shareblue--2020-09-08--3 times as many voters might see ballots rejected in battleground states this year

Thousands of absentee ballots get rejected in every presidential election .
This year , that problem could be much worse and potentially pivotal in hotly contested battleground states .
With the coronavirus creating a surge in mail-in balloting and postal delays reported across the country , the number of rejected ballots in November is projected to be significantly higher than previous elections .
If ballots are rejected at the same rate as during this year 's primaries , up to three times as many voters in November could be disenfranchised in key battleground states when compared to the last presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis of rejected ballots .
It could be even more pronounced in some urban areas where Democratic votes are concentrated and ballot rejection rates trended higher during this year 's primaries .
`` It is the number one thing that keeps me up at night — the idea that voters will do everything they can to ensure their ballot is returned on time and the system will still fail them , '' said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson .
Ballot rejections occur even under the best of circumstances .
They go uncounted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail , voters forgot to sign them , or signatures did n't match the one on file at local election offices .
Those problems could be compounded this year as millions of voters cast mail-in ballots for the first time because of election changes forced by the coronavirus .
Large numbers of uncounted ballots could be used to sow doubts about the election ; Donald Trump has been claiming for months without evidence that widespread mail-in voting will lead to fraud .
The sudden leap is worrisome : 22 states are going from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all ballots four years ago to perhaps half or more this November .
Pennsylvania is among them : Nearly 51 % of all votes cast during its June primary were mail-in .
If voter turnout is the same as 2016 and the ballot rejection rate equals the 1.4 % from this year 's primary , nearly 43,000 voters in Pennsylvania could be disenfranchised this fall , according to AP 's analysis .
That 's almost the same number of votes by which Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the state four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejected .
In Philadelphia , a far higher percentage of absentee ballots cast in June were rejected — 3.9 % .
Most of those arrived too late to be counted , even though Gov .
Tom Wolf extended the deadline by a week .
Amy Campbell , a 26-year-old University of Pennsylvania medical student , had her ballot rejected for another reason : a missing signature .
Campbell is upset she did n't have a chance to fix her ballot .
She received an email two days after the vote count ended telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her ) required signature . ''
`` The first communication I got from the state was basically to tell me that my ballot had been canceled , '' Campbell said .
Philadelphia Board of Elections spokesman Nick Custodio said that 's not supposed to happen , but could n't explain why it did .
Vote-by-mail rejections could be of special concern to Democrats , who have seen a surge in absentee ballot applications this year .
In Pennsylvania , for example , more than twice as many Democrats as Republicans voted by mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states have defined procedures for notifying voters if absentee ballots are rejected so they have a chance to fix it .
For its analysis , the AP also collected absentee ballot data from Arizona , Colorado , Florida , Michigan , Ohio , and Wisconsin .
Based on the percentage of those ballots cast in each state 's primary this year , between 185,000 and 292,000 voters in the seven states examined could be disenfranchised if November 's turnout matches that of four years ago and the rejection rate remains flat .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those states in 2016 .
The ballot rejections could be pivotal in close races .
In 2016 , Trump won Wisconsin by roughly 23,000 votes .
Reasons for rejection can vary .
In a few states , a witness or notary must sign the ballot envelope for the ballot to be valid .
Where ballots received after Election Day are counted , a legible postmark from that day is generally required .
`` There could be a lot of people who are voting this way for the first time , and they tend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost votes , '' said Larry Norden , an elections expert with the Brennan Center for Justice .
New , young , Black , and Hispanic voters — who tend to favor Democratic candidates — are disproportionately affected , according to research by University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith .
All have had absentee ballots rejected at higher rates than white and more experienced mail-in voters .
Being able to notify voters of problems in time to fix them will be difficult enough for understaffed election offices .
It does n't help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Michigan and Pennsylvania , are not allowed to begin looking at absentee ballots until Election Day .
That leaves a narrow window for identifying problems and allowing voters to fix them .
Experts say voters must be diligent about requesting and returning absentee ballots well ahead of Election Day ; the Postal Service advises allowing seven days for a ballot to reach an election office .
Drop boxes can help .
Michigan , Georgia , Colorado , and Arizona are among states adding more .
Colorado , which has been mailing ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a slight increase in rejections from about 1 % in 2016 to 1.6 % in this year 's primary ; the rejection rate doubled in Denver but still remained below 2 % .
Joe Bernal , a 31-year-old tech analyst in Miami , expects to be driving to the nearest drop box to deliver his ballot ahead of Nov. 3 .
His ballot was rejected in Florida 's March presidential primary for arriving after the deadline , even though Bernal said he mailed it at least three weeks before .
Bernal , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is unwilling to vote in person : `` I 'm asthmatic .
I do n't want to have to risk it . ''
But drop boxes only solve one problem .
The process of authenticating voter signatures on ballot envelopes — an anti-fraud measure — is so troublesome that lawsuits have been filed seeking to end the practice barring an adequate remedy .
Jennifer Morrell , a former election official in Utah and Colorado , said voters need to be certain they will be given an opportunity to fix a problem .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alerts voters via text or email , but Morrell said the problem is being unevenly addressed .
`` States that are really new to this , most likely they will just be sending out a letter in the mail and hope the voter gets it in time and fills it out , '' she said .
That was n't the case for Tasha Young , a 43-year-old teacher in metro Atlanta who found a letter from her local election office buried in a pile of mail after Georgia 's primary in June .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ her ballot , but by then it was too late for her to submit the required affidavit .
She plans to vote in person in November .
`` For one thing , I do n't want to have to worry about a deadline or missing a signature , '' Young said .

Thousands of absentee ballots get rejected in every presidential election. This year, that problem could be much worse and potentially pivotal in hotly contested battleground states.
With the coronavirus creating a surge in mail-in balloting and postal delays reported across the country, the number of rejected ballots in November is projected to be significantly higher than previous elections.
If ballots are rejected at the same rate as during this year’s primaries, up to three times as many voters in November could be disenfranchised in key battleground states when compared to the last presidential election, according to an Associated Press analysis of rejected ballots. It could be even more pronounced in some urban areas where Democratic votes are concentrated and ballot rejection rates trended higher during this year’s primaries.
“It is the number one thing that keeps me up at night — the idea that voters will do everything they can to ensure their ballot is returned on time and the system will still fail them,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
Ballot rejections occur even under the best of circumstances. They go uncounted because they arrived too late in the mail, voters forgot to sign them, or signatures didn’t match the one on file at local election offices.
Those problems could be compounded this year as millions of voters cast mail-in ballots for the first time because of election changes forced by the coronavirus. Large numbers of uncounted ballots could be used to sow doubts about the election; Donald Trump has been claiming for months without evidence that widespread mail-in voting will lead to fraud.
The sudden leap is worrisome: 22 states are going from absentee ballots comprising less than 10% of all ballots four years ago to perhaps half or more this November. Pennsylvania is among them: Nearly 51% of all votes cast during its June primary were mail-in.
If voter turnout is the same as 2016 and the ballot rejection rate equals the 1.4% from this year’s primary, nearly 43,000 voters in Pennsylvania could be disenfranchised this fall, according to AP’s analysis. That’s almost the same number of votes by which Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the state four years ago, when some 2,100 ballots were rejected.
In Philadelphia, a far higher percentage of absentee ballots cast in June were rejected — 3.9%. Most of those arrived too late to be counted, even though Gov. Tom Wolf extended the deadline by a week.
Amy Campbell, a 26-year-old University of Pennsylvania medical student, had her ballot rejected for another reason: a missing signature.
Campbell is upset she didn’t have a chance to fix her ballot. She received an email two days after the vote count ended telling her officials “couldn’t obtain (her) required signature.”
“The first communication I got from the state was basically to tell me that my ballot had been canceled,” Campbell said.
Philadelphia Board of Elections spokesman Nick Custodio said that’s not supposed to happen, but couldn’t explain why it did.
Vote-by-mail rejections could be of special concern to Democrats, who have seen a surge in absentee ballot applications this year. In Pennsylvania, for example, more than twice as many Democrats as Republicans voted by mail in the June primary.
Only 21 states have defined procedures for notifying voters if absentee ballots are rejected so they have a chance to fix it.
For its analysis, the AP also collected absentee ballot data from Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Based on the percentage of those ballots cast in each state’s primary this year, between 185,000 and 292,000 voters in the seven states examined could be disenfranchised if November’s turnout matches that of four years ago and the rejection rate remains flat. That compares to nearly 87,000 ballots rejected in those states in 2016.
The ballot rejections could be pivotal in close races. In 2016, Trump won Wisconsin by roughly 23,000 votes.
Reasons for rejection can vary. In a few states, a witness or notary must sign the ballot envelope for the ballot to be valid. Where ballots received after Election Day are counted, a legible postmark from that day is generally required.
“There could be a lot of people who are voting this way for the first time, and they tend to make the errors that lead to lost votes,” said Larry Norden, an elections expert with the Brennan Center for Justice.
New, young, Black, and Hispanic voters — who tend to favor Democratic candidates — are disproportionately affected, according to research by University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith. All have had absentee ballots rejected at higher rates than white and more experienced mail-in voters.
Being able to notify voters of problems in time to fix them will be difficult enough for understaffed election offices. It doesn’t help that election officials in some states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, are not allowed to begin looking at absentee ballots until Election Day. That leaves a narrow window for identifying problems and allowing voters to fix them.
Experts say voters must be diligent about requesting and returning absentee ballots well ahead of Election Day; the Postal Service advises allowing seven days for a ballot to reach an election office.
Drop boxes can help. Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, and Arizona are among states adding more. Colorado, which has been mailing ballots to all voters since 2013, saw a slight increase in rejections from about 1% in 2016 to 1.6% in this year’s primary; the rejection rate doubled in Denver but still remained below 2%.
Joe Bernal, a 31-year-old tech analyst in Miami, expects to be driving to the nearest drop box to deliver his ballot ahead of Nov. 3. His ballot was rejected in Florida’s March presidential primary for arriving after the deadline, even though Bernal said he mailed it at least three weeks before.
Bernal, who lost an aunt to COVID-19, said he is unwilling to vote in person: “I’m asthmatic. I don’t want to have to risk it.”
But drop boxes only solve one problem. The process of authenticating voter signatures on ballot envelopes — an anti-fraud measure — is so troublesome that lawsuits have been filed seeking to end the practice barring an adequate remedy.
Jennifer Morrell, a former election official in Utah and Colorado, said voters need to be certain they will be given an opportunity to fix a problem. Some jurisdictions are adding software that quickly alerts voters via text or email, but Morrell said the problem is being unevenly addressed.
“States that are really new to this, most likely they will just be sending out a letter in the mail and hope the voter gets it in time and fills it out,” she said.
That wasn’t the case for Tasha Young, a 43-year-old teacher in metro Atlanta who found a letter from her local election office buried in a pile of mail after Georgia’s primary in June. It said she had failed to sign her ballot, but by then it was too late for her to submit the required affidavit.
She plans to vote in person in November.
“For one thing, I don’t want to have to worry about a deadline or missing a signature,” Young said.


shareblue--2020-09-08--Senate GOP still doesn't have a virus relief plan a month after letting aid lapse

Senate Republicans return to Washington , D.C. , on Tuesday after a monthlong August recess , where they 'll once again work on a plan for virus relief that can pass the GOP-controlled chamber .
But more than a month after they let a $ 600 per week unemployment insurance boost expire , GOP senators still do not have a deal even among their own members to extend aid to millions of out-of-work Americans , Politico reported .
House Democrats passed a coronavirus relief bill on May 15 that would have extended the $ 600 weekly unemployment payments through 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of $ 1,200 direct payments to Americans , among other things .
But Senate Republicans refused to take up that bill .
Instead , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a plan days before the unemployment insurance payments were slated to expire — a plan he never put to a vote because it did n't have enough support even among his own Republican members .
Politico reported that McConnell now wants to put up a so-called `` skinny '' coronavirus relief package to try to force Democrats into backing a less generous coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill — which would slash the weekly unemployment payments to $ 300 a week — currently does n't have 51 votes from Republican senators , according to Politico , meaning it would fail .
Republicans ' inability to pass virus relief comes as millions of Americans remain out of work , with permanent layoffs growing in a troubling sign for the United States economy .
A poll from July found that the measures in House Democrats ' relief bill — including the additional $ 600 for unemployment payments , additional $ 1,200 payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments — are widely popular among voters .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Republicans return to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday after a monthlong August recess, where they’ll once again work on a plan for virus relief that can pass the GOP-controlled chamber.
But more than a month after they let a $600 per week unemployment insurance boost expire, GOP senators still do not have a deal even among their own members to extend aid to millions of out-of-work Americans, Politico reported.
House Democrats passed a coronavirus relief bill on May 15 that would have extended the $600 weekly unemployment payments through 2020, as well as added another round of $1,200 direct payments to Americans, among other things.
But Senate Republicans refused to take up that bill.
Instead, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a plan days before the unemployment insurance payments were slated to expire — a plan he never put to a vote because it didn’t have enough support even among his own Republican members.
Politico reported that McConnell now wants to put up a so-called “skinny” coronavirus relief package to try to force Democrats into backing a less generous coronavirus relief package
But that “skinny” bill — which would slash the weekly unemployment payments to $300 a week — currently doesn’t have 51 votes from Republican senators, according to Politico, meaning it would fail.
Republicans’ inability to pass virus relief comes as millions of Americans remain out of work, with permanent layoffs growing in a troubling sign for the United States economy.
A poll from July found that the measures in House Democrats’ relief bill — including the additional $600 for unemployment payments, additional $1,200 payments, and relief to state and local governments — are widely popular among voters.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-08--Cartoon: Suckers and Losers

Cartoon: Suckers and Losers

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--2020-09-09--Democrats aim to remove ban on blood donations by gay men

Two House Democrats have introduced legislation that would require the Food and Drug Administration to change guidance on blood donations intended to lower the risk of HIV transmission , saying the current approach discriminates against LGBTQ people — bisexual and gay men in particular .
The legislation would change the FDA guidance to focus on an `` individual risk-based analysis '' and testing accuracy in order to prevent HIV transmission , rather than barring many LGBTQ people from giving blood .
The bill also mandates that the FDA revise its donor questionnaire to focus on an individual 's sexual behaviors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity .
Reps. Val Demings ( D-FL ) and Mike Quigley ( D-IL ) introduced the Science in Blood Donation Act of 2020 on Friday .
Demings said in a press release that changes to the current restrictions would save lives during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` Every day , across the United States , donated blood marks the difference between life and death .
There is no substitute .
Yet our country turns away thousands of healthy and willing blood donors based solely on their gender identity and sexual orientation , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 1980s , the FDA began telling men who 'd had sex with other men after 1977 that they were ineligible to donate blood .
During the Obama administration , the FDA changed the ban to allow gay and bi men to donate if they had been celibate for one year .
On April 2 , the Trump administration reduced that period of celibacy to three months .
Officials in the Trump administration and Republican Party have trumpeted that move as proof that Donald Trump has improved the lives of LGBTQ people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that health experts say there is no purpose to keeping restrictions on blood donations for LGBTQ people at all .
A few weeks after the most recent change , Democratic attorneys general from 20 states sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , under which the FDA operates , which asked that restrictions be based on individual behavior and not whether someone is a member of the LGBTQ community .
In May , Democratic Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis and other Democratic lawmakers said the guidance barring certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and created unnecessary barriers during a pandemic .
`` There 's really no health justification for this discriminatory policy , '' Polis said at the time .
The Human Rights Campaign has stated that it opposes the current guidance because it rejects people based on membership in a group rather than individual actions .
The group noted that , under the guidance , a man who 'd had protected oral sex once in three months would be barred from donating blood but a woman who 'd had unprotected sex with multiple partners over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partners ' personal histories , would be allowed to donate .
Despite calls to end the outdated donation guidance altogether , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany has continued to celebrate the narrower window of celibacy in order to dodge questions about the Trump administration 's broader anti-LGBTQ record .
When questioned on Aug. 31 about the Justice Department 's decision to fight same-sex couples who want the State Department to recognize their children 's citizenship , for instance , McEnany boasted of the administration 's `` achievements '' on LGBTQ rights and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She also mentioned the FDA guidance in July to deflect from a question about whether the administration would reconsider the transgender military ban .
The Republican National Committee also included the change in a brief it released in June that claimed Trump is an advocate for the LGBTQ community .
The administration meanwhile has taken 175 anti-LGBTQ actions since Trump assumed office , according to GLAAD .
On Wednesday , Whitman-Walker Institute , which focuses on research , policy and advocacy , and education about the LGBTQ community and people living with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the three-month ban was an improvement over a one-year ban , `` it fails to reflect actual risks and unnecessarily continues to perpetuate stigma based on sexual orientation . ''
Daniel Bruner , senior director of policy at Whitman-Walker Institute , said the organization hopes to work with the FDA `` to develop a screening protocol that would preserve the safety of the blood supply while eliminating unnecessary restrictions that have the effect of stigmatizing all men who have sex with other men , and many transgender people , as public safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood is tested for HIV and other blood-borne pathogens , the only relevant safety consideration is whether the donor has engaged in recent activities posing a significant risk of HIV transmission — so recent that current HIV tests might fail to detect the virus , '' he said .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee , has also included on his campaign website a pledge to work with the FDA to ensure that restrictions on blood donations are `` based on science , not fiction or stigma .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independent Foundation .

Two House Democrats have introduced legislation that would require the Food and Drug Administration to change guidance on blood donations intended to lower the risk of HIV transmission, saying the current approach discriminates against LGBTQ people — bisexual and gay men in particular.
The legislation would change the FDA guidance to focus on an “individual risk-based analysis” and testing accuracy in order to prevent HIV transmission, rather than barring many LGBTQ people from giving blood.
The bill also mandates that the FDA revise its donor questionnaire to focus on an individual’s sexual behaviors rather than their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Reps. Val Demings (D-FL) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) introduced the Science in Blood Donation Act of 2020 on Friday. Demings said in a press release that changes to the current restrictions would save lives during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Every day, across the United States, donated blood marks the difference between life and death. There is no substitute. Yet our country turns away thousands of healthy and willing blood donors based solely on their gender identity and sexual orientation,” Demings said.
During the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, the FDA began telling men who’d had sex with other men after 1977 that they were ineligible to donate blood. During the Obama administration, the FDA changed the ban to allow gay and bi men to donate if they had been celibate for one year. On April 2, the Trump administration reduced that period of celibacy to three months.
Officials in the Trump administration and Republican Party have trumpeted that move as proof that Donald Trump has improved the lives of LGBTQ people during his presidency, despite the fact that health experts say there is no purpose to keeping restrictions on blood donations for LGBTQ people at all.
A few weeks after the most recent change, Democratic attorneys general from 20 states sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under which the FDA operates, which asked that restrictions be based on individual behavior and not whether someone is a member of the LGBTQ community.
In May, Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and other Democratic lawmakers said the guidance barring certain LGBTQ individuals from donating blood was discriminatory and created unnecessary barriers during a pandemic.
“There’s really no health justification for this discriminatory policy,” Polis said at the time.
The Human Rights Campaign has stated that it opposes the current guidance because it rejects people based on membership in a group rather than individual actions. The group noted that, under the guidance, a man who’d had protected oral sex once in three months would be barred from donating blood but a woman who’d had unprotected sex with multiple partners over three months, without knowledge of those partners’ personal histories, would be allowed to donate.
Despite calls to end the outdated donation guidance altogether, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany has continued to celebrate the narrower window of celibacy in order to dodge questions about the Trump administration’s broader anti-LGBTQ record.
When questioned on Aug. 31 about the Justice Department’s decision to fight same-sex couples who want the State Department to recognize their children’s citizenship, for instance, McEnany boasted of the administration’s “achievements” on LGBTQ rights and included FDA’s decision to ease restrictions.
She also mentioned the FDA guidance in July to deflect from a question about whether the administration would reconsider the transgender military ban.
The Republican National Committee also included the change in a brief it released in June that claimed Trump is an advocate for the LGBTQ community.
The administration meanwhile has taken 175 anti-LGBTQ actions since Trump assumed office, according to GLAAD.
On Wednesday, Whitman-Walker Institute, which focuses on research, policy and advocacy, and education about the LGBTQ community and people living with HIV, released a statement saying that while the three-month ban was an improvement over a one-year ban, “it fails to reflect actual risks and unnecessarily continues to perpetuate stigma based on sexual orientation.”
Daniel Bruner, senior director of policy at Whitman-Walker Institute, said the organization hopes to work with the FDA “to develop a screening protocol that would preserve the safety of the blood supply while eliminating unnecessary restrictions that have the effect of stigmatizing all men who have sex with other men, and many transgender people, as public safety risks.”
“Since all donated blood is tested for HIV and other blood-borne pathogens, the only relevant safety consideration is whether the donor has engaged in recent activities posing a significant risk of HIV transmission — so recent that current HIV tests might fail to detect the virus,” he said.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, has also included on his campaign website a pledge to work with the FDA to ensure that restrictions on blood donations are “based on science, not fiction or stigma.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-09--Cotton attacks Roe v. Wade right after making Trump's Supreme Court shortlist

Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a list of people he would consider appointing to the Supreme Court should he win another term in office , including three Republican senators : Ted Cruz of Texas , Tom Cotton of Arkansas , and Josh Hawley of Missouri .
All three men are vocally anti-abortion .
Cotton reminded the public of that minutes after Trump said the Arkansas senator is among those he 's considering for the court .
`` It 's time for Roe v. Wade to go , '' Cotton tweeted .
Supreme Court justices are supposed to be neutral , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than on their personal political convictions .
During confirmation hearings , nominees often take pains not to express an opinion on certain cases .
For example , Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh would not say how he would have ruled in Roe v. Wade , despite previous anti-abortion decisions he authored .
Trump , for his part , has sought to court evangelical voters by vowing to nominate anti-abortion justices .
But among the electorate as a whole , abortion rights are popular .
A Gallup poll conducted in May found 79 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal at least in certain circumstances .
Just 20 % of voters say abortion should be completely illegal .
Analysts said that while Trump 's announcement he would nominate people like Cotton to the court could energize his base , it could also push voters toward Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Reacting to Cotton 's tweet about Roe v. Wade , Stu Rothenberg , the publisher of the newsletter `` Inside Elections , '' tweeted : `` Listed by Trump as a possible Supreme Court nominee .
Well , that might turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't vote . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a list of people he would consider appointing to the Supreme Court should he win another term in office, including three Republican senators: Ted Cruz of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, and Josh Hawley of Missouri.
All three men are vocally anti-abortion. Cotton reminded the public of that minutes after Trump said the Arkansas senator is among those he’s considering for the court.
“It’s time for Roe v. Wade to go,” Cotton tweeted.
Supreme Court justices are supposed to be neutral, deciding cases based on the Constitution rather than on their personal political convictions.
During confirmation hearings, nominees often take pains not to express an opinion on certain cases. For example, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh would not say how he would have ruled in Roe v. Wade, despite previous anti-abortion decisions he authored.
Trump, for his part, has sought to court evangelical voters by vowing to nominate anti-abortion justices.
But among the electorate as a whole, abortion rights are popular. A Gallup poll conducted in May found 79% of registered voters think abortion should be legal at least in certain circumstances. Just 20% of voters say abortion should be completely illegal.
Analysts said that while Trump’s announcement he would nominate people like Cotton to the court could energize his base, it could also push voters toward Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Reacting to Cotton’s tweet about Roe v. Wade, Stu Rothenberg, the publisher of the newsletter “Inside Elections,” tweeted: “Listed by Trump as a possible Supreme Court nominee. Well, that might turn out younger voters nationally who normally don’t vote.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-09--Trump says he lied about virus threat because he's a 'cheerleader' for America

Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his decision to downplay the coronavirus outbreak , telling reporters his deception occurred because he is a `` cheerleader for this country . ''
`` I love our country and I do n't want people to be frightened , I do n't want to create panic , '' Trump said .
`` We do n't want to instill panic , we do n't want to jump up and down and start shouting that we have a problem that is a tremendous problem , scare everybody . ''
Trump was responding to newly released audio recordings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post reporter Bob Woodward on Feb. 7 , in which he said he already knew by then that the virus was `` more deadly '' than the flu but that `` I wanted to always play it down . ''
More than 189,000 people in America have died from the virus , more than any other country in the world .
From a Sept. 9 press availability at the White House : REPORTER : Can you address the concerns from the Woodward book in regards to whether , did you mislead the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you repeatedly did that in order to reduce panic ?
Did you mislead the public ?
DONALD TRUMP : Well , I think if you said in order to reduce panic , perhaps that 's so .
The fact is , I 'm a cheerleader for this country , I love our country and I do n't want people to be frightened , I do n't want to create panic , as you say .
And certainly , I 'm not going to drive this country or the world into a frenzy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we want to show strength , we want to show strength as a nation , and that 's what I 've done .
And we 've done very well , we 've done well from any standard .
You look at our numbers compared to other countries , other parts of the world , it 's been an amazing job that we 've done .
I think it 's very sad in many respects because the incredible individuals working so hard on it , including our vice president , they 've done this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged by the news media and they should , for the job we 've done .
Whether it 's ventilators and now you 'll see very soon with vaccines and with therapeutics the job we 've done has been incredible .
But we do n't want to instill panic , we do n't want to jump up and down and start shouting that we have a problem that is a tremendous problem , scare everybody .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his decision to downplay the coronavirus outbreak, telling reporters his deception occurred because he is a “cheerleader for this country.”
“I love our country and I don’t want people to be frightened, I don’t want to create panic,” Trump said. “We don’t want to instill panic, we don’t want to jump up and down and start shouting that we have a problem that is a tremendous problem, scare everybody.”
Trump was responding to newly released audio recordings of an interview he gave to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward on Feb. 7, in which he said he already knew by then that the virus was “more deadly” than the flu but that “I wanted to always play it down.”
More than 189,000 people in America have died from the virus, more than any other country in the world.
From a Sept. 9 press availability at the White House:
REPORTER: Can you address the concerns from the Woodward book in regards to whether, did you mislead the public by saying that you downplayed the coronavirus and you repeatedly did that in order to reduce panic? Did you mislead the public? DONALD TRUMP: Well, I think if you said in order to reduce panic, perhaps that’s so. The fact is, I’m a cheerleader for this country, I love our country and I don’t want people to be frightened, I don’t want to create panic, as you say. And certainly, I’m not going to drive this country or the world into a frenzy. We want to show confidence, we want to show strength, we want to show strength as a nation, and that’s what I’ve done. And we’ve done very well, we’ve done well from any standard. You look at our numbers compared to other countries, other parts of the world, it’s been an amazing job that we’ve done. I think it’s very sad in many respects because the incredible individuals working so hard on it, including our vice president, they’ve done this great job, they haven’t been acknowledged by the news media and they should, for the job we’ve done. Whether it’s ventilators and now you’ll see very soon with vaccines and with therapeutics the job we’ve done has been incredible. But we don’t want to instill panic, we don’t want to jump up and down and start shouting that we have a problem that is a tremendous problem, scare everybody.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-09--Pence to attend campaign event hosted by QAnon backers

Vice President Mike Pence and top officials from Donald Trump 's campaign are slated to attend a Montana fundraiser next week hosted by a couple who have expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory , according to an event invitation obtained by the Associated Press and a review of social media postings .
The hosts of the fundraiser , Caryn and Michael Borland , have shared QAnon memes and retweeted posts from QAnon accounts , their social media activity shows .
The baseless conspiracy theory posits that Trump is fighting entrenched enemies in the government and also involves satanism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sept. 14 fundraiser in Bozeman , Montana , is expected to draw influential figures in the president 's orbit including Kimberly Guilfoyle , a top Trump fundraising official who is dating Donald Trump Jr. , GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel , Republican National Committee finance chairman Todd Ricketts , and RNC co-chairman Tommy Hicks Jr. , the event invitation shows .
While many Republicans have dismissed QAnon , the fundraiser is another sign of how the conspiracy theory is gaining a foothold in the party .
Trump has hailed Georgia congressional candidate Marjorie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a `` future Republican star . ''
Trump has refused to condemn QAnon , recently telling reporters that the conspiracy theory is `` gaining in popularity '' and that its supporters `` like me very much . ''
Representatives for Pence declined to comment on the fundraiser , though the vice president has previously called QAnon a `` conspiracy theory . ''
`` I do n't know anything about QAnon , and I dismiss it out of hand , '' he told CBS last month .
Representatives for the Trump campaign did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caryn and Michael Borland did not return a call seeking comment on the event .
QAnon is a wide-ranging conspiracy fiction spread largely through the internet , centered on the baseless belief that Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in the `` deep state '' and a child sex trafficking ring run by satanic pedophiles and cannibals .
It is based on cryptic postings by the anonymous `` Q , '' purportedly a government insider .
The story has grown to include other long-standing conspiracy theories , gaining traction among some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often likened to a right-wing cult ; some followers have run for office , primarily in the Republican Party , though some have been independent or run as third-party candidates .
Trump has refused to say QAnon is false .
The Borlands have shared multiple QAnon social media posts , as well as other discredited conspiracies .
Michael Borland prominently features several QAnon `` Q '' logos on his Facebook page .
One features a flaming `` Q '' with a Christian cross in the middle .
He has also shared the QAnon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which states : `` Where We Go One We Go All . ''
From his Twitter account , which also features the `` Q '' logo , he also shared a post that labeled the Black Lives Matter movement `` terrorists '' and made his own threat to shoot protesters , according to a June 25 post .
Caryn Borland has retweeted or engaged with QAnon Twitter accounts .
In April , she responded to a pro-Trump Tweet from a QAnon account by replying `` Always '' with a praying hands emoji .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump 's reelection , the bulk of which was made in Caryn Borland 's name .
They were guests at the president 's renominating convention last month .
They posed for photos from the White House South Lawn , including one that shows Michael Alfaro , a Trump fundraiser from Illinois , in the foreground .
Alfaro , who is also slated to attend the Montana fundraiser , responded in the comments : `` Working for the Borland family on South Lawn ! ''
The couple also said they dined with Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a caption on an Aug. 27 Facebook photo of the couple and Paul .
Michael Borland also posed for a photo that same day with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California , Borland 's Facebook account shows .
The couple previously posed for a picture with Trump , which Michael Borland posted to Facebook on Dec. 20 .

Vice President Mike Pence and top officials from Donald Trump’s campaign are slated to attend a Montana fundraiser next week hosted by a couple who have expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to an event invitation obtained by the Associated Press and a review of social media postings.
The hosts of the fundraiser, Caryn and Michael Borland, have shared QAnon memes and retweeted posts from QAnon accounts, their social media activity shows. The baseless conspiracy theory posits that Trump is fighting entrenched enemies in the government and also involves satanism and child sex trafficking.
Beyond Pence, the Sept. 14 fundraiser in Bozeman, Montana, is expected to draw influential figures in the president’s orbit including Kimberly Guilfoyle, a top Trump fundraising official who is dating Donald Trump Jr., GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committee finance chairman Todd Ricketts, and RNC co-chairman Tommy Hicks Jr., the event invitation shows.
While many Republicans have dismissed QAnon, the fundraiser is another sign of how the conspiracy theory is gaining a foothold in the party. Trump has hailed Georgia congressional candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene, another QAnon supporter, as a “future Republican star.” Trump has refused to condemn QAnon, recently telling reporters that the conspiracy theory is “gaining in popularity” and that its supporters “like me very much.”
Representatives for Pence declined to comment on the fundraiser, though the vice president has previously called QAnon a “conspiracy theory.”
“I don’t know anything about QAnon, and I dismiss it out of hand,” he told CBS last month.
Representatives for the Trump campaign didn’t immediately comment on the fundraiser. Caryn and Michael Borland did not return a call seeking comment on the event.
QAnon is a wide-ranging conspiracy fiction spread largely through the internet, centered on the baseless belief that Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in the “deep state” and a child sex trafficking ring run by satanic pedophiles and cannibals. It is based on cryptic postings by the anonymous “Q,” purportedly a government insider.
The story has grown to include other long-standing conspiracy theories, gaining traction among some extreme Trump supporters. The movement is often likened to a right-wing cult; some followers have run for office, primarily in the Republican Party, though some have been independent or run as third-party candidates. Trump has refused to say QAnon is false.
The Borlands have shared multiple QAnon social media posts, as well as other discredited conspiracies.
Michael Borland prominently features several QAnon “Q” logos on his Facebook page. One features a flaming “Q” with a Christian cross in the middle. He has also shared the QAnon oath as well as its slogan, which states: “Where We Go One We Go All.”
From his Twitter account, which also features the “Q” logo, he also shared a post that labeled the Black Lives Matter movement “terrorists” and made his own threat to shoot protesters, according to a June 25 post.
Caryn Borland has retweeted or engaged with QAnon Twitter accounts. In April, she responded to a pro-Trump Tweet from a QAnon account by replying “Always” with a praying hands emoji.
The couple has donated over $220,000 to Trump’s reelection, the bulk of which was made in Caryn Borland’s name.
They were guests at the president’s renominating convention last month. They posed for photos from the White House South Lawn, including one that shows Michael Alfaro, a Trump fundraiser from Illinois, in the foreground. Alfaro, who is also slated to attend the Montana fundraiser, responded in the comments: “Working for the Borland family on South Lawn!”
The couple also said they dined with Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, according to a caption on an Aug. 27 Facebook photo of the couple and Paul.
Michael Borland also posed for a photo that same day with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, Borland’s Facebook account shows.
The couple previously posed for a picture with Trump, which Michael Borland posted to Facebook on Dec. 20.


shareblue--2020-09-09--Trump lags on fundraising after spending ad money in states he can't win

Donald Trump 's campaign and the Republican National Committee revealed Wednesday that they had combined to raise $ 210 million in August — well less than their Democratic counterparts .
According to Fox News , the $ 210 million total represented Trump 's best fundraising money ever .
But it 's less than 57 % of what Biden and the Democratic National Committee announced they raised in the same period : a record $ 364.5 million .
Biden 's haul gave him a monthly advantage of nearly $ 155 million .
To date , Trump and the GOP have raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official told the network .
But on Tuesday , a New York Times report on the Trump campaign 's lavish spending showed how it had squandered a massive early cash advantage .
According to the Times , over the past five months , Team Trump frittered away a nearly $ 200 million cash advantage .
Expenditures to date have included $ 156,000 for planes to pull pro-Trump banners and nearly $ 110,000 for magnetic cell phone pouches to keep people from recording Trump at his fundraising events .
Perhaps most bizarre has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Trump ads in the Washington , D.C. , media market .
The area is not considered to be in play for Trump this election — Trump lost Virginia by more than 5 % , lost Maryland by more than 26 % , and lost D.C. by more than 86 % in 2016 .
But the investment rivals the $ 1.3 million the campaign spent on television ads Minnesota , a swing-state that he hopes to turn red .
However , the D.C.-area ads were reportedly not designed to win over the strongly-Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the District of Columbia , but to make frequent D.C. television viewer Donald Trump feel better about the state of his reelection bid .
According to Medium Buying , the Trump campaign has purchased TV ads in the D.C. area running through at least Aug. 24 .
The massive spending to date has not given Trump a polling lead .
He has trailed Biden in every major national poll since April .
According to the RealClearPolitics polling average , Biden currently enjoys more than a 7 point national advantage .
On Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 100 million of his own funds on his campaign — though he has broken similar promises before .
`` My Campaign spent a lot of money up front in order to compensate for the false reporting and Fake News concerning our handling of the China Virus , '' Trump tweeted , using a racist term to describe the coronavirus .
`` Now they see the GREAT job we have done , and we have 3 times more than we had 4 years ago - & are up in polls .
Lots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee revealed Wednesday that they had combined to raise $210 million in August — well less than their Democratic counterparts.
According to Fox News, the $210 million total represented Trump’s best fundraising money ever. But it’s less than 57% of what Biden and the Democratic National Committee announced they raised in the same period: a record $364.5 million. Biden’s haul gave him a monthly advantage of nearly $155 million.
To date, Trump and the GOP have raised around $1.3 billion, a campaign official told the network. But on Tuesday, a New York Times report on the Trump campaign’s lavish spending showed how it had squandered a massive early cash advantage.
According to the Times, over the past five months, Team Trump frittered away a nearly $200 million cash advantage. Expenditures to date have included $156,000 for planes to pull pro-Trump banners and nearly $110,000 for magnetic cell phone pouches to keep people from recording Trump at his fundraising events.
Perhaps most bizarre has been the more than $1 million spent on Trump ads in the Washington, D.C., media market. The area is not considered to be in play for Trump this election — Trump lost Virginia by more than 5%, lost Maryland by more than 26%, and lost D.C. by more than 86% in 2016. But the investment rivals the $1.3 million the campaign spent on television ads Minnesota, a swing-state that he hopes to turn red.
However, the D.C.-area ads were reportedly not designed to win over the strongly-Democratic leaning voters of Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia, but to make frequent D.C. television viewer Donald Trump feel better about the state of his reelection bid.
According to Medium Buying, the Trump campaign has purchased TV ads in the D.C. area running through at least Aug. 24.
The massive spending to date has not given Trump a polling lead. He has trailed Biden in every major national poll since April. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Biden currently enjoys more than a 7 point national advantage.
On Tuesday, Trump suggested he might spend up to $100 million of his own funds on his campaign — though he has broken similar promises before.
“My Campaign spent a lot of money up front in order to compensate for the false reporting and Fake News concerning our handling of the China Virus,” Trump tweeted, using a racist term to describe the coronavirus. “Now they see the GREAT job we have done, and we have 3 times more than we had 4 years ago – & are up in polls. Lots of $’s & ENERGY!”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-09--McEnany denies Trump lied to the public — even though it's on tape

At a White House press conference on Wednesday , press secretary Kayleigh McEnany repeatedly lied about Donald Trump 's response to the coronavirus pandemic , hours after excerpts from journalist Bob Woodward 's new book , `` Rage , '' about that response were made public .
In interviews recorded by Woodward , Trump admitted that he deceived the American public in discussing the coronavirus .
`` I wanted to always play it down , '' Trump said on March 19 .
`` I still like playing it down , because I do n't want to create a panic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday following the release of the recordings , McEnany said , `` The president has never lied to the American public on COVID . ''
From a Sept. 9 press conference at the White House : In fact , Trump has repeatedly lied to the American public about the coronavirus crisis .
In March , Trump played down the severity of the coronavirus by comparing it to the flu , saying : `` We 've never closed down the country for the flu .
So you say to yourself , 'What is this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump lied about the death toll in the United States compared with that in other countries .
As recently as July , Trump said that 99 % of coronavirus cases are benign , which is another lie .
REPORTER : You quoted Dr. Fauci .
Dr. Fauci is also apparently on the record saying of President Trump that his attention span 'is like a minus number , ' and 'his sole purpose is to get reelected . '
That 's according to veteran journalist Bob Woodward .
I think the bottom line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own admission in private on the record , acknowledged the depth of this crisis , and yet told the American people something very different .
How is that , at its core , not an abject betrayal of the public trust ?
MCENANY : The president has always been clear-eyed with the American people .
He was always clear-eyed about the lives we could lose .
Again , from this podium , he acknowledged that this was serious , back in March that 100,000 , 200,000 lives could be lost .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to a quote he allegedly told Bob Woodward , and I can give you quotes that we can all play on loop and video of him saying that this response was impressive , and he ca n't imagine anyone under any circumstance doing anything better .
Dr Fauci saying this : I can just tell you the president — the first and only time I went and said you need to do mitigation strongly , the response was yes , we will do it .
The second time I went with Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 days to slow the spread are not enough , we need to go to 30 days .
Obviously there were a lot of people who had problems with that because of potential secondary effects .
Nonetheless , the president went with the health recommendations .
So there 's a long litany of praise from Dr. Fauci and you 're referencing something he allegedly told Bob Woodward .
REPORTER : It 's on tape .
It 's on tape , Kayleigh .
Bob Woodward recorded many of his conversations with sources , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book , Fauci told a colleague that Trump was `` rudderless '' during the crisis .
REPORTER : On Feb. 7 , he [ Trump ] says , 'It 's deadly stuff , ' about coronavirus .
In private , on the record .
In public , though , Feb. 28 , he says , 'One day , it 's like a miracle — it will disappear . '
It 's one thing as a public figure not to try to incite panic .
It 's a very different thing , respectfully , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a crisis that has claimed nearly 200,000 American lives .
MCENANY : No one is lying to the American people .
One day COVID will go away .
I think we can all hope for that day .
We will have a vaccine because of this president tearing through bureaucracy to get a safe and effective vaccine .
One day it will go away .
That is a fact .
It is not inciting fear .
This president has expressed calmness from this podium , mobilized the greatest mobilization of the private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more tests than any country in the world on COVID .
A vaccine which by the way it will be a record for a novel pathogen , the timing of this vaccine should we get it by the end of the year or should we get it even three years , which was the timing of Ebola .
This president has done an unprecedented job dealing with COVID , one that Dr. Fauci even acknowledged , and like I said , I will get you that clip to your inbox .
Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence , that the coronavirus would `` disappear '' or `` go away . ''
`` The virus is not going to disappear , '' Fauci has said .
As of Wednesday afternoon , nearly 200,000 Americans had died and more than 6.3 million Americans had tested positive for the coronavirus .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

At a White House press conference on Wednesday, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany repeatedly lied about Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, hours after excerpts from journalist Bob Woodward’s new book, “Rage,” about that response were made public.
In interviews recorded by Woodward, Trump admitted that he deceived the American public in discussing the coronavirus. “I wanted to always play it down,” Trump said on March 19. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”
But in a press conference on Wednesday following the release of the recordings, McEnany said, “The president has never lied to the American public on COVID.”
From a Sept. 9 press conference at the White House:
REPORTER: It will now appear that the president lied to the American public about the threat posed by COVID? KAYLEIGH MCENANY: The president has never lied to the American public on COVID. The president was expressing calm, and his actions reflect that.
In fact, Trump has repeatedly lied to the American public about the coronavirus crisis. In March, Trump played down the severity of the coronavirus by comparing it to the flu, saying: “We’ve never closed down the country for the flu. So you say to yourself, ‘What is this all about?'” In May, Trump lied about the death toll in the United States compared with that in other countries. As recently as July, Trump said that 99% of coronavirus cases are benign, which is another lie.
REPORTER: You quoted Dr. Fauci. Dr. Fauci is also apparently on the record saying of President Trump that his attention span ‘is like a minus number,’ and ‘his sole purpose is to get reelected.’ That’s according to veteran journalist Bob Woodward. I think the bottom line here is that the president, by his own admission in private on the record, acknowledged the depth of this crisis, and yet told the American people something very different. How is that, at its core, not an abject betrayal of the public trust? MCENANY: The president has always been clear-eyed with the American people. He was always clear-eyed about the lives we could lose. Again, from this podium, he acknowledged that this was serious, back in March that 100,000, 200,000 lives could be lost. With regard to Dr. Fauci, you’re referring to a quote he allegedly told Bob Woodward, and I can give you quotes that we can all play on loop and video of him saying that this response was impressive, and he can’t imagine anyone under any circumstance doing anything better. Dr Fauci saying this: I can just tell you the president — the first and only time I went and said you need to do mitigation strongly, the response was yes, we will do it. The second time I went with Dr. Birx to the president and said, 15 days to slow the spread are not enough, we need to go to 30 days. Obviously there were a lot of people who had problems with that because of potential secondary effects. Nonetheless, the president went with the health recommendations. So there’s a long litany of praise from Dr. Fauci and you’re referencing something he allegedly told Bob Woodward. REPORTER: It’s on tape. It’s on tape, Kayleigh.
Bob Woodward recorded many of his conversations with sources, according to CNN. According to Woodward’s book, Fauci told a colleague that Trump was “rudderless” during the crisis.
REPORTER: On Feb. 7, he [Trump] says, ‘It’s deadly stuff,’ about coronavirus. In private, on the record. In public, though, Feb. 28, he says, ‘One day, it’s like a miracle — it will disappear.’ It’s one thing as a public figure not to try to incite panic. It’s a very different thing, respectfully, to lie and mislead the American people about a crisis that has claimed nearly 200,000 American lives. MCENANY: No one is lying to the American people. One day COVID will go away. I think we can all hope for that day. We will have a vaccine because of this president tearing through bureaucracy to get a safe and effective vaccine. One day it will go away. That is a fact. It is not inciting fear. This president has expressed calmness from this podium, mobilized the greatest mobilization of the private sector since World War II, got more tests than any country in the world on COVID. A vaccine which by the way it will be a record for a novel pathogen, the timing of this vaccine should we get it by the end of the year or should we get it even three years, which was the timing of Ebola. This president has done an unprecedented job dealing with COVID, one that Dr. Fauci even acknowledged, and like I said, I will get you that clip to your inbox.
Trump has claimed more than 30 times, without evidence, that the coronavirus would “disappear” or “go away.”
“The virus is not going to disappear,” Fauci has said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 200,000 Americans had died and more than 6.3 million Americans had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-09--Trump nominated for Nobel prize by anti-immigrant extremist

Donald Trump bragged on Wednesday about receiving a second Nobel Peace Prize nomination from a far-right Norwegian politician .
Trump retweeted several congratulatory messages to himself , including from two Republican candidates linked to the dangerous QAnon conspiracy movement .
Another was from his own senior campaign adviser Jason Miller , highlighting a Fox News story .
Miller 's tweet noted only that Trump had been `` nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian official , citing Israel-UAE peace deal . ''
Miller did not mention that the nomination came from Christian Tybring-Gjedde , an Islamophobic member of Norway 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2010 , Tybring-Gjedde denounced `` Islamization that is happening right before our eyes '' and compared children wearing a hijab to parents dressing their children in Ku Klux Klan robes .
He likened the garb to `` a religious straitjacket '' and demanded a ban on girls wearing them in schools .
Tybring-Gjedde has also lamented `` multicultur [ al ] '' society , and said in 2009 that immigration to his country `` should be reduced dramatically . ''
Because the 2020 nomination deadline was in February , Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tybring-Gjedde and a colleague also unsuccessfully nominated Trump in 2018 for his ill-fated attempts to bring peace to the Korean peninsula .
While winning a Nobel Peace Prize is rare , receiving a nomination is significantly less so .
According to the Nobel Foundation 's rules , nominations can come from a wide array of individuals , including any member of `` national assemblies and national governments ( cabinet members/ministers ) of sovereign states as well as current heads of states , '' as well as all `` university professors , professors emeriti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sciences , law , philosophy , theology , and religion ; university rectors and university directors ( or their equivalents ) ; directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes . ''
Previous nominees have included Vladimir Putin , Czar Nikolai II , Joseph Stalin , Benito Mussolini , and even Adolf Hitler — though none of them won the prize .
Some 211 individuals and 107 organizations received nominations for the 2020 award .
This year 's winner will be announced next month , but the identities of the other nominees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last September , Trump boasted , `` I think I 'll get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things .
I think I 'm gon na get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things — if they gave it out fairly , which they do n't . ''
He then mocked 2009 laureate Barack Obama as an undeserving recipient .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump bragged on Wednesday about receiving a second Nobel Peace Prize nomination from a far-right Norwegian politician.
Trump retweeted several congratulatory messages to himself, including from two Republican candidates linked to the dangerous QAnon conspiracy movement.
Another was from his own senior campaign adviser Jason Miller, highlighting a Fox News story. Miller’s tweet noted only that Trump had been “nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian official, citing Israel-UAE peace deal.”
Miller did not mention that the nomination came from Christian Tybring-Gjedde, an Islamophobic member of Norway’s parliament and a far-right opponent of immigration.
In 2010, Tybring-Gjedde denounced “Islamization that is happening right before our eyes” and compared children wearing a hijab to parents dressing their children in Ku Klux Klan robes. He likened the garb to “a religious straitjacket” and demanded a ban on girls wearing them in schools.
Tybring-Gjedde has also lamented “multicultur[al]” society, and said in 2009 that immigration to his country “should be reduced dramatically.”
Because the 2020 nomination deadline was in February, Trump’s nomination is for the 2021 prize.
Tybring-Gjedde and a colleague also unsuccessfully nominated Trump in 2018 for his ill-fated attempts to bring peace to the Korean peninsula.
While winning a Nobel Peace Prize is rare, receiving a nomination is significantly less so. According to the Nobel Foundation’s rules, nominations can come from a wide array of individuals, including any member of “national assemblies and national governments (cabinet members/ministers) of sovereign states as well as current heads of states,” as well as all “university professors, professors emeriti and associate professors of history, social sciences, law, philosophy, theology, and religion; university rectors and university directors (or their equivalents); directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes.”
Previous nominees have included Vladimir Putin, Czar Nikolai II, Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, and even Adolf Hitler — though none of them won the prize.
Some 211 individuals and 107 organizations received nominations for the 2020 award. This year’s winner will be announced next month, but the identities of the other nominees will be kept private for 50 years.
Last September, Trump boasted, “I think I’ll get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things. I think I’m gonna get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things — if they gave it out fairly, which they don’t.”
He then mocked 2009 laureate Barack Obama as an undeserving recipient.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-09--Trump admits on tape he always knew virus was 'more deadly' than flu

In the early days of the coronavirus outbreak , Donald Trump publicly downplayed the threat of the virus , saying numerous times that it was no more deadly than the `` common flu '' and that it would just `` go away . ''
However , Trump admitted to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward on a Feb. 7 call that he knew how deadly and contagious the virus was and , he said , `` I wanted to always play it down . ''
`` You just breathe the air and that 's how it 's passed , '' Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forthcoming book , `` Rage . ''
`` And so that 's a very tricky one .
That 's a very delicate one .
It 's also more deadly than even your strenuous flus . ''
As Trump publicly downplayed the threat , administration officials praised his response to the virus .
And Mike Pence denied that Trump had ever undersold the seriousness of the virus .
`` I do n't believe the president has ever belittled the threat of the coronavirus , '' Pence said in an April 1 interview on CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as recently as July that he never downplayed the pandemic .
`` That is so false , '' senior Trump campaign adviser Mercedes Schlapp told CNN on July 19 .
`` He never downplayed it . ''
Public health experts have said Trump 's denial of the virus ' potency and his slow response to containing it contributed to the out-of-control pandemic the United States currently faces .

In the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, Donald Trump publicly downplayed the threat of the virus, saying numerous times that it was no more deadly than the “common flu” and that it would just “go away.”
However, Trump admitted to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward on a Feb. 7 call that he knew how deadly and contagious the virus was and, he said, “I wanted to always play it down.”
“You just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed,” Trump said in an interview for Woodward’s forthcoming book, “Rage.” “And so that’s a very tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flus.”
As Trump publicly downplayed the threat, administration officials praised his response to the virus. And Mike Pence denied that Trump had ever undersold the seriousness of the virus.
“I don’t believe the president has ever belittled the threat of the coronavirus,” Pence said in an April 1 interview on CNN.
In fact, Trump surrogates said as recently as July that he never downplayed the pandemic.
“That is so false,” senior Trump campaign adviser Mercedes Schlapp told CNN on July 19. “He never downplayed it.”
Public health experts have said Trump’s denial of the virus’ potency and his slow response to containing it contributed to the out-of-control pandemic the United States currently faces.


shareblue--2020-09-09--10th Trump judicial nominee so inexperienced she got rated 'not qualified'

The American Bar Association on Wednesday rated one of Donald Trump 's nominees to a federal district court in Florida as `` not qualified '' — the 10th Trump judicial nominee to earn that stamp of disapproval .
In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein ( D-CA ) , the ABA said Kathryn Kimball Mizelle does not have the experience to serve as a judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida , which Trump nominated her to .
Mizelle has been a practicing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , far short of the 12-year minimum experience the ABA says a judicial nominee should have .
Mizelle has also never tried a case , which the ABA said led a `` substantial majority '' of its Standing Committee members — which vote on whether a president 's judicial nominees are qualified to serve on the federal bench — to determine Mizelle is not qualified to serve .
`` Ms. Mizelle has a very keen intellect , a strong work ethic and an impressive resume .
She presents as a delightful person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her nomination .
Her integrity and demeanor are not in question .
These attributes however simply do not compensate for the short time she has actually practiced law and her lack of meaningful trial experience , '' Randall Noel , the chair of the ABA 's Standing Committee , wrote in the letter to Graham and Feinstein .
Mizelle is now the 10th Trump judicial pick to be deemed not qualified by the ABA — a departure from past presidents , who had few if any judicial nominees earn that rating .
Former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not nominate any judges the ABA deemed to be `` not qualified . ''
Other Trump judicial nominees who earned `` not qualified '' ratings include Justin R. Walker , who Trump first nominated as a judge to the Western District of Kentucky despite the fact that he never tried a case .
`` Based on review of his biographical information and conversations with Mr. Walker , it was challenging to determine how much of his ten years since graduation from law school has been spent in the practice of law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July 2019 after its members deemed him `` not qualified '' to serve as a judge .
`` Even crediting the time spent in judicial clerkships , Mr. Walker ’ s practice experience is less than his 10 years since graduation and significantly less than the 12 years of legal practice experience stated in our criteria . ''
Trump then nominated Walker to serve on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia — the most prestigious appeals courts as it fields appeals related to Congress and federal agencies — which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ABA Standing Committee also unanimously determined that Sarah E. Pitlyk , who Senate Republicans confirmed to serve as a judge in the Eastern District of Missouri , was unqualified due to the `` absence of any trial or even real litigation experience . ''
Other Trump judicial nominees earned `` not qualified '' ratings for more nefarious reasons .
The ABA wrote in an October 2019 letter that Lawrence J.C. VanDyke — who Republicans ultimately confirmed to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals — is `` arrogant , lazy , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day-today practice including procedural rules . ''
`` There was a theme that the nominee lacks humility , has an 'entitlement ' temperament , does not have an open mind , and does not always have a commitment to being candid and truthful , '' the ABA wrote in its letter , adding that there were concerns about VanDyke 's anti LQBTQ stances .
Ultimately , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made confirming Trump judicial nominees almost the singular priority of his tenure , even changing the rules to help pack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As McConnell blocked hundreds of bills from the Democratic-led House , he led the Senate to confirm Trump judicial picks at a fast clip — even pressuring judges to retire before the end of 2020 in case Trump loses reelection so that Trump can nominate their replacements .
With the Senate back in session this week after a nearly month-long recess , McConnell is once again resuming judicial confirmations — despite not passing any coronavirus aid for the millions of out-of-work Americans .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The American Bar Association on Wednesday rated one of Donald Trump’s nominees to a federal district court in Florida as “not qualified” — the 10th Trump judicial nominee to earn that stamp of disapproval.
In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the ABA said Kathryn Kimball Mizelle does not have the experience to serve as a judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, which Trump nominated her to.
Mizelle has been a practicing lawyer for a little less than eight years, far short of the 12-year minimum experience the ABA says a judicial nominee should have. Mizelle has also never tried a case, which the ABA said led a “substantial majority” of its Standing Committee members — which vote on whether a president’s judicial nominees are qualified to serve on the federal bench — to determine Mizelle is not qualified to serve.
“Ms. Mizelle has a very keen intellect, a strong work ethic and an impressive resume. She presents as a delightful person and she has many friends who support her nomination. Her integrity and demeanor are not in question. These attributes however simply do not compensate for the short time she has actually practiced law and her lack of meaningful trial experience,” Randall Noel, the chair of the ABA’s Standing Committee, wrote in the letter to Graham and Feinstein.
Mizelle is now the 10th Trump judicial pick to be deemed not qualified by the ABA — a departure from past presidents, who had few if any judicial nominees earn that rating.
Former President Barack Obama, for example, did not nominate any judges the ABA deemed to be “not qualified.”
Other Trump judicial nominees who earned “not qualified” ratings include Justin R. Walker, who Trump first nominated as a judge to the Western District of Kentucky despite the fact that he never tried a case.
“Based on review of his biographical information and conversations with Mr. Walker, it was challenging to determine how much of his ten years since graduation from law school has been spent in the practice of law,” the ABA wrote in a letter in July 2019 after its members deemed him “not qualified” to serve as a judge. “Even crediting the time spent in judicial clerkships, Mr. Walker’s practice experience is less than his 10 years since graduation and significantly less than the 12 years of legal practice experience stated in our criteria.”
Trump then nominated Walker to serve on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia — the most prestigious appeals courts as it fields appeals related to Congress and federal agencies — which Republicans ultimately confirmed him to.
The ABA Standing Committee also unanimously determined that Sarah E. Pitlyk, who Senate Republicans confirmed to serve as a judge in the Eastern District of Missouri, was unqualified due to the “absence of any trial or even real litigation experience.”
Other Trump judicial nominees earned “not qualified” ratings for more nefarious reasons.
The ABA wrote in an October 2019 letter that Lawrence J.C. VanDyke — who Republicans ultimately confirmed to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals — is “arrogant, lazy, an ideologue, and lacking in knowledge of the day-today practice including procedural rules.”
“There was a theme that the nominee lacks humility, has an ‘entitlement’ temperament, does not have an open mind, and does not always have a commitment to being candid and truthful,” the ABA wrote in its letter, adding that there were concerns about VanDyke’s anti LQBTQ stances.
Ultimately, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made confirming Trump judicial nominees almost the singular priority of his tenure, even changing the rules to help pack the courts with Trump’s picks.
As McConnell blocked hundreds of bills from the Democratic-led House, he led the Senate to confirm Trump judicial picks at a fast clip — even pressuring judges to retire before the end of 2020 in case Trump loses reelection so that Trump can nominate their replacements.
With the Senate back in session this week after a nearly month-long recess, McConnell is once again resuming judicial confirmations — despite not passing any coronavirus aid for the millions of out-of-work Americans.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-09--GOP governor claims media is trying to 'destroy' her state by reporting on virus outbreak

South Dakota Republican Gov .
Kristi Noem said on Wednesday that reporting on an outbreak of the coronavirus following the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was an attempt to `` destroy '' her state .
Noem supported holding the rally in August despite the threat of virus transmission at such a crowded event .
As of Wednesday , South Dakota has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita in the United States .
A recent report by the IZA Institute of Labor Economics in Bonn , Germany , determined that the cases generated by the gathering of nearly 500,000 motorcyclists will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health costs .
Officials have traced 260 infections and at least one death to the rally , with attendees taking the virus back with them to other states .
From the Sept. 9 edition of Fox News ' `` Fox & Friends '' : GOV .
KRISTI NOEM : We 're taking the virus seriously , but we 're also recognizing that there 's consequences to what we 've seen happen in other states , that shutting down businesses , stopping people 's way of life has some devastating impacts on them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the table for their families .
So we 've taken a very balanced approach in South Dakota .
I know the media hates it , I know they 're going to continue to come after me and my decision-making , they 're going to continue to try to destroy South Dakota for what we have done and the path that we 've taken , but I still believe that in our state it has worked out for our people and that they appreciate it .
They appreciate the fact that I trusted them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the nation today .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem said on Wednesday that reporting on an outbreak of the coronavirus following the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was an attempt to “destroy” her state.
Noem supported holding the rally in August despite the threat of virus transmission at such a crowded event.
As of Wednesday, South Dakota has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita in the United States.
A recent report by the IZA Institute of Labor Economics in Bonn, Germany, determined that the cases generated by the gathering of nearly 500,000 motorcyclists will result in over $12 billion in public health costs.
Officials have traced 260 infections and at least one death to the rally, with attendees taking the virus back with them to other states.
From the Sept. 9 edition of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”:
GOV. KRISTI NOEM: We’re taking the virus seriously, but we’re also recognizing that there’s consequences to what we’ve seen happen in other states, that shutting down businesses, stopping people’s way of life has some devastating impacts on them and their ability to put food on the table for their families. So we’ve taken a very balanced approach in South Dakota. I know the media hates it, I know they’re going to continue to come after me and my decision-making, they’re going to continue to try to destroy South Dakota for what we have done and the path that we’ve taken, but I still believe that in our state it has worked out for our people and that they appreciate it. They appreciate the fact that I trusted them, and we have the strongest economy in the nation today.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-10--DOJ's intervention in case of woman who says Trump raped her could get case dismissed

Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday defended the Justice Department 's move to intervene in a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump , even as experts were skeptical of the federal government 's effort to protect the president in a seemingly private dispute .
The Justice Department 's action is `` a normal application of the law .
The law is clear .
It is done frequently , '' Barr said at an unrelated news conference in Chicago .
He added , `` The little tempest that is going on is largely because of the bizarre political environment in which we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's far from clear that the conduct at issue — whether Trump defamed E. Jean Carroll , a writer who accused him of raping her at a New York luxury department store in the 1990s — has anything to do with the scope of his White House duties .
The department 's move is likely to have an ancillary benefit for Trump in delaying the case , but administration lawyers have a tough task at hand trying to argue that the president was acting in his official capacity when he denied Carroll 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I would n't make such an argument , and if a president approached me to do it , I would say , 'Do n't , ' '' said Stuart Gerson , who led the Justice Department 's Civil Division in George H.W .
Bush 's administration when Barr was attorney general for the first time .
`` The president gets sued all the time and is defended by the government , '' Gerson added , `` but those are for lawsuits that have to do with actions in his official capacity as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like that . ''
The Justice Department 's action is consistent with the expansive view of executive authority it has taken under Barr and with its practice of taking legal positions benefiting the president 's personal interests , including asking the Supreme Court just last month to allow him to block critics from his Twitter account .
It is likely to deepen concerns from critics that the department is functioning as a private law firm for the president , with the attorney general as his personal lawyer , which Barr has adamantly denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stakes are especially significant since a move to transfer the lawsuit from state to federal court could not only delay it but also lead to its dismissal , since federal courts have not historically permitted defamation claims against federal employees for actions taken in their official capacity .
On Wednesday , Barr described the intervention as `` somewhat routine '' and said the normal process was followed in this case .
He told NBC News in an interview broadcast Wednesday that he had been told the Justice Department 's Civil Division was going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was `` fine '' but did not have to personally sign off on it .
He cited the Westfall Act , which enables the Justice Department to be substituted as a defendant when federal employees are sued in state court for actions within the scope of their official duties , and allows for the case to be transferred to federal court , where recovery of damages may be more difficult .
For instance : The defense of a lawsuit against a postal worker who clips a car on a daily delivery route @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government since the collision involved the mailman 's official duties .
Barr pointed to the Justice Department 's involvement more than a decade ago in the case of Rep. Cass Ballenger ( R-NC ) , who was sued for defamation by an American Muslim civil rights group .
A judge in 2005 dismissed the case , ruling that Ballenger made the comments in his official capacity .
Legal experts say it 's certainly not unusual for the federal government to seek to take over a state lawsuit against a federal employee , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But that does n't resolve the question of whether the president was acting in the scope of his official duties when he is alleged to have defamed Carroll , nor is it clear that the same lawsuit protections covering federal employees under the Westfall Act also extend to the president , said Stephen Vladeck , a University of Texas law professor .
`` If it 's so clear and obvious and normal a case , why did DOJ wait so long '' to get involved , he said .
`` If it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants us to believe , they would have filed the certification ( to take over the case in federal court ) the day after the lawsuit was filed . ''
Despite the `` suspicious '' timing , Vladeck said , the actual arguments the department is advancing are not frivolous and are `` not open and shut in either direction . ''
The department contends Trump was acting in his official capacity when he denied Carroll 's allegations because he was `` speaking to or responding to inquiries from the press , much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited above were speaking to the press or making other public statements at the time of their challenged actions . ''
James Pfander , a Northwestern University professor , said Trump might consider it a win just getting the case moved from state to federal court , `` where things might slow down and a judge more sympathetic to the president 's claims might be presiding . ''
Vladeck agreed , saying , `` Trump wins even if he loses . ''
The Justice Department 's abrupt intervention two months before the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was about `` to be required to produce documents , provide a DNA sample , and sit for a deposition , '' according to a statement from Carroll 's attorney , Roberta Kaplan , who called the government 's argument `` shocking . ''
For Trump , `` the best case scenario is this move leads to the dismissal of the lawsuit , '' Vladeck said .
`` The worst case scenario is Trump is no worse off six months from now than he is today . ''

Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday defended the Justice Department’s move to intervene in a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump, even as experts were skeptical of the federal government’s effort to protect the president in a seemingly private dispute.
The Justice Department’s action is “a normal application of the law. The law is clear. It is done frequently,” Barr said at an unrelated news conference in Chicago.
He added, “The little tempest that is going on is largely because of the bizarre political environment in which we live.”
But experts said it’s far from clear that the conduct at issue — whether Trump defamed E. Jean Carroll, a writer who accused him of raping her at a New York luxury department store in the 1990s — has anything to do with the scope of his White House duties.
The department’s move is likely to have an ancillary benefit for Trump in delaying the case, but administration lawyers have a tough task at hand trying to argue that the president was acting in his official capacity when he denied Carroll’s allegations last year, experts say.
“I wouldn’t make such an argument, and if a president approached me to do it, I would say, ‘Don’t,'” said Stuart Gerson, who led the Justice Department’s Civil Division in George H.W. Bush’s administration when Barr was attorney general for the first time.
“The president gets sued all the time and is defended by the government,” Gerson added, “but those are for lawsuits that have to do with actions in his official capacity as the president. This isn’t anything like that.”
The Justice Department’s action is consistent with the expansive view of executive authority it has taken under Barr and with its practice of taking legal positions benefiting the president’s personal interests, including asking the Supreme Court just last month to allow him to block critics from his Twitter account.
It is likely to deepen concerns from critics that the department is functioning as a private law firm for the president, with the attorney general as his personal lawyer, which Barr has adamantly denied.
In the Carroll case, the stakes are especially significant since a move to transfer the lawsuit from state to federal court could not only delay it but also lead to its dismissal, since federal courts have not historically permitted defamation claims against federal employees for actions taken in their official capacity.
On Wednesday, Barr described the intervention as “somewhat routine” and said the normal process was followed in this case. He told NBC News in an interview broadcast Wednesday that he had been told the Justice Department’s Civil Division was going to become involved and that he thought it was “fine” but did not have to personally sign off on it.
He cited the Westfall Act, which enables the Justice Department to be substituted as a defendant when federal employees are sued in state court for actions within the scope of their official duties, and allows for the case to be transferred to federal court, where recovery of damages may be more difficult.
For instance: The defense of a lawsuit against a postal worker who clips a car on a daily delivery route could be taken over by the federal government since the collision involved the mailman’s official duties.
Barr pointed to the Justice Department’s involvement more than a decade ago in the case of Rep. Cass Ballenger (R-NC), who was sued for defamation by an American Muslim civil rights group. A judge in 2005 dismissed the case, ruling that Ballenger made the comments in his official capacity.
Legal experts say it’s certainly not unusual for the federal government to seek to take over a state lawsuit against a federal employee, as the department is trying to do here.
But that doesn’t resolve the question of whether the president was acting in the scope of his official duties when he is alleged to have defamed Carroll, nor is it clear that the same lawsuit protections covering federal employees under the Westfall Act also extend to the president, said Stephen Vladeck, a University of Texas law professor.
“If it’s so clear and obvious and normal a case, why did DOJ wait so long” to get involved, he said. “If it was as routine as the attorney general wants us to believe, they would have filed the certification (to take over the case in federal court) the day after the lawsuit was filed.”
Despite the “suspicious” timing, Vladeck said, the actual arguments the department is advancing are not frivolous and are “not open and shut in either direction.” The department contends Trump was acting in his official capacity when he denied Carroll’s allegations because he was “speaking to or responding to inquiries from the press, much as the elected officials in the cases cited above were speaking to the press or making other public statements at the time of their challenged actions.”
James Pfander, a Northwestern University professor, said Trump might consider it a win just getting the case moved from state to federal court, “where things might slow down and a judge more sympathetic to the president’s claims might be presiding.”
Vladeck agreed, saying, “Trump wins even if he loses.” The Justice Department’s abrupt intervention two months before the election slows the case down just as Trump was about “to be required to produce documents, provide a DNA sample, and sit for a deposition,” according to a statement from Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, who called the government’s argument “shocking.”
For Trump, “the best case scenario is this move leads to the dismissal of the lawsuit,” Vladeck said. “The worst case scenario is Trump is no worse off six months from now than he is today.”


shareblue--2020-09-10--Trump says he watches 7 hours of TV a day — after saying he doesn't 'watch very much'

Donald Trump on Thursday said he had watched more than seven hours of Fox News programming since Wednesday night , listing off the prime-time shows he tuned in to on the right-wing propaganda network .
`` I watched Liz MacDonald — she 's fantastic .
I watched Fox Business .
I watched Lou Dobbs last night , Sean Hannity last night , Tucker last night , Laura .
I watched 'Fox & Friends ' in the morning , '' Trump said at a news conference from the White House , referencing Fox 's prime-time line-up as well as its three-hour-long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fox News — and repeating of its talking points — is well known .
He often tweets about things he sees on the cable network , and the network often parrots Trump 's messaging .
For example , Trump and his campaign have continued to falsely claim Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has been hiding in his basement , a claim various personalities on Fox News made 322 times in the span of just two months .
However , Trump has publicly said numerous times that he does n't watch a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
`` Believe it or not , even when I 'm in Washington or New York , I do not watch much television , '' Trump said in November 2017 .
`` People that do n't know me , they like to say I watch television — people with fake sources .
You know , fake reporters , fake sources . ''
In December 2017 , Trump tweeted : `` Another false story , this time in the Failing @ nytimes , that I watch 4-8 hours of television a day - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if ever , watch CNN or MSNBC , both of which I consider Fake News .
I never watch Don Lemon , who I once called the 'dumbest man on television ! '
Bad Reporting . ''
He made the claim that he does n't really watch TV in an interview with the New York Times in July .
`` I do n't watch very much TV .
Nobody knows what I do , '' Trump said .
`` I work very long hours , actually , very long hours , probably longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think more importantly , I think I work effectively . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Thursday said he had watched more than seven hours of Fox News programming since Wednesday night, listing off the prime-time shows he tuned in to on the right-wing propaganda network.
“I watched Liz MacDonald — she’s fantastic. I watched Fox Business. I watched Lou Dobbs last night, Sean Hannity last night, Tucker last night, Laura. I watched ‘Fox & Friends’ in the morning,” Trump said at a news conference from the White House, referencing Fox’s prime-time line-up as well as its three-hour-long morning show.
Trump’s constant watching of Fox News — and repeating of its talking points — is well known.
He often tweets about things he sees on the cable network, and the network often parrots Trump’s messaging.
For example, Trump and his campaign have continued to falsely claim Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has been hiding in his basement, a claim various personalities on Fox News made 322 times in the span of just two months.
However, Trump has publicly said numerous times that he doesn’t watch a lot of television because he doesn’t have time.
“Believe it or not, even when I’m in Washington or New York, I do not watch much television,” Trump said in November 2017. “People that don’t know me, they like to say I watch television — people with fake sources. You know, fake reporters, fake sources.”
In December 2017, Trump tweeted: “Another false story, this time in the Failing @nytimes, that I watch 4-8 hours of television a day – Wrong! Also, I seldom, if ever, watch CNN or MSNBC, both of which I consider Fake News. I never watch Don Lemon, who I once called the ‘dumbest man on television!’ Bad Reporting.”
He made the claim that he doesn’t really watch TV in an interview with the New York Times in July.
“I don’t watch very much TV. Nobody knows what I do,” Trump said. “I work very long hours, actually, very long hours, probably longer than just about anybody. And I think more importantly, I think I work effectively.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.