thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--A Trump-Tied Law Firm ‘Played Both Sides Of The Ledger’ During Oil Market Crash

In April , HuffPost reported on the firm ’ s lucrative relationship with Saudi Arabia as the kingdom and Russia flooded the market with cheap oil .
But it was unclear at the time if BHFS retained the Saudi government as a client into 2020 .
New regulatory filings to the Department of Justice now confirm that BHFS not only represented the kingdom through a standoff that rocked domestic producers , but that its work for the kingdom early this year included lobbying specifically on oil and gas issues .
Prior to joining the Trump administration in August 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shareholder at BHFS , where he lobbied on behalf of fossil fuel , mining and agricultural interests that are now benefiting from the administration ’ s aggressive environmental rollbacks .
After Trump ’ s election , the law firm publicly touted its “ significant relationships ” with “ those who will steer the incoming Trump administration.
” In the years since , it has seen its revenues from lobbying the Interior Department balloon as fossil fuel and other industries attempt to sway an agency at the heart of the Trump administration ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now run by one of the firm ’ s former partners .
According to a Sept. 30 filing , Martha “ Mimi ” Burke , a policy adviser at BHFS , met with Rep. Angie Craig ( D-Minn. ) on May 7 to discuss a flotilla of some two dozen Saudi oil tankers that began arriving at U.S. shores early that month , loaded with more than 40 million barrels of crude oil .
The tankers , which the Saudis launched beginning in late March as part of the price battle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they struggled to stay afloat amid a historic oversupply of oil and a steep decline in global demand due to the coronavirus pandemic .
At least two U.S. drilling companies , Whiting Petroleum Corp. and Diamond Offshore Drilling , cited the price war in announcing bankruptcy in April .
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable meeting with energy sector CEOs at the White House on April 3 .
U.S. oil companies were hit hard by both the effects of the coronavirus and from foreign pressures caused by Russia and Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Saudi government , lobbying disclosure data shows BHFS continues to represent several oil and gas interests that the Saudi-led market crash affected .
The firm ’ s domestic clients include , among others , the American Petroleum Institute , the leading trade association of the U.S. oil and gas industry ; Oklahoma-based natural gas company WPX Energy , which late last month merged with Devon Energy ; and Texas oil exploration and production company Hunt Consolidated .
It is surprising “ that neither the President nor the [ Interior ] Secretary seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s efforts are derailing Trump ’ s energy dominance fantasy by allowing excess crude to be dumped into domestic markets , further depressing prices , ” he said .
Burke , who spent more than two decades working in Saudi Arabia ’ s embassy in Washington before joining BHFS as a lobbyist in 2017 , also met between May and June with Reps. Chrissy Houlahan ( D-Penn . )
, Dan Kildee ( D-Mich. ) and Eric Swalwell ( D-Calif. ) to lobby on bipartisan legislation that aimed to prevent the 14-member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better known as OPEC , from coordinating production and setting prices .
As Reuters reported , Saudi Arabia threatened in April to sell its oil in currencies other than the dollar if Congress passed the bill , aptly named the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act , or NOPEC .
First introduced in 2000 but never enacted , the bill would allow for the cartel to be prosecuted under antitrust laws .
The Saudi-Russian oil battle and coronavirus pandemic upended an American fossil fuel sector that had enjoyed a comfortable three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March , domestic producers and Republican lawmakers turned to the administration that ’ s proven itself a loyal ally of fossil fuels .
BHFS client API , which represents hundreds of members in the oil and gas sector , requested regulatory relief in a letter to the White House .
In a pair of letters in late March and early April , more than 70 members of Congress , mostly Republicans who have received large donations from the fossil fuel industry over their political careers , called on the Trump administration to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminating royalties ― payments that oil and gas companies make to the federal government to extract oil and gas from public lands and waters .
And more than a dozen Republican senators sent a letter to de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in mid-March urging him to stabilize the turbulent market .
When the Saudi government stayed its course , Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) , one of the letter ’ s signees , accused the kingdom of “ engaging in economic warfare against the United States ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of American producers out of business.
” In early April , Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to cut oil production , bringing an end to the price war after a month .
The announcement came roughly a week after Trump told Crown Prince Mohammed by phone that failing to end the standoff would likely result in Congress passing legislation to withdraw all U.S. troops and missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia , Reuters reported .
Republican Sens .
Kevin Cramer ( N.D. ) and Dan Sullivan ( Alaska ) introduced that legislation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” on March 24 .
The following day , Ari Zimmerman , one of several BHFS policy advisers who lobbies on the Saudi government ’ s behalf , met with Cramer to discuss the bill , the latest filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act shows .
That discussion appears to have done little to deter Cramer from publicly slamming the kingdom .
“ Saudi Arabia has shown indifference , if not malintent , for American energy producers during its feud with Russia , ” he said in a March 27 statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two countries struck a deal to cut production .
“ These are not the actions of a supposed ally or friend , and they will not be tolerated .
”

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A law firm that previously employed President Donald Trump’s interior secretary and has multiple clients in the U.S. fossil fuel sector continued to represent Saudi Arabia through an oil price war that devastated U.S. oil drillers earlier this year.
Since 2016, the government of Saudi Arabia has paid Colorado-based lobbying giant Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck more than $6.7 million to represent its interests in Washington, according to data from the nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics.
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In April, HuffPost reported on the firm’s lucrative relationship with Saudi Arabia as the kingdom and Russia flooded the market with cheap oil. But it was unclear at the time if BHFS retained the Saudi government as a client into 2020.
New regulatory filings to the Department of Justice now confirm that BHFS not only represented the kingdom through a standoff that rocked domestic producers, but that its work for the kingdom early this year included lobbying specifically on oil and gas issues.
Prior to joining the Trump administration in August 2017, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt was an attorney and shareholder at BHFS, where he lobbied on behalf of fossil fuel, mining and agricultural interests that are now benefiting from the administration’s aggressive environmental rollbacks. After Trump’s election, the law firm publicly touted its “significant relationships” with “those who will steer the incoming Trump administration.”
In the years since, it has seen its revenues from lobbying the Interior Department balloon as fossil fuel and other industries attempt to sway an agency at the heart of the Trump administration’s so-called “energy dominance” agenda and now run by one of the firm’s former partners.
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According to a Sept. 30 filing, Martha “Mimi” Burke, a policy adviser at BHFS, met with Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) on May 7 to discuss a flotilla of some two dozen Saudi oil tankers that began arriving at U.S. shores early that month, loaded with more than 40 million barrels of crude oil.
The tankers, which the Saudis launched beginning in late March as part of the price battle, added to the woes of domestic producers as they struggled to stay afloat amid a historic oversupply of oil and a steep decline in global demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. At least two U.S. drilling companies, Whiting Petroleum Corp. and Diamond Offshore Drilling, cited the price war in announcing bankruptcy in April.
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable meeting with energy sector CEOs at the White House on April 3. U.S. oil companies were hit hard by both the effects of the coronavirus and from foreign pressures caused by Russia and Saudi Arabia in the oil markets. Photo by Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images
Along with the Saudi government, lobbying disclosure data shows BHFS continues to represent several oil and gas interests that the Saudi-led market crash affected. The firm’s domestic clients include, among others, the American Petroleum Institute, the leading trade association of the U.S. oil and gas industry; Oklahoma-based natural gas company WPX Energy, which late last month merged with Devon Energy; and Texas oil exploration and production company Hunt Consolidated.
Jayson O’Neill, project director at Western Values Project, a left-leaning public lands and oil industry watchdog group, accused BHFS of “playing both sides of the ledger to make as much money as possible.”
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It is surprising “that neither the President nor the [Interior] Secretary seems to mind that his old lobby shop’s efforts are derailing Trump’s energy dominance fantasy by allowing excess crude to be dumped into domestic markets, further depressing prices,” he said.
Neither BHFS nor the Saudi Embassy in Washington responded to HuffPost’s requests for comment. Craig’s office also did not respond.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in June 2019. Mikhail Svetlov via Getty Images
Burke, who spent more than two decades working in Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Washington before joining BHFS as a lobbyist in 2017, also met between May and June with Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.), Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) to lobby on bipartisan legislation that aimed to prevent the 14-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, better known as OPEC, from coordinating production and setting prices.
As Reuters reported, Saudi Arabia threatened in April to sell its oil in currencies other than the dollar if Congress passed the bill, aptly named the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act, or NOPEC. First introduced in 2000 but never enacted, the bill would allow for the cartel to be prosecuted under antitrust laws.
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The Saudi-Russian oil battle and coronavirus pandemic upended an American fossil fuel sector that had enjoyed a comfortable three years under Trump. As oil prices plummeted in March, domestic producers and Republican lawmakers turned to the administration that’s proven itself a loyal ally of fossil fuels. BHFS client API, which represents hundreds of members in the oil and gas sector, requested regulatory relief in a letter to the White House.
In a pair of letters in late March and early April, more than 70 members of Congress, mostly Republicans who have received large donations from the fossil fuel industry over their political careers, called on the Trump administration to throw oil a lifeline by reducing or eliminating royalties ― payments that oil and gas companies make to the federal government to extract oil and gas from public lands and waters.
And more than a dozen Republican senators sent a letter to de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in mid-March urging him to stabilize the turbulent market. When the Saudi government stayed its course, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), one of the letter’s signees, accused the kingdom of “engaging in economic warfare against the United States” in an effort to “drive a bunch of American producers out of business.”
In early April, Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to cut oil production, bringing an end to the price war after a month. The announcement came roughly a week after Trump told Crown Prince Mohammed by phone that failing to end the standoff would likely result in Congress passing legislation to withdraw all U.S. troops and missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported.
Republican Sens. Kevin Cramer (N.D.) and Dan Sullivan (Alaska) introduced that legislation, dubbed the “Strained Partnership Act,” on March 24.
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In BHFS’ latest filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, Ari Zimmerman, one of several employees who lobbies on behalf of the Saudi government, reported meeting with a staffer in Cramer’s office to discuss the bill the following day, on March 25. A spokesman for Cramer told HuffPost that while Zimmerman did reach out to his office and provide information, neither the senator nor any staffer met with him in person.
Zimmerman’s effort appears to have done little to deter Cramer from publicly slamming the kingdom.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--NBC News To Host Town Hall With Trump On Thursday After Debate Canceled

President Donald Trump will participate in a town hall event in Miami on Thursday hosted by NBC News , the network announced Wednesday .
The town hall , which NBC News said would be outside and socially distanced , will take the place of the previously scheduled debate between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Biden is scheduled to appear in a separate town hall event at the same time .
The Commission on Presidential Debates canceled last week ’ s debate after Trump , hospitalized earlier this month for COVID-19 , refused to participate in a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week that it would host a town hall event with Biden in Philadelphia on Thursday .
It will be hosted by ABC ’ s George Stephanopoulos .
Biden and Trump were previously slated to participate in their second presidential debate during that time slot , but Trump ’ s illness put those plans on pause .
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced on Thursday ― about a week after Trump revealed he tested positive for the coronavirus ― that the debate would be held virtually in light of the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying he wanted it held in person or he wouldn ’ t waste his time attending .
After the Trump and Biden campaigns scheduled separate events for that night , the debate commission had no choice but to cancel the second debate .
“ It is now apparent there will be no debate on October 15 , and the CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate scheduled for October 22 , ” the group said last week .

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President Donald Trump will participate in a town hall event in Miami on Thursday hosted by NBC News, the network announced Wednesday.
The town hall, which NBC News said would be outside and socially distanced, will take the place of the previously scheduled debate between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Biden is scheduled to appear in a separate town hall event at the same time.
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The Commission on Presidential Debates canceled last week’s debate after Trump, hospitalized earlier this month for COVID-19, refused to participate in a virtual version of it.
ABC News announced last week that it would host a town hall event with Biden in Philadelphia on Thursday. It will be hosted by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.
NBC’s Savannah Guthrie will moderate the town hall with Trump.
The dueling events are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
Biden and Trump were previously slated to participate in their second presidential debate during that time slot, but Trump’s illness put those plans on pause.
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced on Thursday ― about a week after Trump revealed he tested positive for the coronavirus ― that the debate would be held virtually in light of the president’s health. But Trump fiercely pushed back, saying he wanted it held in person or he wouldn’t waste his time attending.
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After the Trump and Biden campaigns scheduled separate events for that night, the debate commission had no choice but to cancel the second debate.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-13--Federal Court Strikes Down Texas Effort To Ban Common Abortion Procedure

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit decided Tuesday to lift the state ’ s ban on dilation and evacuation ( D & E ) , a standard method of abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy .
The Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit in 2017 challenging the ban on behalf of Whole Woman ’ s Health in partnership with Planned Parenthood .
The law “ unduly burdens a woman ’ s constitutionally-protected right to obtain a previability abortion , ” Judge James L. Dennis wrote in the decision .
He added that the law “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their medical judgment and the best interest of their patient by conducting a medical procedure that delivers no benefit to the woman.
” The Texas measure , which had been blocked from taking effect , prohibited what it called “ dismemberment abortions , ” a term adopted by abortion rights opponents to target D & E procedures .
Doctors who violated the ban would have faced up to two years in prison .
But a D & E abortion is the safest and most common method of second-trimester abortions in Texas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first 15 weeks of pregnancy as measured from a person ’ s last menstrual period .
In the first stage , a physician dilates the cervix .
In the second stage , also known as evacuation , the physician uses suction , forceps or other tools to remove the fetus through the dilated cervical opening .
Just 11 % of abortions nationwide take place after the first trimester , and about 95 % of them are done using D & E , according to the Guttmacher Institute .
Texas said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because there are procedures causing fetal death in utero that must be used in addition to D & E to ensure an abortion compliant with the law .
Eight licensed abortion clinics and three abortion providers , who were the plaintiffs in the case , argued that the additional procedures would place “ a substantial obstacle to a woman ’ s right to a second trimester D & E abortion.
” In 1992 , the Supreme Court ruled that states can regulate abortion as long as they don ’ t impose an “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedure .
The court defines an undue burden as a state regulation that “ has the purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion , ” as explained in Planned Parenthood v. Casey .
“ Today ’ s decision puts a stop to Texas ’ strategy to ban one abortion procedure after another until it is all but inaccessible , ” Nancy Northrup , president of the Center for Reproductive Rights , said in a statement .
“ Politicians should never decide what medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive .
This ruling follows decades of Supreme Court precedent and the Fifth Circuit has joined every other federal court in striking down these types of bans .
Tuesday ’ s ruling comes months after the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law in June Medical Services v. Russo .
The law would have closed all but one of the remaining health centers providing abortion procedures in the state , and it had the potential of gutting Roe v. Wade .
The high court in 2016 struck down an identical law in Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state .
“ Today ’ s ruling should send a clear message to Gov .
[ Greg ] Abbott and [ Attorney General Ken ] Paxton that they will not be able to succeed in their cruel crusade to ban abortion .
While we may have a victory today , the fight continues , ” said Alexis McGill Johnson , president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America .
“ Over the past year alone , Gov .
Abbott and AG Paxton have used every tool at their disposal to hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders aimed at exploiting the pandemic to defending unconstitutional laws in the courts , ” she added .
“ It is all part of their strategy to restrict abortion access until it ’ s completely out of reach for millions of people.
” Earlier this year , Abbott and Paxton implemented a temporary ban on abortion in Texas for about one month .
While the ban was in effect , patients were forced to travel hundreds of miles in order to access necessary medical care .
The ruling came in the same week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee , Amy Coney Barrett , is underway .
The conservative judge ’ s nomination has raised concerns that she would join other conservatives on the court to overturn Roe v. Wade and take away its protection of abortion rights .

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In a win for abortion rights groups, a federal appeals court has struck down a Texas law that had banned an abortion procedure that is commonly used after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit decided Tuesday to lift the state’s ban on dilation and evacuation (D&E), a standard method of abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy. The Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit in 2017 challenging the ban on behalf of Whole Woman’s Health in partnership with Planned Parenthood.
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The law “unduly burdens a woman’s constitutionally-protected right to obtain a previability abortion,” Judge James L. Dennis wrote in the decision. He added that the law “also forces abortion providers to act contrary to their medical judgment and the best interest of their patient by conducting a medical procedure that delivers no benefit to the woman.”
🚨BREAKING🚨A federal appeals court in Texas just struck down the state’s ban on the standard abortion procedure used after 15 weeks of pregnancy. We filed this lawsuit in 2017 on behalf of @wholewomans in partnership with @ppfa. — Center for Reproductive Rights (@ReproRights) October 13, 2020
The Texas measure, which had been blocked from taking effect, prohibited what it called “dismemberment abortions,” a term adopted by abortion rights opponents to target D&E procedures. Doctors who violated the ban would have faced up to two years in prison.
But a D&E abortion is the safest and most common method of second-trimester abortions in Texas and nationwide, with the procedure occurring after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy as measured from a person’s last menstrual period.
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In the first stage, a physician dilates the cervix. In the second stage, also known as evacuation, the physician uses suction, forceps or other tools to remove the fetus through the dilated cervical opening. Just 11% of abortions nationwide take place after the first trimester, and about 95% of them are done using D&E, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Texas said that the law did not impermissibly restrict abortion access because there are procedures causing fetal death in utero that must be used in addition to D&E to ensure an abortion compliant with the law. Eight licensed abortion clinics and three abortion providers, who were the plaintiffs in the case, argued that the additional procedures would place “a substantial obstacle to a woman’s right to a second trimester D&E abortion.”
In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that states can regulate abortion as long as they don’t impose an “undue burden” on those seeking the procedure. The court defines an undue burden as a state regulation that “has the purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion,” as explained in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
“Today’s decision puts a stop to Texas’ strategy to ban one abortion procedure after another until it is all but inaccessible,” Nancy Northrup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. “Politicians should never decide what medical procedures a patient can and cannot receive. This ruling follows decades of Supreme Court precedent and the Fifth Circuit has joined every other federal court in striking down these types of bans.
It was unclear whether Texas would appeal the ruling.
Tuesday’s ruling comes months after the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law in June Medical Services v. Russo. The law would have closed all but one of the remaining health centers providing abortion procedures in the state, and it had the potential of gutting Roe v. Wade. The high court in 2016 struck down an identical law in Texas that closed down half the abortion clinics in the state.
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“Today’s ruling should send a clear message to Gov. [Greg] Abbott and [Attorney General Ken] Paxton that they will not be able to succeed in their cruel crusade to ban abortion. While we may have a victory today, the fight continues,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
“Over the past year alone, Gov. Abbott and AG Paxton have used every tool at their disposal to hurt our patients, from bogus COVID-19 executive orders aimed at exploiting the pandemic to defending unconstitutional laws in the courts,” she added. “It is all part of their strategy to restrict abortion access until it’s completely out of reach for millions of people.”
Earlier this year, Abbott and Paxton implemented a temporary ban on abortion in Texas for about one month. While the ban was in effect, patients were forced to travel hundreds of miles in order to access necessary medical care.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--CNN Doctor Burns Donald Trump With Forest Fire Analogy About Battleground State Rallies

Cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Reiner on Tuesday used a blazing analogy to argue why President Donald Trump ’ s rallies in battleground states are “ making it easier ” for the coronavirus to spread .
Reiner , a medical analyst for CNN who treated former Vice President Dick Cheney , told “ Outfront ” anchor Erin Burnett that Trump is “ doing a lot of the virus ’ work.
” The president is serving as “ the caddie for the virus ” with the events , where many of his supporters do not practice social distancing or wear face masks aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reiner said .
“ If you look at the battleground states — Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , Michigan , Florida , Arizona , North Carolina — the virus is surging in all of those states , ” the doctor said .
“ If you think about unmasked people in mass gatherings , it ’ s like dry brush in a forest fire , ” he continued .
“ When the fire encounters that dry brush , it ignites and intensifies the fire , and that ’ s what happens in a pandemic when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president is making it easier for the virus to spread in those states , ” Reiner concluded .
“ It ’ s — you know , maybe this helps him electorally .
I don ’ t understand the politics here .
But it ’ s very damaging to the public health.
” “ The President is doing a lot of the virus ’ work , ” says Dr. Jonathan Reiner about Pres .
Trump holding campaign rallies amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases across the US .
“ He ’ s like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ //t.co/hrGSmqzCGM pic.twitter.com/GbnCTCZR8X — OutFrontCNN ( @ OutFrontCNN ) October 14 , 2020

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Cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Reiner on Tuesday used a blazing analogy to argue why President Donald Trump’s rallies in battleground states are “making it easier” for the coronavirus to spread.
Reiner, a medical analyst for CNN who treated former Vice President Dick Cheney, told “Outfront” anchor Erin Burnett that Trump is “doing a lot of the virus’ work.” The president is serving as “the caddie for the virus” with the events, where many of his supporters do not practice social distancing or wear face masks aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, Reiner said.
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“If you look at the battleground states — Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Arizona, North Carolina — the virus is surging in all of those states,” the doctor said.
“If you think about unmasked people in mass gatherings, it’s like dry brush in a forest fire,” he continued. “When the fire encounters that dry brush, it ignites and intensifies the fire, and that’s what happens in a pandemic when you put together unmasked people.”
“The president is making it easier for the virus to spread in those states,” Reiner concluded. “It’s — you know, maybe this helps him electorally. I don’t understand the politics here. But it’s very damaging to the public health.”
Check out the segment here:
“The President is doing a lot of the virus’ work,” says Dr. Jonathan Reiner about Pres. Trump holding campaign rallies amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases across the US. “He’s like the caddie for the virus.” https://t.co/hrGSmqzCGM pic.twitter.com/GbnCTCZR8X — OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) October 14, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-13--Essential Workers Are Aiming To Turn Out Infrequent Voters To Back Joe Biden

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky Retired nurse Magalie Isme attends a `` SEIU Votes '' campaign event for Democrat Daniella Levine Cava , a candidate for Miami-Dade County mayor , on Oct. 13 , 2020 .
The SEIU is endorsing Levine Cava as well as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
When the 2-million member Service Employees International Union announced in February a $ 150 million investment in the 2020 election to beat President Donald Trump , the union had no idea its members would soon be on the front lines of a global pandemic .
The SEIU ’ s election efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all colors — white , Black , brown , Latinx and Asian , ” Henry told HuffPost .
Because the union ’ s members live and work in those same communities , they can reach out “ to the voters where they have similar life experiences — and can help persuade people , ” she said .
Henry ’ s original plan for this year was to build out a massive field operation as they did in 2018 , sending thousands of canvassers into battleground states to organize for Biden .
That idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recruited its members to focus on their own communities .
Like a lot of political organizers during the pandemic , they ’ ve pivoted to dropping off literature and are using sound trucks , lawn signs , phone banking , text banking , direct mail and digital advertising to reach out to potential voters .
Their push in support of Biden is aimed at reaching people who don ’ t typically engage with political campaigns .
The union ’ s membership is half women and half people of color and more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour .
Henry said they represent the ignored and infrequent voters who could make all the difference for Biden in tough states like Pennsylvania , Florida , Michigan and Arizona .
The SEIU primarily represents workers now recognized as “ essential ” amid the pandemic .
They ’ re the nurses , home care and long term care providers , janitorial service employees and food service workers who have labored in some of the most high-risk jobs over the last nine months .
Unlike many campaign volunteers , who are limited to organizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union members are also able to reach out to voters at their work sites .
At one Pennsylvania hospital , for example , the union is talking not only to its members but to all the non-union workers as well , Henry said .
“ All the service workers and the most underpaid workers in hospitals are all Black and brown in Pennsylvania , ” she said , and her members can speak to them in person .
SEIU members have already made more than 14 million phone calls and sent more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Henry .
A month before Election Day , the union estimated based on public voter file data that there was a five-fold increase in the number of infrequent voters ― typically , low-income voters of color ― who had cast a ballot in eight battleground states .
The Biden campaign has heavily featured essential workers , as part of its vigorous criticism of Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic .
The SEIU has played a visible role in that push .
Last week , Jill Biden held a virtual roundtable discussion with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , Florida , Minnesota and Pennsylvania .
“ Every day you get out to work with a fear , that feeling that you don ’ t know if you come back home with the disease , if you bring it home or not , ” said Anne Mercie Blot , a 46-year-old Haitian nursing home worker based in Miami .
“ You have to go to work anyway because someone has to take care of the sick ones , someone has to take care of the elderly.
” Turning out foreign-born voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Biden .
The majority of immigrants eligible to vote in the United States live in just five states — California , New York , New Jersey , Texas and Florida .
The first three are not key battlegrounds in the presidential election , but Florida and this year even Texas are .
Blot hopes her exchanges with fellow immigrants have made a difference .
Like herself , one woman she spoke with had come to the United States in search of a better quality of life .
Instead , Blot recalled , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the same situation she was living , [ just ] in a different country.
” “ You know what , girl , we have so much in common , ” Blot said she replied .
“ I don ’ t know you and you don ’ t me but we got this done.
” We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huffpost.com .

Retired nurse Magalie Isme attends a "SEIU Votes" campaign event for Democrat Daniella Levine Cava, a candidate for Miami-Dade County mayor, on Oct. 13, 2020. The SEIU is endorsing Levine Cava as well as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
When the 2-million member Service Employees International Union announced in February a $150 million investment in the 2020 election to beat President Donald Trump, the union had no idea its members would soon be on the front lines of a global pandemic.
Now in the final month of the election cycle, SEIU president Mary Kay Henry said that her members might be key to delivering new support for Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
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The SEIU’s election efforts “target infrequent voters in communities of all colors — white, Black, brown, Latinx and Asian,” Henry told HuffPost. Because the union’s members live and work in those same communities, they can reach out “to the voters where they have similar life experiences — and can help persuade people,” she said.
Henry’s original plan for this year was to build out a massive field operation as they did in 2018, sending thousands of canvassers into battleground states to organize for Biden. That idea was scrapped. Instead, the union has recruited its members to focus on their own communities. Like a lot of political organizers during the pandemic, they’ve pivoted to dropping off literature and are using sound trucks, lawn signs, phone banking, text banking, direct mail and digital advertising to reach out to potential voters.
Their push in support of Biden is aimed at reaching people who don’t typically engage with political campaigns. The union’s membership is half women and half people of color and more than half make less than $15 an hour. Henry said they represent the ignored and infrequent voters who could make all the difference for Biden in tough states like Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan and Arizona.
The SEIU primarily represents workers now recognized as “essential” amid the pandemic. They’re the nurses, home care and long term care providers, janitorial service employees and food service workers who have labored in some of the most high-risk jobs over the last nine months.
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Unlike many campaign volunteers, who are limited to organizing from home during the pandemic, the union members are also able to reach out to voters at their work sites. At one Pennsylvania hospital, for example, the union is talking not only to its members but to all the non-union workers as well, Henry said.
“All the service workers and the most underpaid workers in hospitals are all Black and brown in Pennsylvania,” she said, and her members can speak to them in person.
SEIU members have already made more than 14 million phone calls and sent more than 12 million text messages, according to Henry. A month before Election Day, the union estimated based on public voter file data that there was a five-fold increase in the number of infrequent voters ― typically, low-income voters of color ― who had cast a ballot in eight battleground states.
The Biden campaign has heavily featured essential workers, as part of its vigorous criticism of Trump’s handling of the pandemic. The SEIU has played a visible role in that push. Last week, Jill Biden held a virtual roundtable discussion with Henry and several health care workers from California, Florida, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
The SEIU’s digital ads feature a range of essential workers, from a labor and delivery nurse in Nevada to a drug rehabilitation counselor in Pennsylvania. Union members are also using their own pandemic experiences when speaking directly with voters.
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“Every day you get out to work with a fear, that feeling that you don’t know if you come back home with the disease, if you bring it home or not,” said Anne Mercie Blot, a 46-year-old Haitian nursing home worker based in Miami. “You have to go to work anyway because someone has to take care of the sick ones, someone has to take care of the elderly.”
Blot puts time in on phone banks and text banks for Biden six days a week through the SEIU. She told HuffPost that she primarily speaks to Florida’s immigrant community.
Turning out foreign-born voters in Florida could make a big difference for Biden. The majority of immigrants eligible to vote in the United States live in just five states — California, New York, New Jersey, Texas and Florida. The first three are not key battlegrounds in the presidential election, but Florida and this year even Texas are.
Blot hopes her exchanges with fellow immigrants have made a difference. Like herself, one woman she spoke with had come to the United States in search of a better quality of life. Instead, Blot recalled, the woman felt like she was in “the same situation she was living, [just] in a different country.”
“You know what, girl, we have so much in common,” Blot said she replied. “I don’t know you and you don’t me but we got this done.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--Homer Gets A Brutal Trump Reality Check As He Votes In New ‘Simpsons’ Clip

Homer Simpson casts his d ’ oh in a new clip from “ The Simpsons ” teasing Sunday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ ” episode .
And Lisa Simpson may have saved him from wasting a vote on @ @ @ @ @ ’ re hesitating over president ?
” she asks .
“ Dad , by all @ @ @ @ @ how could you forget everything that ’ s happened the last four years ?
” @ @ @ @ @ is Homer , after all ― but he was quickly confronted with a blunt summary @ @ @ @ @ said and did since winning the 2016 election .
Although “ Treehouse of Horror XXXI @ @ @ @ @ you can watch Homer make his choice in the clip below :

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Homer Simpson casts his d’oh in a new clip from “The Simpsons” teasing Sunday’s annual “Treehouse of Horror” episode. And Lisa Simpson may have saved him from wasting a vote on Judge Judy.
“You’re hesitating over president?” she asks. “Dad, by all that’s decent, how could you forget everything that’s happened the last four years?”
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Somehow he did ― this is Homer, after all ― but he was quickly confronted with a blunt summary of what President Donald Trump said and did since winning the 2016 election.
Although “Treehouse of Horror XXXI” airs Sunday night, you can watch Homer make his choice in the clip below:
The Simpsons — October Surprise pic.twitter.com/wCDOrpmN80 — TheSimpsons (@TheSimpsons) October 13, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-13--Conchata Ferrell, Who Played Berta On 'Two And A Half Men,' Dies At 77

LOS ANGELES ( Variety.com ) - Conchata Ferrell , who played Berta the housekeeper on “ Two and a Half Men , ” died on Tuesday in Sherman Oaks , Calif. , a rep for Warner Bros. Television confirmed to Variety .
She was 77 .
“ We are saddened by the loss of Conchata Ferrell and are grateful for the years she brought us laughs as Berta which will live on forever , ” Warner Bros. TV , the studio behind “ Two and a Half Men , ” tweeted .
Ferrell was hospitalized in May and spent more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where she went into cardiac arrest at one point .
The actor was relocated to a long-term treatment center , where she was on a respirator and dialysis .
Ferrell was best known for playing Berta on all 12 seasons of “ Two and a Half Men , ” for which she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations ( in 2005 and 2007 ) for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series .
She appeared in a total of 212 episodes from 2003 and 2015 .
She talked to the AV Club about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which had originally been written as an Eastern European woman .
Ferrell said she changed the character ’ s nationality to “ trailer park ” and though she wasn ’ t a Grateful Dead fan , she said , “ I definitely was an old hippie .
I was a political hippie.
” Born in Charleston , W. Va. , she graduated from Marshall University , where she made her first onstage performance in a skit comedy .
Out of school , Ferrell sought a career in the theater and made her 1973 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Square theatrical company in Wilson ’ s “ Hot L Baltimore.
” For her next Off-Broadway role as Gertrude Blum in ” The Sea Horse , ” she won Drama Desk , Theatre World and Obie Awards as best actress .
Moving into film , she appeared in the adaptation of “ Hot L Baltimore ” and then as the housekeeper in the 1979 feature film “ Heartland , ” co-starring Julia Roberts .
In 1992 , Ferrell received her first Emmy Award nomination for her recurring role as attorney Susan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She most recently starred as Shirley in a 2017 episode of Netflix ’ s sitcom series “ The Ranch.
” Her other TV credits include “ Buffy the Vampire Slayer , ” “ Teen Angel , ” “ Matlock ” and “ B.J .
and the Bear ” and film credits include “ Edward Scissorhands , ” “ Network , ” “ Crime and Punishment in Suburbia ” and ” True Romance .
”

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LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Conchata Ferrell, who played Berta the housekeeper on “Two and a Half Men,” died on Tuesday in Sherman Oaks, Calif., a rep for Warner Bros. Television confirmed to Variety. She was 77.
“We are saddened by the loss of Conchata Ferrell and are grateful for the years she brought us laughs as Berta which will live on forever,” Warner Bros. TV, the studio behind “Two and a Half Men,” tweeted.
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Ferrell was hospitalized in May and spent more than four weeks in the ICU, where she went into cardiac arrest at one point. The actor was relocated to a long-term treatment center, where she was on a respirator and dialysis.
Conchata Ferrell most recently starred as Shirley in a 2017 episode of Netflix’s sitcom series “The Ranch.” Scott Kirkland / Globe Photos/MediaPunch /IPX
Ferrell was best known for playing Berta on all 12 seasons of “Two and a Half Men,” for which she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations (in 2005 and 2007) for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. She appeared in a total of 212 episodes from 2003 and 2015.
She talked to the AV Club about her role as Berta in 2014, which had originally been written as an Eastern European woman. Ferrell said she changed the character’s nationality to “trailer park” and though she wasn’t a Grateful Dead fan, she said, “I definitely was an old hippie. I was a political hippie.”
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Born in Charleston, W. Va., she graduated from Marshall University, where she made her first onstage performance in a skit comedy. Out of school, Ferrell sought a career in the theater and made her 1973 Off-Broadway debut as a member of theCircle in the Square theatrical company in Wilson’s “Hot L Baltimore.” For her next Off-Broadway role as Gertrude Blum in”The Sea Horse,” she won Drama Desk, Theatre World and Obie Awards as best actress.
Moving into film, she appeared in the adaptation of “Hot L Baltimore” and then as the housekeeper in the 1979 feature film “Heartland,” co-starring Julia Roberts. In 1992, Ferrell received her first Emmy Award nomination for her recurring role as attorney Susan Bloom in “L.A. Law.”
She most recently starred as Shirley in a 2017 episode of Netflix’s sitcom series “The Ranch.” Her other TV credits include “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Teen Angel,” “Matlock” and “B.J. and the Bear” and film credits include “Edward Scissorhands,” “Network,” “Crime and Punishment in Suburbia” and ”True Romance.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--Barron Trump Had COVID-19, First Lady Melania Trump Says

President Donald Trump ’ s son Barron Trump had coronavirus , according to his mother , first lady Melania Trump .
In a lengthy statement Wednesday on the White House website , Melania Trump detailed how Barron Trump , 14 , tested positive for coronavirus after she and Donald Trump both had earlier this month .
He “ exhibited no symptoms , ” she said , and has since tested negative .
The president and Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago , and Donald Trump spent three days hospitalized at Walter Reed medical center before returning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House said the president had tested negative for the virus .
In Wednesday ’ s statement , Melania Trump said she ’ s also tested negative .
Donald Trump has repeatedly downplayed the threat of coronavirus , and continued to do so after his diagnosis , calling it a “ blessing from God ” that he was infected and telling Americans “ don ’ t be afraid ” of the virus .
Donald Trump has also repeatedly spread misinformation about the virus ’ s threat to children , saying falsely that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ almost immune ” ( they are not ) .
Hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. have gotten coronavirus this year .
Over two dozen people surrounding Donald Trump and the White House have tested positive for the virus in the last 10 days .
Several of them — including Donald Trump , Melania Trump and two Republican senators — attended the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event for Amy Coney Barrett ’ s nomination to the Supreme Court , where guests flouted public health guidance by not wearing masks or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead the world in confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths , with over 7.8 million cases and 216,000 dead so far .

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President Donald Trump’s son Barron had the coronavirus, according to his mother, first lady Melania Trump.
In a lengthy statement Wednesday on the White House website, Melania Trump detailed how Barron Trump, 14, tested positive for the coronavirus after she and Donald Trump both had earlier this month. He “exhibited no symptoms,” she said, and has since tested negative.
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The president and Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus two weeks ago, and Donald Trump spent three days hospitalized at Walter Reed medical center before returning to the White House. On Monday, the White House said the president had tested negative for the virus. In Wednesday’s statement, Melania Trump said she’s also tested negative.
Donald Trump has repeatedly downplayed the threat of the coronavirus, and continued to do so after his diagnosis, calling it a “blessing from God” that he was infected and telling Americans “don’t be afraid” of the virus.
Donald Trump has also repeatedly spread misinformation about the virus’s threat to children, saying falsely that children are unlikely to catch it or are “almost immune” (they are not).
Hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. have gotten the coronavirus this year.
Over two dozen people surrounding Donald Trump and the White House have tested positive for the virus in the last 10 days. Several of them — including Donald Trump, Melania Trump and two Republican senators — attended the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event for Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court, where guests flouted public health guidance by not wearing masks or social distancing.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--Women Share Powerful Stories About How Planned Parenthood Changed Their Lives

Women — and some men — from all walks of life are sharing personal and touching stories about how Planned Parenthood has drastically changed their lives for the better .
On Wednesday , the hashtag # ThanksPlannedParenthood began to trend on Twitter as people spoke out about how the reproductive health care nonprofit provided them with medical care , guidance and support when they had nowhere else to turn .
I got my first birth control pills at planned parenthood .
They also gave me a pregnancy test on Christmas Eve and made me go to the hospital immediately because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pregnancy which can be deadly .
# ThanksPlannedParenthood — Patricia Arquette ( @ PattyArquette ) October 14 , 2020 The hashtag ’ s popularity seems to be a response to President Donald Trump nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the seat of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died on Sept. 18 and fought tirelessly for gender equality .
Trump ’ s pick would stack the court with conservative justices , raising concerns among social liberals .
Barrett , a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antonin Scalia , a Supreme Court justice who consistently ruled against gender equality .
Barrett , a strict Catholic , is socially conservative and has called Roe v. Wade , the landmark Supreme Court decision ensuring the right to abortion , an “ erroneous decision.
” She has also signed a public “ statement of protest ” against the Affordable Care Act ’ s birth control benefit , referring to it as an “ assault on religious liberty.
” In response to the hearings and the looming threat of Roe v. Wade being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parenthood being dismantled , many Twitter users decided to shed some light on their experiences with the organization .
For my Annual Pap smears in my 20s when I was too broke to afford health insurance # ThanksPlannedParenthood — Sarah Colonna ( @ sarahcolonna ) October 14 , 2020 I got pregnant at 17 , after I gave birth Planned Parenthood advised me and helped me map out a plan to have my future children when I was ready and prepared .
I was given a IUD for free .
I am now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 children were planned .
# ThanksPlannedParenthood — Heather ( @ itisheathertime ) October 14 , 2020 I 'm trans and Planned Parenthood allowed me to use informed consent for hormones .
The ease of it all is the only reason I 'm living as myself today.
# ThanksPlannedParenthood — Robin ( @ Robin_urlove ) October 14 , 2020 During a routine pap smear the # PlannedParenthood Doctor saw something that concerned her & rushed results .
Test showed I had Cervical Cancer .
Thanks to Planned Parenthood catching it early I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a beautiful family !
# ThanksPlannedParenthood pic.twitter.com/7j2VwxCtXu — Anjee W ( @ Anjeew ) October 14 , 2020 # ThanksPlannedParenthood When I was a teenager my best friend was raped .
I could n't convince her to go to hospital or to call the police .
But I COULD convince her to let me take her to PP for screening and they were wonderful .
Thanks Planned Parenthood .
— Cᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ ꓘ ✫ ᗩηᴏηʏⲙᴏᴜsᵇˡᵐ ⁷ ✫ Mᴀʀs Cᴏᴍᴍᴀɴᴅ ( @ capKinSpAcE ) October 14 , 2020 In my first marriage we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got my exams and affordable birth control from them for years .
THEY care about women.
# ThanksPlannedParenthood — JennytheAmazon ✌🏻❤🤘🏻 ( @ JennyAmazon ) October 14 , 2020 I needed to get a shot ( the last in a series ) and suddenly lost my insurance .
I went to planned parenthood and was able to get it for next to nothing .
# ThanksPlannedParenthood — Sam ( @ SamA5315 ) October 14 , 2020 Thanks to # PlannedParenthood I was able to get very low-cost health care just after college when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Pap smear and discovered I had cervical dysplasia and had to have a biopsy , which was thankfully negative .
# ThanksPlannedParenthood — Rona is Voting + Calling Swing States Fernandez ( @ ronagirl ) October 14 , 2020 I didn ’ t have health insurance , for a while .
I received the birth control that I need , to treat my endometriosis .
Without it , my periods are debilitating.
# ThanksPlannedParenthood pic.twitter.com/hJy2ez5rGN — Aunt Jer ( @ Aunt_Jer ) October 14 , 2020 At 21yrs old they diagnosed me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other doctors told me it was in my head & that I was just reacting to my childhood rapes & abuse .
They saved my life .
# ThanksPlannedParenthood — 🌺 Jamie Holland 🌺🐾🌈🌊 ( @ saga_hawaii ) October 14 , 2020 I was 18 and got an abnormal Pap smear .
# ThanksPlannedParenthood for my LEEP procedure , non-stigmatizing sexual health education , and for the regular screenings until I got the viral all-clear signal years later .
And for the # HPV vaccine to help prevent reinfection in my future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staceygarratt ) October 14 , 2020 # ThanksPlannedParenthood for the pap smears and birth control , plus counseling on proper use of birth control , until I had insurance/job and could afford to pay for a pap smear and birth control on my own .
( Seven years of help from Planned Parenthood . )
pic.twitter.com/1pkIRTQqSE — eFab ( @ efabLiz ) October 14 , 2020 I was sexually assaulted at a party .
When I opened up to a friend months later they urged me to get tested for HIV & other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford the test .
Went into a office & was tested for free .
The staff was so kind & made me feel safe .
# ThanksPlannedParenthood — 𝒮𝑜𝒻𝓉 𝐿𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ( @ LavenderSoSoft ) October 14 , 2020 Away at college & realizing my Baby Boomer mom had skipped the whole ‘ see a gyn for regular paps at 18 or when you start having sex ’ part of the birds & the bees talk .
PP helped me manage that responsibility on a college kid ’ s budget .
It was empowering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ stacyi2000 ) October 14 , 2020 # ThanksPlannedParenthood Planned Parenthood provided me vital services such as pap smears , BC , and helped to diagnose a ruptured cyst .
Without them I would have ended up extremely sick .
# PlannedParenthood — 🇺🇸 Shan ~I 'm speaking~ 🇺🇸 ( @ sassysnarkyone ) October 14 , 2020 I ’ m not a woman but I donated to Planned Parenthood because I know how valuable they are to women ’ s health # ThanksPlannedParenthood — Jonathan Jewel ( @ jonathanjewel ) October 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this thread , but I 'll testify .
I first donated to PP in 1971 when their office in my town was firebombed .
Later , every paycheck directed United Way donations to PP for nearly 32 years .
PP serves guys too -- I got HIV tested myself !
# ThanksPlannedParenthood pic.twitter.com/29bzzUj73S — Phishgod ( @ chiefplan1 ) October 14 , 2020 My wife and I found out we were having a baby when I was too poor to afford healthcare and the # ACA was n't a thing yet ... My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy baby girl ... # ThanksPlannedParenthood — Edan Clay 🇺🇸 ( @ EdanClay ) October 14 , 2020

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Women — and some men — from all walks of life are sharing personal and touching stories about how Planned Parenthood has drastically changed their lives for the better.
On Wednesday, the hashtag #ThanksPlannedParenthood began to trend on Twitter as people spoke out about how the reproductive health care nonprofit provided them with medical care, guidance and support when they had nowhere else to turn.
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The grateful supporters included actor Patricia Arquette.
I got my first birth control pills at planned parenthood. They also gave me a pregnancy test on Christmas Eve and made me go to the hospital immediately because It seemed I was having a ectopic pregnancy which can be deadly. #ThanksPlannedParenthood — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) October 14, 2020
The hashtag’s popularity seems to be a response to President Donald Trump nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the seat of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Sept. 18 and fought tirelessly for gender equality.
Trump’s pick would stack the court with conservative justices, raising concerns among social liberals.
Barrett, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, was mentored by Antonin Scalia, a Supreme Court justice who consistently ruled against gender equality.
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Barrett, a strict Catholic, is socially conservative and has called Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision ensuring the right to abortion, an “erroneous decision.” She has also signed a public “statement of protest” against the Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit, referring to it as an “assault on religious liberty.”
In response to the hearings and the looming threat of Roe v. Wade being overturned, which could result in Planned Parenthood being dismantled, many Twitter users decided to shed some light on their experiences with the organization.
Read their responses below:
For my Annual Pap smears in my 20s when I was too broke to afford health insurance #ThanksPlannedParenthood — Sarah Colonna (@sarahcolonna) October 14, 2020
I got pregnant at 17, after I gave birth Planned Parenthood advised me and helped me map out a plan to have my future children when I was ready and prepared. I was given a IUD for free. I am now a mother of 5 and my other 4 children were planned. #ThanksPlannedParenthood — Heather (@itisheathertime) October 14, 2020
I'm trans and Planned Parenthood allowed me to use informed consent for hormones. The ease of it all is the only reason I'm living as myself today.#ThanksPlannedParenthood — Robin (@Robin_urlove) October 14, 2020
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During a routine pap smear the #PlannedParenthood Doctor saw something that concerned her & rushed results. Test showed I had Cervical Cancer. Thanks to Planned Parenthood catching it early I've been Cancer free for 14 years & have a beautiful family! #ThanksPlannedParenthood pic.twitter.com/7j2VwxCtXu — Anjee W (@Anjeew) October 14, 2020
#ThanksPlannedParenthood
When I was a teenager my best friend was raped. I couldn't convince her to go to hospital or to call the police. But I COULD convince her to let me take her to PP for screening and they were wonderful.
Thanks Planned Parenthood. — Cᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ ꓘ ✫ ᗩηᴏηʏⲙᴏᴜsᵇˡᵐ ⁷ ✫ Mᴀʀs Cᴏᴍᴍᴀɴᴅ (@capKinSpAcE) October 14, 2020
In my first marriage we had no money and terrible insurance. I got my exams and affordable birth control from them for years. THEY care about women.#ThanksPlannedParenthood — JennytheAmazon ✌🏻❤🤘🏻 (@JennyAmazon) October 14, 2020
I needed to get a shot (the last in a series) and suddenly lost my insurance. I went to planned parenthood and was able to get it for next to nothing. #ThanksPlannedParenthood — Sam (@SamA5315) October 14, 2020
Planned Parenthood is the host agency for the adoption center that made me a mom. #ThanksPlannedParenthood pic.twitter.com/5oHqKfsosC — Sarah I.B (@SarahImesBorden) October 14, 2020
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Thanks to #PlannedParenthood I was able to get very low-cost health care just after college when I was hella broke. I got a Pap smear and discovered I had cervical dysplasia and had to have a biopsy, which was thankfully negative. #ThanksPlannedParenthood — Rona is Voting + Calling Swing States Fernandez (@ronagirl) October 14, 2020
I didn’t have health insurance, for a while. I received the birth control that I need, to treat my endometriosis. Without it, my periods are debilitating.#ThanksPlannedParenthood pic.twitter.com/hJy2ez5rGN — Aunt Jer (@Aunt_Jer) October 14, 2020
As a divorced thirtysomething grad student mom of 3 with no health insurance, I received medical care @PPFA. #ThanksPlannedParenthood — Martha Spong 🌈 (@MarthaSpong) October 14, 2020
At 21yrs old they diagnosed me with cervical cancer & endometriosis when all the other doctors told me it was in my head & that I was just reacting to my childhood rapes & abuse. They saved my life. #ThanksPlannedParenthood — 🌺 Jamie Holland 🌺🐾🌈🌊 (@saga_hawaii) October 14, 2020
I was 18 and got an abnormal Pap smear. #ThanksPlannedParenthood for my LEEP procedure, non-stigmatizing sexual health education, and for the regular screenings until I got the viral all-clear signal years later.
And for the #HPV vaccine to help prevent reinfection in my future! pic.twitter.com/x1culdWZ4I — Stacey Garratt (@staceygarratt) October 14, 2020
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#ThanksPlannedParenthood for the pap smears and birth control, plus counseling on proper use of birth control, until I had insurance/job and could afford to pay for a pap smear and birth control on my own. (Seven years of help from Planned Parenthood.) pic.twitter.com/1pkIRTQqSE — eFab (@efabLiz) October 14, 2020
I was sexually assaulted at a party. When I opened up to a friend months later they urged me to get tested for HIV & other STI’s. I could not afford the test. Went into a office & was tested for free. The staff was so kind & made me feel safe. #ThanksPlannedParenthood — 𝒮𝑜𝒻𝓉 𝐿𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 (@LavenderSoSoft) October 14, 2020
Away at college & realizing my Baby Boomer mom had skipped the whole ‘see a gyn for regular paps at 18 or when you start having sex’ part of the birds & the bees talk. PP helped me manage that responsibility on a college kid’s budget. It was empowering. #ThanksPlannedParenthood — Momma In Pajamas (@stacyi2000) October 14, 2020
#ThanksPlannedParenthood
Planned Parenthood provided me vital services such as pap smears, BC, and helped to diagnose a ruptured cyst. Without them I would have ended up extremely sick. #PlannedParenthood — 🇺🇸 Shan ~I'm speaking~ 🇺🇸 (@sassysnarkyone) October 14, 2020
My girlfriend got tested and an IUD.
Men need to #ThanksPlannedParenthood too — The Waco Kid 🇺🇸 (@soopervillain) October 14, 2020
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I’m not a woman but I donated to Planned Parenthood because I know how valuable they are to women’s health #ThanksPlannedParenthood — Jonathan Jewel (@jonathanjewel) October 14, 2020
Not too many guys on this thread, but I'll testify.
I first donated to PP in 1971 when their office in my town was firebombed.
Later, every paycheck directed United Way donations to PP for nearly 32 years.
PP serves guys too--I got HIV tested myself!#ThanksPlannedParenthood pic.twitter.com/29bzzUj73S — Phishgod (@chiefplan1) October 14, 2020
My wife and I found out we were having a baby when I was too poor to afford healthcare and the #ACA wasn't a thing yet... My wife got treatment and we had a healthy baby girl... #ThanksPlannedParenthood — Edan Clay 🇺🇸 (@EdanClay) October 14, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--Bill Gates: Regeneron's Treatments Are Promising, But Not A 'Cure' For COVID-19

Bill Gates was cautiously optimistic on Wednesday about the experimental antibody cocktails from pharmaceutical maker Regeneron that President Donald Trump has touted as a “ cure ” for the coronavirus .
“ The word ‘ cure ’ is inappropriate because it won ’ t work for everyone , ” Gates told NBC ’ s Chuck Todd when asked if he felt that Regeneron ’ s monoclonal antibody cocktails would become major COVID-19 treatments in the near future .
“ But yes , of all the therapeutics , this is the most promising.
” The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research and testing , most recently donating $ 15 million to support coronavirus testing at historically Black colleges and universities across the U.S .
The billionaire philanthropist said that his foundation has partnered with pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly on antibody treatments similar to the cocktail given to Trump , but stressed that these treatments were still inaccessible to average Americans without the extensive medical care provided to the president during his stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center earlier this month .
“ Very , very few people have had it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the manufacturing is just ramping up , ” Gates said , adding that testing such treatments is a delicate process and could not be rushed .
“ Now , the pharmaceutical companies are working with each other , sharing capacity , very focused on this .
... You don ’ t want politicians saying something should be approved , because it ’ s wrong to think of political pressure as needing to be appropriate in these cases .
I hope the FDA can take the data , which is looking quite good , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out within the next two months , because we have so little to save lives and we ’ re going back up to record levels of deaths here in the fall.
” Gates has been critical of the Food and Drug Administration in the past , arguing that it has been hijacked by the Trump administration and pressured into approving a COVID-19 vaccine too quickly .
On the topic of vaccines currently in trial , Gates speculated that emergency use authorization would likely arrive “ by early next year , ” but added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long way away from anything resembling life before the pandemic .
“ The only way we ’ ll get completely back to normal is by having maybe not the first-generation vaccines , but eventually a vaccine that ’ s super effective and that a lot of people take and that we get the disease eliminated on a global basis , ” the Microsoft co-founder said .

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Bill Gates was cautiously optimistic on Wednesday about the experimental antibody cocktails from pharmaceutical maker Regeneron that President Donald Trump has touted as a “cure” for the coronavirus.
“The word ‘cure’ is inappropriate because it won’t work for everyone,” Gates told NBC’s Chuck Todd when asked if he felt that Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody cocktails would become major COVID-19 treatments in the near future. “But yes, of all the therapeutics, this is the most promising.”
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The billionaire philanthropist said that his foundation has partnered with pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly on antibody treatments similar to the cocktail given to Trump, but stressed that these treatments were still inaccessible to average Americans without the extensive medical care provided to the president during his stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center earlier this month.
“Very, very few people have had it because it’s not approved and the manufacturing is just ramping up,” Gates said, adding that testing such treatments is a delicate process and could not be rushed.
“Now, the pharmaceutical companies are working with each other, sharing capacity, very focused on this. ... You don’t want politicians saying something should be approved, because it’s wrong to think of political pressure as needing to be appropriate in these cases. I hope the FDA can take the data, which is looking quite good, and get these [theraputic treatments] out within the next two months, because we have so little to save lives and we’re going back up to record levels of deaths here in the fall.”
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Gates has been critical of the Food and Drug Administration in the past, arguing that it has been hijacked by the Trump administration and pressured into approving a COVID-19 vaccine too quickly.
On the topic of vaccines currently in trial, Gates speculated that emergency use authorization would likely arrive “by early next year,” but added that the United States was still a long way away from anything resembling life before the pandemic.
“The only way we’ll get completely back to normal is by having maybe not the first-generation vaccines, but eventually a vaccine that’s super effective and that a lot of people take and that we get the disease eliminated on a global basis,” the Microsoft co-founder said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--Why You Shouldn't Panic About COVID-19 Reinfection Yet

His situation , which was described in a case report in The Lancet this week , has grabbed headlines for many reasons .
The man was young and healthy with no underlying conditions .
He not only contracted COVID-19 twice , but his subsequent infection was much more serious .
He developed breathing problems and had to be hospitalized .
The measures that protect against initial COVID-19 infection also protect against reinfection .
Since the early on in the pandemic , health officials have emphasized that we simply do not know all that much about COVID-19 immunity .
Some experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who get infected and who are symptomatic will have enough antibodies to fight off another exposure to the virus .
But that is really a best guess .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention went out of its way this summer to clarify that no one really knows exactly how COVID-19 immunity works , or how long it might last .
Given that reinfection is possible , it is important for people to continue taking a layered approach to prevention ― even after they ’ ve been ill and recovered .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is proven to be safe and effective , the public health measures need to stay in place , ” said Alvin Tran , an assistant professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy at the University of New Haven in Connecticut .
“ That means we need to continue wearing masks properly in public settings , practice social distancing and wash our hands frequently.
” Reinfection seems to be really rare for now .
It ’ s difficult for doctors and researchers to gauge exactly how widespread COVID-19 reinfection is .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has certainly improved in recent months , experts have repeatedly said that we ’ re still not doing enough of it .
That means that we ’ re not only likely to be missing people ’ s first infections , we could also be missing those who ’ ve been infected a second time .
Despite that , infectious disease experts are confident saying they believe reinfection is extremely uncommon .
So far , there have only been a handful of confirmed reinfections around the world — and more than 38 million confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there has been one confirmed case of reinfection so far , among more than 7 million total confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 .
It has implications for vaccine research , but it does NOT mean a vaccine is impossible .
Multiple strains of a common virus is not atypical , she said .
There are at least 160 types of rhinovirus , for example , which causes the common cold .
The flu virus mutates often , which is one reason why the flu vaccine is tweaked every year to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circulate .
“ We don ’ t know how many — and exactly what type — of antibodies were present in these people at the moment they were reinfected , so we don ’ t know if the antibodies were not protective , or not the correct type , or just not high enough levels , ” explained Margaret McCort , an infectious disease specialist with the Montefiore Health System in New York .
All of that matters for the COVID-19 vaccine , but it ’ s nothing researchers weren ’ t prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being worked on right now are aiming to provide immunity to all genetic variants or strains of the coronavirus , she said .
Despite some recent temporary stoppages in vaccine trials , experts are still hopeful that a vaccine is not too far off .

Artur Debat via Getty Images The United States reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 reinfection, which was more severe than the patient's first bout of the illness.
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 reinfection in the United States was announced this week. A 25-year-old Nevada man tested positive for the virus in April, recovered, then fell ill and tested positive again in June.
His situation, which was described in a case report in The Lancet this week, has grabbed headlines for many reasons. The man was young and healthy with no underlying conditions. He not only contracted COVID-19 twice, but his subsequent infection was much more serious. He developed breathing problems and had to be hospitalized.
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It’s not the only reinfection case generating attention. This week researchers also reported the first death of a patient who was reinfected with COVID-19: An 89-year-old Dutch woman who was undergoing chemotherapy.
Together, the two cases — which join a handful of other reports describing reinfection — paint an unsettling picture. Not only is it possible to contract COVID-19 more than once, the second round can be severe.
But experts also caution against worrying too much about these recent developments, for several reasons. Here are a few to keep in mind.
The measures that protect against initial COVID-19 infection also protect against reinfection.
Since the early on in the pandemic, health officials have emphasized that we simply do not know all that much about COVID-19 immunity. Some experts believe that about 90% of people who get infected and who are symptomatic will have enough antibodies to fight off another exposure to the virus.
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But that is really a best guess. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention went out of its way this summer to clarify that no one really knows exactly how COVID-19 immunity works, or how long it might last. Given that reinfection is possible, it is important for people to continue taking a layered approach to prevention ― even after they’ve been ill and recovered.
“Until there’s a vaccine that is proven to be safe and effective, the public health measures need to stay in place,” said Alvin Tran, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. “That means we need to continue wearing masks properly in public settings, practice social distancing and wash our hands frequently.”
“Those who have been previously infected with COVID-19 and have recovered are not totally out of the woods,” he added.
Reinfection seems to be really rare for now.
It’s difficult for doctors and researchers to gauge exactly how widespread COVID-19 reinfection is. For one, while testing in the U.S. has certainly improved in recent months, experts have repeatedly said that we’re still not doing enough of it. That means that we’re not only likely to be missing people’s first infections, we could also be missing those who’ve been infected a second time.
Despite that, infectious disease experts are confident saying they believe reinfection is extremely uncommon. So far, there have only been a handful of confirmed reinfections around the world — and more than 38 million confirmed cases globally. Here in the U.S., there has been one confirmed case of reinfection so far, among more than 7 million total confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19.
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“Reinfection seems to be a rare occurrence,” said Sandra Kesh, an infectious disease specialist with Westmed Medical Group.
“This is not cause for alarm,” she said of the recent case study, and the handful of other examples of reinfection that have been confirmed around the world. “It’s cause for continued vigilance.”
It has implications for vaccine research, but it does NOT mean a vaccine is impossible.
The recent reinfection report in The Lancet is of interest to vaccine researchers because the authors of that study were able to do genetic sequencing of the virus both times the man was infected. That sequencing showed they were genetically distinct.
“Both were the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” Kesh said. “But there was enough genetic difference between them that they were two totally different strains.”
Multiple strains of a common virus is not atypical, she said. There are at least 160 types of rhinovirus, for example, which causes the common cold. The flu virus mutates often, which is one reason why the flu vaccine is tweaked every year to try and match the strains experts believe will circulate.
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At this point, experts just don’t know why reinfection seems to happen to some people and how exactly mutation might fit into all of that.
“We don’t know how many — and exactly what type — of antibodies were present in these people at the moment they were reinfected, so we don’t know if the antibodies were not protective, or not the correct type, or just not high enough levels,” explained Margaret McCort, an infectious disease specialist with the Montefiore Health System in New York.
“We don’t know whether changes in the genomic sequence of the virus make it more virulent, or more likely to cause a severe infection,” she said, noting that experts also don’t know whether different strains of the virus mean that antibodies don’t work.
All of that matters for the COVID-19 vaccine, but it’s nothing researchers weren’t prepared for, McCort said. The vaccines being worked on right now are aiming to provide immunity to all genetic variants or strains of the coronavirus, she said. Despite some recent temporary stoppages in vaccine trials, experts are still hopeful that a vaccine is not too far off.
In the meantime, for the rest of us, the message is the same: masks, social distance, and hand washing are really our best means of keeping ourselves and others safe from COVID-19.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--Video Shows Conservatives Being Told Not To Fear 'Voter Suppressor' Label: Report

A series of recordings obtained by The Washington Post show prominent conservative activists discussing behind closed doors their alarming strategies for handling the upcoming election amid the pandemic .
The videos reportedly depict “ dozens of hours ” of meetings held over three days in February and three days in August by the Council for National Policy , a conservative group that serves as a network for activists and leaders of several tax-exempt charities .
It also counts Ginni Thomas , wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas , among its members .
At one event , conservative activist J.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ be not afraid of the accusations that you ’ re a voter suppressor , you ’ re a racist and so forth.
” Adams , a former Justice Department official , is currently president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation , a right-wing group bent on funding lawsuits to ensure “ election integrity.
” He told the Post that he stands by what he said , saying his statements are “ accurate.
” Activist Charlie Kirk spoke approvingly of how the coronavirus crisis will potentially discourage thousands of left-leaning student voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campuses are largely closed .
The recordings were made by CNP to provide to its members after events , and they were subsequently passed along to the Post .
At another point in the recordings , Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton fretted about voter fraud with mail-in ballots ― a frequent topic of President Donald Trump ’ s ire despite the fact there is no evidence that voting by mail leads to rampant fraud .
Experts on election security have repeatedly contradicted the president ’ s claims .
Nevertheless , Fitton told his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those ballots from going out ” and requested that the lawyers in attendance “ tell us what to do.
” He claimed that the Democratic Party is “ war-gaming ” a plan to slow down the ballot count so much that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) would become acting president on Jan. 20 , 2021 .
When contacted by the Post , Fitton doubled down .
CNP Executive Committee President Bill Walton reportedly spoke in similar terms at an August meeting , where he announced , “ We have to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a spiritual battle we are in .
This is good versus evil , ” Walton said at the event .
We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

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A series of recordings obtained by The Washington Post show prominent conservative activists discussing behind closed doors their alarming strategies for handling the upcoming election amid the pandemic.
The videos reportedly depict “dozens of hours” of meetings held over three days in February and three days in August by the Council for National Policy, a conservative group that serves as a network for activists and leaders of several tax-exempt charities. It also counts Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, among its members.
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At one event, conservative activist J. Christian Adams reportedly told a CNP audience to “be not afraid of the accusations that you’re a voter suppressor, you’re a racist and so forth.”
Adams, a former Justice Department official, is currently president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a right-wing group bent on funding lawsuits to ensure “election integrity.” He told the Post that he stands by what he said, saying his statements are “accurate.”
Activist Charlie Kirk spoke approvingly of how the coronavirus crisis will potentially discourage thousands of left-leaning student voters from casting ballots, given that college campuses are largely closed.
“So, please keep the campuses closed,” Kirk reportedly told a CNP crowd in August. “Like, it’s a great thing.”
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The recordings were made by CNP to provide to its members after events, and they were subsequently passed along to the Post.
At another point in the recordings, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton fretted about voter fraud with mail-in ballots ― a frequent topic of President Donald Trump’s ire despite the fact there is no evidence that voting by mail leads to rampant fraud. Experts on election security have repeatedly contradicted the president’s claims.
Nevertheless, Fitton told his audience, “We need to stop those ballots from going out” and requested that the lawyers in attendance “tell us what to do.”
He claimed that the Democratic Party is “war-gaming” a plan to slow down the ballot count so much that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) would become acting president on Jan. 20, 2021. When contacted by the Post, Fitton doubled down.
“The left has war-gamed this out,” he said. “And it could cause civil war.”
CNP Executive Committee President Bill Walton reportedly spoke in similar terms at an August meeting, where he announced, “We have to do everything we can to win.”
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“This is a spiritual battle we are in. This is good versus evil,” Walton said at the event.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--White Woman Who Called Cops On Central Park Bird-Watcher Made 2nd Bogus 911 Claim

A white woman in Manhattan who falsely claimed a Black man was threatening her in Central Park made a second 911 call and lied that he “ tried to assault ” her , a prosecutor alleged on Wednesday .
Amy Cooper , appearing in court for an arraignment on a misdemeanor charge of falsely reporting an incident , made two 911 calls about the May confrontation , including one that previously hadn ’ t been reported , Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said in Manhattan criminal court .
Cooper was widely scorned after she was caught on video telling Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would call the cops after he asked her to leash her dog in the park .
Christian Cooper was bird-watching at the time .
“ I ’ m going to tell them there ’ s an African American man threatening my life , ” Cooper threatened in the video before she called 911 .
Once on the phone , she falsely claimed she was being threatened .
“ I ’ m in the Ramble and there is a man ― African American , he has a bicycle helmet ― he is recording me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Cooper can be heard saying .
The existence of a second 911 call was disclosed for the first time on Wednesday .
In that call , Cooper reported a Black man “ tried to assault her in the Ramble area of the park , ” the prosecutor said .
The NYPD was called to the area and determined there was a verbal dispute and no crime committed .
Cooper admitted to officers that the man neither tried to assault her nor came in contact with her , the D.A .
said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Cooper engaged in racist criminal conduct when she falsely accused a Black man of trying to assault her in a previously unreported second call with 911 dispatcher , ” Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance , Jr. ’ s office said in a statement on Wednesday disclosing the second call .
After the video of the incident went viral , Cooper apologized on NBC News , saying that her behavior was “ unacceptable ” and that she overreacted .

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A white woman in Manhattan who falsely claimed a Black man was threatening her in Central Park made a second 911 call and lied that he “tried to assault” her, a prosecutor alleged on Wednesday.
Amy Cooper, appearing in court for an arraignment on a misdemeanor charge of falsely reporting an incident, made two 911 calls about the May confrontation, including one that previously hadn’t been reported, Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said in Manhattan criminal court.
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Cooper was widely scorned after she was caught on video telling Christian Cooper (no relation) that she would call the cops after he asked her to leash her dog in the park. Christian Cooper was bird-watching at the time.
“I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life,” Cooper threatened in the video before she called 911. Once on the phone, she falsely claimed she was being threatened.
“I’m in the Ramble and there is a man ― African American, he has a bicycle helmet ― he is recording me and threatening me and my dog,” Cooper can be heard saying.
The existence of a second 911 call was disclosed for the first time on Wednesday. In that call, Cooper reported a Black man “tried to assault her in the Ramble area of the park,” the prosecutor said.
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The NYPD was called to the area and determined there was a verbal dispute and no crime committed. Cooper admitted to officers that the man neither tried to assault her nor came in contact with her, the D.A. said.
“As alleged in the complaint, Amy Cooper engaged in racist criminal conduct when she falsely accused a Black man of trying to assault her in a previously unreported second call with 911 dispatcher,” Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr.’s office said in a statement on Wednesday disclosing the second call.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--Having Burned Through $1 Billion Already, Trump Still Doing In-Person Fundraising

Huffington Post President Donald Trump is hosting a fundraiser at his own golf course in South Florida on Thursday , per this invitation obtained by HuffPost .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump opened his reelection campaign the day he took office in 2017 , and so far has raised over $ 1.2 billion — but apparently has so little on hand that he is still holding in-person fundraisers with less than three weeks to go before Election Day .
Trump is hosting a reception at his Doral golf course on Thursday evening , with requested donations ranging from $ 5,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The choice of location also means Trump will be able to funnel at least tens of thousands of those dollars raised back into his own cash registers through room rental and catering fees .
A HuffPost analysis of Federal Election Commission filings shows that Trump ’ s campaign and committees under his control have already spent $ 1,368,579 at his financially troubled golf resort near Miami ’ s airport since he became president .
By this late in a presidential race , candidates — particularly incumbents ― have typically finished time-consuming in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s campaign and his Republican National Committee together raised $ 1,204,635,527 from January 2017 through Aug. 31 , according to the latest FEC reports available , but spent $ 1,007,132,863 .
Trump ’ s campaign has spent lavishly on salaries and fees for its top officials and consultants .
It has also funneled a total of $ 7 million back to Trump ’ s various businesses and has been secretly paying the girlfriend of one Trump son and the wife of another $ 15,000 a month , keeping those payments off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen by donors and the public .
The Biden campaign and Democratic National Committee have been able to match and exceed Trump ’ s fundraising pace since Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination , and entered the final two months with a $ 141 million “ cash on hand ” advantage .
We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump is hosting a fundraiser at his own golf course in South Florida on Thursday, per this invitation obtained by HuffPost. Huffington Post
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump opened his reelection campaign the day he took office in 2017, and so far has raised over $1.2 billion — but apparently has so little on hand that he is still holding in-person fundraisers with less than three weeks to go before Election Day.
Trump is hosting a reception at his Doral golf course on Thursday evening, with requested donations ranging from $5,000 per person to $100,000 per couple.
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The choice of location also means Trump will be able to funnel at least tens of thousands of those dollars raised back into his own cash registers through room rental and catering fees.
A HuffPost analysis of Federal Election Commission filings shows that Trump’s campaign and committees under his control have already spent $1,368,579 at his financially troubled golf resort near Miami’s airport since he became president.
By this late in a presidential race, candidates — particularly incumbents ― have typically finished time-consuming in-person fundraising and are concentrating on campaigning.
“We need the money,” said one top Republican close to Trump’s White House.
Trump’s campaign and his Republican National Committee together raised $1,204,635,527 from January 2017 through Aug. 31, according to the latest FEC reports available, but spent $1,007,132,863.
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Trump’s campaign has spent lavishly on salaries and fees for its top officials and consultants. It has also funneled a total of $7 million back to Trump’s various businesses and has been secretly paying the girlfriend of one Trump son and the wife of another $15,000 a month, keeping those payments off of FEC records where they can be seen by donors and the public.
The Biden campaign and Democratic National Committee have been able to match and exceed Trump’s fundraising pace since Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination, and entered the final two months with a $141 million “cash on hand” advantage.
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-14--Sen. Cory Gardner Says He Thinks Trump Is An Ethical And Moral Man

Asked if he thinks President Donald Trump ― who disdains notions of virtue on a near daily basis ― is an ethical and moral man , Sen. Cory Gardner ( R-Colo. ) replied in the affirmative .
“ Yes , ” Gardner said Tuesday during a debate in Colorado ’ s U.S. Senate race .
He added : “ I wish he would be more specific in his communications with the American people.
” Gardner ’ s steadfast defense of Trump stands in sharp contrast to his condemnation of Trump ’ s morals in October 2016 following the release of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the time , Gardner said he could not vote for Trump because his flaws went “ beyond mere moral shortcomings ” and because he showed a “ disdain for dignity unbecoming of the presidency.
” Since then , Gardner has fully embraced a president who lies on a regular basis , amplifies racist tweets , insults minorities , attacks veterans , celebrates violence against reporters , enriches himself and his family with taxpayer funds , issues pardons to corrupt allies and officials , and encourages white supremacist groups , among a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just in the past few weeks , Trump has demanded his attorney general arrest his Democratic rival , Joe Biden , called Biden ’ s vice presidential running mate Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) a “ monster , ” shared a photo mocking Biden and seniors , and promoted a conspiracy theory falsely alleging that the Obama administration covered up a plot to stage Osama bin Laden ’ s death involving the late terrorist ’ s body-double .
It ’ s not clear what part of Trump ’ s “ communications ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific about , as he called for in Tuesday ’ s debate .
The Colorado Republican did offer one suggestion , urging the president to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose the November election , after Trump declined to do so last month .
“ The president should be crystal clear .
Every single person in this country should be crystal clear .
There will be a peaceful transition , ” Gardner said .
Gardner is one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents , trailing in the polls behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
John Hickenlooper , who said in Tuesday ’ s debate he did not believe Trump to be an ethical and moral man .
Hickenlooper ’ s campaign said Gardner ’ s embrace of Trump showed how he “ put his own political interests ahead of what ’ s best for Colorado.
” “ Coloradans watching last night ’ s final debate were appalled but not surprised by Cory Gardner ’ s latest cowardly refusal to utter a single word of criticism about Donald Trump .
...
The biggest joke of the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado — we all know he sold us out for Trump years ago , ” Hickenlooper spokesperson Alyssa Roberts said in a statement .
One Republican did speak out against Trump ’ s recent behavior on Tuesday ― Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah .
The former GOP presidential nominee , who , unlike Gardner , isn ’ t on the ballot in November and likely feels less pressure in speaking out against Trump , lamented the state of American politics as “ a vile , vituperative , hate-filled morass ” and called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn down the temperature .
“ The President calls the Democratic vice presidential candidate ‘ a monster ; ’ he repeatedly labels the speaker of the house ‘ crazy ; ’ he calls for the Justice Department to put the prior president in jail ; he attacks the governor of Michigan on the very day a plot is discovered to kidnap her , ” Romney said in a statement .
“ The rabid attacks kindle the conspiracy mongers and the haters who take the small and predictable step from intemperate word to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Asked if he thinks President Donald Trump ― who disdains notions of virtue on a near daily basis ― is an ethical and moral man, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) replied in the affirmative.
“Yes,” Gardner said Tuesday during a debate in Colorado’s U.S. Senate race. He added: “I wish he would be more specific in his communications with the American people.”
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Gardner’s steadfast defense of Trump stands in sharp contrast to his condemnation of Trump’s morals in October 2016 following the release of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape. At the time, Gardner said he could not vote for Trump because his flaws went “beyond mere moral shortcomings” and because he showed a “disdain for dignity unbecoming of the presidency.”
Sen. Cory Gardner endorsed Trump after condemning his morals in 2016. Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images
Since then, Gardner has fully embraced a president who lies on a regular basis, amplifies racist tweets, insults minorities, attacks veterans, celebrates violence against reporters, enriches himself and his family with taxpayer funds, issues pardons to corrupt allies and officials, and encourages white supremacist groups, among a long litany of other incendiary actions.
Just in the past few weeks, Trump has demanded his attorney general arrest his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, called Biden’s vice presidential running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) a “monster,” shared a photo mocking Biden and seniors, and promoted a conspiracy theory falsely alleging that the Obama administration covered up a plot to stage Osama bin Laden’s death involving the late terrorist’s body-double.
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It’s not clear what part of Trump’s “communications” Gardner would like him to be more specific about, as he called for in Tuesday’s debate. The Colorado Republican did offer one suggestion, urging the president to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose the November election, after Trump declined to do so last month.
“The president should be crystal clear. Every single person in this country should be crystal clear. There will be a peaceful transition,” Gardner said.
Gardner is one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents, trailing in the polls behind his Democratic opponent, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who said in Tuesday’s debate he did not believe Trump to be an ethical and moral man.
Hickenlooper’s campaign said Gardner’s embrace of Trump showed how he “put his own political interests ahead of what’s best for Colorado.”
“Coloradans watching last night’s final debate were appalled but not surprised by Cory Gardner’s latest cowardly refusal to utter a single word of criticism about Donald Trump. ... The biggest joke of the night was Cory Gardner claiming he works for Colorado — we all know he sold us out for Trump years ago,” Hickenlooper spokesperson Alyssa Roberts said in a statement.
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One Republican did speak out against Trump’s recent behavior on Tuesday ― Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah. The former GOP presidential nominee, who, unlike Gardner, isn’t on the ballot in November and likely feels less pressure in speaking out against Trump, lamented the state of American politics as “a vile, vituperative, hate-filled morass” and called on leaders on both sides of the aisle to turn down the temperature.
“The President calls the Democratic vice presidential candidate ‘a monster;’ he repeatedly labels the speaker of the house ‘crazy;’ he calls for the Justice Department to put the prior president in jail; he attacks the governor of Michigan on the very day a plot is discovered to kidnap her,” Romney said in a statement.
“The rabid attacks kindle the conspiracy mongers and the haters who take the small and predictable step from intemperate word to dangerous action,” he added.