politicususa--2020-05-07--The Trump Administration Shelved the CDC’s Guide to Reopening the National Economy

An exclusive report from The Associated Press reveals that President Donald Trump ’ s administration shelved a 17-page report by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) team titled “ Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework.
” The report , the AP notes , “ was researched and written to help faith leaders , business owners , educators and state and local officials as they begin to reopen.
” The document was set to be published last Friday , but a CDC official who spoke to the AP said that agency scientists were told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of day.
” The CDC ’ s document reportedly contains more detail than the “ Opening Up America Again ” guidelines released by the White House last month .
The White House ’ s guidelines are vaguer than the CDC ’ s , suggesting that state and local governments can reopen in accordance with federal and local “ regulations and guidance , ” including monitoring employees for symptoms of the novel coronavirus .
The shelved report is far more strict .
For example , it says restaurants and bars should install sneeze guards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eateries avoid having buffets , salad bars , and drink stations .
It also recommends that restaurants seat diners at least six feet apart and that eateries use phone technology to alert patrons when their tables are ready to avoid touching anyone and using restaurant pagers .
The Trump administration did not want to release the CDC ’ s guidance because it makes specific recommendations on how sectors of the economy could reopen .
The AP obtained a copy of the guidance from another federal official who was not authorized to release it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control over the CDC ’ s release of information during the coronavirus pandemic .
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has been largely absent from recent appearances by the coronavirus task force .
The president recently suggested he would disband the task force , but did an about-face following heavy pushback .
He now says the task force will continue “ indefinitely .
”

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An exclusive report from The Associated Press reveals that President Donald Trump’s administration shelved a 17-page report by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) team titled “Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework.” The report, the AP notes, “was researched and written to help faith leaders, business owners, educators and state and local officials as they begin to reopen.”
The document was set to be published last Friday, but a CDC official who spoke to the AP said that agency scientists were told it “would never see the light of day.”
The CDC’s document reportedly contains more detail than the “Opening Up America Again” guidelines released by the White House last month. The White House’s guidelines are vaguer than the CDC’s, suggesting that state and local governments can reopen in accordance with federal and local “regulations and guidance,” including monitoring employees for symptoms of the novel coronavirus.
The shelved report is far more strict. For example, it says restaurants and bars should install sneeze guards at cash registers. It also suggests eateries avoid having buffets, salad bars, and drink stations. It also recommends that restaurants seat diners at least six feet apart and that eateries use phone technology to alert patrons when their tables are ready to avoid touching anyone and using restaurant pagers.
The Trump administration did not want to release the CDC’s guidance because it makes specific recommendations on how sectors of the economy could reopen. The AP obtained a copy of the guidance from another federal official who was not authorized to release it.
The White House has exerted tight control over the CDC’s release of information during the coronavirus pandemic. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has been largely absent from recent appearances by the coronavirus task force. The president recently suggested he would disband the task force, but did an about-face following heavy pushback. He now says the task force will continue “indefinitely.”


politicususa--2020-05-08--Maddow Blasts GOP Governor For Caving To Trump And Opening His State As Coronavirus Cases Spike

Rachel Maddow blasted the Republican governor of Arizona on Thursday for ignoring alarming coronavirus data and opening up his state , apparently because Donald Trump pressured him to do so .
The MSNBC host pointed out that just last week , GOP Gov .
Doug Ducey said the data was clear that Arizona ’ s stay-at-home order must remain in place until at least mid-May .
But then , just ahead of the president ’ s visit to the state this week , the governor did a complete reversal and decided his state didn ’ t need a stay-at-home order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Ducey decided to ditch his own state ’ s coronavirus model and instead use one given to him by the Trump administration – a model that the public isn ’ t allowed to see .
“ In changing their mind , they were relying on a new model , a different model from the one they had worked with the universities on , ” Maddow said .
“ They said that for this new decision , they were relying on a model that had been provided to the state by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see it , ” Maddow added .
The most robust Arizona-specific coronavirus modeling project anywhere , it found that the only way the state could avoid an exponential growth in cases was to maintain the current stay-at-home restrictions until at least the end of May .
The end of May .
So last week , Arizona ’ s governor , looking at that data , told the people of the state , ‘ Hey , we got to extend the stay-at-home order , we ’ re not out of the woods yet.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprise , as the president announced a planned visit to Arizona , Arizona ’ s governor , Doug Ducey , suddenly did a u-ie , and decided that , nope , the state wouldn ’ t have to keep in place its stay-at-home order anymore , he was going to accelerate the planned opening .
Hair salons and barber shops , go for it .
Restaurants , you ’ re next .
Governor Ducey made this sudden change , announced it on Monday .
Perhaps it did have something to do with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course has been encouraging governors to open up right now because everything ’ s fine now .
In any event , Governor Ducey ’ s administration said that in making this new decision , in changing their mind , they were relying on a new model , a different model from the one they had worked with the universities on .
They said that for this new decision , they were relying on a model that had been provided to the state by the Trump administration .
And that model said everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stay-at-home order right away .
No reason to wait .
And this new model that told the governor , go ahead and open everything up , it ’ s a secret .
Nobody is allowed to see it .
Trump ’ s only goal is to save his reelection campaign The coronavirus has wreaked health and economic havoc all across the country over the past two months , and Donald Trump ’ s incompetence has made the crisis much worse .
With unemployment reaching Great Depression levels , Trump believes his only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to throw the doors of the economy wide open , even if it will put lives at risk .
Too many Republican governors are following his dangerous lead .

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Rachel Maddow blasted the Republican governor of Arizona on Thursday for ignoring alarming coronavirus data and opening up his state, apparently because Donald Trump pressured him to do so.
The MSNBC host pointed out that just last week, GOP Gov. Doug Ducey said the data was clear that Arizona’s stay-at-home order must remain in place until at least mid-May.
But then, just ahead of the president’s visit to the state this week, the governor did a complete reversal and decided his state didn’t need a stay-at-home order after all.
Maddow pointed out that Gov. Ducey decided to ditch his own state’s coronavirus model and instead use one given to him by the Trump administration – a model that the public isn’t allowed to see.
“In changing their mind, they were relying on a new model, a different model from the one they had worked with the universities on,” Maddow said. “They said that for this new decision, they were relying on a model that had been provided to the state by the Trump administration.”
“Nobody is allowed to see it,” Maddow added.
Video:
Rachel Maddow says the GOP governor of Arizona may have been influenced to lift his stay-at-home order because of Trump’s visit to the state. #ctl #p2 #maddow pic.twitter.com/zKTEMXJY4C — PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) May 8, 2020
Maddow said:
The most robust Arizona-specific coronavirus modeling project anywhere, it found that the only way the state could avoid an exponential growth in cases was to maintain the current stay-at-home restrictions until at least the end of May. The end of May. So last week, Arizona’s governor, looking at that data, told the people of the state, ‘Hey, we got to extend the stay-at-home order, we’re not out of the woods yet.’ But then, this week, surprise, as the president announced a planned visit to Arizona, Arizona’s governor, Doug Ducey, suddenly did a u-ie, and decided that, nope, the state wouldn’t have to keep in place its stay-at-home order anymore, he was going to accelerate the planned opening. Hair salons and barber shops, go for it. Restaurants, you’re next. Governor Ducey made this sudden change, announced it on Monday. Perhaps it did have something to do with that impending visit from the president, who of course has been encouraging governors to open up right now because everything’s fine now. In any event, Governor Ducey’s administration said that in making this new decision, in changing their mind, they were relying on a new model, a different model from the one they had worked with the universities on. They said that for this new decision, they were relying on a model that had been provided to the state by the Trump administration. And that model said everything would be fine if the governor lifted the stay-at-home order right away. No reason to wait. And this new model that told the governor, go ahead and open everything up, it’s a secret. Nobody is allowed to see it.
Trump’s only goal is to save his reelection campaign
The coronavirus has wreaked health and economic havoc all across the country over the past two months, and Donald Trump’s incompetence has made the crisis much worse.
With unemployment reaching Great Depression levels, Trump believes his only shot to save his reelection campaign is to throw the doors of the economy wide open, even if it will put lives at risk.
Too many Republican governors are following his dangerous lead.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter


politicususa--2020-05-08--Ted Cruz Gets Haircut at Texas Salon Owned by Woman Who Was Jailed This Week for Reopening Her Busin

Ted Cruz Gets Haircut at Texas Salon Owned by Woman Who Was Jailed This Week for Reopening Her Business

Senator Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) received his first haircut in three months at Salon à la Mode , the same salon owned by Shelley Luther , who was jailed this week for defying the state ’ s stay-at-home order and reopening her business early .
“ Hair salons & barbershops are open in TX today .
Just got my hair cut for first time in 3 months at Salon ALa Mode to support Shelley Luther , who was wrongly imprisoned when she refused to apologize for trying to earn a living , ” Cruz wrote on social media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ & her business is open !
” Speaking to CBS 11 News , Luther said : “ When people reach out with true authenticity , it ’ s huge.
” “ It ’ s a nice gesture .
His family actually called my boyfriend and prayed for him for 20 minutes while I was in jail .
To me that ’ s not political… that ’ s just really nice people reaching out and making sure that our family is OK , ” she added .
Luther was found in civil and criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s stay-at-home order .
Judge Eric Moyé ordered her to serve seven days in jail and to pay a fine of $ 500 for every day the salon stayed open .
Luther refused to apologize for reopening her business , telling the judge in court : “ I have hairstylists that are going hungry because they ’ d rather feed their kids .
So sir , if you think the law is more important than kids being fed then please go ahead with your decision but I ’ m not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was jailed Wednesday but was released Thursday after Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order that retroactively eliminates jail time as a consequence for violating the state ’ s stay-at-home order .
The Texas Supreme Court also ruled in favor of her release .
“ Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical , and I will not allow it to happen , ” Abbott said in a statement .
“ That is why I am modifying my executive orders to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an order .
This order is retroactive to April 2nd , supersedes local orders and if correctly applied should free Shelley Luther.
” Luther also received support from President Donald Trump , who told Fox News that Luther ’ s “ an incredible representative for a large group of people that want to do the same thing — they want to get back to work .
”

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Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) received his first haircut in three months at Salon à la Mode, the same salon owned by Shelley Luther, who was jailed this week for defying the state’s stay-at-home order and reopening her business early.
“Hair salons & barbershops are open in TX today. Just got my hair cut for first time in 3 months at Salon ALa Mode to support Shelley Luther, who was wrongly imprisoned when she refused to apologize for trying to earn a living,” Cruz wrote on social media. “Glad Shelley is out of jail & her business is open!”
Hair salons & barbershops are open in TX today. Just got my hair cut for first time in 3 months at Salon ALa Mode to support Shelley Luther, who was wrongly imprisoned when she refused to apologize for trying to earn a living. Glad Shelley is out of jail & her business is open! pic.twitter.com/yJD8fWb84W — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 8, 2020
Speaking to CBS 11 News, Luther said: “When people reach out with true authenticity, it’s huge.”
“It’s a nice gesture. His family actually called my boyfriend and prayed for him for 20 minutes while I was in jail. To me that’s not political… that’s just really nice people reaching out and making sure that our family is OK,” she added.
#NEW Standing outside Salon A’ La Mode after getting a haircut, #Texas @SenTedCruz says he is proud to support owner Shelley Luther. @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/D42Z40gsx2 — Jack Fink (@cbs11jack) May 8, 2020
Luther was found in civil and criminal contempt of court in Dallas for defying the state’s stay-at-home order. Judge Eric Moyé ordered her to serve seven days in jail and to pay a fine of $500 for every day the salon stayed open.
Luther refused to apologize for reopening her business, telling the judge in court: “I have hairstylists that are going hungry because they’d rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids being fed then please go ahead with your decision but I’m not going to shut the salon.”
Luther was jailed Wednesday but was released Thursday after Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order that retroactively eliminates jail time as a consequence for violating the state’s stay-at-home order. The Texas Supreme Court also ruled in favor of her release.
“Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical, and I will not allow it to happen,” Abbott said in a statement. “That is why I am modifying my executive orders to ensure confinement is not a punishment for violating an order. This order is retroactive to April 2nd, supersedes local orders and if correctly applied should free Shelley Luther.”
Luther also received support from President Donald Trump, who told Fox News that Luther’s “an incredible representative for a large group of people that want to do the same thing — they want to get back to work.”


politicususa--2020-05-08--Trump Says World War II Veterans Are “Too Pure” to Catch Coronavirus Despite Not Wearing a Face Mask

President Donald Trump claimed World War II veterans are “ too pure ” to catch the novel coronavirus in freewheeling remarks during a meeting with Republican lawmakers .
The president made the remarks just one day after his personal valet tested positive for the virus .
The president said he didn ’ t wear a face mask during a ceremony honoring veterans for their service , but insisted he was “ very far away from them ” and “ they ’ re so pure , it will never happen.
” “ I would have loved to have gone up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I had a conversation with everyone , but we were very far away .
You saw , ” Trump said .
“ Plus the wind was blowing so hard in such a direction that if the plague ever reached them , I ’ d be very surprised.
” The president also disparaged reporters , claiming they ’ re more concerned about the well-being of veterans than they are for him .
“ That ’ s OK because I think they ’ re so pure , it will never happen .
Alright ?
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But no , the wind was howling .
And I didn ’ t see anybody with masks , I don ’ t know , maybe there were .
But they were great.
” You can watch footage of Trump ’ s remarks below .
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie were also with Trump during the ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe .
Neither official wore a mask during the event , behavior for which they received criticism from Vietnam Veterans of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We need the president and his closest aides to immediately start modeling CDC guidelines and behavior that keeps veterans and elderly Americans safe , because what they ’ re doing right now is going to get people killed , ” said Kristofer Goldsmith , the group ’ s associate director of policy and government affairs .

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President Donald Trump claimed World War II veterans are “too pure” to catch the novel coronavirus in freewheeling remarks during a meeting with Republican lawmakers. The president made the remarks just one day after his personal valet tested positive for the virus.
The president said he didn’t wear a face mask during a ceremony honoring veterans for their service, but insisted he was “very far away from them” and “they’re so pure, it will never happen.”
“I would have loved to have gone up and hugged them because they are great. I had a conversation with everyone, but we were very far away. You saw,” Trump said. “Plus the wind was blowing so hard in such a direction that if the plague ever reached them, I’d be very surprised.”
The president also disparaged reporters, claiming they’re more concerned about the well-being of veterans than they are for him.
“That’s OK because I think they’re so pure, it will never happen. Alright? They’ve lived a great life. But no, the wind was howling. And I didn’t see anybody with masks, I don’t know, maybe there were. But they were great.”
You can watch footage of Trump’s remarks below.
Reporter: "Mr. President, you were with 7 American heroes earlier today, these World War II veterans, all in their nineties. Did you consider wearing a mask when you were with them?" President Trump: "No because I was very far away." pic.twitter.com/puNmk4AHra — The Hill (@thehill) May 8, 2020
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie were also with Trump during the ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe. Neither official wore a mask during the event, behavior for which they received criticism from Vietnam Veterans of America, a veterans advocacy group.
“We need the president and his closest aides to immediately start modeling CDC guidelines and behavior that keeps veterans and elderly Americans safe, because what they’re doing right now is going to get people killed,” said Kristofer Goldsmith, the group’s associate director of policy and government affairs.


politicususa--2020-05-08--With Tones Of Obama, Joe Biden Drops The Hammer On Trump

Joe Biden sounded some similar tones to Obama in 2008 as he talked about how Trump has trashed the economy and discussed rebuilding the middle-class .
He promised to work with Congress to pass a bill to limit offshoring of jobs .
He promised to create $ 1 trillion worth of new infrastructure jobs .
He promised to expand child care support .
He said it would all happen before May 2017 .
It ’ s now May 2020 , and not one of these promises has materialized .
Instead , he ’ s run the same playbook that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the past four decades .
It always ends up the same way .
The rich get richer , the powerful get more power , and everyone else gets told they just need to work harder .
We ’ ve heard it before — and we ’ re not buying it .
And if you need proof that Trump ’ s policies were a failure even before this virus hit , just compare the first 35 months of Trump ’ s presidency to the last 35 months of the Obama-Biden Administration , hiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more slowly too .
Trump was already well into the process of hollowing out the good economy we left him long before the first case of coronavirus .
The numbers looked good , but underneath the numbers , things were eroding .
But this pandemic has laid bare exactly how much damage Trump has done in just over three years .
Because Donald Trump has gotten the virus response wrong , the jobs and unemployment numbers are just the beginning .
His mistakes will also mean it takes more time to recover from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tell-tale hallmarks of Trump-o-nomics in the way he is implementing the crisis response efforts : no strings , no oversight , no accountability .
Joe Biden sounded like his former boss when he said , “ It starts with rebuilding the backbone of this country : a stronger , more inclusive , more resilient middle class – a middle class that can withstand the next public health crisis or whatever else comes our way .
It ’ s time we make sure everyone gets a fair shot at success , not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been abandoned under Donald Trump , a president who has exalted the rich demonized the poor and doesn ’ t see the middle .
In 2008 , Barack Obama made an ideological argument for delivering change to America as the Great Recession was unfolding .
In 2020 , Joe Biden is speaking directly to the 99 % , and arguing that the path to ending the Trump Depression goes through America that Donald Trump doesn ’ t even see .
The message worked in 2008 and 2012 , and it has the ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Joe Biden sounded some similar tones to Obama in 2008 as he talked about how Trump has trashed the economy and discussed rebuilding the middle-class.
Former Vice President Biden said:
He promised to work with Congress to pass a bill to limit offshoring of jobs. He promised to create $1 trillion worth of new infrastructure jobs. He promised to expand child care support.
He said it would all happen before May 2017. It’s now May 2020, and not one of these promises has materialized.
Watch Biden’s full address:
https://youtu.be/DNe5cB6svEU
Instead, he’s run the same playbook that has hollowed out our economy time and again over the past four decades.
It always ends up the same way. The rich get richer, the powerful get more power, and everyone else gets told they just need to work harder.
We’ve heard it before — and we’re not buying it.
And if you need proof that Trump’s policies were a failure even before this virus hit, just compare the first 35 months of Trump’s presidency to the last 35 months of the Obama-Biden Administration, hiring was slower, and real wages grew more slowly too.
Trump was already well into the process of hollowing out the good economy we left him long before the first case of coronavirus.
The numbers looked good, but underneath the numbers, things were eroding.
But this pandemic has laid bare exactly how much damage Trump has done in just over three years.
Because Donald Trump has gotten the virus response wrong, the jobs and unemployment numbers are just the beginning. His mistakes will also mean it takes more time to recover from this.
We’re already seeing the tell-tale hallmarks of Trump-o-nomics in the way he is implementing the crisis response efforts: no strings, no oversight, no accountability.
Joe Biden sounded like his former boss when he said, “It starts with rebuilding the backbone of this country: a stronger, more inclusive, more resilient middle class – a middle class that can withstand the next public health crisis or whatever else comes our way. It’s time we make sure everyone gets a fair shot at success, not just the Mar-a-Lago crowd.”
The middle-class has been abandoned under Donald Trump, a president who has exalted the rich demonized the poor and doesn’t see the middle.
In 2008, Barack Obama made an ideological argument for delivering change to America as the Great Recession was unfolding. In 2020, Joe Biden is speaking directly to the 99%, and arguing that the path to ending the Trump Depression goes through America that Donald Trump doesn’t even see.
The message worked in 2008 and 2012, and it has the ability to do the same in 2020.


politicususa--2020-05-08--Hypocrite Trump Now Requires People Around Him To Wear Masks

Trump has refused to wear a mask or follow virus guidelines , but he now requires those in close contact @ @ @ @ @ coverings .
The White House rolled out new requirements after Stephen Miller ’ s wife @ @ @ @ @ Katie Miller , tested positive for coronavirus : Trump has refused to wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ he thinks it will look bad on TV and make him look ridiculous .
The @ @ @ @ @ in place as he is trying to force states to reopen their economies without restrictions @ @ @ @ @ release of detailed CDC guidelines for safely reopening the country .
Donald Trump doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ people get sick and die by the hundreds of thousands .
His only concern is @ @ @ @ @ get the virus .
The hypocrite president is telling you to get sick while he @ @ @ @ @ safe .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group @

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Trump has refused to wear a mask or follow virus guidelines, but he now requires those in close contact with him to wear face coverings.
The White House rolled out new requirements after Stephen Miller’s wife, and Pence staffer, Katie Miller, tested positive for coronavirus:
NEW WH procedures after aides test positive for coronavirus. -Deep/more frequent cleaning of West Wing
-Requiring staff who serve president & close to him throughout day to wear face coverings
-Members of WH press corps will be offered free testing @carolelee @albamonica — Susan Kroll (@suekroll) May 8, 2020
Trump has refused to wear a mask to keep others safe because he thinks it will look bad on TV and make him look ridiculous. The President also put these procedures in place as he is trying to force states to reopen their economies without restrictions as he has blocked the release of detailed CDC guidelines for safely reopening the country.
Donald Trump doesn’t care if the American people get sick and die by the hundreds of thousands. His only concern is that he doesn’t get the virus.
The hypocrite president is telling you to get sick while he takes extra precautions to stay safe.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-05-08--House Democrats Demand IG Investigation Into Barr

House Judiciary Democrats sent a letter demanding Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz investigate Barr ’ s dropping of the Mike Flynn case .
Like many Americans , we are deeply concerned by the Department ’ s decision to move to dismiss the criminal case against Michael Flynn , who briefly served as President Trump ’ s National Security Advisor .
Under a generous plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller , Mr. Flynn was allowed to plead guilty to a single charge of making false statements to federal investigators and avoid prosecution for other serious alleged crimes .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismiss these charges , it is important to observe the divide between Attorney General William Barr and the career staff at the Department of Justice .
Hours before the government moved to dismiss the case , Brandon Van Grack—an experienced prosecutor who had worked the Flynn case from its inception—abruptly withdrew from the matter .
On the merits , the government ’ s argument for dismissing the case appears to be inaccurate , politically biased , and inconsistent with the Department ’ s own guidelines .
The government ’ s brief is signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the District of Columbia , promoted from the Attorney General ’ s personal staff to his current post earlier this year—and not by a single career prosecutor .
Of course , the Hatch Act prohibits Department of Justice employees from engaging in partisan political activities in the course of official business .
The Department applies the most rigorous such restrictions to its senior leadership “ to ensure that there is not an appearance that politics plays any part in the Department ’ s day-to-day operations.
” Federal law also disqualifies any DOJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation or prosecution if such participation may result in a personal , financial , or political conflict of interest , or the appearance thereof.
” Simply put , the Attorney General is prohibited from putting his thumb on the scale in favor of the President , time and time again .
We write to request an investigation by your office into a pattern of conduct that includes improper political interference , ignoring standards for recusal , and abrogating Attorney General guidelines , among other improper considerations .
We ask that your office review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as any other related actions you find during the course of your investigation .
The American people deserve to know the full extent of the politicization of the Department of Justice .
They deserve a Department that is guided by the facts and the law , and not by the President ’ s political interests .
Trump is never going to fire William Barr , but an IG investigation would both expose the corruption and damage that Barr and Trump are doing to the Department of Justice while also laying the groundwork for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It would not be necessary to impeach Barr if Democrats win the presidential election .
Trump is never going to voluntarily get rid of William Barr , so in case , the President wins reelection , House Democrats are getting ready to act .
House Democrats aren ’ t going to let Barr ’ s actions go unchallenged , and are gearing up to investigate the Attorney General .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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House Judiciary Democrats sent a letter demanding Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz investigate Barr’s dropping of the Mike Flynn case.
The Judiciary Democrats led by Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) wrote:
Like many Americans, we are deeply concerned by the Department’s decision to move to dismiss the criminal case against Michael Flynn, who briefly served as President Trump’s National Security Advisor. Under a generous plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Mr. Flynn was allowed to plead guilty to a single charge of making false statements to federal investigators and avoid prosecution for other serious alleged crimes.
In measuring the impact of the decision to dismiss these charges, it is important to observe the divide between Attorney General William Barr and the career staff at the Department of Justice. Hours before the government moved to dismiss the case, Brandon Van Grack—an experienced prosecutor who had worked the Flynn case from its inception—abruptly withdrew from the matter. On the merits, the government’s argument for dismissing the case appears to be inaccurate, politically biased, and inconsistent with the Department’s own guidelines. The government’s brief is signed only by Timothy Shea—the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, promoted from the Attorney General’s personal staff to his current post earlier this year—and not by a single career prosecutor.
….
Of course, the Hatch Act prohibits Department of Justice employees from engaging in partisan political activities in the course of official business. The Department applies the most rigorous such restrictions to its senior leadership “to ensure that there is not an appearance that politics plays any part in the Department’s day-to-day operations.” Federal law also disqualifies any DOJ employee “from participation in a particular investigation or prosecution if such participation may result in a personal, financial, or political conflict of interest, or the appearance thereof.” Simply put, the Attorney General is prohibited from putting his thumb on the scale in favor of the President, time and time again.
We write to request an investigation by your office into a pattern of conduct that includes improper political interference, ignoring standards for recusal, and abrogating Attorney General guidelines, among other improper considerations. We ask that your office review the events highlighted above, as well as any other related actions you find during the course of your investigation. The American people deserve to know the full extent of the politicization of the Department of Justice. They deserve a Department that is guided by the facts and the law, and not by the President’s political interests.
Trump is never going to fire William Barr, but an IG investigation would both expose the corruption and damage that Barr and Trump are doing to the Department of Justice while also laying the groundwork for a potential impeachment of the Attorney General.
It would not be necessary to impeach Barr if Democrats win the presidential election. Trump is never going to voluntarily get rid of William Barr, so in case, the President wins reelection, House Democrats are getting ready to act.
House Democrats aren’t going to let Barr’s actions go unchallenged, and are gearing up to investigate the Attorney General.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-05-08--Pence Staffer Who Tested Positive For Virus Is Stephen Miller’s Wife

Trump said that the Pence staffer who tested positive for the coronavirus is Katie Miller , who is the wife @ @ @ @ @ Stephen Miller .
Here are Katie and Stephen Miller : The coronavirus has made its @ @ @ @ @ and Pence ’ s circle .
It makes sense now that the White House held @ @ @ @ @ did not address the fact that Trump and Pence have been exposed to the virus @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration is pushing for the country to reopen , the White House showed @ @ @ @ @ safe to go back to business as usual .
Stephen Miller is the architect of @ @ @ @ @ experts consider a potential crime against humanity .
The virus is closer to Trump and @ @ @ @ @ to admit , and the wife of Trump ’ s immigration henchman has brought the @ @ @ @ @ of the administration .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and @ @ @

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Trump said that the Pence staffer who tested positive for the coronavirus is Katie Miller, who is the wife of top White House aide Stephen Miller.
Tamara Keith of NPR tweeted:
President Trump has named the VP staffer who tested positive for COVID-19. "She is a wonderful young woman. Katie. She tested very good for a long period of time. And then all of a sudden today she tested positive. She hasn't come into contact with me." — Tamara Keith (@tamarakeithNPR) May 8, 2020
The Vice President's spokeswoman is Katie Miller, who is married to top Trump aide and speechwriter Stephen Miller. https://t.co/egolulewzS — Tamara Keith (@tamarakeithNPR) May 8, 2020
Here are Katie and Stephen Miller:
Katie Miller, Mike Pence’s chief spokesperson and the wife of Trump speechwriter Stephen Miller, tests positive for #coronavirus. This puts the potential threat of infection in the inner circles of both the president and vice president. https://t.co/2HOulwDZUR pic.twitter.com/xT8pFReeFI — Jim Roberts (@nycjim) May 8, 2020
The coronavirus has made its way to deep inside Trump and Pence’s circle. It makes sense now that the White House held a press briefing where they did not address the fact that Trump and Pence have been exposed to the virus.
At a time when the Trump administration is pushing for the country to reopen, the White House showed why it is still not safe to go back to business as usual.
Stephen Miller is the architect of the Trump administration policy that experts consider a potential crime against humanity. The virus is closer to Trump and Pence than they are willing to admit, and the wife of Trump’s immigration henchman has brought the pandemic into the inner circle of the administration.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-05-08--Kayleigh McEnany Runs Away When Asked About Trump And Pence Being Exposed To COVID-19

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany walked away as she was asked why she was talking about Mike Flynn instead of Trump and Pence being exposed to COVID-19 .
McEnany was asked , “ Why did you spend the first part of this briefing talking about Mike Flynn when both the President and the Vice President were exposed to coronavirus and we have historic unemployment ?
” One of Pence ’ s staffers has tested positive for COVID-19 a day after one of Trump ’ s White House valets tested positive .
Instead of talking about what steps are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or dedicating the entire briefing to discussing the 33 million Americans who have lost their jobs , McEnany spent much of the briefing talking about Mike Flynn .
The reason why the Press Secretary was talking about Flynn was that the White House doesn ’ t want to discuss the coronavirus anymore .
They are trying to ignore it , and hope that the American people will forget about the pandemic that is still killing thousands each day in the US .
The economy has collapsed .
Trump and Pence have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House is trying to distract the nation with Mike Flynn .

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White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany walked away as she was asked why she was talking about Mike Flynn instead of Trump and Pence being exposed to COVID-19.
McEnany was asked, “Why did you spend the first part of this briefing talking about Mike Flynn when both the President and the Vice President were exposed to coronavirus and we have historic unemployment?”
Video:
McEnany ends the briefing & walks away while ignoring a question about "why did you spend the first part of this briefing talking about Flynn when both POTUS & VP were exposed to coronavirus & we have historic unemployment. Is that really what's top of mind today for the WH?" pic.twitter.com/6y19QNVsLs — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 8, 2020
One of Pence’s staffers has tested positive for COVID-19 a day after one of Trump’s White House valets tested positive. Instead of talking about what steps are being taken to keep the White House safe, or dedicating the entire briefing to discussing the 33 million Americans who have lost their jobs, McEnany spent much of the briefing talking about Mike Flynn.
The reason why the Press Secretary was talking about Flynn was that the White House doesn’t want to discuss the coronavirus anymore. They are trying to ignore it, and hope that the American people will forget about the pandemic that is still killing thousands each day in the US.
The economy has collapsed. Trump and Pence have been exposed to COVID-19, and the White House is trying to distract the nation with Mike Flynn.


politicususa--2020-05-08--Lindsey Graham Praises Trump’s “Pro-Life” Response as President Predicts 100,000 Coronavirus Deaths

Lindsey Graham believes the President is putting life first as U.S. deaths from Coronavirus continue to mount .
The Republican senator praised Donald Trump for putting lives ahead of the economy .
The South Carolina senator spoke to Tony Perkins of the conservative Family Research Council on Tuesday .
His comments praising Trump seem to ring hollow considering the growing number of deaths .
Perkins argued that Trump wouldn ’ t put the U.S. economy at risk “ unless he was taking decisive action for the benefit of America.
” “ I believe if we ’ d let it run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d have a couple million people dead right now , ” Graham said .
“ Look , 70,000 people died with us locking the whole world down , so the president put life—he is pro-life in the real sense of the word—he put life ahead of his economic success.
” Since Graham ’ s remarks , the death toll has passed 75,000 .
“ The economy came to a grinding halt—not because of anything bad about the economy—to save lives.
” “ Now we ’ re trying to balance how to turn it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done a really good job , ” he said .
Graham ’ s analysis of Trump ’ s response contrasts it with a situation where the government did nothing .
It also ignores the fact Trump downplayed the severity of the disease .
Trump and his team have also consistently moved the goal posts on Coronavirus .
Speaking to Fox News on Friday , the President again revised the expected death toll .
“ We ’ ll be at 100,000 , a hundred and ten , ” Trump told Fox & Friends .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 to 60 thousand he predicted on 20 April , but far less than the 2 million he projected if no action was taken .

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Lindsey Graham believes the President is putting life first as U.S. deaths from Coronavirus continue to mount. The Republican senator praised Donald Trump for putting lives ahead of the economy.
The South Carolina senator spoke to Tony Perkins of the conservative Family Research Council on Tuesday. His comments praising Trump seem to ring hollow considering the growing number of deaths.
Perkins argued that Trump wouldn’t put the U.S. economy at risk “unless he was taking decisive action for the benefit of America.”
Senator Graham agreed.
“I believe if we’d let it run its course, Tony, you’d have a couple million people dead right now,” Graham said.
“Look, 70,000 people died with us locking the whole world down, so the president put life—he is pro-life in the real sense of the word—he put life ahead of his economic success.”
Since Graham’s remarks, the death toll has passed 75,000.
“The economy came to a grinding halt—not because of anything bad about the economy—to save lives.”
“Now we’re trying to balance how to turn it on. I think he’s done a really good job,” he said.
Graham’s analysis of Trump’s response contrasts it with a situation where the government did nothing. It also ignores the fact Trump downplayed the severity of the disease.
Trump and his team have also consistently moved the goal posts on Coronavirus. Speaking to Fox News on Friday, the President again revised the expected death toll.
“We’ll be at 100,000, a hundred and ten,” Trump told Fox & Friends.
This figure is significantly higher than the 50 to 60 thousand he predicted on 20 April, but far less than the 2 million he projected if no action was taken.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-05-08--Pelosi Blasts Justice Department for Dropping Flynn Case: A “Cover Up for the President”

Nancy Pelosi has accused the Department of Justice of covering up for President Donald Trump .
She was responding to the decision to drop the case against Michael Flynn .
The Speaker of the House issued a statement criticizing the DOJ ’ s move on Flynn .
The retired Lieutenant General had plead guilty to lying to the FBI in 2017 .
She took particular aim at Attorney General William Barr .
“ Attorney General Barr ’ s politicization of justice knows no bounds , ” Pelosi said .
“ Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , Attorney General Barr ’ s Justice Department is dropping the case to continue to cover up for the President , ” she said .
Special Counsel Robert Mueller found that Flynn had lied about his contacts with Russians during the 2016 presidential transition .
But Barr ’ s decision cuts against this .
“ Overruling the Special Counsel is without precedent and without respect for the rule of law , ” Pelosi said .
Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler , who chairs the House Judiciary Committee , also strongly criticized the DOJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GUILTY to lying to investigators .
The evidence against him is overwhelming .
Now , a politicized DOJ is dropping the case.
” “ The decision to overrule the special counsel is without precedent and warrants an immediate explanation.
” Many critics see Barr ’ s actions toward Flynn as part of a long-term strategy to undermine the Special Counsel ’ s findings for political purposes .

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Nancy Pelosi has accused the Department of Justice of covering up for President Donald Trump. She was responding to the decision to drop the case against Michael Flynn.
The Speaker of the House issued a statement criticizing the DOJ’s move on Flynn. The retired Lieutenant General had plead guilty to lying to the FBI in 2017.
She took particular aim at Attorney General William Barr.
“Attorney General Barr’s politicization of justice knows no bounds,” Pelosi said.
“Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators in the face of overwhelming evidence – but now, Attorney General Barr’s Justice Department is dropping the case to continue to cover up for the President,” she said.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller found that Flynn had lied about his contacts with Russians during the 2016 presidential transition. But Barr’s decision cuts against this.
“Overruling the Special Counsel is without precedent and without respect for the rule of law,” Pelosi said.
Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, also strongly criticized the DOJ’s decision.
“This is outrageous!” Nadler tweeted.
“Flynn PLEADED GUILTY to lying to investigators. The evidence against him is overwhelming. Now, a politicized DOJ is dropping the case.”
“The decision to overrule the special counsel is without precedent and warrants an immediate explanation.”
Many critics see Barr’s actions toward Flynn as part of a long-term strategy to undermine the Special Counsel’s findings for political purposes.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-05-08--Trump: Coronavirus Is “A Much Smarter Enemy” Than Democrats and Russia Investigators

Donald Trump thinks Covid-19 is a more intelligent adversary than his political opponents .
The President appeared to praise the virus ’ intellect during a rambling Fox News interview .
Trump spoke to Fox & Friends for around 50 minutes on Friday and covered a wide range of subjects .
The hosts asked him about the Department of Justice decision to drop the case against Michael Flynn .
Trump said the move “ absolutely ” proved the Russia investigation was a hoax .
Later , he compared the global pandemic to Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s probe .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are opening up , ” Trump said of lockdowns .
Trump talks about the economy and unemployment : He then repeated a claim that Coronavirus is somehow intelligent .
In fact , he said the disease was smarter than his Democratic opponents , Russia investigators and his own former attorney general , Jeff Sessions .
“ It ’ s a much smarter enemy than the enemy we just talked about , much smarter .
Those folks , they are not in the same league , ” Trump said .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it happens to be invisible.
” Trump also addressed the record unemployment numbers that were released during his interview .
He took no responsibility for the Depression era-levels of joblessness .
“ We created the greatest economy in the history of the world , ” Trump said .
“ We were blowing away China , we were blowing away everybody , we were the envy of the world and then they came in and they explained it and they said ‘ Sir , you have to turn it off , we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those jobs will all be back and they ’ ll be back very soon and next year we ’ re going to have a phenomenal year , ” Trump said .
“ People are ready to go , we ’ ve got to get it open , people are ready to go .
”

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Donald Trump thinks Covid-19 is a more intelligent adversary than his political opponents. The President appeared to praise the virus’ intellect during a rambling Fox News interview.
Trump spoke to Fox & Friends for around 50 minutes on Friday and covered a wide range of subjects. The hosts asked him about the Department of Justice decision to drop the case against Michael Flynn.
Trump said the move “absolutely” proved the Russia investigation was a hoax. Later, he compared the global pandemic to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.
“Our country is going back to work, we are opening up,” Trump said of lockdowns.
Trump talks about the economy and unemployment:
The optics of Trump ranting about how great the economy used to be alongside a graphic showing the current unemployment rate at 14.7 percent isn't great pic.twitter.com/A5UThYOWk7 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 8, 2020
He then repeated a claim that Coronavirus is somehow intelligent. In fact, he said the disease was smarter than his Democratic opponents, Russia investigators and his own former attorney general, Jeff Sessions.
“It’s a much smarter enemy than the enemy we just talked about, much smarter. Those folks, they are not in the same league,” Trump said.
“This is a very brilliant enemy. And it happens to be invisible.”
Trump also addressed the record unemployment numbers that were released during his interview. He took no responsibility for the Depression era-levels of joblessness.
“We created the greatest economy in the history of the world,” Trump said.
“We were blowing away China, we were blowing away everybody, we were the envy of the world and then they came in and they explained it and they said ‘Sir, you have to turn it off, we have to close the country.'”
“Those jobs will all be back and they’ll be back very soon and next year we’re going to have a phenomenal year,” Trump said.
“People are ready to go, we’ve got to get it open, people are ready to go.”
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-05-08--Trump, Who Regularly Fires People, Claims He “Learned A Lot” About Not Firing People from Richard Ni

Trump, Who Regularly Fires People, Claims He “Learned A Lot” About Not Firing People from Richard Nixon

President Donald Trump reflected on his approach to the Russia investigation during a phone interview with the hosts of “ Fox and Friends , ” saying he “ learned a lot ” from studying history and the administration of former President Richard Nixon .
“ I learned a lot from Richard Nixon .
Don ’ t fire people , ” he said .
“ I learned a lot .
I study history .
And the firing of everybody — I should ’ ve in one way , but I ’ m glad I didn ’ t , because look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re all a bunch of crooks and they got caught.
” “ Of course there was one difference , one big difference , ” Trump continued .
“ Number one , he may have been guilty .
And number two , he had tapes all over the place .
I wasn ’ t guilty .
I did nothing wrong , and there are no tapes .
But I wish there were tapes in my case.
” The problem with Trump ’ s reflection : He has fired many people during his tenure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • James Comey , the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) • Andrew McCabe , the former Deputy FBI Director , who was fired after Trump pressured Jeff Sessions • Sally Yates , the acting Attorney General ( one of the earliest firings of the Trump administration ) • John Kelly , his former chief of staff • Reince Priebus , his former chief of staff • Rex Tillerson , his former Secretary of State Nixon ’ s reputation , already dealt heavy hits from the Watergate scandal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following the Saturday Night Massacre , the series of events that took place after he ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox .
After Richardson refused and resigned , Nixon demanded Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus to fire Cox .
Ruckelshaus also refused , prompting Nixon to order Solicitor General Robert Bork to fire Cox .
Bork complied with the order , but the incident sparked the impeachment process against Nixon 10 days later .
Facing an almost certain impeachment and conviction , Nixon resigned .
The president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Intelligence Committee released new transcripts and material from closed-door interviews conducted during the Russia probe , including interviews with Donald Trump Jr. , Jared Kushner , Corey Lewandowski , Hope Hicks , Brad Parscale and Carter Page .
Special counsel Robert Mueller , who was appointed to lead the investigation into Russia ’ s subversion of the 2016 presidential election , did not establish that there was coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia , though he outlined ten instances where the president attempted to obstruct his investigation .

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President Donald Trump reflected on his approach to the Russia investigation during a phone interview with the hosts of “Fox and Friends,” saying he “learned a lot” from studying history and the administration of former President Richard Nixon.
“I learned a lot from Richard Nixon. Don’t fire people,” he said. “I learned a lot. I study history. And the firing of everybody — I should’ve in one way, but I’m glad I didn’t, because look at the way it turned out. They’re all a bunch of crooks and they got caught.”
“Of course there was one difference, one big difference,” Trump continued. “Number one, he may have been guilty. And number two, he had tapes all over the place. I wasn’t guilty. I did nothing wrong, and there are no tapes. But I wish there were tapes in my case.”
The problem with Trump’s reflection: He has fired many people during his tenure in the White House, including:
James Comey, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Andrew McCabe, the former Deputy FBI Director, who was fired after Trump pressured Jeff Sessions
Jeff Sessions, his former Attorney General
Sally Yates, the acting Attorney General (one of the earliest firings of the Trump administration)
John Bolton, his former national security adviser
H.R. McMaster, his former national security adviser
Mira Ricardel, the former deputy national security adviser
John Kelly, his former chief of staff
Reince Priebus, his former chief of staff
Rex Tillerson, his former Secretary of State
Steve Bannon, his former chief strategist
Nixon’s reputation, already dealt heavy hits from the Watergate scandal, fell even more in public confidence following the Saturday Night Massacre, the series of events that took place after he ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. After Richardson refused and resigned, Nixon demanded Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus to fire Cox. Ruckelshaus also refused, prompting Nixon to order Solicitor General Robert Bork to fire Cox. Bork complied with the order, but the incident sparked the impeachment process against Nixon 10 days later. Facing an almost certain impeachment and conviction, Nixon resigned.
The president’s remarks come a day after the House Intelligence Committee released new transcripts and material from closed-door interviews conducted during the Russia probe, including interviews with Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Corey Lewandowski, Hope Hicks, Brad Parscale and Carter Page.
Special counsel Robert Mueller, who was appointed to lead the investigation into Russia’s subversion of the 2016 presidential election, did not establish that there was coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, though he outlined ten instances where the president attempted to obstruct his investigation.


politicususa--2020-05-08--Al Gore Says Trump’s Coronavirus Response Shows He’s “Engaging in Magical Thinking Again”

Former Vice President Al Gore criticized President Donald Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic , saying that reopening the economy will endanger more American lives .
“ I think we ’ re in grave danger , ” Gore told Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta during an appearance on CNN .
“ I have to tell you both .
I think that we are seeing the start of a botched reopening .
I think that the President appears to be engaging in magical thinking again .
And what I mean by that is , you know , a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s just going to magically disappear.
” “ It seems as if he may be recklessly rolling the dice hoping that he can goose the economy just enough in the third quarter of this year to enhance his reelection prospects , hoping that he can divert the blame for the extra tens of thousands of Americans who the doctors tell us will die as a result of this and blame it on the Chinese or former President Obama or whoever instead of doing what a president needs to do , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to task , saying the crisis shows his presidency is a “ failure.
” “ The warnings were ignored .
I spent eight years starting every single day with a lengthy report from the intelligence committee , and there were very few occasions where there was a stark warning about grave danger to the country , and whenever there was such an occasion , we stopped and said , hold the show here .
Get the FBI .
Get the CIA .
Get whoever was involved over .
We need to learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that Trump is doing “ the complete opposite of what the United States of America needs in the presidency right now.
” You can watch footage of Gore ’ s remarks below .
Gore ’ s comments come as more than 40 states prepare to at least partially reopen their economies against the advice of health , policy , and science experts .
Earlier this week , for example , The Daily Beast broke the news that Texas Governor Greg Abbott ( R ) admitted during a private call with lawmakers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even as he publicly announced that he would end an executive stay-at-home order .
Yesterday , an exclusive report from The Associated Press revealed that the Trump administration shelved a 17-page report by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) team titled “ Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework.
” The report , the AP notes , “ was researched and written to help faith leaders , business owners , educators and state and local officials as they begin to reopen.
” The document , which contains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America Again ” guidelines released by the White House last month , was set to be published last Friday , but a CDC official who spoke to the AP said that agency scientists were told it “ would never see the light of day.
” The document was later leaked by CDC officials .

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Former Vice President Al Gore criticized President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying that reopening the economy will endanger more American lives.
“I think we’re in grave danger,” Gore told Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta during an appearance on CNN. “I have to tell you both. I think that we are seeing the start of a botched reopening. I think that the President appears to be engaging in magical thinking again. And what I mean by that is, you know, a couple of months ago he said one day it’s just going to magically disappear.”
“It seems as if he may be recklessly rolling the dice hoping that he can goose the economy just enough in the third quarter of this year to enhance his reelection prospects, hoping that he can divert the blame for the extra tens of thousands of Americans who the doctors tell us will die as a result of this and blame it on the Chinese or former President Obama or whoever instead of doing what a president needs to do,” Gore continued.
Gore continued to take Trump to task, saying the crisis shows his presidency is a “failure.”
“The warnings were ignored. I spent eight years starting every single day with a lengthy report from the intelligence committee, and there were very few occasions where there was a stark warning about grave danger to the country, and whenever there was such an occasion, we stopped and said, hold the show here. Get the FBI. Get the CIA. Get whoever was involved over. We need to learn about this,” Gore said, adding that Trump is doing “the complete opposite of what the United States of America needs in the presidency right now.”
You can watch footage of Gore’s remarks below.
"He has failed as President, particularly on this challenge. The warnings were ignored." Former Vice President Al Gore says President Trump and his administration have failed to properly handle the Covid-19 pandemic. #CNNTownHall https://t.co/BNNfapZSWp pic.twitter.com/jPPfFQlVa2 — CNN (@CNN) May 8, 2020
Gore’s comments come as more than 40 states prepare to at least partially reopen their economies against the advice of health, policy, and science experts.
Earlier this week, for example, The Daily Beast broke the news that Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) admitted during a private call with lawmakers that reopening the economy would spread the coronavirus even as he publicly announced that he would end an executive stay-at-home order.
Yesterday, an exclusive report from The Associated Press revealed that the Trump administration shelved a 17-page report by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) team titled “Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework.” The report, the AP notes, “was researched and written to help faith leaders, business owners, educators and state and local officials as they begin to reopen.”
The document, which contains more detail than the “Opening Up America Again” guidelines released by the White House last month, was set to be published last Friday, but a CDC official who spoke to the AP said that agency scientists were told it “would never see the light of day.” The document was later leaked by CDC officials.


politicususa--2020-05-08--Fox News Host Pete Hegseth Tells His Viewers to Go Out and Violate Stay-at-Home Orders

Fox News personality Pete Hegseth told his viewers to “ put freedom before fear ” and violate stay-at-home orders as the coronavirus pandemic tears its way through the country .
Hegseth made the comments while broadcasting from inside his home .
He urged “ healthy people ” to “ have some courage ” and go outside , making the case for “ herd immunity , ” which goes against the advice of health and science experts .
“ Listen , there ’ s a lot of anxiety , there ’ s a lot of misinformation , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling us hundreds of thousands of people are going to die .
Now that we ’ re learning more , herd immunity is our friend .
Healthy people getting out there — they ’ re going to have some courage.
” Hegseth went on to praise the citizens of Texas for “ denying ridiculous orders.
” His comments come shortly after Texas Governor Greg Abbott ( R ) admitted during a private call with lawmakers that reopening the economy would spread the coronavirus even as he publicly announced that he would end an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hegseth ’ s comments below .
Hegseth made headlines last year for denying the existence of germs , revealing he hasn ’ t washed his hands in 10 years .
“ I inoculate myself .
Germs are not a real thing .
I can ’ t see them , therefore they ’ re not real , ” he said at the time .

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Fox News personality Pete Hegseth told his viewers to “put freedom before fear” and violate stay-at-home orders as the coronavirus pandemic tears its way through the country.
Hegseth made the comments while broadcasting from inside his home. He urged “healthy people” to “have some courage” and go outside, making the case for “herd immunity,” which goes against the advice of health and science experts.
“Listen, there’s a lot of anxiety, there’s a lot of misinformation,” he said. “The ‘experts’ have been telling us hundreds of thousands of people are going to die. Now that we’re learning more, herd immunity is our friend. Healthy people getting out there — they’re going to have some courage.”
Hegseth went on to praise the citizens of Texas for “denying ridiculous orders.” His comments come shortly after Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) admitted during a private call with lawmakers that reopening the economy would spread the coronavirus even as he publicly announced that he would end an executive stay-at-home order.
You can watch Hegseth’s comments below.
Fox News' Pete Hegseth calls for people to go out and get infected by coronavirus: "Now that we are learning more, herd immunity is our friend. Healthy people getting out there — they are going to have to have some courage." pic.twitter.com/PCSHm9yUAW — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) May 7, 2020
Hegseth made headlines last year for denying the existence of germs, revealing he hasn’t washed his hands in 10 years.
“I inoculate myself. Germs are not a real thing. I can’t see them, therefore they’re not real,” he said at the time.


politicususa--2020-05-10--Opinion: Watching The Last Dance: What Michael Jordan and the ‘90s Bulls Can Show us about Defeating

Opinion: Watching The Last Dance: What Michael Jordan and the ‘90s Bulls Can Show us about Defeating Trumpism

Like millions of other viewers , I have been riveted to each episode thus far of ESPN ’ s The Last Dance .
This ten-part documentary charts the Chicago Bulls ’ rise to dominance in the 1990s , a decade in which Michael Jordan willed the Bulls to six NBA titles , only to have the team dismantled by the organization ’ s petty , insecure , spotlight-seeking general manager Jerry Krause .
While Krause ’ s mantra throughout Bulls ’ historic decade was , “ organizations win championships , ” the drama in fact chronicles a dysfunctional organizational leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ success and often countervailed the excellence and aspirations of Jordan and the Bulls .
Having grown up in Chicago and followed the Bulls from the early 1970s on , suffering happily through mediocre season after mediocre season during my childhood , and then as a young adult watching Jordan ’ s Bulls struggle to overcome the Detroit Pistons ’ “ Bad Boys ” team of the late 1980s , The Last Dance has been a kind of therapy for me .
It has unearthed from the archaeological layers of my psyche mountains of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examination .
I have been surprised at their emotional force , and so have my two sons , who look at me wide-eyed and maybe a little frightened when I vociferously rail against Bill Laimbeer as a dirty thug or call out Isaiah Thomas as a piss ant .
And yet as Freud teaches us , the emergence of childhood emotions and experiences tend to be triggered by events in the present that share features of and hence recall those past traumas .
I had to ask myself what was accounting for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watched , in particular , the footage of the multiple conference championship series between the Bulls and the Bad Boy Pistons .
And then it became obvious : The Pistons and Jerry Krause were villains embodying all of the virulent characteristics of modern-day Trumpism .
The Pistons rose to dominance in the late 1980s , unseating to Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics , the previous and long-time NBA stalwarts featuring the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird ; and they did so , inarguably , through what could be characterized minimally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to intimidate and brutalize their opponents .
When it came to Jordan and the Bulls , the documentary reveals , when the Pistons realized they were simply outmatched by Jordan ’ s superior talent and that of the Bulls as a whole , they adopted a win-at-all cost approach that involved Jordan didn ’ t get off the ground , that every time he came down the lane he would know he was subject to injury , that he would be tackled , thrown down , and man-handled .
And , while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this treatment wasn ’ t just reserved for Jordan .
We see Bad Boy James Edwards throwing elbows and Rick Mahorn advising teammates that if they ’ re going to foul , it might as well be as hard and violent as possible .
At one point , we see Dennis Rodman bear hug Scottie Pippen as he comes down with a rebound and then , after Pippen is already out of bounds and off-balance , push him in the back into a row of seats .
The Pistons ceased to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win by playing the actual game fair-and-square .
It was just about winning , no matter whom they hurt .
The Bad Boys ’ “ game ” plan sounds a lot of like Trump ’ s .
Trump can ’ t win by playing the game of democracy fair-and-square , so with his win-at-all-cost attitude he simply disavowed the rules of the game .
He eschewed the “ war of ideas ” centering the game of democracy , instead resorting to cheating , soliciting foreign interference , lying constantly , firing career government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others into doing his bidding , showing no respect for the laws , the rules of the game .
One could go on .
In short , as we all know , Trump has destroyed democratic norms just as the Pistons in their time destroyed the norms of basketball , playing outside the bounds because they couldn ’ t handle losing .
Indeed , when the Bulls finally defeated them in the Eastern Conference Championship series in 1991 , the Pistons infamously walked off the court without shaking the hands of Bulls players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bulls players certainly shook theirs .
Sound familiar ?
You know who won ’ t shake Nancy Pelosi ’ s hand ?
That ’ s right : Donald Trump .
So how did Jordan and the Bulls respond ?
Their choice was crucial for basketball , really , just as the choice of Trump ’ s successor will be crucial for American Democracy .
Jordan toughened himself , pushing himself the other players to train and practice harder to get stronger and better , develop their skills to a higher level so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defended better , played as more of a team .
Coach Phil Jackson was no small part of this transformation .
The point is that they did not choose to out-Piston the Pistons in a thuggish degradation of the actual game but rather to respect the game .
They excelled at the game itself , just as hopefully the nation ’ s next leader will seek to excel at democracy and humanity .
Imagine if Trump wasn ’ t just interested in “ winning , ” whatever that means to him but rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Democracy is not about “ winning ” in any simple sense , about a quest for power .
It ’ s about willingness and desire to share power , to ensure it is distributed throughout the people for the sake of a healthier and more humane polity .
Take Trump ’ s desire to open up the economy .
He has chosen the thuggish path , trying to force workers back to meat processing plants while putting in no effort to secure their safety .
If he had put effort into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordinating efforts to test people and trace the virus , helping states secure medical equipment and supplies , letting experts guide policy decisions and responses , he could actually be getting what he wants , an opened economy , while supporting American lives .
Trump has chosen the Pistons ’ path , not that of Jordan ’ s Bulls .
And Trump , like the Pistons , only pretends to represent working-class Americans .
The Pistons sought to excuse their play as “ blue collar , ” and a somehow representing the working-class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue collar ” and working class were terms distinguished by brutal and violent behavior .
Hardworking , Jordan showed us , is not the same as thuggish and injurious .
And , of course , the Pistons actually played in affluent Auburn Hills , a suburb far from working class .
And let ’ s not forget Jerry Krause .
He was tired of Jordan and the players getting credit for the Bulls ’ success , so he wanted to dismantle an already excellent team so he could make the Bulls great again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jackson prematurely , which sparked Jordan ’ s departure as well .
Trump similarly can not others ’ excellence .
It threatens him ; hence , he silences Anthony Fauci and fires other experts who speak truths and offer information learned through study , research , and hard work .
The restoration of democracy in America will require a Jordan-like effort , one focused on excelling at and respecting the game of democracy , one geared toward making us all better and seeking to avail itself of all the expertise and talents we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation will make this choice , and 2020 will be Trump ’ s last dance .

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Like millions of other viewers, I have been riveted to each episode thus far of ESPN’s The Last Dance. This ten-part documentary charts the Chicago Bulls’ rise to dominance in the 1990s, a decade in which Michael Jordan willed the Bulls to six NBA titles, only to have the team dismantled by the organization’s petty, insecure, spotlight-seeking general manager Jerry Krause. While Krause’s mantra throughout Bulls’ historic decade was, “organizations win championships,” the drama in fact chronicles a dysfunctional organizational leadership that couldn’t handle its own success and often countervailed the excellence and aspirations of Jordan and the Bulls.
Having grown up in Chicago and followed the Bulls from the early 1970s on, suffering happily through mediocre season after mediocre season during my childhood, and then as a young adult watching Jordan’s Bulls struggle to overcome the Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boys” team of the late 1980s, The Last Dance has been a kind of therapy for me. It has unearthed from the archaeological layers of my psyche mountains of feelings far from fossilized, for my examination. I have been surprised at their emotional force, and so have my two sons, who look at me wide-eyed and maybe a little frightened when I vociferously rail against Bill Laimbeer as a dirty thug or call out Isaiah Thomas as a piss ant.
And yet as Freud teaches us, the emergence of childhood emotions and experiences tend to be triggered by events in the present that share features of and hence recall those past traumas.
I had to ask myself what was accounting for the force of my emotional response as I watched, in particular, the footage of the multiple conference championship series between the Bulls and the Bad Boy Pistons.
And then it became obvious: The Pistons and Jerry Krause were villains embodying all of the virulent characteristics of modern-day Trumpism.
The Pistons rose to dominance in the late 1980s, unseating the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, the previous and long-time NBA stalwarts featuring the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird; and they did so, inarguably, through what could be characterized minimally as a rough-and-tumble style of play designed to intimidate and brutalize their opponents.
When it came to Jordan and the Bulls, the documentary reveals, the Pistons realized they were simply outmatched by Jordan’s superior talent and that of the Bulls as a whole, so they adopted a win-at-all cost approach that involved not letting Jordan get off the ground. Every time he came down the lane he would know he was subject to injury, that he would be tackled, thrown down, and man-handled. And, while the Piston players called these the Jordan rules, this treatment wasn’t just reserved for Jordan. We see Bad Boy James Edwards throwing elbows at Horace Grant and Rick Mahorn advising teammates that if they’re going to foul, it might as well be as hard and violent as possible. At one point, we see Dennis Rodman bear hug Scottie Pippen as he comes down with a rebound and then, after Pippen is already out of bounds and off-balance, push him in the back into a row of seats.
The point?
The Pistons ceased to be playing basketball, recognizing they could not win by playing the actual game fair-and-square. It was just about winning, no matter whom they hurt.
Ring a bell?
The Bad Boys’ “game” plan sounds a lot of like Trump’s. Trump can’t win by playing the game of democracy fair-and-square, so with his win-at-all-cost attitude he simply disavowed the rules of the game. He eschewed the “war of ideas” centering the game of democracy, instead resorting to cheating, soliciting foreign interference, lying constantly, firing career government officials who disagreed with him, intimidating others into doing his bidding, showing no respect for the laws, the rules of the game. One could go on. In short, as we all know, Trump has destroyed democratic norms just as the Pistons in their time destroyed the norms of basketball, playing outside the bounds because they couldn’t handle losing.
Indeed, when the Bulls finally defeated them in the Eastern Conference Championship series in 1991, the Pistons infamously walked off the court without shaking the hands of Bulls players, even though the previous two years the Bulls players certainly shook theirs.
Sound familiar? You know who won’t shake Nancy Pelosi’s hand? That’s right: Donald Trump.
So how did Jordan and the Bulls respond?
Their choice was crucial for basketball, really, just as the choice of Trump’s successor will be crucial for American Democracy.
Jordan toughened himself, pushing himself the other players to train and practice harder to get stronger and better, develop their skills to a higher level so they shot better, passed better, defended better, played as more of a team. Coach Phil Jackson was no small part of this transformation.
The point is that they did not choose to out-Piston the Pistons in a thuggish degradation of the actual game but rather to respect the game. They excelled at the game itself, just as hopefully the nation’s next leader will seek to excel at democracy and humanity.
Imagine if Trump wasn’t just interested in “winning,” whatever that means to him, but rather wanted to excel at democratic governance itself?
Democracy is not about “winning” in any simple sense, about a quest for power. It’s about a willingness and desire to share power, to ensure it is distributed throughout the people for the sake of a healthier and more humane polity.
Take Trump’s desire to open up the economy. He has chosen the thuggish path, trying to force workers back to meat processing plants while putting in no effort to secure their safety. If he had put effort into the work of governing by, say, coordinating efforts to test people and trace the virus, helping states secure medical equipment and supplies, letting experts guide policy decisions and responses, he could actually be getting what he wants, an opened economy, while supporting American lives.
Trump has chosen the Pistons’ path, not that of Jordan’s Bulls.
And Trump, like the Pistons, only pretends to represent working-class Americans. The Pistons sought to excuse their play as “blue collar,” and as somehow representing the working-class people of Detroit, as though “blue collar” and working class were terms distinguished by brutal and violent behavior. Hardworking, Jordan showed us, is not the same as thuggish and injurious. And, of course, the Pistons actually played in affluent Auburn Hills, a suburb far from working class.
And let’s not forget Jerry Krause. He was tired of Jordan and the players getting credit for the Bulls’ success, so he wanted to dismantle an already excellent team so he could make the Bulls great again on his own. He fired Phil Jackson prematurely, which sparked Jordan’s departure as well.
Trump similarly cannot endure others’ excellence. It threatens him; hence, he silences Anthony Fauci and fires other experts who speak truths and offer information learned through study, research, and hard work.
The restoration of democracy in America will require a Jordan-like effort, one focused on excelling at and respecting the game of democracy, one geared toward making us all better and seeking to avail itself of all the expertise and talents we have to offer.
Hopefully, the nation will make this choice, and 2020 will be Trump’s last dance.


politicususa--2020-05-09--Even Trump’s Own Polls Show Him Losing To Joe Biden

Trump is described as glum and shell-shocked as his own internal polling reveals that he is losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden .
Some of Trump ’ s advisers described the president as glum and shell-shocked by his declining popularity .
In private conversations , he has struggled to process how his fortunes suddenly changed from believing he was on a glide path to reelection to realizing that he is losing to the likely Democratic nominee , former vice president Joe Biden , in virtually every poll , including his own campaign ’ s internal surveys , advisers said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the possibility that a bad outbreak of the virus this fall could damage his standing in the November election , said the advisers , who along with other aides and allies requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations .
Trump was never gliding to reelection .
Perhaps , his internal polls showed him gliding , but the reality has been that Biden was leading Trump long before coronavirus hit the United States .
The economy is not going to recover before the election .
President Trump has been suggesting to votes , with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy will recover quickly after he wins a second term .
A candidate who has never had a 50 % job approval rating , and only won the election by 80,000 votes in three states should not be surprised to be losing to his Democratic challenger , but things have gotten so bad that even his own fairy tale polling shows former Vice President Biden beating him in November .

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Trump is described as glum and shell-shocked as his own internal polling reveals that he is losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
Via The Washington Post:
Some of Trump’s advisers described the president as glum and shell-shocked by his declining popularity. In private conversations, he has struggled to process how his fortunes suddenly changed from believing he was on a glide path to reelection to realizing that he is losing to the likely Democratic nominee, former vice president Joe Biden, in virtually every poll, including his own campaign’s internal surveys, advisers said. He also has been fretting about the possibility that a bad outbreak of the virus this fall could damage his standing in the November election, said the advisers, who along with other aides and allies requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
Trump was never gliding to reelection. Perhaps, his internal polls showed him gliding, but the reality has been that Biden was leading Trump long before coronavirus hit the United States. The economy is not going to recover before the election. President Trump has been suggesting to votes, with no data to back it up, that the economy will recover quickly after he wins a second term.
A candidate who has never had a 50% job approval rating, and only won the election by 80,000 votes in three states should not be surprised to be losing to his Democratic challenger, but things have gotten so bad that even his own fairy tale polling shows former Vice President Biden beating him in November.


politicususa--2020-05-09--Opinion:  American Democracy and Covid-19 Penetrate Trump’s Walls of Privilege

Despite Trump ’ s best efforts to assume privilege from laws and icky peasant illnesses like COVID-19 , the pesky features of democracy penetrate his walls .
In two days , three people within Trump ’ s inner circle tested positive for COVID-19 .
News broke late Friday night that his daughter Ivanka ’ s personal assistant tested positive .
Also testing positive is Trump ’ s valet , but maybe Trump can just get someone else to serve him Diet Coke and Chicken McNuggets .
Katie Miller , however , is uniquely positioned to pierce Trump ’ s protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s spokeswoman and wife of Trump ’ s most influential policy person , Stephen Miller .
Yes , the guy who likes to declare immigrants a public health hazard .
Yet anyone Katie is in close proximity to is in danger of being infected and thus poses a greater danger to public health than any immigrant ever will .
There ’ s no shortage of irony in that .
If one believes in karma , it becomes tempting to see a cause and effect between a former Trump aide comparing Mike Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 diagnoses within the White House over the past couple of days .
Events this week made two facts equally real to us : Trump is a threat to democracy and no amount of privilege and walls can prevent Covid-19 from touching your life .
There are days when it ’ s hard to believe that we ’ ll ever see anything better than the hell we ’ re in .
Certainly , the moment the DOJ announced it will seek to drop charges against Mike Flynn was one of those moments for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn case is about the law protecting privilege .
As such , it was another assault leveled against the rule of law by Trump and the Attorney-General , who believe the law serves two functions : to protect the privileged and to oppress everyone else .
Another case made the point just as forcefully , specifically , ICE ’ s refusal to grant a green card to a doctor who took leave from her job as a professor so she could treat Covid-19 patients .
In the Flynn case , betraying America doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the traitor has the president ’ s ear .
In the other case , no amount of heroism will prevent banishment solely because of where you were born .
The one person who could prevent Trump and AG Barr from suffocating the rule of law is Judge Emmet Sullivan , who is about to sentence Flynn .
Based on what I ’ ve seen from lawyers who know the judge ’ s history far better than I , he is unlikely to give Flynn a get out of legal accountability card .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge Sullivan told Flynn “ Arguably , you sold your country out ” .
That ’ s the rule of law , the cornerstone of our democracy , penetrating Trump ’ s walls of privilege .
It ’ s why I ’ m passionate about the law and the institutions that make it function .
The rule of law is not only about prosecuting the bad guys .
It ’ s about protecting the rights and dignity of people who are routinely marginalized , typically doing the heavy work and begrudged even the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to survive .
Even now , essential workers are the people who are highest at risk for Covid-19 and have the least protection , while the White House , which is at lowest risk , has the most protection .
Yet no matter how many walls Trump puts up , and no matter how much happy talk he gives , the Covid-19 virus will not only stay around ; it will also get to him and his .
This is that broken clock moment when I tell you that Trump reacted the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to wear the very masks he poo-pooed because they would make him look silly – as if he needs help with that .
We also know from reporting about Katie Miller that White House staff and of course , the president and Vice President , are tested daily .
This is how it should be , but not because of who they are .
It ’ s because the Covid-19 virus infects anyone .
The fact is , Trump can yell all he wants at his staff for not protecting him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reality as harsh as it is for Americans who can never enjoy his condition of privilege .
He could have avoided this vulnerability if he valued Americans enough to make fast testing available to everyone as needed .
Between these tests and Judge Sullivan ’ s bench , the rule of law and the rule of COVID-19 weirdly came together to invade Trump ’ s dream world with two large doses of reality .
We shouldn ’ t be under any illusion that Trump will suddenly become empathetic or capable of thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He proved himself incapable of such traits when he continued the happy talk as we reached and passed the one millionth person to test positive for the Covid-19 virus .
He proved callous when deaths reached 75,000 and he still remained determined to put marginalized and vulnerable people at risk again so the economy can “ re-open ” .
It ’ s doubtful that Trump will understand that saving himself means saving us , too .
Indeed , his self-centered policy – not his ignorance or unwillingness to face the problem – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his staff but not health care workers .
Though other elements of government eventually moved PPE where it had to go , special treatment at the White House was a privilege .
That privilege is as undeserved as the privilege of a toady beating a felony rap .
But in time , the rule of law will take care of that .
The rule of law will hold him responsible for causing deaths too .

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Despite Trump’s best efforts to assume privilege from laws and icky peasant illnesses like COVID-19, the pesky features of democracy penetrate his walls.
In two days, three people within Trump’s inner circle tested positive for COVID-19. News broke late Friday night that his daughter Ivanka’s personal assistant tested positive. Also testing positive is Trump’s valet, but maybe Trump can just get someone else to serve him Diet Coke and Chicken McNuggets.
Katie Miller, however, is uniquely positioned to pierce Trump’s protective wall. She is the Vice President’s spokeswoman and wife of Trump’s most influential policy person, Stephen Miller. Yes, the guy who likes to declare immigrants a public health hazard.
Yet anyone Katie is in close proximity to is in danger of being infected and thus poses a greater danger to public health than any immigrant ever will. There’s no shortage of irony in that.
If one believes in karma, it becomes tempting to see a cause and effect between a former Trump aide comparing Mike Flynn with Nelson Mandela and the slew of Covid-19 diagnoses within the White House over the past couple of days.
Events this week made two facts equally real to us: Trump is a threat to democracy and no amount of privilege and walls can prevent Covid-19 from touching your life.
There are days when it’s hard to believe that we’ll ever see anything better than the hell we’re in. Certainly, the moment the DOJ announced it will seek to drop charges against Mike Flynn was one of those moments for me.
The Trump/Barr position on the Flynn case is about the law protecting privilege. As such, it was another assault leveled against the rule of law by Trump and the Attorney-General, who believe the law serves two functions: to protect the privileged and to oppress everyone else.
Another case made the point just as forcefully, specifically, ICE’s refusal to grant a green card to a doctor who took leave from her job as a professor so she could treat Covid-19 patients.
In the Flynn case, betraying America doesn’t result in legal consequences, because the traitor has the president’s ear. In the other case, no amount of heroism will prevent banishment solely because of where you were born.
The one person who could prevent Trump and AG Barr from suffocating the rule of law is Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is about to sentence Flynn. Based on what I’ve seen from lawyers who know the judge’s history far better than I, he is unlikely to give Flynn a get out of legal accountability card. Then there’s the fact that Judge Sullivan told Flynn “Arguably, you sold your country out”.
That’s the rule of law, the cornerstone of our democracy, penetrating Trump’s walls of privilege. It’s why I’m passionate about the law and the institutions that make it function. The rule of law is not only about prosecuting the bad guys. It’s about protecting the rights and dignity of people who are routinely marginalized, typically doing the heavy work and begrudged even the minimum of dignity, respect and ability to survive. Even now, essential workers are the people who are highest at risk for Covid-19 and have the least protection, while the White House, which is at lowest risk, has the most protection.
Yet no matter how many walls Trump puts up, and no matter how much happy talk he gives, the Covid-19 virus will not only stay around; it will also get to him and his.
This is that broken clock moment when I tell you that Trump reacted the right way. Now, his staff will have to wear the very masks he poo-pooed because they would make him look silly – as if he needs help with that.
We also know from reporting about Katie Miller that White House staff and of course, the president and Vice President, are tested daily. This is how it should be, but not because of who they are. It’s because the Covid-19 virus infects anyone.
The fact is, Trump can yell all he wants at his staff for not protecting him. He must face for the first time a reality as harsh as it is for Americans who can never enjoy his condition of privilege. He could have avoided this vulnerability if he valued Americans enough to make fast testing available to everyone as needed.
Between these tests and Judge Sullivan’s bench, the rule of law and the rule of COVID-19 weirdly came together to invade Trump’s dream world with two large doses of reality.
We shouldn’t be under any illusion that Trump will suddenly become empathetic or capable of thinking of anyone else for a single minute. He proved himself incapable of such traits when he continued the happy talk as we reached and passed the one millionth person to test positive for the Covid-19 virus. He proved callous when deaths reached 75,000 and he still remained determined to put marginalized and vulnerable people at risk again so the economy can “re-open”.
It’s doubtful that Trump will understand that saving himself means saving us, too. Indeed, his self-centered policy – not his ignorance or unwillingness to face the problem – is why personal protective equipment was available to his staff but not health care workers. Though other elements of government eventually moved PPE where it had to go, special treatment at the White House was a privilege. That privilege is as undeserved as the privilege of a toady beating a felony rap. But in time, the rule of law will take care of that.
The rule of law will hold him responsible for causing deaths too.