shareblue--2020-03-05--Romney admits GOP investigation into Bidens is politically motivated

Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) said on Thursday that a newly revived Republican-led investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter `` appears political . ''
Romney , the sole Republican who voted last month to convict Donald Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors related to his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden last year , told reporters there was `` no question but that the appearance of looking into Burisma and Hunter Biden appears political . ''
`` And I think people are tired of these kind of political investigations , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handled by `` the FBI or some other agency that 's not as political as , perhaps , a committee of our body . ''
`` We also have a lot of work to do on matters that are not related to Burisma .
We probably ought to focus on those things , '' he added .
Romney serves on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee .
Its chair , Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) reportedly informed his colleagues on Sunday that he wants to subpoena witnesses about Hunter Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy company .
The younger Biden served as a board member for Burisma from April 2014 to April 2019 , when his term expired .
With an eight-to-six Republican majority on the committee , Romney 's vote would be necessary for Johnson to issue any subpoenas , assuming all the Democratic members vote no .
Asked how he might vote on those subpoenas , Romney said Thursday he would decide after he has `` had the chance to meet with the chairman and see what information he has . ''
Republicans have alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ouster of Ukraine 's prosecutor general in 2015 , in order to stop a corruption investigation into Burisma .
There is no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden or his son , and the prosecutor general 's eventual replacement ended up launching further investigations into the energy company .
Last July , Trump tried to pressure the Ukrainian president into investigating the long-debunked matter by withholding security aid to the country .
He was impeached for that action , as well as his decision to impede Congress ' probe into the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP-controlled Senate .
Throughout the impeachment process , Republican lawmakers demanded Congress `` get back to work '' and abandon the impeachment investigation , which Trump had repeatedly referred to as a `` witch hunt . ''
Immediately after acquitting Trump , however , they announced a series of new politically-minded investigations , most of them focused on Biden or Trump 's other opponents and critics .
Johnson announced his desire to issue subpoenas in the new Biden investigation after nearly a month of Republican silence on the matter and less than one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landslide win in the South Carolina Democratic primary .
That victory , along with a strong Super Tuesday showing , has propelled the former vice president into the overall delegate lead and revitalized his once-struggling campaign .
It did not take long for Donald Trump 's reelection committee to lash out at Romney on Thursday .
In a tweet , campaign officials suggested that Romney was biased because a Burisma board member had years earlier served a `` special adviser '' on his 2012 presidential campaign .
There were at least 23 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Foreign Policy and National Security Advisory Team . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said on Thursday that a newly revived Republican-led investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter “appears political.”
Romney, the sole Republican who voted last month to convict Donald Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors related to his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden last year, told reporters there was “no question but that the appearance of looking into Burisma and Hunter Biden appears political.”
“And I think people are tired of these kind of political investigations,” he said, suggesting the matter would better be handled by “the FBI or some other agency that’s not as political as, perhaps, a committee of our body.”
“We also have a lot of work to do on matters that are not related to Burisma. We probably ought to focus on those things,” he added.
Romney serves on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. Its chair, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) reportedly informed his colleagues on Sunday that he wants to subpoena witnesses about Hunter Biden’s role at Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company.
The younger Biden served as a board member for Burisma from April 2014 to April 2019, when his term expired.
With an eight-to-six Republican majority on the committee, Romney’s vote would be necessary for Johnson to issue any subpoenas, assuming all the Democratic members vote no.
Asked how he might vote on those subpoenas, Romney said Thursday he would decide after he has “had the chance to meet with the chairman and see what information he has.”
Republicans have alleged without evidence that then-Vice President Biden forced the ouster of Ukraine’s prosecutor general in 2015, in order to stop a corruption investigation into Burisma. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden or his son, and the prosecutor general’s eventual replacement ended up launching further investigations into the energy company.
Last July, Trump tried to pressure the Ukrainian president into investigating the long-debunked matter by withholding security aid to the country. He was impeached for that action, as well as his decision to impede Congress’ probe into the matter, but was not convicted by the GOP-controlled Senate.
Throughout the impeachment process, Republican lawmakers demanded Congress “get back to work” and abandon the impeachment investigation, which Trump had repeatedly referred to as a “witch hunt.” Immediately after acquitting Trump, however, they announced a series of new politically-minded investigations, most of them focused on Biden or Trump’s other opponents and critics.
Johnson announced his desire to issue subpoenas in the new Biden investigation after nearly a month of Republican silence on the matter and less than one day after the former vice president’s landslide win in the South Carolina Democratic primary.
That victory, along with a strong Super Tuesday showing, has propelled the former vice president into the overall delegate lead and revitalized his once-struggling campaign.
It did not take long for Donald Trump’s reelection committee to lash out at Romney on Thursday. In a tweet, campaign officials suggested that Romney was biased because a Burisma board member had years earlier served a “special adviser” on his 2012 presidential campaign.
There were at least 23 people with that title on Romney’s former “Foreign Policy and National Security Advisory Team.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-05--Graham: Trump should 'make sure the science is behind' his coronavirus claims

Donald Trump 's lies about the current COVID-19 outbreak have become so egregious that even one of his most loyal supporters in Congress is calling him out on it .
`` I would encourage the president , if he 's going to report things , to make sure the science is behind what he says , '' Graham told CNN on Thursday morning .
Graham was fielding questions about Trump 's most recent claim about the outbreak , in which he falsely claimed the death rate was lower than 1 % .
`` I do n't know what he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists when it comes to the numbers , '' Graham added .
Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity Wednesday night that the 3.4 % death rate established by the World Health Organization is `` really a false number , '' and it was closer to 1 % .
He provided no evidence to back that claim .
`` We have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by sitting around , even going to work .
Some of them go to work , but they get better , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` And then when you do have a death like you had in the state of Washington , like you had in the state of California , I believe you had one in New York , all of a sudden it seems like 3 or 4 % , which seems like a very high number , as opposed to a fraction of 1 % . ''
As COVID-19 , the disease caused by the strain of coronavirus that originated in China , has spread across the globe , Trump has repeatedly misled the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Feb. 26 press conference about the outbreak , Trump downplayed the danger , comparing it to the common flu .
`` The flu in our country kills from 25,000 people to 69,000 people a year , that was shocking to me .
And so far if you look at what we have with the 15 people , and they are recovering , '' he said .
More than 100 people in the United States have been infected with the disease so far , and nearly a dozen have died .
At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims about how quickly scientists could create and distribute a vaccine , despite being told by his own advisers that a vaccine is more than a year away .
And earlier in February , Trump referred to the outbreak as a `` hoax , '' something high-ranking officials in his own administration refused to contradict .
After the media reported on his comments , Trump claimed he was referring only to Democrats who he claimed were `` politicizing '' the outbreak .
According to a March 4 WHO report , there are at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So far , approximately 2,984 people have died from the disease .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , most Americans are at low risk of exposure .
Nonetheless , national , state , and local health experts are preparing for the virus to spread into more communities .
Symptoms of the disease include fever , cough , and shortness of breath , and may appear between two and 14 days after exposure .
As a general prevention technique , the CDC recommends frequent hand-washing for 20 seconds using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitizer that contains at least 60 % alcohol if soap and water are not available .
People are also advised to frequently clean high-touch surfaces ( such as tables , phones , and doorknobs ) with proper cleaning products , and to avoid touching their eyes , nose , and mouth as much as possible .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s lies about the current COVID-19 outbreak have become so egregious that even one of his most loyal supporters in Congress is calling him out on it.
“I would encourage the president, if he’s going to report things, to make sure the science is behind what he says,” Graham told CNN on Thursday morning.
Graham was fielding questions about Trump’s most recent claim about the outbreak, in which he falsely claimed the death rate was lower than 1%.
“I don’t know what he was talking about but I listen to the scientists when it comes to the numbers,” Graham added.
Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity Wednesday night that the 3.4% death rate established by the World Health Organization is “really a false number,” and it was closer to 1%. He provided no evidence to back that claim.
“We have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by sitting around, even going to work. Some of them go to work, but they get better,” Trump said.
He continued, “And then when you do have a death like you had in the state of Washington, like you had in the state of California, I believe you had one in New York, all of a sudden it seems like 3 or 4%, which seems like a very high number, as opposed to a fraction of 1%.”
As COVID-19, the disease caused by the strain of coronavirus that originated in China, has spread across the globe, Trump has repeatedly misled the public about the growing threat.
At a Feb. 26 press conference about the outbreak, Trump downplayed the danger, comparing it to the common flu.
“The flu in our country kills from 25,000 people to 69,000 people a year, that was shocking to me. And so far if you look at what we have with the 15 people, and they are recovering,” he said.
More than 100 people in the United States have been infected with the disease so far, and nearly a dozen have died.
At a March 2 rally, Trump made false claims about how quickly scientists could create and distribute a vaccine, despite being told by his own advisers that a vaccine is more than a year away.
And earlier in February, Trump referred to the outbreak as a “hoax,” something high-ranking officials in his own administration refused to contradict. After the media reported on his comments, Trump claimed he was referring only to Democrats who he claimed were “politicizing” the outbreak.
According to a March 4 WHO report, there are at least 93,090 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide. So far, approximately 2,984 people have died from the disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most Americans are at low risk of exposure. Nonetheless, national, state, and local health experts are preparing for the virus to spread into more communities.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and may appear between two and 14 days after exposure.
As a general prevention technique, the CDC recommends frequent hand-washing for 20 seconds using soap and warm water, or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
People are also advised to frequently clean high-touch surfaces (such as tables, phones, and doorknobs) with proper cleaning products, and to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-05--Number of kids taken from families may be much higher than Trump officials claimed

The Trump administration 's effort to track children separated from their families at the border is plagued by communication problems that raise questions about the accuracy of the data , a watchdog reported Thursday .
The administration created the tracking system following its zero tolerance policy in 2018 , where more than 2,500 children were separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border , though the watchdog has estimated that figure could be much higher .
Immigration officials have continued to separate some children from their parents at the border for certain reasons including a parent 's suspected criminal history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will help avoid some of the chaos , confusion and trauma suffered by separated children .
According to court figures at least 955 children were separated between June 2018 and July 2019 .
But that tracking system is flawed , in part because details about whether separation from parents occurred are not automatically transmitted from U.S. Customs and Border Protection , which manages the border , to Health and Human Services , which deals with migrant children , the watchdog reported .
In some cases , border officers can trigger an indicator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the watchdog reported .
Health and Human Services officials maintain a spreadsheet of separated children , but it still relies on manual entry , and that is `` inherently vulnerable to error , raising questions about the accuracy of current data on separated children , ” the watchdog reported .
The report also found that Health and Human Services only discovered the 2018 separations were occurring through media reports - in part because there was no communication between agencies .
The result was a chaos , with some children languishing in detention well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of care providers who had no answers on when parents were returning .
Some children were kept waiting in vans for hours in parking lots amid delays in reunification .
“ Not knowing what happened to their parents haunted the children , '' one care provider told investigators , according to the report .
`` We couldn ’ t tell them whether they would ultimately be reunited .
It was challenging .
We weren ’ t notified initially about how to connect parents with their kids .
The kids had lots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answers for them.
” Health and Human Services officials said in a letter to the watchdog that it had the best interest of children at heart and was committed to improving , but that family separation is a thorny subject involving the Justice Department , Homeland Security and HHS , and there is n't a simple fix for some issues .
The 2018 separations occurred in part because some migrant parents were charged criminally with illegal entry and children ca n't be put in jail .
Curbing immigration is Trump 's signature policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing crush of migrants moving north to the border ; the arrests were an effort in part to dissuade migrants from making the dangerous trek north .
Administration officials initially defended the practice but abandoned it after global outcry from world leaders , religious groups and humanitarian organizations that it was inhumane .
A federal court order generally bars further separations unless there are questions about criminal history or the health and safety of the child .
Attorneys in the case have argued there are too many unnecessary separations .
The report by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Human Services was compiled from interviews with and written responses from senior Health officials , interviews with staff at 45 care providers , case reviews from separated children and more than 5,000 documents .
It is one of several the inspector general 's office has completed on family separations .
In September , it found that the children separated , many already distressed in their home countries or by their journey , showed more fear , feelings of abandonment and post-traumatic stress symptoms than children who were not separated .
Children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placed into the care of Health and Human Services , which is responsible for unaccompanied migrant children .
They are generally placed into facilities run by care providers until a suitable sponsor can be found .
In most cases , the sponsors are parents .
During 2018 , children were held longer in immigration detention and were also kept longer at facilities because of vast delays in the system .
But when the separations began in 2018 , there was no formalized system to track children and their parents across the five government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report found that inadequate communication , management and planning at Health and Human Services made the situation even worse for many separated children .
And in some cases , the officials were not prioritizing the needs of children .
At the time , Health and Human Services officials said they had no notice the separations would occur as a result of the zero tolerance policy pushed by then Attorney General Jeff Sessions .
But staff warned of a growing increase in the number of separated children as early as 2017 , the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it was rare .
The watchdog says high-ranking officers disregarded “ specific , repeated ” warnings from staff that the policy would be implemented .
And there was no evidence that senior officials “ took action to protect children 's interests , ” the report found .
Ann Maxwell , the assistant inspector general , said in a press call communication improvements were necessary .
“ Clear lines of communications are vital to HHS ’ ability to adapt and response to any new developments in immigration policy or practice that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Some key health officials were not convinced that immigration officials would do large-scale separations , and were reluctant to intervene in immigration law enforcement policies , the report found .
And the leadership did n't understand the magnitude of the problem , the report found .
In a letter to the inspector general , HHS officials quibbled over the language in the report that there had been a “ family separation policy , ” instead noting the separations were the result of other policies meant to manage criminal cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in shaping upstream immigration enforcement policy , ” because the agency “ does not have any statutory authority over immigration enforcement policy or implementation , ” wrote Lynn Johnson , the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families .
She said the context for evaluating the agency in this realm should be done through that prism .
The agency concurred with much of the recommendations by the inspector general , but noted there could be problems in solving inter-agency issues without getting the other agencies on board .

The Trump administration’s effort to track children separated from their families at the border is plagued by communication problems that raise questions about the accuracy of the data, a watchdog reported Thursday.
The administration created the tracking system following its zero tolerance policy in 2018, where more than 2,500 children were separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, though the watchdog has estimated that figure could be much higher.
Immigration officials have continued to separate some children from their parents at the border for certain reasons including a parent’s suspected criminal history, and have said the tracking system will help avoid some of the chaos, confusion and trauma suffered by separated children.
According to court figures at least 955 children were separated between June 2018 and July 2019.
But that tracking system is flawed, in part because details about whether separation from parents occurred are not automatically transmitted from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which manages the border, to Health and Human Services, which deals with migrant children, the watchdog reported.
In some cases, border officers can trigger an indicator, but are not typically doing so, the watchdog reported. Health and Human Services officials maintain a spreadsheet of separated children, but it still relies on manual entry, and that is “inherently vulnerable to error, raising questions about the accuracy of current data on separated children,” the watchdog reported.
The report also found that Health and Human Services only discovered the 2018 separations were occurring through media reports – in part because there was no communication between agencies. The result was a chaos, with some children languishing in detention well beyond legal limits, others inconsolable in the hands of care providers who had no answers on when parents were returning. Some children were kept waiting in vans for hours in parking lots amid delays in reunification.
“Not knowing what happened to their parents haunted the children,” one care provider told investigators, according to the report. “We couldn’t tell them whether they would ultimately be reunited. It was challenging. We weren’t notified initially about how to connect parents with their kids. The kids had lots of questions, but we had no answers for them.”
Health and Human Services officials said in a letter to the watchdog that it had the best interest of children at heart and was committed to improving, but that family separation is a thorny subject involving the Justice Department, Homeland Security and HHS, and there isn’t a simple fix for some issues.
The 2018 separations occurred in part because some migrant parents were charged criminally with illegal entry and children can’t be put in jail. Curbing immigration is Trump’s signature policy, and his administration was managing a growing crush of migrants moving north to the border; the arrests were an effort in part to dissuade migrants from making the dangerous trek north.
Administration officials initially defended the practice but abandoned it after global outcry from world leaders, religious groups and humanitarian organizations that it was inhumane. A federal court order generally bars further separations unless there are questions about criminal history or the health and safety of the child. Attorneys in the case have argued there are too many unnecessary separations.
The report by the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services was compiled from interviews with and written responses from senior Health officials, interviews with staff at 45 care providers, case reviews from separated children and more than 5,000 documents. It is one of several the inspector general’s office has completed on family separations. In September, it found that the children separated, many already distressed in their home countries or by their journey, showed more fear, feelings of abandonment and post-traumatic stress symptoms than children who were not separated.
Children who are taken from their parents and placed into the care of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for unaccompanied migrant children. They are generally placed into facilities run by care providers until a suitable sponsor can be found. In most cases, the sponsors are parents. During 2018, children were held longer in immigration detention and were also kept longer at facilities because of vast delays in the system.
But when the separations began in 2018, there was no formalized system to track children and their parents across the five government agencies in order reunify them. The report found that inadequate communication, management and planning at Health and Human Services made the situation even worse for many separated children. And in some cases, the officials were not prioritizing the needs of children.
At the time, Health and Human Services officials said they had no notice the separations would occur as a result of the zero tolerance policy pushed by then Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
But staff warned of a growing increase in the number of separated children as early as 2017, the report found. Separations occurred under previous administrations, but it was rare.
The watchdog says high-ranking officers disregarded “specific, repeated” warnings from staff that the policy would be implemented. And there was no evidence that senior officials “took action to protect children’s interests,” the report found.
Ann Maxwell, the assistant inspector general, said in a press call communication improvements were necessary.
“Clear lines of communications are vital to HHS’ ability to adapt and response to any new developments in immigration policy or practice that could impact children in the future,” she said.
Some key health officials were not convinced that immigration officials would do large-scale separations, and were reluctant to intervene in immigration law enforcement policies, the report found. And the leadership didn’t understand the magnitude of the problem, the report found.
In a letter to the inspector general, HHS officials quibbled over the language in the report that there had been a “family separation policy,” instead noting the separations were the result of other policies meant to manage criminal cases.
“HHS does not have a direct role in shaping upstream immigration enforcement policy,” because the agency “does not have any statutory authority over immigration enforcement policy or implementation,” wrote Lynn Johnson, the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families.
She said the context for evaluating the agency in this realm should be done through that prism. The agency concurred with much of the recommendations by the inspector general, but noted there could be problems in solving inter-agency issues without getting the other agencies on board.


shareblue--2020-03-06--News you might have missed: Virginia bans harmful 'therapy' for LGBTQ kids

This week , a new study shows a link between more health care in the form of Medicaid expansion and lower maternal death rates .
In New Mexico , students wo n't have to worry about paying for reduced-price lunch , and Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's dog Bailey made headlines for scarfing down a burrito .
Read on to see what you might have missed in the news .
Virginia 's Democratic governor signed 68 bills into law on Tuesday , WSET reported , including legislation to stop discrimination against LGBTQ youth and racial minorities .
Gov .
Ralph Northam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which prohibits the controversial `` conversation therapy '' practice for minors .
The American Psychological Association stated that `` conversion therapy , '' which attempts to convince people to change their sexual orientation , can have harmful impacts on the mental health of subjects and is not based on science .
Virginia joins 19 other states that have already banned the practice .
Northam also signed H.B .
1514 , which prohibits racial discrimination based on hair .
The law makes clear that it is illegal to discriminate bases on `` traits historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hair type , and protective hairstyles such as braids , locks , and twists . ''
A new study published in the journal Women 's Health Issues shows a strong link between improved health outcomes and a key part of Obamacare .
The study showed a significant association between states that expanded Medicaid and a decreased likelihood of mothers dying during pregnancy , childbirth , and the first six weeks after delivery , CNN reported Tuesday '' The largest reduction was among non-Hispanic black women , which I think is particularly significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortality rate than Hispanic or non-Hispanic white women , '' study author Erica Eliason told CNN .
Since the Affordable Care Act became law , all but 15 states have opted to expand Medicaid .
New Mexico eliminates student co-pay for reduced-price breakfast and lunch Low-income students will no longer have to worry about paying for reduced-price breakfast and lunch in New Mexico schools , thanks to a law signed by Democratic Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham , the Los Alamos Daily Post reported on Monday .
`` A 40-cent copay should never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they need to grow and learn , '' Lujan Grisham said in a statement about the signing .
The new law is accompanied by $ 650,000 in funding to cover the cost of reduced-price breakfast and lunch for local schools .
The bill passed both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature by a unanimous vote .
Supreme Court leaves ban on bump stocks for guns in place The Supreme Court delivered a victory to gun safety advocates on Monday by allowing a lower court ruling on the prohibition of bump stocks to remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ban on bump stocks , a modification that enables semiautomatic weapons to fire at a faster clip , went into effect in December 2018 .
The ban followed the deadly 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead and hundreds of people injured .
A former Nazi concentration camp prison guard is being deported back to Germany after living in the United States for decades , the Washington Post reported on Thursday .
A federal judge in Memphis ordered Friedrich Karl Berger to return to Germany after evidence proved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hamburg during World War II .
Berger , who served in the German navy , said he was just following orders as a 19-year-old when he was detailed to work at the concentration camp .
U.S. officials said Berger is still receiving a pension from his service in the war .
Berger has up to 30 days to appeal the decision .
South Carolina may soon stop shackling pregnant people during childbirth The South Carolina Senate voted unanimously to advance legislation to outlaw the practice of shackling incarcerated pregnant people during labor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Empowerment Network reported on Thursday .
The legislation also limits the types of restraints used on pregnant people , ensures pregnant people are given bottom bunks in prisons , and limits the situations pregnant people can be held in solitary confinement .
`` We are encouraged that the Legislature may put an end to this inhumane practice and encourage policymakers to continue to work to ensure that all people have the support they need to have healthy pregnancies , deliveries , and births , '' Ann Warner , CEO of the Women 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
The legislation now heads to the South Carolina House of Representatives .
Shortly after Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) announced she was dropping out of the race for president , her dog , Bailey , may have been caught stress-eating .
Warren 's press secretary Gabrielle Farrell caught Bailey on video scarfing down someone else 's food .
`` Bailey legit just swiped someone 's burrito , '' Farrell posted on Twitter , along with the video .
Bailey , a 2-year-old golden retriever , was a fixture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign trail and in social media posts .
Despite the burrito incident , there is near-universal agreement that Bailey is a good boy .
Check back next week for more news you might have missed .

This week, a new study shows a link between more health care in the form of Medicaid expansion and lower maternal death rates. In New Mexico, students won’t have to worry about paying for reduced-price lunch, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s dog Bailey made headlines for scarfing down a burrito.
Read on to see what you might have missed in the news.
Virginia’s Democratic governor signed 68 bills into law on Tuesday, WSET reported, including legislation to stop discrimination against LGBTQ youth and racial minorities.
Gov. Ralph Northam signed H.B. 386 into law, which prohibits the controversial “conversation therapy” practice for minors. The American Psychological Association stated that “conversion therapy,” which attempts to convince people to change their sexual orientation, can have harmful impacts on the mental health of subjects and is not based on science. Virginia joins 19 other states that have already banned the practice.
Northam also signed H.B. 1514, which prohibits racial discrimination based on hair. The law makes clear that it is illegal to discriminate bases on “traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists.”
A new study published in the journal Women’s Health Issues shows a strong link between improved health outcomes and a key part of Obamacare.
The study showed a significant association between states that expanded Medicaid and a decreased likelihood of mothers dying during pregnancy, childbirth, and the first six weeks after delivery, CNN reported Tuesday
“The largest reduction was among non-Hispanic black women, which I think is particularly significant because they have such a higher maternal mortality rate than Hispanic or non-Hispanic white women,” study author Erica Eliason told CNN.
Since the Affordable Care Act became law, all but 15 states have opted to expand Medicaid.
Low-income students will no longer have to worry about paying for reduced-price breakfast and lunch in New Mexico schools, thanks to a law signed by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Los Alamos Daily Post reported on Monday.
“A 40-cent copay should never come between a child and the food they need to grow and learn,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement about the signing.
The new law is accompanied by $650,000 in funding to cover the cost of reduced-price breakfast and lunch for local schools. The bill passed both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature by a unanimous vote.
The Supreme Court delivered a victory to gun safety advocates on Monday by allowing a lower court ruling on the prohibition of bump stocks to remain in place, CBS News reported.
The ban on bump stocks, a modification that enables semiautomatic weapons to fire at a faster clip, went into effect in December 2018.
The ban followed the deadly 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead and hundreds of people injured.
A former Nazi concentration camp prison guard is being deported back to Germany after living in the United States for decades, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.
A federal judge in Memphis ordered Friedrich Karl Berger to return to Germany after evidence proved he served at a concentration camp near Hamburg during World War II. Berger, who served in the German navy, said he was just following orders as a 19-year-old when he was detailed to work at the concentration camp.
U.S. officials said Berger is still receiving a pension from his service in the war. Berger has up to 30 days to appeal the decision.
The South Carolina Senate voted unanimously to advance legislation to outlaw the practice of shackling incarcerated pregnant people during labor and childbirth, the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network reported on Thursday.
The legislation also limits the types of restraints used on pregnant people, ensures pregnant people are given bottom bunks in prisons, and limits the situations pregnant people can be held in solitary confinement.
“We are encouraged that the Legislature may put an end to this inhumane practice and encourage policymakers to continue to work to ensure that all people have the support they need to have healthy pregnancies, deliveries, and births,” Ann Warner, CEO of the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network, said in a statement.
The legislation now heads to the South Carolina House of Representatives.
Shortly after Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) announced she was dropping out of the race for president, her dog, Bailey, may have been caught stress-eating.
Warren’s press secretary Gabrielle Farrell caught Bailey on video scarfing down someone else’s food.
“Bailey legit just swiped someone’s burrito,” Farrell posted on Twitter, along with the video.
Bailey legit just swiped someone’s burrito. pic.twitter.com/MWr6ZeiJa2 — Gabrielle Mondestin💫 (she series) (@FarrellGabriell) March 5, 2020
Bailey, a 2-year-old golden retriever, was a fixture of the Warren campaign, often appearing on the campaign trail and in social media posts. Despite the burrito incident, there is near-universal agreement that Bailey is a good boy.
Check back next week for more news you might have missed.


shareblue--2020-03-06--GOP congressman films himself threatening Joe Biden with a gun

Rep. Ken Buck ( R-CO ) tweeted a video on Friday showing himself holding an AR-15 and making threatening remarks towards former Vice President Joe Biden and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke ( D-TX ) .
`` I have a message for Joe Biden and Beto O'Rourke , '' Buck said .
`` If you want to take everyone 's AR-15 in America , why do n't you swing by my office in Washington , D.C. , and start with this one ? ''
Buck then proceeded to take the weapon off his office wall , briefly pointing it at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he added .
Buck 's threats come less than a week after O'Rourke endorsed Biden 's 2020 presidential bid at a campaign rally .
At that rally , Biden told O'Rourke , `` You 're going to take care of the gun problem with me .
You 're going to be the one who leads this effort . ''
During his own campaign earlier in the race , O'Rourke supported a mandatory buyback program that would allow the federal government to force gun-owners to relinquish high-powered assault style rifles like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his video on Friday is notably inoperable .
In a 2015 interview with the Washington Post , Buck said that he removed the bolt carrier assembly , a necessary component to fire the weapon , and installed a trigger lock on it .
`` The only dangerous thing about that gun is if someone took it off the wall and hit somebody else over the head with it , '' Buck told the Post at the time .
Despite the rifle being inoperable , Rep. Ruben Gallego ( D-AZ ) , a Marine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War , excoriated Buck on Friday for breaking the cardinal rules of safety for handling such a weapon .
`` You literally flagged the camera man , '' Gallego tweeted .
`` First rule of weapons handling , treat every weapon as if it were loaded .
Second rule , never point the weapon at anything you do n't intend to shoot . ''
Buck did not serve in the military .
Buck 's video was released the same week Republicans , led by Donald Trump , roundly criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would `` pay the price '' if they voted to take away a woman 's right to an abortion .
`` There can be few things worse in a civilized , law abiding nation , than a United States Senator openly , and for all to see and hear , threatening the Supreme Court or its Justices , '' Trump tweeted on Wednesday .
`` This is what Chuck Schumer just did .
He must pay a severe price for this ! ''
A number of congressional Republicans and Chief Justice John Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court .
In a speech on the Senate floor the following day , Schumer admitted he `` should not have used the words '' he did .
As of Friday afternoon , Trump had not reacted to Buck 's threat of a presidential candidate and former member of Congress .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) tweeted a video on Friday showing himself holding an AR-15 and making threatening remarks towards former Vice President Joe Biden and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX).
“I have a message for Joe Biden and Beto O’Rourke,” Buck said. “If you want to take everyone’s AR-15 in America, why don’t you swing by my office in Washington, D.C., and start with this one?”
Buck then proceeded to take the weapon off his office wall, briefly pointing it at the camera.
“Come and take it,” he added.
I have just one message for Joe Biden and Beto O’Rourke, if you want to take everyone’s AR-15s, why don’t you swing by my office in Washington, D.C. and start with this one? Come and take it. #2A pic.twitter.com/jG2SiXetov — Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) March 6, 2020
Buck’s threats come less than a week after O’Rourke endorsed Biden’s 2020 presidential bid at a campaign rally.
At that rally, Biden told O’Rourke, “You’re going to take care of the gun problem with me. You’re going to be the one who leads this effort.”
During his own campaign earlier in the race, O’Rourke supported a mandatory buyback program that would allow the federal government to force gun-owners to relinquish high-powered assault style rifles like the AR-15.
The rifle Buck held in his video on Friday is notably inoperable. In a 2015 interview with the Washington Post, Buck said that he removed the bolt carrier assembly, a necessary component to fire the weapon, and installed a trigger lock on it.
“The only dangerous thing about that gun is if someone took it off the wall and hit somebody else over the head with it,” Buck told the Post at the time.
Despite the rifle being inoperable, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Iraq War, excoriated Buck on Friday for breaking the cardinal rules of safety for handling such a weapon.
“You literally flagged the camera man,” Gallego tweeted. “First rule of weapons handling, treat every weapon as if it were loaded. Second rule, never point the weapon at anything you don’t intend to shoot.”
Buck did not serve in the military.
Buck’s video was released the same week Republicans, led by Donald Trump, roundly criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for saying that Supreme Court justices would “pay the price” if they voted to take away a woman’s right to an abortion.
“There can be few things worse in a civilized, law abiding nation, than a United States Senator openly, and for all to see and hear, threatening the Supreme Court or its Justices,” Trump tweeted on Wednesday. “This is what Chuck Schumer just did. He must pay a severe price for this!”
A number of congressional Republicans and Chief Justice John Roberts accused Schumer of “threatening” the Court.
In a speech on the Senate floor the following day, Schumer admitted he “should not have used the words” he did.
As of Friday afternoon, Trump had not reacted to Buck’s threat of a presidential candidate and former member of Congress.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-06--Experts say officials must do more to protect detained immigrants from coronavirus

Immigration officials say they are implementing new procedures at detention centers across the country in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak , but advocates and experts worry that more needs to be done in order to protect the health of those inside .
On Thursday , a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said in an email that the agency was using `` existing procedures '' to keep detainees safe from COVID-19 , the disease caused by a strain of coronavirus that originated in China , as well as other communicable diseases .
The spokesperson said the agency had issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current comprehensive use of Personal Protective Equipment including guidance regarding wearing masks in the appropriate circumstances . ''
Migrants `` identified with symptoms [ of COVID-19 ] may be provided with a mask and referred to CDC or EMS personnel for additional health screening , '' the spokesperson said .
The agency is also identifying individuals who have recently traveled in China and/or Iran within the previous 14 days for enhanced health screenings .
After those screenings , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention personnel will make the determination as to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The spokesperson did not share any additional measures had been put in place at detention centers regarding the COVID-19 outbreak .
CBP did not respond to questions about whether any detainees or Border Patrol staff at its various detention centers had been tested for COVID-19 , or if any had tested positive .
Experts and advocates worry that , despite these measures , border officials — including those with Immigration and Customs Enforcement , which did not respond to a request for comment for this article — still are n't doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading among the hundreds of thousands of immigrants currently detained in their facilities .
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak , for instance , the CDC has recommended that households routinely clean high-touch surfaces such as countertops and doorknobs , and that businesses provide disposable wipes so that employees can keep areas clean .
The CDC also recommends infected individuals in a household use a separate bathroom , if possible .
Neither CBP nor ICE responded to questions about if and how they are implementing those recommendations inside their respective detention facilities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine individuals who become infected with COVID-19 .
Some have noted that ICE specifically has been silent on the matter thus far and has not issued any news or press releases about the coronavirus or COVID-19 at all .
`` ICE and CBP must immediately issue public statements outlining its plans to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in its jails and prisons , '' Rebekah Entralgo , spokesperson for Freedom for Immigrants , said in a email on Thursday .
`` The agencies must also reassure individuals that they can access resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that detained immigrants , who may face crowded conditions , are at higher risk of catching and then spreading the virus .
More than 100 people in the United States have been infected so far , and nearly a dozen have died .
`` CBP needs to be doing more than just handing out masks , '' Rep. Judy Chu ( D-CA ) , a staunch critic of Trump 's immigration policies , said in an email this week .
CBP , she added , `` should think about the role it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they are putting Donald Trump 's politically motivated war on immigrants above the actual needs of the country and the world . ''
Some experts ' concerns are based on previous investigations that uncovered numerous health problems at migrant detention centers , including overcrowding and unsanitary conditions .
The Trump administration 's own inspectors reported last May that detainees at an ICE detention facility near El Paso , Texas , were `` wearing soiled clothing for days or weeks '' and observed some detainees `` standing on toilets in the cells to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thus limiting access to the toilets . ''
The El Paso Del Norte Processing Center has a maximum capacity of 125 people , but inspectors reported border officials there had crammed more than 900 into the space .
Thirty-two immigrants at CBP 's Central Processing Center in McAllen , Texas , were also found to be suffering from communicable diseases last year and were quarantined .
The discovery was made following the death of a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy , Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez , who had been detained at the center and tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that year that conditions in the McAllen facility were so dirty and overcrowded that mothers had started saving bottled water to mix baby formula because the building 's water tasted `` like bleach . ''
One lawyer told the Texas Tribune that immigrants there were n't receiving adequate medical treatment and that some of the mothers , `` unable to clean themselves , '' had resorted to `` wiping their children 's runny noses or vomit with their own clothing . ''
Cups and baby bottles were shared , because there simply were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Basic hygiene just does n't exist there .
It 's a health crisis ... a manufactured health crisis , '' the lawyer said .
At least seven children have died in U.S. custody since 2017 , several from diseases like the flu .
The Trump administration has declined to address the problem head on .
In December , Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security came under fire after officials refused to offer flu shots to migrant detainees , even when they were offered at no charge by a group of doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t going to let a random group of radical political activists show up and start injecting people with drugs , '' a DHS spokesperson tweeted at the time .
As the New York Times noted , the CDC had warned earlier last year that immigrants 6 months and older should be given the flu vaccine `` at the earliest point of entry '' to prevent the spread of such communicable diseases while in custody .
Experts worry that detention facilities like the ones maintained by CBP and ICE are particularly vulnerable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially as border officials are slow to act .
`` Detention facilities are breeding grounds for infection , '' Wendy Parmet , director of the Center for Health Policy and Law at Northeastern University School of Law , said in an email this week .
Parmet recently joined 700 law , public health , and human rights experts to send a letter to the Trump administration on how to enact an effective COVID-19 response .
`` Most importantly , the facilities need more medical staff , and the staff need training on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and protective equipment to keep themselves and migrants safe , '' she explained this week .
Additionally , she said , `` ICE needs to administer flu vaccines , to reduce the overall incidence of respiratory diseases . ''
She added that one of the best measures would be to reduce the number of people in detention centers .
Some detention facilities have become less crowded due to the Trump administration 's controversial Remain in Mexico policy , which forces asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico rather than the United States ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , has created health risks for the more than 55,000 immigrants in makeshift communities on the Mexican side of the southern border who are waiting to argue their cases .
In November , the Associated Press reported that people there were forced to bathe and wash their clothes in the Rio Grande , which is contaminated with E. coli and other bacteria .
Doctors without Borders identified numerous health risks as a result of those conditions , including diarrhea and asthma .
`` Speaking from having seen other humanitarian crises in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst situations that I ’ ve seen , '' Helen Perry , a nurse practitioner and operations director for medical nonprofit Global Response Management , told the AP .
`` It is only going to get worse , and it is going to get worse rapidly . ''
Earlier this week , Trump said his administration may shut down the southern border to prevent further spread of COVID-19 , even though the World Health Organization reports far more confirmed cases in Canada ( 30 ) and the United States ( 129 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases so far .
`` We are thinking about the southern border , '' he said .
`` We are looking at that very strongly . ''
The move appeared to be another attempt by the Trump administration to implement anti-immigrant policies under the guise of national security , rather than a plan to prevent further infections .
As COVID-19 continues to spread , the administration will need to focus more substantial efforts on migrants exposed to dangerous conditions , both those forced back across the border and the many thousands still in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residing in close quarters , such as immigrant jails and prisons , are particularly vulnerable to public health crises .
So too are undocumented immigrants who may go without accessing health care in this age of increased immigration enforcement , '' Entralgo said this week .
In a column for STAT News on Wednesday , Parmet noted that , aside from simply screening those entering detention facilities , CBP and ICE , as well as their parent agency , DHS , should work specifically to improve facility conditions and `` relax '' rigorous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could make things worse .
`` The Department of Homeland Security must work to improve health care in detention facilities and relax the policies that are adding to crowding both north and south of the border , '' she wrote .
`` During a pandemic , overcrowding and unsafe conditions not only pose a risk for migrants , but can endanger the health of everyone . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Immigration officials say they are implementing new procedures at detention centers across the country in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, but advocates and experts worry that more needs to be done in order to protect the health of those inside.
On Thursday, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said in an email that the agency was using “existing procedures” to keep detainees safe from COVID-19, the disease caused by a strain of coronavirus that originated in China, as well as other communicable diseases.
The spokesperson said the agency had issued guidance to all employees “that outlines the current comprehensive use of Personal Protective Equipment including guidance regarding wearing masks in the appropriate circumstances.”
Migrants “identified with symptoms [of COVID-19] may be provided with a mask and referred to CDC or EMS personnel for additional health screening,” the spokesperson said. The agency is also identifying individuals who have recently traveled in China and/or Iran within the previous 14 days for enhanced health screenings.
After those screenings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention personnel will make the determination as to “whether any additional measures must be taken.”
The spokesperson did not share any additional measures had been put in place at detention centers regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. CBP did not respond to questions about whether any detainees or Border Patrol staff at its various detention centers had been tested for COVID-19, or if any had tested positive.
Experts and advocates worry that, despite these measures, border officials — including those with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which did not respond to a request for comment for this article — still aren’t doing nearly enough to prevent and outbreak from spreading among the hundreds of thousands of immigrants currently detained in their facilities.
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, for instance, the CDC has recommended that households routinely clean high-touch surfaces such as countertops and doorknobs, and that businesses provide disposable wipes so that employees can keep areas clean. The CDC also recommends infected individuals in a household use a separate bathroom, if possible.
Neither CBP nor ICE responded to questions about if and how they are implementing those recommendations inside their respective detention facilities, or if they have the capacity to quarantine individuals who become infected with COVID-19.
Some have noted that ICE specifically has been silent on the matter thus far and has not issued any news or press releases about the coronavirus or COVID-19 at all.
“ICE and CBP must immediately issue public statements outlining its plans to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in its jails and prisons,” Rebekah Entralgo, spokesperson for Freedom for Immigrants, said in a email on Thursday. “The agencies must also reassure individuals that they can access resources and care without fear.”
Entralgo noted that detained immigrants, who may face crowded conditions, are at higher risk of catching and then spreading the virus.
More than 100 people in the United States have been infected so far, and nearly a dozen have died.
“CBP needs to be doing more than just handing out masks,” Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), a staunch critic of Trump’s immigration policies, said in an email this week. CBP, she added, “should think about the role it is playing in actually exacerbating this pandemic because they are putting Donald Trump’s politically motivated war on immigrants above the actual needs of the country and the world.”
Some experts’ concerns are based on previous investigations that uncovered numerous health problems at migrant detention centers, including overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.
The Trump administration’s own inspectors reported last May that detainees at an ICE detention facility near El Paso, Texas, were “wearing soiled clothing for days or weeks” and observed some detainees “standing on toilets in the cells to make room and gain breathing space, thus limiting access to the toilets.”
The El Paso Del Norte Processing Center has a maximum capacity of 125 people, but inspectors reported border officials there had crammed more than 900 into the space.
Thirty-two immigrants at CBP’s Central Processing Center in McAllen, Texas, were also found to be suffering from communicable diseases last year and were quarantined. The discovery was made following the death of a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy, Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, who had been detained at the center and tested positive for influenza.
Attorneys said later that year that conditions in the McAllen facility were so dirty and overcrowded that mothers had started saving bottled water to mix baby formula because the building’s water tasted “like bleach.”
One lawyer told the Texas Tribune that immigrants there weren’t receiving adequate medical treatment and that some of the mothers, “unable to clean themselves,” had resorted to “wiping their children’s runny noses or vomit with their own clothing.” Cups and baby bottles were shared, because there simply weren’t enough to go around.
“Basic hygiene just doesn’t exist there. It’s a health crisis … a manufactured health crisis,” the lawyer said.
At least seven children have died in U.S. custody since 2017, several from diseases like the flu.
The Trump administration has declined to address the problem head on. In December, Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security came under fire after officials refused to offer flu shots to migrant detainees, even when they were offered at no charge by a group of doctors.
“Of course Border Patrol isn’t going to let a random group of radical political activists show up and start injecting people with drugs,” a DHS spokesperson tweeted at the time.
As the New York Times noted, the CDC had warned earlier last year that immigrants 6 months and older should be given the flu vaccine “at the earliest point of entry” to prevent the spread of such communicable diseases while in custody.
Experts worry that detention facilities like the ones maintained by CBP and ICE are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks like COVID-19 due to crowded conditions, especially as border officials are slow to act.
“Detention facilities are breeding grounds for infection,” Wendy Parmet, director of the Center for Health Policy and Law at Northeastern University School of Law, said in an email this week.
Parmet recently joined 700 law, public health, and human rights experts to send a letter to the Trump administration on how to enact an effective COVID-19 response.
“Most importantly, the facilities need more medical staff, and the staff need training on how to reduce the spread of infection, and protective equipment to keep themselves and migrants safe,” she explained this week.
Additionally, she said, “ICE needs to administer flu vaccines, to reduce the overall incidence of respiratory diseases.”
She added that one of the best measures would be to reduce the number of people in detention centers.
Some detention facilities have become less crowded due to the Trump administration’s controversial Remain in Mexico policy, which forces asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico rather than the United States ahead of their scheduled court date. The policy, however, has created health risks for the more than 55,000 immigrants in makeshift communities on the Mexican side of the southern border who are waiting to argue their cases.
In November, the Associated Press reported that people there were forced to bathe and wash their clothes in the Rio Grande, which is contaminated with E. coli and other bacteria. Doctors without Borders identified numerous health risks as a result of those conditions, including diarrhea and asthma.
“Speaking from having seen other humanitarian crises in the world, this is one of the worst situations that I’ve seen,” Helen Perry, a nurse practitioner and operations director for medical nonprofit Global Response Management, told the AP. “It is only going to get worse, and it is going to get worse rapidly.”
Earlier this week, Trump said his administration may shut down the southern border to prevent further spread of COVID-19, even though the World Health Organization reports far more confirmed cases in Canada (30) and the United States (129) than Mexico, which has reported five cases so far.
“We are thinking about the southern border,” he said. “We are looking at that very strongly.”
The move appeared to be another attempt by the Trump administration to implement anti-immigrant policies under the guise of national security, rather than a plan to prevent further infections.
As COVID-19 continues to spread, the administration will need to focus more substantial efforts on migrants exposed to dangerous conditions, both those forced back across the border and the many thousands still in CBP and ICE custody.
“People residing in close quarters, such as immigrant jails and prisons, are particularly vulnerable to public health crises. So too are undocumented immigrants who may go without accessing health care in this age of increased immigration enforcement,” Entralgo said this week.
In a column for STAT News on Wednesday, Parmet noted that, aside from simply screening those entering detention facilities, CBP and ICE, as well as their parent agency, DHS, should work specifically to improve facility conditions and “relax” rigorous immigration policies like Remain in Mexico that could make things worse.
“The Department of Homeland Security must work to improve health care in detention facilities and relax the policies that are adding to crowding both north and south of the border,” she wrote.
“During a pandemic, overcrowding and unsafe conditions not only pose a risk for migrants, but can endanger the health of everyone.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-06--'Detestable': Sanders condemns man who unveiled Nazi flag at his rally

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) on Friday condemned the man who unfurled a Nazi flag at a Sanders rally in Phoenix , Arizona , calling the display of the hate symbol `` detestable . ''
`` I speak not only as a Jewish American , I think I can speak for the families of some 400,000 American troops who died fighting Nazism , fighting fascism , that it is horrific , it is beyond disgusting , to see that in the United States of America there are people who would show the emblem of Hitler and Nazism , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Media Matters on Friday reported that a man named Robert Sterkeson has come forward to claim he is the person who displayed the Nazi flag at the Sanders rally on Thursday night .
`` This is me at a Bernie Sanders rally unfurling the Swastika behind him right as he came out .
Footage on tomorrow 's episode ! ''
Sterkeson posted on YouTube , according to Media Matters .
Sterkeson has made racist comments at rallies before , including in 2017 , when he shouted Islamophobic comments at a Council on American-Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wins the Democratic nomination , he would be the first Jewish presidential nominee , and ultimately the first Jewish president of the United States should he defeat Donald Trump in November .
He also has an intimate connection to the Holocaust .
His father — a Polish immigrant — lost numerous family members to the Holocaust .
And he 's recalled how growing up around Holocaust survivors in the Brooklyn neighborhood where he was raised shaped his worldview .
Sanders said it was `` detestable '' to see the Nazi flag at his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events with some Trump people , you know they get agitated and they try and disrupt the meeting and we deal with that .
But this was something different , '' Sanders said .
`` To have in the United States of America somebody bringing forth the most detestable symbol in modern history ... is unspeakable . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Friday condemned the man who unfurled a Nazi flag at a Sanders rally in Phoenix, Arizona, calling the display of the hate symbol “detestable.”
“I speak not only as a Jewish American, I think I can speak for the families of some 400,000 American troops who died fighting Nazism, fighting fascism, that it is horrific, it is beyond disgusting, to see that in the United States of America there are people who would show the emblem of Hitler and Nazism,” Sanders said in a news conference.
Media Matters on Friday reported that a man named Robert Sterkeson has come forward to claim he is the person who displayed the Nazi flag at the Sanders rally on Thursday night.
“This is me at a Bernie Sanders rally unfurling the Swastika behind him right as he came out. Footage on tomorrow’s episode!” Sterkeson posted on YouTube, according to Media Matters.
Sterkeson has made racist comments at rallies before, including in 2017, when he shouted Islamophobic comments at a Council on American-Islamic Relations event in Arizona.
If Sanders wins the Democratic nomination, he would be the first Jewish presidential nominee, and ultimately the first Jewish president of the United States should he defeat Donald Trump in November.
He also has an intimate connection to the Holocaust. His father — a Polish immigrant — lost numerous family members to the Holocaust. And he’s recalled how growing up around Holocaust survivors in the Brooklyn neighborhood where he was raised shaped his worldview.
Sanders said it was “detestable” to see the Nazi flag at his rally.
“We have had other events with some Trump people, you know they get agitated and they try and disrupt the meeting and we deal with that. But this was something different,” Sanders said.
“To have in the United States of America somebody bringing forth the most detestable symbol in modern history … is unspeakable.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-06--Billionaire Bloomberg to fund operation in 6 swing states to beat Trump

Mike Bloomberg is out of the Democratic presidential race , but he 's not done trying to beat Donald Trump .
The billionaire businessman is funding an anti-Trump operation in six battleground states in an effort to oust Trump from office in November .
Bloomberg will dip into his vast fortune to pay for field offices in Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , campaign aides said Thursday .
It will be done through some type of independent expenditure committee that wo n't be able to coordinate with any campaign , though aides are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the name and budget of the organization will be .
Bloomberg , a former New York City mayor , exited the race on Wednesday after a dismal performance in the 14 Super Tuesday states .
He immediately endorsed Joe Biden .
`` We 're not done with you yet , Donald , '' he tweeted Thursday along with an anti-Trump video that said `` # GoJoe '' at the end .
It 's unclear when Bloomberg 's new operation will launch and how it will shift if Biden is not the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders , who is battling Biden for the nomination , have said they do not want Bloomberg 's money , and Bloomberg has said he may not spend to help him .
Bloomberg is worth an estimated $ 61 billion and has already spent more than $ 500 million on his own campaign .
The 78-year-old head of Bloomberg LP , the financial data and media company , has been one of the biggest donors to Democratic campaigns as well as causes such as gun control and climate change in recent years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boosting Democrats across the board , and a digital firm he founded last spring that offers a data-driven approach to ad creation and placement , called Hawkfish , will continue to operate .
Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin are the six states that Bloomberg and his team believe will be pivotal in determining who wins the White House in November .
Trump won all six in the 2016 election .
Although only one of those states , North Carolina , voted on Super Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extensive organization in the other five in anticipation of remaining in the race longer .

Mike Bloomberg is out of the Democratic presidential race, but he’s not done trying to beat Donald Trump.
The billionaire businessman is funding an anti-Trump operation in six battleground states in an effort to oust Trump from office in November.
Bloomberg will dip into his vast fortune to pay for field offices in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, campaign aides said Thursday. It will be done through some type of independent expenditure committee that won’t be able to coordinate with any campaign, though aides are still figuring out the legal details and what the name and budget of the organization will be.
Bloomberg, a former New York City mayor, exited the race on Wednesday after a dismal performance in the 14 Super Tuesday states. He immediately endorsed Joe Biden.
“We’re not done with you yet, Donald,” he tweeted Thursday along with an anti-Trump video that said “#GoJoe” at the end.
It’s unclear when Bloomberg’s new operation will launch and how it will shift if Biden is not the party’s nominee. Aides to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is battling Biden for the nomination, have said they do not want Bloomberg’s money, and Bloomberg has said he may not spend to help him.
Bloomberg is worth an estimated $61 billion and has already spent more than $500 million on his own campaign. The 78-year-old head of Bloomberg LP, the financial data and media company, has been one of the biggest donors to Democratic campaigns as well as causes such as gun control and climate change in recent years.
His pro-nominee operation will focus on boosting Democrats across the board, and a digital firm he founded last spring that offers a data-driven approach to ad creation and placement, called Hawkfish, will continue to operate.
Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are the six states that Bloomberg and his team believe will be pivotal in determining who wins the White House in November. Trump won all six in the 2016 election.
Although only one of those states, North Carolina, voted on Super Tuesday, Bloomberg’s campaign had already built an extensive organization in the other five in anticipation of remaining in the race longer.


shareblue--2020-03-06--Trump economic adviser: 'Stay at work' despite coronavirus

Comments from Trump 's economic adviser run counter to efforts by health experts asking the public to actively prepare for outbreaks in their communities .
LARRY KUDLOW , director of the National Economic Council : I do n't want to downplay anything .
I 'm worried about the effect on human beings , for heaven 's sake .
But I 'm just saying let 's not overreact .
In many ways , America should stay at work .
We should stay at work .
DAVID FABER , CNBC anchor : A lot of the health professionals that I speak to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissioner — would say very different things .
In particular about Seattle and about the government response that needs to actually take place , and how we need to be a lot more formidable in our response .
And statements like the ones that you just made ... FABER : ... are actually encouraging people to do things that they should n't ... FABER : ... and that will actually cause the spread of the virus as opposed to it stopping .
KUDLOW : Well , that 's not what I — look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he 's a friend of mine .
With respect to Seattle , all right , that would be a place you would avoid for now .
And Gavin Newsom , Gov .
Newsom , declaring California an emergency state , especially northern California , I understand that .
Avoid it .
Exercise common sense .
But the rest of the country is not suffering from those kinds of breakouts .
At least not yet .
I do n't want to suggest it might not occur in the future .
We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a time , a fact at a time , if you will .
And really , the overriding numbers , most Americans are not at risk .
And as I say , 80 % of Americans , if you get the infection , are going to come out just fine , and some people have it and do n't even know it cause they get through it in a week or two .

From a March 6 appearance on CNBC:
LARRY KUDLOW, director of the National Economic Council: I don’t want to downplay anything. I’m worried about the effect on human beings, for heaven’s sake. But I’m just saying let’s not overreact. In many ways, America should stay at work. We should stay at work.
DAVID FABER, CNBC anchor: A lot of the health professionals that I speak to — Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner — would say very different things.
In particular about Seattle and about the government response that needs to actually take place, and how we need to be a lot more formidable in our response.
And statements like the ones that you just made …
KUDLOW: Well, Scott’s a brilliant guy.
FABER: … are actually encouraging people to do things that they shouldn’t …
KUDLOW: Scott’s a brilliant guy.
FABER: … and that will actually cause the spread of the virus as opposed to it stopping.
KUDLOW: Well, that’s not what I — look, Scott Gottlieb is a brilliant guy, and he’s a friend of mine. With respect to Seattle, all right, that would be a place you would avoid for now.
And Gavin Newsom, Gov. Newsom, declaring California an emergency state, especially northern California, I understand that. Avoid it. Exercise common sense.
But the rest of the country is not suffering from those kinds of breakouts. At least not yet. I don’t want to suggest it might not occur in the future. We’re just trying to do this a day at a time, a fact at a time, if you will.
And really, the overriding numbers, most Americans are not at risk. And as I say, 80% of Americans, if you get the infection, are going to come out just fine, and some people have it and don’t even know it cause they get through it in a week or two.


shareblue--2020-03-06--5 times Trump and his administration seemed to celebrate the coronavirus

Public health experts are warning that the novel coronavirus could become a global pandemic that could lead to many deaths .
But Donald Trump and his administration have continually downplayed the potential impact of the virus and even appeared to celebrate what they view as its positive consequences .
Here are five times Trump and members of his administration said that the coronavirus is actually a good thing : 1 .
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says coronavirus could be good for the American economy When experts first started to worry about the spread of the coronavirus and its impacts on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ross went on Fox News to try to turn conventional wisdom on its head .
At the time , the virus was mainly impacting China , leading to questions about whether companies that manufacture their goods in China would face shortages in consumer goods .
Ross viewed possible supply chain issues with China due to the virus as a good thing for Americans .
`` I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America .
Some to the U.S. , probably some to Mexico as well , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Business .
Investors did n't seem to buy Ross ' argument , as the Dow Jones Industrial Average has seen a more than 10 % drop since the start of the year .
2 .
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow says virus will help Trump 's reelection campaign Kudlow , who serves as the director of the National Economic Council as well as a member of Trump 's coronavirus task force , also saw some upside in the coronavirus .
`` I think the way he ’ s handling this will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , '' Kudlow said Feb. 28 during an appearance in the White House briefing room , according to Roll Call .
`` I 'm a longtime Trump friend and watcher and now , of course , the last couple of years I 've been working with him — for him .
I think it was one of his best news conferences I 've ever seen him give , '' Kudlow said .
Multiple reports said Trump fears the virus could have a negative impact on his reelection chances .
And Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting enough credit for how he 's handling the issue , as more people contract the virus and the death toll ticks up .
3 .
Kudlow says coronavirus is good because you can buy cheap stocks As the stock market began to slide thanks to fears about the impact of coronavirus , Kudlow went on CNBC to try and quell investor fears .
Kudlow said it 's not assured that the virus will spread and that at the moment , `` Stocks looks pretty cheap to me . ''
Kudlow was trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as Trump has often tied his own success in office to the growth in the markets .
So far , the Dow is back down in the 25,000 range , which it first hit in January 2018 .
That means the coronavirus has wiped out two years of market gain .
Fears of coronavirus have negatively impacted the airline industry , as people were forced to cancel trips over travel restrictions as well as take precautionary measures to try to stop the spread of the disease .
It 's caused airline stocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term consequences of declining air travel .
Yet Trump on March 4 said that people canceling overseas flights might actually be good for the American economy — echoing Ross ' comments .
`` A lot of people are staying in our country and they 're shopping and they 're using our hotels in this country , so from that same point I think probably there 's a positive impact , '' Trump said on March 4 during a briefing on the virus .
Domestic air travel is also impacted , as companies restrict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conferences are canceled in an effort to prevent community outbreak .
Trump 's `` America First '' protectionism once again climbed to the surface , when he claimed that the strong February jobs report was a product of the coronavirus preventing companies from doing business overseas .
`` You know a lot of people are staying here and they 're going to be doing their business here , they 're going to be traveling here .
And they 'll be going to resorts here .
We have a great place , '' Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` So foreign people come , but we 're going to have Americans staying home instead of going and spending their money in other countries and maybe that 's one of the reasons the job numbers are so good . ''
Of course , there is no sign the coronavirus had anything to do with the February jobs report .
And the New York Times reported that the virus could have a negative impact on certain industries , such as airlines , hospitality , and entertainment as people cancel events and conferences to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Public health experts are warning that the novel coronavirus could become a global pandemic that could lead to many deaths.
But Donald Trump and his administration have continually downplayed the potential impact of the virus and even appeared to celebrate what they view as its positive consequences.
Here are five times Trump and members of his administration said that the coronavirus is actually a good thing:
1. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says coronavirus could be good for the American economy
When experts first started to worry about the spread of the coronavirus and its impacts on public health and the global economy, Ross went on Fox News to try to turn conventional wisdom on its head.
At the time, the virus was mainly impacting China, leading to questions about whether companies that manufacture their goods in China would face shortages in consumer goods.
Ross viewed possible supply chain issues with China due to the virus as a good thing for Americans.
“I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America. Some to the U.S., probably some to Mexico as well,” Ross predicted in an interview on Fox Business.
Investors didn’t seem to buy Ross’ argument, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average has seen a more than 10% drop since the start of the year.
2. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow says virus will help Trump’s reelection campaign
Kudlow, who serves as the director of the National Economic Council as well as a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force, also saw some upside in the coronavirus.
“I think the way he’s handling this will have a very positive effect on his reelection campaign,” Kudlow said Feb. 28 during an appearance in the White House briefing room, according to Roll Call.
“I’m a longtime Trump friend and watcher and now, of course, the last couple of years I’ve been working with him — for him. I think it was one of his best news conferences I’ve ever seen him give,” Kudlow said.
Multiple reports said Trump fears the virus could have a negative impact on his reelection chances.
And Trump has complained multiple times that he’s not getting enough credit for how he’s handling the issue, as more people contract the virus and the death toll ticks up.
3. Kudlow says coronavirus is good because you can buy cheap stocks
As the stock market began to slide thanks to fears about the impact of coronavirus, Kudlow went on CNBC to try and quell investor fears.
Kudlow said it’s not assured that the virus will spread and that at the moment, “Stocks looks pretty cheap to me.”
Kudlow was trying to help stop the stock market decline, as Trump has often tied his own success in office to the growth in the markets.
So far, the Dow is back down in the 25,000 range, which it first hit in January 2018. That means the coronavirus has wiped out two years of market gain.
4. Trump hails ‘positive’ impact of coronavirus on domestic air travel
Fears of coronavirus have negatively impacted the airline industry, as people were forced to cancel trips over travel restrictions as well as take precautionary measures to try to stop the spread of the disease.
It’s caused airline stocks to slide, over fears of the long-term consequences of declining air travel.
Yet Trump on March 4 said that people canceling overseas flights might actually be good for the American economy — echoing Ross’ comments.
“A lot of people are staying in our country and they’re shopping and they’re using our hotels in this country, so from that same point I think probably there’s a positive impact,” Trump said on March 4 during a briefing on the virus.
Trump’s theory isn’t even correct.
Domestic air travel is also impacted, as companies restrict nonessential travel, and major events and conferences are canceled in an effort to prevent community outbreak.
5. Trump says coronavirus led to good February jobs report
Trump’s “America First” protectionism once again climbed to the surface, when he claimed that the strong February jobs report was a product of the coronavirus preventing companies from doing business overseas.
“You know a lot of people are staying here and they’re going to be doing their business here, they’re going to be traveling here. And they’ll be going to resorts here. We have a great place,” Trump said on Friday.
He added, “So foreign people come, but we’re going to have Americans staying home instead of going and spending their money in other countries and maybe that’s one of the reasons the job numbers are so good.”
Of course, there is no sign the coronavirus had anything to do with the February jobs report.
And the New York Times reported that the virus could have a negative impact on certain industries, such as airlines, hospitality, and entertainment as people cancel events and conferences to prevent a coronavirus pandemic.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-06--Pompeo uses racist term for coronavirus despite warning from global health experts

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stoked xenophobia against people of Asian descent Friday morning when he incorrectly called the novel coronavirus the `` Wuhan virus '' — referring to the area of China where the first cases of the new virus were reported .
Pompeo 's comments follow warnings from the World Health Organization against using such terminology , as well as several reports indicating that racist hostility is on the rise in the United States over the virus .
`` It 's a complicated challenge , the Wuhan virus that began at the end of last year , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously , '' Pompeo said during an appearance on `` Fox & Friends '' Friday morning .
`` The State Department has been very involved from the beginning when we worked diligently to get Americans out of Hubei province , out of Wuhan , and get them back to the United States safely , '' Pompeo said .
The WHO in 2015 discouraged people from naming new infectious diseases based on the geographic area they originated in , saying that doing so `` has had unintended negative impacts by stigmatizing certain communities or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem like a trivial issue to some , but disease names really do matter to the people who are directly affected , '' Dr. Keiji Fukuda , then assistant director-general for health security at the WHO , said in 2015 .
`` We 've seen certain disease names provoke a backlash against members of particular religious or ethnic communities , create unjustified barriers to travel , commerce and trade , and trigger needless slaughtering of food animals .
This can have serious consequences for peoples ’ lives and livelihoods , '' Fukuda said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease caused by the new coronavirus is called COVID-19 — an illness that can cause severe respiratory distress .
The virus affects people in the same way no matter their race or nationality , and is currently impacting numerous countries across the globe , including Italy , Iran , South Korea , and China .
In the United States , there are currently 99 confirmed cases across 13 states , with 10 reported deaths so far , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
However , the number could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people being tested for the illness .
Still , the coronavirus has led people of Asian descent to be the target of racist comments and even assaults .
In February , a Thai-American woman on the Los Angeles subway was harassed by a man spewing racist attacks , CNN reported .
In New York City , a Chinese woman wearing a face mask was violently attacked in the Subway .
The New York Police Department is investigating the attack as a hate crime .
Aside from racist attacks , racism , and xenophobia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese restaurants , hurting Asian-owned businesses .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — who represents San Francisco and its large Asian-American population — has encouraged people to still go to Chinatown in her home city .
Pelosi visited a fortune cookie factory in San Francisco last month to try and assuage fears of the virus .
`` It was a pleasure to try my hand at making fortune cookies at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory ( with a little guidance from owner Kevin Chan , of course ) , '' Pelosi tweeted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stand . '
'' Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stoked xenophobia against people of Asian descent Friday morning when he incorrectly called the novel coronavirus the “Wuhan virus” — referring to the area of China where the first cases of the new virus were reported.
Pompeo’s comments follow warnings from the World Health Organization against using such terminology, as well as several reports indicating that racist hostility is on the rise in the United States over the virus.
“It’s a complicated challenge, the Wuhan virus that began at the end of last year, is something that this administration is taking very seriously,” Pompeo said during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” Friday morning.
“The State Department has been very involved from the beginning when we worked diligently to get Americans out of Hubei province, out of Wuhan, and get them back to the United States safely,” Pompeo said.
The WHO in 2015 discouraged people from naming new infectious diseases based on the geographic area they originated in, saying that doing so “has had unintended negative impacts by stigmatizing certain communities or economic sectors.”
“This may seem like a trivial issue to some, but disease names really do matter to the people who are directly affected,” Dr. Keiji Fukuda, then assistant director-general for health security at the WHO, said in 2015.
“We’ve seen certain disease names provoke a backlash against members of particular religious or ethnic communities, create unjustified barriers to travel, commerce and trade, and trigger needless slaughtering of food animals. This can have serious consequences for peoples’ lives and livelihoods,” Fukuda said.
Unlike what Pompeo said, the disease caused by the new coronavirus is called COVID-19 — an illness that can cause severe respiratory distress.
The virus affects people in the same way no matter their race or nationality, and is currently impacting numerous countries across the globe, including Italy, Iran, South Korea, and China.
In the United States, there are currently 99 confirmed cases across 13 states, with 10 reported deaths so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the number could be much higher, as there are few people being tested for the illness.
Still, the coronavirus has led people of Asian descent to be the target of racist comments and even assaults.
In February, a Thai-American woman on the Los Angeles subway was harassed by a man spewing racist attacks, CNN reported.
In New York City, a Chinese woman wearing a face mask was violently attacked in the Subway. The New York Police Department is investigating the attack as a hate crime.
Aside from racist attacks, racism, and xenophobia is causing people to stop going to Chinese restaurants, hurting Asian-owned businesses.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — who represents San Francisco and its large Asian-American population — has encouraged people to still go to Chinatown in her home city.
Pelosi visited a fortune cookie factory in San Francisco last month to try and assuage fears of the virus.
“It was a pleasure to try my hand at making fortune cookies at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory (with a little guidance from owner Kevin Chan, of course),” Pelosi tweeted. “The message inside? ‘United We Stand.'”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-06--Trump: 'We'll be cutting' Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security

Donald Trump claimed in a Fox News town hall on Thursday night that he would cut programs like Social Security and Medicaid , despite repeatedly flip-flopping on the issue publicly .
From the Fox News Town Hall on March 5 : MARTHA MACCALLUM : But if you do n't cut something in entitlements , you 'll never really deal with ... DONALD TRUMP : We 'll be cutting .
But we 're also gon na have growth like you 've never had before .
We 've never had growth like we 're experiencing .
Trump has repeatedly changed his position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always protect your Medicare and we will always protect your Social Security .
Always , '' he said at his Feb. 4 State of the Union address .
Yet Trump 's annual budgets submitted to Congress have called for cuts to Medicare , Medicaid , and Social Security each of the last two years , according to Vox .
Less than 24 hours after his declaration on Fox News Thursday night , Trump said the exact opposite .
`` I will protect your Social Security and Medicare , just as I have for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted Friday morning .
`` Sleepy Joe Biden will destroy both in very short order , and he won ’ t even know he 's doing it ! ''
Biden has in fact put forward a plan to expand Social Security .
`` Here 's the deal , folks : social security is on the ballot this year , and the choice could n't be clearer , '' Biden wrote on Twitter in response to Trump 's Thursday position in favor of cutting entitlement programs .
`` I 'll protect and expand it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take it away . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump claimed in a Fox News town hall on Thursday night that he would cut programs like Social Security and Medicaid, despite repeatedly flip-flopping on the issue publicly.
From the Fox News Town Hall on March 5:
MARTHA MACCALLUM: But if you don’t cut something in entitlements, you’ll never really deal with … DONALD TRUMP: We’ll be cutting. But we’re also gonna have growth like you’ve never had before. We’ve never had growth like we’re experiencing.
Trump has repeatedly changed his position on entitlement programs.
“We will always protect your Medicare and we will always protect your Social Security. Always,” he said at his Feb. 4 State of the Union address.
Yet Trump’s annual budgets submitted to Congress have called for cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security each of the last two years, according to Vox.
Less than 24 hours after his declaration on Fox News Thursday night, Trump said the exact opposite.
“I will protect your Social Security and Medicare, just as I have for the past 3 years,” he tweeted Friday morning. “Sleepy Joe Biden will destroy both in very short order, and he won’t even know he’s doing it!”
Biden has in fact put forward a plan to expand Social Security.
“Here’s the deal, folks: social security is on the ballot this year, and the choice couldn’t be clearer,” Biden wrote on Twitter in response to Trump’s Thursday position in favor of cutting entitlement programs. “I’ll protect and expand it. Donald Trump will cut it and take it away.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-06--Trump claims jobs numbers are 'so good' because of coronavirus

From a March 6 media availability at the White House : DONALD TRUMP : You know a lot of people @ @ @ @ @ 're going to be doing their business here , they 're going to be traveling @ @ @ @ @ be going to resorts here .
We have a great place .
So foreign people @ @ @ @ @ going to have Americans staying home instead of going and spending their money in other @ @ @ @ @ one of the reasons the job numbers are so good .
We 've had a @ @ @ @ @ USA .

From a March 6 media availability at the White House:
DONALD TRUMP: You know a lot of people are staying here and they’re going to be doing their business here, they’re going to be traveling here. And they’ll be going to resorts here. We have a great place.
So foreign people come, but we’re going to have Americans staying home instead of going and spending their money in other countries and maybe that’s one of the reasons the job numbers are so good.
We’ve had a lot of travel inside the USA.