shareblue--2020-08-06--New York attorney general sues to dissolve NRA for decades of 'fraud and abuse'

New York 's attorney general sued the National Rifle Association on Thursday , seeking to put the powerful gun advocacy organization out of business over allegations that high-ranking executives diverted millions of dollars for lavish personal trips , no-show contracts for associates , and other questionable expenditures .
Attorney General Letitia James ' lawsuit , filed in state court in Manhattan after an 18-month investigation , highlighted misspending and self-dealing allegations that have roiled the NRA and its longtime leader , Wayne LaPierre , in recent years — from hair and makeup for his wife to a $ 17 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which James said were long cloaked by loyal lieutenants and a pass-through payment arrangement with a vendor , started to come to light as the NRA 's deficit piled up and it struggled to find its footing after a spate of mass shootings eroded support for its pro-gun agenda .
The organization went from a nearly $ 28 million surplus in 2015 to a $ 36 million deficit in 2018 .
James , a Democrat , argued that the organization 's prominence and cozy political relationships had lulled it into a sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofit rules were routinely flouted and state and federal laws were violated .
Even the NRA 's own bylaws and employee handbook were ignored , she said .
`` The NRA 's influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets , '' James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit .
`` The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse , which is why , today , we seek to dissolve the NRA , because no organization is above the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the NRA about the lawsuit was left Thursday .
James is taking aim at the NRA after her office last year dismantled Donald Trump 's charitable foundation and fined him $ 2 million to settle allegations he used donations meant for worthy causes to further his own business and political interests .
Though its headquarters are in Virginia , the NRA was chartered as a nonprofit in New York in 1871 and continues to be incorporated in the state .
James also named LaPierre and three other current and former executives as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Frazer , retired treasurer and chief financial officer Wilson Phillips , and LaPierre 's former chief of staff Joshua Powell .
While the lawsuit accuses all four men of wrongdoing and seeks fines and remuneration , none of them have been charged with a crime .
LaPierre , who has been in charge of the NRA 's day-to-day operations since 1991 , is accused of spending millions of dollars on private travel and personal security , accepting expensive gifts such as African safaris and use of a 107-foot yacht from vendors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 million contract with the NRA , if he were to exit the organization , without board approval .
The lawsuit said LaPierre , 70 , spent millions of the NRA 's dollars on travel consultants , including luxury black car services , and hundreds of thousands of dollars on private jet flights for himself and his family , including more than $ 500,000 on eight trips to the Bahamas over a three-year span .
Some of the NRA 's excess spending was kept secret , the lawsuit said , under an arrangement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ackerman McQueen .
The advertising firm would pick up the tab for various expenses for LaPierre and other NRA executives and then send a lump sum bill to the organization for `` out-of-pocket expenses , '' the lawsuit said .
Frazer , the corporate secretary and general counsel , is accused of aiding the alleged misconduct by certifying false or misleading annual regulatory filings , failing to comply with governance procedures , failing to enforce a conflict of interest policy , and failing to ensure that board members were reviewing transactions or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
Phillips is accused of overseeing the pass-through arrangement .
The lawsuit said he ignored or downplayed whistleblower complaints and made a deal to enrich himself in retirement — a bogus $ 1.8 million contract to consult for the incoming treasurer and a deal worth $ 1 million for his girlfriend .
Powell , the former LaPierre chief of staff , is accused of getting his father a $ 90,000 photography gig through an NRA vendor , arranging a $ 5 million contract for a consulting firm where his wife worked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and relocation reimbursements than the organization 's rules allowed .
He was fired after 3½ years for allegedly misappropriating NRA funds .
The lawsuit comes at a time when the NRA is trying to remain relevant and a force in the 2020 presidential election as it seeks to help Donald Trump secure a second term .
There has been an ongoing factional war within the organization , pitting some of its most ardent gun-rights supporters and loyalists against one another .
The NRA has traded lawsuits with Ackerman McQueen , which crafted some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , eventually severing ties with it last year and scrapping its controversial NRA-TV , which aired many of its most controversial messages .
The internal battles reached a fevered pitch at its 2019 annual meeting , where its then-president , Oliver North , was denied a traditional second term amid a tussle with LaPierre as he sought to independently review the NRA 's expenses and operations .
He accused LaPierre of exerting `` dictatorial '' control .
Chris Cox , the NRA 's longtime lobbyist who is widely viewed as a likely successor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of working behind the scenes with North to undermine LaPierre .

New York’s attorney general sued the National Rifle Association on Thursday, seeking to put the powerful gun advocacy organization out of business over allegations that high-ranking executives diverted millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates, and other questionable expenditures.
Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, filed in state court in Manhattan after an 18-month investigation, highlighted misspending and self-dealing allegations that have roiled the NRA and its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, in recent years — from hair and makeup for his wife to a $17 million post-employment contract for himself.
The troubles, which James said were long cloaked by loyal lieutenants and a pass-through payment arrangement with a vendor, started to come to light as the NRA’s deficit piled up and it struggled to find its footing after a spate of mass shootings eroded support for its pro-gun agenda. The organization went from a nearly $28 million surplus in 2015 to a $36 million deficit in 2018.
James, a Democrat, argued that the organization’s prominence and cozy political relationships had lulled it into a sense of invincibility and enabled a culture where nonprofit rules were routinely flouted and state and federal laws were violated. Even the NRA’s own bylaws and employee handbook were ignored, she said.
“The NRA’s influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets,” James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse, which is why, today, we seek to dissolve the NRA, because no organization is above the law.”
A message seeking comment from the NRA about the lawsuit was left Thursday.
James is taking aim at the NRA after her office last year dismantled Donald Trump’s charitable foundation and fined him $2 million to settle allegations he used donations meant for worthy causes to further his own business and political interests. Though its headquarters are in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a nonprofit in New York in 1871 and continues to be incorporated in the state.
James also named LaPierre and three other current and former executives as defendants: corporate secretary and general counsel John Frazer, retired treasurer and chief financial officer Wilson Phillips, and LaPierre’s former chief of staff Joshua Powell. While the lawsuit accuses all four men of wrongdoing and seeks fines and remuneration, none of them have been charged with a crime.
LaPierre, who has been in charge of the NRA’s day-to-day operations since 1991, is accused of spending millions of dollars on private travel and personal security, accepting expensive gifts such as African safaris and use of a 107-foot yacht from vendors, and setting himself up with a $17 million contract with the NRA, if he were to exit the organization, without board approval.
The lawsuit said LaPierre, 70, spent millions of the NRA’s dollars on travel consultants, including luxury black car services, and hundreds of thousands of dollars on private jet flights for himself and his family, including more than $500,000 on eight trips to the Bahamas over a three-year span.
Some of the NRA’s excess spending was kept secret, the lawsuit said, under an arrangement with the organization’s former advertising agency, Ackerman McQueen.
The advertising firm would pick up the tab for various expenses for LaPierre and other NRA executives and then send a lump sum bill to the organization for “out-of-pocket expenses,” the lawsuit said.
Frazer, the corporate secretary and general counsel, is accused of aiding the alleged misconduct by certifying false or misleading annual regulatory filings, failing to comply with governance procedures, failing to enforce a conflict of interest policy, and failing to ensure that board members were reviewing transactions or that the the organization was following the law.
Phillips is accused of overseeing the pass-through arrangement. The lawsuit said he ignored or downplayed whistleblower complaints and made a deal to enrich himself in retirement — a bogus $1.8 million contract to consult for the incoming treasurer and a deal worth $1 million for his girlfriend.
Powell, the former LaPierre chief of staff, is accused of getting his father a $90,000 photography gig through an NRA vendor, arranging a $5 million contract for a consulting firm where his wife worked, and pocketing $100,000 more in housing and relocation reimbursements than the organization’s rules allowed. He was fired after 3½ years for allegedly misappropriating NRA funds.
The lawsuit comes at a time when the NRA is trying to remain relevant and a force in the 2020 presidential election as it seeks to help Donald Trump secure a second term.
There has been an ongoing factional war within the organization, pitting some of its most ardent gun-rights supporters and loyalists against one another. The NRA has traded lawsuits with Ackerman McQueen, which crafted some of its most prominent messages for decades, eventually severing ties with it last year and scrapping its controversial NRA-TV, which aired many of its most controversial messages.
The internal battles reached a fevered pitch at its 2019 annual meeting, where its then-president, Oliver North, was denied a traditional second term amid a tussle with LaPierre as he sought to independently review the NRA’s expenses and operations. He accused LaPierre of exerting “dictatorial” control.
Chris Cox, the NRA’s longtime lobbyist who is widely viewed as a likely successor to LaPierre, left after being accused of working behind the scenes with North to undermine LaPierre.


shareblue--2020-08-06--McConnell says his refusal to act on virus relief for months was a good thing

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday that his decision to block disaster relief for months for Americans suffering due to the impacts of the coronavirus was a good thing .
His reasoning : It gave the country time to see whether the COVID-19 pandemic would somehow just go away on its own .
`` It allowed us to learn the coronavirus did n't mysteriously disappear , '' McConnell told the New York Times .
`` It is still here . ''
He argued that his inaction since May has been `` the reasonable thing to do '' because `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we have already done is working . ''
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a coronavirus relief bill on May 15 .
If enacted , it would provide trillions of dollars in response to the economic and public health challenges of the pandemic .
McConnell vowed to block the legislation in the Republican-controlled Senate , mocking it as `` not serious '' and `` dead on arrival . ''
He instead promised to consider taking action on a different response plan .
`` We 're taking a careful look at a fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on May 29 .
`` You could anticipate the decision being made on whether to go forward in about a month .
And it will be narrowly crafted , designed to help us where we are a month from now , not where we were three months ago . ''
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized McConnell 's obstruct-and-see approach at the time , saying , `` We need a pause ?
Tell that to the virus .
Is the virus taking a pause ?
Is hunger in America taking a pause ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus has continued to spread across the nation , and millions more Americans have lost their jobs .
A temporary federal program to provide an extra $ 600 in weekly unemployment insurance benefits for those millions expired last week .
Had the Senate passed the House bill in May , things might have been very different .
It contained $ 75 billion to enhance coronavirus tracing , testing , and treatment .
It would have expanded hazard pay and child care for essential workers and created an emergency exposure control plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have extended the unemployment benefit until January .
Instead , McConnell focused on confirming Donald Trump 's nominees to judgeships and executive branch positions and sent senators home for recesses .
When he finally announced a Republican bill on July 27 , it quickly became apparent that the bill was going nowhere .
GOP senators panned provisions allocating billions of dollars to unrelated pet projects , and Trump dismissed it as `` semi-irrelevant . ''
Congressional Democrats and the Trump administration are now attempting to negotiate a relief deal , but have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House chief of staff Mark Meadows warned Wednesday that if an agreement is n't reached by Friday , it was unlikely to be done at all .
`` We 've been spending so much time together that if you 're not making progress , there 's no sense to continue . ''
McConnell has not been involved in the talks , but he says he is unconcerned .
`` Every decision I make about this sort of thing is entirely calculated , '' he told the Times on Wednesday .
`` It eliminates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi and [ Senate Minority Leader Chuck ] Schumer 's talking points , which gets in the way of serious discussion . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday that his decision to block disaster relief for months for Americans suffering due to the impacts of the coronavirus was a good thing. His reasoning: It gave the country time to see whether the COVID-19 pandemic would somehow just go away on its own.
“It allowed us to learn the coronavirus didn’t mysteriously disappear,” McConnell told the New York Times. “It is still here.”
He argued that his inaction since May has been “the reasonable thing to do” because “pushing the pause button meant seeing how what we have already done is working.”
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a coronavirus relief bill on May 15. If enacted, it would provide trillions of dollars in response to the economic and public health challenges of the pandemic.
McConnell vowed to block the legislation in the Republican-controlled Senate, mocking it as “not serious” and “dead on arrival.” He instead promised to consider taking action on a different response plan.
“We’re taking a careful look at a fourth and final bill,” McConnell said on May 29. “You could anticipate the decision being made on whether to go forward in about a month. And it will be narrowly crafted, designed to help us where we are a month from now, not where we were three months ago.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized McConnell’s obstruct-and-see approach at the time, saying, “We need a pause? Tell that to the virus. Is the virus taking a pause? Is hunger in America taking a pause?”
In the months that have followed, the coronavirus has continued to spread across the nation, and millions more Americans have lost their jobs. A temporary federal program to provide an extra $600 in weekly unemployment insurance benefits for those millions expired last week.
Had the Senate passed the House bill in May, things might have been very different.
It contained $75 billion to enhance coronavirus tracing, testing, and treatment. It would have expanded hazard pay and child care for essential workers and created an emergency exposure control plan to protect them in the workplace. It would have extended the unemployment benefit until January.
Instead, McConnell focused on confirming Donald Trump’s nominees to judgeships and executive branch positions and sent senators home for recesses.
When he finally announced a Republican bill on July 27, it quickly became apparent that the bill was going nowhere. GOP senators panned provisions allocating billions of dollars to unrelated pet projects, and Trump dismissed it as “semi-irrelevant.”
Congressional Democrats and the Trump administration are now attempting to negotiate a relief deal, but have struggled to find common ground. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows warned Wednesday that if an agreement isn’t reached by Friday, it was unlikely to be done at all. “We’ve been spending so much time together that if you’re not making progress, there’s no sense to continue.”
McConnell has not been involved in the talks, but he says he is unconcerned.
“Every decision I make about this sort of thing is entirely calculated,” he told the Times on Wednesday. “It eliminates sitting there and having to listen to Pelosi and [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer’s talking points, which gets in the way of serious discussion.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-06--Pence calls conservative Chief Justice John Roberts a 'disappointment'

Mike Pence criticized a sitting Supreme Court justice by name on Wednesday in an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network 's David Brody .
`` Chief Justice John Roberts has been a disappointment to conservatives , '' Pence said in the interview , which is set to air on Thursday .
Roberts — who is one of five justices on the Court appointed by Republican presidents — ruled against the Trump administration on a handful of important cases over the last Supreme Court term .
Roberts joined the liberal justices to block Donald Trump from canceling the Deferred Action for Childhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-abortion law in Louisiana that would have shuttered almost all of the state 's abortion clinics .
Roberts was also part of the majority to rule that LGBTQ workers are protected by civil rights law that bans employment discrimination .
And he ruled that Trump is not immune from turning over his financial records as part of investigations .
Republicans were angered by those decisions , with a number of members of Congress calling him a `` disappointment '' and a `` disaster . ''
However , Roberts has a conservative record , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's overseen a court that has moved sharply to the right , with narrow 5-4 rulings on things like upholding Trump 's Muslim ban to helping kill off public unions .
Roberts also ruled in favor of partisan gerrymandering — a practice that Republicans have used to draw congressional and state legislative districts that expressly benefit the GOP to help keep the party in power .
Still , any time Roberts does not rule in favor of the Republican-backed position , Republicans jump to criticize him .
Direct criticism of the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been viewed favorably by Republicans .
Back in 2010 , former President Barack Obama faced a torrent of criticism when he said in his State of the Union address that the court 's Citizen 's United case was was wrongly decided .
At the time , Sen. John Cornyn ( R-TX ) called Obama 's comment at the State of the Union `` over the top . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Mike Pence criticized a sitting Supreme Court justice by name on Wednesday in an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody.
“Chief Justice John Roberts has been a disappointment to conservatives,” Pence said in the interview, which is set to air on Thursday.
Roberts — who is one of five justices on the Court appointed by Republican presidents — ruled against the Trump administration on a handful of important cases over the last Supreme Court term.
Roberts joined the liberal justices to block Donald Trump from canceling the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and to strike down an anti-abortion law in Louisiana that would have shuttered almost all of the state’s abortion clinics.
Roberts was also part of the majority to rule that LGBTQ workers are protected by civil rights law that bans employment discrimination. And he ruled that Trump is not immune from turning over his financial records as part of investigations.
Republicans were angered by those decisions, with a number of members of Congress calling him a “disappointment” and a “disaster.”
However, Roberts has a conservative record, despite the anger from Republicans.
He’s overseen a court that has moved sharply to the right, with narrow 5-4 rulings on things like upholding Trump’s Muslim ban to helping kill off public unions. Roberts also ruled in favor of partisan gerrymandering — a practice that Republicans have used to draw congressional and state legislative districts that expressly benefit the GOP to help keep the party in power.
Still, any time Roberts does not rule in favor of the Republican-backed position, Republicans jump to criticize him.
Direct criticism of the Supreme Court from the White House has not always been viewed favorably by Republicans.
Back in 2010, former President Barack Obama faced a torrent of criticism when he said in his State of the Union address that the court’s Citizen’s United case was was wrongly decided.
At the time, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) called Obama’s comment at the State of the Union “over the top.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-06--Convicted criminal pardoned by Trump locked in tight race for Arizona sheriff

Arizona has grown more politically moderate in the past five years , but Republican primary voters have n't entirely abandoned Joe Arpaio , the six-term sheriff of metro Phoenix who lost the job in 2016 amid voter frustration over his legal troubles and headline-grabbing tactics .
The 88-year-old Republican lawman — known for launching immigration crackdowns — was locked in a tight primary race for sheriff as he tries to remain politically relevant in the state that now has a majority-Democratic congressional delegation , its first Democratic U.S. senator since the mid-1990s , and a growing Latino population .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political race , he was trailing Jerry Sheridan , his former second-in-command , by 541 votes as the count continued Wednesday .
Mike O'Neil , a longtime Arizona pollster who has followed Arpaio 's career , said the lawman remains in contention because he has strong name recognition and is still popular in some Republican circles — even though he was trounced in 2016 and finished third in the 2018 U.S. Senate primary .
`` It 's no longer the large swell of people it once was , but there are folks who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' O'Neil said .
Arpaio based much of his campaign around his support of Donald Trump , who spared Arpaio a possible jail sentence when he pardoned his contempt of court conviction .
Arpaio disobeyed a court order to stop traffic patrols that targeted immigrants .
During his campaign , Arpaio vowed to bring back practices that either the courts have deemed illegal or his successor has ended , including Arpaio 's trademark immigration crackdowns and use of jail tents in the Arizona heat .
Arpaio said he has n't been garnering media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many voters did n't know he was trying to get his old job back until they saw his name on their ballots .
He insists he is good health , even though his critics have made his age an issue in the race .
If he were to win and serve a full four-year term , Arpaio would be approaching his 93rd birthday when it ended .
Arpaio acknowledged that he 's facing a different type of voter than he did four years ago .
`` There is a lot of consternation going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Wednesday .
`` You know it .
I know it .
It 's a different ball game in this country and this county .
But I still think I will be able to pull this out . ''
Sheridan , who served as Arpaio 's top aide during his last six years as sheriff , did n't expect the primary to be so close .
He said his campaign lost some of its momentum when the pandemic forced the end of in-person campaign events .
He also pointed out that Arpaio has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race , compared to Sheridan 's $ 90,000 .
`` It 's so much more , and I 'm beating him , '' Sheridan said of Arpaio 's fundraising advantage .
`` And he 's the one with the 100 % name recognition , not me . ''
Arpaio 's political liabilities have been piling up for years and include $ 147 million in taxpayer-funded legal costs , a failure to investigate more than 400 sex-crime complaints made to the sheriff 's office , and launching criminal investigations against judges , politicians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
The winner of the GOP primary will go on to face Paul Penzone , who crushed Arpaio in 2016 and ran unopposed in this year 's Democratic primary .
O'Neil believes Arpaio and Sheridan would both get `` whooped '' by the more low-profile Penzone in the November general election .
It 's unclear whether Arpaio 's steadfast support of Trump is a political advantage or liability for the former sheriff , whose political career tanked as Trump 's was taking off .
`` Will that hurt ?
I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Trump his hero .
`` It would n't change my campaign .
If he was at 3 % in the polls , I would still support him . ''

Arizona has grown more politically moderate in the past five years, but Republican primary voters haven’t entirely abandoned Joe Arpaio, the six-term sheriff of metro Phoenix who lost the job in 2016 amid voter frustration over his legal troubles and headline-grabbing tactics.
The 88-year-old Republican lawman — known for launching immigration crackdowns — was locked in a tight primary race for sheriff as he tries to remain politically relevant in the state that now has a majority-Democratic congressional delegation, its first Democratic U.S. senator since the mid-1990s, and a growing Latino population.
In what Arpaio acknowledges could be his last political race, he was trailing Jerry Sheridan, his former second-in-command, by 541 votes as the count continued Wednesday.
Mike O’Neil, a longtime Arizona pollster who has followed Arpaio’s career, said the lawman remains in contention because he has strong name recognition and is still popular in some Republican circles — even though he was trounced in 2016 and finished third in the 2018 U.S. Senate primary.
“It’s no longer the large swell of people it once was, but there are folks who still get worked up over immigration,” O’Neil said.
Arpaio based much of his campaign around his support of Donald Trump, who spared Arpaio a possible jail sentence when he pardoned his contempt of court conviction. Arpaio disobeyed a court order to stop traffic patrols that targeted immigrants.
During his campaign, Arpaio vowed to bring back practices that either the courts have deemed illegal or his successor has ended, including Arpaio’s trademark immigration crackdowns and use of jail tents in the Arizona heat.
Arpaio said he hasn’t been garnering media attention like he used to, and many voters didn’t know he was trying to get his old job back until they saw his name on their ballots. He insists he is good health, even though his critics have made his age an issue in the race. If he were to win and serve a full four-year term, Arpaio would be approaching his 93rd birthday when it ended.
Arpaio acknowledged that he’s facing a different type of voter than he did four years ago.
“There is a lot of consternation going on in our nation,” Arpaio said Wednesday. “You know it. I know it. It’s a different ball game in this country and this county. But I still think I will be able to pull this out.”
Sheridan, who served as Arpaio’s top aide during his last six years as sheriff, didn’t expect the primary to be so close. He said his campaign lost some of its momentum when the pandemic forced the end of in-person campaign events. He also pointed out that Arpaio has spent about $1 million in the race, compared to Sheridan’s $90,000.
“It’s so much more, and I’m beating him,” Sheridan said of Arpaio’s fundraising advantage. “And he’s the one with the 100% name recognition, not me.”
Arpaio’s political liabilities have been piling up for years and include $147 million in taxpayer-funded legal costs, a failure to investigate more than 400 sex-crime complaints made to the sheriff’s office, and launching criminal investigations against judges, politicians, and others who were at odds with him.
The winner of the GOP primary will go on to face Paul Penzone, who crushed Arpaio in 2016 and ran unopposed in this year’s Democratic primary.
O’Neil believes Arpaio and Sheridan would both get “whooped” by the more low-profile Penzone in the November general election.
It’s unclear whether Arpaio’s steadfast support of Trump is a political advantage or liability for the former sheriff, whose political career tanked as Trump’s was taking off.
“Will that hurt? I don’t care,” said Arpaio, who called Trump his hero. “It wouldn’t change my campaign. If he was at 3% in the polls, I would still support him.”


shareblue--2020-08-07--Cartoon: Defund The NRA

Cartoon: Defund The NRA

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

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


shareblue--2020-08-07--News you might have missed: Missouri expands health care to 230,000 more people

This week , voters in Missouri embraced an expansion of the Affordable Care Act , governors joined together to acquire better coronavirus tests , and WNBA players made a bold political statement .
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news .
Missouri became the 38th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act when voters approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday , NPR reported .
Up to 230,000 Missourians could be eligible for the expanded health care program , which would cover individuals and families who make up to 138 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of Missouri would cover 10 % of the cost , with the federal government paying the remainder .
The measure to expand Medicaid was supported by a wide coalition of groups , including the state 's Chamber of Commerce , the Missouri Hospital Association , Planned Parenthood , and Catholic Charities of St. Louis .
Voters approved the measure by a 53 % to 47 % margin .
The expansion is slated to take place by July 1 , 2021 .
Voting by mail just got easier in Nevada Democratic Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail ballots to all active voters in Nevada for the general election in November , CNN reported .
`` During this global pandemic , I made a commitment that we 'd do all we can to allow Nevadans to safely cast a ballot in the upcoming November election , '' Sisolak tweeted .
He said the law will protect voters ' safety and ensure citizens can make their voices heard in the election .
Nevada is the eighth state to mail ballots to all voters .
Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism as a public health crisis .
Under the order , state employees must take an implicit bias training course , and state departments must track , document , and make publicly available health outcomes among racial and ethnic groups in the state in order to help implement more equitable policies .
On the same day , Whitmer signed a separate order creating a state Black Leadership Advisory Council , which will advise the governor and recommend policies to eliminate discrimination in the state .
`` We must confront systemic racism head on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and just Michigan , '' Whitmer said .
Thousands of Iowans with a felony record will be able to cast ballots in the November election after Gov .
Kim Reynolds signed an executive order restoring their voting rights on Wednesday .
Voting rights will be automatically restored to most people with a felony conviction after they have completed their sentences , except for those convicted of certain crimes , including murder and some sex offenses , the Associated Press reported .
If convicted of those crimes , individuals would be required to petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restored .
Before the order was signed , Iowa was the only state in the nation to broadly disenfranchise all people with felony records .
Those people whose franchise is restored will not have to pay off fines associated with their convictions in order to regain their right to vote .
New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association on Thursday , alleging the organization engaged in years of fraud and abuse .
James alleged that high-ranking officials with the group used millions of dollars for trips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and federal laws .
`` The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse , which is why , today , we seek to dissolve the NRA , because no organization is above the law , '' James said .
The lawsuit was filed in state court after an 18-month investigation .
Republican Gary Herbert of Utah is the eighth governor to join a bipartisan group working together to acquire millions of rapid coronavirus tests , Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan announced on Thursday .
Other states that have joined the interstate testing compact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan , Ohio , Virginia , and North Carolina .
The group is partnering with the Rockefeller Foundation to purchase 4 million rapid tests , or 500,000 per state in the compact .
`` Rapid access to testing is crucial in our collective fight against COVID-19 , '' Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards said on Tuesday .
`` COVID does not know any borders and by working together we strengthen our response , improve testing access and ultimately help our communities become safer and healthier . ''
Players with the WNBA 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a game on Tuesday wearing black warm-up shirts bearing the phrase `` VOTE WARNOCK '' in large block letters across the front .
Rev .
Raphael Warnock is a Democratic candidate running against incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in Georgia .
Loeffler , who is a co-owner of the Dream , has been critical of WNBA players supporting the Black Lives Matter movement .
`` We are @ wnba players , but like the late , great John Lewis said , we are also ordinary people with extraordinary vision , '' Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dream , tweeted on Tuesday .

This week, voters in Missouri embraced an expansion of the Affordable Care Act, governors joined together to acquire better coronavirus tests, and WNBA players made a bold political statement.
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news.
Missouri became the 38th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act when voters approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday, NPR reported.
Up to 230,000 Missourians could be eligible for the expanded health care program, which would cover individuals and families who make up to 138% of the federal poverty line. The state of Missouri would cover 10% of the cost, with the federal government paying the remainder.
The measure to expand Medicaid was supported by a wide coalition of groups, including the state’s Chamber of Commerce, the Missouri Hospital Association, Planned Parenthood, and Catholic Charities of St. Louis.
Voters approved the measure by a 53% to 47% margin. The expansion is slated to take place by July 1, 2021.
Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak signed legislation on Monday to mail ballots to all active voters in Nevada for the general election in November, CNN reported.
“During this global pandemic, I made a commitment that we’d do all we can to allow Nevadans to safely cast a ballot in the upcoming November election,” Sisolak tweeted. He said the law will protect voters’ safety and ensure citizens can make their voices heard in the election.
Nevada is the eighth state to mail ballots to all voters.
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan signed an executive order on Wednesday recognizing racism as a public health crisis.
Under the order, state employees must take an implicit bias training course, and state departments must track, document, and make publicly available health outcomes among racial and ethnic groups in the state in order to help implement more equitable policies.
On the same day, Whitmer signed a separate order creating a state Black Leadership Advisory Council, which will advise the governor and recommend policies to eliminate discrimination in the state.
“We must confront systemic racism head on so we can create a more equitable and just Michigan,” Whitmer said.
Thousands of Iowans with a felony record will be able to cast ballots in the November election after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order restoring their voting rights on Wednesday.
Voting rights will be automatically restored to most people with a felony conviction after they have completed their sentences, except for those convicted of certain crimes, including murder and some sex offenses, the Associated Press reported. If convicted of those crimes, individuals would be required to petition the governor to have their voting rights restored.
Before the order was signed, Iowa was the only state in the nation to broadly disenfranchise all people with felony records.
Those people whose franchise is restored will not have to pay off fines associated with their convictions in order to regain their right to vote.
New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association on Thursday, alleging the organization engaged in years of fraud and abuse.
James alleged that high-ranking officials with the group used millions of dollars for trips and other personal expenditures, breaking state and federal laws.
“The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse, which is why, today, we seek to dissolve the NRA, because no organization is above the law,” James said. The lawsuit was filed in state court after an 18-month investigation.
Governors band together for coordinated testing compact
Republican Gary Herbert of Utah is the eighth governor to join a bipartisan group working together to acquire millions of rapid coronavirus tests, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced on Thursday. Other states that have joined the interstate testing compact are Maryland, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and North Carolina.
The group is partnering with the Rockefeller Foundation to purchase 4 million rapid tests, or 500,000 per state in the compact.
“Rapid access to testing is crucial in our collective fight against COVID-19,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said on Tuesday. “COVID does not know any borders and by working together we strengthen our response, improve testing access and ultimately help our communities become safer and healthier.”
Players with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury showed up to a game on Tuesday wearing black warm-up shirts bearing the phrase “VOTE WARNOCK” in large block letters across the front.
Rev. Raphael Warnock is a Democratic candidate running against incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in Georgia. Loeffler, who is a co-owner of the Dream, has been critical of WNBA players supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
“We are @wnba players, but like the late, great John Lewis said, we are also ordinary people with extraordinary vision,” Elizabeth Williams, who plays center for the Dream, tweeted on Tuesday.


shareblue--2020-08-07--GOP attacks on medication abortion will just delay care

During the COVID-19 crisis , conservative states have worked hard to suppress the right to abortion .
Now , the Trump administration is joining them in attacking medication abortion and , if it succeeds , it could mean women are forced into having abortions later than they wanted .
In late May , the American Civil Liberties Union sued the Food and Drug Administration on behalf of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .
The lawsuit sought to suspend , for the duration of the pandemic only , the FDA rule that requires patients to pick up mifepristone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medication abortion , in person .
Medication abortion is a very safe procedure .
Additionally , administering it requires very little personal protective equipment for doctors , unlike many other medical procedures .
Several conservative states cited the need to preserve PPE as the rationale behind their COVID-era abortion bans .
The ACLU argued that requiring patients to pick up the pills in person after they 've already consulted with a clinician , either in-person or via telehealth , exposes people to unnecessary additional risk .
If that rule was to be suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patient — a much safer alternative during the pandemic .
In July , a federal court agreed with ACOG and the ACLU , holding that the in-person pickup requirement was a `` substantial obstacle '' for people seeking abortion care and was probably unconstitutional given the danger of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Trump administration immediately appealed , continuing to argue that patients can only safely use medication for abortion by swallowing it in a clinic setting .
The administration also argued there 's no evidence patients have n't been able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an abortion later in pregnancy because of pandemic-related delays .
While that specific evidence may not have been provided in this case , there is ample anecdotal evidence people were forced to cancel appointments in states where abortion was restricted and travel to those where it was not , which likely created delays .
The Guttmacher Institute , which tracks abortion restrictions , has said that it is too soon to fully understand the impact of these bans but that the cost of additional travel was likely to have posed a barrier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't yet possible to understand how many people might forego a medication abortion during the pandemic because they are worried about making multiple trips to a clinic .
This is yet another attempt by the GOP , along with anti-abortion activists , to block a highly safe abortion procedure that is available early in pregnancy .
These GOP attacks on medication abortion may force people to have them later in pregnancy .
Even worse , the requirement of multiple clinic visits during a pandemic may deter people from even seeking an abortion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the `` overwhelming majority '' of people who had later abortions in their second trimester would have preferred to have the procedure earlier , but delays made that impossible .
Limiting access to a highly safe abortion procedure is just another way to create that delay , exploit confusion , and work to put abortion out of reach .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

During the COVID-19 crisis, conservative states have worked hard to suppress the right to abortion. Now, the Trump administration is joining them in attacking medication abortion and, if it succeeds, it could mean women are forced into having abortions later than they wanted.
In late May, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the Food and Drug Administration on behalf of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The lawsuit sought to suspend, for the duration of the pandemic only, the FDA rule that requires patients to pick up mifepristone, one of the drugs used for a medication abortion, in person.
Medication abortion is a very safe procedure. Additionally, administering it requires very little personal protective equipment for doctors, unlike many other medical procedures. Several conservative states cited the need to preserve PPE as the rationale behind their COVID-era abortion bans.
The ACLU argued that requiring patients to pick up the pills in person after they’ve already consulted with a clinician, either in-person or via telehealth, exposes people to unnecessary additional risk. If that rule was to be suspended, medication could be mailed directly to the patient — a much safer alternative during the pandemic.
In July, a federal court agreed with ACOG and the ACLU, holding that the in-person pickup requirement was a “substantial obstacle” for people seeking abortion care and was probably unconstitutional given the danger of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Trump administration immediately appealed, continuing to argue that patients can only safely use medication for abortion by swallowing it in a clinic setting. The administration also argued there’s no evidence patients haven’t been able to obtain a medication abortion or needed to have an abortion later in pregnancy because of pandemic-related delays.
While that specific evidence may not have been provided in this case, there is ample anecdotal evidence people were forced to cancel appointments in states where abortion was restricted and travel to those where it was not, which likely created delays.
The Guttmacher Institute, which tracks abortion restrictions, has said that it is too soon to fully understand the impact of these bans but that the cost of additional travel was likely to have posed a barrier to care.
Similarly, it isn’t yet possible to understand how many people might forego a medication abortion during the pandemic because they are worried about making multiple trips to a clinic.
This is yet another attempt by the GOP, along with anti-abortion activists, to block a highly safe abortion procedure that is available early in pregnancy. These GOP attacks on medication abortion may force people to have them later in pregnancy. Even worse, the requirement of multiple clinic visits during a pandemic may deter people from even seeking an abortion in the first place.
One study found that the “overwhelming majority” of people who had later abortions in their second trimester would have preferred to have the procedure earlier, but delays made that impossible. Limiting access to a highly safe abortion procedure is just another way to create that delay, exploit confusion, and work to put abortion out of reach.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-07--GOP claims lawsuit over NRA's 'fraud and abuse' is an attack on gun rights

Republican lawmakers are calling a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday against the National Rifle Association an attack on gun ownership while ignoring the charges of `` fraud and abuse '' contained in the filing .
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise tweeted in response to the suit : `` Violent crime is skyrocketing in NYC .
What 's New York 's Democrat Attorney General focused on ?
Launching politically motivated attacks against the Second Amendment & NRA .
Make no mistake : Making it harder for law-abiding Americans to defend themselves is the far-left 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dissolve the organization and ban its officers from serving on nonprofit boards in the future .
The attorney general 's 18-month investigation uncovered millions of dollars in spending on personal trips for NRA executives , no-show contracts , and even organizational money going to pay for hair and makeup for the wife of chief executive Wayne LaPierre .
`` The NRA 's influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets , '' James said a statement announcing the lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud and abuse , which is why , today , we seek to dissolve the NRA , because no organization is above the law . ''
Rather than express concern that gun rights advocates ' donations may have been misused to enrich NRA officials , pro-gun lawmakers attacked the lawsuit on Thursday and Friday as an assault on the right to bear arms .
Three Republicans urged the NRA to simply move from New York to their own states .
`` Hey @ NRA , there 's plenty of real estate in Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted Rep. Barry Loudermilk .
`` We 'd love to have the @ NRA in the Rushmore state , '' countered Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota .
`` The NRA — National Rifle Association of America is America 's oldest civil rights organization with over 5 million members .
We would love to have them move to Texas to continue the fight to defend the 2nd Amendment ! ''
Rep. Lance Gooden urged on Facebook .
Others posted attacks on James and the lawsuit .
Pennsylvania Rep .
Guy Reschenthaler tweeted : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a classic example of Democrat elected officials putting politics above policy simply to appease their liberal base .
The NY AG should be focused on going after criminals & combat the skyrocketing crime rate in NYC , instead of appeasing the far left . ''
`` First Democrats wanted to defund the police , and now they are trying to eliminate your god-given rights enshrined in the Second Amendment .
This attack on the @ NRA is the latest step in their far-left agenda , '' tweeted Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ power by Democrats who fear the support of the @ NRA and all Americans who support the Second Amendment , '' said Rep. Bill Flores of Texas .
Rep. Debbie Lesko of Arizona claimed : `` The radical left 's political agenda is clear : they are trying to destroy your Second Amendment rights and erase the Constitution . ''
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar urged James to focus on New York 's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes rather than `` attacking the 2nd amendment rights of all Americans . ''
And Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left wants to cancel your right to own a gun . ''
None of the lawmakers ' social media comments indicated any concern about the fraud allegations contained in the lawsuit .
The NRA 's political action committee has distributed millions of dollars to political candidates , almost entirely to Republicans .
Each of the members rushing to the groups ' defense has received money from the NRA .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican lawmakers are calling a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday against the National Rifle Association an attack on gun ownership while ignoring the charges of “fraud and abuse” contained in the filing.
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise tweeted in response to the suit: “Violent crime is skyrocketing in NYC. What’s New York’s Democrat Attorney General focused on? Launching politically motivated attacks against the Second Amendment & NRA. Make no mistake: Making it harder for law-abiding Americans to defend themselves is the far-left’s agenda.”
James’ suit seeks to dissolve the organization and ban its officers from serving on nonprofit boards in the future.
The attorney general’s 18-month investigation uncovered millions of dollars in spending on personal trips for NRA executives,
no-show contracts, and even organizational money going to pay for hair and makeup for the wife of chief executive Wayne LaPierre.
“The NRA’s influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets,” James said a statement announcing the lawsuit. “The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse, which is why, today, we seek to dissolve the NRA, because no organization is above the law.”
Rather than express concern that gun rights advocates’ donations may have been misused to enrich NRA officials, pro-gun lawmakers attacked the lawsuit on Thursday and Friday as an assault on the right to bear arms.
Three Republicans urged the NRA to simply move from New York to their own states.
“Hey @NRA, there’s plenty of real estate in Georgia and we love 2nd Amendment!” tweeted Rep. Barry Loudermilk.
“We’d love to have the @NRA in the Rushmore state,” countered Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota.
“The NRA — National Rifle Association of America is America’s oldest civil rights organization with over 5 million members.
We would love to have them move to Texas to continue the fight to defend the 2nd Amendment!” Rep. Lance Gooden urged on Facebook.
Others posted attacks on James and the lawsuit.
Pennsylvania Rep. Guy Reschenthaler tweeted: “The NY AG attacking the NRA is a classic example of Democrat elected officials putting politics above policy simply to appease their liberal base. The NY AG should be focused on going after criminals & combat the skyrocketing crime rate in NYC, instead of appeasing the far left.”
“First Democrats wanted to defund the police, and now they are trying to eliminate your god-given rights enshrined in the Second Amendment. This attack on the @NRA is the latest step in their far-left agenda,” tweeted Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn.
“This lawsuit is an abuse of power by Democrats who fear the support of the @NRA and all Americans who support the Second Amendment,” said Rep. Bill Flores of Texas.
Rep. Debbie Lesko of Arizona claimed: “The radical left’s political agenda is clear: they are trying to destroy your Second Amendment rights and erase the Constitution.”
South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan called the suit “tone deaf.”
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar urged James to focus on New York’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes rather than “attacking the 2nd amendment rights of all Americans.”
And Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn said, “The left wants to cancel your right to own a gun.”
None of the lawmakers’ social media comments indicated any concern about the fraud allegations contained in the lawsuit.
The NRA’s political action committee has distributed millions of dollars to political candidates, almost entirely to Republicans. Each of the members rushing to the groups’ defense has received money from the NRA.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-07--GOP congressman says Trump wants virus relief 'because he has an election'

Rep. Adam Kinzinger ( R-IL ) complained on Thursday that Donald Trump was motivated by an `` election in November , '' and that is making it difficult for Republicans to be unified in negotiations over virus relief .
Speaking to the `` Guy Benson Show '' for a radio interview , Kinzinger said , because of Trump , Republicans may concede to Democrats and pass something because `` the pressure 's too great . ''
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have been involved in back-and-forth negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to an agreement .
House Democrats a second round of virus relief in May , but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to take up the bill .
Led by McConnell , Republicans allowed the $ 600 supplement to unemployment benefits to expire at the end of July , even as unemployment remains high at 10.2 % .
Since then , the Trump administration has been stuck in negotiations with Senate Republicans .
At the same time , Trump has floated the idea of using an executive order to pass some form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so is limited .
From the August 6 edition of Fox News Radio 's `` The Guy Benson Show '' : ADAM KINZINGER : The problem with the Republican side is you 've got the president out there saying he wants to do all this stuff .
He wants to keep the unemployment up , he 'll do it by executive order , he wants to send a stimulus check , he wants to do all this because he has an election in November .
So how in the world then can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think Pelosi looks at that and says , if they 're own — if the president of their party is saying that exact stuff , we can wait them out until the pressure 's too great .
I worry about this , because I think we need to pass something , but we need to do it responsibly because this has implications beyond November and frankly beyond even this year of the virus .
It has implications for generations .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) complained on Thursday that Donald Trump was motivated by an “election in November,” and that is making it difficult for Republicans to be unified in negotiations over virus relief.
Speaking to the “Guy Benson Show” for a radio interview, Kinzinger said, because of Trump, Republicans may concede to Democrats and pass something because “the pressure’s too great.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have been involved in back-and-forth negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows but have yet to come to an agreement.
House Democrats a second round of virus relief in May, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to take up the bill. Led by McConnell, Republicans allowed the $600 supplement to unemployment benefits to expire at the end of July, even as unemployment remains high at 10.2%.
Since then, the Trump administration has been stuck in negotiations with Senate Republicans.
At the same time, Trump has floated the idea of using an executive order to pass some form of relief, though his power to do so is limited.
From the Aug. 6 edition of Fox News Radio’s “The Guy Benson Show”:
ADAM KINZINGER: The problem with the Republican side is you’ve got the president out there saying he wants to do all this stuff. He wants to keep the unemployment up, he’ll do it by executive order, he wants to send a stimulus check, he wants to do all this because he has an election in November. So how in the world then can we negotiate from a unified position? I think Pelosi looks at that and says, if they’re own — if the president of their party is saying that exact stuff, we can wait them out until the pressure’s too great. I worry about this, because I think we need to pass something, but we need to do it responsibly because this has implications beyond November and frankly beyond even this year of the virus. It has implications for generations.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-07--US intelligence warns of election interference by 'many foreign actors'

The director of U.S. intelligence on Friday raised concerns about interference in the 2020 election by China , Russia , and Iran .
U.S. intelligence has assessed that China is hoping Donald Trump does not win reelection , Russia is working to denigrate Democrat Joe Biden , and Iran is seeking to undermine democratic institutions , said Bill Evanina , director of the National Counterintelligence Security Center .
In a statement , Evanina provided the U.S. intelligence agencies ' most recent assessment of election threats to the November presidential election .
`` Many foreign actors have a preference for who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a range of overt and private statements ; covert influence efforts are rarer , '' Evanina said .
`` We are primarily concerned about the ongoing and potential activity by China , Russia , and Iran . ''
China views Trump as `` unpredictable '' and does not want to see him win reelection , Evanina said .
China has been expanding its influence efforts ahead of the November election in an effort to shape U.S policy and pressure political figures it sees as against Beijing , he said .
`` Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and benefits of aggressive action , its public rhetoric over the past few months has grown increasingly critical of the current administration ’ s COVID-19 response , closure of China ’ s Houston consulate and actions on other issues , '' he wrote .
On Russia , U.S. intelligence officials assess that Russia is working to `` denigrate '' Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia `` establishment '' among his supporters , Evanina said .
He said that would track Moscow ’ s criticism of Biden when he was vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of opposition to President Vladimir Putin inside Russia .
On Iran , the assessment said Tehran seeks to undermine U.S. democratic institutions as well as Trump and divide America before the election .
`` Iran ’ s efforts along these lines probably will focus on on-line influence , such as spreading disinformation on social media and recirculating anti-U.S. content , '' Evanina wrote .
`` Tehran ’ s motivation to conduct such activities is , in part , driven by a perception that President Trump ’ s re-election would result in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an effort to foment regime change . ''

The director of U.S. intelligence on Friday raised concerns about interference in the 2020 election by China, Russia, and Iran.
U.S. intelligence has assessed that China is hoping Donald Trump does not win reelection, Russia is working to denigrate Democrat Joe Biden, and Iran is seeking to undermine democratic institutions, said Bill Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence Security Center.
In a statement, Evanina provided the U.S. intelligence agencies’ most recent assessment of election threats to the November presidential election.
“Many foreign actors have a preference for who wins the election, which they express through a range of overt and private statements; covert influence efforts are rarer,” Evanina said. “We are primarily concerned about the ongoing and potential activity by China, Russia, and Iran.”
China views Trump as “unpredictable” and does not want to see him win reelection, Evanina said. China has been expanding its influence efforts ahead of the November election in an effort to shape U.S policy and pressure political figures it sees as against Beijing, he said.
“Although China will continue to weigh the risks and benefits of aggressive action, its public rhetoric over the past few months has grown increasingly critical of the current administration’s COVID-19 response, closure of China’s Houston consulate and actions on other issues,” he wrote.
On Russia, U.S. intelligence officials assess that Russia is working to “denigrate” Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia “establishment” among his supporters, Evanina said. He said that would track Moscow’s criticism of Biden when he was vice president for his role in Ukraine policies and support of opposition to President Vladimir Putin inside Russia.
On Iran, the assessment said Tehran seeks to undermine U.S. democratic institutions as well as Trump and divide America before the election.
“Iran’s efforts along these lines probably will focus on on-line influence, such as spreading disinformation on social media and recirculating anti-U.S. content,” Evanina wrote. “Tehran’s motivation to conduct such activities is, in part, driven by a perception that President Trump’s re-election would result in a continuation of U.S. pressure on Iran in an effort to foment regime change.”


shareblue--2020-08-07--Democrats in Congress demand probe into postmaster general's 'threat to mail-in ballots'

A group of House and Senate Democrats wrote a letter to the U.S .
Postal Service inspector general on Friday asking for an investigation into the Trump administration 's changes to the mail delivery agency that have `` led to slower and less reliable delivery . ''
The letter , signed by nine congressional Democrats , states the changes to staffing and other policies within USPS `` pose a potential threat to mail-in ballots and the 2020 general election . ''
`` The Postal Service has served Americans since before the founding of the Republic , and any actions by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] DeJoy that damage the Postal Service 's ability to quickly and reliably deliver the mail would represent a significant breach of their responsibilities , '' the lawmakers wrote in the letter .
The call for an investigation follows DeJoy 's announcement in July of USPS cutbacks , which are causing delays in mail delivery .
Unlike the past — when USPS delivery workers would make multiple trips and work overtime hours to ensure mail was delivered in a timely fashion — DeJoy announced that delivery workers should now leave mail in distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within certain hours of the day , the Washington Post reported .
Such delays could have an impact on the 2020 election , as the USPS could be overwhelmed by thousands of mail ballots that must be delivered by a certain time period in order to be counted .
The investigation demand also comes as Donald Trump has been attacking the practice of voting by mail — which many states are expanding in 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and fears of virus transmission at in-person polling sites .
Democrats on Thursday met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump donor before his appointment — to try to force him to repeal the changes .
`` We pushed it .
It 's got ta be 100 % , not 94 % , not 97 % , '' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) told CNN on Thursday of Democrats ' meeting with DeJoy .
`` We do n't fully trust them — with everything Trump has said about the Post Office — and they 're Trump appointees . ''
The members of Congress who wrote the letter include Sens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Michigan , Tom Carper of Delaware , Ron Wyden of Oregon , and Tina Smith of Minnesota , as well as Reps. Carolyn Maloney of New York , Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts , Gerry Connolly of Virginia , and Brenda Lawrence of Michigan .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A group of House and Senate Democrats wrote a letter to the U.S. Postal Service inspector general on Friday asking for an investigation into the Trump administration’s changes to the mail delivery agency that have “led to slower and less reliable delivery.”
The letter, signed by nine congressional Democrats, states the changes to staffing and other policies within USPS “pose a potential threat to mail-in ballots and the 2020 general election.”
“The Postal Service has served Americans since before the founding of the Republic, and any actions by President Trump or Postmaster General [Louis] DeJoy that damage the Postal Service’s ability to quickly and reliably deliver the mail would represent a significant breach of their responsibilities,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.
The call for an investigation follows DeJoy’s announcement in July of USPS cutbacks, which are causing delays in mail delivery.
Unlike the past — when USPS delivery workers would make multiple trips and work overtime hours to ensure mail was delivered in a timely fashion — DeJoy announced that delivery workers should now leave mail in distribution centers if they cannot process it within certain hours of the day, the Washington Post reported.
Such delays could have an impact on the 2020 election, as the USPS could be overwhelmed by thousands of mail ballots that must be delivered by a certain time period in order to be counted.
The investigation demand also comes as Donald Trump has been attacking the practice of voting by mail — which many states are expanding in 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and fears of virus transmission at in-person polling sites.
Democrats on Thursday met with DeJoy — who was a major Trump donor before his appointment — to try to force him to repeal the changes.
“We pushed it. It’s gotta be 100%, not 94%, not 97%,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told CNN on Thursday of Democrats’ meeting with DeJoy. “We don’t fully trust them — with everything Trump has said about the Post Office — and they’re Trump appointees.”
The members of Congress who wrote the letter include Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Gary Peters of Michigan, Tom Carper of Delaware, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Tina Smith of Minnesota, as well as Reps. Carolyn Maloney of New York, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, Gerry Connolly of Virginia, and Brenda Lawrence of Michigan.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.