shareblue--2020-09-13--One woman's lifelong battle against the Confederate flag in Mississippi

The path that brought rapper and activist Genesis Be to a New York City stage , her body draped in a Confederate flag and a noose hung around her neck , was a long one .
Growing up in Mississippi , that flag seemed to be everywhere .
It was at her elementary school in Biloxi named after Jefferson Davis , the leader of the Confederacy , and when her middle school took her to his library and home on a field trip .
It was there when she walked on stage at her high school graduation , when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the upper-left corner of the Mississippi state flag , where it was embedded by white supremacist lawmakers in 1894 .
It was even one of her earliest memories .
She first saw the Confederate flag — the red field topped by a blue X with 13 white stars — at age 5 when her father took her to a Ku Klux Klan rally .
He wanted her to see up close the people who hated them just for being Black .
`` For him , it was tying our understanding of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Genesis Be .
`` He wanted to make it more real for us — like , this is n't just something that people fought against in the past .
Racism is alive and well . ''
Mississippians voted to keep the flag in a 2001 statewide election , with supporters claiming that it was a symbol of heritage .
For Genesis Be , the turning point came 15 years later , when then-Mississippi Gov .
Phil Bryant proclaimed April as Confederate Heritage Month .
She was fed up .
On April 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage of a New York music venue , wearing the flag and noose in protest .
Her performance drew headlines — and a backlash , followed by threats .
And so began Genesis Be 's part in the campaign against the most common symbol of the Confederacy .
It seemed impossible at the time , but this year protests over racial injustice in the U.S. led Mississippi to reject its flag and the Confederate battle emblem embedded in it .
`` We can start healing and start processing because now the conversation has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The conversation has changed .
The conversation is n't : 'This is about Southern heritage . '
No , it 's not .
It 's not that anymore . ''
Genesis Be comes from a family of human rights activists .
Her grandfather , the Rev .
Clyde Briggs , fought for education and voting rights for Black people in the 1960s .
Some Klan members fired shots at his home , while his pregnant wife and children were present .
Genesis Be 's father , Ishmael Briggs , was 5 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , someone could have just been like , you know , that 's not my issue anymore , '' the 33-year-old said .
`` But each generation , there has been someone to pick up the torch . ''
Ishmael Briggs went on to become a Baptist preacher and an activist .
Before he married Genesis Be 's mother , Lisa Schmitz , a white Catholic nurse from Wisconsin , they converted to Islam .
`` We were taught about the Quran , but also about the Gospel and the Torah , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the mystical branch of Islam , and attends the Middle Collegiate Church in New York 's East Village .
`` And we would have really hard conversations all the time ... around race and around stereotypes and bias and sexism and homophobia . ''
From an early age , she wrote poetry .
Inspired by Tupac Shakur 's album `` 2Pacalypse Now , '' she turned her poems into rap .
`` He was talking about social issues in his community , telling a story with poetry over a beat , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sold for the rest of my life . ''
At the age of 14 , she released her first album .
She also combined her art and activism , writing hip-hop music for several organizations about HIV awareness , anti-bullying , and autism .
When she moved to New York for college , Genesis Be founded Strive Till I Rise , an initiative that creates art exhibits , hip-hop , and plays to challenge racial bias and encourage young people to vote .
`` But the flag that welcomed me home continued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted and my body was not safe in my home state , '' she wrote on the Mississippi Free Press site .
After her stage performance went viral , she gathered a group of high school friends and other Mississippians in 2017 to discuss the state flag .
Among them were Black people who saw it as a symbol of racism and white people who recalled ancestors who fought for the Confederacy .
One of them eventually changed his mind and took his flag down .
`` She 's trying to find peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anybody 's ancestors , '' her childhood friend , Louis McFall , says in the documentary `` Should the Confederate Flag Still Fly in Mississippi ? ''
`` Why should she not be represented by a flag that others are ? ''
Genesis Be is on a tour of red states with the Vote Common Good nonprofit , joining religious leaders who appeal to Christian voters to vote with morality before party allegiance in November 's election .
On a recent day , she told a crowd at the Black Lives Matter Plaza @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that carried on through generations , and she reminded them of a victory that brought down the Mississippi flag .
`` That work did n't start with me , '' she said to cheers .
`` That symbol has been in our state flag for 120 years .
My great-grandfather fought against this symbol .
My grandfather fought against this .
My father , my mother . ''
In the end , she performed `` Mississippi The Microcosm of America . ''
She had recited the poem countless times , but this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` To be in front of the White House , which I state in the poem is painted in the Klan 's ideology , and to see Black Lives Matters Plaza in person , it felt like a sacred space and a sacred moment , '' she said .
`` I 'm seeing America change before my eyes .
Having seen that flag come down , I bear witness because Mississippi is a microcosm of America . ''

The path that brought rapper and activist Genesis Be to a New York City stage, her body draped in a Confederate flag and a noose hung around her neck, was a long one.
Growing up in Mississippi, that flag seemed to be everywhere.
It was at her elementary school in Biloxi named after Jefferson Davis, the leader of the Confederacy, and when her middle school took her to his library and home on a field trip.
It was there when she walked on stage at her high school graduation, when she attended Jefferson Davis Community College, and on the upper-left corner of the Mississippi state flag, where it was embedded by white supremacist lawmakers in 1894.
It was even one of her earliest memories. She first saw the Confederate flag — the red field topped by a blue X with 13 white stars — at age 5 when her father took her to a Ku Klux Klan rally. He wanted her to see up close the people who hated them just for being Black.
“For him, it was tying our understanding of our family history to the present,” said Genesis Be.
“He wanted to make it more real for us — like, this isn’t just something that people fought against in the past. Racism is alive and well.”
Mississippians voted to keep the flag in a 2001 statewide election, with supporters claiming that it was a symbol of heritage. For Genesis Be, the turning point came 15 years later, when then-Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant proclaimed April as Confederate Heritage Month.
She was fed up. On April 26, 2016, she took to the stage of a New York music venue, wearing the flag and noose in protest. Her performance drew headlines — and a backlash, followed by threats.
And so began Genesis Be’s part in the campaign against the most common symbol of the Confederacy.
It seemed impossible at the time, but this year protests over racial injustice in the U.S. led Mississippi to reject its flag and the Confederate battle emblem embedded in it.
“We can start healing and start processing because now the conversation has shifted,” Genesis Be said. “The conversation has changed. The conversation isn’t: ‘This is about Southern heritage.’ No, it’s not. It’s not that anymore.”
___
Genesis Be comes from a family of human rights activists. Her grandfather, the Rev. Clyde Briggs, fought for education and voting rights for Black people in the 1960s. Some Klan members fired shots at his home, while his pregnant wife and children were present. Genesis Be’s father, Ishmael Briggs, was 5.
“At any point in our family, someone could have just been like, you know, that’s not my issue anymore,” the 33-year-old said. “But each generation, there has been someone to pick up the torch.”
Ishmael Briggs went on to become a Baptist preacher and an activist. Before he married Genesis Be’s mother, Lisa Schmitz, a white Catholic nurse from Wisconsin, they converted to Islam.
“We were taught about the Quran, but also about the Gospel and the Torah,” said Genesis Be, who follows Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, and attends the Middle Collegiate Church in New York’s East Village.
“And we would have really hard conversations all the time … around race and around stereotypes and bias and sexism and homophobia.”
From an early age, she wrote poetry. Inspired by Tupac Shakur’s album “2Pacalypse Now,” she turned her poems into rap. “He was talking about social issues in his community, telling a story with poetry over a beat,” she said. “And I was sold for the rest of my life.”
At the age of 14, she released her first album. She also combined her art and activism, writing hip-hop music for several organizations about HIV awareness, anti-bullying, and autism.
When she moved to New York for college, Genesis Be founded Strive Till I Rise, an initiative that creates art exhibits, hip-hop, and plays to challenge racial bias and encourage young people to vote.
“But the flag that welcomed me home continued to remind me that my work was not wanted and my body was not safe in my home state,” she wrote on the Mississippi Free Press site.
___
After her stage performance went viral, she gathered a group of high school friends and other Mississippians in 2017 to discuss the state flag. Among them were Black people who saw it as a symbol of racism and white people who recalled ancestors who fought for the Confederacy. One of them eventually changed his mind and took his flag down.
“She’s trying to find peace. She’s not trying to disrespect anybody’s ancestors,” her childhood friend, Louis McFall, says in the documentary “Should the Confederate Flag Still Fly in Mississippi?” “Why should she not be represented by a flag that others are?”
Genesis Be is on a tour of red states with the Vote Common Good nonprofit, joining religious leaders who appeal to Christian voters to vote with morality before party allegiance in November’s election.
On a recent day, she told a crowd at the Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House about a fight that carried on through generations, and she reminded them of a victory that brought down the Mississippi flag.
“That work didn’t start with me,” she said to cheers. “That symbol has been in our state flag for 120 years. My great-grandfather fought against this symbol. My grandfather fought against this. My father, my mother.”
In the end, she performed “Mississippi The Microcosm of America.” She had recited the poem countless times, but this time, it felt more emotional and powerful.
“To be in front of the White House, which I state in the poem is painted in the Klan’s ideology, and to see Black Lives Matters Plaza in person, it felt like a sacred space and a sacred moment,” she said.
“I’m seeing America change before my eyes. Having seen that flag come down, I bear witness because Mississippi is a microcosm of America.”


shareblue--2020-09-14--Group that fought marriage equality spending millions on ads attacking Democrats

A right-wing group led by organizers of the failed anti-marriage equality movement is back — this time with a new anti-LGBTQ cause : demonizing transgender people .
The American Principles Project announced this month that it will spent $ 4 million on ads in swing states attacking Joe Biden and other Democratic candidates for supporting transgender rights , specifically accusing them of `` transgender radicalism . ''
`` Biden and his fellow Democrats have pledged to use the power of the federal government to destroy women ’ s sports and push young children into highly experimental and dangerous sex-change procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a press statement .
`` In the coming weeks , we will be making sure voters in Michigan and nationwide know the extreme agenda Joe Biden and Democrats want to impose on the country . ''
Half of the $ 4 million total , the group said , will be spent in Michigan .
The group released an ad there on Sept. 3 featuring a former drag queen who now opposes transgender rights for youths .
Treatments to change the gender of a minor are very dangerous and irreversible .
Children need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , accusing Sen. Gary Peters ( D-MI ) of `` taking that time away . ''
Experts have rejected the myth that most gender nonconforming teens will `` desist '' — or supposedly grow out of their transgender identity — and have urged that transgender kids be treated based on their gender identities .
`` [ O ] ur main priority is not predicting children 's adult identities ; it is supporting children 's present and future health and well-being , '' wrote a group of professors and researchers in a 2018 paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Additionally , many of the treatments used for transgender youths are reversible and studies have shown that affirming the gender identities of youth drastically reduce the risk of mental health consequences , including depression and suicidal thoughts .
The American Principles Project does not just oppose medical treatments for transgender minors — it opposes LGBTQ rights in general .
Its website asserts that `` fundamental to the flourishing of this country '' are their beliefs that `` the union of one man and one woman as the definition of marriage '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into two distinct and complementary biological sexes . ''
It opposes nondiscrimination protections , claiming women will be `` erased , '' and promoting the widely-debunked myth that bathrooms will become havens for sexual predators .
The group also claims that charities will be `` shuttered '' and small businesses `` shut down '' if discrimination protections are enacted .
The group has even fought against allowing GOProud , a group of openly gay and lesbian Republicans , to participate in a conservative conference .
`` Rather than join as individuals and be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOProud pursues policy outcomes that are rooted not in the broad conservative principles it claims to support but in the identity — in this case , sexual and behavioral identity — politics it advocates , '' officials complained in a 2011 statement .
Peter Montgomery , senior fellow at People for the American Way and the organization 's Right Wing Watch project , has tracked the American Principles Project for some time .
In a phone interview , he noted that the organization was `` very similar '' to the groups that drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same playbook they used for years against gay and lesbian people , against marriage equality : trying to smear gay people as a threat to children , '' he said .
`` The religious right knows that it has lost the war for the hearts and minds of the American public when it comes to equality for gay and lesbian people , '' he continued .
`` So they have focused now on trans issues because fewer people know a transgender person personally , they 're probably not as aware of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerability .
They 've been very explicit about it . ''
The American Principles Project and its leaders did not respond to an inquiry for this story .
A review of the people running the group finds that it is a virtual who 's who of the movement that unsuccessfully tried to stop marriage equality in the United States .
Its founder is Robert George , a Princeton professor and co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage .
In a 2009 profile , the New York Times called George `` this country 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His thoughts include the belief that same-sex relationships have `` no intelligible basis in them for the norms of monogamy , exclusivity , and the pledge of permanence , '' that gay sex is `` immoral , '' and that transgender boys and girls are not `` real '' boys and girls .
Maggie Gallagher , who also co-founded the National Organization for Marriage , is the group 's senior fellow .
She has previously used debunked research to claim that `` sexual orientation , while not necessarily chosen , is not genetically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share the same orientation which , we know , they do not ) '' and that LGBTQ individuals `` are n't merely 'born that way . '
'' She has called homosexuality `` an unfortunate thing '' and urged public funding for harmful `` ex-gay '' conversion therapy research .
American Principles Project 's chair and major funder is Sean Fieler , the wealthy hedge fund investor who runs Equinox Partners .
Fieler bankrolled the National Organization for Marriage during its 2009 campaign in Maine .
He told the New York Times in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` it promotes a very harmful myth about the gay lifestyle .
It suggests that gay relationships lend themselves to monogamy , stability , health and parenting in the same way heterosexual relationships do .
That 's not true . ''
While he was not as actively involved in the marriage fight , executive director Terry Schilling has also earned a reputation as a rabid homophobe .
While leading an ultimately unsuccessful campaign for a U.S. House seat in Iowa for former-Rep. Bobby Schilling ( R-IL ) — his father — in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d posted a number of offensive tweets slamming LGBTQ people .
`` I have zero problem explaining heterosexual sex to my kids if they ask — it 's how babies are made .
Am I really a snowflake for not wanting to explain butt sex to my kids ? '
'' Schilling wrote in one tweet from May 2019 .
Questioned a year later about why he had deleted that tweet , he offered to replace it with more `` *really* offensive [ tweets ] , '' and used the hashtag `` # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The American Independent Foundation .

A right-wing group led by organizers of the failed anti-marriage equality movement is back — this time with a new anti-LGBTQ cause: demonizing transgender people.
The American Principles Project announced this month that it will spent $4 million on ads in swing states attacking Joe Biden and other Democratic candidates for supporting transgender rights, specifically accusing them of “transgender radicalism.”
“Biden and his fellow Democrats have pledged to use the power of the federal government to destroy women’s sports and push young children into highly experimental and dangerous sex-change procedures,” executive director Terry Schilling claimed in a press statement. “In the coming weeks, we will be making sure voters in Michigan and nationwide know the extreme agenda Joe Biden and Democrats want to impose on the country.”
Half of the $4 million total, the group said, will be spent in Michigan. The group released an ad there on Sept. 3 featuring a former drag queen who now opposes transgender rights for youths.
Treatments to change the gender of a minor are very dangerous and irreversible. Children need time,” the individual tells viewers, accusing Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) of “taking that time away.”
Experts have rejected the myth that most gender nonconforming teens will “desist” — or supposedly grow out of their transgender identity — and have urged that transgender kids be treated based on their gender identities. “[O]ur main priority is not predicting children’s adult identities; it is supporting children’s present and future health and well-being,” wrote a group of professors and researchers in a 2018 paper published by the Canadian Family Physician.
Additionally, many of the treatments used for transgender youths are reversible and studies have shown that affirming the gender identities of youth drastically reduce the risk of mental health consequences, including depression and suicidal thoughts.
The American Principles Project does not just oppose medical treatments for transgender minors — it opposes LGBTQ rights in general.
Its website asserts that “fundamental to the flourishing of this country” are their beliefs that “the union of one man and one woman as the definition of marriage” and “the reality of human beings as divided into two distinct and complementary biological sexes.”
It opposes nondiscrimination protections, claiming women will be “erased,” and promoting the widely-debunked myth that bathrooms will become havens for sexual predators. The group also claims that charities will be “shuttered” and small businesses “shut down” if discrimination protections are enacted.
The group has even fought against allowing GOProud, a group of openly gay and lesbian Republicans, to participate in a conservative conference.
“Rather than join as individuals and be welcomed and respected into these groups, GOProud pursues policy outcomes that are rooted not in the broad conservative principles it claims to support but in the identity — in this case, sexual and behavioral identity — politics it advocates,” officials complained in a 2011 statement.
Peter Montgomery, senior fellow at People for the American Way and the organization’s Right Wing Watch project, has tracked the American Principles Project for some time. In a phone interview, he noted that the organization was “very similar” to the groups that drove the anti-marriage fight.
“It’s the same playbook they used for years against gay and lesbian people, against marriage equality: trying to smear gay people as a threat to children,” he said.
“The religious right knows that it has lost the war for the hearts and minds of the American public when it comes to equality for gay and lesbian people,” he continued. “So they have focused now on trans issues because fewer people know a transgender person personally, they’re probably not as aware of the issues. They see that as a vulnerability. They’ve been very explicit about it.”
The American Principles Project and its leaders did not respond to an inquiry for this story. A review of the people running the group finds that it is a virtual who’s who of the movement that unsuccessfully tried to stop marriage equality in the United States.
Its founder is Robert George, a Princeton professor and co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage. In a 2009 profile, the New York Times called George “this country’s most influential conservative Christian thinker.” His thoughts include the belief that same-sex relationships have “no intelligible basis in them for the norms of monogamy, exclusivity, and the pledge of permanence,” that gay sex is “immoral,” and that transgender boys and girls are not “real“ boys and girls.
Maggie Gallagher, who also co-founded the National Organization for Marriage, is the group’s senior fellow. She has previously used debunked research to claim that “sexual orientation, while not necessarily chosen, is not genetically determined (for otherwise identical twins would share the same orientation which, we know, they do not)” and that LGBTQ individuals “aren’t merely ‘born that way.'” She has called homosexuality “an unfortunate thing” and urged public funding for harmful “ex-gay” conversion therapy research.
American Principles Project’s chair and major funder is Sean Fieler, the wealthy hedge fund investor who runs Equinox Partners. Fieler bankrolled the National Organization for Marriage during its 2009 campaign in Maine. He told the New York Times in 2013 that he opposes same-sex marriage because “it promotes a very harmful myth about the gay lifestyle. It suggests that gay relationships lend themselves to monogamy, stability, health and parenting in the same way heterosexual relationships do. That’s not true.”
While he was not as actively involved in the marriage fight, executive director Terry Schilling has also earned a reputation as a rabid homophobe. While leading an ultimately unsuccessful campaign for a U.S. House seat in Iowa for former-Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-IL) — his father — in May, local media reported that he’d posted a number of offensive tweets slamming LGBTQ people.
“I have zero problem explaining heterosexual sex to my kids if they ask — it’s how babies are made. Am I really a snowflake for not wanting to explain butt sex to my kids?'” Schilling wrote in one tweet from May 2019.
Questioned a year later about why he had deleted that tweet, he offered to replace it with more “*really* offensive [tweets],” and used the hashtag “#womencanthavepenises.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-14--Trump on climate change: 'I don't think science knows'

With the smell of California wildfires in the air , Donald Trump on Monday ignored the scientific consensus that climate change is playing a central role in historic West Coast infernos and renewed his unfounded claim that poor forest management is mostly to blame .
The fires are threatening to become another front in Trump 's reelection bid , which is already facing hurdles because of the coronavirus pandemic , joblessness , and social unrest .
His Democratic challenger , Joe Biden , in his own speech on Monday said the destruction and mounting death toll across California , Oregon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and labeled Trump a `` climate arsonist . ''
Trump traveled to Northern California to be briefed by Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom and other state and federal officials .
At one point , state Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot urged Trump to `` recognize the changing climate and what it means to our forests . ''
`` If we ignore that science and sort of put our head in the sand and think it 's all about vegetation management , we 're not going to succeed together protecting Californians , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It will start getting cooler , just you watch . ''
Crowfoot politely pushed back that he wished the science agreed with Trump .
Trump countered , `` I do n't think science knows , actually . ''
That striking moment came on a day of dueling campaign events , with Trump and Biden dramatically contrasting their outlooks on climate change —and the impact it has had on the record-setting fires ravaging the West Coast .
Biden lashed at Trump , saying the moment requires `` leadership , not scapegoating '' and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe in Donald Trump 's America . ''
`` This is another crisis , another crisis he wo n't take responsibility for , '' Biden said .
He said that if voters give `` a climate denier '' another four years in the White House , `` why would we be surprised that we have more of America ablaze ? ''
Trump , who was briefed during a stop near Sacramento before a campaign visit to Phoenix , had been mostly quiet as the catastrophe on the West Coast has unfolded over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of firefighters and emergency responders on Friday , the first public comments he had made in weeks about the fires that have killed dozens , burned millions of acres , and forced thousands from their homes .
Trump arrived at Sacramento McClellan Airport to the powerful scent of smoke from the fires burning some 90 miles away .
He contended anew that Democratic state leaders are to blame for failing to rake leaves and clear dead timber from forest floors .
However , many of the blazes have roared through coastal chaparral and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have years of leaves , dried leaves on the ground , it just sets it up , '' Trump said .
`` It 's really a fuel for a fire .
So they have to do something about it . ''
`` It 's often hard to know what Trump means , '' Balch added .
`` If by forest management he means clear-cutting , that 's absolutely the wrong solution to this problem .
...
There 's no way we 're going to log our way out of this fire problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate speech in Delaware on Monday , released a $ 2 trillion plan in July to boost investment in clean energy and stop all climate-damaging emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035 .
But as the wildfires rage , some climate activists have expressed frustration that Biden has not been more forceful on the issue .
He has not embraced , for instance , some of the most progressive elements of the Green New Deal .
To that end , Biden in his address did not wade into political and policy disagreements among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans who acknowledge the climate crisis .
As he has before , Biden sought to frame his energy proposals as an immediate necessity and a long-term economic boon focusing more on new jobs and a cleaner economy that would offset any initial costs .
`` Donald Trump 's climate denial may not have caused these fires and hurricanes , '' Biden said .
`` But if he gets a second term , these hellish events will continue to become more common and more devastating and more deadly . ''
Trump visited McClellan Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 10 miles outside Sacramento that is used by firefighters as a staging area for large aircraft used in combating blazes .
Most of the largest firefighting aircraft have not been utilized in recent days due to heavy smoke limiting visibility .
Biden 's running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris , will return to her home state on Tuesday to meet with emergency service personnel to be briefed on the state 's wildfires .
In 2015 , Trump stated bluntly : `` I 'm not a believer in global warming , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warming . ''
After the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report concluded climate change would hurt the economy , Trump said he read it but did n't believe it .
In September 2019 , he falsely slammed the Green New Deal as an effort that would lead to `` No more cows .
No more planes ... no more people , right ? ''
Climate scientists say rising heat and worsening droughts in California consistent with climate change have expanded what had been the state 's autumn wildfire season to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more frequent fires .
All five of the state 's largest fires in history have raged in the past three years , including the deadliest fire , a 2018 blaze that killed 85 people when it swept through the town of Paradise on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada .
Trump during his Monday visit awarded seven members of the California National Guard the Distinguished Flying Cross for the rescue of dozens of Californians during the 2018 Paradise fires .
An analysis out in August from Stanford climate and wildfire researcher Michael Goss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1 Celsius ) rise in autumn temperatures and 30 percent drop in rainfall has more than doubled the number of autumn days with extreme fire weather over the past 40 years .
All five of the state 's hottest days on record have struck since 2014 , overlapping one of the state 's worst droughts on record .
The link `` is n't surprising .
It 's born out by the observations .
And the future is not looking any better , '' Goss said in an interview .

With the smell of California wildfires in the air, Donald Trump on Monday ignored the scientific consensus that climate change is playing a central role in historic West Coast infernos and renewed his unfounded claim that poor forest management is mostly to blame.
The fires are threatening to become another front in Trump’s reelection bid, which is already facing hurdles because of the coronavirus pandemic, joblessness, and social unrest. His Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, in his own speech on Monday said the destruction and mounting death toll across California, Oregon, and Washington require stronger presidential leadership and labeled Trump a “climate arsonist.”
Trump traveled to Northern California to be briefed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state and federal officials. At one point, state Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot urged Trump to “recognize the changing climate and what it means to our forests.”
“If we ignore that science and sort of put our head in the sand and think it’s all about vegetation management, we’re not going to succeed together protecting Californians,” Crowfoot added.
Trump responded, “It will start getting cooler, just you watch.”
Crowfoot politely pushed back that he wished the science agreed with Trump.
Trump countered, “I don’t think science knows, actually.”
That striking moment came on a day of dueling campaign events, with Trump and Biden dramatically contrasting their outlooks on climate change —and the impact it has had on the record-setting fires ravaging the West Coast.
Biden lashed at Trump, saying the moment requires “leadership, not scapegoating” and that “it’s clear we are not safe in Donald Trump’s America.”
“This is another crisis, another crisis he won’t take responsibility for,” Biden said. He said that if voters give “a climate denier” another four years in the White House, “why would we be surprised that we have more of America ablaze?”
Trump, who was briefed during a stop near Sacramento before a campaign visit to Phoenix, had been mostly quiet as the catastrophe on the West Coast has unfolded over the past few weeks. He tweeted appreciation of firefighters and emergency responders on Friday, the first public comments he had made in weeks about the fires that have killed dozens, burned millions of acres, and forced thousands from their homes.
Trump arrived at Sacramento McClellan Airport to the powerful scent of smoke from the fires burning some 90 miles away.
He contended anew that Democratic state leaders are to blame for failing to rake leaves and clear dead timber from forest floors. However, many of the blazes have roared through coastal chaparral and grasslands, not forest.
“When you have years of leaves, dried leaves on the ground, it just sets it up,” Trump said. “It’s really a fuel for a fire. So they have to do something about it.”
University of Colorado fire scientist Jennifer Balch called Trump’s deflecting blame on forest managers “infuriating.”
“It’s often hard to know what Trump means,” Balch added. “If by forest management he means clear-cutting, that’s absolutely the wrong solution to this problem. … There’s no way we’re going to log our way out of this fire problem.”
Biden, who gave his climate speech in Delaware on Monday, released a $2 trillion plan in July to boost investment in clean energy and stop all climate-damaging emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035.
But as the wildfires rage, some climate activists have expressed frustration that Biden has not been more forceful on the issue. He has not embraced, for instance, some of the most progressive elements of the Green New Deal.
To that end, Biden in his address did not wade into political and policy disagreements among Democrats, progressive activists and even some Republicans who acknowledge the climate crisis. As he has before, Biden sought to frame his energy proposals as an immediate necessity and a long-term economic boon focusing more on new jobs and a cleaner economy that would offset any initial costs.
“Donald Trump’s climate denial may not have caused these fires and hurricanes,” Biden said. “But if he gets a second term, these hellish events will continue to become more common and more devastating and more deadly.”
Trump visited McClellan Park, a former U.S. Air Force Base about 10 miles outside Sacramento that is used by firefighters as a staging area for large aircraft used in combating blazes. Most of the largest firefighting aircraft have not been utilized in recent days due to heavy smoke limiting visibility.
Biden’s running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, will return to her home state on Tuesday to meet with emergency service personnel to be briefed on the state’s wildfires.
In 2015, Trump stated bluntly: “I’m not a believer in global warming, I’m not a believer in man-made global warming.” After the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report concluded climate change would hurt the economy, Trump said he read it but didn’t believe it. In September 2019, he falsely slammed the Green New Deal as an effort that would lead to “No more cows. No more planes … no more people, right?”
Climate scientists say rising heat and worsening droughts in California consistent with climate change have expanded what had been the state’s autumn wildfire season to year-round, sparking bigger, deadlier and more frequent fires.
All five of the state’s largest fires in history have raged in the past three years, including the deadliest fire, a 2018 blaze that killed 85 people when it swept through the town of Paradise on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Trump during his Monday visit awarded seven members of the California National Guard the Distinguished Flying Cross for the rescue of dozens of Californians during the 2018 Paradise fires.
An analysis out in August from Stanford climate and wildfire researcher Michael Goss and others found that a nearly 2-degree (1 Celsius) rise in autumn temperatures and 30 percent drop in rainfall has more than doubled the number of autumn days with extreme fire weather over the past 40 years.
All five of the state’s hottest days on record have struck since 2014, overlapping one of the state’s worst droughts on record.
The link “isn’t surprising. It’s born out by the observations. And the future is not looking any better,” Goss said in an interview.


shareblue--2020-09-14--Watch Trump explain California fires: Trees 'just explode'

Donald Trump suggested on Monday that California wildfires are in part caused by trees that fall down , saying that after `` about 18 months , '' they become `` like a matchstick '' and `` they just explode . ''
It was unclear what Trump was referring to , and he did not explain how a tree would explode and start a fire on its own .
Trees can potentially explode on their own when they are hit by a force like lightning .
This year , there have been 28 major fires in California that have destroyed over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over 3.2 million acres of land have been burned .
In 2018 , Trump complained that wildfires would not be an issue if California spent more time `` raking '' its forests .
REPORTER : What you would like to see specifically done on the issue of forest management ?
And is it possible that it 's also forest management and climate change ?
It 's both things at the same time ?
DONALD TRUMP : I think something 's possible , I think a lot of things are possible .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trees fall down , after a short period of time , about 18 months , they become very dry .
They become really like a matchstick , and they get up — you know , there 's no more water pouring through , and they become very , very ... they just explode .
They can explode .
Also , leaves , when you have years of leaves , dried leaves on the ground , it just sets it up .
It 's really a fuel for a fire .
So , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They also have to do cuts .
I mean , people do n't like to do cuts , but they have to do cuts in between .
So , if you do have a fire , and it gets away , you 'll have a fifty-yard cut in between , so it wo n't be able to catch to the other side .
They do n't do that .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump suggested on Monday that California wildfires are in part caused by trees that fall down, saying that after “about 18 months,” they become “like a matchstick” and “they just explode.”
It was unclear what Trump was referring to, and he did not explain how a tree would explode and start a fire on its own. Trees can potentially explode on their own when they are hit by a force like lightning.
This year, there have been 28 major fires in California that have destroyed over 4,200 structures and left 24 people dead. Over 3.2 million acres of land have been burned.
In 2018, Trump complained that wildfires would not be an issue if California spent more time “raking” its forests.
From a Sep. 14 press availability:
REPORTER: What you would like to see specifically done on the issue of forest management? And is it possible that it’s also forest management and climate change? It’s both things at the same time? DONALD TRUMP: I think something’s possible, I think a lot of things are possible. But with regard to the forest, when trees fall down, after a short period of time, about 18 months, they become very dry. They become really like a matchstick, and they get up — you know, there’s no more water pouring through, and they become very, very … they just explode. They can explode. Also, leaves, when you have years of leaves, dried leaves on the ground, it just sets it up. It’s really a fuel for a fire. So, they have to do something about it. They also have to do cuts. I mean, people don’t like to do cuts, but they have to do cuts in between. So, if you do have a fire, and it gets away, you’ll have a fifty-yard cut in between, so it won’t be able to catch to the other side. They don’t do that.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-14--Biden ready to spend big in battleground states after record-breaking fundraising

Donald Trump 's massive campaign war chest was supposed to finance an onslaught of attacks that would destroy Joe Biden 's chance of winning in November .
But after months of profligate spending , the attacks did little to diminish the Democratic nominee 's standing .
Trump 's formidable cash advantage has evaporated .
And it is Biden who over the past month has outspent Trump by nearly double , advertising data shows .
Coming off a record-shattering $ 364 million August fundraising haul , Biden is pouring tens of millions of dollars into a torrent of ads airing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get out his message of competent leadership while pinning blame on Trump for a lost year , wracked by disease , unrest , and economic hardship .
Trump 's campaign , meanwhile , has implemented recent belt-tightening measures and went dark on TV multiple times in August to conserve resources , worrying allies that Democrats could drown him out on TV with weeks left in the campaign .
`` It should be an alarm to every Republican donor that they 've got to dig deep and give more , '' said David McIntosh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conservative Club for Growth , which has come to Trump 's aid by running commercials on his behalf .
`` Fox News will help carry ( Trump 's ) message , but the mainstream media wo n't .
That means he 's got to have enough resources to go over their heads and talk directly with voters . ''
Advertising is not likely to be a deciding factor in the presidential contest , but it is a powerful tool to influence perceptions .
And it has taken on heightened importance this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with voters , particularly for Democrats who have eschewed knocking on doors to encourage turnout .
That places added value on not only crafting messages that resonate with diverse swaths of the electorate but also saturating TV and social media with them .
Biden is currently running ads aimed at suburbanites , Black voters , and is also running Spanish language ads to target Latinos .
He 's also ramped up his own attacks on Trump .
One recent online series of ads targeting sports fans blamed Trump 's handling of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The ads show aerial footage of empty football stadiums .
As the final notes of the `` Star-Spangled Banner '' ring out on an electric guitar , a caption flashes across the screen reading : `` Trump put America on the sidelines .
Let 's get back in the game . ''
It seems to have gotten Trump 's attention .
After its roll-out , Trump tweeted , `` I want Big Ten , and all other football , back - NOW '' while insisting that `` Dems do n't want football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other Biden ads seek to push back on Trump 's false claims that Biden wants to defund the police and that his election would lead to violence in the streets .
In fact , Biden has not called for defunding the police , and the ads highlight that the unrest gripping some American cities has happened on Trump 's watch .
`` We wanted folks to understand that the fact that they ca n't go to church , they ca n't go to school — that is a failure of American leadership .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Patrick Bonsignore , who is the director of paid media for the Biden campaign .
Trump 's campaign dismisses concerns that they do n't have the resources to compete , pointing to $ 200 million in ad reservations they 've made through the election .
And they argue Biden 's many ads targeted to different demographic groups are a sign of weak support .
Last week they unveiled an ad called `` Great American Comeback '' that puts an optimistic spin on the pandemic , suggests a vaccine is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy will soon come roaring back .
`` President Trump wins the economic argument hands-down , and it 's not even close , '' said Tim Murtaugh , the Trump campaign 's communications director .
Trump 's campaign also notes Biden 's spending in Minnesota , a longtime Democratic state that Trump is trying to contest this year .
Biden has already spent $ 2.8 million there and has reserved an additional $ 3.4 million in advertising , according to data from the ad tracking firm Kantar/CMAG .
He will also travel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are other signs of vulnerability in Trump 's massive operation , which his former campaign manager Brad Parscale likened in May to a `` Death Star . ''
Though Trump has outspent Biden on Facebook , which was long touted as one of the keys to Trump 's 2016 victory , an analysis of spending data by the firm Applecart shows roughly two-thirds of those ads are still geared toward fundraising — not voter persuasion — in states that will not decide the election .
Of the remaining ads that do target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geared toward persuading voters , the analysis found .
`` I 've seen Star Wars and I know how it ends .
It involved the Death Star destructing because it had a known construction defect , '' said Sacha Samotin , the co-CEO of the firm , which has done work for moderate Republicans , as well as moderate Democrats .
Trump is also playing defense in states he handily won in 2016 .
He 's reserved $ 17.3 million in Ohio , a state Democrats initially wrote off this cycle , $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 5.3 million in Iowa , the data from Kantar/CMAG shows .
On Monday , the Trump campaign canceled at least $ 2.5 million worth of advertising that was planned for Iowa , Ohio , and Nevada , where he campaigned over the weekend , the data shows .
Last week he also canceled ads in those states , as well as in Arizona , New Hampshire , and Pennsylvania .
The Trump campaign said the moves were part of a broader shift in advertising spending and pledged to run new ads on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and go up soon in local markets in Arizona and Pennsylvania .
Democrats say they are n't taking anything for granted .
Biden 's massive cash haul gives some reassurance , but Republican outside groups have increasingly picked up Trump 's slack .
One of those , Preserve America PAC , is run by Chris LaCivita , the Republican strategist who oversaw Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth , the outside group that played a major role in Democrat John Kerry 's 2004 defeat by airing misleading claims about his record as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has an outsized ability to shape the election narrative from the White House , where he has repeatedly lashed out at his perceived enemies and sought to shift blame for his handling of the virus .
`` The other side has the advantage of Donald Trump being an absolutely calculating no-shame liar , '' said former Pennsylvania Gov .
Ed Rendell , a longtime Biden friend .

Donald Trump’s massive campaign war chest was supposed to finance an onslaught of attacks that would destroy Joe Biden’s chance of winning in November.
But after months of profligate spending, the attacks did little to diminish the Democratic nominee’s standing. Trump’s formidable cash advantage has evaporated. And it is Biden who over the past month has outspent Trump by nearly double, advertising data shows.
Coming off a record-shattering $364 million August fundraising haul, Biden is pouring tens of millions of dollars into a torrent of ads airing in battleground states. The aim is to get out his message of competent leadership while pinning blame on Trump for a lost year, wracked by disease, unrest, and economic hardship.
Trump’s campaign, meanwhile, has implemented recent belt-tightening measures and went dark on TV multiple times in August to conserve resources, worrying allies that Democrats could drown him out on TV with weeks left in the campaign.
“It should be an alarm to every Republican donor that they’ve got to dig deep and give more,” said David McIntosh, a former Indiana congressman who leads the conservative Club for Growth, which has come to Trump’s aid by running commercials on his behalf. “Fox News will help carry (Trump’s) message, but the mainstream media won’t. That means he’s got to have enough resources to go over their heads and talk directly with voters.”
Advertising is not likely to be a deciding factor in the presidential contest, but it is a powerful tool to influence perceptions. And it has taken on heightened importance this year because the coronavirus has limited direct contact with voters, particularly for Democrats who have eschewed knocking on doors to encourage turnout.
That places added value on not only crafting messages that resonate with diverse swaths of the electorate but also saturating TV and social media with them.
Biden is currently running ads aimed at suburbanites, Black voters, and is also running Spanish language ads to target Latinos. He’s also ramped up his own attacks on Trump.
One recent online series of ads targeting sports fans blamed Trump’s handling of the pandemic for the absence of Big 10 football. The ads show aerial footage of empty football stadiums. As the final notes of the “Star-Spangled Banner” ring out on an electric guitar, a caption flashes across the screen reading: “Trump put America on the sidelines. Let’s get back in the game.”
It seems to have gotten Trump’s attention. After its roll-out, Trump tweeted, “I want Big Ten, and all other football, back – NOW” while insisting that “Dems don’t want football back, for political reasons.”
Other Biden ads seek to push back on Trump’s false claims that Biden wants to defund the police and that his election would lead to violence in the streets. In fact, Biden has not called for defunding the police, and the ads highlight that the unrest gripping some American cities has happened on Trump’s watch.
“We wanted folks to understand that the fact that they can’t go to church, they can’t go to school — that is a failure of American leadership. And it didn’t have to happen,” said Patrick Bonsignore, who is the director of paid media for the Biden campaign.
Trump’s campaign dismisses concerns that they don’t have the resources to compete, pointing to $200 million in ad reservations they’ve made through the election. And they argue Biden’s many ads targeted to different demographic groups are a sign of weak support.
Last week they unveiled an ad called “Great American Comeback” that puts an optimistic spin on the pandemic, suggests a vaccine is just around the corner, and pledges the economy will soon come roaring back.
“President Trump wins the economic argument hands-down, and it’s not even close,” said Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign’s communications director.
Trump’s campaign also notes Biden’s spending in Minnesota, a longtime Democratic state that Trump is trying to contest this year. Biden has already spent $2.8 million there and has reserved an additional $3.4 million in advertising, according to data from the ad tracking firm Kantar/CMAG. He will also travel to the state later this week.
But there are other signs of vulnerability in Trump’s massive operation, which his former campaign manager Brad Parscale likened in May to a “Death Star.”
Though Trump has outspent Biden on Facebook, which was long touted as one of the keys to Trump’s 2016 victory, an analysis of spending data by the firm Applecart shows roughly two-thirds of those ads are still geared toward fundraising — not voter persuasion — in states that will not decide the election.
Of the remaining ads that do target battleground states, only about half are geared toward persuading voters, the analysis found.
“I’ve seen Star Wars and I know how it ends. It involved the Death Star destructing because it had a known construction defect,” said Sacha Samotin, the co-CEO of the firm, which has done work for moderate Republicans, as well as moderate Democrats.
Trump is also playing defense in states he handily won in 2016. He’s reserved $17.3 million in Ohio, a state Democrats initially wrote off this cycle, $15.8 million in North Carolina, and $5.3 million in Iowa, the data from Kantar/CMAG shows.
On Monday, the Trump campaign canceled at least $2.5 million worth of advertising that was planned for Iowa, Ohio, and Nevada, where he campaigned over the weekend, the data shows. Last week he also canceled ads in those states, as well as in Arizona, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.
The Trump campaign said the moves were part of a broader shift in advertising spending and pledged to run new ads on national cable, offer Spanish language ads, and go up soon in local markets in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Democrats say they aren’t taking anything for granted. Biden’s massive cash haul gives some reassurance, but Republican outside groups have increasingly picked up Trump’s slack.
One of those, Preserve America PAC, is run by Chris LaCivita, the Republican strategist who oversaw Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth, the outside group that played a major role in Democrat John Kerry’s 2004 defeat by airing misleading claims about his record as a Vietnam War hero.
Trump also has an outsized ability to shape the election narrative from the White House, where he has repeatedly lashed out at his perceived enemies and sought to shift blame for his handling of the virus.
“The other side has the advantage of Donald Trump being an absolutely calculating no-shame liar,” said former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a longtime Biden friend.


shareblue--2020-09-14--Former elections chief: Dejoy scheme to elect Republicans 'clearly illegal'

Former Federal Elections Commission Chair Ann Ravel said on Monday that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was involved in an `` illegal straw donor scheme '' and was the `` poster child '' for breaking federal campaign finance law .
Ravel made her comments in her opening statement during a hearing held by the House Oversight Committee on DeJoy 's leadership and conflicts of interest .
DeJoy has been under fire for changes he has made to the U.S .
Postal Service ahead of the election that have led to major slowdowns in the processing of mail for delivery .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his time leading the firm New Breed Logistics , several employees said they were urged by DeJoy or his lieutenants to make donations to Republicans running for federal office .
DeJoy later reimbursed the employees for those contributions through bonuses from the corporation , according to the Post .
DeJoy rose to prominence within the Republican Party in part thanks to the donations he steered the party 's way .
He was put in place as postmaster general in May of 2020 .
From a Sep. 14 hearing of the House Oversight Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million that was contributed by Mr. DeJoy 's employees to political candidates at his urging , which was paid back in the form of bonuses , is an illegal straw donor scheme .
Contributions through conduits and funds that are diverted from the corporate treasury and laundered to contribute directly to a candidate are prohibited .
Even Citizen 's United held that it 's corrupting for a corporation to contribute directly to candidates .
And funneling the money through employees is clearly illegal .
Discussing similar facts in 2017 , the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal prosecution of election offenses manual that `` a contribution in the name of another is often used to disguise other campaign finance violations by those who are at their contribution limit and that a common conduit scheme involves a corporate official who instructs corporation employees to make contributions to a candidate and then reimburses them for corporate funds . ''
`` Generally , '' they said , `` through fictitious bonuses or pay raises . ''
So , Mr. DeJoy 's actions are a poster child for these violations .
Published with @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Former Federal Elections Commission Chair Ann Ravel said on Monday that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was involved in an “illegal straw donor scheme” and was the “poster child” for breaking federal campaign finance law.
Ravel made her comments in her opening statement during a hearing held by the House Oversight Committee on DeJoy’s leadership and conflicts of interest.
DeJoy has been under fire for changes he has made to the U.S. Postal Service ahead of the election that have led to major slowdowns in the processing of mail for delivery.
A recent Washington Post investigation found that during his time leading the firm New Breed Logistics, several employees said they were urged by DeJoy or his lieutenants to make donations to Republicans running for federal office. DeJoy later reimbursed the employees for those contributions through bonuses from the corporation, according to the Post.
DeJoy rose to prominence within the Republican Party in part thanks to the donations he steered the party’s way. He was put in place as postmaster general in May of 2020.
From a Sep. 14 hearing of the House Oversight Committee:
ANN RAVEL: The almost $1 million that was contributed by Mr. DeJoy’s employees to political candidates at his urging, which was paid back in the form of bonuses, is an illegal straw donor scheme. Contributions through conduits and funds that are diverted from the corporate treasury and laundered to contribute directly to a candidate are prohibited. Even Citizen’s United held that it’s corrupting for a corporation to contribute directly to candidates. And funneling the money through employees is clearly illegal. Discussing similar facts in 2017, the United States Department of Justice concluded in their federal prosecution of election offenses manual that “a contribution in the name of another is often used to disguise other campaign finance violations by those who are at their contribution limit and that a common conduit scheme involves a corporate official who instructs corporation employees to make contributions to a candidate and then reimburses them for corporate funds.” “Generally,” they said, “through fictitious bonuses or pay raises.” So, Mr. DeJoy’s actions are a poster child for these violations.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-14--GOP governor who ran on being 'pro-choice' keeps attacking abortion

New Hampshire Gov .
Chris Sununu calls himself a `` pro-choice '' Republican .
But he has repeatedly undermined abortion rights while in office .
Sununu , who is currently seeking a third two-year term , proclaimed himself an abortion rights supporter in both his 2016 and his 2018 campaigns .
`` I 'm pro-choice .
I support Roe v. Wade , '' he told Manchester , New Hampshire , station WMUR in July 2018 after he was criticized for supporting Donald Trump 's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court .
`` `` As a governor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a single-issue litmus test . ''
The president of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England , Sabrina Dunlap , told WMUR : '' It is contradictory to call yourself pro-choice and support a nominee to the Supreme Court who poses the biggest threat to reproductive rights in a generation . ''
Kavanaugh voted with the minority in June to uphold a Louisiana abortion restriction that was struck down by the court as unconstitutional in Medical Services v. Russo .
As recently as last year , his spokesperson told New Hampshire Public Radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling that guaranteed abortion rights .
But last month , Sununu approved a five-figure pandemic emergency grant for a crisis pregnancy center , an anti-abortion group that misleads and manipulates pregnant women and gender minorities to prevent them from choosing abortion .
On its website , the so-called crisis center , Options for Women , falsely claims that `` up to 30 % of pregnancies end in miscarriage . ''
It owns another facility that says choosing abortion causes major psychological damage — an oft-used lie popular with anti-abortion activists .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recovery , Options for Women in Rochester , New Hampshire , was awarded $ 64,694.25 in `` Non-Profit Emergency Relief Funds . ''
The `` Frequently Asked Questions '' document on the office 's website indicates that a number of outside groups made recommendations for the grants , which were submitted to the governor `` for final approval . ''
Neither Options for Women nor Sununu immediately responded to inquiries for this story .
Last month , Sununu vetoed a bill that would have required all commercial health insurance plans to cover abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This bill would risk the state 's federal health care funding in the middle of a pandemic , take away the freedom of choice for those employees and employers who object to being forced to partake in or to provide abortion services , and expose the state to expensive litigation , '' Sununu said in his veto message .
Six states — California , Illinois , Maine , New York , Oregon , and Washington — require that private insurance plans include coverage of abortions .
On Tuesday , New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feltes as their nominee to challenge Sununu in November .
In his primary victory speech , Feltes said the state deserves `` a governor who is actually pro-choice , not one who just says he is around election time . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu calls himself a “pro-choice” Republican. But he has repeatedly undermined abortion rights while in office.
Sununu, who is currently seeking a third two-year term, proclaimed himself an abortion rights supporter in both his 2016 and his 2018 campaigns.
“I’m pro-choice. I support Roe v. Wade,” he told Manchester, New Hampshire, station WMUR in July 2018 after he was criticized for supporting Donald Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. “”As a governor, I don’t judge any single judge on a single-issue litmus test.”
The president of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Sabrina Dunlap, told WMUR:”It is contradictory to call yourself pro-choice and support a nominee to the Supreme Court who poses the biggest threat to reproductive rights in a generation.”
Kavanaugh voted with the minority in June to uphold a Louisiana abortion restriction that was struck down by the court as unconstitutional in Medical Services v. Russo.
As recently as last year, his spokesperson told New Hampshire Public Radio that Sununu supported the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that guaranteed abortion rights.
But last month, Sununu approved a five-figure pandemic emergency grant for a crisis pregnancy center, an anti-abortion group that misleads and manipulates pregnant women and gender minorities to prevent them from choosing abortion.
On its website, the so-called crisis center, Options for Women, falsely claims that “up to 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage.” It owns another facility that says choosing abortion causes major psychological damage — an oft-used lie popular with anti-abortion activists.
According to Sununu’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, Options for Women in Rochester, New Hampshire, was awarded $64,694.25 in “Non-Profit Emergency Relief Funds.” The “Frequently Asked Questions” document on the office’s website indicates that a number of outside groups made recommendations for the grants, which were submitted to the governor “for final approval.”
Neither Options for Women nor Sununu immediately responded to inquiries for this story.
Last month, Sununu vetoed a bill that would have required all commercial health insurance plans to cover abortion services if they cover other maternity costs.
“This bill would risk the state’s federal health care funding in the middle of a pandemic, take away the freedom of choice for those employees and employers who object to being forced to partake in or to provide abortion services, and expose the state to expensive litigation,” Sununu said in his veto message.
Six states — California, Illinois, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Washington — require that private insurance plans include coverage of abortions.
On Tuesday, New Hampshire Democrats selected state Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes as their nominee to challenge Sununu in November.
In his primary victory speech, Feltes said the state deserves “a governor who is actually pro-choice, not one who just says he is around election time.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-14--Yet another former intel official calls Trump Putin's 'useful idiot'

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , the decorated war hero who retired from the Army in July after calling out `` intimidation '' from the White House , said in an interview published Monday morning that Trump is a `` useful idiot '' for Russian President Vladimir Putin .
Donald Trump fired Vindman from the National Security Council in February , a move largely seen as retaliation for Vindman 's congressional testimony during the House impeachment investigation .
`` President Trump should be considered to be a useful idiot and a fellow traveler , which makes him an unwitting agent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with the Atlantic 's editor-in-chief , Jeffrey Goldberg .
Vindman added , `` They may or may not have dirt on him , but they don ’ t have to use it .
They have more effective and less risky ways to employ him .
He has aspirations to be the kind of leader that Putin is , and so he admires him .
He likes authoritarian strongmen who act with impunity , without checks and balances .
So he ’ ll try to please Putin . ''
Vindman is the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's relationship with the Russian dictator , as Trump has made numerous comments and taken a host of actions that benefit Putin 's nefarious intentions .
For example , Trump has pushed Putin 's anti-Ukraine propaganda , legitimized Russia 's hacking and interference in American elections , and even let Putin 's bounties on the heads of American troops slide .
Those actions , among others , have led intellgience officials to wonder whether Putin has dirt on Trump .
Former FBI Agent Peter Strzok , who led the United States ' investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , said on NBC News ' `` Meet the Press '' on Sunday that , `` Donald Trump is compromised by the Russians . ''
`` And when I say that I mean that they hold leverage over him that makes him incapable of placing the national interest , the national security ahead of his own , '' Strzok said .
Meanwhile , Bob Woodward reported in his forthcoming book that Trump 's former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats had a `` deep suspicions '' that Russian `` had something '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hayden has called Trump `` Russia 's useful fool , '' while fellow former CIA Director John Brennan has said `` all roads with Trump lead to Putin . ''
And Barry McCaffrey , a retired four-star Army general , said in June that Trump `` can not be trusted . ''
`` Trump is supporting Putin and Russian interests for whatever reason , '' McCaffrey tweeted .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the decorated war hero who retired from the Army in July after calling out “intimidation” from the White House, said in an interview published Monday morning that Trump is a “useful idiot” for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump fired Vindman from the National Security Council in February, a move largely seen as retaliation for Vindman’s congressional testimony during the House impeachment investigation.
“President Trump should be considered to be a useful idiot and a fellow traveler, which makes him an unwitting agent of Putin,” Vindman said in an interview with the Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg.
Vindman added, “They may or may not have dirt on him, but they don’t have to use it. They have more effective and less risky ways to employ him. He has aspirations to be the kind of leader that Putin is, and so he admires him. He likes authoritarian strongmen who act with impunity, without checks and balances. So he’ll try to please Putin.”
Vindman is the latest former American intelligence official to question Trump’s relationship with the Russian dictator, as Trump has made numerous comments and taken a host of actions that benefit Putin’s nefarious intentions.
For example, Trump has pushed Putin’s anti-Ukraine propaganda, legitimized Russia’s hacking and interference in American elections, and even let Putin’s bounties on the heads of American troops slide.
Those actions, among others, have led intellgience officials to wonder whether Putin has dirt on Trump.
Former FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who led the United States’ investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday that, “Donald Trump is compromised by the Russians.”
“And when I say that I mean that they hold leverage over him that makes him incapable of placing the national interest, the national security ahead of his own,” Strzok said.
Meanwhile, Bob Woodward reported in his forthcoming book that Trump’s former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats had a “deep suspicions” that Russian “had something” on Trump.
Former CIA Director Michael Hayden has called Trump “Russia’s useful fool,” while fellow former CIA Director John Brennan has said “all roads with Trump lead to Putin.”
And Barry McCaffrey, a retired four-star Army general, said in June that Trump “cannot be trusted.”
“Trump is supporting Putin and Russian interests for whatever reason,” McCaffrey tweeted.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-14--Woodward: It's a 'shock' how Trump's decisions have killed so many

Journalist Bob Woodward on Monday said that Donald Trump 's refusal to tell the public early on about the dangers posed by the coronavirus , which has killed nearly 194,000 people so far , was a `` shock '' to him .
Trump `` could have saved lives '' if he had simply told the American people what he himself knew as early as February , Woodward said — that the virus was more deadly than the flu and could result in catastrophe if not contained properly .
Woodward said that after covering nine presidents , Trump 's behavior was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter said he learned when speaking to Trump for his forthcoming book `` Rage '' that Trump `` possessed ... specific knowledge '' about the virus 's threat but did not inform the public in his Feb. 4 State of the Union speech .
Woodward , who has himself faced criticism for the delayed release of audio from his interviews with Trump , then unfavorably compared Trump 's actions to President Franklin D. Roosevelt 's address to Congress after the attack on Pearl Harbor , saying that if Trump `` had told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more could have been done . ''
From the Sept. 14 edition of NBC 's `` Today Show '' : SAVANNAH GUTHRIE , co-host : Your book shows that it was n't the president up against the world , but that his advisers actually said , You should do this , and he said OK. BOB WOODWARD : Yes , absolutely .
And look , when I learned in May about the Jan. 28 meeting and the specificity — the national security adviser and his deputy were giving details to the president about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
A few days later , [ Trump ] gave his State of the Union address to Congress .
Forty million people watched it .
He had an opportunity ...
He said , `` Well , we 're doing everything possible . ''
At that moment , if like Franklin Roosevelt after Pearl Harbor , he had told the American people the truth , a lot more could have been done .
It is one of those shocks for me , having written about nine presidents , that the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowledge that could have saved lives .
Historians are going to be writing about the lost month of February for tens of years .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Journalist Bob Woodward on Monday said that Donald Trump’s refusal to tell the public early on about the dangers posed by the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 194,000 people so far, was a “shock” to him.
Trump “could have saved lives” if he had simply told the American people what he himself knew as early as February, Woodward said — that the virus was more deadly than the flu and could result in catastrophe if not contained properly.
Woodward said that after covering nine presidents, Trump’s behavior was especially concerning to him. The veteran reporter said he learned when speaking to Trump for his forthcoming book “Rage” that Trump “possessed … specific knowledge” about the virus’s threat but did not inform the public in his Feb. 4 State of the Union speech.
Woodward, who has himself faced criticism for the delayed release of audio from his interviews with Trump, then unfavorably compared Trump’s actions to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to Congress after the attack on Pearl Harbor, saying that if Trump “had told the American people the truth, a lot more could have been done.”
From the Sept. 14 edition of NBC’s “Today Show”:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, co-host: Your book shows that it wasn’t the president up against the world, but that his advisers actually said, You should do this, and he said OK. BOB WOODWARD: Yes, absolutely. And look, when I learned in May about the Jan. 28 meeting and the specificity — the national security adviser and his deputy were giving details to the president about why this is a coming pandemic to the United States. A few days later, [Trump] gave his State of the Union address to Congress. Forty million people watched it. He had an opportunity … He said, “Well, we’re doing everything possible.” At that moment, if like Franklin Roosevelt after Pearl Harbor, he had told the American people the truth, a lot more could have been done. It is one of those shocks for me, having written about nine presidents, that the president of the United States possessed the specific knowledge that could have saved lives. Historians are going to be writing about the lost month of February for tens of years.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-14--Donald Trump claims he's 'entitled' to third term

During his Saturday night campaign rally in Minden , Nevada , Donald Trump said he deserves a third term as president .
`` We 're gon na win four more years in the White House .
And then after that , we 'll negotiate .
Because probably — based on the way we were treated , we 're probably entitled to another four after that , '' Trump said on Saturday night at a campaign rally in Minden , Nevada .
Trump currently trails Democratic nominee Joe Biden in national polls as well as most battleground state polls .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a third term .
The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution , passed by Congress in 1947 and ratified by the states on Feb. 27 , 1951 , states unequivocally that , `` No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice . ''
There are no provisions in the amendment allowing for a third term based on how a president was treated while in office .
Saturday was not the first time Trump suggested defying the constitution he swore to uphold .
In November 2019 , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was interested in serving additional terms after praising China 's leader , Xi Jinping , for being `` president for life . ''
In August , Trump told a Wisconsin campaign rally that if he wins in November , `` we 'll go for another four years because they spied on my campaign , '' adding , `` We should get a redo of four years . ''
Trump has repeatedly lied about President Obama spying on his campaign .
In May 2019 , FBI Director Chris Wray told Congress that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's 2016 campaign by the Obama administration .
In the past , Trump claimed that his remarks about serving a third term were only jokes .
In a June interview on `` Meet the Press , '' Trump told host Chuck Todd that he would respect the 22nd Amendment and only serve two terms , assuming he wins in November .
Trump has a long history of lying to the press about campaign issues .
For example , he repeatedly promised to release his taxes before the 2016 election and never did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump has told more than 20,000 lies since taking office .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

During his Saturday night campaign rally in Minden, Nevada, Donald Trump said he deserves a third term as president.
“We’re gonna win four more years in the White House. And then after that, we’ll negotiate. Because probably — based on the way we were treated, we’re probably entitled to another four after that,” Trump said on Saturday night at a campaign rally in Minden, Nevada.
Trump currently trails Democratic nominee Joe Biden in national polls as well as most battleground state polls.
Trump did not specify how he would negotiate a third term. The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, passed by Congress in 1947 and ratified by the states on Feb. 27, 1951, states unequivocally that, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
There are no provisions in the amendment allowing for a third term based on how a president was treated while in office.
Saturday was not the first time Trump suggested defying the constitution he swore to uphold.
In November 2019, Trump told a room full of donors that he was interested in serving additional terms after praising China’s leader, Xi Jinping, for being “president for life.”
In August, Trump told a Wisconsin campaign rally that if he wins in November, “we’ll go for another four years because they spied on my campaign,” adding, “We should get a redo of four years.”
Trump has repeatedly lied about President Obama spying on his campaign. In May 2019, FBI Director Chris Wray told Congress that there was no spying or illegal surveillance of Trump’s 2016 campaign by the Obama administration.
In the past, Trump claimed that his remarks about serving a third term were only jokes. In a June interview on “Meet the Press,” Trump told host Chuck Todd that he would respect the 22nd Amendment and only serve two terms, assuming he wins in November.
Trump has a long history of lying to the press about campaign issues. For example, he repeatedly promised to release his taxes before the 2016 election and never did so.
According to the Washington Post, Trump has told more than 20,000 lies since taking office.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.