shareblue--2020-10-17--Cities sue Trump administration for sending federal agents to protests

The cities of Oakland , California , and Portland , Oregon , have sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department , alleging that the agencies are overstepping constitutional limits in their use of federal law enforcement officers to tamp down on protests .
The lawsuit , filed late Wednesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco , cites the deployment of U.S. agents this summer to quell protests in Portland and alleges the U.S .
Marshals Service unlawfully deputized dozens of local Portland police officers as federal agents despite objections from city officials .
The federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police could face federal charges , which generally carry stiffer penalties .
The use of federal agents in these ways is a major shift in policy and threatens the independence of local law enforcement , according to the lawsuit .
The complaint cites the anti-commandeering doctrine of the 10th Amendment , which says that the federal government can not require states or state officials to adopt or enforce federal law .
In a statement Thursday , the Department of Homeland Security criticized the lawsuit .
`` Yet again , dangerous politicians and fringe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meritless lawsuit .
They aim to harm President Trump and distract from his law and order agenda , '' the department said .
`` Department of Homeland Security have acted entirely lawfully .
Instead of condemning the violence we are seeing across the country , these politicians focus on scoring cheap political points to the detriment of the American people . ''
In the past , acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf has been a vocal defender of the administration 's response to the civil unrest in Portland .
The Trump administration says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to federal property , but the lawsuit says `` the activities in cities such as Portland instead reveal a distinct and meaningful policy shift to use federal enforcement to unilaterally step in and replace local law enforcement departments that do not subscribe to the President 's view of domestic 'law and order . '
'' The allegations of constitutional overreach focus on the federal government 's actions in Portland , but Oakland joined the lawsuit because of concerns that the Trump administration might send U.S. agents to Oakland or deputize police officers there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protests over racial injustice and police brutality have roiled both U.S. cities since the death of George Floyd and drawn attacks from Donald Trump , who threatened to send federal resources to restore law and order .
The Trump administration sent dozens of U.S. agents to Portland in July to guard a federal courthouse that had become a target of protesters , but those agents clashed with protesters blocks from the courthouse on several occasions .
The state of Oregon sued over allegations that federal agents swept up protesters in unmarked cars without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Billy J. Williams said in late September that more than 80 people had been charged with federal crimes related to the protests .
Last month , Portland agreed to have about five dozen of its police officers deputized as federal agents by the Marshals Service in advance of a rally planned in the city by the right-wing group Proud Boys .
The city anticipated potential clashes between left- and right-wing protesters .
Troopers from the Oregon State Police and a local sheriff 's department were also deputized .
City leaders have since said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only be federally deputized for that weekend and sought to cancel the agreement after the rally was over .
But the U.S. attorney for Oregon and the Marshals Service have refused to cancel the deputization , which officially expires on Dec. 31 .
The lawsuit also alleges that the U.S. government has illegally erected a fence around the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse , which is federal property , against the city 's wishes .
The fence blocks a major bike thoroughfare that is city property , according to Portland officials .

The cities of Oakland, California, and Portland, Oregon, have sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department, alleging that the agencies are overstepping constitutional limits in their use of federal law enforcement officers to tamp down on protests.
The lawsuit, filed late Wednesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, cites the deployment of U.S. agents this summer to quell protests in Portland and alleges the U.S. Marshals Service unlawfully deputized dozens of local Portland police officers as federal agents despite objections from city officials. The federal deputations have meant protesters arrested by local police could face federal charges, which generally carry stiffer penalties.
The use of federal agents in these ways is a major shift in policy and threatens the independence of local law enforcement, according to the lawsuit. The complaint cites the anti-commandeering doctrine of the 10th Amendment, which says that the federal government cannot require states or state officials to adopt or enforce federal law.
In a statement Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security criticized the lawsuit.
“Yet again, dangerous politicians and fringe special interest groups have ginned up a meritless lawsuit. They aim to harm President Trump and distract from his law and order agenda,” the department said. “Department of Homeland Security have acted entirely lawfully. Instead of condemning the violence we are seeing across the country, these politicians focus on scoring cheap political points to the detriment of the American people.”
In the past, acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf has been a vocal defender of the administration’s response to the civil unrest in Portland.
The Trump administration says the work of the federal agents is limited to federal property, but the lawsuit says “the activities in cities such as Portland instead reveal a distinct and meaningful policy shift to use federal enforcement to unilaterally step in and replace local law enforcement departments that do not subscribe to the President’s view of domestic ‘law and order.'”
The allegations of constitutional overreach focus on the federal government’s actions in Portland, but Oakland joined the lawsuit because of concerns that the Trump administration might send U.S. agents to Oakland or deputize police officers there as well, court papers show.
Protests over racial injustice and police brutality have roiled both U.S. cities since the death of George Floyd and drawn attacks from Donald Trump, who threatened to send federal resources to restore law and order.
The Trump administration sent dozens of U.S. agents to Portland in July to guard a federal courthouse that had become a target of protesters, but those agents clashed with protesters blocks from the courthouse on several occasions. The state of Oregon sued over allegations that federal agents swept up protesters in unmarked cars without identifying themselves.
U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy J. Williams said in late September that more than 80 people had been charged with federal crimes related to the protests.
Last month, Portland agreed to have about five dozen of its police officers deputized as federal agents by the Marshals Service in advance of a rally planned in the city by the right-wing group Proud Boys. The city anticipated potential clashes between left- and right-wing protesters. Troopers from the Oregon State Police and a local sheriff’s department were also deputized.
City leaders have since said that they believed the police officers would only be federally deputized for that weekend and sought to cancel the agreement after the rally was over. But the U.S. attorney for Oregon and the Marshals Service have refused to cancel the deputization, which officially expires on Dec. 31.
The lawsuit also alleges that the U.S. government has illegally erected a fence around the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse, which is federal property, against the city’s wishes. The fence blocks a major bike thoroughfare that is city property, according to Portland officials.


shareblue--2020-10-18--1,600 faith leaders have endorsed Biden. This is why I added my name.

I 'm excited to vote for Joe Biden for president because I 'm a Christian , not in spite of my faith .
Thankfully , I 'm not alone .
I 'm one of the more than 1,600 faith leaders who 've now endorsed Biden .
There are millions of Christians across the country who are voting for Biden .
But our existence is overshadowed by conservative Christians , who receive vastly disproportionate attention in the media .
It 's true that Donald Trump 's religious violence and slander make for good headlines .
A crowd of protesters was violently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump could stage his Bible photo op -- without opening the Bible .
He said recently that Biden was `` following the radical left agenda : take away your guns , destroy your Second Amendment , no religion , no anything , hurt the Bible , hurt God .
He 's against God . ''
Trump 's antics distract the nation from the existence of progressive Christians .
The reality is that Biden is a lifelong , committed Catholic who speaks frequently about the role of his faith in his personal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self , of family , of community , of the wider world comes straight from my religion , '' Biden wrote in his book `` Promises to Keep : On Life in Politics . ''
`` Joe knows the power of prayer , and I 've seen him in moments of joy and triumph , of loss and despair , turn to God for strength , '' Sen. Chris Coons said during the Democratic National Convention .
A New York Times review of nearly 60 eulogies the former vice president has delivered labeled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' One of the best stories about Biden 's faith that I 've read is his defense of activist nuns .
As vice president , he worked with Sister Simone Campbell of Nuns on the Bus on expanding Americans ' access to health care through the Affordable Care Act .
When the nuns ' activism came under scrutiny from the Vatican , Biden seemed to take it personally .
`` You are being entirely too hard on the American nuns , '' Mr. Biden told Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Sen. Kamala Harris is also a woman of deep faith .
She speaks openly about her own Baptist faith , her interfaith marriage to a Jewish man , and the influence of her Hindu mother .
I witnessed how committed Harris is to her faith and the campaign 's religious outreach when the first group meeting she held after joining the ticket was with faith leaders .
`` Faith is a verb , '' she told us .
During the vice presidential debate , she responded to Mike Pence 's assertion that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back : `` Joe Biden and I are both people of faith and it 's insulting to suggest that we would knock anyone for their faith . ''
Supporting the Biden-Harris ticket is my faithful attempt to follow Jesus , who called on his followers to care about the most vulnerable , honor the God-given dignity of all people , welcome immigrants and refugees , and love their neighbors .
I believe that Biden and Harris will govern with a strong moral compass and enact inclusive policies to help the poor and marginalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dignity of immigrants , instituted a Muslim ban , and mocks the sacrifice of veterans .
Its signature `` achievement '' was a massive redistribution of wealth to the rich , whom Jesus spends a large portion of the Gospels deriding .
The three crises we face — the pandemic , a reckoning over white supremacy , and the ongoing destruction of our planet 's ecosystem — require us to believe in a common purpose as a nation .
The Trump administration has exacerbated each crisis and is actively tearing our nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris give us the best chance to fight these battles .
After Trump was elected , I created a newsletter for progressive Christians called `` The Resistance Prays , '' a place where we could vent , pray , and strategize to find a better path in 2020 .
We 've prayed and engaged in activism at every awful turn of this presidency — including when he put children in cages at the border and turned a blind eye to white supremacists in Charlottesville .
Trump 's appeal to Christians is to ignore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seven deadly sins of pride , greed , wrath , envy , lust , gluttony , and sloth , and focus on overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing religious exceptions to LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws .
But even those policies are rejected by majorities of American Christians .
Christian support for Biden should n't be remarkable .
Nearly two out of three Americans who lean Democratic are Christians .
Democratic leaders including Barack Obama and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speak eloquently about their personal Christian faith .
Obama singing `` Amazing Grace '' during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was murdered in the 2015 Charleston shooting , was one of the most emotional moments of his entire presidency .
Ocasio-Cortez has appealed to her Christian faith in defense of her progressive policies .
During a congressional hearing earlier this year , she said Jesus himself would be `` maligned as a radical '' today .
Ask yourself : What percentage of Christians support Trump 's reelection ?
Your mind likely goes immediately to the 81 % of white evangelicals voting for Trump in 2016 .
But white evangelicals are only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About 55 % of Christians support Trump , compared to 43 % for Biden , according to a recent poll .
Several subsets of Christians support Biden over Trump , including 52 % of Catholics and 88 % of Black Protestants .
I endorsed Joe Biden because I believe the stakes of this election are high and also because I 'm tired of seeing progressive Christian voices being left out of our national discourse .
The attention we give to both sides is vastly tilted toward the Christians who support Trump .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care about social , racial , and economic justice — must raise our voices to contest this distortion of our faith .
Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons is the author of the new book `` Just Faith : Reclaiming Progressive Christianity . ''

I’m excited to vote for Joe Biden for president because I’m a Christian, not in spite of my faith. Thankfully, I’m not alone.
I’m one of the more than 1,600 faith leaders who’ve now endorsed Biden. There are millions of Christians across the country who are voting for Biden.
But our existence is overshadowed by conservative Christians, who receive vastly disproportionate attention in the media.
It’s true that Donald Trump’s religious violence and slander make for good headlines.
A crowd of protesters was violently dispersed from Lafayette Square in June so that Trump could stage his Bible photo op — without opening the Bible. He said recently that Biden was “following the radical left agenda: take away your guns, destroy your Second Amendment, no religion, no anything, hurt the Bible, hurt God. He’s against God.”
Trump’s antics distract the nation from the existence of progressive Christians.
The reality is that Biden is a lifelong, committed Catholic who speaks frequently about the role of his faith in his personal and political life. “My idea of self, of family, of community, of the wider world comes straight from my religion,” Biden wrote in his book “Promises to Keep: On Life in Politics.”
“Joe knows the power of prayer, and I’ve seen him in moments of joy and triumph, of loss and despair, turn to God for strength,” Sen. Chris Coons said during the Democratic National Convention. A New York Times review of nearly 60 eulogies the former vice president has delivered labeled him an “emissary of grief.”
One of the best stories about Biden’s faith that I’ve read is his defense of activist nuns.
As vice president, he worked with Sister Simone Campbell of Nuns on the Bus on expanding Americans’ access to health care through the Affordable Care Act. When the nuns’ activism came under scrutiny from the Vatican, Biden seemed to take it personally. “You are being entirely too hard on the American nuns,” Mr. Biden told Pope Benedict XVI in 2011, according to the Times. “Lighten up.”
Sen. Kamala Harris is also a woman of deep faith. She speaks openly about her own Baptist faith, her interfaith marriage to a Jewish man, and the influence of her Hindu mother.
I witnessed how committed Harris is to her faith and the campaign’s religious outreach when the first group meeting she held after joining the ticket was with faith leaders. “Faith is a verb,” she told us.
During the vice presidential debate, she responded to Mike Pence’s assertion that Democrats are anti-religion with an amazing clap back: “Joe Biden and I are both people of faith and it’s insulting to suggest that we would knock anyone for their faith.”
Supporting the Biden-Harris ticket is my faithful attempt to follow Jesus, who called on his followers to care about the most vulnerable, honor the God-given dignity of all people, welcome immigrants and refugees, and love their neighbors.
I believe that Biden and Harris will govern with a strong moral compass and enact inclusive policies to help the poor and marginalized in society.
The Trump administration denies the dignity of immigrants, instituted a Muslim ban, and mocks the sacrifice of veterans. Its signature “achievement” was a massive redistribution of wealth to the rich, whom Jesus spends a large portion of the Gospels deriding.
The three crises we face — the pandemic, a reckoning over white supremacy, and the ongoing destruction of our planet’s ecosystem — require us to believe in a common purpose as a nation.
The Trump administration has exacerbated each crisis and is actively tearing our nation’s social fabric apart. Biden and Harris give us the best chance to fight these battles.
After Trump was elected, I created a newsletter for progressive Christians called “The Resistance Prays,” a place where we could vent, pray, and strategize to find a better path in 2020. We’ve prayed and engaged in activism at every awful turn of this presidency — including when he put children in cages at the border and turned a blind eye to white supremacists in Charlottesville.
Trump’s appeal to Christians is to ignore that he’s a living testament to the seven deadly sins of pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth, and focus on overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing religious exceptions to LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws.
But even those policies are rejected by majorities of American Christians.
Christian support for Biden shouldn’t be remarkable. Nearly two out of three Americans who lean Democratic are Christians.
Democratic leaders including Barack Obama and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speak eloquently about their personal Christian faith.
Obama singing “Amazing Grace” during the eulogy for the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was murdered in the 2015 Charleston shooting, was one of the most emotional moments of his entire presidency.
Ocasio-Cortez has appealed to her Christian faith in defense of her progressive policies. During a congressional hearing earlier this year, she said Jesus himself would be “maligned as a radical” today.
Ask yourself: What percentage of Christians support Trump’s reelection? Your mind likely goes immediately to the 81% of white evangelicals voting for Trump in 2016.
But white evangelicals are only a small subset of American Christians. About 55% of Christians support Trump, compared to 43% for Biden, according to a recent poll. Several subsets of Christians support Biden over Trump, including 52% of Catholics and 88% of Black Protestants.
I endorsed Joe Biden because I believe the stakes of this election are high and also because I’m tired of seeing progressive Christian voices being left out of our national discourse. The attention we give to both sides is vastly tilted toward the Christians who support Trump.
We — the millions of American Christians who care about social, racial, and economic justice — must raise our voices to contest this distortion of our faith.
Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons is the author of the new book “Just Faith: Reclaiming Progressive Christianity.”


shareblue--2020-10-18--Texas just made it easier to discriminate against LGBTQ people

Texas social workers are outraged over a rule change pushed by the state 's Republican governor , which would allow discrimination against LGBTQ clients and those with disabilities .
The Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners voted unanimously in favor of the change on Monday .
The decision means social workers are no longer banned from rejecting LGBTQ clients or people with disabilities , the Texas Tribune reported .
Previous protections for LGBTQ people were put in place in 2010 and 2012 , for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression , respectively .
Gov .
Greg Abbott 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they went beyond the state law 's protections , according to board members who spoke with the Tribune .
The Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers disputed the argument that the protections went further than state law because the state Occupations Code authorizes the regulatory board to `` make rules regarding the ethical delivery of social work . ''
`` Social workers already have the ability to decline to provide services to a client based on their competencies and training , but they can not discriminate based on selective personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some social workers said they were incensed over the change and even doubted that the news was legitimate at first .
Creean White works in community mental health at a psychiatric clinic in San Antonio .
After seeing the news on Reddit , she noted that others `` were asking if it was even real . ''
White said the individual social workers she knows oppose the rule .
`` ...
It is incredibly shocking , '' she said .
White said she contacted Abbott 's office and her state senators and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get ] the word out '' to other social workers .
It 's already difficult enough for LGBTQ clients to get the assistance they need , she added .
`` I have absolutely heard stories from clients on how hard it is to find providers and even once they have found providers that seemingly are allies to the community , they face so much discrimination and terrible experiences and are not able to have basic health care because of it , '' White said .
`` I think it 's important to remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas of health care and there are people seeking services for housing , for employment , for mental health . ''
White said the fact that more than 100 Texas counties are experiencing an existing shortage of social workers and mental health professionals makes her particularly concerned for LGBTQ people in those counties who may be turned away .
Leah Huddleston , who is located in Austin and works at Central Health , said she has done social work for 30 years .
She has experience working with people with disabilities , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence , people living with HIV , those experiencing homelessness , and those who are incarcerated .
Huddleston said the change is `` unconscionable '' and that , as someone in the LGBTQ community , it was particularly upsetting .
LGBTQ people in rural counties will suffer as a result of the change , she said .
`` Being gay myself , this is especially infuriating , '' she said .
`` I am also from a rural county and it 's especially infuriating because I understand what it 's like to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found out , anybody , you would just be fucked . ''
She added , `` It 's a huge risk if you live in rural places in Texas to even ask for help ... no one who would turn someone away for their disability or sexual orientation or their gender expression should ever be a social worker .
They should not be licensed .
But Texas is saying , 'Sure let 's license these people and if they do that kind of behavior let 's not sanction them . '
'' Huddleston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has `` rubber-stamped '' the change without talking to the National Association of Social Workers or its Texas branch .
Since LGBTQ people are more likely to be incarcerated , live in poverty , lack health insurance , and are particularly vulnerable when experiencing homelessness , social workers say it 's especially important they have access to the services they need .
The elimination of these protections has merged with another crisis : the coronavirus pandemic .
The outbreak alone has weighed heavily on LGBTQ people 's mental health .
According to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for American Progress , 6 in 10 LGBTQ respondents said they felt down , depressed , hopeless , or had trouble sleeping because of the virus .
Two-thirds of respondents said they felt anxious that they or a loved one would get the virus .
Higher percentages of LGBTQ youth compared to cisgender and straight youth say they had experienced depression and felt suicidal .
Abbott 's actions are in line with his record of anti-LGBTQ decision-making since becoming governor .
In 2017 , he signed a bill that allows child welfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious beliefs '' when rejecting children or parents .
Those who opposed the legislation said it would allow providers to discriminate against LGBTQ people .
Two former members of Texas 's judicial disciplinary board also claimed Abbott pushed them out last year after they voted to sanction a judge who would n't officiate weddings for same-sex couples , according to the Houston Chronicle .
Abbott 's office claimed in response to the allegations that `` all appointment decisions are made based solely on merit . ''
And last year , Abbott signed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , '' which states that the government ca n't take action against businesses or individuals because of their support for or donations to religious groups .
The bill followed a decision from San Antonio City Council to approve a concessions contract for its airport which excluded Chick-fil-A , the fast-food restaurant controversial for its donations to anti-LGBTQ groups .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Texas social workers are outraged over a rule change pushed by the state’s Republican governor, which would allow discrimination against LGBTQ clients and those with disabilities.
The Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners voted unanimously in favor of the change on Monday. The decision means social workers are no longer banned from rejecting LGBTQ clients or people with disabilities, the Texas Tribune reported.
Previous protections for LGBTQ people were put in place in 2010 and 2012, for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, respectively. Gov. Greg Abbott’s office requested they be removed, claiming they went beyond the state law’s protections, according to board members who spoke with the Tribune.
The Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers disputed the argument that the protections went further than state law because the state Occupations Code authorizes the regulatory board to “make rules regarding the ethical delivery of social work.”
“Social workers already have the ability to decline to provide services to a client based on their competencies and training, but they cannot discriminate based on selective personal values,” they said in statement.
Some social workers said they were incensed over the change and even doubted that the news was legitimate at first.
Creean White works in community mental health at a psychiatric clinic in San Antonio. After seeing the news on Reddit, she noted that others “were asking if it was even real.”
White said the individual social workers she knows oppose the rule.
“…It is incredibly shocking,” she said.
White said she contacted Abbott’s office and her state senators and representatives to voice concern and “[get] the word out” to other social workers.
It’s already difficult enough for LGBTQ clients to get the assistance they need, she added.
“I have absolutely heard stories from clients on how hard it is to find providers and even once they have found providers that seemingly are allies to the community, they face so much discrimination and terrible experiences and are not able to have basic health care because of it,” White said.
“I think it’s important to remember that social workers are in many different areas of health care and there are people seeking services for housing, for employment, for mental health.”
White said the fact that more than 100 Texas counties are experiencing an existing shortage of social workers and mental health professionals makes her particularly concerned for LGBTQ people in those counties who may be turned away.
Leah Huddleston, who is located in Austin and works at Central Health, said she has done social work for 30 years. She has experience working with people with disabilities, people who have been involved in intimate partner violence, people living with HIV, those experiencing homelessness, and those who are incarcerated. Huddleston said the change is “unconscionable” and that, as someone in the LGBTQ community, it was particularly upsetting.
LGBTQ people in rural counties will suffer as a result of the change, she said.
“Being gay myself, this is especially infuriating,” she said. “I am also from a rural county and it’s especially infuriating because I understand what it’s like to live isolated like that knowing that if anybody found out, anybody, you would just be fucked.”
She added, “It’s a huge risk if you live in rural places in Texas to even ask for help … no one who would turn someone away for their disability or sexual orientation or their gender expression should ever be a social worker. They should not be licensed. But Texas is saying, ‘Sure let’s license these people and if they do that kind of behavior let’s not sanction them.'”
Huddleston said that she is upset the board has “rubber-stamped” the change without talking to the National Association of Social Workers or its Texas branch.
Since LGBTQ people are more likely to be incarcerated, live in poverty, lack health insurance, and are particularly vulnerable when experiencing homelessness, social workers say it’s especially important they have access to the services they need.
The elimination of these protections has merged with another crisis: the coronavirus pandemic.
The outbreak alone has weighed heavily on LGBTQ people’s mental health. According to a survey released earlier this month by the Center for American Progress, 6 in 10 LGBTQ respondents said they felt down, depressed, hopeless, or had trouble sleeping because of the virus. Two-thirds of respondents said they felt anxious that they or a loved one would get the virus.
Higher percentages of LGBTQ youth compared to cisgender and straight youth say they had experienced depression and felt suicidal.
Abbott’s actions are in line with his record of anti-LGBTQ decision-making since becoming governor. In 2017, he signed a bill that allows child welfare providers to rely their “sincerely held religious beliefs” when rejecting children or parents. Those who opposed the legislation said it would allow providers to discriminate against LGBTQ people.
Two former members of Texas’s judicial disciplinary board also claimed Abbott pushed them out last year after they voted to sanction a judge who wouldn’t officiate weddings for same-sex couples, according to the Houston Chronicle. Abbott’s office claimed in response to the allegations that “all appointment decisions are made based solely on merit.”
And last year, Abbott signed a bill known as the “Save Chick-fil-A bill,” which states that the government can’t take action against businesses or individuals because of their support for or donations to religious groups.
The bill followed a decision from San Antonio City Council to approve a concessions contract for its airport which excluded Chick-fil-A, the fast-food restaurant controversial for its donations to anti-LGBTQ groups.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-18--Social media influencers are pushing misinformation about voting

Social media influencers , partisan news outlets , and even Donald Trump 's son are driving the spread of online misinformation swirling around the U.S. vote , casting doubt on this year 's election and prematurely raising suspicions about the accuracy of its results .
Legitimate U.S. social media accounts are sharing false claims of voter fraud and misleading photos of ballots being dumped in the trash , as well as stoking fears of violence at the polls on Election Day , according to new research from the Election Integrity Partnership , a group of some of the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , those social media accounts are using isolated or old stories and photos about voting mishaps to create widespread concern about the election system , said Kate Starbird , an associate professor of human-centered design and engineering at the University of Washington who is part of the research group .
`` What 's happening right now is these incidents are being framed in misleading ways that exaggerate their impact on the election , '' Starbird said .
In one example , a photo purporting to show stacks of ballots sitting in a dumpster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative news outlets before being retweeted on the Twitter account of Donald Trump Jr. '' SHOCKING : 1,000+ mail-in ballots found in a dumpster in California , '' the post said .
That tweet was wrong and later deleted .
A spokesperson for Trump Jr. did not immediately provide an on-the-record comment about the inaccurate tweet .
Ballots in Sonoma County had n't even been mailed out yet , and the photo was taken in 2018 of ballots that were properly disposed of after the election , county officials wrote in a Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim continues to circulate in some form online .
The photo was also shared widely by conservative social media influencers , some of whom have thousands of followers .
Another image of mail bins and envelopes sitting on the side of the road was used in a viral meme shared by Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter users that claimed , `` They are finding Trump ballots thrown away all over the place . ''
The photo , in fact , was taken of abandoned mail bins in 2018 .
Facebook has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by including a label on posts about voting that directs users to state board of election websites , for example .
The platform also enlists the help of fact-checking organizations to investigate false or misleading claims around voting and covers those posts if they are found to be untrue .
The Associated Press is part of that fact-checking initiative .
Twitter , meanwhile , has promised to label or remove posts entirely that include false claims about election rigging , voter fraud , or ballot tampering .
But even when the companies do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are often labeled or removed after they 've been seen widely .
It has taken Twitter and Facebook hours to label misinformation from one of its most visible users : Trump , who is a frequent purveyor of misleading claims about widespread voter fraud — despite little evidence of such cases .
`` We ca n't see how effective these labels are , '' Starbird said .
`` I 'm not sure that those labels are having a strong effect on the people who need them the most . ''
Twitter said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identifying voting misinformation and will take action on posts that undermine the U.S. vote .
Facebook did not comment for this story .
A smaller number of liberal social media accounts have also shared out-of-context images of dumped mail to generate distrust around the ability of the U.S .
Postal Service to process ballots for this election , the research found .
The Postal Service is overseen by a Trump appointee .
Trump 's opponents responded to social media posts from him and his campaign calling for an `` army '' to sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by suggesting it will spur violence at the polls .
The research group said headlines from news outlets also amplified those social media concerns about Trump 's poll watching efforts .
That `` could be a potential cause of voter suppression if people think there 's going to be violence at the polls or there could be a chance for voter intimidation , that might be a cause for them to stay home , '' said Rachel Moran , a misinformation scholar at the University of Washington .

Social media influencers, partisan news outlets, and even Donald Trump’s son are driving the spread of online misinformation swirling around the U.S. vote, casting doubt on this year’s election and prematurely raising suspicions about the accuracy of its results.
Legitimate U.S. social media accounts are sharing false claims of voter fraud and misleading photos of ballots being dumped in the trash, as well as stoking fears of violence at the polls on Election Day, according to new research from the Election Integrity Partnership, a group of some of the world’s top misinformation researchers.
In some cases, those social media accounts are using isolated or old stories and photos about voting mishaps to create widespread concern about the election system, said Kate Starbird, an associate professor of human-centered design and engineering at the University of Washington who is part of the research group.
“What’s happening right now is these incidents are being framed in misleading ways that exaggerate their impact on the election,” Starbird said.
In one example, a photo purporting to show stacks of ballots sitting in a dumpster made its way to social media from conservative news outlets before being retweeted on the Twitter account of Donald Trump Jr.
“SHOCKING: 1,000+ mail-in ballots found in a dumpster in California,” the post said.
That tweet was wrong and later deleted. A spokesperson for Trump Jr. did not immediately provide an on-the-record comment about the inaccurate tweet.
Ballots in Sonoma County hadn’t even been mailed out yet, and the photo was taken in 2018 of ballots that were properly disposed of after the election, county officials wrote in a Facebook post last month. Still, the claim continues to circulate in some form online. The photo was also shared widely by conservative social media influencers, some of whom have thousands of followers.
Another image of mail bins and envelopes sitting on the side of the road was used in a viral meme shared by Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter users that claimed, “They are finding Trump ballots thrown away all over the place.” The photo, in fact, was taken of abandoned mail bins in 2018.
Facebook has said it is working to curb election-related misinformation by including a label on posts about voting that directs users to state board of election websites, for example. The platform also enlists the help of fact-checking organizations to investigate false or misleading claims around voting and covers those posts if they are found to be untrue. The Associated Press is part of that fact-checking initiative.
Twitter, meanwhile, has promised to label or remove posts entirely that include false claims about election rigging, voter fraud, or ballot tampering.
But even when the companies do act on voting misinformation, the posts are often labeled or removed after they’ve been seen widely. It has taken Twitter and Facebook hours to label misinformation from one of its most visible users: Trump, who is a frequent purveyor of misleading claims about widespread voter fraud — despite little evidence of such cases.
“We can’t see how effective these labels are,” Starbird said. “I’m not sure that those labels are having a strong effect on the people who need them the most.”
Twitter said it is working with the research group on identifying voting misinformation and will take action on posts that undermine the U.S. vote. Facebook did not comment for this story.
A smaller number of liberal social media accounts have also shared out-of-context images of dumped mail to generate distrust around the ability of the U.S. Postal Service to process ballots for this election, the research found. The Postal Service is overseen by a Trump appointee.
Trump’s opponents responded to social media posts from him and his campaign calling for an “army” to sign up as poll watchers on Election Day by suggesting it will spur violence at the polls. The research group said headlines from news outlets also amplified those social media concerns about Trump’s poll watching efforts.
That “could be a potential cause of voter suppression if people think there’s going to be violence at the polls or there could be a chance for voter intimidation, that might be a cause for them to stay home,” said Rachel Moran, a misinformation scholar at the University of Washington.


Cartoon: Flock Together

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

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


shareblue--2020-10-19--Trump calls media 'dumb bastards' for actually reporting on deadly pandemic

Donald Trump referred to journalists reporting on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as `` dumb bastards '' during a campaign rally in Arizona on Monday .
`` They 're getting tired of the pandemic , are n't they ?
Getting tired of the pandemic .
You turn on CNN , that 's all they cover , '' said Trump , pointing to the press at the back of the crowd .
`` You know why ?
They 're trying to talk everybody out of voting .
People are n't buying it , CNN , you dumb bastards .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 219,770 Americans have died from the virus so far , and the death toll continues to rise by the hundreds every day .
Trump 's mismanagement of the crisis has only contributed to the death toll , experts say , and polling has shown that the public does not trust him to handle the issue .
From an Oct. 19 Trump campaign rally : DONALD TRUMP : Your state is doing great , you have a great governor as you know , and your state is doing great with the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , are n't they ?
Getting tired of the pandemic .
You turn on CNN , that 's all they cover .
COVID , COVID , pandemic , COVID , COVID , COVID , COVID .
You know why ?
They 're trying to talk everybody out of voting .
People are n't buying it , CNN , you dumb bastards .
They 're not buying it .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump referred to journalists reporting on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as “dumb bastards” during a campaign rally in Arizona on Monday.
“They’re getting tired of the pandemic, aren’t they? Getting tired of the pandemic. You turn on CNN, that’s all they cover,” said Trump, pointing to the press at the back of the crowd. “You know why? They’re trying to talk everybody out of voting. People aren’t buying it, CNN, you dumb bastards. They’re not buying it.”
More than 219,770 Americans have died from the virus so far, and the death toll continues to rise by the hundreds every day.
Trump’s mismanagement of the crisis has only contributed to the death toll, experts say, and polling has shown that the public does not trust him to handle the issue.
From an Oct. 19 Trump campaign rally:
DONALD TRUMP: Your state is doing great, you have a great governor as you know, and your state is doing great with the pandemic. Pandemic. They’re getting tired of the pandemic, aren’t they? Getting tired of the pandemic. You turn on CNN, that’s all they cover. COVID, COVID, pandemic, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID. You know why? They’re trying to talk everybody out of voting. People aren’t buying it, CNN, you dumb bastards. They’re not buying it.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-19--Hate group super upset that Biden thinks everyone should have rights

A blog from the legislative affiliate of the Family Research Council , a group designated as an anti-LGBTQ hate group from the Southern Poverty Law Center , attacked Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for supporting transgender people .
The group 's blog post , published on Friday on the Family Research Council Action website , responded to Biden 's appearance at an ABC News town hall last Thursday .
Mieke Haeck , a mother of two girls , said her eight-year-old is transgender .
Haeck asked what Biden would do as president to reverse the `` dangerous and discriminatory agenda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has rolled back numerous LGBTQ protections .
Biden responded , `` I would flat out just change the law , '' and said `` there should be zero discrimination '' against transgender people .
When Biden mentioned Haeck 's daughter , he affirmed her understanding of her gender by saying , `` The idea that an eight-year-old child or 10-year-old decides , you know , ' I want to be transgender .
That 's what I think I 'd like to be .
It would make my life a lot easier . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research Council Action , wrote , `` Joe Biden , the man vying to be your next president , thinks eight-year-olds have the capacity to make life-altering decisions to change their gender .
And if you -- the parent , doctor , or any other adult -- try to stop them , it 's 'discrimination ! '
'' Perkins focused on transphobic narratives that portray medical steps in transitioning as harmful to the people who transition .
Never mind that neither Biden nor Haeck talked about her child 's plan for transitioning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ transgender people take , which can be different for each person , including changing one 's gender expression and informing people of accurate pronouns and name changes .
He added at the end of the post that Biden was `` dangerous . ''
Perkins also focused on the Supreme Court confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett , who currently sits on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals .
On Thursday , Biden was asked by town hall moderator George Stephanopoulos whether he would support expanding the Supreme Court .
Biden said , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court-packing '' but added that whether he supported it depended on what happened with Barrett 's nomination .
Despite there being only a few weeks until the election , and with senators testing positive for the virus , Republicans are moving forward with Barrett 's confirmation .
An issue brief on the Family Research Council website is effusive in its praise of Barrett and how it believes she may rule on numerous issues of importance to them , including issues of so-called religious freedom that encourage discrimination against LGBTQ people .

A blog from the legislative affiliate of the Family Research Council, a group designated as an anti-LGBTQ hate group from the Southern Poverty Law Center, attacked Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for supporting transgender people.
The group’s blog post, published on Friday on the Family Research Council Action website, responded to Biden’s appearance at an ABC News town hall last Thursday. Mieke Haeck, a mother of two girls, said her eight-year-old is transgender. Haeck asked what Biden would do as president to reverse the “dangerous and discriminatory agenda” of the Trump administration, which has rolled back numerous LGBTQ protections.
Biden responded, “I would flat out just change the law,” and said “there should be zero discrimination” against transgender people.
When Biden mentioned Haeck’s daughter, he affirmed her understanding of her gender by saying, “The idea that an eight-year-old child or 10-year-old decides, you know, ‘I want to be transgender. That’s what I think I’d like to be. It would make my life a lot easier.”
Tony Perkins, the president of Family Research Council Action, wrote, “Joe Biden, the man vying to be your next president, thinks eight-year-olds have the capacity to make life-altering decisions to change their gender. And if you — the parent, doctor, or any other adult — try to stop them, it’s ‘discrimination!'”
Perkins focused on transphobic narratives that portray medical steps in transitioning as harmful to the people who transition. Never mind that neither Biden nor Haeck talked about her child’s plan for transitioning. Transitioning includes a wide variety of steps transgender people take, which can be different for each person, including changing one’s gender expression and informing people of accurate pronouns and name changes.
He added at the end of the post that Biden was “dangerous.”
Perkins also focused on the Supreme Court confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who currently sits on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. On Thursday, Biden was asked by town hall moderator George Stephanopoulos whether he would support expanding the Supreme Court. Biden said, “I have not been a fan of court-packing” but added that whether he supported it depended on what happened with Barrett’s nomination.
Perkins called it a “shocking moment.”
Despite there being only a few weeks until the election, and with senators testing positive for the virus, Republicans are moving forward with Barrett’s confirmation.
An issue brief on the Family Research Council website is effusive in its praise of Barrett and how it believes she may rule on numerous issues of importance to them, including issues of so-called religious freedom that encourage discrimination against LGBTQ people.


shareblue--2020-10-19--GOP chair is out there pretending the party hasn't embraced QAnon

Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel on Sunday feigned ignorance about QAnon , the dangerous conspiracy theory the FBI has labeled a domestic terror threat .
QAnon baselessly asserts that an underground cabal of Satan-worshiping Democrats , Hollywood elites , and the `` Deep State '' are abusing , sacrificing , and eating children .
Donald Trump , the theory goes , is the chosen one standing in the gap to save the American people from these predators .
The conspiracy , which was listed among a number of extremist threats in an FBI field office memo in Arizona in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among conservative Republicans , including at high levels of the government .
During an interview with ABC 's `` This Week , '' McDaniel was asked if she was prepared to condemn QAnon .
She demurred .
`` It 's something the voters are not even thinking about , '' McDaniel claimed .
`` It 's a fringe group .
It 's not part of our party .
The vice president said ' I dismiss it out of hand . '
[ Donald Trump ] said , 'You know what , I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' '' Asked again by host George Stephanopoulos whether she would condemn the theory , McDaniels steamrolled over the question , talking instead about how antifa was `` burning cities right now , '' and calling Stephanopoulos `` crazy '' for being concerned about QAnon .
But McDaniel 's dismissive attitude belies the facts , which indicate that QAnon continues to be embraced by the mainstream GOP at a frightening rate .
According to nonpartisan nonprofit Advance Democracy , 1 in 50 tweets in August and September about voting in the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 tweets using the hashtag # voterfraud were posted from QAnon accounts .
A recent Daily Kos poll found that 56 % of Republicans think the QAnon theory is all or partly true , while only 4 % of Democrats espouse any part of the theory .
It 's clear QAnon 's influence has reached well beyond the `` fringe '' of the public sphere .
Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) admitted Friday that her political action committee had donated to two pro-QAnon candidates for state legislature .
A spokesman from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` not aware of the activities of these two individuals at the time these two donations were made , '' and that donations were based on recommendations by House Republicans .
It 's not just a Maine problem .
More than 20 candidates running for state legislatures in 2020 have either openly endorsed or tacitly endorsed QAnon by sharing its theories and content .
Three are incumbents , and 21 others are on the ballot .
Nineteen are Republicans .
None are Democrats .
In August , the American Independent Foundation reached out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had made any announcement denouncing QAnon .
At the time , not a single one responded yes .
In September , Vice President Mike Pence attended a campaign event in Montana that was hosted by QAnon supporters .
Last week , Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler hit the campaign trail with the Republican candidate for Georgia 's 14th District , Marjorie Taylor Greene , who is a 9/11 truther and has publicly endorsed QAnon .
And the buck does n't stop there .
Donald Trump himself was asked at last week 's NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He declined , saying he `` knew nothing '' about it , before noting its supporters were `` very strongly against pedophilia '' and that he supports that position .
Previously , Trump has expressed admiration for QAnon , describing its supporters as `` people that love our country '' and stating the group is `` gaining in popularity . ''
He also frequently retweets QAnon supporters ' tweets .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel on Sunday feigned ignorance about QAnon, the dangerous conspiracy theory the FBI has labeled a domestic terror threat.
QAnon baselessly asserts that an underground cabal of Satan-worshiping Democrats, Hollywood elites, and the “Deep State” are abusing, sacrificing, and eating children. Donald Trump, the theory goes, is the chosen one standing in the gap to save the American people from these predators. The conspiracy, which was listed among a number of extremist threats in an FBI field office memo in Arizona in May 2019, has rapidly gained traction among conservative Republicans, including at high levels of the government.
During an interview with ABC’s “This Week,” McDaniel was asked if she was prepared to condemn QAnon. She demurred.
“It’s something the voters are not even thinking about,” McDaniel claimed. “It’s a fringe group. It’s not part of our party. The vice president said ‘I dismiss it out of hand.’ [Donald Trump] said, ‘You know what, I don’t know anything about this group.'”
Asked again by host George Stephanopoulos whether she would condemn the theory, McDaniels steamrolled over the question, talking instead about how antifa was “burning cities right now,” and calling Stephanopoulos “crazy” for being concerned about QAnon.
But McDaniel’s dismissive attitude belies the facts, which indicate that QAnon continues to be embraced by the mainstream GOP at a frightening rate.
According to nonpartisan nonprofit Advance Democracy, 1 in 50 tweets in August and September about voting in the 2020 election originated from QAnon accounts. Two in 25 tweets using the hashtag #voterfraud were posted from QAnon accounts.
A recent Daily Kos poll found that 56% of Republicans think the QAnon theory is all or partly true, while only 4% of Democrats espouse any part of the theory.
It’s clear QAnon’s influence has reached well beyond the “fringe” of the public sphere.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) admitted Friday that her political action committee had donated to two pro-QAnon candidates for state legislature.
A spokesman from the senator’s campaign said that Collins was “not aware of the activities of these two individuals at the time these two donations were made,” and that donations were based on recommendations by House Republicans.
It’s not just a Maine problem. More than 20 candidates running for state legislatures in 2020 have either openly endorsed or tacitly endorsed QAnon by sharing its theories and content. Three are incumbents, and 21 others are on the ballot.
Nineteen are Republicans. None are Democrats.
In August, the American Independent Foundation reached out to every Senate Republican to see whether they had made any announcement denouncing QAnon. At the time, not a single one responded yes.
Others have openly campaigned alongside QAnon-supporting candidates.
In September, Vice President Mike Pence attended a campaign event in Montana that was hosted by QAnon supporters.
Last week, Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler hit the campaign trail with the Republican candidate for Georgia’s 14th District, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is a 9/11 truther and has publicly endorsed QAnon.
And the buck doesn’t stop there. Donald Trump himself was asked at last week’s NBC News town hall to denounce QAnon. He declined, saying he “knew nothing” about it, before noting its supporters were “very strongly against pedophilia” and that he supports that position.
Previously, Trump has expressed admiration for QAnon, describing its supporters as “people that love our country” and stating the group is “gaining in popularity.” He also frequently retweets QAnon supporters’ tweets.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-19--Now Trump is calling journalists 'criminal' for not 'reporting' his lies about Biden

Donald Trump on Monday called a group of journalists `` criminal '' for not `` reporting '' on his false and debunked allegations against Vice President Joe Biden .
Trump has been peddling a conspiracy theory about corruption connected to a laptop computer allegedly owned by Biden 's son Hunter .
The story has been promoted by Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , which was run by the New York Post .
The Post is owned by Rupert Murdoch , who also owns Fox News .
After the story was published , the claims of corruption were quickly debunked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Fox and the Post doubted its veracity .
Trump was asked by a reporter why he 's been calling Biden a criminal .
Trump responded by reiterating the claim and encouraging the press to `` read his laptop . ''
`` And you know who 's a criminal ?
You 're a criminal for not reporting it .
You are a criminal for not reporting it , '' Trump said .
`` Joe Biden is a criminal and he 's been a criminal for a long time , and you 're a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it . ''
Trump then turned from the cameras and walked away , never explaining what purported crime or offense the reporter was supposedly guilty of .
REPORTER : Your campaign strategy seems to be to call Biden a criminal .
Why is that ?
DONALD TRUMP : He is a criminal .
He 's a criminal .
He got caught .
Read his laptop .
And you know who 's a criminal ?
You 're a criminal for not reporting it .
You are a criminal for not reporting it .
Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a criminal and he 's been a criminal for a long time , and you 're a criminal in the media for not reporting it .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Monday called a group of journalists “criminal” for not “reporting” on his false and debunked allegations against Vice President Joe Biden.
Trump has been peddling a conspiracy theory about corruption connected to a laptop computer allegedly owned by Biden’s son Hunter.
The story has been promoted by Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, which was run by the New York Post. The Post is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Fox News.
After the story was published, the claims of corruption were quickly debunked and it has emerged that people at both Fox and the Post doubted its veracity.
Trump was asked by a reporter why he’s been calling Biden a criminal. Trump responded by reiterating the claim and encouraging the press to “read his laptop.”
“And you know who’s a criminal? You’re a criminal for not reporting it. You are a criminal for not reporting it,” Trump said.
“Joe Biden is a criminal and he’s been a criminal for a long time, and you’re a criminal in the media for not reporting it.”
Trump then turned from the cameras and walked away, never explaining what purported crime or offense the reporter was supposedly guilty of.
From an Oct. 19 media availability:
REPORTER: Your campaign strategy seems to be to call Biden a criminal. Why is that? DONALD TRUMP: He is a criminal. He’s a criminal. He got caught. Read his laptop. And you know who’s a criminal? You’re a criminal for not reporting it. You are a criminal for not reporting it. Let me tell you something: Joe Biden is a criminal and he’s been a criminal for a long time, and you’re a criminal in the media for not reporting it. Good luck, everybody. Have a good time.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-19--Trump's latest move to hurt farmworkers could put money in his own pocket

The country 's largest farmworkers union sued the Trump administration on Wednesday for pulling the plug on an essential U.S. Department of Agriculture survey .
The move could slash farmworkers ' pay and even `` personally benefit '' Donald Trump , the group said .
In September , the USDA announced it was suspending its semi-annual Farm Labor Survey , which provides the basis for wage estimates for all workers hired by U.S. farms and ranches .
The USDA has used the survey to collect data on farm labor and wages for more than 100 years .
Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the USDA and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue over the department 's decision to eliminate the survey , a move the lawsuit argues will lead to lower wages for farmworkers .
`` The wage loss could amount to thousands of dollars to workers who are barely making both ends meet , '' the farmworkers union said in a statement .
`` And the fact that they are trying to cut the wages of these essential workers in the middle of a pandemic is outrageous . ''
The agriculture department announced its decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` USDA has determined the public can access other data sources for the data collected in the Agricultural Labor Survey , '' a press release read .
The Farm Labor Survey has long been a vital resource for the country 's agricultural sector .
Among other uses , the Department of Labor uses data from the survey to set the federal Adverse Effect Wage Rate , or AEWR , which determines the minimum wage that seasonal farmworkers on temporary visas must be paid .
Without the survey , wage rates for both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state or federal minimum wage .
The Trump administration 's suspension of the survey could lead to reduced pay for both domestic and foreign agricultural workers , according to the labor union 's lawsuit .
Without the survey data needed to set fair wages , field laborers would see their pay cut by roughly 5 % in California , 27 % in Oregon , and 46 % in Idaho , according to the lawsuit .
The current federal wage rate for farmworkers in Idaho is $ 13.62 per hour .
Without the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate would revert to the federal minimum wage of $ 7.25 per hour — a loss of nearly half of worker 's regular take-home pay and thousands of dollars in wages , according to the lawsuit .
`` Those wage decreases will send ripple effects throughout the farm labor market , ultimately resulting in many U.S. farmworkers being paid less as farms hire an increasing number of foreign laborers who can be paid lower wages than U.S. farmworkers currently receive , '' the lawsuit said .
UFW President Teresa Romero said the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` egregious . ''
`` How can Trump justify slashing pay for all farmworkers in the U.S. , which means cutting wages by up to a quarter or a half in some states ? ''
Romero told Business Insider .
She added that Trump could stand to personally benefit from the USDA 's policy change .
The H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers visa allows foreign workers to fill temporary or seasonal jobs .
Last year , the State Department issued more than 200,000 H-2A visas to migrant workers .
In 2019 , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasonal workers for its Virginia wineries through the Department of Labor 's H-2A visa program .
The department approved the request .
The current wage rate for farmworkers in Virginia is $ 12.67 per hour .
After the policy change , Virginia farmworkers ' pay rate would revert to the federal minimum wage of $ 7.25 per hour — amounting to a 42 % pay cut .
`` It 's egregious , '' Romero said .
`` Trump will personally benefit from the policy change by paying less to workers at his Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment .

The country’s largest farmworkers union sued the Trump administration on Wednesday for pulling the plug on an essential U.S. Department of Agriculture survey.
The move could slash farmworkers’ pay and even “personally benefit” Donald Trump, the group said.
In September, the USDA announced it was suspending its semi-annual Farm Labor Survey, which provides the basis for wage estimates for all workers hired by U.S. farms and ranches.
The USDA has used the survey to collect data on farm labor and wages for more than 100 years.
Last week, the United Farm Workers filed a lawsuit against the USDA and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue over the department’s decision to eliminate the survey, a move the lawsuit argues will lead to lower wages for farmworkers.
“The wage loss could amount to thousands of dollars to workers who are barely making both ends meet,” the farmworkers union said in a statement. “And the fact that they are trying to cut the wages of these essential workers in the middle of a pandemic is outrageous.”
The agriculture department announced its decision to end the survey on Sept. 30. “USDA has determined the public can access other data sources for the data collected in the Agricultural Labor Survey,” a press release read.
The Farm Labor Survey has long been a vital resource for the country’s agricultural sector. Among other uses, the Department of Labor uses data from the survey to set the federal Adverse Effect Wage Rate, or AEWR, which determines the minimum wage that seasonal farmworkers on temporary visas must be paid. Without the survey, wage rates for both foreign and domestic farmworkers would revert to the state or federal minimum wage.
The Trump administration’s suspension of the survey could lead to reduced pay for both domestic and foreign agricultural workers, according to the labor union’s lawsuit. Without the survey data needed to set fair wages, field laborers would see their pay cut by roughly 5% in California, 27% in Oregon, and 46% in Idaho, according to the lawsuit.
The current federal wage rate for farmworkers in Idaho is $13.62 per hour. Without the USDA survey, Idaho farmworkers’ pay rate would revert to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour — a loss of nearly half of worker’s regular take-home pay and thousands of dollars in wages, according to the lawsuit.
“Those wage decreases will send ripple effects throughout the farm labor market, ultimately resulting in many U.S. farmworkers being paid less as farms hire an increasing number of foreign laborers who can be paid lower wages than U.S. farmworkers currently receive,” the lawsuit said.
UFW President Teresa Romero said the Trump administration’s decision to cancel the survey is “egregious.”
“How can Trump justify slashing pay for all farmworkers in the U.S., which means cutting wages by up to a quarter or a half in some states?” Romero told Business Insider.
She added that Trump could stand to personally benefit from the USDA’s policy change.
The H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers visa allows foreign workers to fill temporary or seasonal jobs. Last year, the State Department issued more than 200,000 H-2A visas to migrant workers.
In 2019, Trump Vineyard Estates LLC applied to hire 23 seasonal workers for its Virginia wineries through the Department of Labor’s H-2A visa program. The department approved the request.
The current wage rate for farmworkers in Virginia is $12.67 per hour. After the policy change, Virginia farmworkers’ pay rate would revert to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour — amounting to a 42% pay cut.
“It’s egregious,” Romero said. “Trump will personally benefit from the policy change by paying less to workers at his Virginia vineyards.”
The White House and USDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.


shareblue--2020-10-19--Trump tries to cheer up his campaign team by attacking Dr. Fauci

Donald Trump sought Monday to buck up his campaign staffers two weeks from Election Day , dismissing the cautionary coronavirus advice of his scientific experts as well as polling showing him trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden across key battleground states .
Trump was facing intense pressure to turn around his campaign , hoping for the type of last-minute surge that revived his candidacy four years ago and plunging into an aggressive travel schedule despite the pandemic .
But his lack of a consistent message , the surging virus cases , and his attacks on experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside of his most loyal base .
Speaking to campaign aides on a conference call , Trump said he believes he 's going to win , allowing that he did n't have that same sense of confidence two weeks ago when he was hospitalized with COVID-19 .
One week since returning to the campaign trail , where his handling of the pandemic is a central issue to voters , Trump blasted his government 's own scientists for their criticism of his performance .
`` People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , declaring the government 's top infectious disease expert `` a disaster . ''
But Fauci is both respected and popular , and Trump suggested firing the doctor would only create greater controversy .
Trump 's rejection of scientific advice on the pandemic has already drawn bipartisan condemnation .
Fauci , in an interview with CBS 's `` 60 Minutes '' that aired Sunday , said he was not surprised that Trump contracted the virus after he held large events with few face coverings .
Fauci also objected to the Trump campaign using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I was worried that he was going to get sick when I saw him in a completely precarious situation of crowded , no separation between people , and almost nobody wearing a mask , '' Fauci said of Trump .
Trump held his call with campaign staffers from Las Vegas , where he was on the third day of a western campaign swing .
He was to hold Arizona rallies in Prescott and Tucson later in the day before returning to the White House .
Trump 's professed confidence stood in contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflecting on the prospect that he could lose .
`` If Crazy Joe becomes president , it ’ s not even conceivable , '' he told a rally crowd in Janesville , Wisconsin , over the weekend .
`` Running against him , it puts such pressure because I ’ m running against the worst in the history .
...
If I lose , I will have lost to the worst candidate , the worst candidate in the history of presidential politics .
If I lose , what do I do ?
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s extraordinarily talented , at least , this way I can go and lead my life . ''
Last week , Trump asked a crowd in Macon , Georgia : `` Could you imagine if I lose my whole life ?
What am I going to do ?
I ’ m going to say I lost to the worst candidate in the history of politics , I ’ m not going to feel so good .
Maybe I ’ ll have to leave the country .
I don ’ t know .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he could possibly be tied with Biden in Nevada — where polls actually show Trump trailing .
`` How the hell can we be tied ? ''
he said at a rally in Carson City .
`` What ’ s going on ?
... We get these massive crowds .
He gets nobody .
And then they say we 're tied .
...
It doesn ’ t make sense . ''
In Carson City , Trump addressed thousands of supporters who sat elbow to elbow , cheering him and booing Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no masks to guard against the coronavirus , though cases in the state are on the rise , with more than 1,000 new infections reported Saturday .
Trump warned that a Biden election would lead to further lockdowns and appeared to mock Biden for saying he would listen to scientists .
`` He 'll listen to the scientists .
If I listened totally to the scientists , we would right now have a country that would be in a massive depression , '' Trump said .
Biden , meanwhile , was in Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday 's final presidential debate .
His running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) , was returning to the campaign trail after several days in Washington after a close adviser tested positive for the coronavirus .
In addition to public polling that indicates Biden has an edge , the former vice president enjoys another considerable advantage over Trump : money .
Trump raked in $ 12 million during a fundraiser Sunday afternoon at the Newport Beach home of top GOP donor and tech mogul Palmer Luckey , which also featured a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the past four months , Biden has raised over $ 1 billion , a massive amount of money that has eclipsed Trump 's once-overwhelming cash advantage .
That 's become apparent in advertising , where Biden and his Democratic allies are on pace to spend twice as much as Trump and the Republicans in the closing days of the race , according to data from the ad tracking firm Kantar/CMAG .
`` We have more than sufficient air cover , almost three times as much as 2016 , '' said Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the advantage with the campaign 's field staff and data targeting .
Though Trump has pulled back from advertising in Midwestern states that secured his 2016 win , he 's invested heavily elsewhere , including North Carolina , where he is on pace to slightly outspend Biden in the days ahead .
In Nevada , which Trump came close to winning in 2016 , Democrats are set to outspend Trump in the closing days by a more than 3-to-1 ratio .
Trump argued that his rallies could help make up the difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where we have states that are sort of tipping , could go either way , '' he said .
`` I have an ability to go to those states and rally .
Biden has no ability , I go to a rally we have 25,000 people .
He goes to a rally and he has four people . ''
Trump 's visit to the state is part of an aggressive schedule of campaign events , where he has leaned heavily into fear tactics .
Trump 's Carson City rally was held at an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing a dramatic backdrop .
He relived fond moments from his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton , revisited his long-running feud with NFL players and went on an extended riff about water management policy , which he blamed for people having to `` flush their toilet 15 times . ''

Donald Trump sought Monday to buck up his campaign staffers two weeks from Election Day, dismissing the cautionary coronavirus advice of his scientific experts as well as polling showing him trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden across key battleground states.
Trump was facing intense pressure to turn around his campaign, hoping for the type of last-minute surge that revived his candidacy four years ago and plunging into an aggressive travel schedule despite the pandemic. But his lack of a consistent message, the surging virus cases, and his attacks on experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci could undermine final efforts to appeal to voters outside of his most loyal base.
Speaking to campaign aides on a conference call, Trump said he believes he’s going to win, allowing that he didn’t have that same sense of confidence two weeks ago when he was hospitalized with COVID-19. One week since returning to the campaign trail, where his handling of the pandemic is a central issue to voters, Trump blasted his government’s own scientists for their criticism of his performance.
“People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots,” Trump said of Fauci, declaring the government’s top infectious disease expert “a disaster.” But Fauci is both respected and popular, and Trump suggested firing the doctor would only create greater controversy. Trump’s rejection of scientific advice on the pandemic has already drawn bipartisan condemnation.
Fauci, in an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday, said he was not surprised that Trump contracted the virus after he held large events with few face coverings. Fauci also objected to the Trump campaign using his words in a campaign ad.
“I was worried that he was going to get sick when I saw him in a completely precarious situation of crowded, no separation between people, and almost nobody wearing a mask,” Fauci said of Trump.
Trump held his call with campaign staffers from Las Vegas, where he was on the third day of a western campaign swing. He was to hold Arizona rallies in Prescott and Tucson later in the day before returning to the White House.
Trump’s professed confidence stood in contrast to his public comments in recent days reflecting on the prospect that he could lose.
“If Crazy Joe becomes president, it’s not even conceivable,” he told a rally crowd in Janesville, Wisconsin, over the weekend. “Running against him, it puts such pressure because I’m running against the worst in the history. … If I lose, I will have lost to the worst candidate, the worst candidate in the history of presidential politics. If I lose, what do I do? I’d rather run against somebody who’s extraordinarily talented, at least, this way I can go and lead my life.”
Last week, Trump asked a crowd in Macon, Georgia: “Could you imagine if I lose my whole life? What am I going to do? I’m going to say I lost to the worst candidate in the history of politics, I’m not going to feel so good. Maybe I’ll have to leave the country. I don’t know.”
On Sunday, he expressed confusion that he could possibly be tied with Biden in Nevada — where polls actually show Trump trailing.
“How the hell can we be tied?” he said at a rally in Carson City. “What’s going on? … We get these massive crowds. He gets nobody. And then they say we’re tied. … It doesn’t make sense.”
In Carson City, Trump addressed thousands of supporters who sat elbow to elbow, cheering him and booing Biden and the press. The vast majority wore no masks to guard against the coronavirus, though cases in the state are on the rise, with more than 1,000 new infections reported Saturday. Trump warned that a Biden election would lead to further lockdowns and appeared to mock Biden for saying he would listen to scientists.
“He’ll listen to the scientists. If I listened totally to the scientists, we would right now have a country that would be in a massive depression,” Trump said.
Biden, meanwhile, was in Delaware for several days of preparation ahead of Thursday’s final presidential debate. His running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), was returning to the campaign trail after several days in Washington after a close adviser tested positive for the coronavirus.
In addition to public polling that indicates Biden has an edge, the former vice president enjoys another considerable advantage over Trump: money.
Trump raked in $12 million during a fundraiser Sunday afternoon at the Newport Beach home of top GOP donor and tech mogul Palmer Luckey, which also featured a performance by the Beach Boys.
But over the past four months, Biden has raised over $1 billion, a massive amount of money that has eclipsed Trump’s once-overwhelming cash advantage.
That’s become apparent in advertising, where Biden and his Democratic allies are on pace to spend twice as much as Trump and the Republicans in the closing days of the race, according to data from the ad tracking firm Kantar/CMAG.
“We have more than sufficient air cover, almost three times as much as 2016,” said Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, who insisted Trump had the advantage with the campaign’s field staff and data targeting.
Though Trump has pulled back from advertising in Midwestern states that secured his 2016 win, he’s invested heavily elsewhere, including North Carolina, where he is on pace to slightly outspend Biden in the days ahead.
In Nevada, which Trump came close to winning in 2016, Democrats are set to outspend Trump in the closing days by a more than 3-to-1 ratio.
Trump argued that his rallies could help make up the difference in states that remain close.
“Where we have states that are sort of tipping, could go either way,” he said. “I have an ability to go to those states and rally. Biden has no ability, I go to a rally we have 25,000 people. He goes to a rally and he has four people.”
Trump’s visit to the state is part of an aggressive schedule of campaign events, where he has leaned heavily into fear tactics.
Trump’s Carson City rally was held at an airport with a golden scrub brush-covered hill providing a dramatic backdrop. He relived fond moments from his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton, revisited his long-running feud with NFL players and went on an extended riff about water management policy, which he blamed for people having to “flush their toilet 15 times.”


shareblue--2020-10-19--Sen. John Cornyn turns to flat-out lying about his opponent as race heats up

In a last-minute attempt to grab votes , Sen. John Cornyn ( R-TX ) launched a new campaign ad this week falsely claiming that his Democratic challenger , MJ Hegar , among other things , wants to `` legalize prostitution . ''
Cornyn 's reelection campaign is spending more than $ 700,000 on the misleading ad campaign as his lead over Hegar has narrowed .
The ad features an image of a woman 's legs and high heels , and claims that Hegar wants to `` legalize prostitution '' and `` defund the police . ''
Hegar disputed the claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a virtual forum with the Dallas Examiner on Monday night .
`` That 's something that John Cornyn 's been pushing as a conspiracy theory , '' Hegar said .
`` I 've never said I 'm for that . ''
Cornyn 's claim is based on the fact that Hegar has voiced support for Campaign Zero , a group that wants to end police violence , with a focus on the over-policing and brutality that people of color experience .
Campaign Zero calls for the decriminalization of several `` broken windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety and are often `` used to police Black communities . ''
Among the minor crimes listed on the organization 's website are marijuana possession , trespassing , loitering , jaywalking , bicycling on the sidewalk , and prostitution .
Cornyn 's ad does not address the fact that legalization and decriminalization are two distinct legal concepts .
But his understanding of the laws governing prostitution has historically been shaky .
Cornyn has long conflated sex work with sex trafficking .
He sponsored the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017 , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though the law claims to combat sex trafficking and exploitation , it also permits state and local governments to wiretap suspected sex workers , and allows the Department of Homeland Security to screen sex workers .
Hegar spokesperson Amanda Sherman told the Dallas Morning News that Cornyn 's `` pathetic attack '' is only proof of how Cornyn has `` repeatedly failed to support any actual needed police reform . ''
What it does indicate , she said , is how desperate the Cornyn campaign is .
In an Oct. 9 debate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , claiming Hegar has `` endorsed '' Campaign Zero , which wants to `` defund police , '' `` abolish police , '' and `` legalize things like prostitution . ''
`` To me , those are not Texas values , '' he said .
Hegar responded that she has never endorsed the legalization of sex work , but endorses Campaign Zero 's advocacy work for communities of color .
She added that she agrees with the group 's efforts to promote `` community policing and community oversight and body cameras and police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're policing . ''
These attacks come on the heels of a Democratic super PAC launching a last-minute $ 8.6 million ad campaign supporting Hegar .
Her campaign also raised $ 13.5 million in the third quarter .
This `` roughly outraised '' the Cornyn campaign by `` 2-to-1 in the third quarter , '' Cornyn admitted to Lubbock , Texas radio host Chad Hasty last Thursday .
Cornyn told the talk radio host that `` the money game has changed dramatically , '' and accused Hegar of `` trying to turn us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This week , the nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted its rating of the Texas Senate race from `` likely Republican '' to `` lean Republican . ''
A recent Public Policy Polling poll found Cornyn leading Hegar by just 3 points .
If Hegar is able to eke out a win , it would be a historic victory for Democrats in the state .
Texas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988 .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In a last-minute attempt to grab votes, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) launched a new campaign ad this week falsely claiming that his Democratic challenger, MJ Hegar, among other things, wants to “legalize prostitution.”
Cornyn’s reelection campaign is spending more than $700,000 on the misleading ad campaign as his lead over Hegar has narrowed.
The ad features an image of a woman’s legs and high heels, and claims that Hegar wants to “legalize prostitution” and “defund the police.”
Hegar disputed the claim that she wants to legalize sex work in a virtual forum with the Dallas Examiner on Monday night.
“That’s something that John Cornyn’s been pushing as a conspiracy theory,” Hegar said. “I’ve never said I’m for that.”
Cornyn’s claim is based on the fact that Hegar has voiced support for Campaign Zero, a group that wants to end police violence, with a focus on the over-policing and brutality that people of color experience.
Campaign Zero calls for the decriminalization of several “broken windows offenses” that don’t threaten public safety and are often “used to police Black communities.”
Among the minor crimes listed on the organization’s website are marijuana possession, trespassing, loitering, jaywalking, bicycling on the sidewalk, and prostitution.
Cornyn’s ad does not address the fact that legalization and decriminalization are two distinct legal concepts.
But his understanding of the laws governing prostitution has historically been shaky.
Cornyn has long conflated sex work with sex trafficking. He sponsored the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017, which was signed into law in early 2018. Though the law claims to combat sex trafficking and exploitation, it also permits state and local governments to wiretap suspected sex workers, and allows the Department of Homeland Security to screen sex workers.
Hegar spokesperson Amanda Sherman told the Dallas Morning News that Cornyn’s “pathetic attack” is only proof of how Cornyn has “repeatedly failed to support any actual needed police reform.”
What it does indicate, she said, is how desperate the Cornyn campaign is.
In an Oct. 9 debate, Cornyn brought up the topic of prostitution, claiming Hegar has “endorsed” Campaign Zero, which wants to “defund police,” “abolish police,” and “legalize things like prostitution.”
“To me, those are not Texas values,” he said.
Hegar responded that she has never endorsed the legalization of sex work, but endorses Campaign Zero’s advocacy work for communities of color.
She added that she agrees with the group’s efforts to promote “community policing and community oversight and body cameras and police officer representative of the communities that they’re policing.”
These attacks come on the heels of a Democratic super PAC launching a last-minute $8.6 million ad campaign supporting Hegar. Her campaign also raised $13.5 million in the third quarter.
This “roughly outraised” the Cornyn campaign by “2-to-1 in the third quarter,” Cornyn admitted to Lubbock, Texas radio host Chad Hasty last Thursday.
Cornyn told the talk radio host that “the money game has changed dramatically,” and accused Hegar of “trying to turn us into California or New York.”
This week, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted its rating of the Texas Senate race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican.” A recent Public Policy Polling poll found Cornyn leading Hegar by just 3 points.
If Hegar is able to eke out a win, it would be a historic victory for Democrats in the state. Texas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-19--Alabama's Republican Senate candidate might have a little fraud problem

According to reporting by the Associated Press and the New York Times , the foundation run by Alabama Republican Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville , which claims to be raising money to support U.S. military veterans , allegedly distributed only $ 5,000 of the $ 40,000 it raised .
Tuberville 's opponent in the Senate race , incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones , responded quickly to the reports , saying : `` Maybe the veterans got short-changed because Tommy wanted to run for governor or the Senate .
This is not public service .
He is not a public servant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this for his own benefit .
He 's the swamp that ’ s taking care of it itself . ''
Most polls show Tuberville leading Jones by double digits in the reliably red state , in which Donald Trump is currently polling ahead of Joe Biden in the presidential race by almost 18 points .
Tuberville 's team claimed the tax records do n't show the full picture .
Taking a page out of Trump 's book , the Tuberville campaign blamed the media for spreading disinformation , releasing a statement that reads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media is manufacturing fake narratives and working hand-in-glove with the Doug Jones campaign to try to salvage his failing candidacy and divert attention away from his pro-abortion , anti-gun , and open border Senate voting record . ''
The statement also criticized Jones for failing to meet with Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett despite what it called `` widespread support for her nomination across Alabama . ''
Jones , a former U.S. attorney , won his Senate seat in a special election in December 2017 after the incumbent , Jeff Sessions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general .
The Republican nominee in that race was the controversial Judge Roy Moore , whose campaign was accompanied by accusations of sexual assault against him by several women .
Common wisdom holds that Jones can not win in Alabama again this year , even as Tuberville is embroiled in a string of financial scandals , including a reported history of involvement with financial scam artists that cost him millions .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

According to reporting by the Associated Press and the New York Times, the foundation run by Alabama Republican Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville, which claims to be raising money to support U.S. military veterans, allegedly distributed only $5,000 of the $40,000 it raised.
Tuberville’s opponent in the Senate race, incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, responded quickly to the reports, saying: “Maybe the veterans got short-changed because Tommy wanted to run for governor or the Senate. This is not public service. He is not a public servant. This is just someone that’s doing this for his own benefit. He’s the swamp that’s taking care of it itself.”
Most polls show Tuberville leading Jones by double digits in the reliably red state, in which Donald Trump is currently polling ahead of Joe Biden in the presidential race by almost 18 points.
Tuberville’s team claimed the tax records don’t show the full picture. Taking a page out of Trump’s book, the Tuberville campaign blamed the media for spreading disinformation, releasing a statement that reads in part: “The national news media is manufacturing fake narratives and working hand-in-glove with the Doug Jones campaign to try to salvage his failing candidacy and divert attention away from his pro-abortion, anti-gun, and open border Senate voting record.”
The statement also criticized Jones for failing to meet with Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett despite what it called “widespread support for her nomination across Alabama.”
Jones, a former U.S. attorney, won his Senate seat in a special election in December 2017 after the incumbent, Jeff Sessions, resigned to become Trump’s attorney general. The Republican nominee in that race was the controversial Judge Roy Moore, whose campaign was accompanied by accusations of sexual assault against him by several women.
Common wisdom holds that Jones cannot win in Alabama again this year, even as Tuberville is embroiled in a string of financial scandals, including a reported history of involvement with financial scam artists that cost him millions.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.