theguardian--2020-03-08--Trump 'not concerned at all' after CPAC guest tests positive for coronavirus

Donald Trump has said he isn ’ t concerned at all about the coronavirus getting closer to the White House after it was revealed that an attendee at grassroots conservative conference CPAC had tested positive .
On a day when it also emerged that the nation ’ s capital had recorded its first case , the American Conservative Union said on Saturday that a participant at CPAC , which was attended by both Trump and the US vice-president , Mike Pence , had tested positive for coronavirus .
The White House said there was no indication that either Trump or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendee .
Asked if he was concerned about the virus getting closer , Trump said : “ No , I ’ m not concerned at all .
No , I ’ m not .
We ’ ve done a great job.
” When asked whether his thousand-person campaign rallies would would continue in light of the CPAC case , the president replied : “ We ’ ll have tremendous rallies.
” Trump held his most recent campaign rally last Monday in Charlotte , North Carolina .
He waved off other questions to join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was visiting Trump at the president ’ s home in south Florida .
Saturday also marked the first case in the District of Columbia , with mayor Muriel Bowser saying testing at the public health lab of the DC Department of Forensic Sciences yielded its first presumptive positive .
The American Conservative Union put out a statement on Twitter on Saturday evening that said a CPAC attendee “ has unfortunately tested positive ” and noted that their “ exposure ” occurred before the conference .
The gathering took place in Oxon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was attended by many leading party figures as well as thousands of grassroots members , often accompanied by spouses , children and friends .
“ A New Jersey hospital tested the person and the CDC [ the federal public health agency the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ] confirmed the result .
The individual is under the care of medical professionals in New Jersey and has been quarantined , ” the statement continued .
It informed anyone with concerns to contact the ACU or the department of health of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calm .
The statement said : “ This attendee had no contact with the president or vice-president and never attended the events in the main hall.
” It noted that the Trump administration had been informed of the situation .
“ We will continue regular communication with all appropriate government officials , ” the statement continued .
The ACU chairman , Matt Schlapp , had previously tweeted a proud message about introducing the president at the CPAC event last weekend .
He then retweeted several posts from a journalist at the conservative-leaning RealClearPolitics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Larry Hogan , said the state had acted as soon as it became aware of the positive test .
“ Immediately after learning of this individual ’ s interactions in our state , we began coordinating with the White House , the CDC and federal officials , the New Jersey Department of Health , Prince George ’ s County officials , and conference organizers , ” Hogan said .
“ Due to the scale of this conference , we are urging attendees who are experiencing flu-like symptoms to immediately reach out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing this update not to unnecessarily raise alarm , but in the interest of full transparency and out of an abundance of caution.
” Also on Saturday , a marine at Virginia ’ s Fort Belvoir became the first military case of coronavirus reported inside the US .
The marine was being treated at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital , located south of Washington , and had recently returned from an overseas assignment , Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said on Twitter .

Donald Trump has said he isn’t concerned at all about the coronavirus getting closer to the White House after it was revealed that an attendee at grassroots conservative conference CPAC had tested positive.
On a day when it also emerged that the nation’s capital had recorded its first case, the American Conservative Union said on Saturday that a participant at CPAC, which was attended by both Trump and the US vice-president, Mike Pence, had tested positive for coronavirus.
The White House said there was no indication that either Trump or Pence had been close to the infected attendee.
Asked if he was concerned about the virus getting closer, Trump said: “No, I’m not concerned at all. No, I’m not. We’ve done a great job.”
When asked whether his thousand-person campaign rallies would would continue in light of the CPAC case, the president replied: “We’ll have tremendous rallies.”
Trump held his most recent campaign rally last Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina. He waved off other questions to join a dinner for the president of Brazil, who was visiting Trump at the president’s home in south Florida.
Saturday also marked the first case in the District of Columbia, with mayor Muriel Bowser saying testing at the public health lab of the DC Department of Forensic Sciences yielded its first presumptive positive.
The American Conservative Union put out a statement on Twitter on Saturday evening that said a CPAC attendee “has unfortunately tested positive” and noted that their “exposure” occurred before the conference.
The gathering took place in Oxon Hill, Maryland, in late February and was attended by many leading party figures as well as thousands of grassroots members, often accompanied by spouses, children and friends.
“A New Jersey hospital tested the person and the CDC [the federal public health agency the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] confirmed the result. The individual is under the care of medical professionals in New Jersey and has been quarantined,” the statement continued.
It informed anyone with concerns to contact the ACU or the department of health of the state of Maryland and urged people to remain calm.
The statement said: “This attendee had no contact with the president or vice-president and never attended the events in the main hall.”
It noted that the Trump administration had been informed of the situation.
Important Health Notification for CPAC 2020 participants and attendees. pic.twitter.com/NtahNO8st3 — ACU (@ACUConservative) March 7, 2020
“We will continue regular communication with all appropriate government officials,” the statement continued.
Over 19,000 people attended CPAC last year, and 2020 also had a similar crowd. — Philip Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) March 7, 2020
The ACU chairman, Matt Schlapp, had previously tweeted a proud message about introducing the president at the CPAC event last weekend.
What an honor to introduce @realDonaldTrump at #CPAC2020.
Watch all of President Trump's CPAC 2020 speech here: https://t.co/gMusCAiuAv pic.twitter.com/0cQ1mYOkAw — Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) March 6, 2020
He then retweeted several posts from a journalist at the conservative-leaning RealClearPolitics media outlet.
CPAC didn't dawdle. @mschlapp tells me he found out just a couple hours before the statement went out:
"Our statement really does speak for itself. We are just being transparent and I feel bad for my friend but it's important for our attendees to know what happened." — Philip Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) March 7, 2020
The governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, said the state had acted as soon as it became aware of the positive test.
“Immediately after learning of this individual’s interactions in our state, we began coordinating with the White House, the CDC and federal officials, the New Jersey Department of Health, Prince George’s County officials, and conference organizers,” Hogan said.
“Due to the scale of this conference, we are urging attendees who are experiencing flu-like symptoms to immediately reach out to their health care provider. We are providing this update not to unnecessarily raise alarm, but in the interest of full transparency and out of an abundance of caution.”
Also on Saturday, a marine at Virginia’s Fort Belvoir became the first military case of coronavirus reported inside the US.
The marine was being treated at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, located south of Washington, and had recently returned from an overseas assignment, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said on Twitter.


theguardian--2020-03-08--Older people who feel unsafe seek the familiar. That's why they're flocking to Biden | Robert Reich

When middle-aged and older people feel unsafe , they run to the familiar and reliable , even if it ’ s deadly dull .
Younger people who feel threatened are more likely to take risks in hopes of finding something better .
This generational difference explains a great deal about what ’ s happened during the most tumultuous two weeks in recent American economic and political history .
Since 24 February , with the lethal coronavirus spreading around the world , middle-aged and older Americans – not only most vulnerable to the disease but also accounting for most retirement savings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relative safety of US government bonds .
The stampede has gutted the stock market while reducing bond yields , which move in the opposite direction of bond prices , to unprecedented lows .
The interest rates on the 10-year Treasury note fell Friday to a record-breaking 0.71 % .
Despite the Fed ’ s half-per cent cut in interest rates last Tuesday and the labor department ’ s upbeat jobs report on Friday , the flight to safety continues .
Bonds are deadly dull , but when the economy is wracked by uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The rush to safety didn ’ t end there .
In last week ’ s Super Tuesday primaries in the 2020 election , older Democratic voters stampeded toward Joe Biden .
As recently as 22 February – the Friday before the giant selloff on Wall Street – only 17.2 % of Democratic voters supported Biden , according to the RealClearPolitics aggregate polls .
Less than two weeks later , Biden ’ s support had surged to 34.3 % .
Biden was helped by his strong showing in the South Carolina primary and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Bend , Indiana , mayor Pete Buttigieg and the Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar .
And by fear-mongering over Bernie Sanders by Democratic insiders , big funders and pundits .
But the rapidity of Biden ’ s ascendance was fueled by a sudden flight to safety among older voters .
Biden is the political equivalent of US government bonds .
He may be boring but at least he ’ s familiar and safe .
Younger voters are still counting on Bernie Sanders .
They ’ re looking beyond the immediate coronavirus and financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this century – climate change , health care , inequality and corruption .
Their time horizons extend beyond those of their parents and grandparents because they ’ ll be here longer .
The generation gap revealed itself on Super Tuesday .
Voters between 45 and 64 preferred Biden by 22 points over Sanders ( 42 % to 20 % ) .
But Sanders triumphed with younger voters .
In Texas , Biden won the support of just 17 % of voters under the age of 45 , while Sanders won only 19 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden won a mere 8 % of the under-45s , while Sanders pulled down just 20 % support among their elders .
In California , Biden ’ s support among sub-45 voters came to a bare 9 % ; Sanders won only 22 % of those over 45 .
Meanwhile , as the coronavirus and its financial fallout continue to spread , Donald Trump appears even more dangerous than he did just weeks ago .
The deceptive , narcissistic , vindictive president is helping transform a public health problem and financial slide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , while wearing his own re-election campaign merchandise , Trump gave a disjointed news conference during which he called Jay Inslee , the Washington state governor who has criticized Trump ’ s leadership on the coronavirus , a “ snake ” .
He also claimed the coronavirus test was available to all who needed it , but anyone who has tried to be tested knows that ’ s untrue .
As of now , no more than several thousand people can be tested per day .
Trump is facing crises that elude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t bully the coronavirus .
He can ’ t intimidate or threaten it into submission .
He can ’ t convince it to go away or make a deal with it .
Nor can he order the stock and bond markets to do better .
The coronavirus is in plain sight .
Hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed .
As of Saturday afternoon , authorities had reported 400 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States , and 19 people have died .
The germ phobic president may even be worried for his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday because of a suspected case of coronavirus at the CDC .
itself , and then put it back on his schedule when the person tested negative .
But at some point not even Mar-a-Lago will be completely safe .
Most of Trump ’ s supporters are middle-aged and older , with little or no savings to tide them over a recession .
If the double-barreled crisis deepens , they too are likely to flee to safety next November .
Politics and economics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis they follow simple rules .
Older people want safety .
Younger people want change .
Everyone wants leaders they can trust .

When middle-aged and older people feel unsafe, they run to the familiar and reliable, even if it’s deadly dull. Younger people who feel threatened are more likely to take risks in hopes of finding something better.
This generational difference explains a great deal about what’s happened during the most tumultuous two weeks in recent American economic and political history.
Since 24 February, with the lethal coronavirus spreading around the world, middle-aged and older Americans – not only most vulnerable to the disease but also accounting for most retirement savings – have been fleeing stocks for the relative safety of US government bonds.
The stampede has gutted the stock market while reducing bond yields, which move in the opposite direction of bond prices, to unprecedented lows. The interest rates on the 10-year Treasury note fell Friday to a record-breaking 0.71%.
Despite the Fed’s half-per cent cut in interest rates last Tuesday and the labor department’s upbeat jobs report on Friday, the flight to safety continues.
Bonds are deadly dull, but when the economy is wracked by uncertainty they’re the safest havens available.
The rush to safety didn’t end there. In last week’s Super Tuesday primaries in the 2020 election, older Democratic voters stampeded toward Joe Biden.
As recently as 22 February – the Friday before the giant selloff on Wall Street – only 17.2% of Democratic voters supported Biden, according to the RealClearPolitics aggregate polls. Less than two weeks later, Biden’s support had surged to 34.3%.
Biden was helped by his strong showing in the South Carolina primary and by the last-minute endorsements of the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and the Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. And by fear-mongering over Bernie Sanders by Democratic insiders, big funders and pundits.
But the rapidity of Biden’s ascendance was fueled by a sudden flight to safety among older voters.
Biden is the political equivalent of US government bonds. He may be boring but at least he’s familiar and safe.
Younger voters are still counting on Bernie Sanders. They’re looking beyond the immediate coronavirus and financial crises to the larger existential crises of this century – climate change, health care, inequality and corruption. Their time horizons extend beyond those of their parents and grandparents because they’ll be here longer.
The generation gap revealed itself on Super Tuesday. Voters between 45 and 64 preferred Biden by 22 points over Sanders (42% to 20%).
But Sanders triumphed with younger voters. In Texas, Biden won the support of just 17% of voters under the age of 45, while Sanders won only 19% of voters over 45. In Colorado, Biden won a mere 8% of the under-45s, while Sanders pulled down just 20% support among their elders. In California, Biden’s support among sub-45 voters came to a bare 9%; Sanders won only 22% of those over 45.
Meanwhile, as the coronavirus and its financial fallout continue to spread, Donald Trump appears even more dangerous than he did just weeks ago. The deceptive, narcissistic, vindictive president is helping transform a public health problem and financial slide into a double-barreled national emergency.
On Friday, while wearing his own re-election campaign merchandise, Trump gave a disjointed news conference during which he called Jay Inslee, the Washington state governor who has criticized Trump’s leadership on the coronavirus, a “snake”.
He also claimed the coronavirus test was available to all who needed it, but anyone who has tried to be tested knows that’s untrue. As of now, no more than several thousand people can be tested per day.
‘The coronavirus is in plain sight. As of Saturday afternoon, authorities had reported 400 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States, and 19 people have died.’ Photograph: Raúl Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images
Trump is facing crises that elude his capacities to con. He can’t bully the coronavirus. He can’t intimidate or threaten it into submission. He can’t convince it to go away or make a deal with it. Nor can he order the stock and bond markets to do better.
The coronavirus is in plain sight. Hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed. As of Saturday afternoon, authorities had reported 400 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States, and 19 people have died.
The germ phobic president may even be worried for his own safety. He called off a scheduled visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday because of a suspected case of coronavirus at the CDC. itself, and then put it back on his schedule when the person tested negative. But at some point not even Mar-a-Lago will be completely safe.
Most of Trump’s supporters are middle-aged and older, with little or no savings to tide them over a recession. If the double-barreled crisis deepens, they too are likely to flee to safety next November.
Politics and economics are complex, but in times of crisis they follow simple rules. Older people want safety. Younger people want change. Everyone wants leaders they can trust.


theguardian--2020-03-08--Elizabeth Warren was the ideal candidate, but there was only one problem… she was a woman | Erin Tem

Elizabeth Warren was the ideal candidate, but there was only one problem… she was a woman | Erin Templeton

In the wake of the 2018 “ blue wave ” , when the party secured impressive midterms , the Democrats were poised to field one of the most diverse pool of presidential candidates in US history : people of colour , women , an openly gay man , most of them under the age of 55 .
And now , in the wake of Super Tuesday , there remain two contenders for the Democratic nomination , both of them white men over the age of 75 ; neither of them , in my opinion , the most qualified or best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Senator Elizabeth Warren , suspended her campaign on Thursday .
An ardent Warren supporter , I was devastated by this news .
Her campaign inspired me and reawakened the hope that three years of a Trump administration had all but extinguished .
Warren is an intellectual and an academic .
She thinks deeply about issues and considers them from multiple perspectives .
More importantly , she recognised her limitations and was receptive to other points of view .
And , most essential , she knew when to dig in and when to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of head and heart that is so elusive and so essential in a leader , especially the leader of a country as diverse as the United States .
In 2016 , I was shattered and yet somehow not surprised that the US failed to elect its first female president .
I recognised the vitriol and misogyny spewed at Hillary Clinton as well as the more subtle institutional sexism directed at her .
I heard the rationalisations insisting that it wasn ’ t the idea of A Woman President , it was the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of national service , who was running against a reality-television star with little relevant experience and a lengthy history of bankruptcies , controversy and scandal .
Yet , despite her qualifications , Clinton was a polarising figure .
What would happen if we took those voters at their word and found another woman , one who was less controversial than Clinton and who had even more experience ?
Surely , that would work .
Wouldn ’ t it ?
Warren seemed to be the ideal candidate : she was not only smart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualified .
In short , she was the candidate most likely to affect the change needed to reverse the incredible harm the past four years have witnessed .
Yet , last week , Democrats in my home state of South Carolina , and those in Georgia , North Carolina , Texas , Oklahoma , California , Massachusetts and many , many other states answered the question of whether this woman would be worthy of their support with a resounding no .
Instead of voting for a woman who was both accomplished and compassionate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideals of one of her rivals with an ability to foster connection and collaboration , they starkly split their ballots between two familiar faces – both themselves polarising and controversial , both white men .
There are a lot of voters who will continue to insist that gender had nothing to do with their choice .
But the rhetoric of the past few weeks tells a different story .
Again and again , people have said that Warren was their preferred candidate but that they didn ’ t vote for her because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win either the nomination or in the general election .
Everyone agrees that defeating Donald Trump is the most important thing , that we all need to get together on the same side , whichever side that turns out to be , # BlueNoMatterWho , etc .
However , instead of casting a ballot for the candidate they prefer , instead of voting for the candidate they want to see carry the nomination , they choose the candidate who they think is most electable .
But if 2016 has taught us anything , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if we think we know who is most likely to be elected , we really have no idea ?
I am proud to have voted for Elizabeth Warren , and I ’ m disappointed , yet again , to see a smart , well-qualified woman cast aside to make way for yet more white men .
My heart hurts to see that our country fails to recognise that there ’ s a better alternative to the dogmatism and indignation of one candidate or the comfortable status quo of the other .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejected a candidate who is willing to admit mistakes and be accountable for them in favour of more finger-pointing and redirection .
Despite my sadness , I ’ m also left with a powerful sense of gratitude .
Thank you , Senator Warren , for being such a positive example of grit , integrity and grace .
Thank you for standing up for your principles and not backing down from a fight .
Thank you for standing for the dignity of all Americans , for working towards inclusivity and opportunity .
Thank you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persistence .
• Erin Templeton is Dean of Humanities , Sciences , & Business at Converse College , South Carolina

In the wake of the 2018 “blue wave”, when the party secured impressive midterms, the Democrats were poised to field one of the most diverse pool of presidential candidates in US history: people of colour, women, an openly gay man, most of them under the age of 55.
And now, in the wake of Super Tuesday, there remain two contenders for the Democratic nomination, both of them white men over the age of 75; neither of them, in my opinion, the most qualified or best candidate for the position. That candidate, Senator Elizabeth Warren, suspended her campaign on Thursday.
An ardent Warren supporter, I was devastated by this news. Her campaign inspired me and reawakened the hope that three years of a Trump administration had all but extinguished. Warren is an intellectual and an academic. She thinks deeply about issues and considers them from multiple perspectives.
More importantly, she recognised her limitations and was receptive to other points of view. And, most essential, she knew when to dig in and when to reverse course. She embodied the balance of head and heart that is so elusive and so essential in a leader, especially the leader of a country as diverse as the United States.
In 2016, I was shattered and yet somehow not surprised that the US failed to elect its first female president. I recognised the vitriol and misogyny spewed at Hillary Clinton as well as the more subtle institutional sexism directed at her. I heard the rationalisations insisting that it wasn’t the idea of A Woman President, it was the idea of this woman with a lengthy record of national service, who was running against a reality-television star with little relevant experience and a lengthy history of bankruptcies, controversy and scandal.
Yet, despite her qualifications, Clinton was a polarising figure. What would happen if we took those voters at their word and found another woman, one who was less controversial than Clinton and who had even more experience? Surely, that would work. Wouldn’t it?
Warren seemed to be the ideal candidate: she was not only smart, articulate and unafraid, she was highly qualified. In short, she was the candidate most likely to affect the change needed to reverse the incredible harm the past four years have witnessed.
If 2016 taught us anything, isn’t it that even if we think we know who is most likely to be elected, we have no idea?
Yet, last week, Democrats in my home state of South Carolina, and those in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, California, Massachusetts and many, many other states answered the question of whether this woman would be worthy of their support with a resounding no.
Instead of voting for a woman who was both accomplished and compassionate, a candidate who combined the progressive ideals of one of her rivals with an ability to foster connection and collaboration, they starkly split their ballots between two familiar faces – both themselves polarising and controversial, both white men. There are a lot of voters who will continue to insist that gender had nothing to do with their choice. But the rhetoric of the past few weeks tells a different story. Again and again, people have said that Warren was their preferred candidate but that they didn’t vote for her because they didn’t think she’d win either the nomination or in the general election.
Everyone agrees that defeating Donald Trump is the most important thing, that we all need to get together on the same side, whichever side that turns out to be, #BlueNoMatterWho, etc. However, instead of casting a ballot for the candidate they prefer, instead of voting for the candidate they want to see carry the nomination, they choose the candidate who they think is most electable. But if 2016 has taught us anything, hasn’t it taught us that even if we think we know who is most likely to be elected, we really have no idea?
I am proud to have voted for Elizabeth Warren, and I’m disappointed, yet again, to see a smart, well-qualified woman cast aside to make way for yet more white men. My heart hurts to see that our country fails to recognise that there’s a better alternative to the dogmatism and indignation of one candidate or the comfortable status quo of the other. I’m profoundly saddened that we have rejected a candidate who is willing to admit mistakes and be accountable for them in favour of more finger-pointing and redirection.
Despite my sadness, I’m also left with a powerful sense of gratitude. Thank you, Senator Warren, for being such a positive example of grit, integrity and grace. Thank you for standing up for your principles and not backing down from a fight. Thank you for standing for the dignity of all Americans, for working towards inclusivity and opportunity. Thank you, most of all, for your persistence.


theguardian--2020-03-08--Bernie Sanders asks Elizabeth Warren and her supporters for backing

Bernie Sanders made a pitch for the backing of Senator Elizabeth Warren and her supporters on Sunday in an attempt to reverse his rival Joe Biden ’ s surging momentum towards the Democratic party ’ s presidential nomination .
In a series of appearances on political talk shows two days before crucial primary votes in Michigan , Missouri and four other key states , Sanders highlighted the alignment of his progressive policies on a range of issues to those of the liberal Massachusetts senator , who dropped out of the race on Thursday and who has yet to announce an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same day as another former rival , the California senator Kamala Harris , announced that she was backing Biden to win the nomination and beat Donald Trump in November , adding to other candidates who have dropped from the race and swung their support to the former vice-president , including Amy Klobuchar , Pete Buttigieg and Mike Bloomberg .
“ We would love to have Senator Warren ’ s support , we would love to have the millions of people who supported Senator Warren , ” Sanders said on CNN ’ s State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talked about a wealth tax , something I think is enormously important .
We also have a wealth tax , nuanced different from hers but the same principle at a time of massive income and wealth inequality .
“ We ’ ve reached out , we ’ re looking and asking for the support of Senator Warren ’ s supporters , and hope they come on board.
” The Vermont senator , 78 , also picked up one notable endorsement on Sunday , that of Jesse Jackson , the veteran civil rights leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsuccessful 1988 run at the Democratic presidential nomination .
“ A people far behind can not catch up choosing the most moderate path , ” Jackson said in a statement .
“ The most progressive social and economic path gives us the best chance to catch up and Bernie Sanders represents the most progressive path.
” Sanders , who raced to an early lead in the Democratic nomination process with successes in Nevada and New Hampshire , but fell behind last week in Biden ’ s extraordinary Super Tuesday comeback , can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when primary voters in the delegate-rich midwestern states of Michigan and Missouri , plus Idaho , Mississippi , North Dakota and Washington go to the polls .
On NBC ’ s Meet the Press on Sunday , Sanders addressed concerns expressed by Warren two days ago over “ online bullying and organized nastiness ” by his supporters , but did not directly answer if he thought Warren was holding back her support because of it .
“ I am concerned about the kind of ugliness that exists on the internet and the Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ugly , ” he said .
“ And I will not deny for a second that we have some people who claim to be supporters , although I have a hard time understanding why they think they can support me and make vicious personal attacks against people .
That ’ s not what our campaign is about.
” Asked by host Chuck Todd if he thought he could win the nomination without Warren ’ s support , Sanders replied : “ Of course we can .
We can win this because we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people all over this country.
” Sanders had two rallies planned on Sunday in Michigan , the rust belt state he won narrowly from Hillary Clinton in a 2016 Democratic primary upset , but in which he trails Biden by almost nine points in FiveThirtyEight ’ s latest polling .
With an eye to securing the support of working class voters , Sanders attacked Biden ’ s policies and voting record on trade .
“ In Michigan the people here have been devastated , in Flint , in Detroit , by these disastrous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said on CNN , referring to the North Atlantic free trade agreement and deals with China , which he said cost millions of American jobs .
He also criticized Biden for supporting the Wall Street bailout , and said the vice-president had overplayed his role in the Obama-era $ 80bn rescue package for the struggling American auto industry that kept production plants open in Michigan and elsewhere .
“ Well the auto bailout was done by the Obama administration and it was a step forward , but I sometimes think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiatives that were led by President Obama and by many members of Congress , ” he said .
“ If Joe is the candidate believe me Trump will and has already talked about Joe ’ s record on trade .
We have a voting record that speaks to the needs of working families .
If you ’ re going into the industrial base of the United States of America , the heartland of America , and you voted for agreements that have devastated communities like Flint and Detroit it ’ s hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made trade such an important part of his agenda.
” Sanders did , however , pledge his support to Biden if he won the nomination .
“ We ’ ve got to do everything possible to defeat Trump .
I ’ ll support Joe if he wins , he ’ ll support me if I win , ” he said .
Biden , 77 , was planning to appear at rallies in Grand Rapids and Detroit on Monday to help secure the majority of the Michigan ’ s 125 delegates to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine the nominee .
Nationally , he leads Sanders 664-573 in delegates pledged so far , with 1,991 needed to win outright .
The two will go head to head on 15 March in Arizona in their first televised debate since Warren ’ s withdrawal made it a two-person race .

Bernie Sanders made a pitch for the backing of Elizabeth Warren and her supporters on Sunday in an attempt to reverse his rival Joe Biden’s surging momentum towards the Democratic party’s presidential nomination.
In a series of appearances on political talk shows two days before crucial primary votes in Michigan, Missouri and four other key states, Sanders highlighted the alignment of his progressive policies on a range of issues to those of the liberal Massachusetts senator, who dropped out of the race on Thursday and who has yet to announce an endorsement.
His move came on the same day as another former rival, the California senator Kamala Harris, announced that she was backing Biden to win the nomination and beat Donald Trump in November, adding to other candidates who have dropped from the race and swung their support to the former vice-president, including Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and Mike Bloomberg.
“We would love to have Senator Warren’s support, we would love to have the millions of people who supported Senator Warren,” Sanders said on CNN’s State of the Union.
“Senator Warren talked about a wealth tax, something I think is enormously important. We also have a wealth tax, nuanced different from hers but the same principle at a time of massive income and wealth inequality.
“We’ve reached out, we’re looking and asking for the support of Senator Warren’s supporters, and hope they come onboard.”
The Vermont senator, 78, also picked up one notable endorsement on Sunday, that of Jesse Jackson, the veteran civil rights leader who won the Michigan caucuses in his unsuccessful 1988 run at the Democratic presidential nomination.
“A people far behind cannot catch up choosing the most moderate path,” Jackson said in a statement. “The most progressive social and economic path gives us the best chance to catch up and Bernie Sanders represents the most progressive path.”
Sanders, who raced to an early lead in the Democratic nomination process with successes in Nevada and New Hampshire, but fell behind last week in Biden’s extraordinary Super Tuesday comeback, cannot afford to lose more ground this Tuesday when primary voters in the delegate-rich midwestern states of Michigan and Missouri, plus Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota and Washington go to the polls.
On NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Sanders addressed concerns expressed by Warren two days ago over “online bullying and organized nastiness” by his supporters, but did not directly answer if he thought Warren was holding back her support because of it.
“I am concerned about the kind of ugliness that exists on the internet and the Twitter world in general, it is very ugly,” he said.
“And I will not deny for a second that we have some people who claim to be supporters, although I have a hard time understanding why they think they can support me and make vicious personal attacks against people. That’s not what our campaign is about.”
Asked by host Chuck Todd if he thought he could win the nomination without Warren’s support, Sanders replied: “Of course we can. We can win this because we are going to win the support of working people all over this country.”
Sanders had two rallies planned on Sunday in Michigan, the rust belt state he won narrowly from Hillary Clinton in a 2016 Democratic primary upset, but in which he trails Biden by almost nine points in FiveThirtyEight’s latest polling.
With an eye to securing the support of working class voters, Sanders attacked Biden’s policies and voting record on trade. “In Michigan the people here have been devastated, in Flint, in Detroit, by these disastrous trade agreements that Joe Biden voted for,” he said on CNN, referring to the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement and deals with China, which he said cost millions of American jobs.
He also criticized Biden for supporting the Wall Street bailout, and said the vice-president had overplayed his role in the Obama-era $80bn rescue package for the struggling American auto industry that kept production plants open in Michigan and elsewhere.
“Well the auto bailout was done by the Obama administration and it was a step forward, but I sometimes think Joe is taking credit as vice-president for initiatives that were led by President Obama and by many members of Congress,” he said.
“If Joe is the candidate, believe me, Trump will and has already talked about Joe’s record on trade. We have a voting record that speaks to the needs of working families. If you’re going into the industrial base of the United States of America, the heartland of America, and you voted for agreements that have devastated communities like Flint and Detroit it’s hard to make [a] case when Trump has made trade such an important part of his agenda.”
Sanders did, however, pledge his support to Biden if he won the nomination. “We’ve got to do everything possible to defeat Trump. I’ll support Joe if he wins, he’ll support me if I win,” he said.
Biden, 77, was planning to appear at rallies in Grand Rapids and Detroit on Monday to help secure the majority of the Michigan’s 125 delegates to the Democratic national convention in July that will determine the nominee. Nationally, he leads Sanders 664-573 in delegates pledged so far, with 1,991 needed to win outright.
The two will go head to head on 15 March in Arizona in their first televised debate since Warren’s withdrawal made it a two-person race.


theguardian--2020-03-08--Kamala Harris endorses Joe Biden for president ahead of key contests

Joe Biden ’ s campaign for the White House received another significant lift on Sunday when Democratic senator Kamala Harris , until recently one of the former vice-president ’ s main rivals for the party ’ s presidential nomination , announced her endorsement .
In a short video statement released on Twitter , Harris promised she would “ do everything in my power ” to ensure Biden beats off a challenge from Vermont senator Bernie Sanders for the nomination and goes on to be elected president in November .
“ I am with great enthusiasm going to endorse Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the California senator said .
“ I believe in Joe .
I really believe in him and I have known him for a long time .
“ One of the things we need most now is a leader who really does care about the people and who can therefore unify the people.
” Biden , she said , was a public servant who had “ always worked for the best of who we are as a nation , and we need that right now.
” Harris ’ s support means that Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was restored by a remarkable Super Tuesday turnaround , goes into Tuesday ’ s primary contests in a number of crucial midwest and western states , including Michigan and Missouri , with the backing of almost all of the key figures previously running against him .
Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , and Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar dropped out last weekend and threw Biden their endorsements just before 14 states went to the polls on Super Tuesday .
Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg , the former mayor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday and withdrew on Wednesday after spending $ 500m on his campaign .
He immediately offered his backing and resources to the Biden operation .
Meanwhile Elizabeth Warren , the liberal Massachusetts senator who dropped out on Thursday , has yet to announce an endorsement , with Sanders hoping she will swing her supporters to him .
The Vermont senator , 78 , also picked up one notable endorsement on Sunday , that of Jesse Jackson , the veteran civil rights leader who won the Michigan caucuses in his unsuccessful 1988 run at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people far behind can not catch up choosing the most moderate path , ” Jackson said in a statement .
“ The most progressive social and economic path gives us the best chance to catch up and Bernie Sanders represents the most progressive path.
” Harris , once seen as a likely frontrunner , ended her own campaign in December after struggling for months to overcome low opinion poll numbers .
In a tweeted announcement to supporters she said running for president had been the “ honor of my life ” and promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Harris has previously been severely critical of Biden , notably during a contentious debate in July last year when she attacked his record on race relations .
Biden , she claimed , worked with segregationist leaders in southern states during the civil rights era and supported “ busing ” of school children to achieve racial integration , claims Biden strenuously denied .
Biden , after his extraordinary Super Tuesday turnaround , holds a narrow advantage over Sanders in the chase for Democratic delegates who will decide the nomination at the party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The former Delaware senator and Barack Obama ’ s vice-president for eight years , has so far secured 664 of the 1,991 state delegates he needs , with Sanders – who raced out to an early lead after victories in Nevada and New Hampshire , has 573 .
On Tuesday a further 352 delegates are at stake in primary votes in Idaho , Michigan , Mississippi , Missouri , North Dakota and Washington .

Joe Biden’s campaign for the White House received another significant lift on Sunday when Democratic senator Kamala Harris, until recently one of the former vice-president’s main rivals for the party’s presidential nomination, announced her endorsement.
In a short video statement released on Twitter, Harris promised she would “do everything in my power” to ensure Biden beats off a challenge from Vermont senator Bernie Sanders for the nomination and goes on to be elected president in November.
“I am with great enthusiasm going to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States,” the California senator said. “I believe in Joe. I really believe in him and I have known him for a long time.
.@JoeBiden has served our country with dignity and we need him now more than ever. I will do everything in my power to help elect him the next President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/DbB2fGWpaa — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 8, 2020
“One of the things we need most now is a leader who really does care about the people and who can therefore unify the people.”
Biden, she said, was a public servant who had “always worked for the best of who we are as a nation, and we need that right now.”
Harris’s support means that Biden, whose faltering campaign for the nomination was restored by a remarkable Super Tuesday turnaround, goes into Tuesday’s primary contests in a number of crucial midwest and western states, including Michigan and Missouri, with the backing of almost all of the key figures previously running against him.
Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar dropped out last weekend and threw Biden their endorsements just before 14 states went to the polls on Super Tuesday.
Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, suffered a disappointing Super Tuesday and withdrew on Wednesday after spending $500m on his campaign. He immediately offered his backing and resources to the Biden operation.
Meanwhile Elizabeth Warren, the liberal Massachusetts senator who dropped out on Thursday, has yet to announce an endorsement, with Sanders hoping she will swing her supporters to him.
The Vermont senator, 78, also picked up one notable endorsement on Sunday, that of Jesse Jackson, the veteran civil rights leader who won the Michigan caucuses in his unsuccessful 1988 run at the Democratic presidential nomination.
“A people far behind cannot catch up choosing the most moderate path,” Jackson said in a statement. “The most progressive social and economic path gives us the best chance to catch up and Bernie Sanders represents the most progressive path.”
Harris, once seen as a likely frontrunner, ended her own campaign in December after struggling for months to overcome low opinion poll numbers. In a tweeted announcement to supporters she said running for president had been the “honor of my life” and promised to “keep up the fight”.
Harris has previously been severely critical of Biden, notably during a contentious debate in July last year when she attacked his record on race relations. Biden, she claimed, worked with segregationist leaders in southern states during the civil rights era and opposed “busing” of school children to achieve racial integration, claims Biden strenuously denied.
Biden, after his extraordinary Super Tuesday turnaround, holds a narrow advantage over Sanders in the chase for Democratic delegates who will decide the nomination at the party’s convention in Milwaukee in July.
The former Delaware senator and Barack Obama’s vice-president for eight years, has so far secured 664 of the 1,991 state delegates he needs, with Sanders – who raced out to an early lead after victories in Nevada and New Hampshire, has 573.
On Tuesday a further 352 delegates are at stake in primary votes in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington.


theguardian--2020-03-09--If Jeff Bezos really wants to fight the climate crisis, he should just pay his taxes | Guy T Saperst

If Jeff Bezos really wants to fight the climate crisis, he should just pay his taxes | Guy T Saperstein

In the wake of the devastating Australian bushfires , Jeff Bezos announced last month that he will donate $ 10bn to fight the climate crisis .
As a resident of California and the former president of The Sierra Club Foundation , I welcome any contribution toward the struggle against our changing climate .
That said , my home state , like all communities with Amazon facilities , would be far better off if Bezos simply paid his taxes .
If Amazon ’ s properties in California were taxed at their current value , the added tax could help bolster our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access roads .
Contributing vast sums to the global effort is wonderful , but climate change is a local issue too .
Our communities need to be well-funded if we ’ re going to face this threat head-on .
How California fights climate disruption will be a model for states and local governments nationwide , and if this effort fails in California , I worry what others will be able to accomplish .
With a rapidly changing climate and underfunded emergency response systems , California residents could soon face another situation like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formerly annual fire season has become a year-round phenomenon ; the fires are now larger , hotter and burn longer than ever before .
To combat the growing destructive power of these fires , we need a robust and well-equipped emergency response system .
That requires raising more revenue .
The commercial loophole in Proposition 13 , which allows many corporations in California to avoid paying significant amounts of property taxes , unintentionally depleted the funding our communities now desperately need .
As a result , our emergency response systems have suffered .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of unfulfilled requests for resources and equipment has grown over the past few years despite those resources being needed more urgently than ever .
Worse , the Trump administration has promised to cut millions of dollars from the US Forest Service ’ s firefighting services , with additional cuts to funding for local volunteer firefighting departments .
As a result of these shortfalls , firefighters across the state have been forced to appeal to voters to raise taxes to secure consistent funding .
That ’ s a shame .
Our public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beg for the funding that they need to operate in the largest and most prosperous state in the country .
However , there is a simple solution to this issue .
Schools and Communities First is a ballot measure for the upcoming 2020 election that seeks to level the playing field by taxing commercial and industrial properties at a fair market value , rather than the decreased value they now use as a result of longstanding loopholes in the state tax code .
It is estimated to reclaim $ 12bn every year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward local governments , including local fire districts .
Since the initiative has a clause to exclude small businesses , we can be sure that funding for our neglected public services will come only from wealthy businesses who are currently avoiding paying their fair share .
Under the current tax loophole , large industries that have held their land for a long period receive an unfair advantage because their property is undertaxed compared to its current day value .
For example , according to an analysis by the Proposition 13 campaign , Chevron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their Kern county holdings .
In Chevron ’ s case , that same property leaked over 82m gallons of crude oil intermittently since 2003 ; the company recently sealed up a disastrous 800,000-gallon leak .
It makes no sense for us to continue to supply reckless corporations like Chevron with financial incentives for their dirty practices while our firefighters receive pennies .
That $ 100m could be going toward struggling local fire departments , not to mention fixing dilapidated roads and cracked sidewalks and reducing overcrowded classrooms .
This tax loophole robs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money from our localities and giving it to wealthy corporations in the form of a tax break .
This coming election I urge all Californians to support the Schools and Communities First Act .
For that matter , I urge all voters in all states to consider measures that will aid the fight against climate change .
All Americans deserve the comfort of knowing that our emergency services are adequately funded to deal with every possible climate disaster .
This future is possible when wealthy corporations like Amazon pay their fair share by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not receiving tax incentives to continue their avaricious practices at the expense of local services .
• None Guy T Saperstein is a retired attorney who founded the largest private plaintiff civil rights law firm in America , the former President of the Sierra Club , and a member of the Patriotic Millionaires

In the wake of the devastating Australian bushfires, Jeff Bezos announced last month that he will donate $10bn to fight the climate crisis. As a resident of California and the former president of the Sierra Club Foundation, I welcome any contribution toward the struggle against our changing climate. That said, my home state, like all communities with Amazon facilities, would be far better off if Bezos simply paid his taxes.
If Amazon’s properties in California were taxed at their current value, the added tax could help bolster our underfunded firefighters and fix our crumbling fire access roads. Contributing vast sums to the global effort is wonderful, but climate change is a local issue too. Our communities need to be well-funded if we’re going to face this threat head-on.
How California fights climate disruption will be a model for states and local governments nationwide, and if this effort fails in California, I worry what others will be able to accomplish.
With a rapidly changing climate and underfunded emergency response systems, California residents could soon face another situation like the devastating 2018 wildfires. California’s formerly annual fire season has become a year-round phenomenon; the fires are now larger, hotter and burn longer than ever before. To combat the growing destructive power of these fires, we need a robust and well-equipped emergency response system. That requires raising more revenue.
The commercial loophole in Proposition 13, which allows many corporations in California to avoid paying significant amounts of property taxes, unintentionally depleted the funding our communities now desperately need. As a result, our emergency response systems have suffered. According to the California Professional Firefighters, the number of unfulfilled requests for resources and equipment has grown over the past few years despite those resources being needed more urgently than ever. Worse, the Trump administration has promised to cut millions of dollars from the US Forest Service’s firefighting services, with additional cuts to funding for local volunteer firefighting departments.
As a result of these shortfalls, firefighters across the state have been forced to appeal to voters to raise taxes to secure consistent funding. That’s a shame. Our public emergency services shouldn’t have to beg for the funding that they need to operate in the largest and most prosperous state in the country.
However, there is a simple solution to this issue.
Schools and Communities First is a ballot measure for the upcoming 2020 election that seeks to level the playing field by taxing commercial and industrial properties at a fair market value, rather than the decreased value they now use as a result of longstanding loopholes in the state tax code. It is estimated to reclaim $12bn every year, with 60% of that total going toward local governments, including local fire districts. Since the initiative has a clause to exclude small businesses, we can be sure that funding for our neglected public services will come only from wealthy businesses who are currently avoiding paying their fair share.
Under the current tax loophole, large industries that have held their land for a long period receive an unfair advantage because their property is undertaxed compared to its current day value. For example, according to an analysis by the Proposition 13 campaign, Chevron underpays up to $100m every year on their Kern county holdings. In Chevron’s case, that same property leaked over 82m gallons of crude oil intermittently since 2003; the company recently sealed up a disastrous 800,000-gallon leak. It makes no sense for us to continue to supply reckless corporations like Chevron with financial incentives for their dirty practices while our firefighters receive pennies.
That $100m could be going toward struggling local fire departments, not to mention fixing dilapidated roads and cracked sidewalks and reducing overcrowded classrooms. This tax loophole robs Californians of well-funded community services by taking money from our localities and giving it to wealthy corporations in the form of a tax break.
This coming election I urge all Californians to support the Schools and Communities First Act. For that matter, I urge all voters in all states to consider measures that will aid the fight against climate change. All Americans deserve the comfort of knowing that our emergency services are adequately funded to deal with every possible climate disaster.
This future is possible when wealthy corporations like Amazon pay their fair share by reinvesting in the communities that support them, not receiving tax incentives to continue their avaricious practices at the expense of local services.


theguardian--2020-03-09--Our social crisis is no longer just about inequality, it’s about life and death | John Harris

On the face of it , it is a familiar enough story .
“ By its end , much of the optimism of the 20th century had faded .
Towns and cities … that used to produce steel , glass , furniture or shoes , and that are fondly remembered by people in their 70s as having been great places to grow up , had been gutted , their factories closed and shops boarded up.
” The words are taken from a remarkable new book by the academics Anne Case and Angus Deaton .
On the face of it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cliched accounts of what sits behind the growth of populism .
But rather than framing the condition we now know as “ left behind ” as a matter of political preferences , the cheerily titled Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism sees it in terms of stark matters such as illness , addiction and rising mortality rates among white Americans aged between 45 and 54 , which the book links to “ suicides , drug overdoses and alcoholic liver disease ” .
Between 2014 and 2017 , these factors contributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectancy since records began in 1933 .
Obviously , this is not to deny the existence of deeper and more long-term inequalities .
As the authors plainly put it : “ Whites without a college degree are not the poorest group in the US ; they are much less likely to be poor than African Americans.
” It remains the case that African Americans tend to die younger than white Americans .
Self-evidently , “ deaths of despair ” are a problem for people of colour too ( Hispanic people , interestingly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whites , but also have lower mortality rates ) .
But the crucial shift of the last quarter century is plain .
In whiter parts of the demographic map , there has been a grim process of catchup – as deindustrialisation , stagnating wages and family breakdowns have done their work in communities that once had at least a measure of security and stability .
In an economy that is increasingly divided between winners and losers , if the key determinant of success or failure is whether you are a graduate or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s not black culture , it ’ s not white working-class culture , ” Case said recently .
“ We really think if you treat people shabby [ sic ] enough , for long enough , bad things happen to them.
” As Case and Deaton see it , large swaths of their story are uniquely American , and bound up with the endless shortcomings of private medicine and the impact of the opioid epidemic .
In a recent UK interview , Case acknowledged that something is also happening in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ more muted crisis ” .
But as I read their book and instinctively projected its findings to parts of the UK I have reported from over the past 10 years , this did not quite ring true .
There is a similar story to be told about this country , with its own set of specifically British features : it is partly about the kind of deaths of despair that have risen so dramatically in the US , but also about the mess of things that swirl around them .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review of British inequality chaired by Deaton ( who holds both British and US citizenship ) , the Institute for Fiscal Studies acknowledged that in England , stereotypical deaths of despair have been rising among middle-aged people .
Rates of alcohol-specific deaths in the UK have increased by 13 % since 2001 .
People who live in more deprived areas are up to six times more likely to die from alcohol-related liver disease than those in wealthier places .
In Scotland there is an ongoing and overlooked crisis surrounding drug-related deaths , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades , and now mean the country has the highest per-capita rate of drug fatalities in Europe .
There has been a huge rise in the use of non-prescribed benzodiazepines , “ street valium ” .
At the last count , two-thirds of the country ’ s drug deaths were of people aged between 35 and 54 .
I do not like the “ left behind ” tag , or the picture that it tends to paint of helpless places full of nothing but poverty and anomie .
But there are undoubtedly large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness – both physical and mental – have become ingrained in the culture , and a decade of cuts and continuing neglect has made things even worse .
It is a story I have heard time and again , a self-fulfilling prophecy : having lost their jobs , steelworkers , dockers and miners were routinely put on incapacity benefit and , over time , what was colloquially known as being “ on the sick ” became not just a signifier for how people had been removed from the job market but something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the most blighted parts of our cities continue to be bywords for poverty and inequality , less urban places are full of mobility scooters , long queues at the local chemist and the idea that the comfort of chemical sedation may only be a phone call away .
The relevant statistics only underline the point .
Ten days ago the Institute of Health Equity at University College London triggered a slew of news stories when it published the latest research by Prof Michael Marmot .
As if to underline parallels between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s report pointed out that growth in average life expectancy stalled in 2010 , and that among women in the poorest areas of England it actually fell between 2010 and 2018 .
Marmot ’ s work highlights the clear links between deprivation and early death , and the fact that the time people spend in poor health has gone up across England since 2010 .
On the political right , the answers supposedly lie in Boris Johnson ’ s ideas about “ levelling up ” , which so far seem to represent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places face , not to mention the role Conservative governments have played in their current predicament .
Among elements of the liberal left , meanwhile , things often feel conflicted .
Grinding social problems are too often understood only in the abstract , as matters of statistical gaps , or our old friend the north-south divide .
In England , as with the US , there is another problem : the sense that , in some people ’ s eyes , the association of whole chunks of the country with support for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pale .
In the midst of our polarised politics , it is worth remembering that the most representative face of these people and places is not some verbose racist , discovered by a team of television researchers and presented to the viewing public as an authentic spokesperson .
It is likely to be someone much quieter , who is well aware of shrinking horizons and vanishing prospects , and looking with uncertainty into a future of dependency , ill health and an early death .
This , it seems to me , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @

On the face of it, it is a familiar enough story. “By its end, much of the optimism of the 20th century had faded. Towns and cities … that used to produce steel, glass, furniture or shoes, and that are fondly remembered by people in their 70s as having been great places to grow up, had been gutted, their factories closed and shops boarded up.”
The words are taken from a remarkable new book by the academics Anne Case and Angus Deaton. On the face of it, this passage perhaps suggests one of those cliched accounts of what sits behind the growth of populism. But rather than framing the condition we now know as “left behind” as a matter of political preferences, the cheerily titled Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism sees it in terms of stark matters such as illness, addiction and rising mortality rates among white Americans aged between 45 and 54, which the book links to “suicides, drug overdoses and alcoholic liver disease”. Between 2014 and 2017, these factors contributed to the first decline in average American life expectancy since records began in 1933.
The Institute For Fiscal Studies has found that deaths of despair have been rising among middle-aged people
Obviously, this is not to deny the existence of deeper and more long-term inequalities. As the authors plainly put it: “Whites without a college degree are not the poorest group in the US; they are much less likely to be poor than African Americans.” It remains the case that African Americans tend to die younger than white Americans. Self-evidently, “deaths of despair” are a problem for people of colour too (Hispanic people, interestingly, are much poorer on average than non-Hispanic whites, but also have lower mortality rates).
But the crucial shift of the last quarter century is plain. In whiter parts of the demographic map, there has been a grim process of catchup – as deindustrialisation, stagnating wages and family breakdowns have done their work in communities that once had at least a measure of security and stability. In an economy that is increasingly divided between winners and losers, if the key determinant of success or failure is whether you are a graduate or not, millions will inevitably lose out. “It’s not black culture, it’s not white working-class culture,” Case said recently. “We really think if you treat people shabby [sic] enough, for long enough, bad things happen to them.”
As Case and Deaton see it, large swaths of their story are uniquely American, and bound up with the endless shortcomings of private medicine and the impact of the opioid epidemic. In a recent UK interview, Case acknowledged that something is also happening in Britain, albeit on the level of a “more muted crisis”. But as I read their book and instinctively projected its findings to parts of the UK I have reported from over the past 10 years, this did not quite ring true. There is a similar story to be told about this country, with its own set of specifically British features: it is partly about the kind of deaths of despair that have risen so dramatically in the US, but also about the mess of things that swirl around them.
Last year, as it launched a five-year review of British inequality chaired by Deaton (who holds both British and US citizenship), the Institute for Fiscal Studies acknowledged that in England, stereotypical deaths of despair have been rising among middle-aged people. Rates of alcohol-specific deaths in the UK have increased by 13% since 2001. People who live in more deprived areas are up to six times more likely to die from alcohol-related liver disease than those in wealthier places. In Scotland there is an ongoing and overlooked crisis surrounding drug-related deaths, which have followed an upward trend for two decades, and now mean the country has the highest per-capita rate of drug fatalities in Europe. There has been a huge rise in the use of non-prescribed benzodiazepines, “street valium”. At the last count, two-thirds of the country’s drug deaths were of people aged between 35 and 54.
I do not like the “left behind” tag, or the picture that it tends to paint of helpless places full of nothing but poverty and anomie. But there are undoubtedly large areas of the country where infirmity and illness – both physical and mental – have become ingrained in the culture, and a decade of cuts and continuing neglect has made things even worse. It is a story I have heard time and again, a self-fulfilling prophecy: having lost their jobs, steelworkers, dockers and miners were routinely put on incapacity benefit and, over time, what was colloquially known as being “on the sick” became not just a signifier for how people had been removed from the job market but something that ran through the ensuing decades.
Now, while the most blighted parts of our cities continue to be bywords for poverty and inequality, less urban places are full of mobility scooters, long queues at the local chemist and the idea that the comfort of chemical sedation may only be a phone call away.
The relevant statistics only underline the point. Ten days ago the Institute of Health Equity at University College London triggered a slew of news stories when it published the latest research by Prof Michael Marmot. As if to underline parallels between the US and UK, Marmot’s report pointed out that growth in average life expectancy stalled in 2010, and that among women in the poorest areas of England it actually fell between 2010 and 2018. Marmot’s work highlights the clear links between deprivation and early death, and the fact that the time people spend in poor health has gone up across England since 2010.
On the political right, the answers supposedly lie in Boris Johnson’s ideas about “levelling up”, which so far seem to represent a crass underestimate of the difficulties so many places face, not to mention the role Conservative governments have played in their current predicament. Among elements of the liberal left, meanwhile, things often feel conflicted. Grinding social problems are too often understood only in the abstract, as matters of statistical gaps, or our old friend the north-south divide. In England, as with the US, there is another problem: the sense that, in some people’s eyes, the association of whole chunks of the country with support for the populist right has put them beyond the pale.
In the midst of our polarised politics, it is worth remembering that the most representative face of these people and places is not some verbose racist, discovered by a team of television researchers and presented to the viewing public as an authentic spokesperson. It is likely to be someone much quieter, who is well aware of shrinking horizons and vanishing prospects, and looking with uncertainty into a future of dependency, ill health and an early death. This, it seems to me, is the social crisis of our times.


theguardian--2020-03-09--Trump proposes small business loans and guaranteed time off amid coronavirus outbreak – live

Donald Trump spoke at a press briefing regarding coronavirus response on Monday .
He said his administration is proposing measures @ @ @ @ @ earners to ensure they can take time off and creating loans for small businesses so @ @ @ @ @ outbreak .
“ This is something we were thrown into and we have been handling @ @ @ @ @ .
The moves come as the economy has been in a nosedive and coronavirus spreads @ @ @ @ @ also proposed a payroll tax he said he will discuss on Tuesday with the Senate @ @ @ @ @ to take care of , and have been taking care of , the American public @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
Trump said he will hold another press conference on Tuesday to @ @ @ @ @ measures he will work with the Senate to create .
“ They will be very @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have a very strong economy but this has blindsided the world , @ @ @ @ @ it very well , ” he said .

Kari Paul in San Francisco (now) and Joan E Greve and Martin Belam (earlier)

10 Mar 2020 00.31 GMT Evening Summary Thanks for reading on this busy afternoon of coronavirus and politics news. Here are some stories to be aware of: Trump has been in close contact with members of Congress who have been exposed to coronavirus.
Mike Pence declined to answer in a press conference on Monday if Trump had been tested for the illness.
Rep Julia Brownley, a Democrat from California, locked down her Washington, DC offices and is staying home for the next week after potentially coming in contact with the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Rep Gohmert has declined to quarantine himself, despite having potentially been in contact with someone who had coronavirus.
Trump announced in a press conference “major” economic measures to address the impact of coronavirus, including a potential payroll tax. That’s all from me, take care.
Updated at 00.34 GMT
10 Mar 2020 00.19 GMT Former candidate Mike Bloomberg is firing staffers across the country, despite guaranteeing them they would be paid by his campaign into November. Bloomberg is reportedly encouraging workers to reapply for jobs with his new independent committee and allowing them to keep their Bloomberg-issued iPhones and MacBooks. The campaign of the former New York City mayor has stated it will start a new independent expenditure to keep staffers in six battleground states and work towards electing Biden. It is unclear how many of his former staffers he will retain for that effort.
9 Mar 2020 23.48 GMT Election officials in St Louis, Missouri, are taking measures to stop the spread of coronavirus as they await tomorrow’s elections there. All 357 polling places in the St Louis area have been sent additional hand sanitizing wipes and liquids, according to STL Today. There are six states slated to hold Democratic elections on Tuesday: Missouri, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington and Michigan.
Updated at 23.52 GMT
9 Mar 2020 23.35 GMT The former wife of George Papadopoulos tweeted on Monday she is leaving the disgraced former Trump administration member, alleging abuse. Officially divorcing @GeorgePapa19 after the months of abuses and ultimately the huge disrespect he showed this morning in his podcast. I am tired of him and playing his wife . He is a monster t — Simona Mangiante (@simonamangiante) March 9, 2020 Papadopoulos sparked the US inquiry into Russia election meddling and served 14 days in prison for lying to the FBI during the probe of his meetings with Russia. The final straw appeared to be being insulted on his podcast this week.
9 Mar 2020 23.21 GMT As Trump and Pence held their press conference regarding coronavirus response Monday evening, the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, released a list of priorities Democrats have related to the virus. Those priorities include paid sick leave and enhanced unemployment insurance for those who cannot work or lose work because of the epidemic, measures to support food security, and anti-price gouging protections for medical and non-medical essentials during the emergency. She also advocated to increase the capacity of the medical system and provide affordable treatment for all as the virus continues to spread.
Updated at 23.39 GMT
9 Mar 2020 22.39 GMT Trump announces 'major' economic measures to address impact of coronavirus Donald Trump spoke at a press briefing regarding coronavirus response on Monday. He said his administration is proposing measures including working with hourly wage earners to ensure they can take time off and creating loans for small businesses so they can weather the coronavirus outbreak. “This is something we were thrown into and we have been handling it”, Trump said. The moves come as the economy has been in a nosedive and coronavirus spreads around the globe. Trump also proposed a payroll tax he said he will discuss on Tuesday with the Senate. “We are going to take care of, and have been taking care of, the American public and the American economy”, he said. Trump said he will hold another press conference on Tuesday to announce “major” economic measures he will work with the Senate to create. “They will be very dramatic,” he said. “We have a very strong economy but this has blindsided the world, I think we have handled it very well,” he said.
Updated at 22.57 GMT
9 Mar 2020 21.55 GMT Republican Rep Gohmert of Texas is refusing to quarantine himself despite interacting with someone at CPAC who has been diagnosed with coronavirus. This comes despite several of his colleagues quarantining out of an abundance of caution. He said a CDC doctor told him he “shouldn’t be at any risk” so he is returning to Congress and observing “basic hygienic processes” instead of enforcing a quarantine. He said he would return if he were me and advised that my staff and I should just be careful to observe proper hygiene protocols. I took the advice of the expert and returned to work. No one is panicking and we are observing the recommended precautions." (3/3) — Louie Gohmert (@replouiegohmert) March 9, 2020
Updated at 22.58 GMT
9 Mar 2020 21.54 GMT More members of Congress are now quarantining themselves after potentially being put in contact with the coronavirus. Rep. Julia Brownley, a Democrat from California is locking down her Washington, D.C. office and remaining at home for the next week after she discovered an individual who tested positive attended her office last week.
9 Mar 2020 21.34 GMT The White House is about to hold a press briefing about coronavirus and the task force being used to address it. Stay tuned for updates.
9 Mar 2020 20.57 GMT Coronavirus is encroaching on Donald Trump. The president has had close contact with a number of people exposed to the virus, the Associated Press reported on Monday. Close congressional confidants — including one who traveled on Air Force One with Trump Monday — have moved to quarantine themselves after exposure to a person infected with the virus. The potential contact comes after the White House said it was “conducting business as usual,” and Trump sought to project calm as the epidemic poses one of the greatest tests yet to his administration. On Capitol Hill, at least five lawmakers were in self-quarantine as discussions were underway on how to address the virus outbreak and economic volatility and keep the government functioning.
9 Mar 2020 20.34 GMT Hello readers! Kari Paul here, taking over the blog from our West Coast bureau in San Francisco. Stand by for updates.
9 Mar 2020 20.30 GMT Today so far That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Kari Paul, will take over the blog for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: The Dow suffered its worst day since 2008, dropping more than 2,000 points amid intensifying fears about the spread of coronavirus.
dropping more than 2,000 points amid intensifying fears about the spread of coronavirus. Trump downplayed the severity of coronavirus, comparing it to the “common Flu” and suggesting the economy was humming along even as markets nosedived.
comparing it to the “common Flu” and suggesting the economy was humming along even as markets nosedived. Two Republican lawmakers who have recently interacted with Trump are self-quarantining. Congressmen Doug Collins and Matt Gaetz said they interacted with a person who tested positive for coronavirus at CPAC and would self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.
Congressmen and said they interacted with a person who tested positive for coronavirus at CPAC and would self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris will appear at Joe Biden’s Detroit rally tonight. The two Democratic senators, both of whom endorsed Biden in recent days, have been listed as potential running mates to the former vice president.
The two Democratic senators, both of whom endorsed Biden in recent days, have been listed as potential running mates to the former vice president. Polls show Biden leading Bernie Sanders in Michigan, which will hold its primary tomorrow. With 125 pledged delegates up for grabs, Michigan is the most delegate-rich state voting tomorrow and could increase Biden’s lead over Sanders. Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
9 Mar 2020 20.09 GMT Congressman Matt Gaetz is now also self-quarantining after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus. While the Congressman is not experiencing symptoms, he received testing today and expects results soon.
Under doctor's usual precautionary recommendations, he'll remain self-quarantined until the 14-day period expires this week. — Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 9, 2020 The Florida Republican and close Trump ally attracted attention last week for wearing a gas mask on to the House floor to vote on the $8 billion coronavirus bill. Reviewing the coronavirus supplemental appropriation and preparing to go vote. pic.twitter.com/wjJ4YY4VZz — Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 4, 2020 But Gaetz’s statement on his self-quarantine claimed he wore the gas mask to illustrate the depth of his concern around the spread of the virus. “Congressman Gaetz had expected COVID-19 to impact Congress, given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact, and demonstrated his concern last week on the House Floor,” the statement reads. Gaetz also flew back to Washington with Trump on Air Force One today, marking another interaction between the president and someone who has since gone into self-quarantine.


theguardian--2020-03-09--White House says 'business as usual' as Trump plays down coronavirus threat

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has advised elderly and unwell Americans to avoid crowds in order to limit the impact of the coronavirus – but the White House said it was “ business as usual ” as the 73-year-old Donald Trump attended a fundraising event in Florida .
The president played down the threat of Covid-19 , saying many more people had died of the flu in the US than have been reported killed by coronavirus – despite warnings from his own officials that , unlike flu , the current outbreak concerns a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no natural immunity in the population .
Covid-19 has also only just begun to spread in the US .
Nancy Messonnier , head of the CDC ’ s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , said more than 500 cases of the virus had been reported in 34 states and Washington DC as of Sunday night .
Nineteen people had died , according to the CDC , 18 of them in Washington state with the other fatality in California .
According to the World Health Organization , about 106,000 cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This seems to be a disease that affects adults and most seriously older adults , ” Messonnier said .
“ Starting at age 60 , there is an increasing risk of disease , and the risk increases with age .
“ The data really says that as you get older , the risk goes up and so in the broader age category of over 60 or over 65 , over-80-year-olds have the greatest risk and so I would recommend that people make their own decisions based on an understanding of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or those who have an underlying disease , “ we are recommending avoiding crowds because those are places where in general , there ’ s lots of transmission of respiratory diseases ” .
Despite reports of an attendee at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference ( CPAC ) near Washington falling sick with coronavirus after interacting with senior Republicans including the Texas senator Ted Cruz – who placed himself in quarantine – the White House denied reports that the nation ’ s top officials would change their routine .
“ Reports that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to staff instructing them to limit in-person interactions and meetings are completely false , ” said Stephanie Grisham , Trump ’ s White House press secretary .
“ While we have asked all Americans to exercise common-sense hygiene measures , we are conducting business as usual .
I want to remind the media once again to be responsible with all reporting.
” Trump attended CPAC , where he was pictured shaking hands with organiser Matt Schlapp , who said he had contact with the infected individual early in the conference .
The Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Arizona in announcing that he was also self-quarantining , after it emerged he had been in contact with the infected person at CPAC .
Collins accompanied Trump in a tour of CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday .
A second congressman who had been in contact with the Covid-19 patient at CPAC , Matt Gaetz , said he would self-quarantine .
Gaetz was in close proximity to Trump on Air Force One on Monday afternoon .
It is not clear from the tweets from his office whether Gaetz was informed of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
On Monday Trump spent the day in Florida , where he attended a fundraising meeting in a private residence .
Aides said 300 supporters would attend , expecting to raise $ 4m for Trump ’ s re-election campaign .
Handshakes and selfies are customary for those attending such events , and Trump was pictured shaking hands with well-wishers along the way .
The White House told reporters traveling with Trump that he was not worried about contracting or spreading coronavirus , which experts say can be spread via coughs or sneezes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who as head of foreign disaster assistance led the Obama administration ’ s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 , said on Twitter : “ I can not overstate how risky it is to be exposing the president of the United States to events like this right now .
”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised elderly and unwell Americans to avoid crowds in order to limit the impact of the coronavirus – but the White House said it was “business as usual” as the 73-year-old Donald Trump attended a fundraising event in Florida.
The president played down the threat of Covid-19, saying many more people had died of the flu in the US than have been reported killed by coronavirus – despite warnings from his own officials that, unlike flu, the current outbreak concerns a new virus for which there is no vaccine and no natural immunity in the population. Covid-19 has also only just begun to spread in the US.
Nancy Messonnier, head of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said more than 500 cases of the virus had been reported in 34 states and Washington DC as of Sunday night. Nineteen people had died, according to the CDC, 18 of them in Washington state with the other fatality in California.
According to the World Health Organization, about 106,000 cases and around 3,500 deaths have been confirmed worldwide.
“This seems to be a disease that affects adults and most seriously older adults,” Messonnier said. “Starting at age 60, there is an increasing risk of disease, and the risk increases with age.
While we have asked all Americans to exercise commonsense hygiene measures, we are conducting business as usual Stephanie Grisham
“The data really says that as you get older, the risk goes up and so in the broader age category of over 60 or over 65, over-80-year-olds have the greatest risk and so I would recommend that people make their own decisions based on an understanding of that risk.”
Messonnier said for the elderly, or those who have an underlying disease, “we are recommending avoiding crowds because those are places where in general, there’s lots of transmission of respiratory diseases”.
Despite reports of an attendee at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington falling sick with coronavirus after interacting with senior Republicans including the Texas senator Ted Cruz – who placed himself in quarantine – the White House denied reports that the nation’s top officials would change their routine.
“Reports that the White House has issued formal guidelines to staff instructing them to limit in-person interactions and meetings are completely false,” said Stephanie Grisham, Trump’s White House press secretary.
“While we have asked all Americans to exercise commonsense hygiene measures, we are conducting business as usual. I want to remind the media once again to be responsible with all reporting.”
This video has been removed. This could be because it launched early, our rights have expired, there was a legal issue, or for another reason. Crowd laughs as Bernie Sanders questions Trump's ‘natural ability' to understand coronavirus – video
Trump attended CPAC, where he was pictured shaking hands with organiser Matt Schlapp, who said he had contact with the infected individual early in the conference.
The Georgia Republican congressman Doug Collins followed Paul Gosar of Arizona in announcing that he was also self-quarantining, after it emerged he had been in contact with the infected person at CPAC.
Collins accompanied Trump in a tour of CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday.
A second congressman who had been in contact with the Covid-19 patient at CPAC, Matt Gaetz, said he would self-quarantine. Gaetz partied with Trump in the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort over the weekend and flew back with him to Washington. According to the New York Times, the congressman found out he had had contact with a coronavirus patient when he was already on Air Force One with Trump and he went to a separate part of the plane to sit alone.
On Monday Trump spent the day in Florida, where he attended a fundraising meeting in a private residence.
Aides said 300 supporters would attend, expecting to raise $4m for Trump’s re-election campaign. Handshakes and selfies are customary for those attending such events, and Trump was pictured shaking hands with well-wishers along the way.
The White House told reporters traveling with Trump that he was not worried about contracting or spreading coronavirus, which experts say can be spread via coughs or sneezes and by physical contact.
Jeremy Konyndyk, who as head of foreign disaster assistance led the Obama administration’s response to the Ebola outbreak in west Africa in 2014, said on Twitter: “I cannot overstate how risky it is to be exposing the president of the United States to events like this right now.”


theguardian--2020-03-09--Trump retweets video of Biden labelled by Twitter as ‘manipulated media’

The first video to be labelled by Twitter as “ manipulated media ” was tweeted by Donald Trump ’ s social media director and retweeted by the president himself .
Dan Scavino tweeted the footage on Saturday , mistakenly saying it came from a speech by Joe Biden in St Louis , Missouri .
In fact , the former vice-president and Democratic frontrunner was speaking in Kansas City .
It was also edited to make it look like Biden had inadvertently backed Trump ’ s re-election .
“ Turn this primary from a campaign that is about negative attacks into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re for , ” Biden said in the footage attached to Scavino ’ s tweet , before faltering .
“ Because we can not re-elect … we can not win this re-election … Excuse me , we can only re-elect Donald Trump.
” In fact , Biden said : “ Excuse me .
We can only re-elect Donald Trump if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here .
It ’ s got ta be a positive campaign , so join us.
” Acting on Sunday under a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deceptively edited content , but only after the video had been live for close to 24 hours , Twitter labelled the clip as “ manipulated media ” .
However , the label only appeared on tweets of the video in timelines – meaning users searching for the clip would not be shown the “ manipulated media ” label .
The company said it was working to remedy the problem .
Scavino tweeted his own response , saying : “ The video was NOT manipulated.
” Trump retweeted him again .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an example of social media “ trying to silence ” Trump ’ s movement .
Trump ’ s former golf caddy also retweeted Benny Johnson , the chief creative officer at the Turning Point USA conservative not-for-profit , who claimed : “ The video was clipped , not edited … This video was simply shortened .
This means every single clip on Twitter is ‘ Manipulated ’ .
” On Monday morning , after criticism from the Biden campaign , Facebook added its own note to the video .
“ Fact-checkers rated this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reducing its distribution and showing warning labels with more context for people who see it , try to share it , or already have , ” a spokeswoman said .
Since Biden , 77 , surged back to lead the Democratic primary , the 73-year-old president and his campaign have relentlessly questioned and mocked the former senator and vice-president ’ s mental capability .
Scavino ’ s original tweet said : “ Sleepy Joe in St Louis , Missouri today : ‘ We can only re-elect Donald Trump.
’ # KAG2020LandslideVictory.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the video had around 6.3m views .

The first video to be labelled by Twitter as “manipulated media” was tweeted by Donald Trump’s social media director and retweeted by the president himself.
Dan Scavino tweeted the footage on Saturday, mistakenly saying it came from a speech by Joe Biden in St Louis, Missouri. In fact, the former vice-president and Democratic frontrunner was speaking in Kansas City. It was also edited to make it look like Biden had inadvertently backed Trump’s re-election.
“Turn this primary from a campaign that is about negative attacks into one that’s about what we’re for,” Biden said in the footage attached to Scavino’s tweet, before faltering.
“Because we cannot re-elect … we cannot win this re-election … Excuse me, we can only re-elect Donald Trump.”
The footage ended there.
In fact, Biden said: “Excuse me. We can only re-elect Donald Trump if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here. It’s gotta be a positive campaign, so join us.”
Acting on Sunday under a new policy aimed at policing deep fakes and deceptively edited content, but only after the video had been live for close to 24 hours, Twitter labelled the clip as “manipulated media”.
However, the label only appeared on tweets of the video in timelines – meaning users searching for the clip would not be shown the “manipulated media” label. The company said it was working to remedy the problem.
Scavino tweeted his own response, saying: “The video was NOT manipulated.” Trump retweeted him again. He also said on Facebook that labeling the video is an example of social media “trying to silence” Trump’s movement.
Trump’s former golf caddy also retweeted Benny Johnson, the chief creative officer at the Turning Point USA conservative not-for-profit, who claimed: “The video was clipped, not edited … This video was simply shortened. This means every single clip on Twitter is ‘Manipulated’.”
On Monday morning, after criticism from the Biden campaign, Facebook added its own note to the video.
“Fact-checkers rated this video as partly false, so we are reducing its distribution and showing warning labels with more context for people who see it, try to share it, or already have,” a spokeswoman said.
Since Biden, 77, surged back to lead the Democratic primary, the 73-year-old president and his campaign have relentlessly questioned and mocked the former senator and vice-president’s mental capability.
Scavino’s original tweet said: “Sleepy Joe in St Louis, Missouri today: ‘We can only re-elect Donald Trump.’ #KAG2020LandslideVictory.”
By Monday lunchtime, on Twitter alone, the video had around 6.3m views.