truthout--2020-10-26--Get Ready for the Eight Longest Days of Our Lives

At long last , it stands before us : the Last Week , the longest week , 40 miles of bad road between what we don ’ t know and what we will find out once the 2020 election deal goes down .
Every second drops with the bone-cracking slowness of a cat ’ s long , insouciant yawn .
I find myself staring off into space for moments at a time , snapping back to the jittery stew of anticipation and dread roiling my gut .
I am simply terrified , for a thousand reasons .
One year ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just ripped the scab off the “ But Her Emails ” Benghazi “ scandal ” that had followed Hillary Clinton with the sound of someone banging a hollow gourd with a stick .
Said someone , of course , being Mike Pompeo , or Trey Gowdy , or Jim Jordan , or any of a retinue of jabberjaws who obligingly put the ball on the tee for Comey .
Comey did not miss the fairway , and here we are .
The state of play is far weirder and more perilous now than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bonfire of the last four years , and especially the last eight months , the GOP and its conservative media allies have successfully kept a disturbingly large swath of the country in thrall to a man who has been picking their pockets even as he spits in their eyes .
Trump has several narrow yet fully present avenues to victory next week , all of which include the abject devotion of his base in some combination with voter suppression , intimidation , the threat or reality of violence at the polls and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political system which reached its breaking strain some time ago .
This is not a bug of the Trump re-election campaign .
It is a dashboard feature .
Naturally , those who have dutifully carried Trump ’ s water are finding out what that loyalty is worth .
A whole planeload of Fox News executives and on-air personalities are headed to quarantine because they were exposed to COVID- 19 by someone who attended one of Trump ’ s maskless suicide-is-painless rallies that are so often highlighted on , you guessed it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed , ” reports The New York Times , “ include Jay Wallace , the president of Fox News Media ; Bret Baier , the chief political anchor ; Martha MacCallum , the anchor of Fox ’ s 7 p.m. show , ‘ The Story ’ ; and Dana Perino and Juan Williams , two hosts of ‘ The Five.
’ ” Far more impactful is the invasion by COVID of Mike Pence ’ s office .
Scant hours after Trump groused about the media ’ s coverage of the pandemic at one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his chief of staff , his body man and three other staffers had tested positive .
No word on whether Pence — head of the White House COVID Task Force , remember — has tested positive ; the White House is bunkered down and refusing to answer any queries on the matter .
As of yesterday , however , Pence was scheduled to personally attend the Senate vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett today , despite having been almost buttered with COVID in his own office .
Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear of the vote : “ Not only would your presence in the Senate chamber tomorrow be a clear violation of CDC guidelines , it would also be a violation of common decency and courtesy.
” I ’ m so old , I remember when another Barrett-themed occasion attended by members of this administration became a superspreader event that put the president in the hospital .
Wait , I ’ m not old ; that was two weeks ago .
Some in the White House are having trouble managing the strain , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most notably this weekend was Chief of Staff Mark Meadows getting ragdolled by Jake Tapper live on CNN .
“ We ’ re not going to control the pandemic , ” Meadows finally blurted after a merciless barrage of questions .
“ Mark Meadows just got destroyed on CNN by Jake Tapper , ” tweeted former White House spokesman Anthony Scaramucci .
“ So much so that Trump had someone call into the control room and pull him.
” Eight days before the vote , and any lingering illusion that Trump and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this thing , which is now daily breaking infection records across the country , has fallen to dust .
The truth is too huge for even professional liars like Meadows to keep behind their teeth .
I believe Trump and his inner circle want COVID to be as bad as possible now , so as to dampen voter turnout next week and further damage the country if Biden should take the reins this year .
No other explanation fits the evidence .
I believe this whole nightmare is a falling dagger of fascism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lands a mortal blow .
It comes to this : I wish everyone involved nothing but health and long life , but if Pence and that planeful of Fox News notables have become infected due to Trump ’ s deliberate negligence , we very much may all bear witness next week to the president of the United States metaphorically dragging the sick or dead bodies of his vice president and most loyal media supporters across the finish line with him as he shrieks , “ They ’ re fine , everything ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is where we ’ re at , and these will be the longest eight days of our lives .
Stout hearts .
Update 1:30 pm ET : Vice President Pence will not be presiding over the senate vote on Barrett today after all .
He will be campaigning in Minnesota instead .

The state of play is far weirder and more perilous now than it ever was in 2016.
At long last, it stands before us: the Last Week, the longest week, 40 miles of bad road between what we don’t know and what we will find out once the 2020 election deal goes down. Every second drops with the bone-cracking slowness of a cat’s long, insouciant yawn. I find myself staring off into space for moments at a time, snapping back to the jittery stew of anticipation and dread roiling my gut. I am simply terrified, for a thousand reasons.
Four years ago, former FBI Director James Comey had just ripped the scab off the “But Her Emails” Benghazi “scandal” that had followed Hillary Clinton with the sound of someone banging a hollow gourd with a stick. Said someone, of course, being Mike Pompeo, or Trey Gowdy, or Jim Jordan, or any of a retinue of jabberjaws who obligingly put the ball on the tee for Comey. Comey did not miss the fairway, and here we are.
The state of play is far weirder and more perilous now than it ever was in 2016. Despite the bonfire of the last four years, and especially the last eight months, the GOP and its conservative media allies have successfully kept a disturbingly large swath of the country in thrall to a man who has been picking their pockets even as he spits in their eyes.
Trump has several narrow yet fully present avenues to victory next week, all of which include the abject devotion of his base in some combination with voter suppression, intimidation, the threat or reality of violence at the polls and elsewhere, and the final fracturing of a political system which reached its breaking strain some time ago. This is not a bug of the Trump re-election campaign. It is a dashboard feature.
Naturally, those who have dutifully carried Trump’s water are finding out what that loyalty is worth. A whole planeload of Fox News executives and on-air personalities are headed to quarantine because they were exposed to COVID- 19 by someone who attended one of Trump’s maskless suicide-is-painless rallies that are so often highlighted on, you guessed it, Fox News. “Those who were exposed,” reports The New York Times, “include Jay Wallace, the president of Fox News Media; Bret Baier, the chief political anchor; Martha MacCallum, the anchor of Fox’s 7 p.m. show, ‘The Story’; and Dana Perino and Juan Williams, two hosts of ‘The Five.’”
Far more impactful is the invasion by COVID of Mike Pence’s office. Scant hours after Trump groused about the media’s coverage of the pandemic at one of his panic rallies, Pence announced that his chief of staff, his body man and three other staffers had tested positive. No word on whether Pence — head of the White House COVID Task Force, remember — has tested positive; the White House is bunkered down and refusing to answer any queries on the matter.
As of yesterday, however, Pence was scheduled to personally attend the Senate vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett today, despite having been almost buttered with COVID in his own office. Senate Democratic leadership has asked Pence to steer clear of the vote: “Not only would your presence in the Senate chamber tomorrow be a clear violation of CDC guidelines, it would also be a violation of common decency and courtesy.”
I’m so old, I remember when another Barrett-themed occasion attended by members of this administration became a superspreader event that put the president in the hospital. Wait, I’m not old; that was two weeks ago.
I believe Trump and his inner circle want COVID to be as bad as possible now, so as to dampen voter turnout next week and further damage the country if Biden should take the reins this year.
Some in the White House are having trouble managing the strain, and have started flipping out in public. Most notably this weekend was Chief of Staff Mark Meadows getting ragdolled by Jake Tapper live on CNN. “We’re not going to control the pandemic,” Meadows finally blurted after a merciless barrage of questions. “Mark Meadows just got destroyed on CNN by Jake Tapper,” tweeted former White House spokesman Anthony Scaramucci. “So much so that Trump had someone call into the control room and pull him.”
Eight days before the vote, and any lingering illusion that Trump and his people have even the vaguest handle on this thing, which is now daily breaking infection records across the country, has fallen to dust. The truth is too huge for even professional liars like Meadows to keep behind their teeth.
I believe Trump and his inner circle want COVID to be as bad as possible now, so as to dampen voter turnout next week and further damage the country if Biden should take the reins this year. No other explanation fits the evidence. I believe this whole nightmare is a falling dagger of fascism that must be turned aside before it lands a mortal blow.
It comes to this: I wish everyone involved nothing but health and long life, but if Pence and that planeful of Fox News notables have become infected due to Trump’s deliberate negligence, we very much may all bear witness next week to the president of the United States metaphorically dragging the sick or dead bodies of his vice president and most loyal media supporters across the finish line with him as he shrieks, “They’re fine, everything’s fine, rounding the turn!”
That is where we’re at, and these will be the longest eight days of our lives. Stout hearts.
Update 1:30 pm ET: Vice President Pence will not be presiding over the senate vote on Barrett today after all. He will be campaigning in Minnesota instead.
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--2020-10-26--Organizers Are Gearing Up to Resist Far Right Intimidation at Polls

As the election approaches , progressives are experiencing a lot of fear and anxiety .
Of course , a major fear — beyond Trump winning — is that he will lose but refuse to step down .
But far right intimidation at the polls themselves , as well as pre- and post-election violence , are also possibilities — and progressive organizers are making plans for all of these scenarios .
Already there have been ominous signs .
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have both refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power .
Attorney General William Barr has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots .
And violence on the streets seems to be ramping up in intensity .
This includes three recent killings of activists ( two on the far right , and one of a self-described antifascist ) , as well as the arrests of a militia group for planning to kidnap the Michigan governor .
The intensity of far right chatter about the election is also increasing .
Rachel Carroll Rivas of the Montana Human Rights Network told Truthout they ’ ve heard “ a lot of vague noises ” about forthcoming plans — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitor the far right .
But public concrete plans are scarce ; she only knew of one militia group making threats , and they only said they had a “ plan to do whatever is necessary ” after the election .
The biggest immediate concern is that the far right groups will intimidate voters at the polls .
During the first presidential debate , Trump said , “ I ’ m urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully because that ’ s what has to happen .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump Jr. amplified his father , calling for an “ army for Trump ’ s election security operation.
” Disturbing incidents have already occurred .
Carroll Rivas said she ’ s received two reports of militia intimidation at ballot boxes .
Meanwhile , in September in Fairfax , Virginia , Trump supporters shouted slogans and drove in circles around a polling location .
On Wednesday in St. Petersburg , Florida , two armed guards , claiming the Trump campaign hired them , sat outside an early voting site .
( The campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private security company was recruiting former soldiers “ to make sure that the Antifas don ’ t try to destroy the election sites ” in Minnesota — a ludicrous claim echoing Trump ’ s demonizing rhetoric about antifascists .
The company is now being sued for attempting to “ sabotage a free and fair election , ” and the state ’ s attorney general is investigating .
Despite these fears , only a limited number of far right groups have indicated that they intend to “ monitor ” the polls .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cassie Miller , the Proud Boys announced in September that they intended to monitor drop-off ballot locations in Oregon .
Stewart Rhodes , leader of the paramilitary Patriot group the Oath Keepers , said his members will monitor the polls with concealed firearms , but will “ step in ” if police do not do their jobs to their satisfaction .
Devin Burghart of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights said he knows of far right plans in Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
However , talk is cheap and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these claims .
It ’ s hard to imagine the Proud Boys , who have taken to public drinking at their rallies , doing the boring work of watching an election .
Rhodes is well-known for frequently making idle threats of violence — although his group has shown up armed to events , like the 2014 Bundy Ranch standoff .
Carroll Rivas pointed out that a more disturbing potential scenario might not involve organized groups .
Since so many far right activists are already armed , ideologically indoctrinated and networked together , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are primed for this and in a state of high-intensity preparation.
” The mobs which formed in the wake of completely unfounded rumors earlier this year that “ buses of antifa ” were coming to riot in rural areas vividly illustrates this potential .
But progressive groups are making plans to counter these potential scenarios .
Oregon ’ s Rural Organizing Project is encouraging members to pressure county authorities ahead of the election to “ Uphold the rights of citizens to vote without intimidation ” by responding “ quickly and transparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at official ballot drop ” and postal boxes .
They are also being asked to “ Provide clear , consistent and factual information and remedies taken to prevent or stop voter intimidation.
” The Frontline , a new coalition which includes the Movement for Black Lives , is sending volunteers to maintain a presence at the polls to ensure that people can vote unmolested .
In addition to de-escalation training , volunteers are being asked to consider distracting ( or audibly drowning out ) far right activists who are harassing voters , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the scene .
Georgetown Law ’ s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection has produced factsheets detailing state laws about militias .
The factsheets include a comprehensive reporting guide about what details observers should collect if they see militias at polling sites .
These include , for example , insignia , leaders and specific acts of the militias .
In fact , all of these groups are encouraging the public to document all acts of voter intimidation .
They have set up , or are providing information about , hotlines people can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both federal and state authorities are also taking action .
The FBI and state officials are “ conducting drills , running through worse-case scenarios , setting up command centers to improve coordination on reports of violence and voter intimidation , and issuing public warnings.
” Michigan has banned open carry at polling sites , and Rhode Island Gov .
Gina Raimondo said she has put “ security provisions in place.
” However , disturbingly , some county sheriffs have pushed back against these democratic safeguards .
In Michigan , one sheriff said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites , while others refused to commit to upholding the ban .
Beyond voter intimidation , the possibility of both pre- and post-election violence is also hovering in the air .
Over the last four years , parts of the far right have cooled on Trump and may not particularly care about the election ’ s outcome .
However , there are certainly still groups that may be poised to act .
The “ accelerationist ” tendency , including the armed Boogaloo movement , are the most likely candidates to launch attacks before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy to create chaos and destabilization in order to have an opportunity to implement their radical , right-wing ideas on a mass level .
After the election , groups angered at a Trump loss or celebrating a Trump victory could become violent .
( There is also a very real possibility that white supremacists , in particular , will turn to open terrorism if Biden wins . )
Carroll Rivas points out two likely targets in her state .
The first are local officials involved in the elections .
The second are targets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people of color or Jews — likely Black Lives Matter or , following prominent anti-Semitic conspiracy theories , groups seen as controlled by George Soros .
Last , the possibility that Trump will refuse to step down after losing is being taken very seriously .
Hold the Line : A Guide to Defending Democracy , authored by a group of progressive organizers , outlines three possible scenarios .
In addition to losing but refusing to step down , Trump could declare victory among unclear results or signs of widespread tampering .
Any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until January 20 , 2021 , when it will be seen for once and for all whether Trump will relinquish power .
Various national progressive groups are planning protests for these possibilities .
While there is much uncertainly and fear , and so few facts , it ’ s important not to become overwhelmed .
As Carroll Rivas said , we should “ be prepared without being scared or intimidated .
”

As the election approaches, progressives are experiencing a lot of fear and anxiety. Of course, a major fear — beyond Trump winning — is that he will lose but refuse to step down. But far right intimidation at the polls themselves, as well as pre- and post-election violence, are also possibilities — and progressive organizers are making plans for all of these scenarios.
Already there have been ominous signs. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have both refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power. Attorney General William Barr has made numerous false claims about fraudulent mail-in ballots. And violence on the streets seems to be ramping up in intensity. This includes three recent killings of activists (two on the far right, and one of a self-described antifascist), as well as the arrests of a militia group for planning to kidnap the Michigan governor.
The intensity of far right chatter about the election is also increasing. Rachel Carroll Rivas of the Montana Human Rights Network told Truthout they’ve heard “a lot of vague noises” about forthcoming plans — a sentiment echoed by many others who monitor the far right. But public concrete plans are scarce; she only knew of one militia group making threats, and they only said they had a “plan to do whatever is necessary” after the election.
The biggest immediate concern is that the far right groups will intimidate voters at the polls. During the first presidential debate, Trump said, “I’m urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully because that’s what has to happen. I am urging them to do it.” Donald Trump Jr. amplified his father, calling for an “army for Trump’s election security operation.”
Disturbing incidents have already occurred. Carroll Rivas said she’s received two reports of militia intimidation at ballot boxes. Meanwhile, in September in Fairfax, Virginia, Trump supporters shouted slogans and drove in circles around a polling location. On Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Florida, two armed guards, claiming the Trump campaign hired them, sat outside an early voting site. (The campaign denied their claims.) And a private security company was recruiting former soldiers “to make sure that the Antifas don’t try to destroy the election sites” in Minnesota — a ludicrous claim echoing Trump’s demonizing rhetoric about antifascists. The company is now being sued for attempting to “sabotage a free and fair election,” and the state’s attorney general is investigating.
Despite these fears, only a limited number of far right groups have indicated that they intend to “monitor” the polls. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Cassie Miller, the Proud Boys announced in September that they intended to monitor drop-off ballot locations in Oregon. Stewart Rhodes, leader of the paramilitary Patriot group the Oath Keepers, said his members will monitor the polls with concealed firearms, but will “step in” if police do not do their jobs to their satisfaction. Devin Burghart of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights said he knows of far right plans in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
However, talk is cheap and there is reason to be skeptical of these claims. It’s hard to imagine the Proud Boys, who have taken to public drinking at their rallies, doing the boring work of watching an election. Rhodes is well-known for frequently making idle threats of violence — although his group has shown up armed to events, like the 2014 Bundy Ranch standoff.
Carroll Rivas pointed out that a more disturbing potential scenario might not involve organized groups. Since so many far right activists are already armed, ideologically indoctrinated and networked together, it “only takes a spark to ignite people who are primed for this and in a state of high-intensity preparation.” The mobs which formed in the wake of completely unfounded rumors earlier this year that “buses of antifa” were coming to riot in rural areas vividly illustrates this potential.
But progressive groups are making plans to counter these potential scenarios. Oregon’s Rural Organizing Project is encouraging members to pressure county authorities ahead of the election to “Uphold the rights of citizens to vote without intimidation” by responding “quickly and transparently to any reports…including vandalism or irregularities identified at official ballot drop” and postal boxes. They are also being asked to “Provide clear, consistent and factual information and remedies taken to prevent or stop voter intimidation.”
The Frontline, a new coalition which includes the Movement for Black Lives, is sending volunteers to maintain a presence at the polls to ensure that people can vote unmolested. In addition to de-escalation training, volunteers are being asked to consider distracting (or audibly drowning out) far right activists who are harassing voters, and to ask clergy or media to come to the scene.
Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection has produced factsheets detailing state laws about militias. The factsheets include a comprehensive reporting guide about what details observers should collect if they see militias at polling sites. These include, for example, insignia, leaders and specific acts of the militias.
In fact, all of these groups are encouraging the public to document all acts of voter intimidation. They have set up, or are providing information about, hotlines people can call to share their observations and documentation.
Both federal and state authorities are also taking action. The FBI and state officials are “conducting drills, running through worse-case scenarios, setting up command centers to improve coordination on reports of violence and voter intimidation, and issuing public warnings.” Michigan has banned open carry at polling sites, and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said she has put “security provisions in place.”
However, disturbingly, some county sheriffs have pushed back against these democratic safeguards. In Michigan, one sheriff said he would allow open carry at poll sites, while others refused to commit to upholding the ban.
Beyond voter intimidation, the possibility of both pre- and post-election violence is also hovering in the air. Over the last four years, parts of the far right have cooled on Trump and may not particularly care about the election’s outcome. However, there are certainly still groups that may be poised to act. The “accelerationist” tendency, including the armed Boogaloo movement, are the most likely candidates to launch attacks before the election, as part of its strategy to create chaos and destabilization in order to have an opportunity to implement their radical, right-wing ideas on a mass level.
After the election, groups angered at a Trump loss or celebrating a Trump victory could become violent. (There is also a very real possibility that white supremacists, in particular, will turn to open terrorism if Biden wins.) Carroll Rivas points out two likely targets in her state. The first are local officials involved in the elections. The second are targets of far right demonization which are composed of people of color or Jews — likely Black Lives Matter or, following prominent anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, groups seen as controlled by George Soros.
Last, the possibility that Trump will refuse to step down after losing is being taken very seriously. Hold the Line: A Guide to Defending Democracy, authored by a group of progressive organizers, outlines three possible scenarios. In addition to losing but refusing to step down, Trump could declare victory among unclear results or signs of widespread tampering. Any of these scenarios would likely drag on until January 20, 2021, when it will be seen for once and for all whether Trump will relinquish power. Various national progressive groups are planning protests for these possibilities.
While there is much uncertainly and fear, and so few facts, it’s important not to become overwhelmed. As Carroll Rivas said, we should “be prepared without being scared or intimidated.”
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--2020-10-26--Trump Calls the Media “Losers” for Reporting on Record-High Daily COVID Cases

As coronavirus cases continue to surge throughout the country , and the White House struggles to stem the spread of COVID-19 behind its own doors , President Donald Trump is doubling down on his divisive rhetoric on the virus by pushing the idea that the pandemic itself is being overblown by the media .
More than 83,000 positive coronavirus diagnoses were announced in the U.S. on Friday , the highest single-day total in the country since the pandemic began .
With just eight days to go before Election Day , Trump continued to push a consistently debunked lie to explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up because we TEST , TEST , TEST , ” Trump tweeted out on Monday morning , adding that he viewed the new numbers as “ a Fake News Media Conspiracy.
” Trump further suggested that “ on November 4th , [ the ] topic will totally change , ” alluding to a conspiracy pushed by his son , Eric Trump , earlier this year which maintains that the virus is being used by the media and Democrats to hurt the president politically .
The idea that more testing explains why there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been widely debunked for months .
The president made similar claims over the summer , but statisticians ran the numbers then and found Trump ’ s claims to be utterly untrue .
They remain untrue today .
In a second tweet on Monday , Trump again downplayed the significance of higher COVID-19 testing numbers , continuing his attacks on the media .
“ The Fake News Media is riding COVID , COVID , COVID , all the way to the Election .
Losers !
” Trump wrote .
Making such brazen comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not likely to help Trump for the remainder of the campaign .
Several polls suggest that a majority of American voters take coronavirus very seriously .
The president ’ s response to the pandemic has also garnered him a bad grade from voters , with 59 percent of respondents in a Reuters/Ipsos poll from earlier this month stating they disapprove of his handling of the crisis .
Trump ’ s remarks on coronavirus in the days leading up to November 3 are being echoed by his aides in the White House .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Jake Tapper , Trump ’ s chief of staff , Mark Meadows , suggested that the administration ’ s plans for dealing with coronavirus is to simply give up , at least until a vaccine can be developed .
“ We ’ re not going to control the pandemic , we are going to control the fact that we get vaccines , therapeutics and other mitigations , ” Meadows said .
Such comments are congruent with the White House ’ s shift in recent weeks toward embracing “ herd immunity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus will cease being a threat after enough of the population has developed antibodies to it in a “ natural ” way .
Such a strategy , however , will likely result in hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths , if not more .
Experts largely agree that Americans need to continue wearing masks and social distancing in order to quell the spread of the virus .
With coronavirus cases continuing to climb , the White House itself is witnessing yet another outbreak develop behind its doors .
At least five members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive for coronavirus since last Friday , including Pence ’ s chief of staff , Marc Short .
Morale in Pence ’ s office appears to be low , according to one source who spoke to CNN , and staff are reportedly “ scared ” that the virus could spread even further among them .

More than 83,000 Americans were diagnosed on Friday with coronavirus, the highest daily number since the pandemic began.
As coronavirus cases continue to surge throughout the country, and the White House struggles to stem the spread of COVID-19 behind its own doors, President Donald Trump is doubling down on his divisive rhetoric on the virus by pushing the idea that the pandemic itself is being overblown by the media.
More than 83,000 positive coronavirus diagnoses were announced in the U.S. on Friday, the highest single-day total in the country since the pandemic began. With just eight days to go before Election Day, Trump continued to push a consistently debunked lie to explain the high positivity rate.
“Cases up because we TEST, TEST, TEST,” Trump tweeted out on Monday morning, adding that he viewed the new numbers as “a Fake News Media Conspiracy.”
Trump further suggested that “on November 4th, [the] topic will totally change,” alluding to a conspiracy pushed by his son, Eric Trump, earlier this year which maintains that the virus is being used by the media and Democrats to hurt the president politically.
The idea that more testing explains why there are more cases of coronavirus in the country has been widely debunked for months. The president made similar claims over the summer, but statisticians ran the numbers then and found Trump’s claims to be utterly untrue. They remain untrue today.
In a second tweet on Monday, Trump again downplayed the significance of higher COVID-19 testing numbers, continuing his attacks on the media.
“The Fake News Media is riding COVID, COVID, COVID, all the way to the Election. Losers!” Trump wrote.
Making such brazen comments about the pandemic, however, is not likely to help Trump for the remainder of the campaign. Several polls suggest that a majority of American voters take coronavirus very seriously. The president’s response to the pandemic has also garnered him a bad grade from voters, with 59 percent of respondents in a Reuters/Ipsos poll from earlier this month stating they disapprove of his handling of the crisis.
Trump’s remarks on coronavirus in the days leading up to November 3 are being echoed by his aides in the White House. On Sunday, during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, suggested that the administration’s plans for dealing with coronavirus is to simply give up, at least until a vaccine can be developed.
“We’re not going to control the pandemic, we are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics and other mitigations,” Meadows said.
Such comments are congruent with the White House’s shift in recent weeks toward embracing “herd immunity,” a controversial idea that posits the virus will cease being a threat after enough of the population has developed antibodies to it in a “natural” way. Such a strategy, however, will likely result in hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths, if not more. Experts largely agree that Americans need to continue wearing masks and social distancing in order to quell the spread of the virus.
With coronavirus cases continuing to climb, the White House itself is witnessing yet another outbreak develop behind its doors. At least five members of Vice President Mike Pence’s staff have tested positive for coronavirus since last Friday, including Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short.
Morale in Pence’s office appears to be low, according to one source who spoke to CNN, and staff are reportedly “scared” that the virus could spread even further among them.
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--2020-10-26--Intersex Activists Push Hospitals to Ditch Nonconsensual Surgeries on Children

When Marissa Adams was a toddler , she underwent surgery at Boston Children ’ s Hospital to make her genitalia look more like a doctor ’ s idea of “ normal.
” Like as many as 1.7 percent of people , Adams is intersex , born with some combination of hormonal , chromosomal or anatomical differences that put her outside of the textbook definition of female or male .
And like a growing number of intersex people , she has spoken out about how surgery performed when she was too young to understand it left her with lasting emotional and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boston Children ’ s Hospital , one of the leading pediatric institutions in the country , announced it would stop performing two procedures — one used to construct or reduce the size of a clitoris and another used to construct or augment a vagina — until patients are old enough to consent .
“ After convening an interdisciplinary group to review our policies and practices , Boston Children ’ s has decided we will not perform clitoroplasty or vaginoplasty in patients who are too young to participate in a meaningful discussion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ differences threaten the physical health of the child , ” read a statement provided to Truthout from the hospital ’ s behavioral health , endocrinology and urology program .
Adams was thrilled .
“ It ’ s the kind of thing that we ’ ve been working toward and since it was the exact hospital that did this to me and kind of changed my life forever , it was just great news , ” she told Truthout .
Kimberly Zieselman , executive director of the advocacy group interACT , called it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children , a movement that , over the past few years , has won a series of landmark victories , including the introduction of bills to ban the surgeries in California , New York and other states , and the announcement by Lurie Children ’ s Hospital in Chicago in July that it would stop performing certain “ irreversible ” surgeries until patients were old enough to consent .
While some surgeries on infants may be needed to allow a child to pass urine , others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patient ’ s body by changing the shape of genitalia or removing internal testes , have sterilized intersex people , deprived them of sexual sensation or reinforced a gender assignment that doesn ’ t match their identity .
In order to win recognition of their cause , intersex people often have had to lay bare the most intimate details of their lives in legislative hearings and public protests .
For Zieselman , the victory in Boston felt like a culmination of that work .
“ For me it ’ s actually kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many others have been speaking out and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable , talking about our own personal experiences and speaking that truth to power , ” Zieselman told Truthout .
“ To finally have a concrete result like a major institution like Boston Children ’ s stating that they will end two of the most harmful surgeries is really just quite amazing.
” Like Adams , Zieselman underwent non-consensual surgery in Massachusetts as a teenager .
She later worked for Boston Children ’ s Hospital as director of government relations before she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among intersex people — discovering details about her medical history that had been hidden from her .
“ It has been heartbreaking to me at a personal level to later learn when I discovered the truth about my own concealed surgery later in life and to realize that , wow , I had been advocating for this hospital that really is trying to protect and care for children around the world yet they still continue to do these harmful surgeries , ” she said .
In July , Lurie Children ’ s Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by its surgeries .
“ We empathize with intersex individuals who were harmed by the treatment that they received according to the historic standard of care and we apologize and are truly sorry , ” a statement signed by hospital leaders said .
Lurie said it would spend six months considering whether its new policy should apply to children with a group of conditions called congenital adrenal hyperplasia ( CAH ) , noting that many patients with CAH do not consider themselves intersex .
In a follow-up statement to Truthout on October 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lurie , said the hospital is in the process of completing the steps it outlined in July , including hiring intersex people for decision-making roles and developing new written materials for parents of intersex children : The groundwork for that change began in Boston on this day 24 years ago , when a group of intersex people rallied behind the banner of “ Hermaphrodites with Attitude ” to protest nonconsensual surgeries outside the American Academy of Pediatrics .
The event is recognized as the first major protest by intersex people in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 , Pidgeon Pagonis , Sean Saifa Wall and Lynnell Stephani Long formed Intersex Justice Project .
The group took over train cars , lobbied lawmakers , spurred celebrities to promote their campaigns on social media , and launched protests on the sidewalk outside Lurie Children ’ s Hospital , where Pagonis underwent surgery as a child .
Pagonis spoke widely in media interviews and viral YouTube videos about the damage done by their early surgeries , which left them without an external clitoris .
Meanwhile , doctors who were sympathetic to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institution , and lawmakers like Rep. Kelly Cassidy ( D-Illinois ) put pressure on Lurie from outside .
It was that combination of tactics that brought them the victory at Lurie , Pagonis told Truthout .
“ We need these coalitions of activists pushing on the outside , we need legislators getting involved , but also people on the inside of these hospitals to put enough pressure and make enough noise that they cave , ” Pagonis said .
Dr. Ellie Kim , a researcher at Lurie , was one of those doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LGBTQIA+ community in Chicago , and was open about her opposition to nonconsensual surgeries .
As Intersex Justice Project called attention to the surgeries on social media , Smith and other employees of Lurie advocated for their cause in internal discussions at the hospital .
“ I really felt the need to really up the ante and just throw some gasoline on the fire and made it really , really clear as loud as I was able to with whatever power position I had , ” she said .
Her advocacy as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long history of coalition-building between intersex and trans activists .
Back in 1996 , trans allies from the group Transexual Menace joined the protest in Boston outside the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference , standing with intersex people against surgeries that have , historically , been denied to transgender people who need them , and performed on intersex children who may not .
Kim said the causes are integrally tied .
“ The core principles are nearly identical if not identical : the idea of declaration of identity , of autonomy , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that gender is not something prescribed at birth that is indelible , ” she told Truthout .
“ That core issue is the same , right , that a surgeon is saying at birth , this looks to me , as a surgeon , like a girl , or this looks to me like a boy.
” While intersex activism has existed for decades , the past few years have seen a series of historic victories as the movement has gained greater visibility through public story-telling .
The same year that Intersex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ featured in a Washington Post magazine cover story by Nora Caplan-Bricker that proclaimed , “ The intersex rights movement is ready for its moment.
” The following year , California became the first state to pass legislation acknowledging the rights of intersex people , a non-binding resolution that notes how nonconsensual intersex surgeries have been condemned by Human Rights Watch , the World Health Organization and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture .
In 2019 , the Massachusetts Medical Society helped lay the groundwork for the decision at Boston Children ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of intersex patients that “ defers medical or surgical intervention until the child is able to participate in decision making.
” “ I feel like what I want people to take away from this is to be inspired that a small group of friends can change the world , ” Pagonis told Truthout .
“ This is a beautiful moment to see the second hospital in a few months take initial steps in ending intersex surgery.
” But Pagonis also said Boston Children ’ s should go further .
Unlike Lurie , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nor does the statement they emailed to Truthout mention other surgeries , like those used to remove internal testes , or address a condition called hypospadias , where a urethra is located somewhere other than the tip of the penis .
Intersex Justice Project has also demanded payment to intersex people harmed by surgeries .
“ I really believe that these hospitals need to create a reparations fund for patients to get free medical care in the form of therapy or gender-affirming surgeries that they may want or need and also surgeries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgeons did to them when they were youth or young people , ” Pagonis said .
The Boston Children ’ s Hospital statement also notes that , “ As a result of this change in practice , we recognize and respect that families may decide to seek care elsewhere.
” Kyle Knight , who wrote an in-depth report condemning the surgeries for Human Rights Watch , told Truthout that statement is “ precisely the reason [ Boston Children ’ s Hospital ] should be commended as an inspirational starting point , but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed .
It shouldn ’ t be a matter of shopping the market for a surgeon willing to commit a human rights violation.
” While he sees it as an incremental step , Sean Saifa Wall , co-founder of Intersex Justice Project , said he hopes it will lead more people to consider the cause .
“ I definitely hope that with each victory , with each statement that comes out , with each hospital changing their position , I hope that more people will get curious about why is this such an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s just so sad there are so many people who have been harmed in the process of these institutions finally recognizing that we shouldn ’ t do this .
”

When Marissa Adams was a toddler, she underwent surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital to make her genitalia look more like a doctor’s idea of “normal.” Like as many as 1.7 percent of people, Adams is intersex, born with some combination of hormonal, chromosomal or anatomical differences that put her outside of the textbook definition of female or male. And like a growing number of intersex people, she has spoken out about how surgery performed when she was too young to understand it left her with lasting emotional and physical difficulties.
On October 21, Boston Children’s Hospital, one of the leading pediatric institutions in the country, announced it would stop performing two procedures — one used to construct or reduce the size of a clitoris and another used to construct or augment a vagina — until patients are old enough to consent.
“After convening an interdisciplinary group to review our policies and practices, Boston Children’s has decided we will not perform clitoroplasty or vaginoplasty in patients who are too young to participate in a meaningful discussion of the implications of these surgeries, unless anatomical differences threaten the physical health of the child,” read a statement provided to Truthout from the hospital’s behavioral health, endocrinology and urology program.
Adams was thrilled. “It’s the kind of thing that we’ve been working toward and since it was the exact hospital that did this to me and kind of changed my life forever, it was just great news,” she told Truthout.
Kimberly Zieselman, executive director of the advocacy group interACT, called it a “historic moment” in the campaign to end medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children, a movement that, over the past few years, has won a series of landmark victories, including the introduction of bills to ban the surgeries in California, New York and other states, and the announcement by Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago in July that it would stop performing certain “irreversible” surgeries until patients were old enough to consent. While some surgeries on infants may be needed to allow a child to pass urine, others, aimed at “normalizing” a patient’s body by changing the shape of genitalia or removing internal testes, have sterilized intersex people, deprived them of sexual sensation or reinforced a gender assignment that doesn’t match their identity. In order to win recognition of their cause, intersex people often have had to lay bare the most intimate details of their lives in legislative hearings and public protests. For Zieselman, the victory in Boston felt like a culmination of that work.
“For me it’s actually kind of an emotional moment because myself and so many others have been speaking out and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, talking about our own personal experiences and speaking that truth to power,” Zieselman told Truthout. “To finally have a concrete result like a major institution like Boston Children’s stating that they will end two of the most harmful surgeries is really just quite amazing.”
Like Adams, Zieselman underwent non-consensual surgery in Massachusetts as a teenager. She later worked for Boston Children’s Hospital as director of government relations before she had an experience that is not unique among intersex people — discovering details about her medical history that had been hidden from her. “It has been heartbreaking to me at a personal level to later learn when I discovered the truth about my own concealed surgery later in life and to realize that, wow, I had been advocating for this hospital that really is trying to protect and care for children around the world yet they still continue to do these harmful surgeries,” she said.
Comprehensive policy change is needed. It shouldn’t be a matter of shopping the market for a surgeon willing to commit a human rights violation.
In July, Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago apologized to intersex patients harmed by its surgeries. “We empathize with intersex individuals who were harmed by the treatment that they received according to the historic standard of care and we apologize and are truly sorry,” a statement signed by hospital leaders said. Lurie said it would spend six months considering whether its new policy should apply to children with a group of conditions called congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), noting that many patients with CAH do not consider themselves intersex.
In a follow-up statement to Truthout on October 22, Julianne Bardele, a spokesperson for Lurie, said the hospital is in the process of completing the steps it outlined in July, including hiring intersex people for decision-making roles and developing new written materials for parents of intersex children:
While we are awaiting final approval to post these positions (delayed by COVID-related hiring freezes, but firmly supported by senior hospital leadership), we have begun to informally identify potential candidates in order to make this process as efficient as possible. In addition to providing the crucial voices of those with intersex traits and CAH, these job descriptions include responsibilities to plan sensitivity training and create the materials for parents. These individuals will serve on a committee led by an independent ethicist (someone from outside of Lurie Children’s) who will convene a national conference in late winter/early spring to discuss the role of early surgery for individuals with CAH. This ethicist has been identified.
The groundwork for that change began in Boston on this day 24 years ago, when a group of intersex people rallied behind the banner of “Hermaphrodites with Attitude” to protest nonconsensual surgeries outside the American Academy of Pediatrics. The event is recognized as the first major protest by intersex people in the United States.
Inspired by that example, in 2017, Pidgeon Pagonis, Sean Saifa Wall and Lynnell Stephani Long formed Intersex Justice Project. The group took over train cars, lobbied lawmakers, spurred celebrities to promote their campaigns on social media, and launched protests on the sidewalk outside Lurie Children’s Hospital, where Pagonis underwent surgery as a child. Pagonis spoke widely in media interviews and viral YouTube videos about the damage done by their early surgeries, which left them without an external clitoris. Meanwhile, doctors who were sympathetic to the movement advocated their cause inside the institution, and lawmakers like Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Illinois) put pressure on Lurie from outside. It was that combination of tactics that brought them the victory at Lurie, Pagonis told Truthout.
“We need these coalitions of activists pushing on the outside, we need legislators getting involved, but also people on the inside of these hospitals to put enough pressure and make enough noise that they cave,” Pagonis said.
Dr. Ellie Kim, a researcher at Lurie, was one of those doctors. Kim got to know Pagonis through the LGBTQIA+ community in Chicago, and was open about her opposition to nonconsensual surgeries. As Intersex Justice Project called attention to the surgeries on social media, Kim and other employees of Lurie advocated for their cause in internal discussions at the hospital. “I really felt the need to really up the ante and just throw some gasoline on the fire and made it really, really clear as loud as I was able to with whatever power position I had,” she said. Her advocacy as a transgender woman is part of a long history of coalition-building between intersex and trans activists. Back in 1996, trans allies from the group Transexual Menace joined the protest in Boston outside the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference, standing with intersex people against surgeries that have, historically, been denied to transgender people who need them, and performed on intersex children who may not.
Kim said the causes are integrally tied. “The core principles are nearly identical if not identical: the idea of declaration of identity, of autonomy, and the ability to determine your own gender — that gender is not something prescribed at birth that is indelible,” she told Truthout. “That core issue is the same, right, that a surgeon is saying at birth, this looks to me, as a surgeon, like a girl, or this looks to me like a boy.”
While intersex activism has existed for decades, the past few years have seen a series of historic victories as the movement has gained greater visibility through public story-telling. The same year that Intersex Justice Project launched, Marissa Adams was featured in a Washington Post magazine cover story by Nora Caplan-Bricker that proclaimed, “The intersex rights movement is ready for its moment.” The following year, California became the first state to pass legislation acknowledging the rights of intersex people, a non-binding resolution that notes how nonconsensual intersex surgeries have been condemned by Human Rights Watch, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. In 2019, the Massachusetts Medical Society helped lay the groundwork for the decision at Boston Children’s Hospital, announcing a policy supporting care of intersex patients that “defers medical or surgical intervention until the child is able to participate in decision making.”
“I feel like what I want people to take away from this is to be inspired that a small group of friends can change the world,” Pagonis told Truthout. “This is a beautiful moment to see the second hospital in a few months take initial steps in ending intersex surgery.”
But Pagonis also said Boston Children’s should go further. Unlike Lurie, the hospital did not apologize to intersex patients. Nor does the statement they emailed to Truthout mention other surgeries, like those used to remove internal testes, or address a condition called hypospadias, where a urethra is located somewhere other than the tip of the penis. Intersex Justice Project has also demanded payment to intersex people harmed by surgeries. “I really believe that these hospitals need to create a reparations fund for patients to get free medical care in the form of therapy or gender-affirming surgeries that they may want or need and also surgeries that they may need to correct what surgeons did to them when they were youth or young people,” Pagonis said.
The Boston Children’s Hospital statement also notes that, “As a result of this change in practice, we recognize and respect that families may decide to seek care elsewhere.” Kyle Knight, who wrote an in-depth report condemning the surgeries for Human Rights Watch, told Truthout that statement is “precisely the reason [Boston Children’s Hospital] should be commended as an inspirational starting point, but not the end. Comprehensive policy change is needed. It shouldn’t be a matter of shopping the market for a surgeon willing to commit a human rights violation.”
While he sees it as an incremental step, Sean Saifa Wall, co-founder of Intersex Justice Project, said he hopes it will lead more people to consider the cause. “I definitely hope that with each victory, with each statement that comes out, with each hospital changing their position, I hope that more people will get curious about why is this such an important issue,” he said. “It’s just so sad there are so many people who have been harmed in the process of these institutions finally recognizing that we shouldn’t do this.”
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.