shareblue--2020-12-19--US churches increasingly commit to reparations for 'deep history of racism'

The Episcopal Diocese of Texas acknowledges that its first bishop in 1859 was a slaveholder .
An Episcopal church in New York City erects a plaque noting the building 's creation in 1810 was made possible by wealth resulting from slavery .
And the Minnesota Council of Churches cites a host of injustices — from mid-19th century atrocities against Native Americans to police killings of Black people — in launching a first-of-its kind `` truth and reparations '' initiative engaging its 25 member denominations .
These efforts reflect a widespread surge of interest among many U.S. religious groups in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protestant churches that were active in the era of slavery .
Many are initiating or considering how to make amends through financial investments and long-term programs benefiting African Americans .
Some major denominations , including the Roman Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention , have not embraced reparations as official policy .
The Episcopal Church has been the most active major denomination thus far , and others , including the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America , are urging congregations to consider similar steps .
The Minnesota Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Minnesota has some of the highest racial disparities in the country — in health , wealth , housing , how police treat folks , '' said the council 's CEO , the Rev .
Curtiss DeYoung .
`` Those disparities all come from a deep history of racism . ''
The initiative , envisioned as a 10-year undertaking , is distinctive in several ways .
It engages a diverse collection of Christian denominations , including some that are predominantly Black ; it will model some of its efforts on the Truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa after the end of apartheid ; and it is based in Minneapolis , where the police killing of George Floyd in May sparked global protests over racial injustice .
`` This particular event , because it was right here where we live , was a call to action , '' DeYoung said .
`` The first thing that we did , of course , like everyone else , was get into the streets and march ... but there are deep , historic issues that require more than marching . ''
Another notable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it seeks to address social justice concerns of African Americans and Native Americans in a unified way .
`` For so long these have been two separate camps — Indigenous people and African Americans felt they are competing against each other for the same limited resources , '' said the Rev .
Jim Bear Jacobs , a Native American who is the church council 's director of racial justice .
`` By bringing these two communities together , it removes that mindset of , 'We have to get ours , and that might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' '' he said .
Jacobs belongs to a Wisconsin-based Mohican tribe but was born in Minnesota and is well-versed in the grim chapters of the latter 's history regarding Native Americans .
He cited the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 , which ended with the internment of hundreds of Dakota people and the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato — the largest mass execution in U.S. history .
After the war , many of the Dakota were expelled from the state .
Jacobs hopes to see churches commit to ongoing financial support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and languages .
`` I want it to be a line in their budget , like they do for building maintenance , '' he said .
`` If all the churches do is take up a special offering , there 's no shift in the power dynamics that created these problems in the first place . ''
The Rev .
Stacey Smith , presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Minnesota and a member of the Council of Churches board , said the reparations initiative places the state `` at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Truth-telling in our stories is so important , '' she said as the project was announced .
`` There has been such a vacuum of missing stories , not only from Black and brown people but our Indigenous people and others as well . ''
In the Episcopal Church , several dioceses — including Maryland , Texas , Long Island , and New York — launched reparations programs in the past 13 months , while others are preparing to do so .
The Diocese of Georgia is committing 3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a center for racial reconciliation .
`` Each diocese will make its own decisions how to do this work , '' said New York Bishop Andrew Dietsche .
`` What is common across the whole church is the recognition that it 's time to address and reckon with the wrongs and evils of our past . ''
The largest pledge thus far came from the Diocese of Texas , which announced in February that it would allocate $ 13 million to long-term programs benefiting African Americans .
This will include scholarships for students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistance for historic Black churches .
The Texas Diocese bishop , C. Andrew Doyle , noted that slavery played a key role in the diocese 's origins .
Its first bishop , Alexander Gregg , was a slaveholder , and its first church , in the town of Matagorda , was built with slave labor .
The Diocese of New York , which serves part of New York City and seven counties to the north , was similarly blunt about its history while unveiling its $ 1.1 million reparations initiative in November 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` significant , and genuinely evil , part in American slavery '' — including some churches ' use of slaves as parish servants .
He noted that in 1860 , on the eve of the Civil War , delegates at the diocese 's convention refused to approve a resolution condemning slavery .
`` We have a great deal to answer for , '' Dietsche said .
`` We are complicit . ''
Over the past year , a multiracial committee has been studying possible uses for those reparation funds .
At one point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' featuring prayer , meditation , and discussions about combating racism ; Dietsche said participation was capped at 1,000 and organizers had to turn some people away .
Specific recommendations for spending the $ 1.1 million will come later in 2021 .
But Dietsche expects some funds will help congregations launch their own reparations initiatives , particularly if their churches had historical involvement in slavery .
St. James ' Episcopal Church , in a posh neighborhood on Manhattan 's Upper East Side , dedicated a plaque a year ago with the inscription , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persons whose labor created wealth that made possible the founding of St. James ' Church '' in 1810 .
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland voted in September to create a $ 1 million reparations fund , likely to finance programs supporting Black students , nursing home residents , small-business owners , and others .
The vote at the diocese 's annual convention was 189-31 , an outcome preceded by years of research into how it had benefited from slavery and racial inequality .
While Dietsche and Doyle are white , the bishop of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first Black cleric to hold that post .
He periodically converses with white people who oppose reparations on the grounds that they are not personally guilty of slaveholding or racism , and should not be asked to pay for those wrongs .
`` That is a false conception , '' Sutton said .
`` Reparations is simply , 'What will this generation do to repair the damage caused by previous generations ? '
... We may not all be guilty , but we all have a responsibility . ''
Sutton said the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial investment in a long-term program , represents about 20 % of the diocese 's operating budget .
`` We wanted something that would actually not just be a drop in the bucket — it 's going to cost us , '' he said .
`` We 've done that in recognition of the fact that this church , as well as many other churches and institutions , benefited from theft .
We stole from the impoverished , from the African American community . ''
Many of the United Methodist Church 's regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Episcopalians , considering various steps to benefit people of color .
The bishop of the UMC 's Florida Conference , Kenneth Carter , has formed an anti-racism task force and says commitments to financial reparations are likely to follow .
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has not embraced the term `` reparations '' in its official policies .
The word never appears in a 2018 pastoral letter condemning `` the ugly cancer '' of racism , though the document encourages support for programs `` that help repair the damages caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gregory , the Black archbishop of Washington , D.C. , told the Associated Press in October that initiatives involving financial reparations should be made by individual institutions , not by the U.S. church as a whole .
He cited the example of Catholic-affiliated Georgetown University , which last year committed funds to benefit descendants of enslaved people sold in 1838 to pay off debt .
However , there have been calls by some Black Catholics for substantive reparations by the church nationwide , due to its past involvement in slavery and segregation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Villanova University , has proposed several steps the church could take , including issuing formal apologies , investing in Catholic schools serving Black communities , and requiring that the history of Black Catholics be taught in church schools .
`` Black Catholic history reminds us that the Church was never an innocent bystander in the histories of colonialism , slavery or segregation , '' Williams wrote in an email .

The Episcopal Diocese of Texas acknowledges that its first bishop in 1859 was a slaveholder. An Episcopal church in New York City erects a plaque noting the building’s creation in 1810 was made possible by wealth resulting from slavery.
And the Minnesota Council of Churches cites a host of injustices — from mid-19th century atrocities against Native Americans to police killings of Black people — in launching a first-of-its kind “truth and reparations” initiative engaging its 25 member denominations.
These efforts reflect a widespread surge of interest among many U.S. religious groups in the area of reparations, particularly among long-established Protestant churches that were active in the era of slavery. Many are initiating or considering how to make amends through financial investments and long-term programs benefiting African Americans.
Some major denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention, have not embraced reparations as official policy. The Episcopal Church has been the most active major denomination thus far, and others, including the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, are urging congregations to consider similar steps.
The Minnesota Council of Churches initiative was announced in October.
“Minnesota has some of the highest racial disparities in the country — in health, wealth, housing, how police treat folks,” said the council’s CEO, the Rev. Curtiss DeYoung. “Those disparities all come from a deep history of racism.”
The initiative, envisioned as a 10-year undertaking, is distinctive in several ways. It engages a diverse collection of Christian denominations, including some that are predominantly Black; it will model some of its efforts on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that operated in South Africa after the end of apartheid; and it is based in Minneapolis, where the police killing of George Floyd in May sparked global protests over racial injustice.
“This particular event, because it was right here where we live, was a call to action,” DeYoung said. “The first thing that we did, of course, like everyone else, was get into the streets and march … but there are deep, historic issues that require more than marching.”
Another notable aspect of the Minnesota initiative is that it seeks to address social justice concerns of African Americans and Native Americans in a unified way.
“For so long these have been two separate camps — Indigenous people and African Americans felt they are competing against each other for the same limited resources,” said the Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs, a Native American who is the church council’s director of racial justice.
“By bringing these two communities together, it removes that mindset of, ‘We have to get ours, and that might mean you don’t get yours,'” he said.
Jacobs belongs to a Wisconsin-based Mohican tribe but was born in Minnesota and is well-versed in the grim chapters of the latter’s history regarding Native Americans. He cited the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, which ended with the internment of hundreds of Dakota people and the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato — the largest mass execution in U.S. history. After the war, many of the Dakota were expelled from the state.
Jacobs hopes to see churches commit to ongoing financial support for Native Americans to reclaim their culture and languages.
“I want it to be a line in their budget, like they do for building maintenance,” he said. “If all the churches do is take up a special offering, there’s no shift in the power dynamics that created these problems in the first place.”
The Rev. Stacey Smith, presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Minnesota and a member of the Council of Churches board, said the reparations initiative places the state “at the epicenter of being transformed with racial justice.”
“Truth-telling in our stories is so important,” she said as the project was announced. “There has been such a vacuum of missing stories, not only from Black and brown people but our Indigenous people and others as well.”
In the Episcopal Church, several dioceses — including Maryland, Texas, Long Island, and New York — launched reparations programs in the past 13 months, while others are preparing to do so. The Diocese of Georgia is committing 3% of its unrestricted endowment to help create a center for racial reconciliation.
“Each diocese will make its own decisions how to do this work,” said New York Bishop Andrew Dietsche. “What is common across the whole church is the recognition that it’s time to address and reckon with the wrongs and evils of our past.”
The largest pledge thus far came from the Diocese of Texas, which announced in February that it would allocate $13 million to long-term programs benefiting African Americans. This will include scholarships for students attending seminaries or historically Black colleges and assistance for historic Black churches.
The Texas Diocese bishop, C. Andrew Doyle, noted that slavery played a key role in the diocese’s origins. Its first bishop, Alexander Gregg, was a slaveholder, and its first church, in the town of Matagorda, was built with slave labor.
The Diocese of New York, which serves part of New York City and seven counties to the north, was similarly blunt about its history while unveiling its $1.1 million reparations initiative in November 2019.
Dietsche said the diocese played a “significant, and genuinely evil, part in American slavery” — including some churches’ use of slaves as parish servants. He noted that in 1860, on the eve of the Civil War, delegates at the diocese’s convention refused to approve a resolution condemning slavery.
“We have a great deal to answer for,” Dietsche said. “We are complicit.”
Over the past year, a multiracial committee has been studying possible uses for those reparation funds. At one point it convened an online “apology retreat” featuring prayer, meditation, and discussions about combating racism; Dietsche said participation was capped at 1,000 and organizers had to turn some people away.
Specific recommendations for spending the $1.1 million will come later in 2021. But Dietsche expects some funds will help congregations launch their own reparations initiatives, particularly if their churches had historical involvement in slavery.
St. James’ Episcopal Church, in a posh neighborhood on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, dedicated a plaque a year ago with the inscription, “In solemn remembrance of the enslaved persons whose labor created wealth that made possible the founding of St. James’ Church” in 1810.
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland voted in September to create a $1 million reparations fund, likely to finance programs supporting Black students, nursing home residents, small-business owners, and others. The vote at the diocese’s annual convention was 189-31, an outcome preceded by years of research into how it had benefited from slavery and racial inequality.
While Dietsche and Doyle are white, the bishop of Maryland, Eugene Sutton, is the first Black cleric to hold that post. He periodically converses with white people who oppose reparations on the grounds that they are not personally guilty of slaveholding or racism, and should not be asked to pay for those wrongs.
“That is a false conception,” Sutton said. “Reparations is simply, ‘What will this generation do to repair the damage caused by previous generations?’ … We may not all be guilty, but we all have a responsibility.”
Sutton said the $1 million allocation, envisioned as an initial investment in a long-term program, represents about 20% of the diocese’s operating budget.
“We wanted something that would actually not just be a drop in the bucket — it’s going to cost us,” he said. “We’ve done that in recognition of the fact that this church, as well as many other churches and institutions, benefited from theft. We stole from the impoverished, from the African American community.”
Many of the United Methodist Church’s regional conferences are moving in a direction similar to the Episcopalians, considering various steps to benefit people of color. The bishop of the UMC’s Florida Conference, Kenneth Carter, has formed an anti-racism task force and says commitments to financial reparations are likely to follow.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has not embraced the term “reparations” in its official policies. The word never appears in a 2018 pastoral letter condemning “the ugly cancer” of racism, though the document encourages support for programs “that help repair the damages caused by racial discrimination.”
Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the Black archbishop of Washington, D.C., told the Associated Press in October that initiatives involving financial reparations should be made by individual institutions, not by the U.S. church as a whole. He cited the example of Catholic-affiliated Georgetown University, which last year committed funds to benefit descendants of enslaved people sold in 1838 to pay off debt.
However, there have been calls by some Black Catholics for substantive reparations by the church nationwide, due to its past involvement in slavery and segregation.
Shannen Dee Williams, a Black historian at Villanova University, has proposed several steps the church could take, including issuing formal apologies, investing in Catholic schools serving Black communities, and requiring that the history of Black Catholics be taught in church schools.
“Black Catholic history reminds us that the Church was never an innocent bystander in the histories of colonialism, slavery or segregation,” Williams wrote in an email.


shareblue--2020-12-19--Trump administration takes one more shot at women's health care while it can

The anti-choice policies pushed by Donald Trump and Mike Pence will likely soon be a thing of the past , but the outgoing administration is going to do as much damage to reproductive freedom as it can before Jan. 20 .
The latest attack comes in the form of one last change to Title X , which is supposed to provide money for family planning services for low-income people .
Title X funds used to go to organizations that actually provide comprehensive family planning services , such as Planned Parenthood , which had been treating 40 % of the 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Under the Trump administration , that money has been diverted to organizations that push natural family planning and abstinence rather than contraception or abortion .
Now the administration is finalizing a rule change that will narrow the scope of Title X funds even further .
The rule change will allow faith-based providers to receive Title X dollars even if they refuse to inform patients about services they do n't provide because of their religious beliefs .
They can also receive Title X dollars even if they refuse to refer people to other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't that religious groups were previously prohibited from getting Title X funds : They just had to follow the rules like everyone else .
Under President Barack Obama , religious health care and social service groups were required to refer patients to a different provider that could provide contraception and abortion services if the patient wished .
They 've never been forced to provide something to which they are morally opposed .
But , in an echo of conservative attacks on the Affordable Care Act 's birth control mandate , the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social service providers even to mention that another organization could provide contraception is a violation of religious freedom .
This is yet another way the Trump administration has placed a conservative evangelical view of `` religious freedom '' above all other rights .
It denies people safe , effective , and legal access to birth control and abortion .
Instead , it gives money to organizations like Obria , an organization that passes itself off as promoting `` natural family planning '' and says it provides a `` telemedicine '' app , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Accountability calls `` a religious ministry masquerading as a healthcare group '' that foists abstinence and medically unsound ideas like `` abortion pill reversal '' on people .
Under the Trump administration , anti-abortion groups have gotten everything they wanted .
And , as Trump 's time in office comes to a close , the administration is racing to make sure it enshrines as much conservative religious belief into law as it possibly can .
Indeed , this most recent `` religious freedom '' rule does n't just apply to Title X @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering nine agencies , from HUD to Veterans Affairs to the Department of Education and more .
While the incoming Biden administration will be able to undo some of this damage , it will take time .
Meanwhile , religious groups will be given taxpayer dollars to push a narrow evangelical belief system on everyone .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The anti-choice policies pushed by Donald Trump and Mike Pence will likely soon be a thing of the past, but the outgoing administration is going to do as much damage to reproductive freedom as it can before Jan. 20.
The latest attack comes in the form of one last change to Title X, which is supposed to provide money for family planning services for low-income people.
Title X funds used to go to organizations that actually provide comprehensive family planning services, such as Planned Parenthood, which had been treating 40% of the 4 million patients receiving care under Title X. Under the Trump administration, that money has been diverted to organizations that push natural family planning and abstinence rather than contraception or abortion.
Now the administration is finalizing a rule change that will narrow the scope of Title X funds even further. The rule change will allow faith-based providers to receive Title X dollars even if they refuse to inform patients about services they don’t provide because of their religious beliefs. They can also receive Title X dollars even if they refuse to refer people to other providers that offer contraceptive services.
It isn’t that religious groups were previously prohibited from getting Title X funds: They just had to follow the rules like everyone else.
Under President Barack Obama, religious health care and social service groups were required to refer patients to a different provider that could provide contraception and abortion services if the patient wished. They’ve never been forced to provide something to which they are morally opposed.
But, in an echo of conservative attacks on the Affordable Care Act’s birth control mandate, the administration believes that requiring religious health care or social service providers even to mention that another organization could provide contraception is a violation of religious freedom.
This is yet another way the Trump administration has placed a conservative evangelical view of “religious freedom” above all other rights. It denies people safe, effective, and legal access to birth control and abortion. Instead, it gives money to organizations like Obria, an organization that passes itself off as promoting “natural family planning” and says it provides a “telemedicine” app, but is actually what the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability calls “a religious ministry masquerading as a healthcare group” that foists abstinence and medically unsound ideas like “abortion pill reversal” on people.
Under the Trump administration, anti-abortion groups have gotten everything they wanted. And, as Trump’s time in office comes to a close, the administration is racing to make sure it enshrines as much conservative religious belief into law as it possibly can.
Indeed, this most recent “religious freedom” rule doesn’t just apply to Title X funding. It’s a joint rule covering nine agencies, from HUD to Veterans Affairs to the Department of Education and more.
While the incoming Biden administration will be able to undo some of this damage, it will take time. Meanwhile, religious groups will be given taxpayer dollars to push a narrow evangelical belief system on everyone.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-20--Opinion: Georgia's faith community needs to harness its power this election

I am a rabbi in Atlanta .
Many members of my congregation have spent the last few months helping local organizations increase voter registration and voter turnout as we prepare for the Georgia runoff election .
While we do n't endorse candidates , our faith leads us to care about specific issues — health care , immigration , economic and racial justice , the climate , and LGBTQ rights among them — and influences how we vote .
Much is at stake on Jan. 5 , not only for Georgians , but for the whole country .
Across our nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have seen so many programs that we care about become dismantled , and there is a growing sense of unease in the face of increasing racism , xenophobia , antisemitism , and other forms of bigotry .
People have lost their jobs , are unsure of their financial futures , and are uncertain of when they will see their extended family .
We need our elected officials to commit to effective policy , and to govern with their hearts and minds.The religious community has a unique opportunity to lead this effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by gay and lesbian Jews .
When I was ordained as a rabbi in 1999 , I was serving a synagogue in Baltimore , Maryland .
I loved it there , but I wanted to return home to Georgia .
I knew going home would present challenges .
The Atlanta Jewish community is more conventional than some other Jewish communities — and I did not know of any other openly LGBTQ rabbis in the South during that time .
It was clear that I would have to expand my sense of colleagueship by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is what I did .
My interfaith work over the last 20 years illuminated a new Georgia to me that the rest of the country may not be familiar with .
After 9/11 , leaders in the faith community wanted to rally around our Muslim neighbors who were being unfairly attacked .
We were unable to do this right away , however , because we did not know each other .
We made an effort to break bread with one another and formed an alliance rooted in our shared values , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The faith community did not just begin organizing in 2001 .
The religious communities have been part of every social movement in the United States , most notably the civil rights movement .
Black voters in Georgia have shown up and organized election after election .
We are hoping to build upon that model to represent the diverse electorate in our state .
Candidates up and down the ballot should do more to court progressive faith voters directly .
We need to prioritize direct outreach to this potentially powerful voting bloc .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they can easily mobilize their communities around the salient moral and ethical issues that need more than a political response .
In 2001 , I was the youngest faith leader in this interfaith alliance .
Although we were able to accept each other and form friendships , I remember feeling frustrated that we could not have essential but difficult conversations out of fear of disrupting a perceived fragile connection .
Our new generation of faith leaders excites me because they are not afraid to ask each other tough questions and are committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves , particularly the Jewish community .
I work with a Muslim man named Munir , who has done tremendous work organizing in our community .
He has organized volunteers — including faith leaders — working to get out the vote .
We have taken some of our organizing efforts online and are beginning to mobilize and connect our faith networks .
This multi-generational interfaith network is needed to bolster the progressive religious community in Georgia and on the national level .
Relational organizing , talking to people with whom you have connections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is second nature for people of faith .
Our relationships are the foundation for understanding our role in promoting the common good .
My father was a physician , and he taught me the importance of this connection .
He started the Gwinnett County Community Clinic because he wanted to make sure everyone had access to affordable health care .
He rejected federal dollars because he did not want to turn anyone away on the basis of their immigration status .
Whether they were documented or not , he was determined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia shifted demographically .
When he closed his doors in 2015 , Gwinnett County and the people he served had completely transformed .
It now looks like much of the rest of Georgia .
There are strong immigrant communities and many new Americans like my husband .
Georgia is vibrant , and that needs to be supported and celebrated .
We may all be of different religions , but our faith and shared progressive values bring us together .
We can be a leader in the new South by finding common ground and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights , particularly in these trying times .
The election on Jan. 5 will be a defining moment in our state because it could allow us to emerge as the Georgia we all believe we can be .
Joshua Lesser is a rabbi at Congregation Bet Haverim .
He resides with his husband in Atlanta , Georgia .

I am a rabbi in Atlanta. Many members of my congregation have spent the last few months helping local organizations increase voter registration and voter turnout as we prepare for the Georgia runoff election.
While we don’t endorse candidates, our faith leads us to care about specific issues — health care, immigration, economic and racial justice, the climate, and LGBTQ rights among them — and influences how we vote.
Much is at stake on Jan. 5, not only for Georgians, but for the whole country.
Across our nation, there is tremendous suffering and uncertainty.
We have seen so many programs that we care about become dismantled, and there is a growing sense of unease in the face of increasing racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, and other forms of bigotry.
People have lost their jobs, are unsure of their financial futures, and are uncertain of when they will see their extended family.
We need our elected officials to commit to effective policy, and to govern with their hearts and minds.The religious community has a unique opportunity to lead this effort.
The synagogue I serve was founded by gay and lesbian Jews. When I was ordained as a rabbi in 1999, I was serving a synagogue in Baltimore, Maryland. I loved it there, but I wanted to return home to Georgia.
I knew going home would present challenges. The Atlanta Jewish community is more conventional than some other Jewish communities — and I did not know of any other openly LGBTQ rabbis in the South during that time.
It was clear that I would have to expand my sense of colleagueship by building relationships with people outside my tradition, which is what I did.
My interfaith work over the last 20 years illuminated a new Georgia to me that the rest of the country may not be familiar with.
After 9/11, leaders in the faith community wanted to rally around our Muslim neighbors who were being unfairly attacked. We were unable to do this right away, however, because we did not know each other.
We made an effort to break bread with one another and formed an alliance rooted in our shared values, diversity, and commitment to social justice.
The faith community did not just begin organizing in 2001. The religious communities have been part of every social movement in the United States, most notably the civil rights movement.
Black voters in Georgia have shown up and organized election after election.
We are hoping to build upon that model to represent the diverse electorate in our state. Candidates up and down the ballot should do more to court progressive faith voters directly.
We need to prioritize direct outreach to this potentially powerful voting bloc. When religious leaders are included as partners, they can easily mobilize their communities around the salient moral and ethical issues that need more than a political response.
In 2001, I was the youngest faith leader in this interfaith alliance. Although we were able to accept each other and form friendships, I remember feeling frustrated that we could not have essential but difficult conversations out of fear of disrupting a perceived fragile connection.
Our new generation of faith leaders excites me because they are not afraid to ask each other tough questions and are committed to making sure we don’t silo ourselves, particularly the Jewish community.
I work with a Muslim man named Munir, who has done tremendous work organizing in our community. He has organized volunteers — including faith leaders — working to get out the vote.
We have taken some of our organizing efforts online and are beginning to mobilize and connect our faith networks. This multi-generational interfaith network is needed to bolster the progressive religious community in Georgia and on the national level.
Relational organizing, talking to people with whom you have connections and persuading them to take an action, is second nature for people of faith. Our relationships are the foundation for understanding our role in promoting the common good.
My father was a physician, and he taught me the importance of this connection. He started the Gwinnett County Community Clinic because he wanted to make sure everyone had access to affordable health care.
He rejected federal dollars because he did not want to turn anyone away on the basis of their immigration status. Whether they were documented or not, he was determined to provide them care.
Over time, Georgia shifted demographically. When he closed his doors in 2015, Gwinnett County and the people he served had completely transformed. It now looks like much of the rest of Georgia.
There are strong immigrant communities and many new Americans like my husband.
Georgia is vibrant, and that needs to be supported and celebrated.
We may all be of different religions, but our faith and shared progressive values bring us together. We can be a leader in the new South by finding common ground and ensuring we protect people’s most fundamental rights, particularly in these trying times.
The election on Jan. 5 will be a defining moment in our state because it could allow us to emerge as the Georgia we all believe we can be.
Joshua Lesser is a rabbi at Congregation Bet Haverim. He resides with his husband in Atlanta, Georgia.


shareblue--2020-12-20--MLB finally recognizes Negro Leagues' proper place in history

Major League Baseball has reclassified the Negro Leagues as a major league and will count the statistics and records of its 3,400 players as part of its history .
The league said Wednesday it was `` correcting a longtime oversight in the game 's history '' by elevating the Negro Leagues on the centennial of its founding .
The Negro Leagues consisted of seven leagues , and MLB will include records from those circuits between 1920-48 .
The Negro Leagues began to dissolve one year after Jackie Robinson became MLB 's first Black player with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the Special Committee on Baseball Records identified six official `` major leagues '' dating to 1876 .
`` It is MLB 's view that the Committee 's 1969 omission of the Negro Leagues from consideration was clearly an error that demands today 's designation , '' the league said in a statement .
MLB said it considered input from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum , the Negro League Researchers and Authors Group , and studies by other baseball authors and researchers .
The league will work with the Elias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and records and figure out how to incorporate them into MLB 's history .
`` All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game 's best players , innovations and triumphs against a backdrop of injustice , '' Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement .
`` We are now grateful to count the players of the Negro Leagues where they belong : as Major Leaguers within the official historical record . ''

Major League Baseball has reclassified the Negro Leagues as a major league and will count the statistics and records of its 3,400 players as part of its history.
The league said Wednesday it was “correcting a longtime oversight in the game’s history” by elevating the Negro Leagues on the centennial of its founding. The Negro Leagues consisted of seven leagues, and MLB will include records from those circuits between 1920-48. The Negro Leagues began to dissolve one year after Jackie Robinson became MLB’s first Black player with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Those leagues were excluded in 1969 when the Special Committee on Baseball Records identified six official “major leagues” dating to 1876.
“It is MLB’s view that the Committee’s 1969 omission of the Negro Leagues from consideration was clearly an error that demands today’s designation,” the league said in a statement.
MLB said it considered input from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the Negro League Researchers and Authors Group, and studies by other baseball authors and researchers.
The league will work with the Elias Sports Bureau to review Negro Leagues statistics and records and figure out how to incorporate them into MLB’s history.
“All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game’s best players, innovations and triumphs against a backdrop of injustice,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “We are now grateful to count the players of the Negro Leagues where they belong: as Major Leaguers within the official historical record.”


shareblue--2020-12-21--Debunked COVID myths are thriving online

From speculation that the coronavirus was created in a lab to hoax cures , an overwhelming amount of false information clung to COVID-19 as it circled the globe in 2020 .
Public health officials , fact checkers and doctors tried to quash hundreds of rumors in myriad ways .
But misinformation around the pandemic has endured as vexingly as the virus itself .
And with the United States , U.K. , and Canada rolling out vaccinations this month , many falsehoods are seeing a resurgence online .
A look at five stubborn myths around COVID-19 that were shared this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they do .
However , mixed messaging early on caused some confusion .
U.S. officials initially told Americans they did not need to wear or buy masks , at a time when there was a shortage of N95 masks for health workers .
They later reversed course , urging the public to wear cloth masks and face coverings outside .
The early messaging gave people `` a little more room to take up these narratives '' against wearing masks , explained Stephanie Edgerly , a communications professor at Northwestern University .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still circulating a video from March of Dr. Anthony Fauci , the U.S. government 's top infectious disease expert , saying people `` should not be walking around with masks , '' although he has since urged people to cover their faces in public .
Versions of that clip have been watched millions of times on Facebook , YouTube , and Twitter .
Online claims that masks are not an effective form of protection spiked again in October after Donald Trump and two U.S. senators contracted COVID-19 during a Rose Garden ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labs .
Social media users claimed that the coverings must not be effective because the senators wore masks at some points during the event .
But masks do prevent virus particles from spreading .
Last month , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which continues to advise Americans to wear masks , cited research that suggested masks can protect the wearer as well as other people .
It was not .
Social media users and fringe websites weaved together a conspiracy theory that the virus was leaked — either accidentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan , China , before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March .
The falsehood was espoused by elected officials , including Trump .
The origins of the virus are far less scandalous : It likely originated in nature .
Bats are thought to be the original or intermediary hosts for several viruses that have triggered recent epidemics , including COVID-19 .
U.S. intelligence agencies also concluded the virus is not man-made .
Yet the conspiracy theory continues to travel online , and made a resurgence in September when a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .
MYTH : COVID-19 IS SIMILAR TO THE FLU In fact , COVID-19 has proved to be far deadlier .
Early similarities between the symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza led many to speculate that there was not much difference between the two illnesses .
Social media posts and videos viewed thousands of times online also claim that COVID-19 is no deadlier than the flu .
Trump tweeted a faulty comparison between the flu and COVID-19 in March and October , as states implemented stay-at-home orders .
COVID-19 has been blamed for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has killed roughly 1.5 million worldwide .
By comparison , the CDC estimates there are 12,000 to 61,000 flu-related deaths annually .
COVID-19 symptoms can be far more serious and persist for months .
Health experts have also uncovered a range of bizarre coronavirus symptoms , from brain fog to swollen toes .
They are not .
Social media users began photographing empty hospital waiting rooms earlier this year , claiming few people were sick with COVID-19 .
The photos and videos gained traction with the # FilmYourHospital hashtag , part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials and politicians were exaggerating COVID-19 's deadly toll .
But fewer people are in waiting areas because hospitals started taking appointments virtually , canceling elective procedures and prohibiting visitors during the pandemic .
This month , a Nevada doctor 's selfie at an empty makeshift care site set up to handle additional coronavirus patients was shared online as evidence that hospitals are not full .
However , the photo was taken on Nov. 12 , before the site opened .
It has since served at least 200 patients .
MYTH : THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VACCINATIONS Anti-vaccine supporters have been pushing this conspiracy theory since January , when some falsely claimed online that the virus had been patented by pharmaceutical companies as a scheme to cash in on the illness .
Some targeted billionaire and vaccine advocate Bill Gates , claiming he was part of a global plan around COVID-19 to microchip billions of people through mass vaccinations .
Gates has not threatened to microchip anyone .
Instead , he suggested creating a database of people who have been inoculated against the virus .
Skepticism also has grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A video viewed nearly 100,000 times on social media , for example , falsely claimed pharmaceutical companies skipped animal trials for the vaccines .
In fact , the vaccines were tested on mice and macaques .
The U.K. , Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have authorized Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine .
The FDA will review Moderna 's shot Thursday .
Still , only about half of Americans say they are willing to get the vaccine , according to a survey this month by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might drive some of that hesitancy .
`` I do n't think it was one myth that caused the problem , '' said Nancy Kass , deputy director for public health at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics .
`` It 's the fact that there were many , many , many myths . ''

From speculation that the coronavirus was created in a lab to hoax cures, an overwhelming amount of false information clung to COVID-19 as it circled the globe in 2020.
Public health officials, fact checkers and doctors tried to quash hundreds of rumors in myriad ways. But misinformation around the pandemic has endured as vexingly as the virus itself. And with the United States, U.K., and Canada rolling out vaccinations this month, many falsehoods are seeing a resurgence online.
A look at five stubborn myths around COVID-19 that were shared this year and continue to travel:
MYTH: MASKS DON’T OFFER PROTECTION FROM THE VIRUS
In fact, they do.
However, mixed messaging early on caused some confusion. U.S. officials initially told Americans they did not need to wear or buy masks, at a time when there was a shortage of N95 masks for health workers. They later reversed course, urging the public to wear cloth masks and face coverings outside.
The early messaging gave people “a little more room to take up these narratives” against wearing masks, explained Stephanie Edgerly, a communications professor at Northwestern University.
Some social media users, for example, are still circulating a video from March of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, saying people “should not be walking around with masks,” although he has since urged people to cover their faces in public. Versions of that clip have been watched millions of times on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
Online claims that masks are not an effective form of protection spiked again in October after Donald Trump and two U.S. senators contracted COVID-19 during a Rose Garden ceremony, according to media intelligence firm Zignal Labs. Social media users claimed that the coverings must not be effective because the senators wore masks at some points during the event.
But masks do prevent virus particles from spreading. Last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which continues to advise Americans to wear masks, cited research that suggested masks can protect the wearer as well as other people.
MYTH: THE VIRUS WAS MAN-MADE
It was not.
Social media users and fringe websites weaved together a conspiracy theory that the virus was leaked — either accidentally or intentionally — from a lab in Wuhan, China, before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March. The falsehood was espoused by elected officials, including Trump.
The origins of the virus are far less scandalous: It likely originated in nature. Bats are thought to be the original or intermediary hosts for several viruses that have triggered recent epidemics, including COVID-19. U.S. intelligence agencies also concluded the virus is not man-made.
Yet the conspiracy theory continues to travel online, and made a resurgence in September when a Chinese virologist repeated the claim on Fox News.
MYTH: COVID-19 IS SIMILAR TO THE FLU
In fact, COVID-19 has proved to be far deadlier.
Early similarities between the symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza led many to speculate that there was not much difference between the two illnesses. Social media posts and videos viewed thousands of times online also claim that COVID-19 is no deadlier than the flu. Trump tweeted a faulty comparison between the flu and COVID-19 in March and October, as states implemented stay-at-home orders.
COVID-19 has been blamed for more than 300,000 American deaths this year, and has killed roughly 1.5 million worldwide. By comparison, the CDC estimates there are 12,000 to 61,000 flu-related deaths annually.
COVID-19 symptoms can be far more serious and persist for months. Health experts have also uncovered a range of bizarre coronavirus symptoms, from brain fog to swollen toes.
MYTH: OFFICIALS ARE EXAGGERATING COVID-19’S TOLL
They are not.
Social media users began photographing empty hospital waiting rooms earlier this year, claiming few people were sick with COVID-19. The photos and videos gained traction with the #FilmYourHospital hashtag, part of a right-wing conspiracy theory that public health officials and politicians were exaggerating COVID-19’s deadly toll. But fewer people are in waiting areas because hospitals started taking appointments virtually, canceling elective procedures and prohibiting visitors during the pandemic.
This month, a Nevada doctor’s selfie at an empty makeshift care site set up to handle additional coronavirus patients was shared online as evidence that hospitals are not full. However, the photo was taken on Nov. 12, before the site opened. It has since served at least 200 patients.
MYTH: THE VIRUS IS A PLOY TO FORCE GLOBAL VACCINATIONS
That’s not true.
Anti-vaccine supporters have been pushing this conspiracy theory since January, when some falsely claimed online that the virus had been patented by pharmaceutical companies as a scheme to cash in on the illness. Some targeted billionaire and vaccine advocate Bill Gates, claiming he was part of a global plan around COVID-19 to microchip billions of people through mass vaccinations. Gates has not threatened to microchip anyone. Instead, he suggested creating a database of people who have been inoculated against the virus.
Skepticism also has grown around the speed of vaccine development. A video viewed nearly 100,000 times on social media, for example, falsely claimed pharmaceutical companies skipped animal trials for the vaccines. In fact, the vaccines were tested on mice and macaques.
The U.K., Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have authorized Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine. The FDA will review Moderna’s shot Thursday.
Still, only about half of Americans say they are willing to get the vaccine, according to a survey this month by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Ongoing misinformation around the vaccine might drive some of that hesitancy.
“I don’t think it was one myth that caused the problem,” said Nancy Kass, deputy director for public health at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. “It’s the fact that there were many, many, many myths.”


shareblue--2020-12-21--Georgia Sen. David Perdue brags about passing COVID relief he refused to back before

Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) issued a joint statement with fellow Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler Monday that bragged about his supposed contributions to coronavirus relief efforts , which now include funding for hospitals .
The statement also repeatedly accused Democrats of stalling a COVID-19 relief package .
`` After months of Democrats playing politics with Americans ' health and livelihoods by blocking additional relief for our families and small businesses , we finally have a path forward , '' the statement read .
`` During a crisis , we need proven leaders who can get things done .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 trillion in additional aid to the American people on top of the $ 3 trillion already disbursed .
Over $ 47 billion has already gone directly to Georgia 's families , farmers , front-line workers , schools , hospitals , and more is on the way , '' it continued .
The statement goes on to repeat claims that Perdue assisted hospitals during the pandemic .
`` We made sure our schools and hospitals have the resources they need to respond , '' he and Loeffler said in their statement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of deadlock , does include $ 9 billion for health care providers as well as $ 4.5 billion for mental health .
And when the Senate passed the CARES Act by unanimous vote on March 25 , Georgia hospitals received around $ 800 million — something Perdue and Loeffler have repeatedly boasted about .
But what Perdue 's statement neglects to mention is that he and Loeffler were both fierce supporters of an earlier iteration of the stimulus package spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — one that contained $ 55 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CARES Act would ultimately provide .
Loeffler and Perdue voted twice for this failed stimulus package that provided only $ 75 billion in hospital funding .
Perdue went so far as to slam Senate Democrats afterward for their efforts to fight for a more generous package — one which would ultimately secure $ 130 billion for hospitals .
`` America is facing an economic crisis , '' Perdue railed on Twitter in March .
`` Our medical community is battling the worst viral outbreak in recent history .
Jobs are being lost .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this moment as political leverage . ''
Perdue also expressed qualms about the first round of stimulus checks .
While he ultimately voted for the CARES Act , he has said he `` personally opposed '' stimulus checks , and in August went on the PBS News Hour to say he 'd prefer to see a payroll tax cut rather than another direct payment to Americans .
In their Monday statement , Perdue and Loeffler also accused Senate Democrats of being the ones to stall COVID relief .
`` Sadly but not surprisingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this much harder than it ever needed to be , purposely holding up relief that could have been delivered months ago , '' wrote Perdue and Loeffler .
However , it was Senate Republicans who offered up bills pared down beyond recognition .
A GOP September bill , for instance , was blocked by Senate Democrats as it was a $ 300-billion-dollar bill that offered no direct relief to Americans .
It was also being used to advance Republican agendas like tax credits to help students attend private school , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And some have suggested McConnell 's Senate majority would have advanced no COVID relief legislation by the end of the year at all were it not for concern for the January runoff election in Georgia .
`` Kelly and David are getting hammered , '' McConnell allegedly told Senate Republican on a private call , referring to the public 's perception that both were against direct payments .
Ultimately , Perdue and Loeffler advanced anti-Democratic talking points Monday in their statement but little by way of policy plans .
`` What Loeffler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats as being too liberal for Georgia , '' Charles Bullock , a University of Georgia political science professor , recently told Roll Call .
`` Out of the Republican side , not a whole lot of policy is being discussed . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) issued a joint statement with fellow Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler Monday that bragged about his supposed contributions to coronavirus relief efforts, which now include funding for hospitals.
The statement also repeatedly accused Democrats of stalling a COVID-19 relief package.
“After months of Democrats playing politics with Americans’ health and livelihoods by blocking additional relief for our families and small businesses, we finally have a path forward,” the statement read.
“During a crisis, we need proven leaders who can get things done. Together, we are delivering nearly $1 trillion in additional aid to the American people on top of the $3 trillion already disbursed. Over $47 billion has already gone directly to Georgia’s families, farmers, front-line workers, schools, hospitals, and more is on the way,” it continued.
The statement goes on to repeat claims that Perdue assisted hospitals during the pandemic.
“We made sure our schools and hospitals have the resources they need to respond,” he and Loeffler said in their statement.
The new bipartisan bill, agreed on after months of deadlock, does include $9 billion for health care providers as well as $4.5 billion for mental health.
And when the Senate passed the CARES Act by unanimous vote on March 25, Georgia hospitals received around $800 million — something Perdue and Loeffler have repeatedly boasted about.
But what Perdue’s statement neglects to mention is that he and Loeffler were both fierce supporters of an earlier iteration of the stimulus package spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — one that contained $55 billion less in hospital funds than the CARES Act would ultimately provide.
Loeffler and Perdue voted twice for this failed stimulus package that provided only $75 billion in hospital funding.
Perdue went so far as to slam Senate Democrats afterward for their efforts to fight for a more generous package — one which would ultimately secure $130 billion for hospitals.
“America is facing an economic crisis,” Perdue railed on Twitter in March. “Our medical community is battling the worst viral outbreak in recent history. Jobs are being lost. But Senate Democrats are choosing to use this moment as political leverage.”
Perdue also expressed qualms about the first round of stimulus checks. While he ultimately voted for the CARES Act, he has said he “personally opposed” stimulus checks, and in August went on the PBS News Hour to say he’d prefer to see a payroll tax cut rather than another direct payment to Americans.
In their Monday statement, Perdue and Loeffler also accused Senate Democrats of being the ones to stall COVID relief.
“Sadly but not surprisingly, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi made this much harder than it ever needed to be, purposely holding up relief that could have been delivered months ago,” wrote Perdue and Loeffler.
However, it was Senate Republicans who offered up bills pared down beyond recognition.
A GOP September bill, for instance, was blocked by Senate Democrats as it was a $300-billion-dollar bill that offered no direct relief to Americans. It was also being used to advance Republican agendas like tax credits to help students attend private school, as well as liability protections for businesses during the pandemic.
And some have suggested McConnell’s Senate majority would have advanced no COVID relief legislation by the end of the year at all were it not for concern for the January runoff election in Georgia.
“Kelly and David are getting hammered,” McConnell allegedly told Senate Republican on a private call, referring to the public’s perception that both were against direct payments.
Ultimately, Perdue and Loeffler advanced anti-Democratic talking points Monday in their statement but little by way of policy plans.
“What Loeffler and Perdue are mainly doing are attacking the Democrats as being too liberal for Georgia,” Charles Bullock, a University of Georgia political science professor, recently told Roll Call. “Out of the Republican side, not a whole lot of policy is being discussed.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-21--GOP congressman doesn't want you to know he tried to overturn the 2020 election

Less than two weeks after backing a lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election , Rep. Dan Newhouse ( R-WA ) is now claiming he wanted to do no such thing .
In an op-ed published Sunday , Newhouse wrote that the amicus brief he and 125 other House Republicans signed backing a Texas challenge to the election results was really only intended to `` defend our Constitution and instill confidence in our election system . ''
`` I maintain , despite the numerous media reports to the contrary , that this brief — and this case — was not about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The consequences of a lack of confidence in our election system are not just for this election , but for future national elections as well .
If now is not the time to stand up for our Constitution , when is ? ''
Newhouse tweeted a link to the story on Monday , again claiming : `` Despite numerous media reports to the contrary , my intention behind joining the amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania was to defend our Constitution & instill confidence in our election system - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the entire point of the Texas lawsuit — endorsed by Donald Trump as `` the big one '' that would overturn President-elect Joe Biden 's victory — was that it sought to throw out the 2020 presidential results from Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
It explicitly asked the Supreme Court to order new elections , based on concerns about different states operating under different election rules .
The House GOP 's amicus brief encouraged the high court to hear the case , specifically agreeing with the claims that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states was conducted unconstitutionally .
The signors asked that the justices to `` uphold the plenary authority of the state legislatures to establish the manner by which electors are appointed , and determine the constitutional validity of any ballots cast under rules and procedures established by actors or public bodies other than state legislatures . ''
Contrary to Newhouse 's inferences , any lack of confidence in the nation 's election systems likely stems from Trump and his supporters spending the past several years lying about them and falsely claiming widespread fraud .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ political parties , and many judges — even some of them appointed by Trump — found no substantial election integrity issues in the 2020 vote .
The Supreme Court also disagreed with Newhouse and his House Republican colleagues .
It voted to reject the case , finding Texas lacked standing or a `` judicially cognizable interest . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Less than two weeks after backing a lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) is now claiming he wanted to do no such thing.
In an op-ed published Sunday, Newhouse wrote that the amicus brief he and 125 other House Republicans signed backing a Texas challenge to the election results was really only intended to “defend our Constitution and instill confidence in our election system.”
“I maintain, despite the numerous media reports to the contrary, that this brief — and this case — was not about overturning election results,” he argued. “The consequences of a lack of confidence in our election system are not just for this election, but for future national elections as well. If now is not the time to stand up for our Constitution, when is?”
Newhouse tweeted a link to the story on Monday, again claiming: “Despite numerous media reports to the contrary, my intention behind joining the amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania was to defend our Constitution & instill confidence in our election system – not to overturn election results.”
But the entire point of the Texas lawsuit — endorsed by Donald Trump as “the big one” that would overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory — was that it sought to throw out the 2020 presidential results from Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. It explicitly asked the Supreme Court to order new elections, based on concerns about different states operating under different election rules.
The House GOP’s amicus brief encouraged the high court to hear the case, specifically agreeing with the claims that the voting in each of those four states was conducted unconstitutionally. The signors asked that the justices to “uphold the plenary authority of the state legislatures to establish the manner by which electors are appointed, and determine the constitutional validity of any ballots cast under rules and procedures established by actors or public bodies other than state legislatures.”
Contrary to Newhouse’s inferences, any lack of confidence in the nation’s election systems likely stems from Trump and his supporters spending the past several years lying about them and falsely claiming widespread fraud. Media fact-checkers, election officials of both political parties, and many judges — even some of them appointed by Trump — found no substantial election integrity issues in the 2020 vote.
The Supreme Court also disagreed with Newhouse and his House Republican colleagues. It voted to reject the case, finding Texas lacked standing or a “judicially cognizable interest.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-21--'I think it's nuts': GOP congressman slams Trump for considering martial law

Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger ( IL ) on Monday said Donald Trump 's latest reported effort to cling to power was `` nuts . ''
According to the New York Times , Trump met with former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Friday to float the idea of appointing former campaign lawyer Sidney Powell , who has pushed baseless QAnon conspiracies and lies of election fraud , to serve as a `` special counsel overseeing an investigation '' into the latter .
Flynn , whom Trump pardoned in late November for lying to the FBI about his communications with Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using martial law to retain power .
`` At one point in the meeting on Friday , Mr. Trump asked about [ the idea of using martial law ] , '' the Times reported .
`` I think it 's nuts , '' Kinzinger told CNN on Monday , referring to the meeting .
`` I think there 's a lot of people that do n't necessarily understand what martial law is .
They know it basically sounds ominous .
Martial law is basically the federal military coming in and suspending the authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He continued , `` Beyond the insanity of the election was stolen , 'we ca n't prove it , we just know it , ' the idea of sending the military in to rerun it would be a massive , massive red line .
I 'm certain the president wo n't do it , but I think it 's certainly worth talking about because people around him are advocating for it . ''
Kinzinger also railed against the disinformation surrounding the election , much of which has been fueled by Trump himself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the entire Supreme Court and forced the real conservatives to vote against the Texas [ lawsuit ] , a total lie , total fabrication but most people believe it 's real , '' he said of a Texas lawsuit seeking to throw out results in four states , which the Supreme Court rejected on Dec. 11 .
`` The problem is so much misinformation is thrown out constantly that you lose track of what you ever believed , '' he added .
`` You forget if anything 's ever debunked and you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation to the point where you believe , somehow on Jan. 6 , the U.S. Congress can overthrow the results of an election . ''
Trump has patently refused to accept his election loss since the election , and has since launched sweeping attempt to undermine the election results in hopes of overturning that defeat .
Thus far , Trump and his allies have lost at least 59 legal challenges rooted in baseless allegations of voter fraud .
The Trump campaign 's latest attempt includes filing a petition with the Supreme Court to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has also posted over 300 tweets or retweets containing unfounded voting claims in his continual efforts to undermine confidence in the election process and vote tallies he lost , the New York Times noted two weeks after Election Day .
For his part , the White House occupant has insisted he did not back any idea of using martial law , tweeting on Saturday that reports on the matter were `` fake news . ''
`` Just more knowingly bad reporting ! ''
he wrote .
One of Trump 's own former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even the `` mention '' of martial law by Trump 's inner circle could spark violence with his base .
`` When they hear that the president is actually considering this , there are violent extremist groups that look at this as a dog whistle , an excuse to go out and create ... violence , '' Elizabeth Neumann , Trump 's former assistant secretary of Homeland Security , told CNN .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL) on Monday said Donald Trump’s latest reported effort to cling to power was “nuts.”
According to the New York Times, Trump met with former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Friday to float the idea of appointing former campaign lawyer Sidney Powell, who has pushed baseless QAnon conspiracies and lies of election fraud, to serve as a “special counsel overseeing an investigation” into the latter.
Flynn, whom Trump pardoned in late November for lying to the FBI about his communications with Russia, has pushed the idea of Trump using martial law to retain power.
“At one point in the meeting on Friday, Mr. Trump asked about [the idea of using martial law],” the Times reported.
“I think it’s nuts,” Kinzinger told CNN on Monday, referring to the meeting. “I think there’s a lot of people that don’t necessarily understand what martial law is. They know it basically sounds ominous. Martial law is basically the federal military coming in and suspending the authority of state or local governments.”
He continued, “Beyond the insanity of the election was stolen, ‘we can’t prove it, we just know it,’ the idea of sending the military in to rerun it would be a massive, massive red line. I’m certain the president won’t do it, but I think it’s certainly worth talking about because people around him are advocating for it.”
Kinzinger also railed against the disinformation surrounding the election, much of which has been fueled by Trump himself.
“The idea John Roberts yelled at the entire Supreme Court and forced the real conservatives to vote against the Texas [lawsuit], a total lie, total fabrication but most people believe it’s real,” he said of a Texas lawsuit seeking to throw out results in four states, which the Supreme Court rejected on Dec. 11.
“The problem is so much misinformation is thrown out constantly that you lose track of what you ever believed,” he added. “You forget if anything’s ever debunked and you’re always on to the next piece of misinformation to the point where you believe, somehow on Jan. 6, the U.S. Congress can overthrow the results of an election.”
Trump has patently refused to accept his election loss since the election, and has since launched sweeping attempt to undermine the election results in hopes of overturning that defeat.
Thus far, Trump and his allies have lost at least 59 legal challenges rooted in baseless allegations of voter fraud.
The Trump campaign’s latest attempt includes filing a petition with the Supreme Court to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania.
Trump has also posted over 300 tweets or retweets containing unfounded voting claims in his continual efforts to undermine confidence in the election process and vote tallies he lost, the New York Times noted two weeks after Election Day.
For his part, the White House occupant has insisted he did not back any idea of using martial law, tweeting on Saturday that reports on the matter were “fake news.”
“Just more knowingly bad reporting!” he wrote.
One of Trump’s own former staffers, meanwhile, has said that even the “mention” of martial law by Trump’s inner circle could spark violence with his base.
“When they hear that the president is actually considering this, there are violent extremist groups that look at this as a dog whistle, an excuse to go out and create … violence,” Elizabeth Neumann, Trump’s former assistant secretary of Homeland Security, told CNN.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-21--Gaetz caught attending gala the same day he said he needed to work from home

Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) was at a black-tie gala at Donald Trump 's Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday night , the very same day he said he was unable to physically vote from the floor of the House due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
According to photos posted to social media , Gaetz attended the right-wing group Turning Point USA 's winter gala on Friday night , the very same day he wrote a letter to the clerk of the House saying he was `` physically unable to attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — at which guests were photographed in a packed indoor room without masks on — started at 5:30 p.m. Friday night , according to an invitation posted to Turning Point USA 's website .
At 6:10 p.m. that very same night , Gaetz used his proxy vote to cast a `` nay '' on a bill to keep the government funded as Congress continued to debate coronavirus relief legislation .
Voting no meant that Gaetz would have been OK with the government shutting down until a deal on relief was passed .
Gaetz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment about why he would use his proxy vote in the House to attend this gala .
Nor did his office respond to a request asking why he would cite the ongoing pandemic as a reason to proxy vote , even though he was fine to attend a political event far from his district , and one where coronavirus prevention measures were not followed .
Getting to Mar-a-Lago takes 3.5 hours of travel via plane from Gaetz 's home district , which is located in and around Pensacola , Florida , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour shorter than the flight from Pensacola to Washington , D.C. Gaetz had originally railed against the use of proxy voting , which the House adopted this new rule to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on Capitol Hill .
More than two dozen members of Congress have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began , according to NPR .
`` Anything that gets the representatives of the people further away from the decision-making process is something that I do not support , '' Gaetz said at the time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of proxy voting , which allows members to vote from their districts rather than travel long distances in the middle of the pandemic between their homes and the Capitol , which could help further spread the deadly virus .
`` We have work to do in Washington , yet 84 Democrats decided to stay home and vote by proxy yesterday , '' Rep. Bob Latta ( R-OH ) tweeted the day before Gaetz announced he was going to use proxy voting .
`` We should be working together to extend the Paycheck Protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was at a black-tie gala at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday night, the very same day he said he was unable to physically vote from the floor of the House due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to photos posted to social media, Gaetz attended the right-wing group Turning Point USA’s winter gala on Friday night, the very same day he wrote a letter to the clerk of the House saying he was “physically unable to attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency.”
The gala — at which guests were photographed in a packed indoor room without masks on — started at 5:30 p.m. Friday night, according to an invitation posted to Turning Point USA’s website.
At 6:10 p.m. that very same night, Gaetz used his proxy vote to cast a “nay” on a bill to keep the government funded as Congress continued to debate coronavirus relief legislation. Voting no meant that Gaetz would have been OK with the government shutting down until a deal on relief was passed.
Gaetz’s office did not immediately return a request for comment about why he would use his proxy vote in the House to attend this gala. Nor did his office respond to a request asking why he would cite the ongoing pandemic as a reason to proxy vote, even though he was fine to attend a political event far from his district, and one where coronavirus prevention measures were not followed.
Getting to Mar-a-Lago takes 3.5 hours of travel via plane from Gaetz’s home district, which is located in and around Pensacola, Florida, according to Google Maps. That’s an hour shorter than the flight from Pensacola to Washington, D.C.
Gaetz had originally railed against the use of proxy voting, which the House adopted this new rule to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on Capitol Hill. More than two dozen members of Congress have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began, according to NPR.
“Anything that gets the representatives of the people further away from the decision-making process is something that I do not support,” Gaetz said at the time.
Other Republicans have also condemned the practice of proxy voting, which allows members to vote from their districts rather than travel long distances in the middle of the pandemic between their homes and the Capitol, which could help further spread the deadly virus.
“We have work to do in Washington, yet 84 Democrats decided to stay home and vote by proxy yesterday,” Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) tweeted the day before Gaetz announced he was going to use proxy voting. “We should be working together to extend the Paycheck Protection Program and support American workers.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-21--Incoming GOP congresswoman pushes lies about how the vaccine rollout works

Incoming congresswoman Nancy Mace ( R-SC ) said in a statement Monday that she will not be receiving the COVID vaccine offered to members of Congress .
`` Congress should n't be putting themselves first in line for the COVID-19 vaccination when the average American ca n't get it , '' Mace wrote in the statement .
`` For as long as the vaccines are limited , we should prioritize healthcare and frontline workers , and every person at greater risk , especially the elderly . ''
But Mace 's remarks misrepresent the underlying reason behind the COVID vaccine 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are prioritized to receive the vaccine because of existing protocols surrounding continuity of government .
According to Roll Call , a 2016 presidential directive issued by Barack Obama , Presidential Policy Directive 40 instructs that the ability of `` executive departments and agencies '' to perform their essential functions must be protected .
This directive was reaffirmed in a Dec. 7 executive order by Donald Trump .
The directive stipulates that government bodies — such as Congress — must implement every possible strategy to ensure they can continue to perform daily operations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement Dec. 13 , John Ullyot , a spokesperson for the National Security Council , also pointed to the directive as the reason government officials would be among the vaccine 's first recipients .
“ Senior officials across all three branches of government will receive vaccinations pursuant to continuity of government protocols established in executive policy , ” he wrote .
“ The American people should have confidence that they are receiving the same safe and effective vaccine as senior officials of the United States government on the advice of public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Mace 's claims , these doses are allocated specifically to government officials and lawmakers .
There 's no guarantee that a vaccine dose , if refused , would be given to someone else in need .
In a Twitter thread on Sunday after she publicly received the vaccine , Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) confirmed that it was the National Security Council who decided members of Congress should be vaccinated `` in compliance with Presidential Policy Directive-40 . ''
`` If it was within [ individual ] power to 'give ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would ! ''
the congresswoman tweeted .
`` But according to these protocols , there 's a chance it could have just been stored .
There 's also a real risk in this age of misinfo of how it would be weaponized if leaders refused to take it en masse . ''
Rep.-elect Mace , in stating her reasons behind not receiving the vaccine , also expressed concerns about its limited doses .
Mace said that she had been diagnosed with coronavirus herself earlier in the year .
`` I 've had COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a serious illness , '' she wrote .
`` I want to make sure others do n't get it , especially those who are most vulnerable .
I 'll wait my turn in line with the rest of my constituents when the vaccine becomes available to the rest of us . ''
But blame for that rests at least in part on the shoulders of the Trump administration .
According to numerous outlets , the White House turned down the opportunity to buy 100 million extra doses for 2021 's second quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vaccine high and dry until June 2021 .
And , according to The Hill , The White House could invoke the Defense Production Act to produce a billion more doses of the vaccine — and has n't .
The act could also have been used to produce more testing supplies and personal protective equipment , the outlet notes .
Instead , the Trump administration has invoked it some 300,000 times in the past year — mostly in support of defense contracts rather than coronavirus relief .
Published with permission of The @ @ @ @

Incoming congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) said in a statement Monday that she will not be receiving the COVID vaccine offered to members of Congress.
“Congress shouldn’t be putting themselves first in line for the COVID-19 vaccination when the average American can’t get it,” Mace wrote in the statement. “For as long as the vaccines are limited, we should prioritize healthcare and frontline workers, and every person at greater risk, especially the elderly.”
But Mace’s remarks misrepresent the underlying reason behind the COVID vaccine’s current rollout plan.
Members of Congress are prioritized to receive the vaccine because of existing protocols surrounding continuity of government. According to Roll Call, a 2016 presidential directive issued by Barack Obama, Presidential Policy Directive 40 instructs that the ability of “executive departments and agencies” to perform their essential functions must be protected. This directive was reaffirmed in a Dec. 7 executive order by Donald Trump.
The directive stipulates that government bodies — such as Congress — must implement every possible strategy to ensure they can continue to perform daily operations in the event of a disaster.
In a statement Dec. 13, John Ullyot, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, also pointed to the directive as the reason government officials would be among the vaccine’s first recipients.
“Senior officials across all three branches of government will receive vaccinations pursuant to continuity of government protocols established in executive policy,” he wrote. “The American people should have confidence that they are receiving the same safe and effective vaccine as senior officials of the United States government on the advice of public health professionals and national security leadership.”
Contrary to Mace’s claims, these doses are allocated specifically to government officials and lawmakers. There’s no guarantee that a vaccine dose, if refused, would be given to someone else in need.
In a Twitter thread on Sunday after she publicly received the vaccine, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) confirmed that it was the National Security Council who decided members of Congress should be vaccinated “in compliance with Presidential Policy Directive-40.”
“If it was within [individual] power to ‘give’ the vaccine to someone else, I would!” the congresswoman tweeted. “But according to these protocols, there’s a chance it could have just been stored. There’s also a real risk in this age of misinfo of how it would be weaponized if leaders refused to take it en masse.”
Rep.-elect Mace, in stating her reasons behind not receiving the vaccine, also expressed concerns about its limited doses. Mace said that she had been diagnosed with coronavirus herself earlier in the year.
“I’ve had COVID already, and can attest, it is a serious illness,” she wrote. “I want to make sure others don’t get it, especially those who are most vulnerable. I’ll wait my turn in line with the rest of my constituents when the vaccine becomes available to the rest of us.”
But blame for that rests at least in part on the shoulders of the Trump administration. According to numerous outlets, the White House turned down the opportunity to buy 100 million extra doses for 2021’s second quarter, potentially leaving Americans in most need of the vaccine high and dry until June 2021.
And, according to The Hill, The White House could invoke the Defense Production Act to produce a billion more doses of the vaccine — and hasn’t.
The act could also have been used to produce more testing supplies and personal protective equipment, the outlet notes.
Instead, the Trump administration has invoked it some 300,000 times in the past year — mostly in support of defense contracts rather than coronavirus relief.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-21--Nearly two-thirds of LGBTQ homes have seen job losses this year

A new report found that a majority of LGBTQ households have lost a job since the pandemic began , one of a host of economic problems they 've faced in the past year .
Last week , the Movement Advancement Project , a which provides research on issues of equality , including nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people , released the results from a national poll conducted in July and August .
It found that , since the pandemic began , 64 % of people in LGBTQ households had lost employment compared with only 45 % of straight and cisgender households @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households where they or someone else had to leave their home to work in a job outside of the health care industry also said they `` had serious concerns about COVID safety '' at work , compared to 46 % of people in other households .
Additionally , 38 % of these households said they had n't been able to receive medical care during the pandemic , or had delayed getting that care , versus 19 % of cis and straight households .
Queer and trans people have struggled to keep their overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic : Forty-five percent of LGBTQ households said they used up all or most of their savings and 30 % of other households said the same .
The LGBTQ community faced greater rates of poverty and problems accessing health care well before the pandemic .
Groups within the LGBTQ community , such as Black and Latinx queer and trans people , confront even greater economic hardship : 95 % percent of Black and 70 % of Latinx LGBTQ households said that either they or someone in their household had one or more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to 66 % of all LGBTQ households .
The latest poll is one of several efforts this year from organizations focused on LGBTQ equality in order to gauge the economic wellbeing of queer and trans people as Americans continue to die of complications from COVID-19 .
Approximately 318,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 so far .
The Human Rights Campaign and PSB Research released data in May that found more LGBTQ people of color said they asked for delays in rent and had a reduction in work hours than white queer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups also found that LGBTQ people were more likely than straight and cis people to prioritize safety during the pandemic over reopening the economy as soon as possible , despite the greater economic problems they said they faced .
LGBTQ people 's mental health has also suffered , with many reporting that their psychological well-being has been `` negatively affected to a moderate or significant degree '' in the past year , according to a Center for American Progress survey published in October .
Meanwhile , in the midst of a pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downplayed , the Trump administration has continued to attack LGBTQ equality by releasing rules that encourage discrimination .
Among other things , it has finalized three rules in the final stretch of the administration that harm the rights of LGBTQ workers , asylum seekers , and those who use social services .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A new report found that a majority of LGBTQ households have lost a job since the pandemic began, one of a host of economic problems they’ve faced in the past year.
Last week, the Movement Advancement Project, a which provides research on issues of equality, including nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, released the results from a national poll conducted in July and August.
It found that, since the pandemic began, 64% of people in LGBTQ households had lost employment compared with only 45% of straight and cisgender households. Sixty-four percent of LGBTQ people in households where they or someone else had to leave their home to work in a job outside of the health care industry also said they “had serious concerns about COVID safety” at work, compared to 46% of people in other households.
Additionally, 38% of these households said they hadn’t been able to receive medical care during the pandemic, or had delayed getting that care, versus 19% of cis and straight households.
Queer and trans people have struggled to keep their overall financial picture steady since the beginning of the pandemic: Forty-five percent of LGBTQ households said they used up all or most of their savings and 30% of other households said the same.
The LGBTQ community faced greater rates of poverty and problems accessing health care well before the pandemic.
Groups within the LGBTQ community, such as Black and Latinx queer and trans people, confront even greater economic hardship: 95% percent of Black and 70% of Latinx LGBTQ households said that either they or someone in their household had one or more serious financial problems since the pandemic began compared to 66% of all LGBTQ households.
The latest poll is one of several efforts this year from organizations focused on LGBTQ equality in order to gauge the economic wellbeing of queer and trans people as Americans continue to die of complications from COVID-19. Approximately 318,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 so far.
The Human Rights Campaign and PSB Research released data in May that found more LGBTQ people of color said they asked for delays in rent and had a reduction in work hours than white queer and trans people. In September, those groups also found that LGBTQ people were more likely than straight and cis people to prioritize safety during the pandemic over reopening the economy as soon as possible, despite the greater economic problems they said they faced.
LGBTQ people’s mental health has also suffered, with many reporting that their psychological well-being has been “negatively affected to a moderate or significant degree” in the past year, according to a Center for American Progress survey published in October.
Meanwhile, in the midst of a pandemic, the harm of which Trump has consistently downplayed, the Trump administration has continued to attack LGBTQ equality by releasing rules that encourage discrimination.
Among other things, it has finalized three rules in the final stretch of the administration that harm the rights of LGBTQ workers, asylum seekers, and those who use social services.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-21--Trump administration hit with subpoenas after threatening CDC staff

A House committee investigating Donald Trump 's coronavirus response subpoenaed two high-level administration officials on Monday , saying that `` efforts to interfere with scientific work at CDC were far more extensive and dangerous than previously known . ''
`` Documents recently obtained by the Subcommittee show that over a period of four months , as coronavirus cases and deaths rose around the country , Trump Administration appointees attempted to alter or block at least 13 scientific reports related to the virus , '' reads a letter from the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis , which was obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration exhibited a `` pattern of hostile and threatening behavior '' to staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it sought to make reports about the spread of the virus rosier .
The subpoenas — which request documents from Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and CDC Director Robert Redfield — are looking into whether doing so was an effort to `` cripple the nation ’ s coronavirus response in a misguided effort to achieve herd immunity . ''
The subpoenas come after the same committee obtained emails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a `` herd immunity '' strategy , wanting to intentionally infect large swaths of the public to try and stop the pandemic .
It 's just the latest in a string of events lasting months that showed the Trump administration 's failure to stop the spread of the virus and mitigate the number of deaths and economic damage the pandemic would inflict on the country .
In the early days of the pandemic , Trump purposely downplayed the virus , even though he knew how deadly and contagious it was .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country 's testing capabilities to identify where cases were coming from to stop the virus from spreading out of control .
As vaccines were being developed , Trump passed on an opportunity to obtain more doses of the Pfizer vaccine/ And throughout all of this , Trump was regularly disregarding pleas from infectious diseases experts to social distance and wear masks .
Trump 's behavior helped poison the minds of his supporters , who have been protesting mask use — one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's failed response has led to nearly 318,000 deaths in the United States , the most of any country on earth .
Currently , the virus is spreading out of control across the entire country and hospitals are filled to capacity , leaving health care professionals fearing they will not be able to care for patients .
While the Trump administration appears to have tried to downplay the virus for political benefit , the administration 's failure to actually contain the virus could have been what ultimately did Trump in .
Published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A House committee investigating Donald Trump’s coronavirus response subpoenaed two high-level administration officials on Monday, saying that “efforts to interfere with scientific work at CDC were far more extensive and dangerous than previously known.”
“Documents recently obtained by the Subcommittee show that over a period of four months, as coronavirus cases and deaths rose around the country, Trump Administration appointees attempted to alter or block at least 13 scientific reports related to the virus,” reads a letter from the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, which was obtained by Politico.
According to the letter, the administration exhibited a “pattern of hostile and threatening behavior” to staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it sought to make reports about the spread of the virus rosier.
The subpoenas — which request documents from Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and CDC Director Robert Redfield — are looking into whether doing so was an effort to “cripple the nation’s coronavirus response in a misguided effort to achieve herd immunity.”
The subpoenas come after the same committee obtained emails showing that Trump administration officials were pushing for a “herd immunity” strategy, wanting to intentionally infect large swaths of the public to try and stop the pandemic.
Experts called that strategy dangerous.
It’s just the latest in a string of events lasting months that showed the Trump administration’s failure to stop the spread of the virus and mitigate the number of deaths and economic damage the pandemic would inflict on the country.
In the early days of the pandemic, Trump purposely downplayed the virus, even though he knew how deadly and contagious it was.
Trump also failed to quickly ramp up the country’s testing capabilities to identify where cases were coming from to stop the virus from spreading out of control.
As vaccines were being developed, Trump passed on an opportunity to obtain more doses of the Pfizer vaccine/
And throughout all of this, Trump was regularly disregarding pleas from infectious diseases experts to social distance and wear masks. Trump’s behavior helped poison the minds of his supporters, who have been protesting mask use — one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the virus before a vaccine is widely available.
Trump’s failed response has led to nearly 318,000 deaths in the United States, the most of any country on earth.
Currently, the virus is spreading out of control across the entire country and hospitals are filled to capacity, leaving health care professionals fearing they will not be able to care for patients.
While the Trump administration appears to have tried to downplay the virus for political benefit, the administration’s failure to actually contain the virus could have been what ultimately did Trump in.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.