shareblue--2020-07-07--How coronavirus surges could destroy the GOP's chances this November

Coronavirus cases are still skyrocketing in the United States , with the outbreak moving from the Northeast to Arizona , Texas , and Florida , states that are critical to Trump 's reelection chances .
Multiple political handicappers told the American Independent Foundation that coronavirus surges in those states , where recent polls show voters disapprove of Trump 's handling of the virus , are imperiling his reelection bid .
Without winning those three states , it would be almost impossible for Trump to put together a winning Electoral College map .
And the experts say Trump could even take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with him .
`` I think this second round of COVID , let 's call it the southern-western COVID , is generally hurting the president with swingier voters , and even with some soft Republicans , '' Stuart Rothenberg , Stu Rothenberg , a political analyst who has been covering elections for decades , said in an interview .
`` It 's the general sense of ineptness on the issue . ''
States like Florida are setting records for new cases .
And Arizona saw a spike in deaths on Tuesday , reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll in the state so far , according to the Arizona Republic .
Amid this news , the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration 's new strategy on the virus is simply to `` hope Americans will grow numb to the escalating death toll and learn to accept tens of thousands of new cases a day . ''
But Democratic operatives question that strategy , especially as the virus continues to spread and governors in hotspot states start to scale back reopening plans .
`` The definition of insanity is repeatedly doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result , but Donald Trump saw the devastation that Coronavirus caused in places like New York and decided to let it happen again in places like Arizona , Florida , and Texas , '' Jesse Ferguson , a Democratic political strategist , told the American Independent Foundation .
`` While the initial failures were indefensible , failing again is inexcusable . ''
There is also evidence that the GOP 's proposed strategy of hoping people will just accept the coronavirus is not working .
Since March , when the pandemic began , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationally and in new coronavirus hotspot states .
Polling showed Trump either ahead or within the margin of error back in March , when the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold in the United States .
As of March 1 , Florida was a virtual tie , with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden holding a 0.3 % lead ; and Trump led in both Arizona and Texas by 3.8 % and 3.9 % , respectively , according to polling averages from FiveThirtyEight .
Now , however , Biden has opened up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 6.3 % lead in Florida , according to FiveThirtyEight .
Trump leads in Texas , a state Republicans have won in every election since 1980 , by a slim 1.3 % .
Polling taken before those states became new problem areas for virus growth in the United States has already found that voters disapproved of Trump 's coronavirus response .
A New York Times poll of Florida from early June , before the state 's coronavirus surge began , found 52 % of voters disapproved of Trump 's handling of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters in Arizona , 55 % of whom disapproved of Trump 's handling of the coronavirus .
Meanwhile , a Fox News poll of Texas released June 25 found Biden leading Trump by 1 point when respondents were asked how they would vote `` if the presidential election were today . ''
In that same poll , a majority of voters also said they trusted Biden over Trump to handle the virus .
Political handicappers said aside from hurting his own reelection bid , voters ' disapproval of Trump 's virus response could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — possibly even handing control of the Senate to Democrats .
Arizona plays host to a key Senate race , where appointed GOP Sen. Martha McSally is running against Democratic candidate Mark Kelly to serve out the remainder of the late-Sen. John McCain 's term .
And Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is running for a fourth term .
`` There 's definitely a correlation between Trump 's performance at the top of the ballot and down-ballot races , '' Nathan Gonzales , editor and publisher of the nonpartisan political handicapping outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The more Trump struggles to reach his 2016 performance , the more vulnerable GOP candidates will be in other races down the ballot . ''
Rothenberg added that Republicans will have a hard time distancing themselves from Trump 's poor response .
`` The Republicans in Congress just have n't cut a sharp enough profile to demonstrate that they differ with Trump on anything , even something like COVID , '' Rothenberg said .
`` They may have said along the way at some point that people should mask up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used against them no matter what they said or how they said it . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Coronavirus cases are still skyrocketing in the United States, with the outbreak moving from the Northeast to Arizona, Texas, and Florida, states that are critical to Trump’s reelection chances.
Multiple political handicappers told the American Independent Foundation that coronavirus surges in those states, where recent polls show voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of the virus, are imperiling his reelection bid. Without winning those three states, it would be almost impossible for Trump to put together a winning Electoral College map. And the experts say Trump could even take the GOP’s control of the Senate with him.
“I think this second round of COVID, let’s call it the southern-western COVID, is generally hurting the president with swingier voters, and even with some soft Republicans,” Stuart Rothenberg, Stu Rothenberg, a political analyst who has been covering elections for decades, said in an interview. “It’s the general sense of ineptness on the issue.”
States like Florida are setting records for new cases. And Arizona saw a spike in deaths on Tuesday, reporting another 117 — the highest single-day death toll in the state so far, according to the Arizona Republic.
Amid this news, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration’s new strategy on the virus is simply to “hope Americans will grow numb to the escalating death toll and learn to accept tens of thousands of new cases a day.”
But Democratic operatives question that strategy, especially as the virus continues to spread and governors in hotspot states start to scale back reopening plans.
“The definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting a different result, but Donald Trump saw the devastation that Coronavirus caused in places like New York and decided to let it happen again in places like Arizona, Florida, and Texas,” Jesse Ferguson, a Democratic political strategist, told the American Independent Foundation. “While the initial failures were indefensible, failing again is inexcusable.”
There is also evidence that the GOP’s proposed strategy of hoping people will just accept the coronavirus is not working.
Since March, when the pandemic began, Trump has seen his support decline, both nationally and in new coronavirus hotspot states.
Polling showed Trump either ahead or within the margin of error back in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold in the United States.
As of March 1, Florida was a virtual tie, with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden holding a 0.3% lead; and Trump led in both Arizona and Texas by 3.8% and 3.9%, respectively, according to polling averages from FiveThirtyEight.
Now, however, Biden has opened up a 3.1% lead in Arizona, and a 6.3% lead in Florida, according to FiveThirtyEight. Trump leads in Texas, a state Republicans have won in every election since 1980, by a slim 1.3%.
Polling taken before those states became new problem areas for virus growth in the United States has already found that voters disapproved of Trump’s coronavirus response.
A New York Times poll of Florida from early June, before the state’s coronavirus surge began, found 52% of voters disapproved of Trump’s handling of the virus. The New York Times also polled voters in Arizona, 55% of whom disapproved of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, a Fox News poll of Texas released June 25 found Biden leading Trump by 1 point when respondents were asked how they would vote “if the presidential election were today.” In that same poll, a majority of voters also said they trusted Biden over Trump to handle the virus.
Political handicappers said aside from hurting his own reelection bid, voters’ disapproval of Trump’s virus response could also take Republican senators down with him — possibly even handing control of the Senate to Democrats.
Arizona plays host to a key Senate race, where appointed GOP Sen. Martha McSally is running against Democratic candidate Mark Kelly to serve out the remainder of the late-Sen. John McCain’s term. And Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is running for a fourth term.
“There’s definitely a correlation between Trump’s performance at the top of the ballot and down-ballot races,” Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of the nonpartisan political handicapping outlet Inside Elections, said in an interview. “The more Trump struggles to reach his 2016 performance, the more vulnerable GOP candidates will be in other races down the ballot.”
Rothenberg added that Republicans will have a hard time distancing themselves from Trump’s poor response.
“The Republicans in Congress just haven’t cut a sharp enough profile to demonstrate that they differ with Trump on anything, even something like COVID,” Rothenberg said. “They may have said along the way at some point that people should mask up, but I think the issue will be used against them no matter what they said or how they said it.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-07--Advocates say police aren't doing enough to investigate killings of trans people

Since June 30 , at least five people in the transgender and nonbinary community have been found dead in the United States .
Most of these deaths are being investigated as homicides .
But police and media reports have deadnamed and misgendered many of victims , which makes it harder for their loved ones to seek justice , LGBTQ advocates say .
`` Deadnaming '' is the practice of referring to a person by a previous name that they no longer use .
Merci Mack , a Black trans woman , was killed in Dallas on June 30 .
Mack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parking lot and suffering from a gunshot wound , died at the scene .
She was later deadnamed by police and in media reports .
In Louisiana , Draya McCarty and Shakie Peters , both Black trans women , were found dead within the past week .
The death of McCarty , who was found dead in Baton Rouge , has not so far been ruled a homicide , but advocates are watching for additional information .
Peters , whose first name is spelled `` Shaki '' in some reports , was found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was initially misidentified as a man by the local sheriff 's office .
Police are investigating her death as a homicide .
Louisiana Trans Advocates , an advocacy and social support organization , has called for law enforcement agencies investigating these women 's deaths to release more information to the public and to their families .
They are also calling for the police and members of the press to correct the name and gender they use for Peters .
`` Were it not for the advocacy of the family members of both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not have learned of these two murders at all , '' the group said in a press release on July 4 .
A Black trans woman , Bree Black , who also went by the name `` Nuk , '' was shot on July 3 in Pompano Beach , Florida .
Police were called to her residence , and Black was pronounced dead shortly after they arrived .
Black has also been deadnamed and misgendered in media reports .
Tori Cooper , director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the deadliest period we have on record .
While we are still awaiting facts on the ground , it is clear that members of our beloved community are being killed because of who they are .
Racism , toxic masculinity , misogyny and transphobia are destroying lives and taking away our loved ones . ''
According to the Miami Herald , there has n't been any other information released about Black 's death .
Tiffany Burks , an organizer with Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward , told the Herald , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going on and we want this investigation to be done with full integrity . ''
The Broward Sheriff 's Office used Bree Black 's deadname and the name `` NUK '' in a press release about her death .
The office 's spokesman , Sgt .
Donald Prichard , said that police had to release their deadname because it was part of the public record , and that they had been told by Black 's family that `` NUK '' was her chosen name .
Mariah Moore , who is an organizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and serves on an LGBTQ task force created by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell , said of police and press deadnaming and misgendering Black trans women : `` It 's quite simple to see , if you find a woman on the ground and she has perished , and her identity documents read differently than how she presents , that should be a trigger in your mind to say this person may be of the trans community . ''
Dylan Waguespack , president of the board of Louisiana Trans Advocates , said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' on the part of police , and that because media often use the information provided by police , the press shares inaccurate information .
That information often leads to people in the LGBTQ community being unable to recognize victims and find out details or share information relevant to their killing .
`` We 're talking about police who , in the case of a Black trans woman who is still alive , would be showing their bias against this person and overpolicing this person and acting violent toward this person at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and white people , '' Waguespack said .
He added , `` I think it 's going to take a lot more than a training specific to 'What does law enforcement do when a trans person is found murdered ? '
to change that because it all goes back to the very essence of what our law enforcement agencies do in our communities and in the context of Black trans women .
They are written off by police as criminals and are not seen as victims , and that carries through their death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with police in creating their stories , and often refuse to believe the word of trans people who knew the deceased , making it difficult for trans people to convince the media of the deceased 's accurate gender and name .
`` When we contact the media to let them know 'Hey , you have misgendered our community members , ' it 's almost like they feel like they have to come at us and question our validity as people and our word .
We have to prove everything beyond a reasonable doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we knew them , '' Moore said .
Waguespack said that the misgendering , deadnaming , and withholding of information by police following the possible or clear killing of a Black trans woman are part of an overall pattern of police acting as enforcers of gender norms .
He pointed to Black trans women being profiled by police as sex workers for standing outside and essentially being criminalized for existing in public as an example .
Moore said that advocates for the well-being and equality of Black trans women must prioritize discussions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trans women in life as well as death .
`` Before we even talk about the murders of trans people and how we are characterized and represented , even in death , we also have to talk about the way we are treated when we are alive — the ways that they have been physically harmed , mentally harmed , and harmed inside of the prison-industrial complex , '' she said .
Love wrote on Facebook on Sunday , `` I 'm alive and stable .
In a lot of pain .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If they thought this murder would make us back down , they were wrong .
Very wrong . ''

Since June 30, at least five people in the transgender and nonbinary community have been found dead in the United States. Most of these deaths are being investigated as homicides.
But police and media reports have deadnamed and misgendered many of victims, which makes it harder for their loved ones to seek justice, LGBTQ advocates say. “Deadnaming” is the practice of referring to a person by a previous name that they no longer use.
Merci Mack, a Black trans woman, was killed in Dallas on June 30. Mack, who was found unconscious in a parking lot and suffering from a gunshot wound, died at the scene. She was later deadnamed by police and in media reports.
In Louisiana, Draya McCarty and Shakie Peters, both Black trans women, were found dead within the past week. The death of McCarty, who was found dead in Baton Rouge, has not so far been ruled a homicide, but advocates are watching for additional information.
Peters, whose first name is spelled “Shaki” in some reports, was found dead on July 1 near Amite City and was initially misidentified as a man by the local sheriff’s office. Police are investigating her death as a homicide.
Louisiana Trans Advocates, an advocacy and social support organization, has called for law enforcement agencies investigating these women’s deaths to release more information to the public and to their families. They are also calling for the police and members of the press to correct the name and gender they use for Peters.
“Were it not for the advocacy of the family members of both Shakie and Draya, Louisiana Trans Advocates would not have learned of these two murders at all,” the group said in a press release on July 4.
A Black trans woman, Bree Black, who also went by the name “Nuk,” was shot on July 3 in Pompano Beach, Florida. Police were called to her residence, and Black was pronounced dead shortly after they arrived. Black has also been deadnamed and misgendered in media reports.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, an estimated 78% of all tracked deaths of transgender people from 2013 to the present has included misgendering in media or by law enforcement. Since HRC began its tracking, the number of trans people reported killed by this point of the year has never been this high. At least 21 transgender or gender-nonconforming people so far have died by violent means in 2020. In 2019, at least 27 transgender people were slain.
Tori Cooper, director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign’s Trans Justice Initiative, said, “This is the deadliest period we have on record. While we are still awaiting facts on the ground, it is clear that members of our beloved community are being killed because of who they are. Racism, toxic masculinity, misogyny and transphobia are destroying lives and taking away our loved ones.”
According to the Miami Herald, there hasn’t been any other information released about Black’s death. Tiffany Burks, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward, told the Herald, “We want some immediate answers to what’s going on and we want this investigation to be done with full integrity.” The Broward Sheriff’s Office used Bree Black’s deadname and the name “NUK” in a press release about her death. The office’s spokesman, Sgt. Donald Prichard, said that police had to release their deadname because it was part of the public record, and that they had been told by Black’s family that “NUK” was her chosen name.
Mariah Moore, who is an organizing program associate for the Transgender Law Center and serves on an LGBTQ task force created by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, said of police and press deadnaming and misgendering Black trans women: “It’s quite simple to see, if you find a woman on the ground and she has perished, and her identity documents read differently than how she presents, that should be a trigger in your mind to say this person may be of the trans community.”
Dylan Waguespack, president of the board of Louisiana Trans Advocates, said that he sees this as “institutionalized transphobia” on the part of police, and that because media often use the information provided by police, the press shares inaccurate information. That information often leads to people in the LGBTQ community being unable to recognize victims and find out details or share information relevant to their killing.
“We’re talking about police who, in the case of a Black trans woman who is still alive, would be showing their bias against this person and overpolicing this person and acting violent toward this person at a rate that is disproportionate to cisgender people and white people,” Waguespack said.
He added, “I think it’s going to take a lot more than a training specific to ‘What does law enforcement do when a trans person is found murdered?’ to change that because it all goes back to the very essence of what our law enforcement agencies do in our communities and in the context of Black trans women. They are written off by police as criminals and are not seen as victims, and that carries through their death.”
Moore said reporters work closely with police in creating their stories, and often refuse to believe the word of trans people who knew the deceased, making it difficult for trans people to convince the media of the deceased’s accurate gender and name.
“When we contact the media to let them know ‘Hey, you have misgendered our community members,’ it’s almost like they feel like they have to come at us and question our validity as people and our word. We have to prove everything beyond a reasonable doubt about this person’s existence — even if we knew them,” Moore said.
Waguespack said that the misgendering, deadnaming, and withholding of information by police following the possible or clear killing of a Black trans woman are part of an overall pattern of police acting as enforcers of gender norms. He pointed to Black trans women being profiled by police as sex workers for standing outside and essentially being criminalized for existing in public as an example.
Moore said that advocates for the well-being and equality of Black trans women must prioritize discussions about police and prison treatment of Black trans women in life as well as death. “Before we even talk about the murders of trans people and how we are characterized and represented, even in death, we also have to talk about the way we are treated when we are alive — the ways that they have been physically harmed, mentally harmed, and harmed inside of the prison-industrial complex,” she said.
The violence against transgender and nonbinary people continued over the long holiday weekend. Summer Taylor, a white nonbinary protester, was killed in Seattle after they were plowed into by a car being driven at high speed during a Black Lives Matter protest.
Taylor has been misgendered in the media as well as by political leaders. Diaz Love, another nonbinary protester , was also injured by the car that night.
Love wrote on Facebook on Sunday, “I’m alive and stable. In a lot of pain. I cannot believe Summer was murdered. If they thought this murder would make us back down, they were wrong. Very wrong.”


shareblue--2020-07-07--Sen. Steve Daines lies about his efforts to gut health care in new ad

Montana GOP Sen. Steve Daines is out with a new ad in his competitive reelection bid , which distorts his record on health care and preexisting conditions .
In a new 30-second spot that began running over the July Fourth holiday weekend , a doctor says she supports Daines because he will protect those with preexisting conditions .
`` Steve Daines will protect Montanans with preexisting conditions and fight for lower prescription drug prices , '' the woman says .
However Daines actually voted to repeal preexisting condition protections during the GOP 's 2017 effort to repeal and replace the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final failed Senate repeal effort , now known as the `` skinny repeal , '' which would have allowed states to waive some of the essential health benefits the ACA mandated insurance policies include .
As CNN reported at the time , the `` skinny '' repeal bill would have caused seniors `` and those with pre-existing conditions '' to see a rise in their health care premiums and would have resulted in `` less comprehensive '' coverage .
Daines also refused to condemn a lawsuit now before the Supreme Court that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Obamacare , causing millions to lose their health insurance and coverage for pre-existing conditions .
Donald Trump supports the lawsuit , which was filed by a number of Republican attorneys general from across the country .
When asked by The Hill in March if he supports the lawsuit , Daines said only , `` We 're going to be talking about a lot between now and next year . ''
Daines faces a tough challenge from Montana Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock , despite the fact that Montana voted for Trump by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's campaign responded to Daines ' ad on Friday , saying his claim about protecting those with preexisting conditions was `` dishonest '' and is meant to `` deceive Montanans on his abhorrent history of voting to take away their healthcare . ''
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report currently rates the race as a toss-up .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Montana GOP Sen. Steve Daines is out with a new ad in his competitive reelection bid, which distorts his record on health care and preexisting conditions.
In a new 30-second spot that began running over the July Fourth holiday weekend, a doctor says she supports Daines because he will protect those with preexisting conditions.
“Steve Daines will protect Montanans with preexisting conditions and fight for lower prescription drug prices,” the woman says.
However Daines actually voted to repeal preexisting condition protections during the GOP’s 2017 effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Daines voted for the final failed Senate repeal effort, now known as the “skinny repeal,” which would have allowed states to waive some of the essential health benefits the ACA mandated insurance policies include.
As CNN reported at the time, the “skinny” repeal bill would have caused seniors “and those with pre-existing conditions” to see a rise in their health care premiums and would have resulted in “less comprehensive” coverage.
Daines also refused to condemn a lawsuit now before the Supreme Court that would invalidate the ACA, better known as Obamacare, causing millions to lose their health insurance and coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Donald Trump supports the lawsuit, which was filed by a number of Republican attorneys general from across the country.
When asked by The Hill in March if he supports the lawsuit, Daines said only, “We’re going to be talking about a lot between now and next year.”
Daines faces a tough challenge from Montana Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, despite the fact that Montana voted for Trump by a 20-point margin in 2016.
Bullock’s campaign responded to Daines’ ad on Friday, saying his claim about protecting those with preexisting conditions was “dishonest” and is meant to “deceive Montanans on his abhorrent history of voting to take away their healthcare.”
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report currently rates the race as a toss-up.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-07--Trump goes back to pushing debunked 'miracle' cure for virus

Donald Trump spent Monday on Twitter touting an outlier study published by the Henry Ford Health System in Michigan about an anti-malarial drug he has previously presented as a 'miracle ' cure for COVID-19 .
`` Treatment with hydroxychloroquine cut the death rate significantly in sick patients hospitalized with COVID-19 — and without heart-related side-effects , according to a new study published by Henry Ford Health System , '' Trump tweeted .
`` In a large-scale retrospective analysis , of 2,541 patients hospitalized between March 10 and May 2 , 2020 across the system 's six hospitals , the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydroxychloroquine alone died compared to 26.4 % not treated with hydroxychloroquine . ''
The findings of the study have been disputed by other researchers .
Soon after , Trump retweeted a video segment produced by Sinclair Broadcasting about the study .
The host , Sharyl Attkisson , has previously claimed that mainstream media rejected the drug because Trump was promoting it .
A few hours later , he returned to the topic , tweeting that the `` highly respected Henry Ford Health System just reported , based on a large sampling , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick patients very significantly . ''
He complained that Democrats had `` disparaged it for political reasons ( me ! )
.
Disgraceful , '' and instructed the Food and Drug Administration to `` act now . ''
The new study , based on a nonrandom observational sample , comes after several other studies have showed the medicine is of little benefit as a treatment for the coronavirus .
The Food and Drug Adminstration issued a warning in April that it should not be used to treat COVID-19 out of hospital and clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart rhythm problems . ''
In a commentary in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases last week , responding to the Henry Ford Health System study , several other researchers noted that other factors could explain the difference in results .
They observed that the patients who received hydroxychloroquine were more than twice as likely to have received steroids as well , writing , `` This is relevant considering the recent RECOVERY trial that showed a mortality benefit with dexamethasone . ''
Trump has been claiming for months that the unproven remedy could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN , taken together , have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine , '' he tweeted in March .
While acknowledging that the drug was not a panacea , he urged people to try it anyway .
`` What do you have to lose ? ''
he asked at an April event .
Despite the growing evidence against the drug 's efficacy , Trump announced in May that he was taking hydroxychloroquine preventively .
`` I started taking it , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told reporters .
Eric Topol , director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute , told Science Magazine in June that Trump 's `` obsession '' with the drug was problematic .
`` It just seems like we are ignoring signal after signal , '' he warned .
`` We 'd be better off shifting our attention to drugs that might actually work . ''
While Trump blamed Democrats for pushback against his claims , it was his own administration that pulled the plug on hydroxychloroquine as an emergency treatment .
Last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawing its emergency approvals for hydroxychloroquine and another anti-malarial drugs as coronavirus treatments .
`` Today 's request to revoke is based on new information , including clinical trial data results , that have led [ the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ] to conclude that this drug may not be effective to treat COVID-19 [ Coronavirus Disease 2019 ] and that the drug 's potential benefits for such use do not outweigh its known and potential risks , '' FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton wrote .
Published with permission of The @ @ @ @

Donald Trump spent Monday on Twitter touting an outlier study published by the Henry Ford Health System in Michigan about an anti-malarial drug he has previously presented as a ‘miracle‘ cure for COVID-19.
“Treatment with hydroxychloroquine cut the death rate significantly in sick patients hospitalized with COVID-19 — and without heart-related side-effects, according to a new study published by Henry Ford Health System,” Trump tweeted. “In a large-scale retrospective analysis, of 2,541 patients hospitalized between March 10 and May 2, 2020 across the system’s six hospitals, the study found 13% of those treated with hydroxychloroquine alone died compared to 26.4% not treated with hydroxychloroquine.”
The findings of the study have been disputed by other researchers.
Soon after, Trump retweeted a video segment produced by Sinclair Broadcasting about the study. The host, Sharyl Attkisson, has previously claimed that mainstream media rejected the drug because Trump was promoting it.
A few hours later, he returned to the topic, tweeting that the “highly respected Henry Ford Health System just reported, based on a large sampling, that HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE cut the death rate in certain sick patients very significantly.” He complained that Democrats had “disparaged it for political reasons (me!). Disgraceful,” and instructed the Food and Drug Administration to “act now.”
The new study, based on a nonrandom observational sample, comes after several other studies have showed the medicine is of little benefit as a treatment for the coronavirus. The Food and Drug Adminstration issued a warning in April that it should not be used to treat COVID-19 out of hospital and clinical settings, as it can cause “heart rhythm problems.”
In a commentary in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases last week, responding to the Henry Ford Health System study, several other researchers noted that other factors could explain the difference in results. They observed that the patients who received hydroxychloroquine were more than twice as likely to have received steroids as well, writing, “This is relevant considering the recent RECOVERY trial that showed a mortality benefit with dexamethasone.”
Trump has been claiming for months that the unproven remedy could cure and prevent the coronavirus.
“HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN, taken together, have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine,” he tweeted in March.
While acknowledging that the drug was not a panacea, he urged people to try it anyway. “What do you have to lose?” he asked at an April event.
Despite the growing evidence against the drug’s efficacy, Trump announced in May that he was taking hydroxychloroquine preventively. “I started taking it, because I think it’s good,” he told reporters.
Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute, told Science Magazine in June that Trump’s “obsession” with the drug was problematic.
“It just seems like we are ignoring signal after signal,” he warned. “We’d be better off shifting our attention to drugs that might actually work.”
While Trump blamed Democrats for pushback against his claims, it was his own administration that pulled the plug on hydroxychloroquine as an emergency treatment.
Last month, the FDA announced that it was withdrawing its emergency approvals for hydroxychloroquine and another anti-malarial drugs as coronavirus treatments.
“Today’s request to revoke is based on new information, including clinical trial data results, that have led [the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority] to conclude that this drug may not be effective to treat COVID-19 [Coronavirus Disease 2019] and that the drug’s potential benefits for such use do not outweigh its known and potential risks,” FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton wrote.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-07--Pentagon plan would ban Confederate flag even as Trump defends it

A draft policy being circulated by Pentagon leaders would ban the display of the Confederate flag in Defense Department workplaces or public areas by service members and civilian personnel .
The policy , which has not yet been finalized or signed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper , comes as Donald Trump earlier in the day criticized NASCAR 's decision to ban the flag at its races and venues .
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the draft .
If approved , the draft Pentagon policy would bring the other military services in line with the Marine Corps , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early June .
Other military services had been poised to make similar decisions , but they were stalled when Esper said he wanted a review of the matter that would come up with a consistent department policy .
According to officials , the draft was sent out to service leaders for their input and response last week .
According to the draft , a ban would preserve `` the morale of our personnel , good order and discipline within the military ranks , and unit cohesion . ''
It notes that a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their families are minorities and `` it is beyond doubt '' that many `` take grave offense at such a display . ''
Trump said in a tweet Monday that NASCAR 's `` Flag decision '' and the uproar over a noose found hanging in the garage of the sport 's only full-time Black driver were driving the sports ' ratings down .
And he suggested that Bubba Wallace should apologize after the sport rallied around him after the noose was found in his assigned stall at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama .
Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hanging since October and was not a hate crime .
NASCAR and the FBI have exclusively referred to the rope — which was used to pull the garage door closed — as a noose .
The Pentagon draft says the ban applies to public displays of the flag on installations and facilities that are under department control , and would not apply to things like license plates or monuments not governed by the Pentagon .
The White House had no comment .

A draft policy being circulated by Pentagon leaders would ban the display of the Confederate flag in Defense Department workplaces or public areas by service members and civilian personnel.
The policy, which has not yet been finalized or signed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, comes as Donald Trump earlier in the day criticized NASCAR’s decision to ban the flag at its races and venues. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the draft.
If approved, the draft Pentagon policy would bring the other military services in line with the Marine Corps, which banned Confederate displays on its bases in early June. Other military services had been poised to make similar decisions, but they were stalled when Esper said he wanted a review of the matter that would come up with a consistent department policy.
According to officials, the draft was sent out to service leaders for their input and response last week.
According to the draft, a ban would preserve “the morale of our personnel, good order and discipline within the military ranks, and unit cohesion.” It notes that a “significant” population of service members and their families are minorities and “it is beyond doubt” that many “take grave offense at such a display.”
Trump said in a tweet Monday that NASCAR’s “Flag decision” and the uproar over a noose found hanging in the garage of the sport’s only full-time Black driver were driving the sports’ ratings down. And he suggested that Bubba Wallace should apologize after the sport rallied around him after the noose was found in his assigned stall at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
Federal authorities ruled last month the noose had been hanging since October and was not a hate crime. NASCAR and the FBI have exclusively referred to the rope — which was used to pull the garage door closed — as a noose.
The Pentagon draft says the ban applies to public displays of the flag on installations and facilities that are under department control, and would not apply to things like license plates or monuments not governed by the Pentagon.
The White House had no comment.


shareblue--2020-07-07--Trump's new favorite lie is about how deadly the virus is in the US

Donald Trump on Tuesday falsely claimed the United States has the lowest coronavirus mortality rate in the world — yet another attempt to convince Americans that he has done a good job containing the virus .
`` 'COVID-19 ( China Virus ) Death Rate PLUNGES From Peak In U.S. ' A Tenfold Decrease In Mortality , '' Trump tweeted Tuesday morning , pointing to a headline from the Washington Times , in which he changed the name of the deadly disease the coronavirus causes to a racist epithet .
`` We have the lowest Mortality Rate in the World .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important of facts , but they do n't ! ''
The United States has anything but the lowest mortality rate in the world when it comes to the coronavirus .
In fact , the U.S. has the seventh-worst coronavirus case-fatality ratio among the 20 countries facing the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
According to the data , the United States has a 4.4 % case-fatality ratio .
Numerous other countries have better case-fatality ratios than that , including Iraq ( 4.1 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Colombia ( 3.7 ) .
When looking at the number of coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people in a country 's population , the United States fares even worse .
According to Johns Hopkins , there have been 39.82 deaths per 100,000 Americans in the U.S. That number is second only to the United Kingdom , which has seen 66.66 deaths per 100,000 people .
Trump has made the mortality rate lie multiple times , including on Monday , when he tweeted : `` Why does the Lamestream Fake News Media REFUSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down 39 % , and that we now have the lowest Fatality ( Mortality ) Rate in the World .
They just can ’ t stand that we are doing so well for our Country ! ''
Earlier on Monday , he tweeted the lie again .
`` BREAKING NEWS : The Mortality Rate for the China Virus in the U.S. is just about the LOWEST IN THE WORLD ! ''
Trump tweeted .
`` Also , Deaths in the U.S. are way down , a tenfold decrease since the Pandemic height ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong ! )
. ''
Trump 's lie about the mortality rate comes as public opinion has soured on his coronavirus response — so much so that it 's severely imperiling his reelection bid .
More than half of Americans , or 56.3 % , disapprove of Trump 's coronavirus response , according to a polling average from FiveThirtyEight .
That disapproval number has been steadily increasing since March , when the outbreak led states to start shutting down to try to stop the spread .
In that same time period , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nominee Joe Biden .
At the beginning of March , Biden had a 4.1 % lead in FiveThirtyEight 's national polling average .
Biden 's national lead has now more than doubled , to 9.6 % .
To date , more than 130,000 people have died of the coronavirus in the United States — a number that is poised to grow as cases of the virus skyrocket .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Tuesday falsely claimed the United States has the lowest coronavirus mortality rate in the world — yet another attempt to convince Americans that he has done a good job containing the virus.
“‘COVID-19 (China Virus) Death Rate PLUNGES From Peak In U.S.’ A Tenfold Decrease In Mortality,” Trump tweeted Tuesday morning, pointing to a headline from the Washington Times, in which he changed the name of the deadly disease the coronavirus causes to a racist epithet. “We have the lowest Mortality Rate in the World. The Fake News should be reporting these most important of facts, but they don’t!”
The United States has anything but the lowest mortality rate in the world when it comes to the coronavirus.
In fact, the U.S. has the seventh-worst coronavirus case-fatality ratio among the 20 countries facing the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
According to the data, the United States has a 4.4% case-fatality ratio. Numerous other countries have better case-fatality ratios than that, including Iraq (4.1%), Brazil (4%), and Colombia (3.7).
When looking at the number of coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people in a country’s population, the United States fares even worse.
According to Johns Hopkins, there have been 39.82 deaths per 100,000 Americans in the U.S. That number is second only to the United Kingdom, which has seen 66.66 deaths per 100,000 people.
Trump has made the mortality rate lie multiple times, including on Monday, when he tweeted: “Why does the Lamestream Fake News Media REFUSE to say that China Virus deaths are down 39%, and that we now have the lowest Fatality (Mortality) Rate in the World. They just can’t stand that we are doing so well for our Country!”
Earlier on Monday, he tweeted the lie again.
“BREAKING NEWS: The Mortality Rate for the China Virus in the U.S. is just about the LOWEST IN THE WORLD!” Trump tweeted. “Also, Deaths in the U.S. are way down, a tenfold decrease since the Pandemic height (and, our Economy is coming back strong!).”
Trump’s lie about the mortality rate comes as public opinion has soured on his coronavirus response — so much so that it’s severely imperiling his reelection bid.
More than half of Americans, or 56.3%, disapprove of Trump’s coronavirus response, according to a polling average from FiveThirtyEight. That disapproval number has been steadily increasing since March, when the outbreak led states to start shutting down to try to stop the spread.
In that same time period, Trump has fallen even further behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
At the beginning of March, Biden had a 4.1% lead in FiveThirtyEight’s national polling average. Biden’s national lead has now more than doubled, to 9.6%.
To date, more than 130,000 people have died of the coronavirus in the United States — a number that is poised to grow as cases of the virus skyrocket.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-07--Tammy Duckworth fires back after Fox accuses her of hating America

Sen. Tammy Duckworth ( D-IL ) fired back at Fox News ' Tucker Carlson , after he accused her of hating America .
`` Does @ TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America ? ''
Duckworth , who lost both of her legs in a helicopter crash while doing a tour of duty in Iraq as an Army lieutenant colonel , tweeted late Monday night .
Carlson had gone on a lengthy diatribe on his Monday night Fox News program against Duckworth , who is one of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee Joe Biden 's vice presidential shortlist .
`` You 're not supposed to criticize Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military .
Most people just ignore her .
But when Duckworth does speak in public , you 're reminded what a deeply silly and unimpressive person she is , '' Carlson said , going on to accuse Duckworth and other Democrats who have argued for removing statues of racist and traitorous Confederate soldiers of being people who , `` actually hate America . ''
This is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Republicans on Fox News have accused Democrats of not being supportive enough of the United States or the military .
In January , when Rep. Doug Collins ( R-GA ) accused Democrats of being `` in love with terrorists '' for not fully supporting Trump 's attack on Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani , Duckworth also fired back .
`` I 'm not going to dignify that with a response , '' Duckworth said in an interview on CNN at the time .
`` I left parts of my body in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to justify myself to anyone . ''
Duckworth earned a purple heart for her service in Iraq .
She lost both of her legs , as well as some mobility in her arm , after a Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting was blown out of the sky .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) fired back at Fox News’ Tucker Carlson, after he accused her of hating America.
“Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?” Duckworth, who lost both of her legs in a helicopter crash while doing a tour of duty in Iraq as an Army lieutenant colonel, tweeted late Monday night.
Carlson had gone on a lengthy diatribe on his Monday night Fox News program against Duckworth, who is one of a handful of contenders on presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s vice presidential shortlist.
“You’re not supposed to criticize Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military. Most people just ignore her. But when Duckworth does speak in public, you’re reminded what a deeply silly and unimpressive person she is,” Carlson said, going on to accuse Duckworth and other Democrats who have argued for removing statues of racist and traitorous Confederate soldiers of being people who, “actually hate America.”
This is not the first time Duckworth has spoken out after Republicans on Fox News have accused Democrats of not being supportive enough of the United States or the military.
In January, when Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) accused Democrats of being “in love with terrorists” for not fully supporting Trump’s attack on Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Duckworth also fired back.
“I’m not going to dignify that with a response,” Duckworth said in an interview on CNN at the time. “I left parts of my body in Iraq fighting terrorists. I don’t need to justify myself to anyone.”
Duckworth earned a purple heart for her service in Iraq. She lost both of her legs, as well as some mobility in her arm, after a Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting was blown out of the sky.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-08--Health official says Trump's Tulsa rally is 'likely' source of new virus surge

Donald Trump 's campaign rally in Tulsa that drew thousands of people in late June , along with large protests that accompanied it , `` likely contributed '' to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases , Tulsa City-County Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Dart said Wednesday .
Tulsa County reported 261 confirmed new cases on Monday , a one-day record high , and another 206 cases on Tuesday .
Although the health department 's policy is to not publicly identify individual settings where people may have contracted the virus , Dart said those large gatherings `` more than likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the past few days , we 've seen almost 500 new cases , and we had several large events just over two weeks ago , so I guess we just connect the dots , '' Dart said .
A spokesman for the Trump campaign did n't immediately respond to a request for comment .
A reporter who attended the Trump rally is among those who have tested positive for COVID-19 , along with six of Trump 's campaign staffers and two members of the Secret Service who worked in advance of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday reported 673 new confirmed cases of coronavirus , the state 's second-highest daily total since the start of the pandemic .
The new cases reported by the Oklahoma State Department of Health follow a record high of 858 cases that were reported on Tuesday and bring the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 17,893 .
The actual number of infections is thought to be much higher because many people have n't been tested and some who get the disease do n't show symptoms .
The health department also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statewide death toll to 407 .
In response to a recent surge in coronavirus cases , the cities of Norman and Stillwater have approved mandates that people must wear masks in public .
Norman approved its ordinance Tuesday night after a five-hour city council meeting during which citizens on both sides of the issue spoke out .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks .
But for others , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , the virus can cause @ @ @ @ @ @

Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa that drew thousands of people in late June, along with large protests that accompanied it, “likely contributed” to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases, Tulsa City-County Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Dart said Wednesday.
Tulsa County reported 261 confirmed new cases on Monday, a one-day record high, and another 206 cases on Tuesday.
Although the health department’s policy is to not publicly identify individual settings where people may have contracted the virus, Dart said those large gatherings “more than likely” contributed to the spike.
“In the past few days, we’ve seen almost 500 new cases, and we had several large events just over two weeks ago, so I guess we just connect the dots,” Dart said.
A spokesman for the Trump campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
A reporter who attended the Trump rally is among those who have tested positive for COVID-19, along with six of Trump’s campaign staffers and two members of the Secret Service who worked in advance of the rally.
Statewide, Oklahoma health officials on Wednesday reported 673 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, the state’s second-highest daily total since the start of the pandemic.
The new cases reported by the Oklahoma State Department of Health follow a record high of 858 cases that were reported on Tuesday and bring the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 17,893. The actual number of infections is thought to be much higher because many people haven’t been tested and some who get the disease don’t show symptoms.
The health department also reported three additional COVID-19 deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 407.
In response to a recent surge in coronavirus cases, the cities of Norman and Stillwater have approved mandates that people must wear masks in public. Norman approved its ordinance Tuesday night after a five-hour city council meeting during which citizens on both sides of the issue spoke out.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal.


shareblue--2020-07-08--GOP-friendly pollster shows Trump losing to Biden by 10 points

One of the nation 's most reliably GOP-leaning pollsters on Wednesday released the results of its first weekly poll for the 2020 presidential election .
They showed Joe Biden leading Donald Trump .
The Rasmussen Reports survey of 5,000 `` likely voters , '' conducted July 5-7 , found that 50 % support Joe Biden , 40 % support Donald Trump , and 6 % are undecided .
Among Republicans , Trump had just 74 % support , compared to 79 % support for Biden among Democrats .
Trump has often claimed to have a 95 % approval rating among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have noted that Rasmussen has had a distinctly pro-Republican bias .
`` For Rasmussen ... the Republican lean in its polls ran pretty much wire to wire , '' wrote Nate Silver on his website FiveThirtyEight after the 2016 election .
`` It had a significant Republican house effect early in the election cycle and a significant Republican house effect late in the election , and it would up turning into a significant Republican bias on Election Day . ''
Ipsos Public Affairs research director Mallory Newall told Hill.TV in 2018 that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on party identification , tends `` to be more along the partisan angle , leaning toward the Republicans . ''
Trump himself has repeatedly praised Rasmussen as `` accurate . ''
In a tweet in April 2018 , he thanked Rasmussen for its `` honest polling '' after the firm showed him with a 50 % approval rating .
Last month , Trump threatened to sue CNN after it released a national poll showing Biden with a 14-point lead among registered voters .
He baselessly tweeted that the network 's polls `` are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his campaign claimed the numbers were `` designed to mislead American voters through a biased questionnaire and skewed sampling . ''
Trump claimed last week that he is `` getting VERY GOOD internal Polling Numbers '' but has not released them .
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

One of the nation’s most reliably GOP-leaning pollsters on Wednesday released the results of its first weekly poll for the 2020 presidential election. They showed Joe Biden leading Donald Trump.
The Rasmussen Reports survey of 5,000 “likely voters,” conducted July 5-7, found that 50% support Joe Biden, 40% support Donald Trump, and 6% are undecided.
Among Republicans, Trump had just 74% support, compared to 79% support for Biden among Democrats. Trump has often claimed to have a 95% approval rating among members of his party.
Polling analysts have noted that Rasmussen has had a distinctly pro-Republican bias.
“For Rasmussen … the Republican lean in its polls ran pretty much wire to wire,” wrote Nate Silver on his website FiveThirtyEight after the 2016 election. “It had a significant Republican house effect early in the election cycle and a significant Republican house effect late in the election, and it would up turning into a significant Republican bias on Election Day.”
Ipsos Public Affairs research director Mallory Newall told Hill.TV in 2018 that the way Rasmussen adjusts its data, based on party identification, tends “to be more along the partisan angle, leaning toward the Republicans.”
Trump himself has repeatedly praised Rasmussen as “accurate.” In a tweet in April 2018, he thanked Rasmussen for its “honest polling” after the firm showed him with a 50% approval rating.
Last month, Trump threatened to sue CNN after it released a national poll showing Biden with a 14-point lead among registered voters.
He baselessly tweeted that the network’s polls “are as Fake as their Reporting,” and his campaign claimed the numbers were “designed to mislead American voters through a biased questionnaire and skewed sampling.”
CNN stood by its polling.
Trump claimed last week that he is “getting VERY GOOD internal Polling Numbers” but has not released them.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-08--Supreme Court decision allowing religious schools to discriminate will hurt LGBTQ people

On Wednesday , the Supreme Court ruled that religious schools are allowed broad exceptions from employment discrimination claims .
In the 7-2 ruling for Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru , the Supreme Court said religious employers have a `` ministerial exception '' and have more freedom to make decisions about their workers than other employers and organizations .
Advocates for LGBTQ equality say Wednesday 's ruling could be used against LGBTQ teachers and other LGBTQ people employed by religious institutions .
And the decision comes just weeks after the court handed down a huge victory for LGBTQ workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. James School v. Biel , involved teachers who brought cases against their schools alleging age discrimination and an illegal firing over a request for time off due to a medical concern , respectively .
The schools argued that the `` ministerial exception , '' an established legal doctrine that says religious institutions ca n't be sued for employment discrimination against the `` ministers '' it appoints , protected them .
But a previous Court ruling on the issue did not explain how courts should understand who is a minister in these cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , writing , `` independence of religious institutions in matters of 'faith and doctrine ' is closely linked to independence in what the Court has termed 'matters of church government . '
'' He added , `` For this reason , courts are bound to stay out of employment disputes involving those holding certain important positions with churches and other religious institutions . ''
In her dissent , Justice Sonia Sotomayor , joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , said , `` This Court has lamented a perceived 'discrimination against religion . '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extreme opposite direction , permitting religious entities to discriminate widely and with impunity for reasons wholly divorced from religious beliefs . ''
Advocates for workers ' rights , including LGBTQ workers ' rights , agree , saying that the court 's definition of a minister in Wednesday 's decision is overly broad .
Sharita Gruberg , senior director for the LGBTQ Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress , said the decision narrows protections for Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 .
In June , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that Title VII , which bars employment discrimination based on sex , also prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people .
`` While the case did n't directly address discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity , the Court 's expansion of employees exempt from Title VII 's protections will almost certainly be weaponized against LGBTQ teachers and possibly even other employees of religious institutions in the future , '' Gruberg said .
Jennifer C. Pizer , senior counsel and law and policy director for Lambda Legal , a civil rights organization focusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision `` threatens the continued employment and financial security of thousands of teachers at religiously affiliated schools . ''
Pizer explained that the decision also stretches the definition of a minister to include people whose work may have little connection to spreading faith .
`` Teachers of secular subjects are not clergy by any reasonable understanding of the word .
They should not be deemed clergy simply to shield their employers from liability for wrongful workplace practices , '' she said .
`` The ministerial exemption especially should not apply to strip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large educational institutions that serve the entire general public , regardless of whether those institutions have some sort of religious ties , '' she added .
Nick Little , vice president and legal director of the Center for Inquiry , an organization with a mission to support a secular society , said including grade school teachers in the exception is `` ridiculous . ''
`` To expand an exemption for 'ministers of the faith ' to the point that it includes these grade-school teachers is frankly ridiculous . ''
Nick Little , vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Inquiry , an organization with a mission to support a secular society , said .
`` One of these teachers ' positions was not even limited to members of the school 's faith , so it beggars understanding how her job could have been considered vital to its theological integrity . ''
Little stated , `` Religious groups , which control the vast majority of private schools , multiple private universities , and a growing number of medical facilities and hospitals , can now hire and fire employees at will , discriminating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The American Independent Foundation .

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that religious schools are allowed broad exceptions from employment discrimination claims.
In the 7-2 ruling for Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, the Supreme Court said religious employers have a “ministerial exception” and have more freedom to make decisions about their workers than other employers and organizations.
Advocates for LGBTQ equality say Wednesday’s ruling could be used against LGBTQ teachers and other LGBTQ people employed by religious institutions. And the decision comes just weeks after the court handed down a huge victory for LGBTQ workers.
Morrisey-Berru and another similar case, St. James School v. Biel, involved teachers who brought cases against their schools alleging age discrimination and an illegal firing over a request for time off due to a medical concern, respectively.
The schools argued that the “ministerial exception,” an established legal doctrine that says religious institutions can’t be sued for employment discrimination against the “ministers” it appoints, protected them. But a previous Court ruling on the issue did not explain how courts should understand who is a minister in these cases.
Justice Samuel Alito delivered the opinion, writing, “independence of religious institutions in matters of ‘faith and doctrine’ is closely linked to independence in what the Court has termed ‘matters of church government.'”
He added, “For this reason, courts are bound to stay out of employment disputes involving those holding certain important positions with churches and other religious institutions.”
In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, said, “This Court has lamented a perceived ‘discrimination against religion.’ Yet here it swings the pendulum in the extreme opposite direction, permitting religious entities to discriminate widely and with impunity for reasons wholly divorced from religious beliefs.”
Advocates for workers’ rights, including LGBTQ workers’ rights, agree, saying that the court’s definition of a minister in Wednesday’s decision is overly broad.
Sharita Gruberg, senior director for the LGBTQ Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress, said the decision narrows protections for Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In June, the court held, in a 6-3 ruling, that Title VII, which bars employment discrimination based on sex, also prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people.
“While the case didn’t directly address discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the Court’s expansion of employees exempt from Title VII’s protections will almost certainly be weaponized against LGBTQ teachers and possibly even other employees of religious institutions in the future,” Gruberg said.
Jennifer C. Pizer, senior counsel and law and policy director for Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization focusing on the LGBTQ community, stated that the decision “threatens the continued employment and financial security of thousands of teachers at religiously affiliated schools.”
Pizer explained that the decision also stretches the definition of a minister to include people whose work may have little connection to spreading faith.
“Teachers of secular subjects are not clergy by any reasonable understanding of the word. They should not be deemed clergy simply to shield their employers from liability for wrongful workplace practices,” she said.
“The ministerial exemption especially should not apply to strip protections from teachers with secular roles at large educational institutions that serve the entire general public, regardless of whether those institutions have some sort of religious ties,” she added.
Nick Little, vice president and legal director of the Center for Inquiry, an organization with a mission to support a secular society, said including grade school teachers in the exception is “ridiculous.”
“To expand an exemption for ‘ministers of the faith’ to the point that it includes these grade-school teachers is frankly ridiculous.” Nick Little, vice president and legal director of the Center for Inquiry, an organization with a mission to support a secular society, said. “One of these teachers’ positions was not even limited to members of the school’s faith, so it beggars understanding how her job could have been considered vital to its theological integrity.”
Little stated, “Religious groups, which control the vast majority of private schools, multiple private universities, and a growing number of medical facilities and hospitals, can now hire and fire employees at will, discriminating without reservation.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-08--Trump campaign adviser says Boston Tea Party was the 'right way' to protest

Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski on Tuesday said the scores of civil rights protests taking place across the country were destructive and suggested the Boston Tea Party was the `` right way '' to protest .
Americans should learn the correct way to protest , like the patriots of the Boston Tea Party .
`` There is a right way to protest and there 's always been that since the history of our country , '' Lewandowski , who served on Trump 's 2016 campaign and is currently an unpaid adviser to his reelection bid , said on Fox Business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patriots took the tea and threw it into the Boston Harbor [ in December 1773 ] , there 's been a way to protest . ''
Lewandowski then shifted focus to the property destruction that occurred during some of the recent protests against racism and police brutality as images of protesters tearing down statues flashed across the screen .
`` No one is denying people 's rights to protest , '' he said .
`` We are denying people 's right to be killed during protests and the looting and the destruction that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private businesses . ''
Historians believe the Boston Tea Party destroyed an estimated $ 1 million worth of personal property , based on present day value .
According to the History Channel , many of the participants kept their identities secret out of fear of `` condemnation from elites for engaging in mob behavior and the wanton destruction of private property . ''
The nation 's eventual first president , George Washington , while he supported the `` cause of Boston , '' condemned `` their conduct in destroying the Tea '' at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George William Fairfax in June 1774 .
The recent protests Lewandowski criticized have in fact been largely peaceful , and in many cases right-wing activists were responsible for some of the violence and destruction that occurred .
Lewandowski 's comments come as the nation begins to reckon with its racist past .
In several cities , protesters have taken down statues glorifying pro-slavery Confederate soldiers and other racist figures .
Republicans , including Donald Trump , have taken a strong stand against the statues ' removal .
`` We pay tribute to generations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our monuments and memorials , '' Trump said on July 4 during a White House celebration .
`` We will never allow an angry mob to tear down our statues , erase our history , indoctrinate our children , or trample on our freedoms . ''
A Quinnipiac University poll released on June 17 showed that 52 % of Americans support the removal of confederate statues from public land , while only 44 % disapprove .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski on Tuesday said the scores of civil rights protests taking place across the country were destructive and suggested the Boston Tea Party was the “right way” to protest. Americans should learn the correct way to protest, like the patriots of the Boston Tea Party.
“There is a right way to protest and there’s always been that since the history of our country,” Lewandowski, who served on Trump’s 2016 campaign and is currently an unpaid adviser to his reelection bid, said on Fox Business. “From the time that the patriots took the tea and threw it into the Boston Harbor [in December 1773], there’s been a way to protest.”
Lewandowski then shifted focus to the property destruction that occurred during some of the recent protests against racism and police brutality as images of protesters tearing down statues flashed across the screen.
“No one is denying people’s rights to protest,” he said. “We are denying people’s right to be killed during protests and the looting and the destruction that’s transpiring. The destruction of private businesses.”
Historians believe the Boston Tea Party destroyed an estimated $1 million worth of personal property, based on present day value.
According to the History Channel, many of the participants kept their identities secret out of fear of “condemnation from elites for engaging in mob behavior and the wanton destruction of private property.”
The nation’s eventual first president, George Washington, while he supported the “cause of Boston,” condemned “their conduct in destroying the Tea” at the time in a letter to friend George William Fairfax in June 1774.
The recent protests Lewandowski criticized have in fact been largely peaceful, and in many cases right-wing activists were responsible for some of the violence and destruction that occurred.
Lewandowski’s comments come as the nation begins to reckon with its racist past. In several cities, protesters have taken down statues glorifying pro-slavery Confederate soldiers and other racist figures.
Republicans, including Donald Trump, have taken a strong stand against the statues’ removal.
“We pay tribute to generations of American heroes whose names are etched on our monuments and memorials,” Trump said on July 4 during a White House celebration. “We will never allow an angry mob to tear down our statues, erase our history, indoctrinate our children, or trample on our freedoms.”
A Quinnipiac University poll released on June 17 showed that 52% of Americans support the removal of confederate statues from public land, while only 44% disapprove.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-08--Experts warn Trump's plan to reopen schools puts everyone in danger

Education groups and advocates are slamming Donald Trump and his administration for demanding that schools reopen this fall , saying that `` conflicting guidance '' and a lack of government funding will put students and educators at risk from the coronavirus if they do .
In a joint statement published on Tuesday , six groups representing the interests of educators and parents , including the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers , noted : `` Without a comprehensive plan that includes federal resources to provide for the safety of our students and educators with funding for Personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and addressing racial inequity , we could be putting students , their families , and educators in danger . ''
Public health experts agree , saying that reopening without following public health guidance — including waiting to proceed until there has been a 14-day drop in the number of coronavirus cases — puts communities across the country at risk .
`` There should be a lot of discussion , knowing that there will be outbreaks — what should the triggers be to close them again ? ''
Anita Cicero , an expert on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , told the Los Angeles Times .
Jennifer Nuzzo , who works for Johns Hopkins University 's COVID-19 Testing Insights Initiative , told the Associated Press that the push to reopen schools against public health advice and for the sake of politics does `` a disservice to how incredibly important this issue is .
And it really distracts from what I think we need , which is real solutions and a plan in order to make this happen , '' Nuzzo said .
On Wednesday morning Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the loss of federal money , tweeting , `` May cut off funding if not open ! ''
Trump also tweeted that he `` disagrees '' with guidance on opening schools issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , saying that the the guidelines are `` very tough & expensive '' and that he `` will be meeting with them !
!
! ''
According to the CDC 's current `` guiding principles '' for schools , the way to maintain the lowest risk of spreading the coronavirus is to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events . ''
The highest risk comes in conducting `` full sized , in-person classes , activities , and events . ''
Between those two options are `` hybrid virtual and in-person class structures , or staggered/rotated scheduling to accommodate smaller class sizes '' — an option for schools that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rejects .
`` They must reopen and they must be fully operational , '' DeVos said on Wednesday .
Hours after Trump 's tweet calling the CDC guidelines too restrictive , NBC News reported that the administration was going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools .
Ultimately , Wednesday 's coronavirus task force event on school reopenings was filled with contradictions .
As Mike Pence and DeVos argued for full school reopenings , coronavirus task force member Dr. Deborah Birx said that anyone in a `` red zone '' that is experiencing coronavirus outbreaks should `` decrease any kind of indoor gatherings . ''
Thirty-six states , as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico , are currently seeing rising numbers of coronavirus cases .
Education advocates say that Trump and his administration have lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the coronavirus pandemic that any guidance they may issue wo n't be taken seriously .
`` No one trusts him and no one is paying attention , '' Arne Duncan , who served as secretary of education under President Barack Obama , said Wednesday during an appearance on CNN .
A USA Today poll conducted in late May found that 1 in 5 teachers said they would n't return to teaching if schools reopened in the fall , while 6 in 10 parents said they would be keeping their kids home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the White House has ignored CDC guidance on the coronavirus for its own purposes .
In May , Trump demanded that governors allow churches in their states to open for services despite warnings from public health experts that indoor gatherings without social distancing increased the risk of coronavirus transmission , and that group singing in particular could spread the virus through aerosol emissions .
Days later , NPR reported that after pressure from conservative Christian groups , the warning against choral singing was removed from the CDC 's guidance .
A federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistake .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Education groups and advocates are slamming Donald Trump and his administration for demanding that schools reopen this fall, saying that “conflicting guidance” and a lack of government funding will put students and educators at risk from the coronavirus if they do.
In a joint statement published on Tuesday, six groups representing the interests of educators and parents, including the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, noted: “Without a comprehensive plan that includes federal resources to provide for the safety of our students and educators with funding for Personal Protective Equipment, socially distanced instruction, and addressing racial inequity, we could be putting students, their families, and educators in danger.”
Public health experts agree, saying that reopening without following public health guidance — including waiting to proceed until there has been a 14-day drop in the number of coronavirus cases — puts communities across the country at risk.
“There should be a lot of discussion, knowing that there will be outbreaks — what should the triggers be to close them again?” Anita Cicero, an expert on pandemic preparedness and deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told the Los Angeles Times.
Jennifer Nuzzo, who works for Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 Testing Insights Initiative, told the Associated Press that the push to reopen schools against public health advice and for the sake of politics does “a disservice to how incredibly important this issue is. And it really distracts from what I think we need, which is real solutions and a plan in order to make this happen,” Nuzzo said.
On Wednesday morning Trump threatened schools that do not reopen with the loss of federal money, tweeting, “May cut off funding if not open!”
Trump also tweeted that he “disagrees” with guidance on opening schools issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, saying that the the guidelines are “very tough & expensive” and that he “will be meeting with them!!!”
According to the CDC’s current “guiding principles” for schools, the way to maintain the lowest risk of spreading the coronavirus is to hold “virtual-only classes, activities, and events.” The highest risk comes in conducting “full sized, in-person classes, activities, and events.”
Between those two options are “hybrid virtual and in-person class structures, or staggered/rotated scheduling to accommodate smaller class sizes” — an option for schools that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rejects.
“They must reopen and they must be fully operational,” DeVos said on Wednesday.
Hours after Trump’s tweet calling the CDC guidelines too restrictive, NBC News reported that the administration was going to release its own guidelines for reopening schools.
Ultimately, Wednesday’s coronavirus task force event on school reopenings was filled with contradictions.
As Mike Pence and DeVos argued for full school reopenings, coronavirus task force member Dr. Deborah Birx said that anyone in a “red zone” that is experiencing coronavirus outbreaks should “decrease any kind of indoor gatherings.”
Thirty-six states, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, are currently seeing rising numbers of coronavirus cases.
Education advocates say that Trump and his administration have lost so much credibility due to their poor response to the coronavirus pandemic that any guidance they may issue won’t be taken seriously.
“No one trusts him and no one is paying attention,” Arne Duncan, who served as secretary of education under President Barack Obama, said Wednesday during an appearance on CNN.
Polling bears that out.
A USA Today poll conducted in late May found that 1 in 5 teachers said they wouldn’t return to teaching if schools reopened in the fall, while 6 in 10 parents said they would be keeping their kids home.
This is not the first time that the White House has ignored CDC guidance on the coronavirus for its own purposes.
In May, Trump demanded that governors allow churches in their states to open for services despite warnings from public health experts that indoor gatherings without social distancing increased the risk of coronavirus transmission, and that group singing in particular could spread the virus through aerosol emissions.
Days later, NPR reported that after pressure from conservative Christian groups, the warning against choral singing was removed from the CDC’s guidance. A federal official said it had been issued by mistake.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-08--Trump campaign: Americans 'undoubtedly' better off thanks to Trump's virus response

Trump 's campaign press secretary Hogan Gidley claimed on Wednesday that Americans were better off than they were three years ago .
The `` Fox & Friends '' co-host interviewing him disputed that claim .
Gidley said in the interview that Trump plans to use an outdoor campaign rally in New Hampshire on Saturday to boast about his accomplishments .
`` It answers the age-old question : Are you better off now than you were before ? ''
he said to Fox News .
`` And the answer , undoubtedly , is yes . ''
Host Brian Kilmeade questioned this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , now you know that the growth is not there .
You know the unemployment is still 11 % .
So you ca n't really say 'you 're better off than you were three years ago , ' because — at the very least — the pandemic .
So you ca n't really say that , right ? ''
`` No , absolutely .
Of course you can say that ! ''
Gidley answered .
Gidley , Trump 's longtime deputy White House press secretary before he was named campaign press secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying the coronavirus pandemic `` hit all of us , not just in this country , but across the world . ''
He repeated a false claim that Joe Biden had called Trump 's January partial China travel ban `` racist '' and `` xenophobic . ''
That frequent Trump campaign attack has been debunked by independent fact-checkers and even by Donald Trump himself .
Next , Gidley repeated another false Trump claim : that his handling of the coronavirus crisis has `` saved almost two million lives in this country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ author on a widely reported virus modeling study that suggested the United States could see up to 2.2 million deaths if it did n't implement safety measures , debunked that argument , telling HuffPost , `` The final death toll from this pandemic will depend as much on what policymakers in different U.S. states do in the next few months as what they did since March . ''
Finally , Gidley bragged of record-setting job growth in May and June , ignoring the fact that this was mostly driven by a fraction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs in April returning to work as the economy partially reopened .
`` This president built this economy once .
He will rebuild it again , '' Gidley concluded .
He promised that , under Trump , the country would get back to `` being how great he made it the first time . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Trump’s campaign press secretary Hogan Gidley claimed on Wednesday that Americans were better off than they were three years ago. The “Fox & Friends” co-host interviewing him disputed that claim.
Gidley said in the interview that Trump plans to use an outdoor campaign rally in New Hampshire on Saturday to boast about his accomplishments.
“It answers the age-old question: Are you better off now than you were before?” he said to Fox News. “And the answer, undoubtedly, is yes.”
Host Brian Kilmeade questioned this assertion, noting, “With the pandemic, now you know that the growth is not there. You know the unemployment is still 11%. So you can’t really say ‘you’re better off than you were three years ago,’ because — at the very least — the pandemic. So you can’t really say that, right?”
“No, absolutely. Of course you can say that!” Gidley answered.
Gidley, Trump’s longtime deputy White House press secretary before he was named campaign press secretary last month, then changed the subject, saying the coronavirus pandemic “hit all of us, not just in this country, but across the world.”
He repeated a false claim that Joe Biden had called Trump’s January partial China travel ban “racist” and “xenophobic.” That frequent Trump campaign attack has been debunked by independent fact-checkers and even by Donald Trump himself.
Next, Gidley repeated another false Trump claim: that his handling of the coronavirus crisis has “saved almost two million lives in this country.”
Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson, the lead author on a widely reported virus modeling study that suggested the United States could see up to 2.2 million deaths if it didn’t implement safety measures, debunked that argument, telling HuffPost, “The final death toll from this pandemic will depend as much on what policymakers in different U.S. states do in the next few months as what they did since March.”
Finally, Gidley bragged of record-setting job growth in May and June, ignoring the fact that this was mostly driven by a fraction of the 20 million-plus people who lost their jobs in April returning to work as the economy partially reopened.
“This president built this economy once. He will rebuild it again,” Gidley concluded. He promised that, under Trump, the country would get back to “being how great he made it the first time.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-08--Trump continues attacks on safer voting methods despite CDC guidelines

In `` interim guidance '' it released on June 22 under the heading `` Considerations for Election Polling Locations and Voters , '' the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided recommendations for avoiding the spread of the coronavirus during voting .
While a large portion of the guidelines was devoted to measures to be taken by election officials and voters in person at polling places , they also recommended the use of `` alternative voting methods , '' including `` alternatives to in-person voting if allowed in the jurisdiction . ''
Meanwhile , Donald Trump has continued his attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on voting by mail .
The CDC guidance was released , as the Washington Post reported on Tuesday , with little notice .
It urges `` a wide variety of voting options , '' `` longer voting periods ( more days and/or more hours ) , '' and `` any other feasible options for reducing the number of voters who congregate indoors in polling locations at the same time '' as ways to reduce the spread of the virus .
The guidance describes protocols for hand hygiene and surface cleaning at polling places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , and safe processing of mail-in ballots .
The CDC recommendations came after Wisconsin saw a spike in COVID-19 cases in April following the state 's in-person election .
The Republican-controlled legislature and conservative state Supreme Court had blocked efforts by Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers to delay the election .
At least 71 people who participated subsequently tested positive for the virus .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-MN ) told the Post , `` In the midst of this pandemic , voters should not need to choose between their health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC makes it clear that the government must take steps to protect voters . ''
Trump has continued to attack voting by mail-in ballot , falsely claiming that it leads to massive voter fraud .
The same day as the guidance came out , Trump tweeted , `` Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS , 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history - unless this stupidity is ended .
We voted during World War One & World War Two with no problem , but now they are using Covid in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' In another tweet , he wrote , `` RIGGED 2020 ELECTION : MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES , AND OTHERS .
IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES ! ''
On June 26 , Trump cheered a `` Big WIN in Texas on Mail-in Ballots ! ''
after the Supreme Court allowed the state to limit no-excuse voting by mail to people over age 65 .
On July 2 , Trump tweeted , `` Mail-In Ballots will lead to massive electoral fraud and a rigged 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and examples that are out there right now , with the Patterson , N.J. , being the most recent example .
Republicans , in particular , can not let this happen ! ''
During a special election in Paterson in May , the Postal Inspection Service alerted officials to bundles of ballots found stuffed in a mailbox and elsewhere , and four individuals were charged with voter fraud .
In total , 3,190 ballots were rejected — about 19 % of the total submitted .
Election law experts told NPR last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thrown out shows that safeguards work .
`` Even on this small scale , what you see is that having a conspiracy like this to try to affect the outcome of an election is very difficult to do without detection , '' University of California Irvine law professor Rick Hasen said .
Other Trumps have expressed support for voting by mail .
Republican National Committee robocalls in support of California U.S. House candidate Mike Garcia in April featured Donald Trump 's daughter-in-law Lara saying citizens can vote by mail `` safely and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging voters to `` Make your vote count for Republican Mike Garcia and get it in the mail , '' CNN reported on Wednesday .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In “interim guidance” it released on June 22 under the heading “Considerations for Election Polling Locations and Voters,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided recommendations for avoiding the spread of the coronavirus during voting. While a large portion of the guidelines was devoted to measures to be taken by election officials and voters in person at polling places, they also recommended the use of “alternative voting methods,” including “alternatives to in-person voting if allowed in the jurisdiction.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has continued his attacks on such alternatives, focussing his complaints on voting by mail.
The CDC guidance was released, as the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, with little notice. It urges “a wide variety of voting options,” “longer voting periods (more days and/or more hours),” and “any other feasible options for reducing the number of voters who congregate indoors in polling locations at the same time” as ways to reduce the spread of the virus.
The guidance describes protocols for hand hygiene and surface cleaning at polling places, cloth face covering use for poll workers, and safe processing of mail-in ballots.
The CDC recommendations came after Wisconsin saw a spike in COVID-19 cases in April following the state’s in-person election. The Republican-controlled legislature and conservative state Supreme Court had blocked efforts by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to delay the election. At least 71 people who participated subsequently tested positive for the virus.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) told the Post, “In the midst of this pandemic, voters should not need to choose between their health and casting their ballots. This guidance from the CDC makes it clear that the government must take steps to protect voters.”
Trump has continued to attack voting by mail-in ballot, falsely claiming that it leads to massive voter fraud.
The same day as the guidance came out, Trump tweeted, “Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history – unless this stupidity is ended. We voted during World War One & World War Two with no problem, but now they are using Covid in order to cheat by using Mail-Ins!”
In another tweet, he wrote, “RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!”
On June 26, Trump cheered a “Big WIN in Texas on Mail-in Ballots!” after the Supreme Court allowed the state to limit no-excuse voting by mail to people over age 65.
On July 2, Trump tweeted, “Mail-In Ballots will lead to massive electoral fraud and a rigged 2020 Election. Look at all of the cases and examples that are out there right now, with the Patterson, N.J., being the most recent example. Republicans, in particular, cannot let this happen!”
During a special election in Paterson in May, the Postal Inspection Service alerted officials to bundles of ballots found stuffed in a mailbox and elsewhere, and four individuals were charged with voter fraud. In total, 3,190 ballots were rejected — about 19% of the total submitted. Election law experts told NPR last week that the fact that they were caught and thrown out shows that safeguards work.
“Even on this small scale, what you see is that having a conspiracy like this to try to affect the outcome of an election is very difficult to do without detection,” University of California Irvine law professor Rick Hasen said.
Other Trumps have expressed support for voting by mail. Republican National Committee robocalls in support of California U.S. House candidate Mike Garcia in April featured Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara saying citizens can vote by mail “safely and securely,” and Donald Trump Jr. urging voters to “Make your vote count for Republican Mike Garcia and get it in the mail,” CNN reported on Wednesday.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.