usatoday--2020-07-10--Former US Attorney Geoffrey Berman: AG Barr pressed him to resign to make way for favored candidate

WASHINGTON – Attorney General William Barr repeatedly pressed recently ousted Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman to resign during a chaotic weekend last month , the former prosecutor told a House panel Thursday .
Berman provided the account in an opening statement during a closed-door meeting with the House Judiciary Committee , following his abrupt firing as chief of the Justice Department 's most prestigious office .
`` The Attorney General said that if I did not resign from my position I would be fired .
He added that getting fired from my job would not be good for my resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him that while I did not want to get fired , I would not resign , '' Berman told lawmakers on the committee , which has been investigating allegations of politicization of the Justice Department .
The testimony from Berman , whose office has investigated and prosecuted several of President Donald Trump 's allies , is certain to raise additional questions about the Justice Department 's independence from a White House that has purged watchdogs , whistleblowers and others seen as disloyal .
'What had happened was wrong ' : DOJ lawyers accuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone case , other probes Two weeks ago , two Justice Department prosecutors accused the agency 's leadership of abusing its power at the president 's behest .
One , a career Justice Department attorney who prosecuted Roger Stone , accused the agency 's leaders of giving the longtime GOP operative favorable treatment because he 's an ally of the president .
Berman was fired last month after an extraordinary clash with Barr , who had announced that Berman was stepping down to make way for Trump 's new nominee to lead the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insisted he had no intention of resigning until the Senate confirms a nominee , setting off a highly public fight over control of the pivotal office .
During a 45-minute meeting with Barr last month , Berman said the attorney general urged him to take a job as assistant attorney general for the Justice Department 's Civil Division , a post that was recently vacated .
`` I responded that I loved my job and my colleagues ...
I told the Attorney General that I was not interested in overseeing DOJ 's Civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that his office has `` important investigations '' he wanted to see through to the end .
Although the attorney general `` was not at all dissatisfied '' with his performance as chief prosecutor in Manhattan , Berman said , the Trump administration wanted to put someone else in the position .
Trump intends to nominate Jay Clayton , the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman who has no experience as a federal prosecutor , to replace Berman .
'No intention of resigning ' : US attorney in Manhattan vows to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , continue probes '' I asked the Attorney General why I was being asked to resign prior to a nominee being confirmed .
He said it was because the Administration wanted to get Jay Clayton in that position , '' said Berman , who believes Clayton was not qualified for the job because of his lack of criminal experience .
Rep. Jerry Nadler , D-N.Y. , and chair of the House Judiciary Committee , described the effort to convince Berman to take a different position a `` quid pro quo '' that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although he told reporters it 's unclear if Barr 's actions were criminal .
The committee said it will release a transcript of the testimony .
A summary of the interview released by the committee accused Barr of lying .
Rep. Jim Jordan , R-Ohio , and ranking member of the committee , countered with his own summary disputing that Barr had done anything wrong .
`` The interview uncovered no evidence of misconduct , wrongdoing , or criminality .
The interview uncovered no nefarious plot to stifle ongoing investigations , '' according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Berman said he repeatedly made clear to Barr that he had no desire to leave his job and that `` there was no job offer that would entice me to resign from my position . ''
Based on Berman 's account , his conversations with Barr did not give him the impression that his fate was sealed .
But hours later , the Justice Department released a statement saying Berman is `` stepping down . ''
`` That statement was false , '' Berman said .
The Justice Department also said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Jersey , will take his place until Clayton is confirmed by the Senate .
Appointing Carpenito and not someone who 's already in the Manhattan office , `` would have been unprecedented , unnecessary and unexplained , '' Berman said .
Trump later fired Berman the following day at Barr 's urging , although the president seemed to distance himself from the issue .
`` I 'm not involved , '' Trump told reporters .
Barr had also backtracked from his appointment of Carpenito , announcing that Berman 's top deputy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge .
Before his removal , Berman referred to ongoing investigations within his office and his desire to advance them `` without delay or interruption . ''
He did not elaborate on specific probes , but his ouster came just days after former Trump national security adviser John Bolton revealed in a book that the president once sought to interfere in an investigation of a Turkish bank to pacify Turkey ’ s president , Recep Erdogan .
Berman 's former office is also investigating Trump 's personal lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's nomination appeared to be already in peril .
Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee had signaled he would not move forward with the nomination without sign off from New York 's two senators – both of whom have called for Clayton to remove his name from consideration .

Kristine Phillips and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

Former US Attorney Geoffrey Berman: AG Barr pressed him to resign to make way for favored candidate
Show Caption Hide Caption Schumer calls for investigation into Berman firing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for an investigation into the Trump administration's firing of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman. (June 22) AP
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William Barr repeatedly pressed recently ousted Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman to resign during a chaotic weekend last month, the former prosecutor told a House panel Thursday.
Berman provided the account in an opening statement during a closed-door meeting with the House Judiciary Committee, following his abrupt firing as chief of the Justice Department's most prestigious office.
"The Attorney General said that if I did not resign from my position I would be fired. He added that getting fired from my job would not be good for my resume or future job prospects. I told him that while I did not want to get fired, I would not resign," Berman told lawmakers on the committee, which has been investigating allegations of politicization of the Justice Department.
A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.
The testimony from Berman, whose office has investigated and prosecuted several of President Donald Trump's allies, is certain to raise additional questions about the Justice Department's independence from a White House that has purged watchdogs, whistleblowers and others seen as disloyal.
Geoffrey Berman firing: Attorney General Barr's glowing account of NY prosecutor's work further clouds dismissal
'What had happened was wrong': DOJ lawyers accuse agency leaders of abusing power in Roger Stone case, other probes
Two weeks ago, two Justice Department prosecutors accused the agency's leadership of abusing its power at the president's behest. One, a career Justice Department attorney who prosecuted Roger Stone, accused the agency's leaders of giving the longtime GOP operative favorable treatment because he's an ally of the president.
Berman was fired last month after an extraordinary clash with Barr, who had announced that Berman was stepping down to make way for Trump's new nominee to lead the Manhattan office. Berman, however, insisted he had no intention of resigning until the Senate confirms a nominee, setting off a highly public fight over control of the pivotal office.
During a 45-minute meeting with Barr last month, Berman said the attorney general urged him to take a job as assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Division, a post that was recently vacated.
"I responded that I loved my job and my colleagues ... I told the Attorney General that I was not interested in overseeing DOJ's Civil Division or in resigning," Berman said, adding that his office has "important investigations" he wanted to see through to the end.
Although the attorney general "was not at all dissatisfied" with his performance as chief prosecutor in Manhattan, Berman said, the Trump administration wanted to put someone else in the position. Trump intends to nominate Jay Clayton, the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman who has no experience as a federal prosecutor, to replace Berman.
'No intention of resigning': US attorney in Manhattan vows to resist Barr's effort to oust him, continue probes
"I asked the Attorney General why I was being asked to resign prior to a nominee being confirmed. He said it was because the Administration wanted to get Jay Clayton in that position," said Berman, who believes Clayton was not qualified for the job because of his lack of criminal experience.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, described the effort to convince Berman to take a different position a "quid pro quo" that "gets awfully close to bribery," although he told reporters it's unclear if Barr's actions were criminal.
A summary of the interview released by Democrats accused Barr of lying. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and ranking member of the committee, countered with his own summary disputing that Barr had done anything wrong.
"The interview uncovered no evidence of misconduct, wrongdoing, or criminality. The interview uncovered no nefarious plot to stifle ongoing investigations," according to the summary.
During the conversation, Berman said he repeatedly made clear to Barr that he had no desire to leave his job and that "there was no job offer that would entice me to resign from my position." Based on Berman's account, his conversations with Barr did not give him the impression that his fate was sealed.
But hours later, the Justice Department released a statement saying Berman is "stepping down."
U.S. Attorney says he won't quit after Barr announced his resignation The Justice Dept. announced the resignation of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of N.Y. Geoffrey Berman. But he says he has no plans of resigning. Newsy, Newsy
"That statement was false," Berman said.
Berman declined to speculate about Barr's motives, but he said the attorney general's "irregular and unexplained actions" were problematic, according to a transcript of the interview.
"The Attorney General praised me privately and publicly. Why then did he insist on me resigning (before the Senate confirms a successor)? Why did the Attorney General say that I was stepping down when he knew I had neither resigned nor been fired?" Berman said.
The Justice Department also said that Craig Carpenito, chief federal prosecutor in New Jersey, will take Berman's place until Clayton is confirmed by the Senate. Appointing Carpenito and not someone who's already in the Manhattan office was suspect, Berman said, and "would have been unprecedented, unnecessary and unexplained."
Berman said appointing an outsider "would have resulted in the delay and disruption" of ongoing investigations. Berman declined to mention any specific investigation.
Trump ultimately fired Berman at Barr's urging, although the president seemed to distance himself from the issue. Barr also ultimately backtracked from his appointment of Carpenito, announcing that Berman's top deputy, Audrey Strauss, will be temporarily in charge.
Berman said that's the outcome he preferred.
"Were I to resign, an outsider would have come in as acting U.S. attorney, and I was not going to permit that," he told lawmakers. "And I would rather be fired than have that done."
Berman's ouster came just days after former Trump national security adviser John Bolton revealed in a book that the president once sought to interfere in an investigation of a Turkish bank to pacify Turkey’s president, Recep Erdogan. The office is also investigating Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and two former Giuliani business associates.
Clayton's nomination appeared to be already in peril. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee had signaled he would not move forward with the nomination without sign off from New York's two senators – both of whom have called for Clayton to remove his name from consideration.


usatoday--2020-07-11--'Republicans are really fed up': GOP increasingly splits with Trump as his polls drag

WASHINGTON – Weeks before President Donald Trump accepts his party 's nomination , cracks are deepening within the party as a host of GOP lawmakers distance themselves from the Republican standard bearer as they weigh their election chances in November .
Republicans have increasingly split with Trump on a host of issues shadowing his administration , from his tone on racism and the removal of Confederate statues , to wearing a face mask amid the coronavirus pandemic and questions over intelligence reports of a Russia-backed bounty program on U.S. troops in Afghanistan .
It 's a rare moment in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump otherwise relished inparty unity on issues such as his impeachment and former special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia investigation .
`` There ’ s a real disagreement between the president and his party in this election , ” said Alex Conant , a GOP strategist and former aide to Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla. `` I think a lot of Republicans are really fed up with the president 's divisive strategy .
People are just throwing up their hands with some of the rhetoric that 's coming out of the president .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own re-election , but also to keeping the Senate . ''
Earlier this week , several GOP lawmakers said they plan to skip the party 's national convention in Jacksonville , Florida , where coronavirus cases have surged , leaving supporters , politicians and officials who plan to attend with the hard choice of risking their personal health or facing potential retaliation from the president .
Sen. Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , the oldest GOP senator at age 86 , said Monday he would avoid the convention `` because of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexander , R-Tenn. ; Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska ; Susan Collins , R-Maine ; and Mitt Romney , R-Utah , also cited coronavirus concerns as the reason they wo n't attend .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , called the convention a `` challenging situation '' when asked whether he plans to attend .
`` We 'll have to wait and see how things look in late August to determine whether or not we can safely convene with that many people , '' he said Thursday .
The Trump campaign had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a campaign rally at a New Hampshire airport hangar , but the campaign announced it would postpone the rally over the approaching Tropical Storm Fay , according to White House officials .
The campaign snag comes after turnout at a June rally held inside an Oklahoma arena fell short of expectations amid an increase in COVID-19 cases across the state .
Tulsa health officials said Wednesday that the rally and surrounding protests likely contributed to the city ’ s recent surge in cases .
New Hampshire 's Republican Gov .
Chris Sununu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to break with the president over his pandemic messaging when it collides with his state 's interests .
Sununu has had to walk a careful line in defending the president 's rally while enforcing his own reopening guidelines .
The Republican governor had planned to greet Trump in New Hampshire , but skip the rally over coronavirus fears .
'Make-or-break moment ' : Trump heads to New Hampshire for campaign rally amid sagging polls , coronavirus fears 'Some of his tweets have not been helpful ' : GOP senators criticize Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Biden widens his lead , but Trump keeps the edge on enthusiasm The Republican party moved its convention from Charlotte , North Carolina , last month after state and local officials refused to commit to the president 's desire to hold a full convention , packed with thousands of supporters , over health concerns amid the ongoing pandemic .
But aside from coronavirus concerns , the Republican convention may have lost its luster for some lawmakers , according to GOP strategist Matt Gorman .
`` For a lot of these elected officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there for fundraising and press attention , '' he said .
`` And if a lot of media folks are not planning to go and a lot of donors choose not to go because in-person fundraising is a bit less prevalent , then there 's not much incentive to show up . ''
Gorman said he does n't think the list of senators avoiding the convention will draw the president 's ire , noting that several lawmakers skipped the event in 2016 in protest – including Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has since softened his tone about holding a traditional convention , telling television host Greta Van Susteren this week that `` it really depends on timing . ''
`` We can do a lot of things , but we ’ re very flexible , '' he said of convention plans .
Jacksonville has emerged as one of the nation 's biggest hotspots for the coronavirus .
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday Jacksonville would be one of three cities designated for a testing `` surge '' to make more tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The administration 's mounting controversies have pushed even Republicans who previously refused to break ranks with Trump to begin speaking out – most notably as it relates to the dramatic uptick in coronavirus cases in the U.S .
They have been vocal in their opposition to his refusal to wear a mask , pressuring the administration for increased testing and , most recently , some have criticized Trump for pulling out of the World Health Organization as the pandemic continues to ravage the country .
More : Some Republicans split with Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bases More : The White House has sent conflicting messages on wearing masks and the new coronavirus cases '' I disagree with the president ’ s decision , '' Alexander , a Tennessee Republican , said after the president pulled the U.S. from WHO , noting that while mistakes of the WHO should be examined , `` the time to do that is after the crisis has been dealt with , not in the middle of it .
Withdrawing U.S. membership could , among other things , interfere with clinical trials that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Even some of the president 's closest allies on Capitol Hill in recent weeks have been critical as Trump 's poll numbers , already hit by the pandemic , continue to plummet amid a national reckoning over policing , race and America 's Confederate history .
Aides and allies have urged the president to change his tone as the nation both grieves the death of George Floyd after he was killed by a Minneapolis police officer , and protesters call for change to racially fraught policies .
The president has instead stoked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against demonstrators and using Independence Day speeches to defend Confederate monuments and dismiss protesters as `` Marxists . ''
`` The country is looking for healing and calm .
And I think the president needs to project that in his tone , '' said Sen. John Thune , the Senate 's No .
2 Republican .
`` He masters that sometimes , and that ’ s the tone he needs to strike right now . ''
Trump 's handling of the protests even led to Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , leaving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November .
`` I am struggling with it , '' she said when asked by reporters whether she would continue to support Trump .
`` I have struggled with it for a long time . ''
Trump has drawn the ire of even of his most ardent supporters with his some of his racially polarizing comments .
Most recently , after Trump criticized NASCAR for banning the Confederate flag and called for Bubba Wallace , one of the sport 's only Black drivers , to apologize after the FBI said a noose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the driver , Graham , a fierce defender of the president , pushed back .
`` I do n't think Bubba Wallace has anything to apologize for , '' Graham told Fox News Radio .
`` I 've lived in South Carolina all my life and if you 're in business , the Confederate flag is not a good way to grow your business . ''
Senate Republicans have largely ignored the president 's threat to veto a defense spending bill over an amendment to rename Army bases named for Confederate figures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, has gained a groundswell of support from prominent Republicans , including Sen. Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , who warned earlier this week that Congress would `` probably override '' Trump 's veto .
While the president has drawn a line on removing memorials honoring Confederate leaders and controversial historical figures , Republican attitudes appeared to have shifted since protests over racial inequality first unfolded in May .
McConnell said last month he 'd be `` OK '' with changing the names of military bases while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing a tough re-election in November , supported the amendment in a U.S. Armed Services Committee vote last month .
`` There shouldn ’ t be a knee-jerk reaction to renaming bases , '' Grassley said Monday .
`` And I imagine that in my lifetime , there ’ s been a lot of bases that have had their names changed .
I ’ m not aware of it .
But the extent to which it ’ s a thoughtful process and not a knee-jerk reaction , I wouldn ’ t have any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued eight vetoes during his presidency , and none have been overridden by Congress .
Rep. Liz Cheney , R-Wy.
, has made a habit of marking her differences with the president over his term , especially when it comes to foreign policy , and has continued to speak up throughout the latest controversies .
After the president refused to wear a face mask in public , Cheney tweeted a photo of her father Dick Cheney in a mask with the hashtag # realmenwearmasks .
Opinion : Trump , Tulsa and the demise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Cheney know the risks of speaking out and the potential for a lashing from the president ’ s Twitter account .
But history has shown the president is less likely to go after loyal lawmakers who disagree with him on occasion , as he typically targets those who attack him personally or could imperil his re-election chances , such as those who have voiced openness to voting against him or weren ’ t unilaterally behind him during his impeachment .
“ My sense is that Trump is fine with Republicans criticizing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s not OK with them attacking him , ” said Conant .
Congressional Republicans say the critiques of the president aren ’ t part of a trend but more of a reaction to specific instances worthy of criticism , rejecting the notion that it ’ s a showing of division within the party but rather an attempt to get the president back on track and on message .
Though privately , many wonder whether public criticisms will alter the president ’ s conduct .
Opinion : Do n't gorge on polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter suppression boost Trump 's odds .
'Grim resolve ' : Biden is up big and the Senate is in sight , but Democrats still haunted by fear of letdown Trump 's propensity for fiery Twitter missives has been notably absent amid the wave of GOP criticism .
Part of that calculation may be focusing attacks on Democrats with just four months until Election Day , Gorman said .
`` I think not just him , but also his team , know that the people we need to be going after right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistent with that , '' he said .
`` So I think there is a calculation that Republicans doing well down ballot helps him and vice versa . ''
Republicans keeping Trump at an arm 's distance must also reckon with his dwindling poll numbers as November approaches .
A recent USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll found that opposition to Trump is by far the biggest factor propelling Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , to the White House .
Biden leads Trump by 12 percentage points , 53 % -41 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similarly not been good for Senate Republicans , who hold a three-seat majority and are fending off serious challenges in more than five states .
A slew of recent polls show Democrats leading in Maine , Arizona , North Carolina , Iowa , Colorado and Montana , which has left incumbents in an uncomfortable position as they wrestle with the barrage of controversies surrounding the president .
Incumbents have employed varying strategies , some tying their fate to Trump while others distance themselves from the president – a heavy feat as he sits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to steer clear of weighing in on the president 's conduct while others , such as Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , have repeatedly criticized the president in recent weeks , including Trump 's clearing of protesters outside the White House in early June .
Still , some Republicans acknowledge that Trump is a political unicorn and while his tactics are far from traditional and frequently attract fierce criticism , he has weathered many storms – a trend that could continue as November nears .
`` Every time I think that he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winning side of it , '' Sen. Kevin Cramer , R-N.D. , told the Wall Street Journal when asked about the president 's rhetoric on Confederate history .
`` The thing the president is credited with , appropriately , is really good instincts . ''

Courtney Subramanian and Christal Hayes, USA TODAY

'Republicans are really fed up': GOP increasingly splits with Trump as his polls drag
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: Pres. Trump urges governors to reopen schools in fall Donald Trump's push to reopen schools comes amid a nationwide debate over whether it's safe for children to return to the classroom amid coronavirus. Associated Press, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Weeks before President Donald Trump accepts his party's nomination, cracks are deepening within the party as a host of GOP lawmakers distance themselves from the Republican standard bearer as they weigh their election chances in November.
Republicans have increasingly split with Trump on a host of issues shadowing his administration, from his tone on racism and the removal of Confederate statues, to wearing a face mask amid the coronavirus pandemic and questions over intelligence reports of a Russia-backed bounty program on U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
It's a rare moment in the president's 3½ year tenure, during which Trump otherwise relished in party unity on issues such as his impeachment and former special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
"There’s a real disagreement between the president and his party in this election,” said Alex Conant, a GOP strategist and former aide to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. "I think a lot of Republicans are really fed up with the president's divisive strategy. People are just throwing up their hands with some of the rhetoric that's coming out of the president. It's really unhelpful not just to his own reelection, but also to keeping the Senate."
Earlier this week, several GOP lawmakers said they plan to skip the party's national convention in Jacksonville, Florida, where coronavirus cases have surged, leaving supporters, politicians and officials who plan to attend with the hard choice of risking their personal health or facing potential retaliation from the president.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the oldest GOP senator at age 86, said Monday he would avoid the convention "because of the virus situation," while Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, also cited coronavirus concerns as the reason they would not attend.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the convention a "challenging situation" when asked whether he plans to attend.
"We'll have to wait and see how things look in late August to determine whether or not we can safely convene with that many people," he said Thursday.
The Trump campaign had hoped to test those waters this past weekend with a campaign rally at a New Hampshire airport hangar, but the campaign announced it would postpone the rally over the approaching Tropical Storm Fay, according to White House officials. The campaign snag comes after turnout at a June rally held inside an Oklahoma arena fell short of expectations amid an increase in COVID-19 cases across the state. Tulsa health officials said Wednesday that the rally and surrounding protests likely contributed to the city’s recent surge in cases.
New Hampshire's Gov. Chris Sununu is another GOP politician who has been willing to break with the president over his pandemic messaging when it collides with his state's interests. Sununu has had to walk a careful line in defending the president's rally while enforcing his own reopening guidelines. The Republican governor had planned to greet Trump in New Hampshire but skip the rally over coronavirus fears.
'Make-or-break moment': Trump heads to New Hampshire for campaign rally amid sagging polls, coronavirus fears
'Some of his tweets have not been helpful': GOP senators criticize Trump's Floyd protest rhetoric
Latest USA TODAY poll: Biden widens his lead, but Trump keeps the edge on enthusiasm
GOP questions reports of Russian bounties Some Senate Republicans are questioning the media reports that Russia offered bounties for killing American troops in Afghanistan. Some who have been briefed on the claims say they've concluded they aren't corroborated. (June 30) AP
The Republican Party moved its convention from Charlotte, North Carolina, last month after state and local officials refused to commit to the president's desire to hold a full convention, packed with thousands of supporters, over health concerns amid the ongoing pandemic.
But aside from coronavirus concerns, the Republican convention may have lost its luster for some lawmakers, according to GOP strategist Matt Gorman.
"For a lot of these elected officials, it's a chance to go there for fundraising and press attention," he said. "And if a lot of media folks are not planning to go and a lot of donors choose not to go because in-person fundraising is a bit less prevalent, then there's not much incentive to show up."
Gorman said he doesn't think the list of senators avoiding the convention will draw the president's ire, noting that several lawmakers skipped the event in 2016 in protest – including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., now a key Trump ally.
The president has since softened his tone about holding a traditional convention, telling television host Greta Van Susteren this week that "it really depends on timing."
"We can do a lot of things, but we’re very flexible," he said of convention plans.
Jacksonville has emerged as one of the nation's biggest hot spots for the coronavirus. The Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that Jacksonville would be one of three cities designated for a testing "surge" to make more tests available in the hardest-hit areas.
The administration's mounting controversies have pushed even Republicans who previously refused to break ranks with Trump to begin speaking out – most notably as it relates to the dramatic uptick in coronavirus cases in the U.S.
They have been vocal in their opposition to his refusal to wear a mask, pressuring the administration for increased testing and, most recently, some have criticized Trump for pulling out of the World Health Organization as the pandemic continues to ravage the country.
More: Some Republicans split with Trump, support removing Confederate statues and renaming military bases
More: The White House has sent conflicting messages on wearing masks and the new coronavirus cases
"I disagree with the president’s decision," Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, said after the president pulled the U.S. from WHO, noting that while the organization's mistakes should be examined, "the time to do that is after the crisis has been dealt with, not in the middle of it. Withdrawing U.S. membership could, among other things, interfere with clinical trials that are essential to the development of vaccines."
Even some of the president's closest allies on Capitol Hill in recent weeks have been critical as Trump's poll numbers, already hit by the pandemic, continue to plummet amid a national reckoning over policing, race and America's Confederate history.
Aides and allies have urged the president to change his tone as the nation grieves the death of George Floyd after he was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, and protesters call for change to racially fraught policies. The president has instead stoked division, threatening to use the military against demonstrators and using Independence Day speeches to defend Confederate monuments and dismiss protesters as "Marxists."
2020 Republican National Convention is moving to Jacksonville, Florida The Republican National Committee announced it has picked Jacksonville, Florida, as the location for its convention. USA TODAY, Wochit
"The country is looking for healing and calm. And I think the president needs to project that in his tone," said Sen. John Thune, the Senate's No. 2 Republican. "He masters that sometimes, and that’s the tone he needs to strike right now."
Trump's handling of the protests even led to Murkowski leaving the door open to voting against the president in November. "I am struggling with it," she said when asked by reporters whether she would continue to support Trump. "I have struggled with it for a long time."
Trump has drawn the ire of even of his most ardent supporters with his some of his racially polarizing comments.
Most recently, after Trump criticized NASCAR for banning the Confederate flag and called for Bubba Wallace, one of the sport's only Black drivers, to apologize after the FBI said a noose found in his garage wasn't targeting the driver, Graham pushed back.
Trump losing swing states: Trump trails Biden in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina and Arizona, poll finds
"I don't think Bubba Wallace has anything to apologize for," Graham told Fox News Radio. "I've lived in South Carolina all my life and if you're in business, the Confederate flag is not a good way to grow your business."
Senate Republicans have largely ignored the president's threat to veto a defense spending bill over an amendment to rename Army bases named for Confederate figures. The proposal, sponsored by former 2020 Democratic contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has gained a groundswell of support from prominent Republicans, including Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who warned earlier this week that Congress would "probably override" Trump's veto.
While the president has drawn a line on removing memorials honoring Confederate leaders and controversial historical figures, Republican attitudes appeared to have shifted since protests over racial inequality first unfolded in May.
McConnell said last month he'd be "OK" with changing the names of military bases while Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican facing a tough reelection in November, supported the amendment in a U.S. Armed Services Committee vote last month.
"There shouldn’t be a knee-jerk reaction to renaming bases," Grassley said Monday. "And I imagine that in my lifetime, there’s been a lot of bases that have had their names changed. I’m not aware of it. But the extent to which it’s a thoughtful process and not a knee-jerk reaction, I wouldn’t have any objection to it."
Trump has issued eight vetoes during his presidency, and none has been overridden by Congress.
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., has made a habit of marking her differences with the president over his term, especially when it comes to foreign policy, and has continued to speak up throughout the latest controversies. After the president refused to wear a face mask in public, Cheney tweeted a photo of her father Dick Cheney in a mask with the hashtag #realmenwearmasks.
Opinion: Trump, Tulsa and the demise of Lincoln’s Republican Party
Republicans like Cheney know the risks of speaking out and the potential for a lashing from the president’s Twitter account. But history has shown the president is less likely to go after loyal lawmakers who disagree with him on occasion, as he typically targets those who attack him personally or could imperil his reelection chances, such as those who have voiced openness to voting against him or weren’t unilaterally behind him during his impeachment.
“My sense is that Trump is fine with Republicans criticizing his policy, even his tweets, but he’s not OK with them attacking him,” said Conant.
Congressional Republicans say the critiques of the president aren’t part of a trend but more of a reaction to specific instances worthy of criticism. They reject the notion that it’s a showing of division within the party but rather an attempt to get the president back on track and on message. Though privately, many wonder whether public criticisms will alter the president’s conduct.
Opinion: Don't gorge on polls that show Biden ahead. COVID and voter suppression boost Trump's odds.
'Grim resolve': Biden is up big and the Senate is in sight, but Democrats still haunted by fear of letdown
Trump's propensity for fiery Twitter missives has been notably absent amid the wave of GOP criticism. Part of that calculation may be focusing attacks on Democrats with just four months until Election Day, Gorman said.
"I think not just him, but also his team, know that the people we need to be going after right now are Democrats and he has been pretty consistent with that," he said. "So I think there is a calculation that Republicans doing well down ballot helps him and vice versa."
Republicans keeping Trump at an arm's distance must also reckon with his dwindling poll numbers as November approaches.
A recent USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll found that opposition to Trump is by far the biggest factor propelling Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, to the White House. Biden leads Trump by 12 percentage points, 53%-41%, the nationwide survey shows.
Polls have similarly not been good for Senate Republicans, who hold a three-seat majority and are fending off serious challenges in more than five states. A slew of recent polls show Democrats leading in Maine, Arizona, North Carolina, Iowa, Colorado and Montana, which has left incumbents in an uncomfortable position as they wrestle with the barrage of controversies surrounding the president.
Incumbents have employed varying strategies, some tying their fate to Trump while others distance themselves from the president – a heavy feat as he sits atop the ticket.
Several have attempted to steer clear of weighing in on the president's conduct while others, such as Maine's Collins, have repeatedly criticized the president in recent weeks, including Trump's clearing of protesters outside the White House in early June.
Still, some Republicans acknowledge that Trump is a political unicorn and while his tactics are far from traditional and frequently attract fierce criticism, he has weathered many storms – a trend that could continue as November nears.
"Every time I think that he’s miscalculated, he comes out on the winning side of it," Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., told the Wall Street Journal when asked about the president's rhetoric on Confederate history. "The thing the president is credited with, appropriately, is really good instincts."


usatoday--2020-07-11--Trump's troop visit, states' plans, Disney's reopening: 5 things to know this weekend

Trump to visit troops at Walter Reed hospital , says he will wear a mask President Donald Trump will visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Saturday , according to his public schedule .
Trump told Fox News ' Sean Hannity in a live phone interview Thursday he would be going to the Maryland hospital to see `` some of our great soldiers that have been injured , badly injured , and also see some of our COVID workers , the people that have done such a great job . ''
He also told Hannity he will wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You 're in a hospital setting .
I think it 's a very appropriate thing .
I have no problem with a mask . ''
Trump made waves Friday when he postponed a rally set for Saturday in New Hampshire citing Tropical Storm Fay .
That prompted some to point out it was the latest hiccup in the president 's effort to restart his campaign .
More notably , Trump angered critics when he commuted the sentence of his longtime confidant Roger Stone , who was convicted of lying to Congress .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawmakers react to Trump granting clemency to Stone • Trump sought to recharge his campaign with New Hampshire rally .
It 's now on hold .
As COVID-19 cases spike across multiple states , some are taking measures to scale back their reopening plans .
In South Carolina , restaurants , bars , breweries and other establishments wo n't be able to serve alcoholic beverages starting at 11 p.m. Saturday .
In Louisiana , its largest city , New Orleans , will restrict bars and restaurants to table service starting Saturday in hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have a statewide epidemic .
It ’ s no longer one or two regions , '' Gov .
John Bel Edwards said .
• As coronavirus surges in Republican territory , so does rage over masks • What states require face masks in public ?
Kansas , Kentucky , Texas join growing list of states where it 's mandatory .
• Nevada 's bars are closing again due to COVID-19 surge : Are casinos next ?
Walt Disney World plans to reopen on Saturday , even as cases of COVID-19 soar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state has added over 63,000 cases to its total in just the past 7 days – the most of any state .
As with other theme parks that have announced reopening plans , visitors will undergo a temperature check and be required to wear face masks .
The parks will provide masks to people who do not bring their own .
Disney 's cast members will enforce social distancing rules and the mask requirement as part of a `` social distancing squad . ''
Park capacity will also be limited , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Disney World prep : Fans get a sneak peek at new COVID-19 precautions ahead of the reopening • Not so fast , Mickey : Disneyland delays reopening past July 17 as Southern California braces for COVID-19 surge Jimmie Johnson confused , frustrated after virus scare , but ready to race After an odd and frustrating start to the month that featured a positive coronavirus test , seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson is expected to race in Sunday 's Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway .
After NASCAR announced July 3 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missed the first race of his 19-season career last Sunday and that snapped his streak of 663 consecutive starts , longest among active drivers .
But the positive test was followed negative tests on Monday and Tuesday .
He never suffered any symptoms and was tested only after his wife , bothered by seasonal allergies , tested positive .
`` I started cussing and used every cuss word that I knew of and then I think invented a few new ones , '' Johnson said Friday on a Zoom call with reporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from full-time NASCAR racing at the end of this season , sits 15th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings , just inside the playoff cutoff mark .
• 'Grateful for the incredible love and support ' : Johnson cleared to race after positive COVID-19 test • Race preview : Harvick , Hamlin seek first win at Kentucky in duel for NASCAR season supremacy • Solidarity : How Jimmie Johnson and other NASCAR drivers came together with Bubba Wallace at Talladega Manhattanhenge sunset : Phenomenon returns to New York for last time in '20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her previous coverage , `` Four times a year the sun and the earth align , literally , to bless Manhattanites with what some may call an 'Instagrammable moment . '
'' Manhattanhenge , a term coined by American Museum of Natural History Hayden Planetarium Director Neil deGrasse Tyson , occurs when the sun lines up perfectly with the New York City island 's grid and appears to kiss the street .
This weekend , for the second and final time this year , those in Manhattan will have the opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phenomenon .
( The two morning versions happen in November and January . )
deGrasse Tyson explains that admirers will get to see the full sun on the grid Saturday evening and half the sun on Sunday .
Unfortunately , out-of-town travelers have been urged not to visit Manhattan to photograph the sunset this year due to the coronavirus pandemic .
• Video : New York City 's Manhattanhenge stops people in the streets

Trump's troop visit, states' plans, Disney's reopening: 5 things to know this weekend
Trump to visit troops at Walter Reed hospital, says he will wear a mask
President Donald Trump will visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Saturday, according to his public schedule. Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity in a live phone interview Thursday he would be going to the Maryland hospital to see "some of our great soldiers that have been injured, badly injured, and also see some of our COVID workers, the people that have done such a great job." He also told Hannity he will wear a mask at the hospital, saying, "You're in a hospital setting. I think it's a very appropriate thing. I have no problem with a mask." Trump made waves Friday when he postponed a rally set for Saturday in New Hampshire citing Tropical Storm Fay. That prompted some to point out it was the latest hiccup in the president's effort to restart his campaign. More notably, Trump angered critics when he commuted the sentence of his longtime confidant Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress.
Trump warns Biden embraces socialism or 'worse' President Donald Trump is criticizing former President Barack Obama's efforts to lift some sanctions against Cuba and warns that the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, would even embrace socialism domestically. (July 10) AP
Prefer to listen? Check out the 5 things podcast below and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts:
States scale back reopenings amid outbreak
As COVID-19 cases spike across multiple states, some are taking measures to scale back their reopening plans. In South Carolina, restaurants, bars, breweries and other establishments won't be able to serve alcoholic beverages starting at 11 p.m. Saturday. In Louisiana, its largest city, New Orleans, will restrict bars and restaurants to table service starting Saturday in hopes of reducing the disease's resurgence. "We have a statewide epidemic. It’s no longer one or two regions," Gov. John Bel Edwards said.
Face masks causing confrontations as businesses enforce guidelines Businesses and cities across the country are requiring people to wear masks, which some people say infringe upon their individual rights. USA TODAY
Walt Disney World reopens Saturday
Walt Disney World plans to reopen on Saturday, even as cases of COVID-19 soar in Florida. As of Friday, the state has added over 63,000 cases to its total in just the past 7 days – the most of any state. As with other theme parks that have announced reopening plans, visitors will undergo a temperature check and be required to wear face masks. The parks will provide masks to people who do not bring their own. Disney's cast members will enforce social distancing rules and the mask requirement as part of a "social distancing squad." Park capacity will also be limited, and not all attractions will reopen right away.
Disney World reopens with new safety measures amid COVID concerns As Walt Disney World reopens, here are some new health and safety measures you may see. USA TODAY
Jimmie Johnson confused, frustrated after virus scare, but ready to race
After an odd and frustrating start to the month that featured a positive coronavirus test, seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson is expected to race in Sunday's Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. After NASCAR announced July 3 that Johnson tested positive for COVID-19, he missed the first race of his 19-season career last Sunday and that snapped his streak of 663 consecutive starts, longest among active drivers. But the positive test was followed negative tests on Monday and Tuesday. He never suffered any symptoms and was tested only after his wife, bothered by seasonal allergies, tested positive. "I started cussing and used every cuss word that I knew of and then I think invented a few new ones," Johnson said Friday on a Zoom call with reporters. Johnson, who is scheduled to retire from full-time NASCAR racing at the end of this season, sits 15th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, just inside the playoff cutoff mark.
Manhattanhenge sunset: Phenomenon returns to New York for last time in '20
As USA TODAY reporter Morgan Hines noted in her previous coverage, "Four times a year the sun and the earth align, literally, to bless Manhattanites with what some may call an 'Instagrammable moment.'" Manhattanhenge, a term coined by American Museum of Natural History Hayden Planetarium Director Neil deGrasse Tyson, occurs when the sun lines up perfectly with the New York City island's grid and appears to kiss the street. This weekend, for the second and final time this year, those in Manhattan will have the opportunity to see the stunning sunset version of the phenomenon. (The two morning versions happen in November and January.) deGrasse Tyson explains that admirers will get to see the full sun on the grid Saturday evening and half the sun on Sunday. Unfortunately, out-of-town travelers have been urged not to visit Manhattan to photograph the sunset this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Contributing: Associated Press


usatoday--2020-07-11--Atlanta Dream's Renee Montgomery pens letter to Sen. Kelly Loeffler: 'Don't end up on the wrong side

Atlanta Dream's Renee Montgomery pens letter to Sen. Kelly Loeffler: 'Don't end up on the wrong side of history'

Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery has conquered the basketball court both in the WNBA and before that at the University of Connecticut .
But last month , Montgomery decided there was a bigger battle to be contested , so she made the decision to opt out of the 2020 WNBA season in order to focus on racial and social justice .
Little did she know her first major battle would put her on the opposite side of her own team owner .
Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler , who is also a Republican Senator from Georgia , made waves Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commissioner Cathy Engelbert urging the league to put American flags on the jerseys for the league 's restart rather than the planned anti-racism messages `` Black Lives Matter '' and `` Say Her Name '' ( a reference to the recent killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville ) .
That prompted a rebuke from the WNBA Players Association , who tweeted in response to Loeffler : `` E-N-O-U-G-H !
O-U-T ! ''
Montgomery , who won WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx in 2015 and 2017 before signing a multiyear contract with Atlanta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Loeffler on Tuesday .
She tweeted , `` I ’ m pretty sad to see that my team ownership is not supportive of the movement & all that it stands for . ''
Montgomery also suggested the two could have a conversation about the topic .
Loeffler doubled down on her stance during an interview with Laura Ingraham on Wednesday night , telling the Fox News host that Black Lives Matter `` is based on Marxist principles '' that threatens to `` destroy '' America .
The Senator also called the BLM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nuclear family . ''
Loeffler said she will not give up her ownership stake in the Dream despite players and the union calling on her to do so .
And so Friday , after receiving no response to her invitation for a conversation , Montgomery penned a letter to Loeffler in Medium .
`` Your comments hurt deeply because it was a veiled 'All Lives Matter ' response , '' Montgomery wrote .
`` It ’ s not that you ’ re tone deaf to the cry for justice , but you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking from a position of immense influence as a team co-owner in our league and as a U.S .
Senator .
After making analogies to murdered civil rights activist Medgar Evers and Australian Aborigines , Montgomery then tried to appeal to Loeffler on a personal level .
`` Imagine your friend overwhelmed with grief , tears flowing down her cheeks , confiding in you that she has breast cancer .
How good of a friend would you be if you crossed your arms and replied , 'All cancers matter ? '
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more friends who tell me , 'Everyone matters . '
I already know that .
I need someone to tell me , 'You , Renee , matter . '
`` OPINION : Senators critical of social justice efforts should stick to politics Loeffler faces a tough re-election contest in November , and Montgomery said she understood the Senator 's attempts to appeal to her base , but she took affront to Loeffler 's insistence that sports shouldn ’ t mingle with politics .
`` I kindly invite you to rethink your stance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montgomery concluded .
`` While you might very well be on the 'right ' side of this November ’ s elections , you are on the wrong side of history if you can ’ t see that Black Lives Matter . ''
You can read Montgomery 's letter in full here .

Atlanta Dream's Renee Montgomery pens letter to Sen. Kelly Loeffler: 'Don’t end up on the wrong side of history'
Show Caption Hide Caption Why Maya Moore willingly put her career on hold to create change SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Nancy Armour discusses Maya Moore's campaign to help free a wrongfully convicted man from prison. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery has conquered the basketball court both in the WNBA and before that at the University of Connecticut. But last month, Montgomery decided there was a bigger battle to be contested, so she made the decision to opt out of the 2020 WNBA season in order to focus on racial and social justice.
Little did she know her first major battle would put her on the opposite side of her own team owner.
Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler, who is also a Republican Senator from Georgia, made waves Tuesday when she sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert urging the league to put American flags on the jerseys for the league's restart rather than the planned anti-racism messages "Black Lives Matter" and "Say Her Name" (a reference to the recent killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville).
That prompted a rebuke from the WNBA Players Association, who tweeted in response to Loeffler: "E-N-O-U-G-H! O-U-T!"
Montgomery, who won WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx in 2015 and 2017 before signing a multiyear contract with Atlanta in 2018, also shared her disappointment with Loeffler on Tuesday. She tweeted, "I’m pretty sad to see that my team ownership is not supportive of the movement & all that it stands for." Montgomery also suggested the two could have a conversation about the topic.
Dear @SenatorLoeffler ....
I’m pretty sad to see that my team ownership is not supportive of the movement & all that it stands for. I was already sitting out this season & this is an example of why. I would love to have a conversation with you about the matter if you’re down? — Renee Montgomery (@itsreneem_) July 7, 2020
Loeffler doubled down on her stance during an interview with Laura Ingraham on Wednesday night, telling the Fox News host that Black Lives Matter "is based on Marxist principles" that threatens to "destroy" America. The Senator also called the BLM group "anti-Semitic and doesn't support the nuclear family." Loeffler said she will not give up her ownership stake in the Dream despite players and the union calling on her to do so.
And so Friday, after receiving no response to her invitation for a conversation, Montgomery penned a letter to Loeffler in Medium.
"Your comments hurt deeply because it was a veiled 'All Lives Matter' response," Montgomery wrote. "It’s not that you’re tone deaf to the cry for justice, but you seemingly oppose it. And you are speaking from a position of immense influence as a team co-owner in our league and as a U.S. Senator.
After making analogies to murdered civil rights activist Medgar Evers and Australian Aborigines, Montgomery then tried to appeal to Loeffler on a personal level.
"Imagine your friend overwhelmed with grief, tears flowing down her cheeks, confiding in you that she has breast cancer. How good of a friend would you be if you crossed your arms and replied, 'All cancers matter?'
"This year, I don’t need more friends who tell me, 'Everyone matters.' I already know that. I need someone to tell me, 'You, Renee, matter.' "
OPINION: Senators critical of social justice efforts should stick to politics
Loeffler faces a tough re-election contest in November, and Montgomery said she understood the Senator's attempts to appeal to her base, but she took affront to Loeffler's insistence that sports shouldn’t mingle with politics.
"I kindly invite you to rethink your stance and join a discussion with me," Montgomery concluded. "While you might very well be on the 'right' side of this November’s elections, you are on the wrong side of history if you can’t see that Black Lives Matter."
You can read Montgomery's letter in full here.


usatoday--2020-07-11--Black health matters. COVID has shown that improving care must be a national priority.

The Trump administration ’ s latest move to end the Affordable Care Act threatens to deprive millions of Americans of health coverage in the midst of a pandemic .
Especially troubling is that dismantling the law would disproportionately harm Black people — advancing racism precisely as we grapple with its shameful legacy .
We emphatically endorse the need to develop policies to dismantle the racist structure of policing as one means of saving Black lives .
However , unless we create and put in place strategies to ensure their health , well-being and access to medical care , many Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die from preventable illnesses .
Over 50 years ago , Dr .
Martin Luther King , Jr. pointed out that “ of all the forms of inequality , injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.
” Today there is ample data showing that African Americans are at higher risk than other for both developing illness and dying from it .
One of us , Roslyn Young-Daniels , founded Black Health Matters so people could learn from and speak to researchers , medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases that particularly affect the Black community .
This information raises awareness and empowers people to advocate for their own health and well-being .
However , it was a federal policy that made the work of Black Health Matters possible .
Without the Affordable Care Act , which expanded the availability of health insurance and took many other steps that improved health care for under-served communities , no amount of information or advocacy would have helped people who could not get medical care .
As beneficial as the ACA has been , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be done , and that governmental policy is a powerful means to effect it .
The Brookings Institution recently recommended that the 2021 White House invest in “ Black and Brown neighborhoods and in well-being — thus eliminating deserts in health care.
” Policy advisers for both campaigns need to make Black health a priority in the next administration .
Shockingly , rather than developing a policy to aid the Black community when its need is so painfully evident to most , the Trump administration has pressed forward with its drive to eliminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though it is disproportionately killing Black , Brown and poor people and has caused many to lose the jobs that provided their health insurance .
COVID ca n't be quarantined : A coronavirus to-do list for the pandemic and beyond : First , open our eyes and hearts .
In contrast , former Vice President Joe Biden has already taken the initiative on Black health by proposing investments geared to ending racial health disparities .
He would strengthen and reform the ACA , provide support for community health centers , create mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other adverse social determinants of health , and invest in Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions to build a diverse pipeline of health care professionals .
We would also recommend more study of diseases that particularly affect Black people , such as lupus , sickle cell anemia , diabetes and hypertension .
In addition , we would like to see hospitals in Black neighborhoods that don ’ t focus primarily on trauma , but provide a wide range of services including preventative medicine .
Another policy initiative would ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Black health disparities resulting from the history of slavery .
In addition to the next president ’ s vision , Congress must pass laws that realize these aspirations .
Americans of all colors increasingly understand that racism functions as a larger pandemic threatening the lives of Black people .
This growing consensus should inspire our elected officials to transform the institutions that perpetuate systemic racism that devalues the lives and health of Black people and results in their death on a daily basis .
Trump and health care : Imagine a world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affordable Care Act .
Trump does .
While this is not an easy task , neither is it impossible .
Policy is defined by the investments a society chooses to make , as Sherrilyn Ifill , President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund , argued in Anna Deavere Smith 's `` Notes from the Field , '' a 2018 HBO special .
Ifill added that “ it takes moments , kind of almost epic moments , to move us ” to change those choices .
This is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage of it to create an America that not only protects the lives of Black people , but helps them thrive .
Because # BlackHealthMatters .
Roslyn Young-Daniels is president of Black Health Matters .
M. Lindsay Kaplan is a professor of English at Georgetown University .

Roslyn Young-Daniels and M. Lindsay Kaplan, Opinion contributors

Black health matters. COVID has shown that improving care must be a national priority. Racism is a pandemic that threatens Black people. Let’s use this moment to create a country that not only protects their lives, but helps them thrive.
Show Caption Hide Caption Key things that propel a protest to a successful movement Do protests ever enact real change? Yes. But not all movements are created equal. Here's the ingredients of a successful movement. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Trump administration’s latest move to end the Affordable Care Act threatens to deprive millions of Americans of health coverage in the midst of a pandemic. Especially troubling is that dismantling the law would disproportionately harm Black people — advancing racism precisely as we grapple with its shameful legacy.
We emphatically endorse the need to develop policies to dismantle the racist structure of policing as one means of saving Black lives. However, unless we create and put in place strategies to ensure their health, well-being and access to medical care, many Black people will continue to fall sick and die from preventable illnesses.
Over 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pointed out that “of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.” Today there is ample data showing that African Americans are at higher risk than other for both developing illness and dying from it.
How to improve Black health
One of us, Roslyn Young-Daniels, founded Black Health Matters so people could learn from and speak to researchers, medical practitioners and representatives of pharmaceutical companies about diseases that particularly affect the Black community. This information raises awareness and empowers people to advocate for their own health and well-being.
However, it was a federal policy that made the work of Black Health Matters possible. Without the Affordable Care Act, which expanded the availability of health insurance and took many other steps that improved health care for under-served communities, no amount of information or advocacy would have helped people who could not get medical care.
As beneficial as the ACA has been, we know that much more work needs to be done, and that governmental policy is a powerful means to effect it. The Brookings Institution recently recommended that the 2021 White House invest in “Black and Brown neighborhoods and in well-being — thus eliminating deserts in health care.” Policy advisers for both campaigns need to make Black health a priority in the next administration.
Shockingly, rather than developing a policy to aid the Black community when its need is so painfully evident to most, the Trump administration has pressed forward with its drive to eliminate the ACA during the COVID-19 pandemic — though it is disproportionately killing Black, Brown and poor people and has caused many to lose the jobs that provided their health insurance.
COVID can't be quarantined: A coronavirus to-do list for the pandemic and beyond: First, open our eyes and hearts.
In contrast, former Vice President Joe Biden has already taken the initiative on Black health by proposing investments geared to ending racial health disparities. He would strengthen and reform the ACA, provide support for community health centers, create mental health parity, address poverty, pollution and other adverse social determinants of health, and invest in Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions to build a diverse pipeline of health care professionals.
Studies, laws and maybe reparations
We would also recommend more study of diseases that particularly affect Black people, such as lupus, sickle cell anemia, diabetes and hypertension. In addition, we would like to see hospitals in Black neighborhoods that don’t focus primarily on trauma, but provide a wide range of services including preventative medicine. Another policy initiative would ensure that discussions and legislation on reparations include remedies for Black health disparities resulting from the history of slavery.
In addition to the next president’s vision, Congress must pass laws that realize these aspirations. Americans of all colors increasingly understand that racism functions as a larger pandemic threatening the lives of Black people. This growing consensus should inspire our elected officials to transform the institutions that perpetuate systemic racism that devalues the lives and health of Black people and results in their death on a daily basis.
Trump and health care: Imagine a world with a COVID-19 pandemic and without the Affordable Care Act. Trump does.
While this is not an easy task, neither is it impossible.
Policy is defined by the investments a society chooses to make, as Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, argued in Anna Deavere Smith's "Notes from the Field," a 2018 HBO special. Ifill added that “it takes moments, kind of almost epic moments, to move us” to change those choices. This is one of those moments. Let’s take advantage of it to create an America that not only protects the lives of Black people, but helps them thrive. Because #BlackHealthMatters.
Roslyn Young-Daniels is president of Black Health Matters. M. Lindsay Kaplan is a professor of English at Georgetown University.


usatoday--2020-07-11--'It's just amazing': Boy finds Marine's dog tag and returns it to his family 46 years after his deat

LANCASTER - When 12-year-old Kolton Conrad went kayaking with his father and brother on July 4 , he had no way of knowing he 'd find a part of someone 's past , and help a family reconnect .
On a `` guys day out , '' the Conrads were kayaking down the Hocking River .
They 've taken the trip before , usually getting on the water at Clear Creek Metro Park and traveling down to Logan .
Stopping at a beach , the Conrads were picking up trash , something they 've done before , when Kolton noticed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he went to investigate , he found a dog tag , slightly grimy , but still in good enough condition to be read .
The name on the tag read Rhonemus .
He took it to his father , who said they 'd have to double check it was authentic .
They finished their trip , and cleaned up the tag .
Kolton 's mother Ashley said Kolton knew the tags were the real thing , because he is an avid history student , and has a passion for the armed forces .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and his family has a history of serving .
After they verified dog tag was real , Ashley turned to social media to see if they could find anyone who might know who the tags belonged to .
`` Rhonemus does n't seem like a very common name , so we thought it should be pretty easy to find who it belonged to .
So we put it on Facebook , and within about six hours someone got in touch with us , '' she said .
`` That woman put us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dog tag 's owner 's sister .
We knew we had to get the tag back to her , so we arranged to meet . ''
`` We said we could meet at Rising Park , and Kimberly said it was her brother 's favorite place to hang out , so we knew it felt right . ''
They met with Greenlee at the park to return the tag .
Kolton said it felt great to give the tag back , and that Greenlee told him he was `` super special , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenlee 's brother , Steven Rhonemus , served in the US Marine Corps before he was discharged due to an injury .
She said he died after he was injured in a motorcycle crash in 1974 .
She said she was n't sure how the tag ended up in the river , but she did say he loved the outdoors , so it could have been lost when he went with his friends to the river .
`` When my cousin , Wendy Pennington , called me about Ashley 's post , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She told me 'you 're not going to believe this , ' and I could just hear the disbelief , '' Greenlee said .
`` She told me how Kolton found the dog tag , and I just said 'WHAT ? '
It 's just amazing to think about , this tag was lost for 46 years , and for this little boy to find it on Independence Day , of all days . ''
`` And for him to realize the meaning behind the tag , and to hold onto it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it 's amazing . ''
When she heard the Conrads had her brother 's dog tag , Greenlee said she knew she had to give it to her niece , Danielle , who had n't been born by the time of Steven 's death .
Not only did she not have the chance to meet her father , but there was a fire shortly after his death , and they 'd lost pictures and other items .
Getting her the dog tag was one way Greenlee said they could give Danielle a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached out to Danielle , and I told her the story .
We have n't been in touch for a while , but I wanted to offer her the dog tag , so she could have that to remember her father , '' she said .
`` It was emotional when she got it .
She said it felt like God was letting her know her dad was with her and watching over her . ''
`` It 's just amazing for me how much of a ripple effect there has been since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the good we 've heard about because of it . ''
She added she wanted to honor Crystal Potts for seeing Ashley 's post , who then shared it with Pennington , who reached out to Greenlee .
She said it was amazing these people had an important part in the story , and they 're caring individuals .
After Ashley posted the story about the tags , Greenlee shared `` The Story of The Amazing & Incredible Traveling Dog Tags , '' and she started to receive messages and comments about her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him and how much he meant to them .
`` He was a brother , a protector .
Everybody loved him .
The first thing you 'd hear about him if you said his name is 'he was my brother . '
He was a good man , '' Greenlee said .
`` I loved him , and I can only imagine how my life would have been different if he had lived . ''
`` I just want to acknowledge Kolton and his family .
We have so much gratefulness for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They were able to give us back a piece of my brother , and helped show respect to the military , the respect it deserves . ''

'It's just amazing': Boy finds Marine's dog tag and returns it to his family 46 years after his death
LANCASTER - When 12-year-old Kolton Conrad went kayaking with his father and brother on July 4, he had no way of knowing he'd find a part of someone's past, and help a family reconnect.
On a "guys day out," the Conrads were kayaking down the Hocking River. They've taken the trip before, usually getting on the water at Clear Creek Metro Park and traveling down to Logan.
Stopping at a beach, the Conrads were picking up trash, something they've done before, when Kolton noticed a glint in the water. When he went to investigate, he found a dog tag, slightly grimy, but still in good enough condition to be read. The name on the tag read Rhonemus.
He took it to his father, who said they'd have to double check it was authentic. They finished their trip, and cleaned up the tag. Kolton's mother Ashley said Kolton knew the tags were the real thing, because he is an avid history student, and has a passion for the armed forces. His aunt is also in the military, and his family has a history of serving.
After they verified dog tag was real, Ashley turned to social media to see if they could find anyone who might know who the tags belonged to.
"Rhonemus doesn't seem like a very common name, so we thought it should be pretty easy to find who it belonged to. So we put it on Facebook, and within about six hours someone got in touch with us," she said. "That woman put us in contact with Kimberly Greenlee, the dog tag's owner's sister. We knew we had to get the tag back to her, so we arranged to meet."
"We said we could meet at Rising Park, and Kimberly said it was her brother's favorite place to hang out, so we knew it felt right."
They met with Greenlee at the park to return the tag. Kolton said it felt great to give the tag back, and that Greenlee told him he was "super special," and meant to find the tag.
Greenlee's brother, Steven Rhonemus, served in the US Marine Corps before he was discharged due to an injury. She said he died after he was injured in a motorcycle crash in 1974. She said she wasn't sure how the tag ended up in the river, but she did say he loved the outdoors, so it could have been lost when he went with his friends to the river.
"When my cousin, Wendy Pennington, called me about Ashley's post, I could feel her excitement over the phone. She told me 'you're not going to believe this,' and I could just hear the disbelief," Greenlee said. "She told me how Kolton found the dog tag, and I just said 'WHAT?' It's just amazing to think about, this tag was lost for 46 years, and for this little boy to find it on Independence Day, of all days."
"And for him to realize the meaning behind the tag, and to hold onto it, to help a stranger's family, it's amazing."
When she heard the Conrads had her brother's dog tag, Greenlee said she knew she had to give it to her niece, Danielle, who hadn't been born by the time of Steven's death. Not only did she not have the chance to meet her father, but there was a fire shortly after his death, and they'd lost pictures and other items. Getting her the dog tag was one way Greenlee said they could give Danielle a piece of her father.
"I reached out to Danielle, and I told her the story. We haven't been in touch for a while, but I wanted to offer her the dog tag, so she could have that to remember her father," she said. "It was emotional when she got it. She said it felt like God was letting her know her dad was with her and watching over her."
"It's just amazing for me how much of a ripple effect there has been since Kolton found the tag, and all the good we've heard about because of it."
She added she wanted to honor Crystal Potts for seeing Ashley's post, who then shared it with Pennington, who reached out to Greenlee. She said it was amazing these people had an important part in the story, and they're caring individuals.
After Ashley posted the story about the tags, Greenlee shared "The Story of The Amazing & Incredible Traveling Dog Tags," and she started to receive messages and comments about her brother, how much people cared for him and how much he meant to them.
"He was a brother, a protector. Everybody loved him. The first thing you'd hear about him if you said his name is 'he was my brother.' He was a good man," Greenlee said. "I loved him, and I can only imagine how my life would have been different if he had lived."
"I just want to acknowledge Kolton and his family. We have so much gratefulness for them, from the bottom of our hearts. They were able to give us back a piece of my brother, and helped show respect to the military, the respect it deserves."
Follow Barrett Lawlis on Twitter: @BarrettLawlis


usatoday--2020-07-11--Here's where to buy hand sanitizer on sale

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed ’ s editors .
Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission .
You know it 's a sign of the times when hand sanitizer is one of the most in-demand items of the summer .
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , using a formula with at least 60 % alcohol is recommended to sterilize your hands as a protective measure against COVID-19 ( secondary to soap and water , of course ) .
Until recently , however , it 's been hard for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As these alcohol-based gels slowly make their triumphant return to shelves , we 're showing you where to stock up this season—and the ones ahead—for less .
If you 're looking for places to pick up a bottle or two at a discount , you 've come to the right place .
Keep reading to discover seven retailers offering discounts on hand sanitizer right now .
1 .
More than 20 % off : Touchland Touchland 's Power Mist hand sanitizers come in a variety of fun scents and colors and are made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep them extra moisturized , too .
With an active antiseptic ingredient of 67 % ethyl alcohol , it works to disinfect skin but is also balanced with ingredients such as hydrating aloe vera and a blend of essential oils .
Each spray is dermatologically tested , free of parabens and never tested on animals .
While one 1.29-ounce bottle ( 500 sprays total ) usually costs $ 12 , you 'll save 16 % on bundles of three , which are currently going for $ 30 instead of $ 36 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger discount when you pick up a bundle pack of eight , which is currently priced at $ 70—27 % off its normal $ 96 .
Save 16 to 27 % on Three or More Touchland Power Mists Formulated with 65 % USP-grade ethyl alcohol , glycerin and sugarcane-derived squalane , Pipette 's hand sanitizer helps to retain moisture and nourish hands while claiming to eliminate 99.99 % of many harmful germs and bacteria .
It 's got a 4.6-star rating from more than 350 reviewers , with shoppers praising its quick-drying , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they say a little goes a long way .
While each bottle regularly retails for $ 4.99 , you can snag a pack of six ( choose this option under the size dropdown ) for $ 25.50—15 % off its normal $ 29.99 .
Get the Pipette Hand Sanitizer , 6-pack at Pipette for $ 25.50 ( Save $ 4.49 ) Staples has proved to be a key retailer when it comes to tracking down hand sanitizer , and now , the office supply chain is giving shoppers the chance to save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checkout , you can take $ 25 off your online order of $ 100 or more ( you 'll see your savings reflected in the final stage of checkout ) .
That means that you can score this 96-pack of 2-ounce Mellow gel hand sanitizer bottles , once $ 169.99 , for $ 144.49 .
Though sold out on Amazon , this gel has a 4.3-star rating from happy customers on the site for its easy-to-use flip cap and nourishing Vitamin E. Take $ 25 off Hand Sanitizer Orders of $ 100 or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday Night Lights slogan of `` Clear eyes , full hearts , ca n't lose , '' skincare brand Bare Republic likes to say `` Clean Hands , full Hearts , ca n't Lose . ''
Its plant-based Bare Hands hand sanitizer contains a 62 % alcohol-based formula to effectively kill a reported 99.9 % of common germs and bacteria , while a blend of aloe , glycerin , calendula and chamomile extract ensures skin will stay fresh and soothed .
It 's completely unscented , which reviewers love , and gets heaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
Walgreens shoppers say it 's also the perfect size to stash in your car or purse .
Normally $ 3.99 for a 1.8-ounce bottle , the store is currently offering a two for $ 7 deal , which rounds out to 12 % in savings .
Get two Bare Hands Sanitizer at Walgreens for $ 7 ( Save $ 0.98 ) Though Ulta is first and foremost a beauty retailer , the store also carries a great selection of hand sanitizers and frequently offers sitewide discounts that apply to them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can knock $ 3.50 off your purchase of $ 15 or more with coupon code 816583 at checkout .
Choose the 17-ounce size of this Hempz Triple Moisture hand sanitizer , which reviewers mention has a pleasing , fruity scent , and enter the coupon to drop it from $ 19.95 to $ 16.45 .
Get the Hempz Triple Moisture Hand Sanitizer at Ulta for $ 16.45 ( Save $ 3.50 ) If you 're looking for a bargain on a hand sanitizer bundle , this Meineke four-pack is a solid choice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 62 % alcohol content , this aloe-infused formula has been designed to quickly kill germs and harmful bacteria without being overly drying .
Once $ 24.99 , you can nab it for $ 19.95 on Costway 's own site , or for $ 21.99 at Walmart—a total savings of $ 3 .
Get the Costway Advanced Hand Sanitizer Gel , 4-pack at Walmart for $ 21.99 ( Save $ 3 ) Dry skin is one of the major downsides to clean hands , but thanks to this Sanitize and Soften Set from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its tracks .
Complete with a blood orange-scented hand sanitizer that disinfects without robbing your epidermis of moisture as well as a rose petal hand cream for use after the gel .
It 's got a 4.7-star rating , as shoppers are big fans of this sanitizer 's subtle , citrusy smell and the lotion 's non-greasy feel .
Normally $ 14.90 , you can add it to your cart right now for just $ 13.95 .
Get the Sanitize and Soften Set at Grove Collaborative for $ 13.95 ( Save $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have all your shopping needs covered .
Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram for the latest deals , reviews , and more .
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time .

Here's where to buy hand sanitizer on sale
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
You know it's a sign of the times when hand sanitizer is one of the most in-demand items of the summer. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using a formula with at least 60% alcohol is recommended to sterilize your hands as a protective measure against COVID-19 (secondary to soap and water, of course). Until recently, however, it's been hard for stores to keep it in stock. As these alcohol-based gels and sprays slowly make their triumphant return to shelves, we're showing you where to stock up this season—and the ones ahead—for less.
If you're looking for places to pick up a bottle or two at a discount, you've come to the right place. Keep reading to discover eight retailers offering savings on hand sanitizer right now.
1. More than 20% off: Touchland
Touchland's Power Mist hand sanitizers come in a variety of fun scents and colors and are made to not only sterilize hands, but to keep them extra moisturized, too. With an active antiseptic ingredient of 67% ethyl alcohol, it works to disinfect skin but is also balanced with ingredients such as hydrating aloe vera and a blend of essential oils. Each spray is dermatologically tested, free of parabens and never tested on animals. While one 1.29-ounce bottle (500 sprays total) usually costs $12, you'll save 16% on bundles of three, which are currently going for $30 instead of $36. Or, you can get an even bigger discount when you pick up a bundle pack of eight, which is currently priced at $70—27% off its normal $96.
Active ingredient: 67% Ethyl Alcohol
Scented?: Yes
Save 16 to 27% on Three or More Touchland Power Mists
2. Save 15%: Pipette
Formulated with 65% USP-grade ethyl alcohol, glycerin and sugarcane-derived squalane, Pipette's hand sanitizer helps to retain moisture and nourish hands while claiming to eliminate 99.99% of many harmful germs and bacteria. It's got a 4.6-star rating from more than 350 reviewers, with shoppers praising its quick-drying, non-sticky texture and pleasant smell, plus, they say a little goes a long way. While each bottle regularly retails for $4.99, you can enter promo code FAMILY at checkout to snag a pack of six (choose this option under the size dropdown) for $21.68—more than15% off its normal $29.99.
Active ingredient: 65% Ethyl Alcohol
Scented?: No
Get the Pipette Hand Sanitizer, 6-pack at Pipette for $21.68 (Save $8.31)
3. Up to 20% off: by Humankind
By Humankind is a personal care brand dedicated to being both kind to your body and the planet with its eco-friendly standards. Its hand sanitizer comes in aluminum bottles, which can be recycled or reused for years, and also feature 8 ounces of product (220 uses) to reduce the number of bottles needed overall. The gel formula consists of 65% alcohol and is available in eucalyptus, grapefruit or unscented. While each bottle costs $15, shoppers who buy a 3-pack will save 15% and pay just $38.25, while a 4-pack receives a 20% discount, going for $48.
Active ingredient: 65% Ethyl Alcohol
Scented?: Optional
Get the by Humandkind Hand Sanitizer, 2 pack at by Humankind for $38.25 (Save $6.75)
4. 10% off: Lather
Lather's pleasing, citrus-scented hand sanitizer boasts an all-natural formula, including ingredients like rose water, witch hazel, aloe extract, and green tea extract. It'll not only give a hydration boost but also effectively sanitize with its 65%-70% ethyl alcohol content. With a near-perfect 4.9-star rating, reviewers love its fresh scent and gentle clean on your hands. There's also plenty of sizes available too, from a 2 oz. travel size ($5.40, normally $6) to a six-pack of 10 ounce pump bottles ($84.60, normally $94). And by entering code PROTECT at checkout, you'll save 10% on your order, bringing a single bottle down from $18 to $16.20.
Active ingredient: 65%-70% Ethyl Alcohol
Scented?: Yes
Get the Lather Hand Sanitizer With Moisturizing Aloe at Lather for $16.20 (Save $1.80)
5. 20% off: 100% Pure
100% Pure is a brand known for its plant-based products, its sanitizing spray key among them. Made up of just four ingredients: ethyl alcohol, aloe vera, tea tree leaf oil, and glycerin, it claims to be ultra moisturizing and cleansing without stripping skin of natural oils. Nearly 500 reviewers have praised the simple formula for being great for keeping sensitive skin germ-free and for its calming herbal scent. While there's a minimum purchase of three, 1.7-ounce spray bottles, you can knock 20% off the usual $15 price tag ($5 a bottle) using code DUAN20 at checkout, bringing the total cost down to only $12.
Active ingredient: 62% Ethyl Alcohol
Scented?: Yes
Get three 100% Pure Hand Sanitizers at 100% Pure for $12 (Save $3)
6. $3.50 off $15: Ulta
Though Ulta is first and foremost a beauty retailer, the store also carries a great selection of hand sanitizers and frequently offers sitewide discounts that apply to them. Right now, for instance, you can knock $3.50 off your purchase of $15 or more with coupon code 816583 at checkout. Choose the 17-ounce size of this Hempz Triple Moisture hand sanitizer, which reviewers mention has a pleasing, fruity scent, and enter the coupon to drop it from $19.95 to $16.45.
Active ingredient: 63% Ethyl Alcohol
Scented?: Yes
Get the Hempz Triple Moisture Hand Sanitizer at Ulta for $16.45 (Save $3.50)
7. $3 off: Costway
If you're looking for a bargain on a hand sanitizer bundle, this Meineke four-pack is a solid choice. With a 99.9% listed sterilization rate and 62% alcohol content, this aloe-infused formula has been designed to quickly kill germs and harmful bacteria without being overly drying. Once $24.99, you can nab it for $19.95 on Costway's own site, or for $21.99 at Walmart—a total savings of $3.
Active ingredient: 62% Ethyl Alcohol
Scented?: No
Get the Costway Advanced Hand Sanitizer Gel, 4-pack at Walmart for $21.99 (Save $3)
8. Save 6%: Grove Collaborative
Dry skin is one of the major downsides to clean hands, but thanks to this Sanitize and Soften Set from Grove Collaborative, you can stop it in its tracks. Complete with a blood orange-scented hand sanitizer that disinfects without robbing your epidermis of moisture as well as a rose petal hand cream for use after the gel. It's got a 4.7-star rating, as shoppers are big fans of this sanitizer's subtle, citrusy smell and the lotion's non-greasy feel. Normally $14.90, you can add it to your cart right now for just $13.95.
Active ingredient: 62% Ethyl Alcohol
Scented?: Yes
Get the Sanitize and Soften Set at Grove Collaborative for $13.95 (Save $0.95)
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.


usatoday--2020-07-12--Scott Dixon continues hot start to IndyCar season with win at Road America

ELKHART LAKE , Wis. – Scott Dixon dominated on track in the season opener and had strategy drop a second victory in his lap .
On Saturday he won the front end of the REV Group Grand Prix doubleheader on pit lane at Road America to stay unbeaten in the NTT IndyCar Series .
The five-time series champion survived three restarts and held off Will Power by 2.5386 at Road America .
“ We ’ re in the business of winning , so we ’ re going to win , ” Dixon said in his television interview .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this team .
The Chip Ganassi Racing Honda driver benefited from a stall by runaway leader Josef Newgarden mid-race and then got around Power – Newgarden ’ s Penske Racing teammate – on the final stop to lead 16 of 55 laps on the rolling 4.014-mile circuit .
Rookie Alex Palou finished third , Ryan Hunter-Reay fourth and Colton Herta fifth in the first race of the season for which fans were permitted to attend .
Dixon , who also won at Road America in 2017 , became the first driver to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five race .
“ The car ’ s really difficult to drive , ” Dixon said .
“ It ’ s still really tricky on the rears … just hard to keep them under , but it looks like there were a lot of other people struggling as well.
” Dixon has 49 wins with a chance to reach 50 in the weekend ’ s second round Sunday .
“ I ’ ll see if I can sneak in a couple of beers , ” he said .
Dixon is the first driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three races of an Indy-car season , having dominated at Texas Motor Speedway and then won a week ago on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course .
A.J .
Foyt won the first three in 1964 and Al Unser in 1971 in USAC , and Sebastien Bourdais won the first four of the 2006 Champ Car season .
All of them went on to win the championship that season .
Dixon has had three-race winning streaks in his career twice previously : Watkins Glen , Nashville and Mid-Ohio in 2007 , and Pocono @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 .
Road America is the first of three doubleheader weekends on a schedule shuffled in reaction to restrictions and concerns about the cononavirus pandemic .
The track initially was scheduled to host the series last month but changed dates to create the best possibility to have fans onsite , and the second race was added .
For several drivers , the 11:42 a.m. Sunday green flag can ’ t come soon enough .
Newgarden , who won the pole , was ahead by more than 9 seconds in the first half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop , which cost him more than 20 seconds .
He finished 14th .
The miserable start to the season continued for 2019 Road America winner Alexander Rossi .
After mechanical gremlins knocked him out of the first two races , the problems continued , and he ran off track both in practice and the race .
Conor Daly took a hard hit when he tangled with Pato O ’ Ward and spun into a tire barrier in Turn 7 on the 42nd lap .
Saturday marked the return of fans to IndyCar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run in a bubble to mitigate the spread of coronavirus at the start of a season already been delayed by the pandemic .
The crowd was greeted with an 80-degree , partly cloudy day .
Those in attendance were implored continuously with signs and announcements to stay within their family groups , social distance and wash their hands often .
The compact race weekend , from green flag on the first practice to the cool-down lap of the second race , will take about 27½ hours , and then the series will head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend at Iowa Speedway , a short oval .

Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Scott Dixon continues hot start to IndyCar season with win at Road America
Show Caption Hide Caption IndyCar driver champions blood donations The Red Cross has lost thousands of blood drives nationwide. IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe is on a mission to change that. Sportskind, USA Today
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Scott Dixon dominated on track in the season opener and had strategy drop a second victory in his lap.
On Saturday he won the front end of the REV Group Grand Prix doubleheader on pit lane at Road America to stay unbeaten in the NTT IndyCar Series.
The five-time series champion survived three restarts and held off Will Power by 2.5386 at Road America.
“We’re in the business of winning, so we’re going to win,” Dixon said in his television interview. “That’s what I’m proud of this team.
The Chip Ganassi Racing Honda driver benefited from a stall by runaway leader Josef Newgarden mid-race and then got around Power – Newgarden’s Penske Racing teammate – on the final stop to lead 16 of 55 laps on the rolling 4.014-mile circuit.
Rookie Alex Palou finished third, Ryan Hunter-Reay fourth and Colton Herta fifth in the first race of the season for which fans were permitted to attend.
Dixon, who also won at Road America in 2017, became the first driver to win twice in the track’s five race.
Absolutely incredible!
THREE IN A ROW for @scottdixon9 to start the season 💯 pic.twitter.com/RPEG5pa9pc — IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) July 11, 2020
“The car’s really difficult to drive,” Dixon said. “It’s still really tricky on the rears … just hard to keep them under, but it looks like there were a lot of other people struggling as well.”
Dixon has 49 wins with a chance to reach 50 in the weekend’s second round Sunday.
“I’ll see if I can sneak in a couple of beers,” he said.
Dixon is the first driver in modern history to win the first three races of an Indy-car season, having dominated at Texas Motor Speedway and then won a week ago on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
A.J. Foyt won the first three in 1964 and Al Unser in 1971 in USAC, and Sebastien Bourdais won the first four of the 2006 Champ Car season. All of them went on to win the championship that season.
Dixon has had three-race winning streaks in his career twice previously: Watkins Glen, Nashville and Mid-Ohio in 2007, and Pocono and a doubleheader sweep at Toronto in 2013.
Road America is the first of three doubleheader weekends on a schedule shuffled in reaction to restrictions and concerns about the cononavirus pandemic. The track initially was scheduled to host the series last month but changed dates to create the best possibility to have fans onsite, and the second race was added.
For several drivers, the 11:42 a.m. Sunday green flag can’t come soon enough.
Newgarden, who won the pole, was ahead by more than 9 seconds in the first half of the race but stalled in his second stop, which cost him more than 20 seconds. He finished 14th.
The miserable start to the season continued for 2019 Road America winner Alexander Rossi. After mechanical gremlins knocked him out of the first two races, the problems continued, and he ran off track both in practice and the race.
Conor Daly took a hard hit when he tangled with Pato O’Ward and spun into a tire barrier in Turn 7 on the 42nd lap.
Saturday marked the return of fans to IndyCar races, after the first two were run in a bubble to mitigate the spread of coronavirus at the start of a season already been delayed by the pandemic.
The crowd was greeted with an 80-degree, partly cloudy day. Those in attendance were implored continuously with signs and announcements to stay within their family groups, social distance and wash their hands often.
The compact race weekend, from green flag on the first practice to the cool-down lap of the second race, will take about 27½ hours, and then the series will head for the second of three doubleheaders next weekend at Iowa Speedway, a short oval.