usatoday--2020-02-04--2020 Iowa caucus: The 'first of the first' caucus site kicks off a high-stakes day

OTTUMWA , Ia .
— The Iowa caucuses have officially begun , with Democrats in southeastern Iowa declaring their preferences and kicking off a day that will help determine the fates of the seven presidential hopefuls who have staked everything on this state .
The Ottumwa satellite precinct caucus — which kicked off at noon at the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 230 union hall — was the first of roughly 1,700 caucus locations in Iowa to meet Monday .
At those locations across Iowa , the country and the world , Democrats will get the first take on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential contenders .
Before the vast majority of the country gets to weigh in , Iowans will already have made their mark .
More : What is a delegate equivalent ?
Or a viability threshold ?
The Iowa caucuses , explained .
`` This is the very first satellite caucus to take place in the United States , which also means that this is the very first — and you all are the very first people — in the country to cast ballots in the presidential election , '' Zach Simonson , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told attendees .
`` You ’ re the first of the first .
It ’ s a phenomenal opportunity that we have to throw the spotlight onto what we ’ re going to do as Democrats in order to defeat Donald Trump , in order to bring about a progressive agenda and to elect Democrats at all levels.
” Though nearly all of Iowa 's precincts will convene their caucuses at 7 p.m. CDT , local Democrats petitioned the Iowa Democratic Party to host this so-called satellite location earlier in the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who work the second shift at the local pork processing plant and during the evenings at other service industry jobs when the caucuses are traditionally held .
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont won the precinct 's first alignment , with 14 of the precinct 's 15 people .
One person caucused for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts .
Warren 's supporter said she did not wish to caucus for Sanders on the second alignment .
The Iowa Democratic Party will award delegates from the satellite caucus locations based on their final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimate winner of Iowa 's caucuses will be based on those delegate numbers .
Live updates : The Iowa caucuses are here .
Follow along for coverage from across Iowa , and the world The Ottumwa results may not ultimately reflect Democrats ' choices statewide , and they represent the smallest slice of the Iowa caucus electorate .
But with Democrats across the state and the country are eager for a final verdict , they offer the earliest insight into how Iowa 's caucusgoers might align and how new rules may play out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely comprised of Ethiopian immigrants who work at JBS Pork in Ottumwa .
Chris Laursen , president of UAW Local 7 , observed the caucus as a Sanders supporter .
He said the Sanders campaign had been canvassing outside of JBS during shift change between midnight and 2 a.m. '' The Bernie campaign was actively sitting outside trying to talk to people as they were coming in and out of work late at night , '' he said .
`` That ’ s what ’ s special about Bernie ’ s campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a movement .
Bernie literally has an army . ''
Wendwosen Bekele , a 43-year-old Ottumwa resident who came to the United States from Ethiopia , said he supports Sanders because he 's focused on lifting up the lower and middle classes , rather than supporting the wealthy .
He said he 's supported him since the 2016 election .
Sanders , he said , `` supports us in the middle , '' he said .
Wapello County is among the 31 Iowa counties that voted twice for Democrat Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump in 2016 .
Simonson said that more broadly across the county he expects labor groups to back Sanders .
But he said Warren 's organization was the `` best and quickest organized . ''
He said Buttigieg 's campaign has `` done a great job of organizing behind the key demographics that he ’ s done well with across the state '' — some of the wealthier areas where residents are more likely to have a college degree .
Though the Iowa Democratic Party had experimented with satellite caucuses in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far grander scale this year to help accommodate a desire to make the caucuses more accessible and inclusive .
“ The people who work second shift and don ’ t have permission from their employers to leave their place of work to go and caucus can be part of the democratic process , '' said Frank Flanders , a 53-year-old Ottumwa resident who petitioned the party to host the off-hours caucus .
`` I believe it is a form of voter suppression to not make the democratic process available to everyone no matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such caucus sites are being held across the world , according to the Iowa Democratic Party .
Sixty are in Iowa , 24 are in other states and Washington , D.C. , and three others are internationally located .
They included 14 workplace-related sites , 24 sites on college campuses , 29 sites designed to accommodate accessibility needs , 11 that accommodate language and culture needs and nine sites for Iowans who spend the winters out of state .
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register .
Reach her at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her on Twitter at @ brianneDMR .

Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register

2020 Iowa caucus: The 'first of the first' caucus site kicks off a high-stakes day
Show Caption Hide Caption Iowa caucus: Just how much influence does it have on the primary? The Iowa caucus is sure to be competitive this year. But what makes caucuses different from primaries? Just the FAQs
OTTUMWA, Ia. — The Iowa caucuses have officially begun, with Democrats in southeastern Iowa declaring their preferences and kicking off a day that will help determine the fates of the seven presidential hopefuls who have staked everything on this state.
The Ottumwa satellite precinct caucus — which kicked off at noon at the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 230 union hall — was the first of roughly 1,700 caucus locations in Iowa to meet Monday.
At those locations across Iowa, the country and the world, Democrats will get the first take on what voters think about the field of presidential contenders. Before the vast majority of the country gets to weigh in, Iowans will already have made their mark.
More: What is a delegate equivalent? Or a viability threshold? The Iowa caucuses, explained.
"This is the very first satellite caucus to take place in the United States, which also means that this is the very first — and you all are the very first people — in the country to cast ballots in the presidential election," Zach Simonson, the chairman of the Wapello County Democratic Party, told attendees. "You’re the first of the first. It’s a phenomenal opportunity that we have to throw the spotlight onto what we’re going to do as Democrats in order to defeat Donald Trump, in order to bring about a progressive agenda and to elect Democrats at all levels.”
We’re here at the Ottumwa satellite precinct, which is the first Iowa precinct to caucus today. They’ll kick off at noon. So far there is a group of Ethiopian immigrants here who work at the local pork processing plant in the evenings. They like Bernie Sanders. pic.twitter.com/ouAZtYJ4WI — Brianne Pfannenstiel (@brianneDMR) February 3, 2020
Though nearly all of Iowa's precincts will convene their caucuses at 7 p.m. CDT, local Democrats petitioned the Iowa Democratic Party to host this so-called satellite location earlier in the day. It's designed to accommodate those who work the second shift at the local pork processing plant and during the evenings at other service industry jobs when the caucuses are traditionally held.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont won the precinct's first alignment, with 14 of the precinct's 15 people. One person caucused for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Warren's supporter said she did not wish to caucus for Sanders on the second alignment.
The Iowa Democratic Party will award delegates from the satellite caucus locations based on their final turnout later in the evening. The ultimate winner of Iowa's caucuses will be based on those delegate numbers.
Live updates: The Iowa caucuses are here. Follow along for coverage from across Iowa, and the world
The Ottumwa results may not ultimately reflect Democrats' choices statewide, and they represent the smallest slice of the Iowa caucus electorate. But with Democrats across the state and the country are eager for a final verdict, they offer the earliest insight into how Iowa's caucusgoers might align and how new rules may play out through the evening.
The group was largely comprised of Ethiopian immigrants who work at JBS Pork in Ottumwa. Chris Laursen, president of UAW Local 7, observed the caucus as a Sanders supporter. He said the Sanders campaign had been canvassing outside of JBS during shift change between midnight and 2 a.m.
"The Bernie campaign was actively sitting outside trying to talk to people as they were coming in and out of work late at night," he said. "That’s what’s special about Bernie’s campaign. It’s not a campaign, it’s a movement. Bernie literally has an army."
Wendwosen Bekele, a 43-year-old Ottumwa resident who came to the United States from Ethiopia, said he supports Sanders because he's focused on lifting up the lower and middle classes, rather than supporting the wealthy. He said he's supported him since the 2016 election.
Sanders, he said, "supports us in the middle," he said.
Wapello County is among the 31 Iowa counties that voted twice for Democrat Barack Obama before swinging in favor of Republican Donald Trump in 2016.
Simonson said that more broadly across the county he expects labor groups to back Sanders. But he said Warren's organization was the "best and quickest organized." He said Buttigieg's campaign has "done a great job of organizing behind the key demographics that he’s done well with across the state" — some of the wealthier areas where residents are more likely to have a college degree.
Though the Iowa Democratic Party had experimented with satellite caucuses in the past, they were introduced on a far grander scale this year to help accommodate a desire to make the caucuses more accessible and inclusive.
“The people who work second shift and don’t have permission from their employers to leave their place of work to go and caucus can be part of the democratic process," said Frank Flanders, a 53-year-old Ottumwa resident who petitioned the party to host the off-hours caucus. "I believe it is a form of voter suppression to not make the democratic process available to everyone no matter what shift they work."
Eighty-seven such caucus sites are being held across the world, according to the Iowa Democratic Party. Sixty are in Iowa, 24 are in other states and Washington, D.C., and three others are internationally located.
They included 14 workplace-related sites, 24 sites on college campuses, 29 sites designed to accommodate accessibility needs, 11 that accommodate language and culture needs and nine sites for Iowans who spend the winters out of state.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.


usatoday--2020-02-04--'They ... don't want to face me,' Biden says after Ernst suggests he could be impeached

After Sen. Joni Ernst , R-Iowa , suggested Sunday that Republicans could move to impeach former Vice President Joe Biden over Ukraine if he were elected president , Biden said her comments show President Donald Trump and his allies are scared of him .
Ernst , an Iowa Republican , gave an interview to Bloomberg News on Sunday where she suggested House Democrats ' impeachment of Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress has lowered the bar for impeaching a president .
`` I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened , '' Ernst told Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden should be very careful what he ’ s asking for because , you know , we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden , that immediately , people , right the day after he would be elected would be saying , ‘ Well , we ’ re going to impeach him . '
'' Brook Ramlet , a senior adviser to Ernst , said Sunday that Ernst was making a hypothetical point and that she never said she thinks Biden should be impeached .
`` She said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowered the standards of impeachment , if Biden wins , there could be people calling for it , '' Ramlet said in an email .
In an interview Sunday with the Des Moines Register , Biden said Ernst 's comments and Trump 's decision to ask Ukraine to investigate his actions overseeing foreign policy in that country show that the president is afraid of running against him .
`` She just reinforces everything that was the reason why the president was being impeached : They very much don ’ t want to face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Register .
`` I ’ ve never seen a sitting president and his allies this frightened about who may be the nominee . ''
Biden said he has never met Ernst and only knows her by her reputation and what she has said about him , but the two have been sparring all week .
Biden received some of his loudest applause this week when he told Iowans that they can `` ruin Joni Ernst 's night '' by caucusing for him Monday , after she questioned whether Trump 's impeachment trial in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses because Trump 's lawyers sought , without evidence , to paint him as corrupt .
`` Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening , and I ’ m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters , '' Ernst said last week .
`` Those Democratic caucusgoers , will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point ? ''
Biden told the Register on Sunday he does n't believe that comments like Ernst 's will stop him from carrying out his promise to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he 's elected .
`` There is an appetite , but not the Joni Ernsts of the world , '' he said .
`` There ’ s some that are just beyond the pale , but I think there are at least a dozen Republicans who know we have to do something about health care , at least a dozen of them know we have to do something about keeping prescription drug prices down , know we have to do something about increasing access to education and so on . ''
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the campaign trail that if he won the nomination he could help elect Democrats to the Senate and other down-ballot races in places such as Iowa , North Carolina , Georgia , Arizona and Pennsylvania .
`` With a little bit of luck , one of the reasons why I think that in addition to being able to defeat President Trump — and he ’ s demonstrated that he thinks so too — is that I think I can help candidates running in Iowa for the Senate , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics for the Des Moines Register .
He can be reached by email at sgrubermil @ registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169 .
Follow him on Twitter at @ sgrubermiller .

Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register

'They ... don't want to face me,' Biden says after Ernst suggests he could be impeached
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden responds to impeachment comments made by Joni Ernst Former Vice President Joe Biden responds to comments Joni Ernst made about impeaching Biden if he became president. Kelsey Kremer, kkremer@dmreg.com
After Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, suggested Sunday that Republicans could move to impeach former Vice President Joe Biden over Ukraine if he were elected president, Biden said her comments show President Donald Trump and his allies are scared of him.
Ernst, an Iowa Republican, gave an interview to Bloomberg News on Sunday where she suggested House Democrats' impeachment of Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress has lowered the bar for impeaching a president.
"I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened," Ernst told Bloomberg News in the interview. "Joe Biden should be very careful what he’s asking for because, you know, we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden, that immediately, people, right the day after he would be elected would be saying, ‘Well, we’re going to impeach him.'"
Brook Ramlet, a senior adviser to Ernst, said Sunday that Ernst was making a hypothetical point and that she never said she thinks Biden should be impeached.
"She said that because of how House Democrats have lowered the standards of impeachment, if Biden wins, there could be people calling for it," Ramlet said in an email.
In an interview Sunday with the Des Moines Register, Biden said Ernst's comments and Trump's decision to ask Ukraine to investigate his actions overseeing foreign policy in that country show that the president is afraid of running against him.
Presidential impeachment: Clinton, Johnson, Nixon test U.S. democracy Presidents have been impeached, but none have been removed from office due to impeachment. Confusing? Here's how. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
"She just reinforces everything that was the reason why the president was being impeached: They very much don’t want to face me obviously," Biden told the Register. "I’ve never seen a sitting president and his allies this frightened about who may be the nominee."
Biden said he has never met Ernst and only knows her by her reputation and what she has said about him, but the two have been sparring all week.
Biden received some of his loudest applause this week when he told Iowans that they can "ruin Joni Ernst's night" by caucusing for him Monday, after she questioned whether Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate might damage Biden in the caucuses because Trump's lawyers sought, without evidence, to paint him as corrupt.
"Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening, and I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters," Ernst said last week. "Those Democratic caucusgoers, will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point?"
Biden told the Register on Sunday he doesn't believe that comments like Ernst's will stop him from carrying out his promise to bring the country together and work with Republicans if he's elected.
"There is an appetite, but not the Joni Ernsts of the world," he said. "There’s some that are just beyond the pale, but I think there are at least a dozen Republicans who know we have to do something about health care, at least a dozen of them know we have to do something about keeping prescription drug prices down, know we have to do something about increasing access to education and so on."
He repeated the argument that he has made on the campaign trail that if he won the nomination he could help elect Democrats to the Senate and other down-ballot races in places such as Iowa, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
"With a little bit of luck, one of the reasons why I think that in addition to being able to defeat President Trump — and he’s demonstrated that he thinks so too — is that I think I can help candidates running in Iowa for the Senate," he said.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.


usatoday--2020-02-04--Democratic women in Congress wearing white to Trump's State of the Union to honor suffrage movement

WASHINGTON – Dozens of Democratic lawmakers – all women – will strut into the House chamber this evening wearing white to send a message to President Donald Trump when he gives his State of the Union address .
The Democratic Women 's Caucus in the House organized the effort .
The color choice honors the women 's suffrage movement that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 , which granted women the right to vote .
Rep. Brenda Lawrence , D-Mich. , the co-chair of the caucus , said the group stands united `` against President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said attacks `` the foundation that was built by the women pioneers of this country . ''
During a press conference house before Trump 's speech , Lawrence highlighted the women who struggled for equality throughout history and added that “ the battle continues , ” specifically highlighting women ’ s right to reproductive health care .
Live State of the Union coverage : President Trump sees jump in poll numbers ahead of prime-time speech Donning white for the occasion is nothing new .
House Democratic women have worn white during Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past .
“ This is a sign of women empowerment and unity , ” Rep. Nydia Velázquez , D-N.Y. , said as she walked outside the House chamber .
“ It is important for everyone , including the president , to understand that we play an important role here in the Congress and elsewhere.
” Hillary Clinton also wore white when she accepted the nomination for president at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in honor of the women 's suffrage movement .
And Geraldine Ferraro wore white when she accepted the nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president for a major American political party at the 1984 Democratic convention .
'The Great American Comeback ' : How to watch Trump 's third State of the Union address

Democratic women in Congress wearing white to Trump's State of the Union to honor suffrage movement
Show Caption Hide Caption State of the Union: Democratic congresswomen wear white Democratic congresswomen wore white to the State of the Union to not only send a message to President Trump but to also honor the women's suffrage movement. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Dozens of Democratic lawmakers – all women – strutted into the House chamber this evening wearing white to send a message to President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address.
The Democratic Women's Caucus in the House organized the effort. The color choice honors the women's suffrage movement that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich., the co-chair of the caucus, said the group stands united "against President Trump's backwards agenda," which she said attacks "the foundation that was built by the women pioneers of this country."
In a news conference house before Trump's speech, Lawrence highlighted the women who struggled for equality throughout history and added that “the battle continues,” specifically highlighting women’s right to reproductive health care.
Live State of the Union coverage: President Trump sees jump in poll numbers ahead of prime-time speech
Donning white for the occasion is nothing new. House Democratic women have worn white during Trump’s past State of the Union addresses.
“This is a sign of women empowerment and unity,” Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., said as she walked outside the House chamber. “It is important for everyone, including the president, to understand that we play an important role here in the Congress and elsewhere.”
Hillary Clinton also wore white when she accepted the nomination for president at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in honor of the women's suffrage movement. And Geraldine Ferraro wore white when she accepted the nomination to become the first female candidate for vice president for a major American political party at the 1984 Democratic convention.
'The Great American Comeback': How to watch Trump's third State of the Union address


usatoday--2020-02-04--Iowa voters send a message: Risky over safe

It turns out Iowa Democrats have their own ideas about electability .
Their message was overshadowed by the bizarre delay in releasing results , but the Iowa caucuses nonetheless provide the first hard judgment by voters rather than pundits .
The candidates leading in partial returns were Pete Buttigieg , 38 years old , openly gay and with no higher governmental experience than serving two terms as the mayor of South Bend , Indiana , and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont , 78 years old and a self-described Democratic Socialist .
Trailing well behind in a disappointing fourth place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erstwhile front-runner and the favored candidate of much of the Democratic establishment – and one who has built his campaign on the argument that he would have a better chance than his rivals of defeating President Donald Trump .
He was finishing behind U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts .
Defeating Trump is unquestionably top of mind for Democrats , in Iowa and nationwide .
As they arrived at caucus sites Monday , voters by 61 % to 37 % told the ABC entrance poll that electability mattered more to them than ideology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best way to achieve the goal : Win back moderate swing voters , as the familiar Biden contends ?
Or energize new voters , many of them younger and liberal and diverse , as the disruptive Sanders claims ?
With 62 % of the precincts counted , representing all 99 counties , Buttigieg was at 26.9 % of the state delegates , Sanders at 25.1 % , Warren at 18.3 % and Biden at 15.6 % .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar was fifth at 12.6 % .
Sanders was ahead of Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27,030 .
In Iowa , voters went for outsiders over the establishment , the risky over the safe .
In doing that , history is on their side .
In modern times , Democrats have more often won the White House when they nominated fresh faces , sometimes groundbreaking ones : Barack Obama in 2008 , Bill Clinton in 1992 , John Kennedy in 1960 .
They often have lost the White House when they nominated the establishment 's preference over a challenger : Hillary Clinton in 2016 , John Kerry in 2004 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa kept counting , the candidates and the campaign moved on Tuesday to New Hampshire , where Sanders currently leads .
The first-in-the-nation primary , just a week away , often splits with Iowa 's returns , and sometimes does n't decide until last moment .
Iowa 's boost almost certainly has been diminished by the failure to release results Monday night , making the state Democratic Party look inept and fueling a flurry of conspiracy theories .
In a way , that enabled Trump to win both the Republican and the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unchallenged on the GOP side , carrying 97 % of the Republican vote .
He ridiculed the mess in the other party as a sign that Democrats ca n't run an election , much less a government .
`` Nothing works , just like they ran the Country , '' he tweeted derisively .
More : Is the Iowa caucus dead ?
Chaos and no results puts Hawkeye state 's status in question ' A mess ' : Iowa Democratic caucus fiasco may put system on the brink of extinction Sanders and Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without the imprimatur of certified victories .
They did n't get the banner headlines that Iowa winners dream about to use as a sail into New Hampshire .
`` So we do n't have all the results , '' Buttigieg told cheering supporters in Des Moines Monday as midnight approached .
`` But we know by the time it 's all said and done , Iowa , you have shocked the nation .
Because , by all indications , we are going on to New Hampshire victorious . ''
The partial results showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flipped from Obama to Trump , an important bragging point .
Biden , on the other hand , got a temporary reprieve from having to explain a dismal finish .
`` I do n't know what happened in Iowa this morning , '' he told reporters Tuesday after an event in Nashua , New Hampshire , throwing up his hands and declining to take questions .
His campaign hopes to recover with a victory in the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29 , where he 's counting on his strength among African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : a candidate who was n't in the mix .
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is skipping the first four contests – in Iowa , New Hampshire , Nevada and South Carolina – and focusing on March 3 Super Tuesday .
His theory is he could be a centrist alternative if Biden stumbles and Sanders is on a roll .
His campaign confirmed that he approved hiring more staff and buying more TV ads in the wake of Iowa .
All that said , the Iowa results still speak to the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What we heard from them : Go new .

Iowa voters send a message: Risky over safe
Show Caption Hide Caption Iowans react to delay in caucus results In Newton, Iowa, caucusers initially believed polling events went off without a hitch. It wasn’t until many got home and saw the headlines that they realized a mess was unfolding while the nation watched. (Feb. 4) AP
It turns out Iowa Democrats have their own ideas about electability.
Their message was overshadowed by the bizarre delay in releasing results, but the Iowa caucuses nonetheless provide the first hard judgment by voters rather than pundits. The candidates leading in partial returns were Pete Buttigieg, 38 years old, openly gay and with no higher governmental experience than serving two terms as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, 78 years old and a self-described Democratic Socialist.
Trailing well behind in a disappointing fourth place was former Vice President Joe Biden, erstwhile front-runner and the favored candidate of much of the Democratic establishment – and one who has built his campaign on the argument that he would have a better chance than his rivals of defeating President Donald Trump. He was finishing behind U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Defeating Trump is unquestionably top of mind for Democrats, in Iowa and nationwide. As they arrived at caucus sites Monday, voters by 61% to 37% told the ABC entrance poll that electability mattered more to them than ideology. But a debate has raged over the best way to achieve the goal: Win back moderate swing voters, as the familiar Biden contends? Or energize new voters, many of them younger and liberal and diverse, as the disruptive Sanders claims?
With 62% of the precincts counted, representing all 99 counties, Buttigieg was at 26.9% of the state delegates, Sanders at 25.1%, Warren at 18.3% and Biden at 15.6%. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar was fifth at 12.6%.
Sanders was ahead of Buttigieg in the popular vote, 28,220 to 27,030.
In Iowa, voters went for outsiders over the establishment, the risky over the safe.
In doing that, history is on their side. In modern times, Democrats have more often won the White House when they nominated fresh faces, sometimes groundbreaking ones: Barack Obama in 2008, Bill Clinton in 1992, John Kennedy in 1960. They often have lost the White House when they nominated the establishment's preference over a challenger: Hillary Clinton in 2016, John Kerry in 2004, Al Gore in 2000.
While Iowa kept counting, the candidates and the campaign moved on Tuesday to New Hampshire, where Sanders currently leads. The first-in-the-nation primary, just a week away, often splits with Iowa's returns, and sometimes doesn't decide until last moment. Iowa's boost almost certainly has been diminished by the failure to release results Monday night, making the state Democratic Party look inept and fueling a flurry of conspiracy theories.
In a way, that enabled Trump to win both the Republican and the Democratic caucuses in Iowa. He was virtually unchallenged on the GOP side, carrying 97% of the Republican vote. He ridiculed the mess in the other party as a sign that Democrats can't run an election, much less a government. "Nothing works, just like they ran the Country," he tweeted derisively.
More: Is the Iowa caucus dead? Chaos and no results puts Hawkeye state's status in question
'A mess': Iowa Democratic caucus fiasco may put system on the brink of extinction
Sanders and Buttigieg were left to deliver awkward victory-night speeches without the imprimatur of certified victories. They didn't get the banner headlines that Iowa winners dream about to use as a sail into New Hampshire.
"So we don't have all the results," Buttigieg told cheering supporters in Des Moines Monday as midnight approached. "But we know by the time it's all said and done, Iowa, you have shocked the nation. Because, by all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious." The partial results showed Buttigieg winning 31 Iowa counties that had flipped from Obama to Trump, an important bragging point.
Biden, on the other hand, got a temporary reprieve from having to explain a dismal finish. "I don't know what happened in Iowa this morning," he told reporters Tuesday after an event in Nashua, New Hampshire, throwing up his hands and declining to take questions. His campaign hopes to recover with a victory in the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29, where he's counting on his strength among African American voters.
One other winner from Iowa: a candidate who wasn't in the mix. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is skipping the first four contests – in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina – and focusing on March 3 Super Tuesday. His theory is he could be a centrist alternative if Biden stumbles and Sanders is on a roll. His campaign confirmed that he approved hiring more staff and buying more TV ads in the wake of Iowa.
All that said, the Iowa results still speak to the first judgment of voters that we have. What we heard from them: Go new.


usatoday--2020-02-04--Is the Iowa caucus dead? Chaos and partial results puts Hawkeye state's status in question

The nation 's first contest in presidential elections , the Iowa caucus , has long drawn floods of campaign staff and media attention as political parties try to narrow their primary field .
But as officials were still unable to declare a winner Tuesday evening , nearly 24 hours after caucus-goers began gathering , some questioned whether the Hawkeye state should be first to vote .
`` This fiasco means the end of the caucuses as a significant American political event .
The rest of the country was already losing patience with Iowa anyway and this cooks Iowa 's goose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Yepsen , a famed and former Des Moines Register columnist , told Politico .
Monday 's Democratic caucus was fraught with chaos as the Iowa Democratic Party delayed releasing official results because of widespread reporting problems amid new rules and a new app .
`` We found inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results , '' Mandy McClure , communications director for the state party , said in the statement .
Partial results released Tuesday evening showed former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with about 62 % of Iowa Democratic precincts reporting .
With New Hampshire 's primary and news of President Donald Trump 's State of the Union address and impeachment trial all around the corner , the weight of the results may be lost and Iowa 's status as the bellwether state in question .
'It was a total mess ' : Caucusing is long over , but Iowa still does n't have a winner '' I ’ d say there is going to be a real movement to change the order of primaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I never believed it before , '' said Larry Sabato , director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics .
`` Iowa has always been the gold standard .
They 've always done the best job , and you saw last night what the best job can look like , '' added Elaine Kamarck , director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution .
The lack of results on caucus night also drew complaints from campaigns .
Candidates scrambled to take the stage and spin the non-results as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` What happened tonight made the argument for itself .
Nobody can deny this is a broken way to do it .
It was a total mess , '' said former Housing Secretary Julián Castro , a surrogate for Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's campaign .
Castro also said debate thresholds , the order of states holding their contests and whether a state employs a caucus versus a primary should all be evaluated .
Biden 's campaign slammed the process , too , saying the “ considerable flaws ” holding up election results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More on Iowa caucus : We do n't know yet who won the Iowa caucuses .
But here 's what we do know .
“ We appreciate that you plan to brief the campaigns momentarily on these issues , and we plan to participate , ” Dana Remus , general counsel for the former vice president ’ s campaign , wrote in a letter to the party Monday as delays extended into early Tuesday morning .
“ However , we believe that the campaigns deserve full explanations and relevant information regarding the methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an opportunity to respond before any official results are released.
” '' This is a disaster , '' Mathew Johnson , a 46-year-old Urbandale resident , said as he exited Sanders ' caucus night party .
`` To the rest of the country , we look like idiots . ''
`` Our credibility is facing a test , '' said Iowa strategist Jeff Link .
Outside Iowa , others raised similar concerns .
`` I think the Democratic caucus in Iowa is a quirky , quaint tradition which should come to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Durbin , D-Ill. , said on MSNBC .
Howard Dean , former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who came in third in Iowa in 2004 , responded `` basically yes '' when asked on CNN if Iowa should no longer be the first state to vote , The Washington Post reported .
Iowa 's U.S. senators , Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst , and its governor , Kim Reynolds , all Republicans , defended the caucus , however .
`` Iowa ’ s unique role encourages a grassroots nominating process that empowers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful billionaires , '' they said in a joint statement .
`` The face-to-face retail politics nature of Iowa ’ s caucus system also encourages dialogue between candidates and voters that makes our presidential candidates accountable for the positions they take and the records they hold . ''
Dianne Bystrom , director emerita of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University , said she believes some criticisms of the caucuses were harsh .
`` The Iowa caucuses are always under a watchful scrutiny , '' Bystrom said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mix-up or a delay – coupled with the fact that the Des Moines Register had to turn back their poll – it does make people impatient . ''
The chaos unfolded slowly on Monday as Iowans gathered at more than 1,600 precinct caucuses .
A new smartphone app led to promises of quick results as it aimed to help precinct leaders report numbers back to the party .
But technical issues arose .
A number of precinct leaders reportedly had issues using and logging into the app .
Polk County Democratic Chairman Sean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems with reporting `` became the norm for the evening . ''
Precinct chairs were provided a PIN to test the mobile app , which was different from a login required for Caucus Day .
Some might have entered the wrong login credentials Monday , creating temporary problems , said Bret Niles , chairman of the Linn County Democratic Party .
Around 10:30 p.m. , McClure issued the statement on finding inconsistencies in the three data sets and said results would be delayed .
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price briefed reporters around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking longer `` to ensure we are eventually able to report results with full confidence . ''
In a statement Tuesday morning , Price said the app was secure and not compromised by a cyberattack .
A coding issue in the reporting system caused only partial data to be reported , Price said .
`` This issue was identified and fixed .
The application ’ s reporting issue did not impact the ability of precinct chairs to report data accurately , '' he said .
The party also used paper documentation to verify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who promised results later Tuesday .
Why is Iowa first to vote ?
Iowa was not always the first state to hold a presidential contest , but it has almost always held caucuses for selecting presidents , instead of the now more common primary system .
Democrats decided after a tumultuous 1968 party convention to open up their process by lessening party leaders ' power and involving more grassroots activists .
In Iowa , some were frustrated with the caucus process which led to changes that included holding separate district and state conventions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucus process needed to start earlier .
In 1972 , Iowa became the first state to hold a presidential contest .
At the time , Sen. George McGovern ’ s campaign manager Gary Hart saw the potential benefit of an early win .
Four years later , Jimmy Carter 's campaign took a similar approach to Iowa and went on to win the presidency .
Ever since , Iowa has fought to hold its first-in-the-nation status as other states have tried to move their contests earlier to become the national litmus test .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state insists on remaining first , '' says Kathie Obradovich , the Des Moines Register 's opinion editor .
Would Iowa ever switch to a presidential primary ?
Long before the reporting issues Monday night , state caucus systems for both parties have had targets on their back , said Brookings ' Kamarck .
If Iowa were to give up its presidential caucus , though , it would lose its first-in-the-nation status as New Hampshire law requires its primary to be held before any other primary contest .
`` If they become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let them go first .
They are first by virtue of the fact that they are a caucus , '' Kamarck said .
The irony in the reporting issues on Monday is that they were largely caused by reforms that Iowa instituted to combat past criticisms around caucuses not being transparent , she said .
In prior years , only delegate numbers were reported , but in 2020 , numbers for the first and second alignments and the number of state delegate equivalents assigned to each candidate based on those results were required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't arise , Kamarck said concerns would still be raised around caucuses ' accessibility and turnout .
`` I 'm not going to say it 's the death ( of the Iowa caucus ) , but it sure does n't help for what was already a difficult situation for caucus states , '' she added .
Iowa caucus has been delayed before In 2012 , Mitt Romney was declared the Republican winner after 1:30 a.m. Two weeks later , a recount showed Rick Santorum was the winner .
Hillary Clinton was named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 as Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire made the announcement .
The Associated Press did n't call the race until the next day .
`` It ’ s important that we deliver accurate numbers as quickly as possible , '' Link said .
`` I think it is smarter to wait and deliver credible results because irreparably harming a candidate – which has been done in the past – is not an acceptable option . ''
What did Trump say about Iowa caucus ?
President Donald Trump 's campaign quickly criticized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ train wreck in history . ''
`` Democrats are stewing in a caucus mess of their own creation with the sloppiest train wreck in history , '' Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in an emailed statement , adding that there were concerns about `` the fairness of the process . ''
`` The only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is 'Trump , ' '' the president tweeted early Tuesday .
Miller reported from McLean , Virginia .
; Pfannenstiel reports for the Des Moines Register @

Ryan W. Miller and Brianne Pfannenstiel, USA TODAY

Is the Iowa caucus dead? Chaos and partial results puts Hawkeye state's status in question
Show Caption Hide Caption Candidates give speeches amid Democratic Iowa caucus delays With no winner declared on the night of the Democratic Iowa caucuses amid delays, the candidates still gave speeches. USA TODAY
DES MOINES – Is the Iowa caucus dead?
The nation's first contest in presidential elections, the Iowa caucus, has long drawn floods of campaign staff and media attention as political parties try to narrow their primary field. But as officials were still unable to declare a winner Tuesday evening, nearly 24 hours after caucus-goers began gathering, some questioned whether the Hawkeye state should be first to vote.
"This fiasco means the end of the caucuses as a significant American political event. The rest of the country was already losing patience with Iowa anyway and this cooks Iowa's goose. Frankly, it should," David Yepsen, a famed and former Des Moines Register columnist, told Politico.
Monday's Democratic caucus was fraught with chaos as the Iowa Democratic Party delayed releasing official results because of widespread reporting problems amid new rules and a new app.
"We found inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results," Mandy McClure, communications director for the state party, said in the statement.
Partial results released Tuesday evening showed former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders appearing to be the early leaders with about 62% of Iowa Democratic precincts reporting.
With New Hampshire's primary and news of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address and impeachment trial all around the corner, the weight of the results may be lost and Iowa's status as the bellwether state in question.
'It was a total mess': Caucusing is long over, but Iowa still doesn't have a winner
"I’d say there is going to be a real movement to change the order of primaries. I really do believe it and I never believed it before," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
"Iowa has always been the gold standard. They've always done the best job, and you saw last night what the best job can look like," added Elaine Kamarck, director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution.
'A total mess': Campaigns and Iowans criticize no results
The lack of results on caucus night also drew complaints from campaigns. Candidates scrambled to take the stage and spin the non-results as a victory in speeches to their supporters.
"What happened tonight made the argument for itself. Nobody can deny this is a broken way to do it. It was a total mess," said former Housing Secretary Julián Castro, a surrogate for Sen. Elizabeth Warren's campaign.
Castro also said debate thresholds, the order of states holding their contests and whether a state employs a caucus versus a primary should all be evaluated.
Biden's campaign slammed the process, too, saying the “considerable flaws” holding up election results demand a complete and speedy answer.
More on Iowa caucus: We don't know yet who won the Iowa caucuses. But here's what we do know.
“We appreciate that you plan to brief the campaigns momentarily on these issues, and we plan to participate,” Dana Remus, general counsel for the former vice president’s campaign, wrote in a letter to the party Monday as delays extended into early Tuesday morning. “However, we believe that the campaigns deserve full explanations and relevant information regarding the methods of quality control you are employing, and an opportunity to respond before any official results are released.”
"This is a disaster," Mathew Johnson, a 46-year-old Urbandale resident, said as he exited Sanders' caucus night party. "To the rest of the country, we look like idiots."
"Our credibility is facing a test," said Iowa strategist Jeff Link.
Outside Iowa, others raised similar concerns. "I think the Democratic caucus in Iowa is a quirky, quaint tradition which should come to an end," Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said on MSNBC.
Howard Dean, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who came in third in Iowa in 2004, responded "basically yes" when asked on CNN if Iowa should no longer be the first state to vote, The Washington Post reported.
Iowa's U.S. senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and its governor, Kim Reynolds, all Republicans, defended the caucus, however.
"Iowa’s unique role encourages a grassroots nominating process that empowers everyday Americans, not Washington insiders or powerful billionaires," they said in a joint statement. "The face-to-face retail politics nature of Iowa’s caucus system also encourages dialogue between candidates and voters that makes our presidential candidates accountable for the positions they take and the records they hold."
Dianne Bystrom, director emerita of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, said she believes some criticisms of the caucuses were harsh.
"The Iowa caucuses are always under a watchful scrutiny," Bystrom said. "Any time there is a mix-up or a delay – coupled with the fact that the Des Moines Register had to turn back their poll – it does make people impatient."
What happened during Iowa caucuses?
The chaos unfolded slowly on Monday as Iowans gathered at more than 1,600 precinct caucuses.
A new smartphone app led to promises of quick results as it aimed to help precinct leaders report numbers back to the party.
But technical issues arose. A number of precinct leaders reportedly had issues using and logging into the app. Polk County Democratic Chairman Sean Bagniewski told the Des Moines Register that problems with reporting "became the norm for the evening."
Precinct chairs were provided a PIN to test the mobile app, which was different from a login required for Caucus Day. Some might have entered the wrong login credentials Monday, creating temporary problems, said Bret Niles, chairman of the Linn County Democratic Party.
Around 10:30 p.m., McClure issued the statement on finding inconsistencies in the three data sets and said results would be delayed.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price briefed reporters around 1 a.m. and said the process was taking longer "to ensure we are eventually able to report results with full confidence."
In a statement Tuesday morning, Price said the app was secure and not compromised by a cyberattack. A coding issue in the reporting system caused only partial data to be reported, Price said.
"This issue was identified and fixed. The application’s reporting issue did not impact the ability of precinct chairs to report data accurately," he said.
The party also used paper documentation to verify the app data, Price said, who promised results later Tuesday.
Difference between caucus and primary, explained The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But what’s the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Why is Iowa first to vote?
Iowa was not always the first state to hold a presidential contest, but it has almost always held caucuses for selecting presidents, instead of the now more common primary system.
Democrats decided after a tumultuous 1968 party convention to open up their process by lessening party leaders' power and involving more grassroots activists.
In Iowa, some were frustrated with the caucus process which led to changes that included holding separate district and state conventions. As a result, the whole caucus process needed to start earlier.
In 1972, Iowa became the first state to hold a presidential contest. At the time, Sen. George McGovern’s campaign manager Gary Hart saw the potential benefit of an early win. Four years later, Jimmy Carter's campaign took a similar approach to Iowa and went on to win the presidency.
Ever since, Iowa has fought to hold its first-in-the-nation status as other states have tried to move their contests earlier to become the national litmus test.
"Iowa caucuses are first-in-the-nation mainly because the state insists on remaining first," says Kathie Obradovich, the Des Moines Register's opinion editor.
Would Iowa ever switch to a presidential primary?
Long before the reporting issues Monday night, state caucus systems for both parties have had targets on their back, said Brookings' Kamarck.
If Iowa were to give up its presidential caucus, though, it would lose its first-in-the-nation status as New Hampshire law requires its primary to be held before any other primary contest.
"If they become a primary, New Hampshire will not let them go first. They are first by virtue of the fact that they are a caucus," Kamarck said.
The irony in the reporting issues on Monday is that they were largely caused by reforms that Iowa instituted to combat past criticisms around caucuses not being transparent, she said.
In prior years, only delegate numbers were reported, but in 2020, numbers for the first and second alignments and the number of state delegate equivalents assigned to each candidate based on those results were required.
Yet even if the reporting issues didn't arise, Kamarck said concerns would still be raised around caucuses' accessibility and turnout.
"I'm not going to say it's the death (of the Iowa caucus), but it sure doesn't help for what was already a difficult situation for caucus states," she added.
Iowa caucus has been delayed before
In 2012, Mitt Romney was declared the Republican winner after 1:30 a.m. Two weeks later, a recount showed Rick Santorum was the winner.
Hillary Clinton was named the Democratic winner around 2:30 a.m. in 2016 as Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire made the announcement. The Associated Press didn't call the race until the next day.
"It’s important that we deliver accurate numbers as quickly as possible," Link said. "I think it is smarter to wait and deliver credible results because irreparably harming a candidate – which has been done in the past – is not an acceptable option."
What did Trump say about Iowa caucus?
President Donald Trump's campaign quickly criticized the delay, calling it the "sloppiest train wreck in history."
"Democrats are stewing in a caucus mess of their own creation with the sloppiest train wreck in history," Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in an emailed statement, adding that there were concerns about "the fairness of the process."
"The only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is 'Trump,'" the president tweeted early Tuesday.
Miller reported from McLean, Virginia.; Pfannenstiel reports for the Des Moines Register.
Contributing: Clare Ulmer, Lee Rood and Jason Clayworth, Des Moines Register; Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY.


usatoday--2020-02-04--Election 2020: Twitter says deceptively doctored videos and photos may get labeled or removed

Facing growing pressure to fight disinformation ahead of the 2020 presidential election , Twitter said it would label or remove tweets sharing doctored videos and photos , sometimes referred to as deepfakes , that seek to mislead users .
Under the new policy , Twitter users can not “ deceptively ” share altered videos and photos that are “ likely to cause harm , ” the company said Tuesday .
“ We ’ ve seen people try to distort conversations with altered media or fabricated media , not just on Twitter , but across the internet , ” Del Harvey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust and safety , said .
“ We want to make sure we can address any instance where media has been altered or fabricated and shared on Twitter . ''
Fake Trump video ?
How to spot deepfakes on Facebook and YouTube ahead of the presidential election Open season on Facebook , Zuckerberg : Joe Biden , Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats openly hostile to Facebook Video clips deceptively altered to discredit or embarrass political figures , such as those targeting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
These clips are part of a new wave of dirty political tricks raising broad concerns about the role of digital manipulation in swaying voter sentiment in the U.S. '' Our goal is really to provide people with more context around certain types of media they come across on Twitter and to ensure they are able to make informed decisions around what they are seeing , '' Harvey said .
In deciding what , if any , action to take on a video clip , Twitter will determine whether the clip has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared in a deceptive manner and if it ’ s likely to cause serious harm or threaten public safety , Yoel Roth , Twitter ’ s head of site integrity , said .
Twitter will then decide to let the tweet stand , put a label on the tweet to give users additional context about it or require the tweet be deleted , he said .
“ In situations where synthetic and manipulated media are shared in a misleading manner but don ’ t rise to the level of causing harm , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional context on the tweet itself , ” he said .
“ In most cases , this means we would apply a label to the tweet and provide a link to additional explanation or clarification as available , such as a landing page with more context.
” Over time , Twitter will consider other options such as showing a warning to people before they retweet or like a retweet , reducing the visibility of a tweet or preventing it from being recommended , Roth added .
The changes to Twitter ’ s rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies to combat this insidious new form of digital trickery .
As President Trump ’ s social media bullhorn of choice , Twitter plays an increasingly central role in American political life .
Tech giants have been wrestling with how to combat disinformation that seeks to deceive and sway voters after Russian interference and the spread of fabricated news stories influenced public opinion during the 2016 presidential election .
This content is expected to increase sharply in the months before the November election .
Facebook said last month it would ban videos in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artificial intelligence .
The policy does not cover the majority of fake videos , which are edited to be misleading .
On Monday , the day of the Iowa caucuses , Google-owned YouTube said it would remove videos with a “ serious risk ” of causing “ egregious harm.
” Twitter previously banned all political ads entirely but has largely refrained from taking steps against tweets from major political figures .
The question of falsehoods being spread on Twitter in an election year has gotten increased scrutiny over video clips involving Pelosi and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Business , which spliced together moments from a 20-minute news conference and made it appear as if Pelosi was stumbling over her words , was shared by President Trump last May when the pair were locked in a public feud .
The other clip , which was edited to make it appear as if Pelosi was slurring her words , was shared by allies of the president .
“ Since the video was significantly and deceptively altered , we would label it under this policy , ” Roth said .
“ Depending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we might choose to remove specific tweets.
” Last month , an obscure Twitter account with a history of spreading conspiracy theories about Jeffrey Epstein shared a video from one of former Vice President Biden ’ s campaign events that was misleadingly edited to make it seem as if he was making racist remarks .
The video clip was amplified by conservative Twitter users .
Twitter said the new deepfake policy would not be retroactively applied to the Pelosi and Biden videos .

Election 2020: Twitter says deceptively doctored videos and photos may get labeled or removed
Show Caption Hide Caption Deepfake detection: Have you been tricked by fake Obama? Deepfakes are video manipulations that can make people say seemingly strange things. Barack Obama and Nicolas Cage have been featured in these videos. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Facing growing pressure to fight disinformation ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Twitter said it would label or remove tweets sharing doctored videos and photos, sometimes referred to as deepfakes, that seek to mislead users.
Under the new policy which takes effect in March, Twitter users cannot “deceptively” share altered videos and photos that are “likely to cause harm,” the company said Tuesday.
“We’ve seen people try to distort conversations with altered media or fabricated media, not just on Twitter, but across the internet,” Del Harvey, Twitter’s vice president of trust and safety, said. “We want to make sure we can address any instance where media has been altered or fabricated and shared on Twitter."
Fake Trump video? How to spot deepfakes on Facebook and YouTube ahead of the presidential election
Open season on Facebook, Zuckerberg: Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats openly hostile to Facebook
Video clips deceptively altered to discredit or embarrass political figures, such as those targeting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, would be labeled, the company said Tuesday.
These clips are part of a new wave of dirty political tricks raising broad concerns about the role of digital manipulation in swaying voter sentiment in the U.S.
"Our goal is really to provide people with more context around certain types of media they come across on Twitter and to ensure they are able to make informed decisions around what they are seeing," Harvey said.
In deciding what, if any, action to take on a video clip, Twitter will determine whether the clip has been manipulated, if it is being shared in a deceptive manner and if it’s likely to cause serious harm or threaten public safety, Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of site integrity, said.
Twitter will then decide to let the tweet stand, put a label on the tweet to give users additional context about it or require the tweet be deleted, he said.
We know that some Tweets include manipulated photos or videos that can cause people harm. Today we’re introducing a new rule and a label that will address this and give people more context around these Tweets pic.twitter.com/P1ThCsirZ4 — Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) February 4, 2020
“In situations where synthetic and manipulated media are shared in a misleading manner but don’t rise to the level of causing harm, our action is going to be to provide additional context on the tweet itself,” he said. “In most cases, this means we would apply a label to the tweet and provide a link to additional explanation or clarification as available, such as a landing page with more context.”
Over time, Twitter will consider other options such as showing a warning to people before they retweet or like a retweet, reducing the visibility of a tweet or preventing it from being recommended, Roth added.
The changes to Twitter’s rules come as social media platforms develop new policies to combat this insidious new form of digital trickery. As President Trump’s social media bullhorn of choice, Twitter plays an increasingly central role in American political life.
Tech giants have been wrestling with how to combat disinformation that seeks to deceive and sway voters after Russian interference and the spread of fabricated news stories influenced public opinion during the 2016 presidential election. This content is expected to increase sharply in the months before the November election.
Facebook said last month it would ban videos in posts and ads that are manipulated using artificial intelligence. The policy does not cover the majority of fake videos, which are edited to be misleading.
On Monday, the day of the Iowa caucuses, Google-owned YouTube said it would remove videos with a “serious risk” of causing “egregious harm.”
Twitter previously banned all political ads entirely but has largely refrained from taking steps against tweets from major political figures.
The question of falsehoods being spread on Twitter in an election year has gotten increased scrutiny over video clips involving Pelosi and Biden.
One edited clip from Fox Business, which spliced together moments from a 20-minute news conference and made it appear as if Pelosi was stumbling over her words, was shared by President Trump last May when the pair were locked in a public feud.
The other clip, which was edited to make it appear as if Pelosi was slurring her words, was shared by allies of the president.
“Since the video was significantly and deceptively altered, we would label it under this policy,” Roth said. “Depending on what the tweet sharing that video says, we might choose to remove specific tweets.”
Last month, an obscure Twitter account with a history of spreading conspiracy theories about Jeffrey Epstein shared a video from one of former Vice President Biden’s campaign events that was misleadingly edited to make it seem as if he was making racist remarks. The video clip was amplified by conservative Twitter users.
Twitter said the new deepfake policy would not be retroactively applied to the Pelosi and Biden videos. Pelosi and Biden did not respond to a request for comment.


usatoday--2020-02-04--Iowa Democratic caucuses: Who won and when we will we find out? Unanswered questions linger

WASHINGTON – Americans were left wondering who won Iowa 's Democratic Party caucuses Monday after issues reporting the vote counts delayed the release of the official results of the first contest in highly-anticipated 2020 presidential primary season .
Iowa 's Democratic Party chairman , Troy Price , said in a statement that precinct captains reported the result accurately and it was a matter of verifying the results with the backup paper documentation .
Here are the questions that remain unanswered after the Hawkeye State 's caucuses : The biggest open questions are , of course , how much support each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's delegates they ended up winning .
Despite the absence of official results , some Democratic presidential candidates touted their performance .
`` So we do n't know all the results , '' former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg told a crowd of supporters Monday night .
`` But , we know , by the time it 's all said and done , Iowa , you have shocked the nation . ''
`` By all indications , we are going on to New Hampshire victorious , '' he also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders , I-Vt. , said `` I have a good feeling we ’ re going to be doing very , very well here in Iowa . ''
`` It ’ s a tight , three-way race at the top , '' Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told supporters in New Hampshire Tuesday , referring to herself , Sanders and Buttigieg .
`` We know that the three of us will be dividing up most of the delegates coming out of Iowa . ''
When will the results be released ?
State Democrats told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call that at least 50 % of the results would be released by 5 p.m. EST , The Associated Press reported .
`` We will continue to work through the process , '' Price said , according to AP , which monitored the call .
`` We want to get some results out there . ''
Earlier Tuesday , Price said that a paper trail allowed officials `` to verify that the data recorded in the app and used to calculate State Delegate Equivalents is valid and accurate . ''
`` While our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible today , our ultimate goal is to ensure that the integrity and accuracy of the process continues to be upheld , '' he said .
Price said that Monday night `` it became clear that there were inconsistencies with the reports '' from the precincts but it took time to determine what was causing the problem .
It turned out a smartphone application that the Democratic Party used to report the results was recording the numbers correctly , but sharing incomplete data .
Price said the problem was caused by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` identified and fixed . ''
No hack or security breach was behind the problem , he said .
`` I think it ’ s safe to say no one in the country is more impatient than I am to hear the official results from the party , '' Buttigieg said Tuesday on `` CBS This Morning . ''
When asked if his boast of victory was `` premature , '' Buttigieg – whose declaration was derided by supporters of other candidates using # MayorCheat on Twitter – repeated his claim .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got it was an extraordinary night .
And we are absolutely victorious coming into New Hampshire , '' he said .
Elaborating on what he meant by victory , Buttigieg said , `` The fact that this campaign was able to gather support in urban , suburban and rural areas alike – in counties that Hillary Clinton won , counties that Donald Trump won – we are thrilled and absolutely consider that a victory . ''
What was the app Dems say caused the issues ?
The app that Price blamed for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked for Hillary Clinton 's 2016 presidential campaign .
The smartphone application was developed by Shadow Inc. , the Des Moines Register reported after analyzing the program 's metadata .
That company was co-founded by Clinton campaign staffers Gerard Niemira and Krista Davis .
The Iowa Democratic Party paid Shadow $ 63,184 for website development and travel expenses , according to reports filed with the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board .
Price , who worked as Clinton 's Iowa political director four years ago , did not immediately respond to the Register @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not clear if the decision to use Shadow 's app was made by the state or national Democratic Party .
Iowa Democrats ' app : What we know about the smartphone app fails How might the delay affect the campaigns ?
Some observers have said the confusion and delays could rob the eventual victor of a triumphant moment that could be used to deliver a rousing speech to a national audience , such as the one given by then-Sen. Barack Obama after his unexpected win in 2008 .
For the campaigns that did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seen as a blessing by distracting the news media from focusing on their poor showing until next week 's New Hampshire primary .
On the other hand , the chaos and controversy may cast more attention on the results than ever , boosting the spotlight on both the winners and losers .
Iowa 's position as the first contest in the presidential nominating season gives it outsized influence in the nomination process relative to the 41 pledged delegates it offers .
Overall , there are 3,979 pledged delegates up for grabs nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
Why did n't the Republican caucuses have problems ?
Though the Iowa Republican and Democratic parties both call their contests caucuses , they operate differently .
In the Democratic caucuses , supporters physically divide into groups backing different candidates .
Any candidate who does n't get at least 15 % of the voters to support him or her is then knocked out of that precinct 's race , and their supporters must switch to their second choice for the final tally .
The Republican caucuses work more like a typical election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their preferred candidate .
And the Republicans did not use an app like the one that caused the Democrats ' reporting problems .
President Donald Trump , whose campaign sent top surrogates to the state to stump for the incumbent , handily won the GOP contest with more than 97 % of the vote .
Why was Bloomberg not a factor ?
Billionaire media mogul Michael Bloomberg was a late entry to the crowded field of Democratic candidates when he announced his campaign in November .
The former New York Mayor made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early voting states like Iowa , New Hampshire , South Carolina and Nevada in favor of an unorthodox national strategy , which aims for a win on March 3 when populous states like California and Texas vote .
On that day , also referred to as Super Tuesday , almost a third of the Democratic delegates are won or lost .

Iowa Democratic caucuses: Who won and when we will we find out? Unanswered questions linger
Show Caption Hide Caption Candidates give speeches amid Democratic Iowa caucus delays With no winner declared on the night of the Democratic Iowa caucuses amid delays, the candidates still gave speeches. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Americans were left wondering who won Iowa's Democratic Party caucuses Monday after issues reporting the vote counts delayed the release of the official results of the first contest in highly-anticipated 2020 presidential primary season.
Iowa's Democratic Party chairman, Troy Price, said in a statement that precinct captains reported the result accurately and it was a matter of verifying the results with the backup paper documentation.
Here are the questions that remain unanswered after the Hawkeye State's caucuses:
Who won?
The biggest open questions are, of course, how much support each candidate received and how many of the state's delegates they ended up winning.
Despite the absence of official results, some Democratic presidential candidates touted their performance.
"So we don't know all the results," former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg told a crowd of supporters Monday night. "But, we know, by the time it's all said and done, Iowa, you have shocked the nation."
"By all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious," he also said in a tweet.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said "I have a good feeling we’re going to be doing very, very well here in Iowa."
"It’s a tight, three-way race at the top," Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told supporters in New Hampshire Tuesday, referring to herself, Sanders and Buttigieg. "We know that the three of us will be dividing up most of the delegates coming out of Iowa."
When will the results be released?
State Democrats told the candidates' campaigns in a conference call that at least 50% of the results would be released by 5 p.m. EST, The Associated Press reported.
"We will continue to work through the process," Price said, according to AP, which monitored the call. "We want to get some results out there."
Earlier Tuesday, Price said that a paper trail allowed officials "to verify that the data recorded in the app and used to calculate State Delegate Equivalents is valid and accurate."
"While our plan is to release results as soon as possible today, our ultimate goal is to ensure that the integrity and accuracy of the process continues to be upheld," he said.
What happened?
Price said that Monday night "it became clear that there were inconsistencies with the reports" from the precincts but it took time to determine what was causing the problem.
It turned out a smartphone application that the Democratic Party used to report the results was recording the numbers correctly, but sharing incomplete data.
Price said the problem was caused by a "coding issue" that has been "identified and fixed."
No hack or security breach was behind the problem, he said.
Why did Buttigieg declare victory?
"I think it’s safe to say no one in the country is more impatient than I am to hear the official results from the party," Buttigieg said Tuesday on "CBS This Morning."
When asked if his boast of victory was "premature," Buttigieg – whose declaration was derided by supporters of other candidates using #MayorCheat on Twitter – repeated his claim.
"Looking at all the data we've got it was an extraordinary night. And we are absolutely victorious coming into New Hampshire," he said.
Elaborating on what he meant by victory, Buttigieg said, "The fact that this campaign was able to gather support in urban, suburban and rural areas alike – in counties that Hillary Clinton won, counties that Donald Trump won – we are thrilled and absolutely consider that a victory."
.@TonyDokoupil asks @PeteButtigieg if it was premature to declare victory in the #IowaCaucuses, referencing the #MayorCheat hashtag that was trending overnight: pic.twitter.com/dQeEp4ahEA — CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) February 4, 2020
What was the app Dems say caused the issues?
The app that Price blamed for the reporting problems is linked to Democrats who worked for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.
The smartphone application was developed by Shadow Inc., the Des Moines Register reported after analyzing the program's metadata. That company was co-founded by Clinton campaign staffers Gerard Niemira and Krista Davis.
The Iowa Democratic Party paid Shadow $63,184 for website development and travel expenses, according to reports filed with the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board. Price, who worked as Clinton's Iowa political director four years ago, did not immediately respond to the Register's request for comment.
It was not clear if the decision to use Shadow's app was made by the state or national Democratic Party.
Iowa Democrats' app: What we know about the smartphone app fails
How might the delay affect the campaigns?
Some observers have said the confusion and delays could rob the eventual victor of a triumphant moment that could be used to deliver a rousing speech to a national audience, such as the one given by then-Sen. Barack Obama after his unexpected win in 2008.
For the campaigns that did not perform well, the delay could be seen as a blessing because it will distract the news media that might have focused on their poor showing. And by the time the full results are in, Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, where they can try to reset the script, will be that much closer.
On the other hand, the chaos and controversy may cast more attention on the results than ever, boosting the spotlight on both the winners and losers.
Iowa's position as the first contest in the presidential nominating season gives it outsized influence in the nomination process relative to the 41 pledged delegates it offers. Overall, there are 3,979 pledged delegates up for grabs nationwide, making Iowa's share about 1%.
Why didn't the Republican caucuses have problems?
Though the Iowa Republican and Democratic parties both call their contests caucuses, they operate differently.
In the Democratic caucuses, supporters physically divide into groups backing different candidates. Any candidate who doesn't get at least 15% of the voters to support him or her is then knocked out of that precinct's race, and their supporters must switch to their second choice for the final tally.
The Republican caucuses work more like a typical election where each voter casts an individual ballot for their preferred candidate.
And the Republicans did not use the app that caused the Democrats' reporting problems.
President Donald Trump, whose campaign sent top surrogates to the state to stump for the incumbent, handily won the GOP contest with more than 97% of the vote.
Difference between caucus and primary, explained The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But what’s the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Why was Bloomberg not a factor?
Billionaire media mogul Michael Bloomberg was a late entry to the crowded field of Democratic candidates when he announced his campaign in November.
The former New York Mayor made the decision to skip campaigning in the early voting states like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada in favor of an unorthodox national strategy, which aims for a win on March 3 when populous states like California and Texas vote.
On that day, also referred to as Super Tuesday, almost a third of the Democratic delegates are won or lost.
Contributing: Ledyard King, USA TODAY; Kim Norvell and Jason Clayworth, Des Moines Register


usatoday--2020-02-04--Donald Trump's State of the Union guests include girl born prematurely, Army veteran, family of fall

WASHINGTON – Like his predecessors , President Donald Trump plans to illustrate his State of the Union arguments Tuesday introducing up to a dozen guests sitting in the gallery .
`` From brave military families to hardworking local leaders , this year ’ s guests come from many walks of life , '' the White House said in an announcement about State of the Union attendees who touch on the issues of economic growth , school choice , health care , immigration and the military .
Trump plans to discuss these and other items in an address that takes place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to acquit him in the ongoing impeachment trial .
Aides said Trump plans to advocate new middle class tax cuts , proposals to lower drug costs , and tax credits to benefit parents who want to send their children to private school .
He is not expected to discuss impeachment , aides added .
`` I do n't think so , '' White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said during an interview on Fox & Friends .
`` I think that this has gone on for too long and I think that if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are , frankly , bored of it . ''
More : Donald Trump may take early victory lap at State of the Union as impeachment winds down More : 'The Great American Comeback ' : How to watch Trump 's third State of the Union address Trump 's speech , which he is calling `` The Great American Comeback , '' will take place before a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. EST and offers Trump a high-profile platform to argue for his reelection .
The speech also comes a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outcome of the first contest in the Democratic nominating contest uncertain .
Trump 's campaign blasted the Iowa Democratic Party over what it said was a `` train wreck . ''
The traditional of introducing State of the Union guests began in 1982 when President Ronald Reagan invited a government employee named Lenny Skutnik to the event after he had saved a woman from drowning after a plane crashed into the Potomac River .
– Kelli Hake and her 1-year-old son Gage from Stillwater , Oklahoma .
The White House said Hake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hake , was killed in Iraq by a roadside supplied by Qasem Soleimani – the Iranian leader killed by a U.S. drone strike last month .
– Jody Jones from Farmersville , California , whose brother Rocky was killed in 2018 by a migrant in the country illegally , the White House said .
– Paul Morrow from Montgomery , Alabama .
An Army veteran , Morrow started a successful contracting business and is currently building a new concrete plant under the administration 's `` Opportunity Zone '' program that offers tax incentives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House said .
– Robin and Ellie Schneider from Kansas City , Missouri .
The White House said that `` Ellie was born at just 21 weeks and six days .
She is one of the youngest babies to survive in the United States . ''
– Ivan Simonovis from Caracas , Venezuela .
The former Chief of Police in Venezuela ’ s capital city , Simonovis was held prisoner for nearly 15 years by the country 's socialist regimes , the White House said .
– Stephanie and Janiyah Davis from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Trump 's `` school choice '' proposal to offer tax credits to people who make contributions to private school scholarship programs .
The White House said Stephanie Davis is a single-mother who wanted to send her fourth-grade daughter Janiya , to a `` school that best serves her needs '' rather than the `` low performing schools '' to which she has been assigned .
Last week , the administration announced two other guests : Raul Ortiz , a member of the Border Patrol recently promoted to deputy chief , and Tony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addict who found work doing construction as part of the administration 's `` Opportunity Zone '' program .

Donald Trump's State of the Union guests include girl born prematurely, Army veteran, family of fallen soldier
Show Caption Hide Caption State of the Union: Many Democrats, including AOC, decide to boycott Many Democrats including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, chose to boycott and not attend President Trump's State of the Union. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Like his predecessors, President Donald Trump plans to illustrate his State of the Union arguments Tuesday introducing up to a dozen guests sitting in the gallery.
"From brave military families to hardworking local leaders, this year’s guests come from many walks of life," the White House said in an announcement about State of the Union attendees who touch on the issues of economic growth, school choice, health care, immigration and the military.
Trump plans to discuss these and other items in an address that takes place a day before the Senate is expected to acquit him in the ongoing impeachment trial.
Aides said Trump plans to advocate new middle class tax cuts, proposals to lower drug costs, and tax credits to benefit parents who want to send their children to private school.
He is not expected to discuss impeachment, aides added.
"I don't think so," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said during an interview on Fox & Friends. "I think that this has gone on for too long and I think that if you look at the ratings, the American people are, frankly, bored of it."
More: Donald Trump may take early victory lap at State of the Union as impeachment winds down
More: 'The Great American Comeback': How to watch Trump's third State of the Union address
Trump's speech, which he is calling "The Great American Comeback," will take place before a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. EST and offers Trump a high-profile platform to argue for his reelection.
The speech also comes a day after problems with the Iowa caucus left the outcome of the first contest in the Democratic nominating contest uncertain. Trump's campaign blasted the Iowa Democratic Party over what it said was a "train wreck."
The traditional of introducing State of the Union guests began in 1982 when President Ronald Reagan invited a government employee named Lenny Skutnik to the event after he had saved a woman from drowning after a plane crashed into the Potomac River.
Trump's guests this year include:
– Rush Limbaugh from West Palm Beach, Florida. The longtime conservative talk show host will attend, a senior administration official said, a day after he announced he has been diagnosed with advance lung cancer. Trump announced his attendance at a private lunch with television anchors, adding he was considering awarding the conservative radio icon with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
– Kelli Hake and her 1-year-old son Gage from Stillwater, Oklahoma. The White House said Hake's husband, Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, was killed in Iraq by a roadside supplied by Qasem Soleimani – the Iranian leader killed by a U.S. drone strike last month.
– Jody Jones from Farmersville, California, whose brother Rocky was killed in 2018 by a migrant in the country illegally, the White House said.
– Paul Morrow from Montgomery, Alabama. An Army veteran, Morrow started a successful contracting business and is currently building a new concrete plant under the administration's "Opportunity Zone" program that offers tax incentives to invest in distressed areas, the White House said.
– Robin and Ellie Schneider from Kansas City, Missouri. The White House said that "Ellie was born at just 21 weeks and six days. She is one of the youngest babies to survive in the United States."
– Juan Guaido from Caracas, Venezuela. A senior administration official said the Venezuelan opposition leader be in attendance after a two-week global tour to promote his unsuccessful bid to oust the country's sitting president, Nicolas Maduro.
– Ivan Simonovis from Caracas, Venezuela. The former Chief of Police in Venezuela’s capital city, Simonovis was held prisoner for nearly 15 years by the country's socialist regimes, the White House said.
– Stephanie and Janiyah Davis from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who are associated with Trump's "school choice" proposal to offer tax credits to people who make contributions to private school scholarship programs. The White House said Stephanie Davis is a single-mother who wanted to send her fourth-grade daughter Janiya, to a "school that best serves her needs" rather than the "low performing schools" to which she has been assigned.
Last week, the administration announced two other guests: Raul Ortiz, a member of the Border Patrol recently promoted to deputy chief, and Tony Rankins, an Army veteran and recovering addict who found work doing construction as part of the administration's "Opportunity Zone" program.