theguardian--2020-06-17--Facebook plans voter turnout push – but will not bar false claims from Trump

Facebook will launch “ the largest voting information effort in US history ” in the run-up to November ’ s general election , the company has said , aiming to help 4 million Americans register to vote with a new voting information centre .
At the same time , Facebookwill not act to prevent Donald Trump from making false claims about state voting procedures and declare them “ fraudulent ” – rhetoric that many experts say constitutes a form of voter suppression .
The voter registration goal , spread across Facebook , Instagram and Messenger , is to double the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its previous drives , in the 2016 and 2018 elections .
The company is also hoping it can prevent a repeat of the foreign interference that plagued the last US presidential election .
“ We ’ ve built some of the most advanced systems in the world to combat election interference , ” said Naomi Gleit , Facebook ’ s vice-president of product management and social impact .
“ The Voting Information Center will be another line of defense .
By getting clear , accurate and authoritative information to people , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might try to take advantage of uncertainty and interfere with the election.
” Facebook is also making an unprecedented concession to those worried about the effect of targeted political advertising on the site .
The company will continue to take such ads , and allow advertisers to use all its standard targeting tools , but individual users will now be able to turn off all social issue , electoral and political ads , removing them wholesale from Facebook products .
Facebook will also finally show who paid for a political ad even after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and will begin tracking ad spend on a candidate-by-candidate basis , to “ help you understand how much advertisers and candidates are spending to reach voters ” .
When it comes to less forthright attempts to influence the vote , Facebook hopes its moderation team will help .
Since 2016 , the company says , it has tripled the number of people working on “ security and safety issues ” .
The company ’ s experience of “ more than 200 elections since 2017 ” will also help , Nick Clegg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and communications , wrote in a comment piece for the Telegraph .
Facebook ’ s primary goal is to encourage people to vote , says founder Mark Zuckerberg .
“ I believe Facebook has a responsibility not just to prevent voter suppression – which disproportionately targets people of colour – but also to actively support well-informed voter engagement , registration and turnout , ” he wrote in USA Today on Wednesday .
This effort may be undermined by Facebook ’ s hands-off approach to Trump ’ s use of the platform as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baseless attacks on mail-in voting .
Facebook considers Trump ’ s steady stream of baseless attacks on mail-in voting to constitute “ legitimate debate ” about “ the viability and integrity of different forms of voting ” , said Clegg , on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday .
Clegg said that Trump ’ s statements do not violate its rules against voter suppression because “ we draw a distinction between attempts to directly intimidate and discourage voters themselves ” and “ debate between politicians ” .
“ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves in the legitimate debate between the states and administration , ” he said .
In late May , Twitter took the unprecedented step of appending a warning label and link to a factcheck on a pair of Trump ’ s tweets that made false statements about California ’ s voting process , citing a policy that bars users from manipulating elections by posting misinformation that could dissuade voters from participating in an election .
Facebook declined to take action against the post , however , sparking unprecedented internal turmoil .
Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s message to be inciting violence , a decision that Clegg refused to directly support on Wednesday .
Asked multiple times whether he agreed with the choice to leave the post up , Clegg told the BBC that his role in the decision-making process carried a similar sort of collective responsibility to his previous position in the UK cabinet .
Without referring directly to the controversy , Zuckerberg argued that the decision showed the company ’ s commitment to electoral freedom .
“ Free expression is part of the messy process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility to protect it incredibly seriously , ” he wrote .
“ Everyone wants to see politicians held accountable for what they say – and I know many people want us to moderate and remove more of their content .
We have rules against speech that will cause imminent physical harm or suppress voting , and no one is exempt from them .
But accountability only works if we can see what those seeking our votes are saying , even if we viscerally dislike what they say.
” The voting information centre will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Instagram feeds , starting this summer , and will contain guidance on how to vote , including advice on registration , information on postal voting , help on the process of voting in person , and posts from local election authorities with announcements about any changes to the process .


theguardian--2020-06-17--Fauci says US 'still in the first wave' as six states see record Covid-19 cases

America ’ s top public health expert has warned the nation it is “ still in the first wave ” of coronavirus infections and deaths , as six states report record numbers of new cases amid continued rapid easing of lockdown restrictions .
Anthony Fauci , a member of the White House coronavirus taskforce , expressed worry about new hotspots for infections in major US states , while also advising that “ personally , I would not ” attend Donald Trump ’ s first political rally in months , due on Saturday , in Oklahoma , where vast crowds are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Florida , Oklahoma , Oregon and Texas reported record increases in coronavirus cases on Tuesday , while Nevada recorded its highest ever number of single-day cases .
In recent days North Carolina , South Carolina and Alabama have reportedly set new highs in seven-day rolling average of Covid-19 cases , as many states have allowed some businesses and public spaces to reopen after months of restrictions .
“ As New York and other places are coming down , others are going up , ” Fauci , who is also the director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diseases , told the Boston Globe about different areas seeing decreases or increases in new cases .
Despite Oklahoma ’ s alarming rise in coronavirus cases – a record 591 new cases were reported on Monday , and cases in the state rose by 68 % last week – Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma ’ s second-largest city , on Saturday – his first since March , when the pandemic took hold in the US .
Fauci said he personally would choose not to attend such an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
And he warned that talk of whether the US was now experiencing a second wave of Covid-19 cases was premature .
“ We are seeing infections to a greater degree than they had previously seen in certain states , including states in the south-west and in the south , ” Fauci told the Daily Beast .
“ I don ’ t like to talk about a second wave right now , because we haven ’ t gotten out of our first wave.
” Oklahoma health officials are urging anyone attending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then to self-isolate afterwards and get tested again .
People over 65 have been told to stay at home .
The Trump election campaign will recommend the indoor audience wear masks , but is not going to mandate it .
The Oklahoma governor , Kevin Stitt , a Republican , said officials would try to make sure the event was as safe as possible .
“ Ultimately , the president doesn ’ t ask for permission before he ” goes to places , said Stitt on Wednesday .
The mayor of Tulsa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said he would not attend the rally .
Vice-President Mike Pence has claimed the US has “ slowed the spread ” , and both Pence and the president have claimed the worrying increase in coronavirus cases is due to more testing .
Fauci said this was not true .
“ When you look at the number of hospitalizations , and you see some of the states say , ‘ Oh my goodness , I ’ m having more hospitalizations than I had before , ’ that can not be due to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to increase in real cases , ” he told the Globe .
Hospitalizations are continuing to rise in the states reporting infection increases .
At Tucson medical center in Arizona on Monday , only one intensive care unit bed out of 20 was available .
“ ICU to be expanded , hopefully , in coming days , ” Dr Steven Oscherwitz , an infectious disease expert at the hospital , said in a tweet on Monday night .
“ Not sure where people needing ICU care will be able to go , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are pretty full now .
In Florida , 260 workers at the Orlando international airport tested positive for coronavirus , the Florida governor , Ron DeSantis , said .
DeSantis said almost 500 workers had been tested at the airport after two people contracted the virus .
In New York City , Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would monitor the impact of the mass anti-racism protests the city has seen before allowing more businesses to reopen .
“ We ’ re all mindful we had a very unique situation with the protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to NBC News .
In Oklahoma Trump supporters have been camping outside the rally venue for days , despite the risks .
Tulsa residents and business owners were thwarted in their attempt to block the rally , which will take place at the indoor , 19,000-capacity BOK Center , on Tuesday .
Residents had filed a lawsuit in an effort to have the rally cancelled , “ to protect against a substantial , imminent , and deadly risk to the community ” , but a judge refused the request .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the number of people at his rallies and events – said “ almost 1 million people ” had requested tickets for the event .
Fauci has warned people against attending the rally , which had originally been planned for Friday , a date which marks the end of slavery in the US , before the Trump campaign switched the date amid widespread criticism .
Asked if he would personally attend the campaign rally , Fauci said : “ No.
” “ I ’ m in a high-risk category .
Personally , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
With regard to Trump ’ s rallies , Fauci said “ outside is better than inside , no crowd is better than crowd ” and “ crowd is better than big crowd ” .
Tulsa ’ s chief public health officer , Bruce Dart , and the Tulsa World newspaper have urged Trump to cancel the rally .

America’s top public health expert has warned the nation it is “still in the first wave” of coronavirus infections and deaths, as six states report record numbers of new cases amid continued rapid easing of lockdown restrictions.
Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus taskforce, expressed worry about new hotspots for infections in major US states, while also advising that “personally, I would not” attend Donald Trump’s first political rally in months, due on Saturday, in Oklahoma, where vast crowds are expected despite rising Covid-19 cases.
Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas reported record increases in coronavirus cases on Tuesday, while Nevada recorded its highest ever number of single-day cases.
In recent days North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama have reportedly set new highs in seven-day rolling average of Covid-19 cases, as many states have allowed some businesses and public spaces to reopen after months of restrictions.
“As New York and other places are coming down, others are going up,” Fauci, who is also the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the Boston Globe about different areas seeing decreases or increases in new cases.
“Obviously, we’re concerned about it.”
Despite Oklahoma’s alarming rise in coronavirus cases – a record 591 new cases were reported on Monday, and cases in the state rose by 68% last week – Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s second-largest city, on Saturday – his first since March, when the pandemic took hold in the US.
Fauci said he personally would choose not to attend such an event due to the risk of contracting coronavirus. And he warned that talk of whether the US was now experiencing a second wave of Covid-19 cases was premature.
“We are seeing infections to a greater degree than they had previously seen in certain states, including states in the south-west and in the south,” Fauci told the Daily Beast. “I don’t like to talk about a second wave right now, because we haven’t gotten out of our first wave.”
Oklahoma health officials are urging anyone attending the rally to get tested before arriving, and then to self-isolate afterwards and get tested again. People over 65 have been told to stay at home. The Trump election campaign will recommend the indoor audience wear masks, but is not going to mandate it.
The Oklahoma governor, Kevin Stitt, a Republican, said officials would try to make sure the event was as safe as possible. “Ultimately, the president doesn’t ask for permission before he” goes to places, said Stitt on Wednesday.
Republican mayor of Tulsa: "I’m not going to the rally."
Says he'll be out with the city's police officers. Says he will greet Trump upon his arrival at the airport.
"Then I'll be back out with the cops." — Annie Karni (@anniekarni) June 17, 2020
The mayor of Tulsa, GT Bynum, also a Republican, said he would not attend the rally.
Vice-President Mike Pence has claimed the US has “slowed the spread”, and both Pence and the president have claimed the worrying increase in coronavirus cases is due to more testing.
Fauci said this was not true.
“When you look at the number of hospitalizations, and you see some of the states say, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m having more hospitalizations than I had before,’ that cannot be due to increase in testing. That has to be due to increase in real cases,” he told the Globe.
Hospitalizations are continuing to rise in the states reporting infection increases.
At Tucson medical center in Arizona on Monday, only one intensive care unit bed out of 20 was available.
“ICU to be expanded, hopefully, in coming days,” Dr Steven Oscherwitz, an infectious disease expert at the hospital, said in a tweet on Monday night. “Not sure where people needing ICU care will be able to go, since most AZ [Arizona] hospitals are pretty full now.
“Better contact your governor (quickly!)”
I don’t like to talk about a second wave right now, because we haven’t gotten out of our first wave Dr Fauci
In Florida, 260 workers at the Orlando international airport tested positive for coronavirus, the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, said. DeSantis said almost 500 workers had been tested at the airport after two people contracted the virus.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would monitor the impact of the mass anti-racism protests the city has seen before allowing more businesses to reopen.
“We’re all mindful we had a very unique situation with the protests,” De Blasio said on Wednesday, according to NBC News.
In Oklahoma Trump supporters have been camping outside the rally venue for days, despite the risks.
Tulsa residents and business owners were thwarted in their attempt to block the rally, which will take place at the indoor, 19,000-capacity BOK Center, on Tuesday. Residents had filed a lawsuit in an effort to have the rally cancelled, “to protect against a substantial, imminent, and deadly risk to the community”, but a judge refused the request.
On Monday Trump – who has previously lied about the number of people at his rallies and events – said “almost 1 million people” had requested tickets for the event.
Fauci has warned people against attending the rally, which had originally been planned for Friday, a date which marks the end of slavery in the US, before the Trump campaign switched the date amid widespread criticism.
Asked if he would personally attend the campaign rally, Fauci said: “No.”
“I’m in a high-risk category. Personally, I would not. Of course not,” he said. With regard to Trump’s rallies, Fauci said “outside is better than inside, no crowd is better than crowd” and “crowd is better than big crowd”.
Tulsa’s chief public health officer, Bruce Dart, and the Tulsa World newspaper have urged Trump to cancel the rally.


theguardian--2020-06-17--Voice of America's appointment of Trump ally sparks purge fears

Democrats have warned that the new Trump-appointed head of the US global media agency that oversees Voice of America ( VOA ) and other broadcasters is planning a purge of career officials that could spell the end of its editorial independence .
Donald Trump has repeatedly denounced VOA , in particular for its coverage of China , though the US-funded global broadcaster has also been targeted by the Chinese Communist party .
Earlier this month , Trump persuaded Republican senators to confirm Michael Pack , a conservative film-maker and associate of the rightwing ideologue Steve Bannon , as the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Media ( USAGM ) , even though Pack is currently under criminal investigation for allegedly diverting $ 1.6m in funds from a charity organisation he runs to his private film company , Manifold Productions .
The firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the investigation .
Eliot Engel , the Democratic chair of the House foreign affairs committee , issued a late-night statement on Tuesday warning that Pack planned to fire the top ranks of USAGM career officials on Wednesday .
On Wednesday morning , congressional aides said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off after Engel ’ s intervention , but that the threat remained .
“ My fear is that USAGM ’ s role as an unbiased news organization is in jeopardy under his leadership .
USAGM ’ s mission is ‘ to inform , engage , and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy ’ – not to be a mouthpiece for the president in the run-up to an election , ” Engel said in his statement .
According to several sources , Pack has yet to enter the USAGM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 June , but has sent loyalists ahead to prepare the ground for his arrival .
According to a congressional aide , he had his future office swept for recording devices .
Brett Bruen , a former US diplomat who was director for global engagement in the Obama White House , said : “ The steps that have already been taken since Pack was confirmed are deeply troubling .
The agency has not been able to pay its bills for weeks because of a spending freeze he imposed .
They can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been outraged that although VOA is funded by the federal government , he had not been able to control its output .
The agency was set up in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda and played a prominent role , alongside its sister organisation , Radio Free Europe , in the cold war .
After friction with the Nixon administration about what VOA was allowed to broadcast about Watergate , a charter was drawn up in 1976 intended to guarantee it remained “ accurate , objective and comprehensive ” .
Previous administrations have expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when unable to dictate what it broadcasts , but never with the same gusto as Trump .
“ If you hear what ’ s coming out of the Voice of America , it ’ s disgusting , ” the president said in April .
“ The things they say are disgusting toward our country .
And Michael Pack would get in and do a great job.
” The administration has accused the broadcaster of favouring Beijing in its coverage of the coronavirus pandemic , but the accusation was found to be groundless by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the publication of internal messages from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , showed the health agency had been instructed to blacklist the VOA and not respond to its inquiries .
The VOA covered the story on the “ press freedom ” section of its website .
Since Pack ’ s confirmation , there have been a string of top level other USAGM resignations .
Two veteran VOA editors , Amanda Bennett and Sandra Sugawara , resigned on Monday .
“ Michael Pack swore before Congress to respect and honor the firewall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which in turn plays the single most important role in the stunning trust our audiences around the world have in us , ” Bennett and Sugawara said in a joint resignation statement to staff .
“ We know that each one of you will offer him all of your skills , your professionalism , your dedication to mission , your journalistic integrity and your personal hard work to guarantee that promise is fulfilled.
” In his Tuesday night statement warning of an imminent purge of career broadcasters , Engel said : “ Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nonpartisan public servants who run USAGM to keep doing their jobs .
And Mr Pack needs to understand that USAGM is not the ministry of information.
” The USAGM website had little information about Pack on Tuesday night .
A link from his name led to a description of another executive .

Democrats have warned that the new Trump-appointed head of the US global media agency that oversees Voice of America (VOA) and other broadcasters is planning a purge of career officials that could spell the end of its editorial independence.
Donald Trump has repeatedly denounced VOA, in particular for its coverage of China, though the US-funded global broadcaster has also been targeted by the Chinese Communist party.
Earlier this month, Trump persuaded Republican senators to confirm Michael Pack, a conservative film-maker and associate of the rightwing ideologue Steve Bannon, as the new head of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), even though Pack is currently under criminal investigation for allegedly diverting $1.6m in funds from a charity organisation he runs to his private film company, Manifold Productions.
The firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the investigation.
Eliot Engel, the Democratic chair of the House foreign affairs committee, issued a late-night statement on Tuesday warning that Pack planned to fire the top ranks of USAGM career officials on Wednesday. On Wednesday morning, congressional aides said the feared purge appeared to have been put off after Engel’s intervention, but that the threat remained.
“My fear is that USAGM’s role as an unbiased news organization is in jeopardy under his leadership. USAGM’s mission is ‘to inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy’ – not to be a mouthpiece for the president in the run-up to an election,” Engel said in his statement.
According to several sources, Pack has yet to enter the USAGM Washington headquarters since his Senate confirmation on 4 June, but has sent loyalists ahead to prepare the ground for his arrival. According to a congressional aide, he had his future office swept for recording devices.
Brett Bruen, a former US diplomat who was director for global engagement in the Obama White House, said: “The steps that have already been taken since Pack was confirmed are deeply troubling. The agency has not been able to pay its bills for weeks because of a spending freeze he imposed. They can’t hire anyone.”
Trump appears to have been outraged that although VOA is funded by the federal government, he had not been able to control its output. The agency was set up in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda and played a prominent role, alongside its sister organisation, Radio Free Europe, in the cold war. After friction with the Nixon administration about what VOA was allowed to broadcast about Watergate, a charter was drawn up in 1976 intended to guarantee it remained “accurate, objective and comprehensive”.
Previous administrations have expressed frustration with VOA over its editorial independence when unable to dictate what it broadcasts, but never with the same gusto as Trump.
“If you hear what’s coming out of the Voice of America, it’s disgusting,” the president said in April. “The things they say are disgusting toward our country. And Michael Pack would get in and do a great job.”
The administration has accused the broadcaster of favouring Beijing in its coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, but the accusation was found to be groundless by independent media watchdog. Last week, the publication of internal messages from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showed the health agency had been instructed to blacklist the VOA and not respond to its inquiries. The VOA covered the story on the “press freedom” section of its website.
Since Pack’s confirmation, there have been a string of top level other USAGM resignations. Two veteran VOA editors, Amanda Bennett and Sandra Sugawara, resigned on Monday.
Amanda Bennett. Photograph: Magda Hishmeh/AP
“Michael Pack swore before Congress to respect and honor the firewall that guarantees VOA’s independence, which in turn plays the single most important role in the stunning trust our audiences around the world have in us,” Bennett and Sugawara said in a joint resignation statement to staff.
“We know that each one of you will offer him all of your skills, your professionalism, your dedication to mission, your journalistic integrity and your personal hard work to guarantee that promise is fulfilled.”
In his Tuesday night statement warning of an imminent purge of career broadcasters, Engel said: “Mr Pack should immediately reverse course and allow the nonpartisan public servants who run USAGM to keep doing their jobs. And Mr Pack needs to understand that USAGM is not the ministry of information.”
The USAGM website had little information about Pack on Tuesday night. A link from his name led to a description of another executive.


theguardian--2020-06-17--Pity the central banks' lockdown dilemma: do they fight inflation or deflation? | Larry Elliott

Life used to be so easy for central banks .
A tweak here and a tweak there was all it took to keep inflation under control .
Now they are creating money in unprecedented amounts and contemplating negative interest with only the sketchiest idea of how things will pan out .
It is much more complex and much more dangerous , not least for central banks themselves .
The problem is that lockdown is affecting both parts of the economy .
Keeping people at home and restricting their movement reduces the supply of goods and services , which would normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living .
Yet , lockdown is also reducing demand , because some workers are being laid off and others are getting less from government wage subsidy schemes than if they had been doing their jobs .
Weaker demand normally pushes inflation down .
The challenge for central banks is to assess these two forces and work out what to do using their two main policy tools – interest rates and the buying , or selling , of bonds .
So far , the evidence is that central banks see lower inflation as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reserve , the European Central Bank and the Bank of England have all massively increased their quantitative easing programmes , in effect printing money by buying government and corporate bonds .
In the US , the money supply is growing at it fastest ever peacetime rate and the Fed has dropped plenty of hints that there is more to come .
In the UK , the Bank of England is expected to expand its QE programme by at least £100bn – and perhaps by double that – when its monetary policy committee meets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will end in tears .
Once the lockdowns are over and the world returns to something like normal , they say all the extra money sloshing around will lead to the sort of inflation levels that will destroy the credibility of central banks .
It would be wrong to dismiss these warnings out of hand .
The QE programmes during the financial crisis of 2008-09 resulted in a sharp increase in asset prices – shares and property – if not in consumer prices .
But central banks fear a colossal depression and deflation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tomorrow .
That is the right approach but it is still fraught with substantial risk .
It has become folklore among economists that pensioners have had rather a good time of it since the great financial crash , writes Patrick Collinson .
The “ triple lock ” protected their incomes ( rising 22 % from 2010-16 ) while those of workers fell in real terms ( rising just 7.6 % ) .
Now , with fears the same could happen again next year , the Treasury is examining how and when to unlock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But let ’ s make one fact clear , a fact that should be the starting point for all discussions on this subject : the UK has the lowest state pension in the developed world , according to no less an authority than the former pensions minister Ros Altmann .
We expect our poorest pensioners to survive on a fraction of the income those dependent on the state receive in France , Spain and Ireland .
Yes , there is a technical issue that needs to be sorted .
Next year , assuming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see some very strange , one-off economic data .
Earnings from employment could “ soar ” as they begin to return to the levels before coronavirus .
On paper , the earnings increase could be about 18 % .
Under the terms of the triple lock – which guarantees the state pension increases each year by the highest of earnings , price inflation or 2.5 % – that would spell a huge and unnecessary windfall for pensioners at a time when the public finances are under unprecedented strain .
Some of the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Altmann , argue that it should be axed .
Her view is that it doesn ’ t really help the poorest pensioners – especially as it does not apply to pension credit .
But the answer should be to suspend , not abandon , the triple lock .
For the majority of low-income pensioners , the triple lock may be the only real long-term financial safety net they have , especially if we enter round two of austerity .
It ’ s wrong for economists to club all pensioners together .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is between workers .
If the government wants to raid pensions to pay for coronavirus , there is a better target – the exemption that pensioners enjoy from national insurance .
A well-off pensioner in England and Wales on £40,000 a year has an after-tax income of £34,502 .
A worker on £40,000 – probably still having to pay for a mortgage and raising children – is left with £30,842 after tax and NI .
The well-off pensioner has saved nearly £4,000 by not paying NI .
It ’ s that loophole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term guarantee of the triple lock .

Life used to be so easy for central banks. A tweak here and a tweak there was all it took to keep inflation under control. Now they are creating money in unprecedented amounts and contemplating negative interest with only the sketchiest idea of how things will pan out. It is much more complex and much more dangerous, not least for central banks themselves.
The problem is that lockdown is affecting both parts of the economy. Keeping people at home and restricting their movement reduces the supply of goods and services, which would normally mean upward pressure on the cost of living.
Yet, lockdown is also reducing demand, because some workers are being laid off and others are getting less from government wage subsidy schemes than if they had been doing their jobs. Weaker demand normally pushes inflation down.
The challenge for central banks is to assess these two forces and work out what to do using their two main policy tools – interest rates and the buying, or selling, of bonds.
So far, the evidence is that central banks see lower inflation as the more immediate threat. The US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England have all massively increased their quantitative easing programmes, in effect printing money by buying government and corporate bonds.
In the US, the money supply is growing at it fastest ever peacetime rate and the Fed has dropped plenty of hints that there is more to come.
In the UK, the Bank of England is expected to expand its QE programme by at least £100bn – and perhaps by double that – when its monetary policy committee meets on Thursday.
Hardcore monetarists fear this will end in tears. Once the lockdowns are over and the world returns to something like normal, they say all the extra money sloshing around will lead to the sort of inflation levels that will destroy the credibility of central banks.
It would be wrong to dismiss these warnings out of hand. The QE programmes during the financial crisis of 2008-09 resulted in a sharp increase in asset prices – shares and property – if not in consumer prices.
But central banks fear a colossal depression and deflation today far more than rapidly rising inflation tomorrow. That is the right approach but it is still fraught with substantial risk.
National insurance could hold key to pensions triple-lock question
It has become folklore among economists that pensioners have had rather a good time of it since the great financial crash, writes Patrick Collinson. The “triple lock” protected their incomes (rising 22% from 2010-16) while those of workers fell in real terms (rising just 7.6%). Now, with fears the same could happen again next year, the Treasury is examining how and when to unlock a policy regarded as grossly unaffordable.
But let’s make one fact clear, a fact that should be the starting point for all discussions on this subject: the UK has the lowest state pension in the developed world, according to no less an authority than the former pensions minister Ros Altmann. We expect our poorest pensioners to survive on a fraction of the income those dependent on the state receive in France, Spain and Ireland.
Yes, there is a technical issue that needs to be sorted. Next year, assuming the economy bounces back, we will see some very strange, one-off economic data. Earnings from employment could “soar” as they begin to return to the levels before coronavirus. On paper, the earnings increase could be about 18%. Under the terms of the triple lock – which guarantees the state pension increases each year by the highest of earnings, price inflation or 2.5% – that would spell a huge and unnecessary windfall for pensioners at a time when the public finances are under unprecedented strain.
Some of the most respected voices in the pensions industry, such as Altmann, argue that it should be axed. Her view is that it doesn’t really help the poorest pensioners – especially as it does not apply to pension credit. But the answer should be to suspend, not abandon, the triple lock.
For the majority of low-income pensioners, the triple lock may be the only real long-term financial safety net they have, especially if we enter round two of austerity.
It’s wrong for economists to club all pensioners together. Inequality between pensioners is as bad as it is between workers. If the government wants to raid pensions to pay for coronavirus, there is a better target – the exemption that pensioners enjoy from national insurance. A well-off pensioner in England and Wales on £40,000 a year has an after-tax income of £34,502. A worker on £40,000 – probably still having to pay for a mortgage and raising children – is left with £30,842 after tax and NI. The well-off pensioner has saved nearly £4,000 by not paying NI.
It’s that loophole that should be tackled, not the long-term guarantee of the triple lock.


theguardian--2020-06-17--Is the Trump family destroying Donald's presidency from the inside? | Arwa Mahdawi

Revenge , as Mary Trump seems well aware , is a dish best served cold .
Twenty years after a bitter familial feud over her grandfather ’ s will , Donald Trump ’ s niece looks like she is finally about to wreak vengeance on her uncle .
The Daily Beast reported on Monday that Mary , 55 , who is the daughter of Donald ’ s late brother Fred Trump Jr , has written a “ harrowing and salacious ” book about the president .
Too Much and Never Enough will be published in the US on 28 July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Convention .
The timing is clearly designed to do maximum damage .
Why the bad blood ?
Well , for one thing , Mary reportedly blames Donald for mistreating her alcoholic father – behaviour she believes contributed to his death from a heart attack at the age of 42 .
Then there was the fight over Fred Trump Sr ’ s estate in 2000 .
Mary and her brother , Fred Trump III , claimed they were dealt with unfairly in their grandfather ’ s will as a result of “ fraud and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his siblings .
The ill will is said to have escalated when Donald , in retaliation for the lawsuit , cut off medical insurance for Fred III ’ s seriously ill infant son , who required round-the-clock care .
Fred III was quoted as saying : “ Our family puts the ‘ fun ’ in dysfunctional.
” Dysfunctional is an understatement .
The appearance-obsessed Trumps project an image of unity , but , behind the polished facade , they seem to loathe and distrust each other .
This is not surprising , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favourite mantras to his kids growing up was reportedly : “ Don ’ t trust anyone.
” According to a GQ profile of Donald Trump Jr , the president used to ask his children whether they trusted him .
When they replied : “ Of course , ” he would tell them off for not learning their lesson .
Maybe he had a point : Mary ’ s book ( which is also said to contain “ damning ” comments from Donald ’ s sister , the retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has written a critical tell-all about the president , but I would be surprised if it were the last time one of his own undermined him .
The question is : which Trump will turn on the president next ?
Donald probably does not need to worry much about his oldest sons , Eric and Donald Jr : they seem too stupid to be scheming .
( Years of unfettered hair gel abuse may have rotted their brains . )
Ivanka , however , seems more than capable of sacrificing dear daddy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting feature of Trump ’ s presidency has been the frequent “ leaks ” to the press declaring how Ivanka and her husband , Jared Kushner , are diligently working behind the scenes to exert a moderating influence on the president .
If these mysterious leaks are to be believed , Javanka have saved us from Donald ’ s worst instincts .
But Ivanka is too obvious .
It is always the quiet ones you have to watch out for – and you don ’ t get much quieter than Melania Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ivanka has reportedly nicknamed her “ the Portrait ” ; Melania , in turn , calls Ivanka “ the Princess ” .
Melania may be taciturn , but she is no dummy – nor is she a pushover .
According to a new unauthorised biography of Melania ( which the White House has dismissed as “ fiction ” ) , an enterprising Ivanka tried to rename the First Lady ’ s Office the “ First Family Office ” , but Melania was having none of it .
She also , apparently , put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House as if it was her own home .
In addition , it has been widely reported that she used her husband ’ s presidency as an opportunity to renegotiate her prenuptial agreement – staying in New York during the first few months he was in office as leverage for negotiations .
“ That woman !
She will be the end of him , ” one of Trump ’ s friends was reportedly overheard saying about Melania ’ s refusal to move to Washington .
Who knows , those may be prophetic words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what Mary has started .

Revenge, as Mary Trump seems well aware, is a dish best served cold. Twenty years after a bitter familial feud over her grandfather’s will, Donald Trump’s niece looks like she is finally about to wreak vengeance on her uncle.
The Daily Beast reported on Monday that Mary, 55, who is the daughter of Donald’s late brother Fred Trump Jr, has written a “harrowing and salacious” book about the president. Too Much and Never Enough will be published in the US on 28 July, a month before the Republican National Convention. The timing is clearly designed to do maximum damage.
Why the bad blood? Well, for one thing, Mary reportedly blames Donald for mistreating her alcoholic father – behaviour she believes contributed to his death from a heart attack at the age of 42. Then there was the fight over Fred Trump Sr’s estate in 2000. Mary and her brother, Fred Trump III, claimed they were dealt with unfairly in their grandfather’s will as a result of “fraud and undue influence” by Donald and two of his siblings. The ill will is said to have escalated when Donald, in retaliation for the lawsuit, cut off medical insurance for Fred III’s seriously ill infant son, who required round-the-clock care. Fred III was quoted as saying: “Our family puts the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional.”
Dysfunctional is an understatement. The appearance-obsessed Trumps project an image of unity, but, behind the polished facade, they seem to loathe and distrust each other. This is not surprising, considering that one of Donald’s favourite mantras to his kids growing up was reportedly: “Don’t trust anyone.” According to a GQ profile of Donald Trump Jr, the president used to ask his children whether they trusted him. When they replied: “Of course,” he would tell them off for not learning their lesson. Maybe he had a point: Mary’s book (which is also said to contain “damning” comments from Donald’s sister, the retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry) marks the first time a Trump has written a critical tell-all about the president, but I would be surprised if it were the last time one of his own undermined him. The question is: which Trump will turn on the president next?
Donald probably does not need to worry much about his oldest sons, Eric and Donald Jr: they seem too stupid to be scheming. (Years of unfettered hair gel abuse may have rotted their brains.) Ivanka, however, seems more than capable of sacrificing dear daddy to advance her ambitions. Indeed, an interesting feature of Trump’s presidency has been the frequent “leaks” to the press declaring how Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, are diligently working behind the scenes to exert a moderating influence on the president. If these mysterious leaks are to be believed, Javanka have saved us from Donald’s worst instincts.
But Ivanka is too obvious. It is always the quiet ones you have to watch out for – and you don’t get much quieter than Melania Trump. The first lady says so little that Ivanka has reportedly nicknamed her “the Portrait”; Melania, in turn, calls Ivanka “the Princess”.
Melania may be taciturn, but she is no dummy – nor is she a pushover. According to a new unauthorised biography of Melania (which the White House has dismissed as “fiction”), an enterprising Ivanka tried to rename the First Lady’s Office the “First Family Office”, but Melania was having none of it. She also, apparently, put an end to Ivanka treating the White House as if it was her own home. In addition, it has been widely reported that she used her husband’s presidency as an opportunity to renegotiate her prenuptial agreement – staying in New York during the first few months he was in office as leverage for negotiations. “That woman! She will be the end of him,” one of Trump’s friends was reportedly overheard saying about Melania’s refusal to move to Washington. Who knows, those may be prophetic words. Perhaps Melania will end up finishing what Mary has started.


theguardian--2020-06-18--John Logan on Penny Dreadful: 'Writers have to be able to dream freely'

A city planning document might not seem like a promising place to find inspiration for a new season of a fantasy horror series – but John Logan , the Tony winning , Oscar-nominated writer of Gladiator and The Aviator has never been a typical Hollywood figure .
Despite being LA born and bred , he isn ’ t one for the party lifestyle that some of his contemporaries in the industry enjoy .
He doesn ’ t drink – “ the idea of losing control is anathema to me ” – and is at his happiest walking in the countryside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m joyously anonymous , ” Logan says .
And eschewing glamorous events means he has plenty of time to pore over a 1937 LA city council traffic study , from which the idea for Penny Dreadful : City of Angels sprang .
“ The past has always been something that excited me as a writer , ” Logan explains .
“ I thought this was a unique opportunity to look at where we are on the basis of where we were , and how the decisions we made in 1938 are still rippling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the lifeblood of LA , [ but ] it was very dry research.
” Yet City of Angels is anything but dry – a supernatural thriller circling around a Mexican-American family , a Nazi-sympathising German immigrant played by Rory Kinnear , and the battle between Santa Muerte – the guide of the dead – and her sister , the evil demoness Magda – played with stunning dexterity by Natalie Dormer in a number of different guises as she hides among her mortal victims .
So where do the freeways fit in ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is clear as he describes the original 1930s plans , which included roads running through Bel Air and Beverly Hills – two still-wealthy and predominantly white neighbourhoods .
“ None of those freeways were ever built , [ but they were ] in South Central , and East LA .
You can ’ t tell a story of the history of Los Angeles , without talking about the freeways .
And you can ’ t tell the story of the freeway without talking about the communities that were displaced .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexican American family really came from.
” And yet , while the aim is no doubt noble , any attempt from a white writer to address issues of racial injustice is bound to attract some criticism , especially in writing characters of different ethnicities .
It is an issue Logan has sympathy with , even as he dismisses the very notion of cultural appropriation .
“ I categorically reject the idea that artists can not speak in voices other than their own , ” Logan says emphatically .
“ The balkanisation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing .
Writers and performers and singers have to be able to dream very freely .
And sometimes that takes you to places away from yourself , otherwise we ’ re into a very anaemic and cannibalistic cultural landscape .
“ But having said that , verisimilitude is important .
I didn ’ t pretend to be an expert on Mexican American culture .
I brought experts in .
I hired Latino writers and directors and production designers .
My producing partner , Michael Aguilar , is Latino .
And finally I went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and screenwriter , who wrote one of our episodes , and asked him to do a pass through all 10 .
Just to say what ’ s not authentic , what doesn ’ t ring true .
So philosophically , I completely reject the idea of there being any such thing as cultural appropriation .
But the practical matter as a responsible human being , you have to be careful and cautious and work.
” Lest Trump-supporting Americans think they have an ally in the culture war , it ’ s worth considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , brought up in the 1960s by strongly religious yet supportive parents , he has been horrified by the turn American politics has taken over the past five years .
And while religion , and specifically Mexican folklore , is a huge part of his latest project , faith is not something he has ever embraced .
“ It presents very interesting opportunities for a heightened magical realism , ” Logan explains .
But as anything other than a storytelling device , Logan has little time for it .
“ I grew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what religion is , ” he says .
“ It was always fraught with social politics in my family .
When people turn against science and facts , for faith , that ’ s a treacherous road .
Faith and belief is a deep human need , but it ’ s not real in any objective sense as far as I ’ m concerned .
Human beings have to accept the consequences of how they behave , .
Any fig leaf that an established religion , or even a folklore religion , offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appropriation and religion both dismissed , Logan is set for cancellation by all sides of America ’ s partisan politics .
It was that deep sense of division , of a country running out of control , that prompted his desire to look back at the past of his home city .
“ Like many people , I naively assumed that a sort of secular liberal humanism was the coin of the realm , ” Logan says .
“ And then everything began to change , so , so shockingly .
I felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something about it as a writer .
I was struck by the parallels between what I see going on in the world now , and what was happening in a very particular time in Los Angeles ’ story .
“ You ’ re seeing a worldwide resurgence of dangerous political extremism , and atomistic nationalism and irresponsible political demagoguery .
And in this country , a particularly virulent form of racism , demonisation of ethnic communities , the Mexican community .
And all of that was very much in the air in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writers , starting with Shakespeare , the idea of examining the present through the lens of the past has always been something that really excited me.
” Shakespeare often crops up in our conversation .
Logan describes the first time he saw Laurence Olivier ’ s Hamlet as the “ liminal event ” of his life , which sparked a lifelong love of theatre , London and , perhaps surprisingly , drew him towards genre projects such as Star Trek ( he wrote the 2002 film Star Trek : Nemesis , a dream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his favourite show as a child ) , James Bond and Penny Dreadful – a CV one might not expect of a lauded playwright .
“ I was living in San Pedro , California , and my dad , who loves literature and was raised in Belfast on real poetry , made me sit down and watch a movie with him .
And I didn ’ t want to do it , because who wants to sit with dad and watch a movie when it ’ s a nice Saturday and you wan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was Olivier and Hamlet , and those two and a half hours changed my life .
“ On one hand , it has the genre elements that I loved – ghosts that were scary and the greatest sword fights ever put on screen – but it has this other thing .
And that other thing was Shakespeare , the poetry and the character .
And I became , at eight years old , obsessed with Shakespeare .
It led me to the theatre and once I was in it , I suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be my whole life , because I felt comfortable .
I was an asthmatic child , I was gay .
Our family moved all the time .
So I didn ’ t have friends from childhood .
But , doing a high-school show , I felt I had a tribe , and that has not changed from from that day.
” Logan is worried about the future of theatre once the pandemic passes – but he is slightly more optimistic than most .
“ I look at history , when London theatres were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plagues , ” he says .
“ They always came back with incredible robustness .
Creators and the audience are desperate for new stories and new interaction .
Because what ’ s amazing about theatre and what I miss so desperately now is the art form , where everyone ’ s breathing in the same way , when everyone ’ s holding their breath at the same time .
That to me is the most sacred moment I could possibly imagine .
Film and TV are beautiful , but they ’ re zombie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it exists that way , unchanging .
What makes theatre so exciting is every performance is different .
“ Any event like this , that stops train of progress for a second and allows people to think about how they interact with their work with their family , with their loved ones and community , is an incredibly valuable thing , ” he says .
“ We ’ ve learned something important about touch , about human interaction on a primal level .
I hope it will make people more responsive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of poetry and the occasional walk outside for no reason without their iPhones.
” • None Penny Dreadful : City of Angels is on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV from 1 July .

A city planning document might not seem like a promising place to find inspiration for a new season of a fantasy horror series – but John Logan, the Tony winning, Oscar-nominated writer of Gladiator and The Aviator has never been a typical Hollywood figure. Despite being LA born and bred, he isn’t one for the party lifestyle that some of his contemporaries in the industry enjoy. He doesn’t drink – “the idea of losing control is anathema to me” – and is at his happiest walking in the countryside around his house. “I’m joyously anonymous,” Logan says.
And eschewing glamorous events means he has plenty of time to pore over a 1937 LA city council traffic study, from which the idea for Penny Dreadful: City of Angels sprang.
“The past has always been something that excited me as a writer,” Logan explains. “I thought this was a unique opportunity to look at where we are on the basis of where we were, and how the decisions we made in 1938 are still rippling through the world today. The freeways are the lifeblood of LA, [but] it was very dry research.”
‘I didn’t pretend to be an expert on Mexican American culture’ – John Logan. Photograph: Frank Micelotta/Picturegroup/REX/Shutterstock
Yet City of Angels is anything but dry – a supernatural thriller circling around a Mexican-American family, a Nazi-sympathising German immigrant played by Rory Kinnear, and the battle between Santa Muerte – the guide of the dead – and her sister, the evil demoness Magda – played with stunning dexterity by Natalie Dormer in a number of different guises as she hides among her mortal victims. So where do the freeways fit in?
Logan’s passion for the project is clear as he describes the original 1930s plans, which included roads running through Bel Air and Beverly Hills – two still-wealthy and predominantly white neighbourhoods. “None of those freeways were ever built, [but they were] in South Central, and East LA. You can’t tell a story of the history of Los Angeles, without talking about the freeways. And you can’t tell the story of the freeway without talking about the communities that were displaced. That’s where the idea of writing about a Mexican American family really came from.”
And yet, while the aim is no doubt noble, any attempt from a white writer to address issues of racial injustice is bound to attract some criticism, especially in writing characters of different ethnicities. It is an issue Logan has sympathy with, even as he dismisses the very notion of cultural appropriation. “I categorically reject the idea that artists cannot speak in voices other than their own,” Logan says emphatically. “The balkanisation of the imagination is a very, very dangerous thing. Writers and performers and singers have to be able to dream very freely. And sometimes that takes you to places away from yourself, otherwise we’re into a very anaemic and cannibalistic cultural landscape.
“But having said that, verisimilitude is important. I didn’t pretend to be an expert on Mexican American culture. I brought experts in. I hired Latino writers and directors and production designers. My producing partner, Michael Aguilar, is Latino. And finally I went to José Rivera, a wonderful playwright and screenwriter, who wrote one of our episodes, and asked him to do a pass through all 10. Just to say what’s not authentic, what doesn’t ring true. So philosophically, I completely reject the idea of there being any such thing as cultural appropriation. But the practical matter as a responsible human being, you have to be careful and cautious and work.”
Lest Trump-supporting Americans think they have an ally in the culture war, it’s worth considering Logan’s background. A gay man, brought up in the 1960s by strongly religious yet supportive parents, he has been horrified by the turn American politics has taken over the past five years. And while religion, and specifically Mexican folklore, is a huge part of his latest project, faith is not something he has ever embraced. “It presents very interesting opportunities for a heightened magical realism,” Logan explains. But as anything other than a storytelling device, Logan has little time for it.
“I grew up with a very complicated view towards what religion is,” he says. “It was always fraught with social politics in my family. When people turn against science and facts, for faith, that’s a treacherous road. Faith and belief is a deep human need, but it’s not real in any objective sense as far as I’m concerned. Human beings have to accept the consequences of how they behave,. Any fig leaf that an established religion, or even a folklore religion, offers, is dangerous.”
The idea of examining the present through the lens of the past has always been something that really excited me John Logan
So with cultural appropriation and religion both dismissed, Logan is set for cancellation by all sides of America’s partisan politics.
It was that deep sense of division, of a country running out of control, that prompted his desire to look back at the past of his home city. “Like many people, I naively assumed that a sort of secular liberal humanism was the coin of the realm,” Logan says. “And then everything began to change, so, so shockingly. I felt helpless. And I wanted to say something about it as a writer. I was struck by the parallels between what I see going on in the world now, and what was happening in a very particular time in Los Angeles’ story.
“You’re seeing a worldwide resurgence of dangerous political extremism, and atomistic nationalism and irresponsible political demagoguery. And in this country, a particularly virulent form of racism, demonisation of ethnic communities, the Mexican community. And all of that was very much in the air in late 30s in Los Angeles. Like many writers, starting with Shakespeare, the idea of examining the present through the lens of the past has always been something that really excited me.”
Shakespeare often crops up in our conversation. Logan describes the first time he saw Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet as the “liminal event” of his life, which sparked a lifelong love of theatre, London and, perhaps surprisingly, drew him towards genre projects such as Star Trek (he wrote the 2002 film Star Trek: Nemesis, a dream come true as the TV series was his favourite show as a child), James Bond and Penny Dreadful – a CV one might not expect of a lauded playwright.
“I was living in San Pedro, California, and my dad, who loves literature and was raised in Belfast on real poetry, made me sit down and watch a movie with him. And I didn’t want to do it, because who wants to sit with dad and watch a movie when it’s a nice Saturday and you wanna go out and play? But it was Olivier and Hamlet, and those two and a half hours changed my life.
Lilfe-changing ... Laurence Olivier in Hamlet. Photograph: Ronald Grant
“On one hand, it has the genre elements that I loved – ghosts that were scary and the greatest sword fights ever put on screen – but it has this other thing. And that other thing was Shakespeare, the poetry and the character. And I became, at eight years old, obsessed with Shakespeare. It led me to the theatre and once I was in it, I suddenly knew the place I was meant to be my whole life, because I felt comfortable. I was an asthmatic child, I was gay. Our family moved all the time. So I didn’t have friends from childhood. But, doing a high-school show, I felt I had a tribe, and that has not changed from from that day.”
Logan is worried about the future of theatre once the pandemic passes – but he is slightly more optimistic than most. “I look at history, when London theatres were closed repeatedly in the Jacobean era for plagues,” he says. “They always came back with incredible robustness. Creators and the audience are desperate for new stories and new interaction. Because what’s amazing about theatre and what I miss so desperately now is the art form, where everyone’s breathing in the same way, when everyone’s holding their breath at the same time. That to me is the most sacred moment I could possibly imagine. Film and TV are beautiful, but they’re zombie art forms. Once something is done, it exists that way, unchanging. What makes theatre so exciting is every performance is different.
“Any event like this, that stops train of progress for a second and allows people to think about how they interact with their work with their family, with their loved ones and community, is an incredibly valuable thing,” he says. “We’ve learned something important about touch, about human interaction on a primal level. I hope it will make people more responsive to the occasional whisper and the occasional bit of poetry and the occasional walk outside for no reason without their iPhones.”


theguardian--2020-06-18--John Bolton's bad reviews don't stop him topping US book charts

John Bolton ’ s damning indictment of the Trump presidency is topping bestseller charts in the US a week before its release , despite withering reviews describing it as “ bloated with self-importance ” , as the Trump administration makes a last-ditch attempt to prevent its publication .
In the teeth of a series of critical assessments from papers including the New York Times and the Washington Post , Bolton ’ s The Room Where It Happened is currently No 1 on Amazon ’ s US charts .
Its sales are just ahead of another scathing take on Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s forthcoming Too Much and Never Enough , which is subtitled How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man .
Bolton ’ s book , which is out on 23 June , and Mary Trump ’ s , scheduled for 28 July , have knocked anti-racism titles by authors including Ibram X Kendi , Ijeoma Oluo and Robin DiAngelo off the top spots .
As the US justice department on Wednesday sought an emergency order to block publication of Bolton ’ s memoir , copies of the book were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of explosive claims from the former national security adviser .
According to Bolton , Trump pleaded with China to help him with his 2020 re-election campaign , praised China ’ s president Xi Jinping for his country ’ s internment camps , and was willing to halt criminal investigations to “ give personal favours to dictators he liked ” .
Trump also weighed in , claiming on Twitter that the book is “ made up of lies & fake stories ” .
Early reviews of the book have not been favourable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ bloated with self-importance , even though what it mostly recounts is Bolton not being able to accomplish very much ” .
Filled with “ minute and often extraneous details ” , the review continued , it “ toggles between two discordant registers : exceedingly tedious and slightly unhinged ” .
The Washington Post said that “ for a memoir that is startlingly candid about many things , Bolton ’ s utter lack of self-criticism is one of the book ’ s significant shortcomings ” , while NPR found that Bolton “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casual reader , or anyone else unable to digest sentences such as this one on the third page : ‘ Constant personnel turnover obviously didn ’ t help , nor did the White House ’ s Hobbesian bellum omnium contra omnes ( war of all against all ) ’ .
” Reviews were united in criticising Bolton ’ s refusal to testify at the Trump impeachment hearings last year .
The New York Times called his chapter on Ukraine “ weird , circuitous and generally confounding ” .
Bolton argues that “ because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , testifying would have made “ no significant difference ” .
“ It ’ s a self-righteous and self-serving sort of fatalism that sounds remarkably similar to the explanation he gave years ago for pre-emptively signing up for the National Guard in 1970 and thereby avoiding service in Vietnam , ” writes the NYT .
For NPR , “ what might have been blockbuster testimony in January or February seems more historical than contemporary today ” .
The Washington Post also considers him too late : “ Bolton took his time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have done more when it was his duty during the impeachment inquiry .
But it ’ s all here .
In boxing , you ’ d call it a knockout punch.
” Whether the blow will land is still unclear .
The emergency order from the justice department follows a civil suit filed by the Trump administration on Tuesday .
Simon & Schuster , the book ’ s publisher , called the restraining order “ a frivolous , politically motivated exercise in futility ” , adding that “ hundreds of thousands ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Happened have already been distributed .

John Bolton’s damning indictment of the Trump presidency is soaring up online charts in the US a week before its release, despite withering reviews describing it as “bloated with self-importance”, as the Trump administration makes a last-ditch attempt to prevent its publication.
In the teeth of a series of critical assessments from papers including the New York Times and the Washington Post, Bolton’s The Room Where It Happened is currently No 1 on Amazon’s US charts. Its sales are just ahead of another scathing take on Donald Trump, this time his niece Mary Trump’s forthcoming Too Much and Never Enough, which is subtitled How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man. Bolton’s book, which is out on 23 June, and Mary Trump’s, scheduled for 28 July, have knocked anti-racism titles by authors including Ibram X Kendi, Ijeoma Oluo and Robin DiAngelo off the top spots.
As the US justice department on Wednesday sought an emergency order to block publication of Bolton’s memoir, copies of the book were leaked to news outlets which revealed a series of explosive claims from the former national security adviser. According to Bolton, Trump pleaded with China to help him with his 2020 re-election campaign, praised China’s president Xi Jinping for his country’s internment camps, and was willing to halt criminal investigations to “give personal favours to dictators he liked”. Trump also weighed in, claiming on Twitter that the book is “made up of lies & fake stories”.
Early reviews of the book have not been favourable. The New York Times said the memoir was “bloated with self-importance, even though what it mostly recounts is Bolton not being able to accomplish very much”. Filled with “minute and often extraneous details”, the review continued, it “toggles between two discordant registers: exceedingly tedious and slightly unhinged”.
The Washington Post said that “for a memoir that is startlingly candid about many things, Bolton’s utter lack of self-criticism is one of the book’s significant shortcomings”, while NPR found that Bolton “clearly does not expect to attract the casual reader, or anyone else unable to digest sentences such as this one on the third page: ‘Constant personnel turnover obviously didn’t help, nor did the White House’s Hobbesian bellum omnium contra omnes (war of all against all)’.”
Reviews were united in criticising Bolton’s refusal to testify at the Trump impeachment hearings last year. The New York Times called his chapter on Ukraine “weird, circuitous and generally confounding”. Bolton argues that “because of the House’s impeachment malpractice”, testifying would have made “no significant difference”.
“It’s a self-righteous and self-serving sort of fatalism that sounds remarkably similar to the explanation he gave years ago for pre-emptively signing up for the National Guard in 1970 and thereby avoiding service in Vietnam,” writes the NYT.
For NPR, “what might have been blockbuster testimony in January or February seems more historical than contemporary today”. The Washington Post also considers him too late: “Bolton took his time in telling us the truth, and he should have done more when it was his duty during the impeachment inquiry. But it’s all here. In boxing, you’d call it a knockout punch.”
Whether the blow will land is still unclear. The emergency order from the justice department follows a civil suit filed by the Trump administration on Tuesday. Simon & Schuster, the book’s publisher, called the restraining order “a frivolous, politically motivated exercise in futility”, adding that “hundreds of thousands” of copies of The Room Where It Happened have already been distributed.


theguardian--2020-06-18--Can a black progressive upset the race to unseat Mitch McConnell?

Amy McGrath ’ s nomination was supposed to be a done deal .
In the 24 hours after she announced her candidacy last July , the former marine fighter pilot raised $ 2.5m , a record for a Democratic Senate candidate .
She had name recognition from a failed 2018 congressional bid and became more familiar soon when she was hosted on late-night comedy shows , held up as the person who could finally unseat the Senate majority leader – and liberal bete noire – Mitch McConnell .
McGrath had said some things that appeared to show an openness towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in deep-red Kentucky – where Trump won by 30 points in 2016 – who would say the only way a Democrat can win a statewide race is by being a centrist and wooing Trump voters .
She was endorsed by the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and as of the end of March she had roughly 200 times the amount of cash on hand as each of her two progressive , grassroots challengers did .
It looked like it was in the bag .
Her closest challenger , seen as a distant long shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 35-year-old African American rookie state representative from Louisville ’ s predominantly black West End who advocates for things like universal basic income , the green new deal and , now , reimagining law enforcement and cutting back police funding .
But in late May , mass protests erupted in Louisville over the police killing of Breonna Taylor here in March .
Booker began showing up at the protests , standing out in his suit in crowds that were dressed for the heat and expecting confrontations with riot cops , and even got teargassed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened with Breonna Taylor , I knew where I needed to be at , ” he told the Guardian in an interview .
“ People were grieving , mourning in the streets in real time … And my response to that was to be there with them.
” The things Booker had been speaking about – how difficult it is living in the neglected parts of the city and the state – started to resonate with a broader audience .
His popularity and name recognition have grown quickly .
Suddenly , like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US , the protests were lifting up politicians who could channel their energy , cause and passion .
“ When you have an event that ’ s all anybody can talk about and you have a candidate that seems omnipresent within that event , it can ’ t not change the dynamics of the race , ” said Matt Erwin , a Democratic strategist in the state .
Others agree .
“ I think early on I would say it was not going to be competitive , that McGrath was going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a professor of government at Eastern Kentucky University .
“ But I think now Booker is a competitive candidate to potentially win the nomination.
” There is little polling data available , but last week alone , Booker secured endorsements from Bernie Sanders , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Kentucky ’ s two biggest newspapers .
And in an eight-day span earlier this month , he raised nearly triple the amount of money was able to in the first three months of 2020 .
To Booker , the issues he talks about are personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s from the poorest part of Louisville and the state .
He ’ s a type 1 diabetic who says he ’ s had to ration insulin to put food on the table for his family .
His cousin – who was murdered in Louisville four years ago – was a good friend of Breonna Taylor , the 26-year-old ER tech whose death sparked protests here .
On 1 June , a national guard soldier shot and killed David McAtee – known as YaYa or “ the barbecue man ” – as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd that was violating curfew .
McAtee ’ s barbecue stand is just blocks from Booker ’ s home and a place he knew well .
He told the Guardian that when he was in college , a cop once pulled him over in his neighborhood for making a rolling stop and approached his vehicle with a gun out .
These days , as he drives to the state ’ s capital , he says he regularly passes young men his age lying on the ground , surrounded by police .
“ Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular part of how we ’ re treated , has definitely left a mark on me and helps me see why we need to completely reimagine public safety , ” he says of his encounters with law enforcement .
He added that institutional and structural racism need to be addressed so that members of poor communities and communities of color “ are not treated like a deadly weapon before being treated like a human being ” .
She talks about making healthcare and education cheaper , but not free .
She touts the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that she is a gun owner .
At the race ’ s sole debate , held the same day Trump delivered a speech in which he called on governors to “ dominate the streets ” and threatened to use the military to quell protests , McGrath again spoke of how she ’ d be willing to work with Trump on some issues if he was re-elected .
“ I think that ’ s what people want , ” she said .
“ Wouldn ’ t you want that in a senator ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the president when it ’ s right for Kentucky .
How much of a chance Booker has is still debated .
“ I think he has a shot , but it ’ s a really long shot , to be quite honest with you , ” said Dewey Clayton , a political science professor at the University of Louisville .
Booker has momentum , he added “ but we ’ re in June now , I don ’ t know if it ’ s going to be enough time before the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lacks as far as exposure and getting the message out there.
” On Saturday , Booker ’ s campaign released internal polling data – the only polling data made public for this race to date – that showed McGrath leading him by 10 points .
Among those who hadn ’ t yet voted , however , her lead was down to seven points .
Regardless of who wins the primary , beating McConnell in November is seen as a difficult venture .
A poll last week showed McGrath up on McConnell 41 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between McConnell and a generic Democratic candidate had the senator leading by three points .
But despite McConnell ’ s continuing unpopularity and the close poll numbers , experts remain cautious .
Clayton , the University of Louisville , professor , said he expects McConnell to win in November , adding that him being one of the most powerful men in the country “ gives a lot of Kentuckians a sense of pride , whether they agree with him or not ” .
Erwin , the Democratic strategist , was more optimistic about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any Democrat has a fighting chance against the least popular senator in America , ” he said .

Amy McGrath’s nomination was supposed to be a done deal.
In the 24 hours after she announced her candidacy last July, the former marine fighter pilot raised $2.5m, a record for a Democratic Senate candidate. She had name recognition from a failed 2018 congressional bid and became more familiar soon when she was hosted on late-night comedy shows, held up as the person who could finally unseat the Senate majority leader – and liberal bete noire – Mitch McConnell.
McGrath had said some things that appeared to show an openness towards Donald Trump, but there are those in deep-red Kentucky – where Trump won by 30 points in 2016 – who would say the only way a Democrat can win a statewide race is by being a centrist and wooing Trump voters.
She was endorsed by the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and as of the end of March she had roughly 200 times the amount of cash on hand as each of her two progressive, grassroots challengers did. It looked like it was in the bag.
Her closest challenger, seen as a distant long shot, was Charles Booker, a progressive 35-year-old African American rookie state representative from Louisville’s predominantly black West End who advocates for things like universal basic income, the green new deal and, now, reimagining law enforcement and cutting back police funding.
But in late May, mass protests erupted in Louisville over the police killing of Breonna Taylor here in March. Booker began showing up at the protests, standing out in his suit in crowds that were dressed for the heat and expecting confrontations with riot cops, and even got teargassed alongside protesters.
“When this moment happened with Breonna Taylor, I knew where I needed to be at,” he told the Guardian in an interview. “People were grieving, mourning in the streets in real time … And my response to that was to be there with them.”
Mitch McConnell, variously described as the most unpopular senator in the US and a powerful man in whom Kentuckians take pride. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP
The things Booker had been speaking about – how difficult it is living in the neglected parts of the city and the state – started to resonate with a broader audience. His popularity and name recognition have grown quickly. Suddenly, like a handful of other insurgent candidates around the US, the protests were lifting up politicians who could channel their energy, cause and passion.
“When you have an event that’s all anybody can talk about and you have a candidate that seems omnipresent within that event, it can’t not change the dynamics of the race,” said Matt Erwin, a Democratic strategist in the state.
Others agree. “I think early on I would say it was not going to be competitive, that McGrath was going to be the nominee,” said Anne Cizmar, a professor of government at Eastern Kentucky University. “But I think now Booker is a competitive candidate to potentially win the nomination.”
There is little polling data available, but last week alone, Booker secured endorsements from Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Kentucky’s two biggest newspapers. And in an eight-day span earlier this month, he raised nearly triple the amount of money he was able to in the first three months of 2020.
To Booker, the issues he talks about are personal. He’s black. He’s from the poorest part of Louisville and the state. He’s a type 1 diabetic who says he’s had to ration insulin to put food on the table for his family.
His cousin – who was murdered in Louisville four years ago – was a good friend of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old ER tech whose death sparked protests here. On 1 June, a national guard soldier shot and killed David McAtee – known as YaYa or “the barbecue man” – as troops and cops tried to clear a crowd that was violating curfew. McAtee’s barbecue stand is just blocks from Booker’s home and a place he knew well.
He told the Guardian that when he was in college, a cop once pulled him over in his neighborhood for making a rolling stop and approached his vehicle with a gun out. These days, as he drives to the state’s capital, he says he regularly passes young men his age lying on the ground, surrounded by police.
“Just seeing it, just it being a regular part of how we’re treated, has definitely left a mark on me and helps me see why we need to completely reimagine public safety,” he says of his encounters with law enforcement.
He added that institutional and structural racism need to be addressed so that members of poor communities and communities of color “are not treated like a deadly weapon before being treated like a human being”.
Amy McGrath appears on Seth Meyers’ late-night show. Photograph: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
McGrath is a sharp contrast to Booker.
She talks about making healthcare and education cheaper, but not free. She touts the fact that her husband is a Republican and that she is a gun owner. At the race’s sole debate, held the same day Trump delivered a speech in which he called on governors to “dominate the streets” and threatened to use the military to quell protests, McGrath again spoke of how she’d be willing to work with Trump on some issues if he was re-elected.
“I think that’s what people want,” she said. “Wouldn’t you want that in a senator?”
She said would also stand up to the president when it’s right for Kentucky.
How much of a chance Booker has in the 23 June contest is still debated.
“I think he has a shot, but it’s a really long shot, to be quite honest with you,” said Dewey Clayton, a political science professor at the University of Louisville. Booker has momentum, he added “but we’re in June now, I don’t know if it’s going to be enough time before the primary for him to make up what he lacks as far as exposure and getting the message out there.”
On Saturday, Booker’s campaign released internal polling data – the only polling data made public for this race to date – that showed McGrath leading him by 10 points. Among those who hadn’t yet voted, however, her lead was down to seven points.
Regardless of who wins the primary, beating McConnell in November is seen as a difficult venture.
A poll last week showed McGrath up on McConnell 41% to 40% while a May poll between McConnell and a generic Democratic candidate had the senator leading by three points.
But despite McConnell’s continuing unpopularity and the close poll numbers, experts remain cautious.
Clayton, the University of Louisville, professor, said he expects McConnell to win in November, adding that him being one of the most powerful men in the country “gives a lot of Kentuckians a sense of pride, whether they agree with him or not”.
Erwin, the Democratic strategist, was more optimistic about voting McConnell out.
“I think any Democrat has a fighting chance against the least popular senator in America,” he said.


theguardian--2020-06-18--Voice of America: independence fears after Trump ally purges senior officials

The man appointed by Donald Trump to head the US global media agency that oversees Voice of America ( VOA ) and other state-funded broadcasters has carried out a purge of career officials at the top levels of the organisation and installed Trump loyalists .
The action by Michael Pack appeared to confirm fears that Trump wanted to turn the US Agency for Global Media ( USAGM ) into a loyal state broadcaster of the kind normally found in authoritarian societies .
Pack , a conservative film-maker and ally of right-wing ideologue Stephen Bannon , fired the heads of Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , and the Open Technology Fund according to CNN , which quoted an official as calling the dismissals the “ Wednesday night massacre ” .
The head of VOA resigned after Pack won Senate confirmation .
Pack has installed Emily Newman , a former adviser to the Department of Homeland Security , as the new chief of staff , according to CNBC .
Newman issued an all-staff memo announcing the new hierarchy and telling them : “ Until further notice , no actions are to be taken , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , without explicit approval ” of the new executives .
“ As feared , Michael Pack has confirmed he is on a political mission to destroy the USAGM ’ s independence and undermine its historic role , ” Democratic Senator Robert Menendez said in a statement quoted by CNN .
“ The wholesale firing of the agency ’ s network heads , and disbanding of corporate boards to install President Trump ’ s political allies is an egregious breach of this organisation ’ s history and mission from which it may never recover.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of House foreign affairs committee , had warned of a coming purge on Tuesday night .
“ My fear is that USAGM ’ s role as an unbiased news organisation is in jeopardy under his leadership .
USAGM ’ s mission is ‘ to inform , engage , and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy ’ – not to be a mouthpiece for the president in the run-up to an election , ” Engel said in his statement .

The man appointed by Donald Trump to head the US global media agency that oversees Voice of America (VOA) and other state-funded broadcasters has carried out a purge of career officials at the top levels of the organisation and installed Trump loyalists.
The action by Michael Pack appeared to confirm fears that Trump wanted to turn the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) into a loyal state broadcaster of the kind normally found in authoritarian societies.
Pack, a conservative film-maker and ally of right-wing ideologue Stephen Bannon, fired the heads of Middle East Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the Open Technology Fund according to CNN, which quoted an official as calling the dismissals the “Wednesday night massacre”. The head of VOA resigned after Pack won Senate confirmation.
Pack has installed Emily Newman, a former adviser to the Department of Homeland Security, as the new chief of staff, according to CNBC.
Newman issued an all-staff memo announcing the new hierarchy and telling them: “Until further notice, no actions are to be taken, and no external communications are to be made, without explicit approval” of the new executives.
“As feared, Michael Pack has confirmed he is on a political mission to destroy the USAGM’s independence and undermine its historic role,” Democratic Senator Robert Menendez said in a statement quoted by CNN.
“The wholesale firing of the agency’s network heads, and disbanding of corporate boards to install President Trump’s political allies is an egregious breach of this organisation’s history and mission from which it may never recover.”
Eliot Engel, the Democratic chair of House foreign affairs committee, had warned of a coming purge on Tuesday night.
“My fear is that USAGM’s role as an unbiased news organisation is in jeopardy under his leadership. USAGM’s mission is ‘to inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy’ – not to be a mouthpiece for the president in the run-up to an election,” Engel said in his statement.