larger , and the team has played there since moving from Texas in 1963 .
The geographical blunder comes a little more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cursed out National Public Radio journalist Mary Louise Kelly for asking him about Ukraine ― and then challenged her to find it on a map .
“ He called out for his aides to bring him a map of the world with no writing , no countries marked , ” Kelly told The New York Times .
“ I pointed to Ukraine .
He put the map away .
He said , ‘ People will hear about this.
’ ” Pompeo later implied , implausibly , that she had pointed to Bangladesh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Claire McCaskill , called out Trump for not knowing the basic geography of the country he leads : I hope the Trump voters in both Kansas and Missouri have a little clearer picture now of how much Trump does n't give a shit about them .
If Barack Obama had made that mistake , they 'd have impeached him out of sheer hurt feelings .
— Tom Nichols ( @ RadioFreeTom ) February 3 , 2020 Trump cares so much about Kansas and Missouri that he can ’ t bother to figure out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tanden ( @ neeratanden ) February 3 , 2020 Like Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz , `` I do n't think we 're in Missouri anymore . ''
pic.twitter.com/ZbF1k0QrSW — Gilbert Gottfried ( @ RealGilbert ) February 3 , 2020 Trump is totally going to eminent domain the team and compel Kansas to annex their stadium before he 'll actually admit fault .
— Max Kennerly ( @ MaxKennerly ) February 3 , 2020 Do you think that the people of Kansas will be upset that you don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that matter where Missouri is ?
I mean , it ’ s not like it ’ s Ukraine or Bangalore .
— ( ( ( Howard Forman ) ) ) ( @ thehowie ) February 3 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Just one problem: The Chiefs aren’t based in Kansas but rather in Missouri.
Trump deleted the tweet, but it was preserved in a screenshot:
HuffPost
Advertisement
Trump soon deleted the tweet and issued a new one with the correct state.
Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, share a border, and the Chiefs have a fanbase in both states. But the Missouri city is significantly larger, and the team has played there since moving from Texas in 1963.
The geographical blunder comes a little more than a week after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cursed out National Public Radio journalist Mary Louise Kelly for asking him about Ukraine ― and then challenged her to find it on a map.
“He called out for his aides to bring him a map of the world with no writing, no countries marked,” Kelly told The New York Times. “I pointed to Ukraine. He put the map away. He said, ‘People will hear about this.’”
Pompeo later implied, implausibly, that she had pointed to Bangladesh.
Twitter users, including former Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, called out Trump for not knowing the basic geography of the country he leads:
Advertisement
It’s Missouri you stone cold idiot. pic.twitter.com/O1cAAOFsJ6 — Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) February 3, 2020
Wrong state. Best stay out of things you don't understand, like the Heart of America. pic.twitter.com/wPDWYHgR46 — Lauren Arthur (@LaurenArthurMO) February 3, 2020
He is just soooooooo stupid. https://t.co/IyD7GyklIZ — George Conway (@gtconway3d) February 3, 2020
lol have pompeo show you a map — pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) February 3, 2020
Tomorrow: Trump waves around a map in Oval Office showing that Kansas City is, in fact, in Kansas. pic.twitter.com/e5jb6R7RHf — Greg Krieg (@GregJKrieg) February 3, 2020
Advertisement
I hope the Trump voters in both Kansas and Missouri have a little clearer picture now of how much Trump doesn't give a shit about them.
If Barack Obama had made that mistake, they'd have impeached him out of sheer hurt feelings. — Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) February 3, 2020
Trump cares so much about Kansas and Missouri that he can’t bother to figure out where Kansas City is. — Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) February 3, 2020
Like Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, "I don't think we're in Missouri anymore." pic.twitter.com/ZbF1k0QrSW — Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) February 3, 2020
To get back to Kansas, you just click your bone spurs together 3 times. pic.twitter.com/nMZ7Z3JdtX — Dave Pell (@davepell) February 3, 2020
Advertisement
Trump is totally going to eminent domain the team and compel Kansas to annex their stadium before he'll actually admit fault. — Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) February 3, 2020
Can’t believe the Deep State put Kansas City in MISSOURI just to embarrass Trump. — Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 3, 2020
Sorry. A Sharpie can't fix this one. pic.twitter.com/B3FvGAYpHQ — Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) February 3, 2020
Advertisement
Only latte-sipping, coastal elites know where Arrowhead Stadium is. — Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) February 3, 2020
Do you think that the people of Kansas will be upset that you don’t know where they are? Or, for that matter where Missouri is? I mean, it’s not like it’s Ukraine or Bangalore. — (((Howard Forman))) (@thehowie) February 3, 2020
Lol Donald Trump congratulating Kansas for winning the Super Bowl is so great I can't stand it. pic.twitter.com/1w3vaSJp6n — Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) February 3, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-02--Taxpayers Get $3.4 Million Tab So Trump Can Host Super Bowl Party For His Club Members

The president ’ s official schedule shows him spending two and a half hours Sunday evening at a “ Super Bowl LIV watch party ” at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach .
Tickets sold for $ 75 each , but were only available to members of the club — the initiation fee for which reportedly runs about $ 450,000 , with annual dues costing several thousands of dollars more .
“ Well , obviously there are no TVs in the White House , so what alternative did he have ?
” quipped Robert Weissman , president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He could have saved money by chartering a plane and flying club members to watch the game at the White House.
” In response to a query , White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham defended Trump ’ s trip and attacked HuffPost : “ The premise of your story is ridiculous and false , and just more left-wing media bias on display .
The president never stops working , and that includes when he is at the Winter White House.
” Her phrase “ Winter White House ” refers to Mar-a-Lago , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several miles east of the golf course and that doubled its initiation fee from $ 100,000 to $ 200,000 after Trump was elected in 2016 .
Trump frequently mingles with guests at social events there .
On Saturday , for example , Trump appeared at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago arranged by the “ Trumpettes , ” a group his female supporters .
The dinner did not appear on the president ’ s publicly released schedule , and in any case was a campaign event , not an “ official ” one .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday what work Trump did over the weekend , the reply was that he had calls and “ meetings with staff.
” The president did not attend a rally on Saturday for Venezuelan leader Juan Guaido , whom the United States and other governments have recognized as the legitimate president of that country .
That rally began while Trump was still at his golf course , and attending it could have made him late for the start of the Trumpettes ’ dinner .
Trump promised during his presidential campaign that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won .
However , he reneged on that vow , as well as on his promise to release his tax returns .
On his most recent financial disclosure form , which was filed last May , Trump claimed he had received $ 12,325,355 in income from the West Palm Beach golf course over the previous year .
It ’ s unclear how accurate that is , given Trump ’ s tendency to file widely varying figures to different government authorities .
He told the U.S. Office of Government Ethics in his 2018 financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scotland golf courses are worth more than $ 50 million each , even as he told authorities in the United Kingdom that they had a combined net debt of $ 65 million .
In any event , money spent at Trump hotels and golf courses flows directly to the president , as he is the sole beneficiary of a trust that now owns his family business .
U.S. taxpayers have been the source of at least a few million dollars that have gone to the Trump Organization in the form of hotel rooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service agents and other government employees who have stayed on-site with Trump in Florida , New Jersey , Scotland and Ireland .
“ When Donald Trump announced that he would break decades of precedent and hold onto his business , many were afraid it was to find ways to keep making money on the side of his work as president , ” said Jordan Libowitz with the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington .
“ Turns out the presidency is more like a thing he does on the side to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure and the $ 3.4 million for each Mar-a-Lago trip are based on a HuffPost analysis that included the costs of Air Force transportation , Coast Guard patrols , Secret Service security and other expenses , as detailed in a January 2019 report from the Government Accountability Office of Trump ’ s first four visits to Mar-a-Lago in early 2017 .
Trump frequently criticized former President Barack Obama for golfing too much and promised during his campaign that he would be too busy to take any vacations at all , let alone play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace to play more than twice as much golf as Obama did ― at a cost three times that of Obama ’ s , because he insists on playing so many rounds at his courses in Florida and New Jersey , which require expensive flights on Air Force One .
Obama mostly played golf at military bases within a short drive of the White House .
“ Trump is and always has been a con man .
In 2016 , he said that , unlike Obama , he ’ d never golf and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the White House , ” said former Rep. Joe Walsh ( R-Ill. ) , who is challenging Trump for the 2020 Republican nomination .
“ In addition , Trump is using taxpayer money to personally enrich himself because virtually all of his travel is to Trump properties .
That is the swamp Trump pledged to drain .
Trump is the swamp .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Taxpayers shelled out another $3.4 million to send President Donald Trump to Florida this weekend so he could host a Super Bowl party for paying guests at his for-profit golf course.
The president’s official schedule shows him spending two and a half hours Sunday evening at a “Super Bowl LIV watch party” at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Tickets sold for $75 each, but were only available to members of the club — the initiation fee for which reportedly runs about $450,000, with annual dues costing several thousands of dollars more.
Advertisement
“Well, obviously there are no TVs in the White House, so what alternative did he have?” quipped Robert Weissman, president of the liberal group Public Citizen. “He could have saved money by chartering a plane and flying club members to watch the game at the White House.”
In response to a query, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham defended Trump’s trip and attacked HuffPost: “The premise of your story is ridiculous and false, and just more left-wing media bias on display. The president never stops working, and that includes when he is at the Winter White House.”
Her phrase “Winter White House” refers to Mar-a-Lago, the for-profit resort in Palm Beach that is several miles east of the golf course and that doubled its initiation fee from $100,000 to $200,000 after Trump was elected in 2016. Trump frequently mingles with guests at social events there.
On Saturday, for example, Trump appeared at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago arranged by the “Trumpettes,” a group of his female supporters. The dinner did not appear on the president’s publicly released schedule, and in any case was a campaign event, not an “official” one.
Advertisement
When a pool reporter asked the White House on Saturday what work Trump did over the weekend, the reply was that he had calls and “meetings with staff.” The president did not attend a rally on Saturday for Venezuelan leader Juan Guaido, whom the United States and other governments have recognized as the legitimate president of that country. That rally began while Trump was still at his golf course, and attending it could have made him late for the start of the Trumpettes’ dinner.
Trump promised during his presidential campaign that he would separate himself from his businesses if he won. However, he reneged on that vow, as well as on his promise to release his tax returns.
Protesters hold signs as President Donald Trump's motorcade makes its way to the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 20, 2019. NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images
On his most recent financial disclosure form, which was filed last May, Trump claimed he had received $12,325,355 in income from the West Palm Beach golf course over the previous year. It’s unclear how accurate that is, given Trump’s tendency to file widely varying figures to different government authorities.
He told the U.S. Office of Government Ethics in his 2018 financial disclosure, for example, that his Scotland golf courses are worth more than $50 million each, even as he told authorities in the United Kingdom that they had a combined net debt of $65 million.
Advertisement
In any event, money spent at Trump hotels and golf courses flows directly to the president, as he is the sole beneficiary of a trust that now owns his family business. U.S. taxpayers have been the source of at least a few million dollars that have gone to the Trump Organization in the form of hotel rooms, meals and other expenses for Secret Service agents and other government employees who have stayed on-site with Trump in Florida, New Jersey, Scotland and Ireland.
“When Donald Trump announced that he would break decades of precedent and hold onto his business, many were afraid it was to find ways to keep making money on the side of his work as president,” said Jordan Libowitz with the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “Turns out the presidency is more like a thing he does on the side to help make money for his business.”
“Trump is using taxpayer money to personally enrich himself because virtually all of his travel is to Trump properties. That is the swamp Trump pledged to drain. Trump is the swamp.” - former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.)
This weekend’s trip to Mar-a-Lago was Trump’s 28th to the property since becoming president. Saturday’s and Sunday’s golf outings at the West Palm Beach club brings his total to 79 days there since taking office and 244 total golf days at properties that he owns.
Taxpayers’ total tab for his golf hobby, meanwhile, climbed to $130.4 million.
That figure and the $3.4 million for each Mar-a-Lago trip are based on a HuffPost analysis that included the costs of Air Force transportation, Coast Guard patrols, Secret Service security and other expenses, as detailed in a January 2019 report from the Government Accountability Office of Trump’s first four visits to Mar-a-Lago in early 2017.
Advertisement
Trump frequently criticized former President Barack Obama for golfing too much and promised during his campaign that he would be too busy to take any vacations at all, let alone play golf. Instead, he is on pace to play more than twice as much golf as Obama did ― at a cost three times that of Obama’s, because he insists on playing so many rounds at his courses in Florida and New Jersey, which require expensive flights on Air Force One. Obama mostly played golf at military bases within a short drive of the White House.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-03--John Kerry Drops F-Bomb Over Report He’d Run For President To Stop Bernie Sanders

Former Secretary of State John Kerry denied a report that he was considering a run for president to stop Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) from winning the Democratic nomination .
And he dropped an F-bomb just to make it clear .
Kerry was responding to an NBC News report that he was overheard speaking on the phone in Iowa about “ the possibility of Bernie Sanders taking down the Democratic Party — down whole.
” The network said Kerry also went into some specifics , about how he ’ d have to step down from the Bank of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise funds .
But Kerry told NBC the reporter misinterpreted the call , and he was actually explaining to a friend “ who watches too much cable ” why he could not and would not run “ under any circumstances.
” Kerry later replaced the f-bomb post with a more diplomatically worded message : As I told the reporter , I am absolutely not running for President .
Any report otherwise is categorically false .
I ’ ve been proud to campaign with my good friend Joe Biden , who is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and make an outstanding president .
— John Kerry ( @ JohnKerry ) February 2 , 2020 Kerry , who served in the U.S. Senate for Massachusetts for nearly three decades before becoming secretary of state , won the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 .
He lost the election to President George W. Bush .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Former Secretary of State John Kerry denied a report that he was considering a run for president to stop Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) from winning the Democratic nomination.
And he dropped an F-bomb just to make it clear.
In a tweet he later deleted, Kerry wrote:
John Kerry's tweet HuffPost
Advertisement
Kerry was responding to an NBC News report that he was overheard speaking on the phone in Iowa about “the possibility of Bernie Sanders taking down the Democratic Party — down whole.” The network said Kerry also went into some specifics, about how he’d have to step down from the Bank of America board to run and who could help raise funds.
But Kerry told NBC the reporter misinterpreted the call, and he was actually explaining to a friend “who watches too much cable” why he could not and would not run “under any circumstances.” Kerry later replaced the f-bomb post with a more diplomatically worded message:
As I told the reporter, I am absolutely not running for President. Any report otherwise is categorically false. I’ve been proud to campaign with my good friend Joe Biden, who is going to win the nomination, beat Trump, and make an outstanding president. — John Kerry (@JohnKerry) February 2, 2020
Kerry, who served in the U.S. Senate for Massachusetts for nearly three decades before becoming secretary of state, won the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. He lost the election to President George W. Bush.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-03--Bernard Ebbers, Convicted Former CEO Of Worldcom, Dead At 78

Feb 3 - Bernard Ebbers , who built WorldCom Inc into a telecommunications giant and was convicted in one of the largest U.S. accounting scandals , died on Sunday , his family said in a statement .
He was 78 .
His health had been rapidly deteriorating before a federal judge granted him a compassionate release from prison in December 2019 , after he had served a little over 13 years of a 25-year sentence .
“ He was hospitalized multiple times in November and December , yet there was still no diagnosis or proactive treatment plan , ” his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statement .
Known as Bernie , the bearded , twice-divorced Ebbers spent nearly two decades transforming a small Mississippi company once known as Long Distance Discount Service into WorldCom through a slew of acquisitions , including the $ 37 billion takeover of the much larger MCI Communications in 1998 .
But it crashed down in 2002 in an $ 11 billion accounting fraud , where former employees said Ebbers had urged them to inflate WorldCom ’ s financial results to make the company more profitable and please Wall Street analysts .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on two other chief executives from big corporate scandals in the same period , a 24-year prison term for Enron ’ s Jeffrey Skilling and a 15-year term for Adelphia Communications ’ John Rigas .
Skilling ’ s term was later shortened , and he and Rigas have been released .
“ I ’ m not an engineer by training ; I ’ m not an accountant by training - all those types of specialized skills , ” he told the New York Times in 1998 , which interviewed him on his 130-foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to bring people in who do have those specific skills and then rely on them .
I ’ m the coach .
I ’ m not the point guard who shoots the ball.
” GOING TO CHURCH WITH A CROOK Bernard John Ebbers was born on Aug. 27 , 1941 in Edmonton , Alberta .
He later moved to California and New Mexico , and then back to Canada , before obtaining a physical education degree in 1967 from Mississippi College , where the 6-foot-4 ( 1.93 m ) Ebbers had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and had amassed a small chain of motels by 1983 , when he and other entrepreneurs came up with the idea for LDDS .
He became CEO two years later , and it changed its name to WorldCom in 1995 .
The name changed to MCI WorldCom after the MCI purchase , and later back to WorldCom .
He was ousted in April 2002 amid unhappiness over more than $ 400 million he reportedly owed .
Two months later , WorldCom revealed an accounting shortfall and said it would restate some results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He reportedly told the congregation that no one would find he had knowingly committed fraud , and assured that “ you aren ’ t going to church with a crook.
” But he maintained ignorance of details .
“ I don ’ t know about technology and I don ’ t know about finance and accounting , ” he said , according to The New York Times .
According to court papers , he had become legally blind , had fallen several times , was easily disoriented , and needed help to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His cognitive skills had slid well below the level suggesting dementia .
Ebbers ’ weight fell to 142 pounds ( 64 kg ) in December 2019 from 200 pounds ( 91 kg ) in July 2018 .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Feb 3 - Bernard Ebbers, who built WorldCom Inc into a telecommunications giant and was convicted in one of the largest U.S. accounting scandals, died on Sunday, his family said in a statement. He was 78.
His health had been rapidly deteriorating before a federal judge granted him a compassionate release from prison in December 2019, after he had served a little over 13 years of a 25-year sentence.
Advertisement
“He was hospitalized multiple times in November and December, yet there was still no diagnosis or proactive treatment plan,” his son Joy Ebbers Bourne, said in the statement.
Bernard Ebbers, the once-swaggering CEO of WorldCom, wept in court after a judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison for a massive accounting scandal. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Known as Bernie, the bearded, twice-divorced Ebbers spent nearly two decades transforming a small Mississippi company once known as Long Distance Discount Service into WorldCom through a slew of acquisitions, including the $37 billion takeover of the much larger MCI Communications in 1998.
That made Ebbers’ company a rival for AT&T, Verizon and other long-distance carriers, and made Ebbers a billionaire.
Advertisement
But it crashed down in 2002 in an $11 billion accounting fraud, where former employees said Ebbers had urged them to inflate WorldCom’s financial results to make the company more profitable and please Wall Street analysts.
Ebbers was convicted by a Manhattan jury in March 2005 for orchestrating the fraud, and was found guilty of securities fraud, conspiracy and other crimes.
His punishment was more severe than those imposed on two other chief executives from big corporate scandals in the same period, a 24-year prison term for Enron’s Jeffrey Skilling and a 15-year term for Adelphia Communications’ John Rigas. Skilling’s term was later shortened, and he and Rigas have been released.
Ebbers denied he was at fault, saying it was subordinates who had concealed WorldCom’s skyrocketing costs.
He thought himself less a micromanager, and more the high school basketball coach he once was.
“I’m not an engineer by training; I’m not an accountant by training - all those types of specialized skills,” he told the New York Times in 1998, which interviewed him on his 130-foot yacht, Countach.
Advertisement
“My job is to bring people in who do have those specific skills and then rely on them. I’m the coach. I’m not the point guard who shoots the ball.”
WorldCom had about $103.8 billion of assets when it filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in July 2002, making its bankruptcy the largest in U.S. corporate history.
That title is now held by Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy in 2008. CNBC and Portfolio.com in 2013 named Ebbers the fifth-worst American CEO of all time. Lehman’s Richard Fuld ranked first.
GOING TO CHURCH WITH A CROOK
Bernard John Ebbers was born on Aug. 27, 1941 in Edmonton, Alberta. He later moved to California and New Mexico, and then back to Canada, before obtaining a physical education degree in 1967 from Mississippi College, where the 6-foot-4 (1.93 m) Ebbers had a basketball scholarship.
Advertisement
Ebbers became a businessman, and had amassed a small chain of motels by 1983, when he and other entrepreneurs came up with the idea for LDDS.
He became CEO two years later, and it changed its name to WorldCom in 1995. The name changed to MCI WorldCom after the MCI purchase, and later back to WorldCom.
Ebbers remained on the prowl, announcing a $129 billion merger with Sprint Corp in October 1999, only to have regulators block that tie-up.
But as the global technology and telecommunications bubble began to burst, Ebbers became financially strained from margin calls, leading him to borrow heavily from WorldCom.
He was ousted in April 2002 amid unhappiness over more than $400 million he reportedly owed. Two months later, WorldCom revealed an accounting shortfall and said it would restate some results. The chief financial officer was fired.
Advertisement
With his former company on the brink, Ebbers reportedly appeared on June 30, 2002 at the Easthaven Baptist Church in Brookhaven, Mississippi, where he attended services and taught Sunday school.
He reportedly told the congregation that no one would find he had knowingly committed fraud, and assured that “you aren’t going to church with a crook.”
Testifying in his own defense at his trial, a relatively rare move in a high-profile white-collar case, Ebbers invoked his coaching past to describe his management style.
“I considered myself demanding,” he said. “I expected results. I sometimes said things I shouldn’t have said maybe.”
But he maintained ignorance of details. “I don’t know about technology and I don’t know about finance and accounting,” he said, according to The New York Times.
Advertisement
Jurors thought otherwise.
NO SLAP ON WRIST
Ebbers’ health began deteriorating rapidly in late 2019, not long after he sought early release from prison under a federal law allowing some older prisons to obtain freedom sooner.
According to court papers, he had become legally blind, had fallen several times, was easily disoriented, and needed help to walk, eat and groom himself. His cognitive skills had slid well below the level suggesting dementia. Ebbers’ weight fell to 142 pounds (64 kg) in December 2019 from 200 pounds (91 kg) in July 2018.
Even Barbara Jones, the federal judge who imposed Ebbers’ prison sentence, thought early release was appropriate.
U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni, who took over the case after Jones entered private practice, concluded that society had no reason to fear Ebbers would resume “fashioning fraudulent securities schemes” or pose any threat if he were released.
Advertisement
“Thirteen years of incarceration―up to the point of approaching death―is not a slap on the wrist,” Caproni wrote in January 2020. “Ebbers has essentially served the life sentence that the sentencing court predicted it had imposed.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-03--Lindsey Graham Wants To Call Whistleblower After Trial To Ask 'How All This Crap Started'

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) told Fox News on Sunday that the Ukraine whistleblower will be called before the Senate Intelligence Committee after the impeachment trial because “ I want to find out how all this crap started.
” Graham is also threatening to go after former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter when the trial is over , even though Donald Trump ’ s impeachment defense team failed to demonstrate a single ethics violation or crime by either man .
As for the whistleblower , who is protected from retaliation by federal law , Graham told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Intel Committee under [ Sen. ] Richard Burr ( R-N.C. ) has told us that we will call the whistleblower .
Why is it important ?
I want to find out how all this crap started.
” Graham said he wants to know “ if the whistleblower is a former employee [ or ] associate of Joe Biden , ” or “ was working with people ” on Rep. Adam Schiff ’ s ( D-Calif. ) staff .
Republicans have presented no information that either case is true .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all of this to make sure this never happens again , ” Graham said .
The whistleblower did not testify at the House impeachment hearing ( the Senate called no witnesses ) because information the whistleblower provided was confirmed by other documents or witnesses under oath .
Corroboration included Trump ’ s own rough transcript of his phone call last year with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he pressured Zelensky to launch an investigation into unfounded accusations against Joe Biden — while Trump was withholding military aid from the nation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity is designed to encourage government employees with information of wrongdoing to come forward .
Some Republicans and Trump supporters have revealed the identity of someone they claim is the whistleblower , which the whistleblower ’ s attorney has argued puts his client ’ s life at risk .
At the Senate impeachment trial last week , Sen. Rand Paul ( R-Ky. ) submitted a question to Chief Justice John Roberts reportedly naming the whistleblower in order to deliberately expose the person ’ s identity .
Roberts refused to read Paul ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was pressuring Ukraine to crack down on corruption in the nation while he was vice president , was attempting to block investigations into Ukraine energy company Burisma while his son was on the company board .
But the vice president was pushing Ukraine to oust a prosecutor widely viewed by U.S. and European allies as corrupt .
A Ukrainian investigation into Burisma was closed before Biden came on the scene , according to reports .
Check out Graham ’ s interview in the video above .
He talks about the whistleblower at @ @

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News on Sunday that the Ukraine whistleblower will be called before the Senate Intelligence Committee after the impeachment trial because “I want to find out how all this crap started.”
Graham is also threatening to go after former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter when the trial is over, even though Donald Trump’s impeachment defense team failed to demonstrate a single ethics violation or crime by either man.
Advertisement
As for the whistleblower, who is protected from retaliation by federal law, Graham told Fox host Maria Bartiromo: “The Senate Intel Committee under [Sen.] Richard Burr (R-N.C.) has told us that we will call the whistleblower. Why is it important? I want to find out how all this crap started.”
Graham, a vociferous apologist for Trump, added: “The day of reckoning is coming.”
Graham said he wants to know “if the whistleblower is a former employee [or] associate of Joe Biden,” or “was working with people” on Rep. Adam Schiff’s (D-Calif.) staff. Republicans have presented no information that either case is true.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of all of this to make sure this never happens again,” Graham said.
The whistleblower did not testify at the House impeachment hearing (the Senate called no witnesses) because information the whistleblower provided was confirmed by other documents or witnesses under oath.
Advertisement
Corroboration included Trump’s own rough transcript of his phone call last year with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he pressured Zelensky to launch an investigation into unfounded accusations against Joe Biden — while Trump was withholding military aid from the nation.
Federal law protecting a whistleblower’s identity is designed to encourage government employees with information of wrongdoing to come forward. Some Republicans and Trump supporters have revealed the identity of someone they claim is the whistleblower, which the whistleblower’s attorney has argued puts his client’s life at risk.
At the Senate impeachment trial last week, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) submitted a question to Chief Justice John Roberts reportedly naming the whistleblower in order to deliberately expose the person’s identity. Roberts refused to read Paul’s question.
Republicans claim that Biden, who was pressuring Ukraine to crack down on corruption in the nation while he was vice president, was attempting to block investigations into Ukraine energy company Burisma while his son was on the company board. But the vice president was pushing Ukraine to oust a prosecutor widely viewed by U.S. and European allies as corrupt. A Ukrainian investigation into Burisma was closed before Biden came on the scene, according to reports.
Check out Graham’s interview in the video above. He talks about the whistleblower at 7:26.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-03--Democratic Presidential Candidates Barnstorm Iowa On Eve Of Caucuses

DES MOINES , Iowa ( AP ) — On the eve of the Iowa caucuses , Democratic presidential candidates hustled across the state trying to fire up voters and make a last appeal to those struggling to make a final decision about their choice in the crowded field .
Pete Buttigieg , the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , talked up his newcomer status , telling a rally in Coralville that when Democrats have won the White House in the past , “ we have done it with someone who is new in national politics.
” Underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged a palpable sense of unpredictability and anxiety as Democrats begin selecting which candidate to send on to a November face-off with President Donald Trump .
The Democratic race is unusually large and jumbled heading into Monday ’ s caucus .
Four candidates were locked in a fight for victory in Iowa ; others were in position to pull off surprisingly strong finishes .
Democrats ’ deep disdain for Trump has put many in the party on edge about the decision .
A series of external forces has also heightened the sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s impeachment trial in the Senate , which marooned Warren , Sanders and Klobuchar in Washington for much of the past week .
Many campaigns were looking to a final weekend poll to provide some measure of clarity .
But late Saturday night , CNN and The Des Moines Register opted not to release the survey because of worries the results may have been compromised .
New caucus rules have also left the campaigns working in overdrive to set expectations before the contest .
For the first time , the Iowa Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who voters align with at the start of the night ; who they pick after voters supporting nonviable candidates get to make a second choice ; and the number of state delegate equivalents each candidate gets .
The new rules were mandated by the Democratic National Committee as part of a package of changes sought by Sanders following his loss to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential primaries .
The revisions were designed to make the caucus system more transparent and to make sure that even the lowest-performing candidates get credit for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials in Iowa and at the DNC have privately expressed concerns in recent weeks that not just Sanders but multiple campaigns will spin the results in their favor , potentially creating chaos on caucus night .
Biden ’ s campaign appeared to be trying to lower Iowa expectations , cautioning against reading too much into Monday ’ s results .
Biden is hoping to sustain enough enthusiasm and money coming out of Iowa to make it to more diverse states where he hopes to draw strong support from black voters .
His campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fourth state on the primary schedule .
“ We view Iowa as the beginning , not the end , ” Symone Sanders , a Biden senior adviser , said at a Bloomberg News breakfast .
“ It would be a gross mistake on the part of reporters , voters or anyone else to view whatever happens on Monday – we think it ’ s going to be close , but view whatever happens — as the end and not give credence and space for New Hampshire , Nevada , and South Carolina.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rapids , Klobuchar appealed to caucus-goers by asking them to think about the voters who won ’ t be caucusing — moderate Republicans , voters who swung from Barack Obama to Trump and voters who stayed home in 2016 .
“ They ’ re watching all of this right now , ” Klobuchar said .
“ We have people who want to come with us .
And we need a candidate who is going to bring them with us instead of shutting them out.
” But many voters , too , are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monmouth University poll in Iowa in late January , 45 % of all likely Democratic caucus-goers named a first choice but said they were open to the possibility of supporting another candidate , and another 5 % did not indicate a first choice .
Indeed , talking to Iowa Democrats can be dizzying .
Many can quickly run through what they like — and what worries them — about the candidates in rapid fire , talking themselves in and out of their choices in a matter of minutes .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — On the eve of the Iowa caucuses, Democratic presidential candidates hustled across the state trying to fire up voters and make a last appeal to those struggling to make a final decision about their choice in the crowded field.
Speaking to several hundred supporters in Cedar Rapids Sunday, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders declared “we are the campaign of energy and excitement” and said “we are in a position to win tomorrow night.”
Advertisement
Attendees hold letters that read "CAUCUS" during a campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg at Northwest Junior High in Coralville, Iowa on Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, talked up his newcomer status, telling a rally in Coralville that when Democrats have won the White House in the past, “we have done it with someone who is new in national politics.”
But former Vice President Joe Biden, emphasizing his decades of Washington experience, told voters there’s no time for “on-the-job training.” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren pressed her supporters to “fight back” if they ever lose hope.
Underlying the bold pronouncements, campaigns and voters acknowledged a palpable sense of unpredictability and anxiety as Democrats begin selecting which candidate to send on to a November face-off with President Donald Trump. The Democratic race is unusually large and jumbled heading into Monday’s caucus. Four candidates were locked in a fight for victory in Iowa; others were in position to pull off surprisingly strong finishes.
Advertisement
“This is going to go right down to the last second,” said Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to Biden’s campaign.
Polls show Biden in a close race in Iowa with Sanders, Warren and Buttigieg. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang are also competing aggressively in the state.
Democrats’ deep disdain for Trump has put many in the party on edge about the decision. A series of external forces has also heightened the sense of unpredictability in Iowa, including Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate, which marooned Warren, Sanders and Klobuchar in Washington for much of the past week.
Many campaigns were looking to a final weekend poll to provide some measure of clarity. But late Saturday night, CNN and The Des Moines Register opted not to release the survey because of worries the results may have been compromised.
Advertisement
New caucus rules have also left the campaigns working in overdrive to set expectations before the contest. For the first time, the Iowa Democratic Party will release three sets of results: who voters align with at the start of the night; who they pick after voters supporting nonviable candidates get to make a second choice; and the number of state delegate equivalents each candidate gets.
The new rules were mandated by the Democratic National Committee as part of a package of changes sought by Sanders following his loss to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential primaries. The revisions were designed to make the caucus system more transparent and to make sure that even the lowest-performing candidates get credit for all the votes they receive. But party officials in Iowa and at the DNC have privately expressed concerns in recent weeks that not just Sanders but multiple campaigns will spin the results in their favor, potentially creating chaos on caucus night.
The Associated Press will declare a winner in Iowa based on the number of state delegates each candidate wins. The AP will also report all three results.
Biden’s campaign appeared to be trying to lower Iowa expectations, cautioning against reading too much into Monday’s results. Biden is hoping to sustain enough enthusiasm and money coming out of Iowa to make it to more diverse states where he hopes to draw strong support from black voters. His campaign is particularly focused on South Carolina, the fourth state on the primary schedule.
“We view Iowa as the beginning, not the end,” Symone Sanders, a Biden senior adviser, said at a Bloomberg News breakfast. “It would be a gross mistake on the part of reporters, voters or anyone else to view whatever happens on Monday – we think it’s going to be close, but view whatever happens — as the end and not give credence and space for New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina.”
Advertisement
Sanders, Warren and Klobuchar fanned out across the state, trying to make up ground after missing most of the last two weeks of campaigning due to the Senate impeachment trial.
In a conference room in Cedar Rapids, Klobuchar appealed to caucus-goers by asking them to think about the voters who won’t be caucusing — moderate Republicans, voters who swung from Barack Obama to Trump and voters who stayed home in 2016.
“They’re watching all of this right now,” Klobuchar said. “We have people who want to come with us. And we need a candidate who is going to bring them with us instead of shutting them out.”
Klobuchar retold her joke about slowly winning over former Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran, who once told Klobuchar that she was “78 percent with you.”
Advertisement
“We don’t have time for that!” Klobuchar said. “She got to 100 percent and so can you.”
But many voters, too, are still making last-minute moves. According to a Monmouth University poll in Iowa in late January, 45% of all likely Democratic caucus-goers named a first choice but said they were open to the possibility of supporting another candidate, and another 5% did not indicate a first choice.
Indeed, talking to Iowa Democrats can be dizzying. Many can quickly run through what they like — and what worries them — about the candidates in rapid fire, talking themselves in and out of their choices in a matter of minutes.
“There are just so many candidates,” said John Kauffman, a 38-year-old who works in marketing in Marion.
___
Burnett reported from Chicago. Associated Press reporters Thomas Beaumont in Coralville, Iowa, Will Weissert and Kathleen Hennessey in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bill Barrow in Dubuque, Iowa, Alexandra Jaffe in Indianola, Iowa, and Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-02--China Announces New Coronavirus Infections As U.S. Urges Citizens Not To 'Panic'

China raised the death toll from the new coronavirus to 361 and said at least 17,205 people had been infected on Sunday as American officials urged citizens not to “ panic , ” stressing the threat to the U.S. still remained low .
The new figures add to growing concern about the spread of the virus , particularly after the Philippines reported the first death outside of China .
China has effectively quarantined more than 50 million people in and around the city of Wuhan , where health officials saw the first case , but the virus has continued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 other countries and territories .
Last week , the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global health emergency , which does not carry the weight of law but can help the international community craft a coordinated response to an outbreak .
Some scientists are worried the coronavirus could become a pandemic , spreading to two or more continents and causing global repercussions .
The mortality rate so far is about 2 percent , but scientists are still working to determine how transmittable the virus is and said the actual number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to The New York Times .
In that situation , the death rate could fall as more mild cases are found .
The head of the World Health Organization ’ s Emergencies Program told STAT News this weekend the world should “ keep trying ” to contain the virus until doing so was “ impossible.
” “ There ’ s enough evidence to suggest that this virus can still be contained , ” Mike Ryan told the outlet , saying China ’ s efforts to stop its spread are buying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time.
” The country on Monday finished building a new , 1,000-bed hospital to treat infected patients , but some doctors say they are running out of testing kits and some medical supplies .
The U.S. has taken its own measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus .
The State Department issued its top travel advisory for all of China on Thursday and urged citizens currently in the country to leave due to the spread of the virus .
The Level 4 : Do Not Travel warning is reserved for the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries under similar advisories include North Korea , South Sudan and Iraq .
The Department of Homeland Security on Sunday extended the number of airports that will handle passengers traveling from China or who have been in the country within the last 14 days , saying such travelers would be subject to enhanced screening .
The agency has also said American citizens who have been in Hubei province may need to participate in mandatory quarantines of up to 14 days with health monitoring .
“ While the overall risk to the American public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passengers who have recently been in China is the most important and prudent step we can take at this time to decrease the strain on public health officials screening incoming travelers , ” Chad Wolf , the acting secretary of Homeland Security , said in a statement .
“ We realize this could provide added stress and prolong travel times for some individuals , however public health and security experts agree these measures are necessary to contain the virus and protect the American people.
” Despite those measures , the White House sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading to the United States .
National security adviser Robert O ’ Brien said Sunday that as of yet , there was “ no reason for Americans to panic.
” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the 11th case in the U.S. on Sunday .
Around 200 Americans evacuated from Wuhan are currently under a two-week quarantine at a military base in California .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
China raised the death toll from the new coronavirus to 361 and said at least 17,205 people had been infected on Sunday as American officials urged citizens not to “panic,” stressing the threat to the U.S. still remained low.
The new figures add to growing concern about the spread of the virus, particularly after the Philippines reported the first death outside of China.
Advertisement
China has effectively quarantined more than 50 million people in and around the city of Wuhan, where health officials saw the first case, but the virus has continued to spread and has now been seen in 23 other countries and territories.
Last week, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global health emergency, which does not carry the weight of law but can help the international community craft a coordinated response to an outbreak.
Some scientists are worried the coronavirus could become a pandemic, spreading to two or more continents and causing global repercussions. The mortality rate so far is about 2 percent, but scientists are still working to determine how transmittable the virus is and said the actual number of infected could be far higher than reported, according to The New York Times. In that situation, the death rate could fall as more mild cases are found.
The head of the World Health Organization’s Emergencies Program told STAT News this weekend the world should “keep trying” to contain the virus until doing so was “impossible.”
Advertisement
“There’s enough evidence to suggest that this virus can still be contained,” Mike Ryan told the outlet, saying China’s efforts to stop its spread are buying the rest of the world “precious lead time.” The country on Monday finished building a new, 1,000-bed hospital to treat infected patients, but some doctors say they are running out of testing kits and some medical supplies.
The U.S. has taken its own measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The State Department issued its top travel advisory for all of China on Thursday and urged citizens currently in the country to leave due to the spread of the virus. The Level 4: Do Not Travel warning is reserved for the world’s most dangerous places: Other countries under similar advisories include North Korea, South Sudan and Iraq.
The Department of Homeland Security on Sunday extended the number of airports that will handle passengers traveling from China or who have been in the country within the last 14 days, saying such travelers would be subject to enhanced screening. The agency has also said American citizens who have been in Hubei province may need to participate in mandatory quarantines of up to 14 days with health monitoring.
“While the overall risk to the American public remains low, funneling all flights with passengers who have recently been in China is the most important and prudent step we can take at this time to decrease the strain on public health officials screening incoming travelers,” Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of Homeland Security, said in a statement. “We realize this could provide added stress and prolong travel times for some individuals, however public health and security experts agree these measures are necessary to contain the virus and protect the American people.”
Despite those measures, the White House sought to calm any fears about the virus spreading to the United States. National security adviser Robert O’Brien said Sunday that as of yet, there was “no reason for Americans to panic.”
Advertisement
“This is something that is a low risk, we think, in the U.S.,” O’Brien said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-02--Joe Biden Could Face Impeachment Over Ukraine If He Wins: GOP Senator

The first-term Republican went on the offense in an interview with Bloomberg News on Sunday , saying Biden ’ s prior dealings with Ukraine puts a target on his back .
“ I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened , ” she said .
“ Joe Biden should be very careful what he ’ s asking for because , you know , we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden , that immediately , people , right the day after he would be elected would be saying , ‘ Well , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-Iowa ) has defended President Trump 's dealings with Ukraine and said his actions do n't rise to the point of removing him from office .
If Joe Biden is appointed to the White House , however , he could face impeachment , she said .
Ernst accused Biden of interfering in an investigation into the Ukrainian energy company Burisma .
She said then-President Barack Obama tasked Biden with weeding out corruption , but that Biden ignored “ Burisma because his son was on the company ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year.
” Biden ’ s alleged involvement in that Burisma investigation is based on an unsubstantiated claim made by President Donald Trump .
Kurt Volker , the former U.S. special envoy for Ukraine , testified in the House impeachment inquiry in November that he saw no validity to Trump ’ s allegations of Biden being corrupt .
Ernst ’ s comments come as Trump faces his own potential ouster from office due to his dealings with money and Ukraine .
Trump , whose impeachment trial in the Senate is set to conclude this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressionally approved aid to the war-torn country due to his own concerns about internal corruption .
In an interview with CNN on Sunday , Ernst said she will vote to acquit Trump on Wednesday , arguing that what he did does not merit being removed from office .
`` I think generally speaking , going after corruption would be the right thing to do , he did it maybe in the wrong manner .
But I think that he could have done it through different channels , '' Republican Sen. Joni Ernst says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — State of the Union ( @ CNNSotu ) February 2 , 2020 She added that Trump meant well but went about things in “ the wrong manner.
” “ I think , generally speaking , going after corruption would be the right thing to do , ” she said .
“ He did it maybe in the wrong manner .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has warned that former Vice President Joe Biden could immediately face calls for impeachment if elected president.
The first-term Republican went on the offense in an interview with Bloomberg News on Sunday, saying Biden’s prior dealings with Ukraine puts a target on his back.
Advertisement
“I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened,” she said. “Joe Biden should be very careful what he’s asking for because, you know, we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden, that immediately, people, right the day after he would be elected would be saying, ‘Well, we’re going to impeach him.’”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has defended President Trump's dealings with Ukraine and said his actions don't rise to the point of removing him from office. If Joe Biden is appointed to the White House, however, he could face impeachment, she said. Zach Gibson via Getty Images
Ernst accused Biden of interfering in an investigation into the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. She said then-President Barack Obama tasked Biden with weeding out corruption, but that Biden ignored “Burisma because his son was on the company’s board making over a million dollars a year.”
Biden’s alleged involvement in that Burisma investigation is based on an unsubstantiated claim made by President Donald Trump. Kurt Volker, the former U.S. special envoy for Ukraine, testified in the House impeachment inquiry in November that he saw no validity to Trump’s allegations of Biden being corrupt.
Advertisement
Ernst’s comments come as Trump faces his own potential ouster from office due to his dealings with money and Ukraine.
Trump, whose impeachment trial in the Senate is set to conclude this week, has said that he withheld congressionally approved aid to the war-torn country due to his own concerns about internal corruption.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Ernst said she will vote to acquit Trump on Wednesday, arguing that what he did does not merit being removed from office.
"I think generally speaking, going after corruption would be the right thing to do, he did it maybe in the wrong manner. But I think that he could have done it through different channels," Republican Sen. Joni Ernst says about President Trump. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/sf2a77T3Gu — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) February 2, 2020
She added that Trump meant well but went about things in “the wrong manner.”
“I think, generally speaking, going after corruption would be the right thing to do,” she said. “He did it maybe in the wrong manner.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-02--Pompeo Pushes Free Press For Kazakhstan After Barring NPR Reporter From Trip

Pompeo told Kazakh journalist Aigerim Toleukhan in an interview that freedom of the press helps “ build out civil societies ” — and that the United States was willing to show the media there how to do it .
“ As a journalist , I ’ m sure you know the good work the State Department does to train journalists in press freedoms , ” he said .
Toleukhan pressed him to reconcile his praise for a free press with his treatment of NPR and his “ confrontational ” interview over Ukraine .
“ What kind of message does it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppress press freedom ?
” she asked .
Just over a week ago , Pompeo launched an off-air profanity-laced tirade against Mary Louise Kelly , the co-host of NPR ’ s “ All Things Considered , ” after she dared to ask him questions about Ukraine — even though she had cleared the subject with the State Department beforehand .
Pompeo didn ’ t dispute his rant against Kelly , but he insisted it was off the record , which NPR has denied .
Days later , NPR ’ s diplomatic correspondent Michele @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current trip to Britain , Ukraine , Belarus and Central Asia .
“ I didn ’ t have a confrontational interview with an NPR reporter any more than I have confrontational interviews all the time , ” Pompeo told Toleukhan , defending his curt , largely non-responsive answers to Kelly on air .
“ In America , that ’ s the greatness of our nation ... We talk openly.
” He said that members of the press who travel with him must conform to “ certain sets of behaviors , and that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest .
When they ’ ll do that , they get to participate.
” The State Department Correspondents ’ Association issued a statement last week objecting to the decision to cut Keleman from Pompeo ’ s trip , saying it appeared to be retaliation for Kelly ’ s questions .
Toleukhan tweeted after her interview that she was “ exhausted.
” She added : “ I did my part — asked questions that need answers.
” There was no immediate response from Kelly or NPR to Pompeo ’ s interview .
But Kelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece after Pompeo “ shouted ” at her that reporters aren ’ t aiming to score “ political points ” by asking officials tough questions .
“ We do it ... on behalf of our fellow citizens .
And then sharing the answers — or lack thereof — with the world , ” she wrote .
The “ stakes are too high for their impulses and decisions not to be examined in as thoughtful and rigorous an interview as is possible , ” she added .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Pompeo told Kazakh journalist Aigerim Toleukhan in an interview that freedom of the press helps “build out civil societies” — and that the United States was willing to show the media there how to do it. “As a journalist, I’m sure you know the good work the State Department does to train journalists in press freedoms,” he said.
Advertisement
Toleukhan pressed him to reconcile his praise for a free press with his treatment of NPR and his “confrontational” interview over Ukraine. “What kind of message does it send to countries ... whose governments routinely suppress press freedom?” she asked.
Pompeo excused his behavior by accusing NPR of a lack of honesty.
Just over a week ago, Pompeo launched an off-air profanity-laced tirade against Mary Louise Kelly, the co-host of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” after she dared to ask him questions about Ukraine — even though she had cleared the subject with the State Department beforehand.
Pompeo didn’t dispute his rant against Kelly, but he insisted it was off the record, which NPR has denied. Days later, NPR’s diplomatic correspondent Michele Keleman was cut from Pompeo’s current trip to Britain, Ukraine, Belarus and Central Asia.
“I didn’t have a confrontational interview with an NPR reporter any more than I have confrontational interviews all the time,” Pompeo told Toleukhan, defending his curt, largely non-responsive answers to Kelly on air. “In America, that’s the greatness of our nation ... We talk openly.”
Advertisement
He said that members of the press who travel with him must conform to “certain sets of behaviors, and that’s simply telling the truth and being honest. When they’ll do that, they get to participate.”
Pompeo added that the message his treatment of NPR is a “perfect message about press freedoms.”
Interesting exchange between Secretary Pompeo and Aigerim Toleukhanova of Radio Azattyq in Kazakhstan. pic.twitter.com/Ys3xeWyoLz — Michele Kelemen (@michelekelemen) February 2, 2020
The State Department Correspondents’ Association issued a statement last week objecting to the decision to cut Keleman from Pompeo’s trip, saying it appeared to be retaliation for Kelly’s questions.
Toleukhan tweeted after her interview that she was “exhausted.” She added: “I did my part — asked questions that need answers.”
There was no immediate response from Kelly or NPR to Pompeo’s interview. But Kelly wrote in a New York Times opinion piece after Pompeo “shouted” at her that reporters aren’t aiming to score “political points” by asking officials tough questions. “We do it ... on behalf of our fellow citizens. And then sharing the answers — or lack thereof — with the world,” she wrote.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-02--Sean Hannity Lobs Softballs At Donald Trump In Super Bowl Pregame Interview

Trump was impeached in December on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
He withheld congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine and tried to coerce the country into announcing an investigation into former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden .
“ They don ’ t care about fairness , they don ’ t care about lying .
You look at the lies , you look at the reports that were done falsely , the level of hypocrisy , ” the president said about Democrats .
“ So , I ’ m not sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be honest .
I think they just want to win , and it doesn ’ t matter how they win.
” The GOP-controlled Senate is poised to acquit the president on Wednesday after Republicans successfully blocked a measure to call witnesses and other evidence .
Members of both parties have said that Trump improperly pressured a foreign government to investigate a political rival , but it ’ s unlikely the president will be removed from office because enough senators say the behavior doesn ’ t merit him being removed from office .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re going to talk about the achievements that we ’ ve made , ” he said .
“ I ’ m so proud of what we ’ ve done for our vets , with choice .
We got them choice , we got accountability where we can take care of our vets , where we can get rid of people that aren ’ t taking care of our vets.
” Trump was referring to the Veterans Choice program , a private-sector health care program that allows veterans to see providers outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration did not pass Veterans Choice ― President Barack Obama did , in 2014 .
Trump expanded eligibility for the program , allowing veterans to utilize a private doctor if their VA wait is 20 days or their drive to a doctor is 30 minutes .
The stipulations were previously 30 days and 40 miles , respectively .
Trump had more to say about Sanders than he did about most other 2020 candidates , as the Vermont senator is one of the Democratic front-runners going into the Iowa caucuses on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a communist .
I think of communism when I think of Bernie .
Now , you could say socialist , but didn ’ t he get married in Moscow ?
” Trump said of Sanders , who did not get married in Moscow .
“ I think of Bernie sort of as a socialist but far beyond a socialist.
” “ To defeat Donald Trump , who will be a formidable candidate for a number of reasons , we need to have the largest voter turnout in American history .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is a low-turnout election , Trump will win , ” Sanders said at Simpson College in Indianola , Iowa .
“ And I believe that our campaign is the campaign of energy , is the campaign of excitement [ and ] can bring millions of people into the political process who normally do not vote.
” “ Now he wants a box for the debates , to stand on , ” Trump said .
“ OK , it ’ s OK there ’ s nothing wrong , you can be short .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand on , OK ?
He wants a box for the debates .
Why should he be entitled to that ?
Really , does that mean everybody else gets a box ?
” “ Mini Mike is now negotiating both to get on the Democratic Primary debate stage , and to have the right to stand on boxes , or a lift , during the debates , ” the president tweeted without evidence .
“ This is sometimes done , but really not fair !
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The president mostly answered questions in lightning-round form during the nine-minute clip that aired Sunday afternoon — and almost all the questions related to Trump’s impeachment trial, his 2020 campaign or his Democratic rivals.
Advertisement
Here are some of the highlights from Hannity’s interview with Trump:
On the impeachment trial
Trump was impeached in December on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. He withheld congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine and tried to coerce the country into announcing an investigation into former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Trump entered the new year facing a Senate trial that would lead to lawmakers determining whether to remove him from office. The president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
“Is this a campaign issue for you? Do you let it go?” Hannity asked Trump. “Do you see a path that you could work with [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer, [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats?”
Trump answered that he would like to but that it’s difficult because he sees “the hatred.”
“They don’t care about fairness, they don’t care about lying. You look at the lies, you look at the reports that were done falsely, the level of hypocrisy,” the president said about Democrats. “So, I’m not sure that they can do it, to be honest. I think they just want to win, and it doesn’t matter how they win.”
Advertisement
The GOP-controlled Senate is poised to acquit the president on Wednesday after Republicans successfully blocked a measure to call witnesses and other evidence. Members of both parties have said that Trump improperly pressured a foreign government to investigate a political rival, but it’s unlikely the president will be removed from office because enough senators say the behavior doesn’t merit him being removed from office.
On delivering the State of the Union
Trump said he will continue with plans to deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday despite the looming impeachment vote in the Senate.
“We’re going to talk about the achievements that we’ve made,” he said. “I’m so proud of what we’ve done for our vets, with choice. We got them choice, we got accountability where we can take care of our vets, where we can get rid of people that aren’t taking care of our vets.”
Trump was referring to the Veterans Choice program, a private-sector health care program that allows veterans to see providers outside the government-run Veterans Affairs system. But the Trump administration did not pass Veterans Choice ― President Barack Obama did, in 2014. Trump expanded eligibility for the program, allowing veterans to utilize a private doctor if their VA wait is 20 days or their drive to a doctor is 30 minutes. The stipulations were previously 30 days and 40 miles, respectively.
On 2020 candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders
Trump had more to say about Sanders than he did about most other 2020 candidates, as the Vermont senator is one of the Democratic front-runners going into the Iowa caucuses on Monday.
Advertisement
“Well, I think he’s a communist. I think of communism when I think of Bernie. Now, you could say socialist, but didn’t he get married in Moscow?” Trump said of Sanders, who did not get married in Moscow. “I think of Bernie sort of as a socialist but far beyond a socialist.”
Trump on Bernie Sanders: "I think he's a communist. I think of communism when I think of Bernie ... didn't he get married in Moscow?" (Bernie Sanders did not get married in Moscow.) pic.twitter.com/zeOK7vUALD — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2020
“At least he’s true to what he believes,” Trump said while comparing Sanders to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Trump claimed Warren “can’t tell the truth” and believes “everything’s a fairy tale.” Later in the interview, Trump accused Democrats of “rigging the election” against Sanders.
Sanders, back on the campaign trail after a week in Washington for the impeachment trial, told supporters Saturday that he is the Democratic candidate with the best chance of defeating Trump.
“To defeat Donald Trump, who will be a formidable candidate for a number of reasons, we need to have the largest voter turnout in American history. That’s just a fact. If it is a low-turnout election, Trump will win,” Sanders said at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. “And I believe that our campaign is the campaign of energy, is the campaign of excitement [and] can bring millions of people into the political process who normally do not vote.”
Advertisement
On 2020 candidate billionaire Michael Bloomberg
Trump said he thinks “very little” of Bloomberg, seemingly mocking the former New York City mayor’s height.
“Now he wants a box for the debates, to stand on,” Trump said. “OK, it’s OK there’s nothing wrong, you can be short. Why should he get a box to stand on, OK? He wants a box for the debates. Why should he be entitled to that? Really, does that mean everybody else gets a box?”
Trump to Hannity on Michael Bloomberg: "Very little. I just think of little. Now he wants a box for the debates to stand on ... he wants a box for the debates! Why should he be entitled to that?" #BeBest pic.twitter.com/8rMeBFMcEE — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2020
Trump posted a series of tweets earlier on Sunday in which he called Bloomberg “Mini Mike” and accused him of being “part of the Fake News.”
“Mini Mike is now negotiating both to get on the Democratic Primary debate stage, and to have the right to stand on boxes, or a lift, during the debates,” the president tweeted without evidence. “This is sometimes done, but really not fair!”
Advertisement
“The president is lying,” Bloomberg spokesperson Julie Wood told HuffPost. “He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan.”
Both Trump and Bloomberg have each spent $11 million for 60-second ads that will air during the Super Bowl, according to The New York Times.
On, uh, sports
Trump provided a bizarre, vague answer in response to Hannity’s question about what he loves about sports. Trump called sports “a microcosm of life.”
“You have winners, you have champions, you have people that you expect to see that final play,” Trump said, specifically naming the New England Patriots’ head coach, Bill Belichick. The team has been in the Super Bowl nine times under Belichick, but did not qualify this year.
Advertisement
“You have people that you expect more out of, and oftentimes they produce,” Trump said. “Then you have people that you just don’t expect they’re gonna do it, and oftentimes they don’t. It’s a microcosm of life.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-02--Chris Wallace Grills Amy Klobuchar About Investigation Into Teen's Life Sentence

Fox News ’ Chris Wallace on Sunday peppered Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) with questions about her role in helping to get a Black teen sentenced to life behind bars in the early 2000s after a recent report raised questions about his conviction .
The Associated Press last week published a yearlong investigation into the 2002 murder of Tyesha Edwards , an 11-year-old who was killed when a stray bullet struck her while she was doing homework at her dining room table .
Myon Burrell , then 16 , was charged with her murder .
Klobuchar , a top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led the case against Burrell , who was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to life in prison .
But the AP report brought to light a slew of inconsistencies in the police ’ s investigation of Edwards ’ murder , claiming evidence that Burrell says would have cleared him was never seriously pursued by investigators .
Wallace , during an interview with Klobuchar on “ Fox News Sunday , ” noted that the Democratic presidential candidate has held up Burrell ’ s conviction as an example of how she ’ s been “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] found police offered cash to potential witnesses and relied on testimony from jailhouse informants who got reduced sentences , ” Wallace said .
“ Senator , did you know when you were the prosecutor about any of that and should this man ’ s case be reopened ?
” “ It was a big deal within the African American community , ” Klobuchar said of Edwards ’ slaying .
“ Our focus was on bringing the people to justice .
...
So what happened was three people were convicted ― ” Wallace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me just say , we know it was a bad case .
The question is whether this young man did it .
And this AP investigation indicates that other people that were there said he didn ’ t do it and that some of the witnesses that were relied on were very questionable .
You were the head prosecutor ― did you know ?
And if you didn ’ t , shouldn ’ t you have known ?
” “ My view , as someone who has worked with the Innocence Project for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new evidence it must come forward , ” Klobuchar said Sunday .
“ It must come forward and it must be considered immediately by the court .
The job of a prosecutor is to do justice , and that means to me convict the guilty , protect the innocent.
” But Wallace interrupted her again : “ Senator , you ’ re not answering my question .
Did you know about the fact that there was this questionable evidence that the police were coming up with ?
” Wallace continued to press her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ questionable evidence ” while she was the prosecutor and noting that she ’ s polling at below 1 % of support from African American voters .
“ Well , I think what you ’ ve seen all across the country is that when people get to know me , I do well , ” Klobuchar said .
“ And it ’ s on me .
I ’ ve got to go out there and get to know people.
” “ Young people , young adults , were given life sentences to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at the press conference .
“ This benefits no one .
However , it does benefit politicians that have used the criminal justice system to enhance their political careers , and enough is enough .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Fox News’ Chris Wallace on Sunday peppered Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) with questions about her role in helping to get a Black teen sentenced to life behind bars in the early 2000s after a recent report raised questions about his conviction.
The Associated Press last week published a yearlong investigation into the 2002 murder of Tyesha Edwards, an 11-year-old who was killed when a stray bullet struck her while she was doing homework at her dining room table.
Advertisement
Myon Burrell, then 16, was charged with her murder. Klobuchar, a top prosecutor in Minnesota at the time, led the case against Burrell, who was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
But the AP report brought to light a slew of inconsistencies in the police’s investigation of Edwards’ murder, claiming evidence that Burrell says would have cleared him was never seriously pursued by investigators.
Wallace, during an interview with Klobuchar on “Fox News Sunday,” noted that the Democratic presidential candidate has held up Burrell’s conviction as an example of how she’s been “tough on crime.”
“[AP] found police offered cash to potential witnesses and relied on testimony from jailhouse informants who got reduced sentences,” Wallace said. “Senator, did you know when you were the prosecutor about any of that and should this man’s case be reopened?”
Advertisement
Klobuchar appeared to sidestep the question, laying out why Edwards’ death was tragic and noting that “justice must be done.”
“It was a big deal within the African American community,” Klobuchar said of Edwards’ slaying. “Our focus was on bringing the people to justice. ... So what happened was three people were convicted ―”
Wallace interrupted, “But senator, let me just say, we know it was a bad case. The question is whether this young man did it. And this AP investigation indicates that other people that were there said he didn’t do it and that some of the witnesses that were relied on were very questionable. You were the head prosecutor ― did you know? And if you didn’t, shouldn’t you have known?”
Sen Amy Klobuchar responds to new evidence in a murder case she prosecuted years ago as well as to criticism that her tough-on-crime record is alienating some black voters. #FNS #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/fz9D2sKV4K — FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) February 2, 2020
Klobuchar noted that there were two trials in Burrell’s case ― one of which took place after she left the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Advertisement
The Minnesota Supreme Court overturned Burrell’s conviction in 2005, citing “several errors” that occurred during his trial. But he was convicted a second time in 2008 after Klobuchar had left the prosecutor’s office.
“My view, as someone who has worked with the Innocence Project for years, is that if there is new evidence it must come forward,” Klobuchar said Sunday. “It must come forward and it must be considered immediately by the court. The job of a prosecutor is to do justice, and that means to me convict the guilty, protect the innocent.”
But Wallace interrupted her again: “Senator, you’re not answering my question. Did you know about the fact that there was this questionable evidence that the police were coming up with?”
Klobuchar said she “didn’t know about this new evidence” and “couldn’t have” because she hasn’t worked in the state attorney’s office for 12 years.
Wallace continued to press her, asking again whether she knew about the “questionable evidence” while she was the prosecutor and noting that she’s polling at below 1% of support from African American voters.
Advertisement
“Well, I think what you’ve seen all across the country is that when people get to know me, I do well,” Klobuchar said. “And it’s on me. I’ve got to go out there and get to know people.”
The AP’s findings prompted an outcry from civil rights activists, with some Black community members in Minnesota calling on Klobuchar to drop out of the race.
Leslie Redmond, the president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, said during a press conference last week that Klobuchar must immediately suspend her campaign.
“Young people, young adults, were given life sentences to rot away in prison,” she said at the press conference. “This benefits no one. However, it does benefit politicians that have used the criminal justice system to enhance their political careers, and enough is enough.”
“Amy Klobuchar,” she added, “you have questions that need to be answered.”
Watch Wallace’s full interview with Klobuchar below. He asks her about Burrell’s case around the 4:30 mark.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-03--Poll: Voters Think Joe Biden Will Win The Democratic Nomination

More than one-third of registered voters — including 43 % of Democrats — think former Vice President Joe Biden will claim the Democratic nomination , according to a new HuffPost/YouGov survey .
Just 19 % of registered voters and 17 % of Democrats think Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) will claim the right to challenge President Donald Trump in November .
Seven percent of registered voters and 13 % of Democrats think Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will , while 5 % of registered voters and 7 % of Democrats think former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No other candidate received more than 2 % , including former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar .
A major portion of the electorate is unsure who will win : 27 % of registered voters and 14 % of Democrats didn ’ t have an opinion about who would clinch the nomination .
The survey illustrates how Biden , the leading establishment candidate in the race , is still considered the default pick for many Democrats — even after taking fire for months from other candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Democrats who say they think Biden will eventually face Trump greatly outpaces his performance in polling averages , which generally show him receiving around 27 % of the vote .
That means a significant amount of voters who intend to cast ballots for candidates other than Biden think he ’ ll still claim the nomination .
At the same time , Sanders generally receives around 22 % support in polling averages ― meaning many of his supporters think another candidate will ultimately triumph .
The same is true of backers of Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entrepreneur Andrew Yang .
Yet the results also indicate that many voters believe the candidate they are backing is likely to win : Black voters , who make up a core part of Biden ’ s base , are especially confident he will win the nomination , with 44 % predicting a victory .
Just 10 % think Sanders will win , while 9 % think Warren will and 8 % say the same of Bloomberg .
But among Hispanic voters , who Sanders has courted extensively , just 25 % think Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders becoming the nominee .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
More than one-third of registered voters — including 43% of Democrats — think former Vice President Joe Biden will claim the Democratic nomination, according to a new HuffPost/YouGov survey.
Just 19% of registered voters and 17% of Democrats think Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will claim the right to challenge President Donald Trump in November. Seven percent of registered voters and 13% of Democrats think Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will, while 5% of registered voters and 7% of Democrats think former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will claim his new party’s nomination. No other candidate received more than 2%, including former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Advertisement
A major portion of the electorate is unsure who will win: 27% of registered voters and 14% of Democrats didn’t have an opinion about who would clinch the nomination.
The survey illustrates how Biden, the leading establishment candidate in the race, is still considered the default pick for many Democrats — even after taking fire for months from other candidates, including Sanders.
The 43% of Democrats who say they think Biden will eventually face Trump greatly outpaces his performance in polling averages, which generally show him receiving around 27% of the vote. That means a significant amount of voters who intend to cast ballots for candidates other than Biden think he’ll still claim the nomination.
Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Advertisement
At the same time, Sanders generally receives around 22% support in polling averages ― meaning many of his supporters think another candidate will ultimately triumph. The same is true of backers of Warren, Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Klobuchar and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.
Yet the results also indicate that many voters believe the candidate they are backing is likely to win: Black voters, who make up a core part of Biden’s base, are especially confident he will win the nomination, with 44% predicting a victory. Just 10% think Sanders will win, while 9% think Warren will and 8% say the same of Bloomberg.
But among Hispanic voters, who Sanders has courted extensively, just 25% think Biden will win, while 22% see Sanders becoming the nominee.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-02--Bloomberg Campaign Tears Into ‘Lying’ Trump Over Bizarre Rant About Boxes

Michael Bloomberg ’ s campaign called President Donald Trump a “ pathological liar ” on Sunday after he mocked the former New York City mayor ’ s height and accused him of asking for a box to stand on during an upcoming Democratic presidential debate .
“ The president is lying , ” Julie Wood , a spokeswoman for Bloomberg ’ s campaign , said in a statement to HuffPost .
“ He is a pathological liar who lies about everything : his fake hair , his obesity , and his spray-on tan.
” In an eyebrow-raising clip of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sean Hannity , Trump claims that “ short ” Bloomberg ― who is 5-foot-7 , according to his campaign ― unfairly will get to stand on a box during the debate .
More of the interview is set to air on Fox News at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday .
“ You know , now he wants a box for the debates to stand on , ” the president told Hannity .
“ It ’ s OK , there ’ s nothing wrong ― you could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ box to stand on , OK ?
He wants a box for the debates .
Why should he be entitled to that ?
Really , does that mean everyone else gets a box ?
” In a series of tweets early Sunday , Trump , who is reportedly 6 feet , 3 inches tall , repeatedly referred to Bloomberg as “ Mini Mike ” and accused him of being “ part of the Fake News.
” “ Mini Mike is now negotiating both to get on the Democrat Primary debate stage , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes , or a lift , during the debates , ” the president tweeted without evidence .
“ This is sometimes done , but really not fair !
” “ Someone seems defensive , ” McEnany tweeted in response to the Bloomberg campaign ’ s statement calling Trump a “ pathological liar.
” “ P.S .
Mini Mike , you ’ ll never be as tough as @ RealDonaldTrump .
Nice try !
” McEnany did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how Trump ’ s campaign sees tweets mocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first lady Melania Trump ’ s “ Be Best ” campaign against cyberbullying .
The Trump and Bloomberg campaigns have each spent $ 11 million for 60-second ads that will air during the Super Bowl , reported The New York Times .
The Bloomberg ad , which features an emotional story told by the mother of a young man killed by gun violence , calls for stricter gun control legislation .
Trump ’ s ad boasts about low unemployment and shows images from his rallies .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Michael Bloomberg’s campaign called President Donald Trump a “pathological liar” on Sunday after he mocked the former New York City mayor’s height and accused him of asking for a box to stand on during an upcoming Democratic presidential debate.
“The president is lying,” Julie Wood, a spokeswoman for Bloomberg’s campaign, said in a statement to HuffPost. “He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan.”
Advertisement
In an eyebrow-raising clip of his most recent interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump claims that “short” Bloomberg ― who is 5-foot-7, according to his campaign ― unfairly will get to stand on a box during the debate. More of the interview is set to air on Fox News at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday.
“You know, now he wants a box for the debates to stand on,” the president told Hannity. “It’s OK, there’s nothing wrong ― you could be short. Why should he get a box to stand on, OK? He wants a box for the debates. Why should he be entitled to that? Really, does that mean everyone else gets a box?”
Wood told HuffPost on Sunday that Trump “completely made up” the claim.
The first clip from Sean Hannity's big interview with the president features POTUS talking about Michael Bloomberg's height. pic.twitter.com/iRdX3fFUTg — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 2, 2020
In a series of tweets early Sunday, Trump, who is reportedly 6 feet, 3 inches tall, repeatedly referred to Bloomberg as “Mini Mike” and accused him of being “part of the Fake News.”
Advertisement
“Mini Mike is now negotiating both to get on the Democrat Primary debate stage, and to have the right to stand on boxes, or a lift, during the debates,” the president tweeted without evidence. “This is sometimes done, but really not fair!”
Asked for comment, Trump campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany referred HuffPost to a tweet she posted earlier Sunday.
“Someone seems defensive,” McEnany tweeted in response to the Bloomberg campaign’s statement calling Trump a “pathological liar.” “P.S. Mini Mike, you’ll never be as tough as @RealDonaldTrump. Nice try!”
Someone seems defensive...
P.S. Mini Mike, you’ll never be as tough as @realDonaldTrump. Nice try! https://t.co/OlaASBIMDt — Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) February 2, 2020
McEnany did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how Trump’s campaign sees tweets mocking someone about their height as aligning with first lady Melania Trump’s “Be Best” campaign against cyberbullying.
Advertisement
The Trump and Bloomberg campaigns have each spent $11 million for 60-second ads that will air during the Super Bowl, reported The New York Times.