politicususa--2020-07-31--Trump: Testing and High Number of Coronavirus Cases is “A Fake News Weapon”

President Donald Trump slammed House Majority Whip James Clyburn ( D-S.C. ) in a tweet this morning , claiming that a chart the latter posted showing the United States has more coronavirus cases than Europe is “ fake news.
” “ Somebody please tell Congressman Clyburn , who doesn ’ t have a clue , that the chart he put up indicating more CASES for the U.S. than Europe , is because we do MUCH MORE testing than any other country in the World , ” Trump wrote .
” If we had no testing , or bad testing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president added : “ Our massive testing capability , rather than being praised , is used by the Lamestream Media and their partner , the Do Nothing Radical Left Democrats , as a point of scorn.
” He then claimed that “ testing , and what we have so quickly done , is used as a Fake News weapon.
” The president ’ s statements come as a new ABC News/Ipsos poll finds nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Just 34 percent of respondents said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the novel coronavirus pandemic , while 66 percent said they disapprove .
Yesterday , the president came under fire this week for claiming that Florida ’ s coronavirus case numbers are declining even though the number of coronavirus cases in the state are the second-highest in the nation after California .
“ The numbers are coming down and coming down very substantially .
They ’ re starting to come down in Florida , ” he said on a day Florida reported 216 new deaths due to coronavirus ; the following day it @ @ @

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President Donald Trump slammed House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) in a tweet this morning, claiming that a chart the latter posted showing the United States has more coronavirus cases than Europe is “fake news.”
“Somebody please tell Congressman Clyburn, who doesn’t have a clue, that the chart he put up indicating more CASES for the U.S. than Europe, is because we do MUCH MORE testing than any other country in the World,” Trump wrote. ” If we had no testing, or bad testing, we would show very few CASES.”
The president added: “Our massive testing capability, rather than being praised, is used by the Lamestream Media and their partner, the Do Nothing Radical Left Democrats, as a point of scorn.” He then claimed that “testing, and what we have so quickly done, is used as a Fake News weapon.”
Somebody please tell Congressman Clyburn, who doesn’t have a clue, that the chart he put up indicating more CASES for the U.S. than Europe, is because we do MUCH MORE testing than any other country in the World. If we had no testing, or bad testing, we would show very few CASES.. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2020
…..Our massive testing capability, rather than being praised, is used by the Lamestream Media and their partner, the Do Nothing Radical Left Democrats, as a point of scorn. This testing, and what we have so quickly done, is used as a Fake News weapon. Sad! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2020
The president’s statements come as a new ABC News/Ipsos poll finds nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Just 34 percent of respondents said they approve of Trump’s handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic, while 66 percent said they disapprove.
Yesterday, the president came under fire this week for claiming that Florida’s coronavirus case numbers are declining even though the number of coronavirus cases in the state are the second-highest in the nation after California.
“The numbers are coming down and coming down very substantially. They’re starting to come down in Florida,” he said on a day Florida reported 216 new deaths due to coronavirus; the following day it reported 252.


politicususa--2020-07-31--Pelosi Raises Record-Breaking $39.5 Million for Democrats as Election Approaches

Nancy Pelosi had a record-breaking funding haul for the Democrats in the second quarter of 2020 .
The numbers are significant with less than 100 days to go before the election .
The Speaker of the House raised $ 39.5 million in Q2 , with $ 29.3 million going directly to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC ) , which works to get Democrats elected .
Pelosi has been a highly successful fundraiser for the party this year , raising $ 162.9 million to the end of June , 2020 .
Democrats are adding to their war chest as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jorge Aguilar , Executive Director of Nancy Pelosi for Congress explained the importance of the second quarter numbers and took a swipe at President Donald Trump .
“ Speaker Pelosi ’ s outstanding fundraising haul is a direct reflection of the grassroots excitement to Hold the House , take back the Senate and elect Joe Biden as President of the United States , ” Aguilar said in a statement seen by PoliticusUSA .
“ From mishandling the coronavirus crisis to trying to destroy the Americans ’ health care – the people are witnessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressional Republicans have been.
” “ Our country has had enough , ” he said .
The fundraising figures come as the Trump campaign suspends much of its TV , radio and online advertising amid a “ review ” of strategy following the demotion of campaign manager Brad Parscale .
Meanwhile , former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s campaign is pouring money into battleground states Trump won in 2016 and outspending the President in Michigan , where his reelection campaign appears to have no current ad buys .

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Nancy Pelosi had a record-breaking funding haul for the Democrats in the second quarter of 2020. The numbers are significant with less than 100 days to go before the election.
The Speaker of the House raised $39.5 million in Q2, with $29.3 million going directly to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which works to get Democrats elected.
Pelosi has been a highly successful fundraiser for the party this year, raising $162.9 million to the end of June, 2020. Democrats are adding to their war chest as they attempt to keep the House.
Jorge Aguilar, Executive Director of Nancy Pelosi for Congress explained the importance of the second quarter numbers and took a swipe at President Donald Trump.
“Speaker Pelosi’s outstanding fundraising haul is a direct reflection of the grassroots excitement to Hold the House, take back the Senate and elect Joe Biden as President of the United States,” Aguilar said in a statement seen by PoliticusUSA.
“From mishandling the coronavirus crisis to trying to destroy the Americans’ health care – the people are witnessing the colossal failure the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans have been.”
“Our country has had enough,” he said.
The fundraising figures come as the Trump campaign suspends much of its TV, radio and online advertising amid a “review” of strategy following the demotion of campaign manager Brad Parscale.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign is pouring money into battleground states Trump won in 2016 and outspending the President in Michigan, where his reelection campaign appears to have no current ad buys.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-31--Video from 2004 Shows Trump Failing to Vote in Person, Threatening to Use Absentee Ballot

A newly resurfaced video shows Donald Trump repeatedly failing to vote in person , becoming increasingly angry at the situation and finally using an absentee ballot .
The 2004 clip from Access Hollywood shows Trump with host Billy Bush traveling from polling station to polling station where he tries to vote , only to be told he ’ s not on the list .
Trump becomes more and more frustrated at the situation until he eventually says he ’ ll use the absentee ballot .
He was trying to cast his vote in the 2004 elections , which was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m going to fill out the absentee ballot , ” an angry Trump says .
He finally decides to fill out the absentee ballot and then declares his attempt to vote has been a success .
“ At least you can say the Trumpster doesn ’ t give up.
” The video has reemerged as now President Trump rails against mail-in voting , which is fundamentally the same as absentee ballots – something his critics have repeatedly explained to him .
On Thursday , Trump caused a wave of bipartisan criticism by suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in ballots could be made secure .
“ With Universal Mail-In Voting ( not Absentee Voting , which is good ) , 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history .
It will be a great embarrassment to the USA , ” he tweeted .
” Delay the Election until people can properly , securely and safely vote ?
?
?
” All the evidence suggests that mail-in ballots are not subject to mass voter fraud .

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A newly resurfaced video shows Donald Trump repeatedly failing to vote in person, becoming increasingly angry at the situation and finally using an absentee ballot.
The 2004 clip from Access Hollywood shows Trump with host Billy Bush traveling from polling station to polling station where he tries to vote, only to be told he’s not on the list.
Trump becomes more and more frustrated at the situation until he eventually says he’ll use the absentee ballot. He was trying to cast his vote in the 2004 elections, which was a presidential election year.
“I’m going to fill out the absentee ballot,” an angry Trump says.
Watch the video:
He finally decides to fill out the absentee ballot and then declares his attempt to vote has been a success.
“I just voted,” Trump tells Bush.
“At least you can say the Trumpster doesn’t give up.”
The video has reemerged as now President Trump rails against mail-in voting, which is fundamentally the same as absentee ballots – something his critics have repeatedly explained to him.
On Thursday, Trump caused a wave of bipartisan criticism by suggesting the November election should be delayed until mail-in ballots could be made secure.
“With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA,” he tweeted.
” Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”
All the evidence suggests that mail-in ballots are not subject to mass voter fraud.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-31--Trump Administration Didn’t Want National Coronavirus Plan Because Blue States Were Hardest Hit

The Trump administration didn ’ t think a national approach to fighting Coronavirus was needed because the worst affected states were Democratic strongholds , a new report claims .
In an extensive article about President Donald Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner and his handling of the pandemic , Vanity Fair cites an expert who worked with the pandemic team .
“ Most troubling of all , perhaps , was a sentiment the expert said a member of Kushner ’ s team expressed : that because the virus had hit blue states hardest , a national plan was unnecessary and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the article says .
“ The political folks believed that because it was going to be relegated to Democratic states , that they could blame those governors , and that would be an effective political strategy , ” Vanity Fair quotes the expert as saying .
The article goes on : “ That logic may have swayed Kushner .
‘ It was very clear that Jared was ultimately the decision maker as to what [ plan ] was going to come out , ’ the expert said.
” This chimes with other reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to really care about the virus until it was explained to him that the pandemic would affect his supporters .
“ In the past couple of weeks , senior advisers began presenting Trump with maps and data showing spikes in coronavirus cases among ‘ our people ’ in Republican states , a senior administration official said , ” the Washington Post reported this week .
“ They also shared projections predicting that virus surges could soon hit politically important states in the Midwest — including Michigan , Minnesota and Wisconsin , the official @ @ @

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The Trump administration didn’t think a national approach to fighting Coronavirus was needed because the worst affected states were Democratic strongholds, a new report claims.
In an extensive article about President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and his handling of the pandemic, Vanity Fair cites an expert who worked with the pandemic team.
“Most troubling of all, perhaps, was a sentiment the expert said a member of Kushner’s team expressed: that because the virus had hit blue states hardest, a national plan was unnecessary and would not make sense politically,” the article says.
“The political folks believed that because it was going to be relegated to Democratic states, that they could blame those governors, and that would be an effective political strategy,” Vanity Fair quotes the expert as saying.
The article goes on: “That logic may have swayed Kushner. ‘It was very clear that Jared was ultimately the decision maker as to what [plan] was going to come out,’ the expert said.”
This chimes with other reporting that claims Trump didn’t start to really care about the virus until it was explained to him that the pandemic would affect his supporters.
“In the past couple of weeks, senior advisers began presenting Trump with maps and data showing spikes in coronavirus cases among ‘our people’ in Republican states, a senior administration official said,” the Washington Post reported this week.
“They also shared projections predicting that virus surges could soon hit politically important states in the Midwest — including Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the official said.”
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-08-01--Opinion: Has Black Lives Matter Brought Us Closer To The Tipping Point On Class Inequality?

The Black Lives Matter movement , in demanding that we reconsider how Black lives have been valued , or rather de-valued , in U.S. culture , society , and political economy , essentially asks us as well to interrogate our entire system of economic and cultural values .
On what basis do we in our socio-economic system and culture assign different values to people ’ s lives ?
Such a question really brings us to the heart of our class society that we really tend not just to take for granted but to see as absolutely justified .
Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager , or the lawyer make more than the agricultural worker in the field , the grocery store clerk , the bus driver , or the mail carrier .
The U.S. dominant culture doesn ’ t ask us to question this state of affairs , and so most people don ’ t .
Even if we argue over the degree of income inequality , few argue for full and outright economic equality and for an end to this differential valuation .
Our cultural value system tends to justify this differential valuation of work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lives of the workers .
And we know , of course , that often the work of devalued because of who is doing it .
Women and people of color have historically received less pay for the same work white men are doing .
Based on their wages , people have different access to healthcare , to education , to housing—to basic means of survival .
They may have no access at all .
The story we are told is that this arrangement is a meritocracy , so people get what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some lives deserve less—and thus they matter less .
We also like to say in our culture that “ we , ” or “ people , ” aren ’ t making these decisions , but rather an indifferent market is determining the economic value of work—and hence the human value of workers ’ lives .
But it really isn ’ t the market .
Gains in benefits and pay and improvements in working conditions have historically been the result of the collective organizing and protest of workers , often far more violent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are witnessing today .
Maybe you ’ ve seen the bumper sticker : “ The Weekend : Brought to You by the Labor Movement.
” This is why we see wages and benefits are invariably lower for non-unionized workers and why the right wing continues to undermine the power of labor unions .
The market isn ’ t determining the value of people ’ s lives ; people through brute political will and force are .
We see “ essential workers ” these days–upon whom , it should now be crystal clear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and survival—being effectively forced to work , and this recognition in our culture of their “ essential value ” has not translated into an elevation in their economic value , in the mattering of their lives as registered in the resources , the money , they have to take care of their lives .
The police murder of George Floyd , just one in a long string of murders of African Americans at the hands of police for which there had been little to no accountability , constituted a tipping point , triggering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Enough.
” What America on the whole had willfully denied—the reality of racism—it has seemed to admit , on the whole .
What will it take to reach this tipping point on the injustice of class inequality ?
Recent statistics show 26 million Americans can not afford to pay for adequate food for their families and are going hungry .
Keep in mind that millions of Americans lost their health insurance when they lost their jobs .
This July 32 % of U.S. households could not make their full housing payment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ historically high ” numbers of Americans unable to meet these payments .
This past week another 1.4 million Americans filed for unemployment .
And yet the Republican Senate is loath to extend enhanced unemployment benefits or approve another relief package for the average American wanting work .
Meanwhile , millions , nay billions , of dollars are being distributed to the wealthiest among us who are doing just fine .
Nicholas Kristoff reported in The New York Times that last relief package provided $ 135 billion dollars in “ relief ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax breaks for periods that preceded the coronavirus outbreak .
As Jason Easley has reported for PoliticusUsa.com , businesses connected to the families of Donald Trump and Jared Kushner have also received millions , as have businesses of families connected to Mitch McConnell .
But it ’ s not about these individuals .
It ’ s about the wealthiest class in America using its power to raid the nation ’ s coffers we taxpayers fill , supposedly to serve us all in democratic fashion .
We see class inequality isn ’ t just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the unequal power in the key political processes of decision-making .
How much is enough ?
These tax cuts benefited the wealthy and did not trickle down , despite Trump ’ s promises that companies would invest in workers and not cut jobs .
Companies like AT & T , Wells Fargo , and General Motors lobbied for them , promising to re-invest their tax savings in their workers and companies to the benefit off the nation as a whole .
And yet all of these companies have engaged in massive layoffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has eliminated over 23,000 jobs since the tax cuts went into effect , despite receiving a $ 21 billion windfall from the tax cuts with the prospect of cashing in an additional $ 3 billion annually in tax savings .
In November 2018 , GM announced it would be closing five plants , eliminating 14,000 jobs in communities across Ohio , Maryland , Michigan , and Ontario , Canada , while buying back $ 10 billion in stock and earning a net profit of $ 8 billion on which the company paid no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the minimum wage of its employees , though the tax savings for the company were 47 times larger than the cost of that pay raise to the company ; and the company announced its plans in September 2018 to eliminate 26,000 jobs , at the same time that it has raised health insurance costs for its employees .
There may be no one George Floyd to push us over the edge , to bring us to the tipping point .
But there are whole classes of people suffering en masse .
When will @ @ @

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The Black Lives Matter movement, in demanding that we reconsider how Black lives have been valued, or rather de-valued, in U.S. culture, society, and political economy, essentially asks us as well to interrogate our entire system of economic and cultural values.
On what basis do we in our socio-economic system and culture assign different values to people’s lives?
Such a question really brings us to the heart of our class society that we really tend not just to take for granted but to see as absolutely justified. Of course the CEO, the doctor, the manager, or the lawyer make more than the agricultural worker in the field, the grocery store clerk, the bus driver, or the mail carrier.
The U.S. dominant culture doesn’t ask us to question this state of affairs, and so most people don’t. Even if we argue over the degree of income inequality, few argue for full and outright economic equality and for an end to this differential valuation. Our cultural value system tends to justify this differential valuation of work and thus by extension the differential valuation of the lives of the workers. And we know, of course, that often the work of devalued because of who is doing it. Women and people of color have historically received less pay for the same work white men are doing.
Based on their wages, people have different access to healthcare, to education, to housing—to basic means of survival. They may have no access at all. The story we are told is that this arrangement is a meritocracy, so people get what they deserve. In other words, some lives deserve less—and thus they matter less.
We also like to say in our culture that “we,” or “people,” aren’t making these decisions, but rather an indifferent market is determining the economic value of work—and hence the human value of workers’ lives.
But it really isn’t the market. Gains in benefits and pay and improvements in working conditions have historically been the result of the collective organizing and protest of workers, often far more violent and deadly for workers than the protests we are witnessing today. Maybe you’ve seen the bumper sticker: “The Weekend: Brought to You by the Labor Movement.” This is why we see wages and benefits are invariably lower for non-unionized workers and why the right wing continues to undermine the power of labor unions.
The market isn’t determining the value of people’s lives; people through brute political will and force are.
We see “essential workers” these days–upon whom, it should now be crystal clear, we all vitally depend for our food and survival—being effectively forced to work, and this recognition in our culture of their “essential value” has not translated into an elevation in their economic value, in the mattering of their lives as registered in the resources, the money, they have to take care of their lives.
The police murder of George Floyd, just one in a long string of murders of African Americans at the hands of police for which there had been little to no accountability, constituted a tipping point, triggering widespread protests by American finally declaring, “Enough.” What America on the whole had willfully denied—the reality of racism—it has seemed to admit, on the whole.
What will it take to reach this tipping point on the injustice of class inequality?
Millions of Americans are suffering.
Recent statistics show 26 million Americans cannot afford to pay for adequate food for their families and are going hungry.
Keep in mind that millions of Americans lost their health insurance when they lost their jobs. This July 32% of U.S. households could not make their full housing payment, making the fourth month in a row of “historically high” numbers of Americans unable to meet these payments.
This past week another 1.4 million Americans filed for unemployment.
And yet the Republican Senate is loath to extend enhanced unemployment benefits or approve another relief package for the average American wanting work.
Meanwhile, millions, nay billions, of dollars are being distributed to the wealthiest among us who are doing just fine. Nicholas Kristoff reported in The New York Times that last relief package provided $135 billion dollars in “relief” for real estate developers, offering retroactive tax breaks for periods that preceded the coronavirus outbreak. As Jason Easley has reported for PoliticusUsa.com, businesses connected to the families of Donald Trump and Jared Kushner have also received millions, as have businesses of families connected to Mitch McConnell.
But it’s not about these individuals. It’s about the wealthiest class in America using its power to raid the nation’s coffers we taxpayers fill, supposedly to serve us all in democratic fashion.
We see class inequality isn’t just about income inequality. It’s about the unequal power in the key political processes of decision-making.
How much is enough?
Remember Trump’s tax cuts?
These tax cuts benefited the wealthy and did not trickle down, despite Trump’s promises that companies would invest in workers and not cut jobs. Companies like AT&T, Wells Fargo, and General Motors lobbied for them, promising to re-invest their tax savings in their workers and companies to the benefit off the nation as a whole. And yet all of these companies have engaged in massive layoffs or plant closings. AT&T has eliminated over 23,000 jobs since the tax cuts went into effect, despite receiving a $21 billion windfall from the tax cuts with the prospect of cashing in an additional $3 billion annually in tax savings. In November 2018, GM announced it would be closing five plants, eliminating 14,000 jobs in communities across Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada, while buying back $10 billion in stock and earning a net profit of $8 billion on which the company paid no federal tax. Wells Fargo did raise the minimum wage of its employees, though the tax savings for the company were 47 times larger than the cost of that pay raise to the company; and the company announced its plans in September 2018 to eliminate 26,000 jobs, at the same time that it has raised health insurance costs for its employees.
There may be no one George Floyd to push us over the edge, to bring us to the tipping point.
But there are whole classes of people suffering en masse.
When will we tip?


politicususa--2020-08-01--Opinion: Trump and Republicans push to destroy Social Security

With ardent GOP support Trump has spent three-and-a-half years decimating all parts of the federal government .
Now his attention is fulfilling the GOP ’ s decades-long goal of destroying elderly Americans ’ retirement and health insurance programs by starving them of funding .
It is no exaggeration to say that even Republicans are aware of how crucial the Social Security Trust is to hardworking Americans .
And yet since the program ’ s inception they have attempted to put an end to all of the New Deal provisions enacted during Franklin Delano Roosevelt ’ s tenure .
The simple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s debt and deficit ; it is a government program that helps Americans and like everything that helps Americans is an atrocity in conservatives ’ minds .
Over the past couple of decades , at least , Republicans have not enacted any legislation to help the people .
They have , in fact , made eliminating any domestic program that helps Americans not in the wealthy class their cause célèbre ; Trump has embraced the GOP ’ s assault on working Americans with extreme prejudice .
Over the past year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy and killed over 150,000 American citizens , Trump has pushed a payroll tax cut and claimed it would help the people , reduce the deficit , and drive his mythical economic rebound .
Even Trump and his Republican facilitators know that eliminating the “ payroll tax ” will have no effect on working Americans , but they are very aware that a payroll tax cut will further enrich the already wealthy and aid in the Social Security Trust ’ s demise ; it will also damage Medicare that is included in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The big winners in any payroll tax cut are very large employers who will save the matching portion of Social Security in payrolls .
Regular working people pay a tad over 6 percent of their income into the government ’ s retirement system and employers match that amount .
Medicare tax is separate from Social Security , and like Social Security is funded by the workers .
Like the GOP ’ s tried and true assault on every segment of the federal government , starving government programs of funding leads to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Republicans intend on killing off the United States Postal Service .
Despite Trump ’ s insistence on a payroll tax cut , there is little interest from Republicans in Congress likely because by now working Americans comprehend it will have little effect , especially when millions of Americans are now out of work due to Trump ’ s effectiveness in aiding the coronavirus ’ spread throughout America .
Republicans are also aware , by now , that the quickest way to put an abrupt end to the people ’ s retirement system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being the case , Senate Republicans have devised a better way to cut Social Security and because under Trump there is a never-ending and daily confluence of crises as distractions , few Americans are aware Republicans plan to “ reform ” Social Security : a not-so-fancy way of saying drastically cutting Social Security .
And as is always the case with anything Republicans say will help the people , they claim “ reforming ” Social Security with cuts to beneficiaries will enhance the program ’ s fiscal health far into the future .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If Republicans were interested in keeping Social Security healthy far into the future , they would put a quick end to the cap on contributions from the wealthiest Americans .
It is an abomination that every hardworking American pays 6.2 percent of their income while there is a cap on every American earning over $ 137,700 annually .
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the average yearly income at the end of 2019 was “ approximately $ 48,672.
” Even workers earning twice that amount paid their full share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) tax .
Conversely , one of the Republicans most driven to slash Social Security , and likely kill it immediately , Willard Romney , pays less than 2-tenths of a percent on his very , very significant income .
If every bit of every Americans ’ income was taxed at the same 6.2 percent rate , the Social Security Trust would be well-funded far , far into the future .
However , Republicans , and likely a couple of Democrats , have reacted as violently to the the idea of every American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s retirement system , and Medicare for that matter , as they rail against the concept of the extremely wealthy and corporations paying their fair share of taxes .
The concept of equality in taxation is as abhorrent to Republicans and Trump as equality under the law is and it is never going to change until the people are well-informed about exactly why Republicans claim a self-funded independent program like Social Security can not meet its obligations in the future .
For dog ’ s sake , Republicans still claim that Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though it is mandated in the Trust that the program can not take from , or add to , the debt or deficit .
Republicans have lusted to slash , if not destroy , Social Security for decades , if not since it was instituted as part of the New Deal .
And it is important to note that it is solely to enrich business at the expense of the working class that are not wealthy enough to risk even one penny in the stock market like the super wealthy class that funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abominable because Social Security is funded by the workforce at no expense to the government .
The real impetus to decimate Social Security is endemic to conservatives who will move proverbial Heaven and Earth to take any and everything from the people whether it is their healthcare , freedom to peaceably assemble , access to clean air and water , and their self-funded retirement accounts – not because they can spend it , but simply because they do not want hardworking Americans to have anything .
This Congress will not give Trump the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hasten the demise of Social Security they are in the process of doing the next best thing ; use COVID-19 stimulus legislation to “ reform ” a program and deny elderly Americans access to their own retirement income .
Perhaps if Trump knew he can not possibly get his tiny hands on Americans ’ old age pensions , then he would back off his demand for a payroll tax cut .
However , it is more likely than not that he just wants to damage Social Security as part of his scorched @ @ @

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With ardent GOP support Trump has spent three-and-a-half years decimating all parts of the federal government. Now his attention is fulfilling the GOP’s decades-long goal of destroying elderly Americans’ retirement and health insurance programs by starving them of funding.
It is no exaggeration to say that even Republicans are aware of how crucial the Social Security Trust is to hardworking Americans. And yet since the program’s inception they have attempted to put an end to all of the New Deal provisions enacted during Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s tenure. The simple reason why has nothing to do with the nation’s debt and deficit; it is a government program that helps Americans and like everything that helps Americans is an atrocity in conservatives’ minds.
Over the past couple of decades, at least, Republicans have not enacted any legislation to help the people. They have, in fact, made eliminating any domestic program that helps Americans not in the wealthy class their cause célèbre; Trump has embraced the GOP’s assault on working Americans with extreme prejudice.
Over the past year, and particularly since he deliberately ruined the economy and killed over 150,000 American citizens, Trump has pushed a payroll tax cut and claimed it would help the people, reduce the deficit, and drive his mythical economic rebound. Even Trump and his Republican facilitators know that eliminating the “payroll tax” will have no effect on working Americans, but they are very aware that a payroll tax cut will further enrich the already wealthy and aid in the Social Security Trust’s demise; it will also damage Medicare that is included in any “payroll tax cut” legislation.
The big winners in any payroll tax cut are very large employers who will save the matching portion of Social Security in payrolls. Regular working people pay a tad over 6 percent of their income into the government’s retirement system and employers match that amount. Medicare tax is separate from Social Security, and like Social Security is funded by the workers. Like the GOP’s tried and true assault on every segment of the federal government, starving government programs of funding leads to their demise; it is precisely how Trump and Republicans intend on killing off the United States Postal Service.
Despite Trump’s insistence on a payroll tax cut, there is little interest from Republicans in Congress likely because by now working Americans comprehend it will have little effect, especially when millions of Americans are now out of work due to Trump’s effectiveness in aiding the coronavirus’ spread throughout America. Republicans are also aware, by now, that the quickest way to put an abrupt end to the people’s retirement system is starving it of funding.
That being the case, Senate Republicans have devised a better way to cut Social Security and because under Trump there is a never-ending and daily confluence of crises as distractions, few Americans are aware Republicans plan to “reform” Social Security: a not-so-fancy way of saying drastically cutting Social Security. And as is always the case with anything Republicans say will help the people, they claim “reforming” Social Security with cuts to beneficiaries will enhance the program’s fiscal health far into the future. It is a typical dirty Republican lie.
If Republicans were interested in keeping Social Security healthy far into the future, they would put a quick end to the cap on contributions from the wealthiest Americans. It is an abomination that every hardworking American pays 6.2 percent of their income while there is a cap on every American earning over $137,700 annually. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly income at the end of 2019 was “approximately $48,672.” Even workers earning twice that amount paid their full share of 6.2 percent Social Security (FICA) tax. Conversely, one of the Republicans most driven to slash Social Security, and likely kill it immediately, Willard Romney, pays less than 2-tenths of a percent on his very, very significant income.
If every bit of every Americans’ income was taxed at the same 6.2 percent rate, the Social Security Trust would be well-funded far, far into the future. However, Republicans, and likely a couple of Democrats, have reacted as violently to the the idea of every American contributing the same amount to the nation’s retirement system, and Medicare for that matter, as they rail against the concept of the extremely wealthy and corporations paying their fair share of taxes.
The concept of equality in taxation is as abhorrent to Republicans and Trump as equality under the law is and it is never going to change until the people are well-informed about exactly why Republicans claim a self-funded independent program like Social Security cannot meet its obligations in the future. For dog’s sake, Republicans still claim that Social Security is blowing up the deficit even though it is mandated in the Trust that the program cannot take from, or add to, the debt or deficit.
Republicans have lusted to slash, if not destroy, Social Security for decades, if not since it was instituted as part of the New Deal. And it is important to note that it is solely to enrich business at the expense of the working class that are not wealthy enough to risk even one penny in the stock market like the super wealthy class that funds the GOP.
It is even more abominable because Social Security is funded by the workforce at no expense to the government. The real impetus to decimate Social Security is endemic to conservatives who will move proverbial Heaven and Earth to take any and everything from the people whether it is their healthcare, freedom to peaceably assemble, access to clean air and water, and their self-funded retirement accounts – not because they can spend it, but simply because they do not want hardworking Americans to have anything.
This Congress will not give Trump the payroll tax cut he demands, but to hasten the demise of Social Security they are in the process of doing the next best thing; use COVID-19 stimulus legislation to “reform” a program and deny elderly Americans access to their own retirement income.
Perhaps if Trump knew he cannot possibly get his tiny hands on Americans’ old age pensions, then he would back off his demand for a payroll tax cut. However, it is more likely than not that he just wants to damage Social Security as part of his scorched Earth agenda.


politicususa--2020-08-01--White House Busted For Claiming Trump Is Negotiating COVID Bill But He Is Golfing

Mark Meadows and Steve Mnuchin tried to claim that Trump is involved in the COVID relief bill negotiations until reporters pointed out that he ’ s golfing .
Mnuchin said , “ Mcconnell is very involved so we just updated his team .
We ’ ll be in touch with him later today .
But , yes , let me be clear , both Kevin Mccarthy and Mitch Mcconnell are very involved in everything that we ’ re doing , as I ’ ve made this constantly , mark and I are a team .
We check with the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re doing that — without the support of the president and we are fully in touch with Kevin and Mitch.
” A reporter said , “ You said that the president was checking in almost hourly , but he ’ s golfing.
” Mark Meadows tried to backtrack , “ Well , obviously he didn ’ t check in while I was there .
So maybe that was a little bit of hyperbole.
” Mnuchin said , “ Although he did speak before we went in.
” Meadows added , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went in .
I was on the phone literally as we went in , and I ’ m about to call him as soon as we finish here.
” In a matter of moments , the story went from Trump is directly involved to Trump isn ’ t involved , but we ’ re going to call him when we are done.
” Extended unemployment benefits have expired , and this is what Donald Trump is doing : That ’ s all any American needs to know about Donald Trump ’ s priorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Mark Meadows and Steve Mnuchin tried to claim that Trump is involved in the COVID relief bill negotiations until reporters pointed out that he’s golfing.
Video:
Mark Meadows and Steve Mnuchin get busted for claiming that Trump is directly involved in the COVID relief bill talks, as reporters point out that Trump is golfing right now. pic.twitter.com/cRuDg6i8pj — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 1, 2020
Mnuchin said, “Mcconnell is very involved so we just updated his team. We’ll be in touch with him later today. But, yes, let me be clear, both Kevin Mccarthy and Mitch Mcconnell are very involved in everything that we’re doing, as I’ve made this constantly, mark and I are a team. We check with the president. There’s nothing that we’re doing that — without the support of the president and we are fully in touch with Kevin and Mitch.”
A reporter said, “You said that the president was checking in almost hourly, but he’s golfing.”
Mark Meadows tried to backtrack, “Well, obviously he didn’t check in while I was there. So maybe that was a little bit of hyperbole.”
Mnuchin said, “Although he did speak before we went in.”
Meadows added, “I was on the phone speak before we went in. I was on the phone literally as we went in, and I’m about to call him as soon as we finish here.”
In a matter of moments, the story went from Trump is directly involved to Trump isn’t involved, but we’re going to call him when we are done.”
Extended unemployment benefits have expired, and this is what Donald Trump is doing:
The president on the course today. pic.twitter.com/QY6EYxf6bV — Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) August 1, 2020
That’s all any American needs to know about Donald Trump’s priorities during the pandemic.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-01--More Than 150 More Americans Will Die Of Coronavirus During Trump’s Saturday Golf Round

It ’ s Saturday in America , which means the president of the United States is golfing at one of his properties on the taxpayers ’ dime .
As CNN ’ s Jim Sciutto noted on Twitter , “ President Donald Trump has arrived at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling , Virginia , at 9:59 a.m. , per pool .
This visit marks Trump ’ s 376th day at a Trump property and 283rd day at a golf club.
” Set aside the fact that Trump has spent more than a year of his presidency at one of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
More importantly , the United States is still in the midst of a public health crisis that has claimed the lives of nearly 160,000 Americans .
It ’ s a crisis for which Trump admits he still hasn ’ t developed a national plan .
As the Lincoln Project pointed out on Twitter , roughly 930 Americans die of the coronavirus each day , which averages out to about 39 per hour .
Over the span of a four-hour round of golf , more than 150 Americans will die from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care about the virus For a short period between March and May , Trump ’ s political advisers seemingly convinced him that golfing in the middle of a pandemic would be a bad idea .
But Trump resumed his golf routine over Memorial Day weekend at the end of May , and he hasn ’ t looked back since – even as the virus has killed more than 1,300 Americans each day for the past four days .
The coronavirus has not slowed down in the United States , but Donald Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it has completely vanished .

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It’s Saturday in America, which means the president of the United States is golfing at one of his properties on the taxpayers’ dime.
As CNN’s Jim Sciutto noted on Twitter, “President Donald Trump has arrived at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, at 9:59 a.m., per pool. This visit marks Trump’s 376th day at a Trump property and 283rd day at a golf club.”
President Donald Trump has arrived at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, at 9:59 a.m., per pool. This visit marks Trump’s 376th day at a Trump property and 283rd day at a golf club. — Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) August 1, 2020
Set aside the fact that Trump has spent more than a year of his presidency at one of his properties with taxpayers footing the bill each time.
More importantly, the United States is still in the midst of a public health crisis that has claimed the lives of nearly 160,000 Americans. It’s a crisis for which Trump admits he still hasn’t developed a national plan.
As the Lincoln Project pointed out on Twitter, roughly 930 Americans die of the coronavirus each day, which averages out to about 39 per hour.
Over the span of a four-hour round of golf, more than 150 Americans will die from the virus.
On average, coronavirus kills 930 people per day in the United States. A game of golf is 18 holes. 9 Americans die every hole. 39 every hour. 155 Americans will die by the time the president is done playing today. pic.twitter.com/SkaLKhZAME — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) August 1, 2020
Trump has stopped pretending to care about the virus
For a short period between March and May, Trump’s political advisers seemingly convinced him that golfing in the middle of a pandemic would be a bad idea.
But Trump resumed his golf routine over Memorial Day weekend at the end of May, and he hasn’t looked back since – even as the virus has killed more than 1,300 Americans each day for the past four days.
The coronavirus has not slowed down in the United States, but Donald Trump’s capacity to even pretend to care about it has completely vanished.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter


politicususa--2020-08-01--Trump Is Fighting Harder To End TikTok Than The Coronavirus

Even though he has yet to develop a national strategy to fight the continued spread of the coronavirus , Donald Trump ’ s new focus appears to be on dismantling a social media platform .
The president announced on Friday that he would act as soon as Saturday to ban the Chinese-owned video app , TikTok , in the United States , either through executive order or another method .
As Trump wages war on a video app , he has essentially given up on trying to develop a strategy to fight a pandemic that has claimed nearly 160,000 American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter pressed him for not yet coming out with a coronavirus plan , Trump spiraled into an incoherent rant about a vaccine , which is likely still months away from being ready .
“ I think you ’ re going to see something that ’ s going to be spectacular , ” Trump said of his yet-to-be-released plan .
The week before , Trump said his administration is “ in the process of developing a strategy that ’ s going to be very , very powerful.
” There is likely no plan in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that endless fact-free , made-for-TV press conference will give off the illusion that he ’ s in control of this crisis .
Trump ’ s TikTok announcement comes weeks after app users tried to sabotage his campaign event Concerns over TikTok are legitimate , with leaders in both political parties sounding the alarm over the potential that China could use the platform to spy on Americans or interfere in U.S. elections .
But it ’ s important to remember that the motivation behind anything Donald Trump says or does is almost always self-serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a president who has repeatedly let Russia off the hook for interfering in the last presidential election , all because it boosted his campaign against Hillary Clinton .
This is a president who still – after 36 days – hasn ’ t taken action amid reports that Russia is paying to have American troops killed in Afghanistan .
It ’ s unlikely that Trump suddenly became concerned about foreign interference overnight .
What ’ s more probable is that there is a personal motivation behind Trump ’ s potential ban .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s threat to ban TikTok came just a few weeks after reports that many TikTok users had tried to sabotage a Trump campaign rally by requesting tickets they never planned to use and coordinated a push to flood Trump ’ s 2020 campaign app with negative reviews.
” Regardless of the motivation behind Donald Trump ’ s war on TikTok , he appears to be working harder to eradicate the app than he is on controlling a deadly virus .

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Even though he has yet to develop a national strategy to fight the continued spread of the coronavirus, Donald Trump’s new focus appears to be on dismantling a social media platform.
The president announced on Friday that he would act as soon as Saturday to ban the Chinese-owned video app, TikTok, in the United States, either through executive order or another method.
As Trump wages war on a video app, he has essentially given up on trying to develop a strategy to fight a pandemic that has claimed nearly 160,000 American lives.
On Thursday, when a reporter pressed him for not yet coming out with a coronavirus plan, Trump spiraled into an incoherent rant about a vaccine, which is likely still months away from being ready.
“I think you’re going to see something that’s going to be spectacular,” Trump said of his yet-to-be-released plan.
The week before, Trump said his administration is “in the process of developing a strategy that’s going to be very, very powerful.”
There is likely no plan in development. Instead, Trump is hoping that endless fact-free, made-for-TV press conference will give off the illusion that he’s in control of this crisis.
Trump’s TikTok announcement comes weeks after app users tried to sabotage his campaign event
Concerns over TikTok are legitimate, with leaders in both political parties sounding the alarm over the potential that China could use the platform to spy on Americans or interfere in U.S. elections.
But it’s important to remember that the motivation behind anything Donald Trump says or does is almost always self-serving.
Keep in mind, this is a president who has repeatedly let Russia off the hook for interfering in the last presidential election, all because it boosted his campaign against Hillary Clinton.
This is a president who still – after 36 days – hasn’t taken action amid reports that Russia is paying to have American troops killed in Afghanistan.
It’s unlikely that Trump suddenly became concerned about foreign interference overnight. What’s more probable is that there is a personal motivation behind Trump’s potential ban.
In fact, as Bloomberg notes, “Trump’s threat to ban TikTok came just a few weeks after reports that many TikTok users had tried to sabotage a Trump campaign rally by requesting tickets they never planned to use and coordinated a push to flood Trump’s 2020 campaign app with negative reviews.”
Regardless of the motivation behind Donald Trump’s war on TikTok, he appears to be working harder to eradicate the app than he is on controlling a deadly virus.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter


politicususa--2020-08-02--Trump Humiliated As Just 18 Supporters Show Up To Protest Nevada Mail-In Voting

The Chair of the Republican National Committee claimed that Trump supporters were out in full force in Nevada , as she tweeted a picture with 18 people in it .
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted this pic as a show of “ strength : ” Trump had a meltdown between Saturday night and Sunday morning and posted 51 tweets or mentions calling for immediate litigation to stop Nevada ’ s expanded mail-in voting .
Trump , the Republican Party , and conservative media are freaking out because expanded mail-in voting means that Nevada might not be in play for Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every county in Pennsylvania to undo the state ’ s expanded mail-in voting .
Pennsylvania is a double whammy for Trump because ballots can be dropped off or mailed in , so slowing down the mail won ’ t stop Pennsylvania mail-in voting .
Republicans don ’ t want more people to vote , because a bigger electorate equals defeat for Donald Trump .
Trump spent nearly nine and a half hours trying to rally his supporters , and the best that the RNC can tweet out is a picture of eighteen supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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The Chair of the Republican National Committee claimed that Trump supporters were out in full force in Nevada, as she tweeted a picture with 18 people in it.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted this pic as a show of “strength:”
.@realDonaldTrump’s supporters are out in force today protesting Nevada Dems’ attempts to ram through mass mail-in voting & ballot harvesting. Dems want to use the pandemic to destroy election integrity. Help us fight back and https://t.co/tidEkccKCq! pic.twitter.com/xnVYlsRWBP — Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) August 2, 2020
Trump had a meltdown between Saturday night and Sunday morning and posted 51 tweets or mentions calling for immediate litigation to stop Nevada’s expanded mail-in voting.
MSNBC’s Chris Jansing tweeted:
From 10:33 last night to 7:01 this morning, President Trump tweeted or re-tweeted 51 times including a call for “immediate litigation” on mail-in voting in the state of Nevada. — Chris Jansing (@ChrisJansing) August 2, 2020
Trump, the Republican Party, and conservative media are freaking out because expanded mail-in voting means that Nevada might not be in play for Donald Trump. The Trump campaign is already every suing county in Pennsylvania to undo the state’s expanded mail-in voting. Pennsylvania is a double whammy for Trump because ballots can be dropped off or mailed in, so slowing down the mail won’t stop Pennsylvania mail-in voting.
Republicans don’t want more people to vote, because a bigger electorate equals defeat for Donald Trump.
Trump spent nearly nine and a half hours trying to rally his supporters, and the best that the RNC can tweet out is a picture of eighteen supporters.
The humiliations are piling up for Trump.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-02--White House Claims Trump Works On Virus Bill From The Golf Course

The White House is now claiming that Trump is fully available and that he is doing work on the coronavirus relief bill while he golfs .
The latest White House clean up operation came after White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were caught by reporters claiming that Trump was directly involved in the negotiations while he was out golfing .
The administration officials admitted that they had not spoken to Trump since before they went into the negotiation on Saturday .
During a pandemic when hundreds of thousands of Americans have died and millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation to believe that he is working on a pandemic relief bill in between shots on the golf course .
Trump is golfing while Americans are suffering through the worst simultaneous economic and public health crisis in US history .
If the White House put as much effort into dealing with the coronavirus as they do for covering up for Trump ’ s uncaring laziness , the country wouldn ’ t be a laughingstock around the world .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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The White House is now claiming that Trump is fully available and that he is doing work on the coronavirus relief bill while he golfs.
NBC News’s Kelly O’Donnell tweeted:
The president is back at his Virginia golf course today. Sec. Mnuchin told reporters the president is fully available to negotiators working toward a covid relief deal. Mnuchin said he and CoS Meadows spoke to the president 8 or 9 times this weekend about the talks. — Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) August 2, 2020
The latest White House clean up operation came after White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were caught by reporters claiming that Trump was directly involved in the negotiations while he was out golfing. The administration officials admitted that they had not spoken to Trump since before they went into the negotiation on Saturday.
During a pandemic when hundreds of thousands of Americans have died and millions have been sickened, Donald Trump wants the nation to believe that he is working on a pandemic relief bill in between shots on the golf course.
Trump is golfing while Americans are suffering through the worst simultaneous economic and public health crisis in US history.
If the White House put as much effort into dealing with the coronavirus as they do for covering up for Trump’s uncaring laziness, the country wouldn’t be a laughingstock around the world.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-02--Trump’s Billionaire Treasury Secretary Tells The Unemployed They Don’t Need An Extra $600/Week

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said that unemployed people need to get back to work and that the extra $ 600/week in unemployment benefits is disrupting the economy .
Transcript of Mnuchin on ABC ’ s This Week : RADDATZ : So — so you do think it is a disincentive to find a job if you have that extra $ 600 ?
MNUCHIN : There ’ s no question in certain cases where we ’ re paying people more to work — stay home than to work .
That ’ s created issues in the entire economy .
But let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at all these things — RADDATZ : I want to — I want to interrupt you there for just one second .
You — it ’ s not all the evidence .
A Yale study from this month refutes that , saying many economists who have studied the benefits said that so far they don ’ t see any evidence in labor market data that the payments are affecting at which people are returning to work during the pandemic .
MNUCHIN : Well , let me just say , I went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain things .
I don ’ t always agree .
There ’ s a Chicago study that goes through all the people that are overpaid .
But — but let ’ s just face it , we know factually , OK , there are cases where people are overpaid , there are cases where people are underpaid .
The issue is , we need to come up with an agreement to extend this .
We need to get kids into school .
And we ’ re going to work every day until we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good for the American public .
Mnuchin is claiming that it is too economically disruptive to give unemployed people an extra $ 600 a week during the pandemic because those people should be working .
The problem is that millions of unemployed people don ’ t have jobs to go back to , and due to the coronavirus , the economy isn ’ t growing .
Unemployed people have been using the extra $ 600 a week to pay their bills .
The money is going back into the economy .
Without those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes , go hungry , and the economy is going to shrink even more .
The incentive argument has been a part of conservative mythology for decades .
It is the argument that Republicans make when they want to cut a program that helps people .
A billionaire telling unemployed people to stop being disruptive and go back to work sums up everything that is wrong with the Trump ’ s administration ’ s economic response to the pandemic .

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Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said that unemployed people need to get back to work and that the extra $600/week in unemployment benefits is disrupting the economy.
Transcript of Mnuchin on ABC’s This Week:
RADDATZ: So — so you do think it is a disincentive to find a job if you have that extra $600?
MNUCHIN: There’s no question in certain cases where we’re paying people more to work — stay home than to work. That’s created issues in the entire economy.
But let me just say, you have to look at all these things —
RADDATZ: I want to — I want to interrupt you there for just one second. You — it’s not all the evidence. A Yale study from this month refutes that, saying many economists who have studied the benefits said that so far they don’t see any evidence in labor market data that the payments are affecting at which people are returning to work during the pandemic.
MNUCHIN: Well, let me just say, I went to Yale.
RADDATZ: I know that.
MNUCHIN: I agree on certain things. I don’t always agree. There’s a Chicago study that goes through all the people that are overpaid.
But — but let’s just face it, we know factually, OK, there are cases where people are overpaid, there are cases where people are underpaid. The issue is, we need to come up with an agreement to extend this. We need to get kids into school. And we’re going to work every day until we reach a reasonable agreement that’s good for the American public.
Video:
Trump's billionaire Treasury Secretary Mnuchin basically tells the unemployed that they don't need an extra $600/week during the pandemic. They should go back to work. pic.twitter.com/pTXDgCyeda — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 2, 2020
Mnuchin is claiming that it is too economically disruptive to give unemployed people an extra $600 a week during the pandemic because those people should be working. The problem is that millions of unemployed people don’t have jobs to go back to, and due to the coronavirus, the economy isn’t growing.
Unemployed people have been using the extra $600 a week to pay their bills. The money is going back into the economy. Without those funds people are going to lose their homes, go hungry, and the economy is going to shrink even more.
The incentive argument has been a part of conservative mythology for decades. It is the argument that Republicans make when they want to cut a program that helps people.
A billionaire telling unemployed people to stop being disruptive and go back to work sums up everything that is wrong with the Trump’s administration’s economic response to the pandemic.


politicususa--2020-08-02--Trump Promised To Sign A New Healthcare Plan Today. Instead, He’s Golfing.

Exactly two weeks ago , Trump promised to sign a new healthcare plan today , but instead , he ’ s spending the day golfing .
On Fox News Sunday two weeks ago , Trump said : We ’ re signing a health care plan within two weeks , a full and complete health care plan that the Supreme Court decision on DACA gave me the right to do .
So we ’ re going to solve — we ’ re going to sign an immigration plan , a health care plan , and various other plans .
And nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing in the next four weeks .
The Supreme Court gave the President of the United States powers that nobody thought the President had , by approving , by doing what they did — their decision on DACA .
And DACA ’ s going to be taken care of also .
But we ’ re getting rid of it because we ’ re going to replace it with something much better .
What we got rid of already , which was most of Obamacare , the individual mandate .
And that I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won also on the Supreme Court .
But the decision by the Supreme Court on DACA allows me to do things on immigration , on health care , on other things that we ’ ve never done before .
And you ’ re going to find it to be a very exciting two weeks .
Trump ’ s healthcare plan , just like the Republican replacement plan for Obamacare doesn ’ t exist .
Four years ago , Trump got away with lying about random things , but as president , things have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they are reminding the rest of the country of his lies .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Exactly two weeks ago, Trump promised to sign a new healthcare plan today, but instead, he’s spending the day golfing.
As Sahil Kapur noted:
When I asked the White House about Trump’s promised health care plan, they sent a statement from @PressSec pointing to his recent executive orders on prescription drugs and adding, “There will be more action to come in the coming weeks.” — Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 2, 2020
On Fox News Sunday two weeks ago, Trump said:
We’re signing a health care plan within two weeks, a full and complete health care plan that the Supreme Court decision on DACA gave me the right to do. So we’re going to solve — we’re going to sign an immigration plan, a health care plan, and various other plans. And nobody will have done what I’m doing in the next four weeks. The Supreme Court gave the President of the United States powers that nobody thought the President had, by approving, by doing what they did — their decision on DACA. And DACA’s going to be taken care of also. But we’re getting rid of it because we’re going to replace it with something much better.
What we got rid of already, which was most of Obamacare, the individual mandate. And that I’ve already won on. And we won also on the Supreme Court. But the decision by the Supreme Court on DACA allows me to do things on immigration, on health care, on other things that we’ve never done before. And you’re going to find it to be a very exciting two weeks.
Trump’s healthcare plan, just like the Republican replacement plan for Obamacare doesn’t exist.
Four years ago, Trump got away with lying about random things, but as president, things have changed. People are not only remembering, but they are reminding the rest of the country of his lies.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-02--Jason Miller Doesn’t Deny Foreign Governments Are Helping Trump Attack Biden

Fox News Sunday ’ s Chris Wallace asked Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller if foreign governments have given Trump info on Biden and he dodged the question .
Chris Wallace asked , “ Can you state flatly that neither the Trump administration nor the Trump campaign has received any information from either foreign groups or foreign nationals about Joe Biden and his family , and can you state flatly that neither the administration nor the campaign will accept foreign assistance ?
” Miller answered by dismissing the question , “ Chris , that ’ s a silly question.
” Miller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton campaign accepted foreign assistance four years , and then he rambled a conspiracy theory about the Republican funded Steele Dossier .
Wallace went to ask Miller three times if the Trump campaign would reject election assistance from a foreign government , and he never said that they would not : Trump and his administration have said publicly that he wants foreign governments to interfere to help him beat Joe Biden .
Trump knows that he can ’ t win a free and fair election .
That is why he is asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is trying to delay the election , and as Rep. Jim Clyburn warned , he is trying to lay the groundwork for staying in office if he loses .
Miller ’ s non-answer made it clear .
Nothing has changed since impeachment , Trump ’ s still solicited dirt on Joe Biden from foreign governments to help him in the election .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Fox News Sunday’s Chris Wallace asked Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller if foreign governments have given Trump info on Biden and he dodged the question.
Chris Wallace asked, “Can you state flatly that neither the Trump administration nor the Trump campaign has received any information from either foreign groups or foreign nationals about Joe Biden and his family, and can you state flatly that neither the administration nor the campaign will accept foreign assistance?”
Miller answered by dismissing the question, “Chris, that’s a silly question.” Miller went on to falsely claim that the Clinton campaign accepted foreign assistance four years, and then he rambled a conspiracy theory about the Republican funded Steele Dossier.
Video:
Wow. Trump campaign senior adviser is extremely evasive in response to Chris Wallace's question about if the Trump campaign "has received any information from foreign groups, foreign nationals" about the Bidens. "That's a silly question," he responds, dodging. pic.twitter.com/t8mPwcO2IX — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 2, 2020
Wallace went to ask Miller three times if the Trump campaign would reject election assistance from a foreign government, and he never said that they would not:
WATCH: Trump adviser Jason Miller is asked three (3) times whether the Trump administration or campaign would accept foreign assistance in this election. Three (3) times, he refuses to say no. pic.twitter.com/Kcgm021pHP — DNC War Room (@DNCWarRoom) August 2, 2020
Trump and his administration have said publicly that he wants foreign governments to interfere to help him beat Joe Biden. Trump knows that he can’t win a free and fair election. That is why he is asking for illegal help wherever he can get it. He is trying to delay the election, and as Rep. Jim Clyburn warned, he is trying to lay the groundwork for staying in office if he loses.
Miller’s non-answer made it clear. Nothing has changed since impeachment, Trump’s still solicited dirt on Joe Biden from foreign governments to help him in the election.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-02--Rep. Jim Clyburn Warns That Trump Is Planning To Not Leave Office If He Loses

Rep. Jim Clyburn ( D-SC ) warned that he thinks that Trump is planning on using emergency powers to install himself as president and not leave office .
What I said started about two and a half , maybe three years ago after one of his state of the unions .
That I feel very strongly that this man has taken on strong-arm tactics and I feel very strongly that he is Mussolini Putin is Hitler .
I said that back then and I believe that .
I believe very strongly this guy never had an idea about being want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think he plans to leave the White House .
He doesn ’ t plan to have a fair election .
I believe that he plans to install himself in some kind of emergency way to continue hold on to office and that is why the American people had better wake up .
I know a little bit about history and I know how countries find their demise .
It is when we trail to let democracy and the fundamentals of which is a fair unfair election and why he is trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and floating the idea of postponing the elections .
He does not — I saw what — within the last few hours .
That is some of the worst stuff I ’ ve ever heard in my life .
This is not a perfect democracy .
But it ’ s better than any other that either exists and I really feel that the fundamentals of being afraid , if are not careful , this country will be lost for our next generation of our children and our grandchildren .
Rep. Clyburn ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t planning on leaving office peacefully .
Those who want to remove him from power are going to have to fight not just to win an election but through after continue on until Inauguration Day .
Trump isn ’ t going to voluntarily give up power unless he loses in an overwhelming manner , and even then , he is sowing the seeds for claiming that the election was stolen .
Our democracy will need to stand together to extract Donald Trump from the Oval Office .
For more discussion about this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) warned that he thinks that Trump is planning on using emergency powers to install himself as president and not leave office.
Majority Whip Clyburn said:
What I said started about two and a half, maybe three years ago after one of his state of the unions. That I feel very strongly that this man has taken on strong-arm tactics and I feel very strongly that he is Mussolini Putin is Hitler. I said that back then and I believe that. I believe very strongly this guy never had an idea about being want to peacefully transfer power. I don’t think he plans to leave the White House.
He doesn’t plan to have a fair election. I believe that he plans to install himself in some kind of emergency way to continue hold on to office and that is why the American people had better wake up.
I know a little bit about history and I know how countries find their demise. It is when we trail to let democracy and the fundamentals of which is a fair unfair election and why he is trying to put a cloud over this election and floating the idea of postponing the elections. He does not — I saw what — within the last few hours. That is some of the worst stuff I’ve ever heard in my life. This is not a perfect democracy. But it’s better than any other that either exists and I really feel that the fundamentals of being afraid, if are not careful, this country will be lost for our next generation of our children and our grandchildren.
Video:
Rep. Jim Clyburn says that Trump is planning on not leaving office and will try to use emergency powers to install himself as president. pic.twitter.com/nuK8JTOJqS — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 2, 2020
Rep. Clyburn’s point is important. Trump isn’t planning on leaving office peacefully. Those who want to remove him from power are going to have to fight not just to win an election but through after continue on until Inauguration Day.
Trump isn’t going to voluntarily give up power unless he loses in an overwhelming manner, and even then, he is sowing the seeds for claiming that the election was stolen.
Our democracy will need to stand together to extract Donald Trump from the Oval Office.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-02--Pelosi Devastates Trump For Blocking Expanded Unemployment Benefits

Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Americans who had their extended unemployment benefits expire to talk to Donald Trump .
When asked on ABC ’ s This Week what she would tell Americans whose extended benefits have expired , Speaker Pelosi said , ” I say talk to president trump .
He ’ s the one standing in the way for that .
We ’ ve been for the $ 600 .
They have a $ 200 proposal which doesn ’ t meet the needs of America ’ s working families .
It ’ s a condescension quite frankly , because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need it .
They ’ re just staying home because they make more money at $ 600 , so the idea that they made a proposal is really not actually factual.
” Speaker Pelosi is correct .
The House passed the HEROES Act months ago , and Mitch McConnell ’ s Senate Republicans did nothing .
McConnell has been saying publicly since May that the expanded unemployment benefits would not be back .
Trump has wanted unemployment benefits cut and his White House negotiated the current Republican bill with McConnell .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acting in good faith .
If Trump wanted the expanded $ 600/week to continue , Republicans would line up and do it .
This is all on Trump , and the efforts to blame Democrats for his lack of compassion and incompetence are failing .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Americans who had their extended unemployment benefits expire to talk to Donald Trump.
When asked on ABC’s This Week what she would tell Americans whose extended benefits have expired, Speaker Pelosi said, ” I say talk to president trump. He’s the one standing in the way for that. We’ve been for the $600. They have a $200 proposal which doesn’t meet the needs of America’s working families. It’s a condescension quite frankly, because they’re saying really don’t need it. They’re just staying home because they make more money at $600, so the idea that they made a proposal is really not actually factual.”
Video:
Speaker Pelosi tells Americans who had their unemployment benefits cut to talk to Trump. pic.twitter.com/XHKbVH6257 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 2, 2020
Speaker Pelosi is correct. The House passed the HEROES Act months ago, and Mitch McConnell’s Senate Republicans did nothing. McConnell has been saying publicly since May that the expanded unemployment benefits would not be back. Trump has wanted unemployment benefits cut and his White House negotiated the current Republican bill with McConnell.
It is completely false to claim that Republicans are acting in good faith. If Trump wanted the expanded $600/week to continue, Republicans would line up and do it.
This is all on Trump, and the efforts to blame Democrats for his lack of compassion and incompetence are failing.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-02--Deborah Birx Won’t Say That Schools With High Positive Test Rates Should Stay Closed

Trump coronavirus coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx refused to say that schools should stay closed if they have a high positive test rate .
Dana Bash asked on CNN ’ s State Of The Union , “ Should schools in areas with a positive iterate of 5 % or more remain closed and have distance learning only ?
” Birx answered , “ So as you described at the beginning , I am the coordinator .
So I work with Dr. Redfield and Dr. Fauci and Dr. Hahn and others every single day and we go over the data together .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying .
In these areas where we have the widespread case increases , we need to stop the cases.
” Bash asked again , “ Schools there should stay closed ?
” Bash kept asking , “ So schools there should stay closed ?
” Birx dodged , “ I ’ m going to do what the CDC guidelines have recommended , and certainly the doctors .
If you have high case load and active community spread , just like we are asking people not to go to bars , not to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreadings events , we are asking people to distance learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control.
” Birx ’ s answer is why the federal coronavirus response is failing .
Dr. Birx was so afraid of angering Trump and defying his proclamation that all schools must reopen as normal that she refused to state a common-sense answer .
Schools with high positive testing rates should not be open .
Dr. Birx is a public health official who is letting the political needs of a president influence public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal leadership , and that is why this pandemic will rage on until Trump is gone .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump coronavirus coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx refused to say that schools should stay closed if they have a high positive test rate.
Dana Bash asked on CNN’s State Of The Union, “Should schools in areas with a positive iterate of 5% or more remain closed and have distance learning only?”
Birx answered, “So as you described at the beginning, I am the coordinator. So I work with Dr. Redfield and Dr. Fauci and Dr. Hahn and others every single day and we go over the data together. I would endorse what Dr. Redfield is saying. In these areas where we have the widespread case increases, we need to stop the cases.”
Bash asked again, “Schools there should stay closed?”
Birx, “Safely reopening.”
Bash kept asking, “So schools there should stay closed?”
Birx dodged, “I’m going to do what the CDC guidelines have recommended, and certainly the doctors. If you have high case load and active community spread, just like we are asking people not to go to bars, not to have household parties, not to create large spreadings events, we are asking people to distance learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control.”
Video:
Birx won't say that schools should stay closed if they have a positive test rate of 5% or higher. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/hAUezj337Z — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 2, 2020
Birx’s answer is why the federal coronavirus response is failing. Dr. Birx was so afraid of angering Trump and defying his proclamation that all schools must reopen as normal that she refused to state a common-sense answer. Schools with high positive testing rates should not be open.
Dr. Birx is a public health official who is letting the political needs of a president influence public health policy.
There is no executive branch federal leadership, and that is why this pandemic will rage on until Trump is gone.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-03--Nancy Pelosi Says She Doesn’t Have Confidence in Dr. Deborah Birx

Nancy Pelosi doesn ’ t have confidence in a senior member of the White House Coronavirus task force .
She ’ s accused the Trump administration of spreading misinformation .
The Speaker of the House told ABC over the weekend that Dr. Deborah Birx did not enjoy her confidence because of the false information that President Donald Trump has been spreading .
She also said Trump officials weren ’ t being realistic about fighting the virus .
“ When you … reduce the spread , you can open up the schools , when you reduce the rate of infection in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But until you do that , you have to be very careful.
” Pelosi was asked about reports that she had accused Birx of spreading disinformation at a closed door meeting on Covid-19 .
Though she didn ’ t address the issue directly , the implication was clear .
“ I think the President is spreading disinformation about the virus , ” Pelosi said .
“ And she is his appointee so , I don ’ t have confidence there , no.
” Birx has been one of the most prominent members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Anthony Fauci .
However , Birx has faced increasing criticism .

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Nancy Pelosi doesn’t have confidence in a senior member of the White House Coronavirus task force. She’s accused the Trump administration of spreading misinformation.
The Speaker of the House told ABC over the weekend that Dr. Deborah Birx did not enjoy her confidence because of the false information that President Donald Trump has been spreading.
She also said Trump officials weren’t being realistic about fighting the virus.
“When you … reduce the spread, you can open up the schools, when you reduce the rate of infection in a community,” she said.
“But until you do that, you have to be very careful.”
Watch the video:
JUST IN: “I think the president has been spreading disinformation about the virus and she is his appointee so, I don’t have confidence there, no,” Speaker Pelosi tells @MarthaRaddatz when asked is she has confidence in Dr. Deborah Birx. https://t.co/qvp1ZOU4QD pic.twitter.com/z6tb8ozO61 — ABC News (@ABC) August 2, 2020
Pelosi was asked about reports that she had accused Birx of spreading disinformation at a closed door meeting on Covid-19. Though she didn’t address the issue directly, the implication was clear.
“I think the President is spreading disinformation about the virus,” Pelosi said.
“And she is his appointee so, I don’t have confidence there, no.”
Birx has been one of the most prominent members of the Coronavirus task force, alongside Dr. Anthony Fauci. However, Birx has faced increasing criticism.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-08-03--Stacey Abrams Warns Trump Will “Steal the Vote by Undermining the Postal Service”

Stacey Abrams has suggested that Donald Trump may try to steal the election by refusing to help the U.S .
Postal Service , which is currently facing the possibility of financial ruin .
The Democratic and vice presidential contender told CNN ’ s Dana Bash on Sunday that letting the Postal Service go to the wall would severely impact mail-in ballots .
“ We will not be able to effectively count the votes of every eligible American because he ’ s doing his best to undermine our confidence in the process , but worst he ’ s doing best to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postal service , ” Abrams said .
“ Unfortunately his partisan leader that he ’ s put in charge of the post office is doing his best to undermine one of the core pillars of our society , which is our ability to communicate.
” President Trump has shown unwillingness to bail out the Postal Service as Congress has scrambled to provide a relief package .
The institution has made severe cuts that could affect voting in November .
Abrams also highlighted Trump ’ s repeated attacks on vote-by-mail , which have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also suggested delaying the election to prevent non-existent fraud .
“ By invoking the notion that we can not hold an election cuts against hundreds of years of history , ” Abrams said .
“ We had elections during the Civil War , during the Spanish flu , and we can have an election this time.
” “ Absentee ballots work , as he admits , and that ’ s the exact same thing as mail-in ballots , vote-by-mail , it ’ s all the same job , ” Abrams said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make sure we have a postal service that can actually deliver the votes to our election officials .
”

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Stacey Abrams has suggested that Donald Trump may try to steal the election by refusing to help the U.S. Postal Service, which is currently facing the possibility of financial ruin.
The Democratic and vice presidential contender told CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday that letting the Postal Service go to the wall would severely impact mail-in ballots.
“We will not be able to effectively count the votes of every eligible American because he’s doing his best to undermine our confidence in the process, but worst he’s doing best to actually steal the vote by undermining the postal service,” Abrams said.
“Unfortunately his partisan leader that he’s put in charge of the post office is doing his best to undermine one of the core pillars of our society, which is our ability to communicate.”
President Trump has shown unwillingness to bail out the Postal Service as Congress has scrambled to provide a relief package. The institution has made severe cuts that could affect voting in November.
Abrams also highlighted Trump’s repeated attacks on vote-by-mail, which have also irked some Republicans. He’s also suggested delaying the election to prevent non-existent fraud.
“By invoking the notion that we cannot hold an election cuts against hundreds of years of history,” Abrams said.
“We had elections during the Civil War, during the Spanish flu, and we can have an election this time.”
“Absentee ballots work, as he admits, and that’s the exact same thing as mail-in ballots, vote-by-mail, it’s all the same job,” Abrams said.
“And the job that he has is to make sure we have a postal service that can actually deliver the votes to our election officials.”
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-08-03--Fauci: It’ll Be a Really Bad Situation if Covid Cases Aren’t Under 10k per Day in September

By the early part of May , there was some optimism that the U.S. may be turning the corner on the Covid-19 pandemic .
But the virus ignited again when a number of states re-opened without following the guidelines outlined by the CDC .
Currently the US is seeing 50,000 to 65,000 new cases each day .
According to Anthony Fauci , that number needs to be significantly reduced .
The Doctor said during a Monday livestream that if that number doesn ’ t get closer to 10,000 , the country will have a really tough time come Autumn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 60,000 new cases a day , suggesting it is right in the middle of the first wave , ” Fauci told Dr. Howard Bauchner .
“ If we don ’ t get them down , then we ’ re going to have a really bad situation in the fall.
” The epidemiologist suggested that states can get the numbers down without having to closing down entirely .
“ You may need to pause , you may need to drop back a little bit .
I don ’ t think you necessarily have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to closing.
” The Doctor was also willing to take some of the blame for the country ’ s current crisis .
“ We ’ re not perfect , we did not do everything right , but nobody has done everything right , ” he said .
“ Let ’ s just be humble enough to know that we all could have done better.
” You can listen to the entire conversation here , courtesy of the Journal of American Medice :

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By the early part of May, there was some optimism that the U.S. may be turning the corner on the Covid-19 pandemic. But the virus ignited again when a number of states re-opened without following the guidelines outlined by the CDC.
Currently the US is seeing 50,000 to 65,000 new cases each day. According to Anthony Fauci, that number needs to be significantly reduced. The Doctor said during a Monday livestream that if that number doesn’t get closer to 10,000, the country will have a really tough time come Autumn.
“The country continues to log 50,000 to 60,000 new cases a day, suggesting it is right in the middle of the first wave,” Fauci told Dr. Howard Bauchner. “If we don’t get them down, then we’re going to have a really bad situation in the fall.”
The epidemiologist suggested that states can get the numbers down without having to closing down entirely. “You may need to pause, you may need to drop back a little bit. I don’t think you necessarily have to revert to going all the way back to closing.”
The Doctor was also willing to take some of the blame for the country’s current crisis. “We’re not perfect, we did not do everything right, but nobody has done everything right,” he said. “Let’s just be humble enough to know that we all could have done better.”
You can listen to the entire conversation here, courtesy of the Journal of American Medice:


politicususa--2020-08-03--Trump Flips Out And Says The Post Office Can’t Handle Delivering Mail-In Ballots

Trump has a new excuse for why people can ’ t vote by mail .
At the White House coronavirus briefing , he said the Post Office couldn ’ t handle delivering mail-in ballots .
This is something that ’ s so messed up , and by the way , I have to say , the Post Office , for many , many years , has been , you know , run if a fashion that hasn ’ t been great .
Great workers and everything , but they have old equipment , very old equipment .
And I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared for a thing like this .
You have to ask the people at the Post Office , but how can the Post Office be expected to handle — they have regular mailing , and then now on top of that , they have the internet where you have Amazon and these companies doing , you know , all the buys instead of going to a department store , they buy through mail .
So you have massive numbers of purchases now going through the Post Office , purchases of items and gifts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strain on the Post Office .
Trump ’ s basic excuse is that the Postal Service , whose function is to deliver the mail , is incapable of handling mail-in ballots .
The Postal Service handles the holiday season every year , so they can probably handle some ballots .
Trump keeps hurting his party every time he goes off on one of these rants about not voting by mail .
The President isn ’ t deterring Democrats from voting with his rants .
He is only scaring Republicans and convincing them not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump has a new excuse for why people can’t vote by mail. At the White House coronavirus briefing, he said the Post Office couldn’t handle delivering mail-in ballots.
Trump said:
This is something that’s so messed up, and by the way, I have to say, the Post Office, for many, many years, has been, you know, run if a fashion that hasn’t been great. Great workers and everything, but they have old equipment, very old equipment. And I don’t think the Post Office is prepared for a thing like this. You have to ask the people at the Post Office, but how can the Post Office be expected to handle — they have regular mailing, and then now on top of that, they have the internet where you have Amazon and these companies doing, you know, all the buys instead of going to a department store, they buy through mail. So you have massive numbers of purchases now going through the Post Office, purchases of items and gifts. And that’s a tremendous strain on the Post Office.
Video:
Trump's new excuse to stop mail-in voting is that the Post Office can't handle delivering ballots. pic.twitter.com/GTn6Qra2s9 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 3, 2020
Trump’s basic excuse is that the Postal Service, whose function is to deliver the mail, is incapable of handling mail-in ballots. The Postal Service handles the holiday season every year, so they can probably handle some ballots.
Trump keeps hurting his party every time he goes off on one of these rants about not voting by mail. The President isn’t deterring Democrats from voting with his rants. He is only scaring Republicans and convincing them not to mail in their ballot for him in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-03--Adam Schiff Is Investigating Trump Spying On American Protesters

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) has launched an investigation into DHS collecting intelligence on protesters .
Since its July 22 , 2020 letter requesting documents , the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence ( the “ Committee ” ) has learned more about actions undertaken by Department of Homeland Security ( “ DHS ” or the “ Department ” ) personnel in Portland , Oregon and elsewhere , including personnel with DHS ’ Office of Intelligence and Analysis ( “ I & A ” ) , an element of the U.S. Intelligence Community .
Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitoring of peaceful protesters , creating and disseminating intelligence reports about journalists and protesters , and potential exploitation of electronic devices is deeply troubling .
The revelations require a full accounting , and , if substantiated , must never be allowed to occur again .
The Committee is therefore initiating , pursuant to its unique oversight and legislative authority , an investigation of I & A ’ s activities in Portland and in support of the Department ’ s response to protests nationwide .
Schiff gave DHS an August 10 deadline to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses made available for interviews during the month of August .
DHS will stall and try to run out the clock in the hope that Trump wins reelection , Republicans take back the House , and this investigation vanishes , but both of those things are unlikely to happen .
There are many potential crimes and violations of constitutional rights unfolding as part of Trump ’ s scheme to send unwanted federal agents into US cities , but the illegal gathering of intelligence on protesters who are exercising their First Amendment rights has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has launched an investigation into DHS collecting intelligence on protesters.
Chairman Schiff wrote to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf:
Since its July 22, 2020 letter requesting documents, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (the “Committee”) has learned more about actions undertaken by Department of Homeland Security (“DHS” or the “Department”) personnel in Portland, Oregon and elsewhere, including personnel with DHS’ Office of Intelligence and Analysis (“I&A”), an element of the U.S. Intelligence Community.
Let me be clear: reporting regarding the monitoring of peaceful protesters, creating and disseminating intelligence reports about journalists and protesters, and potential exploitation of electronic devices is deeply troubling.
The revelations require a full accounting, and, if substantiated, must never be allowed to occur again. The Committee is therefore initiating, pursuant to its unique oversight and legislative authority, an investigation of I&A’s activities in Portland and in support of the Department’s response to protests nationwide.
Schiff gave DHS an August 10 deadline to turn over requested documents and he wants key witnesses made available for interviews during the month of August.
DHS will stall and try to run out the clock in the hope that Trump wins reelection, Republicans take back the House, and this investigation vanishes, but both of those things are unlikely to happen.
There are many potential crimes and violations of constitutional rights unfolding as part of Trump’s scheme to send unwanted federal agents into US cities, but the illegal gathering of intelligence on protesters who are exercising their First Amendment rights has the potential for great long-term damage.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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