theguardian--2020-06-01--America's seniors ebb away from Trump as coronavirus response disappoints

At a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden last week , a maskless Donald Trump appealed directly to a constituency that could determine his political fate in November ’ s election : America ’ s seniors .
“ This is a big day for seniors , ” Trump declared , unveiling a plan to lower the cost of insulin for many Medicare recipients .
He touted the achievement as a “ breakthrough ” and a preview of what he could deliver in a second term .
“ Sleepy Joe can ’ t do this , ” Trump said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added , not too subtly : “ I hope the seniors are going to remember it.
” Older voters , America ’ s largest and most reliable voting bloc , have for years punched above their political weight .
Over the past two decades , Republicans maintained an advantage with this constituency , and in 2016 their outsized political influence in key swing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin were essential to Trump ’ s electoral victory .
But there are signs that may be changing .
The White House event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what Trump designated “ Older Americans Month ” , came as a string of national and battleground state polls show the president ’ s support declining with older voters , amid his erratic handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
These voters are the most vulnerable to Covid-19 , which has already claimed the lives of more than 100,000 Americans .
A Quinnipiac University poll released last week shows Biden leading Trump by 10 points among voters 65 and older .
The president ’ s troubles with older voters began before the coronavirus spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in both parties say the shortcomings of his response to the virus has only deepened the problem .
“ The biggest factor right now is that older Americans are disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic , ” said Michael Steele , a Republican political strategist .
“ Their friends are dying and they can ’ t even go to the funerals.
” In recent weeks , Trump has turned his attention almost entirely from controlling the public health outbreak to reopening the country and restoring the economy .
But polling suggests seniors remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential for a second coronavirus outbreak in the fall .
They are also among the most supportive of and the likeliest to abide by precautionary public health measures to control the spread of the virus .
A new analysis by Navigator Research , a progressive polling firm tracking public opinion on Covid-19 , found older Americans losing faith in Trump ’ s handling of the outbreak , increasingly characterizing his performance as “ self-absorbed ” and neither “ serious ” nor “ presidential ” .
In March , voters 55 and older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic by 17 points , according to the polling memo shared first with the Guardian .
Now , these voters narrowly disapprove of his response , a 19-point erosion in just two months .
“ For senior voters , there ’ s this really vivid contrast between a steady leader and an erratic leader , a leader who listens to experts to one who thinks he knows it all , ” said Celinda Lake , a veteran Democratic pollster .
Lake said senior women are particularly uneasy with Trump ’ s behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatments and his aggressive push to reopen the economy despite warnings from public health experts .
“ What some men dismissed as just ‘ Trump being Trump , ’ senior women really thought was divisive , disrespectful , erratic , and they value all three of those qualities , ” Lake said .
“ In the end , it ’ s primarily senior women who are moving away from him.
” That erosion was reflected in the recent Quinnipiac poll , which found that women support Biden by 22 points over Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 points among men over 65 .
Lake said Biden probably does not have to win older voters to deny Trump a second term .
Given how narrowly Trump won in 2016 , a marginal dent in his support there could be enough to tilt some battleground states in Biden ’ s favor .
Michael Gwin , a spokesman for the Biden campaign , said : “ Older Americans know that Vice-President Biden will provide the strong and compassionate leadership our country needs in a moment of crisis like this , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the entitlements they ’ ve spent their entire lives working towards.
” Allies and aides to Trump have publicly downplayed concerns about his deficit with seniors .
But the White House has also ramped up efforts to showcase how the administration is benefiting seniors .
And in May , Vice-President Mike Pence delivered personal protective equipment to a nursing home in Orlando treating coronavirus cases .
“ Just like every American , senior citizens saw what President Trump achieved for America during his first three years in office and they see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response , ” said Sarah Matthews , a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign .
Despite the uncertainty enveloping 2020 , Nancy LeaMond , the executive vice-president and chief advocacy and engagement officer of the non-partisan AARP , expects older voters will once again play a decisive role in the presidential election .
“ They ’ re going to find a way to vote , even if they ’ re afraid in the current pandemic , ” she said during an online briefing last week .
LeaMond emphasized that seniors are “ not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aligned with a political party , noting that while older voters were essential to Trump ’ s political success , they helped Democrats take control of the House in 2018 .
On the policy front , protecting entitlement programs like social security and Medicare were always priorities for older voters , and LeaMond said they are probably even more so amid the pandemic .
As a candidate , Trump was emphatic in his support for such programs , breaking with traditional Republican orthodoxy .
But as president , Trump has at various times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden campaign intends to highlight .
The Trump campaign is , in turn , attempting to weaponize Biden ’ s past comments on social security dating back to 1979 .
Even before the coronavirus upended the presidential election , Biden ’ s strength with his agemates was a threat to Trump .
During the primary , Biden won voters over 65 in every state contest except Vermont and New Hampshire .
Democrats say older voters , who helped Biden secure the party ’ s nomination , view him as an empathetic leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drawn to his moderate politics and his emphasis on shared American values .
But Trump , 73 , has also sought to cast his 77-year-old opponent as “ Sleepy Joe ” , a doddering older man unfit for the presidency .
As part of a recent advertising blitz , Trump ’ s re-election campaign mocked Biden as “ old and out of it ” and “ geriatric ” .
Biden ’ s campaign believes this strategy could backfire .
Some of Trump ’ s top aides have reportedly warned allies that their aggressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could further harm Trump ’ s standing among senior citizens .
In Florida , a state with a significant retiree population , Biden has for months maintained an edge with the state ’ s older voters , an electorate that now includes the president .
Trump ’ s electoral success likely depends on winning Florida , where he defeated Hillary Clinton by just over 1 percentage point in 2016 .
According to exit polls , he carried voters 65 and older in the state by a 17-point margin .
Democrats say many voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
The coronavirus has hit elderly Floridians hard : more than 80 % of those who have died from coronavirus were older than 65 , and more than 40 % of them can be traced to long-term care facilities .
“ Seniors have eyes and ears .
They see and hear exactly what Donald Trump has done and are going to be holding him accountable , ” said Terrie Rizzo , chair of the Florida Democratic party .
“ Trump has failed us as seniors and it is now our turn.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this advantage , which pollsters say could fade as the dynamics of the virus shift .
Last week , surrogates hosted a series of events in battleground states with seniors while Biden makes frequent appearances on local television stations , whose audience skew older .
Campaign organizers , along with state party officials , have also been conducting “ wellness checks ” on older voters during the pandemic .
On the calls , they help seniors connect with local services and encourage them to register to vote by mail .
As the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirals and social unrest spreads across the country , Trump ’ s critics say the disillusionment of seniors with his presidency will be hard to reverse .
.
“ Older voters have a great deal of experience with presidents and how they handle crises , ” said Gary Mitchell , president of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans .
“ And what they ’ re seeing right now is a huge disappointment.
” Mitchell noted that the coronavirus has claimed more American lives than were lost in the Korean war and the Vietnam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those conflicts , and the many more whose lives were shaped by them , the scale of loss in such a short period of time is hard to grasp , he said , especially as more is revealed about what could have been done to save American lives .
“ It ’ s just a huge trauma , ” he said .
“ The more people learn , the more and more angry and disappointed they are .
”

At a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden last week, a maskless Donald Trump appealed directly to a constituency that could determine his political fate in November’s election: America’s seniors.
“This is a big day for seniors,” Trump declared, unveiling a plan to lower the cost of insulin for many Medicare recipients. He touted the achievement as a “breakthrough” and a preview of what he could deliver in a second term.
“Sleepy Joe can’t do this,” Trump said, lacing into his Democratic rival Joe Biden. He added, not too subtly: “I hope the seniors are going to remember it.”
Older voters, America’s largest and most reliable voting bloc, have for years punched above their political weight. Over the past two decades, Republicans maintained an advantage with this constituency, and in 2016 their outsized political influence in key swing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin were essential to Trump’s electoral victory. But there are signs that may be changing.
The White House event, staged during the last week of what Trump designated “Older Americans Month”, came as a string of national and battleground state polls show the president’s support declining with older voters, amid his erratic handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
These voters are the most vulnerable to Covid-19, which has already claimed the lives of more than 100,000 Americans. A Quinnipiac University poll released last week shows Biden leading Trump by 10 points among voters 65 and older.
The president’s troubles with older voters began before the coronavirus spread to the US. But political strategists in both parties say the shortcomings of his response to the virus has only deepened the problem.
“The biggest factor right now is that older Americans are disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Michael Steele, a Republican political strategist. “Their friends are dying and they can’t even go to the funerals.”
In recent weeks, Trump has turned his attention almost entirely from controlling the public health outbreak to reopening the country and restoring the economy. But polling suggests seniors remain deeply concerned about their health, and the potential for a second coronavirus outbreak in the fall. They are also among the most supportive of and the likeliest to abide by precautionary public health measures to control the spread of the virus.
A new analysis by Navigator Research, a progressive polling firm tracking public opinion on Covid-19, found older Americans losing faith in Trump’s handling of the outbreak, increasingly characterizing his performance as “self-absorbed” and neither “serious” nor “presidential”.
In March, voters 55 and older approved of Trump’s response to the pandemic by 17 points, according to the polling memo shared first with the Guardian. Now, these voters narrowly disapprove of his response, a 19-point erosion in just two months.
“For senior voters, there’s this really vivid contrast between a steady leader and an erratic leader, a leader who listens to experts to one who thinks he knows it all,” said Celinda Lake, a veteran Democratic pollster.
Lake said senior women are particularly uneasy with Trump’s behavior, especially his promotion of unproven medical treatments and his aggressive push to reopen the economy despite warnings from public health experts.
“What some men dismissed as just ‘Trump being Trump,’ senior women really thought was divisive, disrespectful, erratic, and they value all three of those qualities,” Lake said. “In the end, it’s primarily senior women who are moving away from him.”
That erosion was reflected in the recent Quinnipiac poll, which found that women support Biden by 22 points over Trump. By contrast, Trump leads Biden by 11 points among men over 65.
Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive to lay a wreath at the Delaware Memorial Bridge Veterans Memorial Park. Photograph: Patrick Semansky/AP
Lake said Biden probably does not have to win older voters to deny Trump a second term. Given how narrowly Trump won in 2016, a marginal dent in his support there could be enough to tilt some battleground states in Biden’s favor.
Michael Gwin, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, said: “Older Americans know that Vice-President Biden will provide the strong and compassionate leadership our country needs in a moment of crisis like this, and they know that Biden will always fight to protect the entitlements they’ve spent their entire lives working towards.”
Allies and aides to Trump have publicly downplayed concerns about his deficit with seniors. But the White House has also ramped up efforts to showcase how the administration is benefiting seniors. And in May, Vice-President Mike Pence delivered personal protective equipment to a nursing home in Orlando treating coronavirus cases.
“Just like every American, senior citizens saw what President Trump achieved for America during his first three years in office and they see the president leading the nation during the coronavirus response,” said Sarah Matthews, a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign.
Despite the uncertainty enveloping 2020, Nancy LeaMond, the executive vice-president and chief advocacy and engagement officer of the non-partisan AARP, expects older voters will once again play a decisive role in the presidential election.
“They’re going to find a way to vote, even if they’re afraid in the current pandemic,” she said during an online briefing last week.
LeaMond emphasized that seniors are “not a monolith”, nor are they firmly aligned with a political party, noting that while older voters were essential to Trump’s political success, they helped Democrats take control of the House in 2018.
On the policy front, protecting entitlement programs like social security and Medicare were always priorities for older voters, and LeaMond said they are probably even more so amid the pandemic.
As a candidate, Trump was emphatic in his support for such programs, breaking with traditional Republican orthodoxy. But as president, Trump has at various times suggested openness to spending cuts – comments the Biden campaign intends to highlight. The Trump campaign is, in turn, attempting to weaponize Biden’s past comments on social security dating back to 1979.
Even before the coronavirus upended the presidential election, Biden’s strength with his agemates was a threat to Trump. During the primary, Biden won voters over 65 in every state contest except Vermont and New Hampshire.
Democrats say older voters, who helped Biden secure the party’s nomination, view him as an empathetic leader shaped by personal tragedy, and are drawn to his moderate politics and his emphasis on shared American values.
But Trump, 73, has also sought to cast his 77-year-old opponent as “Sleepy Joe”, a doddering older man unfit for the presidency. As part of a recent advertising blitz, Trump’s re-election campaign mocked Biden as “old and out of it” and “geriatric”.
Biden’s campaign believes this strategy could backfire. Some of Trump’s top aides have reportedly warned allies that their aggressive attacks on Biden’s mental fitness could further harm Trump’s standing among senior citizens.
In Florida, a state with a significant retiree population, Biden has for months maintained an edge with the state’s older voters, an electorate that now includes the president.
Trump’s electoral success likely depends on winning Florida, where he defeated Hillary Clinton by just over 1 percentage point in 2016. According to exit polls, he carried voters 65 and older in the state by a 17-point margin.
Democrats say many voters in the state are souring on the president. The coronavirus has hit elderly Floridians hard: more than 80% of those who have died from coronavirus were older than 65, and more than 40% of them can be traced to long-term care facilities.
“Seniors have eyes and ears. They see and hear exactly what Donald Trump has done and are going to be holding him accountable,” said Terrie Rizzo, chair of the Florida Democratic party. “Trump has failed us as seniors and it is now our turn.”
The Biden campaign is attempting to solidify this advantage, which pollsters say could fade as the dynamics of the virus shift. Last week, surrogates hosted a series of events in battleground states with seniors while Biden makes frequent appearances on local television stations, whose audience skew older.
Donald Trump takes questions from reporters during an event on protecting seniors with diabetes at the White House on Tuesday. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Campaign organizers, along with state party officials, have also been conducting “wellness checks” on older voters during the pandemic. On the calls, they help seniors connect with local services and encourage them to register to vote by mail.
As the death toll continues to rise, the economy spirals and social unrest spreads across the country, Trump’s critics say the disillusionment of seniors with his presidency will be hard to reverse. .
“Older voters have a great deal of experience with presidents and how they handle crises,” said Gary Mitchell, president of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans. “And what they’re seeing right now is a huge disappointment.”
Mitchell noted that the coronavirus has claimed more American lives than were lost in the Korean war and the Vietnam war combined. For the veterans of those conflicts, and the many more whose lives were shaped by them, the scale of loss in such a short period of time is hard to grasp, he said, especially as more is revealed about what could have been done to save American lives.
“It’s just a huge trauma,” he said. “The more people learn, the more and more angry and disappointed they are.”


theguardian--2020-06-01--Pro-Trump donors in huge cash drive to boost doctors pushing states to reopen

A powerful conservative coalition whose key members have strong Trump administration ties , is seeking to raise $ 5m to back hundreds of doctors pressing states to open rapidly and to build support for new tax cuts and curbing pandemic spending , say its leaders .
The Save Our Country ( SOC ) coalition was launched in April by veteran advocates of small government policies who lead rightwing groups like FreedomWorks Foundation , Tea Party Patriots and the shadowy state policy network the American Legislative Exchange Council ( Alec ) .
Nearly all top public health voices , like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urge caution in reopening states .
There is broad consensus among most public health experts worldwide that too swiftly ending lockdowns risks a potentially devastating second wave of infections in a pandemic that has already cost more than 100,000 American lives .
But the Tea Party Patriots have spearheaded a drive , in radio and TV interviews , to mobilize doctors urging states to move faster .
It is now attracting broader financial support from rightwing donors and groups in the shape of the SOC .
Doctors in the group have also pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have sparked anger and criticism .
The Tea Party leader Jenny Beth Martin said the group has about 800 members and its mission is to “ educate the American public about the unintended side-effects ” of the shutdown .
Martin said 800 doctors signed a letter in May to Donald Trump which called the lockdowns a “ mass casualty ” event causing depression and other ills and urged Trump to end the “ national shutdown ” .
A copy of the letter is going this week to governors nationwide .
The coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-profits that historically have been funded by a mix of wealthy donors , corporations and conservative foundations .
One leading figure in the loose-knit coalition is the FreedomWorks economic adviser and free markets advocate Stephen Moore .
Brandon said the SOS coalition has raised just over $ 800,000 towards a $ 5m goal for projects including new ad efforts – online , radio and print – to rev up grassroots pressure to reopen states faster , plus curtail more federal spending and promote business-favored tax cuts .
Los Angeles-based Dr Simone Gold , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ drive , was featured over Memorial Day weekend at a rally in Los Angeles which drew the conservative radio host Dennis Prager .
According to the Associated Press , the Council for National Policy Action , another SOS member , on 11 May held a call about the doctors ’ effort with Trump campaign officials who indicated they plan to launch a similar drive soon .
Gold told the AP that there was “ no scientific basis that the average American should be concerned about ” Covid-19 – something that downplays all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks .
Gold has also used talk radio to tout the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine – which Trump has taken in hopes of blocking Covid-19 – despite growing scientific evidence it carries big health risks .
The coalition ’ s economic and health agendas are drawing fire from scientists and economists of all political stripes .
“ The fact that these organizations have found doctors who are willing to support a rightwing agenda designed to help Donald Trump against all scientific evidence and appropriate public health practices is shameful , ” said Irwin Redlener @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbia University .
Critics notwithstanding , Brandon said the coalition recently spent $ 50,000 for videos on Facebook , Hulu and Twitter targeting independents and Republicans with the message that Covid-19 mostly hits the elderly to minimize risks for others .
FreedomWorks , which boasts an arm whose tax status permits lobbying , has also been prodding the Senate “ to pump the brakes on new spending ” , Brandon said referring to the $ 3tn-plus that has already been allocated for corporate relief and the pandemic ’ s painful fallout for tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tea Party Patriots and FreedomWorks have tapped their email lists and social media to mobilize activists to join “ liberate ” demonstrations in more than 10 states including North Carolina , Wisconsin , Virginia and Michigan , with the latter attracting some gun-toting activists .
Key groups in the SOC coalition , which has 200 members , have been funded by prominent billionaires , including some who have been active in the sprawling big-money network led by the oil and gas billionaire Charles Koch .
Tea Party Patriots , for instance , received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Richard Uihlein , whose net worth in early 2020 was almost $ 25bn according to public records .
Charles Koch , whose net worth Forbes last month pegged at $ 46.5bn , has been an Alec funder .
The Home Depot co-founder Bernard Marcus , whose net worth in February was $ 6.5bn , has backed Job Creators Network which also belongs to the coalition .
The coalition and some member groups have held strategy conference calls that include some wealthy donors and underscore White House ties .
FreedomWorks and Brandon hosted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice-President Mike Pence and Moore .
A GOP source who heard the call said Pence offered mostly familiar rhetoric about “ restoring American greatness ” and congratulated the call ’ s “ distinguished ” participants .
In turn , Moore stressed FreedomWorks support for a payroll tax cut , an idea Trump has pushed but which has faced bipartisan Senate opposition in part because it mainly helps workers with jobs , and not the tens of millions newly unemployed .
Jerry Taylor , who heads the non-partisan Niskanen Center and used to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the environment , faults the coalition ’ s economic and health analyses .
“ The political actors involved with these groups are united both in their hostility to mainstream science – which they consider a conspiratorial leftist plot to destroy free market capitalism – and their superficial understanding of economics .
Fully reopening the economy will not produce an economic recovery until the coronavirus is contained and can stay contained , ” he said .

A powerful conservative coalition whose key members have strong Trump administration ties, is seeking to raise $5m to back hundreds of doctors pressing states to open rapidly and to build support for new tax cuts and curbing pandemic spending, say its leaders.
The Save Our Country (SOC) coalition was launched in April by veteran advocates of small government policies who lead rightwing groups like FreedomWorks Foundation, Tea Party Patriots and the shadowy state policy network the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec).
Nearly all top public health voices, like the White House adviser Dr Anthony Fauci, urge caution in reopening states. There is broad consensus among most public health experts worldwide that too swiftly ending lockdowns risks a potentially devastating second wave of infections in a pandemic that has already cost more than 100,000 American lives.
But the Tea Party Patriots have spearheaded a drive, in radio and TV interviews, to mobilize doctors urging states to move faster. It is now attracting broader financial support from rightwing donors and groups in the shape of the SOC. Doctors in the group have also pushed unscientific theories about the pandemic in ways that have sparked anger and criticism.
The Tea Party leader Jenny Beth Martin said the group has about 800 members and its mission is to “educate the American public about the unintended side-effects” of the shutdown. Martin said 800 doctors signed a letter in May to Donald Trump which called the lockdowns a “mass casualty” event causing depression and other ills and urged Trump to end the “national shutdown”. A copy of the letter is going this week to governors nationwide.
The coalition’s key groups are dark money non-profits that historically have been funded by a mix of wealthy donors, corporations and conservative foundations. One leading figure in the loose-knit coalition is the FreedomWorks economic adviser and free markets advocate Stephen Moore.
The coalition’s economic and health agendas are drawing fire from scientists and economists of all political stripes
Brandon said the SOS coalition has raised just over $800,000 towards a $5m goal for projects including new ad efforts – online, radio and print – to rev up grassroots pressure to reopen states faster, plus curtail more federal spending and promote business-favored tax cuts.
Los Angeles-based Dr Simone Gold, who has been prominent in the doctors’ drive, was featured over Memorial Day weekend at a rally in Los Angeles which drew the conservative radio host Dennis Prager.
According to the Associated Press, the Council for National Policy Action, another SOS member, on 11 May held a call about the doctors’ effort with Trump campaign officials who indicated they plan to launch a similar drive soon. Gold told the AP that there was “no scientific basis that the average American should be concerned about” Covid-19 – something that downplays all medical evidence about the pandemic’s risks.
Gold has also used talk radio to tout the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine – which Trump has taken in hopes of blocking Covid-19 – despite growing scientific evidence it carries big health risks.
The coalition’s economic and health agendas are drawing fire from scientists and economists of all political stripes.
“The fact that these organizations have found doctors who are willing to support a rightwing agenda designed to help Donald Trump against all scientific evidence and appropriate public health practices is shameful,” said Irwin Redlener, a professor of public health at Columbia University.
Critics notwithstanding, Brandon said the coalition recently spent $50,000 for videos on Facebook, Hulu and Twitter targeting independents and Republicans with the message that Covid-19 mostly hits the elderly to minimize risks for others.
FreedomWorks, which boasts an arm whose tax status permits lobbying, has also been prodding the Senate “to pump the brakes on new spending”, Brandon said referring to the $3tn-plus that has already been allocated for corporate relief and the pandemic’s painful fallout for tens of millions.
Besides coalition projects, Tea Party Patriots and FreedomWorks have tapped their email lists and social media to mobilize activists to join “liberate” demonstrations in more than 10 states including North Carolina, Wisconsin, Virginia and Michigan, with the latter attracting some gun-toting activists.
Key groups in the SOC coalition, which has 200 members, have been funded by prominent billionaires, including some who have been active in the sprawling big-money network led by the oil and gas billionaire Charles Koch.
Tea Party Patriots, for instance, received almost $2m in 2017 and 2018 from Richard Uihlein, whose net worth in early 2020 was almost $25bn according to public records. Charles Koch, whose net worth Forbes last month pegged at $46.5bn, has been an Alec funder. The Home Depot co-founder Bernard Marcus, whose net worth in February was $6.5bn, has backed Job Creators Network which also belongs to the coalition.
The coalition and some member groups have held strategy conference calls that include some wealthy donors and underscore White House ties. FreedomWorks and Brandon hosted one such call on May 21 with Vice-President Mike Pence and Moore.
A GOP source who heard the call said Pence offered mostly familiar rhetoric about “restoring American greatness” and congratulated the call’s “distinguished” participants.
In turn, Moore stressed FreedomWorks support for a payroll tax cut, an idea Trump has pushed but which has faced bipartisan Senate opposition in part because it mainly helps workers with jobs, and not the tens of millions newly unemployed.
Jerry Taylor, who heads the non-partisan Niskanen Center and used to work at Alec leading a taskforce on energy and the environment, faults the coalition’s economic and health analyses.
“The political actors involved with these groups are united both in their hostility to mainstream science – which they consider a conspiratorial leftist plot to destroy free market capitalism – and their superficial understanding of economics. Fully reopening the economy will not produce an economic recovery until the coronavirus is contained and can stay contained,” he said.


theguardian--2020-06-01--How the libertarian right plans to profit from the pandemic | Quinn Slobodian

When coronavirus crept across the world in early February , talk of how different nations were dealing with the virus came to resemble the Olympics for state capacity .
Which country had the authority , the supplies and the expertise to “ crush the curve ” ?
A balance sheet of national progress marked out a bleak race to the horizon , enumerated in case numbers and death figures .
Although the focus over recent months has remained on leaders in crisis mode and the central agencies delivering forecasts and quarantine measures , local authorities have also played a prominent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , US governors and Indian chief ministers have coordinated local responses , taking responsibility for populations and even locking horns with national politicians .
Most people would read the pandemic as a sign that populations and nation states should band together , and for the people “ at the head of the rope ” to pull even harder , to use the metaphor favoured by the French president , Emmanuel Macron .
But there are others who see matters quite differently .
They spy opportunity in the crisis , and wager that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic into a new tomorrow , where the virus shatters the global map – and undermines the power of democratic nation states .
The US is ground zero for this type of thinking .
Across the country , regions have broken up into “ compacts ” , with states competing against each other for life-saving ventilators and PPE .
The atmosphere is one of competitive federalism , where states are reconfigured as economic units bidding in a marketplace .
Washington ’ s state governor , Jay Inslee , accused Trump of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls to “ liberate ” individual states ; governor Gavin Newsom termed California a “ nation-state.
” One Maryland governor confessed to keeping Covid-19 tests in an undisclosed location under armed guard , in part to prevent their seizure by central state authorities .
Although North America ’ s economy is gradually reopening , the virus is still rampaging through its population .
What will economic recovery look like in the midst of a pandemic ?
The president ’ s economic advisers have some ideas .
In an analysis released at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moore , two of Trump ’ s closest economic confidants and authors of the book on “ Trumponomics ” , predicted that “ blue ” Democratic states would be slower than “ red ” states to recover , because of what they saw as their pre-existing excess of regulations and taxes .
Their analysis divided the US map into “ laggard anti-growth ” states and “ momentum pro-growth ” states .
The former have minimum wages , pro-union laws and state income tax ; the latter are free of such regulations .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laffer and Moore ’ s analysis appears to see the pandemic as a way to compel “ anti-growth ” states to adopt ever lower tax rates in order to attract mobile capital and labour .
It suggests those who resist will not be bailed out by redistribution from the central government , but left to languish in a deserved economic depression .
The effect is reminiscent of social Darwinism , applied as a philosophy of government .
The most articulate cheerleader for this kind of post-pandemic libertarianism is Balaji Srinivasan , the electrical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley venture capital fund Andreesen Horowitz .
Since the pandemic began , Srinivasan has foretold a redivision of the world map into “ green zones ” that have controlled and contained the virus and “ red zones ” , which have not .
“ We are entering this fractal environment , ” Srinivasan recently told a virtual summit organised by the Startup Societies Foundation , “ in which the virus breaks centralised states ” .
The virus does not stop at the border , so nor will this process of fragmentation .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ you can drill down to the state , or even the town or county level ” , Srinivasan observed , noting that any state without the virus under control will “ face defection ” in an intensified contest for talent and capital .
After the pandemic has passed , “ nations are going to turn into effectively vendors and entrepreneurs and relatively mobile people will be applicants ” , he predicted .
It ’ s easy to imagine how a particular breed of investor could see this pandemic as an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loose attachments that investors feel towards this or that nation will grow even looser as capital becomes more mobile , and a sorting process will separate the productive few nations from the malingering many .
States that don ’ t fall in line with the demands of this investor class will be starved by the voluntary expatriation of the wealthy , with their assets and abilities in tow .
If you assume this is merely a pessimistic vision , you ’ d be wrong .
In fact it accords with a long-cultivated ideology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like-minded venture capitalists and entrepreneurs , who subscribe to variations of the radical libertarian philosophy known as “ anarcho-capitalism ” .
The idea at its root is that a wealthy class of investors and entrepreneurs should be free to exit nation states and form new communities whose members can choose which rules ( and tax laws ) they ’ re governed by – as if those rules were products on a store shelf .
For like-minded libertarians , the colour-coded zones used in public health to control the virus are the blueprint for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began discussing the framework , colour-coded zones have been rolled out to control the virus in Malaysia , Indonesia , Northern Italy and France ; the strategy was also considered as a model for biocontainment in the White House in early April .
As of early May , India has divided its 1.3 billion people into a patchwork of green , yellow and red zones , with different freedoms and restrictions based on each .
The red-green zone schema has already informed the strategies of global investors .
In April , Henley & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released its annual ranking of national passports for mobile investors , and predicted that coronavirus would spark a dramatic shift in global mobility .
Its chief source forecast that “ as the curtain lifts , people will seek to move from poorly governed and ill-prepared ‘ red zones ’ to ‘ green zones ’ , or places with better medical care.
” In early May , it reported a 42 % increase in applications for new nationalities , compared with the previous year .
Nobody can tell what the world will look like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be sure of is that some investors appear to be already placing their bets on a vision of the future where the wealthy are freed from tax constraints .
As nations are divided into different zones according to their respective stages of viral and economic recovery , the well-off could follow Elon Musk ’ s recent threat to relocate from California to Texas , voting with their feet for locations that elude redistributive taxation .
In our post-pandemic future , the flight to safety , away from contagious “ red zones ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation state as we know it .
• Quinn Slobodian is an associate professor of history at Wellesley College , US

When coronavirus crept across the world in early February, talk of how different nations were dealing with the virus came to resemble the Olympics for state capacity. Which country had the authority, the supplies and the expertise to “crush the curve”? A balance sheet of national progress marked out a bleak race to the horizon, enumerated in case numbers and death figures.
Although the focus over recent months has remained on leaders in crisis mode and the central agencies delivering forecasts and quarantine measures, local authorities have also played a prominent role during the pandemic. Chinese mayors, US governors and Indian chief ministers have coordinated local responses, taking responsibility for populations and even locking horns with national politicians.
Most people would read the pandemic as a sign that populations and nation states should band together, and for the people “at the head of the rope” to pull even harder, to use the metaphor favoured by the French president, Emmanuel Macron. But there are others who see matters quite differently. They spy opportunity in the crisis, and wager that we might be able to ride the wave of the pandemic into a new tomorrow, where the virus shatters the global map – and undermines the power of democratic nation states.
The US is ground zero for this type of thinking. Across the country, regions have broken up into “compacts”, with states competing against each other for life-saving ventilators and PPE. The atmosphere is one of competitive federalism, where states are reconfigured as economic units bidding in a marketplace. Washington’s state governor, Jay Inslee, accused Trump of “fomenting domestic rebellion” for his calls to “liberate” individual states; governor Gavin Newsom termed California a “nation-state.” One Maryland governor confessed to keeping Covid-19 tests in an undisclosed location under armed guard, in part to prevent their seizure by central state authorities.
Although North America’s economy is gradually reopening, the virus is still rampaging through its population. What will economic recovery look like in the midst of a pandemic? The president’s economic advisers have some ideas. In an analysis released at the end of April, Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore, two of Trump’s closest economic confidants and authors of the book on “Trumponomics”, predicted that “blue” Democratic states would be slower than “red” states to recover, because of what they saw as their pre-existing excess of regulations and taxes.
Their analysis divided the US map into “laggard anti-growth” states and “momentum pro-growth” states. The former have minimum wages, pro-union laws and state income tax; the latter are free of such regulations. In the established mode of disaster capitalism, Laffer and Moore’s analysis appears to see the pandemic as a way to compel “anti-growth” states to adopt ever lower tax rates in order to attract mobile capital and labour. It suggests those who resist will not be bailed out by redistribution from the central government, but left to languish in a deserved economic depression. The effect is reminiscent of social Darwinism, applied as a philosophy of government.
The most articulate cheerleader for this kind of post-pandemic libertarianism is Balaji Srinivasan, the electrical engineer and former general partner at Silicon Valley venture capital fund Andreesen Horowitz. Since the pandemic began, Srinivasan has foretold a redivision of the world map into “green zones” that have controlled and contained the virus and “red zones”, which have not.
“We are entering this fractal environment,” Srinivasan recently told a virtual summit organised by the Startup Societies Foundation, “in which the virus breaks centralised states”. The virus does not stop at the border, so nor will this process of fragmentation. As regions seal themselves off to prevent contagion, “you can drill down to the state, or even the town or county level”, Srinivasan observed, noting that any state without the virus under control will “face defection” in an intensified contest for talent and capital. After the pandemic has passed, “nations are going to turn into effectively vendors and entrepreneurs and relatively mobile people will be applicants”, he predicted.
It’s easy to imagine how a particular breed of investor could see this pandemic as an opportunity that will accelerate existing trends. The loose attachments that investors feel towards this or that nation will grow even looser as capital becomes more mobile, and a sorting process will separate the productive few nations from the malingering many. States that don’t fall in line with the demands of this investor class will be starved by the voluntary expatriation of the wealthy, with their assets and abilities in tow.
If you assume this is merely a pessimistic vision, you’d be wrong. In fact it accords with a long-cultivated ideology that Srinivasan shares with a group of like-minded venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, who subscribe to variations of the radical libertarian philosophy known as “anarcho-capitalism”. The idea at its root is that a wealthy class of investors and entrepreneurs should be free to exit nation states and form new communities whose members can choose which rules (and tax laws) they’re governed by – as if those rules were products on a store shelf.
For like-minded libertarians, the colour-coded zones used in public health to control the virus are the blueprint for a new political economy. Since Srinivasan began discussing the framework, colour-coded zones have been rolled out to control the virus in Malaysia, Indonesia, Northern Italy and France; the strategy was also considered as a model for biocontainment in the White House in early April. As of early May, India has divided its 1.3 billion people into a patchwork of green, yellow and red zones, with different freedoms and restrictions based on each.
The red-green zone schema has already informed the strategies of global investors. In April, Henley & Partners, the global citizenship broker, released its annual ranking of national passports for mobile investors, and predicted that coronavirus would spark a dramatic shift in global mobility. Its chief source forecast that “as the curtain lifts, people will seek to move from poorly governed and ill-prepared ‘red zones’ to ‘green zones’, or places with better medical care.” In early May, it reported a 42% increase in applications for new nationalities, compared with the previous year.
Nobody can tell what the world will look like after the pandemic. But what we can be sure of is that some investors appear to be already placing their bets on a vision of the future where the wealthy are freed from tax constraints. As nations are divided into different zones according to their respective stages of viral and economic recovery, the well-off could follow Elon Musk’s recent threat to relocate from California to Texas, voting with their feet for locations that elude redistributive taxation. In our post-pandemic future, the flight to safety, away from contagious “red zones”, could be a flight from the nation state as we know it.


theguardian--2020-06-01--Truck drives into protesters on Minneapolis highway – video

A truck driver is in custody after driving into a throng of protesters on a closed interstate near Minneapolis .
@ @ @ @ @ before police arrived .
It did not appear that any marchers were struck by the @ @ @ @ @ the crowd on the westbound lanes of Interstate 35 , honking .
The freeway was @ @ @ @ @ time .
Witnesses said the truck driver was dragged out of the cab of his @ @ @ @ @ protesters before he was taken into custody by Minneapolis police • George Floyd : Donald @ @ @ @ @ flares across America

The driver of a tanker truck was arrested but released after questioning over an incident that saw his vehicle barrel into a crowd protesting the death of George Floyd on a Minneapolis highway. In the video, from Sunday 31 May, demonstrators appear to pull the driver out of the cab. Later, however, officials said they had reason to believe the driver had acted in error and had not intended to target the protesters
The above text was updated on Mon 15 June.


theguardian--2020-06-02--Trump threatens to deploy military against protesters as teargas fired outside White House – live

Under the Civil War-era Posse Comitatus Act , federal troops are prohibited from performing domestic law enforcement actions such as making arrests , seizing property or searching people , the AP notes .
In extreme cases , however , the president can invoke the Insurrection Act , also from the Civil War , which allows the use of active-duty or National Guard troops for law enforcement .
From the Atlantic last year when there was talk of Trump using this act for immigration enforcement , Stephen I Vladeck , a professor of law at the University of Texas , wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an umbrella term for a series of statutes that date all the way back to the Founding , and through which Congress has exercised its authority under Article I , Section 8 , Clause 15 of the Constitution ‘ to provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union , suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions ’ .
The Constitution ’ s drafters understood that there would be circumstances in which local authorities were inadequate to protect the populace and enforce the laws , and so went out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumstances in which troops could be used , but also to give the power to delimit those circumstances to Congress , not the president.
” One crucial Supreme Court opinion , Vladek noted , said , “ Congress , not the Executive , should control utilization of the war power as an instrument of domestic policy.
” With that , I ’ m handing over the blog to my colleague Maanvi Singh in Oakland , who will continue our coverage of the ongoing protests and curfews into the night .
- Sam Levin

Maanvi Singh (now) and Sam Levin, Joan E Greve and Martin Pengelly (earlier)

2 Jun 2020 10.45 BST European Commission sides with Twitter over Trump row Daniel Boffey The European Commission has backed Twitter in its row with Donald Trump following the social media platform’s decision to hide one of the US president’s tweets with a warning over its glorification of violence.
The EU executive branch’s vice president, Věra Jourová, said politicians should answer “criticism with facts, not with threats and attacks,” in her response to the dispute. After the addition of a fact-checking label to one of Trump’s tweets, the president had signed an executive order to reduce the social media platform’s protections against civil claims. In a statement, Jourová said: “I support Twitter in their efforts to develop and implement a transparent, clear and consistent moderation policy. This is not about censorship. This is about flagging verifiably false or misleading information that may cause public harm, linking to reliable information, or flagging content violating their policies. “The role of public authorities is not to interfere with content policies of private companies but to ensure that fundamental rights are protected online as well as offline – rights such as freedom of expression and information, non-discrimination, right to security. “These rights protect all citizens, not only those in power. As politicians, we have to be held to account, and answer to criticism with facts, not with threats and attacks.” The comments come ahead of next week’s expected launch of an overhaul of EU regulation of digital platforms. The commission will look at whether the big tech giants should be held responsible for content published on their sites or goods sold online.
2 Jun 2020 10.10 BST A local television channel in Las Vegas is reporting that a city police officer was shot in the head tonight. 8 News Now said the incident, reportedly near the Circus Circus hotel and casino, was one of two shootings in the city. The second occurred at the federal courthouse, the report said, when police fired at a suspect after they allegedly fired a shot. #DEVELOPING: We are working to get more information. Again, Metro sources tell us an officer was shot in the head near Circus Circus. There are a lot of moving parts & @LVMPD is very busy. Stay with @8NewsNow for the latest updates. Here are more pics from @UMCSN. #8NN pic.twitter.com/W1wWtQXB1N — Orko Manna (@orko_manna) June 2, 2020 Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed two shootings had taken place and that one officer had been hit, but did not provide details on their condition. Protesters have been gathering on the main Las Vegas strip in recent days. On Monday evening, local media the demonstrations were largely peaceful although police broke up the crowds later in the night with tear gas.
2 Jun 2020 09.47 BST Watch this video of protesters around the US explaining why they came out to demonstrate against systemic racism. 02:13 'It's about time we stand up': the voices of the George Floyd protests – video
2 Jun 2020 08.49 BST The Associated Press has reported that two people have been killed in the Chicago suburb of Cicero as protests continued over the death of George Floyd. Town Spokesman Ray Hanania said 60 people were arrested during protests, and people broke into a liquor store and other businesses. Hanania did not provide additional information about those killed or how they died. We hope to have more details later on.
2 Jun 2020 08.37 BST More police have been wounded tonight in apparent attacks. In Buffalo, NY, a car ploughed through a group of officers at a protest, injuring at least two people. Just happened: a protest in a car run over a group of cops in Buffalo NY...Some of them might be dead
#BlackLivesMatter #protests2020 pic.twitter.com/UraxbRhMuV — Yousef NH (@YousefNH2) June 2, 2020 The above video shows the car accelerating through lines of riot police as they quickly disperse. What appears to be gunshots can be heard.
While the person who posted the video warned they might have been fatalities, authorities said the two injured officers were in stable condition.
2 Jun 2020 08.24 BST Four police officers shot in St. Louis Police in Missouri have said four of their officers were struck by gunfire tonight. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
We have had 4 officers struck by gunfire tonight. All have been transported to an area hospital. All are conscious and breathing. Their injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.
Officers are still taking gunfire downtown & we will share more info as it available. pic.twitter.com/Cwypi5EorP — St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) June 2, 2020 St. Louis’ police chief, John Hayden, said two were shot in the leg, one in the foot and one in the arm. “What constructive thing is going on?” he told reporters. “People have decided to steal and break windows. That’s all they are doing. So I don’t understand what that has to do with Mr Floyd’s death? That’s what I don’t understand.” “Some coward fired shots at officers,” Hayden said, before his voice cracked up. You can see his full comments here: Chief Hayden provides an update on 4 of our officers who were struck by gunfire tonight during the downtown unrest. https://t.co/Ml1CgIikHf — St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) June 2, 2020
2 Jun 2020 07.56 BST Los Angeles’ chief of police has apologised after he said people exploiting the protests to loot were also responsible for the death of George Floyd. “His death is on their hands, as much as it is on those officers. And that is a strong statement,” Chief Michel Moore told a press conference on Monday. Hours later, following an outcry, Moore retracted the comments on Twitter, acknowledging that they had been “terribly offensive”: My Apology for Remark Regarding the Death of George Floyd During a Press Conference Earlier Today:
I misspoke when making a statement about those engaging in violent acts following the murder of George Floyd. — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) June 2, 2020 While I did immediately correct myself, I recognize that my initial words were terribly offensive. Looting is wrong, but it is not the equivalent of murder and I did not mean to equate the two. I deeply regret and humbly apologize for my characterization. — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) June 2, 2020 Let me be clear: the police officers involved were responsible for the death of George Floyd. — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) June 2, 2020 The city’s mayor, Eric Garcetti, has also spoken on the issue: The responsibility for George Floyd’s death rests solely with the police officers involved. Chief Moore regrets the words he chose this evening and has clarified them. — MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) June 2, 2020
2 Jun 2020 07.38 BST Hello to all those following.
Oliver Holmes here, taking over the blog for the next few hours. We’re now deep into the night across the US. Please do get in contact with me if you spot anything, no matter how local it may seem, and also for any questions or feedback. You can reach me via Twitter or on email, too: oliver.holmes [at] theguardian.com
2 Jun 2020 07.21 BST That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan for today. My colleague Oliver Holmes will be taking you through the latest US developments for the next few hours. Many thanks to those of you who got in touch on Twitter with information from your cities and elsewhere – it is hugely appreciated. And, as always, thanks for following along.
2 Jun 2020 07.16 BST Celebrities, influencers, brands and other users are publishing all-black posts on Instagram in support of protestors. Film star Timothée Chalamet posted this three times, tagging Black Lives Matter.
Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Allow and continue Surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore took part, too: Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Allow and continue The music industry is also observing a “blackoutday” on Tuesday: The demonstration stands to bring major music companies, significant pieces of a $19bn industry, to a halt. The event organizer Live Nation will “pull the plug” on its operations and close offices for the day; radio shows will go silent; MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and other ViacomCBS-owned channels will “go dark”. #TheShowMustBePaused: music industry plans day of silence for George Floyd Read more
2 Jun 2020 07.00 BST Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka has added her voice to protests over George Floyd’s death.
Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, has previously passed her time in quarantine posting lighthearted selfies in stylish clothes or by the side of a pool.
But her social media feed changed following Floyd’s death, as she posted news footage of his death and the statement “There comes a time when silence is betrayal” as well as tweeting: Just because it isn’t happening to you doesn’t mean it isn’t happening at all. — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 29, 2020 On Monday she posted on Twitter:
When you tweet about the lootings before you tweet about the death of an unarmed black man 🤡🤡🤡🤡 — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) June 1, 2020 Osaka joins other sports figures in speaking out against racism and police violence, including basketball great Michael Jordan and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.
2 Jun 2020 06.48 BST Floyd Mayweather to pay for George Floyd's funeral Former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has offered to pay for George Floyd’s funeral and memorial services, and the family has accepted the offer, AP reports. Mayweather personally has been in touch with the family, according to Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions. He will handle costs for the funeral on June 9 in Floyd’s hometown of Houston, as well as other expenses. Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather’s promotional company confirmed an offer has been made. Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP TMZ originally reported Mayweather’s offer.
“He’ll probably get mad at me for saying that, but yes, he is definitely paying for the funeral,” Ellerbe told ESPN.com on Monday.
Floyd Mayweather offers to cover funeral costs for George Floyd Read more
2 Jun 2020 06.40 BST “We’ve reached the ‘mad emperor’ stage, and it’s terrifying to behold,” writes Guardian columnist Richard Wolffe. In the week since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officers, Trump has watched and tweeted helplessly as the nation he pretends to lead has reached its breaking point. After decades of supposedly legal police beatings and murders, the protests have swept America’s cities more quickly than even coronavirus. This is no coincidence of timing. In other crises, in other eras, there have been presidents who understood their most basic duty: to calm the violence and protect the people. In this crisis, however, we have a president who built his entire political career as a gold-painted tower to incite violence. We've reached the 'mad emperor' stage, and it's terrifying to behold | Richard Wolffe Read more


theguardian--2020-06-02--Trump threatens to deploy military against protests as police fire teargas nearby

Seeking to bare an iron fist , Donald Trump on Monday threatened to deploy the US military to quell civil unrest – even as teargas was fired against nearby peaceful protesters to grant him a photo opportunity .
In a highly choreographed move , the president gave brief remarks in the White House Rose Garden while , a short distance away , military police and law enforcement suddenly used teargas , rubber bullets and flash-bangs to chase away demonstrators .
TV footage showed people running , falling and scrambling for safety as officers removed them by force .
One woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was injured and unable to walk .
Military vehicles rolled out on Pennsylvania Avenue .
The unprovoked action cleared the way for Trump to cross the street and visit St John ’ s church , which since 1816 has been the “ Church of the Presidents ” , and where a fire burned in the basement amid unrest on Sunday night .
He held aloft a Bible and posed for cameras , and was then joined by the attorney general , William Barr , and other officials , including the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump just tear-gassed peaceful protesters for a photo op , ” tweeted Kamala Harris , Democratic senator for California .
Trump ’ s short speech in golden evening light was intended to cast him as a military strongman determined to bring a restive nation to heel as it suffered spasms of unrest after the killing of George Floyd , an African American man , by a white police officer in Minneapolis .
“ I am your president of law and order , ” Trump said .
“ I am mobilising all available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop the rioting and looting , to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans , including your second amendment rights.
” He vowed to crack down on “ professional anarchists , looters , criminals , antifa and others ” whose actions had “ gripped ” America .
Trump , who had taken part in a teleconference with state governors earlier in the day , urging them to get tougher or “ look like a bunch of jerks ” , threatened to send in the military against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Today , I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy the national guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets , ” he said .
“ Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming presence until the violence is quelled .
“ If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents , then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.
” The president added : “ I am also taking swift and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington DC ... As we speak , I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers , military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting , looting , vandalism , assaults and wanton destruction of property .
We are putting everybody on warning.
” Trump would have to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty personnel to conduct law enforcement on US soil .
It was used by President George H W Bush during the Los Angeles riots in 1992 .
Trump spoke briefly of Floyd in the beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about police brutality or racial injustice in America .
Laurence Tribe , a constitutional law professor at Harvard University , tweeted : “ Peaceful protesters were gassed and shot with rubber bullets to clear away a space near a church to give Trump a photo-op waving a bible flanked by AG Barr and Sec Def Esper .
Monstrous .
Anticonstitutional.
” Susan Glasser , a staff writer at the New Yorker magazine , tweeted : “ Who is the brilliant strategist who decided to attack peaceful protesters during a presidential event in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screen message to America and the world that Donald Trump wants to send ?
”

Donald Trump has threatened to deploy the US military to quell civil unrest – even as teargas was fired against nearby peaceful protesters to grant him a photo opportunity.
In a highly choreographed move, the president gave brief remarks in the White House Rose Garden on Monday while, a short distance away, military police and law enforcement suddenly used teargas, rubber bullets and flash-bangs to chase away demonstrators protesting against the death of George Floyd.
TV footage showed people running, falling and scrambling for safety as officers removed them by force. One woman was carried away by fellow protesters because she was injured and unable to walk. Military vehicles rolled out on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The unprovoked action cleared the way for Trump to cross the street and visit St John’s church, which since 1816 has been the “Church of the Presidents”, and where a fire burned in the basement amid unrest on Sunday night. He held aloft a Bible and posed for cameras, and was then joined by the attorney general, William Barr, and other officials, including the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany.
Donald Trump holds a Bible while visiting St John’s church across from the White House after the area was cleared of protesters on Monday. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
“Donald Trump just tear-gassed peaceful protesters for a photo op,” tweeted Kamala Harris, Democratic senator for California.
Trump’s short speech in golden evening light was intended to cast him as a military strongman determined to bring a restive nation to heel as it suffered spasms of unrest after the killing of Floyd, an African American man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
“I am your president of law and order,” Trump said. “I am mobilising all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your second amendment rights.”
He vowed to crack down on “professional anarchists, looters, criminals, antifa and others” whose actions had “gripped” America.
02:13 'It's about time we stand up': the voices of the George Floyd protests – video
The foreboding speech was delivered ahead of what appeared to be an especially bloody night, with reports of violence both by and against the police.
In St Louis, four police officers were wounded by gunfire after a previously peaceful protest turned violent, while in Buffalo, two people were injured when a car rammed into a line of police.
Shootings involving police were also reported in Las Vegas. Authorities in the Chicago suburb of Cicero, where protests have been held, said two people had been killed, although they did not identify the victims or circumstances.
In an attempt to quell the unrest, cities across the country had imposed curfews, in some cases giving residents just hours or minutes’ notice.
In Philadelphia, where the mayor announced a 6pm curfew with about half an hour’s warning, emergency alerts went off in unison on demonstrators’ phones – but they remained undeterred, chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets.”
The mood intensified as the night wore on and curfews came into effect, with police using forceful tactics to clear the streets.
In Baltimore, thousands marched through the city, where five years ago the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray in police custody sparked days of similarly turbulent demonstrations. Maine, one of the whitest states in the US, also saw large demonstrations.
In Minneapolis, where Floyd lived and was killed, thousands gathered peacefully outside the governor’s mansion and moved on to the state capital. In New Orleans, a large march moved through the city.
03:20 Trump threatens to deploy military against protesters – video
Trump, who had taken part in a teleconference with state governors earlier in the day, urging them to get tougher or “look like a bunch of jerks”, threatened to send in the military against the wishes of state and city officials.
“Today, I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy the national guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets,” he said. “Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming presence until the violence is quelled.
“If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”
The president added: “I am also taking swift and decisive action to protect our capital, Washington DC ... As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults and wanton destruction of property. We are putting everybody on warning.”
Trump would have to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty personnel to conduct law enforcement on US soil. It was used by President George H W Bush during the Los Angeles riots in 1992.
Trump spoke briefly of Floyd in the beginning of his comments, but said nothing about police brutality or racial injustice in America.
Donald Trump walks back to the White House escorted by the Secret Service after appearing outside St John’s Episcopal church on Monday. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
The Right Rev Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, told the Washington Post: “I am the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and was not given even a courtesy call, that they would be clearing [the area] with teargas so they could use one of our churches as a prop.”
Trump’s message is at odds with the values of love and tolerance espoused by the church, Budde said, before describing the president’s visit as an opportunity to use the church, and a Bible, as a “backdrop”.
Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor at Harvard University, tweeted: “Peaceful protesters were gassed and shot with rubber bullets to clear away a space near a church to give Trump a photo-op waving a bible flanked by AG Barr and Sec Def Esper. Monstrous. Anticonstitutional.”


theguardian--2020-06-01--Coronavirus will haunt US economy for a decade and wipe out $8tn, says CBO

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic will haunt the US economy for a decade , wiping close to $ 8tn off economic growth , according to new projections released by the Congressional Budget Office ( CBO ) on Monday .
In a letter to lawmakers CBO director Phillip Swagel projected the virus will reduce US economic output by 3 % through 2030 , a loss of $ 7.9tn .
“ Business closures and social distancing measures are expected to curtail consumer spending , while the recent drop in energy prices is projected to severely reduce US investment in the energy sector , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inquiry from Senator Chuck Schumer .
“ Recent legislation will , in CBO ’ s assessment , partially mitigate the deterioration in economic conditions.
” Since the pandemic hit the US trillions of dollars have been poured into the economy via government stimulus programs and actions by the Federal Reserve .
But the moves have not stopped unemployment soaring to levels unseen since the 1930s Great Depression .
So far some 40 million Americans have lost their jobs and on Friday the Labor Department is expected to announce the unemployment rate reached 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in April and just 4.4 % in March .
Congress is currently debating another $ 3tn aid package and the renewal of several federal aid programs that are set to expire , including a temporary boost to unemployment benefits that will lapse at the end of July .
Republicans have balked at the size of the new stimulus program .
Schumer seized on the CBO release to press for action .
“ In order to avoid the risk of another Great Depression , the Senate must act with a fierce sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America has the income they need to feed their families and put a roof over their heads , ” said Schumer in a statement .
“ The American people can not afford to wait another month for the Senate to pass legislation .
They need our help now .
”

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic will haunt the US economy for a decade, wiping close to $8tn off economic growth, according to new projections released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Monday.
In a letter to lawmakers CBO director Phillip Swagel projected the virus will reduce US economic output by 3% through 2030, a loss of $7.9tn.
“Business closures and social distancing measures are expected to curtail consumer spending, while the recent drop in energy prices is projected to severely reduce US investment in the energy sector,” Swagel wrote in response to an inquiry from Senator Chuck Schumer. “Recent legislation will, in CBO’s assessment, partially mitigate the deterioration in economic conditions.”
Since the pandemic hit the US trillions of dollars have been poured into the economy via government stimulus programs and actions by the Federal Reserve.
But the moves have not stopped unemployment soaring to levels unseen since the 1930s Great Depression. So far some 40 million Americans have lost their jobs and on Friday the labor department is expected to announce the unemployment rate reached 20% in May, up from 14.7% in April and just 4.4% in March.
Congress is currently debating another $3tn aid package and the renewal of several federal aid programs that are set to expire, including a temporary boost to unemployment benefits that will lapse at the end of July. Republicans have balked at the size of the new stimulus program. Schumer seized on the CBO release to press for action.
“In order to avoid the risk of another Great Depression, the Senate must act with a fierce sense of urgency to make sure that everyone in America has the income they need to feed their families and put a roof over their heads,” said Schumer in a statement. “The American people cannot afford to wait another month for the Senate to pass legislation. They need our help now.”


theguardian--2020-06-01--Facebook employees hold virtual walkout over Mark Zuckerberg's refusal to act against Trump

Facebook employees are staging a rebellion over Mark Zuckerberg ’ s refusal to act against Donald Trump , expressing their dissatisfaction with their boss on social media in a rare public display of dissent and , in some cases , staging a “ virtual ” walkout .
Disagreement came from employees at all levels of the company , including some senior staff .
Particular criticism was levelled at Zuckerberg ’ s personal decision to leave up the Facebook version of a tweet sent by Trump in which the president appeared to encourage police to shoot rioters .
By contrast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Andrew Crow , the head of design for Facebook ’ s Portal video-phone , tweeted : “ Giving a platform to incite violence and spread disinformation is unacceptable , regardless who you are or if it ’ s newsworthy .
I disagree with Mark ’ s position and will work to make change happen.
” Jason Stirman , a member of the company ’ s R & D team and the former chief executive of the “ mental training ” app Lucid , also posted on Twitter , saying : “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I know doing nothing is not acceptable .
I ’ m a FB employee that completely disagrees with Mark ’ s decision to do nothing about Trump ’ s recent posts , which clearly incite violence .
I ’ m not alone inside of FB .
There isn ’ t a neutral position on racism.
” On Friday Zuckerberg said he disagreed with Twitter ’ s interpretation of Trump ’ s statement , which included the phrase : “ When the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” Where Twitter had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police to shoot at protesters – Zuckerberg said he read it as a warning to protesters that the police would be shooting at them .
The distinction meant that the post fell on the right side of Facebook ’ s rules , Zuckerberg said , and would not be removed .
“ Personally , I have a visceral negative reaction to this kind of divisive and inflammatory rhetoric , ” Zuckerberg added .
“ I disagree strongly with how the president spoke about this , but I believe people should be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountability for those in positions of power can only happen when their speech is scrutinised out in the open.
” The Facebook founder ’ s statement galvanised responses from within his organisation .
“ Mark is wrong , and I will endeavour in the loudest possible way to change his mind , ” said Ryan Freitas , the director of product design for Facebook ’ s News Feed .
Others who spoke out included the director of product management , Jason Toff , and the product designer Sara Zhang .
The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolute terms – a fraction of the company ’ s 45,000 or so employees – but is a rare external display of dissatisfaction with the leadership of Zuckerberg , who controls 57.9 % of the voting rights on Facebook ’ s board .
The complaints are mirrored in internal discussions , according to reports in the New York Times and the Verge , where workers accused the company of applying its rules unevenly so as to avoid angering Trump .
Late on Sunday night , Zuckerberg committed a $ 10m donation from Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s clear Facebook also has more work to do to keep people safe and ensure our systems don ’ t amplify bias , ” he said in a post to his Facebook page .
“ I hope that as a country we can come together to understand all of the work that is still ahead and do what it takes to deliver justice – not just for families and communities that are grieving now , but for everyone who carries the burden of inequality.
” More than a dozen Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter by Monday morning , with some saying they were participating in a “ virtual walkout ” .
The vast majority of Facebook employees are working from home because of the coronavirus outbreak .
Dozens of employees requested the day off in order to support protests against police brutality , according to the New York Times .
A Facebook spokesperson said the company would not require participants in the “ walkout ” to use paid-time off .
“ We recognize the pain many of our people are feeling right now , especially our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
“ We encourage employees to speak openly when they disagree with leadership.
” Some appealed to the company ’ s oversight board , a quasi-independent body that Facebook has funded to act as a “ supreme court ” capable of ruling on difficult questions around content moderation .
But on Saturday , the board said it would not be able to intervene in time , but was “ working hard to set the board up to begin operating later this year ” .
A co-chair of the nascent body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist speech .
Michael McConnell , a Stanford Law professor recently named one of the four co-chairs of the oversight board , is facing widespread criticism from students and faculty after he used the N-word during a Zoom lecture on Wednesday – two days after the death George Floyd .
McConnell stopped the Zoom software from recording before he spoke the word as part of a quotation attributed to Patrick Henry .
The Stanford Black Law Student Association responded with a scathing open letter written as A Guide for White Professors on How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Class .
After satirizing the timeworn arguments of those who defend use of the slur – “ After all , we can ’ t sanitize history ” – they added : “ If there is one thing black students know , it ’ s our own history .
Ahmaud Arbery is our history .
Breonna Taylor is our history .
George Floyd is our history .
White men refusing to stop saying [ N-word ] is our history.
” In an email reviewed by the Guardian , McConnell said he “ made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but understood why students were upset and “ will not use the word again in the future ” .
McConnell has been contacted for comment .
The oversight board provided a statement of support for McConnell from fellow co-chair Jamal Green , a Columbia law school professor who is black .
“ While I might have made a different choice in this instance , I take professor McConnell at his word that he has learned from his experience , as we all must strive to do as educators.
” The oversight board also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ diversity is its core strength ” .
“ We respect the right of the students to speak out about how Michael ’ s use of this word has impacted them , and appreciate Michael ’ s explanation of his pedagogic purpose , as well as his commitment not to use the word again .
”

Alex Hern and Julia Carrie Wong in Oakland

Facebook employees are staging a rebellion over Mark Zuckerberg’s refusal to act against Donald Trump, expressing their dissatisfaction with their boss on social media in a rare public display of dissent and, in some cases, staging a “virtual” walkout.
Disagreement came from employees at all levels of the company, including some senior staff. Particular criticism was levelled at Zuckerberg’s personal decision to leave up the Facebook version of a tweet sent by Trump in which the president appeared to encourage police to shoot rioters. By contrast, Twitter hid the message behind a warning.
Andrew Crow, the head of design for Facebook’s Portal video-phone, tweeted: “Giving a platform to incite violence and spread disinformation is unacceptable, regardless who you are or if it’s newsworthy. I disagree with Mark’s position and will work to make change happen.”
Jason Stirman, a member of the company’s R&D team and the former chief executive of the “mental training” app Lucid, also posted on Twitter, saying: “I don’t know what to do, but I know doing nothing is not acceptable. I’m a FB employee that completely disagrees with Mark’s decision to do nothing about Trump’s recent posts, which clearly incite violence. I’m not alone inside of FB. There isn’t a neutral position on racism.”
On Friday Zuckerberg said he disagreed with Twitter’s interpretation of Trump’s statement, which included the phrase: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Where Twitter had read the statement as incitement – encouraging police to shoot at protesters – Zuckerberg said he read it as a warning to protesters that the police would be shooting at them. The distinction meant that the post fell on the right side of Facebook’s rules, Zuckerberg said, and would not be removed.
“Personally, I have a visceral negative reaction to this kind of divisive and inflammatory rhetoric,” Zuckerberg added. “I disagree strongly with how the president spoke about this, but I believe people should be able to see this for themselves, because ultimately accountability for those in positions of power can only happen when their speech is scrutinised out in the open.”
The Facebook founder’s statement galvanised responses from within his organisation. “Mark is wrong, and I will endeavour in the loudest possible way to change his mind,” said Ryan Freitas, the director of product design for Facebook’s News Feed. Others who spoke out included the director of product management, Jason Toff, and the product designer Sara Zhang.
The number of Facebook employees complaining publicly is small in absolute terms – a fraction of the company’s 45,000 or so employees – but is a rare external display of dissatisfaction with the leadership of Zuckerberg, who controls 57.9% of the voting rights on Facebook’s board. The complaints are mirrored in internal discussions, according to reports in the New York Times and the Verge, where workers accused the company of applying its rules unevenly so as to avoid angering Trump.
Late on Sunday night, Zuckerberg committed a $10m donation from Facebook to groups working on racial justice. “It’s clear Facebook also has more work to do to keep people safe and ensure our systems don’t amplify bias,” he said in a post to his Facebook page. “I hope that as a country we can come together to understand all of the work that is still ahead and do what it takes to deliver justice – not just for families and communities that are grieving now, but for everyone who carries the burden of inequality.”
More than a dozen Facebook employees had published messages of dissent on Twitter by Monday morning, with some saying they were participating in a “virtual walkout”. The vast majority of Facebook employees are working from home because of the coronavirus outbreak. Dozens of employees requested the day off in order to support protests against police brutality, according to the New York Times.
A Facebook spokesperson said the company would not require participants in the “walkout” to use paid-time off. “We recognize the pain many of our people are feeling right now, especially our black community,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “We encourage employees to speak openly when they disagree with leadership.”
Waiting for the oversight board
Some appealed to the company’s oversight board, a quasi-independent body that Facebook has funded to act as a “supreme court” capable of ruling on difficult questions around content moderation. But on Saturday, the board said it would not be able to intervene in time, but was “working hard to set the board up to begin operating later this year”.
A co-chair of the nascent body is embroiled in a separate controversy around racist speech. Michael McConnell, a Stanford Law professor recently named one of the four co-chairs of the oversight board, is facing widespread criticism from students and faculty after he used the N-word during a Zoom lecture on Wednesday – two days after the death George Floyd. McConnell stopped the Zoom software from recording before he spoke the word as part of a quotation attributed to Patrick Henry.
The Stanford Black Law Student Association responded with a scathing open letter written as A Guide for White Professors on How to Say ‘[N-word]’ in Class. After satirizing the timeworn arguments of those who defend use of the slur – “After all, we can’t sanitize history” – they added: “If there is one thing black students know, it’s our own history. Ahmaud Arbery is our history. Breonna Taylor is our history. George Floyd is our history. White men refusing to stop saying [N-word] is our history.”
In an email reviewed by the Guardian, McConnell said he “made the pedagogical choice with good will” but understood why students were upset and “will not use the word again in the future”. McConnell has been contacted for comment.
The oversight board provided a statement of support for McConnell from fellow co-chair Jamal Green, a Columbia law school professor who is black. “While I might have made a different choice in this instance, I take professor McConnell at his word that he has learned from his experience, as we all must strive to do as educators.”
The oversight board also issued a statement saying that the board’s “diversity is its core strength”. “We respect the right of the students to speak out about how Michael’s use of this word has impacted them, and appreciate Michael’s explanation of his pedagogic purpose, as well as his commitment not to use the word again.”