theguardian--2020-10-01--Biden tells white supremacist groups to 'cease and desist' after Trump's debate 'embarrassment' – li

Biden tells white supremacist groups to 'cease and desist' after Trump's debate 'embarrassment' – live

Donald Trump ’ s refusal to condemn white supremacy during Tuesday night ’ s debate fits into a pattern of extremist rhetoric that has already baselessly stoked fear of voting fraud amid the president ’ s urging of his supporters to descend on polling stations in November ’ s election .
Experts have already warned that Trump ’ s encouragement of people to scramble to polling stations could have horrific consequences , given that armed , rightwing , Trump-supporting militias have already brought violence and fear to cities across the country in the wake of anti-racism protests .
On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Proud Boys – the violent rightwing group that he urged to “ stand by ” when asked to condemn white supremacists .
Whether the president was telling the truth or not – the Proud Boys have been widely covered in the media for years – onlookers have warned Trump has already used the rhetoric of white supremacists in recent months .
On Tuesday , in front of perhaps his largest audience yet this election cycle , Trump doubled down on that rhetoric .
Asked if he was willing “ to condemn white supremacists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sidestepped the question , and seemed to equate those groups with “ leftwing ” violence .
He then name-checked the Proud Boys , in a move that the group itself quickly celebrated as a call to arms from the Oval Office .
Trump ’ s answer fits with similar comments throughout his presidential campaign and presidency .
After an anti-fascism protester was killed at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017 , Trump claimed there were “ very fine people on both sides ” .

Maanvi Singh (now) and Tom McCarthy and Martin Belam (earlier)

30 Sept 2020 00.56 BST Summary That’s it for today from me and Joan E Greve. The Senate passed a funding bill averting a government shutdown until 11 December, six hours before funding for the government was set to expire. The last-minute vote on the stopgap bill received bipartisan support but postponed big discussions on government funding till after the election.
The last-minute vote on the stopgap bill received bipartisan support but postponed big discussions on government funding till after the election. Republican senator Lindsay Graham, who as head of the judiciary committee is barreling ahead to approve Donald Trump’s supreme court nominee despite vowing not to consider one during an election year, is tied with his Democratic challenger in a new poll . A Democrat hasn’t been elected to the Senate from South Carolina since 1998, but Graham has found himself neck and neck with his challenger Jamie Harrison in recent weeks. Likely voters in a Quinnipiac poll ranked Harrison higher on honesty.
. A Democrat hasn’t been elected to the Senate from South Carolina since 1998, but Graham has found himself neck and neck with his challenger Jamie Harrison in recent weeks. Likely voters in a Quinnipiac poll ranked Harrison higher on honesty. Joe Biden told white supremacist groups to “cease and desist”, after Trump refused to condemn white supremacist violence at last night’s debate. Speaking to reporters during a campaign stop in Ohio, Biden said, “The president of the United States conducting himself the way he did, I think it was just a national embarrassment.”
after refused to condemn white supremacist violence at last night’s debate. Speaking to reporters during a campaign stop in Ohio, Biden said, “The president of the United States conducting himself the way he did, I think it was just a national embarrassment.” Trump denied knowing who the Proud Boys were, a day after telling the extremist far-right group to “stand back and stand by”. “I don’t know who the Proud Boys are. I mean, you’ll have to give me a definition because I really don’t know who they are,” Trump told reporters. “I can only say they have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work.”
“I don’t know who the Proud Boys are. I mean, you’ll have to give me a definition because I really don’t know who they are,” Trump told reporters. “I can only say they have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work.” The Commission on Presidential Debates said “additional structure” would be needed for the remaining presidential debates. According to CBS News, the CPD will soon announce rules changes to the debates, including allowing moderators to cut candidates’ microphones when they ignore the agreed-upon structure of the debates.
According to CBS News, the CPD will soon announce rules changes to the debates, including allowing moderators to cut candidates’ microphones when they ignore the agreed-upon structure of the debates. Former FBI director James Comey testified before the Senate judiciary committee. Comey pushed back against criticism from attorney general William Barr, who has denounced the Russia investigation as “completely baseless”. Comey said of Barr, “I have no idea on Earth what he’s talking about.”
Comey pushed back against criticism from attorney general who has denounced the Russia investigation as “completely baseless”. Comey said of Barr, “I have no idea on Earth what he’s talking about.” A judge granted the attorney general of Kentucky a two-day delay in releasing the grand jury records in the Breonna Taylor case, which were supposed to be made public today. Attorney general Daniel Cameron claimed more time was needed to redact information that could reveal jurors’ identities. The announcement comes one week after a grand jury declined to issue charges in direct connection to the killing of Taylor, who was fatally shot by Louisville police officers in March.
Updated at 01.22 BST
30 Sept 2020 00.53 BST Joe Biden saw one of the biggest crowds he’s encountered on the campaign trail since the pandemic hit when supporters gathered to greet him in Pennsylvania as he exited a train station in Greensburg. The Democratic candidate’s speeches are being delivered to distanced, sparse crowds. He has been critical of Donald Trump for hosting large rallies where supporters eschewed masks and social distancing. Joe Biden greets the largest crowd he has likely seen since March as he exits the train station in Greensburg, Pennsylvania pic.twitter.com/uBmc6jXoKf — Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) September 30, 2020 Biden was met by several hundred as he exited the train station, per reporters traveling with him. Several dozen Trump supporters had also gathered, per the press pool. The former vice-president is on a train tour in Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Updated at 00.56 BST
30 Sept 2020 00.22 BST Republican senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, who is facing the toughest re-election race of his career, is tied with his Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison, 48-48, in a Quinnipiac University poll. Other recent polls have also suggested an increasingly tight race. Graham, the chair of the Senate judiciary committee, is moving swiftly on the nomination of conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the supreme court seat vacated by Ruth Bader Ginsburg – despite saying four years ago no president at the end of his term should nominate a supreme court justice. “If there’s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said, ‘Let’s let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination,’” he said in 2016, when Justice Antonin Scalia died, and Graham refused to consider then-president Barack Obama’s nominee. The Quinnipiac poll sampled likely voters. Of those polled, 49% said the winner of the presidential election should nominate a justice, whereas 47 % said Donald Trump should select a justice before the election. South Carolinians also said Harrison was more honest and empathetic than Graham. No Democrat has been elected to the Senate from South Carolina since 1998.
Updated at 00.58 BST
30 Sept 2020 00.00 BST Sam Levin The Los Angeles police department (LAPD) gave 63% of its citations for “loitering while standing” to Black residents in recent years, despite African Americans making up just 7% of the city’s population, a new analysis of public records has revealed. A report released on Wednesday by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights analyzed low-level infractions in California between 2017 and 2019 and found that LAPD and police agencies across the state disproportionately target Black residents. The advocacy group collected data on the most minor municipal offenses and tickets (outside of traffic citations) – including standing or sleeping outside, owning a dog without a proper license, jaywalking and entering a park after dark – and found a pattern of severe racial disparities in major cities and regions throughout the state. Key findings include: Overall, Black residents in California are 9.7 times more likely to receive a citation for local infractions than white residents in their jurisdictions, and Latinx residents were 5.8 times more likely to be cited than their white neighbors.
Black residents in LA were 3.8 times more likely to be cited for minor infractions compared with white residents, accounting for 30% of all low-level infractions.
Despite being only 7% of the adult population, Black Angelenos accounted for 27% of “drinking in public infractions”, 33% of “sleeping or sitting” loitering tickets; and 63% of “loitering while standing” citations.
There were similar patterns of disparate treatment of Black residents in liberal and more conservative regions of the state, including in the Bay Area, the Central Valley, Kern county, San Diego and other municipalities. Black residents nearly four times as likely to be cited by Los Angeles police, report finds Read more
30 Sept 2020 23.37 BST Poppy Noor Americans rushed to Google “How to move to Canada” after last night’s debate. Following a debate derailed by interruptions, people speaking over each other, and insults hurled back and forth, Google reported a peak number of searches for “How to apply for Canadian citizenship” in the US. Some people seemed in such a hurry to get out they couldn’t even get the name right: searches for “How to move to Canda” also spiked alongside the correct “How to move to Canada”. Searches initially peaked about an hour into the debate, at about 10.30pm, according to the search engine. But it looks like the news unsettled people into the night – there has since been a second wave of searches on how to get Canadian citizenship – with most of the searches happening in the early hours of this morning. The search was most popular in Massachusetts, followed by Washington and Michigan. The results are not unprecedented, however – in fact, every election sees a swath of voters contemplating moving over to the other side (of the border). Some even go through with it. 'How to move to Canada': Americans rush to Google after unwatchable debate Read more
30 Sept 2020 23.21 BST Senate approves bill to avert shutdown The Senate passed a spending bill, 84-10, to fund the government through 11 December. The bill will now go to Donald Trump for his signature, with six hours to spare before the government is set to shutdown. The House approved the bill last week. The bill includes some pandemic relief funds – including $8bn for food assistance. It also includes billions for a farm bailout program that Republicans championed, which will help farmers affected by Trump’s trade policies and the pandemic. A government shutdown amid the pandemic would be a political disaster for lawmakers from both parties, and lawmakers were exected to do what it takes to avert one. This stopgap bill avoids addressing bigger debates around federal funding – leaving those for after the 3 November elections. It remains unclear though whether Congress will now take a fall recess. House Democrats have yet to vote on their coronavirus relief bill – which faces an uncertain future in the Senate.
Updated at 23.25 BST
30 Sept 2020 22.48 BST Representative Katie Porter, a Democrat of California known for her prosecutorial questioning, excoriated the CEO of the drug company Calgene during a House Oversight Committee hearing. Using a whiteboard, she displayed the company’s repeated price hikes for Revlimid, which is used to treat bone marrow cancer. The drug now cases $763 per dose, compared to $215 per dose in 2005. “Did the drug start to work faster? Were there fewer side effects? How did you change the formula or production of Revlimid to justify this price increase?” Porter asked Mark Alles, who served as Celgene’s CEO until another company acquired it in 2019. “To recap here: The drug didn’t get any better, the cancer patients didn’t get any better, you just got better at making money, you just refined your skills at price gouging.” Watch the full exchange here: Oh my god, Katie Porter. pic.twitter.com/tO6B7xCx3G — Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) September 30, 2020 The hearing was held so that lawmakers could press CEOs of drug companies ono the findings of an 18-month investigation into the pricing of Revlimid and another drug.
30 Sept 2020 22.24 BST Congress no longer plans to vote tonight on a $2.2 trillion stimulus package, so they can take more time to work out a deal with the White House, per multiple reports. After meeting earlier with treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, House speaker Nancy Pelosi initially seemed to indicate that the House would modify and move forward with voting on the Heroes Act, the latest coronavirus relief package. “Today, Secretary Mnuchin and I had an extensive conversation and we found areas where we are seeking further clarification. Our conversations will continue,” the Democratic speaker had said. While the bill, as is, is sure to pass the Democrat-controlled House, it’s future in the Republican-led Senate is uncertain. Efforts to pass a stimulus bill had been stalled for nearly two months - with Republicans and Democrats divided over the price tag. This latest legislation has been slimmed down though it contains many of the components of the $3.4 trillion package Democrats approved in May. Lawmakers cut aid to the Post Office from $25bn to o$15bn and cut in half a proposed $1tn for state and local governments.
30 Sept 2020 22.00 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: Joe Biden told white supremacist groups to “cease and desist,” after Trump refused to condemn white supremacist violence at last night’s debate. Speaking to reporters during a campaign stop in Ohio moments ago, Biden said, “The president of the United States conducting himself the way he did, I think it was just a national embarrassment.”
after refused to condemn white supremacist violence at last night’s debate. Speaking to reporters during a campaign stop in Ohio moments ago, Biden said, “The president of the United States conducting himself the way he did, I think it was just a national embarrassment.” Trump denied knowing who the Proud Boys were, a day after telling the extremist far-right group to “stand back and stand by.” “I don’t know who the Proud Boys are. I mean, you’ll have to give me a definition because I really don’t know who they are,” Trump told reporters. “I can only say they have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work.”
“I don’t know who the Proud Boys are. I mean, you’ll have to give me a definition because I really don’t know who they are,” Trump told reporters. “I can only say they have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work.” The Commission on Presidential Debates said “additional structure” would be needed for the remaining presidential debates. According to CBS News, the CPD will soon announce rules changes to the debates, including allowing moderators to cut candidates’ microphones when they ignore the agreed-upon structure of the debates.
According to CBS News, the CPD will soon announce rules changes to the debates, including allowing moderators to cut candidates’ microphones when they ignore the agreed-upon structure of the debates. Former FBI director James Comey testified before the Senate judiciary committee. Comey pushed back against criticism from attorney general William Barr, who has denounced the Russia investigation as “completely baseless.” Comey said of Barr, “I have no idea on Earth what he’s talking about.”
Comey pushed back against criticism from attorney general who has denounced the Russia investigation as “completely baseless.” Comey said of Barr, “I have no idea on Earth what he’s talking about.” A judge granted the attorney general of Kentucky a two-day delay in releasing the grand jury records in the Breonna Taylor case, which were supposed to be made public today. Attorney general Daniel Cameron claimed more time was needed to redact information that could reveal jurors’ identities. The announcement comes one week after a grand jury declined to issue charges in direct connection to the killing of Taylor, who was fatally shot by Louisville police officers in March. Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Updated at 00.40 BST
30 Sept 2020 21.46 BST CNN host Jake Tapper cut short an interview with a senior Trump campaign official as he dodged questions about the president’s refusal to condemn white supremacist violence. Jake Tapper boots Trumps campaign goblin from his air after he hems and haws about Trumps support for white supremacists pic.twitter.com/jabcidzpYf — Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) September 30, 2020 Communications director Tim Murtaugh deflected Tapper’s questions by repeatedly trying to redirect the conversation toward Biden’s work with segregationist senators in the 1970’s. As Murtaugh kept talking over Tapper’s questions, the CNN host eventually said, “You know what, I’m not Chris Wallace. Thank you, Tim, appreciate it.” With that, the interview was over.
30 Sept 2020 21.25 BST Debate moderator Chris Wallace said he was “sad with the way last night turned out,” after the Fox News anchor was widely criticized for failing to rein in Trump as the president repeatedly interrupted Biden and ignored the format of the debate. “I never dreamt that it would go off the tracks the way it did,” Wallace told the New York Times, in his first interview since last night’s debate. “I guess I didn’t realize — and there was no way you could, hindsight being 20/20 — that this was going to be the president’s strategy, not just for the beginning of the debate but the entire debate.” When asked if Trump was responsible for derailing the debate, Wallace said, “Well, he certainly didn’t help.”
But Wallace declined to elaborate on that answer. “To quote the president, ‘It is what it is,’” Wallace said.


theguardian--2020-10-01--Facebook removes Trump campaign ads with misleading claims about refugees

Facebook has removed a number of ads from the Trump campaign for making misleading and inaccurate claims about Covid-19 and immigration .
On Wednesday the social media platform took down the Trump-sponsored advertisements which claimed , without evidence , that accepting refugees would increase Americans ’ risk of Covid-19 .
The ad , which featured a video of Joe Biden talking about the border and asylum seekers , claimed , also without evidence , that the Democratic candidate ’ s policies would increase the number of refugees from Syria , Somalia , and Yemen by “ 700 % ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were run on Facebook and were seen by hundreds of thousands of people before the company removed them .
Facebook did not immediately respond to request for comment , but said in a statement to NBC news the ads violated its policies .
A version of the advertisement can still be seen in Facebook ’ s library but is now inactive , meaning it is not being run across any Facebook products .
“ We rejected these ads because we don ’ t allow claims that people ’ s physical safety , health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the basis of their national origin or immigration status , ” Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone told NBC News in a statement .
The removal is the latest action taken against the Trump administration as social media platforms attempt to rein in misinformation ahead of the 2020 elections .
It follows other removals of Trump ads including one in June , which featured a Nazi symbol .
The company removed another Trump ad in 2018 saying it violated its rules against “ sensational content ” .
Facebook is also changing its policies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project manager Rob Leathern tweeted on Wednesday .
Under the new policies , ads can not prematurely declare victory , present any method of voting as fraudulent or corrupt , or make accusations of voter fraud .
The changes to these policies apply to both Instagram and Facebook and apply immediately as of Wednesday , he said .
Following the removal of the ad on Wednesday , Courtney Parella of the Trump campaign doubled down on the advertisement ’ s claims in a statement .
She did not cite the source of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ While President Trump took decisive action to restrict travel from China to slow the spread of coronavirus and saved countless lives , Joe Biden was busy calling the president xenophobic and arm-chair quarterbacking his pandemic response , ” she said .
The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Although Facebook removed the ads regarding refugees and Covid-19 , other misleading advertisements remain on the platform .
One ad shows Joe Biden with a headphone photoshopped to his ear , perpetuating the false claim that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The advertisement appears to have been launched on the day of the debate but remains active on the platform , with more than 800 versions still active .
The ads have been viewed by more than 3.6m people , the majority of whom are in the key election states of Florida and Pennsylvania , according to Facebook data .
The Trump campaign ’ s ads have led to the “ earpiece ” conspiracy theory spreading organically on other social media platforms , including TikTok , according to the watchdog group Media Matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of TikTok videos espousing the theory that have been viewed more than 560,000 times .
A spokesperson for TikTok said the videos violate its policies on disinformation and it is working to remove them as they are posted .
“ You would not have seen the proliferation of conspiracy theories on TikTok today if there was not already an intense saturation of this idea from the Trump campaign yesterday , ” said Angelo Carusone , president of Media Matters .
“ They sort of seeded the ground with this idea until the users @ @ @ @ @ @

Facebook has removed a number of ads from the Trump campaign for making misleading and inaccurate claims about Covid-19 and immigration.
On Wednesday the social media platform took down the Trump-sponsored advertisements which claimed, without evidence, that accepting refugees would increase Americans’ risk of Covid-19. The ad, which featured a video of Joe Biden talking about the border and asylum seekers, claimed, also without evidence, that the Democratic candidate’s policies would increase the number of refugees from Syria, Somalia and Yemen by “700%”. More than 38 versions of the ad were run on Facebook and were seen by hundreds of thousands of people before the company removed them.
Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said in a statement to NBC news the ads violated its policies. A version of the advertisement can still be seen in Facebook’s library but is now inactive, meaning it is not being run across any Facebook products.
“We rejected these ads because we don’t allow claims that people’s physical safety, health, or survival is threatened by people on the basis of their national origin or immigration status,” a Facebook spokesman, Andy Stone, told NBC News in a statement.
The removal is the latest action taken against the Trump administration as social media platforms attempt to rein in misinformation ahead of the 2020 elections. It follows other removals of Trump ads including one in June, which featured a Nazi symbol. The company removed another Trump ad in 2018 saying it violated its rules against “sensational content”.
Facebook is also changing its policies to prevent ads that delegitimize election results, project manager Rob Leathern tweeted on Wednesday. Under the new policies, ads cannot prematurely declare victory, present any method of voting as fraudulent or corrupt, or make accusations of voter fraud. The changes to these policies apply to both Instagram and Facebook and apply immediately as of Wednesday, he said.
Following the removal of the ad on Wednesday, Courtney Parella of the Trump campaign doubled down on the advertisement’s claims in a statement. She did not cite the source of the 700% figure featured in the ad.
“While President Trump took decisive action to restrict travel from China to slow the spread of coronavirus and saved countless lives, Joe Biden was busy calling the president xenophobic and armchair quarterbacking his pandemic response,” she said.
The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Although Facebook removed the ads regarding refugees and Covid-19, other misleading advertisements remain on the platform. One ad shows Joe Biden with a headphone photoshopped to his ear, perpetuating the false claim that the presidential candidate somehow cheated in the debates.
The advertisement appears to have been launched on the day of the debate but remains active on the platform, with more than 800 versions still active. The ads have been viewed by more than 3.6 million people, the majority of whom are in the key election states of Florida and Pennsylvania, according to Facebook data.
The Trump campaign’s ads have led to the “earpiece” conspiracy theory spreading organically on other social media platforms, including TikTok, according to the watchdog group Media Matters. The group has found four examples of TikTok videos espousing the theory that have been viewed more than 560,000 times. A spokesperson for TikTok said the videos violate its policies on disinformation and it is working to remove them as they are posted.
“You would not have seen the proliferation of conspiracy theories on TikTok today if there was not already an intense saturation of this idea from the Trump campaign yesterday,” said Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters. “They sort of seeded the ground with this idea until the users themselves were driving it.”


theguardian--2020-09-30--Presidential debates format to be overhauled after calamity in Cleveland

After a chaotic night in Cleveland , the Commission on Presidential Debates ( CPD ) issued a surprise statement on Wednesday .
It would , it said , soon announce “ additional structure … to the format of the remaining debates , to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues ” .
The CPD said it was grateful to Chris Wallace for his “ professionalism and skill ” as moderator of the first debate , but nodded to criticism of the Fox News anchor ’ s handling of Donald Trump ’ s aggressive and abusive behaviour when it said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain order ” .
Thanks to Trump , the debate in Cleveland is sure to live on in infamy .
The president interrupted or ignored Wallace , persistently hectored Biden , attacking his family , and even refused to disavow white supremacists , a low point of what pundits called a “ dumpster fire ” , a “ train wreck ” and a “ shitshow ” .
There are two presidential debates to go .
As the dust settled from the first , Biden widely reckoned to have come out stronger , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one to duck out – or if Biden should .
The Biden campaign rejected that idea outright .
“ Joe Biden ’ s never going to refuse to talk to the American people , ” the California senator Kamala Harris , Biden ’ s running mate , told CNN .
As it happens , the next campaign debate , in Salt Lake City on 7 October , will be between Harris and Vice-President Mike Pence .
A tough prosecutor against a smooth operator , it should present a fascinating , even comfortingly familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump v Biden round two will follow , scheduled for 15 October in Miami , a week before a final meeting in Nashville , Tennessee .
Biden , Harris said , would take “ any opportunity that he can to speak directly to American families and speak about the issues , speak the truth , and address the facts of where we are now , but also address the hopes and dreams of the American families and where we could be and Joe ’ s got a plan for dealing with those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As luck would have it – for Biden and Harris , at least – pending CPD changes the Miami debate will see the candidates answer questions from the audience .
On Tuesday Brian Klaas , associate professor in global politics at University College London and a Washington Post columnist , tweeted that he understood “ those who say ‘ cancel the debates ’ now ” , but also pointed out that the second debate “ is a town hall format ” .
“ Biden is at his best – especially with empathy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to individual voters , ” Klaas wrote .
“ Trump , by contrast , doesn ’ t possess those capabilities , and that will show.
” Among discussion of what little actual debate was possible in Cleveland , the former Republican strategist and Lincoln Project member Rick Wilson pointed to Biden ’ s handling of questions about the coronavirus pandemic .
“ One of the things I think Biden did very , very well on was indicting Trump on the Covid deaths , ” Wilson said on his New Abnormal podcast .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named it , he went chapter and verse on it.
” More than 7 million people have been infected in the US and more than 205,000 have died since February , when , as reported by Bob Woodward , Trump knew about the threat but chose to play it down .
Wilson added : “ Trump ’ s reaction was , ‘ I got the respirators , you ’ d never get respirators.
’ It was such a pathetic and sloppy defense of his mishandling of this , and I think it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hammer it home.
” On rightwing media , Trump attracted predictable praise .
On Fox News , the pundit Dan Bongino insisted , “ Trump ’ s strategy tonight was executed brilliantly ” and added : “ Trump is an apex predator .
He ’ s the lion king .
Trump went out there tonight and did what Trump does .
He ’ s the shark in the ocean and he acted like it .
He lost no one from his base , no one.
” But Trump is behind in national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach beyond his base .
Evidence his behaviour in Cleveland did not do so was freely to be found .
The conservative focus group guru Frank Luntz brought together independent or undecided voters for a session streamed on YouTube .
Individuals described Trump as “ horrid ” , “ chaotic ” , “ unpolished ” , “ puzzling ” , “ un-American ” , “ unhinged ” , “ forceful ” , “ unhinged ” , “ arrogant ” and a “ bully ” .
One voter , Ruthie from Pennsylvania , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet star .
She had been undecided , she said , but would now vote for Biden – who she had watched trying to “ win an argument with a crackhead ” .

After a chaotic night in Cleveland, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) issued a surprise statement on Wednesday. It would, it said, soon announce “additional structure … to the format of the remaining debates, to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues”.
The CPD said it was grateful to Chris Wallace for his “professionalism and skill” as moderator of the first debate, but nodded to criticism of the Fox News anchor’s handling of Donald Trump’s aggressive and abusive behaviour when it said it would provide “additional tools to maintain order”.
Thanks to Trump, the debate in Cleveland is sure to live on in infamy. The president interrupted or ignored Wallace, persistently hectored Biden, attacking his family, and even refused to disavow white supremacists, a low point of what pundits called a “dumpster fire”, a “train wreck” and a “shitshow”.
06:22 Biden and Trump trade insults in frenzied presidential debate – video highlights
There are two presidential debates to go. As the dust settled from the first, Biden widely reckoned to have come out stronger, many wondered if Trump would now be the one to duck out – or if Biden should.
Biden is at his best – especially with empathy and compassion – when he’s talking to individual voters Brian Klaas
The Biden campaign rejected that idea outright.
“Joe Biden’s never going to refuse to talk to the American people,” the California senator Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, told CNN.
As it happens, the next campaign debate, in Salt Lake City on 7 October, will be between Harris and Vice-President Mike Pence. A tough prosecutor against a smooth operator, it should present a fascinating, even comfortingly familiar spectacle, of point and counter point.
Trump v Biden round two will follow, scheduled for 15 October in Miami, a week before a final meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
Biden, Harris said, would take “any opportunity that he can to speak directly to American families and speak about the issues, speak the truth, and address the facts of where we are now, but also address the hopes and dreams of the American families and where we could be and Joe’s got a plan for dealing with those hopes and aspirations as well”.
As luck would have it – for Biden and Harris, at least – pending CPD changes the Miami debate will see the candidates answer questions from the audience.
On Tuesday Brian Klaas, associate professor in global politics at University College London and a Washington Post columnist, tweeted that he understood “those who say ‘cancel the debates’ now”, but also pointed out that the second debate “is a town hall format”.
“Biden is at his best – especially with empathy and compassion – when he’s talking to individual voters,” Klaas wrote. “Trump, by contrast, doesn’t possess those capabilities, and that will show.”
Trump is an apex predator. He’s the lion king. He’s the shark in the ocean and he acted like it Dan Bongino
Among discussion of what little actual debate was possible in Cleveland, the former Republican strategist and Lincoln Project member Rick Wilson pointed to Biden’s handling of questions about the coronavirus pandemic.
“One of the things I think Biden did very, very well on was indicting Trump on the Covid deaths,” Wilson said on his New Abnormal podcast. “He went right at it. He named it, he went chapter and verse on it.”
More than 7 million people have been infected in the US and more than 205,000 have died since February, when, as reported by Bob Woodward, Trump knew about the threat but chose to play it down.
Wilson added: “Trump’s reaction was, ‘I got the respirators, you’d never get respirators.’ It was such a pathetic and sloppy defense of his mishandling of this, and I think it was important for Biden to really hit that and hammer it home.”
On rightwing media, Trump attracted predictable praise. On Fox News, the pundit Dan Bongino insisted, “Trump’s strategy tonight was executed brilliantly” and added: “Trump is an apex predator. He’s the lion king. Trump went out there tonight and did what Trump does. He’s the shark in the ocean and he acted like it. He lost no one from his base, no one.”
But Trump is behind in national and swing state polls and needs to reach beyond his base. Evidence his behaviour in Cleveland did not do so was freely to be found.
The conservative focus group guru Frank Luntz brought together independent or undecided voters for a session streamed on YouTube. Individuals described Trump as “horrid”, “chaotic”, “unpolished”, “puzzling”, “un-American”, “unhinged”, “forceful”, “unhinged”, “arrogant” and a “bully”.
One voter, Ruthie from Pennsylvania, a vital swing state, became an instant internet star. She had been undecided, she said, but would now vote for Biden – who she had watched trying to “win an argument with a crackhead”.


theguardian--2020-09-30--What does the first climate question at a US debate in 20 years reveal?

The long-awaited climate question in last night ’ s presidential debate broke a 20-year silent streak from moderators on the crisis – thrusting it into prime time but also revealing just how stuck in the past much of the US is on the issue .
After more than an hour of chaos as the candidates talked over each other , the Fox News anchor Chris Wallace asked Donald Trump : “ What do you believe about the science of climate change and what will you do in the next four years to confront it ?
” Former vice-president Al Gore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly about climate change in a general election debate , in 2000 – praised Wallace in a tweet for “ asking serious and well-researched questions about the climate crisis ” .
In 2008 , the vice-presidential candidates were asked to debate what is true and false about the climate crisis and the presidential candidates were asked about reducing US dependence on foreign oil .
The exchange was the most substantive discussion yet of the climate crisis in a general election presidential debate , said Bracken Hendricks , co-founder of the climate group Evergreen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily saying much , given the previously low bar .
“ However , Chris Wallace also fell into several common traps of asking whether climate change is real and discussing the cost of action without the crucial context of the cost of inaction , ” Hendricks said .
“ The moderators of future debates should build on this foundation and investigate the candidates ’ divergent plans on the climate crisis.
” The debate could have focused on the starkly contrasted futures Americans must choose between – tackling the crisis that global leaders call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or fueling it .
Instead , Wallace framed the existence of a human-made climate crisis as something that is for some Americans still debatable , asking Trump “ What do you believe about the science of climate change ” and “ [ Do ] you believe that human pollution , gas , greenhouse gas emissions , contributes to the global warming of this planet ” .
Science unequivocally shows humans are the predominant cause of global warming .
Trump fell back on his common refrain that he wants “ crystal clean water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the lowest carbon ” and said China , Russia and India send up “ real dirt into the air ” .
Wallace pushed Trump to explain his views on climate science , asking if he believes human pollution contributes to global warming of the planet .
“ I think a lot of things do , but I think to an extent , yes , ” Trump said .
Despite that response , Trump refused to acknowledge the impacts of climate change , which include worse wildfires .
And he said climate action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sky ” .
Trump proudly cheerleads fossil fuels .
His administration has torn down essentially every federal climate action the US has ever undertaken .
And his position on climate science waffles from thinking it ’ s a flat-out “ hoax ” to questioning that humans are the main cause and confusing it with air pollution .
Biden , on the other hand , has laid out a $ 2tn plan to invest in green infrastructure that will try to eliminate US climate pollution by the middle of the century .
Wallace queried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former vice-president spoke at length about his proposal .
He said it would create “ millions of good-paying jobs ” and that the cost of inaction is more severe weather .
He took a jab at Trump for suggesting dropping a nuclear weapon on hurricanes – which are intensifying because of the climate crisis .
Biden said he does not support a Green New Deal – a vision for large-scale spending to fight the climate crisis and inequality that has become a buzzword for Republicans who see Democrats as radical .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump said .
Biden would put 40 % of climate investments toward environmental justice , including in communities of color that are more likely to be surrounded by polluting fossil fuel infrastructure .
But it stops short of progressive calls for Medicare for All and a federal jobs guarantee , two key components of the Green New Deal .
While many climate advocates were elated that a climate question was asked at all , others were disappointed .
“ Hot and unpopular take : I would have been OK with Wallace skipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of Climate Hawks Vote .
“ He asked a very shallow question with limited follow-up .
”

The long-awaited climate question in last night’s presidential debate broke a 20-year silent streak from moderators on the crisis – thrusting it into prime time but also revealing just how stuck in the past much of the US is on the issue.
After more than an hour of chaos as the candidates talked over each other, the Fox News anchor Chris Wallace asked Donald Trump: “What do you believe about the science of climate change and what will you do in the next four years to confront it?”
Former vice-president Al Gore – who was the last candidate asked directly about climate change in a general election debate, in 2000 – praised Wallace in a tweet for “asking serious and well-researched questions about the climate crisis”. In 2008, the vice-presidential candidates were asked to debate what is true and false about the climate crisis and the presidential candidates were asked about reducing US dependence on foreign oil.
The exchange was the most substantive discussion yet of the climate crisis in a general election presidential debate, said Bracken Hendricks, co-founder of the climate group Evergreen Action. But, that is not necessarily saying much, given the previously low bar.
“However, Chris Wallace also fell into several common traps of asking whether climate change is real and discussing the cost of action without the crucial context of the cost of inaction,” Hendricks said. “The moderators of future debates should build on this foundation and investigate the candidates’ divergent plans on the climate crisis.”
The debate could have focused on the starkly contrasted futures Americans must choose between – tackling the crisis that global leaders call the biggest ever threat to human rights, or fueling it.
Instead, Wallace framed the existence of a human-made climate crisis as something that is for some Americans still debatable, asking Trump “What do you believe about the science of climate change” and “[Do] you believe that human pollution, gas, greenhouse gas emissions, contributes to the global warming of this planet”.
Science unequivocally shows humans are the predominant cause of global warming.
Trump fell back on his common refrain that he wants “crystal clean water and air”, argued we have “the lowest carbon” and said China, Russia and India send up “real dirt into the air”.
Wallace pushed Trump to explain his views on climate science, asking if he believes human pollution contributes to global warming of the planet.
“I think a lot of things do, but I think to an extent, yes,” Trump said.
Despite that response, Trump refused to acknowledge the impacts of climate change, which include worse wildfires. And he said climate action would drive energy prices “through the sky”.
Trump proudly cheerleads fossil fuels. His administration has torn down essentially every federal climate action the US has ever undertaken. And his position on climate science waffles from thinking it’s a flat-out “hoax” to questioning that humans are the main cause and confusing it with air pollution.
Biden, on the other hand, has laid out a $2tn plan to invest in green infrastructure that will try to eliminate US climate pollution by the middle of the century.
Wallace queried Biden on his climate plans, and the former vice-president spoke at length about his proposal. He said it would create “millions of good-paying jobs” and that the cost of inaction is more severe weather. He took a jab at Trump for suggesting dropping a nuclear weapon on hurricanes – which are intensifying because of the climate crisis.
Biden said he does not support a Green New Deal – a vision for large-scale spending to fight the climate crisis and inequality that has become a buzzword for Republicans who see Democrats as radical.
“You just lost the radical left,” Trump said.
Biden would put 40% of climate investments toward environmental justice, including in communities of color that are more likely to be surrounded by polluting fossil fuel infrastructure. But it stops short of progressive calls for Medicare for All and a federal jobs guarantee, two key components of the Green New Deal.
While many climate advocates were elated that a climate question was asked at all, others were disappointed.
“Hot and unpopular take: I would have been OK with Wallace skipping,” said RL Miller, political director of Climate Hawks Vote. “He asked a very shallow question with limited follow-up.”


theguardian--2020-09-30--Biden raises record funds as aides jab 'train wreck' Trump after sorry debate

Joe Biden broke fundraising records coming out of Tuesday ’ s acrimonious presidential debate between the Democratic nominee and Donald Trump .
The chaotic and unwieldy debate , in which moderator Chris Wallace , from Fox News , struggled to rein in Trump and the president egged on far-right groups , yielded a large fundraising haul for the Democratic campaign .
In a conference call with reporters after the debate , Biden ’ s communications director and deputy campaign manager , Kate Bedingfield , announced that the campaign raised $ 3.8m between 10pm and 11pm through ActBlue , the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke the single-hour record for a campaign ever on ActBlue , ” Bedingfield said .
“ And we broke our own hour record and raised $ 3.8m between 10 o ’ clock and 11 o ’ clock.
” That fundraising infusion suggested that the total sum the campaign raised from the debate eclipsed the entire hauls some statewide or national campaigns have enjoyed .
The $ 3.8m was one plainly positive note for the Biden campaign following a debate that both Democrats and Republicans cast as a mess .
After the debate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not help but denounce it as the worst debate they had ever seen – a “ shitshow ” , as CNN put it .
Speaking to reporters during a campaign stop in Ohio , Biden condemned Trump ’ s debate performance , saying he understood why some Americans would feel disgusted with politics .
“ The president of the United States conducting himself the way he did , I think it was just a national embarrassment , ” Biden said .
Biden also specifically addressed one of the most startling moments of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to denounce white supremacist groups such as the Proud Boys , telling them instead to “ stand back and stand by ” – and offered his own message to the far right .
“ My message to the Proud Boys and every other white supremacist group is cease and desist , ” Biden said .
“ That ’ s not who we are .
This is not who we are as Americans.
” Biden described Trump ’ s debate performance , and specifically his refusal to condemn white supremacist violence , as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ For 90 minutes , he tried everything to distract , ” Biden said .
“ And it just didn ’ t work.
” On Wednesday morning , Republicans were somewhat morose about Trump ’ s performance and the longer-term outlook .
Trump did hit some of Biden ’ s weak spots , such as when he cornered the former vice-president on whether he supported adding seats to the supreme court ( Biden didn ’ t commit one way or another ) , and when he pushed Biden to distance himself from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental proposals .
But those moments were eclipsed by Trump ’ s refusal to denounce the Proud Boys and his near-constant interruptions of Biden and Wallace .
Biden had a few zingers , but he visibly struggled to keep his composure .
At one point he told the president to just “ shut up ” ; at another , he said Trump was the “ worst president America has ever had ” .
The “ shut up ” line spread quickly online and inspired memorabilia .
On Wednesday , Biden and his allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden was stellar compared to the train wreck that was Trump , ” the Democratic strategist Maria Cardona said .
“ In that sense , I feel great !
But I am wholeheartedly embarrassed at the global spectacle Trump made of the United States last night.
” But there was also a sense , for supporters of both candidates , that the debate would not dramatically shift voters one way or another .
Republicans did not expect Trump to lose support , but they did not expect him to gain much , either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former longtime aide to the Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , said : “ What is it that ’ s been keeping the anvil on Trump ’ s job approval for four years ?
It ’ s women !
It ’ s job approval among women .
He does OK among men .
“ I don ’ t know a single woman – and I ’ ve texted a bunch – that watched him last night and went , ‘ That ’ s exactly the kind of guy with exactly the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ .
” It “ was the perfect illustration of America today ” , the Republican strategist Terry Sullivan said on Wednesday .
“ Lots of talking with very little listening , and nobody ’ s mind is changed.
” On Fox News right after the debate , the veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove said : “ I ’ m not certain it was very edifying or enlightening for the viewers.
” The former New Jersey governor Chris Christie , who helped prepare Trump for the debate , said on ABC News after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot ” at times .
Christie said it was good for Trump to come in and be aggressive , but “ with all that heat , you lose the light ” .
And even while Biden ’ s campaign and allies expressed positivity , there was a similar sense of disillusionment .
“ Donald Trump is a disgusting human being .
Last night had nothing to do with a presidential debate or American politics .
It was a showing of inhuman , un-American behavior on an international scale , ” said the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no redeeming moments of the debate other than Joe Biden rightfully defending both of his sons.
” The Biden campaign was pressed on whether Biden would attend the next debates .
His aides said he would .
The Commission on Presidential Debates ( CPD ) issued a statement on Wednesday saying it would soon announce “ additional structure … to the format of the remaining debates , to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues ” .
With just five weeks left until election day , Trump is trailing in national and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has mishandled the pandemic and damaging reports about his finances and past comments on the military , the debate was perhaps Trump ’ s best opportunity yet to shift the dynamics of the race , which has been remarkable steady and narrowly in Biden ’ s favor throughout an exceptionally turbulent summer .
Trump once again declined to pledge that he would honor the results of November ’ s election , and continued to undermine the integrity of mass mail-in balloting , which is already under way in many states in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Daniel Strauss and Lauren Gambino in Washington

Joe Biden broke fundraising records coming out of Tuesday’s acrimonious presidential debate between the Democratic nominee and Donald Trump.
The chaotic and unwieldy debate, in which moderator Chris Wallace, from Fox News, struggled to rein in Trump and the president egged on far-right groups, yielded a large fundraising haul for the Democratic campaign.
In a conference call with reporters after the debate, Biden’s communications director and deputy campaign manager, Kate Bedingfield, announced that the campaign raised $3.8m between 10pm and 11pm through ActBlue, the Democratic grassroots fundraising site.
“Tonight we broke the single-hour record for a campaign ever on ActBlue,” Bedingfield said. “And we broke our own hour record and raised $3.8m between 10 o’clock and 11 o’clock.”
That fundraising infusion suggested that the total sum the campaign raised from the debate eclipsed the entire hauls some statewide or national campaigns have enjoyed.
The $3.8m was one plainly positive note for the Biden campaign following a debate that both Democrats and Republicans cast as a mess. After the debate in Cleveland, even usually reserved TV anchors could not help but denounce it as the worst debate they had ever seen – a “shitshow”, as CNN put it.
Speaking to reporters during a campaign stop in Ohio, Biden condemned Trump’s debate performance, saying he understood why some Americans would feel disgusted with politics.
“The president of the United States conducting himself the way he did, I think it was just a national embarrassment,” Biden said.
Biden also specifically addressed one of the most startling moments of the night – when the president refused to denounce white supremacist groups such as the Proud Boys, telling them instead to “stand back and stand by” – and offered his own message to the far right.
“My message to the Proud Boys and every other white supremacist group is cease and desist,” Biden said. “That’s not who we are. This is not who we are as Americans.”
Biden described Trump’s debate performance, and specifically his refusal to condemn white supremacist violence, as “a wake-up call for all Americans”.
“For 90 minutes, he tried everything to distract,” Biden said. “And it just didn’t work.”
Supporters wave as Joe Biden completes a train tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP
On Wednesday morning, Republicans were somewhat morose about Trump’s performance and the longer-term outlook.
Trump did hit some of Biden’s weak spots, such as when he cornered the former vice-president on whether he supported adding seats to the supreme court (Biden didn’t commit one way or another), and when he pushed Biden to distance himself from the leftwing Green New Deal set of environmental proposals.
But those moments were eclipsed by Trump’s refusal to denounce the Proud Boys and his near-constant interruptions of Biden and Wallace. On Wednesday, when questioned about his refusal to condemn the group, Trump said the Proud Boys should “stand down and let law enforcement do their work” and that he didn’t know who they were.
During the debate Biden had a few zingers, but he visibly struggled to keep his composure. At one point he told the president to just “shut up”; at another, he said Trump was the “worst president America has ever had”. The “shut up” line spread quickly online and inspired memorabilia.
On Wednesday, Biden and his allies stressed a sense of optimism.
“Biden was stellar compared to the train wreck that was Trump,” the Democratic strategist Maria Cardona said. “In that sense, I feel great! But I am wholeheartedly embarrassed at the global spectacle Trump made of the United States last night.”
But there was also a sense, for supporters of both candidates, that the debate would not dramatically shift voters one way or another. Republicans did not expect Trump to lose support, but they did not expect him to gain much, either.
The Republican strategist Scott Jennings, a former longtime aide to the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, said: “What is it that’s been keeping the anvil on Trump’s job approval for four years? It’s women! It’s job approval among women. He does OK among men.
“I don’t know a single woman – and I’ve texted a bunch – that watched him last night and went, ‘That’s exactly the kind of guy with exactly the kind of communication style that I enjoy’.”
It “was the perfect illustration of America today”, the Republican strategist Terry Sullivan said on Wednesday. “Lots of talking with very little listening, and nobody’s mind is changed.”
On Fox News right after the debate, the veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove said: “I’m not certain it was very edifying or enlightening for the viewers.”
06:22 Biden and Trump trade insults in frenzied presidential debate – video highlights
The former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who helped prepare Trump for the debate, said on ABC News after the debate that Trump was “too hot” at times. Christie said it was good for Trump to come in and be aggressive, but “with all that heat, you lose the light”.
And even while Biden’s campaign and allies expressed positivity, there was a similar sense of disillusionment.
“Donald Trump is a disgusting human being. Last night had nothing to do with a presidential debate or American politics. It was a showing of inhuman, un-American behavior on an international scale,” said the Democratic strategist Jennifer Holdsworth.
“There were no redeeming moments of the debate other than Joe Biden rightfully defending both of his sons.”
The Biden campaign was pressed on whether Biden would attend the next debates. His aides said he would. The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) issued a statement on Wednesday saying it would soon announce “additional structure … to the format of the remaining debates, to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues”.
With just five weeks left until election day, Trump is trailing in national and battleground state polls.
Amid accusations that he has mishandled the pandemic and damaging reports about his finances and past comments on the military, the debate was perhaps Trump’s best opportunity yet to shift the dynamics of the race, which has been remarkable steady and narrowly in Biden’s favor throughout an exceptionally turbulent summer.
Trump once again declined to pledge that he would honor the results of November’s election, and continued to undermine the integrity of mass mail-in balloting, which is already under way in many states in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Tom McCarthy and Martin Pengelly contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-09-30--Trump's refusal to condemn white supremacy fits pattern of extremist rhetoric

Donald Trump ’ s refusal to condemn white supremacy during Tuesday night ’ s debate fits into a pattern of extremist rhetoric that has already baselessly stoked fear of voting fraud amid the president ’ s urging of his supporters to descend on polling stations in November ’ s election .
Experts have already warned that Trump ’ s encouragement of people to scramble to polling stations could have horrific consequences , given that armed , rightwing , Trump-supporting militias have already brought violence and fear to cities across the country in the wake of anti-racism protests .
On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Proud Boys – the violent rightwing group that he urged to “ stand by ” when asked to condemn white supremacists .
Whether the president was telling the truth or not – the Proud Boys have been widely covered in the media for years – onlookers have warned Trump has already used the rhetoric of white supremacists in recent months .
On Tuesday , in front of perhaps his largest audience yet this election cycle , Trump doubled down on that rhetoric .
Asked if he was willing “ to condemn white supremacists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sidestepped the question , and seemed to equate those groups with “ leftwing ” violence .
He then name-checked the Proud Boys , in a move that the group itself quickly celebrated as a call to arms from the Oval Office .
Trump ’ s answer fits with similar comments throughout his presidential campaign and presidency .
After an anti-fascism protester was killed at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017 , Trump claimed there were “ very fine people on both sides ” .
In February 2016 , while running for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white supremacist and former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke , who endorsed him .
A month earlier , Trump retweeted a Twitter account called WhiteGenocideTM , which had previously posted racist material .
Trump ’ s comments on voter fraud also fit a pattern of the president seemingly attempting to intimidate voters .
“ I am urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully , because that ’ s what has to happen , ” Trump said on Tuesday night .
“ I am urging them to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence , concerns about fraud , some of the first groups to respond to his call for action were rightwing extremists .
The Proud Boys reveled in the presidential endorsement .
They quickly offered for sale T-shirts with the motif “ Standing by ” .
On Parler , a social network created for conservatives and the far-right , Proud Boys was still trending on Wednesday morning .
The group ’ s founder , Gavin McInnes , posted Trump ’ s quote amid a slew of his more typical messages , including several which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ image of the Gadsden flag – a snake on a yellow background , which has become a popular symbol among the right – with the words “ Stand back and stand by ” beneath it .
The user tagged the post # threepercenters – a far-right militia group .
On Wednesday Trump told reporters at the White House : “ I don ’ t know who the Proud Boys are.
” He added : “ Whoever they are , they need to stand down.
” After his refusal to denounce white supremacist violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ ve always denounced any form of any of that.
” Republicans are seeking to recruit up to 50,000 people in 15 key states to serve as poll watchers and challenge the registration of voters they believe are ineligible , according to the New York Times .
Trump ’ s encouragement of people to descend on voting stations has many concerned , given the makeup and conduct of Trump backers this year .
Trump defended Kyle Rittenhouse , a militia member who had attended Maga rallies , after Rittenhouse allegedly shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenosha , Wisconsin .
Other Trump supporters have carried guns at anti-racism protests and held armed demonstrations of their own outside state capitol buildings .
“ You ’ ve got thousands of armed vigilantes on the streets this summer , first around these reopen demands [ protests clamoring for coronavirus lockdown restrictions to be lifted ] at state capitols , ” Joe Lowndes , a professor of political science at the University of Oregon , told the Guardian in late September .
“ Then , after that , many more of these vigilante @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as pro-Trump , come out to confront and sometimes menace Black Lives Matter protesters , and in a couple of cases kill them , ” Lowndes said .
“ You can imagine them showing up at election sites or where votes are being counted in election districts in contested states in Michigan , or Ohio , Wisconsin , Florida or wherever else.
” Rashad Robinson , president of Color Of Change , a non-profit civil rights group , said Trump had “ made his call to violence crystal clear ” .
“ Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ‘ stand by ’ , they started suiting up and preparing to attack America , ” Robinson said , referencing the Proud Boys .
“ Donald Trump needs white nationalists at the ready because he needs violence to win the election .
He wants white nationalists to invade polling places across the country and prevent voters from voting , to invade our streets and attack people who are protesting , and to prevent ballots from being counted .
“ He made clear that his campaign is not about winning votes , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – no matter the cost .
”

Donald Trump’s refusal to condemn white supremacy during Tuesday night’s debate fits into a pattern of extremist rhetoric that has already baselessly stoked fear of voting fraud amid the president’s urging of his supporters to descend on polling stations in November’s election.
Experts have already warned that Trump’s encouragement of people to scramble to polling stations could have horrific consequences, given that armed, rightwing, Trump-supporting militias have already brought violence and fear to cities across the country in the wake of anti-racism protests.
On Wednesday Trump claimed he had never heard of Proud Boys – the violent rightwing group that he urged to “stand by” when asked to condemn white supremacists.
Whether the president was telling the truth or not – the Proud Boys have been widely covered in the media for years – onlookers have warned Trump has already used the rhetoric of white supremacists in recent months.
01:01 Trump denies knowledge of the Proud Boys despite telling the far-right group to 'stand by' – video
On Tuesday, in front of perhaps his largest audience yet this election cycle, Trump doubled down on that rhetoric. Asked if he was willing “to condemn white supremacists and militia groups”, Trump instead sidestepped the question, and seemed to equate those groups with “leftwing” violence.
He then name-checked the Proud Boys, in a move that the group itself quickly celebrated as a call to arms from the Oval Office.
Trump’s answer fits with similar comments throughout his presidential campaign and presidency. After an anti-fascism protester was killed at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017, Trump claimed there were “very fine people on both sides”.
In February 2016, while running for president, Trump refused to condemn the prominent white supremacist and former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, who endorsed him. A month earlier, Trump retweeted a Twitter account called WhiteGenocideTM, which had previously posted racist material.
Trump’s comments on voter fraud also fit a pattern of the president seemingly attempting to intimidate voters. “I am urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully, because that’s what has to happen,” Trump said on Tuesday night. “I am urging them to do it.”
As Trump cited, without evidence, concerns about fraud, some of the first groups to respond to his call for action were rightwing extremists.
The Proud Boys reveled in the presidential endorsement. They quickly offered for sale T-shirts with the motif “Standing by”.
06:22 Biden and Trump trade insults in frenzied presidential debate – video highlights
On Parler, a social network created for conservatives and the far right, Proud Boys was still trending on Wednesday morning. The group’s founder, Gavin McInnes, posted Trump’s quote amid a slew of his more typical messages, including several which were homophobic.
Another user posted an image of the Gadsden flag – a snake on a yellow background, which has become a popular symbol among the right – with the words “Stand back and stand by” beneath it. The user tagged the post #threepercenters – a far-right militia group.
On Wednesday Trump told reporters at the White House: “I don’t know who the Proud Boys are.”
He added: “Whoever they are, they need to stand down.”
After his refusal to denounce white supremacist violence during the debate, Trump said: “I’ve always denounced any form of any of that.”
But at a Wednesday night rally in Duluth, Minnesota, Trump returned to his racist rhetoric once again, unleashing attacks against refugees and against Ilhan Omar, a representative of Minnesota who came to the US from Somalia as a refugee when she was a child.
As he had done during a previous visit to Minnesota, the president complained to a predominantly white crowd that Omar – a US citizen – “tells us how to run our country”. Trump’s supporters responded by chanting “lock her up”.
When Trump made similar comments earlier this month, Omar shot back on Twitter: “Firstly, this is my country & I am a member of the House that impeached you. Secondly, I fled civil war when I was 8. An 8-year-old doesn’t run a country even though you run our country like one.”
Republicans are seeking to recruit up to 50,000 people in 15 key states to serve as poll watchers and challenge the registration of voters they believe are ineligible, according to the New York Times.
Trump’s encouragement of people to descend on voting stations has many concerned, given the makeup and conduct of Trump backers this year.
05:32 Voter suppression: how Trump is undermining the US election – video explainer
Trump defended Kyle Rittenhouse, a militia member who had attended Maga rallies, after Rittenhouse allegedly shot dead two Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Other Trump supporters have carried guns at anti-racism protests and held armed demonstrations of their own outside state capitol buildings.
“You’ve got thousands of armed vigilantes on the streets this summer, first around these reopen demands [protests clamoring for coronavirus lockdown restrictions to be lifted] at state capitols,” Joe Lowndes, a professor of political science at the University of Oregon, told the Guardian in late September.
“Then, after that, many more of these vigilante far-right groups, who are declaring themselves as pro-Trump, come out to confront and sometimes menace Black Lives Matter protesters, and in a couple of cases kill them,” Lowndes said.
“You can imagine them showing up at election sites or where votes are being counted in election districts in contested states in Michigan, or Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida or wherever else.”
Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change, a non-profit civil rights group, said Trump had “made his call to violence crystal clear”.
“Just minutes after he told a terrorist organization to ‘stand by’, they started suiting up and preparing to attack America,” Robinson said, referencing the Proud Boys.
“Donald Trump needs white nationalists at the ready because he needs violence to win the election. He wants white nationalists to invade polling places across the country and prevent voters from voting, to invade our streets and attack people who are protesting, and to prevent ballots from being counted.
“He made clear that his campaign is not about winning votes, it’s about holding on to power – no matter the cost.”
Maanvi Singh contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-09-30--The Guardian view on the US presidential debate: a bad night for the world | Editorial

One unmistakable winner emerged from Tuesday ’ s presidential debate : Xi Jinping .
The loser was the American public – and anyone else unfortunate enough to have sat through the grim 90-minute spectacle .
Variously described by commentators as a trainwreck , dumpster fire , shitshow and the worst debate in presidential history , it reflected the state of the race and the nation after four years of Donald Trump .
This is America in 2020 : wracked by a pandemic that has killed 200,000 people and highlighted its deep structural failings on healthcare and inequality , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a realm of bitter divisions in which facts appear to be optional .
Mr Trump lied , he blustered , he harangued and , above all , he interrupted .
Most frighteningly , when invited to condemn white supremacists , he instead told the far-right Proud Boys to “ stand back – and stand by ” .
He did this both by instinct and because Joe Biden remains ahead in the polls , with a lead that may well have been cemented by their performances .
His base may have seen him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was merely domineering .
The Democrat , for his part , pulled away from the “ they go low – we go high ” approach of 2016 , dismissing his rival as a clown , a liar and America ’ s worst-ever president , and urging him to “ shut up ” .
He failed to make an impact on issues including the revelations of Mr Trump ’ s astoundingly low tax payments and the future of the supreme court .
But it was hard to argue with his conclusion that under Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sicker , poorer , more divided , and more violent ” .
Tuesday ’ s rancour was a manifestation of the bile spewed every day , out of sight of an international audience , in communities , towns and cities across the country .
Yet US elections have an impact on 7 billion people , not just 330 million , and rarely has that been more apparent .
Mr Trump ’ s personal interests have corrupted American foreign policy .
His instincts have enabled and encouraged the flourishing of nationalism and authoritarianism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a world order that , despite its terrible flaws and hypocrisies , has retained , for many , authority – and which looks to be replaced by something much worse .
For allies , all this is a threat ; for opponents – notably Vladimir Putin – it has been an opportunity .
And while both candidates took whacks at China , Mr Trump ’ s inconsistency and ignorance , his general unfitness for office , and his shoddy treatment of partners , is speeding America ’ s decline .
Domestic disquiet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the cover-up of essential information , has been muted not only by censorship but also by the appalling US response .
America ’ s international reputation has dropped to new lows thanks to Covid-19 .
Even those committed to democracy find little inspiration in a country where it is under siege from the president himself .
Beijing ’ s growing forcefulness is making it enemies , and the detention and reported sterilisation of Uighurs in Xinjiang is horrifying .
But America ’ s dismissal of multilateral institutions allows China to posture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader .
While deadly wildfires have raged in California , Mr Trump questions global heating .
Meanwhile , Mr Xi pledged last week that his country would be carbon neutral by 2060 .
The debate showed that Mr Trump ’ s re-election would be a disaster felt well beyond US borders – and that those who oppose him are still struggling with how to do so .
He does not accept the rules of the election any more than he accepted those of the debate .
Mr Biden urged people to vote ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat of force .
Ousting him won ’ t fix the country ’ s problems : he is as much a symptom as a cause .
But any solution must begin with his departure .
He diminishes his nation , and damages the world .

One unmistakable winner emerged from Tuesday’s presidential debate: Xi Jinping. The loser was the American public – and anyone else unfortunate enough to have sat through the grim 90-minute spectacle.
Variously described by commentators as a trainwreck, dumpster fire, shitshow and the worst debate in presidential history, it reflected the state of the race and the nation after four years of Donald Trump. This is America in 2020: racked by a pandemic that has killed 200,000 people and highlighted its deep structural failings on healthcare and inequality, as well as the parlous state of its politics – a realm of bitter divisions in which facts appear to be optional.
Mr Trump lied, he blustered, he harangued and, above all, he interrupted. Most frighteningly, when invited to condemn white supremacists, he instead told the far-right Proud Boys to “stand back – and stand by”. He did this both by instinct and because Joe Biden remains ahead in the polls, with a lead that may well have been cemented by their performances. His base may have seen him as dominant, but to non-believers he was merely domineering.
The Democrat, for his part, pulled away from the “they go low – we go high” approach of 2016, dismissing his rival as a clown, a liar and America’s worst-ever president, and urging him to “shut up”. He failed to make an impact on issues including the revelations of Mr Trump’s astoundingly low tax payments and the future of the supreme court. But it was hard to argue with his conclusion that under Mr Trump “we’ve become weaker, sicker, poorer, more divided, and more violent”. Tuesday’s rancour was a manifestation of the bile spewed every day, out of sight of an international audience, in communities, towns and cities across the country.
Yet US elections have an impact on 7 billion people, not just 330 million, and rarely has that been more apparent. Mr Trump’s personal interests have corrupted American foreign policy. His instincts have enabled and encouraged the flourishing of nationalism and authoritarianism worldwide. We are watching the crumbling of a world order that, despite its terrible flaws and hypocrisies, has retained, for many, authority – and which looks to be replaced by something much worse.
For allies, all this is a threat; for opponents – notably Vladimir Putin – it has been an opportunity. And while both candidates took whacks at China, Mr Trump’s inconsistency and ignorance, his general unfitness for office, and his shoddy treatment of partners, is speeding America’s decline.
Domestic disquiet in China over the handling of coronavirus, and the cover-up of essential information, has been muted not only by censorship but also by the appalling US response. America’s international reputation has dropped to new lows thanks to Covid-19. Even those committed to democracy find little inspiration in a country where it is under siege from the president himself. Beijing’s growing forcefulness is making it enemies, and the detention and reported sterilisation of Uighurs in Xinjiang is horrifying. But America’s dismissal of multilateral institutions allows China to posture as a responsible player and a global leader. While deadly wildfires have raged in California, Mr Trump questions global heating. Meanwhile, Mr Xi pledged last week that his country would be carbon neutral by 2060.
The debate showed that Mr Trump’s re-election would be a disaster felt well beyond US borders – and that those who oppose him are still struggling with how to do so. He does not accept the rules of the election any more than he accepted those of the debate. Mr Biden urged people to vote; Mr Trump discredited the process and invoked the threat of force. Ousting him won’t fix the country’s problems: he is as much a symptom as a cause. But any solution must begin with his departure. He diminishes his nation, and damages the world.


theguardian--2020-09-30--The Trump-Biden debate revealed the dangers of Britain's 'special relationship' | Martin Kettle

Ever since the pioneering Kennedy-Nixon encounter in 1960 , the questions that political journalists pose after US presidential debates have been the same .
Who performed best ?
Who had the better of this or that part of the argument ?
Who exceeded expectations or fell short ?
Who had the best lines and delivered the best zinger ?
And has any of it changed the election odds ?
They are still being asked after the first televised match-up between Donald Trump and Joe Biden .
With five weeks to go before the US votes , the questions still matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughhouse they also feel crowded out by other uncertainties that seem more epochal , more dystopian and more pressing , not least when seen from this side of the Atlantic .
It can seem overblown , but it now makes sense to ask if America is on the edge of becoming ungovernable , or if the rule of impartial law enforcement still commands respect .
It is also possible , in ways that were not true in the past , to consider whether the US can be relied on internationally , and whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as an ally .
But if it is not an ally , what follows from that ?
The answers are increasingly uncomfortable .
Perhaps most potently , it has to be asked whether America , with all its fabulous energy , wealth , liberty and ambition , still offers the inspirational model to the world that it did to so many , for so long .
Or instead is today ’ s America , defined increasingly by its inequalities , violence , fundamentalism and racism , becoming a model to be rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in some cases , to be resisted ?
Sober answers to these questions matter to the whole planet , above all because of climate change and amid the coronavirus pandemic .
But they matter to Britain in very particular ways too .
The UK ’ s claim to a special relationship with the United States has been the cornerstone of its view of itself in the world ever since 1945 .
A deference to , and infatuation with , America also runs deep in our culture .
But if the US is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where does that leave that foreign policy or that infatuation ?
Britain has a lot riding on getting the answer right .
Coming at precisely the time when the UK is casting off its alliance with its own continent , the issue has special urgency .
Back in 2016 , when Britain voted to leave the European Union , the allure of the exit for many leavers rested partly on the apparent dependability of the transatlantic alliance .
But that was pre-Trump .
America is a different place and becoming more so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this wheel of fire is on to which they are binding themselves .
Fundamentally , the credibility of any alliance , whether with Europe , the US or anyone else , rests on material self-interest over things such as trade and security .
But these material issues are also oiled by common values and trust , without which the relationship remains brittle and pragmatic .
The bigger ally will always call the shots .
And Britain is not the bigger ally .
Few of these values matter as much as respect for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult to list ways in which this has been undermined by Trump ’ s America .
The list would include everything from the president ’ s tax returns to breaches of international treaties .
The danger for Britain is that , in defence of its unequal alliance , it is beginning to follow the US down the same route of playing fast and loose with the law for political reasons .
Take one hugely significant example .
Trump and the Republican senate leadership are trying to install the conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ginsburg in the US supreme court before the presidential election on 3 November .
This is a wholly political act .
But it is not new .
It is merely a particularly shameless step in a long history of politically shaped justice in the US .
In the long term , the Barrett nomination is aimed at creating a conservative 6-3 majority in the court , which may then start to undo abortion and other civil rights .
But the overriding and immediate purpose is to construct a court that may rule on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If that were to happen , and if the court awarded the disputed election to Trump , the politicisation of American justice would be complete .
In Britain , judges are still selected on the basis of their legal qualifications , not their politics .
Even if you know the identity of the current UK supreme court president , which most people will not , it is a fair bet that you don ’ t know whether Lord Reed can be classified as a liberal jurist or a conservative one .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
Judges should neither be cult figures , as Ginsburg became for some American liberals ; or hate figures , as she was for conservatives .
Seen against the backdrop of a divided America facing the Barrett nomination , Britain ’ s institutions may still seem gratifyingly independent and resilient .
But for how long ?
The Johnson government ’ s purge of senior civil servants , and its plan to install conservative ideologues to govern the BBC and the independent regulators , are a declaration of war on pluralism and independence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slide into culture wars and worse , the task of stopping this from dragging Britain down too will become increasingly urgent .

Ever since the pioneering Kennedy-Nixon encounter in 1960, the questions that political journalists pose after US presidential debates have been the same. Who performed best? Who had the better of this or that part of the argument? Who exceeded expectations or fell short? Who had the best lines and delivered the best zinger? And has any of it changed the election odds?
They are still being asked after the first televised match-up between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. With five weeks to go before the US votes, the questions still matter. But after Tuesday’s verbal roughhouse they also feel crowded out by other uncertainties that seem more epochal, more dystopian and more pressing, not least when seen from this side of the Atlantic.
It can seem overblown, but it now makes sense to ask if America is on the edge of becoming ungovernable, or if the rule of impartial law enforcement still commands respect. It is also possible, in ways that were not true in the past, to consider whether the US can be relied on internationally, and whether it is realistic to continue to regard it as an ally. But if it is not an ally, what follows from that? The answers are increasingly uncomfortable.
Perhaps most potently, it has to be asked whether America, with all its fabulous energy, wealth, liberty and ambition, still offers the inspirational model to the world that it did to so many, for so long. Or instead is today’s America, defined increasingly by its inequalities, violence, fundamentalism and racism, becoming a model to be rejected, to be guarded against and even, in some cases, to be resisted?
Sober answers to these questions matter to the whole planet, above all because of climate change and amid the coronavirus pandemic. But they matter to Britain in very particular ways too. The UK’s claim to a special relationship with the United States has been the cornerstone of its view of itself in the world ever since 1945. A deference to, and infatuation with, America also runs deep in our culture. But if the US is changing in an increasingly dangerous fashion, where does that leave that foreign policy or that infatuation?
Britain has a lot riding on getting the answer right. Coming at precisely the time when the UK is casting off its alliance with its own continent, the issue has special urgency. Back in 2016, when Britain voted to leave the European Union, the allure of the exit for many leavers rested partly on the apparent dependability of the transatlantic alliance. But that was pre-Trump. America is a different place and becoming more so. Even leavers should sometimes ask what exactly this wheel of fire is on to which they are binding themselves.
Fundamentally, the credibility of any alliance, whether with Europe, the US or anyone else, rests on material self-interest over things such as trade and security. But these material issues are also oiled by common values and trust, without which the relationship remains brittle and pragmatic. The bigger ally will always call the shots. And Britain is not the bigger ally.
Few of these values matter as much as respect for the rule of law. It is not difficult to list ways in which this has been undermined by Trump’s America. The list would include everything from the president’s tax returns to breaches of international treaties. The danger for Britain is that, in defence of its unequal alliance, it is beginning to follow the US down the same route of playing fast and loose with the law for political reasons.
Take one hugely significant example. Trump and the Republican senate leadership are trying to install the conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett in place of the liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the US supreme court before the presidential election on 3 November. This is a wholly political act. But it is not new. It is merely a particularly shameless step in a long history of politically shaped justice in the US.
In the long term, the Barrett nomination is aimed at creating a conservative 6-3 majority in the court, which may then start to undo abortion and other civil rights. But the overriding and immediate purpose is to construct a court that may rule on the result of the November election itself. If that were to happen, and if the court awarded the disputed election to Trump, the politicisation of American justice would be complete.
In Britain, judges are still selected on the basis of their legal qualifications, not their politics. Even if you know the identity of the current UK supreme court president, which most people will not, it is a fair bet that you don’t know whether Lord Reed can be classified as a liberal jurist or a conservative one. We are better off as a country for that. Judges should neither be cult figures, as Ginsburg became for some American liberals; or hate figures, as she was for conservatives.
Seen against the backdrop of a divided America facing the Barrett nomination, Britain’s institutions may still seem gratifyingly independent and resilient. But for how long? The Johnson government’s purge of senior civil servants, and its plan to install conservative ideologues to govern the BBC and the independent regulators, are a declaration of war on pluralism and independence. If the United States continues its slide into culture wars and worse, the task of stopping this from dragging Britain down too will become increasingly urgent.


theguardian--2020-09-30--'It's up to people to change the system': the artists using stamps as resistance

In 2020 , artists making political statements have typically done so on the streets , with murals , protest placards or by knocking down old monuments .
But much overlooked is the envelope as a place for art .
Since a stamp symbolizes the mail-in vote , it has come to represent a form of resistance , a form of direct action .
The New York non-profit TRANS > has created a stamp project called These Times .
The project , which will premiere both online and in sticker format , features 50 artists and institutions who stress the urgency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is at the helm of democracy , ” says the New York-based curator , Sandra Antelo-Suarez .
“ It ’ s our civic duty to vote .
“ It ’ s about creating grassroots structures that , along with museums , artists and art galleries , create an economy of response , ” she adds .
It all started in March when the pandemic hit .
Antelo-Suarez found herself frustrated .
“ I wanted to create a response , thinking about how culture and the art world could respond.
” She began asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one that would bring art to people ’ s homes .
“ I thought : stamps .
“ I asked 50 artists in my personal network to make a gesture in an artwork that ’ s a tribute to our culture , which is being lost.
” “ I told them to imagine their stamp has the power to end injustice in the world .
It ’ s up to the people , not the politicians , to vote , to change the system.
” The printed stamp artworks ( which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postal system ) , will be distributed in the October issue of the monthly Frieze art magazine .
50,000 sticker stamps will be printed in total .
“ The art world is so much about money , people forget the simplicity of a stamp , ” she adds .
“ You disseminate them.
” Each stamp will be posted on social media , though at its core , it ’ s about bringing art directly into people ’ s homes .
The artists featured in the project are based in New York , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Japan , among others .
“ I saw the devastation in New York and across Ibero-America , especially the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on our culture and artistic communities , ” says Antelo-Suarez , “ and wanted to find a way to bring artists and thinkers together to create a space for grief , but also for hope and action.
” The stamps are not only a tribute to the lives lost during the Covid-19 pandemic , but also urge Americans to vote .
“ I believe culture is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dialogues , ” she says .
“ How do we become united ?
” It all boils down to Americans voting in the upcoming election in November .
“ Democracy could be taken away , not just from Americans , but from the entire world , ” says Antelo-Suarez .
“ It ’ s a crucial election , I ’ ve never seen things so polarized in the US , there are true believers of Trump and those against him .
It ’ s going to have side-effects either way.
” Each stamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the artist , the art institution where they have ( or recently had ) an exhibition , and the country .
The Spanish artist Santiago Sierra created a stamp spelling out the word NO .
It ’ s taken from his No Global Tour , an ongoing project where he brings a large sculpture that spells out NO to various cities across the globe ( next up will be Tel Aviv ) .
“ No is the only vocabulary to use in the face of power , ” says Sierra .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , times to draw a line in the sand and say from there you do NOT pass.
” The Argentinian artist Juan Sorrentino ’ s stamp is based on a photo of a person wearing a hazmat suit with a speaker on their back .
It ’ s based on the artist ’ s performance piece , Motto , where he amplified the sound of nature .
“ I thought that it was a good opportunity in this difficult and heavy historical moment , ” says Sorrentino , “ like longing for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ecosystem we inhabit.
” Alejandra Seeber ’ s stamp depicts the phrase Futuro ( meaning Future ) made of kiss-shaped stamps , created in collaboration with her 11-year-old daughter .
“ The Latin minority was hit hard by Covid-19 , so a word in Spanish seemed appropriate , ” says the Argentinian artist .
“ The current post office conflict allows me to use this stamp as a tool to talk about democracy , voting and the conflict rooted in the ‘ American way ’ institutions , like the USPS.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stamp that reads in Spanish Estamos Vivos , which means We Are Alive .
It ’ s a reference to the 1969 telegrams of the Japanese artist On Kawara who wrote : “ I am still alive.
” “ I adapt it to our current moment , ” says the artist .
“ It ’ s the election year amid thousands of deaths caused by the pandemic .
Many of those dead are people of Latin American origin.
” Mateo López , a Colombian artist , created a stamp that depicts a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart .
“ I just thought of designing a logo , something visually strong , ” he says .
“ Like a text message saying , ‘ I care , ’ ‘ I love you ’ or ‘ thinking of you.
’ That feeling came out and I titled this piece ‘ Say it , ’ or ‘ Dilo ’ in Spanish.
” The Albanian artist Anri Sala ’ s stamp depicts a clenched resistance fist , bearing the phrase : “ The egg tomorrow will be a chicken.
” “ I grew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right to choose and cast a vote were not ‘ given ’ until relatively recently , ” says Sala .
“ I ’ m acutely aware that when we cast our votes , we both take a stake in our future and honor past struggles we owe our freedom to .
“ I believe that voting in the 2020 US elections is key to upholding the arrow of time and its unequivocal one-way direction , against the turning back of the clock .
”

In 2020, artists making political statements have typically done so on the streets, with murals, protest placards or by knocking down old monuments.
But much overlooked is the envelope as a place for art. Since a stamp symbolizes the mail-in vote, it has come to represent a form of resistance, a form of direct action. The New York non-profit TRANS> has created a stamp project called These Times. The project, which will premiere both online and in sticker format, features 50 artists and institutions who stress the urgency of voting.
“The post office is at the helm of democracy,” says the New York-based curator, Sandra Antelo-Suarez. “It’s our civic duty to vote.
“It’s about creating grassroots structures that, along with museums, artists and art galleries, create an economy of response,” she adds.
It all started in March when the pandemic hit. Antelo-Suarez found herself frustrated. “I wanted to create a response, thinking about how culture and the art world could respond.” She began asking artists to participate in a grassroots project, one that would bring art to people’s homes. “I thought: stamps.
“I asked 50 artists in my personal network to make a gesture in an artwork that’s a tribute to our culture, which is being lost.”
Anri Sala stamp design. Photograph: TRANS>
“I told them to imagine their stamp has the power to end injustice in the world. It’s up to the people, not the politicians, to vote, to change the system.”
The printed stamp artworks (which will have no stamp value with the US postal system), will be distributed in the October issue of the monthly Frieze art magazine. 50,000 sticker stamps will be printed in total.
“The art world is so much about money, people forget the simplicity of a stamp,” she adds. “You disseminate them.”
Each stamp will be posted on social media, though at its core, it’s about bringing art directly into people’s homes. The artists featured in the project are based in New York, Spain, Portugal and Ibero-America, Germany and Japan, among others.
“I saw the devastation in New York and across Ibero-America, especially the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on our culture and artistic communities,” says Antelo-Suarez, “and wanted to find a way to bring artists and thinkers together to create a space for grief, but also for hope and action.”
The stamps are not only a tribute to the lives lost during the Covid-19 pandemic, but also urge Americans to vote.
“I believe culture is a very important platform of initiating change and dialogues,” she says. “How do we become united?”
It all boils down to Americans voting in the upcoming election in November. “Democracy could be taken away, not just from Americans, but from the entire world,” says Antelo-Suarez. “It’s a crucial election, I’ve never seen things so polarized in the US, there are true believers of Trump and those against him. It’s going to have side-effects either way.”
Santiago Sierra stamp design. Photograph: TRANS>
Each stamp features an original artwork alongside the name of the artist, the art institution where they have (or recently had) an exhibition, and the country.
The Spanish artist Santiago Sierra created a stamp spelling out the word NO. It’s taken from his No Global Tour, an ongoing project where he brings a large sculpture that spells out NO to various cities across the globe (next up will be Tel Aviv).
“No is the only vocabulary to use in the face of power,” says Sierra. “These are times of attack on populations, times to draw a line in the sand and say from there you do NOT pass.”
The Argentinian artist Juan Sorrentino’s stamp is based on a photo of a person wearing a hazmat suit with a speaker on their back. It’s based on the artist’s performance piece, Motto, where he amplified the sound of nature.
“I thought that it was a good opportunity in this difficult and heavy historical moment,” says Sorrentino, “like longing for the lost and the importance to take care of the ecosystem we inhabit.”
Alejandra Seeber’s stamp depicts the phrase Futuro (meaning Future) made of kiss-shaped stamps, created in collaboration with her 11-year-old daughter.
“The Latin minority was hit hard by Covid-19, so a word in Spanish seemed appropriate,” says the Argentinian artist. “The current post office conflict allows me to use this stamp as a tool to talk about democracy, voting and the conflict rooted in the ‘American way’ institutions, like the USPS.”
Alejandra Seeber stamp design. Photograph: TRANS>
The Guatemalan artist Regina José Galindo created a stamp that reads in Spanish Estamos Vivos, which means We Are Alive. It’s a reference to the 1969 telegrams of the Japanese artist On Kawara who wrote: “I am still alive.”
“I adapt it to our current moment,” says the artist. “It’s the election year amid thousands of deaths caused by the pandemic. Many of those dead are people of Latin American origin.”
Mateo López, a Colombian artist, created a stamp that depicts a red shape that calls to mind a heart.
“I just thought of designing a logo, something visually strong,” he says. “Like a text message saying, ‘I care,’ ‘I love you’ or ‘thinking of you.’ That feeling came out and I titled this piece ‘Say it,’ or ‘Dilo’ in Spanish.”
The Albanian artist Anri Sala’s stamp depicts a clenched resistance fist, bearing the phrase: “The egg tomorrow will be a chicken.”
“I grew up in a society, where having the right to choose and cast a vote were not ‘given’ until relatively recently,” says Sala. “I’m acutely aware that when we cast our votes, we both take a stake in our future and honor past struggles we owe our freedom to.
“I believe that voting in the 2020 US elections is key to upholding the arrow of time and its unequivocal one-way direction, against the turning back of the clock.”