cnbc--2020-08-25--Anti-Trump super PAC Lincoln Project runs $4 million ad blitz during week of Republican National Con

Anti-Trump super PAC Lincoln Project runs $4 million ad blitz during week of Republican National Convention

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention , in Charlotte , North Carolina , U.S. , August 24 , 2020 .
A super PAC that 's targeting President Donald Trump is initiating a $ 4 million ad blitz that 's set to run throughout the week of the Republican National Convention .
The Lincoln Project , a political action committee run by a group of Republican `` Never Trumpers , '' is spending the seven figure sum on TV and digital ads that will target voters in the key states of Arizona , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan , Ohio , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , a spokesman for the group told CNBC .
The PAC plans to air a revamped version of their famed ad , `` Mourning in America , '' which will now feature an updated U.S. death toll from the coronavirus pandemic , along with another spot that boosts Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris .
Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows that over 175,000 people have died in the U.S. from Covid-19 .
When the Lincoln Project ran the initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , Trump took aim at the organization on Twitter , leading to a record day of fundraising .
The new version will highlight Trump 's relationship with China 's president Xi Jinping and accuse him of `` praising China 's response instead of heeding the warnings . ''

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention, in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., August 24, 2020.
A super PAC that's targeting President Donald Trump is initiating a $4 million ad blitz that's set to run throughout the week of the Republican National Convention.
The Lincoln Project, a political action committee run by a group of Republican "Never Trumpers," is spending the seven figure sum on TV and digital ads that will target voters in the key states of Arizona, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, a spokesman for the group told CNBC.
The PAC plans to air a revamped version of their famed ad, "Mourning in America," which will now feature an updated U.S. death toll from the coronavirus pandemic, along with another spot that boosts Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris. Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows that over 175,000 people have died in the U.S. from Covid-19.
Tweet:
When the Lincoln Project ran the initial "Mourning in America" ad in May, Trump took aim at the organization on Twitter, leading to a record day of fundraising. The new version will highlight Trump's relationship with China's president Xi Jinping and accuse him of "praising China's response instead of heeding the warnings."


cnbc--2020-08-24--Here's the speaker lineup for the first night of the Republican National Convention

Former U.S .
Ambassador to the U.N. , Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott to speak on the first night of the 2020 Republican National Convention .
The 2020 Republican National Convention kicks off Monday as President Donald Trump makes his case for reelection during overlapping national crises .
Many of the speakers , including the president , will deliver remarks from around the country during the four-day event because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Parts of the convention will take place in the original site of Charlotte , North Carolina .
Trump will outline his alternatives to the vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delaware last week .
The president has trailed his challenger in most swing-state polls as he struggles to contain the coronavirus pandemic .
The night 's main speakers will start at about 8:30 p.m .
ET .
CNBC.com will livestream the convention .
C-SPAN , CNN , MSNBC and PBS will show the full 2½ hours of the convention each night .
Fox News , CBS , ABC and NBC will show the 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. hour .
A mix of current and former elected officials and figures in conservative media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night .
The headliners include Sen. Tim Scott , the lone Black GOP senator who has taken a lead role in the party on racism in policing , and congressional Trump defenders Reps. Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan .
Nikki Haley , the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador mentioned as a potential 2024 presidential hopeful , will also speak .
Here 's the list of speakers released by the Trump campaign : • Charlie Kirk , founder of Turning Point USA , an organization for young conservatives • Kim Klacik , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue Maryland congressional district who recently released a viral campaign ad • Mark and Patricia McCloskey , the St. Louis couple who pointed guns at peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters who walked past their home • Andrew Pollack , whose daughter Meadow was killed in the 2018 Parkland , Florida , high school shooting massacre • Tanya Weinreis , a Montana coffee shop owner who got a Paycheck Protection Program small business loan during the pandemic

Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott to speak on the first night of the 2020 Republican National Convention.
The 2020 Republican National Convention kicks off Monday as President Donald Trump makes his case for reelection during overlapping national crises.
Many of the speakers, including the president, will deliver remarks from around the country during the four-day event because of the coronavirus pandemic. Parts of the convention will take place in the original site of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Trump will outline his alternatives to the vision Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden detailed in Delaware last week. The president has trailed his challenger in most swing-state polls as he struggles to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
The night's main speakers will start at about 8:30 p.m. ET. CNBC.com will livestream the convention.
C-SPAN, CNN, MSNBC and PBS will show the full 2½ hours of the convention each night. Fox News, CBS, ABC and NBC will show the 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. hour.
A mix of current and former elected officials and figures in conservative media circles will appear at the convention Monday night. The headliners include Sen. Tim Scott, the lone Black GOP senator who has taken a lead role in the party on racism in policing, and congressional Trump defenders Reps. Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan.
Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador mentioned as a potential 2024 presidential hopeful, will also speak.
Here's the list of speakers released by the Trump campaign:
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio
Former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel
Vernon Jones, a Democratic state representative from Georgia
Nurse Amy Johnson Ford
Trump campaign fundraiser Kimberly Guilfoyle
Trump campaign advisor Natalie Harp
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, an organization for young conservatives
Kim Klacik, a GOP candidate running in a deep blue Maryland congressional district who recently released a viral campaign ad
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who pointed guns at peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters who walked past their home
Sean Parnell, a Republican congressional candidate in Pennsylvania
Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was killed in the 2018 Parkland, Florida, high school shooting massacre
Donald Trump Jr., the president's son
Tanya Weinreis, a Montana coffee shop owner who got a Paycheck Protection Program small business loan during the pandemic
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cnbc--2020-08-24--New York attorney general investigating whether Trump Organization 'improperly' inflated value of as

New York attorney general investigating whether Trump Organization 'improperly' inflated value of assets

The New York Attorney General 's Office on Monday said that it is investigating President Donald Trump and his company over how they valued multiple Trump assets on annual financial statements that were used to obtain loans , as well as to get economic and tax benefits .
The disclosure of the civil probe by Letitia James ' office came as after it filed court documents seeking to compel the Trump Organization , Trump 's son Eric Trump , and Trump entities and lawyers to comply with investigative subpoenas issued by James as part of the probe .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Organization Executive Vice President Eric Trump , who was intimately involved in one or more transactions under review , as well as the production of thousands of documents wrongly withheld , '' James ' office said in a statement .
James opened the probe last year after Trump 's former lawyer , Michael Cohen , `` testified before Congress that Trump 's annual financial statements inflated the values of Trump 's assets to obtain favorable terms for loans and insurance coverage , while also deflating the value of other assets to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
James ' office said that Eric Trump `` Was scheduled for an [ Office of Attorney General ] interview last month to discuss his role in certain Trump Organization projects . ''
`` Despite earlier agreeing to be interviewed by the OAG , Eric Trump now refuses to appear , '' James ' office said .
The office also said that another person who has failed to comply with a subpoena is a land use attorney who worked with the Trump Organization on the so-called Seven Springs Estate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Westchester County , New York .
`` One particular focus of this inquiry , as relevant here , is whether the Trump Organization and its agents improperly inflated , or caused to be improperly inflated , the value of the Seven Springs Estate , '' court records said .
`` Valuations of Seven Springs were used to claim an apparent $ 21.1 million tax deduction for donating a conservation easement on the property in tax year 2015 , and in submissions to financial institutions as a component of Mr. Trump 's net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But James ' office in a statement also said it was eyeing other properties , including 40 Wall St. , `` a mixed use building in lower Manhattan that the Trump Organization owns an interest in . ''
`` In 2010 , the Trump Organization entered into a note and mortgage in connection with the property that was modified to have a total principal loan amount of $ 160 million — $ 20 million of which was personally guaranteed by Donald Trump , '' James ' office said .
The probe also is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tower Chicago , `` a hotel and residential complex in Chicago that was absent from Donald Trump 's 'Statement of Financial Condition ' in 2009 and in subsequent years '' the office said .
And James ' office is eyeing the Trump National Golf Club – Los Angeles .
That golf course and clubhouse are owned by the Trump Organization , which `` donated a conservation easement over part of the property in 2014 and received a tax deduction for it , '' according to a press release by the attorney general .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its investigation and has not reached a determination regarding whether the facts identified to date establish violations of law , '' according to the filing , which was made in the New York state Supreme Court in Manhattan .
Trump Organization spokesman Alan Garten in a statement said , `` This is simply a discovery dispute over documents and the like . ''
Discovery refers to the process of parties in a legal case exchanging documents , submitting to depositions , and providing other information to each other .
`` As the motion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made no determination that anything was improper or that any action is forthcoming .
We will respond to this motion as appropriate , '' Garten said .
Eric Trump later tweeted , `` Without any basis , the NYAG [ James ] has pledged to take my father down from the moment she ran for office . ''
`` This is the highest level of prosecutorial misconduct - purposely dropped on the eve of the Republican Convention for political points .
Sad that this is her focus as New York burns , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year noted that President Trump , who bought Seven Springs for just $ 7.5 million in 1996 , valued it in 2012 at a whopping $ 291 million .
But Forbes magazine just two year later reported that the property was worth less than $ 19.5 million `` based on recent property sales and advice from local realtors and assessors . ''
Forbes ' valuation was nearly 15 times less than what Trump valued the property at .
After purchasing the property , the Trump Organization sought for several years to subdivide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one dozen individual lots , but the project stalled .
An affidavit filed by James ' office said that the attorney general `` has kept this investigation confidential to avoid prejudice to the investigation and to avoid undue reputational harm to witnesses and the subjects of the investigation . ''
James ' office `` has not concluded its investigation and has not reached any determination regarding whether the facts identified to date establish violations of any applicable laws , '' according to the affidavit , which was filed by an assistant attorney general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation , James ' office `` has obtained information ... from numerous individuals and entities whose identities it has sought to keep confidential . ''
`` Premature public disclosure of their identities or the evidence they have provided could impair [ the office 's ] ability to seek further testimony and documents from those and other witnesses and entities . ''
Because James ' office `` has not yet reached a determination regarding whether the facts identified in this investigation establish violations of any applicable laws , premature public disclosure of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result in undue reputational and other harm to witnesses and subjects of the investigation , '' the affidavit said .
James , in a prepared statement , said : `` Nothing will stop us from following the facts and the law , wherever they may lead .
For months , the Trump Organization has made baseless claims in an effort to shield evidence from a lawful investigation into its financial dealings . ''
`` They have stalled , withheld documents , and instructed witnesses , including Eric Trump , to refuse to answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` That 's why we 've filed a motion to compel the Trump Organization to comply with our office 's lawful subpoenas for documents and testimony .
These questions will be answered and the truth will be uncovered , because no one is above the law . ''

The New York Attorney General's Office on Monday said that it is investigating President Donald Trump and his company over how they valued multiple Trump assets on annual financial statements that were used to obtain loans, as well as to get economic and tax benefits.
The disclosure of the civil probe by Letitia James' office came as after it filed court documents seeking to compel the Trump Organization, Trump's son Eric Trump, and Trump entities and lawyers to comply with investigative subpoenas issued by James as part of the probe.
"The action seeks to compel the testimony of Trump Organization Executive Vice President Eric Trump, who was intimately involved in one or more transactions under review, as well as the production of thousands of documents wrongly withheld," James' office said in a statement.
James opened the probe last year after Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, "testified before Congress that Trump's annual financial statements inflated the values of Trump's assets to obtain favorable terms for loans and insurance coverage, while also deflating the value of other assets to reduce real estate taxes," her office said in a statement.
James' office said that Eric Trump "Was scheduled for an [Office of Attorney General] interview last month to discuss his role in certain Trump Organization projects."
"Despite earlier agreeing to be interviewed by the OAG, Eric Trump now refuses to appear," James' office said.
Tweet AG
The office also said that another person who has failed to comply with a subpoena is a land use attorney who worked with the Trump Organization on the so-called Seven Springs Estate, a 212-acre estate in Bedford, in Westchester County, New York.
"One particular focus of this inquiry, as relevant here, is whether the Trump Organization and its agents improperly inflated, or caused to be improperly inflated, the value of the Seven Springs Estate," court records said.
"Valuations of Seven Springs were used to claim an apparent $21.1 million tax deduction for donating a conservation easement on the property in tax year 2015, and in submissions to financial institutions as a component of Mr. Trump's net worth," the filing said.
But James' office in a statement also said it was eyeing other properties, including 40 Wall St., "a mixed use building in lower Manhattan that the Trump Organization owns an interest in."
"In 2010, the Trump Organization entered into a note and mortgage in connection with the property that was modified to have a total principal loan amount of $160 million — $20 million of which was personally guaranteed by Donald Trump," James' office said.
The probe also is looking at the Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago, "a hotel and residential complex in Chicago that was absent from Donald Trump's 'Statement of Financial Condition' in 2009 and in subsequent years" the office said.
And James' office is eyeing the Trump National Golf Club – Los Angeles.
That golf course and clubhouse are owned by the Trump Organization, which "donated a conservation easement over part of the property in 2014 and received a tax deduction for it," according to a press release by the attorney general.
James' office "has not concluded its investigation and has not reached a determination regarding whether the facts identified to date establish violations of law," according to the filing, which was made in the New York state Supreme Court in Manhattan.
Trump Organization spokesman Alan Garten in a statement said, "This is simply a discovery dispute over documents and the like." Discovery refers to the process of parties in a legal case exchanging documents, submitting to depositions, and providing other information to each other.
"As the motion papers clearly state, the NYAG has made no determination that anything was improper or that any action is forthcoming. We will respond to this motion as appropriate," Garten said.
Eric Trump later tweeted, "Without any basis, the NYAG [James] has pledged to take my father down from the moment she ran for office."
"This is the highest level of prosecutorial misconduct - purposely dropped on the eve of the Republican Convention for political points. Sad that this is her focus as New York burns," Eric Trump wrote.
Tweet Eric
The Financial Times last year noted that President Trump, who bought Seven Springs for just $7.5 million in 1996, valued it in 2012 at a whopping $291 million.
But Forbes magazine just two year later reported that the property was worth less than $19.5 million "based on recent property sales and advice from local realtors and assessors."
Forbes' valuation was nearly 15 times less than what Trump valued the property at.
After purchasing the property, the Trump Organization sought for several years to subdivide and develop Seven Springs into more than one dozen individual lots, but the project stalled.
An affidavit filed by James' office said that the attorney general "has kept this investigation confidential to avoid prejudice to the investigation and to avoid undue reputational harm to witnesses and the subjects of the investigation."
James' office "has not concluded its investigation and has not reached any determination regarding whether the facts identified to date establish violations of any applicable laws," according to the affidavit, which was filed by an assistant attorney general.
The affidavit also says that during the investigation, James' office "has obtained information ... from numerous individuals and entities whose identities it has sought to keep confidential."
"Premature public disclosure of their identities or the evidence they have provided could impair [the office's] ability to seek further testimony and documents from those and other witnesses and entities."
Because James' office "has not yet reached a determination regarding whether the facts identified in this investigation establish violations of any applicable laws, premature public disclosure of the witnesses and evidence collected to date could result in undue reputational and other harm to witnesses and subjects of the investigation," the affidavit said.
James, in a prepared statement, said: "Nothing will stop us from following the facts and the law, wherever they may lead. For months, the Trump Organization has made baseless claims in an effort to shield evidence from a lawful investigation into its financial dealings."
"They have stalled, withheld documents, and instructed witnesses, including Eric Trump, to refuse to answer questions under oath," James said.
"That's why we've filed a motion to compel the Trump Organization to comply with our office's lawful subpoenas for documents and testimony. These questions will be answered and the truth will be uncovered, because no one is above the law."
-- Additional reporting by CNBC's Jim Forkin.


cnbc--2020-08-24--Texas A&M professor accused of secretly collaborating with China amid NASA work

WASHINGTON — A Texas A & M professor was charged with conspiracy , making false statements and wire fraud on allegations that he was secretly collaborating with the Chinese government while conducting research for NASA , the Department of Justice said Monday .
According to a criminal complaint , Zhengdong Cheng , 53 , a professor in the College of Engineering at Texas A & M and a NASA researcher , obscured his affiliations and collaboration with a Chinese university and at least one Chinese-owned company .
`` The terms of Cheng 's grant prohibited participation , collaboration or coordination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any Chinese University , '' the DOJ wrote in a release .
`` Once again , we have witnessed the criminal consequences that can arise from undisclosed participation in the Chinese government 's talent program , '' Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said in a statement .
`` The Department of Justice will continue seeking to bring participation in these talent programs to light and to expose the exploitation of our nation and our prized research institutions , '' he added .
The DOJ has previously described China 's Thousand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Communist Party to `` attract , recruit , and cultivate high-level scientific talent in furtherance of China 's scientific development , economic prosperity and national security . ''
Through this program , the Chinese government would `` often reward individuals for stealing proprietary information , '' the DOJ said .
`` While 1.4 million foreign researchers and academics are here in the U.S. for the right reasons , the Chinese Talents Program exploits our open and free universities , '' said Ryan Patrick , U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government must be disclosed .
Cheng was hired by Texas A & M in 2004 and worked for the Guangdong University of Technology in Guangdong , China , from 2012 to 2018 , according to the criminal complaint .
Texas A & M System Chancellor John Sharp said the university worked with the FBI during the investigation into Cheng .
`` We worked closely with the FBI on this case and we gladly will work with them again as needed , '' Sharp told KBTX-TV 3 .
`` No one in higher education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Texas A & M University System . ''
Cheng 's arrest comes almost two months after the Justice Department announced the indictment of a Harvard professor who allegedly made false statements to federal authorities regarding work at Wuhan University of Technology in China .
The Justice Department alleges that Charles Lieber , 61 , the former chairman of Harvard University 's Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department , became a contractual participant in China 's Thousand Talents Plan for at least three years .

WASHINGTON — A Texas A&M professor was charged with conspiracy, making false statements and wire fraud on allegations that he was secretly collaborating with the Chinese government while conducting research for NASA, the Department of Justice said Monday.
According to a criminal complaint, Zhengdong Cheng, 53, a professor in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M and a NASA researcher, obscured his affiliations and collaboration with a Chinese university and at least one Chinese-owned company.
"The terms of Cheng's grant prohibited participation, collaboration or coordination with China, any Chinese-owned company or any Chinese University," the DOJ wrote in a release.
"Once again, we have witnessed the criminal consequences that can arise from undisclosed participation in the Chinese government's talent program," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said in a statement. "The Department of Justice will continue seeking to bring participation in these talent programs to light and to expose the exploitation of our nation and our prized research institutions," he added.
The DOJ has previously described China's Thousand Talents Plan as a tool of the Chinese Communist Party to "attract, recruit, and cultivate high-level scientific talent in furtherance of China's scientific development, economic prosperity and national security." Through this program, the Chinese government would "often reward individuals for stealing proprietary information," the DOJ said.
"While 1.4 million foreign researchers and academics are here in the U.S. for the right reasons, the Chinese Talents Program exploits our open and free universities," said Ryan Patrick, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, adding that ties to the Chinese government must be disclosed.
Cheng was hired by Texas A&M in 2004 and worked for the Guangdong University of Technology in Guangdong, China, from 2012 to 2018, according to the criminal complaint.
Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said the university worked with the FBI during the investigation into Cheng.
"We worked closely with the FBI on this case and we gladly will work with them again as needed," Sharp told KBTX-TV 3. "No one in higher education takes security as seriously as we do at The Texas A&M University System."
Cheng's arrest comes almost two months after the Justice Department announced the indictment of a Harvard professor who allegedly made false statements to federal authorities regarding work at Wuhan University of Technology in China.
The Justice Department alleges that Charles Lieber, 61, the former chairman of Harvard University's Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department, became a contractual participant in China's Thousand Talents Plan for at least three years.


cnbc--2020-08-24--Kamala Harris' allies in the business world kick off fundraising blitz for Biden campaign

Former Vice President Joe Biden , Democratic presidential nominee , left , and Senator Kamala Harris , Democratic vice presidential nominee , wear protective masks while holding hands outside the Chase Center during the Democratic National Convention in Wilmington , Delaware , U.S. , on Thursday , Aug. 20 , 2020 .
Sen. Kamala Harris ' formidable fundraising machine is kicking into high gear now that she 's on the ticket with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Since Biden named the California U.S. senator as his running mate , her associates in the business world have been getting calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with direct knowledge of the matter .
The Harris allies have also been organizing virtual fundraisers with the campaign , according to the people , who declined to be named as these efforts have yet to be made public .
`` I am beyond thrilled , '' one of Harris ' longtime fundraisers said Sunday .
`` I was not ready to be on calls and working 18 hours a day . ''
This person added that Harris will be featured on her own without Biden in several fundraisers .
Harris has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street to Hollywood throughout her political career , including when she ran against Biden and others during the Democratic presidential primaries .
Harris finished raising at least $ 40 million during her run for president , which ended late last year .
Some of her supporters in the business world had not been as engaged with Biden 's campaign before she joined the ticket .
The fundraising blitz comes even as Biden seeks to raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy .
Harris herself has a history of taking on big banks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney general .
Harris ' allies in real estate and on Wall Street , who cheered her selection as Biden 's running mate , are moving ahead with events starting this week .
Alicia Goldstein , a senior managing director at real estate investment firm HFZ Capital Group , and Deborah Harmon , chief executive officer of Artemis Real Estate Partners , are helping to organize a virtual event on Friday featuring Harris , the people said .
Tickets range from $ 1,000 to $ 200,000 , with the virtual gathering expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Six-figure checks go to Biden and his joint fundraising committees , which also raise money for the Democratic National Committee as well as state parties .
Harmon would not comment on the event , but did tell CNBC that raising money has come easy since Harris became vice president .
`` I do n't spend every day thinking about whether the business leaders I work with are Democrats or Republicans , but I do think about how we widen the circle of opportunity for those typically underrepresented in the real estate industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Harmon said in statement on Sunday .
`` So it was encouraging that I kept hearing from people I reached out to for this event that they are inspired by Kamala Harris , and it was n't a surprise that raising money for her was like pushing against an open door . ''
Mike Kempner , CEO of public relations giant MWWPR , and Jon Henes , a partner at corporate restructuring firm Kirkland & Ellis , who was Harris ' national finance chairman when she ran for president , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feature Harris , other people said .
The date is yet to be set , but the fundraiser is expected to bring in `` a lot of money , '' the person added .
Brad Karp , chairman of law firm Paul , Weiss , is likely to host a few events over the course of the next month , another person said .
Karp has represented Citigroup , JPMorgan , Bank of America , Morgan Stanley , Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo , according to the firm 's website .
Karp and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bundler list when she ran for president .
Billionaire Marc Lasry , longtime CEO of investment firm Avenue Capital , could host a Biden-Harris event in October , another person said .
The virtual event would come a month before Biden faces Trump in the general election in November .
Lasry and fellow Wall Street executive Blair Effron worked to raise money for Harris when she ran for president and started helping Biden after Harris dropped out in December .
Goldstein , Kempner , Karp , Henes , Lasry and Biden campaign representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The securities and investment industry has given a major boost to Biden and the PACs supporting him , as Wall Street executives have spent $ 44 million in the 2020 election cycle backing the former vice president , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
Trump 's reelection effort , on the other hand , has seen only $ 8 million from people in the industry .
Biden 's selection of Harris has already had an impact on fundraising up and down the ballot .
Over its latter two days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 40 million for Democrats running for office , as CNBC first reported .
Biden 's campaign later announced that it , along with its joint fundraising committees , raised $ 70 million during convention week .
That comes after raising $ 48 million immediately following the Harris announcement .
On the West Coast , a virtual event slated to feature Harris is being chaired by superstar TV producer and writer Ryan Murphy , along with his husband , David Miller , according to an invitation obtained by CNBC .
The high-wattage host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and director J.J. Abrams , Disney Television Studios Chairwoman Dana Walden , producer Jason Blum , Netflix executive Bela Bajaria , actor Don Cheadle , sitcom creator Chuck Lorre and Emmy-winning producer Michael Rotenberg .
Though a date has not been set , the invitation says tickets start at $ 10,000 and go up to $ 500,000 .
Biden and Harris , along with their spouses , took part in a virtual Hollywood-led fundraising event last week that raised $ 7 million , according to a press release .
The hosts included entertainment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clooney and comedian Byron Allen .

Former Vice President Joe Biden, Democratic presidential nominee, left, and Senator Kamala Harris, Democratic vice presidential nominee, wear protective masks while holding hands outside the Chase Center during the Democratic National Convention in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020.
Sen. Kamala Harris' formidable fundraising machine is kicking into high gear now that she's on the ticket with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Since Biden named the California U.S. senator as his running mate, her associates in the business world have been getting calls from new donors, according to people familiar with direct knowledge of the matter. The Harris allies have also been organizing virtual fundraisers with the campaign, according to the people, who declined to be named as these efforts have yet to be made public.
"I am beyond thrilled," one of Harris' longtime fundraisers said Sunday. "I was not ready to be on calls and working 18 hours a day." This person added that Harris will be featured on her own without Biden in several fundraisers.
Harris has built strong relationships with business leaders from Wall Street to Hollywood throughout her political career, including when she ran against Biden and others during the Democratic presidential primaries. Harris finished raising at least $40 million during her run for president, which ended late last year. Some of her supporters in the business world had not been as engaged with Biden's campaign before she joined the ticket.
The fundraising blitz comes even as Biden seeks to raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Harris herself has a history of taking on big banks, particularly when she was California's attorney general.
Harris' allies in real estate and on Wall Street, who cheered her selection as Biden's running mate, are moving ahead with events starting this week.
Alicia Goldstein, a senior managing director at real estate investment firm HFZ Capital Group, and Deborah Harmon, chief executive officer of Artemis Real Estate Partners, are helping to organize a virtual event on Friday featuring Harris, the people said. Tickets range from $1,000 to $200,000, with the virtual gathering expected to reel in millions, the people added. Six-figure checks go to Biden and his joint fundraising committees, which also raise money for the Democratic National Committee as well as state parties.
Harmon would not comment on the event, but did tell CNBC that raising money has come easy since Harris became vice president.
"I don't spend every day thinking about whether the business leaders I work with are Democrats or Republicans, but I do think about how we widen the circle of opportunity for those typically underrepresented in the real estate industry, specifically women and people of color," Harmon said in statement on Sunday. "So it was encouraging that I kept hearing from people I reached out to for this event that they are inspired by Kamala Harris, and it wasn't a surprise that raising money for her was like pushing against an open door."
Mike Kempner, CEO of public relations giant MWWPR, and Jon Henes, a partner at corporate restructuring firm Kirkland & Ellis, who was Harris' national finance chairman when she ran for president, are set to co-host an event that will feature Harris, other people said. The date is yet to be set, but the fundraiser is expected to bring in "a lot of money," the person added.
Brad Karp, chairman of law firm Paul, Weiss, is likely to host a few events over the course of the next month, another person said. Karp has represented Citigroup, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo, according to the firm's website.
Karp and Kempner were also listed on Harris' bundler list when she ran for president.
Billionaire Marc Lasry, longtime CEO of investment firm Avenue Capital, could host a Biden-Harris event in October, another person said. The virtual event would come a month before Biden faces Trump in the general election in November. Lasry and fellow Wall Street executive Blair Effron worked to raise money for Harris when she ran for president and started helping Biden after Harris dropped out in December.
Goldstein, Kempner, Karp, Henes, Lasry and Biden campaign representatives did not return requests for comment.
The securities and investment industry has given a major boost to Biden and the PACs supporting him, as Wall Street executives have spent $44 million in the 2020 election cycle backing the former vice president, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Trump's reelection effort, on the other hand, has seen only $8 million from people in the industry.
Biden's selection of Harris has already had an impact on fundraising up and down the ballot. Over its latter two days, the Democratic National Convention raised at least $40 million for Democrats running for office, as CNBC first reported. Biden's campaign later announced that it, along with its joint fundraising committees, raised $70 million during convention week. That comes after raising $48 million immediately following the Harris announcement.
On the West Coast, a virtual event slated to feature Harris is being chaired by superstar TV producer and writer Ryan Murphy, along with his husband, David Miller, according to an invitation obtained by CNBC.
The high-wattage host list for the event includes film producer and director J.J. Abrams, Disney Television Studios Chairwoman Dana Walden, producer Jason Blum, Netflix executive Bela Bajaria, actor Don Cheadle, sitcom creator Chuck Lorre and Emmy-winning producer Michael Rotenberg.
Though a date has not been set, the invitation says tickets start at $10,000 and go up to $500,000.
Biden and Harris, along with their spouses, took part in a virtual Hollywood-led fundraising event last week that raised $7 million, according to a press release. The hosts included entertainment mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, Oscar-winning actor George Clooney and comedian Byron Allen.


cnbc--2020-08-24--Joe Biden says Kenosha cops 'must be held accountable' for shooting Black man Jacob Blake in the bac

Joe Biden says Kenosha cops 'must be held accountable' for shooting Black man Jacob Blake in the back

Cops in Wisconsin `` must be held accountable '' after shooting a Black man in the back in front of his young children , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Monday .
Police shot Jacob Blake , 29 , multiple times in Kenosha , Wisconsin , on Sunday as he opened the door to a vehicle where , an attorney hired by his family said , his three children sat .
Blake was taken to a Milwaukee hospital and is stable after coming out of surgery , NBC News reported .
The officers involved were placed on administrative leave as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Justice said Monday .
It was not immediately clear how many officers shot Blake .
The shooting , the latest in a string of police violence against Black Americans captured on video this year , sparked uproar and protests against systemic racism in Wisconsin .
Democratic politicians called not only for justice for Blake but also for changes to address systemic racism at the root of excessive use of force against Black people .
`` This calls for an immediate , full and transparent investigation and the officers must be held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Monday .
`` These shots pierce the soul of our nation .
Jill and I pray for Jacob 's recovery and for his children , '' the former vice president continued .
`` Equal justice has not been real for Black Americans and so many others .
We are at an inflection point .
We must dismantle systemic racism .
It is the urgent task before us . ''

Cops in Wisconsin "must be held accountable" after shooting a Black man in the back in front of his young children, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Monday.
Police shot Jacob Blake, 29, multiple times in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday as he opened the door to a vehicle where, an attorney hired by his family said, his three children sat. Blake was taken to a Milwaukee hospital and is stable after coming out of surgery, NBC News reported.
The officers involved were placed on administrative leave as an investigation takes place, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said Monday. It was not immediately clear how many officers shot Blake.
The shooting, the latest in a string of police violence against Black Americans captured on video this year, sparked uproar and protests against systemic racism in Wisconsin. Democratic politicians called not only for justice for Blake but also for changes to address systemic racism at the root of excessive use of force against Black people.
"This calls for an immediate, full and transparent investigation and the officers must be held accountable," Biden said in a statement Monday.
"These shots pierce the soul of our nation. Jill and I pray for Jacob's recovery and for his children," the former vice president continued. "Equal justice has not been real for Black Americans and so many others. We are at an inflection point. We must dismantle systemic racism. It is the urgent task before us."


cnbc--2020-08-25--Republican National Convention kicks off with a near spiritual devotion to Trump

WASHINGTON — The first night of the virtual Republican National Convention featured more than a dozen speakers .
And while the GOP had fewer celebrities and fun backdrops than Democrats had last week , the evening technically went off without a hitch .
Trump himself only appeared on camera twice over the course of the night .
But that did n't really matter , because Trump was everywhere .
For two hours , speaker after speaker described the president in near-messianic terms , as a savior , a guide and a martyr .
It was only during the last three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , former South Carolina Gov .
Nikki Haley and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott , that the focus really shifted from Trump to Democrat Joe Biden and the election in November .
If there was a unifying theme for the convention 's first night , it was the lavish , devotional praise that speakers heaped on the president .
`` Mr. President , you 've done so much more than promises made and promises kept , '' said Natalie Harp , a woman fighting cancer who has benefited from a `` Right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Congress .
`` You have used your strength to make America strong again .
Sacrificed the life you built to make America proud again .
And risked everything to make America safe again . ''
Pennsylvania GOP House candidate Sean Parnell spoke of Trump as a sort of savior .
`` Mr. President , lead the way .
Millions in our American family believe in this path to destiny .
Guide us to that horizon ! ''
`` I love the President 's intensity and his willingness to fight .
But what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never see — how much he truly cares about people , '' said Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan , one of Trump 's most ardent backers in Congress .
`` I pray every night , 'God , give him some more time .
Give him four more years . '
He has accomplished so much , almost all by himself and under constant attack , '' said former NFL player Herschel Walker .
Other speakers were more subtle , like Georgia Democratic state Rep. Vernon Jones , who built his speech around a refrain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' But there was no single issue that speakers addressed over and over , such as national security or the economy .
Instead , issues ranged from gun control , to medical experiments , to telehealth for Covid-19 , to hostage return , to Cuba .
It felt at times like a convention for an audience of one , with several of the speakers addressing Trump directly through the television to praise him .
For Trump , a president who loves compliments and loathes criticism , the night should have satisfied his craving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in you .
He emancipates and lifts you up to live your American Dream ! ''
said Trump campaign aide Kimberly Guilfoyle .
`` You are capable .
You are qualified .
You are powerful .
And you have the ability to choose your life , and determine your destiny ! ''
Guilfoyle , the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. , gave an especially passionate speech , often shouting and raising her arms .
But delivered in an empty Mellon Auditorium , as most of Monday 's speeches were , Guilfoyle 's speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's typical at conventions for the emotional temperature of the speeches to rise steadily as the night goes on , with the most passionate reserved for the end of the night .
But Monday night for the GOP was the opposite .
Speaking third to last , Trump son Donald Jr. shifted the focus onto Biden with a memorable Trumpian insult , calling Biden `` the Loch Ness monster of the swamp . ''
The last two speakers , former South Carolina Gov .
Nikki Haley and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the night .
Haley , widely seen as a front-runner to lead the Republican Party into a post-Trump era , whenever that day comes , spoke more about her own experience and about Biden than she did about Trump himself .
And rather than talk about the president and the election with the same spiritual zeal as earlier speakers , when she reached the point in her speech where she endorsed Trump , Haley said simply , `` President Trump and Vice President Pence have my support . ''
Scott , likewise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional themes of his own biography and the dangers of electing the other guy .
And while he was complimentary of Trump , when it came time for the endorsement line of his speech near the end , Scott , like Haley , did not go all in like earlier speakers did .
`` Supporting the Republican ticket gives you the best chance of making [ the American dream ] a reality , '' said Scott , the only African American Republican in the Senate .

U.S. President Donald Trump departs after addressing the first day of the Republican National Convention after delegates voted to confirm him as the Republican 2020 presidential nominee for reelection in Charlotte, North Carolina, August 24, 2020. Leah Millis | Reuters
WASHINGTON — The first night of the virtual Republican National Convention featured more than a dozen speakers. And while the GOP had fewer celebrities and fun backdrops than Democrats had last week, the evening technically went off without a hitch. Trump himself only appeared on camera twice over the course of the night. But that didn't really matter, because Trump was everywhere. For two hours, speaker after speaker described the president in near-messianic terms, as a savior, a guide and a martyr. It was only during the last three speeches, those of Donald Trump Jr., former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, that the focus really shifted from Trump to Democrat Joe Biden and the election in November.
Lavish praise for Trump
If there was a unifying theme for the convention's first night, it was the lavish, devotional praise that speakers heaped on the president. "Mr. President, you've done so much more than promises made and promises kept," said Natalie Harp, a woman fighting cancer who has benefited from a "Right to Try" bill passed with bipartisan support by Congress. "You have used your strength to make America strong again. Sacrificed the life you built to make America proud again. And risked everything to make America safe again."
Cancer survivor and Right to Try advocate Natalie Harp speaks during the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention broadcast from Washington, U.S. August 24, 2020. Republican National Convention | via Reuters
Pennsylvania GOP House candidate Sean Parnell spoke of Trump as a sort of savior. "Mr. President, lead the way. Millions in our American family believe in this path to destiny. Guide us to that horizon!" "I love the President's intensity and his willingness to fight. But what I also appreciate is something most Americans never see — how much he truly cares about people," said Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, one of Trump's most ardent backers in Congress. "I pray every night, 'God, give him some more time. Give him four more years.' He has accomplished so much, almost all by himself and under constant attack," said former NFL player Herschel Walker.
watch now
Other speakers were more subtle, like Georgia Democratic state Rep. Vernon Jones, who built his speech around a refrain of "Donald Trump did that." But there was no single issue that speakers addressed over and over, such as national security or the economy. Instead, issues ranged from gun control, to medical experiments, to telehealth for Covid-19, to hostage return, to Cuba. It felt at times like a convention for an audience of one, with several of the speakers addressing Trump directly through the television to praise him. For Trump, a president who loves compliments and loathes criticism, the night should have satisfied his craving for adulation.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, the National Chair of the "Trump Victory Finance Committee" and girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., delivers a pre-recorded speech to the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention, from Washington, U.S., August 24, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters
"President Trump believes in you. He emancipates and lifts you up to live your American Dream!" said Trump campaign aide Kimberly Guilfoyle. "You are capable. You are qualified. You are powerful. And you have the ability to choose your life, and determine your destiny!" Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., gave an especially passionate speech, often shouting and raising her arms. But delivered in an empty Mellon Auditorium, as most of Monday's speeches were, Guilfoyle's speech at times bordered on the surreal.
A calmer finale
It's typical at conventions for the emotional temperature of the speeches to rise steadily as the night goes on, with the most passionate reserved for the end of the night. But Monday night for the GOP was the opposite. Speaking third to last, Trump son Donald Jr. shifted the focus onto Biden with a memorable Trumpian insult, calling Biden "the Loch Ness monster of the swamp." The last two speakers, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, gave the most measured speeches of the night. Haley, widely seen as a front-runner to lead the Republican Party into a post-Trump era, whenever that day comes, spoke more about her own experience and about Biden than she did about Trump himself.
watch now
And rather than talk about the president and the election with the same spiritual zeal as earlier speakers, when she reached the point in her speech where she endorsed Trump, Haley said simply, "President Trump and Vice President Pence have my support." Scott, likewise, spent most of his speech on more traditional themes of his own biography and the dangers of electing the other guy. And while he was complimentary of Trump, when it came time for the endorsement line of his speech near the end, Scott, like Haley, did not go all in like earlier speakers did. "Supporting the Republican ticket gives you the best chance of making [the American dream] a reality," said Scott, the only African American Republican in the Senate.
U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) waits to speak to the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention in a live address from the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, U.S., August 24, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters


cnbc--2020-08-25--Here are the highlights from Night 1 of the Republican National Convention

The Republican National Convention kicked off Monday , featuring speeches from Donald Trump Jr. and former U.N .
Ambassador Nikki Haley and wasting no time in drawing a stark contrast with the Democrats ' convention last week .
The convention began earlier in the day in Charlotte , North Carolina , where the Republican Party formally renominated President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a second term .
Where the Democratic National Convention was held virtually from across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic , many of the opening speeches on Night 1 of the RNC took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington .
The evening was filled with zealous , fiery endorsements of Trump that at times painted a near-apocalyptic portrait of what America would become under a Joe Biden presidency .
One speaker , who said she had been diagnosed with a terminal bone cancer , said she and millions of others would have died if not for the president 's health-care policies and his response to the Covid-19 crisis .
She did not mention that more than 176,000 people in the U.S. have died of Covid-19 , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than any other country .
Interspersed between the speakers were a series of glossy videos , which by turns heaped praise on Trump for his first-term accomplishments and attacked Biden .
The event also featured remarks from politicians including Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Jim Jordan of Ohio , along with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and an array of other nonpublic figures who touted Trump 's record .
Here are the top moments : Sen. Tim Scott : The election is n't just about Trump and Biden Sen. Tim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Republican in the upper chamber and the lawmaker who took the lead on the GOP 's police reform efforts after the death of George Floyd , delivered a forward-looking speech that focused more on policy than the president .
`` While this election is between Donald Trump and Joe Biden ... it is not solely about Donald Trump and Joe Biden , '' Scott said .
`` It 's about the promise of America .
It 's about you and me .
Our challenges and heartbreaks , hopes and dreams . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the night , slammed Biden over his record on race and a series of gaffes he made on the campaign trail .
The attacks offered a rebuttal to the Democratic nominee , who in his acceptance speech last week decried `` the stain of racism '' and highlighted Trump 's 2017 reaction to White supremacists in Charlottesville , Virginia , as a `` wake-up call for us as a country . ''
Kimberly Guilfoyle sounds off on 'elites ' who want to 'destroy this country' Kimberly Guilfoyle , a Trump campaign fundraiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , delivered one of the most exclamatory speeches of the night , lionizing Trump as a `` fearless '' leader and attacking `` cosmopolitan elites '' who `` want to destroy this country . ''
`` This election is a battle for the soul of America , '' Guilfoyle declared , borrowing one of Biden 's most frequently used campaign lines .
Guilfoyle 's bombastic delivery — her speech was easily the loudest of the night — quickly began trending on social media .
Guilfoyle , the ex-wife of Democratic Gov .
Gavin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for turning the Golden State `` into a land of discarded heroin needles in parks , riots in streets and blackouts in homes . ''
Couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters warn of 'radical Democrats ' America' Mark and Patty McCloskey , the St. Louis couple who made the news after they were videoed pointing guns at protesters outside their home , defended their viral moment as they decried `` radical Democrats ' America . ''
`` At this moment in history , if you stand up for yourself and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , the mob — spurred on by their allies in the media — will try to destroy you , '' Mark McCloskey said .
The McCloskeys have been charged with one count each of unlawful use of a weapon for their reaction to the protesters .
Nikki Haley contrasts Trump and Biden on foreign policy , touts her own record Haley in her remarks offered a firm endorsement of Trump — albeit one that was less effusive than others with whom she shared the stage .
Haley contrasted Trump and Biden on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee is `` a godsend to everyone who wants America to apologize , abstain , and abandon our values . ''
`` Donald Trump takes a different approach .
He 's tough on China , and he took on ISIS and won .
And he tells the world what it needs to hear , '' Trump 's former ambassador to the U.N. said .
She also spent a significant chunk of her speech on the state of race relations in the U.S. `` In much of the Democratic Party , it 's now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That is a lie , '' Haley said before recounting the racial discrimination faced by her parents , who came to the U.S. as immigrants from India .
Haley 's appearance followed months of rumors that the former South Carolina governor might be under consideration to replace Pence on Trump 's 2020 ticket .
Those rumors evaporated after the GOP renominated Pence to be Trump 's veep earlier Monday .

U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) speaks to the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention in a live address from the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, U.S., August 24, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters
The Republican National Convention kicked off Monday, featuring speeches from Donald Trump Jr. and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and wasting no time in drawing a stark contrast with the Democrats' convention last week. The convention began earlier in the day in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Republican Party formally renominated President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a second term. Where the Democratic National Convention was held virtually from across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of the opening speeches on Night 1 of the RNC took place on the same stage in the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington. The evening was filled with zealous, fiery endorsements of Trump that at times painted a near-apocalyptic portrait of what America would become under a Joe Biden presidency. One speaker, who said she had been diagnosed with a terminal bone cancer, said she and millions of others would have died if not for the president's health-care policies and his response to the Covid-19 crisis. She did not mention that more than 176,000 people in the U.S. have died of Covid-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, more than any other country. Interspersed between the speakers were a series of glossy videos, which by turns heaped praise on Trump for his first-term accomplishments and attacked Biden. The event also featured remarks from politicians including Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Jim Jordan of Ohio, along with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and an array of other nonpublic figures who touted Trump's record. Here are the top moments:
Sen. Tim Scott: The election isn't just about Trump and Biden
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Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican in the upper chamber and the lawmaker who took the lead on the GOP's police reform efforts after the death of George Floyd, delivered a forward-looking speech that focused more on policy than the president. "While this election is between Donald Trump and Joe Biden ... it is not solely about Donald Trump and Joe Biden," Scott said. "It's about the promise of America. It's about you and me. Our challenges and heartbreaks, hopes and dreams." Scott, who delivered the final speech of the night, slammed Biden over his record on race and a series of gaffes he made on the campaign trail. The attacks offered a rebuttal to the Democratic nominee, who in his acceptance speech last week decried "the stain of racism" and highlighted Trump's 2017 reaction to White supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, as a "wake-up call for us as a country."
Kimberly Guilfoyle sounds off on 'elites' who want to 'destroy this country'
watch now
Kimberly Guilfoyle, a Trump campaign fundraiser and the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., delivered one of the most exclamatory speeches of the night, lionizing Trump as a "fearless" leader and attacking "cosmopolitan elites" who "want to destroy this country." "This election is a battle for the soul of America," Guilfoyle declared, borrowing one of Biden's most frequently used campaign lines. Guilfoyle's bombastic delivery — her speech was easily the loudest of the night — quickly began trending on social media. Guilfoyle, the ex-wife of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, also blamed Democrats for turning the Golden State "into a land of discarded heroin needles in parks, riots in streets and blackouts in homes."
Couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters warn of 'radical Democrats' America'
watch now
Mark and Patty McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who made the news after they were videoed pointing guns at protesters outside their home, defended their viral moment as they decried "radical Democrats' America." "At this moment in history, if you stand up for yourself and for the values our country was founded on, the mob — spurred on by their allies in the media — will try to destroy you," Mark McCloskey said. The McCloskeys have been charged with one count each of unlawful use of a weapon for their reaction to the protesters.
Nikki Haley contrasts Trump and Biden on foreign policy, touts her own record
watch now
Haley in her remarks offered a firm endorsement of Trump — albeit one that was less effusive than others with whom she shared the stage. Haley contrasted Trump and Biden on foreign policy, claiming that the Democratic nominee is "a godsend to everyone who wants America to apologize, abstain, and abandon our values." "Donald Trump takes a different approach. He's tough on China, and he took on ISIS and won. And he tells the world what it needs to hear," Trump's former ambassador to the U.N. said. She also spent a significant chunk of her speech on the state of race relations in the U.S. "In much of the Democratic Party, it's now fashionable to say that America is racist. That is a lie," Haley said before recounting the racial discrimination faced by her parents, who came to the U.S. as immigrants from India. Haley's appearance followed months of rumors that the former South Carolina governor might be under consideration to replace Pence on Trump's 2020 ticket. Those rumors evaporated after the GOP renominated Pence to be Trump's veep earlier Monday.
Democratic state rep. backs Trump
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cnbc--2020-08-25--What to watch for on the first night of the Republican National Convention

WASHINGTON — Republicans launch the first night of their nominating convention Monday , with speeches expected from Donald Trump Jr. , Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina , former South Carolina Gov .
Nikki Haley , and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana .
Two of President Donald Trump 's most ardent supporters in the House , Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Jim Jordan of Ohio , are also slated to speak .
Here 's what we 'll be watching for .
After Trump panned the Democratic convention on Friday as `` the darkest and angriest and gloomiest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's campaign advisors promised that the GOP would offer something very different this week .
`` You 're going to see a great , uplifting message from the president and from our allies , '' said Jason Miller , a senior Trump campaign advisor on NBC 's `` Meet the Press . ''
But anyone who has watched Trump give a campaign speech in the past three years knows that uplifting messages are not the president 's preferred way to rally support from voters .
Rather , Trump relies on ginning up fears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more recently , protestors and election fraud — and then paints himself as the last bulwark standing between his supporters and their fears .
The question for convention speakers will be whether to mimic Trump 's rhetorical style , which worked for him in 2016 , or to try to paint a rosier picture of America instead .
This brings us directly to the next big question of the night , which is how Haley , a leading 2024 presidential hopeful , will position herself vis-a-vis Trump .
There are two broad factions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they roughly represent the two potential outcomes of this November 's election .
If Trump wins reelection , then the most promising GOP presidential candidates in 2024 will be Trump loyalists such as Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
But if Trump loses to Biden , then Republicans who have positioned themselves to lead a post-Trump Republican Party out of the proverbial wreckage of November will suddenly have the upper hand in 2024 .
And no one so far has built a more viable post-Trump profile than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United Nations , who speaks on Monday night .
Haley resigned from the Trump administration on good terms in late 2018 , and the following year she wrote a political memoir , `` With All Due Respect , '' in which she claimed that former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told her that he resisted implementing some of Trump 's policies because , if he had n't , `` people would die . ''
Haley rejected the idea of working from the inside to thwart Trump .
Nonetheless , Haley has carefully created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president 's .
She has even publicly called Trump out on occasion , like she did in August of last year after Trump insulted then-Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland .
With tweets like these , Haley captured the mood of a significant chunk of the Republican electorate , especially pre-coronavirus , who generally approved of Trump 's policies but not necessarily his conduct .
When she speaks Monday , watch to see how well Haley continues to toe this line between supporting Trump and not condoning his behavior , especially now that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
Does Haley go all in for her former boss ?
Or does she hint at the fact that Trump , currently the underdog in his own reelection fight , may someday be little more than a bad memory for the Republican Party ?
Nearly every American has been affected in the past eight months by the deadly coronavirus , which has infected more than 5.5 million people in this country and killed more than 175,000 .
With the United States still leading the world in both deaths and confirmed cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic is a stain on the president 's record .
The question this week for Republicans , then , is how to talk about the pandemic and in some cases whether to talk about it at all .
Do they tout the limited successes the White House has had , such as the relatively fast ramping-up of ventilator production this spring ?
Or the strategically timed announcement on Sunday that the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency approval for a plasma treatment for Covid-19 ?
The obvious risk is that talking about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on which polls show Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump 's handling .
Alternatively , Republicans could follow Trump 's lead .
Instead of focusing on his response to the pandemic , the president prefers to talk about the record-setting economy he oversaw right before the virus hit in January .
Often , Trump then jumps directly from January to June and takes credit for the `` return '' of jobs that were furloughed or suspended during nationwide lockdowns and quarantines this spring .
He conveniently omits the part where the United States experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to this day , in the form of 10.2 % unemployment nationwide .
The question Monday will be how much speakers focus on the virus and its impact , and how much they can get away with ignoring it .
Who is the intended audience ?

Nikki Haley, Governor, South Carolina Getty Images
WASHINGTON — Republicans launch the first night of their nominating convention Monday, with speeches expected from Donald Trump Jr., Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana. Two of President Donald Trump's most ardent supporters in the House, Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Jim Jordan of Ohio, are also slated to speak. Here's what we'll be watching for.
An optimistic tone?
After Trump panned the Democratic convention on Friday as "the darkest and angriest and gloomiest convention in American history," Trump's campaign advisors promised that the GOP would offer something very different this week. "You're going to see a great, uplifting message from the president and from our allies," said Jason Miller, a senior Trump campaign advisor on NBC's "Meet the Press." But anyone who has watched Trump give a campaign speech in the past three years knows that uplifting messages are not the president's preferred way to rally support from voters. Rather, Trump relies on ginning up fears — of crime and immigrants, or more recently, protestors and election fraud — and then paints himself as the last bulwark standing between his supporters and their fears. The question for convention speakers will be whether to mimic Trump's rhetorical style, which worked for him in 2016, or to try to paint a rosier picture of America instead. This brings us directly to the next big question of the night, which is how Haley, a leading 2024 presidential hopeful, will position herself vis-a-vis Trump.
Nikki Haley's post-Trump GOP
There are two broad factions of potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates, and they roughly represent the two potential outcomes of this November's election. If Trump wins reelection, then the most promising GOP presidential candidates in 2024 will be Trump loyalists such as Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. But if Trump loses to Biden, then Republicans who have positioned themselves to lead a post-Trump Republican Party out of the proverbial wreckage of November will suddenly have the upper hand in 2024. And no one so far has built a more viable post-Trump profile than Haley, a former ambassador to the United Nations, who speaks on Monday night. Haley resigned from the Trump administration on good terms in late 2018, and the following year she wrote a political memoir, "With All Due Respect," in which she claimed that former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told her that he resisted implementing some of Trump's policies because, if he hadn't, "people would die." Haley rejected the idea of working from the inside to thwart Trump. Nonetheless, Haley has carefully created some space between her own positions and the president's. She has even publicly called Trump out on occasion, like she did in August of last year after Trump insulted then-Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland. HALEY TWEET With tweets like these, Haley captured the mood of a significant chunk of the Republican electorate, especially pre-coronavirus, who generally approved of Trump's policies but not necessarily his conduct. When she speaks Monday, watch to see how well Haley continues to toe this line between supporting Trump and not condoning his behavior, especially now that more than 175,000 Americans have died from coronavirus. Does Haley go all in for her former boss? Or does she hint at the fact that Trump, currently the underdog in his own reelection fight, may someday be little more than a bad memory for the Republican Party?
How large will coronavirus loom?
Nearly every American has been affected in the past eight months by the deadly coronavirus, which has infected more than 5.5 million people in this country and killed more than 175,000. With the United States still leading the world in both deaths and confirmed cases, the Trump administration's response to the pandemic is a stain on the president's record. The question this week for Republicans, then, is how to talk about the pandemic and in some cases whether to talk about it at all. Do they tout the limited successes the White House has had, such as the relatively fast ramping-up of ventilator production this spring? Or the strategically timed announcement on Sunday that the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency approval for a plasma treatment for Covid-19? The obvious risk is that talking about the pandemic means drawing attention to an issue on which polls show Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump's handling. Alternatively, Republicans could follow Trump's lead. Instead of focusing on his response to the pandemic, the president prefers to talk about the record-setting economy he oversaw right before the virus hit in January. Often, Trump then jumps directly from January to June and takes credit for the "return" of jobs that were furloughed or suspended during nationwide lockdowns and quarantines this spring. He conveniently omits the part where the United States experienced a historic and unprecedented economic collapse that continues to this day, in the form of 10.2% unemployment nationwide. The question Monday will be how much speakers focus on the virus and its impact, and how much they can get away with ignoring it.
Who is the intended audience?


cnbc--2020-08-28--Biden says Trump is 'rooting for more violence, not less' from protests

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden accepts the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination during a speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington , Delaware , August 20 , 2020 .
Joe Biden accused President Donald Trump on Thursday of `` rooting for more violence '' in cities where protests over police brutality and racism have boiled over .
Biden made his comments in an interview with MSNBC 's Andrea Mitchell , hours before Trump 's formally accepts the GOP presidential nomination on the last night of the Republican National Convention .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet against Trump 's handling of the racial crisis that has gripped the nation since the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day .
`` He views this as a political benefit to him , '' Biden said when asked about demonstrations in Kenosha , Wisconsin , that sprang up following the police shooting of Jacob Blake over the weekend .
`` He 's rooting for more violence , not less , '' Biden said .
When pressed on the accusation , Biden quoted Trump senior advisor Kellyanne Conway , who said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns , the better it is for the very clear choice on who 's best on public safety and law and order . ''
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh responded in a statement to CNBC that Biden 's `` desperation is showing , '' adding that Trump has `` repeatedly condemned the violence erupting in Democrat-led cities . ''
`` This is election is a choice between President Trump 's strong stance with law and order and Joe Biden 's acquiescence to the anti-police left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The White House declined to comment on Biden 's remarks .
Video footage of Sunday 's police shooting of Blake , a 29-year-old Black man , sparked another wave of outrage toward law enforcement .
Protests in Kenosha , Wisconsin , gave way to clashes between demonstrators and police .
Armed vigilante groups were also present at the demonstrations .
One person was arrested Wednesday and is facing homicide charges after allegedly shooting three people , killing two , on Tuesday night , NBC News reported .
Trump and his supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican National Convention this week , lumping Democrats in with `` anarchists '' and `` rioters '' seen at some events .
Trump will reportedly blast Biden as `` extreme '' when he delivers his keynote speech at the White House on Thursday night .
Biden , who accepted his party 's presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention last week , laid blame for much of the strife squarely at the feet of the president , striking back at criticisms launched Wednesday night by Vice President Mike Pence , who said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't be safe '' under a Biden administration .
`` The problem we have now is , we 're in Donald Trump 's America , '' Biden responded .
He accused Trump of `` pouring gasoline on the fire , '' citing the president 's 2017 remarks that there were `` very fine people on both sides '' of a White supremacist protest in Charlottesville in which a counterprotester was killed .
Biden on Wednesday condemned the violence in Kenosha , while expressing outrage over the video of Blake 's shooting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after George Floyd 's murder , protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary .
But burning down communities is not protest , it 's needless violence , '' Biden said in a video posted to social media .
Trump has called for the federal government to intervene in Kenosha to clamp down on the unrest but has not tweeted or commented publicly about Blake 's shooting .

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden accepts the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination during a speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, August 20, 2020.
Joe Biden accused President Donald Trump on Thursday of "rooting for more violence" in cities where protests over police brutality and racism have boiled over.
Biden made his comments in an interview with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell, hours before Trump's formally accepts the GOP presidential nomination on the last night of the Republican National Convention. They marked some of his most heated criticisms yet against Trump's handling of the racial crisis that has gripped the nation since the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day.
"He views this as a political benefit to him," Biden said when asked about demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin, that sprang up following the police shooting of Jacob Blake over the weekend.
"He's rooting for more violence, not less," Biden said.
When pressed on the accusation, Biden quoted Trump senior advisor Kellyanne Conway, who said in a Fox News interview that "the more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who's best on public safety and law and order."
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Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh responded in a statement to CNBC that Biden's "desperation is showing," adding that Trump has "repeatedly condemned the violence erupting in Democrat-led cities."
"This is election is a choice between President Trump's strong stance with law and order and Joe Biden's acquiescence to the anti-police left and siding with rioters," Murtaugh said.
The White House declined to comment on Biden's remarks.
Video footage of Sunday's police shooting of Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, sparked another wave of outrage toward law enforcement. Protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, gave way to clashes between demonstrators and police.
Armed vigilante groups were also present at the demonstrations. One person was arrested Wednesday and is facing homicide charges after allegedly shooting three people, killing two, on Tuesday night, NBC News reported.
Trump and his supporters have focused intently on the violence throughout the Republican National Convention this week, lumping Democrats in with "anarchists" and "rioters" seen at some events. Trump will reportedly blast Biden as "extreme" when he delivers his keynote speech at the White House on Thursday night.
Biden, who accepted his party's presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention last week, laid blame for much of the strife squarely at the feet of the president, striking back at criticisms launched Wednesday night by Vice President Mike Pence, who said told the GOP convention that Americans "won't be safe" under a Biden administration.
"The problem we have now is, we're in Donald Trump's America," Biden responded. He accused Trump of "pouring gasoline on the fire," citing the president's 2017 remarks that there were "very fine people on both sides" of a White supremacist protest in Charlottesville in which a counterprotester was killed.
Biden on Wednesday condemned the violence in Kenosha, while expressing outrage over the video of Blake's shooting.
"You know, as I said after George Floyd's murder, protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary. But burning down communities is not protest, it's needless violence," Biden said in a video posted to social media.
Trump has called for the federal government to intervene in Kenosha to clamp down on the unrest but has not tweeted or commented publicly about Blake's shooting.


cnbc--2020-08-27--Democrats and White House are at a 'tragic impasse' on coronavirus stimulus after Pelosi-Meadows cal

Democrats and White House are at a 'tragic impasse' on coronavirus stimulus after Pelosi-Meadows call

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) delivers remarks during a weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington , May 28 , 2020 .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows failed to crack a stalemate over coronavirus relief Thursday when they spoke at length for the first time in weeks .
After a 25-minute phone call between the pair , Pelosi issued a statement saying `` this conversation made clear that the White House continues to disregard the needs of the American people as the coronavirus crisis devastates lives and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stood at a `` tragic impasse '' after the Trump administration again did not meet her demand to roughly double the price of its aid proposal to $ 2.2 trillion .
`` Democrats are willing to resume negotiations once Republicans start to take this process seriously .
Lives , livelihoods and the life of our democracy are at stake , '' the California Democrat said in the statement .
A spokesman for Meadows did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the call .
Negotiations between Democrats , led by Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the White House , led by Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , collapsed earlier this month amid disagreements on unemployment aid , state and local government relief , and school funding , among other issues .
Congress has failed to pass a fifth package to try to combat health and economic crises created by the pandemic even after a $ 600 per week extra jobless benefit , a federal eviction moratorium and the chance to apply for a small business loan program expired .
As Pelosi pushes for a broader approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more narrow bill that they could soon distribute in Congress , sources told CNBC .
The plan , which would cost roughly $ 500 billion , would address unemployment insurance , a new authorization for small business loans , school funding , and Covid-19 testing , treatment and vaccines .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows failed to crack a stalemate over coronavirus relief Thursday when they spoke at length for the first time in weeks.
After a 25-minute phone call between the pair, Pelosi issued a statement saying "this conversation made clear that the White House continues to disregard the needs of the American people as the coronavirus crisis devastates lives and livelihoods."
She said the sides stood at a "tragic impasse" after the Trump administration again did not meet her demand to roughly double the price of its aid proposal to $2.2 trillion.
"Democrats are willing to resume negotiations once Republicans start to take this process seriously. Lives, livelihoods and the life of our democracy are at stake," the California Democrat said in the statement.
A spokesman for Meadows did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the call.
Negotiations between Democrats, led by Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the White House, led by Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, collapsed earlier this month amid disagreements on unemployment aid, state and local government relief, and school funding, among other issues. Congress has failed to pass a fifth package to try to combat health and economic crises created by the pandemic even after a $600 per week extra jobless benefit, a federal eviction moratorium and the chance to apply for a small business loan program expired.
As Pelosi pushes for a broader approach to stimulus, Republicans are crafting a more narrow bill that they could soon distribute in Congress, sources told CNBC. The plan, which would cost roughly $500 billion, would address unemployment insurance, a new authorization for small business loans, school funding, and Covid-19 testing, treatment and vaccines.


cnbc--2020-08-28--Here's the speaker lineup for the fourth night of the Republican National Convention

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Senator Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) at a Keep America Great Rally at the Rupp Arena in Lexington , Kentucky , November 4 , 2019 .
President Donald Trump will cap the 2020 Republican Convention on Thursday night by outlining his vision for a second term in the White House .
After the coronavirus derailed the party 's plans to hold the convention in a packed arena in Jacksonville , Florida , the president will deliver closing remarks from his official residence .
It 's just the latest instance of the GOP blurring campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump showcased government powers throughout the week in made-for-TV political moments including a pardon and naturalization ceremony .
Thursday night 's events start at 8:30 p.m .
ET .
CNBC.com will livestream the convention .
C-SPAN , CNN , MSNBC and PBS will show the full 2½ hours .
Fox News , CBS , ABC and NBC will show the 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. hour .
Here are the highlights from Night 3 of the Republican National Convention Pence makes an appeal to moderates with a gauzy picture of the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the top congressional Republicans — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy — will vouch for their party 's congressional candidates and the president 's reelection against Democrat Joe Biden .
Other speakers include Trump 's daughter and White House advisor Ivanka , and Rudy Giuliani , the former New York City mayor and personal attorney to the president who was caught up in the events that led to Trump 's impeachment .
Here are the Thursday night speakers : • Ann Dorn , widow of retired St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was killed in June • Carl and Marsha Mueller , parents of Kayla Mueller , an American humanitarian worker killed by ISIS

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) at a Keep America Great Rally at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, November 4, 2019.
President Donald Trump will cap the 2020 Republican Convention on Thursday night by outlining his vision for a second term in the White House.
After the coronavirus derailed the party's plans to hold the convention in a packed arena in Jacksonville, Florida, the president will deliver closing remarks from his official residence. It's just the latest instance of the GOP blurring campaign and official business over the four-day event. Trump showcased government powers throughout the week in made-for-TV political moments including a pardon and naturalization ceremony.
Thursday night's events start at 8:30 p.m. ET. CNBC.com will livestream the convention.
C-SPAN, CNN, MSNBC and PBS will show the full 2½ hours. Fox News, CBS, ABC and NBC will show the 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. hour.
Read more:
Here are the highlights from Night 3 of the Republican National Convention
Pence makes an appeal to moderates with a gauzy picture of the Trump era
Aside from Trump's headlining remarks, the top congressional Republicans — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy — will vouch for their party's congressional candidates and the president's reelection against Democrat Joe Biden. Other speakers include Trump's daughter and White House advisor Ivanka, and Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and personal attorney to the president who was caught up in the events that led to Trump's impeachment.
Here are the Thursday night speakers:
President Donald Trump
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., who switched parties last year
Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and White House advisor
White House advisor Ja'Ron Smith
Ann Dorn, widow of retired St. Louis Police Capt. David Dorn, who was killed in June
Wisconsin businesswoman Debbie Flood
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Evangelical leader Franklin Graham
Alice Johnson, whose life sentence for drug charges Trump commuted
Carl and Marsha Mueller, parents of Kayla Mueller, an American humanitarian worker killed by ISIS
Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship
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cnbc--2020-08-28--Kamala Harris blasts Trump on coronavirus response: 'All we needed was a competent president'

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris blasted President Donald Trump on Thursday for failing to protect Americans from the coronavirus pandemic .
She charged that he `` caved '' when he needed `` to be tough '' with the Chinese government over its refusal to share information about the virus months ago .
`` Donald Trump stood idly by and , folks , it was a deadly decision , '' Harris said in a blistering speech in advance of Trump 's own address to the Republican National Convention on Thursday evening .
`` All we needed was a competent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listen , willing to lead , take responsibility , have a plan , do their job , '' the California senator said .
But `` Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States , '' Harris said .
`` It 's his obligation to protect us .
Yet , he has failed miserably . ''
There have been nearly 5.9 million officially reported cases of Covid-19 in the United States as of Thursday , with at least 180,380 Americans dead of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 25 % of all coronavirus cases worldwide and more than 20 % of deaths from the virus .
Harris , who previously served as California 's attorney general and as district attorney of San Francisco , said , `` Trump showed what we in the legal profession would call a reckless disregard for the well-being of the American people . ''
`` A reckless disregard for the danger a pandemic would pose to American lives , '' she said .
`` For the devastation it would do to our economy , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color who have been subjected to structural racism for generations .
For the chaos that would upend our daily lives , make it impossible for many of our children to go to school , make it impossible to live normally and with a sense of certainty . ''
Harris said , `` Trump 's incompetence is nothing new ... but in January of this year it became deadly . ''
She said that that month , when the risk to the United States and the rest of the world from the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , China , became more obvious , `` Trump dismissed the threat . ''
In contrast , Harris said former Vice President Joe Biden , the Democratic presidential nominee , `` sounded the alarm '' about Covid-19 .
Harris said that in what would soon become a pattern that persists until now , Trump was `` telling us not to worry , that the virus will , quote , 'disappear , ' a , quote , 'miracle is coming . '
'' She accused Trump of failing to have a plan to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time Biden was calling for a national strategy .
`` Here 's what you have to understand about the nature of a pandemic : It 's relentless , '' Harris said .
`` You ca n't stop it with a tweet .
You ca n't create a distraction and hope it will go away .
It does n't go away .
By its nature , a pandemic is unforgiving .
If you get it wrong at the beginning , the consequences are catastrophic .
It 's very hard to catch up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance at getting it right . ''
`` Well , President Trump , he got it wrong from the beginning and then he got it wrong again and again , '' Harris said .
`` The consequences have been catastrophic . ''
Harris said that Trump was unable and unwilling to deal with the looming pandemic because `` he was fixated on the stock market over fixing the problem . ''
She said that Trump was convinced that if he underscored the true threat of the virus to the public `` it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being re-elected . ''
`` That mattered to him more than saving American lives , '' she said .
And `` right at the moment that we needed Donald Trump to be tough on the Chinese government , he caved , '' Harris said .
She noted that on Jan. 24 , Trump `` praised the transparency of the Chinese government . ''
`` He said , quote , 'China has been working hard to contain the coronavirus .
The United States greatly appreciated their efforts and transparency .
It will all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
But , she added , the Chinese leaders `` were n't being transparent . ''
Harris said that the Chinese government blocked officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention `` from getting access and information that they needed to protect American lives . ''
`` Instead of rising to meet the most difficult moment of his presidency , Donald Trump froze .
He was scared and he was petty and vindictive . ''
She pointed out that on a March 16 call with U.S. governors , Trump `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get personal protective equipment to frontline workers . ''
`` He said 'respirators , ventilators , all the equipment , try getting it yourselves , ' '' Harris said .
`` On that day we had about 5,000 cases as a nation .
Today we have nearly 6 million .
Even now , some eight months into the crisis , Donald Trump still wo n't take responsibility , '' she said .
`` He still wo n't act .
The tragedy in all of this is that it did n't have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's not like this in the rest of the world . ''
Tim Murtaugh , Trump 's presidential campaign spokesman , in an email said , `` Americans have seen President Trump out front and leading the nation in the fight against the coronavirus . ''
`` The President 's task force began meeting in January and he restricted travel from China , and then Europe , early on .
At the time , Joe Biden criticized the decision , calling it 'hysterical xenophobia ' and 'fear-mongering , ' so we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We would be in far worse position today if Joe Biden had been president in January , '' Murtaugh said .
The spokesman also said that Trump had `` launched an unprecedented national effort , engaging both the government and private sector , in order to produce the equipment necessary to protect Americans and enable healthcare workers to do their jobs . ''
`` We heard a lot about projected ventilator shortages in the early days , but the President was strategic about deploying our existing supplies and ramped up the production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` As a result , no American who needed a ventilator was denied one .
The President also built up an unprecedented testing strategy and the United States leads the world in tests performed .
This is in contrast to Joe Biden 's approach , which has been to do nothing but criticize , oppose , and suggest things the President has already been doing . ''

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination during an acceptance speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, August 19, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters
Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris blasted President Donald Trump on Thursday for failing to protect Americans from the coronavirus pandemic. She charged that he "caved" when he needed "to be tough" with the Chinese government over its refusal to share information about the virus months ago. "Donald Trump stood idly by and, folks, it was a deadly decision," Harris said in a blistering speech in advance of Trump's own address to the Republican National Convention on Thursday evening. "All we needed was a competent president. One who was willing to listen, willing to lead, take responsibility, have a plan, do their job," the California senator said. But "Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States," Harris said. "It's his obligation to protect us. Yet, he has failed miserably." There have been nearly 5.9 million officially reported cases of Covid-19 in the United States as of Thursday, with at least 180,380 Americans dead of the virus. The U.S. has accounted for more than 25% of all coronavirus cases worldwide and more than 20% of deaths from the virus.
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Harris, who previously served as California's attorney general and as district attorney of San Francisco, said, "Trump showed what we in the legal profession would call a reckless disregard for the well-being of the American people." "A reckless disregard for the danger a pandemic would pose to American lives," she said. "For the devastation it would do to our economy, for the damage it would do to communities of color who have been subjected to structural racism for generations. For the chaos that would upend our daily lives, make it impossible for many of our children to go to school, make it impossible to live normally and with a sense of certainty." Harris said, "Trump's incompetence is nothing new ... but in January of this year it became deadly." She said that that month, when the risk to the United States and the rest of the world from the virus, which first broke out around Wuhan, China, became more obvious, "Trump dismissed the threat." In contrast, Harris said former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, "sounded the alarm" about Covid-19. Harris said that in what would soon become a pattern that persists until now, Trump was "telling us not to worry, that the virus will, quote, 'disappear,' a, quote, 'miracle is coming.'" She accused Trump of failing to have a plan to address the outbreak in the United States at the same time Biden was calling for a national strategy. "Here's what you have to understand about the nature of a pandemic: It's relentless," Harris said. "You can't stop it with a tweet. You can't create a distraction and hope it will go away. It doesn't go away. By its nature, a pandemic is unforgiving. If you get it wrong at the beginning, the consequences are catastrophic. It's very hard to catch up. You don't get a second chance at getting it right." "Well, President Trump, he got it wrong from the beginning and then he got it wrong again and again," Harris said. "The consequences have been catastrophic." Harris said that Trump was unable and unwilling to deal with the looming pandemic because "he was fixated on the stock market over fixing the problem." She said that Trump was convinced that if he underscored the true threat of the virus to the public "it would hurt the market and hurt his chances of being re-elected." "That mattered to him more than saving American lives," she said.
Harris hits Trump on China