theguardian--2020-09-30--Joe Biden tells white supremacist groups to 'cease and desist' – video

Joe Biden warned white supremacist groups including the Proud Boys to 'cease and desist ' , in Alliance , Ohio @ @ @ @ @ his Build Back Better train tour to Pennsylvania .
Donald Trump refused to condemn white @ @ @ @ @ during Tuesday night ’ s election debate , and on Wednesday Trump claimed he had @ @ @ @ @ , after saying on Tuesday they should 'stand back and stand by ' .
The @ @ @ @ @ for sale T-shirts with the motif 'standing by' • Biden tells white supremacist groups to @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's debate 'embarrassment ' – live

Joe Biden warned white supremacist groups including the Proud Boys to 'cease and desist', in Alliance, Ohio, the second stop of his Build Back Better train tour to Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump refused to condemn white supremacists and the Proud Boys during Tuesday night’s election debate, and on Wednesday Trump claimed he had never heard of Proud Boys, after saying on Tuesday they should 'stand back and stand by'.
The Proud Boys have since offered for sale T-shirts with the motif 'standing by'


theguardian--2020-10-02--US election 2020: an ugly fight in the critical swing state of Florida – podcast

Oliver Laughland , the Guardian ’ s US southern bureau chief , talks to Anushka Asthana about his recent road trip through Florida .
He discusses his time in The Villages , a sprawling retirement community , which last year became infamous when a Donald Trump supporter was captured on video shouting “ white power ” during a confrontation .
The president retweeted the video then deleted it after an online backlash .
Laughland found residents who used to live harmoniously viciously divided by their support for Trump or Joe Biden .
Next stop was a thriving coffee shop : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a bellwether county since 1980 .
Trump supporters were out in force : unafraid , empowered and organised .
Laughland also discusses meeting Pinellas ’ s incumbent congressman , Charlie Crist .
The Democrat says he has spoken to many people who voted for Trump in 2016 who now regret it .
“ They voted for Trump because they wanted radical change .
And then they would say to me , ‘ But not this radical ; this is out of control.
’ ” Despite his optimism , neither Crist ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party can point to a single person willing to talk about a change of heart .
It underlines the reality : only a small proportion of Florida ’ s electorate , about 4-5 % are really up for grabs , according analysts , with the rest deeply loyal to their respective parties , and it is that critical mass that is likely to swing the vote in a tight presidential race .

Presented by Anushka Asthana with Oliver Laughland, produced by Mythili Rao and Axel Kacoutié, produced by Nicole Jackson and Phil Maynard

Oliver Laughland, the Guardian’s US southern bureau chief, talks to Anushka Asthana about his recent road trip through Florida. He discusses his time in The Villages, a sprawling retirement community, which last year became infamous when a Donald Trump supporter was captured on video shouting “white power” during a confrontation. The president retweeted the video then deleted it after an online backlash. Laughland found residents who used to live harmoniously viciously divided by their support for Trump or Joe Biden.
Next stop was a thriving coffee shop: Conservative Grounds in Pinellas, which has been a bellwether county since 1980. Trump supporters were out in force: unafraid, empowered and organised. Laughland also discusses meeting Pinellas’s incumbent congressman, Charlie Crist. The Democrat says he has spoken to many people who voted for Trump in 2016 who now regret it. “They voted for Trump because they wanted radical change. And then they would say to me, ‘But not this radical; this is out of control.’”
Despite his optimism, neither Crist’s campaign staff nor the Pinellas county Democratic party can point to a single person willing to talk about a change of heart. It underlines the reality: only a small proportion of Florida’s electorate, about 4-5% are really up for grabs, according analysts, with the rest deeply loyal to their respective parties, and it is that critical mass that is likely to swing the vote in a tight presidential race.
Archive: The Villages News; Anna Paulina Luna for Congress


theguardian--2020-10-02--Trump signals he won't agree to rules changes for debates – as it happened

From Erum Salam in Houston and Sam Levine in New York : Texas is already one of the hardest places in America to vote , and Greg Abbott , the Texas governor , on Thursday made it even harder .
The announcement from Abbott , a Republican , limits an executive order from July that made it modestly easier for voters to return their ballots during the pandemic .
Texas usually only lets voters return their mail-in ballots in person on election day , but Abbott ’ s July order said voters could return their ballots in person to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also extended early voting by six days .
As a result , some of the biggest counties in the state had planned to offer voters multiple places to drop off their ballots .
Harris county , the most populous in the state , planned to let voters return ballots at 11 of the clerk ’ s annex offices around the county .
Travis county , home of Austin , planned to offer four places to return ballots .
But the move drew backlash within his own party ; Republicans sued the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abbott backtracked on his earlier order and issued a new executive order only allowing counties to offer voters a single place to return their ballots .
Abbott ’ s order also said officials had to let official poll-watchers inspect the process .
Abbott ’ s order quickly drew outcry and accusations of voter suppression .
Texas already severely limits mail-in voting to those who are 65 and older , or who meet a select few other requirements .
The state has aggressively opposed a slew of lawsuits seeking to ease those restrictions amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth among Hispanic and other minority voters in recent years , and many of the restrictions in place are seen as a blatant effort to preserve white political power .
Harris county clerk Chris Hollins said the new proclamation issued by Abbott “ will result in widespread confusion and voter suppression ” .
Abbott ’ s order is the latest in a series of moves Republicans across the country have made to limit how Americans can return their mail-in ballots .
In Ohio , Frank LaRose , the state ’ s top election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county to a single drop box for voters to return their ballots .
In Pennsylvania , the Trump campaign is seeking to block the use of drop boxes .
Voting advocates have stressed the need for in-person drop-off locations amid concerns about the reliability of the United States Postal Service after widespread delays this summer .

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

1 Oct 2020 00.59 BST Summary From me and Joan E Greve: Trump signaled he would not agree to rule changes for the remaining debates. The Commission on Presidential Debates said yesterday that “additional structure” would be required for the remaining debates, after Tuesday’s event devolved into a chaotic mess, largely because of Trump’s constant interruptions. But the president and his re-election campaign said they would not sign off on any rule changes for the remaining two debates.
The Commission on Presidential Debates said yesterday that “additional structure” would be required for the remaining debates, after Tuesday’s event devolved into a chaotic mess, largely because of Trump’s constant interruptions. But the president and his re-election campaign said they would not sign off on any rule changes for the remaining two debates. The White House press secretary deflected questions about whether Trump denounces white supremacy. Fox News’s John Roberts asked Kayleigh McEnany if she would denounce white supremacy in all forms on behalf of the president, who told an extremist far-right group to “stand back and stand by” during Tuesday’s debate. McEnany declined to do so, instead reading out past quotes from the president and attacking the media for asking about the controversy.
Fox News’s asked if she would denounce white supremacy in all forms on behalf of the president, who told an extremist far-right group to “stand back and stand by” during Tuesday’s debate. McEnany declined to do so, instead reading out past quotes from the president and attacking the media for asking about the controversy. The Biden campaign will launch in-person canvassing efforts in several battleground states. The announcement comes as the Trump campaign’s canvassing work has sparked concerns among some of Biden’s allies about Republicans outnumbering Democrats in voter registration.
The announcement comes as the Trump campaign’s canvassing work has sparked concerns among some of Biden’s allies about Republicans outnumbering Democrats in voter registration. An additional 837,000 Americans filed new unemployment claims last week. The figure marks a slight decline from a week earlier, but new claims remain alarmingly high nearly seven months into the coronavirus pandemic.
The figure marks a slight decline from a week earlier, but new claims remain alarmingly high nearly seven months into the coronavirus pandemic. The Department of Homeland Security reportedly instructed officials to paint Kyle Rittenhouse in a sympathetic light . Rittenhouse has been charged with the fatal shooting of two anti-racism protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
. Rittenhouse has been charged with the fatal shooting of two anti-racism protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Texas governor Greg Abbot, a Republican, backtracked an executive order from July that had made it slightly easier for voters to return their ballots during the pandemic. The move is the latest in a series of attempts by Republicans across the country to limit how and when Americans can return their ballots.
The move is the latest in a series of attempts by Republicans across the country to limit how and when Americans can return their ballots. Kimberly Guilfoyle had been accused of repeated sexual harassment by a former assistant. A New Yorker report has revealed new details of how Guilfoyle – a former Fox News host and Trump advisor who has featured prominently in the president’s 2020 campaign, and the partner of Donald Trump, Jr – allegedly harassed and intimidated her direct employee.
Updated at 01.07 BST
1 Oct 2020 00.24 BST In a memorable moment from the Republican National Convention, Guilfoyle rallied supporters in what Guardian Washington bureau chief David Smith described as “a high-octane audition for Evita – without an audience”. She said that Democrats “want to destroy this country and everything that we have fought for and hold dear” and later screamed, “Ladies and gentlemen, leaders and fighters for liberty and the American Dream: the best is yet to come!” Guilfoyle has traveled the country as a surrogate for the president no the campaign trail and hosted prominent “Women for Trump” events. Prior to working for the Trump campaign, Guilfoyle was a co-host of the political show “The Five” on Fox news. She left in July 2018, with reports suggesting that she was forced out amid accusations that she had acted inappropriately toward colleagues.
Updated at 00.55 BST
1 Oct 2020 00.14 BST Report: A former employee alleges that Trump advisor Kimberly Guilfoyle sexually harassed her while at Fox News Guilfoyle – a former Fox News host and Trump advisor who has featured prominently in the president’s 2020 campaign, and the partner of Donald Trump, Jr – had been accused of repeated sexual harassment by a former assistant. A New Yorker report has revealed that the former employee, a young woman who worked for Guilfoyle at Fox News, filed a November 2018 complaint alleging that Guilfoyle, her direct supervisor, “subjected her frequently to degrading, abusive, and sexually inappropriate behavior”. Two sources who spoke to the New Yorker said that Fox News had agreed to pay the woman more than $4m in order to avoid going to trial over the complaints. The former assistant also alleged that while a law firm was investigating sexual harassment across Fox News, Guilfoyle offered as much as $1m as well as a private plane ride to Rome, a percentage of her future speaking fees and a work opportunity “in exchange for demonstrating what Guilfoyle called loyalty” From the New Yorker:
[The former assistant] said that she was frequently required to work at Guilfoyle’s New York apartment while the Fox host displayed herself naked, and was shown photographs of the genitalia of men with whom Guilfoyle had had sexual relations. The draft complaint also alleged that Guilfoyle spoke incessantly and luridly about her sex life, and on one occasion demanded a massage of her bare thighs; other times, she said, Guilfoyle told her to submit to a Fox employee’s demands for sexual favors, encouraged her to sleep with wealthy and powerful men, asked her to critique her naked body, demanded that she share a room with her on business trips, required her to sleep over at her apartment, and exposed herself to her, making her feel deeply uncomfortable. Read the full report here. Guilfoyle has denied any wrongdoing.
Updated at 00.57 BST
1 Oct 2020 23.37 BST Procedural vote on bill to protect people with preexisting conditions fails in Senate A procedural vote on a bill that would stop Trump’s justice department from intervening in a lawsuit to strike down the Affordable Care Act has failed. In a rare move, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer forced a procedural vote to consider the measure, in an attempt to force Republicans – many of whom had said they support protections for people with pre-existing conditions – to prove it with their votes. The bill would “protect the health care of hundreds of millions of people of the United States and prevent efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” per Senate Democrats. As expected, Senators voted down the opportunity to consider such a bill. Sixty votes were required, but only 51 Senators voted in favor. Republicans Susan Collins, Joanie Ernst, Cory Gardner, Martha McSally and Lisa Murkowski sided with Democrats. Several senators, including Lindsay Graham, abstained. Democrats have increasingly sought to focus on healthcare as a key policy at stake if Trump’s supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is affirmed. Barrett is expected to side with the Trump administration in a case seeking to strike down the ACA as unconstitutional.
Updated at 00.09 BST
1 Oct 2020 22.54 BST Sam Levine Two conservative operatives have been charged with felony voter intimidation for allegedly orchestrating racist robocalls that spread false information about voting. Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel filed a number of charges against Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, including conspiracy to commit an election law violation and using a computer to commit crimes. In what appeared to be a blatant attempt to scare Black voters away from casting a mail-in ballot, Detroit residents were targeted with messages that claimed, falsely: “Mail in voting sounds great, but did you know that if you vote by mail, your information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants? And will be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debt? The CDC is even pushing to give preference to mail-in voting to track people for mandatory vaccines.” The calls went out to nearly 12,000 Detroit residents in August, according to the attorney general. “Any effort to interfere with, intimidate or intentionally mislead Michigan voters will be met with swift and severe consequences,” Nessel said. “This effort specifically targeted minority voters in an attempt to deter them from voting in the November election.” Michigan is a battleground state in the presidential election, and recent polls have shown Democrat Joe Biden with a consistent lead.
Updated at 00.06 BST
1 Oct 2020 22.25 BST Stephanie Kirchgaessner Amy Coney Barrett, the supreme court nominee, signed off on an advertisement in 2006 that called for the overturning of Roe v Wade, and called the landmark abortion rights decision “barbaric” and a “raw exercise of judicial power”. The two-page ad, published by the St Joseph County Right to Life group, an extreme anti-choice organization in South Bend, Indiana, is the most striking evidence to have emerged to date of Barrett’s personal opposition to Roe v Wade. The Guardian first reported the existence of the advertisement, which Barrett has not disclosed in documents submitted to the Senate ahead of her confirmation hearing. The first page of the ad, which is signed by Barrett and her husband, Jesse, states that life begins at “fertilization”. The ad, which the organization publishes every year to mark the anniversary of Roe v Wade, was signed by Barrett while she was working as a law professor at Notre Dame. On the second page of the two-page spread, the group condemns Roe and claims that “the majority of those abortions were performed for social reasons”. It also claims that an “increasing majority” of Americans are opposed to abortion as a “method of birth control”.
“It’s time to put an end to the barbaric legacy of Roe v Wade and restore law that protects the lives of unborn children,” it states.
1 Oct 2020 22.23 BST Hi there, it’s Maanvi Singh – blogging from the West Coast. First up, an update on Richard Nixon’s former pastor: John Huffman, who was the former president’s pastor in the 1960s and 1970s, is launching a “Pro-life Evangelicals for Biden” group, CNN reports. “We want to make it clear that there is a dimension to pro-life that goes beyond abortion,” he told the news network. “The evangelical movement we represent seems to have focused so much on the pro-life aspect of the president’s catering, in fact, grooming, of the evangelical movement.” The group is not financially associated with the Democratic party or the Biden campaign, Huffman said. “We are articulating where we are as human beings who take a strong position on this and are speaking to the parties and to individual voters, not for any political party,” he told CNN.
Updated at 22.31 BST
1 Oct 2020 22.01 BST Today so far That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague Maanvi Singh will take over the blog for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: Trump signaled he would not agree to rules changes for the remaining debates. The Commission on Presidential Debates said yesterday that “additional structure” would be required for the remaining debates, after Tuesday’s event devolved into a chaotic mess, largely because of Trump’s constant interruptions. But the president and his re-election campaign said they would not sign off on any rules changes for the remaining two debates.
The Commission on Presidential Debates said yesterday that “additional structure” would be required for the remaining debates, after Tuesday’s event devolved into a chaotic mess, largely because of Trump’s constant interruptions. But the president and his re-election campaign said they would not sign off on any rules changes for the remaining two debates. The White House press secretary deflected questions about whether Trump denounces white supremacy. Fox News’s John Roberts asked Kayleigh McEnany if she would denounce white supremacy in all forms on behalf of the president, who told an extremist far-right group to “stand back and stand by” during Tuesday’s debate. McEnany declined to do so, instead reading out past quotes from the president and attacking the media for asking about the controversy.
Fox News’s asked if she would denounce white supremacy in all forms on behalf of the president, who told an extremist far-right group to “stand back and stand by” during Tuesday’s debate. McEnany declined to do so, instead reading out past quotes from the president and attacking the media for asking about the controversy. The Biden campaign will launch in-person canvassing efforts in several battleground states. The announcement comes as the Trump campaign’s canvassing work has sparked concerns among some of Biden’s allies about Republicans outnumbering Democrats in voter registration.
The announcement comes as the Trump campaign’s canvassing work has sparked concerns among some of Biden’s allies about Republicans outnumbering Democrats in voter registration. Another 837,000 Americans filed new unemployment claims last week. The figure marks a slight decline from a week earlier, but new claims remain alarmingly high nearly seven months into the coronavirus pandemic.
The figure marks a slight decline from a week earlier, but new claims remain alarmingly high nearly seven months into the coronavirus pandemic. The Department of Homeland Security reportedly instructed officials to paint Kyle Rittenhouse in a sympathetic light. Rittenhouse has been charged with the fatal shooting of two anti-racism protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Updated at 22.05 BST
1 Oct 2020 21.50 BST Joe Biden set another single-month fundraising record in September, according to a Bloomberg News reporter. SCOOP: Joe Biden’s campaign and the DNC set another fundraising record for the month of September, surpassing the massive $364.5 million haul it raised in August. Story to come with @bill_allison — Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) October 1, 2020 In August, Biden and the Democratic national committee raised a record-shattering $364.5 million, outraising Trump and the Republican national committee by more than $150 million. The death of supreme court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last month appeared to inspire massive donations among Democrats. The Democratic fundraising site ActBlue reported raising more than $100 million the weekend after Ginsburg’s death was announced.
1 Oct 2020 21.28 BST The Trump campaign confirmed it will be moving its planned rally in La Crosse, Wisconsin, after local officials asked him not to to come because of a surge in coronavirus cases. According to an updated guidance released by the Trump campaign, the president will instead hold an outdoor rally in Janesville, Wisconsin, on Saturday. His previously announced rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is moving forward as planned. Local officials had asked Trump to reconsider his trip because both La Crosse and Green Bay are in “red zones”, as designated by the White House coronavirus taskforce. The taskforce strongly encourages those in red zones to practice social distancing to the “maximum degree possible” in order to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Trump’s rallies have been mostly outdoors, but many rally attendees have been photographed not wearing masks and not practicing social distancing.
Updated at 21.42 BST
1 Oct 2020 21.27 BST A message from Ankita Rao, who writes our weekly Fight to Vote newsletter on the US election. Fight to vote: sign up for our US election newsletter Read more With all this focus on the he-said … he-said, it’s easy to forget that there’s something bigger at stake in the election than just the politics: the actual process of voting. Voting rights are fundamental to US democracy, and won by long and difficult movements. But the country is still fighting for what the late John Lewis and suffragettes demanded. This year the promise of a free and fair election has been tested unlike ever before: Millions of Americans have switched to voting by mail to avoid Covid-19 risks, yet Congress has refused to invest adequate funding in the process.
Polling stations have shut down or consolidated.
Donald Trump and the Republican party are spreading fear of voter fraud and trying their best to undermine the integrity of the election.
and the Republican party are spreading fear of voter fraud and trying their best to undermine the integrity of the election. Misinformation about voting runs rampant on Facebook and other platforms. That’s why we’ve launched the Fight to Vote newsletter. It’s a weekly email that goes beyond the campaign crosstalk and focuses on democracy itself, asking: who can vote, who can’t, and what’s in the way. Because if Americans can’t vote, it doesn’t matter who’s running. Sign up to the newsletter here
1 Oct 2020 21.10 BST The president’s re-election campaign said Trump would participate in the remaining two presidential debates, but they made clear they would oppose any attempts to change the rules of the debates. Trump Campaign manager @BillStepien says the campaign is "hearing rumblings" that the @debates commission will impose new rules for the second debate, not agreed to by both candidates.
Stepien argues, "that's not history," stressing that the rules must not change. [2/2] — Nicole Sganga (@NicoleSganga) October 1, 2020 Trump deputy campaign manager Max Miller said the Biden campaign is pushing for opening and closing statements and a mute button for when candidates ignore the structure of the debate. Campaign manager Bill Stepien said it was “not history” for the commission to change the rules after a debate has been held. The president has also signaled he would oppose any rules changes.
Updated at 21.43 BST
1 Oct 2020 20.55 BST The Trump campaign attacked the Commission on Presidential Debates in a press call this afternoon. The president’s reelection campaign claimed the commission was biased against Trump, after the CPD called for “additional structure” in the remaining debates. The Trump campaign appears to be declaring war on the Commission on Presidential Debates in a call happening right now, describing it as biased against POTUS — Alex Isenstadt (@politicoalex) October 1, 2020 “We do not want any changes,” Jason Miller, a senior campaign adviser, said on the call. Trump similarly tweeted this afternoon that he would not support changing the structure of the two remaining presidential debates. A number of commentators have called for allowing moderators to cut candidates’ microphones if they ignore the agreed-upon format of the debate, as Trump did on Tuesday.
1 Oct 2020 20.40 BST House speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier today that she did not believe Biden should participate in the remaining debates. “I think one and done,” Pelosi told Bloomberg TV’s David Westin. "One and done."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Joe Biden should not dignify a debate with the president https://t.co/QbKybblgvU pic.twitter.com/qRx0ltwMC7 — Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) October 1, 2020 The Democratic speaker previously said she did not believe Biden should “legitimize” a discussion with Trump by participating in the debates, a position she reiterated today. “I myself did not think that Joe Biden should dignify debate with the president who has no commitment to fact, evidence, data, demeans the office he holds,” Pelosi said. “I never thought he shouldn’t do it because I didn’t think he would do well. I thought he shouldn’t do it because I thought something like this could happen.”
Biden’s advisers have said the Democrat intends to participate in the remaining debates, despite the chaotic nature of Tuesday’s event.


theguardian--2020-10-02--Trump relocates planned Wisconsin rally after resistance from local officials

Donald Trump has moved a planned western Wisconsin appearance to elsewhere in the state amid calls from a city mayor and the state ’ s governor urging him not to hold a rally there due to a surge in coronavirus cases .
A pair of campaign rallies are scheduled for Saturday as the key swing state struggles to control a 22 % surge in coronavirus cases over the last week .
Wisconsin ranks third among states for per-capita increases in cases over the past two weeks .
State health officials reported 2,887 newly confirmed cases on Thursday , a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
The state has now seen 125,161 cases and 1,348 deaths since the pandemic began .
Trump replaced a rally at the La Crosse rally with one in Janesville , about 175 miles away , where the virus is not spreading quite as rapidly .
He will also hold a rally on Saturday in Green Bay .
Both will be outside , at airports .
Trump ’ s decision to visit Janesville prompted authorities there to also request that Trump reconsider .
Both La Crosse and Green Bay have been identified as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Covid-19 by the White House coronavirus taskforce .
Janesville is not on the list .
The increasing infections in Wisconsin are part of a national trend of rising cases playing out as the presidential election enters the home stretch and the president , trailing badly in the polls , accelerates his search for votes .
That search will take Trump to airport hangars in the Wisconsin cities of Green Bay and La Crosse on Saturday , where thousands of people , many unlikely to be wearing masks based on recent rallies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear Trump speak .
Barring a surprise victory elsewhere , Trump needs to win Wisconsin to win re-election .
The campaign plan took shape as a major new study by researchers at Cornell University suggested that Trump is the world ’ s largest source of misinformation about Covid-19 .
The findings were based on a comprehensive survey of 38m articles from traditional and online media .
While incidents of coronavirus transmission in open-air environments have not been documented as thoroughly as viral spreading in indoor settings , Wisconsin ’ s governor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was reckless for the president to draw thousands of people together in a “ red zone ” for transmission .
“ The president could do two things : one is maybe not come to these two municipalities and cities that are ranked right up towards the top of all the places in the country [ for infections ] , ” Evers said .
“ The second thing that could be done is for him to insist that if people are there , they wear a mask .
He can make that happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those are the two things that he could do to make sure that it doesn ’ t become a super-spreader event.
” New daily infections have risen in 25 states in the past week , according to analysis by Axios published on Thursday , with about 43,000 new cases a day on about 935,000 daily tests in the United States .
And the city of Boston hit the brakes on reopening on Wednesday after the state public health department said the city could be a “ red zone ” for active circulation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 % in some neighborhoods , Marty Walsh , the mayor , said at a news conference , and half the recent cases have been among people under age 29 .
Walsh urged people not to hold house parties tied to a weekend football game and told the city ’ s large student population to observe social distancing guidelines .
“ You wanted to come to college in Boston , you wanted to be treated like adults .
Well then , act like it , ” Walsh said .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials in some states have followed Trump ’ s lead in relaxing or ignoring coronavirus mitigation measures even as cases rise nationally .
Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi , where new case numbers are flat , allowed a statewide mask mandate to expire on Wednesday .
“ There is a difference between being wise and being a government mandate , ” Reeves said .
“ We have to trust the people of this country to look after themselves and to make wise decisions.
” The Republican governor of Missouri , Mike Parson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself this week over reports that an outbreak of dozens of cases at a military veterans home in Missouri followed his campaign visit there .
Parson and his wife later tested positive for Covid-19 .
A spokesperson for the candidate told the local Riverfront Times “ there is no connection between the two ” .
Trump also denies that his campaign events have spread the virus .
“ So far , we ’ ve had no problem whatsoever , ” he said during the presidential debate on Tuesday night .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big difference , according to experts .
We do them outside .
We have tremendous crowds as you see.
” But Trump does not always “ do them outside ” .
Local health officials tied a Trump rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , that drew more than 6,000 people into an arena in July to an outbreak of hundreds of cases in the area .
Trump supporter Herman Cain , the businessman and former presidential candidate , died of Covid-19 after attending the event .
Trump “ was likely the largest driver of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Cornell study suggested .
“ We found that media mentions of US president Donald Trump within the context of Covid-19 misinformation made up by far the largest share of the infodemic , ” the researches wrote .
“ Trump mentions comprised 37.9 % of the overall misinformation conversation , well ahead of any other topics.
” In reply to criticism over a campaign rally in Nevada last month , Trump explained to a local paper that the risks from such events were small – for him .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very far away , ” Trump he said .
“ And so I ’ m not at all concerned .
”

Donald Trump has moved a planned western Wisconsin appearance to elsewhere in the state amid calls from a city mayor and the state’s governor urging him not to hold a rally there due to a surge in coronavirus cases.
A pair of campaign rallies are scheduled for Saturday as the key swing state struggles to control a 22% surge in coronavirus cases over the last week.
Wisconsin ranks third among states for per-capita increases in cases over the past two weeks. State health officials reported 2,887 newly confirmed cases on Thursday, a new daily record, along with 21 more deaths. The state has now seen 125,161 cases and 1,348 deaths since the pandemic began.
Trump replaced a rally in La Crosse with one in Janesville, about 175 miles away, where the virus is not spreading quite as rapidly. He will also hold a rally on Saturday in Green Bay. Both will be outside, at airports. Trump’s decision to visit Janesville prompted authorities there to also request that Trump reconsider.
Both La Crosse and Green Bay have been identified as “red zones” for community spread of Covid-19 by the White House coronavirus taskforce. Janesville is not on the list.
The increasing infections in Wisconsin are part of a national trend of rising cases playing out as the presidential election enters the home stretch and the president, trailing badly in the polls, accelerates his search for votes.
Thousands of people, many unlikely to be wearing masks based on recent rallies, are expected to huddle in open-air crowds to hear Trump speak. Barring a surprise victory elsewhere, Trump needs to win Wisconsin to win re-election.
The campaign plan took shape as a major new study by researchers at Cornell University suggested that Trump is the world’s largest source of misinformation about Covid-19. The findings were based on a comprehensive survey of 38m articles from traditional and online media.
While incidents of coronavirus transmission in open-air environments have not been documented as thoroughly as viral spreading in indoor settings, Wisconsin’s governor, Tony Evers, a Democrat, suggested it was reckless for the president to draw thousands of people together in a “red zone” for transmission.
“The president could do two things: one is maybe not come to these two municipalities and cities that are ranked right up towards the top of all the places in the country [for infections],” Evers said.
“The second thing that could be done is for him to insist that if people are there, they wear a mask. He can make that happen. He could wear one too. Those are the two things that he could do to make sure that it doesn’t become a super-spreader event.”
New daily infections have risen in 25 states in the past week, according to analysis by Axios published on Thursday, with about 43,000 new cases a day on about 935,000 daily tests in the United States.
And the city of Boston hit the brakes on reopening on Wednesday after the state public health department said the city could be a “red zone” for active circulation of the virus. Infection rates were above 7% in some neighborhoods, Marty Walsh, the mayor, said at a news conference, and half the recent cases have been among people under age 29.
Walsh urged people not to hold house parties tied to a weekend football game and told the city’s large student population to observe social distancing guidelines.
“You wanted to come to college in Boston, you wanted to be treated like adults. Well then, act like it,” Walsh said. “We’re asking you to be responsible.”
Republican officials in some states have followed Trump’s lead in relaxing or ignoring coronavirus mitigation measures even as cases rise nationally. Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi, where new case numbers are flat, allowed a statewide mask mandate to expire on Wednesday.
“There is a difference between being wise and being a government mandate,” Reeves said.
The Republican governor of Missouri, Mike Parson, who is running for re-election, defended himself this week over reports that an outbreak of dozens of cases at a military veterans’ home in Missouri followed his campaign visit there.
Parson and his wife later tested positive for Covid-19. A spokesperson for the candidate told the local Riverfront Times “there is no connection between the two”.
Trump also denies that his campaign events have spread the virus.
“So far, we’ve had no problem whatsoever,” he said during the presidential debate on Tuesday night. “It’s outside. That’s a big difference, according to experts. We do them outside. We have tremendous crowds, as you see.”
But Trump does not always “do them outside”. Local health officials tied a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that drew more than 6,000 people into an arena in July to an outbreak of hundreds of cases in the area. Trump supporter Herman Cain, the businessman and former presidential candidate, died of Covid-19 after attending the event.
Donald Trump arrives onstage at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on 20 June. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters
Trump “was likely the largest driver of the Covid-19 misinformation ‘infodemic’”, the Cornell study suggested. “We found that media mentions of US president Donald Trump within the context of Covid-19 misinformation made up by far the largest share of the infodemic,” the researches wrote.
“Trump mentions comprised 37.9% of the overall misinformation conversation, well ahead of any other topics.”
In reply to criticism over a campaign rally in Nevada last month, Trump explained to a local paper that the risks from such events were small – for him.
“I’m on a stage and it’s very far away,” Trump he said. “And so I’m not at all concerned.”
Agencies contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-10-01--Trump rejects change to rules despite chaos and cringe of first debate

Donald Trump ’ s re-election campaign has rejected calls to change the rules of the next two presidential debates with Democratic challenger Joe Biden after the first chaotic event in Cleveland was marred by constant interruptions and outbursts .
Tuesday night ’ s debate , the first of three before the 3 November election , saw Trump regularly interrupt and talk over both Biden as well as the moderator , prompting America ’ s presidential debates commission to announce it would adopt changes to allow for a “ more orderly discussion ” .
The next presidential debate is scheduled for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t want any changes , ” Trump senior campaign adviser Jason Miller said on a conference call with reporters .
Trump deputy campaign manager Max Miller said the Biden campaign is pushing for opening and closing statements and a mute button for when candidates ignore the structure of the debate .
Campaign manager Bill Stepien said it was “ not history ” for the commission to change the rules after a debate has been held .
The president also signaled he would oppose any rules changes .
“ Why would I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules for the second and third debates when I easily won last time ?
” Trump asked in a tweet on Thursday .
Miller said Trump would still appear at the debates , but made clear the campaign would oppose any attempts to change the rules .
Both campaigns agreed to the format of Tuesday ’ s debate , which had envisioned six 15-minute sections in which each candidate had two minutes to answer a question without interruption before beginning a back-and-forth .
The 90-minute face-off triggered widespread criticism of Trump and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Republican president repeatedly bullied Biden and questioned his intelligence , while the Democratic nominee called Trump a racist , a liar and the worst president ever .
In a statement on Wednesday , the debates commission said it would announce changes to the debate format soon .
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said the former vice president would participate in upcoming debates under the rules laid out by the debates commission .
“ The only real question left is whether the President will start following the rules in the next two debates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump also sparked widespread outrage on Tuesday when he declined to condemn white supremacists .
On Thursday , Fox News ’ s John Roberts asked White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany if she would denounce white supremacy in all forms on behalf of the president , who had told an extremist far-right group to “ stand back and stand by ” during Tuesday ’ s debate .
McEnany declined to do so , instead reading out past quotes from the president and attacking the media for asking about the controversy .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion polls , polls also show that the two are neck and neck in several states that could determine the winner of the contest .
More than 2 million voters have already cast ballots , with a surge of early and mail voting expected this year due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The Biden campaign announced Thursday it will launch in-person canvassing efforts in several battleground states .
It comes as the Trump campaign ’ s canvassing work has sparked concerns among some of Biden ’ s allies about Republicans outnumbering Democrats in @ @ @

Donald Trump’s re-election campaign has rejected calls to change the rules of the next two presidential debates with Democratic challenger Joe Biden after the first chaotic event in Cleveland was marred by constant interruptions and outbursts.
Tuesday night’s debate, the first of three before the 3 November election, saw Trump regularly interrupt and talk over Bidenand the moderator, prompting America’s presidential debates commission to announce it would adopt changes to allow for a “more orderly discussion”. The next presidential debate is scheduled for 15 October in Miami.
“We don’t want any changes,” Trump senior campaign adviser Jason Miller said on a conference call with reporters.
Trump deputy campaign manager Max Miller said the Biden campaign was pushing for opening and closing statements and a mute button for when candidates ignore the structure of the debate.
Trump’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, said it was “not history” for the commission to change the rules after a debate has been held. The president also signaled he would oppose any rules changes.
“Why would I allow the debate commission to change the rules for the second and third debates when I easily won last time?” Trump asked in a tweet on Thursday.
Miller said Trump would still appear at the debates, but made clear the campaign would oppose any attempts to change the rules.
Both campaigns agreed to the format of Tuesday’s debate, which had envisioned six 15-minute sections in which each candidate had two minutes to answer a question without interruption before beginning a back-and-forth.
The 90-minute face-off triggered widespread criticism of Trump and, to a lesser extent, Biden. The Republican president repeatedly bullied Biden and questioned his intelligence, while the Democratic nominee called Trump a racist, a liar and the worst president ever.
In a statement on Wednesday, the debates commission said it would announce changes to the debate format soon.
A Biden campaign spokesman, Andrew Bates, said the former vice-president would participate in upcoming debates under the rules laid out by the debates commission.
“The only real question left is whether the President will start following the rules in the next two debates,” Bates said in an email.
Trump also sparked widespread outrage on Tuesday when he declined to condemn white supremacists. On Thursday, Fox News’s John Roberts asked the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, if she would denounce white supremacy in all forms on behalf of the president, who had told an extremist far-right group to “stand back and stand by” during Tuesday’s debate.
McEnany declined to do so, instead reading out past quotes from the president and attacking the media for asking about the controversy.
However, later on Thursday, in an interview with Fox News, Trump was more direct: “Let me be clear again: I condemn the KKK, I condemn all white supremacists, I condemn the Proud Boys. I don’t know much about the Proud Boys, almost nothing, but I condemn that.” He then pivoted to attacking the media and Biden, saying he should “condemn antifa”.
While Biden leads Trump in most national public opinion polls, polls also show that the two are neck and neck in several states that could determine the winner of the contest.
More than 2 million voters have already cast ballots, with a surge of early and mail voting expected this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Biden campaign announced on Thursday it will launch in-person canvassing efforts in several battleground states. It comes as the Trump campaign’s canvassing work has sparked concerns among some of Biden’s allies about Republicans outnumbering Democrats in voter registration.


theguardian--2020-10-01--Outrage as Texas governor orders closure of multiple ballot drop-off sites

Texas is already one of the hardest places in America to vote , and Greg Abbott , the Texas governor , on Thursday made it even harder .
The announcement from Abbott , a Republican , limits an executive order from July that made it modestly easier for voters to return their ballots during the pandemic .
Texas usually only lets voters return their mail-in ballots in person on election day , but Abbott ’ s July order said voters could return their ballots in person to the election clerk ’ s office earlier .
He also extended early voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some of the biggest counties in the state had planned to offer voters multiple places to drop off their ballots .
Harris county , the most populous in the state , planned to let voters return their ballots at 11 of the clerk ’ s annex offices around the county .
Travis county , home of Austin , planned to offer four places to return their ballots .
But the move drew backlash within his own party ; Republicans sued the governor over the changes .
On Thursday , Abbott backtracked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order only allowing counties to offer voters a single place to return their ballots .
Abbott ’ s order also said officials had to let official poll-watchers inspect the process .
Abbott ’ s order quickly drew outcry and accusations of voter suppression .
Texas already severely limits mail-in voting to those who are 65 and older , or who meet a select few other requirements .
The state has aggressively opposed a slew of lawsuits seeking to ease those restrictions amid the pandemic .
Texas has seen massive growth among Hispanic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and many of the restrictions in place are seen as a blatant effort to preserve white political power .
Harris county clerk Chris Hollins said the new proclamation issued by Abbott “ will result in widespread confusion and voter suppression ” .
“ Multiple drop-off locations have been advertised for weeks , ” Hollins said in a statement .
“ Our office is more than willing to accommodate poll watchers at mail ballot drop-off locations .
But to force hundreds of thousands of seniors and voters with disabilities to use a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over nearly 2,000 sq miles is prejudicial and dangerous.
” Abbott ’ s Thursday order is the latest in a series of moves Republicans across the country have made to limit how Americans can return their mail-in ballots .
In Ohio , Frank LaRose , the state ’ s top election official , is seeking to limit each county to a single drop-box for voters to return their ballots .
In Pennsylvania , the Trump campaign is seeking to block the use of drop boxes .
Voting advocates have stressed the need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliability of the United States Postal Service after widespread delays this summer .
In early September , the Texas supreme court blocked Harris county from sending absentee ballots to all of its 2.4 million registered voters .
The lawsuit was brought by Texas attorney general Ken Paxton .
In an interview with the Guardian , Paxton said he opposes universal mail-in ballots , citing widespread voter fraud .
Several studies and investigations have shown voter fraud is not a widespread problem .
“ I think that ’ s a wonderful utopia – people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud .
Fraud is much more easily associated with mail-in ballots because we don ’ t have any proof of who actually voted , ” Paxton said .
“ If you open the door , your vote doesn ’ t matter as much .
It ’ s being diluted by fraudulent voters .
You ’ d be giving up your vote by making it easier for everyone to mail in their ballot.
” The Texas Democratic party was quick to condemn Abbott ’ s order .
“ Republicans are on the verge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to adjust the rules last-minute , ” Gilberto Hinojosa , the chairman of the state Democratic party said in a statement , describing state Republicans as “ cheaters ” .
“ Make no mistake , Democracy itself is on the ballot .
Every Texan must get out and vote these cowards out !
”

Erum Salam in Houston and Sam Levine in New York

Texas is already one of the hardest places in America to vote, and Greg Abbott, the state’s governor, on Thursday made it even harder.
The announcement from Abbott, a Republican, limits an executive order from July that made it modestly easier for voters to return their ballots during the pandemic. Texas usually only lets voters return their mail-in ballots in person on election day, but Abbott’s July order said voters could return their ballots in person to the election clerk’s office earlier. He also extended early voting by six days.
As a result, some of the biggest counties in the state had planned to offer voters multiple places to drop off their ballots. Harris county, the most populous in the state, planned to let voters return their ballots at 11 of the clerk’s annex offices around the county. Travis county, home of Austin, planned to offer four places to return their ballots. But the move drew backlash within his own party; Republicans sued the governor over the changes.
On Thursday, Abbott backtracked on his earlier order and issued a new executive order only allowing counties to offer voters a single place to return their ballots. Abbott’s order also said officials had to let official poll-watchers inspect the process.
Abbott’s order quickly drew outcry and accusations of voter suppression. Texas already severely limits mail-in voting to those who are 65 and older, or who meet a select few other requirements. The state has aggressively opposed a slew of lawsuits seeking to ease those restrictions amid the pandemic. Texas has seen massive growth among Hispanic and other minority voters in recent years, and many of the restrictions in place are seen as a blatant effort to preserve white political power.
The Harris county clerk, Chris Hollins, said the new proclamation issued by Abbott “will result in widespread confusion and voter suppression”.
“Multiple drop-off locations have been advertised for weeks,” Hollins said in a statement. “Our office is more than willing to accommodate poll watchers at mail ballot drop-off locations. But to force hundreds of thousands of seniors and voters with disabilities to use a single drop-off location in a county that stretches over nearly 2,000 sq miles is prejudicial and dangerous.”
Abbott’s Thursday order is the latest in a series of moves Republicans across the country have made to limit how Americans can return their mail-in ballots. In Ohio, Frank LaRose, the state’s top election official, is seeking to limit each county to a single drop-box for voters to return their ballots. In Pennsylvania, the Trump campaign is seeking to block the use of drop boxes. Voting advocates have stressed the need for in-person drop-off locations amid concerns about the reliability of the United States Postal Service after widespread delays this summer.
Republicans are on the verge of losing, so Governor Abbott is trying to adjust the rules last-minute Gilberto Hinojosa
In early September, the Texas supreme court blocked Harris county from sending absentee ballots to all of its 2.4 million registered voters. The lawsuit was brought by Texas’s attorney general, Ken Paxton.
In an interview with the Guardian, Paxton said he opposes universal mail-in ballots, citing widespread voter fraud. Several studies and investigations have shown voter fraud is not a widespread problem.
“I think that’s a wonderful utopia – people who don’t want to commit fraud. Fraud is much more easily associated with mail-in ballots because we don’t have any proof of who actually voted,” Paxton said. “If you open the door, your vote doesn’t matter as much. It’s being diluted by fraudulent voters. You’d be giving up your vote by making it easier for everyone to mail in their ballot.”
The Texas Democratic party was quick to condemn Abbott’s order.
“Republicans are on the verge of losing, so Governor Abbott is trying to adjust the rules last-minute,” Gilberto Hinojosa, the chairman of the state Democratic party said in a statement, describing state Republicans as “cheaters”.
“Make no mistake, Democracy itself is on the ballot. Every Texan must get out and vote these cowards out!”


theguardian--2020-10-01--Number-cruncher: the devastating power of Katie Porter's whiteboard

If I were a powerful man caught in a political bind , my dreams would be filled with images of Representative Katie Porter , chasing me around Capitol Hill with a whiteboard .
The freshman congresswoman ’ s questioning device has become so notorious , the whiteboard has earned itself a nickname : “ the mighty whiteboard of truth ” .
Porter ’ s prop first became ubiquitous when she used it to win free coronavirus testing for all Americans , regardless of whether they have health insurance .
More recently , Porter gained big praise after whipping out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive a dressing down for suspected price gouging .
Here ’ s why the device is so effective .
She does the math In a time when the country ’ s highest elected official acts as if it ’ s OK to just point-blank lie about numbers , it ’ s nice to see them written down where they can speak for themselves .
Just take these two very different prices for the same drug in different years – $ 215 in 2005 and and $ 764 in 2020 .
That sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line helps : “ The drug didn ’ t get any better .
The cancer patients didn ’ t get any better .
You just got better at making money.
” They don ’ t know the math One thing Porter ’ s whiteboard consistently reveals is how little high-up officials know about the basic numbers that concern people ’ s lives .
Just take the head of the CDC , Robert Redfield , who didn ’ t know how much it cost someone without insurance to get tested for the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutdowns across the country .
Once they get the numbers wrong , it ’ s all downhill from there .
You can ’ t stop looking at the math Mark Alles ’ $ 13m bonus during the time that his company tripled the price of cancer drugs is a good example .
As is the very precise calculation that Porter follows up with – of exactly how much the CEO personally benefited from the price hike ( to the tune of $ 500,000 ) .
But it ’ s not just the math @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s subjects shaking in their seats as she questions them .
In part this is because Porter ’ s questioning gets to the point quickly.
“ Do you want to know who has the virus and who doesn ’ t ?
And not just rich people ?
” she asks the CDC ’ s Redfield about the virus , before she secures the big win .
But it ’ s the no-nonsense approach that makes it so satisfying to watch .
Porter refuses to waste time on obfuscations ( I too one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time ” before being forced to listen to oncoming garble ) and refuses to take mealy-mouthed answers ( “ Nope , not good enough , ” she repeatedly responds to Redfield when he won ’ t make a commitment to coronavirus testing ) .

If I were a powerful man caught in a political bind, my dreams would be filled with images of Representative Katie Porter, chasing me around Capitol Hill with a whiteboard.
The freshman congresswoman’s questioning device has become so notorious, the whiteboard has earned itself a nickname: “the mighty whiteboard of truth”.
Porter’s prop first became ubiquitous when she used it to win free coronavirus testing for all Americans, regardless of whether they have health insurance. More recently, Porter gained big praise after whipping out the whiteboard again, to give a pharmaceutical executive a dressing down for suspected price gouging. Here’s why the device is so effective.
She does the math
03:02 Katie Porter lambasts big pharma over cancer drug price hike using whiteboard calculations – video
In a time when the country’s highest elected official acts as if it’s OK to just point-blank lie about numbers, it’s nice to see them written down where they can speak for themselves.
Just take these two very different prices for the same drug in different years – $215 in 2005 and and $764 in 2020. That sort of price change speaks volumes, but her line helps: “The drug didn’t get any better. The cancer patients didn’t get any better. You just got better at making money.”
They don’t know the math
One thing Porter’s whiteboard consistently reveals is how little high-up officials know about the basic numbers that concern people’s lives.
Just take the head of the CDC, Robert Redfield, who didn’t know how much it cost someone without insurance to get tested for the coronavirus, just as the pandemic was resulting in shutdowns across the country. Once they get the numbers wrong, it’s all downhill from there.
I did the math: a full battery of coronavirus testing costs at minimum $1,331.
I also did the legal research: the Administration has the authority to make testing free for every American TODAY.
I secured a commitment from a high-level Trump official that they’d actually do it. pic.twitter.com/RmolCtmNbG — Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) March 12, 2020
You can’t stop looking at the math
Mark Alles’ $13m bonus during the time that his company tripled the price of cancer drugs is a good example. As is the very precise calculation that Porter follows up with – of exactly how much the CEO personally benefited from the price hike (to the tune of $500,000).
But it’s not just the math
Even via Zoom you can see Porter’s subjects shaking in their seats as she questions them.
In part this is because Porter’s questioning gets to the point quickly.“Do you want to know who has the virus and who doesn’t? And not just rich people?” she asks the CDC’s Redfield about the virus, before she secures the big win.
But it’s the no-nonsense approach that makes it so satisfying to watch. Porter refuses to waste time on obfuscations (I too one day hope to interject “reclaiming my time” before being forced to listen to oncoming garble) and refuses to take mealy-mouthed answers (“Nope, not good enough,” she repeatedly responds to Redfield when he won’t make a commitment to coronavirus testing).


theguardian--2020-10-01--Masculinity is a force in the US election – and women are responding accordingly | Jill Filipovic

Tuesday night ’ s presidential debate was a lot of things : a debacle , a degradation , a disaster .
But it was also a story about gender , and what it looks like when men lean on tired versions of white manliness to win .
Donald Trump ’ s entire political career has rested on aggrieved white masculinity .
In the president ’ s view – and the view of many of his followers – there is one way to be a man : you dominate , you hurt people , you use any means necessary to assert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pack .
You don ’ t need to earn respect or demonstrate competence in order to be elevated .
You don ’ t need to play by the rules .
You don ’ t need to be a good sportsman .
You just need to win .
This was all on full display at the first debate .
Trump interrupted Joe Biden so often that the debate wound up largely content-free .
When Trump spoke , he offered virtually nothing of substance ; he used his time , instead , to berate Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders and anything else that crossed his mind .
He was vulgar , aggressive and rude , refusing to abide by the rules he agreed to beforehand .
He was a know-nothing bully .
Joe Biden brings a different kind of white manhood to the election , although it ’ s also a familiar one .
He abides by ( or claims to abide by ) an old-school honor code that has long been on offer primarily to white men .
Respect is earned , not demanded ( although only men can really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a man ( although men get to define “ integrity ” and “ decency ” ) .
A win isn ’ t really a win if you cheat ( but men make the rules ) .
And if another man violates your honor or threatens you or someone you love , well , sometimes a man has to use his fists .
It goes without saying that both of these models are largely off-limits for women .
Nor are they particularly useful to men , although the Biden-style masculine honor model is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
And both of these versions of masculinity are largely put on .
Yes , they reflect something at the core of both candidates – Trump truly is a pathological narcissist ; Biden truly does believe that the old-school system works – but they ’ re also performances , a way of signaling who they want voters to believe them to be , and reflections of what each man thinks will help him win .
What ’ s interesting , though , is that while Biden projects the kind of masculinity that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premised on working hard , playing fair , having character , behaving honorably according to a clear moral code and protecting women and children – it ’ s Trump who most white men support .
Women , on the other hand , are rejecting cruel Trumpian masculinity in record numbers .
Trump faces the largest gender gap on record , with women overwhelmingly flocking to Biden .
Men don ’ t show as dramatic a preference , but they are still going for Trump by 13 points .
And this affinity is particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of likely white male voters supporting Trump , according to a Washington Post / ABC News poll .
Even more – 68 % – of white men without college degrees say they are supporting or leaning towards Trump .
And Trump has also made inroads with Black and Hispanic men .
Biden , on the other hand , has the support of a majority of women generally , 69 % of white college graduate women , and huge majorities of women of color .
Trump-style manhood clearly has an appeal .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even have to do the basics – support a family , behave decently , play by the rules – to be powerful and have social status .
This is especially acute for white men , who Trump insists are the true possessors of American identity and greatness .
He offers a model for them : You don ’ t have to treat women well or be polite to your fellow citizens ; you don ’ t need to work hard or be the kind of upstanding moral man other people admire .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identify a large group of lesser others , and crush anyone who might question you .
Men , and particularly conservative white men , have not lived up to their own expectations ; in response , they haven ’ t just lowered the bar , they ’ ve chucked it in the wood chipper .
Women , on the other hand , are increasingly rejecting Trump ’ s ruthless , immoral , macho version of manhood .
The bad news , though , is that even if Trump loses , the men who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominance aren ’ t going away .
And it ’ s women who will live with the consequences .

Tuesday night’s presidential debate was a lot of things: a debacle, a degradation, a disaster. But it was also a story about gender, and what it looks like when men lean on tired versions of white manliness to win.
Donald Trump’s entire political career has rested on aggrieved white masculinity. In the president’s view – and the view of many of his followers – there is one way to be a man: you dominate, you hurt people, you use any means necessary to assert yourself as the top dog in the pack. You don’t need to earn respect or demonstrate competence in order to be elevated. You don’t need to play by the rules. You don’t need to be a good sportsman. You just need to win.
This was all on full display at the first debate. Trump interrupted Joe Biden so often that the debate wound up largely content-free. When Trump spoke, he offered virtually nothing of substance; he used his time, instead, to berate Biden, Democrats, the left, Bernie Sanders and anything else that crossed his mind. He was vulgar, aggressive and rude, refusing to abide by the rules he agreed to beforehand. He was a know-nothing bully.
Joe Biden brings a different kind of white manhood to the election, although it’s also a familiar one. He abides by (or claims to abide by) an old-school honor code that has long been on offer primarily to white men. Respect is earned, not demanded (although only men can really earn it). Integrity and decency make a man (although men get to define “integrity” and “decency”). A win isn’t really a win if you cheat (but men make the rules). And if another man violates your honor or threatens you or someone you love, well, sometimes a man has to use his fists.
It’s all exhausting.
It goes without saying that both of these models are largely off-limits for women. Nor are they particularly useful to men, although the Biden-style masculine honor model is at least less awful for everyone around him. And both of these versions of masculinity are largely put on. Yes, they reflect something at the core of both candidates – Trump truly is a pathological narcissist; Biden truly does believe that the old-school system works – but they’re also performances, a way of signaling who they want voters to believe them to be, and reflections of what each man thinks will help him win.
What’s interesting, though, is that while Biden projects the kind of masculinity that many men claim to have – one premised on working hard, playing fair, having character, behaving honorably according to a clear moral code and protecting women and children – it’s Trump whom most white men support. Women, on the other hand, are rejecting cruel Trumpian masculinity in record numbers. Trump faces the largest gender gap on record, with women overwhelmingly flocking to Biden. Men don’t show as dramatic a preference, but they are still going for Trump by 13 points. And this affinity is particularly pronounced for white men, with 62% of likely white male voters supporting Trump, according to a Washington Post / ABC News poll. Even more – 68% – of white men without college degrees say they are supporting or leaning towards Trump. And Trump has also made inroads with Black and Hispanic men. Biden, on the other hand, has the support of a majority of women generally, 69% of white college graduate women, and huge majorities of women of color.
Trump-style manhood clearly has an appeal. He promises men that they don’t even have to do the basics – support a family, behave decently, play by the rules – to be powerful and have social status. This is especially acute for white men, who Trump insists are the true possessors of American identity and greatness. He offers a model for them: You don’t have to treat women well or be polite to your fellow citizens; you don’t need to work hard or be the kind of upstanding moral man other people admire. You just have to wave a flag, identify a large group of lesser others, and crush anyone who might question you.
Men, and particularly conservative white men, have not lived up to their own expectations; in response, they haven’t just lowered the bar, they’ve chucked it in the wood chipper. Women, on the other hand, are increasingly rejecting Trump’s ruthless, immoral, macho version of manhood. The bad news, though, is that even if Trump loses, the men who embrace his vision of masculinity as male dominance aren’t going away. And it’s women who will live with the consequences.


theguardian--2020-10-01--Trump is a person devoid of good character. Why doesn't it seem to matter? | Brigid Delaney's diary

If ever the importance of having a good character was put to the vote , it was in November 2016 .
Then , a reality TV star who flaunted his bad character ( from mocking a disabled reporter , to bragging about grabbing women by the pussy and disrespecting members of the military ) was voted president of the United States , and on some level the issue was settled .
Does character matter anymore ?
Increasingly , it seems no .
Donald Trump even snatched the conservative and evangelical Christian vote – a cohort who had claimed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centrality of character in leadership ” – and who had ostensibly rejected Bill Clinton ’ s candidacy on moral grounds .
Character – loosely defined as having moral and ethical qualities that guide your actions towards the greater good – is frequently eclipsed in the political sphere by charisma .
What Trump lacks in character he makes up for in an abundance of charisma – and this was enough to get him over the line in 2016 .
With his weirdly soporific voice and orange face , Trump is in turn mesmerising , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t look away .
Likewise the prime minister of the United Kingdom , Boris Johnson .
As entertaining and watchable as he is ( look at him dangling from a zip-line ! )
, his entire career , starting with early days as a journalist , has displayed behaviour revealing poor character , from allegedly making up quotes to lying about Brexit .
“ Lots of people are just awed by his charisma , ” Nicholas Allen , who teaches politics at Royal Holloway , University of London , told NPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They know that he is problematic .
They know that he ’ s a flawed character and they do not care .
If anything , they love him more for it.
” The corrosion of character in public life is part of a larger trend .
These days the place you ’ re most likely to hear a deep assessment of someone ’ s character is when you ’ re at their funeral .
In a pluralistic society , the idea of imposing an ideal character checklist on a range of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraught .
But despite societal shifts around personal morality , there are values that have existed since ancient times which are still relevant today .
For the Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome , nothing was more important than your character – not even your own life .
According to the Stoics , character was one of the only things you could control in life ( a life that was often harsh and unpredictable ) , therefore you had a duty to create and maintain the best character you possibly could .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ courage , self-control , wisdom and justice .
Nothing else mattered as much as this .
What ’ s more , it excluded no one .
Anyone could develop a good character , it was part of human nature , and with practise and commitment , it could flourish in each person .
For the ancients , having a good character not only made your own life easier ( you could absorb the blows of fortune a bit easier with wisdom and courage ) , but it made life better for those around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to fly into a rage and upset others .
With justice , you were committed to fair and equitable outcomes , not only for yourself but those around you .
If the Stoics could see life in 2020 , they ’ d be baffled and depressed .
Now western society has devolved to the extent that not only saying in a presidential debate “ will you shut up , man ” is celebrated as a prized piece of rhetoric , but the whole notion of character is increasingly devalued in public life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ types of virtue : success , status , fame , admiration and good looks .
In other words – the stuff of charisma , not character .
It ’ s my hope that the ghastliness and profound emptiness of this current political and cultural moment spurs a revival of the importance of character .
In the recent deaths of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and actor Chadwick Boseman , they were remembered not only for their substantial professional achievements but also for their actions .
Story after story emerged about how well they conducted themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other words , they were remembered for their character .
As the US faces another election , Trump is again showing us who he is .
He is a man devoid of character – a mogul who paid less tax in 2017 than a school teacher , who is reported to have belittled the American war dead as “ losers ” , and who holds big indoor rallies filled with maskless older voters during a deadly pandemic .
He is not leading by Roman statesman ’ s Cicero ’ s maxim : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the highest law.
” Maybe we , the citizens , need to take the lead in displaying good character .
We may not frame it this way , but in 2020 , all of us , every day , are called on to display classical concepts of character .
The virtue of justice requires us to undertake a serious examination of systemic racism , particularly in policing and justice systems .
Self-control requires not going out when it ’ s unsafe to do so , or not breaking health orders that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wisdom is accepting science and the need to adapt to a global pandemic when we are yet to develop a vaccine .
And courage : to face the scary present and the unknown future .
• None Brigid Delaney is co-writing ( with Andrew Charlton ) a book on Stoicism to be published by Allen and Unwin in 2021

If ever the importance of having a good character was put to the vote, it was in November 2016. Then, a reality TV star who flaunted his bad character (from mocking a disabled reporter, to bragging about grabbing women by the pussy and disrespecting members of the military) was voted president of the United States, and on some level the issue was settled.
Does character matter anymore? Increasingly, it seems no.
Donald Trump even snatched the conservative and evangelical Christian vote – a cohort who had claimed in the past to be committed to the “centrality of character in leadership” – and who had ostensibly rejected Bill Clinton’s candidacy on moral grounds.
Character – loosely defined as having moral and ethical qualities that guide your actions towards the greater good – is frequently eclipsed in the political sphere by charisma.
What Trump lacks in character he makes up for in an abundance of charisma – and this was enough to get him over the line in 2016. With his weirdly soporific voice and orange face, Trump is in turn mesmerising, entertaining, appalling and shocking. You can’t look away.
Likewise the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson. As entertaining and watchable as he is (look at him dangling from a zip-line!), his entire career, starting with early days as a journalist, has displayed behaviour revealing poor character, from allegedly making up quotes to lying about Brexit.
“Lots of people are just awed by his charisma,” Nicholas Allen, who teaches politics at Royal Holloway, University of London, told NPR just prior to Johnson’s re-election.
“They know that he is problematic. They know that he’s a flawed character and they do not care. If anything, they love him more for it.”
He’s flawed – and they don’t care.
If the Stoics could see life in 2020, they’d be baffled and depressed
The corrosion of character in public life is part of a larger trend. These days the place you’re most likely to hear a deep assessment of someone’s character is when you’re at their funeral.
In a pluralistic society, the idea of imposing an ideal character checklist on a range of people from a variety of backgrounds feels fraught. But despite societal shifts around personal morality, there are values that have existed since ancient times which are still relevant today.
For the Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome, nothing was more important than your character – not even your own life. According to the Stoics, character was one of the only things you could control in life (a life that was often harsh and unpredictable), therefore you had a duty to create and maintain the best character you possibly could. A good character was one that cultivated courage, self-control, wisdom and justice. Nothing else mattered as much as this. What’s more, it excluded no one. Anyone could develop a good character, it was part of human nature, and with practise and commitment, it could flourish in each person.
For the ancients, having a good character not only made your own life easier (you could absorb the blows of fortune a bit easier with wisdom and courage), but it made life better for those around you. With self-control you were less likely to fly into a rage and upset others. With justice, you were committed to fair and equitable outcomes, not only for yourself but those around you.
If the Stoics could see life in 2020, they’d be baffled and depressed. Now western society has devolved to the extent that not only saying in a presidential debate “will you shut up, man” is celebrated as a prized piece of rhetoric, but the whole notion of character is increasingly devalued in public life. Instead we have been rewarding different types of virtue: success, status, fame, admiration and good looks. In other words – the stuff of charisma, not character.
01:31 A contrast of styles: New Zealand v US leaders' election debate – video
It’s my hope that the ghastliness and profound emptiness of this current political and cultural moment spurs a revival of the importance of character. In the recent deaths of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and actor Chadwick Boseman, they were remembered not only for their substantial professional achievements but also for their actions. Story after story emerged about how well they conducted themselves and how kindly they treated others. In other words, they were remembered for their character.
As the US faces another election, Trump is again showing us who he is. He is a man devoid of character – a mogul who paid less tax in 2017 than a school teacher, who is reported to have belittled the American war dead as “losers”, and who holds big indoor rallies filled with maskless older voters during a deadly pandemic.
Maybe we, the citizens, need to take the lead in displaying good character
He is not leading by Roman statesman’s Cicero’s maxim: “The safety of the people shall be the highest law.”
Maybe we, the citizens, need to take the lead in displaying good character. We may not frame it this way, but in 2020, all of us, every day, are called on to display classical concepts of character.
The virtue of justice requires us to undertake a serious examination of systemic racism, particularly in policing and justice systems. Self-control requires not going out when it’s unsafe to do so, or not breaking health orders that may result in the spread of the coronavirus. Wisdom is accepting science and the need to adapt to a global pandemic when we are yet to develop a vaccine. And courage: to face the scary present and the unknown future.
Brigid Delaney is co-writing (with Andrew Charlton) a book on Stoicism to be published by Allen and Unwin in 2021


theguardian--2020-10-01--Trump has starved Americans of human compassion. Biden finally offered us some | Francine Prose

An observation we ’ ve been hearing in the aftermath of the first 2020 presidential debate is that Donald Trump succeeded , as he so often does , in making everything about himself , a referendum on his greatness .
Since the debate , the public conversation has focused on Trump ’ s shameless nonstop lying , his bullying interruptions , his petulant resting face and vitriolic flashes of childish meanness .
The wanton disregard for the rules that his fans appear to admire .
His mockery of scientific norms , his lack of concern for human life , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with forest management and the price of new cars .
His “ very good ” handling of the Covid pandemic .
His terrifying refusal to agree on a peaceful handover of power and to distance himself from white supremacists .
His shout-out to the ultra-right Proud Boys : Stand back .
Stand by .
Stand by for what ?
And the frightening implications of where his positions might lead .
To say that something made one ’ s blood run cold is doubtless just an expression , and yet I felt a chill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate , Trump encouraged his followers to serve as “ poll watchers ” .
What would the scenario look like : a squad of poll-watching Proud Boys in a city such as Philadelphia , a plan Trump floated , somewhat cryptically – because “ bad things happen ” there .
When people say , as they have been , that the debate was “ a disaster ” , “ a catastrophe ” and “ an embarrassment ” , it should be clear that they ’ re not talking about Joe Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was neither disastrous , catastrophic nor embarrassing .
To describe the debate in those terms almost suggests that Joe Biden was hardly present , only marginally a force to be reckoned with .
The main event was Donald blithering soundbites about ballots in ditches .
No one could have possibly envied Joe Biden , subjected to an internationally televised barrage of mocking insinuations , insults and patently obvious lies .
One imagines that Biden ’ s team worked to prepare him for precisely that .
But only in the movies does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the bully or the mugger .
Only Hillary Clinton and Trump ’ s out-of-favor employees could have told Biden what it was like to be in a public forum , however socially distanced , and withstand that level of personal assault .
How disappointed Biden ’ s campaign must be to find out , in the press , that hardly anyone seems to have heard what Joe Biden actually said .
He ’ s been getting points for looking into the camera , for talking directly to the American people , unlike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trapped inside himself and waiting for a chance to erupt .
It ’ s depressing enough that we , the people , are supposed to feel grateful that a presidential candidate is directly looking at , talking to , us .
We ’ re so thankful to be seen that we don ’ t need to listen .
When we could hear him , we realized that Biden had given serious thought to how to handle the pandemic , restart the economy , and phase out our dependence on fossil fuels .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile I kept thinking how low the bar has been set if I ’ m thankful that a US presidential candidate acknowledges the reality of climate change and the importance of wearing masks .
Those who succeeded in screening out Trump ’ s cacophonous noise and listening to Joe Biden may have noticed a moment that was , to me , a high point of the debate .
And yet it has mostly gone unnoticed in calculation of high and low points , and in the uproar over what a bad boy Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s son .
It was the moment when Joe Biden ( yes , looking directly into the camera ) said , “ When I hear 200,000 deaths , I think of the empty chairs at dining room tables all across the country , which just months ago were filled by loved ones .
It didn ’ t have to be this bad.
” It ’ s the sort of statement that many of us have been waiting to hear , some genuine acknowledgment of the human costs , the pain of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger if more approximate statistic : the multiplication of the figure , the 200,000 fatalities , by the number of grieving loved ones who now have an empty space at the dinner table , and a hollow in their lives .
How have we learned to settle for being led by a man who would never say this , who has no conception of ( or pity for ) human grief , loss or love ?
Or perhaps Trump honestly believes that the mourners at the table will be consoled by the great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare .
How eager we are for any expression of human compassion , and yet a columnist in the rightwing National Review has written that Joe Biden , in making the statement , demonstrated a “ fake , self-serving kind of empathy ” and “ is guilty of emotional blackmail ” .
Is our nation so divided and poisoned by heartlessness that any expression of human sympathy arouses suspicion and contempt ?
Meanwhile on Joe Biden ’ s Twitter feed , a “ prominent Proud Boy ” is quoted as saying , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
This makes me so happy.
” Odds are , those guys didn ’ t think the debate was a catastrophe or a disaster .
Chances are good that those guys saw , in Donald Trump ’ s performance , a presidential pardon in advance , a historic get-out-of jail-free card – in other words , a triumph .

An observation we’ve been hearing in the aftermath of the first 2020 presidential debate is that Donald Trump succeeded, as he so often does, in making everything about himself, a referendum on his greatness.
Since the debate, the public conversation has focused on Trump’s shameless nonstop lying, his bullying interruptions, his petulant resting face and vitriolic flashes of childish meanness. The wanton disregard for the rules that his fans appear to admire. His mockery of scientific norms, his lack of concern for human life, his reduction of climate change to some problem with forest management and the price of new cars. His “very good” handling of the Covid pandemic.
His terrifying refusal to agree on a peaceful handover of power and to distance himself from white supremacists. His shout-out to the ultra-right Proud Boys: Stand back. Stand by. Stand by for what? And the frightening implications of where his positions might lead. To say that something made one’s blood run cold is doubtless just an expression, and yet I felt a chill when, in the latter part of the debate, Trump encouraged his followers to serve as “poll watchers”. What would the scenario look like: a squad of poll-watching Proud Boys in a city such as Philadelphia, a plan Trump floated, somewhat cryptically – because “bad things happen” there.
When people say that the debate was a disaster, it should be clear that they’re not talking about Joe Biden
When people say, as they have been, that the debate was “a disaster”, “a catastrophe” and “an embarrassment”, it should be clear that they’re not talking about Joe Biden. Whatever one might think about his performance, it was neither disastrous, catastrophic nor embarrassing. To describe the debate in those terms almost suggests that Joe Biden was hardly present, only marginally a force to be reckoned with. The main event was Donald blithering soundbites about ballots in ditches.
No one could have possibly envied Joe Biden, subjected to an internationally televised barrage of mocking insinuations, insults and patently obvious lies. One imagines that Biden’s team worked to prepare him for precisely that. But only in the movies does the karate student always succeed in beating up the bully or the mugger. Only Hillary Clinton and Trump’s out-of-favor employees could have told Biden what it was like to be in a public forum, however socially distanced, and withstand that level of personal assault.
How disappointed Biden’s campaign must be to find out, in the press, that hardly anyone seems to have heard what Joe Biden actually said. He’s been getting points for looking into the camera, for talking directly to the American people, unlike his opponent’s transparent fuming, trapped inside himself and waiting for a chance to erupt. It’s depressing enough that we, the people, are supposed to feel grateful that a presidential candidate is directly looking at, talking to, us. We’re so thankful to be seen that we don’t need to listen.
When we could hear him, we realized that Biden had given serious thought to how to handle the pandemic, restart the economy, and phase out our dependence on fossil fuels. He had ideas, he had plans. Meanwhile I kept thinking how low the bar has been set if I’m thankful that a US presidential candidate acknowledges the reality of climate change and the importance of wearing masks.
Those who succeeded in screening out Trump’s cacophonous noise and listening to Joe Biden may have noticed a moment that was, to me, a high point of the debate. And yet it has mostly gone unnoticed in calculation of high and low points, and in the uproar over what a bad boy Donald was when he went after Joe Biden’s son.
It was the moment when Joe Biden (yes, looking directly into the camera) said, “When I hear 200,000 deaths, I think of the empty chairs at dining room tables all across the country, which just months ago were filled by loved ones. It didn’t have to be this bad.”
Biden gave the sort of statement that many of us have been waiting to hear, some genuine acknowledgment of the pandemic's human costs
It’s the sort of statement that many of us have been waiting to hear, some genuine acknowledgment of the human costs, the pain of all the death. It’s a larger if more approximate statistic: the multiplication of the figure, the 200,000 fatalities, by the number of grieving loved ones who now have an empty space at the dinner table, and a hollow in their lives. How have we learned to settle for being led by a man who would never say this, who has no conception of (or pity for) human grief, loss or love? Or perhaps Trump honestly believes that the mourners at the table will be consoled by the great job that Donald Trump is doing on healthcare.
How eager we are for any expression of human compassion, and yet a columnist in the rightwing National Review has written that Joe Biden, in making the statement, demonstrated a “fake, self-serving kind of empathy” and “is guilty of emotional blackmail”. Is our nation so divided and poisoned by heartlessness that any expression of human sympathy arouses suspicion and contempt?
Meanwhile on Joe Biden’s Twitter feed, a “prominent Proud Boy” is quoted as saying, “Trump basically said go fuck them up! This makes me so happy.” Odds are, those guys didn’t think the debate was a catastrophe or a disaster. Chances are good that those guys saw, in Donald Trump’s performance, a presidential pardon in advance, a historic get-out-of jail-free card – in other words, a triumph.