theguardian--2020-08-20--Hillary Clinton urges voters to turn out so Trump 'can't sneak or steal his way to victory' – live

The climate crisis is getting its most extensive coverage on the third night of the convention .
Two compilation videos bookended New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham speaking about the need to expand clean energy in front of a field of solar panels .
Twice there were references to Biden introducing one of the first climate bills in the 1980s .
Promises of millions of good paying jobs voiced over images of public lands , sustainable farms and alternative transportation like electric scooters .
Biden ’ s plan promises to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and put 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities .
But the convention ’ s climate credentials have been marred by the DNC ’ s surprising decision to remove language to oppose fossil fuel subsidies , despite Biden ’ s support for eliminating them .
Even the youth climate activist Greta Thunberg criticized the move .
Video cut to Trump calling global warming a “ hoax.
” A whistleblower scientist who left the Interior department in 2017 the Trump administration has gone “ all out , ” to reverse climate efforts and has handed the keys to public lands over to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about losing their communities to wildfires , questioning whether they should raise families and feeling cheated because people of color are more likely to be exposed to pollution .
The climate crisis is getting the biggest spotlight it has ever had from a US political party .
And while Biden is unquestionably the better alternative for the crisis than Trump ( and he got tons of credit from environmental advocates for his proposals ) , critics say he is still not aggressive enough with the fossil fuel industry .

20 Aug 2020 05.37 BST Key takeaways from the night That’s it from us tonight. The Guardian live blog will be back tomorrow, when Joe Biden accepts the Democratic presidential nomination. Here are the key takeaways from the third night of the Democratic convention: Harris made history as she became the first Black woman and first Asian American to join a major party’s presidential ticket. Harris underscored the historic nature of her nomination by reflecting on the women who helped her reach this moment, including her mother, who immigrated to America from India. Harris said of her, “She probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America.”
Harris underscored the historic nature of her nomination by reflecting on the women who helped her reach this moment, including her mother, who immigrated to America from India. Harris said of her, “She probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America.” Barack Obama delivered a dire message calling for voters to protect American democracy. The former president argued that Donald Trump’s potential reelection posed an existential threat to the country’s democratic values and institutions, and he implored voters to “embrace your own responsibility as citizens” ahead of November’s election.
The former president argued that Donald Trump’s potential reelection posed an existential threat to the country’s democratic values and institutions, and he implored voters to “embrace your own responsibility as citizens” ahead of November’s election. Hillary Clinton reflected on her own election loss. The 2016 Democratic nominee said she has met many Americans who have told her they wish they could go back to 2016 and vote differently, or just vote. “This can’t be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election,” Clinton said.
The 2016 Democratic nominee said she has met many Americans who have told her they wish they could go back to 2016 and vote differently, or just vote. “This can’t be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election,” Clinton said. The night was dedicated to celebrating women’s political participation, culminating in Harris’ nomination. Several of the most prominent women in the Democratic party, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, addressed the convention, and Democrats played a video commemorating the hundred-year anniversary since American women gained the right to vote.
Several of the most prominent women in the Democratic party, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, addressed the convention, and Democrats played a video commemorating the hundred-year anniversary since American women gained the right to vote. Gabrielle Giffords provided the most emotional moment of the night. The former congresswoman, who suffered brain damage after she was shot at an event with constituents in 2011, said, “Today, I struggle with speech, but I have not lost my voice. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words.” Thanks for following along with our convention coverage tonight, and remember to tune back in tomorrow.
20 Aug 2020 05.20 BST Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords delivered a moving speech tonight, in which she noted her ongoing struggles since she was shot at an event with constituents in 2011. “Today I struggle to speak, but I have not lost my voice,” Giffords said. “America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words.” .@JoeBiden and I agree that pain is best overcome by purpose.
I still struggle to speak, but at tonight’s #DemConvention, I made my voice heard.
For the safety and future of our country, we must elect @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. pic.twitter.com/oxFNdjwsvm — Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) August 20, 2020 A spokesperson for Giffords said she spent “countless hours” working to deliver the speech, which was her longest speech since she was shot. Actress Regina King narrated the introduction to the speech, and she said in a statement, “It was an honor to help share Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ story of perseverance and courage as part of the Democratic National Convention. Her determination to never stay silent, against all odds, should be inspiration to us all.”
20 Aug 2020 05.08 BST On fact-checking, here’s an astute point from CNN’s Daniel Dale: A common response to Trump's lying is "well, they all lie." I think it's important to note how asymmetrical the lying is.
You have hours of numerous Democrats speaking with no objectively false claims. It's rare to get ten minutes falseness-free from this president. — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 20, 2020 – Maanvi Singh
20 Aug 2020 05.07 BST Some more context on the Trump campaign’s assertion tonight that Kamala Harris is the “most liberal member of the U.S. Senate, with a voting record even further to the left than Bernie Sanders” It’s true that non-partisan GovTrack ranked Harris as the “most liberal compared to All Senators” in part because she joined bipartisan bills very rarely. While Harris supports many relatively progressive policies, she stepped back from Sanders’ vision f Medicare fr All and maintained that private insurance companies should still play a role in the American health care system. Her record before she became senator has also alientated her from many progressives. “Our analysis is at odds with her documented pre-Congress career of being pragmatic or moderate, and it remains to be seen which part of her career, her actions as a district attorney and Attorney General or her policy proposals in Congress – would be reflected greater in a Biden administration,” Josh Tauberer, GovTrack founder told the Sacramento Bee. – Maanvi Singh
20 Aug 2020 04.59 BST One fact-check from tonight: “[Biden] and President Obama made it easier for home care workers to organize. They extended overtime pay to more than 4 million workers.” said former labor secretary Hilda Solis It’s true that the Obama-Biden admin’s Labor Department wrote regulations to extend overtime pay to 4m workers. But the regulations were blocked before they took effect, by a federal judge in Texas. In 2019, the Trump admin extended overtime for about 1.3m workers. – Maanvi Singh
Updated at 05.01 BST
20 Aug 2020 04.55 BST The Trump campaign has responded to tonight’s DNC events by casting the Biden-Harris ticket as socialist. “The radical leftists have taken over the Democrat party and now they want to take over this country, pledging to remake America in the image of socialism,” said Hogan Gidley, the Trump 2020 national press secretary. – Maanvi Singh
20 Aug 2020 04.48 BST Max Benwell Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech has resonated with many watching. But one moment has chimed in particular with Indian American viewers, who have never been represented on a presidential ticket before. I literally have tears in my eyes. @KamalaHarris just said “chithis” which means auntie. My heart is so full right now — Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) August 20, 2020 It took Kamala Harris shouting out her ‘chithis’ to really make me realize that holy shit, a first gen South Asian person could really become Vice President — Ayan Chatterjee (@goayango) August 20, 2020 As someone who has a deceased Indian mother and scientist who was my best friend, I can’t believe this is our candidate for Vice President. How in my lifetime? How? @SenKamalaHarris — Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) August 20, 2020
20 Aug 2020 04.18 BST Third night of the Democratic convention concludes The third night of the Democratic convention has concluded, with Kamala Harris formally accepting the vice presidential nomination. The convention will continue tomorrow with Joe Biden delivering his acceptance speech, but the blog has more reactions and analysis coming, so stay tuned.


theguardian--2020-08-20--Kamala Harris to condemn Trump's 'chaos' and 'callousness' in DNC speech

Kamala Harris , the daughter of immigrants who has broken racial barriers at every step of her political career , is set to become the first Black woman and first Asian American to accept a major party ’ s vice-presidential nomination on Wednesday night .
In the most consequential speech of her political career , Harris , 55 , is expected to urge voters to reject the divisive and destructive leadership of a president who “ turns our tragedies into political weapons ” .
Early excerpts show she will sketch an optimistic vision for a nation whose promise drew her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades before .
“ We ’ re at an inflection point , ” she will say , speaking from a waterfront convention center near Joe Biden ’ s home in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ The constant chaos leaves adrift .
The incompetence makes us feel afraid .
The callousness makes us feel alone .
It ’ s a lot – and here ’ s the thing : we can do better and deserve so much more.
” Harris , only the fourth woman in history to be nominated for a presidential ticket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – one hundred years and one day after the ratification of the 19th amendment that guaranteed the women – with Hillary Clinton , the first woman nominated by a major party for the presidency , and Nancy Pelosi , the House speaker and highest-ranking woman in American political history .
Born in 1964 to Shyamala Gopalan , a Indian-born American breast cancer researcher , and Donald Harris , an American economist from Jamaica , Harris will recount their political activism and said some of her earliest memories of attending civil rights protests as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Maya , were raised by her mother , who she will say taught her “ to walk by faith , and not by sight ” .
Maya , Harris ’ s niece Meena , and Harris ’ s step-daughter Ella Emhoff are expected to nominate Harris on Wednesday night .
After graduating from Howard University , a historically Black college in Washington , DC , Harris pursued a career in criminal justice .
In 2003 , she was elected district attorney of San Francisco and the attorney general of California before becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate .
It is this chapter of her career that Harris struggled to reconcile during her own presidential campaign , when confronted by progressives over her record as a prosecutor .
But on Wednesday , the Democrats mostly celebrated her historic ascensions .
Harris ’ s presence on stage Wednesday was not preordained .
During the first Democratic primary debate last year , Harris confronted Biden over his past opposition to school bussing policies and his working relationship with segregationist senators .
The attack wounded Biden , who had centered his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soul of the nation .
After her own presidential campaign fizzled and she dropped out of the race late year , Harris returned to the Senate , where she found her voice in the midst of nationwide protests over racial injustice .
She joined protesters on the street and delivered a deeply personal speech on the Senate floor about being Black in America .
She sponsored police reform legislation and championed a bill to make lynching a federal crime .
Harris ’ s speech caps the third night of the Democrats ’ national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Other speakers include Clinton and Barack Obama , who is expected to warn that Donald Trump poses a threat to American democracy .

Kamala Harris, a California senator and daughter of immigrants who has broken racial barriers at every step of her political career, made US history on Wednesday night as she became the first black woman and first Asian American to formally accept a major party’s vice-presidential nomination.
In the most consequential speech of her career to date, Harris urged voters to reject the divisive and destructive leadership of Donald Trump, calling him a president who “turns our tragedies into political weapons”.
“We’re at an inflection point,” the 55-year-old said, speaking from a waterfront convention center near Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware.
“The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone,” she continued. “It’s a lot – and here’s the thing: we can do better and deserve so much more.”
Harris’s sister Maya, her niece Meena, and her stepdaughter Ella Emhoff offered their praise of Harris as she was formally nominated, and her address introduced Harris to a nation still largely unfamiliar with the California senator.
Moments before she spoke, Harris stood at a darkened podium as a technician checked the sound. She took a deep breath. The cameraman counted down to zero and the lights above her illuminated.
Harris smiled: “Greetings, America.”
Born in 1964 to Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian-born American cancer researcher, and Donald Harris, an American economist from Jamaica, Harris recounted their political activism and said that some of her earliest memories were of attending civil rights protests as a toddler.
04:12 Kamala Harris makes history, Barack Obama slams Trump: day three at the DNC – video highlights
She described her family – both the one she was born into and the one she created – as foundational to her life and career, bringing some Indian-American women watching at home to tears with a mention of her chithis. Acknowledging the weight of nomination, she invoked her mother, along with the names of black, female civil rights leaders who helped pave the way: “We all stand on their shoulders.”
“My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know she’s looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman – all of five feet tall – who gave birth to me at Kaiser hospital in Oakland, California,” she said.
“On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice-president of the United States of America.”
In her remarks, Harris also delivered a biting rebuke of Donald Trump, or, as she calls it, “prosecuting the case” against the president of the United States.
03:02 Kamala Harris reflects on vice-presidential nomination at DNC – video
She said: “Donald Trump’s failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods. If you’re a parent struggling with your child’s remote learning, or you’re a teacher struggling on the other side of that screen, you know that what we’re doing right now isn’t working.
“And we are a nation that’s grieving. Grieving the loss of life, the loss of jobs, the loss of opportunities, the loss of normalcy. And yes, the loss of certainty.”
Her speech threaded together the two major arguments Democrats have advanced across their four-day convention: that American democracy hung in the balance – and that voters must mobilize in historic numbers ahead of the November election to ensure not only that Trump is denied a second term but that Democrats take control with a governing mandate.
“It’s not about Joe or me. It’s about you. It’s about us,” Harris said. “People of all ages and colors and creeds who are, yes, taking to the streets, and also persuading our family members, rallying our friends, organizing our neighbors and getting out the vote.”
“And we’ve shown that, when we vote, we expand access to healthcare, expand access to the ballot box, and ensure that more working families can make a decent living.”
As Wednesday’s event began, Harris gave a brief direct-to-camera speech about the importance of voting in November’s election. She said she knew many of the viewers may have “heard about obstacles and misinformation, and folks making it harder for you to cast your ballot”, offering implicit criticism of Trump.
03:27 Barack Obama condemns Trump in powerful Democratic convention speech – video
Harris, only the fourth woman in history to be nominated for a presidential ticket, shared a virtual stage – one hundred years and one day after the ratification of the 19th amendment that guaranteed the women – with Hillary Clinton, the first woman nominated by a major party for the presidency, and Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker and highest ranking woman in American political history.
After graduating from Howard University, a historically black college in Washington DC, Harris pursued a career in criminal justice. In 2003, she was elected district attorney of San Francisco and the attorney general of California before becoming only the second black woman to serve in the Senate.
It is this chapter of her career that Harris struggled to reconcile during her own presidential campaign, when confronted by progressives over her record as a prosecutor.
But on Wednesday, Democrats mostly celebrated her historic ascensions. Harris’s presence on stage Wednesday was not preordained.
During the first Democratic primary debate last year, Harris confronted Biden over his past opposition to school bussing policies and his working relationship with segregationist senators. The attack wounded Biden, who had centered his campaign around the promise to restore the soul of the nation.
00:53 Billie Eilish at DNC: 'Trump is destroying our country and everything we care about' – video
After her own presidential campaign fizzled and she dropped out of the race last year, Harris returned to the Senate, where she found her voice in the midst of nationwide protests over racial injustice. She joined protesters on the street and delivered a deeply personal speech on the Senate floor about being black in America. She sponsored police reform legislation and championed a bill to make lynching a federal crime.
On Wednesday, Harris’s speech capped the third night of the Democrats’ national convention, which moved almost entirely online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Barack Obama, who used his speech to warned that Trump poses a threat to American democracy, and urged voters to turn out, was originally scheduled to speak last, but he asked to switch slots so he would precede Harris, in a symbolic passing of the torch, according to a Democratic official.
When Harris concluded, she turned to face a screen, which displayed Hollywood-squares style boxes with women from around the country applauding.
Harris clasped her hand to her heart and waved back, though the videos were pre-recorded. Joe Biden appeared on stage. Keeping with physical distance guidelines, they stood apart, waving to viewers at home from a silent exhibit hall in Delaware.
But once backstage, they burst into cheers.


theguardian--2020-08-20--Trump tacitly endorses baseless QAnon conspiracy theory linked to violence

Donald Trump has tacitly endorsed QAnon , a baseless rightwing conspiracy theory identified as a potential domestic terrorism threat by the FBI , claiming its followers “ love our country ” and “ like me very much ” .
Followers of the QAnon movement believe without evidence that Trump is fighting a Satanic “ deep state ” of global elites involved in paedophilia , human trafficking and the harvesting of a supposedly life-extending chemical from the blood of abused children .
Yet asked about the theory at Wednesday ’ s White House press briefing , the US president failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much , which I appreciate , ” he said .
“ I have heard that it is gaining in popularity.
” Supporters of QAnon share Trump ’ s concerns about rising crime in Democratic-led cities , the president continued .
“ These are people that don ’ t like seeing what ’ s going on in places like Portland and places like Chicago and New York and other cities and states .
I ’ ve heard these are people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t like seeing it.
” A reporter followed up , pointing out that QAnon supporters believe Trump is “ secretly saving the world from this Satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals ” .
The president replied flippantly : “ I haven ’ t heard that but is that supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing ?
“ If I can help save the world from problems , I ’ m willing to do it , I ’ m willing to put myself out there and we are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world from a radical left philosophy that will destroy this country and , when this country is gone , the rest of the world will follow.
” The evasive remarks and implicit support were reminiscent of Trump ’ s reaction last week when he praised the author of a magazine article floating the equally preposterous notion that Senator Kamala Harris , a woman of colour born in California , might be ineligible for the vice-presidency .
His latest remarks were greeted with jubilation within QAnon communities online , including remaining Facebook groups that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced by the platform on Wednesday .
QAnon followers have long awaited acknowledgement from Trump and will likely view it as confirmation of their worldview .
Brian Friedberg , a senior researcher at Harvard ’ s Shorenstein Center on Media , Politics and Public Policy , who has followed QAnon closely for years , said : “ This moment was an inevitability .
The only real hope now is for a large group of Republicans with power – and with power among Republicans – to come out against this despite what Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also earned fierce condemnation .
Tommy Vietor , a former spokesman for Barack Obama ’ s national security council , tweeted : “ This QAnon answer is a fucking disgrace .
It ’ s a death cult .
The FBI identified QAnon as a violent domestic terrorism threat and Trump is pretending not to know what it is while absolutely encouraging them and incentivizing more insane behavior.
” QAnon was identified as a potential domestic terrorism threat by the FBI last year and has been linked to numerous attempted acts of violence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greene , a supporter of QAnon who won the Republican nomination in Georgia ’ s 14th congressional district , describing her as a “ future Republican Star ” .
Joan Donovan , research director at the Shorenstein Center , said : “ People should realize that QAnon isn ’ t just this outlandish conspiracy theory about child-trafficking and satanism .
It is incredibly antisemitic ...
It ’ s driven by tropes about Jewish people and the one world government narrative .
”

David Smith in Washington and Julia Carrie Wong in San Francisco

Donald Trump has tacitly endorsed QAnon, a baseless rightwing conspiracy theory identified as a potential domestic terrorism threat by the FBI, claiming its followers “love our country” and “like me very much”.
Followers of the QAnon movement believe without evidence that Trump is fighting a satanic “deep state” of global elites involved in paedophilia, human trafficking and the harvesting of a supposedly life-extending chemical from the blood of abused children.
Yet asked about the theory at Wednesday’s White House press briefing, the US president failed to condemn it. “I don’t know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate,” he said. “I have heard that it is gaining in popularity.”
Supporters of QAnon share Trump’s concerns about rising crime in Democratic-led cities, the president continued. “These are people that don’t like seeing what’s going on in places like Portland and places like Chicago and New York and other cities and states. I’ve heard these are people that love our country and they just don’t like seeing it.”
A reporter followed up, pointing out that QAnon supporters believe Trump is “secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals”. The president replied flippantly: “I haven’t heard that but is that supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing?
“If I can help save the world from problems, I’m willing to do it, I’m willing to put myself out there and we are, actually. We’re saving the world from a radical left philosophy that will destroy this country and, when this country is gone, the rest of the world will follow.”
The evasive remarks and implicit support were reminiscent of Trump’s reaction last week when he praised the author of a magazine article floating the equally preposterous notion that Senator Kamala Harris, a woman of colour born in California, might be ineligible for the vice-presidency.
His latest remarks were greeted with jubilation within QAnon communities online, including remaining Facebook groups that are scrambling to deal with a crackdown announced by the platform on Wednesday. QAnon followers have long awaited acknowledgment from Trump and will probably view it as confirmation of their worldview.
Brian Friedberg, a senior researcher at Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, who has followed QAnon closely for years, said: “This moment was an inevitability. The only real hope now is for a large group of Republicans with power – and with power among Republicans – to come out against this despite what Trump said today.”
But Trump’s comments also earned fierce condemnation. Tommy Vietor, a former spokesman for Barack Obama’s national security council, tweeted: “This QAnon answer is a fucking disgrace. It’s a death cult. The FBI identified QAnon as a violent domestic terrorism threat and Trump is pretending not to know what it is while absolutely encouraging them and incentivizing more insane behavior.”
QAnon was identified as a potential domestic terrorism threat by the FBI last year and has been linked to numerous attempted acts of violence. Yet last week Trump praised Marjorie Taylor Greene, a supporter of QAnon who won the Republican nomination in Georgia’s 14th congressional district, describing her as a “future Republican Star”.
Joan Donovan, research director at the Shorenstein Center, said: “People should realize that QAnon isn’t just this outlandish conspiracy theory about child-trafficking and satanism. It is incredibly antisemitic … It’s driven by tropes about Jewish people and the one world government narrative.”


theguardian--2020-08-20--Hillary Clinton to say at DNC: 'Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line' – as it happene

Hillary Clinton to say at DNC: 'Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line' – as it happened

During a White House press briefing Trump was asked about the QAnon conspiracy , and “ what you have to say to people who are following this movement right now.
” Trump not only refused to condemn or reject the QAnon conspiracy , he praised its followers as “ people that love our country.
” Trump : “ I don ’ t know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much , which I appreciate .
But I don ’ t know much about the movement .
I have heard that it is gaining in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these are people who they watch the streets of Portland , when they watch what happened in the streets of New York City in just the last six or seven months ...
These are people that don ’ t like seeing what ’ s going on in places like Portland and in places like Chicago and New York and other cities and states .
And I ’ ve heard these are people that love our country , they just don ’ t like seeing it .
I don ’ t know really anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like me , and they would also like to see problems in these areas , like especially the areas we ’ re talking about , go away .
There ’ s no reason the Democrats can ’ t run a city.. And if they can ’ t , we ’ ll send in all of the federal troops and law enforcement .
We ’ ll straighten out their problems in 24 hours.
” The journalist who asked the question clarified : QAnon supporters believe “ you are secretly saving the world from this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Does that sound like something you are behind ?
” Trump : “ Well , I haven ’ t heard that .
But is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing ?
I mean , you know , if I can help save the world from problems , I ’ m willing to do it .
I ’ m willing to put myself out there .
And we are actually .
We ’ re saving the world from a radical left philosophy that will destroy this country , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of the world would follow .
The rest of the world would follow .
”

Lois Beckett (now), Joan E Greve, Daniel Strauss and Martin Belam (earlier)

20 Aug 2020 02.00 BST Evening summary We’re wrapping up our live US politics coverage for the evening but you can follow our Democratic National Convention blog for continuing updates. An updated summary of some of today’s key events: Facebook announced that it taken down or restricted more than 10,000 groups, pages and Instagram accounts associated with QAnon , the baseless right-wing conspiracy theory that has been linked with attempted acts of violence and identified as a potential ongoing inspiration for acts of domestic extremism.
associated with , the baseless right-wing conspiracy theory that has been linked with attempted acts of violence and identified as a potential ongoing inspiration for acts of domestic extremism. The president then publicly praised supporters of QAnon, whose supporters believe Trump is secretly fighting back against a Satanic cabal of Democrats, celebrities, and other powerful figures who are carrying out horrific acts of pedophilia and child abuse. “ I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate,” Trump said. “These are people that love our country.”
whose supporters believe Trump is secretly fighting back against a Satanic cabal of Democrats, celebrities, and other powerful figures who are carrying out horrific acts of pedophilia and child abuse. “ Trump said. Supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory were jubilant at Trump’s comments.
Laura Loomer, the anti-Islamic extremist and conspiracy theorist who won a Republican congressional primary in Florida, claimed that the RNC chair Ronna McDaniel called her a “political rock star” and a “change agent for the Republican Party” in a congratulatory phone call. A McDaniel spokesperson did not comment.
and conspiracy theorist who won a Republican congressional primary in Florida, claimed that the called her a “political rock star” and a “change agent for the Republican Party” in a congratulatory phone call. A McDaniel spokesperson did not comment. The postmaster general is refusing to reverse the operational changes already implemented at the US Postal Service, according to House speaker Nancy Pelosi. Postmaster General Lois DeJoy spoke to Pelosi this morning, and the speaker said he refused to commit to restoring mail sorting machines already removed from some USPS locations. DeJoy announced yesterday he was suspending planned operational changes, but Pelosi said, “The Postmaster General’s alleged pause is wholly insufficient and does not reverse damage already wreaked.”
according to House speaker Postmaster General spoke to Pelosi this morning, and the speaker said he refused to commit to restoring mail sorting machines already removed from some USPS locations. DeJoy announced yesterday he was suspending planned operational changes, but Pelosi said, “The Postmaster General’s alleged pause is wholly insufficient and does not reverse damage already wreaked.” The White House dodged questions about whether Trump would accept the election results if he loses to Joe Biden. “Is the president saying if he doesn’t win this election, that he will not accept the results unless he wins?” a reporter asked press secretary Kayleigh McEnany at today’s briefing. McEnany replied, “The president has always said he’ll see what happens and make a determination in the aftermath.”
20 Aug 2020 01.39 BST GOP congressman who endorsed Biden was concerned about Trump and QAnon Earlier today, even before Trump openly praised adherents of QAnon, a baseless conspiracy about a satanic network of child abusers, a former Republican congressman talked to CNN about why he was endorsing the Democratic candidate for president in 2020. One reason, former congressman Charlie Dent said, was Trump’s praise Marjorie Taylor Greene, a racist QAnon supporter who recently won the Republican primary for Georgia’s 14th Congressional district, a strongly Republican district. Greene had also embraced a September 11 conspiracy. “All this does is empower the whack jobs and the nuts to come out. With strong leadership we should be able to marginalize folks like that,” Dent said. Former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent endorses Joe Biden on CNN: "I mean, a 9/11 truther for Pete's sake. And the president called this person a rising star. I mean, all this does is empower the whack jobs and the nuts to come out." — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 19, 2020
Updated at 01.45 BST
20 Aug 2020 01.09 BST FBI: Twitter account shared infamous antisemitic document via ‘automatic process’ Earlier today, an official FBI Twitter account shared a link to an infamous antisemitic document, “The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion,” a fraudulent text that has been used for more than a century, including in Nazi Germany, to justify hatred, discrimination, and violence against Jewish people. The FBI’s tweet listed only the title of the document, and a link to a PDF, with no additional context, sparking criticism and outrage. In a statement hours after the tweet was posted, an FBI spokesperson said the tweet was posted “via an automated process without further outlining the context of the documents.” “We regret that this release may have inadvertently caused distress among the communities we serve.” The original tweet is still live, still without any context, being shared more and more widely. The @FBIRecordsVault tweet in question: pic.twitter.com/v14vDkKIil — Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) August 19, 2020 The FBI spokesperson provided the following explanation of the “automated process” the agency said was responsible for the posting of the anti-semitic document: Per the Freedom of Information Act, 5 USC § 552, the FBI makes records requested by three or more requesters available to the public by posting on the “Vault,” the FBI’s electronic FOIA reading room located at fbi.gov. As per standard procedure for FOIA, these materials became available for release and were posted automatically. The FBI’s FOIA Twitter account (@FBIRecordsVault) is automated and automatically tweets new Vault posts as they are published on the Vault website. New posts added to the Vault will appear on the Vault’s “Recently Added” page. An automated system monitors that page via an RSS feed and feeds links to new FOIA releases onto the @FBIRecordsVault Twitter account.
Updated at 01.46 BST
19 Aug 2020 00.12 BST Was it a mistake for a journalist to ask Trump to comment on QAnon on camera? Right now, many journalists are trying to capture just how bad it is that the president of the United States has praised an already-growing conspiracy about satanic child abuse. But journalist Ashley Feinberg made a different point: was it simply a mistake for a journalist to give Trump an opportunity to comment on a conspiracy like this live on camera? Feinberg noted that the likelihood of Trump giving a response like the one he gave is not hard to predict, given years of previous responses to questions like this, and “the outcome is objectively dangerous.” don't really think reporters should be asking him shit like this live on camera when the outcome is objectively dangerous and doesn't actually tell us anything, he gives answers like this to every third question he's asked https://t.co/bT38oriDpM — Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) August 19, 2020
19 Aug 2020 00.06 BST Unprecedented but not surprising: reactions to Trump’s praise for QAnon conspiracy Today, Trump chose to praise supporters of a baseless conspiracy theory who believe that he is fighting a secret battle against a cabal of Democrats, celebrities, and billionaires who control the world while engaging in horrific pedophilia and child abuse. Early reactions to the president’s refusal to condemn a conspiracy that idolizes him highlight how troubling and dangerous his comments are, particularly since the QAnon conspiracy has already been linked to numerous attempted acts of violence and has been identified by law enforcement as a potential inspiration for more extremist violence. FBI: The deranged QAnon conspiracy theory poses a potential domestic terrorism threat
Combating Terrorism Center at West Point: it's a public security threat & potential domestic terror threat
Trump: "these are people that love our country." — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 19, 2020 Will Sommer, a reporter who has covered right-wing extremists for years, said the comments would certainly be a “huge validation” for the conspiracy’s believers, and argued that merely describing the bizarre contents of the conspiracy failed to capture just how much harm it is currently causing. This is going to be a huge validation for QAnon believers. I wish the reporter had also mentioned the results of QAnon belief: the child kidnappings, the harassment and death threats, the murders, the terrorism, the estranged families. https://t.co/9UZnmMDRFN — Will Sommer (@willsommer) August 19, 2020 Of course, as PBS NewsHour White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor writes, it’s certainly not the first time Trump has fueled dangerous and violent conspiracies. President Trump has trafficked in conspiracy theories since the beginning of his political career (i.e. birtherism) and continues to do so regularly. Now, he's not denouncing QAnon.
That is unprecedented, breaking norms, untraditional ... but not surprising. — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 19, 2020
Updated at 00.41 BST
19 Aug 2020 23.45 BST Full text of Trump’s praise for QAnon child abuse conspiracy During a White House press briefing Trump was asked about the QAnon conspiracy, and “what you have to say to people who are following this movement right now.” Trump not only refused to condemn or reject the QAnon conspiracy, he praised its followers as “people that love our country.” The full text: Trump: “I don’t know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate. But I don’t know much about the movement. I have heard that it is gaining in popularity and from what I hear, these are people who they watch the streets of Portland, when they watch what happened in the streets of New York City in just the last six or seven months...These are people that don’t like seeing what’s going on in places like Portland and in places like Chicago and New York and other cities and states. And I’ve heard these are people that love our country, they just don’t like seeing it. I don’t know really anything about it other that they do supposedly like me, and they would also like to see problems in these areas, like especially the areas we’re talking about, go away. There’s no reason the Democrats can’t run a city.. And if they can’t, we’ll send in all of the federal troops and law enforcement. We’ll straighten out their problems in 24 hours.” The journalist who asked the question clarified: QAnon supporters believe “you are secretly saving the world from this Satantic cult of pedophiles and cannibals. Does that sound like something you are behind?” Trump: “Well, I haven’t heard that. But is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? I mean, you know, if I can help save the world from problems, I’m willing to do it. I’m willing to put myself out there. And we are actually. We’re saving the world from a radical left philosophy that will destroy this country, and when this country is gone, the rest of the world would follow. The rest of the world would follow.” Trump is asked to shed light on his thoughts about about the lunatic QAnon conspiracy theory. Instead of denouncing it, he says, "I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate."
"I've heard these are people who love our country," he adds, coming close to an endorsement pic.twitter.com/gcvHvuqzIa — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 19, 2020


theguardian--2020-08-19--Barack Obama to warn that democracy itself is on the line in November election

Barack Obama will warn on Wednesday night that “ democracy itself is on the line ” in the approaching presidential election contest between Donald Trump and Joe Biden , Obama ’ s former vice-president .
In a speech on the third night of the Democratic national convention , airing directly after Senator Kamala Harris was due to officially accept the party ’ s nomination to be vice-president , the former president was expected to attack Republican efforts to sabotage mail-in voting and ballot access .
“ President Obama will highlight the cynical moves by the current administration and the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a spokeswoman , Katie Hill , said in a statement before the speech .
“ He ’ ll make a pointed case that democracy itself is on the line – along with the chance to create a better version of it.
” Trump has for months been working to destroy faith in mail-in voting , which an unprecedented number of voters were expected to use in November owing to the coronavirus crisis , which has killed more than 170,000 Americans .
The Trump presidential campaign on Wednesday sued the state of New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor to mail a ballot to every household .
The Trump campaign previously sued Nevada on similar grounds .
While the cases have not been resolved , states have broad authority to set their own voting rules .
According to speech previews , Obama was prepared on Wednesday night to respond to the Trump campaign by amplifying what Democrats have long been saying : Trump does not want people to vote because he knows that if they are allowed to , he will lose .
In some selected excerpts released ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Donald Trump hasn ’ t grown into the job because he can ’ t .
And the consequences of that failure are severe.
” He will add : “ He ’ s shown no interest in putting in the work ; no interest in finding common ground ; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself ... no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show.
” In its third day , the Democratic convention , at which Biden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidate on Tuesday , was planned by organizers to build momentum with an increasing deployment of star power .
In addition to Obama and Harris , Senator Elizabeth Warren and the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi – both of whom have seen their popularity with Democrats rise over multiple rounds of public battle with Trump – were scheduled to speak late on Wednesday .
Musical performances were expected from Billie Eilish and Jennifer Hudson .
And something of a tantalizing mystery surrounded the plans of another scheduled speaker , Hillary Clinton .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Trump would tacitly draw a contrast with a presidency that could have been : hers .
Clinton last week raised the alarm about the fragility of democracy after the postmaster general , a Trump mega-donor , announced cost-cutting operational changes to the US Postal Service ( USPS ) , in a move critics said was an effort to rig the election .
“ Trump and Republicans aren ’ t just trying to dismantle the USPS – a crucial American institution , ” Clinton tweeted .
“ They ’ re trying to dismantle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic they made even deadlier to do it .
We have to fight back and we have to win.
” After being called to testify by two congressional committees , the postmaster general , Louis DeJoy , announced on Tuesday that the operational changes would be delayed until after the November election .
While the Democratic convention ’ s virtual format , in which speakers address the all-online audience remotely from home studios across the country , has muted the impact of some speeches , a rousing address by former first lady Michelle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the form .
Democrats were expectant about the return to the national stage of Barack Obama , the party ’ s premier get-out-the-vote cheerleader , in a contest where voter enthusiasm could be unusually important in navigating unpredictable election day dynamics .
In helping to drive record turnout for Democrats during the 2018 midterm elections , Obama frequently chastened crowds who jeered Trump administration misdeeds with a phrase he seemed sure to reprise on Wednesday : “ Don ’ t boo .
Vote.
” Obama remains a strongly popular figure among Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to YouGov , versus 39 % who approve of Trump .
The former president was also expected to speak about why he believes Biden has “ the experience and character ” to take the reins of the presidency , at a time when a historic majority of Americans say the country is headed in the wrong direction .
Biden and Obama have been seen as unusually close political allies .
After running against Obama in the 2008 presidential primary , Biden agreed to join the ticket as vice-president on the condition that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Through the administration ’ s eight years , the two ate lunch together most days and Biden was seen as an unwaveringly faithful lieutenant .
After Biden was formally nominated at the convention on Wednesday night , Obama marked the news with a personal tweet .

Barack Obama will warn on Wednesday night that “democracy itself is on the line” in the approaching presidential election contest between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Obama’s former vice-president.
In a speech on the third night of the Democratic national convention, airing directly after Senator Kamala Harris was due to officially accept the party’s nomination to be vice-president, the former president was expected to attack Republican efforts to sabotage mail-in voting and ballot access.
“President Obama will highlight the cynical moves by the current administration and the Republican party to discourage Americans from voting,” a spokeswoman, Katie Hill, said in a statement before the speech. “He’ll make a pointed case that democracy itself is on the line – along with the chance to create a better version of it.”
Trump has for months been working to destroy faith in mail-in voting, which an unprecedented number of voters were expected to use in November owing to the coronavirus crisis, which has killed more than 170,000 Americans.
The Trump presidential campaign on Wednesday sued the state of New Jersey over a plan by the Democratic governor to mail a ballot to every household. The Trump campaign previously sued Nevada on similar grounds. While the cases have not been resolved, states have broad authority to set their own voting rules.
According to speech previews, Obama was prepared on Wednesday night to respond to the Trump campaign by amplifying what Democrats have long been saying: Trump does not want people to vote because he knows that if they are allowed to, he will lose.
In some selected excerpts released ahead of the speech, Obama was set to say: “Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t. And the consequences of that failure are severe.”
He will add: “He’s shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself ... no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show.”
In its third day, the Democratic convention, at which Biden was officially nominated as the party’s presidential candidate on Tuesday, was planned by organizers to build momentum with an increasing deployment of star power.
In addition to Obama and Harris, Senator Elizabeth Warren and the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi – both of whom have seen their popularity with Democrats rise over multiple rounds of public battle with Trump – were scheduled to speak late on Wednesday. Musical performances were expected from Billie Eilish and Jennifer Hudson.
Flags are placed in the venue in Wilmington, Delaware, where the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Senator Kamala Harris, will speak. Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP
And something of a tantalizing mystery surrounded the plans of another scheduled speaker, Hillary Clinton. It was unclear whether her anticipated digs at Trump would tacitly draw a contrast with a presidency that could have been: hers.
Clinton last week raised the alarm about the fragility of democracy after the postmaster general, a Trump mega-donor, announced cost-cutting operational changes to the US Postal Service (USPS), in a move critics said was an effort to rig the election.
“Trump and Republicans aren’t just trying to dismantle the USPS – a crucial American institution,” Clinton tweeted. “They’re trying to dismantle American democracy, and using a deadly pandemic they made even deadlier to do it. We have to fight back and we have to win.”
After being called to testify by two congressional committees, the postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, announced on Tuesday that the operational changes would be delayed until after the November election.
While the Democratic convention’s virtual format, in which speakers address the all-online audience remotely from home studios across the country, has muted the impact of some speeches, a rousing address by former first lady Michelle Obama on Monday night showed the possibilities of the form.
Democrats were expectant about the return to the national stage of Barack Obama, the party’s premier get-out-the-vote cheerleader, in a contest where voter enthusiasm could be unusually important in navigating unpredictable election day dynamics.
In helping to drive record turnout for Democrats during the 2018 midterm elections, Obama frequently chastened crowds who jeered Trump administration misdeeds with a phrase he seemed sure to reprise on Wednesday: “Don’t boo. Vote.”
Obama remains a strongly popular figure among Americans, with 55% overall approval according to YouGov, versus 39% who approve of Trump.
The former president was also expected to speak about why he believes Biden has “the experience and character” to take the reins of the presidency, at a time when a historic majority of Americans say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
Biden and Obama have been seen as unusually close political allies. After running against Obama in the 2008 presidential primary, Biden agreed to join the ticket as vice-president on the condition that he would have Obama’s ear. Through the administration’s eight years, the two ate lunch together most days and Biden was seen as an unwaveringly faithful lieutenant.
After Biden was formally nominated at the convention on Wednesday night, Obama marked the news with a personal tweet.
“Congrats, Joe,” he wrote. “I’m proud of you.”


theguardian--2020-08-19--Anti-Muslim extremist and conspiracy theorist wins Republican primary

A anti-Muslim extremist and conspiracy theorist whose hate speech got her banned from multiple social media platforms won her Republican primary on Tuesday and will challenge the Democratic representative Lois Frankel for Congress in November .
Laura Loomer , who has described herself as a “ proud Islamophobe ” , won praise from Donald Trump early on Wednesday , who tweeted that she had a “ great chance ” , despite her Florida district being deep blue .
The president shared multiple tweets celebrating Loomer ’ s victory , and called her opponent , a Democrat who has served in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puppet ” .
Loomer has called Muslims “ savages ” , described Islam as “ a cancer ” , and said on Instagram that Muslims should not be allowed to run for political office in the United States .
In 2017 , Loomer was banned from using ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft after she posted a series of tweets blaming all Muslims for terror attacks and saying that someone should create a ride-sharing service that did not employ Muslims .
In 2019 , she wrote that she did not care about the white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christchurch , New Zealand , which left 51 people dead .
The far-right provocateur has also spread conspiracy theories about the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas , Nevada , and about the 2018 pipe bomb plot targeting prominent critics of Trump .
Loomer has been a political fixture for years in the Palm Beach county district , which is firmly Democratic .
After trying to hoax journalists with Project Veritas , Loomer moved to direct confrontations with public figures in recent years , disrupting interviews and news conferences .
Loomer has built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muslims and immigrants , followed by public claims that she is being censored when social media companies take action against her .
Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , Medium , PayPal , Venmo , GoFundMe , Uber and Lyft have banned her , but her communications get out through tweets by supporters and other workarounds , the Palm Beach Post reported .
After being banned from Twitter in 2018 , which reportedly followed a series of tweets attacking Ilhan Omar , one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress , Loomer handcuffed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s headquarters in New York .
In 2017 , she was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing after disrupting a production of Julius Caesar in New York City , and shouting “ This is violence against Donald Trump !
” In 2018 , she was escorted out of a federal courthouse in Florida after harassing the family of Noor Salman , the widow of the Pulse Nightclub shooter Omar Mateen , Huffington Post reported .
In 2019 , she was handcuffed after trespassing on the grounds of the California governor ’ s mansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sacramento Bee reported .
Loomer , who wore a sombrero during the incident , claimed that her protest was meant to demonstrate that governor Gavin Newsom “ cares more about illegals than Americans ” .
Loomer ’ s associates later staged a confrontation at a Mexican restaurant in downtown Sacramento , and called the restaurant “ un-American ” , the Sacramento Bee reported .
Loomer has been a guest on Fox News and alt-right programs after gaining followers by ambushing journalists and politicians in stunts posted online .
Her campaign adviser is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked for Governor Rick Scott and Trump ’ s 2016 campaign in Florida .
Donors have contributed millions to her campaign .
Elsewhere in Florida , Ross Spano , a Republican congressman dogged by ethics investigations , lost his primary challenge on Tuesday , becoming the eighth incumbent House member to be defeated in party primaries this year .
Scott Franklin , a former navy pilot , business owner and Lakeland city commissioner , won a contest shaped by the coronavirus pandemic .
The US Department of Justice is investigating Spano for alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee was looking into allegations that Spano borrowed more than $ 100,000 from two friends and then loaned the money to his campaign .
But it paused the review when the criminal investigation began .
The district sits east of Tampa in central Florida and has traditionally voted Republican .
Franklin will face Democrat Alan Cohn , a former television journalist who had raised about $ 600,000 for the race as of 29 July .

An anti-Muslim extremist and conspiracy theorist whose hate speech got her banned from multiple social media platforms won her Republican primary on Tuesday and will challenge the Democratic representative Lois Frankel for Congress in November.
Laura Loomer, who has described herself as a “proud Islamophobe”, won praise from Donald Trump early on Wednesday, who tweeted that she had a “great chance”, despite her Florida district being deep blue. The president shared multiple tweets celebrating Loomer’s victory, and called her opponent, a Democrat who has served in Congress for seven years, a “puppet”.
Loomer has called Muslims “savages”, described Islam as “a cancer”, and said on Instagram that Muslims should not be allowed to run for political office in the United States.
In 2017, Loomer was banned from using ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft after she posted a series of tweets blaming all Muslims for terror attacks and saying that someone should create a ride-sharing service that did not employ Muslims.
In 2019, she wrote that she did not care about the white nationalist terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, which left 51 people dead.
The far-right provocateur has also spread conspiracy theories about the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, and about the 2018 pipe bomb plot targeting prominent critics of Trump.
Loomer has been a political fixture for years in the Palm Beach county district, which is firmly Democratic. After trying to hoax journalists with Project Veritas, Loomer moved to direct confrontations with public figures in recent years, disrupting interviews and news conferences.
Loomer has built her public profile through vicious attacks against Muslims and immigrants, followed by public claims that she is being censored when social media companies take action against her.
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Medium, PayPal, Venmo, GoFundMe, Uber and Lyft have banned her, but her communications get out through tweets by supporters and other workarounds, the Palm Beach Post reported.
After being banned from Twitter in 2018, which reportedly followed a series of tweets attacking Ilhan Omar, one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, Loomer handcuffed herself to a door at Twitter’s headquarters in New York.
In 2017, she was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing after disrupting a production of Julius Caesar in New York City, and shouting “This is violence against Donald Trump!”
In 2018, she was escorted out of a federal courthouse in Florida after harassing the family of Noor Salman, the widow of the Pulse Nightclub shooter Omar Mateen, Huffington Post reported.
In 2019, she was handcuffed after trespassing on the grounds of the California governor’s mansion in an anti-immigrant and anti-Mexican protest, the Sacramento Bee reported. Loomer, who wore a sombrero during the incident, claimed that her protest was meant to demonstrate that governor Gavin Newsom “cares more about illegals than Americans”. Loomer’s associates later staged a confrontation at a Mexican restaurant in downtown Sacramento, and called the restaurant “un-American”, the Sacramento Bee reported.
Loomer has been a guest on Fox News and alt-right programs after gaining followers by ambushing journalists and politicians in stunts posted online. Her campaign adviser is Karen Giorno, a political strategist who worked for Governor Rick Scott and Trump’s 2016 campaign in Florida.
Donors have contributed millions to her campaign.
Elsewhere in Florida, Ross Spano, a Republican congressman dogged by ethics investigations, lost his primary challenge on Tuesday, becoming the eighth incumbent House member to be defeated in party primaries this year.
Scott Franklin, a former navy pilot, business owner and Lakeland city commissioner, won a contest shaped by the coronavirus pandemic.
The US Department of Justice is investigating Spano for alleged campaign finance violations. The House ethics committee was looking into allegations that Spano borrowed more than $100,000 from two friends and then loaned the money to his campaign. But it paused the review when the criminal investigation began.
The district sits east of Tampa in central Florida and has traditionally voted Republican. Franklin will face Democrat Alan Cohn, a former television journalist who had raised about $600,000 for the race as of 29 July.


theguardian--2020-08-20--Democratic national convention day three: Barack Obama & Kamala Harris lead speeches – watch live

Democrats stage the third night of their online convention after formally nominating Joe Biden as the presidential candidate for November @ @ @ @ @ main speakers on Wednesday include Barack Obama , Kamala Harris , Hillary Clinton and Nancy @

Democrats stage the third night of their online convention after formally nominating Joe Biden as the presidential candidate for November’s election. The main speakers on Wednesday include Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi


theguardian--2020-08-20--California fires: hundreds of blazes burn amid scorching heatwave – live

The huge wildfires in California are so intense that they have created a real problem with air pollution and some @ @ @ @ @ in the entire world .
That would be bad enough at the best of times @ @ @ @ @ targets people ’ s respiratory systems it is a real nightmare scenario .
“ Wildfire @ @ @ @ @ over the Bay Area on Wednesday , creating a seriously unhealthy atmosphere and adding to @ @ @ @ @ anxiety .
Ash fell over many counties .
Kids locked out of school remained shuttered @ @ @ @ @ .
Atmospheric testing revealed Northern California ’ s air quality to be the worst in @ @ @ @ @ multiple fires polluted the air , sparking a renewed concern for residents with respiratory issues @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 .
”

20 Aug 2020 00.07 BST The SCU Lightning Complex Fire has grown to 137,475 acres with 5% containment. Burning in a variety of locations in the southeast region of the Bay Area, the blaze stretches through Alameda, Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties, as well as San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties of the Central Valley. Officials issued mandatory evacuations for large swaths of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Time lapse of fire burning through Lick Observatory compound atop Mt. Hamilton. Structures appear to have survived. Update from observatory expected soon. #SCULightningComplex pic.twitter.com/cQ9vg4mntA — Bob Redell (@BobNBC) August 20, 2020 More footage from the firefight taking place at the peak of Mt. Hamilton this evening (East of San Jose). Your SLO City and fellow California Firefighters are working hard to protect and defend landmarks, buildings and infrastructure. #SCULightningComplex pic.twitter.com/qfB4COztnB — SLO City Fire (@SLO_City_Fire) August 20, 2020 For those keeping track, California is currently fighting three lightning complex fires: the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, the LNU Lightning Complex Fire and the SCU Lightning Complex Fire. The initials represent the locations and different units of each Cal Fire agency battling the fires: CZU is the Santa Cruz-San Mateo unit, LNU is the Lake/Napa/Sonoma county region and SCU covers Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Stanislaus and San Joaquin. They’re called complex fires because they’re complicated. Only partially kidding - basically, these three blazes had at least two or more fires within them that were assigned to the same incident. It can be hard to picture because when a fire gets a name, you tend to conjure up this image of this giant monolithic monster of flames. In reality, a wildfire is more a series of hotspots and flare-ups than anything else, sometimes spread out by miles, and a wildfire complex, even more so.
Updated at 00.28 BST
20 Aug 2020 23.47 BST In a way, Donald Trump is not entirely incorrect when he talks about “cleaning your floors” - clearing vegetation is a big part of wildfire prevention and prep that take place every year. But California’s wildfires have gotten deadlier and more destructive in recent years not just because of forest management. The fires of the past few years aren’t just sweeping through forests - they’re taking out entire towns and they’re ripping up whole neighborhoods where people live. A large part of this is because of the climate crisis. As the Guardian’s former environmental reporter Susie Cagle wrote during last year’s fire season, the climate crisis “has sped up California’s natural cyclical weather patterns and made the age-old threat of fire into an acute and repetitive trauma”. Fall is traditionally fire season for California, as the Diablo winds in the north and Santa Ana winds in the south blow down the hillsides and across forests and brushland that has dried out from the summer heat, but not yet wetted by winter rains. Extreme winds make the vegetation especially flammable, and threaten to whip up flames and carry hot embers further and faster, creating new “spot” fires across the landscape. Watch a video explainer on the role the climate crisis has played on wildfires here: 05:36 California wildfires: what role has the climate crisis played? – video explainer
20 Aug 2020 23.31 BST Donald Trump is once again talking about cleaning the forest floors, just as he had two years ago when he visited Paradise, a town devastated by the Camp Fire. Because time is a flat circle. “I see again the forest fires are starting again in California,” Trump said. “You got to clean your floors, clean your floors...I’ve been telling them this for three years, but they don’t want to listen.” 'You've got to clean your floors, it's just an expression' — Pres. Trump commenting on the wildfires in CA by saying they have to 'clean the forest floors' and get rid of 'all the leaves' pic.twitter.com/mcmJPc4mZv — NowThis (@nowthisnews) August 20, 2020 It was amidst talks of clean floors and not heeding his advice on the value of a clean forest floor that he made his statement about withholding aid: “Maybe we’re just gonna have to make them pay for it, because they don’t listen to us,” he said. Dear @realDonaldTrump: Mother Nature doesn’t discriminate when she strikes, whether it’s a hurricane or tornado or earthquake or wildfire. That’s why we are the United States, we unite to help each other when disaster hits. Still surprised I have to explain that to you. https://t.co/JVkh7UPB0c — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 20, 2020
20 Aug 2020 22.58 BST As California burns, Donald Trump threatens to withhold aid. Trump on fire assistance to California: "Maybe we're just gonna have to make them pay for it, because they don't listen to us." — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 20, 2020 According to Republican Voters Against Trump, it wouldn’t be the first time. “He told us to stop giving money to people whose houses had burned down because he was so rageful that people in the state of California didn’t support him and that politically it wasn’t a base for him,” Miles Taylor, former chief of staff to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, said in a video. This is f*cking crazy. @realDonaldTrump told @fema to cut off funding to fire victims because CA is not part of his base. Wildfires devastated parts of my district and I saw firsthand the destruction. I will be asking the IG to investigate. Because we are all Americans. https://t.co/fQ5s7mj76s — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 17, 2020
Updated at 23.05 BST
20 Aug 2020 22.09 BST The Los Angeles region is once again facing an extreme heat wave, poor air quality and raging wildfires, creating major public health challenges during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Eerily smoky skies this morning across #SoCal from all the #wildfires burning across the state. This PG&E webcam view is from Tassajara Peak east of Morro Bay. Air quality has dropped to the worst level of the week across the central coast - unhealthy to very unhealthy. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/pHsriUG56P — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) August 20, 2020 While the largest and most concerning fires are farther north, which is experiencing the worst air pollution in the world, southern California is also struggling with extremely challenging weather conditions and continued coronavirus threats. In recent days, the sprawling LA region has been plagued by record-breaking high temperatures, smoke-filled air, foggy conditions and “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” levels of pollution.
The heat is supposed to last into the weekend, and officials are urging people to stay indoors, which has created an extra burden as some activities, such as dining and fitness, have moved outside due to Covid.
The Apple fire, east of LA, was 95% contained and at 33,400 acres as of Thursday. That fire has exacerbated pollution in Riverside county and the industrial area known as the Inland Empire, which is known for having some of the worst air quality across the US.
The Lake fire, in the northern part of LA county, was at 27,000 acres and 48% contained as of Thursday morning. The Holser fire, in Ventura county (near the coast and also north of LA) was at 3,000 acres and 30% contained.
Across the LA area, authorities also issued an advisory for ozone pollution due to the heat and fires. - Sam Levin
Updated at 23.28 BST
20 Aug 2020 21.30 BST Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, discusses some of the challenges of setting up emergency shelters during a pandemic. Visiting some of the evacuation centers today to talk with folks who have had to flee their homes due to the #wildfires in CA. Grateful for all the volunteers who have stepped up to help keep everyone impacted safe, cool, and healthy during this time. pic.twitter.com/v7vEwNDn7b — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 20, 2020 Newsom announced Thursday that he secured a Fema grant to help battle the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire. He had secured a grant for the LNU Lightning Complex Fire earlier this week.
20 Aug 2020 20.55 BST In addition to the wildfires plaguing the Bay Area and forcing evacuations, a number of blazes are burning through national forests at the moment. The Loyalton Fire burning in Tahoe National Forest famously set off a “fire tornado” warning a few days back. It has since grown to 46,617 acres and is 38% contained. Officials lifted mandatory evacuations in this area. The first ‘Fire Tornado’ to set off the “fire tornado” warning in history. Incident occurred today in Northen California. #LoyaltonFIRE pic.twitter.com/ISSzR5mVa2 — SV News 🚨 (@SVNewsAlerts) August 16, 2020 The Dolan Fire burns about 10 miles south of Big Sur on the coast, south of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire. It has grown to 6,700 acres and is 0% contained. In its vicinity are the Carmel Fire at 4,285 acres and 0% containment and the River Fire at 33,653 acres and 7% containment. Heat Map of all the fires in Monterey County. #carmelfire #riverfire #dolanfire https://t.co/TuiY2pcWXb pic.twitter.com/R57TImhh0D — Monterey County Office of Emergency Services (@MontereyCoOES) August 20, 2020 Across the state in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Bell Fire burns in Stanislaus National Forest at 31 acres. Like the Loyalton Fire and many of the blazes in the Bay Area, officials believe it was sparked by lightning. The Beach Fire burns in Inyo National Forest at 3,780 acres.
20 Aug 2020 18.24 BST California’s oldest state park, home of some of its majestic redwoods, has “sustained extensive damage”, according to the state parks and recreation department. The fire dubbed the CZU August Lightning Complex that is burning in various locations in Santa Cruz county and San Mateo county reached Big Basin Redwoods state park on Tuesday. The blaze “damaged the park’s headquarters, historic core and campgrounds”, according to park officials. Campers, day-use visitors and staff at both Little Basin and Big Basin were evacuated. As of Thursday, the fire was estimated to have grown to 40,000 acres and was 0% contained. Cal Fire issued mandatory evacuations for parts of Santa Cruz county today. Moving forward our hashtag for the CZU fires will be #CZULightningComplex Please use this hashtag. pic.twitter.com/CIpADSR90y — CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) August 20, 2020
Updated at 19.39 BST


theguardian--2020-08-20--Covid cases top 5.5m as Joe Biden prepares for big DNC night - US politics live

Museum officials have announced that nearly six months after the coronavirus forced its closure , the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York will be reopening on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks next month , first to those who lost loved ones , and then to the general public .
The memorial plaza had been open to the public with social distancing restrictions since early July , but the museum remained closed as did other cultural institutions .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said last week that museums would be allowed to reopen with restrictions starting later this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announce the reopening of the 9/11 Memorial Museum , a physical testament to the triumph of hope and our potential for resilience in the face of adversity and unfathomable loss , ” Alice Greenwald , the 9/11 museum ’ s president and CEO told the Associated Press .
The anniversary day reopening will be reserved for families of those killed in the 2001 attack and the 1993 World Trade Center attack .
The public will be able to visit starting 12 September .
Pandemic restrictions will be in effect , such as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a requirement to wear masks .
The museum had always mandated visitors to get timed entry tickets in advance , which will continue now .
And that ’ s it from me , Martin Belam , today in London .
I ’ m handing over to Lauren Aratani , and I ’ ll see you tomorrow .

Lauren Aratani (now) and Martin Belam (earlier)

21 Aug 2020 01.37 BST Evening summary We’re wrapping up our live US politics blog for today, but you can continue following our updates from the virtual Democratic National Convention. An updated summary of today’s key events, from my colleague Joan Greve and me: Steve Bannon pleaded not guilty to fraud charges. Bannon, a former top adviser to Trump, was arrested earlier today for allegedly using money from his anti-immigrant group “We Build the Wall” on personal expenses.
Bannon, a former top adviser to was arrested earlier today for allegedly using money from his anti-immigrant group “We Build the Wall” on personal expenses. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has tested positive for coronavirus. Cassidy said in a statement announcing his positive test result, “I am strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same.”
Cassidy said in a statement announcing his positive test result, “I am strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same.” House speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Congressman Joe Kennedy’s primary challenge against Senator Ed Markey, enraging progressives. A number of progressives noted Pelosi has historically been very hesitant to support primary challenges against Democratic incumbents, but the speaker made an exception for Kennedy’s campaign against Markey, who is considered one of the most progressive members of the Senate.
A number of progressives noted Pelosi has historically been very hesitant to support primary challenges against Democratic incumbents, but the speaker made an exception for Kennedy’s campaign against Markey, who is considered one of the most progressive members of the Senate. A federal judge ruled that Trump must comply with the Manhattan district attorney’s subpoena of his tax returns. The district attorney’s office is conducting an investigation into hush-money payments Trump made in 2016 and possible bank and insurance fraud.
The district attorney’s office is conducting an investigation into hush-money payments Trump made in 2016 and possible bank and insurance fraud. Another 1.1 million Americans filed for unemployment claims last week, according to the Department of Labor’s weekly unemployment figures. The figure marks a concerning uptick compared to the week before.
according to the Department of Labor’s weekly unemployment figures. The figure marks a concerning uptick compared to the week before. NBC News reported that Stephen Miller wanted to separate tens of thousand more migrant kids from their parents, and that he made top Trump officials personally endorse moving forward with the family separation policy in an early May 2018 show-of-hands vote at a White House meeting.
and that he made top Trump officials personally endorse moving forward with the family separation policy in an early May 2018 show-of-hands vote at a White House meeting. Wisconsin said Kanye West did not make the deadline to appear on the ballot as a presidential candidate, a setback for Republicans who hoped the artist would steal votes away from Biden and help Trump to victory in a key swing state.
21 Aug 2020 01.20 BST White Republican in Wisconsin argued black voters deserve Kanye West on the ballot BREAKING: Wisconsin Elections Commission votes 5-1 to reject Kanye West's nominating petitions, keeping him off the Wisconsin ballot. — Molly Beck (@MollyBeck) August 20, 2020 Wisconsin’s elections commission ruled 5-1 today that Kanye West did not make the deadline to appear on November’s ballot as a presidential candidate. The one dissenting vote was a white Republican who argued that West should appear on the ballot because black Milwaukee residents deserved to be able to vote for a black candidate after what they experienced at the polls in April. Polling place closures and coronavirus fears in the early weeks of the pandemic resulted in significant numbers of voters, particularly black voters, being dissuaded from voting, a study from the Brennan Center for Justice concluded. “Mr. (Kanye) West is an African American candidate,” Republican Robert Spindell said, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “and I think we should do all we can to — after the terrible treatment that the Black population in Milwaukee received during the April election — that we given them a choice.” The Journal Sentinel reported that the decision was a loss for supporters of Trump, who have been pushing West’s candidacy as a spoiler campaign. State Elections Commission votes to keep Kanye West off Wisconsin ballot in November.
One GOP source has said the goal was for West to get 107K votes, about what Libertarian Gary Johnson did in 2016. Trump won WI by about 22K votes. https://t.co/oqWOJQMlJt via @journalsentinel — Molly Beck (@MollyBeck) August 20, 2020
20 Aug 2020 00.50 BST What NBC reported about Trump officials raising their hands for child separation More on that NBC News story about an early May 2018 White House meeting at which Stephen Miller reportedly demanded that top Trump officials raise their hands to endorse moving forward with the administration’s policy of family separation.
Which cabinet members reportedly raised their hands to support what has been widely condemned as one of the most evil and inhumane acts of the Trump administration? NBC News does not provide a breakdown of the vote, other than reporting that then-secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen “kept hers down,” and that a lot of other people raised their hands. But NBC News said a document listed those who had been invited to the meeting, including: secretary of state Mike Pompeo, health and human services secretary Alex Azar, attorney general Jeff Sessions, then-White House chief of staff John Kelly, White House deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell, then-White House counsel Don McGahn, and Marc Short, then director of legislative affairs and now chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence.
It’s worth noting that on Monday, Miles Taylor, a former chief of staff at Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, went public with an endorsement of Joe Biden, and with a scathing op-ed about his experiences working for Trump. Like this NBC News report citing two unnamed officials present at the meting, Taylor’s op-ed contained details that appeared designed to defend his former boss, Nielsen, for her role in the administration’s family separation policy.
20 Aug 2020 00.38 BST NBC: Trump advisers endorsed separation of migrant families with show-of-hands vote Trump adviser Stephen Miller had wanted to separate even more migrant children from their parents than the administration eventually did, three former administration officials told NBC News. “While ‘zero tolerance’ ultimately separated nearly 3,000 children from their parents, what Miller proposed would have separated an additional 25,000, including those who legally presented themselves at a port of entry seeking asylum, according to Customs and Border Protection data from May and June 2018,” NBC News reported. The new report from NBC News also details a May 2018 meeting at which top Trump advisers reportedly raised their hands to personally endorse the administration’s separation of migrant kids and parents at the US border, a policy which was later widely condemned as an “unconscionable” human rights violation, and as child abuse. Frustrated that the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy was not yet being put into action, Stephen Miller demanded that powerful administration officials raise their hands to show support for moving forward, NBC News reported, and “a sea of hands went up.” The details of the meeting were provided to NBC News by two unnamed officials who were in the room, and backed up with a document about who was invited to the meeting. A White House spokesperson denied to NBC News that the show-of-hands vote happened. Exclusive from @JuliaEAinsley and @jacobsoboroff In a tense 2018 White House meeting of many top Trump advisers, Stephen Miller demanded a show-of-hands vote to allow separation of migrant kids and parents, officials say. https://t.co/m8r3uVhX0O — NBC Investigations (@NBCInvestigates) August 20, 2020
Updated at 00.39 BST
20 Aug 2020 23.32 BST Endorsing with the Stars: Steph and Ayesha Curry for Joe Biden The Democratic National Convention shared a clip from the NBA star and TV cooking personality’s Biden endorsement, which will be aired tonight. Here’s the preview clip of Steph and Ayesha Curry’s video with their kids endorsing Joe Biden, which’ll air in full tonight. https://t.co/28JFqpVTOk — Matt Berman (@Mr_Berman) August 20, 2020
20 Aug 2020 23.11 BST Sam Levine ‘He didn’t strike me as a serious candidate:’ questions about DeJoy’s qualifications Postmaster General Louis DeJoy did not seem to be a “serious candidate” to serve as postmaster general during an interview with the agency’s board of governor’s, David Williams, a former member of the board, told Congress on Thursday. DeJoy did “particularly badly” during his second interview for the position, when John Barger, a Trump appointee to the board, had to complete question answers for DeJoy and explain what he meant. “He didn’t strike me as a serious candidate,” Williams told the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
DeJoy’s role in leading the agency are under heavy scrutiny amid reports of widespread mail delays across the country. Donald Trump has admitted he does not want to fund the postal service because doing so would make it easier for Americans to vote by mail this fall. DeJoy announced this week he was “suspending” recent changes believe to be causing delays until after the election, but many worry the damage has already been done. Williams also said that Barger, not the outside search firm looking for a new postmaster general, brought DeJoy’s name to the board for consideration. The Washington Post reported Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin recruited DeJoy, a major Republican donor without prior USPS experience, to the position.
Williams said he did not believe DeJoy underwent a background check before being appointed to the position. Questions about DeJoy’s business entanglements and potential conflicts of interest have come to light in recent weeks. Williams also raised concern about recent decisions to remove mail sorting machines and mailboxes, saying they were puzzling and would not save USPS money.