theguardian--2020-04-12--The Democratic primary was a wild, unpredictable ride – except the result

The Democratic odyssey to choose a nominee delivered one final surprise this week : a predictable ending .
Joe Biden , the frontrunner for the entire campaign season minus a rocky four-week interlude , is the last Democrat standing after Bernie Sanders suspended his presidential bid on Wednesday .
But the result belies what was , by objective measure , no ordinary quest for power .
Epic in scale and rich in plot , the Democratic primary was at turns wild , chaotic and downright Shakespearean – all before the arrival of a once-in-a-century plague .
Even in a Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shook voters ’ hands , the 2020 race included a historic impeachment inquiry , an unprecedented election night meltdown and a Hail Mary comeback .
If 2016 was the year American politics fell through the looking-glass , 2020 is an improbable romp through wonderland .
The Democratic primary race effectively ended where the presidential election will almost certainly be won : Wisconsin .
But , thanks to the ongoing pandemic , it was a messy , borderline dystopian experiment affair .
Wisconsin forged ahead with its election in defiance of grave warnings from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen other states that chose to postpone their primary over fears for voters ’ health .
So on Tuesday , thousands of voters waited in hours-long lines to cast ballots wearing protective face masks while poll workers relied on hand sanitizer and , in some cases , makeshift hazmat suits .
Dressed like a surgeon in a blue gown , gloves and a mask , the Wisconsin assembly speaker , Robin Vos , a Republican who opposed all efforts to stop in-person voting from taking place , swelled with pride at the scenes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the midst of a deadly outbreak .
“ You are incredibly safe to go out , ” he assured constituents with a confidence belied by his ensemble .
Joe Biden finished fourth in Iowa , fifth in New Hampshire and a distant second in Nevada .
With the weight of presidential history against him , the left-for-dead former vice-president looked to South Carolina for salvation .
His fortunes began to change with an endorsement from Congressman Jim Clyburn , the most powerful Democrat in South Carolina and one of only a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move votes with a single blessing .
It was a blowout of epic proportions .
He won every county in the state .
Exit polls suggested that he won with white voters and black voters ; voters with a college degree and voters without one ; moderate voters and very liberal voters .
Over the course of a remarkable 72 hours , Biden ’ s centrist rivals folded and aligned behind him in a dramatic show of force .
He swept to victory on Super Tuesday – going from loser to winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end , South Carolina was far more than Biden ’ s firewall .
It was a rocket-fulled jet pack that propelled his string of March victories and set in motion a political revival that longtime political observers swore they had never seen before .
The richest campaign in history Mike Bloomberg , the former mayor of New York , spent nearly a billion dollars – that ’ s billion with a B – on a three-month presidential bid that triggered widespread fears – and plenty of criticism – that he might effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16th wealthiest man in the world , spent lavishly across the US , hiring thousands of staff and flooding the airwaves and internet with endless adverts .
His approach was unorthodox : skip the early states and run up the score on Super Tuesday .
After rising steadily in the polls , Bloomberg won a place on the debate stage – where Senator Elizabeth Warren so thoroughly savaged his character and his record that she later claimed credit for drawing figurative billionaire tears – and earned a swath of negative publicity for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment of women as a media mogul .
When the results rolled in on Super Tuesday , Bloomberg ’ s gargantuan effort yielded the grand prize of American Samoa .
The US territory boasts a delegate haul of six , which he split four to two with the Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard .
Bloomberg promptly dropped out and endorsed Biden .
But the saga of his failed experiment continues .
Former campaign staffers are now suing Bloomberg for fraud , alleging that he tricked them and thousands of other employees laid off last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they would be paid until the general election in November .
Now many are without an income – and health insurance – as they weather the coronavirus pandemic .
The socialist in the lead At the lowest point of Bernie Sanders ’ second bid for the White House , he suffered a heart attack .
The political prognosis was grim : his campaign would never recover .
Yet the “ political establishment ” – and the manifold other interests he rails against – had once again underestimated the Vermont democratic socialist .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ perennial underdog charted an extraordinary rebound .
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed him .
The left rallied .
His poll numbers climbed .
Suddenly , days before the Iowa caucuses , national Democrats were in full panic mode : Sanders was a runaway train that must be stopped .
Sanders won the popular vote in Iowa and then picked off New Hampshire .
Then , in Nevada , his political revolution finally arrived .
He won across the board , dominating with Latinos and first-time caucus-goers .
For a brief moment , before South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his ascent to the nomination inevitable .
The collapse of the Iowa caucus There are few political events in American politics as highly anticipated as the Iowa caucuses .
Presidential candidates spend untold resources and time in this state , endowed with outsized powers to set the course of national politics .
But this year , the state would not be remembered for choosing the winner of the first presidential nominating contest .
Instead it was the site of a disastrous results reporting meltdown .
Caucus day arrived and residents gathered at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quadrennial display of democracy in action .
Hours passed without any results .
Rumors began to circulate that an app designed to record and relay the tallies of this byzantine process had malfunctioned .
By then , the reporting hotline was overwhelmed with callers .
As night turned to day , it was clear the caucuses had gone farcically wrong .
The party did not officially certify the results until nearly a month after Iowans cacused .
The Associated Press ultimately decided not to declare a winner .
The screw-up was later attributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human error .
But the state may never recover – with speculation that it may lose its first-in-the-nation voting spot .
After rounds of recounting and re-canvassing , riddled by inaccuracies and inconsistencies , the former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg was declared the delegate winner while Sanders won the popular vote .
On the evening of the caucuses , with no data to betray them , a procession of candidates trotted on stage to declare some version of victory before jetting off to New Hampshire with every intention of never looking back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options for president .
At its peak , the Democratic squad was large enough to field both sides of an entire soccer game , with subs .
There were six women ; two black senators ; an Asian American entrepreneur promising everyone $ 1,000 a month ; a Latino former housing secretary ; a gay small-town mayor who rose from obscurity to political stardom ; a Hindu anti-war congresswoman ; two billionaires and a self-help guru who vowed to “ harness love ” to defeat Trump .
But through it all two white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice-president and the runner-up in the last Democratic primary – led the field for much of the race .
And , of course , through all those ups and downs , the end result of that enormous field was the one that national polls had predicted from the start : Joe Biden won .

The Democratic odyssey to choose a nominee delivered one final surprise this week: a predictable ending.
Joe Biden, the frontrunner for the entire campaign season minus a rocky four-week interlude, is the last Democrat standing after Bernie Sanders suspended his presidential bid on Wednesday.
But the result belies what was, by objective measure, no ordinary quest for power. Epic in scale and rich in plot, the Democratic primary was at turns wild, chaotic and downright Shakespearean – all before the arrival of a once-in-a-century plague.
Even in a Before Coronavirus world where politicians kissed babies and shook voters’ hands, the 2020 race included a historic impeachment inquiry, an unprecedented election night meltdown and a Hail Mary comeback.
If 2016 was the year American politics fell through the looking-glass, 2020 is an improbable romp through wonderland.
The coronavirus
The Democratic primary race effectively ended where the presidential election will almost certainly be won: Wisconsin. But, thanks to the ongoing pandemic, it was a messy, borderline dystopian experiment affair.
Wisconsin forged ahead with its election in defiance of grave warnings from public health officials and more than a dozen other states that chose to postpone their primary over fears for voters’ health.
So on Tuesday, thousands of voters waited in hours-long lines to cast ballots wearing protective face masks while poll workers relied on hand sanitizer and, in some cases, makeshift hazmat suits.
Robert Forrestal, left, wears a full-face chemical shield to protect against coronavirus, as he votes on 7 April at the Janesville Mall in Janesville, Wisconsin. Photograph: Angela Major/AP
Dressed like a surgeon in a blue gown, gloves and a mask, the Wisconsin assembly speaker, Robin Vos, a Republican who opposed all efforts to stop in-person voting from taking place, swelled with pride at the scenes of Wisconsin residents fulfilling their civic duty in the midst of a deadly outbreak.
“You are incredibly safe to go out,” he assured constituents with a confidence belied by his ensemble.
The incredible comeback
Joe Biden finished fourth in Iowa, fifth in New Hampshire and a distant second in Nevada. With the weight of presidential history against him, the left-for-dead former vice-president looked to South Carolina for salvation.
His fortunes began to change with an endorsement from Congressman Jim Clyburn, the most powerful Democrat in South Carolina and one of only a few political figures in America with the power to move votes with a single blessing.
Joe Biden arrives with his wife Jill, center, and sister Valerie at a Super Tuesday campaign event at Baldwin Hills Recreation Center on 3 March in Los Angeles, California. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images
It was a blowout of epic proportions. He won every county in the state. Exit polls suggested that he won with white voters and black voters; voters with a college degree and voters without one; moderate voters and very liberal voters.
Over the course of a remarkable 72 hours, Biden’s centrist rivals folded and aligned behind him in a dramatic show of force. He swept to victory on Super Tuesday – going from loser to winner in less than a week.
In the end, South Carolina was far more than Biden’s firewall. It was a rocket-fulled jet pack that propelled his string of March victories and set in motion a political revival that longtime political observers swore they had never seen before.
The richest campaign in history
Mike Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, spent nearly a billion dollars – that’s billion with a B – on a three-month presidential bid that triggered widespread fears – and plenty of criticism – that he might effectively buy the nomination.
Bloomberg, the 16th wealthiest man in the world, spent lavishly across the US, hiring thousands of staff and flooding the airwaves and internet with endless adverts. His approach was unorthodox: skip the early states and run up the score on Super Tuesday.
After rising steadily in the polls, Bloomberg won a place on the debate stage – where Senator Elizabeth Warren so thoroughly savaged his character and his record that she later claimed credit for drawing figurative billionaire tears – and earned a swath of negative publicity for his policies on minority rights as mayor and treatment of women as a media mogul.
Mike Bloomberg speaks during a ‘United for Mike’ event held on 26 on January in Aventura, Florida. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
When the results rolled in on Super Tuesday, Bloomberg’s gargantuan effort yielded the grand prize of American Samoa. The US territory boasts a delegate haul of six, which he split four to two with the Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Bloomberg promptly dropped out and endorsed Biden.
But the saga of his failed experiment continues. Former campaign staffers are now suing Bloomberg for fraud, alleging that he tricked them and thousands of other employees laid off last month into accepting jobs on the promise that they would be paid until the general election in November. Now many are without an income – and health insurance – as they weather the coronavirus pandemic.
The socialist in the lead
At the lowest point of Bernie Sanders’ second bid for the White House, he suffered a heart attack. The political prognosis was grim: his campaign would never recover.
Yet the “political establishment” – and the manifold other interests he rails against – had once again underestimated the Vermont democratic socialist.
In a matter of weeks, the perennial underdog charted an extraordinary rebound. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed him. The left rallied. His poll numbers climbed.
Suddenly, days before the Iowa caucuses, national Democrats were in full panic mode: Sanders was a runaway train that must be stopped.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins Bernie Sanders on stage at a ‘Bernie’s Back’ rally in Queensbridge Park, New York, on 19 October. Photograph: Lev Radin/LightRocket via Getty Images
Sanders won the popular vote in Iowa and then picked off New Hampshire. Then, in Nevada, his political revolution finally arrived. He won across the board, dominating with Latinos and first-time caucus-goers. For a brief moment, before South Carolina changed everything, Sanders appeared unstoppable, his ascent to the nomination inevitable.
The collapse of the Iowa caucus
There are few political events in American politics as highly anticipated as the Iowa caucuses.
Presidential candidates spend untold resources and time in this state, endowed with outsized powers to set the course of national politics. But this year, the state would not be remembered for choosing the winner of the first presidential nominating contest.
Instead it was the site of a disastrous results reporting meltdown.
Caucus day arrived and residents gathered at churches, schools and gymnasiums for this quadrennial display of democracy in action. Hours passed without any results. Rumors began to circulate that an app designed to record and relay the tallies of this byzantine process had malfunctioned. By then, the reporting hotline was overwhelmed with callers. As night turned to day, it was clear the caucuses had gone farcically wrong.
Papers cover the floor near boxes of voter registration forms inside an Iowa Democratic party office in Des Moines on 4 February. Photograph: Daniel Acke/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The party did not officially certify the results until nearly a month after Iowans cacused. The Associated Press ultimately decided not to declare a winner.
The screw-up was later attributed to a combination of technical difficulties and human error. But the state may never recover – with speculation that it may lose its first-in-the-nation voting spot. After rounds of recounting and re-canvassing, riddled by inaccuracies and inconsistencies, the former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg was declared the delegate winner while Sanders won the popular vote.
On the evening of the caucuses, with no data to betray them, a procession of candidates trotted on stage to declare some version of victory before jetting off to New Hampshire with every intention of never looking back.
“Iowa,” Buttigieg declared, “you have shocked the nation.”
Democrats have never had so many options for president. At its peak, the Democratic squad was large enough to field both sides of an entire soccer game, with subs.
There were six women; two black senators; an Asian American entrepreneur promising everyone $1,000 a month; a Latino former housing secretary; a gay small-town mayor who rose from obscurity to political stardom; a Hindu anti-war congresswoman; two billionaires and a self-help guru who vowed to “harness love” to defeat Trump.
But through it all two white men in their 70s – a former vice-president and the runner-up in the last Democratic primary – led the field for much of the race.
And, of course, through all those ups and downs, the end result of that enormous field was the one that national polls had predicted from the start: Joe Biden won.


theguardian--2020-04-14--Barack Obama endorses Joe Biden for president – video

Barack Obama has endorsed Joe Biden for president , coming off the electoral sidelines to help unite the Democratic party @ @ @ @ @ be a historically divisive election campaign • Obama endorses Biden for president in attempt to @ @ @

Barack Obama has endorsed Joe Biden for president, coming off the electoral sidelines to help unite the Democratic party before what will almost certainly be a historically divisive election campaign


theguardian--2020-04-14--Donald Trump: 'When somebody is president of the United States, the authority is total' – video

US president Donald Trump has claimed he has ‘ total authority ’ to supersede decisions made by state governors to @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
‘ When someone is president of the United States the authority is @ @ @ @ @ during a White House press briefing .
Reporters questioned the assertion , asking : ‘ @ @ @ @ @ is the president of the United States their authority is total .
That is not @ @ @ @ @ that ?
’ Trump replied ‘ We are going to write up papers on this @ @ @ @ @ had the authority to ‘ call the shots ’ for each state 's lock-down regulations @ @ @ @ @ ‘ getting on very well with the governors ’ and is ‘ certain there won @ @ @ @ @ ’

US president Donald Trump has claimed he has ‘total authority’ to supersede decisions made by state governors to ease social restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. ‘When someone is president of the United States the authority is total', Trump said during a White House press briefing. Reporters questioned the assertion, asking: ‘You said that when someone is the president of the United States their authority is total. That is not true. Who told you that?’ Trump replied ‘We are going to write up papers on this'. Although claiming he had the authority to ‘call the shots’ for each state's lock-down regulations, Trump insisted he was ‘getting on very well with the governors’ and is ‘certain there won’t be a problem’


theguardian--2020-04-14--Trump plays campaign-style video attacking press at White House briefing – video

Donald Trump has used a White House press briefing on coronavirus to play a campaign-style video attacking the media .
@ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s preferred network , Fox News , praising his record on the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ away from the briefing , calling the video ‘ propaganda ’ .
At the rest @ @ @ @ @ Trump angrily lashed out at reporters for questioning his response and insisted ‘ everything we @ @ @ @ @ the media was ‘ guilty ’ • Coronavirus US live : Trump attacks media in @ @ @ @ @ updates • Coronavirus live news : cases worldwide near 2 million as Trump repeats WHO @ @

Donald Trump has used a White House press briefing on coronavirus to play a campaign-style video attacking the media. The video comprised clips from Trump’s preferred network, Fox News, praising his record on the pandemic. CNN and MSCNB cut away from the briefing, calling the video ‘propaganda’. At the rest of the briefing an agitated Trump angrily lashed out at reporters for questioning his response and insisted ‘everything we did was right’ while the media was ‘guilty’


theguardian--2020-04-09--Politicising Covid-19 like playing with fire, WHO director general says after Trump attack – video

'Please do n't politicise this virus , ' urges World Health Organization director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus a day @ @ @ @ @ tried to pin blame on the WHO for thousands of American deaths from the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ of having 'called it wrong ' and threatened to pull funding .
Ghebreyesus gives a @ @ @ @ @ to score political points amid the pandemic : 'If you want to have many more @ @ @ @ @ do it .
You have many other ways to prove yourselves .
This is not @ @ @ @ @ politics , it 's like playing with fire' • Trump scapegoating of WHO obscures its @ @ @ @ @ • Trump threatens to hold WHO funding , then backtracks , amid search for scapegoat @ @ @ @ @ Trump again criticizes WHO as 400,000 cases confirmed in America

'Please don't politicise this virus,' urges World Health Organization director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus a day after US president Donald Trump tried to pin blame on the WHO for thousands of American deaths from the coronavirus. Trump accused the WHO of having 'called it wrong' and threatened to pull funding. Ghebreyesus gives a stern warning to those seeking to score political points amid the pandemic: 'If you want to have many more body bags, then you do it. You have many other ways to prove yourselves. This is not the one to use for politics, it's like playing with fire'


theguardian--2020-04-08--Bernie Sanders: six key policies from his 2020 presidential campaign – video report

Bernie Sanders has formally announced he is suspending his presidential campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination .
Here is a @ @ @ @ @ that outline his views on key issues including the economy , the climate crisis , @ @ @ @ @ control

Bernie Sanders has formally announced he is suspending his presidential campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination.
Here is a look back at the speeches that outline his views on key issues including the economy, the climate crisis, healthcare, immigration and gun control


theguardian--2020-04-08--Donald Trump blames WHO for dire situation in the US, threatens to pull funding  – video

US president Donald Trump has given conflicting statements about the future of US funding to the World Health Organization .
@ @ @ @ @ a scapegoat for the dire situation in the US , Trump began blaming the WHO @ @ @ @ @ ' .
The president then said : ‘ We ’ re going to put a @ @ @ @ @ the WHO . '
But when pressed by reporters , he conceded that he was @ @ @ @ @ a possible suspension .
Trump ’ s early inaction has come under renewed scrutiny as @ @ @ @ @ trade adviser Peter Navarro wrote several memos weeks ago warning of the potential , dire @ @ @ @ @ Trump threatens to hold WHO funding , then backtracks , amid search for scapegoat • @ @ @ @ @ says US will stop funding World Heath Organization , then backtracks – as it happened

US president Donald Trump has given conflicting statements about the future of US funding to the World Health Organization. In a bid to find a scapegoat for the dire situation in the US, Trump began blaming the WHO for ’calling it wrong'. The president then said: ‘We’re going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO.' But when pressed by reporters, he conceded that he was just ‘looking at’ a possible suspension. Trump’s early inaction has come under renewed scrutiny as new reports show his top trade adviser Peter Navarro wrote several memos weeks ago warning of the potential, dire impacts of the coronavirus


theguardian--2020-04-06--Trump grilled over continued promotion of hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus – video

US president Donald Trump has again urged Americans to try the drug hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus .
Though the drug @ @ @ @ @ prove its effectiveness in treating the virus , Trump has continued to advocate for it @ @ @ @ @ What do you have to lose ?
’ Dr Anthony Fauci , the top doctor @ @ @ @ @ US and a key member of the White House task force , told CBS Face @ @ @ @ @ nothing to suggest the medicine had any benefit against coronavirus .
‘ The data are @ @ @ @ @ .
There have been cases that show there may be an effect and there are @ @ @ @ @ s no effect ’ .
When asked at the daily press briefing , Trump refused @ @ @ @ @ answer questions about the drug ’ s effectiveness • Trump tells Americans to take unproven @ @ @ @ @ • US coronavirus : Fema official says masks and gloves are on the way to @ @ @ @ @

US president Donald Trump has again urged Americans to try the drug hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus. Though the drug has not undergone tests to prove its effectiveness in treating the virus, Trump has continued to advocate for it, telling reporters: ‘What do you have to lose?’ Dr Anthony Fauci, the top doctor on infectious diseases in the US and a key member of the White House task force, told CBS Face the Nation program there was nothing to suggest the medicine had any benefit against coronavirus. ‘The data are really just at best suggestive. There have been cases that show there may be an effect and there are others to show there’s no effect’. When asked at the daily press briefing, Trump refused to allow Dr Fauci to answer questions about the drug’s effectiveness


theguardian--2020-04-05--'There will be a lot of death': Trump warning as Covid-19 cases in US pass 300,000 – video

Donald Trump has warned Americans that the toll from coronavirus in the US will be 'the toughest ' during the @ @ @ @ @ there will be ' a lot of death ' .
According to the Johns Hopkins @ @ @ @ @ Saturday evening more than 305,000 cases of Covid-19 had been confirmed in the US , @ @ @ @ @ deaths • Global cases pass 1.2m as Trump warns US of worse to come

Donald Trump has warned Americans that the toll from coronavirus in the US will be 'the toughest' during the next two weeks, saying there will be 'a lot of death'. According to the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, by Saturday evening more than 305,000 cases of Covid-19 had been confirmed in the US, resulting in more than 8,000 deaths


theguardian--2020-03-31--How Trump has reacted to journalists questioning his handling of the coronavirus crisis – video

With Donald Trump under increasing scrutiny over his approach to the coronavirus crisis in the US , the president has @ @ @ @ @ to lash out at the media .
With more than 165,000 recorded cases , the @ @ @ @ @ country in the world .
• Trump accuses media of wanting to keep economy shut @ @ @ @

With Donald Trump under increasing scrutiny over his approach to the coronavirus crisis in the US, the president has used his daily press briefings to lash out at the media. With more than 165,000 recorded cases, the US is now the worst-affected country in the world.


theguardian--2020-03-31--Trump uses White House coronavirus briefing to promote corporate allies – video

US president Donald Trump uses his White House coronavirus briefing to promote companies doing their 'patriotic duty ' by producing @ @ @ @ @ meet America ’ s most urgent needs .
'What they ’ re doing is incredible @ @ @ @ @ 'These are great companies . '
Trump invited CEOs from MyPillow , Honeywell , Jockey @ @ @ @ @ and United Technologies to make short speeches to the press gathered in the Rose Garden @ @ @ @ @ Mike Lindell as a 'friend ' saying , 'Boy , do you sell those pillows @ @ @ @ @ what you do' • See all our coronavirus coverage

US president Donald Trump uses his White House coronavirus briefing to promote companies doing their 'patriotic duty' by producing or donating medical equipment to meet America’s most urgent needs. 'What they’re doing is incredible,' he said. 'These are great companies.' Trump invited CEOs from MyPillow, Honeywell, Jockey International, Procter & Gamble and United Technologies to make short speeches to the press gathered in the Rose Garden. Trump introduced MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell as a 'friend' saying, 'Boy, do you sell those pillows, it’s unbelievable what you do'


theguardian--2020-04-16--'It’s a killer. We’re done': Covid-19 puts ballot initiatives in peril

March was supposed to be a big month for James Hayes .
He and other organizers with Ohioans for Raising the Wage have been campaigning to gradually raise the state ’ s minimum wage – currently $ 8.70 an hour – to $ 13 .
The organizers planned to be stationed at the polls throughout the state during the primary election to get voters , already in a civic mindset , to sign petitions to help them get the measure on the ballot .
They need to gather 442,958 signatures by 1 July to make that happen .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essentially canceled in-person voting for its primary , now at the end of April .
Organizers have stopped collecting signatures to comply with state orders to avoid public contact – a strategy that these campaigns traditionally heavily rely on .
“ Every day we lose … the amount of volunteer hours and the resources goes up as well .
It ’ s really difficult , ” Hayes said .
“ It ’ s heart-wrenching.
” Hayes and his group filed a lawsuit in state court seeking to extend the deadline for collecting signatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of allowing activists to bypass partisan legislatures and allow voters to directly enact policies , something currently allowed in some form in more than two dozen states .
They can be extremely expensive and take considerable organizing work to succeed .
In recent years these efforts have been used to achieve sweeping expansions of democracy in the country , including repealing Florida ’ s lifetime ban on felon voting , expanding Medicaid , and creating an independent redistricting commission in Michigan .
The initiatives have been so successful that Republicans in several states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it harder to get referendums on the ballot .
Now , those efforts could be in peril as organizers face fast-approaching deadlines to gather tens of thousands , in many cases hundreds of thousands , of signatures .
If social isolation measures persist , and lawmakers don ’ t ease restrictions , these measures won ’ t be on the ballot in November , leaving voters without a chance to vote on crucial reforms like expanding voting , LGBTQ rights and limiting gerrymandering .
Though state lawmakers are scrambling to find alternatives for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there has been no parallel effort to make it easier for organizers to get measures on the ballot for November .
While organizers in Ohio could try again next year , that ’ s not an option for Andy Moore , the director of People Not Politicians , who is based in Oklahoma .
After the governor declared a state of emergency there , the secretary of state paused all signature collection efforts .
People Not Politicians needs 177,958 signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would strip Oklahoma lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and instead give it to an independent commission evenly divided between Democrats , Republicans and Independents .
Because redistricting takes place once every 10 years , and the next round is early next year , this is the last chance to reform the process for the next decade .
“ It ’ s a free pass to politicians to gerrymander yet again , ” said Moore , whose group is still awaiting final approval to collect signatures .
Once the measure is approved , they will have 90 days to collect the signatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancel house parties and a planned 5K run in the shape of a gerrymandered district .
“ We don ’ t have the luxury of waiting until next year , ” said George Shelton , who is leading a similar anti-gerrymandering effort in Arkansas .
Unable to work towards the 89,151 signatures they need to make the ballot , organizers are educating people online about what they can do to fix gerrymandering .
Shelton and organizers have until 3 July .
Organizers are considering different options to combat this epic hurdle .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get people to sign petitions , and posing legal challenges seeking to force state officials to extend the deadline or lower the number of signatures they need to get , said Chris Melody Fields Figueredo , the executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center , a group that works on progressive ballot initiatives .
Moore also said officials should allow activists to gather signatures online .
But that ’ s currently not allowed in any state , said Amanda Zoch , who works on elections at the National Conference of State Legislatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handwritten signatures for ballot signatures and tightly regulate who can collect them .
A handful of efforts to allow voters to submit electronic signatures for referendums failed in recent years .
In California , one of the referendums stalled by Covid-19 is an effort to create a law to allow organizers to collect signatures for future referendums electronically .
“ It ’ s a killer .
We ’ re done , ” said Michael Lidell , who organized the effort .
“ There ’ s no point in even turning anything in .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
” Some activists , he said , are requesting that California officials grant referendum organizers an extension to turn in signatures and let them collect signatures online .
In Arizona , candidates can gather signatures online to qualify for the ballot , but organizers must still collect signatures in person to make a referendum appear on it .
Activists filed lawsuits in both state and federal court in recent weeks to be allowed to collect signatures online .
Republicans in the state are opposing that request , citing the potential for fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid the Covid-19 outbreak .
In Maine , Republicans have set up drive-thru events with single-use pens to gather more than 63,000 signatures to block the state from using ranked choice voting in the presidential election .
In Michigan , organizers supporting a referendum to expand LGBTQ protections are allowing people to request petitions online that are then mailed to them to sign .
Utah ’ s Governor Gary Herbert , a Republican , issued an executive order allowing organizers to distribute petitions electronically , but is still requiring Utah voters to sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But those efforts may be not be enough .
Gathering enough signatures to get a measure on the ballot , even when there isn ’ t a pandemic , requires herculean levels of organizing and funding .
Stone said he gave up a full-time job at the University of Oklahoma running its infectious disease clinic ( the irony is not lost on him , he said ) to do this work .
“ At this point , with this epidemic , I don ’ t think anybody really knows what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

March was supposed to be a big month for James Hayes.
He and other organizers with Ohioans for Raising the Wage have been campaigning to gradually raise the state’s minimum wage – currently $8.70 an hour – to $13. The organizers planned to be stationed at the polls throughout the state during the primary election to get voters , already in a civic mindset, to sign petitions to help them get the measure on the ballot. They need to gather 442,958 signatures by 1 July to make that happen.
But the Covid-19 pandemic waylaid the campaign. Ohio essentially canceled in-person voting for its primary, now at the end of April. Organizers have stopped collecting signatures to comply with state orders to avoid public contact – a strategy that these campaigns traditionally heavily rely on.
“Every day we lose … the amount of volunteer hours and the resources goes up as well. It’s really difficult,” Hayes said. “It’s heart-wrenching.” Hayes and his group filed a lawsuit in state court seeking to extend the deadline for collecting signatures.
Ballot measures are a critical way of allowing activists to bypass partisan legislatures and allow voters to directly enact policies, something currently allowed in some form in more than two dozen states. They can be extremely expensive and take considerable organizing work to succeed.
In recent years these efforts have been used to achieve sweeping expansions of democracy in the country, including repealing Florida’s lifetime ban on felon voting, expanding Medicaid, and creating an independent redistricting commission in Michigan. The initiatives have been so successful that Republicans in several states have tried to gut them or make it harder to get referendums on the ballot.
Now, those efforts could be in peril as organizers face fast-approaching deadlines to gather tens of thousands, in many cases hundreds of thousands, of signatures. If social isolation measures persist, and lawmakers don’t ease restrictions, these measures won’t be on the ballot in November, leaving voters without a chance to vote on crucial reforms like expanding voting, LGBTQ rights and limiting gerrymandering.
Though state lawmakers are scrambling to find alternatives for people to vote in upcoming elections, there has been no parallel effort to make it easier for organizers to get measures on the ballot for November.
While organizers in Ohio could try again next year, that’s not an option for Andy Moore, the director of People Not Politicians, who is based in Oklahoma. After the governor declared a state of emergency there, the secretary of state paused all signature collection efforts.
People Not Politicians needs 177,958 signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would strip Oklahoma lawmakers of their ability to draw electoral districts and instead give it to an independent commission evenly divided between Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Because redistricting takes place once every 10 years, and the next round is early next year, this is the last chance to reform the process for the next decade.
“It’s a free pass to politicians to gerrymander yet again,” said Moore, whose group is still awaiting final approval to collect signatures. Once the measure is approved, they will have 90 days to collect the signatures. The effort has already had to cancel house parties and a planned 5K run in the shape of a gerrymandered district.
“We don’t have the luxury of waiting until next year,” said George Shelton, who is leading a similar anti-gerrymandering effort in Arkansas. Unable to work towards the 89,151 signatures they need to make the ballot, organizers are educating people online about what they can do to fix gerrymandering. Shelton and organizers have until 3 July.
Organizers are considering different options to combat this epic hurdle. They’re looking for new ways to get people to sign petitions, and posing legal challenges seeking to force state officials to extend the deadline or lower the number of signatures they need to get, said Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, the executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, a group that works on progressive ballot initiatives.
Moore also said officials should allow activists to gather signatures online. But that’s currently not allowed in any state, said Amanda Zoch, who works on elections at the National Conference of State Legislatures. States have long required in-person, handwritten signatures for ballot signatures and tightly regulate who can collect them.
A handful of efforts to allow voters to submit electronic signatures for referendums failed in recent years. In California, one of the referendums stalled by Covid-19 is an effort to create a law to allow organizers to collect signatures for future referendums electronically.
“It’s a killer. We’re done,” said Michael Liddell, who organized the effort. “There’s no point in even turning anything in. We’re not going to make it.” Some activists, he said, are requesting that California officials grant referendum organizers an extension to turn in signatures and let them collect signatures online.
In Arizona, candidates can gather signatures online to qualify for the ballot, but organizers must still collect signatures in person to make a referendum appear on it. Activists filed lawsuits in both state and federal court in recent weeks to be allowed to collect signatures online. Republicans in the state are opposing that request, citing the potential for fraud.
Some organizations are still forging ahead amid the Covid-19 outbreak. In Maine, Republicans have set up drive-thru events with single-use pens to gather more than 63,000 signatures to block the state from using ranked choice voting in the presidential election. In Michigan, organizers supporting a referendum to expand LGBTQ protections are allowing people to request petitions online that are then mailed to them to sign. Utah’s Governor Gary Herbert, a Republican, issued an executive order allowing organizers to distribute petitions electronically, but is still requiring Utah voters to sign them by hand and mail them in.
But those efforts may be not be enough. Gathering enough signatures to get a measure on the ballot, even when there isn’t a pandemic, requires herculean levels of organizing and funding. Moore said he gave up a full-time job at the University of Oklahoma running its infectious disease clinic (the irony is not lost on him, he said) to do this work.
“At this point, with this epidemic, I don’t think anybody really knows what’s going to happen,” he said.


theguardian--2020-04-16--Elizabeth Warren says she would accept being Joe Biden's running mate

Elizabeth Warren has said she would accept an offer to be running mate to the Democratic presidential candidate , Joe Biden , if the position were offered .
“ Yes , ” said the US Senator when asked on MSNBC how she would respond if Biden asked her to run for vice-president .
Biden , who was Barack Obama ’ s vice-president , has vowed to pick a woman to be his running mate and said he would name a committee to help him vet a shortlist of names soon .
Warren endorsed Biden earlier on Wednesday .
She ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March and became known for championing detailed and sweeping liberal reforms .
Biden has been working to win the support of more liberal parts of the party ahead of his battle against Donald Trump in the 3 November election .
A spokesman for the Biden campaign declined to comment on Warren ’ s remarks .
Several people likely to be in contention have expressed their interest .
“ I would be an excellent running mate , ” said Stacey Abrams , the former Georgia gubernatorial candidate , in an interview published by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Michigan told NBC News on Wednesday that she was “ fortunate ” to be considered for the position .

Elizabeth Warren has said she would accept an offer to be running mate to the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, if the position were offered.
“Yes,” said the US Senator when asked on MSNBC how she would respond if Biden asked her to run for vice-president.
Biden, who was Barack Obama’s vice-president, has vowed to pick a woman to be his running mate and said he would name a committee to help him vet a shortlist of names soon.
Warren endorsed Biden earlier on Wednesday. She ended her own bid for the White House in March and became known for championing detailed and sweeping liberal reforms. Biden has been working to win the support of more liberal parts of the party ahead of his battle against Donald Trump in the 3 November election.
A spokesman for the Biden campaign declined to comment on Warren’s remarks.
Several people likely to be in contention have expressed their interest. “I would be an excellent running mate,” said Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia gubernatorial candidate, in an interview published by Elle on Wednesday. Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan told NBC News on Wednesday that she was “fortunate” to be considered for the position.


theguardian--2020-04-16--Trump fans flames of Chinese lab coronavirus theory during daily briefing

Donald Trump has fuelled a media theory that the coronavirus pandemic began when the pathogen accidentally escaped a Chinese laboratory , teasing that “ more and more we ’ re hearing the story ” .
The US president ’ s TV network of choice , Fox News , has reported that “ multiple sources ” in the American government believe initial transmission of the virus was bat-to-human in a virology lab in Wuhan .
Due to weak safety protocols , an infected lab worker then went to a wet market where the virus spread .
When Fox News reporter John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press briefing on Wednesday , he replied : “ Well , I don ’ t want to say that John , but I will tell you more and more we ’ re hearing the story.
” The president is notorious for recycling content from Fox News in his remarks or tweets , and it was unclear whether he was privy to any other information to back the claim .
He added : “ We ’ ll see .
When you say ‘ multiple sources ’ , now there ’ s a case where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ .
But we are doing a very thorough examination of this horrible situation that happened.
” Trump added that he did not want to disclose any discussions he had with the Chinese president , Xi Jinping , about the laboratory .
The Pentagon ’ s top general , Mark Milley , cast doubt on the lab theory earlier this week , saying that US intelligence has looked into the possibility but that the “ weight of evidence ” thus far pointed towards “ natural ” origins .
Since the outbreak of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme conspiracy theories have suggested that it was engineered as a bioweapon .
There is no evidence for this .
The scientific journal the Lancet has stated the virus appears to have come from wildlife .
An analysis by scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology suggests that the virus ’ s genome is 96 % similar to a coronavirus found in bats .
But the story running prominently on Fox News begins by stating the virus began “ not as a bioweapon ” , alleging incompetence rather than a malicious attack .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially among anti-China hardliners in Washington .
On Tuesday the Washington Post reported that state department cables had warned two years ago of safety issues at a Wuhan lab studying bat coronaviruses .
The Post said : “ The cables have fueled discussions inside the US government about whether this or another Wuhan lab was the source of the virus – even though conclusive proof has yet to emerge.
” China ’ s extreme censorship and lack of openness about the virus have done little to quell the speculation .
But conversely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News ’ widely panned coverage of the pandemic as well as Trump ’ s habit of searching for distractions and excuses to shift blame .
At Wednesday ’ s coronavirus task force briefing , he lambasted the Voice of America radio station for its China coverage – “ what things they say are disgusting toward our country ” – and the World Health Organization ( WHO ) for giving Beijing the benefit of the doubt .
“ It took them a long time to realise what was going on , but I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on , ” he said without evidence , having previously announced a hold on WHO funding .
“ Tragically , other nations put their trust in the WHO and they didn ’ t do any formal [ travel ] ban.
” Meanwhile Trump , under pressure to restart the economy , struck an optimistic note for America ’ s fight against the virus on a cold day in the White House rose garden .
“ The battle continues but the data suggests that nationwide we have passed the peak on new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details to support the claim .
“ Hopefully that will continue , and we will continue to make great progress .
“ These encouraging developments have put us in a very strong position to finalise guidelines on states for reopening the country.
” The White House will release the guidelines on Thursday , he added , after he and vice-president Mike Pence hold calls with governors .
“ We think that some states can actually open up before the deadline of May 1.
” Trump added : “ We ’ ll be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tomorrow ’ s going to be a very big day ... We ’ ll have some openings that will exceed our expectations .
And they ’ ll be safe , they ’ ll be strong , but we want to get our country back .
We ’ re going to do it , and we ’ re gon na do it soon.
” The reopenings are bound to be phased geographically and require flexibility .
Pence , who heads the coronavirus task force , said : “ The American people will be encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 24 % of the counties of this country have no reported coronavirus cases .
In fact , half of the states in America have less than 2,500 cases per state.
” But public health experts have warned that the US , which has the biggest caseload in the world , must boost testing and contact tracing before loosening restrictions .
Trump said the US has surpassed 3.3m completed tests but failed to answer governors ’ concerns over how the process can be stepped up .
In an unexpected turn , he also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recess so that he can make recess appointments of federal officials , including judges .
He falsely accused Democrats of leaving key administration positions unstaffed and making it “ very hard ” to govern .
“ We have a tremendous number of people that have to come into government and now more so than ever before because of the virus ...
If the House will not agree to that adjournment , I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress.
” Trump added : “ The current practice of leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dereliction of duty that the American people can not afford during this crisis.
” Michael Beschloss , an author and historian , tweeted : “ No President in history has ever used the Constitutional power to adjourn Congress ... Wilson , Taft and FDR were all urged to adjourn Congress and all refused .
”

Donald Trump has fuelled a media theory that the coronavirus pandemic began when the pathogen accidentally escaped a Chinese laboratory, teasing that “more and more we’re hearing the story”.
The US president’s TV network of choice, Fox News, has reported that “multiple sources” in the American government believe initial transmission of the virus was bat-to-human in a virology lab in Wuhan. Due to weak safety protocols, an infected lab worker then went to a wet market where the virus spread.
When the Fox News reporter John Roberts put this to Trump at a press briefing on Wednesday, he replied: “Well, I don’t want to say that, John, but I will tell you more and more we’re hearing the story.”
The president is notorious for recycling content from Fox News in his remarks or tweets, and it was unclear whether he was privy to any other information to back the claim. He added: “We’ll see. When you say ‘multiple sources’, now there’s a case where you can use the word ‘sources’. But we are doing a very thorough examination of this horrible situation that happened.”
Trump added that he did not want to disclose any discussions he had with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, about the laboratory.
The Pentagon’s top general, Mark Milley, cast doubt on the lab theory earlier this week, saying that US intelligence has looked into the possibility but that the “weight of evidence” thus far pointed towards “natural” origins.
00:38 US military chief says ‘weight of evidence' shows Covid-19 is natural and not from a lab – video
Since the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan in December, more extreme conspiracy theories have suggested that it was engineered as a bioweapon. There is no evidence for this. The scientific journal the Lancet has stated the virus appears to have come from wildlife. An analysis by scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology suggests that the virus’s genome is 96% similar to a coronavirus found in bats.
But the story running prominently on Fox News begins by stating the virus began “not as a bioweapon”, alleging incompetence rather than a malicious attack. This idea has gained more traction, especially among anti-China hardliners in Washington.
On Tuesday the Washington Post reported that state department cables had warned two years ago of safety issues at a Wuhan lab studying bat coronaviruses. The Post said: “The cables have fueled discussions inside the US government about whether this or another Wuhan lab was the source of the virus – even though conclusive proof has yet to emerge.”
02:22 Trump threatens to close Congress over 'obstruction' – video highlights
China’s extreme censorship and lack of openness about the virus have done little to quell the speculation. But conversely, healthy scepticism is guaranteed because of Fox News’ widely panned coverage of the pandemic as well as Trump’s habit of searching for distractions and excuses to shift blame.
At Wednesday’s coronavirus taskforce briefing, he lambasted the Voice of America radio station for its China coverage – “what things they say are disgusting toward our country” – and the World Health Organization (WHO) for giving Beijing the benefit of the doubt.
“It took them a long time to realise what was going on, but I have a feeling they knew exactly what was going on,” he said without evidence, having previously announced a hold on WHO funding. “Tragically, other nations put their trust in the WHO and they didn’t do any formal [travel] ban.”
Meanwhile Trump, under pressure to restart the economy, struck an optimistic note for America’s fight against the virus on a cold day in the White House rose garden. “The battle continues but the data suggests that nationwide we have passed the peak on new cases,” he said, without giving details to support the claim. “Hopefully that will continue, and we will continue to make great progress.
“These encouraging developments have put us in a very strong position to finalise guidelines on states for reopening the country.”
The White House will release the guidelines on Thursday, he added, after he and Vice-President Mike Pence hold calls with governors. “We think that some states can actually open up before the deadline of May 1.”
Trump added: “We’ll be the comeback kids – all of us … Tomorrow’s going to be a very big day … We’ll have some openings that will exceed our expectations. And they’ll be safe, they’ll be strong, but we want to get our country back. We’re going to do it, and we’re gonna do it soon.”
A healthcare workers puts on a sterile gown while helping test patients for coronavirus in Virginia. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The reopenings are bound to be phased geographically and require flexibility. Pence, who heads the coronavirus taskforce, said: “The American people will be encouraged to know as we stand here today, 24% of the counties of this country have no reported coronavirus cases. In fact, half of the states in America have less than 2,500 cases per state.”
But public health experts have warned that the US, which has the biggest caseload in the world, must boost testing and contact tracing before loosening restrictions. Trump said the US has surpassed 3.3m completed tests but failed to answer governors’ concerns over how the process can be stepped up.
In an unexpected turn, he also threatened to force Congress into a formal recess so that he can make recess appointments of federal officials, including judges. He falsely accused Democrats of leaving key administration positions unstaffed and making it “very hard” to govern.
“We have a tremendous number of people that have to come into government and now more so than ever before because of the virus … If the House will not agree to that adjournment, I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress.”
Trump added: “The current practice of leaving town while conducting phony pro-forma sessions is a dereliction of duty that the American people cannot afford during this crisis.”
Michael Beschloss, an author and historian, tweeted: “No President in history has ever used the Constitutional power to adjourn Congress ... Wilson, Taft and FDR were all urged to adjourn Congress and all refused.”


theguardian--2020-04-16--Coronavirus US live: Trump threatens to close Congress over 'obstruction' – as it happened

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday it is unlikely concerts and sporting events will resume until at least 2021 @ @ @ @ @ to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
“ It ’ s difficult to imagine us getting @ @ @ @ @ soon , so I think we should be prepared for that this year , ” @ @ @ @ @ The Situation Room .
“ Until there ’ s either a vaccine , some sort @ @ @ @ @ herd immunity , the science is the science .
And public health officials have made @ @ @ @ @ and miles to walk before we can be back in those environments.
” Garcetti ’ @ @ @ @ @ New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and California governor Gavin Newsom , both of @ @ @ @ @ a long time before gatherings of 100 or more people are commonplace again .
President @ @ @ @ @ desire to reopen the country by May 1 , but governors and city officials have @ @ @ @ @ .

Kari Paul in San Francisco (now) and Joan E Greve in Washington (earlier)

16 Apr 2020 01.03 BST Evening Summary Kari Paul here, logging out for the night. Below are some top stories to be aware of from the last few hours: In a presser on Wednesday, Trump threatened to close both chambers of Congress for “obstructing” his ability to appoint judges and other positions. He is legally able to do so, but it would be quite unprecedented.
Trump also claimed states may be reopened before the May 1 deadline he initially put forth, and said he will be announcing more information about restarting the country tomorrow at a presser.
Los Angeles’ mayor said we may not be able to have group events until as late as 2021. His language echoes that of governor Gavin Newsom and NYC mayor Bill de Blasio.
Updated at 09.06 BST
15 Apr 2020 00.56 BST For those of us on the West Coast wondering “what’s next?” here is a pretty comprehensive look at what needs to be done to reopen California, written by two medical doctors. In short, to reopen we will need much more access to testing so we can localize and isolate new cases of the virus, and restrictions on large gatherings will likely persist for awhile. In other words, we are all going to be working from home and washing our hands constantly for the foreseeable future.
15 Apr 2020 00.51 BST The death count for coronavirus may be much higher than initially thought, a study published by ProPublica on Wednesday found. That is because many people are dying at home, suggesting current numbers that come primarily from hospitals are “just the tip of the iceberg”, one expert cited said. From the report: As of Tuesday afternoon, the United States had logged more than 592,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 24,000 deaths, the most in the world, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. But the official COVID-19 death count may, at least for now, be missing fatalities that are occurring outside of hospitals, data and interviews show. Cities are increasingly showing signs of Americans succumbing to the coronavirus in their own beds.
15 Apr 2020 00.31 BST Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday it is unlikely concerts and sporting events will resume until at least 2021, as the city continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s difficult to imagine us getting together in the thousands anytime soon, so I think we should be prepared for that this year,” he told Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room. “Until there’s either a vaccine, some sort of pharmaceutical intervention, or herd immunity, the science is the science. And public health officials have made very clear we have miles and miles to walk before we can be back in those environments.” Garcetti’s comments echo those of New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and California governor Gavin Newsom, both of whom said it will be a long time before gatherings of 100 or more people are commonplace again. President Donald Trump has expressed the desire to reopen the country by May 1, but governors and city officials have increasingly put forward longer timelines.
15 Apr 2020 23.57 BST Bryan Armen Graham Fact check: Trump says the United States “rarely if ever” won cases at the World Trade Organization before his administration. According to his own White House, the US “won 85.7% of the cases it has initiated before the WTO since 1995, compared with a global average of 84.4%.”
15 Apr 2020 23.56 BST Fact Check: Did the coronavirus originally escape from a laboratory in Wuhan, infecting a lab assistant, his girlfriend, and then finding its way to a wet market where it started the pandemic? Trump answered a long-winded question from a Fox News reporter on Wednesday suggesting as much. Rather than shutting down the widely-debunked theory, Trump said “I don’t want to say” and “We’ll see”. “I will tell you more and more we’re hearing that story”, Trump said. “We are doing a very thorough examination of how this horrible situation that happened”. Conspiracy theories have circulated since the origins of coronavirus that the virus originated in a lab, giving rise to theories it was engineered as a bioweapon. In fact, epidemiologists say there is no evidence the virus was created in a lab. A statement published in scientific journal the Lancet said the virus appears to have come from wildlife and another analysis of the virus by scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology suggests that the virus’s genome is 96% similar to a coronavirus found in bats.
15 Apr 2020 23.43 BST Bryan Armen Graham Fact check: Trump says “we have approved record numbers of federal judges.” As of 1 April, the Senate has confirmed 193 Article III judges nominated by Trump. The record is held by Ronald Reagan with 383, followed by Bill Clinton (378) then Barack Obama (329). Trump does rank second in terms of judges confirmed at this point in his presidency behind only Jimmy Carter (212).
Updated at 23.47 BST
15 Apr 2020 23.40 BST Fact check: Trump once again says “we’ve done more testing now than any country in the world by far”. Over all, the US had administered almost three million coronavirus tests by Easter, April 12,, according to the Covid Tracking Project. But compared to some other nations with high testing rates, including South Korea and Germany, we have tested a much smaller proportion of our population. From a very slow start, the US, with a population of 329 million, had ramped up to a testing rate of one in every 138 people as of the first week of April. In comparison, South Korea, has administered 486,003 tests overall, according to the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a population of 51.5m, the country has tested about 1 in every 102 people. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 63 people. The UK, however, is behind, having tested only 1 in 230 people.
15 Apr 2020 23.40 BST Fact check: Trump says, “We have the best tests in the world”. In fact, some of the initial coronavirus tests sent out to states were seriously flawed. Part of the problem came from the CDC shunning the World Health Organization (WHO) template for tests, and insisted on developing a more complicated version that correctly identified Covid-19, but also flagged other viruses – resulting in false positives. Other countries – after their first coronavirus case – swiftly asked private companies to develop their own tests. South Korea, which recorded its first case on the same day as the US, did so within a week. The US only allowed laboratories and hospitals to conduct their own tests on February 29, almost six weeks after the first case was confirmed.
15 Apr 2020 23.33 BST Vice president Mike Pence said some areas of the country need to “continue with strong mitigation efforts” while others will be given “guidance for greater flexibility.” These decisions are, in fact, largely up to governors. In general Trump’s insistence that governors grovel to him personally in order to obtain life-saving equipment, and his claims to fiat power over the states in contradiction of the US Constitution, has rattled the federalist compact, experts say. “These governors are more like provincial chiefs under this system, and if we want to restore federalism in this country we will have to make some very dramatic changes after this is over,” David Super, a professor at Georgetown Law school, told the Guardian. “If we don’t, federalism is dead.”
15 Apr 2020 23.29 BST Bryan Armen Graham Fact check: Trump says he will execute constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress so he can make recess appointments to fill vacancies. “If the House will not agree to that adjournment, I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress,” Trump said. No president has ever used that authority. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in NLRB v. Noel Canning that the president cannot use his or her authority under the Recess Appointment Clause of the Constitution to appoint public officials unless the Senate is in recess and not able to transact Senate business. The Senate is in recess until May 4. When asked more details about this plan, Trump said the following: Very simple. If they don’t act on getting these people approved that we need – we need them anyway, but we especially need them now because of the pandemic – we are going to do something that will be ... something I’d prefer not doing, but which I should do and I will do if have to.
Updated at 23.34 BST
15 Apr 2020 23.25 BST Sonny Perdue, the secretary of agriculture, is speaking about the effects of coronavirus on the food system. “For Americans who be may be worried about access to good food because of this I want to assure you that American food supply is strong, resilient and safe”, he said. As my colleague Susie Cagle recently reported, effects on the supply chain from the pandemic have left mountains of foods being wasted as grocery store aisles remain bare in many places. Perdue said the administration is working to address the issue. “It has taken us a few days to relocate the misalignment”, he said. “But that does not mean that we don’t have enough food in this country to feed the American people”.
15 Apr 2020 23.16 BST White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx is speaking now. She echoed what Trump said, that numbers are declining over the last five to six days. Still, she said Americans should hold off on any social gatherings for the foreseeable future. “To all of you out there that would like to join together and just have that dinner party for 20, don’t do it yet”, she said. “Continue to follow the presidential guidelines.
15 Apr 2020 23.12 BST Trump repeated that tomorrow he will be speaking with governors regarding when states can be reopened. “We’ll be opening up some states much sooner than others,” he said. “And we think some of the states can actually open up before the deadline of May 1.”
Updated at 23.22 BST
15 Apr 2020 23.10 BST Fact check: WHO Trump again disparaged the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday. “I have a feeling they knew exactly what was going on”, he said. “The US government has put a hold on funding to the World Health Organization pending a review of the organization’s cover up and mismanagement of the coronavirus outbreak”. He has previously accused the organization of initially “minimizing the threat” of coronavirus and getting everything “wrong”. The WHO has been criticized for a 14 January tweet, which Trump has referenced, that noted that a preliminary investigation by Chinese officials found no evidence of human-to-human transmission. However, by 30 January, the organization declared coronavirus a “public health emergency”, and went on to declare a pandemic on 11 March after numerous countries - including the US and UK - failed to follow its advice. WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke of “alarming levels of inaction” from many countries. The WHO “has been drained of power and resources”, said Richard Horton, editor of the influential medical journal the Lancet. “Its coordinating authority and capacity are weak. Its ability to direct an international response to a life-threatening epidemic is non-existent.” The Trump administration and the president himself repeatedly played down the crisis - specifically downplaying the threat to the US, inaccurately compared it to the flu and told his supporters that growing worries about the coronavirus was a “hoax”.


theguardian--2020-04-16--Coronavirus has killed 30,000 Americans, and all Trump can do is blame the WHO

“ A crime against humanity.
” Richard Horton , the editor of The Lancet , spoke for many when he condemned the decision by President Trump to cut US funding to the World Health Organization , in the midst of a pandemic that has infected an estimated 2 million people , more than 137,000 of whom have died .
Trump ’ s disdain for international agreements is well known .
In 2017 he pulled the United States out of UNESCO and the Paris climate accord .
The following year he withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal .
These departures take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international system .
It is already missing from the list of countries that have ratified some of the most important international agreements , including conventions on torture , discrimination against women , rights of the child , and landmines .
Until now , world leaders have adhered to diplomatic protocol , avoiding anything but the mildest public criticism of this notoriously sensitive president .
Their true feelings are only revealed when their private conversations are accidentally overheard .
This time it ’ s different .
Simon Coveney , the foreign minister of Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the United States , described Trump ’ s decision to cut funds to WHO as an “ indefensible decision , in midst of global pandemic .
So many vulnerable populations rely on WHO – deliberately undermining funding and trust now is shocking.
” Heiko Maas , the German foreign minister was slightly more restrained , tweeting that : “ Blaming does not help .
The virus knows no borders ” .
In the UK , however , where ministers are still hoping for a post-Brexit trade deal , a Downing Street spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although they did voice support for the WHO .
Why undermine the organisation that is at the forefront of responding to a pandemic ?
For Trump , this seems particularly illogical – the pandemic has already killed more than 30,000 Americans .
The answer is simple .
In the midst of an election year , with his approval ratings falling , Trump needs to find someone else to blame .
Now that the daily White House briefings have taken on the role of campaign rallies in locked down America , nothing can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is the saviour of the American people .
Failings are the fault of others .
Once it was the Mexicans ( ironically , Mexico is now restricting Americans from entering the country ) .
Then it was China , whose political leaders Trump considers insufficiently obsequious .
Now , he has redirected his ire at the WHO .
It hardly needs to be said that Trump has justified his decision with claims that fail to withstand the most basic scrutiny .
He claims that the WHO was “ severely mismanaging and covering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , thereby delaying the response by the United States .
Yet the WHO had warned of person-to-person transmission as early as 23 January .
Six days later , his economic adviser warned of the possibility of hundreds of thousands of American deaths .
Trump ignored them both .
The decision will clearly damage the WHO .
First , there is the loss of funding .
As the world ’ s richest country , the United States contributes 40 % of the WHO ’ s core budget , although this only amounts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The US also contributes the largest share to the remaining 80 % of voluntary contributions .
The US theoretically contributes roughly 10-15 % of the WHO ’ s budget as its largest contributor .
It ’ s uncertain whether Trump can legally block payments to the WHO ’ s core budget , as these are authorised by Congress , but he could stop those voluntary payments made by federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control .
With a total contribution of a little under $ 900m , roughly what the NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could step up to the mark to replace at least some of this shortfall .
However , the decision will likely have a disproportionate effect on areas where the United States has made substantial earmarked contributions , such as polio eradication .
More importantly , this is a massive distraction for an organisation working flat out to tackle one of the most serious threats to the health of everyone , including Americans , in decades .
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of individual leaders and international cooperation .
In a world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by allowing the Amazon to burn , or Donald Trump can undermine those leading the response to a pandemic , the need for a new international order has never been more urgent .
• Martin McKee is professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and an adviser to the World Health Organization

“A crime against humanity.” Richard Horton, the editor of The Lancet, spoke for many when he condemned the decision by President Trump to cut US funding to the World Health Organization, in the midst of a pandemic that has infected an estimated 2 million people, more than 137,000 of whom have died. Trump’s disdain for international agreements is well known. In 2017 he pulled the United States out of UNESCO and the Paris climate accord. The following year he withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. These departures take the United States even further outside the international system. It is already missing from the list of countries that have ratified some of the most important international agreements, including conventions on torture, discrimination against women, rights of the child, and landmines.
Until now, world leaders have adhered to diplomatic protocol, avoiding anything but the mildest public criticism of this notoriously sensitive president. Their true feelings are only revealed when their private conversations are accidentally overheard. This time it’s different. Simon Coveney, the foreign minister of Ireland, a country with exceptionally close ties with the United States, described Trump’s decision to cut funds to WHO as an “indefensible decision, in midst of global pandemic. So many vulnerable populations rely on WHO – deliberately undermining funding and trust now is shocking.” Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister was slightly more restrained, tweeting that: “Blaming does not help. The virus knows no borders”. In the UK, however, where ministers are still hoping for a post-Brexit trade deal, a Downing Street spokesman rejected an invitation to join the condemnation, although they did voice support for the WHO.
Why undermine the organisation that is at the forefront of responding to a pandemic? For Trump, this seems particularly illogical – the pandemic has already killed more than 30,000 Americans. The answer is simple. In the midst of an election year, with his approval ratings falling, Trump needs to find someone else to blame. Now that the daily White House briefings have taken on the role of campaign rallies in locked down America, nothing can be allowed to undermine the narrative that he is the saviour of the American people. Failings are the fault of others. Once it was the Mexicans (ironically, Mexico is now restricting Americans from entering the country). Then it was China, whose political leaders Trump considers insufficiently obsequious. Now, he has redirected his ire at the WHO.
It hardly needs to be said that Trump has justified his decision with claims that fail to withstand the most basic scrutiny. He claims that the WHO was “severely mismanaging and covering up” the early stages of the pandemic, thereby delaying the response by the United States. Yet the WHO had warned of person-to-person transmission as early as 23 January. Six days later, his economic adviser warned of the possibility of hundreds of thousands of American deaths. Trump ignored them both.
The decision will clearly damage the WHO. First, there is the loss of funding. As the world’s richest country, the United States contributes 40% of the WHO’s core budget, although this only amounts to 20% of its total spending. The US also contributes the largest share to the remaining 80% of voluntary contributions.
The US theoretically contributes roughly 10-15% of the WHO’s budget as its largest contributor. It’s uncertain whether Trump can legally block payments to the WHO’s core budget, as these are authorised by Congress, but he could stop those voluntary payments made by federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control.
With a total contribution of a little under $900m, roughly what the NHS spends in 36 hours, other countries could step up to the mark to replace at least some of this shortfall. However, the decision will likely have a disproportionate effect on areas where the United States has made substantial earmarked contributions, such as polio eradication. More importantly, this is a massive distraction for an organisation working flat out to tackle one of the most serious threats to the health of everyone, including Americans, in decades.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of individual leaders and international cooperation. In a world where Jair Bolsanaro can threaten the world by allowing the Amazon to burn, or Donald Trump can undermine those leading the response to a pandemic, the need for a new international order has never been more urgent.


theguardian--2020-04-16--Armed protesters demand an end to Michigan's coronavirus lockdown orders – video

Thousands of protesters in cars and on foot have flouted Michigan ’ s stay-at-home orders to demand the state reopened @ @ @ @ @ time for our state to be opened up ’ said one protester in her car @ @ @ @ @ tired of not being able to buy the things that we need , go to @ @ @ @ @ s time to open up ’ .
Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer was the main target @ @ @ @ @ with some chanting ‘ lock her up ’ on the steps of Lansing ’ s @ @ @ @ @ hours after the protest saying she understood the frustration but the ‘ sad irony ’ @ @ @ @ @ it could have further spread the virus and therefore created the need to extend Michigan @ @ @ @ @ far , 1,900 Michigan residents have died due to the coronavirus • Protesters chant 'lock @ @ @ @ @ governor 's stay-at-home order • Coronavirus US live : Trump threatens to close Congress over @ @ @ @ @ happened

Thousands of protesters in cars and on foot have flouted Michigan’s stay-at-home orders to demand the state reopened. ‘It’s time for our state to be opened up’ said one protester in her car. ‘We’re tired of not being able to buy the things that we need, go to the hairdressers. It’s time to open up’.
Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer was the main target of armed pro-Trump protesters, with some chanting ‘lock her up’ on the steps of Lansing’s town hall. Whitmer responded hours after the protest saying she understood the frustration but the ‘sad irony’ about the demonstration was that it could have further spread the virus and therefore created the need to extend Michigan's stay-at-home order. So far, 1,900 Michigan residents have died due to the coronavirus


theguardian--2020-04-16--Trump threatens to close Congress over 'obstruction' – video highlights

US president Donald Trump has threatened to shut down Congress so he could fill vacancies in his administration without Senate @ @ @ @ @ frustrated lawmakers were not in Washington to vote on his nominees for federal judgeships and @ @ @ @ @ US president has ever used the authority , included in the Constitution , to adjourn @ @ @ @ @ Trump also used the briefing to continue his attack on the World Health Organisation but @ @ @ @ @ World Trade Organisation ’ s practice of favouring developing nations over developed ones when it @ @ @ @ @ Trump claimed that ‘ as far as I 'm concerned ’ the US is ‘ @ @ @ @ @ ’

US president Donald Trump has threatened to shut down Congress so he could fill vacancies in his administration without Senate confirmation, saying he was frustrated lawmakers were not in Washington to vote on his nominees for federal judgeships and other government positions. No US president has ever used the authority, included in the Constitution, to adjourn both chambers of Congress. Trump also used the briefing to continue his attack on the World Health Organisation but this time also targeted the World Trade Organisation’s practice of favouring developing nations over developed ones when it comes to trade terms. Trump claimed that ‘as far as I'm concerned’ the US is ‘a developing nation, too’


theguardian--2020-01-07--Pelosi delays sending articles of impeachment against Trump – live

US forces and air-defense missile batteries across the Middle East were placed on high alert overnight Monday to possibly shoot @ @ @ @ @ mounted about a threat of an imminent attack against US targets , two US officials @ @ @ @ @ intelligence also has observed Iran moving military equipment , including drones and ballistic missiles , @ @ @ @ @ .
US officials said the movement may be an Iranian effort to secure its weapons @ @ @ @ @ , or put them in positions to launch their own attacks .
... Iran has @ @ @ @ @ that have been used in other attacks , including a significant attack on Saudi oil @ @ @ @ @ forces have already been on high alert for several days , they were even more @ @ @ @ @ officials said .

8 Jan 2020 13.51 GMT The Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has condemned Iran’s missile strike against US forces in Iraq, while a Nato official says there were no casualties among the military alliances personnel in the country. The Iraqi mission consists of several hundred staff from allied nations and non-Nato countries. In a message to the Associated Press, the Nato official who was not authorised to speak publicly said they were “keeping the situation under close review”. Meanwhile, in a message posted on Twitter, Stoltenberg urged Iran to refrain from further violence.
I condemn the Iranian missile attacks on US & @coalition forces in Iraq. #NATO calls on Iran to refrain from further violence. Allies continue to consult & remain committed to our training mission in Iraq. pic.twitter.com/6PdXMZxSNB — Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) January 8, 2020
Updated at 13.57 GMT
8 Jan 2020 13.10 GMT French citizens in the Israeli city of Haifa should exercise caution in light of the tensions in the Middle East, the French Foreign Ministry has said in an update to security advice on its website. “Following the recent escalation in tensions in the region, the city of Haifa has been the subject of explicit threats,” it said in a statement, without giving any more precise details. Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office doesn’t specifically mention Haifa, but advises visitors to the travel section of its website: “There is a possibility of an increased threat against western interests and the security situation could worsen with little warning.”
Updated at 13.41 GMT
8 Jan 2020 12.38 GMT Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said: “Isn’t the truth, Mr Speaker, that this prime minister is unable to stand up to President Trump because he has hitched his wagon to a trade deal with the United States and that prioritises everything else that he ought to be considering?” Johnson replied: “This is absolute fiction. But what I will say is that the UK will continue to work for de-escalation in the region.” A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament’s Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he speaks during Prime Minister’s Question time (PMQs) in the House of Commons in London on January 8, 2020. Photograph: HO/PRU/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 13.00 GMT


theguardian--2020-01-07--Facebook bans 'deepfake' videos in run-up to US election

Facebook has announced a new policy banning AI-manipulated “ deepfake ” videos that are likely to mislead viewers into thinking someone “ said words that they did not actually say ” , as the social network prepares for the 2020 US election .
But the policy explicitly covers only misinformation produced using AI , meaning “ shallow fakes ” – videos made using conventional editing tools – though frequently just as misleading , are still allowed on the platform .
The new policy , announced on Monday by Monika Bickert , Facebook ’ s head of global policy management , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video from Facebook and Instagram if it meets two criteria : • None “ It has been edited or synthesised … in ways that aren ’ t apparent to an average person and would likely mislead someone into thinking that a subject of the video said words that they did not actually say.
” • None “ It is the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning that merges , replaces or superimposes content onto a video , making it appear to be authentic.
” To date , there have been no major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
Some news organisations , including the BBC , New York Times and Buzzfeed have made their own “ deepfake ” videos , ostensibly to spread awareness about the techniques .
Those videos , while of varying quality , have all contained clear statements that they are fake .
The most damaging examples of manipulated media in recent years have tended to be created using simple video-editing tools .
During the UK election , the Conservative party came under fire for a video edited to make it appear as though the Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a question about Brexit .
Facebook at the time confirmed the video satisfied its policies on misinformation , and since there was no AI involved in its creation , it would still be allowed today .
In the US , a doctored video that seemed to show the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , slurring her way through a speech was similarly allowed by Facebook .
The video , spread by Trump supporters including Rudy Giuliani , was edited , but not using any technique more complex than slowing down the raw footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy is just one branch of Facebook ’ s attempt to fight misinformation , Bickert argued .
“ Videos that don ’ t meet these standards for removal are still eligible for review by one of our independent third-party fact-checkers , which include over 50 partners worldwide fact-checking in over 40 languages , ” she said .
“ If a photo or video is rated false or partly false by a fact-checker , we significantly reduce its distribution in news feed and reject it if it ’ s being run as an ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , try to share it , or have already shared it , will see warnings alerting them that it ’ s false .
“ This approach is critical to our strategy and one we heard specifically from our conversations with experts .
If we simply removed all manipulated videos flagged by fact-checkers as false , the videos would still be available elsewhere on the internet or social media ecosystem .
By leaving them up and labelling them as false , we ’ re providing people with important information and context.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows any content that breaks its other rules to remain online if it is judged “ newsworthy ” – and that all content posted by politicians is automatically seen as such .
“ If someone makes a statement or shares a post which breaks our community standards we will still allow it on our platform if we believe the public interest in seeing it outweighs the risk of harm , ” said Nick Clegg , Facebook ’ s vice-president of global affairs and communications , when he introduced the policy last September .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech from politicians as newsworthy content that should , as a general rule , be seen and heard.
” That policy means that even an AI-created deepfake video expressly intended to mislead could still remain on the social network , if it was posted by a politician .
Facebook did not give a reason as to why it limited its policy exclusively to those videos manipulated using AI tools , but it is likely that the company wanted to avoid putting itself in a situation where it had to make subjective decisions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to settle on a policy about what to do about deepfakes for a number of years , with the company publicly acknowledging the potential damage such videos could inflict , while also standing by a prior decision – thought to be a direct policy of teh founder , Mark Zuckerberg – to avoid ruling on whether or not content on the site is true or false .

Facebook has announced a new policy banning AI-manipulated “deepfake” videos that are likely to mislead viewers into thinking someone “said words that they did not actually say”, as the social network prepares for the 2020 US election.
But the policy explicitly covers only misinformation produced using AI, meaning “shallow fakes” – videos made using conventional editing tools – though frequently just as misleading, are still allowed on the platform.
The new policy, announced on Monday by Monika Bickert, Facebook’s head of global policy management, will result in the removal of misleading video from Facebook and Instagram if it meets two criteria:
“It has been edited or synthesised … in ways that aren’t apparent to an average person and would likely mislead someone into thinking that a subject of the video said words that they did not actually say.”
“It is the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning that merges, replaces or superimposes content onto a video, making it appear to be authentic.”
To date, there have been no major examples of content that would break such rules. Some news organisations, including the BBC, New York Times and Buzzfeed have made their own “deepfake” videos, ostensibly to spread awareness about the techniques. Those videos, while of varying quality, have all contained clear statements that they are fake.
The most damaging examples of manipulated media in recent years have tended to be created using simple video-editing tools. During the UK election, the Conservative party came under fire for a video edited to make it appear as though the Labour MP Keir Starmer had no answer to a question about Brexit. Facebook at the time confirmed the video satisfied its policies on misinformation, and since there was no AI involved in its creation, it would still be allowed today.
In the US, a doctored video that seemed to show the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, slurring her way through a speech was similarly allowed by Facebook. The video, spread by Trump supporters including Rudy Giuliani, was edited, but not using any technique more complex than slowing down the raw footage and pitch-shifting the audio.
00:38 Real v fake: debunking the 'drunk' Nancy Pelosi footage - video
The removal policy is just one branch of Facebook’s attempt to fight misinformation, Bickert argued. “Videos that don’t meet these standards for removal are still eligible for review by one of our independent third-party fact-checkers, which include over 50 partners worldwide fact-checking in over 40 languages,” she said. “If a photo or video is rated false or partly false by a fact-checker, we significantly reduce its distribution in news feed and reject it if it’s being run as an ad. And critically, people who see it, try to share it, or have already shared it, will see warnings alerting them that it’s false.
“This approach is critical to our strategy and one we heard specifically from our conversations with experts. If we simply removed all manipulated videos flagged by fact-checkers as false, the videos would still be available elsewhere on the internet or social media ecosystem. By leaving them up and labelling them as false, we’re providing people with important information and context.”
The company also has a separate policy that allows any content that breaks its other rules to remain online if it is judged “newsworthy” – and that all content posted by politicians is automatically seen as such.
“If someone makes a statement or shares a post which breaks our community standards we will still allow it on our platform if we believe the public interest in seeing it outweighs the risk of harm,” said Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice-president of global affairs and communications, when he introduced the policy last September. “From now on we will treat speech from politicians as newsworthy content that should, as a general rule, be seen and heard.” That policy means that even an AI-created deepfake video expressly intended to mislead could still remain on the social network, if it was posted by a politician.
Facebook did not give a reason as to why it limited its policy exclusively to those videos manipulated using AI tools, but it is likely that the company wanted to avoid putting itself in a situation where it had to make subjective decisions about intent or truth. Facebook has struggled to settle on a policy about what to do about deepfakes for a number of years, with the company publicly acknowledging the potential damage such videos could inflict, while also standing by a prior decision – thought to be a direct policy of teh founder, Mark Zuckerberg – to avoid ruling on whether or not content on the site is true or false.