cnbc--2020-06-13--Trump addresses West Point graduates after criticism from alumni and controversial church photo op

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to West Point graduating cadets during commencement ceremonies at Plain Parade Field at the United States Military Academy on June 13 , 2020 in West Point , New York .
WEST POINT , N.Y. — In his first graduation address to the cadets of the United States Military Academy , President Donald Trump touted the colossal defense budget and the creation of the U.S. Space Force while avoiding the recent debate over the administration 's politicization of troops .
`` You came to West Point because you know the truth : America is the greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States military is the greatest force for peace and justice the world has ever known , '' Trump told the more than 1,100 seated cadets at the academy 's historic parade field .
`` As commander-in-chief , I never forget for one instant the immense sacrifices we ask of those who wear the nation 's uniform , '' he said during the Saturday ceremony , which was altered for social distancing measures .
`` What has historically made America unique is the durability of its institutions against the passions and prejudices of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's speech to the Army 's new second lieutenants at an in-person ceremony at West Point , comes at a particularly tumultuous time .
More than 114,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus pandemic , double-digit unemployment plagues the nation , top defense officials face criticism for a political photo-op and widespread protests over police brutality have swept the country .
`` When times are turbulent , when the road is rough , what matters most is that which is permanent , timeless , enduring and eternal , '' Trump said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past two weeks .
Trump has faced criticism for his handling of the protests sparked by the death last month of George Floyd at the hands of police .
The unarmed black man died after a white Minneapolis police officer held his knee on Floyd 's neck for more than eight minutes .
The officer has been charged with second-degree murder .
The president took a moment during the ceremony to recognize the National Guard and its efforts of `` ensuring peace , safety and the constitutional rule of law on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extraordinary letter to the U.S. Military Academy 's graduating class penned by a coalition of several hundred West Point alumni .
`` Sadly , the government has threatened to use the Army in which you serve as a weapon against fellow Americans engaging in these legitimate protests .
Worse , military leaders , who took the same oath you take today , have participated in politically charged events , '' some alumni wrote in a letter posted on Medium .
`` The oath taken by those who choose to serve in America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service to no monarch ; no government ; no political party ; no tyrant , '' the group wrote , adding that they were `` concerned that fellow graduates serving in senior-level , public positions are failing to uphold their oath of office and their commitment to Duty , Honor , Country . ''

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to West Point graduating cadets during commencement ceremonies at Plain Parade Field at the United States Military Academy on June 13, 2020 in West Point, New York.
WEST POINT, N.Y. — In his first graduation address to the cadets of the United States Military Academy, President Donald Trump touted the colossal defense budget and the creation of the U.S. Space Force while avoiding the recent debate over the administration's politicization of troops.
"You came to West Point because you know the truth: America is the greatest country in human history. And the United States military is the greatest force for peace and justice the world has ever known," Trump told the more than 1,100 seated cadets at the academy's historic parade field.
"As commander-in-chief, I never forget for one instant the immense sacrifices we ask of those who wear the nation's uniform," he said during the Saturday ceremony, which was altered for social distancing measures. "What has historically made America unique is the durability of its institutions against the passions and prejudices of the moment," he added.
Trump's speech to the Army's new second lieutenants at an in-person ceremony at West Point, comes at a particularly tumultuous time. More than 114,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus pandemic, double-digit unemployment plagues the nation, top defense officials face criticism for a political photo-op and widespread protests over police brutality have swept the country.
"When times are turbulent, when the road is rough, what matters most is that which is permanent, timeless, enduring and eternal," Trump said, appearing to acknowledge the palpable tensions of the past two weeks.
Trump has faced criticism for his handling of the protests sparked by the death last month of George Floyd at the hands of police. The unarmed black man died after a white Minneapolis police officer held his knee on Floyd's neck for more than eight minutes. The officer has been charged with second-degree murder.
The president took a moment during the ceremony to recognize the National Guard and its efforts of "ensuring peace, safety and the constitutional rule of law on our streets."
Trump's address follows an extraordinary letter to the U.S. Military Academy's graduating class penned by a coalition of several hundred West Point alumni.
"Sadly, the government has threatened to use the Army in which you serve as a weapon against fellow Americans engaging in these legitimate protests. Worse, military leaders, who took the same oath you take today, have participated in politically charged events," some alumni wrote in a letter posted on Medium.
"The oath taken by those who choose to serve in America's military is aspirational. We pledge service to no monarch; no government; no political party; no tyrant," the group wrote, adding that they were "concerned that fellow graduates serving in senior-level, public positions are failing to uphold their oath of office and their commitment to Duty, Honor, Country."


cnbc--2020-06-13--Fighter with a 'fresh face': What Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could bring as Biden's VP pick

Joe Biden is seeking a woman to be his 2020 running mate , and Michigan 's Gretchen Whitmer is on the shortlist .
The first-term governor is a rising star in the Democratic Party whose convincing 2018 congressional victories brought the rust-belt swing state back into the blue column for the first time in eight years .
Democrats believe Michigan is a must win for presumptive nominee Biden and having Whitmer on the ticket could deliver the state .
Beyond delivering Michigan , Whitmer , a 48-year-old mother of two , would add youth to the 77-year old former vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fresh face , '' said Doug Sosnik , a Democratic strategist and former senior advisor to President Bill Clinton .
He added that her status as a Washington outsider , unlike Biden 's , is a selling point .
`` What the country is looking for solution wise is not in Washington , '' he said .
The U.S. is currently going through remarkable upheaval .
It is struggling to recover from a triple threat of the deadly coronavirus pandemic , a crushing economic downturn brought on by efforts to slow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the death of an unarmed black man , George Floyd , at the hands of Minneapolis police .
The nation is even more polarized than it was in 2016 , when Donald Trump , a political novice and ultimate Washington outsider , was elected in a surprising electoral college victory over his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton – the only female presidential nominee in U.S. history .
Just doing her job Whitmer , who declined to comment for this story , confirmed to other outlets that she has had conversations about joining the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not lobbying for the job .
`` I just know that , you know , you do n't run for that .
That is a selection of the top of the ticket , and everyone else should be just busy doing their jobs , '' she told POLITICO Playbook in late April as the coronavirus pandemic hit its peak in her state .
Whitmer has been a popular figure in Michigan for years .
She climbed the political ladder , serving in the state 's House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 .
In 2013 , she leaped into the national spotlight during a debate on abortion in which she revealed that she had been sexually assaulted .
She ran for governor in 2018 as a pragmatic candidate promising to `` fix the damn roads . ''
She won her race against state Attorney General Bill Schuette by a margin of nearly 10 points .
Michigan 's economy took a turn for the worse in 2019 as it faced headwinds from Trump 's trade war , the auto worker strikes against General Motors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the University of Michigan .
The state was on track for a turnaround in 2020 , Michigan News reported , until the coronavirus changed everything .
In February , she was selected to give the Democratic response to Trump 's 2020 State of the Union address , an honor generally reserved for the party 's ascendant members .
Whitmer again grabbed the nation 's attention in April when she called out the Trump administration for failing to provide adequate protective gear , equipment and testing to battle the virus .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , protesters , egged on by the president , showed up at the state capitol brandishing weapons and demanding an end to strict stay-at-home measures enacted by the governor as Covid-19 cases in Detroit and other areas multiplied .
The controversy , while raising her profile , could actually hurt her chances of making Biden 's final cut .
`` The impact of the pandemic on Michigan and the protests in general does make it more likely that Biden will look elsewhere for a running mate , '' said Joshua Spivak , senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Government Reform at Wagner College .
`` Any reelection race is effectively a referendum on the incumbent .
Choosing Whitmer may draw attention away from some of the more unpopular decisions that Trump has made , '' he said .
What 's more , in recent weeks the political winds have shifted , casting even more doubt on her potential to become Biden 's No.2 .
Floyd 's death from asphyxiation while in police custody set off what has become weeks of protests in cities across the nation and the world as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and police reform .
That could push Biden , who has opened a substantial lead over Trump according to several national polls , to choose a black running mate .
African-Americans were instrumental in his victory in a crowded primary field .
Biden 's campaign declined to comment for this story .
But South Carolina 's powerful Rep. James Clyburn , who endorsed Biden ahead of the state 's pivotal primary , told Axios he would advise the former vice president : `` We need to have a woman on the ticket , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
California Sen. Kamala Harris is the top choice on many lips in Washington .
But there are other women of color who are reportedly under consideration , including former Orlando police chief and Rep. Val Demings , President Barack Obama 's former national security advisor Susan Rice , Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Stacey Abrams , who narrowly lost her bid for governor of Georgia in 2018 .
Some progressives are pushing for Elizabeth Warren , who is on the verge of turning 71 as the party is looking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She and Biden have also had some clear policy differences .
Whitmer like Biden is a moderate , but that means that she wo n't help bring progressives to the table .
She 's also less experienced than some others in the running .
Biden recently told CBS News he wants a No.2 `` who is ready to be president on day one . ''
`` I 'm not sure anyone is ever ready to be president , but she has less experience on paper than some other people do , '' Sosnik @ @ @ @

Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, speaks during a campaign event with former Vice President Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, not pictured, in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, March 9, 2020. Erin Kirkland | Bloomberg | Getty images
Joe Biden is seeking a woman to be his 2020 running mate, and Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer is on the shortlist. The first-term governor is a rising star in the Democratic Party whose convincing 2018 congressional victories brought the rust-belt swing state back into the blue column for the first time in eight years. Democrats believe Michigan is a must win for presumptive nominee Biden and having Whitmer on the ticket could deliver the state. Beyond delivering Michigan, Whitmer, a 48-year-old mother of two, would add youth to the 77-year old former vice president's campaign. "She's a fresh face," said Doug Sosnik, a Democratic strategist and former senior advisor to President Bill Clinton. He added that her status as a Washington outsider, unlike Biden's, is a selling point. "What the country is looking for solution wise is not in Washington," he said. The U.S. is currently going through remarkable upheaval. It is struggling to recover from a triple threat of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, a crushing economic downturn brought on by efforts to slow the spread of the disease and civil unrest over the death of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, at the hands of Minneapolis police. The nation is even more polarized than it was in 2016, when Donald Trump, a political novice and ultimate Washington outsider, was elected in a surprising electoral college victory over his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton – the only female presidential nominee in U.S. history. Michigan played a pivotal role in the president's win.
Just doing her job
Whitmer, who declined to comment for this story, confirmed to other outlets that she has had conversations about joining the Biden ticket, but said she is not lobbying for the job. "I just know that, you know, you don't run for that. That is a selection of the top of the ticket, and everyone else should be just busy doing their jobs," she told POLITICO Playbook in late April as the coronavirus pandemic hit its peak in her state. Whitmer has been a popular figure in Michigan for years. She climbed the political ladder, serving in the state's House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and in the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015. In 2013, she leaped into the national spotlight during a debate on abortion in which she revealed that she had been sexually assaulted. She ran for governor in 2018 as a pragmatic candidate promising to "fix the damn roads." She won her race against state Attorney General Bill Schuette by a margin of nearly 10 points. Michigan's economy took a turn for the worse in 2019 as it faced headwinds from Trump's trade war, the auto worker strikes against General Motors and job cuts at other car manufacturers, according to the University of Michigan.
The state was on track for a turnaround in 2020, Michigan News reported, until the coronavirus changed everything. In February, she was selected to give the Democratic response to Trump's 2020 State of the Union address, an honor generally reserved for the party's ascendant members. Whitmer again grabbed the nation's attention in April when she called out the Trump administration for failing to provide adequate protective gear, equipment and testing to battle the virus. Trump punched back with negative tweets. Soon, protesters, egged on by the president, showed up at the state capitol brandishing weapons and demanding an end to strict stay-at-home measures enacted by the governor as Covid-19 cases in Detroit and other areas multiplied. The controversy, while raising her profile, could actually hurt her chances of making Biden's final cut. "The impact of the pandemic on Michigan and the protests in general does make it more likely that Biden will look elsewhere for a running mate," said Joshua Spivak, senior fellow at the Hugh L. Carey Institute for Government Reform at Wagner College. "Any reelection race is effectively a referendum on the incumbent. Choosing Whitmer may draw attention away from some of the more unpopular decisions that Trump has made," he said.
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) speaks at democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden's primary night event at the University of South Carolina on February 29, 2020 in Columbia, South Carolina. Scott Olson | Getty Images
Shifting political winds
What's more, in recent weeks the political winds have shifted, casting even more doubt on her potential to become Biden's No.2. Floyd's death from asphyxiation while in police custody set off what has become weeks of protests in cities across the nation and the world as demonstrators black and white demand racial justice and police reform. That could push Biden, who has opened a substantial lead over Trump according to several national polls, to choose a black running mate. African-Americans were instrumental in his victory in a crowded primary field. Biden's campaign declined to comment for this story. But South Carolina's powerful Rep. James Clyburn, who endorsed Biden ahead of the state's pivotal primary, told Axios he would advise the former vice president: "We need to have a woman on the ticket, and I prefer an African American woman." California Sen. Kamala Harris is the top choice on many lips in Washington. But there are other women of color who are reportedly under consideration, including former Orlando police chief and Rep. Val Demings, President Barack Obama's former national security advisor Susan Rice, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost her bid for governor of Georgia in 2018. Some progressives are pushing for Elizabeth Warren, who is on the verge of turning 71 as the party is looking to groom its next generation of leaders. She and Biden have also had some clear policy differences. Whitmer like Biden is a moderate, but that means that she won't help bring progressives to the table. She's also less experienced than some others in the running. Biden recently told CBS News he wants a No.2 "who is ready to be president on day one." "I'm not sure anyone is ever ready to be president, but she has less experience on paper than some other people do," Sosnik said of Whitmer.
Another hurdle


cnbc--2020-06-13--A group of West Point alumni slam Trump administration's politicization of U.S. military ahead of gr

A group of West Point alumni slam Trump administration's politicization of U.S. military ahead of graduation

WEST POINT , N.Y. — In an extraordinary letter to the U.S. Military Academy 's graduating class , a coalition of several hundred West Point alumni slammed the Trump administration 's politicization of the military amid nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd .
The letter comes as President Donald Trump prepares to address the Army 's new second lieutenants at an in-person ceremony adapted with social-distancing measures aimed at preventing transmission of the coronavirus .
Cadets left the academy on March 6 when the coronavirus pandemic hit .
Only the 1,113 graduating seniors have returned to the academy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's event , which is closed to guests .
`` Sadly , the government has threatened to use the Army in which you serve as a weapon against fellow Americans engaging in these legitimate protests .
Worse , military leaders , who took the same oath you take today , have participated in politically charged events , '' some alumni wrote in a letter posted on Medium .
`` The oath taken by those who choose to serve in America 's military is aspirational .
We pledge service to no monarch ; no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tyrant , '' the group wrote , adding that they were `` concerned that fellow graduates serving in senior-level , public positions are failing to uphold their oath of office and their commitment to Duty , Honor , Country . ''
The latest revelation comes as former national security leaders criticized Secretary of Defense Mark Esper , a West Point graduate , and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley 's handling of the civil unrest .
`` We ask you to join us in working to right the wrongs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideals instilled by our alma mater and affirmed by each of us at graduation , '' wrote the more than 500 alumni from six decades of graduating classes `` who collectively served across ten presidential administrations . ''
On Thursday , Milley , the nation 's highest-ranking military officer apologized for accompanying Trump to a photo opportunity at a Washington church after authorities violently moved protesters from an area outside the White House .
`` I should not have been there , '' Army Gen. Mark Milley , the chairman of the Joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video commencement address to National Defense University .
`` My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics . ''

WEST POINT, N.Y. — In an extraordinary letter to the U.S. Military Academy's graduating class, a coalition of several hundred West Point alumni slammed the Trump administration's politicization of the military amid nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd.
The letter comes as President Donald Trump prepares to address the Army's new second lieutenants at an in-person ceremony adapted with social-distancing measures aimed at preventing transmission of the coronavirus. Cadets left the academy on March 6 when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Only the 1,113 graduating seniors have returned to the academy in recent days to prepare for Saturday's event, which is closed to guests.
"Sadly, the government has threatened to use the Army in which you serve as a weapon against fellow Americans engaging in these legitimate protests. Worse, military leaders, who took the same oath you take today, have participated in politically charged events," some alumni wrote in a letter posted on Medium.
"The oath taken by those who choose to serve in America's military is aspirational. We pledge service to no monarch; no government; no political party; no tyrant," the group wrote, adding that they were "concerned that fellow graduates serving in senior-level, public positions are failing to uphold their oath of office and their commitment to Duty, Honor, Country."
The latest revelation comes as former national security leaders criticized Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, a West Point graduate, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley's handling of the civil unrest.
"We ask you to join us in working to right the wrongs and to hold each other accountable to the ideals instilled by our alma mater and affirmed by each of us at graduation," wrote the more than 500 alumni from six decades of graduating classes "who collectively served across ten presidential administrations."
On Thursday, Milley, the nation's highest-ranking military officer apologized for accompanying Trump to a photo opportunity at a Washington church after authorities violently moved protesters from an area outside the White House.
"I should not have been there," Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a video commencement address to National Defense University. "My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics."


cnbc--2020-06-14--Stacey Abrams' push to be Joe Biden's VP choice has raised her profile – but she is an underdog

In some ways , Stacey Abrams is an outlier among the names being floated as potential vice presidential running mates for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
For instance , she moonlights as a romance-suspense novelist .
And when it comes to politics her experience level is limited compared to other potential picks .
Abrams served in the Georgia House of Representatives , but has not led a state , like Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , or served in Congress , like Sen. Kamala Harris .
Abrams tried to move up the political ladder in 2018 when she ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp , a Republican , in a high-profile race that vaulted her into the national spotlight .
For all the attention she has received , though , she remains a bit of a long shot to join Biden .
On Wednesday 's `` Late Show with Stephen Colbert , '' Abrams said she had yet to hear from the Biden camp as potential running mates undergo vetting .
Yet she has continued to make her case to join the ticket .
`` I know that when I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Can you do this ? '
that I 'm not just answering for myself , '' she said earlier this week .
`` I 'm being asked this question because I do n't look like what people usually look like when they are considered for these jobs . ''
In some ways , Abrams , 46 , makes sense for the role , according to multiple experts who are closely watching the horse-race .
The woman that Biden , 77 , ends up choosing could impact voter enthusiasm among different groups in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abrams ' selling points , according to Nadia Brown , associate professor of political science and African American Studies at Purdue University , is her record on voting rights , particularly her work to increase voter turnout among black people .
`` Her appeal for black women and black voters is that she has done a tremendous amount of grassroots mobilization and has galvanized a crowd of supporters that would ordinarily sit outside of American politics , '' Brown said .
`` So she shows that she can draw people into the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Abrams ' gubernatorial candidacy drew out record numbers of black , Latino and Asian voters , she said following her loss .
Top tier celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Will Ferrell supported her campaign .
`` We tripled Latino turnout , we tripled Asian Pacific Islander turnout , we increased youth participation rates by 139 % , we increased black turnout by 40 % , '' Abrams said in an interview with The Nation last year .
`` To put that in context : in 2014 , a total of 1.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.2 million black people voted — for me . ''
And yet , Abrams suffered a narrow loss to now-Gov .
Kemp , who at the time was also the state official overseeing election rules .
She blames the loss on his efforts to suppress black turnout .
On the campaign trail , Kemp repeatedly denied allegations of voter suppression .
But the House Oversight and Reform Committee announced in March 2019 that it was investigating the claims .
After his victory , Kemp suggested to news outlets that the investigation was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing politics up there , '' Kemp said at a news conference .
Oversight Committee Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney released a memo in February confirming that `` officials in multiple states , '' including Georgia , `` took steps to suppress the vote . ''
The statement noted that the Senate has blocked efforts on legislation to combat the alleged abuses .
Just days after her loss , Abrams founded Fair Action Fight , an organization meant to address and eliminate voter suppression .
During Georgia 's primary on Tuesday , voters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple problems voting , including long lines , delayed start times at polling locations and technical issues with new voting machines , as activists again accused Republican state officials of trying to suppress the vote .
`` If anything , this moment speaks to why the Democrats need her on the presidential ticket , '' said Niambi Carter , assistant professor of political science at Howard University .
`` Voter suppression is one reason why Democrats continue to lose elections and Abrams , with good reason , is one of the key figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Biden 's likelihood of winning Georgia would go up if he selects Abrams to be his running mate , said Charles Bullock , political science professor at the University of Georgia .
Abrams , a native of Mississippi , could help Biden win what Bullock calls `` the Southern path '' of Georgia , North Carolina and Florida .
President Donald Trump won all of those states in 2016 , but some of them are in play this cycle .
Trump and Biden are essentially tied in North Carolina , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by about 3 points .
Data from Georgia has been scant , but Real Clear Politics polling averages have Trump up on Biden in the state .
They also show , however , that the president 's approval rating in the state is underwater .
Abrams could also help Biden among white women who voted for Trump in 2016 , Brown said .
`` I think George Floyd 's murder on the viral video is likely going to push white women to say that there should be a black woman vice president even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Amy ] Klobuchar , '' Brown said .
The Minnesota senator , who ran for president and is white , was reportedly under consideration to be Biden 's running mate .
Read more : How Joe Biden 's leading VP contenders stack up in the wake of protests over George Floyd 's death Floyd , an unarmed black man , was killed by law enforcement on Memorial Day in Minneapolis .
Research shows that white women respond emotionally to `` humanitarian causes '' like the Black Lives Matter movement , Purdue 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support a black woman candidate in this moment because of it .
Other black women mentioned as candidates include Harris and Florida Rep. Val Demings .
But Abrams stands out because `` she does n't have to explain why she was never a prosecutor who arguably put away too many African Americans , '' Bullock said .
Abrams is n't coy .
She has been vocal about wanting the job , calling herself `` an excellent running mate . ''
`` The question I get is : Would I be willing to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it 's going to be my commitment regardless of the decision of the Biden campaign that I 'm going to do everything in my power to make certain he 's the next President of the United States , '' Abrams said in an interview with Time last month .
CNBC has reached out to Abrams ' voting rights group , Fair Fight Action , for comment but did not immediately hear back .
Strong voting rights record aside , Abrams has minimal experience churning out wide-ranging economic and trade initiatives .
Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the short list , has significant authority on these issues .
But in a presidential election , voters have historically been driven to the polls by the candidate at the top of the ticket , not their running mate , according to William Hatcher , associate professor of political science at Augusta University .
He added that most of the research was done before the Trump era , so it 's possible that the selection matters more now .
While running for governor , Abrams proposed an `` economic mobility plan '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ income tax credit , a family savings program , and a financial literacy development initiative , `` an overall plan that might be attractive to Biden , who has a history of advocating economic reforms to help individuals move up the economic ladder , '' Hatcher said .
A plan like that might also boost progressive support around Biden , who 's received criticism from younger voters about his moderate economic stances , Carter said .
`` I 'm unsure that Abrams ' plan will please them either , but it 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , which is expected to announce a running mate by early August , did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Even without a core focus on economic issues and as unconventional a pick as she may seem , Abrams has proven that she is able to learn quickly , Bullock told CNBC .
She has also earned plaudits for her enthusiastic speeches on race and identity to captivated crowds .
`` She had a reputation when she was in the Georgia General Assembly .
She was always a member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her intellect was such that she was not only respected but Republican legislators would turn to her for explanations and guidance on what they should do , '' Bullock said .
`` She 's nobody 's dummy .
She would be very effective in the vice presidential debate or simply on the stump , representing Biden and the Democratic Party . ''

In this May 22, 2018 file photo Democratic candidate for Georgia Gov. Stacey Abrams waves in Atlanta. John Bazemore | AP
In some ways, Stacey Abrams is an outlier among the names being floated as potential vice presidential running mates for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. For instance, she moonlights as a romance-suspense novelist. And when it comes to politics her experience level is limited compared to other potential picks. Abrams served in the Georgia House of Representatives, but has not led a state, like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, or served in Congress, like Sen. Kamala Harris. Abrams tried to move up the political ladder in 2018 when she ran for governor of Georgia, but lost to then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp, a Republican, in a high-profile race that vaulted her into the national spotlight. For all the attention she has received, though, she remains a bit of a long shot to join Biden. On Wednesday's "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Abrams said she had yet to hear from the Biden camp as potential running mates undergo vetting. Yet she has continued to make her case to join the ticket. "I know that when I'm asked the questions 'Are you qualified? Can you do this?' that I'm not just answering for myself," she said earlier this week. "I'm being asked this question because I don't look like what people usually look like when they are considered for these jobs." In some ways, Abrams, 46, makes sense for the role, according to multiple experts who are closely watching the horse-race. The woman that Biden, 77, ends up choosing could impact voter enthusiasm among different groups in November.
Getting out the vote
One of Abrams' selling points, according to Nadia Brown, associate professor of political science and African American Studies at Purdue University, is her record on voting rights, particularly her work to increase voter turnout among black people. "Her appeal for black women and black voters is that she has done a tremendous amount of grassroots mobilization and has galvanized a crowd of supporters that would ordinarily sit outside of American politics," Brown said. "So she shows that she can draw people into the process and hopefully expand the electorate in 2020." Abrams' gubernatorial candidacy drew out record numbers of black, Latino and Asian voters, she said following her loss. Top tier celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Will Ferrell supported her campaign. "We tripled Latino turnout, we tripled Asian Pacific Islander turnout, we increased youth participation rates by 139%, we increased black turnout by 40%," Abrams said in an interview with The Nation last year. "To put that in context: in 2014, a total of 1.1 million Democrats voted. In 2018, 1.2 million black people voted — for me." And yet, Abrams suffered a narrow loss to now-Gov. Kemp, who at the time was also the state official overseeing election rules. She blames the loss on his efforts to suppress black turnout. On the campaign trail, Kemp repeatedly denied allegations of voter suppression. But the House Oversight and Reform Committee announced in March 2019 that it was investigating the claims. After his victory, Kemp suggested to news outlets that the investigation was a distraction. "They need to quit playing politics up there," Kemp said at a news conference. Oversight Committee Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney released a memo in February confirming that "officials in multiple states," including Georgia, "took steps to suppress the vote." The statement noted that the Senate has blocked efforts on legislation to combat the alleged abuses. Just days after her loss, Abrams founded Fair Action Fight, an organization meant to address and eliminate voter suppression. During Georgia's primary on Tuesday, voters in areas with a strong minority populations encountered multiple problems voting, including long lines, delayed start times at polling locations and technical issues with new voting machines, as activists again accused Republican state officials of trying to suppress the vote. "If anything, this moment speaks to why the Democrats need her on the presidential ticket," said Niambi Carter, assistant professor of political science at Howard University. "Voter suppression is one reason why Democrats continue to lose elections and Abrams, with good reason, is one of the key figures in the fight for voting rights." Biden's likelihood of winning Georgia would go up if he selects Abrams to be his running mate, said Charles Bullock, political science professor at the University of Georgia. Abrams, a native of Mississippi, could help Biden win what Bullock calls "the Southern path" of Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. President Donald Trump won all of those states in 2016, but some of them are in play this cycle. Trump and Biden are essentially tied in North Carolina, according to RealClearPolitics, while Biden leads in Florida by about 3 points. Data from Georgia has been scant, but Real Clear Politics polling averages have Trump up on Biden in the state. They also show, however, that the president's approval rating in the state is underwater. Abrams could also help Biden among white women who voted for Trump in 2016, Brown said. "I think George Floyd's murder on the viral video is likely going to push white women to say that there should be a black woman vice president even at the expense of someone like [Sen. Amy] Klobuchar," Brown said. The Minnesota senator, who ran for president and is white, was reportedly under consideration to be Biden's running mate. Read more: How Joe Biden's leading VP contenders stack up in the wake of protests over George Floyd's death Floyd, an unarmed black man, was killed by law enforcement on Memorial Day in Minneapolis. Research shows that white women respond emotionally to "humanitarian causes" like the Black Lives Matter movement, Purdue's Brown said, and are likelier to support a black woman candidate in this moment because of it.
She'll say yes
Other black women mentioned as candidates include Harris and Florida Rep. Val Demings. But Abrams stands out because "she doesn't have to explain why she was never a prosecutor who arguably put away too many African Americans," Bullock said. Abrams isn't coy. She has been vocal about wanting the job, calling herself "an excellent running mate." "The question I get is: Would I be willing to help? My answer is absolutely yes, and it's going to be my commitment regardless of the decision of the Biden campaign that I'm going to do everything in my power to make certain he's the next President of the United States," Abrams said in an interview with Time last month.
Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and state Rep. Stacey Abrams speaks at Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church as Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, right, looks on, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Selma, Ala. Curtis Compton | Atlanta Journal-Constitution | AP
CNBC has reached out to Abrams' voting rights group, Fair Fight Action, for comment but did not immediately hear back. Strong voting rights record aside, Abrams has minimal experience churning out wide-ranging economic and trade initiatives. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, also believed to be on the short list, has significant authority on these issues. But in a presidential election, voters have historically been driven to the polls by the candidate at the top of the ticket, not their running mate, according to William Hatcher, associate professor of political science at Augusta University. He added that most of the research was done before the Trump era, so it's possible that the selection matters more now.
Economic mobility plan


cnbc--2020-06-15--Trump to sign executive order on police reform Tuesday

U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement about U.S. trade relations with China and Hong Kong in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , May 29 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on police reform tomorrow , he said Monday , as activists ramp up pressure for an overhaul of U.S. policing practices .
Trump , speaking to reporters at a White House roundtable event Monday afternoon , said he believed the order would be `` pretty comprehensive . ''
`` Basically , we 're going to be talking about things that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last month , and we 're going to have some solutions , some good solutions , '' Trump said without providing further details .
The multi-pronged directive is aimed at creating funding incentives for police departments to improve their practices , senior administration officials said in a call with reporters Monday evening .
The order will focus on improving officer retention and recruitment practices , including encouraging departments to recruit from within the communities they will patrol , the officials said .
It will also prioritize `` co-respondent services '' intended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to certain nonviolent calls — such as those involving mental health , drug addiction and homelessness issues — rather than cops alone .
`` In many cases they 're not the best ones to respond to these types of efforts , '' one of the officials said .
The officials stressed that providing federal money as an incentive is distinctly different from `` defunding '' the police — a demand that is quickly growing from within the massive protests that have arisen across the nation in the weeks following the death of George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be doing is incentivizing people to take on those best standards , improve their training and do the retention of good officers , '' said another official on the call , `` but you 're never going to solve this problem by demonizing the police .
You have to solve this problem by working with law enforcement and with the police to make progress together . ''
The administration worked with numerous police groups , faith leaders and family organizations in crafting the order , according to the senior administration officials .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president said that the order would `` encourage police departments nationwide to meet the most current professional standards of force '' and de-escalation .
He said `` that means force , but force with compassion . ''
The White House declined to comment Monday when asked for further details about the order .

U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement about U.S. trade relations with China and Hong Kong in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, May 29, 2020.
President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on police reform Tuesday, as activists ramp up pressure for an overhaul of U.S. policing practices.
He is slated to sign the order during noon Tuesday ceremony in the White House's Rose Garden.
Trump, speaking to reporters at a White House roundtable event Monday afternoon, said he believed the order would be "pretty comprehensive."
"Basically, we're going to be talking about things that we've been watching and seeing for the last month, and we're going to have some solutions, some good solutions," Trump said without providing further details.
The multi-pronged directive is aimed at creating funding incentives for police departments to improve their practices, senior administration officials said in a call with reporters Monday evening.
The order will focus on improving officer retention and recruitment practices, including encouraging departments to recruit from within the communities they will patrol, the officials said. It will also prioritize "co-respondent services" intended to more deeply involve social workers in responding to certain nonviolent calls — such as those involving mental health, drug addiction and homelessness issues — rather than cops alone.
"In many cases they're not the best ones to respond to these types of efforts," one of the officials said.
The officials stressed that providing federal money as an incentive is distinctly different from "defunding" the police — a demand that is quickly growing from within the massive protests that have arisen across the nation in the weeks following the death of George Floyd.
"What we want to be doing is incentivizing people to take on those best standards, improve their training and do the retention of good officers," said another official on the call, "but you're never going to solve this problem by demonizing the police. You have to solve this problem by working with law enforcement and with the police to make progress together."
The administration worked with numerous police groups, faith leaders and family organizations in crafting the order, according to the senior administration officials.
During an event in Dallas last week, the president said that the order would "encourage police departments nationwide to meet the most current professional standards of force" and de-escalation. He said "that means force, but force with compassion."
The White House declined to comment Monday when asked for further details about the order.


cnbc--2020-06-15--Supreme Court rules workers can't be fired for being gay or transgender

`` This decision sends an unambiguous message that equal protection under the law applies to all and that an employee 's failure to adhere to an employer 's gender stereotype is not a licence to discriminate , '' Kristen Browde , co-chair of the National Trans Bar Association , said in a statement .
The two other plaintiffs in the cases have died .
Bostock said that he was sure they were `` in heaven on a big cloud , smiling down . ''
`` I 've just been on a high ever since , '' Bostock said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as you know , '' Bostock said .
When the decision came out , Bostock said , `` I went into shock .
My partner and I embraced .
I was thinking this has to be good , this has to be good . ''
Bostock was fired from his job as a child welfare services coordinator in 2013 after joining a gay softball league .
Gerald Bostock , one of the plaintiffs , said in an interview he was `` elated . ''
Gorsuch was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's liberal wing , Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Stephen Breyer , Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan .
Justices Samuel Alito , Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented .
The cases were brought by three workers who said they were fired from their jobs because they were gay or transgender .
They argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act , which says that employers may not discriminate based on `` sex , '' also applies to sexual orientation and gender identity .
While workers in about half the country were protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on sexual orientation or gender identity , there was no federal law that explicitly barred LGBT workers from being fired on that basis .
`` An individual 's homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions , '' Gorsuch wrote in the decision , which applied to three separate cases .
`` That 's because it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex . ''
The Supreme Court said Monday that workers can not be fired for being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for LGBT rights .
Sarah Kate Ellis , president and CEO of GLAAD , said the decision `` affirms what should n't have even been a debate : LGBTQ Americans should be able to work without fear of losing jobs because of who they are . ''
Apple CEO Tim Cook , the first Fortune 500 chief executive to come out as gay , tweeted that he was grateful for the ruling .
`` LGBTQ people deserve equal treatment in the workplace and throughout society , and today 's decision further underlines that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Cook wrote .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , said the court 's move `` confirmed the simple but profoundly American idea that every human being should be treated with respect and dignity . ''
Later Monday , Trump said at a White House event that `` some people were surprised '' with the top court 's decision but `` they 've ruled , and we live with their decision .
That 's what it 's all about .
We live with the decision of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's opinion , which was released only online as a precaution against Covid-19 , did not immediately load in its entirety , possibly a result of high traffic to the Supreme Court 's website .
Gorsuch wrote that discriminating against an employee because they are gay or transgender is by definition discrimination on the basis of sex .
`` It does n't matter if other factors besides the plaintiff 's sex contributed to the decision .
And it does n't matter if the employer treated women as a group the same when compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gorsuch wrote .
`` If the employer intentionally relies in part on an individual employee 's sex when deciding to discharge the employee—put differently , if changing the employee 's sex would have yielded a different choice by the employer—a statutory violation has occurred , '' he wrote .
Alito , in a dissent joined by Thomas , wrote that there was `` only one word for what the Court has done today : legislation . ''
`` Title VII prohibits discrimination because of sex itself , not everything that is related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reference to , 'sex , ' '' he added .
Kavanaugh wrote that the policy arguments for amending Title VII were `` very weighty . ''
`` But we are judges , not Members of Congress , '' he wrote .
`` As written , Title VII does not prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation , '' he added , noting in a footnote that the legal analysis would apply in a similar way to discrimination on the basis of gender identity .
The workers who brought the cases are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired from his job as a skydiving instructor after revealing his sexual orientation to a female client ; and Aimee Stephens , a transgender funeral director who was fired after announcing her intention to present as a woman .
Only Bostock lived to see the cases decided .
Zarda died before the case was argued and his challenge was pursued by his family .
Stephens died last month at her home in Detroit from kidney failure , according to her attorneys .
Bostock said that if he got the chance to speak with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he knows today , he would tell the younger version of himself that `` it 's going to be OK. '' '' I 'm not the type that lies down quietly , and I feel like I 've been pushed down , and honestly I came up swinging when this happened to me , '' he said .
Gorsuch hinted at his feelings about the cases during oral arguments in October , telling Stephens ' attorney David Cole that he was `` with you '' on the text of the Civil Rights Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could lead to `` massive social upheaval . ''
In his opinion , Gorsuch made it clear that he viewed the text as the deciding factor .
`` Those who adopted the Civil Rights Act might not have anticipated their work would lead to this particular result .
Likely , they were n't thinking about many of the Act 's consequences that have become apparent over the years , including its prohibition against discrimination on the basis of motherhood or its ban on the sexual harassment of male employees , '' Gorsuch wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limits of the drafters ' imagination supply no reason to ignore the law 's demands . ''
Tom Mew , Bostock 's attorney , said in an interview that `` it 's important for people to remember that while Gerald 's journey has been a very long one to get to this day , it is early days , in a legal sense , in Gerald 's underlying case . ''
An attorney for Clayton County , Georgia , Bostock 's former employer , did not immediately respond to a request for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zarda 's former employer Altitude Express , said in a statement that he was surprised by the decision .
`` The court clearly worked very hard to make sure that congressional inaction on LGBTQ+ rights would not go unrepaired , '' Zabell said .
`` We no longer live in a society where a Gay couple can be married on Friday and fired for that marriage on Monday . ''
He added that Altitude Express maintained that Zarda was fired `` for inappropriately touching a female customer '' and said `` we look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Altitude Express of any wrongdoing , just as the first jury trial revealed . ''
John Bursch , an attorney for the funeral home that employed Stephens , said in a statement that the decision was disappointing .
`` Redefining 'sex ' to mean 'gender identity ' will create chaos and enormous unfairness for women and girls in athletics , women 's shelters , and many other contexts , '' Bursch said .
`` Civil rights laws that use the word 'sex ' were put in place to protect equal opportunities for women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to redefine a term with such a clear and important meaning undermines those very opportunities—the ones the law was designed to protect . ''
The cases are Gerald Lynn Bostock v. Clayton County , Georgia ; Altitude Express v. Melissa Zarda ; and R.G .
& G.R .
Harris Funeral Homes v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission .

"This decision sends an unambiguous message that equal protection under the law applies to all and that an employee's failure to adhere to an employer's gender stereotype is not a licence to discriminate," Kristen Browde, co-chair of the National Trans Bar Association, said in a statement.
The two other plaintiffs in the cases have died. Bostock said that he was sure they were "in heaven on a big cloud, smiling down."
"I've just been on a high ever since," Bostock said.
"This has been a long seven years as you know," Bostock said. When the decision came out, Bostock said, "I went into shock. My partner and I embraced. I was thinking this has to be good, this has to be good."
Bostock was fired from his job as a child welfare services coordinator in 2013 after joining a gay softball league.
Gerald Bostock, one of the plaintiffs, said in an interview he was "elated."
Gorsuch was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, a fellow conservative, and the court's liberal wing, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
The cases were brought by three workers who said they were fired from their jobs because they were gay or transgender. They argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which says that employers may not discriminate based on "sex," also applies to sexual orientation and gender identity.
While workers in about half the country were protected by local laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, there was no federal law that explicitly barred LGBT workers from being fired on that basis.
"An individual's homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions," Gorsuch wrote in the decision, which applied to three separate cases. "That's because it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex."
The Supreme Court said Monday that workers cannot be fired for being gay or transgender, a blockbuster ruling for LGBT rights.
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, said the decision "affirms what shouldn't have even been a debate: LGBTQ Americans should be able to work without fear of losing jobs because of who they are."
Apple CEO Tim Cook, the first Fortune 500 chief executive to come out as gay, tweeted that he was grateful for the ruling.
"LGBTQ people deserve equal treatment in the workplace and throughout society, and today's decision further underlines that federal law protects their right to fairness," Cook wrote.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said the court's move "confirmed the simple but profoundly American idea that every human being should be treated with respect and dignity."
Later Monday, Trump said at a White House event that "some people were surprised" with the top court's decision but "they've ruled, and we live with their decision. That's what it's all about. We live with the decision of the Supreme Court."
The court's opinion, which was released only online as a precaution against Covid-19, did not immediately load in its entirety, possibly a result of high traffic to the Supreme Court's website.
Gorsuch wrote that discriminating against an employee because they are gay or transgender is by definition discrimination on the basis of sex.
"It doesn't matter if other factors besides the plaintiff 's sex contributed to the decision. And it doesn't matter if the employer treated women as a group the same when compared to men as a group," Gorsuch wrote.
"If the employer intentionally relies in part on an individual employee's sex when deciding to discharge the employee—put differently, if changing the employee's sex would have yielded a different choice by the employer—a statutory violation has occurred," he wrote.
Alito, in a dissent joined by Thomas, wrote that there was "only one word for what the Court has done today: legislation."
"Title VII prohibits discrimination because of sex itself, not everything that is related to, based on, or defined with reference to, 'sex,'" he added.
Kavanaugh wrote that the policy arguments for amending Title VII were "very weighty."
"But we are judges, not Members of Congress," he wrote. "As written, Title VII does not prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation," he added, noting in a footnote that the legal analysis would apply in a similar way to discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
The workers who brought the cases are Bostock; Donald Zarda, who was fired from his job as a skydiving instructor after revealing his sexual orientation to a female client; and Aimee Stephens, a transgender funeral director who was fired after announcing her intention to present as a woman.
Only Bostock lived to see the cases decided. Zarda died before the case was argued and his challenge was pursued by his family. Stephens died last month at her home in Detroit from kidney failure, according to her attorneys.
Bostock said that if he got the chance to speak with himself seven years ago, knowing what he knows today, he would tell the younger version of himself that "it's going to be OK."
"I'm not the type that lies down quietly, and I feel like I've been pushed down, and honestly I came up swinging when this happened to me," he said.
Gorsuch hinted at his feelings about the cases during oral arguments in October, telling Stephens' attorney David Cole that he was "with you" on the text of the Civil Rights Act. But he warned that the case could lead to "massive social upheaval."
In his opinion, Gorsuch made it clear that he viewed the text as the deciding factor.
"Those who adopted the Civil Rights Act might not have anticipated their work would lead to this particular result. Likely, they weren't thinking about many of the Act's consequences that have become apparent over the years, including its prohibition against discrimination on the basis of motherhood or its ban on the sexual harassment of male employees," Gorsuch wrote.
Gorsuch added: "But the limits of the drafters' imagination supply no reason to ignore the law's demands."
Tom Mew, Bostock's attorney, said in an interview that "it's important for people to remember that while Gerald's journey has been a very long one to get to this day, it is early days, in a legal sense, in Gerald's underlying case."
An attorney for Clayton County, Georgia, Bostock's former employer, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Saul Zabell, an attorney for Zarda's former employer Altitude Express, said in a statement that he was surprised by the decision.
"The court clearly worked very hard to make sure that congressional inaction on LGBTQ+ rights would not go unrepaired," Zabell said.
"We no longer live in a society where a Gay couple can be married on Friday and fired for that marriage on Monday."
He added that Altitude Express maintained that Zarda was fired "for inappropriately touching a female customer" and said "we look forward to having a second jury clear Altitude Express of any wrongdoing, just as the first jury trial revealed."
Gregory Antollino, an attorney for Zarda, countered that "Don Zarda was a gay man who work in skydiving were close contact is required. The idea that a man with a perfect safety record would grope a woman, is a grotesque lie."
"Notably, when my client filed for unemployment benefits, the employer did not make this defense when presumably it would have been in its economic interest. Instead they told the unemployment insurance that Mr. Zarda had revealed 'personal information' to a client," Antollino said in a statement.
"I think the first response is the best, because it reveals discrimination – that Don Zarda said he was gay. That's what got him fired," Antollino added. "Furthermore, while I understand Mr. Zabell's disappointment that he lost, had the Court come down the other way, we would have expressed disappointment, but not disparaged six Supreme Court justices as did Mr. Zabell."
John Bursch, an attorney for the funeral home that employed Stephens, said in a statement that the decision was disappointing.
"Redefining 'sex' to mean 'gender identity' will create chaos and enormous unfairness for women and girls in athletics, women's shelters, and many other contexts," Bursch said. "Civil rights laws that use the word 'sex' were put in place to protect equal opportunities for women. Allowing a court or government bureaucrats to redefine a term with such a clear and important meaning undermines those very opportunities—the ones the law was designed to protect."
The cases are Gerald Lynn Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia; Altitude Express v. Melissa Zarda; and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.


cnbc--2020-06-15--House Democrats demand big bank CEOs disclose documents about small business loans in coronavirus ba

House Democrats demand big bank CEOs disclose documents about small business loans in coronavirus bailout

The Democrats also wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration head Jovita Carranza requesting their own correspondence with the banks , as well as trade groups such as the American Bankers Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce .
In letters to the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase , Bank of America , Santander Bank , Wells Fargo , US Bancorp , Truist , Citibank and PNC , House Majority Whip James Clyburn said the subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis is investigating whether the Paycheck Protection Program `` has favored large , well-funded companies over struggling small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' clear intent . ''
House Democrats on Monday wrote to the chief executives of some of the country 's largest banks demanding they disclose documents pertaining to their handling of the federal government 's small business bailout loan program .
The PPP was established as part of the more than $ 2 trillion CARES Act to offer forgivable loans for smaller businesses that were hammered by the pandemic .
But the program has come under fire amid concerns that it favored larger companies over those without relationships with banks .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to urge the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration to take immediate steps to ensure that remaining PPP funds are allocated to businesses truly in need , and to increase transparency so taxpayers can see whether federal funds are being diverted due to waste , fraud , and abuse , '' wrote Clyburn and other Democrats .
The Democrats joined a growing chorus of critics of Mnuchin 's statement last week that the administration does not plan to disclose the names of those who took out loans from the program .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SBA and Treasury disclose a list of all PPP applications received and loans they have issued .
Mnuchin tweeted Monday that he would be discussing PPP oversight and disclosure with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle .
In letters to bank executives , the lawmakers said they are seeking a number of materials from the banks , including `` all formal or informal guidance '' from the Treasury or SBA about PPP requirements and communication with the departments about the `` prioritization or exclusion '' of loan applicants in underserved or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all internal communications '' and policies pertaining to the program .
The letter notes that the SBA and Treasury , which are overseeing the program , `` did not provide any public guidance to lenders until nearly two weeks after lenders started processing loan applications , and just a day before the initial round of funding dried up . ''
`` Despite Congress ' clear intent , '' wrote Clyburn and other Democrats , `` this guidance made no mention of prioritizing loans to underserved communities . ''
`` We have significant concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly developed for wealthy clients may have diverted PPP funds intended for vulnerable small business owners in underserved and rural markets , including small businesses owned by veterans , members of the military , socially and economically disadvantaged individuals , women , and businesses in operation for under two years , '' the letter said .
`` We urge you to take immediate steps to ensure that your bank prioritizes underserved communities when issuing PPP loans going forward . ''
A spokesperson for Wells Fargo said it has loaned $ 10.2 billion to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank added that more than 80 % of that funding went to companies with 10 or fewer employees , and more than 50 % were for $ 25,000 or less .
`` Wells Fargo will give away all fees received from the PPP to help small businesses in communities of need , '' the bank said .
A spokesperson for Truist said the bank 's PPP applications were `` handled through a single application portal made available to clients on a first-come , first access basis , without any preference given to larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank said that − to date − 92 % of its PPP loans have gone to companies with fewer than 50 employees .
`` We look forward to providing information to the select subcommittee as we believe in fairness , accountability and transparency in connection with the PPP , '' the spokesperson added .
Representatives for the other banks , the SBA and Treasury did n't immediately respond to requests for comment .

The Democrats also wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration head Jovita Carranza requesting their own correspondence with the banks, as well as trade groups such as the American Bankers Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
House Democrats on Monday wrote to the chief executives of some of the country's largest banks demanding they disclose documents pertaining to their handling of the federal government's small business bailout loan program.
The PPP was established as part of the more than $2 trillion CARES Act to offer forgivable loans for smaller businesses that were hammered by the pandemic. But the program has come under fire amid concerns that it favored larger companies over those without relationships with banks.
Some banks have argued that lending to existing clients helped them lend out the loans at the rapid speed expected of them.
"We are writing to seek documents and information and to urge the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration to take immediate steps to ensure that remaining PPP funds are allocated to businesses truly in need, and to increase transparency so taxpayers can see whether federal funds are being diverted due to waste, fraud, and abuse," wrote Clyburn and other Democrats.
The Democrats joined a growing chorus of critics of Mnuchin's statement last week that the administration does not plan to disclose the names of those who took out loans from the program. The House Democrats demanded in their letter that the SBA and Treasury disclose a list of all PPP applications received and loans they have issued.
Mnuchin tweeted Monday that he would be discussing PPP oversight and disclosure with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
As of Friday, the PPP has supported 4.5 million loans for a total loan value of $512 billion, with roughly $130 billion still to be spent. 65% of the loans it has extended so far are for less than $50,000.
In letters to bank executives, the lawmakers said they are seeking a number of materials from the banks, including "all formal or informal guidance" from the Treasury or SBA about PPP requirements and communication with the departments about the "prioritization or exclusion" of loan applicants in underserved or rural markets.
They also requested "all internal communications" and policies pertaining to the program.
The letter notes that the SBA and Treasury, which are overseeing the program, "did not provide any public guidance to lenders until nearly two weeks after lenders started processing loan applications, and just a day before the initial round of funding dried up."
"Despite Congress' clear intent," wrote Clyburn and other Democrats, "this guidance made no mention of prioritizing loans to underserved communities."
"We have significant concerns that the two-tiered system that some banks reportedly developed for wealthy clients may have diverted PPP funds intended for vulnerable small business owners in underserved and rural markets, including small businesses owned by veterans, members of the military, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, women, and businesses in operation for under two years," the letter said.
"We urge you to take immediate steps to ensure that your bank prioritizes underserved communities when issuing PPP loans going forward."
A spokesperson for Wells Fargo said it has loaned $10.2 billion to 168,000 applicants through the program. The bank added that more than 80% of that funding went to companies with 10 or fewer employees, and more than 50% were for $25,000 or less.
"Wells Fargo will give away all fees received from the PPP to help small businesses in communities of need," the bank said.
A spokesperson for Truist said the bank's PPP applications were "handled through a single application portal made available to clients on a first-come, first access basis, without any preference given to larger or more affluent clients." The bank said that − to date − 92% of its PPP loans have gone to companies with fewer than 50 employees.
"We look forward to providing information to the select subcommittee as we believe in fairness, accountability and transparency in connection with the PPP," the spokesperson added.
A spokesperson for US Bancorp said "from day one, the focus at U.S. Bank was on serving the needs of as many small businesses that we could." The bank said it has processed more than 90,000 SBA-approved loans for an average loan size of $77,000 – with 86% of the approved loans for less than $100,000. Companies self-reported an average of nine employees.
Representatives for the other banks, the SBA and Treasury didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.


cnbc--2020-06-15--Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he will talk to lawmakers about small business bailout disclo

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he will talk to lawmakers about small business bailout disclosure

U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin announces new sanctions on Iran in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington , January 10 , 2020 .
Mnuchin angered Democrats last week when he indicated in testimony before the Senate Small Business Committee that the administration may not disclose the names of those who took out loans aimed at helping smaller businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic .
Mnuchin said the names and amounts of particular loans were `` confidential , '' citing privacy concerns .
Mnuchin said in a tweet he will be having discussions with the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike the appropriate balance for proper oversight '' of the Paycheck Protection Program loans `` and appropriate protection of small business information . ''
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Monday he will talk with the Senate and others on a `` bipartisan basis '' about striking a balance between protecting the privacy of recipients of small business loans and ensuring proper oversight of the funds .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the decision to keep that information confidential `` only serves to raise further suspicions about how the funds are being distributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Katie Porter and Sen. Kamala Harris , both Democrats , wrote to Mnuchin and Small Business Administration head Jovita Carranza on Friday urging disclosure .
Porter and Harris demanded the two agencies `` fulfill all outstanding FOIA requests '' for information about the PPP loans , citing the '' unprecedented size and nature of the PPP '' and `` numerous examples of fraud and abuse that have already surfaced . ''
As of Friday , the PPP has supported 4.5 million loans for a total loan value of $ 512 billion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be spent .
Whether those loans have gone to the businesses most in need has been a point of contention .
The program went through several rounds of guidance adjusting the stipulations around the loans after disclosures that some public companies , including the owners of Ruth 's Chris Steakhouse and Shake Shack , were among the recipients .
They , and other public companies , returned the loans following public outcry .
In an April push to inject the program with an additional $ 310 billion , Democrats sought to push for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to smaller businesses and minority groups .
The deal struck between Republicans and Democrats allocated $ 60 billion of that sum for rural and minority groups .
On Monday , Sen Marco Rubio , R-Fla. , chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business , tweeted that the committee would be targeting the disparity of the impact of the financial crisis on minority businesses in the next phase of the program .

U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin announces new sanctions on Iran in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, January 10, 2020.
Mnuchin angered Democrats last week when he indicated in testimony before the Senate Small Business Committee that the administration may not disclose the names of those who took out loans aimed at helping smaller businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. Mnuchin said the names and amounts of particular loans were "confidential," citing privacy concerns.
Mnuchin said in a tweet he will be having discussions with the Senate Small Business Committee and others "to strike the appropriate balance for proper oversight" of the Paycheck Protection Program loans "and appropriate protection of small business information."
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Monday he will talk with the Senate and others on a "bipartisan basis" about striking a balance between protecting the privacy of recipients of small business loans and ensuring proper oversight of the funds.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the decision to keep that information confidential "only serves to raise further suspicions about how the funds are being distributed and who is actually benefiting."
Rep. Katie Porter and Sen. Kamala Harris, both Democrats, wrote to Mnuchin and Small Business Administration head Jovita Carranza on Friday urging disclosure. Porter and Harris demanded the two agencies "fulfill all outstanding FOIA requests" for information about the PPP loans, citing the "unprecedented size and nature of the PPP" and "numerous examples of fraud and abuse that have already surfaced."
As of Friday, the PPP has supported 4.5 million loans for a total loan value of $512 billion, with roughly $130 billion still to be spent.
Whether those loans have gone to the businesses most in need has been a point of contention. The program went through several rounds of guidance adjusting the stipulations around the loans after disclosures that some public companies, including the owners of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Shake Shack, were among the recipients. They, and other public companies, returned the loans following public outcry.
In an April push to inject the program with an additional $310 billion, Democrats sought to push for more assurances that those funds would go to smaller businesses and minority groups. The deal struck between Republicans and Democrats allocated $60 billion of that sum for rural and minority groups.
On Monday, Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla., chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business, tweeted that the committee would be targeting the disparity of the impact of the financial crisis on minority businesses in the next phase of the program.
Tweet


cnbc--2020-06-15--Trump administration wants to replace $600 unemployment benefit with back-to-work bonus

Larry Kudlow , director of the U.S. National Economic Council , speaks to members of the media outside the White House in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Monday , June 15 , 2020 .
The Trump administration wants to end enhanced unemployment benefits and replace them with a different policy , according to a senior aide .
Federal coronavirus relief legislation enacted in March authorized jobless Americans to receive an extra $ 600 a week in unemployment benefits .
Those payments are scheduled to end after July 31 , which may lead to a sharp decrease in cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently receiving the benefit .
The unemployment rate in April and May was higher than at any time since the Great Depression .
The Trump administration , in line with many congressional Republicans , wants the $ 600 payments to end .
The administration believes they provide a disincentive to find work or return to a job , according to Larry Kudlow , White House economic advisor .
More from Personal Finance Trump vs. Biden : Americans split on who 's better for their wallets $ 600 unemployment benefits are 'life-saving ' for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming The administration supports replacing the enhanced benefits , which are paid on top of traditional state-level benefits , with a cash bonus encouraging people to rejoin the workforce .
`` The president is looking at a reform measure that would still provide some kind of bonus for returning to work , but it will not be as large and it will create an incentive to work , '' Kudlow , director of the National Economic Council , said Sunday on CNN .
While Kudlow did n't elaborate on the specific form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposals hint at what such a policy may look like .
One from Sen .
Rob Portman , R-Ohio , would replace the $ 600 weekly checks with temporary payments of $ 450 a week for those who return to work .
Recipients would get the $ 450 plus their job 's wages .
Another proposal , from Rep. Kevin Brady , R-Texas , would let workers who accept a job offer keep two weeks ' worth of $ 600 enhanced unemployment benefits .
Normally , if someone finds work , they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is comparable to a $ 1,200 `` hiring bonus , '' Brady said .

Larry Kudlow, director of the U.S. National Economic Council, speaks to members of the media outside the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, June 15, 2020. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Trump administration wants to end enhanced unemployment benefits and replace them with a different policy, according to a senior aide. Federal coronavirus relief legislation enacted in March authorized jobless Americans to receive an extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits. Those payments are scheduled to end after July 31, which may lead to a sharp decrease in cash flow for the roughly 30 million people currently receiving the benefit. The unemployment rate in April and May was higher than at any time since the Great Depression. The Trump administration, in line with many congressional Republicans, wants the $600 payments to end. The administration believes they provide a disincentive to find work or return to a job, according to Larry Kudlow, White House economic advisor. More from Personal Finance
Trump vs. Biden: Americans split on who's better for their wallets
$600 unemployment benefits are 'life-saving' for this waiter
Additional stimulus legislation may be coming
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The administration supports replacing the enhanced benefits, which are paid on top of traditional state-level benefits, with a cash bonus encouraging people to rejoin the workforce. "The president is looking at a reform measure that would still provide some kind of bonus for returning to work, but it will not be as large and it will create an incentive to work," Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said Sunday on CNN. While Kudlow didn't elaborate on the specific form of a return-to-work bonus, a few existing proposals hint at what such a policy may look like. One from Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, would replace the $600 weekly checks with temporary payments of $450 a week for those who return to work. Recipients would get the $450 plus their job's wages. Another proposal, from Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, would let workers who accept a job offer keep two weeks' worth of $600 enhanced unemployment benefits. Normally, if someone finds work, they would lose their unemployment benefits. The concept is comparable to a $1,200 "hiring bonus," Brady said.
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However, in their current form, Portman's and Brady's policies each have a July 31 end date — the same expiration date as the $600-a-week benefits. Democrats, on the other hand, want to extend enhanced unemployment benefits. They passed financial relief legislation in the House that would extend the $600 benefits until early next year. Some Democrats have also proposed gradually reducing the aid by tying it to economic metrics like the state unemployment rate. (In other words, weekly benefits would decrease as a state's unemployment rate falls.) Lawmakers will likely compromise and extend enhanced unemployment benefits in some form after July to avoid sending household income over a "cliff" for millions of Americans, according to Ernie Tedeschi, an economist at Evercore ISI. That's because states generally replace between 30% and 50% of one's prior wages, Tedeschi said. (The $600-a-week enhancement aimed at fully replacing job wages for the average worker, who makes about $1,000 a week.) "That [would be] a giant benefit cut," Tedeschi said. Republican proposals leapfrog off an unexpected addition of 2.5 million jobs to the U.S. economy in May, versus an expected loss of around 7.5 million. States are beginning to reopen their economies and many businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans have rehired workers to fulfill a condition of getting that federal aid. "This is a turning point in the economy," Kudlow said. "Besides the great jobs numbers, you've got a lot of positive green-shoot indicators. We don't want to interrupt that [by extending unemployment benefits]." However, critics say it's naive to think all Americans who lost their jobs since mid-March will be able to return to work by the end of July. Twenty-one million people are still unemployed. There would need to be nine more months of job growth similar to those seen in May to roughly get back to employment levels in February. If enhanced unemployment aid ends, potentially coinciding with businesses running out of loan money and households exhausting the one-time stimulus checks they received, Americans may cut spending significantly and cause another wave of job losses, according to economists. Ioana Marinescu, an economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has a policy idea that blends Democratic and Republican ideals, offering a view at what a potential compromise could look like. The proposal would pay $600 a week to workers who have lost their jobs for about four months, regardless of whether they remain unemployed or find new employment. This "job losers' stimulus program" would keep unemployment benefits intact during a time of fragile economic recovery and also remove any perceived disincentive to work caused by enhanced unemployment benefits, according to the proposal.


cnbc--2020-06-15--Trump supporters will get masks, hand sanitizer, temperature checks at Tulsa rally, campaign boss sa

Trump supporters will get masks, hand sanitizer, temperature checks at Tulsa rally, campaign boss says

US President Donald Trump gestures to supporters as he arrives for a campaign rally in Rio Rancho , New Mexico , on September 16 , 2019 .
Supporters of President Donald Trump will receive temperature checks , masks and hand sanitizer before entering his rally Saturday in Tulsa , Oklahoma , Trump 's campaign manager said Monday .
The rally — Trump 's first in more than three months — comes amid signs that the U.S. could be headed for a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic , even as so-called hot spots for the disease see a decline in cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in addition to the above precautions , organizers will take steps to account for the mid-June heat and bottled water will be provided to attendees .
The event , currently set to take place Saturday evening at BOK Center in Tulsa , was originally scheduled for Friday .
But Trump changed the date after facing criticism for planning a rally on Juneteenth — a day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. — and hosting it in a city that saw a historic and deadly race riot .
`` Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out of respect for this Holiday , and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents , '' Trump tweeted Friday night .
`` I have therefore decided to move our rally to Saturday , June 20th , in order to honor their requests . ''
The Trump campaign boasted Monday that it has received more than 1 million ticket requests for the rally .
Seats at the venue , which has capacity for more than 19,000 , are granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told CNBC that attendees will not be required to wear the masks .
`` Masks will be optional but each attendee will receive one , '' he said in an email .
Murtaugh did not respond to CNBC 's question about whether the rally crowd would be socially distanced .
Trump campaign spokeswoman Erin Perrine added in a statement later Monday that `` The campaign takes the health and safety of rally-goers seriously and is taking precautions to make the rally safe . ''
Trump 's decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from those who said that the rallies should not be held while the nation continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic .
While states have begun loosening the strict social distancing measures that largely shut down their economies , health experts warn that the virus has not gone away and that the rate of infection could start to rise as the year progresses .
Some areas of the country are already seeing spikes in cases .
The stock market on Monday morning continued its pullback as investors watched the signs of a resurgence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders to reopen their economies and downplayed the risks of transmitting the coronavirus , but his campaign appears to acknowledge that inviting large crowds to gather closely could expose people to the disease .
A registration form for the rally says , `` By clicking register below , you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present . ''
`` By attending the Rally , you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inc. , '' as well as the rally site or organizers , `` liable for any illness or injury . ''
At two recent high-dollar fundraising dinners , several dozen Republican donors were tested for the coronavirus and filled out a health and wellness questionnaire prior to the event , NBC News reported .
The campaign has not indicated that any of the attendees at the Tulsa rally will be tested for the virus , and it remains unclear if they will be turned away from the event should their temperature read above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million Covid-19 cases and at least 115,732 deaths from Covid-19 have been counted in the U.S. , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
In an editorial column published Monday , Tulsa World argued that now is the `` wrong time '' for Trump to host a rally in the city .
`` Tulsa is still dealing with the challenges created by a pandemic .
The city and state have authorized reopening , but that does n't make a mass indoor gathering of people pressed closely together and cheering a good idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed back , tweeting Monday morning that the `` Far Left Fake News Media '' is `` trying to Covid Shame us on our big Rallies '' despite having `` no problem '' with the massive protests that have formed across the nation in response to the death of George Floyd .

US President Donald Trump gestures to supporters as he arrives for a campaign rally in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, on September 16, 2019.
Supporters of President Donald Trump will receive temperature checks, masks and hand sanitizer before entering his rally Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Trump's campaign manager said Monday.
The rally — Trump's first in more than three months — comes amid signs that the U.S. could be headed for a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, even as so-called hot spots for the disease see a decline in cases.
Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale tweeted that in addition to the above precautions, organizers will take steps to account for the mid-June heat and bottled water will be provided to attendees.
Parscale TWEET
The event, currently set to take place Saturday evening at BOK Center in Tulsa, was originally scheduled for Friday. But Trump changed the date after facing criticism for planning a rally on Juneteenth — a day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. — and hosting it in a city that saw a historic and deadly race riot.
"Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out of respect for this Holiday, and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents," Trump tweeted Friday night. "I have therefore decided to move our rally to Saturday, June 20th, in order to honor their requests."
Trump TWEETS
The Trump campaign boasted Monday that it has received more than 1 million ticket requests for the rally. Seats at the venue, which has capacity for more than 19,000, are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told CNBC that attendees will not be required to wear the masks.
"Masks will be optional but each attendee will receive one," he said in an email.
Murtaugh did not respond to CNBC's question about whether the rally crowd would be socially distanced.
Trump campaign spokeswoman Erin Perrine added in a statement later Monday that "The campaign takes the health and safety of rally-goers seriously and is taking precautions to make the rally safe."
Trump's decision to resume his signature campaign events drew criticism from those who said that the rallies should not be held while the nation continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic.
While states have begun loosening the strict social distancing measures that largely shut down their economies, health experts warn that the virus has not gone away and that the rate of infection could start to rise as the year progresses.
Some areas of the country are already seeing spikes in cases. The stock market on Monday morning continued its pullback as investors watched the signs of a resurgence of cases.
Trump has pressured state leaders to reopen their economies and downplayed the risks of transmitting the coronavirus, but his campaign appears to acknowledge that inviting large crowds to gather closely could expose people to the disease.
A registration form for the rally says, "By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present."
"By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.," as well as the rally site or organizers, "liable for any illness or injury."
At two recent high-dollar fundraising dinners, several dozen Republican donors were tested for the coronavirus and filled out a health and wellness questionnaire prior to the event, NBC News reported. The campaign has not indicated that any of the attendees at the Tulsa rally will be tested for the virus, and it remains unclear if they will be turned away from the event should their temperature read above a certain level.
More than 2 million Covid-19 cases and at least 115,732 deaths from Covid-19 have been counted in the U.S., according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
In an editorial column published Monday, Tulsa World argued that now is the "wrong time" for Trump to host a rally in the city.
"Tulsa is still dealing with the challenges created by a pandemic. The city and state have authorized reopening, but that doesn't make a mass indoor gathering of people pressed closely together and cheering a good idea," the editorial said.
Trump pushed back, tweeting Monday morning that the "Far Left Fake News Media" is "trying to Covid Shame us on our big Rallies" despite having "no problem" with the massive protests that have formed across the nation in response to the death of George Floyd.
"Won't work!" the president tweeted.
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