truthout--2020-10-08--Pence’s Politeness Masks a Ruthless Ideology

“ It is a privilege to share the stage with you Senator Harris , ” said Vice President Mike Pence , and those 11 words signaled a new strategy .
It was a turn-on-a-dime maneuver from President Trump ’ s disastrous September 29 debate that tanked his polls .
If Trump was a rabid blowhard , Pence would be calm and respectful .
Implicit in the serene composure was a decision ; he was not there to save Trump ’ s presidency but to audition for his own .
Last night ’ s vice-presidential debate in St. Louis showed two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency .
If Trump ’ s health worsens from his COVID-19 illness , or he dies , then Pence assumes the Oval Office .
If Trump loses the election , Pence becomes an already seasoned contender for 2024 .
Despite the normalcy of his demeanor , Pence could pose an even greater threat to civil and human rights than Trump .
His tranquil voice and Christian piety conceal an extreme fundamentalist agenda .
He seeks to unleash brutal policies against women and LGBTQ people , and to dismantle the separation of church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who don ’ t believe in the God whose banner he claims to operate under .
How did Pence even get on that stage ?
Years ago , Trump crisscrossed the nation and lit the latent jingoism and racism into rallies that were bonfires of hate .
Trump sold “ The Wall ” as both a real wall on the U.S.-Mexican Border but also as a metaphor to stop diversity from changing the nation .
It worked .
He had billionaires .
He had whites without a college degree .
He had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he needed the Evangelicals .
The Evangelical vote is vital for Republicans to win .
In 2016 , there were 231 million Americans eligible to vote .
Trump got 62 million and Hillary Clinton 65 million .
Tallied up , that is roughly only 60 percent of the electorate .
One out every four voters is Evangelical , which adds up to almost the same size voting bloc as people of color from all religions .
Alongside free marketers , the “ alt-right , ” Tea Partiers and Libertarians , Evangelicals are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans faced a problem : How to turn a man who divorced multiple wives , cheated with adult film stars and whose daughter laughed when he was called a “ sex predator ” on “ The Howard Stern Show ” into an acceptable vehicle for God ’ s will on Earth .
Enter Indiana Gov .
Mike Pence .
According to a Politico report , Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort and Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus pulled for Pence because he would get out the Bible thumpers .
When Trump landed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff Cardwell told him , “ Mike Pence will deliver the Evangelical vote , he will deliver the Rust Belt.
” Trump ’ s choice of Pence locked in the Christian vote .
In order to justify support for an obviously profane man , the Evangelical media reimagined Trump as a flawed vehicle for God ’ s will , comparing him to the biblical figure of King Cyrus , whom Evangelical leader Mike Evans has described as “ an imperfect vessel ” and “ flawed human being ” who “ was used as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bible.
” He would save them from the growing power of secular America , where comedians from George Carlin to Bill Burr routinely roasted the church .
Trump would pantomime anti-abortion values by signing the Born Alive Executive Order .
Meanwhile , some Evangelicals look at his backing of the right-wing Israeli government and hope he catalyzes the Second Coming in which Christ returns to carry away the righteous as the rest of us burn in Hell .
Pence presided over Trump ’ s “ rebirth ” as the standard bearer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s campaign for reelection implodes , Pence can position himself as the natural successor to lead Trump ’ s coalition .
It would be easy .
The deep hatred of difference that drove Trump to the White House also drives many Evangelicals .
Every step of the way , Pence stood behind Trump and employed his trademark piety to mask a ruthlessly anti-egalitarian ideology .
It is harder to see behind his tranquil voice and showy courtesy .
Peek behind the mask and a terrifying history opens to view .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-immigrant , pro-war , pro-drug war policies again and again .
Those are the facts .
He was against raising the minimum wage , saying it would “ hurt the working poor.
” He opposed LGBTQ military service and gay marriage , saying , “ societal collapse was always brought about following … the deterioration of marriage and family.
” He supported the Iraq War .
He wanted to keep draconian penalties for marijuana and opposed its legalization .
He admits climate change is real but offers no solution to the existential threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is like a nightmare version of Oprah , but instead of everyone getting a car , it ’ s as if Pence is gleefully shouting , “ And you get a Hell !
And you get a Hell !
And you too !
” With Trump ’ s approval ratings sliding , the Republican Party is surely shopping around for a new leader .
After the 24-hour wall-to-wall circus of the Trump administration , it will likely enlist a more coherent and made-for-TV personality like Pence or even Tucker Carlson .
Right-wing media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying mediocre men into the halls of power .
Empowered by a now solidly conservative Supreme Court — where Judge Amy Coney Barrett is being rushed to confirmation — and a Senate and Electoral College that is a red state firewall against the younger , more diverse Democratic-leaning majority , the Republican Party may slowly seek to transform the U.S. into an episode of The Handmaid ’ s Tale .
In the coming years , whether or not Trump is re-elected , we may see Roe v. Wade or the gay marriage decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The suffering that could be visited upon women and the LGBTQ community in the name of religion would be devastating .
It is a future Pence is working to bring about .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in 2019 that “ removing Trump will not remove the infrastructure of an entire party that embraced him ; the dark money that funded him ; the online radicalization that drummed his army ; nor the racism he amplified+reanimated.
” She is right .
Trumpism is here to stay .
The only difference if Mike Pence takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the White House in 2024 , is that the bigotry will wear a prayerful mask .

“It is a privilege to share the stage with you Senator Harris,” said Vice President Mike Pence, and those 11 words signaled a new strategy. It was a turn-on-a-dime maneuver from President Trump’s disastrous September 29 debate that tanked his polls. If Trump was a rabid blowhard, Pence would be calm and respectful. Implicit in the serene composure was a decision; he was not there to save Trump’s presidency but to audition for his own.
Last night’s vice-presidential debate in Salt Lake City showed two politicians who are a heartbeat away from the presidency. If Trump’s health worsens from his COVID-19 illness, or he dies, then Pence assumes the Oval Office. If Trump loses the election, Pence becomes an already seasoned contender for 2024.
Despite the normalcy of his demeanor, Pence could pose an even greater threat to civil and human rights than Trump. His tranquil voice and Christian piety conceal an extreme fundamentalist agenda. He seeks to unleash brutal policies against women and LGBTQ people, and to dismantle the separation of church and state, threatening the rights of those who don’t believe in the God whose banner he claims to operate under.
Trump’s Strategic Alliance With Pence
How did Pence even get on that stage? Years ago, Trump crisscrossed the nation and lit the latent jingoism and racism into rallies that were bonfires of hate. Trump sold “The Wall” as both a real wall on the U.S.-Mexican Border but also as a metaphor to stop diversity from changing the nation.
It worked. He had billionaires. He had whites without a college degree. He had racists. He had sexists. But he needed the Evangelicals.
The Evangelical vote is vital for Republicans to win. In 2016, there were 231 million Americans eligible to vote. Trump got 62 million and Hillary Clinton 65 million. Tallied up, that is roughly only 60 percent of the electorate. One out every four voters is Evangelical, which adds up to almost the same size voting bloc as people of color from all religions. Alongside free marketers, the “alt-right,” Tea Partiers and Libertarians, Evangelicals are a needed part of the Conservative Coalition.
Republicans faced a problem: How to turn a man who divorced multiple wives, cheated with adult film stars and whose daughter laughed when he was called a “sex predator” on “The Howard Stern Show” into an acceptable vehicle for God’s will on Earth.
Enter Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. According to a Politico report, Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort and Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus pulled for Pence because he would get out the Bible thumpers. When Trump landed in Indiana, the local Republican Party Chair Jeff Cardwell told him, “Mike Pence will deliver the Evangelical vote, he will deliver the Rust Belt.”
Trump’s choice of Pence locked in the Christian vote. In order to justify support for an obviously profane man, the Evangelical media reimagined Trump as a flawed vehicle for God’s will, comparing him to the biblical figure of King Cyrus, whom Evangelical leader Mike Evans has described as “an imperfect vessel” and “flawed human being” who “was used as an instrument of God for deliverance in the Bible.” He would save them from the growing power of secular America, where comedians from George Carlin to Bill Burr routinely roasted the church. Trump would pantomime anti-abortion values by signing the Born Alive Executive Order. Meanwhile, some Evangelicals look at his backing of the right-wing Israeli government and hope he catalyzes the Second Coming in which Christ returns to carry away the righteous as the rest of us burn in Hell.
Pence presided over Trump’s “rebirth” as the standard bearer for the right-wing Christian movement. Now as the president’s campaign for reelection implodes, Pence can position himself as the natural successor to lead Trump’s coalition. It would be easy. The deep hatred of difference that drove Trump to the White House also drives many Evangelicals.
Pence’s Trademark Piety Hides His Brutal Policy Stances
Every step of the way, Pence stood behind Trump and employed his trademark piety to mask a ruthlessly anti-egalitarian ideology. It is harder to see behind his tranquil voice and showy courtesy. Peek behind the mask and a terrifying history opens to view.
Pence has pushed pro-corporate, homophobic, anti-immigrant, pro-war, pro-drug war policies again and again. Those are the facts. He was against raising the minimum wage, saying it would “hurt the working poor.” He opposed LGBTQ military service and gay marriage, saying, “societal collapse was always brought about following … the deterioration of marriage and family.” He supported the Iraq War. He wanted to keep draconian penalties for marijuana and opposed its legalization. He admits climate change is real but offers no solution to the existential threat to humanity. In short, Pence is like a nightmare version of Oprah, but instead of everyone getting a car, it’s as if Pence is gleefully shouting, “And you get a Hell! And you get a Hell! And you too!”
With Trump’s approval ratings sliding, the Republican Party is surely shopping around for a new leader. After the 24-hour wall-to-wall circus of the Trump administration, it will likely enlist a more coherent and made-for-TV personality like Pence or even Tucker Carlson.
Right-wing media and political networks are a conveyor belt carrying mediocre men into the halls of power. Empowered by a now solidly conservative Supreme Court — where Judge Amy Coney Barrett is being rushed to confirmation — and a Senate and Electoral College that is a red state firewall against the younger, more diverse Democratic-leaning majority, the Republican Party may slowly seek to transform the U.S. into an episode of The Handmaid’s Tale.
In the coming years, whether or not Trump is re-elected, we may see Roe v. Wade or the gay marriage decision be overturned in the Supreme Court. The suffering that could be visited upon women and the LGBTQ community in the name of religion would be devastating. It is a future Pence is working to bring about.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in 2019 that “removing Trump will not remove the infrastructure of an entire party that embraced him; the dark money that funded him; the online radicalization that drummed his army; nor the racism he amplified+reanimated.”
She is right. Trumpism is here to stay. The only difference if Mike Pence takes over now, or makes a run for the White House in 2024, is that the bigotry will wear a prayerful mask.
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--2020-10-08--Trump Blames His COVID Diagnosis on Grieving Military Families

President Donald Trump appeared to blame his recent coronavirus diagnosis on Gold Star families — the families of military members who died while serving — during an interview on Fox Business Thursday .
Speaking with host Maria Bartiromo , Trump said he did not distance from people who wanted to tell him stories of their loved ones in the military , which may have resulted in him contracting the disease .
“ They want to hug me , and they want to kiss me , ” Trump said during the interview .
“ And they do .
And , frankly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to back up .
I ’ m not doing it.
” In reality , Trump ’ s standard mode of operation has consistently included meeting in close quarters without a mask with groups of people — for example , he appeared unmasked at an indoor news conference with reporters at the White House on September 23 — so there appears to be no logical backing for his attempt to tie his diagnosis to the military families in particular .
The president ’ s comments appear to be an effort to frame the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequence of patriotism rather than a refusal of Trump and his inner circle to follow basic social distancing guidelines .
It ’ s widely believed that a Rose Garden event to announce Amy Coney Barrett as Trump ’ s pick for the Supreme Court was a superspreader event for the disease .
Many who were in attendance for that ceremony — which took place both outside and indoors — were not wearing masks or facial coverings .
Participants were seated closely together , in violation of social distancing rules to prevent the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know that it ’ s a superspreader event for sure , but it certainly has all the makings of one , ” Harvard public health researcher Joseph Allen told Vox .
“ When you have large numbers of people spending time in close contact , unmasked , and indoors , it ’ s a recipe for superspreading.
” The Rose Garden ceremony , if it is indeed a superspreader event , could have consequences that go far beyond Washington , D.C. , potentially reaching across other parts of the country and putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The coronavirus has infected more than 7.7 million in the U.S. so far , including dozens of positive diagnoses being identified within or connected to the White House itself in recent days .
According to reporting from USA Today , participants from the Rose Garden ceremony traveled from various places around the nation .
Because they were likely exposed to the disease , some who were there likely also spread coronavirus upon returning to their home states , and as a direct result of their attending the event .
“ I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this outbreak yet … people could die , ” said Danielle Ompad , epidemiologist at New York University ’ s School of Global Public Health .
Trump ’ s deflection of responsibility for the spread of the coronavirus comes just over a month after an explosive report detailed his offensive views of veterans and members of the military .
Trump allegedly expressed negative views of people who have served , calling soldiers who died in wars “ losers ” and “ suckers , ” according to that report , which was corroborated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was first published .

The president said he may have contracted coronavirus from Gold Star families who wanted to hug and kiss him.
President Donald Trump appeared to blame his recent coronavirus diagnosis on Gold Star families — the families of military members who died while serving — during an interview on Fox Business Thursday.
Speaking with host Maria Bartiromo, Trump said he did not distance from people who wanted to tell him stories of their loved ones in the military, which may have resulted in him contracting the disease.
“They want to hug me, and they want to kiss me,” Trump said during the interview. “And they do. And, frankly, I’m not telling them to back up. I’m not doing it.”
In reality, Trump’s standard mode of operation has consistently included meeting in close quarters without a mask with groups of people — for example, he appeared unmasked at an indoor news conference with reporters at the White House on September 23 — so there appears to be no logical backing for his attempt to tie his diagnosis to the military families in particular.
The president’s comments appear to be an effort to frame the spread of COVID-19 within his administration as a consequence of patriotism rather than a refusal of Trump and his inner circle to follow basic social distancing guidelines. It’s widely believed that a Rose Garden event to announce Amy Coney Barrett as Trump’s pick for the Supreme Court was a superspreader event for the disease.
Many who were in attendance for that ceremony — which took place both outside and indoors — were not wearing masks or facial coverings. Participants were seated closely together, in violation of social distancing rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We don’t know that it’s a superspreader event for sure, but it certainly has all the makings of one,” Harvard public health researcher Joseph Allen told Vox. “When you have large numbers of people spending time in close contact, unmasked, and indoors, it’s a recipe for superspreading.”
The Rose Garden ceremony, if it is indeed a superspreader event, could have consequences that go far beyond Washington, D.C., potentially reaching across other parts of the country and putting thousands of Americans’ lives at risk.
The coronavirus has infected more than 7.7 million in the U.S. so far, including dozens of positive diagnoses being identified within or connected to the White House itself in recent days.
According to reporting from USA Today, participants from the Rose Garden ceremony traveled from various places around the nation. Because they were likely exposed to the disease, some who were there likely also spread coronavirus upon returning to their home states, and as a direct result of their attending the event.
“I don’t think we know the extent of this outbreak yet … people could die,” said Danielle Ompad, epidemiologist at New York University’s School of Global Public Health.
Trump’s deflection of responsibility for the spread of the coronavirus comes just over a month after an explosive report detailed his offensive views of veterans and members of the military.
Trump allegedly expressed negative views of people who have served, calling soldiers who died in wars “losers” and “suckers,” according to that report, which was corroborated by other media outlets immediately after it was first published.
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--2020-10-08--Pence’s Handling of COVID Is Straight Out of the Christian Right Playbook

Hours before Wednesday ’ s vice presidential debate , one of the nation ’ s leading medical journals released a scathing and unprecedented plea for voters to reject Trump and Pence ’ s reelection bid , calling their leadership on COVID-19 “ dangerously incompetent.
” Sen. Kamala Harris echoed that language in her strongest moments of the debate , ripping Pence for allowing more than 200,000 people to die of COVID .
“ The American people have had to sacrifice far too much because of the incompetence of this administration , ” she said .
After Harris expressed skepticism about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine without adequate approval or testing from the medical community , Pence said , “ Stop playing politics with people ’ s lives.
” Though Pence directed that line toward Harris , it could more appropriately be recast as a description of the true nature of the Trump administration ’ s failures .
These failures are not mere incompetence ; they are part of an ideological project to consolidate power while attempting to deceive people into accepting the loss of their own rights , health and safety .
And they are part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing for his entire career — one that he honed while attacking reproductive and LGBTQ rights in Indiana .
In its editorial Wednesday , The New England Journal of Medicine accused the Trump-Pence administration of eviscerating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , sidelining experts at the National Institutes of Health and politicizing the Food and Drug Administration .
That pattern — sideline the experts , ignore the science , politicize and defund the regulatory agencies — will sound all too familiar to those who follow the Christian Right .
Since well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to reproductive and LGBTQ health care by circulating lies about people seeking abortions because of a fetus ’ s race , spreading the outrageous myth that rape can ’ t result in pregnancy and pretending that medication abortions can be reversed .
The Food and Drug Administration has made ideologically motivated decisions before , including imposing onerous “ black box ” restrictions like those used for narcotics on the abortion-inducing medication mifepristone , despite studies showing it is safe .
The tendency to lie to advance an agenda is not something Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2001 , when Pence first ran for Congress , he sided with tobacco and fossil fuel companies , claiming that “ smoking doesn ’ t kill ” and “ global warming is a myth.
” Fifteen years later , Pence again sided with toxic industry against the people in its path when he turned his back on residents of the lead-poisoned city of East Chicago , Indiana — most of whom are people of color .
Years of lead and chemical production had left people living in a public housing complex around lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal safety threshold .
In one of his final acts as governor , Pence rejected a plea from the city ’ s mayor imploring him to issue a state of emergency to help people sickened by lead and arsenic .
He claimed the declaration was unnecessary “ given the level of coordination among federal , state and local agencies.
” But his successor , Republican Eric Holcomb , reversed that decision a month after taking office .
When Pence left Indiana after four years as governor , he had been poised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the unpopularity of his attacks on LGBTQ rights .
In 2015 , in a closed-door ceremony surrounded by figures from the Christian Right , Pence signed a law that enabled businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people , a move he claimed was done to preserve “ religious freedom.
” A national outcry ensued , businesses threatened to boycott the state , and The Indianapolis Star ran a front page headline that read “ Fix This Now , ” prompting Pence to sign revisions to the law .
Under Pence ’ s leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the criminalization of pregnancy when Purvi Patel was sentenced to 20 years in prison after prosecutors claimed she induced her own abortion ; she was later released after a court overturned her feticide conviction .
Pence signed one of the nation ’ s most extreme anti-choice laws , HEA 1337 , which banned abortions motivated by fetal race , sex or genetic anomaly , and required burial or cremation of all miscarried or aborted fetuses .
Pence revealed his willingness to circulate misinformation and lies in the service of his extreme anti-choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicated to the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
“ Joe Biden and Kamala Harris support taxpayer funding of abortion all the way up to the moment of birth , ” Pence falsely claimed .
In reality abortion at the “ moment of birth ” isn ’ t abortion , it ’ s infanticide , which is illegal — and certainly not something Biden or Harris have supported .
Biden actually supported the long-standing federal ban on public funding of abortion until last June , when mounting public pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Few people bear more responsibility for the catastrophic toll of COVID-19 in the United States than Mike Pence , who , as head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , was charged with overseeing the federal government ’ s response to the pandemic .
Instead , he gave false assurances that the administration was “ winning the fight ” against COVID-19 and pressed states to reopen .
When he appointed Pence to the task force , Trump cited the vice president ’ s record on health care in Indiana .
But as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that record involved ignoring the experts and pursuing ideology at the expense of vulnerable people .
As governor of Indiana , Pence oversaw the rollout of what The Atlantic called “ the most conservative Medicaid expansion program in the country.
” Hundreds of thousands of people lost health care coverage , never enrolled , or were shifted to a weaker plan because they failed to meet state requirements for paying premiums .
The architect of this plan , Seema Verma , is now an administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act in the middle of a pandemic .
Perhaps the closest parallel to this pandemic that Pence faced while governor of Indiana was the outbreak of HIV due to drug usage in Scott County , where more than 200 people were infected in the town of Austin , which has a population of just 4,000 .
When the outbreak began in 2015 , experts urged Pence to allow needle exchanges , but Pence again rejected science in favor of ideology , and refused .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pray on what to do , ” The Guardian reported .
While he did so , dozens more people were confirmed to have the virus .
Ultimately , Pence relented and approved the exchanges .
Despite his role as head of the Coronavirus Task Force , Pence has been widely seen as a buttoned-up puppet of the president ’ s — a “ normal avatar of Trump , ” as The Nation ’ s Jeet Heer described his performance in Wednesday ’ s debate .
But Pence didn ’ t need Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda through deception .
In this case , the goal is power , and it appears Pence will apply all of the tricks in his playbook in order to hold on to it .

Hours before Wednesday’s vice presidential debate, one of the nation’s leading medical journals released a scathing and unprecedented plea for voters to reject Trump and Pence’s reelection bid, calling their leadership on COVID-19 “dangerously incompetent.”
Sen. Kamala Harris echoed that language in her strongest moments of the debate, ripping Pence for allowing more than 200,000 people to die of COVID. “The American people have had to sacrifice far too much because of the incompetence of this administration,” she said.
After Harris expressed skepticism about Trump’s efforts to expedite a vaccine without adequate approval or testing from the medical community, Pence said, “Stop playing politics with people’s lives.”
Though Pence directed that line toward Harris, it could more appropriately be recast as a description of the true nature of the Trump administration’s failures. These failures are not mere incompetence; they are part of an ideological project to consolidate power while attempting to deceive people into accepting the loss of their own rights, health and safety. And they are part of a playbook that Mike Pence has been developing for his entire career — one that he honed while attacking reproductive and LGBTQ rights in Indiana.
In its editorial Wednesday, The New England Journal of Medicine accused the Trump-Pence administration of eviscerating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sidelining experts at the National Institutes of Health and politicizing the Food and Drug Administration. That pattern — sideline the experts, ignore the science, politicize and defund the regulatory agencies — will sound all too familiar to those who follow the Christian Right. Since well before COVID, anti-choice politicians have eroded access to reproductive and LGBTQ health care by circulating lies about people seeking abortions because of a fetus’s race, spreading the outrageous myth that rape can’t result in pregnancy and pretending that medication abortions can be reversed. The Food and Drug Administration has made ideologically motivated decisions before, including imposing onerous “black box” restrictions like those used for narcotics on the abortion-inducing medication mifepristone, despite studies showing it is safe.
The tendency to lie to advance an agenda is not something Pence needed to learn from Trump. In 2001, when Pence first ran for Congress, he sided with tobacco and fossil fuel companies, claiming that “smoking doesn’t kill” and “global warming is a myth.” Fifteen years later, Pence again sided with toxic industry against the people in its path when he turned his back on residents of the lead-poisoned city of East Chicago, Indiana — most of whom are people of color. Years of lead and chemical production had left people living in a public housing complex around lead levels that were more than 200 times the federal safety threshold. In one of his final acts as governor, Pence rejected a plea from the city’s mayor imploring him to issue a state of emergency to help people sickened by lead and arsenic. He claimed the declaration was unnecessary “given the level of coordination among federal, state and local agencies.” But his successor, Republican Eric Holcomb, reversed that decision a month after taking office.
When Pence left Indiana after four years as governor, he had been poised to lose his reelection bid in part because of the unpopularity of his attacks on LGBTQ rights. In 2015, in a closed-door ceremony surrounded by figures from the Christian Right, Pence signed a law that enabled businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people, a move he claimed was done to preserve “religious freedom.” A national outcry ensued, businesses threatened to boycott the state, and The Indianapolis Star ran a front page headline that read “Fix This Now,” prompting Pence to sign revisions to the law.
Under Pence’s leadership, Indiana also became a cautionary tale for the criminalization of pregnancy when Purvi Patel was sentenced to 20 years in prison after prosecutors claimed she induced her own abortion; she was later released after a court overturned her feticide conviction. Pence signed one of the nation’s most extreme anti-choice laws, HEA 1337, which banned abortions motivated by fetal race, sex or genetic anomaly, and required burial or cremation of all miscarried or aborted fetuses.
Pence revealed his willingness to circulate misinformation and lies in the service of his extreme anti-choice agenda during the portion of the debate dedicated to the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris support taxpayer funding of abortion all the way up to the moment of birth,” Pence falsely claimed. In reality abortion at the “moment of birth” isn’t abortion, it’s infanticide, which is illegal — and certainly not something Biden or Harris have supported. Biden actually supported the long-standing federal ban on public funding of abortion until last June, when mounting public pressure forced him to reverse his position.
Few people bear more responsibility for the catastrophic toll of COVID-19 in the United States than Mike Pence, who, as head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, was charged with overseeing the federal government’s response to the pandemic. Instead, he gave false assurances that the administration was “winning the fight” against COVID-19 and pressed states to reopen. When he appointed Pence to the task force, Trump cited the vice president’s record on health care in Indiana. But as with much of Pence’s career, that record involved ignoring the experts and pursuing ideology at the expense of vulnerable people. As governor of Indiana, Pence oversaw the rollout of what The Atlantic called “the most conservative Medicaid expansion program in the country.” Hundreds of thousands of people lost health care coverage, never enrolled, or were shifted to a weaker plan because they failed to meet state requirements for paying premiums. The architect of this plan, Seema Verma, is now an administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and part of an administration that is attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act in the middle of a pandemic.
Perhaps the closest parallel to this pandemic that Pence faced while governor of Indiana was the outbreak of HIV due to drug usage in Scott County, where more than 200 people were infected in the town of Austin, which has a population of just 4,000. When the outbreak began in 2015, experts urged Pence to allow needle exchanges, but Pence again rejected science in favor of ideology, and refused. “Pence instead told people he was going to pray on what to do,” The Guardian reported. While he did so, dozens more people were confirmed to have the virus. Ultimately, Pence relented and approved the exchanges.
Despite his role as head of the Coronavirus Task Force, Pence has been widely seen as a buttoned-up puppet of the president’s — a “normal avatar of Trump,” as The Nation’s Jeet Heer described his performance in Wednesday’s debate. But Pence didn’t need Trump to show him how to pursue an agenda through deception. In this case, the goal is power, and it appears Pence will apply all of the tricks in his playbook in order to hold on to it.
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--2020-10-08--Pence Refused to Say Whether Trump Would Accept Election Outcome

It is a fascinating symptom of the age : We were all told by the media ( and even by me , guilty as charged ) to prepare for World War Eleventy when Mike Pence and Kamala Harris met for the only vice presidential debate of the campaign .
She ’ s gon na , he ’ s gon na , oh it ’ s gon na be , and we all leaned into our televisions and saw… a debate .
Not a gross national embarrassment like we saw last week , not a herd of mooing cattle desperately trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 overstuffed events during the primaries .
Last night was two people , one moderator , and the general tone of voice expected of an NPR broadcaster .
Did it get rude and chippy at times ?
Of course ; Mike Pence was there , along with a fly who picked up nearly a million Twitter followers overnight .
The fly was less annoying than the vice president by yards .
The VP debate was weird , to be sure , especially in the absence of the anticipated fireworks .
Pence told all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — about Biden , about COVID vs. the flu , about China , the environment , abortion , jobs , Russia and the impeachment , health care , taxes , abortion — but did so in complete sentences that , strangely enough , made them even less palatable .
Coherent dishonesty can be far more disturbing than incoherent dishonesty .
Yes , there was plenty to be sickened by , especially on the fly ’ s side of the occasion .
While Pence did not garble and howl over his opponent and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the agreed-upon time format of the event .
By the end of the night , Harris had thrown so much shade at Pence ’ s drearily unstoppable drone that she could have been a window treatments associate at Bed Bath & Beyond .
Nothing stopped him ; moderator Susan Page was a sandcastle wall against the slow onrushing of the evening tide .
From a progressive perspective , last night presented ample opportunities for both optimism and disappointment .
Kamala Harris , the groundbreaking first Black/South Asian VP nominee in U.S. history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate participant could ever hope to be .
Yet many left-leaning viewers were disappointed by her references to “ good cops , ” her touting of body cameras as a real solution to police-perpetrated violence , and her ardent defense of the environmentally ruinous practice of fracking in the face of Pence ’ s accusations that she and Joe Biden were insufficiently in thrall to fossil fuels .
Harris ’ s robust defense of fracking comes as little surprise , alas .
Despite her own past opposition to fracking , the practice has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Democratic Party for years ; recall Hillary Clinton peddling the practice internationally from her post as secretary of state .
The center-right Biden/Harris ticket may as well have sprung whole from the forehead of the Democratic National Committee ( DNC ) , like Zeus giving life to Athena but way less cool .
This ticket is the DNC , and the DNC digs fracking .
There are also the swing-state politics to consider .
Any number of election day scenarios have Pennsylvania being the ballgame — win there and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a popular jobs program in the swath of that state between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh .
Pence did not accidentally accuse Biden and Harris of seeking to end fracking ; Trump is behind in Pennsylvania by anything from four to 13 points , depending on the poll , and his path to victory is nearly invisible without a win in that state .
Harris rising in defense of fracking last night was , morosely , a smart electoral tactic .
Yet , as ever , Pence played the role of his boss and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this administration .
His performance , measured though it was , reminded voters that a tidal wave of fascism threatens to wipe out democracy as we understand it .
When pointedly asked if Trump will accept the outcome of the election , He Who Walks Behind the Rows did an artless pirouette and spun the question , unanswered , out into the COVID night .
Meet the new boss , same as the old boss .
Despite polls that indicate Harris won the evening , and that Biden leads Trump by overwhelming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that the administration may attempt to simply ignore the election results .
Even a clear majority could be deemed “ fake news ” in the world of Trump .
No amount of calm debating could obscure this glaring concern .
And all of a sudden , last night ’ s event may have been the final debate of the 2020 presidential election .
Trump ’ s COVID infection has made his participation in any in-person event a potentially lethal affair for all involved .
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done remotely , also known as responsibly .
Trump immediately dismissed this edict and declared he will not participate .
Thank God for small favors .
If last night was it , the final round-up , the capstone event to the most ridiculous presidential election campaign in memory , well , at least it was goddamn quiet .
However , we must not pretend that quiet equals innocuous .
Pence ’ s sidestep of the debate ’ s most important question was deeply disquieting , again .

It is a fascinating symptom of the age: We were all told by the media (and even by me, guilty as charged) to prepare for World War Eleventy when Mike Pence and Kamala Harris met for the only vice presidential debate of the campaign. She’s gonna, he’s gonna, oh it’s gonna be, and we all leaned into our televisions and saw… a debate.
Not a gross national embarrassment like we saw last week, not a herd of mooing cattle desperately trying to squeeze three extra seconds out of 13 overstuffed events during the primaries. Last night was two people, one moderator, and the general tone of voice expected of an NPR broadcaster. Did it get rude and chippy at times? Of course; Mike Pence was there, along with a fly who picked up nearly a million Twitter followers overnight. The fly was less annoying than the vice president by yards.
The VP debate was weird, to be sure, especially in the absence of the anticipated fireworks. Pence told all of the same lies Donald Trump tells — about Biden, about COVID vs. the flu, about China, the environment, abortion, jobs, Russia and the impeachment, health care, taxes, abortion — but did so in complete sentences that, strangely enough, made them even less palatable. Coherent dishonesty can be far more disturbing than incoherent dishonesty.
Yes, there was plenty to be sickened by, especially on the fly’s side of the occasion. While Pence did not garble and howl over his opponent and the moderator, he pointedly refused to adhere to the agreed-upon time format of the event. By the end of the night, Harris had thrown so much shade at Pence’s drearily unstoppable drone that she could have been a window treatments associate at Bed Bath & Beyond. Nothing stopped him; moderator Susan Page was a sandcastle wall against the slow onrushing of the evening tide.
From a progressive perspective, last night presented ample opportunities for both optimism and disappointment. Kamala Harris, the groundbreaking first Black/South Asian VP nominee in U.S. history, was as prepared as any national debate participant could ever hope to be. Yet many left-leaning viewers were disappointed by her references to “good cops,” her touting of body cameras as a real solution to police-perpetrated violence, and her ardent defense of the environmentally ruinous practice of fracking in the face of Pence’s accusations that she and Joe Biden were insufficiently in thrall to fossil fuels.
Harris’s robust defense of fracking comes as little surprise, alas. Despite her own past opposition to fracking, the practice has been favored among the corporate establishment wing of the Democratic Party for years; recall Hillary Clinton peddling the practice internationally from her post as secretary of state. The center-right Biden/Harris ticket may as well have sprung whole from the forehead of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), like Zeus giving life to Athena but way less cool. This ticket is the DNC, and the DNC digs fracking.
As ever, Pence played the role of his boss and reminded voters why getting bogged down in such considerations is a luxury as a tidal wave of fascism threatens to wipe out democracy as we understand it.
There are also the swing-state politics to consider. Any number of election day scenarios have Pennsylvania being the ballgame — win there and it’s in the bag — and fracking is a popular jobs program in the swath of that state between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Pence did not accidentally accuse Biden and Harris of seeking to end fracking; Trump is behind in Pennsylvania by anything from four to 13 points, depending on the poll, and his path to victory is nearly invisible without a win in that state. Harris rising in defense of fracking last night was, morosely, a smart electoral tactic.
Yet, as ever, Pence played the role of his boss and dug in on the most alarming elements of this administration. His performance, measured though it was, reminded voters that a tidal wave of fascism threatens to wipe out democracy as we understand it. When pointedly asked if Trump will accept the outcome of the election, He Who Walks Behind the Rows did an artless pirouette and spun the question, unanswered, out into the COVID night. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Despite polls that indicate Harris won the evening, and that Biden leads Trump by overwhelming margins, Pence’s maneuver highlights the fact that the administration may attempt to simply ignore the election results. Even a clear majority could be deemed “fake news” in the world of Trump. No amount of calm debating could obscure this glaring concern.
And all of a sudden, last night’s event may have been the final debate of the 2020 presidential election. Trump’s COVID infection has made his participation in any in-person event a potentially lethal affair for all involved. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Thursday that the next Trump-Biden debate will be done remotely, also known as responsibly. Trump immediately dismissed this edict and declared he will not participate.
Thank God for small favors. If last night was it, the final round-up, the capstone event to the most ridiculous presidential election campaign in memory, well, at least it was goddamn quiet.
However, we must not pretend that quiet equals innocuous. Pence’s sidestep of the debate’s most important question was deeply disquieting, again.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-10-08--Rev. William Barber: Republicans Can’t Win Without Voter Suppression

During Wednesday ’ s debate , Vice President Mike Pence refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power if Biden wins the election .
Instead , he referenced the Trump administration ’ s legal efforts to restrict mail-in voting .
Rev .
William Barber says the Republican Party ’ s voter suppression efforts ahead of the November election , aimed primarily at Black and Brown voters , amount to “ surgical racism with surgical precision.
” The Poor People ’ s Campaign , of which Barber is co-chair , is leading a major voter mobilization effort to combat voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not win if everybody votes .
They are terribly afraid of poor and low-wealth Black and Brown people voting , ” he says .
This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : Reverend Barber , near the end of the debate , Vice President Mike Pence refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power if Biden wins the election .
Instead , he commented on the Trump administration ’ s legal efforts to restrict mail-in voting .
AMY GOODMAN : So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s efforts to stop voting , and also what you ’ re doing .
But the significance of this ?
REV .
WILLIAM BARBER II : You know , I come from a unique place .
North Carolina was the scene of the crime of the worst voter suppression , after the case out of Alabama and when the Supreme Court gutted Section 5 .
And Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that it ’ s like putting away your umbrella — the Shelby case , it was — putting away your umbrella @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , Amy , when it was done , the Republicans there said , “ Now that the problem has — the headache has been removed , we can do what we want to.
” And guess what .
Everything Pence just said , we heard in 2013 .
And they tried to roll back every progressive way of voting .
And they actually went to the books and looked at how did it benefit Black and Brown people and young people , and those were the rules they tried to roll back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgical — surgical racism .
And what I saw in North Carolina , what we defeated in North Carolina , what we filed suit against in North Carolina , is now what Trump and Pence are talking about doing on the national level : surgical racism with surgical precision .
I wish the moderator had drilled down on that voting rights case , because , you know , Pence and Trump don ’ t believe in the Voting Rights Act .
I mean , Republicans don ’ t believe in restoring it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott , they don ’ t believe in it .
They know they can not win if everybody votes .
They are terribly afraid of poor and low-wealth Black and Brown people voting .
So , what are we doing ?
We ’ re saying to people , “ You have to vote.
” We have a campaign called “ We Must Do M.O.R.E.
” And your listeners can go to www.PoorPeoplesCampaign.org .
We ’ ve mobilized more than 5,000 persons to make over a million calls to poor and low-wealth people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage of poor and low-wealth people that need to turn out to change who sits in the Senate , who sits in the presidency , who sits in governor ’ s mansions and general assemblies , is under 20 % .
We are mobilizing all over the country .
We are putting out people to do poll watching .
And we have a relationship with Forward Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund , creating poll voting protection so that people know where to call , where they have the legal — what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re training them .
We ’ re mobilizing a thousand times , a thousand congregations , temples and mosques , that are going to organize a thousand people in their congregations , over a million people .
We ’ re organizing 10,000 people of faith , that we ’ re asking each one of them to reach out to a hundred people and to get them to the polls and vote .
And we ’ re telling people , vote by absentee ballot .
In North Carolina , where we have 16 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if you vote on Election Day , then put your shield on , put your mask on , put your gloves on .
Pack you a lunch .
Get you a folding chair .
Put some water in that lunch bag and vote .
And if they want to come watch us vote , let them watch millions of people , because we ’ re not scared .
We ’ re not giving away this democracy .
Let them come and watch .
And then stop saying Trump won the last time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College because of 80,000 votes .
We have to end this mythology that he had some kind of superpower .
The fact of the matter is , 100 million people did not vote .
The fact of the matter — AMY GOODMAN : Reverend Barber , at one point during the debate , a fly landed on Pence ’ s head for nearly two-and-a-half minutes , prompting widespread commentary online .
Professor Ibram X. Kendi , author of the best-selling book How to Be an Antiracist , tweeted , “ As soon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism , the fly got him !
” And you have a record last night , a ceiling shattered .
Senator Kamala Harris made history as the first Black woman to debate a white man in a presidential or vice-presidential debate .
She was the first Black woman , Indian American woman .
The significance of this , in the last 20 seconds we have ?
REV .
WILLIAM BARBER II : Yeah , she was fusion politics indeed .
She was the second Black woman to be the vice president on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to debate .
You know , I couldn ’ t help but go to the Book of Exodus , where it talked about where God said , “ If you don ’ t let my people go , I ’ m going to cause flies to come as a sign of what ’ s wrong .
But I won ’ t let the flies be on the people , but the fly will be a symbol that you ’ re just wrong .
You ’ re lying .
Let my people go.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people go .
They ’ ve been holding poor and low-wealth people hostage , essential workers hostage .
It ’ s time for a change in this country .
AMY GOODMAN : Reverend Dr. William Barber , co-chair of the Poor People ’ s Campaign , we want to thank you so much for being with us , speaking to us from Raleigh , North Carolina .
To see the full debate at democracynow.org , go there , and you can see the 90 minutes .
Again , President Trump says he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ ll bring you the latest .
Check at democracynow.org .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , with Nermeen Shaikh .
Stay safe .
Save lives .
Wear a mask .

During Wednesday’s debate, Vice President Mike Pence refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power if Biden wins the election. Instead, he referenced the Trump administration’s legal efforts to restrict mail-in voting. Rev. William Barber says the Republican Party’s voter suppression efforts ahead of the November election, aimed primarily at Black and Brown voters, amount to “surgical racism with surgical precision.” The Poor People’s Campaign, of which Barber is co-chair, is leading a major voter mobilization effort to combat voter disenfranchisement. “They know they cannot win if everybody votes. They are terribly afraid of poor and low-wealth Black and Brown people voting,” he says.
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Reverend Barber, near the end of the debate, Vice President Mike Pence refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power if Biden wins the election. Instead, he commented on the Trump administration’s legal efforts to restrict mail-in voting.
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: Let me just say, I think we’re going to win this election. President Trump and I are fighting every day in courthouses to prevent Joe Biden and Kamala Harris from changing the rules and creating this universal mail-in voting, that will create a massive opportunity for voter fraud. And we have a free and fair election. We know we’re going to have confidence in it. And I believe in all my heart that President Donald Trump is going to be reelected for four more years.
AMY GOODMAN: So, let’s talk about the Trump administration’s efforts to stop voting, and also what you’re doing. But the significance of this?
REV. WILLIAM BARBER II: You know, I come from a unique place. North Carolina was the scene of the crime of the worst voter suppression, after the case out of Alabama and when the Supreme Court gutted Section 5. And Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that it’s like putting away your umbrella — the Shelby case, it was — putting away your umbrella in a rainstorm. And in North Carolina, Amy, when it was done, the Republicans there said, “Now that the problem has — the headache has been removed, we can do what we want to.” And guess what. Everything Pence just said, we heard in 2013. And they tried to roll back every progressive way of voting. And they actually went to the books and looked at how did it benefit Black and Brown people and young people, and those were the rules they tried to roll back. And the court said it was surgical — surgical racism. And what I saw in North Carolina, what we defeated in North Carolina, what we filed suit against in North Carolina, is now what Trump and Pence are talking about doing on the national level: surgical racism with surgical precision.
I wish the moderator had drilled down on that voting rights case, because, you know, Pence and Trump don’t believe in the Voting Rights Act. I mean, Republicans don’t believe in restoring it. Even the Black one, like Tim Scott, they don’t believe in it. They know they cannot win if everybody votes. They are terribly afraid of poor and low-wealth Black and Brown people voting.
So, what are we doing? We’re saying to people, “You have to vote.” We have a campaign called “We Must Do M.O.R.E.” And your listeners can go to www.PoorPeoplesCampaign.org. We’ve mobilized more than 5,000 persons to make over a million calls to poor and low-wealth people in eight states, where we know the percentage of poor and low-wealth people that need to turn out to change who sits in the Senate, who sits in the presidency, who sits in governor’s mansions and general assemblies, is under 20%. We are mobilizing all over the country. We are putting out people to do poll watching. And we have a relationship with Forward Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, creating poll voting protection so that people know where to call, where they have the legal — what their legal rights are. We’re training them. We’re mobilizing a thousand times, a thousand congregations, temples and mosques, that are going to organize a thousand people in their congregations, over a million people. We’re organizing 10,000 people of faith, that we’re asking each one of them to reach out to a hundred people and to get them to the polls and vote.
And we’re telling people, vote by absentee ballot. In North Carolina, where we have 16 days of early voting, vote early. And if you vote on Election Day, then put your shield on, put your mask on, put your gloves on. Pack you a lunch. Get you a folding chair. Put some water in that lunch bag and vote. And if they want to come watch us vote, let them watch millions of people, because we’re not scared. We’re not giving away this democracy. Let them come and watch.
And then stop saying Trump won the last time. He was elected by the Electoral College because of 80,000 votes. We have to end this mythology that he had some kind of superpower. The fact of the matter is, 100 million people did not vote. The fact of the matter —
AMY GOODMAN: Reverend —
REV. WILLIAM BARBER II: — [inaudible] did not vote.
AMY GOODMAN: Reverend Barber, at one point during the debate, a fly landed on Pence’s head for nearly two-and-a-half minutes, prompting widespread commentary online. Professor Ibram X. Kendi, author of the best-selling book How to Be an Antiracist, tweeted, “As soon as Pence started denying the existence of systemic racism, the fly got him!” And you have a record last night, a ceiling shattered. Senator Kamala Harris made history as the first Black woman to debate a white man in a presidential or vice-presidential debate. She was the first Black woman, Indian American woman. The significance of this, in the last 20 seconds we have?
REV. WILLIAM BARBER II: Yeah, she was fusion politics indeed. She was the second Black woman to be the vice president on a major ticket, first on the stage to debate. You know, I couldn’t help but go to the Book of Exodus, where it talked about where God said, “If you don’t let my people go, I’m going to cause flies to come as a sign of what’s wrong. But I won’t let the flies be on the people, but the fly will be a symbol that you’re just wrong. You’re lying. Let my people go.” And Trump and Pence need to let the people go. They’ve been holding poor and low-wealth people hostage, essential workers hostage. It’s time for a change in this country.
AMY GOODMAN: Reverend Dr. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, we want to thank you so much for being with us, speaking to us from Raleigh, North Carolina.
To see the full debate at democracynow.org, go there, and you can see the 90 minutes. Again, President Trump says he refuses to participate in a virtual debate. We’ll bring you the latest. Check at democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman, with Nermeen Shaikh. Stay safe. Save lives. Wear a mask.


truthout--2020-10-08--A “Still Infectious” Trump Refuses to Participate in Virtual Debate

Immediately after the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates ( CPD ) announced on Thursday morning that it would hold its next debate between candidates virtually , President Donald Trump decried the idea , saying he would refuse to be a part of the event if it moved to that format .
The second debate between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , set to take place next week in Miami , was to be a town hall-style setup , with undecided voters asking questions of each of the candidates .
The CPD said its decision to change from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made in order “ to protect the health and safety of all involved.
” Under the rule change , both candidates would answer questions from separate locations instead of from the same debate hall .
The Biden campaign indicated it would accept the changes proposed by the nonpartisan CPD on how the candidates would debate .
“ Vice President Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump ’ s failed leadership on the coronavirus that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the worst downturn since the Great Depression , ” Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield said in a statement .
But the president himself forcefully rejected the plan , telling Fox Business ’ s Maria Bartiromo that the change was “ not acceptable to us.
” “ I ’ m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate , that ’ s not what debating is all about , ” Trump said .
“ You sit behind a computer and do a debate .
It ’ s ridiculous.
” Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates discuss the issues from remote locations has happened in the past .
When Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy debated each other in the third debate of the 1960 election campaign , they did it from Los Angeles and New York , respectively , with the moderator asking questions from Chicago .
The announced change in format to a virtual debate comes a week after Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19 .
Over the weekend , the president was airlifted by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as his condition worsened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital and returned to the White House , against the advice of his aides , and began to downplay the threat of the disease , much like he has since the beginning of the crisis .
Trump is reportedly still being treated for coronavirus , taking the steroid medication dexamethasone , which doctors say can make patients feel better than they actually are .
Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say he feels better at the moment , a “ reversal ” of Trump ’ s condition , where he could start “ going in the wrong direction ” in terms of recovery , is possible between now and next week .
With those possibilities in mind , experts have also warned that Trump would still likely be infectious by the time the next debate is scheduled to take place .
That would mean he would put everyone in the debate hall at risk of contracting COVID-19 , including Biden , the moderator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were held in a studio .
People close to the president , including his eldest son Donald Trump Jr. , immediately tried to spin the proposed changes to the next debate by suggesting they were happening in order to benefit Biden .
Trump Jr. specifically implied that the change came about due to what he said happened at the vice presidential debate on Wednesday evening .
“ Does anyone else find it awfully coincidental that the morning after [ Vice President ] Mike Pence destroys [ Democratic vice presidential nominee ] Kamala Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commission ’ unilaterally changes the format to obviously benefit Basement Biden ?
” Trump Jr. opined in a tweet .
Trump Jr. ’ s notion that Pence won the debate is not shared by everyone , however .
A snap poll conducted by CNN after that debate ended last night found that 59 percent of those who watched the debate felt Harris had won , with only 38 percent believing Pence had a better performance .
Similarly , polls after the first debate between Biden and Trump found that the former had performed @ @ @ @

Immediately after the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced on Thursday morning that it would hold its next debate between candidates virtually, President Donald Trump decried the idea, saying he would refuse to be a part of the event if it moved to that format.
The second debate between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, set to take place next week in Miami, was to be a town hall-style setup, with undecided voters asking questions of each of the candidates.
The CPD said its decision to change from an in-person debate to a virtual one was made in order “to protect the health and safety of all involved.” Under the rule change, both candidates would answer questions from separate locations instead of from the same debate hall.
The Biden campaign indicated it would accept the changes proposed by the nonpartisan CPD on how the candidates would debate.
“Vice President Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump’s failed leadership on the coronavirus that has thrown the strong economy he inherited into the worst downturn since the Great Depression,” Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield said in a statement.
But the president himself forcefully rejected the plan, telling Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo that the change was “not acceptable to us.”
“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate, that’s not what debating is all about,” Trump said. “You sit behind a computer and do a debate. It’s ridiculous.”
Although extremely uncommon, a debate where both candidates discuss the issues from remote locations has happened in the past. When Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy debated each other in the third debate of the 1960 election campaign, they did it from Los Angeles and New York, respectively, with the moderator asking questions from Chicago.
The announced change in format to a virtual debate comes a week after Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19. Over the weekend, the president was airlifted by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as his condition worsened. Yet by Monday, Trump left the hospital and returned to the White House, against the advice of his aides, and began to downplay the threat of the disease, much like he has since the beginning of the crisis.
Trump is reportedly still being treated for coronavirus, taking the steroid medication dexamethasone, which doctors say can make patients feel better than they actually are. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, said earlier this week that while Trump may say he feels better at the moment, a “reversal” of Trump’s condition, where he could start “going in the wrong direction” in terms of recovery, is possible between now and next week.
With those possibilities in mind, experts have also warned that Trump would still likely be infectious by the time the next debate is scheduled to take place. That would mean he would put everyone in the debate hall at risk of contracting COVID-19, including Biden, the moderator and audience members, if the event were held in a studio.
People close to the president, including his eldest son Donald Trump Jr., immediately tried to spin the proposed changes to the next debate by suggesting they were happening in order to benefit Biden. Trump Jr. specifically implied that the change came about due to what he said happened at the vice presidential debate on Wednesday evening.
“Does anyone else find it awfully coincidental that the morning after [Vice President] Mike Pence destroys [Democratic vice presidential nominee] Kamala Harris in a debate that the ‘debate commission’ unilaterally changes the format to obviously benefit Basement Biden?” Trump Jr. opined in a tweet.
Trump Jr.’s notion that Pence won the debate is not shared by everyone, however. A snap poll conducted by CNN after that debate ended last night found that 59 percent of those who watched the debate felt Harris had won, with only 38 percent believing Pence had a better performance. Similarly, polls after the first debate between Biden and Trump found that the former had performed better as well.
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--2020-10-08--Bernie Sanders Says Medicare Should Be Expanded Out of an “Abundance of Caution”

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday said the U.S. federal government should expand Medicare to everyone in the nation “ out of an abundance of caution ” — repurposing a phrase White House officials used to explain President Donald Trump ’ s brief stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , where he received a level of care that is systematically denied Americans who lack the means to pay for it .
New York Times reporter Sarah Kliff estimated Tuesday that Trump ’ s trip to and three-day stint at Walter Reed — which included a cocktail of experimental treatments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the typical American more than $ 100,000 , not to mention “ significant surprise bills and medical debt even after health insurance paid its share.
” “ Mr .
Trump did not have to worry about the costs of his care , which are covered by the federal government , ” Kliff noted .
“ Most Americans , including many who carry health coverage , do worry about receiving medical care they can not afford .
For some Americans , the bills could start mounting with frequent tests .
Insurers are generally required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order them , but not when employers do.
” “ Mr .
President : You attack ‘ socialized medicine ’ every single day .
Well , let ’ s be clear , ” the Vermont senator tweeted Tuesday .
“ The excellent care you received at Walter Reed was at a 100 % government-funded , government run hospital .
For Trump , ‘ socialized medicine ’ is bad for everyone but himself .
Total hypocrisy !
” In August , as Common Dreams reported , Sanders introduced legislation that would impose a 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billionaires have raked in during the coronavirus pandemic and use the resulting revenue to empower Medicare to pay all out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for everyone in the country for a year .
“ My bill to tax 60 % of the wealth gains billionaires made during the pandemic would increase Trump ’ s taxes by $ 240 million and provide healthcare to all , ” Sanders said Wednesday .
“ Instead , Trump paid just $ 750 in taxes and received 100 % government funded healthcare he ridicules as ‘ socialized medicine.
’ Sad @ @

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday said the U.S. federal government should expand Medicare to everyone in the nation “out of an abundance of caution” — repurposing a phrase White House officials used to explain President Donald Trump’s brief stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he received a level of care that is systematically denied Americans who lack the means to pay for it.
New York Times reporter Sarah Kliff estimated Tuesday that Trump’s trip to and three-day stint at Walter Reed — which included a cocktail of experimental treatments and frequent testing — would have cost the typical American more than $100,000, not to mention “significant surprise bills and medical debt even after health insurance paid its share.”
“Mr. Trump did not have to worry about the costs of his care, which are covered by the federal government,” Kliff noted. “Most Americans, including many who carry health coverage, do worry about receiving medical care they cannot afford. For some Americans, the bills could start mounting with frequent tests. Insurers are generally required to pay for those tests when physicians order them, but not when employers do.”
“Mr. President: You attack ‘socialized medicine’ every single day. Well, let’s be clear,” the Vermont senator tweeted Tuesday. “The excellent care you received at Walter Reed was at a 100% government-funded, government run hospital. For Trump, ‘socialized medicine’ is bad for everyone but himself. Total hypocrisy!”
In August, as Common Dreams reported, Sanders introduced legislation that would impose a 60% tax on the massive profits U.S. billionaires have raked in during the coronavirus pandemic and use the resulting revenue to empower Medicare to pay all out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for everyone in the country for a year.
“My bill to tax 60% of the wealth gains billionaires made during the pandemic would increase Trump’s taxes by $240 million and provide healthcare to all,” Sanders said Wednesday. “Instead, Trump paid just $750 in taxes and received 100% government funded healthcare he ridicules as ‘socialized medicine.’ Sad.”
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truthout--2020-10-08--Senate Race Between Lindsey Graham and Jaime Harrison Shifts to a “Toss-Up”

Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , has lost the slim edge he once held in his re-election bid in the wake of his first debate against Democratic rival Jaime Harrison , according to the analysts at Cook Political Report .
On Wednesday , the election monitor shifted the race ’ s outlook from “ lean Republican ” to “ toss-up.
” Cook calls the contest the most “ surprising race ” of the year , and it characterizes Harrison , a quiet political veteran who put his chops on national display for the first time in last Saturday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ best recruit and a fundraising behemoth.
” “ It ’ s a jump ball at this point , ” one South Carolina Republican strategist told Cook .
“ Jaime is peaking at exactly the right time , and he ’ s got a deluge of money .
[ Harrison ] is blocking every pass there is from Republicans.
” “ Less than a month from Election Day , this movement is in a prime position to defeat Lindsey Graham and bring hope back to all 46 counties of South Carolina , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
King attributes Harrison ’ s steady climb to a “ values-driven campaign , ” which appeals to an inclusive range of South Carolinians by “ addressing issues that Lindsey Graham forgot about long ago.
” Harrison has zeroed in on healthcare , coronavirus relief for small businesses and broadband internet access as central issues , which he addressed in a ranging two–part interview with Salon in July .
Republicans , according to Cook , have privately expressed frustration that Graham did not take Harrison seriously from the start , pointing out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African-American former state party chairman who tells a compelling story of growing up with a teen mother and being raised by his grandparents in impoverished Orangeburg ” — is obvious political gold .
The Harrison campaign has famously raised record amounts of cash , but less well-publicized is how the funds have been allocated .
Here , Cook points to the campaign ’ s advertising game : Harrison has so far either spent or reserved $ 60.3 million worth of TV and digital ads through Election Day , an amount which will increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by contrast , has spent or reserved just $ 20.6 million .
The success of those ads is not merely in the volume , Cook notes .
Harrison appeals to what could be “ Graham ’ s Achilles Heel — white women.
” His ads often feature middle-age or senior women with a record of supporting Graham , who now feel more closely aligned with Harrison ’ s “ values ” on issues like health care .
“ Harrison has made this race about character , and in other Democratic ads , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the ‘ swamp , ' ” Cook says .
“ And that seems to be working.
” A Quinnipiac survey last week found the two locked in a 48-48 tie , a showing which the underdog has sustained for two months .
Those results matched a Sept. 16 Quinnipiac poll , which also showed each candidate at 48 % .
Another Quinnipiac poll in early August found the two at 44 % , and the Harrison campaign ’ s internal numbers over the summer consistently showed a similar tight gap .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat elected to the Senate from South Carolina since 1998 , ” Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said in a news release .
“ Outspent and labeled by critics as an apologist for President Trump , Lindsey Graham is facing the fight of his political life.
” Graham has used multiple recent media appearances about upcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearings to complain that he was “ getting killed financially.
” The pain is real : Mitch McConnell ’ s Senate Leadership Fund has recently boosted Graham with $ 10 million in ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the problem to no one but Graham , who has “ put himself in far more of a national lightning rod role than he ever was when he was the late Sen. John McCain ’ s sidekick.
” Graham has publicly aligned himself with Trump , all but begging national Democratic backers to ship their checks to South Carolina .
Graham has recently turned for in-state support to his junior Senate colleague , Sen. Tim Scott , the only Black Republican in the upper chamber and the most popular statewide elected official in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Cook .
Scott has spoken up for Graham in two ads , which have just recently entered rotation .
But should Harrison win in November , South Carolina — the state whose secession from the Union in 1860 kicked off the Civil War — would become the first in U.S. history to send two Black senators to Capitol Hill at the same time .
Cook also points to the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett scheduled for next week as Graham ’ s “ one remaining Hail Mary.
” Graham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will play a marquee role in the hearings , which are expected to be explosive .
Graham will want to use the primetime facetime to remind South Carolina conservatives of his unique influence over the country ’ s federal benches , as he did during last week ’ s debate .
Harrison sought to highlight a split in Graham ’ s personal interests from those of South Carolina , and he brought a metaphor onstage with him — a plexiglass divider to separate himself from the incumbent , who had the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garden nomination ceremony , now thought to be a superspreader event .
Graham self-quarantined in March after he was exposed to the infection during a visit to Trump ’ s Palm Beach club , Mar-a-Lago .
He did not take similar steps this time .

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has lost the slim edge he once held in his re-election bid in the wake of his first debate against Democratic rival Jaime Harrison, according to the analysts at Cook Political Report. On Wednesday, the election monitor shifted the race’s outlook from “lean Republican” to “toss-up.”
Cook calls the contest the most “surprising race” of the year, and it characterizes Harrison, a quiet political veteran who put his chops on national display for the first time in last Saturday’s heated debate, as “perhaps Democrats’ best recruit and a fundraising behemoth.”
“It’s a jump ball at this point,” one South Carolina Republican strategist told Cook. “Jaime is peaking at exactly the right time, and he’s got a deluge of money. [Harrison] is blocking every pass there is from Republicans.”
“Less than a month from Election Day, this movement is in a prime position to defeat Lindsey Graham and bring hope back to all 46 counties of South Carolina,” Harrison campaign spokesperson Guy King told Salon.
King attributes Harrison’s steady climb to a “values-driven campaign,” which appeals to an inclusive range of South Carolinians by “addressing issues that Lindsey Graham forgot about long ago.”
Harrison has zeroed in on healthcare, coronavirus relief for small businesses and broadband internet access as central issues, which he addressed in a ranging two–part interview with Salon in July.
Republicans, according to Cook, have privately expressed frustration that Graham did not take Harrison seriously from the start, pointing out that his narrative — “a charismatic 44-year-old African-American former state party chairman who tells a compelling story of growing up with a teen mother and being raised by his grandparents in impoverished Orangeburg” — is obvious political gold.
The Harrison campaign has famously raised record amounts of cash, but less well-publicized is how the funds have been allocated. Here, Cook points to the campaign’s advertising game: Harrison has so far either spent or reserved $60.3 million worth of TV and digital ads through Election Day, an amount which will increase as Nov. 3 approaches. Graham, by contrast, has spent or reserved just $20.6 million.
The success of those ads is not merely in the volume, Cook notes. Harrison appeals to what could be “Graham’s Achilles Heel — white women.” His ads often feature middle-age or senior women with a record of supporting Graham, who now feel more closely aligned with Harrison’s “values” on issues like health care.
“Harrison has made this race about character, and in other Democratic ads, they turn the tables and paint Graham as part of the ‘swamp,'” Cook says. “And that seems to be working.”
A Quinnipiac survey last week found the two locked in a 48-48 tie, a showing which the underdog has sustained for two months. Those results matched a Sept. 16 Quinnipiac poll, which also showed each candidate at 48%. Another Quinnipiac poll in early August found the two at 44%, and the Harrison campaign’s internal numbers over the summer consistently showed a similar tight gap.
“There hasn’t been a Democrat elected to the Senate from South Carolina since 1998,” Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said in a news release. “Outspent and labeled by critics as an apologist for President Trump, Lindsey Graham is facing the fight of his political life.”
Graham has used multiple recent media appearances about upcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearings to complain that he was “getting killed financially.” The pain is real: Mitch McConnell’s Senate Leadership Fund has recently boosted Graham with $10 million in ad buys through Election Day.
Cook attributes the problem to no one but Graham, who has “put himself in far more of a national lightning rod role than he ever was when he was the late Sen. John McCain’s sidekick.” Graham has publicly aligned himself with Trump, all but begging national Democratic backers to ship their checks to South Carolina.
Graham has recently turned for in-state support to his junior Senate colleague, Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the upper chamber and the most popular statewide elected official in the Palmetto State by far, according to Cook. Scott has spoken up for Graham in two ads, which have just recently entered rotation.
But should Harrison win in November, South Carolina — the state whose secession from the Union in 1860 kicked off the Civil War — would become the first in U.S. history to send two Black senators to Capitol Hill at the same time.
Cook also points to the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett scheduled for next week as Graham’s “one remaining Hail Mary.” Graham, as chair of Senate Judiciary Committee, will play a marquee role in the hearings, which are expected to be explosive.
Graham will want to use the primetime facetime to remind South Carolina conservatives of his unique influence over the country’s federal benches, as he did during last week’s debate. Harrison sought to highlight a split in Graham’s personal interests from those of South Carolina, and he brought a metaphor onstage with him — a plexiglass divider to separate himself from the incumbent, who had the week before participated in Barrett’s Rose Garden nomination ceremony, now thought to be a superspreader event.
Graham self-quarantined in March after he was exposed to the infection during a visit to Trump’s Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago. He did not take similar steps this time.
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--2020-10-09--Trump Plans to Have On-Air Medical Evaluation on Fox News

In his first video interview since being diagnosed with coronavirus over a week ago , President Donald Trump will reportedly receive a medical evaluation by Fox News ’ s medical expert Marc Siegel during “ Tucker Carlson Tonight.
” It ’ s not clear what the evaluation will entail , or whether it will alleviate concerns that many Americans have regarding Trump ’ s health status .
The White House has kept quiet on a number of questions regarding the president ’ s current condition , and has not told the media whether he ’ s had a test for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of Trump ’ s recent interviews with other Fox News personalities have left many viewers questioning whether he ’ s actually doing better , as the president has frequently claimed throughout the week .
Speaking to Sean Hannity on Thursday night , Trump could be heard coughing and clearing his throat .
In spite of those symptoms , Trump told Hannity that he was doing “ really good.
” He also suggested his condition was improved enough that he may even hold a campaign rally in Florida on Saturday .
CNN health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after listening to Trump ’ s interview with Hannity that the president ’ s health was not improving .
Dexamethasone , the medication that Trump is taking , “ usually acts as a very potent anti-inflammatory , ” Gupta explained .
“ That could be masking whatever symptoms he does have , so as you start to take him off steroids , it ’ s worse.
” The skepticism appears warranted , as White House physician Sean Conley admitted to reporters earlier this week that he had initially provided a rosier outlook than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Walter Reed Medical Center .
Voters overall do not trust Trump to provide an accurate portrayal of his health status .
In a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted earlier this month , just 39 percent said they viewed Trump ’ s words on his condition as trustworthy , while 52 percent said they could not trust what the president had to say on his health .

The White House has not been forthright on many questions regarding Trump’s recovery so far.
In his first video interview since being diagnosed with coronavirus over a week ago, President Donald Trump will reportedly receive a medical evaluation by Fox News’s medical expert Marc Siegel during “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
It’s not clear what the evaluation will entail, or whether it will alleviate concerns that many Americans have regarding Trump’s health status. The White House has kept quiet on a number of questions regarding the president’s current condition, and has not told the media whether he’s had a test for COVID-19 since announcing his initial diagnosis.
Many of Trump’s recent interviews with other Fox News personalities have left many viewers questioning whether he’s actually doing better, as the president has frequently claimed throughout the week. Speaking to Sean Hannity on Thursday night, Trump could be heard coughing and clearing his throat.
In spite of those symptoms, Trump told Hannity that he was doing “really good.” He also suggested his condition was improved enough that he may even hold a campaign rally in Florida on Saturday.
CNN health expert Sanjay Gupta said he was concerned after listening to Trump’s interview with Hannity that the president’s health was not improving.
Dexamethasone, the medication that Trump is taking, “usually acts as a very potent anti-inflammatory,” Gupta explained. “That could be masking whatever symptoms he does have, so as you start to take him off steroids, it’s worse.”
“He still sounds sick,” Gupta added.
The skepticism appears warranted, as White House physician Sean Conley admitted to reporters earlier this week that he had initially provided a rosier outlook than what was warranted when Trump was admitted to Walter Reed Medical Center.
Voters overall do not trust Trump to provide an accurate portrayal of his health status. In a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted earlier this month, just 39 percent said they viewed Trump’s words on his condition as trustworthy, while 52 percent said they could not trust what the president had to say on his health.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
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