shareblue--2020-10-19--Eric Trump embarrasses himself again in latest attempt to help his dad

Eric Trump tweeted a photo Saturday of a spacious mansion he claimed was Democratic nominee Joe Biden 's house — but it turns out Biden has n't owned the property in 24 years .
`` The salary of a U.S .
Senator is $ 174,000 per year .
This is Joe Biden 's house ... .
seems legit , '' the younger Trump tweeted .
But Biden , who had recently been widowed , purchased the home in 1974 for $ 184,000 as a fixer-upper , broken down and in need of repairs .
Moreover , he has n't lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was acknowledged by Eric Trump .
This is n't the first time in recent months Donald Trump 's second son has made a public gaffe of unbelievable proportions .
In late September , he blasted the New York Times report on his father 's taxes , telling Jonathan Karl of ABC 's `` The Week '' that his father pays `` a fortune '' in taxes .
Already spinning tall tales about Biden 's residence , he belligerently told Karl in the same interview to `` go Google Biden 's house right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think that a person who 's been in government for 47 years can afford that mansion on the water in Wilmington , Delaware . ''
He also attacked the Democratic nominee 's son Hunter Biden for being the `` one job '' Biden has ever created .
`` ( Biden ) has never had a real job that has n't been taxpayer-funded ever , '' Eric Trump said .
`` Joe Biden has created one job .
Do you know what that was ?
Hunter Biden .
Hunter Biden made an absolute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump doubled down on slurs leveled at Hunter Biden , tweeting that reports of the Biden `` corruption allegations '' are `` the biggest story in the world , '' and complained that ABC and CNN completely ignored it .
He hashtagged `` # JournalismIsDead . ''
Then he retweeted his dad on Sunday night , maligning the Bidens for supposed corruption .
Both the elder and younger Trump complained that Twitter was limiting their reach in an effort to suppress the truth .
`` I guess they do n't want the truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they will cover for them at all costs , '' the tweet read in part .
But Eric Trump 's bizarre theories are not confined to the topic of Biden .
And , for someone who previously pledged to focus on running the Trump business and distance himself from his father 's politics — comparing this obligation to `` separation of church and state '' — he 's sure had a lot to say about the Trump administration .
In early October , he raised some eyebrows when he claimed on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` saved Christianity . ''
`` He 's literally saved Christianity , '' Eric Trump said .
`` I mean , there ’ s a full-out war on faith in this country by the other side . ''
He went on to bizarrely assert that the Democratic Party `` has become the party of the atheists '' who `` want to attack Christianity . ''
But the Pew Research Center reports 63 % of Democrats and Democratic-leaning Americans are Christians .
But Eric Trump did n't let the facts stop him .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches , ( but ) they 're totally fine keeping liquor stores open , '' he said , complaining about coronavirus stay-in-place orders , some of which classified liquor stores as `` essential '' businesses .
Still more bafflingly , in late September Eric Trump appeared on `` Fox and Friends '' to promote his father as a champion of LGBTQ rights .
He then casually announced he was `` part of '' the LGBTQ community .
Later , he backtracked , saying in a statement to the New York Post that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many close friends who are part of the `` LGBT '' community .
`` The left has taken that vote for granted for a long time and support for the gay community for my father is incredible , '' he said .
`` As to me personally , as I think you know , I am a happily married man to my wife , Lara . ''
He also said that he did not identify as bisexual .
Eric Trump has also made misleading statements in the past seven months about two of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day : the right to protest and the coronavirus pandemic .
In September , he appeared to rail against Google for supposedly stifling images of unruly protesters .
He tweeted that when he searched the word `` mob , '' other search engines brought up images of `` mobs '' of angry protesters .
Google , however , showed him photos of an anime character .
`` Google is once again trying to manipulate Americans , '' he wrote , peddling yet another conspiracy theory .
He ended with the hashtag `` # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to point out that the character who popped up on Google was a frequent search term for the word `` mob '' — the lead character in an anime series called `` Mob Psycho 100 . ''
And back in May , Eric Trump came under fire for implying the coronavirus pandemic was a hoax perpetrated by Democrats .
The coronavirus will `` magically , all of a sudden go away and disappear and everyone will be able to reopen '' after Election Day , he said in a Fox News interview .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plot by Democrats to cancel Donald Trump 's campaign rallies .
The pandemic had killed more than 88,000 people at the time of Eric Trump 's remarks .
It has not killed nearly 220,000 .
Experts have long suggested there will be a surge in the fall and winter , something that is now playing out worldwide , particularly in the United States .
Still , it seems unlikely that Eric Trump is going to stop playing fast and loose with the truth anytime soon .
Published with permission of The American @ @ @

Eric Trump tweeted a photo Saturday of a spacious mansion he claimed was Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s house — but it turns out Biden hasn’t owned the property in 24 years.
The aerial photograph depicts a 10,000-square-foot mansion in Wilmington, Delaware.
“The salary of a U.S. Senator is $174,000 per year. This is Joe Biden’s house…. seems legit,” the younger Trump tweeted.
But Biden, who had recently been widowed, purchased the home in 1974 for $184,000 as a fixer-upper, broken down and in need of repairs.
Moreover, he hasn’t lived in it since 1996 — none of which was acknowledged by Eric Trump.
This isn’t the first time in recent months Donald Trump’s second son has made a public gaffe of unbelievable proportions.
In late September, he blasted the New York Times report on his father’s taxes, telling Jonathan Karl of ABC’s “The Week” that his father pays “a fortune” in taxes.
Already spinning tall tales about Biden’s residence, he belligerently told Karl in the same interview to “go Google Biden’s house right now” and “tell me if you think that a person who’s been in government for 47 years can afford that mansion on the water in Wilmington, Delaware.”
He also attacked the Democratic nominee’s son Hunter Biden for being the “one job” Biden has ever created.
“(Biden) has never had a real job that hasn’t been taxpayer-funded ever,” Eric Trump said. “Joe Biden has created one job. Do you know what that was? Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden made an absolute fortune.”
On Saturday, Eric Trump doubled down on slurs leveled at Hunter Biden, tweeting that reports of the Biden “corruption allegations” are “the biggest story in the world,” and complained that ABC and CNN completely ignored it. He hashtagged “#JournalismIsDead.”
Then he retweeted his dad on Sunday night, maligning the Bidens for supposed corruption. Both the elder and younger Trump complained that Twitter was limiting their reach in an effort to suppress the truth.
“I guess they don’t want the truth about the Biden crime family out there and they will cover for them at all costs,” the tweet read in part.
But Eric Trump’s bizarre theories are not confined to the topic of Biden.
And, for someone who previously pledged to focus on running the Trump business and distance himself from his father’s politics — comparing this obligation to “separation of church and state” — he’s sure had a lot to say about the Trump administration.
In early October, he raised some eyebrows when he claimed on a North Dakota talk show that his father “saved Christianity.”
“He’s literally saved Christianity,” Eric Trump said. “I mean, there’s a full-out war on faith in this country by the other side.”
He went on to bizarrely assert that the Democratic Party “has become the party of the atheists” who “want to attack Christianity.”
But the Pew Research Center reports 63% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning Americans are Christians.
But Eric Trump didn’t let the facts stop him.
“(The Democrats) want to close churches, (but) they’re totally fine keeping liquor stores open,” he said, complaining about coronavirus stay-in-place orders, some of which classified liquor stores as “essential” businesses.
Still more bafflingly, in late September Eric Trump appeared on “Fox and Friends” to promote his father as a champion of LGBTQ rights. He then casually announced he was “part of” the LGBTQ community.
Later, he backtracked, saying in a statement to the New York Post that he only intended to say that he has many close friends who are part of the “LGBT” community.
“The left has taken that vote for granted for a long time and support for the gay community for my father is incredible,” he said. “As to me personally, as I think you know, I am a happily married man to my wife, Lara.”
He also said that he did not identify as bisexual.
Eric Trump has also made misleading statements in the past seven months about two of the most topical political issues of the day: the right to protest and the coronavirus pandemic.
In September, he appeared to rail against Google for supposedly stifling images of unruly protesters.
He tweeted that when he searched the word “mob,” other search engines brought up images of “mobs” of angry protesters.
Google, however, showed him photos of an anime character.
“Google is once again trying to manipulate Americans,” he wrote, peddling yet another conspiracy theory. He ended with the hashtag “#NothingToSeeHere.”
Twitter users were quick to point out that the character who popped up on Google was a frequent search term for the word “mob” — the lead character in an anime series called “Mob Psycho 100.”
And back in May, Eric Trump came under fire for implying the coronavirus pandemic was a hoax perpetrated by Democrats.
The coronavirus will “magically, all of a sudden go away and disappear and everyone will be able to reopen” after Election Day, he said in a Fox News interview.
The virus, he suggested, was a plot by Democrats to cancel Donald Trump’s campaign rallies.
The pandemic had killed more than 88,000 people at the time of Eric Trump’s remarks. It has not killed nearly 220,000.
Experts have long suggested there will be a surge in the fall and winter, something that is now playing out worldwide, particularly in the United States.
Still, it seems unlikely that Eric Trump is going to stop playing fast and loose with the truth anytime soon.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-19--GOP congressman: 'I don't think there's any doubt' Biden would do things better

Rep. Francis Rooney ( R-FL ) told CNN on Monday that Joe Biden would be better at addressing the coronavirus pandemic than Donald Trump and that many in his own party know this .
`` The more we go down the road resisting masks and distance and tracing and the things that the scientists are telling us , I think the more concerned I get about our management of the COVID situation , '' Rooney said .
Asked which candidate would do a better job , he did not hesitate .
`` I do n't think there 's any doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach .
And there 's a lot of Republicans that would agree with that as well , '' he replied .
`` Unfortunately , there 's a few Republican governors who did not , like the North Dakota guy that was in the news this morning . ''
First-term Republican North Dakota Gov .
Doug Burgum , whose state has the highest rate of new coronavirus cases in the country , made national news for his statement on Oct. 14 about mandating safety measures to deal with the pandemic : `` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a job for everybody . ''
On Sunday , Trump mocked Joe Biden at a campaign rally for following the science in addressing the pandemic .
`` If you vote for Biden , he will surrender your jobs to China .
He will surrender your future to the virus .
He 's going to lockdown .
This guy wants to lock down .
He 'll listen to the scientists .
If I listen totally to the scientists , we would right now have a country that would be in a massive depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocket ship , '' he told supporters in Carson City , Nevada .
`` Take a look at the numbers .
And that 's despite the fact that we have like five or six of these Democrats keeping their states closed because they 're trying to hurt us on November 3rd . ''
Trump has argued that Democrats both want to lock down the entire country if they win the election and also are secretly conspiring to end existing restrictions as soon as the election is over .
He has also repeatedly undermined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and flouting safety rules — even when doing so violates local and state laws .
Biden has said : `` I would be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives , because we can not get the country moving until we control the virus . ''
He has also said he would only consider a shutdown if public health experts deemed it necessary .
Rooney , who is not seeking reelection , has been critical of Trump in the past and hinted in the interview on Monday that he might soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last year , Rooney blasted Trump 's attempt to get Ukraine to announce an investigation into Biden and his son , Hunter , comparing his behavior to Richard Nixon 's during the Watergate scandal .
He told the New York Times in June that Trump 's botched response to the pandemic had resulted in a massive death toll that `` did n't have to happen . ''
More than 218,000 Americans have now died of causes related to COVID-19 , including over 16,000 Floridians .
Published with permission of The American Independent @ @

Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL) told CNN on Monday that Joe Biden would be better at addressing the coronavirus pandemic than Donald Trump and that many in his own party know this.
“The more we go down the road resisting masks and distance and tracing and the things that the scientists are telling us, I think the more concerned I get about our management of the COVID situation,” Rooney said.
Asked which candidate would do a better job, he did not hesitate.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that Vice President Biden has the right approach. And there’s a lot of Republicans that would agree with that as well,” he replied. “Unfortunately, there’s a few Republican governors who did not, like the North Dakota guy that was in the news this morning.”
First-term Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, whose state has the highest rate of new coronavirus cases in the country, made national news for his statement on Oct. 14 about mandating safety measures to deal with the pandemic: “It’s not a job for government; this is a job for everybody.”
On Sunday, Trump mocked Joe Biden at a campaign rally for following the science in addressing the pandemic.
“If you vote for Biden, he will surrender your jobs to China. He will surrender your future to the virus. He’s going to lockdown. This guy wants to lock down. He’ll listen to the scientists. If I listen totally to the scientists, we would right now have a country that would be in a massive depression instead of — we’re like a rocket ship,” he told supporters in Carson City, Nevada. “Take a look at the numbers. And that’s despite the fact that we have like five or six of these Democrats keeping their states closed because they’re trying to hurt us on November 3rd.”
Trump has argued that Democrats both want to lock down the entire country if they win the election and also are secretly conspiring to end existing restrictions as soon as the election is over. He has also repeatedly undermined scientists, questioning the efficacy of masks and flouting safety rules — even when doing so violates local and state laws.
Biden has said: “I would be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives, because we cannot get the country moving until we control the virus.” He has also said he would only consider a shutdown if public health experts deemed it necessary.
Rooney, who is not seeking reelection, has been critical of Trump in the past and hinted in the interview on Monday that he might soon make up his mind to back Biden.
Last year, Rooney blasted Trump’s attempt to get Ukraine to announce an investigation into Biden and his son, Hunter, comparing his behavior to Richard Nixon’s during the Watergate scandal.
He told the New York Times in June that Trump’s botched response to the pandemic had resulted in a massive death toll that “didn’t have to happen.”
More than 218,000 Americans have now died of causes related to COVID-19, including over 16,000 Floridians.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-20--Cartoon: No Givesies Backsies

Cartoon: No Givesies Backsies

Clay Jones is a nationally syndicated political cartoonist .
He has worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Free Lance-Star @ @ @ @ @ draws a weekly cartoon for CNN Opinion .
He lives in the Washington suburbs of @ @ @

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows
December, the anniversary of the worst grade school mass shooting in the U.S. is a difficult month for many in Newton. But in the face of heartbreak and grief, some survivors and families of victims feel hope for a brighter future.
By Associated Press - December 22, 2022


shareblue--2020-10-20--Federal judge: No, you can't force people to wait to have an abortion

On Oct. 14 , a federal judge held that Tennessee 's 48-hour waiting period for abortions was unconstitutional .
It 's the first time a waiting period has been found unconstitutional , and it 's a win for pro-choice advocates even as they face the prospect of a solidly anti-choice United States Supreme Court .
The judge who issued the ruling , Bernard Friedman , is a longtime federal judge who was appointed by Ronald Reagan over 30 years ago .
Friedman 's ruling presents a careful , comprehensive look at why waiting periods should be overturned .
Tennessee imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because Tennesee 's law also included some additional restrictions , such as requiring providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital , some of the litigation was on hold while the Supreme Court considered Whole Women 's Health v. Hellerstedt , which addressed those concerns .
Once that portion was settled , the case began again in Tennesee over the waiting period only .
In reviewing the case , Friedman spent a lot of time studying what material the Tennessee Legislature considered when it passed the law .
What became clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts ' testimony in passing the unnecessary waiting period law .
For example , the Legislature heard testimony on poverty rates among women seeking abortions in the state .
As of July 2014 , 42 % of women who obtained abortions had incomes under the federal poverty line , and 27 % had incomes between 100 % and 199 % of the federal poverty line .
A waiting period , the legislature was told , disproportionately affects people living in poverty .
It requires two trips to a clinic , taking additional time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childcare .
Additionally , since so few Tennesee counties have a clinic , providers testified , patients often had to travel long distances to get to an abortion .
A recent study found that the waiting period could add over $ 900 to the cost of an abortion in the state .
Another thing that became clear in looking at the legislative history was that the 48-hour waiting period was arbitrary .
When asked why 48 hours was chosen , GOP state Sen. Mae Beavers explained only that it was a `` sensible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Beavers felt 24 hours was too short because `` it 's probably going to be too late in the day for the abortion to be performed and would be pushed into the next day anyway . ''
Further , testimony at the trial court showed the 48-hour waiting period led to much longer delays .
Before the law took effect in 2015 , patients had to wait one to two weeks from when they scheduled an appointment to the time they had an abortion .
After the law took effect , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks for their first appointment and an additional one to two weeks for the second .
Perhaps most persuasive , though , was testimony from doctors saying patients receive extensive opportunities to provide informed consent to the procedure .
One doctor testified that requiring a second visit and artificially elongating the consent process `` undermines patient autonomy , the doctor-patient relationship , and the informed consent process . ''
The court pointed out that existing Tennessee laws already required all medical providers to obtain informed consent before abortions or any other medical procedure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge , `` requires the informed consent process to be altered or prolonged , and there is no evidence that a mandatory waiting period for this medical procedure , but not others , improves outcomes . ''
Abortion providers testified about the extensive discussions they have with patients before performing an abortion .
Patient educators inquire about whether the patient is sure of her decision or needs additional time .
They describe the procedures , discuss family planning options , and determine that no one is coercing the patient to have an abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and an ultrasound is performed .
For any other medical procedure , patients are granted autonomy when they consent to the procedure .
They are n't required to listen to politically driven anti-choice `` counseling '' that encourages them not to get the procedure , as Tennesee 's law does , nor are they required to wait an arbitrary extra amount of time for the procedure to be performed .
That 's why the judge found the waiting period unconstitutional .
It does n't do anything positive to protect women 's health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it does burden their constitutional right to an abortion .
It 's almost inevitable the state will appeal this decision , and it could be a case that goes all the way to the Supreme Court .
In this round of litigation , science and reason prevailed .
However , should it reach the highest court , it would likely be reversed , and the waiting period upheld .
Chief Justice John Roberts has already said he does n't think waiting periods are burdensome .
And Trump 's Supreme Court nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is nearly certain to join the court , is a high-profile opponent of abortion , period .
Judge Friedman weighed the science and the lived experience of people who seek abortions , particularly those who live in poverty .
Regrettably , it 's possible those things wo n't matter to the Supreme Court .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Oct. 14, a federal judge held that Tennessee’s 48-hour waiting period for abortions was unconstitutional. It’s the first time a waiting period has been found unconstitutional, and it’s a win for pro-choice advocates even as they face the prospect of a solidly anti-choice United States Supreme Court.
The judge who issued the ruling, Bernard Friedman, is a longtime federal judge who was appointed by Ronald Reagan over 30 years ago. Friedman’s ruling presents a careful, comprehensive look at why waiting periods should be overturned.
Tennessee imposed the 48-hour waiting period back in 2015. Because Tennesee’s law also included some additional restrictions, such as requiring providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, some of the litigation was on hold while the Supreme Court considered Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt, which addressed those concerns. Once that portion was settled, the case began again in Tennesee over the waiting period only.
In reviewing the case, Friedman spent a lot of time studying what material the Tennessee Legislature considered when it passed the law. What became clear is that it ignored doctors and other experts’ testimony in passing the unnecessary waiting period law.
For example, the Legislature heard testimony on poverty rates among women seeking abortions in the state. As of July 2014, 42% of women who obtained abortions had incomes under the federal poverty line, and 27% had incomes between 100% and 199% of the federal poverty line.
A waiting period, the legislature was told, disproportionately affects people living in poverty. It requires two trips to a clinic, taking additional time off work, and arranging transportation and childcare. Additionally, since so few Tennesee counties have a clinic, providers testified, patients often had to travel long distances to get to an abortion. A recent study found that the waiting period could add over $900 to the cost of an abortion in the state.
Another thing that became clear in looking at the legislative history was that the 48-hour waiting period was arbitrary. When asked why 48 hours was chosen, GOP state Sen. Mae Beavers explained only that it was a “sensible, reasonable [amount of] time.” Beavers felt 24 hours was too short because “it’s probably going to be too late in the day for the abortion to be performed and would be pushed into the next day anyway.”
Further, testimony at the trial court showed the 48-hour waiting period led to much longer delays. Before the law took effect in 2015, patients had to wait one to two weeks from when they scheduled an appointment to the time they had an abortion. After the law took effect, people had to wait two to three weeks for their first appointment and an additional one to two weeks for the second.
Perhaps most persuasive, though, was testimony from doctors saying patients receive extensive opportunities to provide informed consent to the procedure. One doctor testified that requiring a second visit and artificially elongating the consent process “undermines patient autonomy, the doctor-patient relationship, and the informed consent process.”
The court pointed out that existing Tennessee laws already required all medical providers to obtain informed consent before abortions or any other medical procedure. Nothing about abortion, wrote the judge, “requires the informed consent process to be altered or prolonged, and there is no evidence that a mandatory waiting period for this medical procedure, but not others, improves outcomes.”
Abortion providers testified about the extensive discussions they have with patients before performing an abortion. Patient educators inquire about whether the patient is sure of her decision or needs additional time. They describe the procedures, discuss family planning options, and determine that no one is coercing the patient to have an abortion. Patients also have lab work done, and an ultrasound is performed.
For any other medical procedure, patients are granted autonomy when they consent to the procedure. They aren’t required to listen to politically driven anti-choice “counseling” that encourages them not to get the procedure, as Tennesee’s law does, nor are they required to wait an arbitrary extra amount of time for the procedure to be performed.
That’s why the judge found the waiting period unconstitutional. It doesn’t do anything positive to protect women’s health, the ostensible reason for such laws, but it does burden their constitutional right to an abortion.
It’s almost inevitable the state will appeal this decision, and it could be a case that goes all the way to the Supreme Court. In this round of litigation, science and reason prevailed. However, should it reach the highest court, it would likely be reversed, and the waiting period upheld. Chief Justice John Roberts has already said he doesn’t think waiting periods are burdensome. And Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is nearly certain to join the court, is a high-profile opponent of abortion, period.
Judge Friedman weighed the science and the lived experience of people who seek abortions, particularly those who live in poverty. Regrettably, it’s possible those things won’t matter to the Supreme Court.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-20--McConnell says it's just not 'appropriate' to help people

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday it was `` appropriate '' that his proposed coronavirus relief legislation would not include stimulus checks for millions of Americans .
When asked by reporters if his bill would include stimulus checks , McConnell said , `` no it does n't '' and justified the omission , noting , `` We thought about $ 500 billion was appropriate at this juncture . ''
McConnell 's so-called `` skinny '' proposal does not include aid for ailing state governments , extended unemployment benefits , or individual stimulus checks .
But it does include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed by House Democrats on Oct. 1 , by contrast , includes $ 600 per week in added unemployment benefits , another round of $ 1,200 stimulus checks , and $ 436 billion in aid for state and local governments who are suffering through the pandemic .
REPORTER : Does your skinny bill contain another round of stimulus checks for all Americans ?
SEN. MITCH McCONNELL : No , it does n't .
But it does address an awful lot of things that we do agree on and I do n't think the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of this package , as others have said , is a good argument for not doing what we are laying on the floor , most of which is completely without controversy .
REPORTER : Why did you decide not to include another round of stimulus checks ?
McCONNELL : We thought about $ 500 billion was appropriate at this juncture .
No one would argue the economy is in good shape , but it 's noteworthy that unemployment 's about 8.4 % , which is what it was in several years during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have way too many people unemployed , and we do continue to plus up on unemployment .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday it was “appropriate” that his proposed coronavirus relief legislation would not include stimulus checks for millions of Americans.
When asked by reporters if his bill would include stimulus checks, McConnell said, “no it doesn’t” and justified the omission, noting, “We thought about $500 billion was appropriate at this juncture.”
McConnell’s so-called “skinny” proposal does not include aid for ailing state governments, extended unemployment benefits, or individual stimulus checks. But it does include liability protection for corporations.
The legislation passed by House Democrats on Oct. 1, by contrast, includes $600 per week in added unemployment benefits, another round of $1,200 stimulus checks, and $436 billion in aid for state and local governments who are suffering through the pandemic.
From an Oct. 20 press conference:
REPORTER: Does your skinny bill contain another round of stimulus checks for all Americans? SEN. MITCH McCONNELL: No, it doesn’t. But it does address an awful lot of things that we do agree on and I don’t think the fact that those checks are not a part of this package, as others have said, is a good argument for not doing what we are laying on the floor, most of which is completely without controversy. REPORTER: Why did you decide not to include another round of stimulus checks? McCONNELL: We thought about $500 billion was appropriate at this juncture. No one would argue the economy is in good shape, but it’s noteworthy that unemployment’s about 8.4%, which is what it was in several years during the Obama first term. We clearly have way too many people unemployed, and we do continue to plus up on unemployment.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-20--Here are all the people Trump said he wants thrown in jail this week

Donald Trump is back to his 2016 strategy : demanding that anyone who opposes him be put in jail .
The man who just months ago decried that he was impeached without `` due process '' has long revved up his crowds by suggesting that his rivals should be imprisoned .
In 2016 , he egged on his supporters to chant `` lock her up '' at his campaign rallies about Hillary Clinton , who had been charged with no crime .
In recent days , Trump has revived the approach , urging the jailing of not just his 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics .
Appearing in Macon , Georgia , on Friday , Trump seized on unproven allegations against Hunter Biden to suggest that both he and former Vice President Joe Biden should be arrested .
`` Lock them up .
You should lock them up .
Lock up the Bidens ! ''
Trump urged .
`` Joe Biden is a corrupt politician , he 's a corrupt politician , and the Biden family is a criminal enterprise . ''
After his victory in November 2016 , Trump told `` 60 Minutes '' that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his campaign promises to prosecute Hillary Clinton for using a private email server during her tenure State Department .
`` I do n't want to hurt them , '' he claimed .
`` They 're good people . ''
But at the Georgia event on Friday , Trump also brought up his old grudge against her , belittling her as `` Crooked Hillary '' and saying she too should be in jail .
`` Lock up Hillary , '' he urged again .
A few weeks ago , a group of right-wing extremists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat .
Trump , who had frequently attacked Whitmer for implementing COVID-19 safety restrictions in the state , used the moment to attack Whitmer again .
`` She wants to be a dictator in Michigan , '' Trump told Fox Business last week .
`` And the people ca n't stand her . ''
On Saturday , Trump appeared in Muskegon , Michigan , and suggested that Whitmer was the one who should go to prison : `` You got ta get your governor to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get your schools open .
Get your schools open .
The schools have to be open , right ? ''
As his fans chanted `` Lock her up , '' Trump responded .
`` Yeah .
Lock 'em all up . ''
Trump has also frequently demanded that House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff should be arrested and charged with `` treason '' for paraphrasing a 2019 phone call between Trump and the president of Ukraine at a committee hearing .
On Tuesday morning , Trump revived his attacks on the California Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is so sick .
We went through two and a half years of that , plus .
This guy , he ought to be put away , or he ought to be , you know , something should happen with him , '' he told Fox News .
Trump has also made bogus criminal accusations against others this week .
He excited his supporters Saturday at a rally in Janesville , Wisconsin , by attacking Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-MN ) .
`` In Minnesota they have Ilhan Omar , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law , but she 's broken the law , '' he baselessly charged .
`` Let 's see what happens , but she 's broken the law , but she hates our country , '' he added as the crowd urged him to lock Omar up .
On Monday , Trump accused a Reuters correspondent of also being a `` criminal . ''
`` You know who 's a criminal ? ''
Trump taunted .
`` You 're a criminal for not reporting [ dirt on the Bidens ] .
You 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' He then added that the rest of the media was also criminal as he walked off .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump is back to his 2016 strategy: demanding that anyone who opposes him be put in jail.
The man who just months ago decried that he was impeached without “due process” has long revved up his crowds by suggesting that his rivals should be imprisoned. In 2016, he egged on his supporters to chant “lock her up” at his campaign rallies about Hillary Clinton, who had been charged with no crime.
In recent days, Trump has revived the approach, urging the jailing of not just his 2016 rival but his 2020 opponent and other critics.
They include:
Joe Biden and his family
Appearing in Macon, Georgia, on Friday, Trump seized on unproven allegations against Hunter Biden to suggest that both he and former Vice President Joe Biden should be arrested.
“Lock them up. You should lock them up. Lock up the Bidens!” Trump urged. “Joe Biden is a corrupt politician, he’s a corrupt politician, and the Biden family is a criminal enterprise.”
Hillary Clinton
After his victory in November 2016, Trump told “60 Minutes” that he did not intend to follow through with his campaign promises to prosecute Hillary Clinton for using a private email server during her tenure State Department. “I don’t want to hurt them,” he claimed. “They’re good people.”
But at the Georgia event on Friday, Trump also brought up his old grudge against her, belittling her as “Crooked Hillary” and saying she too should be in jail. “Lock up Hillary,” he urged again.
Gretchen Whitmer
A few weeks ago, a group of right-wing extremists were arrested in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat. Trump, who had frequently attacked Whitmer for implementing COVID-19 safety restrictions in the state, used the moment to attack Whitmer again. “She wants to be a dictator in Michigan,” Trump told Fox Business last week. “And the people can’t stand her.”
On Saturday, Trump appeared in Muskegon, Michigan, and suggested that Whitmer was the one who should go to prison: “You gotta get your governor to open up your state, okay? And get your schools open. Get your schools open. The schools have to be open, right?”
As his fans chanted “Lock her up,” Trump responded. “Yeah. Lock ’em all up.”
Adam Schiff
Trump has also frequently demanded that House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff should be arrested and charged with “treason” for paraphrasing a 2019 phone call between Trump and the president of Ukraine at a committee hearing.
On Tuesday morning, Trump revived his attacks on the California Democrat.
“He’s a sick man. He is so sick. We went through two and a half years of that, plus. This guy, he ought to be put away, or he ought to be, you know, something should happen with him,” he told Fox News.
Trump has also made bogus criminal accusations against others this week.
He excited his supporters Saturday at a rally in Janesville, Wisconsin, by attacking Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).
“In Minnesota they have Ilhan Omar, who hates our country, who’s broken the law, but she’s broken the law,” he baselessly charged. “Let’s see what happens, but she’s broken the law, but she hates our country,” he added as the crowd urged him to lock Omar up.
On Monday, Trump accused a Reuters correspondent of also being a “criminal.”
“You know who’s a criminal?” Trump taunted. “You’re a criminal for not reporting [dirt on the Bidens]. You’re a criminal for not reporting it!” He then added that the rest of the media was also criminal as he walked off.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-20--Trump keeps saying he has a 'cure' for COVID even as his wife stays home sick

Donald Trump has repeatedly told Americans not to worry about COVID-19 and promised every infected American the same `` cure '' he got , for free .
But more than 8,000 Americans have died of the virus since he first made that promise .
On Monday , Trump told supporters at an Arizona rally that the coronavirus was nothing to worry about because it did not kill him .
`` If you have it , you have it , and you get better .
But we have great therapeutics .
I took something , Regeneron , which we 're making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , it was a cure .
Really , it was n't a therapeutic to me , it was a cure , '' he claimed , referencing an experimental antibody cocktail from drugmaker Regeneron , one of several medications he received during his treatment .
Early trials have shown the cocktail may help speed recovery for some COVID-19 patients .
`` I took it .
I did n't feel so great .
I will tell you that .
I do n't like to admit that in a long time , and I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're president you have a lot of doctors checking you out , right ? ''
he added .
After he checked himself out of the hospital , Trump released a video on Oct. 7 claiming that Regeneron 's product was not just a `` therapeutic , '' but `` a cure . ''
`` I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president , '' Trump said in the video , `` because I feel great .
I feel like perfect . ''
Trump has not offered any plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beyond the $ 450 million contract his administration signed with Regeneron in July , which the company said would cover roughly 300,000 doses .
According to the COVID Tracking Project 's data , at least 8,255 Americans have died since Trump made that promise in early October .
Hundreds of thousands more have tested positive for the virus over that time .
The Trump administration did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
As he continues to belittle the virus , downplay its dangers , and lie about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's own wife has said she is still battling symptoms from her own bout with the virus .
On Tuesday , Melania Trump canceled a planned campaign stop in Pennsylvania — an appearance that was to be her first since the August Republican convention .
`` Mrs. Trump continues to feel better every day following her recovery from Covid-19 , but with a lingering cough , and out of an abundance of caution , she will not be traveling today , '' her spokesperson told CNN .
While the administration has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's `` cure , '' very few Americans have access to it — regardless of whether it is an effective treatment for the virus .
At the time of Trump 's treatment , he was one of the first 10 patients given the drug under compassionate-use rules .
Regeneron CEO Leonard Schleifer told CBS News on Oct. 11 that Trump 's individual results were `` the weakest evidence that you can get '' of the cocktail 's efficacy as a treatment .
`` The real evidence has to come about how good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do on average has to come from these large clinical trials , these randomized clinical trials , which are the gold standard .
And those are ongoing , '' he explained .
Schleifer is reportedly a friend of Trump 's and a member of one of his private golf clubs .
The company said earlier this month that it had only about 50,000 doses available so far .
More people than that tested positive on Monday alone .
This is not the first time Trump has touted an unproven treatment as a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans to use hydroxychloroquine , an anti-malarial drug , despite growing scientific evidence that it was infective and could even be harmful to COVID-19 patients .
More than 220,000 Americans have now died of causes related to COVID-19 to date , according to the New York Times .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump has repeatedly told Americans not to worry about COVID-19 and promised every infected American the same “cure” he got, for free. But more than 8,000 Americans have died of the virus since he first made that promise.
On Monday, Trump told supporters at an Arizona rally that the coronavirus was nothing to worry about because it did not kill him.
“If you have it, you have it, and you get better. But we have great therapeutics. I took something, Regeneron, which we’re making available to everybody free. But to me, it was a cure. Really, it wasn’t a therapeutic to me, it was a cure,” he claimed, referencing an experimental antibody cocktail from drugmaker Regeneron, one of several medications he received during his treatment. Early trials have shown the cocktail may help speed recovery for some COVID-19 patients.
“I took it. I didn’t feel so great. I will tell you that. I don’t like to admit that in a long time, and I didn’t feel too great, and when you’re president you have a lot of doctors checking you out, right?” he added.
After he checked himself out of the hospital, Trump released a video on Oct. 7 claiming that Regeneron’s product was not just a “therapeutic,” but “a cure.”
“I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president,” Trump said in the video, “because I feel great. I feel like perfect.” Trump has not offered any plan for how to deliver on this promise, beyond the $450 million contract his administration signed with Regeneron in July, which the company said would cover roughly 300,000 doses.
According to the COVID Tracking Project’s data, at least 8,255 Americans have died since Trump made that promise in early October. Hundreds of thousands more have tested positive for the virus over that time.
The Trump administration did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
As he continues to belittle the virus, downplay its dangers, and lie about the availability of a “cure,” Trump’s own wife has said she is still battling symptoms from her own bout with the virus.
On Tuesday, Melania Trump canceled a planned campaign stop in Pennsylvania — an appearance that was to be her first since the August Republican convention.
“Mrs. Trump continues to feel better every day following her recovery from Covid-19, but with a lingering cough, and out of an abundance of caution, she will not be traveling today,” her spokesperson told CNN.
While the administration has not indicated whether Mrs. Trump has been given Trump’s “cure,” very few Americans have access to it — regardless of whether it is an effective treatment for the virus. At the time of Trump’s treatment, he was one of the first 10 patients given the drug under compassionate-use rules.
Regeneron CEO Leonard Schleifer told CBS News on Oct. 11 that Trump’s individual results were “the weakest evidence that you can get” of the cocktail’s efficacy as a treatment.
“The real evidence has to come about how good a drug is and what it will do on average has to come from these large clinical trials, these randomized clinical trials, which are the gold standard. And those are ongoing,” he explained. Schleifer is reportedly a friend of Trump’s and a member of one of his private golf clubs.
The company said earlier this month that it had only about 50,000 doses available so far. More people than that tested positive on Monday alone.
This is not the first time Trump has touted an unproven treatment as a “miracle” cure. He previously urged Americans to use hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, despite growing scientific evidence that it was infective and could even be harmful to COVID-19 patients.
More than 220,000 Americans have now died of causes related to COVID-19 to date, according to the New York Times.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-20--Tennessee students plan protest against university for hosting Trump

Donald Trump is scheduled to face off against Joe Biden in the final presidential debate on Thursday at Belmont University in Nashville , Tennessee .
But some students are not happy with the university 's decision to welcome Trump , given his repeated refusal to disavow white supremacy .
The group of students pointed out that the CEO of CoreCivic — the world 's largest private prison company , formerly known as the Corrections Corporation of America — sits on the university 's board .
CoreCivic is headquartered in Nashville .
Brady Surface , one of the student organizers at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation that students have long demanded the university distance itself from CoreCivic , to no avail .
`` CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger has donated large sums to the Trump campaign and also sits on the Board of Belmont University — the site of the upcoming Presidential Debate on October 22nd , '' Surface said .
`` Despite student , alumni , and community requests for the university to cut ties with CoreCivic and condemn President Trump ’ s remarks on white supremacy in the last debate , Belmont University President Dr. [ Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he added .
CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger donated more than $ 35,000 to Republican candidates in 2019 and 2020 , while people with ties to the company have donated a total of $ 242,000 to political campaigns so far — with most of the money going to Republican candidates .
The private prison industry as a whole has spent more money on the 2020 election cycle than any election in history , with much of that money going toward Trump 's flagging reelection campaign .
`` Be Better Belmont formed in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move forward towards a more ethical anti-racist future .
As a Christian University that wants to take a stand against systemic racism , Belmont must honor those values and that claim by divesting from the for-profit prison company CoreCivic , '' Surface added .
`` ... We as Be Better Belmont ask , when is a good time to stand up for those marginalized communities ?
When is a good time to be better ?
As always , the answer is right now . ''
The Belmont University students say that Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dangerous and unwelcoming environment for students of color at the university .
During the Sept. 29 presidential debate , Trump instructed the Proud Boys — an SPLC-designated hate group — to `` stand back and stand by . ''
He later said that `` somebody 's got to do something about antifa and the left , '' referring to antifascist protesters .
This is not the first time Trump has refused to disavow white supremacist groups .
In August 2017 , white supremacists gathered in Charlottesville , Virginia , for the infamous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rioters marched with torches , and chanted , `` Jews will not replace us . ''
Heather Heyer , 32 , was at a counter-protest in downtown Charlottesville when a Unite the Right attendee , James Alex Fields Jr. , rammed his Dodge Challenger into the crowd , hitting Heyer .
She died from `` blunt force injury to her torso . ''
When asked about the Charlottesville riots , Trump said there were `` very fine people on both sides . ''
This article was updated with additional comments from Brady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump is scheduled to face off against Joe Biden in the final presidential debate on Thursday at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
But some students are not happy with the university’s decision to welcome Trump, given his repeated refusal to disavow white supremacy.
The group of students pointed out that the CEO of CoreCivic — the world’s largest private prison company, formerly known as the Corrections Corporation of America — sits on the university’s board. CoreCivic is headquartered in Nashville.
Brady Surface, one of the student organizers at Belmont University, told the American Independent Foundation that students have long demanded the university distance itself from CoreCivic, to no avail.
“CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger has donated large sums to the Trump campaign and also sits on the Board of Belmont University — the site of the upcoming Presidential Debate on October 22nd,” Surface said.
“Despite student, alumni, and community requests for the university to cut ties with CoreCivic and condemn President Trump’s remarks on white supremacy in the last debate, Belmont University President Dr. [Bob] Fisher remains silent and unmoved,” he added.
CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger donated more than $35,000 to Republican candidates in 2019 and 2020, while people with ties to the company have donated a total of $242,000 to political campaigns so far — with most of the money going to Republican candidates.
The private prison industry as a whole has spent more money on the 2020 election cycle than any election in history, with much of that money going toward Trump’s flagging reelection campaign.
“Be Better Belmont formed in order to discuss how the Belmont community can move forward towards a more ethical anti-racist future. As a Christian University that wants to take a stand against systemic racism, Belmont must honor those values and that claim by divesting from the for-profit prison company CoreCivic,” Surface added. “…We as Be Better Belmont ask, when is a good time to stand up for those marginalized communities? When is a good time to be better? As always, the answer is right now.”
The Belmont University students say that Trump’s refusal to condemn white supremacist groups creates a dangerous and unwelcoming environment for students of color at the university.
During the Sept. 29 presidential debate, Trump instructed the Proud Boys — an SPLC-designated hate group — to “stand back and stand by.” He later said that “somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left,” referring to antifascist protesters.
This is not the first time Trump has refused to disavow white supremacist groups. In August 2017, white supremacists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the infamous “Unite the Right” rally. The rioters marched with torches, and chanted, “Jews will not replace us.”
Heather Heyer, 32, was at a counter-protest in downtown Charlottesville when a Unite the Right attendee, James Alex Fields Jr., rammed his Dodge Challenger into the crowd, hitting Heyer. She died from “blunt force injury to her torso.”
When asked about the Charlottesville riots, Trump said there were “very fine people on both sides.”
This article was updated with additional comments from Brady Surface.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-20--Those 'radical left' protesters Trump calls terrorists? They're from the suburbs.

Donald Trump portrays the hundreds of people arrested nationwide in protests against racial injustice as violent urban left-wing radicals .
But an Associated Press review of thousands of pages of court documents tell a different story .
Very few of those charged appear to be affiliated with highly organized extremist groups , and many are young suburban adults from the very neighborhoods Trump vows to protect from the violence in his reelection push to win support from the suburbs .
Attorney General William Barr has urged his prosecutors to bring federal charges on protesters who cause violence and has suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And the Department of Justice has pushed for detention even as prisons across the U.S. were releasing high-risk inmates because of COVID-19 and prosecutors had been told to consider the risks of incarceration during a pandemic when seeking detention .
Defense attorneys and civil rights activists are questioning why the Department of Justice has taken on cases to begin with .
They say most belong in state court , where defendants typically get much lighter sentences .
And they argue federal authorities appear to be cracking down on protesters in an effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly unusual , and without precedent in recent American history , '' said Ron Kuby , a longtime attorney who is n't involved in the cases but has represented scores of clients over the years in protest-related incidents .
`` Almost all of the conduct that 's being charged is conduct that , when it occurs , is prosecuted at the state and local level . ''
In one case in Utah , where a police car was burned , federal prosecutors had to defend why they were bringing arson charges in federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the patrol car was used in interstate commerce .
Not to say there has n't been violence .
Other police cars have been set on fire .
Officers have been injured and blinded .
Windows have been smashed , stores looted , businesses destroyed .
Some of those facing charges undoubtedly share far-left and anti-government views .
Far-right protesters also have been arrested and charged .
Some defendants have driven to protests from out of state .
Some have criminal records and were illegally carrying weapons .
Others are accused of using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or create havoc .
But many have had no previous run-ins with the law and no apparent ties to antifa , the umbrella term for leftist militant groups that Trump has said he wants to declare a terrorist organization .
Even though most of the demonstrations have been peaceful , Trump has made `` law and order '' a major part of his reelection campaign , casting the protests as lawless and violent in mostly Democratic cities he says have done nothing to stymie the mayhem .
If the cities refuse to properly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government has to step in .
`` I know about antifa , and I know about the radical left , and I know how violent they are and how vicious they are , and I know how they are burning down cities run by Democrats , '' Trump said at an NBC town hall .
In dozens of cases , the government has pushed to keep the protesters behind bars while they await their trials amid the COVID-19 pandemic , which has killed more than 220,000 people across the U.S .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the federal prison system , according to a tracker compiled by the AP and The Marshall Project .
In some cases , prosecutors have gone so far as appealing judge 's orders to release defendants .
Pre-trial detention generally is reserved only for people who are clearly dangers to the community or a risk of fleeing .
In Texas , Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin repeatedly challenged the prosecutor to explain why Cyril Lartigue , who authorities say was caught on camera making a Molotov cocktail , should be behind bars while he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cedar Park , described his actions that night as a `` flash of stupidity , '' prosecutors said .
The 25-year-old lives with his parents in the Austin suburb and had never been in trouble with the law before and was n't a member of a violent group .
The judge said there are lot of people `` who do something stupid that 's dangerous that we do n't even consider detaining . ''
`` I 'm frustrated because I do n't think this is a hard case , '' the judge said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with significant criminal histories that the government agrees to release . ''
`` We have no evidence of him — at least that 's been given to me — being a radical or a member of a group that advocates violence toward the police or others .
We 've got no criminal history .
… What evidence is there that he 's a danger to society ? ''
the judge asked .
The judge allowed Lartigue to stay out of jail .
While some of the defendants clearly hold radical or anti-government beliefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any affiliations they have with organized extremist groups .
In one arrest in Erie , Pennsylvania , community members raised more than $ 2,500 to help with bail for a 29-year-old Black man who was arrested after they said white people had come from out of town and spray painted a parking lot .
In thousands of pages of court documents , the only apparent mention of antifa is in a Boston case in which authorities said a FBI Gang Task Force member was investigating `` suspected ANTIFA activity associated with the protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other officers .
Authorities have not claimed that the man accused of firing the shots is a member of antifa .
Others have social media leftist ties ; a Seattle man who expressed anarchist beliefs on social media is accused of sending a message through a Portland citizen communication portal threatening to blow up a police precinct .
Several of the defendants are not from the Democratic-led cities that Trump has likened to `` war zones '' but from the suburbs the Republican president has claimed to have `` saved . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal charges in Portland , 18 defendants are from out of state , the Justice Department said .
This has contributed to a blame game that has been a subplot throughout the protests .
Leaders in Minneapolis and Detroit have decried people from out of state and suburbanites for coming into their cities and causing havoc .
Trump in turn has blamed the cities for not doing their part .
`` Do n't come down to Detroit and tear the city up and then go back home .
That 's putting another knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we got to live here , '' the Rev .
Wendell Anthony of the NAACP said in May .
More than 40 % of those facing federal charges are white .
At least 1/3 are Black , and about 6 % Hispanic .
More than two-thirds are under the age of 30 and most are men .
More than a quarter have been charged with arson , which if convicted means a five-year minimum prison sentence .
More than a dozen are accused of civil disorder , and others are charged with burglary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order .
They were arrested in cities across the U.S. , from Portland , Oregon , to Minneapolis , Boston and New York .
Attorneys for those facing federal charges either declined to comment or did n't respond to messages from the AP .
Brian Bartels , a 20-year-old suburban Pittsburgh man who is described by prosecutors as a `` self-identified left-wing anarchist , '' was flanked by his parents when he turned himself in to authorities .
Bartels , who lives at his parents ' house , spray painted an `` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on top of it and smashing its windshield during a protest in the city , prosecutors said .
He pleaded guilty in September .
One defendant who was arrested during a protest in the central Massachusetts city of Worcester told authorities he was `` with the anarchist group . ''
Vincent Eovacious , 18 , who is accused of possessing several Molotov cocktails , told authorities that he had been `` waiting for an opportunity , '' according to court documents .
But tucked into the protest-related cases are accusations of far-right extremism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bareswill , angry that a local Black church held a prayer vigil for George Floyd , called the church and threatened to burn it to the ground , using racial slurs in a phone call overheard by children , prosecutors said .
Bareswill , 63 , of Virginia Beach , faces 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to making a telephonic threat .
Two Missouri militia members who authorities say traveled to Kenosha , Wisconsin , to see Trump 's visit in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cache of guns , according to court documents .
An attorney for one of the men , Michael Karmo , said he is `` charged criminally for conduct that many Americans would consider patriotic , '' as authorities have alleged his motive was to assist overwhelmed law enforcement .
Three of the men arrested are far-right extremists , members of the `` Boogaloo '' movement plotting to overthrow the government and had been stockpiling military-grade weapons and hunting around for the right public event to unleash violence for weeks before Floyd 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After aborting a mission related to reopening businesses in Nevada as the coronavirus pandemic raged , they settled on a Floyd-related protest led by Black Lives Matter .
Angry it had not turned violent , they brought carloads of explosives , military-grade weapons , to a meet-up about 2 miles ( 3.2 kilometers ) from the protest site and pumped gasoline into tanks .
FBI agents arrested them before they could act , according to a criminal complaint .
FBI Director Christopher Wray recently told a congressional panel that extremists driven by white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for most deadly attacks in the U.S. over the past few years .
He said that antifa is more of an ideology or a movement than an organization , though the FBI has terrorism investigations of `` violent anarchist extremists , any number of whom self identify with the antifa movement . ''
But the handling of the federal protest cases is vastly different from other recent times of unrest .
`` Look at Travyon ( Martin ) verdicts , Eric Garner verdicts , '' Kuby said , talking about high-profile cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges were filed .
`` There was a tremendous amount of anger and unrest and activity that was objectively unlawful , '' he said .
`` There were objections about law enforcement being militarized , but you did n't see following the quelling of those demonstrations any significant federal law enforcement involvement . ''

Donald Trump portrays the hundreds of people arrested nationwide in protests against racial injustice as violent urban left-wing radicals. But an Associated Press review of thousands of pages of court documents tell a different story.
Very few of those charged appear to be affiliated with highly organized extremist groups, and many are young suburban adults from the very neighborhoods Trump vows to protect from the violence in his reelection push to win support from the suburbs.
Attorney General William Barr has urged his prosecutors to bring federal charges on protesters who cause violence and has suggested that rarely used sedition charges could apply. And the Department of Justice has pushed for detention even as prisons across the U.S. were releasing high-risk inmates because of COVID-19 and prosecutors had been told to consider the risks of incarceration during a pandemic when seeking detention.
Defense attorneys and civil rights activists are questioning why the Department of Justice has taken on cases to begin with. They say most belong in state court, where defendants typically get much lighter sentences. And they argue federal authorities appear to be cracking down on protesters in an effort to stymie demonstrations.
“It is highly unusual, and without precedent in recent American history,” said Ron Kuby, a longtime attorney who isn’t involved in the cases but has represented scores of clients over the years in protest-related incidents. “Almost all of the conduct that’s being charged is conduct that, when it occurs, is prosecuted at the state and local level.”
In one case in Utah, where a police car was burned, federal prosecutors had to defend why they were bringing arson charges in federal court. They said it was appropriate because the patrol car was used in interstate commerce.
Not to say there hasn’t been violence. Other police cars have been set on fire. Officers have been injured and blinded. Windows have been smashed, stores looted, businesses destroyed.
Some of those facing charges undoubtedly share far-left and anti-government views. Far-right protesters also have been arrested and charged. Some defendants have driven to protests from out of state. Some have criminal records and were illegally carrying weapons. Others are accused of using the protests as an opportunity to steal or create havoc.
But many have had no previous run-ins with the law and no apparent ties to antifa, the umbrella term for leftist militant groups that Trump has said he wants to declare a terrorist organization.
Even though most of the demonstrations have been peaceful, Trump has made “law and order” a major part of his reelection campaign, casting the protests as lawless and violent in mostly Democratic cities he says have done nothing to stymie the mayhem. If the cities refuse to properly clamp down, he says, the federal government has to step in.
“I know about antifa, and I know about the radical left, and I know how violent they are and how vicious they are, and I know how they are burning down cities run by Democrats,” Trump said at an NBC town hall.
In dozens of cases, the government has pushed to keep the protesters behind bars while they await their trials amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 220,000 people across the U.S. There have been more than 16,000 positive cases in the federal prison system, according to a tracker compiled by the AP and The Marshall Project.
In some cases, prosecutors have gone so far as appealing judge’s orders to release defendants. Pre-trial detention generally is reserved only for people who are clearly dangers to the community or a risk of fleeing.
In Texas, Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin repeatedly challenged the prosecutor to explain why Cyril Lartigue, who authorities say was caught on camera making a Molotov cocktail, should be behind bars while he awaits his trial. Lartigue, of Cedar Park, described his actions that night as a “flash of stupidity,” prosecutors said.
The 25-year-old lives with his parents in the Austin suburb and had never been in trouble with the law before and wasn’t a member of a violent group.
The judge said there are lot of people “who do something stupid that’s dangerous that we don’t even consider detaining.”
“I’m frustrated because I don’t think this is a hard case,” the judge said. “I have defendants in here with significant criminal histories that the government agrees to release.”
“We have no evidence of him — at least that’s been given to me — being a radical or a member of a group that advocates violence toward the police or others. We’ve got no criminal history. … What evidence is there that he’s a danger to society?” the judge asked.
The judge allowed Lartigue to stay out of jail.
While some of the defendants clearly hold radical or anti-government beliefs, prosecutors have provided little evidence of any affiliations they have with organized extremist groups.
In one arrest in Erie, Pennsylvania, community members raised more than $2,500 to help with bail for a 29-year-old Black man who was arrested after they said white people had come from out of town and spray painted a parking lot.
In thousands of pages of court documents, the only apparent mention of antifa is in a Boston case in which authorities said a FBI Gang Task Force member was investigating “suspected ANTIFA activity associated with the protests” when a man fired at him and other officers. Authorities have not claimed that the man accused of firing the shots is a member of antifa.
Others have social media leftist ties; a Seattle man who expressed anarchist beliefs on social media is accused of sending a message through a Portland citizen communication portal threatening to blow up a police precinct.
Several of the defendants are not from the Democratic-led cities that Trump has likened to “war zones” but from the suburbs the Republican president has claimed to have “saved.” Of the 93 people arrested on federal criminal charges in Portland, 18 defendants are from out of state, the Justice Department said.
This has contributed to a blame game that has been a subplot throughout the protests. Leaders in Minneapolis and Detroit have decried people from out of state and suburbanites for coming into their cities and causing havoc. Trump in turn has blamed the cities for not doing their part.
“Don’t come down to Detroit and tear the city up and then go back home. That’s putting another knee on the neck of Black folk because we got to live here,” the Rev. Wendell Anthony of the NAACP said in May.
More than 40% of those facing federal charges are white. At least 1/3 are Black, and about 6% Hispanic. More than two-thirds are under the age of 30 and most are men. More than a quarter have been charged with arson, which if convicted means a five-year minimum prison sentence. More than a dozen are accused of civil disorder, and others are charged with burglary and failing to comply with a federal order. They were arrested in cities across the U.S., from Portland, Oregon, to Minneapolis, Boston and New York.
Attorneys for those facing federal charges either declined to comment or didn’t respond to messages from the AP.
Brian Bartels, a 20-year-old suburban Pittsburgh man who is described by prosecutors as a “self-identified left-wing anarchist,” was flanked by his parents when he turned himself in to authorities. Bartels, who lives at his parents’ house, spray painted an “A” on a police cruiser before jumping on top of it and smashing its windshield during a protest in the city, prosecutors said. He pleaded guilty in September.
One defendant who was arrested during a protest in the central Massachusetts city of Worcester told authorities he was “with the anarchist group.” Vincent Eovacious, 18, who is accused of possessing several Molotov cocktails, told authorities that he had been “waiting for an opportunity,” according to court documents.
But tucked into the protest-related cases are accusations of far-right extremism and racism as well.
John Malcolm Bareswill, angry that a local Black church held a prayer vigil for George Floyd, called the church and threatened to burn it to the ground, using racial slurs in a phone call overheard by children, prosecutors said. Bareswill, 63, of Virginia Beach, faces 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to making a telephonic threat.
Two Missouri militia members who authorities say traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to see Trump’s visit in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake were arrested at a hotel in September with a cache of guns, according to court documents. An attorney for one of the men, Michael Karmo, said he is “charged criminally for conduct that many Americans would consider patriotic,” as authorities have alleged his motive was to assist overwhelmed law enforcement.
Three of the men arrested are far-right extremists, members of the “Boogaloo” movement plotting to overthrow the government and had been stockpiling military-grade weapons and hunting around for the right public event to unleash violence for weeks before Floyd’s death, according to court documents.
After aborting a mission related to reopening businesses in Nevada as the coronavirus pandemic raged, they settled on a Floyd-related protest led by Black Lives Matter. Angry it had not turned violent, they brought carloads of explosives, military-grade weapons, to a meet-up about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the protest site and pumped gasoline into tanks. FBI agents arrested them before they could act, according to a criminal complaint.
FBI Director Christopher Wray recently told a congressional panel that extremists driven by white supremacist or anti-government ideologies have been responsible for most deadly attacks in the U.S. over the past few years. He said that antifa is more of an ideology or a movement than an organization, though the FBI has terrorism investigations of “violent anarchist extremists, any number of whom self identify with the antifa movement.”
But the handling of the federal protest cases is vastly different from other recent times of unrest.
“Look at Travyon (Martin) verdicts, Eric Garner verdicts,” Kuby said, talking about high-profile cases in which Black people were killed but no charges were filed.
“There was a tremendous amount of anger and unrest and activity that was objectively unlawful,” he said. “There were objections about law enforcement being militarized, but you didn’t see following the quelling of those demonstrations any significant federal law enforcement involvement.”


shareblue--2020-10-20--Actually, white suburban women don't really like Trump that much

White suburban women are fed up with Donald Trump , and it may cost him the election .
Around the country , these women are making their voices heard , and what they 're saying is that Trump can not take their votes for granted .
They say the global coronavirus pandemic response badly botched by the Trump administration , protests against racially motivated police brutality around the country , the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , and the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg have galvanized them .
In Philadelphia , suburban women are a key voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haaretz spoke with Jewish women there and found they are turning against Trump en masse .
They deem his support of Israel to be largely an act of political posturing , and some say they will never forget his failure to condemn the white supremacist and neo-Nazi `` Unite the Right '' rally in Charlottesville , Virginia , in 2017 that left one person dead .
Elsewhere in the country , suburban women have similarly rallied .
In early 2016 , Michigander Lori Goldman started a group called Fems for Dems with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
The organization now boasts nearly 9,000 members and is working to elect Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
`` Our house is on fire , '' Goldman says .
She has committed the organization to ousting Trump from office , adding that she is n't comfortable canvassing strangers , `` But this is war . ''
Shannon Watts , a suburban mother of five and founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America , a gun safety group that now boasts a larger membership than the NRA , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what is important to them .
`` Donald Trump is right to think that suburban women will be voting for safety , '' she said .
`` But he 's wrong to think that means they 'll be voting for him . ''
Trump has been attempting to win white suburban women voters back with racist dogwhistles for some time .
In August , he stooped to racist fearmongering , asking on Twitter : `` Why would suburban women vote for Biden and the Democrats when Democrats run cities are now rampant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking the federal government for help ) which could easily spread to the suburbs , and they will reconstitute , on steroids , their low income suburbs plan ? ''
During a recent campaign rally in Johnstown , Pennsylvania , Trump begged for the support of suburban women : `` Somebody said , I do n't know if the suburban woman likes you .
They said , they may not like the way you talk .
But I 'm about law and order .
I 'm about having you safe . ''
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' out of suburban neighborhoods , another racist dogwhistle .
`` Suburban women , will you please like me ?
I saved your damn neighborhood , OK ? ''
Trump pleaded .
He added : `` Suburban women should like me more than anyone here tonight because I ended the regulation that destroyed your neighborhood . ''
Trump referred to his repeal in July of an anti-discrimination rule from the Obama era that was aimed at preventing racial segregation .
`` I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood , '' Trump tweeted , adding that house values would go up and crime go down .
But suburban women are having none of what Trump 's selling .
Whereas in 2016 he won the among suburban voters 47 % to 45 % over Hillary Clinton , he 's now losing with them 54 % to 44 % .
And the seismic shift is n't because of suburban men , who continue overwhelmingly to favor Trump .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among suburban women of 54 % to 45 % .
And among white suburban Republicans , hot-button issues such as the Trump administration 's child separation policy starkly divide men and women , with 46 % of white suburban men supporting that policy compared with only 25 % of white suburban women .
`` Women are pragmatic voters , '' Michigan Gov .
Whitmer , herself a frequent target of Trump 's abuse , has said .
`` We care about our kids .
We care about our parents .
We care about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand up for those values and show that they can be good , decent human beings is something I know resonates .
And I think this moment , with this White House , that is more acute than ever . ''

White suburban women are fed up with Donald Trump, and it may cost him the election.
Around the country, these women are making their voices heard, and what they’re saying is that Trump cannot take their votes for granted.
They say the global coronavirus pandemic response badly botched by the Trump administration, protests against racially motivated police brutality around the country, the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg have galvanized them.
In Philadelphia, suburban women are a key voting bloc in a key swing state. Haaretz spoke with Jewish women there and found they are turning against Trump en masse. They deem his support of Israel to be largely an act of political posturing, and some say they will never forget his failure to condemn the white supremacist and neo-Nazi “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 that left one person dead.
Elsewhere in the country, suburban women have similarly rallied.
In early 2016, Michigander Lori Goldman started a group called Fems for Dems with the aim of electing the first female U.S. president. The organization now boasts nearly 9,000 members and is working to elect Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
“Our house is on fire,” Goldman says. She has committed the organization to ousting Trump from office, adding that she isn’t comfortable canvassing strangers, “But this is war.”
Shannon Watts, a suburban mother of five and founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a gun safety group that now boasts a larger membership than the NRA, said Donald Trump has badly misjudged suburban women and what is important to them.
“Donald Trump is right to think that suburban women will be voting for safety,” she said. “But he’s wrong to think that means they’ll be voting for him.”
Trump has been attempting to win white suburban women voters back with racist dogwhistles for some time.
In August, he stooped to racist fearmongering, asking on Twitter: “Why would suburban women vote for Biden and the Democrats when Democrats run cities are now rampant with crime (and they aren’t asking the federal government for help) which could easily spread to the suburbs, and they will reconstitute, on steroids, their low income suburbs plan?”
During a recent campaign rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Trump begged for the support of suburban women: “Somebody said, I don’t know if the suburban woman likes you. They said, they may not like the way you talk. But I’m about law and order. I’m about having you safe.”
He again bragged about getting “low-income housing” out of suburban neighborhoods, another racist dogwhistle.
“Suburban women, will you please like me? I saved your damn neighborhood, OK?” Trump pleaded.
He added: “Suburban women should like me more than anyone here tonight because I ended the regulation that destroyed your neighborhood.”
Trump referred to his repeal in July of an anti-discrimination rule from the Obama era that was aimed at preventing racial segregation.
“I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood,” Trump tweeted, adding that house values would go up and crime go down.
But suburban women are having none of what Trump’s selling.
Whereas in 2016 he won the among suburban voters 47% to 45% over Hillary Clinton, he’s now losing with them 54% to 44%. And the seismic shift isn’t because of suburban men, who continue overwhelmingly to favor Trump. It’s because Biden has nearly a double-digit lead among suburban women of 54% to 45%.
And among white suburban Republicans, hot-button issues such as the Trump administration’s child separation policy starkly divide men and women, with 46% of white suburban men supporting that policy compared with only 25% of white suburban women.
“Women are pragmatic voters,” Michigan Gov. Whitmer, herself a frequent target of Trump’s abuse, has said. “We care about our kids. We care about our parents. We care about economic security. And so candidates who stand up for those values and show that they can be good, decent human beings is something I know resonates. And I think this moment, with this White House, that is more acute than ever.”


shareblue--2020-10-20--The 7 weirdest claims from Trump's latest Fox News appearance

Donald Trump appeared on Fox News ' `` Fox & Friends '' Tuesday morning , spending nearly an hour bouncing from topic to topic , and repeating lies and smears against his opponents .
Among other things , Trump promoted conspiracy theories about his political adversaries , repeatedly overstated his support , and falsely argued that windows would be made smaller under the Green New Deal .
Trump issued a veiled threat to Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) for raising doubts about the Trump team 's ongoing attacks on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with debunked claims about his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` ought to be put away '' or `` something should happen to him . ''
The language echoes Trump 's repeated attacks on Michigan Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , who was the target of a planned kidnapping after Trump tweeted `` LIBERATE MICHIGAN ! ''
Trump claimed that the Green New Deal , which some Democrats support , would `` make the windows from nice windows to little windows . ''
This is not true .
Trump bragged that America is `` doing much better than Europe '' in handling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not true .
He also said that before `` the plague came in from China '' he was winning the election and `` we were so far ahead . ''
But before the virus hit the United States , Trump was behind Biden in polling .
Trump has been behind Biden for over a year , according to RealClearPolitics .
DONALD TRUMP : We 're way ahead of where we were , by the way .
Especially when you see numbers that are coming in , and we know now for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are coming in .
No , look , this election was over until the plague came in from China .
We were so far ahead .
The economy was the best ever , you know that .
I mean you know that .
But this election was over , and then the plague came in and it affected this country , and it affected many other countries .
Look at other countries where a leader was doing a good job , and you know the plague came in , and many of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They 're gone or they were hurt .
Trump tried to assert that he has political strength in Texas , despite polling showing Joe Biden within a few points in the traditionally Republican state .
Trump claimed Democrats `` want to take away your guns , your oil , and your God.
, '' with no evidence to support those claims .
DONALD TRUMP : What you said about Texas , do n't worry about Texas .
Texas is with us .
They want to take away your guns , your oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's what they want .
They want to take away your Second Amendment , they want to take away fracking and oil , they do n't care , they want to take it away , they want the Green New Deal .
That 's not for Texas .
Texas is not going to be losing their guns , and they 're not going to be losing their oil , and they 're not going to be losing their religion , or their God .
Trump also claimed his campaign is `` doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not led in a national poll in over a year — only with the right-leaning Rasmussen poll .
Trump is trailing Biden in polls in battleground states , including states he won in 2016 .
DONALD TRUMP : And by the way , we 're doing very well , we 're going to win the election .
We 're doing very well .
If you look at all of what 's happening and all of the people who come in and do n't come in , you take a look all around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , those are our votes too , and we 're doing well in Texas – I just got a report , we 're doing great in Texas .
But we 're doing great all over .
To defend his performance in the first debate , Trump cited an unscientific online poll claiming 77 % of respondents believe he won .
In reality , polling showed that Trump lost the debate .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump appeared on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning, spending nearly an hour bouncing from topic to topic, and repeating lies and smears against his opponents.
Among other things, Trump promoted conspiracy theories about his political adversaries, repeatedly overstated his support, and falsely argued that windows would be made smaller under the Green New Deal.
Trump issued a veiled threat to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) for raising doubts about the Trump team’s ongoing attacks on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with debunked claims about his son, Hunter. Trump said Schiff “ought to be put away” or “something should happen to him.”
The language echoes Trump’s repeated attacks on Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was the target of a planned kidnapping after Trump tweeted “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!”
DONALD TRUMP: I saw Schiff, Shifty Schiff, yesterday get up, say “this is Russia.” Yeah, I mean, he’s a sick man, he is so sick. It is – we went through two and a half years of that, plus. And this guy, he ought to be put away or he ought to be — something should happen with him.
Trump claimed that the Green New Deal, which some Democrats support, would “make the windows from nice windows to little windows.” This is not true.
DONALD TRUMP: So, they want to take a building and they want to make the windows from nice windows to little windows. Oh, that’s just fine. That was my business, I know all about construction, that’s wonderful. Let’s take your windows out and make them tiny little windows, because you’re going to save two cents on energy.
Trump bragged that America is “doing much better than Europe” in handling the pandemic. But fact-checkers have shown that’s not true.
DONALD TRUMP: We’re doing much better than Europe, Europe is getting hit pretty hard. We’re doing much better, and we will never shut down.
He also said that before “the plague came in from China” he was winning the election and “we were so far ahead.” But before the virus hit the United States, Trump was behind Biden in polling. Trump has been behind Biden for over a year, according to RealClearPolitics.
DONALD TRUMP: We’re way ahead of where we were, by the way. Especially when you see numbers that are coming in, and we know now for a fact we’re way ahead because numbers are coming in. No, look, this election was over until the plague came in from China. We were so far ahead. The economy was the best ever, you know that. I mean you know that. But this election was over, and then the plague came in and it affected this country, and it affected many other countries. Look at other countries where a leader was doing a good job, and you know the plague came in, and many of those people are gone, not their fault. They’re gone or they were hurt.
Trump tried to assert that he has political strength in Texas, despite polling showing Joe Biden within a few points in the traditionally Republican state. Trump claimed Democrats “want to take away your guns, your oil, and your God.,” with no evidence to support those claims.
DONALD TRUMP: What you said about Texas, don’t worry about Texas. Texas is with us. They want to take away your guns, your oil, and your God. Okay? That’s what they want. They want to take away your Second Amendment, they want to take away fracking and oil, they don’t care, they want to take it away, they want the Green New Deal. That’s not for Texas. Texas is not going to be losing their guns, and they’re not going to be losing their oil, and they’re not going to be losing their religion, or their God.
Trump also claimed his campaign is “doing great all over,” but he has not led in a national poll in over a year — only with the right-leaning Rasmussen poll. Trump is trailing Biden in polls in battleground states, including states he won in 2016.
DONALD TRUMP: And by the way, we’re doing very well, we’re going to win the election. We’re doing very well. If you look at all of what’s happening and all of the people who come in and don’t come in, you take a look all around the country. And with Texas early voting, those are our votes too, and we’re doing well in Texas – I just got a report, we’re doing great in Texas. But we’re doing great all over.
To defend his performance in the first debate, Trump cited an unscientific online poll claiming 77% of respondents believe he won. In reality, polling showed that Trump lost the debate.
DONALD TRUMP: A lot of people said I won, if you look at the Hispanic – very interesting, they did a Hispanic population poll, and I was at 77%, and a lot of people thought, look, when somebody stands there and he lies, lies, lies, I like to challenge it at the time, because you don’t have time to go back.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.