talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-22--Key GOP Senator Sketches Plan To Boost Funding For Election Officials During COVID

Sen. Roy Blunt ( R-MO ) on Wednesday spelled out the approach the Senate will likely take in providing additional funding for election officials in the next round of pandemic legislation .
“ I am very open to having that discussion about additional money to the states , ” Blunt told TPM , after a Senate committee hearing on election preparations .
Blunt , who is close with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) , chairs the Senate committee with jurisdiction over election issues and he is also member of the Senate Appropriations Committee .
Getting Blunt on board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for election officials and voter advocates who are pushing for the additional federal support .
The COVID-19 package that the House passed earlier this summer provided $ 3.6 billion in additional election funding .
Democrats have been pushing for some minimum standards for states for the use of additional federal funds , like mandates that states offer absentee and early voting .
McConnell , who has been largely dismissive of the idea that voters have had trouble accessing the ballot , is not a fan of conditioning the federal aid on making voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely ” the additional funding would not come with any strings attached .
Blunt hinted that the Senate proposal would be provide less funding than the House ’ s , which was based on a Brennan Center estimate that election officials would need $ 4 billion total to scale up their vote by mail operations for the pandemic .
“ Some of the numbers that were shared today were put together very early in the year , [ when we were ] anticipating three or for elections , to where now you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every state , to just one , ” Blunt said .
Blunt also indicated his preference that any additional federal funding for elections come with a matching requirement , meaning that for a state to receive the funding it would need to put up in its own cash an amount equal to a certain percent of the amount being provided by the federal government .
The $ 400 million that Congress provided state election officials in the March coronavirus law came with a 20 percent match rate , which has proven to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have enough extra cash of their own to meet the match rate of the full federal amount allotted to them .
Blunt suggested that the Senate would be looking at lowering the match rate of the initial tranche , so states had easier access to the “ money that is already out there.
” He said the actual amount of funding in the upcoming Senate package will be settled on once it is determined how much money has still gone unspent from what Congress passed in its March COVID-19 package and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blunt ’ s comments to TPM came after the committee that he chairs , the Senate Rules and Administration Committee , hosted election officials and a prominent voting rights lawyer for testimony on how voting has gone in the pandemic .
Match rates for federal funding were a major point of discussion , with Blunt saying there is “ some merit ” to that approach , though the match rate could be very small .
However , even Republican elections officials at the hearing — Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed their skepticism towards imposing that requirement , though their states had been able to meet the match rate of the initial COVID packages .
“ Without the matches , it would be easier to get this money down to where it ’ s needed , ” Warner said .

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) on Wednesday spelled out the approach the Senate will likely take in providing additional funding for election officials in the next round of pandemic legislation.
“I am very open to having that discussion about additional money to the states,” Blunt told TPM, after a Senate committee hearing on election preparations.
Blunt, who is close with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), chairs the Senate committee with jurisdiction over election issues and he is also member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Getting Blunt on board for more election funding will be key for election officials and voter advocates who are pushing for the additional federal support.
The COVID-19 package that the House passed earlier this summer provided $3.6 billion in additional election funding.
Democrats have been pushing for some minimum standards for states for the use of additional federal funds, like mandates that states offer absentee and early voting. McConnell, who has been largely dismissive of the idea that voters have had trouble accessing the ballot, is not a fan of conditioning the federal aid on making voting easier. Blunt said it was “likely” the additional funding would not come with any strings attached.
Blunt hinted that the Senate proposal would be provide less funding than the House’s, which was based on a Brennan Center estimate that election officials would need $4 billion total to scale up their vote by mail operations for the pandemic.
“Some of the numbers that were shared today were put together very early in the year, [when we were] anticipating three or for elections, to where now you’re down to, in probably almost every state, to just one,” Blunt said.
Blunt also indicated his preference that any additional federal funding for elections come with a matching requirement, meaning that for a state to receive the funding it would need to put up in its own cash an amount equal to a certain percent of the amount being provided by the federal government.
The $400 million that Congress provided state election officials in the March coronavirus law came with a 20 percent match rate, which has proven to be a challenge for some states that did not have enough extra cash of their own to meet the match rate of the full federal amount allotted to them.
Blunt suggested that the Senate would be looking at lowering the match rate of the initial tranche, so states had easier access to the “money that is already out there.”
He said the actual amount of funding in the upcoming Senate package will be settled on once it is determined how much money has still gone unspent from what Congress passed in its March COVID-19 package and in other types of election funding legislation.
Blunt’s comments to TPM came after the committee that he chairs, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, hosted election officials and a prominent voting rights lawyer for testimony on how voting has gone in the pandemic.
Match rates for federal funding were a major point of discussion, with Blunt saying there is “some merit” to that approach, though the match rate could be very small. However, even Republican elections officials at the hearing — Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner — expressed their skepticism towards imposing that requirement, though their states had been able to meet the match rate of the initial COVID packages.
“Without the matches, it would be easier to get this money down to where it’s needed,” Warner said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-22--Survey Warns One-Third Of Museums May Not Survive COVID-19 Pandemic

The American Alliance of Museums , an organization that solely represents all museums across the country , issued a dire warning on Wednesday that one-third of museums risk permanently closing as funding sources dwindle as a result of the COVID-19 closures .
In a survey conducted among 750 museum directors last month and released on Wednesday , 33 % of them responded that there was a “ significant risk ” of closing permanently by next fall or that they “ didn ’ t know ” whether their institutions would survive the pandemic .
Laura Lott , President & CEO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappeared overnight ” due to COVID-19 closures and warned that “ sadly , many will never recover ” in a press release on Wednesday .
“ Even with a partial reopening in the coming months , costs will outweigh revenue and there is no financial safety net for many museums , ” Lott wrote .
“ The distress museums are facing will not happen in isolation .
The permanent closure of 12,000 museums will be devastating for communities , economies , education systems , and our cultural history.
” In New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world-class museums , the Metropolitan Museum of Art ’ s Met Breur announced it won ’ t reopen .
The Met Museum ’ s main branch plans to reopen five days a week , with social distancing measures in place , in late August .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , however , has not yet given museums the green light to reopen .
The AAM survey also found that 87 % of museums have only 12 months or less of financial operating reserves left , with 56 % having less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions to continue operations .
Lott also pointed out that museums nationwide are hoping to gain new funding from federal , state and local governments to help recover from financial losses .
“ On average , museums receive less than 25 % of their total funding from government sources , ” Lott wrote .
“ Money from public and private sources is crucial to saving the museum field .
”

The American Alliance of Museums, an organization that solely represents all museums across the country, issued a dire warning on Wednesday that one-third of museums risk permanently closing as funding sources dwindle as a result of the COVID-19 closures.
In a survey conducted among 750 museum directors last month and released on Wednesday, 33% of them responded that there was a “significant risk” of closing permanently by next fall or that they “didn’t know” whether their institutions would survive the pandemic.
Laura Lott, President & CEO of AAM, cited how museum revenue “disappeared overnight” due to COVID-19 closures and warned that “sadly, many will never recover” in a press release on Wednesday.
“Even with a partial reopening in the coming months, costs will outweigh revenue and there is no financial safety net for many museums,” Lott wrote. “The distress museums are facing will not happen in isolation. The permanent closure of 12,000 museums will be devastating for communities, economies, education systems, and our cultural history.”
In New York City, the home to a number of world-class museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Met Breur announced it won’t reopen. The Met Museum’s main branch plans to reopen five days a week, with social distancing measures in place, in late August. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, however, has not yet given museums the green light to reopen.
The AAM survey also found that 87% of museums have only 12 months or less of financial operating reserves left, with 56% having less than six months left that would allow the institutions to continue operations.
Lott also pointed out that museums nationwide are hoping to gain new funding from federal, state and local governments to help recover from financial losses.
“On average, museums receive less than 25% of their total funding from government sources,” Lott wrote. “Money from public and private sources is crucial to saving the museum field.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-22--So Much For The Job Gains Trump Talked Up: Census Data Shows Employment Downturn

For several weeks , real-time data has suggested that the economic recovery could be stalling in the United States .
But new data from the Census Bureau on Wednesday reveals that employment has taken a significant hit and the economy could be declining again .
The New York Times reported Wednesday , that new data from the Census Bureau showed that the number of employed people fell by more than 4 million last week — marking the fourth consecutive week of decline .
The Times reported that the data , if taken literally , may indicate that job gains that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have been lost since mid-May , when new coronavirus cases surged in parts of the country .
Just under 52 percent of American adults were employed last week , according the survey , down from 54 percent in June .
The data comes from the bureau ’ s weekly Household Pulse Survey , an experimental effort to track the pandemic ’ s economic impact .
The survey ’ s track record , although brief , has been solid .
It correctly signaled , for example , the significant rise in employment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times said .
The latest data corresponds to the survey week for the July report , which will be released in early August .
If the results hold up again , it suggests that report could show a loss of millions of jobs , just as enhanced unemployment benefits from the federal government are set to expire .

For several weeks, real-time data has suggested that the economic recovery could be stalling in the United States. But new data from the Census Bureau on Wednesday reveals that employment has taken a significant hit and the economy could be declining again.
The New York Times reported Wednesday, that new data from the Census Bureau showed that the number of employed people fell by more than 4 million last week — marking the fourth consecutive week of decline. The Times reported that the data, if taken literally, may indicate that job gains that were once touted by President Donal Trump may have been lost since mid-May, when new coronavirus cases surged in parts of the country.
Just under 52 percent of American adults were employed last week, according the survey, down from 54 percent in June.
The data comes from the bureau’s weekly Household Pulse Survey, an experimental effort to track the pandemic’s economic impact.
The survey’s track record, although brief, has been solid. It correctly signaled, for example, the significant rise in employment in the jobs report for June, the Times said.
The latest data corresponds to the survey week for the July report, which will be released in early August. If the results hold up again, it suggests that report could show a loss of millions of jobs, just as enhanced unemployment benefits from the federal government are set to expire.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-22--Ocasio-Cortez Chastises Yoho For ‘Refusing Responsibility’ For Offensive Remarks

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) said Tuesday that Rep. Ted Yoho ’ s ( R-FL ) “ apology ” from the House floor was nothing more than empty words .
“ I will not teach my nieces and young people watching that this is an apology , ” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted after Yoho made gestures at apologizing to the New York congresswoman for remarks that he had made on the Capitol steps on Monday , when he reportedly called the congresswoman a “ fucking bitch.
” “ Yoho is refusing responsibility , ” she said , tweeting again shortly after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even say my name.
” Yoho had reportedly called Ocasio-Cortez “ disgusting ” for saying that the coronavirus pandemic was one of the reasons for an upshot in crime in New York .
“ You ’ re out of your freaking mind , ” Yoho reportedly told her .
Ocasio-Cortez said in response that the congressman was being “ rude ” before continuing her ascent up the stairs .
A reporter from The Hill overheard Yoho say the words “ fucking bitch ” a few steps later as he continued his descent from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams ( R-TX ) .
“ It is true that we disagree on policies and visions for America , but that does not mean we should be disrespectful , ” Yoho said on Tuesday .
But Yoho said that the “ offensive name-calling words ” attributed to him by the press were “ never spoken by me to my colleagues and if they were construed that way I apologize for their misunderstanding.
” Yoho watered down the sentiment of remorse when he added a political jab that he would not apologize for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of poverty ” or excusing crime .
“ I can not apologize for my passion , or for loving my God , my family , and my country , ” Yoho said .
Karen Bass told The View ’ s Meghan McCain on Wednesday that many of Congress ’ female members “ gathered around ” Ocasio-Cortez and “ demanded that there be an apology.
” “ I know that Yoho apologized today , we don ’ t think that ’ s enough , we ’ re not finished , ” Bass said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ocasio-Cortez disagreed on “ literally almost everything , ” Yoho was out of line for what she called an “ archaic ” and “ despicable ” “ misogynistic trend ” where any woman a man disagrees with “ is a bitch.
” She said that Yoho , who has not made a bid for re-election , should “ resign ” if he ’ s not “ emotionally mature enough to handle working with strong women .
”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said Tuesday that Rep. Ted Yoho’s (R-FL) “apology” from the House floor was nothing more than empty words.
“I will not teach my nieces and young people watching that this is an apology,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted after Yoho made gestures at apologizing to the New York congresswoman for remarks that he had made on the Capitol steps on Monday, when he reportedly called the congresswoman a “fucking bitch.”
“Yoho is refusing responsibility,” she said, tweeting again shortly after that the congressman “didn’t even say my name.”
– Does not apologize or name any action he did
– Does not accept responsibility
– Lies (this was not a “conversation,” it was verbal assault)
– Distracts by making it abt poverty (ironically)
– Says everyone else is wrong and the incident never happened. This is not an apology. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 22, 2020
Yoho had reportedly called Ocasio-Cortez “disgusting” for saying that the coronavirus pandemic was one of the reasons for an upshot in crime in New York. “You’re out of your freaking mind,” Yoho reportedly told her.
Ocasio-Cortez said in response that the congressman was being “rude” before continuing her ascent up the stairs. A reporter from The Hill overheard Yoho say the words “fucking bitch” a few steps later as he continued his descent from the Capitol, joined by Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX).
“It is true that we disagree on policies and visions for America, but that does not mean we should be disrespectful,” Yoho said on Tuesday.
But Yoho said that the “offensive name-calling words” attributed to him by the press were “never spoken by me to my colleagues and if they were construed that way I apologize for their misunderstanding.”
Yoho watered down the sentiment of remorse when he added a political jab that he would not apologize for his passionate perspective on addressing “the face of poverty” or excusing crime.
“I cannot apologize for my passion, or for loving my God, my family, and my country,” Yoho said.
Karen Bass told The View’s Meghan McCain on Wednesday that many of Congress’ female members “gathered around” Ocasio-Cortez and “demanded that there be an apology.”
“I know that Yoho apologized today, we don’t think that’s enough, we’re not finished,” Bass said.
McCain had tweeted Tuesday that although she and Ocasio-Cortez disagreed on “literally almost everything,” Yoho was out of line for what she called an “archaic” and “despicable” “misogynistic trend” where any woman a man disagrees with “is a bitch.”
She said that Yoho, who has not made a bid for re-election, should “resign” if he’s not “emotionally mature enough to handle working with strong women.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-22--House GOPers Call Out Trump Over His Warm Wishes For Ghislaine Maxwell

Two House Republicans on Wednesday morning condemned President Trump for offering well wishes to Ghislaine Maxwell , the British socialite accused of being an accomplice to the late-sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein ’ s decades-long abuse of underage girls .
During his first press conference since April — that was billed as an update from the administration on the coronavirus pandemic , but functioned more like a reality TV-style comeback episode — Trump told reporters “ I just wish her well , frankly ” when asked whether he believes Maxwell will turn in “ powerful men ” after pleading not guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prosecutors allege Maxwell helped Epstein in the mid-1990s recruit young girls into an operation that forced them into engaging in sexual acts .
Maxwell ’ s trial is scheduled to begin in July 2021 .
On Wednesday morning , two House Republicans expressed disdain for Trump ’ s nod to Maxwell from a national public platform .
Rep. Chip Roy ( R-TX ) tweeted that the President ’ s remarks during his press conference were “ unacceptably obtuse ” given Maxwell ’ s charges are among “ the most morally depraved of crimes.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ similarly tweeted on Wednesday morning that the President “ needs to say ” that Maxwell is “ despicable.
” Trump has been photographed with Epstein and Maxwell in the past , as have many other prominent politicians and public figures .
Epstein died of suicide after he was brought into federal custody last year where he was being held pending a trial on federal sex trafficking charges .

Two House Republicans on Wednesday morning condemned President Trump for offering well wishes to Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite accused of being an accomplice to the late-sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s decades-long abuse of underage girls.
During his first press conference since April — that was billed as an update from the administration on the coronavirus pandemic, but functioned more like a reality TV-style comeback episode — Trump told reporters “I just wish her well, frankly” when asked whether he believes Maxwell will turn in “powerful men” after pleading not guilty to sex crime and perjury charges.
Prosecutors allege Maxwell helped Epstein in the mid-1990s recruit young girls into an operation that forced them into engaging in sexual acts. Maxwell’s trial is scheduled to begin in July 2021.
On Wednesday morning, two House Republicans expressed disdain for Trump’s nod to Maxwell from a national public platform.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) tweeted that the President’s remarks during his press conference were “unacceptably obtuse” given Maxwell’s charges are among “the most morally depraved of crimes.”
This is unacceptably obtuse for a woman accused of the most morally depraved of crimes, @realDonaldTrump. She needs to be severely punished… and justice must be served for the girls she abused. For ALL involved. https://t.co/IslnKso0Gg — Chip Roy (@chiproytx) July 22, 2020
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) similarly tweeted on Wednesday morning that the President “needs to say” that Maxwell is “despicable.”
She is despicable and he needs to say that. https://t.co/wuoxwLV89a — Tim Burchett (@timburchett) July 22, 2020
Trump has been photographed with Epstein and Maxwell in the past, as have many other prominent politicians and public figures. Epstein died of suicide after he was brought into federal custody last year where he was being held pending a trial on federal sex trafficking charges.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-22--Trump Campaign Ad Uses Photo Of Cop Being Attacked By Protesters … In Ukraine

A new Trump campaign ad released amid the Trump administration ’ s deployment of federal troops to quell protests in Portland , Oregon misleadingly featured an image of pro-democracy protests in Ukraine taken in 2014 .
Alongside a photo of the President appearing next to law enforcement officers , the Facebook ad also features a photo of a group of protesters appearing to attack a police officer on the ground .
“ Public safety vs chaos & violence , ” the text below the photo reads .
The photo in the ad , however , was from civil unrest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ousting of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych .
Its file on Wikimedia Commons shows the image with the caption : “ A police officer attacked by protesters during clashes in Ukraine , Kyiv .
Events of February 18 , 2014.
” Former Hillary Clinton spokesperson Jesse Lehrich first highlighted the discrepancy in a Tuesday night tweet .
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to TPM ’ s request for comment .
The ad published Tuesday appeared to be marketed toward evangelical Trump supporters and bolsters the President ’ s assertion last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law and order ” as protests in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death roiled the country .
The President has railed against ongoing protests in Portland against racial inequality and police brutality .
His administration deployed federal police officers to quell unrest in the city despite local officials arguing against the aggressive show of force , which has included the use of tear gas and non-lethal munitions against peaceful protesters .
Last week , anonymous federal forces occupying Portland snatched protesters off the street and shoved them into unmarked cars in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear gas on them .
On Tuesday , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany denied any “ secretive operations ” happening in Portland despite unidentified federal law enforcement prowling city streets .
McEnany ’ s remarks came a day after six big city mayors issued a letter to the Trump administration and Congress opposing the unsolicited deployment of federal forces in their cities , arguing that the move is political and reminiscent of authoritarian regimes .

A new Trump campaign ad released amid the Trump administration’s deployment of federal troops to quell protests in Portland, Oregon misleadingly featured an image of pro-democracy protests in Ukraine taken in 2014.
Alongside a photo of the President appearing next to law enforcement officers, the Facebook ad also features a photo of a group of protesters appearing to attack a police officer on the ground.
“Public safety vs chaos & violence,” the text below the photo reads.
The photo in the ad, however, was from civil unrest in Ukraine in 2014 that ultimately resulted in the ousting of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Its file on Wikimedia Commons shows the image with the caption: “A police officer attacked by protesters during clashes in Ukraine, Kyiv. Events of February 18, 2014.”
Former Hillary Clinton spokesperson Jesse Lehrich first highlighted the discrepancy in a Tuesday night tweet.
LOL a new Trump ad warning of chaos & violence depicts a cop being attacked by protesters… …only it's a pic from Kyiv in 2014, when Yanukovich's thugs fought to quash a democratic uprising.https://t.co/VfJujT50Lm pic.twitter.com/QBrlwauo6s — Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) July 22, 2020
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment.
The ad published Tuesday appeared to be marketed toward evangelical Trump supporters and bolsters the President’s assertion last month that he is the president of “law and order” as protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death roiled the country.
The President has railed against ongoing protests in Portland against racial inequality and police brutality. His administration deployed federal police officers to quell unrest in the city despite local officials arguing against the aggressive show of force, which has included the use of tear gas and non-lethal munitions against peaceful protesters.
Last week, anonymous federal forces occupying Portland snatched protesters off the street and shoved them into unmarked cars in addition to beating peaceful demonstrators and using tear gas on them.
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany denied any “secretive operations” happening in Portland despite unidentified federal law enforcement prowling city streets.
McEnany’s remarks came a day after six big city mayors issued a letter to the Trump administration and Congress opposing the unsolicited deployment of federal forces in their cities, arguing that the move is political and reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--Portland Mayor Tear Gassed By Federal Agents During Protests

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler ( D ) was tear gassed by federal agents late Wednesday as he stood at a fence in front of a federal courthouse amid protesters who have been demonstrating in the Oregon city for weeks following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May .
“ I ’ m not going to lie — it stings ; it ’ s hard to breathe , ” Mr. Wheeler told a reporter from The New York Times .
“ And I can tell you with 100 percent honesty , I saw nothing which provoked this response.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ overreaction ” on the part of the federal officers , adding , “ this is flat out urban warfare.
” Wheeler ’ s assault with tear-gas comes amid growing frustration in the city about the aggressive tactics used by federal officers who have fired tear gas and impact munitions into crowds of demonstrators and struck them with batons as crowds and striking demonstrators with batons rally outside the Mark O. Hatfield U.S .
Courthouse demanding that federal agents leave town .
Wheeler joined those crowds on Wednesday night , spending about an hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rounds of tear-gassing unfolded and close to three hours at the demonstrations overall , The Oregonian said .
It was unclear whether federal agents were aware that Wheeler was in the crowd when they used the tear gas , according to the Associated Press .
The federal agents have been dispatched in recent weeks by the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald Trump ’ s banner of law and order as protests in Portland continued for nearly two months after the police killing of George Floyd with no signs of stopping .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowds of protesters , at least two people were reportedly grabbed off the streets by unidentified masked agents in camouflage last week and detained in unmarked vans for questioning .
Federal authorities have disputed those allegations .
“ Nothing can justify this intervention , ” Wheeler wrote in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon .
“ The President ’ s actions are unconstitutional.
” Videos surfacing after the incident show a slightly dazed and coughing Wheeler wearing a pair of goggles to thwart further irritation from the chemicals .
The Portland mayor , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing to take the gas .
Around the city official , demonstrators reportedly lit a large fire in the space between the fence and the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse as federal agents continued to dispense tear gas and stun grenades into the crowd .
Earlier in the night , Wheeler was the brunt of jeering crowds of more than 2,000 people , The Oregonian said , some of whom have been demonstrating in downtown Portland for weeks as they demand systemic reforms to the police bureau Wheeler as mayor oversees .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ presence in Oregon ’ s largest city , he has faced harsh criticism from demonstrators who yelled and swore at him claiming some of the city ’ s own law enforcement had used similar tactics .
Earlier Wednesday , the City Council barred police from cooperating with federal agents or arresting reporters and legal observers .
Wheeler ’ s dose of tear-gassing also came hours after attorneys for Oregon urged a judge to issue a restraining order against the used by the agents deployed to quell the protests — calling their methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police state-type tactics , ” The Oregonian said .
According to The Oregonian , the state ’ s Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said that federal agents had been arresting protesters without probable cause , citing the statement of Michael Pettibone , a Portland man who said he was placed in a van on July 15 by men in camouflage as he was walking home from a protest in downtown Portland .
Pettibone was reportedly then taken to the federal courthouse for questioning and released without charges .
The lawsuit is part of growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send federal agents to Portland as well as announcements that agents would be dispatched to Chicago and Albuquerque , under the guise of fighting crime .
Democratic mayors of 15 cities condemned the use of federal officers in a letter to the U.S. attorney general .

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) was tear gassed by federal agents late Wednesday as he stood at a fence in front of a federal courthouse amid protesters who have been demonstrating in the Oregon city for weeks following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
“I’m not going to lie — it stings; it’s hard to breathe,” Wheeler told a reporter from The New York Times. “And I can tell you with 100 percent honesty, I saw nothing which provoked this response.”
He called it an “egregious overreaction” on the part of the federal officers, adding, “this is flat out urban warfare.”
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler says the tear gas stings. Says egregious overreaction from feds. Calls it urban warfare. pic.twitter.com/hrRICiNGHn — Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 23, 2020
Wheeler’s assault with tear-gas comes amid growing frustration in the city about the aggressive tactics used by federal officers who have fired tear gas and impact munitions into crowds at protests and struck demonstrators with batons as they rally outside the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse demanding that federal agents leave town.
Wheeler joined those crowds on Wednesday night, spending about an hour in front of the courthouse where multiple rounds of tear-gassing unfolded and close to three hours at the demonstrations overall, The Oregonian said.
It was unclear whether federal agents were aware that Wheeler was in the crowd when they used the tear gas, according to the Associated Press.
The federal agents have been dispatched in recent weeks by the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald Trump’s banner of law and order as protests in Portland continued for nearly two months after the police killing of George Floyd with no signs of stopping. In addition to violent attempts to quell crowds of protesters, at least two people were reportedly grabbed off the streets by unidentified masked agents in camouflage last week and detained in unmarked vans for questioning. Federal authorities have disputed those allegations.
“Nothing can justify this intervention,” Wheeler wrote in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon. “The President’s actions are unconstitutional.”
Videos surfacing after the incident show a slightly dazed and coughing Wheeler wearing a pair of goggles to thwart further irritation from the chemicals. The Portland mayor, not leaving his spot in the crowd, continued to take several rounds the gas.
Around the city official, demonstrators reportedly lit a large fire in the space between the fence and the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse as federal agents continued to dispense tear gas and stun grenades into the crowd.
Earlier in the night, Wheeler was the brunt of jeering crowds of more than 2,000 people, The Oregonian said, some of whom have been demonstrating in downtown Portland for weeks as they demand systemic reforms to the police bureau that Wheeler as mayor oversees. Although the Democratic mayor has opposed federal agents’ presence in Oregon’s largest city, he has faced harsh criticism from demonstrators who yelled and swore at him claiming some of the city’s own law enforcement had used similar tactics.
Earlier Wednesday, the City Council barred police from cooperating with federal agents or arresting reporters and legal observers.
Wheeler’s dose of tear-gassing also came hours after attorneys for Oregon urged a judge to issue a restraining order against the used by the agents deployed to quell the protests — calling their methods for intervening in the protests “unconstitutional police state-type tactics,” The Oregonian said.
According to The Oregonian, the state’s attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, said that federal agents had been arresting protesters without probable cause, citing the statement of Mark Pettibone, a Portland man who said he was placed in a van on July 15 by men in camouflage as he was walking home from a protest in downtown Portland. Pettibone was reportedly then taken to the federal courthouse for questioning and released without charges.
The lawsuit is part of growing opposition to Trump’s efforts to send federal agents to Portland as well as announcements that agents would be dispatched to Chicago and Albuquerque, under the guise of fighting crime. Democratic mayors of 15 cities condemned the use of federal officers in a letter to the U.S. attorney general.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--Senate Approves Proposal To Strip Confederate Names From Army Bases By Veto-Proof Majority

The Senate overwhelmingly approved a defense bill on Thursday that included Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’ s ( D-MA ) provision requiring the military to rename U.S. bases named after Confederate generals .
The bill passed by a vote of 86-14 , a veto-proof majority that would override President Donald Trump ’ s effort to kill the measure , which he had threatened to do at the end of June after Warren announced her proposal .
“ I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth ‘ Pocahontas ’ Warren ( of all people ! )
Amendment , which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad things ! )
of Fort Bragg , Fort Robert E. Lee , and many other Military Bases from which we won Two World Wars , is in the Bill !
” he tweeted at the time .
Warren slammed Trump ’ s hostile response on the Senate floor shortly afterward , declaring that the President had “ chosen a well-worn path of hatred and division.
” “ The Confederate soldiers who betrayed the United States to fight for the Confederacy were fighting for the institution of slavery .
Plain .
Simple .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It is time to put the names of those leaders who fought and killed U.S. soldiers in defense of a perverted version of America where they belong , as footnotes in our history books , not plastered on our nation ’ s most significant military installations.
” There are currently ten Army bases named after Confederate generals .

The Senate overwhelmingly approved a defense bill on Thursday that included Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) provision requiring the military to rename U.S. bases named after Confederate generals.
The bill passed by a vote of 86-14, a veto-proof majority that would override President Donald Trump’s effort to kill the measure, which he had threatened to do at the end of June after Warren announced her proposal.
“I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’ Warren (of all people!) Amendment, which will lead to the renaming (plus other bad things!) of Fort Bragg, Fort Robert E. Lee, and many other Military Bases from which we won Two World Wars, is in the Bill!” he tweeted at the time.
Warren slammed Trump’s hostile response on the Senate floor shortly afterward, declaring that the President had “chosen a well-worn path of hatred and division.”
“The Confederate soldiers who betrayed the United States to fight for the Confederacy were fighting for the institution of slavery. Plain. Simple. Ugly,” the Democratic senator said. “It is time to put the names of those leaders who fought and killed U.S. soldiers in defense of a perverted version of America where they belong, as footnotes in our history books, not plastered on our nation’s most significant military installations.”
There are currently ten Army bases named after Confederate generals.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--Inspectors General Announce Probes Into Feds’ Use Of Force In Portland, DC Protests

The Justice Department ’ s Office of Inspector General announced Thursday that it had launched an investigation into the department ’ s use of force in the recent protests in Portland and Washington , D.C. , including how law enforcement cleared out Lafayette Square in front of the White House in June .
A short time after that , Democratic lawmakers revealed that they ’ d been informed by the Department of Homeland Security ’ s inspector general that his office would be investigating federal agents ’ activity on July 15 , when protesters reported being detained without cause .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DOJ ’ s and its law enforcement components ’ roles and responsibilities in responding to protest activity and civil unrest in Washington , DC , and in Portland , Oregon over the prior two months , ” according to the announcement by Inspector General Michael Horowitz .
“ The review will include examining the training and instruction that was provided to the DOJ law enforcement personnel ; compliance with applicable identification requirements , rules of engagement , and legal authorities ; and adherence to DOJ policies regarding the use of less-lethal munitions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of force , ” the announcement said .
The investigation of the DOJ ’ s Portland conduct is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security ’ s inspector general , Horowitz said .
The investigation into the Lafayette Square episode is being coordinated with the Department of Interior ’ s Office of Inspector General .
In a separate letter Thursday , Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari announced a review of the events on July 15 in Portland .
That day , according to a declaration subsequently filed in federal court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained by federal agents in an unmarked minivan who then drove him to a federal courthouse .
Pettibone said the agents released him after he refused to answer their questions but would not give him a record of his arrest .
Another video surfaced July 15 shows federal agents emerging from an unmarked van , grabbing someone , and driving away .
Trump administration officials later said the agents were moving the person away from the area to question them safely , and that no arrest had occurred .
Cuffari on Thursday also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team to examine DHS ’ deployment of law enforcement personnel to Portland.
” News of the internal investigations comes several days after Oregon U.S. Attorney Billy Williams requested a probe into the federal presence there .
Several lawmakers , including both of the state ’ s U.S. senators , also requested a watchdog investigation .
Though the Department of Homeland Security has handled most of the federal response to protesters in Portland — operating through the Federal Protective Service , the sub-agency responsible for protecting federal buildings — the DOJ has also played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the DOJ with protecting federal courthouses , have engaged with protesters outside the Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Portland for weeks .
On July 12 , a deputy U.S. marshal shot 26-year-old protester Donavan LaBella with what witnesses said was some type of “ less lethal ” munition , reportedly fracturing LaBella ’ s skull .
And on Saturday , deputy U.S. marshals pepper sprayed and beat Navy veteran Christopher David with a baton , breaking his hand .
At a press conference Tuesday , officials with the Department of Homeland Security said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigating the latter incident — but they made no mention of the DOJ inspector general coordinating with DHS ’ own , as Horowitz and Cuffari announced Thursday .
The DHS presence in Portland — complete with ICE and CBP agents dressed in camouflage — has infuriated Portlanders and led local officials to urge the feds to leave .
Oregon ’ s attorney general has sued the Trump administration for what she says is the violation of Oregonians ’ rights .
In Washington , D.C. , the violent June 1 incident at Lafayette Square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go on to use in other parts of the country against protesters demonstrating in favor of racial justice .
Federal agents used force to remove hundreds of protesters who had been demonstrating in the square in front of the White House .
The protesters were given little warning , and the operation appeared to be designed to clear the way for President Trump to do a photo op in front of a church near the White House .
Attorney General Bill Barr has admitted to being involved in giving the order that those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied that the operation was linked to the photo op , which happened less than an hour after the protests were dispersed .
This post has been updated .

The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General announced Thursday that it had launched an investigation into the department’s use of force in the recent protests in Portland and Washington, D.C., including how law enforcement cleared out Lafayette Square in front of the White House in June.
A short time after that, Democratic lawmakers revealed that they’d been informed by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general that his office would be investigating federal agents’ activity on July 15, when protesters reported being detained without cause.
The Justice Department review will “examine the DOJ’s and its law enforcement components’ roles and responsibilities in responding to protest activity and civil unrest in Washington, DC, and in Portland, Oregon over the prior two months,” according to the announcement by Inspector General Michael Horowitz.
“The review will include examining the training and instruction that was provided to the DOJ law enforcement personnel; compliance with applicable identification requirements, rules of engagement, and legal authorities; and adherence to DOJ policies regarding the use of less-lethal munitions, chemical agents, and other uses of force,” the announcement said.
The investigation of the DOJ’s Portland conduct is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general, Horowitz said. The investigation into the Lafayette Square episode is being coordinated with the Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General.
In a separate letter Thursday, Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari announced a review of the events on July 15 in Portland.
That day, according to a declaration subsequently filed in federal court by protester Mark Pettibone, Pettibone was detained by federal agents in an unmarked minivan who then drove him to a federal courthouse. Pettibone said the agents released him after he refused to answer their questions but would not give him a record of his arrest.
Another video surfaced July 15 shows federal agents emerging from an unmarked van, grabbing someone, and driving away. Trump administration officials later said the agents were moving the person away from the area to question them safely, and that no arrest had occurred.
Cuffari on Thursday also noted the formation of “a multi-disciplinary team to examine DHS’ deployment of law enforcement personnel to Portland.”
News of the internal investigations comes several days after Oregon U.S. Attorney Billy Williams requested a probe into the federal presence there. Several lawmakers, including both of the state’s U.S. senators, also requested a watchdog investigation.
Though the Department of Homeland Security has handled most of the federal response to protesters in Portland — operating through the Federal Protective Service, the sub-agency responsible for protecting federal buildings — the DOJ has also played a role.
U.S. marshals, tasked by the DOJ with protecting federal courthouses, have engaged with protesters outside the Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Portland for weeks.
On July 12, a deputy U.S. marshal shot 26-year-old protester Donavan LaBella with what witnesses said was some type of “less lethal” munition, reportedly fracturing LaBella’s skull.
And on Saturday, deputy U.S. marshals pepper sprayed and beat Navy veteran Christopher David with a baton, breaking his hand.
At a press conference Tuesday, officials with the Department of Homeland Security said that the Justice Department inspector general was investigating the latter incident — but they made no mention of the DOJ inspector general coordinating with DHS’ own, as Horowitz and Cuffari announced Thursday.
The DHS presence in Portland — complete with ICE and CBP agents dressed in camouflage — has infuriated Portlanders and led local officials to urge the feds to leave. Oregon’s attorney general has sued the Trump administration for what she says is the violation of Oregonians’ rights.
In Washington, D.C., the violent June 1 incident at Lafayette Square foreshadowed the aggressive tactics the administration would go on to use in other parts of the country against protesters demonstrating in favor of racial justice.
Federal agents used force to remove hundreds of protesters who had been demonstrating in the square in front of the White House. The protesters were given little warning, and the operation appeared to be designed to clear the way for President Trump to do a photo op in front of a church near the White House. Attorney General Bill Barr has admitted to being involved in giving the order that those protesters be cleared out, though he denied that the operation was linked to the photo op, which happened less than an hour after the protests were dispersed.
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--Pelosi’s Not Tolerating Yoho’s Lip: ‘Women Will Be Treated With Respect’

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) on Thursday weighed in on a male GOP member of her House and his reportedly aggressive confrontation of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) : “ women will be treated with respect.
” “ There ’ s no limit to the disrespect or the lack of acknowledgement of the strength of women , ” Pelosi said during a press briefing Thursday when a reporter asked her about the altercation between Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ted Yoho ( R-FL ) .
“ Nothing is more wholesome for our government , for our politics , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of women .
And women will be treated with respect.
” Pelosi , drawing from experiences from her own nearly two-decade tenure in Democratic leadership — which she says has been riddled with instances of harmful name-calling — said that Yoho ’ s words were “ condescending ” and “ disrespectful.
” A reporter from The Hill overheard the Florida lawmaker on Monday calling Ocasio-Cortez “ disgusting ” and “ out of your freaking mind ” for comments she made about an uptick in petty crime being related to intensified economic desperation among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on jobs and the economy .
After parting ways with the congresswoman , Yoho was heard a few steps down , accompanied by Rep. Roger Williams ( R-TX ) , saying the words “ fucking bitch.
” Yoho appeared on the House floor Wednesday to offer a diluted semblance of an apology — saying that he regretted any “ misunderstanding ” if his words had been misconstrued .
The Florida lawmaker meanwhile denied that he had used the language the press attributed to him , and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ passion , or for loving my God , my family , and my country.
” CNN ’ s Jake Tapper weighing in on the controversy Thursday also condemned the actions of Yoho calling them a far cry from “ passion ” and tweeting Thursday that the remarks were acts of “ misogyny ” and “ bigotry .
”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Thursday weighed in on a male GOP member of her House and his reportedly aggressive confrontation of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY): “women will be treated with respect.”
“There’s no limit to the disrespect or the lack of acknowledgement of the strength of women,” Pelosi said during a press briefing Thursday when a reporter asked her about the altercation between Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL). “Nothing is more wholesome for our government, for our politics, for our country, than the increased participation of women. And women will be treated with respect.”
Pelosi, drawing from experiences from her own nearly two-decade tenure in Democratic leadership — which she says has been riddled with instances of harmful name-calling — said that Yoho’s words were “condescending” and “disrespectful.”
A reporter from The Hill overheard the Florida lawmaker on Monday calling Ocasio-Cortez “disgusting” and “out of your freaking mind” for comments she made about an uptick in petty crime being related to intensified economic desperation among the country’s poor, as the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on jobs and the economy. After parting ways with the congresswoman, Yoho was heard a few steps down, accompanied by Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), saying the words “fucking bitch.”
Yoho appeared on the House floor Wednesday to offer a diluted semblance of an apology — saying that he regretted any “misunderstanding” if his words had been misconstrued. The Florida lawmaker meanwhile denied that he had used the language the press attributed to him, and said that he would not apologize for his “passion, or for loving my God, my family, and my country.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper weighing in on the controversy Thursday also condemned the actions of Yoho calling them a far cry from “passion” and tweeting Thursday that the remarks were acts of “misogyny” and “bigotry.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--WH Tries To Spin Trump’s Well Wishes For Ghislaine Maxwell Into A Fight For ‘Justice’

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday attempted to explain President Trump ’ s warm wishes for Ghislaine Maxwell — the British socialite accused of being an accomplice to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein ’ s decades-long abuse of underage girls — during the Season 2 premiere of his reality TV-style coronavirus briefings .
Trump has come under fire even from House Republicans for wishing Maxwell well during his first press conference since April , which was billed as an update from the administration on the coronavirus pandemic .
The President told reporters “ I just wish her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he believes Maxwell will turn in “ powerful men ” after pleading not guilty to sex crime and perjury charges .
Prosecutors allege Maxwell helped Epstein in the mid-1990s recruit young girls in an operation that forced them into engaging in sexual acts .
Maxwell ’ s trial is scheduled to begin in July 2021 .
When pressed on Trump ’ s well wishes for Maxwell earlier this week during an interview on Fox News Thursday , McEnany attempted to explain the President ’ s remarks with a roundabout argument claiming that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President was noting is that the last person who was charged in this case ended up dead in a jail cell , ” McEnany said .
“ And the President wants justice to be served for the victims in this case and he prefers this to play out in a courtroom.
” Asked whether she has spoken to the President about his warm wishes for Maxwell , given how the public received it as a “ strange answer , ” McEnany claimed that she has .
McEnany added that Trump had banned Epstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President was always on top of this , ahead of this , noting this , banning this man from his property long before this case was even being played out in a court of law , ” McEnany said .
The President and the first lady have been photographed with both Epstein and Maxwell in the past .
Last year , Epstein died of suicide after being brought into federal custody pending a trial on federal sex trafficking charges .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday attempted to explain President Trump’s warm wishes for Ghislaine Maxwell — the British socialite accused of being an accomplice to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s decades-long abuse of underage girls — during the Season 2 premiere of his reality TV-style coronavirus briefings.
Trump has come under fire even from House Republicans for wishing Maxwell well during his first press conference since April, which was billed as an update from the administration on the coronavirus pandemic. The President told reporters “I just wish her well, frankly” when asked whether he believes Maxwell will turn in “powerful men” after pleading not guilty to sex crime and perjury charges.
Prosecutors allege Maxwell helped Epstein in the mid-1990s recruit young girls in an operation that forced them into engaging in sexual acts. Maxwell’s trial is scheduled to begin in July 2021.
When pressed on Trump’s well wishes for Maxwell earlier this week during an interview on Fox News Thursday, McEnany attempted to explain the President’s remarks with a roundabout argument claiming that he wants “justice.”
“What the President was noting is that the last person who was charged in this case ended up dead in a jail cell,” McEnany said. “And the President wants justice to be served for the victims in this case and he prefers this to play out in a courtroom.”
Asked whether she has spoken to the President about his warm wishes for Maxwell, given how the public received it as a “strange answer,” McEnany claimed that she has. McEnany added that Trump had banned Epstein from coming to Mar-a-Lago.
“This President was always on top of this, ahead of this, noting this, banning this man from his property long before this case was even being played out in a court of law,” McEnany said.
The President and the first lady have been photographed with both Epstein and Maxwell in the past. Last year, Epstein died of suicide after being brought into federal custody pending a trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Watch McEnany’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--AOC Hammers Yoho: My Parents ‘Did Not Raise Me To Accept Abuse From Men’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) delivered a passionate rebuke Thursday of the vicious language levied against her by Rep. Ted Yoho ( R-FL ) , who was overheard calling the New York lawmaker a “ fucking bitch ” after a confrontation on the Capitol earlier this week .
“ To see that excuse and to see our Congress accept it as legitimate and accept it as an apology and to accept silence as a form of acceptance , I could not allow that to stand , ” Ocasio-Cortez said on the House floor .
Ocasio-Cortez ’ s remarks expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within hours of Yoho ’ s remarks , firing back at the congressman for “ refusing responsibility , ” after the Florida lawmaker had made gestures at an apology on Wednesday .
“ It is true that we disagree on policies and visions for America , but that does not mean we should be disrespectful , ” Yoho said on the House floor Wednesday .
Ocasio-Cortez said Thursday that while she was not personally hurt be the congressman ’ s remarks , she was compelled to speak out about his actions , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of impunity , of accepting of violence and violent language against women , and an entire structure of power that supports that.
” The congressman ’ s loosely veiled apology was made without ever explicitly naming the New York lawmaker .
A reporter from The Hill said Yoho confronted Ocasio-Cortez after casting a ballot on Monday .
The congressman was heard calling her “ disgusting ” and “ out of her freaking mind , ” for comments she made that drew a link between economic strife among the nation ’ s poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
After Ocasio-Cortez walked away , the reporter overheard Yoho saying a few steps down , side-by-side with Rep. Roger Williams ( R-TX ) , “ fucking bitch.
” The Republican lawmaker denied that he had uttered the “ offensive name-calling words ” attributed to him by the press , adding if his words had been misconstrued he apologized “ for their misunderstanding.
” He added that he would not apologize “ for my passion , or for loving my God , my family , and my country.
” Ocasio-Cortez challenged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a married man and father to two daughters as an excuse , adding , that these facts alone did not “ make a decent man.
” “ I am two years younger than Mr. Yoho ’ s youngest daughter .
I am someone ’ s daughter too , ” Ocasio-Cortez said .
“ My father , thankfully , is not alive to see how Mr. Yoho treated his daughter .
My mother got to see Mr. Yoho ’ s disrespect on the floor of this house towards me on television , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my parents that I am their daughter and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men .
”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) delivered a passionate rebuke Thursday of the vicious language levied against her by Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), who was overheard calling the New York lawmaker a “fucking bitch” after a confrontation on the Capitol earlier this week.
“To see that excuse and to see our Congress accept it as legitimate and accept it as an apology and to accept silence as a form of acceptance, I could not allow that to stand,” Ocasio-Cortez said on the House floor.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Thursday when "a decent man messes up he apologizes," adding that she did not need an apology from Rep. Ted Yoho who reportedly called her a "fucking bitch." She said Yoho is showing the world that you can "be a powerful man and accost women." pic.twitter.com/PxvENmsvUZ — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) July 23, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks expanded on a pair of tweets she posted within hours of Yoho’s remarks, firing back at the congressman for “refusing responsibility,” after the Florida lawmaker had made gestures at an apology on Wednesday.
“It is true that we disagree on policies and visions for America, but that does not mean we should be disrespectful,” Yoho said on the House floor Wednesday.
Ocasio-Cortez said Thursday that while she was not personally hurt be the congressman’s remarks, she was compelled to speak out about his actions, which she said demonstrated a “culture of lack of impunity, of accepting of violence and violent language against women, and an entire structure of power that supports that.”
The congressman’s loosely veiled apology was made without ever explicitly naming the New York lawmaker. A reporter from The Hill said Yoho confronted Ocasio-Cortez after casting a ballot on Monday.
The congressman was heard calling her “disgusting” and “out of her freaking mind,” for comments she made that drew a link between economic strife among the nation’s poor and an increase in crime during the coronavirus pandemic. After Ocasio-Cortez walked away, the reporter overheard Yoho saying a few steps down, side-by-side with Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), “fucking bitch.”
The Republican lawmaker denied that he had uttered the “offensive name-calling words” attributed to him by the press, adding if his words had been misconstrued he apologized “for their misunderstanding.”
He added that he would not apologize “for my passion, or for loving my God, my family, and my country.”
Ocasio-Cortez challenged the congressman who used his status as a married man and father to two daughters as an excuse, adding, that these facts alone did not “make a decent man.”
“I am two years younger than Mr. Yoho’s youngest daughter. I am someone’s daughter too,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “My father, thankfully, is not alive to see how Mr. Yoho treated his daughter. My mother got to see Mr. Yoho’s disrespect on the floor of this house towards me on television, and I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men. ”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--Atlanta Mayor Signals Possible Settlement Over Kemp’s Mask Mandate Lawsuit

Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Wednesday night recalled a “ very good conversation ” she had with Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) earlier in the day when they discussed a possible settlement of his lawsuit challenging the city ’ s mask mandate .
Kemp filed a lawsuit last week attempting to curb the city ’ s policy of requiring all residents to wear a face covering while in public .
Kemp ’ s lawsuit came a day after he signed a statewide order explicitly banning cities and counties from adopting rules requiring masks or other face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Bottoms ’ mask requirement mandate is “ merely guidance , ” which they believe defies the governor ’ s statewide order blocking local governments from issuing stricter coronavirus-related rules .
Bottoms — who tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month — tore into Kemp the morning after the lawsuit was filed , describing the move as “ simply bizarre , quite frankly ” given other other cities in Georgia have issued similar mask orders .
The Atlanta mayor signaled during an appearance on The Tonight Show on Wednesday night that tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simmered down since the lawsuit was filed last week .
Bottoms said they both discussed their disagreement and said the two mutually hope that they can “ figure out a way to agree to disagree ” without having to go to court .
“ At the end of the day , we want the same thing , ” Bottoms said .
“ We want people to be safe .
We want to stop the spread of COVID-19 .
And it certainly doesn ’ t help when we ’ re having to fight one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kemp ’ s office on Thursday echoed Bottoms ’ sentiments — that the conversation was “ productive ” and that the mayor kicked off the discussions .
Bottoms ’ latest remarks came hours after Kemp dismissed a remark Bottoms made on Sunday regarding the lawsuit in an interview with the Marietta Daily Journal .
Bottoms told CBS on Sunday that the Georgia governor sued her and not mayors of other cities “ perhaps because they were led by men , or perhaps because of the demographics in the city of Atlanta.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling MDJ that it ’ s “ probably one of the most ridiculous statements that I ’ ve ever heard since I ’ ve been governor of Georgia.
” According to MDJ , Kemp said that he filed the mask mandate lawsuit against Bottoms and the city of Atlanta “ because she started to start closing down our economy.
” Since the virus first hit the U.S. , Kemp has been more aggressive than most other Republican governors in his attempts to do President Trump ’ s bidding , by reopening the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order .
Even Trump was forced to break with Kemp back in April over his overly-zealous economic reopening .

Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Wednesday night recalled a “very good conversation” she had with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) earlier in the day when they discussed a possible settlement of his lawsuit challenging the city’s mask mandate.
Kemp filed a lawsuit last week attempting to curb the city’s policy of requiring all residents to wear a face covering while in public. Kemp’s lawsuit came a day after he signed a statewide order explicitly banning cities and counties from adopting rules requiring masks or other face coverings. Kemp’s administration argued that Bottoms’ mask requirement mandate is “merely guidance,” which they believe defies the governor’s statewide order blocking local governments from issuing stricter coronavirus-related rules.
Bottoms — who tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month — tore into Kemp the morning after the lawsuit was filed, describing the move as “simply bizarre, quite frankly” given other other cities in Georgia have issued similar mask orders.
The Atlanta mayor signaled during an appearance on The Tonight Show on Wednesday night that tensions between her and Kemp seem to have simmered down since the lawsuit was filed last week.
Bottoms said they both discussed their disagreement and said the two mutually hope that they can “figure out a way to agree to disagree” without having to go to court.
“At the end of the day, we want the same thing,” Bottoms said. “We want people to be safe. We want to stop the spread of COVID-19. And it certainly doesn’t help when we’re having to fight one another.”
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Kemp’s office on Thursday echoed Bottoms’ sentiments — that the conversation was “productive” and that the mayor kicked off the discussions.
Bottoms’ latest remarks came hours after Kemp dismissed a remark Bottoms made on Sunday regarding the lawsuit in an interview with the Marietta Daily Journal. Bottoms told CBS on Sunday that the Georgia governor sued her and not mayors of other cities “perhaps because they were led by men, or perhaps because of the demographics in the city of Atlanta.”
Kemp responded to Bottoms’ assertion by telling MDJ that it’s “probably one of the most ridiculous statements that I’ve ever heard since I’ve been governor of Georgia.”
According to MDJ, Kemp said that he filed the mask mandate lawsuit against Bottoms and the city of Atlanta “because she started to start closing down our economy.”
Since the virus first hit the U.S., Kemp has been more aggressive than most other Republican governors in his attempts to do President Trump’s bidding, by reopening the economy earlier than advisable and issuing the anti-mask executive order. Even Trump was forced to break with Kemp back in April over his overly-zealous economic reopening.
Watch Bottoms’ interview below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--Judge Orders Michael Cohen Released From Prison

NEW YORK ( AP ) — A judge ordered the release from prison of President Donald Trump ’ s former personal lawyer on Thursday , saying he believes the government retaliated against him for writing a book about Trump .
Michael Cohen ’ s First Amendment rights were violated when he was ordered back to prison on July 9 after probation authorities said he refused to sign a form banning him from publishing the book or communicating publicly in other manners , U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said .
Hellerstein ordered Michael Cohen released from prison by 2 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sued federal prison officials and Attorney General William Barr on Monday , saying he was ordered back to prison because he was writing a book to be released before the November presidential election .
He has been in isolation at an Otisville , New York , prison camp .
The lawsuit said the book would address “ Trump ’ s personality and proclivities , his private and professional affairs , and his personal and business ethics.
” The lawsuit said the government ’ s demand that Cohen agree not to speak to or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a book , violated his First Amendment rights .
Cohen had been furloughed in May along with other prisoners as authorities tried to slow the spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons .
He was one year into a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress , among other crimes .
Campaign finance charges related to his efforts to arrange payouts during the 2016 presidential race to keep the porn actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal from making public claims of extramarital affairs with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge ordered the release from prison of President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer on Thursday, saying he believes the government retaliated against him for writing a book about Trump.
Michael Cohen’s First Amendment rights were violated when he was ordered back to prison on July 9 after probation authorities said he refused to sign a form banning him from publishing the book or communicating publicly in other manners, U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said.
Hellerstein ordered Michael Cohen released from prison by 2 p.m. on Friday.
Cohen, 53, sued federal prison officials and Attorney General William Barr on Monday, saying he was ordered back to prison because he was writing a book to be released before the November presidential election.
He has been in isolation at an Otisville, New York, prison camp.
The lawsuit said the book would address “Trump’s personality and proclivities, his private and professional affairs, and his personal and business ethics.”
The lawsuit said the government’s demand that Cohen agree not to speak to or through any media, including by publishing a book, violated his First Amendment rights.
Cohen had been furloughed in May along with other prisoners as authorities tried to slow the spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons.
He was one year into a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, among other crimes.
Campaign finance charges related to his efforts to arrange payouts during the 2016 presidential race to keep the porn actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal from making public claims of extramarital affairs with Trump. Trump has denied the affairs.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--For Some Reason, People Aren’t Blown Away By Trump’s Ability To Remember Five Nouns

Like any person confident in their cognitive abilities , President Donald Trump launched a rambling monologue during a Fox News @ @ @ @ @ he proudly informed Fox News contributor Marc Seigel that he had aced the “ difficult @ @ @ @ @ test that required him to repeat “ person , woman , man , camera , @ @ @ @ @ .
Unfortunately , Trump ’ s brag-fest failed to leave people in awe of his @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , critics roasted the President over his bizarre obsession with his mental fortitude @ @ @ @ @ ’ s pride in passing a test that determines whether one is actively suffering from @ @ @ @ @ cause mental decline .
Here are some reactions to the President ’ s interview :

Like any person confident in their cognitive abilities, President Donald Trump launched a rambling monologue during a Fox News interview on Wednesday in which he proudly informed Fox News contributor Marc Seigel that he had aced the “difficult” portion of a cognitive test that required him to repeat “person, woman, man, camera, TV” in that order.
Unfortunately, Trump’s brag-fest failed to leave people in awe of his fearsome display of mental fortitude.
Instead, critics roasted the President over his bizarre obsession with his mental fortitude.
They also mocked Trump’s pride in passing a test that determines whether one is actively suffering from dementia or other illnesses that cause mental decline.
Here are some reactions to the President’s interview:
Obama didn’t brag half as much about winning a Nobel Peace Prize as Trump is about passing a dementia test. — Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) July 23, 2020
Trump is bragging about the cognitive test because it's the only test he ever took all by himself. — Randi Person Woman Man Camera TV Singer (@rmayemsinger) July 23, 2020
He’s so proud of himself for passing the brain damage screening https://t.co/9EqaWeMYXw — Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) July 23, 2020
these are the saddest of possible words
person woman man camera tv
trio of bear cubs and fleeter than birds
person woman man camera tv — Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) July 23, 2020
“Person, woman, man, camera, TV" is also the name of the least watched adult film ever — Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 23, 2020
Anyone notice how Trump used similar words that were in right in front of him to recall person, woman, man, camera,TV and still struggled?
Holy hell, what a Goddamn disaster. — Woman In The Moon (@SassyKadiK) July 23, 2020
FDR: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
JFK: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
DJT: "Person, woman, man, camera, TV." — Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) July 23, 2020


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--Chicago Mayor On Trump’s Federal Goon Squads: ‘We’re Just Not Having That In Chicago’

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ( D ) said Thursday that she would not allow federal agents slated to be dispatched in her city in the coming days to repeat what ’ s happened amid protests in Portland .
“ That is not going to happen in Chicago , ” she said .
“ We are not going to agree to or accept anything like what ’ s happening on the streets of Portland , Oregon , ” Lightfoot told MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe ” co-host Willie Geist .
“ We ’ re not going to have unnamed federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be police , sweeping people off , and denying them of their constitutional rights .
That is not going to happen in Chicago.
” The remarks come after President Donald Trump formally announced Wednesday that the government would be deploying a “ surge ” of federal agents to Chicago and Albuquerque amid attempts to roll out a message of law and order the President hopes can drown out failures to properly address the coronavirus pandemic and boost his re-election prospects .
The Chicago mayor has been a frequent critic of the President , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s handling of social unrest following the police killing of George Floyd in May .
Earlier this week , Lightfoot threatened to sue the President , and on Monday she addressed a four-page letter to Trump in which she outlined various ways that the federal government was uniquely positioned to help fight crime in a city that has historically struggled with gun violence .
In the letter , Lightfoot said that addressing crime in Chicago required genuine collaboration instead of further division — a tactic that has been a hallmark of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race-baiting in recent weeks amid social unrest .
Lightfoot said if the President really wanted to help Chicago , rather than “ mocking the level of violence that challenges Chicagoans , ” he should enact gun control legislation , do more to curb the coronavirus , partner with local law enforcement and offer support for community programs .
A mass shooting at a funeral Tuesday night left at least 15 people wounded on the city ’ s South Side .
But Lightfoot said “ the kind help that we need from the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president or anyone else talk about.
” The Democratic mayor reissued a call made in her letter to the President Monday for “ common sense gun control.
” When pressed about concerns that federal agents may overstep the boundaries she said she has made clear to Trump , Lightfoot , who is a former assistant U.S. attorney , said she would not hesitate to seek a restraining order against noncompliant agents .
“ We ’ re just not having that in Chicago , ” Lightfoot said .

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) said Thursday that she would not allow federal agents slated to be dispatched in her city in the coming days to repeat what’s happened amid protests in Portland.
“That is not going to happen in Chicago,” she said.
“We are not going to agree to or accept anything like what’s happening on the streets of Portland, Oregon,” Lightfoot told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” co-host Willie Geist. “We’re not going to have unnamed federal agents patrolling our streets, pretending to be police, sweeping people off, and denying them of their constitutional rights. That is not going to happen in Chicago.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday that she would not allow federal agents dispatched in her city to repeat what's happened in Portland where she says protesters have been swept off the streets and denied their rights. "That is not going to happen in Chicago," she said. pic.twitter.com/5SaVoh7u8U — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) July 23, 2020
The remarks come after President Donald Trump formally announced Wednesday that the government would be deploying a “surge” of federal agents to Chicago and Albuquerque amid attempts to roll out a message of law and order the President hopes can drown out failures to properly address the coronavirus pandemic and boost his re-election prospects.
The Chicago mayor has been a frequent critic of the President, becoming particularly vocal about her disapproval of Trump’s handling of social unrest following the police killing of George Floyd in May.
Earlier this week, Lightfoot threatened to sue the President, and on Monday she addressed a four-page letter to Trump in which she outlined various ways that the federal government was uniquely positioned to help fight crime in a city that has historically struggled with gun violence.
In the letter, Lightfoot said that addressing crime in Chicago required genuine collaboration instead of further division — a tactic that has been a hallmark of the Trump administration’s attempts at race-baiting in recent weeks amid social unrest.
Lightfoot said if the President really wanted to help Chicago, rather than “mocking the level of violence that challenges Chicagoans,” he should enact gun control legislation, do more to curb the coronavirus, partner with local law enforcement and offer support for community programs.
A mass shooting at a funeral Tuesday night left at least 15 people wounded on the city’s South Side. But Lightfoot said “the kind help that we need from the federal government we haven’t heard the president or anyone else talk about.” The Democratic mayor reissued a call made in her letter to the President Monday for “common sense gun control.”
When pressed about concerns that federal agents may overstep the boundaries she said she has made clear to Trump, Lightfoot, who is a former assistant U.S. attorney, said she would not hesitate to seek a restraining order against noncompliant agents.
“We’re just not having that in Chicago,” Lightfoot said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-23--Trump Attacks Cheney As Republicans Demand Her Removal From Leadership Role

President Donald Trump piled on House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney ( R-WY ) on Thursday morning as her GOP colleagues demand she step down from her leadership position for clashing with the President ’ s attempts to discredit White House COVID-19 task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci .
“ Liz Cheney is only upset because I have been actively getting our great and beautiful Country out of the ridiculous and costly Endless Wars , ” Trump tweeted .
“ I am also making our so-called allies pay tens of billions of dollars in delinquent military costs .
They must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
!
!
” He also retweeted a post from Mollie Hemingway , an editor at far-right media outlet the Federalist , accusing Cheney of helping the New York Times spread a “ false anti-Trump story ” on Trump ’ s refusal to take action on Russia paying bounties to the Taliban to kill U.S. forces in Afghanistan .
Trump ’ s tweet follows reports of a private House GOP meeting on Tuesday in which Cheney was raked over the coals by her colleagues for defending Fauci and supporting Rep. Thomas Massie ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After the meeting , Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) demanded Cheney ’ s ouster as House GOP conference chair , claiming in a tweet that she “ has worked behind the scenes ( and now in public ) against @ realDonaldTrump and his agenda.
” Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) retweeted Gaetz while hurling his own attack on Cheney .
“ We should all join @ realDonaldTrump in advocating to stop our endless wars .
Liz Cheney not only wants to stay forever , she ’ s leading the fight to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Paul tweeted in a post that Trump retweeted on Thursday morning .

President Donald Trump piled on House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) on Thursday morning as her GOP colleagues demand she step down from her leadership position for clashing with the President’s attempts to discredit White House COVID-19 task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“Liz Cheney is only upset because I have been actively getting our great and beautiful Country out of the ridiculous and costly Endless Wars,” Trump tweeted. “I am also making our so-called allies pay tens of billions of dollars in delinquent military costs. They must, at least, treat us fairly!!!”
He also retweeted a post from Mollie Hemingway, an editor at far-right media outlet the Federalist, accusing Cheney of helping the New York Times spread a “false anti-Trump story” on Trump’s refusal to take action on Russia paying bounties to the Taliban to kill U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Trump’s tweet follows reports of a private House GOP meeting on Tuesday in which Cheney was raked over the coals by her colleagues for defending Fauci and supporting Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) primary challenger.
After the meeting, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) demanded Cheney’s ouster as House GOP conference chair, claiming in a tweet that she “has worked behind the scenes (and now in public) against @realDonaldTrump and his agenda.”
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) retweeted Gaetz while hurling his own attack on Cheney.
“We should all join @realDonaldTrump in advocating to stop our endless wars. Liz Cheney not only wants to stay forever, she’s leading the fight to try to stop him from leaving,” Paul tweeted in a post that Trump retweeted on Thursday morning.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-24--Trump Says He Could Send Up To 75,000 Federal Agents Into American Cities

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he ’ s willing to send as many as 75,000 federal agents into American cities to quell crime under a banner of law and order which has become a campaign theme and a distraction for a president who has failed to adopt an appropriate strategy to quell the coronavirus pandemic which has killed roughly 143,000 people in the United States .
Speaking in a telephone interview with Fox News commentator Sean Hannity , the President began by saying he was prepared to dispatch between 50,000 and 60,000 people “ that really know what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The more the President talked , the greater the number of agents grew – expanding to as many as 75,000 agents as the call drew on .
The President said that with the help of “ strong ” and “ tough ” federal agents “ we can solve these problems so fast .
But as you know , we have to be invited in.
” The remarks follow widespread criticism of the Trump administration for dispatching federal agents onto the streets of Portland following weeks of protests in the Oregon city after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without invitation in May .
Reports of camouflaged agents grabbing people off the streets to be detained in unmarked vans and later questioned surfaced earlier this month .
Department of Homeland Security officials claimed that agents were identified by agency insignia and a “ police ” label on their uniforms .
Video footage of federal agents using smoke , impact munitions and batons have also emerged .
On Thursday , Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler ( D ) was tear gassed as he stood in a crowd of demonstrators in front of a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week that agents would also be dispatched in other American cities , saying Wednesday that a “ surge ” of federal law enforcement would be sent into Chicago and other cities .
“ At some point we ’ re going to have to do something much stronger than being invited in , ” Trump warned in his call with Hannity .
“ We ’ ll go into all of the cities , any of the cities .
We ’ re ready , ” he said .
CNN pointed out that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant portion of all federal officers in the country .
According to a 2019 report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics , there were approximately 100,000 federal law enforcement officers total for the country in 2016 .
Trump ’ s comments come as he has pushed to make federal policing a campaign issue .
In his call with Hannity , the President took aim at Democratic leaders who he said are “ not taking care ” or “ respecting ” their police .
“ They want to take all of their power away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The President mocked the Portland Mayor who was tear gassed on Thursday calling him “ pathetic ” and saying that Wheeler “ made a fool out of himself ” by deciding go out among the people and join them for a night of protest .
He also has falsely described Democratic opponent Joe Biden as anti-police .
Earlier on Thursday , Trump took to Twitter to address the “ The Suburban Housewives of America , ” warning that “ Biden will destroy your neighborhood and your American Dream .
I will preserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” Since protests spread throughout the country following the murder of George Floyd and others , Trump has worked at a message that uses race-baiting and fear-mongering to project tough-on-crime optics that he hopes will detract from his bungled handling of the coronavirus .
“ And except for the China virus that came in , we were setting every record you could set for unemployment , for the stock market .
Every single record you could imagine , ” Trump told Hannity , adding , “ no administration has come close.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump suggested he ’ d spoken recently with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot , a Democrat who has strongly critiqued the President for failing to offer common sense gun control reform which would help the Illinois city that has a long history of gun violence .
Trump called it a “ great talk , ” although Lightfoot has made it clear in tweets and televised interviews that she is prepared to file for a restraining order against federal agents who diverge from the agreed upon path , saying Thursday in an MSNBC interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Portland would not be repeated in her city .
“ We ’ re just not having that in Chicago , ” Lightfoot said .

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s willing to send as many as 75,000 federal agents into American cities to quell crime under a banner of “law and order,” which has become a campaign theme and a distraction for a President who has failed to adopt an appropriate strategy to contain the coronavirus pandemic that has killed roughly 143,000 people in the United States.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, the President began by saying he was prepared to dispatch between 50,000 and 60,000 people “that really know what they are doing” into American cities.
The more the President talked, the greater the number of agents grew — expanding to as many as 75,000 agents as the call drew on.
The President said that with the help of “strong” and “tough” federal agents “we can solve these problems so fast. But as you know, we have to be invited in.”
The remarks follow widespread criticism of the Trump administration for dispatching federal agents onto the streets of Portland following weeks of protests in the Oregon city after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis without invitation in May.
Reports of camouflaged agents grabbing people off the streets to be detained in unmarked vans and later questioned surfaced earlier this month. Department of Homeland Security officials claimed that agents were identified by agency insignia and a “police” label on their uniforms. Video footage of federal agents using smoke, impact munitions and batons have also emerged. On Thursday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) was tear gassed as he stood in a crowd of demonstrators in front of a federal courthouse.
Since then the President announced earlier this week that agents would also be dispatched in other American cities, saying Wednesday that a “surge” of federal law enforcement would be sent into Chicago and other cities.
“At some point we’re going to have to do something much stronger than being invited in,” Trump warned in his call with Hannity.
“We’ll go into all of the cities, any of the cities. We’re ready,” he said.
CNN pointed out that if deployed, 75,000 officers would mark a significant portion of all federal officers in the country. According to a 2019 report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were approximately 100,000 federal law enforcement officers total for the country in 2016.
Trump’s comments come as he has pushed to make federal policing a campaign issue. In his call with Hannity, the President took aim at Democratic leaders who he said are “not taking care” or “respecting” their police. “They want to take all of their power away,” Trump said of Democratic leaders.
The President mocked the Portland mayor who was tear gassed on Thursday calling him “pathetic” and saying that Wheeler “made a fool out of himself” by deciding go out among the people and join them for a night of protest.
He also has falsely described Democratic opponent Joe Biden as anti-police.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump took to Twitter to address the “The Suburban Housewives of America,” warning that “Biden will destroy your neighborhood and your American Dream. I will preserve it, and make it even better!”
Since protests spread throughout the country following the murder of George Floyd and others, Trump has worked at a message that uses race-baiting and fear-mongering to project tough-on-crime optics that he hopes will detract from his bungled handling of the coronavirus.
“And except for the China virus that came in, we were setting every record you could set for unemployment, for the stock market. Every single record you could imagine,” Trump told Hannity, adding, “no administration has come close.”
During Thursday’s Fox News interview, Trump suggested he’d spoken recently with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat who has strongly critiqued the President for failing to offer common sense gun control reform which would help the Illinois city that has a long history of gun violence.
Trump called it a “great talk,” although Lightfoot has made it clear in tweets and televised interviews that she is prepared to file for a restraining order against federal agents who diverge from the agreed upon path, saying Thursday in an MSNBC interview that the violent scenes that made headlines in Portland would not be repeated in her city. “We’re just not having that in Chicago,” Lightfoot said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-24--Fauci Says He And His Family Have Been Assigned Security Detail Due To ‘Serious Threats’

Dr. Anthony Fauci , one of the White House ’ s most prominent health responders to COVID-19 and a target in President Donald Trump ’ s attempts to downplay the pandemic , said on Thursday that he and his family have been receiving threats .
“ I ’ ve seen a side of society that I guess is understandable , but it ’ s a little bit disturbing , ” Fauci said in a podcast interview with CNN commentator David Axelrod .
The doctor recalled how he had received hate mail decades ago for leading efforts at the National Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment for HIV/AIDs .
“ It ’ s really a magnitude different now , because the amount of anger , ” he told Axelrod .
“ As much as people inappropriately , I think , make me somewhat of a hero–which , I ’ m not a hero , I ’ m just doing my job–there are people who get really angry at thinking I ’ m interfering with their life because I ’ m pushing a public health agenda.
” The backlash goes beyond just hate mail , Fauci said .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious threats against him and his family .
“ Serious threats against me , against my family , my daughters , my wife , ” the doctor said .
“ I mean , really ?
Is this the United States of America ?
” Fauci asserted that the attacks reflect “ the divisiveness of our society at a political level.
” “ This is a public health issue , the fundamental principles of public health , and I don ’ t see how people can have animosity to that , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family have been assigned security detail in response to the threats .
In recent days , Trump and his administration have worked to undermine Fauci ’ s credibility as the doctor ’ s sobering analysis COVID-19 clash with Trump ’ s politically motivated efforts to put a falsely positive spin on the outbreak ahead of the November elections .
Trump ’ s allies in right-wing media circles have also been attacking Fauci .

Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the White House’s most prominent health responders to COVID-19 and a target in President Donald Trump’s attempts to downplay the pandemic, said on Thursday that he and his family have been receiving threats.
“I’ve seen a side of society that I guess is understandable, but it’s a little bit disturbing,” Fauci said in a podcast interview with CNN commentator David Axelrod.
The doctor recalled how he had received hate mail decades ago for leading efforts at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to find treatment for HIV/AIDs.
“It’s really a magnitude different now, because the amount of anger,” he told Axelrod. “As much as people inappropriately, I think, make me somewhat of a hero–which, I’m not a hero, I’m just doing my job–there are people who get really angry at thinking I’m interfering with their life because I’m pushing a public health agenda.”
The backlash goes beyond just hate mail, Fauci said. It’s also led to “actual serious threats against him and his family.
“Serious threats against me, against my family, my daughters, my wife,” the doctor said. “I mean, really? Is this the United States of America?”
Fauci asserted that the attacks reflect “the divisiveness of our society at a political level.”
“This is a public health issue, the fundamental principles of public health, and I don’t see how people can have animosity to that,” he said.
The doctor revealed that he and his family have been assigned security detail in response to the threats.
In recent days, Trump and his administration have worked to undermine Fauci’s credibility as the doctor’s sobering analysis COVID-19 clash with Trump’s politically motivated efforts to put a falsely positive spin on the outbreak ahead of the November elections. Trump’s allies in right-wing media circles have also been attacking Fauci.