thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Trump Adds New Travel Bans But Continues To Downplay Coronavirus Risk

He added that Americans most likely will not contract the virus and those who do will probably not become very ill. “ So healthy people , if you ’ re healthy , you ’ ll probably go through a process and you ’ ll be fine.
” That rosy assessment , though , was contradicted by Dr. Anthony Fauci , the renowned expert who heads up the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
He said that between 75 % and 80 % of people who contract the virus will suffer cold- or flu-like symptoms and then recover .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would likely face more severe symptoms , require hospitalization and “ need advanced medical care.
” Trump also said that when he used the word “ hoax ” regarding the coronavirus on Friday evening at a political rally in South Carolina , he was referring to Democrats who are using the outbreak to attack him .
“ The hoax is on them , ” he said .
“ I ’ m not talking about what ’ s happening here , I ’ m talking what they ’ re doing.
” Most direct travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous sanctions rules , but now any foreign national who has visited Iran in the previous 14 days would not be allowed into the United States .
The U.S. State Department would also issue “ do not travel ” advisories for the parts of South Korea and Italy affected by the virus , and is working with those countries to develop screening protocols for people wanting to travel to the United States .
Trump said other restrictions were also being considered .
“ We are looking also at the southern border , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there might not be any need to impose any such travel restrictions on the Mexican border .
Trump has been consistently downplaying both the severity of the disease as well as the number of Americans who may have it , and instead has mainly praised himself about what a great job he has done by banning travelers from infected areas who are not U.S. citizens from entering the United States .
He said at a news conference on Wednesday that he was surprised to learn that tens of thousands of Americans die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in comparison only 15 Americans had been diagnosed as having the coronavirus .
But those statements elided two key differences .
First , the new coronavirus , according to early estimates , is some 20 times as deadly as the common seasonal flu .
And second , because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially came up with a flawed test for the virus , only several hundred Americans have even been tested for the disease ― meaning there is a possibility that a much larger number of people have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet .
Trump at that earlier news conference also claimed , falsely , that the United States was producing a vaccine “ very rapidly.
” In fact , his own experts at the National Institutes of Health warn that a useable vaccine is at least a year and a half or two years away .
Trump claimed “ it was very much under control , ” that it “ will go away in April ” with the warmer weather , and that , in any event , his administration was doing “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At times he has seemed far more concerned about the virus ’ effect on the stock market than on human beings .
“ Stock Market starting to look very good to me !
” he wrote on Twitter on Monday , while he was in India and as the market was halfway through a deep , two-day slide .
During Saturday ’ s 50-minute news conference , Trump also attacked the Federal Reserve Board for not lowering interest rates enough and praised a new peace agreement with the Taliban rebels in Afghanistan .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― the group that once harbored Osama bin Laden ― would now take over the fight against terrorists , and at another point said that invading Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban was a mistake .
Trump also called on the news media and Democrats to tone down their discussions of the outbreak .
“ I would respectfully ask the news media and politicians and everybody else involved not do anything to incite panic .
Because there ’ s no reason to panic , at all .
This is something that ’ s being @ @ @ @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump during a press briefing on coronavirus at the White House on Saturday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump on Saturday announced new coronavirus-related travel restrictions on Iran, South Korea and Italy, but continued to downplay the threat posed by the virus and laud his own handling of the outbreak.
“We moved very early, and it turned out to be a lifesaver,” he said in a hastily called news conference from the White House.
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He added that Americans most likely will not contract the virus and those who do will probably not become very ill. “So healthy people, if you’re healthy, you’ll probably go through a process and you’ll be fine.”
That rosy assessment, though, was contradicted by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the renowned expert who heads up the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He said that between 75% and 80% of people who contract the virus will suffer cold- or flu-like symptoms and then recover. But the remainder, Fauci said, would likely face more severe symptoms, require hospitalization and “need advanced medical care.”
Trump did acknowledge that death of a patient from the disease in Washington state, news of which was announced just before he began speaking in the White House briefing room. “Unfortunately one person passed away overnight,” he said.
Trump also said that when he used the word “hoax” regarding the coronavirus on Friday evening at a political rally in South Carolina, he was referring to Democrats who are using the outbreak to attack him. “The hoax is on them,” he said. “I’m not talking about what’s happening here, I’m talking what they’re doing.”
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Most direct travel with Iran had already been banned under previous sanctions rules, but now any foreign national who has visited Iran in the previous 14 days would not be allowed into the United States. The U.S. State Department would also issue “do not travel” advisories for the parts of South Korea and Italy affected by the virus, and is working with those countries to develop screening protocols for people wanting to travel to the United States.
Trump said other restrictions were also being considered. “We are looking also at the southern border,” he said ― but just minutes later said there might not be any need to impose any such travel restrictions on the Mexican border.
Trump has been consistently downplaying both the severity of the disease as well as the number of Americans who may have it, and instead has mainly praised himself about what a great job he has done by banning travelers from infected areas who are not U.S. citizens from entering the United States.
He said at a news conference on Wednesday that he was surprised to learn that tens of thousands of Americans die from the flu each year, but that in comparison only 15 Americans had been diagnosed as having the coronavirus.
But those statements elided two key differences. First, the new coronavirus, according to early estimates, is some 20 times as deadly as the common seasonal flu. And second, because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially came up with a flawed test for the virus, only several hundred Americans have even been tested for the disease ― meaning there is a possibility that a much larger number of people have already been infected but do not know it yet.
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Trump at that earlier news conference also claimed, falsely, that the United States was producing a vaccine “very rapidly.” In fact, his own experts at the National Institutes of Health warn that a useable vaccine is at least a year and a half or two years away.
And in days prior to that, Trump was making even more unsupported claims about the disease caused by the virus, now officially named COVID-19.
Trump claimed “it was very much under control,” that it “will go away in April” with the warmer weather, and that, in any event, his administration was doing “a great job” of handling it. At times he has seemed far more concerned about the virus’ effect on the stock market than on human beings. “Stock Market starting to look very good to me!” he wrote on Twitter on Monday, while he was in India and as the market was halfway through a deep, two-day slide.
In fact, Trump eliminated the pandemic response team that predecessor Barack Obama had built following a 2014 Ebola epidemic in west Africa. That decision, health experts said, has hurt his administration’s ability to get up to speed on the coronavirus.
During Saturday’s 50-minute news conference, Trump also attacked the Federal Reserve Board for not lowering interest rates enough and praised a new peace agreement with the Taliban rebels in Afghanistan. At one point he said the Taliban ― the group that once harbored Osama bin Laden ― would now take over the fight against terrorists, and at another point said that invading Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban was a mistake.
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Trump also called on the news media and Democrats to tone down their discussions of the outbreak. “I would respectfully ask the news media and politicians and everybody else involved not do anything to incite panic. Because there’s no reason to panic, at all. This is something that’s being handled professionally,” he said.
That request marked a dramatic reversal from his own criticism of Obama’s handling of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when Trump posted nearly 100 times on Twitter attacking Obama over a three-month period.
“The United States must immediately institute strong travel restrictions or Ebola will be all over the United States-a plague like no other!” Trump wrote on Sept. 30, 2014.
On Oct. 12. 2014, Trump posted: “I don’t know if President Obama isn’t stopping the flights from Ebola torn West Africa because he is stubborn, stupid, or just doesn’t care!”
Obama won praise in the coming months for not only taking actions to prevent the disease from spreading to the United States, but for helping it from spreading further in Africa.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Read Live Updates From The South Carolina Primary Election

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) is the front-runner , but polls showed former Vice President Joe Biden leading in @ @ @ @ @ the primary .
Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , Sens .
@ @ @ @ @ and Elizabeth Warren ( Mass . )
, and billionaire activist Tom Steyer are hoping @ @ @ @ @ race .
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is not on the ballot .

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the front-runner, but polls showed former Vice President Joe Biden leading in the Palmetto State ahead of the primary. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and billionaire activist Tom Steyer are hoping to gain ground in the race. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is not on the ballot.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Top Teachers Union Leader Is Endorsing Elizabeth Warren For President

Scott Olson via Getty Images Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten visit with striking Chicago teachers at Oscar DePriest Elementary School on Oct. 22 , 2019 .
The endorsement could provide a jolt of support for Warren , ahead of Super Tuesday , when voters will decided how to award roughly one-third of the pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention .
Warren is counting on a strong Super Tuesday performance in California , Texas , Massachusetts and elsewhere to make up for middling results in the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was a prominent backer of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential primaries , is likely to frustrate some local affiliates and members who have chosen to back Sanders .
Several AFT affiliates , most notably the United Teachers of Los Angeles , have backed the democratic socialist ’ s presidential bid .
“ It ’ s a big deal that there ’ s a former special education teacher running for president , ” Weingarten wrote in a Medium post explaining her endorsement .
“ Being a teacher means being fearless and flexible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resilient , and dedicated and devoted to making life better for all kids and families .
Being a teacher means having an innate understanding of the value of public education and what is needed to help all children succeed and to support all educators .
Elizabeth Warren gets this.
” Many large national unions have been unable to reach a consensus on who to endorse in the crowded Democratic primary field .
But Sanders has succeeded in winning the support of more local affiliates than any other candidate ― and , as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of more educators than any other candidate .
Warren has promised to name a former public school teacher as education secretary , and to increase K-12 education funding by $ 800 billion over the next decade using revenue from her proposed wealth tax on fortunes over $ 50 million .
Warren also shares the AFT ’ s skepticism of charter schools and high-stakes testing .
A major reason that most national unions have stayed out of the primary race thus far is a desire to move past the rancor of the 2016 Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Hillary Clinton .
During that primary , many major unions , including the AFT , endorsed Clinton early on in the race , eliciting a backlash from some rank-and-file members and locals who were more supportive of Sanders .
Whether Weingarten ’ s decision to endorse in a personal capacity , while still keeping the union formally out of the race , spares the union a similar backlash remains to be seen .
Already there have been tensions inside the United Federation of Teachers , the AFT ’ s New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country , over whether and how to endorse a candidate .
A group of UFT members largely sympathetic to Sanders has unsuccessfully sought , against the wishes of union leadership , to put an endorsement up for a membershipwide vote .
Olenick , a public school teacher and founder of the Brooklyn-based progressive group Indivisible Nation BK , had sought to meet with multiple presidential candidates about her idea of nominating a public school teacher as secretary of education .
Only Warren ’ s team followed up , giving her face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City in March 2019 .
A couple months later , Warren pledged to name a public school teacher to the top post and shined a light on Olenick as the inspiration for the promise .
Kenzo Shibata , a Sanders backer and a member of the executive board of the Chicago Teachers Union , sounded mostly conciliatory notes , offering that Weingarten had a “ right ” to endorse in the race .
( Though Sanders courted the famously militant CTU , it ultimately chose not to endorse in the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for All , but she revised her plan in November to split the phaseout of private insurance into a separate bill that she would only pursue after the passage of a public health care option .
The Chicago educator and member of the Democratic Socialists of America suggested that he would prefer it if the AFT continued to stay out of the primary in an official capacity .

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten visit with striking Chicago teachers at Oscar DePriest Elementary School on Oct. 22, 2019. Scott Olson via Getty Images
Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, is expected to endorse Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president at a rally Saturday night in Houston, according to a source familiar with the endorsement.
Weingarten is backing Warren in her personal capacity. The 1.7 million-member AFT has encouraged local unions and members to support either Warren, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders or former Vice President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination to challenge President Donald Trump.
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The endorsement could provide a jolt of support for Warren, ahead of Super Tuesday, when voters will decided how to award roughly one-third of the pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Warren is counting on a strong Super Tuesday performance in California, Texas, Massachusetts and elsewhere to make up for middling results in the early states.
The decision by Weingarten, who was a prominent backer of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential primaries, is likely to frustrate some local affiliates and members who have chosen to back Sanders. Several AFT affiliates, most notably the United Teachers of Los Angeles, have backed the democratic socialist’s presidential bid.
“It’s a big deal that there’s a former special education teacher running for president,” Weingarten wrote in a Medium post explaining her endorsement. “Being a teacher means being fearless and flexible, loving and compassionate, hardworking and resilient, and dedicated and devoted to making life better for all kids and families. Being a teacher means having an innate understanding of the value of public education and what is needed to help all children succeed and to support all educators. Elizabeth Warren gets this.”
Many large national unions have been unable to reach a consensus on who to endorse in the crowded Democratic primary field. But Sanders has succeeded in winning the support of more local affiliates than any other candidate ― and, as of the end of January, the donations of more educators than any other candidate.
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Weingarten has praised Warren in the past, calling the Massachusetts senator’s education plan “a game changer for our public schools and the 90 percent of America’s students who attend them.”
Warren has promised to name a former public school teacher as education secretary, and to increase K-12 education funding by $800 billion over the next decade using revenue from her proposed wealth tax on fortunes over $50 million. Warren also shares the AFT’s skepticism of charter schools and high-stakes testing.
The AFT, which also represents community college instructors, school nurses and teachers aides, is one of the two largest teachers unions in the country. The 3 million-member National Education Association is yet to endorse a candidate.
A major reason that most national unions have stayed out of the primary race thus far is a desire to move past the rancor of the 2016 Democratic contest between Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. During that primary, many major unions, including the AFT, endorsed Clinton early on in the race, eliciting a backlash from some rank-and-file members and locals who were more supportive of Sanders.
Whether Weingarten’s decision to endorse in a personal capacity, while still keeping the union formally out of the race, spares the union a similar backlash remains to be seen. Already there have been tensions inside the United Federation of Teachers, the AFT’s New York City affiliate and the largest teachers union local in the country, over whether and how to endorse a candidate. A group of UFT members largely sympathetic to Sanders has unsuccessfully sought, against the wishes of union leadership, to put an endorsement up for a membershipwide vote.
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Liat Olenick, a Warren supporter and a member of UFT, welcomed Weingarten’s announcement.
“A big reason I support Elizabeth Warren is her education platform and my interactions with her around public schools,” Olenick said.
Olenick, a public school teacher and founder of the Brooklyn-based progressive group Indivisible Nation BK, had sought to meet with multiple presidential candidates about her idea of nominating a public school teacher as secretary of education. Only Warren’s team followed up, giving her face time with Warren during a visit to New York City in March 2019. A couple months later, Warren pledged to name a public school teacher to the top post and shined a light on Olenick as the inspiration for the promise.
The experience, Olenick maintained, “speaks to the culture of the campaign and the candidate.”
Kenzo Shibata, a Sanders backer and a member of the executive board of the Chicago Teachers Union, sounded mostly conciliatory notes, offering that Weingarten had a “right” to endorse in the race. (Though Sanders courted the famously militant CTU, it ultimately chose not to endorse in the primary.)
He couldn’t resist a dig at Weingarten though, whom he noted has expressed skepticism of “Medicare for All” legislation that would effectively eliminate private health insurance.
Warren continues to support Medicare for All, but she revised her plan in November to split the phaseout of private insurance into a separate bill that she would only pursue after the passage of a public health care option.
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Although the change is a question of timing rather than substance, some Sanders partisans consider it a sign of Warren’s lack of seriousness about fighting for the policy under pressure.
As a result, Shibata suggested that Weingarten ― an open skeptic of ending private health insurance ― might have found Warren’s plan appealing.
“Elizabeth Warren is not a big proponent of Medicare for All at this point,” Shibata argued, despite Warren’s statements to the contrary. “So [Weingarten] found a candidate who matches her values, and more power to her.”
The Chicago educator and member of the Democratic Socialists of America suggested that he would prefer it if the AFT continued to stay out of the primary in an official capacity.
“If things kind of stayed as they were, folks would continue to work for and support the candidates they like individually,” Shibata said. “Anything shaking that up further would be very confusing.”
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Notwithstanding her support for Warren, Olenick admonished the union to follow as democratic a process as possible if it decides to make an endorsement.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--U.S. To Withdraw From Afghanistan After Signing Peace Deal With Taliban

This historic deal , signed by chief negotiators from the two sides and witnessed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the Qatari capital of Doha , could see the withdrawal of all American and allied forces in the next 14 months and allow President Donald Trump to fulfill a key campaign pledge to extract the U.S. from “ endless wars.
” It sets the stage for intra-Afghan peace talks to begin by March 10 during which a permanent ceasefire will be negotiated and the Taliban agree to meet with all factions .
Under the agreement , the U.S. would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13,000 in the next 3-4 months , with the remaining U.S. forces withdrawing in 14 months .
The complete pullout would depend on the Taliban meeting their commitments to prevent terrorism , including specific obligations to renounce al-Qaida and prevent that group and others from using Afghan soil to plot attacks on the U.S. or its allies .
The deal does not , however , tie the U.S. withdrawal to any specific outcome from the all Afghan talks , according to U.S. officials .
“ We will closely watch the Taliban ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pace of our withdrawal to their actions .
This is how we will ensure that Afghanistan never again serves as a base for international terrorists , ” said Pompeo .
He acknowledged that the road ahead would be difficult but said the deal represented “ the best opportunity for peace in a generation.
” It only took a few months to topple the Taliban and send Osama bin Laden and top al-Qaida militants scrambling across the border into Pakistan , but the war dragged on for years as the U.S. tried establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the least developed countries in the world .
The Taliban regrouped , and currently hold sway over half the country .
The U.S. spent more than $ 750 billion , and on all sides the war cost tens of thousands of lives lost , permanently scarred and indelibly interrupted .
But the conflict was also frequently ignored by U.S. politicians and the American public as the memory of the attacks on that crisp , sunny morning faded despite having changed how many Americans see the world .
While Pompeo attended the ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political office , he did not sign the agreement and appeared to avoid any direct contact with the Taliban delegation .
Instead , the deal was signed by U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar , after which they shook hands and members of the Taliban shouted “ Allahu Akhbar ” or “ God is greatest.
” Others in attendance , including the Qatari hosts , applauded politely .
The declaration mirrored the Doha document in many ways , laying out the details of the U.S. agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promise to battle terrorism .
But for Afghanistan ’ s government which has been deeply criticized by its political opponents , including Abdullah , the real job ahead will be cobbling together a negotiating team to sit across from the Taliban in intra-Afghan negotiations to decide the future face of a post-war Afghanistan .
Those negotiations , to be held in Oslo , Norway , are expected to begin by March 10 .
But the Taliban want 5,000 of their prisoners released before the start of talks and until now Ghani ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the signing between the United States and Taliban we will all work towards its implementation , ” Ghani said .
He took a conciliatory tone promising the negotiating team from Kabul will be “ inclusive ” , without giving detail .
Esper warned the road ahead was a long one and would not be without its challenges .
“ This is a hopeful moment , but it is only the beginning , the road ahead will not be easy .
Achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan will require patience and compromise among all parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many years , Afghanistan has a real path toward the future.
” The prospects for Afghanistan ’ s future are uncertain .
The agreement sets the stage for peace talks involving Afghan factions , which are likely to be complicated .
Under the agreement , 5,000 Taliban are to be released from Afghan-run jails , but it ’ s not known if the Afghan government will do that .
There are also questions about whether militias loyal to various warlords will be willing to disarm .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The United States signed a peace agreement with Taliban militants on Saturday aimed at bringing an end to 18 years of bloodshed in Afghanistan that began after 9/11 and allowing U.S. troops to return home from America’s longest war.
This historic deal, signed by chief negotiators from the two sides and witnessed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the Qatari capital of Doha, could see the withdrawal of all American and allied forces in the next 14 months and allow President Donald Trump to fulfill a key campaign pledge to extract the U.S. from “endless wars.” It sets the stage for intra-Afghan peace talks to begin by March 10 during which a permanent ceasefire will be negotiated and the Taliban agree to meet with all factions.
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Under the agreement, the U.S. would draw its forces down to 8,600 from 13,000 in the next 3-4 months, with the remaining U.S. forces withdrawing in 14 months. The complete pullout would depend on the Taliban meeting their commitments to prevent terrorism, including specific obligations to renounce al-Qaida and prevent that group and others from using Afghan soil to plot attacks on the U.S. or its allies. The deal does not, however, tie the U.S. withdrawal to any specific outcome from the all Afghan talks, according to U.S. officials.
“We will closely watch the Taliban’s compliance with their commitments, and calibrate the pace of our withdrawal to their actions. This is how we will ensure that Afghanistan never again serves as a base for international terrorists,” said Pompeo. He acknowledged that the road ahead would be difficult but said the deal represented “the best opportunity for peace in a generation.”
President George W. Bush ordered the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
At a parallel ceremony in Kabul, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani signed a joint statement committing the Afghan government to support the U.S.-Taliban deal, which is viewed skeptically by many war-weary Afghans, particularly women who fear a comeback of repression under the ultra-conservative Taliban.
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President George W. Bush ordered the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Some U.S. troops currently serving there had not yet been born when al-Qaida hijackers flew two airliners into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, crashed another into the Pentagon and took down a fourth in western Pennsylvania, killing almost 3,000 people.
It only took a few months to topple the Taliban and send Osama bin Laden and top al-Qaida militants scrambling across the border into Pakistan, but the war dragged on for years as the U.S. tried establish a stable, functioning state in one of the least developed countries in the world. The Taliban regrouped, and currently hold sway over half the country.
The U.S. spent more than $750 billion, and on all sides the war cost tens of thousands of lives lost, permanently scarred and indelibly interrupted. But the conflict was also frequently ignored by U.S. politicians and the American public as the memory of the attacks on that crisp, sunny morning faded despite having changed how many Americans see the world.
Under the peace deal, the U.S. would draw its forces down to 8,600 from 13,000 in the next 3-4 months, with the remaining U.S. forces withdrawing in 14 months. THOMAS WATKINS via Getty Images
While Pompeo attended the ceremony in Qatar, where the Taliban have a political office, he did not sign the agreement and appeared to avoid any direct contact with the Taliban delegation. Instead, the deal was signed by U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, after which they shook hands and members of the Taliban shouted “Allahu Akhbar” or “God is greatest.” Others in attendance, including the Qatari hosts, applauded politely.
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“We are committed to implementing this agreement,” Baradar said in brief comments. “I call on all Afghans to honestly work for peace and gather around the table for peace negotiations.” He added that hoped the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan would allow all Afghans to “have a peaceful life under Islamic law.”
Addressing reporters after the signing ceremony, Pompeo said he was still moved by the Sept. 11 attacks and proud of what the U.S. had accomplished in Afghanistan although he stressed that the U.S. must be realistic about its options.
“I am just as angry over 9/11 as I was the day I watched al-Qaida knock down the Twin Towers on TV,” Pompeo said before addressing U.S. veterans of Afghanistan and troops currently serving there. “We will not squander what they and you have won through blood sweat and tears,” he said.
Almost 2,400 U.S. service members have died since the start of the conflict in Afghanistan. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
Meanwhile in Kabul, in a rare show of unity, Ghani sat beside his political rival Abdullah Abdullah at a ceremony with Esper and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that included a declaration between the Afghan government and the United States intended to show U.S. support for Afghanistan as Washington signed the deal with the Taliban.
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The declaration mirrored the Doha document in many ways, laying out the details of the U.S. agreement with the Taliban but conditional on its promise to battle terrorism. But for Afghanistan’s government which has been deeply criticized by its political opponents, including Abdullah, the real job ahead will be cobbling together a negotiating team to sit across from the Taliban in intra-Afghan negotiations to decide the future face of a post-war Afghanistan.
Those negotiations, to be held in Oslo, Norway, are expected to begin by March 10. But the Taliban want 5,000 of their prisoners released before the start of talks and until now Ghani’s government has not agreed. “After the signing between the United States and Taliban we will all work towards its implementation,” Ghani said. He took a conciliatory tone promising the negotiating team from Kabul will be “inclusive”, without giving detail.
Esper warned the road ahead was a long one and would not be without its challenges. “This is a hopeful moment, but it is only the beginning, the road ahead will not be easy. Achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan will require patience and compromise among all parties. But for the first time in many years, Afghanistan has a real path toward the future.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, met with Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani before a peace signing ceremony between the U.S. and the Taliban in Doha. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dozens of Taliban members had earlier held a small victory march in Qatar in which they waved the militant group’s white flags, according to a video shared on Taliban websites. “Today is the day of victory, which has come with the help of Allah,” said Abbas Stanikzai, one of the Taliban’s lead negotiators, who joined the march.
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Trump has repeatedly promised to get the U.S. out of its “endless wars” in the Middle East, and the withdrawal of troops could provide a boost as he seeks re-election in a nation weary of involvement in distant conflicts.
He has approached the Taliban agreement cautiously, steering clear of the crowing surrounding other major foreign policy actions, such as his talks with North Korea.
Last September, on short notice, he called off what was to be a signing ceremony with the Taliban at Camp David after a series of new Taliban attacks. But he has since been supportive of the talks led by his special envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad.
Under the agreement, the Taliban promise not to let extremists use the country as a staging ground for attacking the U.S. or its allies. But U.S. officials are loath to trust the Taliban to fulfill their obligations.
The prospects for Afghanistan’s future are uncertain. The agreement sets the stage for peace talks involving Afghan factions, which are likely to be complicated. Under the agreement, 5,000 Taliban are to be released from Afghan-run jails, but it’s not known if the Afghan government will do that. There are also questions about whether militias loyal to various warlords will be willing to disarm.
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U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, left, and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban group's top political leader signed a peace agreement between Taliban and U.S. officials in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. officials say the eventual withdrawal of all American and allied troops from Afghanistan is not contingent on any specific outcome in talks among the Taliban and other Afghan factions about the country’s future. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the agreement.
It’s not clear what will become of gains made in women’s rights since the toppling of the Taliban, which had repressed women and girls under a strict brand of Sharia law. Women’s rights in Afghanistan had been a top concern of both the Bush and Obama administration, but it remains a deeply conservative country, with women still struggling for basic rights.
There are currently more than 16,500 soldiers serving under the NATO banner, of which 8,000 are American. Germany has the next largest contingent, with 1,300 troops, followed by Britain with 1,100.
In all, 38 NATO countries are contributing forces to Afghanistan. The alliance officially concluded its combat mission in 2014 and now provides training and support to Afghan forces.
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“The road to peace will be long and hard and there will be setbacks, and there is a risk always for spoilers,” Stoltenberg said on Saturday. “But the thing is, we are committed, the Afghan people are committed to peace, and we will continue to provide support.”
The U.S. has a separate contingent of 5,000 troops deployed to carry out counter-terrorism missions and provide air and ground support to Afghan forces when requested.
Since the start of negotiations with the Taliban, the U.S. has stepped up its air assaults on the Taliban as well as a local Islamic State affiliate. Last year the U.S. air force dropped more bombs on Afghanistan than in any year since 2013.
Seven days ago, the Taliban began a seven-day “reduction of violence” period, a prerequisite to the peace deal signing.
“The road to peace will be long and hard and there will be setbacks, and there is a risk always for spoilers,” Stoltenberg said. “But the thing is, we are committed, the Afghan people are committed to peace, and we will continue to provide support.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Progressive Entrepreneur Joe Sanberg Endorses Bernie Sanders For President

“ I think about the kind of progressive governance that I want to see happen over the rest of our lives ― it ’ s going to require the multiracial , working-class coalition under 45 that have been inspired by his campaign , ” said Sanberg , 40 , a founder of multiple progressive advocacy groups , who emphasized that he was making the endorsement in a personal capacity .
“ The endorsement for me is both about my belief that Bernie can beat Trump and be a great president , as well as standing by the coalition he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades ahead to fix all the problems we ’ ve created .
I ’ m sure even Bernie Sanders would acknowledge it ’ s not going to be fixed in one or two terms , ” he continued .
“ It ’ s going to take the rest of our lives .
The critical partner in that is going to be this coalition under 45.
” Although Sanberg acknowledged the difficulty Sanders would have trying to enact single payer in the current Congress , he believes that Sanders ’ embrace of the policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ One of the things that I think I bring from my experience as an entrepreneur is that you don ’ t negotiate from a place of compromise .
You negotiate from a place of clarity , ” the entrepreneur said .
“ Bernie has stood head and shoulders above every other candidate around this clarity that single payer should be our guidepost.
” Sanberg ’ s endorsement is liable to provide some modest immediate benefits to Sanders before Super Tuesday this coming week , when more than a dozen states and territories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to inform his 200,000-person email list about his endorsement and hit the trail for Sanders in whatever capacity the senator welcomes him to do .
But the bigger potential impact of Sanberg ’ s blessing may well be the way it can defuse some of the stigma associated with Sanders ’ “ democratic socialist ” moniker in the broader public .
Sanberg , who is also an investor in successful startups like Blue Apron , frames his support for “ Medicare for All , ” in part , as a boon for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would free up workers concerned about losing their employer-sponsored health insurance to start new businesses .
“ One of the ways I ’ d like to help is leverage my credibility as an entrepreneur … to explain that Bernie ’ s domestic policy is going to unlock sensational economic growth that ’ s going to be driven by everyday Americans , ” he said .
Asked how he squares his preferred title of “ progressive entrepreneur ” with Sanders ’ “ democratic socialism , ” Sanberg downplayed their differences , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country with dramatically lower income and wealth inequality .
( In fact , unlike many democratic socialists who have the eventual goal of complete worker ownership of the means of production , Sanders appears to prefer what ’ s more commonly known as “ social democracy ” : a mixed system practiced in Nordic countries where tough regulation , strong unions and a cradle-to-grave welfare state exist alongside a robust private sector . )
Sanberg , who is considering a run for mayor of LA in 2022 , has said that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in childhood to dedicate his personal wealth to fighting poverty and inequality .
Sanberg and the single mother who raised him in Orange County , California , lost their home to foreclosure when he was a kid .
Sanberg led the initiative to create a state-level earned income tax credit for working poor families in California in 2015 and subsequently funded the nonprofit CalEITC4Me to ensure low-income Californians were aware of their eligibility for the program .
Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections , he founded Working Hero PAC to support Democratic candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies .
And in 2019 , he expanded his EITC outreach program to other states outside California where low-income Americans are often unaware of the tax credits for which they are eligible .

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Joe Sanberg, a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur and progressive activist, is endorsing the presidential bid of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) ahead of California’s primary elections on Tuesday.
Sanberg, a founder of Aspiration, the socially conscious online banking company, described Sanders’ diverse, young and working-class coalition of supporters as a key reason for getting behind the Vermont senator’s candidacy.
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“I think about the kind of progressive governance that I want to see happen over the rest of our lives ― it’s going to require the multiracial, working-class coalition under 45 that have been inspired by his campaign,” said Sanberg, 40, a founder of multiple progressive advocacy groups, who emphasized that he was making the endorsement in a personal capacity. “The endorsement for me is both about my belief that Bernie can beat Trump and be a great president, as well as standing by the coalition he’s awakened.
“We have several decades ahead to fix all the problems we’ve created. I’m sure even Bernie Sanders would acknowledge it’s not going to be fixed in one or two terms,” he continued. “It’s going to take the rest of our lives. The critical partner in that is going to be this coalition under 45.”
Joe Sanberg believes "Medicare for All" and other policies that Bernie Sanders advocates are good for innovation and economic growth. Larry French/Getty Images
Sanberg, a co-founder of the group Business for Medicare for All, characterized Sanders’ commitment to achieving single-payer health care as a major factor in his endorsement as well.
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Although Sanberg acknowledged the difficulty Sanders would have trying to enact single payer in the current Congress, he believes that Sanders’ embrace of the policy is the “right campaign posture.”
“One of the things that I think I bring from my experience as an entrepreneur is that you don’t negotiate from a place of compromise. You negotiate from a place of clarity,” the entrepreneur said. “Bernie has stood head and shoulders above every other candidate around this clarity that single payer should be our guidepost.”
Sanberg’s endorsement is liable to provide some modest immediate benefits to Sanders before Super Tuesday this coming week, when more than a dozen states and territories hold their Democratic nominating contests. Sanberg plans to inform his 200,000-person email list about his endorsement and hit the trail for Sanders in whatever capacity the senator welcomes him to do.
But the bigger potential impact of Sanberg’s blessing may well be the way it can defuse some of the stigma associated with Sanders’ “democratic socialist” moniker in the broader public.
Sanberg, who is also an investor in successful startups like Blue Apron, frames his support for “Medicare for All,” in part, as a boon for entrepreneurship. The policy, Sanberg notes, would free up workers concerned about losing their employer-sponsored health insurance to start new businesses.
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He also envisions medical and student debt relief, among other policies, freeing up ordinary Americans’ income for greater consumption of goods and services that fuels economic growth.
“One of the ways I’d like to help is leverage my credibility as an entrepreneur … to explain that Bernie’s domestic policy is going to unlock sensational economic growth that’s going to be driven by everyday Americans,” he said.
Asked how he squares his preferred title of “progressive entrepreneur” with Sanders’ “democratic socialism,” Sanberg downplayed their differences, noting that he shares Sanders’ vision for a country with dramatically lower income and wealth inequality. (In fact, unlike many democratic socialists who have the eventual goal of complete worker ownership of the means of production, Sanders appears to prefer what’s more commonly known as “social democracy”: a mixed system practiced in Nordic countries where tough regulation, strong unions and a cradle-to-grave welfare state exist alongside a robust private sector.)
“The labels are irrelevant,” Sanberg said. “What matters is the substance of his policies.”
Sanberg, who is considering a run for mayor of LA in 2022, has said that he was inspired by the economic precariousness he experienced in childhood to dedicate his personal wealth to fighting poverty and inequality. Sanberg and the single mother who raised him in Orange County, California, lost their home to foreclosure when he was a kid.
Sanberg led the initiative to create a state-level earned income tax credit for working poor families in California in 2015 and subsequently funded the nonprofit CalEITC4Me to ensure low-income Californians were aware of their eligibility for the program. Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, he founded Working Hero PAC to support Democratic candidates for office who are committed to anti-poverty policies. And in 2019, he expanded his EITC outreach program to other states outside California where low-income Americans are often unaware of the tax credits for which they are eligible.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Democratic Congressman Threatens Donald Trump Jr. With 'Serious Altercation' On Live TV

Rep. John Garamendi ( D-Calif. ) on Friday threatened “ a serious altercation ” if he came face to face with Donald Trump Jr. after the president ’ s son suggested Democrats wanted the coronavirus to kill millions of Americans to end his father ’ s “ streak of winning.
” “ He should not be near me when he says that .
There would be a serious altercation , ” Garamendi told MSNBC ’ s Hallie Jackson .
“ That is just totally outrageous .
That is totally outrageous .
I can assure you there ’ s not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anybody to be sick.
” I joined @ HallieJackson on @ MSNBC this morning to discuss a briefing I received from the administration this morning on the Coronavirus .
You can watch our discussion below : pic.twitter.com/qoc22zUvjc — John Garamendi ( @ RepGaramendi ) February 28 , 2020 “ What we are concerned about is the administration ’ s response to this illness , ” Garamendi explained , before criticizing the messy way in which the Trump White House has handled the developing crisis .
“ Don Jr. better not get anyplace close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a healthy situation , ” concluded Garamendi , whose district reportedly contains what health officials believe is the first so-called “ community spread ” example of the virus in America .
The virus causes the flu-like respiratory disease COVID-19 .
Andy Surabian , a spokesman for Trump Jr. , condemned Garamendi ’ s comments , describing them to Fox News as “ outrageous ” and “ beyond the pale , ” also criticizing Jackson ’ s “ lack of pushback or condemnation.
” “ By threatening Don Jr. with physical violence on national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone watching that he is better suited to represent Antifa than the people of California ’ s 3rd Congressional District , ” Surabian added , demanding an immediate apology from the lawmaker .
Garamendi later clarified his comments on Twitter , saying “ there is no threat of physical violence — but he can expect a strong verbal altercation.
” 1/3 My sole focus is on the health and safety of my constituents and all Americans .
Donald Trump Jr. made the outrageous statement that Democrats want people to die for political purposes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my office to explain his comments , my door is open .
pic.twitter.com/os8TixqAmN — John Garamendi ( @ RepGaramendi ) February 28 , 2020 2/3 There is no threat of physical violence—but he can expect a strong verbal altercation .
I will continue working to ensure our communities have the testing kits and resources necessary to successfully address the Coronavirus crisis .
— John Garamendi ( @ RepGaramendi ) February 28 , 2020

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Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) on Friday threatened “a serious altercation” if he came face to face with Donald Trump Jr. after the president’s son suggested Democrats wanted the coronavirus to kill millions of Americans to end his father’s “streak of winning.”
“He should not be near me when he says that. There would be a serious altercation,” Garamendi told MSNBC’s Hallie Jackson. “That is just totally outrageous. That is totally outrageous. I can assure you there’s not a Democrat or Republican in Congress that wants anybody to be sick.”
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I joined @HallieJackson on @MSNBC this morning to discuss a briefing I received from the administration this morning on the Coronavirus. You can watch our discussion below: pic.twitter.com/qoc22zUvjc — John Garamendi (@RepGaramendi) February 28, 2020
“What we are concerned about is the administration’s response to this illness,” Garamendi explained, before criticizing the messy way in which the Trump White House has handled the developing crisis.
“Don Jr. better not get anyplace close to me. It would not be a healthy situation,” concluded Garamendi, whose district reportedly contains what health officials believe is the first so-called “community spread” example of the virus in America. The virus causes the flu-like respiratory disease COVID-19.
Andy Surabian, a spokesman for Trump Jr., condemned Garamendi’s comments, describing them to Fox News as “outrageous” and “beyond the pale,” also criticizing Jackson’s “lack of pushback or condemnation.”
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“By threatening Don Jr. with physical violence on national TV, Congressman Garamendi made clear to everyone watching that he is better suited to represent Antifa than the people of California’s 3rd Congressional District,” Surabian added, demanding an immediate apology from the lawmaker.
Garamendi later clarified his comments on Twitter, saying “there is no threat of physical violence — but he can expect a strong verbal altercation.”
1/3 My sole focus is on the health and safety of my constituents and all Americans.
Donald Trump Jr. made the outrageous statement that Democrats want people to die for political purposes. If he wants to come to my office to explain his comments, my door is open. pic.twitter.com/os8TixqAmN — John Garamendi (@RepGaramendi) February 28, 2020
2/3 There is no threat of physical violence—but he can expect a strong verbal altercation.
I will continue working to ensure our communities have the testing kits and resources necessary to successfully address the Coronavirus crisis. — John Garamendi (@RepGaramendi) February 28, 2020
3/3 I hope Donald Trump Jr. and the President will join me in this effort. — John Garamendi (@RepGaramendi) February 28, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Elizabeth Warren Can't Think Of 'A Worse Person' Than Mike Pence To Tackle Coronavirus

Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
on Friday joined the growing chorus of criticism being leveled at President Donald Trump over his controversial appointment of Vice President Mike Pence to oversee the government ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak .
The Democratic presidential candidate argued to MSNBC ’ s Chris Hayes that Pence “ is the wrong person ” to tackle the outbreak of the virus , which causes the COVID-19 disease and federal health officials warn could spread imminently across the U.S. “ He is actually the one guy around who has experience in dealing with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only he ’ s the guy who went in exactly the wrong direction , ” said Warren , referring to Pence ’ s initial opposition , while governor of Indiana , to needle exchange programs ― enabling an HIV crisis in the state .
“ He paid more attention to politics than he did to science , and that really created a health crisis in his state of Indiana .
I can not think of a worse person to put in charge of dealing with this coronavirus now , ” added Warren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redirecting funding for Trump ’ s proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to combat the outbreak of the virus .
“ Rather than use taxpayer dollars to pay for a monument to hate and division , my bill will help ensure that the federal government has the resources it needs to adequately respond to this emergency , ” Warren explained in a statement posted to her website .

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Friday joined the growing chorus of criticism being leveled at President Donald Trump over his controversial appointment of Vice President Mike Pence to oversee the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Democratic presidential candidate argued to MSNBC’s Chris Hayes that Pence “is the wrong person” to tackle the outbreak of the virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease and federal health officials warn could spread imminently across the U.S.
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“He is actually the one guy around who has experience in dealing with a virus that gets out of control, only he’s the guy who went in exactly the wrong direction,” said Warren, referring to Pence’s initial opposition, while governor of Indiana, to needle exchange programs ― enabling an HIV crisis in the state.
“He paid more attention to politics than he did to science, and that really created a health crisis in his state of Indiana. I cannot think of a worse person to put in charge of dealing with this coronavirus now,” added Warren, who on Thursday unveiled legislation aimed at redirecting funding for Trump’s proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to combat the outbreak of the virus.
“Rather than use taxpayer dollars to pay for a monument to hate and division, my bill will help ensure that the federal government has the resources it needs to adequately respond to this emergency,” Warren explained in a statement posted to her website.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Mike Huckabee Sickens Twitter Users With Coronavirus Scenario Involving Donald Trump

Mike Huckabee imagined a strange scenario involving Donald Trump literally sucking the coronavirus out of sufferers and was immediately ridiculed on Twitter .
“ If he personally sucked the virus out of the lungs of all 62K ppl affected & swam to bottom of ocean to spit it out , they ’ d complain he polluted the seas !
” the Republican former Arkansas governor tweeted Thursday .
Huckabee also claimed “ the left & media ” hate Trump more than the virus itself , which has now spread to dozens of countries and federal health officials have warned is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The left & media ( but I repeat myself ) hate @ realDonaldTrump more than Coronavirus .
If he personally sucked the virus out of the lungs of all 62K ppl affected & swam to bottom of ocean to spit it out , they 'd complain he polluted the seas !
https : //t.co/gmwjEgPKqh — Gov .
Mike Huckabee ( @ GovMikeHuckabee ) February 28 , 2020 Huckabee repeated the wild statement on Fox News ’ flagship morning show “ Fox & Friends ” the following day : Mike Huckabee says Trump `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every one of the 60,000 people in the world , suck it out of their lungs , swim to the bottom of the ocean and spit it out , and he would be accused of pollution for messing up the ocean . ''
pic.twitter.com/X7xbC5ebDz — Brian Stelter ( @ brianstelter ) February 28 , 2020 It ’ s the latest instance of Trump ’ s allies accusing Democrats and the media of using the virus to attack the president , who has been widely criticized for entrusting Vice President Mike Pence to tackle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what some described as Huckabee ’ s “ fan fiction ” about the president .
“ Stupidity goes viral even faster than deadly viruses , ” responded Rep. Jared Huffman ( D-Calif. ) .
How to prevent coronavirus infection : Wash your hands for 20 seconds and do n't suck it out of people 's lungs .
https : //t.co/kZEYlF5WT0 — Tasneem N ( @ TasneemN ) February 28 , 2020 I never thought I ’ d see the day that Christians like @ GovMikeHuckabee would replace their God in heaven with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //t.co/TQuJMSD7zB — Joe Walsh ( @ WalshFreedom ) February 28 , 2020 Is there anyone left in politics who doesn ’ t live in their own personal fantasy world — Alex Murphy ( @ Dr_VanNostrin ) February 28 , 2020 Or he could just do his job ?
https : //t.co/lKoEw4GXMc — Molly Jong-Fast ( @ MollyJongFast ) February 28 , 2020 What a revolting image ... but no worries , the Coronavirus ca n't kill us .
Trump 's already sucked the life out of everyone .
# SuckItTrump https : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ArrDJay ) February 28 , 2020

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Mike Huckabee imagined a strange scenario involving Donald Trump literally sucking the coronavirus out of sufferers and was immediately ridiculed on Twitter.
“If he personally sucked the virus out of the lungs of all 62K ppl affected & swam to bottom of ocean to spit it out, they’d complain he polluted the seas!” the Republican former Arkansas governor tweeted Thursday.
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Huckabee also claimed “the left & media” hate Trump more than the virus itself, which has now spread to dozens of countries and federal health officials have warned is poised to advance across the U.S.
The left & media (but I repeat myself) hate @realDonaldTrump more than Coronavirus. If he personally sucked the virus out of the lungs of all 62K ppl affected & swam to bottom of ocean to spit it out, they'd complain he polluted the seas! https://t.co/gmwjEgPKqh — Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) February 28, 2020
Huckabee repeated the wild statement on Fox News’ flagship morning show “Fox & Friends” the following day:
Mike Huckabee says Trump "could personally sick the virus out of every one of the 60,000 people in the world, suck it out of their lungs, swim to the bottom of the ocean and spit it out, and he would be accused of pollution for messing up the ocean." pic.twitter.com/X7xbC5ebDz — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 28, 2020
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It’s the latest instance of Trump’s allies accusing Democrats and the media of using the virus to attack the president, who has been widely criticized for entrusting Vice President Mike Pence to tackle the outbreak.
Twitter users gagged at what some described as Huckabee’s “fan fiction” about the president. “Stupidity goes viral even faster than deadly viruses,” responded Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.).
How to prevent coronavirus infection: Wash your hands for 20 seconds and don't suck it out of people's lungs. https://t.co/kZEYlF5WT0 — Tasneem N (@TasneemN) February 28, 2020
These cult members have been successfully programmed 😳 #TrumpVirus https://t.co/Gnh5pbzjSa — Sam Kemp-Jackson (@samkj27) February 28, 2020
Totally normal thing to say.
Totally. Normal. https://t.co/s4MRsj4VhO — James West (@jameswest2010) February 28, 2020
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These guys are...well, “over the top” is wayyy too mild a phrase. https://t.co/vhdG46WrVk — Melissa Jo Peltier (@MelissaJPeltier) February 28, 2020
What a rich fantasy life Mike Huckabee has. He should write Repugnican fan fiction! — Tsarone (@IndiaStreetKali) February 28, 2020
Stupidity goes viral even faster than deadly viruses. https://t.co/gbNuQaDOBe — Rep. Jared Huffman (@JaredHuffman) February 28, 2020
This is the worst fan fiction yet. — Concerned Citizen (@politicsbos) February 28, 2020
I never thought I’d see the day that Christians like @GovMikeHuckabee would replace their God in heaven with a God in the White House. https://t.co/TQuJMSD7zB — Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) February 28, 2020
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Is there anyone left in politics who doesn’t live in their own personal fantasy world — Alex Murphy (@Dr_VanNostrin) February 28, 2020
This apparently is what passes for commentary on Fox News https://t.co/JjA8JHmPeY — David Lazarus (@Davidlaz) February 29, 2020
There some major cringey subconscious unveiling here — Brian Hanna (@_BrianHanna) February 28, 2020
Or he could just do his job? https://t.co/lKoEw4GXMc — Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) February 28, 2020
What a revolting image... but no worries, the Coronavirus can't kill us. Trump's already sucked the life out of everyone. #SuckItTrump https://t.co/RDSnepw1UO — Do Nothing Savage 🆘✊ (@ArrDJay) February 28, 2020
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Huckabee really drank the MAGA koolaid didn’t he? https://t.co/zdxCP96UXi — David Weissman (@davidmweissman) February 28, 2020
What a wonderful metaphor 🙄 — Demeralda (@demeralda) February 28, 2020
Why is everything Mike Huckabee says gross? https://t.co/uwcEyuksch — Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) February 28, 2020
Mike's fanfics are getting a little intense lately https://t.co/ayZ2YsROCc — The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) February 28, 2020
You do NOT want to see Mike Huckabee’s PornHub search history. https://t.co/ht5DcHE2r6 — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 28, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--5 Things To Watch For In The South Carolina Primary

Former Vice President Joe Biden always has been expected to do well here , based in large part on his strength with Black voters ― some recent polls have shown him leading the still-crowded field by as many as 20 percentage points .
He desperately needs a win to fuel a resurgence that his campaign has dubbed the “ Biden bounce back.
” Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt ) , the overall frontrunner in the nomination race , appears to have made gains with the state ’ s Black voters after his blowout win in last Saturday ’ s Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win South Carolina as badly as Biden ― a solid second-place finish would suffice .
Given that , he has focused on a strong on Super Tuesday , in which 14 states ― including California , Texas , Virginia and North Carolina ― hold primaries .
With a strong showing , Sanders could take a huge step toward building an insurmountable delegate lead .
Among the other candidates , Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota seems to have taken a pass on South Carolina , where the polls show her in low single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his late emergence as a candidate decided to ignore the early-voting states , isn ’ t on the ballot .
The one-time frontrunner for his party ’ s presidential nod doesn ’ t just need a win in the Palmetto State ― he needs to dominate .
A blowout victory would provide a boost of momentum in the key Super Tuesday states , like California , where his cash-strapped campaign simply hasn ’ t had the resources to effectively compete .
A clean delegate sweep , if he can manage it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To Keep His Momentum While Biden is banking on South Carolina to prove to the nation that his candidacy remains viable , Sanders has something else to prove ― that he is able to organize in a state that soundly rejected him four years ago .
As part of his effort to erase the memory of what was almost a 50-percentage-point loss to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic race , his campaign has focused on grassroots organizing .
Sanders ’ first TV ad aired just 10 days before the primary , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertising spending in the state .
The polls have been murky in the final days before the primary ― all have shown Biden in the lead , but by widely varying margins .
One constant ― Sanders was the only other candidate polling above the 15 % threshold for claiming some delegates .
Black voters accounted for more than 60 % of the turnout in the 2016 Democratic primary , and their overwhelming support for Clinton led to her rout of Sanders .
He was very much an unknown to the Black community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders has made inroads with it , especially among younger ones .
His proposals to forgive student loan debt and offer free health care have resonated in communities of color across the country .
In Nevada , he dominated due in large part to his appeal with Latinos , an important trend as he looks ahead to more diverse contests on Super Tuesday .
And even as Biden commands the lion ’ s share of support among the state ’ s Black voters , the number of them heading to the polls may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That would likely diminish the size ― and potentially the significance ― of a win by him .
With his surprise entry into the Democratic race , Steyer adopted the unorthodox strategy of making South Carolina his first focus .
His campaign had the airwaves to itself for months here , spending millions of dollars on ads .
It ’ s been hard to miss his likeness beamed over TV sets in bars and restaurants .
Voters have noticed him , even if some still don ’ t know much about him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a meet-and-greet at a small Baptist church in Georgetown on Wednesday .
Hand fans with Steyer ’ s face emblazoned on them were spread out on a table for attendees , as well as T-shirts that said “ Invest in HBCUs ” ( historically black colleges and universities ) .
An introductory speaker warmed up the crowd by leading a chant that will sound awfully familiar to Obama supporters : “ Steyered up !
” the speaker shouted .
“ Ready to go !
” the crowd shouted back .

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CHARLESTON, S.C. ― South Carolina’s pivotal primary takes place on Saturday, the last test for Democratic presidential candidates before they fan out across the country as the race enters a new phase in the Super Tuesday contests next week.
Former Vice President Joe Biden always has been expected to do well here, based in large part on his strength with Black voters ― some recent polls have shown him leading the still-crowded field by as much as 20 percentage points. He desperately needs a win to fuel a resurgence that his campaign has dubbed “the Biden bounce back.”
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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), the overall front-runner in the nomination race, appears to have made gains with the state’s Black voters after his blowout win in Saturday’s Nevada caucuses. He doesn’t need to win South Carolina as badly as Biden ― a solid second-place finish would suffice. Given that, he has focused on Super Tuesday, in which 14 states ― including California, Texas, Virginia and North Carolina ― hold primaries. With a strong showing, Sanders could take a huge step toward building an insurmountable delegate lead.
A wild card in South Carolina is billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer. A nonfactor in the Democratic battle up to now, he has bet big on the state with millions of dollars in advertising and a message focused on racial justice and climate issues.
Among the other candidates, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota seems to have taken a pass on South Carolina, where the polls show her in low single digits. Billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who with his late emergence as a candidate decided to ignore the early-voting states, isn’t on the ballot.
Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have been dutifully trudging about the state, hoping to win at least the 15% support required to pick up at least some delegates.
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Here are some things to watch for in the South Carolina primary:
Biden Hopes For A Blowout
As Joe Biden campaigned recently in South Carolina -- a must-win state for him -- those helping promote his candidacy included actor Vivica Fox. Scott Olson via Getty Images
The one-time front-runner for his party’s presidential nod doesn’t just need a win in the Palmetto State ― he needs to dominate. A blowout victory would provide a boost of momentum in the key Super Tuesday states, like California, where his cash-strapped campaign simply hasn’t had the resources to effectively compete. A clean delegate sweep, if he can manage it, would be even sweeter.
“You catapult us forward,” Biden told supporters on the trail in South Carolina this week, adding that the state would be a launching pad for his campaign across the country.
Biden got a huge boost this week when Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the highest-ranking Black member of Congress, endorsed him. Biden’s advisers are banking on Clyburn’s influence to solidify the campaign’s support among Black voters, who make up roughly two-thirds of registered Democrats in South Carolina.
“I’m going to support him until there’s no need to support him anymore. I think he’s going to win,” Steve Williams, a member of the local branch of the NAACP, said outside a Biden event in Georgetown, South Carolina on Wednesday.
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Biden’s camp hopes Williams is echoing the attitudes of tens of thousands of others,
Sanders Looks To Keep His Momentum
Bernie Sanders may benefit from low expectations for him in South Carolina. Spencer Platt via Getty Images
While Biden is banking on South Carolina to prove to the nation that his candidacy remains viable, Sanders has something else to prove ― that he is able to organize in a state that soundly rejected him four years ago.
As part of his effort to erase the memory of what was almost a 50-percentage-point loss to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic race, his campaign has focused on grassroots organizing. Sanders’ first TV ad aired just 10 days before the primary, and he ranks close to the bottom in advertising spending in the state.
The polls have been murky in the final days before the primary ― all have shown Biden in the lead, but by widely varying margins. One constant ― Sanders was the only other candidate polling above the 15% threshold for claiming some delegates.
Sanders’ deputy campaign manager, Ari Rabin-Havt, expressed confidence to HuffPost that the candidate would surpass the 15% mark and then go on to dominate on Super Tuesday.
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It’s clear Sanders already has eyes on the road ahead. He spent the day of the Nevada caucuses rallying in Texas, split this past week between North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina, and plans to spend this Saturday night back in Virginia for two rallies.
Black Voter Turnout Critical
Black voters make up roughly two-thirds of registered Democrats in South Carolina. Sean Rayford via Getty Images
Black voters accounted for more than 60% of the turnout in the 2016 Democratic primary, and their overwhelming support for Clinton led to her rout of Sanders. He was very much an unknown to the Black community in that race, this time around Sanders has made inroads with it, especially among younger ones. His proposals to forgive student loan debt and offer free health care have resonated in communities of color across the country. In Nevada, he dominated due in large part to his appeal with Latinos, an important trend as he looks ahead to more diverse contests on Super Tuesday.
“We have come a long, long way” in South Carolina, Sanders told a huge crowd in North Charleston earlier this week.
And even as Biden commands the lion’s share of support among the state’s Black voters, the number of them heading to the polls may be lower than in previous primaries. That would likely diminish the size ― and potentially the significance ― of a win by him.
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“I think it will probably be closer to 55% Black [turnout], not 65%,” Dick Harpootlian, a state representative and former South Carolina Democratic Party chair who supports Biden, told Vanity Fair’s Peter Hamby.
Steyer Plots Surprise Finish
Tom Steyer counts of South Carolina to breathe life into his longshot presidential bid. Jeff Gentner via Getty Images
With his surprise entry into the Democratic race, Steyer adopted the unorthodox strategy of making South Carolina his first focus. His campaign had the airwaves to itself for months here, spending millions of dollars on ads. It’s been hard to miss his likeness beamed over TV sets in bars and restaurants. Voters have noticed him, even if some still don’t know much about him.
“His commercials are really good,” one undecided Black voter said at a Biden rally earlier this week.
The upshot is that Steyer could stand in the way of Biden getting a blowout win.
The former hedge fund manager held a meet-and-greet at a small Baptist church in Georgetown on Wednesday. Hand fans with Steyer’s face emblazoned on them were spread out on a table for attendees, as well as T-shirts that said “Invest in HBCUs” (historically black colleges and universities). An introductory speaker warmed up the crowd by leading a chant that will sound awfully familiar to Obama supporters: “Steyered up!” the speaker shouted. “Ready to go!” the crowd shouted back.
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For all his effort, a failure by Steyer to hit the 15% threshold would be a severe setback.
‘Operation Chaos’
Supporters of President Donald Trump used a large banner to make their presence felt at a Sanders rally on Monday in Austin, Texas. Taking advantage of open primary rules in several states, GOP activists seem primed to try to roil the waters in the Democratic race. Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Republican activists have attempted to sow discord in the Democratic presidential race by urging GOP voters in South Carolina to cast their ballot for Sanders in Saturday’s open primary. The effort is meant to boost the candidate many in the GOP view as the easiest rival for President Donald Trump in November because of the senator’s self-described “democratic socialist” label and his proposals like “Medicare for All.”
In another sign of GOP meddling ― a push that has been dubbed Operation Chaos ― a pro-Trump super PAC aired an ad in the state this week attacking Biden by using misleading audio from his former boss, Barack Obama. The former president remains widely admired by most Black voters, and the ad was a clear attempt to undermine Biden’s standing among them. A lawyer for Obama formally called on TV stations to stop airing the spot.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Transgender Voters May Be Turned Away In 2020 Election, Report Says

NEW YORK , Feb 27 ( Thomson Reuters Foundation ) - Hundreds of thousands of transgender Americans may be unable to vote in this year ’ s election because their name or looks do not match their identification card , research showed on Thursday , a trend that experts say could affect Democratic turnout .
Some 378,000 eligible U.S. voters who are trans do not have identification such as a driver ’ s license that reflects their appearance or gender identity , said a report by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law , a public policy research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 35 of the 50 states require voters to show identification and of the trans people without IDs , 260,000 live in one of the 35 states , the research said .
In the November 2020 election , Democrats are hoping to oust U.S. President Donald Trump , the presumed Republican nominee , from a second term in the White House .
On Election Day , poll officials and workers decide whether the voter in front of them is the person on the voter registration rolls , said report co-author Jody Herman , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Especially in states that require an ID to be shown , this could result in some transgender voters being disenfranchised , “ she said .
Keeping trans people from voting could favor the Republican party that is more conservative than its Democratic rival , said Richard Hasen , an election law expert and law professor at theUniversity of California , Irvine .
“ If you look at the demographics of people least likely to have an ID , they tend to be more poor or a racial or ethnic minority , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ These all correlate with someone who is more likely to vote for a Democrat.
” In 2018 , civil rights groups in Georgia accused a top state official , a Republican , of trying to depress minority turnout , by putting more than 50,000 voter registration applications on hold , to improve his chances in his bid to become governor .
Having an ID that does not reflect an individual ’ s gender identity can make it difficult for transgender people to apply for jobs , get housing or travel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be denied their opportunity to participate in our democracy because laws and regulations around identification documents haven ’ t kept up with reality , “ said Mara Keisling , head of The National Center for TransgenderEquality Action Fund , in a statement .
Earlier this week , a U.S. lawmaker on Tuesday introduced a bill that would add a gender-neutral option to passports to advance the rights of LGBT+ people .

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NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Hundreds of thousands of transgender Americans may be unable to vote in this year’s election because their name or looks do not match their identification card, research showed on Thursday, a trend that experts say could affect Democratic turnout.
Some 378,000 eligible U.S. voters who are trans do not have identification such as a driver’s license that reflects their appearance or gender identity, said a report by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, a public policy research institute.
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In the United States, 35 of the 50 states require voters to show identification and of the trans people without IDs, 260,000 live in one of the 35 states, the research said.
Backers of voter ID laws say they are intended to combat voter fraud.
Voter rights advocates say the number of actual cases is extremely small and restrictions disproportionately affect poor and minority voters.
In the November 2020 election, Democrats are hoping to oust U.S. President Donald Trump, the presumed Republican nominee, from a second term in the White House.
On Election Day, poll officials and workers decide whether the voter in front of them is the person on the voter registration rolls, said report co-author Jody Herman, a researcher at Williams, in a statement.
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“Especially in states that require an ID to be shown, this could result in some transgender voters being disenfranchised,“she said.
Keeping trans people from voting could favor the Republican party that is more conservative than its Democratic rival, said Richard Hasen, an election law expert and law professor at theUniversity of California, Irvine.
“If you look at the demographics of people least likely to have an ID, they tend to be more poor or a racial or ethnic minority,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
“These all correlate with someone who is more likely to vote for a Democrat.”
In 2018, civil rights groups in Georgia accused a top state official, a Republican, of trying to depress minority turnout, by putting more than 50,000 voter registration applications on hold, to improve his chances in his bid to become governor.
The state of Georgia has an “exact match” law requiring personal information on voter applications such as names to match state databases.
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Having an ID that does not reflect an individual’s gender identity can make it difficult for transgender people to apply for jobs, get housing or travel, advocates say.
“Transgender people should not be denied their opportunity to participate in our democracy because laws and regulations around identification documents haven’t kept up with reality,“said Mara Keisling, head of The National Center for TransgenderEquality Action Fund, in a statement.
“Every eligible US citizen should be allowed to vote, including members of the transgender community.”
Advocates have argued for ways to change gender markers on birth certificates and other documents, a process that varies state by state.
Earlier this week, a U.S. lawmaker on Tuesday introduced a bill that would add a gender-neutral option to passports to advance the rights of LGBT+ people.
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Several U.S. states where voter ID is required, including Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia, will hold primaries nextTuesday.
Dubbed Super Tuesday, the 14-state March 3 contest offers the largest single-day haul of delegates in the DemocraticParty’s White House nominating battle.
While several states have “exact match” laws, others require residents to show photo identification when voting.
(Reporting by Matthew Lavietes; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Washington State Bans 'Gay Panic' Defense Of Homicide

OLYMPIA , Wash. ( AP ) — A measure prohibiting homicide defendants from claiming a defense based on panic over a victim ’ s sexual orientation or gender identity has been passed by lawmakers in Washington state .
Nine states — California , Connecticut , Hawaii , Illinois , Maine , Nevada , New Jersey New York and Rhode Island — have legislatively banned the use of gay or transgender panic as a legal defense .
The Washington measure , passed by the Senate on a bipartisan 46-3 vote Wednesday , is named after Nikki Kuhnhausen , a transgender teen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbian reported .
Kuhnhausen , 17 , disappeared in early June and her remains were discovered Dec. 7 , southeast of Battle Ground .
A Vancouver man has been charged with second-degree murder and malicious harassment , which is a hate crime in Washington .
Authorities the Vancouver teenager was strangled after her assailant learned she was transgender .
He has pleaded not guilty .
There was no immediate indication if he will attempt to use a “ panic ” defense .
The bill , which passed the House earlier this month on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defendant from using a defense based on discovery or disclosure of the victim ’ s actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation and would prevent a claim of “ diminished capacity ” because the defendant did not fully comprehend the nature and gravity of the alleged crime .
The legislation now goes to Gov .
Jay Inslee for his signature .

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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A measure prohibiting homicide defendants from claiming a defense based on panic over a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity has been passed by lawmakers in Washington state.
Nine states — California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey New York and Rhode Island — have legislatively banned the use of gay or transgender panic as a legal defense.
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The Washington measure, passed by the Senate on a bipartisan 46-3 vote Wednesday, is named after Nikki Kuhnhausen, a transgender teen who was killed last year, The Columbian reported.
Kuhnhausen, 17, disappeared in early June and her remains were discovered Dec. 7, southeast of Battle Ground. A Vancouver man has been charged with second-degree murder and malicious harassment, which is a hate crime in Washington.
Authorities the Vancouver teenager was strangled after her assailant learned she was transgender. He has pleaded not guilty. There was no immediate indication if he will attempt to use a “panic” defense.
The bill, which passed the House earlier this month on a 90-5 vote, would block a defendant from using a defense based on discovery or disclosure of the victim’s actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation and would prevent a claim of “diminished capacity” because the defendant did not fully comprehend the nature and gravity of the alleged crime.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Obama ‘Ebola Czar’ Delivers Scathing Assessment Of Donald Trump’s Coronavirus Response

Ronald Klain , who former President Barack Obama appointed to lead the U.S. response to the Ebola epidemic , on Friday ripped President Donald Trump and his administration ’ s messy handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
Klain — who was dubbed the “ Ebola czar ” — told MSNBC ’ s Ali Velshi there was a “ crisis of both confidence and competence ” in the way Trump ’ s White House was tackling the spread of the virus , which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease .
“ On the confidence side , anyone at this point in time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gets what they deserve at this stage of the game , ” said Klain .
Trump has told more than 16,000 lies during his time in office , according to The Washington Post .
“ But the problem is that the administration has silenced the people we can trust , ” Klain added , noting how top officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had essentially “ been gagged ” and stopped from talking in public about the outbreak , which he claimed added to the level of confusion and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can ’ t trust our president , and the people we can trust aren ’ t being allowed to tell us the truth , ” he added .
Klain also appeared on CNN ’ s “ Cuomo Prime Time , ” where he suggested other countries were further ahead of America in terms of testing suspected carriers of the virus because “ the White House was asleep on the job.
” “ When we found out that this virus was spreading widely in China in December , in January , we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of test kits in the U.S. , ” he claimed .
“ We ’ re just behind on producing the tests , we ’ re behind on getting them approved , we ’ re behind on getting them distributed — this should have been Job One of the coronavirus task force and what we ’ re seeing is , we ’ re just behind , ” Klain added .
`` The White House was asleep on the job , '' says former Ebola Czar under President Obama , Ron Klain , on why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus than other countries https : //t.co/dcUdUwtmGV pic.twitter.com/j6hdY0eFAp — Cuomo Prime Time ( @ CuomoPrimeTime ) February 29 , 2020

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Ronald Klain, who former President Barack Obama appointed to lead the U.S. response to the Ebola epidemic, on Friday ripped President Donald Trump and his administration’s messy handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
Klain — who was dubbed the “Ebola czar” — told MSNBC’s Ali Velshi there was a “crisis of both confidence and competence” in the way Trump’s White House was tackling the spread of the virus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease.
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“On the confidence side, anyone at this point in time who believes what Donald Trump says kind of gets what they deserve at this stage of the game,” said Klain.
Trump has told more than 16,000 lies during his time in office, according to The Washington Post.
“But the problem is that the administration has silenced the people we can trust,” Klain added, noting how top officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had essentially “been gagged” and stopped from talking in public about the outbreak, which he claimed added to the level of confusion and panic that it is causing.
“We can’t trust our president, and the people we can trust aren’t being allowed to tell us the truth,” he added.
(Check out the full interview above.)
Klain also appeared on CNN’s “Cuomo Prime Time,” where he suggested other countries were further ahead of America in terms of testing suspected carriers of the virus because “the White House was asleep on the job.”
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“When we found out that this virus was spreading widely in China in December, in January, we should have rapidly accelerated the preparation and deployment of test kits in the U.S.,” he claimed.
“We’re just behind on producing the tests, we’re behind on getting them approved, we’re behind on getting them distributed — this should have been Job One of the coronavirus task force and what we’re seeing is, we’re just behind,” Klain added.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-29--Judge Voids Oil And Gas Leases On 1 Million Acres Of Public Land

A federal judge in Idaho has tossed out oil and gas leases on nearly a million acres of public land , lashing the Trump administration ’ s “ arbitrary and capricious ” policy of cutting off public input on environmental protections .
The federal Bureau of Land Management “ jettisoned prior processes , practices , and norms in favor of changes that emphasized economic maximization — to the detriment , if not outright exclusion of ... opportunities for the public to contribute to the decision-making process affecting the management of public lands , ” wrote U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Ronald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Western Watershed Project on behalf of the greater sage grouse , which supports hundreds of other species across the West .
The ruling affects some $ 125 million worth of leases issued by the BLM in 2018 on more than 1,300 square miles of federal lands in Nevada , Utah and Wyoming .
The total contested area affecting the sage grouse , however , includes some 67 million acres across 11 Western states .
Bush ’ s ruling could affect future leases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BLM issued a memo in early 2018 to speed up lease approvals by reducing the amount of time for public input and protest , which Bush characterized as “ edict in nature.
” The BLM “ inescapably intended to reduce and even eliminate public participation in the future decision-making process , ” he added , calling the effort “ substantially invalid.
” Bush reinstated requirements that call for a 30-day public comment and protest period .
The Trump administration had unilaterally reduced the time to 10 days .
“ This administration has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public out of public lands decision-making , starting in 2018 , ” said Talasi Brooks , a staff attorney with Western Watersheds Project .
“ The sage grouse and 350 other sagebrush-dependent species will benefit from [ this ] win.
” “ This is an enormous victory for greater sage grouse and hundreds of other animals and plants that depend on this dwindling habitat , ” said Taylor McKinnon , a senior campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity .
“ The judge confirmed that it ’ s illegal to silence the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a win for millions of acres of our beautiful public lands and a major blow to the Trump administration ’ s corrupt efforts to serve corporate polluters.
” Bush conceded that voiding the leases is economically “ significant ” because the government will now have to refund the money .
But allowing the leases to stand would simply be incentive for federal officials to approve illegal projects , convinced they would be “ too massive to unwind , ” he wrote .

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A federal judge in Idaho has tossed out oil and gas leases on nearly a million acres of public land, lashing the Trump administration’s “arbitrary and capricious” policy of cutting off public input on environmental protections.
The federal Bureau of Land Management “jettisoned prior processes, practices, and norms in favor of changes that emphasized economic maximization — to the detriment, if not outright exclusion of ... opportunities for the public to contribute to the decision-making process affecting the management of public lands,” wrote U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Ronald Bush in his decision Thursday.
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The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Western Watershed Project on behalf of the greater sage grouse, which supports hundreds of other species across the West.
The ruling affects some $125 million worth of leases issued by the BLM in 2018 on more than 1,300 square miles of federal lands in Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. The total contested area affecting the sage grouse, however, includes some 67 million acres across 11 Western states. Bush’s ruling could affect future leases on that land as well.
The BLM issued a memo in early 2018 to speed up lease approvals by reducing the amount of time for public input and protest, which Bush characterized as “edict in nature.” The BLM “inescapably intended to reduce and even eliminate public participation in the future decision-making process,” he added, calling the effort “substantially invalid.”
Bush reinstated requirements that call for a 30-day public comment and protest period. The Trump administration had unilaterally reduced the time to 10 days.
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“This administration has been relentless in its efforts to cut the public out of public lands decision-making, starting in 2018,” said Talasi Brooks, a staff attorney with Western Watersheds Project. “The sage grouse and 350 other sagebrush-dependent species will benefit from [this] win.”
“This is an enormous victory for greater sage grouse and hundreds of other animals and plants that depend on this dwindling habitat,” said Taylor McKinnon, a senior campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The judge confirmed that it’s illegal to silence the public to expand fossil-fuel extraction. It’s a win for millions of acres of our beautiful public lands and a major blow to the Trump administration’s corrupt efforts to serve corporate polluters.”
Bush conceded that voiding the leases is economically “significant” because the government will now have to refund the money. But allowing the leases to stand would simply be incentive for federal officials to approve illegal projects, convinced they would be “too massive to unwind,” he wrote.