theguardian--2020-10-14--Former Republican congressman says Murdoch's media outlets fuelling 'climate rejectionism'

A former Republican congressman has blamed Rupert Murdoch ’ s media outlets for fuelling “ climate rejectionism ” among conservatives , suggesting they could be part of the reason why the United States is failing to lead the world to tackle global heating .
Bob Inglis , a former South Carolina congressman who has renounced his previous climate denialism and now leads a group seeking to rally conservatives to act , questioned the role of News Corp and Fox Corporation during an event hosted by the Australia Institute .
Inglis told the progressive thinktank that Australia and the US shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes in conservative clothing ” .
He said both countries also shared “ a particular news organisation that has a great deal to do with that ” – and pointed the finger at Murdoch ’ s Fox News and the Wall Street Journal in particular .
“ If you look at Fox viewers in America – that ’ s where you find the climate disputation , ” Inglis said .
Inglis said his group , RepublicEn , which campaigns for conservative leadership on climate action , believed that a change in the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be “ the holy grail ” in unlocking greater ambition in US policy .
“ If Fox would just change or if the Wall Street Journal editorial page would just change – either one of those and this would be finished , we ’ d be done with climate , we ’ d be acting , ” he said .
“ It really is that important – so if anybody can get to the Murdochs please let me know.
” Business leader and former Sydney lord mayor Lucy Turnbull also sheeted home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as News Corp during the same webinar event on Wednesday .
Turnbull ’ s husband , the former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull , was ousted as leader of the centre-right Liberal party in 2009 , and again in 2018 , in part because of internal battles over climate policy .
“ There are a lot of people who have a huge level of conviction about the fact that climate change is with us , that we have to act , ” she said .
“ The problem is that the polarisation makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the people [ who believe ] that it isn ’ t a problem despite the overwhelming scientific evidence that it is.
” In a clear reference to News Corp , Turnbull added : “ They have a very loud voice in a lot of political debate aided by very large media organisations , especially one which crosses both the US and Australia and other countries besides.
” She said this had resulted in a “ fragmented , deeply polarised conversation ” , which could be a symptom of the fragmentation of politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as another former prime minister , Kevin Rudd , campaigns for a royal commission to be launched into the Murdoch empire in Australia .
The petition , launched on the Australian parliament ’ s website on Saturday , has so far attracted more than 236,000 signatures .
The focus on the company comes after Rupert Murdoch ’ s youngest son , James Murdoch , said one of the reasons he had stepped away from his father ’ s media empire was because it legitimised disinformation and sowed doubts about facts .
He told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus were both public health crises and “ political spin ” should not get “ in the way of delivering crucial public health information ” .
James Murdoch and his wife , Kathryn , also issued a joint statement in January – midway through Australia ’ s summer bushfire crisis – to say they were “ particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial among the news outlets in Australia given obvious evidence to the contrary ” .
Last year , however , Rupert Murdoch told shareholders “ there are no climate change deniers ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was early to commit to “ science-based targets to limit climate change ” and was working to reduce its climate emissions .
Inglis and Turnbull discussed media coverage as part of the wide-ranging webinar on Wednesday , which also canvassed the forthcoming US presidential election .
Inglis contended that Republicans would undergo a “ reappraisal ” of their position on climate policy in coming years , although that reassessment would come faster if Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump for the presidency .
Trump ’ s withdrawal of the US from the Paris climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after the November election .
Inglis , who previously visited Australia in 2017 as a guest of the Australia Institute , recounted how he had once insisted that climate change was “ nonsense ” .
“ I didn ’ t know anything about it except that Al Gore was for it and , in as much as I represented probably one of the most conservative districts in America , that was the end of the inquiry , ” he said .
But Inglis said he had a “ three-step metamorphosis ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take environmental issues seriously , his own visit to Antarctica to see ice core drilling evidence and his snorkelling trip to the Great Barrier Reef .
He spoke of the importance of bridging divides , saying he was grateful to have been “ extended grace by people who knew it was real before I did ” .
Inglis urged people on the left of politics to accept new entrants to the conversation “ without saying you ’ re the dumb kid in the class , the last one to get it ” because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can solve this thing ” .

A former Republican congressman has blamed Rupert Murdoch’s media outlets for fuelling “climate rejectionism” among conservatives, suggesting they could be part of the reason why the United States is failing to lead the world to tackle global heating.
Bob Inglis, a former South Carolina congressman who has renounced his previous climate denialism and now leads a group seeking to rally conservatives to act, questioned the role of News Corp and Fox Corporation during an event hosted by the Australia Institute.
Inglis told the progressive thinktank that Australia and the US shared a form of “climate rejectionism that comes in conservative clothing”.
He said both countries also shared “a particular news organisation that has a great deal to do with that” – and pointed the finger at Murdoch’s Fox News and the Wall Street Journal in particular.
“If you look at Fox viewers in America – that’s where you find the climate disputation,” Inglis said.
Inglis said his group, RepublicEn, which campaigns for conservative leadership on climate action, believed that a change in the way the issue was covered by those outlets would be “the holy grail” in unlocking greater ambition in US policy.
“If Fox would just change or if the Wall Street Journal editorial page would just change – either one of those and this would be finished, we’d be done with climate, we’d be acting,” he said. “It really is that important – so if anybody can get to the Murdochs please let me know.”
Business leader and former Sydney lord mayor Lucy Turnbull also sheeted home some responsibility to large media businesses such as News Corp during the same webinar event on Wednesday.
Turnbull’s husband, the former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, was ousted as leader of the centre-right Liberal party in 2009, and again in 2018, in part because of internal battles over climate policy.
“There are a lot of people who have a huge level of conviction about the fact that climate change is with us, that we have to act,” she said. “The problem is that the polarisation makes it hard to do that because you have the people [who believe] that it isn’t a problem despite the overwhelming scientific evidence that it is.”
In a clear reference to News Corp, Turnbull added: “They have a very loud voice in a lot of political debate aided by very large media organisations, especially one which crosses both the US and Australia and other countries besides.”
She said this had resulted in a “fragmented, deeply polarised conversation”, which could be a symptom of the fragmentation of politics around the world.
The comments come as another former prime minister, Kevin Rudd, campaigns for a royal commission to be launched into the Murdoch empire in Australia.
The petition, launched on the Australian parliament’s website on Saturday, has so far attracted more than 236,000 signatures.
The focus on the company comes after Rupert Murdoch’s youngest son, James Murdoch, said one of the reasons he had stepped away from his father’s media empire was because it legitimised disinformation and sowed doubts about facts.
He told the New York Times climate change and coronavirus were both public health crises and “political spin” should not get “in the way of delivering crucial public health information”.
James Murdoch and his wife, Kathryn, also issued a joint statement in January – midway through Australia’s summer bushfire crisis – to say they were “particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial among the news outlets in Australia given obvious evidence to the contrary”.
Last year, however, Rupert Murdoch told shareholders “there are no climate change deniers” around his company and said his business was early to commit to “science-based targets to limit climate change” and was working to reduce its climate emissions.
Inglis and Turnbull discussed media coverage as part of the wide-ranging webinar on Wednesday, which also canvassed the forthcoming US presidential election.
Inglis contended that Republicans would undergo a “reappraisal” of their position on climate policy in coming years, although that reassessment would come faster if Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump for the presidency. Trump’s withdrawal of the US from the Paris climate accord is due to take effect the day after the November election.
Inglis, who previously visited Australia in 2017 as a guest of the Australia Institute, recounted how he had once insisted that climate change was “nonsense”.
“I didn’t know anything about it except that Al Gore was for it and, in as much as I represented probably one of the most conservative districts in America, that was the end of the inquiry,” he said.
But Inglis said he had a “three-step metamorphosis”, based on his children pressing him to take environmental issues seriously, his own visit to Antarctica to see ice core drilling evidence and his snorkelling trip to the Great Barrier Reef.
He spoke of the importance of bridging divides, saying he was grateful to have been “extended grace by people who knew it was real before I did”.
Inglis urged people on the left of politics to accept new entrants to the conversation “without saying you’re the dumb kid in the class, the last one to get it” because “if you welcome them in we can solve this thing”.


theguardian--2020-10-14--US militias forge alliances with conspiracy theorists ahead of election

Armed militia groups are forging alliances in the final stages of the US presidential election with conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers who claim the coronavirus pandemic is a hoax , intensifying concerns that trouble could be brewing ahead of election day .
Leading advocates of anti-government and anti-science propaganda came together at the weekend , joined by the founder of one of the largest militia groups .
The rare connection occurred at the Red Pill Expo , a conference convened on Jekyll Island , Georgia – a symbolic location as it is the birthplace of the US Federal Reserve , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The summit , staged indoors in front of a packed and maskless audience of about 350 , was headlined by Stewart Rhodes , president of the Oath Keepers .
The militia , which turned up menacingly at several Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) protests over the summer and has acted as a vigilante squad at numerous Donald Trump campaign rallies , has links to 25,000 current or past members , mostly military or police veterans .
Rhodes aroused the crowd of “ Red Pillers ” , as they called themselves , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ communist front ” and encouraged attendees to seek training in firearms and militia activity as the election approaches .
“ You are your own self-defense , ” he said .
“ You must organize yourselves in the next 30 days in your towns and counties .
We have members in every state in the union and we are standing them up right now.
” Rhodes said the turbulence around “ radical left ” protests had brought “ a flood of special warfare operatives into the Oath Keepers ” .
He cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Fort Bragg , the US army garrison in North Carolina .
A number of groups monitoring far rightwing paramilitary activity have warned in recent weeks that militia groups and individuals online are increasingly focusing their attentions on the presidential election .
The chatter has been fueled by Trump ’ s provocative remarks casting doubt on the integrity of the voting process and calling on his supporters to turn up at polling places on election day .
Anxiety is also growing around the activities of white supremacist domestic terrorist groups , which federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat .
Last week six people were charged in a plot to kidnap the governor of Michigan , Gretchen Whitmer .
At the Red Pill gathering , the Oath Keeper president set his sights openly on election day .
He said that on 3 November “ we will have our men deployed outside the polling stations to make sure you are protected , especially in swing states ” .
Rhodes ’ appearance marked an unusually overt fusion of interests between armed far-right groups and anti-government and anti-pharmaceutical conspiracy theorists .
Several of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a fraud cooked up by global elites as a ploy to subjugate the American people .
Betsy Quammen , author of a book on the 2014 Bundy standoff in Nevada who attended the Red Pill event as a monitor , said the union of disparate virulent movements was troubling .
“ As somebody who ’ s been studying militia manoeuvring and conspiracy theorists , it ’ s disconcerting to see these various groups uniting under a common banner of mistrust about coronavirus.
” She added that the timing of the meeting so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among the speakers at the summit , Mikki Willis followed Rhodes in talking up the actions of armed rightwing individuals .
Willis is known for having been the director of Plandemic , the viral video that spread the lie that coronavirus was invented by big drug companies and Bill Gates , among others .
He boasted to the Red Pill audience that he had also made a laudatory video about Kyle Rittenhouse , the teenager charged in August in the killing of two people during anti-police brutality protests in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump also notably failed to denounce , as a “ very stand-up citizen ” .
David Icke , the British conspiracy theorist widely denounced for antisemitic hate speech , was beamed into the summit by video from the UK .
He traded misinformation about the “ pandemic hoax ” , accusing a global “ cult ” of elites of having creating a coronavirus vaccine that was in fact a “ sterilization agent ” that would be used to destroy humanity .
Icke also encouraged school kids to refuse to wear masks , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two other major strains of misinformation were represented at the weekend .
Del Bigtree , producer of the anti-vaccination film Vaxxed , which features the disgraced British doctor Andrew Wakefield , also portrayed the pandemic as a global conspiracy aiming to take control over people ’ s lives .
Bigtree pointed to a poll last month that suggested that two-thirds of Americans would be hesitant to get a Covid vaccine when it first became available .
He said the survey showed the anti-vaccination movement was winning : “ Man , does it feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a “ brave individual ” and someone “ I ’ ve watched wear a mask less than anyone else ” .
The last group given a voice at the gathering were peddlers of industrial bleach , who market the chemical as a “ miracle cure ” for all known ailments including malaria , HIV/Aids , cancer and Covid-19 .
Kerri Rivera , a leading advocate of chlorine dioxide as a treatment for autism , talked to the summit by video link from Germany .
“ If people took chlorine dioxide for most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the pharmaceutical industry would be bankrupted , ” she said .
She also claimed the bleach , which is used in industrial textile manufacturing , had no major side effects .
In fact , the US Food and Drug Administration has warned that consuming it can be life-threatening and incidents of death have been recorded .
Several leading bleach pushers in the US are currently in jail on federal charges .

Armed militia groups are forging alliances in the final stages of the US presidential election with conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers who claim the coronavirus pandemic is a hoax, intensifying concerns that trouble could be brewing ahead of election day.
Leading advocates of anti-government and anti-science propaganda came together at the weekend, joined by the founder of one of the largest militia groups. The rare connection occurred at the Red Pill Expo, a conference convened on Jekyll Island, Georgia – a symbolic location as it is the birthplace of the US Federal Reserve, a popular bogey figure for conspiracy theorists.
The summit, staged indoors in front of a packed and maskless audience of about 350, was headlined by Stewart Rhodes, president of the Oath Keepers. The militia, which turned up menacingly at several Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests over the summer and has acted as a vigilante squad at numerous Donald Trump campaign rallies, has links to 25,000 current or past members, mostly military or police veterans.
Rhodes aroused the crowd of “Red Pillers”, as they called themselves, with incendiary language. He denounced BLM as a “communist front” and encouraged attendees to seek training in firearms and militia activity as the election approaches.
“You are your own self-defense,” he said. “You must organize yourselves in the next 30 days in your towns and counties. We have members in every state in the union and we are standing them up right now.”
Rhodes said the turbulence around “radical left” protests had brought “a flood of special warfare operatives into the Oath Keepers”. He cited former navy Seals and special force personnel from Fort Bragg, the US army garrison in North Carolina.
A number of groups monitoring far rightwing paramilitary activity have warned in recent weeks that militia groups and individuals online are increasingly focusing their attentions on the presidential election. The chatter has been fueled by Trump’s provocative remarks casting doubt on the integrity of the voting process and calling on his supporters to turn up at polling places on election day.
Anxiety is also growing around the activities of white supremacist domestic terrorist groups, which federal agencies now recognize as an especially dangerous threat. Last week six people were charged in a plot to kidnap the governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.
At the Red Pill gathering, the Oath Keeper president set his sights openly on election day. He said that on 3 November “we will have our men deployed outside the polling stations to make sure you are protected, especially in swing states”.
Rhodes’ appearance marked an unusually overt fusion of interests between armed far-right groups and anti-government and anti-pharmaceutical conspiracy theorists. Several of his fellow keynote speakers denounced the coronavirus pandemic as a fraud cooked up by global elites as a ploy to subjugate the American people.
Betsy Quammen, author of a book on the 2014 Bundy standoff in Nevada who attended the Red Pill event as a monitor, said the union of disparate virulent movements was troubling. “As somebody who’s been studying militia manoeuvring and conspiracy theorists, it’s disconcerting to see these various groups uniting under a common banner of mistrust about coronavirus.”
She added that the timing of the meeting so close to the election was alarming.
Among the speakers at the summit, Mikki Willis followed Rhodes in talking up the actions of armed rightwing individuals. Willis is known for having been the director of Plandemic, the viral video that spread the lie that coronavirus was invented by big drug companies and Bill Gates, among others.
He boasted to the Red Pill audience that he had also made a laudatory video about Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager charged in August in the killing of two people during anti-police brutality protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Willis praised the alleged shooter, whom Trump also notably failed to denounce, as a “very stand-up citizen”.
David Icke, the British conspiracy theorist widely denounced for antisemitic hate speech, was beamed into the summit by video from the UK. He traded misinformation about the “pandemic hoax”, accusing a global “cult” of elites of having creating a coronavirus vaccine that was in fact a “sterilization agent” that would be used to destroy humanity.
Icke also encouraged school kids to refuse to wear masks, which he called “face diapers”.
Two other major strains of misinformation were represented at the weekend. Del Bigtree, producer of the anti-vaccination film Vaxxed, which features the disgraced British doctor Andrew Wakefield, also portrayed the pandemic as a global conspiracy aiming to take control over people’s lives.
Bigtree pointed to a poll last month that suggested that two-thirds of Americans would be hesitant to get a Covid vaccine when it first became available. He said the survey showed the anti-vaccination movement was winning: “Man, does it feel good!”
He also praised Trump as a “brave individual” and someone “I’ve watched wear a mask less than anyone else”.
The last group given a voice at the gathering were peddlers of industrial bleach, who market the chemical as a “miracle cure” for all known ailments including malaria, HIV/Aids, cancer and Covid-19. Kerri Rivera, a leading advocate of chlorine dioxide as a treatment for autism, talked to the summit by video link from Germany.
“If people took chlorine dioxide for most illnesses, few doctors would be needed and the pharmaceutical industry would be bankrupted,” she said.
She also claimed the bleach, which is used in industrial textile manufacturing, had no major side effects. In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration has warned that consuming it can be life-threatening and incidents of death have been recorded.
Several leading bleach pushers in the US are currently in jail on federal charges.


theguardian--2020-10-14--'They're turned off by him': Trump in trouble as Florida's seniors shift towards Biden

If Donald Trump believed joining the ranks of Florida ’ s senior voters would earn him political capital with a group crucial to his hopes of a second term in the White House , it may have been a miscalculation .
National opinion polls show the 74-year-old president is chasing a substantial deficit among seniors , and his standing with older voters in the Sunshine State appears equally grim , with less than a month until election day .
In 2016 , Trump trounced Hillary Clinton in Florida by about 17 points among elderly voters , exit polls indicated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s path to victory in 2020 , yet this time around , some polls of voters 65 and older suggest it could be a virtual tie between the Republican incumbent and his challenger Joe Biden , while others give the Democrat an even healthier advantage .
That could be all Biden needs to clinch a win in “ the 1 % state ” , so called for the closeness of its important elections .
“ You go to places like The Villages [ retirement community ] and mostly they ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s gone from most to mostly , ” said Charles Zelden , professor of history and politics at Nova Southeastern University , and a veteran Florida poll watcher .
“ That additional 10 to 20 % may be enough for Biden to win the I-4 corridor .
You win the I-4 corridor , you win Florida .
You win Florida , effectively Biden has won the election.
” The key issues that will determine the beneficiary of Florida ’ s 29 electoral college votes – Covid-19 , the economy , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have particular resonance for older voters , and account for soaring levels of enthusiasm for Biden , according to seniors keen to see the former vice-president return to the White House at the age of 78 .
Aside from the opinion polling data , there is perhaps no better bellwether of Florida seniors ’ voting intentions than the tradition of golf cart rallies , the ultimate symbol of political expression in retirement communities across the state .
Once the near-exclusive preserve of Republican supporters , rallies in The Villages , north of Orlando @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Tampa ; and other sizable and classically Floridian enclaves of retirees have become noticeably more blue in recent months .
“ They ’ re loving it , they ’ re having a ball , ” said Chris Stanley , president of the Democratic Club of The Villages , 32 sq miles of north-central Florida where census figures show 80 % of the 125,000 residents are older than 65 and more than 98 % are white .
She says such energy is mirrored in activism : “ Several times a day people will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do ?
’ People who have never paid attention to politics before are working the phone bank , helping with the data , out there doing the traditional campaign stuff.
” The reasons for the surge of support for the Democratic candidate in a region that went for Trump by a 115,000-vote margin in 2016 are simple , Stanley says .
“ They ’ re turned off by him .
They ’ re concerned for their Medicare , their social security , of course .
But they can ’ t stand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re considering Biden because of the way Trump behaves , ” she said .
Perhaps aware of this image problem , the Trump campaign is giving The Villages , and Florida , a lot of attention this week .
Vice-President Mike Pence spoke there on Saturday and Trump ’ s first public appearance outside Washington following his Covid-19 hospitalization was in Sanford on Monday .
In a state where about a quarter of its 14 million voters are 65 or older , Trump clearly feels he needs all the public relations help he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science professor , agrees with Stanley .
“ You ’ re seeing similar shifts among the elderly as you are with women in general , and college-educated women in particular .
They ’ re just tired of the drama .
They want some stability , ” he said .
“ And Biden offers them that stability .
In the case of the elderly he ’ s one of them in a way that Trump really isn ’ t .
Maybe in terms of age he is , but in experience and background he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden living in Florida in a two-bedroom villa but you couldn ’ t picture Trump doing that , or anywhere other than a multi-room palace in Palm Beach.
” Covid-19 is spreading fear among seniors , Dr Zelden says , not only in Florida where the virus has claimed more than 15,000 lives , but in other states where Trump ’ s once-solid support from the ageing voters is also fading , such as Pennsylvania , Arizona , Michigan and Wisconsin .
“ People are concerned , they ’ re afraid , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president talking about how it was a blessing he got it , he conquered it , ” he said .
“ Well , he hasn ’ t conquered it and if he has he ’ s done it with a medical cocktail that no one else in the country has access to .
“ Seniors are fed up with that even if they like elements of Trump ’ s agenda .
They want stimulus , they want the economy to be humming because it keeps their investments going well .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but there are a lot of elderly voters who saw the president talking over and interrupting constantly in the [ first presidential ] debate and they didn ’ t like it .
“ There ’ s a subset of seniors who really like the bombastic element of Trump , they tend to be male , they tend to be a little bombastic themselves .
[ But ] a lot of them have wives who are rolling their eyes.
” Even Trump ’ s supporters acknowledge that , economically at least , things aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors are relying on a fixed income and they may have investments , and with the economy down and maybe because of the virus their investments are not doing as well , ” said Dick Inglis , 78 , from Sun City Center , a retirement community of about 17,000 with an average age of 75 .
Inglis , president of the enclave ’ s Republican club , sees coronavirus as “ an extra thing to be careful about ” for seniors but not an overriding election issue .
“ When it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s money , ” he said .
“ They want to know if they ’ ll have enough for their future and if Joe Biden is going to eliminate the tax cuts that Donald Trump brought in .
They want to make sure their healthcare is in place , and that they ’ re safe.
” Inglis doubts seniors are put off by Trump ’ s combative style , citing a surge in membership of the Republican club this year .
“ I compare them to a poodle and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump .
“ Which would you rather own ?
Of course it would be the poodle .
But which one would you want guarding your house ?
” Mail-in voting , favored by many Florida seniors , including Trump , began on 24 September , and analysts such as Zelden doubt there are many yet to make up their minds in any case .
But Jackie McGuinness , Biden ’ s press secretary in Florida , said Democrats would work right up until election day to chase down every last vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the other doesn ’ t .
One has a plan for Covid and the other doesn ’ t , ” she said .
“ In Florida every single vote counts and reaching seniors is a high priority .
”

If Donald Trump believed joining the ranks of Florida’s older voters would earn him political capital with a group crucial to his hopes of a second term in the White House, it may have been a miscalculation.
National opinion polls show the 74-year-old president is chasing a substantial deficit among seniors, and his standing with older voters in the Sunshine State appears equally grim, with less than three weeks until election day.
In a visit to a community centre for seniors in southern Florida on Tuesday, 77-year-old Democratic presidential challenger, Joe Biden, accused Trump of viewing older people as “expendable”.
“You’re expendable, you’re forgettable, you’re virtually nobody. That’s how he sees seniors. That’s how he sees you,” Biden said, while observing social-distancing measures, in stark contrast to Trump’s Florida rally on Monday night. The “only senior Donald Trump seems to care about” is himself, Biden added.
In 2016, Trump trounced Hillary Clinton in Florida by about 17 points among elderly voters, exit polls indicated. The state is considered critical for Trump’s path to victory in 2020, yet this time around, some polls of voters 65 and older suggest it could be a virtual tie between the Republican incumbent and Biden, while others give the Democrat an even healthier advantage.
That could be all Biden needs to clinch a win in “the 1% state”, so called for the closeness of its important elections.
“You go to places like The Villages [retirement community] and mostly they’re going to vote for Trump, but it’s gone from most to mostly,” said Charles Zelden, professor of history and politics at Nova Southeastern University, and a veteran Florida poll watcher.
“That additional 10 to 20% may be enough for Biden to win the I-4 corridor [the Tampa-Orlando-Daytona Beach highway]. You win the I-4 corridor, you win Florida. You win Florida, effectively Biden has won the election.”
The key issues that will determine the beneficiary of Florida’s 29 electoral college votes – Covid-19, the economy, and the pandemic’s impact on it – have particular resonance for older voters, and account for soaring levels of enthusiasm for Biden, according to seniors keen to see the former vice-president return to the White House.
Aside from the opinion polling data, there is perhaps no better bellwether of Florida seniors’ voting intentions than the tradition of golf cart rallies, the ultimate symbol of political expression in retirement communities across the state.
Once the near-exclusive preserve of Republican supporters, rallies in The Villages, north of Orlando; in Sun City Center, south of Tampa; and other sizable and classically Floridian enclaves of retirees have become noticeably more blue in recent months.
“They’re loving it, they’re having a ball,” said Chris Stanley, president of the Democratic Club of The Villages, 32 sq miles of north-central Florida where census figures show 80% of the 125,000 residents are older than 65 and more than 98% are white.
She says such energy is mirrored in activism: “Several times a day people will call and ask: ‘What can I do?’ People who have never paid attention to politics before are working the phone bank, helping with the data, out there doing the traditional campaign stuff.”
The reasons for the surge of support for the Democratic candidate in a region that went for Trump by a 115,000-vote margin in 2016 are simple, Stanley says.
“They’re turned off by him. They’re concerned for their Medicare, their social security, of course. But they can’t stand the hate, the vitriol. They’re considering Biden because of the way Trump behaves,” she said.
Perhaps aware of this image problem, the Trump campaign is giving The Villages, and Florida, a lot of attention this week. Vice-President Mike Pence spoke there on Saturday and Trump’s first public appearance outside Washington following his Covid-19 hospitalization was in Sanford on Monday.
Biden offers them that stability. In the case of the elderly he’s one of them in a way that Trump really isn’t Charles Zelden
In a state where about a quarter of its 14 million voters are 65 or older, Trump clearly feels he needs all the public relations help he can get.
Zelden, the political science professor, agrees with Stanley. “You’re seeing similar shifts among the elderly as you are with women in general, and college-educated women in particular. They’re just tired of the drama. They want some stability,” he said.
“And Biden offers them that stability. In the case of the elderly he’s one of them in a way that Trump really isn’t. Maybe in terms of age he is, but in experience and background he isn’t. You could picture Biden living in Florida in a two-bedroom villa but you couldn’t picture Trump doing that, or anywhere other than a multi-room palace in Palm Beach.”
00:30 'To Donald Trump, you're expendable': Joe Biden appeals to seniors – video
Covid-19 is spreading fear among seniors, Zelden says, not only in Florida where the virus has claimed more than 15,000 lives, but in other states where Trump’s once-solid support from the ageing voters is also fading, such as Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin.
“People are concerned, they’re afraid, they’re frustrated, and they hear the president talking about how it was a blessing he got it, he conquered it,” he said. “Well, he hasn’t conquered it and if he has he’s done it with a medical cocktail that no one else in the country has access to.
“Seniors are fed up with that even if they like elements of Trump’s agenda. They want stimulus, they want the economy to be humming because it keeps their investments going well. It’s the obvious things like that, but there are a lot of elderly voters who saw the president talking over and interrupting constantly in the [first presidential] debate and they didn’t like it.
“There’s a subset of seniors who really like the bombastic element of Trump, they tend to be male, they tend to be a little bombastic themselves. [But] a lot of them have wives who are rolling their eyes.”
Even Trump’s supporters acknowledge that, economically at least, things aren’t so good. “Most seniors are relying on a fixed income and they may have investments, and with the economy down and maybe because of the virus their investments are not doing as well,” said Dick Inglis, 78, from Sun City Center, a retirement community of about 17,000 with an average age of 75.
Inglis, president of the enclave’s Republican club, sees coronavirus as “an extra thing to be careful about” for seniors but not an overriding election issue.
“When it comes down to what seniors are concerned about, it’s money,” he said. “They want to know if they’ll have enough for their future and if Joe Biden is going to eliminate the tax cuts that Donald Trump brought in. They want to make sure their healthcare is in place, and that they’re safe.”
Inglis doubts seniors are put off by Trump’s combative style, citing a surge in membership of the Republican club this year. “I compare them to a poodle and a bulldog,” he said of Biden and Trump. “Which would you rather own? Of course it would be the poodle. But which one would you want guarding your house?”
Mail-in voting, favored by many Florida seniors, including Trump, began on 24 September, and analysts such as Zelden doubt there are many yet to make up their minds in any case. But Jackie McGuinness, Biden’s press secretary in Florida, said Democrats would work right up until election day to chase down every last vote.
“One candidate has seniors’ backs and the other doesn’t. One has a plan for Covid and the other doesn’t,” she said. “In Florida every single vote counts and reaching seniors is a high priority.”


theguardian--2020-10-14--The problem with Amy Coney Barrett's nomination isn't timing. It's her views | Nathan Robinson

The nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the US supreme court has been controversial in large part because Republicans are so obviously violating the standard they used to justify keeping Merrick Garland off the supreme court during Obama ’ s second term .
But that hypocrisy has overshadowed the much more important matter : the substance of Barrett ’ s record , and her likely actions as a supreme court justice .
Barrett ’ s rulings on the seventh circuit court of appeals show her to be someone who cares little about justice , and who doesn ’ t particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the poor .
In case after case , she has found procedural technicalities to justify depriving people of their basic rights , and it ’ s clear that on some of the most important issues of our time , she would swing the supreme court in a direction nobody should want to see it go .
Take policing .
This year saw the eruption of massive Black Lives Matter protests all over the country as a reaction to police violence , with the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor outraging millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Barrett has shown little interest in rectifying racial injustice .
In the case of Torry , et al v City of Chicago , et al , she concluded that officers were reasonable in stopping and harassing a group of Black men even though there was absolutely no evidence that they had committed a crime .
In Biegert v Molitor , et al , Barrett sided with police who shot a mentally ill man to death after his mother had called 911 .
In United States v Wilson , Barrett concurred with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use force to detain a Black man when he ran away from them , because he had a “ bulge in his pocket ” and was in a “ high-crime area ” , in part because a “ reasonable officer could infer from Wilson ’ s flight that Wilson knew he was in violation of the law ” .
And in Sims v Hyatte , Barrett indicated that she would have kept a Black man in prison who had been convicted on the basis of incredibly dubious eyewitness testimony .
Barrett ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues .
On immigration , she has indicated that she would defer to the executive branch ’ s absurd reasons for denying visas to lawful immigrants , without requiring the Trump administration to justify its decisions .
She has ruled against prisoners , workers , debtors , and consumers , and there is reason to believe she would rule against the Affordable Care Act if the issue came before her .
Barrett ’ s body of rulings is not that large , making it difficult to extrapolate how she would rule on important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But we have ample reason to believe that Barrett , a conservative Catholic , is hostile to abortion rights and might overturn Roe v Wade when she had a chance .
In addition to being a conservative Catholic , Barrett is a self-described legal “ originalist ” who almost certainly believes Roe was a legally shoddy opinion .
( Even Ruth Bader Ginsburg was not that confident in the legal grounds for the ruling . )
There is one perspective on law that suggests judges should be evaluated on the basis of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ politics ” .
This point of view has led the liberal Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman to endorse Barrett , on the grounds that she is intelligent and experienced .
Some of the same arguments were made about Brett Kavanaugh .
If you think in terms of qualifications , it ’ s difficult to come up with good reasons to oppose conservative judges .
After all , many conservatives went to top-ranked law schools and published journal articles .
I suspect that this is part of why Democratic opposition to Barrett has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be , and the focus has been on Republican hypocrisy rather than Barrett ’ s record .
Slate ’ s Mark Joseph Stern even argues that Democrats have “ privately given up ” on opposing Barrett .
But they shouldn ’ t .
The fact that Barrett is “ qualified ” does not automatically entitle her to a supreme court seat – and her politics are enough to justify trying to keep her off it .
Barrett ’ s views are almost certainly far to the right of the average American , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that body even less representative of a complex and rapidly changing society .
Judging is a political act ; supreme court justices do not , as John Roberts famously insisted , merely “ call balls and strikes ” like neutral umpires .
Instead , they impose their personal convictions on the country through rulings on questions that affect us all .
Conservative judges tend to be less sympathetic to the relatively powerless , and this comes out in their rulings .
If you care about protecting the legal rights of the powerless , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation of hardline conservatives onto the court no matter which law school they went to or how many years they have previously served on the bench .
The primary reason Barrett needs to be opposed is not that she has been nominated during an election year , but that she has been nominated at all .
Her record as a federal appeals court judge indicates that she will issue politically conservative rulings with harmful social consequences .
Democrats need to unanimously oppose her and use all of the procedural weapons at their disposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation .

The nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the US supreme court has been controversial in large part because Republicans are so obviously violating the standard they used to justify keeping Merrick Garland off the supreme court during Obama’s second term. But that hypocrisy has overshadowed the much more important matter: the substance of Barrett’s record, and her likely actions as a supreme court justice.
Barrett’s rulings on the seventh circuit court of appeals show her to be someone who cares little about justice, and who doesn’t particularly value the interests of workers, immigrants and the poor. In case after case, she has found procedural technicalities to justify depriving people of their basic rights, and it’s clear that on some of the most important issues of our time, she would swing the supreme court in a direction nobody should want to see it go.
Take policing. This year saw the eruption of massive Black Lives Matter protests all over the country as a reaction to police violence, with the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor outraging millions of people. But as a judge, Barrett has shown little interest in rectifying racial injustice. In the case of Torry, et al v City of Chicago, et al, she concluded that officers were reasonable in stopping and harassing a group of Black men even though there was absolutely no evidence that they had committed a crime. In Biegert v Molitor, et al, Barrett sided with police who shot a mentally ill man to death after his mother had called 911. In United States v Wilson, Barrett concurred with a decision that officers had reasonable suspicion to use force to detain a Black man when he ran away from them, because he had a “bulge in his pocket” and was in a “high-crime area”, in part because a “reasonable officer could infer from Wilson’s flight that Wilson knew he was in violation of the law”. And in Sims v Hyatte, Barrett indicated that she would have kept a Black man in prison who had been convicted on the basis of incredibly dubious eyewitness testimony.
Barrett’s attitude has been the same on other issues. On immigration, she has indicated that she would defer to the executive branch’s absurd reasons for denying visas to lawful immigrants, without requiring the Trump administration to justify its decisions. She has ruled against prisoners, workers, debtors, and consumers, and there is reason to believe she would rule against the Affordable Care Act if the issue came before her.
Barrett’s body of rulings is not that large, making it difficult to extrapolate how she would rule on important issues if elevated to the supreme court. But we have ample reason to believe that Barrett, a conservative Catholic, is hostile to abortion rights and might overturn Roe v Wade when she had a chance. In addition to being a conservative Catholic, Barrett is a self-described legal “originalist” who almost certainly believes Roe was a legally shoddy opinion. (Even Ruth Bader Ginsburg was not that confident in the legal grounds for the ruling.)
There is one perspective on law that suggests judges should be evaluated on the basis of their “qualifications” rather than their “politics”. This point of view has led the liberal Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman to endorse Barrett, on the grounds that she is intelligent and experienced. Some of the same arguments were made about Brett Kavanaugh. If you think in terms of qualifications, it’s difficult to come up with good reasons to oppose conservative judges. After all, many conservatives went to top-ranked law schools and published journal articles. I suspect that this is part of why Democratic opposition to Barrett has not been as strong as it should be, and the focus has been on Republican hypocrisy rather than Barrett’s record. Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern even argues that Democrats have “privately given up” on opposing Barrett.
But they shouldn’t. The fact that Barrett is “qualified” does not automatically entitle her to a supreme court seat – and her politics are enough to justify trying to keep her off it. Barrett’s views are almost certainly far to the right of the average American, and her elevation to the court will make that body even less representative of a complex and rapidly changing society. Judging is a political act; supreme court justices do not, as John Roberts famously insisted, merely “call balls and strikes” like neutral umpires. Instead, they impose their personal convictions on the country through rulings on questions that affect us all. Conservative judges tend to be less sympathetic to the relatively powerless, and this comes out in their rulings. If you care about protecting the legal rights of the powerless, you have good reason to oppose the confirmation of hardline conservatives onto the court no matter which law school they went to or how many years they have previously served on the bench.
The primary reason Barrett needs to be opposed is not that she has been nominated during an election year, but that she has been nominated at all. Her record as a federal appeals court judge indicates that she will issue politically conservative rulings with harmful social consequences. Democrats need to unanimously oppose her and use all of the procedural weapons at their disposal to reduce the chances of her successful confirmation.


theguardian--2020-10-14--'To Donald Trump, you're expendable': Joe Biden appeals to seniors – video

Joe Biden says Donald Trump views older voters as 'expendable ' and 'forgettable ' as the Democratic presidential candidate sought @ @ @ @ @ the battleground state of Florida .
Biden ’ s visit on Tuesday came a day @ @ @ @ @ own trip to Florida – his first outside Washington since his Covid-19 diagnosis .

Joe Biden says Donald Trump views older voters as 'expendable' and 'forgettable' as the Democratic presidential candidate sought to win fresh support in the battleground state of Florida.
Biden’s visit on Tuesday came a day after the president’s own trip to Florida – his first outside Washington since his Covid-19 diagnosis.


theguardian--2020-10-14--Kamala Harris pushes Amy Coney Barrett on Trump's plan to dismantle Obamacare – video

Supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett was questioned by Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris over the Affordable Care Act , @ @ @ @ @ during day two of the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing .
Barrett made the claim @ @ @ @ @ of Donald Trump ’ s campaign promise to appoint justices who would dismantle Obamacare .
@ @ @ @ @ s views on abortion , making a carefully laid-out case that despite Barrett ’ s @ @ @ @ @ is unbiased on the issue of reproductive rights , she is far from it .
@ @ @ @ @ confirmed before election day

Supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett was questioned by Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris over the Affordable Care Act, known popularly as Obamacare, during day two of the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. Barrett made the claim that she was not aware of Donald Trump’s campaign promise to appoint justices who would dismantle Obamacare. Harris also tackled Barrett’s views on abortion, making a carefully laid-out case that despite Barrett’s equivocation and insistence that she is unbiased on the issue of reproductive rights, she is far from it. Republicans want to have Barrett confirmed before election day


theguardian--2020-10-15--Facebook and Twitter restrict controversial New York Post story, sparking ire on the right

Facebook and Twitter took steps on Wednesday to limit the spread of a controversial New York Post article critical of Joe Biden , sparking outrage among conservatives and stoking debate over how social media platforms should tackle misinformation ahead of the US election .
In an unprecedented step against a major news publication , Twitter blocked users from posting links to the Post story or photos from the unconfirmed report .
Users attempting to share the story were shown a notice saying : “ We can ’ t complete this request because this link has been identified by Twitter or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Users clicking or retweeting a link already posted to Twitter are shown a warning the “ link may be unsafe ” .
Twitter said it was limiting the article ’ s spread due to questions about “ the origins of the materials ” included in the article , which contained materialsupposedly pulled from a computer that had been left by Hunter Biden at a Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019 .
Twitter policies prohibit “ directly distribut [ ing ] content obtained through hacking that contains private information ” .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tweets on Wednesday , saying some of the images in the article contained personal and private information .
Twitter ’ s policy against posting hacked material was established in 2018 .
Jack Dorsey , the CEO of Twitter , said the company ’ s communication about the decision to limit the article ’ s spread was “ not great ” , saying the team should have shared more context publicly .
Facebook , meanwhile , placed restrictions on linking to the article , saying there were questions about its validity .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reduce the spread of misinformation , ” said a Facebook spokesperson , Andy Stone .
The move marks the first time Twitter has directly limited the spread of information from a news website , as it continues to implement stricter rules around misinformation ahead of the 2020 elections .
On Wednesday evening Twitter also reportedly locked the personal account of the White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany for sharing the article .
In recent weeks Twitter announced it would warn users who attempt to retweet a link without first clicking on it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started to take action against misinformation and calls to violence posted by Donald Trump and other public figures .
Wednesday ’ s actions around the New York Post article drew swift backlash from figures on the political right , who accused Facebook and Twitter of protecting Biden , who is leading Trump in national polls .
The New York Post blasted the companies , saying they were trying to help Biden ’ s election campaign and falsely claiming no one had disputed the story ’ s veracity .
“ Facebook and Twitter are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propaganda machines , ” it wrote in an editorial .
Meanwhile , the Republican senator Ted Cruz wrote a letter to Dorsey , saying : “ Twitter ’ s censorship of this story is quite hypocritical , given its willingness to allow users to share less-well-sourced reporting critical of other candidates.
” Trump ’ s campaign director , Jake Schneider , called the blocking of McEnany “ absolutely unacceptable ” and McEnany herself tweeted : “ Censorship should be condemned.
” Trump tweeted that it was “ terrible ” that the social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – in fact , it was restricted , not removed – and renewed his calls to “ repeal section 230 ” , a measure that keeps website hosts from being held responsible for content posted .
Ironically , repealing section 230 would require Twitter to take down more content , including many of Trump ’ s tweets .
Even non-conservatives criticized the choice to limit the spread of the article as one that will play into the rightwing narrative that big tech firms censor conservative views .
The decision was indeed quickly politicized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the story on their website in order to share the link without censorship .
The article implicates the former vice-president in connection with his son Hunter ’ s Ukraine business and was headlined : “ Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad.
” The unnamed owner of the computer repair shop told the newspaper he passed a copy of the hard drive on the seemingly abandoned computer to Rudy Giuliani , Trump ’ s personal lawyer .
The story focused on one email from April 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter for inviting him to a Washington meeting with his father .
But there was no indication of when the meeting was scheduled or whether it ever happened .
“ Investigations by the press , during impeachment , and even by two Republican-led Senate committees whose work was decried as ‘ not legitimate ’ and political by a GOP colleague , have all reached the same conclusion : that Joe Biden carried out official US policy toward Ukraine and engaged in no wrongdoing , ” said Andrew Bates , a spokesman for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have attested to these facts under oath.
” The campaign said it was not told by Facebook or Twitter that any action would be taken regarding the article .
“ We have reviewed Joe Biden ’ s official schedules from the time and no meeting , as alleged by the New York Post , ever took place , ” the Biden campaign added .
Others cast also doubt on the report , citing Giuliani ’ s record of producing disinformation and making bogus claims about both Bidens and Ukraine .

Facebook and Twitter took steps on Wednesday to limit the spread of a controversial New York Post article critical of Joe Biden, sparking outrage among conservatives and stoking debate over how social media platforms should tackle misinformation ahead of the US election.
In an unprecedented step against a major news publication, Twitter blocked users from posting links to the Post story or photos from the unconfirmed report. Users attempting to share the story were shown a notice saying: “We can’t complete this request because this link has been identified by Twitter or our partners as being potentially harmful.” Users clicking or retweeting a link already posted to Twitter are shown a warning the “link may be unsafe”.
Twitter said it was limiting the article’s spread due to questions about “the origins of the materials” included in the article, which contained material supposedly pulled from a computer that had been left by Hunter Biden at a Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019. Twitter policies prohibit “directly distribut[ing] content obtained through hacking that contains private information”.
The company further explained the decision in a series of tweets on Wednesday, saying some of the images in the article contained personal and private information. Twitter’s policy against posting hacked material was established in 2018. Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, said the company’s communication about the decision to limit the article’s spread was “not great”, saying the team should have shared more context publicly.
Our communication around our actions on the @nypost article was not great. And blocking URL sharing via tweet or DM with zero context as to why we’re blocking: unacceptable. https://t.co/v55vDVVlgt — jack (@jack) October 14, 2020
Facebook, meanwhile, placed restrictions on linking to the article, saying there were questions about its validity. “This is part of our standard process to reduce the spread of misinformation,” said a Facebook spokesperson, Andy Stone.
The move marks the first time Twitter has directly limited the spread of information from a news website, as it continues to implement stricter rules around misinformation ahead of the 2020 elections. On Wednesday evening Twitter also reportedly locked the personal account of the White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany for sharing the article.
In recent weeks Twitter announced it would warn users who attempt to retweet a link without first clicking on it for more context. It has also started to take action against misinformation and calls to violence posted by Donald Trump and other public figures.
Wednesday’s actions around the New York Post article drew swift backlash from figures on the political right, who accused Facebook and Twitter of protecting Biden, who is leading Trump in national polls.
The New York Post blasted the companies, saying they were trying to help Biden’s election campaign and falsely claiming no one had disputed the story’s veracity. “Facebook and Twitter are not media platforms. They’re propaganda machines,” it wrote in an editorial.
Meanwhile, the Republican senator Ted Cruz wrote a letter to Dorsey, saying: “Twitter’s censorship of this story is quite hypocritical, given its willingness to allow users to share less-well-sourced reporting critical of other candidates.”
Trump’s campaign director, Jake Schneider, called the blocking of McEnany “absolutely unacceptable” and McEnany herself tweeted: “Censorship should be condemned.”
Trump tweeted that it was “terrible” that the social media companies “took down” the article – in fact, it was restricted, not removed – and renewed his calls to “repeal section 230”, a measure that keeps website hosts from being held responsible for content posted. Ironically, repealing section 230 would require Twitter to take down more content, including many of Trump’s tweets.
Even non-conservatives criticized the choice to limit the spread of the article as one that will play into the rightwing narrative that big tech firms censor conservative views. The decision was indeed quickly politicized – with House Republicans publishing the text of the story on their website in order to share the link without censorship.
The article implicates the former vice-president in connection with his son Hunter’s Ukraine business and was headlined: “Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad.”
The unnamed owner of the computer repair shop told the newspaper he passed a copy of the hard drive on the seemingly abandoned computer to Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer.
The story focused on one email from April 2015, in which a Burisma board adviser thanked Hunter for inviting him to a Washington meeting with his father. But there was no indication of when the meeting was scheduled or whether it ever happened.
“Investigations by the press, during impeachment, and even by two Republican-led Senate committees whose work was decried as ‘not legitimate’ and political by a GOP colleague, have all reached the same conclusion: that Joe Biden carried out official US policy toward Ukraine and engaged in no wrongdoing,” said Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the Biden campaign. “Trump administration officials have attested to these facts under oath.”
The campaign said it was not told by Facebook or Twitter that any action would be taken regarding the article.
“We have reviewed Joe Biden’s official schedules from the time and no meeting, as alleged by the New York Post, ever took place,” the Biden campaign added.
Others cast also doubt on the report, citing Giuliani’s record of producing disinformation and making bogus claims about both Bidens and Ukraine.
AFP contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-10-15--Amy Coney Barrett hearing: top Republican praises judge for being 'unashamedly pro-life' – as it hap

Amy Coney Barrett hearing: top Republican praises judge for being 'unashamedly pro-life' – as it happened

The US politics sketch : Barrett ’ s confirmation hearings bring few surprises It was the five-hour mark when the tech gods finally pulled the plug .
As Senator Richard Blumenthal started questioning supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett , the Senate ’ s audio system crashed and her words floated away on the air .
The gremlins were caused not by Covid-enforced video conferencing from some far-flung location but a simple breakdown in the committee room .
By then the hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington had become background noise .
Barrett and the Republican senators backing her have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as ideologically blank as the notepad in front of her when it comes to deciding cases about abortion , healthcare , same-sex marriage or myriad other issues .
So when the audio system cranked back into gear , Blumenthal of Connecticut asked if a ruling that barred states from criminalising contraceptive use was rightly decided .
Barrett declined to say so .
And when Blumenthal asked about her views on the climate crisis , she parried : “ Senator Blumenthal , I don ’ t think I am competent to opine on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Had he asked whether the president is allowed to stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody , there is no guarantee that Barrett would have given an unambiguous answer .
In fairness , she was merely applying the “ Ginsburg rule ” : the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s dictum that nominees to the court should offer no hints , no previews , no forecasts .
Or as the law professor Elena Kagan put it 25 years ago : “ Hearings have presented to the public a vapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of platitudes has replaced discussion of viewpoints and personal anecdotes have supplanted legal analysis .
Barrett , however , is taking the Kabuki dance to new extremes .
She remained evasive even when Democrats asked about Donald Trump and his evident belief that she would take his side , just as he demanded “ loyalty ” from the former FBI director James Comey and other public servants .

Maanvi Singh (now) and Joan E Greve and Martin Belam (earlier)

15 Oct 2020 01.06 BST Summary The third day of Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination hearings concluded. Barrett dodged questions from Democrats who tried to pin down her views on voting rights, climate change, and same-sex marriage. In a contentious exchange with vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Barrett said she believed Covid-19 was infectious and cigarettes cause cancer, but would provide an “opinion” on climate change.
Barrett dodged questions from Democrats who tried to pin down her views on voting rights, climate change, and same-sex marriage. In a contentious exchange with vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Barrett said she believed Covid-19 was infectious and cigarettes cause cancer, but would provide an “opinion” on climate change. Lindsey Graham praised Barrett as “unashamedly pro-life,” describing her nomination as historic. “I have never been more proud of a nominee,” the Republican committee chairman said. “This is history being made, folks. This is the first time in American history that we’ve nominated a woman who is unashamedly pro-life and embraces her faith without apology. And she’s going to the court.”
describing her nomination as historic. “I have never been more proud of a nominee,” the Republican committee chairman said. “This is history being made, folks. This is the first time in American history that we’ve nominated a woman who is unashamedly pro-life and embraces her faith without apology. And she’s going to the court.” The first lady revealed Barron Trump had coronavirus. Melania Trump said Barron, her and the president’s 14-year-old son, tested positive for coronavirus but showed no symptoms. Barron and the first lady have both since tested negative, she said.
Melania Trump said Barron, her and the president’s 14-year-old son, tested positive for coronavirus but showed no symptoms. Barron and the first lady have both since tested negative, she said. Trump is in Des Moines, Iowa, where he held a campaign rally tonight. The president won Iowa by 9 points in 2016, but recent polls show Trump and Biden running neck and neck in the state.
where he held a campaign rally tonight. The president won Iowa by 9 points in 2016, but recent polls show Trump and Biden running neck and neck in the state. Virginia extended its voter registration deadline, after an accidentally cut cable caused the state’s online registration system to shut down yesterday. Virginia voters now have an additional two days to register.
after an accidentally cut cable caused the state’s online registration system to shut down yesterday. Virginia voters now have an additional two days to register. A judge ended efforts in North Carolina to help voters more easily fix problems with their ballots. This is the latest development in ongoing legal and political battles about which votes can be counted in a state where Biden and Trump are evenly matched.
This is the latest development in ongoing legal and political battles about which votes can be counted in a state where Biden and Trump are evenly matched. Twitter reportedly locked the account of White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany for sharing a controversial New York Post article. The article claims to have implicated Biden in his son Hunter Biden’s Ukraine business. Biden Sr has repeatedly denied any such involvement and its claims do not appear to be backed by facts. Nonetheless, Trump and his supporters have been seeking to widely promote the story. Amy Coney Barrett pledges 'open mind' and plays down conservative record Read more
Updated at 01.40 BST
14 Oct 2020 00.55 BST Donald Trump is speaking to his supporters in Des Moines, Iowa. Per usual, he has unleashed a slew of lies, promoting the New York Post article about Hunter Biden (and struggling to pronounce Burisma), insisting that polls that show him lagging are a lie, saying he won Iowa by a greater percentage in 2016 than he actually did, and claiming that network cameras’ recording lights turn off when he talks about polling. Per usual, supporters are not socially distanced and many are not wearing masks to slow the spread of coronavirus. He took off his tie – which was flapping in the wind – and tossed it away dramatically, which is a new twist.
Updated at 01.34 BST
14 Oct 2020 00.45 BST A federal judge ordered North Carolina to leave in place a policy allowing absentee ballots to be counted through Nov. 12, and blocked a policy that would have made it easier for voters to fix missing witness signatures on their ballots. Judge William Osteen directed state officials to revise a policy that would allow voters to fix a lack signature by returning an affidavit, rather than casing a whole new ballot and having their old one thrown out. However, he allowed the affidavit fix for other small errors, like an incomplete witness address or misplaced signature. Thousands of voters looking to fix problems with their ballots – mostly people of color – were left in limbo awaiting these decisions in a battleground state where Biden and Trump and polling neck and neck. Efforts to suppress the Black vote in North Carolina have been executed with “almost surgical precision,” per a court ruling in 2016. Republicans have been fighting efforts to make it easier for voters to correct mail-in ballot issues, even though the state’s bipartisan approved a plan to do allow affidavits as a fix for faulty ballots. That voters have to obtain a witness signature is an unfair burden to those who live alone and must avoid contact with others due to Covid-19, and works as a form of voter suppression itself, advocates have said - though efforts to do away with the requirement failed.
14 Oct 2020 00.23 BST Stephanie Kirchgaessner The Christian community where Amy Coney Barrett has previously served as a female leader – or handmaid – expels members who engage in gay sex, according to a 2018 interview with Craig Lent, the group’s current head. Lent told the South Bend Tribune that the People of Praise, a charismatic Christian community that has counted Barrett as a member, would end the membership of a person who discloses gay sex or any other “ongoing, deliberate, unrepentant wrongdoing”. Barrett, an appellate court judge who has been nominated by Donald Trump to serve on the supreme court, said in a confirmation hearing on Tuesday that she had “never discriminated on the basis of sexual preference and would not ever discriminate on the basis of sexual preference”. Barrett has never openly discussed her affiliation with People of Praise. But media reports have pointed out she appears to be a longstanding member based on multiple factors: her work as a trustee at a People of Praise-affiliated school, which required her to be a member; the fact that she lived with one of the group’s co-founders when she was a law student at Notre Dame; the publication of her picture and other family announcements in the group’s magazine, Vine and Branches; and her father’s role as a leader in the group. The Washington Post also was first to report that Barrett was listed as a handmaid, or female leader, in a 2010 directory. Asked by the Guardian to comment on the apparent policy of expelling members who have gay sex, and asked whether this was a discriminatory policy, a spokesperson for the People of Praise said in a statement: “In the People of Praise, as in the Roman Catholic church and many Protestant churches, we follow the traditional New Testament teaching that marriage is a union of one man and one woman.” Amy Coney Barrett faith group would expel members over gay sex, leader said Read more
14 Oct 2020 00.09 BST Twitter locked the White House press secretary from her account Kari Paul Twitter reportedly locked the account of White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany for sharing a controversial New York Post article, which claims to have implicated Biden in his son Hunter Biden’s Ukraine business. Biden Sr has repeatedly denied any such involvement.
Facebook and Twitter limited the spread of the NY Post article critical of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden Wednesday, sparking outrage among conservatives and accusations of partisan online censorship. “Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad,” the newspaper’s headline read. The New York Post said it reported the story by obtaining a computer abandoned by Biden’s son Hunter.
As Biden’s campaign denied he ever met the businessman, Facebook and Twitter placed restrictions on linking to the article, saying there were questions about its validity. AP contributed to this report.
14 Oct 2020 23.49 BST David Smith The US politics sketch: Barrett’s confirmation hearings bring few surprises Amy Coney Barrett, nominee for associate justice of the US Supreme Court, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Washington. Photograph: Stefani Reynolds/EPA It was the five-hour mark when the tech gods finally pulled the plug. As Senator Richard Blumenthal started questioning supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, the Senate’s audio system crashed and her words floated away on the air. The gremlins were caused not by Covid-enforced video conferencing from some far-flung location but a simple breakdown in the committee room. By then the hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington had become background noise. Barrett and the Republican senators backing her have to pretend she is a tabula rasa, as ideologically blank as the notepad in front of her when it comes to deciding cases about abortion, healthcare, same-sex marriage or myriad other issues. So when the audio system cranked back into gear, Blumenthal of Connecticut asked if a ruling that barred states from criminalising contraceptive use was rightly decided. Barrett declined to say so. And when Blumenthal asked about her views on the climate crisis, she parried: “Senator Blumenthal, I don’t think I am competent to opine on what causes global warming or not.” Had he asked whether the president is allowed to stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, there is no guarantee that Barrett would have given an unambiguous answer. In fairness, she was merely applying the “Ginsburg rule”: the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dictum that nominees to the court should offer no hints, no previews, no forecasts. Or as the law professor Elena Kagan put it 25 years ago: “Hearings have presented to the public a vapid and hollow charade, in which repetition of platitudes has replaced discussion of viewpoints and personal anecdotes have supplanted legal analysis. Kagan is now a supreme court justice. Barrett, however, is taking the Kabuki dance to new extremes. She remained evasive even when Democrats asked about Donald Trump and his evident belief that she would take his side, just as he demanded “loyalty” from the former FBI director James Comey and other public servants. Democrats are resigned to losing the supreme court battle – but set on winning the war Read more
14 Oct 2020 23.30 BST Another competitive senate race that has a good chance of flipping from Republican to Democrat is in Montana. A new poll by Montana State University found that governor Steve Bullock, a Democrat, is leading slightly (by two points) ahead of incumbent Republican Steve Daines. The Cook Political Report rates this race between two Steves as a “tossup.” Trump is still likely to owin the presidential race in Montana, but by a smaller margin than he did in 2016 – while The MSU poll of 1,609 respondents found Bullock ahead by two points at 49%. The gap is within the margin of error.
14 Oct 2020 23.20 BST Lindsey Graham announced that his campaign raised $28m in the third quarter. The figure is a quarterly fundraising record for Republican Senate candidates but still lags well behind the $57m his opponent Jaime Harrison has raised. The two candidates are tied in the polls. Graham’s reliably Republican electorate has soured on him amid his flip-flopping on considering a Supreme Court nominee during an election year. As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he has rushed through the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett despite promising publicly to oppose an election-year Supreme Court nomination when Republicans refused to consider Barack Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland.
A close ally of Trump, Graham is now facing the toughest re-election battle of his Senate career.
Updated at 23.20 BST
14 Oct 2020 22.48 BST Public hearing poortion ends Next is a closed hearing on FBI background checks. Tomorrow the judiciary committee will set up a vote and hear outside witnesses. “You will be confirmed, God willing,” said Lindsey Graham. “The hope was not to change anybody’s mind,” with the hearing, he noted - instead hope was for Americans to get to know Barrett.
Updated at 23.03 BST


theguardian--2020-10-14--Amy Coney Barrett pledges 'open mind' and plays down conservative record

Judge Amy Coney Barrett , Donald Trump ’ s nominee to the US supreme court , promised to keep an “ open mind ” when considering cases before the court during a final round of questioning on Wednesday , as Republicans declared her confirmation all but assured despite Democrats ’ forceful opposition .
Members of the Senate judiciary committee on Wednesday attempted to dig deeper into the conservative judge ’ s views on the Affordable Care Act , which expanded healthcare cover to millions more Americans under Barack Obama ’ s signature piece of legislation , and abortion rights .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hearings are same-sex marriage , gun control and any potential cases related to the result of the looming 2020 election .
But Barrett , in the tradition of recent supreme court nominees , avoided answering directly about how she would rule on some of the most important issues that the court may be asked to address .
Playing down the conservative positions she expressed in legal writings as an academic and in personal commitments she made as a private citizen , the 48-year-old appellate court judge she had no political agenda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an open mind ” .
Barrett has been nominated to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg , a liberal icon who died last month .
The confirmation hearings have halted all other business on Capitol Hill as Republicans , eager to cement a conservative majority on the court for at least a generation , rush to confirm Barrett before the November election .
Opening the session on Wednesday , after nearly 12 hours of questioning the day before , Senator Lindsey Graham , a Republican of South Carolina and the chairman of the committee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a momentous victory for conservatives , and particularly for conservative women , who he said have faced “ concrete ” social and cultural barriers in public life that do not exist for liberal women .
“ This is the first time in American history that we ’ ve nominated a woman who is unashamedly pro-life and embraces her faith without apology , ” Graham said .
“ She is going to the court.
” In moments of personal reflection during the hearings , Barrett suggested that mockery of her association with People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspired by charismatic Christianity , as well as commentary about her large family , which includes two adopted children from Haiti , has been painful .
But she said while faith was important to her personally , it would not influence her decisions on the supreme court bench .
But she repeatedly declined to say how she would rule on a challenge to Roe v Wade , the landmark 1973 supreme court decision that established a woman ’ s right to an abortion .
But she declined again on Wednesday to characterize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must not be overturned .
Democrats continued to press their case that her confirmation would imperil the Affordable Care Act , also known as Obamacare , arguing that Donald Trump and Republicans were rushing to confirm her before the court hears arguments that could decide the fate of the healthcare law next month .
The line of questioning did little to elicit a response from Barrett , who maintained that she was not “ hostile ” to the law .
But it did force Republicans on the defensive on healthcare , an issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House and the Senate .
Republican state officials and the Trump administration are effectively seeking to invalidate the ACA based on a flaw withpart of it .
The supreme court will hear arguments in the case on 10 November , just one week after the election .
Though she did not say how she would rule , Barrett expressed skepticism of this view in an extended exchange with Graham .
In such cases , the judge said “ the presumption is always in favor of severability ” – a legal doctrine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires a court to strike down one element while preserving the rest of the law .
Democrats have urged Barrett to recuse herself from the case next month – as well as potential challenges to the result of the election – because Trump has repeatedly said that his judicial nominees will dutifully advance his agenda .
In a vague reference to the president ’ s tan , Senator Dick Durbin , a Democrat from Illinois , suggested that Trump ’ s words cast an “ orange cloud ” over Barrett ’ s nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would recuse herself in either instance , only that she would consider the matter .
Again , she maintained her independence from the executive branch and the president who nominated her , first to a seat on the US court of appeals for the seventh circuit , and then to the supreme court .
Pressed by Senator Patrick Leahy , a Democrat of Vermont , Barrett would not say whether the president was allowed to pardon himself .
She stated unequivocally that that “ no one is above the law ” , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real recourse to ensure that Americans , including the president , followed its orders .
In an exchange with Senator Kamala Harris , the Democratic vice presidential nominee , Barrett accepted that the coronavirus was infectious , smoking caused cancers but would not say whether climate change was real , stating that it remained a “ very contentious matter of public policy ” .
There is overwhelming scientific consensus that human activity is driving climate change .
In the same line of questioning , Barrett declined to say whether voting discrimination exists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense , accusing Democrats of impugning her integrity as a judge .
Recalling the 1987 nomination ofRobert Bork , which was derailed amid deep opposition from liberal groups and Democrats who warned that his confirmation would tilt the court to the right on key issues such as religion and abortion , senator Josh Hawley , a Republican from Missouri , decried the “ attempted Borking of Amy Barrett ” .
Republicans touted her adherence to “ originalism ” , an approach championed by Barrett ’ s mentor , the late justice Antonin Scalia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it was written centuries ago .
Confronted by Senator Chris Coons , a Democrat of Delaware , with several of Scalia ’ s more controversial opinions , including a scathing dissent in a landmark case establishing the right for same-sex couples to marry , Barrett said that they shared a philosophy but would not always reach the same conclusions .
“ I hope you ’ re not suggesting I don ’ t have my own mind , ” she said .
But Coons was not persuaded , and announced that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nothing has alleviated my grave concerns that rather than building on Justice Ginsburg ’ s legacy of advancing privacy and equality and justice , … in fact , you will take the court in a very different direction , ” he said .
Owing to the proximity of the election , and the near-certainty of the outcome , many senators have used the nationally televised hearings as an opportunity to amplify their campaign messages .
Graham , locked in a tight race for re-election in South Carolina , was effusive in his praise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope will energize their base while appealing to suburban women leaving the party over Trump .
“ I have never been more proud of the nominee than I am of you , ” Graham said to Barrett .
“ This is history being made , folks.
” Away from the hearing room , the Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told donors that Barrett “ seems like a decent person ” but said it was “ an abuse of power ” to confirm her to the supreme court before the November election .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October , as Trump pressures the Senate to confirm Barrett before the November election .

Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Donald Trump’s nominee to the US supreme court, promised to keep an “open mind” when considering cases before the court during a final round of questioning on Wednesday, as Republicans declared her confirmation all but assured despite Democrats’ forceful opposition.
Members of the Senate judiciary committee on Wednesday attempted to dig deeper into the conservative judge’s views on the Affordable Care Act, which expanded healthcare cover to millions more Americans under Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation, and abortion rights.
Also on the agenda in this week’s hearings are same-sex marriage, gun control and any potential cases related to the result of the looming 2020 election.
But Barrett, in the tradition of recent supreme court nominees, avoided answering directly about how she would rule on some of the most important issues that the court may be asked to address.
Playing down the conservative positions she expressed in legal writings as an academic and in personal commitments she made as a private citizen, the 48-year-old appellate court judge she had no political agenda and would approach every case with “an open mind”.
Barrett has been nominated to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal icon who died last month. The confirmation hearings have halted all other business on Capitol Hill as Republicans, eager to cement a conservative majority on the court for at least a generation, rush to confirm Barrett before the November election.
Opening the session on Wednesday, after nearly 12 hours of questioning the day before, Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican of South Carolina and the chairman of the committee, celebrated Barrett’s almost inevitable confirmation as a momentous victory for conservatives, and particularly for conservative women, who he said have faced “concrete” social and cultural barriers in public life that do not exist for liberal women.
“This is the first time in American history that we’ve nominated a woman who is unashamedly pro-life and embraces her faith without apology,” Graham said. “She is going to the court.”
In moments of personal reflection during the hearings, Barrett suggested that mockery of her association with People of Praise, the insular Catholic community inspired by charismatic Christianity, as well as commentary about her large family, which includes two adopted children from Haiti, has been painful. But she said while faith was important to her personally, it would not influence her decisions on the supreme court bench.
But she repeatedly declined to say how she would rule on a challenge to Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 supreme court decision that established a woman’s right to an abortion. But she declined again on Wednesday to characterize the decision as a “super-precedent” that must not be overturned.
Democrats continued to press their case that her confirmation would imperil the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, arguing that Donald Trump and Republicans were rushing to confirm her before the court hears arguments that could decide the fate of the healthcare law next month.
The line of questioning did little to elicit a response from Barrett, who maintained that she was not “hostile” to the law. But it did force Republicans on the defensive on healthcare, an issue central to the race for control of the White House and the Senate.
Republican state officials and the Trump administration are effectively seeking to invalidate the ACA based on a flaw with part of it. The supreme court will hear arguments in the case on 10 November, just one week after the election.
Though she did not say how she would rule, Barrett expressed skepticism of this view in an extended exchange with Graham. In such cases, the judge said “the presumption is always in favor of severability” – a legal doctrine applied to congressional litigation that she said requires a court to strike down one element while preserving the rest of the law.
Democrats have urged Barrett to recuse herself from the case next month – as well as potential challenges to the result of the election – because Trump has repeatedly said that his judicial nominees will dutifully advance his agenda. In a vague reference to the president’s tan, Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, suggested that Trump’s words cast an “orange cloud” over Barrett’s nomination.
Barrett declined to say whether she would recuse herself in either instance, only that she would consider the matter. Again, she maintained her independence from the executive branch and the president who nominated her, first to a seat on the US court of appeals for the seventh circuit, and then to the supreme court.
Pressed by Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat of Vermont, Barrett would not say whether the president was allowed to pardon himself. She stated unequivocally that that “no one is above the law”, though cautioned that the supreme court has no real recourse to ensure that Americans, including the president, followed its orders.
03:27 Amy Coney Barrett refuses to tell Kamala Harris if she thinks climate change is happening – video
In an exchange with Senator Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Barrett accepted that the coronavirus was infectious, smoking caused cancers but would not say whether climate change was real, stating that it remained a “very contentious matter of public policy”. There is overwhelming scientific consensus that human activity is driving climate change. In the same line of questioning, Barrett declined to say whether voting discrimination exists.
Republicans rushed to the judge’s defense, accusing Democrats of impugning her integrity as a judge.
Recalling the 1987 nomination of Robert Bork, which was derailed amid deep opposition from liberal groups and Democrats who warned that his confirmation would tilt the court to the right on key issues such as religion and abortion, senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, decried the “attempted Borking of Amy Barrett”.
Republicans touted her adherence to “originalism”, an approach championed by Barrett’s mentor, the late justice Antonin Scalia, that aims to interpret the constitution as it was written centuries ago. Confronted by Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat of Delaware, with several of Scalia’s more controversial opinions, including a scathing dissent in a landmark case establishing the right for same-sex couples to marry, Barrett said that they shared a philosophy but would not always reach the same conclusions.
“I hope you’re not suggesting I don’t have my own mind,” she said.
But Coons was not persuaded, and announced that he would not vote to confirm her.
“Nothing has alleviated my grave concerns that rather than building on Justice Ginsburg’s legacy of advancing privacy and equality and justice, … in fact, you will take the court in a very different direction,” he said.
Owing to the proximity of the election, and the near-certainty of the outcome, many senators have used the nationally televised hearings as an opportunity to amplify their campaign messages. Graham, locked in a tight race for re-election in South Carolina, was effusive in his praise of the conservative judge, who Republicans hope will energize their base while appealing to suburban women leaving the party over Trump.
“I have never been more proud of the nominee than I am of you,” Graham said to Barrett. “This is history being made, folks.”
Away from the hearing room, the Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told donors that Barrett “seems like a decent person” but said it was “an abuse of power” to confirm her to the supreme court before the November election.
The committee is expected to vote on 22 October, as Trump pressures the Senate to confirm Barrett before the November election.