thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-15--Nunes teaming with McCarthy to fundraise for House GOP

Rep. Devin Nunes is teaming up with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to raise money for Republicans challenging Democrats in targeted congressional races .
The California Republicans , two of their party ’ s top House fundraisers , are combining forces via their lucrative lists of grassroots donors who contribute to GOP candidates in small increments online .
The cash collected will flow to the party ’ s strongest challengers in a bid to reclaim the House majority just two years after Democrats won the chamber in a 40-seat swing .
The move comes as Nunes , the senior Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another big fundraising quarter on the strength of a digital program that has raked in campaign cash since the congressman emerged as a prominent defender of President Trump in early 2017 .
Nunes , his political team confirmed , raised more than $ 4.5 million in April , May , and June , a haul that would be considered a significant achievement for many big Senate candidates .
The congressman ’ s campaign finished the second quarter with more than $ 10.5 million in the bank to spend on his reelection bid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ positioned to survive a possibly vigorous challenge from Democrat Phil Arballo in his Republican-leaning , inland Central California district .
Nunes defended Trump throughout the Russia investigation and impeachment proceedings , boosting his profile with grassroots conservatives .
The congressman has continued to raise money at a robust clip despite the chill on the economy caused by the coronavirus .
In the first fundraising quarter of this year , Nunes raised nearly $ 4 million and reported cash on and of roughly $ 8.8 million .
Nunes has become one of the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headliner for other Republicans on Capitol Hill looking to grow their war chests .
He frequently headlines in-person fundraisers , pandemic permitting , and signs email appeals .
Nunes , 46 , spent a majority of his nine terms in Congress as a relatively unknown member focused on parochial issues pertaining to his agricultural district .
But his role in defending Trump against allegations that his campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 campaign and questioning of the FBI 's investigation methods and use of FISA warrants catapulted him into the national spotlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media .

Rep. Devin Nunes is teaming up with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to raise money for Republicans challenging Democrats in targeted congressional races.
The California Republicans, two of their party’s top House fundraisers, are combining forces via their lucrative lists of grassroots donors who contribute to GOP candidates in small increments online. The cash collected will flow to the party’s strongest challengers in a bid to reclaim the House majority just two years after Democrats won the chamber in a 40-seat swing.
The move comes as Nunes, the senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, posts another big fundraising quarter on the strength of a digital program that has raked in campaign cash since the congressman emerged as a prominent defender of President Trump in early 2017. Nunes, his political team confirmed, raised more than $4.5 million in April, May, and June, a haul that would be considered a significant achievement for many big Senate candidates.
The congressman’s campaign finished the second quarter with more than $10.5 million in the bank to spend on his reelection bid. With this war chest, Nunes is positioned to survive a possibly vigorous challenge from Democrat Phil Arballo in his Republican-leaning, inland Central California district.
Nunes defended Trump throughout the Russia investigation and impeachment proceedings, boosting his profile with grassroots conservatives. The congressman has continued to raise money at a robust clip despite the chill on the economy caused by the coronavirus. In the first fundraising quarter of this year, Nunes raised nearly $4 million and reported cash on and of roughly $8.8 million.
Nunes has become one of the biggest GOP fundraisers in Congress and a favorite headliner for other Republicans on Capitol Hill looking to grow their war chests. He frequently headlines in-person fundraisers, pandemic permitting, and signs email appeals.
Nunes, 46, spent a majority of his nine terms in Congress as a relatively unknown member focused on parochial issues pertaining to his agricultural district. But his role in defending Trump against allegations that his campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 campaign and questioning of the FBI's investigation methods and use of FISA warrants catapulted him into the national spotlight and made him a darling of conservative media.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-17--'What a combination': Caitlyn Jenner offers to be Kanye West's running mate

Could voters elect the nation 's first transgender vice president in U.S. history this fall ?
Speaking to paparazzi outside a Starbucks in Westlake Village , California , on Thursday , Caitlyn Jenner expressed a desire to be Kanye West 's vice presidential nominee .
`` Are you going to vote for Kanye for president now that Kanye 's running you think ? ''
an unidentified reporter asked Jenner .
`` Oh , I texted him and said , 'Can I be your VP ? '
'' Jenner quipped .
`` What a combination ! ''
West , who earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he filed with the Federal Election Committee , will be on the ballot in at least Oklahoma , where his Birthday Party ticket will appear next to that of President Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Jenner is n't the only person in West 's family tree who has been rumored to join him atop the White House ticket .
Last week , some suggested his wife Kim Kardashian West could be a possible running mate for the outsider campaign .
Others mulled the idea of Tesla CEO Elon Musk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , joining the rapper on the ticket .

Could voters elect the nation's first transgender vice president in U.S. history this fall?
Speaking to paparazzi outside a Starbucks in Westlake Village, California, on Thursday, Caitlyn Jenner expressed a desire to be Kanye West's vice presidential nominee.
"Are you going to vote for Kanye for president now that Kanye's running you think?" an unidentified reporter asked Jenner.
"Oh, I texted him and said, 'Can I be your VP?'" Jenner quipped. "What a combination!"
West, who earlier Thursday made his bid for president official when he filed with the Federal Election Committee, will be on the ballot in at least Oklahoma, where his Birthday Party ticket will appear next to that of President Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Jenner isn't the only person in West's family tree who has been rumored to join him atop the White House ticket. Last week, some suggested his wife Kim Kardashian West could be a possible running mate for the outsider campaign. Others mulled the idea of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, joining the rapper on the ticket.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-17--Biden press secretary accuses Trump of 'openly embracing' white supremacist causes

The national press secretary for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden believes President Trump is signaling support for white supremacists through his rhetoric on U.S. history .
Speaking on the Fox News Rundown podcast Thursday , Biden 's press secretary T.J. Ducklo accused Trump of embracing far-right viewpoints on the campaign trail .
`` If you look at the Trump campaign and what they ’ re doing , you know they ’ re only speaking to their base , '' Ducklo said .
`` They are alienating voters with divisive rhetoric , you know , Donald Trump is openly embracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` So look , I think that we are going to continue getting the vice president ’ s message out to voters , engaging with folks where they are , and doing the hard work to make sure that we can get our voters out and elect Joe Biden president in November , '' he added .
When the interviewer pushed back against Ducklo 's accusations , the top Biden campaign staffer pointed to Trump 's comments on Confederate monuments and the Confederate flag as evidence that he is making open overtures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have to do is listen to the rhetoric from Donald Trump , '' Ducklo continued .
`` You know , he is someone who is doubling down on appealing to what he feels like is his base and making comments and remarks that are , you know , embracing Confederate flags and Confederate monuments , and what he ’ s not doing is what he should be doing , which is getting this virus under control . ''
In recent weeks , Trump has spoken out against a call from the Left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The national press secretary for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden believes President Trump is signaling support for white supremacists through his rhetoric on U.S. history.
Speaking on the Fox News Rundown podcast Thursday, Biden's press secretary T.J. Ducklo accused Trump of embracing far-right viewpoints on the campaign trail.
"If you look at the Trump campaign and what they’re doing, you know they’re only speaking to their base," Ducklo said. "They are alienating voters with divisive rhetoric, you know, Donald Trump is openly embracing the causes of white supremacists."
"So look, I think that we are going to continue getting the vice president’s message out to voters, engaging with folks where they are, and doing the hard work to make sure that we can get our voters out and elect Joe Biden president in November," he added.
When the interviewer pushed back against Ducklo's accusations, the top Biden campaign staffer pointed to Trump's comments on Confederate monuments and the Confederate flag as evidence that he is making open overtures to white supremacists.
"I think all you have to do is listen to the rhetoric from Donald Trump," Ducklo continued. "You know, he is someone who is doubling down on appealing to what he feels like is his base and making comments and remarks that are, you know, embracing Confederate flags and Confederate monuments, and what he’s not doing is what he should be doing, which is getting this virus under control."
In recent weeks, Trump has spoken out against a call from the Left to rename military bases honoring Confederate generals.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-16--Pennsylvanians think they hear the sound of secret Trump voters

President Trump insists he is poised to win a second term on the strength of support from voters who plan to support him over presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden but are keeping quiet about their intentions when questioned by pollsters .
A majority of Pennsylvania voters agree , according to a new poll from Monmouth University examining voters ' opinions in this critical swing state .
In the survey , conducted July 9-13 , Biden outpaced Trump by anywhere from 7 to 13 percentage points , depending on the turnout model tested .
But perhaps stung by the president 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 57 % of voters in the state said they believe there are `` a number of so-called secret voters in their communities who support Trump but wo n't tell anyone about it , '' according to a memorandum on the poll issued by the Monmouth University Polling Institute .
The survey found that 54 % of voters recalled being surprised that Trump won the state four years ago .
Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania by less than 1 point in 2016 , closing a wide gap with the Democratic nominee down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win the state 's Electoral College votes in nearly 30 years .
That could be why , when Monmouth University asked registered voters who they expect to win this November , 46 % predicted Trump , and 45 % predicted Biden , despite the former vice president 's wide lead over the incumbent .
“ The media consistently reports that Biden is in the lead , but voters remember what happened in 2016 .
The specter of a secret Trump vote looms large in 2020 , ” said Patrick Murray , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the existence of secret Trump voters is even higher among voters in Pennsylvania 's swing counties ( 62 % ) and the counties that supported Clinton in 2016 ( 61 % ) than it is in Trump counties ( 51 % ) , perhaps revealing that Democrats lack confidence in polls showing Biden with a commanding lead .
Meanwhile , just 27 % of Pennsylvania voters believe there is a silent Biden vote .

President Trump insists he is poised to win a second term on the strength of support from voters who plan to support him over presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden but are keeping quiet about their intentions when questioned by pollsters.
A majority of Pennsylvania voters agree, according to a new poll from Monmouth University examining voters' opinions in this critical swing state.
In the survey, conducted July 9-13, Biden outpaced Trump by anywhere from 7 to 13 percentage points, depending on the turnout model tested. But perhaps stung by the president's surprise victory in Pennsylvania four years ago, 57% of voters in the state said they believe there are "a number of so-called secret voters in their communities who support Trump but won't tell anyone about it," according to a memorandum on the poll issued by the Monmouth University Polling Institute.
The survey found that 54% of voters recalled being surprised that Trump won the state four years ago.
Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania by less than 1 point in 2016, closing a wide gap with the Democratic nominee down the stretch and becoming the first Republican to win the state's Electoral College votes in nearly 30 years. That could be why, when Monmouth University asked registered voters who they expect to win this November, 46% predicted Trump, and 45% predicted Biden, despite the former vice president's wide lead over the incumbent.
“The media consistently reports that Biden is in the lead, but voters remember what happened in 2016. The specter of a secret Trump vote looms large in 2020,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth poll.
Belief in the existence of secret Trump voters is even higher among voters in Pennsylvania's swing counties (62%) and the counties that supported Clinton in 2016 (61%) than it is in Trump counties (51%), perhaps revealing that Democrats lack confidence in polls showing Biden with a commanding lead. Meanwhile, just 27% of Pennsylvania voters believe there is a silent Biden vote.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-16--Trump campaign revisits Biden's past with plagiarism

It 's a history President Trump 's campaign is trying not to let the public forget : Joe Biden 's habit of lifting quotes or remarks from other politicians .
On Thursday , Trump 's staff sent out an email to the press detailing Biden 's `` long record of plagiarism from his time in law school to his failed presidential campaigns . ''
The email comes as the Trump campaign has been desperately trying to find new attacks that land on the former vice president in the midst of lopsided poll numbers that spell a landslide victory for Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump campaign summarized Biden 's 1987 plagiarism controversies that were among the reasons he abandoned his first White House race .
In that year , reports surfaced that Biden failed a law school course after not properly citing a law review article in a class paper .
`` I was wrong , but I was not malevolent in any way , '' Biden said at the time , admitting guilt .
`` I did not intentionally move to mislead anybody .
And I did n't .
To this day , I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't end that year .
In August 1987 , Biden was caught copying lines in a speech by British politician Neil Kinnock .
He quickly dropped out of the race shortly after in what many considered to be one of the most embarrassing presidential runs in recent history .
Kinnock , a member of the House of Lords , went on to back Biden 's third White House bid last April , arguing Biden had the best chance of unseating Trump in the general election .
`` If the Democratic Party chooses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is certainly in with a decent chance , '' Kinnock told the Washington Examiner .
`` That will be because of his proven ability , experience , sense of mature judgment on the major issues , his qualities as a communicator , and his normality .
Not perfect , but with only mundane imperfections , which , I think , will have real appeal to the electorate . ''
But the Trump campaign is trying to convince voters that Biden is n't responsible for many of the ideas that come out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Biden 's team announced the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force recommendations , the Trump campaign argued that Biden 's campaign was nothing more than a `` Trojan Horse '' for radical members of the Democratic Party .
`` Biden again has proven he is too weak to stand up to the extremists in his party and is now running on their socialist agenda , '' Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement .
And this week , as the Biden campaign announced its `` Build Back Better '' program to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the `` slogan is stolen both in name and idea . ''
The Trump campaign claims the `` slogan first originated in December 2006 when the United Nations Secretary-General 's Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery ... issued a report titled 'Key Propositions for Building Back Better . '
'' A spokesman for Biden brushed away the accusations of plagiarism , dismissing the line from the Trump campaign as desperate .
`` First , Donald Trump said Joe Biden was plagiarizing from his own plans , and now , Trump 's team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 'radical Left , ' '' said Biden campaign deputy rapid response director Mike Gwin .
`` These are sad and flailing attacks from a president who failed us so thoroughly on COVID-19 — leaving over 135,000 Americans dead and almost 20 million jobless and now is running a listless , low-energy campaign ricocheting from one discredited smear to another in an unsuccessful search for a message . ''
In June 2019 , Biden was accused of copying language in his climate change proposal from left-wing environmental groups .
That policy plan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for carbon capture and storage technology that has been championed by environmental groups such as the Blue Green Alliance .

It's a history President Trump's campaign is trying not to let the public forget: Joe Biden's habit of lifting quotes or remarks from other politicians.
On Thursday, Trump's staff sent out an email to the press detailing Biden's "long record of plagiarism from his time in law school to his failed presidential campaigns."
The email comes as the Trump campaign has been desperately trying to find new attacks that land on the former vice president in the midst of lopsided poll numbers that spell a landslide victory for Democrats this November.
In the email, the Trump campaign summarized Biden's 1987 plagiarism controversies that were among the reasons he abandoned his first White House race. In that year, reports surfaced that Biden failed a law school course after not properly citing a law review article in a class paper.
"I was wrong, but I was not malevolent in any way," Biden said at the time, admitting guilt. "I did not intentionally move to mislead anybody. And I didn't. To this day, I didn't."
Biden's plagiarism woes didn't end that year. In August 1987, Biden was caught copying lines in a speech by British politician Neil Kinnock. He quickly dropped out of the race shortly after in what many considered to be one of the most embarrassing presidential runs in recent history.
Kinnock, a member of the House of Lords, went on to back Biden's third White House bid last April, arguing Biden had the best chance of unseating Trump in the general election.
"If the Democratic Party chooses Joe, they’ll have someone who is certainly in with a decent chance," Kinnock told the Washington Examiner. "That will be because of his proven ability, experience, sense of mature judgment on the major issues, his qualities as a communicator, and his normality. Not perfect, but with only mundane imperfections, which, I think, will have real appeal to the electorate."
But the Trump campaign is trying to convince voters that Biden isn't responsible for many of the ideas that come out of his mouth, even today. Shortly after Biden's team announced the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force recommendations, the Trump campaign argued that Biden's campaign was nothing more than a "Trojan Horse" for radical members of the Democratic Party.
"Biden again has proven he is too weak to stand up to the extremists in his party and is now running on their socialist agenda," Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement.
And this week, as the Biden campaign announced its "Build Back Better" program to spur domestic manufacturing, the Trump campaign said that the "slogan is stolen both in name and idea."
The Trump campaign claims the "slogan first originated in December 2006 when the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery ... issued a report titled 'Key Propositions for Building Back Better.'"
A spokesman for Biden brushed away the accusations of plagiarism, dismissing the line from the Trump campaign as desperate.
"First, Donald Trump said Joe Biden was plagiarizing from his own plans, and now, Trump's team laughably says Joe Biden is plagiarizing from the 'radical Left,'" said Biden campaign deputy rapid response director Mike Gwin. "These are sad and flailing attacks from a president who failed us so thoroughly on COVID-19 — leaving over 135,000 Americans dead and almost 20 million jobless and now is running a listless, low-energy campaign ricocheting from one discredited smear to another in an unsuccessful search for a message."
In June 2019, Biden was accused of copying language in his climate change proposal from left-wing environmental groups. That policy plan, which contained no citations, included funding for carbon capture and storage technology that has been championed by environmental groups such as the Blue Green Alliance.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-17--Sessions defeat reignites debate: Can populism deliver for Trump?

President Trump 's candidate won big in the Alabama Republican senatorial primary on Tuesday , but to hear the loser tell it , the `` Donald Trump agenda '' did not .
When Trump-endorsed former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville easily beat former Attorney General Jeff Sessions 63 % to 37 % in the Alabama Senate runoff , it raised questions about how big a winner populism was for the president in 2016 and could be again this year .
“ Too often , we ’ ve allowed the focus to be on GDP , on growth , on Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not enough on the struggles of that single mom who ’ s got to buy four truck tires for her old car , ” Sessions said in his concession speech after he was defeated in his quest to reclaim the Senate seat he held for 20 years .
“ It ’ s going to cost $ 600 , and she doesn ’ t have it , and it has to go on a credit card that charges 25 % interest.
” Sessions nevertheless told Republicans to follow Trump 's lead on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not against immigration , but they want a lawful system , and they want the kind of immigration that serves the national interest and that does not become a mechanism by which their wages are pulled down , and their ability to find a decent job is reduced substantially.
” He affirmed Trump on trade : “ I think the American people have been right to resist this religious free trade idea that no matter how bad a competitor cheats you , or if they sell products , China sells products to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American factory , laying off hundreds of American workers , these people , these religious free traders , think we should send them a thank-you note because you can get it a few cents cheaper at Walmart or one of our other stores.
” He also channeled a Trumpian `` America First '' foreign policy : “ And I think we ’ ve got involved in too many wars that don ’ t have an end to them , have not served the national interest , and hasn ’ t even helped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help.
” '' Sen .
Sessions was an articulate spokesman for Trumpism before Trumpism was cool , '' said Republican strategist John Feehery .
`` So it is pretty ironic that the president campaigned so vociferously against him .
So , yes , the Trump populists lost an effective voice for their cause . ''
As the Trump reelection campaign searches for a message to help regain the lead from Democratic challenger Joe Biden , the lessons of 2016 are debated anew .
`` The same media polls that had the world convinced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 are trying the same trick again in 2020 , '' said new Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien in a statement Thursday .
`` It won ’ t work . ''
One school of thought is that Trump upset Clinton because he broke with George W. Bush-era Republican orthodoxy on the trio of issues Sessions mentioned , widening the party ’ s electoral coalition to include the Rust Belt with his populist , nationalist variant of conservatism .
The kind of blue-collar voter who might worry about his or her job at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in states that hadn ’ t gone for a GOP presidential nominee since the Reagan Democrats of the 1980s .
“ If he gets on message and stays on it , stays on those principle positions , I think he ’ ll be in a position to come back and win this election , ” Sessions said of 2020 .
The other theory is that Trump won because he is rich and famous .
This , combined with his brash reality TV star persona , helped him outshine a crowded field of 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equally polarizing Democratic opponent .
The pandemic , economic downturn , and civil unrest may make it difficult to win based on his personal brand a second time .
The last two years have not been kind to populists inside Trump 's orbit , especially since former chief strategist Steve Bannon 's departure from the White House , and only a relatively small number of lawmakers such as Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida have tried to claim the mantle .
Ending `` endless wars '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal justice reform for the Trump campaign 's attention .
`` Sessions carried the torch of populism on subjects like immigration and trade for decades before Trump .
Over the last few years , he even warmed up to having populist opinions on foreign policy and economics .
His voice would have been badly needed in the Senate , '' said Ryan Girdusky , author of They ’ re Not Listening : How the Elites Created the Nationalist Populist Revolution .
`` While nationalists and populists should respect his legacy and value his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the movement .
To quote Yoda , 'there is another . '
'' Whether that translates into another Trump term remains to be seen .

President Trump's candidate won big in the Alabama Republican senatorial primary on Tuesday, but to hear the loser tell it, the "Donald Trump agenda" did not.
When Trump-endorsed former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville easily beat former Attorney General Jeff Sessions 63% to 37% in the Alabama Senate runoff, it raised questions about how big a winner populism was for the president in 2016 and could be again this year.
“Too often, we’ve allowed the focus to be on GDP, on growth, on Wall Street, and trading issues like that, and not enough on the struggles of that single mom who’s got to buy four truck tires for her old car,” Sessions said in his concession speech after he was defeated in his quest to reclaim the Senate seat he held for 20 years. “It’s going to cost $600, and she doesn’t have it, and it has to go on a credit card that charges 25% interest.”
Sessions nevertheless told Republicans to follow Trump's lead on immigration: “The American people are not against immigration, but they want a lawful system, and they want the kind of immigration that serves the national interest and that does not become a mechanism by which their wages are pulled down, and their ability to find a decent job is reduced substantially.”
He affirmed Trump on trade: “I think the American people have been right to resist this religious free trade idea that no matter how bad a competitor cheats you, or if they sell products, China sells products to the United States below cost, closing an American factory, laying off hundreds of American workers, these people, these religious free traders, think we should send them a thank-you note because you can get it a few cents cheaper at Walmart or one of our other stores.”
He also channeled a Trumpian "America First" foreign policy: “And I think we’ve got involved in too many wars that don’t have an end to them, have not served the national interest, and hasn’t even helped the people we thought we were trying to help.”
"Sen. Sessions was an articulate spokesman for Trumpism before Trumpism was cool," said Republican strategist John Feehery. "So it is pretty ironic that the president campaigned so vociferously against him. So, yes, the Trump populists lost an effective voice for their cause."
As the Trump reelection campaign searches for a message to help regain the lead from Democratic challenger Joe Biden, the lessons of 2016 are debated anew. "The same media polls that had the world convinced that Hillary Clinton would be elected in 2016 are trying the same trick again in 2020," said new Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien in a statement Thursday. "It won’t work."
One school of thought is that Trump upset Clinton because he broke with George W. Bush-era Republican orthodoxy on the trio of issues Sessions mentioned, widening the party’s electoral coalition to include the Rust Belt with his populist, nationalist variant of conservatism. The kind of blue-collar voter who might worry about his or her job at a factory crossed over and voted for Trump in states that hadn’t gone for a GOP presidential nominee since the Reagan Democrats of the 1980s.
“If he gets on message and stays on it, stays on those principle positions, I think he’ll be in a position to come back and win this election,” Sessions said of 2020.
The other theory is that Trump won because he is rich and famous. This, combined with his brash reality TV star persona, helped him outshine a crowded field of 16 other Republicans and then edge out an equally polarizing Democratic opponent. The pandemic, economic downturn, and civil unrest may make it difficult to win based on his personal brand a second time.
The last two years have not been kind to populists inside Trump's orbit, especially since former chief strategist Steve Bannon's departure from the White House, and only a relatively small number of lawmakers such as Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida have tried to claim the mantle. Ending "endless wars" and "bad trade deals" have competed with criminal justice reform for the Trump campaign's attention.
"Sessions carried the torch of populism on subjects like immigration and trade for decades before Trump. Over the last few years, he even warmed up to having populist opinions on foreign policy and economics. His voice would have been badly needed in the Senate," said Ryan Girdusky, author of They’re Not Listening: How the Elites Created the Nationalist Populist Revolution. "While nationalists and populists should respect his legacy and value his voice, his loss is not the end of the movement. To quote Yoda, 'there is another.'"
Whether that translates into another Trump term remains to be seen.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-17--Biden liberal climate policies feared by unions in Pennsylvania

Jim Cassidy , business manager of the Insulators Local No .
2 union just outside Pittsburgh , knows Joe Biden as a friend of labor .
He keeps a photo of himself with Biden in his office from when the former vice president visited Aliquippa , Pennsylvania , in 2018 to campaign for then-U.S. House candidate Conor Lamb , a centrist Democrat .
It ’ s a visual reminder of Biden ’ s longtime support for unionized workers who build things .
But Cassidy , 55 , is torn over whether Biden the Democratic presidential nominee would be an enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he represents , workers who install insulation material on piping and boilers in natural gas plants .
“ Joe Biden is really one of us .
I always loved the man , ” said Cassidy , a registered Democrat .
“ He scares me now .
Is he embracing the new Green Deal or whatever they are calling it ?
He needs to get some stuff straight.
” Cassidy said he will vote for Biden , trusting Biden will “ come around ” to recognize how the natural gas fracking boom over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in western and northeastern Pennsylvania , replacing the fading coal and steel industries .
But Cassidy ’ s concerns are shared by leaders of other building trade unions based in these closely watched regions of Pennsylvania , a key swing state .
“ I am completely shocked and stunned about the language coming from Joe Biden , allegedly a union guy , ” said Jim Snell , business agent for Steamfitters Local 420 in southeastern Pennsylvania , whose 4,600 members install piping systems in oil refineries , natural gas plants , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has kicked the building trades to the curb , and they are all in with the environment groups.
” In a series of conversations with the Washington Examiner over recent weeks , the union officials , all registered Democrats , expressed alarm at Biden ’ s shift to the left on energy policy while giving him some benefit of the doubt that they would not grant to more liberal candidates such as Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren , who pledged to ban fracking during the campaign .
Biden has promised to end new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only 13 % of natural gas was produced in 2017 .
But he has struggled to overcome a gaffe during a pointed exchange with Sanders in a March debate , in which Biden declared “ no new fracking.
” “ With Biden , there is some level of thought that he is saying certain things because it 's a line you need to walk at this point to get elected .
There are folks giving him that leeway , ” said Jeff Nobers , executive director of the Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction trades .
Biden , seeking to energize young and liberal voters , is doubling down on an agenda to build a clean energy economy of the future that transitions away from fossil fuels , viewing the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to respond to climate change .
Up by double digits in recent polls of Pennsylvania , Biden is not only speaking to constituencies such as the affluent , educated Philadelphia suburbs that helped spark a blue wave against President Trump in the 2018 midterms and 2019 local elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off some white residents in blue-collar union counties around Pittsburgh who once voted Democratic but defected to Trump over Hillary Clinton , delivering the state to Trump by less than 1 percentage point in 2016 .
He ’ s playing up his local roots , visiting his childhood home in Scranton , Pennsylvania , this month and positioning union workers as beneficiaries of his revamped climate change agenda he unveiled this week that he said would spur millions of new jobs building wind turbines , energy-efficient homes and buildings , railroad lines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union ” appears 32 times in the climate plan , with Biden pledging to spend $ 2 trillion on clean energy initiatives over four years in order to eliminate carbon from power plants by 2035 as part of a `` once-in-a-century opportunity to jolt new life into our economy.
” Former Rep. Ryan Costello , a centrist who represented the Philadelphia suburbs until 2018 , said that Biden could win Pennsylvania “ convincingly ” if he can persuade some union voters who voted for Trump .
“ Building trade voters have replaced suburban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Costello said .
“ I can tell you how suburban women voters are voting .
I ca n't tell you how building trader voters are .
He does n't need all those votes back .
He just needs to make sure Trump has to compete for them still.
” Shawn Steffe , business agent for Boilermakers Local 154 in Pittsburgh , is not buying Biden ’ s outreach and is distrustful about promises by Democrats to help workers in high-paying fossil fuel jobs transition to new ones in clean energy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s association with Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , who collaborated with Biden on a joint policy task .
“ Biden needs to steer his car out of the far-left ditch back to the middle if he wants us to support him , ” Steffe said .
“ It 's not happening .
I do n't see my members voting for someone who will take away their jobs and pensions over something that has a lot of half-truths to it.
” Steffe , a 53-year-old “ lifelong Democrat , ” voted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s adherence to a Republican economic agenda that he acknowledges is broadly unfriendly to organized labor .
The more than 1,500 active members of his union install , maintain , and repair boilers in coal and natural gas plants , refineries , steel mills , and petrochemical plants , but none in the wind and solar industry , which he says is not prominent in western Pennsylvania .
“ If I do n't have a job , it does n't matter what I fight for on the union end with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If I do n't have a job , I do n't have a seat at the table.
” Steffe ’ s skepticism of clean energy jobs mirrors concerns by the lobbying group American Petroleum Institute , which argues the renewable sector largely lacks union representation and that oil and gas jobs pay more .
Pennsylvania hosted more than 90,000 clean energy jobs in 2019 , covering wind , solar , energy efficiency , according to the group Environmental Entrepreneurs , but API says the oil and gas industry supports more than 350,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a 50-year-old from the Philadelphia suburbs who started working for the steamfitters out of high school , admits renewable energy is gaining ground on natural gas , a fossil fuel cleaner than coal that provided 38 % of U.S. electricity in 2019 .
But he worries policies to transition off fossil fuels too fast will hamstring steel plants and other large manufacturers in Pennsylvania that rely on “ baseload ” power .
“ I am no dummy .
I see what is coming down the pike with renewables .
But you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Snell said .
“ The industry might be a little ugly sometimes , but it 's needed . ''
Darrin Kelly , a firefighter and president of the Allegheny County Labor Council , faults fellow union leaders for ignoring Trump ’ s “ damaging ” agenda toward unions .
He blames Trump for overseeing declining workplace inspections by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration , implementing tax cuts that have benefited large corporations , and giving contradictory positions on minimum wage laws .
Kelly ’ s union represents a broader and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pittsburgh and its immediate suburbs , including firefighters , service workers , government employees , and some oil and gas workers .
Kelly , 44 , backed Clinton , who won Allegheny County , and plans to vote for Biden , whom he credited with including unions in his clean energy plans and promoting new opportunities for fossil fuel workers in jobs such as plugging abandoned oil and gas wells .
“ I will say this with complete certainty — no one has worked harder for the American worker than Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is clearly mentioning protecting the workers in these sectors is evidence he wants to make sure they have a future .
“ Kelly is not alone .
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and United Auto Workers are among the unions that have endorsed both Biden and his new climate plan , with the former saying the Biden clean energy agenda would create jobs in sectors such as construction , utility , telecommunications , manufacturing , and railroad .
Trump has not delivered on campaign promises to revive the coal industry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an economic-driven shift to cheaper and cleaner natural gas and renewables .
But he has never stopped speaking to fossil fuel workers , promoting oil and gas as part of an “ energy dominance agenda ” enabled by easing of permitting rules .
“ Within this region , the perception is Donald Trump is a supporter of this industry and Joe Biden is not , ” said Jim Kunz , business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Local 66 , covering Pittsburgh , representing nearly 8,000 workers operating cranes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power plants .
Kunz , a 65-year-old “ lifelong Democrat , ” won ’ t be voting for Trump , though , like he did in 2016 .
He faults the president for incorrectly taking credit for the development of a $ 6 billion petrochemical plant in western Pennsylvania , known by locals as “ the cracker , ” that will convert ethane , a natural gas byproduct , into polyethylene , a form of plastic .
Project developer Shell approved the petrochemical plant in the Obama administration .
“ The president talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done absolutely nothing to create additional employment in western Pennsylvania , ” Kunz said .
But Kunz said he won ’ t vote for Biden either , arguing he is “ going down the same road ” as Clinton , whom unions criticized for saying she would put coal miners and companies “ out of business.
” Biden has been less explicit about banning particular fossil fuels and is even promising to invest in carbon capture , a technology that can capture emissions of coal and gas plants that has not been widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perceptions of Biden among building trade workers are baked in , amplified by local television ads from Trump misleadingly accusing Biden of wanting to ban fracking .
“ The average working person does n't read every newspaper or be a political junkie , ” Kunz said .
“ They get everything in 30-second sound bites .
Right now , his 30-second sound bites are not very good.
” “ I do n't know if that 's a perception that will be easy to change , ” Kunz added .
“ It 's about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on reality .
”

Jim Cassidy, business manager of the Insulators Local No. 2 union just outside Pittsburgh, knows Joe Biden as a friend of labor.
He keeps a photo of himself with Biden in his office from when the former vice president visited Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, in 2018 to campaign for then-U.S. House candidate Conor Lamb, a centrist Democrat.
It’s a visual reminder of Biden’s longtime support for unionized workers who build things.
But Cassidy, 55, is torn over whether Biden the Democratic presidential nominee would be an enemy of the fossil fuel industry whose workers he represents, workers who install insulation material on piping and boilers in natural gas plants.
“Joe Biden is really one of us. I always loved the man,” said Cassidy, a registered Democrat. “He scares me now. Is he embracing the new Green Deal or whatever they are calling it? He needs to get some stuff straight.”
Cassidy said he will vote for Biden, trusting Biden will “come around” to recognize how the natural gas fracking boom over the past decade has been a “godsend” in western and northeastern Pennsylvania, replacing the fading coal and steel industries.
But Cassidy’s concerns are shared by leaders of other building trade unions based in these closely watched regions of Pennsylvania, a key swing state.
“I am completely shocked and stunned about the language coming from Joe Biden, allegedly a union guy,” said Jim Snell, business agent for Steamfitters Local 420 in southeastern Pennsylvania, whose 4,600 members install piping systems in oil refineries, natural gas plants, and infrastructure projects. “The Democratic Party has kicked the building trades to the curb, and they are all in with the environment groups.”
Biden moves left
In a series of conversations with the Washington Examiner over recent weeks, the union officials, all registered Democrats, expressed alarm at Biden’s shift to the left on energy policy while giving him some benefit of the doubt that they would not grant to more liberal candidates such as Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren, who pledged to ban fracking during the campaign.
Biden has promised to end new fracking leases on federal lands, where only 13% of natural gas was produced in 2017. But he has struggled to overcome a gaffe during an exchange with Sanders in a March debate, in which Biden declared “no new fracking.”
“With Biden, there is some level of thought that he is saying certain things because it's a line you need to walk at this point to get elected. There are folks giving him that leeway,” said Jeff Nobers, executive director of the Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania, representing 60,000 workers and contractors in construction trades.
Biden, seeking to energize young and liberal voters, is doubling down on an agenda to build a clean energy economy of the future that transitions away from fossil fuels, viewing the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to respond to climate change.
Up by double digits in recent polls of Pennsylvania, Biden is not only speaking to constituencies such as the affluent, educated Philadelphia suburbs that helped spark a blue wave against President Trump in the 2018 midterms and 2019 local elections.
[Related: Biden lurch left on climate risks alienating moderates]
Keeping unions in mind
Biden is betting he can peel off some white residents in blue-collar union counties around Pittsburgh who once voted Democratic but defected to Trump over Hillary Clinton, delivering the state to Trump by less than 1 percentage point in 2016.
He’s playing up his local roots, visiting his childhood home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, this month and positioning union workers as beneficiaries of his revamped climate change agenda he unveiled this week that he said would spur millions of new jobs building wind turbines, energy-efficient homes and buildings, railroad lines, and electric vehicles.
The word “union” appears 32 times in the climate plan, with Biden pledging to spend $2 trillion on clean energy initiatives over four years in order to eliminate carbon from power plants by 2035 as part of a "once-in-a-century opportunity to jolt new life into our economy.”
Former Rep. Ryan Costello, a centrist who represented the Philadelphia suburbs until 2018, said that Biden could win Pennsylvania “convincingly” if he can persuade some union voters who voted for Trump.
“Building trade voters have replaced suburban women as Pennsylvania’s swing voters,” Costello said. “I can tell you how suburban women voters are voting. I can't tell you how building trader voters are. He doesn't need all those votes back. He just needs to make sure Trump has to compete for them still.”
Skeptics of Biden’s ‘half-truths’
Shawn Steffe, business agent for Boilermakers Local 154 in Pittsburgh, is not buying Biden’s outreach and is distrustful about promises by Democrats to help workers in high-paying fossil fuel jobs transition to new ones in clean energy. Steffe said he’s noticed Biden’s association with Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who collaborated with Biden on a joint policy task.
“Biden needs to steer his car out of the far-left ditch back to the middle if he wants us to support him,” Steffe said. “It's not happening. I don't see my members voting for someone who will take away their jobs and pensions over something that has a lot of half-truths to it.”
Steffe, a 53-year-old “lifelong Democrat,” voted for Trump and intends to again, overlooking the president’s adherence to a Republican economic agenda that he acknowledges is broadly unfriendly to organized labor.
The more than 1,500 active members of his union install, maintain, and repair boilers in coal and natural gas plants, refineries, steel mills, and petrochemical plants, but none in the wind and solar industry, which he says is not prominent in western Pennsylvania.
“If I don't have a job, it doesn't matter what I fight for on the union end with collective bargaining,” Steffe said. "If I don't have a job, I don't have a seat at the table.”
Steffe’s skepticism of clean energy jobs mirrors concerns by the lobbying group American Petroleum Institute, which argues the renewable sector largely lacks union representation and that oil and gas jobs pay more.
Pennsylvania hosted more than 90,000 clean energy jobs in 2019, covering wind, solar, energy efficiency, according to the group Environmental Entrepreneurs, but API says the oil and gas industry supports more than 350,000 related jobs in the state.
Snell, a 50-year-old from the Philadelphia suburbs who started working for the steamfitters out of high school, admits renewable energy is gaining ground on natural gas, a fossil fuel cleaner than coal that provided 38% of U.S. electricity in 2019.
But he worries policies to transition off fossil fuels too fast will hamstring steel plants and other large manufacturers in Pennsylvania that rely on “baseload” power.
“I am no dummy. I see what is coming down the pike with renewables. But you have to have that bridge natural gas has,” Snell said. “The industry might be a little ugly sometimes, but it's needed."
Biden’s trust factor
Darrin Kelly, a firefighter and president of the Allegheny County Labor Council, likes to remind fellow union leaders of Trump’s “damaging” agenda toward them. He blames Trump for overseeing declining workplace inspections by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, implementing tax cuts that have benefited large corporations, and giving contradictory positions on minimum wage laws.
Kelly’s union represents a broader and larger swath of nearly 100,000 workers across Pittsburgh and its immediate suburbs, including firefighters, service workers, government employees, and some oil and gas workers.
Kelly, 44, backed Clinton, who won Allegheny County, and plans to vote for Biden, whom he credited with including unions in his clean energy plans and promoting new opportunities for fossil fuel workers in jobs such as plugging abandoned oil and gas wells.
“I will say this with complete certainty — no one has worked harder for the American worker than Joe Biden,” Kelly said. “The fact he is clearly mentioning protecting the workers in these sectors is evidence he wants to make sure they have a future. “
Kelly is not alone.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and United Auto Workers are among the unions that have endorsed both Biden and his new climate plan, with the former saying the Biden clean energy agenda would create jobs in sectors such as construction, utility, telecommunications, manufacturing, and railroad.
Mixed reviews for Trump
Trump has not delivered on campaign promises to revive the coal industry, union leaders acknowledge, unable to stop an economic-driven shift to cheaper and cleaner natural gas and renewables. But he has never stopped speaking to fossil fuel workers, promoting oil and gas as part of an “energy dominance agenda” enabled by easing of permitting rules.
“Within this region, the perception is Donald Trump is a supporter of this industry and Joe Biden is not,” said Jim Kunz, business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Local 66, covering Pittsburgh, representing nearly 8,000 workers operating cranes, backhoes, and bulldozers building pipelines and power plants.
Kunz, a 65-year-old “lifelong Democrat,” won’t be voting for Trump, though.
He faults the president for incorrectly taking credit for the development of a $6 billion petrochemical plant in western Pennsylvania, known by locals as “the cracker,” that will convert ethane, a natural gas byproduct, into polyethylene, a form of plastic.
Project developer Shell approved the petrochemical plant in the Obama administration.
“The president talked the great fight, but he has done absolutely nothing to create additional employment in western Pennsylvania,” Kunz said.
Perception beats reality
But Kunz said he won’t vote for Biden either, arguing he is “going down the same road” as Clinton, whom unions criticized for saying she would put coal miners and companies “out of business.”
Biden has been less explicit about banning particular fossil fuels and is even promising to invest in carbon capture, a technology that can capture emissions of coal and gas plants that has not been widely scaled.
Kunz, however, fears perceptions of Biden among building trade workers are baked in, amplified by local television ads from Trump misleadingly accusing Biden of wanting to ban fracking.
“The average working person doesn't read every newspaper or be a political junkie,” Kunz said. “They get everything in 30-second sound bites. Right now, his 30-second sound bites are not very good.”
“I don't know if that's a perception that will be easy to change,” Kunz added. “It's about perception. The world doesn't work on reality.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-17--Democratic Party tells members of Congress not to attend convention in person

Officials in the Democratic Party are instructing members of Congress and party delegates to forgo the national convention this summer because of the threat of the coronavirus .
In an email sent to congressional aides on Thursday , senior adviser to the convention committee Chasseny Lewis said party leaders had made the `` hard decision '' to shutter any plan of holding the convention in person .
“ We have been working closely with state and local public health officials , as well epidemiologists , and have come to the hard decision that members of Congress should not plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ No delegates will travel to Milwaukee , and Caucus and Council meetings will take place virtually.
” Communications director for the convention committee Katie Peters echoed Lewis 's email and said that party leaders should expect nearly all events to take place virtually .
“ Ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved with the 2020 Democratic National Convention drives every decision we make , ” said Peters .
“ This communication reiterates our guidance from several weeks ago that all members of state delegations — including elected leaders — should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The decision is a reminder of how the coronavirus has effected the 2020 race and offers a stark contrast to Republican officials who are attempting to hold an in-person convention in Florida .

Officials in the Democratic Party are instructing members of Congress and party delegates to forgo the national convention this summer because of the threat of the coronavirus.
In an email sent to congressional aides on Thursday, senior adviser to the convention committee Chasseny Lewis said party leaders had made the "hard decision" to shutter any plan of holding the convention in person.
“We have been working closely with state and local public health officials, as well epidemiologists, and have come to the hard decision that members of Congress should not plan to travel to Milwaukee,” Lewis said. “No delegates will travel to Milwaukee, and Caucus and Council meetings will take place virtually.”
Communications director for the convention committee Katie Peters echoed Lewis's email and said that party leaders should expect nearly all events to take place virtually.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved with the 2020 Democratic National Convention drives every decision we make,” said Peters. “This communication reiterates our guidance from several weeks ago that all members of state delegations — including elected leaders — should plan to conduct their official business remotely.”
The decision is a reminder of how the coronavirus has effected the 2020 race and offers a stark contrast to Republican officials who are attempting to hold an in-person convention in Florida.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-18--Biden receiving intelligence briefings as presumptive Democratic nominee

Former Vice President Joe Biden has started receiving intelligence briefings as the Democratic presidential nominee .
Biden , 77 , revealed the development during a campaign fundraiser on Friday night , according to a pool report .
“ We know from before , and I guarantee you I know now because now , I get briefings again , '' he said .
`` The Russians are still engaged in trying to delegitimize our electoral process .
Fact.
” “ China and others are engaged as well in activities that are designed for us to lose confidence in the outcome , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Biden first started receiving intelligence briefings , but he said on June 30 that he had n't been getting them at that point .
“ As this proceeds , I very well may ” request a briefing , Biden told reporters at a news conference that day , according to Politico .
Biden currently has a commanding lead in the polls against President Trump , whose campaign just went through a significant shake-up .
The national conventions for both parties , which were delayed because of the coronavirus , are set to @ @ @ @ @

Former Vice President Joe Biden has started receiving intelligence briefings as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Biden, 77, revealed the development during a campaign fundraiser on Friday night, according to a pool report.
“We know from before, and I guarantee you I know now because now, I get briefings again," he said. "The Russians are still engaged in trying to delegitimize our electoral process. Fact.”
“China and others are engaged as well in activities that are designed for us to lose confidence in the outcome," Biden added.
It's unclear when Biden first started receiving intelligence briefings, but he said on June 30 that he hadn't been getting them at that point.
“As this proceeds, I very well may” request a briefing, Biden told reporters at a news conference that day, according to Politico.
Biden currently has a commanding lead in the polls against President Trump, whose campaign just went through a significant shake-up.
The national conventions for both parties, which were delayed because of the coronavirus, are set to take place in August.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-18--'Pigs are highly intelligent': Biden staffer rushes to delete anti-police posts after Fox News reach

'Pigs are highly intelligent': Biden staffer rushes to delete anti-police posts after Fox News reaches out

A staffer for Joe Biden 's presidential campaign quickly deleted anti-law enforcement commentary on social media after Fox News inquired about the posts .
Sara Pearl , who describes herself as a supervising producer for the Biden campaign , repeatedly derided law enforcement in recent weeks amid calls for police departments to be defunded .
In one post from June , Pearl urged others not to call police officers `` pigs , '' a label commonly used to deride law enforcement , because “ pigs are highly intelligent and empathetic animals who would never racially profile you.
” She also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labeled cops as `` monsters , '' who `` do n't deserve to be called pigs . ''
Pearl , who deleted the tweets after Fox News inquired about them , also promoted the idea that police departments should be defunded , which is a sentiment not shared by Biden .
The Trump campaign took a shot at Biden for Pearl 's commentary .
“ Joe Biden can ’ t hide from the fact the radical left-wing party he leads has such visceral hatred of the police , the men and women who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day to protect our communities .
At a time when police officers are under increasingly violent attack , Joe Biden has allowed a sickening anti-police culture to pervade his campaign .
He sits silently and says nothing as police are viciously assaulted by left-wing mobs , '' Bob Paduchik , the Trump campaign 's senior adviser for law enforcement and labor unions , said in a statement .
The former vice president explicitly said he does n't support defunding the police in an interview with CBS last month , instead stressing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding to make certain “ they meet certain basic standards of decency , honorableness , and , in fact , are able to demonstrate they can protect the community , everybody in the community .
”

A staffer for Joe Biden's presidential campaign quickly deleted anti-law enforcement commentary on social media after Fox News inquired about the posts.
Sara Pearl, who describes herself as a supervising producer for the Biden campaign, repeatedly derided law enforcement in recent weeks amid calls for police departments to be defunded.
In one post from June, Pearl urged others not to call police officers "pigs," a label commonly used to deride law enforcement, because “pigs are highly intelligent and empathetic animals who would never racially profile you.” She also retweeted a comment to that post that labeled cops as "monsters," who "don't deserve to be called pigs."
Pearl, who deleted the tweets after Fox News inquired about them, also promoted the idea that police departments should be defunded, which is a sentiment not shared by Biden.
The Trump campaign took a shot at Biden for Pearl's commentary.
“Joe Biden can’t hide from the fact the radical left-wing party he leads has such visceral hatred of the police, the men and women who bravely put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. At a time when police officers are under increasingly violent attack, Joe Biden has allowed a sickening anti-police culture to pervade his campaign. He sits silently and says nothing as police are viciously assaulted by left-wing mobs," Bob Paduchik, the Trump campaign's senior adviser for law enforcement and labor unions, said in a statement.
The former vice president explicitly said he doesn't support defunding the police in an interview with CBS last month, instead stressing that he backs the idea of tying federal funding to make certain “they meet certain basic standards of decency, honorableness, and, in fact, are able to demonstrate they can protect the community, everybody in the community.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-17--Elizabeth Warren and the GOP got in a tiff about her dog plotting voter fraud

Elizabeth Warren 's dog Bailey : Good boy or fluffy front for an illegal ballot ?
The Massachusetts senator responded to criticism from the Republican National Committee that she was not taking voter fraud seriously when she joked that her dog Bailey intended to vote for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
“ Bailey , were you really going to try to vote unlawfully ?
” Warren asked her golden retriever Friday for an Instagram post .
The senator 's video was a response to a dig Thursday by RNC spokesman Steve Guest .
During a Biden campaign event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Warren joked that Bailey was `` definitely going to vote in November . ''
`` And he 's voting Democrat all the way .
Bailey for Biden , '' she said .
`` Elizabeth Warren endorses voter fraud , says her dog will be voting Democrat , '' he tweeted .
`` Voter fraud is not a joking matter . ''
The Republican operative was n't phased by Warren 's response .
He pointed to news from earlier this month about an Atlanta family receiving a voter registration application in the mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cody Tims .
`` You 'd think a DOG would care about a DEAD CAT getting voter registration , '' Guest told the Washington Examiner .
In the wake of the coronavirus causing concerns about voter safety in November , Democrats have pushed for an increase in vote-by-mail and no-excuse absentee ballots , including automatically sending all voters a ballot application .
Republicans and President Trump warn that the rapid increase in these systems is ripe for fraud and that states are not equipped to handle a large influx of mail ballots , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems work imperfectly or illegally .

Elizabeth Warren's dog Bailey: Good boy or fluffy front for an illegal ballot?
The Massachusetts senator responded to criticism from the Republican National Committee that she was not taking voter fraud seriously when she joked that her dog Bailey intended to vote for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
“Bailey, were you really going to try to vote unlawfully?” Warren asked her golden retriever Friday for an Instagram post.
The senator's video was a response to a dig Thursday by RNC spokesman Steve Guest.
During a Biden campaign event marking 110 days until the general election, Warren joked that Bailey was "definitely going to vote in November."
"And he's voting Democrat all the way. Bailey for Biden," she said.
Guest quipped back.
"Elizabeth Warren endorses voter fraud, says her dog will be voting Democrat," he tweeted. "Voter fraud is not a joking matter."
Elizabeth Warren endorses voter fraud, says her dog will be voting Democrat.
"Bailey is definitely going to vote in November and he's voting Democrat all the way. Bailey for Biden."
Voter fraud is not a joking matter. pic.twitter.com/QNqhXgfpUK — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) July 16, 2020
The Republican operative wasn't phased by Warren's response. He pointed to news from earlier this month about an Atlanta family receiving a voter registration application in the mail addressed to their deceased pet cat named Cody Tims.
"You'd think a DOG would care about a DEAD CAT getting voter registration," Guest told the Washington Examiner.
In the wake of the coronavirus causing concerns about voter safety in November, Democrats have pushed for an increase in vote-by-mail and no-excuse absentee ballots, including automatically sending all voters a ballot application. Republicans and President Trump warn that the rapid increase in these systems is ripe for fraud and that states are not equipped to handle a large influx of mail ballots, and they point out instances where the systems work imperfectly or illegally.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-17--Biden's liberal climate policies feared by unions in Pennsylvania

Jim Cassidy , business manager of the Insulators Local No .
2 union just outside Pittsburgh , knows Joe Biden as a friend of labor .
He keeps a photo of himself with Biden in his office from when the former vice president visited Aliquippa , Pennsylvania , in 2018 to campaign for then-U.S. House candidate Conor Lamb , a centrist Democrat .
It ’ s a visual reminder of Biden ’ s longtime support for unionized workers who build things .
But Cassidy , 55 , is torn over whether Biden the Democratic presidential nominee would be an enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he represents , workers who install insulation material on piping and boilers in natural gas plants .
“ Joe Biden is really one of us .
I always loved the man , ” said Cassidy , a registered Democrat .
“ He scares me now .
Is he embracing the new Green Deal or whatever they are calling it ?
He needs to get some stuff straight.
” Cassidy said he will vote for Biden , trusting Biden will “ come around ” to recognize how the natural gas fracking boom over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in western and northeastern Pennsylvania , replacing the fading coal and steel industries .
But Cassidy ’ s concerns are shared by leaders of other building trade unions based in these closely watched regions of Pennsylvania , a key swing state .
“ I am completely shocked and stunned about the language coming from Joe Biden , allegedly a union guy , ” said Jim Snell , business agent for Steamfitters Local 420 in southeastern Pennsylvania , whose 4,600 members install piping systems in oil refineries , natural gas plants , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has kicked the building trades to the curb , and they are all in with the environment groups.
” In a series of conversations with the Washington Examiner over recent weeks , the union officials , all registered Democrats , expressed alarm at Biden ’ s shift to the left on energy policy while giving him some benefit of the doubt that they would not grant to more liberal candidates such as Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren , who pledged to ban fracking during the campaign .
Biden has promised to end new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only 13 % of natural gas was produced in 2017 .
But he has struggled to overcome a gaffe during an exchange with Sanders in a March debate , in which Biden declared “ no new fracking.
” “ With Biden , there is some level of thought that he is saying certain things because it 's a line you need to walk at this point to get elected .
There are folks giving him that leeway , ” said Jeff Nobers , executive director of the Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trades .
Biden , seeking to energize young and liberal voters , is doubling down on an agenda to build a clean energy economy of the future that transitions away from fossil fuels , viewing the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to respond to climate change .
Up by double digits in recent polls of Pennsylvania , Biden is not only speaking to constituencies such as the affluent , educated Philadelphia suburbs that helped spark a blue wave against President Trump in the 2018 midterms and 2019 local elections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some white residents in blue-collar union counties around Pittsburgh who once voted Democratic but defected to Trump over Hillary Clinton , delivering the state to Trump by less than 1 percentage point in 2016 .
He ’ s playing up his local roots , visiting his childhood home in Scranton , Pennsylvania , this month and positioning union workers as beneficiaries of his revamped climate change agenda he unveiled this week that he said would spur millions of new jobs building wind turbines , energy-efficient homes and buildings , railroad lines , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” appears 32 times in the climate plan , with Biden pledging to spend $ 2 trillion on clean energy initiatives over four years in order to eliminate carbon from power plants by 2035 as part of a `` once-in-a-century opportunity to jolt new life into our economy.
” Former Rep. Ryan Costello , a centrist who represented the Philadelphia suburbs until 2018 , said that Biden could win Pennsylvania “ convincingly ” if he can persuade some union voters who voted for Trump .
“ Building trade voters have replaced suburban women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Costello said .
“ I can tell you how suburban women voters are voting .
I ca n't tell you how building trader voters are .
He does n't need all those votes back .
He just needs to make sure Trump has to compete for them still.
” Shawn Steffe , business agent for Boilermakers Local 154 in Pittsburgh , is not buying Biden ’ s outreach and is distrustful about promises by Democrats to help workers in high-paying fossil fuel jobs transition to new ones in clean energy .
Steffe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s association with Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , who collaborated with Biden on a joint policy task .
“ Biden needs to steer his car out of the far-left ditch back to the middle if he wants us to support him , ” Steffe said .
“ It 's not happening .
I do n't see my members voting for someone who will take away their jobs and pensions over something that has a lot of half-truths to it.
” Steffe , a 53-year-old “ lifelong Democrat , ” voted for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s adherence to a Republican economic agenda that he acknowledges is broadly unfriendly to organized labor .
The more than 1,500 active members of his union install , maintain , and repair boilers in coal and natural gas plants , refineries , steel mills , and petrochemical plants , but none in the wind and solar industry , which he says is not prominent in western Pennsylvania .
“ If I do n't have a job , it does n't matter what I fight for on the union end with collective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If I do n't have a job , I do n't have a seat at the table.
” Steffe ’ s skepticism of clean energy jobs mirrors concerns by the lobbying group American Petroleum Institute , which argues the renewable sector largely lacks union representation and that oil and gas jobs pay more .
Pennsylvania hosted more than 90,000 clean energy jobs in 2019 , covering wind , solar , energy efficiency , according to the group Environmental Entrepreneurs , but API says the oil and gas industry supports more than 350,000 related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 50-year-old from the Philadelphia suburbs who started working for the steamfitters out of high school , admits renewable energy is gaining ground on natural gas , a fossil fuel cleaner than coal that provided 38 % of U.S. electricity in 2019 .
But he worries policies to transition off fossil fuels too fast will hamstring steel plants and other large manufacturers in Pennsylvania that rely on “ baseload ” power .
“ I am no dummy .
I see what is coming down the pike with renewables .
But you have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Snell said .
“ The industry might be a little ugly sometimes , but it 's needed . ''
Darrin Kelly , a firefighter and president of the Allegheny County Labor Council , likes to remind fellow union leaders of Trump ’ s “ damaging ” agenda toward them .
He blames Trump for overseeing declining workplace inspections by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration , implementing tax cuts that have benefited large corporations , and giving contradictory positions on minimum wage laws .
Kelly ’ s union represents a broader and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pittsburgh and its immediate suburbs , including firefighters , service workers , government employees , and some oil and gas workers .
Kelly , 44 , backed Clinton , who won Allegheny County , and plans to vote for Biden , whom he credited with including unions in his clean energy plans and promoting new opportunities for fossil fuel workers in jobs such as plugging abandoned oil and gas wells .
“ I will say this with complete certainty — no one has worked harder for the American worker than Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is clearly mentioning protecting the workers in these sectors is evidence he wants to make sure they have a future .
“ Kelly is not alone .
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and United Auto Workers are among the unions that have endorsed both Biden and his new climate plan , with the former saying the Biden clean energy agenda would create jobs in sectors such as construction , utility , telecommunications , manufacturing , and railroad .
Trump has not delivered on campaign promises to revive the coal industry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an economic-driven shift to cheaper and cleaner natural gas and renewables .
But he has never stopped speaking to fossil fuel workers , promoting oil and gas as part of an “ energy dominance agenda ” enabled by easing of permitting rules .
“ Within this region , the perception is Donald Trump is a supporter of this industry and Joe Biden is not , ” said Jim Kunz , business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Local 66 , covering Pittsburgh , representing nearly 8,000 workers operating cranes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power plants .
Kunz , a 65-year-old “ lifelong Democrat , ” won ’ t be voting for Trump , though , like he did in 2016 .
He faults the president for incorrectly taking credit for the development of a $ 6 billion petrochemical plant in western Pennsylvania , known by locals as “ the cracker , ” that will convert ethane , a natural gas byproduct , into polyethylene , a form of plastic .
Project developer Shell approved the petrochemical plant in the Obama administration .
“ The president talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done absolutely nothing to create additional employment in western Pennsylvania , ” Kunz said .
But Kunz said he won ’ t vote for Biden either , arguing he is “ going down the same road ” as Clinton , whom unions criticized for saying she would put coal miners and companies “ out of business.
” Biden has been less explicit about banning particular fossil fuels and is even promising to invest in carbon capture , a technology that can capture emissions of coal and gas plants that has not been widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perceptions of Biden among building trade workers are baked in , amplified by local television ads from Trump misleadingly accusing Biden of wanting to ban fracking .
“ The average working person does n't read every newspaper or be a political junkie , ” Kunz said .
“ They get everything in 30-second sound bites .
Right now , his 30-second sound bites are not very good.
” “ I do n't know if that 's a perception that will be easy to change , ” Kunz added .
“ It 's about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on reality .
”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-18--Populist Trump 2016 vets say campaign disconnected from GOP base

Bill Stepien 's appointment to lead President Trump 's reelection campaign has stirred objections among allies of the president who view Stepien as an outsider and figure of the establishment insufficiently wed to the America First doctrine .
`` Of course we would rather the 'first-in ' alumni group get preferential treatment in the reelection , '' said one Trump 2016 veteran , speaking about the recent appointment of later 2016 arrivals joining the campaign in senior roles .
Operatives said they expect him to draw in more traditional GOP staffers .
More bluntly , radio host and advisory board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stepien to the sort of Republican more inclined to the work for Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah , the only Republican who voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial this year .
`` Romney 2.0 , or Christie 7.0 , '' Fredericks quipped in a Wednesday night message following Stepien 's appointment .
“ Bill Stepien was the national field director on the 2016 Trump campaign and was responsible for turning out the Republican base to vote for President Trump , '' said Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh .
`` Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintained that contact both in the White House and on the 2020 campaign .
Bill knows the Republican base and knows how to win elections.
” But in the eyes of some dyed-in-the-wool `` Trumpers , '' Stepien is viewed as a consummate insider .
He managed both of Chris Christie ’ s campaigns for governor of New Jersey , was the national field director for Rudy Giuliani and then John McCain 's 2008 presidential bids , and the New Hampshire political director on President George W. Bush 's 2004 campaign .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s son-in-law , Jared Kushner , who they see as a negative influence on Trump ’ s America First policies , pushing such measures as criminal justice reform with the First Step Act or weakening Trump 's immigration efforts .
“ Anyone calling Bill an establishment figure doesn ’ t know what they are talking about , ” Corey Lewandowski , who managed Trump 's 2016 campaign during the primaries and serves as a senior adviser to the 2020 effort , told the Washington Examiner .
“ He ’ s a movement guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitment to this campaign or bonafides , ” Lewandowski said , praising Stepien as “ a phenomenal tactician.
” He added : “ Bill has my 100 % support.
” Fredericks indicated he 'd like to see more of allies like Lewandowski , who speak to the `` deplorables '' who elected Trump in 2016 , playing a significant senior leadership role within the campaign .
“ Corey understands how to reach the base , and he understands how Trump connects with people , probably better than anybody in America other than Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corey knows how to reach the ‘ deplorables.
’ ” Fredericks also praised former deputy campaign manager David Bossie , who he said , `` understands the management of this campaign .
He 's got a track record . ''
“ Does he know the base better than some others ?
No , he doesn ’ t , ” said one Trump World insider of Stepien .
“ If you are going to put him up against Corey Lewandowski — of course not .
But they ’ ve got to get over it.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this person said .
“ The president has transcended beyond the original base of 2016 .
The president trusts him .
More importantly , the president picked him.
” By the time he was appointed Wednesday , replacing Brad Parscale as campaign manager , Stepien had spent over a month taking on increasing responsibilities , said a GOP consultant with ties to the administration .
This stepped up after Trump 's June rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , when the president spoke to a far smaller crowd than the campaign had advertised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parscale 's ouster was initially expected around July 4 , before it was delayed by the efforts of Trump family allies .
“ Don Jr. and Lara Trump like Brad , ” said a GOP consultant with administration ties .
`` Jared wanted him out.
” With Stepien in charge , operatives hope to see measurable changes in how the campaign is run , spanning from ensuring hires are in the correct role to whether they have adequate resources to do their jobs .
“ Stepien understands campaigning , so there are certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go that I think will step up , but the question is , will he lead the messaging or the nuts and bolts ? ''
a GOP consultant said .
`` You need people like Bossie and some of these movement conservatives to really lead the messaging forward.
” Other operatives view messaging as the president 's domain and worry instead about getting out the vote .
“ The bottom line is going to be whether or not the infrastructure that is in place can be bolstered and in time to do course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one operative said .
`` Campaigns are a numbers game , so getting out the vote is the bottom line . ''

Bill Stepien's appointment to lead President Trump's reelection campaign has stirred objections among allies of the president who view Stepien as an outsider and a figure of the establishment insufficiently wed to the America First doctrine.
"Of course, we would rather the 'first-in' alumni group get preferential treatment in the reelection," said one Trump 2016 veteran, speaking about the recent appointment of later 2016 arrivals joining the campaign in senior roles. Operatives said they expect him to draw in more traditional GOP staffers.
More bluntly, radio host and advisory board member of Trump 2020 John Fredericks likened Stepien to the sort of Republican more inclined to the work for Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the only Republican who voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial this year. "Romney 2.0, or Christie 7.0," Fredericks quipped in a Wednesday night message following Stepien's appointment.
“Bill Stepien was the national field director on the 2016 Trump campaign and was responsible for turning out the Republican base to vote for President Trump," said Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh. "Over the last four years, he has maintained that contact both in the White House and on the 2020 campaign. Bill knows the Republican base and knows how to win elections.”
But in the eyes of some dyed-in-the-wool "Trumpers," Stepien is viewed as a consummate insider. He managed both of Chris Christie’s campaigns for governor of New Jersey, was the national field director for Rudy Giuliani and then John McCain's 2008 presidential bids, and the New Hampshire political director on President George W. Bush's 2004 campaign.
And he is close to the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who they see as a negative influence on Trump’s America First policies, pushing such measures as criminal justice reform with the First Step Act or weakening Trump's immigration efforts.
“Anyone calling Bill an establishment figure doesn’t know what they are talking about,” Corey Lewandowski, who managed Trump's 2016 campaign during the primaries and serves as a senior adviser to the 2020 effort, told the Washington Examiner. “He’s a movement guy. There should be nobody questioning his commitment to this campaign or bonafides,” Lewandowski said, praising Stepien as “a phenomenal tactician.” He added: “Bill has my 100% support.”
Fredericks indicated he'd like to see more of allies like Lewandowski, who speak to the "deplorables" who elected Trump in 2016, playing a significant senior leadership role within the campaign.
“Corey understands how to reach the base, and he understands how Trump connects with people, probably better than anybody in America other than Steve Bannon,” Fredericks said. “Corey knows how to reach the ‘deplorables.’”
Fredericks also praised former deputy campaign manager David Bossie, who he said, "understands the management of this campaign. He's got a track record."
“Does he know the base better than some others? No, he doesn’t,” said one Trump World insider of Stepien. “If you are going to put him up against Corey Lewandowski — of course not. But they’ve got to get over it.”
The Trump tent is bigger now, this person said. “The president has transcended beyond the original base of 2016. The president trusts him. More importantly, the president picked him.”
By the time he was appointed Wednesday, replacing Brad Parscale as campaign manager, Stepien had spent over a month taking on increasing responsibilities, said a GOP consultant with ties to the administration.
This stepped up after Trump's June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when the president spoke to a far smaller crowd than the campaign had advertised.
Sources told the Washington Examiner that Parscale's ouster was initially expected around July 4, before it was delayed by the efforts of Trump family allies. “Don Jr. and Lara Trump like Brad,” said a GOP consultant with administration ties. "Jared wanted him out.”
With Stepien in charge, operatives hope to see measurable changes in how the campaign is run, spanning from ensuring hires are in the correct role to whether they have adequate resources to do their jobs.
“Stepien understands campaigning, so there are certain institutional things as far as campaigning will go that I think will step up, but the question is, will he lead the messaging or the nuts and bolts?" a GOP consultant said. "You need people like Bossie and some of these movement conservatives to really lead the messaging forward.”
Other operatives view messaging as the president's domain and worry instead about getting out the vote.
“The bottom line is going to be whether or not the infrastructure that is in place can be bolstered and in time to do course corrections in the swing states,” one operative said.
"Campaigns are a numbers game, so getting out the vote is the bottom line."
Joel Gehrke contributed to this report.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-18--Filings show all but five political donations from CDC employees since 2015 have gone to Democrats

The majority of political contributions made by employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 2015 have gone to Democratic candidates or causes , federal election records show .
Donors who list the CDC as their employer have made more than 8,000 contributions totaling over $ 285,000 to various political campaigns or organizations .
An analysis by the Daily Caller News Foundation found only five contributions were sent to a Republican political action committee or candidate , totaling just over $ 1,000 .
Only three people donated to President Trump 's 2016 campaign .
Since the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the CDC , casting doubt on the data the agency keeps about the outbreak and publicly breaking with guidelines it set forth for reopening schools in the fall .
`` I disagree with @ CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools .
While they want them open , they are asking schools to do very impractical things , '' Trump tweeted on July 8 .
`` I will be meeting with them !
!
! ''
`` In Germany , Denmark , Norway , Sweden and many other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PROBLEMS , '' Trump also said .
`` The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election , but is important for the children & families .
May cut off funding if not open ! ''
Advocates for reopening schools fully for in-person learning five days a week have cited a recent study from the , which lists a number of risks related to keeping students home instead .
`` The importance of in-person learning is well-documented , and there is already evidence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school closures in the spring of 2020 , '' the organization said in recent guidance it issued late last month .
`` Lengthy time away from school and associated interruption of supportive services often results in social isolation , making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse , substance use , depression , and suicidal ideation . ''
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's leading infectious disease doctor , said local governments should adhere to public health guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The basic fundamental goal would be as you possibly can to get the children back to school and use the public health efforts as a tool to help the children get back to school , '' Fauci said during a hearing before Congress on June 30 .
After Trump criticized the CDC guidelines for reopening schools , Dr. Robert Redfield said last week he has no plans to change them .
“ Our guidelines are our guidelines , '' he said .
`` It ’ s really important .
It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s just to provide additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance that we put forward.
” Rep. Bobby Scott , the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee , said the White House is blocking all CDC officials , including Redfield , from testifying before his panel .

The majority of political contributions made by employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 2015 have gone to Democratic candidates or causes, federal election records show.
Donors who list the CDC as their employer have made more than 8,000 contributions totaling over $285,000 to various political campaigns or organizations. An analysis by the Daily Caller News Foundation found only five contributions were sent to a Republican political action committee or candidate, totaling just over $1,000. Only three people donated to President Trump's 2016 campaign.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Trump has been sharply critical of the CDC, casting doubt on the data the agency keeps about the outbreak and publicly breaking with guidelines it set forth for reopening schools in the fall.
"I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things," Trump tweeted on July 8. "I will be meeting with them!!!"
"In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS," Trump also said. "The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!"
Advocates for reopening schools fully for in-person learning five days a week have cited a recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics , which lists a number of risks related to keeping students home instead.
"The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020," the organization said in recent guidance it issued late last month. "Lengthy time away from school and associated interruption of supportive services often results in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease doctor, said local governments should adhere to public health guidelines as they prepare to reopen.
"The basic fundamental goal would be as you possibly can to get the children back to school and use the public health efforts as a tool to help the children get back to school," Fauci said during a hearing before Congress on June 30.
After Trump criticized the CDC guidelines for reopening schools, Dr. Robert Redfield said last week he has no plans to change them.
“Our guidelines are our guidelines," he said. "It’s really important. It’s not a revision of the guidelines. It’s just to provide additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance that we put forward.”
Rep. Bobby Scott, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, said the White House is blocking all CDC officials, including Redfield, from testifying before his panel.