shareblue--2020-07-18--Military medics deployed to hospitals in states hit hard by virus surges

Teams of military medics were deployed in Texas and California to help hospitals deluged by coronavirus patients , as Miami area authorities began stepping up enforcement Friday of a mask requirement — echoing efforts in many parts of the world to contain surging infections .
In California , military doctors , nurses , and other health care specialists were being deployed to eight hospitals facing staffing shortages amid a record-breaking case numbers .
In Houston , an 86-person Army medical team worked to take over a wing of United Memorial Medical Center .
Texas reported 10,000 new cases for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
California , meanwhile , reported its largest two-day total of confirmed cases , nearly 20,000 , along with 258 deaths over 48 hours .
There are more than 8,000 people in hospitals who have either tested positive for the coronavirus or are suspected to have it .
There were signs elsewhere in country 's Sunbelt that the virus was stretching authorities ' capacity to respond .
The medical examiner 's office in metro Phoenix has gotten portable storage coolers and ordered more to handle an influx of bodies — reminiscent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic there earlier this year .
In Florida 's Miami-Dade County , the county commission unanimously approved an emergency order giving all code and fire inspectors authority to issue tickets of up to $ 100 for individuals and $ 500 for businesses not complying with guidelines to wear masks and practice social distancing .
Police officers already had this enforcement power .
`` We 're going to put a heck of a lot of people out there , '' said Mayor Carlos Gimenez .
`` Our people are going to go everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , especially younger people , have been following the `` new normal '' guidelines , so the county needed another enforcement tool .
In Miami-Dade , which is Florida 's most populous county and the current epicenter of the outbreak , more than 3,100 new coronavirus cases were reported on Thursday .
The state , meanwhile , reached another ominous record , with 156 virus deaths , and a staggering 13,965 new cases .
Amid the upsurge , a Florida state legislator , Republican Rep. Anthony Sabatini , filed a lawsuit Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , home to St. Petersburg and Clearwater .
About 100 people in support of his stance rallied in front of the county courthouse , some holding signs saying mask requirements are unconstitutional .
At least half of the 50 states have adopted requirements for wearing masks or other facial coverings .
But in Georgia , Gov .
Brian Kemp has banned cities and counties from requiring face coverings .
He sued Atlanta late Thursday to prevent it from defying his order , but Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she was prepared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask requirement .
Worldwide , governments are frantically trying to prevent and put down fresh outbreaks and keep their economies running as the pandemic accelerates in some regions and threatens to come roaring back in others .
Globally , confirmed cases numbered more than 13.8 million Friday and COVID-19 deaths totaled more than 590,000 .
To cope with the pandemic 's fallout , the United Nations said it is increasing to $ 10.3 billion its appeal for humanitarian aid funding Jens Laerke , a spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of people who need humanitarian assistance has more than doubled during the pandemic — from around 110 million to about 250 million .
India 's total confirmed cases surpassed 1 million , the third-highest number behind the United States and Brazil , and its death toll reached more than 25,000 .
That followed Brazil 's announcement Thursday evening that its confirmed cases exceeded 2 million , including 76,000 deaths .
The continuing surge of new cases in India — where experts believe the vast majority of cases are still being missed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some countries to cope with outbreaks that could overwhelm hospitals and test feeble health care systems .
The government ordered a weeklong lockdown in the technology hub of Bangalore after confirmed cases there increased exponentially .
In sub-Saharan Africa , which already had the world 's greatest shortage of medical personnel , nearly 10,000 health workers in 40 countries have been infected with the coronavirus , the World Health Organization said .
More than half of infected workers are in South Africa , where most of the continent 's infections are as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions to tackle a new surge in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called `` interim steps '' to avoid another general lockdown .
Stores , malls , barber shops , beauty salons , beaches , and tourist sites will also be closed on weekends .
Public gatherings will be limited to 10 people indoors or 20 outside .
New virus cases have soared in Israel since restrictions were lifted in late May .
The country reported around 1,900 new cases on Thursday .
Japan 's capital recorded a single-day record number of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday with 293 .
Tokyo was taken off a list of places around the country where discounts are offered under a government scheme to encourage domestic tourism .
Spain , which earlier in the pandemic was one of the world 's hardest hit countries , was grappling with more than 150 active outbreaks , most of them in the northern Aragon and Catalonia regions .
Health authorities asked the 5.5 million residents of Barcelona , the regional capital of Catalonia , to stay at home as much as possible to stem the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a local ban on social gatherings over 10 people , and nightclub and gym closures .
Spain reported 580 new cases Thursday , the highest daily number since May 10 .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson charted a different course , announcing that as of Aug. 1 the government was no longer asking people to avoid public transit and would stop advising workers in England to work from home .
Keen to reinvigorate the economy , Johnson wants to see struggling businesses that rely on office workers rebound .
The U.K. 's official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 45,000 as of Friday , has for several weeks been the highest in Europe .

Teams of military medics were deployed in Texas and California to help hospitals deluged by coronavirus patients, as Miami area authorities began stepping up enforcement Friday of a mask requirement — echoing efforts in many parts of the world to contain surging infections.
In California, military doctors, nurses, and other health care specialists were being deployed to eight hospitals facing staffing shortages amid a record-breaking case numbers. In Houston, an 86-person Army medical team worked to take over a wing of United Memorial Medical Center.
Texas reported 10,000 new cases for the third straight day Thursday and 129 additional deaths. California, meanwhile, reported its largest two-day total of confirmed cases, nearly 20,000, along with 258 deaths over 48 hours. There are more than 8,000 people in hospitals who have either tested positive for the coronavirus or are suspected to have it.
There were signs elsewhere in country’s Sunbelt that the virus was stretching authorities’ capacity to respond. The medical examiner’s office in metro Phoenix has gotten portable storage coolers and ordered more to handle an influx of bodies — reminiscent of New York City at the height of the pandemic there earlier this year.
In Florida’s Miami-Dade County, the county commission unanimously approved an emergency order giving all code and fire inspectors authority to issue tickets of up to $100 for individuals and $500 for businesses not complying with guidelines to wear masks and practice social distancing. Police officers already had this enforcement power.
“We’re going to put a heck of a lot of people out there,” said Mayor Carlos Gimenez. “Our people are going to go everywhere.”
Gimenez said that too few people, especially younger people, have been following the “new normal” guidelines, so the county needed another enforcement tool.
In Miami-Dade, which is Florida’s most populous county and the current epicenter of the outbreak, more than 3,100 new coronavirus cases were reported on Thursday. The state, meanwhile, reached another ominous record, with 156 virus deaths, and a staggering 13,965 new cases.
Amid the upsurge, a Florida state legislator, Republican Rep. Anthony Sabatini, filed a lawsuit Friday against a mask ordinance in Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg and Clearwater. About 100 people in support of his stance rallied in front of the county courthouse, some holding signs saying mask requirements are unconstitutional.
At least half of the 50 states have adopted requirements for wearing masks or other facial coverings.
But in Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp has banned cities and counties from requiring face coverings. He sued Atlanta late Thursday to prevent it from defying his order, but Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she was prepared to go to court to maintain the local mask requirement.
Worldwide, governments are frantically trying to prevent and put down fresh outbreaks and keep their economies running as the pandemic accelerates in some regions and threatens to come roaring back in others. Globally, confirmed cases numbered more than 13.8 million Friday and COVID-19 deaths totaled more than 590,000.
To cope with the pandemic’s fallout, the United Nations said it is increasing to $10.3 billion its appeal for humanitarian aid funding
Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said in Geneva that the number of people who need humanitarian assistance has more than doubled during the pandemic — from around 110 million to about 250 million.
India’s total confirmed cases surpassed 1 million, the third-highest number behind the United States and Brazil, and its death toll reached more than 25,000. That followed Brazil’s announcement Thursday evening that its confirmed cases exceeded 2 million, including 76,000 deaths.
The continuing surge of new cases in India — where experts believe the vast majority of cases are still being missed — drove home concerns over the readiness of some countries to cope with outbreaks that could overwhelm hospitals and test feeble health care systems. The government ordered a weeklong lockdown in the technology hub of Bangalore after confirmed cases there increased exponentially.
In sub-Saharan Africa, which already had the world’s greatest shortage of medical personnel, nearly 10,000 health workers in 40 countries have been infected with the coronavirus, the World Health Organization said. More than half of infected workers are in South Africa, where most of the continent’s infections are as well.
Israel on Friday reimposed sweeping restrictions to tackle a new surge in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “interim steps” to avoid another general lockdown.
Stores, malls, barber shops, beauty salons, beaches, and tourist sites will also be closed on weekends. Public gatherings will be limited to 10 people indoors or 20 outside.
New virus cases have soared in Israel since restrictions were lifted in late May. The country reported around 1,900 new cases on Thursday.
Japan’s capital recorded a single-day record number of new coronavirus cases for a second straight day on Friday with 293. Tokyo was taken off a list of places around the country where discounts are offered under a government scheme to encourage domestic tourism.
Spain, which earlier in the pandemic was one of the world’s hardest hit countries, was grappling with more than 150 active outbreaks, most of them in the northern Aragon and Catalonia regions. Health authorities asked the 5.5 million residents of Barcelona, the regional capital of Catalonia, to stay at home as much as possible to stem the virus’ spread.
They also announced a local ban on social gatherings over 10 people, and nightclub and gym closures. Spain reported 580 new cases Thursday, the highest daily number since May 10.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson charted a different course, announcing that as of Aug. 1 the government was no longer asking people to avoid public transit and would stop advising workers in England to work from home.
Keen to reinvigorate the economy, Johnson wants to see struggling businesses that rely on office workers rebound. The U.K.’s official death toll, which stood at more than 45,000 as of Friday, has for several weeks been the highest in Europe.


shareblue--2020-07-19--Trump still can't say what he'll do with a second term

Donald Trump is adamant that he wants another four years in office .
It 's less clear what he would do with them .
Trump repeatedly assailed Democratic rival Joe Biden during a rambling , hourlong Rose Garden news conference Tuesday that doubled as a reelection rally .
But he offered few clues about what he would do if he remains in the White House .
He similarly stammered through an interview last month when pressed by a friendly TV host to talk about what a second term would look like .
With the election less than four months away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winning than on how he would govern .
He 's offered no substantive policy proposal , opting instead for heated rhetoric on race , crime and socialism aimed at his most loyal supporters .
Biden , meanwhile , is releasing a growing number of proposals touching on topics including trade and climate change .
Trump is reshaping his campaign , announcing Wednesday that veteran GOP operative Bill Stepien will replace Brad Parscale as campaign manager .
But it 's unlikely the move will change Trump 's preference to focus more on messaging rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that reflects the challenge of asking voters for another term amid overlapping public health and economic crises .
`` During a reelection campaign , you basically are making the argument that the status quo is really good and that the challenger is insufficient to do the job .
And for more than three years , he could credibly make that argument about the economy , '' said Mike DuHaime , senior adviser to former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie 's 2016 presidential campaign .
`` The problem comes when the status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard data — both on the economy and with COVID — that shows that , '' DuHaime said , referring to the coronavirus .
`` That makes it much harder to make an argument about the next four years . ''
Still , the question of what to do with four years in the White House is one of the most basic elements of a presidential campaign — even for an incumbent .
Trump 's challenge became apparent late last month when he struggled to answer the question during an interview with Sean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You know the story , riding down Pennsylvania Avenue with our first lady and I say , 'This is great , ' but I did n't know very many people in Washington .
It was n't my thing .
I was from Manhattan , '' Trump said as part of his answer , before eventually calling John Bolton , his former national security adviser , an `` idiot . ''
Trump did n't name a single policy objective , and , in the days that followed , the messaging from the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that because Trump presided over a strong economy once , he would be the right person to build it back .
But it has yet to put forth much of a positive agenda , instead focusing on painting a dystopic picture of the nation if Biden came to power .
`` There has never been an election where we 've had this kind of difference '' between the candidates , Trump said , before painting a bleak , crime-filled portrait of the Democrats ' governing philosophy .
`` It 's radical left , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' His Rose Garden address on Tuesday haphazardly bounced from topic to topic , from China to statues to Biden and back again , resembling not an official government event but rather a facsimile of the campaign speech he had wanted to give three nights earlier at a New Hampshire rally that was called off because of sparse crowds and a somewhat ominous weather forecast .
It was a display of Trump in full , an equal mix of braggadocio , grievance , and vicious partisan politics .
But what was missing were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's economy or improve the fortunes of its citizens .
`` There 's no agenda because he himself is the agenda , '' said presidential historian Jon Meacham .
`` In 2016 , Trump was a vehicle ; now , amid a cataclysmic pandemic that he has failed to manage , fewer people outside the core base want to hear anything other than how do we get safely back to real life .
Because he has no answer to that overarching question , he just talks — about , inevitably , himself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past tripped up by the question `` Why do you want to be president ? ''
including , perhaps most notably , Ted Kennedy ahead of the 1980 election .
But it is rare for an incumbent to have so little to detail as to why he should be able to keep his job .
When asked for the Trump 's second-term agenda , the White House pointed to Trump 's response to COVID-19 but offered little in the way of specifics .
`` As the President continues to lead a whole-of-government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law and order to our communities , and rebuild the economy , '' said spokesperson Judd Deere , `` the White House is engaged in an ongoing policy process for a bold second term agenda that continues the 'Transition to Greatness ' that ensures we are a safer , stronger , more prosperous America . ''
White House officials also pointed to promises of better trade deals and maintaining law and order , but the lack of details gave Biden 's team an opening .
`` This president 's inaction to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives and millions of jobs .
Why should voters continue to let him lead during this once-in-a-generation crisis ? ''
said Biden national campaign spokesperson TJ Ducklo .
`` Do n't ask him , he does n't have an answer . ''

Donald Trump is adamant that he wants another four years in office. It’s less clear what he would do with them.
Trump repeatedly assailed Democratic rival Joe Biden during a rambling, hourlong Rose Garden news conference Tuesday that doubled as a reelection rally. But he offered few clues about what he would do if he remains in the White House. He similarly stammered through an interview last month when pressed by a friendly TV host to talk about what a second term would look like.
With the election less than four months away, Trump’s focus is more on winning than on how he would govern. He’s offered no substantive policy proposal, opting instead for heated rhetoric on race, crime and socialism aimed at his most loyal supporters. Biden, meanwhile, is releasing a growing number of proposals touching on topics including trade and climate change.
Trump is reshaping his campaign, announcing Wednesday that veteran GOP operative Bill Stepien will replace Brad Parscale as campaign manager. But it’s unlikely the move will change Trump’s preference to focus more on messaging rather than a policy agenda. Some Republicans said that reflects the challenge of asking voters for another term amid overlapping public health and economic crises.
“During a reelection campaign, you basically are making the argument that the status quo is really good and that the challenger is insufficient to do the job. And for more than three years, he could credibly make that argument about the economy,” said Mike DuHaime, senior adviser to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s 2016 presidential campaign.
“The problem comes when the status quo isn’t good and there is hard data — both on the economy and with COVID — that shows that,” DuHaime said, referring to the coronavirus. “That makes it much harder to make an argument about the next four years.”
Still, the question of what to do with four years in the White House is one of the most basic elements of a presidential campaign — even for an incumbent. Trump’s challenge became apparent late last month when he struggled to answer the question during an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News Channel.
“You know the story, riding down Pennsylvania Avenue with our first lady and I say, ‘This is great,’ but I didn’t know very many people in Washington. It wasn’t my thing. I was from Manhattan,” Trump said as part of his answer, before eventually calling John Bolton, his former national security adviser, an “idiot.”
Trump didn’t name a single policy objective, and, in the days that followed, the messaging from the White House seemed to rely solely on the idea that because Trump presided over a strong economy once, he would be the right person to build it back. But it has yet to put forth much of a positive agenda, instead focusing on painting a dystopic picture of the nation if Biden came to power.
“There has never been an election where we’ve had this kind of difference” between the candidates, Trump said, before painting a bleak, crime-filled portrait of the Democrats’ governing philosophy. “It’s radical left, and it’ll destroy our country.”
His Rose Garden address on Tuesday haphazardly bounced from topic to topic, from China to statues to Biden and back again, resembling not an official government event but rather a facsimile of the campaign speech he had wanted to give three nights earlier at a New Hampshire rally that was called off because of sparse crowds and a somewhat ominous weather forecast.
It was a display of Trump in full, an equal mix of braggadocio, grievance, and vicious partisan politics. But what was missing were any specific plans to right the country’s economy or improve the fortunes of its citizens.
“There’s no agenda because he himself is the agenda,” said presidential historian Jon Meacham. “In 2016, Trump was a vehicle; now, amid a cataclysmic pandemic that he has failed to manage, fewer people outside the core base want to hear anything other than how do we get safely back to real life. Because he has no answer to that overarching question, he just talks — about, inevitably, himself.”
There have been presidential candidates in the past tripped up by the question “Why do you want to be president?” including, perhaps most notably, Ted Kennedy ahead of the 1980 election. But it is rare for an incumbent to have so little to detail as to why he should be able to keep his job.
When asked for the Trump’s second-term agenda, the White House pointed to Trump’s response to COVID-19 but offered little in the way of specifics.
“As the President continues to lead a whole-of-government response to a global pandemic, restore law and order to our communities, and rebuild the economy,” said spokesperson Judd Deere, “the White House is engaged in an ongoing policy process for a bold second term agenda that continues the ‘Transition to Greatness’ that ensures we are a safer, stronger, more prosperous America.”
White House officials also pointed to promises of better trade deals and maintaining law and order, but the lack of details gave Biden’s team an opening.
“This president’s inaction to get the virus under control has cost thousands of lives and millions of jobs. Why should voters continue to let him lead during this once-in-a-generation crisis?” said Biden national campaign spokesperson TJ Ducklo. “Don’t ask him, he doesn’t have an answer.”


shareblue--2020-07-19--Growing list of stores across the US will require customers to wear masks

Target , CVS Health , and Publix Super Markets on Thursday joined the growing list of national chains that will require customers to wear face masks regardless of where cities or states stand on the issue .
Target 's mandatory face mask policy will go into effect Aug. 1 , and all CVS stores will begin requiring them on Monday .
Publix Super Markets Inc. , based in Lakeland , Florida , said that its rule will kick in on Tuesday at all 1,200 stores .
More than 80 % of Target 's 1,800 stores already require customers to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Target will hand out masks at entrances to those who need them .
The announcements come one day after the nation 's largest retailer , Walmart , said that it would mandate face shields for all customers starting Monday .
Starbucks , Best Buy , Kohl 's , and Kroger Co. have also announced mandatory masks nationwide in recent days .
Retailers have hesitated to make masks mandatory nationwide out of fear of angering some customers over what , even in a pandemic , has become a political issue .
They have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position of becoming enforcers .
Confrontations with customers and store employees have played out in multiple incidents caught on video .
It was difficult to enforce such rules even in states that mandate face masks .
However , the recent surge of new virus cases — particularly in Florida , California , Texas , and Arizona — has left them with no choice , retail experts say .
`` To be clear , we 're not asking our store employees to play the role of enforcer , '' said Jon Roberts , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What we are asking is that customers help protect themselves and those around them by listening to the experts and heeding the call to wear a face covering . ''

Target, CVS Health, and Publix Super Markets on Thursday joined the growing list of national chains that will require customers to wear face masks regardless of where cities or states stand on the issue.
Target’s mandatory face mask policy will go into effect Aug. 1, and all CVS stores will begin requiring them on Monday. Publix Super Markets Inc., based in Lakeland, Florida, said that its rule will kick in on Tuesday at all 1,200 stores.
More than 80% of Target’s 1,800 stores already require customers to wear masks due to local and state regulations. Target will hand out masks at entrances to those who need them.
The announcements come one day after the nation’s largest retailer, Walmart, said that it would mandate face shields for all customers starting Monday.
Starbucks, Best Buy, Kohl’s, and Kroger Co. have also announced mandatory masks nationwide in recent days.
Retailers have hesitated to make masks mandatory nationwide out of fear of angering some customers over what, even in a pandemic, has become a political issue.
They have been reluctant to put employees in the position of becoming enforcers. Confrontations with customers and store employees have played out in multiple incidents caught on video.
It was difficult to enforce such rules even in states that mandate face masks. However, the recent surge of new virus cases — particularly in Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona — has left them with no choice, retail experts say.
“To be clear, we’re not asking our store employees to play the role of enforcer,” said Jon Roberts, the chief operating officer at CVS. “What we are asking is that customers help protect themselves and those around them by listening to the experts and heeding the call to wear a face covering.”


shareblue--2020-07-20--Democrats: 'The appropriate way to honor John Lewis' is to protect voting rights

Mourning the death of civil rights hero John Lewis , Democrats are urging the Senate to take up a bill of enduring importance to Lewis throughout his life : protecting and expanding the right to vote .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and other Democrats say the Senate should take up a House-passed bill to restore key sections of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act and rename it for Lewis , a longtime congressman who died Friday at age 80 of pancreatic cancer .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called Lewis a `` great man '' who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , but Republicans appear unlikely to bring up the voting rights bill for a Senate vote .
The impasse highlights how the bipartisan consensus around civil rights-era voting protections — and particularly the use of federal power to enforce them — has evaporated since a 2013 Supreme Court decision struck down portions of the 1965 law .
Pelosi ( D-CA ) said Monday that `` the appropriate way to honor John Lewis is for the Senate to take up the Voting Rights Act and name it for John Lewis . ''
Clyburn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis friend , said McConnell and Donald Trump `` can demonstrate their real respect for the life and legacy of John Lewis by passing that bill in the Senate , and the president signing it . ''
`` Let 's have our election this year in honor of John Robert Lewis , '' Clyburn said Sunday on NBC 's `` Meet the Press . ''
Lewis , a Democrat who served 17 terms in the House , was for decades a force behind civil rights and voting rights laws .
Most recently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the May 25 police killing of George Floyd , a Black man in Minneapolis .
Floyd 's death and other police killings have sparked a national reckoning over racism and protests in cities from coast to coast .
In an interview Monday on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe , '' Pelosi said Congress traditionally has reauthorized the Voting Rights Act by overwhelming , bipartisan votes — `` and John Lewis was very much a part of that . ''
`` We all walked down the steps of the Capitol together '' after one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was `` really hard to comprehend '' why Republicans resist taking up the Voting Rights Act .
`` Maybe now they see a path , '' she said .
`` I certainly hope so . ''
But it has become a contentious issue , particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court decision declaring a key section of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional .
The ruling in Shelby County v. Holder tossed out a `` pre-clearance '' provision that required officials in more than a dozen , mostly Southern states to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voting process .
The House approved a bill in December essentially reversing the 2013 decision and imposing new obligations on states and local jurisdictions .
Lewis , who was bloodied and bludgeoned in a civil rights march months before the original voting rights law was passed , presided in the House chamber as lawmakers voted to extend it .
His mere presence signaled the importance Democratic leaders placed on the measure .
Lewis and other supporters said the bill would help prevent voter suppression in the South and other areas by developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a recent history of voting rights violations to pre-clear election changes , like the closure of polling places , with the Justice Department .
Strict voter registration requirements , polling place confusion and other obstacles faced by Georgia voters in 2018 show why federal oversight of elections is still needed in places with a history of discrimination , Democrats said .
Problems also were reported in Florida , where elections officials came under withering criticism for their handling of a legally required recount in close races for governor and U.S. Senate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would take away important powers from the states .
Trump promised a veto if the bill reached his desk , calling it federal overreach .
McConnell 's office declined to comment Monday .
But the Kentucky Republican told The Wall Street Journal last week that claims by Democrats and civil rights groups that Black voters are disadvantaged by state-based measures such as ID requirements or shortened voting hours are without merit .
`` There 's very little tangible evidence of this whole voter-suppression nonsense that the Democrats are promoting , '' McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters will turn out in as large a percentage as whites , if not more so , all across the country '' in November .
Former Attorney General Eric Holder , who is named in the 2013 case , said restoring voting rights lost in the Shelby decision would be an appropriate honor for Lewis , whose commitment to the cause `` animated him every day of his service as a representative for the oppressed in this nation and as a guiding light for his country . ''
Since Shelby , state legislatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling places across the country , Holder wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post .
`` Voters have been unnecessarily and inexcusably stricken from the rolls — with purge rates 40 percent higher in states that were previously covered '' by the Voting Rights Act , Holder wrote .
`` Over the past decade , 25 states have instituted draconian anti-voting laws that clearly and intentionally have a disproportionate impact on communities of color , '' he added .
Many of the laws were passed in the name of combating voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real issue was voter suppression .
`` No right is more precious to our citizenship than the right of all Americans to be able to vote , '' said Rep. Terri Sewell ( D-AL ) the House bill 's chief sponsor .
`` When Americans are not able to cast their ballots , their votes are silenced . ''

Mourning the death of civil rights hero John Lewis, Democrats are urging the Senate to take up a bill of enduring importance to Lewis throughout his life: protecting and expanding the right to vote.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and other Democrats say the Senate should take up a House-passed bill to restore key sections of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act and rename it for Lewis, a longtime congressman who died Friday at age 80 of pancreatic cancer.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called Lewis a “great man” who helped bend the nation’s history toward justice, but Republicans appear unlikely to bring up the voting rights bill for a Senate vote. The impasse highlights how the bipartisan consensus around civil rights-era voting protections — and particularly the use of federal power to enforce them — has evaporated since a 2013 Supreme Court decision struck down portions of the 1965 law.
Pelosi (D-CA) said Monday that “the appropriate way to honor John Lewis is for the Senate to take up the Voting Rights Act and name it for John Lewis.”
Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat and close Lewis friend, said McConnell and Donald Trump “can demonstrate their real respect for the life and legacy of John Lewis by passing that bill in the Senate, and the president signing it.”
“Let’s have our election this year in honor of John Robert Lewis,” Clyburn said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Lewis, a Democrat who served 17 terms in the House, was for decades a force behind civil rights and voting rights laws. Most recently, he spoke out against police violence after the May 25 police killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death and other police killings have sparked a national reckoning over racism and protests in cities from coast to coast.
In an interview Monday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Pelosi said Congress traditionally has reauthorized the Voting Rights Act by overwhelming, bipartisan votes — “and John Lewis was very much a part of that.”
“We all walked down the steps of the Capitol together” after one such vote, Pelosi recalled, adding that it was “really hard to comprehend” why Republicans resist taking up the Voting Rights Act. “Maybe now they see a path,” she said. “I certainly hope so.”
But it has become a contentious issue, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court decision declaring a key section of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional. The ruling in Shelby County v. Holder tossed out a “pre-clearance” provision that required officials in more than a dozen, mostly Southern states to receive federal approval before making changes to the voting process.
The House approved a bill in December essentially reversing the 2013 decision and imposing new obligations on states and local jurisdictions. Lewis, who was bloodied and bludgeoned in a civil rights march months before the original voting rights law was passed, presided in the House chamber as lawmakers voted to extend it. His mere presence signaled the importance Democratic leaders placed on the measure.
Lewis and other supporters said the bill would help prevent voter suppression in the South and other areas by developing a process to require states and localities with a recent history of voting rights violations to pre-clear election changes, like the closure of polling places, with the Justice Department.
Strict voter registration requirements, polling place confusion and other obstacles faced by Georgia voters in 2018 show why federal oversight of elections is still needed in places with a history of discrimination, Democrats said. Problems also were reported in Florida, where elections officials came under withering criticism for their handling of a legally required recount in close races for governor and U.S. Senate.
Republicans called the bill unnecessary and said it would take away important powers from the states. Trump promised a veto if the bill reached his desk, calling it federal overreach.
McConnell’s office declined to comment Monday. But the Kentucky Republican told The Wall Street Journal last week that claims by Democrats and civil rights groups that Black voters are disadvantaged by state-based measures such as ID requirements or shortened voting hours are without merit.
“There’s very little tangible evidence of this whole voter-suppression nonsense that the Democrats are promoting,” McConnell said. “My prediction is African-American voters will turn out in as large a percentage as whites, if not more so, all across the country” in November.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who is named in the 2013 case, said restoring voting rights lost in the Shelby decision would be an appropriate honor for Lewis, whose commitment to the cause “animated him every day of his service as a representative for the oppressed in this nation and as a guiding light for his country.”
Since Shelby, state legislatures and local officials have closed nearly 1,700 polling places across the country, Holder wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post. “Voters have been unnecessarily and inexcusably stricken from the rolls — with purge rates 40 percent higher in states that were previously covered” by the Voting Rights Act, Holder wrote.
“Over the past decade, 25 states have instituted draconian anti-voting laws that clearly and intentionally have a disproportionate impact on communities of color,” he added. Many of the laws were passed in the name of combating voter fraud, but Holder and other Democrats said the real issue was voter suppression.
“No right is more precious to our citizenship than the right of all Americans to be able to vote,” said Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) the House bill’s chief sponsor. “When Americans are not able to cast their ballots, their votes are silenced.”


shareblue--2020-07-20--St. Louis couple who aimed guns at protesters charged with felony

St. Louis ' top prosecutor on Monday charged a white husband and wife with felony unlawful use of a weapon for displaying guns during a racial injustice protest outside their mansion .
Mark and Patricia McCloskey , who are both personal injury attorneys in their 60s , also face a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree assault .
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner told The Associated Press that the McCloskeys ' actions risked creating a violent situation during an otherwise nonviolent protest .
`` It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner — that is unlawful in the city of St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney for the couple , Joel Schwartz , in a statement called the decision to charge `` disheartening as I unequivocally believe no crime was committed . ''
Supporters of the McCloskeys said they were legally defending their $ 1.15 million home .
Gardner is recommending a diversion program such as community service rather than jail time if the McCloskeys are convicted .
Typically , class E felonies could result in up to four years in prison .
Several Republican leaders have condemned Gardner 's investigation , including Donald Trump , Missouri Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawley , who has urged Attorney General William Barr to undertake a civil rights investigation of Gardner .
Parson said in a radio interview Friday that he would likely pardon the couple if they were charged and convicted .
Gardner said Trump , Parson , and others are attacking her to distract from `` their failed approach to the COVID-19 pandemic '' and other issues .
St. Louis , like many cities across the country , has seen demonstrations in the weeks since George Floyd 's death in Minneapolis , and the McCloskeys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstration on June 28 .
Several hundred people were marching to the home of Democratic Mayor Lyda Krewson , a few blocks from the McCloskeys ' home .
Krewson had angered activists by reading on Facebook Live the names and addresses of some who had called for defunding police .
The McCloskeys live on a private street called Portland Place .
A police report said the couple heard a loud commotion and saw a large group of people break an iron gate marked with `` No Trespassing '' and `` Private Street '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rev .
Darryl Gray , said the gate was open and that protesters did n't damage it .
Mark McCloskey confronted protesters with a semi-automatic rifle , screamed at them and pointed the weapon at them , according to a probable statement .
The statement said Patricia McCloskey then emerged with a semi-automatic handgun , yelling at protesters to `` go '' and pointing it at them .
No shots were fired .
Photos emerged as memes on both sides of the gun debate .
Trump spoke by phone with Parson last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when he was in the Legislature , co-authored Missouri 's `` castle doctrine '' law that justifies deadly force for those who are defending their homes from intruders .
He has said that the McCloskeys `` had every right to protect their property . ''
Gardner declined to discuss why she decided the castle doctrine did n't apply .
Schwartz said the McCloskeys `` support the First Amendment right of every citizen to have their voice and opinion heard .
This right , however , must be balanced with the Second Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us to protect our home and family from potential threats . ''
Gardner , St. Louis ' first Black circuit attorney , has been at odds with some in the St. Louis establishment since her election in 2016 .
Most notably , her office charged then-Gov .
Eric Greitens with felony invasion of privacy in 2018 for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman during an extramarital affair .
The charge was eventually dropped , but Greitens resigned in June 2018 .
A private investigator Gardner hired to investigate the claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for allegedly lying during a deposition .
His case is pending .
Gardner also has butted heads with police leaders , especially after she developed an `` exclusion list '' of more than two dozen officers who were barred from serving as primary witnesses in criminal cases over what Gardner called credibility concerns .
The move angered Police Chief John Hayden , who also is Black .
In January , Gardner filed a federal lawsuit accusing the city , the police union and others of a coordinated and racist conspiracy aimed at forcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also accused `` entrenched interests '' of intentionally impeding her efforts to change racist practices .
Several Black leaders in St. Louis have expressed support for Gardner , including Democratic Rep. William Lacy Clay , who has said protesters `` should never be subject to the threat of deadly force , whether by individuals or by the police . ''

St. Louis’ top prosecutor on Monday charged a white husband and wife with felony unlawful use of a weapon for displaying guns during a racial injustice protest outside their mansion.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who are both personal injury attorneys in their 60s, also face a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree assault.
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner told The Associated Press that the McCloskeys’ actions risked creating a violent situation during an otherwise nonviolent protest.
“It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner — that is unlawful in the city of St. Louis,” Gardner said.
An attorney for the couple, Joel Schwartz, in a statement called the decision to charge “disheartening as I unequivocally believe no crime was committed.”
Supporters of the McCloskeys said they were legally defending their $1.15 million home.
Gardner is recommending a diversion program such as community service rather than jail time if the McCloskeys are convicted. Typically, class E felonies could result in up to four years in prison.
Several Republican leaders have condemned Gardner’s investigation, including Donald Trump, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, and Sen. Josh Hawley, who has urged Attorney General William Barr to undertake a civil rights investigation of Gardner. Parson said in a radio interview Friday that he would likely pardon the couple if they were charged and convicted.
Gardner said Trump, Parson, and others are attacking her to distract from “their failed approach to the COVID-19 pandemic” and other issues.
St. Louis, like many cities across the country, has seen demonstrations in the weeks since George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, and the McCloskeys’ home was initially incidental to the demonstration on June 28. Several hundred people were marching to the home of Democratic Mayor Lyda Krewson, a few blocks from the McCloskeys’ home. Krewson had angered activists by reading on Facebook Live the names and addresses of some who had called for defunding police.
The McCloskeys live on a private street called Portland Place. A police report said the couple heard a loud commotion and saw a large group of people break an iron gate marked with “No Trespassing” and “Private Street” signs. A protest leader, the Rev. Darryl Gray, said the gate was open and that protesters didn’t damage it.
Mark McCloskey confronted protesters with a semi-automatic rifle, screamed at them and pointed the weapon at them, according to a probable statement. The statement said Patricia McCloskey then emerged with a semi-automatic handgun, yelling at protesters to “go” and pointing it at them. No shots were fired.
Photos emerged as memes on both sides of the gun debate.
Trump spoke by phone with Parson last week to criticize Gardner’s investigation. Parson, when he was in the Legislature, co-authored Missouri’s “castle doctrine” law that justifies deadly force for those who are defending their homes from intruders. He has said that the McCloskeys “had every right to protect their property.”
Gardner declined to discuss why she decided the castle doctrine didn’t apply.
Schwartz said the McCloskeys “support the First Amendment right of every citizen to have their voice and opinion heard. This right, however, must be balanced with the Second Amendment and Missouri law, which entitle each of us to protect our home and family from potential threats.”
Gardner, St. Louis’ first Black circuit attorney, has been at odds with some in the St. Louis establishment since her election in 2016. Most notably, her office charged then-Gov. Eric Greitens with felony invasion of privacy in 2018 for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman during an extramarital affair. The charge was eventually dropped, but Greitens resigned in June 2018.
A private investigator Gardner hired to investigate the claims against Greitens was later indicted for perjury for allegedly lying during a deposition. His case is pending.
Gardner also has butted heads with police leaders, especially after she developed an “exclusion list” of more than two dozen officers who were barred from serving as primary witnesses in criminal cases over what Gardner called credibility concerns. The move angered Police Chief John Hayden, who also is Black.
In January, Gardner filed a federal lawsuit accusing the city, the police union and others of a coordinated and racist conspiracy aimed at forcing her out of office. The lawsuit also accused “entrenched interests” of intentionally impeding her efforts to change racist practices.
Several Black leaders in St. Louis have expressed support for Gardner, including Democratic Rep. William Lacy Clay, who has said protesters “should never be subject to the threat of deadly force, whether by individuals or by the police.”


shareblue--2020-07-20--Teachers union warns 1 million could lose jobs without more funds from Congress

If federal relief funding is not provided to cities and states facing coronavirus budget shortfalls , nearly 1 million jobs in public K-12 education could be lost , according to a report released on Monday by the American Federation of Teachers , the second-largest U.S. teachers union .
The report , titled , `` A Time to Act : The Importance of Investment in Public Education and Other State and Local Services in the Time of COVID-19 , '' found that K-12 public schools across the country are facing a $ 93.5 billion budget gap going into the next school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received by state and local governments .
Public schools receive the majority of their funding from tax revenues .
The report warns that if Congress does n't help states make up the lost revenue , 962,000 teachers , teacher 's aides , and `` noninstructional '' aides could lose their jobs .
That budget shortfall does n't include money needed to provide teachers and students with a safe learning environment this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The report says an additional $ 116.5 billion is needed `` for personal protective equipment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address students ' needs . ''
The report comes as Senate Republicans refuse to pass coronavirus relief for state and local governments .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has wrongly claimed that state and local governments mismanaged their budgets before the COVID-19 pandemic , and that they are therefore responsible for the economic trouble they find themselves in and do not deserve relief from the federal government .
The Washington Post reported on Monday that a coronavirus aid package currently under development by Senate Republicans and the White House is not expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local governments , and that it conditions any educational aid to states on their schools reopening — a key demand made by Donald Trump that has little support from the public .
Democrats in the House passed legislation in May that would provide $ 875 billion `` to assist state [ and local ] governments with the fiscal impacts from the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus . ''
Also included in the House bill is a $ 90 billion `` State Fiscal Stabilization Fund '' that would provide grants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning costs .
Senate Republicans have refused to take up that legislation .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

If federal relief funding is not provided to cities and states facing coronavirus budget shortfalls, nearly 1 million jobs in public K-12 education could be lost, according to a report released on Monday by the American Federation of Teachers, the second-largest U.S. teachers union.
The report, titled, “A Time to Act: The Importance of Investment in Public Education and Other State and Local Services in the Time of COVID-19,” found that K-12 public schools across the country are facing a $93.5 billion budget gap going into the next school year due to decreases in tax revenues received by state and local governments. Public schools receive the majority of their funding from tax revenues.
The report warns that if Congress doesn’t help states make up the lost revenue, 962,000 teachers, teacher’s aides, and “noninstructional” aides could lose their jobs.
That budget shortfall doesn’t include money needed to provide teachers and students with a safe learning environment this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic. The report says an additional $116.5 billion is needed “for personal protective equipment, health staffing, cleaning support and resources to address students’ needs.”
The report comes as Senate Republicans refuse to pass coronavirus relief for state and local governments.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has wrongly claimed that state and local governments mismanaged their budgets before the COVID-19 pandemic, and that they are therefore responsible for the economic trouble they find themselves in and do not deserve relief from the federal government.
The Washington Post reported on Monday that a coronavirus aid package currently under development by Senate Republicans and the White House is not expected to contain any new spending for state and local governments, and that it conditions any educational aid to states on their schools reopening — a key demand made by Donald Trump that has little support from the public.
Democrats in the House passed legislation in May that would provide $875 billion “to assist state [and local] governments with the fiscal impacts from the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus.”
Also included in the House bill is a $90 billion “State Fiscal Stabilization Fund” that would provide grants to schools to cover such expenses as increased cleaning costs.
Senate Republicans have refused to take up that legislation.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-20--Trump administration rule lets shelters decide who is a woman based on facial hair

The Trump administration is proposing to allow the staff of single-sex homeless shelters to use a person 's facial hair as a factor in deciding whether they are allowed inside a women 's shelter .
Earlier this month , the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it would move forward with a regulation that would gut Obama-era nondiscrimination protections for transgender people at single-sex shelters .
The Obama administration 's rule , called `` Equal Access in Accordance With an Individual ’ s Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs , '' required that single-sex shelters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiencing homelessness in accordance with their gender identity .
Vox obtained a copy of the proposed new rule , which has not yet been publicly released .
It includes provisions allowing shelter staff to consider people 's appearance , including `` the presence ( but not the absence ) of facial hair , the presence of an Adam 's apple , and other physical characteristics which , when considered together , are indicative of a person 's biological sex , '' in determining who qualifies to use a single-sex women 's shelter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the new rule would result in the exclusion of many transgender women from single-sex shelters that accommodate people with their gender identity .
Cisgender women who do not fit the staff 's definition of `` female '' could be similarly harmed by the enforcement of strict gender norms , they say .
Transgender and nonbinary adults are more likely to experience unsheltered homelessness than cisgender adults , according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness .
Transgender people who have experienced homelessness say they have been discriminated against based on their gender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of shelters or expected to dress differently to remain in them .
The Obama-era regulations that HUD is seeking to roll back were intended to prevent such discrimination .
According to the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey published by the National Center for Transgender Equality , one in eight respondents said they had experienced homelessness in the past year .
Of those , 4 % said they were denied shelter access because they were transgender , 9 % said they were thrown out once staff realized they were transgender , and 14 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their gender presentation in order to stay at the shelter .
Jennifer C. Pizer , senior counsel and law and policy director at Lambda Legal , a civil rights organization focusing on LGBTQ people , called the rule `` the most simple-minded of gender stereotyping . ''
`` This new proposal continues the administration 's obsessive determination to thwart Obama administration rules that protect transgender people from sex discrimination , '' Pizer said .
`` These rules can be life-saving in emergency shelters and housing , and life-path-saving in employment and education .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of nondiscrimination rules , it is keeping our litigation team in overdrive.
” Kris Hayashi , executive director of the national organization Transgender Law Project , said the rule change is part of a larger effort by right-wing conservatives to attack the movement for transgender equality .
Many states have considered legislation this year that bans trans student athletes from competing on sports teams consistent with their gender .
Idaho Gov .
Brad Little ( R ) signed such a bill into a law in March , and the Department of Justice has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by their physical characteristics , like invasive exams and medical tests , is yet another way for the Trump administration and anti-trans lawmakers to expose trans people to humiliation and harm while attempting to strip them of rights and protections , '' Hayashi said .
He added , `` With this announced rule , the Trump administration is seeking to expose trans people , and now potentially some cisgender people as well , to violence and harm within shelters or to deter them from accessing shelter for fear of discrimination , misgendering , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president Alphonso David said , `` Federal agencies have a responsibility to ensure programs are accessible to everyone who is eligible , but the Trump-Pence administration is deliberately finding ways to facilitate discrimination against vulnerable communities , particularly transgender women of color . ''
David said the HUD rule change proposal is another in a long line of assaults by the Trump administration that risk the lives of transgender people .
`` They should reverse this proposal immediately .
We will not accept yet another attack on us , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump rolled back Obama administration guidelines that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender .
News broke in April that the Trump administration was getting rid of an Obama administration regulation that says transgender people ca n't be discriminated against while they access health care .
The change was finalized in June , during Pride Month .
HUD Secretary Ben Carson 's attitudes toward transgender people , and LGBTQ people more broadly , are well-documented .
When Carson visited HUD 's office in San Francisco last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Carson commented that society did n't seem to know the difference between men and women anymore .
He also reportedly said he was concerned about `` big , hairy men '' attempting to get inside homeless shelters for women .
Carson sent out an email to staffers to clarify his comments .
In doing so , he further framed the inclusion of transgender people as in direct opposition to the safety of victims of abuse .
`` Our society is in danger when we pick one issue ( such as gender identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how it impacts others because this one issue should override every other common-sense consideration , '' Carson wrote .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Trump administration is proposing to allow the staff of single-sex homeless shelters to use a person’s facial hair as a factor in deciding whether they are allowed inside a women’s shelter.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it would move forward with a regulation that would gut Obama-era nondiscrimination protections for transgender people at single-sex shelters. The Obama administration’s rule, called “Equal Access in Accordance With an Individual’s Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs,” required that single-sex shelters receiving HUD funding place and accommodate people experiencing homelessness in accordance with their gender identity.
Vox obtained a copy of the proposed new rule, which has not yet been publicly released. It includes provisions allowing shelter staff to consider people’s appearance, including “the presence (but not the absence) of facial hair, the presence of an Adam’s apple, and other physical characteristics which, when considered together, are indicative of a person’s biological sex,” in determining who qualifies to use a single-sex women’s shelter.
Advocates for the rights of transgender people say the new rule would result in the exclusion of many transgender women from single-sex shelters that accommodate people with their gender identity. Cisgender women who do not fit the staff’s definition of “female” could be similarly harmed by the enforcement of strict gender norms, they say.
Transgender and nonbinary adults are more likely to experience unsheltered homelessness than cisgender adults, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Transgender people who have experienced homelessness say they have been discriminated against based on their gender, and some have been either thrown out of shelters or expected to dress differently to remain in them. The Obama-era regulations that HUD is seeking to roll back were intended to prevent such discrimination.
According to the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey published by the National Center for Transgender Equality, one in eight respondents said they had experienced homelessness in the past year. Of those, 4% said they were denied shelter access because they were transgender, 9% said they were thrown out once staff realized they were transgender, and 14% said shelter staff forced them to change their gender presentation in order to stay at the shelter.
Jennifer C. Pizer, senior counsel and law and policy director at Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization focusing on LGBTQ people, called the rule “the most simple-minded of gender stereotyping.”
“This new proposal continues the administration’s obsessive determination to thwart Obama administration rules that protect transgender people from sex discrimination,” Pizer said. “These rules can be life-saving in emergency shelters and housing, and life-path-saving in employment and education. As this administration continues its wrong-headed destruction of nondiscrimination rules, it is keeping our litigation team in overdrive.”
Kris Hayashi, executive director of the national organization Transgender Law Project, said the rule change is part of a larger effort by right-wing conservatives to attack the movement for transgender equality. Many states have considered legislation this year that bans trans student athletes from competing on sports teams consistent with their gender. Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) signed such a bill into a law in March, and the Department of Justice has defended it.
“Merely judging people by their physical characteristics, like invasive exams and medical tests, is yet another way for the Trump administration and anti-trans lawmakers to expose trans people to humiliation and harm while attempting to strip them of rights and protections,” Hayashi said.
He added, “With this announced rule, the Trump administration is seeking to expose trans people, and now potentially some cisgender people as well, to violence and harm within shelters or to deter them from accessing shelter for fear of discrimination, misgendering, and violence.”
Human Rights Campaign president Alphonso David said, “Federal agencies have a responsibility to ensure programs are accessible to everyone who is eligible, but the Trump-Pence administration is deliberately finding ways to facilitate discrimination against vulnerable communities, particularly transgender women of color.”
David said the HUD rule change proposal is another in a long line of assaults by the Trump administration that risk the lives of transgender people.
“They should reverse this proposal immediately. We will not accept yet another attack on us,” he said.
After only month in office, Donald Trump rolled back Obama administration guidelines that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender. News broke in April that the Trump administration was getting rid of an Obama administration regulation that says transgender people can’t be discriminated against while they access health care. The change was finalized in June, during Pride Month.
HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s attitudes toward transgender people, and LGBTQ people more broadly, are well-documented. When Carson visited HUD’s office in San Francisco last year, HUD staffers told the Washington Post, Carson commented that society didn’t seem to know the difference between men and women anymore. He also reportedly said he was concerned about “big, hairy men” attempting to get inside homeless shelters for women.
Carson sent out an email to staffers to clarify his comments. In doing so, he further framed the inclusion of transgender people as in direct opposition to the safety of victims of abuse.
“Our society is in danger when we pick one issue (such as gender identity) and say it does not matter how it impacts others because this one issue should override every other common-sense consideration,” Carson wrote.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-20--McCarthy falsely claims defunding the police led to spike in 'violent crime'

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy alleged on Monday that violent crime has spiked in cities that took money away from police budgets , taking aim at the current `` defund the police '' movement that began gaining traction in the wake of several high profile police killings .
`` As predicted , cities that have defunded police have seen a spike in violent crime , '' McCarthy tweeted , attaching a video of an interview with KGET , in which he made a similar claim .
`` If you watch the spike of what ’ s happening inside these cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s exactly what we predicted what would happen : Crime is rising , '' he said in the video .
`` This is what happens when you take police away . ''
It is true that most cities regularly experience an increase in crime during the summer months , as CNN reported in mid-July , with children and teens out of school and more people gathering outdoors .
Further , University of Missouri-St. Louis criminologist Richard Rosenfeld told CNN that it is `` reasonably clear '' this year that some of the increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home orders put in place to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
He added that the unrest caused by protests to end racist police brutality may also have contributed to some higher crime rates .
An examination of police data , however , shows no evidence to support McCarthy 's assertion linking the effort to `` defund the police '' to an increase in crime .
In late June , Axios reported that cities including Baltimore , Philadelphia , Portland , and Seattle had taken steps to shift funding away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defund the police '' movement .
The amount of defunding ranged from $ 15 million in Portland to $ 22 million in Baltimore .
Data from those police departments show violent crime did not spike in any of the four cities over both the past month or year-over-year .
In several cities , the number of violent crimes decreased .
In Baltimore , the number of violent crimes ( aggravated assault , homicide , carjacking , street robberies , and shootings ) has not spiked as McCarthy suggested .
In fact , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained relatively flat , according to data from the Baltimore City Police Department .
Violent crimes in the city appear to have decreased by around 3 % from the end of March 2019 to the end of March 2020 , according to the most recent year-to-year data available on the department 's website .
Violent crime in Philadelphia ( homicide , rape , robbery , and aggravated assault ) decreased slightly over the past month , dropping 5.3 % from mid-June to mid-July compared to mid-May to mid-June , according to data released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past several months have remained relatively stagnant in the city , and over the past year , dropped by 4.4 % In Portland , overall crime was lower in April 2020 compared to both March 2020 and April 2019 .
Violent crime ( assault homicide , human trafficking , kidnapping , and sex offenses ) decreased from 746 in March to 664 in April , the latest months available from the Portland Police Department .
The same pattern was true in Seattle , where total crime has been trending down since January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 2020 was lower than the same months in 2019 .
Violent crime in Seattle ( homicide , rape , and aggravated assault ) remained largely the same from May to June .
The `` defund the police '' movement stemmed from a wave of protests against racism and police brutality following the deaths of George Floyd in Minnesota and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky , both of whom were Black , at the hands of white police officers .
The movement seeks to shift some funding away from police departments in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities need , '' Alicia Garza , co-founder of Black Lives Matter , explained on `` Meet the Press '' in early June .
`` So much of policing right now is generated and directed towards quality-of-life issues , homelessness , drug addiction , domestic violence , '' she said .
`` … But what we do need is increased funding for housing , we need increased funding for education , we need increased funding for quality of life of communities who are over-policed and over-surveilled . ''
Portland , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget in June , and will invest $ 5 million from that into a new city program to send unarmed first responders to deal with calls focused on the homeless population .
`` People are trying to figure out what kind of society would be possible that does n't rely on police and prisons to solve its problems , '' Brooklyn College sociology professor Alex Vitale told NBC News , `` and that 's a long-term political vision that is important to this movement . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent @ @

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy alleged on Monday that violent crime has spiked in cities that took money away from police budgets, taking aim at the current “defund the police” movement that began gaining traction in the wake of several high profile police killings.
“As predicted, cities that have defunded police have seen a spike in violent crime,” McCarthy tweeted, attaching a video of an interview with KGET, in which he made a similar claim.
“If you watch the spike of what’s happening inside these cities that have defunded police, it’s exactly what we predicted what would happen: Crime is rising,” he said in the video. “This is what happens when you take police away.”
But the facts don’t support McCarthy’s claim.
It is true that most cities regularly experience an increase in crime during the summer months, as CNN reported in mid-July, with children and teens out of school and more people gathering outdoors.
Further, University of Missouri-St. Louis criminologist Richard Rosenfeld told CNN that it is “reasonably clear” this year that some of the increase in crimes are related to cities relaxing stay-at-home orders put in place to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. He added that the unrest caused by protests to end racist police brutality may also have contributed to some higher crime rates.
An examination of police data, however, shows no evidence to support McCarthy’s assertion linking the effort to “defund the police” to an increase in crime.
In late June, Axios reported that cities including Baltimore, Philadelphia, Portland, and Seattle had taken steps to shift funding away from police departments in response to the “defund the police” movement. The amount of defunding ranged from $15 million in Portland to $22 million in Baltimore.
Data from those police departments show violent crime did not spike in any of the four cities over both the past month or year-over-year. In several cities, the number of violent crimes decreased.
In Baltimore, the number of violent crimes (aggravated assault, homicide, carjacking, street robberies, and shootings) has not spiked as McCarthy suggested. In fact, over the past 60 days, they’ve remained relatively flat, according to data from the Baltimore City Police Department. Violent crimes in the city appear to have decreased by around 3% from the end of March 2019 to the end of March 2020, according to the most recent year-to-year data available on the department’s website.
Violent crime in Philadelphia (homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) decreased slightly over the past month, dropping 5.3% from mid-June to mid-July compared to mid-May to mid-June, according to data released Monday morning. Violent crime rates over the past several months have remained relatively stagnant in the city, and over the past year, dropped by 4.4%
In Portland, overall crime was lower in April 2020 compared to both March 2020 and April 2019. Violent crime (assault homicide, human trafficking, kidnapping, and sex offenses) decreased from 746 in March to 664 in April, the latest months available from the Portland Police Department.
The same pattern was true in Seattle, where total crime has been trending down since January, and crime in both May and June 2020 was lower than the same months in 2019. Violent crime in Seattle (homicide, rape, and aggravated assault) remained largely the same from May to June.
The “defund the police” movement stemmed from a wave of protests against racism and police brutality following the deaths of George Floyd in Minnesota and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, both of whom were Black, at the hands of white police officers.
The movement seeks to shift some funding away from police departments in order to “invest in the resources that our communities need,” Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, explained on “Meet the Press” in early June.
“So much of policing right now is generated and directed towards quality-of-life issues, homelessness, drug addiction, domestic violence,” she said. “… But what we do need is increased funding for housing, we need increased funding for education, we need increased funding for quality of life of communities who are over-policed and over-surveilled.”
Portland, for example, cut $15 million from the police budget in June, and will invest $5 million from that into a new city program to send unarmed first responders to deal with calls focused on the homeless population.
“People are trying to figure out what kind of society would be possible that doesn’t rely on police and prisons to solve its problems,” Brooklyn College sociology professor Alex Vitale told NBC News, “and that’s a long-term political vision that is important to this movement.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-20--Graham: 'I completely support' Trump using federal agents to fight graffiti

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) praised Donald Trump for sending federal law enforcement agents in full tactical military gear into Portland , Oregon , saying Trump `` is right to demand that law and order be restored in American cities . ''
`` These protests and riots are getting out of hand , jeopardizing public safety and economic recovery , '' Graham tweeted Monday afternoon .
`` If federal law enforcement officials are necessary to do the job and President Trump chooses to go down this path , I completely support him . ''
Federal agents , dressed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas and even abducting peaceful protesters off the streets in unmarked vans — leading to an uproar about federal overreach .
Oregon officials are demanding the federal agents leave the city , saying their actions are inciting unrest .
But Graham is siding with Trump , who he had just golfed with on Saturday in Virginia .
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf defended his actions , saying they were necessary to fight a `` violent mob '' in Portland .
However , a statement from DHS released Thursday as well as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to incidents of graffiti on buildings .
Wolf doubled down on having unmarked federal law enforcement police American cities on Fox News Monday morning : `` I do n't need invitations by the state , state mayors , or state governors to do our job .
We 're going to do that , whether they like us there or not . ''
Trump , for his part , said he 's happy about the job federal agents have done in Portland , saying he wants to expand the presence of federal law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to have more federal law enforcement that I can tell you , '' Trump said Monday at the White House .
`` In Portland , they 've done a fantastic job .
They 've been there three days , and they really have done a fantastic job in a really short period of time , no problem .
They grab 'em , a lot of people in jail . ''
Trump mentioned New York and Chicago as other cities he may send federal law enforcement agents to .
Trump thinks his law-and-order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a second term .
However , polls show that his message is n't working .
A Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Sunday found voters trust presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden more than Trump on handling `` crime and safety '' by a margin of 50 % to 41 % .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) praised Donald Trump for sending federal law enforcement agents in full tactical military gear into Portland, Oregon, saying Trump “is right to demand that law and order be restored in American cities.”
“These protests and riots are getting out of hand, jeopardizing public safety and economic recovery,” Graham tweeted Monday afternoon. “If federal law enforcement officials are necessary to do the job and President Trump chooses to go down this path, I completely support him.”
Federal agents, dressed in camouflage, have been firing off tear gas and even abducting peaceful protesters off the streets in unmarked vans — leading to an uproar about federal overreach.
Oregon officials are demanding the federal agents leave the city, saying their actions are inciting unrest.
But Graham is siding with Trump, who he had just golfed with on Saturday in Virginia.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf defended his actions, saying they were necessary to fight a “violent mob” in Portland.
However, a statement from DHS released Thursday as well as a series of tweets from Wolf mostly pointed to incidents of graffiti on buildings.
Wolf doubled down on having unmarked federal law enforcement police American cities on Fox News Monday morning: “I don’t need invitations by the state, state mayors, or state governors to do our job. We’re going to do that, whether they like us there or not.”
Trump, for his part, said he’s happy about the job federal agents have done in Portland, saying he wants to expand the presence of federal law enforcement in other cities.
“We’re going to have more federal law enforcement that I can tell you,” Trump said Monday at the White House. “In Portland, they’ve done a fantastic job. They’ve been there three days, and they really have done a fantastic job in a really short period of time, no problem. They grab ’em, a lot of people in jail.”
Trump mentioned New York and Chicago as other cities he may send federal law enforcement agents to.
Trump thinks his law-and-order message could help him in his quest for a second term.
However, polls show that his message isn’t working.
A Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Sunday found voters trust presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden more than Trump on handling “crime and safety” by a margin of 50% to 41%.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-20--Workers across the country strike against systemic racism and economic inequality

Hundreds of workers rallied Monday outside the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan and the Massachusetts Statehouse to protest systemic racism and economic inequality — an effort that organizers hoped would grow into a nationwide strike in which tens of thousands of people walked off the job .
Dubbed the `` Strike for Black Lives , '' the protest was organized by labor unions and social and racial justice organizations , which planned a range of actions in more than two dozen U.S. cities .
Where work stoppages are not possible for a full day , participants expected to picket during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silence to honor Black lives lost to police violence , organizers said .
About 1,500 janitors in San Francisco walked off their jobs and planned to lead a march to City Hall later in the day , according to Fight for $ 15 , a labor group that supports raising the U.S. minimum wage to $ 15 an hour .
McDonald 's cooks and cashiers in Los Angeles and nursing home workers in St. Paul were also striking , the group said .
The strikers were to include delivery men and women , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport workers .
In Manhattan , more than 150 union workers rallied outside Trump International Hotel to demand that the Senate and Donald Trump adopt the HEROES Act , which provides protective equipment , essential pay , and extended unemployment benefits to workers who have not had the option of working from home during the coronavirus pandemic .
It has already been passed by the House .
Rally participants held signs that read , `` Black Lives Matter , '' `` Racism is a public health crisis '' and `` Unions for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here to demand from those in power , including the man whose name adorns the building , that it 's time to dismantle white supremacy and combat police brutality , '' said Kyle Bragg , president of 32BJ , a union representing more than 170,000 office janitors , security workers and doormen on the East Coast .
`` Until we have racial justice we can not have economic , climate or immigrant justice , '' Bragg said .
In Massachusetts , about 200 people , including health care workers , janitors , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for U.S. Senate in front of the Statehouse in Boston .
`` We 're just being overworked and underpaid , and it makes you sometimes lose your compassion , '' said Toyai Anderson , 44 , who planned to walk off her job as a nursing aide for two hours at Hartford Nursing and Rehab Center in Detroit .
`` It makes me second guess if I am sure this is my calling . ''
After 13 years on the job , Anderson makes $ 15.75 an hour .
Nationally , the typical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to health care worker advocacy group PCI , and 1 in 4 nursing home workers is Black .
Hundreds of other workers were expected to walk off their jobs at six Detroit nursing homes , according to the Service Employees International Union .
The workers are demanding higher wages and more safety equipment to keep them from catching and spreading the virus , as well as better health care benefits and paid sick leave .
The strike continues an ongoing global reckoning on race and police brutality set off by the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died at the hands of Minneapolis police in late May .
At noon in each U.S. time zone on Monday , workers are expected to take a knee for about eight minutes — the amount of time prosecutors say a white police officer held his knee on Floyd 's neck .
`` We are ... building a country where Black lives matter in every aspect of society — including in the workplace , '' said Ash-Lee Henderson , an organizer with the Movement for Black Lives , a coalition of over 150 organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement .
`` The Strike for Black Lives is a moment of reckoning for corporations that have long ignored the concerns of their Black workforce and denied them better working conditions , living wages and healthcare , '' said Henderson , who is also co-executive director of the Tennessee-based Highlander Research and Education Center .
In Minneapolis , where Floyd was killed on May 25 , strikers will include nursing home and airport workers demanding a $ 15-per-hour minimum wage , organizers said .
In Missouri , participants will rally at McDonald 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a landmark in the protest movement sparked by the death of Michael Brown , a Black teenager who was killed by police in 2014 .
The Ferguson strikers will also march to a memorial site located on the spot where Brown was shot and killed .
Strikers are demanding sweeping action by corporations and government to confront systemic racism and economic inequality that limits mobility and career advancement for many Black and Hispanic workers , who make up a disproportionate number of those earning less than a living wage .
Specifically , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government officials to use executive and legislative power to guarantee people of all races can thrive .
That demand includes raising wages and allowing workers to unionize to negotiate better health care , sick leave and child care support .
Justice Favor , 38 , an organizer with the Laborers ' International Union Local 79 , which represents 10,000 predominately Black and Hispanic construction workers in New York City , said he hopes that the strike motivates more white workers to acknowledge the existence of racism and discrimination in the workplace .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Italians were a subjugated people , too , '' said Favor , who is Black .
`` How would you feel if you were n't able to fully assimilate into society ?
Once you have an open mind , you have to call out your coworkers who are doing wrong to others . ''
When the strike was announced on July 8 , partnering unions included the Service Employees International Union , the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , the American Federation of Teachers , United Farm Workers and Fight for $ 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined , along with social and racial justice groups .

Hundreds of workers rallied Monday outside the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan and the Massachusetts Statehouse to protest systemic racism and economic inequality — an effort that organizers hoped would grow into a nationwide strike in which tens of thousands of people walked off the job.
Dubbed the “Strike for Black Lives,” the protest was organized by labor unions and social and racial justice organizations, which planned a range of actions in more than two dozen U.S. cities. Where work stoppages are not possible for a full day, participants expected to picket during a lunch break or observe moments of silence to honor Black lives lost to police violence, organizers said.
About 1,500 janitors in San Francisco walked off their jobs and planned to lead a march to City Hall later in the day, according to Fight for $15, a labor group that supports raising the U.S. minimum wage to $15 an hour. McDonald’s cooks and cashiers in Los Angeles and nursing home workers in St. Paul were also striking, the group said.
The strikers were to include delivery men and women, fast food employees, ride-share, and airport workers.
In Manhattan, more than 150 union workers rallied outside Trump International Hotel to demand that the Senate and Donald Trump adopt the HEROES Act, which provides protective equipment, essential pay, and extended unemployment benefits to workers who have not had the option of working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. It has already been passed by the House.
Rally participants held signs that read, “Black Lives Matter,” “Racism is a public health crisis” and “Unions for all.”
“Today, we’re here to demand from those in power, including the man whose name adorns the building, that it’s time to dismantle white supremacy and combat police brutality,” said Kyle Bragg, president of 32BJ, a union representing more than 170,000 office janitors, security workers and doormen on the East Coast.
“Until we have racial justice we cannot have economic, climate or immigrant justice,” Bragg said.
In Massachusetts, about 200 people, including health care workers, janitors, and other essential employees, joined Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in front of the Statehouse in Boston.
“We’re just being overworked and underpaid, and it makes you sometimes lose your compassion,” said Toyai Anderson, 44, who planned to walk off her job as a nursing aide for two hours at Hartford Nursing and Rehab Center in Detroit. “It makes me second guess if I am sure this is my calling.”
After 13 years on the job, Anderson makes $15.75 an hour. Nationally, the typical nursing aide makes $13.38, according to health care worker advocacy group PCI, and 1 in 4 nursing home workers is Black.
Hundreds of other workers were expected to walk off their jobs at six Detroit nursing homes, according to the Service Employees International Union. The workers are demanding higher wages and more safety equipment to keep them from catching and spreading the virus, as well as better health care benefits and paid sick leave.
The strike continues an ongoing global reckoning on race and police brutality set off by the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police in late May. At noon in each U.S. time zone on Monday, workers are expected to take a knee for about eight minutes — the amount of time prosecutors say a white police officer held his knee on Floyd’s neck.
“We are … building a country where Black lives matter in every aspect of society — including in the workplace,” said Ash-Lee Henderson, an organizer with the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of over 150 organizations that make up the Black Lives Matter movement.
“The Strike for Black Lives is a moment of reckoning for corporations that have long ignored the concerns of their Black workforce and denied them better working conditions, living wages and healthcare,” said Henderson, who is also co-executive director of the Tennessee-based Highlander Research and Education Center.
In Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed on May 25, strikers will include nursing home and airport workers demanding a $15-per-hour minimum wage, organizers said. In Missouri, participants will rally at McDonald’s locations in St. Louis and Ferguson, a landmark in the protest movement sparked by the death of Michael Brown, a Black teenager who was killed by police in 2014. The Ferguson strikers will also march to a memorial site located on the spot where Brown was shot and killed.
Strikers are demanding sweeping action by corporations and government to confront systemic racism and economic inequality that limits mobility and career advancement for many Black and Hispanic workers, who make up a disproportionate number of those earning less than a living wage.
Specifically, they are calling on corporate leaders and elected government officials to use executive and legislative power to guarantee people of all races can thrive. That demand includes raising wages and allowing workers to unionize to negotiate better health care, sick leave and child care support.
Justice Favor, 38, an organizer with the Laborers’ International Union Local 79, which represents 10,000 predominately Black and Hispanic construction workers in New York City, said he hopes that the strike motivates more white workers to acknowledge the existence of racism and discrimination in the workplace.
“There was a time when the Irish and Italians were a subjugated people, too,” said Favor, who is Black. “How would you feel if you weren’t able to fully assimilate into society? Once you have an open mind, you have to call out your coworkers who are doing wrong to others.”
When the strike was announced on July 8, partnering unions included the Service Employees International Union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the American Federation of Teachers, United Farm Workers and Fight for $15. Several more worker collectives have since joined, along with social and racial justice groups.


shareblue--2020-07-20--Trump attacks Biden for being both too soft and too tough on crime

Donald Trump wants voters to believe Joe Biden is simultaneously too tough and too weak on crime .
Last week , the Trump campaign released an ad warning : `` You wo n't be safe in Joe Biden 's America . ''
It falsely claims that Biden `` stands with '' a `` radical left-wing mob '' that wants to `` defund the police . ''
Biden is in favor of `` cutting police funding , '' the spot charges , along with `` eliminating cash bail , letting criminals back on the street , violent crime exploding , innocent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post 's `` Fact Checker '' column gives the ad `` Four Pinocchios , '' the rating it uses to indicate `` Whoppers . ''
In an interview with Fox News ' Chris Wallace aired on Sunday , Trump again characterized the former vice president as a proponent of lawlessness .
Liberal mayors run cities `` poorly , it was always bad but now it 's gotten totally out of control and it 's really because they want to defund the police , '' Trump said .
`` And Biden wants to defund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response , `` No he , sir , he does not , '' Trump and his staff were unable to back up the claim .
Wallace told a Fox News anchor after a preview for the interview , which was recorded on Friday , that Trump requested and was given a copy of the `` charter '' Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders have created to unite Democrats ahead of the November election .
Trump , Wallace said , `` could n't find any indication – because there is n't any – that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abolish the police . ''
While Biden has called for some police funding to be redirected to other programs , he has explicitly opposed defunding law enforcement .
`` I support conditioning federal aid to police based on whether or not they meet certain basic standards of decency and honorableness .
And , in fact , are able to demonstrate they can protect the community and everybody in the community , '' he told CBS last month .
But in addition to being false , the framing of Biden as weak on crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him in other campaign ads and elsewhere .
`` Sleepy Joe Biden 's 1994 Crime Bill was a total disaster .
It was mass incarceration for Black people , many of them innocent , '' Trump tweeted last month .
`` Biden can never escape his Crime Bill ! ''
In May , the Trump campaign began running another ad , posted on YouTube with the title `` Joe Biden has destroyed millions of Black American lives , '' blaming Biden for mass incarceration .
`` Joe Biden wrote those laws , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that put people in jail for `` minor offenses . ''
It then features a video of then-Sen. Biden saying , `` Every major crime bill that 's come out of this Congress has had the name 'Joe Biden ' on that bill . ''
Trump 's campaign did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
Trump 's own record on crime has also been contradictory .
As a candidate , he promised `` the crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety will be restored . ''
He repeatedly pledged to `` drain the swamp '' and eliminate government corruption .
Trump frequently claims Republican candidates he endorses are `` tough on crime . ''
And in recent days , his Department of Homeland Security sent federal agents into Portland , Oregon , to aggressively crack down on protesters over the objections of local leaders .
But he has also used his powers to shield his own political allies from punishment for their own crimes .
Trump this month commuted the sentence of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges that included lying to Congress .
In May , his Justice Department attempted to have charges dropped against his former national security adviser Michael Flynn , charges to which he had pleaded guilty .
Violations of the Hatch Act by members of Trump 's administration continue to go unchecked .
And in August 2017 , Trump pardoned former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio , who had been found guilty of criminal contempt in a case of racial profiling .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump wants voters to believe Joe Biden is simultaneously too tough and too weak on crime.
Last week, the Trump campaign released an ad warning: “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.” It falsely claims that Biden “stands with” a “radical left-wing mob” that wants to “defund the police.”
Biden is in favor of “cutting police funding,” the spot charges, along with “eliminating cash bail, letting criminals back on the street, violent crime exploding, innocent children fatally shot.” The Washington Post’s “Fact Checker” column gives the ad “Four Pinocchios,” the rating it uses to indicate “Whoppers.”
In an interview with Fox News’ Chris Wallace aired on Sunday, Trump again characterized the former vice president as a proponent of lawlessness.
Liberal mayors run cities “poorly, it was always bad but now it’s gotten totally out of control and it’s really because they want to defund the police,” Trump said. “And Biden wants to defund the police.”
When Wallace said in response, “No he, sir, he does not,” Trump and his staff were unable to back up the claim. Wallace told a Fox News anchor after a preview for the interview, which was recorded on Friday, that Trump requested and was given a copy of the “charter” Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders have created to unite Democrats ahead of the November election. Trump, Wallace said, “couldn’t find any indication – because there isn’t any – that Joe Biden has sought to defund and abolish the police.”
While Biden has called for some police funding to be redirected to other programs, he has explicitly opposed defunding law enforcement. “I support conditioning federal aid to police based on whether or not they meet certain basic standards of decency and honorableness. And, in fact, are able to demonstrate they can protect the community and everybody in the community,” he told CBS last month.
But in addition to being false, the framing of Biden as weak on crime flatly contradicts attacks Trump has made on him in other campaign ads and elsewhere.
“Sleepy Joe Biden’s 1994 Crime Bill was a total disaster. It was mass incarceration for Black people, many of them innocent,” Trump tweeted last month. “Biden can never escape his Crime Bill!”
In May, the Trump campaign began running another ad, posted on YouTube with the title “Joe Biden has destroyed millions of Black American lives,” blaming Biden for mass incarceration.
“Joe Biden wrote those laws,” the spot’s narrator says of polices that put people in jail for “minor offenses.” It then features a video of then-Sen. Biden saying, “Every major crime bill that’s come out of this Congress has had the name ‘Joe Biden’ on that bill.”
Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
Trump’s own record on crime has also been contradictory.
As a candidate, he promised “the crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end. Beginning on January 20th, 2017, safety will be restored.” He repeatedly pledged to “drain the swamp” and eliminate government corruption.
Trump frequently claims Republican candidates he endorses are “tough on crime.” And in recent days, his Department of Homeland Security sent federal agents into Portland, Oregon, to aggressively crack down on protesters over the objections of local leaders.
But he has also used his powers to shield his own political allies from punishment for their own crimes.
Trump this month commuted the sentence of his associate Roger Stone, convicted on seven charges that included lying to Congress. In May, his Justice Department attempted to have charges dropped against his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, charges to which he had pleaded guilty.
Violations of the Hatch Act by members of Trump’s administration continue to go unchecked.
And in August 2017, Trump pardoned former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had been found guilty of criminal contempt in a case of racial profiling.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.