theguardian--2020-07-15--'A record of telling the truth': Fauci stands ground as Trump works to undermine him

Anthony Fauci , America ’ s top infectious diseases expert , has pushed back at a concerted campaign by Donald Trump and his allies to discredit his response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Officials and advisers have publicly sought to undermine Fauci in at least five separate instances over the past four days , even as the coronavirus surges across the US , with the death toll now above 135,000 .
“ I believe for the most part you can trust respected medical authorities , ” Fauci told a virtual forum at Georgetown University in Washington on Tuesday , responding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House providing reporters with a list of what it described as his past mistakes .
“ I believe I ’ m one of them , so I think you can trust me .
But I would stick with respected medical authorities who have a track record of telling the truth , who have a track record of giving information and policy and recommendations based on scientific evidence and good data.
” As Trump downplays the pandemic , pushing to reopen schools and restart the economy , Fauci , director of the National Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bluntly pragmatic assessments that undercut the sunny message .
Fauci has said the two New Yorkers have not met since 2 June and the administration has severely curtailed his TV appearances .
Last week Trump told Fox News that Fauci made “ a lot of mistakes ” and on Monday he retweeted a post by Chuck Woolery , a former game show host , asserting without evidence : “ Everyone is lying .
The CDC , Media , Democrats , our Doctors , not all but most , that we are told to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back , which is about the election .
I ’ m sick of it.
” Taking their cue , the president ’ s lieutenants have worked to amplify their master ’ s voice on different platforms .
For an article published on Saturday , the White House provided the Washington Post with a list of Fauci ’ s past comments and predictions on the virus that it said were erroneous .
It also made the list available to other media outlets , prompting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research ” normally reserved for election campaigns .
On Sunday , Adm Brett Giroir , the assistant secretary for health , told NBC ’ s Meet the Press programme : “ I respect Dr Fauci a lot , but Dr Fauci is not 100 % right and he also doesn ’ t necessarily , and he admits that , have the whole national interest in mind .
He looks at it from a very narrow public health point of view.
” That evening , Dan Scavino , the White House social media director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , posted on Facebook a cartoon lampooning Fauci with public health warnings such as “ Indefinite lockdown !
” , “ Schools stay closed this fall !
” and “ Shut up and obey !
” It was drawn by Ben Garrison , an artist whose work has been condemned for its antisemitic imagery .
A day later , with momentum gathering , Stephen Moore , an economist and Trump adviser , told the Daily Beast website : “ We are working on a memo that shows how many times Dr Fauci ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic ] , but during his entire career.
” The memo , he added , is currently entitled “ Dr Wrong ” .
Then , on Tuesday , the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro wrote a scathing op-ed in the USA Today newspaper that said : “ Dr Anthony Fauci has a good bedside manner with the public , but he has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on .
So when you ask me whether I listen to Dr Fauci ’ s advice , my answer is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rush to disown Fauci , a leading member of the White House coronavirus taskforce , and earn brownie points with Trump comes as little surprise to seasoned observers .
Michael Steele , former chairman of the Republican National Committee , said : “ Everybody who wants to keep their job is going to play the game the way Trump wants them to play it .
“ And the people who the president turns to to push out this narrative will do so , as they have in the past .
So all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House has a problem with Fauci .
Why ?
Because the president has a problem with Fauci !
You take them outside the White House , they love the guy and think : ‘ Yeah , listen to Dr Fauci.
’ ” Trump has a long history of resenting staff or spokespeople who come to rival him for media attention .
In the early days of the pandemic , the president was reportedly disturbed by the coverage that Fauci was receiving .
The White House has drastically reduced his media exposure beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former Trump campaign aide , said : “ Anyone could have seen that this was a relationship was destined to fail as Dr Fauci took a pre-eminent role internationally in getting massive amounts of media .
“ He was also not someone who would necessarily be controlled by the administration .
Fauci was put on such a pedestal that any of his incorrect projections in the beginning were glossed over and the media went to him as the alternative to President Trump .
So it doesn ’ t surprise me that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less inclined to have Fauci in such a public role.
” Analysts draw parallels with the all-out assault that Trump and allies launched on Robert Mueller , the widely respected special counsel who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
Kurt Bardella , a senior adviser at the Lincoln Project , a political action committee founded by Republicans working to defeat Trump in the 2020 election , said : “ When he was appointed , Mueller had a very high approval rating and people across the partisan spectrum thought that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then , over time , you saw a concerted campaign by the White House led by Trump to undermine him and discredit whatever his report was going to ultimately produce .
What we ’ re seeing with Dr Fauci right now , and the president and his minions ’ efforts to do that , seems very similar tactically to what we saw happen to Mueller.
” The relentless attacks on Mueller led to periodic speculation that he would be fired , but Trump never proved willing to pull the trigger and face a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the White House on Monday to meet the chief of staff , Mark Meadows – may be similarly insulated .
Even some of the president ’ s closest allies believe he is a distraction from the real crisis .
Lindsey Graham , a Republican senator from South Carolina and Trump ally , told reporters on Tuesday : “ Has he been right all the time ?
No .
We don ’ t have a Dr Fauci problem , we need to be focusing on doing things that get us where we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the respect in the world for Dr Fauci .
I think any effort to undermine him is not going to be productive , quite frankly.
” A New York Times/Siena College opinion poll last month showed that two in three Americans trust Fauci as an accurate source of information about the virus , whereas only one in four trust Trump .
Many regard the 79-year-old doctor as a bulwark of sense and science at a deeply uncertain time and hope he can last the course .
Evan McMullin , executive director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former CIA officer , said : “ Trump ’ s approval ratings are in the dumps and Fauci ’ s are very high .
But this is part of Trump ’ s playbook , to bully someone and to demean them , and most people will ultimately succumb to that because no one appreciates that kind of abuse and no one can take it indefinitely .
“ Others in that situation might withdraw a bit and I ’ m glad Fauci hasn ’ t done that .
The country needs him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lives literally are depending upon someone like Fauci telling the American people what ’ s at stake and what they need to do to protect their lives and the lives of other Americans .
They ’ re not getting that from the president .
”

Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious diseases expert, has pushed back at a concerted campaign by Donald Trump and his allies to discredit his response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Officials and advisers have publicly sought to undermine Fauci in at least five separate instances over the past four days, even as the coronavirus surges across the US, with the death toll now above 135,000.
“I believe for the most part you can trust respected medical authorities,” Fauci told a virtual forum at Georgetown University in Washington on Tuesday, responding to a question that referenced the White House providing reporters with a list of what it described as his past mistakes.
“I believe I’m one of them, so I think you can trust me. But I would stick with respected medical authorities who have a track record of telling the truth, who have a track record of giving information and policy and recommendations based on scientific evidence and good data.”
As Trump downplays the pandemic, pushing to reopen schools and restart the economy, Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, offers bluntly pragmatic assessments that undercut the sunny message. Fauci has said the two New Yorkers have not met since 2 June and the administration has severely curtailed his TV appearances.
05:28 From miracle cures to slowing testing: how Trump has defied science on coronavirus – video explainer
Last week Trump told Fox News that Fauci made “a lot of mistakes” and on Monday he retweeted a post by Chuck Woolery, a former game show host, asserting without evidence: “Everyone is lying. The CDC, Media, Democrats, our Doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it’s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I’m sick of it.”
Taking their cue, the president’s lieutenants have worked to amplify their master’s voice on different platforms. For an article published on Saturday, the White House provided the Washington Post with a list of Fauci’s past comments and predictions on the virus that it said were erroneous. It also made the list available to other media outlets, prompting comparisons with the kind of “oppo research” normally reserved for election campaigns.
On Sunday, Adm Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health, told NBC’s Meet the Press programme: “I respect Dr Fauci a lot, but Dr Fauci is not 100% right and he also doesn’t necessarily, and he admits that, have the whole national interest in mind. He looks at it from a very narrow public health point of view.”
That evening, Dan Scavino, the White House social media director and deputy chief of staff for communications, posted on Facebook a cartoon lampooning Fauci with public health warnings such as “Indefinite lockdown!”, “Schools stay closed this fall!” and “Shut up and obey!” It was drawn by Ben Garrison, an artist whose work has been condemned for its antisemitic imagery.
A day later, with momentum gathering, Stephen Moore, an economist and Trump adviser, told the Daily Beast website: “We are working on a memo that shows how many times Dr Fauci’s been wrong during not just [this pandemic], but during his entire career.” The memo, he added, is currently entitled “Dr Wrong”.
Then, on Tuesday, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro wrote a scathing op-ed in the USA Today newspaper that said: “Dr Anthony Fauci has a good bedside manner with the public, but he has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on. So when you ask me whether I listen to Dr Fauci’s advice, my answer is: only with skepticism and caution.”
The rush to disown Fauci, a leading member of the White House coronavirus taskforce, and earn brownie points with Trump comes as little surprise to seasoned observers.
Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: “Everybody who wants to keep their job is going to play the game the way Trump wants them to play it.
“And the people who the president turns to to push out this narrative will do so, as they have in the past. So all of a sudden now everybody in the White House has a problem with Fauci. Why? Because the president has a problem with Fauci! You take them outside the White House, they love the guy and think: ‘Yeah, listen to Dr Fauci.’”
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been the target of attacks from Donald Trump and his allies. Photograph: Al Drago/EPA
Trump has a long history of resenting staff or spokespeople who come to rival him for media attention. In the early days of the pandemic, the president was reportedly disturbed by the coverage that Fauci was receiving. The White House has drastically reduced his media exposure beyond lower-key webcasts and podcasts.
Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign aide, said: “Anyone could have seen that this was a relationship was destined to fail as Dr Fauci took a pre-eminent role internationally in getting massive amounts of media.
“He was also not someone who would necessarily be controlled by the administration. Fauci was put on such a pedestal that any of his incorrect projections in the beginning were glossed over and the media went to him as the alternative to President Trump. So it doesn’t surprise me that the president and the White House are less inclined to have Fauci in such a public role.”
Analysts draw parallels with the all-out assault that Trump and allies launched on Robert Mueller, the widely respected special counsel who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Kurt Bardella, a senior adviser at the Lincoln Project, a political action committee founded by Republicans working to defeat Trump in the 2020 election, said:
“When he was appointed, Mueller had a very high approval rating and people across the partisan spectrum thought that was the right guy for the job. Then, over time, you saw a concerted campaign by the White House led by Trump to undermine him and discredit whatever his report was going to ultimately produce. What we’re seeing with Dr Fauci right now, and the president and his minions’ efforts to do that, seems very similar tactically to what we saw happen to Mueller.”
The relentless attacks on Mueller led to periodic speculation that he would be fired, but Trump never proved willing to pull the trigger and face a political firestorm. Fauci – who returned to the White House on Monday to meet the chief of staff, Mark Meadows – may be similarly insulated. Even some of the president’s closest allies believe he is a distraction from the real crisis.
Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina and Trump ally, told reporters on Tuesday: “Has he been right all the time? No. We don’t have a Dr Fauci problem, we need to be focusing on doing things that get us where we need to go. So I have all the respect in the world for Dr Fauci. I think any effort to undermine him is not going to be productive, quite frankly.”
A New York Times/Siena College opinion poll last month showed that two in three Americans trust Fauci as an accurate source of information about the virus, whereas only one in four trust Trump. Many regard the 79-year-old doctor as a bulwark of sense and science at a deeply uncertain time and hope he can last the course.
Evan McMullin, executive director of the democracy advocacy group Stand Up Republic and a former CIA officer, said: “Trump’s approval ratings are in the dumps and Fauci’s are very high. But this is part of Trump’s playbook, to bully someone and to demean them, and most people will ultimately succumb to that because no one appreciates that kind of abuse and no one can take it indefinitely.
“Others in that situation might withdraw a bit and I’m glad Fauci hasn’t done that. The country needs him to be speaking truth right now. People’s lives literally are depending upon someone like Fauci telling the American people what’s at stake and what they need to do to protect their lives and the lives of other Americans. They’re not getting that from the president.”


theguardian--2020-07-15--Jeff Sessions loses GOP nomination for his old Alabama Senate seat

Jeff Sessions , Donald Trump ’ s former attorney general , has lost the Republican nomination in Alabama for his old Senate seat , after enduring months of attacks from the president .
His loss to Tommy Tuberville , a former college football coach , most likely marks an end to Sessions ’ long political career .
Tuberville , a relative newcomer to politics beat Sessions in Tuesday ’ s Republican runoff , foiling Session ’ s efforts to win back the Senate seat he held for two decades before resigning in 2017 to become Trump ’ s attorney .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alabamans to reject Sessions , celebrated the news on Twitter .
Sessions , 73 , was among the US president ’ s earliest supporters , endorsing and legitimizing Trump ’ s candidacy while other prominent Republicans stood back .
He earned the Trump ’ s ire after recusing himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
“ I thought I might have the ability to contribute in some way to the future of our country , ” Sessions said , conceding at a Hampton Inn in Mobile .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He is our Republican nominee , we must stand behind him in November.
” The longtime politician was first elected to the Senate in 1996 .
His hardline anti-immigration views , racist policies and conduct have made him a controversial figure in national politics .
Sessions is said to have called a Black prosecutor “ boy ” and commented that he thought the Ku Klux Klan “ was OK until I found out they smoked pot ” and discussions of his racism reemerged during his confirmation to become attorney general .
Familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University ’ s head football coach , Tuberville , 65 , is now positioned for a robust challenge against Democratic senator Doug Jones .
With Alabama ’ s strong Republican tilt , the seat is widely viewed as the party ’ s best chance for a pickup as they try to maintain their thin Senate majority amid Trump ’ s lagging national popularity .
“ Throughout this election , I ’ ll be fighting for many of the same ideals , the same principles , and the same God-given principles that my father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fought for so many years ago , ” Tuberville said in a victory speech .
Addressing Tuberville ’ s victory , Jones said : “ The choice before the voters is an unprepared hyper partisan that will add to the divide in Washington , or my proven track-record to find common ground and get things done.
” Trump had endorsed Tuberville after Alabama ’ s March primary , tweeting : “ 3 years ago , after Jeff Sessions recused himself , the Fraudulent Mueller Scam began .
Alabama , do not trust Jeff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s why I endorsed Coach Tommy Tuberville , the true supporter of our # MAGA agenda !
” The president continued his criticism of Sessions right up to the eve of Tuesday ’ s election .
“ I made a mistake when I put him in as the attorney general , ” Trump told Tuberville supporters on Monday .
“ He had his chance and he blew it.
” In the closing weeks of the runoff campaign , Sessions answered Trump directly on Twitter , telling the president he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it “ protected the rule of law & resulted in your exoneration ” .
But it wasn ’ t enough to overcome dynamics that Tuberville willingly embraced .
Boosted by both Trump ’ s endorsement and name recognition from his coaching tenure , Tuberville positioned himself as a political outsider and capitalized on the president ’ s criticisms of Sessions .
“ Jeff Sessions was a disaster .
It ’ s time to send a message to Jeff Sessions that President Trump does not want him or his cronies in the swamp ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a risk-averse campaign , declining media interviews and Sessions ’ challenges to debate in the closing weeks of the campaign .
Despite Alabama ’ s fundamental Republican advantage , Tuberville is almost certain to face more scrutiny in a general election campaign against Jones .

Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump’s former attorney general, has lost the Republican nomination in Alabama for his old Senate seat, after enduring months of attacks from the president. His loss to Tommy Tuberville, a former college football coach, most likely marks an end to Sessions’ long political career.
Tuberville, a relative newcomer to politics beat Sessions in Tuesday’s Republican runoff, foiling Session’s efforts to win back the Senate seat he held for two decades before resigning in 2017 to become Trump’s attorney. Trump, who endorsed Tuberville and encouraged Alabamans to reject Sessions, celebrated the news on Twitter.
Sessions, 73, was among the US president’s earliest supporters, endorsing and legitimizing Trump’s candidacy while other prominent Republicans stood back. He earned Trump’s ire after recusing himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“I thought I might have the ability to contribute in some way to the future of our country,” Sessions said, conceding at a Hampton Inn in Mobile. He urged his supporters to back Tuberville: “He is our Republican nominee, we must stand behind him in November.”
The longtime politician was first elected to the Senate in 1996. His hardline anti-immigration views, racist policies and conduct have made him a controversial figure in national politics. Sessions is said to have called a Black prosecutor “boy” and commented that he thought the Ku Klux Klan “was OK until I found out they smoked pot” and discussions of his racism re-emerged during his confirmation to become attorney general.
Tommy Tuberville, Auburn University’s former football coach. Photograph: Joe Songer/AP
Familiar to Alabamians from his decade as Auburn University’s head football coach, Tuberville, 65, is now positioned for a robust challenge against the Democratic senator Doug Jones. With Alabama’s strong Republican tilt, the seat is widely viewed as the party’s best chance for a pickup as they try to maintain their thin Senate majority amid Trump’s sagging national popularity.
“Throughout this election, I’ll be fighting for many of the same ideals, the same principles, and the same God-given principles that my father and other members of the Greatest Generation fought for so many years ago,” Tuberville said in a victory speech.
Addressing Tuberville’s victory, Jones said: “The choice before the voters is an unprepared hyper partisan that will add to the divide in Washington, or my proven track record to find common ground and get things done.”
Trump had endorsed Tuberville after Alabama’s March primary, tweeting: “3 years ago, after Jeff Sessions recused himself, the Fraudulent Mueller Scam began. Alabama, do not trust Jeff Sessions. He let our Country down. That’s why I endorsed Coach Tommy Tuberville, the true supporter of our #MAGA agenda!”
The president continued his criticism of Sessions right up to the eve of Tuesday’s election.
“I made a mistake when I put him in as the attorney general,” Trump told Tuberville supporters on Monday. “He had his chance and he blew it.”
In the closing weeks of the runoff campaign, Sessions answered Trump directly on Twitter, telling the president he was “damn fortunate” Sessions recused because it “protected the rule of law & resulted in your exoneration”.
But it wasn’t enough to overcome dynamics that Tuberville willingly embraced. Boosted by both Trump’s endorsement and name recognition from his coaching tenure, Tuberville positioned himself as a political outsider and capitalized on the president’s criticisms of Sessions.
“Jeff Sessions was a disaster. It’s time to send a message to Jeff Sessions that President Trump does not want him or his cronies in the swamp,” Tuberville wrote on Twitter.
Tuberville ran a risk-averse campaign, declining media interviews and Sessions’ challenges to debate in the closing weeks of the campaign. Despite Alabama’s fundamental Republican advantage, Tuberville is almost certain to face more scrutiny in a general election campaign against Jones.


theguardian--2020-07-15--Healthcare is Trump's Achilles heel. Republicans don't get it | Lloyd Green

Like Moloch , the ancient pagan god , Donald Trump is ever ready to demand that Americans sacrifice themselves for his greater good .
He commanded that states open up early , and then this happened : Arizona , Florida , and Texas are looking like Wuhan redux .
Come this fall , the president also expects that parents will put their children in harm ’ s way for the sake of his re-election bid .
In response , teachers have taken to drafting their wills , just in case .
But other moments , Trump acts like a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
His justice department is urging the US supreme court to strike down the Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional .
The fact that 5.4 million people have already lost their health insurance amid the pandemic does not even register as a blip on the administration ’ s radar .
Instead , last month the government filed its brief with the high court in its endless endeavor to erase Barack Obama ’ s legacy .
Just think of Wile E Coyote chasing Road Runner and you get the picture .
What the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both houses of Congress , he now hopes to achieve in the courts .
Regardless , his timing couldn ’ t be worse .
A legal gambit hatched when the world looked well and the economy was thriving has morphed into another reminder that this administration functions as an incompetent Death Star divorced from reality .
A response to the administration ’ s filing is due at the court late this month .
By the time the Republicans convene for their convention in Florida , briefing will have just been completed .
Unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be done with America by then .
Already , more than 135,000 of its victims lie dead ; the total could reach 200,000 by election day .
Once upon a time , the president predicted that this plague would be quickly gone and Jared Kushner told the world that everything would be awesome come July .
Instead , Americans are prisoners within their own borders .
Large swaths of Europe , Asia and Canada are denying entry to US citizens .
Passport privilege is gone .
The amicus briefs filed in opposition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news for the president .
Portions of Trump ’ s base are actively aligned against him .
In simplest terms , older voters and Catholic Americans don ’ t necessarily like what they are seeing .
AARP and the Catholic Health Association have come out swinging to defend Obamacare .
AARP speaks for America ’ s seniors , and older voters are walking away from Trump .
Looking at the map , Joe Biden leads in Florida .
Grandma and grandpa have no intention of going gently into that not so good night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about things .
As for the Catholic Health Association , it is one more reminder that organized Catholic interests go beyond contraception .
Rather , the Catholic health ministry is the largest group of nonprofit healthcare providers in the US .
Indeed , Biden ’ s call for an updated New Deal is reminiscent of the “ small-c ” Catholic ethos that marked FDR ’ s years .
Rugged individualism has limited appeal when death looms and collapse is all around .
From that vantage point , Trump ’ s stance appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy than winning votes .
When rocked-ribbed Oklahomans recently backed Medicaid expansion , it is time for Trump and his minions to rethink things .
In other words , conservative America is not exactly craving Republican economic orthodoxy .
But the Republican party ’ s big-ticket contributors still do .
For example , the Cato Institute is siding with the administration in this scrum .
The Koch brothers were early funders of Cato , and Nancy Pfotenhauer of the Koch-affiliated Americans for Prosperity sits on Cato ’ s board .
The message is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s veneration of all things Confederate appears to be misplaced recompense for his sticking it to his own working-class core .
Yet the wisdom of this strategy is doubtful .
Some of the economically hardest hit states may be ready to desert the president .
The latest weekly initial unemployment statistics show the largest number of first-time unemployment claims originating in places like Michigan and Texas .
Biden ’ s lead in Michigan is no longer a surprise but polls also show him ahead in Texas , a state that last voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now being overwhelmed by Covid-19 yet the Lone Star State is the lead respondent in the fight before the supreme court .
In the words of Kyle Hawkins , Texas ’ solicitor general , “ petitioners defend the ACA as good policy , citing the current pandemic .
Not only are those policy arguments incorrect , but they miss the point.
” That is the sole mention of the disease in 49 pages of argument .
Arizona and Florida , among other states , are also on board with the brief .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and worse luck .
In Too Much and Never Enough , Mary Trump , the president ’ s niece , writes that if the president “ can in any way profit from your death , he ’ ll facilitate it , and then ignore the fact that you died ” .
As her book dropped on Tuesday , the Grim Reaper ’ s scythe is again unsheathed .
Covid is going full-bore .
The prospects of Trump as a one-term president grow .

Like Moloch, the ancient pagan god, Donald Trump is ever ready to demand that Americans sacrifice themselves for his greater good. He commanded that states open up early, and then this happened: Arizona, Florida, and Texas are looking like Wuhan redux. Come this fall, the president also expects that parents will put their children in harm’s way for the sake of his re-election bid. In response, teachers have taken to drafting their wills, just in case.
But other moments, Trump acts like a man with a political death wish of his own. His justice department is urging the US supreme court to strike down the Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional. The fact that 5.4 million people have already lost their health insurance amid the pandemic does not even register as a blip on the administration’s radar.
Instead, last month the government filed its brief with the high court in its endless endeavor to erase Barack Obama’s legacy. Just think of Wile E Coyote chasing Road Runner and you get the picture.
What the president could not accomplish when the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress, he now hopes to achieve in the courts. Regardless, his timing couldn’t be worse.
A legal gambit hatched when the world looked well and the economy was thriving has morphed into another reminder that this administration functions as an incompetent Death Star divorced from reality. A response to the administration’s filing is due at the court late this month. By the time the Republicans convene for their convention in Florida, briefing will have just been completed.
Unfortunately, don’t expect Covid-19 to be done with America by then. Already, more than 135,000 of its victims lie dead; the total could reach 200,000 by election day. Once upon a time, the president predicted that this plague would be quickly gone and Jared Kushner told the world that everything would be awesome come July.
Instead, Americans are prisoners within their own borders. Large swaths of Europe, Asia and Canada are denying entry to US citizens. Passport privilege is gone.
The amicus briefs filed in opposition to the government’s position are bad news for the president. Portions of Trump’s base are actively aligned against him. In simplest terms, older voters and Catholic Americans don’t necessarily like what they are seeing.
AARP and the Catholic Health Association have come out swinging to defend Obamacare. AARP speaks for America’s seniors, and older voters are walking away from Trump.
Looking at the map, Joe Biden leads in Florida. Grandma and grandpa have no intention of going gently into that not so good night, not if they have a say about things.
As for the Catholic Health Association, it is one more reminder that organized Catholic interests go beyond contraception. Rather, the Catholic health ministry is the largest group of nonprofit healthcare providers in the US. Indeed, Biden’s call for an updated New Deal is reminiscent of the “small-c” Catholic ethos that marked FDR’s years. Rugged individualism has limited appeal when death looms and collapse is all around.
From that vantage point, Trump’s stance appears to be more about keeping the Republican donor-base happy than winning votes. When rocked-ribbed Oklahomans recently backed Medicaid expansion, it is time for Trump and his minions to rethink things.
In other words, conservative America is not exactly craving Republican economic orthodoxy. But the Republican party’s big-ticket contributors still do.
For example, the Cato Institute is siding with the administration in this scrum. The Koch brothers were early funders of Cato, and Nancy Pfotenhauer of the Koch-affiliated Americans for Prosperity sits on Cato’s board. The message is clear.
Against this backdrop, Trump’s veneration of all things Confederate appears to be misplaced recompense for his sticking it to his own working-class core. Yet the wisdom of this strategy is doubtful. Some of the economically hardest hit states may be ready to desert the president.
The latest weekly initial unemployment statistics show the largest number of first-time unemployment claims originating in places like Michigan and Texas. Biden’s lead in Michigan is no longer a surprise but polls also show him ahead in Texas, a state that last voted Democratic in 1976.
Texas’ hospitals are now being overwhelmed by Covid-19 yet the Lone Star State is the lead respondent in the fight before the supreme court. In the words of Kyle Hawkins, Texas’ solicitor general, “petitioners defend the ACA as good policy, citing the current pandemic. Not only are those policy arguments incorrect, but they miss the point.”
That is the sole mention of the disease in 49 pages of argument. Arizona and Florida, among other states, are also on board with the brief. Talk about a convergence of bad timing and worse luck.
In Too Much and Never Enough, Mary Trump, the president’s niece, writes that if the president “can in any way profit from your death, he’ll facilitate it, and then ignore the fact that you died”. As her book dropped on Tuesday, the Grim Reaper’s scythe is again unsheathed. Covid is going full-bore. The prospects of Trump as a one-term president grow.


theguardian--2020-07-16--Pelosi tells Trump he's 'gone down wrong path' on Covid-19 as Republicans reportedly shrink conventi

Pelosi tells Trump he's 'gone down wrong path' on Covid-19 as Republicans reportedly shrink convention – live

Moments ago , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trump ’ s push to reopen schools , despite concerns @ @ @ @ @ in the classroom .
“ And when he says open , he means open and @ @ @ @ @ to attend each and every day at their school , ” McEnany noted furing her @ @ @ @ @ The science should not stand in the way of this , ” McEnany said , @ @ @ @ @ The science is on our side here.
” However , a number of school officials @ @ @ @ @ and staff members potentially contracting the virus once in-person instruction resumes .
In response to @ @ @ @ @ districts have announced plans to hold virtual classes this fall .
Trump and some of @ @ @ @ @ evidence that children are very unlikely to become severely ill from coronavirus to justify their @ @ @ @ @ However , many public health experts have said there has not yet been enough research @ @ @ @ @ to the virus .

Joan E Greve in Washington (now) and Martin Belam (earlier)

17 Jul 2020 01.09 BST Summary From me and Joan E Greve: The White House press secretary suggested “the science should not stand in the way” of reopening schools. As coronavirus cases surge across the country, many major school districts, including Los Angeles and Dallas, have announced plans to hold online-only classes. In Texas, governor Greg Abbott permitted districts to continue online teaching, overriding an earlier policy that could have cost funding to districts that resisted reopening.
“the science should not stand in the way” of reopening schools. As coronavirus cases surge across the country, many major school districts, including Los Angeles and Dallas, have announced plans to hold online-only classes. In Texas, governor permitted districts to continue online teaching, overriding an earlier policy that could have cost funding to districts that resisted reopening. Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, is filing a lawsuit against Atlanta’s Democratic mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over her coronavirus response. The lawsuit seeks to block Bottoms from enforcing a citywide mask mandate requiring people to wear face masks in public and challenges the mayor’s decision to return to “phase one” of the city’s reopening plan as cases surged.
The lawsuit seeks to block Bottoms from enforcing a citywide mask mandate requiring people to wear face masks in public and challenges the mayor’s decision to return to “phase one” of the city’s reopening plan as cases surged. Canada and the US have once again extended restrictions on cross-border travel. The restrictions, which were first enacted in March, allow only “essential” travel by land and sea across the world’s largest undefended border.
The restrictions, which were first enacted in March, allow only “essential” travel by land and sea across the world’s largest undefended border. A new CDC report said Trump ’s European travel ban was enacted too late to protect New York residents. “Although travel restrictions are an important mitigation strategy, by the time the European restrictions were implemented, importation and community transmission of Sars-CoV-2 had already occurred in NYC,” the report says. Although the rate of new infections has slowed significantly in New York, the city has lost more than 23,000 residents to the virus.
’s “Although travel restrictions are an important mitigation strategy, by the time the European restrictions were implemented, importation and community transmission of Sars-CoV-2 had already occurred in NYC,” the report says. Although the rate of new infections has slowed significantly in New York, the city has lost more than 23,000 residents to the virus. The supreme court declined to block a Florida law criticized as a “poll tax”. Florida can continue to block people with felony convictions from voting until they’ve repaid all fines and fees they owe, the US supreme court said today. Florida Republicans passed the law after the state’s voters approved a 2018 initiative to restore voting rights to those previously convicted of felonies.
Florida can continue to block people with felony convictions from voting until they’ve repaid all fines and fees they owe, the US supreme court said today. Florida Republicans passed the law after the state’s voters approved a 2018 initiative to restore voting rights to those previously convicted of felonies. The Republican National Committee is reportedly planning for a downsized nominating convention next month, as coronavirus cases rise in 41 states. According to reports, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a letter to delegates that attendance would be strictly limited at next month’s convention in Jacksonville, Florida.
as coronavirus cases rise in 41 states. According to reports, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a letter to delegates that attendance would be strictly limited at next month’s convention in Jacksonville, Florida. Russian state-sponsored hackers have been targeting organizations working to develop a coronavirus vaccine, British security officials said. The hacking efforts have been specifically targeting groups involved in vaccine work in the UK, the US and Canada.
Updated at 01.55 BST
17 Jul 2020 01.01 BST The Democrats are urging elected leaders and party delegates to skip the national convention in August as coronavirus cases surge, the New York Times reports. From the Times: “We have been working closely with state and local public health officials, as well epidemiologists, and have come to the hard decision that members of Congress should not plan to travel to Milwaukee,” Chasseny Lewis, a senior adviser to the convention committee, wrote in an email to congressional aides. “No delegates will travel to Milwaukee and Caucus and Council meetings will take place virtually.” The directive ensures that little will happen at the physical convention site beyond keynote speeches from former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., his vice-presidential nominee and a handful of other top party leaders. The remainder of the event — state delegation meetings, parties and schmoozing, voting on the party platform and Mr. Biden’s nomination — will happen virtually or not at all. Over the past several months, Democrats have scaled back their plans, moving the convention across downtown Milwaukee from the Fiserv Forum, the city’s professional basketball arena, to the Wisconsin Center, a modest convention center that typically hosts events like the city’s car show. The last national political event to take place there was the 2004 Green Party convention. Party officials have been consulting regularly with doctors and epidemiologists and say they are following the recommendations of the medical establishment.
16 Jul 2020 00.25 BST Puerto Rico has rolled back its reopening, ordering bars, gyms, theaters and other businesses to close, and limiting the use of beaches to those who are exercising. “We’ve reached a level where we need to take more restrictive measures,” said governor Wanda Vázquez. The restrictions will be in place for two weeks, until at least 31 July, she said. The sale of alcohol will also be limited after 7pm, and restaurants will be required to keep at 50% capacity. Vázquez also announced $100m in funding for municipalities worst hit by the pandemic and $150m in aid for hospitals. She is also seeking to limit flights into the territory from Texas and Florida, both coronavirus hotspots. The major tourist destination also requires visitors to present a negative Covid-19 test result, taken no more than 72 hours before their arrival. Those who don’t comply will face a mandatory quarantine. Vázquez was among the first leaders in the US to enact shelter-in-place orders when the pandemic first struck. The island of 3.2m has counted more than 10,500 cases and 172 deaths.
Updated at 01.05 BST
16 Jul 2020 23.50 BST Georgia governor sues Atlanta mayor, in an attempt to block the city's coronavirus restrictions Georgia’s Republican governor Brian Kemp has filed a lawsuit blocking Atlanta Democratic mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’s coronavirus response. The lawsuit seeks to block her from enforcing a citywide mandate requiring people to wear face masks in public and challenges Bottom’s decision to return to “phase one” of the city’s reopening plan as cases surged, arguing that Kemp can “suspend municipal orders that are contradictory” to state policy. Kemp had issued a statewide order restricting local governments from enacting more drastic coronavirus restrictions than the state. Georgia has reported more than 127,000 Covid-19 cases, and about half are in Atlanta. Bottoms herself has tested positive. Kemp has often butted heads with Bottoms, who is on Joe Biden’s shortlist of potential running mates. She has criticized Kemp’s decision to send national guard troops to her city to protect state buildings amid protests against police brutality, and last week announced her intention to have Atalanta reverse its reopening plan despite protests from Kemp.
Updated at 01.07 BST
16 Jul 2020 23.19 BST Restrictions limiting non-essential travel between Canada and the US have been extended. The restrictions will be in place until 21 August, “to keep people in both our countries safe”, said prime minister Justin Trudeau. Update on our border: Non-essential travel between Canada and the US remains restricted. And as we continue to fight COVID-19, we have agreed to extend the current border measures by another 30 days - until August 21st - to keep people in both our countries safe. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 16, 2020 The US and Canada first began restricting travel across their border in March. The restrictions have since been renewed three times. US lawmakers have been pressuring officials in both countries to ease up the travel limits, but Canadians are wary of letting in travelers from the US as coronavirus cases here surge. A loophole does allow Canadians to fly into the US - though they have to quarantine for two weeks upon returning to Canada.
Updated at 01.59 BST
16 Jul 2020 23.08 BST Dallas, Texas, officials won’t reopen schools until at least 8 September. The Dallas Independent school district is the latest major school district to reconsider reopening plans as the number of coronavirus cases swell. Dallas county had reported nearly 36,000 coronavirus cases so far. Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott said Texas schools would be allowed to extend online-only classes after the Texas Education Agency (TEA) initially said schools could lose funding if they remained online-only for more than three weeks. Abbott said the state would ease up its stringent reopening requirements as the number of cases and hospitalizations continued to grow.
Updated at 23.21 BST
16 Jul 2020 22.50 BST
My colleague Kenya Evelyn brings us more context on the coronavirus surge: Covid-19 infections are rising in 41 US states, with some southern hotspots taking crisis measures on Thursday, including calling in military medics and parking mobile morgue trucks outside hospitals, echoing scenes in New York City when it became the center of the world outbreak in the spring. The spread of the virus has resulted in almost 56,000 hospitalizations for Covid-19 in the US currently. A month ago hospitalizations were rising in 11 states; now they are rising in 33 states. Several states have been breaking records on many days in the last week as numbers rise. Florida set a record of almost 14,000 new cases on Wednesday as it became the focus of attention of the southern surge in Covid-19. In other developments, Georgia governor Brian Kemp suspended local mask mandates on Wednesday, and early on Thursday, the Republican National Committee announced plans to scale back its national convention next month in Jacksonville, Florida, which it had moved from North Carolina before the surge of cases in Florida, hoping for fewer restrictions on crowds. The RNC chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, confirmed the update in a letter to convention delegates, noting they will comply with local and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health guidelines while adapting the events.
“We still intend to host a fantastic convention celebration in Jacksonville,” she wrote. “We can gather and put on a top-notch event that celebrates the incredible accomplishments of President Trump’s administration and his re-nomination for a second term – while also doing so in a safe and responsible manner.” Coronavirus cases rising in 41 states as Republicans scale back convention Read more
16 Jul 2020 22.33 BST The Centers for Disease Contol and Prevention (CDC) has extended its’ no-sail order for cruises, blocking cruise ships docked at US ports from operating until at least 1 October. Coronavirus cases have surged in Florida and California — where thousands of cruises would usually frequent. The CDC first put these restrictions in place in March. In the extension, which the public health authority announced today, it noted that between 1 March and 10 July, nearly 3,000 infections and 34 deaths were linked in cruise ships. Eighty percent of ships within US jurisdiction were affected by Covid-19 during that time frame, the CDC said. Industry group Cruise Lines International Association had already announced in June that members would voluntarily suspend cruises until mid-September.
16 Jul 2020 22.08 BST Hi there, it’s Maanvi Singh - reporting from the West Coast. Following White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s suggestion that “The science should not stand in the way” of schools reopening, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) issued a scathing statement criticizing the administration’s response to the coronavirus crisis. “Now the Trump administration wants to further risk the lives of teachers, children, staff, and their families just to soothe the president’s ego,” said Lily Adams, a DNC spokesperson. “This president would rather accept conspiracy theories and reject science than listen to public health experts. He can’t be trusted to make decisions about the lives of America’s children and their families.”
16 Jul 2020 22.01 BST Today so far That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: The White House suggested science should not determine whether schools reopen this fall. “The science should not stand in the way of this,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said of Trump ’s push to reopen schools. She later added, “The science is on our side here.” McEnany’s comments come as a number of school officials express concern about the potential spread of coronavirus in the classroom.
“The science should not stand in the way of this,” White House press secretary said of ’s push to reopen schools. She later added, “The science is on our side here.” McEnany’s comments come as a number of school officials express concern about the potential spread of coronavirus in the classroom. A new CDC report said Trump ’s European travel ban was enacted too late to protect New York residents. “Although travel restrictions are an important mitigation strategy, by the time the European restrictions were implemented, importation and community transmission of Sars-CoV-2 had already occurred in NYC,” the report says. Although the rate of new infections has slowed significantly in New York, the city has lost more than 23,000 residents to the virus.
’s “Although travel restrictions are an important mitigation strategy, by the time the European restrictions were implemented, importation and community transmission of Sars-CoV-2 had already occurred in NYC,” the report says. Although the rate of new infections has slowed significantly in New York, the city has lost more than 23,000 residents to the virus. The supreme court declined to block a Florida law criticized as a “poll tax.” Florida can continue to block people with felony convictions from voting until they’ve repaid all fines and fees they owe, the US supreme court ruled today. Florida Republicans passed the law after the state’s voters approved a 2018 initiative to restore voting rights to those previously convicted of felonies.
Florida can continue to block people with felony convictions from voting until they’ve repaid all fines and fees they owe, the US supreme court ruled today. Florida passed the law after the state’s voters approved a 2018 initiative to restore voting rights to those previously convicted of felonies. The Republican National Committee is reportedly planning for a downsized nominating convention next month, as coronavirus cases rise in 41 states. According to reports, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a letter to delegates that attendance would be strictly limited at next month’s convention in Jacksonville, Florida.
as coronavirus cases rise in 41 states. According to reports, RNC chairwoman said in a letter to delegates that attendance would be strictly limited at next month’s convention in Jacksonville, Florida. Russian state-sponsored hackers have been targeting organizations working to develop a coronavirus vaccine, British security officials said. The hacking efforts have been specifically targeting groups involved in vaccine work in the UK, the US and Canada. Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
16 Jul 2020 21.54 BST Trump’s remarks on regulation rollbacks have taken an unsurprising turn toward the political, as the president unleashes an attack against Joe Biden. Trump warned his Democratic opponent’s policies would kill jobs, make energy unaffordable and destroy suburbs. “Suburbia will be no longer as we know it,” Trump said, warning Democrats would “watch it go to hell.” “Not while I am here,” Trump added. “The suburb destruction will end with us.” The president specifically said he would discuss the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule next week to help suburbs. The AFFH rule requires federal agencies to further the purposes of the Fair Housing Act.
Trump’s promises to suburban Americans come as suburbs across the country, previously a Republican stronghold, increasingly shift toward Democrats.
16 Jul 2020 21.38 BST During his remarks on rolling back regulations, Trump once again complained about the water pressure in energy-efficient showers. “Showerheads, you take a shower, the water doesn’t come out,” the president said at his White House event. “You want to wash your hands, the water doesn’t come out. So what do you do? You just stand there longer? Or you take a shower longer?” Trump then added, “Because my hair, I don’t know about you, but it has to be perfect.” That comment attracted some chuckles and applause from the friendly crowd gathered on the South Lawn.


theguardian--2020-07-16--Trump replaces campaign manager Brad Parscale in major shake-up

Donald Trump is replacing his campaign manager Brad Parscale , the contentious figure leading the president ’ s re-election efforts for the last two years , in a major shakeup of campaign staff .
Parscale will be demoted to senior adviser , and Bill Stepien , the deputy campaign manager , will take over the top position .
Trump made the announcement on Facebook on Wednesday evening , with Twitter temporarily unavailable due to a hacking .
Parscale has been under pressure since June after failing to produce the hundreds of thousands of supporters at Trump ’ s campaign rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially touted .
At the time , the president ’ s daughter and son-in-law , Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner , were reportedly “ pissed ” that Parscale had promised huge crowds ; only 6,200 turned up .
The reshuffle comes as Trump lags behind in polls , trailing his Democratic opponent Joe Biden by 15 points in a Quinnipiac national poll released Wednesday .
The Trump administration ’ s chaotic , ineffectual response to the coronavirus pandemic , which has killed more than 137,000 Americans , and the plummeting of the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his approval ratings .
Parscale , who has headed the campaign since February 2018 , was recommended for the job by Kushner .
He had no background in politics prior to joining the Trump campaign , and his tenure has been plagued with allegations that he is unduly profiting off the campaign .
Even prior to joining the Trump 2020 effort , Parscale ’ s companies had earned nearly $ 40m from various Trump election committees , according to a HuffPost analysis of Federal Election Commission filings .
In a Facebook post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump campaign manager .
Brad Parscale , who has been with me for a very long time and has led our tremendous digital and data strategies , will remain in that role.
” Stepien , who was the campaign field director for Trump in 2016 , was formerly a top aide to Chris Christie , the former New Jersey governor and a one-time presidential candidate .
He received an immediate endorsement from a direction most would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican dirty trickster Roger Stone , whose prison sentence for crimes including lying to Congress during the Trump-Russia investigation the president commuted last Friday , praised the promotion , telling the New York Times that Stepien was an “ excellent choice ” .
Parscale ’ s grasp of social media , and the campaign ’ s misleading , clickbait campaigns on Facebook have made him a notorious figure .
In a Washington Post interview , Parscale recalled that during the last election cycle , he told Kushner if Trump “ wants to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to harness Facebook .
Give me the power , and I can help you win.
” Like Trump , Parscale has often exaggerated his qualifications and dramatized his life story .
He has described himself as a “ farm boy from Kansas ” , when he actually grew up in the suburbs .
“ He ’ s an over-promoted troll , ” Charlie Sykes , the author of How the Right Lost Its Mind , told the Guardian in January .
Parscale , a fan of The Apprentice , told the Guardian ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I always just saw myself as kind of a CEO , as a business leader .
I just wanted to be successful .
I was always wanting to adapt but I knew I wanted more.
” Having earned the trust of Trump and his family , he has also recently drawn the president ’ s ire .
Trump reportedly berated Parscale and threatened a lawsuit amid sinking poll numbers in April , according to CNN .
Trump later denied that he had shouted at Parscale .
Trump has frequently tired of his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 before installing Kellyanne Conway , who now works as a White House counsellor .
When asked for comment on the staffing shakeup , the Trump campaign directed the Guardian to Trump ’ s Facebook statement .
Parscale did not immediately respond to a request for comment .

Donald Trump is replacing his campaign manager Brad Parscale, the contentious figure leading the president’s re-election efforts for the last two years, in a major shakeup of campaign staff.
Parscale will be demoted to senior adviser, and Bill Stepien, the deputy campaign manager, will take over the top position. Trump made the announcement on Facebook on Wednesday evening, with Twitter temporarily unavailable due to a hacking.
Parscale has been under pressure since June after failing to produce the hundreds of thousands of supporters at Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that he initially touted. At the time, the president’s daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, were reportedly “pissed” that Parscale had promised huge crowds; only 6,200 turned up.
The reshuffle comes as Trump lags behind in polls, trailing his Democratic opponent Joe Biden by 15 points in a Quinnipiac national poll released Wednesday. The Trump administration’s chaotic, ineffectual response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 137,000 Americans, and the plummeting of the national economy appear to have triggered a dip in his approval ratings.
Parscale, who has headed the campaign since February 2018, was recommended for the job by Kushner. He had no background in politics prior to joining the Trump campaign, and his tenure has been plagued with allegations that he is unduly profiting off the campaign. Even prior to joining the Trump 2020 effort, Parscale’s companies had earned nearly $40m from various Trump election committees, according to a HuffPost analysis of Federal Election Commission filings.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday evening, Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump campaign manager. Brad Parscale, who has been with me for a very long time and has led our tremendous digital and data strategies, will remain in that role.”
Stepien, who was the campaign field director for Trump in 2016, was formerly a top aide to Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor and a one-time presidential candidate.
He received an immediate endorsement from a direction most would not typically welcome – convicted felon and self-described Republican dirty trickster Roger Stone, whose prison sentence for crimes including lying to Congress during the Trump-Russia investigation the president commuted last Friday, praised the promotion, telling the New York Times that Stepien was an “excellent choice”.
Roger STONE, one of Trump’s original 2016 campaign, approves of his campaign moves. In a message, he said, “Bill Stepien is a highly capable professional with extensive experience. He is an excellent choice to run the president’s campaign. I am very encouraged by this decision.” — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) July 16, 2020
Parscale’s grasp of social media, and the campaign’s misleading, clickbait campaigns on Facebook have made him a notorious figure. In a Washington Post interview, Parscale recalled that during the last election cycle, he told Kushner if Trump “wants to be the next president, he has got to harness Facebook. Give me the power, and I can help you win.”
Like Trump, Parscale has often exaggerated his qualifications and dramatized his life story. He has described himself as a “farm boy from Kansas”, when he actually grew up in the suburbs.
“He’s an over-promoted troll,” Charlie Sykes, the author of How the Right Lost Its Mind, told the Guardian in January.
Parscale, a fan of The Apprentice, told the Guardian’s David Smith in January: “I always just saw myself as kind of a CEO, as a business leader. I just wanted to be successful. I was always wanting to adapt but I knew I wanted more.”
Having earned the trust of Trump and his family, he has also recently drawn the president’s ire. Trump reportedly berated Parscale and threatened a lawsuit amid sinking poll numbers in April, according to CNN. Trump later denied that he had shouted at Parscale.
Trump has frequently tired of his campaign managers – he fired two campaign managers in 2016 before installing Kellyanne Conway, who now works as a White House counsellor.
When asked for comment on the staffing shakeup, the Trump campaign directed the Guardian to Trump’s Facebook statement. Parscale did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


theguardian--2020-07-16--'Nervously optimistic': Democrats eye blue wave but 2016 memories are fresh

Less than four months out from the November election , the Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has been consistently polling ahead of Donald Trump .
The president ’ s approval numbers remain underwater , and Democrats believe they can seriously compete in traditionally red states including Texas , as Trump faces sustained criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis linked to it , as well as the ongoing anti-racism protests against police brutality .
For Democrats , these are not the only indicators that things are going well .
Infighting between the progressive wing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been relatively minimal , as they come together to focus on Biden ’ s campaign to push Trump out of the White House .
Some top party officials are feeling ambitious , and want to ride another potential “ blue wave ” to try to win races that are usually out of reach in states like Georgia and Ohio .
But there ’ s a strain of caution running through the Democratic party as well .
Things looked great for them for a while in 2016 , too , but Republicans ended up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both chambers of Congress , and the memory of that cataclysmic loss is still fresh .
“ I mean , we are emotionally and mentally scarred in such a way that we are not going to feel comfortable until a week after Biden is sworn in , ” said the Democratic strategist Tom Bowen .
In any election cycle , campaign officials use cautious phrases like “ we ’ re not leaving anything to chance ” or “ campaigning like we ’ re 10 points down until election day ” – and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But coupled with that is an argument that Trump ’ s case for re-election is not reaching the voters he needs to .
A recent Biden campaign surrogates memo by his deputy campaign manager , Kate Bedingfield , said : “ No matter how hard he tries , the only candidates Trump ’ s attacks harm are himself and the down-ballot Republicans who ’ ve handcuffed themselves to him .
Simply put , the American people just aren ’ t buying his fabrications about [ Biden ] .
” The memo went on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump ’ s arguments .
On Tuesday , in another sign that Democrats see a rare opening to compete in what are usually Republican strongholds , the Biden campaign began airing a 60-second general election ad in Texas , fueled by a six-figure ad buy .
That ad is the first in a $ 15m multi-state blitz in six battleground states – Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , Michigan , North Carolina , Florida and Arizona .
Meanwhile , the pro-Trump America First Action Super Pac is pouring $ 23m into Pennsylvania , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a state that Trump needs to win re-election .
Trump himself has been campaigning over the last few months in reliably red states .
Private polling for Republicans also shows the president in trouble in what are usually reliably conservative states .
All of which suggests Democrats have the upper hand over Republicans .
But Democratic state officials and operatives expect polls to tighten and the summer high to end .
In multiple interviews , these officials were hopeful but also realistic that the next few months won ’ t be easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polls showed Hillary Clinton as the clear favorite to win the presidency .
At that time , and again now , some Democrats also felt retaking control of the Senate was possible .
“ I ’ m not going to argue that there isn ’ t some anxiety there , and I think that 2016 put that in our being because we were feeling very secure that we would have a Democratic president , and things changed so rapidly , ” said the Kansas Democratic party chairwoman , Vicki Hiatt .
Democrats are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kansas this cycle , which would usually be unheard of .
“ I think over the past three and a half years we ’ ve seen some very unpredictable things happen that we would never have expected .
I think that is where that anxiety comes from .
For me personally , I ’ m not going to rest until we have this thing done .
I ’ m cautiously optimistic but I ’ m not taking anything for granted.
” From September , Biden and Trump will face each other in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials hope the president will be able to dominate .
Democrats are also expecting some kind of “ October surprise ” from the Trump campaign and a barrage of warnings about Democratic control of the White House and Congress .
“ That tightening will happen .
It ’ s natural .
So what we need to be doing is building up our reserves now , ” said the Maryland Democratic party chairwoman , Yvette Lewis .
“ So we can ’ t waste time right now worrying about the what-ifs.
” The Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that Republicans have not yet thrown their full offensive force against Democratic candidates this cycle .
“ Now what they could do and what they ’ re trying to do is fearmonger their way into winning , ” Mancini said .
“ I think the most damaging and frightening thing is we have yet to see the all-out assault from the Republican party in terms of using fear to motivate voters .
We ’ ve seen a little of it but it ’ s the tip of the iceberg for the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality of campaigning for office .
More voters will be voting by mail rather than in person , potentially delaying the final results on election night .
Trump has argued , contrary to established evidence , that voting by mail is vulnerable to fraud .
“ I think my greatest fear is what the Republicans do now and over the next few months to delegitimise the election , ” said Aryeh Alex , the executive director of the Ohio Democrats ’ state house campaign arm .
Julian Mulvey , a veteran Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat should be worried .
Every Democrat should be nervous because it won ’ t be over till it ’ s over .
But I think everyone is nervously optimistic right now .
”

Less than four months out from the November election, the Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has been consistently polling ahead of Donald Trump.
The president’s approval numbers remain underwater, and Democrats believe they can seriously compete in traditionally red states including Texas, as Trump faces sustained criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis linked to it, as well as the ongoing anti-racism protests against police brutality.
For Democrats, these are not the only indicators that things are going well. Infighting between the progressive wing of the party and the establishment wing has been relatively minimal, as they come together to focus on Biden’s campaign to push Trump out of the White House.
Some top party officials are feeling ambitious, and want to ride another potential “blue wave” to try to win races that are usually out of reach in states like Georgia and Ohio. But there’s a strain of caution running through the Democratic party as well. Things looked great for them for a while in 2016, too, but Republicans ended up with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, and the memory of that cataclysmic loss is still fresh.
“I mean, we are emotionally and mentally scarred in such a way that we are not going to feel comfortable until a week after Biden is sworn in,” said the Democratic strategist Tom Bowen.
In any election cycle, campaign officials use cautious phrases like “we’re not leaving anything to chance” or “campaigning like we’re 10 points down until election day” – and the 2020 presidential race is no different. But coupled with that is an argument that Trump’s case for re-election is not reaching the voters he needs to.
A recent Biden campaign surrogates memo by his deputy campaign manager, Kate Bedingfield, said: “No matter how hard he tries, the only candidates Trump’s attacks harm are himself and the down-ballot Republicans who’ve handcuffed themselves to him. Simply put, the American people just aren’t buying his fabrications about [Biden].”
The memo went on to tick off the problems with each of Trump’s arguments.
On Tuesday, in another sign that Democrats see a rare opening to compete in what are usually Republican strongholds, the Biden campaign began airing a 60-second general election ad in Texas, fueled by a six-figure ad buy. That ad is the first in a $15m multi-state blitz in six battleground states – Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona.
Joe Biden supporters demonstrate in Little Havana, Miami, last week. The Biden campaign is spending big on ads in Florida. Photograph: Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA
Meanwhile, the pro-Trump America First Action Super Pac is pouring $23m into Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona and Wisconsin but not Michigan – a state that Trump needs to win re-election. Trump himself has been campaigning over the last few months in reliably red states. Private polling for Republicans also shows the president in trouble in what are usually reliably conservative states.
All of which suggests Democrats have the upper hand over Republicans. But Democratic state officials and operatives expect polls to tighten and the summer high to end. In multiple interviews, these officials were hopeful but also realistic that the next few months won’t be easy.
Democrats often cite 2016, where polls showed Hillary Clinton as the clear favorite to win the presidency. At that time, and again now, some Democrats also felt retaking control of the Senate was possible.
“I’m not going to argue that there isn’t some anxiety there, and I think that 2016 put that in our being because we were feeling very secure that we would have a Democratic president, and things changed so rapidly,” said the Kansas Democratic party chairwoman, Vicki Hiatt.
Democrats are hoping to win a US Senate seat in Kansas this cycle, which would usually be unheard of. “I think over the past three and a half years we’ve seen some very unpredictable things happen that we would never have expected. I think that is where that anxiety comes from. For me personally, I’m not going to rest until we have this thing done. I’m cautiously optimistic but I’m not taking anything for granted.”
From September, Biden and Trump will face each other in three televised debates, something Republican campaign officials hope the president will be able to dominate. Democrats are also expecting some kind of “October surprise” from the Trump campaign and a barrage of warnings about Democratic control of the White House and Congress.
“That tightening will happen. It’s natural. So what we need to be doing is building up our reserves now,” said the Maryland Democratic party chairwoman, Yvette Lewis. “So we can’t waste time right now worrying about the what-ifs.”
The Tennessee Democratic party chairwoman, Mary Mancini, said that Republicans have not yet thrown their full offensive force against Democratic candidates this cycle.
“Now what they could do and what they’re trying to do is fearmonger their way into winning,” Mancini said. “I think the most damaging and frightening thing is we have yet to see the all-out assault from the Republican party in terms of using fear to motivate voters. We’ve seen a little of it but it’s the tip of the iceberg for the Republican party.”
The pandemic has also changed the reality of campaigning for office. More voters will be voting by mail rather than in person, potentially delaying the final results on election night. Trump has argued, contrary to established evidence, that voting by mail is vulnerable to fraud.
“I think my greatest fear is what the Republicans do now and over the next few months to delegitimise the election,” said Aryeh Alex, the executive director of the Ohio Democrats’ state house campaign arm.
Julian Mulvey, a veteran Democratic ad maker, added: “Every Democrat should be worried. Every Democrat should be nervous because it won’t be over till it’s over. But I think everyone is nervously optimistic right now.”


theguardian--2020-07-16--Kanye West will appear on Oklahoma presidential election ballot

Kanye West will appear on the Oklahoma presidential election ballot after filing the necessary paperwork , but confusion remained on Wednesday as to whether the rap superstar was still in the race , amid reports he was ending his short-lived campaign .
A representative for West filed the necessary paperwork and paid the $ 35,000 fee to run as an independent candidate Wednesday afternoon , which was the deadline for a spot on Oklahoma ’ s 3 November presidential ballot , said the Oklahoma Board of Elections spokeswoman Misha Mohr .
West was one of three independent presidential candidates to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadline , she added .
The others were the concert pianist Jade Simmons and the cryptocurrency entrepreneur Brock Pierce .
The filing came a day after New York magazine ’ s Intelligencer quoted West adviser Steve Kramer as saying “ he ’ s out ” and noting that the staff he had hired were disappointed .
However , TMZ reported that the West campaign had filed a “ Statement of Organization ” Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission , stating that a Kanye 2020 committee would serve as principal campaign committee for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deadline to qualify for the ballot in several states , and it ’ s unclear if he is willing or able to collect enough signatures required to qualify in others .
The requirements that candidates need to meet in order to appear on presidential election ballots also vary by state .
In Oklahoma , candidates need to get 35,592 signatures or pay $ 35,000 .
In Colorado , where the deadline to file is 5 August , candidates must get 5,000 signatures , or pay $ 1,000 .
West , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kardashian West , announced his candidacy on 4 July .
“ We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God , unifying our vision and building our future , ” West tweeted at the time .
“ I am running for president of the United States.
” West had previously praised Donald Trump , famously saying that the two share “ dragon energy ” .
However West appeared to part ways with the president earlier this month in an interview with Forbes , saying he was “ taking the red hat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s trademark red Make America Great Again cap .
West , who has said he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder , told the magazine that he would model his White House on the fictional land in Black Panther if he won the presidency , adding : “ Let ’ s get back to Wakanda .
”

Kanye West will appear on the Oklahoma presidential election ballot after filing the necessary paperwork, but confusion remained on Wednesday as to whether the rap superstar was still in the race, amid reports he was ending his short-lived campaign.
A representative for West filed the necessary paperwork and paid the $35,000 fee to run as an independent candidate Wednesday afternoon, which was the deadline for a spot on Oklahoma’s 3 November presidential ballot, said the Oklahoma Board of Elections spokeswoman Misha Mohr.
West was one of three independent presidential candidates to pay the filing fee prior to the deadline, she added. The others were the concert pianist Jade Simmons and the cryptocurrency entrepreneur Brock Pierce.
The filing came a day after New York magazine’s Intelligencer quoted West adviser Steve Kramer as saying “he’s out” and noting that the staff he had hired were disappointed.
However, TMZ reported that the West campaign had filed a “Statement of Organization” Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission, stating that a Kanye 2020 committee would serve as principal campaign committee for a West candidacy.
West has already missed the deadline to qualify for the ballot in several states, and it’s unclear if he is willing or able to collect enough signatures required to qualify in others. The requirements that candidates need to meet in order to appear on presidential election ballots also vary by state. In Oklahoma, candidates need to get 35,592 signatures or pay $35,000. In Colorado, where the deadline to file is 5 August, candidates must get 5,000 signatures, or pay $1,000.
West, who is married to the reality television star Kim Kardashian West, announced his candidacy on 4 July. “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future,” West tweeted at the time. “I am running for president of the United States.”
West had previously praised Donald Trump, famously saying that the two share “dragon energy”. However West appeared to part ways with the president earlier this month in an interview with Forbes, saying he was “taking the red hat off” – a reference to Trump’s trademark red Make America Great Again cap.
West, who has said he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, told the magazine that he would model his White House on the fictional land in Black Panther if he won the presidency, adding: “Let’s get back to Wakanda.”


theguardian--2020-07-16--Ivanka Trump's love for Goya beans violates ethics rules, say US rights groups

The White House has defended Ivanka Trump tweeting a photo of herself holding up a can of Goya beans to buck up a Hispanic-owned business that she says has been unfairly treated , arguing she had “ every right ” to publicly express her support .
Government watchdogs countered that President Donald Trump ’ s daughter and senior adviser doesn ’ t have the right to violate ethics rules that bar government officials from using their public office to endorse specific products or groups .
These groups contend Ivanka Trump ’ s action also highlights broader concerns about how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the line between politics and governing .
The White House would be responsible for disciplining Ivanka Trump for any ethics violation but chose not to in a similar case involving White House counselor Kellyanne Conway in 2017 .
Goya became the target of a consumer boycott after CEO Robert Unanue praised the president at a Hispanic event at the White House on Thursday last week .
Trump tweeted the next day about his “ love ” for Goya , and his daughter followed up late Tuesday by tweeting a photo of herself holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a caption that read , “ If it ’ s Goya , it has to be good , ” in English and Spanish .
Almost immediately , government watchdogs and social media commentators accused Ivanka Trump of violating ethics rules – an issue that was not addressed in a White House statement that blamed the media and the culture of boycotting certain views .
“ Only the media and the cancel culture movement would criticize Ivanka for showing her personal support for a company that has been unfairly mocked , boycotted and ridiculed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has consistently fought for and delivered for the Hispanic community , ” White House spokesperson Carolina Hurley said .
“ Ivanka is proud of this strong , Hispanic-owned business with deep roots in the US and has every right to express her personal support.
” Ivanka Trump sent the tweet from a personal Twitter account that does double duty chronicling her work on various White House initiatives .
Trump himself appeared to back up his daughter on Wednesday by posting a photo on his Instagram account showing him in the Oval Office in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his desk .
As president , Trump is exempt from many of the rules that federal workers must follow .
Walter Shaub , former director of the Office of Government Ethics , said the president ’ s tweet and photo amounted to “ an official campaign by the Trump administration to support Goya , making it all the more clear that Ivanka ’ s tweet was a violation of the misuse of position regulations ” .
Shaub left government in 2017 after clashing with the Trump administration over ethics rules .
Citizens for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) said the rules were clear .
“ The ethics rules for executive branch employees say that you can ’ t use your official position to promote a private business , ” said Noah Bookbinder , executive director of Crew .
“ It ’ s pretty clear that the context in which this came out is that Goya had been supportive of the Trump administration and the Trump administration was being supportive of Goya.
” Craig Holman , the Capitol Hill lobbyist for Public Citizen , said the episode was reminiscent of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcast cable TV interview , Conway urged Trump supporters to buy Ivanka Trump ’ s clothing and accessories after Nordstrom dropped the fashion line .
The White House later said Conway had been “ counseled ” about her comments .
Holman argued that Ivanka Trump ’ s action was less of a mistake given the Conway incident .
“ They decided to violate federal law thinking that it will benefit them politically , ” he said .
Trump is looking to improve his standing with Latino voters before November ’ s election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 10 Latino voters in 2016 .
Trump often blurs the lines between politics and governing .
Last year , Trump floated the idea of hosting a 2020 summit of world leaders at his private , for-profit golf club near Miami , but backed down after a bipartisan outcry over the conflict of interest .
Separately Wednesday , Crew filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel against White House chief of staff Mark Meadows alleging violations of the Hatch Act during recent television interviews .
The law prohibits government officials from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There was no immediate comment from the Office of Special Counsel or the White House .

The White House has defended Ivanka Trump tweeting a photo of herself holding up a can of Goya beans to buck up a Hispanic-owned business that she says has been unfairly treated, arguing she had “every right” to publicly express her support.
Government watchdogs countered that President Donald Trump’s daughter and senior adviser doesn’t have the right to violate ethics rules that bar government officials from using their public office to endorse specific products or groups.
These groups contend Ivanka Trump’s action also highlights broader concerns about how the president and those around him often blur the line between politics and governing. The White House would be responsible for disciplining Ivanka Trump for any ethics violation but chose not to in a similar case involving White House counselor Kellyanne Conway in 2017.
Goya became the target of a consumer boycott after CEO Robert Unanue praised the president at a Hispanic event at the White House on Thursday last week.
Trump tweeted the next day about his “love” for Goya, and his daughter followed up late Tuesday by tweeting a photo of herself holding a can of Goya black beans with a caption that read, “If it’s Goya, it has to be good,” in English and Spanish.
If it’s Goya, it has to be good.
Si es Goya, tiene que ser bueno. pic.twitter.com/9tjVrfmo9z — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) July 15, 2020
Almost immediately, government watchdogs and social media commentators accused Ivanka Trump of violating ethics rules – an issue that was not addressed in a White House statement that blamed the media and the culture of boycotting certain views.
“Only the media and the cancel culture movement would criticize Ivanka for showing her personal support for a company that has been unfairly mocked, boycotted and ridiculed for supporting this administration – one that has consistently fought for and delivered for the Hispanic community,” White House spokesperson Carolina Hurley said.
“Ivanka is proud of this strong, Hispanic-owned business with deep roots in the US and has every right to express her personal support.”
Ivanka Trump sent the tweet from a personal Twitter account that does double duty chronicling her work on various White House initiatives.
Trump himself appeared to back up his daughter on Wednesday by posting a photo on his Instagram account showing him in the Oval Office in front of various Goya products arrayed on his desk. As president, Trump is exempt from many of the rules that federal workers must follow.
Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics, said the president’s tweet and photo amounted to “an official campaign by the Trump administration to support Goya, making it all the more clear that Ivanka’s tweet was a violation of the misuse of position regulations”.
Shaub left government in 2017 after clashing with the Trump administration over ethics rules.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) said the rules were clear.
“The ethics rules for executive branch employees say that you can’t use your official position to promote a private business,” said Noah Bookbinder, executive director of Crew. “It’s pretty clear that the context in which this came out is that Goya had been supportive of the Trump administration and the Trump administration was being supportive of Goya.”
Craig Holman, the Capitol Hill lobbyist for Public Citizen, said the episode was reminiscent of a 2017 incident when, during a nationally broadcast cable TV interview, Conway urged Trump supporters to buy Ivanka Trump’s clothing and accessories after Nordstrom dropped the fashion line. The White House later said Conway had been “counseled” about her comments.
Holman argued that Ivanka Trump’s action was less of a mistake given the Conway incident. “They decided to violate federal law thinking that it will benefit them politically,” he said. Trump is looking to improve his standing with Latino voters before November’s election. He won the votes of about three in 10 Latino voters in 2016.
Trump often blurs the lines between politics and governing.
Last year, Trump floated the idea of hosting a 2020 summit of world leaders at his private, for-profit golf club near Miami, but backed down after a bipartisan outcry over the conflict of interest.
Separately Wednesday, Crew filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel against White House chief of staff Mark Meadows alleging violations of the Hatch Act during recent television interviews. The law prohibits government officials from using their positions to influence political campaigns.
There was no immediate comment from the Office of Special Counsel or the White House.