usatoday--2020-07-01--President Trump has transformed the federal courts, but John Roberts still leads them

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump 's biggest achievement in office has been a conservative transformation of the federal judiciary .
But the Supreme Court showed in the space of two weeks that it has n't gone far enough to satisfy the political right .
On Trump 's side of the ledger : Two hundred new federal judges .
Fifty-three appeals court judges , just two short of President Barack Obama 's tally over eight years .
Three appeals courts `` flipped '' to having a majority of judges named by Republican presidents .
Two impeccably conservative Supreme Court justices .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice of the United States , John Roberts .
The nation 's 17th chief justice has parted with the 45th president in three major cases over a span of 15 days , once with the help of Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch , one of Trump 's nominees .
On abortion rights , LGBTQ rights and the DACA program for undocumented immigrants , Roberts cast his lot with the court 's liberals .
Those rulings – and there are more to come , including on the president 's personal battle with House Democrats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial records – represented a temporary setback for Trump , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the conservative legal movement .
But the president 's judicial nominations and the Republican Senate 's confirmations over 3½ years moved the federal courts further to the right than any president since Ronald Reagan and now represent a more permanent bulwark against the progressive agenda .
`` The Trump transformation of the federal judiciary is a huge , grand-slam conservative success , '' says Mike Davis , a former counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee who clerked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump 's second nominee , Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh .
The president 's nominees to federal circuit and district courts are generally in their 40s and 50s , giving them decades to fulfill their lifetime appointments .
They are 85 percent white and 75 percent male .
They include conservative legal stars such as Amy Coney Barrett on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and Neomi Rao on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit .
It was Rao who last week ordered the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed .
More : Federal appeals court orders dismissal of Michael Flynn case , likely ending prosecution of ex-Trump adviser And they include extremely young up-and-comers such as Justin Walker , the newest member of the D.C .
Circuit that has been the stepping-stone to many Supreme Court justices , including four on the high court today .
Walker , 38 , could serve for a half-century .
“ Given the age of Trump ’ s nominees , there will be a lasting impact of those new judges on the courts for decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow at the liberal organization People for the American Way .
“ If Trump has four more years , it ’ s hard to imagine that he would not completely dominate the federal courts of appeals , and the Supreme Court for that matter . ''
For most Americans , Trump 's impact on the courts has happened beneath the radar .
But what an impact it has been .
Three circuit courts – the 2nd , based in New York ; the 3rd , based in Philadelphia ; and the 11th , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidents ' nominees when Trump came into office .
Now Republican presidents ' nominees are in the majority in each .
Four circuit courts with jurisdiction over the nation 's midsection , from Ohio to Texas to North Dakota , are now overwhelmingly controlled by Republican presidents ' nominees .
And even the historically liberal 9th Circuit , based in San Francisco and with nine states stretching from Montana to Hawaii , has moved within striking distance of a GOP-nominated majority .
Those courts are where nearly all federal appeals stop ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases per year .
So most disputes involving civil rights , reproductive rights , voting rights , the environment , gun control , consumer protection and other issues are settled in the courts where Trump has had his greatest impact .
At the Supreme Court , Trump 's impact is already being felt .
While Gorsuch and Kavanaugh have veered from conservative dogma on occasion – and often have opposed each other – they have been generally reliable .
In the last two weeks , for instance , Kavanaugh voted with conservatives on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ rights , DACA , abortion and religious school choice .
And then there is Roberts , whose votes often are viewed both by conservatives and liberals as strategic in order to cast the court in the best possible light .
To the chief justice , that usually means taking an incremental approach .
`` It appears that the chief justice is making decisions based on a consideration of the political ramifications of the case , rather than its legal merit , '' says Carrie Severino , president of the conservative Judicial Crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a Trump nominee , but ironically he is the motivating factor behind the way Trump chooses his nominees – specifically to avoid another John Roberts.
” For Trump to get a firmer handle on the high court would take another vacancy , but that does not appear likely this year .
Two liberal justices in their 80s , Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer , are unlikely to retire during his watch .
The two oldest conservative justices , Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito , have shown no signs of stepping down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next Supreme Court battle with memories of 2016 “ To really transform the judiciary , you need eight years , '' says Curt Levey , president of the conservative Committee for Justice .
`` Even then , typically most of the judges on the judiciary will not be ones that you appointed.
” For Trump to win re-election , however , likely will take a major push from the conservative legal establishment and evangelicals concerned first and foremost about abortion rights .
In that sense , Roberts ' roadblocks could give Republicans a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
“ They won ’ t score a touchdown until they ’ ve overturned Roe v. Wade , '' says Nan Aron , president of the liberal Alliance for Justice , referencing the landmark 1973 decision that gave women the right to choose .
`` And until the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade , it will be a rallying cry for the right wing and for politicians running for office.
” The political left , which over the years has not been as motivated about the courts , has undergone a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's effort to fill the seat left open when Associate Justice Antonin Scalia died .
The seat stayed empty for Gorsuch the following year .
Then in 2018 , liberals became even more motivated by Kavanaugh 's nomination to succeed retiring Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy , who had been the court 's swing vote .
Kavanaugh 's conservative record on the D.C .
Circuit and sexual assault allegations from the 1980s that he denied resulted in a razor-thin , 50-48 confirmation .
More : Kavanaugh gets hero 's welcome from conservative Federalist Society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday against striking down Louisiana 's restriction on abortion clinics , liberal groups already are targeting Republican senators such as Maine 's Susan Collins who supported his confirmation .
It is one of several signs that Kavanaugh , Roberts and the federal courts will play a key role in the election .
`` We could be looking at a Trump supermajority on the Supreme Court if he ’ s reelected , '' says Christopher Kang , a former White House lawyer in the Obama administration now serving as chief counsel to the liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to start seeing progressives and Democrats caring about the courts , too .
”

President Trump has transformed the federal courts, but John Roberts still leads them
Show Caption Hide Caption Chief Justice John Roberts is not a sure bet for conservative rulings Chief Justice John Roberts has been a conservative vote in important past rulings, but recent decisions have some wondering if he's now a swing vote. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's biggest achievement in office has been a conservative transformation of the federal judiciary. But the Supreme Court showed in the space of two weeks that it hasn't gone far enough to satisfy the political right.
On Trump's side of the ledger: Two hundred new federal judges. Fifty-three appeals court judges, just two short of President Barack Obama's tally over eight years. Three appeals courts "flipped" to having a majority of judges named by Republican presidents. Two impeccably conservative Supreme Court justices.
On the other side: The chief justice of the United States, John Roberts.
The nation's 17th chief justice has parted with the 45th president in three major cases over a span of 15 days, once with the help of Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, one of Trump's nominees. On abortion rights, LGBTQ rights and the DACA program for undocumented immigrants, Roberts cast his lot with the court's liberals.
Those rulings – and there are more to come, including on the president's personal battle with House Democrats and New York prosecutors over access to his financial records – represented a temporary setback for Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the conservative legal movement.
But the president's judicial nominations and the Republican Senate's confirmations over 3½ years moved the federal courts further to the right than any president since Ronald Reagan and now represent a more permanent bulwark against the progressive agenda.
"The Trump transformation of the federal judiciary is a huge, grand-slam conservative success," says Mike Davis, a former counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee who clerked for Gorsuch and helped navigate the confirmation of Trump's second nominee, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
The president's nominees to federal circuit and district courts are generally in their 40s and 50s, giving them decades to fulfill their lifetime appointments. They are 85% white and 75% male.
They include conservative legal stars such as Amy Coney Barrett on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and Neomi Rao on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. It was Rao who last week ordered the case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn dismissed.
More: Federal appeals court orders dismissal of Michael Flynn case, likely ending prosecution of ex-Trump adviser
And they include extremely young up-and-comers such as Justin Walker, the newest member of the district Circuit that has been the stepping-stone to many Supreme Court justices, including four on the high court today. Walker, 38, could serve for a half-century.
“Given the age of Trump’s nominees, there will be a lasting impact of those new judges on the courts for decades," says Elliot Mincberg, senior fellow at the liberal organization People for the American Way. “If Trump has four more years, it’s hard to imagine that he would not completely dominate the federal courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court for that matter."
Flipping appeals courts
For most Americans, Trump's impact on the courts has happened beneath the radar. But what an impact it has been.
Three circuit courts – the 2nd, based in New York; the 3rd, based in Philadelphia; and the 11th, based in Atlanta – were dominated by Democratic presidents' nominees when Trump came into office. Now Republican presidents' nominees are in the majority in each.
Four circuit courts with jurisdiction over the nation's midsection, from Ohio to Texas to North Dakota, are now overwhelmingly controlled by Republican presidents' nominees. And even the historically liberal 9th Circuit, based in San Francisco and with nine states stretching from Montana to Hawaii, has moved within striking distance of a GOP-nominated majority.
Those courts are where nearly all federal appeals stop; the Supreme Court hears fewer than 100 cases per year. So most disputes involving civil rights, reproductive rights, voting rights, the environment, gun control, consumer protection and other issues are settled in the courts where Trump has had his greatest impact.
At the Supreme Court, Trump's impact is already being felt. While Gorsuch and Kavanaugh have veered from conservative dogma on occasion – and often have opposed each other – they have been generally reliable. In the last two weeks, for instance, Kavanaugh voted with conservatives on all four of the biggest cases: LGBTQ rights, DACA, abortion and religious school choice.
More: Supreme Court makes religious school education eligible for public aid
And then there is Roberts, whose votes often are viewed both by conservatives and liberals as strategic in order to cast the court in the best possible light. To the chief justice, that usually means taking an incremental approach.
More: Chief Justice John Roberts asserts his independence
"It appears that the chief justice is making decisions based on a consideration of the political ramifications of the case, rather than its legal merit," says Carrie Severino, president of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network. "He is not only not a Trump nominee, but ironically he is the motivating factor behind the way Trump chooses his nominees – specifically to avoid another John Roberts.”
More: Ruling on LGBTQ rights reveals precarious nature of Supreme Court's conservative majority
For Trump to get a firmer handle on the high court would take another vacancy, but that does not appear likely this year. Two liberal justices in their 80s, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer, are unlikely to retire during his watch. The two oldest conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, have shown no signs of stepping down.
More: Conservatives, liberals mull next Supreme Court battle with memories of 2016
“To really transform the judiciary, you need eight years," says Curt Levey, president of the conservative Committee for Justice. "Even then, typically most of the judges on the judiciary will not be ones that you appointed.”
'Rallying cry' for both sides
For Trump to win reelection, however, likely will take a major push from the conservative legal establishment and evangelicals concerned first and foremost about abortion rights.
More: Supreme Court strikes down abortion clinic restrictions in Louisiana
In that sense, Roberts' roadblocks could give Republicans a boost by increasing conservatives' incentive to vote.
“They won’t score a touchdown until they’ve overturned Roe v. Wade," says Nan Aron, president of the liberal Alliance for Justice, referencing the landmark 1973 decision that gave women the right to choose. "And until the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, it will be a rallying cry for the right wing and for politicians running for office.”
The political left, which over the years has not been as motivated about the courts, has undergone a metamorphosis since 2016 when Republicans blocked Obama's effort to fill the seat left open when Associate Justice Antonin Scalia died. The seat stayed empty for Gorsuch the following year.
Supreme Court strikes down abortion clinic restrictions The ruling in a case out of Louisiana is considered a defeat for conservatives as more abortion cases work their way toward the Supreme Court. USA TODAY
Then in 2018, liberals became even more motivated by Kavanaugh's nomination to succeed retiring Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, who had been the court's swing vote. Kavanaugh's conservative record on the district Circuit and sexual assault allegations from the 1980s that he denied resulted in a razor-thin, 50-48 confirmation.
More: Kavanaugh gets hero's welcome from conservative Federalist Society
In the wake of Kavanaugh's vote Monday against striking down Louisiana's restriction on abortion clinics, liberal groups already are targeting Republican senators such as Maine's Susan Collins who supported his confirmation. It is one of several signs that Kavanaugh, Roberts and the federal courts will play a key role in the election.
"We could be looking at a Trump supermajority on the Supreme Court if he’s reelected," says Christopher Kang, a former White House lawyer in the Obama administration now serving as chief counsel to the liberal group Demand Justice. "You’re going to start seeing progressives and Democrats caring about the courts, too.”


usatoday--2020-07-01--A Black man was killed in Denmark by men with Nazi tattoo, but authorities say it wasn't racist

The killing of Black man on a Danish island by two white brothers , one of whom local media reported had a visible Nazi tattoo on his leg , has sparked cries for justice after a prosecutor denied any racist motive in the slaying .
The 28-year-old man of Danish and Tanzanian descent was beaten , stabbed and found dead earlier this month in a forest in Rønne on the island of Bornholm , Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet reported .
The newspaper and Danish broadcaster DR reported that the man 's attackers also pressed their knee to his neck , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Prosecutor Bente Petersen Lund , however , said that while police have considered racist motivations in the killing , they believe a prior relationship between the men played a role , per DR .
The New York Times identified the victim as Phillip Mbuji Johansen , but the two accused assailants have not been identified .
Johansen 's mother , who was also not identified , told Ekstra Bladet that her son had been in contact on Facebook with at least one of the men who allegedly attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tattoo of a swastika on his leg while the other expressed support for a far right-wing group online , Ekstra Bladet and the New York Times reported .
A Facebook page for Black Lives Matter Denmark was critical of authorities , saying the case was race-based and called it a `` racist copycat honor killing . ''
Ekstra Bladet reported that Johansen was at a party the night he was killed and was invited to have a beer in the woods later in the evening .
Johansen 's mother told the newspaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't cause trouble .
Johansen grew up on Bornholm but had been living in Vordingborg on Zealand , the largest and most populous Danish island also home to Copenhagen , where he was studying to become an engineer .
`` It 's so tragic .
My son was such a sweet and caring young man , '' Johansen 's mother told Ekstra Bladet , according to a translation .

A Black man was killed in Denmark by men with Nazi tattoo, but authorities say it wasn't racist
The killing of Black man on a Danish island by two white brothers, one of whom local media reported had a visible Nazi tattoo on his leg, has sparked cries for justice after a prosecutor denied any racist motive in the slaying.
The 28-year-old man of Danish and Tanzanian descent was beaten, stabbed and found dead earlier this month in a forest in Rønne on the island of Bornholm, Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet reported. The newspaper and Danish broadcaster DR reported that the man's attackers also pressed their knee to his neck, drawing a comparison to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Prosecutor Bente Petersen Lund, however, said that while police have considered racist motivations in the killing, they believe a prior relationship between the men played a role, per DR.
The New York Times identified the victim as Phillip Mbuji Johansen, but the two accused assailants have not been identified.
Johansen's mother, who was also not identified, told Ekstra Bladet that her son had been in contact on Facebook with at least one of the men who allegedly attacked him.
One of the brothers had a tattoo of a swastika on his leg while the other expressed support for a far right-wing group online, Ekstra Bladet and the New York Times reported.
A Facebook page for Black Lives Matter Denmark was critical of authorities, saying the case was race-based and called it a "racist copycat honor killing."
Ekstra Bladet reported that Johansen was at a party the night he was killed and was invited to have a beer in the woods later in the evening. Johansen's mother told the newspaper her son was quiet and calm and didn't cause trouble.
Johansen grew up on Bornholm but had been living in Vordingborg on Zealand, the largest and most populous Danish island also home to Copenhagen, where he was studying to become an engineer.
"It's so tragic. My son was such a sweet and caring young man," Johansen's mother told Ekstra Bladet, according to a translation.
Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller


usatoday--2020-07-01--Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Jones says he 'won't play' without new long-term contract

Chris Jones is sending a message to the Kansas City Chiefs .
Ahead of the July 15 deadline for players to agree to multi-year contracts , the Pro Bowl defensive tackle stated he wo n't settle for playing on the franchise tag this season , saying Tuesday he `` wo n't play '' if not given a long-term deal of his liking .
NFL Network 's Mike Garafolo reported earlier in the day that Jones , who has not signed his tender , has `` always viewed himself as a $ 20 million-plus-per-year guy . ''
The Chiefs , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garafolo reported , leaving `` a lot of work to be done '' if the two sides are to reach a multi-year contract .
Jones responded on Twitter to a video of Garafolo 's report , saying , `` Or I wo n't play .
Le'Veon Bell told me about this . ''
Bell sat out the entire 2018 NFL season amid a dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers , who placed the franchise tag on him for the second consecutive year .
The three-time Pro Bowl running back signed a four-year , $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jets last March .
Opinion : Nine reasons why New England Patriots wo n't win Super Bowl LV with Cam Newton More : Odell Beckham Jr. shoots down Patriots trade speculation , reiterates he has 'unfinished business ' with Browns Jones , 25 , has established himself as one of the leading forces of the Chiefs defense , recording 31 sacks in the last three years .
He notched nine sacks last year and deflected three passes in Super Bowl LIV to help Kansas City win its first title in 50 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 if he opts to play on the franchise tender .
Kansas City has already committed a sizable sum to its core players , including defensive end Frank Clark , who agreed to a five-year , $ 104 million deal with the team last April after being acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks .
Clark agreed in March to restructure part of his contract to help the Chiefs get under the salary cap .
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes is also expected to receive a potentially record-breaking extension .
General manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL scouting combine that retaining Jones was a `` priority ' for the team .
“ I think the tandem of Chris Jones and Frank Clark is something any team would want , '' Veach said .
`` We ’ re going to work hard to see if we can get that done .
”

Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Jones says he 'won't play' without new long-term contract
Show Caption Hide Caption NFLPA lays out what needs to happen for NFL training camps to start on time SportsPulse: NFL training camps are scheduled to start in just under a month. NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith lays out all the protocols and plans that need to be in place for camps to start on time. USA TODAY
Chris Jones is sending a message to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ahead of the July 15 deadline for players to agree to multi-year contracts, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle stated he won't settle for playing on the franchise tag this season, saying Tuesday he "won't play" if not given a long-term deal of his liking.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported earlier in the day that Jones, who has not signed his tender, has "always viewed himself as a $20 million-plus-per-year guy." The Chiefs, however, do not share that valuation, Garafolo reported, leaving "a lot of work to be done" if the two sides are to reach a multi-year contract.
Jones responded on Twitter to a video of Garafolo's report, saying, "Or I won't play. Le'Veon Bell told me about this."
Or I won’t play. @LeVeonBell told me about this — Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) July 1, 2020
Bell sat out the entire 2018 NFL season amid a dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who placed the franchise tag on him for the second consecutive year. The three-time Pro Bowl running back signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the New York Jets last March.
Opinion: Nine reasons why New England Patriots won't win Super Bowl LV with Cam Newton
More: Odell Beckham Jr. shoots down Patriots trade speculation, reiterates he has 'unfinished business' with Browns
Jones, 25, has established himself as one of the leading forces of the Chiefs defense, recording 31 sacks in the last three years. He notched nine sacks last year and deflected three passes in Super Bowl LIV to help Kansas City win its first title in 50 years.
Jones would make $16.1 million in 2020 if he opts to play on the franchise tender.
Kansas City has already committed a sizable sum to its core players, including defensive end Frank Clark, who agreed to a five-year, $104 million deal with the team last April after being acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. Clark agreed in March to restructure part of his contract to help the Chiefs get under the salary cap. Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes is also expected to receive a potentially record-breaking extension.
General manager Brett Veach said in February at the NFL scouting combine that retaining Jones was a "priority' for the team.
“I think the tandem of Chris Jones and Frank Clark is something any team would want," Veach said. "We’re going to work hard to see if we can get that done.”


usatoday--2020-07-01--Kid Rock's bar joins lawsuit against Nashville over COVID-19 restrictions

The owner of Kid Rock 's Big Honky Tonk & Steakhouse joined a lawsuit this week against Nashville and Tennessee leaders as tensions escalate over COVID-19 restrictions .
Steve Smith , who owns Kid Rock 's and several other downtown Nashville businesses , joined the suit seeking financial compensation for loss of business income during state and local stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The suit also cites a `` disparity '' between how Nashville treated businesses and protesters in recent weeks .
While local businesses were subject to strict capacity limits and COVID-19 safety measures after reopening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters to gather in close proximity in recent weeks , the suit said .
`` When confronted with the clear disparity in how government officials were treating restaurants/bars compared to the individuals participating in protests , both Mayor ( John ) Cooper and Director ( Michael ) Caldwell basically said these individuals have the right to peacefully assemble under the First Amendment , '' the lawsuit states .
Kid Rock : No , I 'm not running for U.S. Senate 'We did n't mean any harm ' : Morgan Wallen apologizes after arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city issued a five-day beer permit suspension against four downtown bars for violating one of the city Health Department 's COVID-19 restrictions , including Kid Rock 's .
Smith spoke out last week , saying the city is unfairly targeting downtown businesses in enforcing public safety measures meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
`` The Nashville government is , like , communist .
They 've got us behind a Berlin Wall , '' Smith told The Tennessean last week .
`` It 's against our constitutional rights . ''
The suit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have developed which demonstrate that Metro indeed is targeting restaurants and bars , especially live music venues in and about Broadway '' and states `` Metro officials are not being guided by science , but by political expediency . ''
Who is involved in the lawsuit Smith joins Geoffrey Reid , who owns The Local Spot and filed the initial lawsuit May 18 , according to court documents .
Smith and Reid accused Nashville and Tennessee leaders of violating their fundamental rights as a business owner in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names Gov .
Bill Lee , Mayor John Cooper , state Attorney General Herbert Slatery and Nashville health director Dr. Michael Caldwell as defendants .
The latest court documents also request to add the Metro Beer Board and one of its members , Kia Jarmon , to that list .
More : Movies delayed by the coronavirus pandemic , including 'Mulan ' and 'Tenet '

Kid Rock's bar joins lawsuit against Nashville over COVID-19 restrictions
Show Caption Hide Caption Food service and workers struggle with working through COVID-19 A food delivery driver, a personal shopper and a restaurant owner share the trials and tribulations they've faced since start of the pandemic. Alexis Arnold, USA TODAY
The owner of Kid Rock's Big Honky Tonk & Steakhouse joined a lawsuit this week against Nashville and Tennessee leaders as tensions escalate over COVID-19 restrictions.
Steve Smith, who owns Kid Rock's and several other downtown Nashville businesses, joined the suit seeking financial compensation for loss of business income during state and local stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The suit also cites a "disparity" between how Nashville treated businesses and protesters in recent weeks.
While local businesses were subject to strict capacity limits and COVID-19 safety measures after reopening, the city allowed tens of thousands of protesters to gather in close proximity in recent weeks, the suit said.
"When confronted with the clear disparity in how government officials were treating restaurants/bars compared to the individuals participating in protests, both Mayor (John) Cooper and Director (Michael) Caldwell basically said these individuals have the right to peacefully assemble under the First Amendment," the lawsuit states.
Kid Rock: No, I'm not running for U.S. Senate
'We didn't mean any harm': Morgan Wallen apologizes after arrest for public intoxication
Last week, the city issued a five-day beer permit suspension against four downtown bars for violating one of the city Health Department's COVID-19 restrictions, including Kid Rock's.
Smith spoke out last week, saying the city is unfairly targeting downtown businesses in enforcing public safety measures meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.
"The Nashville government is, like, communist. They've got us behind a Berlin Wall," Smith told The Tennessean last week. "It's against our constitutional rights."
The suit goes on to say the "facts have developed which demonstrate that Metro indeed is targeting restaurants and bars, especially live music venues in and about Broadway" and states "Metro officials are not being guided by science, but by political expediency."
Who is involved in the lawsuit
Smith joins Geoffrey Reid, who owns The Local Spot and filed the initial lawsuit May 18, according to court documents. Smith and Reid accused Nashville and Tennessee leaders of violating their fundamental rights as a business owner in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, court documents show.
The lawsuit names Gov. Bill Lee, Mayor John Cooper, state Attorney General Herbert Slatery and Nashville health director Dr. Michael Caldwell as defendants. The latest court documents also request to add the Metro Beer Board and one of its members, Kia Jarmon, to that list.
Attorney Kirk Clements is representing the plaintiffs.
More: Movies delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, including 'Mulan' and 'Tenet'
More: Broadway suspends performances through 2020 due to coronavirus


usatoday--2020-07-01--'The stuff of miracles': Unlike Trump, earlier presidents found ways to solve major crises

One of the main jobs for any president confronting major crisis is distinguishing merely unimaginable options from the genuinely impossible .
Indeed , history indicates that a president relying on gifted help and applying courageous leadership can take a problem that others deem unsolvable and — against overwhelming odds — make it go away .
This is the kind of history that Donald Trump might have consulted fruitfully as the coronavirus seized this country — and his presidency .
Secretary of State George Marshall returned from a trip to Europe in the winter of 1947 and reported to President Harry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the verge of implosion .
Food and fuel stocks were catastrophically low , disease was running rampant and almost every political system east of Lisbon was teetering towards chaos or the suffocating embrace of Joseph Stalin .
The war weariness of the United States meant there was little tolerance for extending further scarce American resources to deal with Europe ’ s problems .
Yet Marshall and his team of experts rapidly developed an aid plan of previously unthinkable proportions .
Truman got Congress to adopt it quickly , saving a continent .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a symbol of American post-war generosity .
Yet few will remember how audacious or improbable it was .
Where is the George Marshall in the Trump White House ?
And where is Truman ’ s bold resolve ?
The absence of that kind of leadership has taken an incalculable toll today .
Just after President Bill Clinton was humiliated by Newt Gingrich ’ s Republican Revolution in the 1994 midterm elections , the president was approached by two of his senior economic advisers — Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and then National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news that the Mexican peso was nearing collapse .
Based on their grim prediction , Clinton called in the congressional leadership and explained , “ We ’ re going to have to guarantee some substantial loans to Mexico or Mexico could crater , and if Mexico craters it will have a devastating effect on America.
” Behind closed doors , the bipartisan leaders agreed with the president ’ s assessment .
But they could not muster the necessary legislative support with their rank-and-file members to adopt a solution .
The risk was unimaginably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s own internal assessment , there was a 40 % chance that the United States would “ piss… $ 20 billion down a rat hole.
” Clinton decided to assume the risk all on his own , using creative executive authorities to guarantee the loans .
Carter , Bush , now Trump ?
: For Donald Trump , it may already be too late to beat Joe Biden in November The president ’ s action succeeded , averting an economic disaster of the first order .
Yet few Americans today have any recollection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people with this vision and courage in the Trump administration ?
Bush team had wit , wisdom and will In the spring of 2003 , while the march to war in Iraq was a preoccupation in Washington , President George W. Bush was occasionally hearing from members of his health policy and national security staffs that Africa was on the verge of a ghastly explosion in the number of HIV cases .
Because a diagnosis of AIDS was considered a death sentence in the developing world , infected individuals were not seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease .
Millions of African lives were at risk , with an unknown domino effect beyond .
Bush quietly set up a secret group of professionals to deal with the problem , and personally issued this instruction : Go big .
Relying heavily on Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and his colleague Mark Dybul ( an openly gay HIV specialist who came into the president ’ s inner circle initially hating Bush and expecting him to sabotage the process ) , Bush devised an extraordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furthest reaches of Africa at American taxpayer expense .
PEPFAR ( President ’ s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief ) was enacted by Congress over the opposition of a host of social and economic conservatives within the president ’ s own party , because Bush and his political adviser Karl Rove muscled it through .
A historic parallel : Trump , like Herbert Hoover , is 'the man who doesn ’ t care . '
Biden can make that stick .
It is easy to see the contrast between Trump ’ s use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorized to do under Bush .
It is also easy to see the different outcomes .
PEPFAR was genuinely remarkable : over 18 million lives saved to date , because that president and his team used the office of the presidency in ways that to many seemed unthinkable .
They had the wit , the wisdom and the will to make something unlikely happen .
Sometimes , when it comes to using the powers of the presidency , that is the stuff of miracles .
Russell Riley is co-chair of the Presidential Oral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Miller Center of Public Affairs .

'The stuff of miracles': Unlike Trump, earlier presidents found ways to solve major crises Presidents with courage and gifted help can make seemingly unsolvable problems go away. Trump has neither, and it's taking an incalculable toll.
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden criticizes President Trump's response during COVID-19 pandemic During a speech in Delaware, Vice President Joe Biden criticized President Donald Trump for his handling of the pandemic. USA TODAY
One of the main jobs for any president confronting major crisis is distinguishing merely unimaginable options from the genuinely impossible. Indeed, history indicates that a president relying on gifted help and applying courageous leadership can take a problem that others deem unsolvable and — against overwhelming odds — make it go away. This is the kind of history that Donald Trump might have consulted fruitfully as the coronavirus seized this country — and his presidency.
Secretary of State George Marshall returned from a trip to Europe in the winter of 1947 and reported to President Harry Truman that the war-broken continent was on the verge of implosion. Food and fuel stocks were catastrophically low, disease was running rampant and almost every political system east of Lisbon was teetering towards chaos or the suffocating embrace of Joseph Stalin. The war weariness of the United States meant there was little tolerance for extending further scarce American resources to deal with Europe’s problems. Yet Marshall and his team of experts rapidly developed an aid plan of previously unthinkable proportions. Truman got Congress to adopt it quickly, saving a continent.
Many Americans will vaguely recall the Marshall Plan as a symbol of American post-war generosity. Yet few will remember how audacious or improbable it was. Where is the George Marshall in the Trump White House? And where is Truman’s bold resolve? The absence of that kind of leadership has taken an incalculable toll today.
Clinton had vision and courage
Just after President Bill Clinton was humiliated by Newt Gingrich’s Republican Revolution in the 1994 midterm elections, the president was approached by two of his senior economic advisers — Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and then National Economic Adviser Robert Rubin — with the news that the Mexican peso was nearing collapse. Based on their grim prediction, Clinton called in the congressional leadership and explained, “We’re going to have to guarantee some substantial loans to Mexico or Mexico could crater, and if Mexico craters it will have a devastating effect on America.”
Behind closed doors, the bipartisan leaders agreed with the president’s assessment. But they could not muster the necessary legislative support with their rank-and-file members to adopt a solution. The risk was unimaginably large. By the White House’s own internal assessment, there was a 40% chance that the United States would “piss…$20 billion down a rat hole.” Clinton decided to assume the risk all on his own, using creative executive authorities to guarantee the loans.
Carter, Bush, now Trump?: For Donald Trump, it may already be too late to beat Joe Biden in November
The president’s action succeeded, averting an economic disaster of the first order. Yet few Americans today have any recollection that it even happened. Where are the people with this vision and courage in the Trump administration?
Bush team had wit, wisdom and will
In the spring of 2003, while the march to war in Iraq was a preoccupation in Washington, President George W. Bush was occasionally hearing from members of his health policy and national security staffs that Africa was on the verge of a ghastly explosion in the number of HIV cases. Because a diagnosis of AIDS was considered a death sentence in the developing world, infected individuals were not seeking help and consequently were infecting others with the disease. Millions of African lives were at risk, with an unknown domino effect beyond.
Bush quietly set up a secret group of professionals to deal with the problem, and personally issued this instruction: Go big. Relying heavily on Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and his colleague Mark Dybul (an openly gay HIV specialist who came into the president’s inner circle initially hating Bush and expecting him to sabotage the process), Bush devised an extraordinary initiative to get antiretroviral drugs into the furthest reaches of Africa at American taxpayer expense. PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) was enacted by Congress over the opposition of a host of social and economic conservatives within the president’s own party, because Bush and his political adviser Karl Rove muscled it through.
National Institutes of Health director warns against COVID complacency Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, urges Americans to not get complacent about COVID, continue social distancing. USA TODAY
A historic parallel: Trump, like Herbert Hoover, is 'the man who doesn’t care.' Biden can make that stick.
It is easy to see the contrast between Trump’s use of Dr. Fauci and what Fauci was authorized to do under Bush. It is also easy to see the different outcomes.
PEPFAR was genuinely remarkable: over 18 million lives saved to date, because that president and his team used the office of the presidency in ways that to many seemed unthinkable. They had the wit, the wisdom and the will to make something unlikely happen. Sometimes, when it comes to using the powers of the presidency, that is the stuff of miracles.
Russell Riley is co-chair of the Presidential Oral History Program at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs.


usatoday--2020-07-01--YouTube suspends monetization on Shane Dawson's channels indefinitely after his apology for racist a

YouTube confirmed Tuesday it suspended monetization indefinitely on site personality Shane Dawson ’ s three YouTube channels : `` shane '' with 22.5 million subscribers , `` ShaneGlossin '' with almost 3.7 million subscribers and `` Shane Dawson TV '' with 8.4 million subscribers .
The company 's action comes after Dawson , 31 , posted a video on Friday apologizing for `` all the racism that I put on the internet , as an adult . ''
A list of Dawson 's racist actions include using the N-word , doing blackface on multiple videos , playing racial minority stereotypes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` If you 've been watching me for a while , you know that I 've done a lot of things in my past that I hate , '' Dawson said in the 20-minute video .
`` If you do n't accept the apology , that is 100 % OK. '' Boycott : Facebook , social media under more pressure from brands over hate speech Done with Facebook ?
: Consider MeWe , Parler or old standbys such as LinkedIn Dawson mentioned that he was inspired by fellow YouTuber Jenna Marbles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before his .
On Marbles ' channel , which has 20.3 million subscribers , she listed past racist actions such as doing blackface and playing racial minority stereotypes .
A YouTube spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY that even if a creator ’ s recent content does not violate our Community Guidelines , when the company is made aware of older uploaded content that violate it , YouTube will take action .
`` Blackface was something that I did a lot on my channel , '' Dawson said of his early videos .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2014 video and addressed it in Friday 's video saying every apology before was made `` out of fear . ''
For YouTube , in the review of Dawson 's videos , their impact and nature warranted action .
The company confirmed it also considered on- and off-platform behavior .
`` I 'm sorry I added to the normalization of blackface or the normalization of saying the n-word , '' Dawson added .

YouTube suspends monetization on Shane Dawson's channels indefinitely after his apology for racist actions
Show Caption Hide Caption Jaden Smith criticizes YouTuber Shane Dawson for sexualizing Willow Jaden Smith criticized YouTube personality Shane Dawson for sexualizing his sister. Dawson also apologized for racist videos. Cover Media, Cover Media
YouTube confirmed Tuesday it suspended monetization indefinitely on site personality Shane Dawson’s three YouTube channels: "shane" with 22.5 million subscribers, "ShaneGlossin" with almost 3.7 million subscribers and "Shane Dawson TV" with 8.4 million subscribers.
The company's action comes after Dawson, 31, posted a video on Friday apologizing for "all the racism that I put on the internet, as an adult."
A list of Dawson's racist actions include using the N-word, doing blackface on multiple videos, playing racial minority stereotypes, and also his comments on pedophilia.
"If you've been watching me for a while, you know that I've done a lot of things in my past that I hate," Dawson said in the 20-minute video. "If you don't accept the apology, that is 100% OK."
Boycott: Facebook, social media under more pressure from brands over hate speech
Done with Facebook?: Consider MeWe, Parler or old standbys such as LinkedIn
Dawson mentioned that he was inspired by fellow YouTuber Jenna Marbles, who posted a video apology a day before his.
On Marbles' channel, which has 20.3 million subscribers, she listed past racist actions such as doing blackface and playing racial minority stereotypes.
A YouTube spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY that even if a creator’s recent content does not violate our Community Guidelines, when the company is made aware of older uploaded content that violate it, YouTube will take action.
"Blackface was something that I did a lot on my channel," Dawson said of his early videos. He previously apologized for his racist actions in a 2014 video and addressed it in Friday's video saying every apology before was made "out of fear."
For YouTube, in the review of Dawson's videos, their impact and nature warranted action. The company confirmed it also considered on- and off-platform behavior.
"I'm sorry I added to the normalization of blackface or the normalization of saying the n-word," Dawson added.
Follow Josh Rivera on Twitter: @Josh1Rivera.


usatoday--2020-07-01--Horse rescued after ending up a mile off Ireland's coast in Atlantic Ocean

Horse rescued after ending up a mile off Ireland 's coast in Atlantic A lifeboat crew came to the aid @ @ @ @ @ bolted over a mile out into the Atlantic Ocean from a beach in Donegal , @ @

Horse rescued after ending up a mile off Ireland's coast in Atlantic
A lifeboat crew came to the aid of a horse that had bolted over a mile out into the Atlantic Ocean from a beach in Donegal, Ireland.
Storyful


usatoday--2020-07-01--How far would you run to see someone you love?

How far would you run to see someone you love ?
Corey Cappelloni ran 7 ultra-marathons in 7 days to @ @ @ @ @ recently recovered from COVID-19 .
He started from his home in Washington , D.C to @ @ @ @ @ Scranton , Pennsylvania .

How far would you run to see someone you love?
Corey Cappelloni ran 7 ultra-marathons in 7 days to see his 98-year-old grandma who recently recovered from COVID-19. He started from his home in Washington, D.C to her nursing home facility in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Sportskind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-06-30--Family fishing on lake saves young bear with head stuck in plastic container

Family saves bear swimming in lake with head stuck in container The family was on their way back from a @ @ @ @ @ the bear .

Family saves bear swimming in lake with head stuck in container
The family was on their way back from a fishing trip when they spotted the bear.
USA TODAY, Storyful


usatoday--2020-07-01--About that running mate: 72% of Democrats in USA TODAY poll say it's 'important' Biden pick woman of

Seven of 10 Democrats in the new USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll say it is important to them that presumptive nominee Joe Biden picks a woman of color as his running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket this fall .
A third of Democrats , among both Blacks and whites , call it `` very important . ''
The potential contender who generates the most enthusiasm as a vice presidential nominee among those surveyed is California Sen. Kamala Harris , followed by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
Many of the other possibilities reportedly being vetted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to be rated by most of those surveyed .
The poll had some disheartening news for the current vice president , Mike Pence .
Republicans by close to 2-1 would n't be concerned if President Trump dumped Pence from the GOP ticket in favor of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley : 11 % would be `` excited '' and 35 % would find that move `` acceptable . ''
Just 21 % said it would be `` not acceptable '' and 6 % said they would be `` angry . ''
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you registered to vote ?
Check your status , get registered Whether Trump is considering taking that step is n't clear , although former Trump national security adviser John Bolton in his new bestseller , `` The Room Where It Happened , '' says that was an idea he believed was being promoted behind the scenes by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump .
In any case , Biden is in the market for a vice presidential nominee , which he has promised will be a woman .
He has said he 'll announce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks for his Biden : Here are the women under consideration as his vice presidential running mate Among Democrats , 35 % said it was `` very important '' to them that his running mate be a woman of color ; another 37 % said it was `` somewhat important . ''
Only 26 % said it was `` not very '' or `` not at all '' important .
`` It definitely needs to be a woman of color to be representative of what 's happening right now , '' said Dawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barnum , Minnesota , who was called in the poll .
She said either Harris or Abrams would be a `` strong , effective '' choice .
In the poll , nominating a woman of color was more important to whites than Blacks .
Seventy-five percent of whites said it was very or somewhat important to them ; 60 % of Blacks took that view .
So did 81 % of Hispanics .
Among Democrats under 25 , 85 % called it very or somewhat important , a higher proportion than among older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 287 Republicans was taken by landline and cell phone Thursday through Monday .
The margin of error for the Democratic sample is plus or minus 5.3 percentage points ; for the Republican sample it is 5.8 points .
USA TODAY poll : Biden widens his lead , but Trump keeps the edge on enthusiasm • Harris , the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants , generated the most excitement , and across racial lines : 41 % of whites and 32 % of Blacks said they would be `` excited '' by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % called her `` acceptable ; '' 12 % said she would be `` not acceptable . ''
• Abrams , who is African American , was rated as an `` exciting '' choice by 20 % of whites and 27 % of Blacks .
Among all Democrats , 29 % said she was `` acceptable '' and 10 % `` not acceptable . ''
• Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who is white , was seen as `` exciting '' by 33 % of whites and 15 % of Blacks .
Overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptable . ''
But 19 % called her `` not acceptable , '' the highest negative rating of any of the 11 names on the poll 's rundown .
• Former Obama UN ambassador Susan Rice , who is Black , was seen as `` exciting '' by 20 % of whites and 24 % of Blacks .
Among all Democrats , 35 % said she would be `` acceptable '' and 10 % said she would be `` not acceptable . ''
• Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , who is African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exciting '' choice by 16 % of whites and 25 % of Blacks .
Overall , 28 % called her `` acceptable '' and 7 % `` not acceptable . ''
• Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , who is white , was seen as `` exciting '' by 16 % of both Blacks and whites .
She was seen as `` acceptable '' by 38 % overall and `` not acceptable '' by 14 % .
Five other names were included in the survey , but a majority of respondents said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an opinion .
They included Florida Rep. Val Demings , Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth , Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin , New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham and California Rep. Karen Bass .
Where do Americans stand on election issues ?
Let them tell you how they feel about this policy Of course , being chosen for the ticket would presumably make any pick much better known , and fast .
Jacob Walker , 44 , a school administrator and an independent voter from Auburn , California , who was polled , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
An independent , he plans to vote for Biden .
`` If you had somebody on the ticket who was just a firebrand – you know , get rid of the police or things like that – that would make it very hard , '' he said , recalling the Republican ticket in 2008 .
`` I saw Sarah Palin on McCain 's ticket .
Great , she 's a woman , but she just was not a person I would want to become president . ''
He urged Biden to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , could be a uniter also of our nation . ''
2020 campaign : Biden campaign commits to three debates , rejects Trump team 's call for more as 'distraction '

Susan Page and Sarah Elbeshbishi, USA TODAY

About that running mate: 72% of Democrats in USA TODAY poll say it's 'important' Biden pick woman of color
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden's vice presidential candidate: 6 possibilities The former vice president will soon begin the process of selecting a running mate as the Democratic primary nears its end. USA TODAY
Seven of 10 Democrats in the new USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll say it is important to them that presumptive nominee Joe Biden picks a woman of color as his running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket this fall.
A third of Democrats, among both Black and white Americans, call it "very important."
The potential contender who generates the most enthusiasm as a vice presidential nominee among those surveyed is California Sen. Kamala Harris, followed by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Many of the other possibilities reportedly being vetted by the Biden campaign aren't familiar enough to be rated by most of those surveyed.
The poll had some disheartening news for the current vice president, Mike Pence. Republicans by close to 2-1 wouldn't be concerned if President Donald Trump dumped Pence from the GOP ticket in favor of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley: 11% would be "excited" and 35% would find that move "acceptable."
Just 21% said it would be "not acceptable," and 6% said they would be "angry." An additional 1 in 4 are undecided.
Are you registered to vote? Check your status, get registered
Whether Trump is considering taking that step isn't clear, although former Trump national security adviser John Bolton, in his new bestseller, "The Room Where It Happened," says that was an idea he believed was being promoted behind the scenes by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.
In any case, Biden is in the market for a vice presidential nominee, which he has promised will be a woman. He has said he'll announce his choice around Aug. 1.
Biden looks for his Biden: Here are the women under consideration as his vice presidential running mate
Among Democrats, 35% said it was "very important" to them that his running mate be a woman of color; an additional 37% said it was "somewhat important." Only 26% said it was "not very" or "not at all" important.
"It definitely needs to be a woman of color to be representative of what's happening right now," said Dawn Newman, 56, a Democrat from Barnum, Minnesota, who was called in the poll. She said either Harris or Abrams would be a "strong, effective" choice.
In the poll, nominating a woman of color was more important to white Americans than Black Americans. Seventy-five percent of white Americans said it was very or somewhat important to them; 60% of Black Americans took that view. So did 81% of Hispanics.
Among Democrats under 25, 85% called it very or somewhat important, a higher proportion than among older voters.
The poll of 345 Democrats and 287 Republicans was taken by landline and cellphone Thursday through Monday. The margin of error for the Democratic sample is plus or minus 5.3 percentage points; for the Republican sample it is 5.8 points.
USA TODAY poll: Biden widens his lead, but Trump keeps the edge on enthusiasm
Among the possibilities:
Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, generated the most excitement, and across racial lines: 41% of whites and 32% of African Americans said they would be "excited" by her choice. Overall, an additional 33% called her "acceptable;" 12% said she would be "not acceptable."
Abrams, who is African American, was rated as an "exciting" choice by 20% of white and 27% of Black respondents. Among all Democrats, 29% said she was "acceptable" and 10% "not acceptable."
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is white, was seen as "exciting" by 33% of white and 15% of Black respondents. Overall, 38% said she was "acceptable." But 19% called her "not acceptable," the highest negative rating of any of the 11 names on the poll's rundown.
Former Obama U.N. ambassador Susan Rice, who is Black, was seen as "exciting" by 20% of white and 24% of Black Americans. Among all Democrats, 35% said she would be "acceptable" and 10% said she would be "not acceptable."
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is African American, was seen as an "exciting" choice by 16% of white and 25% of Black respondents. Overall, 28% called her "acceptable" and 7% "not acceptable."
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is white, was seen as "exciting" by 16% of Black and white Americans alike. She was seen as "acceptable" by 38% overall and "not acceptable" by 14%.
Five other names were included in the survey, but a majority of respondents said they didn't know enough about them to have an opinion. They were Florida Rep. Val Demings, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and California Rep. Karen Bass.
Of course, being chosen for the ticket would presumably make any pick much better known, and fast.
Jacob Walker, 44, a school administrator and an independent voter from Auburn, California, who was polled, cautioned against choosing someone "too radical." An independent, he plans to vote for Biden.
"If you had somebody on the ticket who was just a firebrand – you know, get rid of the police or things like that – that would make it very hard," he said, recalling the Republican ticket in 2008. "I saw Sarah Palin on McCain's ticket. Great, she's a woman, but she just was not a person I would want to become president."
He urged Biden to choose someone who "if they became president, could be a uniter also of our nation."
2020 campaign: Biden campaign commits to three debates, rejects Trump team's call for more as 'distraction'


usatoday--2020-07-01--John Hickenlooper wins Colorado Democratic primary, will face Sen. Cory Gardner

Ft. Collins Coloradoan and The Associated Press Former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper has defeated former Colorado House speaker Andrew Romanoff in the Democratic race and will face GOP incumbent U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner in November .
The Associated Press called the race in Hickenlooper 's favor little more than 20 minutes after polls closed in the state 's all-mail election on Tuesday .
Shortly after polls closed at 9 p.m .
ET Tuesday , statewide ballot reporting from the Colorado Secretary of State office showed Hickenlooper enjoying a lead of 60 % to Romanoff 's 40 % with more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Romanoff snaps the Democratic left 's surge that started earlier this month in a New York City race , where a Black middle school teacher declared victory over Rep. Elliot Engel before the results of mail-in ballots were released .
Romanoff is a former moderate who turned himself into a populist , running against the moderate favorite of the Democratic establishment and promising a Green New Deal and single-payer health care .
But he could not overcome both Hickenlooper 's immense financial edge — the former governor out-raised Romanoff by about 7-to-1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reservoir of goodwill among voters stemming from two terms in the governor 's mansion .
That 's why Senate Democrats recruited Hickenlooper to take on Gardner , widely seen as the most vulnerable Republican in the Senate because Colorado has shifted so much to the left .
For a brief moment during the primary , it looked like that shift , combined with striking missteps by Hickenlooper , might give Romanoff a chance .
Hickenlooper defied a subpoena from the state 's independent ethics commission over Republican charges that he violated the ethics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trips as governor .
A self-made multimillionaire , Hickenlooper had said he 'd happily testify in person in the case but refused to appear virtually until a judge rejected his attempt to quash the subpoena and the commission found him in contempt .
The commission found Hickenlooper had violated the law in one flight and one limousine trip at the secretive Biltsberger meetings in Rome .
Then , amid the protests over police violence against Black people , Hickenlooper garbled the meaning of the slogan “ Black Lives Matter.
” The following week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 6-year-old video of Hickenlooper jokingly comparing politicians to slaves being whipped to row “ an ancient slave ship.
” The combination of the gaffes and setbacks was enough to lure Republicans to launch millions of dollars in ads attacking Hickenlooper .
Democrats responded with defensive ads , and Romanoff then jumped in and added his own attack ad versus the former governor .
Colorado 's Democratic establishment , from Gov .
Jared Polis to Sen. Michael Bennet , condemned Romanoff for the move .
Then , days later , a big-money group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 1 million ad campaign slamming Romanoff for spearheading an anti-illegal immigrant bill in 2006 .
Romanoff has since apologized for the bill .
Republicans hope that Hickenlooper has been banged up enough to give Gardner a chance in the November election .
Though Colorado has turned sharply against Trump , Gardner hopes to portray himself as a hardworking senator who fights for his home state , in contrast to Hickenlooper , who the GOP sees as hapless and driven by his ego .
Democrats , however , contend that Hickenlooper surviving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view him like a standard politician and trust him deeply .
Meanwhile , they plan to tie Gardner closely to Trump , who is unpopular in the state .
No Republican has won a statewide election in Colorado since 2014 , when Gardner won by less than 2 percentage points in a strong year for Republicans .
Hickenlooper was reelected as governor that year by a wider margin .

Ft. Collins Coloradoan and The Associated Press, Fort Collins Coloradoan

John Hickenlooper wins Colorado Democratic primary, will face Sen. Cory Gardner
Show Caption Hide Caption Full speech: John Hickenlooper at the Iowa Democrat's Hall of Fame event Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper speaks during the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame event on June 9, 2019, in Cedar Rapids. Kelsey Kremer, kkremer@dmreg.com
Former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper has defeated former Colorado House speaker Andrew Romanoff in the Democratic race and will face GOP incumbent U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner in November.
The Associated Press called the race in Hickenlooper's favor little more than 20 minutes after polls closed in the state's all-mail election on Tuesday.
Shortly after polls closed at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, statewide ballot reporting from the Colorado Secretary of State office showed Hickenlooper enjoying a lead of 60% to Romanoff's 40% with more than 600,000 ballots cast.
Race preview: Colorado Senate race between Hickenlooper, Romanoff a choice between moderate, progressive
Hickenlooper's defeat of Romanoff snaps the Democratic left's surge that started earlier this month in a New York City race, where a Black middle school teacher declared victory over Rep. Elliot Engel before the results of mail-in ballots were released. Romanoff is a former moderate who turned himself into a populist, running against the moderate favorite of the Democratic establishment and promising a Green New Deal and single-payer health care.
But he could not overcome both Hickenlooper's immense financial edge — the former governor out-raised Romanoff by about 7-to-1 — and his deep name ID and reservoir of goodwill among voters stemming from two terms in the governor's mansion.
That's why Senate Democrats recruited Hickenlooper to take on Gardner, widely seen as the most vulnerable Republican in the Senate because Colorado has shifted so much to the left. For a brief moment during the primary, it looked like that shift, combined with striking missteps by Hickenlooper, might give Romanoff a chance.
Hickenlooper defied a subpoena from the state's independent ethics commission over Republican charges that he violated the ethics law by taking private flights and car trips as governor. A self-made multimillionaire, Hickenlooper had said he'd happily testify in person in the case but refused to appear virtually until a judge rejected his attempt to quash the subpoena and the commission found him in contempt.
The commission found Hickenlooper had violated the law in one flight and one limousine trip at the secretive Biltsberger meetings in Rome. Then, amid the protests over police violence against Black people, Hickenlooper garbled the meaning of the slogan “Black Lives Matter.” The following week, an African American Romanoff supporter tweeted a 6-year-old video of Hickenlooper jokingly comparing politicians to slaves being whipped to row “an ancient slave ship.”
The combination of the gaffes and setbacks was enough to lure Republicans to launch millions of dollars in ads attacking Hickenlooper. Democrats responded with defensive ads, and Romanoff then jumped in and added his own attack ad versus the former governor.
Colorado's Democratic establishment, from Gov. Jared Polis to Sen. Michael Bennet, condemned Romanoff for the move. Then, days later, a big-money group that will not disclose its donors launched a $1 million ad campaign slamming Romanoff for spearheading an anti-illegal immigrant bill in 2006. Romanoff has since apologized for the bill.
Republicans hope that Hickenlooper has been banged up enough to give Gardner a chance in the November election. Though Colorado has turned sharply against Trump, Gardner hopes to portray himself as a hardworking senator who fights for his home state, in contrast to Hickenlooper, who the GOP sees as hapless and driven by his ego.
Democrats, however, contend that Hickenlooper surviving the primary shows that voters don't view him like a standard politician and trust him deeply. Meanwhile, they plan to tie Gardner closely to Trump, who is unpopular in the state. No Republican has won a statewide election in Colorado since 2014, when Gardner won by less than 2 percentage points in a strong year for Republicans. Hickenlooper was reelected as governor that year by a wider margin.


usatoday--2020-06-30--White House blasts media on Russia bounty killing reporting

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany punches back on New York Times reports on Russia offering bounties for killing U.S. @ @ @

White House blasts media on Russia bounty killing reporting
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany punches back on New York Times reports on Russia offering bounties for killing U.S. forces in Afghanistan
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-07-01--'Donald Trump failed us,' Biden critical of President's COVID-19 leadership

During a speech in Delaware , Vice President Joe Biden criticized President Donald Trump for his handling of the pandemic @

Biden criticizes President Trump's response during COVID-19 pandemic
During a speech in Delaware, Vice President Joe Biden criticized President Donald Trump for his handling of the pandemic.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-06-30--Rand Paul again rips Dr. Anthony Fauci over coronavirus: 'We just need more optimism'

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul attacked Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday over the United States ' coronavirus response in round two of a confrontation between the junior senator from Kentucky and the nation 's foremost COVID-19 public health expert .
During a Senate committee hearing in Washington , D.C. , Paul , a Republican and frequent supporter of President Donald Trump , criticized Fauci for a lack of `` certitude '' when it comes to advice on whether children should be allowed to go back to school in the fall amid the pandemic .
`` Guess what — it 's rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paul said , pointing to examples from Belgium , Germany and France , among other countries .
`` But I hear nothing of that coming from you .
All I hear , Dr. Fauci , is 'we ca n't do this , we ca n't do that , we ca n't play baseball . '
Well , even that 's not based on the science .
`` We need to not be so presumptuous that we know everything , '' Paul continued .
`` But my question to you is : Ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on schools so that we can get back to school ? ''
Fauci smiled and chuckled before he responded .
`` I feel very strongly we need to do whatever we can to get the children back to school — so I think we 're in lock agreement on that . ''
Read more : Fauci says new cases could hit 100,000 daily Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House task force on COVID-19 , went on to say that when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like if Major League Baseball should play into the fall — it is because he is approached on questions about the coronavirus .
`` I agree with you : I am completely unqualified to tell you whether you can play a sport or not , '' Fauci said .
`` The only thing that I can do is , to the best of my ability , give you the facts and the evidence associated with what I know about this outbreak . ''
Paul responded by saying , `` We just need more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there . ''
Paul , who recovered from the coronavirus in April and incited controversy last month by not wearing a face mask in public , had confronted Fauci during a hearing once before .
Back in May , he told the public health expert `` you 're not the end-all '' when it comes to giving advice .
`` I am very careful , and hopefully humble , in knowing that I do n't know everything about this disease , '' Fauci responded then .
`` And that 's why I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' U.S. Senate primary : Amy McGrath squeaks out win over Charles Booker Contact Ben Tobin at bjtobin @ gannett.com and 502-377-5675 or follow on Twitter @ TobinBen .
Support strong local journalism by subscribing today : subscribe.courier-journal.com .

Rand Paul again rips Dr. Anthony Fauci over coronavirus: 'We just need more optimism'
Show Caption Hide Caption Fauci: 'We're going in the wrong direction' Dr. Anthony Fauci delivered a grim message to senators about the response to the coronavirus pandemic. "We're going in the wrong direction, if you look at the curves of the new cases," Fauci said. (June 30) AP
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul attacked Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday over the United States' coronavirus response in round two of a confrontation between the junior senator from Kentucky and the nation's foremost COVID-19 public health expert.
During a Senate committee hearing in Washington, D.C., Paul, a Republican and frequent supporter of President Donald Trump, criticized Fauci for a lack of "certitude" when it comes to advice on whether children should be allowed to go back to school in the fall amid the pandemic.
"Guess what — it's rare for kids to transmit this," Paul said, pointing to examples from Belgium, Germany and France, among other countries. "But I hear nothing of that coming from you. All I hear, Dr. Fauci, is 'we can't do this, we can't do that, we can't play baseball.' Well, even that's not based on the science.
"We need to not be so presumptuous that we know everything," Paul continued. "But my question to you is: Can't you give us a little bit more on schools so that we can get back to school?"
Fauci smiled and chuckled before he responded. "I feel very strongly we need to do whatever we can to get the children back to school — so I think we're in lock agreement on that."
Read more: Fauci says new cases could hit 100,000 daily
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House task force on COVID-19, went on to say that when he weighs in on certain topics — like if Major League Baseball should play into the fall — it is because he is approached on questions about the coronavirus.
"I agree with you: I am completely unqualified to tell you whether you can play a sport or not," Fauci said. "The only thing that I can do is, to the best of my ability, give you the facts and the evidence associated with what I know about this outbreak."
Paul responded by saying, "We just need more optimism — there is good news out there."
Paul, who recovered from the coronavirus in April and incited controversy last month by not wearing a face mask in public, had confronted Fauci during a hearing once before. Back in May, he told the public health expert "you're not the end-all" when it comes to giving advice.
"I am very careful, and hopefully humble, in knowing that I don't know everything about this disease," Fauci responded then. "And that's why I'm very reserved in making broad predictions."
U.S. Senate primary: Amy McGrath squeaks out win over Charles Booker
Contact Ben Tobin at bjtobin@gannett.com and 502-377-5675 or follow on Twitter @TobinBen. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: subscribe.courier-journal.com.


usatoday--2020-06-30--'We need real plans': Joe Biden blasts Trump, offers alternatives to coronavirus response

WILMINGTON , Del .
– Joe Biden blasted President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday and announced a plan to control the virus that he said Trump should adopt immediately .
During a speech at Alexis I. duPont High School in Wilmington , Biden outlined the plan , which includes increased testing and rigorous contact tracing .
It follows a road map that Biden released in March which he said would have saved lives had it been adopted .
Biden is also proposing to get more protective supplies to health care workers and provide a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask in public .
The former vice president stressed that the virus is still here and the threat to American public health remains .
“ COVID-19 will likely worsen , ” Biden said .
`` We need real plans , real guidelines with uniform , nationwide standards to help us chart our economic reopening . ''
Biden , who spoke to a group of reporters in the school gym shortly after 1 p.m .
ET , cited the increase in infection rates across the country and said Trump has severely mismanaged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a swift reopening and playing golf as infection rates rise across the country .
`` American people do n't make enormous sacrifices over the past four months so they could just waste , waste their time , and you could waste all the efforts they have undertaken with your midnight rantings and tweets , '' Biden said .
`` They don ’ t make these sacrifices so you could ignore the science and turn responsible steps like wearing a mask into a political statement.
” BIDEN BACK ON THE ROAD : Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk 'Trump 's failure' Biden has consistently criticized Trump for his handling of the pandemic in speeches and on social media .
Politico reported that Biden , during a Thursday speech in Lancaster , Pennsylvania , compared Trump 's response to `` a child who can ’ t believe this has happened to him — all his whining and self-pity . ''
LEADING THE POLLS : Recent polls show Biden with huge lead over Trump The former vice president is surging in national polls as he returns to the trail following a stint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Thirteen consecutive national polls released between June 5 and June 26 showed Biden ahead by at least 7 percentage points .
The Trump campaign criticized Biden after the Tuesday speech .
“ Joe Biden wants to talk about a ‘ Day 1 Agenda ’ to fight coronavirus , '' said Ali Pardo , deputy communications director for the Trump campaign , in a statement .
`` On day one , he was against the travel restrictions that saved countless American lives .
Joe Biden spent the last 5 months trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President has been leading one that slowed the spread , made us the world leader in testing , and reopened our economy . ''
According to BBC News , the U.S. leads Western countries in coronavirus testing at almost 31 million tests as of Monday .
It 's not as much as China , which reports issuing more than 90 million .
China reports the total number of tests while many states in the U.S. only report the number of people tested , the BBC reported .
Some per-capita statistics also show the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IN DELAWARE : Delaware General Assembly bans police from using chokeholds , knee-holds unless necessary NEW MEASURES : Bars at Delaware beaches to close ahead of July 4 weekend due to coronavirus spike Sarah Gamard covers government and politics for Delaware Online/The News Journal .
You can reach her at ( 302 ) 324-2281 or sgamard @ delawareonline.com .
You can also follow her on Twitter @ SarahGamard .

'We need real plans': Joe Biden blasts Trump, offers alternatives to coronavirus response
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden criticizes President Trump's response during COVID-19 pandemic During a speech in Delaware, Vice President Joe Biden criticized President Donald Trump for his handling of the pandemic. USA TODAY
WILMINGTON, Del. – Joe Biden blasted President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday and announced a plan to control the virus that he said Trump should adopt immediately.
During a speech at Alexis I. duPont High School in Wilmington, Biden outlined the plan, which includes increased testing and rigorous contact tracing. It follows a road map that Biden released in March which he said would have saved lives had it been adopted.
Biden is also proposing to get more protective supplies to health care workers and provide a more consistent message on the importance of wearing a mask in public.
The former vice president stressed that the virus is still here and the threat to American public health remains.
“COVID-19 will likely worsen,” Biden said. "We need real plans, real guidelines with uniform, nationwide standards to help us chart our economic reopening."
Biden, who spoke to a group of reporters in the school gym shortly after 1 p.m. ET, cited the increase in infection rates across the country and said Trump has severely mismanaged the pandemic. He criticized Trump for pushing for a swift reopening and playing golf as infection rates rise across the country.
"American people don't make enormous sacrifices over the past four months so they could just waste, waste their time, and you could waste all the efforts they have undertaken with your midnight rantings and tweets," Biden said. "They don’t make these sacrifices so you could ignore the science and turn responsible steps like wearing a mask into a political statement.”
BIDEN BACK ON THE ROAD: Joe Biden to appear in Wilmington Tuesday to talk 'Trump's failure'
Biden has consistently criticized Trump for his handling of the pandemic in speeches and on social media. Politico reported that Biden, during a Thursday speech in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, compared Trump's response to "a child who can’t believe this has happened to him — all his whining and self-pity."
LEADING THE POLLS: Recent polls show Biden with huge lead over Trump
The former vice president is surging in national polls as he returns to the trail following a stint of campaigning from his basement during the pandemic. Thirteen consecutive national polls released between June 5 and June 26 showed Biden ahead by at least 7 percentage points.
The Trump campaign criticized Biden after the Tuesday speech.
“Joe Biden wants to talk about a ‘Day 1 Agenda’ to fight coronavirus," said Ali Pardo, deputy communications director for the Trump campaign, in a statement. "On day one, he was against the travel restrictions that saved countless American lives. Joe Biden spent the last 5 months trying to come up with a plan, the President has been leading one that slowed the spread, made us the world leader in testing, and reopened our economy."
According to BBC News, the U.S. leads Western countries in coronavirus testing at almost 31 million tests as of Monday. It's not as much as China, which reports issuing more than 90 million. China reports the total number of tests while many states in the U.S. only report the number of people tested, the BBC reported. Some per-capita statistics also show the U.S. lagging behind.
POLICE CHOKEHOLDS BANNED IN DELAWARE: Delaware General Assembly bans police from using chokeholds, knee-holds unless necessary
NEW MEASURES: Bars at Delaware beaches to close ahead of July 4 weekend due to coronavirus spike
Jeff Neiburg contributed to this story.
Sarah Gamard covers government and politics for Delaware Online/The News Journal. You can reach her at (302) 324-2281 or sgamard@delawareonline.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @SarahGamard.


usatoday--2020-06-30--'Fox & Friends' host Steve Doocy urges Trump to wear mask to 'look as if he's taking it seriously'

Steve Doocy , a longtime co-host of the Fox News morning show `` Fox & Friends '' is rarely critical of President Donald Trump .
But on Tuesday , he offered the president some constructive criticism , suggesting he wear a mask to set a `` good example '' during the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 126,000 people in the U.S. Doocy told Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel his friends in New Jersey and New York , `` where we have to wear a mask all the time , '' keep telling him : `` I wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every once in a while , just because it would make him look as if he 's taking it seriously and is listening to the CDC . ''
Doocy said he knows Trump is tested all the time , but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made it clear : `` masks work . ''
'We will err on the side of freedom ' : Arizona mayor says he wo n't cancel events , nor require masks '' More states every day are mandating people , their citizens , to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president wore one it would just set a good example , '' Doocy said .
`` He 'd be a good role model .
I do n't see any downside to the president wearing a mask in public . ''
McDaniel said the president has worn a mask at points and `` obviously , is taking this incredibly seriously . ''
She defended the president , saying steps such as restricting travel from China saved lives and that the administration was trying to balance safety with reviving the economy .
`` Sure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can keep the economy open and closing things are the last thing anybody wants to do , '' Doocy replied .
`` MAGA should now stand for Masks Are Great Again . ''
Goldman Sachs : A national mask mandate could lower virus infections and help recovery Trump has resisted wearing a mask in public , saying it would not appear presidential .
He told The Wall Street Journal earlier this month that he thinks some people wear masks as a political symbol of opposition to him rather than as a health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are not hygienic .
Doocy has been one of Trump 's most stalwart defenders on cable news .
In March 2019 , The New Yorker reported that Trump rated the loyalty of Fox News ' hosts and reporters on a scale of one to 10 , and he gave Doocy a 12 .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , R-Tenn. , is another Trump ally who is urging the president to don a mask .
`` Unfortunately this simple lifesaving practice has become part of a political debate that says : If you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask .
If you 're against Trump , you do , '' Alexander said Tuesday during a hearing on the COVID-19 outbreak .
`` That is why I have suggested the president should occasionally wear a mask even though there are not many occasions when it is necessary for him to do so , '' Alexander said .
`` The president has millions of admirers .
They would follow his lead .
It would help end this political debate .
The stakes are too high for it to continue . ''
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pence should be wearing masks to set an example , Gov .
Asa Hutchinson , R-Ark.
, told ABC News , `` It is important that there 's a consistent national message to take this seriously : that we are going to wear masks , that we ’ re going to set that example . ''
`` You can have two messages at the same time , '' Hutchinson said .
`` Your message is : 'Let ’ s grow our economy , but let ’ s also have the message of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the virus . '
'' Hutchinson said Pence set a `` good example '' by wearing a mask recently .
After leaving mask-wearing out of list of preventive measures people can take during a White House coronavirus task force news conference on Friday , Pence wore a mask when he stepped off the plane when he arrived in Dallas on Sunday .
`` If you ca n't maintain social distancing – if you 're going to be within 6 feet of people for more than 15 minutes , it 's just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Pence said later that day at a news conference with Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott .
The White House has defended the president 's decision not to wear a mask as a `` personal choice . ''
A CBS News poll conducted last week found 40 % of Americans view wearing a mask as a `` personal health choice , '' while 60 % think it is a `` public health responsibility . ''

'Fox & Friends' host Steve Doocy urges Trump to wear mask to 'look as if he's taking it seriously'
Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump’s political allies urge him to put on a face mask President Trump is getting a fresh push to don a face mask during the pandemic from some Republicans and members of Fox News. Buzz60
Steve Doocy, a longtime co-host of the Fox News morning show "Fox & Friends" is rarely critical of President Donald Trump. But on Tuesday, he offered the president some constructive criticism, suggesting he wear a mask to set a "good example" during the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 126,000 people in the U.S.
Doocy told Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel his friends in New Jersey and New York, "where we have to wear a mask all the time," keep telling him: "I wish the president would put on a mask every once in a while, just because it would make him look as if he's taking it seriously and is listening to the CDC."
Doocy said he knows Trump is tested all the time, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made it clear: "masks work."
'We will err on the side of freedom': Arizona mayor says he won't cancel events, nor require masks
"More states every day are mandating people, their citizens, to wear masks and I think that if the president wore one it would just set a good example," Doocy said. "He'd be a good role model. I don't see any downside to the president wearing a mask in public."
McDaniel said the president has worn a mask at points and "obviously, is taking this incredibly seriously." She defended the president, saying steps such as restricting travel from China saved lives and that the administration was trying to balance safety with reviving the economy.
"Sure. And I think by wearing masks, you can keep the economy open and closing things are the last thing anybody wants to do," Doocy replied. "MAGA should now stand for Masks Are Great Again."
Goldman Sachs: A national mask mandate could lower virus infections and help recovery
Trump has resisted wearing a mask in public, saying it would not appear presidential. He told The Wall Street Journal earlier this month that he thinks some people wear masks as a political symbol of opposition to him rather than as a health precaution. And he expressed concern that they are not hygienic.
Doocy has been one of Trump's most stalwart defenders on cable news. In March 2019, The New Yorker reported that Trump rated the loyalty of Fox News' hosts and reporters on a scale of one to 10, and he gave Doocy a 12.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., is another Trump ally who is urging the president to don a mask.
"Unfortunately this simple lifesaving practice has become part of a political debate that says: If you're for Trump, you don't wear a mask. If you're against Trump, you do," Alexander said Tuesday during a hearing on the COVID-19 outbreak.
"That is why I have suggested the president should occasionally wear a mask even though there are not many occasions when it is necessary for him to do so," Alexander said. "The president has millions of admirers. They would follow his lead. It would help end this political debate. The stakes are too high for it to continue."
Pence: 'It's just a good idea to wear a mask'
When asked Sunday if Trump and Vice President Mike Pence should be wearing masks to set an example, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark., told ABC News, "It is important that there's a consistent national message to take this seriously: that we are going to wear masks, that we’re going to set that example."
"You can have two messages at the same time," Hutchinson said. "Your message is: 'Let’s grow our economy, but let’s also have the message of social distancing, protecting ourselves and others from the virus.'"
Hutchinson said Pence set a "good example" by wearing a mask recently.
After leaving mask-wearing out of list of preventive measures people can take during a White House coronavirus task force news conference on Friday, Pence wore a mask when he stepped off the plane when he arrived in Dallas on Sunday.
"If you can't maintain social distancing – if you're going to be within 6 feet of people for more than 15 minutes, it's just a good idea to wear a mask," Pence said later that day at a news conference with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
The White House has defended the president's decision not to wear a mask as a "personal choice."
A CBS News poll conducted last week found 40% of Americans view wearing a mask as a "personal health choice," while 60% think it is a "public health responsibility."