theguardian--2020-01-27--Maternity leave: US policy is worst on list of the world's richest countries

According to a 2019 report by Unicef , which analysed which of the world ’ s richest countries are most family friendly , Estonia leads the field for new mothers with over 80 weeks of leave at full pay .
At the bottom of the table was the United States – which , with a grand total of zero weeks , was the only country in the analysis that offered absolutely no national paid leave .
The report , which used data from the 41 countries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and European Union , found only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months full pay .
Using OECD figures , here is a snapshot of paid leave for mothers around the world .
Female workers on an average salary in Estonia can take job-protected leave when they give birth and continue taking home full wages for the first 18 months of their child ’ s life , in the form of 20 weeks fully paid maternity leave followed by the first 62 weeks of maximum paid parental leave .
After that , monthly payments drop considerably until the child turns three .
Women are obligated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the birth and eight weeks after , during which they are not allowed to work .
Employees are paid their full average net income for the previous three months in maternity benefit with no cap .
Maternity leave is available at two-thirds of a woman ’ s average earnings for 14 weeks – six of which are compulsory .
Parental leave can then be taken by mothers and fathers at a percentage of earnings until the baby ’ s first birthday , but it is usually taken by women .
It can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents take it .
Sweden is ranked by Unicef as the world ’ s most family-friendly country and 17th for maternity leave .
Women are entitled to 10 weeks full rate equivalent maternity leave followed by 480 days parental leave , 90 days of which is ringfenced for each parent .
With the equivalent of around half a year ’ s pay , Chile has a comparatively generous maternity leave package .
All female employees with permanent contracts are entitled to take leave – in fact it is obligatory to take six weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After that , women can take a further 12 weeks or transfer it to the child ’ s father .
All parents have the right to paid leave – including the unemployed and students – while new employees and the self-employed are entitled to 80 % of their salary .
However , as a result of gender pay gaps , women on an average female salary receive considerably less in parental leave than men .
Unicef reports that high breastfeeding rates and pay discrepancies mean women tend to take longer time off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 52 weeks of maternity leave .
The first six weeks are paid at 90 % of their average weekly earnings and for the following 33 weeks , employees are paid a maximum of £148.68 a week .
The final 13 weeks are not paid .
Leave can be taken from 11 weeks before the week of birth .
It is compulsory for workers to take a minimum of two weeks off after birth and four weeks for factory workers .
It is compulsory to take the entire 12 weeks which run from two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six to 10 afterwards .
It is paid at 100 % of wages with no ceiling .
However , the International Network on Leave Policies and Research notes that it only covers employees of the formal economy – leaving out 60 % of all employed women .
Maternity and paternity leave both fall under parental leave which is 12 months unpaid and for which parents can claim 18 weeks leave pay , based on the national minimum wage .
While each parent is entitled to unpaid job-protected leave , only one parent can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US is the only OECD country without a national statutory paid maternity , paternity or parental leave .
The Family and Medical Leave Act ( FMLA ) enables some employees to take up to 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave but only 60 % of workers are eligible .
Eight states – California , New Jersey , Rhode Island , New York , Washington state , Massachusetts , Connecticut and Oregon – plus the District of Columbia have passed their own paid family leave laws .

According to a 2019 report by Unicef, which analysed which of the world’s richest countries are most family friendly, Estonia leads the field for new mothers with over 80 weeks of leave at full pay.
At the bottom of the table was the United States – which, with a grand total of zero weeks, was the only country in the analysis that offered absolutely no national paid leave.
The report, which used data from the 41 countries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and European Union, found only half offered mothers a minimum of six months full pay.
Using OECD figures, here is a snapshot of paid leave for mothers around the world.
Estonia – 84 weeks full rate equivalent (166 weeks total)
Female workers on an average salary in Estonia can take job-protected leave when they give birth and continue taking home full wages for the first 18 months of their child’s life, in the form of 20 weeks fully paid maternity leave followed by the first 62 weeks of maximum paid parental leave. After that, monthly payments drop considerably until the child turns three.
Austria – 49 weeks FRE (60 weeks total)
Women are obligated to take leave from eight weeks before the birth and eight weeks after, during which they are not allowed to work. Employees are paid their full average net income for the previous three months in maternity benefit with no cap.
Japan – 36 weeks FRE (58 weeks total)
Maternity leave is available at two-thirds of a woman’s average earnings for 14 weeks – six of which are compulsory. Parental leave can then be taken by mothers and fathers at a percentage of earnings until the baby’s first birthday, but it is usually taken by women. It can be extended up to 14 months if both parents take it.
Sweden – 35 weeks FRE (56 weeks total)
Sweden is ranked by Unicef as the world’s most family-friendly country and 17th for maternity leave. Women are entitled to 10 weeks full rate equivalent maternity leave followed by 480 days parental leave, 90 days of which is ringfenced for each parent.
Chile – 30 weeks FRE (30 weeks total)
With the equivalent of around half a year’s pay, Chile has a comparatively generous maternity leave package. All female employees with permanent contracts are entitled to take leave – in fact it is obligatory to take six weeks before the birth and 12 weeks after. After that, women can take a further 12 weeks or transfer it to the child’s father.
Iceland – 18 weeks FRE (26 weeks total)
All parents have the right to paid leave – including the unemployed and students – while new employees and the self-employed are entitled to 80% of their salary. However, as a result of gender pay gaps, women on an average female salary receive considerably less in parental leave than men. Unicef reports that high breastfeeding rates and pay discrepancies mean women tend to take longer time off.
United Kingdom – 12 weeks FRE (39 weeks total)
Female employees can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave. The first six weeks are paid at 90% of their average weekly earnings and for the following 33 weeks, employees are paid a maximum of £148.68 a week. The final 13 weeks are not paid. Leave can be taken from 11 weeks before the week of birth. It is compulsory for workers to take a minimum of two weeks off after birth and four weeks for factory workers.
Mexico – 12 weeks FRE (12 weeks total)
It is compulsory to take the entire 12 weeks which run from two to six weeks before the birth and six to 10 afterwards. It is paid at 100% of wages with no ceiling. However, the International Network on Leave Policies and Research notes that it only covers employees of the formal economy – leaving out 60% of all employed women.
Australia – 8 weeks FRE (18 weeks total)
Maternity and paternity leave both fall under parental leave which is 12 months unpaid and for which parents can claim 18 weeks leave pay, based on the national minimum wage. While each parent is entitled to unpaid job-protected leave, only one parent can take it at a time.
United States – 0 weeks FRE (0 weeks total)
The US is the only OECD country without a national statutory paid maternity, paternity or parental leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) enables some employees to take up to 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave but only 60% of workers are eligible. Eight states – California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, Washington state, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Oregon – plus the District of Columbia have passed their own paid family leave laws.


theguardian--2020-01-27--Trump impeachment: president dismisses John Bolton's Ukraine claims as 'false' – live

Fact Check : What Trump ’ s defense mischaracterized about Barack Obama ’ s conversation with Moscow Trump ’ s legal team tried to turn the tables , characterizing a conversation between Barack Obama and Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev as “ unquestionable quid pro quo ” .
The conversation they were referring to was caught on a “ hot ” microphone during what the two leaders believed was a private moment during a 2012 nuclear summit in South Korea .
Obama asked Medvedev to tell incoming Russian president Vladimir Putin to give him time to negotiate contentious issues like missile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
After my election , I have more flexibility , ” Obama said .
The former president wasn ’ t offering or withholding anything ; at the time , Republicans criticized what they saw as a lack of resolve to keep Putin in check .
But Obama never offered or withheld anything from the Russians in exchange for a personal favor , as Trump ’ s legal team tried to claim .
Speaking to reporters during the dinner break , Republican senators steered clear of the Obama allegations .
“ The point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican House and a Democratic president and in that situation , with this becoming a new normal in America , that Democratic president might be impeached , ” said Mike Lee , a Republican of Utah .

Maanvi Singh in San Francisco (now) and Joan E Greve in Washington (earlier)

28 Jan 2020 03.35 GMT Summary Donald Trump ’s defense team pushed a debunked conspiracy implicating Joe Biden, implied that Barack Obama was more deserving of impeachment than Trump is and argued — despite precedent— that nothing short of a serious crime is grounds for impeachment of any president.
’s defense team pushed a debunked conspiracy implicating Joe Biden, implied that was more deserving of impeachment than Trump is and argued — despite precedent— that nothing short of a serious crime is grounds for impeachment of any president. Among the lawyers who presented arguments today were Alan Derschowitz — a Harvard professor who gained notoriety for defending Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein — and Ken Starr , who spearheaded the investigation that led to Bill Clinton’s impeachment.
a Harvard professor who gained notoriety for defending Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein — and , who spearheaded the investigation that led to Bill Clinton’s impeachment. One topic Trump’s lawyers largely avoided: John Bolton . Amidst mounting pressure from Democrats and a few Republicans to call the former national security adviser to testify, the president’s defense ignored new reports that Bolton claimed in an unpublished manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly hinged military assistance to Ukraine on investigations of Democrats.
. Amidst mounting pressure from Democrats and a few Republicans to call the former national security adviser to testify, the president’s defense ignored new reports that Bolton claimed in an unpublished manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly hinged military assistance to Ukraine on investigations of Democrats. The state department has removed an NPR reporter from the pool of journalists traveling to Europe and Asia with Mike Pompeo , following the secretary of state’s public feud with the news organization.
, following the secretary of state’s public feud with the news organization. Trump said he’ll announce an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan tomorrow, as the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his election opponent Benny Gantz visit Washington. Biden, not Bolton: takeaways from day six of Trump's impeachment trial Read more
Updated at 03.35 GMT
28 Jan 2020 02.52 GMT Representative Doug Collins – a staunch Trump ally – is expected to run for Senate Doug Collins has been a staunch defender of Donald Trump throughout the impeachment process. Photograph: Joshua Roberts/Reuters Doug Collins, the Republican representative from Georgia you may remember as a leading defender of Donald Trump during the president’s impeachment, is expected to announce a run for Senate, according to multiple reports. Collins would face off against the GOP senator Kelly Loeffler, complicating the Republican party’s efforts to hold on to the seat in what has become a battleground state. Georgia’s Republican governor Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to the Senate after Senator Johnny Isakson stepped down due to health concerns. Though Trump advocated for Collins as Isakson’s replacement, Kemp chose Loeffler, a finance executive, and major Republican donor who some strategists believed would be competitive in suburban areas where support for the GOP has waned.
Loeffler recently came under fire by conservative groups for sitting on the board of a hospital that performed abortions. She was in the news earlier today after she called out Mitt Romney, a Republican of Utah, for his openness to call witnesses to testify in the Senate trial.
Updated at 03.34 GMT
28 Jan 2020 02.14 GMT Senate trial adjourns amidst new Bolton revelations Advocating that the “golden rule of impeachment” should be that Democrats “do unto Republicans” as they want done unto them, White House counsel Pat Cipollone concluded today’s oral arguments. But even as Donald Trump’s defense team wrapped up for the night, the New York Times revealed more excerpts from John Bolton’s unpublished book. The former national security advisor reportedly told Attorney General William Barr last year that he was concerned the president was granting personal favors to Turkey and China. From the Times: Mr. Barr responded by pointing to a pair of Justice Department investigations of companies in those countries and said he was worried that Mr. Trump had created the appearance that he had undue influence over what would typically be independent inquiries, according to the manuscript. Backing up his point, Mr. Barr mentioned conversations Mr. Trump had with the leaders, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Xi Jinping of China. Mr. Bolton’s account underscores the fact that the unease about Mr. Trump’s seeming embrace of authoritarian leaders, long expressed by experts and his opponents, also existed among some of the senior cabinet officers entrusted by the president to carry out his foreign policy and national security agendas. Mr. Bolton recounted his discussion with Mr. Barr in a draft of an unpublished book manuscript that he submitted nearly a month ago to the White House for review. People familiar with the manuscript described its contents on the condition of anonymity. The Times’ report will only add to mounting pressure for lawmakers to summon Bolton to testify before the Senate. Democrats and a handful of Republicans have indicated that they’re in favor of hearing from Bolton, either independently or in addition to testimony from Hunter Biden
Updated at 02.36 GMT
28 Jan 2020 01.57 GMT Alan Dershowitz broached a topic that members of Trump’s defense team have largely avoided: John Bolton. "If a president, any president, were to have done what the Times reported about the content of the Bolton manuscript, that would not constitute an impeachable offense."
— Alan Dershowitz during the second day of President Trump's defense during the Senate impeachment trial. pic.twitter.com/CL9Kn8yind — PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) January 28, 2020 “Nothing in the Bolton revelations, even if true, would rise to the level of an abuse of power or an impeachable offense,” Derschowitz said, referring to reports that Bolton, a former national security adviser, had written a book in which he recounts that Trump told him in an August 2019 meeting that he did not want to send aid to Ukraine until that country delivered material relating to Joe Biden and to supporters of Hillary Clinton. Until now, Trump’s legal team didn’t mention Bolton, though they attacked Democrats for failing to present a witness with a first-hand account of Trump’s thinking on Ukraine, The Guardian’s Tom McCarthy reported. Trump's impeachment defense team pretends Bolton news does not exist Read more
Updated at 02.22 GMT
28 Jan 2020 01.48 GMT Arguing that abuse of power allegations are a “political weapon”, Alan Dershowitz claimed that George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, James Polk, Abraham Lincoln, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Barack Obama could all have been impeached by the standard. “Lincoln had dueling motives”, Dershowitz added, noting that Abraham Lincoln was not so different than Donald Trump in that he wanted to advance his political career.
28 Jan 2020 01.25 GMT Alan Dershowitz, an attorney for President Donald Trump, speaks during the impeachment trial against Trump. Photograph: AP In his constitutional argument against impeachment, Alan Dershowitz is arguing that nothing short of a “serious crime” is ground for impeachment. The House’s articles of impeachment against DonaldTrump — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress,— are “outside the scope of impeachment”, he said. It’s only, for example, “if a President committed extortion”, Dershowitz said, he could be impeached for it. It’s with nothing here that Congress’ abuse of power article lays out what could be described as an extortion scheme.
Dershowitz’s argument here contradicts the consensus of most legal scholars and lawmakers. Both the Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton impeachment arguments hinged on “abuse of power” charges.
Updated at 01.31 GMT
28 Jan 2020 00.57 GMT Alan Dershowitz has taken the floor Dine and Dersh https://t.co/siGS9Un2OW — Errin Haines (@emarvelous) January 28, 2020 Dershowitz began by noting he voted for Hilliary Clinton. “I would be making the same argument if Hillary Clinton, for whom I voted, stood accused of these same violations,” he said. “I am here today because I love my country and our constitution.” He said he was there to “to present a constitutional argument against the impeachment and removal not only of this President but of all and any future presidents who may be charged with the unconstitutional grounds of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress”.
Updated at 01.04 GMT
28 Jan 2020 00.41 GMT Biden campaign on Trump defense: ‘We didn’t realize that Breitbart was expanding into Ted Talk knockoffs’ Joe Biden’s campaign has responded to allegations by Trump’s defense team that he pushed for the firing of a Ukrainian prosecutor to benefit his son. The Biden campaign’s rapid-response director Andrew Bates said in a statement to reporters that Trump’s defense was pushing a “conspiracy theory” that “has been conclusively refuted”: The New York Times calls it ‘debunked,’ The Wall Street Journal calls it ‘discredited,’ the AP calls it ‘incorrect,’ and The Washington Post Fact Checker calls it ‘a fountain of falsehoods.’ The diplomat that Trump himself appointed to lead his Ukraine policy has blasted it as ‘self serving’ and ‘not credible.’ Joe Biden was instrumental to a bipartisan and international anti-corruption victory. It’s no surprise that such a thing is anathema to President Trump.
28 Jan 2020 00.27 GMT The Senate trial has reconvened and Robert Ray is delivering his opening arguments right now. During the dinner break, Republican senators disparaged Joe Biden, suggesting the Trump defense will and should affect Democratic primary voters and caucus-goers. Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening and I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters,” said Joni Ernst of Iowa. “Those Democratic caucus-goers — will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point? Not as certain about that.” .@SenJohnBarrasso and @SenJoniErnst on the Iowa Caucus taking place next Monday "Will they be supporting VP Biden at this point? Not sure about that"
Watch More -- https://t.co/wvPBk6KrjT pic.twitter.com/xrQJF0SkqC — CSPAN (@cspan) January 27, 2020 “The four people whose eyes were fully wide open were Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Michael Bennett, and Amy Klobuchar — all leaning forward. I’ve never seen them so attentive as when this discussion was on Joe Biden.” echoed John Barrasso of Wyoming.
28 Jan 2020 00.04 GMT The State Department has removed an NPR reporter from the pool of journalists traveling to Europe and Asia with Mike Pompeo, following the Secretary of State’s public feud with the news organization. In a statement, the State Department Correspondents’ Association president said it seemed as if the State Department was “retaliating against National Public Radio” after a contentious interview with NPR host Marie Louise Kelly. Last week, Kelly revealed that Pompeo angrily asked her to find Ukraine on an unmarked map and used expletives in his conversation with her, after she questioned him about Ukraine. The State Department removed NPR reporter Michele Kelemen from the press pool on @SecPompeo trip this week to Europe and Central Asia following his dustup w @NPRKelly. Read statement by @shauntandon, State Department Correspondents' Association president: pic.twitter.com/XksXaInNCJ — Lara Jakes (@jakesNYT) January 27, 2020
27 Jan 2020 23.50 GMT Fact Check: What Trump’s defense mischaracterized about Barack Obama’s conversation with Moscow Trump’s legal team tried to turn the tables, characterizing a conversation between Barack Obama and Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev as “unquestionable quid pro quo”. The conversation they were referring to was caught on a “hot” microphone during what the two leaders believed was a private moment during a 2012 nuclear summit in South Korea. Obama asked Medvedev to tell incoming Russian president Vladimir Putin to give him time to negotiate contentious issues like missile defense: “This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility,” Obama said. The former president wasn’t offering or withholding anything; at the time, Republicans criticized what they saw as a lack of resolve to keep Putin in check. But Obama never offered or withheld anything from the Russians in exchange for a personal favor, as Trump’s legal team tried to claim. Speaking to reporters during the dinner break, Republican senators steered clear of the Obama allegations. “The point is: that we might have a Republican House and a Democratic president and in that situation, with this becoming a new normal in America, that Democratic president might be impeached,” said Mike Lee, a Republican of Utah.
Updated at 00.12 GMT
27 Jan 2020 23.15 GMT Speaking to reporters outside the Senate chamber, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said it’s unnecessary to call more witnesses. If any witnesses are to be called, he said, “The most important witness the Senate needs to hear from at this point is Hunter Biden” At dinner break, the Republican senators cannot answer the Bolton question. Cruz: "The most important witness for the Senate to hear from is Hunter Biden." Barrasso, agitated: "Going to make that decision on Friday, and not before Friday, regardless of the questions you ask!" — Tom McCarthy (@TeeMcSee) January 27, 2020 Other Republican senators, including John Barrasso of Wyoming and Mike Braun of Indiana, indicated if the Senate does summon witnesses, they would back a “one-for-one” deal where each party got to call one person to testify.
Updated at 23.16 GMT


theguardian--2020-01-27--Arizona Republicans discriminated against minority voters, court rules

A federal court has ruled Arizona Republicans ’ ban on mail-in ballots is illegal and unconstitutional , calling it intentionally discriminatory toward people of color , who already face increased barriers to voting .
The ruling is a major victory for the Democratic party , which filed the suit , and will likely make it easier for minorities to get their ballots counted in the largely red state .
Four years ago , Arizona Republicans made it a felony , punishable by prison time , for third-party groups to collect mail-in ballots during elections – a process often called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state may rely more on ballot harvesting , the court noted .
Native Americans , for example , benefit significantly from third-party ballot collection efforts because just 18 % of registered voters have mail service at home , and reservations can be far from polling stations .
Some minority communities also have widespread distrust in the mailing system : in San Luis , a city that is 98 % Hispanic , a major highway separates 13,000 residents from the nearest post office .
“ The adverse impact on minority communities is substantial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail services , ’ and without reliable transportation , many minority voters ‘ prefer instead to give their ballots to a volunteer ’ , ” the court said .
And Hispanics and Native Americans make up nearly 37 % of the state ’ s population – promising to be a key demographic in this year ’ s presidential election .
The ruling noted that the Republican effort to restrict third-party ballot collection appeared to be part of a longstanding effort to suppress black , Hispanic and Native American votes .
Republicans passed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effort after a state election official admitted that the measure was designed to target voting activity in Hispanic areas .
The court also struck down a separate state policy that required election officials to throw out ballots if someone voted in the wrong precinct .
But voters faced some egregious challenges .
At times they were directed to the wrong precinct , without being told their vote wouldn ’ t count , the court noted .
And Arizona changes its polling locations with unusual frequency and rejected 38,355 ballots from people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2016 .
( Minority voters were more than twice as likely than their white counterparts to cast a ballot out of their precinct . )
Arizona has a long history of voter discrimination and until 2013 was required to submit any voting changes to the federal government for approval under a provision in the Voting Rights Act .
But after the supreme court gutted that provision , Arizona was free to implement changes – like the discriminatory ballot harvesting ban – without federal oversight .
Republicans have claimed that several of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban , were created to avoid voter fraud .
But voter fraud is exceedingly rare in the United States , and there was no evidence it was connected to ballot collection in Arizona .
“ No one has ever found a case of voter fraud connected to third-party ballot collection in Arizona , ” the court wrote .
“ This has not been for want of trying .
”

A federal court has ruled Arizona Republicans’ ban on mail-in ballots is illegal and unconstitutional, calling it intentionally discriminatory toward people of color, who already face increased barriers to voting.
The ruling is a major victory for the Democratic party, which filed the suit, and will likely make it easier for minorities to get their ballots counted in the largely red state.
Four years ago, Arizona Republicans made it a felony, punishable by prison time, for third-party groups to collect mail-in ballots during elections – a process often called “ballot harvesting.”
Marginalized communities in the state may rely more on ballot harvesting, the court noted. Native Americans, for example, benefit significantly from third-party ballot collection efforts because just 18% of registered voters have mail service at home, and reservations can be far from polling stations. Some minority communities also have widespread distrust in the mailing system: in San Luis, a city that is 98% Hispanic, a major highway separates 13,000 residents from the nearest post office.
“The adverse impact on minority communities is substantial. Without ‘access to reliable and secure mail services,’ and without reliable transportation, many minority voters ‘prefer instead to give their ballots to a volunteer’,” the court said. And Hispanics and Native Americans make up nearly 37% of the state’s population – promising to be a key demographic in this year’s presidential election.
The ruling noted that the Republican effort to restrict third-party ballot collection appeared to be part of a longstanding effort to suppress black, Hispanic and Native American votes. Republicans passed a similar law in 2011, but abandoned the effort after a state election official admitted that the measure was designed to target voting activity in Hispanic areas.
The court also struck down a separate state policy that required election officials to throw out ballots if someone voted in the wrong precinct. But voters faced some egregious challenges. At times they were directed to the wrong precinct, without being told their vote wouldn’t count, the court noted. And Arizona changes its polling locations with unusual frequency and rejected 38,355 ballots from people who voted in the wrong place between 2008 to 2016. (Minority voters were more than twice as likely than their white counterparts to cast a ballot out of their precinct.)
Arizona has a long history of voter discrimination and until 2013 was required to submit any voting changes to the federal government for approval under a provision in the Voting Rights Act. But after the supreme court gutted that provision, Arizona was free to implement changes – like the discriminatory ballot harvesting ban – without federal oversight.
Republicans have claimed that several of those changes, including the Arizona ballot harvesting ban, were created to avoid voter fraud. But voter fraud is exceedingly rare in the United States, and there was no evidence it was connected to ballot collection in Arizona.
“No one has ever found a case of voter fraud connected to third-party ballot collection in Arizona,” the court wrote. “This has not been for want of trying.”


theguardian--2020-01-27--Obama warned Trump was 'fascist' in 2016, according to Hillary film

Barack Obama called Donald Trump a “ fascist ” during the 2016 election , according to Virginia senator Tim Kaine .
The incendiary comment is included in Hillary , a forthcoming Hulu documentary which has already stoked controversy .
Remarks Hillary Clinton made about Bernie Sanders , her challenger for the Democratic nomination four years ago , went viral last week .
This weekend , NBC News , the Atlantic and other outlets reported that the film , which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday , shows Kaine , Clinton ’ s pick for vice-president , in conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time during the 2016 campaign .
“ President Obama called me last night , ” he says , “ and said : ‘ Tim , remember , this is no time to be a purist .
You ’ ve got to keep a fascist out of the White House.
’ ” Clinton says “ I echo that sentiment ” and adds : “ But that ’ s really – the weight of our responsibility is so huge.
” Obama has been critical of Trump ’ s policies and character but never in such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the danger of “ homegrown demagogues ” in a speech at the Democratic convention in July 2016 .
The 44th president will be a key campaign presence for whichever Democrat wins the nomination to face Trump at the polls in November .
Obama and Kaine did not immediately comment on the reported “ fascist ” remark .
Nor did Trump .
But at Sundance on Saturday , Clinton discussed it with Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg .
“ If you look at the definition [ of fascist ] , which I ’ ve had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said , “ I think we can agree on several things .
“ [ Trump ] has authoritarian tendencies and he admires authoritarian leaders , [ Vladimir ] Putin being his favorite .
“ He uses a form of really virulent nationalism .
He identifies targets : immigrants , blacks , browns , gays , women , whoever the target of the day or week is … “ I think you see a lot of the characteristics of what we think of [ as ] nationalistic , fascistic kinds of tendencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never called Trump a fascist in conversation with her .
But she said Obama “ observed … this populism untethered to facts , evidence , or truth ; this total rejection of so much of the progress that America has made , in order to incite a cultural reaction that would play into the fear and the anxiety and the insecurity of people – predominantly in small-town and rural areas – who felt like they were losing something .
“ And [ Trump ] gave them a voice for what they were losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documentary will be available from 6 March .

Barack Obama called Donald Trump a “fascist” during the 2016 election, according to Virginia senator Tim Kaine.
The incendiary comment is included in Hillary, a forthcoming Hulu documentary which has already stoked controversy.
Remarks Hillary Clinton made about Bernie Sanders, her challenger for the Democratic nomination four years ago, went viral last week.
This weekend, NBC News, the Atlantic and other outlets reported that the film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, shows Kaine, Clinton’s pick for vice-president, in conversation with his running mate at an unspecified time during the 2016 campaign.
“President Obama called me last night,” he says, “and said: ‘Tim, remember, this is no time to be a purist. You’ve got to keep a fascist out of the White House.’”
Clinton says “I echo that sentiment” and adds: “But that’s really – the weight of our responsibility is so huge.”
Obama has been critical of Trump’s policies and character but never in such direct terms – warning for example of the danger of “homegrown demagogues” in a speech at the Democratic convention in July 2016.
The 44th president will be a key campaign presence for whichever Democrat wins the nomination to face Trump at the polls in November.
Obama and Kaine did not immediately comment on the reported “fascist” remark. Nor did Trump. But at Sundance on Saturday, Clinton discussed it with Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg.
“If you look at the definition [of fascist], which I’ve had the occasion to read several times,” she said, “I think we can agree on several things.
“[Trump] has authoritarian tendencies and he admires authoritarian leaders, [Vladimir] Putin being his favorite.
“He uses a form of really virulent nationalism. He identifies targets: immigrants, blacks, browns, gays, women, whoever the target of the day or week is …
“I think you see a lot of the characteristics of what we think of [as] nationalistic, fascistic kinds of tendencies and behaviors.”
Clinton also said Obama never called Trump a fascist in conversation with her.
But she said Obama “observed … this populism untethered to facts, evidence, or truth; this total rejection of so much of the progress that America has made, in order to incite a cultural reaction that would play into the fear and the anxiety and the insecurity of people – predominantly in small-town and rural areas – who felt like they were losing something.
“And [Trump] gave them a voice for what they were losing and who was responsible.”
The Hulu documentary will be available from 6 March.


theguardian--2020-01-27--Trump's standing against Democratic candidates improves, new poll shows

Donald Trump was tweeting about John Bolton before dawn on Monday , after news of former national security adviser ’ s forthcoming book roiled Washington during the president ’ s impeachment trial .
But if Trump looked elsewhere on his phone , to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Monday , he might have found consolation .
Amid signs that more voters are in general less worried about the economy and their own economic wellbeing , and a week out from the Iowa caucuses , the national poll gave the president encouraging scores against contenders for the Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump trailed former vice-president Joe Biden with registered voters by four points ( 50 % -46 % ) ; Vermont senator Bernie Sanders by two ( 49 % -47 % ) ; and Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar by one ( 48 % -47 % ) .
Those deficits against the top Democrats have roughly halved since a similar poll at the end of 2019 .
Less comfortingly for Trump , the poll found that he trailed the former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg by three points , 49 % -46 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Trump ’ s relative lack of wealth , is not competing in Iowa and has not appeared on the debate stage .
The poll found Trump level with the Des Moines Register-endorsed Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren , at 48 % each , and put him ahead of one leading contender for the Democratic nomination .
Trump led former South Bend , Indiana , mayor Pete Buttigieg by three points , 48 % to 45 % .
Buttigieg ’ s camp this weekend responded to a surge from Sanders in Iowa and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read : “ Bernie Sanders could be the nominee … we risk nominating a candidate who can not beat Donald Trump in November .
And that ’ s a risk we can ’ t take.
” The former mayor , 38 , held a Fox News town hall in Iowa on Sunday night , seeking to reach out to disaffected Republican voters .
The Post/ABC poll was conducted before news of Bolton ’ s claims regarding Trump and Ukraine broke over Washington like a thunderclap .
Asked who they thought would win the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of respondents picked the president to 43 % for his Democratic challenger .
Reporting its own poll and its findings about the economy under Trump , ABC said : “ One year before he took office , 63 % of Americans said they were worried about maintaining their standard of living .
Today , 43 % say so , a broad 20-point drop in personal economic uncertainty.
” It also reported “ a vast gender gap ” , with the Democrats leading Trump by 23 to 30 points among women but Trump leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the gap was in evidence on election day , ABC said , it would “ nearly double the previous record gender gap in exit polls dating to 1976 , 24 points in 2016 ” .
Controversy lingered over the weekend about Sanders ’ apparent endorsement by the comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan .
The Vermont senator celebrated the coup , which many observers said could help him win white male voters from Trump .
But Rogan ’ s enthusiasm for Sanders prompted a backlash from progressive groups .

Donald Trump was tweeting about John Bolton before dawn on Monday, after news of former national security adviser’s forthcoming book roiled Washington during the president’s impeachment trial.
But if Trump looked elsewhere on his phone, to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Monday, he might have found consolation.
Amid signs that more voters are in general less worried about the economy and their own economic wellbeing, and a week out from the Iowa caucuses, the national poll gave the president encouraging scores against contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination.
In notional general election match-ups, Trump trailed former vice-president Joe Biden with registered voters by four points (50%-46%); Vermont senator Bernie Sanders by two (49%-47%); and Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar by one (48%-47%).
Those deficits against the top Democrats have roughly halved since a similar poll at the end of 2019.
Less comfortingly for Trump, the poll found that he trailed the former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg by three points, 49%-46%. The billionaire, who has taken jabs at Trump’s relative lack of wealth, is not competing in Iowa and has not appeared on the debate stage.
The poll found Trump level with the Des Moines Register-endorsed Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, at 48% each, and put him ahead of one leading contender for the Democratic nomination. Trump led former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg by three points, 48% to 45%.
Buttigieg’s camp this weekend responded to a surge from Sanders in Iowa and New Hampshire by sending out fundraising messages which read: “Bernie Sanders could be the nominee … we risk nominating a candidate who cannot beat Donald Trump in November. And that’s a risk we can’t take.”
The former mayor, 38, held a Fox News town hall in Iowa on Sunday night, seeking to reach out to disaffected Republican voters.
The Post/ABC poll was conducted before news of Bolton’s claims regarding Trump and Ukraine broke over Washington like a thunderclap. Asked who they thought would win the White House in November, 49% of respondents picked the president to 43% for his Democratic challenger.
Reporting its own poll and its findings about the economy under Trump, ABC said: “One year before he took office, 63% of Americans said they were worried about maintaining their standard of living. Today, 43% say so, a broad 20-point drop in personal economic uncertainty.”
It also reported “a vast gender gap”, with the Democrats leading Trump by 23 to 30 points among women but Trump leading by 15 to 24 among men.
If the gap was in evidence on election day, ABC said, it would “nearly double the previous record gender gap in exit polls dating to 1976, 24 points in 2016”.
Controversy lingered over the weekend about Sanders’ apparent endorsement by the comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan.
The Vermont senator celebrated the coup, which many observers said could help him win white male voters from Trump. But Rogan’s enthusiasm for Sanders prompted a backlash from progressive groups.


theguardian--2020-01-28--Donald Trump to publish delayed Middle East ‘peace plan’

Donald Trump will unveil his much-delayed Middle East “ peace plan ” alongside the Israeli prime minister , Benjamin Netanyahu , on Tuesday amid Palestinian protest and a rising global chorus of doubt about its timing and substance .
The US president said on Monday that he would announce the plan at noon Washington time ( 1700 GMT ) .
“ And it ’ s a very big plan , ” Trump said after private meetings with Netanyahu and his election opponent , Benny Gantz , in the White House .
The choreography between the US and Israel has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , who faces an impeachment trial , and Netanyahu , who faces three criminal corruption indictments and an uncertain election campaign .
Unconfirmed leaks have reported that the measures would be extremely favourable to the country , allowing it to annex much of the Palestinian territories , including Jewish settlements , and all of contested Jerusalem .
The Palestinians may be granted some form of self-rule , but under tight restrictions .
Israeli settler leaders who accompanied Netanyahu on his trip appeared to confirm some of those details , complaining that Palestinians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even if it was territorially broken up and without an army or an airport .
“ [ Netanyahu ] tried to sell us on the idea that it wouldn ’ t really be a Palestinian state , ” said David Elhayani , a prominent settler figurehead , according the the Times of Israel newspaper .
He added the plan include large economic incentives to the Palestinians .
The Palestinian prime minister , however , called on Monday for world powers to boycott the initiative .
“ This is a plan to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison .
It is not a Middle East peace plan , ” Mohammad Shtayyeh told a cabinet meeting .
The crisis appeared to bring a rare display of unity from rival Palestinian factions , Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the occupied West Bank .
The two parties , long-time enemies who fought a short civil war in 2007 for control of Gaza , agreed to hold an emergency meeting in Ramallah to discuss a joint response .
Protests were planned in the Palestinian territories for Tuesday and Wednesday , raising the chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israeli military said it had reinforced security in Jordan Valley , a large section of the West Bank that the Israel government intends to annex .
During a tour of the valley on Monday , Israel ’ s interior minister , Aryeh Deri , said he was gearing up for the move , which Netanyahu already promised in an election pledge in September .
“ We ’ ve started to prepare for an annexation - we are getting the paperwork ready , ” Deri said .
Trump said the initiative was something the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they “ won ’ t want it initially ” .
“ I think in the end they will .
I think in the end they ’ re going to want it .
It ’ s very good for them , ” he said .
In his remarks , Trump said he hoped Netanyahu would implement the plan in the next few weeks .
It was not clear if he meant Israel unilaterally imposing the proposals or persuading the Palestinians to agree within that timeframe .
Netanyahu has sought to play up his cosy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself as uniquely able to extract concessions from the US .
Standing next to Trump on Monday , he said the plan was “ a of vision of peace , which is historic ” .
Tuesday ’ s attention-grabbing announcement is sure to overshadow Netanyahu ’ s indictment woes back home .
Earlier in the day , Netanyahu withdrew a request for parliamentary immunity from the charges .
He made the move just hours before Israel ’ s parliament , the Knesset , looked likely to form a committee that was expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gantz to make sure whoever becomes Israel ’ s next leader after the 2 March election will be on board in advance .
Gantz later said he would work to implement the plan .
Few political aspects of the proposal have been disclosed , apart from an economic conference last summer that sought to raise money from Gulf countries to fund it .
The plan was drafted by Trump ’ s son-in-law , Jared Kushner , with input from the US ambassador to Israel , David Friedman , a vocal supporter of Israeli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Guardian understands that , unlike previous attempts that have focused on getting Israeli and Palestinians leaders to find common ground , Washington ’ s new plan is dozens of pages long and has been drafted as a set of detailed suggestions .
Sensitive issues that have tripped up past efforts , such as the rights of millions of Palestinian refugees and their descendants , will be addressed .
Trump ’ s administration has promoted itself – especially to a large section of US evangelical voters who ardently back the Jewish state – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s history .
Washington has already implemented a number of historic changes in the region .
It reversed decades of its policy by refraining from endorsing the internationally backed two-state solution .
It has also recognised Jerusalem as Israel ’ s capital , cut millions of dollars in aid to Palestinians , and announced that it no longer views Israeli settlements in occupied territory as “ inconsistent with international law ” .

Donald Trump will unveil his much-delayed Middle East “peace plan” alongside the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Tuesday amid Palestinian protest and a rising global chorus of doubt about its timing and substance.
The US president said on Monday that he would announce the plan at noon Washington time (1700 GMT). “And it’s a very big plan,” Trump said after private meetings with Netanyahu and his election opponent, Benny Gantz, in the White House.
The choreography between the US and Israel has been interpreted as a convenient distraction for both Trump, who faces an impeachment trial, and Netanyahu, who faces three criminal corruption indictments and an uncertain election campaign.
Unconfirmed leaks have reported that the measures would be extremely favourable to the country, allowing it to annex much of the Palestinian territories, including Jewish settlements, and all of contested Jerusalem. The Palestinians may be granted some form of self-rule, but under tight restrictions.
Israeli settler leaders who accompanied Netanyahu on his trip appeared to confirm some of those details, complaining that Palestinians should not be allowed any type country, even if it was territorially broken up and without an army or an airport.
“[Netanyahu] tried to sell us on the idea that it wouldn’t really be a Palestinian state,” said David Elhayani, a prominent settler figurehead, according the the Times of Israel newspaper. He added the plan include large economic incentives to the Palestinians.
The Palestinian prime minister called on Monday for world powers to boycott the initiative. “This is a plan to protect Trump from impeachment and protect Netanyahu from prison. It is not a Middle East peace plan,” Mohammad Shtayyeh told a cabinet meeting.
The crisis appeared to bring a rare display of unity from rival Palestinian factions, Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the occupied West Bank. The two parties, long-time enemies who fought a short civil war in 2007 for control of Gaza, agreed to hold an emergency meeting in Ramallah to discuss a joint response.
Protests were planned in the Palestinian territories for Tuesday and Wednesday, raising the chance of clashes with Israeli troops. The Israeli military said it had reinforced security in Jordan Valley, a large section of the West Bank that the Israel government intends to annex.
Q&A What is in Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan? Show Donald Trump has unveiled his much-touted Middle East peace plan, tweeting a map showing his vision for an even further depleted Palestinian state than that envisioned by the Oslo peace agreement in 1993. The key points of the proposed plan are: Establish Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital, with a potential Palestinian capital to the east and north of the city.
Recognise the vast majority of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory as part of the country. A Palestinian state would receive territory, mostly desert, near Gaza to compensate for the loss of about 30% of the West Bank. Gaza and the West Bank would be linked by high speed rail.
Recognise the Jordan valley, which makes up about a third of the occupied West Bank, as part of Israel.
Offer a path to some form of Palestinian statehood but with no army, and overarching Israeli security control in some areas, including over the sea. The plan also sets a series of conditions the Palestinians have to meet before receiving independence including the “complete dismantling of Hamas”, which governs Gaza.
The possibility of stripping Israeli citizenship from tens of thousands of Arab Israelis who live in 10 border towns, with those towns and their residents being included into any future state of Palestine.
Recognise sections of the desert bordering Egypt as part of any future Palestinian state.
Refuse Palestinian refugees the “right of return” to homes lost to Israel in previous conflicts. Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback.
Near an Israeli army checkpoint at the northern edge of Ramallah, dozens of teenage boys with scarves wrapped around their faces pulled tyres covered in petrol into the road. “Do you have a lighter?” one asked. “We’re doing this because they are going to steal our land,” said another.
Two ambulances were parked by the side of the road. Hundreds of Palestinians waited in their cars behind the small protest to get through the checkpoint to their homes in other parts of the West Bank during the school rush.
Ihab Marwan, a 35-year-old teacher who was passing by on his bike, said the demonstration would have no effect. “This will last two or three days. After that, they will be gone,” he said. “It breaks my heart.”
During a tour of the valley on Monday, Israel’s interior minister, Aryeh Deri, said he was gearing up for the move, which Netanyahu already promised in an election pledge in September. “We’ve started to prepare for an annexation – we are getting the paperwork ready,” Deri said.
Tuesday’s attention-grabbing announcement is sure to overshadow Netanyahu’s indictment woes back home.
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu withdrew a request for parliamentary immunity from the charges. He made the move just hours before Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, looked likely to form a committee that was expected to rule against it.
Washington also invited Gantz to make sure whoever becomes Israel’s next leader after the 2 March election will be on board in advance. Gantz later said he would work to implement the plan.
Palestinians protest against the ‘peace deal’ in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Monday. Photograph: Abed Al Hashlamoun/EPA
Few political aspects of the proposal have been disclosed, apart from an economic conference last summer that sought to raise money from Gulf countries to fund it. The plan was drafted by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with input from the US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, a vocal supporter of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Guardian understands that, unlike previous attempts that have focused on getting Israeli and Palestinians leaders to find common ground, Washington’s new plan is dozens of pages long and has been drafted as a set of detailed suggestions.
Sensitive issues that have tripped up past efforts, such as the rights of millions of Palestinian refugees and their descendants, will be addressed.
Trump’s administration has promoted itself – especially to a large section of US evangelical voters who ardently back the Jewish state – as the most pro-Israel in the country’s history. Washington has already implemented a number of historic changes in the region.
It reversed decades of its policy by refraining from endorsing the internationally backed two-state solution. It has also recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, cut millions of dollars in aid to Palestinians, and announced that it no longer views Israeli settlements in occupied territory as “inconsistent with international law”.


theguardian--2020-01-28--Voters' response to shocking tapes of a Trump-style mayor offers 2020 hint

In late December , an alleged recording of Jim Fouts , the mayor of the Detroit suburb of Warren , surfaced in which he can be heard apparently claiming black people commit more crimes and call 911 more frequently than white people .
“ The bullshit calls are blacks , ” Fouts declares to an appointee .
In most cities , this alone might be enough to sink a mayor ’ s career .
But this isn ’ t the first time Fouts has been busted making controversial remarks about black residents .
Other alleged secret recordings released in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to chimpanzees and using the N-word .
In other tapes , he disparages older women and insults disabled people .
The recordings have earned him the local nickname the “ Donald Trump of Warren ” and , like the US president , the controversies seem irrelevant to his supporters : Warren residents last November put Fouts back in office for a fourth term with 57 % of the vote .
That result should catch the attention of national Democrats .
Warren is the third largest city in the key swing state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the heart of Macomb county north of the city of Detroit .
Macomb is one of a handful of Obama-to-Trump swing counties nationwide in which Democrats are eager to win back white working-class voters in the 2020 presidential election .
Residents here will play a key role in deciding the next president , and the re-election of a Trump-like outsider figure in this battleground city signals that relying on voters to tire of an elected official ’ s racism , sexism or vulgarities can – sometimes – be a losing strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his political record is mixed across party lines in Warren , where the mayor ’ s office is a non-partisan position .
He has often aligned with Republican issues but also taken Democrat positions with some policies and has expressed support for the progressive Vermont senator Bernie Sanders .
William Deskins Sr , a Warren resident and Fouts supporter , said he was attracted by a mixed bag of sentiment and Fouts ’ s Trumpian self-image of an outsider who gets things done .
The 76-year-old Republican praised the mayor for his policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his neighbors don ’ t care about Fouts ’ comments .
“ He does a great job in the city , so what he does on his own is up to him , ” Deskins said .
“ I couldn ’ t care less what he says .
Just like Trump – he does a good job with the country and I ’ m satisfied with him.
” Certainly the tapes of Fouts are shocking .
In one recording , he described the availability of teenage prostitutes in Amsterdam .
In 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympics “ retards ” who should be locked in cages .
A 2018 tape allegedly reveals the mayor using a slur to describe gay people , while he is heard saying he would enjoy shooting his former chief of staff “ through the fucking head ” in a 2019 tape .
Fouts denies wrongdoing and claims the tapes are fake or manipulated and part of a plot to disparage him , but audio experts have said they are real .
Fouts , 77 , also caused a controversy by giving huge raises to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was less than half his age , and in a separate case he violated campaign finance laws .
The tapes and controversies are “ damning ” , said the Michigan political analyst Bill Ballenger , and were seen as raising serious questions about Fouts ’ s 2019 re-election chances .
“ I guess we got our answer , ” Ballenger added .
“ The people in Warren feel comfortable with him as mayor … because he ’ s really doing the job – he ’ s walking the walk , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many ways that echoes the way Trump is portrayed by his re-election campaign in places like Macomb .
In one high-profile ad Trump ’ s team declare : “ He ’ s no Mr Nice Guy , but sometimes it takes a Donald Trump to change Washington.
” Ron Papandrea , a Fouts ally and Warren city council member , also pointed to Fouts ’ s policies as the basis to the mayor ’ s success , but said he was not sure that the city ’ s residents are as satisfied with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage .
While some argue that Macomb is a shade redder than it was in 2016 , Warren skews more blue than the rest of the county .
Regardless , it ’ s policies , not persona , that are on voters ’ minds : “ I don ’ t think Trump wins Macomb or Warren because enough people have been agitated by his policies , ” Papandrea said .
But others disagree .
Trump ’ s and Fouts ’ s brash style is something of an asset in a place like Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s about time we had somebody who says what ’ s on their mind instead of what ’ s politically correct , which is a bunch of bullshit , ” he added .
“ Tell it like it is .
”

In late December, an alleged recording of Jim Fouts, the mayor of the Detroit suburb of Warren, surfaced in which he can be heard apparently claiming black people commit more crimes and call 911 more frequently than white people.
“The bullshit calls are blacks,” Fouts declares to an appointee.
In most cities, this alone might be enough to sink a mayor’s career. But this isn’t the first time Fouts has been busted making controversial remarks about black residents. Other alleged secret recordings released in recent years provide audio of him comparing black people to chimpanzees and using the N-word. In other tapes, he disparages older women and insults disabled people.
The recordings have earned him the local nickname the “Donald Trump of Warren” and, like the US president, the controversies seem irrelevant to his supporters: Warren residents last November put Fouts back in office for a fourth term with 57% of the vote.
That result should catch the attention of national Democrats. Warren is the third largest city in the key swing state of Michigan, and a blue-collar suburb that’s the heart of Macomb county north of the city of Detroit. Macomb is one of a handful of Obama-to-Trump swing counties nationwide in which Democrats are eager to win back white working-class voters in the 2020 presidential election.
Residents here will play a key role in deciding the next president, and the re-election of a Trump-like outsider figure in this battleground city signals that relying on voters to tire of an elected official’s racism, sexism or vulgarities can – sometimes – be a losing strategy.
Fouts calls himself an independent and his political record is mixed across party lines in Warren, where the mayor’s office is a non-partisan position. He has often aligned with Republican issues but also taken Democrat positions with some policies and has expressed support for the progressive Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.
William Deskins Sr, a Warren resident and Fouts supporter, said he was attracted by a mixed bag of sentiment and Fouts’s Trumpian self-image of an outsider who gets things done. The 76-year-old Republican praised the mayor for his policies and improving Warren while adding that he and his neighbors don’t care about Fouts’ comments.
“He does a great job in the city, so what he does on his own is up to him,” Deskins said. “I couldn’t care less what he says. Just like Trump – he does a good job with the country and I’m satisfied with him.”
Certainly the tapes of Fouts are shocking.
In one recording, he described the availability of teenage prostitutes in Amsterdam. In 2016, he labeled kids in the Special Olympics “retards” who should be locked in cages. A 2018 tape allegedly reveals the mayor using a slur to describe gay people, while he is heard saying he would enjoy shooting his former chief of staff “through the fucking head” in a 2019 tape.
Fouts denies wrongdoing and claims the tapes are fake or manipulated and part of a plot to disparage him, but audio experts have said they are real.
Fouts, 77, also caused a controversy by giving huge raises to a city hall staffer he was dating who was less than half his age, and in a separate case he violated campaign finance laws.
The tapes and controversies are “damning”, said the Michigan political analyst Bill Ballenger, and were seen as raising serious questions about Fouts’s 2019 re-election chances.
“I guess we got our answer,” Ballenger added. “The people in Warren feel comfortable with him as mayor … because he’s really doing the job – he’s walking the walk, and he’s satisfying his constituents.”
In many ways that echoes the way Trump is portrayed by his re-election campaign in places like Macomb. In one high-profile ad Trump’s team declare: “He’s no Mr Nice Guy, but sometimes it takes a Donald Trump to change Washington.”
Ron Papandrea, a Fouts ally and Warren city council member, also pointed to Fouts’s policies as the basis to the mayor’s success, but said he was not sure that the city’s residents are as satisfied with Trump’s performance on the national stage.
While some argue that Macomb is a shade redder than it was in 2016, Warren skews more blue than the rest of the county. Regardless, it’s policies, not persona, that are on voters’ minds: “I don’t think Trump wins Macomb or Warren because enough people have been agitated by his policies,” Papandrea said.
But others disagree. Trump’s and Fouts’s brash style is something of an asset in a place like Warren, Deskins said.
“I think it’s about time we had somebody who says what’s on their mind instead of what’s politically correct, which is a bunch of bullshit,” he added. “Tell it like it is.”


theguardian--2020-01-28--'Don't talk about history': how Jared Kushner crafted his Middle East 'peace' plan

When Jared Kushner took on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict alongside his many other official duties – promoting American innovation , arms sales to Saudi Arabia , the US opioid crisis – he decided to begin with a blank slate .
“ He said flat out , don ’ t talk to me about history , ” said Aaron David Miller , a US peace negotiator for previous administrations who was consulted by Kushner .
“ He said , I told the Israelis and the Palestinians not to talk to me about history too.
” This was a daring approach to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn of history .
During one of a handful of meetings , Miller reminded the president ’ s son-in-law of William Faulkner ’ s observation : “ The past is never dead .
It ’ s not even past ” .
Kushner decided to deal with the problem of history intruding on talks by engineering a proposed settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis without negotiations or even really talking to one of the parties .
“ I think Jared has a real conviction that he ’ s the Frank Sinatra of the peace process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it his own way , ” said Miller .
The result is the “ deal of the century ” , as Donald Trump described it , that the president is expected to formally present to the Israeli prime minister , Benjamin Netanyahu , at the White House on Tuesday .
But enough details have leaked for the proposals to be widely scorned as favouring Israel by opening the door to its annexation of large parts of the occupied territories and giving it almost total control of Jerusalem .
Trump appointed Kushner , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s daughter Ivanka , to oversee the US ’ s policy on Israel and Palestine even though he has no experience of Middle East diplomacy .
But Kushner does happen to have close family ties to Netanyahu who is facing an election in March .
The make up of Kushner ’ s team was an early clue to where it the process was headed .
It included David Friedman , a lawyer with close ties to the Jewish settler movement in the occupied territories who Trump appointed as US ambassador to Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Palestinian state and likened members of a liberal US Jewish group to Nazi collaborators for their criticism of the Israeli government ’ s actions .
The Trump administration then alienated the Palestinians with a series of actions in Israel ’ s favour including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and slashing funding for Palestinian refugees .
Kushner toured Middle East capitals seeking to get the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan , and Egypt ’ s authoritarian president , to pressure the Palestinian Authority into going along with the White House plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Saudi crown prince , Mohammed bin Salman , which goes some way to explain – alongside arms deals – why the Trump administration has let him off the hook over the murder of the Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi .
Miller was sceptical of the process even before the administration soured relations with the Palestinians .
“ I said to Jared you ’ re not going to fix this because the problem is not the United States .
You can make it worse but you ’ re going to have a hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be done can ’ t be done by the United States .
It requires fundamental decisions by the Israelis and Palestinians .
Neither side is prepared to make them .
They lack leaders who are capable of making them , ” he said .
Miller , who met with Kushner a handful of times and describes him as very respectful , said the president ’ s son-in-law has indeed made it worse .
But he concluded that the process has not been driven by a desire for a negotiated settlement so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s re-election – because that helps Trump ’ s prospects of holding onto the White House .
“ It is tethered to a set of political and personal objectives which in my judgment have little or nothing to do with creating a realistic and sustained negotiating process , ” he said .
Miller noted that Kushner will be running Trump ’ s re-election campaign and that a plan that helps get Netanyahu re-elected by giving Israel a green light to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank will in turn help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evangelical vote which is very supportive of the Jewish state .
“ I told Jared you ’ re going to put out a plan that meets the needs or requirements of only one side .
And I said that ’ s a serious problem because American credibility and integrity is also on the table .
Not just American politics and re-election of Donald Trump , ” he said .

When Jared Kushner took on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict alongside his many other official duties – promoting American innovation, arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the US opioid crisis – he decided to begin with a blank slate.
“He said flat out, don’t talk to me about history,” said Aaron David Miller, a US peace negotiator for previous administrations who was consulted by Kushner. “He said, I told the Israelis and the Palestinians not to talk to me about history too.”
This was a daring approach to a conflict and region steeped in every bitter turn of history. During one of a handful of meetings, Miller reminded the president’s son-in-law of William Faulkner’s observation: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past”.
Kushner decided to deal with the problem of history intruding on talks by engineering a proposed settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis without negotiations or even really talking to one of the parties.
“I think Jared has a real conviction that he’s the Frank Sinatra of the peace process. He’s going to do it his own way,” said Miller.
The result is the “ulitmate deal”, as Donald Trump described it, that the president is expected to formally present to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the White House on Tuesday. But enough details have leaked for the proposals to be widely scorned as favouring Israel by opening the door to its annexation of large parts of the occupied territories and giving it almost total control of Jerusalem.
Trump appointed Kushner, a developer who is married to the president’s daughter Ivanka, to oversee the US’s policy on Israel and Palestine even though he has no experience of Middle East diplomacy.
A lack of experience in Middle East negotiations is not necessarily a hindrance to trying to forge a peace agreement – and might be an asset compared to those who lost their way in the weeds of positioning of checkpoints and access to Gaza. George Mitchell was relatively unexperienced in Northern Ireland before playing a crucial role as the US envoy in building peace.
But Kushner’s appointment raised eyebrows because it appeared to be based on little more than who he married, although Trump called him a “natural talent”. It didn’t help that it wasn’t even going to be his full time job but tacked on with a lot of other tasks. But perhaps the key was that Kushner has close family ties to Netanyahu who is facing an election in March.
An Israeli election banner for the Likud party showing Donald Trump shaking hands with Benjamin Netanyahu hangs on a building in Jerusalem. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images
The make up of Kushner’s team was an early clue to where it the process was headed. It included David Friedman, a lawyer with close ties to the Jewish settler movement in the occupied territories who Trump appointed as US ambassador to Israel. Friedman has questioned the need for a Palestinian state and likened members of a liberal US Jewish group to Nazi collaborators for their criticism of the Israeli government’s actions.
The Trump administration then alienated the Palestinians with a series of actions in Israel’s favour including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and slashing funding for Palestinian refugees. Kushner toured Middle East capitals seeking to get the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and Egypt’s authoritarian president, to pressure the Palestinian Authority into going along with the White House plan.
Among those wooed by Kushner was the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, which goes some way to explain – alongside arms deals – why the Trump administration has let him off the hook over the murder of the Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Jared has a real conviction that he’s the Frank Sinatra of the peace process. He’s going to do it his own way Aaron David Miller
Miller was sceptical of the process even before the administration soured relations with the Palestinians.
“I said to Jared you’re not going to fix this because the problem is not the United States. You can make it worse but you’re going to have a hard time making it better because what needs to be done can’t be done by the United States. It requires fundamental decisions by the Israelis and Palestinians. Neither side is prepared to make them. They lack leaders who are capable of making them,” he said.
Miller, who met with Kushner a handful of times and describes him as very respectful, said the president’s son-in-law has indeed made it worse. But he concluded that the process has not been driven by a desire for a negotiated settlement so much as to bolster the prospects of Netanyahu’s re-election – because that helps Trump’s prospects of holding onto the White House.
“It is tethered to a set of political and personal objectives which in my judgment have little or nothing to do with creating a realistic and sustained negotiating process,” he said.
Miller noted that Kushner will be running Trump’s re-election campaign and that a plan that helps get Netanyahu re-elected by giving Israel a green light to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank will in turn help the president not least with the Christian evangelical vote which is very supportive of the Jewish state.
“I told Jared you’re going to put out a plan that meets the needs or requirements of only one side. And I said that’s a serious problem because American credibility and integrity is also on the table. Not just American politics and re-election of Donald Trump,” he said.


theguardian--2020-01-28--What to expect from week two of Trump's impeachment trial

A second day of defense arguments in Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial has concluded .
The trial could be over by the end of the week – unless a push to call witnesses succeeds , in which case it could continue into February .
Here ’ s a look at what ’ s still ahead : Further defense arguments .
Trump ’ s legal team has about 15 hours remaining to make its case .
But members have said they will not take all of the time allotted to them , and they are expected to conclude their opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the senators .
Senators may submit written questions to the supreme court ’ s chief justice , John Roberts , who is presiding at the trial .
He will read the questions for both legal teams to answer .
This could be an important opportunity for Democrats to force Trump ’ s defense team to grapple with potential testimony by the former national security adviser John Bolton or other potential witnesses .
A big day .
If the anticipated timeline has not been derailed , senators would use Friday afternoon to debate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold votes on calling for witnesses or documents .
If they decide not to call witnesses , the Senate could vote Friday to acquit Trump on both articles of impeachment – and the impeachment process would conclude .
Or the Senate might decide to call a limited number of witnesses , setting up a potential showdown with the White House , which has warned that it would go to court to block testimony by current or former Trump aides .
If the Senate votes against calling witnesses on Friday , expect a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have indicated they would like to hear from Bolton .
A simple majority , comprising the Democratic caucus plus four Republican senators , would be enough to call witnesses .
If the Senate votes in favor of calling witnesses , all timeline bets are off .
The trial could get tied up in court ; Roberts may intervene ; negotiations over the terms of testimony , whether in public or private deposition , would be entered – in short , the impeachment trial would be more likely to extend in length to match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which lasted just more than one month .

Opening arguments in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial have concluded. The trial could be over by the end of the week – unless a push to call witnesses succeeds, in which case it could continue into February.
Here’s a look at what’s still ahead:
Wednesday and Thursday
Questions from the senators. Senators may submit written questions to the supreme court’s chief justice, John Roberts, who is presiding at the trial. He will read the questions for both legal teams to answer. This could be an important opportunity for Democrats to force Trump’s defense team to grapple with potential testimony by the former national security adviser John Bolton or other potential witnesses.
Friday
A big day. If the anticipated timeline has not been derailed, senators would use Friday afternoon to debate, for up to four hours, whether to hold votes on calling for witnesses or documents. If they decide not to call witnesses, the Senate could vote on Friday to acquit Trump on both articles of impeachment – and the impeachment process would conclude.
Or the Senate might decide to call a limited number of witnesses, setting up a potential showdown with the White House, which has warned that it would go to court to block testimony by current or former Trump aides.
If the Senate votes against calling witnesses on Friday, expect a speedy dismissal. But multiple Republican senators have indicated they would like to hear from Bolton. A simple majority, comprising the Democratic caucus plus four Republican senators, would be enough to call witnesses.
If the Senate votes in favor of calling witnesses, all timeline bets are off. The trial could get tied up in court; Roberts may intervene; negotiations over the terms of testimony, whether in public or private deposition, would be entered – in short, the impeachment trial would be more likely to extend in length to match Bill Clinton’s 1999 trial, which lasted just more than one month.


theguardian--2020-01-28--Kenneth Starr, driver of Clinton impeachment, does about-face for Trump

Kenneth Starr , who as independent counsel was the tip of the spear in the impeachment of US president Bill Clinton , stood before the Senate on Monday and complained that impeachment has become over-used and weaponised .
As death-of-irony moments go , it would have been like Charlton Heston arguing against guns , Margaret Thatcher denouncing privatisation or Kim Kardashian suggesting that fame is overrated .
“ Ken Starr calls this period ‘ the Age of Impeachment , ’ and asks , ‘ How did we get here ?
’ ” tweeted Paul Begala , a former Clinton adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand mirror and says , ‘ Oh , right .
It was me .
My bad.
’ ” Yet all the talk in the corridors of Capitol Hill had been about this trial ’ s Perry Mason moment : an overnight New York Times report that John Bolton , Trump ’ s former national security adviser , directly linked withholding military aid to Ukraine with his push for investigations of political rival Joe Biden .
Would there be signs of a Republican rebellion and a demand for witnesses ?
Would there be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , delivered with all the fire and brimstone of a medieval preacher ?
No , instead here came Starr , delivering an hour of dry legalistic remarks that turned the chamber into a university lecture hall , with senators resembling a collection of mature ( in some cases , very mature ) students obliged to take notes .
Starr ’ s appearance represented a merging of two time streams worthy of Doctor Who .
Suddenly we had been jolted back into the late 1990s , a world of Whitewater , “ travelgate ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , Monica Lewinsky and the most recent impeachment trial – and acquittal – of a president .
Clinton is not as loved as he used to be in today ’ s Democratic party but , even so , deploying Starr with spades of chutzpah seemed unlikely to win any of its members over .
Two decades ago , Starr became notorious as a pitiless Republican tormenting and hunting down a well-liked Democratic president .
His team included Brett Kavanaugh , now a controversial Trump appointee to the supreme court , who railed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgusting ” conduct .
In 1998 , at Starr ’ s behest , Lewinsky was confronted in a hotel room by male officers and threatened with 27 years in prison unless she wore a wire and sealed the case against Clinton .
That same year , when he decided to testify before the House judiciary committee , Starr ’ s ethics adviser Samuel Dash resigned and rebuked Starr : “ You have violated your obligations under the independent counsel statute and have unlawfully intruded on the power of impeachment , which the constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divisive Starr report was full of lurid sexual details , including a semen-stained blue dress and who had orgasms when .
So there was something nauseatingly fitting about its author returning to the stage now that America is under what has been referred to as a “ porn star presidency ” .
Starr ’ s central argument on Monday was that for much of early American history “ the sword of presidential impeachment had been sheathed ” .
But now , he warned , “ the Senate is being called to sit as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequently .
Indeed , we are living in what I think can aptly be described as the age of impeachment.
” Senators have to realise the gravity of imposing the ultimate sanction and the political disruption it causes , Starr argued .
“ Instead of a once-in-a-century phenomenon , which it had been , presidential impeachment has become a weapon to be wielded against one ’ s political opponent.
” He did not try to pretend he had nothing to do with the Clinton impeachment .
In fact , he embraced his past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hell .
Or , at least , presidential impeachment is hell … It ’ s filled with acrimony and it divides the country like nothing else .
Those of us who lived through the Clinton impeachment understand that in a deep and personal way.
” Democrats were not impressed .
Chuck Schumer , in dark suit , sank deeper into his chair , head in hand .
Dianne Feinstein , in purple , sat with arms folded .
Amy Klobuchar , in turquoise , gazed around the room .
Bernie Sanders moved his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly swung back in his chair like an errant schoolboy .
He was , perhaps , dreaming of Iowa .
How they must have been yearning to leap up from their seats and shout : “ Objection , your honour .
Hypocrisy !
” But the rules of this peculiar court command all persons to remain silent “ on pain of imprisonment ” .
Still , as the day wore on , there was no sign of Bolton or his mustache .
Instead , as had been predicted , Trump ’ s defence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rudy Giuliani , and demonising the former vice-president Joe Biden , presumably hoping to inflict some electoral damage .
The lawyer Jane Raskin contended that Democrats were using Giuliani as a shiny object of distraction .
“ The House managers may not like his style , you may not like his style , but one might argue that he is everything Clarence Darrow said a defence lawyer must be : outrageous , irreverent , blasphemous , a rogue , a renegade.
” Then Pam Bondi , the former Florida attorney general , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son , Hunter , over the latter ’ s business dealings in Ukraine .
She laid out a case that conservative media was quick to hail as “ devastating ” and that other media noted was full of holes .
Bondi did not , for example , offer any evidence of a “ crime ” worthy of the criminal investigation that Trump was seeking .
But it was mission accomplished for Bondi , a glorious case of whataboutism to satisfy the twin masters of the White House and Fox News .
The broadcaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the core of Trumpism : this nihilistic cynicism and projection that everyone is equally corrupt , everyone acts like Trump.
” We are all in the gutter , but some of us are looking at the Starrs .

A Starr is reborn.
Kenneth Starr, who as independent counsel was the tip of the spear in the impeachment of US president Bill Clinton, stood before the Senate on Monday and complained that impeachment has become over-used and weaponised.
As death-of-irony moments go, it would have been like Charlton Heston arguing against guns, Margaret Thatcher denouncing privatisation or Kim Kardashian suggesting fame is overrated.
“Ken Starr calls this period ‘the Age of Impeachment,’ and asks, ‘How did we get here?’” tweeted Paul Begala, a former Clinton adviser, “He then whips out a hand mirror and says, ‘Oh, right. It was me. My bad.’”
Yet all the talk in the corridors of Capitol Hill had been about this trial’s Perry Mason moment: an overnight New York Times report that John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, directly linked withholding military aid to Ukraine with his push for investigations of political rival Joe Biden.
Would there be signs of a Republican rebellion and a demand for witnesses? Would there be a counteroffensive from Trump’s legal team, delivered with all the fire and brimstone of a medieval preacher?
No, instead here came Starr, delivering an hour of dry legalistic remarks that turned the chamber into a university lecture hall, with senators resembling a collection of mature (in some cases, very mature) students obliged to take notes.
Starr’s appearance represented a merging of two time streams worthy of Doctor Who. Suddenly we had been jolted back into the late 1990s, a world of Whitewater, “travelgate”, “filegate”, “troopergate”, Monica Lewinsky and the most recent impeachment trial – and acquittal – of a president.
Clinton is not as loved as he used to be in today’s Democratic party but, even so, deploying Starr with spades of chutzpah seemed unlikely to win any of its members over.
Two decades ago, Starr became notorious as a pitiless Republican tormenting and hunting down a well-liked Democratic president. His team included Brett Kavanaugh, now a controversial Trump appointee to the supreme court, who railed against Clinton’s “callous and disgusting” conduct.
In 1998, at Starr’s behest, Lewinsky was confronted in a hotel room by male officers and threatened with 27 years in prison unless she wore a wire and sealed the case against Clinton. That same year, when he decided to testify before the House judiciary committee, Starr’s ethics adviser Samuel Dash resigned and rebuked Starr: “You have violated your obligations under the independent counsel statute and have unlawfully intruded on the power of impeachment, which the constitution gives solely to the House.”
Kenneth Starr is sworn in on Capitol Hill Thursday in 1998, prior to testifying before the House judiciary committee’s impeachment hearing against Bill Clinton. Photograph: Doug Mills/AP
The divisive Starr report was full of lurid sexual details, including a semen-stained blue dress and who had orgasms when. So there was something nauseatingly fitting about its author returning to the stage now that America is under what has been referred to as a “porn star presidency”.
Starr’s central argument on Monday was that for much of early American history “the sword of presidential impeachment had been sheathed”.
But now, he warned, “the Senate is being called to sit as the high court of impeachment all too frequently. Indeed, we are living in what I think can aptly be described as the age of impeachment.”
Senators have to realise the gravity of imposing the ultimate sanction and the political disruption it causes, Starr argued. “Instead of a once-in-a-century phenomenon, which it had been, presidential impeachment has become a weapon to be wielded against one’s political opponent.”
He did not try to pretend he had nothing to do with the Clinton impeachment. In fact, he embraced his past. “Like war, impeachment is hell. Or, at least, presidential impeachment is hell … It’s filled with acrimony and it divides the country like nothing else. Those of us who lived through the Clinton impeachment understand that in a deep and personal way.”
Democrats were not impressed. Chuck Schumer, in dark suit, sank deeper into his chair, head in hand. Dianne Feinstein, in purple, sat with arms folded. Amy Klobuchar, in turquoise, gazed around the room. Bernie Sanders moved his hands as if making shadow puppets and repeatedly swung back in his chair like an errant schoolboy. He was, perhaps, dreaming of Iowa.
How they must have been yearning to leap up from their seats and shout: “Objection, your honour. Hypocrisy!” But the rules of this peculiar court command all persons to remain silent “on pain of imprisonment”.
Pam Bondi, a member of Trump’s legal team, during a break in the trial. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP
Still, as the day wore on, there was no sign of Bolton or his mustache. Instead, as had been predicted, Trump’s defence team set about lionising his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and demonising the former vice-president Joe Biden, presumably hoping to inflict some electoral damage.
The lawyer Jane Raskin contended that Democrats were using Giuliani as a shiny object of distraction. “The House managers may not like his style, you may not like his style, but one might argue that he is everything Clarence Darrow said a defence lawyer must be: outrageous, irreverent, blasphemous, a rogue, a renegade.”
Then Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, turned her fire on Biden and his son, Hunter, over the latter’s business dealings in Ukraine. She laid out a case that conservative media was quick to hail as “devastating” and that other media noted was full of holes. Bondi did not, for example, offer any evidence of a “crime” worthy of the criminal investigation that Trump was seeking.
But it was mission accomplished for Bondi, a glorious case of whataboutism to satisfy the twin masters of the White House and Fox News. The broadcaster Chris Hayes commented on Twitter: “This is the core of Trumpism: this nihilistic cynicism and projection that everyone is equally corrupt, everyone acts like Trump.”
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the Starrs.


theguardian--2020-01-28--Trump impeachment: defense team cites debunked conspiracy theory – as it happened

Representative Doug Collins – a staunch Trump ally – is expected to run for Senate Doug Collins , the Republican representative from Georgia you may remember as a leading defender of Donald Trump during the president ’ s impeachment , is expected to announce a run for Senate , according to multiple reports .
Collins would face off against the GOP senator Kelly Loeffler , complicating the Republican party ’ s efforts to hold on to the seat in what has become a battleground state .
Georgia ’ s Republican governor Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to the Senate after Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns .
Though Trump advocated for Collins as Isakson ’ s replacement , Kemp chose Loeffler , a finance executive , and major Republican donor who some strategists believed would be competitive in suburban areas where support for the GOP has waned .
Loeffler recently came under fire by conservative groups for sitting on the board of a hospital that performed abortions .
She was in the news earlier today after she called out Mitt Romney , a Republican of Utah , for his openness to call witnesses to testify in the Senate @ @