theguardian--2020-07-29--'Spectacular': Trump praises doctor who dismissed face masks after viral video

Donald Trump has praised as “ spectacular ” a doctor who wrongly dismissed the use of face masks to combat the coronavirus as well as reportedly claiming that alien DNA is used in medical treatments and some gynecological problems are caused by people dreaming about having sex with demons .
A group of lab coat-wearing doctors posted an online video on Monday to make a string of inaccurate assertions about the coronavirus that contradicted official government guidelines .
Among them was a woman who identified herself as Dr Stella Immanuel and said : “ You don ’ t need masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US president tweeted a version of the video , which rapidly gained tens of thousands of views on Facebook and YouTube before both companies took it down for containing false public health information .
The president ’ s son Donald Trump Jr had his Twitter account restricted by the company for 12 hours after calling the video a “ must watch ” .
At a White House press conference on Tuesday , Trump expressed puzzlement over why the so-called “ America ’ s Frontline Doctors ” video had been removed , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 patients with the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine , which he has long championed despite federal public health advice that it is ineffective against coronavirus .
“ I don ’ t know why , ” he told reporters .
“ I think they ’ re very respected doctors .
There was a woman who was spectacular in her statements about it and she ’ s had tremendous success with it.
” But Kaitlan Collins , White House correspondent for CNN , challenged the president .
“ The woman that you said was a ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you retweeted last night said that masks don ’ t work and there is a cure for Covid-19 , both of which health experts say is not true , ” she said .
“ She ’ s also made videos saying that doctors make medicine using DNA from aliens and that they ’ re trying to create a vaccine to make you immune from becoming religious.
” Looking increasingly agitated , Trump replied : “ Maybe it ’ s the same [ person ] , maybe it ’ s not , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on air along with many other doctors .
They were big fans of hydroxychloroquine and I thought she was very impressive in the sense that , from where she came – I don ’ t know which country she comes from – but she said that she ’ s had tremendous success with hundreds of different patients .
“ And I thought her voice was an important voice , but I know nothing about her.
” Collins followed up but Trump abruptly wound up the press conference , talking over her by saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much , everybody , ” and departing the briefing room .
Immanuel is a registered doctor in Texas , according to the Texas Medical Board , and runs a clinic in a strip mall next to her church , Firepower Ministries , the Daily Beast reported .
“ She has often claimed that gynecological problems like cysts and endometriosis are in fact caused by people having sex in their dreams with demons and witches .
She alleges alien DNA is currently used in medical treatments , and that scientists are cooking up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the Daily Beast added .
Trump himself has frequently touted hydroxychloroquine and last month said he was taking it himself .
But the US Food and Drug Administration revoked its emergency-use authorisation for hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 after several studies cast doubt on its effectiveness .
On Tuesday morning , the leading public health expert on the White House coronavirus taskforce , Anthony Fauci , once again squashed claims that the drug is a useful treatment for Covid-19 .
“ The overwhelming prevailing clinical trials that have looked at the efficacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not effective in coronavirus disease , ” he said .
At the Tuesday presidential briefing , however , Trump continued to defend it .
“ Many doctors think it is extremely successful , the hydroxychloroquine , ” he said .
“ Some people don ’ t .
Some people , I think it ’ s become very political .
I happen to believe in it .
I would take it .
As you know , I took it for a 14-day period and I ’ m here , right ?
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times/Siena College poll found that 67 % of Americans trust Fauci , who is also the country ’ s top infectious diseases expert , for accurate information about the coronavirus , whereas only 26 % trust Trump .
The president mused : “ He ’ s got this high approval rating .
So why don ’ t I have a high approval rating with respect – and the administration – with respect to the virus ?
We should have it very high .
So it sort of is curious , a man works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely , Dr Fauci and Dr [ Deborah ] Birx also , very highly thought of – and yet , they ’ re highly thought of , but nobody likes me ?
It can only be my personality , that ’ s all !
” The Democratic National Committee condemned Trump for rejecting federal health experts and promoting Immanuel .
Lily Adams , its war room senior spokesperson and adviser , said : “ Trump spent today ’ s coronavirus briefing promoting snake oil doctors and unsafe , unproven treatments because he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus under control as we near 150,000 deaths , cases spike nationwide , and millions of Americans remain unemployed .
“ There ’ s no new tone – this is who Trump is and always will be : a conspiracy theorist content to gamble with the lives of others .
We need a president who listens to real medical experts and can be trusted to make decisions that will keep Americans safe .
”

Donald Trump has praised as “spectacular” a doctor who wrongly dismissed the use of face masks to combat the coronavirus as well as reportedly claiming that alien DNA is used in medical treatments and some gynecological problems are caused by people dreaming about having sex with demons.
A group of lab coat-wearing doctors posted an online video on Monday to make a string of inaccurate assertions about the coronavirus that contradicted official government guidelines. Among them was a woman who identified herself as Dr Stella Immanuel and said: “You don’t need masks. There is a cure.”
The US president tweeted a version of the video, which rapidly gained tens of thousands of views on Facebook and YouTube before both companies took it down for containing false public health information. The president’s son Donald Trump Jr had his Twitter account restricted by the company for 12 hours after calling the video a “must watch”.
At a White House press conference on Tuesday, Trump expressed puzzlement over why the so-called “America’s Frontline Doctors” video had been removed, noting that Immanuel claimed to be treating hundreds of Covid-19 patients with the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which he has long championed despite federal public health advice that it is ineffective against coronavirus.
“I don’t know why,” he told reporters. “I think they’re very respected doctors. There was a woman who was spectacular in her statements about it and she’s had tremendous success with it.”
But Kaitlan Collins, White House correspondent for CNN, challenged the president. “The woman that you said was a ‘great doctor’ in that video that you retweeted last night said that masks don’t work and there is a cure for Covid-19, both of which health experts say is not true,” she said.
“She’s also made videos saying that doctors make medicine using DNA from aliens and that they’re trying to create a vaccine to make you immune from becoming religious.”
Looking increasingly agitated, Trump replied: “Maybe it’s the same [person], maybe it’s not, but I can tell you this. She was on air along with many other doctors. They were big fans of hydroxychloroquine and I thought she was very impressive in the sense that, from where she came – I don’t know which country she comes from – but she said that she’s had tremendous success with hundreds of different patients.
“And I thought her voice was an important voice, but I know nothing about her.”
Collins followed up but Trump abruptly wound up the press conference, talking over her by saying, “OK, thank you very much, everybody,” and departing the briefing room.
Immanuel is a registered doctor in Texas, according to the Texas Medical Board, and runs a clinic in a strip mall next to her church, Firepower Ministries, the Daily Beast reported.
“She has often claimed that gynecological problems like cysts and endometriosis are in fact caused by people having sex in their dreams with demons and witches. She alleges alien DNA is currently used in medical treatments, and that scientists are cooking up a vaccine to prevent people from being religious,” the Daily Beast added.
Trump himself has frequently touted hydroxychloroquine and last month said he was taking it himself. But the US Food and Drug Administration revoked its emergency-use authorisation for hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 after several studies cast doubt on its effectiveness.
On Tuesday morning, the leading public health expert on the White House coronavirus taskforce, Anthony Fauci, once again squashed claims that the drug is a useful treatment for Covid-19.
“The overwhelming prevailing clinical trials that have looked at the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine have indicated that it is not effective in coronavirus disease,” he said.
At the Tuesday presidential briefing, however, Trump continued to defend it. “Many doctors think it is extremely successful, the hydroxychloroquine,” he said. “Some people don’t. Some people, I think it’s become very political. I happen to believe in it. I would take it. As you know, I took it for a 14-day period and I’m here, right? I’m here.”
Last month a New York Times/Siena College poll found that 67% of Americans trust Fauci, who is also the country’s top infectious diseases expert, for accurate information about the coronavirus, whereas only 26% trust Trump.
The president mused: “He’s got this high approval rating. So why don’t I have a high approval rating with respect – and the administration – with respect to the virus? We should have it very high. So it sort of is curious, a man works for us, with us, very closely, Dr Fauci and Dr [Deborah] Birx also, very highly thought of – and yet, they’re highly thought of, but nobody likes me? It can only be my personality, that’s all!”
The Democratic National Committee condemned Trump for rejecting federal health experts and promoting Immanuel. Lily Adams, its war room senior spokesperson and adviser, said: “Trump spent today’s coronavirus briefing promoting snake oil doctors and unsafe, unproven treatments because he is incapable of acting decisively to get the coronavirus under control as we near 150,000 deaths, cases spike nationwide, and millions of Americans remain unemployed.
“There’s no new tone – this is who Trump is and always will be: a conspiracy theorist content to gamble with the lives of others. We need a president who listens to real medical experts and can be trusted to make decisions that will keep Americans safe.”


theguardian--2020-07-29--‘Big companies aren’t bad’: Zuckerberg and other tech CEOs to testify in historic antitrust hearing

“ Companies aren ’ t bad just because they are big , ” Facebook executive Mark Zuckerberg is set to tell Congress on Wednesday , as the world ’ s most powerful technology companies face a historic investigation into their size and power .
Zuckerberg plans to argue to Congress that Facebook became successful “ the American way , by starting out with nothing and providing products that people find valuable ” , according to a written testimony that was made public on Tuesday .
“ We compete against the companies appearing at this hearing , plus many others that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zuckerberg plans to tell the panel of lawmakers that is investigating how the social media giant ’ s business practices and data gathering have hurt smaller rivals .
“ We also compete globally , including against companies that have access to markets that we aren ’ t in.
” Zuckerberg will also defend Facebook ’ s acquisitions by saying the social media platform helped companies such as WhatsApp and Instagram grow .
Facebook acquired both platforms .
Wednesday ’ s long-anticipated hearing will also see the chief executive officers of Amazon , Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after more than a year of investigation by the House judiciary ’ s antitrust subcommittee , which has collected 1.3 million documents and conducted hundreds of hours of interviews .
The investigation of the tech industry is the most high-powered since 2001 , when the US government pushed to break up Microsoft , accusing it of illegally maintaining a monopoly position in the PC market .
The tech giants are under investigation by other government agencies as well , and have faced sustained criticism from politicians on both sides of the House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Amazon , Apple , Facebook and Google .
Donald Trump has accused Facebook and Twitter of censoring conservative views and launched numerous attacks on Amazon and its owner Jeff Bezos .
Bezos owns the Washington Post , which has been a persistent critic of Trump ’ s presidency .
In prepared testimony released ahead of the hearing , Bezos focuses on his personal background , invoking his mother ’ s struggles of raising him after having him at age 17 .
Leaning into the mythos surrounding the creation of Amazon – which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his parents out of their garage – Bezos calls himself “ a garage inventor ” .
Bezos will argue small sellers have succeeded on its third-party marketplace , a practice that has come under scrutiny from lawmakers .
And his testimony says the coronavirus pandemic boosted e-commerce businesses across the spectrum and not just Amazon .
Bezos expresses in his remarks a desire for more guidance and regulation from the government .
“ I believe that Amazon should be scrutinized , ” Bezos wrote .
“ We should scrutinize all large institutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government agencies , or non-profits .
Our responsibility is to make sure we pass such scrutiny with flying colors.
” Tim Cook , chief executive officer of Apple , is set to argue the company plays by the rules and does “ not have a dominant market share ” in any market where it does business .
He ’ ll address criticism that the rules surrounding Apple ’ s App Store , the only way through which iPhone users can download apps , constitute gatekeeping .
“ After beginning with 500 apps , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.7 million – only 60 of which are Apple software , ” Cook ’ s testimony reads .
“ Clearly , if Apple is a gatekeeper , what we have done is open the gate wider .
We want to get every app we can on the store , not keep them off.
” He ’ ll also address questions about the costs Apple charges developers to sell on the App Store .
Cook will argue the vast majority of apps developers keep “ 100 % of the money they make ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower than commissions charged by the majority of our competitors ” .
Sundar Pichai , CEO of Google , also released his testimony on Tuesday , addressing the accusation that Google dominates the search market .
In the comments , he argues that search – which Google dominates by most metrics – was broader than just typing a query into Google .
He said he remained concerned about Google maintaining relevancy as people turn to Twitter , Pinterest or other websites for information .
“ We know Google ’ s continued success is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Google operates in highly competitive and dynamic global markets , in which prices are free or falling , and products are constantly improving.
” The hearings , which will be conducted remotely to account for Covid-19 risks , begin at 12 pm EST on Wednesday .

“Companies aren’t bad just because they are big,” Facebook executive Mark Zuckerberg is set to tell Congress on Wednesday, as the world’s most powerful technology companies face a historic investigation into their size and power.
Zuckerberg plans to argue to Congress that Facebook became successful “the American way, by starting out with nothing and providing products that people find valuable”, according to a written testimony that was made public on Tuesday.
“We compete against the companies appearing at this hearing, plus many others that sell advertising and connect people,” Zuckerberg plans to tell the panel of lawmakers that is investigating how the social media giant’s business practices and data gathering have hurt smaller rivals. “We also compete globally, including against companies that have access to markets that we aren’t in.”
Zuckerberg will also defend Facebook’s acquisitions by saying the social media platform helped companies such as WhatsApp and Instagram grow. Facebook acquired both platforms.
Wednesday’s long-anticipated hearing will also see the chief executive officers of Amazon, Google, and Apple testify. It comes after more than a year of investigation by the House judiciary’s antitrust subcommittee, which has collected 1.3m documents and conducted hundreds of hours of interviews.
The investigation of the tech industry is the most high-powered since 2001, when the US government pushed to break up Microsoft, accusing it of illegally maintaining a monopoly position in the PC market.
The tech giants are under investigation by other government agencies as well, and have faced sustained criticism from politicians on both sides of the House. Federal and state agencies have launched investigations into Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. Donald Trump has accused Facebook and Twitter of censoring conservative views and launched numerous attacks on Amazon and its owner Jeff Bezos. Bezos owns the Washington Post, which has been a persistent critic of Trump’s presidency.
In prepared testimony released ahead of the hearing, Bezos focuses on his personal background, invoking his mother’s struggles of raising him after having him at age 17. Leaning into the mythos surrounding the creation of Amazon – which was started with a $250,000 loan from his parents out of their garage – Bezos calls himself “a garage inventor”.
Bezos will argue small sellers have succeeded on its third-party marketplace, a practice that has come under scrutiny from lawmakers. And his testimony says the coronavirus pandemic boosted e-commerce businesses across the spectrum and not just Amazon.
Bezos expresses in his remarks a desire for more guidance and regulation from the government. “I believe that Amazon should be scrutinized,” Bezos wrote. “We should scrutinize all large institutions, whether they’re companies, government agencies, or non-profits. Our responsibility is to make sure we pass such scrutiny with flying colors.”
Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple, is set to argue the company plays by the rules and does “not have a dominant market share” in any market where it does business. He’ll address criticism that the rules surrounding Apple’s App Store, the only way through which iPhone users can download apps, constitute gatekeeping.
“After beginning with 500 apps, today the App Store hosts more than 1.7 million – only 60 of which are Apple software,” Cook’s testimony reads. “Clearly, if Apple is a gatekeeper, what we have done is open the gate wider. We want to get every app we can on the store, not keep them off.”
He’ll also address questions about the costs Apple charges developers to sell on the App Store. Cook will argue the vast majority of apps developers keep “100% of the money they make” and said it was “comparable to or lower than commissions charged by the majority of our competitors”.
Sundar Pichai, the chief executive of Google, also released his testimony on Tuesday, addressing the accusation that Google dominates the search market. In the comments, he argues that search – which Google dominates by most metrics – was broader than just typing a query into Google. He said he remained concerned about Google maintaining relevancy as people turn to Twitter, Pinterest or other websites for information.
“We know Google’s continued success is not guaranteed,” the testimony reads. “Google operates in highly competitive and dynamic global markets, in which prices are free or falling, and products are constantly improving.”
The hearings, which will be conducted remotely to account for Covid-19 risks, begin at 12pm ET on Wednesday.
Reuters contributed to this report


theguardian--2020-07-28--Trump says 'nobody likes me' when asked about Fauci's absence – as it happened

A San Francisco bus driver who was assaulted last week said that both he and his Asian passengers have faced racist abuse when they have asked other riders to wear their face masks during the pandemic .
The driver said he was hit in the face and struck with a miniature baseball bat last Wednesday after asking a group of teenagers to put on their face masks .
Before he was assaulted , the driver said , one of the young men told him that because he was Asian , he was the one who was likely to have coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now being a bus driver , especially being an Asian driver , ” he told the Guardian , asking that his name not be published to protect his privacy .
Since the early weeks of the pandemic , bus drivers across the United States have spoken out about anger and assaults from passengers , particularly when they try to enforce public health rules about social distancing and mask-wearing .
Just in the past month , bus drivers have been beaten after asking passengers to wear masks in San Francisco , New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bus driver was hit with a large wooden board and left bloody .
A New York City driver reportedly left with a broken bone near his eye in July was one of dozens of Covid-related violent incidents involving bus drivers in New York , according to the City , a local news outlet .
In France , a bus driver died after a brutal beating in early July , prompted once again by asking a group of passengers to put on their masks .

Maanvi Singh in Oakland (now) and Joan E Greve in Washington (earlier)

28 Jul 2020 00.59 BST From me and Joan E Greve: The number of coronavirus deaths in the US approached 150,000. Florida marked a record-breaking spike in the death toll, while Los Angeles and Maricopa, Arizona have marked the highest number of cases in the US.
Florida marked a record-breaking spike in the death toll, while Los Angeles and Maricopa, Arizona have marked the highest number of cases in the US. Donald Trump once again delivered a coronavirus briefing alone, without his leading public health officers. The president complained that top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci had a higher approval rating, and defended his promotion of a disinformation video.
The president complained that top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci had a higher approval rating, and defended his promotion of a disinformation video. Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr both promoted a video featuring misinformation about the coronavirus. Twitter suspended rump Jr’s account for spreading false claims after he shared the video of a doctor falsely claiming that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is a “cure” for coronavirus.
Twitter suspended rump Jr’s account for spreading false claims after he shared the video of a doctor falsely claiming that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is a “cure” for coronavirus. Trump also discussed his administration’s $765m loan to Eastman Kodak - the camera company - so it can manufacture pharmaceutical ingredients. The move leverages the Defense Production Act, which allows the government to direct the production of certain supplies in the interest of national security.
The move leverages the Defense Production Act, which allows the government to direct the production of certain supplies in the interest of national security. Attorney general William Barr testified before the House judiciary committee. During the hearing, Barr struggled over a question about whether presidents should be allowed to solicit or accept foreign assistance in elections, and he said he did not believe that there is systemic racism in US police departments.
During the hearing, Barr struggled over a question about whether presidents should be allowed to solicit or accept foreign assistance in elections, and he said he did not believe that there is systemic racism in US police departments. Seattle’s mayor Jenny Durkan confirmed that federal forces have left the city she represents. The mayor denounced the Trump administration for sending federal law enforcement to act against US citizens, saying in an MSNBC interview that the president had conducted a “dress rehearsal for martial law.”
The mayor denounced the Trump administration for sending federal law enforcement to act against US citizens, saying in an MSNBC interview that the president had conducted a “dress rehearsal for martial law.” Joe Biden criticized Trump for sending federal agents to crack down on anti-racism protests in Portland, Oregon. “This isn’t about law and order. It’s about a political strategy to revive a failing campaign,” the Democratic presidential candidate said in Wilmington, Delaware. “Every instinct Trump has is to add fuel to the fire. And it’s the last thing, the last thing we need.”
“This isn’t about law and order. It’s about a political strategy to revive a failing campaign,” the Democratic presidential candidate said in Wilmington, Delaware. “Every instinct Trump has is to add fuel to the fire. And it’s the last thing, the last thing we need.” The Trump administration will allow “dreamers” to renew deportation protections for a year, after the supreme court blocked the administration’s effort to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. However, the acting homeland security secretary also announced that the department would not accpet new DACA applications.
after the supreme court blocked the administration’s effort to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. However, the acting homeland security secretary also announced that the department would not accpet new DACA applications. The American Federation of Teachers has authorized “safety strikes” if necessary to protect teachers from coronavirus. The announcement comes as number of school districts in coronavirus hot spots are pushing to reopen schools, despite concerns about the spread of the virus in classrooms.
Updated at 01.48 BST
28 Jul 2020 00.53 BST Seattle mayor says federal forces have left the city Mayor Jenny Durkan said that federal law enforcement sent to Seattle have left, less than a week after being deployed. In an interview with MSNBC, Durkan said that Trump was “doing a dress rehearsal for martial law” in her city. .@DHSgov notified me that federal forces deployed to Seattle have demobilized & left. The President’s actions to target Democratic cities with federal forces is chilling and increased violence in Portland, Seattle & other cities - exactly what the President intended. — Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) July 28, 2020 Governor Jay Inslee noted that the departure of federal officers “means Washingtonians no longer have to worry about the White House’s aim to provoke confrontation and undermine peaceful protests”.
Updated at 00.59 BST
28 Jul 2020 23.48 BST Two hundred and fifty years after they were stripped of their ancestral homeland, the Esselen tribe of northern California is landless no more. The land encompasses old-growth redwoods, oak woodlands, meadows and endangered steelhead trout. Photograph: Doug Steakley/AP Mario Koran reports:
This week, the Esselen tribe finalized the purchase of a 1,200-acre ranch near Big Sur, along California’s north central coast, as part of a $4.5m acquisition that involved the state and an Oregon-based environmental group.
The deal will conserve old-growth redwoods and endangered wildlife such as the California condor and red-legged frog, as well as protect the Little Sur River, an important spawning stream for the imperiled steelhead trout. Tribal leaders say they’ll use the land for educational and cultural purposes, building a sweat lodge and traditional village in view of Pico Blanco peak, the center of the tribe’s origin story. Northern California Esselen Tribe regains ancestral land after 250 years Read more
Updated at 23.54 BST
28 Jul 2020 23.38 BST Asked about the absence of Dr Fauci, Trump comments: 'Nobody likes me' Asked about the persistent absence of Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, at Donald Trump’s briefings, the president mused about his health official’s approval rating. Fauci has “got a very good approval rating and I like that”, Trump told reporters. And Fauci was working with the administration, “so why don’t I have a very high approval rating?” the president wondered out loud. “But nobody likes me,” Trump said. “It can only be my personality, that’s all.” This morning, Fauci was asked about the coronavirus disinformation that Trump has promoted on social media during an interview with ABC. “I don’t tweet, I don’t even read them. I don’t really want to go there,” he told Good Morning America. “I just will continue to do my job, no matter what comes out, because I think it’s very important.”
Updated at 23.46 BST
28 Jul 2020 23.30 BST More than 149,000 people have died of coronavirus in the US, according to the tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 4.3m cases of the virus have been recorded in the country. Los Angeles county has the highest number of cases (176,028), followed by Maricopa county in Arizona, and Miami-Dade in Florida.
28 Jul 2020 23.06 BST “I thought she was very impressive,” Trump said of the woman in the disinformation video he promoted. Here’s more background from colleagues Joan E Greve and Martin Pengelly: The video in question featured Dr Stella Immanuel, a physician from Houston, Texas, speaking on the steps of the US Capitol in Washington, surrounded by members of a rightwing doctors’ group. Immanuel made baseless claims about coronavirus, including hailing hydroxychloroquine as a “cure”, even though the drug, which has been repeatedly touted by the president, has not been found to be an effective treatment. The Houston doctor has also dismissed mounting evidence that face masks substantially help limit the spread of coronavirus. Twitter limits Donald Trump Jr's account for posting Covid-19 misinformation Read more
28 Jul 2020 22.59 BST Trump abruptly ended the conference after sustained question from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. Before he walked off, he said he did not know why Twitter and Facebook removed the hydroxychloroquine video he promoted. “I’ve read a lot about hydroxy,” Trump said, and repeated an old refrain that there was no harm in taking the antimalarial drug to treat coronavirus. “I think it could have a very positive impact in the early stages and I don’t think you lose anything by doing it.,” he said. Although hydroxychloroquine is used as a treatment for some conditions, including lupus, studies have not found that the drug can help treat or prevent coronavirus. The US Food and Drug Administration revoked an emergency approval that had allowed doctors to prescribe hydroxychloroquine as an untested treatment for Covid-19.
Updated at 23.10 BST


theguardian--2020-07-28--Covid-19: Florida reports record one-day deaths as concerns grow for other states

Florida reported another record one-day rise in coronavirus deaths on Tuesday , and cases in Texas passed the 400,000 mark , fueling fear that the United States is still not taking control of the outbreak and adding pressure on Congress to pass another massive economic aid package .
Public health experts are becoming concerned about the levels of infection in states such as Ohio , Indiana , Tennessee and Kentucky , while the surge in Florida along with Texas , Arizona and California this month has strained many hospitals .
The increase in cases has forced a U-turn on steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns put in place in March and April to slow the spread of the virus .
Florida has had 191 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours , the highest single-day rise since the start of the epidemic , the state health department said .
Texas , the second-most populous state , added more than 6,000 new cases on Monday , pushing its total to 401,477 , according to a tally being kept by the Reuters news agency .
Only three other states – California , Florida and New York – have more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak has pushed the US death toll from Covid-19 closer to the bleak 150,000 milestone , which the country is expected to cross this week and comes just over three months before the 3 November election , where Donald Trump seeks a second term .
The US has more than 4.3m confirmed cases , according to totals tracked by Reuters and Johns Hopkins University .
The surge in cases in Florida prompted Trump last week to cancel the Republican convention events in Jacksonville in late August , which had already been rearranged from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a glimmer of hope in the data from Texas , where the state health department reported that current hospitalizations due to Covid-19 fell on Monday .
Anthony Fauci , a top infectious diseases expert and the leading public health figure on the White House coronavirus task force , said there were signs the recent surge could be peaking in hard-hit states like Florida and Texas .
But he warned that other parts of the country may be on the cusp of growing outbreaks .
“ They may be cresting and coming back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Good Morning America regarding the state of the outbreak in several southern states .
But Fauci said there was a “ very early indication ” that the percentage of coronavirus tests that were positive was starting to rise in other states , such as Ohio , Indiana , Tennessee and Kentucky .
Fauci added on the same TV show that he was not in “ any circumstances ” misleading the American public , after another attack on him by the US president .
In New York , the state governor , Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota , the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to a list of places whose travelers must quarantine for 14 days when visiting New York .
Thirty-one other states are on the list , which was unveiled last month .
New York was one of the early centers of the US outbreak , which first surfaced in China late last year and has now killed more than 654,000 people worldwide .
The rise in US deaths and infections has dampened early hopes that the country was past the worst of an economic crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans out of work .
Congress on Tuesday was locked in difficult talks over another coronavirus aid package to help American families and businesses recover from the crisis .
Amid infighting in the Republican camp as well as disagreement between the two parties , the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , said she intended to meet with the Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , on Wednesday while both sides are “ airing our differences ” .
Congress earlier in the pandemic passed about $ 3tn in aid including enhanced unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed businesses .
Senate Republicans announced on Monday a $ 1tn coronavirus aid package hammered out with the White House , which McConnell touted as a “ tailored and targeted ” plan to reopen schools and businesses , while protecting companies from lawsuits .
But the proposal sparked immediate opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans .
Democrats decried it as inadequate compared with their $ 3tn proposal that passed the House in May .
New York City ’ s mayor , Bill de Blasio , a Democrat , described the Republican proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters that it provided zero support for state and local governments hardest hit by the epidemic .
The Republican proposal would slash the current expanded unemployment benefit from $ 600 a week , in addition to state unemployment , to $ 200 a week .
Meanwhile , the American Federation of Teachers has authorized what the union is calling “ safety strikes ” if necessary to protect teachers from coronavirus as the authorities debate whether to return children and college students to in-person learning at the end of the summer break .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal government are pushing to reopen schools , despite concerns about the spread of the virus in classrooms .
And Twitter temporarily restricted the account of the president ’ s son , Donald Trump Jr , for spreading false claims about coronavirus .
He shared a video of a doctor falsely claiming that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is a “ cure ” for coronavirus .
Fauci on Tuesday morning emphasized that it is not effective for the disease .

Florida reported another record one-day rise in coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, and cases in Texas passed the 400,000 mark, fueling fear that the United States is still not taking control of the outbreak and adding pressure on Congress to pass another massive economic aid package.
Public health experts are becoming concerned about the levels of infection in states such as Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky, while the surge in Florida along with Texas, Arizona and California this month has strained many hospitals.
The increase in cases has forced a U-turn on steps to reopen economies after the end of lockdowns put in place in March and April to slow the spread of the virus.
Florida has had 191 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day rise since the start of the epidemic, the state health department said.
Texas, the second-most populous state, added more than 6,000 new cases on Monday, pushing its total to 401,477, according to a tally being kept by the Reuters news agency. Only three other states – California, Florida and New York – have more than 400,000 total cases.
The widening outbreak has pushed the US death toll from Covid-19 closer to the bleak 150,000 milestone, which the country is expected to cross this week and comes just over three months before the 3 November election, where Donald Trump seeks a second term. The US has more than 4.3m confirmed cases, according to totals tracked by Reuters and Johns Hopkins University.
The surge in cases in Florida prompted Trump last week to cancel the Republican convention events in Jacksonville in late August, which had already been rearranged from North Carolina.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope in the data from Texas, where the state health department reported that current hospitalizations due to Covid-19 fell on Monday.
Anthony Fauci, a top infectious diseases expert and the leading public health figure on the White House coronavirus task force, said there were signs the recent surge could be peaking in hard-hit states like Florida and Texas. But he warned that other parts of the country may be on the cusp of growing outbreaks.
“They may be cresting and coming back down,” Fauci told ABC’s Good Morning America regarding the state of the outbreak in several southern states.
But Fauci said there was a “very early indication” that the percentage of coronavirus tests that were positive was starting to rise in other states, such as Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Fauci added on the same TV show that he was not in “any circumstances” misleading the American public, after another attack on him by the US president.
In New York, the state governor, Andrew Cuomo, added Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to a list of places whose travelers must quarantine for 14 days when visiting New York. Thirty-one other states are on the list, which was unveiled last month.
Fauci warned that other parts of the country may be on the cusp of growing outbreaks. Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP
New York was one of the early centers of the US outbreak, which first surfaced in China late last year and has now killed more than 654,000 people worldwide.
The rise in US deaths and infections has dampened early hopes that the country was past the worst of an economic crisis that has decimated businesses and put millions of Americans out of work.
Congress on Tuesday was locked in difficult talks over another coronavirus aid package to help American families and businesses recover from the crisis.
Amid infighting in the Republican camp as well as disagreement between the two parties, the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said she intended to meet with the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, on Wednesday while both sides are “airing our differences”.
Congress earlier in the pandemic passed about $3tn in aid including enhanced unemployment benefits to blunt the pain of lockdowns and closed businesses.
Senate Republicans announced on Monday a $1tn coronavirus aid package hammered out with the White House, which McConnell touted as a “tailored and targeted” plan to reopen schools and businesses, while protecting companies from lawsuits.
But the proposal sparked immediate opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans. Democrats decried it as inadequate compared with their $3tn proposal that passed the House in May.
New York City’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, described the Republican proposal as a “non-starter”, telling reporters that it provided zero support for state and local governments hardest hit by the epidemic.
The Republican proposal would slash the current expanded unemployment benefit from $600 a week, in addition to state unemployment, to $200 a week.
Meanwhile, the American Federation of Teachers has authorized what the union is calling “safety strikes” if necessary to protect teachers from coronavirus as the authorities debate whether to return children and college students to in-person learning at the end of the summer break.
Some school districts in coronavirus hot spots and the federal government are pushing to reopen schools, despite concerns about the spread of the virus in classrooms.
And Twitter temporarily restricted the account of the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, for spreading false claims about coronavirus. He shared a video of a doctor falsely claiming that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is a “cure” for coronavirus. Fauci on Tuesday morning emphasized that it is not effective for the disease.


theguardian--2020-07-28--'Beyond the pale': antics of Trump ambassadors highlight crisis in US diplomacy

The US ambassador to Iceland , a dermatologist and major Republican donor , reportedly became so paranoid about his security he asked to carry a gun and to be taken everywhere in an armoured car .
Despite the absence of particular security concerns , the embassy in Reykjavik advertised in the local press for bodyguards , to placate the ambassador , Jeffrey Ross Gunter .
Gunter ’ s alleged antics are not an isolated case .
A record share of Donald Trump ’ s ambassadorial appointments have been political , mostly rewards for big-money donors , and his nominees have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualifications or aptitude .
A report to be published on Tuesday by Senate Democrats on the current situation at the state department , titled Diplomacy in Crisis , said : “ While it is true that every administration has its share of questionable appointments , the Trump administration ’ s choices have gone beyond the pale , jeopardizing the department ’ s ability to safeguard our nation ’ s interests.
” Since being nominated May 2019 , Gunter has proved so hard to work with he has gone through seven deputy chiefs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who do most of the day-to-day management of the embassy .
According to CBS News , he rejected his first deputy , who had spent months learning Icelandic , because he “ didn ’ t like the look of him ” at their introductory meeting .
Gunter also reportedly refused to return to his post after attending a conference in Washington in February , arguing he could do the job remotely , and was only coaxed back to Reykjavik in May after a call from the secretary of state , Mike Pompeo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s return was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic .
CBS reported that Gunter was persuaded not to make a formal request for a gun permit to the Icelandic authorities , who have very strict firearms laws .
Gunter did not immediately respond to a request to comment , but after the CBS report , he issued a statement to the Icelandic press , saying : “ Our focus at the US embassy remains where it has always been – on strengthening the US-Icelandic bilateral relationship which brings so much benefit to both our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be leading our team during this successful period of US-Icelandic appreciation and respect.
” On the question of the ambassador ’ s preoccupation with his personal security , a state department spokesperson said : “ Protection programs for our leadership are standard features at most US facilities around the world .
We continue to have a very close working relationship with Icelandic authorities on security and other matters.
” Gunter is far from being the only wealthy Trump-donor-turned-diplomat to stand out for their eccentricities .
The ambassador to the UK , Woody Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been investigated by the state department office of the inspector general ( before the inspector general was fired in May ) for racist and sexist remarks .
Johnson is reported to have resisted holding Black History Month events in 2018 , asking his aides whether he would be addressing “ a whole bunch of black people ” .
He was also reported to have held a number of official functions at a men-only London club , White ’ s .
Johnson rejected the charges .
He wrote on Twitter : “ I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my office at all times .
These false claims of insensitive remarks about race and gender are totally inconsistent with my longstanding record and values.
” Johnson ’ s former DCM , Lewis Lukens , claimed in December that the ambassador had fired him because he had mentioned Barack Obama in a speech to British university students .
Lana Marks was a handbag designer and member of Trump ’ s Mar-a-Lago club before he made her ambassador to South Africa , where she also forced out her DCM , amid concerns that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senior role in the embassy , after she referred to him as her “ chief of staff ” in a tweet , which she later deleted .
Marks told Foreign Policy that she had removed her DCM , David Young , because “ our management styles were quite different ” and was seeking to get him a more senior job elsewhere .
US officials said there was no connection between Young ’ s departure and Marks ’ son .
“ The rate at which DCMs are being removed , and the reasoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for concern , ” the Senate Democratic report , said .
“ In the process , the department lost significant institutional knowledge and substantive experience.
” The report includes a litany of cases of unqualified or unvetted diplomatic nominees .
It notes the recent case of Mina Chang , who was given a senior state department job despite having limited relevant experience and allegedly padding her résumé with exaggerated accounts of her career , claiming to have served on a UN panel that did not exist .
There was even a fake Time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned but denied the allegations against her .
She said the Time cover was done by an enthusiastic supporter , although Chang did not correct an interviewer who presented it in 2017 as an example of her achievements .
Christine Toretti , nominated in May 2018 to serve as ambassador to Malta , had been subject to a restraining order in 2008 for “ placing a bullet-riddled target sheet ” in the office of her ex-husband ’ s doctor .
Ronald Neumann , the head of the American Academy of Diplomacy and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Trump diplomatic record was “ somewhat outside the norm in numbers , and I think further outside the norm in poor quality of political appointees ” .
Of the 189 US ambassadorial posts , only three are currently held by African Americans , according to the American Foreign Service Association .
The increasing share of top jobs going to Trump donors have also served to close off avenues of career advancement in general , leading to an exodus of aspiring diplomats .
Between July 2017 and June 2018 , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , non-seasonal employees left the state department , about 7 % of the total staff .
A state department spokesperson rejected widespread reports of low morale , using one of Pompeo ’ s favourite buzzwords .
“ The state department ’ s swagger is fully back , ” the spokesperson said .
“ From day one , Secretary Pompeo has delivered on advancing the interests and values of the American people both here at home and around the world .
”

The US ambassador to Iceland, a dermatologist and major Republican donor, reportedly became so paranoid about his security he asked to carry a gun and to be taken everywhere in an armoured car.
Despite the absence of particular security concerns, the embassy in Reykjavik advertised in the local press for bodyguards, to placate the ambassador, Jeffrey Ross Gunter.
Gunter’s alleged antics are not an isolated case. A record share of Donald Trump’s ambassadorial appointments have been political, mostly rewards for big-money donors, and his nominees have frequently stood out for their lack of qualifications or aptitude.
A report to be published on Tuesday by Senate Democrats on the current situation at the state department, titled Diplomacy in Crisis, said: “While it is true that every administration has its share of questionable appointments, the Trump administration’s choices have gone beyond the pale, jeopardizing the department’s ability to safeguard our nation’s interests.”
Since being nominated May 2019, Gunter has proved so hard to work with he has gone through seven deputy chiefs of mission (DCMs), career diplomats who do most of the day-to-day management of the embassy. According to CBS News, he rejected his first deputy, who had spent months learning Icelandic, because he “didn’t like the look of him” at their introductory meeting.
Gunter also reportedly refused to return to his post after attending a conference in Washington in February, arguing he could do the job remotely, and was only coaxed back to Reykjavik in May after a call from the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.
The state department said that Gunter’s return was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
CBS reported that Gunter was persuaded not to make a formal request for a gun permit to the Icelandic authorities, who have very strict firearms laws.
Gunter did not immediately respond to a request to comment, but after the CBS report, he issued a statement to the Icelandic press, saying: “Our focus at the US embassy remains where it has always been – on strengthening the US-Icelandic bilateral relationship which brings so much benefit to both our great nations. I am honored to be leading our team during this successful period of US-Icelandic appreciation and respect.”
On the question of the ambassador’s preoccupation with his personal security, a state department spokesperson said: “Protection programs for our leadership are standard features at most US facilities around the world. We continue to have a very close working relationship with Icelandic authorities on security and other matters.”
Gunter has proven so hard to work with he has gone through seven deputy chiefs of mission
Gunter is far from being the only wealthy Trump-donor-turned-diplomat to stand out for their eccentricities. The ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, a billionaire Trump backer, has been investigated by the state department office of the inspector general (before the inspector general was fired in May) for racist and sexist remarks.
Johnson is reported to have resisted holding Black History Month events in 2018, asking his aides whether he would be addressing “a whole bunch of black people”. He was also reported to have held a number of official functions at a men-only London club, White’s.
Johnson rejected the charges. He wrote on Twitter: “I have followed the ethical rules and requirements of my office at all times. These false claims of insensitive remarks about race and gender are totally inconsistent with my longstanding record and values.”
Johnson’s former DCM, Lewis Lukens, claimed in December that the ambassador had fired him because he had mentioned Barack Obama in a speech to British university students.
Lana Marks was a handbag designer and member of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club before he made her ambassador to South Africa, where she also forced out her DCM, amid concerns that she was seeking to install her son in a senior role in the embassy, after she referred to him as her “chief of staff” in a tweet, which she later deleted.
Marks told Foreign Policy that she had removed her DCM, David Young, because “our management styles were quite different” and was seeking to get him a more senior job elsewhere. US officials said there was no connection between Young’s departure and Marks’ son.
“The rate at which DCMs are being removed, and the reasoning behind the removals, has created cause for concern,” the Senate Democratic report, said. “In the process, the department lost significant institutional knowledge and substantive experience.”
The report includes a litany of cases of unqualified or unvetted diplomatic nominees. It notes the recent case of Mina Chang, who was given a senior state department job despite having limited relevant experience and allegedly padding her résumé with exaggerated accounts of her career, claiming to have served on a UN panel that did not exist. There was even a fake Time magazine cover about her accomplishments.
Chang resigned but denied the allegations against her. She said the Time cover was done by an enthusiastic supporter, although Chang did not correct an interviewer who presented it in 2017 as an example of her achievements.
Christine Toretti, nominated in May 2018 to serve as ambassador to Malta, had been subject to a restraining order in 2008 for “placing a bullet-riddled target sheet” in the office of her ex-husband’s doctor.
Ronald Neumann, the head of the American Academy of Diplomacy and former deputy assistant secretary of state, said that the Trump diplomatic record was “somewhat outside the norm in numbers, and I think further outside the norm in poor quality of political appointees”.
Of the 189 US ambassadorial posts, only three are currently held by African Americans, according to the American Foreign Service Association. The increasing share of top jobs going to Trump donors have also served to close off avenues of career advancement in general, leading to an exodus of aspiring diplomats.
Between July 2017 and June 2018, according to the Senate Democratic report, 722 full-time, non-seasonal employees left the state department, about 7% of the total staff.
A state department spokesperson rejected widespread reports of low morale, using one of Pompeo’s favourite buzzwords.
“The state department’s swagger is fully back,” the spokesperson said. “From day one, Secretary Pompeo has delivered on advancing the interests and values of the American people both here at home and around the world.”


theguardian--2020-07-28--Trump administration to give one-year Daca extension to some recipients

The Trump administration will allow so-called Dreamers to renew deportation protections for a year while it reviews a supreme court ruling before a fresh attempt to kill the program in question , a senior administration official said on Tuesday .
Hundreds of thousands of Dreamers live in the US without documentation , after entering as children .
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( Daca ) was put in place by Barack Obama and some 644,000 people are enrolled .
The Trump review follows the ruling last month that found the administration had erred in the way it decided to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue its existing policy of not accepting new applicants , in place since 2017 , the official told Reuters .
But the administration will extend eligibility by a year for those whose protection from deportation was due to expire , as long as they do not have a criminal record .
“ For anyone who refiles , if they are eligible and were set to expire , we will renew them on a case-by-case basis into the next year for an extension , ” the official said .
The decision means the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , in which Trump is fighting for a second term against Democrat Joe Biden .
Trump has made his hardline stance on legal and illegal immigration a central platform of his presidency and his re-election campaign .
Daca is increasingly supported by the public .
A February Reuters/Ipsos poll found 64 % of US adults supported its core tenets .
A similar December 2014 poll found 47 % support .
The supreme court left the door open for Trump to attempt again to rescind the program , ruling only that the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions were “ arbitrary and capricious ” .
The administration is due to file paperwork with the district court in Maryland on Tuesday .
The decision to not accept new applications will probably face more legal challenges .
The official said the administration would conduct “ an exhaustive review ” of the memos it initially used to justify winding down the program .
“ We ’ re going to review all of that and all the underlying communications that informed those documents , so that when the administration next acts on Daca , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review , ” the official said .
The official said it was unclear how long the review would take .
In an interview with Noticias Telemundo earlier this month , Trump said he would soon unveil an immigration measure that would include some protections for Daca .
“ We ’ re working out the legal complexities right now , ” he said , “ but I ’ m going to be signing a very major immigration bill as an executive order , which the supreme court now , because of the Daca decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that.
” Trump ’ s interpretation of the meaning of the supreme court ruling – that it can allow him to govern without Congress – has proved highly controversial .

The Trump administration will allow so-called Dreamers to renew deportation protections for a year while it reviews a supreme court ruling before a fresh attempt to kill the program in question, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.
Hundreds of thousands of Dreamers live in the US without documentation, after entering as children. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) was put in place by Barack Obama and some 644,000 people are enrolled.
The Trump review follows the ruling last month that found the administration had erred in the way it decided to end the program.
The administration plans to continue its existing policy of not accepting new applicants, in place since 2017, the official told Reuters. But the administration will extend eligibility by a year for those whose protection from deportation was due to expire, as long as they do not have a criminal record.
“For anyone who refiles, if they are eligible and were set to expire, we will renew them on a case-by-case basis into the next year for an extension,” the official said.
The decision means the program will remain in place through the presidential election, in which Trump is fighting for a second term against Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has made his hardline stance on legal and illegal immigration a central platform of his presidency and his re-election campaign.
Daca is increasingly supported by the public. A February Reuters/Ipsos poll found 64% of US adults supported its core tenets. A similar December 2014 poll found 47% support.
The supreme court left the door open for Trump to attempt again to rescind the program, ruling only that the administration had not met procedural requirements and its actions were “arbitrary and capricious”.
The administration is due to file paperwork with the district court in Maryland on Tuesday. The decision to not accept new applications will probably face more legal challenges.
The official said the administration would conduct “an exhaustive review” of the memos it initially used to justify winding down the program.
“We’re going to review all of that and all the underlying communications that informed those documents, so that when the administration next acts on Daca, it will be anchored on this comprehensive review,” the official said.
The official said it was unclear how long the review would take.
In an interview with Noticias Telemundo earlier this month, Trump said he would soon unveil an immigration measure that would include some protections for Daca.
“We’re working out the legal complexities right now,” he said, “but I’m going to be signing a very major immigration bill as an executive order, which the supreme court now, because of the Daca decision, has given me the power to do that.”
Trump’s interpretation of the meaning of the supreme court ruling – that it can allow him to govern without Congress – has proved highly controversial.


theguardian--2020-07-28--Tom Cotton’s war on the 1619 Project is the real 'cancel culture' | Malaika Jabali

Tom Cotton , the Arkansas senator , introduced a bill last week to prohibit federal funds from being used to teach the New York Times ’ 1619 Project , which looks at the legacy of slavery in the US , in elementary and secondary schools .
The bill notes that “ an activist movement is now gaining momentum to deny or obfuscate [ the history of America ’ s founding ] by claiming that America was not founded on the ideals of the Declaration but rather on slavery and oppression.
” Cotton later asserted in an interview that “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the necessary evil upon which the union was built , but the union was built in a way , as [ Abraham ] Lincoln said , to put slavery on the course to its ultimate extinction ” .
So while the founding fathers said the union was “ built ” on slavery , according to Cotton , he is against the 1619 Project ’ s position that America was founded on “ slavery and oppression ” .
One could get into the semantic differences between a country “ built ” on slavery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the crux of Cotton ’ s dispute is that he wants America depicted in a blindingly positive light .
This points to a larger issue : conservative resistance to teaching any version of history that upends the myth of American exceptionalism .
The power imbalance that has historically censored opposing versions of this mythological America is the real “ cancel culture ” .
To be clear , some historians across race have taken issue with what they see as inaccuracies in the project .
The most contentious claim journalist Nikole Hannah Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essay is that protecting the brutal institution of slavery was “ one of the primary reasons colonists decided to declare their independence from Great Britain ” .
This portrayal has been challenged by historians .
It was also decried by Republicans like Cotton , for whom America was founded on ideals of “ life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness ” .
So who is right ?
The reality is America was founded on both .
And if the 1619 Project ’ s vehement rightwing critics were paying attention or cared about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ d realize Jones acknowledged as much .
Before justifying her argument , Jones states : “ the United States is a nation founded on both an ideal and a lie.
” Asserting that all men are created equal was a lie , because “ one-fifth of the population within the 13 colonies struggled under a brutal system of slavery unlike anything that had existed in the world before ” , she continued .
This system treated Black people as chattel , and their subjugation was later justified with anti-blackness that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
From the colonial era to the antebellum years , those with misgivings about slavery didn ’ t necessarily believe that Black people were equal .
Abraham Lincoln was among those pronouncing the “ superior position assigned to the white race ” .
Whatever motivated some colonists to seek British independence is unrelated to the position that America ’ s founding document was hypocritical .
But conservatives like Cotton aren ’ t looking for a more precise and accurate accounting of American hypocrisy ; instead they prefer we largely avoid interrogating America at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falls out of line must be cancelled and excommunicated from the church of American exceptionalism .
Cotton ’ s bill and accompanying rhetoric , wrapped in the zealous alarm of a religious fundamentalist , give this away .
The Project , the bill claims , “ threatens the integrity of the Union ” , and is revisionist history “ at its worst ” .
If passed , teaching the 1619 Project will cost school districts professional development funds and lower other federal funding to make up for costs associated with “ planning time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s curriculum .
It is unclear if this refers to teaching any one of the essays or other creative works of the Project or the entire teaching guide offered by the Pulitzer Center .
But censoring the whole Project with a blunt cudgel , instead of addressing its advantages and specific weaknesses , is the point .
In the eyes of conservatives like Cotton , a worldview that challenges his idealization of America is a threat to the country itself .
I mean , think about the children !
How dare we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the propaganda of American exceptionalism has not been central to US K-12 education .
This hyperbole undermines what could be a nuanced discussion of the various principles and practices that have guided the country , including a class analysis that examines distinctions between America ’ s white , land-owning planter class and everyone else – those enslaved , indentured and colonized across race whose labor and land , in the case of the indigenous , were exploited to advance capitalism .
Beyond that , the bill ’ s extreme measures belie Republican rhetoric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , and they point to the privilege of one version of America – one that upholds American exceptionalism like religious dogma – dominating our curriculum .
It is a privilege that allows some powerful white men , from slave-owning founding fathers to senators like Cotton , to depict slavery as in any way necessary and pushback as heretical .
And it ’ s not just obscene for kids ; think of the crucifixion of marginalized conservatives targeted by America ’ s growing “ activist movement ” .
First they come for our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bubble , the horror !
What ’ s next ?
A critique of capitalism ?
Imperialism ?
Police ?
The Black Lives Matter movement is surely only catalyzing this alarmism , with Cotton ’ s bill explicitly acknowledging activists ’ “ growing momentum ” .
Many conservatives can not reasonably grapple with increasing radicalism unsatisfied with mere reform and evocation of ideals of American equality .
With abolitionist scholars drawing an “ unbroken line ” from slavery to current policing , to national protests spotlighting the concurrent crises of systemically racist economic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tipping point .
Tom Cotton ’ s legislation is another example of the same old guard of the Grand Old Party seeking to tip the scales where conservatives have historically weighted them – in the hands of the powerful , white and well-off – and cancelling those who challenge them .
Meanwhile , much of the country simply wants equality .
And a first step towards actually achieving the ideals its founders ’ promised is exposing the fullness of America – its hypocritical promises and oppression among them – in schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more patriotic .
• None Malaika Jabali is a public policy attorney , activist and Guardian US columnist

Tom Cotton, the Arkansas senator, introduced a bill last week to prohibit federal funds from being used to teach the New York Times’ 1619 Project, which looks at the legacy of slavery in the US, in elementary and secondary schools.
The bill notes that “an activist movement is now gaining momentum to deny or obfuscate [the history of America’s founding] by claiming that America was not founded on the ideals of the Declaration but rather on slavery and oppression.” Cotton later asserted in an interview that “the founding fathers said [slavery]... was the necessary evil upon which the union was built, but the union was built in a way, as [Abraham] Lincoln said, to put slavery on the course to its ultimate extinction”.
So while the founding fathers said the union was “built” on slavery, according to Cotton, he is against the 1619 Project’s position that America was founded on “slavery and oppression”. One could get into the semantic differences between a country “built” on slavery and “founded” on it. But the crux of Cotton’s dispute is that he wants America depicted in a blindingly positive light. This points to a larger issue: conservative resistance to teaching any version of history that upends the myth of American exceptionalism. The power imbalance that has historically censored opposing versions of this mythological America is the real “cancel culture”.
To be clear, some historians across race have taken issue with what they see as inaccuracies in the project. The most contentious claim journalist Nikole Hannah Jones makes in her Pulitzer prize-winning 1619 Project essay is that protecting the brutal institution of slavery was “one of the primary reasons colonists decided to declare their independence from Great Britain”. This portrayal has been challenged by historians. It was also decried by Republicans like Cotton, for whom America was founded on ideals of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. So who is right? The reality is America was founded on both. And if the 1619 Project’s vehement rightwing critics were paying attention or cared about accuracy as much as they claim, they’d realize Jones acknowledged as much.
Before justifying her argument, Jones states: “the United States is a nation founded on both an ideal and a lie.” Asserting that all men are created equal was a lie, because “one-fifth of the population within the 13 colonies struggled under a brutal system of slavery unlike anything that had existed in the world before”, she continued. This system treated Black people as chattel, and their subjugation was later justified with anti-blackness that has been central to America’s foundation.
In the eyes of conservatives like Cotton, a worldview that challenges his idealization of America is a threat to the country itself
From the colonial era to the antebellum years, those with misgivings about slavery didn’t necessarily believe that Black people were equal. Abraham Lincoln was among those pronouncing the “superior position assigned to the white race”. Whatever motivated some colonists to seek British independence is unrelated to the position that America’s founding document was hypocritical. But conservatives like Cotton aren’t looking for a more precise and accurate accounting of American hypocrisy; instead they prefer we largely avoid interrogating America at all. And anyone or anything that falls out of line must be cancelled and excommunicated from the church of American exceptionalism.
Cotton’s bill and accompanying rhetoric, wrapped in the zealous alarm of a religious fundamentalist, give this away. The Project, the bill claims, “threatens the integrity of the Union”, and is revisionist history “at its worst”. If passed, teaching the 1619 Project will cost school districts professional development funds and lower other federal funding to make up for costs associated with “planning time and teaching time” of the Project’s curriculum. It is unclear if this refers to teaching any one of the essays or other creative works of the Project or the entire teaching guide offered by the Pulitzer Center. But censoring the whole Project with a blunt cudgel, instead of addressing its advantages and specific weaknesses, is the point.
This image released by Random House shows the cover of a special issue of the 1619 Project from The New York Times Magazine. Photograph: AP
In the eyes of conservatives like Cotton, a worldview that challenges his idealization of America is a threat to the country itself. I mean, think about the children! How dare we indoctrinate them with propaganda, as if the propaganda of American exceptionalism has not been central to US K-12 education.
This hyperbole undermines what could be a nuanced discussion of the various principles and practices that have guided the country, including a class analysis that examines distinctions between America’s white, land-owning planter class and everyone else – those enslaved, indentured and colonized across race whose labor and land, in the case of the indigenous, were exploited to advance capitalism.
Beyond that, the bill’s extreme measures belie Republican rhetoric about censorship and “states’ rights”, and they point to the privilege of one version of America – one that upholds American exceptionalism like religious dogma – dominating our curriculum. It is a privilege that allows some powerful white men, from slave-owning founding fathers to senators like Cotton, to depict slavery as in any way necessary and pushback as heretical. And it’s not just obscene for kids; think of the crucifixion of marginalized conservatives targeted by America’s growing “activist movement”. First they come for our Confederate statues and now our warped slavery-justifying bubble, the horror! What’s next? A critique of capitalism? Imperialism? Police?
The Black Lives Matter movement is surely only catalyzing this alarmism, with Cotton’s bill explicitly acknowledging activists’ “growing momentum”. Many conservatives cannot reasonably grapple with increasing radicalism unsatisfied with mere reform and evocation of ideals of American equality. With abolitionist scholars drawing an “unbroken line” from slavery to current policing, to national protests spotlighting the concurrent crises of systemically racist economic and public health systems, America is at a tipping point.
Tom Cotton’s legislation is another example of the same old guard of the Grand Old Party seeking to tip the scales where conservatives have historically weighted them – in the hands of the powerful, white and well-off – and cancelling those who challenge them. Meanwhile, much of the country simply wants equality. And a first step towards actually achieving the ideals its founders’ promised is exposing the fullness of America – its hypocritical promises and oppression among them – in schools and on the streets. Nothing could be more patriotic.


theguardian--2020-07-29--Trump officials in talks with Oregon governor to pull federal forces from Portland

The Trump administration has started talks with the Oregon governor ’ s office and indicated that it would begin to draw down the presence of federal agents sent to quell two months of chaotic protests in Portland if the state stepped up its own enforcement , a senior White House official said Tuesday .
The official stressed to the Associated Press that the talks with the office of Democratic governor Kate Brown are in the early stages and there is no agreement .
The official was not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations and spoke on the condition of anonymity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a request for comment Tuesday .
Portland mayor Ted Wheeler ’ s office also didn ’ t immediately respond to an email .
Meanwhile , law enforcement officers again used teargas to disperse protesters early Wednesday on the streets of Portland as loud booms filled the air .
Just a day earlier , the US Marshals Service and Department of Homeland Security were weighing whether to send in more agents .
The marshals were taking steps to identify up to 100 additional personnel who could go in case they were needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work in Oregon , spokesman Drew Wade said .
Homeland Security was considering a similar measure with Customs and Border Protection agents , according to an administration official with direct knowledge of the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity .
The nightly protests often spiral into violence as demonstrators target the U.S. courthouse in Oregon ’ s largest city with rocks , fireworks and laser pointers and federal agents respond with tear gas , less-lethal ammunition and arrests .
Seattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had received confirmation that US agents had left her city after being sent to Seattle last week to protect federal buildings amid lingering unrest .
The developments came as the American Civil Liberties Union in Oregon filed a motion alleging that the militarized US agents are attacking journalists and legal observers with riot-control munitions , despite a federal court ordering them to stop .
Last week , the U.S. District Court in Portland - located in the same federal court building that ’ s been the focus of protests - temporarily blocked federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the protests .
The ACLU asked the court to sanction and hold in contempt federal agents for violating the temporary restraining order .
It also asked the court to order Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli to personally appear and show why they should not be sanctioned for contempt .
The organization cited numerous instances in which agents have violated the order by firing impact munitions and using pepper spray against people clearly marked as journalists or legal observers .
The motion was filed after U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal response to Congress , saying “ violent rioters and anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests ” sparked by Floyd ’ s death .
Protesters have tried almost every night to tear down a fence erected to protect the building , set fires in the street and hurled fireworks , Molotov cocktails and bricks , rocks and bottles at the agents inside .
The ACLU accused federal agents of acting unlawfully in Portland .
There was no immediate comment from the federal agencies on the motion and accusations .
Two groups also have sued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it violated the constitution by sending federal law enforcement to disperse crowds with teargas and rubber bullets .

The Trump administration is to withdraw federal law enforcement agents out of Portland, Oregon, beginning on Thursday, the state’s governor announced on Wednesday, slamming officers she said “acted as an occupying force and brought violence” in several nights of violent clashes with local protesters .
Signs were emerging early Wednesday that the pull-out could be on the way after accusations that Donald Trump was deploying paramilitary forces in violation of the US constitution, partly as a tactic in his provocative “law and order” re-election campaign.
On Wednesday morning, Governor Kate Brown posted a tweet that agents from federal border patrol and immigration agencies, which fall under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security, would begin withdrawal on Thursday.
After my discussions with VP Pence and others, the federal government has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland. They have acted as an occupying force & brought violence. Starting tomorrow, all Customs and Border Protection & ICE officers will leave downtown Portland. — Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) July 29, 2020
She gave no initial details of whether or how local law enforcement would increase their presence in the city, after the president and vice-president indicated that would be a condition of agreeing to a federal withdrawal.
Mike Pence, the vice-president, had told the Fox News Channel late on Tuesday the administration was talking with Oregon’s Democratic governor, Kate Brown. He did not provide details.
Earlier, the Associated Press, citing an unidentified White House official, reported on Wednesday the Trump administration held out the possibility of drawing down the federal troop presence if the state stepped up its own enforcement.
Trump said at the White House earlier in the day that the federal presence would remain for now.
“We’re not leaving until they secure their city. We told the governor, we told the mayor: secure your city,” Trump said, repeating his threat to send more federal officers if the situation gets worse.
The federal government has deployed teams of agents, at times heavily armed and clad in camouflage, to the Portland protests, drawing criticism from Democrats and civil liberties groups who allege excessive force and federal overreach.
Brown and Portland’s mayor, both Democrats, have complained they never asked for the federal agents and their presence was worsening the situation with protesters.
“The violence in Portland has got to stop. It is clear that the local leadership and the mayor of Portland are not willing to step up. That’s why we’re talking to Governor Kate Brown and the state of Oregon about working a way forward,” Pence told Fox.
Tuesday night was the 62nd consecutive night of protests in downtown Portland and the 28th night of confrontations with federal officers. The demonstrations began, in tune with scores of other cities around America, in the wake of the death in police custody of George Floyd as a statement about police brutality.
But on 1 July, the nature of the events started to shift when federal forces began to gather more visibly around the US courthouse. The forces, led by agents of border patrol, acted ostensibly to protect federal property but as the confrontation intensified were criticized for acting like paramilitary forces including arresting protesters and placing them in unmarked vans.
On Tuesday night, the head-to-head between demonstrators and the federal agents was relatively restrained, according to the local newspaper the Oregonian. But a familiar pattern repeated itself after midnight when agents dressed in desert camouflage unleashed teargas, pepper spray and flash bangs in response to a couple of fireworks being ignited on the other side of the perimeter fence.
Civil liberties groups have complained that the actions of the federal agents are disproportionate to the crowd control challenges they face. Their deployment has stoked unrest that appeared to be fading before the officers arrived.
With the distorting presence of the federal agents, the focus of the protests, especially in the early hours of the morning, has switched from supporting Black Lives Matters towards venting anger at Trump. “I wanted to stand up to Trump. We’re sick of this man and the damage he’s done,” a demonstrator told the Guardian.
Trump at the White House on Wednesday. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters
Currently there are thought to be about 114 federal officers deployed at the Portland courthouse.
On Monday, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicated they were about to boost the size of the unit with 40 more border agents and about 100 deputy US Marshals.
Trump has also talked in aggressive terms about extending the use of what critics call federal paramilitaries to several other cities including Chicago, New York and Albuquerque. It is not incidental in an election year that all the cities he has targeted are Democratic-controlled.
By contrast, in Seattle, US border patrol agents sent supposedly to protect federal buildings appear to have quietly been pulled out of the city. The deployment had been fiercely resisted by the governor of Washington state, Jay Inslee, and Seattle’s mayor, Jenny Durkan.
The federal action has provoked several lawsuits trying to stop it on constitutional grounds in Portland. On Tuesday a new suit was lodged by the American Civil Liberties Union complaining about ongoing assaults by US agents on journalists and legal observers.
A court order was obtained on 23 July imposing a temporary restraining order on the border patrol and other federal agents from roughly handling reporters. But the new lawsuit contends that “within hours federal agents began violating the court’s order and have continued to do so every night since”.
The lawsuit argues that “these violations are not inadvertent. They are intentional acts by a lawless president who has sent his paramilitary forces to shoot up the streets of Portland.”
Among the assaults cited in the suit are a journalist who was shot and teargassed while trying to video an arrest, and a legal observer shot in her chest from just four feet away. Another photojournalist was shot even though she had “PRESS” clearly stamped on her helmet.
On Wednesday morning, before the Oregon governor’s tweet, the justice department said it would send dozens of law enforcement officers to Cleveland, Milwaukee and Detroit to combat violent crime.
The move follows similar deployments to Chicago, Kansas City, Missouriand Albuquerque, New Mexico, under what is known as Operation Legend, although the initiative has been conflated with anti-racism protests.


theguardian--2020-07-29--Donald Trump Jr tries to tidy up his book Liberal Privilege's grammar

Donald Trump Jr has quietly shifted the apostrophe in his forthcoming book ’ s title after being widely mocked for making a grammatical error .
Trump Jr ’ s Liberal Privilege , due out on 25 August , was initially subtitled “ Joe Biden and the Democrat ’ s Defense of the Indefensible ” .
But after it was pointed out that this would generally refer to only one Democrat , and prompting some speculation that this is what he meant to do , the US president ’ s son has reissued images of his book cover with the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Indefensible ” .
However , Trump Jr ’ s grasp of apostrophes still appears uncertain : announcing that the book was now available for pre-order , he wrote on Twitter , “ Sleepy Joe wont [ sic ] like this one .
But lets [ sic ] be honest he probably doesn ’ t keep up with current events.
” Trump Jr , whose account was limited by Twitter on Tuesday for sharing false claims about the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment , is self-publishing the book .
He told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered a generous book deal by my previous publishers , I turned it down and decided to self-publish ” .
His previous book , Triggered , controversially reached No 1 on the New York Times bestseller lists following a bulk purchase from the Republican National Committee .
The RNC is also buying copies of Liberal Privilege , according to Politico , and offering the book to donors who contribute at least $ 75 .
“ The RNC was able to raise almost a million dollars from their fundraising campaign with my first book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I look forward to helping them fundraise once again for the benefit of the Republican party.
” Trump Jr ’ s website promises the book will reveal “ the facts the media refuses to cover ” , including “ countless liberal scandals , years of entrenched racism in the democrat party and decades of failed polices ” .
It is assumed that “ polices ” actually refers to “ policies ” , rather than being an unusual plural for police .

Donald Trump Jr has quietly shifted the apostrophe in his forthcoming book’s title after being widely mocked for making a grammatical error.
Trump Jr’s Liberal Privilege, due out on 25 August, was initially subtitled “Joe Biden and the Democrat’s Defense of the Indefensible”. But after it was pointed out that this would generally refer to only one Democrat, and prompting some speculation that this is what he meant to do, the US president’s son has reissued images of his book cover with the new subtitle “the Democrats’ Defense of the Indefensible”.
However, Trump Jr’s grasp of apostrophes still appears uncertain: announcing that the book was now available for pre-order, he wrote on Twitter, “Sleepy Joe wont [sic] like this one. But lets [sic] be honest he probably doesn’t keep up with current events.”
Trump Jr, whose account was limited by Twitter on Tuesday for sharing false claims about the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment, is self-publishing the book. He told US media that “while I was offered a generous book deal by my previous publishers, I turned it down and decided to self-publish”.
His previous book, Triggered, controversially reached No 1 on the New York Times bestseller lists following a bulk purchase from the Republican National Committee. The RNC is also buying copies of Liberal Privilege, according to Politico, and offering the book to donors who contribute at least $75.
“The RNC was able to raise almost a million dollars from their fundraising campaign with my first book, Triggered,” said Trump Jr. “I look forward to helping them fundraise once again for the benefit of the Republican party.”
Trump Jr’s website promises the book will reveal “the facts the media refuses to cover”, including “countless liberal scandals, years of entrenched racism in the democrat party and decades of failed polices”.
It is assumed that “polices” actually refers to “policies”, rather than being an unusual plural for police.