shareblue--2020-06-20--More Americans say police violence is a serious problem in wake of protests

A dramatic shift has taken place in the nation 's opinions on policing and race , as a new poll finds that more Americans today than five years ago believe police brutality is a very serious problem that too often goes undisciplined and unequally targets black Americans .
The new findings from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research suggest the death of George Floyd and the weeks of nationwide and global protests that followed have changed perceptions in ways that previous incidents of police brutality did not .
About half of American adults now say police violence against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or `` extremely '' serious problem , up from about a third as recently as September last year .
Only about 3 in 10 said the same in July 2015 , just a few months after Freddie Gray , a Black man , died in police custody in Baltimore .
In the latest poll , roughly 3 in 10 said police violence is a moderately serious problem .
Those who say it is not a serious problem has declined from a third in 2015 to about 2 in 10 today .
Floyd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on Floyd 's neck for several minutes , killing him .
Experts say the dramatic change in opinion about police violence that has followed is an indication the country is grappling with how to confront centuries of structural racism and inequity .
`` I have long argued that we can not have a racial reconciliation in the United States because there 's not been an admission of what has gone on , '' said Wornie Reed , director of the Race and Social Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The nation is constructed on ( racism ) .
It 's not an accident or something that America decided to do on the way to its greatness .
It 's the means by which it became great . ''
The new AP-NORC poll finds that more Americans now think police in most communities are more likely to use deadly force against a Black person than a white person , 61 % , up from 49 % in July 2015 .
Only about a third say the race of a person does not make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force against them , compared with roughly half in 2015 .
And Americans are far more likely now than they were five years ago to say that police officers who cause injury or death in the course of their job are treated too leniently by the justice system , 65 % vs. 41 % , rather than too harshly or fairly .
Fewer now think they 're treated either fairly or too harshly .
Changes in opinions about social issues are more often slow and incremental , said Jennifer Benz , the deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said such significant changes can often indicate meaningful or lasting change has taken place in public awareness and attitudes .
`` The data show noteworthy changes of a magnitude we do n't see very often , especially on long-standing cultural or social issues , '' Benz said .
`` While this poll was certainly conducted at a moment of tremendous attention on racism in our society , we have empirical signals from other data to suggest that these changes are not purely a reaction to the current events . ''
Among white Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public a very serious problem , up from 19 % in 2015 , while 35 % say it 's moderately serious .
Most Black Americans continue to say police violence is a very serious problem .
The poll also found that 51 % of Black Americans say they have been unfairly treated by a police officer because of their race , compared with just 6 % of white Americans .
That includes Mississippi resident Sandra Smith , who said she and many others she knows have had uncomfortable encounters with police over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white Americans are unaware of the fear or anxiety Black Americans experience in those interactions .
`` I think it has reached its boiling point and I say that it 's like a volcano that was waiting to erupt , '' said Smith , a 61-year-old Black woman .
`` And looking back on 400 years of oppression of African Americans and the atrocities that we had to face to try to even make it in this country , when you look at all those things , the rights that were not given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build up . ''
The poll finds about 6 in 10 Americans say racism is a `` very '' or `` extremely '' serious problem in this country .
Nine in 10 Black Americans , and about 6 in 10 white Americans , say that .
Majorities of Americans across racial groups say police use of deadly force is more common against a Black person , including 92 % of Black Americans and 54 % of white Americans .
Five years ago , just 39 % of white Americans said police were more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black person .
Separate from use of deadly force , the poll also finds about 7 in 10 Americans say white people are treated more fairly in dealing with the police in general , while about a quarter say the race of a person does not make a difference .
Nine in 10 Black Americans and 7 in 10 white Americans say white people are treated more fairly .
`` My eyes have been opened in the last month of how serious the problem really is , '' said Jeffrey Boord-Dill , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kentucky .
`` I think it was a problem before now , but not nearly on the level that I see today , and having people of color tell their stories and putting myself in their shoes from those stories , I ca n't imagine how damn tired everybody is of walking out the door and wondering if they 're going to come home or not .
That , in this country , is inexcusable . ''

A dramatic shift has taken place in the nation’s opinions on policing and race, as a new poll finds that more Americans today than five years ago believe police brutality is a very serious problem that too often goes undisciplined and unequally targets black Americans.
The new findings from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research suggest the death of George Floyd and the weeks of nationwide and global protests that followed have changed perceptions in ways that previous incidents of police brutality did not.
About half of American adults now say police violence against the public is a “very” or “extremely” serious problem, up from about a third as recently as September last year. Only about 3 in 10 said the same in July 2015, just a few months after Freddie Gray, a Black man, died in police custody in Baltimore.
In the latest poll, roughly 3 in 10 said police violence is a moderately serious problem. Those who say it is not a serious problem has declined from a third in 2015 to about 2 in 10 today.
Floyd, a Black man, died in late May after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on Floyd’s neck for several minutes, killing him. Experts say the dramatic change in opinion about police violence that has followed is an indication the country is grappling with how to confront centuries of structural racism and inequity.
“I have long argued that we cannot have a racial reconciliation in the United States because there’s not been an admission of what has gone on,” said Wornie Reed, director of the Race and Social Policy Research Center at Virginia Tech. “The nation is constructed on (racism). It’s not an accident or something that America decided to do on the way to its greatness. It’s the means by which it became great.”
The new AP-NORC poll finds that more Americans now think police in most communities are more likely to use deadly force against a Black person than a white person, 61%, up from 49% in July 2015. Only about a third say the race of a person does not make a difference in the use of deadly force against them, compared with roughly half in 2015.
And Americans are far more likely now than they were five years ago to say that police officers who cause injury or death in the course of their job are treated too leniently by the justice system, 65% vs. 41%, rather than too harshly or fairly. Fewer now think they’re treated either fairly or too harshly.
Changes in opinions about social issues are more often slow and incremental, said Jennifer Benz, the deputy director of the AP-NORC Center. Benz said such significant changes can often indicate meaningful or lasting change has taken place in public awareness and attitudes.
“The data show noteworthy changes of a magnitude we don’t see very often, especially on long-standing cultural or social issues,” Benz said. “While this poll was certainly conducted at a moment of tremendous attention on racism in our society, we have empirical signals from other data to suggest that these changes are not purely a reaction to the current events.”
Among white Americans, 39% call police violence against the public a very serious problem, up from 19% in 2015, while 35% say it’s moderately serious. Most Black Americans continue to say police violence is a very serious problem.
The poll also found that 51% of Black Americans say they have been unfairly treated by a police officer because of their race, compared with just 6% of white Americans.
That includes Mississippi resident Sandra Smith, who said she and many others she knows have had uncomfortable encounters with police over the years. Smith also feels many white Americans are unaware of the fear or anxiety Black Americans experience in those interactions.
“I think it has reached its boiling point and I say that it’s like a volcano that was waiting to erupt,” said Smith, a 61-year-old Black woman. “And looking back on 400 years of oppression of African Americans and the atrocities that we had to face to try to even make it in this country, when you look at all those things, the rights that were not given to the Black man, those things build up.”
The poll finds about 6 in 10 Americans say racism is a “very” or “extremely” serious problem in this country. Nine in 10 Black Americans, and about 6 in 10 white Americans, say that.
Majorities of Americans across racial groups say police use of deadly force is more common against a Black person, including 92% of Black Americans and 54% of white Americans. Five years ago, just 39% of white Americans said police were more likely to use deadly force against a Black person.
Separate from use of deadly force, the poll also finds about 7 in 10 Americans say white people are treated more fairly in dealing with the police in general, while about a quarter say the race of a person does not make a difference. Nine in 10 Black Americans and 7 in 10 white Americans say white people are treated more fairly.
“My eyes have been opened in the last month of how serious the problem really is,” said Jeffrey Boord-Dill, a 62-year-old white man, who lives in Kentucky. “I think it was a problem before now, but not nearly on the level that I see today, and having people of color tell their stories and putting myself in their shoes from those stories, I can’t imagine how damn tired everybody is of walking out the door and wondering if they’re going to come home or not. That, in this country, is inexcusable.”


shareblue--2020-06-21--Facebook still refuses to block Trump's lies as it launches 'voter information' effort

Facebook is launching a widespread effort to boost U.S. voter turnout and provide authoritative information about voting — just as it doubles down on its policy allowing politicians like Donald Trump to post false information on the same subject .
The social media giant is launching a `` Voting Information Center '' on Facebook and Instagram that will include details on registering to vote , polling places , and voting by mail .
It will draw the information from state election officials and local election authorities .
The information hub , which will be prominently displayed on Facebook news feeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is similar to the coronavirus information center the company launched earlier this year in an attempt to elevate facts and authoritative sources of information on COVID-19 .
Facebook and its CEO , Mark Zuckerberg , continue to face criticism for not removing or labeling posts by Trump that spread misinformation about voting by mail and , many said , encouraged violence against protesters .
`` I know many people are upset that we 've left the President 's posts up , but our position is that we should enable as much expression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies , '' Zuckerberg wrote earlier this month .
`` Ultimately , I believe the best way to hold politicians accountable is through voting , and I believe we should trust voters to make judgments for themselves , '' he wrote .
`` That 's why I think we should maintain as open a platform as possible , accompanied by ambitious efforts to boost voter participation . ''
Facebook 's free speech stance may have more to do with not wanting to alienate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business options open , critics suggest .
Dipayan Ghosh , co-director of the Platform Accountability Project at Harvard Kennedy School , said Facebook `` does n't want to tick off a whole swath of people who really believe the president and appreciate '' his words .
In addition to the voting hub , Facebook will also now let people turn off political and social issue ads that display the `` paid for by '' designation , meaning a politician or political entity paid for it .
The company announced this option in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
Sarah Schiff , a product manager who works on ads , cautioned that Facebook 's systems `` are n't perfect '' and said she encourages users to report `` paid for by '' ads they see if they have chosen not to see them .

Facebook is launching a widespread effort to boost U.S. voter turnout and provide authoritative information about voting — just as it doubles down on its policy allowing politicians like Donald Trump to post false information on the same subject.
The social media giant is launching a “Voting Information Center” on Facebook and Instagram that will include details on registering to vote, polling places, and voting by mail. It will draw the information from state election officials and local election authorities.
The information hub, which will be prominently displayed on Facebook news feeds and on Instagram later in the summer, is similar to the coronavirus information center the company launched earlier this year in an attempt to elevate facts and authoritative sources of information on COVID-19.
Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, continue to face criticism for not removing or labeling posts by Trump that spread misinformation about voting by mail and, many said, encouraged violence against protesters.
“I know many people are upset that we’ve left the President’s posts up, but our position is that we should enable as much expression as possible unless it will cause imminent risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies,” Zuckerberg wrote earlier this month.
In a USA Today opinion piece Tuesday, Zuckerberg reaffirmed that position.
“Ultimately, I believe the best way to hold politicians accountable is through voting, and I believe we should trust voters to make judgments for themselves,” he wrote. “That’s why I think we should maintain as open a platform as possible, accompanied by ambitious efforts to boost voter participation.”
Facebook’s free speech stance may have more to do with not wanting to alienate Trump and his supporters while keeping its business options open, critics suggest.
Dipayan Ghosh, co-director of the Platform Accountability Project at Harvard Kennedy School, said Facebook “doesn’t want to tick off a whole swath of people who really believe the president and appreciate” his words.
In addition to the voting hub, Facebook will also now let people turn off political and social issue ads that display the “paid for by” designation, meaning a politician or political entity paid for it. The company announced this option in January, but it is going into effect now.
Sarah Schiff, a product manager who works on ads, cautioned that Facebook’s systems “aren’t perfect” and said she encourages users to report “paid for by” ads they see if they have chosen not to see them.


shareblue--2020-06-21--Trump's Bible photo-op threatens his legacy — and his reelection

Charlottesville .
Helsinki .
The children in cages at the Mexican border .
Only a few legacy-defining moments have clung to Donald Trump , who often appears to emerge relatively unscathed from a seemingly endless stream of crises and controversies .
But the forceful clearing of demonstrators from the park across from the White House has resonated like few others , prompting top military leaders and usually lockstep Republicans to distance themselves from him .
It 's one of those rare images that seem unlikely to be overwritten by tomorrow 's headlines , instead claiming a prominent place in Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It also could help shape an election less than five months away .
Even the Trump and members of his inner circle have privately expressed worry that its impact could be lasting .
`` It 's an indelible moment when the president of the United States ordered the use of force against peaceful protesters using their First Amendment rights in order to walk across Lafayette Square '' and hoist a Bible , said Steve Schmidt , senior adviser to John McCain 's 2008 presidential campaign .
`` In 10 minutes , he totally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Protests , some violent , had flooded America 's streets after the death of George Floyd , a Black man who was pinned under the knee of a white Minnesota police officer .
Trump had briefly been forced to take shelter in the emergency White House bunker , and flames had risen from St. John 's Church across from the executive mansion .
Lafayette Square was ordered to be cleared .
What happened was broadcast live to the nation : federal law enforcement officers using batons , shields , and chemical agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump walked to the church and awkwardly held up a Bible , accompanied by top officials .
The White House quickly produced a slick ad celebrating the triumph .
The ad does n't run anymore .
Aides have pointed fingers at each other as to who suggested what , while some of Washington 's most prominent figures , perhaps with an eye to the judgment of history , have tried to keep their distance .
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he was n't aware of what Trump had planned before he joined him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Joint Chiefs of Staff , issued a remarkable public apology for participating .
Several Republicans , including Sens .
James Lankford of Oklahoma and Ben Sasse of Nebraska , denounced the use of force and the display of religion .
Trump has seethed about what transpired , believing he was n't properly prepared by aides for the blowback and venting that media coverage was unfair , according to three White House and campaign officials not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations .
He was angered by Milley and Esper 's rebukes but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them dismissed , the officials said .
The Trump campaign , looking at internal polling , is worried about a drop in support for him coming amid questions about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic , which has killed nearly 120,000 Americans and put more than 40 million out of work .
And some in Trump 's inner circle have privately likened it to other dark days in his presidency .
In August 2017 , a clash erupted between white supremacists and anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville , Virginia , leaving one demonstrator dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump suggested there were `` very fine people on both sides '' of the violence , drawing rebukes from members of his own administration and party .
The next July , Trump stood next to Russia 's Vladimir Putin at a summit in Helsinki and declined to say he believed his own nation 's intelligence services ' conclusion that Moscow had interfered in the 2016 election .
Before Air Force One had even touched back down in Washington , Trump was faced with the biggest intraparty revolt of his term .
That summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a policy to separate immigrant children from their parents stunned a nation and were later cited by many Democratic strategists as a defining issue in that year 's midterm elections .
`` There are moments over the last three-and-a-half years that run so contrary to our self-conception that it causes us to pause and to ask the fundamental question : Are we losing ourselves in this moment ? ''
said Eddie Glaude , chair of the department of African American studies at Princeton University .
Trump 's bungled church photo-op has , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the demonstrations and sparked fears in Trump 's campaign it could be a breaking point for voters who cast their ballots for the Republican in 2016 but are uncertain this time .
Dozens of retired military leaders , including Trump 's first defense secretary , Jim Mattis , denounced what happened .
The campaign of Trump 's likely November rival , former Vice President Joe Biden , said it showed Trump felt his `` political fortune was more important '' than traditional American values .
`` When Donald Trump ordered the violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage a bizarre and offensive photo-op , it did n't project strength as he had intended , but instead reflected profound weakness , '' campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo said .
Despite closed-door concerns , Trump has continued to lean in on his tough law-and-order approach .
On Tuesday , during a White House signing ceremony for an executive order on police reform , Trump was surrounded by law enforcement leaders , not the families of victims of police misconduct .
And his campaign publicly continued to defend the decision to clear the park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump 's visit to historic St. John 's Church was a powerful statement to the American people that acts of violence against our cities and neighborhoods will not prevail , '' said Tim Murtaugh , the campaign 's communications director .
He said Trump was `` turning Americans ' anger into action '' with the executive order .
Trump has shaken off previous controversies that would have crippled other presidencies .
The two-year Russia investigation did n't cause his base supporters to waver , and his impeachment last winter was immediately dwarfed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe Trump may be able to cast aside Lafayette Square , too .
`` There are moments that we will remember , that will be in the first part of his legacy , but do n't change his support , '' said Julian Zelizer , presidential historian at Princeton University .
`` Considering the pandemic , the protests , and that the country has been shut down for months , it 's remarkable his approval is n't lower .
Anything can happen between now and November . ''

Charlottesville. Helsinki. The children in cages at the Mexican border.
And now Lafayette Square.
Only a few legacy-defining moments have clung to Donald Trump, who often appears to emerge relatively unscathed from a seemingly endless stream of crises and controversies. But the forceful clearing of demonstrators from the park across from the White House has resonated like few others, prompting top military leaders and usually lockstep Republicans to distance themselves from him.
It’s one of those rare images that seem unlikely to be overwritten by tomorrow’s headlines, instead claiming a prominent place in Trump’s entry in the history books. It also could help shape an election less than five months away. Even the Trump and members of his inner circle have privately expressed worry that its impact could be lasting.
“It’s an indelible moment when the president of the United States ordered the use of force against peaceful protesters using their First Amendment rights in order to walk across Lafayette Square” and hoist a Bible, said Steve Schmidt, senior adviser to John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. “In 10 minutes, he totally disgraced his office and committed sacrilege.”
Protests, some violent, had flooded America’s streets after the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was pinned under the knee of a white Minnesota police officer. Trump had briefly been forced to take shelter in the emergency White House bunker, and flames had risen from St. John’s Church across from the executive mansion. Lafayette Square was ordered to be cleared.
What happened was broadcast live to the nation: federal law enforcement officers using batons, shields, and chemical agents to forcibly push back peaceful protesters. Trump walked to the church and awkwardly held up a Bible, accompanied by top officials. The White House quickly produced a slick ad celebrating the triumph.
The ad doesn’t run anymore. Aides have pointed fingers at each other as to who suggested what, while some of Washington’s most prominent figures, perhaps with an eye to the judgment of history, have tried to keep their distance.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he wasn’t aware of what Trump had planned before he joined him. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued a remarkable public apology for participating. Several Republicans, including Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Ben Sasse of Nebraska, denounced the use of force and the display of religion.
Trump has seethed about what transpired, believing he wasn’t properly prepared by aides for the blowback and venting that media coverage was unfair, according to three White House and campaign officials not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations. He was angered by Milley and Esper’s rebukes but, for now, doesn’t want them dismissed, the officials said.
The Trump campaign, looking at internal polling, is worried about a drop in support for him coming amid questions about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed nearly 120,000 Americans and put more than 40 million out of work. And some in Trump’s inner circle have privately likened it to other dark days in his presidency.
In August 2017, a clash erupted between white supremacists and anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, leaving one demonstrator dead. In the days that followed, Trump suggested there were “very fine people on both sides” of the violence, drawing rebukes from members of his own administration and party.
The next July, Trump stood next to Russia’s Vladimir Putin at a summit in Helsinki and declined to say he believed his own nation’s intelligence services’ conclusion that Moscow had interfered in the 2016 election. Before Air Force One had even touched back down in Washington, Trump was faced with the biggest intraparty revolt of his term.
That summer, images of his administration’s enforcement of a policy to separate immigrant children from their parents stunned a nation and were later cited by many Democratic strategists as a defining issue in that year’s midterm elections.
“There are moments over the last three-and-a-half years that run so contrary to our self-conception that it causes us to pause and to ask the fundamental question: Are we losing ourselves in this moment?” said Eddie Glaude, chair of the department of African American studies at Princeton University.
Trump’s bungled church photo-op has, according to polling, generated widespread sympathy for the demonstrations and sparked fears in Trump’s campaign it could be a breaking point for voters who cast their ballots for the Republican in 2016 but are uncertain this time.
Dozens of retired military leaders, including Trump’s first defense secretary, Jim Mattis, denounced what happened. The campaign of Trump’s likely November rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, said it showed Trump felt his “political fortune was more important” than traditional American values.
“When Donald Trump ordered the violent removal of peaceful protesters so he could stage a bizarre and offensive photo-op, it didn’t project strength as he had intended, but instead reflected profound weakness,” campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo said.
Despite closed-door concerns, Trump has continued to lean in on his tough law-and-order approach. On Tuesday, during a White House signing ceremony for an executive order on police reform, Trump was surrounded by law enforcement leaders, not the families of victims of police misconduct. And his campaign publicly continued to defend the decision to clear the park across from the West Wing.
“President Trump’s visit to historic St. John’s Church was a powerful statement to the American people that acts of violence against our cities and neighborhoods will not prevail,” said Tim Murtaugh, the campaign’s communications director. He said Trump was “turning Americans’ anger into action” with the executive order.
Trump has shaken off previous controversies that would have crippled other presidencies. The two-year Russia investigation didn’t cause his base supporters to waver, and his impeachment last winter was immediately dwarfed by the approaching pandemic. Some observers believe Trump may be able to cast aside Lafayette Square, too.
“There are moments that we will remember, that will be in the first part of his legacy, but don’t change his support,” said Julian Zelizer, presidential historian at Princeton University. “Considering the pandemic, the protests, and that the country has been shut down for months, it’s remarkable his approval isn’t lower. Anything can happen between now and November.”


shareblue--2020-06-22--11 times Trump's offensive comments were 'just a joke'

The White House is once again in damage control mode after Donald Trump said at a campaign rally on Saturday that he purposefully asked for coronavirus testing to be slowed down because too many tests were coming back positive .
`` Here 's the bad part , when you test the , when you do testing to that extent , you 're going to find more people , you 're going to find more cases .
So I said to my people , slow the testing down please ! ''
Trump said in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
`` They test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the people do n't know what 's going on .
We got tests .
We got another one over here .
The young man 's 10 years old .
He 's got the sniffles .
He 'll recover in about 15 minutes .
That 's a case .
Add him too , that 's a case . ''
The comments were immediately met with backlash , as Americans struggled for weeks to obtain coronavirus tests at the outset of the pandemic .
Public health experts say the tests are a helpful tool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
To stop the criticism , Trump 's aides reverted to one of their tried and true tactics when Trump finds himself embroiled in controversy : They claimed the comment was just a joke .
Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Sunday that Trump was `` obviously kidding '' when he made that remark .
And White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump 's `` slow the testing down '' comment was made `` in jest . ''
Trump , however , did not say he was joking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released on Monday , Trump would n't answer when he was asked if he was joking about asking for testing to be slowed down .
Here are 10 other times Trump or his defenders claimed his offensive or off-color remarks were just jokes .
In a now infamous news conference in July 2016 , Trump called on Russia to find emails Hillary Clinton had deleted from her private server — a controversy for which she was never charged with any crime and one which likely helped sink her presidential bid .
`` Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hope you 're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing , '' Trump said at the time .
`` I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press . ''
Now-former special counsel Robert Mueller later said that Russia made its first attempt to hack into Clinton 's email server the very same day Trump made that comment .
Trump has since claimed he was joking when he asked Russia to find Clinton 's emails .
`` I made the statement quoted in Question II ( d ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparent to any objective observer , '' he wrote in November 2018 , in a series of written responses to questions Mueller 's team had sent him in the course of its investigation .
Mueller later said Trump 's responses were lackluster and incomplete and were inadequate in helping his investigation proceed .
Trump also repeatedly refused to sit down and speak with Mueller or address any follow-ups to those questions .
During the 2016 campaign , Trump repeatedly praised WikiLeaks for releasing hacked emails from Clinton 's campaign .
`` WikiLeaks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a rally in Pennsylvania that October .
But in 2019 , after WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested and charged with trying to steal government secrets , former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump was just `` making a joke '' when he repeatedly praised the organization .
`` Look , clearly the president was making a joke during the 2016 campaign , '' Sanders told `` Fox News Sunday '' last year .
`` Certainly we take this serious . ''
Obama is the `` founder of ISIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump claimed former President Barack Obama was the `` founder '' of the terrorist organization ISIS .
In August that year , conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt tried to nudge Trump into saying he had n't meant his comment literally , but rather that Obama 's policies helped lead to ISIS .
Trump did n't take the bait , saying he literally meant that Obama had founded ISIS .
`` No , I meant he 's the founder of ISIS , '' Trump said on Hewitt 's show .
`` I do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I give him the most valuable player award .
I give her , too , by the way , Hillary Clinton . ''
Trump eventually tried to claim he had only been joking , only after criticism against him began to mount .
`` Ratings challenged @ CNN reports so seriously that I call President Obama ( and Clinton ) 'the founder ' of ISIS , & MVP .
THEY DO N'T GET SARCASM ? ''
Trump tweeted on Aug. 12 , 2016 .
In July 2017 , during a speech to law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York , Trump told police they should n't be `` too nice '' with suspects .
`` Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you ’ re protecting their head , you know , the way you put their hand over ? ''
Trump said , acting out the scenario on stage of how officers ensure suspects do n't hit their heads while putting them into patrol cars .
`` Like , do n't hit their head , and they just killed somebody — do n't hit their head .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand away , OK ? ''
Amid backlash , then-White House press secretary Sanders tried to claim Trump was joking .
`` I believe he was making a joke at the time , '' she told reporters that same month .
Trump has notably shown in recent days that he believes law enforcement should brutalize suspects — including a call for police to shoot looters at racial justice protests across the country .
Trump called Democrats who did n't applaud for him `` treasonous '' After his State of the Union address in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who did not clap at every aspect of his speech .
`` Even on positive news — really positive news , like that — they were like death and un-American .
Un-American , '' Trump said .
`` Somebody said treasonous .
Yeah , I guess , why not ?
Can we call that treason ?
Why not ?
I mean , they certainly did n't seem to love our country very much . ''
Sanders later said said Trump — who has a penchant for accusing people he does n't like or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — was `` clearly joking '' when he made that accusation .
`` Any guy who can do a body slam — he 's my guy '' During a speech in October 2018 , Trump praised Republican Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte for body slamming a reporter during a special election in 2017 .
`` Any guy who can do a body slam — he 's my guy , '' Trump said at a campaign rally in the state .
Once again , after that comment drew an outcry , now-House Minority Whip Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` President Trump was clearly ribbing Congressman Gianforte for last year 's incident , which he apologized for last year , '' Scalise tweeted at the time .
`` It 's obvious he was not encouraging his supporters to engage in attacks , and not one person harassed the numerous media reporters who were present . ''
`` I am the chosen one '' In August of 2019 , as his trade war with China was raging , Trump claimed he was the `` chosen one '' to fix trade disparities between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do it , '' Trump said , before looking to the sky and saying , `` I am the Chosen One . ''
`` I was put here by people , '' he continued .
`` I was put here by people to do a great job .
And that 's what I 'm doing . ''
That comment came hours after Trump tweeted a comment from a right-wing pundit who called Trump the `` the second coming of God . ''
When asked the next day about why he had compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter who posed the question .
`` Let me tell you , you know exactly what I meant .
It was sarcasm .
It was joking , '' Trump said .
`` We were all smiling .
And a question like that is just fake news .
You 're just a faker . ''
Floating pardons for aides who defy the law In August 2019 , the Washington Post reported that Trump once floated pardons for aides who defied the law in order to help get Trump 's border wall built .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Post that Trump was joking when he made the comment .
Trump later appeared to undercut that claim , tweeting , `` The Amazon Washington Post and @ CNN just did a Fake Interview on Pardons for Aids on the Wall , and that I did n't think the Wall on the Southern Border was that important to stop Illegals wanting to come into our Country .
WRONG , vitally important .
Will make a BIG impact .
So bad ! ''
`` China should start an investigation into the Bidens '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , Trump infamously called on China to look into now-presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Trump made the remark while defending his efforts to force Ukraine to investigate Biden , for which he was ultimately impeached .
`` And by the way , likewise , China should start an investigation into the Bidens , because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine , '' Trump said .
Sen. Marco Rubio ( R-FL ) quickly came to Trump 's defense , saying Trump was just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the comment and was n't actually serious .
The White House , however , would n't confirm whether Rubio 's comment was accurate .
More recently , in a tell-all book , former national security adviser John Bolton said Trump tried to get China to help Trump 's reelection bid .
Earlier this year , as the coronavirus pandemic continued to worsen , Trump wondered aloud at a White House briefing whether injecting disinfectant could cure those afflicted with the coronavirus .
Trump was mocked for the comment , which got so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lysol had to officially warn the public not to follow Trump 's advice .
Trump went on to claim he was being `` sarcastic '' when he floated the idea .
`` I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters just like you , just to see what would happen , '' Trump said at a bill signing for coronavirus aid .
`` I was asking a sarcastic and a very sarcastic question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside .
But it does kill it and it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would make things much better . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The White House is once again in damage control mode after Donald Trump said at a campaign rally on Saturday that he purposefully asked for coronavirus testing to be slowed down because too many tests were coming back positive.
“Here’s the bad part, when you test the, when you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people, you’re going to find more cases. So I said to my people, slow the testing down please!” Trump said in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “They test and they test. We had tests, the people don’t know what’s going on. We got tests. We got another one over here. The young man’s 10 years old. He’s got the sniffles. He’ll recover in about 15 minutes. That’s a case. Add him too, that’s a case.”
The comments were immediately met with backlash, as Americans struggled for weeks to obtain coronavirus tests at the outset of the pandemic. Public health experts say the tests are a helpful tool to identify outbreaks and slow the spread of the virus.
To stop the criticism, Trump’s aides reverted to one of their tried and true tactics when Trump finds himself embroiled in controversy: They claimed the comment was just a joke.
Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Sunday that Trump was “obviously kidding” when he made that remark. And White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump’s “slow the testing down” comment was made “in jest.”
Trump, however, did not say he was joking. In an interview with Scripps television released on Monday, Trump wouldn’t answer when he was asked if he was joking about asking for testing to be slowed down.
Here are 10 other times Trump or his defenders claimed his offensive or off-color remarks were just jokes.
“Russia, if you’re listening”
In a now infamous news conference in July 2016, Trump called on Russia to find emails Hillary Clinton had deleted from her private server — a controversy for which she was never charged with any crime and one which likely helped sink her presidential bid.
“Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” Trump said at the time. “I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.”
Now-former special counsel Robert Mueller later said that Russia made its first attempt to hack into Clinton’s email server the very same day Trump made that comment.
Trump has since claimed he was joking when he asked Russia to find Clinton’s emails.
“I made the statement quoted in Question II (d) in jest and sarcastically, as was apparent to any objective observer,” he wrote in November 2018, in a series of written responses to questions Mueller’s team had sent him in the course of its investigation.
Mueller later said Trump’s responses were lackluster and incomplete and were inadequate in helping his investigation proceed. Trump also repeatedly refused to sit down and speak with Mueller or address any follow-ups to those questions.
Praise for WikiLeaks
During the 2016 campaign, Trump repeatedly praised WikiLeaks for releasing hacked emails from Clinton’s campaign.
“WikiLeaks, I love WikiLeaks,” he said at a rally in Pennsylvania that October.
But in 2019, after WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested and charged with trying to steal government secrets, former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump was just “making a joke” when he repeatedly praised the organization.
“Look, clearly the president was making a joke during the 2016 campaign,” Sanders told “Fox News Sunday” last year. “Certainly we take this serious.”
Obama is the “founder of ISIS”
Again during the 2016 campaign, Trump claimed former President Barack Obama was the “founder” of the terrorist organization ISIS.
The accusation drew widespread condemnation.
In August that year, conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt tried to nudge Trump into saying he hadn’t meant his comment literally, but rather that Obama’s policies helped lead to ISIS.
Trump didn’t take the bait, saying he literally meant that Obama had founded ISIS.
“No, I meant he’s the founder of ISIS,” Trump said on Hewitt’s show. “I do. He was the most valuable player. I give him the most valuable player award. I give her, too, by the way, Hillary Clinton.”
Trump eventually tried to claim he had only been joking, only after criticism against him began to mount.
“Ratings challenged @CNN reports so seriously that I call President Obama (and Clinton) ‘the founder’ of ISIS, & MVP. THEY DON’T GET SARCASM?” Trump tweeted on Aug. 12, 2016.
Trump urged law enforcement to rough up suspects
In July 2017, during a speech to law enforcement officers on Long Island, New York, Trump told police they shouldn’t be “too nice” with suspects.
“Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over?” Trump said, acting out the scenario on stage of how officers ensure suspects don’t hit their heads while putting them into patrol cars. “Like, don’t hit their head, and they just killed somebody — don’t hit their head. I said, you can take the hand away, OK?”
Amid backlash, then-White House press secretary Sanders tried to claim Trump was joking.
“I believe he was making a joke at the time,” she told reporters that same month.
Trump has notably shown in recent days that he believes law enforcement should brutalize suspects — including a call for police to shoot looters at racial justice protests across the country.
Trump called Democrats who didn’t applaud for him “treasonous”
After his State of the Union address in February 2018, Trump attacked Democratic lawmakers who did not clap at every aspect of his speech.
“Even on positive news — really positive news, like that — they were like death and un-American. Un-American,” Trump said. “Somebody said treasonous. Yeah, I guess, why not? Can we call that treason? Why not? I mean, they certainly didn’t seem to love our country very much.”
Sanders later said said Trump — who has a penchant for accusing people he doesn’t like or those critical of him of committing treason — was “clearly joking” when he made that accusation.
“Any guy who can do a body slam — he’s my guy”
During a speech in October 2018, Trump praised Republican Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte for body slamming a reporter during a special election in 2017.
“Any guy who can do a body slam — he’s my guy,” Trump said at a campaign rally in the state.
Once again, after that comment drew an outcry, now-House Minority Whip Steve Scalise claimed Trump had only been joking.
“President Trump was clearly ribbing Congressman Gianforte for last year’s incident, which he apologized for last year,” Scalise tweeted at the time. “It’s obvious he was not encouraging his supporters to engage in attacks, and not one person harassed the numerous media reporters who were present.”
“I am the chosen one”
In August of 2019, as his trade war with China was raging, Trump claimed he was the “chosen one” to fix trade disparities between the two countries.
“Somebody had to do it,” Trump said, before looking to the sky and saying, “I am the Chosen One.”
“I was put here by people,” he continued. “I was put here by people to do a great job. And that’s what I’m doing.”
That comment came hours after Trump tweeted a comment from a right-wing pundit who called Trump the “the second coming of God.”
When asked the next day about why he had compared himself to God, Trump attacked the reporter who posed the question.
“Let me tell you, you know exactly what I meant. It was sarcasm. It was joking,” Trump said. “We were all smiling. And a question like that is just fake news. You’re just a faker.”
Floating pardons for aides who defy the law
In August 2019, the Washington Post reported that Trump once floated pardons for aides who defied the law in order to help get Trump’s border wall built.
An anonymous White House aide later claimed to the Post that Trump was joking when he made the comment.
Trump later appeared to undercut that claim, tweeting, “The Amazon Washington Post and @CNN just did a Fake Interview on Pardons for Aids on the Wall, and that I didn’t think the Wall on the Southern Border was that important to stop Illegals wanting to come into our Country. WRONG, vitally important. Will make a BIG impact. So bad!”
“China should start an investigation into the Bidens”
During the House impeachment investigation in October 2019, Trump infamously called on China to look into now-presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Trump made the remark while defending his efforts to force Ukraine to investigate Biden, for which he was ultimately impeached.
“And by the way, likewise, China should start an investigation into the Bidens, because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine,” Trump said.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) quickly came to Trump’s defense, saying Trump was just “needling” the press when he made the comment and wasn’t actually serious.
The White House, however, wouldn’t confirm whether Rubio’s comment was accurate.
More recently, in a tell-all book, former national security adviser John Bolton said Trump tried to get China to help Trump’s reelection bid.
Trump floats injecting disinfectent as coronavirus cure
Earlier this year, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to worsen,Trump wondered aloud at a White House briefing whether injecting disinfectant could cure those afflicted with the coronavirus.
Trump was mocked for the comment, which got so much attention that the popular disinfectant maker Lysol had to officially warn the public not to follow Trump’s advice.
Trump went on to claim he was being “sarcastic” when he floated the idea.
“I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters just like you, just to see what would happen,” Trump said at a bill signing for coronavirus aid. “I was asking a sarcastic and a very sarcastic question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside. But it does kill it and it would kill it on the hands, and it would make things much better.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-22--Watchdog to investigate tear-gassing of protesters before Trump photo-op

An Interior Department watchdog office will investigate law enforcement and security forces ' violent clearing of protesters from a square in front of the White House earlier this month .
The Interior Department 's U.S. Park Police and other forces released chemical agents and at times punched and clubbed a largely peaceful of crowd of demonstrators to drive the public from Lafayette Square on June 1 , during nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd .
Three Democratic lawmakers — Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Reps. Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Debra Haaland of New Mexico — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee Greenblatt to investigate the actions that night of the Park Police , who oversee some of the nation 's most iconic national monuments .
Greenblatt agreed late last week , telling the lawmakers that Interior Secretary David Bernhardt had also asked for the review .
`` Given the significance of the events , we have already begun collecting and reviewing information concerning the Park Police 's activities , '' he told the Democrats .
The agency 's first task will be determining which of the many agencies was in charge of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenblatt said .
That `` adds complex and jurisdictional challenges '' to the watchdog office 's work , he wrote .
Authorities have given at times conflicting accounts about who oversaw and ordered the forceful routing of protesters from Lafayette Square .
Besides a range of law officers , the Secret Service and Attorney General William Barr were among those present at various times then .
Forces drove the crowd from the square shortly before Donald Trump walked unannounced to an area nearby to pose for photos .
The administration has denied demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Bernhardt , the interior secretary , has said violent attacks by the crowd warranted clearing the protesters .
Reporters and other witnesses and Democratic lawmakers say they saw little sign of that scale of violence by the crowd .

An Interior Department watchdog office will investigate law enforcement and security forces’ violent clearing of protesters from a square in front of the White House earlier this month.
The Interior Department’s U.S. Park Police and other forces released chemical agents and at times punched and clubbed a largely peaceful of crowd of demonstrators to drive the public from Lafayette Square on June 1, during nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd.
Three Democratic lawmakers — Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Reps. Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Debra Haaland of New Mexico — had asked Interior Department inspector general Mark Lee Greenblatt to investigate the actions that night of the Park Police, who oversee some of the nation’s most iconic national monuments.
Greenblatt agreed late last week, telling the lawmakers that Interior Secretary David Bernhardt had also asked for the review.
“Given the significance of the events, we have already begun collecting and reviewing information concerning the Park Police’s activities,” he told the Democrats.
The agency’s first task will be determining which of the many agencies was in charge of law enforcement in the square that night, Greenblatt said. That “adds complex and jurisdictional challenges” to the watchdog office’s work, he wrote.
Authorities have given at times conflicting accounts about who oversaw and ordered the forceful routing of protesters from Lafayette Square. Besides a range of law officers, the Secret Service and Attorney General William Barr were among those present at various times then.
Forces drove the crowd from the square shortly before Donald Trump walked unannounced to an area nearby to pose for photos.
The administration has denied demonstrators were cleared out to make way for Trump. Bernhardt, the interior secretary, has said violent attacks by the crowd warranted clearing the protesters. Reporters and other witnesses and Democratic lawmakers say they saw little sign of that scale of violence by the crowd.


shareblue--2020-06-22--White House keeps changing defense of Trump's brag that he slowed virus testing

Less than two days after Donald Trump bragged about undermining coronavirus testing , his team has offered contradictory explanations for what he said .
Some administration officials said his comments at a campaign rally in Oklahoma on Saturday were meant as a joke .
Some said they were an `` observation . ''
And Trump 's press secretary offered both explanations at once .
`` When you do testing to that extent you 're going to find more people , you 're going to find cases , '' Trump told several thousand supporters at his rally in Tulsa .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'Slow the testing down , please . '
They test and they test .
We got tests for people who do n't know what 's going on . ''
On Sunday , Trump adviser Peter Navarro played it as a joke .
`` Come on now , Jake .
You know that was tongue in cheek , '' he told CNN 's Jake Tapper .
He said it had been `` a light moment for him at a rally . ''
Trump 's campaign team had made the same argument that morning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement from the campaign 's communications director Tim Murtaugh claiming Trump `` was clearly making a joke about media coverage and making the point that more testing means finding more cases of the virus . ''
But on Monday , Mike Pence was heard on a regular call with the nation 's governors saying that the comment had been `` a passing observation . ''
He did not say that the comment had been a joke .
At a Monday afternoon press conference , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that he had made it `` in jest . ''
`` The president was trying to expose what the media often times does , is they ignore the fact that the United States has more cases because we have more testing .
We are leading the world in testing and he was pointing that out , '' McEnany said .
`` It was a comment that he made in jest , it 's a comment that he made in passing , '' she said , `` specifically with regard to the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not joking about the coronavirus itself , but about the media 's `` failure to understand the fact that when you test more , you also find more cases . ''
On Monday , Trump was asked directly by a reporter if he had really sought to slow down coronavirus testing .
Rather than answer , he replied : `` If it did slow down , frankly , I think we 're way ahead of ourselves , if you wan na know the truth .
We 've done too good of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time Trump had suggested that the number of coronavirus tests was unfairly making him look bad .
Last month , he suggested testing was `` overrated '' because `` when you test , you have a case . ''
`` When you test , you find something is wrong with people , '' he said in a speech .
`` If we did n't do any testing , we would have very few cases . ''
He repeated this argument last Monday , saying at a White House event , `` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd have very few cases , actually . ''
Public health experts have faulted the administration for inadequate testing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` We 've been woefully behind this entire time .
And I think what most Americans need to know is the reason we are shut down — our economy is shut down — is because we 've had inadequate testing , '' Dr. Ashish Jha , director of the Harvard Global Health Institute , told CNN in April .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Less than two days after Donald Trump bragged about undermining coronavirus testing, his team has offered contradictory explanations for what he said.
Some administration officials said his comments at a campaign rally in Oklahoma on Saturday were meant as a joke. Some said they were an “observation.” And Trump’s press secretary offered both explanations at once.
“When you do testing to that extent you’re going to find more people, you’re going to find cases,” Trump told several thousand supporters at his rally in Tulsa. “So I said to my people, ‘Slow the testing down, please.’ They test and they test. We got tests for people who don’t know what’s going on.”
On Sunday, Trump adviser Peter Navarro played it as a joke. “Come on now, Jake. You know that was tongue in cheek,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper. He said it had been “a light moment for him at a rally.”
Trump’s campaign team had made the same argument that morning. A reporter in Oklahoma City tweeted a statement from the campaign’s communications director Tim Murtaugh claiming Trump “was clearly making a joke about media coverage and making the point that more testing means finding more cases of the virus.”
But on Monday, Mike Pence was heard on a regular call with the nation’s governors saying that the comment had been “a passing observation.” He did not say that the comment had been a joke.
At a Monday afternoon press conference, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump had made the comment “in passing” and that he had made it “in jest.”
“The president was trying to expose what the media often times does, is they ignore the fact that the United States has more cases because we have more testing. We are leading the world in testing and he was pointing that out,” McEnany said.
“It was a comment that he made in jest, it’s a comment that he made in passing,” she said, “specifically with regard to the media coverage.” She said that he was not joking about the coronavirus itself, but about the media’s “failure to understand the fact that when you test more, you also find more cases.”
On Monday, Trump was asked directly by a reporter if he had really sought to slow down coronavirus testing. Rather than answer, he replied: “If it did slow down, frankly, I think we’re way ahead of ourselves, if you wanna know the truth. We’ve done too good of a job.”
Saturday was not the first time Trump had suggested that the number of coronavirus tests was unfairly making him look bad.
Last month, he suggested testing was “overrated” because “when you test, you have a case.” “When you test, you find something is wrong with people,” he said in a speech. “If we didn’t do any testing, we would have very few cases.”
He repeated this argument last Monday, saying at a White House event, “If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, actually.”
Public health experts have faulted the administration for inadequate testing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve been woefully behind this entire time. And I think what most Americans need to know is the reason we are shut down — our economy is shut down — is because we’ve had inadequate testing,” Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told CNN in April.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-22--McEnany: Trump used racist term for virus 'to stand up for our US military'

On Monday , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Donald Trump 's use of a racist term to describe COVID-19 .
At his sparsely attended campaign rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , on Saturday , Trump used the term `` kung flu '' when discussing the virus .
`` This disease , without question , has more names than any disease in history .
I can name kung flu .
I can name 19 different versions of names , '' Trump said .
Asked by reporters to justify using the term , McEnany said Trump invoked the racist phrase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from China and to stand up for our U.S .
military . ''
Trump was not referring to China 's attempts at disinformation when he made his remarks Saturday .
When reports surfaced in March that White House aides had been using the racist phrase , senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told reporters the language was `` highly offensive '' and `` very hurtful '' while disputing that it had been used by anyone in the administration .
YAMICHE ALCINDOR , PBS : Going back to the issue of `` kung flu '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
She said that it was highly offensive and wrong to use that term .
Does the president agree with Kellyanne Conway or is he now saying that that term is not highly offensive and wrong ?
Because again , that was Kellyanne Conway 's own words saying `` kung flu '' is wrong .
KAYLEIGH McENANY : The president does not believe it 's offensive to note that this virus came from China and to stand up for our U.S. military , who China 's making an active effort to completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Monday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Donald Trump’s use of a racist term to describe COVID-19.
At his sparsely attended campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, Trump used the term “kung-flu” when discussing the virus.
“This disease, without question, has more names than any disease in history. I can name kung-flu. I can name 19 different versions of names,” Trump said.
Asked by reporters to justify using the term, McEnany said Trump invoked the racist phrase “to note that this virus came from China and to stand up for our U.S. military.”
Trump was not referring to China’s attempts at disinformation when he made his remarks Saturday.
When reports surfaced in March that White House aides had been using the racist phrase, senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told reporters the language was “highly offensive” and “very hurtful” while disputing that it had been used by anyone in the administration.
From a June 22 press briefing:
YAMICHE ALCINDOR, PBS: Going back to the issue of “kung-flu” — I spoke to Kellyanne Conway in March. She said that it was highly offensive and wrong to use that term. Does the president agree with Kellyanne Conway or is he now saying that that term is not highly offensive and wrong? Because again, that was Kellyanne Conway’s own words saying “kung-flu” is wrong. KAYLEIGH McENANY: The president does not believe it’s offensive to note that this virus came from China and to stand up for our U.S. military, who China’s making an active effort to completely defame, and that is unacceptable to the president.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-22--New lawsuit seeks to stop Trump attack on LGBTQ health care

A week after a historic U.S. Supreme Court victory for equality in the workplace , a civil rights group is suing the Trump administration over its most recent attack on the LGBTQ community .
Lambda Legal , a legal advocacy organization focused on the LGBTQ community , announced it is filing suit with co-counsel Steptoe & Johnson LLP to oppose a Trump administration rule that they say would allow discrimination against LGBTQ people in health care .
The Department of Health and Human Services finalized the rule on June 12 ; it is scheduled to go into effect on Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulation under Obamacare that defined discrimination based on sex to include `` one 's internal sense of gender , which may be male , female , neither , or a combination of male and female , and which may be different from an individual 's sex assigned at birth . ''
Health and Human Services said it considered discrimination based on sex `` according to the plain meaning of the word 'sex ' as male or female and as determined by biology . ''
The new rule also removed protections against discrimination in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminated language access requirements .
Lambda Legal and Steptoe represent a coalition of LGBTQ groups , their LGBTQ staff , and the LGBTQ people these organizations serve .
The groups include Whitman-Walker Health in Washington , D.C. ; the TransLatin @ Coalition in Los Angeles ; the Los Angeles LGBT Center ; GLMA : Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality in Washington , D.C. ; and four individual doctors .
The suit against the Department of Health and Human Services comes exactly a week after the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars employment discrimination based on sex , includes discrimination against LGBTQ people .
Omar Gonzalez-Pagan , a senior attorney and health care strategist with Lambda Legal , said the Supreme Court decision is `` wind in our sails . ''
`` Now there is no doubt that discrimination based on transgender status is a form of sex discrimination ...
The actions of this administration are in defiance of Supreme Court precedent and authority and part of an agenda to hurt the LGBTQ community , '' said Gonzalez-Pagan .
Bamby Salcedo , founder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of the LGBTQ people Lambda Legal is filing suit on behalf of .
`` I 'm trans Latina undocumented immigrant who has experienced discrimination while trying to access health care ...
The discrimination we experience starts from the beginning — not just doctors but security guards , receptionists , and further on , and those who are lucky to get in front of doctor are discriminated against because of who we are .
I 've been told , 'We do n't serve people like you . '
This is something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Fear of discrimination often drives LGBTQ people to avoid getting the health care they need .
According to a survey published in 2017 by the Center for American Progress on discrimination in the LGBTQ community , 23.5 % of transgender respondents had avoided doctors ' offices in the previous year compared to 4.4 % of cisgender lesbian , gay , and bisexual respondents .
The attacks on LGBTQ people 's access to health care come as they continue to grapple with a pandemic that affects their economic security as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs as states have enforced health measures , or they often work in jobs that are more likely to expose them to the coronavirus .
Many LGBTQ people have an increased risk of severe illness resulting from infection with the coronavirus .
Naseema Shafi , the CEO of Whitman-Walker , said , `` We do know that the coronavirus is disproportionately impacting the LGBTQ community broadly .
Many of the essential workers here in the District of Columbia are members of the LGBTQ community and as a result are more likely to contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Because we know a lot of testing that is happening across the country is happening in lockup environments or drive-through environments , I do think it is a fairly good assumption that there will be and probably already is discrimination in how people are accessing that care . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A week after a historic U.S. Supreme Court victory for equality in the workplace, a civil rights group is suing the Trump administration over its most recent attack on the LGBTQ community.
Lambda Legal, a legal advocacy organization focused on the LGBTQ community, announced it is filing suit with co-counsel Steptoe & Johnson LLP to oppose a Trump administration rule that they say would allow discrimination against LGBTQ people in health care.
The Department of Health and Human Services finalized the rule on June 12; it is scheduled to go into effect on Aug. 18. It would roll back a regulation under Obamacare that defined discrimination based on sex to include “one’s internal sense of gender, which may be male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female, and which may be different from an individual’s sex assigned at birth.”
Health and Human Services said it considered discrimination based on sex “according to the plain meaning of the word ‘sex’ as male or female and as determined by biology.”
The new rule also removed protections against discrimination in health care based on HIV status and eliminated language access requirements.
Lambda Legal and Steptoe represent a coalition of LGBTQ groups, their LGBTQ staff, and the LGBTQ people these organizations serve. The groups include Whitman-Walker Health in Washington, D.C.; the TransLatin@ Coalition in Los Angeles; the Los Angeles LGBT Center; GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality in Washington, D.C.; and four individual doctors.
The suit against the Department of Health and Human Services comes exactly a week after the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars employment discrimination based on sex, includes discrimination against LGBTQ people.
Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, a senior attorney and health care strategist with Lambda Legal, said the Supreme Court decision is “wind in our sails.”
“Now there is no doubt that discrimination based on transgender status is a form of sex discrimination … The actions of this administration are in defiance of Supreme Court precedent and authority and part of an agenda to hurt the LGBTQ community,” said Gonzalez-Pagan.
Bamby Salcedo, founder of the TransLatin@ Coalition, said she is one of the LGBTQ people Lambda Legal is filing suit on behalf of.
“I’m trans Latina undocumented immigrant who has experienced discrimination while trying to access health care … The discrimination we experience starts from the beginning — not just doctors but security guards, receptionists, and further on, and those who are lucky to get in front of doctor are discriminated against because of who we are. I’ve been told, ‘We don’t serve people like you.’ This is something that happens even in 2020,” Salcedo said.
Fear of discrimination often drives LGBTQ people to avoid getting the health care they need. According to a survey published in 2017 by the Center for American Progress on discrimination in the LGBTQ community, 23.5% of transgender respondents had avoided doctors’ offices in the previous year compared to 4.4% of cisgender lesbian, gay, and bisexual respondents.
The attacks on LGBTQ people’s access to health care come as they continue to grapple with a pandemic that affects their economic security as well as their health. LGBTQ people have lost jobs as states have enforced health measures, or they often work in jobs that are more likely to expose them to the coronavirus.
Many LGBTQ people have an increased risk of severe illness resulting from infection with the coronavirus.
Naseema Shafi, the CEO of Whitman-Walker, said, “We do know that the coronavirus is disproportionately impacting the LGBTQ community broadly. Many of the essential workers here in the District of Columbia are members of the LGBTQ community and as a result are more likely to contract the coronavirus.”
Said Shafi, “Because we know a lot of testing that is happening across the country is happening in lockup environments or drive-through environments, I do think it is a fairly good assumption that there will be and probably already is discrimination in how people are accessing that care.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-22--Alabama Senate candidate profits from companies sued for role in opioid crisis

Alabama Republican Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville has said fighting drug addiction is one of his top priorities .
But his latest financial disclosures show he and his wife have significant holdings in stocks of companies that have profited from opioids .
In October , the former Auburn University football coach was interviewed by the website Talk Business & Politics in his native Arkansas about his candidacy and cited the drug crisis as a top priority .
`` A lot of people are hurting , and one thing if we do n't stop , if we do n't stop the influx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to make it .
We do n't really realize how many people we 're losing , '' Tuberville said .
`` Last year , we lost 60- to 70,000 people for overdosing on drugs . ''
That same month , Tuberville expressed concern about opioid addiction in comments to the Daily Mountain Eagle in Jasper , Alabama .
`` I saw that being a coach .
We had kids I coached ending up in the last 10 years being hooked on opioids simply because they were pain killers , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to educating people what you can do , what you ca n't do , what drugs you are taking .
It is really out of control . ''
He noted that opioid companies were now `` paying a price '' by being sued over the opioid addiction crisis .
Three such companies are pharmaceutical giants AmerisourceBergen , Johnson & Johnson , and Teva Pharmaceuticals .
Each has completed or nearly completed settlement agreements with state and local governments over its role in distributing opioids in the states .
A review of Tuberville 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate earlier this month , shows that he and his wife Suzanne jointly own tens of thousands of dollars ' worth of stocks in those three companies .
The pair listed holdings of between $ 16,002 and $ 65,000 worth of stock in Johnson & Johnson , which yielded them at least $ 201 in dividends last year .
They reported $ 15,001 to $ 50,000 in AmerisourceBergen stock , which also yielded $ 201 or more in dividends .
They also said they owned less than $ 1,001 worth of Teva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to inquiries for this story .
Tuberville faces former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a July 14 Republican primary runoff .
The winner will challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones this November .
Hundreds of Alabamians have died in recent years from causes related to opioids .
Opioids accounted for nearly half of the state 's overdose deaths in 2018 , according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Alabama Republican Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville has said fighting drug addiction is one of his top priorities. But his latest financial disclosures show he and his wife have significant holdings in stocks of companies that have profited from opioids.
In October, the former Auburn University football coach was interviewed by the website Talk Business & Politics in his native Arkansas about his candidacy and cited the drug crisis as a top priority.
“A lot of people are hurting, and one thing if we don’t stop, if we don’t stop the influx of drugs in this country we’re not going to make it. We don’t really realize how many people we’re losing,” Tuberville said. “Last year, we lost 60- to 70,000 people for overdosing on drugs.”
That same month, Tuberville expressed concern about opioid addiction in comments to the Daily Mountain Eagle in Jasper, Alabama. “I saw that being a coach. We had kids I coached ending up in the last 10 years being hooked on opioids simply because they were pain killers,” he said. “It all goes back to educating people what you can do, what you can’t do, what drugs you are taking. It is really out of control.” He noted that opioid companies were now “paying a price” by being sued over the opioid addiction crisis.
Three such companies are pharmaceutical giants AmerisourceBergen, Johnson & Johnson, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Each has completed or nearly completed settlement agreements with state and local governments over its role in distributing opioids in the states.
A review of Tuberville’s personal financial disclosure form, filed with the Senate earlier this month, shows that he and his wife Suzanne jointly own tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of stocks in those three companies.
The pair listed holdings of between $16,002 and $65,000 worth of stock in Johnson & Johnson, which yielded them at least $201 in dividends last year. They reported $15,001 to $50,000 in AmerisourceBergen stock, which also yielded $201 or more in dividends. They also said they owned less than $1,001 worth of Teva Pharmaceuticals stock.
Tuberville’s campaign did not respond to inquiries for this story.
Tuberville faces former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a July 14 Republican primary runoff. The winner will challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones this November.
Hundreds of Alabamians have died in recent years from causes related to opioids. Opioids accounted for nearly half of the state’s overdose deaths in 2018, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-22--Trump official says 'no second wave' of virus 1 day after another one says opposite

Donald Trump 's top economic adviser claimed Monday that there would be no `` second wave '' of coronavirus cases .
A day earlier , another Trump official had said the administration was hard at work preparing for that exact scenario .
Asked about the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the United States , National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow told CNBC on Monday that everything was under control .
`` There is no second wave coming .
It 's just hot spots .
They send in CDC teams , we 've got the testing procedures , we 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the PPE .
And so I really think it 's a pretty good situation , '' Kudlow claimed .
The number of new cases in the United States per day exceeded 30,000 on Friday for the first time since May 1 .
Kudlow repeated his argument later in the appearance , saying , `` We 've come a long way since last winter and there is no second wave coming . ''
But Peter Navarro , the director of Trump 's Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy , said on Sunday that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepare for a second wave of coronavirus infections in the fall .
`` We are filling the stockpile in anticipation of a possible problem in the fall .
We are doing everything we can beneath the surface , working as hard as we possibly can , '' Navarro said during an appearance on CNN .
`` You prepare for what can possibly happen .
I 'm not saying it 's going to happen , but of course you prepare . ''
Last week , Mike Pence published an op-ed in the Wall Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't a Coronavirus 'Second Wave ' '' in which he claimed that the media 's `` panic '' was `` overblown '' and `` fear mongering . ''
New data indicates that the first wave of coronavirus infections in the United States is not yet over .
The Washington Post reported on Monday that 29 states and territories have reported increasing seven-day averages for the number of confirmed new cases .
These spikes have come as social distancing requirements have been eased in many states and cities .
While public health experts have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first one is possible , Trump has repeatedly suggested the problem will miraculously just vanish .
`` We 're very close to a vaccine and we 're very close to therapeutics , really good therapeutics , ' Trump told Fox News last week .
`` But even without that , I do n't even like to talk about that , because it 's fading away , it 's going to fade away , but having a vaccine would be really nice and that 's going to happen . ''
Experts say a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s top economic adviser claimed Monday that there would be no “second wave” of coronavirus cases. A day earlier, another Trump official had said the administration was hard at work preparing for that exact scenario.
Asked about the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow told CNBC on Monday that everything was under control.
“There is no second wave coming. It’s just hot spots. They send in CDC teams, we’ve got the testing procedures, we’ve got the diagnostics, we’ve got the PPE. And so I really think it’s a pretty good situation,” Kudlow claimed.
The number of new cases in the United States per day exceeded 30,000 on Friday for the first time since May 1.
Kudlow repeated his argument later in the appearance, saying, “We’ve come a long way since last winter and there is no second wave coming.”
But Peter Navarro, the director of Trump’s Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, said on Sunday that the administration was doing everything it could to prepare for a second wave of coronavirus infections in the fall.
“We are filling the stockpile in anticipation of a possible problem in the fall. We are doing everything we can beneath the surface, working as hard as we possibly can,” Navarro said during an appearance on CNN. “You prepare for what can possibly happen. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but of course you prepare.”
Last week, Mike Pence published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal under the headline “There Isn’t a Coronavirus ‘Second Wave'” in which he claimed that the media’s “panic” was “overblown” and “fear mongering.”
New data indicates that the first wave of coronavirus infections in the United States is not yet over. The Washington Post reported on Monday that 29 states and territories have reported increasing seven-day averages for the number of confirmed new cases. These spikes have come as social distancing requirements have been eased in many states and cities.
While public health experts have warned that a possible second wave after the first one is possible, Trump has repeatedly suggested the problem will miraculously just vanish.
“We’re very close to a vaccine and we’re very close to therapeutics, really good therapeutics,’ Trump told Fox News last week. “But even without that, I don’t even like to talk about that, because it’s fading away, it’s going to fade away, but having a vaccine would be really nice and that’s going to happen.”
Experts say a vaccine is unlikely before 2021.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-22--Trump contradicts his own policy on Venezuelan dictator

Donald Trump undermined his own policy toward Venezuela over the weekend , just months after pledging to restore the South American nation 's democracy .
Trump told Axios in an interview published on Sunday that he lacks confidence in Juan Guaidó , the man he had previously called the `` true and legitimate President of Venezuela , '' and that he would be willing to meet with the country 's president , Nicolás Maduro , whom he has called an `` illegitimate ruler '' and `` a tyrant . ''
`` I would maybe think about that .
... Maduro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm never opposed to meetings — you know , rarely opposed to meetings , '' Trump said , adding , `` I always say , you lose very little with meetings . ''
Regarding his decision in January 2019 to recognize Guaidó , president of the National Assembly of Venezuela , as the rightful leader of the country , Trump told Axios , `` Guaidó was elected .
I think that I was n't necessarily in favor , but I said — some people that liked it , some people did n't .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't think it was — you know , I do n't think it was very meaningful one way or the other . ''
But during his State of the Union address this past February , Trump not only praised Guaidó but also hosted him as a special guest .
`` The United States is leading a 59-nation diplomatic coalition against the socialist dictator of Venezuela , Nicolás Maduro .
Maduro is an illegitimate ruler , a tyrant who brutalizes his people .
But Maduro 's grip on tyranny will be smashed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Here this evening is a very brave man who carries with him the hopes , dreams , and aspirations of all Venezuelans .
Joining us in the Gallery is the true and legitimate President of Venezuela , Juan Guaidó . ''
He urged Guaidó to bring the message that `` all Americans are united with the Venezuelan people in their righteous struggle for freedom '' back to his country .
A statement posted in May 2019 that is still up on the White House website says that the United States `` stands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democratically elected National Assembly , and all Venezuelans who seek to restore democracy and the rule of law '' and that Venezuela 's people are `` standing up against the illegitimate , brutal rule of Nicolas Maduro , making it clear that he must relinquish power and leave the country . ''
Trump tweeted at that time that the United States would stand with `` the GREAT PEOPLE of Venezuela for however long it takes '' to end Maduro 's `` terrible abuses . ''
In August 2019 , his administration put out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States would `` use every appropriate tool to end Maduro 's hold on Venezuela , support the Venezuelan people 's access to humanitarian assistance , and ensure a democratic transition in Venezuela . ''
Despite Trump 's promises , Maduro has effectively remained in control , maintaining a hold on the armed forces , the police , and the state-run oil company .
Trump 's willingness to meet with dictators has not yielded many results .
In 2018 , he famously held a summit with North Korea 's Kim Jong Un and promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This month , North Korea 's foreign minister said the process had been a total failure .
`` Even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula has faded away into a dark nightmare , '' Ri Son Gwon said in a statement , vowing that North Korea would never again `` provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump undermined his own policy toward Venezuela over the weekend, just months after pledging to restore the South American nation’s democracy.
Trump told Axios in an interview published on Sunday that he lacks confidence in Juan Guaidó, the man he had previously called the “true and legitimate President of Venezuela,” and that he would be willing to meet with the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, whom he has called an “illegitimate ruler” and “a tyrant.”
“I would maybe think about that. … Maduro would like to meet. And I’m never opposed to meetings — you know, rarely opposed to meetings,” Trump said, adding, “I always say, you lose very little with meetings.”
Regarding his decision in January 2019 to recognize Guaidó, president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, as the rightful leader of the country, Trump told Axios, “Guaidó was elected. I think that I wasn’t necessarily in favor, but I said — some people that liked it, some people didn’t. I was OK with it. I don’t think it was — you know, I don’t think it was very meaningful one way or the other.”
But during his State of the Union address this past February, Trump not only praised Guaidó but also hosted him as a special guest.
“The United States is leading a 59-nation diplomatic coalition against the socialist dictator of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, a tyrant who brutalizes his people. But Maduro’s grip on tyranny will be smashed and broken,” Trump told Congress.
“Here this evening is a very brave man who carries with him the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of all Venezuelans. Joining us in the Gallery is the true and legitimate President of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó.”
He urged Guaidó to bring the message that “all Americans are united with the Venezuelan people in their righteous struggle for freedom” back to his country.
A statement posted in May 2019 that is still up on the White House website says that the United States “stands with Interim President Juan Guaido, the democratically elected National Assembly, and all Venezuelans who seek to restore democracy and the rule of law” and that Venezuela’s people are “standing up against the illegitimate, brutal rule of Nicolas Maduro, making it clear that he must relinquish power and leave the country.”
Trump tweeted at that time that the United States would stand with “the GREAT PEOPLE of Venezuela for however long it takes” to end Maduro’s “terrible abuses.”
In August 2019, his administration put out another statement, promising that the United States would “use every appropriate tool to end Maduro’s hold on Venezuela, support the Venezuelan people’s access to humanitarian assistance, and ensure a democratic transition in Venezuela.”
Despite Trump’s promises, Maduro has effectively remained in control, maintaining a hold on the armed forces, the police, and the state-run oil company.
Trump’s willingness to meet with dictators has not yielded many results. In 2018, he famously held a summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and promised their friendship would bring a nuclear deal.
This month, North Korea’s foreign minister said the process had been a total failure. “Even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula has faded away into a dark nightmare,” Ri Son Gwon said in a statement, vowing that North Korea would never again “provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-22--Trump claims 'foreign countries' will rig election in new attack on safe voting

Donald Trump on Monday claimed without proof that foreign countries would try to influence the 2020 elections by printing mail-in ballots , his latest lie in long list of attempts to delegitimize safer voting .
`` RIGGED 2020 ELECTION : MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES , AND OTHERS .
IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES ! ''
Trump tweeted in all capital letters Monday morning .
Trump 's claim builds on one from Attorney General William Barr , who also pushed the false conspiracy theory earlier this month .
Election experts say it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ print counterfeit ballots .
`` This would be a waste of paper , '' Michael McDonald , a professor at the University of Florida who studies elections , tweeted .
`` The legally valid ones printed by election officials have many safeguards to protect against fraudulent voting . ''
Those safeguards include signature matching against voter records , which would make printing and mailing in counterfeit ballots nearly impossible , as well as things like mandatory notarization in some states .
Each of the nearly 175,000 voting precincts in the country also have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local elections and ballot questions , meaning foreign countries would have to perfectly replicate each one in order to successfully submit fraudulent ballots .
Voting by mail is popular in the United States .
Trump , along with a number of members of his inner circle , have voted by mail in the past .
Both Democrats and Republicans have sought to increase the number of people voting by mail in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .
Increasing vote-by-mail would prevent voters from having to wait in lines and risk transmitting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is firmly against the idea .
He has admitted that he does n't support increased access to voting by mail because he feels it will make casting a ballot easier , and that more people voting will hurt his reelection chances .
There is no evidence that vote-by-mail benefits one party over another .
Democrats believe Trump 's attack on mail-in voting is a sign he may not go quietly if he loses in November .
`` It 's my greatest concern , my single greatest concern : This president is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nominee Joe Biden told `` The Daily Show '' host Trevor Noah on June 12 .
`` This is a guy who said all mail-in ballots are fraudulent , direct voting by mail , while he sits behind a desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in the primary . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Monday claimed without proof that foreign countries would try to influence the 2020 elections by printing mail-in ballots, his latest lie in long list of attempts to delegitimize safer voting.
“RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!” Trump tweeted in all capital letters Monday morning.
Trump’s claim builds on one from Attorney General William Barr, who also pushed the false conspiracy theory earlier this month.
Election experts say it’s almost impossible for foreign countries to print counterfeit ballots.
“This would be a waste of paper,” Michael McDonald, a professor at the University of Florida who studies elections, tweeted. “The legally valid ones printed by election officials have many safeguards to protect against fraudulent voting.”
Those safeguards include signature matching against voter records, which would make printing and mailing in counterfeit ballots nearly impossible, as well as things like mandatory notarization in some states.
Each of the nearly 175,000 voting precincts in the country also have their own unique ballots that contain different local elections and ballot questions, meaning foreign countries would have to perfectly replicate each one in order to successfully submit fraudulent ballots.
Voting by mail is popular in the United States. Trump, along with a number of members of his inner circle, have voted by mail in the past.
Both Democrats and Republicans have sought to increase the number of people voting by mail in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Increasing vote-by-mail would prevent voters from having to wait in lines and risk transmitting the virus to cast their ballot.
Trump is firmly against the idea. He has admitted that he doesn’t support increased access to voting by mail because he feels it will make casting a ballot easier, and that more people voting will hurt his reelection chances.
There is no evidence that vote-by-mail benefits one party over another.
Democrats believe Trump’s attack on mail-in voting is a sign he may not go quietly if he loses in November.
“It’s my greatest concern, my single greatest concern: This president is going to steal this election,” presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah on June 12.
“This is a guy who said all mail-in ballots are fraudulent, direct voting by mail, while he sits behind a desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in the primary.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.