truthout--2020-10-09--Pence Faked Care for George Floyd, But We Know the Truth of His Administration

Immediately following this week ’ s vice presidential debate , an explosion of unapologetically racist and misogynist references to Kamala Harris have spread across social media .
Trump himself labeled her a “ monster ” on Fox News .
This kind of vitriol is dangerous , especially with Trump occupying an unfiltered bully pulpit from which he covertly commands right-wing vigilante and militia .
We can only imagine the signal that such language sends to those hyped up and armed “ patriots , ” whom he has already instructed to “ stand by.
” We all know what happens to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fictional tales .
The nasty and venomous attacks on Harris are reminiscent of the racist attacks on Obama .
White supremacists were just galled that a brown-skinned man would sit in the Oval Office .
Undoubtedly , they are even more livid about the idea of a Black woman as vice president .
I Will Never Believe This Administration Cares About Black People Meanwhile , at the vice presidential debate , even as Mike Pence briefly “ performed ” empathy toward Black people , he also exuded racism and sexism from every pore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , insisted he was the only person on the stage who deserved extra time to speak .
He diminished Harris ’ s points as her “ opinions , ” devoid of fact , without giving any evidence for the dismissal .
In other words , he implied , she was just not to be taken seriously .
With a cold , calm veneer , Pence bulldozed his way through the debate insisting , “ I have to make this point , ” and then far exceeding his allotted time .
Amid all this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-choice politics ( and I shudder to think what women and girls face if Roe v. Wade is fully overturned ) .
Many of us cringed at the overt sexism on full display .
Yet , at the same time , we were not surprised .
To those who have been paying attention to the racist and callous policies implemented by the Trump-Pence administration , Pence ’ s performance of outrage about the murder of George Floyd stretched credulity .
How are we to believe him , given his boss ’ s defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Kyle Rittenhouse ?
In this electoral moment , which is like few others in U.S. history , many of us are navigating between our honest assessment of the less than ideal Democratic ticket , and our utter horror at the thought of a second Trump term .
A second Trump term would mean a rapid and unmitigated rightward turn in this country .
We already see it but it would accelerate .
We could see the banning of protests , restrictions on the media , more cuts in resources , more plunder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence directed at Black and Brown communities .
Trump , knowing this would be his last grandstand appearance , may pull out all the stops in terms of repression .
He may seek to put himself on a throne .
And he has already shown he will not hesitate to try to grind our movements into the dust .
So , we should all be clear about the importance of November 3 , but we need to also look to politics and movement building beyond the November election .
Looking Beyond the November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polls , Trumpism will have an afterlife , and there will be another struggle with the centrist and corporatist politics of the Democratic Party leadership .
This reality permeated both debates , as both Harris and Biden repeatedly distanced themselves from the so-called radical left .
The morning after the vice presidential debate , I was asked by the Black Women ’ s Blueprint to moderate a panel of Black women to assess the debate .
We discussed how a whole myriad of often-ignored issues are on the political agenda of progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidate for the Green Party , Rosa Clemente , noted that liberal politicians tout the importance of Black women voters but often don ’ t put forth aggressive policies that address poverty , reproductive health , housing and police violence , all of which are “ Black women ’ s issues.
” That will be an ongoing fight even if Biden and Harris win .
We must push back against the bigoted venom that Harris is receiving and will continue to face — the same kind of venom that other Black public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are receiving , during this upsurge of white nationalism and toxic masculinist violence .
( Just yesterday , a gang of white militiamen were just arrested for plotting to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer , governor of Michigan . )
Nevertheless , we also have the obligation as leftists and progressives to take Harris ’ s policies and ideas seriously , challenging her mediocre responses to major systemic problems and seeking to push her and Biden to the left .
That is , while we condemn attacks from the right , we can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We must not order ourselves ( or others ) to stop making legitimate and necessary critiques about policy and ideas .
For example , Biden and Harris should support a ban on fracking .
Obamacare is better than no health care plan , but it is not enough .
The Green New Deal would take us a long way toward a more sustainable and healthy environment , and Biden and Harris should enthusiastically support it .
And we do indeed need to move resources away from policing and prisons and toward jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevention and education .
In other words , we can politically walk and chew gum at the same time .
We can condemn racism and misogyny whomever is the target , and we can also engage in debate , critique and struggle .
This moment also raises other questions for the left .
For example , what do we do if Trump refuses to accept the election results ?
At the vice presidential debate , Pence refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power .
Of course , “ transfer of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has ever delivered .
Nevertheless , we need to ask ourselves in this moment what others have asked in other pivotal historical moments when threatened with outright authoritarian rule , and an assault on the limited rights we now are able to claim : Where do we stand , and how firmly will we stand there ?
A new united front formation , The Frontline has formed to unite forces in defeating Trump .
Other efforts are underway .
We should support them and push further .
Despite the scary face of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing movement of people — a movement that far exceeds the members of progressive organizations .
People have flooded the streets in huge numbers to say no to racist violence .
They have to be mobilized to say no to authoritarianism , white nationalism and dictator-like power grabs .
They have to be mobilized around a consensus vision of not only what we are against , but what we are for .
This is the current phase of our work : There are many beautiful dreams to embrace and make our own .

Immediately following this week’s vice presidential debate, an explosion of unapologetically racist and misogynist references to Kamala Harris have spread across social media. Trump himself labeled her a “monster” on Fox News.
This kind of vitriol is dangerous, especially with Trump occupying an unfiltered bully pulpit from which he covertly commands right-wing vigilante and militia. We can only imagine the signal that such language sends to those hyped up and armed “patriots,” whom he has already instructed to “stand by.”
We all know what happens to “monsters” in horror films and fictional tales. The nasty and venomous attacks on Harris are reminiscent of the racist attacks on Obama. White supremacists were just galled that a brown-skinned man would sit in the Oval Office. Undoubtedly, they are even more livid about the idea of a Black woman as vice president.
I Will Never Believe This Administration Cares About Black People
Meanwhile, at the vice presidential debate, even as Mike Pence briefly “performed” empathy toward Black people, he also exuded racism and sexism from every pore. He completely ignored the woman moderator, insisted he was the only person on the stage who deserved extra time to speak. He diminished Harris’s points as her “opinions,” devoid of fact, without giving any evidence for the dismissal. In other words, he implied, she was just not to be taken seriously.
With a cold, calm veneer, Pence bulldozed his way through the debate insisting, “I have to make this point,” and then far exceeding his allotted time. Amid all this, he reminded us of his rabid anti-choice politics (and I shudder to think what women and girls face if Roe v. Wade is fully overturned). Many of us cringed at the overt sexism on full display. Yet, at the same time, we were not surprised.
Pence exuded racism and sexism from every pore.
To those who have been paying attention to the racist and callous policies implemented by the Trump-Pence administration, Pence’s performance of outrage about the murder of George Floyd stretched credulity. How are we to believe him, given his boss’s defense of white supremacist militia and right-wing vigilantes like Kyle Rittenhouse?
In this electoral moment, which is like few others in U.S. history, many of us are navigating between our honest assessment of the less than ideal Democratic ticket, and our utter horror at the thought of a second Trump term.
A second Trump term would mean a rapid and unmitigated rightward turn in this country. We already see it but it would accelerate. We could see the banning of protests, restrictions on the media, more cuts in resources, more plunder of the planet, and more state violence directed at Black and Brown communities.
Trump, knowing this would be his last grandstand appearance, may pull out all the stops in terms of repression. He may seek to put himself on a throne. And he has already shown he will not hesitate to try to grind our movements into the dust.
So, we should all be clear about the importance of November 3, but we need to also look to politics and movement building beyond the November election.
Looking Beyond the November Election
Even if Trump is defeated at the polls, Trumpism will have an afterlife, and there will be another struggle with the centrist and corporatist politics of the Democratic Party leadership. This reality permeated both debates, as both Harris and Biden repeatedly distanced themselves from the so-called radical left.
Even if Trump is defeated at the polls, Trumpism will have an afterlife, and there will be another struggle with the centrist and corporatist politics of the Democratic Party leadership.
The morning after the vice presidential debate, I was asked by the Black Women’s Blueprint to moderate a panel of Black women to assess the debate. We discussed how a whole myriad of often-ignored issues are on the political agenda of progressive and radical Black women.
Former vice presidential candidate for the Green Party, Rosa Clemente, noted that liberal politicians tout the importance of Black women voters but often don’t put forth aggressive policies that address poverty, reproductive health, housing and police violence, all of which are “Black women’s issues.” That will be an ongoing fight even if Biden and Harris win.
We must push back against the bigoted venom that Harris is receiving and will continue to face — the same kind of venom that other Black public figures and women politicians have received, and are receiving, during this upsurge of white nationalism and toxic masculinist violence. (Just yesterday, a gang of white militiamen were just arrested for plotting to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan.)
Nevertheless, we also have the obligation as leftists and progressives to take Harris’s policies and ideas seriously, challenging her mediocre responses to major systemic problems and seeking to push her and Biden to the left. That is, while we condemn attacks from the right, we cannot retreat from our own principled commitments. We must not order ourselves (or others) to stop making legitimate and necessary critiques about policy and ideas.
For example, Biden and Harris should support a ban on fracking. Obamacare is better than no health care plan, but it is not enough. The Green New Deal would take us a long way toward a more sustainable and healthy environment, and Biden and Harris should enthusiastically support it. And we do indeed need to move resources away from policing and prisons and toward jobs, housing, mental health services, violence prevention and education. In other words, we can politically walk and chew gum at the same time. We can condemn racism and misogyny whomever is the target, and we can also engage in debate, critique and struggle.
We can politically walk and chew gum at the same time. We can condemn racism and misogyny whomever is the target, and we can also engage in debate, critique and struggle.
This moment also raises other questions for the left. For example, what do we do if Trump refuses to accept the election results? At the vice presidential debate, Pence refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. Of course, “transfer of power” itself makes a bigger promise than it has ever delivered.
Nevertheless, we need to ask ourselves in this moment what others have asked in other pivotal historical moments when threatened with outright authoritarian rule, and an assault on the limited rights we now are able to claim: Where do we stand, and how firmly will we stand there? A new united front formation, The Frontline has formed to unite forces in defeating Trump. Other efforts are underway. We should support them and push further.
Despite the scary face of the GOP, we also have a growing movement of people — a movement that far exceeds the members of progressive organizations. People have flooded the streets in huge numbers to say no to racist violence. They have to be mobilized to say no to authoritarianism, white nationalism and dictator-like power grabs. They have to be mobilized around a consensus vision of not only what we are against, but what we are for. This is the current phase of our work: There are many beautiful dreams to embrace and make our own.
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--2020-10-09--Citing Trump’s COVID Diagnosis, Pelosi Plans Discussion of His Possible Removal

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Thursday that she and Democrats in the House of Representatives would begin discussing issues related to the 25th Amendment of the Constitution , which pertains to how the president of the United States can be removed from power if the commander in chief is deemed unfit to serve .
Pelosi said the issue was being raised because of concerns among Democratic lawmakers that President Donald Trump may not be fit to discharge his duties in office due to the side effects of treatment for coronavirus .
“ What I said about the President was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somebody who — I ’ ve not said this , I ’ ve quoted others to say there are those who say that when you ’ re on steroids and/or if you have COVID-19 or both that there may be some impairment of judgment , but again that ’ s for the doctors and the scientists to determine , ” Pelosi said .
Trump responded to Pelosi in a tweet using disparaging words and ableist terminology .
“ Crazy Nancy is the one who should be under observation .
They don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump wrote .
The 25th Amendment , ratified in 1967 , provides the constitutional procedures for the placement of the president in case of “ death or resignation , ” or the inability of the head of state “ to discharge the powers and duties of … [ the ] office.
” In the case of the latter , the amendment requires the vice president and a majority of the president ’ s own cabinet to make that determination and to submit their conclusions to Congress .
The president has the opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter .
Two-thirds of both legislative houses are required to override the president ’ s veto .
While the amendment in its current status states that the vice president and the cabinet play the main roles in deciding whether a sitting president is unfit to serve , the language within the amendment does provide a means for changing that process .
Specifically , the amendment includes a line that states , “ the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If Congress passes a law creating such a body , then either the cabinet or that body , along with the vice president , can make that determination going forward .
A proposal by Rep. Jamie Raskin ( D-Maryland ) is set to be introduced on Friday that would create a panel to determine whether the president is “ mentally or physically unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office.
” The resolution , which has Pelosi ’ s support , is similar to a measure first proposed by Raskin in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11-member commission appointed by leaders from both parties in the House and Senate .
The proposal has almost no chance of being passed , as it would require Trump ’ s signature to become law or two-thirds of Congress to override a presidential veto .
Some have questioned whether the president ’ s erratic behavior in recent days is connected to his treatment for the coronavirus .
The side effects for the steroid dexamethasone , which Trump is taking , include some mental side effects , including insomnia , mood swings and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drug ’ s labeling .
Dexamethasone can also cause coronavirus to have feelings of euphoria , even if they ’ re not actually recovering from the disease .
Some questioned whether this was the case after Trump tweeted that he felt better than he ever has in decades earlier this week .
Anthony Fauci , a member of Trump ’ s coronavirus task force , noted that the more severe side effects are probably not likely to occur after taking the drug for a short period of time .
He did say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just starting the medication is likely to become “ very energetic.
” Whether conversations on the 25th Amendment move forward or not , polls show Americans overall do not trust Trump ’ s statements on his own health status .
A recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll from earlier this month found that 52 percent of voters do not trust what Trump has to say about his recovery , while only 39 percent say they do trust him .

The 25th Amendment allows for the removal of a president deemed unable to discharge their official powers.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Thursday that she and Democrats in the House of Representatives would begin discussing issues related to the 25th Amendment of the Constitution, which pertains to how the president of the United States can be removed from power if the commander in chief is deemed unfit to serve.
Pelosi said the issue was being raised because of concerns among Democratic lawmakers that President Donald Trump may not be fit to discharge his duties in office due to the side effects of treatment for coronavirus.
“What I said about the President was that we don’t know if somebody who — I’ve not said this, I’ve quoted others to say there are those who say that when you’re on steroids and/or if you have COVID-19 or both that there may be some impairment of judgment, but again that’s for the doctors and the scientists to determine,” Pelosi said.
Trump responded to Pelosi in a tweet using disparaging words and ableist terminology.
“Crazy Nancy is the one who should be under observation. They don’t call her Crazy for nothing!” Trump wrote.
The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, provides the constitutional procedures for the placement of the president in case of “death or resignation,” or the inability of the head of state “to discharge the powers and duties of … [the] office.” In the case of the latter, the amendment requires the vice president and a majority of the president’s own cabinet to make that determination and to submit their conclusions to Congress. The president has the opportunity to object, after which Congress votes on the matter. Two-thirds of both legislative houses are required to override the president’s veto.
While the amendment in its current status states that the vice president and the cabinet play the main roles in deciding whether a sitting president is unfit to serve, the language within the amendment does provide a means for changing that process.
Specifically, the amendment includes a line that states, “the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide.” If Congress passes a law creating such a body, then either the cabinet or that body, along with the vice president, can make that determination going forward.
A proposal by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) is set to be introduced on Friday that would create a panel to determine whether the president is “mentally or physically unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office.” The resolution, which has Pelosi’s support, is similar to a measure first proposed by Raskin in 2017. It would set up an 11-member commission appointed by leaders from both parties in the House and Senate.
The proposal has almost no chance of being passed, as it would require Trump’s signature to become law or two-thirds of Congress to override a presidential veto.
Some have questioned whether the president’s erratic behavior in recent days is connected to his treatment for the coronavirus. The side effects for the steroid dexamethasone, which Trump is taking, include some mental side effects, including insomnia, mood swings and “frank psychotic manifestations,” according to the drug’s labeling.
Dexamethasone can also cause coronavirus to have feelings of euphoria, even if they’re not actually recovering from the disease. Some questioned whether this was the case after Trump tweeted that he felt better than he ever has in decades earlier this week.
Anthony Fauci, a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force, noted that the more severe side effects are probably not likely to occur after taking the drug for a short period of time. He did say, however, that someone who is just starting the medication is likely to become “very energetic.”
Whether conversations on the 25th Amendment move forward or not, polls show Americans overall do not trust Trump’s statements on his own health status. A recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll from earlier this month found that 52 percent of voters do not trust what Trump has to say about his recovery, while only 39 percent say they do trust him.
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--2020-10-09--FBI Charges Men Involved in Whitmer Kidnapping Plot With Domestic Terrorism

Just months after President Trump tweeted for his supporters to “ LIBERATE MICHIGAN !
” the FBI has foiled an alleged plot to kidnap and take hostage Democratic Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer .
Authorities arrested six men Thursday involved in the kidnapping plot , and seven others who were said to be planning to storm the state Capitol in Lansing with the intent of starting a civil war .
“ It came as a surprise to many , but not necessarily here in Michigan , because the state has a long history of militia and white nationalist ties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at WDET , Detroit ’ s NPR affiliate .
We also speak with Michigan state Representative Kyra Harris Bolden , who says local Democrats have been warning for months about the threat posed by far-right extremists .
“ It ’ s very important to note that this could have been prevented , ” she says .
This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : Authorities in Michigan have arrested 13 men with ties to illegal right-wing militias , including six men who allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor of Michigan , Democrat Gretchen Whitmer .
U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced the charges on Thursday .
AMY GOODMAN : The men are accused of planning to take Governor Whitmer hostage , then bring her to Wisconsin , where they planned to put her on what has been described as a “ trial ” prior to Election Day .
Seven other men linked to a group called the Wolverine Watchmen face state terrorism , conspiracy and weapons charges for plotting to storm the state Capitol in Lansing , Michigan , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governor Whitmer has been the target of numerous protests during the COVID-19 pandemic for using her executive power to issue new public health rules to limit the spread of coronavirus .
Governor Whitmer blamed President Trump for instigating the violent plots .
In April , Trump sent a tweet reading ” LIBERATE MICHIGAN !
” AMY GOODMAN : President Trump responded by attacking Governor Whitmer yesterday and today on Twitter .
We ’ re joined right now by two guests : Michigan state Representative Kyra Harris Bolden and Russ McNamara , a reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affiliate .
Russ , let ’ s begin with you .
Can you just lay out this , what to many across this country was a shocking announcement yesterday ?
RUSS McNAMARA : Yeah , it came as a surprise to many , but not necessarily here in Michigan , because the state has a long history of militia and white nationalist ties .
Part of the Oklahoma City bombing plot was started here in Michigan .
And so , we go back to the mid- ’ 90s , and it kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Obama era .
And then , after President Obama was elected , we see the rise again of these white nationalists and militia groups .
So , the guys that were arrested the other night , they got together online in various groups , Facebook groups , and that caught the attention of the FBI .
Plus , when some of the plotting started to involve the attack on law enforcement , somebody got cold feet and became an informant to the FBI , and that gave them a better idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are amateurs , essentially , but some had explosive training and knew how to make a bomb with shrapnel , that actually tested it out .
And they had tested out and figured out which bridge they wanted to blow up to help in the kidnap of Governor Whitmer .
So , it was fairly along in the planning stages , and they were set to go and take — go through with their plot right before the election and kidnap Governor Whitmer .
AMY GOODMAN : So , when you talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re talking about here , to prevent authorities to come to the aid of Governor Whitmer , who they also had talked about lynching .
RUSS McNAMARA : Yes , they had — you know , the misogynistic undertones have been there all along .
That includes in the protests back in April and May , lots of nooses , lots of Nazi imagery , when it comes to Governor Whitmer .
So that was always there .
They wanted to draw law enforcement away from the governor in one plot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Capitol building itself in another of the two plots .
AMY GOODMAN : And talk about the weapons that they were charged with using — for example , an IED .
RUSS McNAMARA : Yeah , they did have explosives .
They wanted to cause as much havoc as possible , in part to draw away attention from their overall goal of kidnapping the governor , but also in causing death and destruction .
You don ’ t , you know , set up a bomb to blow up and make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and kill people .
AMY GOODMAN : Kyra Harris Bolden , you ’ re a Democratic Michigan state representative .
A number of these men who were charged yesterday with terrorism were actually at your workplace — right ?
— earlier , months ago , as they were taking over the Michigan Legislature .
Where were you ?
And can you describe the scene that ultimately President Trump would endorse ?
REP. KYRA HARRIS BOLDEN : Yes .
So , thank you for having me this morning to talk about this very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important to note that this could have been prevented .
The Michigan House Democrats have been sounding the alarm since Operation Gridlock , that happened in mid-April .
And there was actually an Operation Judgment Day , of which they actually canceled session because they — I don ’ t know — perhaps didn ’ t know what was going to happen .
The actual day that we were there , where the Capitol was stormed by domestic terrorists , we know now , it was surreal .
Our offices are actually across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from my office I could see Confederate flags .
I could see Nazi swastika paraphernalia .
There were signs that say , “ Tyrant , get the noose , ” in reference to our governor , Gretchen Whitmer .
There was actually a truck with a noose hanging off of the back , a life-size noose .
And so , it didn ’ t take much to know that these threats had nothing to do with the governor ’ s so-called lockdown or “ stay home , stay safe ” orders .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were entering .
And I will also share with you something that many people probably don ’ t know : They were actually not allowed in the Capitol until minutes before we were called to vote .
So , there — AMY GOODMAN : And explain when this was .
REP. KYRA HARRIS BOLDEN : Yeah , so , this was mid-April , and so kind of the height of the “ stay home , stay safe ” orders .
And obviously there was a lot of angst .
There were a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , I think it was just also kind of used as an excuse to rally .
We also saw a lot of Trump flags , which seemed out of place for a rally against “ stay home , stay safe ” orders .
But this happened in mid-April at the height of COVID .
So , we were not — or , visitors were not allowed in the Capitol building until minutes before we were called in to vote .
And so it was a purposeful action that we would have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were armed , that had Nazi paraphernalia , that had nooses , that had Confederate flags .
And fortunately , our gallery was closed , but the Senate ’ s wasn ’ t .
And you may have seen a picture going around the internet where it was actually confirmed that two of the men arrested had previously been standing armed above the Senate chamber .
And that picture was taken by Senator Polehanki .
Some of the senators actually have bulletproof vests because of this situation .
It was not safe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was during the height of COVID , and many of these people were not wearing masks .
And they were crowded in our state House .
And so , that added an extra layer of kind of terror for us .
We ’ re dealing with a global pandemic , and we ’ re dealing with what we know now to be domestic terrorists .
AMY GOODMAN : So , in April , that ’ s when President Trump , the time you ’ re describing now , tweeted , ” LIBERATE MICHIGAN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in May , he wrote , “ These are very good people.
” I want to go to Washington Congressmember Pramila Jayapal , who was questioning Attorney General William Barr during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in July about the threats to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer .
It was a contentious exchange .
Jayapal noted the discrepancy between Barr ’ s militarized response to Black Lives Matter protesters and armed white militia members who displayed white nationalist symbols and threatened Michigan ’ s governor .
REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL : On two separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LIBERATE MICHIGAN !
” to subvert stay-home orders to protect the public health of people in Michigan , protesters swarmed the Michigan Capitol carrying guns , some with swastikas , Confederate flags , and one even with a dark-haired doll with a noose around its neck .
Are you aware that these protesters called for the governor to be lynched , shot and beheaded ?
REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL : You ’ re not aware of that ?
REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL : Major protests in Michigan .
You ’ re the attorney general , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protesters called for the governor to be lynched , shot and beheaded .
REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL : So , obviously , you couldn ’ t be concerned about that .
You didn ’ t — ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR : Well , there are a lot of protests around the United States .
And on June 1st , I was worried about the District of Columbia , which is federal .
REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL : Attorney General Barr , you seem to be engaging in protests in certain parts of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those .
But when protesters with guns and swastikas — ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR : I ’ m very — I am aware of protesters in the federal government .
REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL : — and Confederate flags — excuse me , Mr. Barr , this is my time , and I control it .
You are aware of certain kinds of protesters , but in Michigan , when protesters carry guns and Confederate flags and swastikas and call for the governor of Michigan to be beheaded and shot and lynched , somehow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
AMY GOODMAN : So , that ’ s Congressmember Pramila Jayapal questioning Attorney General William Barr .
Remember , the attorney general is in charge of the Justice Department .
It ’ s the FBI , the U.S. attorney and state officials who have now charged 13 men with various domestic terrorism charges .
I want to go back to Russ McNamara and talk about the groups that are involved .
This is not just a disparate group of individuals .
We ’ re talking about “ boogaloo , ” and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell us about this group called the Wolverines , the — RUSS McNAMARA : Yeah , and they ’ re just part of one of the many groups that have popped up over the last decade or so .
Even over the weekend , a man involved in the anti-government “ boogaloo ” movement , Eric Allport , was shot and killed by federal agents in a parking lot of a suburban Detroit restaurant following a shootout .
Robert Snell , the great Detroit news reporter here , figured out that he played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ridge standoff .
But he was still active within the militia and anti-government movement .
So , we ’ ve seen all of these individual groups pop up over the last decade , partially fueled because it ’ s easier to get together via social media .
So , whether or not it ’ s a private Facebook group or an online forum , these guys are getting together .
But if you look at these guys and their trail in social media , they are a collective , but they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own ideals and ideology .
And they ’ ve got piecemeal equipment .
Their tactical gear is not anything that you would consider professional , but their firearms , for the most part , are .
AMY GOODMAN : So , they may be a sort of unusual , amateurish group , who ’ s training heavily and apparently were going to take these guys to Wisconsin — meaning the governor , to Wisconsin , to stand trial .
But the attorney general of Michigan talked about this just being the tip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan state Representative Kyra Harris Bolden , that ’ s where I want to ask you about Trump ’ s lack of response here , William Barr ’ s lack of response here .
And what is the response of the Republican state legislators now for the arrest of these groups ?
Because the attorney general of Michigan said this might just be the tip of the iceberg , with more heavily armed , organized men , part of these gangs , who might be preparing for Election Day .
REP. KYRA HARRIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with you that just yesterday there was a rally on the steps of the Capitol , where you could see Trump flags .
There wasn ’ t the same kind of Nazi paraphernalia and Confederate flags , but this is on the heels of the news breaking about the kidnap and murder plot against the governor .
And there is a kind of similar rally .
And I will say that the Senate majority leader , Mike Shirkey , said to — spoke at this rally and said that this is no time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That was his words to this group that had gathered .
Nothing about the kidnap and murder plot about the governor .
Now , we did see a couple of Republicans speak out and , you know , say that they are glad that the governor is safe , and there ’ s no place for this in the state .
But again , this could have been prevented .
We can simply not allow guns in the Capitol .
That has been — we ’ ve been sounding the alarm as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation has happened , and to no avail .
I ’ ve read reports that some of my Republican colleagues have said , “ If there is a law that would have prevented this from happening , let me know.
” We can simply limit or not allow guns in our Capitol , and that would make a huge difference .
But to suggest that there ’ s nothing that can be done , I think , is incorrect .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , you have President Trump not endorsing these indictments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his political opponent , Joe Biden , as well as the former president of the United States , Barack Obama .
He was doing this yesterday , speaking on Fox .
And I ’ m wondering , as an African American representative in Michigan , Kyra Harris Bolden , are you getting more security right now ?
How much security is now surrounding the Michigan governor ?
REP. KYRA HARRIS BOLDEN : So , the Michigan governor has always had her detail .
And I want to take the time to thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this plan .
Individual legislators do not get protection .
And as I stated before , our offices are actually across the street from the Capitol .
There ’ s no secret entrance .
And so , we typically have to walk through whatever rally , protest , demonstration is on the Capitol lawn .
And I will say that as a Black woman , walking past that event that day where there were heavily armed — and now that we know — domestic terrorists , and going in the back door of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To see Confederate flags and nooses , as the great-granddaughter of a man that was lynched , it honestly brought me to tears .
To see the point that we have gotten to is truly heartbreaking .
And I hope that instead of just words , we actually take action to make sure that something like this doesn ’ t actually happen and that we don ’ t carry and stoke the flames of hate in Michigan .
AMY GOODMAN : I want to thank you so much for being with us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bolden and Russ McNamara , a reporter at WDET in Detroit .
Of course , we ’ ll continue to follow these issues .
And again , President Trump , even as these indictments came down , continued to attack Governor Whitmer repeatedly yesterday and continues that attack today .
Shortly before we broadcast this morning , this year ’ s Nobel Peace Prize was announced .
We ’ re going to go to that in a moment .

Just months after President Trump tweeted for his supporters to “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” the FBI has foiled an alleged plot to kidnap and take hostage Democratic Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer. Authorities arrested six men Thursday involved in the kidnapping plot, and seven others who were said to be planning to storm the state Capitol in Lansing with the intent of starting a civil war. “It came as a surprise to many, but not necessarily here in Michigan, because the state has a long history of militia and white nationalist ties,” says Russ McNamara, a reporter at WDET, Detroit’s NPR affiliate. We also speak with Michigan state Representative Kyra Harris Bolden, who says local Democrats have been warning for months about the threat posed by far-right extremists. “It’s very important to note that this could have been prevented,” she says.
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Authorities in Michigan have arrested 13 men with ties to illegal right-wing militias, including six men who allegedly plotted to kidnap and take hostage the governor of Michigan, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer. U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced the charges on Thursday.
ANDREW BIRGE: The FBI and Michigan State Police arrested six individuals charged in a federal complaint with conspiring to kidnap the governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. According to the complaint unsealed this morning, Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta conspired to kidnap the governor from her vacation home in the Western District of Michigan before the November election.
AMY GOODMAN: The men are accused of planning to take Governor Whitmer hostage, then bring her to Wisconsin, where they planned to put her on what has been described as a “trial” prior to Election Day. Seven other men linked to a group called the Wolverine Watchmen face state terrorism, conspiracy and weapons charges for plotting to storm the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, with the intent of starting a civil war.
Governor Whitmer has been the target of numerous protests during the COVID-19 pandemic for using her executive power to issue new public health rules to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Governor Whitmer blamed President Trump for instigating the violent plots. In April, Trump sent a tweet reading ”LIBERATE MICHIGAN!”
GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER: Just last week, the president of the United States stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacists and hate groups, like these two Michigan militia groups. “Stand back and stand by,” he told them. “Stand back and stand by.” Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry, as a call to action. When our leaders speak, their words matter. They carry weight. When our leaders meet with, encourage or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions, and they are complicit. When they stoke and contribute to hate speech, they are complicit.
AMY GOODMAN: President Trump responded by attacking Governor Whitmer yesterday and today on Twitter.
We’re joined right now by two guests: Michigan state Representative Kyra Harris Bolden and Russ McNamara, a reporter at WDET, Detroit’s NPR affiliate.
Russ, let’s begin with you. Can you just lay out this, what to many across this country was a shocking announcement yesterday?
RUSS McNAMARA: Yeah, it came as a surprise to many, but not necessarily here in Michigan, because the state has a long history of militia and white nationalist ties. Part of the Oklahoma City bombing plot was started here in Michigan. And so, we go back to the mid-’90s, and it kind of started there. It faded away during the Obama era. And then, after President Obama was elected, we see the rise again of these white nationalists and militia groups.
So, the guys that were arrested the other night, they got together online in various groups, Facebook groups, and that caught the attention of the FBI. Plus, when some of the plotting started to involve the attack on law enforcement, somebody got cold feet and became an informant to the FBI, and that gave them a better idea of what was going on.
These guys are amateurs, essentially, but some had explosive training and knew how to make a bomb with shrapnel, that actually tested it out. And they had tested out and figured out which bridge they wanted to blow up to help in the kidnap of Governor Whitmer. So, it was fairly along in the planning stages, and they were set to go and take — go through with their plot right before the election and kidnap Governor Whitmer.
AMY GOODMAN: So, when you talk about blowing up a bridge, explain what we’re talking about here, to prevent authorities to come to the aid of Governor Whitmer, who they also had talked about lynching.
RUSS McNAMARA: Yes, they had — you know, the misogynistic undertones have been there all along. That includes in the protests back in April and May, lots of nooses, lots of Nazi imagery, when it comes to Governor Whitmer. So that was always there. They wanted to draw law enforcement away from the governor in one plot. They wanted a direct assault on the Capitol building itself in another of the two plots.
AMY GOODMAN: And talk about the weapons that they were charged with using — for example, an IED.
RUSS McNAMARA: Yeah, they did have explosives. They wanted to cause as much havoc as possible, in part to draw away attention from their overall goal of kidnapping the governor, but also in causing death and destruction. You don’t, you know, set up a bomb to blow up and make it anti-personnel, and not try to take out and kill people.
AMY GOODMAN: Kyra Harris Bolden, you’re a Democratic Michigan state representative. A number of these men who were charged yesterday with terrorism were actually at your workplace — right? — earlier, months ago, as they were taking over the Michigan Legislature. Where were you? And can you describe the scene that ultimately President Trump would endorse?
REP. KYRA HARRIS BOLDEN: Yes. So, thank you for having me this morning to talk about this very important topic.
It’s very important to note that this could have been prevented. The Michigan House Democrats have been sounding the alarm since Operation Gridlock, that happened in mid-April. And there was actually an Operation Judgment Day, of which they actually canceled session because they — I don’t know — perhaps didn’t know what was going to happen.
The actual day that we were there, where the Capitol was stormed by domestic terrorists, we know now, it was surreal. Our offices are actually across the street from the Capitol, and from my office I could see Confederate flags. I could see Nazi swastika paraphernalia. There were signs that say, “Tyrant, get the noose,” in reference to our governor, Gretchen Whitmer. There was actually a truck with a noose hanging off of the back, a life-size noose.
And so, it didn’t take much to know that these threats had nothing to do with the governor’s so-called lockdown or “stay home, stay safe” orders. This was a very dangerous situation that we were entering. And I will also share with you something that many people probably don’t know: They were actually not allowed in the Capitol until minutes before we were called to vote. So, there —
AMY GOODMAN: And explain when this was.
REP. KYRA HARRIS BOLDEN: Yeah, so, this was mid-April, and so kind of the height of the “stay home, stay safe” orders. And obviously there was a lot of angst. There were a lot of businesses closed. But, you know, I think it was just also kind of used as an excuse to rally. We also saw a lot of Trump flags, which seemed out of place for a rally against “stay home, stay safe” orders. But this happened in mid-April at the height of COVID.
So, we were not — or, visitors were not allowed in the Capitol building until minutes before we were called in to vote. And so it was a purposeful action that we would have to be confronted with the same people that were armed, that had Nazi paraphernalia, that had nooses, that had Confederate flags. And fortunately, our gallery was closed, but the Senate’s wasn’t. And you may have seen a picture going around the internet where it was actually confirmed that two of the men arrested had previously been standing armed above the Senate chamber. And that picture was taken by Senator Polehanki.
Some of the senators actually have bulletproof vests because of this situation. It was not safe. And I will also note, it was during the height of COVID, and many of these people were not wearing masks. And they were crowded in our state House. And so, that added an extra layer of kind of terror for us. We’re dealing with a global pandemic, and we’re dealing with what we know now to be domestic terrorists.
AMY GOODMAN: So, in April, that’s when President Trump, the time you’re describing now, tweeted, ”LIBERATE MICHIGAN!”
REP. KYRA HARRIS BOLDEN: Yes.
AMY GOODMAN: And then, in May, he wrote, “These are very good people.” I want to go to Washington Congressmember Pramila Jayapal, who was questioning Attorney General William Barr during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in July about the threats to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. It was a contentious exchange. Jayapal noted the discrepancy between Barr’s militarized response to Black Lives Matter protesters and armed white militia members who displayed white nationalist symbols and threatened Michigan’s governor.
REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL: On two separate occasions, after President Trump tweeted ”LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” to subvert stay-home orders to protect the public health of people in Michigan, protesters swarmed the Michigan Capitol carrying guns, some with swastikas, Confederate flags, and one even with a dark-haired doll with a noose around its neck. Are you aware that these protesters called for the governor to be lynched, shot and beheaded? ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR: No. REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL: You’re not aware of that? ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR: I was not aware. REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL: Major protests in Michigan. You’re the attorney general, and you didn’t know that the protesters called for the governor to be lynched, shot and beheaded. ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR: Well — REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL: So, obviously, you couldn’t be concerned about that. You didn’t — ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR: Well, there are a lot of protests around the United States. And on June 1st, I was worried about the District of Columbia, which is federal. REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL: Attorney General Barr, you seem to be engaging in protests in certain parts of the country. You’re very aware of those. But when protesters with guns and swastikas — ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR: I’m very — I am aware of protesters in the federal government. REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL: — and Confederate flags — excuse me, Mr. Barr, this is my time, and I control it. You are aware of certain kinds of protesters, but in Michigan, when protesters carry guns and Confederate flags and swastikas and call for the governor of Michigan to be beheaded and shot and lynched, somehow you’re not aware of that.
AMY GOODMAN: So, that’s Congressmember Pramila Jayapal questioning Attorney General William Barr. Remember, the attorney general is in charge of the Justice Department. It’s the FBI, the U.S. attorney and state officials who have now charged 13 men with various domestic terrorism charges. I want to go back to Russ McNamara and talk about the groups that are involved. This is not just a disparate group of individuals. We’re talking about “boogaloo,” and we’re talking about — well, tell us about this group called the Wolverines, the —
RUSS McNAMARA: Yeah, the Wolverine Watchmen.
AMY GOODMAN: The Wolverine Watchmen.
RUSS McNAMARA: Yeah, and they’re just part of one of the many groups that have popped up over the last decade or so. Even over the weekend, a man involved in the anti-government “boogaloo” movement, Eric Allport, was shot and killed by federal agents in a parking lot of a suburban Detroit restaurant following a shootout. Robert Snell, the great Detroit news reporter here, figured out that he played a small role in the disastrous Ruby Ridge standoff. But he was still active within the militia and anti-government movement.
So, we’ve seen all of these individual groups pop up over the last decade, partially fueled because it’s easier to get together via social media. So, whether or not it’s a private Facebook group or an online forum, these guys are getting together. But if you look at these guys and their trail in social media, they are a collective, but they’re fairly well fractured, and they have their own ideals and ideology. And they’ve got piecemeal equipment. Their tactical gear is not anything that you would consider professional, but their firearms, for the most part, are.
AMY GOODMAN: So, they may be a sort of unusual, amateurish group, who’s training heavily and apparently were going to take these guys to Wisconsin — meaning the governor, to Wisconsin, to stand trial. But the attorney general of Michigan talked about this just being the tip of the iceberg. And, Democratic Michigan state Representative Kyra Harris Bolden, that’s where I want to ask you about Trump’s lack of response here, William Barr’s lack of response here. And what is the response of the Republican state legislators now for the arrest of these groups? Because the attorney general of Michigan said this might just be the tip of the iceberg, with more heavily armed, organized men, part of these gangs, who might be preparing for Election Day.
REP. KYRA HARRIS BOLDEN: Well, I will share with you that just yesterday there was a rally on the steps of the Capitol, where you could see Trump flags. There wasn’t the same kind of Nazi paraphernalia and Confederate flags, but this is on the heels of the news breaking about the kidnap and murder plot against the governor. And there is a kind of similar rally.
And I will say that the Senate majority leader, Mike Shirkey, said to — spoke at this rally and said that this is no time to be weak in commitment to freedom. That was his words to this group that had gathered. Nothing about the kidnap and murder plot about the governor.
Now, we did see a couple of Republicans speak out and, you know, say that they are glad that the governor is safe, and there’s no place for this in the state.
But again, this could have been prevented. We can simply not allow guns in the Capitol. That has been — we’ve been sounding the alarm as Michigan House Democrats since way before this situation has happened, and to no avail. I’ve read reports that some of my Republican colleagues have said, “If there is a law that would have prevented this from happening, let me know.” We can simply limit or not allow guns in our Capitol, and that would make a huge difference. But to suggest that there’s nothing that can be done, I think, is incorrect.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, you have President Trump not endorsing these indictments yesterday, but calling for the jailing of his political opponent, Joe Biden, as well as the former president of the United States, Barack Obama. He was doing this yesterday, speaking on Fox. And I’m wondering, as an African American representative in Michigan, Kyra Harris Bolden, are you getting more security right now? How much security is now surrounding the Michigan governor?
REP. KYRA HARRIS BOLDEN: So, the Michigan governor has always had her detail. And I want to take the time to thank the FBI and the police that thwarted this plan.
Individual legislators do not get protection. And as I stated before, our offices are actually across the street from the Capitol. There’s no secret entrance. And so, we typically have to walk through whatever rally, protest, demonstration is on the Capitol lawn. And I will say that as a Black woman, walking past that event that day where there were heavily armed — and now that we know — domestic terrorists, and going in the back door of my place of work was incredibly demeaning.
To see Confederate flags and nooses, as the great-granddaughter of a man that was lynched, it honestly brought me to tears. To see the point that we have gotten to is truly heartbreaking. And I hope that instead of just words, we actually take action to make sure that something like this doesn’t actually happen and that we don’t carry and stoke the flames of hate in Michigan.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to thank you so much for being with us, Democratic Michigan state Representative Kyra Harris Bolden and Russ McNamara, a reporter at WDET in Detroit. Of course, we’ll continue to follow these issues. And again, President Trump, even as these indictments came down, continued to attack Governor Whitmer repeatedly yesterday and continues that attack today.
Shortly before we broadcast this morning, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was announced. We’re going to go to that in a moment.


truthout--2020-10-09--One-Third of Americans Can’t Pay Their Bills as Stimulus Talks Stall

Emily Brockman is a recently unemployed mother , but that didn ’ t stop her landlord from attempting to kick Brockman and her 5-month-old child out of their home in Lexington , Kentucky .
Like millions of people across the United States , Brockman is struggling to pay rent and bills as talks over pandemic relief stall on Capitol Hill and stimulus checks fail to reach society ’ s most vulnerable .
Despite a “ moratorium ” on evictions put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) last month , Brockman was recently in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ [ The judge ] just looked at my landlord and said , ‘ What would you like to do ?
’ ” Brockman said in a statement on Tuesday .
“ Of course , they said they would like to move forward with the eviction , and he said ‘ OK. ’ Everything happened so fast .
I was shocked .
I had assumed I was going to be safe under the CDC guidelines because I matched perfectly.
” Advocates say flaws in the CDC ’ s eviction order is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal safety net for people suffering under the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , and with lawmakers still debating a stimulus relief package , policies put in place by the Trump administration are only making the suffering worse .
Millions of low-income and incarcerated people have yet to receive the $ 1,200 stimulus payment Congress approved in the spring , and millions more remain out of work as federal unemployment benefits run dry .
Nationally , about one in three adults — nearly 78 million people — are struggling to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , medical bills and student loans .
A local housing rights group helped Brockman beat her case , but others are not so lucky .
The eviction moratorium has proved difficult to enforce in local courts and puts onerous requirements on tenants at risk of losing their housing .
On Tuesday , a coalition of housing rights groups declared the eviction moratorium a “ deeply flawed and insufficient attempt to address the housing crisis ” and a “ cynical move ” to bolster President Trump ’ s chance at reelection .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mess .
It isn ’ t even a band aid , ” said Y. Frank Southall , a housing rights organizer who works with renters in New Orleans , a city facing a crisis of evictions .
“ It ’ s a piece of nothing masquerading as a solution.
” With pain and hardship only growing ahead of the election , Trump came under heavy fire from both Republicans and Democrats this week after abruptly calling off negotiations over the pandemic stimulus relief package .
Trump then flip-flopped on Thursday , telling Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underway , and floated the idea of issuing another round of $ 1,200 stimulus checks .
While the first round of checks was included in a stimulus bill passed by Congress in the spring , Trump signed the legislation and sent out a letter with individual checks with his name on it .
However , Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the idea of providing another round of checks without broader unemployment relief and aid to school systems and struggling cities and states , according to reports .
House Democrats passed a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it was dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled Senate .
House Democrats passed a slimmer , $ 2.2 trillion package last week despite Republican opposition .
Meanwhile , people are going hungry across the country , including millions of families and children .
In September , between 7 and 11 million households reported that their children did not get enough to eat in the last seven days , according to the Census estimates .
More than 40 percent of children live in a household that doesn ’ t have enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black and Latinx renters are twice as likely to report having trouble paying rent than white renters .
Rates of financial hardship are even higher among families of color , according to estimates based on Census data .
The pandemic has disproportionately impacted women and people of color and exacerbated longstanding inequities in housing , health care and education .
Nearly one in two Black households report trouble paying basic expenses , along with 45 percent of Latinx households , according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities .
Nearly 27 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for unemployment benefits , including the 1.3 million who filed for either state or federal pandemic benefits just last week , according to the Economic Policy Institute .
Senate Republicans let a weekly $ 600 unemployment benefit for workers impacted by the pandemic expire in July , and funding for a $ 300 weekly benefit provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) under Trump ’ s direction is already exhausted in states across the country .
FEMA will be unable to provide more emergency unemployment funding unless Congress agrees on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ float the idea of another stimulus check , an estimated 9 million eligible people have not received their first check , according to the Government Accountability Office .
Many low-income people who are not required to file taxes regularly are already vulnerable to falling through the safety net , including veterans , the elderly , people who do not speak English , incarcerated people and houseless people .
( People who do not file taxes must register with the IRS in order to receive stimulus money . )
Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency is engaged in “ outreach efforts , ” but the IRS has already attempted to block payments to people in prisons , who are paid substandard wages if they have any means of income at all .
After issuing 85,000 stimulus payments to incarcerated people totaling $ 100 million this summer , the IRS reversed course and declared incarcerated people ineligible .
The Trump administration told prison wardens to intercept checks and demanded that recipients and their families send them back .
Prisoners filed a class-action lawsuit , and last month a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible for payments and ordered the IRS to consider those who were denied by October 24 .
On Tuesday , the court ordered the IRS to extend the deadline for applying for payments by mail until October 30 in order to accommodate low-income and incarcerated people , and to correct misinformation targeted at prisoners and their families on the agency ’ s website .
Advocates say prisoners and their families are in desperate need of economic relief , but the Trump administration filed a “ protective appeal ” this week in case the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the order .
The deadline for filing for stimulus online has been pushed to November 21 .
However , many prisoners to not have consistent access to the internet , and there are concerns that sheriffs and prison wardens are not making tax forms available behind bars .
While advocates say some state prison systems are working to make IRS forms available , they are concerned that people locked up in local jails — who represent roughly a quarter of the 2.3 million people caged nationwide — will not have access to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( If you or a loved one is incarcerated and would like to apply for the stimulus payment , there are resources available here and here . )
Across the country , activists are pressuring prison officials to make sure that incarcerated people can file taxes or register for stimulus payments with the IRS .
Bruce Reilly , the deputy director of Voice of the Experienced , a group of formerly incarcerated activists in Louisiana , said Louisiana state prison officials have said they would hand out IRS forms .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the availability of IRS forms in jails , where over half of those incarcerated in Louisiana are currently caged .
The state prison systems in Louisiana and Pennsylvania did not respond to inquiries from Truthout .
“ [ I ] heard of one woman filling out the form ( indicating no income ) on the prison yard , ” Reilly said .
“ Lots of that money likely gets pinched by the captors if it ever gets sent at all.
” Unless Congress and Trump can come to an agreement over more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to falling through gaping holes in the pandemic safety net as voters head to the polls on November 3 .

Part of the Series Despair and Disparity: The Uneven Burdens of COVID-19
Emily Brockman is a recently unemployed mother, but that didn’t stop her landlord from attempting to kick Brockman and her 5-month-old child out of their home in Lexington, Kentucky. Like millions of people across the United States, Brockman is struggling to pay rent and bills as talks over pandemic relief stall on Capitol Hill and stimulus checks fail to reach society’s most vulnerable. Despite a “moratorium” on evictions put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last month, Brockman was recently in court fighting for a place to live.
“[The judge] just looked at my landlord and said, ‘What would you like to do?’” Brockman said in a statement on Tuesday. “Of course, they said they would like to move forward with the eviction, and he said ‘OK.’ Everything happened so fast. I was shocked. I had assumed I was going to be safe under the CDC guidelines because I matched perfectly.”
Advocates say flaws in the CDC’s eviction order is just one of many massive holes in the federal safety net for people suffering under the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and with lawmakers still debating a stimulus relief package, policies put in place by the Trump administration are only making the suffering worse. Millions of low-income and incarcerated people have yet to receive the $1,200 stimulus payment Congress approved in the spring, and millions more remain out of work as federal unemployment benefits run dry. Nationally, about one in three adults — nearly 78 million people — are struggling to pay expenses such as rent, mortgage payments, medical bills and student loans.
A local housing rights group helped Brockman beat her case, but others are not so lucky. The eviction moratorium has proved difficult to enforce in local courts and puts onerous requirements on tenants at risk of losing their housing. On Tuesday, a coalition of housing rights groups declared the eviction moratorium a “deeply flawed and insufficient attempt to address the housing crisis” and a “cynical move” to bolster President Trump’s chance at reelection.
“This CDC eviction moratorium has been a hot mess. It isn’t even a band aid,” said Y. Frank Southall, a housing rights organizer who works with renters in New Orleans, a city facing a crisis of evictions. “It’s a piece of nothing masquerading as a solution.”
With pain and hardship only growing ahead of the election, Trump came under heavy fire from both Republicans and Democrats this week after abruptly calling off negotiations over the pandemic stimulus relief package. Trump then flip-flopped on Thursday, telling Fox News Business that talks are once again underway, and floated the idea of issuing another round of $1,200 stimulus checks. While the first round of checks was included in a stimulus bill passed by Congress in the spring, Trump signed the legislation and sent out a letter with individual checks with his name on it.
However, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the idea of providing another round of checks without broader unemployment relief and aid to school systems and struggling cities and states, according to reports. House Democrats passed a $3.4 trillion pandemic relief package in May, but it was dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled Senate. House Democrats passed a slimmer, $2.2 trillion package last week despite Republican opposition.
Nationally, about one in three adults — nearly 78 million people — are struggling to pay expenses such as rent, mortgage payments, medical bills and student loans.
Meanwhile, people are going hungry across the country, including millions of families and children. In September, between 7 and 11 million households reported that their children did not get enough to eat in the last seven days, according to the Census estimates. More than 40 percent of children live in a household that doesn’t have enough to eat or is behind on rent. Black and Latinx renters are twice as likely to report having trouble paying rent than white renters.
Rates of financial hardship are even higher among families of color, according to estimates based on Census data. The pandemic has disproportionately impacted women and people of color and exacerbated longstanding inequities in housing, health care and education. Nearly one in two Black households report trouble paying basic expenses, along with 45 percent of Latinx households, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Nearly 27 million workers are either receiving or have applied for unemployment benefits, including the 1.3 million who filed for either state or federal pandemic benefits just last week, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Senate Republicans let a weekly $600 unemployment benefit for workers impacted by the pandemic expire in July, and funding for a $300 weekly benefit provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under Trump’s direction is already exhausted in states across the country. FEMA will be unable to provide more emergency unemployment funding unless Congress agrees on a stimulus.
While Trump and Republicans float the idea of another stimulus check, an estimated 9 million eligible people have not received their first check, according to the Government Accountability Office. Many low-income people who are not required to file taxes regularly are already vulnerable to falling through the safety net, including veterans, the elderly, people who do not speak English, incarcerated people and houseless people. (People who do not file taxes must register with the IRS in order to receive stimulus money.)
Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig told Congress on Wednesday that his agency is engaged in “outreach efforts,” but the IRS has already attempted to block payments to people in prisons, who are paid substandard wages if they have any means of income at all. After issuing 85,000 stimulus payments to incarcerated people totaling $100 million this summer, the IRS reversed course and declared incarcerated people ineligible. The Trump administration told prison wardens to intercept checks and demanded that recipients and their families send them back. Prisoners filed a class-action lawsuit, and last month a federal judge ruled that incarcerated people are eligible for payments and ordered the IRS to consider those who were denied by October 24.
On Tuesday, the court ordered the IRS to extend the deadline for applying for payments by mail until October 30 in order to accommodate low-income and incarcerated people, and to correct misinformation targeted at prisoners and their families on the agency’s website. Advocates say prisoners and their families are in desperate need of economic relief, but the Trump administration filed a “protective appeal” this week in case the IRS and Treasury Department decide to challenge the order. The deadline for filing for stimulus online has been pushed to November 21.
In September, between 7 and 11 million households reported that their children did not get enough to eat in the last seven days.
However, many prisoners to not have consistent access to the internet, and there are concerns that sheriffs and prison wardens are not making tax forms available behind bars. While advocates say some state prison systems are working to make IRS forms available, they are concerned that people locked up in local jails — who represent roughly a quarter of the 2.3 million people caged nationwide — will not have access to the forms or website and miss the deadline. (If you or a loved one is incarcerated and would like to apply for the stimulus payment, there are resources available here and here.)
Across the country, activists are pressuring prison officials to make sure that incarcerated people can file taxes or register for stimulus payments with the IRS. Bruce Reilly, the deputy director of Voice of the Experienced, a group of formerly incarcerated activists in Louisiana, said Louisiana state prison officials have said they would hand out IRS forms. However, his organization has not received any word about the availability of IRS forms in jails, where over half of those incarcerated in Louisiana are currently caged. The state prison systems in Louisiana and Pennsylvania did not respond to inquiries from Truthout.
“[I] heard of one woman filling out the form (indicating no income) on the prison yard,” Reilly said. “Lots of that money likely gets pinched by the captors if it ever gets sent at all.”
Unless Congress and Trump can come to an agreement over more federal aid, millions of people will continue to falling through gaping holes in the pandemic safety net as voters head to the polls on November 3.
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Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-10-09--QAnon Candidate Gave Own Campaign $450k After Receiving PPP Loan

Marjorie Taylor Greene , a QAnon conspiracy theorist and Republican candidate who is expected to win her House race in Georgia next month , donated $ 450,000 to her own campaign after receiving a six-figure Paycheck Protection Program loan from the government for her construction company .
Greene , who has promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory and posted videos attacking Black people , Muslims and Jews , won the Republican primary in Georgia ’ s 14th congressional district in August despite opposition from Republican leaders .
She is almost certain to take over the seat now held by retiring Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic opponent dropped out of the race last month in a district President Trump carried by 50 points .
Trump has since praised Greene as a “ future Republican star.
” Greene ’ s bid was partially funded by a super PAC allied with the House Freedom Caucus , which has opposed additional funding to provide coronavirus relief to Americans .
Greene has opposed additional spending as well , declaring in a Facebook video that “ the best stimulus for Americans is allowing Americans to go back to work !
” Despite her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPP , her family ’ s company , Taylor Commercial , received a six-figure PPP loan worth between $ 150,000 and $ 350,000 earlier this year .
New York Magazine reported that her name had stopped appearing on the company ’ s registration forms in 2012 but was added back in 2019 .
Greene , who had loaned her campaign $ 900,000 , donated $ 450,000 to her campaign about two months after the PPP loan , according to Federal Election Commission records .
Her main opponent in the Republican primary , neurosurgeon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donation during the campaign .
“ Earlier this week , you said that you didn ’ t want Congress to pass more COVID-related emergency funds for businesses .
But your business took as much as $ 350,000 in PPP loans from the federal government at the same time you were putting $ 900,000 into your campaign , ” Cowan told Greene during a debate in July .
“ So if you don ’ t need the money and you have the discretionary funds , will you commit to returning that money to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being “ disconnected ” from business owners and “ people who have struggled during this government shutdown.
” “ I am appalled at the fact that you can not comprehend that I have a construction company and we can ’ t do construction remotely at home , ” she said , not denying that she opposed the very funds that her company drew from .
“ Construction companies were considered essential and they didn ’ t shut down , ” Cowan shot back .
“ So you were making plenty of money — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own money during the campaign .
Don ’ t you think you had a little extra to pay your employees ?
I find it disingenuous that you took money from taxpayers to pay for your employees while you were paying yourself.
” Spencer Hogg , Cowan ’ s campaign manager , later said in a statement that Greene ’ s company “ wasn ’ t one of those facing hardships.
” “ She says she ’ s a fiscal conservative , she said last week that she opposed additional emergency funding for businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but as we ’ ve seen on multiple issues , Marjorie doesn ’ t let principle interfere with self-interest , ” he said in a statement .
“ If she has enough money to spend nearly $ 1 million to advance her own political ambitions , then she has enough to pay her employees , particularly in an industry that didn ’ t have to stop working during the lockdown.
” Greene ’ s campaign did not respond to questions from Salon .
Greene is not the only Republican candidate who has self-funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Former Rep. Darrell Issa , R-Calif. , received a PPP loan for one of his companies worth between $ 150,000 and $ 350,000 in May , weeks before he loaned his campaign $ 150,000 .
Issa , who has a net worth of $ 280 million to $ 400 million and was the richest member of Congress between 2000 and 2018 , is trying to stage a political comeback by running for the Southern California seat recently vacated by convicted former Rep. Duncan Hunter , a Republican .
Issa ’ s Democratic opponent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millionaires like Darrell Issa ” to be banned from collecting PPP loans during a debate last week .
Issa said at the debate that he opposed funding the PPP entirely , arguing it would be “ foolhardy ” and that “ paying people not to work has run its course.
” Another California Republican candidate , Michelle Steele , also received a PPP loan worth between $ 150,000 and $ 350,000 in April for her family law firm .
She donated $ 500,000 to her campaign in California ’ s 48th congressional district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freshman narrowly elected in the 2018 “ blue wave.
” Rep. Vern Buchanan , a Florida Republican , received PPP loans worth up to $ 7 million for his auto dealerships before donating $ 250,000 to his campaign .
Accountable.US , a progressive watchdog group that tracks recipients of PPP loans , called on all four candidates to return the money to taxpayers .
“ The PPP program was meant to save jobs , not bail out business owners looking for a gig in D.C. , ” spokesman Derek Martin said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should return this money and tell the president to get back to work on a relief bill that will help all Americans during this pandemic .
”

A watchdog group and Greene’s former GOP opponent have called on her to give the money back.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a QAnon conspiracy theorist and Republican candidate who is expected to win her House race in Georgia next month, donated $450,000 to her own campaign after receiving a six-figure Paycheck Protection Program loan from the government for her construction company.
Greene, who has promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory and posted videos attacking Black people, Muslims and Jews, won the Republican primary in Georgia’s 14th congressional district in August despite opposition from Republican leaders. She is almost certain to take over the seat now held by retiring Republican Rep. Tom Graves, especially after her Democratic opponent dropped out of the race last month in a district President Trump carried by 50 points. Trump has since praised Greene as a “future Republican star.”
Greene’s bid was partially funded by a super PAC allied with the House Freedom Caucus, which has opposed additional funding to provide coronavirus relief to Americans. Greene has opposed additional spending as well, declaring in a Facebook video that “the best stimulus for Americans is allowing Americans to go back to work!”
Despite her opposition to the stimulus funding and the PPP, her family’s company, Taylor Commercial, received a six-figure PPP loan worth between $150,000 and $350,000 earlier this year. New York Magazine reported that her name had stopped appearing on the company’s registration forms in 2012 but was added back in 2019.
Greene, who had loaned her campaign $900,000, donated $450,000 to her campaign about two months after the PPP loan, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Her main opponent in the Republican primary, neurosurgeon John Cowan, raised questions about the donation during the campaign.
“Earlier this week, you said that you didn’t want Congress to pass more COVID-related emergency funds for businesses. But your business took as much as $350,000 in PPP loans from the federal government at the same time you were putting $900,000 into your campaign,” Cowan told Greene during a debate in July. “So if you don’t need the money and you have the discretionary funds, will you commit to returning that money to the citizens?”
Greene accused Cowan of being “disconnected” from business owners and “people who have struggled during this government shutdown.”
“I am appalled at the fact that you cannot comprehend that I have a construction company and we can’t do construction remotely at home,” she said, not denying that she opposed the very funds that her company drew from.
“Construction companies were considered essential and they didn’t shut down,” Cowan shot back. “So you were making plenty of money — plus you used $900,000 of your own money during the campaign. Don’t you think you had a little extra to pay your employees? I find it disingenuous that you took money from taxpayers to pay for your employees while you were paying yourself.”
Spencer Hogg, Cowan’s campaign manager, later said in a statement that Greene’s company “wasn’t one of those facing hardships.”
“She says she’s a fiscal conservative, she said last week that she opposed additional emergency funding for businesses forced to close because of COVID, but as we’ve seen on multiple issues, Marjorie doesn’t let principle interfere with self-interest,” he said in a statement. “If she has enough money to spend nearly $1 million to advance her own political ambitions, then she has enough to pay her employees, particularly in an industry that didn’t have to stop working during the lockdown.”
Greene’s campaign did not respond to questions from Salon.
Greene is not the only Republican candidate who has self-funded a campaign while taking PPP loans.
Former Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., received a PPP loan for one of his companies worth between $150,000 and $350,000 in May, weeks before he loaned his campaign $150,000. Issa, who has a net worth of $280 million to $400 million and was the richest member of Congress between 2000 and 2018, is trying to stage a political comeback by running for the Southern California seat recently vacated by convicted former Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican.
Issa’s Democratic opponent ,Ammar Campa-Najjar, called for “millionaires like Darrell Issa” to be banned from collecting PPP loans during a debate last week.
Issa said at the debate that he opposed funding the PPP entirely, arguing it would be “foolhardy” and that “paying people not to work has run its course.”
Another California Republican candidate, Michelle Steele, also received a PPP loan worth between $150,000 and $350,000 in April for her family law firm. She donated $500,000 to her campaign in California’s 48th congressional district against Rep. Harley Rouda, a Democratic freshman narrowly elected in the 2018 “blue wave.”
Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican, received PPP loans worth up to $7 million for his auto dealerships before donating $250,000 to his campaign.
Accountable.US, a progressive watchdog group that tracks recipients of PPP loans, called on all four candidates to return the money to taxpayers.
“The PPP program was meant to save jobs, not bail out business owners looking for a gig in D.C.,” spokesman Derek Martin said in a statement to Salon. “These candidates should return this money and tell the president to get back to work on a relief bill that will help all Americans during this pandemic.”
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 Raid Medicare to Pay for Drug Discount Cards Bearing His Name

Less than a month away from the November election , Trump administration officials are reportedly rushing to implement the president ’ s recent proposal to send $ 200 prescription drug discount cards to nearly 40 million Medicare recipients — an $ 8 billion plan that would be financed by dipping into the Medicare trust fund .
Politico reported Thursday that the administration is “ seeking to finalize the plan as soon as Friday and send letters to 39 million Medicare beneficiaries next week , informing seniors of Trump ’ s new effort to lower their drug costs , although many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until after the election.
” While the design of the cards has yet to be finalized , officials are reportedly discussing ways to put Trump ’ s name on them .
The plan would cost $ 7.9 billion , according to Politico , with $ 19 million going toward letters touting the initiative , which advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers are denouncing as an obvious and potentially unlawful campaign ploy that would provide little relief for the millions impacted by obscenely high drug prices .
“ There it is : Trump wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an illegal voter bribery scheme weeks before the election , ” tweeted Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. ( D-N.J. ) .
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. ( D-N.J. ) , chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee , echoed Pascrell in a statement to Politico .
“ It ’ s a shameless stunt that steals billions from Medicare in order to fund a legally dubious scheme that ’ s clearly intended to benefit President Trump ’ s campaign right before Election Day , ” said Pallone .
In a speech on healthcare in Charlotte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump proclaimed that his administration would “ in the coming weeks ” be mailing out $ 200 medicine discount cards to tens of millions of Medicare recipients , an announcement that reportedly caught some officials at the Department of Health and Human Services off guard .
“ Nobody ’ s seen this before , these cards are incredible , ” said the president , who is badly trailing Democratic nominee Joe Biden among senior voters in recent polls .
“ Biden won ’ t be doing this.
” Politico reported that Seema Verma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Medicaid Services , is pressuring officials to have the plan ready to go before Election Day , heightening internal concerns that the discount cards are little more than an attempt to assist Trump ’ s reelection campaign with taxpayer dollars .
“ This is a solution in search of a problem and a bald play for votes in the form of money in pockets , ” one unnamed HHS official told Politico .
Margarida Jorge , campaign director for Lower Drug Prices Now , said in a statement that “ sending $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election is a poor substitute for continuing to let drug corporations jack up their medicine prices afterwards.
” “ Yet again , President Trump is trying to bribe his way to re-election , ” said Jorge .
“ Americans need serious reforms that check Pharma ’ s power to charge whatever they want and to increase prices any time .
We don ’ t need more PR stunts designed to distract us from the reality that President Trump has done more to help the drug corporations with big tax breaks than he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

The plan would cost $7.9 billion, according to Politico, with $19 million going toward letters touting the initiative.
Less than a month away from the November election, Trump administration officials are reportedly rushing to implement the president’s recent proposal to send $200 prescription drug discount cards to nearly 40 million Medicare recipients — an $8 billion plan that would be financed by dipping into the Medicare trust fund.
Politico reported Thursday that the administration is “seeking to finalize the plan as soon as Friday and send letters to 39 million Medicare beneficiaries next week, informing seniors of Trump’s new effort to lower their drug costs, although many seniors would not receive the actual cards until after the election.” While the design of the cards has yet to be finalized, officials are reportedly discussing ways to put Trump’s name on them.
The plan would cost $7.9 billion, according to Politico, with $19 million going toward letters touting the initiative, which advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers are denouncing as an obvious and potentially unlawful campaign ploy that would provide little relief for the millions impacted by obscenely high drug prices.
“There it is: Trump wants to steal billions from Medicare to pay for an illegal voter bribery scheme weeks before the election,” tweeted Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.).
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, echoed Pascrell in a statement to Politico. “It’s a shameless stunt that steals billions from Medicare in order to fund a legally dubious scheme that’s clearly intended to benefit President Trump’s campaign right before Election Day,” said Pallone.
We’ve updated the story with the draft plan circulating in the White House.https://t.co/2dQmhiHjvW Estimated $7.9 billion plan, paid for by tapping the Medicare trust fund, would include spending $19 million to send letters to seniors next week. pic.twitter.com/BeKBX3hV0C — Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) October 8, 2020
In a speech on healthcare in Charlotte, North Carolina late last month, Trump proclaimed that his administration would “in the coming weeks” be mailing out $200 medicine discount cards to tens of millions of Medicare recipients, an announcement that reportedly caught some officials at the Department of Health and Human Services off guard.
“Nobody’s seen this before, these cards are incredible,” said the president, who is badly trailing Democratic nominee Joe Biden among senior voters in recent polls. “Biden won’t be doing this.”
Politico reported that Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is pressuring officials to have the plan ready to go before Election Day, heightening internal concerns that the discount cards are little more than an attempt to assist Trump’s reelection campaign with taxpayer dollars.
“This is a solution in search of a problem and a bald play for votes in the form of money in pockets,” one unnamed HHS official told Politico.
Margarida Jorge, campaign director for Lower Drug Prices Now, said in a statement that “sending $200 gift cards to seniors before the election is a poor substitute for continuing to let drug corporations jack up their medicine prices afterwards.”
“Yet again, President Trump is trying to bribe his way to re-election,” said Jorge. “Americans need serious reforms that check Pharma’s power to charge whatever they want and to increase prices any time. We don’t need more PR stunts designed to distract us from the reality that President Trump has done more to help the drug corporations with big tax breaks than he has to help seniors struggling to afford medicine.”
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.