truthout--2020-09-28--CDC Director Overheard Saying Everything Trump’s COVID Adviser Says “Is False”

During a phone conversation on a commercial airplane late last week overheard by an NBC News reporter , the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention slammed one of the White House ’ s top Covid-19 advisers for providing President Donald Trump and the U.S. public with misleading information about the deadly pandemic .
“ Everything he says is false , ” CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield told a colleague while on a flight from Atlanta to Washington , D.C. on Friday , NBC News reported Monday morning .
Redfield , a Trump appointee , later acknowledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott Atlas , a neuroradiologist with no expertise in infectious diseases or epidemiology .
Brought aboard the administration ’ s Covid-19 task force in August after reportedly catching Trump ’ s attention with his frequent appearances on Fox News , Atlas has been pushing the White House to adopt a so-called “ herd immunity ” approach to the coronavirus pandemic — a strategy public health experts warn would cause millions of additional deaths .
Atlas has also publicly questioned the effectiveness of face coverings in preventing the spread of coronavirus .
“ Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlas has become the medical expert who spends the most time with the president , and his profile has been elevated in recent weeks by his appearing in the White House briefing room when Trump speaks with reporters , ” NBC reported .
“ There is a concern among Redfield and others that Atlas continually briefs the president and misrepresents what other health experts have said in sworn testimony , according to a member of the task force.
” As epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding noted on Twitter , Atlas “ has been spreading misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by falsely stating that coronavirus poses “ no risk ” to children .
Despite Atlas ’ complete lack of experience in the field of infectious diseases , Trump has cited the radiologist in an effort to legitimize his false claims about the coronavirus .
“ A lot of people do agree with me , ” Trump said during an ABC News town hall in defense of his insistence that the U.S. is “ rounding the corner ” on the pandemic .
“ You look at Scott Atlas , you look at some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Stanford.
” But in a letter about a week ahead of Trump ’ s town hall , dozens of Atlas ’ former colleagues at Stanford University Medical School denounced the White House adviser for spreading “ falsehoods and misrepresentations of the science ” in a variety of areas , from mask use to his promotion of herd immunity .
“ Many of his opinions and statements run counter to established science and , by doing so , undermine public-health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy , ” @ @ @ @ @ @

The adviser, Scott Atlas, has been pushing the White House to adopt a “herd immunity” approach to the COVID pandemic.
During a phone conversation on a commercial airplane late last week overheard by an NBC News reporter, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention slammed one of the White House’s top Covid-19 advisers for providing President Donald Trump and the U.S. public with misleading information about the deadly pandemic.
“Everything he says is false,” CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield told a colleague while on a flight from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. on Friday, NBC News reported Monday morning. Redfield, a Trump appointee, later acknowledged to NBC that he was referring to Dr. Scott Atlas, a neuroradiologist with no expertise in infectious diseases or epidemiology.
Brought aboard the administration’s Covid-19 task force in August after reportedly catching Trump’s attention with his frequent appearances on Fox News, Atlas has been pushing the White House to adopt a so-called “herd immunity” approach to the coronavirus pandemic — a strategy public health experts warn would cause millions of additional deaths. Atlas has also publicly questioned the effectiveness of face coverings in preventing the spread of coronavirus.
“Since his addition to the task force, Atlas has become the medical expert who spends the most time with the president, and his profile has been elevated in recent weeks by his appearing in the White House briefing room when Trump speaks with reporters,” NBC reported. “There is a concern among Redfield and others that Atlas continually briefs the president and misrepresents what other health experts have said in sworn testimony, according to a member of the task force.”
As epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding noted on Twitter, Atlas “has been spreading misinformation for a long time,” including by falsely stating that coronavirus poses “no risk” to children.
Disgusting comment by Scott Atlas again — Why would “teachers be selfish” about being concerned about returning to school?! “No risk to children” claim is false. And what about risk to the teachers? We know transmission happens in both directions. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/V2EgUTpa5Q — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) September 5, 2020
Despite Atlas’ complete lack of experience in the field of infectious diseases, Trump has cited the radiologist in an effort to legitimize his false claims about the coronavirus.
“A lot of people do agree with me,” Trump said during an ABC News town hall in defense of his insistence that the U.S. is “rounding the corner” on the pandemic. “You look at Scott Atlas, you look at some of the other doctors that are highly — from Stanford.”
But in a letter about a week ahead of Trump’s town hall, dozens of Atlas’ former colleagues at Stanford University Medical School denounced the White House adviser for spreading “falsehoods and misrepresentations of the science” in a variety of areas, from mask use to his promotion of herd immunity.
“Many of his opinions and statements run counter to established science and, by doing so, undermine public-health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy,” the Stanford faculty members warned.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
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truthout--2020-09-29--Meatpacking Plants Deny Workers Comp to Thousands Who Contracted COVID-19

Workers at a number of meatpacking plants across the United States are being denied workers ’ compensation packages by their employers , who are rejecting claims that workers contracted coronavirus while working on their premises .
The full picture of how many claims across the U.S. are being denied is unclear , due to the absence of a national claims database .
However , based on reporting from the three states that do keep track of workers ’ compensation claims , both approved and denied , most workers who say they contracted COVID-19 while working in meatpacking plants are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuters uncovered .
While meatpacking plants are encouraged to have workers wear cloth masks and to socially distance as much as possible , a number of workers across the U.S. have reported that some employers were discouraging workers from wearing masks on the plant floors , while others also lacked enforcement of adequate distancing measures for workers , placing them in close proximity to each other .
In Minnesota , there were at least 930 applications by meatpacking workers from unnamed plants across the state who filed for compensation benefits related to COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ none of those claims had been accepted by the company , which had rejected 717 applications and had 213 still under review .
In Utah , as of August 1 , there were seven COVID-related claims filed against JBS — one of the largest meat processing companies in the world — all of which had been denied .
Colorado shows a slightly better outcome but even there , 69 percent of the 2,294 workers ’ compensation claims by meatpackers were denied .
Many of the denials in all three states appear to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saul Sanchez , a worker at the JBS plant in Greeley , Colorado , died in April due to complications from COVID-19 .
JBS , however , denied his family ’ s workers ’ compensation and medical claims saying that it could not be definitively proved that he had contracted the disease while working at their plant , even though that facility had at least 291 cases of workers contracting coronavirus .
According to Sanchez ’ s family , he had not traveled anywhere and his contact with people outside of work was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small group at a church where he worshipped .
No one in that limited circle had tested positive for COVID .
Other companies have also denied workers ’ compensation to those affected by COVID-19 .
In Iowa , workers ’ attorneys speaking to Reuters said that Tyson had denied a number of applications for compensation .
The company would not expound upon how many applications it has denied , but one attorney who is representing the families of five Tyson workers who died of COVID said that claims from all five had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention ( CDC ) reported that , among 23 states where coronavirus outbreaks in plants were reported , at least 16,233 cases in 239 facilities were identified from the start of April through the end of May .
In spite of worries over workers getting sick from the disease , President Donald Trump issued an executive order at the end of April demanding that meatpacking and poultry plants remain open , using the Defense Production Act to deem them essential infrastructure for the United States .
It is estimated that , within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , coronavirus cases among meatpackers had tripled .

Out of 930 workers compensation claims made by workers in Minnesota alone, none have been approved so far.
Workers at a number of meatpacking plants across the United States are being denied workers’ compensation packages by their employers, who are rejecting claims that workers contracted coronavirus while working on their premises.
The full picture of how many claims across the U.S. are being denied is unclear, due to the absence of a national claims database. However, based on reporting from the three states that do keep track of workers’ compensation claims, both approved and denied, most workers who say they contracted COVID-19 while working in meatpacking plants are being denied proper coverage, a report from Reuters uncovered.
While meatpacking plants are encouraged to have workers wear cloth masks and to socially distance as much as possible, a number of workers across the U.S. have reported that some employers were discouraging workers from wearing masks on the plant floors, while others also lacked enforcement of adequate distancing measures for workers, placing them in close proximity to each other.
In Minnesota, there were at least 930 applications by meatpacking workers from unnamed plants across the state who filed for compensation benefits related to COVID-19 infections. As of September 11, none of those claims had been accepted by the company, which had rejected 717 applications and had 213 still under review.
In Utah, as of August 1, there were seven COVID-related claims filed against JBS — one of the largest meat processing companies in the world — all of which had been denied.
Colorado shows a slightly better outcome but even there, 69 percent of the 2,294 workers’ compensation claims by meatpackers were denied.
Many of the denials in all three states appear to be on dubious grounds. For example, Saul Sanchez, a worker at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colorado, died in April due to complications from COVID-19. JBS, however, denied his family’s workers’ compensation and medical claims saying that it could not be definitively proved that he had contracted the disease while working at their plant, even though that facility had at least 291 cases of workers contracting coronavirus.
According to Sanchez’s family, he had not traveled anywhere and his contact with people outside of work was limited to his family and a very small group at a church where he worshipped. No one in that limited circle had tested positive for COVID.
Other companies have also denied workers’ compensation to those affected by COVID-19. In Iowa, workers’ attorneys speaking to Reuters said that Tyson had denied a number of applications for compensation.
The company would not expound upon how many applications it has denied, but one attorney who is representing the families of five Tyson workers who died of COVID said that claims from all five had been denied.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that, among 23 states where coronavirus outbreaks in plants were reported, at least 16,233 cases in 239 facilities were identified from the start of April through the end of May.
In spite of worries over workers getting sick from the disease, President Donald Trump issued an executive order at the end of April demanding that meatpacking and poultry plants remain open, using the Defense Production Act to deem them essential infrastructure for the United States. It is estimated that, within a month of that order being issued, coronavirus cases among meatpackers had tripled.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
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truthout--2020-09-29--Trump Paying Ivanka “Consultant Fees” Is Tax Fraud, Says Watergate Prosecutor

A former prosecutor in the Watergate investigation believes that revelations from a recent report on President Trump ’ s tax returns over the past several years may result in legal troubles related to allegations of tax fraud for the president once he leaves office .
Nick Akerman , who served as a prosecutor in the investigation of former President Richard Nixon in the early 1970s , explained in an interview on CNN Tuesday that Trump ’ s tax records , as revealed in a New York Times report from over the weekend , don ’ t simply demonstrate that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying taxes for 10 of the 15 years prior to winning the presidency — they also show he likely engaged in criminal actions related to his tax filings during that time .
“ It looks like Trump has done a whole series of activities that could qualify as tax fraud , not tax avoidance , ” Akerman said .
The distinction is an important one , he added .
“ Tax avoidance is simply taking the tax code and getting the most deductions you can get under the code that is perfectly legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud , however , is lying about what your income was , lying about what your deductions are , and there ’ s a couple of items that just stand out in that report from the New York Times that really appear to go beyond tax avoidance.
” Akerman paid particular attention in his comments to Trump ’ s payments to his daughter , Ivanka Trump , noting that he listed her as a consultant and paid her more than $ 740,000 , according to his tax filings .
As Ivanka Trump was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hiring her to be a consultant for the very company she worked at would be an extreme conflict of interest , one that the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) generally takes very seriously .
“ There is no legitimate reason for her to get those consulting fees since she was being paid already as a Trump employee , ” Akerman said , adding that the “ only possible reason ” to pay Ivanka Trump as a consultant was to “ move money around so that it wouldn ’ t be taxed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussing the same matter , Akerman noted that Trump ’ s actions were not dissimilar to what his father , Fred Trump Sr. , had done in the past .
“ Payments of sham consulting fees to Ivanka to evade income taxes is like what Trump ’ s father did in paying bogus expenses to a phony company to evade estate taxes , ” Akerman wrote .
It has long been contended that Trump employs a number of questionable and possibly illegal methods to avoid paying taxes .
In the spring of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress that the president , in his previous life as a business mogul , exaggerated his worth when it suited his needs but undervalued himself on other documents when it helped him to evade taxes .
“ It was my experience that Mr. Trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposes , such as trying to be listed amongst the wealthiest people in Forbes , and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes , ” Cohen said at the time .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help attain loans from lenders or when he was trying to insure his properties .
Documents obtained from ProPublica in December seemed to confirm those suspicions , demonstrating that the Trump Organization gave two conflicting accounts , one to a potential lender and the other to New York City property tax officials , when it came to the value of Trump Tower .

Trump illegally paid consulting fees to his daughter, Ivanka, while she was already an employee of his organization.
A former prosecutor in the Watergate investigation believes that revelations from a recent report on President Trump’s tax returns over the past several years may result in legal troubles related to allegations of tax fraud for the president once he leaves office.
Nick Akerman, who served as a prosecutor in the investigation of former President Richard Nixon in the early 1970s, explained in an interview on CNN Tuesday that Trump’s tax records, as revealed in a New York Times report from over the weekend, don’t simply demonstrate that he was able to find loopholes to avoid paying taxes for 10 of the 15 years prior to winning the presidency — they also show he likely engaged in criminal actions related to his tax filings during that time.
“It looks like Trump has done a whole series of activities that could qualify as tax fraud, not tax avoidance,” Akerman said.
The distinction is an important one, he added. “Tax avoidance is simply taking the tax code and getting the most deductions you can get under the code that is perfectly legal,” Akerman said. “Tax fraud, however, is lying about what your income was, lying about what your deductions are, and there’s a couple of items that just stand out in that report from the New York Times that really appear to go beyond tax avoidance.”
Akerman paid particular attention in his comments to Trump’s payments to his daughter, Ivanka Trump, noting that he listed her as a consultant and paid her more than $740,000, according to his tax filings. As Ivanka Trump was then an employee of the Trump Organization, hiring her to be a consultant for the very company she worked at would be an extreme conflict of interest, one that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally takes very seriously.
“There is no legitimate reason for her to get those consulting fees since she was being paid already as a Trump employee,” Akerman said, adding that the “only possible reason” to pay Ivanka Trump as a consultant was to “move money around so that it wouldn’t be taxed to Donald Trump.”
In a tweet discussing the same matter, Akerman noted that Trump’s actions were not dissimilar to what his father, Fred Trump Sr., had done in the past.
“Payments of sham consulting fees to Ivanka to evade income taxes is like what Trump’s father did in paying bogus expenses to a phony company to evade estate taxes,” Akerman wrote.
It has long been contended that Trump employs a number of questionable and possibly illegal methods to avoid paying taxes. In the spring of 2019, for example, Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress that the president, in his previous life as a business mogul, exaggerated his worth when it suited his needs but undervalued himself on other documents when it helped him to evade taxes.
“It was my experience that Mr. Trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposes, such as trying to be listed amongst the wealthiest people in Forbes, and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes,” Cohen said at the time. He also alleged that Trump inflated his net worth to help attain loans from lenders or when he was trying to insure his properties.
Documents obtained from ProPublica in December seemed to confirm those suspicions, demonstrating that the Trump Organization gave two conflicting accounts, one to a potential lender and the other to New York City property tax officials, when it came to the value of Trump Tower.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-09-29--Tonight’s Debate May Have Little Effect on Trump’s Base But It Will Affect Biden

Tonight ’ s first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden comes in the teeth of a lethal and still-growing pandemic , a shattered economy , cataclysmic climate-fueled wildfires , vehicle attacks committed by right-wing extremists against racial justice protesters , a looming Supreme Court placement with the fate of basic rights hanging in the balance , and a long-simmering presidential tax scandal detonating directly on the doorstep of the evening ’ s festivities .
It is no exaggeration to say Cleveland is on the cusp of hosting what could potentially be the single most consequential political debate since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in the maelstrom of this moment with social distancing and very few people in the debate audience .
Featured on that stage will be a long-serving senator from Delaware and a president so utterly corrupt , to nick a line from John Randolph , that he shines and stinks like rotten mackerel by moonlight .
It ’ s good to laugh .
We have to laugh , have to , because the alternative is screaming , and screaming frightens the children .
There isn ’ t a damn thing funny about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s somehow fitting that the debate is happening in Cleveland , the city where anything is so totally possible that the river once caught on fire .
The possibilities tonight are potentially terrifying , an accent in this seemingly endless symphony of fear and death .
What happens tonight could have an inordinately large say in determining the future , and not a person alive and breathing can confidently guess what is going to go down .
Tonight is the universe shaking a pair of dice in its fist and letting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bumper on the Cleveland craps table that is the rest of our lives .
Tonight will have little effect on Trump ’ s hardcore base .
People who believe Democrats are Satanist cannibal pedophiles whom only Trump can thwart are not likely to be swayed by much in the way of reasoned debate .
If a thumb-sized Winston Churchill on a spring bursts from Trump ’ s forehead tonight and bellows “ Buy War Bonds !
” at the audience , his base will nod sagely to themselves and say it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no fixing that .
Biden , however , has a different challenge .
First and foremost , he ’ s going to be in a cage match with a hammerhead shark , an eating machine with no functioning moral code other than “ The only thing better than biting is more biting.
” An increasing number of journalists I deeply respect have spent the last several days using words like “ cornered ” and “ dangerous ” to describe the guy walking around with the nuclear codes .
There simply is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prepare someone for a meeting in a box with a rabid Grizzly bear .
You bring the bear Mace and stand your ground , or you get eaten .
Debate prep concluded .
There ’ s the rub .
Trump ’ s attacks on Biden ’ s mental condition have been unvarnished ageist garbage , as any time spent watching Biden at his convention and on the trail these last weeks makes abundantly clear .
Does Biden have the same fastball he did eight years ago , when he turned Paul Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national TV ?
Of course not ; frankly , neither do I .
If that Biden were showing up tonight , circa 2012 Biden , Trump ’ s campaign would have already air-mailed the president to McMurdo Sound for a “ review of the troops.
” Pull a full Al Czervik , whatever it takes .
Be anywhere but Cleveland , sir .
Trust us , for God ’ s sake , just this once .
You want no part of that .
If Donald Trump could be said to have any singularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to play infuriatingly dirty , to go for the slice to your Achilles and then laugh at you as your calf muscle rolls up in your leg like a window shade .
Biden , with his long history of verbal stumbles , unforced errors and occasional bursts of public temper , is a ham sandwich on a plate for a man with Trump ’ s predilections .
If Biden does nothing else tonight , he must hold his composure together with duct tape and bungee cords .
If Biden can not do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of control , it will be all to the good for Donald Trump .
Every credible political observer worth the ink in their printer has agreed that Trump intends to menace the 2020 election on November 3 on a variety of fronts , and the only sure way Biden can thwart this is to overwhelm him at the polls .
The landslide to beat all landslides : That is the only way out of a chaotic electoral mess .
If Biden has a poor showing tonight , the possibility of that landslide will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are seated in concrete , while Biden needs a tidal wave of support to gain power without a protracted and potentially nation-shattering post-election mudfight .
Of course , it is just as likely that Joe Biden will mop the floor with the blowhard who has been pretending to be a president .
There are a great many topics of pressing import that will be discussed tonight .
If Biden can show Trump to be as disinterested and out of his depth as he has been lo these last four years , his job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no promise that will happen , though .
Trump is pretty used up by now , though still an active menace in every respect .
If Biden keeps his cool , and more importantly , if he can knock Trump off his rails by mocking and belittling him , this might be the last time we ’ ll see this racist , sexist , self-serving liar on a debate stage again .

Tonight’s first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden comes in the teeth of a lethal and still-growing pandemic, a shattered economy, cataclysmic climate-fueled wildfires, vehicle attacks committed by right-wing extremists against racial justice protesters, a looming Supreme Court placement with the fate of basic rights hanging in the balance, and a long-simmering presidential tax scandal detonating directly on the doorstep of the evening’s festivities.
It is no exaggeration to say Cleveland is on the cusp of hosting what could potentially be the single most consequential political debate since Lincoln v. Douglas. It will take place in the maelstrom of this moment with social distancing and very few people in the debate audience. Featured on that stage will be a long-serving senator from Delaware and a president so utterly corrupt, to nick a line from John Randolph, that he shines and stinks like rotten mackerel by moonlight.
It’s good to laugh. We have to laugh, have to, because the alternative is screaming, and screaming frightens the children.
There isn’t a damn thing funny about what’s happening tonight, however. It’s somehow fitting that the debate is happening in Cleveland, the city where anything is so totally possible that the river once caught on fire.
The possibilities tonight are potentially terrifying, an accent in this seemingly endless symphony of fear and death. What happens tonight could have an inordinately large say in determining the future, and not a person alive and breathing can confidently guess what is going to go down.
Tonight is the universe shaking a pair of dice in its fist and letting fly toward the felt of the back bumper on the Cleveland craps table that is the rest of our lives.
Tonight will have little effect on Trump’s hardcore base. People who believe Democrats are Satanist cannibal pedophiles whom only Trump can thwart are not likely to be swayed by much in the way of reasoned debate. If a thumb-sized Winston Churchill on a spring bursts from Trump’s forehead tonight and bellows “Buy War Bonds!” at the audience, his base will nod sagely to themselves and say it’s all part of The Plan. There is no fixing that.
Biden, however, has a different challenge. First and foremost, he’s going to be in a cage match with a hammerhead shark, an eating machine with no functioning moral code other than “The only thing better than biting is more biting.”
Tonight is the universe shaking a pair of dice in its fist and letting fly toward the felt of the back bumper on the Cleveland craps table that is the rest of our lives.
An increasing number of journalists I deeply respect have spent the last several days using words like “cornered” and “dangerous” to describe the guy walking around with the nuclear codes. There simply is no volume of debate preparation that is adequate to prepare someone for a meeting in a box with a rabid Grizzly bear. You bring the bear Mace and stand your ground, or you get eaten. Debate prep concluded.
There’s the rub. Trump’s attacks on Biden’s mental condition have been unvarnished ageist garbage, as any time spent watching Biden at his convention and on the trail these last weeks makes abundantly clear.
Does Biden have the same fastball he did eight years ago, when he turned Paul Ryan into his own personal sock puppet on national TV? Of course not; frankly, neither do I. If that Biden were showing up tonight, circa 2012 Biden, Trump’s campaign would have already air-mailed the president to McMurdo Sound for a “review of the troops.” Pull a full Al Czervik, whatever it takes. Be anywhere but Cleveland, sir. Trust us, for God’s sake, just this once. You want no part of that.
If Donald Trump could be said to have any singularly special talent, it is his perfect ability to play infuriatingly dirty, to go for the slice to your Achilles and then laugh at you as your calf muscle rolls up in your leg like a window shade. Biden, with his long history of verbal stumbles, unforced errors and occasional bursts of public temper, is a ham sandwich on a plate for a man with Trump’s predilections. If Biden does nothing else tonight, he must hold his composure together with duct tape and bungee cords.
If Biden cannot do this, and the debate spins out of control, it will be all to the good for Donald Trump. Every credible political observer worth the ink in their printer has agreed that Trump intends to menace the 2020 election on November 3 on a variety of fronts, and the only sure way Biden can thwart this is to overwhelm him at the polls.
The landslide to beat all landslides: That is the only way out of a chaotic electoral mess. If Biden has a poor showing tonight, the possibility of that landslide will be diminished. Trump’s voters are seated in concrete, while Biden needs a tidal wave of support to gain power without a protracted and potentially nation-shattering post-election mudfight.
Of course, it is just as likely that Joe Biden will mop the floor with the blowhard who has been pretending to be a president. There are a great many topics of pressing import that will be discussed tonight. If Biden can show Trump to be as disinterested and out of his depth as he has been lo these last four years, his job should take care of itself. There is no promise that will happen, though.
Trump is pretty used up by now, though still an active menace in every respect. If Biden keeps his cool, and more importantly, if he can knock Trump off his rails by mocking and belittling him, this might be the last time we’ll see this racist, sexist, self-serving liar on a debate stage again.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-09-29--White House Pressured CDC to Produce Data Backing Trump’s Push to Reopen Schools

Officials within the Trump administration sought to pressure the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) to downplay the risks associated with coronavirus in children in order to bolster the narrative that it was safe for schools to resume in-person instruction across the United States , according to The New York Times .
Trump officials also wanted the health agency to find data that would demonstrate the pandemic was weakening , and that it posed little risk to children , according to documents and interviews with those who were knowledgeable of the interactions between the White House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were alarmed at the administration ’ s efforts to politicize an issue that concerns national health .
Some within the White House , too , had misgivings about the effort , including Olivia Troye , a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence , who told the Times that Pence ’ s chief of staff , Marc Short , had pressured CDC leaders to find proof that the disease had little impact on the lives of children .
Troye expressed regret at having been “ complicit ” in the White House ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purposes .
“ You ’ re impacting people ’ s lives for whatever political agenda .
You ’ re exchanging votes for lives , and I have a serious problem with that , ” Troye said .
The effort by the White House lasted for several weeks during the summer when President Donald Trump was repeatedly calling for states across the country to reopen schools amid the pandemic , in what many believed was a blatant attempt by the president to score a political victory .
During a political rally in mid-September , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from coronavirus , saying that “ virtually nobody ” who is young is affected by the disease .
“ By the way , open your schools , ” Trump said at the same rally .
His remarks were inaccurate and misleading : While COVID-19 does not appear to threaten children at the same rate as older populations , it can still harm them and in some cases , prove fatal .
Additionally , the long-term effects of COVID-19 are also unknown at this point , including in children .
More than 500 children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease between March and July , for example , and more than 60 children 14 years of age and under have died due to complications from COVID-19 since the pandemic reached the U.S .
Hundreds of children and young adults between the ages of 15 to 24 have also died from the disease .
Beyond the threat of infection to themselves , children have also played a significant role in the spread of the disease .
In fact , their role is far greater than initially presumed near the beginning of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools a contentious choice .
Children can , for example , potentially contract coronavirus in classrooms and carry it to their homes and infect others while remaining free of symptoms themselves .
As more testing is done in children and more is learned about how children are spreading the disease , new revelations are giving rise to fears that the country may see another spike in coronavirus infections in the coming months , particularly among communities that have decided to resume in-person classes .
According to a joint survey from the American Academy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital Association , there has already been a 14 percent increase in COVID-19 cases among children during the two-week period preceding September 24 .

One former White House aide said the administration was “exchanging votes for lives” in pressuring the CDC.
Officials within the Trump administration sought to pressure the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to downplay the risks associated with coronavirus in children in order to bolster the narrative that it was safe for schools to resume in-person instruction across the United States, according to The New York Times.
Trump officials also wanted the health agency to find data that would demonstrate the pandemic was weakening, and that it posed little risk to children, according to documents and interviews with those who were knowledgeable of the interactions between the White House and the CDC.
Officials at the CDC were alarmed at the administration’s efforts to politicize an issue that concerns national health. Some within the White House, too, had misgivings about the effort, including Olivia Troye, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence, who told the Times that Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, had pressured CDC leaders to find proof that the disease had little impact on the lives of children.
Troye expressed regret at having been “complicit” in the White House’s efforts to shape CDC policy for political purposes.
“You’re impacting people’s lives for whatever political agenda. You’re exchanging votes for lives, and I have a serious problem with that,” Troye said.
The effort by the White House lasted for several weeks during the summer when President Donald Trump was repeatedly calling for states across the country to reopen schools amid the pandemic, in what many believed was a blatant attempt by the president to score a political victory.
During a political rally in mid-September, Trump falsely asserted that children were safe from coronavirus, saying that “virtually nobody” who is young is affected by the disease. “By the way, open your schools,” Trump said at the same rally.
His remarks were inaccurate and misleading: While COVID-19 does not appear to threaten children at the same rate as older populations, it can still harm them and in some cases, prove fatal. Additionally, the long-term effects of COVID-19 are also unknown at this point, including in children.
More than 500 children under 18 were hospitalized due to the disease between March and July, for example, and more than 60 children 14 years of age and under have died due to complications from COVID-19 since the pandemic reached the U.S. Hundreds of children and young adults between the ages of 15 to 24 have also died from the disease.
Beyond the threat of infection to themselves, children have also played a significant role in the spread of the disease. In fact, their role is far greater than initially presumed near the beginning of the pandemic, which makes the issue of reopening schools a contentious choice. Children can, for example, potentially contract coronavirus in classrooms and carry it to their homes and infect others while remaining free of symptoms themselves.
As more testing is done in children and more is learned about how children are spreading the disease, new revelations are giving rise to fears that the country may see another spike in coronavirus infections in the coming months, particularly among communities that have decided to resume in-person classes. According to a joint survey from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association, there has already been a 14 percent increase in COVID-19 cases among children during the two-week period preceding September 24.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-09-29--Philadelphia Agrees to Grant 50 Vacant Homes to Community Land Trust

In a historic victory for unhoused people , Philadelphia city officials agreed to hand over 50 vacant homes to a community land trust , following months of organizing and protest encampments .
We hear from one of the organizers and speak to Philadelphia-based Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor , who has written extensively about housing insecurity and says the direct actions there are applicable across the U.S. “ This dynamic exists all over the country where you have both empty housing and houseless people , a completely irrational expression of what American capitalism means , ” Taylor says .
The sustained movement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all tenant organizing and activist groups should be taking up , which is occupy the space , occupy the properties and put political pressure on public housing authorities to do their job and house people that are unhoused.
” This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : Keeanga , you ’ re in Philadelphia .
Your book Race for Profit : How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership was a 2020 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History .
Congratulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask about the historic victory in Philadelphia among housing activists after city officials agreed Friday to hand over 50 vacant homes to a community land trust , following months of organizing by unhoused people , including protest encampments and taking over vacant homes .
Fifty mothers and children who have been occupying 15 vacant city-owned houses will also be permitted to stay as part of the deal .
Philadelphia Housing Action , the group behind the direct action campaign , will set up the community land trust .
On Monday , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Camp Teddy encampment and asked her to describe the significance of the victory .
JENN BENNETCH : Not just is it like a win for us , and not just is it a win even for the people in the encampments who will be able to move into homes , but this is also like 50 units that would have been sold to developers and used to speed up the process of gentrification in our neighborhoods .
… We ’ re going to be able to , like , house people from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and also we ’ ll be stopping these units from being sold off to the private market and potentially becoming like luxury condos or student housing in our neighborhoods .
… If this works out , then it could be a good push to go and say , like , instead of allowing housing authorities to , like , sell units and make money off of them , after they intentionally neglected them until they were too much for them to deal with , then allow community groups to take on those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for what their original use was , which is to house people in need .
AMY GOODMAN : So , that ’ s housing organizer Jenn Bennetch .
If you can talk about the significance of this victory ?
And just in the bigger picture , we ’ re talking about tens of millions of Americans face eviction .
This is a key area that you focus on , Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor .
KEEANGA–YAMAHTTA TAYLOR : Sure .
I think this is tremendously significant .
Not only is this a vindication of a strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People occupied , you know , tony sections of downtown Philadelphia .
They refused to move .
They acted in solidarity with each other .
There are so many times over the last two months when the city threatened to shut down the camps , when the city threatened legal action against the organizers .
And throughout that , people stood tall .
They did not cave in to the pressure .
And they essentially called the city ’ s bluff .
And the city was reluctant to actually move in on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site of very large , demonstrative protests around police brutality .
There ’ s a well-organized legal protection , as well as activist networks in the city , that I think created some pause and reluctance on the part of city officials .
But I think , even beyond its impact in Philadelphia , which I think is tremendous , there ’ s a bigger lesson to be drawn here , because this dynamic exists all over the country , where you have both empty housing and houseless people — a completely irrational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , even more perniciously , you have public housing authorities — every city has one — which is either sitting on properties , that they should be distributing to people in need of housing , but they are sitting on properties , waiting for the right price point to flip those properties for profit .
And that is unconscionable for public housing authorities to be engaged in that kind of predatory , gentrifying behavior .
And so , what has happened here in Philadelphia is creating a model for what all tenant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , which is occupy the space , occupy the properties , and put pressure , political pressure , on public housing authorities to do their job and house people who are unhoused .
It is not that complicated .
We shouldn ’ t be having empty housing and people without homes in the midst of a pandemic .
At no time should we be having it , but we certainly should not be experiencing this in the midst of a pandemic .
And I think that this is a model , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be generalized by housing groups across the country .
Now is the time , I think , to move on this , because the emergency of housing insecurity is at its most acute point , but also there ’ s a greater connection being made between housing as healthcare , housing as a right , that has been demonstrated by the CDC ’ s own moratorium against evictions , which really demonstrate that housing is an issue of healthcare as well as an issue of shelter .
AMY GOODMAN : Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much for being with us , New Yorker writer , author of Race for Profit : How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership , 2020 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize , and author of From # BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation , assistant professor of African American studies at Princeton University .
Next up , Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Cay Johnston on the bombshell report that President Trump did not pay any federal income tax in 10 of the past 15 years .
Trump not only faces the election and possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for tax fraud ?
Stay with us .

In a historic victory for unhoused people, Philadelphia city officials agreed to hand over 50 vacant homes to a community land trust, following months of organizing and protest encampments. We hear from one of the organizers and speak to Philadelphia-based Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, who has written extensively about housing insecurity and says the direct actions there are applicable across the U.S. “This dynamic exists all over the country where you have both empty housing and houseless people, a completely irrational expression of what American capitalism means,” Taylor says. The sustained movement in Philadelphia established “a model for what all tenant organizing and activist groups should be taking up, which is occupy the space, occupy the properties and put political pressure on public housing authorities to do their job and house people that are unhoused.”
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Keeanga, you’re in Philadelphia. Your book Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership was a 2020 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History. Congratulations.
KEEANGA–YAMAHTTA TAYLOR: Thank you.
AMY GOODMAN: But I want to ask about the historic victory in Philadelphia among housing activists after city officials agreed Friday to hand over 50 vacant homes to a community land trust, following months of organizing by unhoused people, including protest encampments and taking over vacant homes. Fifty mothers and children who have been occupying 15 vacant city-owned houses will also be permitted to stay as part of the deal. Philadelphia Housing Action, the group behind the direct action campaign, will set up the community land trust.
On Monday, we reached community organizer Jenn Bennetch at the Camp Teddy encampment and asked her to describe the significance of the victory.
JENN BENNETCH: Not just is it like a win for us, and not just is it a win even for the people in the encampments who will be able to move into homes, but this is also like 50 units that would have been sold to developers and used to speed up the process of gentrification in our neighborhoods. … We’re going to be able to, like, house people from the encampment, if everything goes through right, and also we’ll be stopping these units from being sold off to the private market and potentially becoming like luxury condos or student housing in our neighborhoods. … If this works out, then it could be a good push to go and say, like, instead of allowing housing authorities to, like, sell units and make money off of them, after they intentionally neglected them until they were too much for them to deal with, then allow community groups to take on those units and rehab them and use them for what their original use was, which is to house people in need.
AMY GOODMAN: So, that’s housing organizer Jenn Bennetch. If you can talk about the significance of this victory? And just in the bigger picture, we’re talking about tens of millions of Americans face eviction. This is a key area that you focus on, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor.
KEEANGA–YAMAHTTA TAYLOR: Sure. I think this is tremendously significant. Not only is this a vindication of a strategy that was focused on direct action. People occupied, you know, tony sections of downtown Philadelphia. They refused to move. They acted in solidarity with each other. There are so many times over the last two months when the city threatened to shut down the camps, when the city threatened legal action against the organizers. And throughout that, people stood tall. They did not cave in to the pressure. And they essentially called the city’s bluff. And the city was reluctant to actually move in on the camp, because Philadelphia has been a site of very large, demonstrative protests around police brutality. There’s a well-organized legal protection, as well as activist networks in the city, that I think created some pause and reluctance on the part of city officials.
But I think, even beyond its impact in Philadelphia, which I think is tremendous, there’s a bigger lesson to be drawn here, because this dynamic exists all over the country, where you have both empty housing and houseless people — a completely irrational expression of what American capitalism means. But, even more perniciously, you have public housing authorities — every city has one — which is either sitting on properties, that they should be distributing to people in need of housing, but they are sitting on properties, waiting for the right price point to flip those properties for profit. And that is unconscionable for public housing authorities to be engaged in that kind of predatory, gentrifying behavior.
And so, what has happened here in Philadelphia is creating a model for what all tenant organizing and activist groups should be taking up, which is occupy the space, occupy the properties, and put pressure, political pressure, on public housing authorities to do their job and house people who are unhoused. It is not that complicated. We shouldn’t be having empty housing and people without homes in the midst of a pandemic. At no time should we be having it, but we certainly should not be experiencing this in the midst of a pandemic. And I think that this is a model, a strategic model, and a tactic that should be generalized by housing groups across the country.
Now is the time, I think, to move on this, because the emergency of housing insecurity is at its most acute point, but also there’s a greater connection being made between housing as healthcare, housing as a right, that has been demonstrated by the CDC’s own moratorium against evictions, which really demonstrate that housing is an issue of healthcare as well as an issue of shelter.
AMY GOODMAN: Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, we want to thank you so much for being with us, New Yorker writer, author of Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership, 2020 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and author of From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation, assistant professor of African American studies at Princeton University.
Next up, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Cay Johnston on the bombshell report that President Trump did not pay any federal income tax in 10 of the past 15 years. Trump not only faces the election and possible defeat. Could he face jail time for tax fraud? Stay with us.


truthout--2020-09-29--Democrats Present GOP With Yet Another Opportunity to Pass COVID Relief

Progressive advocacy groups and labor leaders are urging Senate Republicans and the Trump White House to stop stonewalling and immediately approve a Covid-19 relief package unveiled late Monday by House Democrats that would renew the expired $ 600-per-week federal unemployment supplement , send another round of $ 1,200 stimulus checks to most Americans , and provide aid to faltering state and local governments .
The $ 2.2 trillion legislation , announced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) just weeks ahead of the November election , represents a compromise version of the $ 3.4 trillion HEROES Act that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) dismissed the House-passed version as an “ unserious liberal wish list ” and has refused to allow a vote on the measure despite still-deteriorating economic conditions and surging coronavirus cases nationwide .
Lee Saunders , president of the 1.3 million-member American Federation of State , County , and Municipal Employees ( AFSCME ) , said in a statement Monday evening that the latest iteration of the HEROES Act “ represents a good faith effort to renew constructive negotiations and finally deliver the relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ball is now in the court of Senate Republicans and the White House , as it has been for more than four months , ” said Saunders .
“ While the Senate has wasted no time trying to illegitimately jam through a Supreme Court nomination , they continue to turn their backs on the suffering and hardship of millions of people , as the worst public health crisis in a century rages on .
Speaker Pelosi ’ s overture provides another opportunity to put progress ahead of partisanship and get something done.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief to tens of millions of jobless and hungry Americans , the revised HEROES Act also includes emergency funding for schools , election assistance , the U.S .
Postal Service , housing aid , and coronavirus testing and tracing .
Vanita Gupta , president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights , called on both the House and Senate to “ immediately pass the revised HEROES Act to provide aid to the most marginalized communities that have been devastated by the pandemic and economic recession , and to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soaring past 200,000 Covid-19 deaths , it is long past time for Congress to take action , ” said Gupta .
“ We applaud the additional funding for elections and the extension of the census counting operations and reporting deadlines to ensure the most accurate census possible in the wake of the pandemic .
Fair and free elections , and an accurate census , are cornerstones of our democracy.
” The National Education Association ( NEA ) , the largest labor union in the U.S. , applauded House Democrats for putting forth “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s students , educators , schools , and campuses in the continued fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
” “ This is the second time House Democrats , led by Speaker Pelosi , have stepped up with a health and economic plan that meets the nation ’ s needs , and stands in stark contrast to the months of time wasted by Mitch McConnell , who hit the pause button while the pandemic continued to rage , ” said NEA president Becky Pringle .
“ House Democrats have again stepped up .
Will McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same ?
” Late Monday , Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin resumed coronavirus relief negotiations that have been stalled for months due to the White House ’ s refusal to approve a relief package larger than $ 1.5 trillion — a price tag Democratic congressional leaders have slammed as far too low to meet the needs of struggling Americans and cash-strapped state and local governments , which are already beginning to lay off teachers and other public-sector employees .
As the New York Times reported , “ Absent an agreement with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early as this week to approve the legislation , responding to growing pressure for Congress to provide additional relief and quelling the concerns of moderate lawmakers unwilling to leave Washington for a final stretch of campaigning without voting on another round of aid.
” “ But at roughly $ 1 trillion more than what Mr. Mnuchin has signaled the White House is willing to consider , ” the Times noted , “ the package is likely just a starting point , all but guaranteed to be rejected by the Republican majority in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its current form.
” In a Dear Colleague letter late Monday , Pelosi presented the revised HEROES Act as House Democrats ’ “ proffer to Republicans to come to negotiations to address the health and economic catastrophe in our country.
” “ This $ 2.2 trillion HEROES Act provides the absolutely needed resources to protect lives , livelihoods and the life of our democracy over the coming months , ” Pelosi wrote .
“ Democrats are making good on our promise to compromise with this updated bill , which is necessary to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America ’ s working families right now .
”

Progressive advocacy groups and labor leaders are urging Senate Republicans and the Trump White House to stop stonewalling and immediately approve a Covid-19 relief package unveiled late Monday by House Democrats that would renew the expired $600-per-week federal unemployment supplement, send another round of $1,200 stimulus checks to most Americans, and provide aid to faltering state and local governments.
The $2.2 trillion legislation, announced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) just weeks ahead of the November election, represents a compromise version of the $3.4 trillion HEROES Act that the Democrat-controlled House approved more than four months ago. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) dismissed the House-passed version as an “unserious liberal wish list” and has refused to allow a vote on the measure despite still-deteriorating economic conditions and surging coronavirus cases nationwide.
Lee Saunders, president of the 1.3 million-member American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), said in a statement Monday evening that the latest iteration of the HEROES Act “represents a good faith effort to renew constructive negotiations and finally deliver the relief that families and communities need.”
“The ball is now in the court of Senate Republicans and the White House, as it has been for more than four months,” said Saunders. “While the Senate has wasted no time trying to illegitimately jam through a Supreme Court nomination, they continue to turn their backs on the suffering and hardship of millions of people, as the worst public health crisis in a century rages on. Speaker Pelosi’s overture provides another opportunity to put progress ahead of partisanship and get something done.”
In addition to providing badly needed relief to tens of millions of jobless and hungry Americans, the revised HEROES Act also includes emergency funding for schools, election assistance, the U.S. Postal Service, housing aid, and coronavirus testing and tracing.
Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, called on both the House and Senate to “immediately pass the revised HEROES Act to provide aid to the most marginalized communities that have been devastated by the pandemic and economic recession, and to protect public health.”
“With the country soaring past 200,000 Covid-19 deaths, it is long past time for Congress to take action,” said Gupta. “We applaud the additional funding for elections and the extension of the census counting operations and reporting deadlines to ensure the most accurate census possible in the wake of the pandemic. Fair and free elections, and an accurate census, are cornerstones of our democracy.”
Important: The updated HEROES Act includes additional funding for elections AND the extension of the census counting operations and reporting deadlines to ensure the most accurate census possible in the wake of the pandemic. Both critical to our democracy. — Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) September 29, 2020
The National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the U.S., applauded House Democrats for putting forth “a plan that prioritizes the nation’s students, educators, schools, and campuses in the continued fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“This is the second time House Democrats, led by Speaker Pelosi, have stepped up with a health and economic plan that meets the nation’s needs, and stands in stark contrast to the months of time wasted by Mitch McConnell, who hit the pause button while the pandemic continued to rage,” said NEA president Becky Pringle. “House Democrats have again stepped up. Will McConnell and the White House ever do the same?”
Late Monday, Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin resumed coronavirus relief negotiations that have been stalled for months due to the White House’s refusal to approve a relief package larger than $1.5 trillion — a price tag Democratic congressional leaders have slammed as far too low to meet the needs of struggling Americans and cash-strapped state and local governments, which are already beginning to lay off teachers and other public-sector employees.
As the New York Times reported, “Absent an agreement with the administration, the House could vote as early as this week to approve the legislation, responding to growing pressure for Congress to provide additional relief and quelling the concerns of moderate lawmakers unwilling to leave Washington for a final stretch of campaigning without voting on another round of aid.”
“But at roughly $1 trillion more than what Mr. Mnuchin has signaled the White House is willing to consider,” the Times noted, “the package is likely just a starting point, all but guaranteed to be rejected by the Republican majority in the Senate should the House pass it in its current form.”
In a Dear Colleague letter late Monday, Pelosi presented the revised HEROES Act as House Democrats’ “proffer to Republicans to come to negotiations to address the health and economic catastrophe in our country.”
“This $2.2 trillion HEROES Act provides the absolutely needed resources to protect lives, livelihoods and the life of our democracy over the coming months,” Pelosi wrote. “Democrats are making good on our promise to compromise with this updated bill, which is necessary to address the immediate health and economic crisis facing America’s working families right now.”
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.


truthout--2020-09-29--Wilbur Ross Defies Federal Court Order With Move to Shutter Census Early

Just days after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the previous October 31 deadline for the 2020 census , the U.S. Census Bureau late Monday released a one-sentence statement announcing that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross plans to shut down the once-in-a-decade count on October 5 in open defiance of court instructions .
“ The Secretary of Commerce has announced a target date of October 5 , 2020 to conclude 2020 census self-response and field data collection operations , ” the Census Bureau said in a Twitter post just minutes before a court hearing on the administration ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court order .
In response to the bureau ’ s statement , Judge Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered the Commerce Department to turn over records related to the decision to shut down the census on October 5 by Tuesday at 1 pm ET .
Civil rights groups that have been fighting the Trump administration ’ s push to prematurely shut down the 2020 census raised alarm at Ross ’ brazen effort to bypass Koh ’ s order extending the deadline , which activists applauded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensuring an accurate count for the proper allocation of congressional seats and federal funding .
“ Complying with a federal court ’ s order is not optional , ” tweeted immigrant rights group Make the Road New York .
“ The Trump administration is flouting the rule of law to undercount and erase our communities.
” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen ( D-N.H. ) said late Monday that Ross ’ defiance of a federal court order — which the Trump administration is currently appealing — is “ disturbing and another example of the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ census risks an inaccurate census and a constitutional crisis , ” Shaheen warned .
Last month , the Census Bureau abruptly announced that it would be ending door-knocking and other counting efforts for the 2020 census on September 30 — a decision rights groups immediately and successfully challenged in court , denouncing it as an effort to rush and “ sabotage ” the census count .
Earlier this month , as Common Dreams reported , advocacy organizations also secured a court ruling blocking the Trump administration ’ s attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late Monday responding to the Trump administration ’ s latest effort to cut short the counting process , House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney ( D-N.Y. ) said the Census Bureau ’ s push for an October 5 deadline “ appears to directly contradict the clear orders of a federal court , which requires the Census Bureau to continue counting households until October 31.
” “ This should not be a partisan issue , ” said Maloney .
“ The Trump administration ’ s unlawful undercount will negatively affect the hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue states are due in federal funding .
It is time that the Trump administration stopped working to politicize and jeopardize the 2020 census .
”

Just days after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the previous October 31 deadline for the 2020 census, the U.S. Census Bureau late Monday released a one-sentence statement announcing that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross plans to shut down the once-in-a-decade count on October 5 in open defiance of court instructions.
“The Secretary of Commerce has announced a target date of October 5, 2020 to conclude 2020 census self-response and field data collection operations,” the Census Bureau said in a Twitter post just minutes before a court hearing on the administration’s compliance with last week’s court order.
In response to the bureau’s statement, Judge Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered the Commerce Department to turn over records related to the decision to shut down the census on October 5 by Tuesday at 1 pm ET.
Civil rights groups that have been fighting the Trump administration’s push to prematurely shut down the 2020 census raised alarm at Ross’ brazen effort to bypass Koh’s order extending the deadline, which activists applauded last week as an essential step toward ensuring an accurate count for the proper allocation of congressional seats and federal funding.
“Complying with a federal court’s order is not optional,” tweeted immigrant rights group Make the Road New York. “The Trump administration is flouting the rule of law to undercount and erase our communities.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said late Monday that Ross’ defiance of a federal court order — which the Trump administration is currently appealing — is “disturbing and another example of the Trump administration politicizing the census.”
“Rushing the census risks an inaccurate census and a constitutional crisis,” Shaheen warned.
The Trump administration is defying a court order that allows the public to submit census responses through October. This is disturbing and another example of the Trump admin politicizing the census. Rushing the census risks an inaccurate census and a constitutional crisis. https://t.co/dpEOnWnPrl — Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (@SenatorShaheen) September 28, 2020
Last month, the Census Bureau abruptly announced that it would be ending door-knocking and other counting efforts for the 2020 census on September 30 — a decision rights groups immediately and successfully challenged in court, denouncing it as an effort to rush and “sabotage” the census count. Earlier this month, as Common Dreams reported, advocacy organizations also secured a court ruling blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census.
In a statement late Monday responding to the Trump administration’s latest effort to cut short the counting process, House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said the Census Bureau’s push for an October 5 deadline “appears to directly contradict the clear orders of a federal court, which requires the Census Bureau to continue counting households until October 31.”
“This should not be a partisan issue,” said Maloney. “The Trump administration’s unlawful undercount will negatively affect the hundreds of millions of dollars that both red and blue states are due in federal funding. It is time that the Trump administration stopped working to politicize and jeopardize the 2020 census.”
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.