shareblue--2020-02-16--Immigrants at risk for deportation because of voter registration error

The day Margarita Del Pilar Fitzpatrick applied for an Illinois driver 's license upended her life .
When a clerk offered to register her to vote in 2005 , the Peruvian citizen mistakenly accepted , leading to long legal battles and eventually deportation .
A decade and a half later , she struggles to find work at 52 , is nearly homeless and has n't seen two of her three American citizen daughters in years because of a secretary of state 's office mishap .
`` It has derailed our lives , '' she said in a phone interview from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in this situation . ''
A handful of other immigrants could face a similar fate , or criminal charges , after a mistake in Illinois ' automatic voter registration system allowed of hundreds of people who identified themselves as non-U.S. citizens to register .
Sixteen cast ballots .
The fiasco in a state with a reputation for election shenanigans triggered a partisan battle , infuriated voter advocacy groups , and left immigrant rights activists doing damage control .
`` It 's disappointing because the situation could have been avoided , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights .
`` They voluntarily told people they were noncitizens .
It was not their fault . ''
Voting by noncitizens is forbidden by state and federal laws and is statistically rare .
But Donald Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims that millions voted illegally in 2016 .
His comments gave a political charge to the issue and put voting modernization efforts such as automatic registration in the spotlight .
`` The political appearance is terrible , '' Jessica Levinson , a professor at Loyola Law School in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The political reality is people are looking for any potential sense of error when it comes to noncitizen voting to indicate that things like automatic voter registration give rise to fraud . ''
Illinois made headlines in 2017 when then-Gov .
Bruce Rauner was among the first Republicans to sign automatic voter registration into law .
The multi-faceted law focuses largely on the secretary of state 's office , which issues driver 's licenses .
A `` programming error '' wrongly sent data from more than 500 people to election officials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. citizens , they hit `` no '' on an electronic keypad .
Ultimately , 545 people were registered .
It 's unclear whether some people were confused and mistakenly hit `` no . ''
About half of the voters appeared to be citizens .
One was confirmed as a noncitizen with legal status to live in the United States .
Six others remain in question .
Whether that individual , or others yet to surface , could face criminal charges boils down the will of prosecutors .
Experts say there 's little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where the Cook County state 's attorney is a Democrat .
However , authorities in more conservative pockets might be more inclined to act .
Election officials said they have not been contacted by law enforcement .
Stepped-up efforts to crack down on noncitizen voters have netted results elsewhere .
In 2018 , a federal task force in North Carolina uncovered voting violations that led to charges against 19 foreign nationals related to the 2016 election .
It can take years for a noncitizen 's illegal vote to surface .
Immigration authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applies to adjust their status , like a green card holder seeking citizenship with a form that asks if the applicant has ever voted .
An affirmative answer could disqualify the applicant and lead to deportation .
Two of the highest-profile cases , heard in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals , also started with the Illinois secretary of state 's office , which has since changed how clerks discuss voter registration .
Fitzpatrick presented both her Peruvian passport and U.S. green card when applying for a driver 's license in 2005 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was `` up to you '' if she wanted to register so she did .
Then she voted , saying she did not learn it was illegal until applying for citizenship years later .
The government moved to have her deported , which courts upheld .
She was removed in 2017 .
It was the opposite for Elizabeth Keathley , a Philippine citizen in the U.S. on a marriage visa .
She applied for a driver 's license and was sent a registration card .
She voted in 2006 .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered she had voted , and she was ordered removed .
However , judges determined she did not falsely represent herself , allowing her to stay .
She 's since become a citizen , and her story was recounted in an off-Broadway play .
Keathley , 41 , said the threat of being separated from her family was devastating , especially since her daughter was then an infant .
She also lost her hospital job .
`` Our lives were turned upside-down , '' said the Bloomington woman .
Chicago attorney Richard Hanus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' error could work in their favor , since his clients did not misrepresent themselves as citizens .
Some voter rights advocates say the state law contains a caveat that could help .
It says if a registration is wrongly processed `` that person shall not be found on that basis to have made a false claim to citizenship . ''
Noncitizen voting is n't common .
A 2017 study by the Brennan Center for Justice found roughly 30 incidents of suspected noncitizen voting when it looked at election jurisdictions representing nearly 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Secretary of State Jesse White said his office takes full blame and issued letters to the people affected explaining that .
Immigrant-rights advocates want additional protections .
White also countered any insinuation of intentional wrongdoing .
`` This was an error , and there was no effort put forth to hide anything or 'to cook the books , ' so to speak , '' White , a Democrat , said recently at a state Capitol hearing .
He said the glitch , covering registrations from July 2018 through December 2019 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system to be suspended after other registration glitches were made public .
They 've also pointed to issues with mistaken noncitizen voter registrations elsewhere , including California .
`` The fundamental right to vote and the sanctity of our democracy is too important to bury our heads in the sand and trust that Illinois ' state government has everything under control when it clearly does not , '' Illinois Republican Party Chair Tim Schneider said after the error was made public last month .
Nearly 20 states have approved some form of automatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civic participation .
Aside from delays and technical issues , voter groups said repeated problems show Illinois has not done enough to safeguard the system .
The state has not `` fully come to terms with the harm that can be caused with errors like this in our voting system , '' said Ami Gandhi with the Chicago Lawyers ' Committee for Civil Rights .

The day Margarita Del Pilar Fitzpatrick applied for an Illinois driver’s license upended her life. When a clerk offered to register her to vote in 2005, the Peruvian citizen mistakenly accepted, leading to long legal battles and eventually deportation.
A decade and a half later, she struggles to find work at 52, is nearly homeless and hasn’t seen two of her three American citizen daughters in years because of a secretary of state’s office mishap.
“It has derailed our lives,” she said in a phone interview from Lima. “Immigrants should not be put in this situation.”
A handful of other immigrants could face a similar fate, or criminal charges, after a mistake in Illinois’ automatic voter registration system allowed of hundreds of people who identified themselves as non-U.S. citizens to register. Sixteen cast ballots.
The fiasco in a state with a reputation for election shenanigans triggered a partisan battle, infuriated voter advocacy groups, and left immigrant rights activists doing damage control.
“It’s disappointing because the situation could have been avoided,” said Lawrence Benito, head of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. “They voluntarily told people they were noncitizens. It was not their fault.”
Voting by noncitizens is forbidden by state and federal laws and is statistically rare. But Donald Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims that millions voted illegally in 2016. His comments gave a political charge to the issue and put voting modernization efforts such as automatic registration in the spotlight.
“The political appearance is terrible,” Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said of Illinois. “The political reality is people are looking for any potential sense of error when it comes to noncitizen voting to indicate that things like automatic voter registration give rise to fraud.”
Illinois made headlines in 2017 when then-Gov. Bruce Rauner was among the first Republicans to sign automatic voter registration into law. The multi-faceted law focuses largely on the secretary of state’s office, which issues driver’s licenses.
A “programming error” wrongly sent data from more than 500 people to election officials, even though when asked if they were U.S. citizens, they hit “no” on an electronic keypad. Ultimately, 545 people were registered.
It’s unclear whether some people were confused and mistakenly hit “no.” About half of the voters appeared to be citizens. One was confirmed as a noncitizen with legal status to live in the United States. Six others remain in question.
Whether that individual, or others yet to surface, could face criminal charges boils down the will of prosecutors.
Experts say there’s little chance of charges being filed around Chicago, where the Cook County state’s attorney is a Democrat. However, authorities in more conservative pockets might be more inclined to act. Election officials said they have not been contacted by law enforcement.
Stepped-up efforts to crack down on noncitizen voters have netted results elsewhere. In 2018, a federal task force in North Carolina uncovered voting violations that led to charges against 19 foreign nationals related to the 2016 election.
It can take years for a noncitizen’s illegal vote to surface. Immigration authorities might not find out until an immigrant applies to adjust their status, like a green card holder seeking citizenship with a form that asks if the applicant has ever voted. An affirmative answer could disqualify the applicant and lead to deportation.
Two of the highest-profile cases, heard in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, also started with the Illinois secretary of state’s office, which has since changed how clerks discuss voter registration.
Fitzpatrick presented both her Peruvian passport and U.S. green card when applying for a driver’s license in 2005. She was confused by a clerk who said it was “up to you” if she wanted to register so she did. Then she voted, saying she did not learn it was illegal until applying for citizenship years later. The government moved to have her deported, which courts upheld. She was removed in 2017.
It was the opposite for Elizabeth Keathley, a Philippine citizen in the U.S. on a marriage visa. She applied for a driver’s license and was sent a registration card. She voted in 2006. In processing her green card, immigration authorities discovered she had voted, and she was ordered removed. However, judges determined she did not falsely represent herself, allowing her to stay. She’s since become a citizen, and her story was recounted in an off-Broadway play.
Keathley, 41, said the threat of being separated from her family was devastating, especially since her daughter was then an infant. She also lost her hospital job.
“Our lives were turned upside-down,” said the Bloomington woman.
Chicago attorney Richard Hanus represented both women. He believed Illinois’ error could work in their favor, since his clients did not misrepresent themselves as citizens.
Illinois officials vowed to protect immigrants, including fighting subpoenas.
Some voter rights advocates say the state law contains a caveat that could help. It says if a registration is wrongly processed “that person shall not be found on that basis to have made a false claim to citizenship.”
Noncitizen voting isn’t common. A 2017 study by the Brennan Center for Justice found roughly 30 incidents of suspected noncitizen voting when it looked at election jurisdictions representing nearly 24 million votes in the 2016 general election.
Secretary of State Jesse White said his office takes full blame and issued letters to the people affected explaining that. Immigrant-rights advocates want additional protections.
White also countered any insinuation of intentional wrongdoing.
“This was an error, and there was no effort put forth to hide anything or ‘to cook the books,’ so to speak,” White, a Democrat, said recently at a state Capitol hearing. He said the glitch, covering registrations from July 2018 through December 2019, was fixed.
Republicans have called for the system to be suspended after other registration glitches were made public. They’ve also pointed to issues with mistaken noncitizen voter registrations elsewhere, including California.
“The fundamental right to vote and the sanctity of our democracy is too important to bury our heads in the sand and trust that Illinois’ state government has everything under control when it clearly does not,” Illinois Republican Party Chair Tim Schneider said after the error was made public last month.
Nearly 20 states have approved some form of automatic voter registration with the goal of increasing civic participation.
Aside from delays and technical issues, voter groups said repeated problems show Illinois has not done enough to safeguard the system.
The state has not “fully come to terms with the harm that can be caused with errors like this in our voting system,” said Ami Gandhi with the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.


shareblue--2020-02-16--Spread of white supremacist propaganda doubles for second straight year

Incidents of white supremacist propaganda distributed across the nation jumped by more than 120 % between 2018 and last year , according to the Anti-Defamation League , making 2019 the second straight year that the circulation of propaganda material has more than doubled .
The Anti-Defamation League 's Center on Extremism reported 2,713 cases of circulated propaganda by white supremacist groups , including fliers , posters and banners , compared with 1,214 cases in 2018 .
The printed propaganda distributed by white supremacist organizations includes material that directly spreads messages of discrimination against Jews , LGBTQ people , and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their prejudice obscured by a focus on gauzier pro-America imagery .
The sharp rise in cases of white supremacist propaganda distribution last year follows a jump of more than 180 % between 2017 , the first year that the Anti-Defamation League tracked material distribution , and 2018 .
While 2019 saw cases of propaganda circulated on college campuses nearly double , encompassing 433 separate campuses in all but seven states , researchers who compiled the data found that 90 % of campuses only saw one or two rounds of distribution .
Oren Segal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Extremism , pointed to the prominence of more subtly biased rhetoric in some of the white supremacist material , emphasizing `` patriotism , '' as a sign that the groups are attempting `` to make their hate more palatable for a 2020 audience . ''
By emphasizing language `` about empowerment , without some of the blatant racism and hatred , '' Segal said , white supremacists are employing `` a tactic to try to get eyes onto their ideas in a way that 's cheap , and that brings it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning how to even make sense out of these messages . ''
' The propaganda incidents tracked for the Anti-Defamation League 's report , set for release on Wednesday , encompass 49 states and occurred most often in 10 states : California , Texas , New York , Massachusetts , New Jersey , Ohio , Virginia , Kentucky , Washington , and Florida .
Last year 's soaring cases of distributed propaganda also came as the Anti-Defamation League found white supremacist groups holding 20 % fewer events than in 2018 , `` preferring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events , '' according to its report .
That marks a shift from the notably visible public presence that white supremacist organizations mounted in 2017 , culminating in that summer 's Charlottesville , Virginia , rally where a self-described white supremacist drove into a crowd of counterprotesters .
About two-thirds of the total propaganda incidents in the new report were traced back to a single white supremacist group , Patriot Front , which the Anti-Defamation League describes as `` formed by disaffected members '' of the white supremacist organization Vanguard America after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded in 1913 to combat anti-Semitism as well as other biases , has tracked Patriot Front propaganda using messages such as `` One nation against invasion '' and `` America First . ''
The report to be released Wednesday found that Patriot Front played a major role last year in boosting circulation of white supremacist propaganda on campuses through a push that targeted colleges in the fall .
Segal said that his group 's research can equip community leaders with education that helps them push back against white supremacist groups ' messaging efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University administrators , Segal said , should speak out against white supremacist messaging drives , taking the opportunity `` to demonstrate their values and to reject messages of hate that may be appearing on their campus . ''
Several educational institutions where reports of white supremacist propaganda were reported in recent months did just that .
After white supremacist material was reported on campus at Brigham Young University in November , the school tweeted that it `` stands firmly against racism in any form and is committed to promoting a culture of safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The school went on to tweet a specific rejection of white supremacist sentiment as `` sinful '' by its owner , the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , without naming the identity of the group behind the propaganda .
While some of the propaganda cataloged in the Anti-Defamation League 's report uses indirect messaging in service of a bigoted agenda , other groups ' activity is more openly threatening toward Jews and minority groups .
The New Jersey European Heritage Association , a smaller white supremacist group founded in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refers to Jews as 'destroyers ' '' in its most recent distributed flier , according to the report .
The Anti-Defamation League 's online monitoring of propaganda distribution is distinct from its tracking of white supremacist events and attacks , and that tracking does not include undistributed material such as graffiti , Segal explained .

Incidents of white supremacist propaganda distributed across the nation jumped by more than 120% between 2018 and last year, according to the Anti-Defamation League, making 2019 the second straight year that the circulation of propaganda material has more than doubled.
The Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism reported 2,713 cases of circulated propaganda by white supremacist groups, including fliers, posters and banners, compared with 1,214 cases in 2018. The printed propaganda distributed by white supremacist organizations includes material that directly spreads messages of discrimination against Jews, LGBTQ people, and other minority communities — but also items with their prejudice obscured by a focus on gauzier pro-America imagery.
The sharp rise in cases of white supremacist propaganda distribution last year follows a jump of more than 180% between 2017, the first year that the Anti-Defamation League tracked material distribution, and 2018. While 2019 saw cases of propaganda circulated on college campuses nearly double, encompassing 433 separate campuses in all but seven states, researchers who compiled the data found that 90% of campuses only saw one or two rounds of distribution.
Oren Segal, director of the League’s Center on Extremism, pointed to the prominence of more subtly biased rhetoric in some of the white supremacist material, emphasizing “patriotism,” as a sign that the groups are attempting “to make their hate more palatable for a 2020 audience.”
By emphasizing language “about empowerment, without some of the blatant racism and hatred,” Segal said, white supremacists are employing “a tactic to try to get eyes onto their ideas in a way that’s cheap, and that brings it to a new generation of people who are learning how to even make sense out of these messages.”‘
The propaganda incidents tracked for the Anti-Defamation League’s report, set for release on Wednesday, encompass 49 states and occurred most often in 10 states: California, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Washington, and Florida.
Last year’s soaring cases of distributed propaganda also came as the Anti-Defamation League found white supremacist groups holding 20% fewer events than in 2018, “preferring not to risk the exposure of pre-publicized events,” according to its report. That marks a shift from the notably visible public presence that white supremacist organizations mounted in 2017, culminating in that summer’s Charlottesville, Virginia, rally where a self-described white supremacist drove into a crowd of counterprotesters.
About two-thirds of the total propaganda incidents in the new report were traced back to a single white supremacist group, Patriot Front, which the Anti-Defamation League describes as “formed by disaffected members” of the white supremacist organization Vanguard America after the Charlottesville rally.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913 to combat anti-Semitism as well as other biases, has tracked Patriot Front propaganda using messages such as “One nation against invasion” and “America First.” The report to be released Wednesday found that Patriot Front played a major role last year in boosting circulation of white supremacist propaganda on campuses through a push that targeted colleges in the fall.
Segal said that his group’s research can equip community leaders with education that helps them push back against white supremacist groups’ messaging efforts, including distribution aimed at students.
University administrators, Segal said, should speak out against white supremacist messaging drives, taking the opportunity “to demonstrate their values and to reject messages of hate that may be appearing on their campus.”
Several educational institutions where reports of white supremacist propaganda were reported in recent months did just that. After white supremacist material was reported on campus at Brigham Young University in November, the school tweeted that it “stands firmly against racism in any form and is committed to promoting a culture of safety, kindness, respect and love.”
The school went on to tweet a specific rejection of white supremacist sentiment as “sinful” by its owner, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, without naming the identity of the group behind the propaganda.
While some of the propaganda cataloged in the Anti-Defamation League’s report uses indirect messaging in service of a bigoted agenda, other groups’ activity is more openly threatening toward Jews and minority groups. The New Jersey European Heritage Association, a smaller white supremacist group founded in 2018, “contains numerous anti-Semitic tropes and refers to Jews as ‘destroyers'” in its most recent distributed flier, according to the report.
The Anti-Defamation League’s online monitoring of propaganda distribution is distinct from its tracking of white supremacist events and attacks, and that tracking does not include undistributed material such as graffiti, Segal explained.


shareblue--2020-02-15--New report sends 'flashing red lights' that Census Bureau isn't ready for count

With the start of the 2020 census just a month away for most U.S. residents , the U.S. Census Bureau is behind in recruiting workers and establishing partnerships with civic groups , and it is at risk of missing some informational technology testing goals , according to a report released Wednesday .
While the Census Bureau has succeeded so far in early tasks of verifying addresses across the U.S. and launching an advertising campaign , the agency 's readiness for upcoming operations is mixed , according to the report from the Government Accountability Office .
The report was made public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee on Oversight and Reform .
The GAO report said the bureau was at risk of missing testing milestones for five IT operations , including one that will allow people to self-respond and another for following-up with households that have n't answered the questions on their own .
`` Where the risk is , is just time .
We are in a pressure cooker of time to get things done , '' said Nick Marinos , the GAO 's director of information technology .
Lawmakers held the hearing Wednesday to get an update @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other agency officials on its readiness for the largest and most complex head count in U.S , history .
Dillingham testified that the bureau was on its way toward reaching its goals for hiring and partnerships .
“ We are confident that we are on mission , on budget and on target , '' Dillingham said .
“ The 2020 census is positioned for success.
” The chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform , said the GAO report was sending “ flashing red lights ” that the bureau was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intentional action , this administration ’ s failures risk causing grave harm to this year ’ s census that could jeopardize a complete and accurate count , '' Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York said .
U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Debra Haaland of New Mexico , both Democrats , asked what the Census Bureau was doing to overcome misperceptions that there was a question about citizenship on the 2020 questionnaire .
The U.S. Supreme Court last year rejected a Trump administration attempt to add a citizenship question to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to positive messages about the 2020 census , so instead of focusing on what could be considered a negative , like the citizenship question , `` we enforce the positive , '' Dillingham answered .
Other lawmakers , led by Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida , were unhappy that the bureau had n't yet shared with them a breakdown by congressional district of the partnerships the agency had established in each congressional district .
Dillingham said some partners had n't given permission to make their affiliation with the Census Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California told Census Bureau officials that some of her constituents had received mail from the Republican National Committee that resembled a census form and she worried they would be confused by it .
Maloney called the RNC mailings “ outrageous . ''
Dillingham promised to look into the problem .
“ We do n't want any confusion whatsoever , '' he said .
A party spokeswoman said Wednesday that the mailings clearly state they are from the Republican National Committee .
They are labeled “ 2020 Congressional District Census '' and state “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of key members and supporters in Congressional Districts all across our nation . ''
The 2020 Census started last month in a remote part of rural Alaska .
But the rest of the nation wo n't be able to start answering the questionnaire until the middle of next month .
For the first time , the U.S. Census Bureau is encouraging most participants to fill out the form online , although they can still answer the questions by telephone or by returning a paper form .
The 2020 count will help determine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending and how many congressional seats each state gets .

With the start of the 2020 census just a month away for most U.S. residents, the U.S. Census Bureau is behind in recruiting workers and establishing partnerships with civic groups, and it is at risk of missing some informational technology testing goals, according to a report released Wednesday.
While the Census Bureau has succeeded so far in early tasks of verifying addresses across the U.S. and launching an advertising campaign, the agency’s readiness for upcoming operations is mixed, according to the report from the Government Accountability Office.
The report was made public Wednesday during a hearing by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
The GAO report said the bureau was at risk of missing testing milestones for five IT operations, including one that will allow people to self-respond and another for following-up with households that haven’t answered the questions on their own.
“Where the risk is, is just time. We are in a pressure cooker of time to get things done,” said Nick Marinos, the GAO’s director of information technology.
Lawmakers held the hearing Wednesday to get an update from Census Bureau director Steven Dillingham and other agency officials on its readiness for the largest and most complex head count in U.S, history.
Dillingham testified that the bureau was on its way toward reaching its goals for hiring and partnerships.
“We are confident that we are on mission, on budget and on target,” Dillingham said. “The 2020 census is positioned for success.”
The chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said the GAO report was sending “flashing red lights” that the bureau wasn’t ready.
“Whether through incompetence or intentional action, this administration’s failures risk causing grave harm to this year’s census that could jeopardize a complete and accurate count,” Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York said.
U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Debra Haaland of New Mexico, both Democrats, asked what the Census Bureau was doing to overcome misperceptions that there was a question about citizenship on the 2020 questionnaire. The U.S. Supreme Court last year rejected a Trump administration attempt to add a citizenship question to the form.
Research indicates that people respond to positive messages about the 2020 census, so instead of focusing on what could be considered a negative, like the citizenship question, “we enforce the positive,” Dillingham answered.
Other lawmakers, led by Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, were unhappy that the bureau hadn’t yet shared with them a breakdown by congressional district of the partnerships the agency had established in each congressional district. Dillingham said some partners hadn’t given permission to make their affiliation with the Census Bureau public.
Democratic Rep. Katie Porter of California told Census Bureau officials that some of her constituents had received mail from the Republican National Committee that resembled a census form and she worried they would be confused by it. Maloney called the RNC mailings “outrageous.”
Dillingham promised to look into the problem. “We don’t want any confusion whatsoever,” he said.
A party spokeswoman said Wednesday that the mailings clearly state they are from the Republican National Committee. They are labeled “2020 Congressional District Census” and state “the Republican Party is conducting a Census of key members and supporters in Congressional Districts all across our nation.”
The 2020 Census started last month in a remote part of rural Alaska. But the rest of the nation won’t be able to start answering the questionnaire until the middle of next month. For the first time, the U.S. Census Bureau is encouraging most participants to fill out the form online, although they can still answer the questions by telephone or by returning a paper form.
The 2020 count will help determine the allocation of $1.5 trillion in federal spending and how many congressional seats each state gets.


shareblue--2020-02-15--Trump claims he saved the Philippines from ISIS. He didn't.

Donald Trump contended this week that the United States saved the entire Philippines from Islamic State terrorism .
His assertion vastly overstated both the threat IS posed to the country and what the U.S. did about it .
His statement , the facts and the backstory : TRUMP : “ We helped them defeat ISIS .
...
But if you look back , if you go back three years ago , when ISIS was overrunning the Philippines , we came in and , literally , single-handedly were able to save them from vicious attacks on their islands.
” — reacting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will end a security pact allowing U.S. forces to train in the country .
THE FACTS : The Philippines were far from overrun by the group .
In May 2017 , in the operation touched on by Trump , more than 600 IS-aligned local militants , backed by foreign jihadists who only numbered in the dozens , laid siege to Marawi , a small Islamic city in the largely Roman Catholic country .
They held control of several neighborhoods and multiple buildings .
Philippine troops launched a massive offensive and routed them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft helped with surveillance .
It was by no means a single-handed U.S. military achievement .
Overall , the number of IS-linked militants in this country of more than 100 million people has been extremely small , just a few hundreds .
They are from a selection of tiny armed groups largely confined to the jungles of two southern islands and patches of marshlands in the central part of southern Maguindanao region .
Several dozen American military personnel have been stationed in the south for counterterrorism and counterinsurgency training and to provide intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no evidence that even a few Americans took part in actual combat in the past decades .
Since the 2013-2014 rise of the Islamic State in the Mideast , very few from the organization have come to the southern Philippine areas where Filipino extremists have a presence .
IS offered bomb-making training , Islamic lectures and money and helped plot attacks , while giving a few dozen of its young fighters exposure to combat in this part of the world .
On Trump ’ s point that IS fighters are defeated in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough of them for Philippine leaders to make such a declaration .
But they have repeatedly said that Filipino militants linked to the group have been significantly weakened by Philippine offensives .
Having U.S. troops in combat would breach the Philippine constitution and be opposed by the Philippine government , its military and defense leaders , nationalists and left-wing groups .
President Rodrigo Duterte made known his displeasure with the U.S. before and after he rose to the presidency in 2016 .
President Barack Obama had expressed alarm over Duterte ’ s deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader .
On Tuesday , Duterte gave notice to the U.S. government of his administration ’ s intent to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement , which allows the entry of large numbers of U.S. forces for joint training with Filipino troops .
Trump said : “ If they would like to do that , that ’ s fine .
We ’ ll save a lot of money .
”

Donald Trump contended this week that the United States saved the entire Philippines from Islamic State terrorism. His assertion vastly overstated both the threat IS posed to the country and what the U.S. did about it.
His statement, the facts and the backstory:
TRUMP: “We helped them defeat ISIS. … But if you look back, if you go back three years ago, when ISIS was overrunning the Philippines, we came in and, literally, single-handedly were able to save them from vicious attacks on their islands.” — reacting Wednesday to Manila’s notification that it will end a security pact allowing U.S. forces to train in the country.
THE FACTS: The Philippines were far from overrun by the group.
In May 2017, in the operation touched on by Trump, more than 600 IS-aligned local militants, backed by foreign jihadists who only numbered in the dozens, laid siege to Marawi, a small Islamic city in the largely Roman Catholic country. They held control of several neighborhoods and multiple buildings. Philippine troops launched a massive offensive and routed them after five months. U.S. and Australian aircraft helped with surveillance.
It was by no means a single-handed U.S. military achievement.
Overall, the number of IS-linked militants in this country of more than 100 million people has been extremely small, just a few hundreds. They are from a selection of tiny armed groups largely confined to the jungles of two southern islands and patches of marshlands in the central part of southern Maguindanao region.
Several dozen American military personnel have been stationed in the south for counterterrorism and counterinsurgency training and to provide intelligence to local troops. There has been no evidence that even a few Americans took part in actual combat in the past decades.
_____
THE BACKSTORY
Since the 2013-2014 rise of the Islamic State in the Mideast, very few from the organization have come to the southern Philippine areas where Filipino extremists have a presence.
IS offered bomb-making training, Islamic lectures and money and helped plot attacks, while giving a few dozen of its young fighters exposure to combat in this part of the world.
On Trump’s point that IS fighters are defeated in the Philippines, there haven’t been enough of them for Philippine leaders to make such a declaration. But they have repeatedly said that Filipino militants linked to the group have been significantly weakened by Philippine offensives.
Having U.S. troops in combat would breach the Philippine constitution and be opposed by the Philippine government, its military and defense leaders, nationalists and left-wing groups.
President Rodrigo Duterte made known his displeasure with the U.S. before and after he rose to the presidency in 2016. President Barack Obama had expressed alarm over Duterte’s deadly anti-drug crackdown, angering the brash Philippine leader.
On Tuesday, Duterte gave notice to the U.S. government of his administration’s intent to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows the entry of large numbers of U.S. forces for joint training with Filipino troops.
Trump said: “If they would like to do that, that’s fine. We’ll save a lot of money. ”


shareblue--2020-02-17--Trump campaign lashes out after Obama reminds people he created a lot of jobs

The Trump campaign on Monday tried to take credit for economic gains initiated under President Barack Obama , after the latter shared a post on social media marking the anniversary of a 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act .
Earlier in the day , Obama had marked the 11-year anniversary of the Recovery Act becoming law .
`` Eleven years ago today , near the bottom of the worst recession in generations , '' he tweeted , `` I signed the Recovery Act , paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's reelection campaign took exception to Obama 's tweet in a statement to Fox News .
`` President Trump reversed every single failed Obama-era economic policy , and with it , reversed the floundering Obama/Biden economy , '' wrote Kayleigh McEnany , Trump 's national campaign press secretary .
In reality , the recovery that Trump inherited when he took office in early 2017 began in large part under Obama .
By the time Obama took office in January 2009 , the Bush-era Great Recession had wrought havoc on the economy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone .
After the Recovery Act was enacted — without significant support from the Republican Party — the economy began adding jobs .
For the remainder of Obama 's time in office and into Trump 's tenure , the economy added jobs every single month .
When Obama took office , unemployment had reached as high as 10 % .
By his last full month in office , December 2016 , the economy added 146,000 jobs and the unemployment rate was at 4.7 % .
Trump has previously attempted to talk down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predecessor 's economic gains .
`` The years of economic decay are over , '' Trump said in his State of the Union address on Feb. 4 .
`` The days of our country being used , taken advantage of , and even scorned by other nations are long behind us .
Gone , too , are the broken promises , jobless recoveries , tired platitudes and constant excuses for the depletion of American wealth , power and prestige . ''
He added , `` If we hadn ’ t reversed the failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world would not now be witnessing this great economic success . ''
`` Across a broad range of economic metrics , economic performance under Trump continued gains made during the final years under Obama , '' it wrote .
Trump `` inherited an economy that was already getting back on its feet , '' Politifact added .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Trump campaign on Monday tried to take credit for economic gains initiated under President Barack Obama, after the latter shared a post on social media marking the anniversary of a 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Earlier in the day, Obama had marked the 11-year anniversary of the Recovery Act becoming law. “Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations,” he tweeted, “I signed the Recovery Act, paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history.”
Trump’s reelection campaign took exception to Obama’s tweet in a statement to Fox News.
“President Trump reversed every single failed Obama-era economic policy, and with it, reversed the floundering Obama/Biden economy,” wrote Kayleigh McEnany, Trump’s national campaign press secretary.
In reality, the recovery that Trump inherited when he took office in early 2017 began in large part under Obama.
By the time Obama took office in January 2009, the Bush-era Great Recession had wrought havoc on the economy, with nearly 800,000 jobs lost that month alone.
After the Recovery Act was enacted — without significant support from the Republican Party — the economy began adding jobs. For the remainder of Obama’s time in office and into Trump’s tenure, the economy added jobs every single month.
When Obama took office, unemployment had reached as high as 10%. By his last full month in office, December 2016, the economy added 146,000 jobs and the unemployment rate was at 4.7%.
Trump has previously attempted to talk down the Obama recovery and take credit for his predecessor’s economic gains.
“The years of economic decay are over,” Trump said in his State of the Union address on Feb. 4. “The days of our country being used, taken advantage of, and even scorned by other nations are long behind us. Gone, too, are the broken promises, jobless recoveries, tired platitudes and constant excuses for the depletion of American wealth, power and prestige.”
He added, “If we hadn’t reversed the failed economic policies of the previous administration, the world would not now be witnessing this great economic success.”
Politifact notably rated Trump’s comments as “false.”
“Across a broad range of economic metrics, economic performance under Trump continued gains made during the final years under Obama,” it wrote.
Trump “inherited an economy that was already getting back on its feet,” Politifact added.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-17--Here's how the Nevada caucuses actually work

The Democratic presidential nomination contest heads to Nevada on Saturday for the third Democratic primary of the 2020 election .
Like Iowa , Nevada awards its delegates via caucus rather than a traditional primary .
However , the rules are much different than Iowa 's — which may be a good thing given how easily Iowa 's complex system devolved into chaos .
Here 's what you should know about the Nevada caucuses and how they work : Nevada is the third state in the primary calendar to vote .
But it 's the first state with a diverse electorate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country than Iowa and New Hampshire , where the vast majority of voters are white .
In Iowa , 91 % of the electorate was white , according to an Associated Press exit poll , while 89 % of the electorate in New Hampshire was white , according to a CNN exit poll .
Back in 2016 , just 59 % of the electorate in the Nevada caucus was white , while 13 % was black and 19 % was Latino , according to a CNN exit poll .
Therefore , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure of whether Democratic presidential hopefuls can build a diverse coalition .
When are the caucuses ?
Like Iowa , Nevada uses a caucus system to allocate its delegates .
But unlike Iowa , Nevada makes it much easier for people to make their voices heard .
Iowa forced voters to attend in-person caucuses at 7 p.m. CST on a weeknight — meaning that people who had to work , could n't find childcare , or simply had other commitments could n't vote .
In Nevada , caucuses begin at 12 p.m. Pacific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state can attend one of the 250 caucuses in the state .
Voters must attend one of the caucuses in the precinct in which they live .
What about those who ca n't make it ?
Voters who ca n't attend the Saturday caucus have four days of early , in-person voting from Feb. 15 to Feb. 18 to ensure they can make their voice heard .
Nevada also holds what are called `` strip caucuses '' — where people who work in the many casinos and hotels on the Las @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of their home precincts to make it easier for them to attend .
How does the caucus system work ?
On caucus day , voters will fill out a presidential preference card denoting their first-choice candidate .
If that candidate does n't receive 15 % of the vote , caucus goers can then realign to candidates who did meet that viability threshold ( though they do not have to if they do n't like the other choices ) .
Early votes will be added to the totals from Saturday 's caucuses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote preference , so that if their first-choice candidate is not viable in their precinct , their vote can migrate to their second- or third-choice candidate if they are viable .
Nevada is trying to avoid Iowa 's tech gaffes Nevada was set to use an app similar to the one the Iowa Democratic Party used for its caucus .
However , after Iowa had issues , Nevada scrapped that plan and opted against using the software .
`` NV Dems can confidently say that what happened in the Iowa caucus ... will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We will not be employing the same app or vendor used in the Iowa caucus , '' the Nevada State Democratic Party said in a statement earlier this month .
`` We had already developed a series of backups and redundant reporting systems , and are currently evaluating the best path forward . ''
However , since then , campaigns have reported confusion over the new process as well as errors in the technology that will be used to tabulate results in each precinct on caucus day .
Officials there insist things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We understand just how important it is that we get this right and protect the integrity of Nevadans ' votes , '' Nevada State Democratic Party Executive Director Alana Mounce wrote in a memo to the various campaigns this week , according to the Washington Post .
`` We are confident in our backup plans and redundancies . ''
So far , data suggests there will be high turnout for the Nevada caucuses .
In the first two days of early voting , 26,000 people cast ballots , according to Jon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Nevada Independent .
In 2016 , a total of 80,000 people participated in the Nevada caucuses .
There have been few public polls in the race .
However polls show Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) has a slim lead over former Vice President Joe Biden .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Democratic presidential nomination contest heads to Nevada on Saturday for the third Democratic primary of the 2020 election.
Like Iowa, Nevada awards its delegates via caucus rather than a traditional primary.
However, the rules are much different than Iowa’s — which may be a good thing given how easily Iowa’s complex system devolved into chaos.
Here’s what you should know about the Nevada caucuses and how they work:
The demographics
Nevada is the third state in the primary calendar to vote. But it’s the first state with a diverse electorate that looks more like the makeup of the country than Iowa and New Hampshire, where the vast majority of voters are white.
In Iowa, 91% of the electorate was white, according to an Associated Press exit poll, while 89% of the electorate in New Hampshire was white, according to a CNN exit poll.
Back in 2016, just 59% of the electorate in the Nevada caucus was white, while 13% was black and 19% was Latino, according to a CNN exit poll. Therefore, the results from Nevada will be a key measure of whether Democratic presidential hopefuls can build a diverse coalition.
When are the caucuses?
Like Iowa, Nevada uses a caucus system to allocate its delegates.
But unlike Iowa, Nevada makes it much easier for people to make their voices heard.
Iowa forced voters to attend in-person caucuses at 7 p.m. CST on a weeknight — meaning that people who had to work, couldn’t find childcare, or simply had other commitments couldn’t vote.
In Nevada, caucuses begin at 12 p.m. Pacific on a Saturday. Any registered voter in the state can attend one of the 250 caucuses in the state. Voters must attend one of the caucuses in the precinct in which they live.
What about those who can’t make it?
Voters who can’t attend the Saturday caucus have four days of early, in-person voting from Feb. 15 to Feb. 18 to ensure they can make their voice heard.
Nevada also holds what are called “strip caucuses” — where people who work in the many casinos and hotels on the Las Vegas strip can cast ballots at work instead of their home precincts to make it easier for them to attend.
How does the caucus system work?
On caucus day, voters will fill out a presidential preference card denoting their first-choice candidate. If that candidate doesn’t receive 15% of the vote, caucus goers can then realign to candidates who did meet that viability threshold (though they do not have to if they don’t like the other choices).
Early votes will be added to the totals from Saturday’s caucuses. Early voters are asked to rank their vote preference, so that if their first-choice candidate is not viable in their precinct, their vote can migrate to their second- or third-choice candidate if they are viable.
Nevada is trying to avoid Iowa’s tech gaffes
Nevada was set to use an app similar to the one the Iowa Democratic Party used for its caucus.
However, after Iowa had issues, Nevada scrapped that plan and opted against using the software.
“NV Dems can confidently say that what happened in the Iowa caucus … will not happen in Nevada on February 22nd. We will not be employing the same app or vendor used in the Iowa caucus,” the Nevada State Democratic Party said in a statement earlier this month. “We had already developed a series of backups and redundant reporting systems, and are currently evaluating the best path forward.”
However, since then, campaigns have reported confusion over the new process as well as errors in the technology that will be used to tabulate results in each precinct on caucus day.
Officials there insist things will be ready when the time comes.
“We understand just how important it is that we get this right and protect the integrity of Nevadans’ votes,” Nevada State Democratic Party Executive Director Alana Mounce wrote in a memo to the various campaigns this week, according to the Washington Post. “We are confident in our backup plans and redundancies.”
High turnout
So far, data suggests there will be high turnout for the Nevada caucuses.
In the first two days of early voting, 26,000 people cast ballots, according to Jon Ralston, Nevada political guru and editor of the Nevada Independent. In 2016, a total of 80,000 people participated in the Nevada caucuses.
There have been few public polls in the race. However polls show Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has a slim lead over former Vice President Joe Biden.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-17--Trump keeps trying to gut program honoring ambassador killed in Benghazi

Donald Trump has removed all funding in his proposed 2021 fiscal year budget for a nonprofit backed by the State Department that is designed to honor J. Christopher Stevens , the U.S. ambassador killed in the 2012 Benghazi attack .
The proposed budget for the State Department cuts $ 5 million designated for the Stevens Initiative , which provides for virtual international exchanges among young people and was developed in close partnership with Stevens ' family .
According to the group 's website , it aims to make `` life-changing , cross-cultural experiences available to a large number of young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Trump administration made two previous attempts to defund the program in past budget proposals .
In both instances , Congress restored the money .
Republicans for years have invoked Stevens ' death as a way to attack Democrats , specifically President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who they claim are responsible .
Republican-led congressional committees have pushed for further investigations and hearings into the attack , despite multiple probes clearing the Obama administration of wrongdoing .
In September 2015 , Rep. Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , admitted to Fox News that the party sought to use the Benghazi attack to hurt Clinton 's political future .
The conservative news network itself spent hundreds of hours promoting bogus stories related to Benghazi .
During the 2016 campaign , Trump invoked Benghazi to attack Clinton .
`` With Benghazi and with our ambassador , remember , that 's all Hillary Clinton , folks , '' he told attendees at a rally in May that year .
The decision to pull funding for the Stevens Initiative is one of several campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's legacy .
Most recently , the administration chose to advocate the use of anti-personnel landmines , which have killed hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians across the globe , rolling back a 2014 policy implemented by Trump 's predecessor .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham defended the decision at the time , saying Trump reversed the policy in order to `` support and equip our troops so that they will forever remain the greatest fighting force in the world . ''
According to experts , the U.S. military has not used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump has removed all funding in his proposed 2021 fiscal year budget for a nonprofit backed by the State Department that is designed to honor J. Christopher Stevens, the U.S. ambassador killed in the 2012 Benghazi attack.
The proposed budget for the State Department cuts $5 million designated for the Stevens Initiative, which provides for virtual international exchanges among young people and was developed in close partnership with Stevens’ family. According to the group’s website, it aims to make “life-changing, cross-cultural experiences available to a large number of young people in sustained and meaningful ways.”
The Trump administration made two previous attempts to defund the program in past budget proposals. In both instances, Congress restored the money.
Republicans for years have invoked Stevens’ death as a way to attack Democrats, specifically President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who they claim are responsible. Republican-led congressional committees have pushed for further investigations and hearings into the attack, despite multiple probes clearing the Obama administration of wrongdoing.
In September 2015, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who is now the House Minority Leader, admitted to Fox News that the party sought to use the Benghazi attack to hurt Clinton’s political future. The conservative news network itself spent hundreds of hours promoting bogus stories related to Benghazi.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump invoked Benghazi to attack Clinton.
“With Benghazi and with our ambassador, remember, that’s all Hillary Clinton, folks,” he told attendees at a rally in May that year.
The decision to pull funding for the Stevens Initiative is one of several campaigns being spearheaded by Trump to undo Obama’s legacy. Most recently, the administration chose to advocate the use of anti-personnel landmines, which have killed hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians across the globe, rolling back a 2014 policy implemented by Trump’s predecessor.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham defended the decision at the time, saying Trump reversed the policy in order to “support and equip our troops so that they will forever remain the greatest fighting force in the world.”
According to experts, the U.S. military has not used landmines in military operation for nearly 30 years.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-17--GOP senator who posed in hunting gear in ad doesn't have a hunting license

On Feb. 8 , Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) posted a short video ad of herself in a camo vest with a hunting rifle , walking with a companion down a dirt road on what appears to be a hunting trip .
There is no narrator in the video , but the words `` Pro 2nd Amendment Conservative '' flash across the screen as Loeffler poses in her hunting gear .
However , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Monday that Loeffler does not have a Georgia hunting license , according to an Open Records Act request the paper received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research organization working to unseat the candidate .
Hunting without a license in Georgia is a misdemeanor crime punishable by a fine of up to $ 1,000 , a game warden with the Law Enforcement Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said in a Monday phone call .
Loeffler , who was appointed to the Senate after Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson retired , is facing a tough election race in November .
In late January , Rep. Doug Collins , a conservative Trump loyalist , declared he would join the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Collins is `` everything Georgians hate about Washington , '' Kevin McLaughlin , executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee , said in a statement .
McLaughlin added that Collins is `` a swamp creature '' who made `` an emotional , ill-informed , and selfish decision '' to run for Senate .
On the Democratic side , Rev .
Raphael Warnock and Matt Lieberman , son of former Sen. Joe Lieberman ( D-CT ) , are vying for the seat .
Lieberman entered the race in late 2019 , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abrams , the popular Democrat who narrowly lost her 2018 gubernatorial bid , as well as the approval of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee .
Loeffler committed to putting $ 20 million of her own money into the race .
In late 2019 , she loaned her campaign $ 5 million , charging her campaign 2.4 % interest .
By the time the campaign is over , Loeffler stands to make more than $ 120,000 in interest from her own Senate campaign , which is over twice what the median Georgia household earns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a special election , there will be no primary .
Instead , all candidates will appear on the November ballot and a runoff election will take place in early January 2021 if no candidate receives a majority in November .
Georgia 's other senator , Republican David Perdue , is also up for reelection in November .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Feb. 8, Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) posted a short video ad of herself in a camo vest with a hunting rifle, walking with a companion down a dirt road on what appears to be a hunting trip.
There is no narrator in the video, but the words “Pro 2nd Amendment Conservative” flash across the screen as Loeffler poses in her hunting gear.
However, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Monday that Loeffler does not have a Georgia hunting license, according to an Open Records Act request the paper received from American Bridge, a progressive opposition research organization working to unseat the candidate.
Hunting without a license in Georgia is a misdemeanor crime punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, a game warden with the Law Enforcement Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said in a Monday phone call.
A basic hunting license in Georgia costs $15.
Loeffler, who was appointed to the Senate after Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson retired, is facing a tough election race in November. In late January, Rep. Doug Collins, a conservative Trump loyalist, declared he would join the race, roiling many Republicans who support Loeffler.
Collins is “everything Georgians hate about Washington,” Kevin McLaughlin, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement. McLaughlin added that Collins is “a swamp creature” who made “an emotional, ill-informed, and selfish decision” to run for Senate.
On the Democratic side, Rev. Raphael Warnock and Matt Lieberman, son of former Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), are vying for the seat. Lieberman entered the race in late 2019, but Warnock has received the endorsement of Stacey Abrams, the popular Democrat who narrowly lost her 2018 gubernatorial bid, as well as the approval of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Loeffler committed to putting $20 million of her own money into the race. In late 2019, she loaned her campaign $5 million, charging her campaign 2.4% interest. By the time the campaign is over, Loeffler stands to make more than $120,000 in interest from her own Senate campaign, which is over twice what the median Georgia household earns in a year.
Since this race is a special election, there will be no primary. Instead, all candidates will appear on the November ballot and a runoff election will take place in early January 2021 if no candidate receives a majority in November.
Georgia’s other senator, Republican David Perdue, is also up for reelection in November.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-17--Ukrainian president says he asked Trump to stop calling his country 'corrupted'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said over the weekend that he asked Donald Trump to stop referring to his nation as a corrupt country the last time they met .
Trump has frequently made the assertion to justify his attempt to get Ukraine to announce investigations into his political rivals , actions which ultimately led to his impeachment in December .
The Ukrainian leader spoke at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday .
`` Please , please stop to say that Ukraine is a corrupted country , because from now , it 's not truth , '' Zelenskiy said he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United Nations General Assembly in September , according to Politico EU .
`` We want to change this image . ''
At that same event , Zelenskiy also called for increased support for Ukraine from the United States and Europe , referring to the country 's need for assistance in the face of Russian aggression .
Russia annexed Ukraine 's Crimean peninsula in 2014 .
Trump has repeatedly accused Ukraine of being a corrupt nation , using that assertion to justify his decision to freeze military aid to the country last summer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine tackled its corruption problems , but aids and several government officials have since confirmed Trump did so to force Ukraine to investigate his political rivals .
`` We have to check corruption , '' Trump said in January , justifying the pressure he put on Ukraine .
Back in November , prior to his impeachment , Trump tweeted that he `` held back the money from Ukraine because it is considered a corrupt country , & I wanted to know why nearby European countries weren ’ t putting up [ aid ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and various European financial institutions have in fact given Ukraine more than $ 16.4 billion since 2014 , according to FactCheck.org .
In addition to withholding the aid funds over supposed `` corruption '' concerns , the Trump administration threatened to block officials from attending Zelenskiy 's inauguration until the nation announced an investigation into Trump 's rivals .
They also dangled the possibility of a coveted White House visit , which has not yet materialized .
Trump eventually released the aid funds in September last year , after reports were published about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's pressure campaign .
Additionally , although Ukraine 's government does indeed suffer from endemic corruption issues , officials there had already satisfied all of the anticorruption requirements necessary to release congressional allocated aid funds when Trump put a hold on them .
According to Laura Cooper , the deputy assistant secretary of Defense who testified before House lawmakers last fall as part of Trump 's impeachment inquiry , the DOD had already `` affirmed that we believed sufficient progress has been made '' in fighting corruption to allow aid to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government Accountability Office later found the administration 's decision to block that aid was a violation of federal law .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said over the weekend that he asked Donald Trump to stop referring to his nation as a corrupt country the last time they met.
Trump has frequently made the assertion to justify his attempt to get Ukraine to announce investigations into his political rivals, actions which ultimately led to his impeachment in December.
The Ukrainian leader spoke at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
“Please, please stop to say that Ukraine is a corrupted country, because from now, it’s not truth,” Zelenskiy said he told Trump when they met at the 74th United Nations General Assembly in September, according to Politico EU. “We want to change this image.”
At that same event, Zelenskiy also called for increased support for Ukraine from the United States and Europe, referring to the country’s need for assistance in the face of Russian aggression. Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014.
Trump has repeatedly accused Ukraine of being a corrupt nation, using that assertion to justify his decision to freeze military aid to the country last summer. Trump suggested he did so to ensure Ukraine tackled its corruption problems, but aids and several government officials have since confirmed Trump did so to force Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.
“We have to check corruption,” Trump said in January, justifying the pressure he put on Ukraine.
Back in November, prior to his impeachment, Trump tweeted that he “held back the money from Ukraine because it is considered a corrupt country, & I wanted to know why nearby European countries weren’t putting up [aid] money also.”
The European Union and various European financial institutions have in fact given Ukraine more than $16.4 billion since 2014, according to FactCheck.org.
In addition to withholding the aid funds over supposed “corruption” concerns, the Trump administration threatened to block officials from attending Zelenskiy’s inauguration until the nation announced an investigation into Trump’s rivals. They also dangled the possibility of a coveted White House visit, which has not yet materialized.
Trump eventually released the aid funds in September last year, after reports were published about a whistleblower who had alerted Congress about Trump’s pressure campaign.
Additionally, although Ukraine’s government does indeed suffer from endemic corruption issues, officials there had already satisfied all of the anticorruption requirements necessary to release congressional allocated aid funds when Trump put a hold on them.
According to Laura Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of Defense who testified before House lawmakers last fall as part of Trump’s impeachment inquiry, the DOD had already “affirmed that we believed sufficient progress has been made” in fighting corruption to allow aid to be transferred before Trump’s freeze.
The Government Accountability Office later found the administration’s decision to block that aid was a violation of federal law.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-17--Trump to hold campaign rally in state that canceled its GOP caucus

Donald Trump is heading to Nevada on Friday for a campaign rally on the eve of the state 's presidential caucuses .
However , unlike his previous rallies in early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire , Nevada Republicans will not be able to vote for Trump ( or anyone else ) the day after the rally .
That 's because Nevada is one of several states to cancel their nominating contest .
In September 2019 , the Nevada Republican Party voted to cancel the state 's presidential nominating contest , becoming one of the first in a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials admitted they were canceling the contest to help Trump .
The decision to cancel was based on the `` inevitable conclusion that President Trump will be getting our delegates at the National Convention in Charlotte , '' Keith Schipper , Nevada GOP spokesperson said at the time .
Since then , Republicans in several states have either canceled their nominating contest or changed the rules to all but assure Trump is victorious .
Along with Nevada , Republicans in Arizona , Hawaii , Kansas , and South Carolina canceled their nominating contests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Minnesota , and Wisconsin refused to list any candidate other than Trump on their state 's primary ballot .
In Michigan , Republicans changed the amount of support a candidate needs to receive national delegates .
`` This kind of un-American bullshit should n't happen here , '' former Rep. Joe Walsh , a Republican who recently ended his campaign for the GOP nomination , said in January about states canceling their primaries .
In states that have not rigged the primary for Trump , support for him has been lackluster .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ incumbent to lose a delegate to another candidate in almost 30 years , losing one of Iowa 's 40 delegates to former Massachusetts Gov .
Bill Weld .
On the day before the New Hampshire primary , Trump boasted that he had the support of 95 % of Republicans .
Yet he received less than 86 % of the New Hampshire GOP vote .
`` President Trump has delivered for Nevada , and Nevada is going to deliver for him , '' Nevada Republican Party chair Michael McDonald said in a press release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Feb. 21 .
Trump lost the state to Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
On the Democratic side , voters in Nevada will caucus on Saturday , Feb. 22 , to help select the nominee who will face Trump in November .
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) leads in the average of Nevada polls , followed by former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) .
After Nevada , Democrats in South Carolina will vote in a Feb. 29 primary .
South Carolina Republicans canceled their primary .

Donald Trump is heading to Nevada on Friday for a campaign rally on the eve of the state’s presidential caucuses. However, unlike his previous rallies in early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, Nevada Republicans will not be able to vote for Trump (or anyone else) the day after the rally.
That’s because Nevada is one of several states to cancel their nominating contest.
In September 2019, the Nevada Republican Party voted to cancel the state’s presidential nominating contest, becoming one of the first in a series of states to follow suit.
State officials admitted they were canceling the contest to help Trump. The decision to cancel was based on the “inevitable conclusion that President Trump will be getting our delegates at the National Convention in Charlotte,” Keith Schipper, Nevada GOP spokesperson said at the time.
Since then, Republicans in several states have either canceled their nominating contest or changed the rules to all but assure Trump is victorious.
Along with Nevada, Republicans in Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, and South Carolina canceled their nominating contests.
The GOP state parties in Georgia, Minnesota, and Wisconsin refused to list any candidate other than Trump on their state’s primary ballot.
In Michigan, Republicans changed the amount of support a candidate needs to receive national delegates.
“This kind of un-American bullshit shouldn’t happen here,” former Rep. Joe Walsh, a Republican who recently ended his campaign for the GOP nomination, said in January about states canceling their primaries.
In states that have not rigged the primary for Trump, support for him has been lackluster.
In Iowa, Trump became the first incumbent to lose a delegate to another candidate in almost 30 years, losing one of Iowa’s 40 delegates to former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld.
On the day before the New Hampshire primary, Trump boasted that he had the support of 95% of Republicans. Yet he received less than 86% of the New Hampshire GOP vote.
“President Trump has delivered for Nevada, and Nevada is going to deliver for him,” Nevada Republican Party chair Michael McDonald said in a press release about Trump’s upcoming rally, set for Feb. 21. Trump lost the state to Hillary Clinton in 2016.
On the Democratic side, voters in Nevada will caucus on Saturday, Feb. 22, to help select the nominee who will face Trump in November. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) leads in the average of Nevada polls, followed by former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
After Nevada, Democrats in South Carolina will vote in a Feb. 29 primary. South Carolina Republicans canceled their primary.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-17--Trump spent the week lying about veterans, voter fraud, and his wall

On the eve of the New Hampshire primary , Donald Trump told a rally that people who are in the United States illegally are paying for his Mexico border wall .
It was the latest iteration of his effort to convince the public that Mexico is covering the cost , just as he promised throughout his 2016 campaign and since .
Evidence to the contrary came three days later .
The Pentagon announced it is taking $ 3.8 billion approved by Congress for fighter aircraft , ships , and other military programs and using the money to pay for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar step last year and may yet again .
U.S. taxpayers are paying for the wall , not Mexico , as has been the case from the start .
Trump spread a variety of distortions at the rally , and still more in other venues during a week that came to be dominated by machinations involving the Justice Department .
The release of his proposed budget prompted Democrats to wrongly accuse him of undermining Medicare .
TRUMP : `` You do know who 's paying for the wall , do n't you ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The redemption money is paying for the wall . ''
— New Hampshire rally Monday .
THE FACTS : To date , the money is coming from the U.S. Treasury , meaning today 's taxpayers and the future ones who will inherit the federal debt .
To the extent any people who came into the United States illegally are kicking in for the wall , it 's because they 're working and paying taxes like other workers .
“ Redemption ” payments do n't exist ; Trump apparently meant to cite remittances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States send to their countries of origin , often to family members .
Trump has at various times talked about taxing or blocking such money but that has not been done .
Mexico flatly refused at the outset to pay for the wall .
That has given rise to creative formulations by Trump about how Mexico in some way is contributing .
For example , he has projected that his updated trade agreement with Mexico and Canada will stimulate enough extra growth over the years to cover the cost .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely doubt , the wall will have cost the U.S. money that it could have used for something else .
It 's not a payment from Mexico .
Trump freed up $ 3.6 billion for the wall last year by diverting money from military construction projects as well as $ 2.5 billion from approved counter-drug spending .
TRUMP : “ Remember last time we won the primary tremendously .
We should have won the election but they had buses being shipped up from Massachusetts , hundreds and hundreds of buses.
” — rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Trump is once again trafficking in the unfounded conspiracy theory that buses of illegal voters traveled in from Massachusetts in 2016 to deprive him of a New Hampshire victory in the general election against Democrat Hillary Clinton .
The accusation that people from more liberal Massachusetts crossed state lines in buses and voted in 2016 was made by Republican Chris Sununu , who at the time won election as governor .
Sununu quickly backed down , saying his talk about busloads of illegal voters was “ more a figure of speech ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sununu later told the New Hampshire news network NH1 that he was `` not aware of any widespread voter fraud ” in the state .
More broadly , Trump has repeatedly asserted but produced no evidence of widespread voting fraud in 2016 by people in the country illegally or by any group of people .
He tried , but the commission he appointed on voting fraud collapsed from infighting and from the refusal of states to cooperate when tapped for reams of personal voter data such as names , partial Social Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have found only isolated cases of voter fraud in recent U.S. elections and no evidence that election results were affected .
Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt found 31 cases of impersonation fraud , for example , in about 1 billion votes cast in elections from 2000 to 2014 .
TRUMP , on impeachment : “ It was n't even close .
I want to thank our Republican senators and our Republican House members ; they were tremendous .
In the House , we won 196 to nothing , and then we got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By that measure , the San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl 20-0 .
They actually lost it 31-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs .
If you only count your own score , you win every vote and every game .
The House impeached Trump on a 230-197 vote on the first article , outlining abuse of power charges , and a 229-198 vote on the second article covering obstruction of Congress .
That 's because most of the majority Democrats backed impeachment .
Trump went on to say : `` In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had — we got 52 to nothing.
” Again , he ignores votes from the Democrats .
Trump was acquitted of impeachment charges after senators in the Republican-controlled Senate narrowly rejected Democratic demands to summon witnesses and extend the trial .
The Senate acquitted Trump by votes of 52-48 on abuse of power and 53-47 on obstructing Congress .
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney was the only Republican to vote for conviction , doing so on the abuse of power charge .
TRUMP , boasting of accomplishments for veterans : “ Something that couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they say , and that ’ s Veterans Choice .
That ’ s one of the reasons , I think , the VA is doing so well.
`` — veterans ' event Tuesday .
THE FACTS : Actually , President Barack Obama won passage of the Veterans Choice program , which gives veterans the option to see private doctors outside the VA medical system at government expense .
Congress approved the program in 2014 , and Obama signed it into law .
Trump expanded it .
The program 's impact on improving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VA has said it does not expect a major increase in veterans seeking care outside the VA under Trump 's expanded program , partly because wait times in the private sector are typically longer than at VA. `` The care in the private sector , nine times out of 10 , is probably not as good as care in VA , '' VA Secretary Robert Wilkie told Congress last year .
In 2019 , 35 % of all VA appointments were with outside physicians , slightly lower than the 36 % in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 5 ’ 4 ” mass of dead energy who does not want to be on the debate stage with these professional politicians .
No boxes please.
” — tweet Thursday .
THE FACTS : Democratic presidential contender Mike Bloomberg is not that short .
In a letter released by Bloomberg ’ s campaign in December , Bloomberg ’ s doctor said the candidate is 5 feet , 7 inches , and 165 pounds .
Bloomberg once listed his height on his driver 's license as 5-foot-10 , which he is n't .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ City , the New York newspapers variously reported his height at 5-foot-6 , 5-foot-7 and just shy of a 5-foot-8 aide .
Trump shortchanged all that in his tweet , cutting Bloomberg ’ s height by several inches .
Trump ’ s own height has been a moving target .
He ’ s been listed at 6-foot-3-inches by the White House physician .
But in 2016 , Politico reported that his driver 's license had him as 6-foot-2 , the same height as on his Selective Service registration card in 1964 .

On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, Donald Trump told a rally that people who are in the United States illegally are paying for his Mexico border wall. It was the latest iteration of his effort to convince the public that Mexico is covering the cost, just as he promised throughout his 2016 campaign and since.
Evidence to the contrary came three days later. The Pentagon announced it is taking $3.8 billion approved by Congress for fighter aircraft, ships, and other military programs and using the money to pay for the wall. The Defense Department took a similar step last year and may yet again. U.S. taxpayers are paying for the wall, not Mexico, as has been the case from the start.
Trump spread a variety of distortions at the rally, and still more in other venues during a week that came to be dominated by machinations involving the Justice Department. The release of his proposed budget prompted Democrats to wrongly accuse him of undermining Medicare.
The week in review:
The wall
TRUMP: “You do know who’s paying for the wall, don’t you? Redemption from illegal aliens that are coming. The redemption money is paying for the wall.” — New Hampshire rally Monday.
THE FACTS: To date, the money is coming from the U.S. Treasury, meaning today’s taxpayers and the future ones who will inherit the federal debt. To the extent any people who came into the United States illegally are kicking in for the wall, it’s because they’re working and paying taxes like other workers.
“Redemption” payments don’t exist; Trump apparently meant to cite remittances. That refers to money that immigrants in the United States send to their countries of origin, often to family members. Trump has at various times talked about taxing or blocking such money but that has not been done.
Mexico flatly refused at the outset to pay for the wall. That has given rise to creative formulations by Trump about how Mexico in some way is contributing. For example, he has projected that his updated trade agreement with Mexico and Canada will stimulate enough extra growth over the years to cover the cost. Even if that happens, which analysts widely doubt, the wall will have cost the U.S. money that it could have used for something else. It’s not a payment from Mexico.
Trump freed up $3.6 billion for the wall last year by diverting money from military construction projects as well as $2.5 billion from approved counter-drug spending.
___
Voter fraud
TRUMP: “Remember last time we won the primary tremendously. We should have won the election but they had buses being shipped up from Massachusetts, hundreds and hundreds of buses.” — rally Monday in New Hampshire.
THE FACTS: Trump is once again trafficking in the unfounded conspiracy theory that buses of illegal voters traveled in from Massachusetts in 2016 to deprive him of a New Hampshire victory in the general election against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The accusation that people from more liberal Massachusetts crossed state lines in buses and voted in 2016 was made by Republican Chris Sununu, who at the time won election as governor. Sununu quickly backed down, saying his talk about busloads of illegal voters was “more a figure of speech” — in other words, not reality. Sununu later told the New Hampshire news network NH1 that he was “not aware of any widespread voter fraud” in the state.
More broadly, Trump has repeatedly asserted but produced no evidence of widespread voting fraud in 2016 by people in the country illegally or by any group of people.
He tried, but the commission he appointed on voting fraud collapsed from infighting and from the refusal of states to cooperate when tapped for reams of personal voter data such as names, partial Social Security numbers, and voting histories. Studies have found only isolated cases of voter fraud in recent U.S. elections and no evidence that election results were affected.
Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt found 31 cases of impersonation fraud, for example, in about 1 billion votes cast in elections from 2000 to 2014.
___
Impeachment
TRUMP, on impeachment: “It wasn’t even close. I want to thank our Republican senators and our Republican House members; they were tremendous. In the House, we won 196 to nothing, and then we got three Democrats.”
THE FACTS: By that measure, the San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl 20-0. They actually lost it 31-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
If you only count your own score, you win every vote and every game.
The House impeached Trump on a 230-197 vote on the first article, outlining abuse of power charges, and a 229-198 vote on the second article covering obstruction of Congress. That’s because most of the majority Democrats backed impeachment.
Trump went on to say: “In the Senate, other than Romney, we had — we got 52 to nothing.”
Again, he ignores votes from the Democrats. Trump was acquitted of impeachment charges after senators in the Republican-controlled Senate narrowly rejected Democratic demands to summon witnesses and extend the trial. The Senate acquitted Trump by votes of 52-48 on abuse of power and 53-47 on obstructing Congress.
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney was the only Republican to vote for conviction, doing so on the abuse of power charge.
___
Veterans
TRUMP, boasting of accomplishments for veterans: “Something that couldn’t be done for 44 years, they say, and that’s Veterans Choice. That’s one of the reasons, I think, the VA is doing so well. ” — veterans’ event Tuesday.
THE FACTS: Actually, President Barack Obama won passage of the Veterans Choice program, which gives veterans the option to see private doctors outside the VA medical system at government expense. Congress approved the program in 2014, and Obama signed it into law. Trump expanded it.
The program’s impact on improving VA care has been unclear.
The VA has said it does not expect a major increase in veterans seeking care outside the VA under Trump’s expanded program, partly because wait times in the private sector are typically longer than at VA. “The care in the private sector, nine times out of 10, is probably not as good as care in VA,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie told Congress last year.
In 2019, 35% of all VA appointments were with outside physicians, slightly lower than the 36% in 2017.
___
Bloomberg
TRUMP: “Mini Mike is a 5’4” mass of dead energy who does not want to be on the debate stage with these professional politicians. No boxes please.” — tweet Thursday.
THE FACTS: Democratic presidential contender Mike Bloomberg is not that short.
In a letter released by Bloomberg’s campaign in December, Bloomberg’s doctor said the candidate is 5 feet, 7 inches, and 165 pounds.
Bloomberg once listed his height on his driver’s license as 5-foot-10, which he isn’t. When he was mayor of New York City, the New York newspapers variously reported his height at 5-foot-6, 5-foot-7 and just shy of a 5-foot-8 aide.
Trump shortchanged all that in his tweet, cutting Bloomberg’s height by several inches.
Trump’s own height has been a moving target. He’s been listed at 6-foot-3-inches by the White House physician. But in 2016, Politico reported that his driver’s license had him as 6-foot-2, the same height as on his Selective Service registration card in 1964.


shareblue--2020-02-17--Trump confirms reports of wall falling over while also calling them 'Fake News'

On Sunday , Donald Trump confirmed that a part of the border wall in California fell into Mexico due to high winds , but also called reports of the incident `` Fake News . ''
`` Last week the Fake News said that a section of our powerful , under construction , Southern Border Wall 'fell over ' , trying to make it sound terrible , except the reason was that the concrete foundation was just poured & soaking wet when big winds kicked in , '' Trump wrote on Twitter with his trademark grammatical errors and unorthodox capitalization .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here are the facts , which Trump seems to both confirm and deny .
On Jan. 29 , high winds in Calexico , California , blew over a section of Trump 's border wall , causing it to fall into Mexico .
In an email the following day , Ralph DeSio , a Customs and Border Protection official , wrote that high winds `` impacted a handful of panels , '' adding that there were no injuries or property damage .
DeSio said the concrete holding the wall was still drying , confirming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Texas-based company founded by Republican donors was awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to build the section of the border wall that blew over .
In a June 2019 press release , CPB said the company , named , SLSCO had been awarded an $ 88 million contract to replace an 11-mile section of dilapidated border wall in Calexico .
According to a 2019 Forbes report , SLSCO has received contracts for border wall projects totaling almost half a billion dollars since Trump took office .
During the 2016 campaign , Trump promised Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When Mexico refused , Trump resorted to taking money Congress allocated for military bases to use instead .
In 2019 , the Trump administration took $ 3.6 billion meant for military bases and services for military families .
In 2020 , Trump is planning to divert an additional $ 3.8 billion away from the military to help fund the border wall .
Trump regularly accused the media of being `` fake news '' when reports are unfavorable to him or his administration .
But in this case , Trump both accused media reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts of the reports .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Sunday, Donald Trump confirmed that a part of the border wall in California fell into Mexico due to high winds, but also called reports of the incident “Fake News.”
“Last week the Fake News said that a section of our powerful, under construction, Southern Border Wall ‘fell over’, trying to make it sound terrible, except the reason was that the concrete foundation was just poured & soaking wet when big winds kicked in,” Trump wrote on Twitter with his trademark grammatical errors and unorthodox capitalization. “Quickly fixed ‘forever’.”
Here are the facts, which Trump seems to both confirm and deny.
On Jan. 29, high winds in Calexico, California, blew over a section of Trump’s border wall, causing it to fall into Mexico.
In an email the following day, Ralph DeSio, a Customs and Border Protection official, wrote that high winds “impacted a handful of panels,” adding that there were no injuries or property damage. DeSio said the concrete holding the wall was still drying, confirming the media’s reporting on the incident.
Texas-based company founded by Republican donors was awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to build the section of the border wall that blew over.
In a June 2019 press release, CPB said the company, named, SLSCO had been awarded an $88 million contract to replace an 11-mile section of dilapidated border wall in Calexico. According to a 2019 Forbes report, SLSCO has received contracts for border wall projects totaling almost half a billion dollars since Trump took office.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump promised Mexico would pay for a border wall. When Mexico refused, Trump resorted to taking money Congress allocated for military bases to use instead.
In 2019, the Trump administration took $3.6 billion meant for military bases and services for military families. In 2020, Trump is planning to divert an additional $3.8 billion away from the military to help fund the border wall.
Trump regularly accused the media of being “fake news” when reports are unfavorable to him or his administration. But in this case, Trump both accused media reports of being fake and confirmed the underlying facts of the reports.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-17--GOP senator won't stop spreading lies about coronavirus

Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-AR ) suggested without evidence on Sunday that the deadly new virus that has killed more than 1,000 people in China over the past few months could have been created at a `` secretive '' biochemical lab in Wuhan .
After he was accused of spreading baseless conspiracy theories , Cotton defended his remarks as merely `` hypotheses . ''
Cotton told Fox News on Sunday that `` China 's only biosafety level 4 super laboratory that researches human infectious diseases '' is `` just a few miles '' from the live-animal market linked to many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory .
`` We do n't have evidence that this disease originated there , '' he admitted , `` but because of China 's duplicity and dishonesty from the beginning , we need to at least ask the question to see what the evidence says , and China right now is not giving evidence on that question at all . ''
Right-wing activists , including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon , have been attempting to convince people that the virus could have been the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wide array of experts have debunked this claim .
`` Based on the virus genome and properties there is no indication whatsoever that it was an engineered virus , '' Richard Ebright , a Rutgers University professor of chemical biology , told the Washington Post last month .
The World Health Organization has warned that false information about the coronavirus is `` spreading faster than the virus '' and is causing an `` infodemic . ''
After the Post reported on Sunday that Cotton had fanned `` the embers of a coronavirus conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expects , '' he responded by trying to `` debunk the debunkers . ''
In a series of tweets , he argued that he had not actually claimed the virus was an engineered bioweapon , but noted that that is one of `` at least four hypotheses '' about the virus ' origins .
`` None of these are 'theories ' and certainly not 'conspiracy theories , ' '' he claimed .
`` They are hypotheses that ought to be studied in light of the evidence , if the Chinese Communist Party would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cotton 's office declined to respond to an inquiry about his claims this week , pointing to a Monday twitter thread instead in which he claimed that those fact-checking his remarks were repeating `` the Communist Party line . ''
`` I have n't said the coronavirus is ' a Chinese bioweapon run amok , ' so I have n't 'walked back ' anything , '' he said , citing a Monday New York Times report that stated he had backed down from his original comments over the weekend .
`` What I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official origin story of the Wuhan food market is almost certainly bogus , '' he added , repeating his earlier unsubstantiated claim .
`` And given Chinese dishonesty and lack of transparency , we have to consider all possibilities until the evidence is in . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) suggested without evidence on Sunday that the deadly new virus that has killed more than 1,000 people in China over the past few months could have been created at a “secretive” biochemical lab in Wuhan.
After he was accused of spreading baseless conspiracy theories, Cotton defended his remarks as merely “hypotheses.”
Cotton told Fox News on Sunday that “China’s only biosafety level 4 super laboratory that researches human infectious diseases” is “just a few miles” from the live-animal market linked to many of the early cases of infection, referring to the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory.
“We don’t have evidence that this disease originated there,” he admitted, “but because of China’s duplicity and dishonesty from the beginning, we need to at least ask the question to see what the evidence says, and China right now is not giving evidence on that question at all.”
Right-wing activists, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, have been attempting to convince people that the virus could have been the result of biological weapons research, but a wide array of experts have debunked this claim.
“Based on the virus genome and properties there is no indication whatsoever that it was an engineered virus,” Richard Ebright, a Rutgers University professor of chemical biology, told the Washington Post last month.
The World Health Organization has warned that false information about the coronavirus is “spreading faster than the virus” and is causing an “infodemic.”
After the Post reported on Sunday that Cotton had fanned “the embers of a coronavirus conspiracy theory that had been repeatedly debunked by expects,” he responded by trying to “debunk the debunkers.”
In a series of tweets, he argued that he had not actually claimed the virus was an engineered bioweapon, but noted that that is one of “at least four hypotheses” about the virus’ origins.
“None of these are ‘theories’ and certainly not ‘conspiracy theories,'” he claimed. “They are hypotheses that ought to be studied in light of the evidence, if the Chinese Communist Party would provide it.”
A spokesperson from Cotton’s office declined to respond to an inquiry about his claims this week, pointing to a Monday twitter thread instead in which he claimed that those fact-checking his remarks were repeating “the Communist Party line.”
“I haven’t said the coronavirus is ‘a Chinese bioweapon run amok,’ so I haven’t ‘walked back’ anything,” he said, citing a Monday New York Times report that stated he had backed down from his original comments over the weekend.
“What I have said is that China’s official origin story of the Wuhan food market is almost certainly bogus,” he added, repeating his earlier unsubstantiated claim. “And given Chinese dishonesty and lack of transparency, we have to consider all possibilities until the evidence is in.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.