shareblue--2020-10-28--Kelly Loeffler is really mad about all this crime happening under Trump

Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R ) appeared to blame anti-racism protesters this week for a spike in homicides in Atlanta — even though it happened under a Republican president and the Republican governor she fiercely supports .
`` This is n't social justice or peaceful protests .
It 's murder , '' Loeffler tweeted on Wednesday , sharing an Atlanta Journal-Constitution opinion piece about Atlanta 's rising murder rate .
`` Weak leaders have demonized law enforcement and allowed deadly violence to destroy communities and families in Atlanta and across America .
Georgians deserve better . ''
The article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtually the same murder rate as Chicago , '' with about 23 murders per 100,000 people .
That number is higher than in recent years .
It does not place blame on protesters nor does it equate the violence with the `` defund the police '' movement , though it mentions others hijacking that movement to incite violence .
Loeffler , a fierce opponent of the Black Lives Matter movement , has bragged of her `` 100-percent career record of voting in line with President Trump . ''
She was appointed to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian Kemp in December and is running to fill the remaining two years of the unexpired term .
Trump and others in the Republican Party have similarly sought to blame anti-racism protesters and Democratic local officials for a recent increase in murders in some cities — even though Trump promised in his 2017 inauguration address that he would immediately end the `` American carnage '' in urban communities .
Trump has even egged on some of the violence himself , fueling anti-immigrant and white nationalist incidents with his rhetoric .
Trump supporters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kenosha , Wisconsin ; a deadly rampage in El Paso , Texas ; attempts to pipe bomb Democratic officials ; and a recent conspiracy to allegedly kidnap the governor of Michigan .
A Loeffler spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
There is no evidence that efforts to reduce systemic racism and police violence have fueled any increase in violence or crime .
According to the Brookings Institution , one study of six decades worth of data `` found that an increase in funding for police did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime . ''
In a September opinion police , criminologist Richard Rosenfeld suggested that `` violent crime has risen in many American cities .
But calls to defund the police are not the reason . ''
`` The spike is related in complex ways to both the coronavirus pandemic and social unrest over police violence , '' Rosenfeld said .
There has also been some evidence that the proliferation of guns correlates with more homicides .
Loeffler boasted on Wednesday on social media that she is `` Honored to have the endorsement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and `` proud of my record of protecting the 2nd Amendment . ''
Loeffler will face Rep. Doug Collins ( R-GA ) , Reverend Raphael Warnock ( D ) , and several other candidates in next Tuesday 's special election .
If no candidate receives more than 50 % , the top two candidates will advance to a January runoff .
Recent polls suggest Warnock is likely to advance to a runoff with Collins or Loeffler .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R) appeared to blame anti-racism protesters this week for a spike in homicides in Atlanta — even though it happened under a Republican president and the Republican governor she fiercely supports.
“This isn’t social justice or peaceful protests. It’s murder,” Loeffler tweeted on Wednesday, sharing an Atlanta Journal-Constitution opinion piece about Atlanta’s rising murder rate. “Weak leaders have demonized law enforcement and allowed deadly violence to destroy communities and families in Atlanta and across America. Georgians deserve better.”
The article states that the city now has “virtually the same murder rate as Chicago,” with about 23 murders per 100,000 people. That number is higher than in recent years.
It does not place blame on protesters nor does it equate the violence with the “defund the police” movement, though it mentions others hijacking that movement to incite violence.
Loeffler, a fierce opponent of the Black Lives Matter movement, has bragged of her “100-percent career record of voting in line with President Trump.” She was appointed to a vacant Senate seat by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in December and is running to fill the remaining two years of the unexpired term.
Trump and others in the Republican Party have similarly sought to blame anti-racism protesters and Democratic local officials for a recent increase in murders in some cities — even though Trump promised in his 2017 inauguration address that he would immediately end the “American carnage” in urban communities.
Trump has even egged on some of the violence himself, fueling anti-immigrant and white nationalist incidents with his rhetoric. Trump supporters and imitators have been behind a mass shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin; a deadly rampage in El Paso, Texas; attempts to pipe bomb Democratic officials; and a recent conspiracy to allegedly kidnap the governor of Michigan.
A Loeffler spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
There is no evidence that efforts to reduce systemic racism and police violence have fueled any increase in violence or crime. According to the Brookings Institution, one study of six decades worth of data “found that an increase in funding for police did not significantly relate to a decrease in crime.”
In a September opinion police, criminologist Richard Rosenfeld suggested that “violent crime has risen in many American cities. But calls to defund the police are not the reason.”
“The spike is related in complex ways to both the coronavirus pandemic and social unrest over police violence,” Rosenfeld said.
There has also been some evidence that the proliferation of guns correlates with more homicides. Loeffler boasted on Wednesday on social media that she is “Honored to have the endorsement of the AR-15 Gun Owners of America!” and “proud of my record of protecting the 2nd Amendment.”
Loeffler will face Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D), and several other candidates in next Tuesday’s special election. If no candidate receives more than 50%, the top two candidates will advance to a January runoff.
Recent polls suggest Warnock is likely to advance to a runoff with Collins or Loeffler.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-28--Trump's 11 craziest closing arguments to voters

With less than a week to go until voting ends in the 2020 election , Donald Trump 's pitch to voters as to why they should give him a second term has grown increasingly erratic and scattered .
Trump 's lack of a consistent message is not helping his faltering reelection bid .
Polls show him losing to Democratic nominee Joe Biden by nearly double digits nationally , and traditionally Republican states such as Arizona , Georgia , and Texas are in play .
Here are 11 of the craziest things Trump has said as he campaigns in the run-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court to strike down Obamacare In the middle of the deadliest pandemic in a generation , Trump told `` 60 Minutes '' reporter Lesley Stahl that he wants the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act — a move that would cause more than 20 million people to lose their health insurance coverage .
`` I hope they end it , '' Trump said .
Trump said that he wants the court to invalidate the health care law as polling shows it is as popular as it 's ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would allow insurance companies to charge people with preexisting conditions more for coverage , or deny them coverage altogether .
It would also eliminate Medicaid expansion that currently covers 12.5 million Americans .
Trump has said repeatedly he has a better health care plan , but he has never released one .
Rather , he 's tried to pass off executive orders that carry no legal weight as a health care plan .
Saying the country is 'rounding the turn ' with the COVID-19 pandemic as cases skyrocket Trump has consistently been telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which straight up ignore public health guidelines intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus — that the United States is `` rounding the turn '' on the COVID-19 pandemic .
Yet as he says this , the numbers of cases are rising at their highest rates ever , with hospitals in the Midwest facing overcrowding .
Deaths from the virus also continue to rise by the hundreds each day , with more than 226,000 people in the United States now dead of it — the highest rate of any country .
Bragging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are hurting his popularity with voters Trump 's signature campaign rallies , which in 2016 were viewed as a sign of his support , may actually be hurting his standing in 2020 .
At a Tuesday rally in Michigan , he bragged about the size of the crowds at these super spreader events .
`` In Pennsylvania — was incredible .
The crowds were incredible , like this , they ’ re all packed , '' he said .
But a poll conducted by the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA shows the rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without masks , often in violation of state regulations aimed at stopping the spread of the virus , are actually hurting Trump 's standing with voters , making them feel less favorable toward him .
And data shows that after Trump holds these rallies , including in states like Wisconsin , which is currently experiencing a massive outbreak that threatens to overrun state hospitals , the number of new coronavirus cases rises .
Telling people they should n't be afraid of a virus that 's killed more than 226,000 Trump tweeted on Oct. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center .
Upon his release from the hospital , Trump was flippant about the virus , telling people they should not let it `` dominate '' their lives or be `` afraid '' of it — even though it 's killed more than a quarter-million Americans , with hundreds more dying each day .
Of course , Trump received the best medical treatment in the world on the taxpayer 's dime , including experimental treatments not available to the general public .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of voters were still afraid that a family member might contract the virus .
Saying it should be illegal to report on the virus Trump has been raging about the dominance of the coronavirus in news coverage , as polls continue to show Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of his handling of the pandemic .
In fact , he is so mad that the newest surge in virus cases is in the news that he said it should be illegal for reporters to cover it , tweeting : `` Should be an election law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to spread debunked conspiracy theories about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to try to move the media narrative away from Trump 's coronavirus failures .
However , even conservative outlets like the Wall Street Journal would n't report on some of the baseless conspiracies , according to a report from New York Times .
Instead , Trump allies were forced to bring it to the New York Post , where some reporters refused to have their byline on the story because they did not believe it was credible .
At a rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 's intelligence , questioning whether the New York Democratic lawmaker had a college degree .
`` She did go to college , right ? ''
Trump said .
Questioning the intelligence of someone based on whether they have a college education is an odd choice given that Trump 's largest base of support is white voters without college degrees .
As suburban women turn away from Trump in droves , he has made desperate appeals to win them back .
But his messaging is falling flat .
In August he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' from `` invading '' their neighborhoods by eliminating Obama-era fair housing regulations .
And he told women at a rally in Michigan on Tuesday that he would get their unemployed husbands ' jobs back .
`` Your husbands , they want to get back to work , right ?
They want to get back to work .
We 're getting your husbands back to work .
And everybody wants it , '' Trump said .
Women have been the ones hit hardest by the coronavirus ' effect on the economy and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which many women work — such as restaurants , hospitality , and health care — have seen more job losses than other areas , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
The BLS also reported that women bore the brunt of child care responsibilities as day care facilities and schools closed to stop the spread of the virus .
Offering free stuff to older people , then not delivering on it Another group that has abandoned Trump is older Americans , the most reliable voting bloc in the country .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the electorate back , Trump has pandered to them by telling them that he , too , is a senior , and has tried to bribe them for their vote by saying he was going to give all seniors $ 200 cards to buy prescription drugs .
Trump could never unilaterally give out free money to people without congressional approval , and there 's been no sign that such cards will ever be issued .
Another situation unlikely to help him win back the senior vote was the debacle at a Trump rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several older people in the crowd were treated or transported to hospitals after coming down with hypothermia as they were stranded in the freezing weather waiting to get buses back to parking lots .
Saying kids being held in immigrant prisons are OK because the facilities are clean At the last presidential debate , Trump defended his administration 's family separation program at the border , which has led to the separation of 545 immigrant children from parents who can now not be located .
Saying he did n't actually want to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs its votes At a campaign rally last week in Erie , Pennsylvania , Trump lamented that he did n't actually want to be there but had to visit because he needs to win the state .
Trump said : `` Before the plague came in , I had it made .
I was n't coming to Erie .
I have to be honest .
There was no way I was coming .
I did n't have to .
We had this thing won , we were so far up , we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , greatest everything .
And then we got hit with the plague and I had to go back to work .
Hello , Erie , can I please have your vote ? ''
It 's a bold strategy to tell voters in a critical swing state that he did n't actually want to see them .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

With less than a week to go until voting ends in the 2020 election, Donald Trump’s pitch to voters as to why they should give him a second term has grown increasingly erratic and scattered.
Trump’s lack of a consistent message is not helping his faltering reelection bid.
Polls show him losing to Democratic nominee Joe Biden by nearly double digits nationally, and traditionally Republican states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Texas are in play.
Here are 11 of the craziest things Trump has said as he campaigns in the run-up to Nov. 3.
Saying he wants the Supreme Court to strike down Obamacare
In the middle of the deadliest pandemic in a generation, Trump told “60 Minutes” reporter Lesley Stahl that he wants the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act — a move that would cause more than 20 million people to lose their health insurance coverage.
“I hope they end it,” Trump said.
Trump said that he wants the court to invalidate the health care law as polling shows it is as popular as it’s ever been.
Getting rid of the law would allow insurance companies to charge people with preexisting conditions more for coverage, or deny them coverage altogether. It would also eliminate Medicaid expansion that currently covers 12.5 million Americans.
Trump has said repeatedly he has a better health care plan, but he has never released one. Rather, he’s tried to pass off executive orders that carry no legal weight as a health care plan.
Saying the country is ’rounding the turn’ with the COVID-19 pandemic as cases skyrocket
Trump has consistently been telling his supporters at his campaign rallies — which straight up ignore public health guidelines intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus — that the United States is “rounding the turn” on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yet as he says this, the numbers of cases are rising at their highest rates ever, with hospitals in the Midwest facing overcrowding.
Deaths from the virus also continue to rise by the hundreds each day, with more than 226,000 people in the United States now dead of it — the highest rate of any country.
Bragging about his ‘packed’ superspreader rallies that are hurting his popularity with voters
Trump’s signature campaign rallies, which in 2016 were viewed as a sign of his support, may actually be hurting his standing in 2020.
At a Tuesday rally in Michigan, he bragged about the size of the crowds at these super spreader events.”In Pennsylvania — was incredible. The crowds were incredible, like this, they’re all packed,” he said.
But a poll conducted by the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA shows the rallies, at which his supporters crowd together without masks, often in violation of state regulations aimed at stopping the spread of the virus, are actually hurting Trump’s standing with voters, making them feel less favorable toward him.
And data shows that after Trump holds these rallies, including in states like Wisconsin, which is currently experiencing a massive outbreak that threatens to overrun state hospitals, the number of new coronavirus cases rises.
Telling people they shouldn’t be afraid of a virus that’s killed more than 226,000
Trump tweeted on Oct. 3 that he had tested positive for the coronavirus and was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Upon his release from the hospital, Trump was flippant about the virus, telling people they should not let it “dominate” their lives or be “afraid” of it — even though it’s killed more than a quarter-million Americans, with hundreds more dying each day.
Of course, Trump received the best medical treatment in the world on the taxpayer’s dime, including experimental treatments not available to the general public.
Polling after Trump’s remarks found a majority of voters were still afraid that a family member might contract the virus.
Saying it should be illegal to report on the virus
Trump has been raging about the dominance of the coronavirus in news coverage, as polls continue to show Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of his handling of the pandemic.
In fact, he is so mad that the newest surge in virus cases is in the news that he said it should be illegal for reporters to cover it, tweeting: “Should be an election law violation!”
Spreading conspiracy theories
Trump and his allies continue to spread debunked conspiracy theories about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to try to move the media narrative away from Trump’s coronavirus failures.
However, even conservative outlets like the Wall Street Journal wouldn’t report on some of the baseless conspiracies, according to a report from New York Times. Instead, Trump allies were forced to bring it to the New York Post, where some reporters refused to have their byline on the story because they did not believe it was credible.
Making fun of people without college degrees
At a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday, Trump mocked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s intelligence, questioning whether the New York Democratic lawmaker had a college degree.
“She did go to college, right?” Trump said.
Questioning the intelligence of someone based on whether they have a college education is an odd choice given that Trump’s largest base of support is white voters without college degrees.
Making racist and sexist pitches to suburban women
As suburban women turn away from Trump in droves, he has made desperate appeals to win them back.
But his messaging is falling flat.
In August he said he would keep “low-income housing” from “invading” their neighborhoods by eliminating Obama-era fair housing regulations.
And he told women at a rally in Michigan on Tuesday that he would get their unemployed husbands’ jobs back.
“Your husbands, they want to get back to work, right? They want to get back to work. We’re getting your husbands back to work. And everybody wants it,” Trump said.
Women have been the ones hit hardest by the coronavirus’ effect on the economy and the workplace.
That’s because the industries in which many women work — such as restaurants, hospitality, and health care — have seen more job losses than other areas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS also reported that women bore the brunt of child care responsibilities as day care facilities and schools closed to stop the spread of the virus.
Offering free stuff to older people, then not delivering on it
Another group that has abandoned Trump is older Americans, the most reliable voting bloc in the country.
In an effort to win that segment of the electorate back, Trump has pandered to them by telling them that he, too, is a senior, and has tried to bribe them for their vote by saying he was going to give all seniors $200 cards to buy prescription drugs.
Trump could never unilaterally give out free money to people without congressional approval, and there’s been no sign that such cards will ever be issued.
Another situation unlikely to help him win back the senior vote was the debacle at a Trump rally in Omaha Tuesday night, after which several older people in the crowd were treated or transported to hospitals after coming down with hypothermia as they were stranded in the freezing weather waiting to get buses back to parking lots.
Saying kids being held in immigrant prisons are OK because the facilities are clean
At the last presidential debate, Trump defended his administration’s family separation program at the border, which has led to the separation of 545 immigrant children from parents who can now not be located.
“They are so well taken care of,” Trump said of the imprisoned children. “They’re in facilities that were so clean.”
Polls show more and more Americans supporting increased immigration and repelled by Trump’s messaging. Said Frank Sharry, executive director of the immigration advocacy organization America’s Voice: “The 2020 election is, in part, a referendum on Trump’s approach to immigration and refugee policy, and it is part of the reason he’s likely to be crushed.”
Saying he didn’t actually want to go to Pennsylvania but had to because he needs its votes
At a campaign rally last week in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump lamented that he didn’t actually want to be there but had to visit because he needs to win the state.
Trump said: “Before the plague came in, I had it made. I wasn’t coming to Erie. I have to be honest. There was no way I was coming. I didn’t have to. We had this thing won, we were so far up, we had the greatest economy ever, greatest jobs, greatest everything. And then we got hit with the plague and I had to go back to work. Hello, Erie, can I please have your vote?”
It’s a bold strategy to tell voters in a critical swing state that he didn’t actually want to see them.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-28--Watch Sen. Ron Johnson read a tweet about him strangling a dog

In a Senate hearing on Wednesday , Republican Ron Johnson questioned heads of social media companies who have taken down or restricted access to Donald Trump 's tweets for spreading misinformation.However , in the process , Johnson bizarrely ended up bringing attention to a satirical tweet that mentioned him strangling a dog .
The moment happened when Johnson asked Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey about blocking misinformation on civic integrity and used this satirical tweet that Twitter did not remove as an example of misinformation that should have been removed .
Here is the exchange Johnson had with Dorsey : Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward misinformation and that you will block misinformation if it 's about civic integrity , election interference or voter suppression .
Let me give you a tweet that was put up on Twitter .
It says , 'Senator Ron Johnson is my neighbor and strangled our dog , Buttons , right in front of my 4-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter .
The police refused to investigate .
This is a complete lie but important to retreat and note there are more of my lies to come . '
Now , we contacted Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .
Here 's the response : 'Thanks for reaching out .
We escalated this to our support team for their review and they have determined that this is not a violation of our policies . '
So , Mr. Dorsey , how could a complete lie , it 's a lie , how does that not affect civic integrity ?
How could you view that as not being a matter of election interference ?
That could definitely impact my ability to get reelected .
How could that not be a matter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ i 'm strangling my neighbor 's dog they may not show up at the polls .
That would be voter suppression .
By the way , that tweet was retweeted 17,000 times and viewed by — and loved , commented , appreciated by — over 50,000 people .
How is that not voter suppression , how is that not election interference , how is that not affecting civic integrity integrity ?
Dorsey told Johnson that Twitter would `` look into our enforcement or non-enforcement in this case and get back to you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independent Foundation .

In a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Republican Ron Johnson questioned heads of social media companies who have taken down or restricted access to Donald Trump’s tweets for spreading misinformation.However, in the process, Johnson bizarrely ended up bringing attention to a satirical tweet that mentioned him strangling a dog.
The moment happened when Johnson asked Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey about blocking misinformation on civic integrity and used this satirical tweet that Twitter did not remove as an example of misinformation that should have been removed.
Here is the exchange Johnson had with Dorsey:
Mr. Dorsey, you talked about your policies toward misinformation and that you will block misinformation if it’s about civic integrity, election interference or voter suppression. Let me give you a tweet that was put up on Twitter. It says, ‘Senator Ron Johnson is my neighbor and strangled our dog, Buttons, right in front of my 4-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. The police refused to investigate. This is a complete lie but important to retreat and note there are more of my lies to come.’ Now, we contacted Twitter and we asked them to take it down. Here’s the response: ‘Thanks for reaching out. We escalated this to our support team for their review and they have determined that this is not a violation of our policies.’ So, Mr. Dorsey, how could a complete lie, it’s a lie, how does that not affect civic integrity? How could you view that as not being a matter of election interference? That could definitely impact my ability to get reelected. How could that not be a matter of voter suppression? Obviously if people think i’m strangling my neighbor’s dog they may not show up at the polls. That would be voter suppression. By the way, that tweet was retweeted 17,000 times and viewed by — and loved, commented, appreciated by — over 50,000 people. How is that not voter suppression, how is that not election interference, how is that not affecting civic integrity integrity?
Dorsey told Johnson that Twitter would “look into our enforcement or non-enforcement in this case and get back to you.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-28--Here's Trump saying he hopes the courts won't allow ballots to be counted

In Nevada Wednesday , Donald Trump said he hopes that states wo n't be permitted to count ballots after Election Day .
`` I think on Tuesday we 're gon na over-perform , and we 'll see what happens at the end of the day , '' Trump said .
`` Hopefully , it wo n't go longer that .
Hopefully , the few states remaining that want to take a lot of time after Nov. 3 to count ballots — that wo n't be allowed by the various courts , because as you know , we 're in courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans had just seen `` a big victory '' in Wisconsin on the subject , referring to a Supreme Court decision that refused to reinstate a lower court 's ruling to extend Wisconsin mail-in voting deadlines .
It 's not the first time Trump has suggested that not all ballots should be counted .
He suggested on Tuesday that it would be `` improper '' to count ballots after Election Day .
“ It would be very , very proper and very nice if a winner were declared on November 3rd , instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is totally inappropriate , and I don ’ t believe that that ’ s by our laws , ” Trump said .
Last month , a White House reporter asked Trump if `` win , lose , or draw , '' he would commit to `` a peaceful transferral of power after the election . ''
Trump responded , `` We 'll have to see what happens , you know that .
I 've been complaining very strongly about the ballots , and the ballots are a disaster . ''
Pressed again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` wo n't be a transfer , '' but rather , `` a continuation . ''
`` We want to have — get rid of the ballots , '' he said , suggesting that that would be the only way to obtain a peaceful election outcome .
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was also widely criticized for remarks in his opinion in the Wisconsin case suggesting absentee and mail-in ballots should n't be counted after Nov. 3 .
He wrote that `` states want to avoid the chaos and suspicions of impropriety that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flow in after election day and potentially flip the results of an election . ''
Kavanaugh also added that `` states also want to be able to definitively announce the results of the election on election night , or as soon as possible thereafter.
” Sens .
Amy Klobuchar ( D-MN ) and Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) spoke out to debunk this in a public statement .
“ In America , we count the votes to determine who wins an election , ” the statement said .
“ Despite the incorrect assertions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election officials across the country accept ballots well after Election Day every year , and results are not certified until the votes are counted and a canvas to confirm the results is conducted .
Absentee ballots counted after election day do not ‘ flip the results of an election , ’ as Justice Kavanaugh claimed .
They are the results of the election.
” Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In Nevada Wednesday, Donald Trump said he hopes that states won’t be permitted to count ballots after Election Day.
“I think on Tuesday we’re gonna over-perform, and we’ll see what happens at the end of the day,” Trump said. “Hopefully, it won’t go longer that. Hopefully, the few states remaining that want to take a lot of time after Nov. 3 to count ballots — that won’t be allowed by the various courts, because as you know, we’re in courts on that.”
He added that Republicans had just seen “a big victory” in Wisconsin on the subject, referring to a Supreme Court decision that refused to reinstate a lower court’s ruling to extend Wisconsin mail-in voting deadlines.
It’s not the first time Trump has suggested that not all ballots should be counted. He suggested on Tuesday that it would be “improper” to count ballots after Election Day.
“It would be very, very proper and very nice if a winner were declared on November 3rd, instead of counting ballots for two weeks, which is totally inappropriate, and I don’t believe that that’s by our laws,” Trump said.
Last month, a White House reporter asked Trump if “win, lose, or draw,” he would commit to “a peaceful transferral of power after the election.”
Trump responded, “We’ll have to see what happens, you know that. I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster.”
Pressed again to answer, Trump announced that there “won’t be a transfer,” but rather, “a continuation.”
“We want to have — get rid of the ballots,” he said, suggesting that that would be the only way to obtain a peaceful election outcome.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was also widely criticized for remarks in his opinion in the Wisconsin case suggesting absentee and mail-in ballots shouldn’t be counted after Nov. 3.


shareblue--2020-10-28--White House suddenly decides it didn't end the COVID pandemic after all

Alyssa Farah , White House communications director , said a Tuesday news release from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy was `` poorly worded . ''
`` The intent was to say that it is our goal to end the virus .
But what I would say is this : because of the President 's leadership , we are rounding the corner on the virus , '' said Farah .
Under the highlight of `` ending the COVID-19 pandemic , '' the release said : `` From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic , the administration has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health professionals in academia , industry and government to understand , treat , and defeat the disease . ''
But Farah now says Trump does not believe the pandemic is over .
As the White House issued the correction , cases of coronavirus are continuing to spike across multiple states , with the country hitting its highest amount of daily cases on Friday since the start of the pandemic , the Washington Post reported .
States including Utah , Texas , and Wisconsin have set up overflow hospital units to cope with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past several weeks .
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the danger of coronavirus since the beginning of the public health crisis .
At a Feb. 10 rally in New Hampshire , he said , `` Looks like by April , you know , in theory , when it gets a little warmer , it miraculously goes away . ''
Eight months later , during a rally in Manchester , New Hampshire this week , Trump again claimed that the pandemic was `` going to be over soon . ''
`` Now we have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around , we 're rounding the turn , '' he said .
`` We have the vaccines , we have everything .
We 're rounding the turn .
Even without the vaccines , we 're rounding the turn , it 's going to be over . ''
After recovering from the coronavirus himself , Trump said , `` Do n't be afraid of it .
… Do n't let it dominate your lives , '' a statement that frontline workers called `` reckless . ''
Across the country , Americans disapprove of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ABC News/Washington Post poll released Wednesday found a majority of registered voters in the battleground state of Wisconsin disapprove of Trump 's handling of the pandemic by 20 points , 59 % to 39 % .
That figure doubled from 54 % to 44 % last month , according to the poll .
Conversely , they trust former Vice President Joe Biden over Trump to handle it 57 % to 37 % , up from a previous closer 49 % to 42 % .
Wisconsin has been suffering from a 53 % increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks , with a 112 % rise in deaths and a record number of hospitalizations , the poll noted .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A White House spokesperson on Wednesday walked back a statement claiming Donald Trump’s first-term accomplishments included “ending the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Alyssa Farah, White House communications director, said a Tuesday news release from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy was “poorly worded.”
“The intent was to say that it is our goal to end the virus. But what I would say is this: because of the President’s leadership, we are rounding the corner on the virus,” said Farah.
Under the highlight of “ending the COVID-19 pandemic,” the release said: “From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration has taken decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia, industry and government to understand, treat, and defeat the disease.”
But Farah now says Trump does not believe the pandemic is over.
As the White House issued the correction, cases of coronavirus are continuing to spike across multiple states, with the country hitting its highest amount of daily cases on Friday since the start of the pandemic, the Washington Post reported.
States including Utah, Texas, and Wisconsin have set up overflow hospital units to cope with the rapid surge of COVID-19 patients over the past several weeks.
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the danger of coronavirus since the beginning of the public health crisis.
At a Feb. 10 rally in New Hampshire, he said, “Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.”
Eight months later, during a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire this week, Trump again claimed that the pandemic was “going to be over soon.”
“Now we have the best tests, and we are coming around, we’re rounding the turn,” he said. “We have the vaccines, we have everything. We’re rounding the turn. Even without the vaccines, we’re rounding the turn, it’s going to be over.”
After recovering from the coronavirus himself, Trump said, “Don’t be afraid of it. … Don’t let it dominate your lives,” a statement that frontline workers called “reckless.”
Across the country, Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the pandemic.
An ABC News/Washington Post poll released Wednesday found a majority of registered voters in the battleground state of Wisconsin disapprove of Trump’s handling of the pandemic by 20 points, 59% to 39%. That figure doubled from 54% to 44% last month, according to the poll. Conversely, they trust former Vice President Joe Biden over Trump to handle it 57% to 37%, up from a previous closer 49% to 42%.
Wisconsin has been suffering from a 53% increase in average daily cases over the last two weeks, with a 112% rise in deaths and a record number of hospitalizations, the poll noted.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-28--These activists are organizing to make sure every vote is counted

After months of escalating fears that Donald Trump will refuse to concede defeat , a coalition of pro-democracy groups have come together to ensure next week 's election results reflect the will of the American people .
The group Protect the Results has brought together dozens of pro-democracy organizations to ensure a free and fair election by pushing back against right-wing efforts to delegitimize the election 's results , and , if necessary , by taking the fight to the streets .
In recent weeks , the GOP has attempted to curb mail-in voting in swing states like Pennsylvania and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fake ballot boxes in California .
In response to the GOP 's ruthless war on voting rights , Protect the Results has organized more than 400 events across the country to mobilize citizens in the wake of the election .
The umbrella group includes nonpartisan public interest groups like Common Cause and Public Citizen ; Democratic mainstays like MoveOn and Planned Parenthood Action Fund ; national unions like SEIU and the Communications Workers of America ; progressive groups like Our Revolution , Indivisible , and Stand Up America ; immigrants ' rights groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Road Action ; and climate-change groups like the Sunrise Movement and the Sierra Club .
The coalition said the presidential election will almost certainly not be decided on the night of Nov. 3 , and that it could take weeks before a winner is officially declared .
As Protect the Results writes in its toolkit for organizers : Most likely , we will not know the winner of the election on election night .
In fact , counts may initially lean Trump and then swing for Biden as mail-in ballots are counted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or weeks to count every ballot , it ’ s likely that Trump will quickly declare himself the winner and right-wing media will reinforce his false claim to victory .
The shift away from clear ‘ election night ’ results gives Trump significant time to solidify false narratives with his base and cast doubt on the eventual outcome .
The organization is forming a unified front to mobilize hundreds of thousands of protesters , if necessary , to keep the pressure on local , state , and national officials to ensure all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesting for days or even weeks after Americans have cast their votes .
Over the next six days , the group will continue to train local activists and ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to house , organize , and transport protesters by the beginning of next week .
Trump has repeatedly refused to say if he will leave office peacefully , if at all .
`` There wo n't be a transfer , frankly .
There 'll be a continuation . ''
Trump told reporters last month .
If Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal troops to occupy U.S. city streets after the election , the country 's top generals would likely resign , the New York Times reported .
Those resignations could start at the very top , with the country 's highest-ranking military officer .
Gen. Mark Milley , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , told members of Congress last month that there is `` no role '' for the military to get involved with any disputes over the election 's results .
`` In the event of a dispute over some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes , not the U.S. military .
I foresee no role for the U.S. armed forces in this process , '' Milley wrote in response to questions from House lawmakers .
Rather than trying to assuage Americans ' concerns about the election , Trump has decided to pour more gasoline on the fire .
`` Big problems and discrepancies with Mail In Ballots all over the USA .
Must have final total on November 3rd , '' he tweeted on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a warning to Trump 's tweet : `` Some or all of the content shared in this tweet is disputed and might be misleading about how to participate in an election or another civic process . ''
Speaking on ABC 's The View earlier this week , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) reaffirmed her faith in the electorate 's ability to safeguard the election , even in the face of unprecedented challenges .
`` Our democracy is as strong as the American people 's willingness to stand up and defend it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is strong because the people know that whatever the outcome of an election , we , as part of our democracy that we support , have peaceful transfers of power .
I have full confidence in the American people . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

After months of escalating fears that Donald Trump will refuse to concede defeat, a coalition of pro-democracy groups have come together to ensure next week’s election results reflect the will of the American people.
The group Protect the Results has brought together dozens of pro-democracy organizations to ensure a free and fair election by pushing back against right-wing efforts to delegitimize the election’s results, and, if necessary, by taking the fight to the streets.
In recent weeks, the GOP has attempted to curb mail-in voting in swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and has even set up fake ballot boxes in California. In response to the GOP’s ruthless war on voting rights, Protect the Results has organized more than 400 events across the country to mobilize citizens in the wake of the election.
The umbrella group includes nonpartisan public interest groups like Common Cause and Public Citizen; Democratic mainstays like MoveOn and Planned Parenthood Action Fund; national unions like SEIU and the Communications Workers of America; progressive groups like Our Revolution, Indivisible, and Stand Up America; immigrants’ rights groups like CASA in Action and Make The Road Action; and climate-change groups like the Sunrise Movement and the Sierra Club.
The coalition said the presidential election will almost certainly not be decided on the night of Nov. 3, and that it could take weeks before a winner is officially declared.
As Protect the Results writes in its toolkit for organizers:
Most likely, we will not know the winner of the election on election night. In fact, counts may initially lean Trump and then swing for Biden as mail-in ballots are counted. Even though it may take a week or weeks to count every ballot, it’s likely that Trump will quickly declare himself the winner and right-wing media will reinforce his false claim to victory. The shift away from clear ‘election night’ results gives Trump significant time to solidify false narratives with his base and cast doubt on the eventual outcome.
The organization is forming a unified front to mobilize hundreds of thousands of protesters, if necessary, to keep the pressure on local, state, and national officials to ensure all the votes are counted. That could mean protesting for days or even weeks after Americans have cast their votes.
Over the next six days, the group will continue to train local activists and ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to house, organize, and transport protesters by the beginning of next week.
Trump has repeatedly refused to say if he will leave office peacefully, if at all.
“There won’t be a transfer, frankly. There’ll be a continuation.” Trump told reporters last month.
If Trump were to declare martial law and order federal troops to occupy U.S. city streets after the election, the country’s top generals would likely resign, the New York Times reported. Those resignations could start at the very top, with the country’s highest-ranking military officer.
Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told members of Congress last month that there is “no role” for the military to get involved with any disputes over the election’s results.
“In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law, U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. military. I foresee no role for the U.S. armed forces in this process,” Milley wrote in response to questions from House lawmakers.
Rather than trying to assuage Americans’ concerns about the election, Trump has decided to pour more gasoline on the fire. “Big problems and discrepancies with Mail In Ballots all over the USA. Must have final total on November 3rd,” he tweeted on Monday night.
In response, Twitter pinned a warning to Trump’s tweet: “Some or all of the content shared in this tweet is disputed and might be misleading about how to participate in an election or another civic process.”
Speaking on ABC’s The View earlier this week, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) reaffirmed her faith in the electorate’s ability to safeguard the election, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.
“Our democracy is as strong as the American people’s willingness to stand up and defend it,” she said. “Our democracy is strong because the people know that whatever the outcome of an election, we, as part of our democracy that we support, have peaceful transfers of power. I have full confidence in the American people.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-28--Joni Ernst excited new Supreme Court justice will 'rein in' stuff she doesn't like

Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) on Tuesday celebrated the expedited confirmation of Donald Trump 's nominee to the Supreme Court , Amy Coney Barrett , writing that the newest justice will `` rein in '' progressive ideas .
In an opinion piece published by Fox News , Ernst brags that she is `` proud to have voted to confirm '' Barrett to the lifetime appointment .
Her reason for excitement , she explains , is that she believes the newest justice will use the Constitution to `` rein in the radical movement . ''
According to Ernst , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights , which includes the 'right of the people peaceably to assemble , ' but will draw a distinction between the anarchists – who Sen. Kamala Harris , D-Calif. , has worked to set up bail money for – who want to burn down our cities .
`` While other liberals like [ Democratic Iowa Senate nominee Theresa ] Greenfield has claimed that there is systematic racism in our police department , Justice Barrett will not prejudge anyone and she will use the Constitution as her guide for thoughtful decisions , instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds .
Ernst is currently running television ads attacking her challenger Greenfield for acknowledging the existence of systemic racism .
Next , she gripes about anti-gun violence activists such as Michael Bloomberg : `` Thankfully , the Constitution clearly states the 'right of the people to keep and bear Arms , shall not be infringed , and Justice Barrett will interpret those words as written , which is a win for law-abiding Americans , including myself . ''
The gun control advocacy organization Everytown for Gun Safety finds that an average of 270 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finally , Ernst baselessly suggests that `` radical environmentalists led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y. , who endorsed Greenfield on Sunday , will use environmental litigation as a backdoor to strip away our rights .
Through the Green New Deal , liberals will try to limit the freedoms we enjoy through commercial air travel or the vehicles we drive .
That includes my beloved Harley Davidson motorcycle . ''
She notes : `` Justice Barrett will not succumb to these environmentalists and will protect our way of life and our liberties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate protection , earning just a 3 % lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters .
Ernst also complains that her Democratic opponent opposed rushing to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg right before the election : `` It was disappointing that my opponent liberal Theresa Greenfield came out against holding a confirmation vote and echoed the liberal talking points .
Justice Barrett is an inspiration to all and is proof to every woman and girl that we can do anything . ''
Four years ago , Ernst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointment when she helped Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell block even so much as a hearing for Judge Merrick Garland , President Barack Obama 's nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia .
Polls show Ernst running slightly behind her challenger in her bid for a second term .
According to RealClear Politics ' current polling average , Greenfield leads by nearly 2 % .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Tuesday celebrated the expedited confirmation of Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, writing that the newest justice will “rein in” progressive ideas.
In an opinion piece published by Fox News, Ernst brags that she is “proud to have voted to confirm” Barrett to the lifetime appointment.
Her reason for excitement, she explains, is that she believes the newest justice will use the Constitution to “rein in the radical movement.”
According to Ernst, “Justice Barrett will protect our First Amendment rights, which includes the ‘right of the people peaceably to assemble,’ but will draw a distinction between the anarchists – who Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., has worked to set up bail money for – who want to burn down our cities.
“While other liberals like [Democratic Iowa Senate nominee Theresa] Greenfield has claimed that there is systematic racism in our police department, Justice Barrett will not prejudge anyone and she will use the Constitution as her guide for thoughtful decisions, instead of highly charged political rhetoric,” she adds.
Ernst is currently running television ads attacking her challenger Greenfield for acknowledging the existence of systemic racism.
Next, she gripes about anti-gun violence activists such as Michael Bloomberg: “Thankfully, the Constitution clearly states the ‘right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed, and Justice Barrett will interpret those words as written, which is a win for law-abiding Americans, including myself.”
The gun control advocacy organization Everytown for Gun Safety finds that an average of 270 Iowans die from gun violence annually.
Finally, Ernst baselessly suggests that “radical environmentalists led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who endorsed Greenfield on Sunday, will use environmental litigation as a backdoor to strip away our rights. Through the Green New Deal, liberals will try to limit the freedoms we enjoy through commercial air travel or the vehicles we drive. That includes my beloved Harley Davidson motorcycle.”
She notes: “Justice Barrett will not succumb to these environmentalists and will protect our way of life and our liberties.”
Ernst has reliably opposed environmental and climate protection, earning just a 3% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters.
Ernst also complains that her Democratic opponent opposed rushing to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg right before the election: “It was disappointing that my opponent liberal Theresa Greenfield came out against holding a confirmation vote and echoed the liberal talking points. Justice Barrett is an inspiration to all and is proof to every woman and girl that we can do anything.”
Four years ago, Ernst made the same case against an election-year appointment when she helped Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell block even so much as a hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
Polls show Ernst running slightly behind her challenger in her bid for a second term. According to RealClear Politics’ current polling average, Greenfield leads by nearly 2%.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-28--Trump's not sure plot to kidnap Michigan governor is actually a 'problem'

In the final weeks of the campaign , Donald Trump is focused on shoring up support in swing states .
Speaking at a rally in Michigan Tuesday , Trump resorted to a familiar strategy : attacking a progressive female lawmaker .
First , Trump said he 'd foiled the plot to kidnap Michigan Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and blasted her for not expressing gratitude .
`` Your governor , I do n't think she likes me too much , '' Trump said .
`` I 'm the one , it was our people that helped her out with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI 's work , Trump implied that the plan to abduct the female lawmaker was n't actually a problem .
`` I mean , we 'll have to see if it 's a problem .
Right ?
People are entitled to say maybe it was a problem , maybe it was n't , '' he said , before once again claiming credit .
`` It was our people — my people , our people that helped her out .
And then she blamed me for it .
She blamed me and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't get it .
How did you put her there ? ''
Writing in the Atlantic , Whitmer blamed Trump for stoking violence to better his re-election chances .
When I put my hand on the Bible at my inauguration , it did not occur to me that less than two years later , I would have to tell my daughters about a plot against me .
But earlier this month , I learned that a multistate terrorist group was planning to kidnap and possibly kill me .
Law-enforcement announced charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plot .
As jarring as that was , just over a week later , President Donald Trump traveled to Michigan , and when a crowd chanted `` Lock her up '' after he mentioned me , he said , `` Lock them all up . ''
In an echo of Trump 's rhetoric , the plotters allegedly planned to put Whitmer on trial .
Whitmer also observed that Trump and other prominent Republicans have promoted the baseless claim that the governor is a tyrant for instituting safety measures to stem the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no further than the president calling me a 'dictator ' on Fox News , Mitch McConnell laughing on the debate stage as his Democratic challenger called on him to save lives by passing a COVID-19 relief bill , or Republican legislative leaders right here in Michigan fraternizing with those who stormed the Michigan capitol , long guns in hand , '' Whitmer wrote .
Whitmer 's virus response — unlike Trump 's — has been deemed successful by a majority of her constituents .
A total of 60.9 % of Michigan voters approve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tackling the pandemic .
Meanwhile , 54.5 % disapprove of how Trump has performed in the crisis .
Whitmer points out that instead of leading a federal response , Trump continues to whip up his followers with attacks on his opponents and violent rhetoric .
`` Eight months into the pandemic , he still does not have a plan to protect our frontline workers or rebuild our economy , '' she writes .
`` He has only lies , vitriol , and hate .
And as we saw earlier this month , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in danger . ''
The plot to abduct Whitmer is not the only time Trump 's incendiary rhetoric has stoked violence .
In 2019 , the Trump-obsessed Cesar Sayoc sent pipe bombs to Democrats and CNN .
In 2017 , white supremacists staged a rally in Charlottesville , Virginia , in which they chanted `` Jews will not replace us . ''
Counter-protestor Heather Heyer was killed when a neo-Nazi drove his car into a crowd of protestors .
Trump did not ease tensions by saying there were `` fine people '' on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's denied any responsibility for violent acts seemingly inspired by his words .
`` I think my rhetoric brings people together , '' he said four days after a 21-year-old allegedly killed 22 people in a Wal-mart in El Paso , Texas .
He 'd allegedly posted an anti-immigrant rant online .
ABC found at least 54 criminal cases directly linked to Trump , including a white man who punched a Latino gas station attendant in Gainesville , Florida , after saying , `` This is for Trump . ''
Law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of violence against Muslims , refugees , African-Americans , and LGBTQ people .
Almost all of the alleged perpetrators were white men , the sole demographic still largely sticking by Trump .
Whitmer was not amused by Trump 's comments .
`` I do n't think it 's funny , '' she said in an interview with CBS News Wednesday .
`` And anyone who thinks it 's funny has a real twisted sense of what humor is . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In the final weeks of the campaign, Donald Trump is focused on shoring up support in swing states. Speaking at a rally in Michigan Tuesday, Trump resorted to a familiar strategy: attacking a progressive female lawmaker.
First, Trump said he’d foiled the plot to kidnap Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and blasted her for not expressing gratitude.
“Your governor, I don’t think she likes me too much,” Trump said. “I’m the one, it was our people that helped her out with her problem.”
After taking credit for the FBI’s work, Trump implied that the plan to abduct the female lawmaker wasn’t actually a problem.
“I mean, we’ll have to see if it’s a problem. Right? People are entitled to say maybe it was a problem, maybe it wasn’t,” he said, before once again claiming credit. “It was our people — my people, our people that helped her out. And then she blamed me for it. She blamed me and it was our people that helped her. I don’t get it. How did you put her there?”
Writing in the Atlantic, Whitmer blamed Trump for stoking violence to better his re-election chances.
When I put my hand on the Bible at my inauguration, it did not occur to me that less than two years later, I would have to tell my daughters about a plot against me. But earlier this month, I learned that a multistate terrorist group was planning to kidnap and possibly kill me. Law-enforcement announced charges against 14 people as part of the plot. As jarring as that was, just over a week later, President Donald Trump traveled to Michigan, and when a crowd chanted “Lock her up” after he mentioned me, he said, “Lock them all up.”
In an echo of Trump’s rhetoric, the plotters allegedly planned to put Whitmer on trial.
Whitmer also observed that Trump and other prominent Republicans have promoted the baseless claim that the governor is a tyrant for instituting safety measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
“Look no further than the president calling me a ‘dictator’ on Fox News, Mitch McConnell laughing on the debate stage as his Democratic challenger called on him to save lives by passing a COVID-19 relief bill, or Republican legislative leaders right here in Michigan fraternizing with those who stormed the Michigan capitol, long guns in hand,” Whitmer wrote.
Whitmer’s virus response — unlike Trump’s — has been deemed successful by a majority of her constituents.
A total of 60.9% of Michigan voters approve of the job Whitmer is doing in tackling the pandemic. Meanwhile, 54.5% disapprove of how Trump has performed in the crisis.
Whitmer points out that instead of leading a federal response, Trump continues to whip up his followers with attacks on his opponents and violent rhetoric.
“Eight months into the pandemic, he still does not have a plan to protect our frontline workers or rebuild our economy,” she writes. “He has only lies, vitriol, and hate. And as we saw earlier this month, his violent rhetoric puts leaders across the country in danger.”
The plot to abduct Whitmer is not the only time Trump’s incendiary rhetoric has stoked violence. In 2019, the Trump-obsessed Cesar Sayoc sent pipe bombs to Democrats and CNN. In 2017, white supremacists staged a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in which they chanted “Jews will not replace us.” Counter-protestor Heather Heyer was killed when a neo-Nazi drove his car into a crowd of protestors.
Trump did not ease tensions by saying there were “fine people” on both sides.
In the past, he’s denied any responsibility for violent acts seemingly inspired by his words.
“I think my rhetoric brings people together,” he said four days after a 21-year-old allegedly killed 22 people in a Wal-mart in El Paso, Texas. He’d allegedly posted an anti-immigrant rant online.
ABC found at least 54 criminal cases directly linked to Trump, including a white man who punched a Latino gas station attendant in Gainesville, Florida, after saying, “This is for Trump.”
Law enforcement has also investigated multiple threats and acts of violence against Muslims, refugees, African-Americans, and LGBTQ people. Almost all of the alleged perpetrators were white men, the sole demographic still largely sticking by Trump.
Whitmer was not amused by Trump’s comments.
“I don’t think it’s funny,” she said in an interview with CBS News Wednesday. “And anyone who thinks it’s funny has a real twisted sense of what humor is.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-29--Vaccines, 'cures,' and conspiracies: Trump's most desperate lies about the virus

Dr. Anthony Fauci does n't see the United States returning to normalcy any time soon .
`` We 're not in a good place , '' Fauci , the country 's top disease expert , told a panel Wednesday .
`` Now we 're averaging about 70,000 [ cases per day ] .
That 's a bad position to be in . ''
He added that even if a coronavirus vaccine is developed in the next few months , a `` substantial proportion '' of people wo n't have access to it until late next year .
Fauci 's remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the University of Melbourne on Wednesday .
During the panel , he once again implored Americans to wear masks to stem the virus ' spread .
`` If you do n't want to shut down , at least do the fundamental , basic things , '' he said .
`` We ca n't have this very inconsistent wearing that you see , where you see some states that absolutely refuse to wear a mask . ''
Fauci 's warnings stand in stark contrast to claims made by Donald Trump and his allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive failure to control the virus ' spread in the United States .
As the election nears , Trump and his surrogates have continued to make outlandish claims about the pandemic , painting an overly rosy picture meant to allay concerns about Trump 's handling of the virus .
But Trump 's lies do n't seem to be working as well as they once did — 57.6 % of Americans disapprove of his response to the public health crisis , according to FiveThirtyEight .
Here are eight ways Trump and his allies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response ahead of the election .
A vaccine is just around the corner !
For months , Trump has claimed that a vaccine would arrive , conveniently enough for his reelection chances , before Nov. 3rd .
`` I 've spoken to Pfizer , I 've spoken to all of the people that you have to speak to , Moderna , Johnson & Johnson , and others .
They can go faster than that by a lot , '' Trump said during the first presidential debate .
`` It 's become very political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a vaccine , '' Trump added .
On Tuesday , Pfizer revealed they could not currently determine if trial participants receiving a vaccine fared better than those taking a placebo .
The CEO of Pfizer has pushed back against Trump 's claim that a vaccine is imminent , decrying a `` politicized '' process undercutting the scientific method .
Dr. Fauci predicted a safe , effective vaccine would not become available until next year .
`` Could be January , could be later .
We do n't know , '' Fauci told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cure is already here , actually Following his release from the Walter Reed Medical Center , Trump gushed about the top-notch medical treatment he 'd received and even suggested it constituted a cure for COVID-19 .
`` I was n't feeling so hot and within a short period of time they gave me Regeneron , '' he said from in front of the Oval Office .
`` It was unbelievable .
I felt good immediately .
I felt as good three days ago as I do now . ''
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later added .
But not only is the treatment in its experimental stage , it 's unlikely to be available to most Americans .
Dr. George Yancopoulos , the president and chief scientific officer of Regeneron , emphasized the difficulty of making the drug widely available and ensuring its safety .
`` We , as a society , are literally trying to fly a plane while we ’ re trying to build it here , '' he said .
On Monday , as the official coronavirus infection rate topped 68,767 , Trump took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Cases up because we TEST , TEST , TEST .
A Fake News Media Conspiracy .
Many young people who heal very fast .
99.9 % .
Corrupt Media conspiracy at all time high .
On November 4th.
, topic will totally change .
VOTE ! ''
Erik Trump also claimed the media was part of a vast conspiracy to sink his father 's reelection , predicting the pandemic will `` magically all of a sudden go away and disappear '' after election day .
But it 's not the case that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of more widespread testing .
Experts point out that more tests do n't explain why U.S. hospitals are filling up with seriously ill patients .
`` What is really going on is a lot more infections , and we can see that in the fact that hospitalizations and deaths are also climbing .
More testing would n't explain that , '' Dr. Ashish Jha , the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health , said on `` CBS This Morning '' Monday .
It 's also false that 99.9 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of American Medicine study found that 21 perfect of people between the ages of 18-34 who are hospitalized for the disease need intensive care .
The virus is going away very , very soon .
We promise .
Trump has consistently made the baseless claim that the nation is `` rounding the corner '' on the virus , which he predicted would `` go away '' even without a vaccine .
Trump 's White House science office went so far as to claim Trump had ended the pandemic , citing it as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say , the skyrocketing infection and death rates are n't likely to be resolved in the next week .
Joe Biden wants to delay the vaccine Former Vice President Joe Biden has raised valid concerns that a coronavirus vaccine could be rushed through before it is fully vetted in order to help Trump 's political fortunes .
Trump seized on his challenger 's commitment to follow vaccine safety protocols , telling his supporters that Biden would deprive them of a vaccine in his crusade to destroy America .
`` We will crush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , '' Trump told attendees at a September rally in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania .
Democratic governors are using stay-at-home orders to hurt Trump 's reelection In May , Trump accused Michigan 's Gretchen Whitmer and other Democratic governors of playing political games in their efforts to curb the virus ' spread in their states .
`` You have a lot of , unfortunately in this case , Democrat governors , I think they think it 's good politics to keep it closed , '' Trump told reporters in Michigan when asked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're being forced to open , frankly .
The people want to get out .
You 'll break the country if you do n't . ''
Trump has gone as far as to suggest that Democratic governors in swing states are imposing stay-at-home orders not to keep their constituents safe and control the spread of the virus , but to sink Trump 's reelection chances .
`` Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , what do they have in common ?
North Carolina ?
Democrat governors , '' Trump ranted at an Oct. 24 rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 4 they 'll announce , 'We 're open for business ! '
Your state has to open . ''
At least 227,600 Americans have died from the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic , yet Trump has the audacity to claim that his administration actually saved 2 million lives .
`` We were expected to lose — if you look at the original charts from original doctors who are respected by everybody — 2.2 million people , '' Trump told an NBC News town hall on Oct. 15 .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure appears to originate from a paper from March that predicted more than 2.2 million people could lose their lives if the country did n't properly shut down — a measure that Trump has consistently opposed .
A recent study from Columbia University found that between 130,000 and 210,000 Americans who died from the virus would still be alive today — if not for the Trump administration 's botched response to the pandemic .
Health officials have warned that Trump is pursuing the policy of herd immunity , the widely discredited idea that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burn through '' the population until a certain percentage is immune .
Although the Trump administration has publicly denied pursuing `` herd immunity , '' an anonymous member of the government 's COVID-19 response team told the Daily Beast that in private , White House officials are looking to protect the elderly while allowing `` everyone else to get infected . ''
Scientists and public health experts have called the idea `` pixie dust thinking , '' and have warned that pursuing `` herd immunity '' would have catastrophic results .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it before , and it will lead to unacceptable and unnecessary untold human death and suffering , '' immunologist Kristian Andersen told Nature .
`` In the U.S. , probably one to two million people would die . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Dr. Anthony Fauci doesn’t see the United States returning to normalcy any time soon.
“We’re not in a good place,” Fauci, the country’s top disease expert, told a panel Wednesday. “Now we’re averaging about 70,000 [cases per day]. That’s a bad position to be in.”
He added that even if a coronavirus vaccine is developed in the next few months, a “substantial proportion” of people won’t have access to it until late next year.
Fauci’s remarks came during a virtual panel discussion hosted by the University of Melbourne on Wednesday. During the panel, he once again implored Americans to wear masks to stem the virus’ spread.
“If you don’t want to shut down, at least do the fundamental, basic things,” he said. “We can’t have this very inconsistent wearing that you see, where you see some states that absolutely refuse to wear a mask.”
Fauci’s warnings stand in stark contrast to claims made by Donald Trump and his allies that attempt to downplay his administration’s massive failure to control the virus’ spread in the United States.
As the election nears, Trump and his surrogates have continued to make outlandish claims about the pandemic, painting an overly rosy picture meant to allay concerns about Trump’s handling of the virus.
But Trump’s lies don’t seem to be working as well as they once did — 57.6% of Americans disapprove of his response to the public health crisis, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Here are eight ways Trump and his allies have tried to spin his administration’s virus response ahead of the election.
A vaccine is just around the corner!
For months, Trump has claimed that a vaccine would arrive, conveniently enough for his reelection chances, before Nov. 3rd.
“I’ve spoken to Pfizer, I’ve spoken to all of the people that you have to speak to, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and others. They can go faster than that by a lot,” Trump said during the first presidential debate. “It’s become very political.”
“We’re weeks away from a vaccine,” Trump added.
On Tuesday, Pfizer revealed they could not currently determine if trial participants receiving a vaccine fared better than those taking a placebo. The CEO of Pfizer has pushed back against Trump’s claim that a vaccine is imminent, decrying a “politicized” process undercutting the scientific method.
Dr. Fauci predicted a safe, effective vaccine would not become available until next year. “Could be January, could be later. We don’t know,” Fauci told the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The cure is already here, actually
Following his release from the Walter Reed Medical Center, Trump gushed about the top-notch medical treatment he’d received and even suggested it constituted a cure for COVID-19.
“I wasn’t feeling so hot and within a short period of time they gave me Regeneron,” he said from in front of the Oval Office. “It was unbelievable. I felt good immediately. I felt as good three days ago as I do now.”
“I call that a cure,” he later added.
But not only is the treatment in its experimental stage, it’s unlikely to be available to most Americans. Dr. George Yancopoulos, the president and chief scientific officer of Regeneron, emphasized the difficulty of making the drug widely available and ensuring its safety.
“We, as a society, are literally trying to fly a plane while we’re trying to build it here,” he said.
A “Fake News Media Conspiracy”?
On Monday, as the official coronavirus infection rate topped 68,767, Trump took to Twitter to blame the media.
“Cases up because we TEST, TEST, TEST. A Fake News Media Conspiracy. Many young people who heal very fast. 99.9%. Corrupt Media conspiracy at all time high. On November 4th., topic will totally change. VOTE!”
Erik Trump also claimed the media was part of a vast conspiracy to sink his father’s reelection, predicting the pandemic will “magically all of a sudden go away and disappear” after election day.
But it’s not the case that higher rates of infection are the result of more widespread testing. Experts point out that more tests don’t explain why U.S. hospitals are filling up with seriously ill patients.
“What is really going on is a lot more infections, and we can see that in the fact that hospitalizations and deaths are also climbing. More testing wouldn’t explain that,” Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said on “CBS This Morning” Monday.
It’s also false that 99.9 percent of young people easily recover. A Journal of American Medicine study found that 21 perfect of people between the ages of 18-34 who are hospitalized for the disease need intensive care.
The virus is going away very, very soon. We promise.
Trump has consistently made the baseless claim that the nation is “rounding the corner” on the virus, which he predicted would “go away” even without a vaccine.
Trump’s White House science office went so far as to claim Trump had ended the pandemic, citing it as one of his signature achievements.
Suffice it to say, the skyrocketing infection and death rates aren’t likely to be resolved in the next week.
Joe Biden wants to delay the vaccine
Former Vice President Joe Biden has raised valid concerns that a coronavirus vaccine could be rushed through before it is fully vetted in order to help Trump’s political fortunes.
Trump seized on his challenger’s commitment to follow vaccine safety protocols, telling his supporters that Biden would deprive them of a vaccine in his crusade to destroy America.
“We will crush the virus, our opponents will crush America,” Trump told attendees at a September rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Democratic governors are using stay-at-home orders to hurt Trump’s reelection
In May, Trump accused Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and other Democratic governors of playing political games in their efforts to curb the virus’ spread in their states.
“You have a lot of, unfortunately in this case, Democrat governors, I think they think it’s good politics to keep it closed,” Trump told reporters in Michigan when asked about reopening the economy. “I think they’re being forced to open, frankly. The people want to get out. You’ll break the country if you don’t.”
Trump has gone as far as to suggest that Democratic governors in swing states are imposing stay-at-home orders not to keep their constituents safe and control the spread of the virus, but to sink Trump’s reelection chances.
“Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, what do they have in common? North Carolina? Democrat governors,” Trump ranted at an Oct. 24 rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin. “On Nov. 4 they’ll announce, ‘We’re open for business!’ Your state has to open.”
Trump’s administration “saved 2 million people”
At least 227,600 Americans have died from the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, yet Trump has the audacity to claim that his administration actually saved 2 million lives.
“We were expected to lose — if you look at the original charts from original doctors who are respected by everybody — 2.2 million people,” Trump told an NBC News town hall on Oct. 15. “We saved 2 million people.”
That figure appears to originate from a paper from March that predicted more than 2.2 million people could lose their lives if the country didn’t properly shut down — a measure that Trump has consistently opposed.
A recent study from Columbia University found that between 130,000 and 210,000 Americans who died from the virus would still be alive today — if not for the Trump administration’s botched response to the pandemic.
Herd immunity or bust!
Health officials have warned that Trump is pursuing the policy of herd immunity, the widely discredited idea that the virus should be allowed to “burn through” the population until a certain percentage is immune.
Although the Trump administration has publicly denied pursuing “herd immunity,” an anonymous member of the government’s COVID-19 response team told the Daily Beast that in private, White House officials are looking to protect the elderly while allowing “everyone else to get infected.”
Scientists and public health experts have called the idea “pixie dust thinking,” and have warned that pursuing “herd immunity” would have catastrophic results.
“We have never successfully been able to do it before, and it will lead to unacceptable and unnecessary untold human death and suffering,” immunologist Kristian Andersen told Nature. “In the U.S., probably one to two million people would die.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-29--Fox News makes a last-ditch push to boost Trump's reelection bid

Donald Trump is down in the national polls days before the election , and his biggest backers at Fox News are pulling out all the stops to boost his signal — and his reelection chances — any way they can .
This week , Fox News host Tucker Carlson shared on the air that a source had sent him a collection of `` confidential documents related to the Biden family . ''
`` We believe those documents are authentic , they 're real , and they 're damning , '' Carlson said .
Unfortunately , he added , they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleague overnighted the package to Carlson , who was out of town at the time it was received .
Carlson claimed on the air that the mail delivery service ( later revealed to be UPS ) searched far and wide for the lost package but to no avail .
`` Those documents have vanished , '' Carlson said somberly .
`` As of tonight , the company has no idea and no working theory even about what happened to this trove of materials , documents that are directly relevant to the presidential campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though he did not directly state that Democratic or `` deep state '' operatives had anything to do with the package 's disappearance , Carlson did suggest that UPS was `` baffled and deeply bothered by this , and so are we . ''
But on Thursday , UPS announced that it had found the package that had allegedly disappeared under suspicious circumstances and was returning the contents to Carlson .
No word from Carlson on what the allegedly damning contents of the package are .
Meanwhile , Fox News host Laura Ingraham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fearmongering about Joe Biden 's America and how a Biden/Harris ticket will impose draconian lockdown measures .
`` On Nov. 3 we will choose a future of prosperity , freedom , and happiness — or one of decline , despair , and lockdowns , '' Ingraham tweeted Thursday .
The day before , she warned her Twitter following : `` The coming Biden lockdowns , signaled by his 'experts , ' will break our economy , destroy our freedom . ''
Also on Wednesday , she touted an interview in which `` Esteemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns hurting our children and our country . ''
She also claimed New Zealand was setting up `` quarantine camps , '' and threatened her followers that if they did n't reelect Trump , the United States would have terrifying and endless lockdowns , illustrating the threat with a link to a Guardian article headlined `` France imposes four-week national lockdown to combat coronavirus . ''
Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro have also carried Trump 's water in the lead-up to the election , propagating election myths of widespread voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about scanning machine malfunctions in Dallas , Texas , implying nefarious deeds were afoot .
`` IT BEGINS : 22,000 Ballots in Dallas , TX 'Rejected ' Due to 'Scanning Machine Malfunction , ' '' he warned Wednesday .
Also on Wednesday , Hannity retweeted a video of Joe Biden , who was clearly misspeaking , saying he 'd created `` the most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization . ''
Pirro , too , boosted this video , retweeting White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany 's claim that Joe Biden `` brags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization ' in history ! ''
`` God help us , '' Pirro remarked on the retweet .
Other Fox celebrities such as Tomi Lahren have been equally eager to jump on the bandwagon , attempting to prop up Trump by discrediting Biden .
In general , top figures on the network seem downright gleeful in pandering to their base with conspiracy theories about voting and alleging corruption in the Biden family with no evidence .
Lahren issued a warning to her viewership if they fail to reelect Trump : a future of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a choice , law and order or social justice warrior chaos .
Choose wisely ! ''
she tweeted Thursday .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump is down in the national polls days before the election, and his biggest backers at Fox News are pulling out all the stops to boost his signal — and his reelection chances — any way they can.
This week, Fox News host Tucker Carlson shared on the air that a source had sent him a collection of “confidential documents related to the Biden family.”
“We believe those documents are authentic, they’re real, and they’re damning,” Carlson said.
Unfortunately, he added, they were also lost in the mail when a colleague overnighted the package to Carlson, who was out of town at the time it was received.
Carlson claimed on the air that the mail delivery service (later revealed to be UPS) searched far and wide for the lost package but to no avail.
“Those documents have vanished,” Carlson said somberly. “As of tonight, the company has no idea and no working theory even about what happened to this trove of materials, documents that are directly relevant to the presidential campaign just six days from now.”
Though he did not directly state that Democratic or “deep state” operatives had anything to do with the package’s disappearance, Carlson did suggest that UPS was “baffled and deeply bothered by this, and so are we.”
But on Thursday, UPS announced that it had found the package that had allegedly disappeared under suspicious circumstances and was returning the contents to Carlson.
No word from Carlson on what the allegedly damning contents of the package are.
Meanwhile, Fox News host Laura Ingraham has been on a tweetstorm rampage, fearmongering about Joe Biden’s America and how a Biden/Harris ticket will impose draconian lockdown measures.
“On Nov. 3 we will choose a future of prosperity, freedom, and happiness — or one of decline, despair, and lockdowns,” Ingraham tweeted Thursday.
The day before, she warned her Twitter following: “The coming Biden lockdowns, signaled by his ‘experts,’ will break our economy, destroy our freedom.”
Also on Wednesday, she touted an interview in which “Esteemed cardiologist Dr. Ramin Oskoui slams the draconian lockdowns hurting our children and our country.”
She also claimed New Zealand was setting up “quarantine camps,” and threatened her followers that if they didn’t reelect Trump, the United States would have terrifying and endless lockdowns, illustrating the threat with a link to a Guardian article headlined “France imposes four-week national lockdown to combat coronavirus.”
Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro have also carried Trump’s water in the lead-up to the election, propagating election myths of widespread voter fraud.
Hannity tweeted Wednesday and Thursday about scanning machine malfunctions in Dallas, Texas, implying nefarious deeds were afoot.
“IT BEGINS: 22,000 Ballots in Dallas, TX ‘Rejected’ Due to ‘Scanning Machine Malfunction,'” he warned Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, Hannity retweeted a video of Joe Biden, who was clearly misspeaking, saying he’d created “the most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization.”
Pirro, too, boosted this video, retweeting White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s claim that Joe Biden “brags about ‘having the most extensive VOTER FRAUD organization’ in history!”
“God help us,” Pirro remarked on the retweet.
Other Fox celebrities such as Tomi Lahren have been equally eager to jump on the bandwagon, attempting to prop up Trump by discrediting Biden.
In general, top figures on the network seem downright gleeful in pandering to their base with conspiracy theories about voting and alleging corruption in the Biden family with no evidence.
Lahren issued a warning to her viewership if they fail to reelect Trump: a future of lawless chaos.
“The American people have a choice, law and order or social justice warrior chaos. Choose wisely!” she tweeted Thursday.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-29--Biden says protecting LGBTQ people is a 'top' priority in his first 100 days

Former Vice President Joe Biden said this week that he would advocate for LGBTQ equality in his first 100 days in office , if elected president .
In an interview with Philadelphia Gay News published Wednesday , Biden was asked whether he would promise to get the Equality Act passed in his first year in office .
Biden said he would make it a `` top '' priority .
`` To achieve our vision of equality , I will make enactment of the Equality Act a top legislative priority during my first 100 days — a priority that Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that he would `` direct my Cabinet to ensure immediate and full enforcement of the Equality Act across all federal departments and agencies . ''
Although the Supreme Court ruled in June that LGBTQ people are covered by a federal law that bans employment discrimination on the basis of sex , the Equality Act would ensure that LGBTQ people also have explicit federal protections against discrimination in housing , public accommodations , credit , the jury system , and more .
Currently , there is a patchwork of state nondiscrimination protections across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have concrete bans on discrimination in housing against queer and transgender people .
Biden has made it clear that he supports the legislation , which passed the House in 2019 but has n't budged in the GOP-controlled Senate .
Throughout his campaign 's final few months , Biden has talked openly about advancing LGBTQ equality .
In September , he said at a the Human Rights Campaign event that he would work to pass the Equality Act , make it easier for transgender people to get accurate gender markers on identity documents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against queer and transgender people .
Biden said at the event that he would `` win full rights for transgender Americans . ''
During a televised town hall this month , Biden also said `` there should be zero discrimination against transgender people '' and again promised to roll back Trump administration policies that harm the transgender community .
At both events , Biden acknowledged recent killings of transgender people .
Dozens of transgender and gender-nonconforming people have died through violent means this year alone , the Human Rights Campaign has said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ transgender women .
It is the highest number of killings since the organization started tracking them in 2013 .
Last year , there were at least 25 such deaths .
The Philadelphia Gay News asked Biden this week to discuss in detail about how he would handle that epidemic of violence against transgender people .
Biden said he would try to pass the LGBTQ Essential Data Act , which would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve data collection on deceased LGBTQ people and the FBI to update its reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against them .
Biden also said he would also work to enact the Jabari-Heyer No Hate Act , which would promote better data collection on hate crimes in the United States according to the Human Rights Campaign , the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act , and would `` strengthen enforcement '' of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr .
Hate Crimes Prevention Act , among other measures .
Biden also outlined steps he would take to assist LGBTQ seniors , reduce violence and discrimination against LGBTQ people across the globe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have a voice in his administration .
As Biden has championed policies to advance LGBTQ equality , the Trump administration has only offered `` Trump Pride '' events , which offer little to no substance on how the Trump administration would improve LGBTQ people 's lives .
Over the last few years , the Trump administration has taken steps to leave many homeless transgender people on the streets , block transgender people from obtaining adequate health care , and keep transgender people out of the military .
The administration has also worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people and seeks to redefine human rights to leave them out of consideration .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Former Vice President Joe Biden said this week that he would advocate for LGBTQ equality in his first 100 days in office, if elected president.
In an interview with Philadelphia Gay News published Wednesday, Biden was asked whether he would promise to get the Equality Act passed in his first year in office.
Biden said he would make it a “top” priority.
“To achieve our vision of equality, I will make enactment of the Equality Act a top legislative priority during my first 100 days — a priority that Donald Trump opposes,” Biden said.
He added that he would “direct my Cabinet to ensure immediate and full enforcement of the Equality Act across all federal departments and agencies.”
Although the Supreme Court ruled in June that LGBTQ people are covered by a federal law that bans employment discrimination on the basis of sex, the Equality Act would ensure that LGBTQ people also have explicit federal protections against discrimination in housing, public accommodations, credit, the jury system, and more.
Currently, there is a patchwork of state nondiscrimination protections across the United States. Only 22 states have concrete bans on discrimination in housing against queer and transgender people.
Biden has made it clear that he supports the legislation, which passed the House in 2019 but hasn’t budged in the GOP-controlled Senate.
Throughout his campaign’s final few months, Biden has talked openly about advancing LGBTQ equality. In September, he said at a the Human Rights Campaign event that he would work to pass the Equality Act, make it easier for transgender people to get accurate gender markers on identity documents, and reverse Trump administration rules that discriminate against queer and transgender people.
Biden said at the event that he would “win full rights for transgender Americans.”
During a televised town hall this month, Biden also said “there should be zero discrimination against transgender people” and again promised to roll back Trump administration policies that harm the transgender community.
At both events, Biden acknowledged recent killings of transgender people.
Dozens of transgender and gender-nonconforming people have died through violent means this year alone, the Human Rights Campaign has said. The victims were mostly Black and Latinx transgender women. It is the highest number of killings since the organization started tracking them in 2013.
Last year, there were at least 25 such deaths.
The Philadelphia Gay News asked Biden this week to discuss in detail about how he would handle that epidemic of violence against transgender people.
Biden said he would try to pass the LGBTQ Essential Data Act, which would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve data collection on deceased LGBTQ people and the FBI to update its reports on crime to add information on violence against them.
Biden also said he would also work to enact the Jabari-Heyer No Hate Act, which would promote better data collection on hate crimes in the United States according to the Human Rights Campaign, the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act, and would “strengthen enforcement” of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, among other measures.
Biden also outlined steps he would take to assist LGBTQ seniors, reduce violence and discrimination against LGBTQ people across the globe, and said he would ensure that LGBTQ people have a voice in his administration.
As Biden has championed policies to advance LGBTQ equality, the Trump administration has only offered “Trump Pride” events, which offer little to no substance on how the Trump administration would improve LGBTQ people’s lives.
Over the last few years, the Trump administration has taken steps to leave many homeless transgender people on the streets, block transgender people from obtaining adequate health care, and keep transgender people out of the military. The administration has also worked to broaden the concept of religious freedom protections to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people and seeks to redefine human rights to leave them out of consideration.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.