shareblue--2020-12-26--Exploding trees and 'Yo Semite': Trump's 13 most cringeworthy moments of 2020

This year , Donald Trump botched a federal response to a global pandemic , antagonized peaceful protesters of police brutality , rammed through a questionable Supreme Court pick , and attempted to steal an election .
But he 's also fumbled his way through some unforgettable moments , making bizarre statements to the public that have left listeners scratching their heads .
Though it 's far from the first year in office that Trump 's verbal gaffes have made waves , it 's certainly been among the most memorable .
Here are just a few of the more baffling statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
1 .
When he claimed Austrians live in forests Discussing wildfires happening across California in early September , Trump told Fox News that Austrians were better equipped to handle such fires because they lived in forests .
`` You have forests all over the world , '' he said .
`` You do n't have fires like you do in California .
You know , in Europe they have forest cities ... you look at countries , Austria , you look at so many countries , they live in the forest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elisabeth Koestinger , Austria 's agriculture secretary , felt the need to respond to Trump 's bizarre remarks .
Specifically , she tried to debunk Trump 's claims that `` we live within 'forest cities ' which never catch fire . ''
`` ... [ T ] he gravity of current events make Trump 's words much more worrying — after all , right at this moment , thousands of people are fighting horrendous wildfires in life-or-death situations , '' Koestinger said .
`` In reality , Austria is a country situated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not live in the forest , but rather with the forest and in a close , sustainable relationship with the natural environment . ''
2 .
When he wondered aloud about 'exploding ' trees Once again in September , while discussing the California wildfires , Trump wondered aloud to the press about the possibility of trees just `` exploding . ''
`` When trees fall down , after a short period of time , about 18 months , they become very dry , they become really like a matchstick and they get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no more water pouring through and they become very very — they just explode , '' he said .
Experts were quick to fact-check his claim .
Retired fire scientist Richard Rothermel noted that if Trump meant foliage could `` suddenly burst into flames due to a massive amount of heat engulfing the tree , '' that was possible .
But , he added , `` For the trunk to become super heated sufficiently to cause the moisture in the tree to suddenly become steam with resulting expansion which would shatter the tree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laboratory I never heard anyone report seeing this or finding evidence of it . ''
3 .
When he insisted he was just 'inspecting ' his White House bunker Following media reports in June that he 'd hid in the underground White House bunker while police cracked down on anti-racism protesters nearby , Trump later claimed he had merely been `` inspecting '' it .
`` They said it would be a good time to go down , take a look , because maybe sometime you 're going to need it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` fake news , '' Trump added that he `` looked '' at the space for `` a very , very short period of time . ''
`` I ca n't tell you who went with me , but a whole group of people went with me , as an inspecting factor , I was back up , and ... it was during the day , it was n't during the night , '' he said , slamming the media for reporting that the so-called `` inspection '' had happened at in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he referred to Thailand as 'thigh-land' Speaking at a Whirlpool factory in Ohio this past August , Trump mispronounced the name of Thailand as `` thigh-land . ''
`` Five years ago , this place was a disaster , '' he said in his remarks .
`` In 2017 , Whirlpool won relief from the [ U.S. International Trade Commission ] once again , once more .
Your foreign competitors moved their factories to prevent the level playing field and to avoid liability , shifting production to thigh-land and Vietnam , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , took the gaffe in stride , with English-language outlet the Thai Enquirer briefly changing its Twitter name to the `` Thigh Enquirer '' .
5 .
When he suggested Americans inject bleach to cure coronavirus In April , a White House official explained in a press conference that lights and certain disinfectants like bleach could potentially kill coronavirus living on surfaces .
Eager to put in his two cents , Trump suggested those treatments might be taken internally .
`` So supposing we hit the body with a tremendous , whether it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I think you said that has n't been checked , but you 're going to test it , and then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body , which you can do , either through the skin or in some other way , and I think you said you 're going to test that , too , '' he said .
He added that injecting disinfectant might also be a good way to combat the virus .
`` I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there a way we can do something like that , by injection inside or almost a cleaning ? ''
Trump asked .
`` Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does at tremendous number on the lungs , so it would be interesting to check that .
So that you 're gon na have to use medical doctors with , but it sounds interesting to me . ''
Medical experts were swift to condemn Trump 's remarks as dangerous , and Lysol and another disinfectant company issued a joint statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our disinfectant products be administered into the human body . ''
6 .
When he wished an accused sex trafficker well In a cringeworthy statement heard round the world , Trump sent his best wishes to Jeffrey Epstein 's longtime companion , accused sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell .
`` I just wish her well , frankly , '' he told a reporter in July .
`` I 've met her numerous times over the years , especially since I lived in Palm Beach and I guess they lived in Palm Beach , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is . ''
The FBI had recently arrested and charged Maxwell with sex trafficking of children , enticement of minors , and perjury at that time .
7 .
When he wondered why he could n't force TikTok to pay off the government Trump seemed gobsmacked in a September press conference to discover he — or , rather , the U.S. government — could n't collect a bounty from Microsoft 's acquisition of Chinese-owned app TikTok .
Trump had previously stated that any sale of the app to a U.S. entity should require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` very big '' payment as part of the deal .
Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act , governments are legally barred from making such payments to other governments in the private marketplace .
Asked if TikTok would indeed make payments to the U.S. Treasury in September , Trump told reporters , `` We 're going to see about that . ''
`` Amazingly , I find that you 're not allowed to do that , you 're not allowed to accept money , so what kind of a government , what kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're willing to make big payments to the government , they 're not allowed , because there 's no way of doing that , there 's no legal path to doing that , '' Trump said .
He continued , `` And I 'm saying wait a minute , they 're willing to make a big payment to the government and we 're not allowed to take their money ?
When does this happen ?
How foolish can we be , so we 're gon na , we 're looking into that right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed ( falsely ) that the biggest election threat was 'ballots' In a September press conference , Trump ignored the raging pandemic around him to claim that the biggest threat to the November election was `` ballots '' — specifically mail ballots intended to keep voters safe amid the pandemic .
`` The biggest problem we have right now are the ballots , '' he said in a press conference that month .
`` Millions of ballots going out , that 's the biggest problem . ''
`` Our biggest threat to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots , millions of ballots , '' he added .
`` To me that 's a much bigger threat than foreign countries . ''
He then falsely claimed allegations of foreign interference in the 2016 election had been disproven , despite intelligence community consensus , and his own party 's confirmation , that Russia did in fact meddle in and affect that election .
Trump 's repeated claims of widespread ballot fraud have been thoroughly debunked , and even his own outgoing Attorney General William Barr has smacked down allegations that there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tide for President-elect Joe Biden .
9 .
When he decided to spell out 'COVID' In a public statement on April 2 announcing that he would be authorizing the domestic manufacture of more ventilators under the Defense Production Act , Trump bragged that COVID-19 had become a `` very famous '' term .
He decided to spelled it out , however , rather than calling it by its name .
By that point , the media had been reporting on the outbreak , which had been declared a pandemic weeks earlier , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump said , referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus .
`` You know what that is , it 's become a very famous term .
C-O-V-I-D .
COVID . ''
By that time , there had already been 3,900 COVID-related deaths in the United States , according to CBS .
10 .
When he claimed he worked as hard as factory workers Despite his legendary Twitter habit and Fox News addiction , Trump told factory workers responsible for manufacturing personal protective equipment during the pandemic that he worked as hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this facility have answered the call at America 's hour of need , '' he told them in May .
`` Many of you are working long before dawn , get up and you go to work , and long after midnight .
I know your hours , I was talking to your people and your representatives ... but I work those hours too , we 're all working hard . ''
In May , the Washington Post estimated that Trump had spent anywhere between 9 and 63 full days on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the hours were stacked together .
In that time , he has also posted more than 22,000 false or misleading tweets , many of which are easily debunked .
11 .
When he pronounced 'Yosemite ' as 'Yo Semite' At an August event at the White House to sign a bipartisan conservation bill , Trump infamously mispronounced the name of Yosemite National Park — twice .
`` When young people experience the breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon , when their eyes widen in amazement as Old Faithful bursts into the sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' ... Yoseminite 's towering sequoias , their love of country grows stronger and they know that every American has truly a duty to preserve this wondrous inheritance , '' Trump said .
Twitter was quick to call him out on his error .
12 .
When he said he designed Navy ships to look like ' a yacht with missiles' In June , Trump inexplicably claimed in a visit to a Wisconsin shipbuilding facility that he designed a new fleet of warships for the U.S. Navy .
`` The ships that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I changed designs , I looked at it , I said , 'That 's a terrible looking ship , let 's make it beautiful , it 'll cost you the same and maybe less , ' '' Trump said .
`` You know , sometimes you can make it look great for less money .
And I said , 'This is not a good looking ship , let 's change the design of it . '
'' He said that he called in a team who then changed the ship 's design .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's like a yacht with missiles on it , '' Trump added .
13 .
Any time he tried to dance to 'YMCA ' at a campaign rally Trump seems to be a fan of the Village People hit `` YMCA , '' one of the tunes often played at his 2020 campaign rallies , as evidenced by his now-famous dance moves , which went viral this year .
Those moves even sparked a popular TikTok challenge , with users uploading side-by-side videos of themselves attempting to learn or imitate Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms , clenched fists pumping back and forth — sometimes to the beat — as though he 's on an elliptical trainer , '' as the Associated Press described it .
`` The hardest dance to learn , '' one user joked .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

This year, Donald Trump botched a federal response to a global pandemic, antagonized peaceful protesters of police brutality, rammed through a questionable Supreme Court pick, and attempted to steal an election.
But he’s also fumbled his way through some unforgettable moments, making bizarre statements to the public that have left listeners scratching their heads.
Though it’s far from the first year in office that Trump’s verbal gaffes have made waves, it’s certainly been among the most memorable.
Here are just a few of the more baffling statements the White House occupant made in 2020.
1. When he claimed Austrians live in forests
Discussing wildfires happening across California in early September, Trump told Fox News that Austrians were better equipped to handle such fires because they lived in forests.
“You have forests all over the world,” he said. “You don’t have fires like you do in California. You know, in Europe they have forest cities … you look at countries, Austria, you look at so many countries, they live in the forest, they’re considered forest cities.”
Elisabeth Koestinger, Austria’s agriculture secretary, felt the need to respond to Trump’s bizarre remarks.
Specifically, she tried to debunk Trump’s claims that “we live within ‘forest cities’ which never catch fire.”
“…[T]he gravity of current events make Trump’s words much more worrying — after all, right at this moment, thousands of people are fighting horrendous wildfires in life-or-death situations,” Koestinger said. “In reality, Austria is a country situated in the heart of Europe, where people do not live in the forest, but rather with the forest and in a close, sustainable relationship with the natural environment.”
2. When he wondered aloud about ‘exploding’ trees
Once again in September, while discussing the California wildfires, Trump wondered aloud to the press about the possibility of trees just “exploding.”
“When trees fall down, after a short period of time, about 18 months, they become very dry, they become really like a matchstick and they get up — you know, there’s no more water pouring through and they become very very — they just explode,” he said.
Experts were quick to fact-check his claim.
Retired fire scientist Richard Rothermel noted that if Trump meant foliage could “suddenly burst into flames due to a massive amount of heat engulfing the tree,” that was possible.
But, he added, “For the trunk to become super heated sufficiently to cause the moisture in the tree to suddenly become steam with resulting expansion which would shatter the tree … In my years at the fire laboratory I never heard anyone report seeing this or finding evidence of it.”
3. When he insisted he was just ‘inspecting’ his White House bunker
Following media reports in June that he’d hid in the underground White House bunker while police cracked down on anti-racism protesters nearby, Trump later claimed he had merely been “inspecting” it.
“They said it would be a good time to go down, take a look, because maybe sometime you’re going to need it,” he said at the time.
Complaining of “fake news,” Trump added that he “looked” at the space for “a very, very short period of time.”
“I can’t tell you who went with me, but a whole group of people went with me, as an inspecting factor, I was back up, and … it was during the day, it wasn’t during the night,” he said, slamming the media for reporting that the so-called “inspection” had happened at in the evening hours.
4. When he referred to Thailand as ‘thigh-land’
Speaking at a Whirlpool factory in Ohio this past August, Trump mispronounced the name of Thailand as “thigh-land.”
“Five years ago, this place was a disaster,” he said in his remarks. “In 2017, Whirlpool won relief from the [U.S. International Trade Commission] once again, once more. Your foreign competitors moved their factories to prevent the level playing field and to avoid liability, shifting production to thigh-land and Vietnam,” he said.
Trump quickly corrected himself, repeating “Thailand and Vietnam.”
Those in Thailand, however, took the gaffe in stride, with English-language outlet the Thai Enquirer briefly changing its Twitter name to the “Thigh Enquirer”.
5. When he suggested Americans inject bleach to cure coronavirus
In April, a White House official explained in a press conference that lights and certain disinfectants like bleach could potentially kill coronavirus living on surfaces.
Eager to put in his two cents, Trump suggested those treatments might be taken internally.
“So supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it, and then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do, either through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said you’re going to test that, too,” he said.
He added that injecting disinfectant might also be a good way to combat the virus.
“I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?” Trump asked. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does at tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that. So that you’re gonna have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me.”
Medical experts were swift to condemn Trump’s remarks as dangerous, and Lysol and another disinfectant company issued a joint statement warning that “under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body.”
6. When he wished an accused sex trafficker well
In a cringeworthy statement heard round the world, Trump sent his best wishes to Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion, accused sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
“I just wish her well, frankly,” he told a reporter in July. “I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach and I guess they lived in Palm Beach, but I wish her well, whatever it is.”
The FBI had recently arrested and charged Maxwell with sex trafficking of children, enticement of minors, and perjury at that time.
7. When he wondered why he couldn’t force TikTok to pay off the government
Trump seemed gobsmacked in a September press conference to discover he — or, rather, the U.S. government — couldn’t collect a bounty from Microsoft’s acquisition of Chinese-owned app TikTok.
Trump had previously stated that any sale of the app to a U.S. entity should require the company to give the Treasury a “very big” payment as part of the deal.
Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, governments are legally barred from making such payments to other governments in the private marketplace.
Asked if TikTok would indeed make payments to the U.S. Treasury in September, Trump told reporters, “We’re going to see about that.”
“Amazingly, I find that you’re not allowed to do that, you’re not allowed to accept money, so what kind of a government, what kind of thing is this, if they’re willing to make big payments to the government, they’re not allowed, because there’s no way of doing that, there’s no legal path to doing that,” Trump said.
He continued, “And I’m saying wait a minute, they’re willing to make a big payment to the government and we’re not allowed to take their money? When does this happen? How foolish can we be, so we’re gonna, we’re looking into that right now.”
8. When he claimed (falsely) that the biggest election threat was ‘ballots’
In a September press conference, Trump ignored the raging pandemic around him to claim that the biggest threat to the November election was “ballots” — specifically mail ballots intended to keep voters safe amid the pandemic.
“The biggest problem we have right now are the ballots,” he said in a press conference that month. “Millions of ballots going out, that’s the biggest problem.”
“Our biggest threat to this election is governors from opposing parties controlling ballots, millions of ballots,” he added. “To me that’s a much bigger threat than foreign countries.”
He then falsely claimed allegations of foreign interference in the 2016 election had been disproven, despite intelligence community consensus, and his own party’s confirmation, that Russia did in fact meddle in and affect that election.
Trump’s repeated claims of widespread ballot fraud have been thoroughly debunked, and even his own outgoing Attorney General William Barr has smacked down allegations that there was mass election fraud that somehow turned the tide for President-elect Joe Biden.
9. When he decided to spell out ‘COVID’
In a public statement on April 2 announcing that he would be authorizing the domestic manufacture of more ventilators under the Defense Production Act, Trump bragged that COVID-19 had become a “very famous” term.
He decided to spelled it out, however, rather than calling it by its name. By that point, the media had been reporting on the outbreak, which had been declared a pandemic weeks earlier, for several months.
“C-O-V-I-D 19,” Trump said, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus. “You know what that is, it’s become a very famous term. C-O-V-I-D. COVID.”
By that time, there had already been 3,900 COVID-related deaths in the United States, according to CBS.
10. When he claimed he worked as hard as factory workers
Despite his legendary Twitter habit and Fox News addiction, Trump told factory workers responsible for manufacturing personal protective equipment during the pandemic that he worked as hard as they did.
“The workers at this facility have answered the call at America’s hour of need,” he told them in May. “Many of you are working long before dawn, get up and you go to work, and long after midnight. I know your hours, I was talking to your people and your representatives … but I work those hours too, we’re all working hard.”
In May, the Washington Post estimated that Trump had spent anywhere between 9 and 63 full days on Twitter during his time in office, if all the hours were stacked together. In that time, he has also posted more than 22,000 false or misleading tweets, many of which are easily debunked.
11. When he pronounced ‘Yosemite’ as ‘Yo Semite’
At an August event at the White House to sign a bipartisan conservation bill, Trump infamously mispronounced the name of Yosemite National Park — twice.
“When young people experience the breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon, when their eyes widen in amazement as Old Faithful bursts into the sky, when they gaze upon ‘Yo Semite’… Yoseminite’s towering sequoias, their love of country grows stronger and they know that every American has truly a duty to preserve this wondrous inheritance,” Trump said.
Twitter was quick to call him out on his error.
12. When he said he designed Navy ships to look like ‘a yacht with missiles’
In June, Trump inexplicably claimed in a visit to a Wisconsin shipbuilding facility that he designed a new fleet of warships for the U.S. Navy.
“The ships that they were building, they look terrible. I changed designs, I looked at it, I said, ‘That’s a terrible looking ship, let’s make it beautiful, it’ll cost you the same and maybe less,'” Trump said. “You know, sometimes you can make it look great for less money. And I said, ‘This is not a good looking ship, let’s change the design of it.'”
He said that he called in a team who then changed the ship’s design.
“They gave me a beautiful — it’s like a yacht with missiles on it,” Trump added.
13. Any time he tried to dance to ‘YMCA’ at a campaign rally
Trump seems to be a fan of the Village People hit “YMCA,” one of the tunes often played at his 2020 campaign rallies, as evidenced by his now-famous dance moves, which went viral this year.
Those moves even sparked a popular TikTok challenge, with users uploading side-by-side videos of themselves attempting to learn or imitate Trump’s dance, which “starts with the arms, clenched fists pumping back and forth — sometimes to the beat — as though he’s on an elliptical trainer,” as the Associated Press described it.
“The hardest dance to learn,” one user joked.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-27--8 of Trump's biggest promises to Americans that he didn't bother keeping

Donald Trump made hundreds of promises as a candidate about what kind of president he would be .
As his final days in office tick down , it is clear that he has broken most of the biggest ones .
Some were silly — like his vows never to call Iran 's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei `` Supreme Leader '' ( `` I 'll say , 'Hey baby , how ya doing ? '
'' ) and never to break his leg in a bicycle race .
Others were hyperbolic , like an April 2016 boast that if he won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things happening in the U.S. will be rapidly reversed ! ''
But many of his unkept promises were fundamental actions he had claimed were the reason he should be elected president , things he would do to `` Make America Great Again . ''
Trump has claimed that he created the greatest economy in history .
But even before the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a massive economic downturn , the promises Trump made about what he 'd do for the country 's economy had not been fulfilled .
During a debate with Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election Day in 2016 , Trump claimed that `` we 're bringing GDP from , really , 1 percent , which is what it is now , and if she got in , it will be less than zero .
But we 're bringing it from 1 percent up to 4 percent .
And I actually think we can go higher than 4 percent .
I think you can go to 5 percent or 6 percent . ''
But under Trump , growth of the country 's gross domestic product never reached 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter of 2020 , and that was due to a partial rebound from a contraction of over 31 % caused by the pandemic .
Rather than balance the budget and get rid of the national debt `` fairly quickly , '' Trump 's policies increased the debt by trillions of dollars , even before the 2020 pandemic relief bills .
His promised massive cuts to taxes paid by middle class Americans also never materialized , nor did the promised funding of massive infrastructure projects .
Dozens of times , Trump made a vague @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act , commonly known as Obamacare , with something `` terrific '' that would provide health insurance coverage to every American .
Trump never actually revealed this supposed secret plan .
Instead , he endorsed what he described as a `` mean '' congressional repeal legislation proposal that he admitted lacked `` heart . ''
The House , then controlled by Republicans , passed a version of the bill , but the effort failed in the Senate .
Trump 's pledges to stop the flow of illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues of cocaine and heroin abuse also did not come to fruition .
Trump 's most famous 2016 campaign promise was that he would quickly build a massive wall along the entire southern border between the United States and Mexico , and that Mexico would pay for it .
When Mexico refused to pay , Trump diverted billions of dollars appropriated for military families and construction to pay for it .
According to a fact check published by USA Today in September , only five miles of the wall built under the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 307 miles U.S. Customs and Border Protection said had been built as of Sept. 1 replaced or reinforcing existing fencing .
During his campaign for president , Trump vowed to `` drain the swamp in Washington , D.C. , '' releasing a `` Five-Point Plan for Ethics Reform '' in government .
He said he would completely disentangle himself from his financial holdings and have his kids take them over .
He did neither , instead giving policy influence to donors , letting his children simultaneously take key roles in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his position , and running what the nonpartisan watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington called the `` most unethical presidency '' in U.S. history .
He also promised voters , `` I will always tell you the truth . ''
As of this September , the Washington Post reported , Trump had made more than 23,000 false or misleading statements while in office .
Focus on the job of president During the 2016 race , Trump claimed that as president he would behave differently than he had as a candidate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be so presidential that you wo n't even recognize me .
You 'll be falling asleep , you 'll be so bored , '' he said during an interview with reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa .
He also promised that if he was elected , he would stop tweeting .
`` I would rarely leave the White House because there 's so much work to be done , '' he said in 2015 .
`` I would not be a president who took vacations .
I would not be a president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made hundreds of trips to his own golf resorts and visited his properties on nearly a third the time he 's been in office .
Trump promised that he would staff his administration with only the `` best and most serious people . ''
But he frequently fired his own appointees — sometimes via tweet — and often attacked them for being totally incompetent .
According to a report published by the Brookings Institution , 91 % of Trump 's `` A Team '' of positions within the executive office , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least once during his four years in the White House , breaking records for turnover .
Trump told Americans that he would bring an end to violent crime .
`` The crime rate is through the roof .
People ca n't walk down the street without getting shot .
I 'll stop that , '' he said .
In his inaugural address , Trump announced an end to crime and poverty in inner cities , saying , `` This American carnage stops right here and stops right now . ''
While a decrease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for decades mostly continued , the murder rate in many American cities shot up this year , possibly in connection with the coronavirus pandemic , experts speculate .
Rather than highlight the incremental improvements , Trump actually made his failure to keep this promise a 2020 campaign talking point and frequently noted the increasing crime rates on his own watch .
While pushing climate denial , Trump framed himself as an environmentalist committed to `` crystal clear , crystal clean '' water and fresh air .
`` I will refocus the EPA on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and clean , safe drinking water for all Americans , '' he promised .
Instead , his administration rolled back environmental protections and slashed funding for water infrastructure .
The level of dangerous particle pollution in the air is basically unchanged since 2016 , as the EPA ignores scientists ' calls to impose lower limits on the pollutants .
Despite all of these , Trump sought a second term with the slogan `` Promises Kept . ''
`` I did n't back down from my promises and I have kept every single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video shown at the Republican National Convention in August .
With a popular vote defeat by a margin of more than 6 million votes and a 306-to-232 defeat in the Electoral College in the 2020 election , it does not appear the American people bought it .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump made hundreds of promises as a candidate about what kind of president he would be. As his final days in office tick down, it is clear that he has broken most of the biggest ones.
Some were silly — like his vows never to call Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “Supreme Leader” (“I’ll say, ‘Hey baby, how ya doing?'”) and never to break his leg in a bicycle race. Others were hyperbolic, like an April 2016 boast that if he won the election, “all of the bad things happening in the U.S. will be rapidly reversed!”
But many of his unkept promises were fundamental actions he had claimed were the reason he should be elected president, things he would do to “Make America Great Again.”
Economy
Trump has claimed that he created the greatest economy in history. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a massive economic downturn, the promises Trump made about what he’d do for the country’s economy had not been fulfilled.
During a debate with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton not long before Election Day in 2016, Trump claimed that “we’re bringing GDP from, really, 1 percent, which is what it is now, and if she got in, it will be less than zero. But we’re bringing it from 1 percent up to 4 percent. And I actually think we can go higher than 4 percent. I think you can go to 5 percent or 6 percent.”
But under Trump, growth of the country’s gross domestic product never reached 4% in any quarter until the third quarter of 2020, and that was due to a partial rebound from a contraction of over 31% caused by the pandemic.
Rather than balance the budget and get rid of the national debt “fairly quickly,” Trump’s policies increased the debt by trillions of dollars, even before the 2020 pandemic relief bills.
His promised massive cuts to taxes paid by middle class Americans also never materialized, nor did the promised funding of massive infrastructure projects.
Health
Dozens of times, Trump made a vague but firm pledge to “immediately” repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, with something “terrific” that would provide health insurance coverage to every American.
Trump never actually revealed this supposed secret plan. Instead, he endorsed what he described as a “mean” congressional repeal legislation proposal that he admitted lacked “heart.” The House, then controlled by Republicans, passed a version of the bill, but the effort failed in the Senate.
Trump’s pledges to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the country and solve the issues of cocaine and heroin abuse also did not come to fruition.
Immigration
Trump’s most famous 2016 campaign promise was that he would quickly build a massive wall along the entire southern border between the United States and Mexico, and that Mexico would pay for it. When Mexico refused to pay, Trump diverted billions of dollars appropriated for military families and construction to pay for it.
According to a fact check published by USA Today in September, only five miles of the wall built under the Trump administration are new construction; the rest of the 307 miles U.S. Customs and Border Protection said had been built as of Sept. 1 replaced or reinforcing existing fencing.
Ethics
During his campaign for president, Trump vowed to “drain the swamp in Washington, D.C.,” releasing a “Five-Point Plan for Ethics Reform” in government. He said he would completely disentangle himself from his financial holdings and have his kids take them over. He did neither, instead giving policy influence to donors, letting his children simultaneously take key roles in his business and political organizations, profiteering from his position, and running what the nonpartisan watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington called the “most unethical presidency” in U.S. history.
He also promised voters, “I will always tell you the truth.” As of this September, the Washington Post reported, Trump had made more than 23,000 false or misleading statements while in office.
Focus on the job of president
During the 2016 race, Trump claimed that as president he would behave differently than he had as a candidate. “And after I win, I will be so presidential that you won’t even recognize me. You’ll be falling asleep, you’ll be so bored,” he said during an interview with reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. He also promised that if he was elected, he would stop tweeting.
“I would rarely leave the White House because there’s so much work to be done,” he said in 2015. “I would not be a president who took vacations. I would not be a president that takes time off.”
Trump has made hundreds of trips to his own golf resorts and visited his properties on nearly a third the time he’s been in office.
Personnel
Trump promised that he would staff his administration with only the “best and most serious people.” But he frequently fired his own appointees — sometimes via tweet — and often attacked them for being totally incompetent.
According to a report published by the Brookings Institution, 91% of Trump’s “A Team” of positions within the executive office, not including Cabinet members, turned over at least once during his four years in the White House, breaking records for turnover.
Public safety
Trump told Americans that he would bring an end to violent crime. “The crime rate is through the roof. People can’t walk down the street without getting shot. I’ll stop that,” he said. In his inaugural address, Trump announced an end to crime and poverty in inner cities, saying, “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”
While a decrease in violent crime that had been underway for decades mostly continued, the murder rate in many American cities shot up this year, possibly in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, experts speculate. Rather than highlight the incremental improvements, Trump actually made his failure to keep this promise a 2020 campaign talking point and frequently noted the increasing crime rates on his own watch.
Environment
While pushing climate denial, Trump framed himself as an environmentalist committed to “crystal clear, crystal clean” water and fresh air. “I will refocus the EPA on its core mission of ensuring clean air, and clean, safe drinking water for all Americans,” he promised.
Instead, his administration rolled back environmental protections and slashed funding for water infrastructure. The level of dangerous particle pollution in the air is basically unchanged since 2016, as the EPA ignores scientists’ calls to impose lower limits on the pollutants.
Despite all of these, Trump sought a second term with the slogan “Promises Kept.”
“I didn’t back down from my promises and I have kept every single one,” he claimed in a video shown at the Republican National Convention in August.
With a popular vote defeat by a margin of more than 6 million votes and a 306-to-232 defeat in the Electoral College in the 2020 election, it does not appear the American people bought it.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-28--Here's how Biden can reverse some of Trump's worst damage to LGBTQ people

President-elect Joe Biden has ambitious plans for LGBTQ equality .
Earlier this month , he spoke at the International LGBTQ Leaders Conference and said he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris `` are committed to being the most pro-equality administration in history . ''
Biden told Philadelphia Gay News in October that he plans to `` immediately reverse discriminatory practices that Trump put in place . ''
He said he would make the Equality Act , a sweeping federal nondiscrimination bill , a priority in his first 100 days in office and take action to prevent more violence against transgender people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration have done to LGBTQ people is vast .
He has attacked health care access for LGBTQ people , has tried to gut Obama-era nondiscrimination protections for transgender people who need access to shelters , and proposed a rule that makes it harder to have asylum claims granted .
Reversing many of Trump 's harmful policies will be easier said than done , however , experts say .
How long it takes all depends on the kind of attack Biden seeks to roll back .
There are some policies Biden can quickly reverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that officially went into effect in April of last year .
Sharon McGowan , legal director and chief strategy officer for Lambda Legal , said ending the ban should be one of Biden 's first rollbacks .
`` We hope and expect the commander-in-chief will very quickly and definitely reverse the Trump administration policy and return to the plan that was there under [ Secretary of Defense ] Ash Carter that allowed for open service , '' McGowan said .
Biden could also remedy problems for married same-sex couples abroad who want their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to McGowan .
Under the Trump administration , the State Department has interpreted immigration and citizenship laws in such a way that requires both parents of a child born outside of the United States to have a biological connection to that child or to be married .
But that means same-sex couples living in countries where marriage is not legal are unable to obtain citizenship for their children , even if one of the parents is a United States citizen .
Lambda Legal and Immigration Equality filed a lawsuit on behalf of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a federal judge ordered the State Department to recognize the citizenship of that couple 's child , rejecting the State Department 's interpretation of the law .
A new administration could officially change the State Department 's interpretation of the law and make it clear that the children of same-sex couples have the same citizenship rights as any other children .
`` They should not only stop fighting these individual cases but clean up the interpretation so it does n't come up for other people , '' McGowan said .
The Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widows and widowers who have also been fighting to have their full rights recognized through the Social Security Administration .
The current policy requires people to have been married for at least nine months to receive survivor benefits .
Many same-sex couples who lived in states that banned marriage equality before the Supreme Court ruled in favor of it in 2015 were excluded from benefits under this policy .
Some married couples saw a spouse pass away before the nine-month period and other people in long , committed relationships lost their partners before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden administration could implement new policies that would stop denying benefits to people `` who are continuing to be affected by this residual marriage discrimination . ''
Federal agencies could also act quickly to fully implement the Supreme Court decision in June that said LGBTQ people are protected from employment and other types of discrimination under federal law — something the Trump administration has resisted doing .
McGowan said the Justice Department could release a statement clarifying what the `` the rules of the road '' are for every federal agency under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reverse the Education Department 's decision to roll back Obama administration guidance that affirmed transgender students ' equal access to facilities and activities , according to the New York Times .
There is a long road ahead to reverse Trump 's rules Although some of Trump 's discriminatory policies have been halted by the courts , others are still in place , have only recently been finalized , or could be finalized before a Biden administration begins .
The Trump administration has been moving fast to finalize rules before Biden takes office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December that creates a broad religious exemption for federal contractors , allowing them to discriminate against LGBTQ workers on supposedly religious grounds .
The following week , the administration released its final package of rules eliminating protections for nine federal agencies , including the Justice Department and Health and Human Services .
The new rules allow faith-based groups and service providers to discriminate against LGBTQ people on supposedly religious grounds .
A final rule , which was first proposed in June and would change the standards asylum seekers need to meet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published this month .
Under the new rule , LGBTQ asylum seekers would have a particularly hard time seeking asylum , experts on immigration and LGBTQ rights said earlier this year .
The Trump administration could also complete the final steps in the rule-making process for a Department of Housing and Urban Development policy that encourages discrimination against transgender people at homeless shelters .
Advocates are also watching out for a rule proposed last year by Health and Human Services that removes protections for grant recipients .
It would essentially say that groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as foster care providers , can discriminate against LGBTQ families .
`` It also erases the explicit requirement that all marriages be treated equally , which is alarming , '' said Sharita Gruberg , senior director of the LGBTQ research and communications Project at the Center for American Progress .
`` They won ’ t even restate what the law is in terms of protections for same-sex couples . ''
The law requires several steps for implementing or reversing new agency rules , so it 's hard to say just how long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these dangerous policies .
In some cases , Gruberg said , the process can take about a year to complete .
`` Given the many things the incoming administration is going to have to do , including the fact that they are coming into a government that has lost a lot of great career staff that do this work , it will take time to do rule-making and for us to have these really terrible policies rescinded , '' Gruberg said .
What the incoming Biden administration has working in its favor is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule-making , she said .
`` They were n't on firm grounds to begin with .
We ’ ve seen that with the numerous injunctions on attacks that have come out from this administration , so that is helpful in process of rescinding these since the prior administration violated the law , '' Gruberg explained .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

President-elect Joe Biden has ambitious plans for LGBTQ equality. Earlier this month, he spoke at the International LGBTQ Leaders Conference and said he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris “are committed to being the most pro-equality administration in history.”
Biden told Philadelphia Gay News in October that he plans to “immediately reverse discriminatory practices that Trump put in place.” He said he would make the Equality Act, a sweeping federal nondiscrimination bill, a priority in his first 100 days in office and take action to prevent more violence against transgender people.
The damage Donald Trump and his administration have done to LGBTQ people is vast. He has attacked health care access for LGBTQ people, has tried to gut Obama-era nondiscrimination protections for transgender people who need access to shelters, and proposed a rule that makes it harder to have asylum claims granted.
Reversing many of Trump’s harmful policies will be easier said than done, however, experts say. How long it takes all depends on the kind of attack Biden seeks to roll back.
What a Biden administration could tackle immediately
There are some policies Biden can quickly reverse, such as the transgender military ban that officially went into effect in April of last year.
Sharon McGowan, legal director and chief strategy officer for Lambda Legal, said ending the ban should be one of Biden’s first rollbacks.
“We hope and expect the commander-in-chief will very quickly and definitely reverse the Trump administration policy and return to the plan that was there under [Secretary of Defense] Ash Carter that allowed for open service,” McGowan said.
Biden could also remedy problems for married same-sex couples abroad who want their child’s citizenship to be recognized, according to McGowan. Under the Trump administration, the State Department has interpreted immigration and citizenship laws in such a way that requires both parents of a child born outside of the United States to have a biological connection to that child or to be married. But that means same-sex couples living in countries where marriage is not legal are unable to obtain citizenship for their children, even if one of the parents is a United States citizen.
Lambda Legal and Immigration Equality filed a lawsuit on behalf of one such couple, and in August, a federal judge ordered the State Department to recognize the citizenship of that couple’s child, rejecting the State Department’s interpretation of the law.
A new administration could officially change the State Department’s interpretation of the law and make it clear that the children of same-sex couples have the same citizenship rights as any other children.
“They should not only stop fighting these individual cases but clean up the interpretation so it doesn’t come up for other people,” McGowan said.
The Biden administration could also change survivor benefits for widows and widowers who have also been fighting to have their full rights recognized through the Social Security Administration. The current policy requires people to have been married for at least nine months to receive survivor benefits. Many same-sex couples who lived in states that banned marriage equality before the Supreme Court ruled in favor of it in 2015 were excluded from benefits under this policy.
Some married couples saw a spouse pass away before the nine-month period and other people in long, committed relationships lost their partners before the landmark ruling. McGowan said the Biden administration could implement new policies that would stop denying benefits to people “who are continuing to be affected by this residual marriage discrimination.”
Federal agencies could also act quickly to fully implement the Supreme Court decision in June that said LGBTQ people are protected from employment and other types of discrimination under federal law — something the Trump administration has resisted doing. McGowan said the Justice Department could release a statement clarifying what the “the rules of the road” are for every federal agency under the landmark decision.
Biden could also immediately reverse the Education Department’s decision to roll back Obama administration guidance that affirmed transgender students’ equal access to facilities and activities, according to the New York Times.
There is a long road ahead to reverse Trump’s rules
Although some of Trump’s discriminatory policies have been halted by the courts, others are still in place, have only recently been finalized, or could be finalized before a Biden administration begins. The Trump administration has been moving fast to finalize rules before Biden takes office. The Department of Labor finalized a rule in December that creates a broad religious exemption for federal contractors, allowing them to discriminate against LGBTQ workers on supposedly religious grounds.
The following week, the administration released its final package of rules eliminating protections for nine federal agencies, including the Justice Department and Health and Human Services. The new rules allow faith-based groups and service providers to discriminate against LGBTQ people on supposedly religious grounds.
A final rule, which was first proposed in June and would change the standards asylum seekers need to meet to have their claims granted, was also published this month. Under the new rule, LGBTQ asylum seekers would have a particularly hard time seeking asylum, experts on immigration and LGBTQ rights said earlier this year.
The Trump administration could also complete the final steps in the rule-making process for a Department of Housing and Urban Development policy that encourages discrimination against transgender people at homeless shelters.
Advocates are also watching out for a rule proposed last year by Health and Human Services that removes protections for grant recipients. It would essentially say that groups receiving federal grants from the department, such as foster care providers, can discriminate against LGBTQ families.
“It also erases the explicit requirement that all marriages be treated equally, which is alarming,” said Sharita Gruberg, senior director of the LGBTQ research and communications Project at the Center for American Progress. “They won’t even restate what the law is in terms of protections for same-sex couples.”
The law requires several steps for implementing or reversing new agency rules, so it’s hard to say just how long it will take to reverse all of these dangerous policies. In some cases, Gruberg said, the process can take about a year to complete.
“Given the many things the incoming administration is going to have to do, including the fact that they are coming into a government that has lost a lot of great career staff that do this work, it will take time to do rule-making and for us to have these really terrible policies rescinded,” Gruberg said.
What the incoming Biden administration has working in its favor is the previous administration’s “sloppy” rule-making, she said.
“They weren’t on firm grounds to begin with. We’ve seen that with the numerous injunctions on attacks that have come out from this administration, so that is helpful in process of rescinding these since the prior administration violated the law,” Gruberg explained.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-28--Republicans in Congress attack COVID safety rules even as hospitals are 'getting crushed'

This week , Republicans in Congress are slamming the COVID-19 safety guidelines recommended by top infectious diseases specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci — even as COVID positivity rates soar and hospitals nationwide face dangerous overcrowding .
On Sunday night , Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) attacked Fauci on Twitter , saying his `` fantasies '' have led to `` the extinction of all our freedoms . ''
`` Almost everything Fauci has said this year has been exaggerated , misleading , and/or flat-out wrong .
He is not to be trusted under any circumstances , '' tweeted Biggs , linking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci about required herd immunity rates .
`` Americans must reject his doctrine of destruction before his fantasies lead to the extinction of all of our freedoms . ''
In the interview , Fauci said that while he has previously stated that 60 % to 70 % of the American population required vaccination in order for the country to achieve herd immunity , he really thinks that number could be as high as 90 % .
The Times reported that Fauci has been adjusting the figure over time based on the latest scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public would react to the numbers .
`` We need to have some humility here , '' Fauci told the Times .
`` We really do n't know what the real number is .
I think the real range is somewhere between 70 to 90 percent .
But , I 'm not going to say 90 percent . ''
But , he said , he 's increased the goal vaccination rate incrementally , since he now feels the American public is ready to hear the fuller picture — that the safest route @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of Americans to be vaccinated .
His comments drew more ire from his frequent critics on the right .
Biggs , for one , lashed out at Fauci and the science surrounding coronavirus in general .
Demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of herd immunity , on Monday he denied the existence of asymptomatic carriers of the virus .
`` Many of the COVID-19 testing policies revolve around the notion that asymptomatic people are unknowingly spreading COVID-19 to many others , '' he wrote on the platform .
`` Or maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the asymptomatic 'doctrine ' wasn ’ t everything the 'experts ' told you it was .
But recent studies have repeatedly shown that 40 % to 50 % of those testing positive for COVID-19 have no symptoms , and leading experts have noted that this has played a huge role in the pandemic 's spread .
And Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio also came under fire this weekend for criticizing the science underlying COVID guidelines and vaccine protocols , as well as for claiming Fauci `` lied '' to Americans and was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Fauci lied about masks in March , '' Rubio tweeted .
`` Dr. Fauci has been distorting the level of vaccination needed for herd immunity .
It is n't just him .
Many in elite bubbles believe the American public does n't know 'what 's good for them ' so they need to be tricked into 'doing the right thing ' . ''
Critics were swift to note that Rubio 's remarks undercutting the importance of vaccines in achieving herd immunity came after the senator was among the first to receive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommend against the wearing of masks in March , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommending mask-wearing were not implemented until April as experts came to understand more about the disease .
And Biggs and Rubio 's remarks undermining the importance of vaccines and other safety protocols are ill-timed , coming as American hospitals face overcrowding of epic proportions due to the pandemic .
In parts of California , including Los Angeles County , doctors have warned that they will soon have no room for other patients because they are so inundated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to sugarcoat this .
We are getting crushed , '' said Dr. Brad Spellberg , LAC and USC Medical Center 's chief medical officer .
Earlier this month , hospitals in eastern Tennessee had only 8 of their 284 ICU hospital beds unoccupied .
A December report by the Atlantic noted that patients in Laredo , Texas , were being sent to San Antonio hospitals and other Texans sent to Oklahoma as their own hospitals filled up ; and that in South Dakota , 37 hospitals reported sending patients home with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room in the hospital for the most desperate cases .
`` Calamity is no longer imminent ; it is here , '' the outlet noted .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

This week, Republicans in Congress are slamming the COVID-19 safety guidelines recommended by top infectious diseases specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci — even as COVID positivity rates soar and hospitals nationwide face dangerous overcrowding.
On Sunday night, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) attacked Fauci on Twitter, saying his “fantasies” have led to “the extinction of all our freedoms.”
“Almost everything Fauci has said this year has been exaggerated, misleading, and/or flat-out wrong. He is not to be trusted under any circumstances,” tweeted Biggs, linking to a New York Times interview with Fauci about required herd immunity rates. “Americans must reject his doctrine of destruction before his fantasies lead to the extinction of all of our freedoms.”
In the interview, Fauci said that while he has previously stated that 60% to 70% of the American population required vaccination in order for the country to achieve herd immunity, he really thinks that number could be as high as 90%.
The Times reported that Fauci has been adjusting the figure over time based on the latest scientific findings and also his concern at how the public would react to the numbers.
“We need to have some humility here,” Fauci told the Times. “We really don’t know what the real number is. I think the real range is somewhere between 70 to 90 percent. But, I’m not going to say 90 percent.”
But, he said, he’s increased the goal vaccination rate incrementally, since he now feels the American public is ready to hear the fuller picture — that the safest route to eradicating coronavirus is for a higher number of Americans to be vaccinated.
His comments drew more ire from his frequent critics on the right.
Biggs, for one, lashed out at Fauci and the science surrounding coronavirus in general. Demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of herd immunity, on Monday he denied the existence of asymptomatic carriers of the virus.
“Many of the COVID-19 testing policies revolve around the notion that asymptomatic people are unknowingly spreading COVID-19 to many others,” he wrote on the platform. “Or maybe most of them aren’t. Maybe the asymptomatic ‘doctrine’ wasn’t everything the ‘experts’ told you it was.
But recent studies have repeatedly shown that 40% to 50% of those testing positive for COVID-19 have no symptoms, and leading experts have noted that this has played a huge role in the pandemic’s spread.
And Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio also came under fire this weekend for criticizing the science underlying COVID guidelines and vaccine protocols, as well as for claiming Fauci “lied” to Americans and was “distorting” information about vaccines.
“Dr. Fauci lied about masks in March,” Rubio tweeted. “Dr. Fauci has been distorting the level of vaccination needed for herd immunity. It isn’t just him. Many in elite bubbles believe the American public doesn’t know ‘what’s good for them’ so they need to be tricked into ‘doing the right thing’.”
Critics were swift to note that Rubio’s remarks undercutting the importance of vaccines in achieving herd immunity came after the senator was among the first to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
And while Fauci did recommend against the wearing of masks in March, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommending mask-wearing were not implemented until April as experts came to understand more about the disease.
And Biggs and Rubio’s remarks undermining the importance of vaccines and other safety protocols are ill-timed, coming as American hospitals face overcrowding of epic proportions due to the pandemic.
In parts of California, including Los Angeles County, doctors have warned that they will soon have no room for other patients because they are so inundated by COVID-19 patients.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat this. We are getting crushed,” said Dr. Brad Spellberg, LAC and USC Medical Center’s chief medical officer.
Earlier this month, hospitals in eastern Tennessee had only 8 of their 284 ICU hospital beds unoccupied.
A December report by the Atlantic noted that patients in Laredo, Texas, were being sent to San Antonio hospitals and other Texans sent to Oklahoma as their own hospitals filled up; and that in South Dakota, 37 hospitals reported sending patients home with oxygen tanks because they ran out of room in the hospital for the most desperate cases.
“Calamity is no longer imminent; it is here,” the outlet noted.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-28--Here's what's in the COVID relief bill that just got signed

The massive , year-end catchall bill that Donald Trump signed into law combines $ 900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $ 1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and reams of other unfinished legislation on taxes , energy , education , and health care .
Highlights of the measure with overall funding amounts and specific amounts for some but not necessarily all initiatives .
Unemployment insurance ( $ 120 billion ) .
Revives supplemental federal pandemic unemployment benefits but at $ 300 per week — through March 14 — instead of the $ 600 per week benefit that expired in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gig '' workers and extends the maximum period for state-paid jobless benefits to 50 weeks .
Direct payments ( $ 166 billion ) .
Provides $ 600 direct payments to individuals making up to $ 75,000 per year ; $ 1,200 for couples making up to $ 150,000 per year — with payments phased out for higher incomes —- and $ 600 additional payments per dependent child .
Paycheck Protection Program ( $ 284 billion ) .
Revives the Paycheck Protection Program , which provides forgivable loans to qualified businesses .
Especially hard-hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible for a second round .
Ensures that PPP subsidies are not taxed .
Vaccines , testing , health providers ( $ 69 billion ) .
Delivers more than $ 30 billion for procurement of vaccines and treatments , distribution funds for states , and a strategic stockpile .
Adds $ 22 billion for testing , tracing and mitigation , $ 9 billion for health care providers , and $ 4.5 billion for mental health .
Schools and universities ( $ 82 billion ) .
Delivers $ 54 billion to public K-12 schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion for colleges and universities ; $ 4 billion would be awarded to a Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund ; nearly $ 1 billion for Native American schools .
Rental assistance ( $ 25 billion ) .
Provides money for a first-ever federal rental assistance program ; funds to be distributed by state and local governments to help people who have fallen behind on their rent and may be facing eviction .
Food/farm aid ( $ 26 billion ) .
Increases stamp benefits by 15 % for six months and provides funding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other food aid .
Provides an equal amount ( $ 13 billion ) to farmers and ranchers .
Child Care ( $ 10 billion ) .
Provides $ 10 billion to the Child Care Development Block Grant to help families with child care costs and help providers cover increased operating costs .
Postal Service ( $ 10 billion ) .
Forgives a $ 10 billion loan to the Postal Service provided in earlier relief legislation .
The omnibus measure wraps 12 spending bills into one and funds agency operating budgets through Sept. 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priorities such as a $ 12.5 billion increase over existing budget limits for domestic programs while cutting Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention and removal costs by $ 431 million .
COVID-19 has contributed to sharply lower costs .
Republicans supported sustained defense spending , energy provisions and longstanding bans on federal funding of abortion .
The measure also provides President Donald Trump with a last , $ 1.4 billion installment for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border .
The measure also contains more than 3,000 pages of miscellaneous legislation , such as : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect consumers from huge surprise medical bills after receiving treatment from out-of-network providers .
Community health centers .
Reauthorizes , for three years , funding for community health centers and extends a variety of expiring health care policies , including reimbursement rates for various health care providers and procedures under Medicare and Medicaid Tax extenders .
Extends a variety of expiring tax breaks , including lower excise taxes on craft brewers and distillers .
Renewable energy sources would see tax breaks extended , as would motorsport facilities , and people making charitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % deductible through 2022 and out-of-pocket health care costs would be deductible after they reach 7.5 % of income .
It would also extend favorable tax treatment for `` look through '' entities of offshore subsidiaries of U.S. corporations .
Water projects .
Includes an almost 400-page water resources bill that targets $ 10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control , environmental and coastal protection projects .
Clean energy .
Boosts `` clean energy '' programs like research and development , efficiency incentives and tax credits .
Phases out `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bipartisan agreement to forgive about $ 1.3 billion in federal loans to historically Black colleges and universities and simplify college financial aid forms .
Boosts the maximum Pell Grant for low-income college students by $ 150 to $ 6,495 .
Offers `` second chance '' Pell Grants to incarcerated prisoners .
Horse racing `` doping . ''
Adds bipartisan legislation by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , to create national medication and safety standards for the horse racing industry as lawmakers move to clamp down on the use of performance-enhancing drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
New Smithsonian museums .
Establishes the Women 's History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino as new Smithsonian museums located near the National Mall .
Pipeline safety .
Folds in pipeline safety legislation reauthorizing operating grants and safety standards for oil and gas pipelines .
Aircraft safety .
Adds , after the scandal involving Boeing 737 MAX crashes , legislation to beef up the Federal Aviation Administration 's aircraft certification process .
Addresses human factors , automation in the cockpit , and international pilot training while authorizing nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years to carry out the legislation .

The massive, year-end catchall bill that Donald Trump signed into law combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and reams of other unfinished legislation on taxes, energy, education, and health care.
Highlights of the measure with overall funding amounts and specific amounts for some but not necessarily all initiatives.
COVID-19 RELIEF
Unemployment insurance ($120 billion). Revives supplemental federal pandemic unemployment benefits but at $300 per week — through March 14 — instead of the $600 per week benefit that expired in July. Extends special pandemic benefits for “gig” workers and extends the maximum period for state-paid jobless benefits to 50 weeks.
Direct payments ($166 billion). Provides $600 direct payments to individuals making up to $75,000 per year; $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000 per year — with payments phased out for higher incomes —- and $600 additional payments per dependent child.
Paycheck Protection Program ($284 billion). Revives the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans to qualified businesses. Especially hard-hit businesses that received PPP grants would be eligible for a second round. Ensures that PPP subsidies are not taxed.
Vaccines, testing, health providers ($69 billion). Delivers more than $30 billion for procurement of vaccines and treatments, distribution funds for states, and a strategic stockpile. Adds $22 billion for testing, tracing and mitigation, $9 billion for health care providers, and $4.5 billion for mental health.
Schools and universities ($82 billion). Delivers $54 billion to public K-12 schools affected by the pandemic and $23 billion for colleges and universities; $4 billion would be awarded to a Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund; nearly $1 billion for Native American schools.
Rental assistance ($25 billion). Provides money for a first-ever federal rental assistance program; funds to be distributed by state and local governments to help people who have fallen behind on their rent and may be facing eviction.
Food/farm aid ($26 billion). Increases stamp benefits by 15% for six months and provides funding to food banks, Meals on Wheels and other food aid. Provides an equal amount ($13 billion) to farmers and ranchers.
Child Care ($10 billion). Provides $10 billion to the Child Care Development Block Grant to help families with child care costs and help providers cover increased operating costs.
Postal Service ($10 billion). Forgives a $10 billion loan to the Postal Service provided in earlier relief legislation.
___
OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS ($1.4 TRILLION)
The omnibus measure wraps 12 spending bills into one and funds agency operating budgets through Sept. 30 of next year. It combines Democratic priorities such as a $12.5 billion increase over existing budget limits for domestic programs while cutting Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention and removal costs by $431 million. COVID-19 has contributed to sharply lower costs. Republicans supported sustained defense spending, energy provisions and longstanding bans on federal funding of abortion. The measure also provides President Donald Trump with a last, $1.4 billion installment for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
___
MISCELLANEOUS
The measure also contains more than 3,000 pages of miscellaneous legislation, such as:
Surprise medical billing. Includes bipartisan legislation to protect consumers from huge surprise medical bills after receiving treatment from out-of-network providers.
Community health centers. Reauthorizes, for three years, funding for community health centers and extends a variety of expiring health care policies, including reimbursement rates for various health care providers and procedures under Medicare and Medicaid
Tax extenders. Extends a variety of expiring tax breaks, including lower excise taxes on craft brewers and distillers. Renewable energy sources would see tax breaks extended, as would motorsport facilities, and people making charitable contributions. Business meals would be 100% deductible through 2022 and out-of-pocket health care costs would be deductible after they reach 7.5% of income. It would also extend favorable tax treatment for “look through” entities of offshore subsidiaries of U.S. corporations.
Water projects. Includes an almost 400-page water resources bill that targets $10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control, environmental and coastal protection projects.
Clean energy. Boosts “clean energy” programs like research and development, efficiency incentives and tax credits. Phases out “superpollutant” hydrochlorofluorocarbons.
Education. Includes a bipartisan agreement to forgive about $1.3 billion in federal loans to historically Black colleges and universities and simplify college financial aid forms. Boosts the maximum Pell Grant for low-income college students by $150 to $6,495. Offers “second chance” Pell Grants to incarcerated prisoners.
Horse racing “doping.” Adds bipartisan legislation by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to create national medication and safety standards for the horse racing industry as lawmakers move to clamp down on the use of performance-enhancing drugs that can lead to horse injuries and deaths.
New Smithsonian museums. Establishes the Women’s History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino as new Smithsonian museums located near the National Mall.
Pipeline safety. Folds in pipeline safety legislation reauthorizing operating grants and safety standards for oil and gas pipelines.
Aircraft safety. Adds, after the scandal involving Boeing 737 MAX crashes, legislation to beef up the Federal Aviation Administration’s aircraft certification process. Addresses human factors, automation in the cockpit, and international pilot training while authorizing nearly $275 million over the next five years to carry out the legislation.
Intelligence programs. Reauthorizes intelligence programs for 2021.


shareblue--2020-12-28--GOP congressman 'sad' that even Republicans are rejecting Trump's election lies now

Rep. Mo Brooks ( R-AL ) on Monday told Fox News he was `` sad '' that some Republicans do not support Trump 's continued lies about election fraud .
After President-elect Joe Biden 's decisive win in the 2020 presidential election , Donald Trump and his allies have repeatedly attempted to overturn the results and throw out millions of votes to hand a win to Trump .
Trump and his allies have lost 59 election-related court challenges and failed to provide evidence in court that would support their unverified claims about the election being stolen or rigged in Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-IL ) recently criticized Brooks and others who plan to challenge the congressional certification of the election results on January 6th .
Kinzinger slammed `` grifters '' and Trump who `` will raise money and gain followers by blaming everyone else knowing full well they ca n't do anything . ''
Speaking to Fox , Brooks complained that Kinzinger as a Republican who is `` unwilling to do their homework , who are unwilling to make tough decisions '' in supporting baseless election conspiracies .
Brooks went on to inaccurately characterize his fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` surrender to the people who support voter fraud and election theft . ''
From the Dec. 28 edition of Fox News ' `` Fox & Friends '' : WILL CAIN , Fox News : I do want to ask you about your critics when it comes to this strategy , here 's an example , here 's congressman Adam Kinzinger , Republican , who said this , he tweeted the following , `` All this talk about a January 6th strategy from other congressional grifters and President Trump is simply explained , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by blaming everyone else knowing full well they ca n't do anything .
It 's sad , and it 's an utter scam . ''
What do you say to Kinzinger and your other critics ?
MO BROOKS : Well , it is sad to the extent that we 've got Republicans who are unwilling to do their homework , who are unwilling to make tough decisions and unfortunately Adam Kinzinger falls in that ballpark .
If he would do his homework , he would understand that the evidence is overwhelming and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support voter fraud and election theft , or he can fight for his country on this particular issue .
There is nothing more important to a republic than having an election system that is honest and accurate .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) on Monday told Fox News he was “sad” that some Republicans do not support Trump’s continued lies about election fraud.
After President-elect Joe Biden’s decisive win in the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump and his allies have repeatedly attempted to overturn the results and throw out millions of votes to hand a win to Trump.
Trump and his allies have lost 59 election-related court challenges and failed to provide evidence in court that would support their unverified claims about the election being stolen or rigged in Biden’s favor.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) recently criticized Brooks and others who plan to challenge the congressional certification of the election results on January 6th. Kinzinger slammed “grifters” and Trump who “will raise money and gain followers by blaming everyone else knowing full well they can’t do anything.”
Speaking to Fox, Brooks complained that Kinzinger as a Republican who is “unwilling to do their homework, who are unwilling to make tough decisions” in supporting baseless election conspiracies.
Brooks went on to inaccurately characterize his fellow Republican as someone who has chosen to “surrender to the people who support voter fraud and election theft.”
From the Dec. 28 edition of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”:
WILL CAIN, Fox News: I do want to ask you about your critics when it comes to this strategy, here’s an example, here’s congressman Adam Kinzinger, Republican, who said this, he tweeted the following, “All this talk about a January 6th strategy from other congressional grifters and President Trump is simply explained, they will raise money and gain followers by blaming everyone else knowing full well they can’t do anything. It’s sad, and it’s an utter scam.” What do you say to Kinzinger and your other critics? MO BROOKS: Well, it is sad to the extent that we’ve got Republicans who are unwilling to do their homework, who are unwilling to make tough decisions and unfortunately Adam Kinzinger falls in that ballpark. If he would do his homework, he would understand that the evidence is overwhelming and he can either surrender to the people who support voter fraud and election theft, or he can fight for his country on this particular issue. There is nothing more important to a republic than having an election system that is honest and accurate.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-28--Trump's tantrum over COVID relief bill just hurt millions of Americans

Donald Trump delayed signing the pandemic relief bill for days , claiming he thought the bill was too stingy .
Then , on Sunday , he signed it anyway — costing millions of unemployed Americans at least a week of benefits .
Last week , Trump 's administration agreed to a bipartisan agreement to keep the federal government funded and to provide $ 908 billion in emergency funds to combat the pandemic and the economic problems it has created .
Congress passed the deal by overwhelming supermajorities and expected Trump to quickly sign it into law .
His staff reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday .
But experts warned that if Trump did n't approve the relief bill quickly , Americans in need of assistance would lose out .
Had Trump signed the bill by Saturday , unemployed Americans would have received 11 weeks of $ 300 payments from the federal government in addition to the regular state payments .
`` At the very least , we lose a week of the $ 300 , '' the National Employment Law Project 's Michele Evermore told Business Insider Saturday , noting that other assistance programs would at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what , if he does n't sign , next week it goes down to 10 weeks of an extra $ 300 . ''
Instead , Trump announced on Tuesday that he thought the bill was a `` disgrace '' and later canceled the planned signing ceremony .
Rather than sign the bill or try to negotiate changes , he spent the holidays golfing at his Florida resort .
He did find time to fire off a series of angry tweets , objecting to the `` measly '' payments in the bill his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars in 'pork ' '' in the agreement .
`` Made many calls and had meetings at Trump International in Palm Beach , Florida .
Why would politicians not want to give people $ 2000 , rather than only $ 600 ? ''
Trump wrote on Friday afternoon , referencing the $ 600-per-person stimulus checks included in the bill for most Americans .
`` It wasn ’ t their fault , it was China .
Give our people the money ! ''
His complaints drew the ire of at least one House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) tweeted Wednesday that `` 100 % of the items '' Trump complained about in the bill `` were either a lie '' or were `` things in HIS budget . ''
On Sunday , Trump tweeted that he had `` Good news on Covid Relief Bill .
Information to follow ! ''
He then signed the bill he had previously called disgraceful .
As a candidate in 2016 , Trump ran as a master dealmaker who was uniquely suited to working with congressional leaders of both parties .
But over his four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little success with his hardball tactics .
In last 2018 and early 2019 , he forced the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history in a failed attempt to force Congress to appropriate billions for his massive wall along the southern border .
As in that fight , his stalling tactics ultimately achieved nothing this time around .
The bill he signed on Sunday night was the exact same one he could have signed days earlier .
The only difference is that because of his delays , millions of the people he claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait an extra week for their benefits .
And in the end , his delays will cost many of them $ 300 each .

Donald Trump delayed signing the pandemic relief bill for days, claiming he thought the bill was too stingy. Then, on Sunday, he signed it anyway — costing millions of unemployed Americans at least a week of benefits.
Last week, Trump’s administration agreed to a bipartisan agreement to keep the federal government funded and to provide $908 billion in emergency funds to combat the pandemic and the economic problems it has created. Congress passed the deal by overwhelming supermajorities and expected Trump to quickly sign it into law. His staff reportedly planned for him to sign the bill on Thursday.
But experts warned that if Trump didn’t approve the relief bill quickly, Americans in need of assistance would lose out. Had Trump signed the bill by Saturday, unemployed Americans would have received 11 weeks of $300 payments from the federal government in addition to the regular state payments.
“At the very least, we lose a week of the $300,” the National Employment Law Project’s Michele Evermore told Business Insider Saturday, noting that other assistance programs would at best be delayed. “No matter what, if he doesn’t sign, next week it goes down to 10 weeks of an extra $300.”
Instead, Trump announced on Tuesday that he thought the bill was a “disgrace” and later canceled the planned signing ceremony. Rather than sign the bill or try to negotiate changes, he spent the holidays golfing at his Florida resort.
He did find time to fire off a series of angry tweets, objecting to the “measly” payments in the bill his administration had backed and complaining about “billions of dollars in ‘pork'” in the agreement.
“Made many calls and had meetings at Trump International in Palm Beach, Florida. Why would politicians not want to give people $2000, rather than only $600?” Trump wrote on Friday afternoon, referencing the $600-per-person stimulus checks included in the bill for most Americans. “It wasn’t their fault, it was China. Give our people the money!”
His complaints drew the ire of at least one House Republican. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) tweeted Wednesday that “100% of the items” Trump complained about in the bill “were either a lie” or were “things in HIS budget.”
On Sunday, Trump tweeted that he had “Good news on Covid Relief Bill. Information to follow!” He then signed the bill he had previously called disgraceful.
As a candidate in 2016, Trump ran as a master dealmaker who was uniquely suited to working with congressional leaders of both parties. But over his four years in office, he has had little success with his hardball tactics. In last 2018 and early 2019, he forced the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history in a failed attempt to force Congress to appropriate billions for his massive wall along the southern border.
As in that fight, his stalling tactics ultimately achieved nothing this time around.
The bill he signed on Sunday night was the exact same one he could have signed days earlier. The only difference is that because of his delays, millions of the people he claimed he wanted to help will have to wait an extra week for their benefits. And in the end, his delays will cost many of them $300 each.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-28--Fate of Senate could hinge on young voter turnout in Georgia

Preethi Gowrishankar was never really politically active before this year .
But watching polarization increase during Donald Trump 's administration changed that .
The 27-year-old data scientist put on a face mask and stood in line on a recent sunny but cold day in Atlanta to cast a ballot early for Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock ahead of Georgia 's Jan. 5 runoff elections that will determine control of the U.S. Senate .
`` We 've seen in the last four years what apathy leads to and where it can get us , '' she said .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to become a lot more informed of my choices and to make my voice heard . ''
Strong turnout among voters under 30 nationwide helped propel Democrat Joe Biden to victory over Trump in the November presidential election .
Young voters were key to Biden 's narrow win in Georgia , with a margin of just under 12,000 votes .
Now , with the national spotlight on Georgia 's Senate races , the campaigns and voter mobilization groups are working furiously to make sure young voters turn out for the runoffs , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler .
A win by either Republican would maintain the Senate majority for the GOP , while a sweep by both Democrats would yield of 50-50 split in the chamber , with the tie-breaking vote going to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
The push to connect with young voters has been especially apparent for the Democratic campaigns , which have more to gain from youth turnout — and more to lose if there 's a drop-off .
Ossoff and Warnock have held rallies in college towns , invested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young voters , engaged social media influencers to promote content and run ad campaigns on new media and digital platforms .
They recently hosted a game night on Twitch , a livestreaming platform popular with young gamers .
Ossoff also has made a push to connect with voters through TikTok , a video sharing app used by millions of U.S. teens .
Perdue 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment , and Loeffler 's campaign directed questions to Abigail Sigler , a spokeswoman for the state Republican Party .
Sigler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the campaigns are reaching out to young voters but sent a statement attacking Ossoff and Warnock and asserting that policies backed by Perdue and Loeffler are better for young voters .
In Georgia , people under 30 cast about 16 % of the votes in the November election , compared with 13 % nationwide , according to AP VoteCast .
About 6 in 10 voters under 30 in Georgia backed Biden over Trump .
But like voters overall , youngers voters split starkly by race and ethnicity .
Young non-white voters backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 supporting Democrats .
Among young white voters , Trump was favored by about two to one .
Nse Ufot is the executive director of the New Georgia Project , a nonpartisan group founded by former Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Stacey Abrams .
`` From registration , to actually turning out to vote , to volunteering , we 've absolutely witnessed and been a part in the increase in youth participation in our elections , '' Ufot said .
The group registered thousands of young voters during nationwide protests against racial inequality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to combat misinformation about voting on social media and have leaned into virtual events and virtual mobilization efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic , efforts that are continuing through the runoff elections .
Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg , the director of CIRCLE at Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University , which studies youth voting trends , said youth voting turnout is being affected by both external investment and peer-to-peer political engagement among young people .
`` Especially in the pandemic era of 2020 , there is both mobilization from external groups and political parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people making social media contact to communicate what they believe politically , who they think people should vote for and the issues that they really care about , '' she said .
Young Democrats are n't the only ones who are engaging .
Young Republican voters , weary of having Democrats control the White House and both chambers of Congress , have been mainstays at the large rallies held by Perdue and Loeffler .
Dylan Leonard , a 20-year-old student from Milton , Georgia , sat on a park bench after a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Ivanka Trump , a senior White House adviser , touted Perdue and Loeffler as `` the last line of defense '' against Democrats imposing their agenda on the nation .
He lamented Trump 's election loss but sounded a hopeful note that Republicans can be redeemed with victories in the Senate runoffs .
`` Hopefully we 'll have a good go around .
It has n't been exactly what we 've wanted so far , '' Leonard said .
`` But hopefully we 'll put it all together with Georgia . ''

Preethi Gowrishankar was never really politically active before this year. But watching polarization increase during Donald Trump’s administration changed that.
The 27-year-old data scientist put on a face mask and stood in line on a recent sunny but cold day in Atlanta to cast a ballot early for Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock ahead of Georgia’s Jan. 5 runoff elections that will determine control of the U.S. Senate.
“We’ve seen in the last four years what apathy leads to and where it can get us,” she said. “So I’ve tried to make an effort to become a lot more informed of my choices and to make my voice heard.”
Strong turnout among voters under 30 nationwide helped propel Democrat Joe Biden to victory over Trump in the November presidential election. Young voters were key to Biden’s narrow win in Georgia, with a margin of just under 12,000 votes.
Now, with the national spotlight on Georgia’s Senate races, the campaigns and voter mobilization groups are working furiously to make sure young voters turn out for the runoffs, which pit Ossoff and Warnock against Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. A win by either Republican would maintain the Senate majority for the GOP, while a sweep by both Democrats would yield of 50-50 split in the chamber, with the tie-breaking vote going to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
The push to connect with young voters has been especially apparent for the Democratic campaigns, which have more to gain from youth turnout — and more to lose if there’s a drop-off.
Ossoff and Warnock have held rallies in college towns, invested in staff to help register and mobilize young voters, engaged social media influencers to promote content and run ad campaigns on new media and digital platforms. They recently hosted a game night on Twitch, a livestreaming platform popular with young gamers. Ossoff also has made a push to connect with voters through TikTok, a video sharing app used by millions of U.S. teens.
Perdue’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment, and Loeffler’s campaign directed questions to Abigail Sigler, a spokeswoman for the state Republican Party. Sigler did not answer a specific question asking how the campaigns are reaching out to young voters but sent a statement attacking Ossoff and Warnock and asserting that policies backed by Perdue and Loeffler are better for young voters.
In Georgia, people under 30 cast about 16% of the votes in the November election, compared with 13% nationwide, according to AP VoteCast. About 6 in 10 voters under 30 in Georgia backed Biden over Trump. But like voters overall, youngers voters split starkly by race and ethnicity. Young non-white voters backed Biden overwhelmingly, with roughly 8 in 10 supporting Democrats. Among young white voters, Trump was favored by about two to one.
Nse Ufot is the executive director of the New Georgia Project, a nonpartisan group founded by former Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Stacey Abrams.
“From registration, to actually turning out to vote, to volunteering, we’ve absolutely witnessed and been a part in the increase in youth participation in our elections,” Ufot said.
The group registered thousands of young voters during nationwide protests against racial inequality this year, launched an intensive effort to combat misinformation about voting on social media and have leaned into virtual events and virtual mobilization efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic, efforts that are continuing through the runoff elections.
Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, the director of CIRCLE at Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University, which studies youth voting trends, said youth voting turnout is being affected by both external investment and peer-to-peer political engagement among young people.
“Especially in the pandemic era of 2020, there is both mobilization from external groups and political parties, but also huge amounts of young people making social media contact to communicate what they believe politically, who they think people should vote for and the issues that they really care about,” she said.
Young Democrats aren’t the only ones who are engaging. Young Republican voters, weary of having Democrats control the White House and both chambers of Congress, have been mainstays at the large rallies held by Perdue and Loeffler.
Dylan Leonard, a 20-year-old student from Milton, Georgia, sat on a park bench after a recent rally in the wealthy suburb of Atlanta where Ivanka Trump, a senior White House adviser, touted Perdue and Loeffler as “the last line of defense” against Democrats imposing their agenda on the nation.
He lamented Trump’s election loss but sounded a hopeful note that Republicans can be redeemed with victories in the Senate runoffs.
“Hopefully we’ll have a good go around. It hasn’t been exactly what we’ve wanted so far,” Leonard said. “But hopefully we’ll put it all together with Georgia.”