shareblue--2020-10-01--Texas governor makes it harder to vote and calls it 'ballot security'

Texas Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott announced on Thursday that each county in the state can only have one designated spot for voters to return absentee ballots — a move that will undoubtedly make it harder to vote , as it will require many people in the state to travel further to drop off completed ballots .
Abbott claimed the move was aimed at `` enhancing ballot security protocols , '' and went on to say that he is authorizing `` poll watchers to observe any activity conducted at the early voting clerk 's office location . ''
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters to maintain the integrity of our elections , '' Abbott said in a news release .
`` As we work to preserve Texans ' ability to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic , we must take extra care to strengthen ballot security protocols throughout the state .
These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting . ''
People in Texas who want to vote may have to travel hundreds of miles to do so .
For example , Harris County — the largest county in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — is 1,703 square miles , according to data from the Census Bureau .
That 's larger than the entire state of Rhode Island , which is 1,545 square miles .
Currently , Harris County has 12 ballot drop-off sites — 11 satellite offices of the county clerk , as well as one arena located in Houston .
Travis County , which includes the capital city of Austin , currently has four drop-off sites .
Abbott 's move comes as Donald Trump has been railing against absentee ballots , falsely claiming they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get absentee ballots tossed out to help him win reelection .
Trump 's campaign has filed numerous lawsuits to make it harder to vote by mail , including efforts to reduce the number of ballot drop boxes in states across the country .
( Trump has lost many of these lawsuits already , as his campaign has been unable to prove absentee ballots lead to fraud or that ballot drop boxes are not secure . )
Trump also called on his supporters to watch the polls , a move that 's leading officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about voter intimidation .
Abbott has been a Trump ally , and his false claim that poll watchers and decreased drop-off locations and are needed for `` security '' reasons seems to be taking Trump 's lies and turning them into policy .
Marc Elias , a lawyer who has been helping Democrats fight against Trump and the Republican Party 's efforts to make it harder to vote , condemned Abbott 's move .
`` This is an outrageous act of voter suppression by the Republicans who know they are losing at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We will explore ALL legal options to ensure voting rights for all Texans ! ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Thursday that each county in the state can only have one designated spot for voters to return absentee ballots — a move that will undoubtedly make it harder to vote, as it will require many people in the state to travel further to drop off completed ballots.
Abbott claimed the move was aimed at “enhancing ballot security protocols,” and went on to say that he is authorizing “poll watchers to observe any activity conducted at the early voting clerk’s office location.”
“The State of Texas has a duty to voters to maintain the integrity of our elections,” Abbott said in a news release. “As we work to preserve Texans’ ability to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic, we must take extra care to strengthen ballot security protocols throughout the state. These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting.”
People in Texas who want to vote may have to travel hundreds of miles to do so.
For example, Harris County — the largest county in Texas that encompasses the city of Houston — is 1,703 square miles, according to data from the Census Bureau. That’s larger than the entire state of Rhode Island, which is 1,545 square miles. Currently, Harris County has 12 ballot drop-off sites — 11 satellite offices of the county clerk, as well as one arena located in Houston.
Travis County, which includes the capital city of Austin, currently has four drop-off sites.
Abbott’s move comes as Donald Trump has been railing against absentee ballots, falsely claiming they’re rife with fraud and even vowing to get absentee ballots tossed out to help him win reelection.
Trump’s campaign has filed numerous lawsuits to make it harder to vote by mail, including efforts to reduce the number of ballot drop boxes in states across the country. (Trump has lost many of these lawsuits already, as his campaign has been unable to prove absentee ballots lead to fraud or that ballot drop boxes are not secure.)
Trump also called on his supporters to watch the polls, a move that’s leading officials in states across the country to worry about voter intimidation.
Abbott has been a Trump ally, and his false claim that poll watchers and decreased drop-off locations and are needed for “security” reasons seems to be taking Trump’s lies and turning them into policy.
Marc Elias, a lawyer who has been helping Democrats fight against Trump and the Republican Party’s efforts to make it harder to vote, condemned Abbott’s move.
“This is an outrageous act of voter suppression by the Republicans who know they are losing at the ballot box,” Elias tweeted. “We will explore ALL legal options to ensure voting rights for all Texans!”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-01--GOP group spends $9 million to lie about how often Sen. Gary Peters shows up to work

The 2020 race for the Michigan U.S. Senate seat is tight , with incumbent Democrat Sen. Gary Peters neck and neck with challenger John James — but a misleading recent ad by a GOP super PAC could skew the outcome .
The $ 9 million ad , bought by the Senate Leadership Fund , a top right-wing super PAC , purports to `` hold Gary Peters accountable '' while advocating for his opponent , Republican businessman James .
`` The only thing Gary Peters has accomplished over his years in Washington is to keep Michigan 's U.S. Senate seat warm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PAC 's president , Steven Law .
`` That person is going to be John James — an incredibly impressive advocate for Michigan families and jobs who is taking the fight to Peters for leaving Michiganders hanging during a pandemic . ''
The campaign spokesperson for Peters , Vanessa Valdivia , said in a statement published by the Hill : `` Mitch McConnell ’ s allies are spending over $ 16 million to prop up James because they want another vote to gut pre-existing conditions coverage , undermine a woman ’ s right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding . ''
In 2018 , James gained notoriety for running a campaign ad featuring a swastika posted on the wall in a school hallway , ostensibly by accident .
In other recent ads , James has referred to Peters as `` the invisible man , the politician known for doing nothing . ''
He 's asserted that Peters has done nothing for the Michigan economy and `` does n't show up for work , '' citing that he 's missed 84 % of small business hearings in the past .
While it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 51 Small Business Committee hearings when he served on the committee , what the James campaign does n't mention is that that was nearly a decade ago — during the senator 's time in the House of Representatives prior to being elected to the Senate .
And , Georgetown University political scientist Joshua Huder has noted in the Detroit Free Press , `` A lot of times committees will schedule hearings at the same time , making it virtually impossible to attend , in a meaningful sense , all of them . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services Committee .
A more meaningful barometer for Peters ' level of recent activity in the Senate would be how often he misses a floor vote , which is , apparently , never .
In 2019 , Peters missed zero floor votes , and is tied with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , as well as 13 others , for perfect vote attendance in the chamber .
And , in 2017 and 2018 , Peters was ranked the fourth-most effective Democratic senator by the nonpartisan Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rankings are obtained by looking at how many bills politicians have sponsored , how far in the process those bills got , and how important the policy changes being implemented are .
By all accounts , Peters works well in partnerships across the aisle , too : The nonpartisan Lugar Center ranked him the fourth-most bipartisan Democrat in 2018 and the third-most bipartisan Democrat in 2019 .
In 2020 , he passed more bills than any other senator .
He 's also been the sponsor of legislation enhancing apprenticeship programs and wrote an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honorably to still receive PTSD services .
Effectiveness may be in the eye of the beholder , but invisible Peters is not .
And if he loses reelection in Michigan , it will make it harder than ever for Democrats to take back the Senate .
And , with the Michigan Senate race in a dead heat — James and Peters are polling at 47 % and 47 % among likely voters , according to the most recent Trafalgar Group survey — such misleading information leveled against Peters is a naked grab for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Independent Foundation .

The 2020 race for the Michigan U.S. Senate seat is tight, with incumbent Democrat Sen. Gary Peters neck and neck with challenger John James — but a misleading recent ad by a GOP super PAC could skew the outcome.
The $9 million ad, bought by the Senate Leadership Fund, a top right-wing super PAC, purports to “hold Gary Peters accountable” while advocating for his opponent, Republican businessman James.
“The only thing Gary Peters has accomplished over his years in Washington is to keep Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat warm for his successor,” said the PAC’s president, Steven Law. “That person is going to be John James — an incredibly impressive advocate for Michigan families and jobs who is taking the fight to Peters for leaving Michiganders hanging during a pandemic.”
The campaign spokesperson for Peters, Vanessa Valdivia, said in a statement published by the Hill: “Mitch McConnell’s allies are spending over $16 million to prop up James because they want another vote to gut pre-existing conditions coverage, undermine a woman’s right to choose, and obstruct Great Lakes funding.”
In 2018, James gained notoriety for running a campaign ad featuring a swastika posted on the wall in a school hallway, ostensibly by accident.
In other recent ads, James has referred to Peters as “the invisible man, the politician known for doing nothing.” He’s asserted that Peters has done nothing for the Michigan economy and “doesn’t show up for work,” citing that he’s missed 84% of small business hearings in the past.
While it’s true that Peters missed 43 of 51 Small Business Committee hearings when he served on the committee, what the James campaign doesn’t mention is that that was nearly a decade ago — during the senator’s time in the House of Representatives prior to being elected to the Senate.
And, Georgetown University political scientist Joshua Huder has noted in the Detroit Free Press, “A lot of times committees will schedule hearings at the same time, making it virtually impossible to attend, in a meaningful sense, all of them.” Peters also served on the House Financial Services Committee.
A more meaningful barometer for Peters’ level of recent activity in the Senate would be how often he misses a floor vote, which is, apparently, never. In 2019, Peters missed zero floor votes, and is tied with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as 13 others, for perfect vote attendance in the chamber.
And, in 2017 and 2018, Peters was ranked the fourth-most effective Democratic senator by the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking at Vanderbilt University. These rankings are obtained by looking at how many bills politicians have sponsored, how far in the process those bills got, and how important the policy changes being implemented are.
By all accounts, Peters works well in partnerships across the aisle, too: The nonpartisan Lugar Center ranked him the fourth-most bipartisan Democrat in 2018 and the third-most bipartisan Democrat in 2019. In 2020, he passed more bills than any other senator.
He’s also been the sponsor of legislation enhancing apprenticeship programs and wrote an amendment to enable veterans discharged less than honorably to still receive PTSD services.
Effectiveness may be in the eye of the beholder, but invisible Peters is not. And if he loses reelection in Michigan, it will make it harder than ever for Democrats to take back the Senate.
And, with the Michigan Senate race in a dead heat — James and Peters are polling at 47% and 47% among likely voters, according to the most recent Trafalgar Group survey — such misleading information leveled against Peters is a naked grab for votes.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-01--Mike Pompeo to speak at fundraiser associated with hate groups

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to give a keynote speech at a fundraising event for an anti-LGBTQ group on Saturday .
The Florida Family Policy Council describes itself as a `` leading pro-life , pro-family '' organization .
It 's one of 38 state-based organizations associated with Alliance Defending Freedom , the Family Research Council , and Focus on the Family .
The group is selling $ 10,000 tickets for `` a personal visit with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , '' ABC News reported .
The Florida Family Policy Council 's website says religious liberty is `` being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not stop until they force all Americans to approve , support and celebrate their lifestyle . ''
Alliance Defending Freedom and the Family Research Council have both been designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center .
The former group advocates for anti-LGBTQ clients in court , while the latter has fought against LGBTQ rights for decades .
Pompeo , an evangelical Christian , has blatantly mixed his religious beliefs with the State Department 's foreign policy agenda .
Human rights experts say that a report from Pompeo 's `` Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to redefine human rights across the globe and undermine LGBTQ rights in the process .
In an interview with Tony Perkins , the president of the Family Research Council , on Sept. 23 for the Values Voter Summit , Pompeo mentioned the report and encouraged people to read it .
Focus on the Family has railed against LGBTQ equality for many years .
The group has published anti-LGBTQ articles on its website , including one criticizing transgender people 's access to bathrooms that correspond with their gender .
John Stemberger , the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made transphobic and homophobic remarks for more than a decade .
In 2010 , Stemberger said that families with two mothers or two fathers are `` an objectively inferior choice . ''
Stemberger believes queer parents should not be allowed to adopt children , and his `` pro-family '' organization fought to prevent a same-sex couple in Florida from permanently adopting their foster child .
During his time leading the group , Stemberger has made a slew of homophobic and transphobic comments .
`` Gender dysphoria is a mental disease , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump 's transgender military ban .
`` These folks need help , they need care , they do n't need to be put in the military .
It 's a bad public policy , and we applaud the president for reversing it . ''
He has also opposed the inclusion of transgender boys in the Boy Scouts .
When Stemberger explained what motivated him to leave his law practice to advocate against LGBTQ rights , he mentioned a transgender girl — whom Stemberger described as a boy .
`` They counseled [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confusion in obscurity so now [ she ] is dressed as a girl , is called a girl 's name , uses the girl 's bathroom in the public school in Miami , '' Stemberger said in 2008 .
`` That 's what motivates me . ''
Stemberger 's group supports `` conversion therapy , '' a harmful and unscientific practice that claims to forcibly change LGBTQ people 's sexual orientation and gender identity .
Under their LGBTQ issues page , the FFPC website describes `` conversion therapy '' bans as `` unconstitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disregard parents ' choice to place their child in `` conversion therapy . ''
Before Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's seat , Stemberger 's group applauded the Trump administration 's original pick of Barbara Lagoa to serve on the Supreme Court .
Lagoa is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit .
Before she came a U.S. circuit judge , Florida Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis appointed Lagoa for the Florida Supreme Court .
Stemberger praised her `` conservative judicial philosophy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's anti-LGBTQ history , Pompeo 's decision to speak at the gala presents potential ethics issues .
Government officials can speak at fundraising events if activities are consistent with their agency 's mission , but experts say Pompeo can not use this justification .
`` I honestly ca n't imagine how it could be in an official capacity to raise funds for this organization , '' Kathleen Clark , a government ethics scholar , told ABC News .
`` It 's so far afield from the State Department 's function . ''
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flirted with ethics violations .
In August , the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington accused Pompeo of violating the Hatch Act by giving a videotaped speech to Republican National Convention while on a diplomatic mission to Israel .
As the country 's top diplomat , Pompeo has abandoned ethical guidelines by going to a number of political events ahead of the election , including giving a speech in Wisconsin last month .
While Pompeo did not explicitly tell voters to cast their ballot for Trump in his speech , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violate the law .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to give a keynote speech at a fundraising event for an anti-LGBTQ group on Saturday.
The Florida Family Policy Council describes itself as a “leading pro-life, pro-family” organization. It’s one of 38 state-based organizations associated with Alliance Defending Freedom, the Family Research Council, and Focus on the Family. The group is selling $10,000 tickets for “a personal visit with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,” ABC News reported.
The Florida Family Policy Council’s website says religious liberty is “being threatened by radical LGBT activists who will not stop until they force all Americans to approve, support and celebrate their lifestyle.”
Alliance Defending Freedom and the Family Research Council have both been designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The former group advocates for anti-LGBTQ clients in court, while the latter has fought against LGBTQ rights for decades.
Pompeo, an evangelical Christian, has blatantly mixed his religious beliefs with the State Department’s foreign policy agenda. Human rights experts say that a report from Pompeo’s “Commission on Unalienable Rights” is an effort to redefine human rights across the globe and undermine LGBTQ rights in the process. In an interview with Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, on Sept. 23 for the Values Voter Summit, Pompeo mentioned the report and encouraged people to read it.
Focus on the Family has railed against LGBTQ equality for many years. The group has published anti-LGBTQ articles on its website, including one criticizing transgender people’s access to bathrooms that correspond with their gender.
John Stemberger, the president of the Florida Family Policy Council, has made transphobic and homophobic remarks for more than a decade. In 2010, Stemberger said that families with two mothers or two fathers are “an objectively inferior choice.” Stemberger believes queer parents should not be allowed to adopt children, and his “pro-family” organization fought to prevent a same-sex couple in Florida from permanently adopting their foster child.
During his time leading the group, Stemberger has made a slew of homophobic and transphobic comments.
“Gender dysphoria is a mental disease,” Stemberger said in 2017 while speaking about Donald Trump’s transgender military ban. “These folks need help, they need care, they don’t need to be put in the military. It’s a bad public policy, and we applaud the president for reversing it.”
He has also opposed the inclusion of transgender boys in the Boy Scouts.
When Stemberger explained what motivated him to leave his law practice to advocate against LGBTQ rights, he mentioned a transgender girl — whom Stemberger described as a boy.
“They counseled [her] into a complete state of confusion in obscurity so now [she] is dressed as a girl, is called a girl’s name, uses the girl’s bathroom in the public school in Miami,” Stemberger said in 2008. “That’s what motivates me.”
Stemberger’s group supports “conversion therapy,” a harmful and unscientific practice that claims to forcibly change LGBTQ people’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Under their LGBTQ issues page, the FFPC website describes “conversion therapy” bans as “unconstitutional limits on freedom of speech” that disregard parents’ choice to place their child in “conversion therapy.”
Before Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat, Stemberger’s group applauded the Trump administration’s original pick of Barbara Lagoa to serve on the Supreme Court. Lagoa is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Before she came a U.S. circuit judge, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Lagoa for the Florida Supreme Court. Stemberger praised her “conservative judicial philosophy.”
In addition to the group’s anti-LGBTQ history, Pompeo’s decision to speak at the gala presents potential ethics issues. Government officials can speak at fundraising events if activities are consistent with their agency’s mission, but experts say Pompeo cannot use this justification.
“I honestly can’t imagine how it could be in an official capacity to raise funds for this organization,” Kathleen Clark, a government ethics scholar, told ABC News. “It’s so far afield from the State Department’s function.”
This wouldn’t be the first time Pompeo flirted with ethics violations. In August, the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington accused Pompeo of violating the Hatch Act by giving a videotaped speech to Republican National Convention while on a diplomatic mission to Israel.
As the country’s top diplomat, Pompeo has abandoned ethical guidelines by going to a number of political events ahead of the election, including giving a speech in Wisconsin last month. While Pompeo did not explicitly tell voters to cast their ballot for Trump in his speech, Democrats have questioned whether these speaking events violate the law.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-01--Trump pulls out the old 'I don't know them' routine for the Proud Boys

Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that he had never heard of the violent white nationalist group he had egged on the night before .
Such feigned ignorance was right out of his typical playbook .
During the first 2020 presidential debate on Tuesday night , Trump had been asked to condemn white supremacists and white militias , and when he asked for a specific name , Joe Biden volunteered , `` Proud Boys , '' designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group .
Trump instead encouraged the group by name , saying , `` Proud Boys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' A day later , he again refused to denounce the Proud Boys , this time claiming not to know anything about them .
`` I do n't know who the Proud Boys are , '' he told reporters .
`` I mean , you 'll have to give me a definition , because I really do n't know who they are .
I can only say they have to stand down , let law enforcement do their work .
Law enforcement will do the work more and more .
As people see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat movement is and how weak , the law enforcement is going to come back stronger and stronger .
But again , I do n't know who Proud Boys are . ''
Hogan Gidley , the Trump campaign 's press secretary , had directly contradicted this earlier in the day , telling Fox News Radio that Trump had `` condemned the Proud Boys on multiple occasions . ''
Recalling racist politicians of the past , Trump has a long history of claiming to `` know nothing '' about white nationalists and political scandals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump was asked in an interview to disavow the support he was receiving from former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke and other white supremacists .
`` Well , just so you understand , I do n't know anything about David Duke , OK ?
I do n't even know anything about what you 're talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists .
Did he endorse me , or what 's going on ?
I know nothing about David Duke .
I know nothing about white supremacists , '' he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lie : Trump had expressly condemned Duke repeatedly in 2000 as a `` Klansman '' and cited Duke 's involvement in the Reform Party as a reason not to run for president on its ballot line .
In August of this year , in a similar vein , Trump denied any knowledge of QAnon , a movement of conspiracy theorists who claim powerful public officials — mostly Democrats — are running an international child-trafficking cabal and working to destroy Trump .
The FBI has labeled them a domestic terrorism threat .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it other than they do supposedly like me , '' he told reporters .
A month earlier , he retweeted 14 tweets from QAnon-linked accounts in a single day .
A day after pretending not to know what QAnon was , Trump used similar language to disclaim knowledge of his former top strategist Steve Bannon 's scam border wall campaign .
`` I know nothing about the project , other than I did n't like — when I read about it , I did n't like it , '' he claimed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and White House adviser Bannon and others had been arrested earlier that morning for allegedly operating a fraudulent crowdfunding effort to raise money for private construction of part of the wall along the United States ' southern border .
Asked if he had , as former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach had claimed , endorsed the project , Trump said , `` I did n't .
I did n't know that .
I did n't know about Bannon 's involvement , but I did n't know any — I did n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump tried to distance himself from his own decision to fire the inspector general for the State Department , who was investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the time .
`` I do n't know anything about him , other than the State Department , and Mike in particular , '' he told reporters .
`` I guess they were n't happy with the job he was doing or something , so because it 's my right to do it , I said , 'Sure , I 'll do it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration disbanded the White House pandemic response team prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic , Trump dismissed the `` nasty question '' and said , `` I did n't do it .
We have a group of people .
I could perhaps ask Tony [ Fauci ] about that , because I do n't know anything about it .
I mean , you say we did that .
I do n't know anything about it . ''
In January , Trump was asked about his relationship with Lev Parnas , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani who implicated Trump and Mike Pence in efforts to force President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to announce an investigation into Hunter Biden , the son of former Vice President Joe Biden .
`` I do n't know him , '' Trump answered , `` other than he 's sort of like a groupie .
He shows up at fundraisers .
Okay ?
So I do n't know anything about him . ''
Trump has also claimed previously to know nothing about payments his attorney made to porn star Stormy Daniels or about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ El Chapo , about whom he had previously tweeted .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that he had never heard of the violent white nationalist group he had egged on the night before. Such feigned ignorance was right out of his typical playbook.
During the first 2020 presidential debate on Tuesday night, Trump had been asked to condemn white supremacists and white militias, and when he asked for a specific name, Joe Biden volunteered, “Proud Boys,” designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group. Trump instead encouraged the group by name, saying, “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.”
A day later, he again refused to denounce the Proud Boys, this time claiming not to know anything about them.
“I don’t know who the Proud Boys are,” he told reporters. “I mean, you’ll have to give me a definition, because I really don’t know who they are. I can only say they have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work. Law enforcement will do the work more and more. As people see how bad this radical, liberal, Democrat movement is and how weak, the law enforcement is going to come back stronger and stronger. But again, I don’t know who Proud Boys are.”
Hogan Gidley, the Trump campaign’s press secretary, had directly contradicted this earlier in the day, telling Fox News Radio that Trump had “condemned the Proud Boys on multiple occasions.”
Recalling racist politicians of the past, Trump has a long history of claiming to “know nothing” about white nationalists and political scandals surrounding his administration.
In 2016, Trump was asked in an interview to disavow the support he was receiving from former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke and other white supremacists. “Well, just so you understand, I don’t know anything about David Duke, OK? I don’t even know anything about what you’re talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. Did he endorse me, or what’s going on? I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists,” he told CNN.
This statement too was a lie: Trump had expressly condemned Duke repeatedly in 2000 as a “Klansman” and cited Duke’s involvement in the Reform Party as a reason not to run for president on its ballot line.
In August of this year, in a similar vein, Trump denied any knowledge of QAnon, a movement of conspiracy theorists who claim powerful public officials — mostly Democrats — are running an international child-trafficking cabal and working to destroy Trump. The FBI has labeled them a domestic terrorism threat.
“I don’t know, really, anything about it other than they do supposedly like me,” he told reporters. A month earlier, he retweeted 14 tweets from QAnon-linked accounts in a single day.
A day after pretending not to know what QAnon was, Trump used similar language to disclaim knowledge of his former top strategist Steve Bannon’s scam border wall campaign. “I know nothing about the project, other than I didn’t like — when I read about it, I didn’t like it,” he claimed on Aug. 20.
Former Trump campaign chief and White House adviser Bannon and others had been arrested earlier that morning for allegedly operating a fraudulent crowdfunding effort to raise money for private construction of part of the wall along the United States’ southern border.
Asked if he had, as former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach had claimed, endorsed the project, Trump said, “I didn’t. I didn’t know that. I didn’t know about Bannon’s involvement, but I didn’t know any — I didn’t know the other people.”
In May, Trump tried to distance himself from his own decision to fire the inspector general for the State Department, who was investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the time. “I don’t know anything about him, other than the State Department, and Mike in particular,” he told reporters. “I guess they weren’t happy with the job he was doing or something, so because it’s my right to do it, I said, ‘Sure, I’ll do it.'”
Asked in March why his administration disbanded the White House pandemic response team prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump dismissed the “nasty question” and said, “I didn’t do it. We have a group of people. I could perhaps ask Tony [Fauci] about that, because I don’t know anything about it. I mean, you say we did that. I don’t know anything about it.”
In January, Trump was asked about his relationship with Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani who implicated Trump and Mike Pence in efforts to force President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to announce an investigation into Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden. “I don’t know him,” Trump answered, “other than he’s sort of like a groupie. He shows up at fundraisers. Okay? So I don’t know anything about him.”
Trump has also claimed previously to know nothing about payments his attorney made to porn star Stormy Daniels or about the Mexican drug cartel leader known as El Chapo, about whom he had previously tweeted.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-01--More and more Republicans say they're planning to vote for Biden

While most Republicans are ride-or-die passengers on the Trump train , GOP defectors are growing in number — and more Republicans than ever before have declared their intention to vote for Democratic nominee Joe Biden this November .
Exit polls reveal that 8 % of registered Republicans and 16 % of self-described conservatives voted for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016 , and 6 % of Republicans and 17 % of self-described conservatives voted for former President Barack Obama in 2012 .
But the data suggests more Republicans are voting across party lines in 2020 than in either of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survey conducted in mid-August indicates that this year , 11 % of Republicans are bucking GOP protocol and throwing their hat in the ring with Joe Biden .
Those percentages are even higher among Generation Z voters born between 1996 and 2002 .
Research from CIRCLE , a Tufts University-based initiative , found that , of voters in this age group who cast a ballot for Republican candidates in the 2018 midterms , 20 % now plan to vote for Biden .
For many of these young disaffected Republicans , their libertarian economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for social issues such as LGBTQ rights and racial justice , among other things .
`` Young Americans , including those who identify as Republicans or conservatives , are concerned about climate change , student debt , and the health of their loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic , '' said Brent Cohen , executive director of Generation Progress Action .
He added that young voters are also concerned about their own financial futures due to the recession in the wake of the pandemic .
`` Young people are less likely to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more likely to vote based on the issues that are important to them , '' Cohen said .
`` If they are choosing to vote for a candidate of a different party , it 's likely because they feel that candidate will better address the issues that matter to them . ''
Unrest in the GOP ranks more broadly is growing .
Tom Ridge , former Pennsylvania governor and first secretary of Homeland Security under George W. Bush , wrote an op-ed Sunday in the Philadelphia Inquirer endorsing Joe Biden and condemning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not just a privilege , but a responsibility .
And this year , I believe the responsible vote is for Joe Biden , '' he wrote .
`` It 's a vote for decency .
A vote for the rule of law .
And a vote for honest and earnest leadership .
It 's time to put country over party .
It 's time to dismiss Donald Trump . ''
A week earlier , the late-Sen. John McCain 's widow Cindy McCain joined the ranks of former McCain staffers endorsing Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ code : country first .
We are Republicans , yes , but Americans foremost .
There 's only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation , and that is @ JoeBiden , '' McCain tweeted .
Biden tweeted in reply : `` Cindy — I 'm deeply honored to have your support and your friendship .
This election is bigger than any one political party .
It requires all of us to come together as one America to restore the soul of the nation .
Together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Former Republican presidential candidate John Kasich and former Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina , as well as Trump 's former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci , have all announced their intent to vote for Biden .
`` I 'm sure there are Republicans and independents who could n't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat , ” Kasich told the New York Times in August .
`` They fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind .
I do n't believe that .
Because I know the measure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respectful .
And you know , no one pushes Joe around . ''
Scaramucci has been a bit harsher in his criticism of Trump .
`` Orange spray paint to orange jump suit soon , '' Scaramucci tweeted about the White House occupant after Tuesday night 's debate , during which Trump repeatedly interrupted and insulted Biden and his family .
The insurrection is real , and disaffected Republicans are taking a stand .
At least 70 former Republican national security officials have also endorsed Biden thus far , as well as six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seven former Republican governors , five former Republican senators , and two dozen former Republican congressmen .
While it 's true a handful of Republican officials endorsed Clinton in 2016 and Obama in 2012 , the defection was never to this scale — and the trend of `` Never Trumper '' Republicans seems poised to stay .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

While most Republicans are ride-or-die passengers on the Trump train, GOP defectors are growing in number — and more Republicans than ever before have declared their intention to vote for Democratic nominee Joe Biden this November.
Exit polls reveal that 8% of registered Republicans and 16% of self-described conservatives voted for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016, and 6% of Republicans and 17% of self-described conservatives voted for former President Barack Obama in 2012. But the data suggests more Republicans are voting across party lines in 2020 than in either of the two previous elections.
A Hill-HarrisX national survey conducted in mid-August indicates that this year, 11% of Republicans are bucking GOP protocol and throwing their hat in the ring with Joe Biden.
Those percentages are even higher among Generation Z voters born between 1996 and 2002.
Research from CIRCLE, a Tufts University-based initiative, found that, of voters in this age group who cast a ballot for Republican candidates in the 2018 midterms, 20% now plan to vote for Biden. For many of these young disaffected Republicans, their libertarian economic principles often come second to their concern for social issues such as LGBTQ rights and racial justice, among other things.
“Young Americans, including those who identify as Republicans or conservatives, are concerned about climate change, student debt, and the health of their loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Brent Cohen, executive director of Generation Progress Action.
He added that young voters are also concerned about their own financial futures due to the recession in the wake of the pandemic.
“Young people are less likely to vote based on a particular candidate or party and more likely to vote based on the issues that are important to them,” Cohen said. “If they are choosing to vote for a candidate of a different party, it’s likely because they feel that candidate will better address the issues that matter to them.”
Unrest in the GOP ranks more broadly is growing. Tom Ridge, former Pennsylvania governor and first secretary of Homeland Security under George W. Bush, wrote an op-ed Sunday in the Philadelphia Inquirer endorsing Joe Biden and condemning Trump.
“For me, voting is not just a privilege, but a responsibility. And this year, I believe the responsible vote is for Joe Biden,” he wrote. “It’s a vote for decency. A vote for the rule of law. And a vote for honest and earnest leadership. It’s time to put country over party. It’s time to dismiss Donald Trump.”
A week earlier, the late-Sen. John McCain’s widow Cindy McCain joined the ranks of former McCain staffers endorsing Biden.


shareblue--2020-10-01--Ted Cruz is mad that a Fox News host wasn't nicer to Trump during the debate

Donald Trump 's debate performance Tuesday was widely panned across the political spectrum .
CNN 's Dana Bash called it a `` shit show , '' and even Fox News host Brian Kilmeade questioned Trump 's decision to signal the white supremacist Proud Boys by saying they should `` stand down and stand by , '' rather than condemn them .
But Trump 's die-hard fans are sticking by him , including Fox News host Sean Hannity , who accused the media of directing `` vile '' attacks and `` bile '' against the president .
On Thursday , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted that Trump 's chaotic debate performance was the result of anti-Trump bias by moderator and Fox News anchor Chris Wallace .
`` ... Everyone agrees Tuesday ’ s debate was a train wreck , '' Cruz wrote .
`` A major contributing fact was the moderator Chris Wallace , a registered Democrat , repeatedly interrupting to try to help Joe Biden .
The next debate is set to be moderated by a former intern to ... Joe Biden .
( And Ted Kennedy . )
'' Wallace spent the majority of Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rival Joe Biden and his family repeatedly .
During a few exchanges , Trump 's continued badgering prompted Biden to respond with his own tongue-lashing .
`` Are you going to pack the court ?
Are you going to pack the court ?
He doesn ’ t want to answer , '' Trump said at one point .
`` Will you shut up , man ? ''
Biden responded .
`` I think the country would be better served if we allowed both people to speak with fewer interruptions .
I 'm appealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , '' Wallace said eventually , directing his comments toward Trump .
`` And him , too , '' Trump said .
`` Well , frankly , you 've been doing more interrupting than he has , '' Wallace responded .
Wallace , respected in the media as a `` tough interviewer '' and a seasoned veteran , is currently the host of `` Fox News Sunday , '' the conservative network 's Sunday morning politics show .
Wallace worked previously for ABC News as the host of `` Primetime Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News and the Boston Globe before that .
During his time at Fox News , which has been slammed for it 's openly Trump-friendly programming ( Trump 's preferred news show , `` Fox & Friends , '' often hosts 45-minute long phone calls with him and frequently goes to bat for him ) the anchor has drawn the ire of conservatives for his analysis of major news events , which is at times critical of Republicans and Democrats alike .
Wallace is indeed a registered Democrat , however the Washington Post noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his affiliation was `` driven by simple pragmatism . ''
`` The reason I 'm a registered Democrat is that in Washington , D.C. , there is really only one party , '' he claimed at the time .
`` If you want a say in who 's going to be the next mayor or councilman , you have to vote in the Democratic primary . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s debate performance Tuesday was widely panned across the political spectrum. CNN’s Dana Bash called it a “shit show,” and even Fox News host Brian Kilmeade questioned Trump’s decision to signal the white supremacist Proud Boys by saying they should “stand down and stand by,” rather than condemn them.
But Trump’s die-hard fans are sticking by him, including Fox News host Sean Hannity, who accused the media of directing “vile” attacks and “bile” against the president. On Thursday, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) also tweeted that Trump’s chaotic debate performance was the result of anti-Trump bias by moderator and Fox News anchor Chris Wallace.
“…Everyone agrees Tuesday’s debate was a train wreck,” Cruz wrote. “A major contributing fact was the moderator Chris Wallace, a registered Democrat, repeatedly interrupting to try to help Joe Biden. The next debate is set to be moderated by a former intern to…Joe Biden. (And Ted Kennedy.)”
Wallace spent the majority of Tuesday night intervening as Trump attacked and insulted rival Joe Biden and his family repeatedly. During a few exchanges, Trump’s continued badgering prompted Biden to respond with his own tongue-lashing.
“Are you going to pack the court? Are you going to pack the court? He doesn’t want to answer,” Trump said at one point.
“Will you shut up, man?” Biden responded.
The pestering continued.
“I think the country would be better served if we allowed both people to speak with fewer interruptions. I’m appealing to you, sir, to do that,” Wallace said eventually, directing his comments toward Trump.
“And him, too,” Trump said.
“Well, frankly, you’ve been doing more interrupting than he has,” Wallace responded.
Wallace, respected in the media as a “tough interviewer” and a seasoned veteran, is currently the host of “Fox News Sunday,” the conservative network’s Sunday morning politics show. Wallace worked previously for ABC News as the host of “Primetime Thursday,” and was a reporter for NBC News and the Boston Globe before that.
During his time at Fox News, which has been slammed for it’s openly Trump-friendly programming (Trump’s preferred news show, “Fox & Friends,” often hosts 45-minute long phone calls with him and frequently goes to bat for him) the anchor has drawn the ire of conservatives for his analysis of major news events, which is at times critical of Republicans and Democrats alike.
Wallace is indeed a registered Democrat, however the Washington Post noted in a 2006 interview with the anchor that his affiliation was “driven by simple pragmatism.”
“The reason I’m a registered Democrat is that in Washington, D.C., there is really only one party,” he claimed at the time. “If you want a say in who’s going to be the next mayor or councilman, you have to vote in the Democratic primary.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-01--Conservatives turn Kenosha shooter into their hero — and Trump's administration is helping

Prosecutors have accused Illinois 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of fatally shooting two Black Lives Matter protesters and wounding one more in Kenosha , Wisconsin — an act that Donald Trump has repeatedly refused to condemn .
Now , internal documents show that Trump 's tacit defense of Rittenhouse has grown to become part of the federal government 's official response to the shooting .
A document from the Department of Homeland Security — which was first obtained by NBC News — appeared to direct federal law enforcement officials to portray Rittenhouse as a sympathetic figure in public statements about the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the document was the suggestion that federal officials say Rittenhouse `` took his rifle to the scene of the rioting to help defend small business owners , '' and that he was `` chased and attacked '' by rioters before the alleged shootings .
The DHS talking points continued : `` Subsequent video has emerged reportedly showing that there were 'multiple gunmen ' involved , which would lend more credence to the self-defense claims . ''
Peter Boogaard , a spokesperson for the department during President Barack Obama 's administration , told NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is wrong '' for law enforcement to be instructed on what to say to the media while an investigation is still ongoing .
The memo further instructed law enforcement officials to focus the conversation on maintaining `` law and order '' in American cities , and to tell the media that Rittenhouse , `` just like everyone else in America , is innocent until proven guilty and deserves a fair trial based on all the facts , not just the ones that support a certain narrative . ''
`` This is why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of law , not the star chamber of public opinion , '' the document continued .
According to NBC News , most federal law enforcement officials have remained silent despite the talking points ' direction .
Trump himself has not remained silent .
Instead , he 's openly defended Rittenhouse , arguing that Rittenhouse acted in `` self-defense '' — the same argument being made by Rittenhouse 's defense attorneys .
`` That was an interesting situation , '' Trump said in an interview .
`` You saw the same tape as I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get away from them , I guess , it looks like .
And he fell .
And then they very violently attacked him . ''
Footage from the shooting belies this claim : It shows Rittenhouse running away from the scene after shooting one protester , as others chase him down in an effort to disarm him .
Republicans have continued to defend Rittenhouse for his alleged crimes , all while insisting they are the `` law and order '' party .
`` If you do n't allow police to do their job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend themselves in some way , '' Trump campaign spokesperson Hogan Gidley told CNN on Wednesday .
`` How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would ? ''
Fox News host Tucker Carlson said in August .
`` Everyone can see what was happening in Kenosha .
It was getting crazier by the hour . ''
David Harsanyi , a senior writer at the conservative National Review , tweeted that the Rittenhouse footage `` looks a lot like self-defense . ''
Conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the wake of the shooting .
A group called `` Friends of the Rittenhouse Family '' raised more than half a million dollars for Rittenhouse 's defense through the Christian fundraising site GiveSendGo , claiming Rittenhouse was `` unfairly charged with murder . ''
The Gun Owners of America — an extremist group to the right of the National Rifle Association — sent out emails raising money for Rittenhouse 's defense and blaming `` fake news reports '' about Rittenhouse .
Rittenhouse 's attorney , Lin Wood , is now threatening to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defamation , for linking Rittenhouse 's name with white supremacy militias .
No matter what happens in court , do n't count on the GOP to stop defending Rittenhouse 's actions anytime soon .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Prosecutors have accused Illinois 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of fatally shooting two Black Lives Matter protesters and wounding one more in Kenosha, Wisconsin — an act that Donald Trump has repeatedly refused to condemn.
Now, internal documents show that Trump’s tacit defense of Rittenhouse has grown to become part of the federal government’s official response to the shooting. A document from the Department of Homeland Security — which was first obtained by NBC News — appeared to direct federal law enforcement officials to portray Rittenhouse as a sympathetic figure in public statements about the investigation.
Among the talking points outlined in the document was the suggestion that federal officials say Rittenhouse “took his rifle to the scene of the rioting to help defend small business owners,” and that he was “chased and attacked” by rioters before the alleged shootings.
The DHS talking points continued: “Subsequent video has emerged reportedly showing that there were ‘multiple gunmen’ involved, which would lend more credence to the self-defense claims.”
Peter Boogaard, a spokesperson for the department during President Barack Obama’s administration, told NBC News it was “as unprecedented as it is wrong” for law enforcement to be instructed on what to say to the media while an investigation is still ongoing.
The memo further instructed law enforcement officials to focus the conversation on maintaining “law and order” in American cities, and to tell the media that Rittenhouse, “just like everyone else in America, is innocent until proven guilty and deserves a fair trial based on all the facts, not just the ones that support a certain narrative.”
“This is why we try the accused in the court of law, not the star chamber of public opinion,” the document continued.
According to NBC News, most federal law enforcement officials have remained silent despite the talking points’ direction.
Trump himself has not remained silent. Instead, he’s openly defended Rittenhouse, arguing that Rittenhouse acted in “self-defense” — the same argument being made by Rittenhouse’s defense attorneys.
“That was an interesting situation,” Trump said in an interview. “You saw the same tape as I saw, and he was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looks like. And he fell. And then they very violently attacked him.”
Footage from the shooting belies this claim: It shows Rittenhouse running away from the scene after shooting one protester, as others chase him down in an effort to disarm him.
Republicans have continued to defend Rittenhouse for his alleged crimes, all while insisting they are the “law and order” party.
“If you don’t allow police to do their job, then the American people have to defend themselves in some way,” Trump campaign spokesperson Hogan Gidley told CNN on Wednesday.
“How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?” Fox News host Tucker Carlson said in August. “Everyone can see what was happening in Kenosha. It was getting crazier by the hour.”
David Harsanyi, a senior writer at the conservative National Review, tweeted that the Rittenhouse footage “looks a lot like self-defense.”
Conservatives are even raising money to support Rittenhouse in the wake of the shooting.
A group called “Friends of the Rittenhouse Family” raised more than half a million dollars for Rittenhouse’s defense through the Christian fundraising site GiveSendGo, claiming Rittenhouse was “unfairly charged with murder.”
The Gun Owners of America — an extremist group to the right of the National Rifle Association — sent out emails raising money for Rittenhouse’s defense and blaming “fake news reports” about Rittenhouse.
Rittenhouse’s attorney, Lin Wood, is now threatening to sue Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for defamation, for linking Rittenhouse’s name with white supremacy militias.
No matter what happens in court, don’t count on the GOP to stop defending Rittenhouse’s actions anytime soon.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-01--White House won't say where Trump supposedly 'found a lot of ballots in a river'

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday refused to tell reporters , after repeated inquiries , what `` river '' Donald Trump was referencing when he alleged that ballots had been `` found '' in `` a river . ''
In remarks to the press last Thursday , Trump made the allegation as part of his ongoing attacks on mail-in voting .
`` It was reported in one of the newspapers that they found a lot of ballots in a river , '' Trump claimed .
`` They throw them out if they have the name 'Trump ' on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had ballots . ''
Trump has repeatedly attacked the integrity of mail-in ballots while many voters have said they plan to vote by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
McEnany was asked to clarify which river Trump was referring to .
She then cited a story about ballots being found in a `` ditch . ''
The reporter then asked her to clarify what `` river '' Trump was referring to in his statement .
Instead of answering , McEnany complained that the reporter was `` missing the forest for the trees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` ignore '' the facts .
`` I want to know where the river is .
Where 's the river ? ''
he replied .
McEnany would not answer , and instead said the reporter lacked `` journalistic curiosity . ''
`` I 'm very curious , '' the reporter responded .
`` Where is the river ? ''
REPORTER : As you know , the president has criticized the mail-in voting process quite a bit over the last few weeks .
The other day , he said `` they found a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Who is `` they '' ?
KAYLEIGH McENANY : So , what the president was referring to are , something that we 've seen in the last seven days where in Wisconsin there were trails of mail ending up in a ditch , I believe that 's specific he was referring to and that included absentee ballots .
REPORTER : Where specifically , in this particular statement though , who is `` they '' that found those ballots and where is this river anywhere in this country ?
McENANY : The local authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they were found in , I can get the article to your inbox if you 'd like .
And beyond that— REPORTER : If he misspoke , that 's fine .
REPORTER : He meant a ditch rather than a river ?
McENANY : And you 're really missing the forest for the trees here , the point is— REPORTER : I cover the news and I like to report accurately in the news and when the president says , `` they found a lot of ballots in a river , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ river is .
McENANY : No , you simply want to ignore the fact of the matter— REPORTER : I got asked so many questions from my Fox affiliates , where is this river ?
McENANY : This is what is happening here .
You 're ignoring the problem here , which is last week , in Pennsylvania , you had ballots found in a ditch .
That is a fact .
In Wisconsin , seven military ballots , all marked for Trump , were found cast aside .
There are problems with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't understand the lack of journalistic curiosity and reporting on this .
REPORTER : I want to know where the river is .
Where 's the river ?
McENANY : There used to be curiosity , in fact the Washington Post before President Trump highlighted the problems with mail-in voting , they said , `` the result was an unexpected stress test of mail balloting systems when this was tried , many of which were designed to only handle a small portion of the vote and are not ready to scale up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : So there is no river .
McENANY : -- `` mail-in voting is not ready to scale up in the middle of a pandemic , '' now there 's no journalistic curiosity when we 're finding Trump ballots cast aside— SECOND REPORTER : He 's asking you about it .
McENANY : There 's no journalistic curiosity when 100,000— REPORTER : I 'm asking you where the river is and you ca n't give an answer .
McENANY : — ballots were sent out in Brooklyn .
McENANY : Thank you for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ REPORTER : I 'm very curious .
Where is the river ?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday refused to tell reporters, after repeated inquiries, what “river” Donald Trump was referencing when he alleged that ballots had been “found” in “a river.”
In remarks to the press last Thursday, Trump made the allegation as part of his ongoing attacks on mail-in voting.
“It was reported in one of the newspapers that they found a lot of ballots in a river,” Trump claimed. “They throw them out if they have the name ‘Trump’ on it, I guess. But they had ballots.”
Trump has repeatedly attacked the integrity of mail-in ballots while many voters have said they plan to vote by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
McEnany was asked to clarify which river Trump was referring to. She then cited a story about ballots being found in a “ditch.”
The reporter then asked her to clarify what “river” Trump was referring to in his statement. Instead of answering, McEnany complained that the reporter was “missing the forest for the trees” and accused him of wanting to “ignore” the facts.
“I want to know where the river is. Where’s the river?” he replied.
McEnany would not answer, and instead said the reporter lacked “journalistic curiosity.”
“I’m very curious,” the reporter responded. “Where is the river?”
McEnany never answered.
From an Oct. 1 White House press briefing:
REPORTER: As you know, the president has criticized the mail-in voting process quite a bit over the last few weeks. The other day, he said “they found a lot of ballots in a river.” Who is “they”? KAYLEIGH McENANY: So, what the president was referring to are, something that we’ve seen in the last seven days where in Wisconsin there were trails of mail ending up in a ditch, I believe that’s specific he was referring to and that included absentee ballots. REPORTER: Where specifically, in this particular statement though, who is “they” that found those ballots and where is this river anywhere in this country? McENANY: The local authorities, it was a ditch in Wisconsin that they were found in, I can get the article to your inbox if you’d like. And beyond that— REPORTER: If he misspoke, that’s fine. McENANY: No, that’s, I believe— REPORTER: He meant a ditch rather than a river? McENANY: And you’re really missing the forest for the trees here, the point is— REPORTER: I cover the news and I like to report accurately in the news and when the president says, “they found a lot of ballots in a river,” I simply want to know where the river is. McENANY: No, you simply want to ignore the fact of the matter— REPORTER: I got asked so many questions from my Fox affiliates, where is this river? [CROSSTALK] McENANY: This is what is happening here. You’re ignoring the problem here, which is last week, in Pennsylvania, you had ballots found in a ditch. That is a fact. In Wisconsin, seven military ballots, all marked for Trump, were found cast aside. There are problems with mass mail-in voting. I actually don’t understand the lack of journalistic curiosity and reporting on this. REPORTER: I want to know where the river is. Where’s the river? McENANY: There used to be curiosity, in fact the Washington Post before President Trump highlighted the problems with mail-in voting, they said, “the result was an unexpected stress test of mail balloting systems when this was tried, many of which were designed to only handle a small portion of the vote and are not ready to scale up in response to the pandemic.” So the media once said — REPORTER: So there is no river. McENANY: — “mail-in voting is not ready to scale up in the middle of a pandemic,” now there’s no journalistic curiosity when we’re finding Trump ballots cast aside— SECOND REPORTER: He’s asking you about it. McENANY: There’s no journalistic curiosity when 100,000— REPORTER: I’m asking you where the river is and you can’t give an answer. McENANY: — ballots were sent out in Brooklyn. [CROSSTALK] McENANY: Thank you for filibustering and lack of journalistic curiosity. REPORTER: I’m very curious. Where is the river?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-01--Trump ramps up attacks on ballots after 'trickster' Roger Stone calls them 'corrupted'

Donald Trump 's lies about voting by mail have escalated over the past few weeks .
Trump falsely claimed at Tuesday night 's presidential debate that there would be `` tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated '' in the 2020 election , and because of that he `` ca n't go along '' with accepting the results if he loses .
Trump 's lie-filled fear-mongering about absentee ballots came days after he told reporters that his plan to stay in power is to `` get rid of the ballots . ''
Trump 's latest rhetoric comes days after Roger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longtime Trump ally , made similar assertions on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones ' Infowars network .
In a Sept. 10 appearance , Stone said that `` the ballots in Nevada on election night should be seized by federal marshals and taken from the state '' because `` they are completely corrupted . ''
Stone went on to assert that `` we can prove voter fraud in the absentees right now . ''
However , that claim was almost immediately dismantled .
Just days later , on Sept. 18 , a judge threw out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting in Nevada because the Trump campaign could not provide any proof of fraud .
Trump 's campaign was also unable to provide any proof of mail-in voting fraud in a separate lawsuit it filed in Pennsylvania .
In the same appearance , Stone also suggested Trump use legal challenges `` with the specific task of forming an Election Day operation using the FBI , federal marshals , and Republican state officials across the country to be prepared to file legal objections and if necessary to physically stand in the way of criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night , Trump echoed this sentiment as well , saying that he may depend on the Supreme Court to overturn the election results and urging his supporters to `` watch '' the polls in Philadelphia , a predominantly Democratic city — leading to concerns that Trump supporters will intimidate voters .
`` I 'm urging my supporters to go in to the polls and watch very carefully , because that 's what has to happen , '' Trump said at the debate .
`` I am urging them to do it .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big problem .
In Philadelphia , they went in to watch .
They 're called poll watchers , a very safe , very nice thing .
They were thrown out .
They were n't allowed to watch .
You know why ?
Because bad things happen in Philadelphia .
Bad things .
And I am urging my people .
I hope it 's going to be a fair election . ''
Trump 's comments about Philadelphia were false .
Trump supporters were removed from an elections office because they were not legally permitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
And Democrats won a lawsuit in the state in September that would prevent people from coming from outside of a county to watch polls and intimidate voters .
This is not the first time Stone has tried to sow chaos in elections .
In 2000 , he helped organize the `` Brooks Brothers Riot '' that stopped recount efforts in Florida 's Miami-Dade county .
Stone also tried to help get `` poll watchers '' for Trump in the 2016 election .
Legal experts worry that rhetoric from people like Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even violence .
After Trump 's poll-watching comment at Tuesday 's debate , Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford came out with a statement reminding people that voter intimidation is illegal in his state .
`` Trump also told 'his supporters ' to 'go into the polls and watch very carefully . '
But he was n't talking about poll watching .
He was talking about voter intimidation , '' Ford tweeted .
`` FYI — voter intimidation is illegal in Nevada .
Believe me when I say it : You do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump commuted Stone 's more than three-year prison sentence for obstruction of justice , witness tampering , and lying to Congress , days before Stone was set to go to prison , leading to accusations that Trump was giving preferential treatment to his friends .
Stone is a self-proclaimed `` dirty trickster '' who has been engaged in political operations since the 1970s , including hiring someone to infiltrate then-Sen. George McGovern 's presidential campaign .
He was in contact with Wikileaks during the 2016 campaign — work that ultimately led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s lies about voting by mail have escalated over the past few weeks. Trump falsely claimed at Tuesday night’s presidential debate that there would be “tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated” in the 2020 election, and because of that he “can’t go along” with accepting the results if he loses.
Trump’s lie-filled fear-mongering about absentee ballots came days after he told reporters that his plan to stay in power is to “get rid of the ballots.”
Trump’s latest rhetoric comes days after Roger Stone, a convicted felon and a longtime Trump ally, made similar assertions on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars network.
In a Sept. 10 appearance, Stone said that “the ballots in Nevada on election night should be seized by federal marshals and taken from the state” because “they are completely corrupted.”
Stone went on to assert that “we can prove voter fraud in the absentees right now.”
However, that claim was almost immediately dismantled. Just days later, on Sept. 18, a judge threw out a Trump campaign lawsuit against expanded absentee voting in Nevada because the Trump campaign could not provide any proof of fraud. Trump’s campaign was also unable to provide any proof of mail-in voting fraud in a separate lawsuit it filed in Pennsylvania.
In the same appearance, Stone also suggested Trump use legal challenges “with the specific task of forming an Election Day operation using the FBI, federal marshals, and Republican state officials across the country to be prepared to file legal objections and if necessary to physically stand in the way of criminal activity.”
At the debate Tuesday night, Trump echoed this sentiment as well, saying that he may depend on the Supreme Court to overturn the election results and urging his supporters to “watch” the polls in Philadelphia, a predominantly Democratic city — leading to concerns that Trump supporters will intimidate voters.
“I’m urging my supporters to go in to the polls and watch very carefully, because that’s what has to happen,” Trump said at the debate. “I am urging them to do it. As you know, today there was a big problem. In Philadelphia, they went in to watch. They’re called poll watchers, a very safe, very nice thing. They were thrown out. They weren’t allowed to watch. You know why? Because bad things happen in Philadelphia. Bad things. And I am urging my people. I hope it’s going to be a fair election.”
Trump’s comments about Philadelphia were false. Trump supporters were removed from an elections office because they were not legally permitted to be there, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. And Democrats won a lawsuit in the state in September that would prevent people from coming from outside of a county to watch polls and intimidate voters.
This is not the first time Stone has tried to sow chaos in elections.
In 2000, he helped organize the “Brooks Brothers Riot” that stopped recount efforts in Florida’s Miami-Dade county.
Stone also tried to help get “poll watchers” for Trump in the 2016 election.
Legal experts worry that rhetoric from people like Trump and Stone could cause voter intimidation, and even violence.
After Trump’s poll-watching comment at Tuesday’s debate, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford came out with a statement reminding people that voter intimidation is illegal in his state.
“Trump also told ‘his supporters’ to ‘go into the polls and watch very carefully.’ But he wasn’t talking about poll watching. He was talking about voter intimidation,” Ford tweeted. “FYI — voter intimidation is illegal in Nevada. Believe me when I say it: You do it, and you will be prosecuted.”
Trump commuted Stone’s more than three-year prison sentence for obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and lying to Congress, days before Stone was set to go to prison, leading to accusations that Trump was giving preferential treatment to his friends.
Stone is a self-proclaimed “dirty trickster” who has been engaged in political operations since the 1970s, including hiring someone to infiltrate then-Sen. George McGovern’s presidential campaign. He was in contact with Wikileaks during the 2016 campaign — work that ultimately led to his conviction.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-01--Wisconsin governor tells Trump to require masks at campaign rallies or stay away

Wisconsin Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers told Donald Trump on Tuesday to require masks at his rallies in the state this Saturday or just `` not come . ''
Wisconsin is dealing with so-called COVID-19 `` red zones , '' and hospitals there are reaching full capacity .
Gov .
Tony Evers said in a Tuesday coronavirus briefing that there were `` absolutely '' two things Trump could do .
`` Number one , he could not come , '' Evers said .
`` The second thing that could be done is for him to insist that if people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He could make that happen .
`` He could wear one too .
Those are the two things that he could do to make sure that it does n't become a super-spreader event , '' the governor added .
Trump is planning on having rallies with potentially thousands of people in COVID-19 hot spots La Crosse and Green Bay , both designated `` red zones '' by the White House Coronavirus Task Force , meaning that the locations have had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the preceding week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , '' said Dr. Ryan Westergaard , Wisconsin 's chief medical officer .
`` Turning the corner on this requires that we do things dramatically different than what we 're doing .
It requires all of society , all of Wisconsin to do things differently . ''
On Wednesday , Wisconsin suffered 27 deaths from the coronavirus , the most ever reported in the state in a single day , bringing its total death toll to 1,327 .
In Green Bay , officials at Bellin Hospital said they were at 94 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , medical director of the hospital 's emergency department for 16 years , told WBAY that `` in Brown County , we 're in deep trouble . ''
Casey shared a graph on Facebook , saying in the accompanying post : `` The second wave is here , and it is here with a vengeance .
`` All four Green Bay hospitals are close to capacity , '' Casey continued .
`` Our ICU has been full several times this week .
For the first time in the 16 years I have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to place patients in the hallway .
This occurred twice in the last week . ''
He said : `` If you have not yet accepted the seriousness of this pandemic , now is the time to start .
The life of a loved one could be at stake . ''
Meanwhile , Evers extended his statewide mask order to Nov. 21 after declaring a new public health emergency .
The original mandate required masks be worn across the state from Aug. 1 to Sept. 28 .
On Monday , the conservative law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued its efforts to repeal the mandate , filing a court request to declare the mask order invalid and void .
A judge will consider the motion in an Oct. 5 court hearing , the Associated Press reported .
Evers maintained that the spread of the virus will not get under control `` until we all get on the same team . ''
`` We have to have people who believe that this is not a hoax , that this is a real thing and that people are dying from this disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it off .
We need leadership at the national level that are consistent in this effort .
... We have to have people in charge talk the truth , '' Evers said at a press conference .
In Tuesday 's first presidential debate , Trump falsely claimed that `` so far , we have had no problem whatsoever '' at his campaign rallies .
After his campaign rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , in late June , Tulsa County reported 261 confirmed new cases on July 6 , a one-day record high , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the AP .
That was more than twice the number seen the week before the rally .
A reporter who attended the rally , six of Trump 's campaign staffers , and two members of the Secret Service who worked in advance of the rally tested positive for COVID-19 .
Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain , who also attended the rally and was photographed there not wearing a mask , tested positive for the coronavirus nine days after the rally and died of COVID-19 on July 30 .
Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Until 2016 , no Republican presidential candidate had won Wisconsin since Ronald Reagan did it in 1984 .
In 2016 , Trump won the state by less than 1 point , helping him clinch the White House .

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers told Donald Trump on Tuesday to require masks at his rallies in the state this Saturday or just “not come.” Wisconsin is dealing with so-called COVID-19 “red zones,” and hospitals there are reaching full capacity.
Gov. Tony Evers said in a Tuesday coronavirus briefing that there were “absolutely” two things Trump could do.
“Number one, he could not come,” Evers said. “The second thing that could be done is for him to insist that if people are there, they wear a mask. He could make that happen.
“He could wear one too. Those are the two things that he could do to make sure that it doesn’t become a super-spreader event,” the governor added.
Trump is planning on having rallies with potentially thousands of people in COVID-19 hot spots La Crosse and Green Bay, both designated “red zones” by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, meaning that the locations have had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the preceding week.
“We are in a crisis right now,” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Wisconsin’s chief medical officer. “Turning the corner on this requires that we do things dramatically different than what we’re doing. It requires all of society, all of Wisconsin to do things differently.”
On Wednesday, Wisconsin suffered 27 deaths from the coronavirus, the most ever reported in the state in a single day, bringing its total death toll to 1,327.
In Green Bay, officials at Bellin Hospital said they were at 94% capacity as of Tuesday. Paul Casey, medical director of the hospital’s emergency department for 16 years, told WBAY that “in Brown County, we’re in deep trouble.”
Casey shared a graph on Facebook, saying in the accompanying post: “The second wave is here, and it is here with a vengeance.
“All four Green Bay hospitals are close to capacity,” Casey continued. “Our ICU has been full several times this week. For the first time in the 16 years I have been medical director, our ED has had to place patients in the hallway. This occurred twice in the last week.”
He said: “If you have not yet accepted the seriousness of this pandemic, now is the time to start. The life of a loved one could be at stake.”
Meanwhile, Evers extended his statewide mask order to Nov. 21 after declaring a new public health emergency. The original mandate required masks be worn across the state from Aug. 1 to Sept. 28.
On Monday, the conservative law firm Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty continued its efforts to repeal the mandate, filing a court request to declare the mask order invalid and void. A judge will consider the motion in an Oct. 5 court hearing, the Associated Press reported.
Evers maintained that the spread of the virus will not get under control “until we all get on the same team.”
“We have to have people who believe that this is not a hoax, that this is a real thing and that people are dying from this disease. It’s unacceptable that we just blow it off. We need leadership at the national level that are consistent in this effort. … We have to have people in charge talk the truth,” Evers said at a press conference.
In Tuesday’s first presidential debate, Trump falsely claimed that “so far, we have had no problem whatsoever” at his campaign rallies.
After his campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in late June, Tulsa County reported 261 confirmed new cases on July 6, a one-day record high, and another 206 cases the next day, according to the AP. That was more than twice the number seen the week before the rally.
A reporter who attended the rally, six of Trump’s campaign staffers, and two members of the Secret Service who worked in advance of the rally tested positive for COVID-19.
Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain, who also attended the rally and was photographed there not wearing a mask, tested positive for the coronavirus nine days after the rally and died of COVID-19 on July 30.
Wisconsin is a key battleground state in 2020. Until 2016, no Republican presidential candidate had won Wisconsin since Ronald Reagan did it in 1984.
In 2016, Trump won the state by less than 1 point, helping him clinch the White House.


shareblue--2020-10-02--Trump says he and Melania have the virus he claimed 'affects virtually nobody'

At a campaign rally in September , Donald Trump insisted that the coronavirus that has killed more than 200,000 Americans `` affects virtually nobody , it 's an amazing thing . ''
Not long after midnight Friday , Trump announced — by Twitter , of course — that he and his wife , Melania , had tested positive for COVID-19 .
`` Tonight , @ FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19 , '' he tweeted .
`` We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately .
We will get through this TOGETHER ! ''
Earlier on Thursday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closest aides , Hope Hicks , had tested positive .
Hicks was but the latest of many members of the Trump team to have tested positive .
Hicks had traveled with Trump earlier this week to the presidential debate in Ohio , where several members of Trump 's team — including his daughters Tiffany and Ivanka and his son Eric — refused to wear masks inside the debate hall , even after a doctor tried to offer masks to them .
Trump has consistently downplayed the seriousness of the virus since it first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear a mask and has encouraged others not to wear masks as well .
He has even mocked Vice President Joe Biden for wearing a mask , practicing social distancing , and engaging in other cautious behavior so as to not contract or spread the virus .
Trump has resumed campaign rallies in recent weeks , some of them indoors , despite federal and state guidelines against large crowds indoors .
In September , he held a packed indoor rally in Henderson , Nevada , where thousands of attendees defied social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asked whether he was concerned about the danger of holding crowded rallies as the pandemic continues ravage the country , Trump said , `` I 'm on a stage , and it 's very far away .
And so I 'm not at all concerned . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

At a campaign rally in September, Donald Trump insisted that the coronavirus that has killed more than 200,000 Americans “affects virtually nobody, it’s an amazing thing.”
Not long after midnight Friday, Trump announced — by Twitter, of course — that he and his wife, Melania, had tested positive for COVID-19.
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” he tweeted. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
Earlier on Thursday night, news broke that one of his closest aides, Hope Hicks, had tested positive. Hicks was but the latest of many members of the Trump team to have tested positive. Hicks had traveled with Trump earlier this week to the presidential debate in Ohio, where several members of Trump’s team — including his daughters Tiffany and Ivanka and his son Eric — refused to wear masks inside the debate hall, even after a doctor tried to offer masks to them.
Trump has consistently downplayed the seriousness of the virus since it first started killing Americans. He has refused to wear a mask and has encouraged others not to wear masks as well. He has even mocked Vice President Joe Biden for wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and engaging in other cautious behavior so as to not contract or spread the virus.
Trump has resumed campaign rallies in recent weeks, some of them indoors, despite federal and state guidelines against large crowds indoors. In September, he held a packed indoor rally in Henderson, Nevada, where thousands of attendees defied social distancing orders and did not wear masks.
Asked whether he was concerned about the danger of holding crowded rallies as the pandemic continues ravage the country, Trump said, “I’m on a stage, and it’s very far away. And so I’m not at all concerned.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-02--News you might have missed: Support for Obamacare reaches record high

This week , New Jersey passed a law to ban plastic bags , a bipartisan Senate bill gives better work-life balance to federal firefighters battling wildfires , and a kindergarten teacher is earning praise for her upbeat virtual lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news .
Support for the Affordable Care Act — former President Barack Obama 's signature achievement , which expanded access to health insurance nationwide and protected people from being denied coverage for having preexisting conditions — is now at a record high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released on Tuesday .
A whopping 62 % of voters support it — up 7 points this year alone .
The rise in support for the law comes as Senate Republicans rush to confirm Donald Trump 's Supreme Court nominee , Amy Coney Barrett , who has expressed opposition to the law .
The Supreme Court will be hearing a case to invalidate Obamacare just after the election , when Barrett could help overturn the law and cause millions of Americans to lose their insurance coverage .
A ruling by the Minnesota Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violated a transgender student 's rights when it prevented him from using the boys ' locker room , even though he identifies as a boy — forcing him instead to use a segregated locker room .
The ruling said the school district violated the student 's equal protection rights , saying that schools are required to let transgender students use the locker room of the gender they identify with .
The ruling is a win for transgender rights advocates , who have been battling against discriminatory bathroom and locker room laws .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a national suicide hotline , sending the bill to Donald Trump 's desk for signature .
Aside from creating a three-digit phone number for the hotline , the bill also mandates training for hotline counselors so that they understand issues within the LGBTQ community — a group that has been hit especially hard with mental health struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The House also passed four other bills pertaining to mental health , including one that authorizes grants to support mental health counseling for first responders .
`` Suicide is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , with more than 1.4 million American adults making at least one attempt each year , '' reads a statement from the Democratic chairs of the House committees that worked on the legislation .
`` Now , with the COVID-19 pandemic creating profound distress and triggering depression for millions across the country , the House today passed five bills that collectively treat suicide like the public health emergency it is . ''
California passes law to mandate diversity on corporate boards of directors California Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom signed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state to increase the number of people of color on their boards , an effort to increase representation in the business world to help combat systemic inequality , the Los Angeles Times reported .
According to the Los Angeles Times ' report : '' When we talk about racial justice , we talk about empowerment , we talk about power , we need to talk about seats at the table , '' Newsom said at a bill signing ceremony , according to the Los Angeles Times .
Federal firefighters may soon get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of senators introduced a bill last week that would let federal firefighters switch shifts without being penalized , giving the first responders more flexibility to take time off for being sick or other pressing matters , the Federal Times reported .
Currently , federal firefighters — who are on the front lines of the wildfires that have destroyed large swaths of the West Coast — can not swap shifts with other workers , and instead are forced to take leave , according to the Federal Times .
That 's even if another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those same rules do not apply to state and local firefighters .
`` This bill would correct a decades-long disparity and ensure that federal firefighters can continue serving our communities while balancing their home and work lives , '' Sen. Chris Van Hollen ( D-MD ) , one of the bill 's co-sponsors , said in a news release .
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many schools shuttered , forcing teachers to adapt their teaching to virtual platforms .
One teacher in Washington State , Mackenzie Adams , went viral , thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she helps keep her students entertained during their online learning session .
It 's a heartwarming video showing just how much teachers care about their students and the lengths they are going to make sure they are continuing to learn amid a public health crisis .

This week, New Jersey passed a law to ban plastic bags, a bipartisan Senate bill gives better work-life balance to federal firefighters battling wildfires, and a kindergarten teacher is earning praise for her upbeat virtual lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news.
Support for the Affordable Care Act — former President Barack Obama’s signature achievement, which expanded access to health insurance nationwide and protected people from being denied coverage for having preexisting conditions — is now at a record high, according to a Morning Consult poll released on Tuesday.
A whopping 62% of voters support it — up 7 points this year alone.
The rise in support for the law comes as Senate Republicans rush to confirm Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, who has expressed opposition to the law. The Supreme Court will be hearing a case to invalidate Obamacare just after the election, when Barrett could help overturn the law and cause millions of Americans to lose their insurance coverage.
A ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals said a local school district violated a transgender student’s rights when it prevented him from using the boys’ locker room, even though he identifies as a boy — forcing him instead to use a segregated locker room.
The ruling said the school district violated the student’s equal protection rights, saying that schools are required to let transgender students use the locker room of the gender they identify with.
The ruling is a win for transgender rights advocates, who have been battling against discriminatory bathroom and locker room laws.
The House on Monday passed a law to create a national suicide hotline, sending the bill to Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
Aside from creating a three-digit phone number for the hotline, the bill also mandates training for hotline counselors so that they understand issues within the LGBTQ community — a group that has been hit especially hard with mental health struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House also passed four other bills pertaining to mental health, including one that authorizes grants to support mental health counseling for first responders.
“Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 1.4 million American adults making at least one attempt each year,” reads a statement from the Democratic chairs of the House committees that worked on the legislation. “Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic creating profound distress and triggering depression for millions across the country, the House today passed five bills that collectively treat suicide like the public health emergency it is.”
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law on Wednesday that requires corporations in the state to increase the number of people of color on their boards, an effort to increase representation in the business world to help combat systemic inequality, the Los Angeles Times reported.
According to the Los Angeles Times’ report:
The law requires some 625 publicly held corporations headquartered in California to include at least one person from an underrepresented community by the end of next year, with additional appointments required in future years.
“When we talk about racial justice, we talk about empowerment, we talk about power, we need to talk about seats at the table,” Newsom said at a bill signing ceremony, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill last week that would let federal firefighters switch shifts without being penalized, giving the first responders more flexibility to take time off for being sick or other pressing matters, the Federal Times reported.
Currently, federal firefighters — who are on the front lines of the wildfires that have destroyed large swaths of the West Coast — cannot swap shifts with other workers, and instead are forced to take leave, according to the Federal Times. That’s even if another firefighter is able to take their shift.
Those same rules do not apply to state and local firefighters.
“This bill would correct a decades-long disparity and ensure that federal firefighters can continue serving our communities while balancing their home and work lives,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), one of the bill’s co-sponsors, said in a news release.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many schools shuttered, forcing teachers to adapt their teaching to virtual platforms.
One teacher in Washington State, Mackenzie Adams, went viral, thanks to her upbeat teaching style, where she helps keep her students entertained during their online learning session.
It’s a heartwarming video showing just how much teachers care about their students and the lengths they are going to make sure they are continuing to learn amid a public health crisis.