shareblue--2020-10-25--Here's how to track your mail-in ballot in each state

The expansion of voting by mail this year as part of states ' efforts to make the election process safer during the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to early voting records being shattered across the country .
As of late last week , over 21 million votes had already been cast in the 2020 election .
Elections experts say that voting by mail is just as secure as voting in person , refuting baseless attacks on the process by Republicans from Donald Trump on down .
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , who has been accused of helping Trump undermine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the run-up to the election , claimed during a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in August that the agency is `` fully capable and committed to delivering the nation 's election mail securely and on time . ''
Below is a guide to how you can check your voter registration and the status of your mailed ballots based on where you live .
The sites require your full name and date of birth , with the additional information required depending on the state .
In most states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be received by election officials is Election Day , Tuesday , Nov. 3 .
A number of states have deadlines a few days later .
Confirm your registration status , ballot status , polling location , and address on the official state Alabama Votes site .
The site notes : `` An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election and received by the Absentee Election Manager no later than noon on election day . ''
Check your voter registration status , polling place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status through the website of the state 's Division of Elections .
Ballots must be postmarked on or by Election Day and received by election officials by Nov. 13 .
Check the status of your mail ballot through the online Arizona Voter Information Portal .
Ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day .
Confirm your address , party association , ballot status , and polling place location via the Arkansas Elections Division website .
Mail ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day .
Check your voter status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state .
Track your mail ballot , including when it 's mailed , received , and counted , through the Where 's My Ballot ?
portal .
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 20 .
Manage your voter registration via the Go Vote Colorado website .
Track the status of your mail ballot , from mailed to accepted , through Colorado 's BallotTrax site .
Your ballots are due by 7 p.m. on Election Day .
Check your registration status and track your absentee ballot via the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day .
Review your registration , request an absentee ballot , or check the status of your absentee ballot through the state 's Department of Elections .
Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 .
Check your voter registration , voting status , polling place , sample ballot , and vote-by-mail ballot status via the Department of State 's website .
Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day .
Check your voter registration status , mail-in application status , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting locations , and provisional ballot status via the secretary of state 's My Voter Page .
Ballots are due by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 .
View your registration and ballot status , and check your mailing address via the state Office of Elections website .
Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 .
Search for your polling location , voter record , and track your absentee ballot status through the website of the secretary of state 's office .
Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state Board of Elections website .
Track your ballot by contacting your local election authority by phone or email .
Ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 17 .
Check voter registration and track your ballot status on the secretary of state 's Voter Portal .
Ballots must be received by noon on Election Day .
Track your absentee ballot through the secretary of state 's website .
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2 and received no later than noon on Nov. 9 .
Confirm your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and polling place location through the secretary of state 's VoterView site .
Ballots must be postmarked by close of business on Nov. 3 and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6 .
Check your voter registration and absentee ballot status through the state 's board of elections .
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 6 p.m. on Nov. 6 .
Track the status of your absentee ballot through the secretary of state 's Geaux Vote portal .
Ballots must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
Track the status of your absentee ballot via the secretary of state 's website .
Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Review your voter registration record , request a duplicate voter registration card , find out where to vote , and see the status of your mail-in or provisional ballot via the Maryland State Board of Elections website .
Ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by 10 a.m. on Nov. 13 .
Track your mail-in ballot via the website of the secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 6 .
View your registration status , polling place , and track your absentee ballot through the Michigan Voter Information Center website .
Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day .
Track the status of your absentee or mail ballot via the secretary of state 's website .
Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received no later than Nov. 10 .
The state does not offer ballot status tracking , but you can contact your county to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10 .
Although the state does not offer ballot status tracking , you can contact your county to verify the status of your ballot .
The city of St. Louis offers ballot tracking via its Board of Election Commissioners .
Ballots are due by 7 p.m. on Election Day .
Check if you are registered to vote , your polling location , and the status of your mailed ballot via the secretary of state .
Ballots must be received in your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. on Nov. 3 .
Confirm your address , party association , ballot status , and polling place location on the state 's Voter Information Lookup website .
Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. CST/7 p.m. MST on Election Day .
Track the status of your mail-in ballot , from printed to accepted , through BallotTrax .
Verify your voter registration information , request an absentee ballot , and find a polling location through the secretary of state 's website .
Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received no later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your absentee ballot via the secretary of state 's website .
Ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 3 .
Track the progress of your ballot through the secretary of state 's voter information portal .
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 10 .
View your voter registration information , voting locations , your absentee application , and ballot status via the secretary of state 's voter services website .
Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day .
Military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status of their ballots through the state 's board of elections .
All other voters should contact their local or county board of elections .
New York City voters can track their absentee ballots via the city board of elections ' ballot tracker .
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3. and received by the board of elections by Nov. 10 .
Get voter information through the state board of elections website .
Track the status of your mail-in ballot , from printed to accepted , through BallotTrax .
Your ballot must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day or postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6 .
Track the status of your absentee ballot via the secretary of state 's tracker .
Your ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by the county canvassing board by Nov. 9 .
Track your ballot by county through the secretary of state 's voter toolkit webpage .
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by the board of elections by Nov. 13 .
Track your ballot through the state 's voter portal on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 .
Check your voter registration or track your ballot through the secretary of state 's My Vote portal .
Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 .
Check your election ballot status via the Department of State 's website .
Your ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6 .
Update your voter information , check your polling location , and track your mail ballot status through the secretary of state 's voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 .
Track your absentee ballot status via the states ' elections commission .
Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day .
See your absentee ballot status through the secretary of state 's website .
Your ballots must be received on or before Nov. 3 .
Check your voter registration and track your absentee ballot status via the secretary of state 's website .
Your county election commission must receive your ballot by the time polls close on Nov. 3 , which varies by county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as U.S. citizens living overseas , can track their ballots via the secretary of state 's ballot tracker .
Other voters can verify the status of their ballots via their county 's elections administrator .
Ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 4 .
Track your mail ballot via the state 's Vote.Utah.gov website .
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by Nov. 17 .
Check your voter registration , poll location , absentee ballot status , mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of state 's My Voter Page .
Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 .
View your voter registration , polling place , and absentee ballot status on the Citizen Portal provided by the state 's department of elections .
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received in your local registrar by noon on Nov. 6 .
Track your ballot through the VoteWa.gov website .
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 23 .
Track your ballot status via the district 's board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 13 .
Track your absentee ballot status via the secretary of state .
Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received in the county clerk ’ s office by Nov. 9 .
Check your voter record and track your absentee ballot through the state 's My Voter Info site .
Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day .
Although the state does not offer ballot status tracking , you can contact your county clerk for information on the status of your ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state ballot tracker .
Ballots must be received in the county clerk 's office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 .

The expansion of voting by mail this year as part of states’ efforts to make the election process safer during the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to early voting records being shattered across the country. As of late last week, over 21 million votes had already been cast in the 2020 election.
Elections experts say that voting by mail is just as secure as voting in person, refuting baseless attacks on the process by Republicans from Donald Trump on down. U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has been accused of helping Trump undermine the operations of the U.S. Postal Service in the run-up to the election, claimed during a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in August that the agency is “fully capable and committed to delivering the nation’s election mail securely and on time.”
Below is a guide to how you can check your voter registration and the status of your mailed ballots based on where you live. The sites require your full name and date of birth, with the additional information required depending on the state.
In most states, the deadline for mail-in ballots to be received by election officials is Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. A number of states have deadlines a few days later.
Alabama
Confirm your registration status, ballot status, polling location, and address on the official state Alabama Votes site. The site notes: “An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election and received by the Absentee Election Manager no later than noon on election day.”
Alaska
Check your voter registration status, polling place location, absentee application, and ballot status through the website of the state’s Division of Elections. Absentee ballots must be postmarked on or by Election Day and received by election officials by Nov. 13. Any ballots sent from overseas outside of the U.S. must be received by Nov. 18.
Arizona
Check the status of your mail ballot through the online Arizona Voter Information Portal. Ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Arkansas
Confirm your address, party association, ballot status, and polling place location via the Arkansas Elections Division website. Mail ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
California
Check your voter status through the website of the California secretary of state. Track your mail ballot, including when it’s mailed, received, and counted, through the Where’s My Ballot? portal. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 20.
Colorado
Manage your voter registration via the Go Vote Colorado website. Track the status of your mail ballot, from mailed to accepted, through Colorado’s BallotTrax site. Your ballots are due by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Connecticut
Check your registration status and track your absentee ballot via the secretary of state’s website. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Delaware
Review your registration, request an absentee ballot, or check the status of your absentee ballot through the state’s Department of Elections. Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Florida
Check your voter registration, voting status, polling place, sample ballot, and vote-by-mail ballot status via the Department of State’s website. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Georgia
Check your voter registration status, mail-in application status, ballot status, poll location, early voting locations, and provisional ballot status via the secretary of state’s My Voter Page. Ballots are due by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Hawaii
View your registration and ballot status, and check your mailing address via the state Office of Elections website. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Idaho
Search for your polling location, voter record, and track your absentee ballot status through the website of the secretary of state’s office. Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Illinois
Check your registration status on the state Board of Elections website. Track your ballot by contacting your local election authority by phone or email. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 17.
Indiana
Check voter registration and track your ballot status on the secretary of state’s Voter Portal. Ballots must be received by noon on Election Day.
Iowa
Track your absentee ballot through the secretary of state’s website. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2 and received no later than noon on Nov. 9.
Kansas
Confirm your address, party association, ballot status, and polling place location through the secretary of state’s VoterView site. Ballots must be postmarked by close of business on Nov. 3 and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6.
Kentucky
Check your voter registration and absentee ballot status through the state’s board of elections. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 6 p.m. on Nov. 6.
Louisiana
Track the status of your absentee ballot through the secretary of state’s Geaux Vote portal. Ballots must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 2, the earliest deadline of all the states.
Maine
Track the status of your absentee ballot via the secretary of state’s website. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Maryland
Review your voter registration record, request a duplicate voter registration card, find out where to vote, and see the status of your mail-in or provisional ballot via the Maryland State Board of Elections website. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by 10 a.m. on Nov. 13.
Massachusetts
Track your mail-in ballot via the website of the secretary of the commonwealth. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 6.
Michigan
View your registration status, polling place, and track your absentee ballot through the Michigan Voter Information Center website. Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Minnesota
Track the status of your absentee or mail ballot via the secretary of state’s website. Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received no later than Nov. 10.
Mississippi
The state does not offer ballot status tracking, but you can contact your county to make sure they received your ballot. Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10.
Missouri
Although the state does not offer ballot status tracking, you can contact your county to verify the status of your ballot. The city of St. Louis offers ballot tracking via its Board of Election Commissioners. Ballots are due by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Montana
Check if you are registered to vote, your polling location, and the status of your mailed ballot via the secretary of state. Ballots must be received in your election office or polling place by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Nebraska
Confirm your address, party association, ballot status, and polling place location on the state’s Voter Information Lookup website. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. CST/7 p.m. MST on Election Day.
Nevada
Track the status of your mail-in ballot, from printed to accepted, through BallotTrax. Verify your voter registration information, request an absentee ballot, and find a polling location through the secretary of state’s website. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received no later than Nov. 10.
New Hampshire
Track the status of your absentee ballot via the secretary of state’s website. Ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 3.
New Jersey
Track the progress of your ballot through the secretary of state’s voter information portal. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 10.
New Mexico
View your voter registration information, voting locations, your absentee application, and ballot status via the secretary of state’s voter services website. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
New York
Military and overseas absentee ballot voters can track the status of their ballots through the state’s board of elections. All other voters should contact their local or county board of elections. New York City voters can track their absentee ballots via the city board of elections’ ballot tracker. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3. and received by the board of elections by Nov. 10.
North Carolina
Get voter information through the state board of elections website. Track the status of your mail-in ballot, from printed to accepted, through BallotTrax. Your ballot must be received by 5 p.m. on Election Day or postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6.
North Dakota
Track the status of your absentee ballot via the secretary of state’s tracker. Your ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by the county canvassing board by Nov. 9.
Ohio
Track your ballot by county through the secretary of state’s voter toolkit webpage. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by the board of elections by Nov. 13.
Oklahoma
Track your ballot through the state’s voter portal on the Oklahoma State Election Board website. Your ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Oregon
Check your voter registration or track your ballot through the secretary of state’s My Vote portal. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Pennsylvania
Check your election ballot status via the Department of State’s website. Your ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6.
Rhode Island
Update your voter information, check your polling location, and track your mail ballot status through the secretary of state’s voter information website. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
South Carolina
Track your absentee ballot status via the states’ elections commission. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
South Dakota
See your absentee ballot status through the secretary of state’s website. Your ballots must be received on or before Nov. 3.
Tennessee
Check your voter registration and track your absentee ballot status via the secretary of state’s website. Your county election commission must receive your ballot by the time polls close on Nov. 3, which varies by county.
Texas
Military members and their families, as well as U.S. citizens living overseas, can track their ballots via the secretary of state’s ballot tracker. Other voters can verify the status of their ballots via their county’s elections administrator. Ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 4.
Utah
Track your mail ballot via the state’s Vote.Utah.gov website. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by Nov. 17.
Vermont
Check your voter registration, poll location, absentee ballot status, mail-in application, and ballot status on the secretary of state’s My Voter Page. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Virginia
View your voter registration, polling place, and absentee ballot status on the Citizen Portal provided by the state’s department of elections. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received in your local registrar by noon on Nov. 6.
Washington
Track your ballot through the VoteWa.gov website. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 23.
Washington, D.C.
Track your ballot status via the district’s board of elections. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 13.
West Virginia
Track your absentee ballot status via the secretary of state. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received in the county clerk’s office by Nov. 9.
Wisconsin
Check your voter record and track your absentee ballot through the state’s My Voter Info site. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Wyoming
Although the state does not offer ballot status tracking, you can contact your county clerk for information on the status of your ballot or verify voter information via the secretary of state ballot tracker. Ballots must be received in the county clerk’s office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.


shareblue--2020-10-25--White House to host Halloween trick or treating despite COVID outbreak

Ghosts , goblins and other costumed kids are welcome to trick or treat at the White House on Sunday during a Halloween event that has been rejiggered to include coronavirus precautions .
The gates to the South Lawn will be opened to children from military families , frontline workers , and others , from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. , Melania Trump announced Friday .
Extra precautions have been added to the spooky celebration .
Donald Trump and the first lady — both recently recovered from COVID-19 , the disease brought on by the coronavirus — will welcome guests at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a week ago , on Oct. 20 , the first lady 's chief of staff announced she had canceled planned campaign appearances due to a `` lingering cough '' from COVID-19 .
Trump himself has repeatedly bragged that he was cured of the virus after a multi-day stint at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center earlier in the month .
( There is no cure for coronavirus currently . )
Guests older than 2 are required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing at the White House event .
The same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event , while any staff handing out candy will also wear gloves .
Hand sanitizer will be available along the route and social distancing measures will be in place .
NASA will display space-related items , including an inflatable rocket .
Costumed-clad kids can wave to the Agriculture Department 's Smokey Bear and pick up Junior Ranger badges from the Interior Department 's station .
The Education and Labor departments will offer photo opportunities , and the Transportation department will provide paper airplanes for children to take home .
The South Portico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with bright-colored leaves in various shades of autumn , chrysanthemums and pumpkins .

Ghosts, goblins and other costumed kids are welcome to trick or treat at the White House on Sunday during a Halloween event that has been rejiggered to include coronavirus precautions.
The gates to the South Lawn will be opened to children from military families, frontline workers, and others, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Melania Trump announced Friday.
Extra precautions have been added to the spooky celebration.
Donald Trump and the first lady — both recently recovered from COVID-19, the disease brought on by the coronavirus — will welcome guests at some point during the event.
Less that a week ago, on Oct. 20, the first lady’s chief of staff announced she had canceled planned campaign appearances due to a “lingering cough” from COVID-19.
Trump himself has repeatedly bragged that he was cured of the virus after a multi-day stint at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center earlier in the month. (There is no cure for coronavirus currently.)
Guests older than 2 are required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing at the White House event. The same goes for all White House personnel working the event, while any staff handing out candy will also wear gloves.
Hand sanitizer will be available along the route and social distancing measures will be in place.
Participating federal departments will use a “no-touch” approach.
NASA will display space-related items, including an inflatable rocket. Costumed-clad kids can wave to the Agriculture Department’s Smokey Bear and pick up Junior Ranger badges from the Interior Department’s station.
The Education and Labor departments will offer photo opportunities, and the Transportation department will provide paper airplanes for children to take home.
The South Portico of the White House will be decorated with bright-colored leaves in various shades of autumn, chrysanthemums and pumpkins.
With additional reporting from Melanie Schmitz.


shareblue--2020-10-26--Trump joins international coalition to oppose health care for women

The Trump administration continues to curry favor with antiabortion activists and lawmakers .
This time , it 's on an international scale .
The administration just signed onto the Geneva Consensus , which the administration describes as `` promoting women 's health and strengthening the family . ''
That 's not the case .
The Geneva Consensus is a `` consensus '' of only six sponsor countries : Brazil , Egypt , Hungary , Indonesia , Uganda , and the United States .
What all of those countries have in common is that they are staunchly antiabortion .
All but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage .
An additional 26 countries are signatories , including Poland , where the country 's highest court just banned nearly all abortions .
The declaration exists mostly to push back against the United Nations ' Universal Declaration of Human Rights .
In 2018 , the UN 's Human Rights Committee issued a detailed `` General Comment on the Right to Life , '' which said that abortion is a human right .
The UN made that statement in the context of a broad interpretation of the right to life , saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to abortion that jeopardize women 's lives , subjects them to physical or mental pain , or interferes with their privacy .
The comment also stated that countries should not regulate abortions to force people to seek unsafe abortions .
Finally , it said that everyone , including minors , should have access to `` quality and evidence-based information and education about sexual and reproductive health and to a wide range of affordable contraceptive methods . ''
Additionally , the comment called for states to abolish the death penalty , to better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to strictly regulate government use of so-called `` less lethal '' weapons , among other things .
The document runs 24 pages , with 281 footnotes citing past comments and the official observations of dozens of countries .
By contrast , the Geneva Consensus is a single page saying that `` in no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning '' and that changes to abortion law can only be determined `` according to the national legislative process . ''
The agreement commits to enabling women `` to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant '' yet provides no context as to how that should happen , save for not having an abortion .
It praises mothers and children , saying they are `` entitled to special care and assistance '' but offers no way in which that should occur .
It calls for `` development gains for women , including sexual and reproductive health , '' but it must not include abortion .
It 's part of a long-term plan helmed by Secretary of State Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Azar to create a `` pro-life , pro-family , pro-sovereignty coalition that is a force to be reckoned with . ''
The coalition , though , contains countries like Uganda , where the government has threatened to impose the death penalty on gay people .
The Trump administration has taken other steps to impose a conservative , antiabortion view on the rest of the world .
In 2017 , the administration expanded the global gag rule , which bars U.S. aid to any foreign organization that provides abortions or discusses abortion services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reproductive health organizations .
A clinic that used to receive assistance for HIV education or malaria prevention loses all funding under the global gag rule if it merely gives out information about abortion care .
The global gag rule , far from restricting abortion or increasing health and opportunities for women , has instead resulted in a massive uptick in the number of people seeking abortions — a 40 % increase .
In part , that 's because many of the groups that lost funding under the rule also provided additional reproductive health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 Lancet study looked at several countries where organizations lost funding under the rule .
They found a 14 % decrease in the use of contraception and a 12 % increase in pregnancies .
Another Lancet study in 2020 found the global gag rule led to a decreased discussion of sexual and reproductive health rights , reduced access to contraception , increases in unintended pregnancies , and a greater number of unsafe abortions .
The gag rule also undermines the overall health care structure in affected countries .
A review of over 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated with poor impacts on health systems ' function and outcomes . ''
In signing the Geneva Consensus , the administration gave lip service to the idea it would ensure equal opportunities for women and `` improve and secure access to health and development gains for women , including sexual and reproductive health . ''
The hardline antiabortion stance that underpins it , however , has already been proven to be very dangerous for women 's health .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Trump administration continues to curry favor with antiabortion activists and lawmakers. This time, it’s on an international scale.
The administration just signed onto the Geneva Consensus, which the administration describes as “promoting women’s health and strengthening the family.” That’s not the case.
The Geneva Consensus is a “consensus” of only six sponsor countries: Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Uganda, and the United States. What all of those countries have in common is that they are staunchly antiabortion. All but the United States and Brazil ban same-sex marriage. An additional 26 countries are signatories, including Poland, where the country’s highest court just banned nearly all abortions.
The declaration exists mostly to push back against the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In 2018, the UN’s Human Rights Committee issued a detailed “General Comment on the Right to Life,” which said that abortion is a human right. The UN made that statement in the context of a broad interpretation of the right to life, saying that countries should not place restrictions on the right to abortion that jeopardize women’s lives, subjects them to physical or mental pain, or interferes with their privacy.
The comment also stated that countries should not regulate abortions to force people to seek unsafe abortions. Finally, it said that everyone, including minors, should have access to “quality and evidence-based information and education about sexual and reproductive health and to a wide range of affordable contraceptive methods.”
Additionally, the comment called for states to abolish the death penalty, to better care for those who are imprisoned, and to strictly regulate government use of so-called “less lethal” weapons, among other things. The document runs 24 pages, with 281 footnotes citing past comments and the official observations of dozens of countries.
By contrast, the Geneva Consensus is a single page saying that “in no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning” and that changes to abortion law can only be determined “according to the national legislative process.”
The agreement commits to enabling women “to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant” yet provides no context as to how that should happen, save for not having an abortion. It praises mothers and children, saying they are “entitled to special care and assistance” but offers no way in which that should occur. It calls for “development gains for women, including sexual and reproductive health,” but it must not include abortion.
It’s part of a long-term plan helmed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to create a “pro-life, pro-family, pro-sovereignty coalition that is a force to be reckoned with.” The coalition, though, contains countries like Uganda, where the government has threatened to impose the death penalty on gay people.
The Trump administration has taken other steps to impose a conservative, antiabortion view on the rest of the world. In 2017, the administration expanded the global gag rule, which bars U.S. aid to any foreign organization that provides abortions or discusses abortion services. That doesn’t just mean defunding reproductive health organizations. A clinic that used to receive assistance for HIV education or malaria prevention loses all funding under the global gag rule if it merely gives out information about abortion care.
The global gag rule, far from restricting abortion or increasing health and opportunities for women, has instead resulted in a massive uptick in the number of people seeking abortions — a 40% increase. In part, that’s because many of the groups that lost funding under the rule also provided additional reproductive health services, like birth control.
A 2019 Lancet study looked at several countries where organizations lost funding under the rule. They found a 14% decrease in the use of contraception and a 12% increase in pregnancies. Another Lancet study in 2020 found the global gag rule led to a decreased discussion of sexual and reproductive health rights, reduced access to contraception, increases in unintended pregnancies, and a greater number of unsafe abortions.
The gag rule also undermines the overall health care structure in affected countries. A review of over 40 studies found that it was “consistently associated with poor impacts on health systems’ function and outcomes.”
In signing the Geneva Consensus, the administration gave lip service to the idea it would ensure equal opportunities for women and “improve and secure access to health and development gains for women, including sexual and reproductive health.” The hardline antiabortion stance that underpins it, however, has already been proven to be very dangerous for women’s health.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-26--This cop made a bigoted video calling for murder — and he still has a job

A police officer in New York 's Hudson Valley was allowed to keep his job after he recorded a rap video in which he said `` there 's only two genders . ''
In June , Rob Sisco , a police officer in New Paltz , New York , recorded a rap video in which he expressed his support for Donald Trump and called to `` hang '' former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton `` for treason . ''
`` There 's only two genders and Trump 's still your president .
Boys have a penis and girls have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video , which was obtained by the Hudson Valley Post .
Sisco 's rap continued : `` Hillary is Killary .
We all know the reason .
Where those emails at ?
We should hang her for treason . ''
Sisco wore his police uniform in the video .
In June , the Newburgh LGBTQ Center in the Hudson Valley shared a petition that called the video `` degrading '' to the transgender community , and called for Sisco 's termination .
More than 2,100 people signed the LGBTQ center 's petition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling for Sisco to be `` returned to full duty . ''
After his video went viral , Sisco was suspended from his job for 30 days , but was allowed to return to work afterward , when his case was being decided .
An arbitrator said the video did not constitute a fireable offense , the Hudson Valley Post reported last week .
While he was allowed to keep his job , Sisco will have to serve a second , longer suspension , and will be `` on probation '' for four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town 's supervisor , called the deal a `` last-chance agreement '' with Sisco .
As part of his probation agreement , any repeat offenses in the next four years will result in Sisco 's termination from the New Paltz Police Department , the outlet reported .
Sisco has also agreed to give a public apology for his offensive video , and has agreed to perform 20 hours of community service that will be overseen by local LGBTQ leaders .
This year has seen a `` horrific spike '' in violent acts committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At least 33 transgender or nonconforming people have been killed in 2020 , according to the Human Rights Campaign .
Black and Latinx transgender women make up the majority of these violent deaths .
Many transgender people have had negative interactions with police , according to a 2015 report from the National Center for Transgender Equality .
Such experiences can lead to transgender people to be wary of going to the police for help .

A police officer in New York’s Hudson Valley was allowed to keep his job after he recorded a rap video in which he said “there’s only two genders.”
In June, Rob Sisco, a police officer in New Paltz, New York, recorded a rap video in which he expressed his support for Donald Trump and called to “hang” former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “for treason.”
“There’s only two genders and Trump’s still your president. Boys have a penis and girls have a vagina,” Sisco rapped in the video, which was obtained by the Hudson Valley Post.
Sisco’s rap continued: “Hillary is Killary. We all know the reason. Where those emails at? We should hang her for treason.”
Sisco wore his police uniform in the video.
In June, the Newburgh LGBTQ Center in the Hudson Valley shared a petition that called the video “degrading” to the transgender community, and called for Sisco’s termination. More than 2,100 people signed the LGBTQ center’s petition, while 3,100 people signed a separate petition calling for Sisco to be “returned to full duty.”
After his video went viral, Sisco was suspended from his job for 30 days, but was allowed to return to work afterward, when his case was being decided.
An arbitrator said the video did not constitute a fireable offense, the Hudson Valley Post reported last week.
While he was allowed to keep his job, Sisco will have to serve a second, longer suspension, and will be “on probation” for four years afterward. Neil Bettez, the town’s supervisor, called the deal a “last-chance agreement” with Sisco.
Sisco began serving a 90-day suspension without pay on Oct. 25.
As part of his probation agreement, any repeat offenses in the next four years will result in Sisco’s termination from the New Paltz Police Department, the outlet reported.
Sisco has also agreed to give a public apology for his offensive video, and has agreed to perform 20 hours of community service that will be overseen by local LGBTQ leaders.
This year has seen a “horrific spike” in violent acts committed against transgender people in the United States. At least 33 transgender or nonconforming people have been killed in 2020, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Black and Latinx transgender women make up the majority of these violent deaths.
Many transgender people have had negative interactions with police, according to a 2015 report from the National Center for Transgender Equality. Such experiences can lead to transgender people to be wary of going to the police for help.
From the report:


shareblue--2020-10-26--Trump threatens to withhold aid from Pennsylvania to punish its governor

Donald Trump told Pennsylvanians on Monday that he might withhold aid for them in the future because their governor inconvenienced him .
At a rally in Allentown , Trump noted that he had had a hard time finding rally venues due to Gov .
Tom Wolf 's COVID-19 safety rules .
`` This [ venue ] was set up because your governor made it almost impossible for us to find any site , '' he groused .
`` So , Tom Wolf , next time give us a little notice , Governor .
And I 'll remember it , Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tom .
'Hello , Mr. President .
This is Gov .
Wolf .
I need help .
I need help . '
You know what ?
These people are bad .
We , we go out of our way , regardless Republican , Democrat , when they have a problem , but he shut us out . ''
He baselessly accused Wolf and other Democratic governors of conspiring to keep their states closed until the election just to hurt his reelection chances — a conspiracy he himself has debunked .
Trump made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a rally in Lititz , Pennsylvania , vowing , `` I 'll remember .
I 'll remember . ''
A campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
This is not the first time Trump has suggested that he provides more emergency aid to states whose governors kiss up to him .
Back in March , Trump said at a town hall on Fox News that he was providing pandemic supplies to `` almost all of the governors , for the most part , '' but demanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You know , it 's a two-way street .
They have to treat us well . ''
Days later , he told reporters that governors needed to show their gratitude to him for any federal help .
`` I want them to be appreciative , '' he explained .
He admitted that he had told Mike Pence — head of his pandemic response task force — not to even bother calling the Democratic governors of Michigan and Washington , deeming them insufficiently thankful .
`` I say , if they do n't treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump bragged .
In his book about the coronavirus , released this month , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo accused the Trump administration of `` extortion , '' effectively threatening to withhold coronavirus aid if he did not do what Trump wanted .
Trump has made several campaign stops in Pennsylvania in recent weeks , hoping to again win its 20 electoral votes .
He won the swing state by less than 1 % in 2016 , but polling averages show him losing by 5 % this time around .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , comes from decreasing support among older voters — many of whom are unhappy with his botched coronavirus response and intentional attempts to mislead the public about the threat it posed .
`` Telling us not to be afraid of the coronavirus when so many people in the White House are coming down with it is ridiculous , '' one 71-year-old Republican told the Philadelphia Inquirer last week .
`` I 'm embarrassed that my party nominated him and that America elected him .
I would n't even sit down to dinner with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date , more than 187,000 Pennsylvanians have contracted the coronavirus .
At least 8,673 have died .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump told Pennsylvanians on Monday that he might withhold aid for them in the future because their governor inconvenienced him.
At a rally in Allentown, Trump noted that he had had a hard time finding rally venues due to Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 safety rules.
“This [venue] was set up because your governor made it almost impossible for us to find any site,” he groused. “So, Tom Wolf, next time give us a little notice, Governor. And I’ll remember it, Tom. I’m gonna remember it, Tom. ‘Hello, Mr. President. This is Gov. Wolf. I need help. I need help.’ You know what? These people are bad. We, we go out of our way, regardless Republican, Democrat, when they have a problem, but he shut us out.”
He baselessly accused Wolf and other Democratic governors of conspiring to keep their states closed until the election just to hurt his reelection chances — a conspiracy he himself has debunked.
Trump made a similar threat later in the day at a rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania, vowing, “I’ll remember. I’ll remember.”
A campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
This is not the first time Trump has suggested that he provides more emergency aid to states whose governors kiss up to him.
Back in March, Trump said at a town hall on Fox News that he was providing pandemic supplies to “almost all of the governors, for the most part,” but demanded that they respond in kind. “You know, it’s a two-way street. They have to treat us well.”
Days later, he told reporters that governors needed to show their gratitude to him for any federal help.
“I want them to be appreciative,” he explained. He admitted that he had told Mike Pence — head of his pandemic response task force — not to even bother calling the Democratic governors of Michigan and Washington, deeming them insufficiently thankful.
“I say, if they don’t treat you right, I don’t call,” Trump bragged.
In his book about the coronavirus, released this month, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused the Trump administration of “extortion,” effectively threatening to withhold coronavirus aid if he did not do what Trump wanted.
Trump has made several campaign stops in Pennsylvania in recent weeks, hoping to again win its 20 electoral votes. He won the swing state by less than 1% in 2016, but polling averages show him losing by 5% this time around.
Much of that decline, polls suggest, comes from decreasing support among older voters — many of whom are unhappy with his botched coronavirus response and intentional attempts to mislead the public about the threat it posed.
“Telling us not to be afraid of the coronavirus when so many people in the White House are coming down with it is ridiculous,” one 71-year-old Republican told the Philadelphia Inquirer last week. “I’m embarrassed that my party nominated him and that America elected him. I wouldn’t even sit down to dinner with him at this point.”
To date, more than 187,000 Pennsylvanians have contracted the coronavirus. At least 8,673 have died.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-26--Pompeo is latest Trump official under investigation for breaking the law

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo 's speech to the Republican National Convention in August has come under scrutiny by the Office of Special Counsel .
On Monday , Democratic lawmakers announced that the office has launched a probe into Pompeo 's remarks , which were recorded while Pompeo was on an official State Department trip to Israel .
Pompeo 's speech may have violated the Hatch Act of 1939 , which prohibits federal government officials from engaging in political activities .
Rep. Eliot Engel ( D-NY ) , chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee , and Rep. Nita Lowey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday confirming the investigation into Pompeo 's potential violation of the act .
`` As we get closer to both this year 's election and his own inevitable return to electoral politics , Mike Pompeo has grown even more brazen in misusing the State Department and the taxpayer dollars that fund it as vehicles for the administration 's , and his own , political ambitions , '' the two lawmakers said in a statement obtained by the Hill .
Pompeo 's convention speech is just the latest example of one of Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethics laws .
The Hatch Act is meant to prevent executive branch employees — aside from the president and vice president — from engaging in partisan activities at work .
The act prohibits government officials from promoting partisan agendas or encouraging other government employees to promote partisan agendas .
The act also forbids officials from making partisan statements while wearing government identifications , working in a government office , or riding in a government vehicle .
At least 14 senior government officials who were appointed by Trump have been cited for violating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two officials in President Barack Obama 's administration were ever cited for Hatch Act violations .
Both offenses were deemed `` one-offs '' and `` very minor '' by the office at the time .
This month , the nonpartisan watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington found that Ivanka Trump violated the Hatch Act eight times in 48 hours — and that number was only counting her tweets .
The Hatch Act specifies that if a government official uses a given Twitter account to promote formal , official interests , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political campaigning .
Nonetheless , Ivanka Trump blatantly stumped for her father 's reelection in a flurry of tweets sent from her official Twitter account .
On Oct. 8 , CREW sent a letter to the Office of Special Counsel alleging that Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue violated the Hatch Act by leading a chant of `` four more years '' and making other partisan pro-Trump statements at an official event .
The office censured Perdue and required him to reimburse the government for all expenses associated with the event .
In another flagrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an employee at the Department of Housing and Urban Development employee , filmed a video for the Republican convention supporting Trump 's reelection .
Hatton went as far as filming interviews with HUD tenants for the video — while obscuring the real purpose of the video .
The tenants were shocked and furious when they discovered their video footage was used to boost Trump 's reelection .
The tenants noted they were n't Trump supporters and did n't appreciate being portrayed as such .
A late August report by CREW also noted other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act due to their participation in the RNC .
For instance , speeches by Trump and Melania Trump were problematic since White House aides and employees on duty assisting them could potentially be in violation of the Hatch Act .
Another video played at the convention showed Trump standing next to Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf during a naturalization ceremony .
The video raised questions about Wolf indirectly participating in Trump 's reelection campaign while acting in an official capacity .
The offenses keep piling up .
A September CREW report cited still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The report noted that White House senior adviser Jared Kushner , chief of staff Mark Meadows , economic adviser Larry Kudlow , trade adviser Peter Navarro , and vice presidential chief of staff Marc Short have all violated the Hatch Act by making partisan , pro-Trump statements during official interviews .
Former senior counselor Kellyanne Conway , in particular , was a repeat offender .
In a June 2019 letter , the office even recommended to the White House that Conway be fired due to her flagrant , repeated Hatch Act violations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And back in 2017 , Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson cowrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal denouncing the `` Obama-Biden '' era and `` the left , '' and claiming that `` the Biden-Sanders unity platform calls for reimposing the Obama-Biden dystopian vision of building low-income housing units next to your suburban house . ''
The strident partisanship of the column — as well as the fact that Carson distributed it through government channels — prompted Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-OH ) to launch an inquiry into whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act .
In August , Meadows best summed up the Trump administration 's attitude toward the Hatch Act .
`` Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares , '' he said .
`` So listen , this is a lot of hoopla that 's being made about things , mainly because the convention has been so unbelievably successful . ''
Ironically , Meadows ' statement about the Trump administration 's Hatch Act violations may itself have violated the Hatch Act .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s speech to the Republican National Convention in August has come under scrutiny by the Office of Special Counsel.
On Monday, Democratic lawmakers announced that the office has launched a probe into Pompeo’s remarks, which were recorded while Pompeo was on an official State Department trip to Israel.
Pompeo’s speech may have violated the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal government officials from engaging in political activities.
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) issued a joint statement on Monday confirming the investigation into Pompeo’s potential violation of the act.
“As we get closer to both this year’s election and his own inevitable return to electoral politics, Mike Pompeo has grown even more brazen in misusing the State Department and the taxpayer dollars that fund it as vehicles for the administration’s, and his own, political ambitions,” the two lawmakers said in a statement obtained by the Hill.
Pompeo’s convention speech is just the latest example of one of Donald Trump’s appointees running roughshod over federal ethics laws.
The Hatch Act is meant to prevent executive branch employees — aside from the president and vice president — from engaging in partisan activities at work.
The act prohibits government officials from promoting partisan agendas or encouraging other government employees to promote partisan agendas. The act also forbids officials from making partisan statements while wearing government identifications, working in a government office, or riding in a government vehicle.
At least 14 senior government officials who were appointed by Trump have been cited for violating the Hatch Act.
By comparison, only two officials in President Barack Obama’s administration were ever cited for Hatch Act violations. Both offenses were deemed “one-offs” and “very minor” by the office at the time.
This month, the nonpartisan watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington found that Ivanka Trump violated the Hatch Act eight times in 48 hours — and that number was only counting her tweets.
The Hatch Act specifies that if a government official uses a given Twitter account to promote formal, official interests, that same account cannot be used for political campaigning.
Nonetheless, Ivanka Trump blatantly stumped for her father’s reelection in a flurry of tweets sent from her official Twitter account.
On Oct. 8, CREW sent a letter to the Office of Special Counsel alleging that Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue violated the Hatch Act by leading a chant of “four more years” and making other partisan pro-Trump statements at an official event. The office censured Perdue and required him to reimburse the government for all expenses associated with the event.
In another flagrant Hatch Act violation, Lynne Hatton, an employee at the Department of Housing and Urban Development employee, filmed a video for the Republican convention supporting Trump’s reelection. Hatton went as far as filming interviews with HUD tenants for the video — while obscuring the real purpose of the video.
The tenants were shocked and furious when they discovered their video footage was used to boost Trump’s reelection. The tenants noted they weren’t Trump supporters and didn’t appreciate being portrayed as such.
A late August report by CREW also noted other government employees besides Pompeo violating the Hatch Act due to their participation in the RNC.
For instance, speeches by Trump and Melania Trump were problematic since White House aides and employees on duty assisting them could potentially be in violation of the Hatch Act.
Another video played at the convention showed Trump standing next to Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf during a naturalization ceremony. The video raised questions about Wolf indirectly participating in Trump’s reelection campaign while acting in an official capacity.
The offenses keep piling up.
A September CREW report cited still more Hatch Act violations by Trump appointees. The report noted that White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, chief of staff Mark Meadows, economic adviser Larry Kudlow, trade adviser Peter Navarro, and vice presidential chief of staff Marc Short have all violated the Hatch Act by making partisan, pro-Trump statements during official interviews.
Former senior counselor Kellyanne Conway, in particular, was a repeat offender.
In a June 2019 letter, the office even recommended to the White House that Conway be fired due to her flagrant, repeated Hatch Act violations — around two dozen in total.
Trump ignored the recommendation.
And back in 2017, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson cowrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal denouncing the “Obama-Biden” era and “the left,” and claiming that “the Biden-Sanders unity platform calls for reimposing the Obama-Biden dystopian vision of building low-income housing units next to your suburban house.”
The strident partisanship of the column — as well as the fact that Carson distributed it through government channels — prompted Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to launch an inquiry into whether Carson had run afoul of the Hatch Act.
In August, Meadows best summed up the Trump administration’s attitude toward the Hatch Act.
“Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares,” he said. “So listen, this is a lot of hoopla that’s being made about things, mainly because the convention has been so unbelievably successful.”
Ironically, Meadows’ statement about the Trump administration’s Hatch Act violations may itself have violated the Hatch Act.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-26--Top Trump appointee quits over new rule requiring 'loyalty' from federal workers

A top Trump administration appointee resigned on Sunday over the administration 's latest attack on federal workers .
In a scathing letter , he accused the administration of creating a `` smokescreen '' for its attempt to ensure federal employees show total loyalty to Donald Trump .
Ronald Sanders , who Trump picked in 2017 to chair the Federal Salary Council , wrote that he was resigning `` with great regret , '' but that he `` concluded that as a matter of conscience , I can no longer serve him or his administration . ''
Sanders was outraged about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which reclassified many nonpolitical civil service employees as `` at-will , '' stripping them of their labor rights and workplace protections .
The White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
But the Trump administration previously called the move , which affects career public servants with `` confidential , policy-determining , policy making , and policy-advocating positions , '' a `` much-needed reform '' to `` increase accountability in essential policymaking positions within the government . ''
Public employee unions and ethical experts disagreed , and so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does Sanders .
`` On its surface , the President 's Executive Order purports to serve a legitimate and laudable purpose ... that is , to hold career Federal employees 'more accountable ' for their performance , '' he wrote , noting that he has spent nearly 40 years trying to do just that .
`` However , it is clear that its stated purpose notwithstanding , the Executive Order is nothing more than a smokescreen for what is clearly at attempt to require the political loyalty of those who advise the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their remove without due process . ''
`` The only 'boss ' that they serve is the public and the laws that their elected representatives enact ... whether this or any President likes it or not , '' he explained .
`` That is the way our Constitution is supposed to work , and no President should be able to remove career civil servants whose only sin is that they may speak such a truth to him . ''
Sanders noted that he , like the federal employees this executive order impacts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect our Constitution and the rule of law . ''
`` I took that same oath , and despite being a life-long Republican ( I was even named after Ronald Reagan ) , I would like to think that I lived up to it , '' he wrote .
`` Yet the President 's Executive Order seeks to make loyalty to him the litmus test for many thousands of career civil servants , and that is something I can not be part of . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation @

A top Trump administration appointee resigned on Sunday over the administration’s latest attack on federal workers. In a scathing letter, he accused the administration of creating a “smokescreen” for its attempt to ensure federal employees show total loyalty to Donald Trump.
Ronald Sanders, who Trump picked in 2017 to chair the Federal Salary Council, wrote that he was resigning “with great regret,” but that he “concluded that as a matter of conscience, I can no longer serve him or his administration.”
Sanders was outraged about Executive Order 13957, issued last Wednesday, which reclassified many nonpolitical civil service employees as “at-will,” stripping them of their labor rights and workplace protections.
The White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story. But the Trump administration previously called the move, which affects career public servants with “confidential, policy-determining, policy making, and policy-advocating positions,” a “much-needed reform” to “increase accountability in essential policymaking positions within the government.”
Public employee unions and ethical experts disagreed, and so, according to his resignation letter, does Sanders.
“On its surface, the President’s Executive Order purports to serve a legitimate and laudable purpose…that is, to hold career Federal employees ‘more accountable’ for their performance,” he wrote, noting that he has spent nearly 40 years trying to do just that. “However, it is clear that its stated purpose notwithstanding, the Executive Order is nothing more than a smokescreen for what is clearly at attempt to require the political loyalty of those who advise the president, or failing that, to enable their remove without due process.”
“The only ‘boss’ that they serve is the public and the laws that their elected representatives enact…whether this or any President likes it or not,” he explained. “That is the way our Constitution is supposed to work, and no President should be able to remove career civil servants whose only sin is that they may speak such a truth to him.”
Sanders noted that he, like the federal employees this executive order impacts, took “an oath to preserve and protect our Constitution and the rule of law.”
“I took that same oath, and despite being a life-long Republican (I was even named after Ronald Reagan), I would like to think that I lived up to it,” he wrote. “Yet the President’s Executive Order seeks to make loyalty to him the litmus test for many thousands of career civil servants, and that is something I cannot be part of.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-26--People are setting ballot boxes on fire after months of Trump attacking them

A ballot drop box outside the Boston Public Library was set ablaze on Sunday , marking the second such instance in just over a week after another ballot drop box was burned outside a California library last Sunday .
The two incidents come as Donald Trump eagerly pushes debunked claims of fraud regarding mail-in ballots .
The suspected arson attempt destroyed 35 ballots out of the 122 in the box at the time of the fire , according to the Boston Election Department .
`` What happened in the early hours of this morning to the ballot drop box in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a disrespect to the voters fulfilling their civic duty , and a crime , '' Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said in a joint statement .
Last Sunday , a vote-by-mail drop box outside of the Baldwin Park Library , east of Los Angeles County in California , was also set on fire in another suspected arson attempt .
A burning newspaper was purposely thrown into the box , according to firefighters .
Manuel Lozano , mayor of Baldwin Park , said he believes around 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrated across the country , it 's no different in Baldwin Park , '' the mayor said .
He added that the incident `` send [ s ] a very bad message ... the frustration with the voting box and then this occurs . ''
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn called the attack on the ballot drop box `` reprehensible . ''
`` Burning ballots is not just vandalism , it is an attack on our democracy and on our residents ' right to vote .
Whoever did this must be found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law , '' she said in a statement .
The incidents come amid Trump 's continued unfounded claims about mail-in ballot fraud , claims which have been thoroughly and repeatedly debunked .
`` Some states use 'drop boxes ' for the collection of Universal Mail-In Ballots .
So who is going to 'collect ' the Ballots , and what might be done to them prior to tabulation ?
A Rigged Election ? ''
he tweeted in August .
Days later , he tweeted : `` So now the Democrats are using Mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security disaster .
Among other things , they make it possible for a person to vote multiple times .
Also , who controls them , are they placed in Republican or Democrat areas ?
They are not Covid sanitized .
A big fraud ! ''
Twitter labeled Trump 's tweet as violating the platform 's rules on `` civic and election integrity . ''
Election experts including Wendy Weiser , the director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center , told CNN that election administrators abide by the same security practices as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom line is that absentee and mail balloting are secure in America , '' she said .
Election administrators who handle cast ballots in polling places are the only ones who have access to the ones in ballot drop boxes , said Weiser .
Poll workers also process ballots in the same manner before tabulation .
Amber McReynolds , CEO of the nonprofit National Vote at Home Institute , does not believe fraud is a major problem with mail-in balloting .
`` The system with things like signature verification helps to detect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Independent Foundation in an email .
The federal Elections Assistance Commission has issued a number of security considerations for ballot drop boxes , to prevent fraud .
`` Ballot drop boxes must be secured and locked at all times .
Only an election official or a designated ballot drop box collection team should have access to the keys and/or combination of the lock .
In addition to locks , all drop boxes should be sealed with one or more tamper-evident seals , '' it wrote .
Joe Ready , director of U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Democracy for the People Campaign , warned in a recent opinion column for MarketWatch that Americans should not `` be distracted by Trump 's Twitter rants or his administration 's frivolous , unwinnable lawsuits . ''
`` Ballot drop boxes are a smart , socially distanced and secure way to give you a safe option to cast your ballot , '' he wrote .
`` When using a drop box , you can be confident that your vote will be counted and your voice will be heard . ''
Meanwhile , lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes even further .
`` In light of this incident , I am asking that the Registrar Recorder ensure ballot boxes are emptied nightly from now until Election Day , '' Hahn said .
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn , who called this week 's arson attempt `` a threat to our democracy , '' `` a shameful act and crime , '' said that he is `` beefing up security '' measures as well .
`` We need to ensure the integrity of our elections process , and should have additional security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make sure all ballots are protected and counted , '' he said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A ballot drop box outside the Boston Public Library was set ablaze on Sunday, marking the second such instance in just over a week after another ballot drop box was burned outside a California library last Sunday.
The two incidents come as Donald Trump eagerly pushes debunked claims of fraud regarding mail-in ballots.
The suspected arson attempt destroyed 35 ballots out of the 122 in the box at the time of the fire, according to the Boston Election Department.
“What happened in the early hours of this morning to the ballot drop box in Copley Square is a disgrace to democracy, a disrespect to the voters fulfilling their civic duty, and a crime,” Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said in a joint statement.
Last Sunday, a vote-by-mail drop box outside of the Baldwin Park Library, east of Los Angeles County in California, was also set on fire in another suspected arson attempt. A burning newspaper was purposely thrown into the box, according to firefighters.
Manuel Lozano, mayor of Baldwin Park, said he believes around 100 ballots were damaged.
“People are frustrated across the country, it’s no different in Baldwin Park,” the mayor said.
He added that the incident “send[s] a very bad message … the frustration with the voting box and then this occurs.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn called the attack on the ballot drop box “reprehensible.”
“Burning ballots is not just vandalism, it is an attack on our democracy and on our residents’ right to vote. Whoever did this must be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she said in a statement.
The incidents come amid Trump’s continued unfounded claims about mail-in ballot fraud, claims which have been thoroughly and repeatedly debunked.
“Some states use ‘drop boxes’ for the collection of Universal Mail-In Ballots. So who is going to ‘collect’ the Ballots, and what might be done to them prior to tabulation? A Rigged Election?” he tweeted in August.
Days later, he tweeted: “So now the Democrats are using Mail Drop Boxes, which are a voter security disaster. Among other things, they make it possible for a person to vote multiple times. Also, who controls them, are they placed in Republican or Democrat areas? They are not Covid sanitized. A big fraud!”
Twitter labeled Trump’s tweet as violating the platform’s rules on “civic and election integrity.”
Election experts including Wendy Weiser, the director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center, told CNN that election administrators abide by the same security practices as all other ballots collected.
“The bottom line is that absentee and mail balloting are secure in America,” she said.
Election administrators who handle cast ballots in polling places are the only ones who have access to the ones in ballot drop boxes, said Weiser. Poll workers also process ballots in the same manner before tabulation.
Amber McReynolds, CEO of the nonprofit National Vote at Home Institute, does not believe fraud is a major problem with mail-in balloting.
“The system with things like signature verification helps to detect and prevent fraud,” she told the American Independent Foundation in an email.
The federal Elections Assistance Commission has issued a number of security considerations for ballot drop boxes, to prevent fraud.
“Ballot drop boxes must be secured and locked at all times. Only an election official or a designated ballot drop box collection team should have access to the keys and/or combination of the lock. In addition to locks, all drop boxes should be sealed with one or more tamper-evident seals,” it wrote.
Joe Ready, director of U.S. Public Interest Research Group‘s (PIRG) Democracy for the People Campaign, warned in a recent opinion column for MarketWatch that Americans should not “be distracted by Trump’s Twitter rants or his administration’s frivolous, unwinnable lawsuits.”
“Ballot drop boxes are a smart, socially distanced and secure way to give you a safe option to cast your ballot,” he wrote. “When using a drop box, you can be confident that your vote will be counted and your voice will be heard.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers are tightening the security of ballot drop boxes even further.
“In light of this incident, I am asking that the Registrar Recorder ensure ballot boxes are emptied nightly from now until Election Day,” Hahn said.
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, who called this week’s arson attempt “a threat to our democracy,” “a shameful act and crime,” said that he is “beefing up security” measures as well.
“We need to ensure the integrity of our elections process, and should have additional security measures at ballot box and polling locations to make sure all ballots are protected and counted,” he said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-26--New Trump rule accuses whistleblowers of betraying the country

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently gave guidelines to its employees that would punish whistleblowers .
Last month , the VA 's `` Insider Threat Program '' sent an email to department employees declaring September to be `` Insider Threat Awareness Month , '' Mother Jones reported .
The internal email warned employees that they should be wary of potential threats posed by their colleagues .
The email claimed that the United States `` has been betrayed by people holding positions of trust , '' and that `` insiders '' have `` caused more damage than trained foreign professional intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumstance or behavior represents a spy in our midst , '' the email went on to say , `` but every situation needs to be examined to determine whether our nation 's security is at risk . ''
The email also laid out suspect behavior that VA employees should take note of , such as colleagues who `` work odd hours without authorization , '' are easily `` overwhelmed by life crises/career disappointments , '' have `` suspicious contacts , '' or look for `` classified information on subjects not related to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees who express `` concern '' when they are being `` investigated . ''
The email suggested an `` if you see something , say something '' guideline for VA employees , and directed managers to monitor networks closely and set up methods for employees to report on one another 's suspicious behavior .
The email 's paranoid language calls to mind former Sen. Joseph McCarthy ( R-WI ) , who led the `` Red Scare '' crusade in the 1950s to ferret out supposed Communists working within government .
This is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to intimidate government employees who try to report corruption or other misconduct , labeling whistleblowers as `` spies '' or traitors .
In 2017 , the Office of Special Counsel ordered the Department of Energy to remove posters instructing employees to report `` insider threats . ''
One of the posters read , `` Every leak makes us weak . ''
The OSC also warned the department that it is illegal to monitor staff electronically .
Donald Trump 's crackdown on whistleblowers is hardly surprising , given his lengthy track record of retaliating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This spring , Trump fired at least five inspectors general at different government agencies .
The internal watchdogs were removed after their offices made complaints or probes into the Trump administration 's misconduct .
It is both extremely rare and troubling for a sitting president to strip an inspector general of their position .
The most notable of these inspectors general was Michael Atkinson , who blew the whistle to Congress regarding Trump 's Ukraine dealings , which paved the way for Trump 's impeachment .
Trump also fired two officials who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and European Union ambassador Gordon Sondland .
At the time , Vindland 's attorney released a statement noting that Vindman `` did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day . ''
`` He followed orders , he obeyed his oath , and he served his country , even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril , '' the statement went on to say .
`` And for that , the most powerful man in the world — buoyed by the silent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — has decided to exact revenge . ''
Another government whistleblower , Dr. Richard Bright , also faced retaliation from the Trump administration .
Bright claimed he was removed from his high-ranking position at the Department of Health and Human Services for speaking out against using the largely untested drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus .
In May , Bright testified that he believed `` part of the removal process for me '' was because he gave pushback when asked by the Trump administration to expand `` access protocol that would make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not under the supervision of a physician '' and `` may not even ( have been ) confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus . ''
Last year , on Veterans Day , he retweeted a post by the White House 's account applauding him for his accomplishments , but he took no pride in one .
`` To think I signed the Whistleblower Protection Act ! ''
he tweeted , implying he had regrets about doing so .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently gave guidelines to its employees that would punish whistleblowers.
Last month, the VA’s “Insider Threat Program” sent an email to department employees declaring September to be “Insider Threat Awareness Month,” Mother Jones reported.
The internal email warned employees that they should be wary of potential threats posed by their colleagues.
The email claimed that the United States “has been betrayed by people holding positions of trust,” and that “insiders” have “caused more damage than trained foreign professional intelligence officers.”
“Not every suspicious circumstance or behavior represents a spy in our midst,” the email went on to say, “but every situation needs to be examined to determine whether our nation’s security is at risk.”
The email also laid out suspect behavior that VA employees should take note of, such as colleagues who “work odd hours without authorization,” are easily “overwhelmed by life crises/career disappointments,” have “suspicious contacts,” or look for “classified information on subjects not related to their work duties.”
Also suspicious: employees who express “concern” when they are being “investigated.”
The email suggested an “if you see something, say something” guideline for VA employees, and directed managers to monitor networks closely and set up methods for employees to report on one another’s suspicious behavior.
The email’s paranoid language calls to mind former Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI), who led the “Red Scare” crusade in the 1950s to ferret out supposed Communists working within government.
This is just the latest effort by the Trump administration to intimidate government employees who try to report corruption or other misconduct, labeling whistleblowers as “spies” or traitors.
In 2017, the Office of Special Counsel ordered the Department of Energy to remove posters instructing employees to report “insider threats.” One of the posters read, “Every leak makes us weak.”
The OSC also warned the department that it is illegal to monitor staff electronically.
Donald Trump’s crackdown on whistleblowers is hardly surprising, given his lengthy track record of retaliating against anyone who calls out government corruption.
This spring, Trump fired at least five inspectors general at different government agencies. The internal watchdogs were removed after their offices made complaints or probes into the Trump administration’s misconduct.
It is both extremely rare and troubling for a sitting president to strip an inspector general of their position.
The most notable of these inspectors general was Michael Atkinson, who blew the whistle to Congress regarding Trump’s Ukraine dealings, which paved the way for Trump’s impeachment.
Trump also fired two officials who testified against him at his impeachment, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and European Union ambassador Gordon Sondland.
At the time, Vindland’s attorney released a statement noting that Vindman “did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day.”
“He followed orders, he obeyed his oath, and he served his country, even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril,” the statement went on to say. “And for that, the most powerful man in the world — buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit — has decided to exact revenge.”
Another government whistleblower, Dr. Richard Bright, also faced retaliation from the Trump administration.
Bright claimed he was removed from his high-ranking position at the Department of Health and Human Services for speaking out against using the largely untested drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus.
In May, Bright testified that he believed “part of the removal process for me” was because he gave pushback when asked by the Trump administration to expand “access protocol that would make chloroquine more freely available to Americans that were not under the supervision of a physician” and “may not even (have been) confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus.”
Trump has expressed disdain for whistleblowers.
Last year, on Veterans Day, he retweeted a post by the White House’s account applauding him for his accomplishments, but he took no pride in one.
“To think I signed the Whistleblower Protection Act!” he tweeted, implying he had regrets about doing so.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-26--House Republicans want to cure COVID with ... tax cuts

House Republicans claimed on Monday that they , not House Democrats , have the solution to the COVID-19 pandemic : more tax cuts and corporate welfare .
In a tweeted video , the minority side of the House Ways and Means Committee claimed that a bill from ranking member Rep. Kevin Brady ( R-TX ) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy `` bolsters @ HouseGOP 's # CommitmentToAmerica . ''
`` Democrats have passed bills that make their priorities very clear , '' the video claims .
`` Spoiler alert ... it 's NOT about FIGHTING CORONAVIRUS . ''
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP 's Commitment to American Growth Act would provide the `` action '' Americans deserve .
But the GOP video does not reveal a plan that 's focused on stopping the pandemic ; instead , it claims the bill is about `` Jobs & Wages , '' `` Supporting American job creators , '' `` Medical independence from China , '' and `` Winning the innovation race . ''
In a press release earlier this month announcing the legislation , Brady and McCarthy ( R-CA ) noted that their bill `` locks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuts to boost American jobs and paychecks '' and provides new tax cuts and incentives to American manufacturers .
`` As our nation continues to make significant strides toward defeating Covid , we must simultaneously work to rebuild the greatest economy of our generation , '' McCarthy wrote .
`` But building back is n't enough – we have to implement pro-growth policies that will guarantee America ’ s citizens unprecedented prosperity . ''
The press release contains a link to a separate page about the GOP 's work in the `` fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's no indication of how any provision in the bill is about curbing the pandemic .
Some parts of Donald Trump 's 2017 Tax Cut & Jobs Act — which slashed tax rates for the very wealthy and corporations , while actually raising taxes on about 10 million families — were temporary and this proposal would extend them .
Contrary to Republican claims , that legislation did little to boost the economy .
Even before the pandemic ransacked the economy , job growth was faster over the last three years of Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump 's .
The House 's Democratic majority has , in fact , passed major legislation aimed at controlling the virus .
They passed legislation in May that would have provided $ 75 billion in new funding for coronavirus treatment , tracing , and testing — along with child care and hazard pay for America 's essential workers and emergency exposure controls to protect them on the job .
McCarthy , Brady , and nearly every other House Republican opposed this legislation .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Republican colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five months , not even giving it a vote .
In August , McConnell bragged about his inaction , saying that doing nothing `` allowed us to learn the coronavirus did n't mysteriously disappear .
It 's still here . ''
On Oct. 15 , McConnell ( R-KY ) rejected calls from Democrats , and even Trump , for a relief bill of more than $ 1.8 trillion .
`` What I will put on the floor is a highly targeted half a trillion dollars , that 's a lot of money , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm putting on the floor what we think is appropriate to tackle the disease . ''
Democrats dismissed McConnell 's efforts as `` woefully insufficient '' and have repeatedly blocked his `` skinny '' proposal .
A New York Times/Sienna College poll last week found 72 % of like American voters support a $ 2 trillion relief package , versus just 21 % opposed .
Even among Republicans , 56 % support a plan like the one the House Democrats have proposed .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

House Republicans claimed on Monday that they, not House Democrats, have the solution to the COVID-19 pandemic: more tax cuts and corporate welfare.
In a tweeted video, the minority side of the House Ways and Means Committee claimed that a bill from ranking member Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy “bolsters @HouseGOP’s #CommitmentToAmerica.”
“Democrats have passed bills that make their priorities very clear,” the video claims. “Spoiler alert… it’s NOT about FIGHTING CORONAVIRUS.”
Instead, the 36-second clip suggests, the GOP’s Commitment to American Growth Act would provide the “action” Americans deserve.
But the GOP video does not reveal a plan that’s focused on stopping the pandemic; instead, it claims the bill is about “Jobs & Wages,” “Supporting American job creators,” “Medical independence from China,” and “Winning the innovation race.”
In a press release earlier this month announcing the legislation, Brady and McCarthy (R-CA) noted that their bill “locks in key provisions of the successful Trump Tax Cuts to boost American jobs and paychecks” and provides new tax cuts and incentives to American manufacturers.
“As our nation continues to make significant strides toward defeating Covid, we must simultaneously work to rebuild the greatest economy of our generation,” McCarthy wrote. “But building back isn’t enough – we have to implement pro-growth policies that will guarantee America’s citizens unprecedented prosperity.”
The press release contains a link to a separate page about the GOP’s work in the “fight against Coronavirus,” but again, there’s no indication of how any provision in the bill is about curbing the pandemic.
Some parts of Donald Trump’s 2017 Tax Cut & Jobs Act — which slashed tax rates for the very wealthy and corporations, while actually raising taxes on about 10 million families — were temporary and this proposal would extend them.
Contrary to Republican claims, that legislation did little to boost the economy. Even before the pandemic ransacked the economy, job growth was faster over the last three years of Obama’s administration than the first three years of Trump’s.
The House’s Democratic majority has, in fact, passed major legislation aimed at controlling the virus. They passed legislation in May that would have provided $75 billion in new funding for coronavirus treatment, tracing, and testing — along with child care and hazard pay for America’s essential workers and emergency exposure controls to protect them on the job.
McCarthy, Brady, and nearly every other House Republican opposed this legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Republican colleagues have blocked the bill for the past five months, not even giving it a vote.
In August, McConnell bragged about his inaction, saying that doing nothing “allowed us to learn the coronavirus didn’t mysteriously disappear. It’s still here.”
On Oct. 15, McConnell (R-KY) rejected calls from Democrats, and even Trump, for a relief bill of more than $1.8 trillion.
“What I will put on the floor is a highly targeted half a trillion dollars, that’s a lot of money,” he told reporters. “I’m putting on the floor what we think is appropriate to tackle the disease.” Democrats dismissed McConnell’s efforts as “woefully insufficient” and have repeatedly blocked his “skinny” proposal.
A New York Times/Sienna College poll last week found 72% of like American voters support a $2 trillion relief package, versus just 21% opposed. Even among Republicans, 56% support a plan like the one the House Democrats have proposed.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-26--5 House races that show why Trump's campaign is in huge trouble

National polling was already looking grim for Donald Trump 's reelection chances .
Now , a deeper dive into the numbers in House seats Trump easily carried in 2016 shows an even more troubling picture for his hopes at winning , with polling showing him behind Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden in a smattering of congressional districts Trump carried by double-digit margins just four years ago .
District-level polling was the first place that showed warning signs for Hillary Clinton back in 2016 , with elections experts saying at the time that polls in House seats in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working-class white voters , which ultimately helped push Trump to a narrow Electoral College victory .
`` District-level polling at this point in '16 showed flashing red warning signs for Clinton in areas with large white working-class populations — but much of it went ignored , '' Dave Wasserman , a House race analyst with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report , tweeted .
Four years later , Wasserman said the district-level polls show the opposite , with support for Trump falling all across the map .
`` There was a time when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much differently , '' Wasserman said on Sunday .
`` Eight days out , it 's much , much harder .
I 've seen ... almost enough . ''
Trump 's sliding support in seats he easily carried in 2016 is happening all across the country .
A poll released Monday from Texas ' 3rd District — a Plano-based seat Trump carried by 14 points in 2016 — found Biden leading by a whopping 11 points , the Texas Tribune reported .
Another poll from over the weekend found Biden leading Trump by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Grand Rapids-based seat that Trump carried by 9 points just four years ago .
That shift comes as polling shows Trump losing Michigan — a critical swing state he won in 2016 — by 8 points , according to a FiveThirtyEight average .
In Colorado 's 3rd District , a sprawling seat that encompasses the entire western third of the state that Trump won by 12 points in 2016 , Trump is now in a statistical dead heat with Biden , according to an internal Democratic poll released Monday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 point , 46 % to 45 % .
A survey from California 's 4th District from late October — a rural seat located in the central portion of the state — also shows Trump in another statistical dead heat , 47 % to 46 % , even though Trump won there by 15 points in 2016 .
And in Arizona 's 6th District , a seat Trump carried by 10 points in 2016 , he now leads Biden by a slim 1 point margin , according to a poll from OH Predictive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this district-level polling backs up data from September , which showed Trump getting crushed in suburban House seats he had carried the first time he was on the ballot four years ago .
`` The GOP polls on the district level have Trump doing 5 points worse than his 2016 baseline over the last few months ... We 're talking the released ones , which are traditionally biased , '' CNN polling analyst Harry Enten tweeted .
`` It 's a dead giveaway that the GOP internal polling has Trump getting beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permission of The American Independent Foundation .

National polling was already looking grim for Donald Trump’s reelection chances.
Now, a deeper dive into the numbers in House seats Trump easily carried in 2016 shows an even more troubling picture for his hopes at winning, with polling showing him behind Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden in a smattering of congressional districts Trump carried by double-digit margins just four years ago.
District-level polling was the first place that showed warning signs for Hillary Clinton back in 2016, with elections experts saying at the time that polls in House seats in the Midwest and elsewhere showed erosion among working-class white voters, which ultimately helped push Trump to a narrow Electoral College victory.
“District-level polling at this point in ’16 showed flashing red warning signs for Clinton in areas with large white working-class populations — but much of it went ignored,” Dave Wasserman, a House race analyst with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, tweeted.
Four years later, Wasserman said the district-level polls show the opposite, with support for Trump falling all across the map.
“There was a time when it was easy to imagine this race going much differently,” Wasserman said on Sunday. “Eight days out, it’s much, much harder. I’ve seen…almost enough.”
Trump’s sliding support in seats he easily carried in 2016 is happening all across the country.
A poll released Monday from Texas’ 3rd District — a Plano-based seat Trump carried by 14 points in 2016 — found Biden leading by a whopping 11 points, the Texas Tribune reported.
Another poll from over the weekend found Biden leading Trump by 11 points in Michigan’s 3rd District, a Grand Rapids-based seat that Trump carried by 9 points just four years ago. That shift comes as polling shows Trump losing Michigan — a critical swing state he won in 2016 — by 8 points, according to a FiveThirtyEight average.
In Colorado’s 3rd District, a sprawling seat that encompasses the entire western third of the state that Trump won by 12 points in 2016, Trump is now in a statistical dead heat with Biden, according to an internal Democratic poll released Monday. The survey showed Trump leading Biden by just 1 point, 46% to 45%.
A survey from California’s 4th District from late October — a rural seat located in the central portion of the state — also shows Trump in another statistical dead heat, 47% to 46%, even though Trump won there by 15 points in 2016.
And in Arizona’s 6th District, a seat Trump carried by 10 points in 2016, he now leads Biden by a slim 1 point margin, according to a poll from OH Predictive Insights released earlier this month.
All of this district-level polling backs up data from September, which showed Trump getting crushed in suburban House seats he had carried the first time he was on the ballot four years ago.
“The GOP polls on the district level have Trump doing 5 points worse than his 2016 baseline over the last few months… We’re talking the released ones, which are traditionally biased,” CNN polling analyst Harry Enten tweeted.
“It’s a dead giveaway that the GOP internal polling has Trump getting beat ‘big league.'”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-26--Jared Kushner: Trump cares about Black people more than Black people do

Jared Kushner , Donald Trump 's son-in-law and his senior adviser , made racist comments in an interview with Fox News Monday morning , suggesting many Black people in America complain about their problems but are too lazy to solve them .
Kushner , who is white and was born into wealth , was talking about Trump 's efforts to help the Black community in the run-up to the election on Nov. 3 .
Kushner said people who protest systemic racism were `` just virtue signaling , '' but said Trump has actually put forward policies to help .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would put a slogan on their jersey or write something on a basketball court and quite frankly that was doing more to polarize the country , '' Kushner said .
Of course , polling shows that voters do not approve of Trump 's handling of race in America .
From an Oct. 26 interview on `` Fox & Friends '' : JARED KUSHNER : President Trump 's policies are the policies that can help people break out of the problems that they 're complaining about , but he ca n't want them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be successful .
And what you 're seeing around the country now is a groundswell of support in the Black community because they 're realizing that all the different bad things that the media and the Democrats have said about President Trump are not true , and so they are seeing that he 's actually delivered .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and his senior adviser, made racist comments in an interview with Fox News Monday morning, suggesting many Black people in America complain about their problems but are too lazy to solve them.
Kushner, who is white and was born into wealth, was talking about Trump’s efforts to help the Black community in the run-up to the election on Nov. 3.
Kushner said people who protest systemic racism were “just virtue signaling,” but said Trump has actually put forward policies to help.
“They go on Instagram and cry or they would put a slogan on their jersey or write something on a basketball court and quite frankly that was doing more to polarize the country,” Kushner said.
Of course, polling shows that voters do not approve of Trump’s handling of race in America.
From an Oct. 26 interview on “Fox & Friends”:
JARED KUSHNER: President Trump’s policies are the policies that can help people break out of the problems that they’re complaining about, but he can’t want them to be successful more than they want to be successful. And what you’re seeing around the country now is a groundswell of support in the Black community because they’re realizing that all the different bad things that the media and the Democrats have said about President Trump are not true, and so they are seeing that he’s actually delivered.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.