theguardian--2020-08-04--Biden reaches out to Latino voters with plan to tackle inequalities

Joe Biden ’ s election campaign on Tuesday unveiled a plan to address the economic inequalities facing Latinos in America amid financial turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic , which has disproportionately harmed communities of color .
The plan was introduced a day after the anniversary of the mass shooting in El Paso , Texas , that took the lives of 23 people and where the shooter is accused in federal court of deliberately targeting Hispanics .
It comes as Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee to face Donald Trump in November , attempts to build a bridge to Latino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the largest share of non-white voters in the country this election .
Senior campaign officials announced plans and commitments focused on investing in the economic mobility of Latinos , starting with education and healthcare , as well as a commitment to support the building of a Smithsonian Latino museum on the National Mall in Washington DC .
Biden had previously promised to introduce a sweeping immigration plan on his first day in office , including protecting recipients of the Daca program , affording protections and rights to qualifying , young , undocumented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undoing the Trump administration ’ s hardline international asylum policies .
“ The policies of [ the Trump ] administration amount to an onslaught of violence and fear against the community .
That ends when Joe Biden is president , ” a senior campaign official said on a call with reporters on Tuesday morning .
Polling shows that while immigration remains a priority for Latino voters , so is healthcare , the economy and education .
Young Latinos , like young voters across several demographics , say they care about climate change and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Lift Every Voice ” agenda for African American communities , which included a call for the justice department to prioritize prosecuting hate crimes , and economic plans to help Black Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
His Latino agenda also overlaps with Biden ’ s “ Build Back Better ” plan , an economic agenda that includes manufacturing , climate and caregiving .
The plan promises “ far reaching economic investment ” into Latino communities through a first time homeowner credit and investment into Hispanic serving educational institutions .
Its healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of health ” by building on the Affordable Care Act .
The campaign reiterated promises to reshape the legal immigration system that the Trump administration has steadily dismantled .
As well as hiring more immigration judges for the overstretched system , the campaign said it will review Trump ’ s decision to end temporary protected status ( TPS ) , a longstanding program designed to prevent foreign nationals in the US from being deported back to countries devastated by natural disaster or civil unrest .
As president , Biden would create a path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have lived in the US for decades , the campaign said .
Since the primary , the campaign has moved left on immigration amid pressure from liberal activists .
Still , Biden has resisted calls from progressives to eliminate Ice , the immigration and customs enforcement agency formed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US , or to decriminalize undocumented border crossings , a proposal some of his primary rivals supported .
The plan comes as polling shows Biden leading Trump nationally and in key battleground states , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make up a decisive share of the electorate .
Yet some polls show Biden ’ s support waning among Latino voters , and particularly young Latinos who preferred his leftwing rival , Senator Bernie Sanders , during the primary .
With less than 100 days until the election , Biden ’ s campaign has ramped up its efforts to reach these voters .
In recent weeks , the campaign has made several high-profile hires , including Julie Chavez Rodriguez , the granddaughter of Cesar Chavez , and Matt Barreto , the founder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm .
It also announced a $ 1m investment in Spanish-language outreach .
In 2016 , Trump won nearly 30 % of the Hispanic vote , a margin that has remained largely consistent .
There are signs that may be changing as a result of Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus and his escalation of anti-immigrant sentiment and bigoted rhetoric .
In the first months of 2020 , 34 % of Hispanics approved of Trump , according to Gallup .
In the period from late May to June , that fell to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign ’ s Latino outreach is in Florida , a state critical to his re-election prospects .
But the state ’ s Hispanic electorate – once dominated by conservative Cuban Americans – is changing with an influx of Puerto Ricans to central Florida .
The Biden campaign says it is investing heavily in these voters as it tries to pry the state from Trump in November .
Meanwhile , the Biden campaign is looking to turn out Latinos in rust belt swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , that Trump won by @ @ @ @ @ @

Lauren Gambino in Washington and Francisco Navas in New York

Joe Biden’s election campaign on Tuesday unveiled a plan to address the economic inequalities facing Latinos in America amid financial turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which has disproportionately harmed communities of color.
The plan was introduced a day after the anniversary of the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, that took the lives of 23 people and where the shooter is accused in federal court of deliberately targeting Hispanics.
It comes as Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee to face Donald Trump in November, attempts to build a bridge to Latino voters, who are poised to make up the largest share of US voters who are people of color in this election.
Senior campaign officials announced plans and commitments focused on investing in the economic mobility of Latinos, starting with education and healthcare, as well as a commitment to support the building of a Smithsonian Latino museum on the National Mall in Washington DC.
Biden had previously promised to introduce a sweeping immigration plan on his first day in office, including protecting recipients of the Daca program, affording protections and rights to qualifying, young, undocumented immigrants, known as Dreamers– and also undoing the Trump administration’s hardline international asylum policies.
“The policies of [the Trump] administration amount to an onslaught of violence and fear against the community. That ends when Joe Biden is president,” a senior campaign official said on a call with reporters on Tuesday morning.
Polling shows that while immigration remains a priority for Latino voters, so is healthcare, the economy and education. Young Latinos, like young voters across several demographics, say they care about climate change and racial justice.
Biden previously unveiled the “Lift Every Voice” agenda for African American communities, which included a call for the justice department to prioritize prosecuting hate crimes, and economic plans to help Black Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
His Latino agenda also overlaps with Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan, an economic agenda that includes manufacturing, climate and caregiving. The plan promises “far reaching economic investment” into Latino communities through a first time homeowner credit and investment into Hispanic serving educational institutions. Its healthcare component promises to “tackle social determinants of health” by building on the Affordable Care Act.
The campaign reiterated promises to reshape the legal immigration system that the Trump administration has steadily dismantled. As well as hiring more immigration judges for the overstretched system, the campaign said it will review Trump’s decision to end temporary protected status (TPS), a longstanding program designed to prevent foreign nationals in the US from being deported back to countries devastated by natural disaster or civil unrest.
As president, Biden would create a path to citizenship for certain TPS recipients who have lived in the US for decades, the campaign said.
Since the primary, the campaign has moved left on immigration amid pressure from liberal activists. Still, Biden has resisted calls from progressives to eliminate Ice, the immigration and customs enforcement agency formed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US, or to decriminalize undocumented border crossings, a proposal some of his primary rivals supported.
The plan comes as polling shows Biden leading Trump nationally and in key battleground states, including Florida and Arizona, where Latinos will make up a decisive share of the electorate. Yet some polls show Biden’s support waning among Latino voters, and particularly young Latinos who preferred his leftwing rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, during the primary.
With less than 100 days until the election, Biden’s campaign has ramped up its efforts to reach these voters. In recent weeks, the campaign has made several high-profile hires, including Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of Cesar Chavez, and Matt Barreto, the founder of Latino Decisions, a top Democratic polling firm. It also announced a $1m investment in Spanish-language outreach.
In 2016, Trump won nearly 30% of the Hispanic vote, a margin that has remained largely consistent.
There are signs that may be changing as a result of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus and his escalation of anti-immigrant sentiment and bigoted rhetoric. In the first months of 2020, 34% of Hispanics approved of Trump, according to Gallup. In the period from late May to June, that fell to 26%.
The cornerstone of the Trump campaign’s Latino outreach is in Florida, a state critical to his re-election prospects. But the state’s Hispanic electorate – once dominated by conservative Cuban Americans – is changing with an influx of Puerto Ricans to central Florida. The Biden campaign says it is investing heavily in these voters as it tries to pry the state from Trump in November.
Meanwhile, the Biden campaign is looking to turn out Latinos in rust belt swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, that Trump won by the narrowest margins in 2016.


theguardian--2020-08-05--Cori Bush: progressive activist beats 20-year Democratic incumbent in Missouri primary

Cori Bush , one of the leaders of protests against the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri , defeated longtime representative William Lacy Clay in the state ’ s Democratic primary election on Tuesday .
The progressive candidate ended a half-century political dynasty in one of several notable results to emerge from primary elections in five states on Tuesday .
Results were still coming in on Wednesday morning , but Donald Trump ’ s ally , Kris Kobach , had already suffered a defeat in Kansas .
Roger Marshall won Kansas ’ s Republican primary for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former secretary of state , lost the state ’ s governor race to a Democrat in 2018 and Republicans were fearful his win in the Senate primary would ensure another defeat to Democrats in November .
Kobach is best known for his hardline anti-immigration policies and effort to weaken voting rights .
Republicans have held the senate seat for more than 100 years , but the party was still fearful Kobach would polarize voters in the November race .
The Democratic candidate , Barbara Bollier , left the Republican party in 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the district representing St Louis marked another progressive ousting of a Democratic incumbent .
Clay was elected in 2000 , taking over the post from his father who had served for 32 years before .
Bush , a 44-year-old nurse , is almost guaranteed to win the seat in the November election because the district is heavily-Democratic .
Bush addressed supporters after her win and said her campaign had been written off , “ they counted us out , ” she said .
“ They called me – I ’ m just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the activist with no name , no title and no real money , ” Bush said .
“ That ’ s all they said that I was .
But St Louis showed up today.
” Bush entered politics after the Ferguson protests in 2014 and first ran for the representative seat in 2018 , ultimately losing to Clay .
She was a surrogate for Bernie Sanders presidential campaign and participated in local protests against the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
In a tweet , Sanders hailed Bush as a “ @ @ @ @

Cori Bush, one of the leaders of protests against the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, defeated longtime representative William Lacy Clay in the state’s Democratic primary election on Tuesday.
The progressive candidate ended a half-century political dynasty in one of several notable results to emerge from primary elections in five states on Tuesday. Results were still coming in on Wednesday morning, but Donald Trump’s ally, Kris Kobach, had already suffered a defeat in Kansas.
Roger Marshall won Kansas’s Republican primary for the Senate. Kobach, Kansas’s former secretary of state, lost the state’s governor race to a Democrat in 2018 and Republicans were fearful his win in the Senate primary would ensure another defeat to Democrats in November.
Kobach is best known for his hardline anti-immigration policies and effort to weaken voting rights. Republicans have held the Senate seat for more than 100 years, but the party was still fearful Kobach would polarize voters in the November race. The Democratic candidate, Barbara Bollier, left the Republican party in 2018.
In Missouri, Bush’s win in the district representing St Louis marked another progressive ousting of a Democratic incumbent. Clay was elected in 2000, taking over the post from his father who had served for 32 years before.
Bush, a 44-year-old nurse and pastor, is almost guaranteed to win the seat in the November election because the district is heavily Democratic.
Bush addressed supporters after her win and said her campaign had been written off, “they counted us out,” she said.
“They called me – I’m just the protester, I’m just the activist with no name, no title and no real money,” Bush said. “That’s all they said that I was. But St Louis showed up today.”
Bush entered politics after the Ferguson protests in 2014 and first ran for the representative seat in 2018, ultimately losing to Clay.
Her foray into the 2018 election earned her comparisons to another progressive who took on a Democratic incumbent, New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She campaigned on issues such as a $15 minimum wage, free college tuition and Medicare for all.
She was also one of four candidates, including Ocasio-Cortez, to be the focus of the documentary Knock Down the House – which trailed their 2018 campaigns.
Bush was a surrogate for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign and helped organize Black Lives Matter protests against the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In a tweet, Sanders hailed Bush as a “true progressive”.
Congratulations to @CoriBush on her primary victory tonight! She is a true progressive who stands with working people and will take on the corporate elite of this country when she gets to Congress. pic.twitter.com/Q3hJGasjXe — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 5, 2020
Voters in Missouri also approved expanding the government health insurance program for low-income Americans, Medicaid. This could give 250,000 Missourians access to the program, starting next year, according to the state’s auditor.
The state’s Republican governor, Mike Parson, opposes Medicaid expansion but because the expansion won through the initiative process, it can only be changed if lawmakers go back to voters.
In another victory for progressives, the Michigan representative Rashida Tlaib won her Democratic primary.
Tlaib, a member of the group of progressive house members known as “the Squad”, held off her opponent Brenda Jones, president of the Detroit city council.
“Headlines said I was the most vulnerable member of the Squad,” Tlaib said on Twitter. “My community responded last night and said our Squad is big. It includes all who believe we must show up for each other and prioritize people over profits. It’s here to stay, and it’s only getting bigger.”


theguardian--2020-08-05--WNBA players' shirts urge fans to vote against Dream owner and senator Loeffler

The standoff between WNBA players and Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler continues with players wearing shirts in support of the Republican senator ’ s rival in an upcoming election .
Loeffler , a keen supporter of Donald Trump , wrote to the WNBA last month opposing the league ’ s support of Black Lives Matter .
She said the organization supports “ the defunding of police , called for the removal of Jesus from churches and the disruption of the nuclear family structure harbored anti-Semitic views , and promoted violence and destruction across the country.
” Black Lives Matter is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official policies .
Loeffler ’ s reference to Jesus may be due to the objection of some supporters to depictions of Jesus as a white European .
In response , the WNBA released a statement saying it would “ continue to use our platforms to vigorously advocate for social justice ” .
This week the opposition to Loeffler has stepped up , with WNBA players wearing “ Vote Warnock ” t-shirts to games , in reference to Raphael Warnock , who is running in George against Loeffler for her US Senate seat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dream , told ESPN the players had wanted to avoid talking about Loeffler directly , while still supporting her rival .
“ I think when all this stuff started happening with her , we didn ’ t want to feel like we were pawns , ” Williams said .
“ We can only control so much about what the league does [ in regard to Loeffler ] , and so for us , we wanted it to be bigger than that .
“ That ’ s kind of been the theme of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure we could still keep the focus on our social justice movement , and funny enough , Rev Warnock is somebody who supports everything that we support and just happens to be running in that seat .
So it just worked out really well.
” Warnock , a pastor and Democrat , said in a statement that he was “ honored and humbled by the overwhelming support from the WNBA players .
This movement gives us the opportunity to fight for what we believe in , and I stand by all athletes promoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ This is just more proof that the out-of-control cancel culture wants to shut out anyone who disagrees with them , ” she said in a statement .
“ It ’ s clear that the league is more concerned with playing politics than basketball , and I stand by what I wrote in June.
” There have long been objections to Loeffler ’ s ownership of the Dream among WNBA fans and players , who see her conservative views as antithetical to the league ’ s progressive policies .

The standoff between WNBA players and Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler continues with players wearing shirts in support of the Republican senator’s rival in an upcoming election.
Loeffler, a keen supporter of Donald Trump, wrote to the WNBA last month opposing the league’s support of Black Lives Matter. She said the organization supports “the defunding of police, called for the removal of Jesus from churches and the disruption of the nuclear family structure harbored anti-Semitic views, and promoted violence and destruction across the country.”
Black Lives Matter is a decentralized movement and does not have official policies. Loeffler’s reference to Jesus may be due to the objection of some supporters to depictions of Jesus as a white European.
In response, the WNBA released a statement saying it would “continue to use our platforms to vigorously advocate for social justice”.
Ha. WNBA player wearing a Vote Warnock shirt. Rev Warnock is running for senate in Georgia against WNBA franchise owner, proud bigot and shady financier Kelly Loeffler @SenatorLoeffler pic.twitter.com/hFDnfS3Let — Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) August 4, 2020
This week the opposition to Loeffler has stepped up, with WNBA players wearing “Vote Warnock” t-shirts to games, in reference to Raphael Warnock, who is running in Georgia against Loeffler for her US Senate seat.
Elizabeth Williams, a forward for Atlanta Dream, told ESPN the players had wanted to avoid talking about Loeffler directly, while still supporting her rival.
“I think when all this stuff started happening with her, we didn’t want to feel like we were pawns,” Williams said. “We can only control so much about what the league does [in regard to Loeffler], and so for us, we wanted it to be bigger than that.
“That’s kind of been the theme of this season. So we wanted to make sure we could still keep the focus on our social justice movement, and funny enough, Rev Warnock is somebody who supports everything that we support and just happens to be running in that seat. So it just worked out really well.”
Warnock, a pastor and Democrat, said in a statement that he was “honored and humbled by the overwhelming support from the WNBA players. This movement gives us the opportunity to fight for what we believe in, and I stand by all athletes promoting social justice on and off the court.”
Loeffler, meanwhile, condemned the move.
“This is just more proof that the out-of-control cancel culture wants to shut out anyone who disagrees with them,” she said in a statement. “It’s clear that the league is more concerned with playing politics than basketball, and I stand by what I wrote in June.”
There have long been objections to Loeffler’s ownership of the Dream among WNBA fans and players, who see her conservative views as antithetical to the league’s progressive policies.


theguardian--2020-08-05--Sexism casts shadow over Biden's search for a female running mate

The final weeks of Joe Biden ’ s search for a running mate have had all the usual trimmings : leaks from unnamed Democratic party officials , last-minute suggestions of outsider names and a trail of vague hints from the candidate himself .
But this year is different .
Biden promised to select a female running mate , setting up a historic nomination process that many prominent Democratic women say is being overshadowed by the increasingly nasty – and unmistakably sexist – debate over who he should choose .
“ Even in this moment of women ascending to heights that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s history , it ’ s still really being talked about and debated through the lens of a man , ” said Jess Morales Rocketto , the executive director at Care in Action , a nonprofit group that advocates for domestic workers .
In the last week , prominent Democratic men , campaign advisors and anonymous donors have suggested that senator Kamala Harris , a top candidate for vice president , was too ambitious and questioned her likability .
The former Connecticut senator Chris Dodd , a member of Biden ’ s vice-presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the lack of contrition Harris expressed over a blistering attack on Biden during an early Democratic debate – an odd point of caution for a candidate who has been in politics for decades and seen his share of heated fights .
Dodd ’ s younger days as a partier and his history with women have also come into question during the process .
Overall , this year ’ s vetting period has been cast with a sense of Democratic elders critiquing potential running mates for Biden with the same stereotypical criticisms men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is reportedly now moving toward the final phase of his selection process .
Jill Biden told Fox News on Tuesday that her husband was “ close ” to making a decision .
An announcement is expected in the coming days .
His selection has historic implications .
Although two women have previously been nominated for vice-president , there has never been a female vice-president , and an African American woman has never been chosen as the running mate of a presidential nominee from a major US political party .
If Biden wins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frontrunner for the nomination for president in the future .
Many Democratic women with extensive experience in party politics say the remarks , while not surprising , are deeply offensive and mar a vetting process that they hoped would be celebrated for its diversity .
LaTosha Brown , the co-founder of Black Voters Matter , said she has been “ appalled ” by the “ racist , sexist tropes ” used by party leaders and elected officials to undermine female candidates for vice-president , particularly woman of color .
“ Being a Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it ’ s in the service of others , ” Brown said , adding : “ Black women have always been on the vanguard of fighting for our democracy , and we will continue to do so .
But we will also hold accountable anyone who seeks to marginalize our contributions , our intellect or our electability .
This is not going to be tolerated.
” The best way for Biden to show he condemns these remarks , she said , would be to put a Black woman on the ticket .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ divide between an old guard of white , mostly male leaders and a new cohort of diverse , trailblazing women who are increasingly ascendent in the party .
“ A new generation has arrived .
It ’ s really interesting this cycle where there ’ s such an energy and new talent .
And I think there ’ s quite a few past political folks who are trying to find their place in this new political leadership , ” said Amanda Renteria , the political director of Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re just not constructive from a party perspective .
But you ask any of those women who have been in an arena .
They ’ re well prepared for that kind of treatment , because they ’ ve been experiencing it their entire life.
” Throughout Biden ’ s search there has been familiar scrutiny of potential running mates , such as past comments the California congresswoman Karen Bass has made in praise of Scientology .
Still , Bass has emphasized that she does not “ envision ” herself as president , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contrast with Harris .
The congresswoman pushed back on the narrative , saying she refuses to be pitted against Harris or any other woman in contention for the vice presidency .
“ Don ’ t call me the anti-Kamala , ” she said during an interview with The Breakfast Club on Friday .
Bass and Harris spoke privately at the memorial service for the congressman John Lewis in Washington last week .
“ It was good , ” Bass said of their conversation .
“ She said ‘ We ain ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then there are the observations and critiques that do not usually emerge when men are being vetted , and that are familiar to women in the workplace from the boardroom to the factory floor .
The former Pennsylvania governor , Ed Rendell , told CNN that Harris can “ rub some people the wrong way.
” And in an interview with the Washington Post , he said he noticed that the Obama national security adviser Susan Rice ’ s political stock was rising because she smiled during a TV appearance – “ something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that readily ” – and was “ actually somewhat charming ” in her television appearances .
“ You ’ re going to get that .
That ’ s Ed .
He has not changed .
So you ’ re going to get those kinds of comments from him , ” said Susan Turnbull , a former Maryland Democratic Party chairwoman and former Democratic National Committee vice-chair .
“ I think that women in particular are looking at this right now , going : ‘ Just stop it .
Don ’ t we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” “ Am I shocked ?
No , ” Kathleen Sebelius , the former Kansas governor , said .
“ Any woman who has been in office or run before has heard similar comments along the way .
They weren ’ t helpful then , they aren ’ t helpful now .
Though the jockeying has intensified in recent days , gender - and the enduring stereotypes of women and power - have shaped the process since the moment Biden eliminated half the population from contention .
Early on , Stacey Abrams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia , was chided for publicly campaigning for the role of vice-president .
“ I would be an excellent running mate , ” she told Elle Magazine , unapologetically making the case for her candidacy .
The Biden campaign has largely declined to engage in the public backbiting .
But following the comments about Harris ’ ambition , campaign manager Jennifer O ’ Malley Dillon pushed back .
“ Ambitious women make history , change the world , and win , ” she wrote on twitter .
“ There are a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes , ambitious women up to the task of working alongside him every day to win this race and unite our country , ” she added in a fundraising email to supporters this week .
Harris , too , responded during an appearance at the Black Girls Lead 2020 conference .
“ There will be a resistance to your ambition , ” she said .
“ There will be people who say to you , ‘ You are out of your lane.
” There is a long history of disparaging women who seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But many Democratic women have found the suggestion especially galling in light of Biden ’ s own rise to the vice-presidency .
“ The point of being VP is that you ’ re next in line to being president , ” said Katherine Grainger , a partner at Civitas Public Affairs Group , and a co-founder of the women ’ s advocacy organization SuperMajority .
“ If we just look at Biden , he ran for president in 1988 and ran again in 2008 against Obama , and yet when he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was too ambitious to have that job.
” When women run for office , they disrupt a “ patriarchal order ” that has helped preserve a male-dominated status quo , Grainger said .
Yet she is hopeful that elevating a woman to the vice-presidency could help shatter some of the old stereotypes that continue to constrain female candidates , more than 100 years after women won the right to vote in the United States .
“ Women are constantly walking this tightrope of being the most qualified but also likable or tough ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compassionate , ” she said .
“ What it creates is a structure where you never really see the authenticity of female candidates , because quite frankly they ’ re not allowed to be themselves.
” For some , it shows how many sexist barriers still exist in American politics .
“ All over the world , we ’ ve seen countries elect female leaders and yet for the United States it is still a barrier , ” said Donna Brazile , a former Democratic National Committee chair .
“ In this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates to be taken seriously , and to be treated as equals when it comes to their qualifications , their experience , and then knowledge of the issues and the political terrain.
” Brazile said the vice-presidential nomination in an opportunity to break “ two glass ceilings ” for women and Black women .
“ I ’ m proud of the progress we ’ ve made but the progress has been slow , ” she said .
“ We need to hurry history .
”

Daniel Strauss and Lauren Gambino in Washington

The final weeks of Joe Biden’s search for a running mate have had all the usual trimmings: leaks from unnamed Democratic party officials, last-minute suggestions of outsider names and a trail of vague hints from the candidate himself.
But this year is different. Biden promised to select a female running mate, setting up a historic nomination process that many prominent Democratic women say is being overshadowed by the increasingly nasty – and unmistakably sexist – debate over who he should choose.
“Even in this moment of women ascending to heights that we never have in our country’s history, it’s still really being talked about and debated through the lens of a man,” said Jess Morales Rocketto, the executive director at Care in Action, a non-profit group that advocates for domestic workers.
In the last week, prominent Democratic men, campaign advisers and anonymous donors have suggested that Senator Kamala Harris, a top candidate for vice-president, was too ambitious and questioned her likability.
The former Connecticut senator Chris Dodd, a member of Biden’s vice-presidential vetting team, was also reportedly bothered by the lack of contrition Harris expressed over a blistering attack on Biden during an early Democratic debate – an odd point of caution for a candidate who has been in politics for decades and seen his share of heated fights. Dodd’s younger days as a partier and his history with women have also come into question during the process.
Overall, this year’s vetting period has been cast with a sense of Democratic elders critiquing potential running mates for Biden with the same stereotypical criticisms men too often lob at women.
Biden is reportedly now moving toward the final phase of his selection process. Jill Biden told Fox News on Tuesday that her husband was “close” to making a decision. An announcement is expected in the coming days.
Biden is expected to name his running mate in the coming weeks, a historic choice that he has said is certain to be a woman. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP
His selection has historic implications. Although two women have previously been nominated for vice-president, there has never been a female vice-president, and an African American woman has never been chosen as the running mate of a presidential nominee from a major US political party. If Biden wins, his pick will be poised as a frontrunner for the nomination for president in the future.
Many Democratic women with extensive experience in party politics say the remarks, while not surprising, are deeply offensive and mar a vetting process that they hoped would be celebrated for its diversity.
LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of Black Voters Matter, said she has been “appalled” by the “racist, sexist tropes” used by party leaders and elected officials to undermine female candidates for vice-president, particularly women of color.
“Being a Black woman with ambition is not a problem when it’s in the service of others,” Brown said, adding: “Black women have always been on the vanguard of fighting for our democracy, and we will continue to do so. But we will also hold accountable anyone who seeks to marginalize our contributions, our intellect or our electability. This is not going to be tolerated.”
The best way for Biden to show he condemns these remarks, she said, would be to put a Black woman on the ticket.
The comments have also exposed a generational divide between an old guard of white, mostly male leaders and a new cohort of diverse, trailblazing women who are increasingly ascendant in the party.
“A new generation has arrived. It’s really interesting this cycle where there’s such an energy and new talent. And I think there’s quite a few past political folks who are trying to find their place in this new political leadership,” said Amanda Renteria, the political director of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.
Renteria added: “They’re just not constructive from a party perspective. But you ask any of those women who have been in an arena. They’re well prepared for that kind of treatment, because they’ve been experiencing it their entire life.”
Throughout Biden’s search there has been familiar scrutiny of potential running mates, such as past comments the California congresswoman Karen Bass has made in praise of Scientology.
Still, Bass has emphasized that she does not “envision” herself as president, which some viewed as an effort to draw a contrast with Harris. The congresswoman, however, said she refuses to be pitted against Harris or any other woman in contention for the vice-presidency.
“Don’t call me the anti-Kamala,” she said during an interview with The Breakfast Club on Friday.
Bass and Harris spoke privately at the memorial service for the congressman John Lewis in Washington last week. “It was good,” Bass said of their conversation. “She said: ‘We ain’t doing that.’ It was fine.”
Then there are the observations and critiques that do not usually emerge when men are being vetted, and that are familiar to women in the workplace from the boardroom to the factory floor.
Any woman who has been in office or run before has heard similar comments. They weren’t helpful then, they aren’t helpful now Kathleen Sebelius, former Kansas governor
The former Pennsylvania governor, Ed Rendell, told CNN that Harris can “rub some people the wrong way”. And in an interview with the Washington Post, he said he noticed that the Obama national security adviser Susan Rice’s political stock was rising because she smiled during a TV appearance – “something that she doesn’t do all that readily” – and was “actually somewhat charming” in her television appearances.
“You’re going to get that. That’s Ed. He has not changed. So you’re going to get those kinds of comments from him,” said Susan Turnbull, a former Maryland Democratic party chairwoman and former Democratic National Committee vice-chair. “I think that women in particular are looking at this right now, going: ‘Just stop it. Don’t we have something better to be talking about?’”
“Am I shocked? No,” Kathleen Sebelius, the former Kansas governor, said. “Any woman who has been in office or run before has heard similar comments along the way. They weren’t helpful then, they aren’t helpful now.”
Though the jockeying has intensified in recent days, gender – and the enduring stereotypes of women and power – has shaped the process since the moment Biden eliminated half the population from contention.
Early on, Stacey Abrams, the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor in Georgia, was chided for publicly campaigning for the role of vice-president. “I would be an excellent running mate,” she told Elle Magazine, unapologetically making the case for her candidacy.
The Biden campaign has largely declined to engage in the public backbiting. But following the comments about Harris’s ambition, the campaign manager, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, spoke out. “Ambitious women make history, change the world, and win,” she wrote on Twitter.
Ambitious women make history, change the world, and win. Our campaign is full of ambitious women going all out for Joe Biden. He will make this decision, and this is clear: whoever he chooses from the very qualified options to help him win & unite the country, she'll be one too. — Jen O'Malley Dillon (@jomalleydillon) July 30, 2020
“There are a number of sharp, thoughtful, and, yes, ambitious women up to the task of working alongside him every day to win this race and unite our country,” she added in a fundraising email to supporters this week.
Harris, too, responded during an appearance at the Black Girls Lead 2020 conference.
“There will be a resistance to your ambition,” she said. “There will be people who say to you, ‘You are out of your lane.”
There is a long history of disparaging women who seek political power as “too ambitious”. But many Democratic women have found the suggestion especially galling in light of Biden’s own rise to the vice-presidency.
“The point of being VP is that you’re next in line to being president,” said Katherine Grainger, a partner at Civitas Public Affairs Group, and a co-founder of the women’s advocacy organization SuperMajority. “If we just look at Biden, he ran for president in 1988 and ran again in 2008 against Obama, and yet when he was chosen as the VP nobody said he was too ambitious to have that job.”
When women run for office, they disrupt a “patriarchal order” that has helped preserve a male-dominated status quo, Grainger said. Yet she is hopeful that elevating a woman to the vice-presidency could help shatter some of the old stereotypes that continue to constrain female candidates, more than 100 years after women won the right to vote in the United States.
“Women are constantly walking this tightrope of being the most qualified but also likable or tough; pretty and strong but also team-oriented and compassionate,” she said. “What it creates is a structure where you never really see the authenticity of female candidates, because quite frankly they’re not allowed to be themselves.”
For some, it shows how many sexist barriers still exist in American politics.
“All over the world, we’ve seen countries elect female leaders and yet for the United States it is still a barrier,” said Donna Brazile, a former Democratic National Committee chair. “In this country it is still a hurdle for women candidates to be taken seriously, and to be treated as equals when it comes to their qualifications, their experience, and then knowledge of the issues and the political terrain.”
Brazile said the vice-presidential nomination was an opportunity to break “two glass ceilings” for women and Black women.
“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made but the progress has been slow,” she said. “We need to hurry history.”


theguardian--2020-08-05--New York unveils landmark antitrust bill that makes it easier to sue tech giants

New York state is introducing a bill that would make it easier to sue big tech companies for alleged abuses of their monopoly powers .
New York is America ’ s financial center and one of its most important tech hubs .
If successfully passed , the law could serve as a model for future legislation across the country .
It also comes as a federal committee is conducting an anti-trust investigation into tech giants amid concerns that their unmatched market power is suppressing competition .
Bill S8700A , now being discussed by New York ’ s senate consumer protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s antiquated antitrust laws for the 21st century , said the bill ’ s sponsor , Senator Mike Gianaris .
“ Their power has grown to dangerous levels and we need to start reining them in , ” he said .
New York ’ s antitrust laws currently require two players to collaborate in a conspiracy to conduct anticompetitive behavior such as price setting .
In other cases companies may underprice products to the point where they are even incurring a loss just to drive others out of the market – anticompetitive behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently struggle to prosecute .
“ Our laws on antitrust in New York are a century old and they were built for a completely different economy , ” said Gianaris .
“ Much of the problem today in the 21st century is unilateral action by some of these behemoth tech companies and this bill would allow , for the first time , New York to engage in antitrust enforcement for unilateral action.
” The bill will probably be discussed when New York ’ s senate returns to work in August but is unlikely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the support of New York ’ s attorney general , Letitia James .
“ For more than 100 years , our antitrust laws have served as critical protection for consumers and small businesses from unchecked corporate power to choke off competition and limit consumer choice .
While our state ’ s antitrust laws remain essential to these protections , we support legislation to strengthen them further to meet the challenges of today ’ s economy , ” said James .
“ State Senator Gianaris ’ legislation is an important tool to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes a week after a heated exchange between the leaders of the US ’ s largest tech companies and the House committee investigating them .
At the hearing Apple , Amazon , Facebook and Google ’ s leaders were told they had “ too much power ” , are censoring political speech , spreading fake news and “ killing ” the engines of the American economy .
“ I was struck by the brazen tone of the witnesses , ” said Gianaris .
“ Some of the things they were admitting to appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws.
” Gianaris said states needed to take a lead while the federal government decides what , if any , action it will take .
“ Whether it ’ s the existing laws not being strong enough or the existing laws not being enforced , they clearly feel invulnerable .
That is a microcosm of the entire problem .
They have become too powerful economically which leads to them becoming too powerful politically and they feel like they can get away with things nobody else can , ” he said .
“ Everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really shines a light on that , ” he said .
So far Gianaris said the bill had received “ a very positive response .
I am anticipating movement on the bill in the next session .
“ One thing we know , and we have learnt this the hard way in the last four years , is that the states need to be prepared to step in when the federal government is not being aggressive enough .
This is clearly an example of that.
” Gianaris said it wasn ’ t too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s later than it should be .
These problems should have been addressed years ago.
” • None This article was amended on 5 August 2020 to correct the name of New York ’ s attorney general .

New York state is introducing a bill that would make it easier to sue big tech companies for alleged abuses of their monopoly powers.
New York is America’s financial center and one of its most important tech hubs. If successfully passed, the law could serve as a model for future legislation across the country. It also comes as a federal committee is conducting an anti-trust investigation into tech giants amid concerns that their unmatched market power is suppressing competition.
Bill S8700A, now being discussed by New York’s senate consumer protection committee, would update New York’s antiquated antitrust laws for the 21st century, said the bill’s sponsor, Senator Mike Gianaris.
“Their power has grown to dangerous levels and we need to start reining them in,” he said.
New York’s antitrust laws currently require two players to collaborate in a conspiracy to conduct anticompetitive behavior such as price setting. In other cases companies may underprice products to the point where they are even incurring a loss just to drive others out of the market – anticompetitive behavior that New York’s laws would currently struggle to prosecute.
“Our laws on antitrust in New York are a century old and they were built for a completely different economy,” said Gianaris. “Much of the problem today in the 21st century is unilateral action by some of these behemoth tech companies and this bill would allow, for the first time, New York to engage in antitrust enforcement for unilateral action.”
The bill will probably be discussed when New York’s senate returns to work in August but is unlikely to pass before next year. It has the support of New York’s attorney general, Letitia James.
“For more than 100 years, our antitrust laws have served as critical protection for consumers and small businesses from unchecked corporate power to choke off competition and limit consumer choice. While our state’s antitrust laws remain essential to these protections, we support legislation to strengthen them further to meet the challenges of today’s economy,” said James. “State Senator Gianaris’ legislation is an important tool to do just that.”
Gianaris’s bill comes a week after a heated exchange between the leaders of the US’s largest tech companies and the House committee investigating them. At the hearing Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google’s leaders were told they had “too much power”, are censoring political speech, spreading fake news and “killing” the engines of the American economy.
“I was struck by the brazen tone of the witnesses,” said Gianaris. “Some of the things they were admitting to appeared to me to be violations of existing laws.”
Gianaris said states needed to take a lead while the federal government decides what, if any, action it will take.
“Whether it’s the existing laws not being strong enough or the existing laws not being enforced, they clearly feel invulnerable. That is a microcosm of the entire problem. They have become too powerful economically which leads to them becoming too powerful politically and they feel like they can get away with things nobody else can,” he said.
“Everyone recognizes the problem. The federal hearing really shines a light on that,” he said. So far Gianaris said the bill had received “a very positive response. I am anticipating movement on the bill in the next session.
“One thing we know, and we have learnt this the hard way in the last four years, is that the states need to be prepared to step in when the federal government is not being aggressive enough. This is clearly an example of that.”
Gianaris said it wasn’t too late to act, “but it’s later than it should be. These problems should have been addressed years ago.”


theguardian--2020-08-05--Coups, lies, dirty tricks: The Police's Stewart Copeland on his CIA agent father

In 1986 , a 69-year-old Miles Axe Copeland Jr gave a memorable interview to Rolling Stone magazine .
His three sons were all music industry powerhouses – Stewart played drums in the Police , Miles III was their manager and Ian their booking agent – and Miles himself had been a jazz trumpet-player in his youth .
But the interview wasn ’ t about music .
The subject was his days as the CIA ’ s man in the Middle East between 1947 and 1957 , during which time he dined with President Nasser of Egypt , partied with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pioneer of “ dirty tricks ” , played a part in removing the leaders of Syria and Iran .
Inconveniently for his youngest son , he concluded the interview by implying that the Police were a psy-ops outfit who played shows to “ 70,000 young minds open to whatever the Police decide to put into them ” .
“ You know it got old Sting on a bad day , ” Stewart says , tickled by the memory .
“ He knew my father very well , and he regrets it now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was a CIA pawn.
” Stewart calls his dad , who died in 1991 , “ something of a wag – a bomb-thrower ” .
He was the kind of man the BBC would book for a late-night talk show to exasperate Tony Benn with an unapologetic defence of US realpolitik : “ There were those under whose skin he could successfully crawl.
” On a video call from his home in California , where he now writes operas after two decades of post-Police film scoring , Stewart appears to be his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ books and an exotic array of musical instruments , he ’ s a natural storyteller with a love of funny voices , florid vocabulary and wry asides , all delivered at high velocity and top volume as he bobs and weaves before the camera like a debonair boxer .
He tried to turn his father ’ s CIA years into a movie , but investors wanted to emphasise the Police connection and he didn ’ t , so it has mutated into a very entertaining nine-part podcast for Audible .
Miles Copeland Jr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1916 .
During the second world war he was a US agent stationed in London , where he was involved in the disinformation campaign preceding D-day , and married a Scottish intelligence agent called Lorraine Adie , who later became an archaeologist .
When the war ended , Miles became one of the CIA ’ s first recruits and was posted to Syria .
Though born in Virginia in 1952 , the youngest of four , Stewart spent his entire childhood and adolescence in Beirut and Cairo , and attributes his drumming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We felt underprivileged , ” he says , “ like we were missing out on this unattainable land of perfection where everything was shiny and modern and cool .
It wasn ’ t until we grew up that we realised , actually , the place that we lived had a lot of cultural advantages.
” After leaving the agency in 1957 , Miles became a well-paid consultant and conservative journalist .
Not until 1969 , when he published his bestseller The Game of Nations : The Amorality of Power Politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he ’ d been up to .
His children had been as oblivious to his clandestine activities as he had to Kim Philby ’ s .
Were they never bothered by the fact that their father had lied to them ?
“ He didn ’ t lie to us , ” Stewart corrects me sharply .
“ He just didn ’ t tell us the whole story .
But we never asked.
” And you never guessed ?
“ It may surprise you to know – and it surprises me to recall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it that much.
” Stewart thinks Miles would have disliked the title of My Dad the Spy ( “ He was kind of a snob in that regard – ‘ spy ’ was somehow déclassé ” ) but I don ’ t imagine he would have any other complaints .
While many musicians have unresolved issues with their fathers , Stewart , whose teenage rebellion lasted “ about 20 minutes ” , doesn ’ t have a bad word to say about his .
In the podcast ’ s dramatised recreations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charm that served Miles well as an agent and a parent .
For a man who led a double life , he was a remarkably consistent character .
“ Everything I learned at his knee in the family home was confirmed by the historians , ” says Stewart .
“ Not only was his nature described exactly as I remember him – a very jocular , cheerful , witty , charming man – but also the stories.
” When The Game of Nations came out , Stewart was a college student in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was mud due to a slew of ugly revelations .
Nonetheless , he thought his dad ’ s old job was “ cool ” and has never revised that opinion .
When he was in the Police , he says , it was never a major issue .
“ I think behind our backs people did write the Copeland brothers off as rightwing monsters , but I got on pretty well with everybody .
Decades later I remember hanging out with Rage Against the Machine and Zack [ de la Rocha ] was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other guys were friendly .
His main problem was that I played polo.
” Still , it must have been uncomfortable sometimes .
In that 1986 interview Miles said : “ My complaint has been that the CIA isn ’ t overthrowing enough anti-American governments or assassinating enough anti-American leaders , but I guess I ’ m getting old.
” Given that the Police were about to headline Amnesty International ’ s Conspiracy of Hope tour , wasn ’ t that a bit awkward ?
“ Oh , that ’ s right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stewart laughs before stopping himself .
“ Now I can sympathise with people from those countries who would not be amused by my father ’ s puckish sense of humour and would have every right to look askance at this messing with the destiny of their nations.
” The tone of the podcast , too , oscillates between playful and earnest .
The first few episodes present Miles as an Ian Fleming character in a Graham Greene world , buccaneering his way through the Levant .
Only later does Stewart confront the geopolitical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who blame his father for what later unfolded in Iran : no coup against prime minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953 , no tyrannical Shah , no Islamic revolution in 1979 .
Stewart hotly disagrees .
“ Guys , 70 years have gone by !
The current regime of Iran was not chosen by the CIA .
It ’ s what happened when the Iranians chose their system of governance .
For right or wrong , it ’ s theirs.
” But does he really think he can be impartial about his father ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When it comes to my father , you ’ re right , I can not be objective .
But I am interested in that region .
I ’ d say that 80 million Iranians are more in charge of their own country than three Americans.
” Stewart describes his father , approvingly , as Machiavellian .
Unlike his intellectual mentor James Burnham , Miles was less a fanatical cold warrior than a good soldier who took great pride , and no little pleasure , in serving US interests by any means necessary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was amoral .
So , too , despite the lofty public rhetoric , was US foreign policy .
“ My father ’ s view was that democracy was like two wolves and a sheep voting on what ’ s for dinner , ” says Stewart , “ and indeed in the Arab world it ’ s very much like that .
My father wasn ’ t in the business of exporting democracy .
He was in the business of getting the oil to the west by hook or by crook.
” Miles thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the White House .
“ Although engaged in the same skulduggery it was much less successful , ” says Stewart .
“ Kennedy , Nixon , they all fucked it up .
Kennedy didn ’ t understand the military jargon .
He didn ’ t understand that ‘ a fair possibility of success ’ means ‘ you ’ re fucked ’ .
” Things only got worse .
“ Instead of my father going in there and pulling some strings – a little bit of bribery here , a little bit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got a new guy in there who ’ s much more copacetic with our oil needs – decades later they went in and killed 100,000 Iraqis .
That ’ s .
Fucked .
Up.
” Of course , not everybody will condemn a war while absolving a coup , or make distinctions between different eras of CIA meddling .
My Dad the Spy features the voices of historians , including Iranians and Syrians , who can not forgive Miles Copeland Jr ’ s machinations and you can hear the filial loyalty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushes back .
Miles apparently had no regrets and Stewart has none on his behalf .
Can he see his father ’ s legacy clearly ?
Can any loving son or daughter ?
I ’ m not sure .
Our family histories are complicated enough without having to factor in the byzantine intricacies of the cold war .
Before he goes , Stewart says he hopes that Philby ’ s children will see this interview and get back in touch .
Having been childhood friends in Beirut until their father ’ s defection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a little hurt that one of them ghosted him a few years ago .
Then again , he adds , “ I appreciate that for that family it was not a matter of amusement as it is for me.
” • My Dad the Spy , an Audible Original Podcast , is available to download from Audible.co.uk

In 1986, a 69-year-old Miles Axe Copeland Jr gave a memorable interview to Rolling Stone magazine. His three sons were all music industry powerhouses – Stewart played drums in the Police, Miles III was their manager and Ian their booking agent – and Miles himself had been a jazz trumpet-player in his youth. But the interview wasn’t about music. The subject was his days as the CIA’s man in the Middle East between 1947 and 1957, during which time he dined with President Nasser of Egypt, partied with the Soviet spy Kim Philby and, as a pioneer of “dirty tricks”, played a part in removing the leaders of Syria and Iran. Inconveniently for his youngest son, he concluded the interview by implying that the Police were a psy-ops outfit who played shows to “70,000 young minds open to whatever the Police decide to put into them”.
“You know it got old Sting on a bad day,” Stewart says, tickled by the memory. “He knew my father very well, and he regrets it now but he took adversely the suggestion that he was a CIA pawn.”
A spy, and something of a wag … Miles Copeland Jr (right) in 1970 with Winston Churchill MP, a grandson of the wartime leader. Photograph: ANL/Rex/Shutterstock
Stewart calls his dad, who died in 1991, “something of a wag – a bomb-thrower”. He was the kind of man the BBC would book for a late-night talk show to exasperate Tony Benn with an unapologetic defence of US realpolitik: “There were those under whose skin he could successfully crawl.” On a video call from his home in California, where he now writes operas after two decades of post-Police film scoring, Stewart appears to be his father’s son. Surrounded by books and an exotic array of musical instruments, he’s a natural storyteller with a love of funny voices, florid vocabulary and wry asides, all delivered at high velocity and top volume as he bobs and weaves before the camera like a debonair boxer. He tried to turn his father’s CIA years into a movie, but investors wanted to emphasise the Police connection and he didn’t, so it has mutated into a very entertaining nine-part podcast for Audible.
I remember hanging out with Rage Against the Machine and Zack de la Rocha was looking at me pretty funny. His main problem was that I played polo
Miles Copeland Jr was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1916. During the second world war he was a US agent stationed in London, where he was involved in the disinformation campaign preceding D-day, and married a Scottish intelligence agent called Lorraine Adie, who later became an archaeologist. When the war ended, Miles became one of the CIA’s first recruits and was posted to Syria. Though born in Virginia in 1952, the youngest of four, Stewart spent his entire childhood and adolescence in Beirut and Cairo, and attributes his drumming style to his immersion in Arabic rhythms. “We felt underprivileged,” he says, “like we were missing out on this unattainable land of perfection where everything was shiny and modern and cool. It wasn’t until we grew up that we realised, actually, the place that we lived had a lot of cultural advantages.”
After leaving the agency in 1957, Miles became a well-paid consultant and conservative journalist. Not until 1969, when he published his bestseller The Game of Nations: The Amorality of Power Politics, did Miles’s offspring finally discover what he’d been up to. His children had been as oblivious to his clandestine activities as he had to Kim Philby’s.
A bit awkward? … Stewart Copeland of the Police on the Amnesty International benefit tour in Chicago in 1986. Photograph: Paul Natkin/WireImage
Were they never bothered by the fact that their father had lied to them? “He didn’t lie to us,” Stewart corrects me sharply. “He just didn’t tell us the whole story. But we never asked.”
And you never guessed?
“It may surprise you to know – and it surprises me to recall – that we didn’t think about it that much.”
Stewart thinks Miles would have disliked the title of My Dad the Spy (“He was kind of a snob in that regard – ‘spy’ was somehow déclassé”) but I don’t imagine he would have any other complaints. While many musicians have unresolved issues with their fathers, Stewart, whose teenage rebellion lasted “about 20 minutes”, doesn’t have a bad word to say about his. In the podcast’s dramatised recreations, actor Kerry Shale captures the sly southern charm that served Miles well as an agent and a parent. For a man who led a double life, he was a remarkably consistent character.
“Everything I learned at his knee in the family home was confirmed by the historians,” says Stewart. “Not only was his nature described exactly as I remember him – a very jocular, cheerful, witty, charming man – but also the stories.”
When The Game of Nations came out, Stewart was a college student in the US and the CIA’s reputation was mud due to a slew of ugly revelations. Nonetheless, he thought his dad’s old job was “cool” and has never revised that opinion. When he was in the Police, he says, it was never a major issue. “I think behind our backs people did write the Copeland brothers off as rightwing monsters, but I got on pretty well with everybody. Decades later I remember hanging out with Rage Against the Machine and Zack [de la Rocha] was looking at me pretty funny but the other guys were friendly. His main problem was that I played polo.”
Reunion … Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers of the Police perform in Hyde Park, London, in 2008. Photograph: Pete Still/Redferns
Still, it must have been uncomfortable sometimes. In that 1986 interview Miles said: “My complaint has been that the CIA isn’t overthrowing enough anti-American governments or assassinating enough anti-American leaders, but I guess I’m getting old.” Given that the Police were about to headline Amnesty International’s Conspiracy of Hope tour, wasn’t that a bit awkward?
“Oh, that’s right, my father’s gag,” Stewart laughs before stopping himself. “Now I can sympathise with people from those countries who would not be amused by my father’s puckish sense of humour and would have every right to look askance at this messing with the destiny of their nations.”
The tone of the podcast, too, oscillates between playful and earnest. The first few episodes present Miles as an Ian Fleming character in a Graham Greene world, buccaneering his way through the Levant. Only later does Stewart confront the geopolitical implications and talk to Middle Eastern historians who blame his father for what later unfolded in Iran: no coup against prime minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953, no tyrannical Shah, no Islamic revolution in 1979. Stewart hotly disagrees.
“Guys, 70 years have gone by! The current regime of Iran was not chosen by the CIA. It’s what happened when the Iranians chose their system of governance. For right or wrong, it’s theirs.”
But does he really think he can be impartial about his father’s role in the region?
“When it comes to my father, you’re right, I cannot be objective. But I am interested in that region. I’d say that 80 million Iranians are more in charge of their own country than three Americans.”
The Observer newspaper dated 26 May 1985, with a report on how MI6 and CIA joined forces to plot the 1953 Iran coup. Photograph: The Observer
Stewart describes his father, approvingly, as Machiavellian. Unlike his intellectual mentor James Burnham, Miles was less a fanatical cold warrior than a good soldier who took great pride, and no little pleasure, in serving US interests by any means necessary. A good agent, he maintained, was amoral. So, too, despite the lofty public rhetoric, was US foreign policy.
“My father’s view was that democracy was like two wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner,” says Stewart, “and indeed in the Arab world it’s very much like that. My father wasn’t in the business of exporting democracy. He was in the business of getting the oil to the west by hook or by crook.”
Miles thought the CIA went downhill after Dwight Eisenhower left the White House. “Although engaged in the same skulduggery it was much less successful,” says Stewart. “Kennedy, Nixon, they all fucked it up. Kennedy didn’t understand the military jargon. He didn’t understand that ‘a fair possibility of success’ means ‘you’re fucked’.” Things only got worse. “Instead of my father going in there and pulling some strings – a little bit of bribery here, a little bit of disinformation there, and hey, we’ve got a new guy in there who’s much more copacetic with our oil needs – decades later they went in and killed 100,000 Iraqis. That’s. Fucked. Up.”
Of course, not everybody will condemn a war while absolving a coup, or make distinctions between different eras of CIA meddling. My Dad the Spy features the voices of historians, including Iranians and Syrians, who cannot forgive Miles Copeland Jr’s machinations and you can hear the filial loyalty in Stewart’s voice when he pushes back. Miles apparently had no regrets and Stewart has none on his behalf. Can he see his father’s legacy clearly? Can any loving son or daughter? I’m not sure. Our family histories are complicated enough without having to factor in the byzantine intricacies of the cold war.
Before he goes, Stewart says he hopes that Philby’s children will see this interview and get back in touch. Having been childhood friends in Beirut until their father’s defection to the USSR in 1963, he’s a little hurt that one of them ghosted him a few years ago. Then again, he adds, “I appreciate that for that family it was not a matter of amusement as it is for me.”


theguardian--2020-08-05--The outrage over Bill Clinton's links to Epstein exposes the hypocrisy of the rightwing media | Arwa

The outrage over Bill Clinton's links to Epstein exposes the hypocrisy of the rightwing media | Arwa Mahdawi

Donald Trump ’ s supporters are often dismissed as violent misogynists , but nothing could be further than the truth .
There is no one more feminist , no one more concerned about survivors of sexual abuse , than a Trump supporter who spies an opportunity to “ own the libs ” .
When Joe Biden was accused of sexual assault by a former staffer earlier this year , for example , the claim was immediately weaponised by the same people who were unmoved by analogous allegations against Trump .
When the Ghislaine Maxwell court documents revealed last week that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have seen Bill Clinton on Epstein ’ s island ( he denies ever being there ) , it was a similar story .
The same people who have played down Trump ’ s ties to Epstein – whom the president once called “ terrific ” – were very worked up about the Clinton connection : # clintonisapedo started trending on Twitter as Trump supporters accused the liberal media of protecting the former president .
“ CNN , MSNBC , The New York Times and The Washington Post have COMPLETELY IGNORED the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epstein , ” Bill Mitchell , a rightwing pundit , tweeted on Monday .
A Fox News article complained that MSNBC and CNN “ offered little to no on-air coverage of the release of damning documents that tie ” Clinton to Epstein .
Donald Trump Jr , meanwhile , retweeted a post asking why Clinton being spotted on Epstein ’ s island was not getting “ 24/7 SATURATION COVERAGE ” ?
Contrary to the accusations of obfuscation , there has been rather a lot of coverage of Clinton ’ s Epstein connections in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is rather rich of Fox News to complain about biased media coverage when last month it “ accidentally ” cropped Trump out of a photo of Epstein and Maxwell .
This is not a defence of Clinton .
He does not have a stellar reputation when it comes to women and questions must continue to be asked about his involvement with Epstein .
Sexual abuse is not a partisan issue and there is a special place in hell for anyone who treats it as such .

Donald Trump’s supporters are often dismissed as violent misogynists, but nothing could be further than the truth. There is no one more feminist, no one more concerned about survivors of sexual abuse, than a Trump supporter who spies an opportunity to “own the libs”.
When Joe Biden was accused of sexual assault by a former staffer earlier this year, for example, the claim was immediately weaponised by the same people who were unmoved by analogous allegations against Trump. When the Ghislaine Maxwell court documents revealed last week that the Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre claims to have seen Bill Clinton on Epstein’s island (he denies ever being there), it was a similar story. The same people who have played down Trump’s ties to Epstein – whom the president once called “terrific” – were very worked up about the Clinton connection: #clintonisapedo started trending on Twitter as Trump supporters accused the liberal media of protecting the former president.
“CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times and The Washington Post have COMPLETELY IGNORED the recent court doc story tying Bill Clinton to Epstein,” Bill Mitchell, a rightwing pundit, tweeted on Monday. A Fox News article complained that MSNBC and CNN “offered little to no on-air coverage of the release of damning documents that tie” Clinton to Epstein. Donald Trump Jr, meanwhile, retweeted a post asking why Clinton being spotted on Epstein’s island was not getting “24/7 SATURATION COVERAGE”?
Contrary to the accusations of obfuscation, there has been rather a lot of coverage of Clinton’s Epstein connections in the mainstream media. In any case, it is rather rich of Fox News to complain about biased media coverage when last month it “accidentally” cropped Trump out of a photo of Epstein and Maxwell.
This is not a defence of Clinton. He does not have a stellar reputation when it comes to women and questions must continue to be asked about his involvement with Epstein. Sexual abuse is not a partisan issue and there is a special place in hell for anyone who treats it as such.


theguardian--2020-08-06--How did President Trump get his pandemic response so wrong?

While Donald Trump continues to claim the US is ‘ doing very well ’ in its fight against Covid-19 , the figures suggest a different story .
The US has the highest mortality rate in the world , with over 160,000 deaths .
Guardian US chief reporter Ed Pilkington examines how Trump got it wrong On Monday , the US surpassed 4.7m confirmed cases of infection – more than a quarter of the global total .
The death rate , which has now passed over 160,000 , is the highest in the world and continues to rise .
Despite this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has claimed that under his leadership the US is “ doing very well ” .
Guardian US chief reporter Ed Pilkington tells Mythili Rao why the US , which was once ranked the most prepared country in the world for a potential pandemic , has failed to contain the spread of Covid-19 .
Ed discusses how Trump ’ s flawed style of leadership , his messaging and his disregard for science , along with his failure to implement a unified national approach to the virus has left the country in a perilous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s handling of the crisis will affect his run for re-election .

Presented by Mythili Rao with Ed Pilkington, produced by Joshua Kelly and Axel Kacoutié; executive producers Nicole Jackson and Phil Maynard

While Donald Trump continues to claim the US is ‘doing very well’ in its fight against Covid-19, the figures suggest a different story. The US has the highest death toll in the world, with over 150,000 deaths. Guardian US chief reporter Ed Pilkington examines how Trump got it wrong
On Monday, the US surpassed 4.7m confirmed cases of infection – more than a quarter of the global total. The death toll, which has now passed over 150,000, is the highest in the world and continues to rise. Despite this, the US president, Donald Trump, has claimed that under his leadership the US is “doing very well”.
Guardian US chief reporter Ed Pilkington tells Mythili Rao why the US, which was once ranked the most prepared country in the world for a potential pandemic, has failed to contain the spread of Covid-19. Ed discusses how Trump’s flawed style of leadership, his messaging and his disregard for science, along with his failure to implement a unified national approach to the virus has left the country in a perilous position. He also examines how Trump’s handling of the crisis will affect his run for re-election
This text was amended on 6 August 2020 to change references to “death rate” to “death toll”


theguardian--2020-08-06--'I don't care': young TikTokers unfazed by US furor over data collection

Mauren Sparrow downloaded TikTok in March to pass the time during lockdown .
Since then she ’ s posted tutorials on crafting and videos of her two cats , Calcifer and Jiji , some of which have accrued millions of views and likes .
But with the Chinese-owned app now under fire over data privacy concerns , Sparrow , 29 , and other young users have reacted with a resounding shrug .
“ I don ’ t really care that these corporations have my data as long as I know they have it , ” Sparrow says .
“ At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to all social networks having all of my data that I feel it ’ s just the price I have to pay to connect with others.
” TikTok ’ s future has been in flux for weeks after the US secretary of state , Mike Pompeo , hinted at a potential ban in early July .
Most recently , Donald Trump approved of Microsoft ’ s efforts to acquire a part of TikTok ’ s business , but only if the deal was completed by 15 September .
A price has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 10bn .
Threats of action against the app – which some US authorities fear could share user data with the Chinese government – sent shockwaves through the TikTok community , with many content creators rushing to launch live streams to direct followers to alternative platforms .
Videos reacting to the potential ban ranged from technical tips on how to evade it , to anger at Trump , to indifference over data privacy .
“ Am I the only one who doesn ’ t care if China collects my data ?
” a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Let [ the Chinese government ] have my data .
They know me better than I know myself , ” another joked .
TikTok is one of the world ’ s most popular apps and has been downloaded roughly 2bn times , meaning a ban would not be easy , or popular .
Forty-seven per cent of millennials and 59 % of Gen Z – the biggest demographic on the platform – said the app should not be banned .
Meanwhile , 25 % of Gen Z users said they would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US banned it .
Just 9 % said a ban would make them less likely to use it , according to a US survey from the market research firm Morning Consult .
“ I think that there would be a riot if TikTok were somehow truly banned in this country , ” Sparrow said .
The debate over TikTok ’ s future has also underscored the generational divide between the lawmakers legislating technology platforms and the people who use them .
For Gen Z , which has grown up on Facebook , Snapchat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected is a given .
TikTok in particular thrives on oversharing , with young people using music to share embarrassing stories and photos of themselves , to the tune of millions of likes and comments .
“ Some of you are too comfortable on here ” is a common refrain in the comments of videos .
On a more fundamental level , most do not believe they have the choice to opt out of data collection , said Josh Golin , the executive director of the non-profit Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people a choice between protecting their privacy by getting off social media or staying on social media , they will stay , ” he said .
“ But what if you had a choice to be both on social media and have your privacy protected ?
” With a historic hearing involving big tech firms last month and new data privacy laws in California and Europe , there have been incremental steps towards that goal .
But many users are not in a hurry to force companies to change their data practices .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of targeted advertising and less bothered by surveillance .
While 46 % of Gen X and 45 % of millennials are concerned companies will use their data against them , just 37 % of Gen Z is worried , according to a 2019 survey from the marketing firm Mobile Marketer .
Annie , a 19-year-old TikTok user who downloaded the app to pass the time during quarantine and now uses it daily , said she finds the US government ’ s focus on China “ ridiculous ” when US companies “ do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is collected by endless amounts of private corporations who just sell our details to the highest bidder , ” said Annie , who asked to use a pseudonym to protect her privacy .
“ It feels a bit ridiculous to worry solely about China when it seems everyone is literally recording us as we grow up.
” A spokeswoman from TikTok told the Guardian the company ’ s security team was led by an experienced , US-based chief information security officer with “ decades of industry and US law enforcement experience ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US , she added , with strict controls on employee access .
The company has also released a series of informational videos on the app about how to keep user data private and secure .
“ Protecting the privacy of our users ’ data is critical to TikTok , ” she said .
“ We know it ’ s not enough to build strong security protections ; we ’ re also educating our community.
” TikTok does collect user data , but not significantly more than many US-based apps .
While there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – such as whether its content could be influenced by censorship in China or how securely the platform is coded – some have speculated that Trump is targeting TikTok in retaliation for his Tulsa rally , during which TikTok users organized campaigns to book tickets en masse then fail to show up , leaving thousands of seats empty .
Stunts like these , coupled with the app ’ s popularity in an election year , could make TikTok seem like a threat to the administration , said Ari Lightman , a professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University .
“ There is a conservative side of TikTok , but the use of the platform for organizing , activating the masses and doing things to mess with the Trump administration is apparent , ” he said .
But while legislators continue to fret , young users remain defiant about their plans to stay on the platform .
Nicole , a 16-year-old who lives in San Diego and uses TikTok as much as five hours a day , said she used it to stay connected with friends – especially during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if Trump tried to ban it.
” She said her algorithm was geared toward her interests in spirituality , motivational videos and comedy and said TikTok “ has allowed people from different parts of the world to connect in ways I didn ’ t think was possible .
“ It made us realize things we thought made us strange or weird were more common than what we thought .
It is a place where you can find other people think like you .
”

Mauren Sparrow downloaded TikTok in March to pass the time during lockdown. Since then she’s posted tutorials on crafting and videos of her two cats, Calcifer and Jiji, some of which have accrued millions of views and likes.
But with the Chinese-owned app now under fire over data privacy concerns, Sparrow, 29, and other young users have reacted with a resounding shrug.
I’m so used to all social networks having my data that I feel it’s just the price I have to pay to connect with others Mauren Sparrow, TikTok user
“I don’t really care that these corporations have my data as long as I know they have it,” Sparrow says. “At this point, I’m so used to all social networks having all of my data that I feel it’s just the price I have to pay to connect with others.”
TikTok’s future has been in flux for weeks after the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, hinted at a potential ban in early July. Most recently, Donald Trump approved of Microsoft’s efforts to acquire a part of TikTok’s business, but only if the deal was completed by 15 September. A price has not yet been arrived at but could top $10bn.
Threats of action against the app – which some US authorities fear could share user data with the Chinese government – sent shockwaves through the TikTok community, with many content creators rushing to launch live streams to direct followers to alternative platforms. Videos reacting to the potential ban ranged from technical tips on how to evade it, to anger at Trump, to indifference over data privacy.
“Am I the only one who doesn’t care if China collects my data?” a user in one viral video stated. “Let [the Chinese government] have my data. They know me better than I know myself,” another joked.
TikTok is one of the world’s most popular apps and has been downloaded roughly 2bn times, meaning a ban would not be easy, or popular. Forty-seven per cent of millennials and 59% of Gen Z – the biggest demographic on the platform – said the app should not be banned. Meanwhile, 25% of Gen Z users said they would be more likely to use TikTok if the US banned it. Just 9% said a ban would make them less likely to use it, according to a US survey from the market research firm Morning Consult.
“I think that there would be a riot if TikTok were somehow truly banned in this country,” Sparrow said.
The debate over TikTok’s future has also underscored the generational divide between the lawmakers legislating technology platforms and the people who use them. For Gen Z, which has grown up on Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, having their personal data collected is a given. TikTok in particular thrives on oversharing, with young people using music to share embarrassing stories and photos of themselves, to the tune of millions of likes and comments. “Some of you are too comfortable on here” is a common refrain in the comments of videos.
On a more fundamental level, most do not believe they have the choice to opt out of data collection, said Josh Golin, the executive director of the non-profit Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood.
“If you gave most young people a choice between protecting their privacy by getting off social media or staying on social media, they will stay,” he said. “But what if you had a choice to be both on social media and have your privacy protected?”
With a historic hearing involving big tech firms last month and new data privacy laws in California and Europe, there have been incremental steps towards that goal. But many users are not in a hurry to force companies to change their data practices. Studies show Gen Z is more tolerant of targeted advertising and less bothered by surveillance. While 46% of Gen X and 45% of millennials are concerned companies will use their data against them, just 37% of Gen Z is worried, according to a 2019 survey from the marketing firm Mobile Marketer.
It feels ridiculous to worry about China when it seems everyone is literally recording us as we grow up Annie, 19-year-old TikTok user
Annie, a 19-year-old TikTok user who downloaded the app to pass the time during quarantine and now uses it daily, said she finds the US government’s focus on China “ridiculous” when US companies “do the same”.
“Our personal data is collected by endless amounts of private corporations who just sell our details to the highest bidder,” said Annie, who asked to use a pseudonym to protect her privacy. “It feels a bit ridiculous to worry solely about China when it seems everyone is literally recording us as we grow up.”
A spokeswoman from TikTok told the Guardian the company’s security team was led by an experienced, US-based chief information security officer with “decades of industry and US law enforcement experience”. All US user data was stored in the US, she added, with strict controls on employee access. The company has also released a series of informational videos on the app about how to keep user data private and secure.
While legislators worry, young users remain defiant about their plans to stay on the platform. Photograph: Rishi Deka/ZUMA Wire/REX/Shutterstock
“Protecting the privacy of our users’ data is critical to TikTok,” she said. “We know it’s not enough to build strong security protections; we’re also educating our community.”
TikTok does collect user data, but not significantly more than many US-based apps. While there are some legitimate concerns about the app – such as whether its content could be influenced by censorship in China or how securely the platform is coded – some have speculated that Trump is targeting TikTok in retaliation for his Tulsa rally, during which TikTok users organized campaigns to book tickets en masse then fail to show up, leaving thousands of seats empty.
Stunts like these, coupled with the app’s popularity in an election year, could make TikTok seem like a threat to the administration, said Ari Lightman, a professor of digital media and marketing at Carnegie Mellon University.
“There is a conservative side of TikTok, but the use of the platform for organizing, activating the masses and doing things to mess with the Trump administration is apparent,” he said.
But while legislators continue to fret, young users remain defiant about their plans to stay on the platform.
Nicole, a 16-year-old who lives in San Diego and uses TikTok as much as five hours a day, said she used it to stay connected with friends – especially during the pandemic. “I wouldn’t leave even if Trump tried to ban it.”
She said her algorithm was geared toward her interests in spirituality, motivational videos and comedy and said TikTok “has allowed people from different parts of the world to connect in ways I didn’t think was possible.
“It made us realize things we thought made us strange or weird were more common than what we thought. It is a place where you can find other people think like you.”


theguardian--2020-08-05--Iowa ends lifetime voting ban on people with felony convictions

Iowa ’ s governor signed an executive order on Wednesday ending the state ’ s lifetime voting ban for anyone with a felony conviction , a historic move because Iowa was the only state in the country enforcing such a severe policy .
The order from Kim Reynolds , a Republican , allows people with felony convictions to vote once they complete their sentences , including parole and probation .
“ Today we take a significant step forward in acknowledging the importance of redemption , second chances and the need to address inequalities in our justice system , ” Reynolds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to vote is the cornerstone of society and the free republic in which we live .
When someone serves their sentence , they should have their right to vote restored automatically.
” The order is a major victory for Black Lives Matter activists , who for months protested at the state capitol and pushed Reynolds to quickly sign an order .
Roughly 52,000 people – including nearly 10 % of eligible African American voters – can not vote in Iowa because they have felony convictions , according to a 2016 estimate by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-profit .
Nearly 24,000 of those blocked from voting had completed their criminal sentences .
“ I ’ m thankful , ” said Robert Pate , who has a felony conviction and runs a mentorship and support group in Des Moines called Image 4 Lives .
“ People will feel more accepted coming out of prison .
People will get more involved with voting .
Of course we need more Black people voting , so this opens the door for that as well.
” Those convicted of certain offenses , including murder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a felony in Iowa – will not have their voting rights automatically restored .
But in a significant move , Reynolds said that those convicted of felonies do not have to repay financial obligations before they can vote again .
Similar requirements have been used in Florida and elsewhere to significantly limit who can vote .
Kentucky , Virginia and Florida have all ended blanket bans on felon voting in recent years amid wider recognition of the way they disproportionately prevent African Americans from voting , especially since the community is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with felon disenfranchisement have roots in the Jim Crow south and were deployed as part of a broader effort to limit Black political power after African Americans gained the right to vote in America .
“ It ’ s certainly been an embarrassment that we were the last state in the country to permanently ban people convicted of felonies from voting , ” said Mark Stringer , the executive director of the Iowa chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union .
Stringer said his group strongly welcomed the order , though they believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Because of the rather sweeping nature of this executive order , we think it will be relatively easy to communicate with folks who have felony convictions in their backgrounds that once you ’ ve completed your sentence , your voting eligibility has been restored , ” Stringer said .
Activists have a website where people with felony convictions can check their eligibility .
They are also running a social media and texting campaign to inform people about the changes , said Blair Bowie , an attorney at the Campaign Legal Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting rights to those with felonies .
Using an executive order to end lifetime disenfranchisement means the change in Iowa could be rescinded by any future governor .
There have been seesaws before ; in 2005 , Tom Vilsack , then Iowa ’ s Democratic governor , signed an executive order automatically restoring voting rights to those with felony convictions , but the order was rescinded by his Republican successor in 2011 .
In Virginia and Kentucky , governors also used executive orders to automatically restore voting rights .
The Iowa legislature , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass a constitutional amendment permanently ending the policy .
Reynolds said on Wednesday she would continue to push for an amendment making the change permanent .

Iowa’s governor signed an executive order on Wednesday ending the state’s lifetime voting ban for anyone with a felony conviction, a historic move because Iowa was the only state in the country enforcing such a severe policy.
The order from Kim Reynolds, a Republican, allows people with felony convictions to vote once they complete their sentences, including parole and probation.
“Today we take a significant step forward in acknowledging the importance of redemption, second chances and the need to address inequalities in our justice system,” Reynolds said in a statement. “The right to vote is the cornerstone of society and the free republic in which we live. When someone serves their sentence, they should have their right to vote restored automatically.”
The order is a major victory for Black Lives Matter activists, who for months protested at the state capitol and pushed Reynolds to quickly sign an order. Roughly 52,000 people – including nearly 10% of eligible African American voters – cannot vote in Iowa because they have felony convictions, according to a 2016 estimate by the Sentencing Project, a criminal justice non-profit. Nearly 24,000 of those blocked from voting had completed their criminal sentences.
“I’m thankful,” said Robert Pate, who has a felony conviction and runs a mentorship and support group in Des Moines called Image 4 Lives. “People will feel more accepted coming out of prison. People will get more involved with voting. Of course we need more Black people voting, so this opens the door for that as well.”
Those convicted of certain offenses, including murder, manslaughter and abortion after the second trimester – a felony in Iowa – will not have their voting rights automatically restored. But in a significant move, Reynolds said that those convicted of felonies do not have to repay financial obligations before they can vote again. Similar requirements have been used in Florida and elsewhere to significantly limit who can vote.
Kentucky, Virginia and Florida have all ended blanket bans on felon voting in recent years amid wider recognition of the way they disproportionately prevent African Americans from voting, especially since the community is also disproportionately incarcerated. Many state laws dealing with felon disenfranchisement have roots in the Jim Crow south and were deployed as part of a broader effort to limit Black political power after African Americans gained the right to vote in America.
“It’s certainly been an embarrassment that we were the last state in the country to permanently ban people convicted of felonies from voting,” said Mark Stringer, the executive director of the Iowa chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Stringer said his group strongly welcomed the order, though they believed no one should be exempt from it.
“Because of the rather sweeping nature of this executive order, we think it will be relatively easy to communicate with folks who have felony convictions in their backgrounds that once you’ve completed your sentence, your voting eligibility has been restored,” Stringer said.
Activists have a website where people with felony convictions can check their eligibility. They are also running a social media and texting campaign to inform people about the changes, said Blair Bowie, an attorney at the Campaign Legal Center, who works on efforts to restore voting rights to those with felonies.
Using an executive order to end lifetime disenfranchisement means the change in Iowa could be rescinded by any future governor. There have been seesaws before; in 2005, Tom Vilsack, then Iowa’s Democratic governor, signed an executive order automatically restoring voting rights to those with felony convictions, but the order was rescinded by his Republican successor in 2011. In Virginia and Kentucky, governors also used executive orders to automatically restore voting rights.
The Iowa legislature, controlled by Republicans, has blocked efforts to pass a constitutional amendment permanently ending the policy. Reynolds said on Wednesday she would continue to push for an amendment making the change permanent.