inquisitr--2020-05-01--Joe Biden Jokes With Megan Rapinoe About Having The Soccer Star As His Running Mate

'You would have to take a pay cut to become Vice President , ' he told her .
Former Vice President and likely 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden joked during an interview with U.S. Women ’ s Soccer star Megan Rapinoe that he ’ d love to have her as a running mate , but that she ’ d have to take a pay cut if she took the job of VP .
As Insider reports , Rapinoe interviewed Biden and his wife , Jill Biden , during a Thursday Instagram Live interview .
During the session , Rapinoe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is considering naming a woman to run as his running mate .
And being a woman who is not afraid to get political , she suggested that her name should be added to the mix .
“ If you need a vice president , I ’ m just saying I ’ m available for an interview .
We can talk logistics and the details .
Put it on your list .
No pressure , ” Rapinoe said , noting that she could still play soccer while serving as VP .
The Bidens laughed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to take a pay cut to be Vice President .
Rapinoe , whose battle with the United States Soccer Federation for equal pay for male and female soccer fans has been well-publicized , said that she ’ s “ not into that , ” possibly in a reference to her advocacy for equal pay .
Jill Biden , for her part , said that Rapinoe ’ s suggestion that she be named as Joe ’ s running mate is resonating with young women across the country .
“ Every young girl in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose her .
Choose Megan ! '
” she said .
In fact , Rapinoe would likely not take a pay cut if she were nominated as Biden ’ s running mate and Biden subsequently got elected , making her Vice President .
According to Goal.com , between her base salary and her endorsements , Rapinoe likely earns about $ 168,000 ( how much she makes , exactly , is not publicly known ) .
By comparison , the Vice President ’ s salary is $ 235,100 .
Megan is , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
Sort of .
The Constitution does not set a specific age requirement for the vice president .
However , considering that the document does require that the POTUS be at least 35 years old , it would stand to reason that the Vice President would be at least that age .
Megan was born July 5 , 1985 , which means that she ’ ll be 35 by the time the November election is held .
Rapinoe has already publicly endorsed Biden for president , which is not much of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outspoken liberal .
During the 2019 Women ’ s World Cup , Rapinoe made waves for publicly stating that she would not go to the “ f*cking White House ” if the team won , as reported by The Inquisitr .
That set off a war of words between Trump and Rapinoe , who invited the entire team , “ win or lose.
” Her team did in fact win the World Cup , and Trump did invite them , but the team declined , according to Sports Illustrated .

Former vice president and likely 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden joked during an interview with U.S. Women’s Soccer star Megan Rapinoe that he’d love to have her as a running mate, but that she’d have to take a pay cut if she took the job of VP.
As Insider reports, Rapinoe interviewed Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, during a Thursday Instagram live interview. During the session, Rapinoe touched on the recent reports that Biden is considering naming a woman to serve as his running mate. And being a woman who is not afraid to get political, she suggested that her name should be added to the mix.
“If you need a vice president, I’m just saying I’m available for an interview. We can talk logistics and the details. Put it on your list. No pressure,” Rapinoe said, noting that she could still play soccer while serving as vice president.
The Bidens laughed, while Joe noted that Megan would have to take a pay cut to be vice president. Rapinoe, whose battle with the United States Soccer Federation for equal pay for male and female soccer fans has been well-publicized, said that she’s “not into that,” possibly in a reference to her advocacy for equal pay.
Jill Biden, for her part, said that Rapinoe’s suggestion that she be named as Joe’s running mate is resonating with young women across the country.
“Every young girl in this country is saying ‘Yes, choose her. Choose Megan!'” she said.
In fact, Rapinoe would likely not take a pay cut if she were nominated as Biden’s running mate and Biden subsequently got elected, making her vice president. According to Goal, between her base salary and her endorsements, Rapinoe likely earns about $168,000 — how much she makes, exactly, is not publicly known. By comparison, the vice president’s salary is $235,100.
Megan is, however, just barely old enough to be vice president. Sort of.
The Constitution does not set a specific age requirement for the vice president. However, considering that the document does require that the president be at least 35 years old, it would stand to reason that the vice president would be at least that age. Megan was born July 5, 1985, which means that she’ll be 35 by the time the November election is held.
Rapinoe has already publicly endorsed Biden for president, which is not much of a surprise, considering that she’s an outspoken liberal. During the 2019 Women’s World Cup, Rapinoe made waves for publicly stating that she would not go to the “f*cking White House” if the team won, as reported by The Inquisitr.
That set off a war of words between Trump and Rapinoe, who invited the entire team, “win or lose.” Her team did in fact win the World Cup, and Trump did invite them, but the team declined, according to Sports Illustrated.


inquisitr--2020-05-01--National Archives Refutes Joe Biden’s Claim That It Would Have Tara Reade’s Alleged Sexual Assault C

National Archives Refutes Joe Biden’s Claim That It Would Have Tara Reade’s Alleged Sexual Assault Complaint

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden issued a statement on Friday morning denying Tara Reade ‘ s allegations of sexual assault and harassment .
In the statement , Biden pushed back against Reade ’ s suggestion that her 1993 sexual harassment complaint is in Senate documents at the University of Delaware and claimed that any record would be in the National Archives .
According to Business Insider ’ s Nicole Einbinder , a National Archives spokesperson told her they do not have records from Biden ’ s Delaware Senate office .
These documents , the spokesperson said , are from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Einbinder also reported that a Senate Historical Office staffer told her that records from the Senate Fair Employment Practices offices are protected by Senate-created rules , which prevents them from being released until 50 years from the date of the complaint .
Under these rules , documents from Reade ’ s 1993 employment will remain sealed until at least 2043 .
The only condition is if the Senate voluntarily releases the information .
According to Vice , Biden was pressed about the University of Delaware records during an appearance on MSNBC ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ There ’ s a lot of speeches I ’ ve made , positions I ’ ve taken , interviews that I did overseas , all of those things related to my job , ” Biden said of the documents .
The University of Delaware claims that it ’ s in the process of curating Biden ’ s papers .
The process will reportedly finish in 2021 , but the documents won ’ t be released until two years following Biden ’ s retirement from public life .
As reported by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski pressed him about searching for Reade ’ s name in the University of Delaware records .
“ Nothing classified with the president or anybody else , ” Brzezinski said .
“ I ’ m just asking why not do a search for Tara Reade ’ s name in the University of Delaware records.
” After a brief pause , Biden turned the questioning onto Brzezinski , who continued to press the former vice president .
“ Look , Mika , she said she filed a report , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has her employment records .
As The Inquisitr previously reported , Biden ’ s campaign has come under fire for pushing false talking points to defend himself from Reade ’ s allegation .
In particular , the campaign claims that The New York Times ’ report found that the incident did not happen .
In reality , the report concluded that no former Biden staffers could corroborate Reade ’ s allegation , and no additional sexual assault allegation was mentioned during the investigation .

'1000 Lb Sister' Tammy Slaton Defends Her 'Filtered' Pictures, Ask Critics to Talk to Her Hand
She said, "Listen, I am not trying to be rude, but it's my profile. And if I like using the filters, I will. Plain and simple," as she waved goodbye. ...


inquisitr--2020-05-01--Mike Pence’s Staff Reportedly Threatens Retaliation Against Reporter Who Tweeted About Him Not Weari

Mike Pence’s Staff Reportedly Threatens Retaliation Against Reporter Who Tweeted About Him Not Wearing A Mask

'All of us who traveled with [ Pence ] were notified by the office of @ VP the day before the trip that wearing of masks was required by the @ MayoClinic , ' the reporter had tweeted .
Vice President Mike Pence ‘ s office has reportedly threatened retaliation against a reporter who questioned his version of events that led to him famously being photographed at a hospital not wearing a mask , The Washington Post reports .
Pence ’ s team may be willing to reconsider things if the reporter apologizes .
As reported by The Inquisitr , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis ’ Mayo Clinic hospital and did not wear a mask .
He has since received sharp criticism for that , in light of the fact that the clinic does require visitors to wear masks inside the facility .
Pence ’ s wife , Karen Pence , has claimed that her husband was not aware of the clinic ’ s requirement to wear a mask until after he ’ d left .
This is a claim the contradicts the hospital , which has said that the vice president was told beforehand that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America reporter Steve Herman also contradicts Mrs. Pence ’ s claim that her husband was never told that he had to wear a mask .
In a tweet , Herman wrote that Pence and the reporters who covered him were indeed told beforehand that they ’ d need to wear masks when they visited the clinic .
Now , Herman is claiming that Pence ’ s staff has threatened retaliation against him for contradicting the vice president ’ s narrative about the mask requirement .
Specifically , Herman claims that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association that Pence ’ s office had banned him from further travel on Air Force Two , the aircraft on which the vice president flies .
It seems that Herman , in addition to contradicting Pence ’ s narrative about the need for masks , also may have violated a sort of unwritten rule .
Specifically , Pence ’ s office appears to be accusing the journalist of violating the terms of an off-the-record memo given to reporters before the trip .
Pence ’ s office does , however , appear to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future if he apologizes , according to the New York Post .
Herman , for his part , does appear to seem unwilling to take that step , saying in a statement that his tweet “ speaks for itself.
” “ We always have and will strictly adhere to keeping off the record any White House communications to reporters for planning purposes involving logistics that have security implications prior to events , ” he said .
” All White House pool reporters , including myself and my VOA colleagues , take this very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Voice of America ‘ s news center , said it wasn ’ t clear how the vice president intended to proceed .
Pence ’ s press secretary , Katie Miller , declined to comment on the situation .

Oops! Page Not Found
The page you were looking for doesn’t exist,
isn’t available or was loaded incorrectly.


inquisitr--2020-05-01--North Carolina Poll: Donald Trump Trails Joe Biden By Seven Points

In the state of North Carolina , President Donald Trump trails the Democratic Party ’ s presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden by seven points , according to a Meredith College poll released on Friday .
Per The Hill , the poll shows Biden polling at 47 percent and Trump at 40 percent .
Considered a battleground state , North Carolina swung Republican in 2012 and 2016 .
However , the state ’ s Democratic governor , Roy Cooper , edged out a narrow victory in 2016 , which the Democrats apparently see as one of the signs the state is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the coronavirus pandemic has jeopardized Trump ’ s standing in North Carolina , with 41 percent of voters approving and 53 percent disapproving of his job performance .
Prior to the pandemic , his approval rating was 45.5 percent , with 48 percent saying he has not done a good job as president .
In comparison , Cooper ’ s approval rating is 63 percent .
The survey shows Cooper leading his Republican challenger Dan Forest by 20 points .
In addition — when it comes to the 2020 United States Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party has a clear advantage .
Cal Cunningham is leading Republican Thom Tillis by 10 percentage points .
As David McLennan , the director of the Meredith poll , explained , the decline in Trump ’ s approval ratings amid the coronavirus pandemic seems to have hurt not only the president , but other Republican candidates in the state , which now appears to be leaning Democratic .
“ The federal government ’ s response to the pandemic has caused North Carolinians to question President Trump ’ s job performance , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Election Day , Democratic candidates for major office in the state are in good position .
The slide in the president ’ s job approval not only hurts him in the campaign against Joe Biden , but also hurts other Republican down ballot , like Senator Thom Tillis and Lt .
Governor Dan Forest.
” “ However , there is a lot of time for Republican candidates to improve their positions , as everyone expects North Carolina ’ s races to be very competitive on Election Day , ” McLennan noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader trend seen across the nation .
According to a Gallup poll released earlier this week , approval of Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has dropped 10 points since March .
Although the vast majority of Republicans approve of the way the president has responded to the COVID-19 crisis , Democrats and independent voters seem to disagree .
Nonetheless , Biden does not appear to have a significant advantage over Trump when it comes to the 2020 presidential election .
For instance , a new Hill/HarrisX poll shows the candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House .

In the state of North Carolina, President Donald Trump trails the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden by seven points, according to a Meredith College poll released on Friday.
Per The Hill, the poll shows Biden polling at 47 percent and Trump at 40 percent. Considered a battleground state, North Carolina swung Republican in 2012 and 2016. However, the state’s Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, edged out a narrow victory in 2016, which the Democrats apparently see as one of the signs the state is moving left.
According to the poll, the coronavirus pandemic has jeopardized Trump’s standing in North Carolina, with 41 percent of voters approving and 53 percent disapproving of his job performance. Prior to the pandemic, his approval rating was 45.5 percent, with 48 percent saying he has not done a good job as president. In comparison, Cooper’s approval rating is 63 percent.
The survey shows Cooper leading his Republican challenger Dan Forest by 20 points. In addition — when it comes to the 2020 United States Senate election in North Carolina — the Democratic Party has a clear advantage. Cal Cunningham is leading Republican Thom Tillis by 10 percentage points.
As David McLennan, the director of the Meredith poll, explained, the decline in Trump’s approval ratings amid the coronavirus pandemic seems to have hurt not only the president, but other Republican candidates in the state, which now appears to be leaning Democratic.
“The federal government’s response to the pandemic has caused North Carolinians to question President Trump’s job performance,” he said.
“With over six months to Election Day, Democratic candidates for major office in the state are in good position. The slide in the president’s job approval not only hurts him in the campaign against Joe Biden, but also hurts other Republican down ballot, like Senator Thom Tillis and Lt. Governor Dan Forest.”
“However, there is a lot of time for Republican candidates to improve their positions, as everyone expects North Carolina’s races to be very competitive on Election Day,” McLennan noted.
The Meredith poll seems to reflect a broader trend seen across the nation. According to a Gallup poll released earlier this week, approval of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has dropped 10 points since March. Although the vast majority of Republicans approve of the way the president has responded to the COVID-19 crisis, Democrats and independent voters seem to disagree.
Nonetheless, Biden does not appear to have a significant advantage over Trump when it comes to the 2020 presidential election. For instance, a new Hill/HarrisX poll shows the candidates virtually tied in the race for the White House.


inquisitr--2020-05-01--Donald Trump Tells Michigan Governor ‘Make A Deal’ With Armed Protestors: ‘These Are Very Good Peopl

Donald Trump Tells Michigan Governor ‘Make A Deal’ With Armed Protestors: ‘These Are Very Good People’

President Donald Trump urged Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to work with the armed protesters who showed up at the state Capitol building on Thursday to protest the stay-at-home order in the state .
Trump tweeted his perception of the situation .
“ The Governor of Michigan should give a little , and put out the fire .
These are very good people , but they are angry .
They want their lives back again , safely !
See them , talk to them , make a deal.
” Michigan has seen several protests from those who want to see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , armed protesters demonstrated outside before entering the Capitol building while the legislature was in session .
Some protesters reportedly attempted to gain access to the House floor , but they were refused .
The Republican-led state legislature voted not to extend Michigan ’ s stay-at-home orders , as The New York Times reports , and have attempted to strip some of Whitmer ’ s powers .
The Democratic governor opted to sign three executive orders , which extend the state of emergency until May 28 .
“ By refusing to extend the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are putting their heads in the sand and putting more lives and livelihoods at risk .
I ’ m not going to let that happen.
” Lee Chatfield , the Republican Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives , weighed in on the governor ’ s decision .
“ Today , we offered our hand of partnership to the governor .
No politics .
We ’ re all in this together and we should all work together .
She just said no .
Very disappointing.
” A few weeks prior , thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Lansing created a massive traffic jam around the Capitol in an earlier protest of Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home orders .
The Michigan governor opted to ban travel to vacation homes and ban the sale of items like garden supplies , making it one of the strictest lockdowns in the country .
Trump has been supportive of the protests , which have also taken place in states such as Utah , Minnesota , and Virginia .
In mid-April , he tweeted a series of messages on his social media calling for Governors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Inquisitr reported at the time .
His messages were met with pushback from those who argued that they could be interpreted as a call for armed revolts within the states , which are all led by Democratic governors .
Many of the protesters in Michigan were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing , which doesn ’ t follow the White House ’ s recommendations during the pandemic .


inquisitr--2020-05-01--Joe Biden Breaks His Silence On Sexual Assault Allegations: “This Never Happened”

Joe Biden released a statement Friday morning denying Tara Reade ’ s allegations that the presumptive Democratic nominee for president sexually assaulted her 27 years ago .
According to CNN , this announcement is Biden ’ s first detailed response to his former aide ’ s allegation .
“ While the details of these allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault are complicated , two things are not complicated .
One is that women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect , and when they step forward they should be heard , not silenced .
The second is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inquiry and scrutiny.
” The former vice president went on to write that “ responsible news organizations ” should pay closer attention and assess the growing record of inconsistencies in her story , which Biden claims has changed repeatedly .
The statement continued to make refutations of Reade ’ s claim , explaining how the former aide said she raised the issues with her supervisor and senior staffers from his office at the time .
He affirmed that the staffers — two men and a woman — have said that she “ never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues.
” Biden also mentioned the fact that many press outlets that have spoken with his former staffers have yet to acknowledge anyone that corroborated her allegations .
Biden followed this up by assuring that his staffers knew the culture of his office , and that they would not have tolerated harassment “ in any way.
” Biden ’ s statement came on the heels of an MSNBC interview Friday morning , where he addressed Reade ’ s claims .
In the interview , Biden said he is “ saying unequivocally , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t .
It never happened.
” He added he has not reached out to Reade , and does not remember her making any complaints .
Biden told MSNBC that since Reade first made the claim , he and his camp have made it clear that these allegations never took place .
Before Friday ’ s statements , Biden has only responded with a statement from his deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield .
That statement highlighted Biden ’ s role in passing the Violence Against Women Act .
The former vice president also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reade came out at this time with allegations but maintains that “ she has a right to say whatever she wants to say.
” In March , Reade revealed the allegation that Biden sexually assaulted her back in 1993 when he was serving in the U.S. Senate .
She was working on his staff at the time .
Reade claimed Biden pushed her up against a wall in a Senate corridor and penetrated her with his fingers .
Reade ’ s complaint has since been labeled inactive by the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police @ @


inquisitr--2020-05-01--Joe Biden Could Choose Hillary Clinton As Running Mate And Then Step Down, Commentator Speculates

In a Thursday op-ed penned for The Hill , political commentator Liz Peek discussed the possibility of former Vice President Joe Biden choosing Hillary Clinton as his running mate in the presidential election , then stepping down and letting the former secretary of state represent the Democratic Party once again .
“ Don ’ t look now , but Joe is failing , ” Peek began , pointing to polls which show that Biden is facing an enormous enthusiasm gap , with a majority of voters believing he can not beat President Donald Trump in November .
The commentator also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual assault and that his campaign seems unable to match Trump ’ s fundraising .
“ None of this augurs well for the Biden campaign , which will likely confront further obstacles in the months ahead , ” she continued , arguing that Biden will “ eventually ” have to start campaigning , holding interviews and town halls , and engaging with voters , which could further jeopardize his standing versus Trump .
Once Biden is in the spotlight , Peek wrote , the voters will realize that he is “ struggling with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commentator posited , Democratic Party leaders can not simply push Biden aside .
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont , the runner up in the party ’ s presidential primaries , has held onto his delegates and would be considered the winner of the primary election in such a scenario .
However , the Democrats could consider a number of other options if they want to replace Biden , Peek argued .
The most likely outcome , she wrote , is Biden formally securing the nomination , choosing Clinton as his running mate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would allow the party ’ s 2016 presidential nominee to face off against Trump in the 2020 presidential election .
According to Peek , no one but Clinton “ would be able to pull off such a last-minute switch.
” Neither Kamala Harris nor Amy Klobuchar — who are considered Biden ’ s vice presidential nominee frontrunners — would be able to step in and replace the former vice president .
The commentator pointed to Clinton ’ s recent virtual town hall with Biden , arguing that the former secretary of state “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her own resume ” instead of endorsing Biden .
Clinton , the commentator wrote , is more popular and has a bigger and more devoted following than Biden .
Furthermore , Peek argued , Clinton would be a more formidable candidate against Trump , especially in battleground states .
“ Hillary may be Democrats ’ nominee of last resort .
You know she wants it , ” Peek concluded .


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Poll Shows Joe Biden And Donald Trump Tied In Race For White House

According to a Investor ’ s Business Daily/TIPP poll released on Friday , President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are tied in the race for the White House .
Both candidates are polling at 43 percent .
This could be a bad sign for Biden , who came in six points ahead of Trump ’ s in the April IBD/TIPP poll .
The president ’ s surge was boosted by independents .
In April , Biden had a nine-point advantage over Trump among independent voters , but Trump is now in the lead , polling at 36 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither of the candidates , and 16 percent of them are still undecided .
Trump has also managed to increase his support among Democrats .
Six percent of voters who identify as Democrats supported Trump in April , and 12 percent support him now .
Biden ’ s standing among his own party ’ s voters has weakened , however , dropping from 89 percent in April to 83 percent in the May poll .
As Investor ’ s Business Daily notes , the poll is good news for Trump .
In general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic , since Americans appear to be rallying around him .
His approval rating is 42 percent , with 44 percent of voters disapproving of the job he has done as president .
In January , for instance , Trump ’ s disapproval rating was 51 percent .
Furthermore , voters seem to trust the president when it comes to important issues .
Despite the fact that tens of millions have filed for unemployment since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak , 50 percent approve of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy , and only 28 percent disapprove .
Interestingly , Americans do not seem to think as highly of Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Forty-one percent think the president has done a good job in that respect , and 39 percent disagree .
Among independents , Trump ’ s COVID-19 approval rating is 37 percent , with 39 percent disapproving of his response to the crisis .
Other polls paint a similar picture , predicting a very close race .
For instance , a Hill/HarrisX poll released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are statistically tied .
Independent voters seem to be evenly split , both men enjoy admirable support from members of their respective parties , and both of them struggle with women .
According to Ipsos Research Director Mallory Newall , “ Both candidates will undoubtedly be working to shore up support among women between now and the election .
”


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Donald Trump Has ‘Lost Whatever Remaining Shred Of Sanity He Once Had,’ Columnist Says

In a Thursday piece for Vanity Fair , columnist Bess Levin argues that President Donald Trump ‘ s recent meltdowns are a reflection of the decline of his mental state .
Levin points to Trump ’ s recent disinfectant comments as well as reports that he lashed out at his campaign manager , Brad Parscale , and suggested they reflect that he has “ lost whatever remaining shred of sanity he once had.
” In response to reports of his alleged meltdown at Parscale , Levin claims Trump focused much of his rage on media journalists that reported on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , sounded like a mental asylum inmate explaining that he “ doesn ’ t actually belong here.
” In particular , Levin pointed to a tweet Trump sent out on Thursday in which he lashed out at CNN .
“ Just told that Fake News @ CNN is falsely reporting that I was recently shouting at my campaign manager over made up nonsense .
Actually , he is doing a great job , I never shouted at him ( been with me for years , including the 2016 win ) , & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just FAKE NEWS !
” According to CNN , Trump ’ s anger at Parscale stemmed from his declining poll numbers amid his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
The publication cites three people close to the matter who allege that Trump yelled at Parscale over the phone and threatened legal action against him .
Parscale claims that Trump did not scream at him , although he stopped short of denying that the pair got into an argument or that he was threatened with a lawsuit .
“ There ’ s absolutely no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a piece for The Atlantic , David A. Graham wrote that Trump realizes that — at this point in the 2020 primary — he is losing to Joe Biden .
While Trump denies the polls numbers , which suggest a decline in his approval , and appears confident in public , Graham claims that behind closed doors , his campaign in turmoil .
Graham also says that Trump faces trouble stemming from the landscape of the 2020 election , which is different than the one he carved out a victory from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status quo .
As The Inquisitr previously reported , conservative columnist Matt Lewis claimed that Trump is finally coming to terms with the fact that he could lose to Biden in 2020 .
Lewis points to recent polls that put Biden behind Trump as well as his low favorability compared to the former vice president .

In a Thursday piece for Vanity Fair, columnist Bess Levin argues that President Donald Trump‘s recent meltdowns are a reflection of the decline in his mental state. Levin points to Trump’s recent disinfectant comments as well as reports that he lashed out at his campaign manager, Brad Parscale. The writer suggested the latest incidents reflect that Trump has “lost whatever remaining shred of sanity he once had.”
In response to reports of his alleged meltdown at Parscale, Levin claims Trump focused much of his rage on media journalists that reported on the purported encounter. This rage, Levin says, sounded like a mental asylum inmate explaining that he “doesn’t actually belong here.”
In particular, Levin pointed to a tweet Trump sent out on Thursday in which he lashed out at CNN.
“Just told that Fake News @CNN is falsely reporting that I was recently shouting at my campaign manager over made up nonsense. Actually, he is doing a great job, I never shouted at him (been with me for years, including the 2016 win), & have no intention to do so. Just FAKE NEWS!”
According to The Detroit News, Trump’s anger at Parscale stemmed from his declining poll numbers amid his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The publication cites three people close to the matter who allege that Trump yelled at Parscale over the phone and threatened legal action against him. Parscale claims that Trump did not scream at him, although he stopped short of denying that the pair got into an argument or that he was threatened with a lawsuit.
“There’s absolutely no daylight between us,” Parscale said.
As @navigatorsurvey finds Trump job approval at NEW LOW in daily tracking during pandemic (42% approve/56% disapprove), how are voters describing his response? MOST say:
Self-absorbed
Unprepared FEWEST say:
Honest
Compassionate
Competent pic.twitter.com/1SMyxjdRP4 — Jefrey Pollock (@jefpollock) April 25, 2020
Trump’s apparent declining mental state comes as polling continues to show him behind Joe Biden. In the call with Parscale, the president’s frustration appeared linked to a possible loss to the former vice president.
“I am not f*cking losing to Joe Biden,” Trump allegedly said.
In a piece for The Atlantic, David A. Graham wrote that while Trump denies the polls numbers — which suggest a decline in his approval — and appears confident in public, his campaign is in turmoil behind closed doors. According to Graham, Trump faces trouble against Biden stemming from the landscape of the 2020 election, which is different than the one he carved out a victory from in 2016 when he ran against the status quo.
“In 2020, he is the status quo, and it’s a status quo that is getting worse by the day, as measured by economic indicators and death toll.”
As The Inquisitr previously reported, conservative columnist Matt Lewis claimed that Trump is finally coming to terms with the fact that he could lose to Biden in 2020. Lewis points to recent polls that put Trump behind Biden, as well as his low favorability ratings compared to the former vice president.


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Chris Hayes Responds To Backlash Received For Covering Accusations Against Joe Biden

On Friday , MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes responded to the backlash he received for covering sexual assault allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden , reports The Hill .
On Wednesday night , Hayes examined the accusations Alexandra Tara Reade made against Biden , the Democratic Party ‘ s presumptive presidential nominee .
Reade , who worked in Biden ’ s Senate office , claims the former vice president sexually assaulted her in 1993 .
Hayes analyzed the accusations , concluding that they need to be investigated , even if some Democrats feel uncomfortable with the fact that their party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a sex crime .
But , apparently , thousands did not see the situation that way .
By Thursday , the hashtag # FireChrisHayes was trending on Twitter , demonstrating that the anchor ’ s analysis was not well received .
Some went as far as to accuse Hayes of being an agent of Russia , claiming that he is trying to undermine Biden ’ s candidacy in order to help President Donald Trump .
“ A lot of people were unhappy with the fact we covered the story , ” Hayes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received “ fell into three categories.
” “ The first category were people who basically said , ‘ I don ’ t believe Tara Reade .
I believe Joe Biden , ' ” Hayes said .
The anchor described the second group as the “ I don ’ t care ” category , explaining that Democrats whose priority is to beat Trump criticized him for covering the accusations against Biden because they felt such reporting could jeopardize the party ’ s chances of winning the 2020 presidential election .
The third group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most disquieting ” because it consisted of Democrats who cast doubt on Reade ’ s character , claiming that she is “ not credible ” because of her opinions on politics .
“ These are the things that have been used forever against women making these types of allegations , ” he said .
Hayes concluded that the main lesson of the Me Too movement is not to accept all accusations without scrutiny , but to thoroughly investigate them instead of outright dismissing the women who claim to have been violated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations , but the saga appears to have bruised the Democratic Party .
Republicans have jumped at the chance to point out that Democrats behaved differently when similar accusations were made against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh .
Even some Democratic insiders are reportedly concerned about the developments .


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Democrats Slammed For Defending Joe Biden After Going Scorched Earth On Brett Kavanaugh

'There is a clear double standard between how the media and Democrats treated Dr. Christine Blasey Ford ’ s allegations versus Tara Reade ’ s allegations , ' says Mike Davis .
According to a report from The Hill published on Saturday , Democratic Party politicians are being accused of hypocrisy in the wake of sexual assault allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden .
Biden , the Democratic Party ’ s presidential nominee , has been accused of sexual harassment and unwanted touching by a number of women , but the most striking allegations have been made by Alexandra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexually assaulted her in 1993 .
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , appointed by President Donald Trump , faced similar accusations from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford .
Virtually all Democrats sided with Ford , arguing that all women should be believed when they make an accusation , and stood united in opposition to Kavanaugh ’ s nomination .
Now , Democrats are rushing to Biden ’ s defense .
This is seen as hypocrisy by Republicans and even some Democratic operatives .
“ There is a clear double standard between how the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s allegations versus Tara Reade ’ s allegations , ” said Mike Davis , who lead the Republican effort to appoint Kavanaugh .
A Democratic strategist told the publication that that the allegations “ look terrible ” for Biden and the Democratic Party .
“ You can ’ t say you believe women and then take it all back because it doesn ’ t apply to you , ” the individual said .
A Democratic fundraiser echoed this sentiment , arguing that the party put itself in an uncomfortable situation .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pandora ’ s Box we opened on this one .
A perfect trap and we stepped right into it , ” they said .
Blasey Ford was not the only woman to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual assault .
Julie Swetnick made the most explosive allegation , claiming that Kavanaugh participated in a gang rape .
Swetnick was represented by celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti .
Some claim that the media has been slow to report on allegations against Biden .
According to Tobe Berkovitz , a Boston University professor , there has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has covered the accusations against Kavanaugh and Biden .
“ The burden of proof has not been the same , ” he said .
As The Hill notes , Biden has vehemently denies Reade ’ s allegations .
In an interview with MSNBC ’ s Mika Brzezinski broadcast on Friday , the former vice president said that it should be presumed women are telling the truth when they speak up about sexual assault , but insisted that he never assaulted Reade .
Eight other women have accused Biden of harassment .
The most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murry , now 26 , claims Biden complimented her body when she was 14 years old .


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Candace Owens Says Twitter Suspended Her After Tweet Calling On Michigan Residents To Defy Stay-At-H

Candace Owens Says Twitter Suspended Her After Tweet Calling On Michigan Residents To Defy Stay-At-Home Orders

Conservative commentator Candace Owens said her Twitter account was suspended on Saturday after she called on Michigan residents to defy the state ’ s stay-at-home orders and re-open their businesses .
As Mediaite reported , Owens made a tweet critical of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home order that reportedly violated the state ’ s policies .
In her tweet , Owens appeared to call on people to violate the order , saying that police would not be able to enforce it .
“ Apparently @ GovWhitmer believes she is a duly elected dictator of a socialist country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Michigan need to stand up to her .
Open your businesses .
Go to work .
The police think she ’ s crazy too .
They are not going to arrest 10,000,000 people for going to work.
” Owens joins a number of other conservative commentators who have spoken out against stay-at-home orders and called on states to allow non-essential businesses to reopen .
There were demonstrations in Michigan this week calling on Whitmer to lift the state ’ s restrictions , with some protesters carrying rifles and others holding signs showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared her tweet and evidence of her locked account with the conservative website Gateway Pundit , saying that the site did not tell her exactly which policy she had violated .
In her message to the website ( via Mediaite ) , Owens hinted that it was her criticism of Whitmer that led to the ban , rather than her call to Michigan residents to violate the state ’ s stay-at-home order .
“ I stand by my statement about Governor Whitmer acting as a dictator , ” she said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] Departments and the citizens , and the state legislature of Michigan are in agreement with me .
I will not kowtow to a socialist world order that seeks to limit my constitutional freedom of speech.
” Other conservatives have taken aim at Twitter in the past , saying the site is stifling them .
This includes an allegation from President Donald Trump last year that Twitter was “ shadow banning ” him , leading to a lower amount of engagement on his tweets compared to the past .
As The Inquisitr reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it unfairly targets conservatives by saying it does not use shadow bans — a term that means disabling a user ’ s ability to make posts or reply to tweets without informing that person of the ban — and does not apply a double standard based on political affiliation .
“ We do not shadow ban… And we certainly don ’ t shadow ban based on political viewpoints or ideology , ” the company said at the time .
It was not clear how long the reported suspension of Owens ’ account was @ @ @ @


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Justin Amash Officially Becomes The First Libertarian Member Of Congress

On Friday , Michigan Rep. Justin Amash officially switched his party affiliation from Independent to Libertarian , making him the first member of the Libertarian Party in Congress .
As reported by The Washington Times , Amash — who recently announced his bid for the Libertarian nomination for president — took to Twitter to address the occasion .
“ It ’ s an important step for our young party , and I ’ m honored to be a part of it , ” he wrote .
In a statement released on Twitter , the Libertarian Party expressed hope that Amash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so in the coming months and years .
Amash has identified as a libertarian throughout his political career but was a member of the Republican Party for its duration until July of 2019 when he left the GOP following backlash for his call to impeach Donald Trump .
“ The two-party system has evolved into an existential threat to American principles and institutions , ” he wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post in which he announced his departure .
“ Modern politics is trapped in a partisan death spiral , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wrote elsewhere in the piece .
The 40-year-old congressman has been critical of the two-party system throughout his career , which has been echoed by others , including Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard .
According to a recent Politico piece , Amash ’ s recent switch to the Libertarian Party and bid for president are part of a plan that intends to “ destroy the system that created Trump.
” In an interview with Politico ’ s Tim Alberta , Amash revealed that his switch to the Libertarian Party was fueled by his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Party , which he said now focuses on nationalism and protectionism as opposed to constitutional conservatism .
While Amash noted the tonal difference between Biden and Trump , he suggested that both the Democratic Party and Republican Party have gaps in their “ degrees ” but not in “ kind.
” Specifically , he pointed to the effort of each party to cast the other as a force of evil and their own as one for good .
Interestingly , Raul Labrador , a retired congressman who was allegedly Amash ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Amash doesn ’ t see a significant difference between Trump and Biden .

On Friday, Michigan Rep. Justin Amash officially switched his party affiliation from Independent to Libertarian, making him the first member of the Libertarian Party in Congress. As reported by The Washington Times, Amash — who recently announced his bid for the Libertarian nomination for president — took to Twitter to address the occasion.
“It’s an important step for our young party, and I’m honored to be a part of it,” he wrote.
In a statement released on Twitter, the Libertarian Party expressed hope that Amash would be one of many politicians to do so in the coming months and years.
“We look forward to more members leaving their old parties that only care about scoring cheap political points — and not about the American people.”
Amash has identified as a libertarian throughout his political career, but was a member of the Republican Party for its duration until July of 2019 when he left the GOP following backlash for his call to impeach Donald Trump.
“The two-party system has evolved into an existential threat to American principles and institutions,” he wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post in which he announced his departure.
“Modern politics is trapped in a partisan death spiral, but there is an escape,” he wrote elsewhere in the piece.
Rep. Amash on why he's exploring a Libertarian presidential run: "There are millions of Americans who aren’t represented by either Donald Trump or Joe Biden, who aren't represented by the Republicans or the Democrats …those millions of Americans deserve a choice on the ballot." pic.twitter.com/kUSNzMNuu5 — MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 29, 2020
The 40-year-old congressman has been critical of the two-party system throughout his career, which has been echoed by others, including Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. According to a recent Politico piece, Amash’s recent switch to the Libertarian Party and bid for president are part of a plan that intends to “destroy the system that created Trump.”
In an interview with Politico’s Tim Alberta, Amash revealed that his switch to the Libertarian Party was fueled by his dissatisfaction with the current state of the Republican Party, which he said now focuses on nationalism and protectionism as opposed to constitutional conservatism.
While Amash noted the tonal difference between Biden and Trump, he suggested that both the Democratic Party and Republican Party have gaps in their “degrees” but not in “kind.” Specifically, he pointed to the effort of each party to cast the other as a force of evil and their own as one for good.
Interestingly, Raul Labrador, a retired congressman who was allegedly Amash’s closest friend on Capitol Hill, claims that Amash doesn’t see a significant difference between Trump and Biden.


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Joe Biden’s Accuser Says She Never Mentioned Sexual Assault Or Harassment In Report Filed Against Hi

Joe Biden’s Accuser Says She Never Mentioned Sexual Assault Or Harassment In Report Filed Against Him

The former Senate staffer who has accused Joe Biden of sexual assault said that she filed only a limited report with a congressional personnel office and did not mention either sexual assault or harassment in that report .
Tara Reade has claimed that Biden sexually assaulted her in a secluded part of the U.S. Senate building in 1993 and said she filed a report about it at the time .
But she told The Associated Press that the report would not detail the exact claim she made against Biden , as she said she was too afraid to detail the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
“ I remember talking about him wanting me to serve drinks because he liked my legs and thought I was pretty and it made me uncomfortable , ” Reade said in an interview Friday with The Associated Press .
“ I know that I was too scared to write about the sexual assault.
” Reade added that “ the main word I used — and I know I didn ’ t use sexual harassment — I used ‘ uncomfortable.
’ And I remember ‘ retaliation.
’ ” Reade had claimed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in Current Affairs that she had filed a report regarding her time in Biden ’ s office .
When asked what the report was about , Reade answered , “ Sexual harassment .
I did not complain formally about the other piece of what happened that I ’ ll talk about in a few minutes .
But I talked about what was witnessed , and the general atmosphere of the office , the way I was treated.
” The report from The Associated Press comes a day after Biden broke his silence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never happened and calling on the National Archives to release any information that would pertain to Reade ’ s time working in the office and the complaint against him .
In reviewing notes from a 2019 interview with Reade after she came forward to accuse Biden of unwanted touching that she said was not of a sexual nature , The Associated Press found that Reade told a reporter she “ chickened out ” after going to the Senate personnel office to report the alleged assault .
The Associated Press noted that it declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 2019 interview because reporters were unable to corroborate some of her allegations , and that some parts of her story contradicted other reporting .
Reade said she was afraid to come forward with information about the alleged assault last year because she feared a backlash and was still coming to terms with what happened , the report noted .
Biden has earned the backing of a number of top Democrats and even some Republicans , including South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham who said on Friday that the allegation did not sound in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know through the work they did together in the Senate .


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Donald Trump Is Undercutting His Campaign By Defending Joe Biden Against Sexual Assault Claim, Repor

Donald Trump Is Undercutting His Campaign By Defending Joe Biden Against Sexual Assault Claim, Report Says

In a Friday interview with Dan Bongino , President Donald Trump , who has faced multiple accusations of sexual assault and harassment , defended presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , who faces similar allegations ahead of the Democratic National Convention .
According to a Friday report from The Washington Post , Trump ’ s comments run in direct conflict with his campaign , which is seeking to take advantage of the accusations against Biden .
“ All of a sudden you become a wealthy guy , you ’ re a famous guy , then you become president , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that you ’ ve never seen , that you ’ ve never heard of , make charges.
” As The Inquisitr reported , Trump suggested at a Thursday White House press conference that the accusations against Biden could be untrue .
He claimed not to know enough about the allegation , but urged Biden to directly address it , echoing comments in his conversation with Bongino .
Meanwhile , The Washington Post notes that Trump ’ s campaign and the White House went on the attack against Biden , using a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slam the former vice president over his response to Tara Reade ’ s allegation , which he made the same day via a statement and an appearance on MSNBC ’ s Morning Joe .
“ The president ’ s remarks underscore the challenge Republicans will have in attacking the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee on an issue that dogged Trump ’ s 2016 campaign and on which he remains vulnerable , ” the report reads .
In addition , Trump avoided accusing Biden of covering up the alleged sexual harassment — something both Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done following his refusal to release documents relating to his Delaware Senate office , where Reade claims he sexually harassed and assaulted her .
“ As far as records and all , I have no idea , he ’ d have to make up that decision , ” Trump said to Bongino when asked about Biden ’ s record .
“ I can say that I ’ ve been accused .
You probably have , too .
As soon as you ’ re famous , you get accused.
” According to The Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aim at Trump ’ s sexual assault allegations .
To date , the publication claims least 16 women have accused the president of sexual misconduct spanning several decades , all of which he has denied .
Elsewhere , Mother Jones claims that at least 23 women have accused Trump of inappropriate sexual behavior .
On Friday , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany attempted to dismiss the accusations against Trump and suggested his 2016 win shows that the American people believe him over his accusers .
As noted by The Washington Post , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump allies face — they must break from Trump and attack Biden while the president ’ s own conduct is under scrutiny .


inquisitr--2020-05-02--George W. Bush Issues A Call To Unite With Moving Video

Former President George W. Bush shared a moving video on Saturday , issuing a call for the people of the U.S. to unite .
As the latest information from the CDC revealed that the country has 1,062,446 confirmed COVID-19 cases , which rose 30,787 over the past 24 hours , and 62,406 total deaths , Bush reminded the bitterly divided country of its past .
The former president , who served from 2000 to 2008 , began by describing the invisible threat the country faces amid the coronavirus pandemic .
He noted that medical professionals are risking their lives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re doing to keep Americans safe .
The black-and-white video flashed to different scenes of people living life throughout the U.S. , and of health care professionals serving others .
Then he noted that the U.S. had faced trying times that tested it in the past .
Bush reminded viewers of the way the country came together following the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks .
Bush described the spirit that the American people exhibited after that national tragedy , coming together to help and grieve .
He said that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
President Bush implored people not to allow the social distance that is necessary for reducing the spread of COVID-19 to become emotional isolation .
However , he also reiterated that staying apart physically is part of what will help the country recover from the virus .
He advised citizens to extend kindness and empathy to their fellow Americans .
“ The suffering we experience as a nation does not fall evenly , ” he reminded .
While some are at home enjoying a break , others are forced to work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not pay rent and bills or afford to feed themselves and their families .
Although both Democrats and Republicans have fought over what assistance to provide to large and small businesses , as well as individuals , the former leader asked people to recall that they are more alike than different .
As some states start to reopen businesses and try to slowly establish a new reality , there are many ideas on how to do that safely .
Last week , armed protestors gathered in Michigan to let lawmakers know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , the state ’ s governor , Gretchen Whitmer , ended up extending her state-at-home order .
Despite the extreme pictures of such a difference of opinion , Bush said that citizens should not be so divided against each other .
“ We are not partisan combatants .
We are human beings .
Equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God .
We rise and fall together , and we are determined to rise , ” said Bush .

Former President George W. Bush shared a moving video on Saturday that premiered during The Call to Unite‘s 24+ hour global stream-a-thon the night before, issuing a call for the people of the U.S. to unite. As the latest information from the CDC revealed that the country has 1,062,446 confirmed COVID-19 cases, which rose 30,787 over the past 24 hours, and 62,406 total deaths, Bush reminded the bitterly divided country of its past.
The former president, who served from 2000 to 2008, began by describing the invisible threat the country faces amid the coronavirus pandemic. He noted that medical professionals are risking their lives, and he thanked them for what they’re doing to keep Americans safe. The black-and-white video flashed to different scenes of people living life throughout the U.S., and of health care professionals serving others.
Then he noted that the U.S. had faced trying times that tested it in the past. Bush reminded viewers of the way the country came together following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Bush described the spirit that the American people exhibited after that national tragedy, coming together to help and grieve. He said that he knew that the U.S. could rally together again.
“Empathy and simple kindness are essential, powerful tools of national recovery.”
President Bush implored people not to allow the social distance that is necessary for reducing the spread of COVID-19 to become emotional isolation. However, he also reiterated that staying apart physically is part of what will help the country recover from the virus. He advised citizens to extend kindness and empathy to their fellow Americans.
“The suffering we experience as a nation does not fall evenly,” he reminded.
While some are at home enjoying a break, others are forced to work in unsafe conditions, and then some people cannot pay rent and bills or afford to feed themselves and their families.
Although both Democrats and Republicans have fought over what assistance to provide to large and small businesses, as well as individuals, the former leader asked people to recall that they are more alike than different.
“Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat.”
As some states start to reopen businesses and try to slowly establish a new reality, there are many ideas on how to do that safely. Last week, armed protestors gathered in Michigan to let lawmakers know that they wanted the state to reopen. However, the state’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer, ended up extending her state-at-home order. Despite the extreme pictures of such a difference of opinion, Bush said that citizens should not be so divided against each other.
“We are not partisan combatants. We are human beings. Equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise and fall together, and we are determined to rise,” said Bush.


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Democrats Are Now ‘Slight Favorites’ To Win The Senate From Mitch McConnell, Analyst Says

In a Saturday piece for CNN , election forecaster Harry Enten said that Democrats are now “ slight favorites ” to take control of the Senate from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
To take control of the Senate , Enten claims Democrats have two options : a net gain of three seats if Joe Biden wins in 2020 , or a net gain of four seats if Donald Trump wins reelection .
“ An early look at the data finds that Democrats are the slightest of favorites to take back the Senate , ” Enten wrote .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant amount of uncertainty and says Democrats could end up losing up to four seats and gaining as much as 11 .
As for why Democrats ’ fortunes are rising , Enten claims that a large part is the national environment , which he says “ continues to look good for them.
” In particular , he points to their eight-point lead on the generic ballot , which is approximately equal to where they were in 2018 when they had a seven-point lead and doubles their position in 2016 With the Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifting their strategy .
As reported by CNN , Republican Senator David Perdue recently warned Republican activists that the state is at risk of being taken by Democrats .
The grim warning reportedly came amid an off-the-record conference call .
According to CNN , Perdue ’ s warning is a reflection of current Republican fears that the Democrats will seize the Senate .
In particular , the publication claims Republicans have specific concern over battles in Kansas and Georgia — two states Trump won in 2016 .
McConnell is feeling the pressure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill , in an interview with Fox News Radio on Monday , McConnell warned that Republicans are currently in a defensive position and said the battle for the Senate in November will be a dogfight .
“ Let me just say that the Senate majority has not been a certainty at any point this cycle , ” he said , adding that the battle ahead is something that party has expected .
As The Inquisitr previously reported , Republican Party insiders are allegedly worried that Donald Trump ‘ s response to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House and the Senate .

In a Saturday piece for CNN, election forecaster Harry Enten said that Democrats are now “slight favorites” to take control of the Senate from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
To take control of the Senate, Enten claims Democrats have two options: a net gain of three seats if Joe Biden wins in 2020, or a net gain of four seats if Donald Trump wins reelection.
“An early look at the data finds that Democrats are the slightest of favorites to take back the Senate,” Enten wrote.
“The chance Democrats net gain at least 3 seats is about 3-in-5 (60%), while the chance they net gain at least 4 seats is about 1-in-2 (50%).”
However, Enten notes there’s still a significant amount of uncertainty and says Democrats could end up losing up to four seats and gaining as much as 11.
As for why Democrats’ fortunes are rising, Enten claims that a large part is the national environment, which he says “continues to look good for them.” In particular, he points to their eight-point lead on the generic ballot, which is approximately equal to where they were in 2018 when they had a seven-point lead and doubles their position in 2016
“Based on past trends, this large advantage suggests that races that may look like tossups right now are forecasted to move toward the Democrats over the course of the year.”
With the Democratic Party’s chances rising, Republicans are shifting their strategy. As reported by CNN, Republican Senator David Perdue recently warned Republican activists that the state is at risk of being taken by Democrats. The grim warning reportedly came amid an off-the-record conference call.
According to CNN, Perdue’s warning is a reflection of current Republican fears that the Democrats will seize the Senate. In particular, the publication claims Republicans have specific concern over battles in Kansas and Georgia — two states Trump won in 2016.
McConnell is feeling the pressure, as well. As reported by The Hill, in an interview with Fox News Radio on Monday, McConnell warned that Republicans are currently in a defensive position and said the battle for the Senate in November will be a dogfight.
“Let me just say that the Senate majority has not been a certainty at any point this cycle,” he said, adding that the battle ahead is something that party has expected.
As The Inquisitr previously reported, Republican Party insiders are allegedly worried that Donald Trump‘s response to the coronavirus pandemic will lose them both the White House and the Senate.


inquisitr--2020-05-02--David Axelrod Says Obama Campaign Found No Evidence Of Sexual Misconduct Claims When Vetting Joe Bid

David Axelrod Says Obama Campaign Found No Evidence Of Sexual Misconduct Claims When Vetting Joe Biden

The Obama campaign found no claims of sexual misconduct against Joe Biden when vetting him for the vice president role , the former head of the campaign said this week .
David Axelrod , who served as a top aide for Obama ’ s two White House campaigns , wrote in an opinion column for CNN that the thorough process of looking into Biden ’ s background uncovered nothing like the sexual assault claim he is now facing from a former staffer named Tara Reade .
She claims that Biden sexually assaulted her in a secluded part of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lodged a complaint against him .
Axelrod wrote that the Obama campaign was thorough in its vetting process , which aimed to uncover any vulnerabilities in potential vice president candidates .
Axelrod wrote that this process would have uncovered any formal complaints filed against Biden during his 36 years in the Senate , but said that nothing at all came up .
“ Had any credible issue been raised , you can be sure Biden would not have been the nominee , ” Axelrod noted .
“ Obama would not have tolerated it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close then , which they were not.
” Axelrod added that Reade did not bring up the allegation against Biden while he was on the presidential ticket in 2008 , and also did not raise her concerns privately to the Obama vetting team .
Biden broke his silence on the allegation this week , saying in an MSNBC interview that the incident Reade described never happened .
Biden has called for a thorough investigation and asked for the National Archives to make public any information from his time in the Senate that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoed Biden ’ s sentiment that women who come forward with allegations should he heard , saying that Reade deserves the same .
“ Our society is just now confronting a long , sordid history of disregarding accusations and silencing women who were sexually abused or assaulted .
Women who come forward deserve to be taken seriously and treated with respect , and Tara Reade ’ s story should be heard and thoroughly investigated , ” he wrote .
Others have backed Biden , with top Democrats saying they believe him and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never seen Biden act in an inappropriate manner during their work together in the Senate .
Donald Trump also said that there is a chance Biden is facing a “ false ” allegation , which Trump said he has faced himself .
Both Trump and Graham have called on Biden to release any information that could pertain to Reade ’ s claim .


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Joe Biden Claps Back At Donald Trump For Coronavirus Testing Remarks

President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to push back on reports that there aren ’ t enough COVID-19 testing kits to ensure that members of the U.S. Congress haven ’ t been infected by the novel coronavirus .
In response to the president ’ s claims , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden has gone on the offensive , denouncing Trump for his past and present remarks on coronavirus testing .
In a response he sent Saturday on Twitter , shortly after Trump ’ s own tweet , Biden called out the president for claiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get tested would have no problem doing so .
Biden went on to say that Trump ’ s more recent statements on testing are similarly erroneous and that the White House needs to act immediately to shore up America ’ s testing capabilities in order to help facilitate a safe reopening of the country .
“ On March 6th , Donald Trump said : “ Anybody that wants a test can get a test.
” It was a lie then , and it ’ s still not true nearly two months later .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s slowing efforts to reopen safely .
This administration needs to act immediately to surge testing nationwide , ” Biden tweeted .
Replies to Biden ’ s tweet have run the gamut from those attacking Biden or claiming that they had no problem being tested to others to others expressing concern about testing and reopening too hastily .
Trump boasted about the testing capacity as it relates to senators returning to Washington , D.C. on Monday .
He went on to criticize House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( whom he dubbed “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House of Representatives from returning as well and said the “ five-minute Abbott test ” would be used .
Abbott Laboratories launched its third coronavirus test this week and will be shipping them to hospitals across the U.S .
The new diagnostic tool is a serology test – or antibody test – which will detect the IgG antibody to SARS-CoV-2 in people previously infected with the coronavirus .
Abbott has stated that it is scaling up its manufacturing capabilities and aims to ship nearly one million tests this week .
Shortages in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to be debated as multiple states look to reopen their economies .
In Florida , attorney Daniel Uhlfelder has gone viral for dressing up as the Grim Reaper on crowded beaches to protest reopening , as reported by The Inquisitr .
Uhlfelder says that the state ’ s current testing capabilities aren ’ t sufficient to safely reengage in widespread commercial activity .


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Lindsey Graham Backs Joe Biden Amid Sexual Assault Claim: ‘Never Heard Anything About Him Being Inap

Lindsey Graham Backs Joe Biden Amid Sexual Assault Claim: ‘Never Heard Anything About Him Being Inappropriate’

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is sticking up for Joe Biden amid an accusation of sexual assault against the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , saying he has never known Biden to conduct himself in that way and calling for Biden to release any records that could shed light on the allegation .
Former staffer Tara Reade has claimed that Biden sexually assaulted her when she worked in his office in 1993 , a claim that Biden denies .
Graham said during a Friday appearance on Fox News that the allegation doesn ’ t seem in line with the Biden he knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden for 20 years .
I ’ ve traveled the world with him .
I ’ ve never seen him do anything untoward toward a woman , I ’ ve never heard anything about him being inappropriate , ” he said , calling on Biden to release any information that could shed light on the claim .
Biden spoke out for the first time on the claim during a Friday appearance on MSNBC , denying that it ever happened but saying that women who come forward with sexual assault allegations deserve to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on journalists to thoroughly investigate the claim , saying they believed that evidence would show it to be unfounded .
Graham did criticize what he saw as a double standard in the way the media has treated the allegations against Biden compared to sexual misconduct claims against Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh , saying that the Democrats now defending Biden were much more aggressive in their stance against Kavanaugh .
Graham was one of Kavanaugh ’ s staunchest defenders at the time , pressing for his confirmation .
“ Is there a double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during his Friday appearance on Hannity .
“ Do most Republicans understand what happened to Brett Kavanaugh was not about trying to right a wrong against Dr. Ford [ but ] was about trying to keep a seat open so they could fill it when they could beat Trump ?
I mean , they [ Democrats ] were dumb enough to say that.
” Many others have joined Graham in calling on Biden and his campaign to provide any evidence that could pertain to the claim against him .
The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Committee to thoroughly investigate the claim , saying that while it can often be impossible to be sure of the truth when it comes to claims of that kind , the stakes are too high to leave the matter alone without a proper investigation .


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Donald Trump Reportedly Begins Transition Plans In Case He Loses In November

Donald Trump has expressed confidence in his chances of being re-elected in November , but a new report claims that , behind the scenes , he has started the process of preparing a transition in cases he loses .
As PBS News reported , Trump has started on the deployment of the Presidential Transition Act , which was established by Congress in 2015 to ensure a smooth transition of power from one presidential administration to the next .
Trump will be required to name members of a transition council no more than six months before November ’ s election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will chair the council .
The report claimed that Trump is planning to appoint Chris Liddell , his deputy chief of staff for policy coordination .
Experts say that with the economic and public health crisis now facing the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic , and the likelihood that there will still be turmoil in November and beyond , a smooth transition would be more important than ever in the event that Trump loses .
“ The relevance of transition planning has intensified since it could be the first election since 1932 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment , more than twice as high as the unemployment rate in 2008 .
You add to that a health crisis and the potential for a virtual transition .
The degree of complexity has increased significantly , ” David Marchick , director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service , told PBS News .
As NBC News reported , presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden has also started to put together plans for a transition team in case he were to win the election .
In a conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted that it “ sounds presumptuous ” of him to start this process , but he noted that there are a number of vacancies throughout the federal government that Donald Trump ’ s administration has either created or chosen not to fill , so he would need to be ready to make a number of appointments early into a term .
“ I don ’ t want it to sound like that , but it has to happen and that ’ s why the transition team is already being put together , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s opponents have expressed worries that there may not be a smooth transition if Trump loses in November , and Trump has joked about the idea of remaining in office for longer than the two terms he may legally serve per the U.S. Constitution .

Donald Trump has expressed confidence in his chances of being re-elected in November, but a new report claims that, behind the scenes, he has started the process of preparing a transition in cases he loses.
As PBS News reported, Trump has started on the deployment of the Presidential Transition Act, which was established by Congress in 2015 to ensure a smooth transition of power from one presidential administration to the next. Trump will be required to name members of a transition council no more than six months before November’s election, including a senior White House member who will chair the council. The report claimed that Trump is planning to appoint Chris Liddell, his deputy chief of staff for policy coordination.
Experts say that with the economic and public health crisis now facing the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic, and the likelihood that there will still be turmoil in November and beyond, a smooth transition would be more important than ever in the event that Trump loses.
“The relevance of transition planning has intensified since it could be the first election since 1932 where we had more than 20 percent unemployment, more than twice as high as the unemployment rate in 2008. You add to that a health crisis and the potential for a virtual transition. The degree of complexity has increased significantly,” David Marchick, director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, told PBS News.
As NBC News reported, presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden has also started to put together plans for a transition team in case he were to win the election. In a conference call with donors last week, Biden admitted that it “sounds presumptuous” of him to start this process, but he noted that there are a number of vacancies throughout the federal government that Donald Trump’s administration has either created or chosen not to fill, so he would need to be ready to make a number of appointments early into a term.
“I don’t want it to sound like that, but it has to happen and that’s why the transition team is already being put together,” Biden told his donors.
Some of Trump’s opponents have expressed worries that there may not be a smooth transition if Trump loses in November, and Trump has joked about the idea of remaining in office for longer than the two terms he may legally serve per the U.S. Constitution.


inquisitr--2020-05-02--Mike Pence Claims Worst Of Coronavirus Outbreak Could Be ‘Behind Us By Early June’

Vice President Mike Pence spoke to Fox News Rundown for an interview that was released on Friday , in which he discussed the coronavirus trajectory in the United States , Breitbart reported .
Pence said the virus could be significantly curbed by early June with adequate social distancing and adherence to advice from public health officials .
“ I think if the American people continue to practice social distancing , if they heed the guidance , particularly through any phased reopening from their state and local officials , I believe we could have much of this coronavirus epidemic behind us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pence ’ s comments echo those made during last week ’ s appearance on Rush Limbaugh ’ s radio show , where he expressed optimism that the worst of the virus would subside in the U.S. by early June .
The vice president ’ s prediction also comes after he faced backlash for visiting Minneapolis ’ Mayo Clinic hospital without a mask , which runs contrary to the clinic ’ s requirement .
According to Pence ’ s wife , he was not aware of the clinic ’ s policy before attending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words reportedly contradict claims from the hospital , which said Pence was told beforehand to wear personal protective equipment .
As reported by USA Today , many states are poised to relax pandemic measures and reopen their economies this weekend .
But even with some states reopening , public health researcher Ali Mokdad suggests that normalcy is far in the future , as people still fear infection .
According to Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , reopening comes with a “ significant risk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening , America has a confirmed 1.13 million COVID-19 cases and 65,425 deaths .
Fauci claims that reopening states , an action which runs counter to public health experts ’ advice , could lead to a spike in cases that some states might not be able to handle .
While Fauci believes that coronavirus will not subside until a vaccine is widely available , Pence appears to have confidence in the efficacy of social distancing .
Despite his optimism , he has urged Americans to follow local and state authorities ’ advice and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump appears to share Pence ’ s optimism and has repeatedly pushed for reopening the economy as soon as possible .


inquisitr--2020-05-03--After Joe Biden Accused Of Sexually Harassing 14-Year-Old Girl At Event, Organizer Says Biden Was Ne

After Joe Biden Accused Of Sexually Harassing 14-Year-Old Girl At Event, Organizer Says Biden Was Never There

After Joe Biden was accused of sexually harassing a 14-year-old girl at a political dinner in 2008 , the event ’ s organizer reportedly spoke out to say that the former vice president was never at the event in question .
The new allegation surfaced after the woman , Eva Murray , told Law & Crime that Biden made a crude remark to her at the First State Gridiron Dinner & Show in Delaware in 2008 .
Murray said she attended the event with her aunt , Republican Senate candidate Christine O ’ Donnell , who at the time was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign against Biden .
Murray said that she and her aunt spoke briefly with Biden , who remarked that Murray was “ very well endowed ” for a 14-year-old .
The publication interviewed Murray ’ s sister and five of her friends , including one who said they remembered being told of the incident at the time Murray claimed it happened .
Four of Murray ’ s friends said she told them about the alleged encounter a few years after it happened .
But subsequent reports from the event organizer claimed that Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that year .
ABC News reporter Sasha Pezenik noted that Biden had undergone sinus surgery that week , and was believed to be home recovering at the time the alleged incident took place .
An organizer of the event also told Pezenik that Biden did not attend the dinner .
“ And , then-V.P .
of the First State Gridiron Dinner wrote a letter today provided by the campaign , ‘ to whom it may concern ’ saying , ‘ After reviewing my files of the dinner which included attendees and the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senator Biden was not at the dinner , ’ ” Pezenik wrote in a tweet that was later deleted , but archived by the left-leaning political news site Daily Kos .
Biden ’ s campaign had not directly addressed the allegation from Murray .
The former vice president did speak out this week about a sexual assault allegation from former staffer Tara Reade , who claimed that Biden assaulted her in a secluded area of the U.S. Senate building in 1993 .
Biden said the incident never took place , calling on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a report she is said to have filed .
Reade was scheduled the speak out about the incident during an interview on Fox News on Sunday , but she canceled on Saturday , saying she had received death threats and did not want to put her family in the spotlight .


inquisitr--2020-05-03--Joe Biden Says He Would Cut Funding To U.S. Soccer Federation If Women Don’t Get Equal Pay

Joe Biden said that as president he would withhold funding to the U.S. Soccer Federation until players on the women ’ s national team are paid equal to those on the men ’ s team .
As CNN reported , the women ’ s team suffered a legal setback this week when a federal judge dismissed their claim of being unfairly paid less than the men ’ s national team .
The United States women ’ s national team ( USWNT ) had filed suit against the U.S. Soccer Federation in March of last year , with all 28 players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The lawsuit claimed that the inequalities in pay constituted federal discrimination because they allowed the women to be paid less “ for substantially equal work and by denying them at least equal playing , training , and travel conditions ; equal promotion of their games ; equal support and development for their games ; and other terms and conditions of employment equal to the MNT.
” But Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled that the members of the women ’ s team had not sufficiently proven wage discrimination under the Equal Pay Act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics , including the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for president in 2020 .
Biden voiced his support for the women ’ s team on Saturday , tweeting a vow to cut funding to the U.S. Soccer Federation as president if the inequities in pay were not addressed .
“ This is not over yet .
To @ USSoccer : equal pay , now .
Or else when I ’ m president , you can go elsewhere for World Cup funding , ” he wrote on Twitter .
Biden has been a supporter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , and this week hosted an Instagram live chat with U.S. star Megan Rapinoe , who joked that she would be available if Biden was looking for a running mate .
Biden joked that she would have to be willing to accept a pay cut .
The court battle over equal pay does not appear to be over yet .
Molly Levinson , a spokeswomen for the players , said they were shocked by this week ’ s decision but planned to press forward and remained confidence in their case .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls who play soccer will be valued the same as their male counterparts .
“ We have learned that there are tremendous obstacles to change ; we know that it takes bravery and courage and perseverance to stand up to them .
We will appeal and press on .
Words can not express our gratitude to all who support us , ” Levinson said in a statement .

Joe Biden said that, as president, he would withhold funding to the U.S. Soccer Federation until players on the women’s national team are paid equal to those on the men’s team.
As CNN reported, the women’s team suffered a legal setback this week when a federal judge dismissed their claim of being unfairly paid and earning less than the men’s national team. The United States women’s national team (USWNT) had filed suit against the U.S. Soccer Federation in March of last year, with all 28 players listed as plaintiffs.
The lawsuit claimed that the inequalities in pay constituted federal discrimination because they allowed the women to be paid less “for substantially equal work and by denying them at least equal playing, training, and travel conditions; equal promotion of their games; equal support and development for their games; and other terms and conditions of employment equal to the MNT.”
But Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled that the members of the women’s team had not sufficiently proven wage discrimination under the Equal Pay Act.
The judgment was met with pushback from critics, including the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for president in 2020. Biden voiced his support for the women’s team on Saturday, tweeting a vow to cut funding to the U.S. Soccer Federation as president if the inequities in pay were not addressed.
“This is not over yet. To @USSoccer: equal pay, now. Or else when I’m president, you can go elsewhere for World Cup funding,” he wrote on Twitter.
Biden has been a supporter of soccer throughout his time in the White House, and this week hosted an Instagram live chat with U.S. star Megan Rapinoe, who joked that she would be available if Biden was looking for a running mate. Biden joked that she would have to be willing to accept a pay cut.
The court battle over equal pay does not appear to be over yet. Molly Levinson, a spokesperson for the players, said they were shocked by this week’s decision but planned to press forward and remained confident in their case. She offered an encouraging message that women and girls who play soccer will be valued the same as their male counterparts.
“We have learned that there are tremendous obstacles to change; we know that it takes bravery and courage and perseverance to stand up to them. We will appeal and press on. Words cannot express our gratitude to all who support us,” Levinson said in a statement posted to Twitter.


inquisitr--2020-05-03--Mitt Romney Joins Democrats In Calling For $12 Per Hour Pay Raises For Essential Workers

Mitt Romney is joining a group of Democrats calling for essential workers to receive hourly bonuses for their work , with the Utah Senator proposing they receive up to $ 12 per hour extra for their work during the coronavirus outbreak .
As The Week noted , the Utah senator proposed Friday that workers “ who are necessarily subject to greater risk of COVID-19 ” receive a boost their hourly pay .
As the report noted , several Democratic senators had suggested that essential workers receive a raise of $ 13 per hour , to be paid retroactively to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released a similar plan , showing there could be some bipartisan support for the idea .
Under Romney ’ s plan , which he called “ Patriot Pay , ” would to go those in front-line and essential jobs and would extend through July .
A one-page summary of the plan released by Romney ’ s office said that the pay boost would be a way to more properly compensate those who put their health and safety at risk during the spread of the coronavirus .
“ Health care professionals , grocery store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others — the unsung patriots on the frontline of this pandemic — every day risk their safety for the health and well-being of our country , and they deserve our unwavering support , ” Romney said in announcing the plan .
“ Patriot Pay is a way for us to reward our essential workers as they continue to keep Americans safe , healthy , and fed.
” As NPR noted , Romney ’ s plan would offer employers a refundable payroll tax credit in order to pay out the bonus to eligible employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-quarters of the pay and employers paying the remainder .
“ This form of hazard pay would complement , not replace , an employer ’ s responsibility to pay their workers — it is designed to quadruple any bonuses an employer gives to essential workers , ” Romney ’ s office said .
Earlier in April , Democrats in the Senate had released a plan for what they called the “ Heroes Fund , ” which would give a $ 25,000 premium pay increase for essential workers — which equated to a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of the coronavirus outbreak through December 31 , 2020 .
It also had a $ 15,000 essential worker recruitment incentive in order to fill workforce needs during the public health crisis .
It is not clear whether either Romney ’ s plan or the one supported by Democrats might pass .
The U.S. Senate has passed a series of coronavirus relief efforts , including a one-time stimulus payment of $ 1,200 to adults with $ 500 per dependent child .

Mitt Romney is joining a group of Democrats calling for essential workers to receive hourly bonuses, with the Utah Senator proposing they receive up to $12 per hour extra for their work amid the coronavirus outbreak.
As The Week noted, the Utah senator proposed Friday that workers “who are necessarily subject to greater risk of COVID-19” receive a boost in their hourly pay. As the report noted, several Democratic senators had suggested that essential workers receive a raise of $13 per hour, to be paid retroactively to the start of the virus outbreak. Romney released a similar plan, showing there could be some bipartisan support for the idea.
Under Romney’s plan, which he called “Patriot Pay,” the increase would to go those in frontline and essential jobs, and would extend through July. A one-page summary of the plan released by Romney’s office said that the pay boost would be a way to better compensate those who are putting their health and safety at risk during the current pandemic.
“Health care professionals, grocery store workers, food processors, and many others — the unsung patriots on the frontline of this pandemic — every day risk their safety for the health and well-being of our country, and they deserve our unwavering support,” Romney said in announcing the plan. “Patriot Pay is a way for us to reward our essential workers as they continue to keep Americans safe, healthy, and fed.”
As NPR noted, Romney’s plan would offer employers a refundable payroll tax credit in order to pay out the bonus to eligible employees, with the federal government picking up three-quarters of the pay and employers paying the remainder.
“This form of hazard pay would complement, not replace, an employer’s responsibility to pay their workers — it is designed to quadruple any bonuses an employer gives to essential workers,” Romney’s office said.
Earlier in April, Democrats in the Senate had released a plan for what they called the “Heroes Fund,” which would give a $25,000 premium pay increase for essential workers — which equated to a $13 per hour pay increase from the start of the coronavirus outbreak through December 31, 2020. It also had a $15,000 essential worker recruitment incentive in order to fill workforce needs during the public health crisis.
It is not clear whether either Romney’s plan or the one introduced by Democrats might pass. The U.S. Senate has passed a series of coronavirus relief efforts, including a one-time stimulus payment of $1,200 to adults, with $500 additional per dependent child.


inquisitr--2020-05-03--Joe Biden’s Sexual Assault Accuser, Tara Reade, Cancels Sunday Interview With Fox News, Citing Death

Joe Biden’s Sexual Assault Accuser, Tara Reade, Cancels Sunday Interview With Fox News, Citing Death Threats

Tara Reade , the woman who is accusing Joe Biden of sexual assault during her time working in his U.S. Senate office , has canceled a planned interview with Fox News for Sunday , reportedly citing death threats .
The cancellation comes more than a day after Biden broke his silence on the allegations , saying in a Friday interview on MSNBC that the incident never happened .
In the interview , Biden called for the National Archives to release any records that would pertain to her claim of sexual assault .
Reade had been set for her first major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday canceled her interview set for Fox News on Sunday morning .
As New York Times reporter Lisa Lerer reported on Twitter , Reade claimed that she had received death threats and grew too worried about putting her family in the spotlight .
“ Tara Reade tells me she canceled the interview with Fox News because death threats received by her and her child made her nervous about being in the public eye , ” Lerer wrote .
Reade , who came forward last year with a group of other women who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with unwanted touching but stressed it was not of a sexual nature , this year said that Biden sexually assaulted her while she worked in his office in 1993 .
Reade ’ s interview cancellation came not long after The Associated Press reported that Reade said the report she filed with the U.S. Senate did not contain references to either sexual assault or harassment .
“ I remember talking about him wanting me to serve drinks because he liked my legs and thought I was pretty and it made me uncomfortable , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press .
Reade quoted the story on Twitter and wrote the word “ false , ” but did not elaborate on what part of the story she was claiming to be untrue .
Reade had previously told reporter Katie Halper in an interview published in Current Affairs that she filed a report regarding her time working in Biden ’ s office .
When asked what the report was about , Reade said it was regarding “ sexual harassment ” but noted that she “ did not complain formally ” about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
She said the report was rather about the general atmosphere of the office and the way she was treated .


inquisitr--2020-05-03--Stacey Abrams Is Reportedly ‘Increasingly Irritating’ Joe Biden Allies

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams ’ aggressive and very public campaign for Joe Biden ‘ s running mate appears to be backfiring .
According to a report from The New York Post published on Saturday , Abrams is “ increasingly irritating ” the former vice president ’ s allies .
For weeks , the Georgia Democrat has been forcefully pitching herself as a potential running mate for the Democratic Party ‘ s presidential nominee .
In a recent interview , she said that she would be an “ excellent running mate , ” touting her resume and repeatedly insisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job .
According to an insider , Abrams ’ unconventional approach is not yielding results .
Biden has vowed to pick a woman as his vice presidential nominee , but if he decides to choose an African-American woman , it won ’ t be Abrams .
Sen. Kamala Harris — who also ran for president , but dropped out before Iowa — would probably be selected in such a scenario .
“ If they go with a black woman , it would be Kamala Harris , but she ’ s a clunky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excitement for her own campaign with black or white voters , ” the insider said .
Harris has also made attempts to stay in Biden ’ s orbit , but she has been subtle .
The California senator recently participated in a virtual town hall organized by top Biden surrogate Symone Sanders .
Similarly , Sen Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota made an appearance on Biden ’ s newly-launched podcast Here ’ s the Deal .
Subtlety seems to be paying off for Harris and Klobuchar , since Abrams is seen as more of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ No one takes Stacey seriously .
And her public campaigning for the job seems more like a hostage negotiation than an actual attempt to get the job , ” they said .
Comparing Abrams to Sarah Palin , the Republican Party ’ s 2008 vice presidential candidate , the insider explained that Biden is a more traditional politician interested in finding a competent partner .
“ Picking Stacey would be like picking [ Sarah ] Palin .
He doesn ’ t need to throw a Hail Mary .
He wants a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden and his people are considering all options and no decision has been made yet , but , according to the insider The New York Post interviewed , the running mate candidates need to understand that the former vice president insists on competence and experience .
“ Biden is old school , ” the individual stressed .
Klobuchar is reportedly considered the frontrunner for vice presidential nominee .
Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois are also seen as top contenders for the position .
New Mexico Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Masto are reportedly “ in the mix ” as well .

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams’ aggressive and very public campaign to be Joe Biden‘s running mate appears to be backfiring. According to a report from the New York Post published on Saturday, Abrams is “increasingly irritating” the former vice president’s allies.
For weeks, the Georgia Democrat has been forcefully pitching herself as a potential running mate for the Democratic Party‘s presidential nominee. In a recent interview, she said that she would be an “excellent running mate,” touting her resume and repeatedly insisting that she is the best person for the job.
According to an insider, Abrams’ unconventional approach is not yielding results. Biden has vowed to pick a woman as his vice presidential nominee, but if he decides to choose an African American woman, it won’t be Abrams. Sen. Kamala Harris — who also ran for president but dropped out before Iowa — would probably be selected in such a scenario.
“If they go with a black woman, it would be Kamala Harris, but she’s a clunky communicator and couldn’t generate any excitement for her own campaign with black or white voters,” the insider said.
Harris has also made attempts to stay in Biden’s orbit, but she has been subtle. The California senator recently participated in a virtual town hall organized by top Biden surrogate Symone Sanders. Similarly, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota made an appearance on Biden’s newly launched podcast, Here’s the Deal.
Subtlety seems to be paying off for Harris and Klobuchar, since Abrams is seen as more of a nuisance, the insider suggested.
“No one takes Stacey seriously. And her public campaigning for the job seems more like a hostage negotiation than an actual attempt to get the job,” they said.
Comparing Abrams to Sarah Palin, the Republican Party’s 2008 vice presidential candidate, the insider explained that Biden is a more traditional politician interested in finding a competent partner.
“Picking Stacey would be like picking [Sarah] Palin. He doesn’t need to throw a Hail Mary. He wants a good governing partner,” they said.
Biden and his people are considering all options and no decision has been made yet, but, according to the insider the New York Post interviewed, the running mate candidates need to understand that the former vice president insists on competence and experience.
“Biden is old school,” the individual stressed.
Klobuchar is reportedly considered the frontrunner for vice presidential nominee. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois are also seen as top contenders for the position. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto are reportedly “in the mix” as well.