usatoday--2020-09-20--UFC fighter gets call from President Trump after win

You knew it was coming .
Of course President Trump was gon na call Colby Covington if he ’ d won Saturday night at UFC on ESPN+ 36 .
Covington had his way with former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley , en route to a dominant fifth-round TKO win ( because of injury ) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas .
Afterward , Covington – who loves him some Trump – was in the middle of an interview with Megan Olivi on the ESPN+ post-fight show , and that ’ s when a phone was handed to him .
Covington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he found out it was Trump .
“ You are a great fighter , man , ” Trump said on speaker .
“ I ’ ll tell you , you make it so easy .
I don ’ t know how you do it.
” “ You gave me the dragon energy when you shook my hand on Sunday at your rally , ” Covington responded .
“ It doesn ’ t matter if King Kong is in front of me .
I was not gon na lose after getting to shake your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two minutes or so .
Trump said he rushed out of a rally tonight so he could catch the main event .
“ I ’ m your fan ; you ’ re my fan .
Two of a kind , ” Trump told Covington .
You can watch their conversation in the video below ( via Twitter ) : I mean , usually phone calls to athletes from the President of the United States are reserved for monumental achievements , like winning championships or breaking hallowed record .
But , hey , winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough for this one .
Covington – along with UFC president Dana White , Justin Gaethje , Henry Cejudo , and MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz – attended a Trump rally in Nevada earlier this week , and each of them got a shoutout from Trump .
So , really , this comes as no surprise .
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie ’ s blog space .
We don ’ t take it overly serious , and neither should you .
If you come complaining to us that something you read here is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS .

You knew it was coming. Of course President Trump was gonna call Colby Covington if he’d won Saturday night at UFC on ESPN+ 36.
Covington had his way with former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, en route to a dominant fifth-round TKO win (because of injury) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Afterward, Covington – who loves him some Trump – was in the middle of an interview with Megan Olivi on the ESPN+ post-fight show, and that’s when a phone was handed to him.
Covington lit up like a pinball machine when he found out it was Trump.
“You are a great fighter, man,” Trump said on speaker. “I’ll tell you, you make it so easy. I don’t know how you do it.”
“You gave me the dragon energy when you shook my hand on Sunday at your rally,” Covington responded. “It doesn’t matter if King Kong is in front of me. I was not gonna lose after getting to shake your hand.”
This went on for another two minutes or so. Trump said he rushed out of a rally tonight so he could catch the main event.
“I’m your fan; you’re my fan. Two of a kind,” Trump told Covington.
You can watch their conversation in the video below (via Twitter):
I mean, usually phone calls to athletes from the President of the United States are reserved for monumental achievements, like winning championships or breaking hallowed record. But, hey, winning a UFC Fight Night headliner is good enough for this one.
Covington – along with UFC president Dana White, Justin Gaethje, Henry Cejudo, and MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz – attended a Trump rally in Nevada earlier this week, and each of them got a shoutout from Trump.
So, really, this comes as no surprise.
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.


usatoday--2020-09-21--He was shot in Kenosha, then received threats – a frightening pattern after high-profile incidents

MILWAUKEE – Gaige Grosskreutz wasn ’ t even out of the hospital when his phone started blowing up .
Shot point blank in the arm with an AR-15 , he was the only person to survive a triple shooting at a protest condemning the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha police in Wisconsin .
Weeks later , the messages have n't stopped .
And while some are encouraging , most are ugly , even threatening .
In some corners of the internet , Grosskreutz , 26 , has become the target of angry white supremacists who think he and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopped by any means necessary — including homicide .
His family and friends — people who had never protested in Kenosha — got frightening messages , too .
The online harassment made its way into their neighborhoods , with strangers showing up at their homes to find out `` what really happened '' the night Grosskreutz was shot .
“ And that ’ s the thing that affects me , seeing the people that I care about be upset for me , scared for me , '' Grosskreutz said .
`` I just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target people who weren ’ t even there.
” Kyle Rittenhouse , 17 , who considered himself militia , has been charged with five felonies for wounding Grosskeutz and killing two other men , Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber .
Huber 's girlfriend , Hannah Gittings , also has received online threats , according to her friend Danielle Rasmussen , who sponsored an online fundraiser for her .
On the fundraising site , people have donated $ 5 to gain access and leave a nasty message , then gotten the money refunded , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emojis in reaction to posts about Huber 's death and sent mocking texts to Rasmussen 's husband .
`` They 're doing that instead of being part of the solution , '' she said .
`` Holding people accountable and doing the right thing , sometimes you have to have tough skin . ''
Along with shining the spotlight on Wisconsin , a crucial state in the upcoming presidential election , the shootings have laid bare the extent of online harassment and its effects .
It ’ s a problem that makes victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , forcing them to delete their social media accounts , change their phone numbers and even move .
It ’ s almost impossible to stop , experts say , due to the combination of ineffective criminal laws , ignorant police agencies and an unregulated internet .
And it 's nothing new .
Over the past decade , every time an incident of police brutality , a mass shooting or a high-profile crime occurs , online attacks follow — not just for surviving victims , but for their families , their attorneys and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s such a challenging time that we ’ re living though , ” said Jessie Daniels , a sociology professor at Hunter College in New York .
“ On the one hand , people are using social media to galvanize people against white supremacists , in support of Black Lives Matter and to point out the brutality of police killings .
At the same time , those very tools people are using for social justice can be turned on them in very pernicious ways.
” 2020 : Unprecedented protests have swept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now ?
On Dec. 14 , 2012 , Leonard `` Lenny '' Pozner 's 6-year-old son , Noah , died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown , Connecticut .
Twenty children and six adults were fatally shot that day .
“ My life prior to that tragedy was a completely different life compared to everything that happened after that , ” Pozner recently told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , part of the USA TODAY Network .
“ This is my new life : I am a parent of a murdered child who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before , Pozner was a father of three who worked in information technologies and sometimes tuned in as Alex Jones spouted outlandish theories about 9/11 and the Kennedy assassination .
After , Pozner was left to parent only his two girls while being stalked and terrorized by people accusing him of being an anti-gun “ crisis actor ” who never had a son — and worse .
Pozner quickly learned there was little he or anyone in law enforcement could do to stop them .
He contacted Jones , who publicly claimed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoax , to no avail .
The grieving father then joined a Facebook group of conspiracy theorists , making himself available to answer their questions .
He changed at least one woman 's mind , he said .
She had young children and just could n't fathom they could be shot at school .
After she left the group , he said , she became the target of online harassment , too .
Law enforcement often made the problem worse , Pozner said .
Although he pleaded with authorities not to include his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record , they often did .
As a result , he ’ s had to move over and over again .
In one case , Pozner outed a stranger who filed baseless child abuse complaints against him , only to have a detective threaten him for harassing his tormentor , he said .
Noah 's mother had to move as well .
Federal and state authorities were no better .
In response to a records request , a state attorney general provided Pozner 's entire complaint — without blacking out his personal information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theorist who then posted it online .
Nearly a decade after his son ’ s death , Pozner continues to live in hiding .
“ There is nothing there to protect you when it comes to the internet unless you ’ re willing to fight like hell , ” he said .
“ Most people will just give up .
I didn ’ t think I had the option to .
I was on a one-way track : It was just keep fighting this or die.
” QAnon : Debunked conspiracy theories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do n't be fooled .
Experts mark 2013 , the same year Pozner ’ s harassers came out in force , as the beginning of coordinated online harassment and disinformation campaigns .
These efforts were — and still are — bolstered by algorithms that elevate `` content that ’ s hot , that ’ s hate-filled , that makes people angry and gets lots of reactions , ” according to Daniels .
Perhaps the best known early example of such a campaign was Gamergate , in which female video game developers were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs and forced to flee their homes .
`` If Facebook and Twitter had really taken a hard stance against bigotry and harassment in the wake of Gamergate , if they had learned their lesson , then then we would be in a very different position now , '' said Whitney Phillips , an assistant professor of communications at Syracuse University .
`` But instead , they did nothing .
They continued incentivizing or at least tolerating this kind of behavior . ''
Coordinated antagonism based in identity continued , she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 presidential campaign .
`` And when Trump was elected , of course , he normalized them , ” she said .
Daniels , author of the books `` Cyber Racism '' and `` White Lies , '' takes the argument a step further .
“ White supremacists have felt so empowered lately because they ’ re getting their actions and their statements validated from the highest office in the land , '' she said .
`` And that ’ s pretty intoxicating.
” Foreign governments also are actively engaged in disinformation campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supremacy , Daniels said .
The problem is exacerbated when people who don ’ t necessarily espouse neo-Nazi beliefs repost content about being sick of partisan bickering or not trusting the media .
“ To have a politics of social justice , it relies on … some sort of shared belief that there ’ s truth and there ’ s stuff that ’ s not true , ” Daniels said .
“ The president has been an expert at fueling the idea that there is no shared belief , which erodes the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More : Mail-ballots lawsuit filed by Trump , GOP against Nevada dismissed by federal judge Because of her work , Phillips also has been threatened online .
Police are of little help for several reasons , she said .
One problem is that it takes time to track down the source of anonymous threats , especially if there are hundreds or thousands of them coming in .
If a police department has limited resources , such threats often aren ’ t a priority .
Another issue is the legal definition of what constitutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Saying , for example , “ I hope someone comes to your house and kills you ” is protected speech under the First Amendment and ca n't be prosecuted .
But saying , “ I ’ m going to come to your house and kill you ” may be a crime .
“ The kinds of utterances that actually would be actionable by law enforcement is really small compared to the kind of harassment that people receive , ” Phillips said .
“ A lot of it is more diffuse and nebulous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the law does n't see it as such.
” Society has been slow to realize online interactions can have real-world consequences , she said .
It ’ s not enough to turn off the computer or log off social media .
“ For too many years , and still some people believe — which is shocking , but they do —that there is somehow something fundamentally different between the offline world and the online world , and if something happens online , it 's not really real , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 in Charlottesville , Virginia , when a member of a Facebook group of white supremacists , James Fields , intentionally drove his car into a group of protesters , killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer .
Heyer was demonstrating in opposition to a “ Unite the Right ” rally organized by hate groups .
In the days after Heyer 's death , Facebook was roundly criticized for being slow to remove a post promoting the event .
The following year , Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Congress hate groups are not allowed on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting in Kenosha , Facebook has received similar backlash for failure to quickly remove an event called “ Armed Citizens to Protect our Lives and Property.
” The invitation , which was linked to a self-styled militia group known as the Kenosha Guard , was reposted by Jones ' alt-right website , Infowars .
“ Any patriots willing to take up arms and defend the City tonight from the evil thugs ?
” one of the group ’ s posts read .
“ No doubt they are currently planning on the next part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Other posts encouraged people to “ lock and load , ” and to slash protesters ’ tires , put sugar in their gas tanks and mark their cars with paintballs so they could be easily followed .
When people reported those posts , Facebook replied they did not violate community standards .
Grosskreutz said he received the same response when he reported threats to Facebook .
“ The platform companies really have to take responsibility for creating these tools that make us all so vulnerable , ” Daniels said .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of white supremacy in the United States and globally.
” Facebook did not respond to an email request for comment .
During a company meeting , first reported by BuzzFeed , Zuckerberg described the shootings as `` really deeply troubling . ''
In a video of his remarks , which was publicly posted later , he called the failure to remove the Kenosha Guard posting until after Huber and Rosenbaum were killed `` largely an operational mistake . ''
In the video , Zuckerberg also said the posting violated a policy against dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militia , the Kenosha Guard page and event , violated this new policy we put in place a couple weeks ago against — that included QAnon and other militia groups that we worried could be trying to organize violence now , in this volatile period and especially as we get closer to the election — and after the election — when I think there ’ s a significant risk of civil unrest as well , '' he said .
Facebook election turnout : Company says it has already registered 2.5 million Americans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was killed at Sandy Hook , Pozner has filed numerous lawsuits .
Perhaps his most important victory , he said , came when Jones admitted , under oath , that Noah was a real person who died in his classroom as a result of a mass shooting .
“ I don ’ t need him to go away , ” Pozner said of Jones and Infowars .
“ He has every right to scream with his last breath , as long as he ’ s not talking about me and pouring salt on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial settlements against Jones and others who have publicly accused him of lying about his son ’ s death or encouraged others to harass him .
One woman who threatened him , Lucy Richards , was convicted of a federal crime and sentenced to five months in prison .
Pozner has made it his life ’ s work to help others whose lives are disrupted by online threats .
In 2014 , he founded the HONR Network , a nonprofit that works to remove harmful posts and to improve platforms ' anti-harassment policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government regulation of the internet .
“ I never considered that it was a choice to not do what I ’ m doing , ” Pozner said .
“ My response doesn ’ t have a decision process with it .
This is just the only way I could have responded.
” Tech : President Trump says $ 5 Billion from TikTok , Oracle , Walmart deal will go toward education Working with about 300 volunteers worldwide , the network has gotten hundreds of thousands of pieces of content taken down , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group has assisted Maatje Benassi , a U.S. Army reservist falsely accused of starting the coronavirus pandemic .
A single YouTube channel featured 4,000 videos publicizing the lie , which has led to death threats against Benassi and her family .
HONR worked with YouTube to get the videos removed .
Due to the nonprofit ’ s efforts , Facebook and YouTube have updated their policies to better protect victims of violence , Pozner said .
Twitter , he said , has been less cooperative .
“ They ’ re not like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The volume of content they have to deal with is greater , but Twitter is responsible for the misinformation , hate and probably a lot of crimes that go on because that ’ s how the ideas spread.
” Twitter did not respond to an email request for comment .
The platform 's online help center says this : `` You can report Tweets , profiles , or Direct Messages directly to us .
Twitter may take action on the threatening Tweet , Direct Message , and/or the responsible account .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messaged a violent threat that you feel is credible or you fear for your own or someone else ’ s physical safety , you may want to contact your local law enforcement agency . ''
The only way to stop the barrage of online hate , experts agree , is more government regulation .
Pozner likes to use this analogy , inspired by a 2015 story in the Detroit News : At the turn of the century , America ’ s newest technology was the automobile .
People started buying cars without knowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drove wherever they wanted , in every direction , at every speed .
They parked on lawns .
People were dying in crashes .
Children playing in the street were routinely hit by cars and killed .
Eventually , the government stepped in .
Cities set speed limits and started doing traffic control , but that wasn ’ t enough .
They then put up stop signs and traffic lights , painted crosswalks and designated no-parking zones .
Finally , authorities set up rules of the road and required people to pass safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive .
Now , entire government agencies are dedicated to automobile safety .
In Pozner 's view , a similar evolution needs to take place when it comes to the internet .
“ I don ’ t think this is going away , this hate , ” he said .
“ I think it ’ s only going to get worse until the government steps in.
” If you are being harassed or threatened online , contact the HONR network at https : //www.honrnetwork.org/report-online-abuse .

He was shot in Kenosha, then received threats – a frightening pattern after high-profile incidents
Show Caption Hide Caption Gaige Grosskreutz was shot during a Kenosha protest Gaige Grosskreutz was shot and wounded during a protest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha. Kyle Rittenhouse has been charged. Bill Schulz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MILWAUKEE – Gaige Grosskreutz wasn’t even out of the hospital when his phone started blowing up. Shot point blank in the arm with an AR-15, he was the only person to survive a triple shooting at a protest condemning the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha police in Wisconsin.
Weeks later, the messages haven't stopped. Although some are encouraging, most are ugly, even threatening. In some corners of the internet, Grosskreutz, 26, has become the target of angry white supremacists who say he and others who support Black Lives Matter should be stopped by any means necessary – including homicide.
His family and friends – people who didn't protest in Kenosha – got frightening messages, too. Strangers showed up at their homes to find out "what really happened" the night Grosskreutz was shot.
“And that’s the thing that affects me, seeing the people that I care about be upset for me, scared for me," Grosskreutz said. "I just don’t understand the need to target people who weren’t even there.”
Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, who considered himself militia, was charged with five felonies in the shooting that wounded Grosskeutz and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber.
Huber's girlfriend, Hannah Gittings, also has received online threats, according to her friend Danielle Rasmussen, who sponsored an online fundraiser for her. On the fundraising site, people donated $5 to gain access and leave a nasty message, then got the money refunded, she said. They posted laughing emojis in reaction to posts about Huber's death and sent mocking texts to Rasmussen's husband.
"They're doing that instead of being part of the solution," she said. "Holding people accountable and doing the right thing, sometimes you have to have tough skin."
Along with shining the spotlight on Wisconsin, a crucial state in the presidential election, the shootings laid bare the extent of online harassment and its effects. It’s a problem that makes victims of violence unwitting pawns in ideological arguments, forcing them to delete their social media accounts, change their phone numbers or even move. It’s almost impossible to stop, experts say, because of a combination of ineffective criminal laws, ignorant police agencies and an unregulated internet.
Over the past decade, incidents of police violence, mass shootings and high-profile crimes have been followed by online attacks – not just on survivors but their families, their attorneys and the journalists who cover their stories.
“It’s such a challenging time that we’re living though,” said Jessie Daniels, a sociology professor at Hunter College in New York. “On the one hand, people are using social media to galvanize people against white supremacists, in support of Black Lives Matter and to point out the brutality of police killings. At the same time, those very tools people are using for social justice can be turned on them in very pernicious ways.”
2020: Unprecedented protests have swept through Louisville and the US. Why now?
Sandy Hook was not a hoax
On Dec. 14, 2012, Leonard "Lenny" Pozner's 6-year-old son, Noah, died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty children and six adults were fatally shot that day.
“My life prior to that tragedy was a completely different life compared to everything that happened after that,” Pozner told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network. “This is my new life: I am a parent of a murdered child who is part of an internet conspiracy.”
Before, Pozner was a father of three who worked in information technologies and sometimes tuned in as Alex Jones spouted outlandish theories about 9/11 and the Kennedy assassination. After, Pozner was left to parent his two girls while being stalked and terrorized by people accusing him of being an anti-gun “crisis actor” who never had a son – and worse.
Pozner learned there was little he or anyone in law enforcement could do to stop them.
He contacted Jones, who called the mass shooting at Sandy Hook a hoax, to no avail. The grieving father joined a Facebook group of conspiracy theorists, making himself available to answer their questions. He changed at least one woman's mind, he said. She had young children and couldn't fathom they could be shot at school. After she left the group, he said, she became the target of online harassment, too.
Law enforcement often made the problem worse, Pozner said. Although he pleaded with authorities not to include his address in complaints, which are public record, they often did. As a result, he’s had to move over and over again. In one case, Pozner outed a stranger who filed baseless child abuse complaints against him, only to have a detective threaten him for harassing his tormentor, he said. Noah's mother had to move as well.
Federal and state authorities were no better. In response to a records request, a state attorney general provided Pozner's entire complaint – without blacking out his personal information as the law allows – to a conspiracy theorist who posted it online.
Nearly a decade after his son’s death, Pozner lives in hiding.
“There is nothing there to protect you when it comes to the internet unless you’re willing to fight like hell,” he said. “Most people will just give up. I didn’t think I had the option to. I was on a one-way track: It was just keep fighting this or die.”
QAnon: Debunked conspiracy theories are seeping into mainstream social media. Don't be fooled.
History of online harassment
Coordinated online harassment and disinformation campaigns are bolstered by algorithms that elevate "content that’s hot, that’s hate-filled, that makes people angry and gets lots of reactions,” according to Daniels.
An early example of such a campaign was Gamergate, in which female video game developers were not only vilified online but driven from their jobs and forced to flee their homes.
"If Facebook and Twitter had really taken a hard stance against bigotry and harassment in the wake of Gamergate, if they had learned their lesson, then we would be in a very different position now," said Whitney Phillips, an assistant professor of communication at Syracuse University. "But instead, they did nothing. They continued incentivizing or at least tolerating this kind of behavior."
Coordinated antagonism based in identity, she said, ramped up during Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
"And when Trump was elected, of course, he normalized them,” she said.
Daniels, author of the books "Cyber Racism" and "White Lies," said, “White supremacists have felt so empowered lately because they’re getting their actions and their statements validated from the highest office in the land. And that’s pretty intoxicating.”
Foreign governments are engaged in disinformation campaigns designed to fuel divisions and elevate white supremacy, Daniels said. The problem is exacerbated when people who don’t necessarily espouse neo-Nazi beliefs repost content about being sick of partisan bickering or not trusting the media.
“To have a politics of social justice, it relies on … some sort of shared belief that there’s truth and there’s stuff that’s not true,” Daniels said. “The president has been an expert at fueling the idea that there is no shared belief, which erodes the ground beneath human rights and social justice.”
More: Mail-ballots lawsuit filed by Trump, GOP against Nevada dismissed by federal judge
Counteracting online threats
Because of her work, Phillips said, she's been threatened online. Police are of little help for several reasons, she said. One problem is that it takes time to track down the source of anonymous threats, especially if there are hundreds or thousands of them coming in. If a police department has limited resources, such threats often aren’t a priority.
Another issue is the legal definition of what constitutes a threat. Saying, “I hope someone comes to your house and kills you” is protected speech under the First Amendment and can't be prosecuted. Saying, “I’m going to come to your house and kill you” may be a crime.
“The kinds of utterances that actually would be actionable by law enforcement is really small compared to the kind of harassment that people receive,” Phillips said. “A lot of it is more diffuse and nebulous, and equally scary and equally threatening. But the law doesn't see it as such.”
Society has been slow to realize online interactions can have real-world consequences, she said. It’s not enough to turn off the computer or log off social media.
“For too many years, and still some people believe – which is shocking, but they do –that there is somehow something fundamentally different between the offline world and the online world, and if something happens online, it's not really real,” she said.
Real-world consequences
Online hatred morphed into murder in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, when a member of a Facebook group of white supremacists, James Fields, intentionally drove his car into a group of protesters, killing Heather Heyer, 32.
Heyer was demonstrating in opposition to a “Unite the Right” rally organized by white nationalists. In the days after Heyer's death, Facebook was roundly criticized for being slow to remove a post promoting the event. The following year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Congress hate groups are not allowed on Facebook.
After the triple shooting Aug. 25 in Kenosha, Facebook received similar backlash for not quickly removing an event called “Armed Citizens to Protect our Lives and Property.” The invitation, which was linked to a self-styled militia group known as the Kenosha Guard, was reposted by Jones' website, Infowars.
“Any patriots willing to take up arms and defend the City tonight from the evil thugs?” one of the group’s posts read. “No doubt they are currently planning on the next part of the City to burn tonight!”
Other posts encouraged people to “lock and load” and to slash protesters’ tires, put sugar in their gas tanks and mark their cars with paintballs so they could be easily followed.
When people reported those posts, Facebook replied they did not violate community standards. Grosskreutz said he received the same response when he reported threats to Facebook.
“The platform companies really have to take responsibility for creating these tools that make us all so vulnerable,” Daniels said. “They have really thrown gasoline on the fire of white supremacy in the United States and globally.”
Facebook did not respond to an email request for comment.
During a company meeting, first reported by BuzzFeed, Zuckerberg described the shootings as "really, deeply troubling." In a video of his remarks, which was publicly posted, he called the failure to remove the Kenosha Guard posting until after Huber and Rosenbaum were killed "largely an operational mistake."
In the video, Zuckerberg said the posting violated a policy against dangerous organizations.
"This page and the militia, the Kenosha Guard page and event, violated this new policy we put in place a couple weeks ago against – that included QAnon and other militia groups that we worried could be trying to organize violence now, in this volatile period and especially as we get closer to the election – and after the election – when I think there’s a significant risk of civil unrest as well," he said.
Facebook election turnout: Company says it has registered 2.5 million Americans to vote
Fighting back
In the years since his son was killed at Sandy Hook, Pozner has filed numerous lawsuits. Perhaps his most important victory, he said, came when Jones admitted, under oath, that Noah was a real person who died in his classroom as a result of a mass shooting.
“I don’t need him to go away,” Pozner said of Jones and Infowars. “He has every right to scream with his last breath, as long as he’s not talking about me and pouring salt on my wound.”
Pozner won financial settlements against Jones and others who publicly accused him of lying about his son’s death or encouraged others to harass him. One woman who threatened him, Lucy Richards, was convicted of a federal crime and sentenced to five months in prison.
Pozner has made it his life’s work to help others whose lives are disrupted by online threats. In 2014, he founded the nonprofit HONR Network, which works to remove harmful posts and improve platforms' anti-harassment policies. Its members advocate for more government regulation of the internet.
“I never considered that it was a choice to not do what I’m doing,” Pozner said. “My response doesn’t have a decision process with it. This is just the only way I could have responded.”
Tech: President Trump says $5 billion from TikTok, Oracle, Walmart deal will go toward education
Working with about 300 volunteers worldwide, the network has gotten hundreds of thousands of pieces of content taken down, he said. The group assisted Maatje Benassi, a U.S. Army reservist falsely accused of starting the coronavirus pandemic. A YouTube channel featured 4,000 videos publicizing the lie, which led to death threats against Benassi and her family. HONR worked with YouTube to get the videos removed.
Because of the nonprofit group’s efforts, Facebook and YouTube updated their policies to better protect victims of violence, Pozner said.
Twitter, he said, has been less cooperative.
“They’re not like the other companies," he said. "The volume of content they have to deal with is greater, but Twitter is responsible for the misinformation, hate and probably a lot of crimes that go on because that’s how the ideas spread.”
Twitter did not respond to an email request for comment.
The platform's online help center says, "You can report Tweets, profiles, or Direct Messages directly to us. Twitter may take action on the threatening Tweet, Direct Message, and/or the responsible account.
"However, if someone has Tweeted or messaged a violent threat that you feel is credible or you fear for your own or someone else’s physical safety, you may want to contact your local law enforcement agency."
Push for government regulation
Advocates of government regulation said it's the only way to stop the barrage of online hate.
Pozner uses this analogy, inspired by a story in the Detroit News in 2015:
At the turn of the 20th century, America’s newest technology was the automobile. People bought cars without knowing how to use them safely. They drove wherever they wanted, in every direction, at every speed. They parked on lawns. People died in crashes. Children playing in the street were routinely hit by cars and killed.
Eventually, the government stepped in. Cities set speed limits and started doing traffic control, but that wasn’t enough. They put up stop signs and traffic lights, painted crosswalks and designated no-parking zones. Authorities set up rules of the road and required people to pass safety tests and get licenses to drive. Entire government agencies are dedicated to automobile safety.
In Pozner's view, a similar evolution needs to take place when it comes to the internet.
“I don’t think this is going away, this hate,” he said. “I think it’s only going to get worse until the government steps in.”
Contributing: Rory Linnane
If you are being harassed or threatened online, contact the HONR network at https://www.honrnetwork.org/report-online-abuse.
Follow reporter Gina Barton on Twitter at @writerbarton.
Federal funding at stake: DOJ names New York City, Portland, Seattle 'anarchist jurisdictions'


usatoday--2020-09-21--Sen. Kelly Loeffler says she is 'more conservative than Attila the Hun' in new campaign ad

WASHINGTON – Sen. Kelly Loeffler , R-Ga. , released a new campaign ad in which she depicts herself as being `` more conservative '' than ruler Attila the Hun , the ruthless ruler of the Hunnic Empire .
The 30-second ad begins with a man and woman sitting on a couch , talking about Loeffler ’ s conservative record backing President Donald Trump .
One actor replies , “ Yep , she ’ s more conservative than Attila the Hun.
” The ad then shows an actor apparently portraying Attila , who is grunting to a transcriber .
“ Fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note-taker says .
He continues after Attila grunts : `` Attack big government .
Eliminate the liberal scribes .
Uh oh.
” More : Sen. Kelly Loeffler , co-owner of WNBA 's Atlanta Dream , says Black Lives Matter threatens to 'destroy ' America A narrator concludes , “ More conservative than Attila the Hun .
Kelly Loeffler , 100 percent Trump voting record , ” whle showing a picture of Loeffler and Trump together .
Attila was ruler of the Huns , a non-Christian people who have been described as barbarians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led brutal attacks against the Roman Empire .
He became known as the “ scourge of god '' as his empire destroyed entire Roman cities and slaughtered thousands of people .
Loeffler is a millionaire GOP donor whom Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by three-term Sen. Johnny Isakson .
More : Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death injects new urgency into Second Amendment debate amid Supreme Court battle She is running against Republican Congressman Doug Collins , a staunch Trump ally , and 19 other candidates in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a political newcomer when Kemp appointed her , and was not the favorite among Republicans to takeover the seat .
Many speculated that she would try appeal to moderate women in the Atlanta suburbs in 2020 who may be drifting away from the GOP .
But she has instead tried to depict herself as the most conservative candidate in the race , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .
Democrat Matt Lieberman , the son of former U.S. senator and vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman , has also announced a bid for the seat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a Democrat , released a memo Monday saying he is within striking distance of Loeffler in the polls .
'Unforgivable ' : Rep. Doug Collins slammed for tweet about Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's abortion stance after her death If no candidate gets 50 percent , a majority , the top two vote-earners go to a January runoff .
Stephen Lawson , Communications Director for Loeffler 's campaign , told USA TODAY the ad was `` a statewide buy . ''
The ad received attention online , with `` Attila the Hun '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberals and conservatives to criticize it .
Rep. Matt Gaetz , a favorite of the president , responded `` woof '' to the ad , saying , `` Imagine being so inauthentic in your own performance that you 'd pay money to create and distribute this ad . ''
More : Sen. Chuck Grassley indicates he wo n't oppose holding Supreme Court replacement hearings this year Collins ' campaign slammed the Hun comparison , claiming Loeffler thinks “ conservatives are grunting , filthy , mass-murdering open borders atheist polygamists.
” He then tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Loeffler 's face superimposed on his body .
The sheet includes nods at historical facts and speculations about the ruler .
Lawson responded to Collins criticisms , saying `` Conservative , Trump-voting Georgians love the ad , so it would make sense that Doug Collins hates it . ''
Warnock tweeted , `` I 'm running to be a voice for all Georgians and fight for health care .
Senator Loeffler is apparently using this as an audition for Saturday Night Live and The Apprentice . ''
More : Here are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filling Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's seat on the Supreme Court '' The View '' co-host Meghan McCain , daughter of late Republican senator John McCain , tweeted she could n't `` believe this ad is real , it 's so stupid . ''
`` No one thinks this is cool or convincing of you having ANY true conservative bona fides , '' McCain continued .
`` I had such higher hopes for conservative women in power . ''
Some also pointed out a possible historical inaccuracy in the ad , as ruler Genghis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked China .
According to some maps by cartographers and historians , Attila 's empire did not extend east past the Caspian Sea , thousands of miles from China .

Sen. Kelly Loeffler says she is 'more conservative than Attila the Hun' in new campaign ad
Show Caption Hide Caption Kelly Loeffler, new Georgia GOP senator, sworn in Wealthy Republican businesswoman and political newcomer Kelly Loeffler was sworn in Monday as the newest senator from Georgia. She replaces GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson, who stepped down in December because of health issues. (Jan. 7) AP
WASHINGTON – Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., released a new campaign ad in which she depicts herself as being "more conservative" than ruler Attila the Hun, the ruthless ruler of the Hunnic Empire.
The 30-second ad begins with a man and woman sitting on a couch, talking about Loeffler’s conservative record backing President Donald Trump. One actor replies, “Yep, she’s more conservative than Attila the Hun.”
The ad then shows an actor apparently portraying Attila, who is grunting to a transcriber.
“Fight China, got it,” the note-taker says. He continues after Attila grunts: "Attack big government. Eliminate the liberal scribes. Uh oh.”
More: Sen. Kelly Loeffler, co-owner of WNBA's Atlanta Dream, says Black Lives Matter threatens to 'destroy' America
A narrator concludes, “More conservative than Attila the Hun. Kelly Loeffler, 100 percent Trump voting record,” whle showing a picture of Loeffler and Trump together.
Attila was ruler of the Huns, a non-Christian people who have been described as barbarians, during the 5th century. They famously led brutal attacks against the Roman Empire. He became known as the “scourge of god" as his empire destroyed entire Roman cities and slaughtered thousands of people.
Loeffler is a millionaire GOP donor whom Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by three-term Sen. Johnny Isakson.
More: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death injects new urgency into Second Amendment debate amid Supreme Court battle
She is running against Republican Congressman Doug Collins, a staunch Trump ally, and 19 other candidates in a special election in November. Loeffler was a political newcomer when Kemp appointed her, and was not the favorite among Republicans to takeover the seat.
Many speculated that she would try appeal to moderate women in the Atlanta suburbs in 2020 who may be drifting away from the GOP. But she has instead tried to depict herself as the most conservative candidate in the race, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Democrat Matt Lieberman, the son of former U.S. senator and vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, has also announced a bid for the seat. Rev. Raphael Warnock, also running as a Democrat, released a memo Monday saying he is within striking distance of Loeffler in the polls.
'Unforgivable': Rep. Doug Collins slammed for tweet about Ruth Bader Ginsburg's abortion stance after her death
If no candidate gets 50 percent, a majority, the top two vote-earners go to a January runoff.
Stephen Lawson, Communications Director for Loeffler's campaign, told USA TODAY the ad was "a statewide buy."
The ad received attention online, with "Attila the Hun" quickly trending on Twitter, leading both liberals and conservatives to criticize it.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a favorite of the president, responded "woof" to the ad, saying, "Imagine being so inauthentic in your own performance that you'd pay money to create and distribute this ad."
Imagine being so inauthentic in your own performance that you’d pay money to create and distribute this ad.
Woof. https://t.co/HDJRXrINtP — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) September 21, 2020
More: Sen. Chuck Grassley indicates he won't oppose holding Supreme Court replacement hearings this year
Collins' campaign slammed the Hun comparison, claiming Loeffler thinks “conservatives are grunting, filthy, mass-murdering open borders atheist polygamists.”
He then tweeted a "fact sheet" on Atilla with Loeffler's face superimposed on his body. The sheet includes nods at historical facts and speculations about the ruler.
.@KLoeffler's newest ad compares her to Atilla the Hun. So, I'll just leave this here... #TheMoreYouKnow pic.twitter.com/QcJkqz2SPl — Doug Collins (@CollinsforGA) September 21, 2020
Lawson responded to Collins criticisms, saying "Conservative, Trump-voting Georgians love the ad, so it would make sense that Doug Collins hates it."
Warnock tweeted, "I'm running to be a voice for all Georgians and fight for health care. Senator Loeffler is apparently using this as an audition for Saturday Night Live and The Apprentice."
More: Here are the senators to watch in the fight over filling Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on the Supreme Court
"The View" co-host Meghan McCain, daughter of late Republican senator John McCain, tweeted she couldn't "believe this ad is real, it's so stupid."
"No one thinks this is cool or convincing of you having ANY true conservative bona fides," McCain continued. "I had such higher hopes for conservative women in power."
Some also pointed out a possible historical inaccuracy in the ad, as ruler Genghis Khan, not Atilla the Hun, attacked China.
According to some maps by cartographers and historians, Attila's empire did not extend east past the Caspian Sea, thousands of miles from China.
The more I think about that Loeffler ad, it seems very clear that whoever made it confused Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun — Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 21, 2020


usatoday--2020-09-21--'He loves his rallies:' Biden says Trump puts supporters at risk with big events while keeping himse

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden accused President Donald Trump of endangering people who attend his rallies while limiting his own exposure , portraying the former real estate developer as a callous leader who ignores the interests of the average person .
Highlighting recent claims from a former White House pandemic adviser who alleged that Trump disparaged his followers , Biden accused the president of not caring about the working-class voters who form the foundation of his support .
`` The truth is he never really respected us very much , '' the former vice president said during a visit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
`` Oh , he loves his rallies .
And the next time he holds one , look closely .
Trump keeps his distance from anyone at a rally .
The folks who come , are packed as tightly as they can be , risking disease mostly without masks .
But not Trump .
He safely keeps his distance , '' he said .
`` For Trump , these rallies are about entertainment ( and ) adoration .
They 're not about respect .
Do n't kid yourself .
This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he marked the U.S. coronavirus death total rising above 200,000 , Biden cited the claims of Olivia Troye .
She served as an adviser to Vice President Mike Pence , who chairs the pandemic response effort in the White House .
Last week , Troye alleged that she once heard Trump disparage attendees at his rallies during a task force meeting : `` Maybe this COVID thing is a good thing , '' she recalled him saying .
`` I do n't like shaking hands with people .
I do n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Her comments have been used by Trump 's foes in a new political ad .
More : Is 6 feet enough ?
CDC walks back its walkback on airborne transmission of COVID-19 Trump has said he does n't know who Troye is .
And Pence has described her as `` a disgruntled employee . ''
Biden 's speech Monday at an aluminum foundry builds on the comparison the former vice president has been crafting on the campaign trail : that he – a kid from blue-collar Scranton , Pennsylvania – has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ folks than the president , a real estate mogul who grew up in New York City .
`` He sees the world from Park Avenue , '' Biden said .
`` I see it from where I grew up in a town like this , from Scranton , Pennsylvania .
Hardscrabble , hard-working town just like this and so many across Wisconsin .
When I look at the world form Park Avenue , basically all you can see is Wall Street . ''
Mantiwoc is a key county in a state considered crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who narrowly captured the state in 2016 over Hillary Clinton , won the county by 22 points ( 58-36 % ) .
In 2012 , Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney by only three points : 51 % -48 % .
Unlike Trump 's rallies that feature hundreds of supporters , Biden wore a mask as he addressed about 30 people at the factory , with reporters seated in chairs placed inside white circles .
Trump has mocked the former vice president 's adherence to wearing a mask , which his administration 's health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
In June , the president derided a Biden appearance before only reporters by tweeting `` Joe Biden 's rally .
ZERO enthusiasm ! ''
During his roughly 25-minute speech , Biden did not mention the ongoing battle in Washington over whether to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who died Friday of pancreatic cancer at 87 .
Trump spent much of Monday discussing his desire to fill the seat as quickly as possible and said he would announce his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoed Democrats ' arguments that the president should wait for the results of the Nov. 3 election .
Monday was Biden 's second visit to Wisconsin .
Earlier this month , the former vice president and his wife , Jill , spoke to Jacob Blake , a Black man who was shot in the back seven times by a white police officer in Kenosha on Aug. 23 .

'He loves his rallies:' Biden says Trump puts supporters at risk with big events while keeping himself safe
Show Caption Hide Caption How a contentious election affects a peaceful transition of power What history has shown us about contested elections and peaceful transitions of power. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden accused President Donald Trump of endangering people who attend his rallies while limiting his own exposure, portraying the former real estate developer as a callous leader who ignores the interests of the average person.
Highlighting recent claims from a former White House pandemic adviser who alleged that Trump disparaged his followers, Biden accused the president of not caring about the working-class voters who form the foundation of his support.
"The truth is he never really respected us very much," the former vice president said during a visit to Mantiwoc, Wisconsin, a key swing state.
"Oh, he loves his rallies. And the next time he holds one, look closely. Trump keeps his distance from anyone at a rally. The folks who come, are packed as tightly as they can be, risking disease mostly without masks. But not Trump. He safely keeps his distance," he said. "For Trump, these rallies are about entertainment (and) adoration. They're not about respect. Don't kid yourself. This is a one-way street."
In his speech where he marked the U.S. coronavirus death total rising above 200,000, Biden cited the claims of Olivia Troye. She served as an adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, who chairs the pandemic response effort in the White House.
Last week, Troye alleged that she once heard Trump disparage attendees at his rallies during a task force meeting: "Maybe this COVID thing is a good thing," she recalled him saying. "I don't like shaking hands with people. I don't have to shake hands with these disgusting people." Her comments have been used by Trump's foes in a new political ad.
More: Is 6 feet enough? CDC walks back its walkback on airborne transmission of COVID-19
Trump has said he doesn't know who Troye is. And Pence has described her as "a disgruntled employee."
Biden's speech Monday at an aluminum foundry builds on the comparison the former vice president has been crafting on the campaign trail: that he – a kid from blue-collar Scranton, Pennsylvania – has a lot more in common with regular folks than the president, a real estate mogul who grew up in New York City.
"He sees the world from Park Avenue," Biden said. "I see it from where I grew up in a town like this, from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Hardscrabble, hard-working town just like this and so many across Wisconsin. When I look at the world form Park Avenue, basically all you can see is Wall Street."
Mantiwoc is a key county in a state considered crucial to the presidential election.
More: McConnell: Senate could confirm Ruth Bader Ginsburg's court replacement before election
Trump, who narrowly captured the state in 2016 over Hillary Clinton, won the county by 22 points (58-36%). In 2012, Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney by only three points: 51%-48%.
Unlike Trump's rallies that feature hundreds of supporters, Biden wore a mask as he addressed about 30 people at the factory, with reporters seated in chairs placed inside white circles.
Trump has mocked the former vice president's adherence to wearing a mask, which his administration's health experts recommend to help prevent the spread of the virus. In June, the president derided a Biden appearance before only reporters by tweeting "Joe Biden's rally. ZERO enthusiasm!"
During his roughly 25-minute speech, Biden did not mention the ongoing battle in Washington over whether to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who died Friday of pancreatic cancer at 87.
Trump spent much of Monday discussing his desire to fill the seat as quickly as possible and said he would announce his nominee by Saturday. Biden has previously echoed Democrats' arguments that the president should wait for the results of the Nov. 3 election.
Monday was Biden's second visit to Wisconsin.
Earlier this month, the former vice president and his wife, Jill, spoke to Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot in the back seven times by a white police officer in Kenosha on Aug. 23.


usatoday--2020-09-21--Gardner supports moving forward on Ginsburg seat, striking blow to Dem chances of halting nomination

WASHINGTON – Sen. Cory Gardner , a Republican in a tough reelection race in a swing state , said Monday he supports moving forward on a Supreme Court nomination to fill the vacancy left by Ruth Bader Ginsburg , significantly lowering Democrats ' chances of stopping the process until after the November election .
Gardner , who is facing a re-election challenge from former Gov .
John Hickenlooper in Colorado , was viewed as one of the last potential holdouts that could halt the Senate from voting to approve President Donald Trump 's nominee to the high court .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will support moving forward in the process , likely leaving Republicans the votes to clear a nominee even if such a process comes before the November election .
`` When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy , the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent , '' Gardner said in a Monday evening statement .
`` I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution , not legislate from the bench , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee who meets this criteria be put forward , I will vote to confirm . ''
More : Here are the senators to watch in the fight over filling Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's seat on the Supreme Court The Colorado Senate race is a “ toss-up ” according to nonpartisan forecasters at the Cook Political Report .
John Hickenlooper , a former governor who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination , has led Gardner in most recent polls .
In a Sept. 14 poll by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group , Gardner trailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % to 42 % .
Gardner was closely watched because Republicans can not lose four votes due to their slim 53-47 majority in the Senate .
Already , two have said they do not support taking up the nominee before the election .
Sens .
Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , and Susan Collins , R-Maine , have both said they want voters to have a say in filling the vacancy and the Senate should n't approve Trump 's nominee before November .
Sen. Mitt Romney is the last moderate or swing-state Republican to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said Monday at the U.S. Capitol that he would not be making any comments until he had the chance to talk with his fellow Republicans Tuesday at their weekly lunch .
`` Before I have any comment , I ’ m going to meet with my colleagues , which I 'll be doing tomorrow , '' he said .
`` And if I have something at that point I 'll let you know what it is , but until then , I need to be waiting and get a chance to @ @ @ @ @ @

Gardner supports moving forward on Ginsburg seat, striking blow to Dem chances of halting nomination
Show Caption Hide Caption Graham: I'll 'lead the charge' to replace Ginsburg Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham says he believes his role in the confirmation process for a new Supreme Court justice will likely bolster his reelection bid. (Sept. 21) AP
WASHINGTON – Sen. Cory Gardner, a Republican in a tough reelection race in a swing state, said Monday he supports moving forward on a Supreme Court nomination to fill the vacancy left by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, significantly lowering Democrats' chances of stopping the process until after the November election.
Gardner, who is facing a re-election challenge from former Gov. John Hickenlooper in Colorado, was viewed as one of the last potential holdouts that could halt the Senate from voting to approve President Donald Trump's nominee to the high court. But a statement Monday evening made clear he will support moving forward in the process, likely leaving Republicans the votes to clear a nominee even if such a process comes before the November election.
"When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent," Gardner said in a Monday evening statement. "I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm."
More: Here are the senators to watch in the fight over filling Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on the Supreme Court
More: McConnell: Senate could confirm Ruth Bader Ginsburg's court replacement before election
The Colorado Senate race is a “toss-up” according to nonpartisan forecasters at the Cook Political Report. John Hickenlooper, a former governor who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, has led Gardner in most recent polls. In a Sept. 14 poll by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group, Gardner trailed Hickenlooper by ten percentage points, 52% to 42%.
Gardner was closely watched because Republicans cannot lose four votes due to their slim 53-47 majority in the Senate. Already, two have said they do not support taking up the nominee before the election. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, have both said they want voters to have a say in filling the vacancy and the Senate shouldn't approve Trump's nominee before November.
Sen. Mitt Romney is the last moderate or swing-state Republican to withhold weighing in on the nomination fight. He said Monday at the U.S. Capitol that he would not be making any comments until he had the chance to talk with his fellow Republicans Tuesday at their weekly lunch.
"Before I have any comment, I’m going to meet with my colleagues, which I'll be doing tomorrow," he said. "And if I have something at that point I'll let you know what it is, but until then, I need to be waiting and get a chance to speak with those colleagues."
Contributing: Nicholas Wu


usatoday--2020-09-21--Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death injects new urgency into Second Amendment debate amid Supreme Court batt

At virtually every stop on the campaign trail , President Donald Trump has sought to strike an emotional chord in audiences with a familiar warning .
`` Sleepy Joe is gon na take your guns away , '' Trump declared at a rally in Minnesota on Friday night , disparaging his political rival and Democratic efforts to tighten firearm controls .
The death of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has injected fresh urgency into Trump ’ s rhetoric and one of America ’ s most divisive struggles .
Sunday , two days after the passing of the 87-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heat , appealing to gun owners in the final stretch of the campaign : `` SAVE YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT , VOTE TRUMP , '' he tweeted .
Nowhere does the tension resonate more than at the counter of gun dealers and trade shows .
The discordant political climate , a roiling racial justice movement and fear driven by the relentless COVID-19 pandemic pushed gun sales to record levels .
The FBI , responsible for conducting background checks on prospective buyers , acknowledges that surging sales pushed its system to the limit .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection bid as a promise to assemble a Supreme Court that would serve as a backstop for a constellation of conservative stands , including gun rights .
Gun control advocates have also amplified their messages in the wake of Ginsburg 's death .
`` Make no mistake , '' said Kris Brown , president of the Brady Campaign , `` gun safety is on the ballot in November . ''
Noting Ginsburg 's long career as a legal `` trailblazer , '' Brown said the `` loss is overshadowed by the reality that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sensible gun laws in America , now rests in the hands of ( Republican ) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump .
... Those laws and the hard-earned progress that activists and concerned Americans have won for generations are now in peril . ''
Guns were on the Supreme Court 's docket last term , the first major Second Amendment case in nearly a decade , when the court weighed a challenge to New York City 's ban on transporting legally owned guns outside city limits .
More : Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a setback for NRA Gun rights groups argued that the prohibition was too restrictive , as it effectively barred gun owners from taking firearms to shooting ranges or to vacation homes beyond city limits .
In April , the court voided the case by ruling that New York 's repeal of the restriction rendered the case closed .
The challenge underscored the sharp political differences that are on display as Republicans and Democrats clash over when and how Ginsburg 's seat should be filled .
More : Senate GOP writes letter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dems to 'pack the Court' Culture wars : The gun debate is n't about what you think The prospect of the court expanding gun rights in the New York case set off a partisan dispute in the Senate when five Democrats filed a brief urging the court to dismiss the case or voters might demand that it be `` restructured . ''
That was interpreted by many as a threat to pack the court with additional justices if Democrats win the White House and Senate .
Fifty-three Republicans followed with a letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened this court with political retribution . ''
“ The implication is as plain as day : ‘ Dismiss this case , or we ’ ll pack the court , ’ ” they wrote .
In a statement after Ginsburg 's death , Everytown for Gun Safety noted the New York case , saying the justice `` dismantled the gun lobby ’ s argument and championed common sense , as she did so many times before . ''
The National Rifle Association , which supported the case , declined comment Monday .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NRA Two weeks after the mass shooting in 2018 that left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland , Florida , Trump sounded little like the candidate embraced by the gun lobby .
The president , in a meeting to discuss school safety measures , startled lawmakers – particularly pro-gun Republicans – when he expressed support for taking firearms away from people who might commit violence before going through legal due process in the courts .
`` I like taking guns away early , '' Trump said .
`` Take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process second . ''
Trump chided fellow Republicans , saying they were `` petrified '' of the NRA .
After a meeting with the NRA , Trump backed away from taking aggressive action .
He again retreated from brief consideration of expanded background checks after mass shootings in Texas and Ohio in 2019 , referring to the `` slippery slope '' that might result in an erosion of gun rights .
There is no disputing where Trump stands in full campaign mode .
`` I protected your Second Amendment , '' Trump told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia .
`` Did you think that was easy for the last four years .
...
But we held totally strong , and it ’ s always going to be with us .
But if they ( Democrats ) get in , they will absolutely – either obliterate it to a point of no return or actually terminate it .
And I have no doubt about it . ''
The Biden campaign has offered no such proposal , but the former vice president does advocate for restrictions , such as an expansion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefly weighed last year .
Biden proposes a ban on the manufacture and sale of weapons with high-capacity ammunition magazines .
When Biden was a Delaware senator , he pushed to establish a 10-year ban on certain weapons that expired in 2004 .
He said that if he is elected president , he would create a buyback program for weapons in circulation .
Charlie Kelly , senior political adviser for Everytown , called the pairing of Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris , a former state attorney general , the `` strongest gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference for voters .
`` Even in the age of COVID , the issue has only increased , '' Kelly said , referring to surges in gun violence in some cities .
The sharp differences , analysts said , are likely to be amplified in the campaign 's homestretch , as Trump moves to fill Ginsburg 's seat .
During weekend vigils after Ginsburg 's death , a group of gun rights advocates was in the midst of its annual policy conference .
Alan Gottlieb , founder of the Second Amendment Foundation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts and other arms of the federal government to shrink access to guns , suggesting that the Democratic nominee would even move to close gun ranges .
`` Between now and the November election , there are no rest stops along the way , '' Gottlieb told the group .

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death injects new urgency into Second Amendment debate amid Supreme Court battle
Show Caption Hide Caption Rally for gun rights held outside Michigan Capitol Dozens gather at the Michigan Capitol to rally in support of their right to bear arms as well as to decry efforts undertaken by the state to rein in the coronavirus pandemic (Sept. 17) AP
At virtually every stop on the campaign trail, President Donald Trump has sought to strike an emotional chord in audiences with a familiar warning.
"Sleepy Joe is gonna take your guns away," Trump declared at a rally in Minnesota on Friday night, disparaging his political rival and Democratic efforts to tighten firearm controls.
The death of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has injected fresh urgency into Trump’s rhetoric and one of America’s most divisive struggles.
Sunday, two days after the passing of the 87-year-old jurist, the president turned up the heat, appealing to gun owners in the final stretch of the campaign: "SAVE YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT, VOTE TRUMP," he tweeted.
Nowhere does the tension resonate more than at the counter of gun dealers and trade shows.
The discordant political climate, a roiling racial justice movement and fear driven by the relentless COVID-19 pandemic pushed gun sales to record levels. The FBI, responsible for conducting background checks on prospective buyers, acknowledges that surging sales pushed its system to the limit.
Trump has pitched at least part of his reelection bid as a promise to assemble a Supreme Court that would serve as a backstop for a constellation of conservative stands, including gun rights.
Gun control advocates have also amplified their messages in the wake of Ginsburg's death. "Make no mistake," said Kris Brown, president of the Brady Campaign, "gun safety is on the ballot in November."
Noting Ginsburg's long career as a legal "trailblazer," Brown said the "loss is overshadowed by the reality that her seat, and potentially the fate of sensible gun laws in America, now rests in the hands of (Republican) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump. ... Those laws and the hard-earned progress that activists and concerned Americans have won for generations are now in peril."
Sharp divides on guns
Guns were on the Supreme Court's docket last term, the first major Second Amendment case in nearly a decade, when the court weighed a challenge to New York City's ban on transporting legally owned guns outside city limits.
More: Supreme Court sidesteps major Second Amendment case, a setback for NRA
Gun rights groups argued that the prohibition was too restrictive, as it effectively barred gun owners from taking firearms to shooting ranges or to vacation homes beyond city limits.
In April, the court voided the case by ruling that New York's repeal of the restriction rendered the case closed.
The challenge underscored the sharp political differences that are on display as Republicans and Democrats clash over when and how Ginsburg's seat should be filled.
More: Senate GOP writes letter to the Supreme Court, pledging not to allow Dems to 'pack the Court'
Culture wars: The gun debate isn't about what you think
The prospect of the court expanding gun rights in the New York case set off a partisan dispute in the Senate when five Democrats filed a brief urging the court to dismiss the case or voters might demand that it be "restructured."
That was interpreted by many as a threat to pack the court with additional justices if Democrats win the White House and Senate.
Fifty-three Republicans followed with a letter to the court complaining that Democrats "openly threatened this court with political retribution."
“The implication is as plain as day: ‘Dismiss this case, or we’ll pack the court,’” they wrote.
In a statement after Ginsburg's death, Everytown for Gun Safety noted the New York case, saying the justice "dismantled the gun lobby’s argument and championed common sense, as she did so many times before."
The National Rifle Association, which supported the case, declined comment Monday.
Trump once said GOP was 'petrified' of NRA
Two weeks after the mass shooting in 2018 that left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Trump sounded little like the candidate embraced by the gun lobby.
The president, in a meeting to discuss school safety measures, startled lawmakers – particularly pro-gun Republicans – when he expressed support for taking firearms away from people who might commit violence before going through legal due process in the courts.
"I like taking guns away early," Trump said. "Take the guns first, go through due process second." Trump chided fellow Republicans, saying they were "petrified" of the NRA.
Joshua Powell, NRA's former no. 2, claims fraud, corruption at org. Joshua Powell, NRA former second-in-command to Wayne LaPierre says his boss used mass shootings to sell guns, and that's just "the tip of the iceberg." USA TODAY
After a meeting with the NRA, Trump backed away from taking aggressive action. He again retreated from brief consideration of expanded background checks after mass shootings in Texas and Ohio in 2019, referring to the "slippery slope" that might result in an erosion of gun rights.
There is no disputing where Trump stands in full campaign mode.
"I protected your Second Amendment," Trump told an audience last month in Arlington, Virginia. "Did you think that was easy for the last four years. ... But we held totally strong, and it’s always going to be with us. But if they (Democrats) get in, they will absolutely – either obliterate it to a point of no return or actually terminate it. And I have no doubt about it."
The Biden campaign has offered no such proposal, but the former vice president does advocate for restrictions, such as an expansion of background checks – an idea that Trump briefly weighed last year. Biden proposes a ban on the manufacture and sale of weapons with high-capacity ammunition magazines.
When Biden was a Delaware senator, he pushed to establish a 10-year ban on certain weapons that expired in 2004. He said that if he is elected president, he would create a buyback program for weapons in circulation.
Charlie Kelly, senior political adviser for Everytown, called the pairing of Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris, a former state attorney general, the "strongest gun safety ticket" that offers a stark difference for voters.
"Even in the age of COVID, the issue has only increased," Kelly said, referring to surges in gun violence in some cities.
The sharp differences, analysts said, are likely to be amplified in the campaign's homestretch, as Trump moves to fill Ginsburg's seat.
During weekend vigils after Ginsburg's death, a group of gun rights advocates was in the midst of its annual policy conference.
Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, warned delegates that Biden would use the courts and other arms of the federal government to shrink access to guns, suggesting that the Democratic nominee would even move to close gun ranges.
"Between now and the November election, there are no rest stops along the way," Gottlieb told the group.
Contributing: Richard Wolf and David Jackson


usatoday--2020-09-21--Opinion: Patriots QB Cam Newton earning validation, right to tell NFL, 'Told you so'

No , Cam Newton didn ’ t get a fat contract from the New England Patriots .
Two weeks into the season , however , it appears he got something even more valuable .
Validation .
The opportunity to say , “ I told you so , ” too .
While the former MVP is reminding everyone what he ’ s capable of when he ’ s healthy and in a scheme that makes full use of his prodigious skills , there are several teams that have to be wondering exactly what they were thinking this off-season .
And if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be .
Teams like , say , the Chicago Bears , whose near-meltdown in the second half Sunday showed the oft-promised progress of Mitchell Trubisky is based more on hope than in reality .
Or the Washington Football Team , where Dwayne Haskins would probably be better served with a year or two as an understudy .
Even the Indianapolis Colts , who were dead-set on getting Philip Rivers but would have been better off expanding their search .
Instead , it ’ s Newton and Bill Belichick getting the last laugh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 2020 NFL season More : Opinion : Rash of serious injuries a sign of things to come when NFL expands to 17 games ?
While the Seattle Seahawks stuffed Newton at the goal line to preserve their 35-30 victory Sunday night , he has been nothing short of impressive so far in his new home .
He rushed for two touchdowns against the Seahawks , just as he did in the season opener against Miami .
His size – 6-foot-5 , 245 pounds – ability to scramble and , most importantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjust makes him almost impossible for a defense to contain .
Broken plays simply don ’ t exist with Newton because if you try to flush him out of the pocket , he ’ ll just run you over .
If you try to block the gaps he might exploit , he ’ ll hit Julian Edelman for a 25-yard gain .
He gives Belichick and the Patriots ' offense a dimension they never had with Brady .
Or could have with almost any other quarterback , frankly .
Why any team wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want Newton , is confounding .
Of course Newton ’ s history of injuries was going to give teams pause .
He played in just two games last year because of a nagging foot injury – it turned out to be a Lisfranc injury – that ultimately required surgery .
He ’ s had two surgeries on his throwing shoulder since March 2017 .
The timing of Newton ’ s departure from Carolina didn ’ t help matters .
Unable to trade Newton , the Panthers released him March 24 – two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the COVID-19 pandemic .
That prevented teams that could have – should have -- been interested from bringing Newton in for workouts that would have erased any doubts he was ready to go .
But it ’ s not as if Newton was an unknown quantity .
Or was years removed from dominance .
Teams only had to go back to the first half of 2018 to see how effective he can be .
Through the first eight games of that season , before he got hammered by Pittsburgh ’ s T.J. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touchdowns and run for four more while throwing just four interceptions .
He had a QB rating of 101.3 or better in five of those eight games .
Oh , the Panthers were 6-2 during that stretch , too .
But , sure , Nick Foles is a better option .
Gardner Minshew and Ryan Fitzpatrick , too .
Even the Patriots dithered around until late June before signing Newton .
But Belichick was at least smart enough to recognize that Newton was worth the gamble , especially when the quarterback was willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even with incentives , will pay him a maximum of $ 7.5 million .
If Newton worked out , great .
If not , it had cost the Patriots next to nothing and everyone had assumed this was going to be a rebuilding year , anyway .
It ’ s early , yes .
So far , though , Newton looks to once again be the elite , game-changing quarterback teams crave while Belichick looks like a genius .
And other teams have to be looking at themselves , wondering how they could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love talking football , we have the perfect spot for you .
Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling Off the Field , to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders .
Do the right thing , sign up now !

Opinion: Patriots QB Cam Newton earning validation, right to tell NFL, 'Told you so'
Show Caption Hide Caption NFL overreactions: Cowboys miracle, Chiefs comeback, injuries define Week 2 SportsPulse: Crazy comebacks and devastating injuries defined a jam-packed Sunday. USA TODAY Sports' Mackenzie Salmon reacts to all the biggest story lines from Week 2 around the NFL. USA TODAY
No, Cam Newton didn’t get a fat contract from the New England Patriots. Two weeks into the season, however, it appears he got something even more valuable.
Validation. The opportunity to say, “I told you so,” too.
While the former MVP is reminding everyone what he’s capable of when he’s healthy and in a scheme that makes full use of his prodigious skills, there are several teams that have to be wondering exactly what they were thinking this off-season.
And if they’re not, they should be.
Teams like, say, the Chicago Bears, whose near-meltdown in the second half Sunday showed the oft-promised progress of Mitchell Trubisky is based more on hope than in reality. Or the Washington Football Team, where Dwayne Haskins would probably be better served with a year or two as an understudy.
Even the Indianapolis Colts, who were dead-set on getting Philip Rivers but would have been better off expanding their search.
Instead, it’s Newton and Bill Belichick getting the last laugh.
More: 32 things we learned from Week 2 of the 2020 NFL season
More: Opinion: Rash of serious injuries a sign of things to come when NFL expands to 17 games?
While the Seattle Seahawks stuffed Newton at the goal line to preserve their 35-30 victory Sunday night, he has been nothing short of impressive so far in his new home. He rushed for two touchdowns against the Seahawks, just as he did in the season opener against Miami.
His size – 6-foot-5, 245 pounds – ability to scramble and, most importantly, ability to see the field and adjust makes him almost impossible for a defense to contain. Broken plays simply don’t exist with Newton because if you try to flush him out of the pocket, he’ll just run you over. If you try to block the gaps he might exploit, he’ll hit Julian Edelman for a 25-yard gain.
He gives Belichick and the Patriots' offense a dimension they never had with Brady. Or could have with almost any other quarterback, frankly.
Why any team wouldn’t want that, wouldn’t want Newton, is confounding.
Of course Newton’s history of injuries was going to give teams pause. He played in just two games last year because of a nagging foot injury – it turned out to be a Lisfranc injury – that ultimately required surgery. He’s had two surgeries on his throwing shoulder since March 2017.
The timing of Newton’s departure from Carolina didn’t help matters. Unable to trade Newton, the Panthers released him March 24 – two days before the NFL shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That prevented teams that could have – should have -- been interested from bringing Newton in for workouts that would have erased any doubts he was ready to go.
But it’s not as if Newton was an unknown quantity. Or was years removed from dominance. Teams only had to go back to the first half of 2018 to see how effective he can be. Through the first eight games of that season, before he got hammered by Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt, Newton had thrown for 15 touchdowns and run for four more while throwing just four interceptions. He had a QB rating of 101.3 or better in five of those eight games.
Oh, the Panthers were 6-2 during that stretch, too.
But, sure, Nick Foles is a better option. Gardner Minshew and Ryan Fitzpatrick, too.
Even the Patriots dithered around until late June before signing Newton. But Belichick was at least smart enough to recognize that Newton was worth the gamble, especially when the quarterback was willing to accept a one-year deal that, even with incentives, will pay him a maximum of $7.5 million.
If Newton worked out, great. If not, it had cost the Patriots next to nothing and everyone had assumed this was going to be a rebuilding year, anyway.
It’s early, yes. So far, though, Newton looks to once again be the elite, game-changing quarterback teams crave while Belichick looks like a genius. And other teams have to be looking at themselves, wondering how they could have missed so badly.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour
If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Do the right thing, sign up now!


usatoday--2020-09-21--Emmys In Memoriam segment leaves off Kelly Preston, Kobe Bryant, Nick Cordero, viewers react

Those who tuned in for the Emmy Awards Sunday night did n't see a few famous faces in the In Memoriam segment , including Nick Cordero , Kobe Bryant and Kelly Preston .
Viewers took to social media to react to the exclusions , including Cordero 's friend Zach Braff .
`` For those wondering : The Emmys chose to leave Nick Cordero out of the memorial montage , '' the actor wrote on Twitter Monday .
`` I had no idea one had to campaign to get their loved one in .
We did .
They passed . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Broadway , but as Braff added in a follow-up tweet , `` ( Cordero ) was on the show 'Blue Bloods . '
`` Braff also shared a statement he said was `` From the Emmys , '' which stated : `` Those involved in the In Memoriam selection process are very aware of the sad passing of Mr. Cordero due to coronavirus and we assure that his name has been given every consideration for inclusion . ''
The statement continued , `` With so many people passing in any given year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular individual is included , nor do we release the names included prior to the telecast . ''
Braff also mentioned another late star he missed in the segment , `` Scrubs '' star Sam Lloyd .
`` They also left out Sam Lloyd .
I would have never even considered 'campaigning ' for Sam because he had more TV credits than most actors I know , '' Braff wrote .
Throughout his career , Lloyd appeared on several hit shows , including `` Desperate Housewives , '' `` Modern Family , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Middle . ''
More : Sam Lloyd from 'Scrubs ' dies at 56 ; Zach Braff , Ken Jeong pay tribute to comedic actor USA TODAY has reached out to the Television Academy for comment .
Others on social media called out the exclusion of Bryant , a basketball legend who died in a helicopter crash on January .
User @ legobatmans wrote , `` am i the only one confused as to why kobe wasnt a part of the in memoriam section ?
?
?
he was literally involved in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors award .
they had to make the choice to exclude him like it ’ s so weird '' User @ TAYZTHIS added , `` In the House that Kobe built , in the Staples Center , the Emmy ’ s 2020 , did not honor Kobe Bryant during the Memoriam .
How soon we forget greatness . ''
Preston , the late wife of John Travolta who died in July at 57 after a battle with breast cancer , was also left out .
User @ JamieCinematics tweeted , `` Kelly Preston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she made appearances on television shows and deserved to be included in the In Memoriam . ''
`` Did you folks just snub Kelly Preston ?
!
!
! ''
user @ g_mojgan added .
Preston 's last TV role was in `` CSI : Cyber '' in 2016 , according to the Internet Movie Database .
More : Emmys 2020 : The biggest losers ( including Netflix ) , on an unusual night

Emmys In Memoriam segment leaves off Kelly Preston, Kobe Bryant, Nick Cordero, viewers react
Show Caption Hide Caption Emmys 2020 highlights: 'Schitt's Creek,' Zendaya, Jen Aniston The 2020 Emmys were filled with highlights, from Jennifer Aniston extinguishing a fire to 'Schitt's Creek' and Zendaya making award show history. Entertain This!, USA TODAY
Those who tuned in for the Emmy Awards Sunday night didn't see a few famous faces in the In Memoriam segment, including Nick Cordero, Kobe Bryant and Kelly Preston.
Viewers took to social media to react to the exclusions, including Cordero's friend Zach Braff.
"For those wondering: The Emmys chose to leave Nick Cordero out of the memorial montage," the actor wrote on Twitter Monday. "I had no idea one had to campaign to get their loved one in. We did. They passed."
Cordero was best known for his work on Broadway, but as Braff added in a follow-up tweet, "(Cordero) was on the show 'Blue Bloods.' "
Braff also shared a statement he said was "From the Emmys," which stated: "Those involved in the In Memoriam selection process are very aware of the sad passing of Mr. Cordero due to coronavirus and we assure that his name has been given every consideration for inclusion."
The statement continued, "With so many people passing in any given year, we simply cannot ensure any particular individual is included, nor do we release the names included prior to the telecast."
Braff also mentioned another late star he missed in the segment, "Scrubs" star Sam Lloyd.
"They also left out Sam Lloyd. I would have never even considered 'campaigning' for Sam because he had more TV credits than most actors I know," Braff wrote.
Throughout his career, Lloyd appeared on several hit shows, including "Desperate Housewives," "Modern Family," "Shameless" and "Malcolm in the Middle."
More: Sam Lloyd from 'Scrubs' dies at 56; Zach Braff, Ken Jeong pay tribute to comedic actor
USA TODAY has reached out to the Television Academy for comment.
Others on social media called out the exclusion of Bryant, a basketball legend who died in a helicopter crash on January.
User @legobatmans wrote, "am i the only one confused as to why kobe wasnt a part of the in memoriam section??? he was literally involved in the film industry and even has an emmy governors award. they had to make the choice to exclude him like it’s so weird"
User @TAYZTHIS added, "In the House that Kobe built, in the Staples Center, the Emmy’s 2020, did not honor Kobe Bryant during the Memoriam. How soon we forget greatness."
Preston, the late wife of John Travolta who died in July at 57 after a battle with breast cancer, was also left out.
User @JamieCinematics tweeted, "Kelly Preston was better known for film, but she made appearances on television shows and deserved to be included in the In Memoriam."
"Did you folks just snub Kelly Preston?!!!" user @g_mojgan added.
Preston's last TV role was in "CSI: Cyber" in 2016, according to the Internet Movie Database.
More: 'Literal dumpster fire': Jennifer Aniston extinguishes fire at Emmys, ignites controversy
More: Emmys 2020: The biggest losers (including Netflix), on an unusual night