shareblue--2020-07-13--Fact check: Trump spent the week lying about Biden, jobs, and school safety

Donald Trump 's aides are misrepresenting the record on kids and the coronavirus as they push for schools to reopen .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Monday inaccurately characterized what the chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said on the matter .
A day earlier , Education Secretary Betsy DeVos also was wrong in stating that the research shows there is no danger `` in any way '' if kids are in school .
No such conclusion has been reached .
Their comments came as Trump continued to spread falsehoods about a pandemic that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. and is not under control .
A look at recent claims and reality : McENANY : `` Just last week you heard Dr. Redfield say that children are not spreading this . ''
— Monday on Fox News Channel 's `` Fox and Friends '' THE FACTS : No , Dr. Robert Redfield , the CDC director , did not say that .
He said officials do n't have evidence that children are `` driving '' infections at this point .
But they have not ruled out that children spread the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House coronavirus coordinator , said last week the government does n't have enough data to show whether and to what degree kids can infect others .
The bulk of data has been collected from adults and particularly from those who were sick , leaving questions about children still unanswered , Birx said .
She said children under 10 are the least-tested age group .
The officials did not reach a conclusion that `` children are not spreading this . ''
Nor does the evidence prove that they are .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have been infected with the virus and in some cases hospitalized .
Overall , public health officials believe the virus is less dangerous to children than adults .
DEVOS : `` There 's nothing in the data that suggests that kids being in school is in any way dangerous . ''
— Sunday on `` Fox News Sunday . ''
THE FACTS : Not so .
Like McEnany , DeVos is suggesting certainty where none exists as she urged schools to provide full-time , in-person learning in the fall even with community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S .
It 's premature to claim that there are no risks `` in any way '' seen in data .
How significant a risk has not been established .
The CDC in April studied the pandemic 's effect on different ages in the U.S. and reviewed preliminary research in China , where the coronavirus started .
It said social distancing is important for children , too , for their own safety and that of others .
`` Whereas most COVID-19 cases in children are not severe , serious COVID-19 illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age group , '' the CDC study says .
In May , the CDC also warned doctors to be on the lookout for a rare but life-threatening inflammatory reaction in some children who 've had the coronavirus .
The condition had been reported in more than 100 children in New York and in some kids in several other states and in Europe , with some deaths .
The agency 's current guidance for communities on the reopening of K-12 schools says the goal is to `` help protect students , teachers , administrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 . ''
The guidance says `` full sized , in person classes '' present the `` highest risk '' of spreading the virus and advises face masks , spreading out of desks , staggered schedules , eating meals in classrooms instead of the cafeteria , and `` staying home when appropriate '' to help avert spikes in virus cases .
TRUMP : `` Deaths in the U.S. are way down . ''
— tweet on July 6 , one of at least a half dozen heralding a drop in daily deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's true that deaths dipped as infections spiked in many parts of the country .
But deaths lag sickness .
And now , the widely expected upturn in U.S. deaths has begun , driven by fatalities in states in the South and West , according to data analyzed by the Associated Press .
`` It 's a false narrative to take comfort in a lower rate of death , '' Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said Tuesday .
He advised Americans : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complacency . ''
The new AP analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University shows the seven-day rolling average for daily reported deaths in the U.S. increased to 664 on Friday from 578 two weeks ago , as deaths rose in more than half the states .
That 's still well below the lethal numbers of April .
`` It 's consistently picking up , '' said William Hanage , a Harvard University infectious diseases researcher .
`` And it 's picking up at the time you 'd expect it to . ''
TRUMP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reason we show so many Cases , compared to other countries that have n't done nearly as well as we have , is that our TESTING is much bigger and better .
We have tested 40,000,000 people .
If we did 20,000,000 instead , Cases would be half , etc .
NOT REPORTED ! ''
— tweet Thursday .
THE FACTS : His notion that infections are high only because the U.S. diagnostic testing has increased is false .
His own top public health officials have shot down this line of thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infecting each other more than they were when most everyone was hunkered down .
It 's true that increased testing also contributes to the higher numbers .
When you look harder , you 're going to see more .
But the testing has uncovered a worrisome trend : The percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus is on the rise across nearly the entire country .
That 's a clear demonstration that sickness is spreading and that the U.S. testing system is falling short .
`` A high rate of positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sickest patients who seek out medical attention and is not casting a wide enough net , '' says the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center , a primary source of updated information on the pandemic .
Americans are being confronted with long lines at testing sites , often disqualified if they are not showing symptoms and , if tested , forced to wait many days for results .
TRUMP on the coronavirus : `` We have the lowest Mortality Rate in the World . ''
– tweet Tuesday .
THE FACTS : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurate death rate is impossible to know .
Every country tests and counts people differently , and some are unreliable in reporting cases .
Without knowing the true number of people who become infected , it can not be determined what portion of them die .
Using a count kept by Johns Hopkins University , you can compare the number of recorded deaths with the number of reported cases .
That count shows the U.S. experiencing more deaths as a percentage of cases than most other countries now being hit hard with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. when the list is expanded to include European countries that were slammed early on by the virus but now appear to have it under control .
Even then , the U.S. is not shown to be among the best in avoiding death .
Such calculations , though , do not provide a reliable measurement of actual death rates , because of the variations in testing and reporting , and the Johns Hopkins tally is not meant to be such a measure .
The only way to tell how many cases have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infected people have died from the disease , is to do another kind of test comprehensively , of people 's blood , to find how many people bear immune system antibodies to the virus .
Globally , that is only being done in select places .
THE FACTS : Yes , but only because it is following the greatest job losses in history , by far .
The U.S. economy shed more than 22 million jobs in March and April , wiping out nearly a decade of job growth in just two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nearly all states shut down nonessential businesses .
Since then , 7.5 million , or about one-third , of those jobs have been recovered as businesses reopened .
Even after those gains , the unemployment rate is 11.1 % , down from April and May but otherwise higher than at any point since the Depression .
TRUMP : `` Economy and Jobs are growing MUCH faster than anyone ( except me ! )
expected . ''
— tweet Wednesday .
THE FACTS : Not really .
It 's true that May 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Economists had forecast another month of job losses .
But most economists projected hiring would sharply rebound by June or at the latest July , once businesses began to reopen .
The gains kicked in a month earlier than forecast .
Now , though , coronavirus cases are rising in most states , imperiling the climb back .
In six states representing one-third of the economy — Arizona , California , Colorado , Florida , Michigan , and Texas — governors are reversing their reopening plans , and the restart is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reversals are keeping layoffs elevated and threatening to weaken hiring .
TRUMP campaign ad , playing out a scenario where a person needing help calls the police in a Biden presidency and gets a voice recording : `` You have reached the 911 police emergency line .
Due to defunding of the police department , we 're sorry but no one is here to take your call . ''
The ad closes with the message : `` You wo n't be safe in Joe Biden 's America . ''
THE FACTS : Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who demanded `` defund the police '' after George Floyd 's killing .
He 's proposed more money for police , conditioned to improvements in their practices .
`` I do n't support defunding the police , '' Biden said last month in a CBS interview .
But he said he would support tying federal aid to police based on whether `` they meet certain basic standards of decency , honorableness and , in fact , are able to demonstrate they can protect the community , everybody in the community . ''
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he became the Democrats ' presumptive presidential nominee , proposes more federal money for `` training that is needed to avert tragic , unjustifiable deaths '' and hiring more officers to ensure that departments are racially and ethnically reflective of the populations they serve .
Specifically , he calls for a $ 300 million infusion into existing federal community policing grant programs .
That adds up to more money for police , not defunding law enforcement .
Biden also wants the federal government to spend more on education , social services , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , to address root causes of crime .
Democrats , meanwhile , have pointed to Trump 's repeated proposals in the administration 's budget to cut community policing and mediation programs at the Justice Department .
Congressional Republicans say the program can be effectively merged with other divisions , but Democrats have repeatedly blocked the effort .
The program has been used to help provide federal oversight of local police departments .
Despite proposed cuts , Attorney General William Barr last month said that the department would use the COPS program funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 600 departments across the country .
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE : Biden `` said that he would , quote , absolutely cut funding for law enforcement . ''
— remarks Thursday in Philadelphia .
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE email : `` In the wake of rioting , looting , and tragic murders ripping apart communities across the country , Joe Biden said 'Yes , absolutely ' he wants to defund the police . ''
— email Wednesday from Steve Guest , RNC 's rapid response director .
THE FACTS : That 's misleading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words on the subject .
The RNC email links to an excerpted video clip of Biden 's conversation with liberal activist Ady Barkan , who endorsed Biden on Wednesday after supporting Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primaries .
A full recording of that conversation , provided by the Biden campaign to the Associated Press , shows he again declined to support defunding police .
Barkan raises the issue of police reform and asks whether Biden would funnel money into social services , mental health counseling , and affordable housing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden responds that he is calling for increased funding for mental health providers but `` that 's not the same as getting rid of or defunding all the police '' and that both approaches are needed , including more money for community police .
Asked again by Barkan , `` So we agree that we can redirect some of the funding , '' Biden then answers , `` Absolutely yes . ''
Biden then gives the caveat that he means `` not just redirect '' federal money potentially but `` condition '' it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't eliminate choke holds , they do n't get ( federal ) grants , if they do n't do the following , they do n't get any help , '' Biden replied .
`` The vast majority of all police departments are funded by the locality , funded by the municipality , funded by the state , '' he added .
`` It 's only the federal government comes in on top of that , and so it says you want help , you have to do the following reforms . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American people that he was a wartime leader , but instead of taking responsibility , Trump has waved a white flag , revealing that he ordered the slowing of testing and having his administration tell Americans that they simply need to 'live with it . ''
– statement Wednesday marking the rise in U.S. coronavirus infections to more than 3 million .
THE FACTS : To be clear , the government did not slow testing on the orders of the president .
Trump at first denied he was joking when he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 20 that he said `` to my people , 'Slow the testing down , please ' '' because `` they test and they test . ''
Days later he said he did n't really mean it .
In any event , a succession of his public health officials testified to Congress that the president never asked them to slow testing and that they were doing all they could to increase it .
But testing remains markedly insufficient .

Donald Trump’s aides are misrepresenting the record on kids and the coronavirus as they push for schools to reopen.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Monday inaccurately characterized what the chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said on the matter. A day earlier, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos also was wrong in stating that the research shows there is no danger “in any way” if kids are in school.
No such conclusion has been reached.
Their comments came as Trump continued to spread falsehoods about a pandemic that is taking a disproportionate hit on the U.S. and is not under control.
A look at recent claims and reality:
SCHOOLS
McENANY: “Just last week you heard Dr. Redfield say that children are not spreading this.” — Monday on Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends”
THE FACTS: No, Dr. Robert Redfield, the CDC director, did not say that. He said officials don’t have evidence that children are “driving” infections at this point. But they have not ruled out that children spread the virus to adults.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus coordinator, said last week the government doesn’t have enough data to show whether and to what degree kids can infect others.
The bulk of data has been collected from adults and particularly from those who were sick, leaving questions about children still unanswered, Birx said. She said children under 10 are the least-tested age group.
The officials did not reach a conclusion that “children are not spreading this.” Nor does the evidence prove that they are.
The government has counted tens of thousands of children who have been infected with the virus and in some cases hospitalized. Overall, public health officials believe the virus is less dangerous to children than adults.
___
DEVOS: “There’s nothing in the data that suggests that kids being in school is in any way dangerous.” — Sunday on “Fox News Sunday.”
THE FACTS: Not so. Like McEnany, DeVos is suggesting certainty where none exists as she urged schools to provide full-time, in-person learning in the fall even with community transmission of COVID-19 rising in many parts of the U.S.
It’s premature to claim that there are no risks “in any way” seen in data. How significant a risk has not been established.
The CDC in April studied the pandemic’s effect on different ages in the U.S. and reviewed preliminary research in China, where the coronavirus started. It said social distancing is important for children, too, for their own safety and that of others.
“Whereas most COVID-19 cases in children are not severe, serious COVID-19 illness resulting in hospitalization still occurs in this age group,” the CDC study says.
In May, the CDC also warned doctors to be on the lookout for a rare but life-threatening inflammatory reaction in some children who’ve had the coronavirus. The condition had been reported in more than 100 children in New York and in some kids in several other states and in Europe, with some deaths.
The agency’s current guidance for communities on the reopening of K-12 schools says the goal is to “help protect students, teachers, administrators, and staff and slow the spread of COVID-19.” The guidance says “full sized, in person classes” present the “highest risk” of spreading the virus and advises face masks, spreading out of desks, staggered schedules, eating meals in classrooms instead of the cafeteria, and “staying home when appropriate” to help avert spikes in virus cases.
___
VIRUS
TRUMP: “Deaths in the U.S. are way down.” — tweet on July 6, one of at least a half dozen heralding a drop in daily deaths from the virus.
THE FACTS: It’s true that deaths dipped as infections spiked in many parts of the country. But deaths lag sickness. And now, the widely expected upturn in U.S. deaths has begun, driven by fatalities in states in the South and West, according to data analyzed by the Associated Press.
“It’s a false narrative to take comfort in a lower rate of death,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Tuesday. He advised Americans: “Don’t get yourself into false complacency.”
The new AP analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University shows the seven-day rolling average for daily reported deaths in the U.S. increased to 664 on Friday from 578 two weeks ago, as deaths rose in more than half the states. That’s still well below the lethal numbers of April.
“It’s consistently picking up,” said William Hanage, a Harvard University infectious diseases researcher. “And it’s picking up at the time you’d expect it to.”
___
TRUMP: “For the 1/100th time, the reason we show so many Cases, compared to other countries that haven’t done nearly as well as we have, is that our TESTING is much bigger and better. We have tested 40,000,000 people. If we did 20,000,000 instead, Cases would be half, etc. NOT REPORTED!” — tweet Thursday.
THE FACTS: His notion that infections are high only because the U.S. diagnostic testing has increased is false. His own top public health officials have shot down this line of thinking. Infections are rising because people are infecting each other more than they were when most everyone was hunkered down.
It’s true that increased testing also contributes to the higher numbers. When you look harder, you’re going to see more. But the testing has uncovered a worrisome trend: The percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus is on the rise across nearly the entire country.
That’s a clear demonstration that sickness is spreading and that the U.S. testing system is falling short.
“A high rate of positive tests indicates a government is only testing the sickest patients who seek out medical attention and is not casting a wide enough net,” says the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, a primary source of updated information on the pandemic.
Americans are being confronted with long lines at testing sites, often disqualified if they are not showing symptoms and, if tested, forced to wait many days for results.
___
TRUMP on the coronavirus: “We have the lowest Mortality Rate in the World.” – tweet Tuesday.
THE FACTS: This statement is wholly unsupported.
An accurate death rate is impossible to know. Every country tests and counts people differently, and some are unreliable in reporting cases. Without knowing the true number of people who become infected, it cannot be determined what portion of them die.
Using a count kept by Johns Hopkins University, you can compare the number of recorded deaths with the number of reported cases. That count shows the U.S. experiencing more deaths as a percentage of cases than most other countries now being hit hard with the pandemic. The statistics look better for the U.S. when the list is expanded to include European countries that were slammed early on by the virus but now appear to have it under control. Even then, the U.S. is not shown to be among the best in avoiding death.
Such calculations, though, do not provide a reliable measurement of actual death rates, because of the variations in testing and reporting, and the Johns Hopkins tally is not meant to be such a measure.
The only way to tell how many cases have gone uncounted, and therefore what percentage of infected people have died from the disease, is to do another kind of test comprehensively, of people’s blood, to find how many people bear immune system antibodies to the virus. Globally, that is only being done in select places.
___
ECONOMY
TRUMP: “Job growth is biggest in history.” — tweet Wednesday.
THE FACTS: Yes, but only because it is following the greatest job losses in history, by far.
The U.S. economy shed more than 22 million jobs in March and April, wiping out nearly a decade of job growth in just two months, as the viral outbreak intensified and nearly all states shut down nonessential businesses. Since then, 7.5 million, or about one-third, of those jobs have been recovered as businesses reopened. Even after those gains, the unemployment rate is 11.1%, down from April and May but otherwise higher than at any point since the Depression.
___
TRUMP: “Economy and Jobs are growing MUCH faster than anyone (except me!) expected.” — tweet Wednesday.
THE FACTS: Not really. It’s true that May’s gain of 2.7 million jobs was unexpected. Economists had forecast another month of job losses. But most economists projected hiring would sharply rebound by June or at the latest July, once businesses began to reopen. The gains kicked in a month earlier than forecast.
Now, though, coronavirus cases are rising in most states, imperiling the climb back. In six states representing one-third of the economy — Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, and Texas — governors are reversing their reopening plans, and the restart is on pause in 15 other states. Such reversals are keeping layoffs elevated and threatening to weaken hiring.
___
TRUMP TEAM ON BIDEN
TRUMP campaign ad, playing out a scenario where a person needing help calls the police in a Biden presidency and gets a voice recording: “You have reached the 911 police emergency line. Due to defunding of the police department, we’re sorry but no one is here to take your call.” The ad closes with the message: “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”
THE FACTS: Biden has not joined the call of protesters who demanded “defund the police” after George Floyd’s killing. He’s proposed more money for police, conditioned to improvements in their practices.
“I don’t support defunding the police,” Biden said last month in a CBS interview. But he said he would support tying federal aid to police based on whether “they meet certain basic standards of decency, honorableness and, in fact, are able to demonstrate they can protect the community, everybody in the community.”
Biden’s criminal justice agenda, released long before he became the Democrats’ presumptive presidential nominee, proposes more federal money for “training that is needed to avert tragic, unjustifiable deaths” and hiring more officers to ensure that departments are racially and ethnically reflective of the populations they serve.
Specifically, he calls for a $300 million infusion into existing federal community policing grant programs.
That adds up to more money for police, not defunding law enforcement.
Biden also wants the federal government to spend more on education, social services, and struggling areas of cities and rural America, to address root causes of crime.
Democrats, meanwhile, have pointed to Trump’s repeated proposals in the administration’s budget to cut community policing and mediation programs at the Justice Department. Congressional Republicans say the program can be effectively merged with other divisions, but Democrats have repeatedly blocked the effort. The program has been used to help provide federal oversight of local police departments.
Despite proposed cuts, Attorney General William Barr last month said that the department would use the COPS program funding to hire over 2,700 police officers at nearly 600 departments across the country.
___
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: Biden “said that he would, quote, absolutely cut funding for law enforcement.” — remarks Thursday in Philadelphia.
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE email: “In the wake of rioting, looting, and tragic murders ripping apart communities across the country, Joe Biden said ‘Yes, absolutely’ he wants to defund the police.” — email Wednesday from Steve Guest, RNC’s rapid response director.
THE FACTS: That’s misleading, a selective use of Biden’s words on the subject.
The RNC email links to an excerpted video clip of Biden’s conversation with liberal activist Ady Barkan, who endorsed Biden on Wednesday after supporting Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primaries. A full recording of that conversation, provided by the Biden campaign to the Associated Press, shows he again declined to support defunding police.
Barkan raises the issue of police reform and asks whether Biden would funnel money into social services, mental health counseling, and affordable housing to help reduce civilian interactions with police.
Biden responds that he is calling for increased funding for mental health providers but “that’s not the same as getting rid of or defunding all the police” and that both approaches are needed, including more money for community police.
Asked again by Barkan, “So we agree that we can redirect some of the funding,” Biden then answers, “Absolutely yes.”
Biden then gives the caveat that he means “not just redirect” federal money potentially but “condition” it on police improvements.
“If they don’t eliminate choke holds, they don’t get (federal) grants, if they don’t do the following, they don’t get any help,” Biden replied.
“The vast majority of all police departments are funded by the locality, funded by the municipality, funded by the state,” he added. “It’s only the federal government comes in on top of that, and so it says you want help, you have to do the following reforms.”
___
BIDEN ON TRUMP
BIDEN: “President Trump claimed to the American people that he was a wartime leader, but instead of taking responsibility, Trump has waved a white flag, revealing that he ordered the slowing of testing and having his administration tell Americans that they simply need to ‘live with it.” – statement Wednesday marking the rise in U.S. coronavirus infections to more than 3 million.
THE FACTS: To be clear, the government did not slow testing on the orders of the president.
Trump at first denied he was joking when he told a Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally on June 20 that he said “to my people, ‘Slow the testing down, please'” because “they test and they test.” Days later he said he didn’t really mean it.
In any event, a succession of his public health officials testified to Congress that the president never asked them to slow testing and that they were doing all they could to increase it. But testing remains markedly insufficient.


shareblue--2020-07-13--Giuliani contradicts Trump's claim that his taxes are being audited

Donald Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on Sunday that his client 's tax returns are not being audited , exposing a lie Trump has used for years to keep his tax records secret .
Trump has long said that he would release his tax returns publicly once the audits he claimed were being conducted were completed , beginning as far back as the start of his campaign for president in 2015 .
Giuliani made the statement during an appearance on Fox News when he was asked about the Supreme Court ruling last week that Trump is not immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial documents to Cyrus Vance Jr. , the Manhattan district attorney .
`` They have no reason to believe that there is anything wrong with his tax returns , '' Giuliani told Fox 's Maria Bartiromo .
`` All these tax returns have by and large — maybe not the last one — but all of them have been audited , all of them have either been passed on or settled . ''
Giuliani says the audits are done — unless they 're not .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany repeated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court ruling was released .
`` You know , the media has been asking this question for four years , and for four years , the President has said the same thing : His taxes are under audit , and when they 're no longer under audit , he will release them , '' McEnany said .
Every president since Richard Nixon has voluntarily released his tax returns save for Trump .
As the New York Times reported last year , Trump 's tax returns could show that he pays little or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't earn as much as he claims to , or even that he has committed tax fraud .
Trump 's niece , Mary Trump , alleges in a recently published book that he has inflated his net worth and made use of `` fraudulent '' schemes to avoid paying taxes .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on Sunday that his client’s tax returns are not being audited, exposing a lie Trump has used for years to keep his tax records secret. Trump has long said that he would release his tax returns publicly once the audits he claimed were being conducted were completed, beginning as far back as the start of his campaign for president in 2015.
Giuliani made the statement during an appearance on Fox News when he was asked about the Supreme Court ruling last week that Trump is not immune from subpoenas demanding that he turn over financial documents to Cyrus Vance Jr., the Manhattan district attorney.
“They have no reason to believe that there is anything wrong with his tax returns,” Giuliani told Fox’s Maria Bartiromo. “All these tax returns have by and large — maybe not the last one — but all of them have been audited, all of them have either been passed on or settled.”
Giuliani says the audits are done — unless they’re not.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany repeated the lie on Thursday, the day the Supreme Court ruling was released.
“You know, the media has been asking this question for four years, and for four years, the President has said the same thing: His taxes are under audit, and when they’re no longer under audit, he will release them,” McEnany said.
Every president since Richard Nixon has voluntarily released his tax returns save for Trump.
As the New York Times reported last year, Trump’s tax returns could show that he pays little or nothing in taxes, or that he doesn’t earn as much as he claims to, or even that he has committed tax fraud.
Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, alleges in a recently published book that he has inflated his net worth and made use of “fraudulent” schemes to avoid paying taxes.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-13--Trump boosts baseless claim that CDC is lying to make him lose the election

Donald Trump retweeted a supporter 's attack on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday morning , spreading a false claim that the agency is lying about the coronavirus to hurt Trump 's election chances .
Chuck Woolery , a former game show host and Trump supporter , tweeted on Sunday night : `` The most outrageous lies are the ones about Covid 19 .
Everyone is lying .
The CDC , Media , Democrats , our Doctors , not all but most , that we are told to trust .
I think it 's all about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , which is about the election .
I 'm sick of it . ''
Trump retweeted the claim , along with two more Woolery tweets , on Monday morning .
While Trump has frequently accused the media and his Democratic opponents of lying , he has shared information from the CDC on his Twitter feed more than 30 times since the start of the pandemic .
His most recent such retweet came on Saturday , when he shared a story quoting the CDC 's director — Trump appointee Dr. Robert Redfield — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump retweeted Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) sharing where `` Information about the # coronavirus and how to protect yourself can be found '' on the CDC website .
In April and May , he retweeted the main CDC Twitter account as well as @ CDCDirector and @ CDCtravel information on the virus on 16 occasions .
These included information about symptoms , social distancing , travel safety , safe funerals and burials , pets , and household cleaners .
In March , Trump 's tweets and retweets cited the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including sharing the CDC 's `` published guidelines '' to `` enable every American to respond to this epidemic and to protect themselves , their families , and their communities . ''
Last week , Trump publicly disagreed with the CDC 's guidelines for how to safely reopen schools , calling them `` impractical '' and promising that he would `` be meeting with them . ''
Redfield said Thursday that the agency would issue additional guidelines , but would not scrap the ones Trump criticized .
The White House did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Monday retweet .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump retweeted a supporter’s attack on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday morning, spreading a false claim that the agency is lying about the coronavirus to hurt Trump’s election chances.
Chuck Woolery, a former game show host and Trump supporter, tweeted on Sunday night: “The most outrageous lies are the ones about Covid 19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, Media, Democrats, our Doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it’s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I’m sick of it.”
Trump retweeted the claim, along with two more Woolery tweets, on Monday morning.
While Trump has frequently accused the media and his Democratic opponents of lying, he has shared information from the CDC on his Twitter feed more than 30 times since the start of the pandemic.
His most recent such retweet came on Saturday, when he shared a story quoting the CDC’s director — Trump appointee Dr. Robert Redfield — talking about school reopening.
Last month, Trump retweeted Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) sharing where “Information about the #coronavirus and how to protect yourself can be found” on the CDC website.
In April and May, he retweeted the main CDC Twitter account as well as @CDCDirector and @CDCtravel information on the virus on 16 occasions. These included information about symptoms, social distancing, travel safety, safe funerals and burials, pets, and household cleaners.
In March, Trump’s tweets and retweets cited the agency at more than a dozen more times, including sharing the CDC’s “published guidelines” to “enable every American to respond to this epidemic and to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Last week, Trump publicly disagreed with the CDC’s guidelines for how to safely reopen schools, calling them “impractical” and promising that he would “be meeting with them.” Redfield said Thursday that the agency would issue additional guidelines, but would not scrap the ones Trump criticized.
The White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry about Trump’s Monday retweet.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-14--Trump's White House 'press conference' turns into hour-long campaign speech

Donald Trump gave a campaign speech Tuesday in the Rose Garden of the White House , attacking presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Trump spent what had been billed by the White House as a `` press conference '' reading a list of complaints and attacks about Biden and his agenda — many of them misleading or simply wrong .
`` So we 're not going to do that , we 're going to do the exact opposite , '' Trump said toward the end of his nearly hour-long speech .
`` Probably there has never been a time — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is — it 's much worse than this — we did this very quickly .
There 's probably never been a time when candidates are so different .
We want law and order .
They do n't want law and order .
We want strong closed borders with people able to come in through merit , through a legal process .
They do n't want to have any borders at all .
They 're going to rip down the wall . ''
Trump 's speech was explicitly partisan and directly advocated for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition and standard refrained from overt campaign rhetoric at the WH , '' tweeted NBC reporter Kelly O'Donnell .
During his speech , Trump falsely claimed that Biden wants to `` defund the military . ''
He noted that Biden had given a speech earlier in the day and repeatedly expressed his disagreement with the statements he claimed Biden made .
Attacking Biden 's environmental proposals , Trump said that Biden `` wo n't be able '' to `` define the word '' carbon if asked by reporters .
He also attacked Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) for working on a unity commission backing Biden .
He inexplicably described Biden 's agenda as `` gone so far right . ''
He also touted his border wall project , claiming that it is preventing human trafficking , especially of women .
According to Trump , before the wall traffickers merely had to `` take a left into the United States . ''
In reality , Trump has only constructed three miles of new wall .
Trump also repeated his attacks on mail-in voting , falsely alleging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud '' with mail-in voting .
Trump , as well as many members of his family and his administration , has voted absentee in past elections .
He also claimed that Biden will `` abolish law enforcement as we know it . ''
This is false .
Biden has proposed reforms to law enforcement to stop Black people from being killed but has not endorsed the movement to defund or abolish law enforcement .
Recent polling , even from GOP-friendly pollsters , has shown Trump behind Biden despite a recent endorsement from former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his position behind Biden , Trump cited boat and bike parades that supporters have recently put on to back him .
Previously , Trump claimed boat parades prove he is `` doing very well '' in Florida , where recent polls have him behind Biden .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump gave a campaign speech Tuesday in the Rose Garden of the White House, attacking presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Trump spent what had been billed by the White House as a “press conference” reading a list of complaints and attacks about Biden and his agenda — many of them misleading or simply wrong.
“So we’re not going to do that, we’re going to do the exact opposite,” Trump said toward the end of his nearly hour-long speech.
“Probably there has never been a time — and this is just a few — this is — it’s much worse than this — we did this very quickly. There’s probably never been a time when candidates are so different. We want law and order. They don’t want law and order. We want strong closed borders with people able to come in through merit, through a legal process. They don’t want to have any borders at all. They’re going to rip down the wall.”
Trump’s speech was explicitly partisan and directly advocated for his reelection.
“Past presidents by tradition and standard refrained from overt campaign rhetoric at the WH,” tweeted NBC reporter Kelly O’Donnell.
During his speech, Trump falsely claimed that Biden wants to “defund the military.” He noted that Biden had given a speech earlier in the day and repeatedly expressed his disagreement with the statements he claimed Biden made.
Attacking Biden’s environmental proposals, Trump said that Biden “won’t be able” to “define the word” carbon if asked by reporters.
He also attacked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for working on a unity commission backing Biden. He inexplicably described Biden’s agenda as “gone so far right.”
He also touted his border wall project, claiming that it is preventing human trafficking, especially of women. According to Trump, before the wall traffickers merely had to “take a left into the United States.”
In reality, Trump has only constructed three miles of new wall.
Trump also repeated his attacks on mail-in voting, falsely alleging that it would lead to “tremendous fraud” with mail-in voting. Trump, as well as many members of his family and his administration, has voted absentee in past elections.
He also claimed that Biden will “abolish law enforcement as we know it.” This is false. Biden has proposed reforms to law enforcement to stop Black people from being killed but has not endorsed the movement to defund or abolish law enforcement.
Recent polling, even from GOP-friendly pollsters, has shown Trump behind Biden despite a recent endorsement from former KKK leader David Duke.
Asked about his position behind Biden, Trump cited boat and bike parades that supporters have recently put on to back him. Previously, Trump claimed boat parades prove he is “doing very well” in Florida, where recent polls have him behind Biden.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-14--Florida governor: Schools must open so kids can have football season

Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) said on Tuesday that fears about children returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic are `` unfounded . ''
Despite the recent record-setting increases in the number of coronavirus infections in his state , DeSantis has joined the Trump administration in pushing for schools to reopen for the new school year .
Making his case for reopening the schools , DeSantis sked , `` What about having football season ? ''
and said many children need sports to fulfill `` those dreams and all those hopes . ''
Florida set a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one day on Tuesday .
RON DeSANTIS : What my view is , is we should all want kids back in school , okay ?
That should be the goal .
Part of it is because of the low risk , the low transmission .
You know , it 's interesting , Sweden never really closed down , they had schools in , and they said that it did n't contribute at all to the community spread .
Because they clearly had community spread going on .
So , I think , let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , parents have a right to opt for virtual .
I just think it 's a — anxious time , you know there 's a lot of fear out there .
Like , look , I think some of this fear is unfounded in terms of the facts , particularly when it relates to the risk to school-age kids .
I 've tried to communicate that .
But I think that the damage – we just have to be honest about – everyone focuses on what we 're doing with the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to focus on what are the – what 's the fallout from some of the actions that could be taken ?
So , if you say , `` No chance of being in person , '' what is that going to do to academic development , social development ?
What 's that going to do just in terms of kids – you know , the school system is one of the places where a child that 's being abused will go for refuge , and then they end up , action can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentors , the coaches – what about having football season ?
Things like that .
We 've got a lot of young kids who , this is their ticket to be able to go to college through athletics .
What happens to all those dreams , and all those hopes , and all those aspirations ?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said on Tuesday that fears about children returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic are “unfounded.”
Despite the recent record-setting increases in the number of coronavirus infections in his state, DeSantis has joined the Trump administration in pushing for schools to reopen for the new school year.
Making his case for reopening the schools, DeSantis said, “What about having football season?” and said many children need sports to fulfill “those dreams and all those hopes.”
Florida set a new record number of 132 COVID-19 deaths in one day on Tuesday.
From a July 14 briefing:
RON DeSANTIS: What my view is, is we should all want kids back in school, okay? That should be the goal. Part of it is because of the low risk, the low transmission. You know, it’s interesting, Sweden never really closed down, they had schools in, and they said that it didn’t contribute at all to the community spread. Because they clearly had community spread going on. So, I think, let’s just understand, at the same time, parents have a right to opt for virtual. I just think it’s a — anxious time, you know there’s a lot of fear out there. Like, look, I think some of this fear is unfounded in terms of the facts, particularly when it relates to the risk to school-age kids. I’ve tried to communicate that. […] But I think that the damage – we just have to be honest about – everyone focuses on what we’re doing with the virus. Very important. But we also have to focus on what are the – what’s the fallout from some of the actions that could be taken? So, if you say, “No chance of being in person,” what is that going to do to academic development, social development? What’s that going to do just in terms of kids – you know, the school system is one of the places where a child that’s being abused will go for refuge, and then they end up, action can be taken. The teachers that are mentors, the coaches – what about having football season? Things like that. We’ve got a lot of young kids who, this is their ticket to be able to go to college through athletics. What happens to all those dreams, and all those hopes, and all those aspirations?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-14--Trump: Cops kill white people too so it's 'terrible' to ask about Black victims

Donald Trump said on Tuesday that `` more white people '' are killed by the police than Black people .
The inaccurate statement was made in response to CBS reporter Catherine Herridge , who asked Trump why Black people were being killed by law enforcement .
Trump then criticized Herridge for asking a `` terrible '' question .
In reality , while more white people are indeed killed by police each year , that statistic is based solely on the fact that the population of white Americans is much higher than any other group .
Numerous studies have found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much as six times more likely to be killed by police , and are more likely to be unarmed than white or Latinx victims .
From the July 14 edition of `` CBS Evening News '' : CATHERINE HERRIDGE , CBS News : Let 's talk about George Floyd .
You said George Floyd 's death was a terrible thing .
HERRIDGE : Why are African-Americans still dying at the hands of law enforcement in this country ?
TRUMP : And so are white people .
So are white people .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are white people .
More white people , by the way .
More white people .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump said on Tuesday that “more white people” are killed by the police than Black people.
The inaccurate statement was made in response to CBS reporter Catherine Herridge, who asked Trump why Black people were being killed by law enforcement.
Trump then criticized Herridge for asking a “terrible” question.
In reality, while more white people are indeed killed by police each year, that statistic is based solely on the fact that the population of white Americans is much higher than any other group. Numerous studies have found that Black people in the United States are as much as six times more likely to be killed by police, and are more likely to be unarmed than white or Latinx victims.
From the July 14 edition of “CBS Evening News”:
CATHERINE HERRIDGE, CBS News: Let’s talk about George Floyd. You said George Floyd’s death was a terrible thing. DONALD TRUMP: Terrible. HERRIDGE: Why are African-Americans still dying at the hands of law enforcement in this country? TRUMP: And so are white people. So are white people. What a terrible question to ask. So are white people. More white people, by the way. More white people.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-14--Trump administration rescinds rule that would have forced foreign students to leave US

The Trump administration has rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer schools or leave the country if their colleges hold classes entirely online this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic .
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the decision as a court hearing was getting underway on a challenge to the rule by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE .
AP 's earlier story follows below .
A federal judge scheduled arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging a new Trump administration policy requiring international students to transfer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleges hold classes entirely online this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The suit is being brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , which argue that the policy was created unlawfully and that it contradicts previous guidance from federal immigration officials .
The colleges are asking the court to block the rule at least temporarily .
Under the policy , international students in the U.S. would be forbidden from taking all of their courses online this fall .
New visas would not be issued to students at schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which includes Harvard .
Students already in the U.S. would face deportation if they did n't transfer schools or leave the country voluntarily .
The rule creates a dilemma for thousands of foreign students who stayed in the U.S. after their colleges shifted to remote learning last spring .
As part of the policy , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has told colleges to notify the agency no later than Wednesday if they plan to hold all classes online this fall .
Other colleges would have until Aug. 1 to share their fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being heard by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs , who was nominated to the court in 2014 by former President Barack Obama .
The policy has drawn sharp backlash from higher education institutions , with more than 200 signing court briefs supporting the challenge by Harvard and MIT .
Colleges say the policy puts students ' safety at risk and hurts schools financially .
At least seven other suits have been filed by schools and states opposing the policy .
Immigration officials issued the policy last week , reversing earlier guidance from March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education would be suspended during the pandemic .
University leaders believe the rule is part of Donald Trump 's effort to pressure the nation 's schools and colleges to reopen this fall even as new virus cases rise .
Harvard and MIT argue that immigration officials violated procedural rules by issuing the guidance without justification and without allowing the public to respond .
They also argue that the policy contradicts ICE 's March 13 directive telling schools that existing limits on online education would be suspended `` for the duration of the emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's national emergency declaration has not been rescinded and that virus cases are spiking in some regions .
Immigration officials , however , say they told colleges all along that any guidance prompted by the pandemic was subject to change .
They say the rule is consistent with existing law barring international students from taking classes entirely online .
Federal officials say they are providing leniency by allowing students to keep their visas even if they study online from abroad this fall .

The Trump administration has rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer schools or leave the country if their colleges hold classes entirely online this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the decision as a court hearing was getting underway on a challenge to the rule by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
A federal judge scheduled arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging a new Trump administration policy requiring international students to transfer schools or leave the country if their colleges hold classes entirely online this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The suit is being brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which argue that the policy was created unlawfully and that it contradicts previous guidance from federal immigration officials. The colleges are asking the court to block the rule at least temporarily.
Under the policy, international students in the U.S. would be forbidden from taking all of their courses online this fall. New visas would not be issued to students at schools planning to provide all classes online, which includes Harvard. Students already in the U.S. would face deportation if they didn’t transfer schools or leave the country voluntarily.
The rule creates a dilemma for thousands of foreign students who stayed in the U.S. after their colleges shifted to remote learning last spring.
As part of the policy, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has told colleges to notify the agency no later than Wednesday if they plan to hold all classes online this fall. Other colleges would have until Aug. 1 to share their fall plans with ICE.
The case is being heard by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, who was nominated to the court in 2014 by former President Barack Obama.
The policy has drawn sharp backlash from higher education institutions, with more than 200 signing court briefs supporting the challenge by Harvard and MIT. Colleges say the policy puts students’ safety at risk and hurts schools financially. At least seven other suits have been filed by schools and states opposing the policy.
Immigration officials issued the policy last week, reversing earlier guidance from March 13 telling colleges that limits around online education would be suspended during the pandemic. University leaders believe the rule is part of Donald Trump’s effort to pressure the nation’s schools and colleges to reopen this fall even as new virus cases rise.
Harvard and MIT argue that immigration officials violated procedural rules by issuing the guidance without justification and without allowing the public to respond. They also argue that the policy contradicts ICE’s March 13 directive telling schools that existing limits on online education would be suspended “for the duration of the emergency.”
The suit notes that Trump’s national emergency declaration has not been rescinded and that virus cases are spiking in some regions.
Immigration officials, however, say they told colleges all along that any guidance prompted by the pandemic was subject to change. They say the rule is consistent with existing law barring international students from taking classes entirely online. Federal officials say they are providing leniency by allowing students to keep their visas even if they study online from abroad this fall.


shareblue--2020-07-14--GOP governors see big dip in approval over handling of coronavirus

Republican governors across the country are seeing dwindling approval numbers on their response to the coronavirus crisis , according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday .
Only 53 % of residents now say their Republican governor `` cares about the safety and health of my community , '' compared to 61 % of residents who said so in early June .
Those surveyed also questioned whether the nation 's 26 GOP governors have a strategy to fight the virus .
In early June , 54 % of respondents said Republican governors `` communicated a clear plan of action . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel the same .
Partisan differences were not as exaggerated at the beginning of June , and trust in Democratic governors has remained relatively steady since then .
Some 66 % of those polled back in early June said Democratic governors `` care about my community . ''
That number has dropped only slightly to 65 % in the most recent poll .
Fifty-seven percent of respondents also said Democratic governors were `` communicating a clear plan of action , '' up from 58 % in June .
Democratic Governors Association spokesperson David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the numbers were reflective of Democratic governors ' decision to rely `` on science , facts , and public health experts to guide their decision making , '' rather than `` what ’ s politically expedient . ''
The Republican Governors Association did not respond to a request for comment .
The change in opinion comes as coronavirus cases surge in several Republican-led states , including Arizona , Florida , and Texas .
Governors in those states were among the first to abandon stay-at-home orders and reopen businesses in May , against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert and a member of Donald Trump ’ s coronavirus task force , told Congress at a May 12 hearing that a rushed reopening could lead to unnecessary `` suffering and death that could be avoided . ''
`` If some areas , cities , states or what-have-you , jump over those various [ safety ] checkpoints and prematurely open up without having the capability of being able to respond effectively and efficiently , my concern is that we will start to see little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
On Tuesday , the Texas Tribune reported that hospitals in the state were running out of beds , ventilators , and staff to deal with the new influx of coronavirus patients .
Florida now has more coronavirus cases than most nations around the globe .
And Arizona has the highest percentage of positive test results — 27 % — in the country .
Health experts , meanwhile , are advising people to take steps to help mitigate the growing crisis .
`` If all of us would put on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four to six weeks , we could drive this epidemic to the ground , '' Dr. Robert Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said at a press conference on Monday .
Twenty states currently require residents to wear face masks in public .
Neither Arizona nor Florida has a statewide face mask mandate , and the mandate in Texas only applies in some counties .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican governors across the country are seeing dwindling approval numbers on their response to the coronavirus crisis, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday.
Only 53% of residents now say their Republican governor “cares about the safety and health of my community,” compared to 61% of residents who said so in early June.
Those surveyed also questioned whether the nation’s 26 GOP governors have a strategy to fight the virus.
In early June, 54% of respondents said Republican governors “communicated a clear plan of action.” Now, only 43% of residents feel the same.
Partisan differences were not as exaggerated at the beginning of June, and trust in Democratic governors has remained relatively steady since then.
Some 66% of those polled back in early June said Democratic governors “care about my community.” That number has dropped only slightly to 65% in the most recent poll. Fifty-seven percent of respondents also said Democratic governors were “communicating a clear plan of action,” up from 58% in June.
Democratic Governors Association spokesperson David Turner claimed in an email this week that the numbers were reflective of Democratic governors’ decision to rely “on science, facts, and public health experts to guide their decision making,” rather than “what’s politically expedient.”
The Republican Governors Association did not respond to a request for comment.
The change in opinion comes as coronavirus cases surge in several Republican-led states, including Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Governors in those states were among the first to abandon stay-at-home orders and reopen businesses in May, against the advice of health experts.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and a member of Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force, told Congress at a May 12 hearing that a rushed reopening could lead to unnecessary “suffering and death that could be avoided.”
“If some areas, cities, states or what-have-you, jump over those various [safety] checkpoints and prematurely open up without having the capability of being able to respond effectively and efficiently, my concern is that we will start to see little spikes that might turn into outbreaks,” he said.
On Tuesday, the Texas Tribune reported that hospitals in the state were running out of beds, ventilators, and staff to deal with the new influx of coronavirus patients.
Florida now has more coronavirus cases than most nations around the globe. And Arizona has the highest percentage of positive test results — 27% — in the country.
Health experts, meanwhile, are advising people to take steps to help mitigate the growing crisis.
“If all of us would put on a face covering now for the next four to six weeks, we could drive this epidemic to the ground,” Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a press conference on Monday.
Twenty states currently require residents to wear face masks in public.
Neither Arizona nor Florida has a statewide face mask mandate, and the mandate in Texas only applies in some counties.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-14--Trump campaign pushes absentee voting even as Trump calls it cheating

Donald Trump 's campaign is encouraging supporters to vote by mail , even as Trump himself rails against mail-in voting .
In Florida , Trump Victory , the joint operation of the Trump reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee , recently distributed what it called `` absentee ballot '' applications to voters , encouraging them to participate in the state 's vote-by-mail system .
This was not the first time Trump and his team have urged Republicans to cast their ballots by mail .
In May , Trump tweeted that California voters should cast `` Mail in ballots '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special election and make sure they were counted .
Days earlier , the director of the Trump Victory Leadership Initiative for Pennsylvania tweeted a picture of his own mail-in ballot envelope and urged supporters , `` Do n't miss out on the chance to # LeadRight and request your mail in ballot at vote.gop ! ''
In April , the national Republican Party sent mailers to registered Pennsylvania Republicans , telling them to `` MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS '' by requesting a `` MAIL-IN BALLOT TODAY . ''
Weeks before the 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted : `` Make your voices heard on November 6th '' and advised voters to head to a GOP website `` to find your polling location or request your absentee ballot . ''
But despite the fact that they have encouraged voting by mail — and that Trump has frequently voted absentee himself — he and his allies have spent months baselessly attacking the system as rife with fraud .
`` Now , mail ballots — they cheat .
Okay ?
People cheat .
Mail ballots are a very dangerous thing for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump told reporters in April .
`` They go and collect them .
They 're fraudulent in many cases .
You got to vote .
And they should have voter ID , by the way .
If you want to really do it right , you have voter ID . ''
Though many states do not distinguish between `` absentee '' and `` mail-in '' ballots , Trump has attempted to create an artificial distinction between the two .
`` The United States can not have all Mail In Ballots .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history .
People grab them from mailboxes , print thousands of forgeries and 'force ' people to sign , '' he claimed in a May tweet .
`` Also , forge names .
Some absentee OK , when necessary .
Trying to use Covid for this Scam ! ''
`` Mail-In Ballot fraud found in many elections .
People are just now seeing how bad , dishonest and slow it is .
Election results could be delayed for months .
No more big election night answers ?
1 % not even counted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for RIGGING an Election ... '' Trump tweeted last week .
`` Absentee Ballots are fine because you have to go through a precise process to get your voting privilege .
Not so with Mail-Ins .
Rigged Election !
!
!
20 % fraudulent ballots ? ''
The reality is that , no matter what it 's called , voting by mail has been shown to be safe , and fraud is virtually nonexistent .
Trump 's 20 % claim seemingly refers to a May special election in Paterson , New Jersey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example of widespread problems .
In that election , postal inspectors alerted officials to bundles of ballots found stuffed in a mailbox and elsewhere .
Four people were charged with voter fraud , and about 19 % of the total ballots submitted were rejected .
Election law experts told NPR earlier this month that the fact that they were caught and thrown out shows that system 's safeguards are working as intended .
The attacks on voting by mail appear to be backfiring , as Republican voters are avoiding the balloting method in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Trump 's rhetoric may inadvertently be suppressing Republican votes , '' elections expert Michael McDonald of the University of Florida told the Atlantic last month .
As of May , more than twice as many Pennsylvania Democrats had requested mail-in ballots for the June 2 primary as had Republicans .
Lee Snover , chairwoman of the Northampton County GOP , told the Philadelphia Inquirer that her members were following Trump 's instructions .
`` He 's spoken about it .
He 's tweeted about it .
He does n't want us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported on Monday that the Florida Trump Victory mailer included part of Trump 's tweet that `` Absentee ballots are fine , '' but blurred out the rest of the tweet , in which he railed against mail-in voting .
Justin Clark , a senior political adviser and senior counsel for the Trump campaign , said : `` There are significant differences between absentee voting and universal vote-by-mail .
If a voter ca n't make it to the polls , they can request an absentee ballot — but 100 % vote-by-mail is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unreliable and outdated address lists and inviting shady political operatives to go door-to-door collecting an unlimited number of strangers ' votes . ''
Updated with a response from the Trump campaign .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s campaign is encouraging supporters to vote by mail, even as Trump himself rails against mail-in voting.
In Florida, Trump Victory, the joint operation of the Trump reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee, recently distributed what it called “absentee ballot” applications to voters, encouraging them to participate in the state’s vote-by-mail system.
This was not the first time Trump and his team have urged Republicans to cast their ballots by mail.
In May, Trump tweeted that California voters should cast “Mail in ballots” for Republican Mike Garcia in a House special election and make sure they were counted.
Days earlier, the director of the Trump Victory Leadership Initiative for Pennsylvania tweeted a picture of his own mail-in ballot envelope and urged supporters, “Don’t miss out on the chance to #LeadRight and request your mail in ballot at vote.gop!”
In April, the national Republican Party sent mailers to registered Pennsylvania Republicans, telling them to “MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS” by requesting a “MAIL-IN BALLOT TODAY.”
Weeks before the 2018 midterm elections, the Republican National Committee tweeted: “Make your voices heard on November 6th” and advised voters to head to a GOP website “to find your polling location or request your absentee ballot.”
But despite the fact that they have encouraged voting by mail — and that Trump has frequently voted absentee himself — he and his allies have spent months baselessly attacking the system as rife with fraud.
“Now, mail ballots — they cheat. Okay? People cheat. Mail ballots are a very dangerous thing for this country, because they’re cheaters,” Trump told reporters in April. “They go and collect them. They’re fraudulent in many cases. You got to vote. And they should have voter ID, by the way. If you want to really do it right, you have voter ID.”
Though many states do not distinguish between “absentee” and “mail-in” ballots, Trump has attempted to create an artificial distinction between the two.
“The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and ‘force’ people to sign,” he claimed in a May tweet. “Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam!”
“Mail-In Ballot fraud found in many elections. People are just now seeing how bad, dishonest and slow it is. Election results could be delayed for months. No more big election night answers? 1% not even counted in 2016. Ridiculous! Just a formula for RIGGING an Election…” Trump tweeted last week. “Absentee Ballots are fine because you have to go through a precise process to get your voting privilege. Not so with Mail-Ins. Rigged Election!!! 20% fraudulent ballots?”
The reality is that, no matter what it’s called, voting by mail has been shown to be safe, and fraud is virtually nonexistent.
Trump’s 20% claim seemingly refers to a May special election in Paterson, New Jersey, that he has previously cited as an example of widespread problems. In that election, postal inspectors alerted officials to bundles of ballots found stuffed in a mailbox and elsewhere. Four people were charged with voter fraud, and about 19% of the total ballots submitted were rejected. Election law experts told NPR earlier this month that the fact that they were caught and thrown out shows that system’s safeguards are working as intended.
The attacks on voting by mail appear to be backfiring, as Republican voters are avoiding the balloting method in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Trump’s rhetoric may inadvertently be suppressing Republican votes,” elections expert Michael McDonald of the University of Florida told the Atlantic last month.
As of May, more than twice as many Pennsylvania Democrats had requested mail-in ballots for the June 2 primary as had Republicans. Lee Snover, chairwoman of the Northampton County GOP, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that her members were following Trump’s instructions. “He’s spoken about it. He’s tweeted about it. He doesn’t want us to do it.”
The Orlando Sentinel reported on Monday that the Florida Trump Victory mailer included part of Trump’s tweet that “Absentee ballots are fine,” but blurred out the rest of the tweet, in which he railed against mail-in voting.
Justin Clark, a senior political adviser and senior counsel for the Trump campaign, said: “There are significant differences between absentee voting and universal vote-by-mail. If a voter can’t make it to the polls, they can request an absentee ballot — but 100% vote-by-mail is an invitation for fraud, mailing live ballots to unreliable and outdated address lists and inviting shady political operatives to go door-to-door collecting an unlimited number of strangers’ votes.”
Updated with a response from the Trump campaign.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-14--Georgia mayors defy governor by ordering residents to wear face masks

Several mayors in Georgia have defied Gov .
Brian Kemp 's coronavirus emergency order , instituting face mask requirements in their cities to protect residents as coronavirus cases surge across the state .
On June 29 , Kemp signed two executive orders extending through the state 's original emergency order , issued back in March , through mid-August .
One of the orders `` strongly encouraged '' residents to wear masks , but prevented localities from implementing policies that are stricter than those outlined by the governor .
On June 30 , Savannah Mayor Van Johnson issued a face mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city 's annual Fourth of July celebrations .
`` We resolved in Savannah to follow the science , '' Johnson said during a phone interview on July 7 .
Savannah had a 200 % increase in coronavirus cases from May to June , Johnson said , and he wanted to `` make sure people would do the right thing to be safe '' over the holiday weekend .
Under the Savannah ordinance , anyone not wearing a mask is offered one , free of charge .
If the person still refuses to comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Johnson 's decision to implement the policy was a catalyst for other cities .
On July 7 , both Athens and East Point instituted similar face mask policies , followed by Atlanta on Wednesday night .
In a phone interview on July 7 , shortly before the Athens ordinance was issued , Mayor Kelly Girtz said he was not worried that Kemp would push back against the order , adding that the governor was already encouraging residents to wear a mask .
`` Whatever the level of political discomfort there may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just this growing , and definitive , scientific and medical recognition [ that wearing masks is ] a safe posture , '' Girtz said .
Both Johnson and Girtz said they were enhancing Kemp 's order , with Girtz saying Georgia law gives cities the flexibility to do so .
While Kemp refrained from any sort of pushback after the first three cities instituted face mask policies , his office spoke out after Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms rolled out her policy .
`` Like all of the local mask mandates , Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Candice Broce , Kemp 's spokesperson , told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday .
`` We continue to encourage Georgians to do the right thing and wear a mask voluntarily . ''
On Friday , Bottoms took her city ’ s policy a step further , announcing Atlanta would return to Phase 1 of reopening status , meaning residents would be asked to stay home except for essential travel .
Kemp again called the decision `` non-binding and legally unenforceable , '' reiterating that `` no local action can be more or less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite the pushback , the governor 's office has not taken any legal action against cities that have instituted policies that go further than Kemp 's emergency order .
Kemp 's office did not respond to an email on Monday asking about possible legal action in the future .
In the spring , Kemp rushed to reopen many businesses in Georgia despite concern from health experts who said it was too early to be making such a call .
Kemp allowed barbershops , nail salons , gyms , and bowling alleys to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic was not under control .
Restaurants and theaters were allowed to open on April 27 .
`` I 'm really worried about it , '' Dr. Sanjay Gupta , CNN 's chief medical correspondent , said at the time .
`` We know that the virus is still out there .
We know that it 's a contagious virus . ''
Shortly after Kemp reopened his state , his approval ratings plummeted .
According to a poll conducted by several top universities , the number of people in Georgia who approved of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 53 % in April to just 33 % in May .
By late June , only 43 % of Georgia residents approved of how he was handling the pandemic .
Cases in Georgia have been spiking in recent weeks .
On Sunday , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that more than 3,000 Georgians had died from coronavirus since the pandemic started .
Overall , the state had nearly 117,000 confirmed cases .
Asked how his mask policy worked over the holiday weekend , Savannah mayor Johnson said it would take a few weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We resolve to keep the faith and follow the science , '' he reiterated .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Several mayors in Georgia have defied Gov. Brian Kemp’s coronavirus emergency order, instituting face mask requirements in their cities to protect residents as coronavirus cases surge across the state.
On June 29, Kemp signed two executive orders extending through the state’s original emergency order, issued back in March, through mid-August. One of the orders “strongly encouraged” residents to wear masks, but prevented localities from implementing policies that are stricter than those outlined by the governor.
On June 30, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson issued a face mask ordinance requiring their use ahead of the city’s annual Fourth of July celebrations.
“We resolved in Savannah to follow the science,” Johnson said during a phone interview on July 7.
Savannah had a 200% increase in coronavirus cases from May to June, Johnson said, and he wanted to “make sure people would do the right thing to be safe” over the holiday weekend.
Under the Savannah ordinance, anyone not wearing a mask is offered one, free of charge. If the person still refuses to comply, they face a $500 fine.
Johnson’s decision to implement the policy was a catalyst for other cities.
On July 7, both Athens and East Point instituted similar face mask policies, followed by Atlanta on Wednesday night.
In a phone interview on July 7, shortly before the Athens ordinance was issued, Mayor Kelly Girtz said he was not worried that Kemp would push back against the order, adding that the governor was already encouraging residents to wear a mask.
“Whatever the level of political discomfort there may have been some weeks ago, there’s just this growing, and definitive, scientific and medical recognition [that wearing masks is] a safe posture,” Girtz said.
Both Johnson and Girtz said they were enhancing Kemp’s order, with Girtz saying Georgia law gives cities the flexibility to do so.
While Kemp refrained from any sort of pushback after the first three cities instituted face mask policies, his office spoke out after Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms rolled out her policy.
“Like all of the local mask mandates, Mayor Bottoms’ order is unenforceable,” Candice Broce, Kemp’s spokesperson, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday. “We continue to encourage Georgians to do the right thing and wear a mask voluntarily.”
On Friday, Bottoms took her city’s policy a step further, announcing Atlanta would return to Phase 1 of reopening status, meaning residents would be asked to stay home except for essential travel.
Kemp again called the decision “non-binding and legally unenforceable,” reiterating that “no local action can be more or less restrictive” than his executive order.
Despite the pushback, the governor’s office has not taken any legal action against cities that have instituted policies that go further than Kemp’s emergency order.
Kemp’s office did not respond to an email on Monday asking about possible legal action in the future.
In the spring, Kemp rushed to reopen many businesses in Georgia despite concern from health experts who said it was too early to be making such a call.
Kemp allowed barbershops, nail salons, gyms, and bowling alleys to reopen on April 24 even though the coronavirus pandemic was not under control. Restaurants and theaters were allowed to open on April 27.
“I’m really worried about it,” Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, said at the time. “We know that the virus is still out there. We know that it’s a contagious virus.”
Shortly after Kemp reopened his state, his approval ratings plummeted.
According to a poll conducted by several top universities, the number of people in Georgia who approved of Kemp’s handling of the pandemic dropped from 53% in April to just 33% in May.
By late June, only 43% of Georgia residents approved of how he was handling the pandemic.
Cases in Georgia have been spiking in recent weeks. On Sunday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that more than 3,000 Georgians had died from coronavirus since the pandemic started. Overall, the state had nearly 117,000 confirmed cases.
Asked how his mask policy worked over the holiday weekend, Savannah mayor Johnson said it would take a few weeks before the data comes in.
“We resolve to keep the faith and follow the science,” he reiterated.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-14--Marco Rubio: Since 'janitors in hospitals' are working, kids need to go to school

Sen. Marco Rubio ( R-FL ) argued on Tuesday in favor of reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Rubio noted that workers in retail , law enforcement , and `` janitors in hospitals '' are currently at work , so `` similar expectations '' should be placed on teachers .
Rubio is echoing the message of the Trump administration , who has been pushing for schools to reopen .
Health experts have warned that reopening without clear guidelines from the federal government — which have n't yet been supplied — puts children and faculty in danger , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed to the coronavirus .
From the July 13 edition of Fox News ' `` America 's Newsroom '' : SANDRA SMITH , Fox News : We know that there 's risks , but we do want to get the sense of urgency that these teachers , superintendents , and then of course , the mayors and the governors of these states are placing urgency on this , and prioritizing kids , and prioritizing education .
Final thoughts , senator ?
SEN. MARCO RUBIO ( R-FL ) : Yeah .
Absolutely .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the costs that are not being taken into account .
The costs of not reopening .
Look , people are going to work every day .
They 're going to work at the grocery store , they 're going to work at Walgreens , Walmart , CVS .
They 're picking up garbage , they 're police and fire , they 're the janitors of hospitals .
People are going to work every day , and we 're having to protect them .
Some of those similar expectations should be placed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) argued on Tuesday in favor of reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rubio noted that workers in retail, law enforcement, and “janitors in hospitals” are currently at work, so “similar expectations” should be placed on teachers.
Rubio is echoing the message of the Trump administration, who has been pushing for schools to reopen.
Health experts have warned that reopening without clear guidelines from the federal government — which haven’t yet been supplied — puts children and faculty in danger, along with their families and associates who could be exposed to the coronavirus.
From the July 13 edition of Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom”:
SANDRA SMITH, Fox News: We know that there’s risks, but we do want to get the sense of urgency that these teachers, superintendents, and then of course, the mayors and the governors of these states are placing urgency on this, and prioritizing kids, and prioritizing education. Final thoughts, senator? SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL): Yeah. Absolutely. So, I think that’s a part of the costs that are not being taken into account. The costs of not reopening. Look, people are going to work every day. They’re going to work at the grocery store, they’re going to work at Walgreens, Walmart, CVS. They’re picking up garbage, they’re police and fire, they’re the janitors of hospitals. People are going to work every day, and we’re having to protect them. Some of those similar expectations should be placed on those in the education system.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-14--Trump's dream of a packed GOP convention is falling apart

Donald Trump 's dreams of packing an arena full of adoring supporters at the Republican National Convention are falling apart at the seams as the United States ' out-of-control coronavirus outbreak is forcing governors across the country to once again announce limits on public gatherings .
In early June , Trump announced he was upending plans for the RNC by moving the convention from Charlotte , North Carolina , to Jacksonville , Florida .
Trump said he was `` forced '' to make the change because North Carolina 's Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper could n't guarantee that he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear face masks .
But Florida is now experiencing a massive coronavirus outbreak , with the state setting a grim record for the most new cases recorded in a single day — more than New York saw at the height of its outbreak in April .
And now Florida is implementing some of the same restrictions Trump sought to avoid when he changed RNC venues .
NBC News reported that Florida is currently under an executive order signed by GOP Gov .
Ron DeSantis that bans venues from operating at more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville , where Trump plans to give his Republican nomination acceptance speech , would have to be half-empty .
Late last month , Jacksonville instituted a policy requiring the wearing of face masks in all indoor locations in the city , the very thing Trump wanted to avoid .
What 's more , a number of GOP lawmakers , including some top party leaders who typically go to the RNC every four years , either have n't committed or no longer plan to attend .
Sen. Chuck Grassley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marking the first time in 40 years he 's missing his party 's nominating convention .
Sens .
Lamar Alexander ( TN ) , Roy Blunt ( MO ) , and Pat Roberts ( KS ) also wo n't be attendance , according to the New York Times .
Sen. Marco Rubio ( FL ) has n't committed to going , even though the convention is taking place in his home state .
Florida is experiencing one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the country .
The state documented a record 15,300 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12,274 cases New York recorded at the peak of its outbreak back in April .
The outbreak in Florida is far worse than it was when DeSantis agreed to host the convention in early June .
DeSantis has not indicated whether he will make exceptions from safety regulations so the RNC can go on as planned .
The convention is currently scheduled to take place Aug. 24-27 .
DeSantis is adamant that he wo n't shut the state down again despite the massive rise in numbers of coronavirus cases and is downplaying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are sounding the alarm that the system may collapse from the strain .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s dreams of packing an arena full of adoring supporters at the Republican National Convention are falling apart at the seams as the United States’ out-of-control coronavirus outbreak is forcing governors across the country to once again announce limits on public gatherings.
In early June, Trump announced he was upending plans for the RNC by moving the convention from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Jacksonville, Florida.
Trump said he was “forced” to make the change because North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper couldn’t guarantee that he could fill an arena and allow attendees not to wear face masks.
But Florida is now experiencing a massive coronavirus outbreak, with the state setting a grim record for the most new cases recorded in a single day — more than New York saw at the height of its outbreak in April.
And now Florida is implementing some of the same restrictions Trump sought to avoid when he changed RNC venues.
NBC News reported that Florida is currently under an executive order signed by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis that bans venues from operating at more than 50% capacity. That means the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, where Trump plans to give his Republican nomination acceptance speech, would have to be half-empty.
Late last month, Jacksonville instituted a policy requiring the wearing of face masks in all indoor locations in the city, the very thing Trump wanted to avoid.
What’s more, a number of GOP lawmakers, including some top party leaders who typically go to the RNC every four years, either haven’t committed or no longer plan to attend.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA) is not going, marking the first time in 40 years he’s missing his party’s nominating convention.
Sens. Lamar Alexander (TN), Roy Blunt (MO), and Pat Roberts (KS) also won’t be attendance, according to the New York Times. Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) hasn’t committed to going, even though the convention is taking place in his home state.
Florida is experiencing one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the country. The state documented a record 15,300 cases on July 12, more than the 12,274 cases New York recorded at the peak of its outbreak back in April.
The outbreak in Florida is far worse than it was when DeSantis agreed to host the convention in early June.
DeSantis has not indicated whether he will make exceptions from safety regulations so the RNC can go on as planned. The convention is currently scheduled to take place Aug. 24-27.
DeSantis is adamant that he won’t shut the state down again despite the massive rise in numbers of coronavirus cases and is downplaying the outbreak, even as health care workers are sounding the alarm that the system may collapse from the strain.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-14--White House tells unemployed Americans to just 'find something new'

A new White House-backed ad campaign aims to encourage people who are unemployed or unhappy in their jobs or careers to `` find something new . ''
The opening ad in the `` Find Something New '' campaign beginning Tuesday features ordinary people sharing their stories .
A companion website provides links to training and other resources .
The initiative was swiftly criticized on social media , with some suggesting the effort is insensitive during a pandemic and the widespread unemployment it has caused .
Others criticized the involvement of Ivanka Trump , Donald Trump 's daughter and White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasized skills-based job and vocational training as an alternative to two- or four-year college degree programs , arguing that college is n't for everyone and that many jobs do n't require a degree .
But the long-in-the-works effort has taken on a new sense of urgency after the coronavirus outbreak cost millions of people their jobs , many of which may be lost forever .
The campaign is a product of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board , which Trump created in 2018 .
The board is co-chaired by Ivanka Trump and Commerce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never been a more critical time for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to be aware of the multiple pathways to career success and gain the vocational training and skills they need to fill jobs in a changing economy , '' said Ivanka Trump , who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania 's Wharton School .
The nonprofit Ad Council on Tuesday was announcing `` Find Something New , '' which it created in collaboration with IBM , Apple , and members of the Business Roundtable , along with the White House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial 30-second spot features ordinary people talking about their experiences with career challenges and transitions .
Among them are a fitness instructor who completed an apprenticeship program and became a welder after her gym went under , and a man who lost his job twice in one year , took online certification courses , and now works as a tech consultant .
`` I got laid off twice , but you got to keep going , '' the man says , adding later on in the ad : `` I 'm now a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another woman says she had no career plan after finishing high school , but `` I found a medical course online '' and became a phlebotomist .
`` You will find something , '' she says .
The companion website offers links to education and training options , including online and virtual learning .
Additional ads are expected to be produced .
All will appear nationwide across TV , digital , and print platforms in time and space donated by various media companies , the Ad Council said .
Funding was provided by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Apple , IBM , and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce .
The Ad Council declined to disclose the cost of the campaign .
which will run at least through the end of the year .

A new White House-backed ad campaign aims to encourage people who are unemployed or unhappy in their jobs or careers to “find something new.”
The opening ad in the “Find Something New” campaign beginning Tuesday features ordinary people sharing their stories. A companion website provides links to training and other resources.
The initiative was swiftly criticized on social media, with some suggesting the effort is insensitive during a pandemic and the widespread unemployment it has caused. Others criticized the involvement of Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump’s daughter and White House adviser.
The Trump administration has long emphasized skills-based job and vocational training as an alternative to two- or four-year college degree programs, arguing that college isn’t for everyone and that many jobs don’t require a degree.
But the long-in-the-works effort has taken on a new sense of urgency after the coronavirus outbreak cost millions of people their jobs, many of which may be lost forever.
The campaign is a product of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, which Trump created in 2018. The board is co-chaired by Ivanka Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
“There has never been a more critical time for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to be aware of the multiple pathways to career success and gain the vocational training and skills they need to fill jobs in a changing economy,” said Ivanka Trump, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
The nonprofit Ad Council on Tuesday was announcing “Find Something New,” which it created in collaboration with IBM, Apple, and members of the Business Roundtable, along with the White House and the workforce policy advisory board.
The initial 30-second spot features ordinary people talking about their experiences with career challenges and transitions. Among them are a fitness instructor who completed an apprenticeship program and became a welder after her gym went under, and a man who lost his job twice in one year, took online certification courses, and now works as a tech consultant.
“I got laid off twice, but you got to keep going,” the man says, adding later on in the ad: “I’m now a consultant in the tech space.”
Another woman says she had no career plan after finishing high school, but “I found a medical course online” and became a phlebotomist. “You will find something,” she says.
The companion website offers links to education and training options, including online and virtual learning.
Additional ads are expected to be produced. All will appear nationwide across TV, digital, and print platforms in time and space donated by various media companies, the Ad Council said.
Funding was provided by more than 20 corporations and organizations, including Apple, IBM, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The Ad Council declined to disclose the cost of the campaign. which will run at least through the end of the year.