shareblue--2020-10-15--The more Trump pushes vaccines, the more afraid Americans are to get one

Amid Donald Trump 's aggressive push for a coronavirus vaccine before the November election , polls show a sharp dip in Americans ' willingness to get one — a sign more Americans fear that politics are being put before public health .
Since summer , Trump has promised that a COVID-19 vaccine could arrive within weeks .
The Trump administration has named its project to hasten vaccine development Operation Warp Speed .
But the plan 's chief adviser , Dr. Moncef Slaoui , told NPR in early September that it is `` extremely unlikely '' a vaccine would be ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet , at a White House briefing on Sept. 16 , Trump said distribution of a vaccine would `` start sometime in October . ''
Trump 's recent statement follows weeks of attacks on the Food and Drug Administration as it has struggled to maintain the integrity of its trial .
Recent polls show that Trump 's promises , and the resulting confusion , may have undermined Americans ' confidence in a vaccine , if and when one is released .
A Morning Consult poll released Monday found that just 48 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine if one became available — a record low for the poll , which showed a high of 72 % in April .
A Gallup poll , also released on Monday , showed that 50 % of Americans would agree to get vaccinated if an FDA-approved vaccine were available now , a figure which dropped from 66 % in July .
An Axios-Ipsos poll released in late September showed that only 39 % of Americans say they would get a first-generation COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it 's available , which dropped from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pew Research Center poll released earlier in September found that 51 % of adults said they would get the vaccine , compared to 72 % who said the same in May .
The polls paint a picture of Americans ' dwindling trust in a safe and effective vaccine for the coronavirus — a trend that is especially pronounced among Democrats and independents .
Making sure a vaccine is safe and effective is , by design , a slow and arduous process , with initial trials for a treatment often taking months .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousand people , to 60,000 , to probably 100 million to 500 million people , '' Paul Stoffels , the chief scientific officer for drugmaker Johnson & Johnson told Stat News .
`` The information we generate has to be very solid . ''
On Tuesday , the pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson both paused their COVID-19 vaccine trials to examine safety concerns .
`` After four decades in vaccines , I expect the unexpected , '' Dr. Gregory Poland , the director of the Mayo Vaccine Research Group , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vaccine development is there are always surprises and the unexpected .
Everybody 's looking for them , but time has to pass before you actually know . ''
Trump 's vaccine promises have only made scientists ' jobs harder , by muddying the waters and undermining Americans ' confidence in the vaccine development process .
`` What I 've been asking is for politicians to basically be quiet , to knock it off , to stop talking about a date and let the scientific process move forward , '' said Dr. Ashish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School of Public Health .
`` That would be enormously helpful and would go a long way to offering assurance to the American people that this is a process with integrity . ''
In early September , nine pharmaceutical companies signed a pledge to `` stand with science , '' saying they would not release a vaccine until it was safe to do so .
A few weeks later , public health experts testified to Congress that politics would not get in the way of developing a safe and effective vaccine for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilmington , Delaware , in September , former Vice President Joe Biden said it 's important for Americans to trust the scientists working on the vaccine — even if they ca n't trust the current occupant of the White House .
`` I trust vaccines , I trust scientists , but I do n't trust Donald Trump , '' Biden said .
`` And at this moment , the American people ca n't , either . ''

Amid Donald Trump’s aggressive push for a coronavirus vaccine before the November election, polls show a sharp dip in Americans’ willingness to get one — a sign more Americans fear that politics are being put before public health.
Since summer, Trump has promised that a COVID-19 vaccine could arrive within weeks.
The Trump administration has named its project to hasten vaccine development Operation Warp Speed. But the plan’s chief adviser, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, told NPR in early September that it is “extremely unlikely” a vaccine would be ready before the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Yet, at a White House briefing on Sept. 16, Trump said distribution of a vaccine would “start sometime in October.” Trump’s recent statement follows weeks of attacks on the Food and Drug Administration as it has struggled to maintain the integrity of its trial.
Recent polls show that Trump’s promises, and the resulting confusion, may have undermined Americans’ confidence in a vaccine, if and when one is released.
A Morning Consult poll released Monday found that just 48% of adults say they would get a coronavirus vaccine if one became available — a record low for the poll, which showed a high of 72% in April.
A Gallup poll, also released on Monday, showed that 50% of Americans would agree to get vaccinated if an FDA-approved vaccine were available now, a figure which dropped from 66% in July.
An Axios-Ipsos poll released in late September showed that only 39% of Americans say they would get a first-generation COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it’s available, which dropped from 47% in August.
And a Pew Research Center poll released earlier in September found that 51% of adults said they would get the vaccine, compared to 72% who said the same in May.
The polls paint a picture of Americans’ dwindling trust in a safe and effective vaccine for the coronavirus — a trend that is especially pronounced among Democrats and independents.
Making sure a vaccine is safe and effective is, by design, a slow and arduous process, with initial trials for a treatment often taking months.
“You know, we go from a thousand people, to 60,000, to probably 100 million to 500 million people,” Paul Stoffels, the chief scientific officer for drugmaker Johnson & Johnson told Stat News. “The information we generate has to be very solid.”
On Tuesday, the pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson both paused their COVID-19 vaccine trials to examine safety concerns.
“After four decades in vaccines, I expect the unexpected,” Dr. Gregory Poland, the director of the Mayo Vaccine Research Group, told USA Today. “The nature of vaccine development is there are always surprises and the unexpected. Everybody’s looking for them, but time has to pass before you actually know.”
Trump’s vaccine promises have only made scientists’ jobs harder, by muddying the waters and undermining Americans’ confidence in the vaccine development process.
“What I’ve been asking is for politicians to basically be quiet, to knock it off, to stop talking about a date and let the scientific process move forward,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health. “That would be enormously helpful and would go a long way to offering assurance to the American people that this is a process with integrity.”
In early September, nine pharmaceutical companies signed a pledge to “stand with science,” saying they would not release a vaccine until it was safe to do so. A few weeks later, public health experts testified to Congress that politics would not get in the way of developing a safe and effective vaccine for the virus.
At a campaign stop in Wilmington, Delaware, in September, former Vice President Joe Biden said it’s important for Americans to trust the scientists working on the vaccine — even if they can’t trust the current occupant of the White House.
“I trust vaccines, I trust scientists, but I don’t trust Donald Trump,” Biden said. “And at this moment, the American people can’t, either.”


shareblue--2020-10-15--California Republicans refuse to stop stealing people's ballots

Despite a cease-and-desist order from California 's Secretary of State , the state 's Republican party continues to deny wrongdoing after setting up multiple illegal ballot drop boxes around the state .
Law enforcement discovered the drop boxes — some of which were falsely labeled `` official '' — over the weekend .
On Monday , California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said that the operation was a clear breach of election law .
`` Operating unofficial ballot drop boxes — especially those misrepresented as official drop boxes — is not just misleading to voters , it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He added that voters should `` only use official ballot drop boxes that have been deployed and secured by their county elections office . ''
On Wednesday , Republican officials falsely claimed that their unofficial ballot drop boxes do n't violate state law , and said they would continue to put up the fake drop boxes .
`` There is nothing illegal about the collection of ballots provided by voters , on a certainly volunteer basis , and entrusted to the persons who are operating that local election , or local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' California Republican Party general counsel Tom Hiltachk said .
`` We 're going to continue with the program because it complies with the law , '' he added .
Padilla said many of the ballots found in the drop boxes were invalid because they were missing information , such as the identity of the person submitting the vote and their relationship to the voter .
Donald Trump has routinely accused his adversaries of exploiting official state drop boxes to tamper with ballots , which he has called `` a whole big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'drop boxes ' for the collection of Universal Mail-In Ballots , '' Trump tweeted in August .
`` So who is going to 'collect ' the Ballots , and what might be done to them prior to tabulation ?
A Rigged Election ?
So bad for our Country .
Only Absentee Ballots acceptable ! ''
There is no evidence for this claim .
Official ballot boxes are designed to ensure the security and integrity of individual ballots .
This is just the latest example of Trump working to undermine the legitimacy of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden is favored to win .
The Trump campaign has filed a flurry of lawsuits mostly targeting blue states to make it more difficult to vote safely during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Meanwhile , Republicans across the country continue to uphold restrictive voter ID laws and other laws that make it harder for citizens to vote .
In Texas , a three-judge panel upheld Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott 's decision to limit each county in the state to just one official ballot drop box .
The judges who ruled in the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 3 inches closer , Trump will likely continue to try to sow confusion and invalidate the election 's results ahead of time .
Last month , a reporter asked Trump if Americans could expect a peaceful transition of power if Biden wins the election .
`` We 're going to have to see what happens , Trump replied .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Despite a cease-and-desist order from California’s Secretary of State, the state’s Republican party continues to deny wrongdoing after setting up multiple illegal ballot drop boxes around the state.
Law enforcement discovered the drop boxes — some of which were falsely labeled “official” — over the weekend.
On Monday, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said that the operation was a clear breach of election law.
“Operating unofficial ballot drop boxes — especially those misrepresented as official drop boxes — is not just misleading to voters, it’s a violation of state law,” Padilla said. He added that voters should “only use official ballot drop boxes that have been deployed and secured by their county elections office.”
On Wednesday, Republican officials falsely claimed that their unofficial ballot drop boxes don’t violate state law, and said they would continue to put up the fake drop boxes.
“There is nothing illegal about the collection of ballots provided by voters, on a certainly volunteer basis, and entrusted to the persons who are operating that local election, or local party office, from transmitting those ballots,” California Republican Party general counsel Tom Hiltachk said.
“We’re going to continue with the program because it complies with the law,” he added.
Padilla said many of the ballots found in the drop boxes were invalid because they were missing information, such as the identity of the person submitting the vote and their relationship to the voter.
Donald Trump has routinely accused his adversaries of exploiting official state drop boxes to tamper with ballots, which he has called “a whole big scam.”
“Some states use ‘drop boxes’ for the collection of Universal Mail-In Ballots,” Trump tweeted in August. “So who is going to ‘collect’ the Ballots, and what might be done to them prior to tabulation? A Rigged Election? So bad for our Country. Only Absentee Ballots acceptable!”
There is no evidence for this claim. Official ballot boxes are designed to ensure the security and integrity of individual ballots.
This is just the latest example of Trump working to undermine the legitimacy of the presidential election that former Vice President Joe Biden is favored to win.
The Trump campaign has filed a flurry of lawsuits mostly targeting blue states to make it more difficult to vote safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Republicans across the country continue to uphold restrictive voter ID laws and other laws that make it harder for citizens to vote.
In Texas, a three-judge panel upheld Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to limit each county in the state to just one official ballot drop box. The judges who ruled in the case were all appointed by Trump.
As Nov. 3 inches closer, Trump will likely continue to try to sow confusion and invalidate the election’s results ahead of time.
Last month, a reporter asked Trump if Americans could expect a peaceful transition of power if Biden wins the election.
“We’re going to have to see what happens, Trump replied.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-15--Mike Pompeo thinks now's the time to talk about Hillary's emails

Just three weeks before the election , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is reviving an old Republican trick : goading the media into covering Hillary Clinton 's emails .
`` We ’ ll continue to do the right thing , we ’ ll make sure that all these emails get to the right place , '' Pompeo told reporters on Wednesday .
`` We will do everything we can to make sure that the American people get a chance to see as much as we can equitably produce . ''
Multiple investigations into Clinton 's emails have turned up no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a State Department probe reviewed more than 33,000 emails provided by Clinton .
Investigators concluded there was `` no persuasive evidence of systemic , deliberate mishandling of classified information . ''
It 's not clear what Pompeo hopes to accomplish by releasing more of his predecessor 's emails , but critics have pointed to the widespread media coverage of Clinton 's emails as one of the reasons for her loss to Trump in 2016 .
In 2016 , then-FBI Director James Comey accused Clinton of being `` extremely careless '' with handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no `` clear evidence '' that Clinton intended to violate the law .
FBI officials later concluded they were `` fairly confident that there wasn ’ t an intrusion '' compromising classified information .
Four years later , Trump supporters still chant `` Lock her up ! ''
at rallies — a reference to Trump 's false claims about Clinton 's email use .
As Election Day draws closer , Trump has expanded his roster of political opponents who should be in prison to include President Barack Obama and former Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the arrests ? ''
Trump demanded to know last week .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Just three weeks before the election, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is reviving an old Republican trick: goading the media into covering Hillary Clinton’s emails.
“We’ll continue to do the right thing, we’ll make sure that all these emails get to the right place,” Pompeo told reporters on Wednesday. “We will do everything we can to make sure that the American people get a chance to see as much as we can equitably produce.”
Multiple investigations into Clinton’s emails have turned up no proof of substantive wrongdoing. In 2019, a State Department probe reviewed more than 33,000 emails provided by Clinton. Investigators concluded there was “no persuasive evidence of systemic, deliberate mishandling of classified information.”
It’s not clear what Pompeo hopes to accomplish by releasing more of his predecessor’s emails, but critics have pointed to the widespread media coverage of Clinton’s emails as one of the reasons for her loss to Trump in 2016.
In 2016, then-FBI Director James Comey accused Clinton of being “extremely careless” with handling classified information, while admitting that there was no “clear evidence” that Clinton intended to violate the law. FBI officials later concluded they were “fairly confident that there wasn’t an intrusion” compromising classified information.
Four years later, Trump supporters still chant “Lock her up!” at rallies — a reference to Trump’s false claims about Clinton’s email use.
As Election Day draws closer, Trump has expanded his roster of political opponents who should be in prison to include President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden.
“Where are all of the arrests?” Trump demanded to know last week.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-15--McConnell doesn't care if Trump wants more COVID relief — it's not happening

Donald Trump on Thursday demanded a COVID-19 relief bill of more than $ 1.8 trillion , saying `` go big or go home '' — days after rejecting any sort of pandemic relief deal at all .
Minutes later , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected Trump 's demand , indicating he instead planned to stick with his own $ 500 billion skinny relief bill .
Trump told Fox Business on Thursday that he would `` absolutely '' raise the $ 1.8 trillion that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin made to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week .
`` I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and our people , '' he explained .
`` China will pay us back in one form or another . ''
Trump has frequently made baseless claims that other countries will magically fund U.S. spending .
The comments came just days after Trump said that no deal at all was necessary to address the pandemic and its economic ramifications .
`` I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when , immediately after I win , we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Oct 6 .
`` Our Economy is doing very well .
The Stock Market is at record levels , JOBS and unemployment also coming back in record numbers .
We are leading the World in Economic Recovery , and THE BEST IS YET TO COME ! ''
Thursday 's jobs numbers contradict those claims , with 898,000 new unemployment claims filed just last week .
Shortly after Trump 's interview Thursday , McConnell ( R-KY ) told reporters that he was not interested in passing more than the $ 500 billion `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the GOP-controlled Senate for weeks .
`` What I will put on the floor is a highly targeted half a trillion dollars , that 's a lot of money , '' he vowed .
`` I 'm putting on the floor what we think is appropriate to tackle the disease . ''
Asked if he would consider a bill in the $ 1.8 trillion to $ 2.2 trillion range , McConnell said he did not think so : `` That ’ s where the administration ’ s willing to go .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half a trillion dollars , highly targeted , is the best way to go . ''
McConnell 's office did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
House Democrats passed a $ 3 trillion relief bill in May , with funds to address the pandemic and the economic meltdown .
McConnell refused to even give it a vote in the Senate , calling it `` not serious . ''
The House Democratic leaders later proposed a $ 2 trillion compromise , but that too was rejected .
McConnell has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for months , calling it `` the reasonable thing to do '' because it `` allowed us to learn the coronavirus did n't mysteriously disappear . ''
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in September that the GOP 's half-a-trillion proposal was `` emaciated '' and `` completely inadequate '' for the nation 's needs .
It omits unemployment protections for essential workers facing hazardous pandemic conditions and the funds needed by states and localities to continue their core functions .
Trailing in the polls , Trump seems to want to at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the Republican bill .
But in recent weeks , Senate Republicans have made it clear that they have no interest in playing along .
`` I think politically the president still benefits from maybe asking for more but I think that was pretty clear that that was voted upon by 52 senators , '' Sen. Mike Braun ( R-IN ) told Politico last month .
`` You 'd lose a bunch of fiscal conservatives if you did anything other than what we voted on for last week.
” '' We did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson ( R-WI ) .
`` The president has his opinion , we have ours . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Thursday demanded a COVID-19 relief bill of more than $1.8 trillion, saying “go big or go home” — days after rejecting any sort of pandemic relief deal at all.
Minutes later, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected Trump’s demand, indicating he instead planned to stick with his own $500 billion skinny relief bill.
Trump told Fox Business on Thursday that he would “absolutely” raise the $1.8 trillion that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin made to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week. “I would because this was not caused by our workers and our people,” he explained. “China will pay us back in one form or another.” Trump has frequently made baseless claims that other countries will magically fund U.S. spending.
The comments came just days after Trump said that no deal at all was necessary to address the pandemic and its economic ramifications.
“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business,” Trump tweeted on Oct 6. “Our Economy is doing very well. The Stock Market is at record levels, JOBS and unemployment also coming back in record numbers. We are leading the World in Economic Recovery, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
Thursday’s jobs numbers contradict those claims, with 898,000 new unemployment claims filed just last week.
Shortly after Trump’s interview Thursday, McConnell (R-KY) told reporters that he was not interested in passing more than the $500 billion “skinny bill” that has been stalled in the GOP-controlled Senate for weeks.
“What I will put on the floor is a highly targeted half a trillion dollars, that’s a lot of money,” he vowed. “I’m putting on the floor what we think is appropriate to tackle the disease.”
Asked if he would consider a bill in the $1.8 trillion to $2.2 trillion range, McConnell said he did not think so: “That’s where the administration’s willing to go. My members think what we laid out, a half a trillion dollars, highly targeted, is the best way to go.”
McConnell’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
House Democrats passed a $3 trillion relief bill in May, with funds to address the pandemic and the economic meltdown. McConnell refused to even give it a vote in the Senate, calling it “not serious.”
The House Democratic leaders later proposed a $2 trillion compromise, but that too was rejected.
McConnell has bragged about his decision to do nothing for months, calling it “the reasonable thing to do” because it “allowed us to learn the coronavirus didn’t mysteriously disappear.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in September that the GOP’s half-a-trillion proposal was “emaciated” and “completely inadequate” for the nation’s needs. It omits unemployment protections for essential workers facing hazardous pandemic conditions and the funds needed by states and localities to continue their core functions.
Trailing in the polls, Trump seems to want to at least look like he is pushing for more than the Republican bill. But in recent weeks, Senate Republicans have made it clear that they have no interest in playing along.
“I think politically the president still benefits from maybe asking for more but I think that was pretty clear that that was voted upon by 52 senators,” Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) told Politico last month. “You’d lose a bunch of fiscal conservatives if you did anything other than what we voted on for last week.”
“We did the right thing,” agreed Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI). “The president has his opinion, we have ours.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


Cartoon: Trumptober Surprise

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

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


shareblue--2020-10-16--FBI investigating whether Russia is behind latest hit on Biden

The FBI is investigating whether emails that were published by the New York Post related to Joe Biden 's son , Hunter , are connected to a possible Russian influence operation to spread disinformation , according to a person familiar with the matter .
The newspaper said in its story Wednesday that it had obtained a hard drive from Rudy Giuliani containing the emails , and that the messages were found on a laptop that had been left last year at a Delaware computer repair shop for service but never retrieved .
The unlikely account of how the emails surfaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly because U.S. officials have warned that Russia — which backed Trump 's 2016 campaign through hacking and a covert social media campaign — is interfering again this year .
The episode is being investigated as part of a possible Russian influence operation , according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press to discuss an ongoing matter .
It underscores the extent to which Giuliani , through his activities , is a risk to a White House that spent years shadowed by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordinated with Russia .
The authenticity of the emails remained unclear as of Friday , including whether they were hacked or possibly forged or both .
Giuliani did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment , but he said in a Fox News interview Friday that the material was `` authentic as hell . ''
An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment Friday , citing the bureau 's practice of neither confirming nor denying investigations .
NBC News was the first to report the FBI 's investigation .

The FBI is investigating whether emails that were published by the New York Post related to Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, are connected to a possible Russian influence operation to spread disinformation, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The newspaper said in its story Wednesday that it had obtained a hard drive from Rudy Giuliani containing the emails, and that the messages were found on a laptop that had been left last year at a Delaware computer repair shop for service but never retrieved.
The unlikely account of how the emails surfaced raised immediate questions about Russian involvement, particularly because U.S. officials have warned that Russia — which backed Trump’s 2016 campaign through hacking and a covert social media campaign — is interfering again this year.
The episode is being investigated as part of a possible Russian influence operation, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press to discuss an ongoing matter. It underscores the extent to which Giuliani, through his activities, is a risk to a White House that spent years shadowed by a federal investigation into whether Trump associates had coordinated with Russia.
The authenticity of the emails remained unclear as of Friday, including whether they were hacked or possibly forged or both. Giuliani did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment, but he said in a Fox News interview Friday that the material was “authentic as hell.”
An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment Friday, citing the bureau’s practice of neither confirming nor denying investigations.
NBC News was the first to report the FBI’s investigation.


shareblue--2020-10-16--Biden at town hall: There should be 'zero discrimination' against trans people

Former Vice President Joe Biden denounced the recent killings of transgender women of color during an ABC News town hall on Thursday .
At least 33 transgender or gender non-conforming people have been killed in 2020 so far — the highest number of fatal attacks against transgender people recorded since the Human Rights Campaign started tracking them in 2013 .
Most of the victims were Black and Latinx transgender women .
Biden 's remarks were spurred by a question from a Pennsylvania woman who has a transgender daughter .
The mother , Mieke Haeck , asked Biden what he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youngest daughter is transgender , '' Haeck told the Democratic presidential nominee .
`` The Trump administration has attacked the rights of transgender people , banning them from military service , weakening nondiscrimination protections , and even removing the name transgender from some government websites .
How will you , as president , reverse this dangerous and discriminatory agenda and ensure the lives and rights of LGBTQ people are protected under U.S .
law ? ''
`` I would flat out just change the law and eliminate those executive orders , number one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to speak about the violence and discrimination transgender people often face .
`` The idea that an eight-year-old child or 10-year-old decides , you know , ' I want to be transgender .
That 's what I think I 'd like to be .
It would make my life a lot easier . '
There should be zero discrimination , '' Biden said .
`` And what 's happening is too many transgender women of color are being murdered .
They 're being murdered . ''
At first , Biden said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States this year , but said he was n't sure if it was the correct number .
Haeck then gestured that the number is higher .
`` It 's higher now ?
And that 's just this year , '' Biden said .
At a second town hall hosted by NBC News on Thursday night , Trump was not asked a single question about the LGBTQ community .
The advocacy group GLAAD called NBC 's oversight a `` shame and a disservice , '' while praising ABC 's town hall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shame and a disservice that President Trump was not asked about his abysmal record on LGBTQ issues and national media needs to end this silence moving forward , '' GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement .
`` LGBTQ voters and our allies make up a powerful voting bloc and deserve to know where the candidates stand . ''
Advocacy groups have been pushing for more debate questions that focus on LGBTQ equality .
Earlier this month , 13 LGBTQ and progressive advocacy groups sent a letter to vice presidential debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no avail — to press Vice President Mike Pence on his anti-LGBTQ record .
Pence did not have to answer for his record on LGBTQ rights during the 2016 vice presidential debate , either .
Unlike Pence , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) has made a point to talk about violence against transgender women .
In 2017 , she tweeted that the chance of a young Black trans woman being killed is 1 in 2,600 , compared to 1 in 12,000 for young adults and 1 in 19,000 for the general population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the Democratic presidential primary , candidates talked about the discrimination LGBTQ people face , including violence against transgender Americans .
`` We do not talk enough about trans Americans , especially African American trans Americans and the incredibly high rates of murder right now , '' Sen. Cory Booker ( D-NJ ) said at a Democratic debate last year .
`` We need to have a president who will fight [ for ] and protect LGBTQ Americans every single day from violence . ''
Last year , Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of Layleen Cubilette-Polanco , an Afro-Latinx trans woman who died from an epileptic seizure while in solitary confinement at Rikers Island jail in New York .
In June , newly released video footage from the jail showed that after Cubilette-Polanco 's seizure , guards tried to wake her for roughly an hour and a half before they called for help .
Her family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of New York and several Rikers employees .
`` Let 's be clear .
Layleen Cubilette-Polanco should still be alive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Solitary confinement is cruel and inhumane .
We must end this practice , enforce strict standards for medical care , and provide extra layers of protection for LGBTQ+ people . ''
Donald Trump has remained silent on the violence against transgender women of color .
In the final weeks leading up to the Nov. 3 presidential election , the Trump campaign has hosted LGBTQ `` outreach '' events — while failing to acknowledge the Trump administration 's 181 attacks on the LGBTQ community .
The so-called `` Trump Pride '' coalition claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , and that he is the `` most pro-gay president ever . ''
In reality , the administration has moved forward with rules that enable anti-LGBTQ discrimination under the cover of `` religious freedom . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Former Vice President Joe Biden denounced the recent killings of transgender women of color during an ABC News town hall on Thursday.
At least 33 transgender or gender non-conforming people have been killed in 2020 so far — the highest number of fatal attacks against transgender people recorded since the Human Rights Campaign started tracking them in 2013.
Most of the victims were Black and Latinx transgender women.
Biden’s remarks were spurred by a question from a Pennsylvania woman who has a transgender daughter. The mother, Mieke Haeck, asked Biden what he would do for transgender equality.
“My youngest daughter is transgender,” Haeck told the Democratic presidential nominee. “The Trump administration has attacked the rights of transgender people, banning them from military service, weakening nondiscrimination protections, and even removing the name transgender from some government websites. How will you, as president, reverse this dangerous and discriminatory agenda and ensure the lives and rights of LGBTQ people are protected under U.S. law?”
“I would flat out just change the law and eliminate those executive orders, number one,” Biden responded.
He went on to speak about the violence and discrimination transgender people often face.
“The idea that an eight-year-old child or 10-year-old decides, you know, ‘I want to be transgender. That’s what I think I’d like to be. It would make my life a lot easier.’ There should be zero discrimination,” Biden said. “And what’s happening is too many transgender women of color are being murdered. They’re being murdered.”
At first, Biden said he thought 17 transgender people had been killed in the United States this year, but said he wasn’t sure if it was the correct number. Haeck then gestured that the number is higher.
“It’s higher now? And that’s just this year,” Biden said.
At a second town hall hosted by NBC News on Thursday night, Trump was not asked a single question about the LGBTQ community. The advocacy group GLAAD called NBC’s oversight a “shame and a disservice,” while praising ABC’s town hall with Biden.
“It is a shame and a disservice that President Trump was not asked about his abysmal record on LGBTQ issues and national media needs to end this silence moving forward,” GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. “LGBTQ voters and our allies make up a powerful voting bloc and deserve to know where the candidates stand.” Advocacy groups have been pushing for more debate questions that focus on LGBTQ equality. Earlier this month, 13 LGBTQ and progressive advocacy groups sent a letter to vice presidential debate moderator Susan Page asking her — to no avail — to press Vice President Mike Pence on his anti-LGBTQ record. Pence did not have to answer for his record on LGBTQ rights during the 2016 vice presidential debate, either.
Unlike Pence, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) has made a point to talk about violence against transgender women. In 2017, she tweeted that the chance of a young Black trans woman being killed is 1 in 2,600, compared to 1 in 12,000 for young adults and 1 in 19,000 for the general population, according to an article from Mic.
During the Democratic presidential primary, candidates talked about the discrimination LGBTQ people face, including violence against transgender Americans.
“We do not talk enough about trans Americans, especially African American trans Americans and the incredibly high rates of murder right now,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said at a Democratic debate last year. “We need to have a president who will fight [for] and protect LGBTQ Americans every single day from violence.”
Last year, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) brought national attention to the death of Layleen Cubilette-Polanco, an Afro-Latinx trans woman who died from an epileptic seizure while in solitary confinement at Rikers Island jail in New York. In June, newly released video footage from the jail showed that after Cubilette-Polanco’s seizure, guards tried to wake her for roughly an hour and a half before they called for help. Her family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of New York and several Rikers employees.
“Let’s be clear. Layleen Cubilette-Polanco should still be alive,” Warren tweeted last year. “Solitary confinement is cruel and inhumane. We must end this practice, enforce strict standards for medical care, and provide extra layers of protection for LGBTQ+ people.”
Donald Trump has remained silent on the violence against transgender women of color. In the final weeks leading up to the Nov. 3 presidential election, the Trump campaign has hosted LGBTQ “outreach” events — while failing to acknowledge the Trump administration’s 181 attacks on the LGBTQ community.
The so-called “Trump Pride” coalition claims that Trump is supportive of the LGBTQ community, and that he is the “most pro-gay president ever.” In reality, the administration has moved forward with rules that enable anti-LGBTQ discrimination under the cover of “religious freedom.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-16--Trump uses taxpayer-funded event to tell people to vote against Democrats

Donald Trump , speaking at a taxpayer-funded official White House event on Friday , urged attendees to `` get out and vote '' against Democrats .
The speech was billed by the official White House schedule as `` remarks on Protecting America 's Seniors . ''
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar was also in attendance .
`` We must not let them bring this lethal and deadly agenda to America .
Do n't let it happen .
Got to vote them out .
Get out and vote , '' Trump said , after attacking Democratic health care proposals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law for federal government workers , including Azar and any administration staff at the event , to use the White House for partisan political purposes .
The event came a day after Trump 's reelection campaign announced that it had raised $ 247.8 million in September , which is $ 135 million less than the $ 383 million Vice President Joe Biden brought in .
Biden has $ 432 million in cash reserves compared to the $ 251.4 million for Trump .
Biden is leading Trump in every national poll , for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Real Clear Politics .
Biden is also ahead of Trump in the polling in key battleground states .
DONALD TRUMP : Socialist health care plans always end up denying care and coverage to the sick and the elderly in order to control costs and they always feel that this is the easiest way to do it .
We must not let them bring this lethal and deadly agenda to America .
Do n't let it happen .
Got to vote them out .
Get out and vote .
Published with permission of @ @ @ @ @

Donald Trump, speaking at a taxpayer-funded official White House event on Friday, urged attendees to “get out and vote” against Democrats.
The speech was billed by the official White House schedule as “remarks on Protecting America’s Seniors.” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar was also in attendance.
“We must not let them bring this lethal and deadly agenda to America. Don’t let it happen. Got to vote them out. Get out and vote,” Trump said, after attacking Democratic health care proposals.
It is a violation of the law for federal government workers, including Azar and any administration staff at the event, to use the White House for partisan political purposes.
The event came a day after Trump’s reelection campaign announced that it had raised $247.8 million in September, which is $135 million less than the $383 million Vice President Joe Biden brought in. Biden has $432 million in cash reserves compared to the $251.4 million for Trump.
Biden is leading Trump in every national poll, for an average of 8.9 percentage points, according to Real Clear Politics. Biden is also ahead of Trump in the polling in key battleground states.
From an Oct. 16 White House event:
DONALD TRUMP: Socialist health care plans always end up denying care and coverage to the sick and the elderly in order to control costs and they always feel that this is the easiest way to do it. We must not let them bring this lethal and deadly agenda to America. Don’t let it happen. Got to vote them out. Get out and vote.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-16--Here's what most people get wrong about the 1994 crime bill

During Thursday night 's Democratic presidential town hall , ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos asked former Vice President Joe Biden about his support of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 .
`` An awful lot of people were jailed for minor drug crimes , '' Stephanopoulos said .
`` Was it a mistake to support it ? ''
`` Yes , it was , '' Biden said .
`` But here 's where the mistake came .
The mistake came in terms of what the states did locally . ''
For decades , Biden was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often talked about spearheading a crackdown on criminals .
In 1994 , he even compared himself to Richard Nixon .
`` Every time Richard Nixon , when he was running in 1972 , would say 'law and order , ' the Democratic match or response was 'law and order with justice'—whatever that meant , '' Biden said .
`` And I would say , 'Lock the S.O.B.s up . '
'' There are currently more people in prison in America than any country on earth — the state of Louisiana alone incarcerates more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are some misconceptions the public and the media seem to have about what the 1994 crime did and did not do .
John Pfaff , Fordham law professor and the author of `` Locked In : The True Causes of Mass Incarceration-and How to Achieve Real Reform , '' cautions against drawing the wrong conclusions about why America is the prison capital of the world — and it does n't have as much to do with the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 as people assume .
In his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real drivers of mass incarceration , not the failed war on drugs that 's commonly pinpointed as the culprit .
He also argues that the federal government in the 1990s had less of an impact than local and state governments .
`` People often try to argue that the 1994 crime bill 'caused ' mass incarceration , or at least played a major role driving it , and that significantly overstates the bill 's modest effect for several reasons , '' Pfaff told the American Independent Foundation .
`` First , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall of 1994 , U.S. prison populations had grown by over 750,000 people since the mid-1970s .
And while they would grow by another 560,000 by the end of 2009 , prison growth actually slowed in the years following the 1994 crime bill . ''
Contrary to popular belief , incarceration rates slowly began subsiding in the 1990s , reflecting a drop in crime .
`` In fact , most people do n't realize that states added fewer and fewer people to prison pretty much every year after the crime bill — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually dropped in 2000 , '' he said .
The federal prison population , by contrast , `` rose enough to lead to a net national gain , '' he added .
Moreover , Pfaff also noted that most U.S. citizens were not in the federal prison system .
`` Most of the 1994 crime bill 's provisions — those three strike laws and mandatory minimums — just applied to the federal system , and that holds only about 10 % of all prisoners , '' he said .
Pfaff said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Although that was partly encouraged by grants from the federal government , it was not as much as people tend to think .
`` Congress offered states $ 10 billion over about 6 years if they would adopt certain laws to make people convicted of violence serve more time in prison .
And while a bunch of states did adopt these laws , most admit they did so independently of the federal system — in fact , several had adopted them a few years before the crime bill passed . ''
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the feds ' offer .
`` Strikingly , of the $ 10 billion the Feds offered , states claimed only $ 3 billion — they left 70 % of the money on the table , '' Pfaff said .
`` ...
Ten billion sounds like a lot , but not only was it spread over time ( it was n't $ 10 billion per year , but total ) , but it paled in comparison to the tens of billions states were already spending each year on prisons . ''
The crime bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decision felt deeply even today .
As the Intercept previously reported , that has since allowed the Trump administration to fast track executions .
Decisions taken at the federal level also had a serious impact on people serving time .
`` Yes , things like abolishing Pell Grants for people in prison likely had negative effects on those confined in prison , both while there and after release , '' Pfaff said .
Yet , he insisted that it was an error to focus primarily on federal actions .
`` Ultimately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punishment more broadly , are the result of city , county , and state decisions , '' Pfaff concluded .
To be clear , the 1994 bill created many other problems .
Among other things , it helped buttress a boom in prison construction , as Lauren-Brooke Eisen , a director at the Brennan Center for Justice , told the Washington Post last year .
From 1990 to 2005 alone , she said , the number of prisons in the United States rose by 43 % .
`` While the precise impact of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the law 's passage , and the concurrent or subsequent passage of at least 20 state 'truth-in-sentencing ' laws , marked a turning point in the length of sentences served nationwide , '' she added .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

During Thursday night’s Democratic presidential town hall, ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos asked former Vice President Joe Biden about his support of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.
“An awful lot of people were jailed for minor drug crimes,” Stephanopoulos said. “Was it a mistake to support it?”
“Yes, it was,” Biden said. “But here’s where the mistake came. The mistake came in terms of what the states did locally.”
For decades, Biden was a strident “tough-on-crime” enforcer, who often talked about spearheading a crackdown on criminals. In 1994, he even compared himself to Richard Nixon. “Every time Richard Nixon, when he was running in 1972, would say ‘law and order,’ the Democratic match or response was ‘law and order with justice’—whatever that meant,” Biden said. “And I would say, ‘Lock the S.O.B.s up.'”
There are currently more people in prison in America than any country on earth — the state of Louisiana alone incarcerates more people than any other nation.
But there are some misconceptions the public and the media seem to have about what the 1994 crime did and did not do.
John Pfaff, Fordham law professor and the author of “Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration-and How to Achieve Real Reform,” cautions against drawing the wrong conclusions about why America is the prison capital of the world — and it doesn’t have as much to do with the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 as people assume.
In his book, Pfaff cites overzealous prosecutors as the real drivers of mass incarceration, not the failed war on drugs that’s commonly pinpointed as the culprit. He also argues that the federal government in the 1990s had less of an impact than local and state governments.
“People often try to argue that the 1994 crime bill ’caused’ mass incarceration, or at least played a major role driving it, and that significantly overstates the bill’s modest effect for several reasons,” Pfaff told the American Independent Foundation.
“First, by the time Clinton signed the law in the fall of 1994, U.S. prison populations had grown by over 750,000 people since the mid-1970s. And while they would grow by another 560,000 by the end of 2009, prison growth actually slowed in the years following the 1994 crime bill.”
Contrary to popular belief, incarceration rates slowly began subsiding in the 1990s, reflecting a drop in crime.
“In fact, most people don’t realize that states added fewer and fewer people to prison pretty much every year after the crime bill — to the point that state prison populations actually dropped in 2000,” he said.
The federal prison population, by contrast, “rose enough to lead to a net national gain,” he added.
Moreover, Pfaff also noted that most U.S. citizens were not in the federal prison system.
“Most of the 1994 crime bill’s provisions — those three strike laws and mandatory minimums — just applied to the federal system, and that holds only about 10% of all prisoners,” he said.
Pfaff said that the largest increases occurred at the state level. Although that was partly encouraged by grants from the federal government, it was not as much as people tend to think.
“Congress offered states $10 billion over about 6 years if they would adopt certain laws to make people convicted of violence serve more time in prison. And while a bunch of states did adopt these laws, most admit they did so independently of the federal system — in fact, several had adopted them a few years before the crime bill passed.”
Many states did not take full advantage of the feds’ offer.
“Strikingly, of the $10 billion the Feds offered, states claimed only $3 billion — they left 70% of the money on the table,” Pfaff said. “…Ten billion sounds like a lot, but not only was it spread over time (it wasn’t $10 billion per year, but total), but it paled in comparison to the tens of billions states were already spending each year on prisons.”
The crime bill did expand the federal death penalty, a decision felt deeply even today. As the Intercept previously reported, that has since allowed the Trump administration to fast track executions. Decisions taken at the federal level also had a serious impact on people serving time.
“Yes, things like abolishing Pell Grants for people in prison likely had negative effects on those confined in prison, both while there and after release,” Pfaff said.
Yet, he insisted that it was an error to focus primarily on federal actions. “Ultimately, mass incarceration in particular, and mass punishment more broadly, are the result of city, county, and state decisions,” Pfaff concluded.
To be clear, the 1994 bill created many other problems. Among other things, it helped buttress a boom in prison construction, as Lauren-Brooke Eisen, a director at the Brennan Center for Justice, told the Washington Post last year.
From 1990 to 2005 alone, she said, the number of prisons in the United States rose by 43%.
“While the precise impact of the grant program is hard to quantify, the law’s passage, and the concurrent or subsequent passage of at least 20 state ‘truth-in-sentencing’ laws, marked a turning point in the length of sentences served nationwide,” she added.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-16--Trump adviser: Actually, mass unemployment is great

Larry Kudlow , Donald Trump 's top economic adviser , celebrated the tens of millions of job losses fueled by Trump 's failure to contain the coronavirus , calling them a 'great part of American capitalism . ''
Kudlow made the comments in an interview with Fox Business host Stuart Varney on Friday morning .
`` I saw something else today , one of the smart Wall Street people are talking about it .
And it ’ s an odd thing because the talk is that a lot of folks who became unemployed , all right , most regrettably but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting new businesses .
They 're going to be small businesses .
But that 's the great part of American capitalism , gales of creative destruction .
I just love that new business start-up story , '' Kudlow said .
Kudlow did not name the `` smart Wall Street '' person who made this point to him , but that person appears to have their facts wrong .
Months into the pandemic , more than 12 million people remain unemployed , with 8 million falling into poverty , thanks to the virus 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusal to extend jobless aid .
The job losses have hit the poorest workers the hardest , with nearly 40 % of people earning less than $ 40,000 a year losing their jobs at the peak of the coronavirus economic downturn , according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank .
Those are the kind of workers that do n't have enough money to put food on the table , let alone the savings to start up a business as Kudlow suggests .
Kudlow 's tone-deaf comment comes as permanent layoffs increase and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy further imperils Trump 's already flailing reelection bid .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Larry Kudlow, Donald Trump’s top economic adviser, celebrated the tens of millions of job losses fueled by Trump’s failure to contain the coronavirus, calling them a ‘great part of American capitalism.”
Kudlow made the comments in an interview with Fox Business host Stuart Varney on Friday morning.
“I saw something else today, one of the smart Wall Street people are talking about it. And it’s an odd thing because the talk is that a lot of folks who became unemployed, all right, most regrettably but they’re sticking with it and starting new businesses. They’re going to be small businesses. But that’s the great part of American capitalism, gales of creative destruction. I just love that new business start-up story,” Kudlow said.
Kudlow did not name the “smart Wall Street” person who made this point to him, but that person appears to have their facts wrong.
Months into the pandemic, more than 12 million people remain unemployed, with 8 million falling into poverty, thanks to the virus’s impact on the economy and the GOP refusal to extend jobless aid.
The job losses have hit the poorest workers the hardest, with nearly 40% of people earning less than $40,000 a year losing their jobs at the peak of the coronavirus economic downturn, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank.
Those are the kind of workers that don’t have enough money to put food on the table, let alone the savings to start up a business as Kudlow suggests.
Kudlow’s tone-deaf comment comes as permanent layoffs increase and the recovery is stalling.
The poor economy further imperils Trump’s already flailing reelection bid.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-16--Self-proclaimed soybean farmer Joni Ernst doesn't know price of soybeans

In her third and last debate with the Democratic challenger for her Senate seat , Theresa Greenfield , on Thursday night , Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) bungled a softball question on the break-even price of soybeans , a major Iowa crop .
Moderator Ron Steele first asked Greenfield about the break-even price of corn , which she correctly answered as approximately $ 3.68 a bushel .
He then turned to Ernst , a self-styled agricultural expert who grew up on a farm raising soybeans , and asked her about the break-even price of soybeans .
Ernst changed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Steele was having none of it .
`` I might have missed it , but I do n't think you answered my question , '' Steele said .
`` What 's the break-even price for soybeans in Iowa ?
You grew up on a farm , you should know this . ''
Ernst hesitated , then told him he had asked about the break-even price for corn .
Steele patiently explained that he had asked her opponent about corn and he was asking her about soybeans .
Ignoring the question , Ernst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` about $ 5.50 . ''
When pressed by Steele , she continued talking about corn , criticizing Greenfield 's answer to the question .
She never did answer the question about the break-even price of soybeans .
Ernst sits on the Senate Committee on Agriculture , Nutrition and Forestry , which authorizes most farming and conservation programs .
She 's also the chair of the Rural Development and Energy subcommittee , overseeing various U.S. Department of Agriculture programs .
Former South Bend , Indiana , mayor and former Democratic presidential candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly the most Midwestern moment in the history of televised Senate debates . ''
But it was an odd gaffe for a senator who has frequently leveraged the fact that she grew up on a farm raising soybeans .
During her election campaign in 2014 , Ernst emphasized her farming bona fides in an ad called `` Squeal '' in which , accompanied by video of hogs in pens , she said : `` I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm , so when I get to Washington , I 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She ended the ad saying that Washington was full of big spenders : `` Let 's make 'em squeal . ''
In May of 2019 , Ernst defended Donald Trump 's trade war and tariffs against China , even while telling an interviewer on CNN : `` This is a really difficult situation that the farmers are in .
Just to remind the viewers that 1 in 5 jobs in Iowa is tied directly to trade .
Most of that is around the farming sector , our agricultural sector .
So it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , Ernst had dismissed the pain Trump was causing farmers with , `` I 'm just going to write it off as just his way of doing business . ''
Farmers nationwide had already been filing for bankruptcy at historically high rates when she made the remark .
In July of this year , Ernst tweeted another video boasting about being born and raised on a farm in Iowa , saying she continues to live there to this day and remains `` connected '' to farmers .
`` I grew up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised hogs , corn , & soybeans , '' she wrote in a tweet accompanying the video .
`` I understand the challenges our farmers face .
Renewable fuels have become such an important part of our fabric across Iowa , and I 'm continuing to fight for our farmers and producers every day . ''
At the Republican National Convention , Ernst positioned herself as an expert on agricultural economics and praised Trump for his agricultural policies .
She claimed that the proposed Green New Deal would `` essentially ban animal agriculture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the convention , Iowa Democratic Committee Chair Mark Smith said : `` Tonight 's speech is about trying to pull back in traditional Republican voters who are running away from her harmful record — seniors , farmers and rural Iowans who have been ignored for six years as Washington leaves them behind . ''
And even without her most recent gaffe , the outlook is n't good for Ernst 's reelection .
Greenfield 's campaign has raised twice as much money as Ernst 's , and Ernst is trailing in every state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.8-point lead on average , and Ernst 's approval rating in Iowa is lower even than Trump 's .
The price of soybeans may not be the only problem Ernst faces come Election Day .
Greenfield 's campaign put out a statement following the soybean incident .
`` Ernst tried to rewrite her failed record of voting against Iowans ' health care , refused to come clean about her illegal dark money scandal , and failed to even recall the price of soybeans , '' it said .
`` Tonight 's debate showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers to support Theresa Greenfield in Iowa 's pivotal U.S. Senate race . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In her third and last debate with the Democratic challenger for her Senate seat, Theresa Greenfield, on Thursday night, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) bungled a softball question on the break-even price of soybeans, a major Iowa crop.
Moderator Ron Steele first asked Greenfield about the break-even price of corn, which she correctly answered as approximately $3.68 a bushel.
He then turned to Ernst, a self-styled agricultural expert who grew up on a farm raising soybeans, and asked her about the break-even price of soybeans.
Ernst changed the subject to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, but Steele was having none of it.
“I might have missed it, but I don’t think you answered my question,” Steele said. “What’s the break-even price for soybeans in Iowa? You grew up on a farm, you should know this.”
Ernst hesitated, then told him he had asked about the break-even price for corn. Steele patiently explained that he had asked her opponent about corn and he was asking her about soybeans.
Ignoring the question, Ernst told him the break-even price of corn was “about $5.50.” When pressed by Steele, she continued talking about corn, criticizing Greenfield’s answer to the question.
She never did answer the question about the break-even price of soybeans.
Ernst sits on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, which authorizes most farming and conservation programs. She’s also the chair of the Rural Development and Energy subcommittee, overseeing various U.S. Department of Agriculture programs.
Former South Bend, Indiana, mayor and former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg tweeted that it was “possibly the most Midwestern moment in the history of televised Senate debates.”
But it was an odd gaffe for a senator who has frequently leveraged the fact that she grew up on a farm raising soybeans.
During her election campaign in 2014, Ernst emphasized her farming bona fides in an ad called “Squeal” in which, accompanied by video of hogs in pens, she said: “I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm, so when I get to Washington, I’ll know how to cut pork.” She ended the ad saying that Washington was full of big spenders: “Let’s make ’em squeal.”
In May of 2019, Ernst defended Donald Trump’s trade war and tariffs against China, even while telling an interviewer on CNN: “This is a really difficult situation that the farmers are in. Just to remind the viewers that 1 in 5 jobs in Iowa is tied directly to trade. Most of that is around the farming sector, our agricultural sector. So it is very tense times.”
Earlier that month, Ernst had dismissed the pain Trump was causing farmers with, “I’m just going to write it off as just his way of doing business.”
Farmers nationwide had already been filing for bankruptcy at historically high rates when she made the remark.
In July of this year, Ernst tweeted another video boasting about being born and raised on a farm in Iowa, saying she continues to live there to this day and remains “connected” to farmers.
“I grew up on a farm in SW Iowa where we raised hogs, corn, & soybeans,” she wrote in a tweet accompanying the video. “I understand the challenges our farmers face. Renewable fuels have become such an important part of our fabric across Iowa, and I’m continuing to fight for our farmers and producers every day.”
At the Republican National Convention, Ernst positioned herself as an expert on agricultural economics and praised Trump for his agricultural policies.
She claimed that the proposed Green New Deal would “essentially ban animal agriculture.”
Prior to Ernst’s speech at the convention, Iowa Democratic Committee Chair Mark Smith said: “Tonight’s speech is about trying to pull back in traditional Republican voters who are running away from her harmful record — seniors, farmers and rural Iowans who have been ignored for six years as Washington leaves them behind.”
And even without her most recent gaffe, the outlook isn’t good for Ernst’s reelection.
Greenfield’s campaign has raised twice as much money as Ernst’s, and Ernst is trailing in every state poll. Her Democratic challenger has a 4.8-point lead on average, and Ernst’s approval rating in Iowa is lower even than Trump’s.
The price of soybeans may not be the only problem Ernst faces come Election Day.
Greenfield’s campaign put out a statement following the soybean incident.
“Ernst tried to rewrite her failed record of voting against Iowans’ health care, refused to come clean about her illegal dark money scandal, and failed to even recall the price of soybeans,” it said. “Tonight’s debate showed why Iowans are turning out in record numbers to support Theresa Greenfield in Iowa’s pivotal U.S. Senate race.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-16--Trump's plan to humiliate Biden with his TV ratings blows up in his face

Donald Trump 's plan to humiliate Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by holding a competing town hall failed spectacularly , with Biden 's town hall beating Trump 's in the ratings , CNN 's Brian Stelter reported .
Biden 's event on ABC drew 13.9 million viewers , while Trump 's town hall — which aired on NBC , MSNBC , and CNBC — drew a combined 13 million viewers , Stelter reported .
That means Biden got more viewers on one news network than Trump received on three .
The news comes as Trump 's campaign boasted that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 're gon na have a much bigger audience than Joe , '' Trump spokesperson Jason Miller , who has a history of adultery and failing to pay child support , told CNN ahead of the town halls .
The news is likely to enrage Trump , who is obsessed with television ratings .
Losing the ratings race is not the only problem Trump had with the town halls — which took place in lieu of a sanctioned presidential debate .
The official debate was canceled after Trump was diagnosed with coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump 's town hall performance may not have been helpful to him as far as the viewers who did watch .
A focus group with GOP pollster Frank Luntz found that those who watched Trump were turned off by his appearance , in which he refused to condemn QAnon and called his $ 400 million in debt `` a peanut . ''
`` My group of undecided voters say that the more Trump speaks , the worse he looks , '' Luntz tweeted after the town halls wrapped up .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has lost the ratings war .
Earlier this year , the Democratic National Convention drew millions more viewers than the Republican National Convention .
Trump lashed out at the media at the time for accurately reporting that the Democratic convention had more viewers , falsely claiming that `` the Fake News does n't want to report '' that Republicans got higher viewership .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s plan to humiliate Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by holding a competing town hall failed spectacularly, with Biden’s town hall beating Trump’s in the ratings, CNN’s Brian Stelter reported.
Biden’s event on ABC drew 13.9 million viewers, while Trump’s town hall — which aired on NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC — drew a combined 13 million viewers, Stelter reported. That means Biden got more viewers on one news network than Trump received on three.
The news comes as Trump’s campaign boasted that Trump would get higher ratings than Biden.
“We’re gonna have a much bigger audience than Joe,” Trump spokesperson Jason Miller, who has a history of adultery and failing to pay child support, told CNN ahead of the town halls.
The news is likely to enrage Trump, who is obsessed with television ratings.
Losing the ratings race is not the only problem Trump had with the town halls — which took place in lieu of a sanctioned presidential debate. The official debate was canceled after Trump was diagnosed with coronavirus and refused to hold the debate virtually.
Trump’s town hall performance may not have been helpful to him as far as the viewers who did watch. A focus group with GOP pollster Frank Luntz found that those who watched Trump were turned off by his appearance, in which he refused to condemn QAnon and called his $400 million in debt “a peanut.”
“My group of undecided voters say that the more Trump speaks, the worse he looks,” Luntz tweeted after the town halls wrapped up.
This is not the first time this cycle that Trump has lost the ratings war.
Earlier this year, the Democratic National Convention drew millions more viewers than the Republican National Convention.
Trump lashed out at the media at the time for accurately reporting that the Democratic convention had more viewers, falsely claiming that “the Fake News doesn’t want to report” that Republicans got higher viewership.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-16--Trump holds another superspreader event in Wisconsin — where the virus is surging

Donald Trump will hold another campaign rally in Wisconsin on Saturday , despite his administration 's own coronavirus task force urging the state 's residents to avoid large crowds .
Trump plans to deliver `` remarks on supporting law enforcement '' at the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport in Janesville on Saturday evening .
Doors will open three hours before the event , which will give attendees plenty of time to spread the coronavirus .
That is a concern , given that cases are spiking in the state .
On Thursday , Wisconsin saw 3,747 new cases — the largest number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as many as a month ago .
Wisconsin also has one of the highest per capital infection rates of any state in the country .
Trump 's own coronavirus task force warned Sunday that Wisconsin residents must take steps like `` mask wearing , physical distancing , hand hygiene , [ and ] avoiding crowds in public and social gatherings in private . ''
`` Wisconsin 's ability to limit further and avoid increases in hospitalizations and deaths will depend on increased observation of social distancing mitigation measures by the community until cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 11 report .
`` Lack of compliance with these measures will lead to preventable deaths . ''
In an email , Trump campaign deputy national press secretary Courtney Parella wrote : `` We take strong precautions for our campaign events .
Every attendee has their temperature checked , is provided a mask they ’ re instructed to wear , and has access to plenty of hand sanitizer .
We also have signs at our events instructing attendees to wear their masks . ''
But Trump rally attendees have often done the exact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear face masks .
While the Trump campaign has claimed to always follow safety guidelines , it has previously flouted them — even when it violates local and state law .
To make matters worse , Trump has falsely suggested that wearing a mask could be harmful .
On Thursday , Trump repeated a patently false claim that 85 % of people wearing masks get COVID-19 .
Public health experts have urged mask usage as one of the most effective ways to curb the pandemic 's spread .
Trump has targeted Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He narrowly won the state in 2016 , by less than 1 % .
But recent polls show him trailing Biden by more than six points , on average .
Biden has been ahead in every major poll of the state for nearly two months and a New York Times/Siena College poll released this week showed Biden up 51 % to 41 % .
To date , Wisconsin has seen more than 162,000 coronavirus cases and at least 1,553 deaths .
During the presidential campaign , Trump has frequently mocked former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example by wearing a mask at public campaign events .
`` I do n't wear a mask like him , '' Trump said at the Sept. 29 presidential debate .
`` Every time you see him he 's got a mask .
He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I 've ever seen . ''
Two days later , Trump announced in a tweet that he and Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump will hold another campaign rally in Wisconsin on Saturday, despite his administration’s own coronavirus task force urging the state’s residents to avoid large crowds.
Trump plans to deliver “remarks on supporting law enforcement” at the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport in Janesville on Saturday evening.
Doors will open three hours before the event, which will give attendees plenty of time to spread the coronavirus.
That is a concern, given that cases are spiking in the state. On Thursday, Wisconsin saw 3,747 new cases — the largest number to date, and nearly three times as many as a month ago. Wisconsin also has one of the highest per capital infection rates of any state in the country.
Trump’s own coronavirus task force warned Sunday that Wisconsin residents must take steps like “mask wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, [and] avoiding crowds in public and social gatherings in private.”
“Wisconsin’s ability to limit further and avoid increases in hospitalizations and deaths will depend on increased observation of social distancing mitigation measures by the community until cases decline,” they wrote in an Oct. 11 report. “Lack of compliance with these measures will lead to preventable deaths.”
In an email, Trump campaign deputy national press secretary Courtney Parella wrote: “We take strong precautions for our campaign events. Every attendee has their temperature checked, is provided a mask they’re instructed to wear, and has access to plenty of hand sanitizer. We also have signs at our events instructing attendees to wear their masks.”
But Trump rally attendees have often done the exact opposite, ignoring social distancing and refusing to wear face masks. While the Trump campaign has claimed to always follow safety guidelines, it has previously flouted them — even when it violates local and state law.
To make matters worse, Trump has falsely suggested that wearing a mask could be harmful. On Thursday, Trump repeated a patently false claim that 85% of people wearing masks get COVID-19.
Public health experts have urged mask usage as one of the most effective ways to curb the pandemic’s spread.
Trump has targeted Wisconsin because he needs its 10 electoral votes. He narrowly won the state in 2016, by less than 1%. But recent polls show him trailing Biden by more than six points, on average.
Biden has been ahead in every major poll of the state for nearly two months and a New York Times/Siena College poll released this week showed Biden up 51% to 41%.
To date, Wisconsin has seen more than 162,000 coronavirus cases and at least 1,553 deaths.
During the presidential campaign, Trump has frequently mocked former Vice President Joe Biden for setting a good example by wearing a mask at public campaign events.
“I don’t wear a mask like him,” Trump said at the Sept. 29 presidential debate. “Every time you see him he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”
Two days later, Trump announced in a tweet that he and Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-16--Voters in swing states are already breaking records

Early voting records have been set in numerous states across the country , including Georgia , Texas , North Carolina , Ohio and Virginia — critical contests that could decide the outcome of the 2020 election .
The massive surge in early voting is thanks in part to the expansion of voting by mail this cycle — an effort to make voting safer amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
But it is also a sign of massive voter enthusiasm .
And the early voting trends so far are a bad sign for Donald Trump .
First , Democrats are far outpacing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Democratic enthusiasm .
An Associated Press analysis of the early vote shows Democrats are outpacing Republicans in early voting by a 2-to-1 ratio .
The more than 21.3 million ballots that have already been cast for the 2020 election , according to the U.S. Election Project , come at a point in the race when Trump trails Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the polls by more than 10 points .
That amounts to nearly 16 % of the total votes cast in the 2016 election , and could make Trump 's challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder .
And the surge of early votes are coming in states Trump needs to win .
In Georgia — a state that is considered a toss-up in 2020 despite not voting for a Democratic nominee for president in nearly 20 years — more than 1.12 million votes have already been cast .
That includes a record-setting 128,000 votes on the first day of early voting , which smashed the previous record of 91,000 votes cast on the first day of early voting in 2016 .
Texas — a state that has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — set an early voting record on the first day of voting , with 128,186 ballots cast , according to the Wall Street Journal .
That 's nearly double the 67,741 votes cast on the first day of early voting in 2016 .
Counting absentee ballots , more than 2.4 million people in Texas have already voted , according to the U.S .
Elections Project .
In North Carolina , another critical toss-up state that Trump needs to win , voters set a record for early in-person votes cast in a single day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Thursday , the first day of early in-person voting , more than 333,000 people cast ballots — beating the previous record of 304,000 ballots cast on Nov. 4 , 2016 .
Republicans are expected to turn out on Election Day , especially after Trump scared the GOP base into avoiding mail-in ballots .
But waiting to cast votes all in one day is a perilous strategy , one GOP operative told the Associated Press .
`` If you 're putting all your faith into one day of voting , that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a GOP pollster , told the AP .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Early voting records have been set in numerous states across the country, including Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia — critical contests that could decide the outcome of the 2020 election.
The massive surge in early voting is thanks in part to the expansion of voting by mail this cycle — an effort to make voting safer amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
But it is also a sign of massive voter enthusiasm.
And the early voting trends so far are a bad sign for Donald Trump.
First, Democrats are far outpacing Republicans in the vote, a sign of Democratic enthusiasm.
An Associated Press analysis of the early vote shows Democrats are outpacing Republicans in early voting by a 2-to-1 ratio.
The more than 21.3 million ballots that have already been cast for the 2020 election, according to the U.S. Election Project, come at a point in the race when Trump trails Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the polls by more than 10 points. That amounts to nearly 16% of the total votes cast in the 2016 election, and could make Trump’s challenge of turning around his fortunes that much harder.
And the surge of early votes are coming in states Trump needs to win.
In Georgia — a state that is considered a toss-up in 2020 despite not voting for a Democratic nominee for president in nearly 20 years — more than 1.12 million votes have already been cast. That includes a record-setting 128,000 votes on the first day of early voting, which smashed the previous record of 91,000 votes cast on the first day of early voting in 2016.
Texas — a state that has not voted for a Democratic nominee since 1976 — set an early voting record on the first day of voting, with 128,186 ballots cast, according to the Wall Street Journal. That’s nearly double the 67,741 votes cast on the first day of early voting in 2016.
Counting absentee ballots, more than 2.4 million people in Texas have already voted, according to the U.S. Elections Project.
In North Carolina, another critical toss-up state that Trump needs to win, voters set a record for early in-person votes cast in a single day, the State Board of Elections announced. On Thursday, the first day of early in-person voting, more than 333,000 people cast ballots — beating the previous record of 304,000 ballots cast on Nov. 4, 2016.
Republicans are expected to turn out on Election Day, especially after Trump scared the GOP base into avoiding mail-in ballots.
But waiting to cast votes all in one day is a perilous strategy, one GOP operative told the Associated Press.
“If you’re putting all your faith into one day of voting, that’s really high risk,” John Couvillon, a GOP pollster, told the AP.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-16--Even white voters have had it with Trump

White voters are abandoning Donald Trump in droves as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has gained historic margins in the polls this week .
While Biden leads Trump 54 % to 43 % among all likely voters , one key demographic stands out : Biden is leading among white voters , long seen as an integral part of Trump 's base .
Currently , Biden leads Trump among white voters 51 % to 47 % — a seismic shift given that Trump won white voters by 20 % in 2016 .
This lead is momentous : No Democratic presidential candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a simple majority of white voters .
And even with some of Trump 's core voting blocs , support is waning .
In 2016 , Trump won white voters with no college degree 66 % to 29 % .
As recently as September , he led with this group 63 % to 33 % .
Today , his lead among this demographic is only 54 % to 43 % .
Another group that fiercely supported Trump in 2016 were white Christians .
White Christians constitute 44 % of the electorate , with white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed by white nonevangelical Protestants and white Catholics .
But Trump has lost 5 percentage points among white evangelicals since August , 6 points among white nonevangelical Protestants , and a full 11 percentage points among white Catholics .
There is more than one possible explanation for the dramatic drop in support for Trump among white voters .
It could be attributable to Trump 's increasingly erratic behavior ; his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic ; or the recent coronavirus outbreak in the White House , which the Washington , D.C. , Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments blamed on the Trump administration 's inexcusably lax adherence to safety practices .
Trump has also ramped up the racism in his campaign of late , most notably telling a white supremacist group to `` stand back and stand by '' during the first presidential debate .
He 's also engaged in racist dogwhistles against Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris .
Trump has questioned her American citizenship and eligibility for the position , and recently referred to her as a `` monster '' and a `` super liberal wack job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her colleagues in the Senate .
At a rally in Minnesota a few weeks ago , Trump smeared Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-MN ) , the first Somali American elected to the House of Representatives , in a xenophobic rant .
He claimed Biden would increase immigration by 700 % and turn Minnesota into a `` Somali refugee camp , '' then went on to compliment his audience for their `` good genes '' — presumably meaning white ones .
Older white voters in particular are fleeing from Trump as he threatens to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and disabled individuals rely on Medicare , the repercussions of them withdrawing their support for Trump could be enormous .
And their voting choices tend to reflect their priorities .
Jeff Link , a Democratic strategist and cofounder of the organization Focus on Rural America , who has done research on voters who shifted from supporting former President Barack Obama in 2012 to supporting Trump in 2016 , said : `` It 's these older white voters that I think are the ones that are moving . ''
`` The older people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is this guy doing ? ''
he told Politico .
Whether it 's the White House occupant 's racist rhetorical scare tactics or the looming threat to Americans ' health coverage during a pandemic , white voters are jumping from the Trump train in record numbers .
Former Democratic National Committee chair and former Pennsylvania Gov .
Ed Rendell summed it up : `` Suburban whites are pretty much gone . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

White voters are abandoning Donald Trump in droves as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has gained historic margins in the polls this week.
While Biden leads Trump 54% to 43% among all likely voters, one key demographic stands out: Biden is leading among white voters, long seen as an integral part of Trump’s base.
Currently, Biden leads Trump among white voters 51% to 47% — a seismic shift given that Trump won white voters by 20% in 2016.
This lead is momentous: No Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976 has won a simple majority of white voters.
And even with some of Trump’s core voting blocs, support is waning.
In 2016, Trump won white voters with no college degree 66% to 29%. As recently as September, he led with this group 63% to 33%. Today, his lead among this demographic is only 54% to 43%.
Another group that fiercely supported Trump in 2016 were white Christians.
White Christians constitute 44% of the electorate, with white evangelical Protestants leaning the most conservative, followed by white nonevangelical Protestants and white Catholics.
But Trump has lost 5 percentage points among white evangelicals since August, 6 points among white nonevangelical Protestants, and a full 11 percentage points among white Catholics.
There is more than one possible explanation for the dramatic drop in support for Trump among white voters.
It could be attributable to Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior; his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic; or the recent coronavirus outbreak in the White House, which the Washington, D.C., Department of Health and nine other local health departments blamed on the Trump administration’s inexcusably lax adherence to safety practices.
Trump has also ramped up the racism in his campaign of late, most notably telling a white supremacist group to “stand back and stand by” during the first presidential debate.
He’s also engaged in racist dogwhistles against Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris. Trump has questioned her American citizenship and eligibility for the position, and recently referred to her as a “monster” and a “super liberal wack job” who isn’t as smart as her colleagues in the Senate.
At a rally in Minnesota a few weeks ago, Trump smeared Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), the first Somali American elected to the House of Representatives, in a xenophobic rant. He claimed Biden would increase immigration by 700% and turn Minnesota into a “Somali refugee camp,” then went on to compliment his audience for their “good genes” — presumably meaning white ones.
Older white voters in particular are fleeing from Trump as he threatens to ax Obamacare. When 44 million older and disabled individuals rely on Medicare, the repercussions of them withdrawing their support for Trump could be enormous. And their voting choices tend to reflect their priorities.
Jeff Link, a Democratic strategist and cofounder of the organization Focus on Rural America, who has done research on voters who shifted from supporting former President Barack Obama in 2012 to supporting Trump in 2016, said: “It’s these older white voters that I think are the ones that are moving.”
“The older people are like, ‘What the f— is this guy doing?” he told Politico.
Whether it’s the White House occupant’s racist rhetorical scare tactics or the looming threat to Americans’ health coverage during a pandemic, white voters are jumping from the Trump train in record numbers.
Former Democratic National Committee chair and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell summed it up: “Suburban whites are pretty much gone.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-17--Trump is delaying a crucial climate report. Experts say that's 'dangerous.'

Environmental advocates want to know why a U.S. government agency has n't yet released a crucial climate report .
On Tuesday , the Center for Biological Diversity filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
The agency oversees government research on the threats posed by climate change .
The environmental nonprofit asked why NOAA has not yet released the Fifth National Climate Assessment , a cross-government report on climate change that spans 13 government agencies .
Congress mandates that the agency must publish its sweeping climate report every four years , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2022 .
However , the government website in charge of releasing the report said it 's still in `` the early stages of development , '' and indicated a 2023 release .
The environmental group called the agency 's delay `` dangerous '' and stressed the time-sensitive nature of the report .
`` Refusing to take the basic steps to prepare the next Climate Assessment is outrageous and dangerous , '' said Howard Crystal , a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity .
`` We can ’ t prepare for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come unless we understand how climate change is affecting our country .
Congress set a strict four-year timetable for these reports precisely because timely information related to climate change is so important , and the agency must move forward to comply . ''
In 2018 , the Trump administration attempted to bury the Fourth National Climate Assessment by releasing it the day after Thanksgiving , also known as Black Friday .
`` Earth 's climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization , primarily as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2018 report found .
The center slammed the report 's release date , calling it `` an apparent effort to downplay its grave assessment of accelerating climate change and its perils . ''
Donald Wuebbles , a climate scientist at the University of Illinois , oversaw the first volume of the 2018 report .
He said the Trump administration is slow-walking the 2022 report by delaying putting out an official call in the Federal Register for climate researchers to work on the new report .
NOAA put out an official request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's not being approved to go out , so therefore they 're just sitting on it .
And I do n't know if it 's NOAA or the White House , but somebody 's sitting on it , so that 's just holding up getting up the NCA 5 going , '' Wuebbles told E & E News .
In 2017 , the climate nonprofit sued the Trump administration for its refusal to release public records on the sudden disbandment of the Advisory Committee for the Sustained National Climate Assessment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 15-person panel of climate experts was tasked with supporting the national climate report .
`` Kicking these experts to the curb is a ridiculous rejection of scientific reality that will leave us even less prepared for monster hurricanes and other climate change devastation , '' Crystal said at the time .
Earlier this month , the Trump administration released a study that found climate change threatens polar bears — after stalling on its release for months .
That news came as the Trump administration planned to open up part of the Arctic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is home to roughly 900 polar bears — to oil and gas companies .
The Department of the Interior 's environmental impact statement did not give an estimate of how many polar bears could be killed or harmed by the decision .
Last month , Donald Trump appointed David Legates , a climate science skeptic , to lead NOAA .
The move `` blindsided staffers , '' according to Politico .
`` Legates arguably could directly or indirectly influence the direction the [ fifth ] assessment takes , '' Rick Spinrad , NOAA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told Politico .
`` There 's an opportunity to manipulate . ''
In early September , as record-setting wildfires ravaged the state of California , state Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot urged Trump to recognize the threat climate change poses to the United States .
`` I do n't think science knows , actually , '' Trump responded .

Environmental advocates want to know why a U.S. government agency hasn’t yet released a crucial climate report.
On Tuesday, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency oversees government research on the threats posed by climate change.
The environmental nonprofit asked why NOAA has not yet released the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a cross-government report on climate change that spans 13 government agencies.
Congress mandates that the agency must publish its sweeping climate report every four years, with the next report due to be released in 2022. However, the government website in charge of releasing the report said it’s still in “the early stages of development,” and indicated a 2023 release.
The environmental group called the agency’s delay “dangerous” and stressed the time-sensitive nature of the report.
“Refusing to take the basic steps to prepare the next Climate Assessment is outrageous and dangerous,” said Howard Crystal, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We can’t prepare for the droughts, floods, fires and hurricanes to come unless we understand how climate change is affecting our country. Congress set a strict four-year timetable for these reports precisely because timely information related to climate change is so important, and the agency must move forward to comply.”
In 2018, the Trump administration attempted to bury the Fourth National Climate Assessment by releasing it the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. “Earth’s climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, primarily as a result of human activities,” the 2018 report found.
The center slammed the report’s release date, calling it “an apparent effort to downplay its grave assessment of accelerating climate change and its perils.”
Donald Wuebbles, a climate scientist at the University of Illinois, oversaw the first volume of the 2018 report. He said the Trump administration is slow-walking the 2022 report by delaying putting out an official call in the Federal Register for climate researchers to work on the new report. NOAA put out an official request for comment on the report in July.
“It’s not being approved to go out, so therefore they’re just sitting on it. And I don’t know if it’s NOAA or the White House, but somebody’s sitting on it, so that’s just holding up getting up the NCA 5 going,” Wuebbles told E&E News.
In 2017, the climate nonprofit sued the Trump administration for its refusal to release public records on the sudden disbandment of the Advisory Committee for the Sustained National Climate Assessment. Created by the NOAA in 2015, the 15-person panel of climate experts was tasked with supporting the national climate report.
The center called the committee’s termination a “dangerous decision.”
“Kicking these experts to the curb is a ridiculous rejection of scientific reality that will leave us even less prepared for monster hurricanes and other climate change devastation,” Crystal said at the time.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration released a study that found climate change threatens polar bears — after stalling on its release for months. That news came as the Trump administration planned to open up part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska — which is home to roughly 900 polar bears — to oil and gas companies. The Department of the Interior’s environmental impact statement did not give an estimate of how many polar bears could be killed or harmed by the decision.
“To add hundreds of miles of seismic vehicle trails and drilling sites to the stresses these bears are already experiencing would be unimaginable as we fight to ensure their long-term survival,” Adam Kolton, executive director of the advocacy group Alaska Wilderness League, told the Washington Post. “Unfortunately, the Trump administration treats science like a meal it can send back to the chef when it doesn’t like it instead of as a basis for sound decision-making.”
Last month, Donald Trump appointed David Legates, a climate science skeptic, to lead NOAA. The move “blindsided staffers,” according to Politico.
“Legates arguably could directly or indirectly influence the direction the [fifth] assessment takes,” Rick Spinrad, NOAA’s chief scientist under President Barack Obama, told Politico. “There’s an opportunity to manipulate.”
In early September, as record-setting wildfires ravaged the state of California, state Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot urged Trump to recognize the threat climate change poses to the United States.
“I don’t think science knows, actually,” Trump responded.