shareblue--2020-04-15--GOP governor claims coronavirus not a valid reason to vote by mail

Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson claimed on Tuesday that safe voting options are a partisan issue , not a matter of public health .
Parson was asked during a press conference whether the coronavirus pandemic was a valid excuse for residents to request an absentee ballot .
In Missouri , there are only six allowable excuses for voters to obtain an absentee ballot .
A health crisis is not one of them .
`` Look , '' he added , `` the absentee ballot is more a political issue than it is anything .
This is a Democrat-Republican issue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headed is to a political answer .
There will be time to talk about the elections in November and August , but now 's not the time for that . ''
In the past , Parson has opposed efforts to expand absentee voting options in response to the current crisis .
He rescheduled Missouri 's April 7 municipal elections for June 2 , just seven weeks away .
`` Making sure everyone can vote safely is n't a 'Democrat-Republican issue , ' '' tweeted Nicole Galloway , a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Parson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Missourians should be able to participate in our democracy without putting their lives at risk . ''
Republican officials were also concerned about Parson 's position , wondering if he was unfamiliar with the specific reforms some officials wanted .
`` I do n't know why he 'd feel it 's politically motivated , '' Rick Watson , who heads the state 's association of clerks and election authorities , told the Springfield News-Leader .
Watson said that clerks want Missouri residents to be able to request absentee ballots online , use drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling places that have more space than they usually do .
Parson 's opposition to absentee voting mirrors claims by other Republicans , who have suggested mail-in ballots constitute fraud .
Donald Trump himself falsely claimed on April 7 that there was `` a lot of dishonesty going along with mail-in voting . ''
`` Mail ballots — they cheat .
OK ?
People cheat , '' he said at the time .
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the United States .
In fact , the Republican National Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that read , `` Voting by mail is an easy , convenient and secure way to cast your ballot . ''
`` Universal vote by mail has also proven to be at least as secure from fraud — and arguably more so — as traditional voting at polls , '' former Oregon Secretary of State Phil Keisling wrote in 2016 .
Other states have struggled with the issue of voting during a pandemic .
By late March , at least nine states had already expanded absentee voting options .
But Republicans in Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor , Tony Evers , to postpone the state 's April 7 election and allow more time for voters to cast absentee ballots .
Voters there subsequently stood in long lines , with some waiting around long after the state 's few polling locations , which were forced to serve tens of thousands of voters each , were closed — exposing them to the virus .
In the end , conservatives lost a race for a state Supreme Court seat .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson claimed on Tuesday that safe voting options are a partisan issue, not a matter of public health.
Parson was asked during a press conference whether he thought the coronavirus pandemic was a valid excuse for residents to request an absentee ballot.
In Missouri, there are only six allowable excuses for voters to obtain an absentee ballot. A health crisis is not one of them.
“I do not,” Parson responded.
“Look,” he added, “the absentee ballot is more a political issue than it is anything. This is a Democrat-Republican issue, and that’s where this is all headed is to a political answer. There will be time to talk about the elections in November and August, but now’s not the time for that.”
In the past, Parson has opposed efforts to expand absentee voting options in response to the current crisis. He rescheduled Missouri’s April 7 municipal elections for June 2, just seven weeks away.
Backlash to Parson’s comment was swift.
“Making sure everyone can vote safely isn’t a ‘Democrat-Republican issue,'” tweeted Nicole Galloway, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Parson’s potential challenger this November. “Missourians should be able to participate in our democracy without putting their lives at risk.”
Republican officials were also concerned about Parson’s position, wondering if he was unfamiliar with the specific reforms some officials wanted.
“I don’t know why he’d feel it’s politically motivated,” Rick Watson, who heads the state’s association of clerks and election authorities, told the Springfield News-Leader.
Watson said that clerks want Missouri residents to be able to request absentee ballots online, use drop boxes to return ballots, and create polling places that have more space than they usually do.
Parson’s opposition to absentee voting mirrors claims by other Republicans, who have suggested mail-in ballots constitute fraud.
Donald Trump himself falsely claimed on April 7 that there was “a lot of dishonesty going along with mail-in voting.”
“Mail ballots — they cheat. OK? People cheat,” he said at the time.
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the United States. In fact, the Republican National Committee recently sent mailers to voters in Pennsylvania that read, “Voting by mail is an easy, convenient and secure way to cast your ballot.”
“Universal vote by mail has also proven to be at least as secure from fraud — and arguably more so — as traditional voting at polls,” former Oregon Secretary of State Phil Keisling wrote in 2016.
Other states have struggled with the issue of voting during a pandemic. By late March, at least nine states had already expanded absentee voting options.
But Republicans in Wisconsin opposed efforts by the state’s Democratic governor, Tony Evers, to postpone the state’s April 7 election and allow more time for voters to cast absentee ballots.
Voters there subsequently stood in long lines, with some waiting around long after the state’s few polling locations, which were forced to serve tens of thousands of voters each, were closed — exposing them to the virus.
In the end, conservatives lost a race for a state Supreme Court seat.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-15--Joe Biden: America is great 'because of immigrants'

SAFAA ELZAKZOKY : So my question is : We lost a coworker at my plant because there is no regulation to protect machine employees .
We can work safely and get the people meat that they need to eat , so what would you do to protect a worker like my friend who just died ?
JOE BIDEN : First of all , Safaa , thank you .
I feel so badly that you lost a friend .
It was n't necessary .
By the way , I 've been to Egypt a number of times .
And you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here in the United States ?
Because of immigrants like you , who come here from every part of the world .
BIDEN : No , I 'm not being solicitous .
I 'm being absolutely serious .
You know , my heart goes out to your former colleague , their family , and every one of you with the courage to keep going to work every day to feed and provide the American people .
It 's hard enough in a meat-packing plant to begin with .
It 's hard enough under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to do a job without protection .
Period .
Period .

From an April 15 virtual town hall:
SAFAA ELZAKZOKY: So my question is: We lost a coworker at my plant because there is no regulation to protect machine employees. We can work safely and get the people meat that they need to eat, so what would you do to protect a worker like my friend who just died?
JOE BIDEN: First of all, Safaa, thank you. I feel so badly that you lost a friend. It wasn’t necessary.
By the way, I’ve been to Egypt a number of times. And you know why we’re such a great country here in the United States? Because of immigrants like you, who come here from every part of the world.
ELZAKZOKY: Thank you.
BIDEN: No, I’m not being solicitous. I’m being absolutely serious.
You know, my heart goes out to your former colleague, their family, and every one of you with the courage to keep going to work every day to feed and provide the American people.
It’s hard enough in a meat-packing plant to begin with. It’s hard enough under normal circumstances.
And you shouldn’t have to do a job without protection. Period. Period.


shareblue--2020-04-15--Virginia GOP lawmaker claims social distancing is meant to silence conservatives

Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase ( R ) claimed on Tuesday night that Gov .
Ralph Northam was scheming to keep the state closed amid the raging coronavirus pandemic in order to prevent conservatives from protesting his progressive legislation .
In a video posted on her Facebook page , first flagged by Blue Virginia , Chase predicted incorrectly that Northam would extend his previous stay-at-home order on Wednesday afternoon beyond its current June 10 expiration date .
`` I 'm really suspicious , '' she said noting the `` egregious laws '' just signed by Northam , a Democrat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks on your Second Amendment , attacks on your First Amendment , attacks on life , allowing voter fraud by getting rid of the voter ID law . ''
`` He is setting this so that when all of those laws go into effect July 1 and you 're angry and you 're upset and you want to storm the Capitol , '' she said , `` he 's setting it up — mark my words , so that you ca n't go out to protest because Virginia will still be under his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a raft of progressive bills enacted by the new Democratic majorities in the Virginia Legislature , which Northam has signed into law .
These include bills mandating background checks for gun purchases and extreme risk protection orders to temporarily disarm those deemed threats to themselves or others , a repeal of `` medically unnecessary restrictions '' on reproductive health care , and the elimination of strict photo ID requirements for voters .
Northam issued a statewide stay-at-home order on March 30 to help curb the coronavirus ' spread .
`` We are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need everyone to take this seriously and act responsibly , '' he explained at the time .
`` Our message to Virginians is clear : stay home .
We know this virus spreads primarily through human-to-human contact , and that 's why it 's so important that people follow this order and practice social distancing . ''
Chase based her comments Tuesday on a model by researchers at the University of Virginia , released this week , that found the COVID-19 pandemic may not peak in Virginia until mid-August .
Northam had cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence that `` if we lift the stay-at-home order or social distancing too soon , if we rush to get our lives back to normal , the number of cases will spike higher and earlier . ''
`` I 'm sorry .
I do n't buy it .
Not even for a minute , '' Chase said of the new projection .
`` I want to know what other health care experts he 's talking to . ''
She noted earlier estimates that the outbreak would peak in April in the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an inquiry about Chase 's allegations .
Chase also claimed , without evidence , that social distancing and unemployment would cause more people to experience `` mental health issues '' than COVID-19 and suggested there had been `` new discoveries , new drugs that are actually working and getting people back to work . ''
`` They 're allowing people to ... it almost seems like a cure for COVID , '' she claimed .
`` I mean , 24 hours later , people are recovering , instead of the three-to-four-weeks time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the drug hydroxychloroquine , currently used to treat malaria patients , which Donald Trump and several high-profile Republicans have pushed against the advice of experts .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of Trump 's White House coronavirus task force , has specifically cautioned against promoting the drug , saying there is no firm evidence it is safe for patients with COVID-19 .
`` In terms of science , I don ’ t think we can definitively say it works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April .
`` The data are really just at best suggestive .
There have been cases that show there may be an effect and there are others to show there 's no effect . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase (R) claimed on Tuesday night that Gov. Ralph Northam was scheming to keep the state closed amid the raging coronavirus pandemic in order to prevent conservatives from protesting his progressive legislation.
In a video posted on her Facebook page, first flagged by Blue Virginia, Chase predicted incorrectly that Northam would extend his previous stay-at-home order on Wednesday afternoon beyond its current June 10 expiration date.
“I’m really suspicious,” she said noting the “egregious laws” just signed by Northam, a Democrat, including, “restrictive gun laws, attacks on your Second Amendment, attacks on your First Amendment, attacks on life, allowing voter fraud by getting rid of the voter ID law.”
“He is setting this so that when all of those laws go into effect July 1 and you’re angry and you’re upset and you want to storm the Capitol,” she said, “he’s setting it up — mark my words, so that you can’t go out to protest because Virginia will still be under his executive order.”
Chase was referencing a raft of progressive bills enacted by the new Democratic majorities in the Virginia Legislature, which Northam has signed into law. These include bills mandating background checks for gun purchases and extreme risk protection orders to temporarily disarm those deemed threats to themselves or others, a repeal of “medically unnecessary restrictions” on reproductive health care, and the elimination of strict photo ID requirements for voters.
Northam issued a statewide stay-at-home order on March 30 to help curb the coronavirus’ spread. “We are in a public health crisis, and we need everyone to take this seriously and act responsibly,” he explained at the time. “Our message to Virginians is clear: stay home. We know this virus spreads primarily through human-to-human contact, and that’s why it’s so important that people follow this order and practice social distancing.”
Chase based her comments Tuesday on a model by researchers at the University of Virginia, released this week, that found the COVID-19 pandemic may not peak in Virginia until mid-August. Northam had cited the projection in a briefing Monday as evidence that “if we lift the stay-at-home order or social distancing too soon, if we rush to get our lives back to normal, the number of cases will spike higher and earlier.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t buy it. Not even for a minute,” Chase said of the new projection. “I want to know what other health care experts he’s talking to.” She noted earlier estimates that the outbreak would peak in April in the state.
Northam’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry about Chase’s allegations.
Chase also claimed, without evidence, that social distancing and unemployment would cause more people to experience “mental health issues” than COVID-19 and suggested there had been “new discoveries, new drugs that are actually working and getting people back to work.”
“They’re allowing people to… it almost seems like a cure for COVID,” she claimed. “I mean, 24 hours later, people are recovering, instead of the three-to-four-weeks time period.”
Chase appeared to be referring to the drug hydroxychloroquine, currently used to treat malaria patients, which Donald Trump and several high-profile Republicans have pushed against the advice of experts.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of Trump’s White House coronavirus task force, has specifically cautioned against promoting the drug, saying there is no firm evidence it is safe for patients with COVID-19.
“In terms of science, I don’t think we can definitively say it works,” Fauci told CBS News earlier in April. “The data are really just at best suggestive. There have been cases that show there may be an effect and there are others to show there’s no effect.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-15--8 ways Trump trashed US relationships with allies around the world

Donald Trump 's decision Tuesday to stop U.S. funds from going to the World Health Organization in the middle of a pandemic is the latest in a long series of actions that have isolated the United States from the rest of the world .
Since Trump took office , he has alienated allies by withdrawing from agreements and breaking treaties on issues ranging from climate change to national security .
In January 2017 , three days after being sworn in , Trump withdrew the United States from the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement .
The agreement had been negotiated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had not been submitted to the Senate for ratification .
Trump called the deal `` a rape of our country . ''
The other countries involved in the agreement — Australia , Brunei , Canada , Chile , Japan , Malaysia , Mexico , New Zealand , Peru , Singapore , and Vietnam — negotiated a new agreement without the United States in 2018 .
Trump announced in May 2018 that he would pull the United States out of a multicountry treaty designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons .
The United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , China , Russia , and Iran had reached the deal in 2015 .
`` There is consistent incoherence in the policy which certainly unnerves our allies and partners , '' former CIA Director John Brennan said of Trump 's actions , adding that his decision `` is not just foolish — this is dangerous . ''
Trump promised for years to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement , which was ratified in 2015 by nearly 200 nations .
In November 2019 , Trump officially submitted paperwork to the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States the first and only country to do so .
The withdrawal will officially take place one day after the 2020 presidential election .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , said he will rejoin the Paris agreement if he becomes president .
Trump has repeatedly toyed with the idea of abandoning one of the world 's longest-lived and strongest alliances since World War II , the North Atlantic Treaty Organization .
Withdrawing from NATO `` would destroy 70-plus years of painstaking work across multiple administrations , Republican and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful and advantageous alliance in history , '' Michèle Flournoy , a defense official who served under President Barack Obama , told the New York Times in 2019 .
`` And it would be the wildest success that Vladimir Putin could dream of . ''
In response to a potential Trump move , Congress added language to a 2019 defense bill to prohibit Trump from using any funds `` to terminate , suspend , or file notice of withdrawal for the United States from NATO . ''
In June 2018 , Trump attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy and tried to undo an agreement among leaders of the G-7 group of industrial nations .
The United States has been a member of the groups since the mid-1970s .
`` Based on Justin 's false statements at his news conference , and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers , workers and companies , I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S .
Market ! ''
Trump tweeted after he left the G-7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BuzzFeed News reported that the State Department ignored Trump 's request and that the United States was still a signatory on the communique .
Beginning in 2018 , Trump began trade wars with Canada , Mexico , China , and the European Union .
Trump 's trade war with China demonstrated that `` when in doubt , Trump goes the way of confrontation , '' Jürgen Matthes of the German Economy Institute told Politico in 2019 .
As Trump confronted countries across the globe , American farmers faced severe hardship stemming from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a spike in bankruptcies and suicides .
In October 2019 , Trump withdrew American forces from northern Syria , giving Turkey the green light to launch an invasion against America 's Kurdish allies in the region .
Trump 's abandonment of longtime U.S. allies who were helping in the fight against ISIS terrorists drew bipartisan rebukes from Congress as well as from European allies .
`` The decision to abandon the Kurds violates one of our most sacred duties : It strikes at American honor , '' Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply regret the decision of the President of United States to withdraw American troops from northeastern Syria which marks another landmark in the change of American foreign policy in the Near and Middle East , '' lawmakers from France , Germany , the United Kingdom , the United States , and the European Parliament wrote in an October letter .
`` We consider the abandonment of the Syrian Kurds to be wrong . ''
On Tuesday , Trump announced he would stop U.S. funding for the WHO , falsely accusing the organization of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus at the center of the pandemic .
`` Now is a time for unity in the global battle to push the COVID-19 pandemic into reverse , not a time to cut the resources of the [ WHO ] , which is spearheading and coordinating the global body 's efforts , '' U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement on Tuesday .
Trump 's decision `` is deeply regrettable , '' Moussa Faki Mahamat , chair of the African Union Commission , tweeted .
`` Today more than ever , the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the global # Covid_19 pandemic response .
Our collective responsibility to ensure WHO can fully carry out its mandate , has never been more urgent . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s decision Tuesday to stop U.S. funds from going to the World Health Organization in the middle of a pandemic is the latest in a long series of actions that have isolated the United States from the rest of the world.
Since Trump took office, he has alienated allies by withdrawing from agreements and breaking treaties on issues ranging from climate change to national security.
Trans-Pacific Partnership
In January 2017, three days after being sworn in, Trump withdrew the United States from the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. The agreement had been negotiated by the Obama administration in 2016, but had not been submitted to the Senate for ratification.
Trump called the deal “a rape of our country.”
The other countries involved in the agreement — Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam — negotiated a new agreement without the United States in 2018.
Iran nuclear deal
Trump announced in May 2018 that he would pull the United States out of a multicountry treaty designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The United States, France, Germany, Britain, China, Russia, and Iran had reached the deal in 2015.
“There is consistent incoherence in the policy which certainly unnerves our allies and partners,” former CIA Director John Brennan said of Trump’s actions, adding that his decision “is not just foolish — this is dangerous.”
Paris Agreement
Trump promised for years to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement, which was ratified in 2015 by nearly 200 nations.
In November 2019, Trump officially submitted paperwork to the United Nations to withdraw, making the United States the first and only country to do so. The withdrawal will officially take place one day after the 2020 presidential election.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, said he will rejoin the Paris agreement if he becomes president.
NATO
Trump has repeatedly toyed with the idea of abandoning one of the world’s longest-lived and strongest alliances since World War II, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Withdrawing from NATO “would destroy 70-plus years of painstaking work across multiple administrations, Republican and Democratic, to create perhaps the most powerful and advantageous alliance in history,” Michèle Flournoy, a defense official who served under President Barack Obama, told the New York Times in 2019. “And it would be the wildest success that Vladimir Putin could dream of.”
In response to a potential Trump move, Congress added language to a 2019 defense bill to prohibit Trump from using any funds “to terminate, suspend, or file notice of withdrawal for the United States from NATO.”
G-7
In June 2018, Trump attacked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over trade policy and tried to undo an agreement among leaders of the G-7 group of industrial nations. The United States has been a member of the groups since the mid-1970s.
“Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!” Trump tweeted after he left the G-7 summit that month.
Months later, BuzzFeed News reported that the State Department ignored Trump’s request and that the United States was still a signatory on the communique.
Trade wars
Beginning in 2018, Trump began trade wars with Canada, Mexico, China, and the European Union.
Trump’s trade war with China demonstrated that “when in doubt, Trump goes the way of confrontation,” Jürgen Matthes of the German Economy Institute told Politico in 2019.
As Trump confronted countries across the globe, American farmers faced severe hardship stemming from the tariffs he imposed on other countries, including a spike in bankruptcies and suicides.
Syria
In October 2019, Trump withdrew American forces from northern Syria, giving Turkey the green light to launch an invasion against America’s Kurdish allies in the region.
Trump’s abandonment of longtime U.S. allies who were helping in the fight against ISIS terrorists drew bipartisan rebukes from Congress as well as from European allies.
“The decision to abandon the Kurds violates one of our most sacred duties: It strikes at American honor,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said in mid-October.
“We deeply regret the decision of the President of United States to withdraw American troops from northeastern Syria which marks another landmark in the change of American foreign policy in the Near and Middle East,” lawmakers from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Parliament wrote in an October letter. “We consider the abandonment of the Syrian Kurds to be wrong.”
World Health Organization
On Tuesday, Trump announced he would stop U.S. funding for the WHO, falsely accusing the organization of covering up the spread of the novel coronavirus at the center of the pandemic.
“Now is a time for unity in the global battle to push the COVID-19 pandemic into reverse, not a time to cut the resources of the [WHO], which is spearheading and coordinating the global body’s efforts,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement on Tuesday.
Trump’s decision “is deeply regrettable,” Moussa Faki Mahamat, chair of the African Union Commission, tweeted. “Today more than ever, the world depends on WHO’s leadership to steer the global #Covid_19 pandemic response. Our collective responsibility to ensure WHO can fully carry out its mandate, has never been more urgent.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-15--Daily Cuomo: States 'need the federal government' to step up testing

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) said on Wednesday that states can not do the sort of massive testing needed to reopen businesses on their own and that `` we need the federal government '' to play a key role in the process .
The day before , during his daily coronavirus press conference , Donald Trump had put the onus for testing on the states .
`` We 've always wanted the states to do the testing , '' Trump said .
Those comments directly contradicted earlier statements from both Trump and members of his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rolling out tests to the states in partnership with private businesses .
GOV .
ANDREW CUOMO : So , the more testing , the more open the economy .
But there 's not enough national capacity to do this .
I 've been speaking to governors across the country .
Every governor is now in the same situation .
I was speaking with Gov .
Pritzker of Illinois : He has some companies that do this testing in his state , but everyone is in the same position .
And we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what between the federal government and the state government .
The states can not develop national testing .
There 's no simple answer to it .
It 's basically controlled by private sector companies who have been doing it at a reduced volume , because that was the world — you did n't need such a high level of tests .
So , the private sector companies only developed to the capacity that the market demanded .
This is an entirely new market .
And then when you talk to the private sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll say , `` I ca n't increase my volume .
I ca n't get enough swabs , I ca n't get enough vials , I do n't have enough machinery to manufacture it or test it . ''
They need chemical agents that do — that are part of the test .
Many of these chemical agents are n't even manufactured in the United States , so there 's an international supply chain .
All this to say it is very hard to bring this to scale quickly , and we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said on Wednesday that states cannot do the sort of massive testing needed to reopen businesses on their own and that “we need the federal government” to play a key role in the process.
The day before, during his daily coronavirus press conference, Donald Trump had put the onus for testing on the states. “We’ve always wanted the states to do the testing,” Trump said. Those comments directly contradicted earlier statements from both Trump and members of his administration that the federal government would lead in rolling out tests to the states in partnership with private businesses.
From an April 15 press conference:
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO: So, the more testing, the more open the economy. But there’s not enough national capacity to do this. I’ve been speaking to governors across the country. Every governor is now in the same situation. I was speaking with Gov. Pritzker of Illinois: He has some companies that do this testing in his state, but everyone is in the same position. And we have to be clear on this, who does what between the federal government and the state government. The states cannot develop national testing. There’s no simple answer to it. It’s basically controlled by private sector companies who have been doing it at a reduced volume, because that was the world — you didn’t need such a high level of tests. So, the private sector companies only developed to the capacity that the market demanded. This is an entirely new market. And then when you talk to the private sector companies, which I have, they’ll say, “I can’t increase my volume. I can’t get enough swabs, I can’t get enough vials, I don’t have enough machinery to manufacture it or test it.” They need chemical agents that do — that are part of the test. Many of these chemical agents aren’t even manufactured in the United States, so there’s an international supply chain. All this to say it is very hard to bring this to scale quickly, and we need the federal government to be part of this.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-15--South Dakota governor still refuses safety measures after 400 get sick in outbreak

South Dakota 's Kristi Noem , one of a handful of Republican governors still refusing to issue stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the coronavirus , justified her inaction on Wednesday in a series of tweets .
Her argument : A massive outbreak that occurred at a pork plant in her state would not have been prevented by such an order .
`` We trusted South Dakotans to exercise personal responsibility to keep themselves and their loved-ones healthy .
They 've stepped up to the challenge .
But some folks in the national press are improperly conflating that decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Noem said .
`` Let 's be perfectly clear : a shelter-in-place order would NOT have prevented Smithfield from happening , '' she argued .
`` They are a critical infrastructure business .
They are part of the nation 's food supply chain and contribute to South Dakota 's role feeding the country and the world . ''
More than 400 workers at the now-shuttered Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls have fallen ill. Employees have blamed the lack of social distancing protocols inside and outside of the factory for the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' a former worker at the plant told the Washington Post on Monday .
`` Many people are sick .
Not only in the plant — in the whole city , '' she said .
While Noem has suggested that it is up to individuals to stop the spread of the virus , Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , told CNN on April 2 that universal stay-at-home orders were essential to curbing the rate of infection .
`` If you look at what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I just do n't understand why we 're not doing that .
We really should be . ''
Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey , a Republican who has issued a stay-at-home order in her state , said Wednesday , `` All indicators suggest that it is working , and I can not overemphasize enough the importance of it — and in fact , it is imperative that we keep doing what we are doing . ''
Public health officials in Alabama have noted the order has helped reduce infections and improve the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration modeling found that implementing stay-at-home orders and other social distancing efforts had already significantly reduced the predicted ultimate death toll from the coronavirus .
In an article published in the New York Times on Tuesday , two epidemiologists wrote that , while social distancing has helped , `` an estimated 90 percent of the cumulative deaths in the United States from Covid-19 , at least from the first wave of the epidemic , might have been prevented by putting social distancing policies into effect two weeks earlier , on March 2 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the entire country . ''
As of Wednesday , more than 1,100 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Dakota .
The metro Sioux Falls area now has more cases per capita than some larger cities , including Seattle .
Paul TenHaken , the Republican mayor of Sioux Falls , asked Noem over the weekend to issue a stay-at-home order at least for his community for the next three weeks .
Noem refused to do so , claiming she was basing her decisions on `` science , facts , and data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Independent Foundation .

South Dakota’s Kristi Noem, one of a handful of Republican governors still refusing to issue stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the coronavirus, justified her inaction on Wednesday in a series of tweets. Her argument: A massive outbreak that occurred at a pork plant in her state would not have been prevented by such an order.
“We trusted South Dakotans to exercise personal responsibility to keep themselves and their loved-ones healthy. They’ve stepped up to the challenge. But some folks in the national press are improperly conflating that decision with the situation at Smithfield,” Noem said.
“Let’s be perfectly clear: a shelter-in-place order would NOT have prevented Smithfield from happening,” she argued. “They are a critical infrastructure business. They are part of the nation’s food supply chain and contribute to South Dakota’s role feeding the country and the world.”
More than 400 workers at the now-shuttered Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls have fallen ill.
Employees have blamed the lack of social distancing protocols inside and outside of the factory for the outbreak.
“There is no social distance,” a former worker at the plant told the Washington Post on Monday. “Many people are sick. Not only in the plant — in the whole city,” she said.
While Noem has suggested that it is up to individuals to stop the spread of the virus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN on April 2 that universal stay-at-home orders were essential to curbing the rate of infection. “If you look at what’s going on in this country, I just don’t understand why we’re not doing that. We really should be.”
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican who has issued a stay-at-home order in her state, said Wednesday, “All indicators suggest that it is working, and I cannot overemphasize enough the importance of it — and in fact, it is imperative that we keep doing what we are doing.” Public health officials in Alabama have noted the order has helped reduce infections and improve the state’s projected number of cases.
Trump administration modeling found that implementing stay-at-home orders and other social distancing efforts had already significantly reduced the predicted ultimate death toll from the coronavirus.
In an article published in the New York Times on Tuesday, two epidemiologists wrote that, while social distancing has helped, “an estimated 90 percent of the cumulative deaths in the United States from Covid-19, at least from the first wave of the epidemic, might have been prevented by putting social distancing policies into effect two weeks earlier, on March 2, when there were only 11 deaths in the entire country.”
As of Wednesday, more than 1,100 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Dakota. The metro Sioux Falls area now has more cases per capita than some larger cities, including Seattle. Paul TenHaken, the Republican mayor of Sioux Falls, asked Noem over the weekend to issue a stay-at-home order at least for his community for the next three weeks. Noem refused to do so, claiming she was basing her decisions on “science, facts, and data.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-15--WHO chief: Our commitment to the world 'remains absolute' despite Trump's attack

Donald Trump and Republicans are attacking the WHO to deflect blame for mishandling the American response to the coronavirus .
Despite the ongoing global pandemic that has taken thousands of lives in America and across the world , Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he is halting U.S. funding to the World Health Organization .
Trump has falsely claimed that WHO covered up the spread of coronavirus .
At the time the organization was allegedly conducting a cover-up , Trump was repeatedly downplaying the virus and has continually botched the American response to the infection .
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States of America has been a longstanding and generous friend to WHO and we hope it will continue to be so .
We regret the decision of the president of the United States to order a hold in funding to the World Health Organization .
With support from the people and government of the United States , WHO works to improve the health of many of the world 's poorest and most vulnerable people .
WHO is not only fighting COVID-19 ; we 're also working to address polio , measles , malaria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ malnutrition , cancer , diabetes , mental health , and many other diseases and conditions .
We also work with countries to strengthen health systems and improve access to life-saving health services .
WHO is reviewing the impact of our work of any withdrawal of U.S. funding and we work with our partners to fill any financial gaps we face and to ensure our work continues uninterrupted .
Our commitment to public health signs , and to serving all the people of the world , without fear or favor , remains absolute .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with all nations equally without regard to size of their populations or economies .
COVID-19 does not discriminate between rich nations and poor , large nations and small .
It does not discriminate between nationalities , ethnicities , or ideologies .
Neither do we .
This is a time for all of us to be united in our common struggle against a common threat , a dangerous enemy .
When we are divided , the virus exploits the cracks between us .
We 're committed to serving the world 's people and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're entrusted .

Despite the ongoing global pandemic that has taken thousands of lives in America and across the world, Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he is halting U.S. funding to the World Health Organization.
Trump has falsely claimed that WHO covered up the spread of coronavirus. At the time the organization was allegedly conducting a cover-up, Trump was repeatedly downplaying the virus and has continually botched the American response to the infection.
From an April 15 press conference:
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, World Health Organization director-general: The United States of America has been a longstanding and generous friend to WHO and we hope it will continue to be so. We regret the decision of the president of the United States to order a hold in funding to the World Health Organization.
With support from the people and government of the United States, WHO works to improve the health of many of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. WHO is not only fighting COVID-19; we’re also working to address polio, measles, malaria, Ebola, HIV, tuberculosis, malnutrition, cancer, diabetes, mental health, and many other diseases and conditions.
We also work with countries to strengthen health systems and improve access to life-saving health services.
WHO is reviewing the impact of our work of any withdrawal of U.S. funding and we work with our partners to fill any financial gaps we face and to ensure our work continues uninterrupted.
Our commitment to public health signs, and to serving all the people of the world, without fear or favor, remains absolute. Our mission and mandate are to work with all nations equally without regard to size of their populations or economies.
COVID-19 does not discriminate between rich nations and poor, large nations and small. It does not discriminate between nationalities, ethnicities, or ideologies. Neither do we. This is a time for all of us to be united in our common struggle against a common threat, a dangerous enemy.
When we are divided, the virus exploits the cracks between us. We’re committed to serving the world’s people and to accountability for the resources with which we’re entrusted.


shareblue--2020-04-15--Trump still pushing to reopen the country even as virus testing slows

Donald Trump reiterated Tuesday that he wants to end social distancing and reopen the U.S. economy soon — possibly as early as May 1 — even as thousands of Americans continue to die each day from the coronavirus .
But rather than ramp up testing to better track where the virus is spreading , the number of daily coronavirus tests conducted in the United States has actually gone down in recent days .
`` Our country has to get open , and it will get open , and it 'll get open safely and hopefully quickly — some areas quicker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his daily briefing .
`` But there is tremendous testing and the governors will use whatever testing is necessary . ''
He suggested that more than 20 states `` are in extremely good shape '' and could reopen `` maybe even before the date of May 1 . ''
`` He desperately wants to reopen as much as possible on May 1 , '' a former administration official told the Washington Post on Tuesday .
`` He 's been that way from the beginning , and he has not wavered .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's a growing realization that you wo n't be able to open everything up by May 1 . ''
Trump 's comments came the same day the nation 's top infectious disease expert said May 1 was an `` overly optimistic '' target .
`` We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on , '' Dr. Anthony Fauci told the Associated Press , '' and we 're not there yet . ''
Fauci and other experts say a robust testing system is vital before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Without widespread testing , they warn , it will be impossible to know where new outbreaks are beginning .
`` I 'll guarantee you , once you start pulling back there will be infections .
It 's how you deal with the infections that 's going count , '' Fauci predicted .
But instead of testing more people , the nation is actually testing fewer .
According to a Tuesday report by Politico , the number of daily tests analyzed by commercial labs dropped by more than 30 % in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinical Laboratory Association told the outlet that `` members have now eliminated testing backlogs , and have considerable capacity that is not being used . ''
The Department of Health and Human Services also acknowledged a decline in the number of tests analyzed every day .
According to the COVID Tracking Project , a total of only about 3 million tests have been conducted in the United States to date — and that figure includes individuals such as Trump who have been tested more than once .
The U.S. population is more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of Americans have been tested even once .
On April 4 , a total of 229,268 new tests were recorded , the highest number on one day in the country so far .
Since Saturday , fewer than 150,000 new tests have been processed each day .
Trump promised on March 6 that `` anybody that wants a test can get a test .
That 's what the bottom line is . ''
But that has not been true .
Due to a lack of supplies , many Americans have been unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said last week that it would wind down federal support for testing sites .
On Tuesday , Trump passed the buck to state governors , saying it was now on them to implement widespread testing .
`` The governors will be held accountable .
If they need things , we 'll help them get those things , but we want them to do their testing , '' he told reporters .
`` Because they 're equipped to do testing .
We 've created incredible tests and we 've done more testing than anybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump reiterated Tuesday that he wants to end social distancing and reopen the U.S. economy soon — possibly as early as May 1 — even as thousands of Americans continue to die each day from the coronavirus. But rather than ramp up testing to better track where the virus is spreading, the number of daily coronavirus tests conducted in the United States has actually gone down in recent days.
“Our country has to get open, and it will get open, and it’ll get open safely and hopefully quickly — some areas quicker than other areas,” he said during his daily briefing. “But there is tremendous testing and the governors will use whatever testing is necessary.” He suggested that more than 20 states “are in extremely good shape” and could reopen “maybe even before the date of May 1.”
“He desperately wants to reopen as much as possible on May 1,” a former administration official told the Washington Post on Tuesday. “He’s been that way from the beginning, and he has not wavered. He seems determined to do it. But there’s a growing realization that you won’t be able to open everything up by May 1.”
Trump’s comments came the same day the nation’s top infectious disease expert said May 1 was an “overly optimistic” target. “We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told the Associated Press,” and we’re not there yet.”
Fauci and other experts say a robust testing system is vital before social distancing requirements can safely be eased. Without widespread testing, they warn, it will be impossible to know where new outbreaks are beginning. “I’ll guarantee you, once you start pulling back there will be infections. It’s how you deal with the infections that’s going count,” Fauci predicted.
But instead of testing more people, the nation is actually testing fewer. According to a Tuesday report by Politico, the number of daily tests analyzed by commercial labs dropped by more than 30% in the past week. The head of the American Clinical Laboratory Association told the outlet that “members have now eliminated testing backlogs, and have considerable capacity that is not being used.” The Department of Health and Human Services also acknowledged a decline in the number of tests analyzed every day.
According to the COVID Tracking Project, a total of only about 3 million tests have been conducted in the United States to date — and that figure includes individuals such as Trump who have been tested more than once. The U.S. population is more than 329 million people; less than 1% of Americans have been tested even once.
On April 4, a total of 229,268 new tests were recorded, the highest number on one day in the country so far. Since Saturday, fewer than 150,000 new tests have been processed each day.
Trump promised on March 6 that “anybody that wants a test can get a test. That’s what the bottom line is.”
But that has not been true. Due to a lack of supplies, many Americans have been unable to get tested. And the administration said last week that it would wind down federal support for testing sites.
On Tuesday, Trump passed the buck to state governors, saying it was now on them to implement widespread testing. “The governors will be held accountable. If they need things, we’ll help them get those things, but we want them to do their testing,” he told reporters. “Because they’re equipped to do testing. We’ve created incredible tests and we’ve done more testing than anybody has ever done in the world right now.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-15--Trump's demand that his name be put on relief checks could add to delays

Donald Trump 's demand that his name appear on coronavirus relief checks could delay the mailing of tens of millions of those payments , the Washington Post reported Tuesday night .
According to the Washington Post , the Treasury Department ordered the Internal Revenue Service to print `` President Donald J. Trump '' on the left side of the relief checks millions of Americans are set to receive .
It 's the first time an IRS disbursement will bear the name of a president , the Washington Post reported .
The checks of up to $ 1,200 were part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed last month .
The payments are intended to offset the financial losses millions of Americans have experienced after safety measures were put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus .
According to the Post , administration officials said Trump had requested for his name to appear in the signature line .
However , presidents are not authorized to sign disbursements from the Treasury .
Instead , Trump 's signature will be in the memo line on the bottom left of the check under the words `` Economic Impact Payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is for .
Only those who do not have direct deposit information on file with the IRS will receive the paper checks emblazoned with Trump 's name .
It 's possible that putting Trump 's name on the relief payments could boost his political standing , especially if people view it as a direct payment from Trump .
Democrats , for their part , are attacking Trump for delaying the payments .
`` Donald Trump is further delaying cash payments to millions of Americans struggling to pay the rent and put food on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Sen. Ron Wyden ( R-OR ) tweeted .
`` Only this president would try to make a pandemic and economic catastrophe all about him . ''
But Trump loves to put his name on things .
Many of his real estate properties are emblazoned with a big , bold , capitalized TRUMP .
Trump even put his name on a mailer to millions of Americans about the administration 's guidelines to slow the spread of the new virus .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s demand that his name appear on coronavirus relief checks could delay the mailing of tens of millions of those payments, the Washington Post reported Tuesday night.
According to the Washington Post, the Treasury Department ordered the Internal Revenue Service to print “President Donald J. Trump” on the left side of the relief checks millions of Americans are set to receive. It’s the first time an IRS disbursement will bear the name of a president, the Washington Post reported.
The checks of up to $1,200 were part of the $2 trillion relief package Congress passed last month. The payments are intended to offset the financial losses millions of Americans have experienced after safety measures were put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
According to the Post, administration officials said Trump had requested for his name to appear in the signature line. However, presidents are not authorized to sign disbursements from the Treasury. Instead, Trump’s signature will be in the memo line on the bottom left of the check under the words “Economic Impact Payment” — which describes what the money is for.
Only those who do not have direct deposit information on file with the IRS will receive the paper checks emblazoned with Trump’s name.
It’s possible that putting Trump’s name on the relief payments could boost his political standing, especially if people view it as a direct payment from Trump. Democrats, for their part, are attacking Trump for delaying the payments.
“Donald Trump is further delaying cash payments to millions of Americans struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table to feed his ego,” Sen. Ron Wyden (R-OR) tweeted. “Only this president would try to make a pandemic and economic catastrophe all about him.”
But Trump loves to put his name on things. Many of his real estate properties are emblazoned with a big, bold, capitalized TRUMP. Trump even put his name on a mailer to millions of Americans about the administration’s guidelines to slow the spread of the new virus.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-15--Trump stops funding World Health Organization — in the middle of a pandemic

Donald Trump on Tuesday said he 's halting U.S. funding to the World Health Organization amid the coronavirus pandemic , falsely accusing the organization of not being transparent about the spread of the novel coronavirus .
`` Today I 'm instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization 's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus , '' Trump said at his daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House .
The WHO did not cover up the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization was warning about the virus for months and declared a public health emergency on Jan. 30 .
While the WHO was sounding the alarm about the spread of COVID-19 , Trump himself was downplaying the virus , with both the Washington Post and New York Times reporting that he ignored warnings from his own officials that he should take action to stop the spread in the United States .
Trump on Tuesday went on to accuse the WHO of being too trusting of China , saying the group `` willingly took China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defended the actions of the Chinese government , even praising China for its so-called 'transparency ' — I do n't think so . ''
However , Trump himself praised China 's transparency about the virus .
`` China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus .
The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency , '' Trump said in a Jan. 24 tweet .
`` It will all work out well .
In particular , on behalf of the American People , I want to thank President Xi ! ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deflect criticism of his own administration 's response to the COVID-19 pandemic , which has infected more than 600,000 in the United States and led to nearly 26,000 deaths since Feb. 29 , according to the Washington Post .
Last week , Trump said he was considering cutting funding to the WHO and falsely claimed that the United States gives `` a majority of the money that they get . ''
According to the WHO 's reporting , the United States government funded 14.67 % of the agency 's 2018-2019 budget .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump 's calls for reopening the United States for business , saying that ending social distancing measures too early is the `` last thing any country needs . ''
Trump first called for a freeze on U.S. funding of the organization — which works to stop the spread of global pandemics such as Ebola , H1N1 , and now COVID-19 — on April 7 .
In response , WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that politicizing the pandemic would lead to `` many more body bags . ''
The head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to freeze WHO funding in the middle of a global health crisis .
`` Now is a time for unity in the global battle to push the COVID-19 pandemic into reverse , not a time to cut the resources of the [ WHO ] , which is spearheading and coordinating the global body ’ s efforts , '' UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement on Tuesday .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Tuesday said he’s halting U.S. funding to the World Health Organization amid the coronavirus pandemic, falsely accusing the organization of not being transparent about the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Today I’m instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus,” Trump said at his daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House.
The WHO did not cover up the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Rather, the organization was warning about the virus for months and declared a public health emergency on Jan. 30.
While the WHO was sounding the alarm about the spread of COVID-19, Trump himself was downplaying the virus, with both the Washington Post and New York Times reporting that he ignored warnings from his own officials that he should take action to stop the spread in the United States.
Trump on Tuesday went on to accuse the WHO of being too trusting of China, saying the group “willingly took China’s assurances at face value … and defended the actions of the Chinese government, even praising China for its so-called ‘transparency’ — I don’t think so.”
However, Trump himself praised China’s transparency about the virus.
“China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency,” Trump said in a Jan. 24 tweet. “It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”
Trump has been scapegoating the WHO to deflect criticism of his own administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 600,000 in the United States and led to nearly 26,000 deaths since Feb. 29, according to the Washington Post.
Last week, Trump said he was considering cutting funding to the WHO and falsely claimed that the United States gives “a majority of the money that they get.” According to the WHO’s reporting, the United States government funded 14.67% of the agency’s 2018-2019 budget.
And the WHO has fired back at some of Trump’s calls for reopening the United States for business, saying that ending social distancing measures too early is the “last thing any country needs.”
Trump first called for a freeze on U.S. funding of the organization — which works to stop the spread of global pandemics such as Ebola, H1N1, and now COVID-19 — on April 7.
In response, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that politicizing the pandemic would lead to “many more body bags.”
The head of the United Nations also criticized Trump’s decision to freeze WHO funding in the middle of a global health crisis.
“Now is a time for unity in the global battle to push the COVID-19 pandemic into reverse, not a time to cut the resources of the [WHO], which is spearheading and coordinating the global body’s efforts,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement on Tuesday.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-07--6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico kills 1, injures at least 8 more

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Puerto Rico before dawn on Tuesday , killing one man , injuring at least eight other people and collapsing buildings .
The quake was followed by a series of strong aftershocks , part of a 10-day series of temblors spawned by the grinding of tectonic plates along three faults beneath southern Puerto Rico .
Seismologists say it 's impossible to predict when the quakes will stop or whether they will get stronger .
The 6.4-magnitude quake cut power to the island as power plants shut down to protect themselves .
Authorities said two plants suffered light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restored later Tuesday .
Puerto Rico 's main airport was operating normally , using generator power .
“ I 've never been so scared in my life , ” said Nelson Rivera , a 70-year-old resident who fled his home in the city of Ponce , near the epicenter of the quake .
“ I did n't think we would get out .
I said : ‘ We ’ ll be buried here . '
” Teacher Rey González told The Associated Press that his uncle was killed when a wall collapsed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ponce .
He said 73-year-old Nelson Martínez was disabled and that he and his father cared for him .
Eight people were injured in Ponce , Mayor Mayita Meléndez told WAPA television .
Hundreds of people sat in the streets of the city , some cooking food on barbeque grills , afraid to return home for fear of structural damage and aftershocks .
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 4:24 a.m. just south of the island at a shallow depth of six miles ( 10 kilometers ) .
It initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjusted it .
At 7:18 a.m. , a magnitude-6.0 aftershock hit the same area .
People reported strong shaking and staff at a local radio station said live on air that they were leaving their building A tsunami alert was issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after the initial quake , but was later canceled .
In the historic district of Ponce , authorities evacuated more than 150 people from two buildings they said are in danger of collapsing .
Among them were more than two dozen elderly patients from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wheelchairs in silence as the earth continued to tremble .
Amir Señeriz leaned against the cracked wall of his Freemason Lodge in Ponce and wailed .
The roof of the 1915 building was partially collapsed and dust and debris lay around him .
Outside , he had already carefully placed 10 large historic paintings .
The earth continued trembling as he went back into the building to recover more artifacts .
Helping him was artist Nelson Figueroa , 44 , who said he slept in his street clothes .
“ It was chaos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was a traffic jam in his coastal neighborhood as terrified people fled .
Albert Rodríguez , who is from the southwest town of Guánica , said the tsunami sirens went off before officials canceled the alert .
He said there is widespread damage in his neighborhood .
“ The road is cracked in the middle and it lifted up , ” he said .
The mayor in the southwest town of Guayanilla , Nelson Torres , told NotiUno radio station that the church in the public plaza of his town collapsed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ordered government offices closed for the day and urged citizens to remain calm and not check damage to their homes until daylight .
A 5.8-magnitude quake that struck early Monday morning collapsed five homes in Guánica and heavily damaged dozens of others .
It also caused small landslides and power outages .
The quake was followed by a string of smaller temblors .
The shake collapsed a coastal rock formation that had formed a sort of rounded window , Punta Ventana , that was a popular tourist draw in Guayanilla .
Residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been terrified to go into their homes for fear that another quake will bring buildings down .
The flurry of quakes in Puerto Rico 's southern region began the night of Dec. 28 .
Seismologists say that shallow quakes were occurring along three faults in Puerto Rico ’ s southwest region : Lajas Valley , Montalva Point and the Guayanilla Canyon , as the North American plate and the Caribbean plate squeeze Puerto Rico .
One of the largest and most damaging earthquakes to hit Puerto Rico occurred in October 1918 , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island ’ s northwest coast , unleashing a tsunami and killing 116 people .

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Puerto Rico before dawn on Tuesday, killing one man, injuring at least eight other people and collapsing buildings.
The quake was followed by a series of strong aftershocks, part of a 10-day series of temblors spawned by the grinding of tectonic plates along three faults beneath southern Puerto Rico. Seismologists say it’s impossible to predict when the quakes will stop or whether they will get stronger.
The 6.4-magnitude quake cut power to the island as power plants shut down to protect themselves. Authorities said two plants suffered light damage and they expected power to be restored later Tuesday. Puerto Rico’s main airport was operating normally, using generator power.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” said Nelson Rivera, a 70-year-old resident who fled his home in the city of Ponce, near the epicenter of the quake. “ I didn’t think we would get out. I said: ‘We’ll be buried here.’”
Teacher Rey González told The Associated Press that his uncle was killed when a wall collapsed on him at the home they shared in Ponce. He said 73-year-old Nelson Martínez was disabled and that he and his father cared for him.
Eight people were injured in Ponce, Mayor Mayita Meléndez told WAPA television. Hundreds of people sat in the streets of the city, some cooking food on barbeque grills, afraid to return home for fear of structural damage and aftershocks.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 4:24 a.m. just south of the island at a shallow depth of six miles (10 kilometers). It initially gave the magnitude as 6.6 but later adjusted it. At 7:18 a.m., a magnitude-6.0 aftershock hit the same area. People reported strong shaking and staff at a local radio station said live on air that they were leaving their building
A tsunami alert was issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after the initial quake, but was later canceled.
In the historic district of Ponce, authorities evacuated more than 150 people from two buildings they said are in danger of collapsing. Among them were more than two dozen elderly patients from a nursing home who sat in their wheelchairs in silence as the earth continued to tremble.
Amir Señeriz leaned against the cracked wall of his Freemason Lodge in Ponce and wailed.
The roof of the 1915 building was partially collapsed and dust and debris lay around him.
Outside, he had already carefully placed 10 large historic paintings. The earth continued trembling as he went back into the building to recover more artifacts.
Helping him was artist Nelson Figueroa, 44, who said he slept in his street clothes.
“It was chaos,” he said, adding that there was a traffic jam in his coastal neighborhood as terrified people fled.
Albert Rodríguez, who is from the southwest town of Guánica, said the tsunami sirens went off before officials canceled the alert. He said there is widespread damage in his neighborhood.
“The road is cracked in the middle and it lifted up,” he said.
The mayor in the southwest town of Guayanilla, Nelson Torres, told NotiUno radio station that the church in the public plaza of his town collapsed.
Puerto Rico’s governor, Wanda Vasquez, ordered government offices closed for the day and urged citizens to remain calm and not check damage to their homes until daylight.
A 5.8-magnitude quake that struck early Monday morning collapsed five homes in Guánica and heavily damaged dozens of others. It also caused small landslides and power outages. The quake was followed by a string of smaller temblors.
The shake collapsed a coastal rock formation that had formed a sort of rounded window, Punta Ventana, that was a popular tourist draw in Guayanilla.
Residents in the south of the island have been terrified to go into their homes for fear that another quake will bring buildings down.
The flurry of quakes in Puerto Rico’s southern region began the night of Dec. 28. Seismologists say that shallow quakes were occurring along three faults in Puerto Rico’s southwest region: Lajas Valley, Montalva Point and the Guayanilla Canyon, as the North American plate and the Caribbean plate squeeze Puerto Rico.
One of the largest and most damaging earthquakes to hit Puerto Rico occurred in October 1918, when a magnitude 7.3 quake struck near the island’s northwest coast, unleashing a tsunami and killing 116 people.


shareblue--2020-01-07--Pentagon says it won't commit war crimes no matter what Trump says

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Monday said that the military will openly defy Donald Trump if he calls for military strikes on Iranian cultural sites , acknowledging that such an order is a war crime and should not happen .
`` We will follow the laws of armed conflict , '' Esper said at a news conference on Monday , after CNN reporter Barbara Star asked whether the military would follow Trump 's orders to attack cultural sites if Trump asked .
Star continued to press Esper , asking if the laws of armed conflict consider targeting cultural sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Esper replied , `` That 's the laws of armed conflict . ''
The only reason for a military leader to defy an order from a commander in chief is if the order is `` illegal , immoral , or unethical , '' according to CNN .
Over the weekend , Trump threatened to attack 52 sites in Iran , some of them `` important to Iran [ and ] the Iranian culture , '' if Iran ever retaliated against the United States after the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1954 Hague Convention , which calls for protecting cultural sites in armed conflict .
Trump , however , does n't seem to think he needs to follow long-standing international treaties .
`` They 're allowed to kill our people .
They 're allowed to torture and maim our people .
They 're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people .
And we 're not allowed to touch their cultural sites ?
It does n't work that way , '' Trump said on Sunday night aboard Air Force One , suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to break the laws .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Monday said that the military will openly defy Donald Trump if he calls for military strikes on Iranian cultural sites, acknowledging that such an order is a war crime and should not happen.
“We will follow the laws of armed conflict,” Esper said at a news conference on Monday, after CNN reporter Barbara Star asked whether the military would follow Trump’s orders to attack cultural sites if Trump asked.
Star continued to press Esper, asking if the laws of armed conflict consider targeting cultural sites as a war crime, to which Esper replied, “That’s the laws of armed conflict.”
The only reason for a military leader to defy an order from a commander in chief is if the order is “illegal, immoral, or unethical,” according to CNN.
Over the weekend, Trump threatened to attack 52 sites in Iran, some of them “important to Iran [and] the Iranian culture,” if Iran ever retaliated against the United States after the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
However, purposefully attacking cultural sites would violate the 1954 Hague Convention, which calls for protecting cultural sites in armed conflict.
Trump, however, doesn’t seem to think he needs to follow long-standing international treaties.
“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,” Trump said on Sunday night aboard Air Force One, suggesting that he thought he should be about to break the laws.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


Cartoon: Whoop-A**

Clay Jones is a nationally syndicated political cartoonist .
He has worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Free Lance-Star @ @ @ @ @ draws a weekly cartoon for CNN Opinion .
He lives in the Washington suburbs of @ @ @

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows
December, the anniversary of the worst grade school mass shooting in the U.S. is a difficult month for many in Newton. But in the face of heartbreak and grief, some survivors and families of victims feel hope for a brighter future.
By Associated Press - December 22, 2022


shareblue--2020-01-06--GOP leader endorses former congressman who got caught in voter fraud scandal

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy enthusiastically endorsed former GOP Rep. Scott Taylor 's bid to come back to Congress despite the Taylor campaign 's 2018 efforts to engage in voter fraud .
`` The Democrats have discredited the House of Representatives with their impeachment , and we need to elect a Republican majority this year to get Congress back on the right course , '' McCarthy said in an emailed statement from the Taylor campaign on Monday .
`` [ Rep. ] Elaine Luria and her fellow Democrats have failed their constituents , and Scott Taylor will defeat her this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Luria defeated Taylor by a 51 % to 49 % margin in 2018 .
Before Monday , Taylor previously announced a run for the U.S. Senate , but dropped that bid in order to run for his old House seat .
Taylor lost in 2018 despite efforts by his campaign to cheat to win .
Staffers for his campaign engaged in `` forgery '' and `` out and out fraud , '' according to a circuit judge in Richmond , Virginia .
In order to peel away support from Luria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate on the ballot .
However , an investigation found dozens of signatures on the petition to place that candidate on the ballot were forged .
One of Taylor 's campaign staffers was indicted on two counts of election fraud , and half a dozen staffers refused to say whether or not Taylor ordered them to engage in the fraud .
Taylor denied all knowledge of the scheme .
After Republicans lost control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections , McCarthy made unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in California to explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new California law enabled Democrats to steal votes , which did not happen , and complained that election officials in the state counted all the ballots before declaring a winner of close races .
When it comes to the 2020 election , clear evidence of previous voter fraud schemes by Republican staffers in Virginia did not stop McCarthy from endorsing Taylor .
Taylor , a one-term congressman , made headlines in 2018 when he refused to say why he opposed universal background checks on gun purchases when he was asked shortly after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , killed more than a dozen students .
In the summer of 2018 , Taylor was caught being delinquent on more than $ 11,000 in property taxes .
At the time , his spokesperson claimed the tax bills `` slipped his mind . ''
Taylor then paid the taxes .
A year later , Taylor once again failed to pay taxes on two Virginia properties .
In his campaign announcement , Taylor vowed to `` fight for each and every vote . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy enthusiastically endorsed former GOP Rep. Scott Taylor’s bid to come back to Congress despite the Taylor campaign’s 2018 efforts to engage in voter fraud.
“The Democrats have discredited the House of Representatives with their impeachment, and we need to elect a Republican majority this year to get Congress back on the right course,” McCarthy said in an emailed statement from the Taylor campaign on Monday. “[Rep.] Elaine Luria and her fellow Democrats have failed their constituents, and Scott Taylor will defeat her this year because of it,” McCarthy added.
Luria defeated Taylor by a 51% to 49% margin in 2018.
Before Monday, Taylor previously announced a run for the U.S. Senate, but dropped that bid in order to run for his old House seat.
Taylor lost in 2018 despite efforts by his campaign to cheat to win. Staffers for his campaign engaged in “forgery” and “out and out fraud,” according to a circuit judge in Richmond, Virginia.
In order to peel away support from Luria, Taylor staffers attempted to place a third-party candidate on the ballot. However, an investigation found dozens of signatures on the petition to place that candidate on the ballot were forged.
One of Taylor’s campaign staffers was indicted on two counts of election fraud, and half a dozen staffers refused to say whether or not Taylor ordered them to engage in the fraud.
Taylor denied all knowledge of the scheme.
After Republicans lost control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections, McCarthy made unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in California to explain away Republican losses. He falsely claimed a new California law enabled Democrats to steal votes, which did not happen, and complained that election officials in the state counted all the ballots before declaring a winner of close races.
When it comes to the 2020 election, clear evidence of previous voter fraud schemes by Republican staffers in Virginia did not stop McCarthy from endorsing Taylor.
Taylor, a one-term congressman, made headlines in 2018 when he refused to say why he opposed universal background checks on gun purchases when he was asked shortly after a mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, killed more than a dozen students.
In the summer of 2018, Taylor was caught being delinquent on more than $11,000 in property taxes. At the time, his spokesperson claimed the tax bills “slipped his mind.” Taylor then paid the taxes.
A year later, Taylor once again failed to pay taxes on two Virginia properties.
In his campaign announcement, Taylor vowed to “fight for each and every vote.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-06--GOP senator says she needs help with 'muddying up the landscape' on her record

Sen. Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) does not have enough campaign funds to mislead Arizonans about her health care voting record , so she wants outside groups to do it for her , the Arizona Mirror reported on Friday .
In a recording from December obtained by the Mirror , McSally told a group of Republicans that her campaign does n't have `` the resources to fight '' the attacks on her heath care record .
`` If I went up on TV right now , my campaign coffers would be empty , '' she said .
`` If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV ad , it 's going to cost us millions of dollars . ''
That 's when she reportedly turned to outside groups for help .
`` We need conservative outside groups , you know , to wake up , and get involved , and start muddying up the landscape a little bit , '' McSally said .
McSally was concerned about attacks on her position regarding health care for people with preexisting conditions , according to the Mirror .
Several ads have cited McSally 's vote in favor of a Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies to sell `` junk '' health insurance products that do not cover people with preexisting conditions .
`` Look , the attack ads are a lie , '' McSally told the Republican group in December .
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation ( KFF ) , consumers who try to purchase the type of insurance McSally voted in favor of `` generally will be turned down if they have pre-existing health conditions . ''
Further , an insurer `` might also refuse to cover a condition that existed , even if not-yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' KFF warns .
Beyond the most recent vote , when McSally was a House member , she enthusiastically voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act ( ACA ) , which guarantees protections for people with preexisting conditions .
Before that vote , McSally rallied her Republican colleagues , saying , `` Let 's get this fucking thing done ! ''
According to an April 2019 analysis by Politifact , every single Republican health care proposal in the Trump era has `` failed to match the guarantees [ for people with preexisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act . ''
Before asking for help , McSally acknowledged that under federal law she is not allowed to ask for outside campaign assistance .
`` There 's outside groups , '' She said .
`` We ca n't talk to them .
We ca n't invite them , but we pray for them every day . ''
Ethics experts told the Mirror that McSally 's comments may be legally problematic .
`` If an outside group hears that suggestion and and acts on it to buy ads to support Senator McSally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been broken , '' Paul S. Ryan , vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause , a government watchdog group , told the Mirror .
In 2019 , the McSally campaign was forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines for breaking different campaign finance laws .
McSally is gearing up for one of the most closely watched Senate campaigns in the country .
Her likely opponent , former astronaut Mark Kelly , repeatedly raised more campaign cash than McSally , and even overtook her in the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Arizona to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema , only serving now after being appointed by the state 's Republican governor .
Health care was a major issue in the 2018 election as well .
`` Arizonans know that Martha McSally ca n't be trusted on health care issues , and no amount of spending from corporate interest-funded donors and outside groups can erase McSally 's long record of voting to increase health care costs and strip away coverage protections for Arizonans who have a preexisting condition , '' Brad Bainum , spokesperson for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The McSally campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) does not have enough campaign funds to mislead Arizonans about her health care voting record, so she wants outside groups to do it for her, the Arizona Mirror reported on Friday.
In a recording from December obtained by the Mirror, McSally told a group of Republicans that her campaign doesn’t have “the resources to fight” the attacks on her heath care record. “If I went up on TV right now, my campaign coffers would be empty,” she said. “If we’re going to fight back with a TV ad, it’s going to cost us millions of dollars.”
That’s when she reportedly turned to outside groups for help.
“We need conservative outside groups, you know, to wake up, and get involved, and start muddying up the landscape a little bit,” McSally said.
McSally was concerned about attacks on her position regarding health care for people with preexisting conditions, according to the Mirror. Several ads have cited McSally’s vote in favor of a Trump administration rule making it easier for health insurance companies to sell “junk” health insurance products that do not cover people with preexisting conditions.
“Look, the attack ads are a lie,” McSally told the Republican group in December.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), consumers who try to purchase the type of insurance McSally voted in favor of “generally will be turned down if they have pre-existing health conditions.” Further, an insurer “might also refuse to cover a condition that existed, even if not-yet diagnosed, before you bought the policy,” KFF warns.
Beyond the most recent vote, when McSally was a House member, she enthusiastically voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which guarantees protections for people with preexisting conditions. Before that vote, McSally rallied her Republican colleagues, saying, “Let’s get this fucking thing done!”
According to an April 2019 analysis by Politifact, every single Republican health care proposal in the Trump era has “failed to match the guarantees [for people with preexisting conditions] currently in the Affordable Care Act.”
Before asking for help, McSally acknowledged that under federal law she is not allowed to ask for outside campaign assistance.
“There’s outside groups,” She said. “We can’t talk to them. We can’t invite them, but we pray for them every day.”
Ethics experts told the Mirror that McSally’s comments may be legally problematic.
“If an outside group hears that suggestion and and acts on it to buy ads to support Senator McSally, then the campaign finance laws would seemingly have been broken,” Paul S. Ryan, vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause, a government watchdog group, told the Mirror.
In 2019, the McSally campaign was forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines for breaking different campaign finance laws.
McSally is gearing up for one of the most closely watched Senate campaigns in the country. Her likely opponent, former astronaut Mark Kelly, repeatedly raised more campaign cash than McSally, and even overtook her in the polls.
McSally lost the 2018 Senate race in Arizona to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, only serving now after being appointed by the state’s Republican governor. Health care was a major issue in the 2018 election as well.
“Arizonans know that Martha McSally can’t be trusted on health care issues, and no amount of spending from corporate interest-funded donors and outside groups can erase McSally’s long record of voting to increase health care costs and strip away coverage protections for Arizonans who have a preexisting condition,” Brad Bainum, spokesperson for the Arizona Democratic Party, told the Mirror.
The McSally campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-06--Defense Department can't figure out whether US troops are leaving Iraq

`` We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure , '' Seely wrote in a letter to an Iraqi military official , according to Washington Post reporter Mustafa Salim .
Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on Monday that the letter is `` inconsistent with where we are now , '' according to defense reporter Paul McCleary .
After that first statement , Esper returned to tell reporters that the letter was real but that it was never meant to be seen as it was a draft .
The letter signaling the United States ' possible decision to pull @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's warning that if Iraq did vote to expel American troops , he would hit the country with `` very big sanctions . ''
`` We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that ’ s there .
It cost billions of dollars to build .
Long before my time .
We ’ re not leaving unless they pay us back for it , '' Trump said Sunday night from Air Force One , according to the New York Times .
Trump added , `` If they do ask us to leave , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very friendly basis , we will charge them sanctions like they 've never seen before ever .
It 'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame . ''
NBC 's Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel , who has covered wars across the world , said that expelling American troops from Iraq is `` what Soleimani always wanted . ''
`` Maybe Iran gets its revenge without spilling a drop of blood , '' Engel tweeted .
Sen. Jeff Merkley ( D-OR ) echoed Engel 's sentiments .
In a series of tweets on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack , `` strengthened the role of Iranian militias in Iraq , expanding Iranian influence — the exact opposite of our goal of reducing Iran ’ s influence in Iraq . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

An unsigned letter signaling what appeared to be a withdrawal of troops from Iraq threw Washington into chaos on Monday, after Defense Secretary Mark Esper disputed its authenticity. In the letter, Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William H. Seely III said the United States is preparing to withdraw troops from Iraq after the Iraqi parliament voted to expel the American military from the country following the deadly attack last week that led to the death of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
“We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure,” Seely wrote in a letter to an Iraqi military official, according to Washington Post reporter Mustafa Salim.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on Monday that the letter is “inconsistent with where we are now,” according to defense reporter Paul McCleary.
After that first statement, Esper returned to tell reporters that the letter was real but that it was never meant to be seen as it was a draft.
The letter signaling the United States’ possible decision to pull troops from the country belies Donald Trump’s warning that if Iraq did vote to expel American troops, he would hit the country with “very big sanctions.”
“We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s there. It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time. We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it,” Trump said Sunday night from Air Force One, according to the New York Times.
Trump added, “If they do ask us to leave, if we don’t do it in a very friendly basis, we will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.”
NBC’s Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel, who has covered wars across the world, said that expelling American troops from Iraq is “what Soleimani always wanted.”
“Maybe Iran gets its revenge without spilling a drop of blood,” Engel tweeted.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) echoed Engel’s sentiments. In a series of tweets on Monday, Merkley said that Trump’s attack, “strengthened the role of Iranian militias in Iraq, expanding Iranian influence — the exact opposite of our goal of reducing Iran’s influence in Iraq.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.