politicususa--2020-07-13--Prosecutor in Trump-Russia Investigation: “We Could Have Done More”

A top prosecutor involved in Robert Mueller ’ s probe has admitted investigators could have done more during the special counsel ’ s investigation into Russia .
Andrew Weissmann was head of the criminal fraud division at the Department of Justice .
In his new book , Where Law Ends , he will outline the Mueller investigation ’ s work .
“ I am deeply proud of the work we did and of the unprecedented number of people we indicted and convicted — and in record speed , ” Weissmann said .
“ But the hard truth is that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
” “ Where Law Ends documents the choices we made , good and bad , for all to see and judge and learn from , ” Weissmann said .
“ This is the story of our investigation into how our democracy was attacked by Russia and how those who condoned and ignored that assault undermined our ability to uncover the truth.
” “ My obligation as a prosecutor was to follow the facts where they led , using all available tools and undeterred by the onslaught of the President ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Weissman ’ s apparent admission comes as Robert Mueller openly criticized President Donald Trump ’ s decision to commute Roger Stone ’ s prison sentence .
“ Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes .
He remains a convicted felon , and rightly so , ” Mueller wrote .

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A top prosecutor involved in Robert Mueller’s probe has admitted investigators could have done more during the special counsel’s investigation into Russia.
Andrew Weissmann was head of the criminal fraud division at the Department of Justice. In his new book, Where Law Ends, he will outline the Mueller investigation’s work.
“I am deeply proud of the work we did and of the unprecedented number of people we indicted and convicted — and in record speed,” Weissmann said.
“But the hard truth is that we made mistakes. We could have done more. ”
“Where Law Ends documents the choices we made, good and bad, for all to see and judge and learn from,” Weissmann said.
“This is the story of our investigation into how our democracy was attacked by Russia and how those who condoned and ignored that assault undermined our ability to uncover the truth.”
“My obligation as a prosecutor was to follow the facts where they led, using all available tools and undeterred by the onslaught of the President’s unique powers to undermine our work,” he said.
Weissman’s apparent admission comes as Robert Mueller openly criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to commute Roger Stone’s prison sentence.
“Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes. He remains a convicted felon, and rightly so,” Mueller wrote.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-13--Trump Spends Morning Retweeting Messages by Game Show Host Questioning Health Experts

“ There is so much evidence , yes scientific evidence , that schools should open this fall , ” Woolery claimed in another post , ironically without providing any evidence .
“ It ’ s worldwide and it ’ s overwhelming .
BUT NO.
” The president also retweeted a message from Mark Young , who co-hosts the “ Blunt Force Truth ” podcast with Woolery .
“ So based on Dr. Fauci and the Democrats , I will need an ID card to go shopping but not to vote ?
” Young wrote .
President Trump ’ s retweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci , the nation ’ s leading coronavirus expert , had been “ wrong ” more than once .
He has pushed for schools to reopen despite concerns that doing so could intensify the coronavirus pandemic .
The president said he disagrees with CDC guidelines on reopening schools , calling them “ tough and expensive.
” “ I disagree with @ CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools , ” he wrote in a tweet yesterday morning , adding : “ While they want them open , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I will be meeting with them !
!
!
” CDC director Robert Redfield later said that the agency would not bow to pressure to adjust its reopening policy .

“There is so much evidence, yes scientific evidence, that schools should open this fall,” Woolery claimed in another post, ironically without providing any evidence. “It’s worldwide and it’s overwhelming. BUT NO.”
https://twitter.com/chuckwoolery/status/1282500772027142144
The president also retweeted a message from Mark Young, who co-hosts the “Blunt Force Truth” podcast with Woolery.
“So based on Dr. Fauci and the Democrats, I will need an ID card to go shopping but not to vote?” Young wrote.
So based on Dr. Fauci and the Democrats, I will need an ID card to go shopping but not to vote? — Dr. Mark Young (@MarkYoungTruth) April 11, 2020
President Trump’s retweets come after he claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading coronavirus expert, had been “wrong” more than once. He has pushed for schools to reopen despite concerns that doing so could intensify the coronavirus pandemic. The president said he disagrees with CDC guidelines on reopening schools, calling them “tough and expensive.”
“I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools,” he wrote in a tweet yesterday morning, adding: “While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!!”
CDC director Robert Redfield later said that the agency would not bow to pressure to adjust its reopening policy.


politicususa--2020-07-13--Republican Gov. Larry Hogan: GOP Will Be “Looking at What Happens After President Trump”

Larry Hogan has once again suggested that the Republican Party needs to examine what will happen after Donald Trump ’ s presidency .
The Governor of Maryland has been a critic of the President .
Hogan , a Republican , told NBC ’ s Meet the Press on Sunday that his party will need to change if it wants to appeal to a wider audience .
“ I don ’ t know what the future holds in November , but I know that the Republican Party is going to be looking at what happens after President Trump , whether that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years , ” Hogan said .
“ And I think they ’ re going to be looking to ‘ How do we go about becoming a bigger tent party ?
‘ ” “ We ’ re going to have to find a way to appeal to more people and have a bigger tent , ” he said .
Hogan reiterated his belief that many Americans think the political system is broken .
This is a theme the Governor has recently emphasized amid suggestions he could run for president in 2024 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November , there are an awful lot of people in America that are completely frustrated with politics today and the divisiveness and dysfunction in Washington , ” Hogan said .
Hogan previously said voters would want “ something different ” after the Trump years .

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Larry Hogan has once again suggested that the Republican Party needs to examine what will happen after Donald Trump’s presidency. The Governor of Maryland has been a critic of the President.
Hogan, a Republican, told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday that his party will need to change if it wants to appeal to a wider audience.
“I don’t know what the future holds in November, but I know that the Republican Party is going to be looking at what happens after President Trump, whether that’s in four months or in four years,” Hogan said.
“And I think they’re going to be looking to ‘How do we go about becoming a bigger tent party?‘”
Watch the video:
WATCH: @GovLarryHogan says the Republican party will be “looking at what happens after President Trump, whether that’s in four months or four years.” #MTP #IfItsSunday "I think they are going to be looking to how do we go about becoming a bigger tent Party." pic.twitter.com/jy9wEgmmTH — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) July 12, 2020
“We’re going to have to find a way to appeal to more people and have a bigger tent,” he said.
Hogan reiterated his belief that many Americans think the political system is broken. This is a theme the Governor has recently emphasized amid suggestions he could run for president in 2024.
“I think regardless of what happens in November, there are an awful lot of people in America that are completely frustrated with politics today and the divisiveness and dysfunction in Washington,” Hogan said.
Hogan previously said voters would want “something different” after the Trump years.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-14--Former White House Chief of Staff: Lack of Coronavirus Testing Is “Inexcusable”

Mick Mulvaney has criticized the lack of Coronavirus testing in the United States .
The former White House chief of staff has broken with his former boss to highlight the issue .
Mulvaney wrote an op-ed for CNBC on Tuesday discussing the economy but also arguing that more needed to be done about testing for Covid-19 .
“ I know it isn ’ t popular to talk about in some Republican circles , but we still have a testing problem in this country , ” Mulvaney wrote .
“ My son was tested recently ; we had to wait 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter wanted to get tested before visiting her grandparents , but was told she didn ’ t qualify.
” “ That is simply inexcusable at this point in the pandemic.
” Mulvaney offered suggestions about what the country could do to better cope with the ongoing crisis , which has killed more than 135,000 Americans .
“ We could also direct more money for research , ” he said .
“ Or more temporary hospital beds or therapeutics .
If we are going to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars , let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our economic illness , not just the symptoms.
” Mulvaney also had a warning ahead of November ’ s election .
President Donald Trump is facing harsh poll numbers and his former chief of staff had harsh words for Republicans .
“ Elections , despite what too many politicians think , can not be bought , ” he wrote .
“ But problems can be solved .
As lawmakers consider the next stimulus , let ’ s hope they focus on the latter .
”

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Mick Mulvaney has criticized the lack of Coronavirus testing in the United States. The former White House chief of staff has broken with his former boss to highlight the issue.
Mulvaney wrote an op-ed for CNBC on Tuesday discussing the economy but also arguing that more needed to be done about testing for Covid-19.
“I know it isn’t popular to talk about in some Republican circles, but we still have a testing problem in this country,” Mulvaney wrote.
“My son was tested recently; we had to wait 5 to 7 days for results. My daughter wanted to get tested before visiting her grandparents, but was told she didn’t qualify.”
“That is simply inexcusable at this point in the pandemic.”
Mulvaney offered suggestions about what the country could do to better cope with the ongoing crisis, which has killed more than 135,000 Americans.
“We could also direct more money for research,” he said.
“Or more temporary hospital beds or therapeutics. If we are going to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars, let’s do it to treat the cause of our economic illness, not just the symptoms.”
Mulvaney also had a warning ahead of November’s election. President Donald Trump is facing harsh poll numbers and his former chief of staff had harsh words for Republicans.
“Elections, despite what too many politicians think, cannot be bought,” he wrote.
“But problems can be solved. As lawmakers consider the next stimulus, let’s hope they focus on the latter.”
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-14--Tucker Carlson Says The ‘Ghouls’ Who Exposed His White Supremacist Writer ‘Will Be Punished’

On Monday night , Fox News host Tucker Carlson tried to distance himself from newly revealed racist and sexist internet posts written by his top writer , Blake Neff .
But Carlson appeared more interested in attacking those who exposed Neff as a white supremacist than he was in denouncing the hateful rhetoric .
“ What Blake wrote anonymously was wrong .
We don ’ t endorse those words , ” the Fox host said halfheartedly .
“ But we should also point out to the ghouls now beating their chests in triumph of the destruction a young man that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When we pose as blameless in order to hurt other people , we are committing the gravest sin of all .
And we will be punished for it , there is no question , ” Carlson concluded , all but threatening those who unearthed Neff ’ s posts .
Over the weekend you may have seen stories about a writer on this show called Blake Neff .
For years , since he was in college , Blake posted anonymously on an internet message board for law school students .
On Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blake was horrified by the story and he was ashamed .
Friday afternoon , he resigned from his job .
We want to say a couple of things about this .
First , what Blake wrote anonymously was wrong .
We don ’ t endorse those words .
They have no connection to the show .
It is wrong to attack people for qualities they can not control .
In this country , we judge people for what they do , not for how they were born .
We often say that because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to defend that principle , often alone among national news programs , because it is essential .
Nothing is more important .
Blake fell short of that standard , and he has paid a very heavy price for it .
But we should also point out to the ghouls now beating their chests in triumph of the destruction a young man that self righteousness also has its costs .
We are all human .
When we pretend we are holy , we are lying .
When we pose as blameless in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committing the gravest sin of all .
And we will be punished for it , there is no question .
The racist and sexist garbage that Neff posted anonymously online – which won ’ t be repeated here – deserved an unequivocal denunciation from Tucker Carlson .
Instead , the Fox News host seemed to adopt Donald Trump ’ s “ both sides ” response by handing out equal blame to the folks exposing hate .
It ’ s appalling , yes , but not at all surprising given the fact that Carlson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white supremacist talking points .
If Fox News had an ounce of credibility , it would force Tucker Carlson to join the unemployment line with his former writer .

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On Monday night, Fox News host Tucker Carlson tried to distance himself from newly revealed racist and sexist internet posts written by his top writer, Blake Neff.
But Carlson appeared more interested in attacking those who exposed Neff as a white supremacist than he was in denouncing the hateful rhetoric.
“What Blake wrote anonymously was wrong. We don’t endorse those words,” the Fox host said halfheartedly. “But we should also point out to the ghouls now beating their chests in triumph of the destruction a young man that self righteousness also has its costs.”
“When we pose as blameless in order to hurt other people, we are committing the gravest sin of all. And we will be punished for it, there is no question,” Carlson concluded, all but threatening those who unearthed Neff’s posts.
Video:
Tucker Carlson responds to his head writer being a white supremacist ghoul by threatening the people who exposed him pic.twitter.com/FBb02PmpUn — Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) July 14, 2020
Carlson’s monologue:
Over the weekend you may have seen stories about a writer on this show called Blake Neff. For years, since he was in college, Blake posted anonymously on an internet message board for law school students. On Friday, many of those posts became public. Blake was horrified by the story and he was ashamed. Friday afternoon, he resigned from his job. We want to say a couple of things about this. First, what Blake wrote anonymously was wrong. We don’t endorse those words. They have no connection to the show. It is wrong to attack people for qualities they cannot control. In this country, we judge people for what they do, not for how they were born. We often say that because we mean it. We’ll continue to defend that principle, often alone among national news programs, because it is essential. Nothing is more important. Blake fell short of that standard, and he has paid a very heavy price for it. But we should also point out to the ghouls now beating their chests in triumph of the destruction a young man that self righteousness also has its costs. We are all human. When we pretend we are holy, we are lying. When we pose as blameless in order to hurt other people, we are committing the gravest sin of all. And we will be punished for it, there is no question.
Carlson adopted Trump’s “both sides” response to racism
The racist and sexist garbage that Neff posted anonymously online – which won’t be repeated here – deserved an unequivocal denunciation from Tucker Carlson.
Instead, the Fox News host seemed to adopt Donald Trump’s “both sides” response by handing out equal blame to the folks exposing hate.
It’s appalling, yes, but not at all surprising given the fact that Carlson has repeatedly used his show to spew white supremacist talking points.
If Fox News had an ounce of credibility, it would force Tucker Carlson to join the unemployment line with his former writer.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-15--Trump’s Niece Breaks Her Silence By Telling Him To Resign

After Donald Trump ’ s effort to silence her was blocked by a court this week , Mary Trump sat down for an interview and told her uncle – the president of the United States – to resign .
During an interview with ABC News ’ George Stephanopoulos , Mary Trump recalled telling the president in 2017 to not let his critics get him down .
“ I did mean it in some sense , ” she responded when Stephanopoulos asked if she was being sincere at the time .
“ I just remember thinking , he seems tired.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of watching her uncle in action , she would choose her words differently .
“ If you ’ re in the Oval Office today , what would you say to him ?
” Stephanopoulos asked .
STEPHANOPOULOS : April 2017 , I ’ m going to end where I began .
You see the president in the Oval Office , and you tell him , ‘ Don ’ t let them get you down.
’ Did you mean that ?
TRUMP : I did , actually .
That was four months in .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure .
He ’ d never been in a situation before where he wasn ’ t entirely protected from criticism or accountability or things like that .
And I think Michael Flynn had just had to be fired .
And from the get-go , it hadn ’ t been going well in particular .
So , I did mean it in some sense .
I didn ’ t mean , ‘ I want you to keep doing what you ’ re doing and get away with it.
’ And also , so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t yet happened .
And I just remember thinking , he seems tired .
He seems – this is not what he signed up for , if even knows what he signed up for .
And I thought his response was actually more enlightening than my statement .
And he said , ‘ They won ’ t get me.
’ And so far , looks like he ’ s right .
STEPHANOPOULOS : And if you ’ re in the Oval Office today , what would you say to him ?
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a chance to force him out The bad news , of course , is that Donald Trump is unlikely to take his niece ’ s advice and step down .
The good news is that the American have a chance to force him out in less than four months .
For the reasons laid out in Mary Trump ’ s book – and the endless loop of disqualifying actions and rhetoric of the past three and a half years – voters must seize that opportunity .

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After Donald Trump’s effort to silence her was blocked by a court this week, Mary Trump sat down for an interview and told her uncle – the president of the United States – to resign.
During an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, Mary Trump recalled telling the president in 2017 to not let his critics get him down.
“I did mean it in some sense,” she responded when Stephanopoulos asked if she was being sincere at the time. “I just remember thinking, he seems tired.”
Now, after more than three years of watching her uncle in action, she would choose her words differently.
“If you’re in the Oval Office today, what would you say to him?” Stephanopoulos asked.
“Resign,” she responded.
Video:
Transcript:
STEPHANOPOULOS: April 2017, I’m going to end where I began. You see the president in the Oval Office, and you tell him, ‘Don’t let them get you down.’ Did you mean that? TRUMP: I did, actually. That was four months in. He already seemed very strained by the pressure. He’d never been in a situation before where he wasn’t entirely protected from criticism or accountability or things like that. And I think Michael Flynn had just had to be fired. And from the get-go, it hadn’t been going well in particular. So, I did mean it in some sense. I didn’t mean, ‘I want you to keep doing what you’re doing and get away with it.’ And also, so much of what has happened since then hadn’t yet happened. And I just remember thinking, he seems tired. He seems – this is not what he signed up for, if even knows what he signed up for. And I thought his response was actually more enlightening than my statement. And he said, ‘They won’t get me.’ And so far, looks like he’s right. STEPHANOPOULOS: And if you’re in the Oval Office today, what would you say to him? TRUMP: Resign.
Trump won’t resign, but voters have a chance to force him out
The bad news, of course, is that Donald Trump is unlikely to take his niece’s advice and step down. The good news is that the American have a chance to force him out in less than four months.
For the reasons laid out in Mary Trump’s book – and the endless loop of disqualifying actions and rhetoric of the past three and a half years – voters must seize that opportunity.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-14--In Press Conference Disaster, Trump Claims Florida Yard Signs Mean He’s Beating Biden

Trump claimed during his press conference , that the presence of a number of yard signs in Florida means that he is beating Joe Biden .
Trump said , “ I think we have really good poll numbers .
They ’ re not suppression polls .
They ’ re real polls .
You look at the intercoastal in Florida .
You look at the lakes .
You see thousands and thousands of boats with Trump signs , American signs .
You ’ ve got the Trump/Pence signs .
You look at bikers for miles and miles riding with their signs.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 is just like 2016 , even though they are completely different elections and he is running against a different opponent .
Pointing to yard signs , and bikers is the sort of desperate grasping for positive omens that losing candidates do .
Trump couldn ’ t fill up a building red-state Oklahoma , and he had to cancel another rally in New Hampshire .
The reality is that Trump is losing .
2020 isn ’ t 2016 , and he is making a gigantic blunder by thinking that he can run the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s press conference was a rant filled disaster .
It was really a campaign rally disguised as a press conference .
Trump is losing and the stench of desperation is only growing around his behavior .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump claimed during his press conference, that the presence of a number of yard signs in Florida means that he is beating Joe Biden.
Trump said, “I think we have really good poll numbers. They’re not suppression polls. They’re real polls. You look at the intercoastal in Florida. You look at the lakes. You see thousands and thousands of boats with Trump signs, American signs. You’ve got the Trump/Pence signs. You look at bikers for miles and miles riding with their signs.”
Trump went on to claim that 2020 is just like 2016, even though they are completely different elections and he is running against a different opponent.
Video:
Trump dismisses polling showing him losing to Biden, urges reporters to "look at the intercoastal in Florida … you've got the Trump/Pence sign all over … you look at bikers for miles & miles riding up highways proudly with their signs." pic.twitter.com/xA6plbFY5Q — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 14, 2020
Pointing to yard signs, and bikers is the sort of desperate grasping for positive omens that losing candidates do. Trump couldn’t fill up a building red-state Oklahoma, and he had to cancel another rally in New Hampshire. The reality is that Trump is losing. 2020 isn’t 2016, and he is making a gigantic blunder by thinking that he can run the same election strategy and win.
Trump’s press conference was a rant filled disaster. It was really a campaign rally disguised as a press conference.
Trump is losing and the stench of desperation is only growing around his behavior.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-07-14--Trump Lies To Reporters And Stages A Fake Press Conference So He Can Have An Audience

Trump claimed that he would be holding a press conference , but after luring reporters to the White House , he is ranting like a campaign rally .
Reporters caught on to the con : There was never going to be a press conference .
Trump ’ s Tulsa rallied flopped , and he had to cancel his New Hampshire rally due to low attendance .
Trump wanted an audience and media attention , so the White House lied to reporters to give him what he wanted .
Trump has been ranting and raving like an unhinged person .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because there isn ’ t one .
Reporters can ’ t get up and leave in case he does start taking questions .
Any reporter who walked out only to discover later that Trump took questions would risk being fired , but the longer Trump rambles , the clearer it becomes that there is no press conference .
Trump did eventually take a few handpicked questions , but in no way , shape , or form was this a press conference .
The White House once again lied to reporters , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would stop showing up to these sham events meant to do nothing but boost Trump ’ s ego .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump claimed that he would be holding a press conference, but after luring reporters to the White House, he is ranting like a campaign rally.
Video:
Let's be clear about what's going on here — Trump manipulated reporters to gather at the White House so he could get attention on this absolutely unhinged rant pic.twitter.com/IGG9fzklOM — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 14, 2020
Reporters caught on to the con:
Jeff Zeleny of CNN tweeted:
Your taxpayer dollars at work tonight: After stewing over canceled campaign rallies, President Trump decides to hold one in the Rose Garden. This is not normal operating procedure for sitting presidents of either party seeking re-election. — Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) July 14, 2020
There was never going to be a press conference. Trump’s Tulsa rallied flopped, and he had to cancel his New Hampshire rally due to low attendance. Trump wanted an audience and media attention, so the White House lied to reporters to give him what he wanted.
Trump has been ranting and raving like an unhinged person. He isn’t sticking to the topic, because there isn’t one.
Reporters can’t get up and leave in case he does start taking questions. Any reporter who walked out only to discover later that Trump took questions would risk being fired, but the longer Trump rambles, the clearer it becomes that there is no press conference.
Trump did eventually take a few handpicked questions, but in no way, shape, or form was this a press conference.
The White House once again lied to reporters, and if the press was smart, they would stop showing up to these sham events meant to do nothing but boost Trump’s ego.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-07-14--Trump Has An Embarrassing Meltdown With Incoherent Rose Garden Rant

Trump held a “ press conference ” in the Rose Garden , where he became so incoherent that even he didn ’ t know what he was talking about .
We withdrew from the Chinese dominated WHO , and we fully rebuilt the United States military .
The WHO , World Health Organization , we were paying close to $ 500 million a year .
China was paying $ 39 million a year , and China had too much say , worked it very hard , which is a bad thing done by our past administrations , but we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are we paying so much more than China ?
China has 1.4 billion people .
We have 325 .
Probably three hundred twenty-five million approximately , nobody can give an exact count .
We ’ re trying to get an exact count , but you have over the years many illegals who have come into the country , so it depends on how you want to count it , but you could say 325-350 million people as opposed to 1.4 billion people , and the world trade is terrible .
That deal is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a terrible deal .
We ’ ve been very tough on the World Trade Organization , and we ’ ve been I guess as tough as you can on world health .
We withdrew our money .
We told them we ’ re getting out .
Doesn ’ t mean we won ’ t go back in .
Maybe we will when it ’ s correctly run , but they made a lot of bad predictions and they said a lot of bad things about what to do and how to do it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong , and they were really a puppet of China , and make no mistake we hold China fully responsible for concealing the virus and unleashing it upon the world .
Trump is an embarrassment to the country .
He is no longer able to hold a coherent thought , and he is babbling random buzzwords that he thinks will resonate with his base of support .
Trump was supposed to be talking about an executive order that he signed related to Hong Kong , but instead , the country was treated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bloom .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump held a “press conference” in the Rose Garden, where he became so incoherent that even he didn’t know what he was talking about.
Trump said:
We withdrew from the Chinese dominated WHO, and we fully rebuilt the United States military. The WHO, World Health Organization, we were paying close to $500 million a year. China was paying $39 million a year, and China had too much say, worked it very hard, which is a bad thing done by our past administrations, but we were tough. I was asking, why are we paying so much more than China?
China has 1.4 billion people. We have 325. Probably three hundred twenty-five million approximately, nobody can give an exact count. We’re trying to get an exact count, but you have over the years many illegals who have come into the country, so it depends on how you want to count it, but you could say 325-350 million people as opposed to 1.4 billion people, and the world trade is terrible. That deal is terrible, and the world health is a terrible deal.
We’ve been very tough on the World Trade Organization, and we’ve been I guess as tough as you can on world health. We withdrew our money. We told them we’re getting out. Doesn’t mean we won’t go back in. Maybe we will when it’s correctly run, but they made a lot of bad predictions and they said a lot of bad things about what to do and how to do it, and they turned out to be wrong, and they were really a puppet of China, and make no mistake we hold China fully responsible for concealing the virus and unleashing it upon the world.
Video:
Trump is ranting, hopping from topic to topic with no regard for coherence pic.twitter.com/wwMOxtoSTf — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 14, 2020
Trump is an embarrassment to the country. He is no longer able to hold a coherent thought, and he is babbling random buzzwords that he thinks will resonate with his base of support. Trump was supposed to be talking about an executive order that he signed related to Hong Kong, but instead, the country was treated to Trump’s mental decline in full bloom.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-07-14--Trump Claims The Confederate Flag Has Nothing To Do With Slavery

Trump tried to take the racism out of the confederate flag by claiming that people who like the flag aren ’ t thinking about slavery .
Trump was asked by CBS News , “ You understand why the flag is a painful symbol for many people because it ’ s a reminder of slavery.
” Trump answered , “ People love it .
I know people that love the confederate flag and not thinking of slavery .
NASCAR , the flags all over the I think it ’ s freedom of speech , whether it ’ s confederate flags or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to talk about .
It ’ s freedom of speech.
” Trump ’ s turn as Mr. First Amendment is especially amusing when one considers that he has spent his entire presidency trying to demean , discredit , and silence the free press .
Trump has insulted and retaliated against those who have used their First Amendment right to criticize the administration , and he has shown nothing but contempt for the Constitution .
If the Confederate flag has nothing to do with slavery , then why was the Civil War fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist symbol from its racist roots .
The Confederate flag is a symbol of civil war when the South tried to overthrow the United States government to protect slavery .
Trump is running for reelection on a platform of racism , and in the process , he is spending more time defending the Confederate flag than defending US troops from Russian bounties .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump tried to take the racism out of the confederate flag by claiming that people who like the flag aren’t thinking about slavery.
Trump was asked by CBS News, “You understand why the flag is a painful symbol for many people because it’s a reminder of slavery.”
Trump answered, “People love it. I know people that love the confederate flag and not thinking of slavery. NASCAR, the flags all over the I think it’s freedom of speech, whether it’s confederate flags or black lives matter or anything else you want to talk about. It’s freedom of speech.”
Video:
Trump claims Confederate flags have nothing to do with slavery. pic.twitter.com/320RY92nHW — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) July 14, 2020
Trump’s turn as Mr. First Amendment is especially amusing when one considers that he has spent his entire presidency trying to demean, discredit, and silence the free press. Trump has insulted and retaliated against those who have used their First Amendment right to criticize the administration, and he has shown nothing but contempt for the Constitution.
If the Confederate flag has nothing to do with slavery, then why was the Civil War fought? Trump is trying to untangle the racist symbol from its racist roots. The Confederate flag is a symbol of civil war when the South tried to overthrow the United States government to protect slavery.
Trump is running for reelection on a platform of racism, and in the process, he is spending more time defending the Confederate flag than defending US troops from Russian bounties.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-07-14--A Massive Loss For Trump As ICE Caves On Deporting College Students

The Department of Homeland Security backed down in the face of nine lawsuits and announced that they wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ to the pandemic .
The government-backed down and rescinded the ICE guidance : The Trump @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic to both deport international college students and threaten universities and colleges into fully @ @ @ @ @ their students deported .
The policy guidance was racist and stupid .
At a time @ @ @ @ @ keeping the best and brightest immigrants in the country , Donald Trump was ready to @ @ @ @ @ thought that doing so would help his reelection campaign .
Just like all of his @ @ @ @ @ the plan to deport international students didn ’ t hold up and resulted in another @ @ @ @ @ more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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The Department of Homeland Security backed down in the face of nine lawsuits and announced that they wouldn’t deport foreign college students due to the pandemic.
The government-backed down and rescinded the ICE guidance:
The hearing was over before it began, essentially. After NINE lawsuits filed, DHS backs down completely and revokes the guidance before it's bound by a court. Earlier today, @MHackman broke that DHS was in talks with the White House over this. https://t.co/GLK5MWKKD7 — Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) July 14, 2020
Wow. In MIT/Harvard case, DHS has fully agreed to rescind the July 6 ICE guidance and July 7 FAQ, and rescind all implementing guidance! So no TRO, because the government backed down completely. — Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) July 14, 2020
The Trump administration was trying to use the pandemic to both deport international college students and threaten universities and colleges into fully reopening or see some of their students deported.
The policy guidance was racist and stupid. At a time when America needs to be keeping the best and brightest immigrants in the country, Donald Trump was ready to throw them out because he thought that doing so would help his reelection campaign.
Just like all of his other racist campaign gambits, the plan to deport international students didn’t hold up and resulted in another defeat for Trump.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-07-14--The Federal PPE Stockpile That Trump Bragged About Is Almost Gone

The PPE stockpile that Trump bragged about at coronavirus briefings is almost gone , as the coronavirus is surging across the country .
The federal government may not have the capacity to supply medical professionals with personal protective equipment amid the latest surge in coronavirus cases , according to internal administration documents obtained by NBC News .
For example , the Strategic National Stockpile and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have fewer than 900,000 gloves in reserve after shipping 82.7 million of them — or just 30 percent of the amount requested by state , local and tribal governments — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to figures compiled Sunday by Health and Human Services Department officials for senior leaders of the interagency coronavirus task force effort .
In particular , nursing homes and long-term care facilities say there is a major personal protective equipment shortage .
The federal PPE stockpile was never as great as Trump claimed , but also , Trump gave away part of the federal stockpile to foreign countries as he claimed that the US didn ’ t and wouldn ’ t need it .
The President was very wrong .
The administration is claiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but doctors and hospitals are telling a much different story about a shortage that is getting worse by the day .
The fall second wave of the virus isn ’ t even here yet , but Donald Trump has the country in such sorry shape that those treating coronavirus patients don ’ t have the PPE that they need , even as the president pushes to reopen the country .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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The PPE stockpile that Trump bragged about at coronavirus briefings is almost gone, as the coronavirus is surging across the country.
NBC News reported:
The federal government may not have the capacity to supply medical professionals with personal protective equipment amid the latest surge in coronavirus cases, according to internal administration documents obtained by NBC News.
For example, the Strategic National Stockpile and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have fewer than 900,000 gloves in reserve after shipping 82.7 million of them — or just 30 percent of the amount requested by state, local and tribal governments — since the COVID-19 crisis began, according to figures compiled Sunday by Health and Human Services Department officials for senior leaders of the interagency coronavirus task force effort.
In particular, nursing homes and long-term care facilities say there is a major personal protective equipment shortage.
The federal PPE stockpile was never as great as Trump claimed, but also, Trump gave away part of the federal stockpile to foreign countries as he claimed that the US didn’t and wouldn’t need it.
The President was very wrong.
The administration is claiming that there is plenty of PPE, but doctors and hospitals are telling a much different story about a shortage that is getting worse by the day.
The fall second wave of the virus isn’t even here yet, but Donald Trump has the country in such sorry shape that those treating coronavirus patients don’t have the PPE that they need, even as the president pushes to reopen the country.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-07-14--White House To Tell Unemployed People To Get A Job In New Ad

A new ad campaign backed by the White House will urge unemployed Americans to “ find something new ” .
It ’ s part of the Trump administration ’ s push in favor of vocational skills instead of four year college .
The ad campaign will be launched on Tuesday and it comes as millions of Americans are newly unemployed .
The Coronavirus pandemic has created record joblessness rates .
The ad is not a response to recent economic conditions , however .
The White House ’ s American Workforce Policy Advisory Board has been working on a campaign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is co-chair of this board along with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross .
“ There has never been a more critical time for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to be aware of the multiple pathways to career success and gain the vocational training and skills they need to fill jobs in a changing economy , ” Ivanka Trump has said .
As the Associated Press pointed out , Trump herself attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania , as did her father , the President .
The ad will feature one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one year but gained online certification and became a tech consultant .
“ I got laid off twice , but you got to keep going , ” the featured man says , later explaining : “ I ’ m now a consultant in the tech space.
” The Trump administration has embraced the idea of alternative routes to employment , while at the same time the President ’ s conservative allies have waged a concerted war on college education .

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A new ad campaign backed by the White House will urge unemployed Americans to “find something new”. It’s part of the Trump administration’s push in favor of vocational skills instead of four year college.
The ad campaign will be launched on Tuesday and it comes as millions of Americans are newly unemployed. The Coronavirus pandemic has created record joblessness rates.
The ad is not a response to recent economic conditions, however. The White House’s American Workforce Policy Advisory Board has been working on a campaign of this kind since 2018.
Ivanka Trump is co-chair of this board along with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
“There has never been a more critical time for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to be aware of the multiple pathways to career success and gain the vocational training and skills they need to fill jobs in a changing economy,” Ivanka Trump has said.
As the Associated Press pointed out, Trump herself attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, as did her father, the President.
The ad will feature one man who lost his job twice in one year but gained online certification and became a tech consultant.
“I got laid off twice, but you got to keep going,” the featured man says, later explaining: “I’m now a consultant in the tech space.”
The Trump administration has embraced the idea of alternative routes to employment, while at the same time the President’s conservative allies have waged a concerted war on college education.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-14--Roger Stone Hopes He Lives Long Enough to See Matt Gaetz Become President

Roger Stone has said he wants Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz to become president and he wants to live long enough to see it .
Both men are major supporters of the President .
Stone gave an interview to Fox News ’ Sean Hannity on Monday and spoke about the commutation of his sentence .
He was convicted on seven charges and sentenced to three years in prison .
“ I have deep , deep affection for Donald Trump because I ’ ve known him for 40 years , ” Stone told Hannity .
“ He ’ s a man of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a man of enormous courage.
” “ He saved my life .
And , at least on paper , he gave me a chance to fight for vindication.
” “ I had a biased judge , I had a stacked jury , I had a corrupt jury forewoman , ” Stone went on .
Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller has publicly defended Stone ’ s convictions .
Stone then thanked a number of people , including Hannity and another Fox News personality , Tucker Carlson .
“ And also Congressman Matt Gaetz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long enough to see in the White House , ” Stone said .
“ They wanted me to be the ham in their ham sandwich because they knew the Mueller report , particularly on Russia , it was a dud .
It was a goose egg.
” Gaetz , a staunch Trump supporter , recently made headlines for claiming Black Lives Matter want to commit “ cultural genocide ” – echoing a far-right conspiracy theory .

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Roger Stone has said he wants Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz to become president and he wants to live long enough to see it. Both men are major supporters of the President.
Stone gave an interview to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday and spoke about the commutation of his sentence. He was convicted on seven charges and sentenced to three years in prison.
“I have deep, deep affection for Donald Trump because I’ve known him for 40 years,” Stone told Hannity.
“He’s a man of great justice and fairness, he’s a man of enormous courage.”
“He saved my life. And, at least on paper, he gave me a chance to fight for vindication.”
“I had a biased judge, I had a stacked jury, I had a corrupt jury forewoman,” Stone went on. Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller has publicly defended Stone’s convictions.
Stone then thanked a number of people, including Hannity and another Fox News personality, Tucker Carlson.
“And also Congressman Matt Gaetz from Florida who I hope to live long enough to see in the White House,” Stone said.
“They wanted me to be the ham in their ham sandwich because they knew the Mueller report, particularly on Russia, it was a dud. It was a goose egg.”
Gaetz, a staunch Trump supporter, recently made headlines for claiming Black Lives Matter want to commit “cultural genocide” – echoing a far-right conspiracy theory.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-14--Kayleigh McEnany: We Have to Use Science “In a Way That Is Not Political”

Kayleigh McEnany criticized the “ political ” use of science on Monday as criticism of the Trump administration ’ s handling of Coronavirus continues to grow .
The White House Press Secretary was asked about one of Donald Trump ’ s retweets that promoted a conspiracy theory about doctors lying to hurt the President .
“ The President , with his intent in that retweet , expresses displeasure with the CDC , some rogue individuals leaking guidelines prematurely , ” McEnany said .
“ You had a 63-page plan that was leaked prematurely .
He believes that that misleads the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released that are not in their fullest form and their best form .
” “ So that ’ s what he was getting at.
” “ But overall , the notion of the tweet was to point out the fact that when we use science , we have to use it in a way that is not political , ” she went on .
“ When you had 1,300 health experts sign a letter not to condemn large crowds of protesters , but some same health experts say churches need to stay shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get the same First Amendment rights as the protest that we saw on our streets , ” McEnany said .
“ We need to use science , lean into science , but not use it and cherry-pick it to fit whatever particular political persuasion is.
” Four former directors of the CDC published an op-ed on Tuesday condemning attacks on public health experts like the one Trump retweeted .

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Kayleigh McEnany criticized the “political” use of science on Monday as criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of Coronavirus continues to grow.
The White House Press Secretary was asked about one of Donald Trump’s retweets that promoted a conspiracy theory about doctors lying to hurt the President.
“The President, with his intent in that retweet, expresses displeasure with the CDC, some rogue individuals leaking guidelines prematurely,” McEnany said.
“You had a 63-page plan that was leaked prematurely. He believes that that misleads the American public when there are planning materials released that are not in their fullest form and their best form. ”
“So that’s what he was getting at.”
The tweet Trump shared:
https://twitter.com/chuckwoolery/status/1282499347117215745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1282499347117215745%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontemptor.com%2F2020%2F07%2F13%2Ftrump-retweets-conspiracy-theory-that-doctors-are-lying-about-coronavirus-to-hurt-him%2F
“But overall, the notion of the tweet was to point out the fact that when we use science, we have to use it in a way that is not political,” she went on.
“When you had 1,300 health experts sign a letter not to condemn large crowds of protesters, but some same health experts say churches need to stay shut down, or lockdown protests somehow don’t get the same First Amendment rights as the protest that we saw on our streets,” McEnany said.
“We need to use science, lean into science, but not use it and cherry-pick it to fit whatever particular political persuasion is.”
Four former directors of the CDC published an op-ed on Tuesday condemning attacks on public health experts like the one Trump retweeted.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-14--Four Former CDC Heads Slam Trump’s Policy on Re-Opening Schools in WaPo Op-Ed

Four former heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) have come out against President Donald Trump ’ s policy on re-opening schools .
Writing in an op-ed published in The Washington Post , former CDC directors Tom Frieden , Jeffrey Koplan and David Satcher , as well as former acting CDC director Richard Besser , took the president and political leaders to task for “ attempting to undermine the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
” “ As the debate last week around reopening schools more safely showed , these repeated efforts to subvert sound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while unnecessarily putting lives at risk , ” they wrote .
The authors note that CDC guidelines have not been altered “ no matter the state and no matter the politics.
” They point out it is not “ unusual for CDC guidelines to be changed or amended during a clearance process that moves through multiple agencies and the White House .
But it is extraordinary for guidelines to be undermined after their release .
Through last week , and into Monday , the administration continued to cast public doubt on the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and guiding the nation ’ s pandemic response.
” “ One of the many contributions the CDC provides our country is sound public health guidance that states and communities can adapt to their local context — expertise even more essential during a pandemic , when uncertainty is the norm , ” they continue , adding : “ We can not recall over our collective tenure a single time when political pressure led to a change in the interpretation of scientific evidence.
” They unequivocally condemn the backlash against public health officials as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reopening schools , the op-eds authors are firm : It can not “ happen equitably without additional federal and state resources to ensure that every school district — no matter the Zip code — can take the necessary measures to protect children , teachers and staffers.
” “ Black , Latino and Native American communities have suffered disproportionately during the first six months of the pandemic , ” they write .
“ We can not let this same tragedy unfold this fall in our schools .
The CDC ’ s guidance is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work together so as many schools as possible can reopen as safely as possible .
This will mean wearing masks correctly , increasing distance — including by closing bars and restaurants in many places — and tracking and stopping the spread of the virus by supporting patients and protecting contacts .
”

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Four former heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have come out against President Donald Trump’s policy on re-opening schools.
Writing in an op-ed published in The Washington Post, former CDC directors Tom Frieden, Jeffrey Koplan and David Satcher, as well as former acting CDC director Richard Besser, took the president and political leaders to task for “attempting to undermine the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
“As the debate last week around reopening schools more safely showed, these repeated efforts to subvert sound public health guidelines introduce chaos and uncertainty while unnecessarily putting lives at risk,” they wrote.
The authors note that CDC guidelines have not been altered “no matter the state and no matter the politics.” They point out it is not “unusual for CDC guidelines to be changed or amended during a clearance process that moves through multiple agencies and the White House. But it is extraordinary for guidelines to be undermined after their release. Through last week, and into Monday, the administration continued to cast public doubt on the agency’s recommendations and role in informing and guiding the nation’s pandemic response.”
“One of the many contributions the CDC provides our country is sound public health guidance that states and communities can adapt to their local context — expertise even more essential during a pandemic, when uncertainty is the norm,” they continue, adding: “We cannot recall over our collective tenure a single time when political pressure led to a change in the interpretation of scientific evidence.” They unequivocally condemn the backlash against public health officials as “unconscionable and dangerous.”
On the matter of reopening schools, the op-eds authors are firm: It cannot “happen equitably without additional federal and state resources to ensure that every school district — no matter the Zip code — can take the necessary measures to protect children, teachers and staffers.”
“Black, Latino and Native American communities have suffered disproportionately during the first six months of the pandemic,” they write. “We cannot let this same tragedy unfold this fall in our schools. The CDC’s guidance is a call for all of our nation to work together so as many schools as possible can reopen as safely as possible. This will mean wearing masks correctly, increasing distance — including by closing bars and restaurants in many places — and tracking and stopping the spread of the virus by supporting patients and protecting contacts.”


politicususa--2020-07-14--Poll: Majority of Americans Believe Trump Should Stop Tweeting

According to a YouGov poll conducted July 11 to 13 , the majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump should stop using Twitter as his primary mode of communication .
54 percent of respondents said “ no ” when asked if Trump should be posting messages on Twitter .
32 percent said “ yes.
” 14 percent of respondents said they were unsure .
Additionally , 56 percent said that the president uses the social media platform inappropriately .
29 percent said it was appropriate and 14 percent were unsure .
The president ’ s latest tweet featured just three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” tweeted eight hours ago .
The results of the survey come just a day after Trump contended with heavy criticism for retweeting messages by conservative former game show host Chuck Woolery , who has accused public health experts of lying about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic .
President Trump ’ s retweets come after he claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s leading coronavirus expert , had been “ wrong ” more than once .
He has pushed for schools to reopen despite concerns that doing so could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he disagrees with CDC guidelines on reopening schools , calling them “ tough and expensive .
”

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According to a YouGov poll conducted July 11 to 13, the majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump should stop using Twitter as his primary mode of communication. 54 percent of respondents said “no” when asked if Trump should be posting messages on Twitter. 32 percent said “yes.” 14 percent of respondents said they were unsure.
Additionally, 56 percent said that the president uses the social media platform inappropriately. 29 percent said it was appropriate and 14 percent were unsure.
The president’s latest tweet featured just three words, “LAW AND ORDER,” tweeted eight hours ago.
LAW & ORDER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2020
The results of the survey come just a day after Trump contended with heavy criticism for retweeting messages by conservative former game show host Chuck Woolery, who has accused public health experts of lying about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic.
President Trump’s retweets come after he claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading coronavirus expert, had been “wrong” more than once. He has pushed for schools to reopen despite concerns that doing so could intensify the coronavirus pandemic. The president said he disagrees with CDC guidelines on reopening schools, calling them “tough and expensive.”


politicususa--2020-07-14--Four Former CDC Directors Slam Unconscionable Attacks on Public Health Officials Like Fauci

Four former directors of the Centers for Disease Control have strongly condemned attacks on public health experts .
Their criticism comes as the Trump administration takes aim at Dr. Anthony Fauci .
Tom Frieden , Jeffrey Koplan , David Satcher and Richard Besser published an op-ed in Tuesday ’ s Washington Post defending public health experts , though they did not mention President Donald Trump specifically .
“ The CDC is home to thousands of experts who for decades have fought deadly pathogens such as HIV , Zika and Ebola , ” they wrote .
“ Despite the inevitable challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s expectation of certainty , these are the people best positioned to help our country emerge from this crisis as safely as possible.
” “ Unfortunately , their sound science is being challenged with partisan potshots , sowing confusion and mistrust at a time when the American people need leadership , expertise and clarity , ” they said .
“ These efforts have even fueled a backlash against public health officials across the country : Public servants have been harassed , threatened and forced to resign when we need them most.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This week the White House has been accused of “ orchestrating a hit job ” against Dr. Fauci , who has led the nation ’ s pandemic response .
It ’ s hard not to see their criticism of “ partisan potshots ” as an acknowledgement of the Trump administration ’ s attacks on Fauci and other experts .

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Four former directors of the Centers for Disease Control have strongly condemned attacks on public health experts. Their criticism comes as the Trump administration takes aim at Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Tom Frieden, Jeffrey Koplan, David Satcher and Richard Besser published an op-ed in Tuesday’s Washington Post defending public health experts, though they did not mention President Donald Trump specifically.
“The CDC is home to thousands of experts who for decades have fought deadly pathogens such as HIV, Zika and Ebola,” they wrote.
“Despite the inevitable challenges of evolving science and the public’s expectation of certainty, these are the people best positioned to help our country emerge from this crisis as safely as possible.”
“Unfortunately, their sound science is being challenged with partisan potshots, sowing confusion and mistrust at a time when the American people need leadership, expertise and clarity,” they said.
“These efforts have even fueled a backlash against public health officials across the country: Public servants have been harassed, threatened and forced to resign when we need them most.”
“This is unconscionable and dangerous.”
The former CDC directors’ words are timely. This week the White House has been accused of “orchestrating a hit job” against Dr. Fauci, who has led the nation’s pandemic response.
It’s hard not to see their criticism of “partisan potshots” as an acknowledgement of the Trump administration’s attacks on Fauci and other experts.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-15--Dr. Fauci Urges Public to Avoid “Political Nonsense” and Trust Experts on Coronavirus

Anthony Fauci has asked the American public to trust medical authorities about Coronavirus .
In a thinly veiled rebuke of the President , Fauci criticized “ political nonsense ” .
Fauci made the remarks during an address to graduates of Georgetown University .
“ You can trust respected medical authorities .
I believe I ’ m one of them .
So , I think you can trust me , ” he said .
“ I would stick with respected medical authorities who have a track record of telling the truth , who have a track record of giving information and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and good data.
” Fauci said it was “ entirely understandable how the public can get mixed messages and then get a bit confused about what they should do.
” The infectious diseases expert then took an apparent swipe at President Donald Trump and those who ’ ve been politicizing the virus .
“ Don ’ t get involved in any of the political nonsense , ” Fauci said .
“ That ’ s a waste of time and a distraction.
” Fauci also contradicted Trump ’ s claim that more testing has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the rate of positive tests is also increasing , showing a real terms rise in infections .
“ Therefore , unequivocally , you ’ re seeing truly more new cases , ” he said .
“ In addition , we ’ re seeing now more hospitalizations , which lag behind infections , and we ’ re starting and will see—though not as much as we ’ ve seen—very likely more deaths .
So , clearly , there are more infections .
”

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Anthony Fauci has asked the American public to trust medical authorities about Coronavirus. In a thinly veiled rebuke of the President, Fauci criticized “political nonsense”.
Fauci made the remarks during an address to graduates of Georgetown University.
“You can trust respected medical authorities. I believe I’m one of them. So, I think you can trust me,” he said.
“I would stick with respected medical authorities who have a track record of telling the truth, who have a track record of giving information and policy and recommendations based on scientific evidence and good data.”
Fauci said it was “entirely understandable how the public can get mixed messages and then get a bit confused about what they should do.”
The infectious diseases expert then took an apparent swipe at President Donald Trump and those who’ve been politicizing the virus.
“Don’t get involved in any of the political nonsense,” Fauci said. “That’s a waste of time and a distraction.”
Fauci also contradicted Trump’s claim that more testing has led to more cases. He explained that the rate of positive tests is also increasing, showing a real terms rise in infections.
“Therefore, unequivocally, you’re seeing truly more new cases,” he said.
“In addition, we’re seeing now more hospitalizations, which lag behind infections, and we’re starting and will see—though not as much as we’ve seen—very likely more deaths. So, clearly, there are more infections.”
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-15--Trump Moves To Withhold COVID-19 Patient Data From The CDC

In what appears to be another attempt to cover up what the president sees as politically damaging information , the Trump administration is ordering hospitals to bypass the CDC when it comes to COVID-19 patient data .
According to The New York Times , “ The Trump administration has ordered hospitals to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and send all Covid-19 patient information to a central database in Washington beginning on Wednesday.
” As MSNBC ’ s Ali Velshi pointed out on Tuesday night , “ It ’ s just the latest assault against an institution that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neuter for months now.
” As The Times noted in its reporting , the administration ’ s push to withhold data “ has alarmed health experts who fear the data will be politicized or withheld from the public.
” “ The Health and Human Services database that will receive new information is not open to the public , which could affect the work of scores of researchers , modelers and health officials who rely on C.D.C .
data to make projections and crucial decisions , ” the report added .
For Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day one of this public health emergency , Donald Trump has been laser-focused on how the data makes him look politically , not on the Americans who have become infected or died from coronavirus .
To this day , Trump whines about the number of infections reported in the U.S. , saying the case count wouldn ’ t be so high if he didn ’ t do such a superb job on testing .
The 139,000+ Americans who have died – the most of any country on the planet – don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet to demonstrate a sincere moment of empathy for those grieving .
Ultimately , Trump is manifestly incapable of viewing the virus as anything other than an attempt to prevent him from winning a second term .
That ’ s the reason why this country will never be able to fully recover from it as long as he ’ s in the White House .

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In what appears to be another attempt to cover up what the president sees as politically damaging information, the Trump administration is ordering hospitals to bypass the CDC when it comes to COVID-19 patient data.
According to The New York Times, “The Trump administration has ordered hospitals to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and send all Covid-19 patient information to a central database in Washington beginning on Wednesday.”
As MSNBC’s Ali Velshi pointed out on Tuesday night, “It’s just the latest assault against an institution that the White House has been trying to neuter for months now.”
Video:
As The Times noted in its reporting, the administration’s push to withhold data “has alarmed health experts who fear the data will be politicized or withheld from the public.”
“The Health and Human Services database that will receive new information is not open to the public, which could affect the work of scores of researchers, modelers and health officials who rely on C.D.C. data to make projections and crucial decisions,” the report added.
For Trump, it’s always about politics
Since day one of this public health emergency, Donald Trump has been laser-focused on how the data makes him look politically, not on the Americans who have become infected or died from coronavirus.
To this day, Trump whines about the number of infections reported in the U.S., saying the case count wouldn’t be so high if he didn’t do such a superb job on testing.
The 139,000+ Americans who have died – the most of any country on the planet – don’t even register to him. He has yet to demonstrate a sincere moment of empathy for those grieving.
Ultimately, Trump is manifestly incapable of viewing the virus as anything other than an attempt to prevent him from winning a second term. That’s the reason why this country will never be able to fully recover from it as long as he’s in the White House.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-16--Mary Trump’s Book Sets Sales Record On Its First Day

Mary Trump ’ s book about uncle Donald and the Trump family has sold a publisher record 950,000 copies on its first day .
Looks like a lot of people want to read about the president ’ s psychological back story .
“ Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man ” by Mary L. Trump has set a first-day sales record for Simon & Schuster , the publisher announced Thursday .
The memoir about life in the Trump family and its effects on the psyche of the current commander in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the book ’ s first day of sales , the publisher said in a release .
That includes presale orders of all formats .
Setting a sales record for a publisher that has been in business for 96 years , as Simon & Schuster , is no small feat .
Mary Trump is the first member of the family to provide the public with a look behind the familial dysfunction and abuse that created a dysfunctional and abusive president .
The phenomenal sales of the book are another circumstantial tea leaf that suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trouble this fall .
The big political book is an anti-Trump book .
The momentum is currently not with the president and his allies .
The success of Mary Trump ’ s book is an omen that a blue tsunami is coming to wash away Trump and his Republican enablers .

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Mary Trump’s book about uncle Donald and the Trump family has sold a publisher record 950,000 copies on its first day.
The LA Times reported:
Looks like a lot of people want to read about the president’s psychological back story. “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man” by Mary L. Trump has set a first-day sales record for Simon & Schuster, the publisher announced Thursday.
The memoir about life in the Trump family and its effects on the psyche of the current commander in chief sold 950,000 copies through Tuesday, the book’s first day of sales, the publisher said in a release. That includes presale orders of all formats.
Setting a sales record for a publisher that has been in business for 96 years, as Simon & Schuster, is no small feat. Mary Trump is the first member of the family to provide the public with a look behind the familial dysfunction and abuse that created a dysfunctional and abusive president.
The phenomenal sales of the book are another circumstantial tea leaf that suggests that Republicans and Trump are in big trouble this fall. The big political book is an anti-Trump book. The momentum is currently not with the president and his allies.
The success of Mary Trump’s book is an omen that a blue tsunami is coming to wash away Trump and his Republican enablers.


politicususa--2020-07-16--With No Warning, Trump Scrubs Virus Data From CDC Website

Trump ’ s coronavirus coverup has begun as without warning the White House scrubbed all virus statistical data from the CDC website .
Previously public data has already disappeared from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s website after the Trump administration quietly shifted control of the information to the Department of Health and Human Services .
Since the pandemic began , the CDC regularly published data on availability of hospital beds and intensive care units across the country .
But Ryan Panchadsaram , who helps run a data-tracking site called Covid Exit Strategy , said that when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC on Tuesday , it had disappeared .
“ We were surprised because the modules that we normally go to were empty .
The data wasn ’ t available and not there , ” he said .
“ There was no warning.
” Here is what the CDC Hospital Capacity Dashboard looks like now : Trump has gone from failed efforts to pretend like the pandemic doesn ’ t exist to actively suppressing the data that health experts need to track the virus and treat outbreaks .
The United States is only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number required is 3 million .
There is a woeful lack of contact tracing , and now there will be no ability to track outbreaks .
If Trump can ’ t beat the virus , he is going to hide the data so that it looks like the pandemic is over .
More Americans will get sick and die , and their blood will be on Trump ’ s hands because he put trying to win an election ahead of public health .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow @ @ @ @

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Trump’s coronavirus coverup has begun as without warning the White House scrubbed all virus statistical data from the CDC website.
CNBC reported:
Previously public data has already disappeared from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website after the Trump administration quietly shifted control of the information to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Since the pandemic began, the CDC regularly published data on availability of hospital beds and intensive care units across the country. But Ryan Panchadsaram, who helps run a data-tracking site called Covid Exit Strategy, said that when he tried to collect the data from the CDC on Tuesday, it had disappeared.
“We were surprised because the modules that we normally go to were empty. The data wasn’t available and not there,” he said. “There was no warning.”
Here is what the CDC Hospital Capacity Dashboard looks like now:
I had hoped it was a glitch, but no…The @CDCgov hospital capacity dashboard has gone dark. @CDCDirector has said CDC still has access to the data but apparently the public no longer does. pic.twitter.com/FyRt7YHvKc — Charles Ornstein (@charlesornstein) July 16, 2020
Trump has gone from failed efforts to pretend like the pandemic doesn’t exist to actively suppressing the data that health experts need to track the virus and treat outbreaks. The United States is only averaging 600,000 tests a day when the number required is 3 million. There is a woeful lack of contact tracing, and now there will be no ability to track outbreaks.
If Trump can’t beat the virus, he is going to hide the data so that it looks like the pandemic is over. More Americans will get sick and die, and their blood will be on Trump’s hands because he put trying to win an election ahead of public health.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-07-16--Trump Is Trying To Steal The Election By Delaying The Mail

Trump made one of his top donors postmaster general and that donor is threatening to upend the election by imposing delays on the US Postal Service .
Mail deliveries could be delayed by a day or more under cost-cutting efforts being imposed by the new postmaster general .
The plan eliminates overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal workers and says employees must adopt a “ different mindset ” to ensure the Postal Service ’ s survival during the coronavirus pandemic .
Late trips will no longer be authorized .
If postal distribution centers are running late , “ they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , ″ Postal Service leaders say in a document obtained by The Associated Press .
“ One aspect of these changes that may be difficult for employees is that — temporarily — we may see mail left behind or mail on the workroom floor or docks , ″ another document says .
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in a memo that the internal delays were a cost-cutting measuring , but the threatened delays would just so happen to occur during a presidential election where there is expected to be unprecedented voting by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill that would provide $ 25 billion in aid to the postal service , but Senate Republicans went on vacation instead of taking up the legislation .
The USPS deficit that Republicans are using as an excuse to delay the mail was caused by congressional Republicans who placed an absurd pension funding mandate on the USPS because Republicans have been trying to privatize mail delivery for years .
Trump will do anything to remain in the White House .
He will even delay the US mail if it will prevent people from voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump made one of his top donors postmaster general and that donor is threatening to upend the election by imposing delays on the US Postal Service.
The AP reported:
Mail deliveries could be delayed by a day or more under cost-cutting efforts being imposed by the new postmaster general. The plan eliminates overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal workers and says employees must adopt a “different mindset” to ensure the Postal Service’s survival during the coronavirus pandemic.
Late trips will no longer be authorized. If postal distribution centers are running late, “they will keep the mail for the next day,″ Postal Service leaders say in a document obtained by The Associated Press. “One aspect of these changes that may be difficult for employees is that — temporarily — we may see mail left behind or mail on the workroom floor or docks,″ another document says.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in a memo that the internal delays were a cost-cutting measuring, but the threatened delays would just so happen to occur during a presidential election where there is expected to be unprecedented voting by mail.
House Democrats have passed a bill that would provide $25 billion in aid to the postal service, but Senate Republicans went on vacation instead of taking up the legislation. The USPS deficit that Republicans are using as an excuse to delay the mail was caused by congressional Republicans who placed an absurd pension funding mandate on the USPS because Republicans have been trying to privatize mail delivery for years.
Trump will do anything to remain in the White House. He will even delay the US mail if it will prevent people from voting for Joe Biden.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-07-16--USA Today Says Peter Navarro’s Article Attacking Fauci Didn’t Meet Our Fact-Checking Standards

USA Today has said an op-ed it published attacking Dr. Anthony Fauci contained misleading statements .
The newspaper is at the center of a storm involving the White House and the Coronavirus .
President Donald Trump ’ s economic adviser Peter Navarro wrote the op-ed attacking Fauci , which the newspaper now admits it did not correct the article for errors .
USA Today added a note to the web page carrying Navarro ’ s article .
They sought commentary from the White House in reaction to their editorial praising Fauci .
The note was signed off by editorial page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a response that was published as an Opposing View paired with our editorial , ” the newspaper wrote .
“ We dealt directly with Navarro and do not know whether he spoke to anyone else at the White House about his statement.
” “ Navarro ’ s response echoed comments made to other news outlets in recent days .
We felt it was newsworthy because it expanded on those comments , put an on-the-record name to the attacks on Fauci , and contradicted White House denials of an anti-Fauci campaign , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several of Navarro ’ s criticisms of Fauci — on the China travel restrictions , the risk from the coronavirus and falling mortality rates — were misleading or lacked context.
” “ As such , Navarro ’ s op-ed did not meet USA TODAY ’ s fact-checking standards.
” The article became a hot topic as the administration pushed to discredit Fauci .
The White House denied it had been cleared , but it later emerged the President had authorized it .

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USA Today has said an op-ed it published attacking Dr. Anthony Fauci contained misleading statements. The newspaper is at the center of a storm involving the White House and the Coronavirus.
President Donald Trump’s economic adviser Peter Navarro wrote the op-ed attacking Fauci, which the newspaper now admits it did not correct the article for errors.
USA Today added a note to the web page carrying Navarro’s article. They sought commentary from the White House in reaction to their editorial praising Fauci. The note was signed off by editorial page editor Bill Sternberg.
“Navarro provided a response that was published as an Opposing View paired with our editorial,” the newspaper wrote.
“We dealt directly with Navarro and do not know whether he spoke to anyone else at the White House about his statement.”
“Navarro’s response echoed comments made to other news outlets in recent days. We felt it was newsworthy because it expanded on those comments, put an on-the-record name to the attacks on Fauci, and contradicted White House denials of an anti-Fauci campaign,” the note went on.
“However, several of Navarro’s criticisms of Fauci — on the China travel restrictions, the risk from the coronavirus and falling mortality rates — were misleading or lacked context.”
“As such, Navarro’s op-ed did not meet USA TODAY’s fact-checking standards.”
The article became a hot topic as the administration pushed to discredit Fauci. The White House denied it had been cleared, but it later emerged the President had authorized it.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-16--Mayor of Atlanta: Trump Broke the Law By Not Wearing a Mask During Visit

The Mayor of Atlanta has said Donald Trump broke the law by refusing to wear a face mask during a recent visit to the city .
Keisha Lance Bottoms said she wasn ’ t surprised by the President ’ s actions .
Bottoms told CNN ’ s Wolf Blitzer that Trump clearly broke the city ’ s law by not having a mask on .
Mask wearing is a key public health measure amid the ongoing pandemic .
“ So by not having on a mask , President Trump did violate law in the city of Atlanta , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our rules and regulations in the city , ” she said .
“ But it was encouraging to see that others did have some regard for what we ’ re doing and tried to accomplish in Atlanta and that ’ s to slow the spread of Covid-19.
” The White House didn ’ t directly deny that Trump had broken a law but said he ’ d followed CDC guidelines .
“ The President takes the health and safety of everyone traveling in support of himself and all White House operations very seriously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ When preparing for and carrying out any travel , White House Operations collaborates with the Physician to the President and the White House Military Office , to ensure plans incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices for limiting COVID-19 exposure to the greatest extent possible.
” The President has been reluctant to wear a mask in public .
He ’ s only recently starting do so as cases of Coronavirus have grown in large parts of the nation .
Many of his supporters aren ’ t yet convinced of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered a strong candidate for the Democratic vice presidential nomination .

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The Mayor of Atlanta has said Donald Trump broke the law by refusing to wear a face mask during a recent visit to the city. Keisha Lance Bottoms said she wasn’t surprised by the President’s actions.
Bottoms told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that Trump clearly broke the city’s law by not having a mask on. Mask wearing is a key public health measure amid the ongoing pandemic.
“So by not having on a mask, President Trump did violate law in the city of Atlanta, but I am somehow not surprised that he disregarded our rules and regulations in the city,” she said.
“But it was encouraging to see that others did have some regard for what we’re doing and tried to accomplish in Atlanta and that’s to slow the spread of Covid-19.”
The White House didn’t directly deny that Trump had broken a law but said he’d followed CDC guidelines.
“The President takes the health and safety of everyone traveling in support of himself and all White House operations very seriously,” Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said.
“When preparing for and carrying out any travel, White House Operations collaborates with the Physician to the President and the White House Military Office, to ensure plans incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices for limiting COVID-19 exposure to the greatest extent possible.”
The President has been reluctant to wear a mask in public. He’s only recently starting do so as cases of Coronavirus have grown in large parts of the nation. Many of his supporters aren’t yet convinced of the effectiveness of masks.
Mayor Bottoms is considered a strong candidate for the Democratic vice presidential nomination.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-16--The President’s Niece Says the Trump Family Often Used the N-Word and Anti-Semitic Expressions

Mary Trump has claimed that members of her family commonly used racist slurs when she was growing up .
She says this is partly to blame for Donald Trump ’ s own racism .
The President ’ s niece , who has written a book , Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man , gave an interview to The Washington Post on Wednesday .
Trump said her uncle is “ clearly racist ” and that it stems in part from the Trump family ’ s regular use of racist slurs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he thinks it ’ s going to score him points with the only people who are continuing to support him , ” she said .
She said her family had “ a knee-jerk anti-Semitism , a knee-jerk racism.
” “ Growing up , it was sort of normal to hear them use the n-word or use anti-Semitic expressions , ” Mary Trump said .
“ Homophobia was never an issue because nobody ever talked about gay people , well , until my grandmother called Elton John [ a slur ] , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump believes the U.S. government has become a “ macro version of my incredibly dysfunctional family.
” President Trump has “ an unerring instinct for finding people who are weaker than he is ” but he ’ s also “ eminently usable by people who are stronger and savvier than he is , ” she said .

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Mary Trump has claimed that members of her family commonly used racist slurs when she was growing up. She says this is partly to blame for Donald Trump’s own racism.
The President’s niece, who has written a book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man, gave an interview to The Washington Post on Wednesday.
Trump said her uncle is “clearly racist” and that it stems in part from the Trump family’s regular use of racist slurs.
“It comes easily to him and he thinks it’s going to score him points with the only people who are continuing to support him,” she said.
She said her family had “a knee-jerk anti-Semitism, a knee-jerk racism.”
“Growing up, it was sort of normal to hear them use the n-word or use anti-Semitic expressions,” Mary Trump said.
“Homophobia was never an issue because nobody ever talked about gay people, well, until my grandmother called Elton John [a slur],” said Trump, who is gay.
Trump believes the U.S. government has become a “macro version of my incredibly dysfunctional family.”
President Trump has “an unerring instinct for finding people who are weaker than he is” but he’s also “eminently usable by people who are stronger and savvier than he is,” she said.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-16--GOP Maryland Governor: “Waiting Around” for Trump to Run Coronavirus Response Was “Hopeless”

Larry Hogan , the Republican governor of Maryland , said “ waiting around ” for President Donald Trump to run the nation ’ s coronavirus response was “ hopeless ” during an interview in which he criticized the Trump administration ’ s response as inadequate .
“ Eventually , it was clear that waiting around for the president to run the nation ’ s response was hopeless ; if we delayed any longer , we ’ d be condemning more of our citizens to suffering and death .
So every governor went their own way , ” Hogan wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many nationwide actions could have been taken in those early days but weren ’ t .
While other countries were racing ahead with well-coordinated testing regimes , the Trump administration bungled the effort , ” he continued , adding : “ The test used by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention early on was fraught with inaccuracies , and onerous regulations hindered the nation ’ s private labs .
The resulting disorganization would delay mass testing for almost two months and leave the nation largely in the dark as the epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listening to his own public health experts , the president was talking and tweeting like a man more concerned about boosting the stock market or his reelection plans , ” Hogan wrote .
He also took the White House to task for its mixed messaging and attempts to discredit public health experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci , the national authority on the coronavirus response .
“ It was jarring , the huge contrast between the experts ’ warnings and the president ’ s public dismissals.
, ” Hogan observed .
“ Weren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was consulting about the virus ?
What made the briefing even more chilling was its clear , factual tone .
It was a harrowing warning of an imminent national threat , and we took it seriously — at least most of us did .
It was enough to convince almost all the governors that this epidemic was going to be worse than most people realized .
”

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Larry Hogan, the Republican governor of Maryland, said “waiting around” for President Donald Trump to run the nation’s coronavirus response was “hopeless” during an interview in which he criticized the Trump administration’s response as inadequate.
“Eventually, it was clear that waiting around for the president to run the nation’s response was hopeless; if we delayed any longer, we’d be condemning more of our citizens to suffering and death. So every governor went their own way,” Hogan wrote in a Washington Post op-ed.
“So many nationwide actions could have been taken in those early days but weren’t. While other countries were racing ahead with well-coordinated testing regimes, the Trump administration bungled the effort,” he continued, adding: “The test used by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention early on was fraught with inaccuracies, and onerous regulations hindered the nation’s private labs. The resulting disorganization would delay mass testing for almost two months and leave the nation largely in the dark as the epidemic spread.”
Meanwhile, “instead of listening to his own public health experts, the president was talking and tweeting like a man more concerned about boosting the stock market or his reelection plans,” Hogan wrote.
He also took the White House to task for its mixed messaging and attempts to discredit public health experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the national authority on the coronavirus response.
“It was jarring, the huge contrast between the experts’ warnings and the president’s public dismissals.,” Hogan observed. “Weren’t these the people the White House was consulting about the virus? What made the briefing even more chilling was its clear, factual tone. It was a harrowing warning of an imminent national threat, and we took it seriously — at least most of us did. It was enough to convince almost all the governors that this epidemic was going to be worse than most people realized.”


politicususa--2020-07-16--1.3 Million More People File for Unemployment as Enhanced Benefits Are Set to Expire

1.3 million more Americans filed for unemployment last week .
Although the number of new unemployment claims has dropped over the last four months , several states have been forced to shutter their economies once again after reopening too early , contributing to a spike in cases .
In particular , Florida , Texas , and Arizona have become the nation ’ s new hotspots in the current surge .
The additional $ 600 the government gives to those collecting unemployment is set to expire on July 31st .
However , Congress “ is inching closer to an agreement to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enhanced unemployment benefit , according to The Los Angeles Times .
Lawmakers face a tight deadline when they return from their break to discuss another relief package .
“ The extra $ 600 per week has been an absolute lifeline for these Americans , ” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal ( D-Mass . )
said yesterday , adding that it would be “ cruel ” to allow the benefit to expire .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) vowed to have a package ready for President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional August recess .
“ We ’ ll have a bill and hopefully we ’ ll have it sooner rather than later because people really need to have it , and we should have it before the expiration of the unemployment insurance , ” Pelosi said yesterday .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) confirmed Congress will begin discussing unemployment benefits next week .
He did not specify how much aid individuals could expect to receive .
Republicans and the White House have supported a decrease in the benefit amount .

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1.3 million more Americans filed for unemployment last week. Although the number of new unemployment claims has dropped over the last four months, several states have been forced to shutter their economies once again after reopening too early, contributing to a spike in cases. In particular, Florida, Texas, and Arizona have become the nation’s new hotspots in the current surge.
The additional $600 the government gives to those collecting unemployment is set to expire on July 31st. However, Congress “is inching closer to an agreement to extend at least some” of the enhanced unemployment benefit, according to The Los Angeles Times. Lawmakers face a tight deadline when they return from their break to discuss another relief package.
“The extra $600 per week has been an absolute lifeline for these Americans,” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.) said yesterday, adding that it would be “cruel” to allow the benefit to expire.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) vowed to have a package ready for President Donald Trump to sign before Congress leaves on its traditional August recess.
“We’ll have a bill and hopefully we’ll have it sooner rather than later because people really need to have it, and we should have it before the expiration of the unemployment insurance,” Pelosi said yesterday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) confirmed Congress will begin discussing unemployment benefits next week. He did not specify how much aid individuals could expect to receive. Republicans and the White House have supported a decrease in the benefit amount.


politicususa--2020-07-16--Trump’s New Campaign Manager Was Fired By Chris Christie Over “Bridgegate”

Donald Trump has removed Brad Parscale as campaign manager for his reelection bid .
His replacement is Bill Stepian , a central figure in the “ Bridgegate ” scandal .
Stepien worked for former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie until the Republican distanced himself from Stepien in the wake of “ Bridgegate ” – lane closures of the George Washington Bridge as political retribution .
Stepien was never charged with a crime and denied knowledge of the plan at the time .
However , Christie took a dim view of his former aide in the aftermath of the events .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and behavior and attitude of callous indifference that was displayed in the emails by my former campaign manager , Bill Stepien , ” Christie said .
Christie was an early ally of the President ’ s but their relationship soured over the course of his administration .
Stepien ’ s association with the scandal that tanked Christie ’ s popularity hasn ’ t gone unnoticed .
Trump ’ s decision to hire a new campaign manager so close to the election has garnered scrutiny .
Stepien is seen as an able hand whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however .
“ I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump Campaign Manager , ” Trump said .
“ Brad Parscale , who has been with me for a very long time and has led our tremendous digital and data strategies , will remain in that role.
” “ Both were heavily involved in our historic 2016 win , and I look forward to having a big and very important second win together , ” he said .

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Donald Trump has removed Brad Parscale as campaign manager for his reelection bid. His replacement is Bill Stepian, a central figure in the “Bridgegate” scandal.
Stepien worked for former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie until the Republican distanced himself from Stepien in the wake of “Bridgegate” – lane closures of the George Washington Bridge as political retribution.
Stepien was never charged with a crime and denied knowledge of the plan at the time. However, Christie took a dim view of his former aide in the aftermath of the events.
“I was disturbed by the tone and behavior and attitude of callous indifference that was displayed in the emails by my former campaign manager, Bill Stepien,” Christie said.
Christie was an early ally of the President’s but their relationship soured over the course of his administration. Stepien’s association with the scandal that tanked Christie’s popularity hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Trump’s decision to hire a new campaign manager so close to the election has garnered scrutiny. Stepien is seen as an able hand whose worked on winning campaigns in the past, however.
“I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump Campaign Manager,” Trump said.
“Brad Parscale, who has been with me for a very long time and has led our tremendous digital and data strategies, will remain in that role.”
“Both were heavily involved in our historic 2016 win, and I look forward to having a big and very important second win together,” he said.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter