theguardian--2020-10-08--Mike Pence struggles to defend the indefensible and please his disastrous boss | Richard Wolffe

It ’ s rare that something unexpected and unrehearsed crosses Mike Pence ’ s head .
The sitting vice-president is a disciplined performer known to prep for his public moments , in stark contrast to his boss .
But as the vice-presidential debate neared its close , with the candidates tackling the challenges of racial justice , a dark object landed on his blanched white scalp .
Pence was expressing his faux sympathy for the family of Breonna Taylor , while also condemning the notion that America is systemically racist , when a large fly found the smell of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that decorates a dog run .
It was that kind of night for Mike Pence : a night to polish the turds of the Trump years .
When he ’ s not serving as a cardboard cutout smiling over Donald Trump ’ s shoulder , Mike Pence likes to play the role of a genial veterinarian delivering the sad news about your dead pet hamster .
Drained of all blood , the sitting vice-president doesn ’ t need a white coat to lament the nature of the world in front of him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pained reminder that all isn ’ t right with the world .
Until now , Pence has simply grieved for an America suffering from his fever dreams about the socialist threat .
But after four years inside a Trump White House , that suffering looks a little more real , and a lot more deadly .
The night did not start well for Pence because it started with the pandemic .
What else is there to debate ?
“ The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Kamala Harris , who consistently played the role of fly paper to the lies that have filled the air for the last four years .
Harris pointed out that , according to Bob Woodward , Trump knew about the threat of the pandemic back in late January .
“ They knew and they covered it up .
The president said it was a hoax .
They minimized the seriousness of it … Frankly , this administration has forfeited their right to re-election based on this.
” “ Our nation has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , ” lamented our vice-veterinarian .
“ But I want the American people to know that from the very first day , President Donald Trump has put the health of America first.
” This will be news to the families of more than 200,000 dead Americans , as well as the White House staff currently struggling with a president spreading a full viral load around the executive mansion and the West Wing .
Faced with this storm of excrement , Pence found his refuge hiding behind something he called “ the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the American people have done over these last several months hasn ’ t worked , that ’ s a great disservice to the sacrifices the American people have made , ” said Pence , as if his boss was the entire American population rolled into the Covid-filled body of a former reality TV star .
“ The American people I believe deserve credit for the sacrifices they have made for the health of their family , and their neighbors , our doctors , nurses , first responders.
” This kind of piously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the current vice-president but rather something he perfected as a talkshow radio host in Indiana in the late 1990s .
Pence styled himself as “ Rush Limbaugh on decaf ” which is just the kind of awshucks deception that is so vital to serving as a cardboard cutout behind Donald Trump ’ s shoulder .
You need a lot of decaf to pretend to be a Christian conservative while fawning over a president who pays off porn stars .
Four years ago , Pence ’ s skills as an un-drugged Limbaugh were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vice-presidential encounter that literally nobody remembers from the 2016 campaign .
For the record , Kaine came off hot and bothered , while Pence glided through the contest like a winged insect bouncing off the surface of a septic tank .
On Wednesday night , Pence faced a very different opponent .
Kamala Harris may be a senator , like Kaine , but otherwise the two Democratic veep candidates could not be more of a contrast .
Kaine speaks like a Jesuit missionary who became a lawyer , a mayor and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is socially conscious .
Harris is a Howard University graduate and career-long prosecutor .
She preps hard and she wins cases .
Kaine looked like he was suffering while Harris looked like she was having fun .
The sad truth of the veep debate is that , much like the job the candidates are auditioning for , the contest isn ’ t worth a bucket of warm piss .
It was FDR ’ s veep who said that , and – to prove his point – nobody can remember his name .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence versus Harris is somehow different , like everything else in this year from hell .
Pence , after all , led the coronavirus taskforce that prayed away the pandemic so well .
No wonder his boss gasped on video , under a heavy coating of orange makeup , “ this was a blessing from God.
” Sitting behind a couple of Plexiglass barriers , to catch the divine-like virus , Pence had by far the hardest job on stage : to defend both his disastrous record , and to please his disastrous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a three-way contest , between Harris , Pence and Trump .
But only Pence cared about the Trump voice in his head .
And that astonishingly loud , gasping voice constantly distracted Pence from the contest on stage .
For starters , Trump – excluded for some weird reason from this TV show – could not shut his mouth on social media for the entire evening .
This was of course a repeat performance of his debate with Joe Biden last week .
It was also the unfortunate side-effect of large doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like the top of a Duracell .
Perhaps the incessant yapping was merely the latest sign of presidential insecurity about someone who is a heartbeat away from a Covid-infected septuagenarian ’ s job .
It does not take much imagination to conjure up a world in which Pence is sworn into the presidency just before the people kick him out of office .
For that matter , it isn ’ t far-fetched to worry about Joe Biden ’ s health either , as this pandemic rips through Washington DC , thanks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unseat .
This White House is responsible for 34 infected individuals all on its own , it emerged just before the veep debate .
When asked the tricky question about Trump ’ s health – and a possible Pence presidency – the vice-president ignored the subject as carefully as he has ignored the scientific advice on Covid .
“ Let me say , on behalf of the president and the first lady , how moved we have all been by the outpouring of prayers and concern for the president , ” Pence said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sincere outpouring of concern .
Kamala Harris proved , as she has all along , that she was more than equal to the task of appearing presidential – and dodging the pesky questions of a presidential debate .
When asked the same question , she pivoted neatly to turn the table back on Trump .
Should Biden reveal his health records ?
“ Absolutely , ” said Harris .
“ And that ’ s why Joe Biden has been so incredibly transparent .
And by contrast , the president has not .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also let ’ s look at in terms of taxes.
” In truth , both candidates were equally matched debaters .
Pence dodged everything about climate change .
Harris dodged everything about packing the supreme court .
What was unequal was that Pence had to defend the indefensible : a disastrous and preventable death toll , a collapsing economy and a Covid-infected president .
Trailing in every poll in every state that counts , Pence and Trump needed something to change on Wednesday night .
They needed Harris to flame out , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps forget how to speak .
Instead she punched and parried , and looked like she loved the spotlight as much as the fly that stuck to her opponent ’ s skull .

It’s rare that something unexpected and unrehearsed crosses Mike Pence’s head. The sitting vice-president is a disciplined performer known to prep for his public moments, in stark contrast to his boss.
But as the vice-presidential debate neared its close, with the candidates tackling the challenges of racial justice, a dark object landed on his blanched white scalp.
Pence was expressing his faux sympathy for the family of Breonna Taylor, while also condemning the notion that America is systemically racist, when a large fly found the smell of his words as attractive as the brown debris that decorates a dog run.
It was that kind of night for Mike Pence: a night to polish the turds of the Trump years.
When he’s not serving as a cardboard cutout smiling over Donald Trump’s shoulder, Mike Pence likes to play the role of a genial veterinarian delivering the sad news about your dead pet hamster.
Drained of all blood, the sitting vice-president doesn’t need a white coat to lament the nature of the world in front of him. The strained smile on his face is a pained reminder that all isn’t right with the world.
Until now, Pence has simply grieved for an America suffering from his fever dreams about the socialist threat. But after four years inside a Trump White House, that suffering looks a little more real, and a lot more deadly.
The night did not start well for Pence because it started with the pandemic. What else is there to debate?
“The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country,” said Kamala Harris, who consistently played the role of fly paper to the lies that have filled the air for the last four years.
Harris pointed out that, according to Bob Woodward, Trump knew about the threat of the pandemic back in late January. “They knew and they covered it up. The president said it was a hoax. They minimized the seriousness of it … Frankly, this administration has forfeited their right to re-election based on this.”
“Our nation has gone through a very challenging time this year,” lamented our vice-veterinarian. “But I want the American people to know that from the very first day, President Donald Trump has put the health of America first.”
This will be news to the families of more than 200,000 dead Americans, as well as the White House staff currently struggling with a president spreading a full viral load around the executive mansion and the West Wing.
06:51 Mike Pence and Kamala Harris spar on Covid, race and climate in VP debate – video highlights
Faced with this storm of excrement, Pence found his refuge hiding behind something he called “the American people”.
“When you say what the American people have done over these last several months hasn’t worked, that’s a great disservice to the sacrifices the American people have made,” said Pence, as if his boss was the entire American population rolled into the Covid-filled body of a former reality TV star.
“The American people I believe deserve credit for the sacrifices they have made for the health of their family, and their neighbors, our doctors, nurses, first responders.”
This kind of piously indignant pabulum is not a new performance for the current vice-president but rather something he perfected as a talkshow radio host in Indiana in the late 1990s. Pence styled himself as “Rush Limbaugh on decaf” which is just the kind of awshucks deception that is so vital to serving as a cardboard cutout behind Donald Trump’s shoulder.
You need a lot of decaf to pretend to be a Christian conservative while fawning over a president who pays off porn stars.
Four years ago, Pence’s skills as an un-drugged Limbaugh were evident as he debated Tim Kaine in the vice-presidential encounter that literally nobody remembers from the 2016 campaign. For the record, Kaine came off hot and bothered, while Pence glided through the contest like a winged insect bouncing off the surface of a septic tank.
On Wednesday night, Pence faced a very different opponent. Kamala Harris may be a senator, like Kaine, but otherwise the two Democratic veep candidates could not be more of a contrast.
Kaine speaks like a Jesuit missionary who became a lawyer, a mayor and a governor. He is as reasonable as he is socially conscious. Harris is a Howard University graduate and career-long prosecutor. She preps hard and she wins cases. Kaine looked like he was suffering while Harris looked like she was having fun.
The sad truth of the veep debate is that, much like the job the candidates are auditioning for, the contest isn’t worth a bucket of warm piss. It was FDR’s veep who said that, and – to prove his point – nobody can remember his name.
It’s tempting to think that Pence versus Harris is somehow different, like everything else in this year from hell.
Pence, after all, led the coronavirus taskforce that prayed away the pandemic so well. No wonder his boss gasped on video, under a heavy coating of orange makeup, “this was a blessing from God.”
Sitting behind a couple of Plexiglass barriers, to catch the divine-like virus, Pence had by far the hardest job on stage: to defend both his disastrous record, and to please his disastrous boss.
In many ways, this was a three-way contest, between Harris, Pence and Trump. But only Pence cared about the Trump voice in his head. And that astonishingly loud, gasping voice constantly distracted Pence from the contest on stage.
It does not take much imagination to conjure up a world in which Pence is sworn into the presidency just before the people kick him out of office
For starters, Trump – excluded for some weird reason from this TV show – could not shut his mouth on social media for the entire evening. This was of course a repeat performance of his debate with Joe Biden last week. It was also the unfortunate side-effect of large doses of steroids that make him look and feel like the top of a Duracell.
Perhaps the incessant yapping was merely the latest sign of presidential insecurity about someone who is a heartbeat away from a Covid-infected septuagenarian’s job. It does not take much imagination to conjure up a world in which Pence is sworn into the presidency just before the people kick him out of office.
For that matter, it isn’t far-fetched to worry about Joe Biden’s health either, as this pandemic rips through Washington DC, thanks to the man he’s trying to unseat. This White House is responsible for 34 infected individuals all on its own, it emerged just before the veep debate.
When asked the tricky question about Trump’s health – and a possible Pence presidency – the vice-president ignored the subject as carefully as he has ignored the scientific advice on Covid. “Let me say, on behalf of the president and the first lady, how moved we have all been by the outpouring of prayers and concern for the president,” Pence said, on the verge of the most sincere outpouring of concern.
Kamala Harris proved, as she has all along, that she was more than equal to the task of appearing presidential – and dodging the pesky questions of a presidential debate. When asked the same question, she pivoted neatly to turn the table back on Trump.
Should Biden reveal his health records? “Absolutely,” said Harris. “And that’s why Joe Biden has been so incredibly transparent. And by contrast, the president has not. Both in terms of health records, but also let’s look at in terms of taxes.”
In truth, both candidates were equally matched debaters. Pence dodged everything about climate change. Harris dodged everything about packing the supreme court.
What was unequal was that Pence had to defend the indefensible: a disastrous and preventable death toll, a collapsing economy and a Covid-infected president.
Trailing in every poll in every state that counts, Pence and Trump needed something to change on Wednesday night.
They needed Harris to flame out, or seem like a raving revolutionary, or perhaps forget how to speak. Instead she punched and parried, and looked like she loved the spotlight as much as the fly that stuck to her opponent’s skull.


theguardian--2020-10-08--Kamala Harris walked a tightrope, but still wiped the floor with Mike Pence | Jill Filipovic

There was no real contest in the vice-presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence .
Harris wiped the floor with him .
Pence ignored , patronized and talked over the two women in the room .
Her strategy was cool competence .
His was sexist entitlement .
This debate was less high-pitch without Donald Trump ranting and raving on stage .
But it was frustrating in its own way – especially for any woman who has ever been in a room with an interjecting , condescending man .
Pence repeatedly interrupted Harris , something she rarely did to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page of USA Today when she told him his time was up ; he repeatedly flouted the rules he had previously agreed to .
The disrespect of women was tangible , and it happened over and over .
Harris had no such leeway to bulldoze either her opponent or the moderator .
As a black woman on the national stage , she knew she had to walk a thread-thin line : Be likable , but authoritative ; strong , but not “ aggressive ” .
Interrupting Pence or even Page posed serious – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has never seen a woman in the White House .
But for better or worse , Harris is used to the Trump circus , and so she walked that tightrope deftly .
She was tough , assertive , funny and charming , while Pence was patronizing and stiff .
Still , their interactions were enraging to watch – and familiar .
If Pence and Trump want to win women , it was a bad showing for the vice-president .
Already , Trump faces the largest gender gap since pollsters began recording the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their weight behind Joe Biden and Harris .
Black women continue to be the steadiest Democratic voters out there .
For all of the talk of Trump doing better with Hispanics , he ’ s actually doing better than he did in 2016 with Hispanic men – Hispanic women are overwhelmingly for Biden .
And Trump has lost significant ground with white women .
College-educated white women support Biden by huge margins , but Trump is also down among the working-class white women who , in 2016 , were his strongest female supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s like to be in a room with a man like Mike Pence .
Of course , Pence was on the vice-presidential ticket in 2016 , too , and women also know , viscerally , what it ’ s like to be in a room with a man like Donald Trump .
And while Hillary Clinton won women handily , a disturbing number of women – most of them white women – nevertheless cast their ballots for an aggressive , incompetent accused sexual assailant .
Living through sexism may make you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can also make you more accepting of it as “ normal ” or “ just the way men are ” .
This certainly seems to be the case among many conservative women .
Pence , memorably , does not permit himself to be alone with any woman who is not his wife , a woman he calls “ mother ” .
That certainly prevents women who work for Pence from having the same opportunities as men .
And it suggests that Pence does not believe he can trust himself – a disturbing insight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perform the duties of his job .
At the debate , Pence was also cowardly and avoidant .
Page asked remarkably pointed , straightforward questions ; Pence barely answered a single one .
Instead , he offered word salad or tangents related to previous questions or just flat-out lies .
On everything from abortion to national security to Covid-19 to healthcare , Pence was congenitally incapable of giving a direct answer to a direct question .
Harris , by contrast , was lucid , clear and straightforward .
She ’ s a politician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the answers to some questions .
But as a general rule , she answered .
As a general rule , Pence did not .
No , Pence did not shout and sputter and bluster and refuse to shut up like his boss did at the presidential debate .
But consider how low we ’ ve set the bar , and that Mike Pence barely cleared it .

There was no real contest in the vice-presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence. Harris wiped the floor with him. Pence ignored, patronized and talked over the two women in the room. Her strategy was cool competence. His was sexist entitlement.
This debate was less high-pitch without Donald Trump ranting and raving on stage. But it was frustrating in its own way – especially for any woman who has ever been in a room with an interjecting, condescending man. Pence repeatedly interrupted Harris, something she rarely did to him; he repeatedly talked over moderator Susan Page of USA Today when she told him his time was up; he repeatedly flouted the rules he had previously agreed to. The disrespect of women was tangible, and it happened over and over.
Harris had no such leeway to bulldoze either her opponent or the moderator. As a black woman on the national stage, she knew she had to walk a thread-thin line: Be likable, but authoritative; strong, but not “aggressive”. Interrupting Pence or even Page posed serious – and sexist – consequences with an electorate that has never seen a woman in the White House. But for better or worse, Harris is used to the Trump circus, and so she walked that tightrope deftly. She was tough, assertive, funny and charming, while Pence was patronizing and stiff.
06:51 Mike Pence and Kamala Harris spar on Covid, race and climate in VP debate – video highlights
Still, their interactions were enraging to watch – and familiar. If Pence and Trump want to win women, it was a bad showing for the vice-president. Already, Trump faces the largest gender gap since pollsters began recording the gender gap, with women overwhelmingly throwing their weight behind Joe Biden and Harris. Black women continue to be the steadiest Democratic voters out there. For all of the talk of Trump doing better with Hispanics, he’s actually doing better than he did in 2016 with Hispanic men – Hispanic women are overwhelmingly for Biden. And Trump has lost significant ground with white women. College-educated white women support Biden by huge margins, but Trump is also down among the working-class white women who, in 2016, were his strongest female supporters. Women know, viscerally, what it’s like to be in a room with a man like Mike Pence.
If Pence and Trump want to win women, it was a bad showing for the vice-president … Women know, viscerally, what it's like to be in a room with a man like Mike Pence
Of course, Pence was on the vice-presidential ticket in 2016, too, and women also know, viscerally, what it’s like to be in a room with a man like Donald Trump. And while Hillary Clinton won women handily, a disturbing number of women – most of them white women – nevertheless cast their ballots for an aggressive, incompetent accused sexual assailant. Living through sexism may make you more attuned to it, but it can also make you more accepting of it as “normal” or “just the way men are”. This certainly seems to be the case among many conservative women. Pence, memorably, does not permit himself to be alone with any woman who is not his wife, a woman he calls “mother”. That certainly prevents women who work for Pence from having the same opportunities as men. And it suggests that Pence does not believe he can trust himself – a disturbing insight into his psyche and his ability to perform the duties of his job.
At the debate, Pence was also cowardly and avoidant. Page asked remarkably pointed, straightforward questions; Pence barely answered a single one. Instead, he offered word salad or tangents related to previous questions or just flat-out lies. On everything from abortion to national security to Covid-19 to healthcare, Pence was congenitally incapable of giving a direct answer to a direct question. Harris, by contrast, was lucid, clear and straightforward. She’s a politician, too, and she also danced around the answers to some questions. But as a general rule, she answered. As a general rule, Pence did not.
No, Pence did not shout and sputter and bluster and refuse to shut up like his boss did at the presidential debate. But consider how low we’ve set the bar, and that Mike Pence barely cleared it.


theguardian--2020-10-08--Mike Pence and Kamala Harris spar on Covid, race and climate in VP debate – video highlights

Mike Pence and Kamala Harris met in Utah for the only vice-presidential debate of the election , separated by Plexiglass @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
From the pandemic to healthcare and race to the supreme court , via @ @ @ @ @ some of the key moments • Battle for the suburbs : can Joe Biden flip @ @ @ @

Mike Pence and Kamala Harris met in Utah for the only vice-presidential debate of the election, separated by Plexiglass barriers as a protection against coronavirus.
From the pandemic to healthcare and race to the supreme court, via a fly, here are some of the key moments


theguardian--2020-10-08--'They're coming for you': Harris slams Trump and Pence on healthcare – video

One of the most memorable moments of the vice-presidential debate was on healthcare , when Harris issued a stark warning @ @ @ @ @ s intentions .
Trump is seeking to dismantle the Affordable Care Act , commonly known @ @ @ @ @ health companies turning away patients with pre-existing conditions .
'If you have a pre-existing condition @ @ @ @ @ , breast cancer , they ’ re coming for you .
If you love someone @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ re coming for you . '
Pence responded by claiming the Trump @ @ @ @ @ protect people with pre-existing conditions .
Trump has spent years claiming he will release a @ @ @ @ @ ’ re yet to see it • US election polls tracker : who is leading @ @ @ @ @ • Battle for the suburbs : can Joe Biden flip Texas ?
– video

One of the most memorable moments of the vice-presidential debate was on healthcare, when Harris issued a stark warning about the Trump administration’s intentions.
Trump is seeking to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, which prevents health companies turning away patients with pre-existing conditions.
'If you have a pre-existing condition, heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, they’re coming for you. If you love someone who has a pre-existing condition, they’re coming for you.'
Pence responded by claiming the Trump administration has a plan to protect people with pre-existing conditions. Trump has spent years claiming he will release a comprehensive healthcare plan. We’re yet to see it


theguardian--2020-10-08--Fly that landed on Mike Pence head becomes VP debate star – video

A fly that landed on Mike Pence 's head has become the star of the vice presidential debate after the @ @ @ @ @ Harris .
The fly was on Pence 's head for over one minute , which @ @ @ @ @ to grow its notoriety online .
Democratic candidate Joe Biden used the opportunity to raise @ @ @ @ @ while multiple Twitter account where setup on the fly 's behalf • Kamala Harris and @ @ @ @ @ response in vice-presidential debate

A fly that landed on Mike Pence's head has become the star of the vice presidential debate after the Republican went head-to-head with Kamala Harris. The fly was on Pence's head for over one minute, which proved more than enough time to grow its notoriety online. Democratic candidate Joe Biden used the opportunity to raise money for his campaign, while multiple Twitter account where setup on the fly's behalf


theguardian--2020-10-09--Pelosi: Congress will discuss rules for Trump's removal under 25th amendment

Democrats in the US Congress have announced a plan to create a commission to review whether Donald Trump is capable of carrying out his presidential duties or should face removal from office .
The office of the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , announced a Friday press conference about the bill after she expressed concern that Trump , who is under treatment for coronavirus at the White House , is suffering a “ disassociation from reality ” .
The president has unleashed a barrage of erratic and self-contradictory tweets and declarations in recent days that have left staff scrambling and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a zigzagging interview on the Fox Business channel on Thursday , his first since being hospitalised , Trump , 74 , boasted : “ I ’ m back because I am a perfect physical specimen and I ’ m extremely young .
And so I ’ m lucky in that way.
” Pelosi , who is negotiating a Covid-19 economic stimulus plan , responded at her weekly press conference : “ The plan isn ’ t for the president to say that he ’ s a perfect physical specimen .
Specimen , maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young , he said he was young.
” Trump “ is , shall we say , in an altered state right now ” and “ the disassociation from reality would be funny if it weren ’ t so deadly , ” the 80-year-old speaker added while wearing a mask .
Trump reacted angrily to Pelosi ’ s manoeuvre , tweeting : “ Crazy Nancy is the one who should be under observation .
They don ’ t call her Crazy for nothing !
” He also retweeted Republican allies , including the congressman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wouldn ’ t put it past @ SpeakerPelosi to stage a coup .
She has already weaponized impeachment , what ’ s to keep her from weaponizing the 25th amendment ?
We need a new Speaker !
” In the surprise move on Thursday , Pelosi revealed that Democrats will meet to focus on the 25th amendment to the constitution , which contains a clause that allows a president to be removed from office against his will because of physical or mental incapacity .
Her office followed up with the announcement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maryland will hold a press conference at 10.15am on Friday “ to discuss the introduction of the Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of Office Act ” .
The legislation will create the body and process called for in the 25th amendment to “ enable Congress to help ensure effective and uninterrupted leadership in the highest office in the Executive Branch of government ” , it added .
Although the 25th amendment enables Pelosi to create such a panel to review the president ’ s health and fitness for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be able to remove Trump from office without the agreement of the vice-president , Mike Pence , and members of the cabinet .
They have given no hint that such a move is imminent .
The Democratic-led House impeached Trump last year on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after he sought to pressure Ukraine for political favours .
The Republican-controlled Senate did not convict him .
Trump tweeted last Friday morning that he had tested positive for coronavirus , and he was flown to a military hospital that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a car ride to wave to his supporters , he flew back to the White House and caused outrage by removing his mask .
He has received various treatments including doses of remdesivir , an anti-viral drug , supplemental oxygen , a controversial experimental antibody treatment by the US biotech firm Regeneron Pharmaceuticals , and dexamethasone , a steroid that some medical experts warn can cause insomnia and mood swings .
Despite continued confusion about the Trump ’ s condition , the president ’ s physician , Dr Sean Conley , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely return to public engagements on Saturday .
Pelosi said : ‘ I ’ ve quoted others to say that there are those who say that when you ’ re on steroids and/or if you ’ ve had Covid-19 or both – that there may be some impairment of judgment .
But , again , that ’ s for the doctors and scientists to determine , but it was very strange , really surprising.
” Trump has issued video messages and dozens of tweets that , even by the standards of his mercurial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sown disarray .
This week he abruptly announced that he was calling off the talks with Pelosi over additional coronavirus economic relief legislation , catching Republicans by surprise , only to later partly reverse his position .
On Thursday he also suddenly declared that he would not take part in next week ’ s debate with Joe Biden , after it was announced on Thursday morning that the event would be virtual , not in-person .
And the president has returned to the Oval Office despite isolation rules that should have kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming a virus hotspot .
At least 20 people in or working around the executive mansion have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent days .
In Trump ’ s hour-long interview with Fox Business on Thursday , observers found further cause for concern .
He mused that he could have contracted the virus from a reception he held for military families at the White House .
“ They want to hug me and they want to kiss me , ” he said .
“ And they do and , frankly , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He claimed that his hospitalisation was unnecessary .
“ I didn ’ t have to go in , frankly ; I think it would have gone away by itself.
” And he made the false assertion : “ I don ’ t think I am contagious at all .
Remember this : when you catch it you get better .
And then you ’ re immune.
” This was after he emerged from hospital announcing that people should not fear Covid-19 , despite the fact it has already killed 212,000 people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7.6 million infected in the US to suffer serious and sometimes prolonged symptoms .
And reacting to Wednesday ’ s vice-presidential debate , he called the Democratic senator Kamala Harris of California a “ communist ” and “ monster ” who wants to “ open up the borders to allow killers and murderers and rapists to pour into our country ” .
Earlier on Wednesday , the president tweeted a video of himself describing his contraction of the virus as a “ blessing from God ” .
Under the 25th amendment , Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfit to serve , with Pelosi next in line .
Pence reported on Thursday that he had tested negative for coronavirus .

Democrats in the US Congress have announced a plan to create a commission to review whether Donald Trump is capable of carrying out his presidential duties or should face removal from office.
The office of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, announced a Friday press conference about the bill after she expressed concern that Trump, who is under treatment for coronavirus at the White House, is suffering a “disassociation from reality”.
The president has unleashed a barrage of erratic and self-contradictory tweets and declarations in recent days that have left staff scrambling and raised concerns over his stability.
In a zig-zagging interview on the Fox Business channel on Thursday, his first since being hospitalised, Trump, 74, boasted: “I’m back, because I am a perfect physical specimen and I’m extremely young. And so I’m lucky in that way.”
Pelosi, who is negotiating a Covid-19 economic stimulus plan, responded at her weekly press conference: “The plan isn’t for the president to say that he’s a perfect physical specimen. Specimen, maybe I can agree with that ... And young, he said he was young.”
Trump “is, shall we say, in an altered state right now” and “the disassociation from reality would be funny if it weren’t so deadly,” the 80-year-old speaker added while wearing a mask.
Trump reacted angrily to Pelosi’s manoeuvre, tweeting: “Crazy Nancy is the one who should be under observation. They don’t call her Crazy for nothing!”
He also retweeted Republican allies, including the congressman Mark Green, who posted: “I wouldn’t put it past Speaker Pelosi to stage a coup. She has already weaponized impeachment, what’s to keep her from weaponizing the 25th amendment? We need a new Speaker!”
In the surprise move on Thursday, Pelosi revealed that Democrats will meet to focus on the 25th amendment to the constitution, which contains a clause that allows a president to be removed from office against his will because of physical or mental incapacity.
Her office followed up with the announcement that Pelosi and the congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland will hold a press conference at 10.15am on Friday “to discuss the introduction of the Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of Office Act”.
The legislation will create the body and process called for in the 25th amendment to “enable Congress to help ensure effective and uninterrupted leadership in the highest office in the Executive Branch of government”, it added.
Although the 25th amendment enables Pelosi to create such a panel to review the president’s health and fitness for office, the House of Representatives would not be able to remove Trump from office without the agreement of the vice-president, Mike Pence, and members of the cabinet. They have given no hint that such a move is imminent.
The Democratic-led House impeached Trump last year on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after he sought to pressure Ukraine for political favours. The Republican-controlled Senate did not convict him.
Trump tweeted last Friday morning that he had tested positive for coronavirus, and he was flown to a military hospital that evening. After a three-night stay, including a car ride to wave to his supporters, he flew back to the White House and caused outrage by removing his mask.
He has received various treatments including doses of remdesivir, an anti-viral drug, supplemental oxygen, a controversial experimental antibody treatment by the US biotech firm Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and dexamethasone, a steroid that some medical experts warn can cause insomnia and mood swings.
Despite continued confusion about the Trump’s condition, the president’s physician, Dr Sean Conley, said he anticipates Trump would be able to safely return to public engagements on Saturday.
Pelosi said: ‘I’ve quoted others to say that there are those who say that when you’re on steroids and/or if you’ve had Covid-19 or both – that there may be some impairment of judgment. But, again, that’s for the doctors and scientists to determine, but it was very strange, really surprising.”
Trump has issued video messages and dozens of tweets that, even by the standards of his mercurial presidency, have spun in all directions and sown disarray.
This week he abruptly announced that he was calling off the talks with Pelosi over additional coronavirus economic relief legislation, catching Republicans by surprise, only to later partly reverse his position. On Thursday he also suddenly declared that he would not take part in next week’s debate with Joe Biden, after it was announced on Thursday morning that the event would be virtual, not in-person.
And the president has returned to the Oval Office despite isolation rules that should have kept him away and the White House itself becoming a virus hotspot. At least 20 people in or working around the executive mansion have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent days.
This video has been removed. This could be because it launched early, our rights have expired, there was a legal issue, or for another reason. Donald Trump says he will not participate in virtual debate with Joe Biden – video
In Trump’s hour-long interview with Fox Business on Thursday, observers found further cause for concern. He mused that he could have contracted the virus from a reception he held for military families at the White House. “They want to hug me and they want to kiss me,” he said. “And they do and, frankly, I’m not telling them to back up.”
He claimed that his hospitalisation was unnecessary. “I didn’t have to go in, frankly; I think it would have gone away by itself.” And he made the false assertion: “I don’t think I am contagious at all. Remember this: when you catch it you get better. And then you’re immune.”
This was after he emerged from hospital announcing that people should not fear Covid-19, despite the fact it has already killed 212,000 people in America and caused many others among the 7.6 million infected in the US to suffer serious and sometimes prolonged symptoms.
And reacting to Wednesday’s vice-presidential debate, he called the Democratic senator Kamala Harris of California a “communist” and “monster” who wants to “open up the borders to allow killers and murderers and rapists to pour into our country”.
Earlier on Wednesday, the president tweeted a video of himself describing his contraction of the virus as a “blessing from God”.
Under the 25th amendment, Pence would take over if Trump were deemed unfit to serve, with Pelosi next in line. Pence reported on Thursday that he had tested negative for coronavirus.


theguardian--2020-10-09--Provider of Trump Covid drug is president's golf friend

New questions have emerged over the circumstances in which Donald Trump was given an experimental antibody drug cocktail produced by a golfing acquaintance to treat his coronavirus infection .
As Trump wrongly hailed his treatment – which included a drug called REGN-COV2 produced by Regeneron – as a “ cure ” , it emerged that the company ’ s chief executive , Leonard Schleifer , is a member of the Trump National golf club in Briarcliff Manor , New York , and had met the president in May to talk about drugs his company was developing .
While some ethicists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as president to experimental treatments , others have suggested it raises questions of fairness among other concerns , including his history of touting unproven treatments .
Trump ’ s relationship with Schleifer , whom he reportedly calls “ Lenny ” , adds to growing questions over the president ’ s almost exclusive access to experimental treatments unavailable to most other Americans , even as he has continued to downplay the threat of coronavirus based on his own experience .
The price of Regeneron stocks – which Trump has owned in the past – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been made available for his treatment and Trump stated it would be made freely available for all , although he didn ’ t explain how .
“ I call that a cure , ” Trump said in a video , adding that everyone should have access to the not-yet-approved drug and that he would make sure it was in every hospital as soon as possible .
Trump ’ s comments were quickly criticized by doctors treating patients on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US .
“ Frankly , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an anecdote meaning he is one person who took this drug , but he has also taken dexamethasone , ” said emergency department doctor Dr Rob Davidson , who works in west Michigan , on Twitter .
Dexamethasone “ makes you feel like a million bucks , it makes you feel like you ’ re on top of the world ” .
He concluded : “ Do everything the opposite of what this administration is telling you.
” After the president ’ s comments , Regeneron announced it had applied to the Food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emergency use authorisation .
“ There are doses available for approximately 50,000 patients , and we expect to have doses available for 300,000 patients in total within the next few months , ” the company said in a statement .
The US is seeing more than 50,000 new cases of Covid-19 a day .
Further , monoclonal antibody therapies are notoriously difficult to produce and expensive .
The median cost of monoclonal antibody therapies approved over the last 20 years is more than $ 96,000 per treatment course .
Regeneron ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , in a promising study that some scientists nevertheless said , “ doesn ’ t cut it ” for emergency use authorization .
The drug has also stirred debate because of how it was developed – using an “ immortalized ” cell line originally derived from an elective abortion in the Netherlands in the 1970s , a common process that the Trump administration opposes .
Republicans opposes embryonic stem cell research , according to the party platform .
The White House doctor , Sean Conley , said Trump had been given a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under a compassionate use clause .
Compassionate use requests are decided on a case-by-case basis , and both the drug company and the FDA must agree .
The Regeneron spokeswoman Alexandra Bowie said fewer than 10 of these requests had been granted , and with the drug in limited supply the priority was to use it in ongoing studies .
Emergency access was granted “ only in rare and exceptional circumstances ” , she said .
Regeneron also contacted the Democratic presidential candidate , Joe Biden , to alert him to the availability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule .
Alison Bateman-House , an ethicist at New York University Langone Health , said Regeneron ’ s overture to Biden should raise concerns .
“ That crosses lines of appearing to promote a potentially unapproved product , ” she told Associated Press , which would violate FDA rules .
Rather than directing people to enrol in studies , she said it suggested that “ we ’ ll cut the line for you ” .
REGN-COV2 is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies designed to both treat people with coronavirus and to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent the coronavirus spike protein attaching to Ace2 receptors in the body – the path the virus uses to infect people .
The relationship between Trump , senior US government officials and Regeneron overlaps at multiple points .
In March , Schleifer and and Daniel O ’ Day , the chief executive of Gilead , which produces Remdesivir , were among biopharma executives who met at the White House to discuss their efforts to develop drugs and vaccines .
A month later , O ’ Day and Schleifer were among 200 leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups , set up to “ work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity ” .
Regeneron received $ 450m in government funding in July as part of the president ’ s Operation Warp Speed plan to quickly develop a vaccine and other treatments for Covid-19 .
Trump ’ s depiction of the Regeneron cocktail as a “ cure ” has drawn heavy criticism from medical experts , with some saying there was no chance it could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin Landray at Oxford University , one of the leaders of the Recovery trial , said it was impossible to draw any conclusions from one person ’ s experience .
“ However , one man fares , one can ’ t say whether he did well , or badly , because of the drug , in spite of the drug – or just that the drug had no effect , ” he said .
Landray thinks the drug has real possibilities .
“ In the few hundred patients that they studied so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – the amount of virus in the patient , ” he said .
Likewise in the laboratory , it binds to the virus and stops it getting into cells and causing damage .
“ So it ’ s a drug that ’ s clearly bad for the virus .
The question is , is it good for the patient and which patients and how good ?
”

Peter Beaumont and Sarah Boseley in London and Jessica Glenza in New York

New questions have emerged over the circumstances in which Donald Trump was given an experimental antibody drug cocktail produced by a golfing acquaintance to treat his coronavirus infection.
As Trump wrongly hailed his treatment – which included a drug called REGN-COV2 produced by Regeneron – as a “cure”, it emerged that the company’s chief executive, Leonard Schleifer, is a member of the Trump National golf club in Briarcliff Manor, New York, and had met the president in May to talk about drugs his company was developing.
While some ethicists have defended Trump’s privileged access as president to experimental treatments, others have suggested it raises questions of fairness among other concerns, including his history of touting unproven treatments.
Trump’s relationship with Schleifer, whom he reportedly calls “Lenny”, adds to growing questions over the president’s almost exclusive access to experimental treatments unavailable to most other Americans, even as he has continued to downplay the threat of coronavirus based on his own experience.
The price of Regeneron stocks – which Trump has owned in the past – soared after it was revealed the drug had been made available for his treatment and Trump stated it would be made freely available for all, although he didn’t explain how.
“I call that a cure,” Trump said in a video, adding that everyone should have access to the not-yet-approved drug and that he would make sure it was in every hospital as soon as possible.
Trump’s comments were quickly criticized by doctors treating patients on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US.
“Frankly, he is an anecdote, and he is an anecdote meaning he is one person who took this drug, but he has also taken dexamethasone,” said emergency department doctor Dr Rob Davidson, who works in west Michigan, on Twitter. Dexamethasone “makes you feel like a million bucks, it makes you feel like you’re on top of the world”.
He concluded: “Do everything the opposite of what this administration is telling you.”
01:47 Donald Trump says catching Covid-19 was 'like a blessing from God' – video
After the president’s comments, Regeneron announced it had applied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an emergency use authorisation.
“There are doses available for approximately 50,000 patients, and we expect to have doses available for 300,000 patients in total within the next few months,” the company said in a statement.
The US is seeing more than 50,000 new cases of Covid-19 a day. Further, monoclonal antibody therapies are notoriously difficult to produce and expensive. The median cost of monoclonal antibody therapies approved over the last 20 years is more than $96,000 per treatment course.
Regeneron’s therapy has only been tested in 275 people, in a promising study that some scientists nevertheless said, “doesn’t cut it” for emergency use authorization.
The drug has also stirred debate because of how it was developed – using an “immortalized” cell line originally derived from an elective abortion in the Netherlands in the 1970s, a common process that the Trump administration opposes.
Republicans opposes embryonic stem cell research, according to the party platform.
The White House doctor, Sean Conley, said Trump had been given a single 8g dose that was made available under a compassionate use clause. Compassionate use requests are decided on a case-by-case basis, and both the drug company and the FDA must agree.
The Regeneron spokeswoman Alexandra Bowie said fewer than 10 of these requests had been granted, and with the drug in limited supply the priority was to use it in ongoing studies. Emergency access was granted “only in rare and exceptional circumstances”, she said.
Regeneron also contacted the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, to alert him to the availability of the drug under the compassionate use rule.
Alison Bateman-House, an ethicist at New York University Langone Health, said Regeneron’s overture to Biden should raise concerns.
“That crosses lines of appearing to promote a potentially unapproved product,” she told Associated Press, which would violate FDA rules. Rather than directing people to enrol in studies, she said it suggested that “we’ll cut the line for you”.
REGN-COV2 is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies designed to both treat people with coronavirus and to prevent Sars-CoV-2 infection. The antibodies are designed to prevent the coronavirus spike protein attaching to Ace2 receptors in the body – the path the virus uses to infect people.
The relationship between Trump, senior US government officials and Regeneron overlaps at multiple points. In March, Schleifer and and Daniel O’Day, the chief executive of Gilead, which produces Remdesivir, were among biopharma executives who met at the White House to discuss their efforts to develop drugs and vaccines.
A month later, O’Day and Schleifer were among 200 leaders in 13 specific industries appointed to the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups, set up to “work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity”.
Regeneron received $450m in government funding in July as part of the president’s Operation Warp Speed plan to quickly develop a vaccine and other treatments for Covid-19.
Trump’s depiction of the Regeneron cocktail as a “cure” has drawn heavy criticism from medical experts, with some saying there was no chance it could have cured him in 24 hours.
Professor Martin Landray at Oxford University, one of the leaders of the Recovery trial, said it was impossible to draw any conclusions from one person’s experience. “However, one man fares, one can’t say whether he did well, or badly, because of the drug, in spite of the drug – or just that the drug had no effect,” he said.
Landray thinks the drug has real possibilities. “In the few hundred patients that they studied so far, it does reduce the viral load – the amount of virus in the patient,” he said. Likewise in the laboratory, it binds to the virus and stops it getting into cells and causing damage.
“So it’s a drug that’s clearly bad for the virus. The question is, is it good for the patient and which patients and how good?”


theguardian--2020-10-08--Presidential debate schedule in disarray after Trump refuses virtual event

Donald Trump added more turbulence on Thursday to the US presidential race by refusing to participate in the next presidential debate with Joe Biden after it was changed to a virtual event to guard against the spread of Covid-19 , prompting both campaigns to propose postponing it a week .
On Thursday morning , the Commission on Presidential Debates ( CPD ) said that the next presidential debate , due on 15 October , would be a virtual affair , with the candidates appearing remotely .
“ In order to protect the health and safety of all , the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a town meeting , in which the candidates would participate from separate remote locations , ” it said .
But Trump , who was hospitalized for three days after disclosing last Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus , blasted the format change announced by the nonpartisan commission in charge of the debates and expressed concern that his microphone could be cut off at the event .
Trump , who is still receiving Covid-19 treatment at the White House , also said he wanted to resume campaign rallies .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time on a virtual debate .
That ’ s not what debating is all about , ” Trump said in a nearly hour-long phone interview with Fox Business .
“ You sit behind a computer and do a debate – it ’ s ridiculous , and then they cut you off whenever they want.
” Following the president ’ s comments , the Biden and Trump campaigns both proposed pushing back the debate - which had been planned as the second of three - until 22 October , the date of what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 November election .
Trump ’ s campaign also proposed holding another debate on 29 October , which Biden ’ s campaign rejected , saying the 22 October debate should be the final one .
“ Trump ’ s erratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar , and pick new dates of his choosing , ” said Kate Bedingfield , Biden ’ s deputy campaign manager .
The two campaigns now await final decisions from the CPD .
Even before his illness was announced , Trump ’ s performance in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week prompted calls for a change in format .
Trump constantly interrupted and talked over both Biden and the moderator .
With election day less than four weeks away , early voting has exceeded records .
More than 6 million ballots already have been cast as Americans change their behavior to avoid possible infection at polling places amid a pandemic that already has killed more than 210,000 Americans .
Opinion polls show Biden leading Trump nationally , though the race appears closer in battleground states that could decide the outcome .
The two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris , engaged in a debate on Wednesday evening that was far more orderly than the first Trump-Biden encounter .
After the first presidential debate , some observers had proposed giving the moderator in future debates the power to cut off any candidate who disrupted the proceedings .
The debate commission said nothing about muting the participants in its announcement on Thursday .
In the interview on Thursday , Trump said he was feeling “ really good ” .
Trump called himself ready to resume campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoors , have raised concern among public health exerts about spreading the virus .
Trump said he was still taking steroids to treat the respiratory disease .
Trump said he did not believe he was still contagious , though that contention was not yet backed up by solid evidence from his doctors .
“ I ’ d love to do a rally tonight .
I wanted to do one last night , ” Trump said , adding : “ If I ’ m at a rally , I stand by myself very far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say people who are severely ill with Covid-19 might need to stay home for up to 20 days after symptoms first appear .
The White House has not provided detailed information on the severity of Trump ’ s illness and has refused to say when he last tested negative for the virus .
The House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , a Democrat , challenged Trump to reveal when he last tested negative , asking at a press briefing : “ Why is the White House not telling the @ @ @ @ @ @

Donald Trump added more turbulence on Thursday to the US election race by refusing to participate in the next presidential debate with Joe Biden after it was changed to a virtual event to guard against the spread of Covid-19, prompting both campaigns to propose postponing it a week.
On Thursday morning, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) said that the next debate, due on 15 October, would be a virtual affair, with the candidates appearing remotely.
“In order to protect the health and safety of all, the second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which the candidates would participate from separate remote locations,” it said.
But Trump, who was hospitalized for three days after disclosing last Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, blasted the format change announced by the nonpartisan commission in charge of the debates and expressed concern that his microphone could be cut off at the event. Trump, who is still receiving Covid-19 treatment at the White House, also said he wanted to resume campaign rallies.
“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate. That’s not what debating is all about,” Trump said in a nearly hour-long phone interview with Fox Business. “You sit behind a computer and do a debate – it’s ridiculous, and then they cut you off whenever they want.”
Following the president’s comments, the Biden and Trump campaigns both proposed pushing back the debate - which had been planned as the second of three - until 22 October, the date of what was scheduled as their final encounter before the 3 November election. Trump’s campaign also proposed holding another debate on 29 October, which Biden’s campaign rejected, saying the 22 October debate should be the final one.
“Trump’s erratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar, and pick new dates of his choosing,” said Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s deputy campaign manager.
The two campaigns now await final decisions from the CPD.
Even before his illness was announced, Trump’s performance in the chaotic first debate with Biden last week prompted calls for a change in format. Trump constantly interrupted and talked over both Biden and the moderator.
With election day less than four weeks away, early voting has exceeded records. More than 6 million ballots already have been cast as Americans change their behavior to avoid possible infection at polling places amid a pandemic that already has killed more than 210,000 Americans. Opinion polls show Biden leading Trump nationally, though the race appears closer in battleground states that could decide the outcome.
The two vice-presidential contenders, the incumbent Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris, engaged in a debate on Wednesday evening that was far more orderly than the first Trump-Biden encounter.
After the first presidential debate, some observers had proposed giving the moderator in future debates the power to cut off any candidate who disrupted the proceedings. The debate commission said nothing about muting the participants in its announcement on Thursday.
In the interview on Thursday, Trump said he was feeling “really good”. Trump called himself ready to resume campaign rallies. Such rallies, particularly held indoors, have raised concern among public health exerts about spreading the virus. Trump said he was still taking steroids to treat the respiratory disease.
Trump said he did not believe he was still contagious, though that contention was not yet backed up by solid evidence from his doctors.
“I’d love to do a rally tonight. I wanted to do one last night,” Trump said, adding: “If I’m at a rally, I stand by myself very far away from everybody.”
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say people who are severely ill with Covid-19 might need to stay home for up to 20 days after symptoms first appear. The White House has not provided detailed information on the severity of Trump’s illness and has refused to say when he last tested negative for the virus.
The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, challenged Trump to reveal when he last tested negative, asking at a press briefing: “Why is the White House not telling the country that important fact?“


theguardian--2020-10-08--Six people charged in plot to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer

Six people have been charged with a plot to kidnap the Michigan governor , Gretchen Whitmer , that involves links to a rightwing militia group , the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced .
Another seven people were charged with plotting to target law enforcement and attack the state capitol building .
The state attorney general , Dana Nessel , announced additional charges under Michigan ’ s anti-terrorism law .
Seven men , all in custody , are linked to the militia group Wolverine Watchmen .
They are suspected of attempting to identify the homes of law enforcement officers to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended to instigate a civil war ” .
They also planned and trained for an operation to attack the Michigan capitol building and to kidnap government officials , including the governor , Nessel said .
The news sent shockwaves through a country facing one the most contentious elections in its history and already marred by accusations of voter suppression , civil unrest linked to police brutality and sometimes violent incidents and protests by heavily armed rightwingers .
Whitmer , a Democrat , told reporters on Thursday that she knew the job would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office nearly two years ago but she “ never could have imagined anything like this ” .
She thanked law enforcement , and said she hoped the criminal charges would “ lead to convictions , bringing these sick and depraved men to justice ” .
She said the pandemic ought to be a time for unity – saying “ we are not one another ’ s enemy , the virus is our enemy ” – but she accused Donald Trump of stoking division instead of bringing the American people together .
Referencing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump told the far-right group the Proud Boys to “ stand back and stand by ” , she said the president was “ rallying ” groups such as the ones that plotted her kidnap .
“ Hate groups heard the president ’ s words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry , as a call to action , ” she said .
The FBI said in an affidavit that the plot to kidnap Whitmer had involved reaching out to members of a Michigan militia .
The criminal complaint states that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern Michigan .
“ Several members talked about murdering ‘ tyrants ’ or ‘ taking ’ a sitting governor , ” an FBI agent wrote in the document .
“ The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbors and spread their message.
” The six men charged with plotting against Whitmer were arrested on Wednesday night and each faces up to life in prison .
US attorney Andrew Birge called them “ violent extremists ” .
“ All of us in Michigan can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should never , ever amount to violence .
Violence has been prevented today , ” the Detroit US attorney Matthew Schneider told reporters .
The affidavit was filed on Wednesday hours after FBI agents raided a home in Hartland Township , a community about an hour outside Detroit .
The criminal complaint identified the six as Adam Fox , Ty Garbin , Kaleb Franks , Daniel Harris , Brandon Caserta , all of Michigan , and Barry Croft of Delaware .
Whitmer , a Democrat , has been the frequent target of protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have launched numerous demonstrations against her efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
She put major restrictions on personal movement throughout the state and on the economy , although many of those limits have been lifted .
Whitmer ’ s moves once caused Trump to tweet “ Liberate Michigan ” as an exhortation to his supporters against her policy .
As news of the foiled plot unfolded , many commentators fingered the president ’ s words as a contributing factor to the alleged conspiracy .
Former FBI agent and national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Who knew that Trump and Fox News ’ exhortations to “ liberate Michigan ” might lead to an attempt to harm the governor and lead a coup ?
Completely unforeseeable.
” The Detroit News reported that the investigation dated to early 2020 when the FBI learned via social media that individuals were discussing a violent overthrow of several state governments .
A confidential paid informant then recorded a meeting between more than a dozen people from several states that took place in Dublin , Ohio .
“ The group talked about creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient , ” the affidavit said .
“ They discussed different ways of achieving this goal from peaceful endeavors to violent actions .
At one point , several members talked about state governments they believed were violating the US constitution , including the government of Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
” Through electronic communications , two of the alleged conspirators then “ agreed to unite others in their cause and take violent action against multiple state governments that they believe are violating the US constitution ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alleged conspirators , Adam Fox , said he needed 200 men to storm the capitol building in Lansing and take hostages , including the governor , according to the FBI .
He said he wanted to try Whitmer for “ treason ” and would execute the plan before the 3 November election , the government said .
Later , however , the group shifted to targeting the governor ’ s vacation home , the FBI said .
Speaking on CNN late Thursday , Whitmer said the White House ’ s attacks have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to call it out for what it is – it is domestic terrorism , ” she said of the plot .
Whitmer said White House had not checked up on her , while Joe Biden and Charlie Baker – the Republican governor of Massachusetts – had .
“ That ’ s what decent people do , ” she said .
Not long after news of the thwarted plot broke , Trump campaign official Jason Miller attacked Whitmer : “ If we want to talk about hatred , then Gov Whitmer , go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she wakes up every day with such hatred in her heart towards President Trump.
” “ Every time that this White House identifies me or takes a shot at me , we see an increase in rhetoric online – violent rhetoric , ” the Michigan governor said .
The foiled kidnapping plot “ took it to a whole new level ” .

Six people have been charged with a plot to kidnap Michigan’s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, that involves links to a rightwing militia group, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced.
Another seven people were charged with plotting to target law enforcement and attack the state capitol building. The state attorney general, Dana Nessel, announced additional charges under Michigan’s anti-terrorism law. Seven men, all in custody, are linked to the militia group Wolverine Watchmen.
They are suspected of attempting to identify the homes of law enforcement officers to “target them, made threats of violence intended to instigate a civil war”. They also planned and trained for an operation to attack the Michigan capitol building and to kidnap government officials, including the governor, Nessel said.
Members of a militia group, including Michael John Null and Willam Grant Null (R) who were charged October 8, 2020 for their involvement in a plot to kidnap the Michigan governor. Photograph: Seth Herald/Reuters
The news sent shockwaves through a country facing one the most contentious elections in its history and already marred by accusations of voter suppression, civil unrest linked to police brutality and sometimes violent incidents and protests by heavily armed rightwingers.
Whitmer told reporters on Thursday that she knew the job would be hard when she took the oath of office nearly two years ago but she “never could have imagined anything like this”.
She thanked law enforcement, and said she hoped the criminal charges would “lead to convictions, bringing these sick and depraved men to justice”.
She said the pandemic ought to be a time for unity – saying “we are not one another’s enemy, the virus is our enemy” – but she accused Donald Trump of stoking division instead of bringing the American people together.
Referencing the first presidential debate last week, when Trump told the far-right group the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by”, she said the president was “rallying” groups such as the ones that plotted her kidnap.
A militia group with no political affiliation from Michigan, including Pete Musico (R) who was charged for his involvement in a plot to kidnap the Michigan governor. Photograph: Seth Herald/Reuters
“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry, as a call to action,” she said.
The FBI said in an affidavit that the plot to kidnap Whitmer had involved reaching out to members of a Michigan militia. The criminal complaint states that the alleged plot involved her second home in northern Michigan.
“Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor,” an FBI agent wrote in the document. “The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbors and spread their message.”
The six men charged with plotting against Whitmer were arrested on Wednesday night and each faces up to life in prison. US attorney Andrew Birge called them “violent extremists”.
01:15 Biden blasts Trump for not condemning Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot – video
“All of us in Michigan can disagree about politics, but those disagreements should never, ever amount to violence. Violence has been prevented today,” the Detroit US attorney Matthew Schneider told reporters.
The affidavit was filed on Wednesday hours after FBI agents raided a home in Hartland Township, a community about an hour outside Detroit.
The criminal complaint identified the six as Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, Brandon Caserta, all of Michigan, and Barry Croft of Delaware.
Whitmer, a Democrat, has been the frequent target of protests by often heavily armed anti-lockdown groups who have launched numerous demonstrations against her efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. She put major restrictions on personal movement throughout the state and on the economy, although many of those limits have been lifted.
Joseph Morrison and Pete Musico. Photograph: Jackson County Sheriff’s Office via AP
Whitmer’s moves once caused Trump to tweet “Liberate Michigan” as an exhortation to his supporters against her policy. As news of the foiled plot unfolded, many commentators fingered the president’s words as a contributing factor to the alleged conspiracy.
Former FBI agent and national security commentator Asha Rangappa asked pointedly: “Who knew that Trump and Fox News’ exhortations to “liberate Michigan” might lead to an attempt to harm the governor and lead a coup? Completely unforeseeable.”
The Detroit News reported that the investigation dated to early 2020 when the FBI learned via social media that individuals were discussing a violent overthrow of several state governments. A confidential paid informant then recorded a meeting between more than a dozen people from several states that took place in Dublin, Ohio.
Armed protesters take part in a rally in Lansing, demanding the reopening of businesses. Whitmer has been was repeatedly attacked for her tough coronavirus lockdown. Photograph: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images
“The group talked about creating a society that followed the US Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient,” the affidavit said. “They discussed different ways of achieving this goal from peaceful endeavors to violent actions. At one point, several members talked about state governments they believed were violating the US constitution, including the government of Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.”
Through electronic communications, two of the alleged conspirators then “agreed to unite others in their cause and take violent action against multiple state governments that they believe are violating the US constitution”, the FBI said.
One of the alleged conspirators, Adam Fox, said he needed 200 men to storm the capitol building in Lansing and take hostages, including the governor, according to the FBI. He said he wanted to try Whitmer for “treason” and would execute the plan before the 3 November election, the government said.
Later, however, the group shifted to targeting the governor’s vacation home, the FBI said.
Speaking on CNN late Thursday, Whitmer said the White House’s attacks have stoked threats against her.
“We have to call it out for what it is – it is domestic terrorism,” she said of the plot.
Whitmer said White House had not checked up on her, while Joe Biden and Charlie Baker – the Republican governor of Massachusetts – had. “That’s what decent people do,” she said. Not long after news of the thwarted plot broke, Trump campaign official Jason Miller attacked Whitmer: “If we want to talk about hatred, then Gov Whitmer, go look in the mirror – the fact that she wakes up every day with such hatred in her heart towards President Trump.”
“Every time that this White House identifies me or takes a shot at me, we see an increase in rhetoric online – violent rhetoric,” the Michigan governor said. The foiled kidnapping plot “took it to a whole new level”.
In a statement, Biden said he had spoken to Whitmer and delivered a harsh rebuke of Trump’s rhetoric: “There is a throughline from President Trump’s dog whistles and tolerance of hate, vengeance and lawlessness to plots such as this one. He is giving oxygen to the bigotry and hate we see on the march in our country.”
In a tweet, Trump renewed his attacks on Whitmer, saying she had “done a terrible job”, before saying: “I do not tolerate ANY extreme violence. Defending ALL Americans, even those who oppose and attack me, is what I will always do as your President! Governor Whitmer – open up your state, open up your schools and open up your churches!”
Maanvi Singh contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-10-08--Facebook removes hundreds of fake profiles tied to pro-Trump group

Facebook has removed hundreds of fake profiles it has linked to the conservative group Turning Point USA for carrying out organized attacks on the site , including attempts to influence public conversations by flooding news articles with pro-Trump comments and misinformation .
The move was prompted by reporting last month in the Washington Post that found Turning Point Action , an affiliated pro-Trump group , was paying teenagers to post coordinated messages on the site , a violation of Facebook ’ s rules .
In comments on news articles , paid users cast doubt on mail-in ballots , praised Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traced these profiles to an Arizona-based communications company called Rally Forge , which it says worked on behalf of Turning Point USA .
In a blogpost , Facebook said it had removed 276 fake accounts , including 200 Facebook accounts and 76 Instagram accounts .
Comments by the accounts addressed topics such as “ Covid-19 , criticism of the Democratic party and presidential candidate Joe Biden , and praise of President Trump and the Republican party ” , Facebook said , adding that the efforts violated the platform ’ s policy against “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profiles commented most frequently on pages of the Washington Post , Fox News , MSNBC , CNN and the New York Times , the report from Facebook said .
The networks initially became active before the 2018 midterm elections and went dormant until June .
Individuals behind the accounts used stock photos to create fake profiles , many of which were removed by Facebook ’ s automated detection software and linked to Rally Forge .
“ Although the people behind this network attempted to conceal their identities and coordination , our investigation linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook said .
Facebook said Rally Forge would be banned from the platform as a result .
However , questions have been raised as to why the company has not taken action against Turning Point USA , despite identifying that Rally Forge was working on the organization ’ s behalf .
Turning Point USA is still present on Facebook , with more than 1.8 million followers .
Turning Point USA said in a statement the allegations were related to Turning Point Action , an affiliated entity .
“ The mistake has been flagged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” it said .
Facebook pushed back , saying there was evidence linking the two .
Turning Point Action was founded last year by Charlie Kirk , the founder of Turning Point USA , a Phoenix-based non-profit that recruits college students to advocate for conservative causes .
The group posts memes and videos on its social media pages that support Trump and other conservative politicians .
Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr have also delivered speeches at Turning Point USA or Turning Point Action events , most recently during a June campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Twitter and Facebook crack down on inauthentic political discourse ahead of the US elections in November .
Social media firms have also struggled to rein in posts from Donald Trump , which have spread misinformation on a mass scale about voting .
Twitter , meanwhile , announced on Thursday that it had suspended 104 accounts linked to an Iranian effort to amplify debates over the shooting of George Floyd and other issues of racial justice in the US .
The platform said that in some cases , the accounts had been hijacked @ @ @ @ @

Facebook has removed hundreds of fake profiles it has linked to the conservative group Turning Point USA for carrying out organized attacks on the site, including attempts to influence public conversations by flooding news articles with pro-Trump comments and misinformation.
The move was prompted by reporting last month in the Washington Post that found Turning Point Action, an affiliated pro-Trump group, was paying teenagers to post coordinated messages on the site, a violation of Facebook’s rules.
In comments on news articles, paid users cast doubt on mail-in ballots, praised Trump and spread misinformation about coronavirus. Facebook traced these profiles to an Arizona-based communications company called Rally Forge, which it says worked on behalf of Turning Point USA.
In a blogpost, Facebook said it had removed 276 fake accounts, including 200 Facebook accounts and 76 Instagram accounts.
Comments by the accounts addressed topics such as “Covid-19, criticism of the Democratic party and presidential candidate Joe Biden, and praise of President Trump and the Republican party”, Facebook said, adding that the efforts violated the platform’s policy against “coordinated inauthentic behavior”.
These fake profiles commented most frequently on pages of the Washington Post, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and the New York Times, the report from Facebook said. The networks initially became active before the 2018 midterm elections and went dormant until June.
Individuals behind the accounts used stock photos to create fake profiles, many of which were removed by Facebook’s automated detection software and linked to Rally Forge. “Although the people behind this network attempted to conceal their identities and coordination, our investigation linked this activity to Rally Forge,” Facebook said.
An example of the inauthentic activity, via Facebook. Photograph: Courtesy Facebook
Facebook said Rally Forge would be banned from the platform as a result. However, questions have been raised as to why the company has not taken action against Turning Point USA, despite identifying that Rally Forge was working on the organization’s behalf. Turning Point USA is still present on Facebook, with more than 1.8 million followers.
Turning Point USA said in a statement the allegations were related to Turning Point Action, an affiliated entity. “The mistake has been flagged with Facebook’s communication team,” it said. Facebook pushed back, saying there was evidence linking the two.
Turning Point Action was founded last year by Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, a Phoenix-based non-profit that recruits college students to advocate for conservative causes. The group posts memes and videos on its social media pages that support Trump and other conservative politicians. Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr have also delivered speeches at Turning Point USA or Turning Point Action events, most recently during a June campaign rally in Phoenix.
The enforcement comes as Twitter and Facebook crack down on inauthentic political discourse ahead of the US elections in November. Social media firms have also struggled to rein in posts from Donald Trump, which have spread misinformation on a mass scale about voting.
Twitter, meanwhile, announced on Thursday that it had suspended 104 accounts linked to an Iranian effort to amplify debates over the killing of George Floyd and other issues of racial justice in the US.
The platform said that in some cases, the accounts had been hijacked from their original owners.
Agencies contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-10-08--Covid drug given to Trump developed using cells derived from aborted fetus

One of the drugs taken by Donald Trump that he has touted as a potential “ cure ” for coronavirus was developed using human cells originally obtained from an elective abortion , a practice repeatedly denounced by the president and many of his supporters .
The drug is a monoclonal antibody cocktail developed by Regeneron .
The president received an 8-gram infusion under a “ compassionate use ” exemption when he was hospitalized over the weekend after testing positive for Covid-19 .
There is no cure for Covid-19 , and the drug is not approved .
The stem cells used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HEK-293T cells , a line of cells used in laboratories .
The cells were originally derived from an embryonic kidney after an elective abortion performed in the Netherlands in the 1970s .
Trump has consistently sought to restrict abortion access , including most recently , when he nominated the conservative Catholic Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the supreme court last month .
The anti-abortion movement is one of Trump ’ s most enthusiastic bases of support .
The 2020 Republican party platform explicitly opposes embryonic stem cell research , and calls for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cell research .
Trump has already limited research using embryonic stem cells for ideological reasons .
In 2019 , his administration paused funding for government scientists to work on studies involving embryonic stem cells , affecting about $ 31m in research , according to Science Magazine .
“ We stopped the federal funding of fetal tissue research , which everybody felt was so important … ” the president told supporters in January 2020 .
“ We ’ re standing up to the pro-abortion lobby like never before.
” The HEK-293T line of cells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they divide freely in the lab .
Regeneron said the company does not consider the cells “ tissue ” .
“ It ’ s how you want to parse it , ” a Regeneron spokeswoman , Alexandra Bowie , told the MIT Technology Review .
“ But the 293T cell lines available today are not considered fetal tissue , and we did not otherwise use fetal tissue.
” Development of the Regeneron antibody cocktail is supported by a $ 450m grant from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( Barda ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading US anti-abortion group , did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
However , the anti-abortion movement has weighed in on other Covid-19 drugs in development .
At least five Covid-19 vaccine candidates used either HEK-293T cells or a proprietary line of cells developed by Janssen from a 1985 elective abortion .
In April , the influential US Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to the US government to ask that it “ incentivize ” vaccine candidates developed without use of such cells .
“ It is critically important that Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produced ethically : no American should be forced to choose between being vaccinated against this potentially deadly virus and violating his or her conscience , ” the letter said , as reported by Science Magazine .
Regeneron has worked with the US government to develop monoclonal antibody therapies for years .
In 2018 , researchers from Regeneron and the US government used the same line of stem cells in development of a therapy for the Ebola virus , according to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases .
“ Research using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complex diseases , test new drug candidates and can help unlock new scientific insights that ultimately could lead to the discovery of new treatments for people with serious diseases , ” Regeneron said in an April 2020 statement .
Regeneron ’ s drug is not available to the public and has been tested on only 275 people to date .
Therapies in the same class as Regeneron ’ s antibody cocktail cost on average more than $ 96,000 per course .
The Trump administration has worked systematically to limit abortion access in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence has said : “ I long for the day Roe v Wade is sent to the ash heap of history , ” referring to the US supreme court decision which has allowed for women to obtain legal abortions since 1973 .

One of the drugs taken by Donald Trump that he has touted as a potential “cure” for coronavirus was developed using human cells originally obtained from an elective abortion, a practice repeatedly denounced by the president and many of his supporters.
The drug is a monoclonal antibody cocktail developed by Regeneron. The president received an 8-gram infusion under a “compassionate use” exemption when he was hospitalized over the weekend after testing positive for Covid-19. There is no cure for Covid-19, and the drug is not approved.
The cells used to develop the drug are known as HEK-293T cells, a line of cells used in laboratories. The cells were originally derived from an embryonic kidney after an elective abortion performed in the Netherlands in the 1970s. HEK-293 cells are one of the most commonly used cell lines in laboratories across a wide array of research.
Trump has consistently sought to restrict abortion access, including most recently, when he nominated the conservative Catholic Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the supreme court last month. The anti-abortion movement is one of Trump’s most enthusiastic bases of support.
The 2020 Republican party platform explicitly opposes embryonic stem cell research, and calls for a ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, because like HEK cells they are derived from an embryo.
01:47 Donald Trump says catching Covid-19 was 'like a blessing from God' – video
Trump has already limited research using embryonic stem cells for ideological reasons. In 2019, his administration paused funding for government scientists to work on studies involving embryonic stem cells, affecting about $31m in research, according to Science magazine.
“We stopped the federal funding of fetal tissue research, which everybody felt was so important …” the president told supporters in January 2020. “We’re standing up to the pro-abortion lobby like never before.”
The HEK-293T line of cells has been “immortalized”, meaning they divide freely in the lab. Regeneron said the company does not consider the cells “tissue”.
“It’s how you want to parse it,” a Regeneron spokeswoman, Alexandra Bowie, told the MIT Technology Review. “But the 293T cell lines available today are not considered fetal tissue, and we did not otherwise use fetal tissue.”
Development of the Regeneron antibody cocktail is supported by a $450m grant from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (Barda).
The Susan B Anthony List, a leading US anti-abortion group, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the anti-abortion movement has weighed in on other Covid-19 drugs in development. At least five Covid-19 vaccine candidates used either HEK-293T cells or a proprietary line of cells developed by Janssen from a 1985 elective abortion.
In April, the influential US Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to the US government to ask that it “incentivize” vaccine candidates developed without use of such cells.
“It is critically important that Americans have access to a vaccine that is produced ethically: no American should be forced to choose between being vaccinated against this potentially deadly virus and violating his or her conscience,” the letter said, as reported by Science Magazine.
Regeneron has worked with the US government to develop monoclonal antibody therapies for years. In 2018, researchers from Regeneron and the US government used the same line of cells in development of a therapy for the Ebola virus, according to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
“Research using such stem cells allows Regeneron to model complex diseases, test new drug candidates and can help unlock new scientific insights that ultimately could lead to the discovery of new treatments for people with serious diseases,” Regeneron said in an April 2020 statement about stem cells in general.
Regeneron’s drug is not available to the public and has been tested on only 275 people to date. Therapies in the same class as Regeneron’s antibody cocktail cost on average more than $96,000 a course.
The Trump administration has worked systematically to limit abortion access in the United States and abroad. Vice-President Mike Pence has said: “I long for the day Roe v Wade is sent to the ash heap of history,” referring to the US supreme court decision which has allowed for women to obtain legal abortions since 1973.


theguardian--2020-10-08--Fight to Vote: why Texas is a problem in 2020

This is one of those weeks where I don ’ t even know where to start .
The president is garnering headlines with his antics after being diagnosed with Covid-19 , yet of far greater significance are the hundreds of battles across the country contesting voting restrictions .
Maybe it ’ s better to focus on one place at a time , and Texas is on my mind .
Why is Texas so important this year ?
Biden and Trump are polling neck and neck in Texas .
Texas is the second most populous state in the country , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second only to California .
Some experts say that if more people in Texas were allowed to vote , Texas wouldn ’ t be a red state but a purple swing state , with a more equal distribution of Republican and Democrat voters .
The Lone Star State is known for making it difficult to vote , and voter turnout is almost always lower in Texas than the national average .
But this year , Governor Greg Abbott has taken this to new extremes .
As we reported this week , he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop-off site for mail-in ballots – despite the fact that many people will probably want to avoid using the postal service because of the delays being reported across the country .
This will force some Texans to travel immense distances simply to vote , the very definition of voter suppression .
Take Harris county , home to Houston – it is the size of a smaller US state , and yet has only one place to drop off a ballot .
This ruling will hit Texas ’ s diverse cities the hardest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled on Wednesday that the city of Houston could not proactively send mail-in ballot applications to its 2 million voters .
These decisions have been met with outrage , and civil rights groups such as the NAACP have already started contesting them .
Texas , which is largely run by Republicans , has upheld voting restrictions for decades .
• None Officials have to allow official poll watchers on site , despite fear of voter intimidation .
• None Polling station numbers have been cut ( though sometimes they have more capacity ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country ?
A record number of voters are casting their ballots via mail and early voting – an estimated 4 million have already voted , according to Reuters .
Some voters are experiencing vote-by-mail snafus across the country , such as an Ohio county sending out two ballots to voters .
Many errors can be linked back to a significant lack of federal funding for election officials .
And USPS delays are still plaguing the country .
Don ’ t stress , though , Billie Eilish is here to save us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just weeks before the election encouraging her young fans to vote .
This is a demographic that often doesn ’ t turn out in force at the polls – sometimes because of apathy , other times because of voter suppression geared toward college-aged voters .
She announced her initiative Just Vote on Instagram and encouraged first-time voters to engage via text to check their registration and find other crucial information .
Sounds like she ’ s trying to get rid of a certain “ bad guy ” .
See you next week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of inboxes every Thursday .
If you ’ re not already signed up , subscribe now

Hello Fight to Vote readers,
This is one of those weeks where I don’t even know where to start. The president is garnering headlines with his antics after being diagnosed with Covid-19, yet of far greater significance are the hundreds of battles across the country contesting voting restrictions.
Maybe it’s better to focus on one place at a time, and Texas is on my mind.
Why is Texas so important this year?
Biden and Trump are polling neck and neck in Texas.
Texas is the second most populous state in the country, and has a whopping 38 electoral votes, second only to California. Some experts say that if more people in Texas were allowed to vote, Texas wouldn’t be a red state but a purple swing state, with a more equal distribution of Republican and Democrat voters.
What’s going wrong in Texas?
The Lone Star State is known for making it difficult to vote, and voter turnout is almost always lower in Texas than the national average.
But this year, Governor Greg Abbott has taken this to new extremes. As we reported this week, he has decreed that counties can offer only one drop-off site for mail-in ballots – despite the fact that many people will probably want to avoid using the postal service because of the delays being reported across the country.
This will force some Texans to travel immense distances simply to vote, the very definition of voter suppression. Take Harris county, home to Houston – it is the size of a smaller US state, and yet has only one place to drop off a ballot.
This ruling will hit Texas’s diverse cities the hardest.
Furthermore, the all-Republican Texas supreme court ruled on Wednesday that the city of Houston could not proactively send mail-in ballot applications to its 2 million voters. These decisions have been met with outrage, and civil rights groups such as the NAACP have already started contesting them.
That’s not all
Texas, which is largely run by Republicans, has upheld voting restrictions for decades.
There’s no online voter registration.
Early voting is limited.
Officials have to allow official poll watchers on site, despite fear of voter intimidation.
Polling station numbers have been cut (though sometimes they have more capacity).
OK, what about the rest of the country?
A record number of voters are casting their ballots via mail and early voting – an estimated 4 million have already voted, according to Reuters.
Some voters are experiencing vote-by-mail snafus across the country, such as an Ohio county sending out two ballots to voters. Many errors can be linked back to a significant lack of federal funding for election officials.
And USPS delays are still plaguing the country.
Don’t stress, though, Billie Eilish is here to save us
The electropop star announced a new initiative just weeks before the election encouraging her young fans to vote. This is a demographic that often doesn’t turn out in force at the polls – sometimes because of apathy, other times because of voter suppression geared toward college-aged voters.
Billie Eilish. Photograph: John Locher/AP
She announced her initiative Just Vote on Instagram and encouraged first-time voters to engage via text to check their registration and find other crucial information. Sounds like she’s trying to get rid of a certain “bad guy”.
See you next week,
Ankita
Fight to Vote is delivered to thousands of inboxes every Thursday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now


theguardian--2020-10-09--Biden blasts Trump for not condemning Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot – video

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has slammed Donald Trump for not condemning right-wing militias following the foiled kidnapping plot against @ @ @ @ @ Whitmer .
Speaking from his campaign in Arizona , Biden criticised the president for not @ @ @ @ @ previously tweeted 'Liberate Michigan ' in response to the state 's Covid restrictions .
'You @ @ @ @ @ the FBI said a couple of days ago .
He said the greatest terrorist threat @ @ @ @ @ supremacists , ' Biden said .
'Why ca n't the president just say , stop @ @ @ @ @ stop , and we will pursue you if you do n't '' • Six people @ @ @ @ @ Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has slammed Donald Trump for not condemning right-wing militias following the foiled kidnapping plot against Michigan's governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Speaking from his campaign in Arizona, Biden criticised the president for not watching his words after Trump previously tweeted 'Liberate Michigan' in response to the state's Covid restrictions. 'You saw what the head of the FBI said a couple of days ago. He said the greatest terrorist threat in America is from white supremacists,' Biden said. 'Why can't the president just say, stop, stop, stop, stop, and we will pursue you if you don't"