shareblue--2020-09-24--23 state AGs say new Trump rule inflicts 'needless harm' on trans people

Twenty-three state attorneys general have signed a letter opposing a Trump administration rule that would encourage single-sex shelters to shut out transgender and gender-nonconforming people .
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently proposed a rule that would gut Obama-era nondiscrimination protections for transgender people at single-sex shelters .
The Obama administration rule requires single-sex shelters that receive HUD funding to place and accommodate people experiencing homelessness in accordance with their gender identity .
Under the proposed Trump administration rule , self-identification would n't be part of defining gender identity ; definition would simply be based on `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The proposed rule refers to examples of how shelters can decide someone does not belong to the sex they say they do , including a person 's Adam 's apple , their height , and their facial hair .
State attorneys general wrote a scathing letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson this week regarding the proposal , which may be finalized in the coming weeks .
Transgender people are already struggling to support themselves and stay safe during the pandemic .
According to data released by the Human Rights Campaign and PSB Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and transgender people in particular , continue to face extreme hurdles as states reopen .
Since states began reopening in late May , transgender people were 125 % more likely to experience a reduction in work hours compared to the general population , the research showed .
A Williams Institute study released in April also found that hundreds of thousands of transgender adults are particularly vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19 , compounding their struggles further .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Twenty-three state attorneys general have signed a letter opposing a Trump administration rule that would encourage single-sex shelters to shut out transgender and gender-nonconforming people.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently proposed a rule that would gut Obama-era nondiscrimination protections for transgender people at single-sex shelters. The Obama administration rule requires single-sex shelters that receive HUD funding to place and accommodate people experiencing homelessness in accordance with their gender identity.
Under the proposed Trump administration rule, self-identification wouldn’t be part of defining gender identity; definition would simply be based on “actual or perceived gender-related characteristics.”
The proposed rule refers to examples of how shelters can decide someone does not belong to the sex they say they do, including a person’s Adam’s apple, their height, and their facial hair.
State attorneys general wrote a scathing letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson this week regarding the proposal, which may be finalized in the coming weeks.
“The Proposed Rule inflicts substantial, needless harm upon transgender and gender nonconforming individuals and should be withdrawn in its entirety,” they wrote. “… [It] undermines HUD’s mission to ensure ‘that its policies and programs serve as models for equal housing opportunity,’ will result in the exclusion of transgender and gender nonconforming persons from shelters, and will expose countless individuals to unnecessary risk.” Transgender and nonbinary adults are more likely to experience unsheltered homelessness than cisgender adults, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. One in eight respondents said they had been homeless in the past year, according to the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey published by the National Center for Transgender Equality. The state attorneys general noted in their letter this week the proposed requirement that people rejected from single-sex shelters be referred to another shelter was highly problematic. In many rural and suburban areas, they said, there are few options for people seeking shelters within a reasonable distance. The rule will “inevitably result in the displacement of transgender and gender nonconforming persons across the country,” they said, including from areas where they have established relationships, employment, and social service providers. When the department moved forward with the proposed rule in July, Carson suggested that the issue was one of safety. “This important update will empower shelter providers to set policies that align with their missions, like safeguarding victims of domestic violence or human trafficking,” he stated. Carson also reportedly said last year that he didn’t know the difference between men and women anymore and thought “big, hairy men” may get inside homeless shelters for women unless prevented. In their letter this week, the attorneys general said there was “no evidence” that transgender and gender nonconforming people posed “any additional risk or trauma to others in shelters as a result of their gender identity.” Rescinding the Obama-era protections without evidence or justification would violate a law called the Administrative Procedure Act, they wrote. In two-thirds of the cases where federal judges have ruled against the Trump administration, the administration has been accused of violating this law, according to the Washington Post. LGBTQ groups have spoken out strongly against the proposed rule. Meghan Maury, policy director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, said in July that the rule exposes “Carson and Trump’s transphobic views” and “is riddled with misunderstandings of the law and functional impossibilities.” “The proposed rule violates HUD’s own statements about whether shelters are ‘housing’ under the Fair Housing Act, is embarrassingly inaccurate in its interpretation of ‘perceived gender’ in state law, and even seems to misunderstand foundational concepts of discrimination,” they said in a statement. The Center for American Progress’ LGBTQ research and communications project also had harsh words about the rule. “Not only will this encourage discrimination against transgender people, but it will also lead to discrimination against anyone who does not conform to the shelter operator’s stereotypes of what men and women look like,” they said.
Transgender people are already struggling to support themselves and stay safe during the pandemic. According to data released by the Human Rights Campaign and PSB Research earlier this month, the LGBTQ community, and transgender people in particular, continue to face extreme hurdles as states reopen.
Since states began reopening in late May, transgender people were 125% more likely to experience a reduction in work hours compared to the general population, the research showed. A Williams Institute study released in April also found that hundreds of thousands of transgender adults are particularly vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19, compounding their struggles further.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-24--489 military and national security officials say they 'fear' for the US under Trump

Almost 500 national security experts — including 22 four-star military officers — slammed Donald Trump in a public letter released Thursday , calling him unfit for his role as commander in chief and endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
The letter , simply addressed `` To Our Fellow Citizens , '' is a bipartisan effort signed by prominent Republicans and Democrats alike who say they `` fear '' for their country under Trump .
Signatories include former Navy Secretary and NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe , who served in both Bush administrations , and former Defense Secretaries Chuck Hagel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Former State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage , a Republican who served under George W. Bush , as well as Democrats former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former national security adviser Susan Rice also joined their ranks .
Some signers served under Trump and only recently retired , including Air Force Gen. Paul Selva , former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff .
Gen. Peter Chiarelli , who retired in 2012 and was previously the second highest-ranking officer in the Army , told NPR : `` I believe the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ republic , '' citing the Trump administration 's poor foreign policy and coronavirus response .
The letter writers similarly note that the next president will inherit `` a world in turmoil , '' calling out Trump 's abysmal pandemic response , his concession to Russian influence , and his trade war against China .
The letter also mentions the worsening of climate change , the risks of North Korea 's nuclear program , and the economic recession due to the coronavirus .
`` Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and our enemies no longer fear us , '' the writers said .
Michael O'Hanlon , a military analyst at the Brookings Institution , criticized Trump 's `` seat of his pants '' decisions and noted that Bob Woodward 's new book `` Rage '' revealed how perilously close Trump was in 2017 to steering the United States into war with North Korea .
Former Navy Secretary O'Keefe said the letter was intended in part as an effort to reach undecided voters .
In the letter , officials endorse Biden for president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , principles , wisdom and leadership necessary to address a world on fire . ''
Trump 's castigation by senior military officials and security experts comes closely on the heels of widespread reporting earlier this month of his alleged remarks calling fallen service members `` losers '' and `` suckers . ''
In a separate incident this month , Trump was also widely criticized for comments swiping at top-ranking military officials .
`` The top people in the Pentagon probably ( do n't like me ) , because they want to do nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those wonderful companies that make the bombs and make the planes and make everything else stay happy , '' Trump said earlier this month .
In the wake of controversy , more and more service members say they 'll vote for Biden , as support for Trump among the military dwindles .
In the results of polling by the Military Times conducted at the end of July and beginning of August , Biden had a nearly 4 point lead ( 41.3 % to 37.4 % ) among veterans and active-duty military troops , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` unfavorable '' view of the current White House occupant .
This is a break with long-standing trends of broad Republican support in the military ranks , since 59 % of military veterans identify as Republican compared to 44 % of the general population .
The military 's concerns regarding Trump are starkly expressed in today 's letter .
`` ( Trump ) has demonstrated he is not equal to the enormous responsibilities of his office , '' the writers say .
`` He can not rise to meet challenges large or small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Independent Foundation .

Almost 500 national security experts — including 22 four-star military officers — slammed Donald Trump in a public letter released Thursday, calling him unfit for his role as commander in chief and endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The letter, simply addressed “To Our Fellow Citizens,” is a bipartisan effort signed by prominent Republicans and Democrats alike who say they “fear” for their country under Trump. Signatories include former Navy Secretary and NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe, who served in both Bush administrations, and former Defense Secretaries Chuck Hagel, Leon Panetta, and Ash Carter.
Former State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage, a Republican who served under George W. Bush, as well as Democrats former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former national security adviser Susan Rice also joined their ranks.
Some signers served under Trump and only recently retired, including Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Gen. Peter Chiarelli, who retired in 2012 and was previously the second highest-ranking officer in the Army, told NPR: “I believe the current administration is a real threat to the republic,” citing the Trump administration’s poor foreign policy and coronavirus response.
The letter writers similarly note that the next president will inherit “a world in turmoil,” calling out Trump’s abysmal pandemic response, his concession to Russian influence, and his trade war against China. The letter also mentions the worsening of climate change, the risks of North Korea’s nuclear program, and the economic recession due to the coronavirus.
“Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures, our allies no longer trust or respect us, and our enemies no longer fear us,” the writers said.
Michael O’Hanlon, a military analyst at the Brookings Institution, criticized Trump’s “seat of his pants” decisions and noted that Bob Woodward’s new book “Rage” revealed how perilously close Trump was in 2017 to steering the United States into war with North Korea.
Former Navy Secretary O’Keefe said the letter was intended in part as an effort to reach undecided voters.
In the letter, officials endorse Biden for president, saying he has “the character, principles, wisdom and leadership necessary to address a world on fire.”
Trump’s castigation by senior military officials and security experts comes closely on the heels of widespread reporting earlier this month of his alleged remarks calling fallen service members “losers” and “suckers.”
In a separate incident this month, Trump was also widely criticized for comments swiping at top-ranking military officials.
“The top people in the Pentagon probably (don’t like me), because they want to do nothing but fight wars so that all of those wonderful companies that make the bombs and make the planes and make everything else stay happy,” Trump said earlier this month.
In the wake of controversy, more and more service members say they’ll vote for Biden, as support for Trump among the military dwindles. In the results of polling by the Military Times conducted at the end of July and beginning of August, Biden had a nearly 4 point lead (41.3% to 37.4%) among veterans and active-duty military troops, with 49.9% saying they had an “unfavorable” view of the current White House occupant.
This is a break with long-standing trends of broad Republican support in the military ranks, since 59% of military veterans identify as Republican compared to 44% of the general population.
The military’s concerns regarding Trump are starkly expressed in today’s letter.
“(Trump) has demonstrated he is not equal to the enormous responsibilities of his office,” the writers say. “He cannot rise to meet challenges large or small.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-24--5th national poll shows voters trust Biden more than Trump on climate

Five national polls show that a majority of voters trust former Vice President Joe Biden more than Donald Trump to address the looming threat of climate change .
Key findings in a poll released last week showed that 55 % of voters in eight battleground states trust Biden to address climate change , compared to 38 % of voters who trust Trump .
The Public Policy Polling Group and Climate Power 2020 surveyed 896 voters in Arizona , Colorado , Michigan , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , Florida , Georgia , and North Carolina .
The poll also found that voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change over the president 's by a margin of 55 % to 28 % .
`` The divide of battleground state voters ’ views on Trump ’ s science denial versus Biden 's embrace of climate change and science is striking , '' Jim Williams of Public Policy Polling said in a news release .
`` A 27-point margin on any issue is quite unusual and shows that taking on climate can have a real impact on voters and that Donald Trump ’ s science denial is a real vulnerability for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polls confirm that most voters do not trust Trump to confront the threat of climate change .
A USC Dornsife Daybreak poll released last week found that voters favored Biden over Trump by a 26-point margin to best handle climate change .
This margin is the largest out of all the nine issues polled .
An NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey released this month showed that voters said Biden would be better than Trump on dealing with climate change , with a margin of 58 % to 19 % .
The margin advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine issued polled .
A Morning Consult and Politico poll conducted late last month showed that voters trusted Biden over Trump to handle environmental issues by a margin of 53 % to 31 % , which is the largest margin of all 17 issues surveyed .
A Data for Progress survey released in August showed a majority of voters trust Biden over Trump to handle climate change , with a 60 % to 40 % margin — the largest margin out of 11 issues polled .
The Data for Progress poll also found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden to take action to solve climate change , compared to 30 % of voters who trust Trump .
Two-thirds of battleground states voters believe that addressing climate change must be a priority for the next president , according to the PPP/Climate Power 2020 poll , while 77 % of independent voters said addressing climate change must be a priority .
`` Following weeks of climate fires , hurricanes , and severe flooding , voters understand that the climate crisis is here and that it ’ s making these extreme weather events worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lori Lodes said in a news release .
`` In the final push to November , voters are looking for candidates who not only believe in science but also have a bold plan to address climate change . ''
Earlier this month , as record-setting wildfires ravaged the state of California , state Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot urged the president to recognize the threat climate change poses to the environment .
`` I do n't think science knows , actually , '' Trump responded .
Biden has sharply criticized Trump for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` climate arsonist . ''
`` Donald Trump 's climate denial may not have caused these fires and hurricanes , '' Biden said in a speech last week .
`` But if he gets a second term , these hellish events will continue to become more common and more devastating and more deadly . ''
Climate change is n't the only issue that American voters do n't trust Trump to handle .
In the wake of protests against racial injustice , the issue of race relations has come to the forefront of voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politico poll showed that voters trust Biden over Trump to handle race relations , 52 % to 35 % .
Data for Progress ' poll found the same results , with a margin of 58 % to 42 % .
The USC Dornsife Daybreak poll showed a 22-point trust advantage in favor of Biden over Trump to unite the country and heal racial divisions .
As the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus surpasses 200,000 people , polls show that voters trust Biden over Trump to handle the pandemic that has devastated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll showed that 49 % of voters trust Biden over Trump to contain the coronavirus .
The Data for Progress poll showed 55 % of voters trust Biden over Trump to handle the pandemic .
Meanwhile , the USC Dornsife Daybreak poll showed Biden having a 14-point margin of trust advantage among voters to manage the Covid-19 response .
Health care continues to remain a major issue among voters .
The Morning Consult and Politico survey found that voters trust Biden ( 52 % ) over Trump ( 35 % ) to tackle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll showed the same trend , with a margin of 57 % to 43 % of voters trusting Biden over Trump on health care .
And the USC Dornsife Daybreak poll showed a 10-point trust advantage for Biden over Trump on the same issue .
Trump still supports a GOP-led lawsuit that seeks to eliminate the Affordable Care Act amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in the case one week after Election Day .
With the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the fate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the USC Dornsife poll , the only top issue in which Trump had a trust advantage — a slim , 4-point margin over Biden — was on the jobs and the economy .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Five national polls show that a majority of voters trust former Vice President Joe Biden more than Donald Trump to address the looming threat of climate change.
Key findings in a poll released last week showed that 55% of voters in eight battleground states trust Biden to address climate change, compared to 38% of voters who trust Trump. The Public Policy Polling Group and Climate Power 2020 surveyed 896 voters in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. The poll also found that voters prefer Biden’s recent statements on climate change over the president’s by a margin of 55% to 28%.
“The divide of battleground state voters’ views on Trump’s science denial versus Biden’s embrace of climate change and science is striking,” Jim Williams of Public Policy Polling said in a news release. “A 27-point margin on any issue is quite unusual and shows that taking on climate can have a real impact on voters and that Donald Trump’s science denial is a real vulnerability for him.”
Data from four other national polls confirm that most voters do not trust Trump to confront the threat of climate change. A USC Dornsife Daybreak poll released last week found that voters favored Biden over Trump by a 26-point margin to best handle climate change. This margin is the largest out of all the nine issues polled.
An NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey released this month showed that voters said Biden would be better than Trump on dealing with climate change, with a margin of 58% to 19%. The margin advantage was also the largest out of the nine issued polled.
A Morning Consult and Politico poll conducted late last month showed that voters trusted Biden over Trump to handle environmental issues by a margin of 53% to 31%, which is the largest margin of all 17 issues surveyed.
A Data for Progress survey released in August showed a majority of voters trust Biden over Trump to handle climate change, with a 60% to 40% margin — the largest margin out of 11 issues polled. The Data for Progress poll also found that just over half of voters trust Biden to take action to solve climate change, compared to 30% of voters who trust Trump.
Two-thirds of battleground states voters believe that addressing climate change must be a priority for the next president, according to the PPP/Climate Power 2020 poll, while 77% of independent voters said addressing climate change must be a priority.
“Following weeks of climate fires, hurricanes, and severe flooding, voters understand that the climate crisis is here and that it’s making these extreme weather events worse,” Climate Power 2020 Executive Director Lori Lodes said in a news release. “In the final push to November, voters are looking for candidates who not only believe in science but also have a bold plan to address climate change.”
Earlier this month, as record-setting wildfires ravaged the state of California, state Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot urged the president to recognize the threat climate change poses to the environment. “I don’t think science knows, actually,” Trump responded.
Biden has sharply criticized Trump for his denial, calling his opponent a “climate arsonist.”
“Donald Trump’s climate denial may not have caused these fires and hurricanes,” Biden said in a speech last week. “But if he gets a second term, these hellish events will continue to become more common and more devastating and more deadly.”
Climate change isn’t the only issue that American voters don’t trust Trump to handle. In the wake of protests against racial injustice, the issue of race relations has come to the forefront of voters’ minds.
The Morning Consult and Politico poll showed that voters trust Biden over Trump to handle race relations, 52% to 35%. Data for Progress’ poll found the same results, with a margin of 58% to 42%. The USC Dornsife Daybreak poll showed a 22-point trust advantage in favor of Biden over Trump to unite the country and heal racial divisions.
As the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus surpasses 200,000 people, polls show that voters trust Biden over Trump to handle the pandemic that has devastated the country.
The Morning Consult and Politico poll showed that 49% of voters trust Biden over Trump to contain the coronavirus. The Data for Progress poll showed 55% of voters trust Biden over Trump to handle the pandemic. Meanwhile, the USC Dornsife Daybreak poll showed Biden having a 14-point margin of trust advantage among voters to manage the Covid-19 response.
Health care continues to remain a major issue among voters. The Morning Consult and Politico survey found that voters trust Biden (52%) over Trump (35%) to tackle health care. Data for Progress’ poll showed the same trend, with a margin of 57% to 43% of voters trusting Biden over Trump on health care. And the USC Dornsife Daybreak poll showed a 10-point trust advantage for Biden over Trump on the same issue.
Trump still supports a GOP-led lawsuit that seeks to eliminate the Affordable Care Act amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in the case one week after Election Day. With the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the fate of the ACA could be at stake.
In the USC Dornsife poll, the only top issue in which Trump had a trust advantage — a slim, 4-point margin over Biden — was on the jobs and the economy.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-24--Sen. McSally celebrates endorsement from group trying to kill health care

Sen. Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) this week touted an endorsement she received from the National Federation of Independent Businesses — a conservative group that has been on the front lines of the nearly decade-long fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act .
`` I am proud to have @ NFIB endorse my campaign .
I have always been a fighter for Arizona 's small businesses .
The Great American Comeback is on the way ! ''
McSally tweeted Wednesday night .
The NFIB — which spends money almost exclusively trying to elect GOP candidates , according to data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehemently against the ACA , better known as Obamacare .
The group filed the lawsuit that led the Supreme Court in 2012 to rule Obamacare 's individual mandate was constitutional — a landmark case that preserved the law .
Despite losing that fight , the NFIB has continued to fight for an Obamacare repeal , writing in a blog post after the Supreme Court ruling in 2012 , `` [ W ] e will never give up , and we will never give in .
Today we have suffered a terrible setback , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group supported the American Health Care Act back in 2017 , the House-passed bill that would have caused 23 million Americans to lose their health coverage , and would have prevented those living with preexisting conditions from purchasing health insurance .
McSally supported that legislation , infamously saying to her then-House colleagues that they needed to get this `` fucking thing '' done — only for the bill to fail in the Senate .
Ultimately , McSally touting her endorsement from the group that has crusaded against Obamacare is part of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions protections , even though she 's voted against them multiple times .
She 's run ads that lie about her record , and has been called out by her constituents for those lies .
McSally faces an uphill battle for reelection .
Multiple nonpartisan political handicapping organizations predict she will lose reelection to her Democratic opponent , Mark Kelly .
The senator , appointed to carry out the remainder of the late-Sen. John McCain 's term in 2018 , has only led in one poll since January .
That poll came from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which typically skews Republican .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) this week touted an endorsement she received from the National Federation of Independent Businesses — a conservative group that has been on the front lines of the nearly decade-long fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“I am proud to have @NFIB endorse my campaign. I have always been a fighter for Arizona’s small businesses. The Great American Comeback is on the way!” McSally tweeted Wednesday night.
The NFIB — which spends money almost exclusively trying to elect GOP candidates, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics — is vehemently against the ACA, better known as Obamacare.
The group filed the lawsuit that led the Supreme Court in 2012 to rule Obamacare’s individual mandate was constitutional — a landmark case that preserved the law.
Despite losing that fight, the NFIB has continued to fight for an Obamacare repeal, writing in a blog post after the Supreme Court ruling in 2012, “[W]e will never give up, and we will never give in. Today we have suffered a terrible setback, but we will press on.”
The group supported the American Health Care Act back in 2017, the House-passed bill that would have caused 23 million Americans to lose their health coverage, and would have prevented those living with preexisting conditions from purchasing health insurance. McSally supported that legislation, infamously saying to her then-House colleagues that they needed to get this “fucking thing” done — only for the bill to fail in the Senate.
Ultimately, McSally touting her endorsement from the group that has crusaded against Obamacare is part of her duplicitous effort to claim she supports preexisting conditions protections, even though she’s voted against them multiple times.
She’s run ads that lie about her record, and has been called out by her constituents for those lies.
McSally faces an uphill battle for reelection. Multiple nonpartisan political handicapping organizations predict she will lose reelection to her Democratic opponent, Mark Kelly.
The senator, appointed to carry out the remainder of the late-Sen. John McCain’s term in 2018, has only led in one poll since January. That poll came from an unreliable pollster, Gravis Marketing, which typically skews Republican.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-25--News you might have missed: Young people break records on National Voter Registration Day

This week , Americans flocked to register on National Voter Registration Day , the House of Representatives unveiled legislation to curb presidential abuses of power , and the baby panda at the National Zoo had its first check-up .
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news .
The nonpartisan group Vote.org saw twice as many people register to vote Tuesday on National Voter Registration Day compared to registrations on the same day during the 2018 election , CNBC reported .
Several groups said they saw record numbers from young voters .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN it was their biggest their biggest National Voter Registration Day ever .
National Voter Registration Day was established in 2012 as what its official website calls `` a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy . ''
Most of the 135,000 voters registered were women , Vote.org noted , and many of the registrations were from people who were 35 or younger .
CNBC reported that the death of liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday may have sparked the uptick in rates of voter registration .
`` I do think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has galvanized eligible voters , in particular , who understand the role of the Supreme Court and are concerned about the future of civil rights , '' said Carolyn DeWitt , president of Rock the Vote .
The House of Representatives on Wednesday introduced the Protecting Our Democracy Act , aimed at preventing abuses of power by future presidents .
The bill would `` prevent future presidential abuses , restore our system of checks and balances , strengthen accountability and transparency , and protect our elections , '' according to a press release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It is time for Congress to strengthen the bedrock of our democracy and ensure our laws are strong enough to withstand a lawless president , '' said a group of House committee chairs that included Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerry Nadler of New York and Adam Schiff of California .
On Tuesday , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced the $ 50 million Empire Building Challenge , an initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of existing apartment complexes and high-rise buildings .
The public-private partnership will work on solutions to retrofit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heating systems , as well as cost-effective ways to make windows , doors , furnaces , and boilers more energy-efficient .
`` New York is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing renewable energy resources that will grow our economy and advance our nation-leading plan to fight climate change , '' Cuomo said in a statement about the initiative .
California will phase out gas-powered cars by 2035 New gas-powered cars will not be sold in California starting in 2035 , according to a new executive order signed by Gov .
Gavin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The decision is meant to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles , although individuals will still be able to buy and sell used gas-powered cars .
`` For too many decades , we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe , '' Newsom said in a statement .
`` Californians shouldn ’ t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma .
Our cars should n't make wildfires worse — and create more days filled with smoky air .
Cars should n't melt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cherished beaches and coastlines . ''
Progressive causes raise $ 100 million in wake of Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death Democratic candidates and progressive causes raised more than $ 100 million in the days following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , according to Democratic fundraising site ActBlue .
Progressive donors donated $ 6.2 million in the first hour after Ginsburg 's death was announced , according to the New York Times , and $ 6.3 million in the hour after that .
Both were new records for ActBlue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record of $ 4.3 million was set in August shortly after Joe Biden officially accepted the Democratic Party 's presidential nomination .
New Jersey took a major step to combat the disproportionate impact of climate change when Gov .
Phil Murphy signed into law on Sept. 18 what the National Law Review called `` landmark environmental justice legislation . ''
The new law requires the state 's environmental protection department to evaluate the cumulative environmental impact of facilities such as incinerators , landfills , and other industrial facilities would have on `` overburdened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state would be able to deny permits to facilities that have a disproportionate impact on such communities .
The National Law Review called the new law `` the most far-reaching environmental justice legislation in the country . ''
Watch : Baby panda receives its first check-up at National Zoo A month after it was born , a baby giant panda at the Washington , D.C. , National Zoo received its first exam by vets .
The cub weighed just over two pounds and measured 13.4 inches long `` from nose to tail tip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a healthy and strong cub ! ''
the zoo said .

This week, Americans flocked to register on National Voter Registration Day, the House of Representatives unveiled legislation to curb presidential abuses of power, and the baby panda at the National Zoo had its first check-up.
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news.
The nonpartisan group Vote.org saw twice as many people register to vote Tuesday on National Voter Registration Day compared to registrations on the same day during the 2018 election, CNBC reported.
Several groups said they saw record numbers from young voters. The 30-year-old nonpartisan organization Rock the Vote told CNN it was their biggest their biggest National Voter Registration Day ever.
National Voter Registration Day was established in 2012 as what its official website calls “a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy.”
Most of the 135,000 voters registered were women, Vote.org noted, and many of the registrations were from people who were 35 or younger.
CNBC reported that the death of liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday may have sparked the uptick in rates of voter registration.
“I do think that the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has galvanized eligible voters, in particular, who understand the role of the Supreme Court and are concerned about the future of civil rights,” said Carolyn DeWitt, president of Rock the Vote.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday introduced the Protecting Our Democracy Act, aimed at preventing abuses of power by future presidents.
The bill would “prevent future presidential abuses, restore our system of checks and balances, strengthen accountability and transparency, and protect our elections,” according to a press release issued by the House Oversight Committee.
“It is time for Congress to strengthen the bedrock of our democracy and ensure our laws are strong enough to withstand a lawless president,” said a group of House committee chairs that included Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerry Nadler of New York and Adam Schiff of California.
On Tuesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the $50 million Empire Building Challenge, an initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of existing apartment complexes and high-rise buildings.
The public-private partnership will work on solutions to retrofit older buildings with more energy-efficient cooling and heating systems, as well as cost-effective ways to make windows, doors, furnaces, and boilers more energy-efficient.
“New York is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing renewable energy resources that will grow our economy and advance our nation-leading plan to fight climate change,” Cuomo said in a statement about the initiative.
New gas-powered cars will not be sold in California starting in 2035, according to a new executive order signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, NPR reported.
The decision is meant to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles, although individuals will still be able to buy and sell used gas-powered cars.
“For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe,” Newsom said in a statement. “Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse — and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.”
Democratic candidates and progressive causes raised more than $100 million in the days following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to Democratic fundraising site ActBlue.
Progressive donors donated $6.2 million in the first hour after Ginsburg’s death was announced, according to the New York Times, and $6.3 million in the hour after that. Both were new records for ActBlue.
The site’s previous hourly fundraising record of $4.3 million was set in August shortly after Joe Biden officially accepted the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
New Jersey took a major step to combat the disproportionate impact of climate change when Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law on Sept. 18 what the National Law Review called “landmark environmental justice legislation.”
The new law requires the state’s environmental protection department to evaluate the cumulative environmental impact of facilities such as incinerators, landfills, and other industrial facilities would have on “overburdened communities” before issuing permits. The state would be able to deny permits to facilities that have a disproportionate impact on such communities.
The National Law Review called the new law “the most far-reaching environmental justice legislation in the country.”
A month after it was born, a baby giant panda at the Washington, D.C., National Zoo received its first exam by vets.
The cub weighed just over two pounds and measured 13.4 inches long “from nose to tail tip.”
🐼❤ Our giant panda cub has reached a big milestone—today marks 1 month since its birth Aug. 21. Over the weekend, Mei Xiang left the den, and an opportunity arose to conduct the cub's first veterinary exam! ✏ READ THE UPDATE: https://t.co/jRS5TXHhCv. #PandaStory #PandaCubdates pic.twitter.com/Yo8oZa7M1c — National Zoo (@NationalZoo) September 21, 2020
“All signs point to a healthy and strong cub!” the zoo said.


shareblue--2020-09-25--Trump picks far-right radical Amy Coney Barrett to fill RBG's Supreme Court seat

Donald Trump will select U.S. Appeals Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court pick Saturday , multiple news outlets confirmed with White House officials on Friday — and the outlook could n't be more bleak for reproductive rights , LGBTQ rights , immigration , and the future of health care in the United States .
According to the New York Times , Trump `` will try to force Senate confirmation before Election Day . ''
`` The president met with Judge Barrett at the White House this week and came away impressed with a jurist that leading conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scalia , '' the Times reported .
Trump has not interviewed any other candidates for the seat , according to people with knowledge of the decision who spoke to the outlet .
The GOP has long had its eye on dismantling Roe v. Wade , the Supreme Court decision that affirmed a woman 's right to legal abortion , and Barrett is key to achieving that goal .
In a floor speech in July , Sen. Josh Hawley ( MO ) said he would vote only for a Republican Supreme Court nominee who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wade was `` wrongly decided '' and `` understands Roe to be the travesty that it is . ''
After the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , he doubled down on his position on Twitter , calling upon fellow Republican senators to do the same .
Trump has also faced pressure from evangelical groups urging him to confirm Barrett over his likely other pick , Judge Barbara Lagoa .
Tony Perkins , president of the right-wing Family Research Council , said he told the White House that evangelicals would n't be pleased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only embrace a hardline anti-abortion candidate .
Barrett certainly fits the bill .
She has repeatedly and publicly stated her personal conviction that life begins at conception and expressed support for court rulings restricting abortion access .
She 's also said the GOP should be forceful about appointing judges willing to overturn the landmark decision in Roe .
In a 2013 piece in the Texas Law Review , Barrett listed `` superprecedents , '' cases that she said no court could ever overturn , such as Brown v. Board of Education .
Roe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled against abortion rights on at least two occasions since her appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit — one involving parental consent and one involving fetal disability .
And , given her originalist bent as the heir apparent of the late Justice Antonin Scalia , her singleness of focus on the Constitution 's text without regard for context means Roe is in trouble as never before .
The consequences of overturning Roe are far-reaching .
With a majority-conservative Supreme Court , those states that have not yet removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to restricted abortion access with no federal guarantee of abortion rights .
And it 's low-income women and women of color who stand to suffer most from lack of access to reproductive health care .
It 's not just reproductive rights that are in jeopardy : Barrett 's appointment also threatens LGBTQ rights in an unprecedented way .
A 2017 financial disclosure report shows that Barrett earned $ 4,200 in 2015 and 2016 from the Alliance Defending Freedom , an anti-LGBTQ organization labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homosexuality '' and compared the LGBTQ community to pedophiles .
The Human Rights Campaign reports that in a 2016 lecture , Barrett misgendered transgender women as `` physiological males who identify as females . ''
In the same lecture , she said that Title IX protections can not be extended to transgender individuals and defended the dissenting Supreme Court justices in Obergefell v. Hodges , the landmark decision that made marriage equality the law of the land .
The following year , Barrett refused to rehear a case involving racial discrimination .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court , a Barrett confirmation could be disastrous .
This fall , the court will consider Fulton v. City of Philadelphia , deciding whether a religious organization can discriminate against LGBTQ couples when it comes to the placement of foster children .
And a mere week after the election , the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a third challenge to Obamacare in California v. Texas .
The court 's sudden tilt farther to the right — and Barrett 's vote — could make all the difference .
The court 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affordable Care Act will have immeasurable impact on health care in the LGBTQ community , particularly for transgender individuals or those living with HIV .
And Barrett 's confirmation puts Obamacare in its entirety and health care for all on the chopping block , too .
She 's stated her opposition to the Affordable Care Act , signing a public statement in 2012 calling Obamacare 's broad contraception coverage an `` assault on religious liberty . ''
In 2017 , she criticized Chief Justice John Roberts for allegedly using creative but unconstitutional loopholes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic , the stakes have never been higher for health care .
Without Obamacare , 23 million Americans could lose their health care coverage , and Americans who have lost employment-based health care due to COVID-19 would find themselves without options .
Insurance companies could do away with protections for preexisting conditions , and the Medicaid expansion is at risk .
And the most underserved populations are the most at risk .
Barrett has demonstrated she is no friend to immigrants , either .
In June , when a panel of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from taking effect in Illinois , she said in a dissenting opinion that she would have allowed the rule , the Trump administration 's draconian updated regulation denying residency to green card seekers who use government assistance , to go forward .
This is relevant , given that the Trump administration continues to try to gut the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program .
And although the Supreme Court ruled in June that Trump 's overturning of DACA was unconstitutional , the administration seems to be ignoring that ruling , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States as children and protected under the program is tenuous .
The court will soon weigh in on the House of Representatives ' attempts to obtain top-secret grand jury materials from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
And , in the case of a dispute over the presidential election outcome , as happened in 2000 , a Supreme Court packed with right-wing extremists would have some hefty decisions on its docket .
One thing is certain : A perfect storm is brewing that threatens established case law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's confirmation will only hasten its arrival .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump will select U.S. Appeals Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court pick Saturday, multiple news outlets confirmed with White House officials on Friday — and the outlook couldn’t be more bleak for reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, immigration, and the future of health care in the United States.
According to the New York Times, Trump “will try to force Senate confirmation before Election Day.”
“The president met with Judge Barrett at the White House this week and came away impressed with a jurist that leading conservatives told him would be a female Antonin Scalia,” the Times reported.
Trump has not interviewed any other candidates for the seat, according to people with knowledge of the decision who spoke to the outlet.
The GOP has long had its eye on dismantling Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that affirmed a woman’s right to legal abortion, and Barrett is key to achieving that goal.
In a floor speech in July, Sen. Josh Hawley (MO) said he would vote only for a Republican Supreme Court nominee who “explicitly acknowledged” that Roe v. Wade was “wrongly decided” and “understands Roe to be the travesty that it is.”
After the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, he doubled down on his position on Twitter, calling upon fellow Republican senators to do the same.
Trump has also faced pressure from evangelical groups urging him to confirm Barrett over his likely other pick, Judge Barbara Lagoa.
Tony Perkins, president of the right-wing Family Research Council, said he told the White House that evangelicals wouldn’t be pleased with the choice of Lagoa and would only embrace a hardline anti-abortion candidate.
Barrett certainly fits the bill. She has repeatedly and publicly stated her personal conviction that life begins at conception and expressed support for court rulings restricting abortion access. She’s also said the GOP should be forceful about appointing judges willing to overturn the landmark decision in Roe.
In a 2013 piece in the Texas Law Review, Barrett listed “superprecedents,” cases that she said no court could ever overturn, such as Brown v. Board of Education. Roe was not among them.
Barrett has ruled against abortion rights on at least two occasions since her appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit — one involving parental consent and one involving fetal disability.
And, given her originalist bent as the heir apparent of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, her singleness of focus on the Constitution’s text without regard for context means Roe is in trouble as never before.
The consequences of overturning Roe are far-reaching.
With a majority-conservative Supreme Court, those states that have not yet removed abortion from their criminal code would return to restricted abortion access with no federal guarantee of abortion rights. And it’s low-income women and women of color who stand to suffer most from lack of access to reproductive health care.
It’s not just reproductive rights that are in jeopardy: Barrett’s appointment also threatens LGBTQ rights in an unprecedented way.
A 2017 financial disclosure report shows that Barrett earned $4,200 in 2015 and 2016 from the Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-LGBTQ organization labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Alliance has supported “recriminalizing homosexuality” and compared the LGBTQ community to pedophiles.
The Human Rights Campaign reports that in a 2016 lecture, Barrett misgendered transgender women as “physiological males who identify as females.”
In the same lecture, she said that Title IX protections cannot be extended to transgender individuals and defended the dissenting Supreme Court justices in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark decision that made marriage equality the law of the land.
The following year, Barrett refused to rehear a case involving racial discrimination.
With high-profile LGBTQ-rights cases coming up before the Supreme Court, a Barrett confirmation could be disastrous.
This fall, the court will consider Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, deciding whether a religious organization can discriminate against LGBTQ couples when it comes to the placement of foster children.
And a mere week after the election, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a third challenge to Obamacare in California v. Texas. The court’s sudden tilt farther to the right — and Barrett’s vote — could make all the difference.
The court’s decision on whether to strike down the Affordable Care Act will have immeasurable impact on health care in the LGBTQ community, particularly for transgender individuals or those living with HIV.
And Barrett’s confirmation puts Obamacare in its entirety and health care for all on the chopping block, too.
She’s stated her opposition to the Affordable Care Act, signing a public statement in 2012 calling Obamacare’s broad contraception coverage an “assault on religious liberty.”
In 2017, she criticized Chief Justice John Roberts for allegedly using creative but unconstitutional loopholes to save the ACA.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the stakes have never been higher for health care.
Without Obamacare, 23 million Americans could lose their health care coverage, and Americans who have lost employment-based health care due to COVID-19 would find themselves without options. Insurance companies could do away with protections for preexisting conditions, and the Medicaid expansion is at risk.
And the most underserved populations are the most at risk. Barrett has demonstrated she is no friend to immigrants, either.
In June, when a panel of the 7th Circuit blocked the public charge rule from taking effect in Illinois, she said in a dissenting opinion that she would have allowed the rule, the Trump administration’s draconian updated regulation denying residency to green card seekers who use government assistance, to go forward.
This is relevant, given that the Trump administration continues to try to gut the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program.
And although the Supreme Court ruled in June that Trump’s overturning of DACA was unconstitutional, the administration seems to be ignoring that ruling, and the outcome for young undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children and protected under the program is tenuous.
The court will soon weigh in on the House of Representatives’ attempts to obtain top-secret grand jury materials from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. And, in the case of a dispute over the presidential election outcome, as happened in 2000, a Supreme Court packed with right-wing extremists would have some hefty decisions on its docket.
One thing is certain: A perfect storm is brewing that threatens established case law and basic human rights, and Barrett’s confirmation will only hasten its arrival.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-25--Ben Carson: 'Racism now? That is a joke'

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said that racism in 2020 is a `` joke '' during a speech at a `` Black Economic Empowerment '' event organized by the Trump campaign on Friday .
`` You know , they talk about racism now .
Racism now ?
That is a joke , '' Carson said at the Atlanta event .
`` You know , compared to what I grew up with ?
That is a joke . ''
Carson 's comments came two days after a grand jury in Kentucky refused to indict three police officers in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman , who was shot six times inside her own apartment .
The refusal to charge the officers involved with her death sparked a fresh wave of anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests across the country .
Nationwide protests were first sparked earlier this year after the death of George Floyd , a Black man killed by a white police officer who knelt on his neck for several minutes .
Carson implied on Friday that the ongoing protests were somehow connected to the presidential elections .
`` Everything wo n't be racism after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's kind of interesting , is n't it ? ''
Contrary to Carson 's conspiratorial claim , protests against racial injustice have occurred in non-election years , including when President Barack Obama was in office .
BEN CARSON : My mother , who was wise , and who would n't allow us to be victims .
And made me read books .
I did n't want to read books , I wanted to watch TV , but she made me read books .
And as I read about doctors , and scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began to realize that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you in life is you .
It 's not somebody else .
And , you know , somebody else can not stop you .
And there was plenty of prejudice in those days .
You know , they talk about racism now .
Racism now ?
That is a joke .
You know , compared to what I grew up with ?
That is a joke .
And guess what ?
Everything wo n't be racism after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting , is n't it ?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said that racism in 2020 is a “joke” during a speech at a “Black Economic Empowerment” event organized by the Trump campaign on Friday.
“You know, they talk about racism now. Racism now? That is a joke,” Carson said at the Atlanta event. “You know, compared to what I grew up with? That is a joke.”
Carson’s comments came two days after a grand jury in Kentucky refused to indict three police officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman, who was shot six times inside her own apartment. The refusal to charge the officers involved with her death sparked a fresh wave of anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests across the country.
Nationwide protests were first sparked earlier this year after the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a white police officer who knelt on his neck for several minutes.
Carson implied on Friday that the ongoing protests were somehow connected to the presidential elections. “Everything won’t be racism after the election,” he claimed. “That’s kind of interesting, isn’t it?”
Contrary to Carson’s conspiratorial claim, protests against racial injustice have occurred in non-election years, including when President Barack Obama was in office.
From a Sept. 25 Trump campaign rally:
BEN CARSON: My mother, who was wise, and who wouldn’t allow us to be victims. And made me read books. I didn’t want to read books, I wanted to watch TV, but she made me read books. And as I read about doctors, and scientists, and historians and entrepreneurs, I began to realize that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you in life is you. It’s not somebody else. And, you know, somebody else cannot stop you. And there was plenty of prejudice in those days. You know, they talk about racism now. Racism now? That is a joke. You know, compared to what I grew up with? That is a joke. And guess what? Everything won’t be racism after the election. That’s kind of interesting, isn’t it?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-25--Trump backs diversity training 3 weeks after calling it 'anti-American'

Donald Trump on Friday is unveiling a `` platinum plan '' for Black Americans , which includes calling for diversity training for police in the wake of a spate of police shootings of unarmed Black people .
However , just three weeks ago the Trump administration announced it was banning diversity trainings from the federal government .
`` The President has directed me to ensure that Federal agencies cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund these divisive , un-American propaganda training sessions , '' Trump 's Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought wrote in a memo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the diversity trainings a `` sickness that can not be allowed to continue . ''
His campaign did not immediately return a request for a comment on what the new diversity trainings Trump is now calling for would entail .
However , it seems likely that its an effort to appeal to Black voters — who overwhelmingly favor Democrats , including Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
The Republican National Convention featured a number of Black speakers , though some of them said they were tricked into being featured at the convention and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made little to no inroads with the community since 2016 , when he got 8 % of the Black vote , according to exit polls at the time .
The latest national Quinnipiac poll found Trump capturing just 10 % of the Black vote .
And national polls have shown that voters overwhelmingly say Democratic nominee Joe Biden would be better on the issue of addressing systemic racism in the United States .
Even as Trump tries to appeal to Black voters , he continues making racist comments .
On Sept. 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force states to promote `` patriotic education '' that is basically revisionist history that seeks to erase the United States ' sordid past when it comes to race .
He also has threatened to pull funding from schools that teach using the New York Times ' 1619 project , which focuses on the consequences of slavery in America .
Trump has also been using overt racism to scare white suburban women into thinking minorities will `` invade '' their neighborhoods and lower their property values .
Trump went on to say that Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black lawmaker , will help Democrats carry out an effort to `` destroy suburbia '' with diversification .
And after the police officers who shot Breonna Taylor — an unarmed Black woman who was sleeping in her house when she was killed — were not charged with her murder , Trump praised himself rather than make any statement about the decision .
`` My message is that I love the Black community , and I 've done more for the Black community than any other president , and I say , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mean that , with opportunity zones and with criminal justice reform , with prison reform , with what we 've done for historically Black universities , colleges , schools , what we 've done , nobody 's done more .
Abraham Lincoln , let 's give him the nod , but beyond that nobody ’ s done more , '' Trump said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Friday is unveiling a “platinum plan” for Black Americans, which includes calling for diversity training for police in the wake of a spate of police shootings of unarmed Black people.
However, just three weeks ago the Trump administration announced it was banning diversity trainings from the federal government.
“The President has directed me to ensure that Federal agencies cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund these divisive, un-American propaganda training sessions,” Trump’s Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought wrote in a memo on Sept. 4.
Trump himself called the diversity trainings a “sickness that cannot be allowed to continue.”
His campaign did not immediately return a request for a comment on what the new diversity trainings Trump is now calling for would entail.
However, it seems likely that its an effort to appeal to Black voters — who overwhelmingly favor Democrats, including Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
The Republican National Convention featured a number of Black speakers, though some of them said they were tricked into being featured at the convention and were upset about it.
Polls show Trump has made little to no inroads with the community since 2016, when he got 8% of the Black vote, according to exit polls at the time.
The latest national Quinnipiac poll found Trump capturing just 10% of the Black vote. And national polls have shown that voters overwhelmingly say Democratic nominee Joe Biden would be better on the issue of addressing systemic racism in the United States.
Even as Trump tries to appeal to Black voters, he continues making racist comments.
On Sept. 18, Trump announced that he wants to force states to promote “patriotic education” that is basically revisionist history that seeks to erase the United States’ sordid past when it comes to race. He also has threatened to pull funding from schools that teach using the New York Times’ 1619 project, which focuses on the consequences of slavery in America.
Trump has also been using overt racism to scare white suburban women into thinking minorities will “invade” their neighborhoods and lower their property values. Trump went on to say that Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a Black lawmaker, will help Democrats carry out an effort to “destroy suburbia” with diversification.
And after the police officers who shot Breonna Taylor — an unarmed Black woman who was sleeping in her house when she was killed — were not charged with her murder, Trump praised himself rather than make any statement about the decision.
“My message is that I love the Black community, and I’ve done more for the Black community than any other president, and I say, with a possible exception of Abraham Lincoln, and I mean that, with opportunity zones and with criminal justice reform, with prison reform, with what we’ve done for historically Black universities, colleges, schools, what we’ve done, nobody’s done more. Abraham Lincoln, let’s give him the nod, but beyond that nobody’s done more,” Trump said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-25--Turns out the 7 misplaced Trump ballots were much ado about nothing

Donald Trump 's war on mail-in voting this week turned out to be all for naught after election workers in Pennsylvania admitted to an envelope mix-up that Trump had initially claimed was part of a broader fraud scheme .
On Thursday morning , Trump complained about the supposed mail-in voter fraud on Fox News radio , claiming that ballots cast for him had been recently found in the trash .
`` They found six ballots in an office yesterday in a garbage can , '' he told host Brian Kilmeade .
`` They were Trump ballots .
Eight ballots .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
And they were .
They had Trump written on it , and they were thrown in a garbage can . ''
By Thursday afternoon , the Justice Department announced it had been conducting an investigation into nine `` discarded '' ballots since Monday , along with local officials .
An initial statement claimed all nine of those ballots had been cast for Trump .
Later that same day , the department deleted that announcement and issued a second conflicting statement , claiming that only seven of the ballots had been cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unknown preference , as they had been recovered and resealed into their original envelopes .
The department did not explain the strange and sudden correction .
Election experts everywhere were stunned by the announcement .
Justin Levitt , a Loyola Law School professor and former Justice Department official , told the Washington Post that the move `` was not an act of law enforcement , this was a campaign act . ''
`` It 's unprecedented for the DOJ to be offering up a press release with 'partial facts , ' '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And it is career-endingly improper to designate the candidate for whom the votes are cast . ''
University of California-Irvine election law professor Richard Hasen told the Post that the Justice Department should not be a `` political tool . ''
`` [ T ] his is a story that 's going to be manipulated by ( Trump ) to say his votes are being thrown out , '' Hasen added .
As the Post noted , not long after the Justice Department 's initial statement , the Trump campaign indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steal the election . ''
Trump 's mail-in voting bogeyman has been a favorite talking point of his for some time .
On Wednesday , Trump said in a news conference that he intended to get rid of mail-in voting altogether , vaguely alluding to a theory of `` mailmen '' tampering with votes nationwide .
In the same conference Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power , if he loses reelection in November .
`` Well , we 'll have to see what happens , you know that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been complaining very strongly about the ballots , and the ballots are a disaster . ''
And , in a media briefing Thursday , Trump again incited his base to a feeding frenzy over a myth .
`` We have to be very careful with the ballots , '' he said .
`` The ballots , that ’ s a whole big scam .
They found , I understand , eight ballots in a wastepaper basket in some location ... We want to make sure the election is honest and I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t know that it can be with this whole situation , unsolicited ballots .
They ’ re unsolicited , millions being sent to everybody.
” The same day , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trump 's plan to get rid of mail-in ballots , referencing reports of votes found `` cast aside . ''
`` I can confirm for you that Trump ballots , ballots for the president were found in Pennsylvania , '' she said .
In the end , the whole affair turned out to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teapot .
U.S. Attorney David Freed said that the items , found in an outside dumpster , appeared to be have been military ballots mishandled by confused election workers .
While state election law dictates that ballots should be stored unopened until 7 a.m. on Election Day , it appeared that election workers had been opening many envelopes containing ballots against protocol .
Freed added that election workers told investigators that military , absentee , overseas , and mail-in ballot requests all arrive in nearly identical envelopes , so the mishandled ballots were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ballot request .
Despite Trump 's fear-mongering about Democrats stealing the election , Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro commended the efforts of local officials .
Asked by CNN host Pamela Brown Thursday if the public should be worried about mail-in voting fraud , Shapiro said : `` We 'll have to wait and see exactly what United States Attorney Freed and the FBI and the local district attorney came up with , but I think ( the situation ) should give the public confidence in knowing that all of us in law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure that legal , eligible votes are counted . ''
Local District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis , who is a Republican , similarly reassured the public that there was no need for concern .
`` We are confident that it will be successfully resolved so it will not have an impact on the integrity of the election process , '' Salavantis said .
Trump 's voter-tampering conspiracy theories have a ripple effect , however — one which ultimately affects candidates of both parties .
By making it harder to vote — opposing legislation simplifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against states setting up ballot boxes for drop-off ballots , complicating the voting process for ex-felons and college students , and slowing down mail delivery across the country — the GOP undermines the very process it claims to protect .
Case in point : Pennsylvania Republicans , including a spokesman for Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler , have refused to eliminate a provision in state law requiring counties to discount mail-in ballots returned without secrecy envelopes .
This could result in 30 to 40,000 Pennsylvania ballots being thrown out this year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 44,000 votes .
And FBI Director Christopher Wray effectively dismantled Trump 's rhetoric Thursday , denying under oath the idea of a widespread anti-democratic voter fraud effort .
`` Now , we have not seen , historically , any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election , whether it 's by mail or otherwise , '' he said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s war on mail-in voting this week turned out to be all for naught after election workers in Pennsylvania admitted to an envelope mix-up that Trump had initially claimed was part of a broader fraud scheme.
On Thursday morning, Trump complained about the supposed mail-in voter fraud on Fox News radio, claiming that ballots cast for him had been recently found in the trash.
“They found six ballots in an office yesterday in a garbage can,” he told host Brian Kilmeade. “They were Trump ballots. Eight ballots. In an office yesterday in a certain state. And they were. They had Trump written on it, and they were thrown in a garbage can.”
By Thursday afternoon, the Justice Department announced it had been conducting an investigation into nine “discarded” ballots since Monday, along with local officials. An initial statement claimed all nine of those ballots had been cast for Trump.
Later that same day, the department deleted that announcement and issued a second conflicting statement, claiming that only seven of the ballots had been cast for Trump and the other two were of unknown preference, as they had been recovered and resealed into their original envelopes.
The department did not explain the strange and sudden correction.
Election experts everywhere were stunned by the announcement.
Justin Levitt, a Loyola Law School professor and former Justice Department official, told the Washington Post that the move “was not an act of law enforcement, this was a campaign act.”
“It’s unprecedented for the DOJ to be offering up a press release with ‘partial facts,'” Levitt told Politico in a separate interview. “And it is career-endingly improper to designate the candidate for whom the votes are cast.”
University of California-Irvine election law professor Richard Hasen told the Post that the Justice Department should not be a “political tool.”
“[T]his is a story that’s going to be manipulated by (Trump) to say his votes are being thrown out,” Hasen added.
As the Post noted, not long after the Justice Department’s initial statement, the Trump campaign indeed claimed that “Democrats are trying to steal the election.”
Trump’s mail-in voting bogeyman has been a favorite talking point of his for some time.
On Wednesday, Trump said in a news conference that he intended to get rid of mail-in voting altogether, vaguely alluding to a theory of “mailmen” tampering with votes nationwide.
In the same conference Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, if he loses reelection in November.
“Well, we’ll have to see what happens, you know that,” he said. “I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster.”
And, in a media briefing Thursday, Trump again incited his base to a feeding frenzy over a myth.
“We have to be very careful with the ballots,” he said. “The ballots, that’s a whole big scam. They found, I understand, eight ballots in a wastepaper basket in some location … We want to make sure the election is honest and I’m not sure that it can be. I don’t know that it can be with this whole situation, unsolicited ballots. They’re unsolicited, millions being sent to everybody.”
The same day, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trump’s plan to get rid of mail-in ballots, referencing reports of votes found “cast aside.”
“I can confirm for you that Trump ballots, ballots for the president were found in Pennsylvania,” she said.
In the end, the whole affair turned out to be nothing more than a tempest in a teapot.
U.S. Attorney David Freed said that the items, found in an outside dumpster, appeared to be have been military ballots mishandled by confused election workers.
While state election law dictates that ballots should be stored unopened until 7 a.m. on Election Day, it appeared that election workers had been opening many envelopes containing ballots against protocol.
Freed added that election workers told investigators that military, absentee, overseas, and mail-in ballot requests all arrive in nearly identical envelopes, so the mishandled ballots were opened out of the fear of missing a ballot request.
Despite Trump’s fear-mongering about Democrats stealing the election, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro commended the efforts of local officials.
Asked by CNN host Pamela Brown Thursday if the public should be worried about mail-in voting fraud, Shapiro said: “We’ll have to wait and see exactly what United States Attorney Freed and the FBI and the local district attorney came up with, but I think (the situation) should give the public confidence in knowing that all of us in law enforcement are doing our job to make sure that legal, eligible votes are counted.”
Local District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis, who is a Republican, similarly reassured the public that there was no need for concern.
“We are confident that it will be successfully resolved so it will not have an impact on the integrity of the election process,” Salavantis said.
Trump’s voter-tampering conspiracy theories have a ripple effect, however — one which ultimately affects candidates of both parties.
By making it harder to vote — opposing legislation simplifying voting during the pandemic, filing lawsuits against states setting up ballot boxes for drop-off ballots, complicating the voting process for ex-felons and college students, and slowing down mail delivery across the country — the GOP undermines the very process it claims to protect.
Case in point: Pennsylvania Republicans, including a spokesman for Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler, have refused to eliminate a provision in state law requiring counties to discount mail-in ballots returned without secrecy envelopes.
This could result in 30 to 40,000 Pennsylvania ballots being thrown out this year. The 2016 election was decided in the state by 44,000 votes.
And FBI Director Christopher Wray effectively dismantled Trump’s rhetoric Thursday, denying under oath the idea of a widespread anti-democratic voter fraud effort.
“Now, we have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it’s by mail or otherwise,” he said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-25--Ernst breaks promise on Supreme Court nominees because she says Democrats are mean

Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) blamed Democrats on Friday for her flip-flop on rushing through Supreme Court nominees close to a presidential election .
At a campaign stop in Grimes , Iowa , Ernst explained her sudden change of mind : `` What I 'm hearing from Iowans is just that they 've heard that ( Senate Minority Leader ) Chuck Schumer has made some pretty big threats months ago , even before any of this came up .
And so they see this as a way to push back against the radicalization of our Supreme Court . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority .
Pressed about her apparent hypocrisy , Ernst suggested that it is OK because , she insisted , Democrats would do the same if they were in control .
`` What they 're hearing from Democrats is that they will pack the court , '' she said of her constituents .
`` They 'll get rid of the Senate filibuster .
And so , you can not tell me that Democrats would not be doing the same thing right now , and none of them deny that .
None of them will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she would back Donald Trump 's scheme to ram through a nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died last week .
`` Once the president puts forward his nominee for the Supreme Court , I will carry out my duty—as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee—to evaluate the nominee for our nation 's highest court , '' she wrote in a statement .
She issued an apology for sending out a fundraising email focused on the Supreme Court vacancy almost immediately after Ginsburg 's death was announced , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` never saw it . ''
Four years ago , Ernst joined with other Senate Republicans to block the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland , President Barack Obama 's choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court , even refusing to hold hearings .
`` In the midst of a critical election , the American people deserve to have a say in this important decision that will impact the course of our country for years to come , '' she said in a statement in March 2016 .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; rather this is about giving the American people a voice . ''
`` We must wait to see what the people say this November , and then our next president will put forward a nominee , '' Ernst said then .
She and the GOP Senate majority kept the seat vacant for a full year , allowing Trump to nominate Neil Gorsuch to the court after his inauguration in 2017 .
Even after Trump took office , Ernst stood by her view that no Supreme Court seats should be filled in election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Register in July 2018 that no sitting president should appoint justices to the Supreme Court in a presidential election year , even if it was Trump .
`` It 's precedent set , '' she told the paper , `` So come 2020 , if there 's an opening , I 'm sure you 'll remind me of that . ''
But on Friday , Ernst claimed that the voters want the seat filled , and that that is fine because the Republicans hold both the White House and the Senate .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different , '' she said .
`` There was divided government then .
We have a president and a Republican Senate at this point .
I 'll do my duty , whatever that is .
However the committee decides to proceed is how I 'll decide to proceed . ''
Poll after poll has shown most Americans do not want Trump to fill Ginsburg 's seat unless he wins reelection in November .
Ginsburg 's dying wish was that her replacement should be chosen by the next president .
A poll conducted Sept. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20-point margin , voters want those wishes honored .
And in Iowa , polls have also shown that voters do n't want Ernst to still be in the Senate come January .
According to RealClear Politics ' polling average , she is trailing Democrat Theresa Greenfield by 2.6 % five weeks before the election .
This makes her even less popular in the state than Trump , who is currently polling at dead even with Joe Biden in the state .
A spokesperson for Ernst did not immediately respond to an inquiry for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) blamed Democrats on Friday for her flip-flop on rushing through Supreme Court nominees close to a presidential election.
At a campaign stop in Grimes, Iowa, Ernst explained her sudden change of mind: “What I’m hearing from Iowans is just that they’ve heard that (Senate Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer has made some pretty big threats months ago, even before any of this came up. And so they see this as a way to push back against the radicalization of our Supreme Court.”
The court already has a Republican-appointed conservative majority.
Pressed about her apparent hypocrisy, Ernst suggested that it is OK because, she insisted, Democrats would do the same if they were in control. “What they’re hearing from Democrats is that they will pack the court,” she said of her constituents. “They’ll get rid of the Senate filibuster. And so, you cannot tell me that Democrats would not be doing the same thing right now, and none of them deny that. None of them will deny it.”
Ernst said Monday that she would back Donald Trump’s scheme to ram through a nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week. “Once the president puts forward his nominee for the Supreme Court, I will carry out my duty—as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee—to evaluate the nominee for our nation’s highest court,” she wrote in a statement.
She issued an apology for sending out a fundraising email focused on the Supreme Court vacancy almost immediately after Ginsburg’s death was announced, while making sure to note that she “never saw it.”
Four years ago, Ernst joined with other Senate Republicans to block the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, even refusing to hold hearings.
“In the midst of a critical election, the American people deserve to have a say in this important decision that will impact the course of our country for years to come,” she said in a statement in March 2016. “This is not about any particular nominee; rather this is about giving the American people a voice.”
“We must wait to see what the people say this November, and then our next president will put forward a nominee,” Ernst said then.
She and the GOP Senate majority kept the seat vacant for a full year, allowing Trump to nominate Neil Gorsuch to the court after his inauguration in 2017.
Even after Trump took office, Ernst stood by her view that no Supreme Court seats should be filled in election years. She told the Des Moines Register in July 2018 that no sitting president should appoint justices to the Supreme Court in a presidential election year, even if it was Trump. “It’s precedent set,” she told the paper, “So come 2020, if there’s an opening, I’m sure you’ll remind me of that.”
But on Friday, Ernst claimed that the voters want the seat filled, and that that is fine because the Republicans hold both the White House and the Senate. “I think Iowans see the situation is different,” she said. “There was divided government then. We have a president and a Republican Senate at this point. I’ll do my duty, whatever that is. However the committee decides to proceed is how I’ll decide to proceed.”
Poll after poll has shown most Americans do not want Trump to fill Ginsburg’s seat unless he wins reelection in November. Ginsburg’s dying wish was that her replacement should be chosen by the next president. A poll conducted Sept. 21-24 found that, by a nearly 20-point margin, voters want those wishes honored.
And in Iowa, polls have also shown that voters don’t want Ernst to still be in the Senate come January. According to RealClear Politics’ polling average, she is trailing Democrat Theresa Greenfield by 2.6% five weeks before the election. This makes her even less popular in the state than Trump, who is currently polling at dead even with Joe Biden in the state.
A spokesperson for Ernst did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-25--Biden vows to fight for trans people as Trump tries to take away their rights

Joe Biden , the Democratic nominee for president , promised to fight for transgender Americans if he occupies the White House next year .
At a virtual event for the Human Rights Campaign on Thursday , Biden said the United States is facing multiple crises , including a pandemic , racial injustice , and an `` assault on LGBTQ rights . ''
Among Biden 's plans to advocate for LGBTQ equality is an agenda to reverse Trump policies that enable discrimination against LGBTQ people , ensure transgender people have access to identity documents with the correct gender marker , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accordance with their gender .
Biden added that on all of these issues Donald Trump `` makes things worse , not better . ''
He gave a long list of anti-LGBTQ attacks from the Trump administration , many of which target transgender people in particular .
`` For four years Donald Trump has tried to roll back the protections for the LGBTQ community , '' Biden said .
`` You know , denying access to health care , denying transgender Americans the chance to serve our country , letting adoption agencies and homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and turning a blind eye to the epidemic of violence against transgender women of color . ''
At least 27 transgender or gender-nonconforming people have been killed this year .
Most of the victims were Black and Latinx transgender women .
Then Biden vowed to `` win full rights for transgender Americans . ''
He also said he would partner with LGBTQ advocates to pass the Equality Act , a bill that provides sweeping nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people , expand access to health care , advance LGBTQ rights internationally , help LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2025 . ''
As Biden noted , the Trump administration has made numerous attacks against the LGBTQ community and transgender people in particular .
It has rolled back numerous Obama-era protections for transgender people , and it fights progress for transgender people in the courts .
The Trump administration is moving forward with a rule that would encourage single-sex shelters to discriminate against transgender people , and likely anyone who does n't conform to gender-based stereotypes .
In June , it finalized a rule that rolls back nondiscrimination protections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In August , a federal judge blocked the rule but did not issue a final opinion .
Last year , the administration argued against transgender equality in a brief for the Supreme Court case R.G .
& G.R .
Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission , which involved a trans woman , Aimee Stephens , who said she was fired from a funeral home because she is transgender .
Justice Department lawyers did not use Stephens ' pronouns in the brief and only referred to her by her name .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ VII of the Civil Rights Act , which relates to employment discrimination , does not include protections against `` treating a transgender person less favorably than a non-transgender person . ''
The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in June of this year that LGBTQ workers are protected under the law .
Despite that landmark Supreme Court ruling in favor of protections against anti-LGBTQ discrimination , the Education Department 's Office for Civil Rights has resisted changing its approach to investigations for transgender students .
Although it said it would investigate a complaint related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Office for Civil Rights said schools have a right to keep transgender students out of athletic teams that correspond with their gender .
The move represents what LGBTQ advocates have recently said is a pattern of the Trump administration and the GOP trying to split the LGBTQ community by acknowledging lesbian , gay , and bisexual people and ignoring or outright attacking transgender people .
Richard Grenell , the special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations and former U.S. ambassador to Germany , pumped up Trump as the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a video released by the Log Cabin Republicans in August .
He never mentioned transgender people .
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has defended Trump 's record on LGBTQ issues by offering a gossamer-thin list of supposed achievements that only mention lesbian , gay and bisexual people .
At the Republican National Convention , GOP speakers claimed everyone is welcome in the Republican Party no matter `` who you love , '' but attacked transgender people and said they would `` put our little girls at risk . ''
Lucas Acosta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Human Rights Campaign , said that over the past few years , as marriage equality has grown in popularity in the United States , the right has `` zeroed in on '' the transgender community .
`` [ They have ] attempted to divide the LGBTQ community into the LGB and the T in order to continue their hateful attacks but make them , in their view , in any way palatable to people who are open to the idea of gay people but might be apprehensive toward the idea of transgender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that these attacks are completely falling flat , '' Acosta said .
Acosta gave the example of a transphobic attack ad on Danica Roem , a Virginia state delegate , last year when she ran for reelection .
Despite the ad , voters reelected her .
`` They still do n't understand that the playbook on our issues has changed and they can ’ t run a 2004 style race against our community anymore , '' Acosta said .
`` We now are both strong in numbers and in power , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country and with a significant portion of electorate who is not just willing to say , 'Yeah OK great I have a gay cousin and that 's all fine with me , ' but are actually willing to get out there and do the work to create a better society for LGBTQ people . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, promised to fight for transgender Americans if he occupies the White House next year.
At a virtual event for the Human Rights Campaign on Thursday, Biden said the United States is facing multiple crises, including a pandemic, racial injustice, and an “assault on LGBTQ rights.”
Among Biden’s plans to advocate for LGBTQ equality is an agenda to reverse Trump policies that enable discrimination against LGBTQ people, ensure transgender people have access to identity documents with the correct gender marker, and guarantee transgender students can access facilities in accordance with their gender.
Biden added that on all of these issues Donald Trump “makes things worse, not better.”
He gave a long list of anti-LGBTQ attacks from the Trump administration, many of which target transgender people in particular.
“For four years Donald Trump has tried to roll back the protections for the LGBTQ community,” Biden said. “You know, denying access to health care, denying transgender Americans the chance to serve our country, letting adoption agencies and homeless shelters and other public services discriminate, and turning a blind eye to the epidemic of violence against transgender women of color.”
At least 27 transgender or gender-nonconforming people have been killed this year. Most of the victims were Black and Latinx transgender women.
Then Biden vowed to “win full rights for transgender Americans.”
He also said he would partner with LGBTQ advocates to pass the Equality Act, a bill that provides sweeping nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, expand access to health care, advance LGBTQ rights internationally, help LGBTQ workers, and “recommit to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2025.”
As Biden noted, the Trump administration has made numerous attacks against the LGBTQ community and transgender people in particular. It has rolled back numerous Obama-era protections for transgender people, and it fights progress for transgender people in the courts.
The Trump administration is moving forward with a rule that would encourage single-sex shelters to discriminate against transgender people, and likely anyone who doesn’t conform to gender-based stereotypes. In June, it finalized a rule that rolls back nondiscrimination protections for transgender people in health care. In August, a federal judge blocked the rule but did not issue a final opinion.
Last year, the administration argued against transgender equality in a brief for the Supreme Court case R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which involved a trans woman, Aimee Stephens, who said she was fired from a funeral home because she is transgender. Justice Department lawyers did not use Stephens’ pronouns in the brief and only referred to her by her name.
Trump’s Justice Department argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which relates to employment discrimination, does not include protections against “treating a transgender person less favorably than a non-transgender person.” The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in June of this year that LGBTQ workers are protected under the law.
Despite that landmark Supreme Court ruling in favor of protections against anti-LGBTQ discrimination, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has resisted changing its approach to investigations for transgender students. Although it said it would investigate a complaint related to sexual orientation discrimination because of the ruling, the Office for Civil Rights said schools have a right to keep transgender students out of athletic teams that correspond with their gender.
The move represents what LGBTQ advocates have recently said is a pattern of the Trump administration and the GOP trying to split the LGBTQ community by acknowledging lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and ignoring or outright attacking transgender people.
Richard Grenell, the special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations and former U.S. ambassador to Germany, pumped up Trump as the “most pro-gay president in American history” in a video released by the Log Cabin Republicans in August. He never mentioned transgender people. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has defended Trump’s record on LGBTQ issues by offering a gossamer-thin list of supposed achievements that only mention lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
At the Republican National Convention, GOP speakers claimed everyone is welcome in the Republican Party no matter “who you love,” but attacked transgender people and said they would “put our little girls at risk.”
Lucas Acosta, national press decretary for campaigns for the Human Rights Campaign, said that over the past few years, as marriage equality has grown in popularity in the United States, the right has “zeroed in on” the transgender community.
“[They have] attempted to divide the LGBTQ community into the LGB and the T in order to continue their hateful attacks but make them, in their view, in any way palatable to people who are open to the idea of gay people but might be apprehensive toward the idea of transgender people … But what we do know is that these attacks are completely falling flat,” Acosta said.
Acosta gave the example of a transphobic attack ad on Danica Roem, a Virginia state delegate, last year when she ran for reelection. Despite the ad, voters reelected her.
“They still don’t understand that the playbook on our issues has changed and they can’t run a 2004 style race against our community anymore,” Acosta said. “We now are both strong in numbers and in power, in that our issues resonate deeply with voters across the country and with a significant portion of electorate who is not just willing to say, ‘Yeah OK great I have a gay cousin and that’s all fine with me,’ but are actually willing to get out there and do the work to create a better society for LGBTQ people.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.