thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--Trump Ally’s Flag-Waving Stunt Goes Awry

Nigel Farage , the leader of Britain ’ s Brexit Party and an ally of President Donald Trump , wanted to make a scene on one of his last days as a member of the European Parliament .
And the politician , who for years has campaigned for the United Kingdom ’ s exit from the European Union that will finally take place on Friday night , succeeded .
But maybe not in the way he ’ d hoped .
Farage , a staunch defender of Trump who the president has previously suggested should become Britain ’ s ambassador to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his anti-EU party on Wednesday were admonished for waving the U.K. ’ s national flag in the Parliament chamber during his final address .
Farage ’ s microphone was then cut off as Irish lawmaker Mairead McGuinness , first vice president of the European Parliament , instructed the group to “ put your flags away , you ’ re leaving , and take them with you if you are leaving now.
” The footage of Farage soon went viral on Twitter : Dear EU : these embarrassing , awful , blinkered , jingoistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with me https : //t.co/XZ2kDZ8lj5 — Marina O'Loughlin ( @ MarinaOLoughlin ) January 29 , 2020

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Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s Brexit Party and an ally of President Donald Trump, wanted to make a scene on one of his last days as a member of the European Parliament.
And the politician, who for years has campaigned for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union that will finally take place on Friday night, succeeded.
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But maybe not in the way he’d hoped.
Farage, a staunch defender of Trump who the president has previously suggested should become Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., and other members of his anti-EU party on Wednesday were admonished for waving the U.K.’s national flag in the Parliament chamber during his final address.
Farage’s microphone was then cut off as Irish lawmaker Mairead McGuinness, first vice president of the European Parliament, instructed the group to “put your flags away, you’re leaving, and take them with you if you are leaving now.”
“Goodbye,” McGuinness added, prompting cheers from other lawmakers.
Check out the video here:
Mairead McGuinness cuts Nigel Farage's mic - "Sit down, put your flags away - you're leaving - & take them with you - goodbye" 👍 pic.twitter.com/XM1hztMelA — Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) January 29, 2020
The footage of Farage soon went viral on Twitter:
So embarrassed for us https://t.co/jvmYb5Hhvo — Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) January 29, 2020
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Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party. Charmless and graceless to the very last. Consistent, I suppose — John Crace (@JohnJCrace) January 29, 2020
This is embarrassing https://t.co/LQIh7Eqpnz — Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) January 29, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--Trump Administration Shoots Down Migratory Bird Protections

Federal wildlife officials have already been treating that guidance as the established rule , essentially legalizing all unintentional migratory bird deaths , including those caused by oil rigs , power lines and wind turbines .
The change meant that the 100-year-old Migratory Bird Treaty Act solely prohibits the intentional hunting , capturing or killing of bird species .
In other words , if an activity or operation ― drilling for oil , constructing a building , cutting down trees or spraying chemicals ― is not intended to kill birds , then any resulting bird deaths are not a violation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths have already come to a halt , and agencies have even discouraged companies from taking precautionary measures and reporting animal deaths to officials , a recent New York Times investigation found .
The proposal , she said , “ ensures hunting remains a benefit rather than a detriment to bird populations ” and that “ private industry , which are critical to our nation ’ s economy and overall well-being , can operate without the fear and uncertainty that the unintentional consequences of their actions will be prosecuted.
” Industry groups were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s interpretation of the law back in 2017 and are certain to embrace Thursday ’ s action .
Erik Milito of the American Petroleum Institute , the main trade association for the oil and natural gas industry , previously called the administration ’ s approach “ an example of astute governance that provides certainty for responsible owners and operators of oil and natural gas facilities.
” The administration is already being sued over its controversial policy .
The National Audubon Society and other wildlife organizations have argued the administration ’ s effort is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermines decadeslong protections for migratory birds and opens the door for industry negligence .
Attorneys general from eight states , including New York and California , have filed separate litigation .
And 17 former Interior Department officials wrote to the Trump administration in January 2018 to oppose the rollback , calling it “ a new , contrived legal standard that creates a huge loophole in the MBTA , allowing companies to engage in activities that routinely kill migratory birds.
” “ With a recent study finding there are 3 billion fewer birds in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ d think we ’ d want more protection for birds , not less , ” Noah Greenwald , endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity , said in a statement .
“ This rule violates the trust and will of millions of Americans who love birds and want them around for future generations to enjoy.
” The 1918 law protects more than 1,000 species of migratory birds , including eagles , cranes , terns , sandpipers and geese .
It prohibits pursuing , hunting , capturing , killing or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permits , with misdemeanor violations of the law resulting in as many as six months in prison and fines of up to $ 15,000 .
For decades companies have been prosecuted under the law for unintentional bird deaths , one of the most notable examples being the $ 100 million in fines that BP agreed to pay over damage from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill .
The disaster killed an estimated 800,000 birds .
Amid global climate change and extinction crises , the Trump administration has led an aggressive push for so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or scrapped a slew of environmental regulations in an effort to boost domestic fossil fuel production .
And Trump has repeatedly railed against wind energy and overstated its negative impacts , claiming among other things that wind turbines “ destroy ” bird populations .
“ You want to see a bird graveyard ?
... Go under a windmill someday , ” he said at a summit in Florida last month .
“ You ’ ll see more birds than you ’ ve ever seen in your life.
” While it is true that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing an estimated 140,000 to 328,000 birds in the U.S. each year , that pales in comparison to other human activity .
Domestic and feral cats kill between 1.3 billion and 4 billion birds each year .
Power lines result in anywhere from hundreds of thousands to 175 million bird deaths annually , while communication towers kill between 4 million and 50 million , according to a 2005 study by the U.S. Forest Service .
And up to 2 million birds die each year after landing on fluid-filled waste pits at oil production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service study found .
“ Interpreting the MBTA to apply to incidental or accidental actions hangs the sword of Damocles over a host of otherwise lawful and productive actions , threatening up to six months in jail and a $ 15,000 penalty for each and every bird injured or killed , ” Jorjani wrote in the 2017 legal opinion .

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The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled plans to permanently slash protections for hundreds of species of migratory birds ― a rollback that will primarily benefit the fossil fuel industry, power companies and major developers.
The proposed rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to codify a December 2017 legal opinion by Daniel Jorjani, the Interior Department’s top lawyer and a former adviser of fossil fuel moguls Charles and David Koch.
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Federal wildlife officials have already been treating that guidance as the established rule, essentially legalizing all unintentional migratory bird deaths, including those caused by oil rigs, power lines and wind turbines. The change meant that the 100-year-old Migratory Bird Treaty Act solely prohibits the intentional hunting, capturing or killing of bird species.
In other words, if an activity or operation ― drilling for oil, constructing a building, cutting down trees or spraying chemicals ― is not intended to kill birds, then any resulting bird deaths are not a violation of federal law. Federal investigations into bird deaths have already come to a halt, and agencies have even discouraged companies from taking precautionary measures and reporting animal deaths to officials, a recent New York Times investigation found.
In a call with reporters Thursday, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith said “migratory bird conservation is an integral part” of the agency’s mission, but stressed that regulations have left the agency “in a legal quagmire that doesn’t benefit our conservation objectives.”
The proposal, she said, “ensures hunting remains a benefit rather than a detriment to bird populations” and that “private industry, which are critical to our nation’s economy and overall well-being, can operate without the fear and uncertainty that the unintentional consequences of their actions will be prosecuted.”
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Agency officials took no on-record questions from the media during the call. The proposed regulations are expected to be published early next week, which will kick off a 45-day public comment period.
Industry groups were quick to celebrate the Trump administration’s interpretation of the law back in 2017 and are certain to embrace Thursday’s action. Erik Milito of the American Petroleum Institute, the main trade association for the oil and natural gas industry, previously called the administration’s approach “an example of astute governance that provides certainty for responsible owners and operators of oil and natural gas facilities.”
Migratory white pelicans take off from the shoreline of an island battered by oil from the BP oil spill Dec. 5, 2010, in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Mario Tama via Getty Images
The administration is already being sued over its controversial policy. The National Audubon Society and other wildlife organizations have argued the administration’s effort is an arbitrary handout to polluting industries, undermines decadeslong protections for migratory birds and opens the door for industry negligence. Attorneys general from eight states, including New York and California, have filed separate litigation. And 17 former Interior Department officials wrote to the Trump administration in January 2018 to oppose the rollback, calling it “a new, contrived legal standard that creates a huge loophole in the MBTA, allowing companies to engage in activities that routinely kill migratory birds.”
The new regulation is expected to draw additional lawsuits.
“With a recent study finding there are 3 billion fewer birds in North America than 50 years ago, you’d think we’d want more protection for birds, not less,” Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. “This rule violates the trust and will of millions of Americans who love birds and want them around for future generations to enjoy.”
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The 1918 law protects more than 1,000 species of migratory birds, including eagles, cranes, terns, sandpipers and geese. It prohibits pursuing, hunting, capturing, killing or possessing birds or their parts without proper permits, with misdemeanor violations of the law resulting in as many as six months in prison and fines of up to $15,000.
For decades companies have been prosecuted under the law for unintentional bird deaths, one of the most notable examples being the $100 million in fines that BP agreed to pay over damage from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The disaster killed an estimated 800,000 birds.
Amid global climate change and extinction crises, the Trump administration has led an aggressive push for so-called “energy dominance.” It has weakened or scrapped a slew of environmental regulations in an effort to boost domestic fossil fuel production. And Trump has repeatedly railed against wind energy and overstated its negative impacts, claiming among other things that wind turbines “destroy” bird populations.
“You want to see a bird graveyard? ... Go under a windmill someday,” he said at a summit in Florida last month. “You’ll see more birds than you’ve ever seen in your life.”
While it is true that windmills are problematic for bird species, killing an estimated 140,000 to 328,000 birds in the U.S. each year, that pales in comparison to other human activity. Domestic and feral cats kill between 1.3 billion and 4 billion birds each year. Power lines result in anywhere from hundreds of thousands to 175 million bird deaths annually, while communication towers kill between 4 million and 50 million, according to a 2005 study by the U.S. Forest Service. And up to 2 million birds die each year after landing on fluid-filled waste pits at oil production operations, a 2006 Fish and Wildlife Service study found.
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In the final days of the Obama administration, former Interior solicitor Hilary Tompkins issued a legal opinion concluding that the law applied to incidental wounding, killing or trapping of birds. Jorjani’s guidance reversed that interpretation.
“Interpreting the MBTA to apply to incidental or accidental actions hangs the sword of Damocles over a host of otherwise lawful and productive actions, threatening up to six months in jail and a $15,000 penalty for each and every bird injured or killed,” Jorjani wrote in the 2017 legal opinion.
Unlike a legal opinion, the proposed regulation that Trump’s Interior Department rolled out Thursday would be much harder for a future administration to reverse.
During a congressional hearing in May, Jorjani was questioned about whether his years working for the Koch brothers influenced his decision to weaken the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
“What industry most benefits from your [legal] opinion?” Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) asked.
“I’m not aware of any particular industry that benefits from this,” Jorjani replied. “I’d like to think the American people benefit from a...”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--Postal Workers Union Endorses Bernie Sanders

ASSOCIATED PRESS Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) has picked up the endorsement of the postal workers union , which also backed him in the 2016 election .
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) added a major labor endorsement to his growing list Thursday , with the American Postal Workers Union throwing its support behind the Democratic hopeful .
APWU represents 220,000 postal employees and retirees across the country , adding to Sanders ’ ground game in early primary states .
The union also backed him in his failed bid for the Democratic nomination against Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dimondstein , said in a statement that there was plenty to like in the broader Democratic field , but that Sanders stood out for his long-time support of labor .
“ We ’ re pleased that a number of presidential candidates have taken positions and actions supportive of postal workers and expanding union rights , ” Dimondstein said .
“ But when we judge candidates by their long-term and consistent actions , Bernie Sanders stands out as a true champion of postal workers and all workers throughout the country.
” The postal workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders ’ other recent labor endorsements in that it comes from a large national union , as opposed to a smaller local .
Sanders , Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
, former Vice President Joe Biden and other contenders are all competing fiercely for union support , which helps with door-knocking and phone-banking efforts in critical states .
Sanders has been an ally of APWU for years , often speaking out against steps by the U.S .
Postal Service to reduce mail delivery or take steps toward privatization .
Dimondstein said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that support in making their decision to support Sanders over the others .
The Vermont independent recently picked up the backing of one of the union ’ s affiliates , Iowa Postal Workers Union Local 44 , in the critical caucus state .
He also earned an endorsement from Service Employees International Union Local 1984 in New Hampshire .
On Tuesday , Unite Here Local 11 in California said it would be throwing its weight behind both Sanders and Warren for the nomination .

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has picked up the endorsement of the postal workers union, which also backed him in the 2016 election. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) added a major labor endorsement to his growing list Thursday, with the American Postal Workers Union throwing its support behind the Democratic hopeful.
APWU represents 220,000 postal employees and retirees across the country, adding to Sanders’ ground game in early primary states. The union also backed him in his failed bid for the Democratic nomination against Hillary Clinton in 2016.
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The union’s president, Mark Dimondstein, said in a statement that there was plenty to like in the broader Democratic field, but that Sanders stood out for his long-time support of labor.
“We’re pleased that a number of presidential candidates have taken positions and actions supportive of postal workers and expanding union rights,” Dimondstein said. “But when we judge candidates by their long-term and consistent actions, Bernie Sanders stands out as a true champion of postal workers and all workers throughout the country.”
The postal workers’ announcement stands out from some of Sanders’ other recent labor endorsements in that it comes from a large national union, as opposed to a smaller local. Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former Vice President Joe Biden and other contenders are all competing fiercely for union support, which helps with door-knocking and phone-banking efforts in critical states.
Sanders has been an ally of APWU for years, often speaking out against steps by the U.S. Postal Service to reduce mail delivery or take steps toward privatization. Dimondstein said the union’s executive board cited that support in making their decision to support Sanders over the others.
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The Vermont independent recently picked up the backing of one of the union’s affiliates, Iowa Postal Workers Union Local 44, in the critical caucus state. He also earned an endorsement from Service Employees International Union Local 1984 in New Hampshire.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--New Bernie Sanders Ad Blasts Trump For Opening Door To Social Security Cuts

The 30-second spot features footage from a CNBC interview last week in which anchor Joe Kernen asked Trump whether “ entitlements ” ― a Washington term for universal social insurance programs ― would ever be “ on his plate.
” The ad then argues that Sanders , who led opposition to possible Social Security cuts during the Obama administration , is the candidate in the Democratic primary best equipped to draw a clear contrast with Trump on an issue like Social Security .
“ To defeat Trump , we need a nominee who has always fought to protect Social Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper clips and campaign literature attesting to Sanders ’ stances appear onscreen .
“ We are not going to cut the program that millions of seniors and people with disabilities depend upon , ” Sanders says in the spot .
“ If they vote to cut Social Security , they may well not be returning to Washington.
” The video spot goes live in New Hampshire on Saturday as well .
The Sanders campaign did not provide details about the scale of the ad buy .
But until the Thursday ad , Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public polls in Iowa , had been less explicit than his rivals in making the case for how he would defeat Trump .
Casting himself as the most effective foil for unmasking Trump ’ s false populism , as he does in Thursday ’ s ad , is the type of electability argument Sanders has always been comfortable making .
From the moment Trump was elected , Sanders sought to remind Trump of the Republican ’ s campaign-trail promises to preserve Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid ― and to lambaste him for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from those pledges .
After the CNBC interview , Sanders declared that Trump “ lied ” about his commitment to protecting the programs .
The ad is also an implicit dig at former Vice President Joe Biden .
Sanders spent much of the past two weeks litigating a fight with Biden that Sanders had instigated over Biden ’ s past support for cutting Social Security .
Among other things , Biden cast a vote in 1995 for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution that would have threatened Social Security with automatic cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entertaining Social Security cuts was a sign of fiscal seriousness ; and led 2011 debt-reduction talks with congressional Republicans in which a cut to Social Security ’ s cost-of-living adjustment was on the table .
Biden now says he would not even consider cutting the program .
His plan for “ older Americans ” proposes increasing Social Security ’ s revenue enough to make the program solvent and expanding benefits for the most vulnerable groups .
And Biden ’ s campaign is fond of noting Sanders ’ praise for the former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s work on behalf of “ the well being of working families and the middle class.
” Still , Sanders insists that Biden ’ s record provides useful insight into what his priorities would be as president .
And with the new ad , he ’ s casting doubt on Biden ’ s electability ― a key part of the former vice president ’ s self-styled appeal ― without explicitly attacking him on-air and risking the kind of mudslinging to which Iowans are famously averse .

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is debuting an ad on Iowa television on Thursday contrasting his longstanding support for Social Security benefits with President Donald Trump’s comments suggesting openness to cutting them.
The 30-second spot features footage from a CNBC interview last week in which anchor Joe Kernen asked Trump whether “entitlements” ― a Washington term for universal social insurance programs ― would ever be “on his plate.”
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“At some point they will be,” the ad shows Trump responding. (A White House spokesman subsequently denied that Trump was signaling openness to benefit cuts.)
The ad then argues that Sanders, who led opposition to possible Social Security cuts during the Obama administration, is the candidate in the Democratic primary best equipped to draw a clear contrast with Trump on an issue like Social Security.
“To defeat Trump, we need a nominee who has always fought to protect Social Security,” the narrator says, as newspaper clips and campaign literature attesting to Sanders’ stances appear onscreen.
The video ends with audio of Sanders himself inveighing against Social Security cuts as photos showing him speaking with seniors appear.
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“We are not going to cut the program that millions of seniors and people with disabilities depend upon,” Sanders says in the spot. “If they vote to cut Social Security, they may well not be returning to Washington.”
The video spot goes live in New Hampshire on Saturday as well. The Sanders campaign did not provide details about the scale of the ad buy.
The ability to mount a competitive general election challenge to Trump is a key part of other Democratic candidates’ closing case ahead of Monday’s Iowa caucuses.
But until the Thursday ad, Sanders, the front-runner in an average of public polls in Iowa, had been less explicit than his rivals in making the case for how he would defeat Trump.
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Casting himself as the most effective foil for unmasking Trump’s false populism, as he does in Thursday’s ad, is the type of electability argument Sanders has always been comfortable making. From the moment Trump was elected, Sanders sought to remind Trump of the Republican’s campaign-trail promises to preserve Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid ― and to lambaste him for any signs that he might be deviating from those pledges. After the CNBC interview, Sanders declared that Trump “lied” about his commitment to protecting the programs.
The ad is also an implicit dig at former Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders spent much of the past two weeks litigating a fight with Biden that Sanders had instigated over Biden’s past support for cutting Social Security. Among other things, Biden cast a vote in 1995 for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution that would have threatened Social Security with automatic cuts; embraced the longstanding Washington consensus that entertaining Social Security cuts was a sign of fiscal seriousness; and led 2011 debt-reduction talks with congressional Republicans in which a cut to Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment was on the table.
Biden now says he would not even consider cutting the program. His plan for “older Americans” proposes increasing Social Security’s revenue enough to make the program solvent and expanding benefits for the most vulnerable groups. And Biden’s campaign is fond of noting Sanders’ praise for the former vice president in 2015, when he recognized Biden’s work on behalf of “the well being of working families and the middle class.”
Still, Sanders insists that Biden’s record provides useful insight into what his priorities would be as president. And with the new ad, he’s casting doubt on Biden’s electability ― a key part of the former vice president’s self-styled appeal ― without explicitly attacking him on-air and risking the kind of mudslinging to which Iowans are famously averse.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--Pastor Of Historic Atlanta Church Announces Campaign For U.S. Senate

ATLANTA ( AP ) — The Rev .
Raphael Warnock , pastor of the Atlanta church where the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. preached , announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate on Thursday , challenging recently appointed Republican Kelly Loeffler .
With his well-known pulpit at the Ebenezer Baptist Church , Warnock immediately brings some Democratic star power to the race — the kind that seemed to evaporate after former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams declined to enter it last year .
“ Struggling families across Georgia have it tougher than I did back then , ” Warnock said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raising issues such as health care and worker pay .
“ I ’ ve always thought that my impact doesn ’ t stop at the church door ; that ’ s actually where it starts , ” he said .
“ I love this country .
I believe that what makes America so great , is that we ’ ve always had a path to make it greater.
” Loeffler was recently appointed by Gov .
Brian Kemp to replace three-term GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson , who stepped down in December because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political novice , she now must defend the seat in November in an open special election for the remaining two years of Isakson ’ s term .
Georgia ’ s other Senate seat also is on the ballot , with Republican Sen. David Perdue seeking a second term .
The prospect of two GOP-held seats being up for grabs in November has made the state a political battleground , where Republicans still dominate but Democrats smell opportunity as suburban voters and women move away from President Donald Trump ’ s GOP .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrambled Wednesday when Rep. Doug Collins jumped in .
The northeast Georgia Republican announced his campaign on Fox News , where he ’ s built a national profile defending President Donald Trump .
Loeffler also has voiced strong support for Trump since her appointment , and is backed by Kemp , the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce .
Warnock is the third Democrat to join the race .
Also running are Ed Tarver , a former federal prosecutor who served as U.S. attorney for Georgia ’ s Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matt Lieberman , the son of former senator and vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman .
U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) waits for the beginning of a ceremonial swearing-in at the Old Senate Chamber of the U.S. Capitol January 6 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Sen. Loeffler was appointed to the seat to succeed former Sen. Johnny Isakson ( R-GA ) , who resigned for health reasons .
Under Georgia ’ s current special election setup , the more candidates that run , the greater the odds of the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top two finishers , which is required if no candidate receives a majority of votes in November .
State House Speaker David Ralston , a longtime Collins friend , is pushing a law that would force party primaries in May .
Kemp has threatened to veto that proposal .
Warnock , the son of two pastors , entered the ministry at an early age .
After graduating from Morehouse College , he served at churches in Birmingham , Alabama ; New York and Baltimore before becoming Ebenezer ’ s senior pastor in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warnock hasn ’ t shied away from politics at Ebenezer , where Martin Luther King , Sr. , and his son played key roles in the civil rights movement .
Warnock hosted an interfaith meeting on climate change alongside former Vice President Al Gore and championed reforms to the nation ’ s criminal justice system .
In 2015 he considered running for the Senate against Isakson , before deciding against it .

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ATLANTA (AP) — The Rev. Raphael Warnock, pastor of the Atlanta church where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached, announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate on Thursday, challenging recently appointed Republican Kelly Loeffler.
With his well-known pulpit at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Warnock immediately brings some Democratic star power to the race — the kind that seemed to evaporate after former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams declined to enter it last year.
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Warnock announced his run in campaign website video that begins in the subsidized Savannah housing project where he lived as a child.
“Struggling families across Georgia have it tougher than I did back then,” Warnock said, promising to help such families by raising issues such as health care and worker pay.
“I’ve always thought that my impact doesn’t stop at the church door; that’s actually where it starts,” he said. “I love this country. I believe that what makes America so great, is that we’ve always had a path to make it greater.”
Rev. Raphael G. Warnock speaks onstage during a Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church on January 20, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Paras Griffin via Getty Images
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Loeffler was recently appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to replace three-term GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson, who stepped down in December because of faltering health. A wealthy businesswoman and political novice, she now must defend the seat in November in an open special election for the remaining two years of Isakson’s term.
Georgia’s other Senate seat also is on the ballot, with Republican Sen. David Perdue seeking a second term. The prospect of two GOP-held seats being up for grabs in November has made the state a political battleground, where Republicans still dominate but Democrats smell opportunity as suburban voters and women move away from President Donald Trump’s GOP.
The race for Loeffler’s seat was scrambled Wednesday when Rep. Doug Collins jumped in. The northeast Georgia Republican announced his campaign on Fox News, where he’s built a national profile defending President Donald Trump. Loeffler also has voiced strong support for Trump since her appointment, and is backed by Kemp, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Warnock is the third Democrat to join the race. Also running are Ed Tarver, a former federal prosecutor who served as U.S. attorney for Georgia’s Southern District under President Barack Obama; and Matt Lieberman, the son of former senator and vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman.
U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) waits for the beginning of a ceremonial swearing-in at the Old Senate Chamber of the U.S. Capitol January 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. Sen. Loeffler was appointed to the seat to succeed former Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), who resigned for health reasons. Alex Wong via Getty Images
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Under Georgia’s current special election setup, the more candidates that run, the greater the odds of the race going to a January 2021 runoff between the top two finishers, which is required if no candidate receives a majority of votes in November. State House Speaker David Ralston, a longtime Collins friend, is pushing a law that would force party primaries in May. Kemp has threatened to veto that proposal.
Warnock, the son of two pastors, entered the ministry at an early age. After graduating from Morehouse College, he served at churches in Birmingham, Alabama; New York and Baltimore before becoming Ebenezer’s senior pastor in 2005, when he was 35.
Warnock hasn’t shied away from politics at Ebenezer, where Martin Luther King, Sr., and his son played key roles in the civil rights movement. Warnock hosted an interfaith meeting on climate change alongside former Vice President Al Gore and championed reforms to the nation’s criminal justice system. In 2015 he considered running for the Senate against Isakson, before deciding against it.
Three Democrats are challenging Perdue in the other race: 2017 congressional candidate Jon Ossoff, former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, and 2018 candidate for lieutenant governor Sarah Riggs Amico.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--Joe Biden Wants To Go Head-To-Head With Trump Before The Iowa Caucuses

DES MOINES , Iowa ― Former Vice President Joe Biden is attempting to set up a one-on-one battle with Donald Trump ahead of the Democratic caucuses in Iowa , aiming to bolster his case to voters that he ’ s the candidate best equipped to battle the Republican president .
“ Health care .
Climate .
Guns .
National security .
All these issues and more are on the ballot .
But something else is on the ballot .
Something even more important , ” Biden is expected to say in a speech Thursday morning , hours before Trump holds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Character is on the ballot .
America ’ s character .
I don ’ t believe we ’ re the dark , angry nation we see in Donald Trump ’ s tweets.
” The speech could amount to Biden ’ s closing argument in the state , where he is battling Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg heading into Monday night ’ s caucuses .
It fits in with the themes Biden and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s launch last spring : Trump presents a unique threat , and Biden is best equipped to beat him .
The campaign is also releasing an ad hitting on similar themes .
The 60-second spot , set to air in Iowa ’ s largest markets in the final days of the state campaign , highlights Biden ’ s biography and his early support of gay marriage and features three appearances by former President Barack Obama .
Biden ’ s speech , according to a preview provided by his campaign , will also emphasize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign work Biden did across the country in 2018 .
He ’ ll suggest that a focus on health care , similar to the one Democrats deployed during the midterm elections , will help the party win back control of the U.S. Senate .
“ Trump and I have already gone one round with each other on health care .
In 2018 , I went to 24 states for 65 candidates .
I took on Trump all over the country ― and beat him , ” Biden will say .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drum ― and in the process took back the majority in the House.
” Biden and Trump ’ s dueling speeches will arrive in the state as the U.S. Senate , including two of Biden ’ s leading competitors , debate Trump ’ s conviction and removal from office over charges he withheld military aid to Ukraine in an attempt to force the country ’ s leaders into opening a corruption investigation into Biden .
The former vice president has frequently argued Trump ’ s actions demonstrate he is the candidate Republicans fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in national polling , though recent surveys have given Sanders a slight edge in Iowa and a significant lead in New Hampshire , the second state to cast ballots .
There is a risk to Biden ’ s speech : Trump is set to campaign at the 7,000-seat Knapp Center at Drake University in Des Moines , while Biden ― who regularly trails his Democratic competitors in crowd size ― is set to speak at an elementary school gymnasium in the suburb of Waukee .

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DES MOINES, Iowa ― Former Vice President Joe Biden is attempting to set up a one-on-one battle with Donald Trump ahead of the Democratic caucuses in Iowa, aiming to bolster his case to voters that he’s the candidate best equipped to battle the Republican president.
“Health care. Climate. Guns. National security. All these issues and more are on the ballot. But something else is on the ballot. Something even more important,” Biden is expected to say in a speech Thursday morning, hours before Trump holds a campaign rally in Des Moines. “Character is on the ballot. America’s character. I don’t believe we’re the dark, angry nation we see in Donald Trump’s tweets.”
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Former Vice President Joe Biden, a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, speaks at a campaign event in Iowa City, Iowa, on Monday. Carlos Barria/Reuters
The speech could amount to Biden’s closing argument in the state, where he is battling Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg heading into Monday night’s caucuses. It fits in with the themes Biden and his team have emphasized since his campaign’s launch last spring: Trump presents a unique threat, and Biden is best equipped to beat him.
The campaign is also releasing an ad hitting on similar themes. The 60-second spot, set to air in Iowa’s largest markets in the final days of the state campaign, highlights Biden’s biography and his early support of gay marriage and features three appearances by former President Barack Obama.
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Biden’s speech, according to a preview provided by his campaign, will also emphasize his ability to beat Trump, referencing the campaign work Biden did across the country in 2018. He’ll suggest that a focus on health care, similar to the one Democrats deployed during the midterm elections, will help the party win back control of the U.S. Senate.
“Trump and I have already gone one round with each other on health care. In 2018, I went to 24 states for 65 candidates. I took on Trump all over the country ― and beat him,” Biden will say. “In fact, we beat him like a drum ― and in the process took back the majority in the House.”
Biden and Trump’s dueling speeches will arrive in the state as the U.S. Senate, including two of Biden’s leading competitors, debate Trump’s conviction and removal from office over charges he withheld military aid to Ukraine in an attempt to force the country’s leaders into opening a corruption investigation into Biden. The former vice president has frequently argued Trump’s actions demonstrate he is the candidate Republicans fear the most.
Biden remains the front-runner in national polling, though recent surveys have given Sanders a slight edge in Iowa and a significant lead in New Hampshire, the second state to cast ballots.
There is a risk to Biden’s speech: Trump is set to campaign at the 7,000-seat Knapp Center at Drake University in Des Moines, while Biden ― who regularly trails his Democratic competitors in crowd size ― is set to speak at an elementary school gymnasium in the suburb of Waukee.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--Non-Citizens Mobilize For Iowa Caucuses, Even Though They Can't Vote

“ I ’ m always wearing my pin , ” he said .
“ So , people ask me ― usually we ’ re fixing their car brakes and they ’ re tired and they have to wait for a little bit , so I get a chance to say , ‘ Hey , you know ― what do you do ?
How ’ s your health care ?
’ You know , just everyday things .
People are interested , and then that starts a conversation and we go from there.
” “ The one time when I get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play soccer , ” said Gomez , who also coaches at the high school .
He figured organizing a tournament was a good way to entice people to come out and learn about the caucuses , and the Sanders campaign agreed , signing on as a sponsor of the event .
Iowa is often portrayed as a state full of cornfields and white people .
Indeed , it is 85 % white .
But it also has communities of color who are fighting to make sure they ’ re not left out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population has doubled in the past two decades , and has an estimated 50,000 registered Latino voters .
“ I know a lot of these farms ― whether it ’ s hogs or milking cows or working with turkeys or soy , whatever it is ― they are being run and worked by immigrants .
So we ’ re in every little tiny small town in all 90 counties .
You ’ re going to see some Latino faces , ” said Monica Reyes , 29 , who grew up in a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
“ I feel like a lot of the advocacy and the civic engagement here ― and across the state ― but especially here in the area of Des Moines , is being led by people that actually are not able to vote , ” Reyes said .
But within the county is the city of Storm Lake — population : 10,600 — which is dominated by meatpacking facilities kept alive by immigrants and refugees from Asia , Mexico , Central America and Africa .
Less than half of the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 languages are spoken at the local high school ; and immigrants comprise 90 % of elementary school enrollment .
Before he dropped out of the presidential race , former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro ― who has since endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
― had been doing strong outreach to the Latino community in Iowa , and Sanders has also been praised for his campaign ’ s organizing in communities of color .
“ My dream is that people look around on caucus night and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Muslims and workers and they say , ‘ Wow I didn ’ t even know these people lived in our community , ’ ” Sanders Campaign Manager Faiz Shakir told a reporter for The Intercept .
Non-citizens are working on behalf of the race ’ s more moderate candidates , too .
Ariana Wyndham , 29 , lives in Ohio , but she ’ ll be in Iowa this week , her second trip to the state this cycle .
She ’ s one of the leaders of a grassroots group called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who travel to the early primary states to help elect former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
“ We do need a lot more visibility when it comes to Latinos and Hispanics or just anything in general ― on mental health , health care , immigration , ” she added .
“ There ’ s just so many things that need attention within our communities , so we want to try and team up , even if it ’ s remotely , to help each other connect with more people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Sanders precinct captain , and she ’ s pushed the state to be more welcoming toward Spanish speakers .
When the Democratic Party asked for applications for satellite locations — so that voters are able to caucus somewhere besides their local precinct — Marcano-Kelly submitted one suggesting Spanish-language sites .
The party listened and , of Iowa ’ s 99 satellite locations , six will be Spanish-speaking , which activists say is important because there are not enough interpreters for all precincts across the state .

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DES MOINES, Iowa ― On a Saturday night in January, several dozen men stepped out into the single-digit cold and ventured to East High School for a soccer tournament.
But before they began playing, campaign staffers for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) taught them how to participate in the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3.
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Luis Gomez, 31, is the Sanders die-hard who organized the event. He was never involved in politics until he learned about the Vermont senator, and now he has campaign merch displayed at his auto body repair shop.
“I’m always wearing my pin,” he said. “So, people ask me ― usually we’re fixing their car brakes and they’re tired and they have to wait for a little bit, so I get a chance to say, ‘Hey, you know ― what do you do? How’s your health care?’ You know, just everyday things. People are interested, and then that starts a conversation and we go from there.”
Luis Gomez promotes the candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at his auto body repair shop in Des Moines. Luis Gomez
Gomez is a resident, not a citizen, so he won’t be able to caucus. But he’s still been doing everything he can for Sanders, short of that.
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“The one time when I get all my friends together is when we play soccer,” said Gomez, who also coaches at the high school. He figured organizing a tournament was a good way to entice people to come out and learn about the caucuses, and the Sanders campaign agreed, signing on as a sponsor of the event.
The soccer players and their friends who turned up that night were a mix of people from the local Latino, Bosnian, Nepalese and other Asian American Pacific Islander communities.
Members of communities of color in Des Moines turned up at East High School for a caucus training and soccer tournament sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) presidential campaign. Amanda Terkel/HuffPost
Iowa is often portrayed as a state full of cornfields and white people. Indeed, it is 85% white. But it also has communities of color who are fighting to make sure they’re not left out in 2020. The state’s Latino population has doubled in the past two decades, and has an estimated 50,000 registered Latino voters.
“I know a lot of these farms ― whether it’s hogs or milking cows or working with turkeys or soy, whatever it is ― they are being run and worked by immigrants. So we’re in every little tiny small town in all 90 counties. You’re going to see some Latino faces,” said Monica Reyes, 29, who grew up in a small farming community in the northeastern part of the state.
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Reyes came to the United States when she was 3 years old and was a recipient of former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. She and her sister founded the group Dream Iowa.
“I feel like a lot of the advocacy and the civic engagement here ― and across the state ― but especially here in the area of Des Moines, is being led by people that actually are not able to vote,” Reyes said.
She hosts a weekly radio show, and frequently discusses the caucuses, voter registration, and the importance of participating in the political process.
Buena Vista County is one of those places that defies outside expectations. It went for Donald Trump by nearly 35 percentage points in the 2016 presidential election. It’s also in the district of Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), an outspoken supporter of white nationalists.
““I feel like a lot of the advocacy and the civic engagement here ... is being led by people that actually are not able to vote."” - Monica Reyes, co-founder of Dream Iowa
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But within the county is the city of Storm Lake — population: 10,600 — which is dominated by meatpacking facilities kept alive by immigrants and refugees from Asia, Mexico, Central America and Africa. Less than half of the city’s population is non-Hispanic white; 23 languages are spoken at the local high school; and immigrants comprise 90% of elementary school enrollment.
Before he dropped out of the presidential race, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro ― who has since endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) ― had been doing strong outreach to the Latino community in Iowa, and Sanders has also been praised for his campaign’s organizing in communities of color.
“My dream is that people look around on caucus night and there are all these Thai people and Latinos and Muslims and workers and they say, ‘Wow I didn’t even know these people lived in our community,’” Sanders Campaign Manager Faiz Shakir told a reporter for The Intercept.
The campaign has roughly 150 Latino staffers, including more than a dozen DREAMers, who were instrumental in drafting the senator’s immigration platform.
Non-citizens are working on behalf of the race’s more moderate candidates, too. Ariana Wyndham, 29, lives in Ohio, but she’ll be in Iowa this week, her second trip to the state this cycle. She’s one of the leaders of a grassroots group called Barnstormers for Pete, composed of activists who travel to the early primary states to help elect former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
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Wyndham is also a DACA recipient and came to the U.S. when she was 9. She first learned about Buttigieg through a YouTube ad that popped up at 5 a.m. one morning.
“I was like, ‘Who is this guy? This is not real.’ I thought I was dreaming, but after I heard him speak, I was like, this is who we need right now,” Wyndham said.
“We do need a lot more visibility when it comes to Latinos and Hispanics or just anything in general ― on mental health, health care, immigration,” she added. “There’s just so many things that need attention within our communities, so we want to try and team up, even if it’s remotely, to help each other connect with more people like us.”
Ariana Wyndham, second from right, is a DACA recipient and one of the leaders of Barnstormers for Pete, a grassroots group of about 1,000 people traveling to the early states to help elect the former mayor. Ariana Wyndham
This is the first presidential election that Vanessa Marcano-Kelly, 34, will be able to vote in. Although she wasn’t a citizen in 2016, she still knocked on doors, made calls and tried to get involved.
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Now she’s a Sanders precinct captain, and she’s pushed the state to be more welcoming toward Spanish speakers. When the Democratic Party asked for applications for satellite locations — so that voters are able to caucus somewhere besides their local precinct — Marcano-Kelly submitted one suggesting Spanish-language sites. The party listened and, of Iowa’s 99 satellite locations, six will be Spanish-speaking, which activists say is important because there are not enough interpreters for all precincts across the state.
Marcano-Kelly will be at the South Suburban YMCA in Des Moines on Feb. 3 for the Spanish satellite caucus there. Reyes will be too. Even though she can’t caucus — and she’s not supporting a specific candidate — Reyes wants to be there to help with the process.
“Now I can share my story that I’m a citizen, but I can tell other people that there was a moment where I couldn’t vote, but I could get involved,” Marcano-Kelly said. “Everybody that I ever organized with, everybody that I ever heard a story from that was very painful because [they] didn’t have papers or because of whatever ― I know that I carry them with me when I’m voting.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--Twitter Rolls Out New Tool To Report Voting Misinformation

Good news : If you encounter misinformation on Twitter about voting , there ’ s now an easy method for reporting it .
Bad news : If you encounter any of the other misinformation that plagues the platform ( and social media in general ) ― most recently about coronavirus , say ― there ’ s still not much you can do about it .
( Even though Twitter doesn ’ t permit “ coordinated platform manipulation , ” it ’ s clearly still an issue . )
On Wednesday , Twitter rolled out a new tool for users to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm voter turnout in the U.S. election .
That includes falsehoods about where or how to register to vote ; speech that aims to intimidate or suppress someone from voting ; and content that misrepresents its affiliation with or impersonates a candidate , elected official , political party or government entity .
We ’ re turning on a tool for key moments of the 2020 US election that enables people to report misleading information about how to participate in an election or other civic event .
pic.twitter.com/BxHAiLSWjG — Twitter Safety ( @ TwitterSafety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses and primaries for the presidential election get underway , we ’ re building on our efforts to protect the public conversation , ” Carlos Monje Jr. , Twitter ’ s director of public policy and philanthropy , said in an emailed statement .
“ We ’ ve turned on a tool for key moments of the 2020 U.S. election that enables people to report deliberately misleading information about how to participate in an election or other civic event.
” Monje said the tool has been used since early 2019 in elections in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Twitter banned all political advertising from the platform last October .
At the time , founder Jack Dorsey warned that political ads “ present entirely new challenges to civic discourse : machine learning-based optimization of messaging and micro-targeting , unchecked misleading information , and deep fakes .
All at increasing velocity , sophistication , and overwhelming scale.
” Twitter ’ s action stands in stark contrast to the approach at Facebook , where executives have instead codified knowingly and intentionally disseminating political lies and misinformation .

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Good news: If you encounter misinformation on Twitter about voting, there’s now an easy method for reporting it.
Bad news: If you encounter any of the other misinformation that plagues the platform (and social media in general) ― most recently about coronavirus, say ― there’s still not much you can do about it. (Even though Twitter doesn’t permit “coordinated platform manipulation,” it’s clearly still an issue.)
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On Wednesday, Twitter rolled out a new tool for users to flag false and misleading information that could harm voter turnout in the U.S. election. That includes falsehoods about where or how to register to vote; speech that aims to intimidate or suppress someone from voting; and content that misrepresents its affiliation with or impersonates a candidate, elected official, political party or government entity.
We’re turning on a tool for key moments of the 2020 US election that enables people to report misleading information about how to participate in an election or other civic event. pic.twitter.com/BxHAiLSWjG — Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 30, 2020
“As caucuses and primaries for the presidential election get underway, we’re building on our efforts to protect the public conversation,” Carlos Monje Jr., Twitter’s director of public policy and philanthropy, said in an emailed statement. “We’ve turned on a tool for key moments of the 2020 U.S. election that enables people to report deliberately misleading information about how to participate in an election or other civic event.”
The Iowa caucuses kick off the presidential nominating process on Monday.
Monje said the tool has been used since early 2019 in elections in India, the U.K. and the EU.
Twitter banned all political advertising from the platform last October. At the time, founder Jack Dorsey warned that political ads “present entirely new challenges to civic discourse: machine learning-based optimization of messaging and micro-targeting, unchecked misleading information, and deep fakes. All at increasing velocity, sophistication, and overwhelming scale.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--The Trump Administration Is Coming For Medicaid Again

But if some state officials try , as several conservative ones seem inclined to do , and if the courts allow it , as perhaps some conservative judges will decide they should , then some adults now on Medicaid could struggle more with medical bills and have a harder time getting the health care they need .
“ While this initiative is being pitched as an option for states that will give then needed flexibility , don ’ t be deceived , ” says Joan Alker , executive director of the Georgetown Center for Children and Families .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their desire to cap and make huge cuts to Medicaid .
… The new flexibilities will be options to establish new barriers to getting or keeping coverage , or to limit benefits in new ways.
” How The Proposal Would Change Medicaid These federal matching funds go up and down every year , depending on how many people enroll and how much their health care actually costs .
If an economic downturn causes more people to fall into poverty , or if the pharmaceutical industry develops an especially expensive and crucial drug , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge in hospital use , Medicaid will cover the extra people or pay for their extra services .
How The Proposal Would Affect Beneficiaries But the potential for savings from the new financing option could also prove attractive to states that already cover adults , prodding them to scale back benefits or find some way to limit enrollment .
And once states opt into the new financing system , experts warn , they could face new , unexpected budget pressures in years when Medicaid suddenly gets more expensive because of an economic downturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How The Courts Might React But as she outlined the proposal , Verma noted that states taking up the new option would “ agree to manage their program within a defined budget , introducing an important element of fiscal accountability.
” And the very first sentence of the official letter describing the new option states that it would provide “ federal taxpayers with greater budget certainty ” ― which , as University of Michigan professor Nicholas Bagley notes , taxpayers don ’ t have now .
That may or may not be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it ’ s not the kind of change the law would seem to allow : “ It looks to me like [ the Department of Health and Human Services ] is trying to make a fundamental change to the Medicaid financing structure even though it ’ s not allowed to make fundamental changes to the Medicaid funding structure .
”

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The Trump administration is back with a new initiative that could make it harder for some low-income Americans to get health care.
Officials on Thursday told states that they can request major changes in the operation and funding of their Medicaid programs. Under the new arrangement, the outlines of which were first reported by Politico over the weekend, states would have more leeway to modify benefits and eligibility standards for some parts of the population.
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In return, states would have to accept a more limited commitment of funds from the federal government.
The initiative is by all accounts the brainchild of Seema Verma, chief administrator for Medicare and Medicaid. In a press call Thursday morning, she said the new flexibility will allow states to experiment with ways of providing better care at a lower cost, while freeing up more resources to provide care for the people who need it most.
“The Trump administration understands that the government has a solemn obligation to provide for the most vulnerable amongst us,” Verma said, “and part of that responsibility is ensuring that the program is sustainable, that it is capable of delivering quality care to current beneficiaries, as well as future ones.”
Verma and her colleagues are calling the new funding possibility the “Healthy Adult Opportunity” option, because in theory it affects only able-bodied, nonelderly adults and exempts pregnant women. But the initiative’s pleasant-sounding moniker doesn’t really capture what the administration is proposing or why it’s so potentially radical.
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This new financing option is a variation on what’s known as a “block grant,” which would end the federal government’s open-ended promise to finance Medicaid coverage for whoever needs it, however much it costs. Republicans have historically promoted block grants as a way to limit or reduce Medicaid spending, and many experts believe such proposals would lead to cuts in enrollment or benefits that would harm beneficiaries.
That potential has stirred up opposition and helps explain why Medicaid block grants have never gotten the support they needed to get through Congress.
Seema Verma, the Trump administration's head of Medicare and Medicaid, has long sought to scale back Medicaid for the "able-bodied" population. SOPA Images via Getty Images
With this new initiative, the Trump administration is trying to get around that political problem by using its executive authority to let states change Medicaid financing on their own. It’s the same approach that the administration has used to limit or scale back other politically sensitive programs, like food assistance, that serve low-income Americans.
It is not clear how many states will actually try the new Medicaid option or whether the courts would allow such attempts to go forward. The Medicaid statute specifies how states can modify their programs, and the modifications Verma sketched out Thursday may violate those rules.
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But if some state officials try, as several conservative ones seem inclined to do, and if the courts allow it, as perhaps some conservative judges will decide they should, then some adults now on Medicaid could struggle more with medical bills and have a harder time getting the health care they need.
“While this initiative is being pitched as an option for states that will give then needed flexibility, don’t be deceived,” says Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown Center for Children and Families. “The Trump Administration has been perfectly clear about their desire to cap and make huge cuts to Medicaid. … The new flexibilities will be options to establish new barriers to getting or keeping coverage, or to limit benefits in new ways.”
How The Proposal Would Change Medicaid
Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income people that now covers roughly 1 in 5 Americans. States are in charge of it, subject to a complex set of rules about who and what the program covers. Those rules come from the federal government, which provides the majority of the funding.
These federal matching funds go up and down every year, depending on how many people enroll and how much their health care actually costs. If an economic downturn causes more people to fall into poverty, or if the pharmaceutical industry develops an especially expensive and crucial drug, or if an epidemic leads to a surge in hospital use, Medicaid will cover the extra people or pay for their extra services.
This can be an expensive proposition. As far back as the 1980s, GOP leaders have been trying to shift Medicaid over to a system in which states could alter their programs in ways that would limit or reduce its reach ― by, for example, paying for fewer services than current Medicaid guidelines would permit.
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In return, states would get a fixed sum (aka, a block grant) from the federal government, with the understanding that they could keep some of the savings if the program costs less than expected but would face shortfalls if it cost more.
In theory, these sorts of arrangements could encourage states to economize and improve care, given that Medicaid, like all public and private insurance programs, has some real shortcomings. Republican lawmakers and their allies have frequently made that argument.
Block grants let states determine what works best for their citizens. Glad to see @realDonaldTrump @WhiteHouse @SeemaCMS take steps to allow states to convert part of their Medicaid funding to block grants. Looking forward to reviewing the proposal. https://t.co/X5tvStDgq7 — Senator Mike Rounds (@SenatorRounds) January 30, 2020
In practice, past proposals to introduce Medicaid block grants have always threatened to reduce coverage and, in the process, access to health care. A version of these reforms were in some of the 2017 bills to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and the potential impact on beneficiaries was one reason that effort proved so unpopular.
Now the Trump administration says states can change their financing in more or less the same fashion even without new legislation, because Medicaid allows states to get waivers if they want to experiment with new coverage models.
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Waivers are pretty common and come from all kinds of states. But, by law, the experiments states attempt must serve the program’s overall goal of providing better coverage or care for the poor.
It’s difficult to see how the changes the Trump administration has in mind would accomplish that.
How The Proposal Would Affect Beneficiaries
Under the new arrangement, states could require that adults on Medicaid pay premiums or out-of-pocket costs that are up to 5% of their incomes. Research has shown that even modest out-of-pocket costs can deter low-income Americans from getting care, because they have so little money at their disposal.
States could also end “retroactive eligibility,” under which people who enroll in Medicaid can get coverage for previous medical bills as old as three months. That’s a safeguard for people who have a medical emergency but can’t get onto Medicaid until days or weeks after they’ve started getting treatment.
“Retroactive eligibility ... is an important financial protection for both beneficiaries and providers alike,” says Jessica Schubel, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “It prevents medical bankruptcy for low-income people, and ensures the financial stability of hospitals and other safety net providers.”
The new arrangements would also give states a greater ability to exclude certain prescription drugs from coverage, through what is known as a “closed formulary.” With proper safeguards, formularies can be a useful tool for reducing drug costs. But Medicaid already gets what are, by U.S. standards, rock-bottom drug prices, and there’s a possibility states could use these formularies to cut costs in ways that sacrifice beneficiary health.
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“The authority to impose a closed formulary raises serious risks that beneficiaries would lose access to needed prescription drugs because it could be used to deny coverage of a drug solely due to cost, even if the drug is high-value or a clinical breakthrough,” Edwin Park of the Georgetown Center for Children and Families, argues.
States wouldn’t have to make any of these changes, as Verma stated repeatedly Thursday. “It is not a mandatory change in Medicaid structure or financing,” Verma said. “No state is under any obligation to participate.”
And conservative state officials that have so far resisted expanding Medicaid to nondisabled adults, even with the extra funds available through the Affordable Care Act, might see the new initiative as a cheaper, more acceptable way to cover those adults. Oklahoma’s Republican governor, who appeared alongside Verma at an event unveiling the new initiative, could be the first to try.
But the potential for savings from the new financing option could also prove attractive to states that already cover adults, prodding them to scale back benefits or find some way to limit enrollment. And once states opt into the new financing system, experts warn, they could face new, unexpected budget pressures in years when Medicaid suddenly gets more expensive because of an economic downturn or, say, an epidemic.
Thursday’s proposal says that states may seek extra funds in such instances, but that doesn’t mean states would get the money. “There’s no guarantee that [the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] would grant them and no clear criteria,” says Aviva Aron-Dine, vice president for health policy at the Center on Budget. “I’d also worry that the uncertainty around such renegotiations would lead states to make cuts.”
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How The Courts Might React
The lack of evidence that the new financing option would advance Medicaid’s goals of providing health care to the poor could stop the experiment from going forward. Absent such proof, judges may decide it is not permissible under the Medicaid law.
Federal judges have already blocked Medicaid “work requirements,” another change in the program that the Trump administration has encouraged, on precisely those grounds.
But the new financing option may run into an even bigger legal problem. The Medicaid statute specifies which parts of the program states can change, and the federal funding arrangement is not on the list.
Legal experts have been warning about this possibility for months, following early reports that this new initiative was under consideration. In Thursday’s press call, Verma said these critics didn’t understand what the administration was trying to do and that the new initiative is fully consistent with Medicaid’s rules.
“I think a lot of those charges are from folks that haven’t actually reviewed what we put out there,” Verma said. “We are not changing how the financing is structured.”
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But as she outlined the proposal, Verma noted that states taking up the new option would “agree to manage their program within a defined budget, introducing an important element of fiscal accountability.” And the very first sentence of the official letter describing the new option states that it would provide “federal taxpayers with greater budget certainty” ― which, as University of Michigan professor Nicholas Bagley notes, taxpayers don’t have now.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--IKEA, Nestle Urged Tennessee Governor To Veto Anti-LGBTQ Adoption Bill, Emails Find

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) — As Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee ’ s office sought to downplay potential consequences over an anti-LGBT adoption proposal , multiple big companies reached out to his administration warning the state ’ s reputation would suffer if the Republican were to enact it .
Emails obtained through a public records request by The Associated Press show representatives from IKEA , Mars Inc. , Nestle USA , Unilever and Danone North America all reached out to Lee ’ s office raising concerns about the proposal ’ s effect on recruiting and retaining employees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law effective immediately .
“ This issue is not political , ” stated a Jan. 17 letter from a coalition of major companies , which includes Mars and Nestle .
“ As a core part of our business principles , we firmly believe that all people are equal and that every person deserves to be treated with respect , dignity and fairness.
” “ As a member of the business community in Tennessee , we have communicated to lawmakers at every level that bills targeting LGBTQ people are bad for our co-workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers , and bad for business , ” said Carolyn Bell , the company ’ s U.S. public affairs manager .
Under the law , current adoption practices in Tennessee are not expected to change .
Some faith-based agencies had already not allowed gay couples to adopt .
But the measure now provides legal protections to agencies that do so .
“ So whatever your situation , if your government and your state is making it difficult for your bottom line to be as profitable as you want it to be , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open for business , and we ’ d love to have you , ” Lee said in a video released shortly after two California-based companies announced they would move to Tennessee .
“ The bill places no prohibitions on anyone from adopting a child .
If that is what you are planning on reporting , it is wildly incorrect , ” Ferguson responded to a reporter .
Chris Walker , Lee ’ s communications director , told another reporter almost the same thing in another email .
The opinion was requested by state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation .
It was later forwarded to the governor ’ s office by Brent Leatherwood — who is with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission , the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention .
“ So long as other child-placing agencies and the state itself continue to provide readily available alternatives , SB1304 bill is a model of liberty and justice for all , ” the letter states .
“ The religious providers need not violate their conscience , and the needs of all Tennesseans are served .
”

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — As Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s office sought to downplay potential consequences over an anti-LGBT adoption proposal, multiple big companies reached out to his administration warning the state’s reputation would suffer if the Republican were to enact it.
Emails obtained through a public records request by The Associated Press show representatives from IKEA, Mars Inc., Nestle USA, Unilever and Danone North America all reached out to Lee’s office raising concerns about the proposal’s effect on recruiting and retaining employees. Lee signed it last week, making the law effective immediately.
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“This issue is not political,” stated a Jan. 17 letter from a coalition of major companies, which includes Mars and Nestle. “As a core part of our business principles, we firmly believe that all people are equal and that every person deserves to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness.”
A separate email from IKEA — which has a store in Memphis and employs more than 170 people — said the legislation did not reflect the company’s values.
“As a member of the business community in Tennessee, we have communicated to lawmakers at every level that bills targeting LGBTQ people are bad for our co-workers and their families, bad for our customers, and bad for business,” said Carolyn Bell, the company’s U.S. public affairs manager.
Amazon has also spoken out against the bill.
Lee, however, has argued the law would better protect religious liberty. It was the first law the religiously conservative governor implemented in Tennessee this year.
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Under the law, current adoption practices in Tennessee are not expected to change. Some faith-based agencies had already not allowed gay couples to adopt. But the measure now provides legal protections to agencies that do so.
The criticism from the business community comes as Lee has often touted Tennessee’s ability to attract and retain businesses since taking over the top executive office.
“So whatever your situation, if your government and your state is making it difficult for your bottom line to be as profitable as you want it to be, then let me tell you, Tennessee is open for business, and we’d love to have you,” Lee said in a video released shortly after two California-based companies announced they would move to Tennessee.
Meanwhile, the emails provided to AP did not show any correspondences from Lee’s team to the businesses that raised concerns.
“IKEA does not like the adoption bill,” wrote Don Johnson, director of constituent services and community relations, on Jan. 14 in an email to Lee’s senior team.
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Other documents show that in response to reporter questions, Lee’s communication team pushed back on questions that the law would “allow discrimination against LGBTQ adoptions,” and instead highlighted religious protection.
“Want me to call and downplay econ impact on background?” asked Gillum Ferguson, Lee’s interim press secretary, said in a Jan. 17 email while discussing a request for comment on the potential economic effect of signing the anti-LGBT adoption bill.
“The bill places no prohibitions on anyone from adopting a child. If that is what you are planning on reporting, it is wildly incorrect,” Ferguson responded to a reporter. Chris Walker, Lee’s communications director, told another reporter almost the same thing in another email.
Lee’s administration redacted an unknown amount of emails the AP requested after citing attorney-client privileges and “deliberative process” privilege — an exemption ensuring certain documents remain secret if officials determine them part of their decision-making process.
One email did include a private outside legal opinion forwarded to the governor’s senior staff. The opinion was written by a group of attorneys with expertise on religious liberty laws.
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The opinion was requested by state Sen. Paul Rose, who sponsored the legislation. It was later forwarded to the governor’s office by Brent Leatherwood — who is with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“Please see attached and forward to both Brent Easley and Lang Wiseman,” Leatherwood said, referencing the governor’s legislative director and chief counsel.
“So long as other child-placing agencies and the state itself continue to provide readily available alternatives, SB1304 bill is a model of liberty and justice for all,” the letter states. “The religious providers need not violate their conscience, and the needs of all Tennesseans are served.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and others have warned about possible legal concerns surrounding the new adoption protection law, but to date, no lawsuit has been filed.
“The legislature can enact specific rules for specific situations, reducing uncertainty and reducing litigation risk....(the bill) provides clear protection to child-placing agencies that need it, and it leaves ample child-placing services available for all who need them,” the legal opinion says.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--Tom Steyer Wants To Be Known As America’s Wokest Billionaire

“ When you look at the policy issues that the presidential candidates are addressing , ” he said , “ you can ’ t look at any of those issues without realizing that there is an underlying point about race in every one.
” He surprised the nation in early January when a Fox News poll put him in second place in South Carolina , at 15 % .
Former Vice President Joe Biden had 36 % , while Sanders and Warren trailed with 14 % and 11 % respectively .
Similarly , Steyer has made gains in Nevada , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third , behind Biden and Sanders .
In South Carolina , Steyer ’ s name is hard to avoid .
His billboards surround major metropolitan areas , and his ads have blanketed every corner of every market .
Among Democratic candidates , he has one of the biggest organizations here , with more than 80 staffers — and they were on the ground early .
Voters seem genuinely interested in what he has to say , or at the very least , they know exactly who he is .
“ I think Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of grassroots issues , ” Harold Murray , 74 , who currently lives in Columbia , said .
“ When he came down to South Carolina , he went down to a little town south of here called Denmark .
They have a water problem that no one wants to address .
At least he went down and gave the people of Denmark hope .
And he dealt with the right people , the grassroots people.
” “ He just has money to be everywhere , ” Huffmon said .
“ Everyone I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that he is all over their Facebook , all over their YouTube .
He ’ s been blanketing the area.
” Steyer and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , another billionaire , have massively outspent every other Democrat in the race .
Steyer ’ s campaign has spent $ 139.8 million on media in 2020 , according to data from Advertising Analytics .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign has spent $ 262.9 million .
By comparison , Sanders , who has raised more money from individual donors than any other candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27.4 million .
“ So far as I ’ m concerned Mike Bloomberg can pay as much money as he wants but the question is whether he embraces a wealth tax , ” Steyer said .
“ Someone who is rich like him or rich like me needs to embrace the wealth tax … How can he possibly run as a Democrat if he isn ’ t willing to represent Democrats ?
” But while he is in line with Warren and Sanders in calling for a wealth tax , he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as vilified as they are .
Nor does he use the term “ class warfare ” when describing income inequality in America .
“ We know what Bloomberg is doing and wants , it ’ s not clear what Steyer wants , ” said Sean McElwee , the founder of progressive think tank Data For Progress .
“ The effect of his entrance in race is mostly to make it harder for candidates who are not Biden to get delegates.
” His textbook billionaire biography , however , is impossible to shake : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , attended elite private schools , and then went on to the Ivy League and a job at Goldman Sachs .
He made $ 1.6 billion by investing heavily in the fossil fuel industry , and has spent the greater part of the last decade investing heavily in Democratic politics .
In 2013 , he founded NextGen Climate , an environmental advocacy group that poured so many millions of dollars into clean-energy initiatives and electing Democrats that Steyer ’ s name was once floated as a possible pick for secretary of energy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fortune in interviews , he ’ s quick to say he ’ s signed a pledge to donate most of his wealth to philanthropic causes .

Democratic presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Tom Steyer at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally on Jan. 20 in Columbia, South Carolina. ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBIA, S.C. ― Retired California hedge fund manager Tom Steyer is on a quest to convince Americans #NotAllBillionaires.
As leading progressive candidates Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) deride millionaires and billionaires for rigging the economy, Steyer wants to be clear that he’s a billionaire who thinks he should be taxed, a lot.
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“I am somebody who would undo all the tax giveaways to the richest Americans, and to corporations,” Steyer said in a phone interview with HuffPost while on the campaign trail in Iowa. “We have redistributed wealth to the richest Americans.”
He’s the billionaire who, on the debate stage, has said that “corporations have bought this government,” leading to a “40-year attack on the rights of working people and specifically on organized labor.”
He’s the billionaire who looked like he was having the time of his life dancing in South Carolina on Martin Luther King Jr. Day next to Sanders, who has said that billionaires should not exist.
Tom Steyer dancing is the greatest video you’ll see today 😆 pic.twitter.com/MgEntkn7Jk — Mark Dice (@MarkDice) January 20, 2020
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He’s the billionaire who told the audience on MLK Day that he, a white man from California, is not trying to “claim someone else’s pain,” but understands the history of slavery in the U.S. and supports reparations for Black Americans.
“When you look at the policy issues that the presidential candidates are addressing,” he said, “you can’t look at any of those issues without realizing that there is an underlying point about race in every one.”
Steyer wants to be known as the wokest billionaire in America. And in the states he’s willing to pay to get face time with people, people are listening.
He surprised the nation in early January when a Fox News poll put him in second place in South Carolina, at 15%. Former Vice President Joe Biden had 36%, while Sanders and Warren trailed with 14% and 11% respectively. Similarly, Steyer has made gains in Nevada, where he has tied with Warren for third, behind Biden and Sanders.
In South Carolina, Steyer’s name is hard to avoid. His billboards surround major metropolitan areas, and his ads have blanketed every corner of every market. Among Democratic candidates, he has one of the biggest organizations here, with more than 80 staffers — and they were on the ground early. Voters seem genuinely interested in what he has to say, or at the very least, they know exactly who he is.
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“I think Tom has the capacity to address a lot of grassroots issues,” Harold Murray, 74, who currently lives in Columbia, said. “When he came down to South Carolina, he went down to a little town south of here called Denmark. They have a water problem that no one wants to address. At least he went down and gave the people of Denmark hope. And he dealt with the right people, the grassroots people.”
Scott Huffmon, the founder of the Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research at Winthrop University in South Carolina, attributed Steyer’s bump in South Carolina’s polls largely to name recognition.
“He just has money to be everywhere,” Huffmon said. “Everyone I know who is on Facebook, is saying that he is all over their Facebook, all over their YouTube. He’s been blanketing the area.”
Steyer and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, another billionaire, have massively outspent every other Democrat in the race. Steyer’s campaign has spent $139.8 million on media in 2020, according to data from Advertising Analytics. Bloomberg’s campaign has spent $262.9 million. By comparison, Sanders, who has raised more money from individual donors than any other candidate in the race, has spent $27.4 million.
“So far as I’m concerned Mike Bloomberg can pay as much money as he wants but the question is whether he embraces a wealth tax,” Steyer said. “Someone who is rich like him or rich like me needs to embrace the wealth tax … How can he possibly run as a Democrat if he isn’t willing to represent Democrats?”
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But while he is in line with Warren and Sanders in calling for a wealth tax, he doesn’t think billionaires and millionaires should be as vilified as they are. Nor does he use the term “class warfare” when describing income inequality in America.
Instead, he defines the biggest problem in America as a “corporate stranglehold,” in which executives “think they are being honest” in pushing their company’s bottom line. He’s adamant about drawing this distinction: It’s the “perversion of the corporate interests” that needs fixing.
“Is it rich people who are preventing us from getting anti-gun legislation? No, it’s gun manufacturers,” Steyer said. But, he added, “does it benefit rich people who own those corporations? Yes.”
“Is it rich people who are preventing us from getting anti-gun legislation? No, it’s gun manufacturers.” - Tom Steyer, presidential candidate
He’s also realistic about how his positions appeal to his fellow billionaires: “Do I think the richest people in this country have to come around and agree for us to do this? No.”
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But how his candidacy will impact the race — and the broader progressive cause — is harder to discern.
“We know what Bloomberg is doing and wants, it’s not clear what Steyer wants,” said Sean McElwee, the founder of progressive think tank Data For Progress. “The effect of his entrance in race is mostly to make it harder for candidates who are not Biden to get delegates.”
McElwee isn’t the only one unsure. When Steyer announced his bid for the presidency, progressive climate activists expressed their confusion about Steyer’s decision to enter the race to HuffPost’s Alex Kaufman.
Steyer rejects the notion that he could be splitting support in states like South Carolina and Nevada, which could be crucial to a progressive victory for Sanders.
He says he’s not a “progressive doctrinarian;” he sees himself as someone who is using his platform to tell the “truth” about the country.
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His textbook billionaire biography, however, is impossible to shake: He grew up in New York City, attended elite private schools, and then went on to the Ivy League and a job at Goldman Sachs. He made $1.6 billion by investing heavily in the fossil fuel industry, and has spent the greater part of the last decade investing heavily in Democratic politics.
In 2013, he founded NextGen Climate, an environmental advocacy group that poured so many millions of dollars into clean-energy initiatives and electing Democrats that Steyer’s name was once floated as a possible pick for secretary of energy. When he’s asked about his fortune in interviews, he’s quick to say he’s signed a pledge to donate most of his wealth to philanthropic causes.
Most of the Democrats seeking their party's presidential nomination, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“While Tom Steyer has done a lot of good for grassroots organizing, I also think sometimes Republicans paint social justice as ‘cosmopolitan values of the elite’ and I would be anxious about billionaires taking up the social justice cause,” said Waleed Shahid, a spokesman for the progressive group Justice Democrats.
But Steyer’s supporters don’t seem to mind that his fortune is core to his seeming omnipresence in South Carolina.
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“I’m sick and tired of folks saying he is buying the election,” said Oliver Francis, a Black 70-year-old Columbia resident and Steyer supporter. “If I can bankroll my own campaign, that’s my business.”
Francis went so far as to place Steyer among political royalty: In Steyer, he said, he sees a little bit of Barack Obama.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-30--Washington Post Executive Warns Staff About Social Media Use After Reporter's Kobe Tweets

In an email sent to The Washington Post ’ s staff on Thursday , the newspaper ’ s executive editor , Martin Baron , said social media has made news coverage “ complicated ” and warned that employees ’ activity on those platforms reflects the Post ’ s reputation .
“ It is not always easy to know where to draw the line , ” Baron wrote in the email , obtained by CNN .
“ That ’ s a matter deserving of thoughtful discussion ― along with how The Post should respond when the line is crossed.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sent to the staff , but it was apparently prompted by the controversy over the newspaper ’ s decision to suspend national political reporter Felicia Sonmez after she tweeted a link to a 2016 Daily Beast article about rape allegations made in 2003 against NBA legend Kobe Bryant on Sunday , the day of his death .
News : Marty Baron just sent this email about social media use to The Washington Post newsroom .
`` It is not always easy to know where to draw the line . ''
pic.twitter.com/OEuKzZMw88 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 , 2020 The email also addressed the safety risks posed to staff who use social media and the company ’ s efforts to increase security .
After tweeting about Bryant ’ s rape allegations , Sonmez said on Twitter that 10,000 people had sent her “ abuse and death threats.
” “ Please take a moment and read the story — which was written 3+ years ago , and not by me , ” she tweeted .
“ Any public figure is worth remembering in their totality , even if that public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsettling.
” Sonmez was placed on administrative leave Monday , though it was reportedly lifted on Tuesday after the paper ’ s management said the journalist ’ s tweets were “ ill-timed ” but not “ in clear and direct violation of our social media policy.
” “ We do not want social media activity to be a distraction , and we do not want it to give a false impression of the tenor of our coverage , ” Baron also said .
Tracy Grant , the Post ’ s managing editor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Bryant down and Baron told her in an email to stop , The New York Times reported .
“ Felicia , ” Baron wrote to her , according to the Times .
“ A real lack of judgment to tweet this .
Please stop .
You ’ re hurting this institution by doing this.
” The tweets were taken down , though Twitter users took screenshots of them .
The executive editor ’ s email to the staff did not include an apology or express regret for Sonmez ’ s suspension .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process of revamping its social media policies , which were created in 2011 .

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In an email sent to The Washington Post’s staff on Thursday, the newspaper’s executive editor, Martin Baron, said social media has made news coverage “complicated” and warned that employees’ activity on those platforms reflects the Post’s reputation.
“It is not always easy to know where to draw the line,” Baron wrote in the email, obtained by CNN. “That’s a matter deserving of thoughtful discussion ― along with how The Post should respond when the line is crossed.”
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It is unclear when Baron’s email was sent to the staff, but it was apparently prompted by the controversy over the newspaper’s decision to suspend national political reporter Felicia Sonmez after she tweeted a link to a 2016 Daily Beast article about rape allegations made in 2003 against NBA legend Kobe Bryant on Sunday, the day of his death.
News: Marty Baron just sent this email about social media use to The Washington Post newsroom.
"It is not always easy to know where to draw the line." pic.twitter.com/OEuKzZMw88 — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 30, 2020
The email also addressed the safety risks posed to staff who use social media and the company’s efforts to increase security.
After tweeting about Bryant’s rape allegations, Sonmez said on Twitter that 10,000 people had sent her “abuse and death threats.”
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“Please take a moment and read the story — which was written 3+ years ago, and not by me,” she tweeted. “Any public figure is worth remembering in their totality, even if that public figure is beloved and that totality is unsettling.”
Sonmez was placed on administrative leave Monday, though it was reportedly lifted on Tuesday after the paper’s management said the journalist’s tweets were “ill-timed” but not “in clear and direct violation of our social media policy.”
“We do not want social media activity to be a distraction, and we do not want it to give a false impression of the tenor of our coverage,” Baron also said.
Tracy Grant, the Post’s managing editor, initially told Sonmez to take her tweets about Bryant down and Baron told her in an email to stop, The New York Times reported.
“Felicia,” Baron wrote to her, according to the Times. “A real lack of judgment to tweet this. Please stop. You’re hurting this institution by doing this.”
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The tweets were taken down, though Twitter users took screenshots of them.
Washington Post reporter @feliciasonmez deleted her crass tweets about Kobe Bryant. But screen grabs are forever – and I took some before she deleted the tweets.
Bye, Felicia. pic.twitter.com/IvNZHkiBam — Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) January 26, 2020
The executive editor’s email to the staff did not include an apology or express regret for Sonmez’s suspension.
Baron said that the paper was in the process of revamping its social media policies, which were created in 2011.