shareblue--2020-06-15--Fact check: Trump lies about his defense record in West Point speech

Donald Trump is exaggerating his accomplishments for the military and veterans .
With his relationship with Pentagon leaders under strain , Trump bragged to West Point cadets over the weekend that his administration wholly destroyed the Islamic State group .
He also asserted in a televised interview that he completely rebuilt a depleted U.S. military .
Neither claim is true .
The militant IS group in fact is still a threat , launching attacks in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks as it seeks to take advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic .
And a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump took office .
His statements came in a week of law-and-order rhetoric mixed with heavy doses of misinformation as he stretched to blame unrest on radical leftists and to put three loaded words — `` defund the police '' — in the mouth of a Democratic rival who does n't support them .
Both Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , have sought to distance themselves from Trump following his warning that he could use active-duty military forces to clamp down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death in police custody .
A look at recent claims and the facts : TRUMP : `` The savage ISIS caliphate has been 100 % destroyed under the Trump administration . ''
— remarks Saturday at West Point graduation ceremony .
THE FACTS : His claim of a 100 % defeat is misleading as the Islamic State group still poses a threat .
IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017 , then lost the last of its land holdings in Syria in March 2019 , marking the end of the extremists ' self-declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have continued to launch attacks in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks and are believed to be responsible for targeted killings of local officials and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces .
The recent resurgence of attacks is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments otherwise focused on the pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos .
The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group will stage a comeback .
Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said the U.S. fight against the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have rebuilt our military . ''
— interview aired Friday on Fox News .
THE FACTS : That 's an exaggeration .
It 's true that his administration has accelerated a sharp buildup in defense spending , including a respite from what the U.S. military considered to be crippling spending limits under budget sequestration .
But a number of new Pentagon weapons programs , such as the F-35 fighter jet , were started years before the Trump administration .
And it will take years for freshly ordered tanks , planes , and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and put to use .
The Air Force 's Minuteman 3 missiles , a key part of the U.S. nuclear force , for instance , have been operating since the early 1970s , and the modernization was begun under the Obama administration .
They are due to be replaced with a new version , but not until later this decade .
TRUMP : `` When we took it over from President Obama and Biden the military was a joke .
The military was depleted .
... We had no ammunition . ''
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. does n't go to war without sufficient ammunition .
Trump often repeats this claim , typically attributing it to unidentified generals .
But it 's not true no matter how it is said .
At most , budget constraints may have restricted ammunition for certain training exercises at times and held back the development of new forms of firepower .
But the military does n't just run out of bullets .
TRUMP : `` Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur .
75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to black out the equipment .
@ OANN I watched , he fell harder than was pushed .
Was aiming scanner .
Could be a set up ? ''
— tweet Tuesday .
THE FACTS : There 's no evidence that Gugino was an `` ANTIFA provocateur '' or that he was trying to `` black out '' police equipment .
And Trump does n't explain the physics behind his theory that Gugino fell harder than he was pushed .
Trump referred to a report from the One America News Network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Gugino was using `` antifa '' -like tactics , such as `` a method of police tracking used by Antifa to monitor the location of police . ''
It is possible to disrupt police radio — an illegal action often called `` jamming '' — but hackers do that by attacking receiving stations , not with handheld devices that target an individual police officer 's radio , Matt Blaze , a professor of computer science and law at Georgetown University , told the Associated Press .
`` Any radio system is subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work by pointing some sort of ray gun and interfering , '' Blaze said .
`` That just does n't make any sense . ''
Gugino was hospitalized in the intensive care unit last weekend after being pushed by police .
He was seen bleeding from his head as officers walked away .
Friends say he 's a retiree and a veteran peace activist — not an `` antifa provocateur . ''
Two Buffalo , New York , police officers have been charged with second-degree assault .
The officers , who could face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if convicted , pleaded not guilty .
Many Republican lawmakers averted their eyes , as is typical with Trump 's rawest provocations .
But for the wavering Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , it was another thing to consider as she mulls over whether she will support him in the election .
`` Oh lord , '' she said when shown the tweet .
`` Ugh . ''
She added : `` Again , why would you fan the flames ?
That 's all I 'm going to say . ''
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more to say : `` How reckless , how irresponsible , how mean , how crude . ''
He implored Trump to `` show some decency .
Show some humanity .
Show some fairness . ''
Like Murkowski , he spoke of flames being fueled .
TRUMP : `` Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle . ''
— tweet Wednesday .
THE FACTS : No , they have n't .
After days of violent confrontations with protesters , Seattle police largely and temporarily withdrew from several city blocks and boarded up a precinct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a festive scene with speeches , activism , art , and music .
This was far from taking over a city , and authorities do not consider the protesters to be terrorists .
Democratic Washington state Gov .
Jay Inslee said Thursday the zone was largely peaceful and `` peaceful protests are fundamentally American . ''
As Trump has branded protesters `` radical-left , bad people '' engaging in domestic terrorism , he has frequently invoked `` antifa , '' an umbrella term for leftist militants bound more by belief than organizational structure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that such radicals were involved .
Some Democrats initially tried to blame out-of-state far-right infiltrators for unrest before backing down on that claim .
The AP found that the great majority of people arrested in Minneapolis and the District of Columbia in one weekend of protests were local residents and few were affiliated with organized groups .
TRUMP : `` Sleepy Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats want to 'DEFUND THE POLICE ' . ''
— tweet June 7 .
THE FACTS : No , Biden does not join the call of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' after Floyd 's killing .
`` I do n't support defunding the police , '' Biden said in a CBS interview last week .
But he said he would support conditioning federal aid to police based on whether `` they meet certain basic standards of decency , honorableness and , in fact , are able to demonstrate they can protect the community , everybody in the community . ''
Biden 's criminal justice agenda , released long before he became the Democrats ' presumptive presidential nominee , proposes more federal money for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragic , unjustifiable deaths '' and hiring more officers to ensure that departments are racially and ethnically reflective of the populations they serve .
Specifically , he calls for a $ 300 million infusion into existing federal community policing grant programs .
That adds up to more money for police , not defunding law enforcement .
Biden also wants the federal government to spend more on education , social services , and struggling areas of cities and rural America to address root causes of crime .
ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR , citing escalating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd 's May 25 death in Minneapolis : `` The things were so bad the Secret Service recommended the president go down to the bunker . ''
— Fox News on June 8 .
THE FACTS : Here Barr is fact-checking Trump , who claimed a week earlier that he only visited the White House bunker to inspect it , not out of concern for his safety .
`` I went down during the day , and I was there for a tiny little short period of time , and it was much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Fox News on June 3 .
`` They said it would be a good time to go down — take a look because maybe sometime you 're going to need it . ''
News organizations , including the AP , had reported that Secret Service agents rushed Trump on May 29 to a White House bunker , where he spent nearly an hour — not just a `` tiny little short period of time '' — as demonstrations outside the executive mansion intensified .
The bunker is designed for use in emergencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been unhappy with news coverage revealing that he had been spirited to the bunker , believing that it made him appear weak .
TRUMP , on veterans health care : `` Before I came here , the vets would wait on line .
... And for years and years , they 've been trying to get Veterans Choice .
... Now , most importantly , we take care of our vets . ''
— Meeting with pastors , law enforcement officers , and others in Dallas on Thursday .
THE FACTS : That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told false claim to have achieved Veterans Choice when other presidents could n't .
President Barack Obama achieved it .
Trump expanded it .
The program lets veterans , under certain conditions , get private health care at public expense .
It has not eliminated waits for care .
TRUMP : `` This year has seen the lowest crime numbers in our Country 's recorded history . ''
— tweet on June 8 .
THE FACTS : Not so .
First , this year 's numbers are not compiled .
Also , FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower in 2014 than in 2018 , the most recent year recorded .
Also , crime overall was substantially lower in the 1950s and 1960s , grew after that , and has been on a downward trend since the 1990s , with variations along the way .
Police departments reported 368.9 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2018 , compared with 361.6 four years earlier .
The murder rate was 5 people per 100,000 in 2018 .
That rate was lower every year from 2010 to 2015 .

Donald Trump is exaggerating his accomplishments for the military and veterans.
With his relationship with Pentagon leaders under strain, Trump bragged to West Point cadets over the weekend that his administration wholly destroyed the Islamic State group. He also asserted in a televised interview that he completely rebuilt a depleted U.S. military.
Neither claim is true. The militant IS group in fact is still a threat, launching attacks in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks as it seeks to take advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic. And a number of new Pentagon weapons programs began years before Trump took office.
His statements came in a week of law-and-order rhetoric mixed with heavy doses of misinformation as he stretched to blame unrest on radical leftists and to put three loaded words — “defund the police” — in the mouth of a Democratic rival who doesn’t support them.
Both Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have sought to distance themselves from Trump following his warning that he could use active-duty military forces to clamp down on protests spurred by George Floyd’s death in police custody.
A look at recent claims and the facts:
MILITARY
TRUMP: “The savage ISIS caliphate has been 100% destroyed under the Trump administration.” — remarks Saturday at West Point graduation ceremony.
THE FACTS: His claim of a 100% defeat is misleading as the Islamic State group still poses a threat.
IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017, then lost the last of its land holdings in Syria in March 2019, marking the end of the extremists’ self-declared caliphate. Still, extremist sleeper cells have continued to launch attacks in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks and are believed to be responsible for targeted killings of local officials and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
The recent resurgence of attacks is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments otherwise focused on the pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group will stage a comeback.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said the U.S. fight against the group was continuing.
___
TRUMP: “I have rebuilt our military.” — interview aired Friday on Fox News.
THE FACTS: That’s an exaggeration.
It’s true that his administration has accelerated a sharp buildup in defense spending, including a respite from what the U.S. military considered to be crippling spending limits under budget sequestration.
But a number of new Pentagon weapons programs, such as the F-35 fighter jet, were started years before the Trump administration. And it will take years for freshly ordered tanks, planes, and other weapons to be built, delivered, and put to use.
The Air Force’s Minuteman 3 missiles, a key part of the U.S. nuclear force, for instance, have been operating since the early 1970s, and the modernization was begun under the Obama administration. They are due to be replaced with a new version, but not until later this decade.
___
TRUMP: “When we took it over from President Obama and Biden the military was a joke. The military was depleted. … We had no ammunition.” — Fox interview.
THE FACTS: The U.S. doesn’t go to war without sufficient ammunition. Trump often repeats this claim, typically attributing it to unidentified generals. But it’s not true no matter how it is said.
At most, budget constraints may have restricted ammunition for certain training exercises at times and held back the development of new forms of firepower. But the military doesn’t just run out of bullets.
___
FLOYD PROTESTS
TRUMP: “Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?” — tweet Tuesday.
THE FACTS: There’s no evidence that Gugino was an “ANTIFA provocateur” or that he was trying to “black out” police equipment. And Trump doesn’t explain the physics behind his theory that Gugino fell harder than he was pushed.
Trump referred to a report from the One America News Network, which cited an uninformed blog arguing that Gugino was using “antifa”-like tactics, such as “a method of police tracking used by Antifa to monitor the location of police.”
Top tech experts called that claim confounding.
It is possible to disrupt police radio — an illegal action often called “jamming” — but hackers do that by attacking receiving stations, not with handheld devices that target an individual police officer’s radio, Matt Blaze, a professor of computer science and law at Georgetown University, told the Associated Press.
“Any radio system is subject to interference, but it doesn’t work by pointing some sort of ray gun and interfering,” Blaze said. “That just doesn’t make any sense.”
Gugino was hospitalized in the intensive care unit last weekend after being pushed by police. He was seen bleeding from his head as officers walked away. Friends say he’s a retiree and a veteran peace activist — not an “antifa provocateur.”
Two Buffalo, New York, police officers have been charged with second-degree assault. The officers, who could face prison sentences of up to seven years if convicted, pleaded not guilty.
Many Republican lawmakers averted their eyes, as is typical with Trump’s rawest provocations. But for the wavering Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, it was another thing to consider as she mulls over whether she will support him in the election. “Oh lord,” she said when shown the tweet. “Ugh.” She added: “Again, why would you fan the flames? That’s all I’m going to say.”
New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo had more to say: “How reckless, how irresponsible, how mean, how crude.” He implored Trump to “show some decency. Show some humanity. Show some fairness.” Like Murkowski, he spoke of flames being fueled.
___
TRUMP: “Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle.” — tweet Wednesday.
THE FACTS: No, they haven’t.
After days of violent confrontations with protesters, Seattle police largely and temporarily withdrew from several city blocks and boarded up a precinct station, leaving protesters to set up a festive scene with speeches, activism, art, and music. This was far from taking over a city, and authorities do not consider the protesters to be terrorists.
Democratic Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday the zone was largely peaceful and “peaceful protests are fundamentally American.”
As Trump has branded protesters “radical-left, bad people” engaging in domestic terrorism, he has frequently invoked “antifa,” an umbrella term for leftist militants bound more by belief than organizational structure. Federal officials have presented scant evidence that such radicals were involved.
Some Democrats initially tried to blame out-of-state far-right infiltrators for unrest before backing down on that claim.
The AP found that the great majority of people arrested in Minneapolis and the District of Columbia in one weekend of protests were local residents and few were affiliated with organized groups.
___
TRUMP: “Sleepy Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats want to ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’.” — tweet June 7.
THE FACTS: No, Biden does not join the call of protesters who demanded “defund the police” after Floyd’s killing.
“I don’t support defunding the police,” Biden said in a CBS interview last week. But he said he would support conditioning federal aid to police based on whether “they meet certain basic standards of decency, honorableness and, in fact, are able to demonstrate they can protect the community, everybody in the community.”
Biden’s criminal justice agenda, released long before he became the Democrats’ presumptive presidential nominee, proposes more federal money for “training that is needed to avert tragic, unjustifiable deaths” and hiring more officers to ensure that departments are racially and ethnically reflective of the populations they serve.
Specifically, he calls for a $300 million infusion into existing federal community policing grant programs.
That adds up to more money for police, not defunding law enforcement.
Biden also wants the federal government to spend more on education, social services, and struggling areas of cities and rural America to address root causes of crime.
___
ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR, citing escalating protests outside the White House following George Floyd’s May 25 death in Minneapolis: “The things were so bad the Secret Service recommended the president go down to the bunker.” — Fox News on June 8.
THE FACTS: Here Barr is fact-checking Trump, who claimed a week earlier that he only visited the White House bunker to inspect it, not out of concern for his safety.
“I went down during the day, and I was there for a tiny little short period of time, and it was much more for an inspection,” Trump told Fox News on June 3. “They said it would be a good time to go down — take a look because maybe sometime you’re going to need it.”
News organizations, including the AP, had reported that Secret Service agents rushed Trump on May 29 to a White House bunker, where he spent nearly an hour — not just a “tiny little short period of time” — as demonstrations outside the executive mansion intensified. The bunker is designed for use in emergencies such as terrorist attacks.
Trump had been unhappy with news coverage revealing that he had been spirited to the bunker, believing that it made him appear weak.
___
VETERANS
TRUMP, on veterans health care: “Before I came here, the vets would wait on line. … And for years and years, they’ve been trying to get Veterans Choice. … Now, most importantly, we take care of our vets.” — Meeting with pastors, law enforcement officers, and others in Dallas on Thursday.
THE FACTS: That is the latest iteration of his frequently told false claim to have achieved Veterans Choice when other presidents couldn’t. President Barack Obama achieved it. Trump expanded it. The program lets veterans, under certain conditions, get private health care at public expense. It has not eliminated waits for care.
___
CRIME
TRUMP: “This year has seen the lowest crime numbers in our Country’s recorded history.” — tweet on June 8.
THE FACTS: Not so. First, this year’s numbers are not compiled. Also, FBI statistics show the violent crime rate was lower in 2014 than in 2018, the most recent year recorded. Also, crime overall was substantially lower in the 1950s and 1960s, grew after that, and has been on a downward trend since the 1990s, with variations along the way.
Police departments reported 368.9 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2018, compared with 361.6 four years earlier.
The murder rate was 5 people per 100,000 in 2018. That rate was lower every year from 2010 to 2015.


shareblue--2020-06-16--Pro wrestling shut down by virus after Florida governor deemed it 'essential'

WWE shut down an event taping scheduled for Tuesday after one of its wrestlers tested positive for the coronavirus .
This comes just two months after Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis exempted the pro wrestling company from social distancing rules , deeming it an `` essential '' business .
According to Wrestling Observer , World Wrestling Entertainment , which operates as WWE , announced Monday that one of its performers had tested positive after appearing on last week 's broadcast .
The publication noted that `` all key members of the staff that works the shows as well as all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested Tuesday , `` which would be the first COVID-19 testing the company has done . ''
This is not the first time a WWE employee has tested positive .
According to the New York Post , a nonwrestling performer tested positive in April .
The company said at the time that its `` employee had no contact with anyone from WWE since being exposed ... is doing well , and made a complete recovery . ''
As Florida 's Republican governor issued stay-at-home orders and closed some businesses in April , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules .
He said the decision to exclude `` employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience—including any athletes , entertainers , production team , executive team , media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production—only if the location is closed to the general public '' was justified `` because they are critical to Florida ’ s economy . ''
The chief executive officer of WWE is Vince McMahon , a close ally of Donald Trump .
Its former CEO , Linda McMahon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Business Administration under Trump and now runs a pro-Trump super PAC .
Florida reported a state record-high 2,783 new daily coronavirus cases on Monday — its third record in a week .
The spike has come since DeSantis moved to reopen much of the state 's economy .
DeSantis has called his easing of social distancing rules a `` smart , safe , step-by-step approach to re-opening . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

WWE shut down an event taping scheduled for Tuesday after one of its wrestlers tested positive for the coronavirus. This comes just two months after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis exempted the pro wrestling company from social distancing rules, deeming it an “essential” business.
According to Wrestling Observer, World Wrestling Entertainment, which operates as WWE, announced Monday that one of its performers had tested positive after appearing on last week’s broadcast. The publication noted that “all key members of the staff that works the shows as well as all the talent” were set to be tested Tuesday, “which would be the first COVID-19 testing the company has done.”
This is not the first time a WWE employee has tested positive. According to the New York Post, a nonwrestling performer tested positive in April. The company said at the time that its “employee had no contact with anyone from WWE since being exposed … is doing well, and made a complete recovery.”
As Florida’s Republican governor issued stay-at-home orders and closed some businesses in April, he specifically exempted professional wrestling from adhering to the rules.
He said the decision to exclude “employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience—including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production—only if the location is closed to the general public” was justified “because they are critical to Florida’s economy.”
The chief executive officer of WWE is Vince McMahon, a close ally of Donald Trump. Its former CEO, Linda McMahon, served as administrator of the Small Business Administration under Trump and now runs a pro-Trump super PAC.
Florida reported a state record-high 2,783 new daily coronavirus cases on Monday — its third record in a week. The spike has come since DeSantis moved to reopen much of the state’s economy.
DeSantis has called his easing of social distancing rules a “smart, safe, step-by-step approach to re-opening.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-16--Trump sides with cops instead of their victims in speech on 'safe policing'

Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that he said will bring changes to police tactics , an attempt to mollify the hundreds of thousands who have taken to the streets to protest police brutality against Black Americans .
The executive order calls for the Department of Justice to come up with proposed reforms based on a set of `` guiding principles . ''
In a speech before signing the executive order , Trump appeared to be more deferential to police than to Black Americans , who are demanding real change in the wake of a spate of black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump spent little time sympathizing with Black Americans and protesters .
He instead used the same kind of violent language he has over the past few weeks to describe the protests .
`` There will be no more looting or arson , and the penalty will be very grave for those who get caught , '' Trump said , focusing on the images seen in the early days of the protests that he 's blamed on `` antifa '' despite no evidence that the loosely organized movement of anti-fascists was behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be tolerated , we can not do that , '' Trump said .
He went on to put words in the mouths of protesters , claiming they want more police — which is arguably the exact opposite of the message they 've been sending , as they call on state and local governments to fund more social services rather than expand police power .
`` Americans want law and order .
They demand law and order .
They may not say it , they may not be talking about it , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said .
`` Some of them do n't even know that 's what they want , but that 's what they want .
And they understand that when you remove the police , you hurt those who have the least , the most . ''
Trump went on to claim that school choice is the `` civil rights of all time in this country , '' even as protesters are in the streets talking about a completely different civil rights issue — police brutality against Black Americans .
Trump 's speech and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including of the fact that Trump stood with law enforcement officers for a photo-op after meeting with the families of Black Americans who were recently killed by police violence .
`` We have to stop and slow down for a minute on the optics of that press conference .
All I saw were white faces when we 're talking about black bodies , '' Maya Wiley , a civil rights activist and MSNBC legal analyst , said after the speech .
( The group of law enforcement officers was mostly white , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendance . )
The Black families who met with Trump were not seen publicly during the signing , and according to one report , the families opted not to attend the ceremony following a `` contentious and emotional meeting '' with Trump and Justice Department officials .
Lee Merritt , a civil rights attorney representing one of the families , did not immediately respond to a request for comment but tweeted that there had been no `` photo op '' at the White House Tuesday afternoon .
Ultimately , Trump 's signing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change in his tone or attitude on race and police violence or on reforms that even Republicans have called for .
Trump 's response to the protests has helped lead to a steep decline in his approval rating , as well as his diminished standing in the polls against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that he said will bring changes to police tactics, an attempt to mollify the hundreds of thousands who have taken to the streets to protest police brutality against Black Americans.
The executive order calls for the Department of Justice to come up with proposed reforms based on a set of “guiding principles.”
In a speech before signing the executive order, Trump appeared to be more deferential to police than to Black Americans, who are demanding real change in the wake of a spate of black men and women killed by police officers.
Trump spent little time sympathizing with Black Americans and protesters. He instead used the same kind of violent language he has over the past few weeks to describe the protests.
“There will be no more looting or arson, and the penalty will be very grave for those who get caught,” Trump said, focusing on the images seen in the early days of the protests that he’s blamed on “antifa” despite no evidence that the loosely organized movement of anti-fascists was behind the destruction.
“Violence and destruction will not be tolerated, we cannot do that,” Trump said.
He went on to put words in the mouths of protesters, claiming they want more police — which is arguably the exact opposite of the message they’ve been sending, as they call on state and local governments to fund more social services rather than expand police power.
“Americans want law and order. They demand law and order. They may not say it, they may not be talking about it, but that’s what they want,” Trump said. “Some of them don’t even know that’s what they want, but that’s what they want. And they understand that when you remove the police, you hurt those who have the least, the most.”
Trump went on to claim that school choice is the “civil rights of all time in this country,” even as protesters are in the streets talking about a completely different civil rights issue — police brutality against Black Americans.
Trump’s speech and executive order were immediately met with criticism, including of the fact that Trump stood with law enforcement officers for a photo-op after meeting with the families of Black Americans who were recently killed by police violence.
“We have to stop and slow down for a minute on the optics of that press conference. All I saw were white faces when we’re talking about black bodies,” Maya Wiley, a civil rights activist and MSNBC legal analyst, said after the speech. (The group of law enforcement officers was mostly white, though there were some Black officers in attendance.)
The Black families who met with Trump were not seen publicly during the signing, and according to one report, the families opted not to attend the ceremony following a “contentious and emotional meeting” with Trump and Justice Department officials. Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney representing one of the families, did not immediately respond to a request for comment but tweeted that there had been no “photo op” at the White House Tuesday afternoon.
Ultimately, Trump’s signing of the executive order did not betray any change in his tone or attitude on race and police violence or on reforms that even Republicans have called for.
Trump’s response to the protests has helped lead to a steep decline in his approval rating, as well as his diminished standing in the polls against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-16--LGBTQ workers are still fighting for equal protection despite Supreme Court victory

On Monday , the U.S. Supreme Court made a historic decision in Bostock v. Clayton County that has huge implications for LGBTQ equality .
In a 6-3 ruling , the Court held that the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , which bars employment discrimination based on sex , also prohibits discrimination against LGBT people .
The court explained that when an employer `` relies in part on an individual employee 's sex when deciding to discharge the employee , '' that is a violation of the law .
That applies to LGBTQ people , the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that `` an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII . ''
Chase Strangio , deputy director for transgender justice at the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project , said the ruling will ultimately affect LGBTQ equality on a wider scale `` in the context of housing , education , and health care , '' calling it a `` historic win . ''
But the fight for job security and economic equality is far from over .
LGBTQ people still face numerous hurdles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have significantly less power than in other countries .
Employers are also granted the ability to provide little to no reason for firing a worker , and LGBTQ workers still must meet a high bar under Title VII to prove discrimination .
Moshe Marvit , fellow at the Century Foundation , said that although Title VII is stronger than the National Labor Relations Act in terms of its protections and remedies for workers , it 's still fairly weak compared to the labor protections other countries provide .
The United States would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strengthen unions and labor laws to ensure that LGBTQ workers are properly protected .
`` If you look at other Western European countries , for instance , what you often find is that you have stronger unions with higher membership rates but you also have the unions take part in industry-wide sectoral bargaining ... it is much more geared toward protecting workers and giving them a voice in the workplace which American law really is n't . ''
One of the biggest barriers to preventing the discriminatory firing of LGBTQ workers is at-will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a unionized workforce and executives who tend to have contracts with their employers , at-will employment means that employers can fire a worker without notice and do n't have to provide a clear reason .
Instead , employers are free to provide a nebulous explanation for why they terminated a queer employee .
And although workers can fight back , often it is only the sloppiest employers or those without good human resource departments who are held legally accountable for that discrimination .
`` Unless you 're a member of a union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives just cause , they could just say you 're not a team player .
You 're not a fit , '' Marvit said .
`` So they do n't even necessarily have to give a reason that is related to your work .
People do n't seem to like you or we 're deciding to get rid if you .
There 's no seniority rights in most workplaces unless you 're part of a union so we 're just cutting back and , you know , we decided you 're it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ worker to prove they were fired for their sexuality or gender and not a work-related reason , which can be difficult .
`` [ Title VII cases ] are not easy cases , '' Marvit said .
`` ...
It seems unfair that an employee should have to prove the reasons .
The employer knows why .
They should have to prove the reasons were work-related .
Now if you can prove that 's the reason you got fired , you can receive some monetary relief [ but ] you still wo n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McNicholas , director of government affairs at the Economic Policy Institute , said forced arbitration also makes it so that fewer workers can pursue a class action suit .
Lawyers may not be as eager to take on individual discrimination claims , she said , compared to class actions , which are more cost-effective for them .
In the case Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis , which the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 2018 , the court ruled that arbitration agreements requiring individual arbitration are enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act despite a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that says employees have the right to bargain collectively and work together to protect each other .
`` Whether it 's a discrimination case or a wage theft case , whatever the employment matter is , they can legally be forced into waving the right to go to court to begin with because of forced arbitration , and when they do end up in arbitration , they are there on an individual basis , '' she said .
McNicholas added that she is concerned about the growth of forced arbitration and its effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Policy Institute and Center for Popular Democracy report estimated that by 2024 , more than 80 % of private sector and non-unionized workers will be subject to forced arbitration that bans class actions .
She said political leaders need to work to close loopholes in labor laws that have been exploited to essentially weaken worker protections .
More broadly , if more workers were unionized , they could further protect themselves from discriminatory termination , labor experts say .
The percentage of U.S. wage and salary workers in a union is still fairly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — down by 0.2 percentage point from the year before , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
Nonunion workers had median weekly earnings that were 81 % of unionized workers ' median weekly earnings .
`` Increased unionization would certainly help any worker that Title VII tries to protect , '' Marvit said .
`` It 's easier to vindicate your rights under a contract than it is under the law for many reasons .
You can negotiate protections in the process and workers can decide what kind of protections they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency and a grievance procedure . ''
Additionally , he said , it would be easier to increase unionization if penalties for union-busting were increased , along with other potential reforms that would ease the burden for workers to unionize .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

LGBTQ people were handed a significant legal victory this week.
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court made a historic decision in Bostock v. Clayton County that has huge implications for LGBTQ equality. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court held that the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars employment discrimination based on sex, also prohibits discrimination against LGBT people.
The court explained that when an employer “relies in part on an individual employee’s sex when deciding to discharge the employee,” that is a violation of the law.
That applies to LGBTQ people, the court added. In the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that “an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII.”
Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice at the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, said the ruling will ultimately affect LGBTQ equality on a wider scale “in the context of housing, education, and health care,” calling it a “historic win.”
But the fight for job security and economic equality is far from over.
LGBTQ people still face numerous hurdles in the United States, where unions have significantly less power than in other countries. Employers are also granted the ability to provide little to no reason for firing a worker, and LGBTQ workers still must meet a high bar under Title VII to prove discrimination.
Moshe Marvit, fellow at the Century Foundation, said that although Title VII is stronger than the National Labor Relations Act in terms of its protections and remedies for workers, it’s still fairly weak compared to the labor protections other countries provide. The United States would have to make a number of changes to strengthen unions and labor laws to ensure that LGBTQ workers are properly protected.
“If you look at other Western European countries, for instance, what you often find is that you have stronger unions with higher membership rates but you also have the unions take part in industry-wide sectoral bargaining … it is much more geared toward protecting workers and giving them a voice in the workplace which American law really isn’t.”
One of the biggest barriers to preventing the discriminatory firing of LGBTQ workers is at-will employment. Although there are exceptions, including a unionized workforce and executives who tend to have contracts with their employers, at-will employment means that employers can fire a worker without notice and don’t have to provide a clear reason.
Instead, employers are free to provide a nebulous explanation for why they terminated a queer employee. And although workers can fight back, often it is only the sloppiest employers or those without good human resource departments who are held legally accountable for that discrimination.
“Unless you’re a member of a union and there’s a bargaining agreement that gives just cause, they could just say you’re not a team player. You’re not a fit,” Marvit said. “So they don’t even necessarily have to give a reason that is related to your work. People don’t seem to like you or we’re deciding to get rid if you. There’s no seniority rights in most workplaces unless you’re part of a union so we’re just cutting back and, you know, we decided you’re it.”
The burden is still on the worker to prove they were fired for their sexuality or gender and not a work-related reason, which can be difficult.
“[Title VII cases] are not easy cases,” Marvit said. “… It seems unfair that an employee should have to prove the reasons. The employer knows why. They should have to prove the reasons were work-related. Now if you can prove that’s the reason you got fired, you can receive some monetary relief [but] you still won’t get your job back.”
Celine McNicholas, director of government affairs at the Economic Policy Institute, said forced arbitration also makes it so that fewer workers can pursue a class action suit. Lawyers may not be as eager to take on individual discrimination claims, she said, compared to class actions, which are more cost-effective for them.
In the case Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, which the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 2018, the court ruled that arbitration agreements requiring individual arbitration are enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act despite a provision in the National Labor Relations Act that says employees have the right to bargain collectively and work together to protect each other.
“Whether it’s a discrimination case or a wage theft case, whatever the employment matter is, they can legally be forced into waving the right to go to court to begin with because of forced arbitration, and when they do end up in arbitration, they are there on an individual basis,” she said.
McNicholas added that she is concerned about the growth of forced arbitration and its effects on worker rights. A 2019 Economic Policy Institute and Center for Popular Democracy report estimated that by 2024, more than 80% of private sector and non-unionized workers will be subject to forced arbitration that bans class actions. She said political leaders need to work to close loopholes in labor laws that have been exploited to essentially weaken worker protections.
More broadly, if more workers were unionized, they could further protect themselves from discriminatory termination, labor experts say.
The percentage of U.S. wage and salary workers in a union is still fairly low, at 10.3% in 2019 — down by 0.2 percentage point from the year before, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonunion workers had median weekly earnings that were 81% of unionized workers’ median weekly earnings.
“Increased unionization would certainly help any worker that Title VII tries to protect,” Marvit said. “It’s easier to vindicate your rights under a contract than it is under the law for many reasons. You can negotiate protections in the process and workers can decide what kind of protections they want … It adds a level of transparency and a grievance procedure.”
Additionally, he said, it would be easier to increase unionization if penalties for union-busting were increased, along with other potential reforms that would ease the burden for workers to unionize.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-16--Trump's pals got virus loans as almost half of Black-owned businesses shut down

According to a report released last week , a huge number of the nation 's Black-owned businesses have shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Economic stimulus funds that were intended to keep minority-owned small businesses alive did not get to them in time or at all , leaving their owners with no other options .
Some 440,000 of the country 's roughly 1 million Black-owned companies have closed for good since the start of February , CBS News reported on Friday .
The report noted that the vast majority of those companies that sought emergency relief funding through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — one analysis found that 95 % of black-owned business were excluded .
When Donald Trump signed the $ 6.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act in March , he promised that its $ 350 billion Paycheck Protection Program and other provisions would `` keep our small businesses strong and our big businesses strong .
And that ’ s keeping our country strong and our jobs strong . ''
But the initial funds for forgivable small business loans quickly ran out .
Much of that money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks .
And provisions in the law requiring that women- and minority-owned businesses be prioritized were not adhered to , according to a report issued by the Small Business Administration 's inspector general in May .
Many of the banks tasked with distributing loans under the program instead prioritized big companies with which they had existing business relationships .
Better-connected businesses were able to get much of the cash before it ran out , leaving many less-connected ones — including many Black-owned businesses — out in the cold .
While Congress added another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April , this was of little help to many Black-owned businesses .
According to the Center for Responsible Lending , the program 's structural design advantaged businesses owned by white people over those owned by people of color .
These structural disadvantages , they noted , included a fee structure that `` heavily discourages small loans to smaller businesses and , in particular , non-employer firms . ''
Firms owned by people of color are significantly more likely than white-owned businesses to have few or no employees .
The report also said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have posed further disadvantages for business owners of color , both by making it less likely that they would have the commercial lending relationships necessary to access the PPP program and by discouraging many from applying . ''
And the Small Business Administration failed to provide the guidance needed to implement the program 's provisions on priorities .
As Black-owned businesses were losing out during the initial days of the program , another group saw its loan requests approved : people in Trump 's inner circle .
According to a report published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Action Fund , at least 12 of Trump 's friends and allies received early aid .
These included companies owned by Trump megadonor Monty Bennett , a data firm working for Trump 's 2020 campaign , and a business owned by the wife of his top economic adviser Larry Kudlow .
Trump once called Dan Gilbert , whose companies received a $ 50 million contract to distribute the loans , `` a great friend of mine , a supporter and great guy . ''
Ronald Gidwitz , whose Continental Materials Corp. got $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gave Trump 's campaign at least $ 50,000 .
Hallador Energy , a coal company whose Indiana state lobbyist is Trump ’ s former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt , received a $ 10 million loan .
The Trump administration has touted the growth of minority-owned business on his watch .
Last March , Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Minority Business Development Agency Director Henry Childs published an op-ed in the Hill titled , `` Celebrating the rise of minority-owned businesses . ''
`` This administration has proven that when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flourish , '' they wrote .
`` That work will never cease , and we look forward to the greatness minority businesses will achieve in the years to come . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

According to a report released last week, a huge number of the nation’s Black-owned businesses have shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic stimulus funds that were intended to keep minority-owned small businesses alive did not get to them in time or at all, leaving their owners with no other options.
Some 440,000 of the country’s roughly 1 million Black-owned companies have closed for good since the start of February, CBS News reported on Friday. The report noted that the vast majority of those companies that sought emergency relief funding through the federal Paycheck Protection Program were initially rejected — one analysis found that 95% of black-owned business were excluded.
When Donald Trump signed the $6.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March, he promised that its $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program and other provisions would “keep our small businesses strong and our big businesses strong. And that’s keeping our country strong and our jobs strong.”
But the initial funds for forgivable small business loans quickly ran out. Much of that money actually went to larger companies and to banks. And provisions in the law requiring that women- and minority-owned businesses be prioritized were not adhered to, according to a report issued by the Small Business Administration’s inspector general in May.
Many of the banks tasked with distributing loans under the program instead prioritized big companies with which they had existing business relationships. Better-connected businesses were able to get much of the cash before it ran out, leaving many less-connected ones — including many Black-owned businesses — out in the cold.
While Congress added another $310 billion to the program in April, this was of little help to many Black-owned businesses. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, the program’s structural design advantaged businesses owned by white people over those owned by people of color.
These structural disadvantages, they noted, included a fee structure that “heavily discourages small loans to smaller businesses and, in particular, non-employer firms.” Firms owned by people of color are significantly more likely than white-owned businesses to have few or no employees.
The report also said, “Pre-existing disparities in access to capital have posed further disadvantages for business owners of color, both by making it less likely that they would have the commercial lending relationships necessary to access the PPP program and by discouraging many from applying.”
And the Small Business Administration failed to provide the guidance needed to implement the program’s provisions on priorities.
As Black-owned businesses were losing out during the initial days of the program, another group saw its loan requests approved: people in Trump’s inner circle.
According to a report published in May by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, at least 12 of Trump’s friends and allies received early aid. These included companies owned by Trump megadonor Monty Bennett, a data firm working for Trump’s 2020 campaign, and a business owned by the wife of his top economic adviser Larry Kudlow.
Trump once called Dan Gilbert, whose companies received a $50 million contract to distribute the loans, “a great friend of mine, a supporter and great guy.” Ronald Gidwitz, whose Continental Materials Corp. got $5.4 million in loans through the program, gave Trump’s campaign at least $50,000. Hallador Energy, a coal company whose Indiana state lobbyist is Trump’s former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, received a $10 million loan.
The Trump administration has touted the growth of minority-owned business on his watch.
Last March, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Minority Business Development Agency Director Henry Childs published an op-ed in the Hill titled, “Celebrating the rise of minority-owned businesses.” “This administration has proven that when we put American businesses first, all Americans flourish,” they wrote. “That work will never cease, and we look forward to the greatness minority businesses will achieve in the years to come.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-16--Trump: School choice is 'the civil rights of all time in this country'

On Tuesday , Donald Trump described school choice as `` the civil rights of all time '' in America .
@ @ @ @ @ to rank the education policy backed by conservatives above other major civil rights achievements in @ @ @ @ @ , but are not limited to , the abolition of slavery , the fights for @ @ @ @ @ suffrage , the civil rights movement itself , and victories for LGBTQ equality .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ , when he said the `` result '' of the abolition of slavery under President @ @ @ @ @ . ''
From a June 16 speech at the White House : DONALD TRUMP : @ @ @ @ @ choice , which really is the civil rights of all time in this country , @ @ @ @ @ the civil rights statement of the year .
Published with permission of The American Independent @ @

On Tuesday, Donald Trump described school choice as “the civil rights of all time” in America.
Trump’s declaration would appear to rank the education policy backed by conservatives above other major civil rights achievements in American history.
These include, but are not limited to, the abolition of slavery, the fights for black suffrage and women’s suffrage, the civil rights movement itself, and victories for LGBTQ equality.
Trump made similar remarks last Friday, when he said the “result” of the abolition of slavery under President Abraham Lincoln was “questionable.”
From a June 16 speech at the White House:
DONALD TRUMP: We’re fighting for school choice, which really is the civil rights of all time in this country, frankly, school choice is the civil rights statement of the year.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-16--Fact check: Trump lies about kids being safe from virus in push to reopen schools

Donald Trump may be giving parents a false sense of security when it comes to kids and COVID-19 .
In remarks Monday , Trump expressed a desire to have K-12 schools reopen in the fall in `` full blast '' while minimizing the risk that children and adults who are around them may face from the coronavirus .
TRUMP , on children : `` They 've come out of this at a level that 's really inconceivable .
By the way , the regular flu , other flus , other things , SARS or H1N1 , any of them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were affected like everybody else , but for whatever reason with respect to COVID , the numbers are very , very low . ''
THE FACTS : Although it 's true that children are less likely than adults to develop COVID-19 , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has nevertheless counted more than 86,000 infections by the virus in Americans younger than 18 .
Trump 's statements overlook severe COVID-19 illnesses and some deaths of children in the U.S. , even though kids in general tend to get less sick from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glosses over the fact that kids can spread disease without showing symptoms themselves .
The CDC in April studied the pandemic 's effect on different ages in the U.S. and reviewed preliminary research in China , where the coronavirus started .
It said social distancing is important for children , too , for their own safety and that of others .
`` Whereas most COVID-19 cases in children are not severe , serious COVID-19 illness resulting in hospitalization still occurs in this age group , '' the CDC study says .
Last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on the lookout for a rare but life-threatening inflammatory reaction in some children who 've had the coronavirus .
The condition had been reported in more than 100 children in New York , and in some kids in several other states and in Europe , with some deaths .
The agency has issued guidelines for communities on the reopening of K-12 schools to `` help protect students , teachers , administrators , and staff and slow the spread of COVID-19 . ''
The guidance says `` full sized , in person classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of spreading the virus and advises face masks , increased ventilation in classrooms , regular cleaning , hand hygiene and disinfection as well as `` staying home when appropriate '' to help avert spikes in virus cases .

Donald Trump may be giving parents a false sense of security when it comes to kids and COVID-19.
In remarks Monday, Trump expressed a desire to have K-12 schools reopen in the fall in “full blast” while minimizing the risk that children and adults who are around them may face from the coronavirus.
TRUMP, on children: “They’ve come out of this at a level that’s really inconceivable. By the way, the regular flu, other flus, other things, SARS or H1N1, any of them, if you look at the young people they were affected like everybody else, but for whatever reason with respect to COVID, the numbers are very, very low.”
THE FACTS: Although it’s true that children are less likely than adults to develop COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has nevertheless counted more than 86,000 infections by the virus in Americans younger than 18.
Trump’s statements overlook severe COVID-19 illnesses and some deaths of children in the U.S., even though kids in general tend to get less sick from it than adults do. He also glosses over the fact that kids can spread disease without showing symptoms themselves.
The CDC in April studied the pandemic’s effect on different ages in the U.S. and reviewed preliminary research in China, where the coronavirus started. It said social distancing is important for children, too, for their own safety and that of others.
“Whereas most COVID-19 cases in children are not severe, serious COVID-19 illness resulting in hospitalization still occurs in this age group,” the CDC study says.
Last month, the CDC also warned doctors to be on the lookout for a rare but life-threatening inflammatory reaction in some children who’ve had the coronavirus. The condition had been reported in more than 100 children in New York, and in some kids in several other states and in Europe, with some deaths.
The agency has issued guidelines for communities on the reopening of K-12 schools to “help protect students, teachers, administrators, and staff and slow the spread of COVID-19.” The guidance says “full sized, in person classes” present the “highest risk” of spreading the virus and advises face masks, increased ventilation in classrooms, regular cleaning, hand hygiene and disinfection as well as “staying home when appropriate” to help avert spikes in virus cases.


shareblue--2020-06-16--Trump administration dismisses COVID-19 spikes as nothing to worry about

The Trump administration is trying to convince the nation that the COVID-19 crisis is slowing down , even as cases spike in at least 20 states .
Vice President Mike Pence , who also serves as head of Donald Trump 's coronavirus task force , reportedly urged governors on a Monday conference call to repeat a misleading argument that the reason for the higher numbers of cases was expanded coronavirus testing .
According to the New York Times , Pence told governors to `` continue to explain to your citizens the magnitude of the increase in testing '' as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said they should `` encourage people with the news that we 're safely reopening the country . ''
As he did in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic , Trump has also been downplaying the threat .
On Monday , he told reporters that increased case numbers were the `` downside '' of having so much testing .
`` If you do n't test , you do n't have any cases .
If we stopped testing right now , we 'd have very few cases , if any , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new deaths the previous day from COVID-19 was `` a lot , '' he added , `` Our number is really the low-water mark , and it 's getting better , and it 'll — it 'll end up being gone . ''
On Sunday , Trump 's top economic adviser Larry Kudlow told CNN , `` Although the case rate has increased a bit , we ’ re not talking about a second round here . ''
He added that `` fatality rates continue to be very low and the country has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also argued last week that state spikes must be viewed in a `` nuanced way . ''
`` Like , for instance , Texas is one of the places where they 're saying we 're seeing a steady slope , not a huge rise , '' she said at a press briefing .
`` But part of it 's in — due to the fact that they 're testing in long-term care facilities and in prisons .
And the more testing you do , the more cases you identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data , in 14 or more states , the rate of positive tests is actually growing faster than the rate of daily tests .
As states have eased social distancing requirements , 14 states and Puerto Rico have reported their highest-ever weekly averages of new cases since the start of June .
Many of the cases have come from smaller counties in states with relatively few restrictions .
South Carolina , which reduced social distancing requirements in mid-May , saw a record number of new daily cases last Thursday .
`` We began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after the Memorial Day weekend , '' the state epidemiologist told NPR .
`` We saw lots of activity with large gatherings , no social distancing , very rare use of masks .
So these findings are not unexpected . ''
Dr. Ashish Jha , director of Harvard University 's Global Health Institute , told Columbia College Today this month that the lack of federal guidance remained a huge obstacle to safer reopening .
`` There is no federal response .
The kinds of things we 've been doing are all happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little guidance — and often very contradictory guidance — coming from the federal level , '' he said .
`` What you ideally want is a kind of national blueprint , and then individual states being able to tailor that national doctrine or national guidelines with the help of local CDC officials . ''
`` The federal government just does n't seem interested or willing to do the hard work , '' he added .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Trump administration is trying to convince the nation that the COVID-19 crisis is slowing down, even as cases spike in at least 20 states.
Vice President Mike Pence, who also serves as head of Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force, reportedly urged governors on a Monday conference call to repeat a misleading argument that the reason for the higher numbers of cases was expanded coronavirus testing.
According to the New York Times, Pence told governors to “continue to explain to your citizens the magnitude of the increase in testing” as the reason for the “intermittent” spikes and said they should “encourage people with the news that we’re safely reopening the country.”
As he did in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has also been downplaying the threat.
On Monday, he told reporters that increased case numbers were the “downside” of having so much testing.
“If you don’t test, you don’t have any cases. If we stopped testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any,” he claimed.
After acknowledging that nearly 400 new deaths the previous day from COVID-19 was “a lot,” he added, “Our number is really the low-water mark, and it’s getting better, and it’ll — it’ll end up being gone.”
On Sunday, Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow told CNN, “Although the case rate has increased a bit, we’re not talking about a second round here.” He added that “fatality rates continue to be very low and the country has got to open.”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also argued last week that state spikes must be viewed in a “nuanced way.”
“Like, for instance, Texas is one of the places where they’re saying we’re seeing a steady slope, not a huge rise,” she said at a press briefing. “But part of it’s in — due to the fact that they’re testing in long-term care facilities and in prisons. And the more testing you do, the more cases you identify.”
According to New York Times data, in 14 or more states, the rate of positive tests is actually growing faster than the rate of daily tests.
As states have eased social distancing requirements, 14 states and Puerto Rico have reported their highest-ever weekly averages of new cases since the start of June. Many of the cases have come from smaller counties in states with relatively few restrictions.
South Carolina, which reduced social distancing requirements in mid-May, saw a record number of new daily cases last Thursday.
“We began to see the first increasing trends several days after the Memorial Day weekend,” the state epidemiologist told NPR. “We saw lots of activity with large gatherings, no social distancing, very rare use of masks. So these findings are not unexpected.”
Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard University’s Global Health Institute, told Columbia College Today this month that the lack of federal guidance remained a huge obstacle to safer reopening.
“There is no federal response. The kinds of things we’ve been doing are all happening at the state level, with very little guidance — and often very contradictory guidance — coming from the federal level,” he said. “What you ideally want is a kind of national blueprint, and then individual states being able to tailor that national doctrine or national guidelines with the help of local CDC officials.”
“The federal government just doesn’t seem interested or willing to do the hard work,” he added.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-16--Pro-Trump media outlet finds Biden winning key states by double digits

A poll commissioned by a pro-Trump website found the presumptive Democratic nominee for president in 2020 , Joe Biden , leading Donald Trump by double digits in the critical swing states of Michigan and Florida , providing more evidence that Trump 's reelection campaign is in trouble .
The poll , commissioned by the right-wing website American Greatness and conducted between June 9 and 12 , found Biden up by 13 points in Michigan and 10 points in Florida .
Without those states , Trump has almost no path to reelection , even if he carries all of the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greatness is considered a fringe outlet even by such conservative websites as the Washington Examiner , which compared it unfavorably to the extremist Daily Stormer , saying the `` trash organization '' is n't as honest as the Daily Stormer about its `` neo-Nazi intentions . ''
Trump has complained about polls that show him losing .
His campaign has rejected reputable high-quality polls showing Trump losing to Biden , going as far as to demand CNN retract a national survey that found Biden up by 14 points .
But even conservative outlets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spin the numbers in his favor , with the poll of adults in the two swing states conducted by TIPP for American Greatness the latest from a pro-Trump outlet that found him trailing Biden .
After the CNN poll was released last week , Robert Herring , the CEO of the media company One America News , which runs baseless conspiracy theories in support of Trump , tweeted that his outlet would release a competing poll he said would `` be in favor '' of Trump .
When OAN finally ran the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they showed Trump and Biden tied in Florida , a state Trump carried by 1.2 % in 2016 .
OAN later deleted the poll from its website .
On Monday , a poll commissioned by pro-Trump reporter John Solomon 's website Just The News found Biden leading Trump by 12 points nationally .
Solomon , who has pushed anti-Biden conspiracy theories about Ukraine , commissioned Scott Rasmussen to conduct the poll .
Trump often cites polls in his favor conducted by the firm Rasmussen Reports ; Rasmussen launched that firm but left it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to describe these numbers as anything but bad news for President Trump , '' Scott Rasmussen told Just The News .
`` If the election were held today , he would lose … and lose badly .
The Republican majority in the Senate would certainly be at risk as well . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A poll commissioned by a pro-Trump website found the presumptive Democratic nominee for president in 2020, Joe Biden, leading Donald Trump by double digits in the critical swing states of Michigan and Florida, providing more evidence that Trump’s reelection campaign is in trouble.
The poll, commissioned by the right-wing website American Greatness and conducted between June 9 and 12, found Biden up by 13 points in Michigan and 10 points in Florida. Without those states, Trump has almost no path to reelection, even if he carries all of the other states he won in 2016.
American Greatness is considered a fringe outlet even by such conservative websites as the Washington Examiner, which compared it unfavorably to the extremist Daily Stormer, saying the “trash organization” isn’t as honest as the Daily Stormer about its “neo-Nazi intentions.”
Trump has complained about polls that show him losing. His campaign has rejected reputable high-quality polls showing Trump losing to Biden, going as far as to demand CNN retract a national survey that found Biden up by 14 points.
But even conservative outlets friendly to Trump haven’t been able to spin the numbers in his favor, with the poll of adults in the two swing states conducted by TIPP for American Greatness the latest from a pro-Trump outlet that found him trailing Biden.
After the CNN poll was released last week, Robert Herring, the CEO of the media company One America News, which runs baseless conspiracy theories in support of Trump, tweeted that his outlet would release a competing poll he said would “be in favor” of Trump.
When OAN finally ran the results of the poll days later, they showed Trump and Biden tied in Florida, a state Trump carried by 1.2% in 2016. OAN later deleted the poll from its website.
On Monday, a poll commissioned by pro-Trump reporter John Solomon’s website Just The News found Biden leading Trump by 12 points nationally. Solomon, who has pushed anti-Biden conspiracy theories about Ukraine, commissioned Scott Rasmussen to conduct the poll. Trump often cites polls in his favor conducted by the firm Rasmussen Reports; Rasmussen launched that firm but left it in 2003.
“There is no way to describe these numbers as anything but bad news for President Trump,” Scott Rasmussen told Just The News. “If the election were held today, he would lose … and lose badly. The Republican majority in the Senate would certainly be at risk as well.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-16--Right-wing militia members accused of shooting at protesters in New Mexico

The Albuquerque Police Department and the FBI are investigating members of a right-wing militia who are accused of inciting violence at a protest in New Mexico that called for the removal of a statue of the state 's founder , a tyrannical conquistador known for his cruelty , the department announced early Tuesday morning .
One man was shot at the protest and remains in critical but stable condition , according to the department , which said it is investigating whether the right-wing New Mexico Civil Guard , who showed up to the protest carrying military-style weapons and wearing camouflage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are receiving reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence , '' Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier said in a statement posted to Twitter .
`` If this is true will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law , including federal hate group designation and prosecution '' Sen. Martin Heinrich ( D-NM ) called for an investigation of the right-wing militia group .
`` This is not the first report of heavily armed civilian militias appearing at protests around New Mexico in recent weeks .
These extremists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests or inflict violence , '' Heinrich tweeted early Tuesday morning .
The incident in New Mexico marks the latest instance of right-wing agitators disrupting peaceful protests calling for the end of systemic racism across the country .
Donald Trump and other Republicans have blamed the violence at the protests on antifa — a loosely organized movement of anti-fascist activists .
But multiple media outlets have combed through arrest reports from the protests and have not found any ties to antifa .
But some of those arrested were found to have ties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War .
That includes a group of three right-wing agitators who were arrested in Nevada for allegedly trying to incite violence at a protest .
Video from Monday 's protest in Albuquerque shows police arresting members of the militia and confiscating their weapons after the gunshots were fired .
The shots were fired as protesters tried to pull down a statue of Juan de Oñate , who served as the colonial governor of New Mexico in the 16th century .
Oñate is infamous for his violence and cruelty .
He was ultimately convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanently banished from New Mexico after he killed hundreds of indigenous people in the state and ordered amputations of captives .
Former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro pointed out that the armed right-wing militia members were arrested without incident , while unarmed Black Americans have been killed by police .
`` One of these New Mexico right-wing militia members just shot a person , '' Castro tweeted .
`` Notice how calmly they 're all being detained .
Do n't tell me George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks and Eric Garner — who did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated differently . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Albuquerque Police Department and the FBI are investigating members of a right-wing militia who are accused of inciting violence at a protest in New Mexico that called for the removal of a statue of the state’s founder, a tyrannical conquistador known for his cruelty, the department announced early Tuesday morning.
One man was shot at the protest and remains in critical but stable condition, according to the department, which said it is investigating whether the right-wing New Mexico Civil Guard, who showed up to the protest carrying military-style weapons and wearing camouflage gear, was behind the shooting.
“We are receiving reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence,” Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier said in a statement posted to Twitter. “If this is true will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including federal hate group designation and prosecution”
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) called for an investigation of the right-wing militia group.
“This is not the first report of heavily armed civilian militias appearing at protests around New Mexico in recent weeks. These extremists cannot be allowed to silence peaceful protests or inflict violence,” Heinrich tweeted early Tuesday morning.
The incident in New Mexico marks the latest instance of right-wing agitators disrupting peaceful protests calling for the end of systemic racism across the country.
Donald Trump and other Republicans have blamed the violence at the protests on antifa — a loosely organized movement of anti-fascist activists.
But multiple media outlets have combed through arrest reports from the protests and have not found any ties to antifa. But some of those arrested were found to have ties to right-wing movements seeking the next American Civil War. That includes a group of three right-wing agitators who were arrested in Nevada for allegedly trying to incite violence at a protest.
Video from Monday’s protest in Albuquerque shows police arresting members of the militia and confiscating their weapons after the gunshots were fired.
The shots were fired as protesters tried to pull down a statue of Juan de Oñate, who served as the colonial governor of New Mexico in the 16th century. Oñate is infamous for his violence and cruelty. He was ultimately convicted on charges of excessive violence and was permanently banished from New Mexico after he killed hundreds of indigenous people in the state and ordered amputations of captives.
Former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro pointed out that the armed right-wing militia members were arrested without incident, while unarmed Black Americans have been killed by police.
“One of these New Mexico right-wing militia members just shot a person,” Castro tweeted. “Notice how calmly they’re all being detained. Don’t tell me George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks and Eric Garner — who did not harm anybody — couldn’t be treated differently.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-16--Trump threatens legal action against Bolton if he publishes tell-all book

Donald Trump said Monday that his former national security adviser , John Bolton , could face a `` criminal problem '' if he does n't halt plans to publish a new book that describes scattershot , sometimes dangerous , decision-making focused only on getting reelected .
Trump said it would be up to Attorney General William Barr to issue any charges , but hinted that the matter would end up in court .
`` We 'll see what happens .
They 're in court — or they 'll soon be in court , '' Trump said about the book , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump accused Bolton of not completing a pre-publication review to make sure the book does not contain classified material .
That contradicts statements from Bolton 's attorney , Chuck Cooper , who says his client worked painstakingly for months with classification specialists at the White House National Security Council to make changes to avoid releasing classified material .
Barr echoed Trump 's accusation .
During an event at the White House , the attorney general said administration officials who have access to sensitive information typically sign nondisclosure agreements that require them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can publish something based on information they accessed in the job .
`` We do n't believe that Bolton went through that process — has n't completed the process — and , therefore , is in violation of that agreement , '' Barr said .
The Trump administration is `` trying to get them to complete the process — go through the process — and make the necessary deletions of classified information , '' Barr said .
Bolton 's book , `` The Room Where It Happened : A White House Memoir , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
Its release date was twice delayed and it is now set to be released next week by publisher Simon & Schuster .
`` Bolton covers an array of topics — chaos in the White House , sure , but also assessments of major players , the president 's inconsistent , scattershot decision-making process , and his dealings with allies and enemies alike , from China , Russia , Ukraine , North Korea , Iran , the United Kingdom , France , and Germany , '' according to the publisher .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump decision during my tenure that was n't driven by reelection calculations , '' Bolton writes in the book , according to a news release from the publisher .
In a recent op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal , Cooper accused the White House of using the pre-publication review process as a way to protect the president from embarrassment .
He said he sent Bolton 's manuscript to classification specialist Ellen Knight on Dec. 30 , 2019 .
Knight and Bolton , who was Trump 's national security adviser for 18 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly four months going through the nearly 500-page book multiple times , `` often line by line , '' Cooper said .
In a March 27 letter , Knight thanked Bolton for his efforts to address the classification issues , but said additional edits were required to ensure national security information was protected .
She outlined her concerns in 17 single-spaced pages of typed comments , Cooper said .
He said Bolton worked through that weekend and sent Knight a response the following Monday .
Bolton accepted most of Knight 's suggestions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
In mid-April , after resolving a shorter list of remaining issues , it appeared that the pre-publication review process had been finalized .
Yet when Bolton asked for a letter confirming his book was cleared for publication , Cooper said his client was told his book had prompted `` very delicate '' interactions at the White House and there remained `` some internal process considerations to work through . ''
Knight said she thought the letter might be ready soon , but more than six weeks later , Bolton still has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bolton got a letter from John Eisenberg , Trump 's deputy counsel for national security , who claimed that Bolton 's manuscript still contained classified information and that publishing the book would violate his nondisclosure agreements .
`` This is a transparent attempt to use national security as a pretext to censor Mr. Bolton , in violation of his constitutional right to speak on matters of the utmost public import , '' according to Cooper .
`` This attempt will not succeed , and Mr. Bolton 's book will be published June @ @ @

Donald Trump said Monday that his former national security adviser, John Bolton, could face a “criminal problem” if he doesn’t halt plans to publish a new book that describes scattershot, sometimes dangerous, decision-making focused only on getting reelected.
Trump said it would be up to Attorney General William Barr to issue any charges, but hinted that the matter would end up in court. “We’ll see what happens. They’re in court — or they’ll soon be in court,” Trump said about the book, set to be released early next week.
Trump accused Bolton of not completing a pre-publication review to make sure the book does not contain classified material. That contradicts statements from Bolton’s attorney, Chuck Cooper, who says his client worked painstakingly for months with classification specialists at the White House National Security Council to make changes to avoid releasing classified material.
Barr echoed Trump’s accusation. During an event at the White House, the attorney general said administration officials who have access to sensitive information typically sign nondisclosure agreements that require them to go through a clearance process before they can publish something based on information they accessed in the job.
“We don’t believe that Bolton went through that process — hasn’t completed the process — and, therefore, is in violation of that agreement,” Barr said. The Trump administration is “trying to get them to complete the process — go through the process — and make the necessary deletions of classified information,” Barr said.
Bolton’s book, “The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir,” was supposed to be released in March. Its release date was twice delayed and it is now set to be released next week by publisher Simon & Schuster.
“Bolton covers an array of topics — chaos in the White House, sure, but also assessments of major players, the president’s inconsistent, scattershot decision-making process, and his dealings with allies and enemies alike, from China, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Iran, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany,” according to the publisher.
“I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my tenure that wasn’t driven by reelection calculations,” Bolton writes in the book, according to a news release from the publisher.
In a recent op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Cooper accused the White House of using the pre-publication review process as a way to protect the president from embarrassment.
He said he sent Bolton’s manuscript to classification specialist Ellen Knight on Dec. 30, 2019. Knight and Bolton, who was Trump’s national security adviser for 18 months ending Sept. 10, 2019, spent nearly four months going through the nearly 500-page book multiple times, “often line by line,” Cooper said.
In a March 27 letter, Knight thanked Bolton for his efforts to address the classification issues, but said additional edits were required to ensure national security information was protected. She outlined her concerns in 17 single-spaced pages of typed comments, Cooper said. He said Bolton worked through that weekend and sent Knight a response the following Monday. Bolton accepted most of Knight’s suggestions and proposed alternative solutions to others, Cooper said.
In mid-April, after resolving a shorter list of remaining issues, it appeared that the pre-publication review process had been finalized. Yet when Bolton asked for a letter confirming his book was cleared for publication, Cooper said his client was told his book had prompted “very delicate” interactions at the White House and there remained “some internal process considerations to work through.”
Knight said she thought the letter might be ready soon, but more than six weeks later, Bolton still hasn’t received it. On June 8, Bolton got a letter from John Eisenberg, Trump’s deputy counsel for national security, who claimed that Bolton’s manuscript still contained classified information and that publishing the book would violate his nondisclosure agreements.
“This is a transparent attempt to use national security as a pretext to censor Mr. Bolton, in violation of his constitutional right to speak on matters of the utmost public import,” according to Cooper. “This attempt will not succeed, and Mr. Bolton’s book will be published June 23.”


shareblue--2020-06-17--GOP candidate donated hundreds of thousands to anti-LGBTQ hate group

The Republican candidate in Montana 's 2020 governor race has donated more than $ 280,000 to an anti-LGBTQ hate group through his family foundation , according to recent financial disclosures .
The tax-exempt organization that received those funds was on the losing side of this week 's landmark Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ worker rights .
Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte was one of a small number of Republican lawmakers to denounce Monday 's 6-3 Supreme Court ruling that the sex-discrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act protect LGBTQ people against employment discrimination .
`` Greg believes discrimination is wrong , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] Alito is correct that the court legislated from the bench , '' a Gianforte spokesperson told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle .
`` That said , Greg recognizes the court 's decision as the law of the land . ''
But Gianforte also helped bankroll the Alliance Defending Freedom , the Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group that unsuccessfully argued for the right of a Michigan funeral home to discriminate in the R.G .
& G.R .
Harris Funeral Homes v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission case .
According to annual financial disclosures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tax-exempt Gianforte Family Charitable Trust .
His wife and son are the others .
Since 2008 , the family foundation has donated at least $ 283,500 to the Alliance Defending Freedom and more than $ 1 million total to anti-LGBTQ organizations .
Gianforte has a record of opposing LGBTQ equality .
In 2014 , he opposed a proposed non-discrimination ordinance — local laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment or housing — claiming `` homosexual advocates try to argue that businesses are leery of locating in towns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I believe the opposite is truer . ''
He also reportedly worked with ADF to weaken that proposal with a religious exemption .
As a member of Congress , Gianforte earned a 0 score from the Human Rights Campaign , indicating that he voted against LGBTQ rights at every opportunity .
The Alliance Defending Freedom has a long history of working to oppose LGBTQ rights .
The group , which once said it hopes to return America to the `` robust Christendomic theology of the 3rd , 4th , and 5th centuries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls the `` homosexual legal agenda . ''
It has fought against same-sex marriage , LGBTQ people serving openly in the military , and gay and lesbian people adopting kids .
One of its lawyers told a group of students in 2014 that those who refuse to serve gay clients are modern-day heroes , like Rosa Parks .
Last month , Gianforte boasted of receiving an endorsement from another anti-LGBTQ hate group .
`` I 'm thankful for the support of Family Research Council Action and all the work they do to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and freedom ! ''
he wrote on Facebook , alongside a quote from the group 's president Tony Perkins , calling Gianforte `` the leader that Montana needs . ''
According the Southern Poverty Law Center , the Family Research Council makes `` claims about the LGBT community based on discredited research and junk science . ''
The group `` believes that homosexual conduct is harmful to the persons who engage in it and to society at large , and can never be affirmed .
It is by definition unnatural , and as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychological health effects , '' its website notes .
`` We oppose the vigorous efforts of homosexual activists to demand that homosexuality be accepted as equivalent to heterosexuality in law , in the media , and in schools . ''
A Gianforte spokesman did not respond to an inquiry for this story .
Matt Fidel , deputy communications director for the Montana Democratic Party said in a statement Tuesday , `` Yesterday 's Supreme Court decision is a huge blow to Greg Gianforte and his radical , anti-LGBTQ+ social agenda .
In light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest with Montanans about his role helping to lead and bankroll the fight against LGBTQ+ rights in Montana . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Republican candidate in Montana’s 2020 governor race has donated more than $280,000 to an anti-LGBTQ hate group through his family foundation, according to recent financial disclosures.
The tax-exempt organization that received those funds was on the losing side of this week’s landmark Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ worker rights.
Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte was one of a small number of Republican lawmakers to denounce Monday’s 6-3 Supreme Court ruling that the sex-discrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act protect LGBTQ people against employment discrimination.
“Greg believes discrimination is wrong, and he also believes Justice [Samuel] Alito is correct that the court legislated from the bench,” a Gianforte spokesperson told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. “That said, Greg recognizes the court’s decision as the law of the land.”
Alito dissented in the case.
But Gianforte also helped bankroll the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group that unsuccessfully argued for the right of a Michigan funeral home to discriminate in the R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission case.
According to annual financial disclosures, Gianforte is one of three trustees for the tax-exempt Gianforte Family Charitable Trust. His wife and son are the others. Since 2008, the family foundation has donated at least $283,500 to the Alliance Defending Freedom and more than $1 million total to anti-LGBTQ organizations.
Gianforte has a record of opposing LGBTQ equality. In 2014, he opposed a proposed non-discrimination ordinance — local laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment or housing — claiming “homosexual advocates try to argue that businesses are leery of locating in towns that aren’t friendly to homosexuals. I believe the opposite is truer.”
He also reportedly worked with ADF to weaken that proposal with a religious exemption.
As a member of Congress, Gianforte earned a 0 score from the Human Rights Campaign, indicating that he voted against LGBTQ rights at every opportunity.
The Alliance Defending Freedom has a long history of working to oppose LGBTQ rights. The group, which once said it hopes to return America to the “robust Christendomic theology of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th centuries,” has worked to oppose what it calls the “homosexual legal agenda.”
It has fought against same-sex marriage, LGBTQ people serving openly in the military, and gay and lesbian people adopting kids. One of its lawyers told a group of students in 2014 that those who refuse to serve gay clients are modern-day heroes, like Rosa Parks.
Last month, Gianforte boasted of receiving an endorsement from another anti-LGBTQ hate group. “I’m thankful for the support of Family Research Council Action and all the work they do to protect our values of faith, family, and freedom!” he wrote on Facebook, alongside a quote from the group’s president Tony Perkins, calling Gianforte “the leader that Montana needs.”
According the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Family Research Council makes “claims about the LGBT community based on discredited research and junk science.”
The group “believes that homosexual conduct is harmful to the persons who engage in it and to society at large, and can never be affirmed. It is by definition unnatural, and as such is associated with negative physical and psychological health effects,” its website notes. “We oppose the vigorous efforts of homosexual activists to demand that homosexuality be accepted as equivalent to heterosexuality in law, in the media, and in schools.”
A Gianforte spokesman did not respond to an inquiry for this story.
Matt Fidel, deputy communications director for the Montana Democratic Party said in a statement Tuesday, “Yesterday’s Supreme Court decision is a huge blow to Greg Gianforte and his radical, anti-LGBTQ+ social agenda. In light of the ruling, Gianforte should be honest with Montanans about his role helping to lead and bankroll the fight against LGBTQ+ rights in Montana.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.