theguardian--2020-08-14--As he struggles in the polls, Trump reaches for the racist playbook again

“ Mr President , ” a reporter asked on Thursday .
“ After three and a half years , do you regret , at all , all the lying you ’ ve done to the American people ?
” The question was repeated and the US president refused to answer .
His political career began with a big lie : birtherism , the baseless fantasy that Barack Obama was born outside the US and therefore ineligible for the White House .
It may now be nearing its end with another false and racist conspiracy theory , which he encouraged at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions Kamala Harris ’ s eligibility to be vice president .
Harris was this week named as Democratic candidate Joe Biden ’ s running mate for the 2020 election – the first woman of colour on a major party ticket .
She was born in Oakland , California , and is eligible for both the vice presidency and presidency under the US constitution .
John Eastman , a conservative lawyer , wrote an op-ed in Newsweek arguing that the constitution does not grant birthright citizenship and challenging Harris ’ s eligibility based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump was asked about it at Thursday ’ s White House press briefing , he gave a characteristically vague answer that could sow doubt in the minds of supporters inclined to believe the worst : “ So , I just heard that .
I heard it today that she doesn ’ t meet the requirements .
And , by the way , the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified , very talented lawyer.
” He added : “ I have no idea if that ’ s right .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president.
” The 14th amendment states : “ All persons born or naturalized in the United States , and subject to the jurisdiction thereof , are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
” Christopher Kelley , a political science professor at Miami University in Ohio , told the Associated Press : “ No , there ’ s no question about it .
It ’ s been recognized since the people drafted it back in the 39th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would cover people not just born to American citizens but born on American soil.
” Trump ’ s feigned ignorance is true to form for someone with a track record of racist and anti-immigrant stances .
In 1973 , he and his father were sued by the justice department for racial discrimination because prospective Black tenants were blocked from renting in their buildings .
Trump was a high-profile champion of the so-called “ birther movement ” that questioned whether Obama , the first African American president , was born in the US and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hawaii , produced his birth certificate to prove it , and eventually even Trump said he accepted the truth .
Harris ’ s father was born in Jamaica and mother born in India .
Under the constitution , anyone born in the US automatically acquires citizenship , irrespective of their parents ’ immigration status .
Trump ’ s shameless fanning of the conspiracy flames came in the context of a predictably ferocious onslaught of racist and sexist attacks on Harris by the president his supporters in rightwing media .
“ Sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because she was so angry and such hatred with Justice Kavanaugh , ” Trump told the Fox Business network .
Republican Senator John Kennedy told the same network : “ I would describe her as Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez but smarter without the bartending experience.
” Deroy Murdock , a Fox News contributor , said : “ She seems to come across as a bit abrasive , as the president mentioned .
I don ’ t know if she can warm things up and be a little more charming.
” Fox News host Tucker Carlson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several times on Tuesday night , When a guest corrected him , Carlson snapped “ So what ?
” and then twice mispronounced her name again .
On Twitter , Trump ’ s son Eric favourited a tweet that referred to Harris as a “ whorendous pick ” ; the tweet was later deleted .
The blitz suggested an election campaign moving into a new and dangerous phase .
With Trump and his Republican allies trailing in the polls and struggling to define Harris , there is no limit how low they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican strategist and critic of the president , has just published a book about the party ’ s descent into Trumpism .
Its title ?
It Was All a Lie .

“Mr President,” a reporter asked on Thursday. “After three and a half years, do you regret, at all, all the lying you’ve done to the American people?”
A disbelieving Trump asked: “All the what?”
The question was repeated and the US president refused to answer. His political career began with a big lie: birtherism, the baseless fantasy that Barack Obama was born outside the US and therefore ineligible for the White House.
It may now be nearing its end with another false and racist conspiracy theory, which he encouraged at the same Thursday briefing. This one questions Kamala Harris’s eligibility to be vice-president.
Harris was this week named as Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s running mate for the 2020 election – the first woman of colour on a major party ticket. She was born in Oakland, California, and is eligible for both the vice-presidency and presidency under the US constitution.
John Eastman, a conservative lawyer, wrote an op-ed in Newsweek arguing that the constitution does not grant birthright citizenship and challenging Harris’s eligibility based on her parents’ immigration status.
When Trump was asked about it at Thursday’s White House press briefing, he gave a characteristically vague answer that could sow doubt in the minds of supporters inclined to believe the worst: “So, I just heard that. I heard it today that she doesn’t meet the requirements. And, by the way, the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer.”
He added: “I have no idea if that’s right. I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice-president.”
The 14th amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
Christopher Kelley, a political science professor at Miami University in Ohio, told the Associated Press: “No, there’s no question about it. It’s been recognized since the people drafted it back in the 39th Congress that [the 14th] amendment would cover people not just born to American citizens but born on American soil.”
Trump’s feigned ignorance is true to form for someone with a track record of racist and anti-immigrant stances. In 1973, he and his father were sued by the justice department for racial discrimination because prospective Black tenants were blocked from renting in their buildings.
Trump was a high-profile champion of the so-called “birther movement” that questioned whether Obama, the first African American president, was born in the US and eligible to serve. Obama, born in Hawaii, produced his birth certificate to prove it, and eventually even Trump said he accepted the truth.
Kamala Harris was named as Joe Biden’s running mate this week. She has since faced an onslaught of racist and sexist attacks. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Harris’s father was born in Jamaica and mother born in India. Under the constitution, anyone born in the US automatically acquires citizenship, irrespective of their parents’ immigration status.
Trump’s shameless fanning of the conspiracy flames came in the context of a predictably ferocious onslaught of racist and sexist attacks on Harris by the president his supporters in rightwing media.
“Sort of a madwoman, I call her, because she was so angry and such hatred with Justice Kavanaugh,” Trump told the Fox Business network.
The Republican senator John Kennedy told the same network: “I would describe her as Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez but smarter without the bartending experience.”
Deroy Murdock, a Fox News contributor, said: “She seems to come across as a bit abrasive, as the president mentioned. I don’t know if she can warm things up and be a little more charming.”
The Fox News host Tucker Carlson pronounced Harris’s first name wrongly several times on Tuesday night. When a guest corrected him, Carlson snapped “So what?” and then twice mispronounced her name again.
On Twitter, Trump’s son Eric favourited a tweet that referred to Harris as a “whorendous pick”; the tweet was later deleted.
The blitz suggested an election campaign moving into a new and dangerous phase. With Trump and his Republican allies trailing in the polls and struggling to define Harris, there may be no limit how low they will go. Stuart Stevens, a longtime Republican strategist and critic of the president, has just published a book about the party’s descent into Trumpism. Its title? It Was All a Lie.


theguardian--2020-08-14--Trump administration steps up efforts to turn broadcasters into propaganda outlets

The Trump administration has accelerated its purge of the US Agency for Global Media ( USAGM ) , in what critics warn is a further step towards turning Voice of America and other public broadcasters into propaganda outlets .
Seven senior officials had their security clearances withdrawn this week , making it impossible for them to continue in their roles .
They included the chief financial officer and former interim CEO , Grant Turner , and the agency ’ s general counsel , David Kligerman , who both said they had been fired for their resistance to the politicisation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Michael Pack , a Trump supporter and ally of rightwing ideologue , Steve Bannon .
Career officials have in several cases been replaced by political loyalists .
Politico reported on Thursday that a controversial former radio talk show host had been hired as a senior adviser to USAGM leadership .
A CNN investigation found that Frank Wuco had a record of outrageous insults and groundless claims .
He called President Barack Obama “ a Kenyan ” referred to the Democratic congressional leader Nancy Pelosi as a “ Nazi ” , and claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Islam .
The Washington Post found he had suggested the US should have dropped nuclear weapons on Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks .
The change in tone has been reflected in recent digital output .
On Thursday , the VOA tweeted a link to a news story titled “ Ivanka Trump Continues Women Empowerment Agenda Amid Pandemic ” illustrated by a smiling picture of the president ’ s daughter .
The story makes clear that she was one of several officials and business leaders making announcing new funding of women ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day Joe Biden named Kamala Harris as his running mate , Voice of America ( VOA ) put out a worshipful tweet about the vice-president , Mike Pence , who it said had “ weathered storms that have shaken the Trump White House , standing by the president through an impeachment trial and many Cabinet reshuffles.
” The report the tweet linked to provided a more measured of Pence ’ s role , with one expert casting some doubt on his impact .
But that nuance was not reflected in the tweet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Backing Up a Demanding Boss ” above a video about the vice-president with the VOA logo and slogan “ A Free Press Matters ” .
“ We were shocked when we saw that .
We were like : we can not believe this is happening , ” said a VOA journalist , who said the tweets appeared to have come from the VOA ’ s central news department .
“ We can see how editors and others are beginning to act out of fear , and self-censoring.
” Since Pack took over in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the broadcasting agencies under USAGM authority , like VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty .
The new management has made clear that the visas of foreign journalists at VOA will not be renewed , forcing their return to their home countries , potentially putting some of them at risk .
The first handful of journalists affected are expected to leave the US before the end of the month .
The digital managing director of the VOA ’ s Urdu language service was also reported by the New York Post to have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news item about Biden ’ s campaigning among US Muslims .
Pack announced he would be investigating the issue , something that would normally have been handled by the head of journalistic standards , Steven Springer , but Springer was removed from that post in June , and it has remained vacant since .
Pack has also launched an investigation in what he claimed are past security breaches , and USAGM issued a report this week , in support of the claim .
It provided a timeline of a long-running dispute between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Management over the vetting of journalists hired by the agency .
Officials with knowledge of the dispute said that USAGM had sought to retain its right to vet new hires as it used a higher standard , and that the dispute was lastly a turf struggle .
They said USAGM journalists do not come in contact with classified material and no evidence has so been produced that foreign agents have succeeded in infiltrating the agency in recent years .
“ This all feels like a pretext to me , ” said a congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any anything he can do to clear people out , he ’ s grabbing on to and doing it.
” The two most senior targets of the latest purge said they were victims of retaliation .
“ The reasons for my removal are without merit and simply retaliation for calling the CEO and his team to account for gross mismanagement of the agency , ” Turner told Politico .
Kligerman told the news website : “ There is no other conclusion to draw , except that it is in retaliation for attempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to speak truth to power.
” A USAGM spokesperson told the Guardian : “ We took action to restore integrity to and respect for the rule of law in our work at USAGM .
We will take additional steps to help return this agency to its glory days.
” Democrats in Congress have tried to intervene to stop the forced departure of foreign journalists and executives .
“ Michael Pack is once again attempting to purge USAGM of the apolitical , career officials who have helped ensure that the agency fulfills its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world , ” Eliot Engel , the chair of the House foreign affairs committee , said .
“ He is destroying the decades-old legacy of America ’ s international broadcasting efforts in a clear attempt to transform the agency into an ideological mouthpiece to promote Donald Trump in advance of the election .
”

The Trump administration has accelerated its purge of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), in what critics warn is a further step towards turning Voice of America and other public broadcasters into propaganda outlets.
Seven senior officials had their security clearances withdrawn this week, making it impossible for them to continue in their roles. They included the chief financial officer and former interim CEO, Grant Turner, and the agency’s general counsel, David Kligerman, who both said they had been fired for their resistance to the politicisation of the organisation under its new chief executive, Michael Pack, a Trump supporter and ally of rightwing ideologue, Steve Bannon.
Career officials have in several cases been replaced by political loyalists. Politico reported on Thursday that a controversial former radio talk show host had been hired as a senior adviser to USAGM leadership. A CNN investigation found that Frank Wuco had a record of outrageous insults and groundless claims. He called President Barack Obama “a Kenyan” referred to the Democratic congressional leader Nancy Pelosi as a “Nazi”, and claimed former CIA director John Brennan had converted to Islam. The Washington Post found he had suggested the US should have dropped nuclear weapons on Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks.
The change in tone has been reflected in recent digital output. On Thursday, the VOA tweeted a link to a news story titled “Ivanka Trump Continues Women Empowerment Agenda Amid Pandemic” illustrated by a smiling picture of the president’s daughter. The story makes clear that she was one of several officials and business leaders announcing new funding of women’s economic projects.
On Tuesday, the day Joe Biden named Kamala Harris as his running mate, Voice of America (VOA) put out a worshipful tweet about the vice-president, Mike Pence, who it said had “weathered storms that have shaken the Trump White House, standing by the president through an impeachment trial and many Cabinet reshuffles.”
The report the tweet linked to provided a more measured account of Pence’s role, with one expert casting some doubt on his impact. But that nuance was not reflected in the tweet, which declared: “Mike Pence: Backing Up a Demanding Boss” above a video about the vice-president with the VOA logo and slogan “A Free Press Matters”.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has weathered storms that have shaken the Trump White House, standing by the president through an impeachment trial and many Cabinet reshuffles.
👉Mike Pence: Backing Up a Demanding Boss https://t.co/ZR1vX6ez5H pic.twitter.com/gyYToLM8m3 — The Voice of America (@VOANews) August 11, 2020
“We were shocked when we saw that. We were like: we cannot believe this is happening,” said a VOA journalist, who said the tweets appeared to have come from the VOA’s central news department.
“We can see how editors and others are beginning to act out of fear, and self-censoring.”
Since Pack took over in June, he has purged the heads of the broadcasting agencies under USAGM authority, like VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The new management has made clear that the visas of foreign journalists at VOA will not be renewed, forcing their return to their home countries, potentially putting some of them at risk. The first handful of journalists affected are expected to leave the US before the end of the month.
The digital managing director of the VOA’s Urdu language service was also reported by the New York Post to have been placed on leave after the service ran a news item about Biden’s campaigning among US Muslims. Pack announced he would be investigating the issue, something that would normally have been handled by the head of journalistic standards, Steven Springer, but Springer was removed from that post in June, and it has remained vacant since.
Pack has also launched an investigation in what he claimed are past security breaches, and USAGM issued a report this week, in support of the claim. It provided a timeline of a long-running dispute between USAGM and the US Office of Personnel Management over the vetting of journalists hired by the agency.
Officials with knowledge of the dispute said that USAGM had sought to retain its right to vet new hires as it used a higher standard, and that the dispute was lastly a turf struggle. They said USAGM journalists do not come in contact with classified material and no evidence has so been produced that foreign agents have succeeded in infiltrating the agency in recent years.
“This all feels like a pretext to me,” said a congressional aide. “It seems like any any anything he can do to clear people out, he’s grabbing on to and doing it.”
The two most senior targets of the latest purge said they were victims of retaliation.
“The reasons for my removal are without merit and simply retaliation for calling the CEO and his team to account for gross mismanagement of the agency,” Turner told Politico.
Kligerman told the news website: “There is no other conclusion to draw, except that it is in retaliation for attempting to do my job in an apolitical manner and to speak truth to power.”
A USAGM spokesperson told the Guardian: “We took action to restore integrity to and respect for the rule of law in our work at USAGM. We will take additional steps to help return this agency to its glory days.”
Democrats in Congress have tried to intervene to stop the forced departure of foreign journalists and executives.
“Michael Pack is once again attempting to purge USAGM of the apolitical, career officials who have helped ensure that the agency fulfills its mission to provide unbiased news and information around the world,” Eliot Engel, the chair of the House foreign affairs committee, said.
“He is destroying the decades-old legacy of America’s international broadcasting efforts in a clear attempt to transform the agency into an ideological mouthpiece to promote Donald Trump in advance of the election.”


theguardian--2020-08-14--'Do you regret all your lying?' White House reporter's question startles Trump

SV Dáte had waited five long years to ask Donald Trump one question : “ Mr President , after three and a half years [ of Trump ’ s presidency ] , do you regret at all , all the lying you ’ ve done to the American people ?
” Confronted with Dáte ’ s question at Thursday ’ s White House briefing , Trump responded with a question of his own .
“ All the what ?
” he said .
Dáte : “ All the lying , all the dishonesties.
” “ You have done , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post ’ s White House correspondent .
“ Tens of thousan– ” , he began to say , before Trump cut him off and called on another journalist , who asked a question about payroll tax .
In July , the Washington Post reported that Trump had told more than 20,000 “ false or misleading claims ” over the course of his presidency .
Speaking to the Guardian , Dáte said that he asked the question because it was the first time that he had had the chance .
“ I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because I ’ ve tried to ask him before [ in March ] and he ’ s cut me off mid-question .
Maybe he didn ’ t recognise me this time , ” he said .
“ You know , he has this group of folks that he normally asks questions of.
” It was Dáte ’ s turn on White House in press pool , and so he had a prominent seat .
“ I had always thought that if he ever did call on me , this is the one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency , ” he said .
Trump ’ s lying was the “ singular piece of his presidency that will be remembered in 10 years ” .
Dáte wasn ’ t surprised by Trump ’ s response to the question – ignoring it was always going to be the most likely reaction , he thought .
Asked whether he thought he would be allowed in next time , Dáte said , “ Yes , absolutely.
” With the burning question posed , what would he ask if he had another chance ?
Given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be : “ ‘ Mr President , you didn ’ t answer last time .
Could you address why you ’ ve told … ’ whatever the number will be by then , ” said Dáte .

SV Dáte had waited five long years to ask Donald Trump one question: “Mr President, after three and a half years [of Trump’s presidency], do you regret at all, all the lying you’ve done to the American people?”
Confronted with Dáte’s question at Thursday’s White House briefing, Trump responded with a question of his own. “All the what?” he said.
Dáte: “All the lying, all the dishonesties.”
Trump: “That who has done?”
“You have done,” said Dáte, who is the Huffington Post’s White House correspondent. “Tens of thousan–”, he began to say, before Trump cut him off and called on another journalist, who asked a question about payroll tax.
In July, the Washington Post reported that Trump had told more than 20,000 “false or misleading claims” over the course of his presidency.
Wow. A reporter (I'm not sure who he is) asks Trump, "after three and a half years, do you regret all the lying you've done to the American people?" Trump quickly moves on to the next question. pic.twitter.com/DHn3UvXHnN — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 13, 2020
Speaking to the Guardian, Dáte said that he asked the question because it was the first time that he had had the chance.
“I don’t know why he called on me, because I’ve tried to ask him before [in March] and he’s cut me off mid-question. Maybe he didn’t recognise me this time,” he said. “You know, he has this group of folks that he normally asks questions of.”
It was Dáte’s turn on White House in press pool, and so he had a prominent seat. “I had always thought that if he ever did call on me, this is the one thing that is really central to his presidency,” he said.
For five years I've been wanting to ask him that. — S.V. Dáte (@svdate) August 13, 2020
Trump’s lying was the “singular piece of his presidency that will be remembered in 10 years”.
Dáte wasn’t surprised by Trump’s response to the question – ignoring it was always going to be the most likely reaction, he thought.
Asked whether he thought he would be allowed in next time, Dáte said, “Yes, absolutely.”
With the burning question posed, what would he ask if he had another chance?
Given that Trump had failed to respond, it would be: “‘Mr President, you didn’t answer last time. Could you address why you’ve told …’ whatever the number will be by then,” said Dáte.


theguardian--2020-08-14--Reporter asks Trump: 'Do you regret all your lying?' – video

The Huffington Post ’ s White House correspondent , SV Dáte , broke from the usual question and answer protocol @ @ @ @ @ briefings , posing a simple , yet cutting question : 'Mr President , after three-and-a-half @ @ @ @ @ at all , all the lying you ’ ve done to the American people ?
@ @ @ @ @ his own question , 'All the what ? '
, before ignoring Dáte and moving @ @ @ @ @ • 'Do you regret all your lying ? '
White House reporter 's question startles @

The Huffington Post’s White House correspondent, SV Dáte, broke from the usual question and answer protocol at President Trump's press briefings, posing a simple, yet cutting question: 'Mr President, after three-and-a-half years, do you regret at all, all the lying you’ve done to the American people?' Trump initially responded with his own question, 'All the what?', before ignoring Dáte and moving on to the next question


theguardian--2020-08-15--Ex-FBI lawyer to plead guilty in review of Trump-Russia investigation

A former FBI lawyer plans to plead guilty to making a false statement in the first criminal case arising from an inquiry into the investigation of ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign , his lawyer said Friday .
Kevin Clinesmith is accused of altering a government email about a former Trump campaign adviser who was a target of secret FBI surveillance , according to documents filed in Washington ’ s federal court .
His lawyer , Justin Shur , told the Associated Press that Clinesmith intends to plead guilty to the single false statement count and that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinesmith was cheered by Donald Trump and his supporters as they look to the investigation , led by the US attorney John Durham , to lift Trump ’ s re-election prospects and to expose what they see as wrongdoing as the FBI opened the Russia investigation .
“ The fact is they spied on my campaign and they got caught , ” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday , while his campaign referred to “ the greatest crime in American history ” in a statement .
Yet the five-page charging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not allege criminal wrongdoing by anyone other than Clinesmith , nor does it offer evidence to support Trump ’ s assertions that the Russia investigation was tainted by widespread political bias in the FBI .
It makes clear that the FBI relied on Clinesmith ’ s own misrepresentations as it sought to renew its surveillance of the former Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
The Durham investigation has caused concern among Democrats , who view it as a politically charged exercise meant to relitigate an already closed investigation .
They fear that charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 election could be timed to affect November ’ s vote .
Durham , the US attorney for Connecticut , had no comment , a spokesman said .
It remains unclear what additional charges , if any , Durham might bring .
Durham ’ s work parallels in some respects a separate investigation into the Russia investigation by the justice department ’ s inspector general office .
That office concluded in a report last December that the investigation was opened for a valid reason , but it also identified significant errors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2017 that targeted Page .
The watchdog office also referred Clinesmith for potential prosecution .
Specifically , the inspector general accused Clinesmith , though not by name , of altering an email to say that Page was “ not a source ” for another government agency .
Page has stated publicly that he was a CIA source .
According to the inspector general ’ s report and Friday ’ s charging documents , Clinesmith received information in June 2017 from another government agency , presumably the CIA , showing that Page had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” between 2008 and 2013 .
But when an FBI colleague followed up by instant message on the question of whether Page had ever been a government source , Clinesmith responded that Page had “ never been a source ” , according to court documents .
When asked if he had that information in writing , the documents allege , Clinesmith altered an email he had received from the other agency by adding the words “ and not a source ” and then forwarded it .
The FBI relied on those misrepresentations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about Page , prosecutors allege , even though any relationship between Page and the government would have been important to disclose .
Clinesmith told the inspector general that he had not actually understood Page to be a source , or “ recruited asset ” , for another government agency .
“ Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email , ” Shur said .
“ It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues , as he believed the information he relayed was accurate , but Kevin understands what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Barr , the US attorney general , appointed Durham just weeks after the special counsel Robert Mueller concluded his nearly two-year investigation .
Mueller found significant contacts during the 2016 campaign between Russians and Trump associates but did not allege a criminal conspiracy between them .
He also examined multiple episodes in which Trump sought to affect or thwart the Russia investigation , but he did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump had obstructed justice .
Barr quickly signaled his skepticism about the Russia investigation , concluding that Trump had not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left that question unresolved .

A former FBI lawyer plans to plead guilty to making a false statement in the first criminal case arising from an inquiry into the investigation of ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign, his lawyer said Friday.
Kevin Clinesmith is accused of altering a government email about a former Trump campaign adviser who was a target of secret FBI surveillance, according to documents filed in Washington’s federal court. His lawyer, Justin Shur, told the Associated Press that Clinesmith intends to plead guilty to the single false statement count and that he regrets his actions.
The case against Clinesmith was cheered by Donald Trump and his supporters as they look to the investigation, led by the US attorney John Durham, to lift Trump’s re-election prospects and to expose what they see as wrongdoing as the FBI opened the Russia investigation.
“The fact is they spied on my campaign and they got caught,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday, while his campaign referred to “the greatest crime in American history” in a statement.
Yet the five-page charging document is limited in scope and does not allege criminal wrongdoing by anyone other than Clinesmith, nor does it offer evidence to support Trump’s assertions that the Russia investigation was tainted by widespread political bias in the FBI. It makes clear that the FBI relied on Clinesmith’s own misrepresentations as it sought to renew its surveillance of the former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
The Durham investigation has caused concern among Democrats, who view it as a politically charged exercise meant to relitigate an already closed investigation. They fear that charges or public reports issued so close to the 2020 election could be timed to affect November’s vote.
Durham, the US attorney for Connecticut, had no comment, a spokesman said. It remains unclear what additional charges, if any, Durham might bring.
Durham’s work parallels in some respects a separate investigation into the Russia investigation by the justice department’s inspector general office. That office concluded in a report last December that the investigation was opened for a valid reason, but it also identified significant errors and omissions in surveillance applications filed in 2016 and 2017 that targeted Page.
The watchdog office also referred Clinesmith for potential prosecution. Specifically, the inspector general accused Clinesmith, though not by name, of altering an email to say that Page was “not a source” for another government agency.
Page has stated publicly that he was a CIA source. According to the inspector general’s report and Friday’s charging documents, Clinesmith received information in June 2017 from another government agency, presumably the CIA, showing that Page had been approved as an “operational contact” between 2008 and 2013.
But when an FBI colleague followed up by instant message on the question of whether Page had ever been a government source, Clinesmith responded that Page had “never been a source”, according to court documents. When asked if he had that information in writing, the documents allege, Clinesmith altered an email he had received from the other agency by adding the words “and not a source” and then forwarded it.
The FBI relied on those misrepresentations in its final surveillance application and omitted that information about Page, prosecutors allege, even though any relationship between Page and the government would have been important to disclose.
Clinesmith told the inspector general that he had not actually understood Page to be a source, or “recruited asset”, for another government agency.
“Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email,” Shur said. “It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues, as he believed the information he relayed was accurate, but Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility.”
.
William Barr, the US attorney general, appointed Durham just weeks after the special counsel Robert Mueller concluded his nearly two-year investigation.
Mueller found significant contacts during the 2016 campaign between Russians and Trump associates but did not allege a criminal conspiracy between them. He also examined multiple episodes in which Trump sought to affect or thwart the Russia investigation, but he did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump had obstructed justice.
Barr quickly signaled his skepticism about the Russia investigation, concluding that Trump had not obstructed justice even though Mueller had pointedly left that question unresolved.


theguardian--2020-08-15--Obama condemns Trump attempt to 'kneecap' USPS to discourage voting – as it happened

The start of the school year is a time of anticipation , anxiety and energy .
This year , as 97 % percent of school California ’ s school districts begin the fall semester online , that anticipation has been multiplied exponentially , California school chief Tony Thurmond said today .
Thurmond joined governor Gavin Newsom and education expert Linda Darling-Hammond at today ’ s presser to give a rundown of how educators across the start are preparing for a new school year after having months to reflect on the shortcomings of the virtual learning rollout last spring .
Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital divide that ’ s meant even access to computers and devices — a gap that remains , despite ongoing efforts of school districts and nonprofits to get tech into the hands of every student .
Thurmond faulted a worldwide run on technology for backlogs that have stalled efforts to deliver devices to students .
Roughly 7,000 students in Oakland this week lacked equipment and hotspots when the school year began earlier this week .
Education advocates across the state continue to worry that low-income students will be left behind as the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deliver instruction to students with disabilities and others who aren ’ t well-served by online teaching .
Even though school districts that find themselves on the state ’ s watchlist — areas that face troubling rates of infections — are typically not allowed to hold in-person classes , they may still be able to offer in-person services for vulnerable students assuming they move in accordance with county health guidelines and work in very small groups .
The announcements come as infections and hospitalizations appear to have ticked down after a month of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But school districts also move forward as Covid cases among children surges , challenging the assumption that children are unlikely to catch and spread the virus .

Kari Paul, Kenya Evelyn, Joanna Walters and Martin Belam

15 Aug 2020 01.16 BST Here is your end-of-the-day recap As we all amble into the weekend (if you’re still paying attention to things like “time” and “days” at this stage of sheltering in place) let’s take a look at some of the top stories of the late afternoon. California governor Gavin Newsom signed two executive orders to facilitate mail-in voting for the 2020 election after Donald Trump sought to discourage it by defunding the Postal Service.
New Jersey governor Phil Murphy also announced an executive order making it easier to vote by mail.
Elizabeth Warren demanded a probe of the recently-appointed Trump-allied postmaster.
Maxine Waters held a press conference at the main US Post office in Los Angeles to bring attention to Trump’s actions against the USPS.
Joe Biden called the USPS situation “bizarre”.
Kanye West may appear on the ballot in Iowa after a swathe of petitions was delivered there today.
Washington congresswoman Pramila Jayapal endorsed new Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris in a Los Angles Times op-ed.
Trump held a little rally in New Jersey of police officers.
The US Department of Defense has established a new task force to investigate UFOs.
15 Aug 2020 01.06 BST In other news, the Pentagon announced Friday it has established a UFO task force to “improve its understanding” of “unidentified aerial phenomena”. “The mission of the task force is to detect, analyze and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security,” the department of defense said in a statement.
15 Aug 2020 01.02 BST The governor of New Jersey announced on Friday the majority of its 2020 election would be carried out by mail Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, is the latest to announce plans to move as much voting as possible to mail-in ballots to address the spread of Covid-19. He said during a news conference that he will sign an executive order calling for all registered voters to get a ballot beginning Oct. 5 along with a prepaid return envelope.
Though he did not cite him by name, he made clear in the press conference the move is in response to Donald Trump attempting to starve the Postal Service of cash to purposely hinder mail-in voting. The postal service, the governor said, was “being turned into a political football” by people who don’t believe in getting people to turn out to vote.
14 Aug 2020 00.47 BST Donald Trump spoke to a group of several dozen police officers at a ‘Cops for Trump’ rally Friday evening at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke of his brother Robert, whom he visited in the hospital earlier in the day, telling the police “he respected you.” Robert Trump is in the hospital with a “serious” condition, the White House has confirmed. “We can’t lose this election, ok?” Trump tells police officers at event a Bedminster. pic.twitter.com/Ef4RT2krZ6 — Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) August 14, 2020 Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani also spoke at the event, targeting newly-announced Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, calling her a “bully” and a “horrible person.” Rudy Giuliani: "I interviewed an African-American gentleman the other day. I have the tape. And he said that this is the best President for the African-American community since Abraham Lincoln -- nobody even close." pic.twitter.com/tiXRWpcled — The Hill (@thehill) August 14, 2020 Giuliani also for some reason announced that he interviewed one African American man who said Trump was good.
Updated at 00.59 BST
14 Aug 2020 00.39 BST Joe Biden has commented on the Post Office drama of the week, calling the removal of post boxes due to lack of funding “bizarre” at a fundraiser on Friday. The USPS announced late Friday it would stop removing collection boxes after backlash. “We are suspending the removal of collection boxes at this time,” the agency said in a statement. “All postings on collection boxes will be removed, as we will no longer be pulling any boxes.”
14 Aug 2020 23.47 BST A binder full of petitions to put Kanye West’s name on the ballot in the 2020 presidential elections was submitted in Iowa on Friday, making it the latest state to potentially include the rapper-turned-candidate in its elections. West is already on the ballot in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Vermont. Petitions were also recently submitted to add his name in Wisconsin. Journalist Ben Jacobs discovered the petitions in Iowa were submitted by a Republican operative there. He also found West is registered as a Republican voter in Wyoming. Republicans are reportedly working to support West’s campaign in hopes it will split the Democratic vote and aid Donald Trump’s chances of winning.
There is speculation West is actively working with Trump as he met with the president’s son in law Jared Kushner and reportedly talks to him daily. The rapper’s wife Kim Kardashian West has met with Trump in the White House in the past to advocate for the release of prisoners.
14 Aug 2020 23.13 BST Backlash around the postal service continues: representative Maxine Waters reportedly will hold a presser at the Los Angeles post office at 4pm PST today, to bring attention to the new USPS rules from the Trump administration and their effects on postal operations. "Auntie Maxine" is mad: "Enough is enough!" says @RepMaxineWaters advisory - announcing she's marching down to the main Post Office in Los Angeles today at 4 pm, holding presser to bring attention "to effects Trump Administration’s new USPS rules are having on postal operations." — Carla Marinucci (@cmarinucci) August 14, 2020 Elizabeth Warren has also demanded action surrounding Trump’s USPS actions. She called for a probe of new Trump-appointed postmaster Louis DeJoy and promised to use “every in the toolbox to stop Trump & DeJoy from sabotaging the USPS”.
Updated at 23.58 BST
14 Aug 2020 22.47 BST The Washington congresswoman Pramila Jayapal endorsed new Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris in a Los Angles Times op-ed on Friday. Jayapal highlighted Harris’s immigrant background and their shared South Asian heritage and said Harris is uniquely equipped to take on Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric. From the piece: Sen. Harris’ nomination offers a clear contrast to a xenophobic president who has attacked immigrants and asylum seekers and the very idea of immigration at every turn, issuing a Muslim ban, separating families, caging children and even threatening student visa programs that allowed Sen. Harris’ mother and me to come to America in the first place. Jayapal said that in 2016 when she became the first South Asian American woman to be elected to the House, Harris became the first South Asian American woman to be elected to the Senate. Together they represent just two of 79 women of color to ever have served in Congress. This op-ed comes as Trump recently targeted Harris with racist birther theories. The president, who first gained momentum in politics with a racist campaign claiming Barack Obama was not born in the US, said in a press conference on Thursday that he “heard she doesn’t meet the requirements” to be vice president. Jayapal does not comment on that specific controversy in her op-ed, but cites the immigrant experience as an asset. “Immigrants and the children of immigrants are resilient,” Jayapal wrote. “We push boulders up mountains and succeed because we have to. And that’s the kind of leadership we need.”
Updated at 23.14 BST
14 Aug 2020 22.35 BST The former Missouri senator Claire McCaskill weighed in on Donald Trump’s post office drama in a tweet on Friday, calling him a “liar” who is “trying to steal an election in broad daylight”. Her tweet came in response to a report that showed Trump had met with the new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, last week despite saying he had not spoken to the new official. Trump has named DeJoy, a North Carolina ally and Republican National Convention fundraiser, to the helm of the Postal Service. The action has many concerned Trump will leverage this ally’s new position to block funds from the postal service, which Trump has advocated for to suppress mail-in voting.
Updated at 23.59 BST
14 Aug 2020 22.28 BST The California governor, Gavin Newsom, announced on Friday two executive orders that would “jump start” the state’s mail-in ballot process. I signed 2 EOs that jump started our mail in ballot process.
We are providing drop off sites and safe voting sites.
I signed legislation to double down on those commitments.
And have a provision that allows 17 extra days to collect ballots.
Because we believe in DEMOCRACY. https://t.co/jMhBprfji4 — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 14, 2020 The orders include the provision of safe voting sites and drop off sites for ballots, in addition to an extension of 17 days to collect ballots. They came in direct response to Donald Trump’s statements that he refuses to provide additional funding to the US Post Office ahead of November elections that will rely largely on mail-in ballots in an effort to suppress votes.
Updated at 23.59 BST
14 Aug 2020 22.24 BST Kari Paul here in Oakland, California, blogging for you over the next few hours. Stay tuned for more news.


theguardian--2020-08-14--Why is the US Postal Service's role in November's election under scrutiny?

The United States Postal Service has emerged as a central issue in November ’ s hotly contested election where Democrat Joe Biden is seeking to prevent Republican Donald Trump from winning a second term .
Here is why : Why is there so much attention around the USPS and America ’ s 2020 election ?
An unprecedented number of Americans are expected to vote by mail this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Over the last few months , states across the US have seen record numbers of Americans request ballots and submit votes by mail in primary and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 50 % of all of the votes cast this fall , according to an estimate by Michael McDonald , a University of Florida professor who closely tracks voter turnout .
That would be a huge increase from 2016 and 2018 , when about a quarter of votes came through the mail .
That surge means the USPS is going to play a much bigger role in facilitating an American presidential election than ever before .
The agency will be responsible for transporting ballots between election officials and voters .
Many states require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the close of the polls on election day .
Others allow ballot postmarked on or before election that arrive within a specified period .
There ’ s concern over whether the USPS , which is already facing a severe financial crisis , will be able get ballots to voters and return them to election offices in time to have them counted .
So what exactly is Trump doing to the USPS ?
Over the last few months there have been reports of severe mail delays across the US .
In Philadelphia , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inquirer they had gone weeks without receiving mail .
Concerns over those delays were heightened in early June when Louis DeJoy , a major Republican donor and Trump ally , took over as postmaster general , the top role at the USPS .
In July , the Washington Post and other news organizations reported the agency was banning overtime and instructing postal workers to leave the mail behind if it delayed them on their routes .
There are also reports of the USPS removing mail sorting machines from facilities , which could lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and DeJoy are deliberately slowing the mail to make it more difficult to vote by mail .
DeJoy has strongly denied any political interference .
But on Thursday , Trump openly admitted he was blocking $ 25bn in proposed aid to the post office because he wanted to make it harder to vote by mail .
Why is Trump doing this ?
The president is trailing Joe Biden in the polls and his focus on the USPS is widely seen as an attempt to sow chaos and to make it less likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November .
Vote-by-mail does not benefit one party over the other , but Trump has shown an instinctive belief that the fewer people who vote , the better his re-election chances will be .
One of the top reasons ballots go uncounted is because they arrive at election offices past the deadline to be counted .
Minorities , young people , and first-time voters are all disproportionately more likely to have their votes rejected .
Will the USPS be able to survive Trump ’ s attacks for November ?
The post office says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fall and says it will do so .
The agency has longstanding guidance that voters should put their ballots in the mail before election day in order to have the best chance of having them counted .
But many states allow voters to request a ballot within the seven days before an election , something USPS warned many states in recent weeks could mean voters not having their ballots counted .
Does a mail-in vote have to be returned by the USPS ?
Many election officials are exploring setting up official drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can return their ballots without having to return them in the mail .
But in Pennsylvania the Trump campaign sued to block the use of drop boxes for the election , baselessly saying they will facilitate fraud .
What can I do to help ensure there isn ’ t a USPS crisis in November ?
Experts are encouraging Americans to submit their requests for their November ballots now so that postal officials are less overwhelmed later this year and there isn ’ t a crunch to get them back in time .
Voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requesting and submitting an absentee ballot so they can do so well in advance of November .

The United States Postal Service has emerged as a central issue in November’s hotly contested election where Democrat Joe Biden is seeking to prevent Republican Donald Trump from winning a second term. Here is why:
Why is there so much attention around the USPS and America’s 2020 election?
An unprecedented number of Americans are expected to vote by mail this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the last few months, states across the US have seen record numbers of Americans request ballots and submit votes by mail in primary and other elections. Mail-in ballots may account for 50% of all of the votes cast this fall, according to an estimate by Michael McDonald, a University of Florida professor who closely tracks voter turnout. That would be a huge increase from 2016 and 2018, when about a quarter of votes came through the mail.
That surge means the USPS is going to play a much bigger role in facilitating an American presidential election than ever before. The agency will be responsible for transporting ballots between election officials and voters. Many states require ballots to arrive at election offices by the close of the polls on election day. Others allow ballot postmarked on or before election that arrive within a specified period. There’s concern over whether the USPS, which is already facing a severe financial crisis, will be able get ballots to voters and return them to election offices in time to have them counted.
So what exactly is Trump doing to the USPS?
Over the last few months there have been reports of severe mail delays across the US. In Philadelphia, for example, some residents told the Philadelphia Inquirer they had gone weeks without receiving mail. Concerns over those delays were heightened in early June when Louis DeJoy, a major Republican donor and Trump ally, took over as postmaster general, the top role at the USPS.
In July, the Washington Post and other news organizations reported the agency was banning overtime and instructing postal workers to leave the mail behind if it delayed them on their routes. There are also reports of the USPS removing mail sorting machines from facilities, which could lead to a further slowdown.
Critics suggest Trump and DeJoy are deliberately slowing the mail to make it more difficult to vote by mail. DeJoy has strongly denied any political interference. But on Thursday, Trump openly admitted he was blocking $25bn in proposed aid to the post office because he wanted to make it harder to vote by mail.
Why is Trump doing this?
The president is trailing Joe Biden in the polls and his focus on the USPS is widely seen as an attempt to sow chaos and to make it less likely people will have their votes counted in November. Vote-by-mail does not benefit one party over the other, but Trump has shown an instinctive belief that the fewer people who vote, the better his re-election chances will be.
One of the top reasons ballots go uncounted is because they arrive at election offices past the deadline to be counted. Minorities, young people, and first-time voters are all disproportionately more likely to have their votes rejected.
Will the USPS be able to survive Trump’s attacks for November?
The post office says it has the capacity to deliver ballots this fall and says it will do so. The agency has longstanding guidance that voters should put their ballots in the mail before election day in order to have the best chance of having them counted. But many states allow voters to request a ballot within the seven days before an election, something USPS warned many states in recent weeks could mean voters not having their ballots counted.
Does a mail-in vote have to be returned by the USPS?
Many election officials are exploring setting up official drop boxes around their jurisdictions so that voters can return their ballots without having to return them in the mail. But in Pennsylvania the Trump campaign sued to block the use of drop boxes for the election, baselessly saying they will facilitate fraud.
What can I do to help ensure there isn’t a USPS crisis in November?
Experts are encouraging Americans to submit their requests for their November ballots now so that postal officials are less overwhelmed later this year and there isn’t a crunch to get them back in time. Voters should also look up the deadline for requesting and submitting an absentee ballot so they can do so well in advance of November.


theguardian--2020-08-14--Speculation grows over pardon for Edward Snowden after Trump remarks

Speculation is growing over whether Donald Trump might pardon Edward Snowden after the US president told an interviewer that the exiled former intelligence operative was “ not being treated fairly ” .
The comments came as the Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie , a Republican , made a surprising call on Friday for Snowden to receive a presidential pardon .
Massie , whom Trump has previously attacked , tweeted that Trump “ should pardon ” Snowden , 37 .
Snowden disclosed highly classified information from the National Security Agency in 2013 .
He revealed the news covertly to the Guardian at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this outlet after he fled to Hong Kong , before retreating to Moscow to avoid extradition to the US .
He has remained in Russia ever since .
Snowden ’ s leaks triggered a scandal in the US over the extent and scope of US surveillance of Americans and of people overseas .
He became a hero to many liberals and libertarians , but an enemy to many others who saw his disclosures as a betrayal .
The revelations inspired movies , books and documentaries .
Trump himself mused this week on Snowden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Post .
“ There are a lot of people that think that he is not being treated fairly .
I mean , I hear that , ” Trump told the newspaper .
He added : “ Many people are on his side , I will say that .
I don ’ t know him , never met him .
But many people are on his side.
” Trump ’ s comments reflect a remarkable softening in his views about a man he once deemed a “ traitor ” worthy of execution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or commuted the sentences of other controversial figures during his first term in office .
He commuted the sentence of his longtime ally Roger Stone on seven felony crimes , sparing him a 40-month jail term for crimes aimed at aiding the Trump campaign .
He also pardoned the anti-immigrant Arizona lawman Joe Arpaio , sparing the controversial former sheriff after he was convicted of criminal contempt .
In 2016 a petition was started , urging the then president , Barack Obama , to pardon Snowden .
The campaign , organized by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch and Amnesty International , included a petition signed by technologists , law professors and celebrities .
At a news conference , Snowden appeared by remote video link , thanking the organizers and arguing that his fate will have a broader impact .
“ If we are to sustain a free society through the next century , we must ensure that whistleblowers can act again , and safely , as a check on future abuses of power , ” Snowden said .
The Pardon Snowden petition reached a million signatures in 2017 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Speculation is growing over whether Donald Trump might pardon Edward Snowden after the US president told an interviewer that the exiled former intelligence operative was “not being treated fairly”.
The comments came as the Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican, made a surprising call on Friday for Snowden to receive a presidential pardon.
Massie, whom Trump has previously attacked, tweeted that Trump “should pardon” Snowden, 37.
Snowden disclosed highly classified information from the National Security Agency in 2013. He revealed the news covertly to the Guardian at the time, then did interviews with this outlet after he fled to Hong Kong, before retreating to Moscow to avoid extradition to the US.
He has remained in Russia ever since.
Snowden’s leaks triggered a scandal in the US over the extent and scope of US surveillance of Americans and of people overseas. He became a hero to many liberals and libertarians, but an enemy to many others who saw his disclosures as a betrayal. The revelations inspired movies, books and documentaries.
Trump himself mused this week on Snowden, in an interview with the New York Post.
“There are a lot of people that think that he is not being treated fairly. I mean, I hear that,” Trump told the newspaper.
He added: “Many people are on his side, I will say that. I don’t know him, never met him. But many people are on his side.”
Trump’s comments reflect a remarkable softening in his views about a man he once deemed a “traitor” worthy of execution, the Post reported.
Trump has pardoned or commuted the sentences of other controversial figures during his first term in office. He commuted the sentence of his longtime ally Roger Stone on seven felony crimes, sparing him a 40-month jail term for crimes aimed at aiding the Trump campaign. He also pardoned the anti-immigrant Arizona lawman Joe Arpaio, sparing the controversial former sheriff after he was convicted of criminal contempt.
In 2016 a petition was started, urging the then president, Barack Obama, to pardon Snowden.
The campaign, organized by the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, included a petition signed by technologists, law professors and celebrities. At a news conference, Snowden appeared by remote video link, thanking the organizers and arguing that his fate will have a broader impact.
“If we are to sustain a free society through the next century, we must ensure that whistleblowers can act again, and safely, as a check on future abuses of power,” Snowden said.
The Pardon Snowden petition reached a million signatures in 2017 and was delivered to the White House.


theguardian--2020-08-14--'It's a game and we lost': Palestinians decry Gulf moves towards Israel

Shortly after Donald Trump announced he had brokered a “ huge breakthrough ” deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates , the White House published a list of bullet points detailing what it had achieved .
Only at the bottom , just after “ expanded business and financial ties between these two thriving economies ” , did the very last sentence blandly mention what had previously been the key regional issue : the fate of the Palestinians .
For decades , Israel ’ s relationship with its neighbours has been defined by its protracted occupation .
The broadly accepted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true peace with other countries in the Middle East was for Israel to end its trampling on Palestinian rights .
Shattering that assumption , the UAE established diplomatic ties with Israel on Thursday with almost no concessions for the Palestinians .
“ What does it mean for the UAE to reconcile with Israel in light of the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank ?
I don ’ t know what that means in helping us , ” said Sherine Abu Qamar , a 32-year-old full-time mother living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest in any Arab rapprochement with Israel , which kills us through blockade and bombing , ” she added .
The UAE claims it saved Palestinians from the potentially catastrophic threat of Israeli annexation , which the country agreed to “ suspend ” as part of the deal .
But Palestinians see that as a public relations move – the Israeli prime minister , Benjamin Netanyahu , has been clear that annexation remains his long-term goal .
Instead , Abu Qamar said , the true reason for the deal had nothing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran .
“ UAE is looking [ out ] for its own interest only and does not think of anyone .
Iran is its enemy and it is looking for Israel to help it confront Iran , ” she said .
Palestinians feel they have become a sideshow , with the headline act in the Middle East being a confrontation for regional dominance between Tehran and its allies against autocratic Gulf states , with Washington backing the latter .
Israel , Iran ’ s arch-foe , naturally sees itself as fitting snugly on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Israel ’ s hi-tech security market has also proved a tempting incentive for Gulf states , as well as appeasing the Trump administration by cosying up to its cherished ally .
Bahrain and Oman , which both welcomed the UAE move , are expected to announce greater ties with Israel in the near future .
“ It ’ s all about interests ; every party is looking for its own benefit , ” said Loay Jarada , 22 , a Palestinian university student in Gaza .
“ It ’ s a game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 45 , a building contractor from Jerusalem , said while the UAE move hurt , it was not unexpected .
“ This is the beginning of the end of a long time of normalisation in the dark , ” he said .
“ The Emiratis took off their mask and went public , but they were talking to the Israelis many years ago.
” On Friday , Palestinians were sharing a cartoon on social media .
It displayed two pictures with the same image of a man in a blue jacket and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man in Gulf-style clothing .
On the first , they were hugging while hiding under a table .
On the second , they were hugging openly sitting on top of it , suggesting that a hidden romance was now out in the open .
Tareq Baconi , an Israel-Palestine analyst for the International Crisis Group thinktank , said in an analysis posted on Twitter that Trump ’ s deal was not a “ historic peace agreement ” but a “ repackaging ” of the ongoing reality of Gulf-Israel relations .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as usual .
The UAE ’ s decision to proceed in this way is a dangerous precedent … where official normalisation has become possible despite continued Palestinian subjugation , ” he said .
Palestinians say they can no longer expect their Arab allies to pressure Israel as they once did .
Compounded by Trump ’ s aligning of US policy towards the Israeli hard right and dithering by European diplomats , the sense of abandonment is overwhelming .
“ This is a bullet to the head of the Palestinian cause , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain anonymous .
“ And it will hurt and weaken the Palestinian position in front of the Israelis .
We were always counting on the Arab countries to help us and stand against Israel .
Not any more .
”

Oliver Holmes and Hazem Balousha in Gaza and Sufian Taha in Jerusalem

Shortly after Donald Trump announced he had brokered a “huge breakthrough” deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, the White House published a list of bullet points detailing what it had achieved.
Only at the bottom, just after “expanded business and financial ties between these two thriving economies”, did the very last sentence blandly mention what had previously been the key regional issue: the fate of the Palestinians.
For decades, Israel’s relationship with its neighbours has been defined by its protracted occupation. The broadly accepted logic was that the only path to true peace with other countries in the Middle East was for Israel to end its trampling on Palestinian rights.
Shattering that assumption, the UAE established diplomatic ties with Israel on Thursday with almost no concessions for the Palestinians.
“What does it mean for the UAE to reconcile with Israel in light of the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank? I don’t know what that means in helping us,” said Sherine Abu Qamar, a 32-year-old full-time mother living in Gaza.
“We have no interest in any Arab rapprochement with Israel, which kills us through blockade and bombing,” she added.
Palestinians shoes are placed on a pictures of Donald Trump, the UAE’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, during a protest in the West Bank. Photograph: Majdi Mohammed/AP
The UAE claims it saved Palestinians from the potentially catastrophic threat of Israeli annexation, which the country agreed to “suspend” as part of the deal. But Palestinians see that as a public relations move – the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been clear that annexation remains his long-term goal.
Instead, Abu Qamar said, the true reason for the deal had nothing to do with Palestinians and everything to do with Iran. “UAE is looking [out] for its own interest only and does not think of anyone. Iran is its enemy and it is looking for Israel to help it confront Iran,” she said.
Palestinians feel they have become a sideshow, with the headline act in the Middle East being a confrontation for regional dominance between Tehran and its allies against autocratic Gulf states, with Washington backing the latter. Israel, Iran’s arch-foe, naturally sees itself as fitting snugly on one side of that fight.
Access to Israel’s hi-tech security market has also proved a tempting incentive for Gulf states, as well as appeasing the Trump administration by cosying up to its cherished ally. Bahrain and Oman, which both welcomed the UAE move, are expected to announce greater ties with Israel in the near future.
“It’s all about interests; every party is looking for its own benefit,” said Loay Jarada, 22, a Palestinian university student in Gaza. “It’s a game and we lost.”
Said al Najaar, 45, a building contractor from Jerusalem, said while the UAE move hurt, it was not unexpected. “This is the beginning of the end of a long time of normalisation in the dark,” he said. “The Emiratis took off their mask and went public, but they were talking to the Israelis many years ago.”
On Friday, Palestinians were sharing a cartoon on social media. It displayed two pictures with the same image of a man in a blue jacket and Star of David on his kippah hugging a man in Gulf-style clothing. On the first, they were hugging while hiding under a table. On the second, they were hugging openly sitting on top of it, suggesting that a hidden romance was now out in the open.
Tareq Baconi, an Israel-Palestine analyst for the International Crisis Group thinktank, said in an analysis posted on Twitter that Trump’s deal was not a “historic peace agreement” but a “repackaging” of the ongoing reality of Gulf-Israel relations.
“But, this is also not inconsequential business as usual. The UAE’s decision to proceed in this way is a dangerous precedent … where official normalisation has become possible despite continued Palestinian subjugation,” he said.
Palestinians say they can no longer expect their Arab allies to pressure Israel as they once did. Compounded by Trump’s aligning of US policy towards the Israeli hard right and dithering by European diplomats, the sense of abandonment is overwhelming.
“This is a bullet to the head of the Palestinian cause,” said a 20-year-old Palestinian student, who asked to remain anonymous. “And it will hurt and weaken the Palestinian position in front of the Israelis. We were always counting on the Arab countries to help us and stand against Israel. Not any more.”


theguardian--2020-08-15--Chicago 1968: glimpses of when the Democrats met amid a summer of unrest

Every four years in the US , political parties convene to nominate their respective candidates for November ’ s presidential election .
The conventions are historically grandiose affairs with a circus-like atmosphere .
Speeches are given , balloons are dropped and the party message of uniting behind their candidate is beamed to the nation .
At least that ’ s the usual plan .
This summer ’ s conventions are unfolding against the backdrop of a raging pandemic , economic collapse and widespread civil unrest around anti-racism protests .
In an unprecedented move , both parties ’ conventions are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , driven online by health fears .
But it is not the first time conventions have had to cope with social turmoil .
This year ’ s pandemic and racial justice protests bear similarities to half a century ago when a series of crises were racking the country .
In 1968 , US cities burned in protest of racial intolerance , thousands of American soldiers and countless Vietnamese died in war , civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr and senator Robert F Kennedy were assassinated , North Korea captured an American surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into existence that would eventually kill over a million people .
As the country was torn apart by anti-war protests , poverty and racial prejudice , 1968 ’ s Democratic Convention unfolded in Chicago , Illinois .
For a week at the end of August the city filled with party delegates and thousands of protesters .
I arrived that week – as a 16-year-old photographer – to find the dichotomy of “ Welcome to Chicago ” signs on every lamppost and a massive police presence on almost every block .
The Conrad Hilton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent clashes .
Hours before the convention ’ s opening on Monday , supporters of various candidates packed the Hilton ’ s lobby and main stairway , screaming and waving signs .
Mid-afternoon the anti-war candidate , Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota , arrived to confer with his delegates .
McCarthy , a soft-spoken , poetry-writing midwesterner , was the candidate that millions had pinned their hopes on for months to win the election and finally end the war .
Days later his campaign would be crushed by the machine politicians .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street battles outside the hotel sent teargas cascading and people running to avoid being beaten .
Ducking into the hotel gasping for breath and rubbing my eyes , a voice asked if I was OK .
The concerned passerby was the noted folk singer Phil Ochs , the voice of the protest generation who would participate in many impromptu performances at rallies that week .
On Tuesday , candidate Hubert H Humphrey , then vice-president , strode across the hotel lobby to meet with delegates .
Humphrey was the party ’ s hopeful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years-long Vietnam war , chose not to run for re-election after a critical editorial by the CBS newsman Walter Cronkite , the man then dubbed “ the most trusted man in America ” .
Losing Cronkite ’ s confidence , Johnson believed he had lost Middle America as well .
It fell to Humphrey to be labeled the pro-war candidate of the Democratic party .
Humphrey approached the hotel elevator when one man reached out to shake his hand ; as Humphrey turned , the man gave a thumbs-down inches from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even his police escort laughed .
On Tuesday night , hundreds of army troops with rifles slung over their shoulders lined the street across from the hotel .
Military police jeeps sat idling with barbed wire mounted on frames on the front that would be used to disperse protesters .
Machine guns threatened more serious consequences .
Large crowds cheered as hotel guests flashed their room lights on and off in a show of support .
The Beat poet Allen Ginsberg held up the two-fingered peace salute while standing near a sign reading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
At dawn Wednesday , remnants of teargas mixed with the morning mist as an elderly delegate crossed Michigan Avenue , placed himself between a line of protesters and military police and began playing a violin .
Throughout the day despair and frustration descended on the anti-war crowd as an inevitable sense of failure loomed .
Later that night , the convention delegates would choose Humphrey while in the streets the police riot ran full frenzy .
That night blue-helmeted police invaded the hotel ’ s 15th floor , the McCarthy staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were being thrown out of windows , and proceeded to beat the young volunteers .
As the vote tallies were displayed on television screens , the hopes of those who had come to Chicago seeking change dissipated , replaced by feelings of gloom .
Inside the convention hall McCarthy delegates claimed harassment as officials frequently required examination of their credentials .
Reporters were shoved and , in one case , punched .
When delegates tried to criticize the street violence , their microphones were turned off .
Behind the main stage were giant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall , in giant letters was the slogan “ Promises Made …Promises Kept ” , a catchphrase used recently by Donald Trump .
That final night , the convention nominated the Maine senator Edmund Muskie as the vice-presidential candidate .
Humphrey ’ s victory address briefly paid lip service to the street clashes .
“ Majority rule has prevailed while minority rights are preserved , ” he said with a straight face in a speech that wouldn ’ t heal the rifts tearing the party , and the country , apart .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be elected president .

Every four years in the US, political parties convene to nominate their respective candidates for November’s presidential election.
The conventions are historically grandiose affairs with a circus-like atmosphere. Speeches are given, balloons are dropped and the party message of uniting behind their candidate is beamed to the nation.
At least that’s the usual plan. This summer’s conventions are unfolding against the backdrop of a raging pandemic, economic collapse and widespread civil unrest around anti-racism protests. In an unprecedented move, both parties’ conventions are now set to be almost wholly virtual affairs, driven online by health fears.
But it is not the first time conventions have had to cope with social turmoil. This year’s pandemic and racial justice protests bear similarities to half a century ago when a series of crises were racking the country. In 1968, US cities burned in protest of racial intolerance, thousands of American soldiers and countless Vietnamese died in war, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr and senator Robert F Kennedy were assassinated, North Korea captured an American surveillance ship, and a flu pandemic sparked into existence that would eventually kill over a million people.
US army troops in front of the Conrad Hilton, the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. Photograph: Jefferson Siegel
As the country was torn apart by anti-war protests, poverty and racial prejudice, 1968’s Democratic Convention unfolded in Chicago, Illinois. For a week at the end of August the city filled with party delegates and thousands of protesters.
I arrived that week – as a 16-year-old photographer – to find the dichotomy of “Welcome to Chicago” signs on every lamppost and a massive police presence on almost every block.
The Conrad Hilton hotel wound up being the sites of violent clashes. Hours before the convention’s opening on Monday, supporters of various candidates packed the Hilton’s lobby and main stairway, screaming and waving signs.
Demonstrators across the street from the Conrad Hilton hotel. Photograph: Jefferson Siegel
Mid-afternoon the anti-war candidate, Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota, arrived to confer with his delegates. McCarthy, a soft-spoken, poetry-writing midwesterner, was the candidate that millions had pinned their hopes on for months to win the election and finally end the war. Days later his campaign would be crushed by the machine politicians.
As night fell, the first of many street battles outside the hotel sent teargas cascading and people running to avoid being beaten. Ducking into the hotel gasping for breath and rubbing my eyes, a voice asked if I was OK. The concerned passerby was the noted folk singer Phil Ochs, the voice of the protest generation who would participate in many impromptu performances at rallies that week.
On Tuesday, candidate Hubert H Humphrey, then vice-president, strode across the hotel lobby to meet with delegates.
Humphrey was the party’s hopeful because President Lyndon Johnson, mired in the years-long Vietnam war, chose not to run for re-election after a critical editorial by the CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, the man then dubbed “the most trusted man in America”. Losing Cronkite’s confidence, Johnson believed he had lost Middle America as well. It fell to Humphrey to be labeled the pro-war candidate of the Democratic party.
Humphrey approached the hotel elevator when one man reached out to shake his hand; as Humphrey turned, the man gave a thumbs-down inches from the candidate’s face. Onlookers and even his police escort laughed.
6am, the morning after intense street battles in downtown Chicago. Photograph: Jefferson Siegel
On Tuesday night, hundreds of army troops with rifles slung over their shoulders lined the street across from the hotel. Military police jeeps sat idling with barbed wire mounted on frames on the front that would be used to disperse protesters. Machine guns threatened more serious consequences. Large crowds cheered as hotel guests flashed their room lights on and off in a show of support. The Beat poet Allen Ginsberg held up the two-fingered peace salute while standing near a sign reading “Happy Humphrey Hog-Butcher To The World”.
At dawn Wednesday, remnants of teargas mixed with the morning mist as an elderly delegate crossed Michigan Avenue, placed himself between a line of protesters and military police and began playing a violin. Throughout the day despair and frustration descended on the anti-war crowd as an inevitable sense of failure loomed. Later that night, the convention delegates would choose Humphrey while in the streets the police riot ran full frenzy.
That night blue-helmeted police invaded the hotel’s 15th floor, the McCarthy staff headquarters, under the pretense that objects were being thrown out of windows, and proceeded to beat the young volunteers. As the vote tallies were displayed on television screens, the hopes of those who had come to Chicago seeking change dissipated, replaced by feelings of gloom.
Inside the convention hall McCarthy delegates claimed harassment as officials frequently required examination of their credentials. Reporters were shoved and, in one case, punched. When delegates tried to criticize the street violence, their microphones were turned off.
At the Democratic national convention in Chicago, at about 6am a delegate played violin standing between troops and demonstrators across the street from the Conrad Hilton hotel. Photograph: Jefferson Siegel
Behind the main stage were giant photos of candidate Humphrey. Along one wall, in giant letters was the slogan “Promises Made …Promises Kept”, a catchphrase used recently by Donald Trump.
That final night, the convention nominated the Maine senator Edmund Muskie as the vice-presidential candidate. Humphrey’s victory address briefly paid lip service to the street clashes.
“Majority rule has prevailed while minority rights are preserved,” he said with a straight face in a speech that wouldn’t heal the rifts tearing the party, and the country, apart.
On the last night of the convention, after winning the Democratic nomination, Hubert Humphrey, left, introduces his choice for VP, Edmund Muskie, right. Photograph: Jefferson Siegel
In November the Republican Richard M Nixon would be elected president.