truthout--2020-06-15--Supreme Court Ruling on LGBTQ Rights Defangs Trump’s Attack on Trans Health Care

The Supreme Court ’ s ruling on anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people is not only an extraordinary victory for workplace equity , it also provides strong legal pushback against Donald Trump ’ s attempts to roll back health care discrimination protections for LGBTQ people .
The Supreme Court on Monday unambiguously ruled that discrimination against employees for being transgender , lesbian , gay or bisexual violates federal law .
The Supreme Court ’ s decision also defangs the Trump administration ’ s attacks on transgender people ’ s access to health care .
The Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued a rule that removed “ gender identity ” and “ sexual orientation ” from the definition of sex .
But now the Supreme Court has ruled that discrimination because of sex includes LGBTQ people , revealing that aspect of the rule change as no more than an empty gesture .
Trump can not rewrite a law Congress passed , or overturn a decision of the Supreme Court .
I said back in October that I was cautiously optimistic that we would win those cases , but this decision exceeds my hopes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision , Justice Neil Gorsuch said , “ to refuse enforcement just because … [ LGBTQ people ] happened to be unpopular at the time of the law ’ s passage would not only require us to abandon our role as interpreters of statutes , it would tilt the scales of justice in favor of the strong or popular and neglect the promise that all persons are entitled to the benefits of the law ’ s terms.
” He concluded , “ An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underlying this decision is simple .
You can not discriminate against someone for being transgender or for being LGBQ without discriminating against them because of sex .
That means that the decision has huge implications for any area of law where sex discrimination in prohibited .
There is no reason why discrimination “ because of sex ” would address anti-trans or anti-LGBQ discrimination for employment but not for health care .
Late on Friday , the Trump administration changed Affordable Care Act regulations , saying that transgender people , LGBQ people and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer be protected from health care discrimination .
The rule also weakens protections for people who face communication barriers in health care settings because of ableism and staff who only use English .
And it limits the entities that have to comply with the anti-discrimination rule at all .
With the Supreme Court decision , it is clear that the Trump administration has no ground to stand on when it comes to anti-LGBTQ discrimination .
A federal agency can not authorize a type of discrimination that Congress has prohibited .
Discrimination because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , the rule change could still have real consequences for those of us who face discrimination because a health care provider does not approve of our reproductive choices or because we have limited proficiency in English .
In that and in many other ways , we still have so far to go .
The Supreme Court could not create protections where none exist .
So unless the Equality Act passes , we still won ’ t have federal protection from discrimination in public places like restaurants , hotels or stores .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how single-sex policies — about restrooms , dress codes , sports , homeless shelters or prison classifications — apply to transgender people .
And it shouldn ’ t have — these cases were not about that .
But that means there remains doubt about what will happen with another anti-trans rule change that Trump moved forward on Friday , targeting houseless trans people .
He sent the rule to Congress , which means it will likely be formally proposed in two weeks .
While the text of the rule is not public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would permit shelters to ban trans women from women ’ s shelters .
After it is proposed , the public will get some time to comment on it before it can be made final .
But if it does become final , it will lead to more street homelessness and death for trans and gender-nonconforming people , especially disabled trans women of color .
According to the U.S. Trans Survey , around 30 percent of trans respondents had been houseless at some point — that number shot up to 59 percent for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trans women .
And the Supreme Court victory will do nothing directly to stop the attack on asylum seekers , including trans asylum seekers , under attack with a different set of new proposed rules .
In so many ways , this is a moment of extraordinary celebration and mourning .
Two of the three employees whose rights were just vindicated did not survive to see the result .
Aimee Stephens , an incredible person and leader , died just last month .
We have also just commemorated the anniversary of the massacre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club in Orlando ; seen a newly released video that revealed more about how solitary confinement and indifference killed Layleen Polanco , a trans woman , in New York ; and seen reports of the torture and murder of two more Black trans women , Riah Milton in Cincinnati and Dominique Rem ’ mie Fells in Philadelphia .
The best anti-discrimination laws in the world do not actually stop all discrimination , especially discrimination against the most marginalized members of our communities .
Philadelphia and New York already prohibited discrimination against trans people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t save Layleen ’ s or Dominique ’ s lives .
And while the anti-trans attacks seem like they just won ’ t let up , many cis people are also showing up for trans people .
For folks who want to do the same , I suggest starting by reading this guidance from the Transgender Law Center , then joining protests in ways that respect the leadership of Black trans people ; hiring Black trans people ; intervening each and every time you witness anti-trans discrimination , violence or harassment ; participating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to individual Black trans people and trans-led organizations ; amplifying the voices of Black trans people by offering paid writing and speaking opportunities and by following , subscribing , retweeting and sharing ; submitting comments to oppose the anti-trans shelter rule and anti-immigrant rules when they come out ; supporting the Equality Act in Congress ; and contacting elected officials to insist on defunding police , prosecutors and prisons and investing in health care and housing resources for trans communities of color .
I believe that despite all we have achieved , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and despite all terrible things we are facing , we are living in a moment of great possibility .
What happens next depends on all of us .

The Supreme Court’s ruling on anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people is not only an extraordinary victory for workplace equity, it also provides strong legal pushback against Donald Trump’s attempts to roll back health care discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.
The Supreme Court on Monday unambiguously ruled that discrimination against employees for being transgender, lesbian, gay or bisexual violates federal law. The Supreme Court’s decision also defangs the Trump administration’s attacks on transgender people’s access to health care. The Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination based on sex. On Friday, Trump issued a rule that removed “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” from the definition of sex. But now the Supreme Court has ruled that discrimination because of sex includes LGBTQ people, revealing that aspect of the rule change as no more than an empty gesture. Trump cannot rewrite a law Congress passed, or overturn a decision of the Supreme Court.
I said back in October that I was cautiously optimistic that we would win those cases, but this decision exceeds my hopes. Writing for the majority in a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch said, “to refuse enforcement just because … [LGBTQ people] happened to be unpopular at the time of the law’s passage would not only require us to abandon our role as interpreters of statutes, it would tilt the scales of justice in favor of the strong or popular and neglect the promise that all persons are entitled to the benefits of the law’s terms.”
He concluded, “An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.”
The reasoning underlying this decision is simple. You cannot discriminate against someone for being transgender or for being LGBQ without discriminating against them because of sex. That means that the decision has huge implications for any area of law where sex discrimination in prohibited. There is no reason why discrimination “because of sex” would address anti-trans or anti-LGBQ discrimination for employment but not for health care.
Late on Friday, the Trump administration changed Affordable Care Act regulations, saying that transgender people, LGBQ people and people who seek or have had abortions would no longer be protected from health care discrimination. The rule also weakens protections for people who face communication barriers in health care settings because of ableism and staff who only use English. And it limits the entities that have to comply with the anti-discrimination rule at all.
With the Supreme Court decision, it is clear that the Trump administration has no ground to stand on when it comes to anti-LGBTQ discrimination. A federal agency cannot authorize a type of discrimination that Congress has prohibited. Discrimination because of sex includes anti-LGBTQ discrimination. That said, the rule change could still have real consequences for those of us who face discrimination because a health care provider does not approve of our reproductive choices or because we have limited proficiency in English. In that and in many other ways, we still have so far to go.
The Supreme Court could not create protections where none exist. So unless the Equality Act passes, we still won’t have federal protection from discrimination in public places like restaurants, hotels or stores.
The Supreme Court did not express any opinion about how single-sex policies — about restrooms, dress codes, sports, homeless shelters or prison classifications — apply to transgender people. And it shouldn’t have — these cases were not about that. But that means there remains doubt about what will happen with another anti-trans rule change that Trump moved forward on Friday, targeting houseless trans people. He sent the rule to Congress, which means it will likely be formally proposed in two weeks. While the text of the rule is not public yet, according to all reports, it would permit shelters to ban trans women from women’s shelters. After it is proposed, the public will get some time to comment on it before it can be made final. But if it does become final, it will lead to more street homelessness and death for trans and gender-nonconforming people, especially disabled trans women of color. According to the U.S. Trans Survey, around 30 percent of trans respondents had been houseless at some point — that number shot up to 59 percent for trans people living with HIV and Indigenous trans women. And the Supreme Court victory will do nothing directly to stop the attack on asylum seekers, including trans asylum seekers, under attack with a different set of new proposed rules.
In so many ways, this is a moment of extraordinary celebration and mourning. Two of the three employees whose rights were just vindicated did not survive to see the result. Aimee Stephens, an incredible person and leader, died just last month. We have also just commemorated the anniversary of the massacre of Latinx LGBTQ people at the Pulse club in Orlando; seen a newly released video that revealed more about how solitary confinement and indifference killed Layleen Polanco, a trans woman, in New York; and seen reports of the torture and murder of two more Black trans women, Riah Milton in Cincinnati and Dominique Rem’mie Fells in Philadelphia. The best anti-discrimination laws in the world do not actually stop all discrimination, especially discrimination against the most marginalized members of our communities. Philadelphia and New York already prohibited discrimination against trans people and Black people. That didn’t save Layleen’s or Dominique’s lives.
And while the anti-trans attacks seem like they just won’t let up, many cis people are also showing up for trans people. For folks who want to do the same, I suggest starting by reading this guidance from the Transgender Law Center, then joining protests in ways that respect the leadership of Black trans people; hiring Black trans people; intervening each and every time you witness anti-trans discrimination, violence or harassment; participating in mutual aid projects; giving money to individual Black trans people and trans-led organizations; amplifying the voices of Black trans people by offering paid writing and speaking opportunities and by following, subscribing, retweeting and sharing; submitting comments to oppose the anti-trans shelter rule and anti-immigrant rules when they come out; supporting the Equality Act in Congress; and contacting elected officials to insist on defunding police, prosecutors and prisons and investing in health care and housing resources for trans communities of color.
I believe that despite all we have achieved, we still have a long way to go, and despite all terrible things we are facing, we are living in a moment of great possibility. What happens next depends on all of us.
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--2020-06-15--FDA Strips “Emergency Use” Authorization for Trump’s “Game-Changer” COVID Drug

The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) is rescinding its recommendations on use of a drug once touted by President Donald Trump to be a “ game-changer ” in the fight against coronavirus .
Hydroxychloroquine was previously given “ emergency use ” authorization for patients hoping it could help in the treatment of the disease .
That status was removed in an announcement from the agency on Monday .
FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton , writing to Gary Disbrow of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , announced that “ it is no longer reasonable to believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and CQ [ chloroquine ] may be effective in treating COVID-19 , nor is it reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits of these products outweigh their known and potential risks.
” “ Accordingly , FDA revokes the EUA for emergency use of HCQ and CQ to treat COVID-19 , ” Hinton added .
Trump had been touting hydroxychloroquine for months , recommending it without having scientific backing to support his claims on its efficacy .
“ I ’ m seeing people dying without it… .
When that ’ s happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really do we have to lose ?
” Trump said in early April .
Evidence for hydroxychloroquine ’ s use being beneficial , however , was anecdotal , and not based on scientific studies .
As more studies came out about the drug , for the most part , they seemed to suggest its use wasn ’ t a good idea .
One study focusing on VA patients who contracted COVID-19 found that those who were treated with hydroxychloroquine were actually more likely to die compared to those who were treated using conventional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward the end of April , saying that he hadn ’ t read it yet .
Days later , he continued to peddle the drug .
In the middle of May , Trump doubled down on hydroxychloroquine , telling reporters that he had begun using it weeks prior in a preventative way .
“ I take it , ” he said .
“ I hope to not be able to take it soon because , you know , I hope they come up with some answer .
But I think people should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement , Michael Ryan , director of the World Health Organization ’ s Health Emergencies Program , discouraged the use of the drug or its promotion outside of scientific trials looking into its potential for treating coronavirus .
“ Every sovereign nation , particularly those with effective regulatory authorities , is in a position to advise its own citizens regarding the use of any drug… .
I would point out , however , at this stage , [ neither ] hydroxychloroquine , nor chloroquine , have been , as yet , found to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 or in the prophylaxis against coming down with the disease , ” Ryan said then .
According to reporting from Healthline , there are serious side effects in using hydroxychloroquine .
For example , use of the the drug can lead to heart disease , including heart failure and arrhythmia , which can sometimes be fatal .
Other side effects include vision impairment , which can sometimes become permanent .

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is rescinding its recommendations on use of a drug once touted by President Donald Trump to be a “game-changer” in the fight against coronavirus.
Hydroxychloroquine was previously given “emergency use” authorization for patients hoping it could help in the treatment of the disease. That status was removed in an announcement from the agency on Monday.
FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton, writing to Gary Disbrow of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, announced that “it is no longer reasonable to believe that oral formulations of HCQ [hydroxychloroquine] and CQ [chloroquine] may be effective in treating COVID-19, nor is it reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits of these products outweigh their known and potential risks.”
“Accordingly, FDA revokes the EUA for emergency use of HCQ and CQ to treat COVID-19,” Hinton added.
Trump had been touting hydroxychloroquine for months, recommending it without having scientific backing to support his claims on its efficacy.
“I’m seeing people dying without it…. When that’s happening, they should do it. What really do we have to lose?” Trump said in early April.
Evidence for hydroxychloroquine’s use being beneficial, however, was anecdotal, and not based on scientific studies. As more studies came out about the drug, for the most part, they seemed to suggest its use wasn’t a good idea.
One study focusing on VA patients who contracted COVID-19 found that those who were treated with hydroxychloroquine were actually more likely to die compared to those who were treated using conventional measures. Trump dismissed that article published toward the end of April, saying that he hadn’t read it yet. Days later, he continued to peddle the drug.
In the middle of May, Trump doubled down on hydroxychloroquine, telling reporters that he had begun using it weeks prior in a preventative way.
“I take it,” he said. “I hope to not be able to take it soon because, you know, I hope they come up with some answer. But I think people should be allowed to.”
After Trump’s announcement, Michael Ryan, director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Program, discouraged the use of the drug or its promotion outside of scientific trials looking into its potential for treating coronavirus.
“Every sovereign nation, particularly those with effective regulatory authorities, is in a position to advise its own citizens regarding the use of any drug…. I would point out, however, at this stage, [neither] hydroxychloroquine, nor chloroquine, have been, as yet, found to be as effective in the treatment of COVID-19 or in the prophylaxis against coming down with the disease,” Ryan said then.
According to reporting from Healthline, there are serious side effects in using hydroxychloroquine. For example, use of the the drug can lead to heart disease, including heart failure and arrhythmia, which can sometimes be fatal. Other side effects include vision impairment, which can sometimes become permanent.
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--2020-06-15--LGBTQ Activists Celebrate Victory in Supreme Court’s Anti-Discrimination Ruling

LGBTQ activists are celebrating a massive win following the United States Supreme Court ’ s ruling on Monday that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ workers .
“ Today , SCOTUS ruled that ‘ an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.
’ This is a major legal victory , ” the Sylvia Rivera Law Project tweeted out .
“ Our fight to create a world without workplace discrimination for trans people , disproportionately trans people of color , goes on.
” “ A victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets , ” Mock wrote .
“ Grateful to the lawyers , organizers & activists but most grateful to those who had to live stealth or closeted , who lost jobs for living their truth , who left parts of themselves at their employers door.
” Chase Strangio , an ACLU lawyer involved in the case , noted that the language used in the decision was reflective of the words that were used by plaintiffs and the LGBTQ community in general — a huge victory in and of itself .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for .
In the middle of the night .
Through so many drafts .
Are in this opinion , ” Strangio tweeted .
“ The words of trans lawyers .
The words of Black queer women lawyers .
Our words.
” In the days leading up to this Supreme Court ruling , some LGBTQ lawyers and activists had expressed cautious hope about the possibility of such a victory , but the outcome was widely deemed uncertain .
Two conservatives on the bench , Justices John Roberts and Neil Gorsuch , joined liberal Justices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer on Monday in rendering the ruling .
Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas , Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito dissented from the majority decision .
Gorsuch delivered the opinion of the Court , determining that , on the question of whether firing an LGBTQ worker is improper or not , the “ answer is clear.
” “ An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex , ” Gorsuch wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undisguisable role in the decision , exactly what Title VII forbids.
” Title VII protects against discrimination in the workplace when it comes to sex , but it doesn ’ t explicitly state that it also protects against gay or transgender workers from being fired .
Gorsuch explained that , in those instances , the protections on sex in Title VII extends to those workers as well .
“ If the employer intentionally relies in part on an individual employee ’ s sex when deciding to discharge the employee — put differently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have yielded a different choice by the employer — a statutory violation has occurred , ” Gorsuch explained .
The ruling will positively impact millions of workers across the United States who are part of the LGBTQ community .
Prior to Monday ’ s decision , the Trump administration had rejected the notion that Title VII extended to LGBTQ workers .
Gabriel Arkles , who served as counsel for Aimee Stephens , a transgender woman whose case was one of three that were ruled on , celebrated the historic win but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the legal ruling into a material reality .
“ Just because discrimination is illegal does not mean it won ’ t happen , ” Arkles said .
“ Discrimination based on race , religion , national origin , and disability still happens.
” Nevertheless , Arkles pointed out how different the legal landscape is for this fight now than it was a day ago , displaying a map showing where in the U.S. it is now “ illegal to fire us for being who we are.
” The entire map is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweets , Arkles also recognized the work of previous Black trans activists , including “ people like Pauli Murray , Lucy Hicks Anderson , Sir Lady Java , Carlett Brown , Ava Betty Brown , Dana Turner , Marsha P. Johnson , [ and ] James McHarris.
” The decision , Arkles noted , “ will still not keep Black trans people from getting killed .
We have so much more work still to do.
” Indeed , transgender women of color are disproportionally the victims of violence in the U.S .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater rate than Americans as a whole , due to the intersections of racism , sexism , transphobia and other forms of oppression in our society .
Last week , two Black transgender women , Riah Milton in Ohio and Dominique “ Rem ’ Mie ” Fells in Pennsylvania , were killed a day apart from each other .
Both killings are being investigated as homicides .
Following their deaths , and in recognition of the many other trans people of color who have been killed this year and in years past , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities across the country on Sunday to march for Black trans lives .
An estimated 15,000 individuals made it to the demonstration in New York City , while around 25,000 are believed to have gathered in Hollywood in support .

While celebrating the ruling, others noted that discrimination would remain an obstacle in the years ahead.
LGBTQ activists are celebrating a massive win following the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ workers.
“Today, SCOTUS ruled that ‘an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.’ This is a major legal victory,” the Sylvia Rivera Law Project tweeted out. “Our fight to create a world without workplace discrimination for trans people, disproportionately trans people of color, goes on.”
Bestselling author and transgender rights activist Janet Mock expressed similar sentiments.
“A victory hard won in the courts & on the streets,” Mock wrote. “Grateful to the lawyers, organizers & activists but most grateful to those who had to live stealth or closeted, who lost jobs for living their truth, who left parts of themselves at their employers door.”
A victory hard won in the courts & on the streets. Grateful to the lawyers, organizers & activists but most grateful to those who had to live stealth or closeted, who lost jobs for living their truth, who left parts of themselves at their employers door. https://t.co/4aaSZBOlbz — Janet Mock (@janetmock) June 15, 2020
Chase Strangio, an ACLU lawyer involved in the case, noted that the language used in the decision was reflective of the words that were used by plaintiffs and the LGBTQ community in general — a huge victory in and of itself.
“The words that we crafted. And fought for. In the middle of the night. Through so many drafts. Are in this opinion,” Strangio tweeted. “The words of trans lawyers. The words of Black queer women lawyers. Our words.”
The words that we crafted. And fought for. In the middle of the night. Through so many drafts. Are in this opinion. The words of trans lawyers. The words of Black queer women lawyers. Our words. — Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) June 15, 2020
In the days leading up to this Supreme Court ruling, some LGBTQ lawyers and activists had expressed cautious hope about the possibility of such a victory, but the outcome was widely deemed uncertain.
Two conservatives on the bench, Justices John Roberts and Neil Gorsuch, joined liberal Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer on Monday in rendering the ruling. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito dissented from the majority decision.
Gorsuch delivered the opinion of the Court, determining that, on the question of whether firing an LGBTQ worker is improper or not, the “answer is clear.”
“An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex,” Gorsuch wrote. “Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids.”
Title VII protects against discrimination in the workplace when it comes to sex, but it doesn’t explicitly state that it also protects against gay or transgender workers from being fired. Gorsuch explained that, in those instances, the protections on sex in Title VII extends to those workers as well.
“If the employer intentionally relies in part on an individual employee’s sex when deciding to discharge the employee — put differently, if changing the employee’s sex would have yielded a different choice by the employer — a statutory violation has occurred,” Gorsuch explained.
The ruling will positively impact millions of workers across the United States who are part of the LGBTQ community. Prior to Monday’s decision, the Trump administration had rejected the notion that Title VII extended to LGBTQ workers.
Gabriel Arkles, who served as counsel for Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman whose case was one of three that were ruled on, celebrated the historic win but also emphasized that continued struggle will be needed to make the legal ruling into a material reality.
“Just because discrimination is illegal does not mean it won’t happen,” Arkles said. “Discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and disability still happens.”
Nevertheless, Arkles pointed out how different the legal landscape is for this fight now than it was a day ago, displaying a map showing where in the U.S. it is now “illegal to fire us for being who we are.” The entire map is filled in.
Slight correction: Just because discrimination is illegal does not mean it won't happen. Discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and disability still happens. But this map shows everywhere it is illegal to fire us for being who we are. https://t.co/Oo9DBQtjsX — Gabriel Arkles (@gabrielarkles) June 15, 2020
In another series of tweets, Arkles also recognized the work of previous Black trans activists, including “people like Pauli Murray, Lucy Hicks Anderson, Sir Lady Java, Carlett Brown, Ava Betty Brown, Dana Turner, Marsha P. Johnson, [and] James McHarris.”
The decision, Arkles noted, “will still not keep Black trans people from getting killed. We have so much more work still to do.”
And it will still not keep Black trans people from getting killed. We have so much more work still to do. Check out this resource on how to do it: https://t.co/AicOPoSOtA #BlackTransLivesMatter — Gabriel Arkles (@gabrielarkles) June 15, 2020
Indeed, transgender women of color are disproportionally the victims of violence in the U.S. They are impacted by violent crimes at a greater rate than Americans as a whole, due to the intersections of racism, sexism, transphobia and other forms of oppression in our society.
Last week, two Black transgender women, Riah Milton in Ohio and Dominique “Rem’Mie” Fells in Pennsylvania, were killed a day apart from each other. Both killings are being investigated as homicides.
Following their deaths, and in recognition of the many other trans people of color who have been killed this year and in years past, tens of thousands of activists gathered in cities across the country on Sunday to march for Black trans lives. An estimated 15,000 individuals made it to the demonstration in New York City, while around 25,000 are believed to have gathered in Hollywood in support.
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--2020-06-15--Surrounded by Liars and Lickspittles, Trump Dares COVID to Kill Him

Trump campaign officials are spending $ 400,000 on aggressive pro-Trump ads that ran in Virginia , Maryland and Washington , D.C. As I noted last week , these are three places Trump has little chance of winning in 2020 — he lost D.C. in 2016 by a margin of 86.8 points .
So why run them ?
Answer : So Trump will see them during his voracious daily consumption of television and think his campaign is doing well , and then he will stop screaming at people for a few minutes .
This bad news sleight-of-hand between Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to involve Trump ’ s dismal polling , as well .
The latest numbers show Trump trailing presumptive Democratic challenger Joe Biden by double digits , and have him falling behind in virtually every pivotal battleground state .
His approval numbers are well underwater and show no sign of surfacing anytime soon .
What to do ?
Easy .
Lie to the boss .
According to The Daily Beast , “ A chunk of the re-election team focuses on proving to the president that his ‘ dumpster-fire numbers ’ aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinforcing Trump ’ s conviction that pollsters get it wrong ‘ all the time.
’ ” According to one White House source , “ This helps keep the president from flying into a rage as much as he otherwise would.
” All this seems better suited for a farce political show on Netflix , one of those series you binge while swaddled in the warm knowledge that it is all fiction … except this is fact , and the man at the center of this assembly line of deliberate delusion is tasked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic that has just cleared its throat , blinked the theater lights , and announced , “ Please be seated , Act I is not yet complete.
” “ Houston opened to 75 % capacity on Friday , but it may not last long , ” CBS News reported over the weekend .
“ Officials are cautioning that they may need to order people back home and open a COVID-19 hospital at NRG Stadium , a football complex , as coronavirus cases surge in the nation ’ s fourth-largest city.
” Since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escaped the harshest effects of COVID now find themselves awash in new cases that require hospitalizations .
Florida has seen approximately 1,000 new cases a day since June 2 , but spiked to 2,340 on Friday , and that spike held through the weekend .
While an increase in testing can account for some of these new cases , it is the accelerating rate of cases necessitating hospitalization that is causing the deepest unease .
Hotspots such as Massachusetts and New York City have managed to contain the deadly outbreaks they suffered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ignored Donald Trump and the rest of the “ Reopen Now ” crowd , relying instead on the judicious application of science and the advice of medical professionals .
States that rushed to reopen at Trump ’ s frantic urging , however , are now seeing a rush of new cases .
“ Hospitals in Arizona have been urged to activate emergency plans to cope with a flood of coronavirus patients , ” reports The New York Times .
“ On Saturday , Florida saw its largest single-day count of cases since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contain the spread of the virus in many places , leading the governor on Thursday to pause what had been a gradual reopening .
And in Texas , cases are rising swiftly around the largest cities , including Houston , San Antonio and Dallas.
” From the beginning of this elongated fiasco , Trump has been able to depend on that segment of the population that believes every word he speaks is contemporaneously carved onto stone tablets .
These are the folks who harassed various state government officials with military-style weapons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they dare to deviate from Trump ’ s self-serving COVID pabulum .
Reaction to the pandemic has broken along clear ideological lines , thanks almost entirely to Trump , but those lines are beginning to blur as COVID sharpens its claws on regions that have been faithful to the president .
“ A relative lack of health infrastructure in parts of rural America and economic devastation from the Covid-19 closures mean that already vulnerable communities could be overwhelmed , ” reports The Guardian .
“ Older , rural voters in Republican-led states that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Care Act are more likely to lack health insurance than the urban poor.
” This is a ticking time bomb , not a second wave of the COVID pandemic but the continuation of the first .
Trump ’ s reaction ?
Let ’ s throw a crowded rally with no masks or social distancing !
Let ’ s hold it in Tulsa , site of a gruesome 1921 racist massacre !
Let ’ s do it on Juneteenth , the day celebrating Black emancipation from slavery !
This was not a racist dog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This was a dog Horn of Helm Hammerhand , and the whole bloody world heard it fair and true .
A key element to Trump ’ s “ Lazarus Come Forth ” campaign strategy is to ramp up these big rallies he is so fond of , the ones where he gets to lie without restraint , threaten the press , and bathe in the unrestrained red-hatted adulation of people who think Antifa is hiding under the bed , just waiting to strike .
That horn was for them , and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date for the rally , the signal was sent and received .
Meanwhile , his campaign is still requiring Tulsa rally attendees to sign a waiver saying they won ’ t sue the campaign if they catch COVID from a dirty QAnon sign at the venue .
So far as I know , this is the first time in history people have been asked to sign a waiver over a hoax .
The Tulsa rally has health officials flatly terrified .
“ I ’ m concerned about our ability to protect anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Tulsa City-County Health Department director Bruce Dart told the Tulsa World on Saturday , “ and I ’ m also concerned about our ability to ensure the president stays safe as well .
COVID is here in Tulsa , it is transmitting very efficiently .
I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn ’ t as large a concern as it is today.
” Dart ’ s alarm is warranted .
Over the weekend , Trump delivered a slurred , factually oblivious commencement speech to socially distanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he visibly struggled to lift a glass of water to his lips , and picked his way down from the stage like a man who could barely keep his feet .
These images reignited the ongoing conversation about the nebulous status of his health , and underscored a hard truth : If COVID taps Trump on the shoulder in Tulsa , he may be hard put to overcome it .
Speaking to Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday , Michael T. Osterholm , director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ Would I want my loved ones in a setting like that ?
Absolutely not .
And it wouldn ’ t matter about politics ; I wouldn ’ t want them there.
” Even the nigh-invisible Anthony Fauci is raising alarms over Saturday ’ s rally in Tulsa .
“ The best thing to do is to avoid crowded areas , ” Fauci told CNN on Friday .
“ But if you ’ re not going to do that , please wear a mask.
” Two days later , Fauci told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get to some degree of real normality within a year or so .
But I don ’ t think it ’ s this winter or fall , we ’ ll be seeing it for a bit more.
” Normal is on the bus , Anthony , with a ticket punched for far , far away .
Trump ’ s fact-starved obsession with re-election and his toxic , racist disinterest in COVID have been careening toward each other at breakneck speed for weeks now .
On Saturday , they will collide in Tulsa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count by July because of it .
The Biblical King David was said to have messengers bearing bad tidings killed out of hand ( 2 Samuel 1:15 ) .
Fearing a political version of this fate , the people surrounding Trump — in his administration and his campaign — avoid his wrath by lying to his face .
With more than 115,000 dead from COVID-19 , and with more sure to follow from within the ranks of his strongest supporters , the truth is going to find the president sooner or later .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alive to see it remains an open , haunting question .

Part of the Series Despair and Disparity: The Uneven Burdens of COVID-19
Trump campaign officials are spending $400,000 on aggressive pro-Trump ads that ran in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. As I noted last week, these are three places Trump has little chance of winning in 2020 — he lost D.C. in 2016 by a margin of 86.8 points. So why run them? Answer: So Trump will see them during his voracious daily consumption of television and think his campaign is doing well, and then he will stop screaming at people for a few minutes.
This bad news sleight-of-hand between Trump’s campaign people and the candidate has reportedly come to involve Trump’s dismal polling, as well. The latest numbers show Trump trailing presumptive Democratic challenger Joe Biden by double digits, and have him falling behind in virtually every pivotal battleground state. His approval numbers are well underwater and show no sign of surfacing anytime soon.
What to do? Easy. Lie to the boss. According to The Daily Beast, “A chunk of the re-election team focuses on proving to the president that his ‘dumpster-fire numbers’ aren’t as bad as they seem, or reinforcing Trump’s conviction that pollsters get it wrong ‘all the time.’” According to one White House source, “This helps keep the president from flying into a rage as much as he otherwise would.”
All this seems better suited for a farce political show on Netflix, one of those series you binge while swaddled in the warm knowledge that it is all fiction … except this is fact, and the man at the center of this assembly line of deliberate delusion is tasked to lead the nation through a viciously lethal pandemic that has just cleared its throat, blinked the theater lights, and announced, “Please be seated, Act I is not yet complete.”
“Houston opened to 75% capacity on Friday, but it may not last long,” CBS News reported over the weekend. “Officials are cautioning that they may need to order people back home and open a COVID-19 hospital at NRG Stadium, a football complex, as coronavirus cases surge in the nation’s fourth-largest city.”
Since the Memorial Day weekend, states that largely escaped the harshest effects of COVID now find themselves awash in new cases that require hospitalizations. Florida has seen approximately 1,000 new cases a day since June 2, but spiked to 2,340 on Friday, and that spike held through the weekend. While an increase in testing can account for some of these new cases, it is the accelerating rate of cases necessitating hospitalization that is causing the deepest unease.
Hotspots such as Massachusetts and New York City have managed to contain the deadly outbreaks they suffered in March and April, almost entirely because they ignored Donald Trump and the rest of the “Reopen Now” crowd, relying instead on the judicious application of science and the advice of medical professionals. States that rushed to reopen at Trump’s frantic urging, however, are now seeing a rush of new cases.
States that rushed to reopen at Trump’s frantic urging are now seeing the gates of Hell crack open before them.
“Hospitals in Arizona have been urged to activate emergency plans to cope with a flood of coronavirus patients,” reports The New York Times. “On Saturday, Florida saw its largest single-day count of cases since the pandemic began. Oregon has failed to contain the spread of the virus in many places, leading the governor on Thursday to pause what had been a gradual reopening. And in Texas, cases are rising swiftly around the largest cities, including Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.”
From the beginning of this elongated fiasco, Trump has been able to depend on that segment of the population that believes every word he speaks is contemporaneously carved onto stone tablets. These are the folks who harassed various state government officials with military-style weapons, and who threaten state health officials when they dare to deviate from Trump’s self-serving COVID pabulum. Reaction to the pandemic has broken along clear ideological lines, thanks almost entirely to Trump, but those lines are beginning to blur as COVID sharpens its claws on regions that have been faithful to the president.
“A relative lack of health infrastructure in parts of rural America and economic devastation from the Covid-19 closures mean that already vulnerable communities could be overwhelmed,” reports The Guardian. “Older, rural voters in Republican-led states that declined to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act are more likely to lack health insurance than the urban poor.”
This is a ticking time bomb, not a second wave of the COVID pandemic but the continuation of the first.
Trump’s reaction? Let’s throw a crowded rally with no masks or social distancing! Let’s hold it in Tulsa, site of a gruesome 1921 racist massacre! Let’s do it on Juneteenth, the day celebrating Black emancipation from slavery! This was not a racist dog whistle, or even a dog megaphone. This was a dog Horn of Helm Hammerhand, and the whole bloody world heard it fair and true.
A key element to Trump’s “Lazarus Come Forth” campaign strategy is to ramp up these big rallies he is so fond of, the ones where he gets to lie without restraint, threaten the press, and bathe in the unrestrained red-hatted adulation of people who think Antifa is hiding under the bed, just waiting to strike.
That horn was for them, and even though Trump eventually backed off the Juneteenth date for the rally, the signal was sent and received. Meanwhile, his campaign is still requiring Tulsa rally attendees to sign a waiver saying they won’t sue the campaign if they catch COVID from a dirty QAnon sign at the venue. So far as I know, this is the first time in history people have been asked to sign a waiver over a hoax.
The Tulsa rally has health officials flatly terrified.
The Tulsa rally has health officials flatly terrified. “I’m concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large, indoor event,” Tulsa City-County Health Department director Bruce Dart told the Tulsa World on Saturday, “and I’m also concerned about our ability to ensure the president stays safe as well. COVID is here in Tulsa, it is transmitting very efficiently. I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn’t as large a concern as it is today.”
Dart’s alarm is warranted. Over the weekend, Trump delivered a slurred, factually oblivious commencement speech to socially distanced cadets at West Point. While there, he visibly struggled to lift a glass of water to his lips, and picked his way down from the stage like a man who could barely keep his feet. These images reignited the ongoing conversation about the nebulous status of his health, and underscored a hard truth: If COVID taps Trump on the shoulder in Tulsa, he may be hard put to overcome it.
Speaking to Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said, “Would I want my loved ones in a setting like that? Absolutely not. And it wouldn’t matter about politics; I wouldn’t want them there.”
Trump’s fact-starved obsession with re-election and his toxic, racist disinterest in COVID have been careening toward each other at breakneck speed for weeks now.
Even the nigh-invisible Anthony Fauci is raising alarms over Saturday’s rally in Tulsa. “The best thing to do is to avoid crowded areas,” Fauci told CNN on Friday. “But if you’re not going to do that, please wear a mask.” Two days later, Fauci told The Telegraph, “I would hope to get to some degree of real normality within a year or so. But I don’t think it’s this winter or fall, we’ll be seeing it for a bit more.”
Normal is on the bus, Anthony, with a ticket punched for far, far away. Trump’s fact-starved obsession with re-election and his toxic, racist disinterest in COVID have been careening toward each other at breakneck speed for weeks now. On Saturday, they will collide in Tulsa, and there will be a body count by July because of it.
The Biblical King David was said to have messengers bearing bad tidings killed out of hand (2 Samuel 1:15). Fearing a political version of this fate, the people surrounding Trump — in his administration and his campaign — avoid his wrath by lying to his face.
With more than 115,000 dead from COVID-19, and with more sure to follow from within the ranks of his strongest supporters, the truth is going to find the president sooner or later. How many of us will be left alive to see it remains an open, haunting question.
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--2020-06-15--Florida Has Largest Daily COVID-19 Spike After RNC Moves to Jacksonville

Officials in Florida expressed concern about public safety as coronavirus infections hit a record number for the third straight day following the Republican National Committee ’ s decision to relocate part of its annual convention to Jacksonville .
The state saw at least 2,581 new confirmed cases on Saturday , a 35 % increase over the previous day .
It was the third consecutive day that the state recorded its highest daily total of cases yet , according to the Miami Herald .
The number dipped slightly Sunday , but the state still reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ row .
The state has now seen more than 1,000 new cases for 12 consecutive days .
The spike comes after the RNC announced last week that President Donald Trump ’ s renomination speech would be moved from Charlotte to Jacksonville due to North Carolina ’ s coronavirus restrictions .
North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper , a Democrat , repeatedly said it was too early to tell whether it would be safe to pack large crowds of attendees in August .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , a Republican , appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday sought to downplay the huge spike , attributing the rise to increased testing in nursing homes and an outbreak among farmworkers in the state .
He told local news outlet WPLG that he was sure the convention could be held without resulting in a large influx of new cases .
“ They are really working hard on it , ” he said .
“ They are working hard with the folks at the White House.
” But a Republican official told The Washington Post that the RNC will not insist on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s speech and masks would be offered but not required .
There are no plans to test attendees for the virus , as officials said they would do in Charlotte .
Instead , convention organizers plan to conduct temperature checks on attendees , provide sanitizer and disinfect the space .
The RNC plans defy the Trump administration ’ s own guidelines , which urged organizers of large gatherings to “ strongly encourage ” attendees to use face coverings in order to reduce the potential spread of the virus .
The Trump campaign plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sign waivers vowing not to sue if they contract the coronavirus .
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told Fox News it was too early to say whether the party would have a similar waiver for the convention .
“ We haven ’ t even gotten there yet , ” she said .
“ I mean , as you can imagine , we ’ ve got 74 days to plan a whole new celebration in a different city.
” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry , a Republican , assured reporters on Friday that unspecified new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rise by the time the convention approaches .
“ The status of COVID-19 , the risks of COVID-19 , what it will look like in late August will likely not look like what it does today , ” he argued .
“ .
.
.
Clearly , the RNC wants a large event with a lot of people .
I want that , too.
” But many lawmakers and business leaders in the area disagree .
“ It ’ s irresponsible , ” Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis , a Democrat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will increase the number of COVID infections and put the locals at risk.
” More than 100 Florida doctors signed an open letter to DeSantis on Friday urging him to require masks and social distancing at the event .
“ Florida does not have COVID-19 under control , ” the letter said , warning that a large convention without proper precautions “ will only increase the likelihood of community spread across Florida , strain our healthcare resources and put people in danger.
” Education officials worried that the convention could disrupt the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August .
“ It ’ s hard to believe that anyone would think that it ’ s a good idea to bring tens of thousands of people to Jacksonville from every corner of America just as Florida ’ s schools are reopening in August , ” Florida Education Association President Fedrick Ingram said in a statement .
“ We ’ re not over this.
” Trump has rejected the idea of social distancing at his speech .
“ We can ’ t do social distancing , ” he reportedly told Cooper on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want to be sitting in a place that ’ s 50 percent empty.
” Florida leaders are also concerned about Trump ’ s speech , which is scheduled to be held on the 60th anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday , when a mob of white residents beat mostly black people protesting segregated lunch counters with ax handles and baseball bats .

Officials in Florida expressed concern about public safety as coronavirus infections hit a record number for the third straight day following the Republican National Committee’s decision to relocate part of its annual convention to Jacksonville.
The state saw at least 2,581 new confirmed cases on Saturday, a 35% increase over the previous day. It was the third consecutive day that the state recorded its highest daily total of cases yet, according to the Miami Herald. The number dipped slightly Sunday, but the state still reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day in a row. The state has now seen more than 1,000 new cases for 12 consecutive days.
The spike comes after the RNC announced last week that President Donald Trump’s renomination speech would be moved from Charlotte to Jacksonville due to North Carolina’s coronavirus restrictions. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, repeatedly said it was too early to tell whether it would be safe to pack large crowds of attendees in August. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, appears to have no such qualms.
DeSantis on Friday sought to downplay the huge spike, attributing the rise to increased testing in nursing homes and an outbreak among farmworkers in the state. He told local news outlet WPLG that he was sure the convention could be held without resulting in a large influx of new cases.
“They are really working hard on it,” he said. “They are working hard with the folks at the White House.”
But a Republican official told The Washington Post that the RNC will not insist on social distancing in the arena for Trump’s speech and masks would be offered but not required. There are no plans to test attendees for the virus, as officials said they would do in Charlotte. Instead, convention organizers plan to conduct temperature checks on attendees, provide sanitizer and disinfect the space.
The RNC plans defy the Trump administration’s own guidelines, which urged organizers of large gatherings to “strongly encourage” attendees to use face coverings in order to reduce the potential spread of the virus.
The Trump campaign plans to require attendees at his upcoming rally to sign waivers vowing not to sue if they contract the coronavirus. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told Fox News it was too early to say whether the party would have a similar waiver for the convention.
“We haven’t even gotten there yet,” she said. “I mean, as you can imagine, we’ve got 74 days to plan a whole new celebration in a different city.”
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a Republican, assured reporters on Friday that unspecified new rules would be implemented if infections continue to rise by the time the convention approaches.
“The status of COVID-19, the risks of COVID-19, what it will look like in late August will likely not look like what it does today,” he argued. “. . . Clearly, the RNC wants a large event with a lot of people. I want that, too.”
But many lawmakers and business leaders in the area disagree.
“It’s irresponsible,” Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis, a Democrat, told The Washington Post. “It will increase the number of COVID infections and put the locals at risk.”
More than 100 Florida doctors signed an open letter to DeSantis on Friday urging him to require masks and social distancing at the event.
“Florida does not have COVID-19 under control,” the letter said, warning that a large convention without proper precautions “will only increase the likelihood of community spread across Florida, strain our healthcare resources and put people in danger.”
Education officials worried that the convention could disrupt the state’s plans to reopen schools in August.
“It’s hard to believe that anyone would think that it’s a good idea to bring tens of thousands of people to Jacksonville from every corner of America just as Florida’s schools are reopening in August,” Florida Education Association President Fedrick Ingram said in a statement. “We’re not over this.”
Trump has rejected the idea of social distancing at his speech.
“We can’t do social distancing,” he reportedly told Cooper on a call last month. “I don’t want to be sitting in a place that’s 50 percent empty.”
Florida leaders are also concerned about Trump’s speech, which is scheduled to be held on the 60th anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday, when a mob of white residents beat mostly black people protesting segregated lunch counters with ax handles and baseball bats.
“It doesn’t make any sense” Florida state Sen. Audrey Gibson, a Democrat, told CNN. “It’s disrespectful, and it’s very callous.”
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--2020-06-15--Trump Adviser Complains Boost in Unemployment Benefits Is Too Generous

With the U.S. jobless rate still at levels not seen since the Great Depression and coronavirus-induced mass layoffs continuing across the nation , millionaire White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow complained Sunday that the $ 600-per-week increase in unemployment insurance authorized by the CARES Act is too generous and said the benefits should expire at the end of July .
“ I mean , we ’ re paying people not to work .
It ’ s better than their salaries would get , ” Kudlow said in an appearance on CNN , echoing the common Republican complaint that many U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boosted unemployment insurance than they would at their low-wage jobs .
Progressive lawmakers and economists have argued that the solution is to raise wages , not slash benefits .
Kudlow predicted that Congress will not extend the enhanced unemployment benefits past the July 31 expiration date and said the Trump administration is “ looking at a reform measure that will still provide some kind of bonus for returning to work , but it will not be as large.
” Economists have repeatedly warned in recent days that prematurely ending financial relief for laid-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people and hinder the broader economic recovery .
In the face of widespread economic pain and insecurity , the extra unemployment insurance has served as a lifeline for those lucky enough to have actually received the benefits to which they are entitled by law .
Former Treasury Department economist Ernie Tedeschi has estimated that ending the enhanced unemployment benefits on July 31 would result in a “ pay cut of 50-75 % overnight ” for millions of people .
Josh Bivens and Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute argued in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the purpose of generating a rapid macroeconomic recovery from this shock , the more money getting into the pockets of low- and moderate-wage workers , the better.
” “ Without generous relief , these workers and their families would have had to run down meager savings and go into debt just to survive during the lockdown period , ” Bivens and Shierholz wrote .
“ Besides causing avoidable human misery , this would severely hamper spending — and , by extension , the overall economic recovery — when the public health all-clear is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 is smart and compassionate and policymakers should extend all ( or at least most ) of this extra boost well past July — at least until unemployment is falling rapidly and at a manageable level , ” the economists added .
As Common Dreams reported , Trump administration officials and Republican members of Congress took something of a victory lap following the Bureau of Labor Statistics ’ ( BLS ) June 5 jobs report showing that the unemployment rate declined slightly between April and May .
The BLS found that the jobless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a fact that did not stop Republican lawmakers from using the report to declare that additional coronavirus relief is no longer needed .
Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) , one of the architects of the enhanced unemployment insurance , ripped the Trump administration and the GOP last week for “ declaring ‘ mission accomplished ’ in response ” to the BLS report .
“ Even if millions of Americans go back to work , if millions of Americans lose their supercharged benefits and are abruptly unable to pay their bills , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wyden warned during a conference call with workers and activists .
“ Things will get worse and I fear that families will find themselves in increasingly dire straits .
Congress can not abandon families in the midst of this ongoing economic crisis .
”

With the U.S. jobless rate still at levels not seen since the Great Depression and coronavirus-induced mass layoffs continuing across the nation, millionaire White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow complained Sunday that the $600-per-week increase in unemployment insurance authorized by the CARES Act is too generous and said the benefits should expire at the end of July.
“I mean, we’re paying people not to work. It’s better than their salaries would get,” Kudlow said in an appearance on CNN, echoing the common Republican complaint that many U.S. workers are earning slightly more on the boosted unemployment insurance than they would at their low-wage jobs. Progressive lawmakers and economists have argued that the solution is to raise wages, not slash benefits.
Kudlow predicted that Congress will not extend the enhanced unemployment benefits past the July 31 expiration date and said the Trump administration is “looking at a reform measure that will still provide some kind of bonus for returning to work, but it will not be as large.”
Economists have repeatedly warned in recent days that prematurely ending financial relief for laid-off workers could have disastrous consequences for millions of people and hinder the broader economic recovery.
In the face of widespread economic pain and insecurity, the extra unemployment insurance has served as a lifeline for those lucky enough to have actually received the benefits to which they are entitled by law. Former Treasury Department economist Ernie Tedeschi has estimated that ending the enhanced unemployment benefits on July 31 would result in a “pay cut of 50-75% overnight” for millions of people.
Josh Bivens and Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute argued in a blog post last month that “for the purpose of generating a rapid macroeconomic recovery from this shock, the more money getting into the pockets of low- and moderate-wage workers, the better.”
“Without generous relief, these workers and their families would have had to run down meager savings and go into debt just to survive during the lockdown period,” Bivens and Shierholz wrote. “Besides causing avoidable human misery, this would severely hamper spending — and, by extension, the overall economic recovery — when the public health all-clear is eventually sounded.”
“The extra $600 is smart and compassionate and policymakers should extend all (or at least most) of this extra boost well past July — at least until unemployment is falling rapidly and at a manageable level,” the economists added.
As Common Dreams reported, Trump administration officials and Republican members of Congress took something of a victory lap following the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) June 5 jobs report showing that the unemployment rate declined slightly between April and May. The BLS found that the jobless rate remains at a staggering 16% — a fact that did not stop Republican lawmakers from using the report to declare that additional coronavirus relief is no longer needed.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), one of the architects of the enhanced unemployment insurance, ripped the Trump administration and the GOP last week for “declaring ‘mission accomplished’ in response” to the BLS report.
“Even if millions of Americans go back to work, if millions of Americans lose their supercharged benefits and are abruptly unable to pay their bills, the economy will not rebound,” Wyden warned during a conference call with workers and activists. “Things will get worse and I fear that families will find themselves in increasingly dire straits. Congress cannot abandon families in the midst of this ongoing economic crisis.”
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.