truthout--2020-10-02--Here Are 6 Ways Trump’s COVID Diagnosis Will Change the Campaign

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have both tested positive for coronavirus , and with just 32 days before Election Day 2020 , their diagnosis could have huge implications for how the rest of the presidential campaign plays out until November 3 .
Trump made the announcement that he had contracted COVID-19 — the disease that has resulted in the deaths of more than 210,000 Americans since March ( and which the president has largely played down from the start ) — on his Twitter account early Friday morning .
“ Tonight , @ FLOTUS and I tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately .
We will get through this TOGETHER !
” Joe Biden , Trump ’ s Democratic opponent in the presidential race , expressed his sympathy for Trump and the first lady , writing that he was hoping for both to have a “ swift recovery.
” “ We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family , ” Biden added .
Trump has reportedly shown mild symptoms of the disease , and appeared to be lethargic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Jersey , golf course on Thursday , sources close to him have said .
With only a few weeks of election season remaining , Trump ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis will obviously impact both campaigns from this point on .
Here are six ways it could play out .
1 .
COVID May Become the Top Election Issue Coronavirus will likely become the top issue in the election , outpacing other issues that are currently deemed “ more important ” by voters .
Given how much of an impact the coronavirus pandemic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. , COVID-19 is obviously a top issue on many voters ’ minds .
However , recent polling has shown that it ’ s not the top issue , with 25 percent of respondents in an ABC News/Washington Post poll late last month saying that the economy was their prime concern .
Coronavirus came in second place in the poll , with 17 percent saying it was their top issue , but it was also on par , statistically speaking , with other matters , including health care ( 15 percent ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 14 percent ) .
Trump ’ s diagnosis will undoubtedly focus the national conversation on the pandemic , with the media focused on his condition , his campaign and whether this situation alters the president ’ s views on the disease itself .
2 .
Trump ’ s Diagnosis May Create a “ Rally Around the Flag ” Moment Trump ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis could win him the sympathy of some voters , but some analysts believe more voters will see it as proof that he has failed in addressing the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus found that only 40 percent thought Trump would be a better leader on the issue , versus 51 percent who said Biden would do better .
A number of polls across the board also find that Biden is ahead of Trump in the presidential race , both nationally and in a number of contested swing states .
In the first few days after the coronavirus pandemic became “ real ” for many in the U.S. , Trump actually had a net positive approval rating in many polls over his handling of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realm of possibilities that the same response could happen for him now .
Trump ’ s diagnosis could also win him broad public sympathy .
Carole Cadwalladr , a British investigative reporter , explained in a post on social media that that ’ s exactly what happened in the United Kingdom , when Prime Minister Boris Johnson got sick with coronavirus .
“ A reminder to all Americans that the net effect of our prime minister catching COVID-19 was that it prompted a surge of patriotic support , ” Cadwalladr wrote , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ that ] enabled him to tear up key functions of the state.
” And if the president recovers swiftly and relatively unscathed , Trump could use it to his advantage by projecting himself as a strong leader .
On the other hand , Trump ’ s diagnosis may have the opposite effect .
Due to his continued skepticism throughout the past eight months , including describing the virus as a “ hoax , ” refusing to wear a mask for several months ( while arguing that masks are worn to spite him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing measures , demanding states “ liberate ” their economies while trying to stop the spread of COVID-19 , and downplaying the number who have died from the disease so far , Americans may view this latest development as further evidence of his failure on handling the pandemic .
Ashish Jha , dean of the Brown University School of Public Health , described the White House ’ s failure to prevent Trump from getting sick as a “ failure.
” “ This is a nightmare .
COVID19 is a serious infection , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , ” Jha said on Twitter .
“ I can ’ t believe he was infected .
This is a total failure by WH [ the White House ] team to protect the President.
” Advisers to Trump acknowledged on Friday that his diagnosis would likely make him look bad on the issue , with one admitting to the New York Times that it was a political “ disaster.
” Trump ’ s diagnosis could even cut into his base , Democratic pollster Geoff Garin suggested , opining that the president “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhibit No .
1 for the failure of his leadership on coronavirus , ” running “ the risk that his supporters will feel misled by his dismissiveness of the virus and the need for precaution.
” Norman Solomon , who is the national coordinator and co-founder of RootsAction , an organization which advocates for progressive public policy , told Truthout he believes Trump ’ s campaign will do whatever it takes to get positive coverage of his diagnosis .
Their efforts won ’ t be successful , he predicts .
“ Clearly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than six months — provided a massive self-inflicted wound for his reelection campaign , ” Solomon told Truthout .
“ While he and other top Republicans will do everything they can think of during the next 32 days to spin and manipulate their way out of this huge PR disaster , they have been plunged into an extremely deep hole.
” Trump will make “ attempts to milk whatever fawning media coverage and sympathy votes might be available , ” Solomon added .
“ The narcissistic and demagogic politics of the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential is there , but any of that would have a very steep climb for appreciably getting Trump out of the political hole that his calculated insanity has dug for himself.
” 3 .
Biden May Face Calls to Suspend His Campaign Should the Democratic candidate suspend his future travels out of respect for his opponent ’ s current situation ?
Biden tested negative for coronavirus on Friday , and is able to continue campaigning in the same limited way he has been — but some are arguing maybe he shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Trump is quarantined ?
” political analyst Jeff Greenfield asked .
“ Is the White House failure to observe protocols a reason for Biden to continue his campaigning ?
” Others have scoffed at those notions , however , arguing that it ’ s not Biden ’ s fault that Trump didn ’ t take coronavirus more seriously .
Biden “ should not suspend his campaign , ” author Jill Filipovic said in direct response to Greenfield , “ because the president is now seeing the totally predictable and avoidable consequences of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reportedly conscious of the fact that they need to be careful with whatever statements they or their surrogates make right now , noting that the Trump campaign could pick up and use any insensitive remarks to their advantage in the next few days or weeks .
4 .
Trump ’ s Infamous Rallies May Come to a Temporary Halt This is perhaps one of the more obvious outcomes of Trump getting coronavirus , but it ’ s still worth noting that his infamous rallies , which rarely enforce social distancing precautions among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end .
But beyond those events , Trump will also be hurt in another way : fundraising .
The president was scheduled to host multiple fundraising events in California next week .
The ability to raise huge sums of money is one of Trump ’ s most important strategies to beat Biden , who is currently ahead in the polls .
It ’ s still likely that Trump will be able to pull in big money before Election Day ( and likely from some questionable sources ) , but it ’ s likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash if he ’ s not there in person .
If and when Trump recovers , the question remains whether he will continue to skirt social distancing norms and carry on as he has over the past several months .
There are signs that he ’ s already not taking the matter seriously , as members of his own White House — including his chief of staff , Mark Meadows , and his favorite ( as well as controversial ) coronavirus adviser , Scott Atlas — were seen outside the White House on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverings .
5 .
Trump ’ s Diagnosis May Hurt Him on National Security and the Economy Trump has polled well on some issues as president , but these numbers could be negatively impacted by his COVID-19 diagnosis , which in turn could hurt his electoral chances .
Trump does better in polling on the economy more than any other issue .
While the stock market is in no way any indicator of how the economy is actually faring , particularly for working-class Americans , he has frequently touted its performance throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to coronavirus being the exception ) as a sign that he ’ s a good president .
Whether that ’ s true or not is debatable , depending on whom you ask , but Trump contracting COVID-19 has put a damper in his talking points .
Wall Street saw significant losses upon news of Trump getting sick , and if that trend continues for the remainder of the campaign season , what small chances of Trump being able to prop himself up as good for the economy could fly right out the window @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump positively on national security matters .
But if other nations use it to take advantage of their own interests , Trump ’ s image on the issue could take a hit .
6 .
The 25th Amendment May Come Into Play It ’ s unclear what might happen if Trump is unable to serve as president — or candidate — during the next few weeks .
Then there are the looming questions on everyone ’ s minds : If Trump gets sicker , or even perishes , from the disease , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we don ’ t know , and it depends .
If the president is incapacitated , he would be able , under the terms of the 25th Amendment of the Constitution , to discharge his duties voluntarily and temporarily to Vice President Mike Pence .
Trump would then be able to resume being president upon declaring he ’ s ready to get back to work .
If he becomes incapacitated and unable to discharge his duties — if he slips into unconsciousness , as an example — Pence , with the consent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cabinet , may assume the duties of the president .
When the president recovers under this scenario , he may resume his role .
And , of course , should Trump die from complications of COVID-19 , Pence would be sworn in as president .
That , perhaps , would bring about one of the most unpredictable aspects of this whole matter : Does Pence then run for president as the Republican nominee ?
The leaders of the GOP would have to make that decision , but it ’ s more complicated than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have already been sent out , with some being returned already , that have Trump ’ s name at the top of the ticket .
“ If either nominee dies or withdraws before the Nov. 3 election , his party — @ DNC or @ GOP — has to designate the replacement , ” Sewell Chan , Editorial Page Editor at the Los Angeles Times , explained .
“ But whether there ’ s enough time for that nominee to get on the ballot is…up to the states .
Given that 29 states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this could be a big legal mess , tied up in state and federal courts .
”

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have both tested positive for coronavirus, and with just 32 days before Election Day 2020, their diagnosis could have huge implications for how the rest of the presidential campaign plays out until November 3.
Trump made the announcement that he had contracted COVID-19 — the disease that has resulted in the deaths of more than 210,000 Americans since March (and which the president has largely played down from the start) — on his Twitter account early Friday morning.
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” Trump wrote. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic opponent in the presidential race, expressed his sympathy for Trump and the first lady, writing that he was hoping for both to have a “swift recovery.”
“We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family,” Biden added.
Trump has reportedly shown mild symptoms of the disease, and appeared to be lethargic during a fundraiser at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf course on Thursday, sources close to him have said.
With only a few weeks of election season remaining, Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis will obviously impact both campaigns from this point on. Here are six ways it could play out.
1. COVID May Become the Top Election Issue
Coronavirus will likely become the top issue in the election, outpacing other issues that are currently deemed “more important” by voters. Given how much of an impact the coronavirus pandemic has had around the world and in the U.S., COVID-19 is obviously a top issue on many voters’ minds. However, recent polling has shown that it’s not the top issue, with 25 percent of respondents in an ABC News/Washington Post poll late last month saying that the economy was their prime concern. Coronavirus came in second place in the poll, with 17 percent saying it was their top issue, but it was also on par, statistically speaking, with other matters, including health care (15 percent) and “equal treatment of racial groups” (14 percent).
Trump’s diagnosis will undoubtedly focus the national conversation on the pandemic, with the media focused on his condition, his campaign and whether this situation alters the president’s views on the disease itself.
2. Trump’s Diagnosis May Create a “Rally Around the Flag” Moment
Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis could win him the sympathy of some voters, but some analysts believe more voters will see it as proof that he has failed in addressing the pandemic. Previous polling on the issue of coronavirus found that only 40 percent thought Trump would be a better leader on the issue, versus 51 percent who said Biden would do better. A number of polls across the board also find that Biden is ahead of Trump in the presidential race, both nationally and in a number of contested swing states.
In the first few days after the coronavirus pandemic became “real” for many in the U.S., Trump actually had a net positive approval rating in many polls over his handling of it. It’s not outside the realm of possibilities that the same response could happen for him now.
Trump’s diagnosis could also win him broad public sympathy. Carole Cadwalladr, a British investigative reporter, explained in a post on social media that that’s exactly what happened in the United Kingdom, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson got sick with coronavirus.
“A reminder to all Americans that the net effect of our prime minister catching COVID-19 was that it prompted a surge of patriotic support,” Cadwalladr wrote, adding that Johnson “emerged with renewed popularity [that] enabled him to tear up key functions of the state.”
And if the president recovers swiftly and relatively unscathed, Trump could use it to his advantage by projecting himself as a strong leader.
On the other hand, Trump’s diagnosis may have the opposite effect. Due to his continued skepticism throughout the past eight months, including describing the virus as a “hoax,” refusing to wear a mask for several months (while arguing that masks are worn to spite him), doubting the efficacy of social distancing measures, demanding states “liberate” their economies while trying to stop the spread of COVID-19, and downplaying the number who have died from the disease so far, Americans may view this latest development as further evidence of his failure on handling the pandemic.
Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, described the White House’s failure to prevent Trump from getting sick as a “failure.”
“This is a nightmare. COVID19 is a serious infection, especially for someone who is older like Mr. Trump,” Jha said on Twitter. “I can’t believe he was infected. This is a total failure by WH [the White House] team to protect the President.”
Advisers to Trump acknowledged on Friday that his diagnosis would likely make him look bad on the issue, with one admitting to the New York Times that it was a political “disaster.”
Trump’s diagnosis could even cut into his base, Democratic pollster Geoff Garin suggested, opining that the president “is now in the position of becoming exhibit No. 1 for the failure of his leadership on coronavirus,” running “the risk that his supporters will feel misled by his dismissiveness of the virus and the need for precaution.”
Norman Solomon, who is the national coordinator and co-founder of RootsAction, an organization which advocates for progressive public policy, told Truthout he believes Trump’s campaign will do whatever it takes to get positive coverage of his diagnosis.
Their efforts won’t be successful, he predicts.
“Clearly, Trump has — over the course of more than six months — provided a massive self-inflicted wound for his reelection campaign,” Solomon told Truthout. “While he and other top Republicans will do everything they can think of during the next 32 days to spin and manipulate their way out of this huge PR disaster, they have been plunged into an extremely deep hole.”
Trump will make “attempts to milk whatever fawning media coverage and sympathy votes might be available,” Solomon added. “The narcissistic and demagogic politics of the Trump regime call for nothing less. The potential is there, but any of that would have a very steep climb for appreciably getting Trump out of the political hole that his calculated insanity has dug for himself.”
3. Biden May Face Calls to Suspend His Campaign
Should the Democratic candidate suspend his future travels out of respect for his opponent’s current situation? Biden tested negative for coronavirus on Friday, and is able to continue campaigning in the same limited way he has been — but some are arguing maybe he shouldn’t.
“Does Biden suspend his campaign as Trump is quarantined?” political analyst Jeff Greenfield asked. “Is the White House failure to observe protocols a reason for Biden to continue his campaigning?”
Others have scoffed at those notions, however, arguing that it’s not Biden’s fault that Trump didn’t take coronavirus more seriously. Biden “should not suspend his campaign,” author Jill Filipovic said in direct response to Greenfield, “because the president is now seeing the totally predictable and avoidable consequences of his reckless, science-denying behavior.”
Democrats are reportedly conscious of the fact that they need to be careful with whatever statements they or their surrogates make right now, noting that the Trump campaign could pick up and use any insensitive remarks to their advantage in the next few days or weeks.
4. Trump’s Infamous Rallies May Come to a Temporary Halt
This is perhaps one of the more obvious outcomes of Trump getting coronavirus, but it’s still worth noting that his infamous rallies, which rarely enforce social distancing precautions among participants, will likely come to an end.
But beyond those events, Trump will also be hurt in another way: fundraising. The president was scheduled to host multiple fundraising events in California next week. The ability to raise huge sums of money is one of Trump’s most important strategies to beat Biden, who is currently ahead in the polls. It’s still likely that Trump will be able to pull in big money before Election Day (and likely from some questionable sources), but it’s likely he might not bring in as much cash if he’s not there in person.
If and when Trump recovers, the question remains whether he will continue to skirt social distancing norms and carry on as he has over the past several months. There are signs that he’s already not taking the matter seriously, as members of his own White House — including his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and his favorite (as well as controversial) coronavirus adviser, Scott Atlas — were seen outside the White House on Friday still not wearing masks or facial coverings.
5. Trump’s Diagnosis May Hurt Him on National Security and the Economy
Trump has polled well on some issues as president, but these numbers could be negatively impacted by his COVID-19 diagnosis, which in turn could hurt his electoral chances.
Trump does better in polling on the economy more than any other issue. While the stock market is in no way any indicator of how the economy is actually faring, particularly for working-class Americans, he has frequently touted its performance throughout the year (with a short dip due to coronavirus being the exception) as a sign that he’s a good president.
Whether that’s true or not is debatable, depending on whom you ask, but Trump contracting COVID-19 has put a damper in his talking points. Wall Street saw significant losses upon news of Trump getting sick, and if that trend continues for the remainder of the campaign season, what small chances of Trump being able to prop himself up as good for the economy could fly right out the window.
A number of Americans also view Trump positively on national security matters. But if other nations use it to take advantage of their own interests, Trump’s image on the issue could take a hit.
6. The 25th Amendment May Come Into Play
It’s unclear what might happen if Trump is unable to serve as president — or candidate — during the next few weeks. Then there are the looming questions on everyone’s minds: If Trump gets sicker, or even perishes, from the disease, what happens then? The short answer is, we don’t know, and it depends.
If the president is incapacitated, he would be able, under the terms of the 25th Amendment of the Constitution, to discharge his duties voluntarily and temporarily to Vice President Mike Pence. Trump would then be able to resume being president upon declaring he’s ready to get back to work.
If he becomes incapacitated and unable to discharge his duties — if he slips into unconsciousness, as an example — Pence, with the consent of a majority of Trump’s cabinet, may assume the duties of the president. When the president recovers under this scenario, he may resume his role.
And, of course, should Trump die from complications of COVID-19, Pence would be sworn in as president. That, perhaps, would bring about one of the most unpredictable aspects of this whole matter: Does Pence then run for president as the Republican nominee?
The leaders of the GOP would have to make that decision, but it’s more complicated than that, as ballots across the nation have already been sent out, with some being returned already, that have Trump’s name at the top of the ticket.
“If either nominee dies or withdraws before the Nov. 3 election, his party — @DNC or @GOP — has to designate the replacement,” Sewell Chan, Editorial Page Editor at the Los Angeles Times, explained. “But whether there’s enough time for that nominee to get on the ballot is…up to the states. Given that 29 states have already begun mailing ballots to voters, this could be a big legal mess, tied up in state and federal courts.”
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--2020-10-02--Will COVID Knock Out Trump’s Campaign?

Will COVID Knock Out Trump’s Campaign?

F. Scott Fitzgerald said , “ The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
” The entirety of the Trump administration to date has been the unceasing experience of being simultaneously astonished and not at all surprised .
These two phenomena , like twirling planes in the air show of the mind , finally clipped wings in midair early this morning and went pinwheeling to the ground in a ball of fire and dust .
The president of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
The disease that has infected over 7 million and killed more than 200,000 in the U.S. alone ?
How completely terrifying !
The guy who went around practically licking doorknobs in defiance of the virus now has it , along with a growing circle of administration officials , 32 days before a crisis election that could very well determine whether he gets prosecuted next year or in five years ?
Is it possible someone could be so flagrantly cavalier with their own well-being ?
Oh , right , yeah .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cavalier with the well-being of an entire nation .
This is the fellow who just 15 days ago said the disease “ affects hardly anyone.
” The guy who mocked masks and disdained the severity of the pandemic from the start .
This is the least surprising thing to happen since the sun rose in the east .
That , too , is astonishing .
At a minimum , Trump is off the campaign trail for the next two weeks .
The base rules of normal political gravity would hold that the absence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a campaign would be a race-changing calamity… but Trump on the trail is the primary reason why he is currently losing to Joe Biden , who campaigns the way oak trees dance the tarantella .
Two weeks of effective Trump surrogates in the absence of Trump himself could prove to be a boon .
Because the truth and Donald Trump have never met , the announcement of his diagnosis was greeted with a chorus of doubt .
It ’ s a sympathy ploy , some alleged , a trick to get out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so grotesquely in the first one .
First of all , I strongly suspect that a vast majority of this exhausted , frightened , overwhelmed nation will , shall we say , struggle to summon much sympathy for a guy who basically made his own COVID bed and then rolled around in it like a muddy dog .
His base will swoon when confronted with the fact that their hero has been cut down by something they were trained to believe is a hoax ( paging Mr. Fitzgerald again ) .
Finally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ha !
— and was looking forward to the remaining two , according to all reports I ’ ve seen .
No , President Bonehead screwed around and got himself The Rona .
Three days ago , he was yelling at Biden on the debate stage from about 10 feet away , which could have led to utter calamity for the country .
Fortunately , Biden has tested negative , and is far more respectful of the virus ’ s power than his opponent .
The entire White House staff , thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this jackpot if Trump became a super-spreader all by himself .
Vice President Mike Pence is reportedly negative , but as with all things these days , that could change overnight .
One thing to prepare for is a scenario in which the luckiest man who has ever lived avoids the COVID ravages common to men of his age and health status .
He runs a mild course , comes out intact , and stands Promethean before his people to declare , “ I told you this was nothing , everything must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , this announcement represents a potentially catastrophic blow to Trump ’ s reelection hopes .
The anchor around his neck to date has been his folly-riddled handling of the pandemic , and now that pandemic has physically knocked him on his ass for all the wide world to see .
After a point , even a man with his devil ’ s luck is going to draw the wrong card and watch his chips get swept off the felt .
That card may have dropped this morning .
Get well soon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want you to miss your court dates .

F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” The entirety of the Trump administration to date has been the unceasing experience of being simultaneously astonished and not at all surprised.
These two phenomena, like twirling planes in the air show of the mind, finally clipped wings in midair early this morning and went pinwheeling to the ground in a ball of fire and dust.
The president of the United States and the First Lady have COVID?! The disease that has infected over 7 million and killed more than 200,000 in the U.S. alone? How completely terrifying!
Wait.
The guy who went around practically licking doorknobs in defiance of the virus now has it, along with a growing circle of administration officials, 32 days before a crisis election that could very well determine whether he gets prosecuted next year or in five years? Is it possible someone could be so flagrantly cavalier with their own well-being?
Oh, right, yeah. It’s Trump. He has been flagrantly cavalier with the well-being of an entire nation. This is the fellow who just 15 days ago said the disease “affects hardly anyone.” The guy who mocked masks and disdained the severity of the pandemic from the start.
This is the least surprising thing to happen since the sun rose in the east. That, too, is astonishing.
At a minimum, Trump is off the campaign trail for the next two weeks. The base rules of normal political gravity would hold that the absence of the nominee during the last leg of a campaign would be a race-changing calamity… but Trump on the trail is the primary reason why he is currently losing to Joe Biden, who campaigns the way oak trees dance the tarantella. Two weeks of effective Trump surrogates in the absence of Trump himself could prove to be a boon.
Because the truth and Donald Trump have never met, the announcement of his diagnosis was greeted with a chorus of doubt. It’s a sympathy ploy, some alleged, a trick to get out of the remaining debates because he did so grotesquely in the first one.
After a point, even a man with his Devil’s luck is going to draw the wrong card.
First of all, I strongly suspect that a vast majority of this exhausted, frightened, overwhelmed nation will, shall we say, struggle to summon much sympathy for a guy who basically made his own COVID bed and then rolled around in it like a muddy dog. His base will swoon when confronted with the fact that their hero has been cut down by something they were trained to believe is a hoax (paging Mr. Fitzgerald again). Finally, Trump thinks he won that debate — ha! — and was looking forward to the remaining two, according to all reports I’ve seen.
No, President Bonehead screwed around and got himself The Rona. Three days ago, he was yelling at Biden on the debate stage from about 10 feet away, which could have led to utter calamity for the country. Fortunately, Biden has tested negative, and is far more respectful of the virus’s power than his opponent. The entire White House staff, thousands of Republican donors and swaths of Congress are in this jackpot if Trump became a super-spreader all by himself. Vice President Mike Pence is reportedly negative, but as with all things these days, that could change overnight.
One thing to prepare for is a scenario in which the luckiest man who has ever lived avoids the COVID ravages common to men of his age and health status. He runs a mild course, comes out intact, and stands Promethean before his people to declare, “I told you this was nothing, everything must open now!”
At bottom, however, this announcement represents a potentially catastrophic blow to Trump’s reelection hopes. The anchor around his neck to date has been his folly-riddled handling of the pandemic, and now that pandemic has physically knocked him on his ass for all the wide world to see. After a point, even a man with his devil’s luck is going to draw the wrong card and watch his chips get swept off the felt. That card may have dropped this morning.
Get well soon, Mr. President. We wouldn’t want you to miss your court dates.
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--2020-10-02--Trump Ramps Up Immigration Attacks Ahead of Election

A month before the election , the Trump lockdown against any and all immigrants is intensifying .
The Trump administration has unleashed a rush of regulations to restrict student visas , especially for students from non-white , non-Christian majority countries .
It is accelerating border wall building .
It has proposed an offensively low ceiling of 15,000 refugee admissions in 2021 and has also been flirting with an illegal refusal to provide Congress with numbers for refugee admissions next year , which would effectively lock all refugees out of the United States .
And it has indicated that Immigration and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to launch a series of raids in sanctuary cities in coming weeks .
The new rules regarding students , unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security last week , are particularly shocking .
They limit to two years the kind of visa that students from dozens of countries can receive — meaning they can not complete a four-year university degree ( or at least have to reapply , with no guarantee of success , for a visa halfway through their studies ) , or enroll in graduate programs .
Under these news rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Middle East and a number in Asia are impacted .
It is , in short , a document that , in all but title , vastly privileges admissions from white-majority countries and vastly discriminates against the world ’ s non-white majority .
This comes hard on the heels of an ill-fated proposal at the height of the pandemic earlier this year to deprive international students of visas , and open up students already here to deportation if their classes , usually held in person , continue to be held online as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received so much pushback from universities and from the business community that it was quickly shelved .
When it comes to cruel immigration policies , the Trump administration never takes the consensus path for long , however .
As the election nears , it is ramping up its all-out assault on immigration policy .
This week , in perhaps the most shameful of its rash of shameful actions on immigration over the past year , the Trump administration came within minutes of not meeting its legal requirement to inform Congress of the refugee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president is required to present to Congress each year .
Religious groups and refugee resettlement agencies had pleaded with the administration in recent weeks to increase the cap , since it has been slashed by more than 80 percent during the Trump era , despite surging numbers of refugees around the world needing resettlement away from conflict zones .
We already admit a shockingly low number of refugees — and , since March , the program has essentially been in a deep freeze .
Now , the assault on refugee admissions is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadline to comply with providing a refugee admissions cap earlier this week , Trump was embracing a strategy of destruction-by-neglect that his hardline adviser Stephen Miller has long argued for : Starve the entire refugee admissions system of oxygen simply by refusing to provide Congress with a number .
By default , in the absence of a policy proposal from the administration , that number would have reverted to zero in the year 2021 .
In the end , they didn ’ t go quite that far but instead proposed reducing the cap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than what it was when President Obama left office .
And even that doesn ’ t tell the full story : Trump hasn ’ t yet signed the new presidential directive , and until — or unless — he does , refugee admissions remain frozen at zero .
The news has gotten scant attention , buried amid the news about Trump ’ s positive COVID-19 diagnosis , Trump ’ s tax returns , and the analyses of the shocking tactics and message that Trump embraced in the first presidential “ debate.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about the stunning moral implications of this : The United States , which has resettled millions of refugees since World War II , has , with almost no public discussion of the issue , simply locked its doors to virtually everyone fleeing war and persecution .
As a result , it ’ s indisputable that large numbers of refugees will die , and that additional large numbers will spend years and years desperately impoverished and living in miserable refugee camps .
The refugee resettlement infrastructure in the U.S. took decades to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of four short years , being virtually dismantled .
As the number of admissions continues to plummet , so offices in cities around the country will shutter , staff and volunteers who have spent decades helping people resettle from countries as far afield as Bosnia , Iran , the Democratic Republic of Congo , Afghanistan , Syria and Russia , to name just a few , will no longer be able to put their skills to use making refugees ’ lives better in the New World .
The politics of exclusion and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refugees .
All along the southern border with Mexico , contractors are working feverishly to complete mile upon mile of Trump ’ s much-touted Great Wall , to keep out would-be-asylum-seekers .
According to The Washington Post , the pace has now picked up to the point that contractors , being paid with money diverted from other government spending programs , are now completing two miles per day , at a staggering cost of $ 41 million per mile .
In the process , they are dynamiting and bulldozing their way through fragile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American communities .
As for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. , ICE is apparently planning a series of high-profile raids , clearly intended to escalate political tensions in the run-up to the election in sanctuary cities , especially in California .
And in a ghastly propaganda stunt that comes perilously close to an incitement to vigilantism , the Trump administration is also considering plastering some cities with billboards identifying “ immigration violators ” by name and face , essentially turning these people into versions of “ America ’ s Most Wanted ” at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the rise .
Of course , if they are then subsequently detained and incarcerated in the growing network of detention centers and camps in which ICE prisoners are held , don ’ t expect conditions to be anything other than brutal .
A couple weeks back , a scandal broke , involving allegations that women held in a facility in Georgia were subjected to hysterectomies and other sterilization procedures without their informed consent .
In recent days , more details have emerged , pointing to the inescapable conclusion that many people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in this story horrific echoes of the U.S. ’ s eugenicist past , as well as of medical experiments and practices implemented against concentration camp prisoners by the Nazis .
The U.S. immigration system was already often violent and brutal and unfair prior to Trump ’ s tenure in office ; it is , now , infinitely worse .
By the back door , in these last days before the election , Team Trump is aggressively using regulatory changes to put up a “ Whites Only ” sign at the U.S. ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to complete hundreds of miles of border wall that will scar the land for years to come .

A month before the election, the Trump lockdown against any and all immigrants is intensifying. The Trump administration has unleashed a rush of regulations to restrict student visas, especially for students from non-white, non-Christian majority countries. It is accelerating border wall building. It has proposed an offensively low ceiling of 15,000 refugee admissions in 2021 and has also been flirting with an illegal refusal to provide Congress with numbers for refugee admissions next year, which would effectively lock all refugees out of the United States. And it has indicated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is about to launch a series of raids in sanctuary cities in coming weeks.
The new rules regarding students, unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security last week, are particularly shocking. They limit to two years the kind of visa that students from dozens of countries can receive — meaning they cannot complete a four-year university degree (or at least have to reapply, with no guarantee of success, for a visa halfway through their studies), or enroll in graduate programs.
Under these news rules, most countries in Africa, many in the Middle East and a number in Asia are impacted. It is, in short, a document that, in all but title, vastly privileges admissions from white-majority countries and vastly discriminates against the world’s non-white majority.
This comes hard on the heels of an ill-fated proposal at the height of the pandemic earlier this year to deprive international students of visas, and open up students already here to deportation if their classes, usually held in person, continue to be held online as a public health measure. That proposal received so much pushback from universities and from the business community that it was quickly shelved.
When it comes to cruel immigration policies, the Trump administration never takes the consensus path for long, however. As the election nears, it is ramping up its all-out assault on immigration policy.
This week, in perhaps the most shameful of its rash of shameful actions on immigration over the past year, the Trump administration came within minutes of not meeting its legal requirement to inform Congress of the refugee admissions cap that, by law, the president is required to present to Congress each year. Religious groups and refugee resettlement agencies had pleaded with the administration in recent weeks to increase the cap, since it has been slashed by more than 80 percent during the Trump era, despite surging numbers of refugees around the world needing resettlement away from conflict zones. We already admit a shockingly low number of refugees — and, since March, the program has essentially been in a deep freeze. Now, the assault on refugee admissions is continuing apace.
ICE is apparently planning a series of high-profile raids, clearly intended to escalate political tensions in the run-up to the election in sanctuary cities.
In almost missing the deadline to comply with providing a refugee admissions cap earlier this week, Trump was embracing a strategy of destruction-by-neglect that his hardline adviser Stephen Miller has long argued for: Starve the entire refugee admissions system of oxygen simply by refusing to provide Congress with a number. By default, in the absence of a policy proposal from the administration, that number would have reverted to zero in the year 2021. In the end, they didn’t go quite that far but instead proposed reducing the cap to 15,000 — nearly 90 percent lower than what it was when President Obama left office. And even that doesn’t tell the full story: Trump hasn’t yet signed the new presidential directive, and until — or unless — he does, refugee admissions remain frozen at zero.
The news has gotten scant attention, buried amid the news about Trump’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis, Trump’s tax returns, and the analyses of the shocking tactics and message that Trump embraced in the first presidential “debate.” But, sit back for a moment and think about the stunning moral implications of this: The United States, which has resettled millions of refugees since World War II, has, with almost no public discussion of the issue, simply locked its doors to virtually everyone fleeing war and persecution. As a result, it’s indisputable that large numbers of refugees will die, and that additional large numbers will spend years and years desperately impoverished and living in miserable refugee camps.
The refugee resettlement infrastructure in the U.S. took decades to build; it is now, in a matter of four short years, being virtually dismantled. As the number of admissions continues to plummet, so offices in cities around the country will shutter, staff and volunteers who have spent decades helping people resettle from countries as far afield as Bosnia, Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Syria and Russia, to name just a few, will no longer be able to put their skills to use making refugees’ lives better in the New World.
The politics of exclusion and of lockdown aren’t limited to refugees. All along the southern border with Mexico, contractors are working feverishly to complete mile upon mile of Trump’s much-touted Great Wall, to keep out would-be-asylum-seekers. According to The Washington Post, the pace has now picked up to the point that contractors, being paid with money diverted from other government spending programs, are now completing two miles per day, at a staggering cost of $41 million per mile. In the process, they are dynamiting and bulldozing their way through fragile ecosystems and sacred sites for local Native American communities.
As for undocumented immigrants in the U.S., ICE is apparently planning a series of high-profile raids, clearly intended to escalate political tensions in the run-up to the election in sanctuary cities, especially in California. And in a ghastly propaganda stunt that comes perilously close to an incitement to vigilantism, the Trump administration is also considering plastering some cities with billboards identifying “immigration violators” by name and face, essentially turning these people into versions of “America’s Most Wanted” at a time when far right vigilantism is on the rise.
Team Trump is aggressively using regulatory changes to put up a “Whites Only” sign at the U.S.’s entrance, and it is rushing to complete hundreds of miles of border wall.
Of course, if they are then subsequently detained and incarcerated in the growing network of detention centers and camps in which ICE prisoners are held, don’t expect conditions to be anything other than brutal. A couple weeks back, a scandal broke, involving allegations that women held in a facility in Georgia were subjected to hysterectomies and other sterilization procedures without their informed consent. In recent days, more details have emerged, pointing to the inescapable conclusion that many people were indeed operated on entirely needlessly. There are in this story horrific echoes of the U.S.’s eugenicist past, as well as of medical experiments and practices implemented against concentration camp prisoners by the Nazis.
The U.S. immigration system was already often violent and brutal and unfair prior to Trump’s tenure in office; it is, now, infinitely worse. By the back door, in these last days before the election, Team Trump is aggressively using regulatory changes to put up a “Whites Only” sign at the U.S.’s entrance, and it is rushing to complete hundreds of miles of border wall that will scar the land for years to come.
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--2020-10-02--Young Progressives Running for Office Pledge to “Stop Police Killings”

After months of sustained resistance in the wake of several high-profile police killings of Black and Brown people , a new generation of progressive candidates are running for state and local office across the country on pledges to confront systemic racism in the criminal legal system .
While most such pledges remain cautious compared to the liberatory calls for police abolition that have filled the streets , there ’ s no doubt that the Black Lives Matter movement has profoundly impacted candidates ’ platforms in down-ballot races .
In New Orleans , several current and former public defenders are challenging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal court with plans to decriminalize poverty and mental illness and ensure that people are not jailed simply because they can not afford to post bail or pay fines and fees .
In Phoenix , millennial climate activist Yassamin Ansari is running to be the city ’ s first Iranian-American elected official on a platform declaring “ Black Lives Matter ” and proposing to “ demilitarize ” the police and “ guarantee police accountability.
” Phoenix has the third-highest rate of police killings per capita among major cities in the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Harris County Attorney in Houston , Texas , are grounded in his lived experience .
Both Menefee and his wife are Black attorneys , but their class privilege has not shielded them from racism .
Menefee described how his wife was once forced to “ stare down the barrel ” of a police officer ’ s gun because she was profiled for wearing a hoodie in an upscale neighborhood .
To end police-perpetrated violence , we must acknowledge that “ racism is systematically embedded in our country ’ s institutions of justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
“ Real change in our communities starts with electing people locally that can bring the reforms we need to our doorsteps , ” Menefee told reporters on Thursday .
Advocacy organization People for the American Way ( PFAW ) announced on Thursday that it will support and fund the campaigns of more than 100 young progressives who are running for state and local public office and have committed to work toward “ stopping police killings.
” Virtually every candidate is a Democrat , and a number of them are running in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Ben Jealous said Republicans were encouraged to apply for support , but the group was unable to find any candidates willing to commit to the pledge to stop police-perpetrated murder .
“ The reality is Donald Trump has moved his party to become a pro-police brutality party , ” Jealous said .
While many of the candidates are people of color and say they support Black Lives Matter , most have not openly embraced all of the visionary proposals amplified by activists during the protests that erupted after police killed George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
Many activists call for defunding — and abolishing — the police .
Abolitionists argue that police violence will not end until policing itself is scrapped , and the public resources sucked up by policing are redirected toward addressing housing , public health and other social challenges that bring people in contact with police in the first place .
For many activists , the popularity of slogans like “ defund police ” and “ abolish police ” is expanding the scope of what is politically possible .
Meanwhile , President Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a dishonest effort to scare privileged white people to the polls .
Trump has falsely claimed that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden supports the defunding of police , but in reality , Biden supports giving police more money alongside modest criminal legal reforms .
PFAW chose its slate of candidates to support based on their support for police reforms that reflect the Democratic Party ’ s platform , including practices that limit unnecessary police contact , removing particularly problematic officers from local forces , cultural competency and de-escalation training for officers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The public defenders running challenging incumbent judges in New Orleans are not included on the list , but local activists hope they would reduce incarceration rates in a city where Black people are disproportionately jailed after interacting with police .
In June , Bernie Sanders endorsed 10 progressives running for district attorney , state attorney or a local prosecutor ’ s office , including a few incumbents and newcomers like José Garza , a former state and federal public defender and immigrant justice activist in Austin , Texas .
Garza defeated an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer , and the local press credited his victory to an upswell in support for criminal legal reform inspired by Black Lives Matter protests .
PFAW is now getting behind Garza along with dozens of other younger candidates for local state office .
Jealous has argued that young candidates energize young progressive voters to polls , where they are likely to support other Democrats on the ballot .
“ A lot of candidates are in competitive races who are running on these issues , ” Jealous said .

After months of sustained resistance in the wake of several high-profile police killings of Black and Brown people, a new generation of progressive candidates are running for state and local office across the country on pledges to confront systemic racism in the criminal legal system. While most such pledges remain cautious compared to the liberatory calls for police abolition that have filled the streets, there’s no doubt that the Black Lives Matter movement has profoundly impacted candidates’ platforms in down-ballot races.
In New Orleans, several current and former public defenders are challenging sitting judges in the city’s criminal court with plans to decriminalize poverty and mental illness and ensure that people are not jailed simply because they cannot afford to post bail or pay fines and fees. In Phoenix, millennial climate activist Yassamin Ansari is running to be the city’s first Iranian-American elected official on a platform declaring “Black Lives Matter” and proposing to “demilitarize” the police and “guarantee police accountability.” Phoenix has the third-highest rate of police killings per capita among major cities in the United States.
Christian Menefee says his reasons for running for Harris County Attorney in Houston, Texas, are grounded in his lived experience. Both Menefee and his wife are Black attorneys, but their class privilege has not shielded them from racism. Menefee described how his wife was once forced to “stare down the barrel” of a police officer’s gun because she was profiled for wearing a hoodie in an upscale neighborhood. To end police-perpetrated violence, we must acknowledge that “racism is systematically embedded in our country’s institutions of justice,” according to Menefee’s campaign.
“Real change in our communities starts with electing people locally that can bring the reforms we need to our doorsteps,” Menefee told reporters on Thursday.
Advocacy organization People for the American Way (PFAW) announced on Thursday that it will support and fund the campaigns of more than 100 young progressives who are running for state and local public office and have committed to work toward “stopping police killings.” Virtually every candidate is a Democrat, and a number of them are running in competitive races against Republican incumbents. PFAW President Ben Jealous said Republicans were encouraged to apply for support, but the group was unable to find any candidates willing to commit to the pledge to stop police-perpetrated murder.
“The reality is Donald Trump has moved his party to become a pro-police brutality party,” Jealous said.
While many of the candidates are people of color and say they support Black Lives Matter, most have not openly embraced all of the visionary proposals amplified by activists during the protests that erupted after police killed George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and others. Many activists call for defunding — and abolishing — the police. Abolitionists argue that police violence will not end until policing itself is scrapped, and the public resources sucked up by policing are redirected toward addressing housing, public health and other social challenges that bring people in contact with police in the first place.
For many activists, the popularity of slogans like “defund police” and “abolish police” is expanding the scope of what is politically possible. Meanwhile, President Trump and the GOP have also seized on them in a dishonest effort to scare privileged white people to the polls.
Trump has falsely claimed that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden supports the defunding of police, but in reality, Biden supports giving police more money alongside modest criminal legal reforms.
PFAW chose its slate of candidates to support based on their support for police reforms that reflect the Democratic Party’s platform, including practices that limit unnecessary police contact, removing particularly problematic officers from local forces, cultural competency and de-escalation training for officers, and reallocating police budgets toward social services. The public defenders running challenging incumbent judges in New Orleans are not included on the list, but local activists hope they would reduce incarceration rates in a city where Black people are disproportionately jailed after interacting with police.
In June, Bernie Sanders endorsed 10 progressives running for district attorney, state attorney or a local prosecutor’s office, including a few incumbents and newcomers like José Garza, a former state and federal public defender and immigrant justice activist in Austin, Texas. Garza defeated an incumbent Democrat in a primary runoff this summer, and the local press credited his victory to an upswell in support for criminal legal reform inspired by Black Lives Matter protests.
PFAW is now getting behind Garza along with dozens of other younger candidates for local state office. Jealous has argued that young candidates energize young progressive voters to polls, where they are likely to support other Democrats on the ballot.
“A lot of candidates are in competitive races who are running on these issues,” Jealous said.
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--2020-10-02--Economy Adds an Abysmal 661,000 Jobs as Further Layoffs Loom

The September employment report showed a sharp slowing in the rate of job growth , with the economy adding 661,000 jobs , less than half of its August rate .
The unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points to 7.9 percent , but most of this was due to people leaving the labor force .
The employment to population ratio ( EPOP ) only rose by 0.1 percentage point .
At 56.6 percent , it is still 4.4 percentage points below its year-ago level .
With jobs remaining in short supply , many people may permanently leave the labor force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down 1.8 percentage points overall since last year , and 2.3 percentage points for women over age 20 .
The number of long-term unemployed ( more than 26 weeks ) also rose by 781,000 to 2,405,000 .
The people who drop out of the labor force or end up as long-term unemployed often suffer permanent damage to their labor market prospects .
There are also large racial differences in the impact of the recession .
The EPOP for whites is down 3.9 percentage points from its year-ago level , while the EPOP for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asian Americans have also been hard-hit by the downturn , with a drop of 5.2 percentage points in their EPOP from year-ago levels .
Their unemployment of 8.9 percent is considerably higher than the 7.0 percent unemployment rate for whites .
Typically , the rate for Asian-Americans is slightly lower .
There are also large differences in impact by education .
The unemployment rate for people with college degrees rose by 2.8 percentage points from its year-ago level , to 4.8 percent .
For those with high school degrees the rise was 5.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ differential impact of the recession is also seen in the loss of part-time jobs .
The number of people choosing to work part-time is down 2,641,000 ( 12.3 percent ) from its year-ago level .
This fits with the 19.0 percent unemployment rate reported for workers in the leisure and hospitality industry , a sector that largely employs part-time workers .
One piece of surprising positive news in the household survey was the increase in the number of people who report being unemployed because they voluntarily quit their jobs .
This jumped 212,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voluntary quits is actually the same share of the workforce as in September of 2019 .
Less positive is the share of unemployment due to temporary layoffs which fell from 45.5 percent to 36.7 percent .
While some of these workers got back their jobs , many no longer consider their layoffs temporary .
Still , this is an unusually high share ; in the Great Recession it never peaked over 14.5 percent .
The job growth was again concentrated in the most hard-hit industries .
The leisure and hospitality sector added 318,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the total .
Restaurants added 200,300 jobs , while hotels added 50,700 .
Retail added 142,400 jobs , while health care and social assistance added 107,700 jobs .
Retail employment is now just 3.1 percent below its February level .
Manufacturing added 66,000 jobs , while construction added 26,000 .
Employment in these sectors now stands 5.0 percent and 5.2 percent below the February level .
Mining reversed the pattern of sharp job losses and added 900 jobs .
However , coal mining dropped another 900 jobs , with employment falling to 44,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on record .
The government sector shed 216,000 jobs , with a loss of 231,100 jobs in local education being partially offset by a gain in local non-education employment .
While some of this is due to delayed school openings , state and local governments are struggling with huge budget shortfalls and will have no choice except to make large layoffs if more federal aid is not forthcoming soon .
This is , at best , a mixed report .
Ordinarily adding 661,000 jobs and seeing a drop of 0.5 percentage points in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very positive .
However , we are still down by more than 10.7 million jobs ( 7.0 percent ) from February .
Also , we typically would have expected the economy to have added roughly 1 million jobs in this seven-month period .
It would take us almost 18 months , at this pace of job growth , to make up that gap , and that does not even include the 130,000 monthly job creation that would be needed to keep pace with the growth of the labor force .
With several sectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local governments , looking at another round of layoffs , the immediate picture does not look good .
With more workers dropping out of the labor force and being faced with long-term unemployment , we are risking a large amount of long-lasting damage .

The September employment report showed a sharp slowing in the rate of job growth, with the economy adding 661,000 jobs, less than half of its August rate. The unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points to 7.9 percent, but most of this was due to people leaving the labor force. The employment to population ratio (EPOP) only rose by 0.1 percentage point. At 56.6 percent, it is still 4.4 percentage points below its year-ago level.
With jobs remaining in short supply, many people may permanently leave the labor force. The labor force participation rate is down 1.8 percentage points overall since last year, and 2.3 percentage points for women over age 20. The number of long-term unemployed (more than 26 weeks) also rose by 781,000 to 2,405,000. The people who drop out of the labor force or end up as long-term unemployed often suffer permanent damage to their labor market prospects.
There are also large racial differences in the impact of the recession. The EPOP for whites is down 3.9 percentage points from its year-ago level, while the EPOP for Blacks is down 6.5 percentage points. Asian Americans have also been hard-hit by the downturn, with a drop of 5.2 percentage points in their EPOP from year-ago levels. Their unemployment of 8.9 percent is considerably higher than the 7.0 percent unemployment rate for whites. Typically, the rate for Asian-Americans is slightly lower.
There are also large differences in impact by education. The unemployment rate for people with college degrees rose by 2.8 percentage points from its year-ago level, to 4.8 percent. For those with high school degrees the rise was 5.4 percentage points to 9.0 percent.
The differential impact of the recession is also seen in the loss of part-time jobs. The number of people choosing to work part-time is down 2,641,000 (12.3 percent) from its year-ago level. This fits with the 19.0 percent unemployment rate reported for workers in the leisure and hospitality industry, a sector that largely employs part-time workers.
One piece of surprising positive news in the household survey was the increase in the number of people who report being unemployed because they voluntarily quit their jobs. This jumped 212,000 to 801,000. The unemployed due to voluntary quits is actually the same share of the workforce as in September of 2019. Less positive is the share of unemployment due to temporary layoffs which fell from 45.5 percent to 36.7 percent. While some of these workers got back their jobs, many no longer consider their layoffs temporary. Still, this is an unusually high share; in the Great Recession it never peaked over 14.5 percent.
The job growth was again concentrated in the most hard-hit industries. The leisure and hospitality sector added 318,000 jobs, accounting for almost half of the total. Restaurants added 200,300 jobs, while hotels added 50,700. Retail added 142,400 jobs, while health care and social assistance added 107,700 jobs. Retail employment is now just 3.1 percent below its February level.
Manufacturing added 66,000 jobs, while construction added 26,000. Employment in these sectors now stands 5.0 percent and 5.2 percent below the February level. Mining reversed the pattern of sharp job losses and added 900 jobs. However, coal mining dropped another 900 jobs, with employment falling to 44,500, far lower than any pre-pandemic level on record.
The government sector shed 216,000 jobs, with a loss of 231,100 jobs in local education being partially offset by a gain in local non-education employment. While some of this is due to delayed school openings, state and local governments are struggling with huge budget shortfalls and will have no choice except to make large layoffs if more federal aid is not forthcoming soon.
This is, at best, a mixed report. Ordinarily adding 661,000 jobs and seeing a drop of 0.5 percentage points in the unemployment rate would be seen as very positive. However, we are still down by more than 10.7 million jobs (7.0 percent) from February. Also, we typically would have expected the economy to have added roughly 1 million jobs in this seven-month period. It would take us almost 18 months, at this pace of job growth, to make up that gap, and that does not even include the 130,000 monthly job creation that would be needed to keep pace with the growth of the labor force.
With several sectors, such as airlines and state and local governments, looking at another round of layoffs, the immediate picture does not look good. With more workers dropping out of the labor force and being faced with long-term unemployment, we are risking a large amount of long-lasting damage.
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--2020-10-02--Naomi Klein: Trump May Exploit His COVID Diagnosis to Delegitimize Election

How will President Trump ’ s revelation that he tested positive for COVID-19 affect the presidential race ?
Acclaimed journalist , author and activist Naomi Klein warns that the Trump campaign is likely to exploit the news .
“ We need to be prepared for the president using the fact that he ’ s having to cancel campaign events for two weeks to try to further delegitimize elections , ” she says .
This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
The Quarantine Report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we continue to look at this breaking news , President Trump and the first lady testing positive for COVID-19 , announcing they ’ ll be quarantined for the next 14 days , canceling his campaign events .
We end today ’ s show looking at how the development will impact the presidential race .
We ’ re going to start with Naomi Klein , senior correspondent at The Intercept , a professor at Rutgers University , executive producer of new short video titled A Message from the Future II : The Years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now in paperback , On Fire : The ( Burning ) Case for a Green New Deal .
Naomi , I assume you went to sleep not knowing this news , and you wake up , looking down from British Columbia , and you see what has taken place .
You cover leaders around the world .
We know that President Bolsonaro tested positive for COVID-19 — at least he announced something like three times .
And then you have Boris Johnson , the prime minister of Britain , who said — both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have so seriously downplayed the pandemic , risking not clear how many lives .
Boris Johnson , the prime minister , said he was going to work through this .
He ended up in the intensive care unit .
Naomi , if you can talk about this link of the denial of the pandemic to authoritarian leaders ?
NAOMI KLEIN : Sure .
Well , Amy , it ’ s good to be with you .
Absolutely .
And when you look at these figures — Trump , Bolsonaro , Johnson — these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can bully this virus , and they believe they can bully science in all kinds of ways .
But , of course , the pandemic doesn ’ t bend to their will .
And so they ’ ve all been under this sort of reality avalanche .
I mean , Trump is a reality television star .
He ’ s used to being able to cut and paste reality to his liking .
And ever since this pandemic began and his denials made it so much worse and his bullying of scientists made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally confronted some physical reality that he can ’ t bully in the same way that he , frankly , bullies the stock market — and has a lot of success bullying reality , but there ’ s some reality that doesn ’ t confirm — doesn ’ t conform .
You know , as you know , Amy , I also have spent a lot of my writing career researching moments of shock and how they are exploited by the powerful .
That ’ s the thesis behind The Shock Doctrine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot about that this morning , because , as we speak , there is no doubt that Trump is meeting with his advisers , and has been since they knew about this , since they knew about Hope Hicks , trying to figure out how to exploit this , including , I ’ m afraid , using it as an excuse to do what they have been trying to do relentlessly , which is discredit elections that Trump is terrified he is going to lose .
So , as we think about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared for the president using the fact that he ’ s having to cancel campaign events for two weeks to try to further delegitimize elections that he very likely will lose .
I think we need to remember that this president has been campaigning for reelection since the day after he was inaugurated and since he started circulating false photographs of the rallies that supposedly greeted him .
He has had plenty of time to campaign .
He has done nothing but campaign for reelection since he became president .
So , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re seeing a lot of Democrats sending thoughts and prayers this morning .
You know , I really think we should see Trump getting COVID as the epidemiological equivalent of a mass shooting , where the shooter opens fire on the crowd and then turns the gun on himself .
This is not a tragic accident .
It is a crime scene and should be treated as such .
Coming back to those leaders you mentioned , you know , I think that Trump — the reckless endangering of the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a result of the fact that he truly believes — you know , I think he believes in white supremacy , to be honest with you .
Ilhan Omar tweeted yesterday that the president is a white supremacist .
I think she ’ s right .
He talks about his good genes all the time , in this kind of coded language .
I believe he actually has such faith in his own genetic supremacy that he has engaged in this reckless behavior despite all of the health risks that we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show , because he believes himself to be supreme .
And , you know , he is not .
He is fallible .
He is mortal .

How will President Trump’s revelation that he tested positive for COVID-19 affect the presidential race? Acclaimed journalist, author and activist Naomi Klein warns that the Trump campaign is likely to exploit the news. “We need to be prepared for the president using the fact that he’s having to cancel campaign events for two weeks to try to further delegitimize elections,” she says.
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now! The Quarantine Report. I’m Amy Goodman, as we continue to look at this breaking news, President Trump and the first lady testing positive for COVID-19, announcing they’ll be quarantined for the next 14 days, canceling his campaign events. We end today’s show looking at how the development will impact the presidential race.
We’re going to start with Naomi Klein, senior correspondent at The Intercept, a professor at Rutgers University, executive producer of new short video titled A Message from the Future II: The Years of Repair. Her latest book, out now in paperback, On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal.
Naomi, I assume you went to sleep not knowing this news, and you wake up, looking down from British Columbia, and you see what has taken place. You cover leaders around the world. We know that President Bolsonaro tested positive for COVID-19 — at least he announced something like three times. And then you have Boris Johnson, the prime minister of Britain, who said — both of them, like Trump, who have so seriously downplayed the pandemic, risking not clear how many lives. Boris Johnson, the prime minister, said he was going to work through this. He ended up in the intensive care unit. Naomi, if you can talk about this link of the denial of the pandemic to authoritarian leaders?
NAOMI KLEIN: Sure. Well, Amy, it’s good to be with you. Absolutely. And when you look at these figures — Trump, Bolsonaro, Johnson — these are the figures who believe that they can bully this virus, and they believe they can bully science in all kinds of ways. But, of course, the pandemic doesn’t bend to their will. And so they’ve all been under this sort of reality avalanche. I mean, Trump is a reality television star. He’s used to being able to cut and paste reality to his liking. And ever since this pandemic began and his denials made it so much worse and his bullying of scientists made it so much worse, he has finally confronted some physical reality that he can’t bully in the same way that he, frankly, bullies the stock market — and has a lot of success bullying reality, but there’s some reality that doesn’t confirm — doesn’t conform.
You know, as you know, Amy, I also have spent a lot of my writing career researching moments of shock and how they are exploited by the powerful. That’s the thesis behind The Shock Doctrine. And so I find myself thinking a lot about that this morning, because, as we speak, there is no doubt that Trump is meeting with his advisers, and has been since they knew about this, since they knew about Hope Hicks, trying to figure out how to exploit this, including, I’m afraid, using it as an excuse to do what they have been trying to do relentlessly, which is discredit elections that Trump is terrified he is going to lose. So, as we think about what this means, we need to be prepared for the president using the fact that he’s having to cancel campaign events for two weeks to try to further delegitimize elections that he very likely will lose.
I think we need to remember that this president has been campaigning for reelection since the day after he was inaugurated and since he started circulating false photographs of the rallies that supposedly greeted him. He has had plenty of time to campaign. He has done nothing but campaign for reelection since he became president.
So, I think that, you know, we’re seeing a lot of Democrats sending thoughts and prayers this morning. You know, I really think we should see Trump getting COVID as the epidemiological equivalent of a mass shooting, where the shooter opens fire on the crowd and then turns the gun on himself. This is not a tragic accident. It is a crime scene and should be treated as such.
Coming back to those leaders you mentioned, you know, I think that Trump — the reckless endangering of the country, but also himself — right? — is a result of the fact that he truly believes — you know, I think he believes in white supremacy, to be honest with you. Ilhan Omar tweeted yesterday that the president is a white supremacist. I think she’s right. He talks about his good genes all the time, in this kind of coded language. I believe he actually has such faith in his own genetic supremacy that he has engaged in this reckless behavior despite all of the health risks that we have heard from your medical experts earlier in the show, because he believes himself to be supreme. And, you know, he is not. He is fallible. He is mortal.


truthout--2020-10-02--Educators Back Biden Over Trump Nearly 6-1

When school started a month ago , teachers told their students to bear with them : this school year will be unprecedented .
First graders are learning to type and teleconference .
Tenth graders are wearing masks during in-person class .
College students are staying put in their childhood bedrooms .
What teachers likely didn ’ t tell their students is that their political donations this year are also unprecedented .
This cycle , individuals associated with the education field have reached a new spending high of almost $ 150 million through August .
That ’ s $ 52 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with plenty of time left for more donations before the election .
Political donations from the education industry historically go to Democrats .
Candidates from that party received at least 70 percent of education industry donations every cycle since 2002 .
This cycle , over 90 percent ( $ 129.6 million ) of donations from educators have gone to Democrats .
In the presidential election , over 85 percent of education industry donations have gone to Joe Biden .
Educators donated $ 22 million to Biden , compared with $ 3.7 million to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s largest sources of money in the field come from individuals affiliated with universities .
Top donors include employees of the University of California ( about $ 1.4 million ) , Stanford University ( $ 595,000 ) and Harvard University ( $ 510,000 ) .
Meanwhile affiliates of the University of Pennsylvania , Trump ’ s alma mater , donated over $ 368,000 to the Democratic nominee and only $ 10,000 to the president .
From a policy perspective , Biden is a proponent of expanding higher education in the U.S. His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reducing student debt .
He supports two years of tuition-free community college or equivalent vocational training for Americans , a policy he first proposed alongside President Barack Obama in 2015 .
Though educators donated almost six times more to Biden than Trump , they preferred giving to other Democratic candidates in the primaries , particularly progressives Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
and Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , whose proposed higher education policies provide more aid to college students .
Biden has gradually adopted these proposals as his own .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the education field come close to spending as much as Biden ’ s , but more come from affiliates of public institutions and not all are from universities .
Affiliates of the New York City Board of Education , the New York City Department of Education , the Clark County ( Nev. ) School District and the Los Angeles Unified School District all made some of the largest contributions to Trump ’ s campaign .
Employees of the New York City Board of Education and the New York City Department of Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agencies having sued his administration earlier this summer .
In July , the New York City Department of Education joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration claiming that the president tried to siphon off funds meant for economically disadvantaged students .
The lawsuit includes several public school districts claiming that a new U.S. Department of Education rule diverts and limits funding from the CARES Act originally intended for public schools .
Employees of the LA Unified School District , the second largest district in the U.S. , donated $ 24,000 to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July , just days after Trump called for schools to go back in-person learning , the LA Teachers Union demanded campuses stay closed .
It was the first big union to oppose in-person teaching .
The district made headlines again just a few days later when Trump called their push to go remote a “ terrible decision ” and a “ mistake.
” While the president urged schools to reopen full-stop , Biden ’ s back-to-school proposal was cautious and would have given schools more money to safely reopen and imposed strict testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and staff in U.S. schools .
During his three years in office , Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos have attempted to expand school choice and redirect money from public schools to private and charter schools .
The proposed voucher programs are gaining popularity among parents during the pandemic .
While Biden hopes to expand funding for schools , specifically Title I funding for students from low-income families , the president has proposed slashing Education Department funding up to 13.5 percent multiple times .
Teachers and principals at public schools criticized these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students .
In May , professors , students and women ’ s rights groups denounced DeVos ’ changes to Title IX that reverse Obama and Biden-era guidelines and more narrowly defined sexual misconduct while protecting students accused of such conduct .
Education is often a pressing issue in local and national elections , and though the education industry has set new donation records this cycle , as of August , educators still hadn ’ t donated as much to any one presidential candidate as they did to Clinton in 2016 , who raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left of donations , it ’ s possible that educators give much more to Biden , once again making this school year an unprecedented one .

Individuals associated with the education field have reached a new spending high of almost $150 million through August.
When school started a month ago, teachers told their students to bear with them: this school year will be unprecedented. First graders are learning to type and teleconference. Tenth graders are wearing masks during in-person class. College students are staying put in their childhood bedrooms.
What teachers likely didn’t tell their students is that their political donations this year are also unprecedented. This cycle, individuals associated with the education field have reached a new spending high of almost $150 million through August. That’s $52 million more than the previous record in 2016 with plenty of time left for more donations before the election.
Political donations from the education industry historically go to Democrats. Candidates from that party received at least 70 percent of education industry donations every cycle since 2002. This cycle, over 90 percent ($129.6 million) of donations from educators have gone to Democrats.
In the presidential election, over 85 percent of education industry donations have gone to Joe Biden. Educators donated $22 million to Biden, compared with $3.7 million to President Donald Trump.
All of Biden’s largest sources of money in the field come from individuals affiliated with universities. Top donors include employees of the University of California (about $1.4 million), Stanford University ($595,000) and Harvard University ($510,000). Meanwhile affiliates of the University of Pennsylvania, Trump’s alma mater, donated over $368,000 to the Democratic nominee and only $10,000 to the president.
From a policy perspective, Biden is a proponent of expanding higher education in the U.S. His platform focuses on affordable college education and reducing student debt. He supports two years of tuition-free community college or equivalent vocational training for Americans, a policy he first proposed alongside President Barack Obama in 2015.
Though educators donated almost six times more to Biden than Trump, they preferred giving to other Democratic candidates in the primaries, particularly progressives Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), whose proposed higher education policies provide more aid to college students. Biden has gradually adopted these proposals as his own.
None of Trump’s top donors in the education field come close to spending as much as Biden’s, but more come from affiliates of public institutions and not all are from universities. Affiliates of the New York City Board of Education, the New York City Department of Education, the Clark County (Nev.) School District and the Los Angeles Unified School District all made some of the largest contributions to Trump’s campaign.
Employees of the New York City Board of Education and the New York City Department of Education gave Trump over $52,000, despite the agencies having sued his administration earlier this summer. In July, the New York City Department of Education joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration claiming that the president tried to siphon off funds meant for economically disadvantaged students. The lawsuit includes several public school districts claiming that a new U.S. Department of Education rule diverts and limits funding from the CARES Act originally intended for public schools.
Employees of the LA Unified School District, the second largest district in the U.S., donated $24,000 to Trump despite clashing this summer. In early July, just days after Trump called for schools to go back in-person learning, the LA Teachers Union demanded campuses stay closed. It was the first big union to oppose in-person teaching.
The district made headlines again just a few days later when Trump called their push to go remote a “terrible decision” and a “mistake.” While the president urged schools to reopen full-stop, Biden’s back-to-school proposal was cautious and would have given schools more money to safely reopen and imposed strict testing and sanitation criteria for students, faculty and staff in U.S. schools.
During his three years in office, Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos have attempted to expand school choice and redirect money from public schools to private and charter schools. The proposed voucher programs are gaining popularity among parents during the pandemic. While Biden hopes to expand funding for schools, specifically Title I funding for students from low-income families, the president has proposed slashing Education Department funding up to 13.5 percent multiple times. Teachers and principals at public schools criticized these proposals, which would primarily affect their students. In May, professors, students and women’s rights groups denounced DeVos’ changes to Title IX that reverse Obama and Biden-era guidelines and more narrowly defined sexual misconduct while protecting students accused of such conduct.
Education is often a pressing issue in local and national elections, and though the education industry has set new donation records this cycle, as of August, educators still hadn’t donated as much to any one presidential candidate as they did to Clinton in 2016, who raised $27 million. With two months left of donations, it’s possible that educators give much more to Biden, once again making this school year an unprecedented one.
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--2020-10-02--Texas Governor Cuts Ballot Drop-Off Sites to Only One Per County

In a last-minute move that voting rights groups and Democratic officials decried as a desperate and “ blatant voter suppression tactic , ” the Republican governor of Texas on Thursday issued a proclamation ordering that absentee ballot drop-off locations be limited to one per county in the massive state .
Gov .
Greg Abbott ’ s order — which comes just a month before the November election and is likely to face a flood of legal challenges — would have the largest impact on Democratic counties that have established multiple drop-off sites in an effort to make voting as safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden are neck-and-neck in the state .
“ Harris County , the state ’ s most populous and a major Democratic stronghold , had designated a dozen locations where voters could deliver their own ballots — and already began collecting them this week , ” The Texas Tribune reported .
“ The locations are spread out across the county ’ s roughly 1,700 square miles , an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.
” Gilberto Hinojosa , chair of the Texas Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ trying to adjust the rules ” to make voting more difficult because “ Republicans are on the verge of losing ” the state in November .
“ Courts all over the country , including the Fifth Circuit yesterday , have held that it is too late to change election rules , but our failed Republican leadership will try anyway , ” said Hinojosa .
“ Make no mistake , democracy itself is on the ballot .
Every Texan must get out and vote these cowards out !
” “ Governor Abbott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hinojosa continued .
“ We are creating a movement that will beat them at the ballot box on November 3 , and there ’ s nothing these cheaters can do about it.
” While Abbott portrayed his unilateral move to shutter voting sites as an attempt to “ maintain the integrity of our elections ” and shield the process from virtually non-existent fraud , rights organizations said the proclamation is an obvious ploy to suppress turnout given the timing of the order and the disproportionate impact it could have on voters of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raises a real concern that people are going to have just one more barrier to successfully submitting their ballot , ” Mimi Marziani , president of the Texas Civil Rights Project , said in a statement .
“ And it opens the door to voter intimidation.
” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said late Thursday that “ this has President Trump written all over it.
” “ With the governor changing the rules with 33 days until the most important election of our lifetime to make it harder to vote , ” Jenkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we can to protect the right to vote as well as protect the voters and workers involved in that process .
”

In a last-minute move that voting rights groups and Democratic officials decried as a desperate and “blatant voter suppression tactic,” the Republican governor of Texas on Thursday issued a proclamation ordering that absentee ballot drop-off locations be limited to one per county in the massive state.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s order — which comes just a month before the November election and is likely to face a flood of legal challenges — would have the largest impact on Democratic counties that have established multiple drop-off sites in an effort to make voting as safe and convenient as possible. Recent polling shows President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden are neck-and-neck in the state.
“Harris County, the state’s most populous and a major Democratic stronghold, had designated a dozen locations where voters could deliver their own ballots — and already began collecting them this week,” The Texas Tribune reported. “The locations are spread out across the county’s roughly 1,700 square miles, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.”
Gilberto Hinojosa, chair of the Texas Democratic Party, said in a statement that Abbott is “trying to adjust the rules” to make voting more difficult because “Republicans are on the verge of losing” the state in November.
“Courts all over the country, including the Fifth Circuit yesterday, have held that it is too late to change election rules, but our failed Republican leadership will try anyway,” said Hinojosa. “Make no mistake, democracy itself is on the ballot. Every Texan must get out and vote these cowards out!”
“Governor Abbott and Texas Republicans are scared,” Hinojosa continued. “We are creating a movement that will beat them at the ballot box on November 3, and there’s nothing these cheaters can do about it.”
While Abbott portrayed his unilateral move to shutter voting sites as an attempt to “maintain the integrity of our elections” and shield the process from virtually non-existent fraud, rights organizations said the proclamation is an obvious ploy to suppress turnout given the timing of the order and the disproportionate impact it could have on voters of color and people with disabilities.
“It raises a real concern that people are going to have just one more barrier to successfully submitting their ballot,” Mimi Marziani, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, said in a statement. “And it opens the door to voter intimidation.”
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said late Thursday that “this has President Trump written all over it.”
“With the governor changing the rules with 33 days until the most important election of our lifetime to make it harder to vote,” Jenkins added, “Dallas County will do what we can to protect the right to vote as well as protect the voters and workers involved in that process.”
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.