theguardian--2020-08-10--US passes 5m Covid-19 cases as Joe Biden says pandemic 'breaks heart'

The US on Sunday passed 5m coronavirus cases , as Donald Trump ’ s executive orders seeking to break a political impasse over further economic relief were denounced by a Republican as “ unconstitutional slop ” and Joe Biden accused the president of issuing little more than “ excuses and lies ” .
Recriminations have been flying in Washington since talks on further aid for the unemployed and for states struggling with a public health crisis collapsed on Friday .
Trump intervened on Friday and Saturday , holding press conferences at his luxury golf club in New Jersey , cheered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a jarring setting amid a pandemic and recession .
On Sunday , there was loud criticism of the president ’ s unilateral proposals on reduced federal enhanced unemployment benefits , payroll tax cuts and protection against evictions .
New York ’ s governor , Andrew Cuomo , dismissed Trump ’ s executive orders as “ laughable ” and another chapter in the federal government ’ s botched response to the pandemic .
Cuomo said Trump ’ s plan would likely cost New York state $ 4bn : “ The concept of saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the insurance , is just laughable .
It ’ s just an impossibility .
So none of this is real on the federal side .
This is going to have to be resolved.
” Cuomo said he did not know if Trump was “ genuine in thinking the executive order is a resolution or if this is just a tactic in the negotiation .
But this is irreconcilable for the state .
And I expect this is just a chapter in the book of Washington Covid mismanagement.
” Trump ’ s plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal spending , drawing claims it is illegal , as well as accusations of his proposals being unworkable and failing to address the most pressing financial hardships facing American families .
“ These are illusions , ” Nancy Pelosi , the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives , told Fox News Sunday .
The row intensified as the US continued its unwelcome role as the nation with the highest number of Covid-19 cases , crossing the 5m threshold according to figures from the Johns Hopkins University data tracker .
The pandemic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to repeated warnings in recent days and weeks by top federal public health experts .
The US also has the highest number of deaths in the world from the virus , at nearly 163,000 , according to Johns Hopkins..
The Democrats have proposed a $ 3tn package of new economic measures to address the crisis .
The Republicans so far have offered $ 1tn worth of short-term measures .
Talks in which Pelosi proposed they meet in the middle at $ 2tn broke down on Capitol Hill on Friday .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal unemployment benefit enhancement that ran out last month , but cutting it from $ 600 a week to about $ 400 – $ 100 of which would have to be supplied by the states themselves via a new system .
He also talked about extending protections against eviction for renters , but it turned out to be a proposal to examine such a move.And a proposal for a tax cut would need the cooperation of America ’ s employers .
Pelosi on Sunday concurred with the assessment of Republican senator from Nebraska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unilateral economic relief measures amounted to “ unconstitutional slop ” .
The White House chief economics adviser , Larry Kudlow , said on CNN on Sunday that money had been allocated by the federal government already that would allow states to contribute $ 100 per person of the new $ 400 a week benefit on offer from the White House , with some 30 million Americans newly out of a job since the coronavirus pandemic cratered the US economy .
He acknowledged : “ There is still a lot of hardship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of heartbreak.
” He also demurred on questions of whether the president ’ s proposals as presented were legal .
Pelosi said that what the president is putting forth “ is not workable ” .
Pelosi said : “ What [ Kudlow ] said really shows the weakness and the meagerness of what the president proposed .
First of all he ’ s saying the states have the money .
No they don ’ t , they have expenses from the coronavirus .
They have lost revenue , because of that they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , teachers , sanitation , transportation workers because they don ’ t have the money.
” She added : “ Something ’ s wrong .
Either the president doesn ’ t know what he ’ s talking about – clearly his aides don ’ t know what he is talking about – or something ’ s very wrong here about meeting the needs of the American people at this time.
” The Democrats ’ presumptive presidential candidate , Joe Biden , published a statement on Medium late on Saturday night about the forthcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a number that boggles the mind and breaks the heart , ” he wrote .
“ Five million is more than the entire population of Alabama – or of more than half the states in our union , for that matter .
Each time the number clicks up , it represents a life altered , a family stricken with anxiety , a community on edge .
And for the families of the more than 160,000 souls who have died because of this virus , it is a pain that can never be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet , we continue to hear little more from President Trump than excuses and lies in an effort to cover for his repeated failures of leadership – failures that worsened the pandemic here at home , and in turn deepened our economic crisis.
” Late on Sunday more details of a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children ’ s Hospital Association was published by the Washington Post , which claims that 97,000 US children tested positive for the coronavirus in the last two weeks of July .
The data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom defined children as younger than 19 years old .
It was Donald Trump ’ s false claim that kids were “ almost immune ” from the illness that prompted Twitter to temporarily ban the president ’ s re-election campaign account and Facebook to take down one of his posts .


theguardian--2020-08-10--Why the officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor may never be arrested

The entire internet , it seems , is calling for the arrest of the officers who killed Breonna Taylor in her Louisville , Kentucky , home .
The viral meme goes like this : take any subject and insert a reference to Taylor .
For example , on the first day of the delayed baseball season the Tampa Bay Rays tweeted : “ Today is Opening Day , which means it ’ s a great day to arrest the killers of Breonna Taylor.
” But it ’ s not that simple , partly because of a tangled legal doctrine that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no specific law in these jurisdictions addressing police shooting in self-defense , which means officers have the same rights and obligations as any resident .
Yet police have the unique power to initiate violence–like knocking down the door of a private home in the middle of the night–that other people don ’ t .
Taylor , a 26-year-old emergency room technician , was struck by eight police bullets in March as officers attempted to serve a no-knock warrant on her home during a narcotics investigation .
Her boyfriend , Kenneth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believing intruders were invading their home and striking an officer in the leg .
Officers returned fire .
No drugs were found in the home .
Those circumstances make this case more legally ambiguous than it may seem at first glance , said Seth Stoughton , a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law .
“ Most states don ’ t allow someone to claim self-defense when they are an aggressor , ” he said .
“ But most states also say that when police are acting in their official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for purposes of self-defense law.
” So both Walker and the police can reasonably claim self-defense , and the law makes it virtually impossible to define an “ aggressor ” in the situation .
A kind of self-defense stalemate that leaves a lot of questions as to what charges a prosecutor could bring in Taylor ’ s case – and could even lead to the end of the no-knock raid in American policing .
Legal experts say the officers involved in Taylor ’ s shooting – Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and officers Brett Hankison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested .
Prosecutors wield tremendous discretion in their decisions to bring charges , and “ probable cause , ” the legal standard of proof needed for an arrest is “ an exceedingly low bar ” , said Colin Miller , a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law researching the Kentucky criminal code on behalf of lawyers representing Taylor ’ s family .
“ If you have a shooting death , it ’ s going to be pretty difficult to argue you can ’ t at least charge some type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it be endangerment manslaughter or murder.
” The Taylor case is complicated by the so-called “ castle doctrine ” , which traces to 17th century English common law .
It gives people in every state , except Vermont and Washington DC , the right to use deadly force against an intruder in their home , with no duty to retreat .
In Kentucky law , those protections do not allow someone to harm police officers who enter their home , as long as the officers announce themselves or the homeowner reasonably should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how Walker was initially arrested and charged with attempted murder of a police officer for opening fire first .
Those charges were dropped in May .
The officers , in turn , took gunfire in a place their search warrant gave them legal permission to enter .
That would seemingly provide them a self-defense justification for shooting back inside Taylor ’ s home .
Thanks to US supreme court rulings , officers can invoke self-defense even if their behavior was objectively unsafe or likely to provoke a violent response .
But the gunfire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walker .
Police fired more than 20 rounds into Taylor ’ s home , missing Walker and instead hitting Taylor as she stood in her hallway .
Several of the officers ’ bullets also entered a neighbor ’ s house , according to images shared by the Taylor family ’ s lawyer and a civil lawsuit filed by the neighbor .
The suit accuses the officers of “ spraying ” bullets into the apartment complex “ with a total disregard for the value of human life ” .
Those facts open up another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , and could argue for an indictment .
Kentucky law specifically says that even if a person has a valid self-defense justification , the protection doesn ’ t extend to “ wanton ” behavior–essentially defined as knowing something is extremely dangerous and doing it anyway in a reckless manner .
If a jury found the officers ’ conduct was wanton , directly causing the death of an innocent person , “ then that is murder under Kentucky law , and self-defense would not be a viable defense ” , Miller said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Kentucky University , said that a more realistic charge may be manslaughter , rather than wanton murder .
It ’ s a somewhat squishy distinction in state law , but generally wanton murder charges require a mindset of “ depraved indifference ” , which can be a steep bar .
“ This is not very technical , but the best way to think of it is : manslaughter is when you ’ re reckless and you kill someone .
Depraved indifference is when you ’ re really , really reckless and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As an example , he said to imagine a person walking into a crowded room and firing wildly in all directions , unprovoked .
That reflects a more “ depraved ” state of mind than firing back wildly , after you ’ ve been shot at .
The differences in punishment if convicted are substantial : five to ten years in prison for manslaughter , but 20 years to life in prison for wanton murder , which is technically also punishable by death .
‘ This city is going to burn ’ So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been fired .
The other two officers have been temporarily taken off the street .
In a termination letter , the Louisville police chief , Robert Schroeder , said Hankison violated department policy on the use of deadly force , and accused him of “ wantonly and blindly ” firing 10 shots into Taylor ’ s apartment without a clear line of sight .
In a subsequent appeal , Hankison ’ s attorney David Leighty disputed these claims , calling the firing a “ cowardly political act ” .
Leighty noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded which officers ’ bullets went where yet .
He declined to make any further comment to the Marshall Project .
Lawyers for the other two officers did not reply to messages seeking comment .
Taylor ’ s family has called for arrests of all three officers .
But not everyone protesting Taylor ’ s death is rooting for arrests .
As the current moment in US policing pushes conversations about defunding and abolition of police and the justice system generally , some activists are seeking accountability in other ways .
Chenelle Helm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lives Matter Chapter , said she fully understands the calls for arresting the officers in Taylor ’ s case , but she hasn ’ t joined them because her organization is actively working to dismantle the prison system .
“ If we ’ re asking for the officers to be arrested that ’ s contradictory to abolition work , ” Helm said .
Four other Louisville activists are on a hunger strike demanding that all three officers are fired and are stripped of their future pension benefits .
Vincent Gonzalez , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a desired outcome .
He said he ’ s influenced by the same abolitionist ideas as Helm , and doesn ’ t see the officers ’ arrest as a be-all and end-all , but also said that arrests would be gratifying in some ways .
“ It would mean so much to show some courage , make a statement and say that this is unacceptable behavior , and you are not allowed to do these things in our community , ” Gonzalez said .
He also said he worries about civil unrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hope I ’ m wrong , ” Gonzalez said , “ but when they announce no indictment this city is going to burn.
” Indictment or not , Miller thinks the case could signal the death knell in America for the no-knock raid , the practice by law enforcement agencies of breaking into a home without prior warning .
“ I just don ’ t know if there ’ s any realistic way you can continue to have no-knock warrants in a jurisdiction that has the Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Taylor ’ s case is just the latest in a long series of avoidable deaths – of both officers and civilians–that have occurred when officers in no-knock raids are met by an armed homeowner acting in apparent self-defense .
Civil libertarians have wrestled with these issues for decades , and momentum appears to be growing .
The Louisville city council unanimously banned such raids last month .
US House Democrats have also approved a bill that would ban no-knock warrants in federal law enforcement and strip funding from local police departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senator Rand Paul has also proposed a Senate bill that would do the same .
Both Paul ’ s bill and the Louisville ban on no-knock raids are named for Breonna Taylor .
• None This article was published in partnership with the Marshall Project , a nonprofit news organization covering the US criminal justice system .
Sign up for their newsletter , or follow the Marshall Project on Facebook or Twitter

The entire internet, it seems, is calling for the arrest of the officers who killed Breonna Taylor in her Louisville, Kentucky, home.
The viral meme goes like this: take any subject and insert a reference to Taylor. For example, on the first day of the delayed baseball season the Tampa Bay Rays tweeted: “Today is Opening Day, which means it’s a great day to arrest the killers of Breonna Taylor.”
But it’s not that simple, partly because of a tangled legal doctrine that applies to Kentucky and 28 other states. There is no specific law in these jurisdictions addressing police shooting in self-defense, which means officers have the same rights and obligations as any resident. Yet police have the unique power to initiate violence–like knocking down the door of a private home in the middle of the night–that other people don’t.
Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician, was struck by eight police bullets in March as officers attempted to serve a no-knock warrant on her home during a narcotics investigation. Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired his gun first, believing intruders were invading their home and striking an officer in the leg. Officers returned fire. No drugs were found in the home.
Those circumstances make this case more legally ambiguous than it may seem at first glance, said Seth Stoughton, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
“Most states don’t allow someone to claim self-defense when they are an aggressor,” he said. “But most states also say that when police are acting in their official capacity they can’t be aggressors for purposes of self-defense law.”
Demonstrators march through Powderhorn park on 26 June in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in honor of Breonna Taylor. Photograph: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
So both Walker and the police can reasonably claim self-defense, and the law makes it virtually impossible to define an “aggressor” in the situation. A kind of self-defense stalemate that leaves a lot of questions as to what charges a prosecutor could bring in Taylor’s case – and could even lead to the end of the no-knock raid in American policing.
‘Castle doctrine’
Legal experts say the officers involved in Taylor’s shooting – Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and officers Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove – certainly can be arrested. Prosecutors wield tremendous discretion in their decisions to bring charges, and “probable cause,” the legal standard of proof needed for an arrest is “an exceedingly low bar”, said Colin Miller, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law researching the Kentucky criminal code on behalf of lawyers representing Taylor’s family. “If you have a shooting death, it’s going to be pretty difficult to argue you can’t at least charge some type of crime in that case, whether it be endangerment manslaughter or murder.”
The Taylor case is complicated by the so-called “castle doctrine”, which traces to 17th century English common law. It gives people in every state, except Vermont and Washington DC, the right to use deadly force against an intruder in their home, with no duty to retreat. In Kentucky law, those protections do not allow someone to harm police officers who enter their home, as long as the officers announce themselves or the homeowner reasonably should have known they were police. This is how Walker was initially arrested and charged with attempted murder of a police officer for opening fire first. Those charges were dropped in May.
The officers, in turn, took gunfire in a place their search warrant gave them legal permission to enter. That would seemingly provide them a self-defense justification for shooting back inside Taylor’s home. Thanks to US supreme court rulings, officers can invoke self-defense even if their behavior was objectively unsafe or likely to provoke a violent response.
But the gunfire involved more than just the officers and Walker. Police fired more than 20 rounds into Taylor’s home, missing Walker and instead hitting Taylor as she stood in her hallway. Several of the officers’ bullets also entered a neighbor’s house, according to images shared by the Taylor family’s lawyer and a civil lawsuit filed by the neighbor. The suit accuses the officers of “spraying” bullets into the apartment complex “with a total disregard for the value of human life”.
Brett Hankison. He is the only one of the three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor to be fired. Photograph: AP
Those facts open up another facet of the self-defense laws, Miller said, and could argue for an indictment. Kentucky law specifically says that even if a person has a valid self-defense justification, the protection doesn’t extend to “wanton” behavior–essentially defined as knowing something is extremely dangerous and doing it anyway in a reckless manner.
If a jury found the officers’ conduct was wanton, directly causing the death of an innocent person, “then that is murder under Kentucky law, and self-defense would not be a viable defense”, Miller said.
Michael Mannheimer, a law professor at Northern Kentucky University, said that a more realistic charge may be manslaughter, rather than wanton murder. It’s a somewhat squishy distinction in state law, but generally wanton murder charges require a mindset of “depraved indifference”, which can be a steep bar.
“This is not very technical, but the best way to think of it is: manslaughter is when you’re reckless and you kill someone. Depraved indifference is when you’re really, really reckless and you kill someone,” Mannheimer said.
As an example, he said to imagine a person walking into a crowded room and firing wildly in all directions, unprovoked. That reflects a more “depraved” state of mind than firing back wildly, after you’ve been shot at.
The differences in punishment if convicted are substantial: five to ten years in prison for manslaughter, but 20 years to life in prison for wanton murder, which is technically also punishable by death.
‘This city is going to burn’
So far only one officer, Brett Hankison, has been fired. The other two officers have been temporarily taken off the street. In a termination letter, the Louisville police chief, Robert Schroeder, said Hankison violated department policy on the use of deadly force, and accused him of “wantonly and blindly” firing 10 shots into Taylor’s apartment without a clear line of sight.
In a subsequent appeal, Hankison’s attorney David Leighty disputed these claims, calling the firing a “cowardly political act”. Leighty noted that the preliminary investigation has not even concluded which officers’ bullets went where yet. He declined to make any further comment to the Marshall Project.
Lawyers for the other two officers did not reply to messages seeking comment.
Taylor’s family has called for arrests of all three officers. But not everyone protesting Taylor’s death is rooting for arrests. As the current moment in US policing pushes conversations about defunding and abolition of police and the justice system generally, some activists are seeking accountability in other ways. Chenelle Helm, a co-founder of the Louisville Black Lives Matter Chapter, said she fully understands the calls for arresting the officers in Taylor’s case, but she hasn’t joined them because her organization is actively working to dismantle the prison system.
“If we’re asking for the officers to be arrested that’s contradictory to abolition work,” Helm said.
Four other Louisville activists are on a hunger strike demanding that all three officers are fired and are stripped of their future pension benefits.
Vincent Gonzalez, one of the strikers, was torn about arrests as a desired outcome. He said he’s influenced by the same abolitionist ideas as Helm, and doesn’t see the officers’ arrest as a be-all and end-all, but also said that arrests would be gratifying in some ways. “It would mean so much to show some courage, make a statement and say that this is unacceptable behavior, and you are not allowed to do these things in our community,” Gonzalez said.
He also said he worries about civil unrest if the officers are cleared.
“I hope I’m wrong,” Gonzalez said, “but when they announce no indictment this city is going to burn.”
Indictment or not, Miller thinks the case could signal the death knell in America for the no-knock raid, the practice by law enforcement agencies of breaking into a home without prior warning.
“I just don’t know if there’s any realistic way you can continue to have no-knock warrants in a jurisdiction that has the Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground. It seems incompatible,” Miller said.
Taylor’s case is just the latest in a long series of avoidable deaths – of both officers and civilians–that have occurred when officers in no-knock raids are met by an armed homeowner acting in apparent self-defense. Civil libertarians have wrestled with these issues for decades, and momentum appears to be growing.
The Louisville city council unanimously banned such raids last month. US House Democrats have also approved a bill that would ban no-knock warrants in federal law enforcement and strip funding from local police departments that did not follow suit. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has also proposed a Senate bill that would do the same.
Both Paul’s bill and the Louisville ban on no-knock raids are named for Breonna Taylor.


theguardian--2020-08-10--America's PPE shortage could last years without strategic plan, experts warn

Shortages of personal protective equipment and medical supplies could persist for years without strategic government intervention , officials from healthcare and manufacturing industries have said .
Officials said logistical challenges continue seven months after the coronavirus reached the United States , as the flu season approaches and as some state emergency management agencies prepare for a fall surge in Covid-19 cases .
Although disarray is not as widespread as it was this spring , hospitals said rolling shortages of supplies range from specialized beds to disposable isolation gowns to thermometers .
“ A few weeks ago , we were having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wipes .
You just couldn ’ t get them , ” said Dr Bernard Klein , chief executive of Providence Holy Cross medical center in Mission Hills near Los Angeles .
“ We actually had to manufacture our own.
” This same dynamic has played out across a number of critical supplies in his hospital .
First masks , then isolation gowns , and now a specialized bed that allows nurses to turn Covid-19 patients on their bellies – equipment that helps workers with what can otherwise be a six-person job .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our hospital with Covid , and several members hospitalized at the same time , ” said Klein .
“ It ’ s very , very sad.
” Testing supplies ran short as the predominantly Latino community served by Providence Holy Cross was hard-hit by Covid , and even as nearby hospitals could process 15-minute tests .
“ If we had a more coordinated response with a partnership between the medical field , the government , and the private industry , it would help improve the supply chain to the areas that need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Klein said expected to deal with equipment and supply shortages throughout 2021 , especially as flu season approaches .
“ Most people focus on those N95 respirators , ” said Carmela Coyle , CEO of the California Hospital Association , an industry group which represents more than 400 hospitals across one of America ’ s hardest-hit states .
She said believed Covid-19-related supply challenges will persist through 2022 .
“ We have been challenged with shortages of isolation gowns , face shields , which you ’ re now starting to see in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s in shortage or not available creates risk for patients and for healthcare workers , ” said Coyle .
At the same time , trade associations representing manufacturers said convincing customers to shift to American suppliers had been difficult .
“ I also have industry that ’ s working only at 10-20 % capacity , who can make PPE in our own backyard , but have no orders.
” said Kim Glas , CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations , whose members make reusable cloth gowns .
Manufacturers in her organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products ” , but without long-term government contracts , many are apprehensive to invest in equipment to drive economics of scale , and eventually needed to lower prices .
“ If there continues to be an upward trajectory of Covid-19 cases , not just in the US but globally , you can see those supply chains breaking down again , ” Glas said .
“ It is a healthcare security issue.
” For the past two decades , personal protective equipment was supplied to healthcare institutions in lean supply chains in the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chains between major manufacturers and end-users were so efficient there was no need to stockpile goods .
But in March , the supply chain broke when major Asian PPE exporters embargoed materials or shut down just as demand increased exponentially .
Thus , healthcare institutions were in much the same position as regular grocery shoppers , who were trying to buy great quantities of a product they never needed to stockpile before .
“ I am very concerned about long-term PPE [ personal protective equipment ] shortages for the foreseeable future , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president of the American Medical Association .
“ There ’ s no question the situation is better than it was a couple of months ago , ” said Bailey .
However , many healthcare organizations including her own have struggled to obtain PPE .
Bailey practices at a 10-doctor allergy clinic , and was met with a 10,000-mask minimum when they tried to order N95 respirators .
“ We have not seen evidence of a long-term strategic plan for the manufacture , acquisition and distribution of PPE , ” from the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain needs to be strengthened dramatically , and we need less dependence on foreign goods to manufacture our own PPE in the US.
” Some products have now come back to be made in the US – though factories are not expected to be able to reach demand until mid-2021 .
“ A lot has been done in the last six months , ” said Rousse .
“ We are largely out of the hole , and we have planted the seeds to render the United States self-sufficient , ” said Dave Rousse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fabrics Industry .
In 2019 , 850 tons of the material used in disposable masks was made in the US .
Around 10,000 tons is expected to be made in 2021 , satisfying perhaps 80 % of demand .
But PPE is a suite of items – including gloves , gowns and face shields – not all of which have seen the same success .
“ Thermometers are becoming a real issue , ” said Cindy Juhas , chief strategy officer of CME , an American healthcare product distributor .
“ They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and syringes for the amount of vaccines they have to make , ” she said .
Federal government efforts to address the supply chain have largely floundered .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency , in charge of the Covid-19 response , told congressional interviewers in June it had “ no involvement ” in distributing PPE to hotspots .
An initiative headed by Donald Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner , called Project Airbridge , flew PPE from international suppliers to the US at taxpayer expense , but was phased out .
Further , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMA ’ s calls for more distribution data .
Arguably , Klein is among the best-placed to weather such disruptions .
He is part of a 51-hospital chain with purchasing power , and among the institutions distributors prioritize when selling supplies .
But tribulations continue even in hospitals , as shortages have pushed buyers to look directly for manufacturers , often through a swamp of companies which have sprung up overnight .
Now distributors are being called upon not just by their traditional customers – hospitals and long-term care homes – but by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responders , schools , clinics and even food businesses are all buying medical equipment now .
“ There ’ s going to be lots of other shortages we haven ’ t even thought about , ” said Juhas .

Shortages of personal protective equipment and medical supplies could persist for years without strategic government intervention, officials from healthcare and manufacturing industries have said.
Officials said logistical challenges continue seven months after the coronavirus reached the United States, as the flu season approaches and as some state emergency management agencies prepare for a fall surge in Covid-19 cases.
Although disarray is not as widespread as it was this spring, hospitals said rolling shortages of supplies range from specialized beds to disposable isolation gowns to thermometers.
“A few weeks ago, we were having a very difficult time getting the sanitary wipes. You just couldn’t get them,” said Dr Bernard Klein, chief executive of Providence Holy Cross medical center in Mission Hills near Los Angeles. “We actually had to manufacture our own.”
This same dynamic has played out across a number of critical supplies in his hospital. First masks, then isolation gowns, and now a specialized bed that allows nurses to turn Covid-19 patients on their bellies – equipment that helps workers with what can otherwise be a six-person job.
“We’ve seen whole families come to our hospital with Covid, and several members hospitalized at the same time,” said Klein. “It’s very, very sad.”
Testing supplies ran short as the predominantly Latino community served by Providence Holy Cross was hard-hit by Covid, and even as nearby hospitals could process 15-minute tests.
“If we had a more coordinated response with a partnership between the medical field, the government, and the private industry, it would help improve the supply chain to the areas that need it most,” Klein said.
Klein said expected to deal with equipment and supply shortages throughout 2021, especially as flu season approaches.
“Most people focus on those N95 respirators,” said Carmela Coyle, CEO of the California Hospital Association, an industry group which represents more than 400 hospitals across one of America’s hardest-hit states.
She said believed Covid-19-related supply challenges will persist through 2022.
“We have been challenged with shortages of isolation gowns, face shields, which you’re now starting to see in public places. Any one piece that’s in shortage or not available creates risk for patients and for healthcare workers,” said Coyle.
If there continues to be an upward trajectory of Covid-19 cases, you can see those supply chains breaking down again Kim Glas
At the same time, trade associations representing manufacturers said convincing customers to shift to American suppliers had been difficult.
“I also have industry that’s working only at 10-20% capacity, who can make PPE in our own backyard, but have no orders.” said Kim Glas, CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations, whose members make reusable cloth gowns.
Manufacturers in her organization have made “hundreds of millions of products”, but without long-term government contracts, many are apprehensive to invest in equipment to drive economics of scale, and eventually needed to lower prices.
“If there continues to be an upward trajectory of Covid-19 cases, not just in the US but globally, you can see those supply chains breaking down again,” Glas said. “It is a healthcare security issue.”
For the past two decades, personal protective equipment was supplied to healthcare institutions in lean supply chains in the same way toilet paper was to grocery stores. Chains between major manufacturers and end-users were so efficient there was no need to stockpile goods.
But in March, the supply chain broke when major Asian PPE exporters embargoed materials or shut down just as demand increased exponentially. Thus, healthcare institutions were in much the same position as regular grocery shoppers, who were trying to buy great quantities of a product they never needed to stockpile before.
“I am very concerned about long-term PPE [personal protective equipment] shortages for the foreseeable future,” said Dr Susan R Bailey, the president of the American Medical Association.
“There’s no question the situation is better than it was a couple of months ago,” said Bailey. However, many healthcare organizations including her own have struggled to obtain PPE. Bailey practices at a 10-doctor allergy clinic, and was met with a 10,000-mask minimum when they tried to order N95 respirators.
“We have not seen evidence of a long-term strategic plan for the manufacture, acquisition and distribution of PPE,” from the government, said Bailey. “The supply chain needs to be strengthened dramatically, and we need less dependence on foreign goods to manufacture our own PPE in the US.”
Some products have now come back to be made in the US – though factories are not expected to be able to reach demand until mid-2021.
“A lot has been done in the last six months,” said Rousse. “We are largely out of the hole, and we have planted the seeds to render the United States self-sufficient,” said Dave Rousse, president of the Association of Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.
In 2019, 850 tons of the material used in disposable masks was made in the US. Around 10,000 tons is expected to be made in 2021, satisfying perhaps 80% of demand. But PPE is a suite of items – including gloves, gowns and face shields – not all of which have seen the same success.
“Thermometers are becoming a real issue,” said Cindy Juhas, chief strategy officer of CME, an American healthcare product distributor. “They’re expecting even a problem with needles and syringes for the amount of vaccines they have to make,” she said.
Federal government efforts to address the supply chain have largely floundered. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in charge of the Covid-19 response, told congressional interviewers in June it had “no involvement” in distributing PPE to hotspots.
An initiative headed by Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, called Project Airbridge, flew PPE from international suppliers to the US at taxpayer expense, but was phased out. Further, the government has not responded to the AMA’s calls for more distribution data.
Arguably, Klein is among the best-placed to weather such disruptions. He is part of a 51-hospital chain with purchasing power, and among the institutions distributors prioritize when selling supplies. But tribulations continue even in hospitals, as shortages have pushed buyers to look directly for manufacturers, often through a swamp of companies which have sprung up overnight.
Now distributors are being called upon not just by their traditional customers – hospitals and long-term care homes – but by nearly every segment of society. First responders, schools, clinics and even food businesses are all buying medical equipment now.
“There’s going to be lots of other shortages we haven’t even thought about,” said Juhas.


theguardian--2020-08-10--Joe Biden needs Black voters. So why does he keep insulting us? | Benjamin Dixon

If the 2020 election was left up to white Americans , Donald Trump would be given a second term .
According to the recent Hill-HarrisX poll , 50 % of white voters would vote for Trump if the election were held today .
So once again , it is up to Black voters to save America from itself .
But when one considers how drastically the Democratic party needs the Black vote to perform for their candidate to win – according to some estimates , they need turnout rate of 65 % of all Black Americans and , of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters must vote for Democrats for them to secure the White House – one must question why Joe Biden is allowed to continue speaking when every other statement he makes about Black people is “ problematic ” if you ’ re trying to spin it and out-right racist if you ’ re being honest .
Black Americans who are not dutiful members of the political establishment – whose job it is to explain away every bumbling and insulting thing the Democratic party ’ s forced pick spits up – are rightly upset at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words are making Trump ’ s re-election more likely .
If anyone on team Joe is under the impression that 2020 is a slam dunk , one only needs to look at the recent polling to understand this isn ’ t true .
White America has a commitment to Trump that is unmoved by the fact that 160,000+ Americans have died as a result of his absurd and criminally pathetic response to Covid-19 .
The economy has tanked , but 48 % of Americans making over $ 75,000 a year still support Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Perhaps most disturbingly in that poll , Trump leads with independent voters – albeit within the margin of error .
The bottom line is , Biden is by no means a shoo-in .
And to that end , it would be best for his campaign to level with Joe about the Black vote : don ’ t let the Black Democratic Establishment types like Jim Clyburn and Keisha Lance Bottoms fool you : the Black voters you need are not excited about your candidacy .
Black voters understand that we are disproportionately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a high possibility that as a result of Donald Trump ’ s weaponized ignorance , America could see 500,000 deaths from which Black people will disproportionately bear the burden .
Biden can not win the general election solely with the Black super voters the likes of whom helped him carry South Carolina .
To defeat Trump and his coalition of fraudulently-aggrieved white Americans , Biden will need the votes of Black people who , quite frankly , do not like him and have to convince ourselves anew every morning that we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support him .
But if Biden ’ s team continues to allow him to believe that he has some preferred seat in the Black community that gives him the right to comment on our Blackness , then America may wake up November 4th to the unthinkable nightmare that White America has successfully re-elected the White-Supremacist-In-Chief who has presided over the deaths of 160,000 Americans , 40+ million job losses , 5.4m newly uninsured during a pandemic , and one third of this country unable to pay their rent .
And if this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fault of no one else but white voters , their laughably fictionalized aggrievement complex , their commitment to a racist president , and Biden ’ s inability to stop speaking about Black Americans as if he hasn ’ t learned a single thing since vigorously pushing the 1994 crime bill into law .
And perhaps that is the real problem .
• None Benjamin Dixon is the host of the Benjamin Dixon podcast

If the 2020 election was left up to white Americans, Donald Trump would be given a second term. According to the recent Hill-HarrisX poll, 50% of white voters would vote for Trump if the election were held today. So once again, it is up to Black voters to save America from itself.
But when one considers how drastically the Democratic party needs the Black vote to perform for their candidate to win – according to some estimates, they need turnout rate of 65% of all Black Americans and, of that group, nearly 90% of Black voters must vote for Democrats for them to secure the White House – one must question why Joe Biden is allowed to continue speaking when every other statement he makes about Black people is “problematic” if you’re trying to spin it and out-right racist if you’re being honest.
Black Americans who are not dutiful members of the political establishment – whose job it is to explain away every bumbling and insulting thing the Democratic party’s forced pick spits up – are rightly upset at the fact that Joe’s own words are making Trump’s re-election more likely.
If anyone on team Joe is under the impression that 2020 is a slam dunk, one only needs to look at the recent polling to understand this isn’t true. White America has a commitment to Trump that is unmoved by the fact that 160,000+ Americans have died as a result of his absurd and criminally pathetic response to Covid-19.
The economy has tanked, but 48% of Americans making over $75,000 a year still support Trump as opposed to 39% for Biden. Perhaps most disturbingly in that poll, Trump leads with independent voters – albeit within the margin of error.
The bottom line is, Biden is by no means a shoo-in. And to that end, it would be best for his campaign to level with Joe about the Black vote: don’t let the Black Democratic Establishment types like Jim Clyburn and Keisha Lance Bottoms fool you: the Black voters you need are not excited about your candidacy.
Black voters understand that we are disproportionately victims of Covid-19. And, there is a high possibility that as a result of Donald Trump’s weaponized ignorance, America could see 500,000 deaths from which Black people will disproportionately bear the burden.
Biden cannot win the general election solely with the Black super voters the likes of whom helped him carry South Carolina. To defeat Trump and his coalition of fraudulently-aggrieved white Americans, Biden will need the votes of Black people who, quite frankly, do not like him and have to convince ourselves anew every morning that we’re voting to remove Trump and not to support him.
But if Biden’s team continues to allow him to believe that he has some preferred seat in the Black community that gives him the right to comment on our Blackness, then America may wake up November 4th to the unthinkable nightmare that White America has successfully re-elected the White-Supremacist-In-Chief who has presided over the deaths of 160,000 Americans, 40+ million job losses, 5.4m newly uninsured during a pandemic, and one third of this country unable to pay their rent.
And if this were to happen, it would be the fault of no one else but white voters, their laughably fictionalized aggrievement complex, their commitment to a racist president, and Biden’s inability to stop speaking about Black Americans as if he hasn’t learned a single thing since vigorously pushing the 1994 crime bill into law.
And perhaps that is the real problem.


theguardian--2020-08-10--Even if there was no election the postal service is just the sort of thing Trump would like to destr

Even if there was no election the postal service is just the sort of thing Trump would like to destroy | First Dog on the Moon

The raccoons of the resistance express solidarity with the United States Postal Service • Sign up here to get an @ @ @ @ @ are published • Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what @ @ @ @ @ merchandise and prints

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Even if there was no election the postal service is just the sort of thing Trump would like to destroy
This article is more than 3 years old


theguardian--2020-08-11--Secret Service escorts Trump from press briefing after shooting outside White House

Donald Trump was abruptly escorted out of a press briefing by a Secret Service agent on Monday after an armed suspect was shot outside the White House .
The president was just minutes into his coronavirus briefing when a Secret Service agent asked Trump to leave the podium and quickly exit the room along with other administration officials .
Reporters were briefly placed into lockdown as members of the president ’ s security detail surrounded the West Wing .
One Fox News correspondent said they ’ d heard two shots fired soon before Trump was hurried out .
Trump returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to confirm someone had been taken to hospital following a shooting outside of the White House perimeter fence .
“ There was an actual shooting and somebody ’ s been taken to the hospital , ” Trump said .
The president said the shots were fired by law enforcement .
The suspect was armed , Trump said , but he offered few additional details .
“ I do want to thank Secret Service .
They are fantastic.
” “ It seems that the person was shot by the Secret Service so we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , calling the episode “ unfortunate.
” “ It was outside of the White House , ” he said .
“ It seems that the shooting was done by law enforcement at the suspect , it was the suspect who was shot , ” he continued .
Law enforcement officials were trying to determine the suspect ’ s motive .
The Secret Service confirmed the shooting shortly afterwards , describing it as an “ officer involved shooting at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave ” .
“ A male subject and a USSS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital , ” the agency tweeted .
“ At no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger.
” Trump added that he had not been taken into the secure underground bunker but to an area near the Oval Office .
He later told reporters that he did not fear for his safety .
Asked if he was shaken by the incident , Trump asked reporters : “ I don ’ t know .
Do I seem rattled ?
” After fielding questions about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to his scripted remarks on the nation ’ s economic response to the coronavirus pandemic , promoted what he said were his administration ’ s achievements , and used the platform for political messaging – warning that if Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wins the election in November , Iran , China and North Korea will “ own this country ” .
Trump has faced widespread criticism for a lack of federal leadership during the pandemic .
More than 163,000 people have died of Covid-19 related illnesses and more than 5m coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far .
During the briefing , the Guardian ’ s David Smith asked the president : “ If 160,000 people had died on President Obama ’ s watch , do you think you would have called for his resignation ?
” Trump responded , “ No I wouldn ’ t have done that .
I think it ’ s been amazing what we ’ ve been able to do .
If we didn ’ t close up our country , we ’ d have 1.5 to 2 million people already dead .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now we don ’ t have to close it … If I would ’ ve listened to a lot of people , we would ’ ve kept it open.
” The president insisted the US had done an “ extraordinary job ” .
However , the US government ’ s own public health expert has admitted that more lives would have been saved if the US had adopted social distancing restrictions earlier .
Throughout the pandemic , Trump has strongly resisted efforts to put in place federal restrictions to slow the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen and has expressed sympathy to rightwing protests against lockdowns .
Additionally , the US is the only affluent nation , to have suffered a sustained and severe outbreak for more than four months , as the New York Times recently noted .

Donald Trump was abruptly escorted out of a press briefing by a Secret Service agent on Monday after an armed suspect was shot outside the White House.
The president was just minutes into his coronavirus briefing when a Secret Service agent asked Trump to leave the podium and quickly exit the room along with other administration officials.
Reporters were briefly placed into lockdown as members of the president’s security detail surrounded the West Wing. One Fox News correspondent said they had heard two shots fired soon before Trump was hurried out.
Trump returned to the stage about 10 minutes later to confirm someone had been taken to hospital following a shooting outside the White House perimeter fence.
“There was an actual shooting and somebody’s been taken to the hospital,” Trump said. The president said the shots were fired by law enforcement.
The suspect was armed, Trump said, but he offered few additional details. “I do want to thank Secret Service. They are fantastic.
“It seems that the person was shot by the Secret Service so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said, calling the episode “unfortunate”.
“It was outside of the White House,” he said. “It seems that the shooting was done by law enforcement at the suspect. It was the suspect who was shot,” he continued.
Law enforcement officials were trying to determine the suspect’s motive. The Secret Service confirmed the shooting shortly afterwards, describing it as an “officer involved shooting at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave”.
A Secret Service statement said: “At approximately 5.53pm today a 51-year-old male approached a US Secret Service uniformed division officer who was standing at his post on the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW near the White House complex. The suspect approached the officer and told the officer he had a weapon. The suspect then turned around, ran aggressively towards the officer, and in a drawing motion, withdrew an object from his clothing.
“He then crouched into a shooter’s stance as if about to fire a weapon. The Secret Service officer discharged his weapon striking the individual in the torso. Officers immediately rendered first aid to the suspect and DC Fire and EMS were called to the scene. Both the suspect and the officer were transported to local hospitals.
“The White House complex was not breached during the incident and no Secret Service protectees were ever in danger. The Secret Service office of professional responsibility will be conducting an internal review of the officer’s actions. The Metropolitan police department was contacted to conduct an investigation.”
Trump said he had not been taken into the secure underground bunker but to an area near the Oval Office. He later told reporters that he did not fear for his safety.
Asked if he was shaken by the incident, Trump asked reporters: “I don’t know. Do I seem rattled?”
After fielding questions about the incident outside the White House, Trump returned to his scripted remarks on the nation’s economic response to the coronavirus pandemic, promoted what he said were his administration’s achievements, and used the platform for political messaging – warning that if the Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wins the election in November, Iran, China and North Korea will “own this country”.
Trump has faced widespread criticism for a lack of federal leadership during the pandemic. More than 163,000 people have died of Covid-19-related illnesses and more than 5m coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the US so far.
During the briefing, the Guardian’s David Smith asked the president: “If 160,000 people had died on President Obama’s watch, do you think you would have called for his resignation?”
Trump responded, “No, I wouldn’t have done that. I think it’s been amazing what we’ve been able to do. If we didn’t close up our country, we’d have 1.5 to 2 million people already dead. We’ve called it right. Now we don’t have to close it … If I would’ve listened to a lot of people, we would’ve kept it open.”
The president insisted the US had done an “extraordinary job”.
However, the US government’s own public health expert has admitted that more lives would have been saved if the US had adopted social distancing restrictions earlier. Throughout the pandemic, Trump has strongly resisted efforts to put in place federal restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, has pushed states to reopen and has expressed sympathy to rightwing protests against lockdowns.
Additionally, the US is the only affluent nation to have suffered a sustained and severe outbreak for more than four months, as the New York Times recently noted.
Sam Levin contributed to this report


theguardian--2020-08-11--Trump escorted from briefing by Secret Service after shooting outside White House – as it happened

We were less than three minutes in with the president holding court on one of his favourite subjects – mail-in voting – when pandemonium broke out .
A Secret Service agent – grey suit , shaved head , earpiece with squiggly wire – leaned in and spoke quietly to Donald Trump , asking to step outside .
“ Excuse me ?
” asked the president .
Surprised , he turned , stopped , looked askance for a moment , then followed the agent out of the White House briefing room at a leisurely pace .
But he left behind a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into phones in different languages and general uproar .
The doors of the briefing room were locked .
Outside , a police officer wearing body armour held a firearm .
Others walked purposefully on the driveway .
In this year of unbearable drama and trauma , what now ?
There were few answers amid the commotion .
Then , after about 10 minutes that felt like an eternity , with TV reporters still in full flow , Trump returned to the podium .
He explained that the Secret Service had shot a suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suspect had been taken to hospital .
“ You were surprised , ” he said .
“ I was surprised also .
I think it ’ s pretty unusual.
” The typical structure of the press briefing broke down as questions were hurled from all sides and one correspondent carried on loudly reporting into a phone .
Trump replied : “ I don ’ t know .
Do I seem rattled ?
The world ’ s always been a dangerous place .
You look back on the centuries , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sedate , sometimes hard-to-hear monotone , he was soon back to business as usual , which included insulting “ Sleepy Joe Biden ” and accusing Barack Obama of treason .
Which was reassuring .
Almost .

Sam Levin (now), Kenya Evelyn and Martin Belam (earlier)

11 Aug 2020 01.00 BST So far very few details have emerged about the person the Secret Service shot outside the White House. According to the AP: The shooting took place near 17th street and Pennsylvania avenue just blocks from the White House, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. Law enforcement officials were still trying to determine the suspect’s motive. The suspect was transferred to a local hospital, and the District of Columbia fire department said the man suffered serious or possibly critical injuries. Authorities were investigating whether the individual has a history of mental illness.
10 Aug 2020 00.54 BST Trump considers blocking American citizens from re-entering US Trump is reportedly considering new immigration restrictions that would allow the US to temporarily block American citizens or legal permanent residents from returning to the US if authorities believe the individual could have coronavirus, according to the New York Times. The president’s previous Covid travel restrictions have exempted American and legal permanent residents. A draft of the proposal reviewed by the newspaper says that that the government could block a citizen or legal resident from crossing the border if an official “reasonably believes that the individual either may have been exposed to or is infected with the communicable disease”. It’s unclear how long the ban could extend. Omar Jadwat, of the ACLU, responded: Barring American citizens from the United States is unconstitutional. The Trump administration has rolled out one border ban after another — most recently on children and asylum seekers — using Covid-19 as an excuse, while failing abysmally to get the virus under control in the United States. The rumored order would be another grave error in a year that has already seen far too many.”
10 Aug 2020 00.41 BST David Smith We were less than three minutes in with the president holding court on one of his favourite subjects – mail-in voting – when pandemonium broke out.
A Secret Service agent – grey suit, shaved head, earpiece with squiggly wire – leaned in and spoke quietly to Donald Trump, asking to step outside.
“Excuse me?” asked the president. Surprised, he turned, stopped, looked askance for a moment, then followed the agent out of the White House briefing room at a leisurely pace. Trump removed from the briefing room by Secret Service. Photograph: Stefani Reynolds/EPA But he left behind a storm of clicking cameras, reporters speaking into phones in different languages and general uproar. The doors of the briefing room were locked. Outside, a police officer wearing body armour held a firearm. Others walked purposefully on the driveway. In this year of unbearable drama and trauma, what now? There were few answers amid the commotion. Then, after about 10 minutes that felt like an eternity, with TV reporters still in full flow, Trump returned to the podium. He explained that the Secret Service had shot a suspect outside the White House grounds, and the suspect had been taken to hospital. “You were surprised,” he said. “I was surprised also. I think it’s pretty unusual.” The typical structure of the press briefing broke down as questions were hurled from all sides and one correspondent carried on loudly reporting into a phone. “Are you rattled?” someone asked. Trump replied: “I don’t know. Do I seem rattled? The world’s always been a dangerous place. You look back on the centuries, it’s always been a dangerous place.” In a sedate, sometimes hard-to-hear monotone, he was soon back to business as usual, which included insulting “Sleepy Joe Biden” and accusing Barack Obama of treason. Which was reassuring. Almost.
10 Aug 2020 00.23 BST Trump’s press conference has ended after a series of falsehoods and misleading claims. At one point he compared the Covid-19 crisis to the “the great pandemic” of 1917, saying it was a “terrible thing” that “probably ended the Second World War, all the soldiers were sick”. The pandemic occurred in 1918, and World War II ended in 1945. Trump says the pandemic of 1918 which he says occurred in 1917 ended the Second World War, which ended in 1945. — Philip Bump (@pbump) August 10, 2020
10 Aug 2020 23.49 BST Secret Service has confirmed there was a shooting, but has not provided any more information: The Secret Service can confirm there has been an officer involved shooting at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. Law enforcement officials are on the scene. More information to follow. — U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) August 10, 2020 During the press conference, Trump noted that when he was forced to leave the podium earlier, he saw a Fox News report saying there were “two shots in rapid succession”: John Roberts of Fox News tells Trump: "I heard two shots in rapid succession just after you took the podium." — David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) August 10, 2020
10 Aug 2020 23.43 BST Trump has once again made confusing and contradictory remarks about healthcare coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. He said he would be pushing an “executive order” to protect people with pre-existing conditions, even though they are already covered under Obamacare, which the Trump administration is trying to dismantle. Asked why an “executive order” is needed for a protection already in place (which he is trying to remove), Trump responded that it’s “just a double safety net”. He said he wanted Republicans to be known as protecting people with pre-existing conditions: “It’s a signal to people.”
10 Aug 2020 23.38 BST Trump is now saying he would likely delay the G7 summit until “after the election ... we we have a little bit more time to think about it”. He also says he would “certainly” invite Vladimir Putin to G7: "I certainly would invite him to the meeting" -- Trump says he would invite Vladimir Putin to to a G7 meeting in the US pic.twitter.com/uLwTw8qBBc — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
10 Aug 2020 23.34 BST The president dodged a question asking him to explain his previous remark that his opponent, Joe Biden, would “hurt God”. The president responded with a reference to Bernie Sanders and generic criticisms of Biden on taxes. Trump then segues to alleging that Biden will do too much regulating and taxing. — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 10, 2020
10 Aug 2020 23.28 BST Asked for more information on the possible shooting incident outside the White House, Trump said he didn’t have any details to share about a possible suspect, adding, “I don’t think anything was breached. They were relatively far away.”
10 Aug 2020 23.26 BST Fact check: Trump's falsehoods on Covid-19 testing The press conference is back on, with Trump spreading blatant falsehoods about the state of the Covid-19 crisis in the US, while repeatedly using his racist “China virus” label. He continues to downplay the crisis here, saying the reason the US is seeing major surges is due to the fact that “We are so far ahead of testing ... If we have much smaller testing, we’d have fewer [cases]. ... It’s a great record to have. No other country is close.” In reality, the increases in cases in the US are outpacing the test increases. When Trump was called out on this in a viral interview recently, he stumbled to respond to questions about rising deaths and hospitalizations. The president also just shared false information about India’s testing, downplaying the nation’s capacity.
10 Aug 2020 23.18 BST Fact check: Trump spreads unsubstantiated claims on mail-in voting Before he abruptly left his press conference, Trump made numerous misleading and unsubstantiated claims attacking mail-in voting. Donald Trump on mail-in voting: “It’s a disaster all over Virginia... A rigged election... People should vote like they did in World War One and World War Two.” pic.twitter.com/H6i7ExVZet — David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) August 10, 2020 Trump was citing reports about absentee ballot applications that had inaccurate information in Virginia, but those applications were not ballots and they were sent by a private organization, not the government. Trump was falsely suggesting that this was a reflection of the dangers of mail-in voting, adding, “We don’t want to have a rigged election. He also said, “When you have this mail-in voting, it’s something that can be easily attacked by foreign countries and by frankly Democrats and Republicans. It’s something to think about seriously.” As AP noted in a recent fact check, it’s false to suggest that measures aren’t in place to confirm a voter’s identity or prevent fraud with mail ballots. Ballots typically require voters to provide identifying information such as a birth date or Social Security or driver’s license number. In most states, voters also sign the back of the envelope, which is then verified with the signature on their registrations. Washington’s secretary of state, Kim Wyman, a Republican, recently told NPR: “Election officials spend a great deal of our time building in security measures. The idea that people could print millions of ballots either within the country or external to the country, just on its face, is not going to pass muster with an election official.”


theguardian--2020-08-10--Trump considers blocking Americans who may have Covid-19 from coming home

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a measure to block US citizens and permanent residents from returning home if they are suspected of being infected with coronavirus .
A senior US official told Reuters that draft regulation , which has not been finalized and could change , would give the government authorization to block individuals who could “ reasonably ” be believed to have contracted Covid-19 or other diseases .
Donald Trump has instituted a series of sweeping immigration restrictions since the start of the coronavirus pandemic , suspending some legal immigration and allowing US border authorities to rapidly deport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal processes .
Reuters reported in May that US government officials were concerned that dual US-Mexico citizens might flee to the United States if the coronavirus outbreak in Mexico worsened , putting more stress on US hospitals .
The draft regulation , which was first reported by the New York Times on Monday , would be issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which has played a lead role in the pandemic response , the senior official told Reuters .
“ Federal agencies have been asked to submit feedback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Tuesday , though it is unclear when it might be approved or announced , ” the Times reported .
A Trump pandemic task force was not expected to act on the proposal this week , although that timeline could change , the official said .

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a measure to block US citizens and permanent residents from returning home if they are suspected of being infected with coronavirus.
A senior US official told Reuters that draft regulation, which has not been finalized and could change, would give the government authorization to block individuals who could “reasonably” be believed to have contracted Covid-19 or other diseases.
Donald Trump has instituted a series of sweeping immigration restrictions since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, suspending some legal immigration and allowing US border authorities to rapidly deport migrants caught at the border without standard legal processes.
Reuters reported in May that US government officials were concerned that dual US-Mexico citizens might flee to the United States if the coronavirus outbreak in Mexico worsened, putting more stress on US hospitals.
The draft regulation, which was first reported by the New York Times on Monday, would be issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has played a lead role in the pandemic response, the senior official told Reuters.
“Federal agencies have been asked to submit feedback on the proposal to the White House by Tuesday, though it is unclear when it might be approved or announced,” the Times reported.
A Trump pandemic task force was not expected to act on the proposal this week, although that timeline could change, the official said.


theguardian--2020-08-10--Trump says he may accept presidential nomination at Gettysburg battlefield

Donald Trump said on Monday that he is considering accepting the Republican presidential nomination later this month with a speech at the civil war battlefield of Gettysburg , one of the most hallowed spots in American history .
The move prompted almost instant condemnation from critics .
Gettysburg is the site of the bloodiest battle of the US civil war and viewed historically as a turning point for the Union army against the Confederate army defending the slave-owning rebel south .
There , in 1863 , Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address , a speech carved into the walls of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The prospect of Trump delivering his own speech on the battlefield , after repeatedly defending the use of Confederate symbols and monuments during a period of civil unrest linked to racial justice protests , was met with derision from his critics .
“ Trump speaking at Gettysburg ?
” tweeted Bill Kristol , a Republican critic of Trump .
“ The good news : 1 .
The prospect is more ludicrous than sickening .
2 .
The presumptuousness of the choice of location will backfire .
3 .
The world will little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says there.
” Presidential candidates traditionally deliver their remarks on the final night of a weeks-long nominating convention , in front of a raucous crowd of thousands of the party faithful .
Plans for this year ’ s party conventions have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic , forcing both candidates to reimagine these events without the usual pomp and circumstance .
Trump said he was mulling two options : Gettysburg and the White House .
“ We have narrowed the Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech , to be delivered on the final night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to two locations - The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , and the White House , Washington , D.C. ” Trump wrote on Twitter , regarding his remarks at the Republican national convention on 27 August .
But delivering his speech from the White House would also be highly controversial and possibly against the law .
It would mark an unprecedented use of federal property for partisan political purposes .
Lawmakers and some nonpartisan ethics organizations have said such a move would potentially violate of the Hatch Act , a 1939 law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities while they are on the job .
“ It is legal , ” he said last week .
“ There is no Hatch Act because it doesn ’ t pertain to the president.
” While the law might not apply to the president , it could ensnare White House aides working to organize the event .
Throughout his presidency , and increasingly in recent weeks , as he has been unable to hold large-scale rallies that were the cornerstone of his campaign , Trump has been criticized for using the executive trappings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events and attack his opponent .

Donald Trump said on Monday that he is considering accepting the Republican presidential nomination later this month with a speech at the civil war battlefield of Gettysburg, one of the most hallowed spots in American history.
The move prompted almost instant condemnation from critics. Gettysburg is the site of the bloodiest battle of the US civil war and viewed historically as a turning point for the Union army against the Confederate army defending the slave-owning rebel south. There, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, a speech carved into the walls of his presidential memorial on the Washington Mall.
The prospect of Trump delivering his own speech on the battlefield, after repeatedly defending the use of Confederate symbols and monuments during a period of civil unrest linked to racial justice protests, was met with derision from his critics.
“Trump speaking at Gettysburg?” tweeted Bill Kristol, a Republican critic of Trump. “The good news: 1. The prospect is more ludicrous than sickening. 2. The presumptuousness of the choice of location will backfire. 3. The world will little note, nor long remember what Trump says there.”
Presidential candidates traditionally deliver their remarks on the final night of a weeks-long nominating convention, in front of a raucous crowd of thousands of the party faithful. Plans for this year’s party conventions have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic, forcing both candidates to reimagine these events without the usual pomp and circumstance.
Trump said he was mulling two options: Gettysburg and the White House.
“We have narrowed the Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, to be delivered on the final night of the Convention (Thursday), to two locations - The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the White House, Washington, D.C.” Trump wrote on Twitter, regarding his remarks at the Republican national convention on 27 August.
But delivering his speech from the White House would also be highly controversial and possibly against the law. It would mark an unprecedented use of federal property for partisan political purposes. Lawmakers and some nonpartisan ethics organizations have said such a move would potentially violate the Hatch Act, a 1939 law prohibiting government employees from engaging in political activities while they are on the job.
Trump has rejected the suggestion.
“It is legal,” he said last week. “There is no Hatch Act because it doesn’t pertain to the president.”
While the law might not apply to the president, it could ensnare White House aides working to organize the event.
Throughout his presidency, and increasingly in recent weeks, as he has been unable to hold large-scale rallies that were the cornerstone of his campaign, Trump has been criticized for using the executive trappings of the White House to stage political events and attack his opponent.


theguardian--2020-08-10--Puerto Ricans demand answers after lack of ballots forces primary delay

Puerto Ricans demanded answers on Monday after botched primaries forced officials to reschedule voting at centers lacking ballots , an unprecedented decision being called a blow to the US territory ’ s democracy .
The island ’ s elections commission remained silent as anger and embarrassment spread across Puerto Rico one day after hundreds of voters were turned away from shuttered centers that for unknown reasons received ballots several hours late or never received them at all .
It was the first time primaries have been halted and led many to worry that it has cracked Puerto Ricans ’ confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome of November ’ s general elections on an island with a voter participation rate of nearly 70 % .
“ That scar will never leave Puerto Rico , ” said political analyst Domingo Emanuelli .
“ It was a hold-up of the country ’ s democracy.
” On Monday , Carlos Méndez , president of the island ’ s house of representatives , demanded that the commission release the results of the nearly 60 out of 110 precincts where voting was able to take place on Sunday .
Governor Wanda Vázquez and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two main parties also have demanded the resignation of Juan Ernesto Dávila , president of the election commission .
He declined comment via a spokeswoman but told NotiUno radio station that he would resign once the primaries are over , saying it would be irresponsible to step down before that .
Meanwhile , questions about why Puerto Rico held a primary if ballots were not available and how it was possible that no one knew about the problem until it was too late remained unanswered .
The electoral commission officials for the pro-statehood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Popular Democratic party did not return calls or messages for comment .
The primary is one of the most closely watched races in the island ’ s history since it pits two candidates who served as replacement governors following last year ’ s political turmoil .
Vázquez faces Pedro Pierluisi , who represented Puerto Rico in Congress from 2009 to 2017 .
Pierluisi briefly served as governor after Governor Ricardo Rosselló resigned in August 2019 following widespread street protests over a profanity-laced chat that was leaked and government corruption .
But Puerto Rico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then the justice secretary , was constitutionally next in line because there was no secretary of state .
Meanwhile , the Popular Democratic party , which supports Puerto Rico ’ s current political status as a US territory , is holding a primary for the first time in its 82-year history .
Three people are vying to become governor – the San Juan mayor , Carmen Yulín Cruz , known for her public spats with Donald Trump following the devastation of Hurricane Maria ; the Puerto Rico senator Eduardo Bhatia ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coastal town of Isabela .
While another primary is scheduled for 16 August , some expect lawsuits and legal loopholes to potentially upset those plans .
At least one voter filed a lawsuit against the commission and the electoral officials of the two main parties late on Sunday via the American Civil Liberties Union .
Pierluisi also filed a lawsuit against the commission and the two officials as he rejected its decision to hold another primary next Sunday .

Puerto Ricans demanded answers on Monday after botched primaries forced officials to reschedule voting at centers lacking ballots, an unprecedented decision being called a blow to the US territory’s democracy.
The island’s elections commission remained silent as anger and embarrassment spread across Puerto Rico one day after hundreds of voters were turned away from shuttered centers that for unknown reasons received ballots several hours late or never received them at all.
It was the first time primaries have been halted and led many to worry that it has cracked Puerto Ricans’ confidence in their government and could affect the outcome of November’s general elections on an island with a voter participation rate of nearly 70%.
“That scar will never leave Puerto Rico,” said political analyst Domingo Emanuelli. “It was a hold-up of the country’s democracy.”
On Monday, Carlos Méndez, president of the island’s house of representatives, demanded that the commission release the results of the nearly 60 out of 110 precincts where voting was able to take place on Sunday.
Governor Wanda Vázquez and other officials from Puerto Rico’s two main parties also have demanded the resignation of Juan Ernesto Dávila, president of the election commission. He declined comment via a spokeswoman but told NotiUno radio station that he would resign once the primaries are over, saying it would be irresponsible to step down before that.
Meanwhile, questions about why Puerto Rico held a primary if ballots were not available and how it was possible that no one knew about the problem until it was too late remained unanswered.
The electoral commission officials for the pro-statehood New Progressive party and the main opposition Popular Democratic party did not return calls or messages for comment.
The primary is one of the most closely watched races in the island’s history since it pits two candidates who served as replacement governors following last year’s political turmoil. Vázquez faces Pedro Pierluisi, who represented Puerto Rico in Congress from 2009 to 2017.
Pierluisi briefly served as governor after Governor Ricardo Rosselló resigned in August 2019 following widespread street protests over a profanity-laced chat that was leaked and government corruption. But Puerto Rico’s supreme court ruled that Vázquez, then the justice secretary, was constitutionally next in line because there was no secretary of state.
Meanwhile, the Popular Democratic party, which supports Puerto Rico’s current political status as a US territory, is holding a primary for the first time in its 82-year history. Three people are vying to become governor – the San Juan mayor, Carmen Yulín Cruz, known for her public spats with Donald Trump following the devastation of Hurricane Maria; the Puerto Rico senator Eduardo Bhatia; and Carlos Delgado, mayor of the north-west coastal town of Isabela.
While another primary is scheduled for 16 August, some expect lawsuits and legal loopholes to potentially upset those plans.
At least one voter filed a lawsuit against the commission and the electoral officials of the two main parties late on Sunday via the American Civil Liberties Union. Pierluisi also filed a lawsuit against the commission and the two officials as he rejected its decision to hold another primary next Sunday.


theguardian--2020-08-08--Trumpism has taken over. But what happens to the Republican party if Trump loses?

“ Whither Trumpism ?
” said one .
“ What will a post-Trump GOP look like ?
” asked another .
“ Republicans prep for leadership battle if Trump goes down , ” said a third .
“ On the trail : the first signs of a post-Trump GOP , ” offered a fourth .
Anyone who remembers the 2016 presidential election knows it is too soon to write Donald Trump ’ s political obituary , but a recent crop of headlines illuminate a growing angst over the fate of the Republican party if , as polls currently suggest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republican politicians are jostling for position with an eye on 2024 .
Never Trump activists are hoping to purge his brand of nativist demagoguery from the party .
Authors and commentators are pondering whether a post-Trump Republican party should resemble the pre-Trump one or if it needs to start over .
Peggy Noonan , a columnist for the Wall Street Journal , asked : “ Where did Donald Trump come from ?
Where is the GOP going ?
Should the whole thing be burned down ?
” Bret Stephens , a columnist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if Trump loses , “ the future of the party will be up for grabs .
It ’ s time to start thinking about who can grab it , who should , and who will.
” The debate has been fueled by hints Trump ’ s current iron grip on the party might weaken .
Republican leaders roundly rejected his idea of postponing the election because of the coronavirus pandemic .
In negotiations over the latest economic stimulus package , they brushed aside his proposals for a payroll tax cut and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Senate majority leader , signaled to vulnerable Republican senators in tough election races that they can distance themselves from Trump if they deem it necessary , according to CNN .
But the prognostications remain guarded for two reasons .
First , the election is far from over .
Although Trump faces the headwinds of the pandemic , mass unemployment and historically weak poll numbers , he still has time to spring surprises against his opponent Joe Biden in this most unpredictable of campaigns .
Second , the end of Trump would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nine in 10 Republicans still approve of the job he is doing as president , according to Gallup .
A SurveyMonkey poll for Axios last December showed Republican voters ’ favourite picks for 2024 led by Mike Pence , with Trump ’ s son Donald Trump Jr in second place , followed by Nikki Haley , Ivanka Trump , Marco Rubio and Mike Pompeo .
It may be too late to put the Trump genie back in the bottle .
That is the view of Stuart Stevens , one of the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose contribution to the burgeoning literature on its identity crisis is It Was All a Lie : How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump .
“ He is the Republican party .
There ’ s not even like an opposition government in exile .
There ’ s no De Gaulle ; there ’ s just Vichy France .
The party is the party that endorses Roy Moore [ US senate candidate in Alabama accused of sexual misconduct ] and attacks John Bolton [ former national security adviser ] .
What we saw as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to be a dominant gene , ” Stevens said .
Stevens continued : “ If you ever really want to get depressed , go read George Bush ’ s 2000 acceptance speech at the convention .
It reads like a document from a lost civilisation .
Who are these people ?
It ’ s like the Mayans .
It ’ s all about humility and sacrifice and honor and service.
” In a recent interview with the Guardian , the Democratic strategist Paul Begala argued that a crushing defeat for Trump would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and revivify , just as Democrats did after three clarifying defeats in 1980 , 1984 and 1988 .
But Stevens believes it will take more than one election .
“ Trumpism itself has been deeply unleashed in the party and I think history tells us , darkly , that when a major party legitimizes hate , which the Republican party has , it ’ s very difficult to get it undone , ” he said .
“ It takes time , often a lot of blood.
” Republicans ’ core base – older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle as America ’ s demographics diversify , while Trump has alienated many suburban voters .
“ The party has no desire to change .
The only thing that will make the party want to change is utter fear .
That ’ s never very convincing to voters because they see it as transparent .
So I think we ’ re in for a period of centre-left government , ” Stevens said .
The pandemic has provided a national stage for moderate Republican state governors such as Charlie Baker of Massachusetts , Larry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vermont , all leaders of traditionally Democratic states and therefore seen as having potential crossover appeal .
John Kasich , the former Ohio governor who ran in 2016 , could mount another bid in 2024 , seeking to cast Trump as an aberration that should never have happened .
But they are likely to face an uphill struggle against loyalists – potentially Senators Ted Cruz , Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley or even the Fox News host Tucker Carlson – claiming to be Trump ’ s true heir .
Haley , the ex-governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ex-ambassador to the UN , has been careful to distance herself from the president at some moments and hug his base at others .
An internal struggle may prove cathartic .
Michael Steele , former chairman of the Republican National Committee , said : “ You ’ re going to have a lot of Trumpers putting a Don Jr or a Tom Cotton forward and you ’ re going to have a lot of other folks putting a Kasich or Larry Hogan or whoever else may emerge in that space .
“ So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead .
We ’ re going to go through it and we have to go through it .
It may mean the splintering of the party .
It may mean the formation of something else .
We don ’ t know exactly how Republicans will reassess and value what Republicanism is.
” Tensions have played out recently on Capitol Hill , where a third of the House ’ s 198 Republican members have been elected since 2016 , most following Trump ’ s agenda .
Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming , daughter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports Trump on some issues but has criticized him on foreign policy and the pandemic , prompting calls for her to resign as the No 3 House Republican .
Michael Steel , a former aide to John Boehner when he was House speaker , suggested that this offers a preview of how pro-Trump Republicans will seek to rationalise election defeat : by scapegoating factions of the party that were insufficiently loyal .
“ They need to be able to blame anyone and anything other than President Trump himself , so they are creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being stabbed in the back by a fifth column of disloyal Republicans rather than by his own words and actions , ” Steel wrote in the Dispatch , a conservative website .
Cheney is seen as defending at least some traditional Republican shibboleths abandoned by Trump , such as fiscal responsibility and a hawkish stance towards Russia and other adversaries .
Challengers to the president ’ s “ America first ” legacy might also soften the party ’ s positions on the climate crisis , immigration and trade .
But they would need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump would still have Twitter , Fox News and the Make America Great Again movement at his disposal for heckling .
Thomas Patterson , a professor at Harvard University ’ s Kennedy School of Government , argues that the party is caught in five traps of its own making , which Trump has only deepened : a steady movement to the right ; demographic change ; influence by rightwing media blunting its ability to govern ; big tax cuts that created a split between its working-class supporters and marketplace conservatives ; a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patterson , author of a new book , Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself ?
, believes it will be a long road back .
“ If you look at what happened in 2018 , the Republicans took quite a drubbing in the midterm election , and there was no lesson learned , ” he said .
“ The way rightwing media spun it was the reason Republicans lost is because too many of them tried to move toward the centre .
“ Even if they take a real beating in 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take two or three of those beatings .
They can talk all they want about reinvention but , as long as the primary nominating process keeps coughing up these conservatives , it ’ s going to be really hard for them to make the change .
“ When you ask , who are the moderate leaders who are going to be in the vanguard of that change that have credibility with the base and elsewhere , boy , that ’ s a really short list .
They pretty well wiped themselves clean @ @ @ @ @ @

“Whither Trumpism?” said one. “What will a post-Trump GOP look like?” asked another. “Republicans prep for leadership battle if Trump goes down,” said a third. “On the trail: the first signs of a post-Trump GOP,” offered a fourth.
Anyone who remembers the 2016 presidential election knows it is too soon to write Donald Trump’s political obituary, but a recent crop of headlines illuminate a growing angst over the fate of the Republican party if, as polls currently suggest, he goes down to defeat in November.
Republican politicians are jostling for position with an eye on 2024. Never Trump activists are hoping to purge his brand of nativist demagoguery from the party. Authors and commentators are pondering whether a post-Trump Republican party should resemble the pre-Trump one or if it needs to start over.
Peggy Noonan, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, asked: “Where did Donald Trump come from? Where is the GOP going? Should the whole thing be burned down? ” Bret Stephens, a columnist at the New York Times, noted that if Trump loses, “the future of the party will be up for grabs. It’s time to start thinking about who can grab it, who should, and who will.”
The debate has been fueled by hints Trump’s current iron grip on the party might weaken. Republican leaders roundly rejected his idea of postponing the election because of the coronavirus pandemic. In negotiations over the latest economic stimulus package, they brushed aside his proposals for a payroll tax cut and a new FBI building.
Meanwhile Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, signaled to vulnerable Republican senators in tough election races that they can distance themselves from Trump if they deem it necessary, according to CNN.
But the prognostications remain guarded for two reasons. First, the election is far from over. Although Trump faces the headwinds of the pandemic, mass unemployment and historically weak poll numbers, he still has time to spring surprises against his opponent Joe Biden in this most unpredictable of campaigns.
Second, the end of Trump would not necessarily mean the end of Trumpism. Nine in 10 Republicans still approve of the job he is doing as president, according to Gallup. A SurveyMonkey poll for Axios last December showed Republican voters’ favourite picks for 2024 led by Mike Pence, with Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr in second place, followed by Nikki Haley, Ivanka Trump, Marco Rubio and Mike Pompeo.
It may be too late to put the Trump genie back in the bottle. That is the view of Stuart Stevens, one of the party’s most successful campaign strategists, whose contribution to the burgeoning literature on its identity crisis is It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump.
Supporters of Donald Trump listen to him speak during his arrival at Burke Lakefront airport in Cleveland, Ohio, on 6 August. Photograph: Joshua Roberts/Reuters
“He is the Republican party. There’s not even like an opposition government in exile. There’s no De Gaulle; there’s just Vichy France. The party is the party that endorses Roy Moore [US senate candidate in Alabama accused of sexual misconduct] and attacks John Bolton [former national security adviser]. What we saw as a recessive gene in the party turned out to be a dominant gene,” Stevens said.
Stevens continued: “If you ever really want to get depressed, go read George Bush’s 2000 acceptance speech at the convention. It reads like a document from a lost civilisation. Who are these people? It’s like the Mayans. It’s all about humility and sacrifice and honor and service.”
In a recent interview with the Guardian, the Democratic strategist Paul Begala argued that a crushing defeat for Trump would be a catalyst for Republicans to reassess and revivify, just as Democrats did after three clarifying defeats in 1980, 1984 and 1988. But Stevens believes it will take more than one election.
Trumpism itself has been deeply unleashed in the party Paul Begala
“Trumpism itself has been deeply unleashed in the party and I think history tells us, darkly, that when a major party legitimizes hate, which the Republican party has, it’s very difficult to get it undone,” he said. “It takes time, often a lot of blood.”
Republicans’ core base – older white men – shrinks with every election cycle as America’s demographics diversify, while Trump has alienated many suburban voters. “The party has no desire to change. The only thing that will make the party want to change is utter fear. That’s never very convincing to voters because they see it as transparent. So I think we’re in for a period of centre-left government,” Stevens said.
The pandemic has provided a national stage for moderate Republican state governors such as Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Larry Hogan of Maryland and Phil Scott of Vermont, all leaders of traditionally Democratic states and therefore seen as having potential crossover appeal. John Kasich, the former Ohio governor who ran in 2016, could mount another bid in 2024, seeking to cast Trump as an aberration that should never have happened.
But they are likely to face an uphill struggle against loyalists – potentially Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley or even the Fox News host Tucker Carlson – claiming to be Trump’s true heir. Haley, the ex-governor of South Carolina and Trump’s ex-ambassador to the UN, has been careful to distance herself from the president at some moments and hug his base at others.
We don’t know exactly how Republicans will reassess and value what Republicanism is Michael Steele
An internal struggle may prove cathartic. Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: “You’re going to have a lot of Trumpers putting a Don Jr or a Tom Cotton forward and you’re going to have a lot of other folks putting a Kasich or Larry Hogan or whoever else may emerge in that space.
“So that’s the battle that lies ahead. We’re going to go through it and we have to go through it. It may mean the splintering of the party. It may mean the formation of something else. We don’t know exactly how Republicans will reassess and value what Republicanism is.”
Tensions have played out recently on Capitol Hill, where a third of the House’s 198 Republican members have been elected since 2016, most following Trump’s agenda. Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, daughter of the former vice-president Dick Cheney, strongly supports Trump on some issues but has criticized him on foreign policy and the pandemic, prompting calls for her to resign as the No 3 House Republican.
Michael Steel, a former aide to John Boehner when he was House speaker, suggested that this offers a preview of how pro-Trump Republicans will seek to rationalise election defeat: by scapegoating factions of the party that were insufficiently loyal. “They need to be able to blame anyone and anything other than President Trump himself, so they are creating a straw man argument that he is being stabbed in the back by a fifth column of disloyal Republicans rather than by his own words and actions,” Steel wrote in the Dispatch, a conservative website.
Liz Cheney speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on 14 January. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock
Cheney is seen as defending at least some traditional Republican shibboleths abandoned by Trump, such as fiscal responsibility and a hawkish stance towards Russia and other adversaries. Challengers to the president’s “America first” legacy might also soften the party’s positions on the climate crisis, immigration and trade.
But they would need a thick skin: even in defeat, Trump would still have Twitter, Fox News and the Make America Great Again movement at his disposal for heckling.
Thomas Patterson, a professor at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, argues that the party is caught in five traps of its own making, which Trump has only deepened: a steady movement to the right; demographic change; influence by rightwing media blunting its ability to govern; big tax cuts that created a split between its working-class supporters and marketplace conservatives; a disregard for democratic norms and institutions.
Patterson, author of a new book, Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself?, believes it will be a long road back. “If you look at what happened in 2018, the Republicans took quite a drubbing in the midterm election, and there was no lesson learned,” he said. “The way rightwing media spun it was the reason Republicans lost is because too many of them tried to move toward the centre.
“Even if they take a real beating in 2020, I think it’s probably going to take two or three of those beatings. They can talk all they want about reinvention but, as long as the primary nominating process keeps coughing up these conservatives, it’s going to be really hard for them to make the change.
“When you ask, who are the moderate leaders who are going to be in the vanguard of that change that have credibility with the base and elsewhere, boy, that’s a really short list. They pretty well wiped themselves clean of the moderate leadership.”


theguardian--2020-08-10--Trump abruptly led out of press conference by Secret Service – video

Two minutes into a press briefing , Donald Trump was abruptly approached by a Secret Service agent and escorted out @ @ @ @ @ The president said nothing as he walked out and did not answer a reporter 's @ @ @ @ @ leaving .
He later returned , thanked the Secret Service and explained that there had @ @ @ @ @ White House perimeter • Secret Service escort Trump from briefing after shooting outside White House

Two minutes into a press briefing, Donald Trump was abruptly approached by a Secret Service agent and escorted out of the briefing room. The president said nothing as he walked out and did not answer a reporter's question about why he was leaving. He later returned, thanked the Secret Service and explained that there had been a shooting outside the White House perimeter