talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-03--Tropical Storm Isaias Strengthens As It Moves Up The East Coast

VERO BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) — Bands of heavy rain from Isaias lashed Florida ’ s east coast Sunday , with the tropical storm strengthening slightly and forecast to be near hurricane strength by the time it reaches the Carolinas .
Officials dealing with surging cases of the coronavirus in Florida kept a close watch on the storm that was weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon , but still brought heavy rain and flooding to Florida ’ s Atlantic coast .
The National Hurricane Center advised at 11 p.m. EDT Sunday that the storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kilometers ) east of Cape Canaveral , Florida , and about 365 miles ( 585 kilometers ) south of Myrtle Beach , South Carolina .
It strengthened slightly earlier in the evening with maximum sustained winds just under a Category 1 hurricane , taking a north-northwest path , according to the center .
“ Don ’ t be fooled by the downgrade , ” Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis warned at a news conference after the storm — pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs — spent hours roughing up the Bahamas .
Upper-level winds took much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stacy Stewart , senior hurricane specialist at the hurricane center in Miami .
“ We were expecting a hurricane to develop and it didn ’ t , ” Stewart said Sunday .
“ It ’ s a tale of two storms .
If you live on the west side of the storm , you didn ’ t get much .
If you live east of the storm , there ’ s a lot of nasty weather there.
” Authorities closed beaches , parks and virus testing sites , lashing signs to palm trees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
DeSantis said the state is anticipating power outages and asked residents to have a week ’ s supply of water , food and medicine on hand .
Officials wrestled with how to prepare shelters where people can seek refuge from the storm if necessary , while also safely social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus .
In Palm Beach County , about 150 people were in shelters , said emergency management spokeswoman Lisa De La Rionda .
The county has a voluntary evacuation order for those living in mobile or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their home can ’ t withstand winds .
“ We don ’ t anticipate many more evacuations , ” she said , adding that the evacuees are physically distant from each other and are wearing masks , due to the virus .
In Indian River County , north of West Palm Beach , Florida , emergency shelters were clearing out Sunday after Isaias was downgraded to a tropical storm .
Officials told TCPalm newspapers that 38 people registered at three schools used as shelters .
Those areas now must be cleaned to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers and staff report Monday to prepare for the upcoming school year .
No one checked in with COVID-19 symptoms .
Temperature checks were done at the door , officials said , and isolation rooms were designated in case anyone came in with symptoms .
The storm ’ s maximum sustained winds declined steadily throughout Saturday , and were at 65 mph ( 100 kph ) at 2 p.m .
ET Sunday , before crawling back up to 70 mph ( 110 kph ) a few hours later , the hurricane center said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move offshore of the coast of Georgia and southern South Carolina on Monday , move inland over eastern North Carolina Monday night and move along the coast of the mid-Atlantic states on Tuesday , ” according to the hurricane center .
A Tropical Storm Watch has been extended northward to Watch Hill , Rhode Island , including the Chesapeake Bay , Delaware Bay , Long Island and Long Island Sound .
The storm did not affect the successful return of two astronauts aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule , which splashed down into calm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coast of Pensacola .
Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode the capsule back to Earth less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida .
Isaias already has caused destruction in the Caribbean : On Thursday , before it became a hurricane , it uprooted trees , destroyed crops and homes and caused widespread flooding and small landslides in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico .
One man died in the Dominican Republic .
In Puerto Rico , the National Guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that swept away one woman , whose body was recovered Saturday .
Isaias snapped trees and knocked out power as it blew through the Bahamas on Saturday .
With coronavirus cases surging in Florida recently , the added menace of a storm ratcheted up the anxiety .
State-run virus testing sites closed in areas where the storm might hit because the sites are outdoor tents , which could topple in high winds .
Natalie Betancur , stocking up at a grocery in Palm Beach Gardens , said that the storm itself doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern .
“ The hurricane is not that serious , but I feel that the public is really panicking because it ’ s a hurricane and we ’ re in the middle of a pandemic , ” she said .
Officials in the Bahamas opened shelters for people in Abaco island to help those who have been living in temporary structures since Dorian devastated the area , killing at least 70 people in September 2019 .
Coto reported from San Juan , Puerto Rico .
Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg , Cody Jackson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Julie Walker in New York contributed .

VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bands of heavy rain from Isaias lashed Florida’s east coast Sunday, with the tropical storm strengthening slightly and forecast to be near hurricane strength by the time it reaches the Carolinas.
Officials dealing with surging cases of the coronavirus in Florida kept a close watch on the storm that was weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon, but still brought heavy rain and flooding to Florida’s Atlantic coast.
The National Hurricane Center advised at 11 p.m. EDT Sunday that the storm was centered about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and about 365 miles (585 kilometers) south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
It strengthened slightly earlier in the evening with maximum sustained winds just under a Category 1 hurricane, taking a north-northwest path, according to the center.
“Don’t be fooled by the downgrade,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned at a news conference after the storm — pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs — spent hours roughing up the Bahamas.
Upper-level winds took much of the strength out of Isaias, said Stacy Stewart, senior hurricane specialist at the hurricane center in Miami.
“We were expecting a hurricane to develop and it didn’t,” Stewart said Sunday. “It’s a tale of two storms. If you live on the west side of the storm, you didn’t get much. If you live east of the storm, there’s a lot of nasty weather there.”
Authorities closed beaches, parks and virus testing sites, lashing signs to palm trees so they wouldn’t blow away. DeSantis said the state is anticipating power outages and asked residents to have a week’s supply of water, food and medicine on hand. Officials wrestled with how to prepare shelters where people can seek refuge from the storm if necessary, while also safely social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.
In Palm Beach County, about 150 people were in shelters, said emergency management spokeswoman Lisa De La Rionda. The county has a voluntary evacuation order for those living in mobile or manufactured homes, or those who feel their home can’t withstand winds.
“We don’t anticipate many more evacuations,” she said, adding that the evacuees are physically distant from each other and are wearing masks, due to the virus.
In Indian River County, north of West Palm Beach, Florida, emergency shelters were clearing out Sunday after Isaias was downgraded to a tropical storm.
Officials told TCPalm newspapers that 38 people registered at three schools used as shelters. Those areas now must be cleaned to ensure no traces of the coronavirus remain as teachers and staff report Monday to prepare for the upcoming school year.
No one checked in with COVID-19 symptoms. Temperature checks were done at the door, officials said, and isolation rooms were designated in case anyone came in with symptoms.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds declined steadily throughout Saturday, and were at 65 mph (100 kph) at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, before crawling back up to 70 mph (110 kph) a few hours later, the hurricane center said.
“The center of Isaias will move offshore of the coast of Georgia and southern South Carolina on Monday, move inland over eastern North Carolina Monday night and move along the coast of the mid-Atlantic states on Tuesday,” according to the hurricane center.
A Tropical Storm Watch has been extended northward to Watch Hill, Rhode Island, including the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, Long Island and Long Island Sound.
The storm did not affect the successful return of two astronauts aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule, which splashed down into calm waters in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola. Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode the capsule back to Earth less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida.
Isaias already has caused destruction in the Caribbean: On Thursday, before it became a hurricane, it uprooted trees, destroyed crops and homes and caused widespread flooding and small landslides in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. One man died in the Dominican Republic. In Puerto Rico, the National Guard rescued at least 35 people from floods that swept away one woman, whose body was recovered Saturday.
Isaias snapped trees and knocked out power as it blew through the Bahamas on Saturday.
With coronavirus cases surging in Florida recently, the added menace of a storm ratcheted up the anxiety. State-run virus testing sites closed in areas where the storm might hit because the sites are outdoor tents, which could topple in high winds.
Natalie Betancur, stocking up at a grocery in Palm Beach Gardens, said that the storm itself doesn’t cause her a great amount of concern.
“The hurricane is not that serious, but I feel that the public is really panicking because it’s a hurricane and we’re in the middle of a pandemic,” she said.
Officials in the Bahamas opened shelters for people in Abaco island to help those who have been living in temporary structures since Dorian devastated the area, killing at least 70 people in September 2019.
___
Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg, Cody Jackson in Palm Beach County, Florida, and Julie Walker in New York contributed.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--Carlson Hurls Attack On Black Women For Potential Biden VP Pick: ‘Probably Illegal’

Fox News host Tucker Carlson , who continues to come under fire for his racist rhetoric , zeroed in on potential Black women vice presidential candidates on Monday night , accusing Joe Biden of selecting them “ exclusively ” based on their race and gender and calling those candidates unqualified .
Carlson , whose former head writer resigned last month after a CNN investigation revealed that he had posted racist remarks in an online forum , began his Monday night show by hurling an attack against Rep. Karen Bass ( D-CA ) , Senator Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Carlson went on a tirade suggesting that ordinarily “ no mainstream candidate ” would consider these three Black women and that “ all of them would be disqualified without debate.
” The far-right Fox host sought to paint Bass as a “ lunatic ” far-left radical , describing her as a “ Fidel Castro acolyte ” and an armed revolutionary .
He called Abrams “ delusional ” and said that Harris was “ repulsive , ” adding that “ pretty much no one who knows Kamala Harris likes her.
” Carlson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested that these women of color did not represent a “ blue ribbon group.
” The conservative host falsely accused Biden of making selections “ exclusively ” based on race and gender , suggesting the move was “ probably illegal.
” Although Biden has committed to selecting a woman , he has not said that he will select a woman of color .
By singling out the Black women up for consideration and focusing on their race , Carlson appears to deny and strip each woman of her qualifications as a leader — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it because “ no one ’ s pushing back against it .
”

Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who continues to come under fire for his racist rhetoric, zeroed in on potential Black women vice presidential candidates on Monday night, accusing Joe Biden of selecting them “exclusively” based on their race and gender and calling those candidates unqualified.
Carlson, whose former head writer resigned last month after a CNN investigation revealed that he had posted racist remarks in an online forum, began his Monday night show by hurling an attack against Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and former Democratic Georgia House member Stacey Abrams.
Carlson said that ordinarily “no mainstream candidate” would consider these three Black women and that “all of them would be disqualified without debate.”
The far-right Fox host sought to paint Bass as a “lunatic” far-left radical, describing her as a “Fidel Castro acolyte” and an armed revolutionary. He called Abrams “delusional” and said that Harris was “repulsive,” adding that “pretty much no one who knows Kamala Harris likes her.”
Carlson’s attack grew more pointed when he suggested that these women of color did not represent a “blue ribbon group.”
The conservative host falsely accused Biden of making selections “exclusively” based on race and gender, suggesting the move was “probably illegal.”
Although Biden has committed to selecting a woman, he has not said that he will select a woman of color. By singling out the Black women up for consideration and focusing on their race, Carlson appears to deny and strip each woman of her qualifications as a leader — even griping that Biden was getting away with it because “no one’s pushing back against it.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--Trump Dismisses Daily US COVID-19 Deaths With Eye Roll: ‘It Is What It Is’

In his effort to whitewash his administration ’ s botched handling of the pandemic , President Donald Trump is now actively shrugging off the daily COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. “ I think it ’ s under control , ” Trump told Axios correspondent Jonathan Swan in a pre-taped interview released on Monday night .
“ They are dying , that ’ s true , and it is what it is , ” the President said .
“ But that doesn ’ t mean we aren ’ t doing everything we can .
It ’ s under control as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is a horrible plague that beset us , ” he added .
Later in the interview , Trump pulled out several graphs to prove that “ we ’ re lower in the world ” in terms of COVID-19 deaths .
“ Oh , you ’ re doing death as a proportion of cases , ” the reporter noted .
“ I ’ m talking about death as a proportion of population .
That ’ s where the U.S. is really bad .
Much worse than South Korea , Germany , etc.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t “ do that , ” the President just continued to insist that “ you have to go by the cases.
” Trump ’ s comments about the U.S. death toll fall squarely under the White House ’ s reported strategy of hoping Americans will simply grow numb to the crisis as the November elections draw near .
More than 155,000 Americans have died from the virus as of Tuesday morning , according to John Hopkins University ’ s pandemic tracker .

In his effort to whitewash his administration’s botched handling of the pandemic, President Donald Trump is now actively shrugging off the daily COVID-19 death toll in the U.S.
“I think it’s under control,” Trump told Axios correspondent Jonathan Swan in a pre-taped interview released on Monday night.
“How?” Swan asked. “A thousand Americans are dying a day.”
Trump rolled his eyes.
“They are dying, that’s true, and it is what it is,” the President said. “But that doesn’t mean we aren’t doing everything we can. It’s under control as much as you can control it.”
“This is a horrible plague that beset us,” he added.
Later in the interview, Trump pulled out several graphs to prove that “we’re lower in the world” in terms of COVID-19 deaths.
A puzzled Swan examined the graphs.
“Oh, you’re doing death as a proportion of cases,” the reporter noted. “I’m talking about death as a proportion of population. That’s where the U.S. is really bad. Much worse than South Korea, Germany, etc.”
“You can’t do that,” Trump replied.
When Swan asked why he couldn’t “do that,” the President just continued to insist that “you have to go by the cases.”
Trump’s comments about the U.S. death toll fall squarely under the White House’s reported strategy of hoping Americans will simply grow numb to the crisis as the November elections draw near.
More than 155,000 Americans have died from the virus as of Tuesday morning, according to John Hopkins University’s pandemic tracker.
Watch Trump below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--FDA Advisory Committee Member Worries That Admin Might Rush Vaccine For Political Ends

A member of the committee tasked with advising the Food and Drug Administration on COVID-19 vaccine approval expressed worry to TPM about political meddling in the process of vaccine approval .
Dr. Paul Offit , director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children ’ s Hospital Philadelphia and a member of the FDA ’ s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee , said in an interview that he was concerned the FDA may not rely on the traditional expert committees used to evaluate vaccines for safety and efficiency .
And he cited the case of hydroxychloroquine as a potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Who are they relying on to make this decision ?
Are they relying on [ FDA commissioner ] Stephen Hahn ?
A committee ?
” Offit asked .
“ The committee that makes these decisions is the vaccine advisory committee .
They ’ re usually the one to make a recommendation.
” The New York Times reported on Sunday that scientists are concerned that the Trump administration may try to intervene to get a vaccine candidate rushed into deployment before the November elections .
Offit told the paper that “ there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this process who are very nervous about whether the administration is going to reach their hand into the Warp Speed bucket , pull out one or two or three vaccines , and say , ‘ We ’ ve tested it on a few thousand people , it looks safe , and now we are going to roll it out . '
” TPM reported that the Trump administration plans to start its messaging campaign for the vaccine in the fall , with the aim of “ overwhelming the airwaves ” by November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprised if the currently ongoing vaccine trials yielded “ meaningful data before early next year.
” The trials , he explained , won ’ t be able to enroll enough participants in them to even begin in earnest until October .
So the question would then come down to whether the FDA would be willing to grant emergency use approval — known as an EUA — to a vaccine candidate before the election , with at best extremely limited data confirming effectiveness .
“ As long as the FDA reviews these data on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s clear statistical significance that the vaccine works , then it doesn ’ t matter how it ’ s licensed , ” Offit said .
“ If it ’ s licensed in a normal way , if it ’ s approved through the EUA , that ’ s okay , as long as the phase three data is there.
” He added that even the successful vaccine candidates would likely not protect against all forms of the disease .
Offit recalled to TPM the case of hydroxychloroquine — the drug that President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 , in the face of available evidence .
The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the drug on April 27 , under pressure from the Trump administration .
The agency then rescinded that authorization in June , amid reports that the drug comes with severe side effects that could be fatal .
“ It would be on the FDA to grant approval of one or more vaccines through the EUA , ” Offit said .
“ This is what happened with hydroxychloroquine — it was approved for use , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it worked .
Not only did it not work to treat patients , but it had serious side effects .
”

A member of the committee tasked with advising the Food and Drug Administration on COVID-19 vaccine approval expressed worry to TPM about political meddling in the process of vaccine approval.
Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital Philadelphia and a member of the FDA’s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, said in an interview that he was concerned the FDA may not rely on the traditional expert committees used to evaluate vaccines for safety and efficiency. And he cited the case of hydroxychloroquine as a potential harbinger of what is to come.
“Who are they relying on to make this decision? Are they relying on [FDA commissioner] Stephen Hahn? A committee?” Offit asked. “The committee that makes these decisions is the vaccine advisory committee. They’re usually the one to make a recommendation.”
The New York Times reported on Sunday that scientists are concerned that the Trump administration may try to intervene to get a vaccine candidate rushed into deployment before the November elections.
Offit told the paper that “there are a lot of people on the inside of this process who are very nervous about whether the administration is going to reach their hand into the Warp Speed bucket, pull out one or two or three vaccines, and say, ‘We’ve tested it on a few thousand people, it looks safe, and now we are going to roll it out.'”
TPM reported that the Trump administration plans to start its messaging campaign for the vaccine in the fall, with the aim of “overwhelming the airwaves” by November.
Offit said that he would be surprised if the currently ongoing vaccine trials yielded “meaningful data before early next year.” The trials, he explained, won’t be able to enroll enough participants in them to even begin in earnest until October.
So the question would then come down to whether the FDA would be willing to grant emergency use approval — known as an EUA — to a vaccine candidate before the election, with at best extremely limited data confirming effectiveness.
“As long as the FDA reviews these data on what is clearly a trial where there’s clear statistical significance that the vaccine works, then it doesn’t matter how it’s licensed,” Offit said. “If it’s licensed in a normal way, if it’s approved through the EUA, that’s okay, as long as the phase three data is there.”
He added that even the successful vaccine candidates would likely not protect against all forms of the disease.
Offit recalled to TPM the case of hydroxychloroquine — the drug that President Trump has continually touted as a cure for COVID-19, in the face of available evidence.
The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the drug on April 27, under pressure from the Trump administration. The agency then rescinded that authorization in June, amid reports that the drug comes with severe side effects that could be fatal.
“It would be on the FDA to grant approval of one or more vaccines through the EUA,” Offit said. “This is what happened with hydroxychloroquine — it was approved for use, and there was no data to show that it worked. Not only did it not work to treat patients, but it had serious side effects.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--WH Floats Possible Unemployment Executive Orders Just Before Negotiators Meet

The White House made it known that it is considering three executive orders on COVID-19 unemployment efforts just as its two lead negotiators on the issue met with Democrats for the seventh time Tuesday afternoon .
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin primed the pump while talking to reporters on their way in to meet with House Leader Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) .
Mnuchin said then that they would “ absolutely ” consider deploying executive orders , though Meadows said he hoped it wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , Politico reported that the orders in question focus on delaying collection of the federal payroll tax , restarting the eviction moratorium and expanding the unemployment benefit with unspent money earmarked by Congress in the CARES Act .
Per Politico , the orders were Meadows ’ idea .
Trump publicly mused over the possibility of unilaterally addressing the evictions and payroll taxes on Monday .
“ A lot of people are going to be evicted , but I ’ m going to stop it because I ’ ll do it myself if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters .
“ I have a lot of powers with respect to executive orders , and we ’ re looking at that very seriously right now.
” It ’ s not clear if the gambit is an attempt to shake up the negotiation dynamics or a serious plan .
If Trump goes through with issuing the orders , they will likely be met with legal challenges .
Mnuchin and Meadows have been given the difficult task of negotiating on behalf of a fractured Republican caucus .
While Democrats have coalesced behind the central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 600 per week unemployment insurance benefit , Republicans as a whole haven ’ t been able to agree on spending any money at all , never mind how much .
On Tuesday , Schumer pilloried Republicans for being too ensnared in their “ ideological straight jacket ” to compromise .
“ This is a huge crisis and it demands a huge response , ” he said .

The White House made it known that it is considering three executive orders on COVID-19 unemployment efforts just as its two lead negotiators on the issue met with Democrats for the seventh time Tuesday afternoon.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin primed the pump while talking to reporters on their way in to meet with House Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Mnuchin said then that they would “absolutely” consider deploying executive orders, though Meadows said he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Minutes later, Politico reported that the orders in question focus on delaying collection of the federal payroll tax, restarting the eviction moratorium and expanding the unemployment benefit with unspent money earmarked by Congress in the CARES Act.
Per Politico, the orders were Meadows’ idea.
Trump publicly mused over the possibility of unilaterally addressing the evictions and payroll taxes on Monday.
“A lot of people are going to be evicted, but I’m going to stop it because I’ll do it myself if I have to,” he told reporters. “I have a lot of powers with respect to executive orders, and we’re looking at that very seriously right now.”
It’s not clear if the gambit is an attempt to shake up the negotiation dynamics or a serious plan. If Trump goes through with issuing the orders, they will likely be met with legal challenges.
Mnuchin and Meadows have been given the difficult task of negotiating on behalf of a fractured Republican caucus. While Democrats have coalesced behind the central tenet of the relief, extending the $600 per week unemployment insurance benefit, Republicans as a whole haven’t been able to agree on spending any money at all, never mind how much.
On Tuesday, Schumer pilloried Republicans for being too ensnared in their “ideological straight jacket” to compromise.
“This is a huge crisis and it demands a huge response,” he said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--Neil Young Sues Trump Campaign For Using ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ Without Permission

Neil Young sued the Trump campaign on Tuesday for allegedly using his songs without permission at campaign rallies .
In a legal filing posted to his website , Young claimed that the Trump campaign used his music at Trump ’ s recent rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma — as well as at “ numerous ” other rallies and political events — without a license to do so .
The campaign played Young ’ s songs “ Rockin ’ in the Free World ” and “ Devil ’ s Sidewalk ” at the Tulsa rally and at other events , Young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not allow his music to be used as a ‘ theme song ’ for a divisive , un-American campaign of ignorance and hate , ” Young wrote .
This is hardly Young ’ s first objection to Trump using his music : Rolling Stone noted that the performer raised similar objections in 2018 and early last month — just without taking things to court .
Young noted in the six-page copyright infringement filing that the Trump campaign first played “ Rockin ’ in the Free World ” when Trump announced his bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 .
At the time , Young ’ s manager Elliot Roberts told Mother Jones , “ Donald Trump ’ s use of “ Rockin ’ in the Free World ” was not authorized .
Mr. Young is a longtime supporter of Bernie Sanders.
” But a year later , The Hollywood Reporter noted , Young acknowledged that the campaign had in fact obtained a license for the event .
Young alleged Tuesday that the campaign ’ s actions then were an acknowledgement “ that it knew a license was required.
” Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had repeatedly used his music without permssion — despite knowing that they needed a license to do so .
Young asked the court to enjoin the campaign from publicly performing his music and to order the campaign to pay for the alleged infringements .
Young ’ s attorney Ivan Saperstein told TPM Tuesday that the suit had been filed in the Southern District of New York .
Saperstein declined to comment further , and the Trump campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment .

Neil Young sued the Trump campaign on Tuesday for allegedly using his songs without permission at campaign rallies.
In a legal filing posted to his website, Young claimed that the Trump campaign used his music at Trump’s recent rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma — as well as at “numerous” other rallies and political events — without a license to do so.
The campaign played Young’s songs “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Devil’s Sidewalk” at the Tulsa rally and at other events, Young said.
“Plaintiff in good conscience cannot allow his music to be used as a ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate,” Young wrote.
This is hardly Young’s first objection to Trump using his music: Rolling Stone noted that the performer raised similar objections in 2018 and early last month — just without taking things to court.
Young noted in the six-page copyright infringement filing that the Trump campaign first played “Rockin’ in the Free World” when Trump announced his bid for the presidency on June 16, 2015.
At the time, Young’s manager Elliot Roberts told Mother Jones, “Donald Trump’s use of “Rockin’ in the Free World” was not authorized. Mr. Young is a longtime supporter of Bernie Sanders.”
But a year later, The Hollywood Reporter noted, Young acknowledged that the campaign had in fact obtained a license for the event. Young alleged Tuesday that the campaign’s actions then were an acknowledgement “that it knew a license was required.”
Since then, Young alleged, the campaign had repeatedly used his music without permssion — despite knowing that they needed a license to do so. Young asked the court to enjoin the campaign from publicly performing his music and to order the campaign to pay for the alleged infringements.
Young’s attorney Ivan Saperstein told TPM Tuesday that the suit had been filed in the Southern District of New York. Saperstein declined to comment further, and the Trump campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--Mnuchin, Meadows Return To Unemployment Negotiations With A Fractured Caucus Behind Them

As the four lead negotiators enter their seventh meeting Tuesday afternoon on COVID-19 relief measures , almost no progress has been made on the negotiation ’ s central tenet : the unemployment insurance benefit , a $ 600 a week safety net that officially expired for over 30 million Americans on Friday .
Democrats , led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) have insisted that the benefit be extended for the foreseeable duration of the pandemic .
Pelosi ’ s only concession so far has been a willingness to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to decrease the weekly amount when the joblessness rate goes down .
Republicans , represented by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in the meetings , have meanwhile struggled to coalesce behind a counter-position .
Meadows and Sen. Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) have proposed short-term extensions of the $ 600 per week benefit , but Pelosi shot them down .
“ Understand this , passing something for a week without all the other things that should go with it is not any path we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on CNN .
“ It ’ s a public relations stunt on their part.
” Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) proposed a plan that would provide for a $ 200 a week allotment to each unemployment recipient until states implement a formula to calculate and recover 70 percent of the recipients ’ lost wages .
A group of senators including Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) , Susan Collins ( R-ME ) and Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) offered a different version of the wage replacement plan , with a more gradual cutoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine 80 percent wage replacement or decrease the flat benefit over time : $ 500 a week in August , $ 400 a week in September , and so on .
But there ’ s not yet widespread support in the caucus for either wage replacement plan .
“ Many of our state departments of labor — they just got microwaves last week , much less being able to reprogram the computer in 60 days to effectuate a complicated formula , ” Sen. John Kennedy ( R-LA ) told reporters last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ either as crazy or candid as I am , and they ’ re not going to say anything , but I ’ m not the only one.
” None of the Republican proposals appears to have gained any traction with Democrats — or with a significant portion of the Republican caucus either .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) has said that about 20 senators , suddenly balking at the deficit , don ’ t believe any more money should be spent .
The sentiment has been echoed in the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hard line on any amount of additional aid .
“ Zero is the number for me , ” Rep. Roger Williams ( R-TX ) told HuffPost of his preferred amount of federal aid .
“ I ’ m not sure that we should be adding to a state ’ s unemployment , ” added Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) .
Many Republicans have been parroting the argument that the $ 600/week benefit on top of state unemployment insurance is more than what some people were making before , and will disincentivize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because the $ 600 per week was calculated to be a rough average of the whole lot of unemployed people ’ s income , it ’ s true that some are making more than they were , and some less .
That many people are getting more than they were is in no small part because the pandemic has taken the heaviest toll on industries replete with low-income jobs , like retail and hospitality .
But a study released June 27 by a group of Yale economists flies in the face of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 600 per week disincentivizes workers .
The study found that the first round of unemployment insurance benefits did not reduce employment .
“ The data do not show a relationship between benefit generosity and employment paths after the CARES Act , which could be due to the collapse of labor demand during the COVID-19 crisis , ” Joseph Altonji , a co-author of the report , said .
“ As to all this hand wringing that people are earning more unemployed than they were when working — which is not really true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits — having the flat $ 600 is the best possible way to do stimulus because you ’ re giving money to people to spend right away into the economy , ” Michele Evermore , senior analyst at the National Employment Law Program , told TPM .
“ And the lowest income people spend it right away.
” But the disarray on Capitol Hill is more than anecdotal — Senate Republicans have released a proposal for a plan called the HEALS Act to counter the Democrats ’ HEROES Act — which passed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 600 a week benefit until January — but haven ’ t mustered the votes to pass it .
President Donald Trump , for his part , has threatened to unleash a slew of ambiguous executive orders to somehow cut through the slog of negotiations .
It ’ s not certain what form those orders would take to solve the problems : Trump has indicated his favor of using one to pause the federal payroll tax , but it ’ s unclear whether he has the power to do it .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Meadows will meet again Tuesday afternoon to see which side will out-will the other .
Pelosi , for one , doesn ’ t see any deal happening until next week .
“ A building is on fire , and they are deciding how much water they want to have in the bucket , ” she said Monday .

As the four lead negotiators enter their seventh meeting Tuesday afternoon on COVID-19 relief measures, almost no progress has been made on the negotiation’s central tenet: the unemployment insurance benefit, a $600 a week safety net that officially expired for over 30 million Americans on Friday.
Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have insisted that the benefit be extended for the foreseeable duration of the pandemic. Pelosi’s only concession so far has been a willingness to tie the benefit to the unemployment numbers, to decrease the weekly amount when the joblessness rate goes down.
Republicans, represented by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in the meetings, have meanwhile struggled to coalesce behind a counter-position.
Meadows and Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) have proposed short-term extensions of the $600 per week benefit, but Pelosi shot them down. “Understand this, passing something for a week without all the other things that should go with it is not any path we will go down,” Pelosi said Friday on CNN. “It’s a public relations stunt on their part.”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) proposed a plan that would provide for a $200 a week allotment to each unemployment recipient until states implement a formula to calculate and recover 70 percent of the recipients’ lost wages. A group of senators including Mitt Romney (R-UT), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Martha McSally (R-AZ) offered a different version of the wage replacement plan, with a more gradual cutoff — it would allow states to either determine 80 percent wage replacement or decrease the flat benefit over time: $500 a week in August, $400 a week in September, and so on.
But there’s not yet widespread support in the caucus for either wage replacement plan.
“Many of our state departments of labor — they just got microwaves last week, much less being able to reprogram the computer in 60 days to effectuate a complicated formula,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) told reporters last week. “Some of my colleagues are not either as crazy or candid as I am, and they’re not going to say anything, but I’m not the only one.”
None of the Republican proposals appears to have gained any traction with Democrats — or with a significant portion of the Republican caucus either. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has said that about 20 senators, suddenly balking at the deficit, don’t believe any more money should be spent. The sentiment has been echoed in the House, where some Republican members are taking a hard line on any amount of additional aid.
“Zero is the number for me,” Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) told HuffPost of his preferred amount of federal aid. “I’m not sure that we should be adding to a state’s unemployment,” added Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ).
The Generosity Myth
Many Republicans have been parroting the argument that the $600/week benefit on top of state unemployment insurance is more than what some people were making before, and will disincentivize them to go back to work.
Because the $600 per week was calculated to be a rough average of the whole lot of unemployed people’s income, it’s true that some are making more than they were, and some less. That many people are getting more than they were is in no small part because the pandemic has taken the heaviest toll on industries replete with low-income jobs, like retail and hospitality.
But a study released June 27 by a group of Yale economists flies in the face of the second part of that argument — that $600 per week disincentivizes workers. The study found that the first round of unemployment insurance benefits did not reduce employment.
“The data do not show a relationship between benefit generosity and employment paths after the CARES Act, which could be due to the collapse of labor demand during the COVID-19 crisis,” Joseph Altonji, a co-author of the report, said.
“As to all this hand wringing that people are earning more unemployed than they were when working — which is not really true because they’re not getting fringe benefits — having the flat $600 is the best possible way to do stimulus because you’re giving money to people to spend right away into the economy,” Michele Evermore, senior analyst at the National Employment Law Program, told TPM. “And the lowest income people spend it right away.”
But the disarray on Capitol Hill is more than anecdotal — Senate Republicans have released a proposal for a plan called the HEALS Act to counter the Democrats’ HEROES Act — which passed the House in May and would have extended the $600 a week benefit until January — but haven’t mustered the votes to pass it.
President Donald Trump, for his part, has threatened to unleash a slew of ambiguous executive orders to somehow cut through the slog of negotiations. It’s not certain what form those orders would take to solve the problems: Trump has indicated his favor of using one to pause the federal payroll tax, but it’s unclear whether he has the power to do it.
For now, Pelosi, Schumer, Mnuchin and Meadows will meet again Tuesday afternoon to see which side will out-will the other. Pelosi, for one, doesn’t see any deal happening until next week.
“A building is on fire, and they are deciding how much water they want to have in the bucket,” she said Monday.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--Trump Makes A Big Exception In His War On Mail-In Voting

Hear those squeaks ?
That ’ s the sound of President Donald Trump furiously back-peddling after months of a sustained campaign against voting by mail — at least when it comes to Florida .
“ Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting , in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure , Tried and True , ” Trump tweeted .
“ Florida ’ s Voting system has been cleaned up ( we defeated Democrats attempts at change ) , so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail !
” Does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something to do with the fact that enrollment for Florida ’ s mail-in voting program among Democratic voters is eclipsing that of Republican voters , who ’ ve been told by their party leader for months that voting by mail lead will lead to the “ most corrupt election ” in American history , by about half a million ?
Who ’ s to say , really ?
In other news , election polls show that Trump is currently trailing Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden by more than 5 points in the crucial @ @ @

Hear those squeaks? That’s the sound of President Donald Trump furiously back-peddling after months of a sustained campaign against voting by mail — at least when it comes to Florida.
“Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True,” Trump tweeted. “Florida’s Voting system has been cleaned up (we defeated Democrats attempts at change), so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail!”
Does Trump’s sudden enthusiastic endorsement have something to do with the fact that enrollment for Florida’s mail-in voting program among Democratic voters is eclipsing that of Republican voters, who’ve been told by their party leader for months that voting by mail lead will lead to the “most corrupt election” in American history, by about half a million? Who’s to say, really?
In other news, election polls show that Trump is currently trailing Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden by more than 5 points in the crucial swing state.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--FBI Raids Company Tied To Ukrainian Oligarch Who Pushed Biden Disinfo

FBI and IRS agents in Cleveland and Miami on Tuesday raided the offices of a company tied to a Ukrainian oligarch suspected of pushing dirt on Vice President Joe Biden .
Vicki Anderson , a spokesperson for the FBI ’ s Cleveland office , confirmed the raids of Optima Management to TPM , declining to comment any further because the matter “ is still under seal.
” Nobody was taken into custody , Anderson added .
Optima Management is partly owned by Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky , per court documents filed in Delaware last year .
Kolomoisky has faced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District of Ohio for at least a year .
The oligarch told the New York Times in November 2019 that , were he the President of Ukraine , he would open the investigations into Biden that Trump and Giuliani have sought .
The next month , associates and political allies of Kolomoisky ’ s met with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani in Kyiv , offering the former NYC mayor a fabricated narrative about Biden .
The meetings fueled suspicion that , in the words of one Western official based in Kyiv who spoke to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ trying to become friends with Trump and Giuliani ” as the feds ’ investigation of him progressed .
The oligarch appears to have stayed involved in the campaign to damage Biden since then .
Earlier this year , after a Ukrainian member of parliament began releasing supposed audio recordings of Biden speaking with Ukraine ’ s president in 2016 , Kolomoisky released a statement demanding that a criminal investigation be opened based off of the tapes .
A spokesperson for Optima Management declined to comment on the raids .
Buzzfeed reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jury was examining allegations of money laundering against Kolomoisky .
Michael Sullivan , an attorney for Kolomoisky , did not immediately return a request for comment .
Giuliani , who has represented Trump since 2018 , has hawked his access to top Justice Department officials to foreign clients , reportedly asking the DOJ for leniency towards a Turkish bank , a Venezuelan businessman , and others .
Another attorney for Kolomoisky , Bud Cummins , told TPM in November 2019 that he tried to convince federal prosecutors at the Southern District of New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around Biden and separate charges that Paul Manafort was brought down by a Ukrainian plot — another Trumpworld hobbyhorse .
Cummins has denied to TPM that his work for Kolomoisky was related to his conversations with SDNY .
Giuliani has continued to reference Cummins ’ attempt , criticizing then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoff Berman for failing to take on the investigation .
Two other associates of Kolomoisky ’ s who co-own Optima have also lawyered up in Trumpworld , hiring Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz to represent them in @ @ @ @

FBI and IRS agents in Cleveland and Miami on Tuesday raided the offices of a company tied to a Ukrainian oligarch suspected of pushing dirt on Vice President Joe Biden.
Vicki Anderson, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Cleveland office, confirmed the raids of Optima Management to TPM, declining to comment any further because the matter “is still under seal.” Nobody was taken into custody, Anderson added.
Optima Management is partly owned by Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, per court documents filed in Delaware last year.
Kolomoisky has faced a federal criminal investigation out of the Northern District of Ohio for at least a year. The oligarch told the New York Times in November 2019 that, were he the President of Ukraine, he would open the investigations into Biden that Trump and Giuliani have sought.
The next month, associates and political allies of Kolomoisky’s met with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani in Kyiv, offering the former NYC mayor a fabricated narrative about Biden.
The meetings fueled suspicion that, in the words of one Western official based in Kyiv who spoke to TPM on condition of anonymity, Kolomoisky was “trying to become friends with Trump and Giuliani” as the feds’ investigation of him progressed.
The oligarch appears to have stayed involved in the campaign to damage Biden since then.
Earlier this year, after a Ukrainian member of parliament began releasing supposed audio recordings of Biden speaking with Ukraine’s president in 2016, Kolomoisky released a statement demanding that a criminal investigation be opened based off of the tapes.
A spokesperson for Optima Management declined to comment on the raids.
Buzzfeed reported in May that a Cleveland federal grand jury was examining allegations of money laundering against Kolomoisky.
Michael Sullivan, an attorney for Kolomoisky, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Giuliani, who has represented Trump since 2018, has hawked his access to top Justice Department officials to foreign clients, reportedly asking the DOJ for leniency towards a Turkish bank, a Venezuelan businessman, and others.
Another attorney for Kolomoisky, Bud Cummins, told TPM in November 2019 that he tried to convince federal prosecutors at the Southern District of New York in October 2018 to investigate allegations around Biden and separate charges that Paul Manafort was brought down by a Ukrainian plot — another Trumpworld hobbyhorse. Cummins has denied to TPM that his work for Kolomoisky was related to his conversations with SDNY.
Giuliani has continued to reference Cummins’ attempt, criticizing then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoff Berman for failing to take on the investigation.
Two other associates of Kolomoisky’s who co-own Optima have also lawyered up in Trumpworld, hiring Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz to represent them in a civil suit.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--Susan Rice Highlights Past Virus Response Efforts As She Vies For VP Slot

Former Obama National Security Adviser Susan Rice challenged those who have suggested she isn ’ t a qualified pick for vice president , saying Tuesday that her career has been dedicated to public service over personal political ambition .
“ It ’ s not about one ’ s own profile , ” Rice told CBS when asked about the role of a vice president , adding that while some have suggested she lacks the experience of running for political office , she is proud of a career dedicated to serving others .
“ I don ’ t have a personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I have a longstanding commitment to public service .
That ’ s been what ’ s defined my career.
” But Rice , who has recently faced attacks from conservative news hosts and is said to be a strong contender as running mate to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , says she does have a broad list of credentials that would make her a suitable governing partner to Biden .
During her tenure as Obama ’ s national security adviser , Rice dealt with the Ebola epidemic , the Zika virus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her background as national security adviser in particular would be “ very important ” in tackling the crises faced by a new administration , including the COVID-19 pandemic , economic recession , and repairing the United States ’ position as a global leader , “ which is suffering enormously.
” The former Obama administration official told CBS that the previous administration had handled the threat of disease “ much more effectively than , unfortunately , we ’ ve seen as of late.
” She added that a new administration would have “ an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come together , to tackle challenges more effectively “ than what we have seen under Donald Trump ’ s leadership.
” Rice would not comment during the Tuesday interview about whether or not she had met with Biden for vice presidential vetting , but she did say she would bring nearly 20 years of experience at the senior most ranks of the executive branch to the table , adding that she had a track record of “ getting things done for the American people , ” and wrestling with crises and finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past administrations , including on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration , and as U.N. ambassador and eventually national security adviser under Obama .
Biden has said he will select a woman as his running mate .
In addition to Rice , he is reportedly considering Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) , Rep. Karen Bass ( D-CA ) , and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) , among others .
Rice said she would “ whole-heartedly ” support whoever Biden chooses and do everything she can to help him get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise money , I will do the 21st century equivalent of licking envelopes , I ’ ll serve in whatever capacity that Vice President Biden thinks I can best serve , ” Rice said .
She added that she views the November presidential election as “ the most important election in our lifetimes .
”

Former Obama National Security Adviser Susan Rice challenged those who have suggested she isn’t a qualified pick for vice president, saying Tuesday that her career has been dedicated to public service over personal political ambition.
“It’s not about one’s own profile,” Rice told CBS when asked about the role of a vice president, adding that while some have suggested she lacks the experience of running for political office, she is proud of a career dedicated to serving others.
“I don’t have a personal political ambition,” Rice said. “I have a longstanding commitment to public service. That’s been what’s defined my career.”
But Rice, who has recently faced attacks from conservative news hosts and is said to be a strong contender as running mate to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, says she does have a broad list of credentials that would make her a suitable governing partner to Biden.
During her tenure as Obama’s national security adviser, Rice dealt with the Ebola epidemic, the Zika virus and the H1N1 pandemic.
Rice said that her background as national security adviser in particular would be “very important” in tackling the crises faced by a new administration, including the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recession, and repairing the United States’ position as a global leader, “which is suffering enormously.”
The former Obama administration official told CBS that the previous administration had handled the threat of disease “much more effectively than, unfortunately, we’ve seen as of late.”
She added that a new administration would have “an enormous amount of work to do” to come together, to tackle challenges more effectively “than what we have seen under Donald Trump’s leadership.”
Rice would not comment during the Tuesday interview about whether or not she had met with Biden for vice presidential vetting, but she did say she would bring nearly 20 years of experience at the senior most ranks of the executive branch to the table, adding that she had a track record of “getting things done for the American people,” and wrestling with crises and finding solutions.
Rice has served in two past administrations, including on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration, and as U.N. ambassador and eventually national security adviser under Obama.
Biden has said he will select a woman as his running mate. In addition to Rice, he is reportedly considering Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), among others. Rice said she would “whole-heartedly” support whoever Biden chooses and do everything she can to help him get elected in November.
“I will raise money, I will do the 21st century equivalent of licking envelopes, I’ll serve in whatever capacity that Vice President Biden thinks I can best serve,” Rice said. She added that she views the November presidential election as “the most important election in our lifetimes.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--Massive Explosion Rocks Lebanon Capital City Beirut

BEIRUT ( AP ) — A massive explosion rocked downtown Beirut on Tuesday , flattening much of the port , damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital .
Lebanese Red Cross official Georges Kettaneh said there were dead and wounded , but did not have an exact figure , just saying there were hundreds of casualties .
A civil defense official on the scene of the blast said his men had evacuated dozens to hospitals and that there were still bodies inside the port , many of them under debris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not immediately known .
It was stunning even for a city that has been shaken by civil war , suicide bombings and bombardment by Israel .
Dozens of ambulances ferried the injured from the port area , where the wounded lay on the ground , Associated Press staff at the scene said .
Hospitals called for blood donations .
The head of the Lebanese Red Cross told local TV there were hundreds of casualties although many were superficial wounds from broken glass .
Video taken by residents showed a fire raging at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of smoke , illuminated by flashes of what appear to be fireworks .
Local TV stations reported that a fireworks warehouse was involved .
The fire then appeared to catch at a nearby building , triggering a more massive explosion , sending up a mushroom cloud and a shock wave over the city .
“ It was like a nuclear explosion , ” said Walid Abdo , a 43-year-old school teacher in the neighborhood of Gemayzeh near Beirut .
Charbel Haj , who works at the port , said it started as small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blast erupted and he was thrown off his feet .
His clothes were torn .
Miles from the port , balconies were knocked down , windows shattered , streets were covered with glass and bricks and lined with wrecked cars .
Motorcyclists picked their way through traffic , carrying the injured .
One woman covered in blood from the waist up walked down a trashed street while talking furiously on her phone .
On another street , a woman with a bloodied face looked distraught , staggering through traffic with two friends at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time when Lebanon ’ s economy is facing collapse , hit both by a financial crisis and coronavirus restrictions .
Many have lost jobs , while the worth of their savings has evaporated as the currency has plunged in value against the dollar .
The result has thrown many into poverty .
It also comes amid rising tensions between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group along Lebanon ’ s southern border .
The explosion was reminiscent of massive blasts during Lebanon ’ s civil war and took place only three days before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its verdict in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a truck bombing more than 15 years ago .
That explosion , with a ton of explosives , was felt miles away , just like Tuesday ’ s explosion .
It was the latest chapter for a country that has suffered a 15-year civil war , repeated conflict with Israel , political assassinations and various other crises including the current unprecedented financial and economic crisis .

BEIRUT (AP) — A massive explosion rocked downtown Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the port, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital.
Lebanese Red Cross official Georges Kettaneh said there were dead and wounded, but did not have an exact figure, just saying there were hundreds of casualties.
WATCH: Another video shows the massive explosion in Beirut, which injured "hundreds" of people and caused damage miles away pic.twitter.com/UylWwbmWOh — BNO News (@BNONews) August 4, 2020
A civil defense official on the scene of the blast said his men had evacuated dozens to hospitals and that there were still bodies inside the port, many of them under debris.
The cause of the blast was not immediately known.
It was stunning even for a city that has been shaken by civil war, suicide bombings and bombardment by Israel.
Dozens of ambulances ferried the injured from the port area, where the wounded lay on the ground, Associated Press staff at the scene said. Hospitals called for blood donations.
The head of the Lebanese Red Cross told local TV there were hundreds of casualties although many were superficial wounds from broken glass.
Video taken by residents showed a fire raging at the port, sending up a giant column of smoke, illuminated by flashes of what appear to be fireworks. Local TV stations reported that a fireworks warehouse was involved.
The fire then appeared to catch at a nearby building, triggering a more massive explosion, sending up a mushroom cloud and a shock wave over the city.
“It was like a nuclear explosion,” said Walid Abdo, a 43-year-old school teacher in the neighborhood of Gemayzeh near Beirut.
Charbel Haj, who works at the port, said it started as small explosions like firecrackers, then the huge blast erupted and he was thrown off his feet. His clothes were torn.
Miles from the port, balconies were knocked down, windows shattered, streets were covered with glass and bricks and lined with wrecked cars. Motorcyclists picked their way through traffic, carrying the injured.
One woman covered in blood from the waist up walked down a trashed street while talking furiously on her phone. On another street, a woman with a bloodied face looked distraught, staggering through traffic with two friends at her side.
“This country is cursed,” a young man passing by muttered.
The blast came at a time when Lebanon’s economy is facing collapse, hit both by a financial crisis and coronavirus restrictions. Many have lost jobs, while the worth of their savings has evaporated as the currency has plunged in value against the dollar. The result has thrown many into poverty.
It also comes amid rising tensions between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group along Lebanon’s southern border.
The explosion was reminiscent of massive blasts during Lebanon’s civil war and took place only three days before a U.N.-backed tribunal was set to give its verdict in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a truck bombing more than 15 years ago. That explosion, with a ton of explosives, was felt miles away, just like Tuesday’s explosion.
It was the latest chapter for a country that has suffered a 15-year civil war, repeated conflict with Israel, political assassinations and various other crises including the current unprecedented financial and economic crisis.
___
AP correspondent Sarah El Deeb contributed to this report


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--Once Wasn’t Enough: Trump Wishes Alleged Epstein Enabler Ghislaine Maxwell Well 3 More Times

President Donald Trump apparently has more casual well-wishes for Ghislaine Maxwell , who has been charged with child sex trafficking in her associations with now-deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , on offer .
During an overall jaw-dropping interview with Axios reporter Jonathan Swan released on Monday , Trump mentioned Epstein ’ s apparent suicide under police custody when Swan asked why he had wished Maxwell well during a press briefing in July .
“ Her friend or boyfriend was either killed or committed suicide in jail , ” the President replied , notably referring to Epstein in vague terms despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mid 2000s .
“ She ’ s now in jail .
Yeah , I wish her well , ” Trump told Swan .
“ I ’ d wish you well .
I ’ d wish a lot of people well .
Good luck .
Let them prove somebody was guilty.
” The President went on to repeat the sentiment another two times .
“ I do wish her well , ” he said .
“ I ’ m not looking for anything bad for her .
I ’ m not looking bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s an alleged child sex trafficker , ” Swan pointed out .
“ But all it is is her boyfriend died…he died in jail , ” Trump responded .
“ Was he killed ?
Was it suicide ?
I do .
I wish her well .
”

President Donald Trump apparently has more casual well-wishes for Ghislaine Maxwell, who has been charged with child sex trafficking in her associations with now-deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on offer.
During an overall jaw-dropping interview with Axios reporter Jonathan Swan released on Monday, Trump mentioned Epstein’s apparent suicide under police custody when Swan asked why he had wished Maxwell well during a press briefing in July.
“Her friend or boyfriend was either killed or committed suicide in jail,” the President replied, notably referring to Epstein in vague terms despite sharing a friendship with the financier until the mid 2000s.
“She’s now in jail. Yeah, I wish her well,” Trump told Swan. “I’d wish you well. I’d wish a lot of people well. Good luck. Let them prove somebody was guilty.”
The President went on to repeat the sentiment another two times.
“I do wish her well,” he said. “I’m not looking for anything bad for her. I’m not looking bad for anybody.”
“I mean, she’s an alleged child sex trafficker,” Swan pointed out.
“But all it is is her boyfriend died…he died in jail,” Trump responded. “Was he killed? Was it suicide? I do. I wish her well.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-04--How Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Census Power Grab Throws Rural States Under The Bus

Democratic-leaning parts of the country are not the only losers in President Trump ’ s anti-immigrant scheme to hijack the census .
His administration ’ s recent moves to speed up the count appear aimed at making sure Trump is still president when the Bureau ’ s most important task — providing the data that decides how many House seats each state gets — is finished .
In doing so , Trump is also throwing under the bus rural parts of the country , census experts and demographers tell TPM .
The gambit puts at risk for rural regions not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share of the $ 1.5 trillion in government funding that is doled out by using census data .
While immigrant communities and dense urban areas will suffer the most in a rushed census count , rural areas too face a serious threat of being undercounted .
“ The people who are missing and hard to count are not just typical Democratic voters , ” Sunshine Hillygus , a Duke University professor who has served on the Census Scientific Advisory Committee , told TPM .
“ Rural communities — and frankly Republican states — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only of losing federal funding , but also of potentially losing out when it comes to representation.
” States like Alaska , West Virginia , Maine and Montana —which all are at least partially represented by Republicans in Congress — have had some of the lowest census participation rates in the country so far , and they lag 5 to 10 percentage points behind the national response average .
“ Only a quarter of nonmetropolitan counties have met or exceeded that response rate , while more than half of metropolitan counties have , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform operated by the Center for Rural Studies , said in an analysis Sunday .
While based on sheer numbers , urban areas stand to lose the most in an undercount , the best way to understand the disparities is suburban vs rural and urban , rather than red vs. blue , experts told TPM .
A ‘ Stark Picture ’ Of Who Will Be Impacted By Census Shortcutting Its Door Knocking The Trump administration ’ s recent actions on the decennial census are ringing alarm bells for stakeholders , who were already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poses to the count .
Several in-person activities were postponed for many weeks , as the coronavirus outbreak scrambled the formal launch of the census this spring .
The Bureau had initially reworked its operational timeline to give itself extra time to make up for those delays .
The administration is now scaling back that plan in order to deliver the apportionment data on its original due date , as mandated by Congress , at the end of the year .
That means key steps in the process — like sending in-person enumerators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the survey on their own — are being truncated by several weeks .
The larger goal of this expedited timeline , many believe , is to make sure that if Trump loses the election , the Bureau is delivering congressional apportionment data at the tail end of his first term rather than early in Joe Biden ’ s first term .
That would allow Trump to implement his recently-announced policy of excluding undocumented immigrants from the count ( assuming it isn ’ t otherwise blocked by courts. )
.
Regardless , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were first reported by NPR , come as the average national self-response is below the self-response rate from the 2010 census .
“ Now , there will be a greater share of housing units than there was in 2010 , that will need to be enumerated in person , ” said Steven Romalewski , the director of CUNY Mapping Service , who has been tracking census response rates .
He told TPM that , in places where the self-response lag is 5-10 percentage points behind where it was in 2010 , “ it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disproportionate impact of shortcutting the nonresponse follow up.
” In a statement Monday evening announcing the condensed counting timeline , Census Director Steve Dillingham said that under the expedited plan , the Bureau “ intends to meet a similar level of household responses as collected in prior censuses , including outreach to hard-to-count communities.
” Research has shown that different types of households have different reasons for not filling out their census form , according to Jennifer Van Hook , a demography professor at Penn State .
Poverty tends to lower participation rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a distrust of government or otherwise lacking enthusiasm for communal-oriented initiatives .
Pointing to the low response rates in states like Montana and West Virginia , she said , “ that could be about poverty , but it could also be about this trust question.
” Large to very large cities have had the lowest self response rates overall , and the lack of participation is particularly deep in communities of color , according to CUNY ’ s research .
But the communities with the next lowest response rates are the small towns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which aren ’ t keeping up with their counterparts in the suburbs .
Similar dynamics are at play when you look out how much lower an area ’ s current self- response rate compares to where their self-response rates were at the end of the 2010 census .
Part of the reason these regions are behind , according to Romalewski , is because of the way COVID has impacted the Bureau ’ s so-called “ updated leave ” program .
While the vast majority of households initially receive their census forms in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or remote areas — including tribal areas — don ’ t have reliable enough postal service for that outreach .
So the Bureau instead sends workers to physically drop off those forms .
The program was delayed due to the outbreak , while it was eventually phased back in , those areas that are covered by it still have some of the lowest response rates .
“ Those areas will need even more door-to-door enumeration to make sure they ’ re counting , ” Romalewski said .
Shortchanging the follow-up activities will only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the cuts in the Bureau ’ s operations will be felt particularly hard in red states that have done little to supplement the federal government ’ s census operations .
When households don ’ t respond to the survey on their own , the Bureau uses other approaches to get them counted .
In-person numerators are sent to knock on doors .
Sometimes , existing government records are sufficient to fill in the count if those initial in-person efforts don ’ t elicit a response .
If the records aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , landlords or other so-called “ proxies ” the details of who is living in the households .
Existing government records will be less likely to fill the gaps for rural households than other types of communities , according to Hillygus , and depending on proxies also has its shortcomings .
“ Proxy respondents are notoriously bad at estimating people in households and their characteristics , ” Hillygus said .
“ You can imagine for both rural communities and immigrant communities , that is even more the case .
”

Democratic-leaning parts of the country are not the only losers in President Trump’s anti-immigrant scheme to hijack the census.
His administration’s recent moves to speed up the count appear aimed at making sure Trump is still president when the Bureau’s most important task — providing the data that decides how many House seats each state gets — is finished. In doing so, Trump is also throwing under the bus rural parts of the country, census experts and demographers tell TPM.
The gambit puts at risk for rural regions not just their political representation, but their share of the $1.5 trillion in government funding that is doled out by using census data.
While immigrant communities and dense urban areas will suffer the most in a rushed census count, rural areas too face a serious threat of being undercounted.
“The people who are missing and hard to count are not just typical Democratic voters,” Sunshine Hillygus, a Duke University professor who has served on the Census Scientific Advisory Committee, told TPM. “Rural communities — and frankly Republican states — are very much at risk, not only of losing federal funding, but also of potentially losing out when it comes to representation.”
States like Alaska, West Virginia, Maine and Montana —which all are at least partially represented by Republicans in Congress — have had some of the lowest census participation rates in the country so far, and they lag 5 to 10 percentage points behind the national response average.
“Only a quarter of nonmetropolitan counties have met or exceeded that response rate, while more than half of metropolitan counties have,” the Daily Yoder, a news platform operated by the Center for Rural Studies, said in an analysis Sunday.
While based on sheer numbers, urban areas stand to lose the most in an undercount, the best way to understand the disparities is suburban vs rural and urban, rather than red vs. blue, experts told TPM.
A ‘Stark Picture’ Of Who Will Be Impacted By Census Shortcutting Its Door Knocking
The Trump administration’s recent actions on the decennial census are ringing alarm bells for stakeholders, who were already concerned about the steep challenges the pandemic poses to the count.
Several in-person activities were postponed for many weeks, as the coronavirus outbreak scrambled the formal launch of the census this spring. The Bureau had initially reworked its operational timeline to give itself extra time to make up for those delays. The administration is now scaling back that plan in order to deliver the apportionment data on its original due date, as mandated by Congress, at the end of the year.
That means key steps in the process — like sending in-person enumerators to households that haven’t responded to the survey on their own — are being truncated by several weeks.
The larger goal of this expedited timeline, many believe, is to make sure that if Trump loses the election, the Bureau is delivering congressional apportionment data at the tail end of his first term rather than early in Joe Biden’s first term. That would allow Trump to implement his recently-announced policy of excluding undocumented immigrants from the count (assuming it isn’t otherwise blocked by courts.).
Regardless, those efforts to rush the count, which were first reported by NPR, come as the average national self-response is below the self-response rate from the 2010 census.
“Now, there will be a greater share of housing units than there was in 2010, that will need to be enumerated in person,” said Steven Romalewski, the director of CUNY Mapping Service, who has been tracking census response rates.
He told TPM that, in places where the self-response lag is 5-10 percentage points behind where it was in 2010, “it really paints a stark picture of the disproportionate impact of shortcutting the nonresponse follow up.”
In a statement Monday evening announcing the condensed counting timeline, Census Director Steve Dillingham said that under the expedited plan, the Bureau “intends to meet a similar level of household responses as collected in prior censuses, including outreach to hard-to-count communities.”
Poverty and The ‘Trust Question’
Research has shown that different types of households have different reasons for not filling out their census form, according to Jennifer Van Hook, a demography professor at Penn State.
Poverty tends to lower participation rates, she said, as does having a distrust of government or otherwise lacking enthusiasm for communal-oriented initiatives.
Pointing to the low response rates in states like Montana and West Virginia, she said, “that could be about poverty, but it could also be about this trust question.”
Large to very large cities have had the lowest self response rates overall, and the lack of participation is particularly deep in communities of color, according to CUNY’s research.
But the communities with the next lowest response rates are the small towns and unincorporated areas outside of metropolitan areas, which aren’t keeping up with their counterparts in the suburbs.
Similar dynamics are at play when you look out how much lower an area’s current self- response rate compares to where their self-response rates were at the end of the 2010 census.
Part of the reason these regions are behind, according to Romalewski, is because of the way COVID has impacted the Bureau’s so-called “updated leave” program. While the vast majority of households initially receive their census forms in the mail, households in particularly rural or remote areas — including tribal areas — don’t have reliable enough postal service for that outreach. So the Bureau instead sends workers to physically drop off those forms.
The program was delayed due to the outbreak, while it was eventually phased back in, those areas that are covered by it still have some of the lowest response rates.
“Those areas will need even more door-to-door enumeration to make sure they’re counting,” Romalewski said.
Shortchanging the follow-up activities will only exacerbate these disparities, researchers said, and the cuts in the Bureau’s operations will be felt particularly hard in red states that have done little to supplement the federal government’s census operations.
When households don’t respond to the survey on their own, the Bureau uses other approaches to get them counted. In-person numerators are sent to knock on doors. Sometimes, existing government records are sufficient to fill in the count if those initial in-person efforts don’t elicit a response. If the records aren’t adequate, then enumerators may ask neighbors, landlords or other so-called “proxies” the details of who is living in the households.
Existing government records will be less likely to fill the gaps for rural households than other types of communities, according to Hillygus, and depending on proxies also has its shortcomings.
“Proxy respondents are notoriously bad at estimating people in households and their characteristics,” Hillygus said. “You can imagine for both rural communities and immigrant communities, that is even more the case.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-05--Rep. Marshall Wins Kansas GOP Primary Over Kobach

Rep. Roger Marshall ( R-KS ) won the Senate GOP primary in Kansas on Tuesday night , fighting back former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach .
While Democrats have failed to secure a Senate seat in the state since the 1930s , the Republican establishment feared ahead of Tuesday ’ s results that a win in the GOP primary for Kobach might give Democrats an edge , considering Kobach ’ s controversial illegal immigration measures that have drawn national attention .
Kobach had also alienated independent and moderate Republican voters when he lost Kansas governor ’ s race in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marshall , a two-term congressman , clinched the support longtime Senator Pat Roberts , who will vacate his seat , while also winning the recommendation of former Senator Bob Dole .
Powerful groups like the Kansas Farm Bureau , as well as business and anti-abortion groups also backed Marshall .
President Donald Trump opted to withhold a formal endorsement in the race , in spite of prodding from top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) .
The decision follows a previous failed Trump endorsement for Kobach in the 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day before that Republican primary , which Kobach won by a very slim margin .
Kobach was later beat by Democrat Laura Kelly .
Marshall tweeted a video shortly after the race was called Tuesday night featuring a congratulatory call from Trump .
On speakerphone , the President applauded Marshall on a “ incredible race ” and said he has his “ total support.
” Trump later tweeted on Wednesday morning that Marshall has his “ Complete and Total Endorsement.
” Marshall will face Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier , who CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bollier had raised more than $ 8 million through July — and her campaign said Tuesday night that the total is now $ 9 million , with donations flying in from outside of the state , Associated Press reported .
Marshall ’ s opponent , Bollier , was a former longtime moderate Republican who garnered national attention when she switched parties in 2018 .

Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) won the Senate GOP primary in Kansas on Tuesday night, fighting back former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
While Democrats have failed to secure a Senate seat in the state since the 1930s, the Republican establishment feared ahead of Tuesday’s results that a win in the GOP primary for Kobach might give Democrats an edge, considering Kobach’s controversial illegal immigration measures that have drawn national attention. Kobach had also alienated independent and moderate Republican voters when he lost Kansas governor’s race in 2018, despite a Trump endorsement.
Marshall, a two-term congressman, clinched the support of longtime Sen. Pat Roberts, who will vacate his seat, while also winning the recommendation of former Sen. Bob Dole. Powerful groups like the Kansas Farm Bureau, as well as business and anti-abortion groups also backed Marshall.
President Donald Trump opted to withhold a formal endorsement in the race, in spite of prodding from top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
The decision follows a previous failed Trump endorsement for Kobach in the 2018 gubernatorial race. Trump had backed Kobach a day before that Republican primary, which Kobach won by a very slim margin. Kobach was later beat by Democrat Laura Kelly.
Marshall tweeted a video shortly after the race was called Tuesday night featuring a congratulatory call from Trump. On speakerphone, the President applauded Marshall on a “incredible race” and said he has his “total support.” Trump later tweeted on Wednesday morning that Marshall has his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Marshall will face Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier, who CNN reported has broken state fundraising records. Bollier had raised more than $8 million through July — and her campaign said Tuesday night that the total is now $9 million, with donations flying in from outside of the state, the Associated Press reported.
Marshall’s opponent, Bollier, was a former longtime moderate Republican who garnered national attention when she switched parties at the end of 2018.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-05--Progressive MO Activist Defeats Establishment Dem Rep. Lacy Clay In Upset Victory

Ferguson Black Lives Matter activist Cori Bush unseated 10-term Rep. Lacy Clay ( D-MO ) in Missouri ’ s primary @ @ @ @ @ yet another progressive upset victory against an establishment Democrat in the 2020 primaries .
Bush @ @ @ @ @ over 3 points with 48.6 % of the vote to the congressman ’ s 45.5 @ @ @ @ @ York Times .
“ We ’ ve been dismissed as an impossible fringe movement , @ @ @ @ @ multi-racial , multi-ethnic , multi-generational multi-faith mass movement united in demanding change , ” Bush @ @ @ @ @ speech .
“ In demanding accountability .
In demanding that our police , our government @ @ @ @ @ Black lives do indeed matter , and that these are not just words.
” Bush @ @ @ @ @ primary race that saw a progressive insurgent oust a longtime establishment-backed Democrat , most notably @ @ @ @ @ ) and infamously conservative Rep. Dan Lipinski ( D-IL ) .

Ferguson Black Lives Matter activist Cori Bush unseated 10-term Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO) in Missouri’s primary elections on Tuesday, marking yet another progressive upset victory against an establishment Democrat in the 2020 primaries.
Bush defeated Clay by a little over 3 points with 48.6% of the vote to the congressman’s 45.5%, per the New York Times.
“We’ve been dismissed as an impossible fringe movement, but now we are a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generational multi-faith mass movement united in demanding change,” Bush told supporters in her victory speech. “In demanding accountability. In demanding that our police, our government, our country recognize that Black lives do indeed matter, and that these are not just words.”
Bush’s victory marks another primary race that saw a progressive insurgent oust a longtime establishment-backed Democrat, most notably Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and infamously conservative Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL).


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-05--Pompeo Brushes Off Inspector General Resignation In Speedy Presser: ‘This Happens’

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo barely had a sentence to say Wednesday about the departure of his department ’ s top watchdog after just three months in the role .
State Department staff were informed via email Wednesday morning that the acting inspector general , Stephen Akard , would be resigning his job effective Friday .
Akard in May replaced inspector general Steve Linick , who was fired while in the middle of an investigation of an emergency declaration that the State Department had used to fast-track an arms sale to Saudi Arabia — among other probes .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo said of Akard at a press briefing when asked about the news .
“ This happens .
I don ’ t have anything more to add to that.
” Pompeo took questions from just three reporters at the briefing , which lasted around 13 minutes in total .
The briefing was originally scheduled for 10:30 a.m .
ET , but the State Department delayed it after news broke of Akard ’ s departure .
The probe of the emergency arms sale declaration — for which Pompeo had answered written questions — is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the State Department and the inspector general ’ s office were in final negotiations over its release .
Congressional Democrats from three committees issued subpoenas on Monday as part of a joint investigation of Linick ’ s firing .
Akard faced his own criticisms in the new gig .
For one thing , he took the acting inspector general job despite also keeping his role as director of the Office of Foreign Missions , which Democrats said was a conflict of interest .
He was also considered an ally of Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation when Pence was governor of the state .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo barely had a sentence to say Wednesday about the departure of his department’s top watchdog after just three months in the role.
State Department staff were informed via email Wednesday morning that the acting inspector general, Stephen Akard, would be resigning his job effective Friday.
Akard in May replaced inspector general Steve Linick, who was fired while in the middle of an investigation of an emergency declaration that the State Department had used to fast-track an arms sale to Saudi Arabia — among other probes.
“He left to go back home,” Pompeo said of Akard at a press briefing when asked about the news. “This happens. I don’t have anything more to add to that.”

Pompeo took questions from just three reporters at the briefing, which lasted around 13 minutes in total. The briefing was originally scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET, but the State Department delayed it after news broke of Akard’s departure.
The probe of the emergency arms sale declaration — for which Pompeo had answered written questions — is now near completion. CNN reported Wednesday that the State Department and the inspector general’s office were in final negotiations over its release.
Congressional Democrats from three committees issued subpoenas on Monday as part of a joint investigation of Linick’s firing.
Akard faced his own criticisms in the new gig. For one thing, he took the acting inspector general job despite also keeping his role as director of the Office of Foreign Missions, which Democrats said was a conflict of interest. He was also considered an ally of Vice President Mike Pence, having served as the head of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation when Pence was governor of the state.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-05--WH Takes Hard Line, Claiming Self-Imposed Friday Deadline For Unemployment Deal

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows is framing a broadly agreed upon timeline for coming together on a COVID relief package as a hard cutoff .
He told reporters Friday that he ’ s become “ extremely doubtful that we will be able to make a deal if it goes well beyond Friday.
” “ Just because we ’ ve been spending so much time together , if you ’ re not making progress , there ’ s no sense to continue , ” he added .
Meadows , along with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , has been representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) have been heading up the Democratic side .
Sen. Roy Blunt ( R-MO ) , coming out of the GOP lunch where he was briefed by Meadows and Mnuchin , told reporters that they ’ d been told , “ If there ’ s not a deal by Friday , there won ’ t be a deal.
” The new cutoff seems to be a harder line than what the negotiators said Tuesday after their seventh meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point of being close to a deal , but we did try to agree to set a timeline , ” Mnuchin said then .
“ We ’ re going to try to reach an overall agreement , if we can get one , by the end of this week — so that legislation could then pass next week.
” Pelosi too said Tuesday that she was hopeful they ’ d reach an agreement by the end of the week .
By all accounts , the two sides are still far apart on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Per Politico , Republicans budged on the unemployment insurance benefit , offering up $ 400 a week until mid-December to try to placate the Democrats who are insisting on $ 600 a week .
They also reportedly offered to up funding for state and local governments to $ 150- 200 billion , still a far cry from Democrats ’ ask of $ 1 trillion .
Senate Majority Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) , for one , seems to believe that there will be reason to stick around next week , despite the scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly going to be in next week , ” he said .
“ We ’ ll see what happens after that .
”

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows is framing a broadly agreed upon timeline for coming together on a COVID relief package as a hard cutoff.
He told reporters Friday that he’s become “extremely doubtful that we will be able to make a deal if it goes well beyond Friday.”
“Just because we’ve been spending so much time together, if you’re not making progress, there’s no sense to continue,” he added.
Meadows, along with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, has been representing the Republican side in the negotiations. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have been heading up the Democratic side.
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), coming out of the GOP lunch where he was briefed by Meadows and Mnuchin, told reporters that they’d been told, “If there’s not a deal by Friday, there won’t be a deal.”
The new cutoff seems to be a harder line than what the negotiators said Tuesday after their seventh meeting.
“We’re not at the point of being close to a deal, but we did try to agree to set a timeline,” Mnuchin said then. “We’re going to try to reach an overall agreement, if we can get one, by the end of this week — so that legislation could then pass next week.”
Pelosi too said Tuesday that she was hopeful they’d reach an agreement by the end of the week.
By all accounts, the two sides are still far apart on many components of the relief package. Per Politico, Republicans budged on the unemployment insurance benefit, offering up $400 a week until mid-December to try to placate the Democrats who are insisting on $600 a week. They also reportedly offered to up funding for state and local governments to $150- 200 billion, still a far cry from Democrats’ ask of $1 trillion.
Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-KY), for one, seems to believe that there will be reason to stick around next week, despite the scheduled August recess.
“We’re certainly going to be in next week,” he said. “We’ll see what happens after that.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-05--Top GOPer Pours Cold Water On Trump’s WH Acceptance Speech Idea: ‘Is That Even Legal?’

Senate Majority Whip John Thune ( R-SD ) doesn ’ t seem to be on board with President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ give his nomination speech at the White House during the Republican National Convention ( RNC @ @ @ @ @ even legal ?
” the GOP leader asked while speaking to reporters on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ I assume that ’ s not something that you could do .
I assume there @ @ @ @ @ issues or something.
” Thune said he hadn ’ t heard Trump ’ s comments @ @ @ @ @ “ I think anything you do on federal property would seem to be problematic.
” @ @ @ @ @ told the hosts of “ Fox and Friends ” that he was “ probably ” @ @ @ @ @ at the White House now that plans to hold the RNC in Jacksonville , Florida @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s the easiest alternative .
I think it ’ s a beautiful alternative @ @ @ @ @

Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) doesn’t seem to be on board with President Donald Trump’s potential plan to give his nomination speech at the White House during the Republican National Convention (RNC).
“Is that even legal?” the GOP leader asked while speaking to reporters on Wednesday, according to Politico. “I assume that’s not something that you could do. I assume there’s some Hatch Act issues or something.”
Thune said he hadn’t heard Trump’s comments about the issue, but “I think anything you do on federal property would seem to be problematic.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump told the hosts of “Fox and Friends” that he was “probably” going to give his speech at the White House now that plans to hold the RNC in Jacksonville, Florida have been cancelled.
“It’s the easiest alternative. I think it’s a beautiful alternative,” Trump said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) similarly rejected Trump’s idea, telling MSNBC Wednesday afternoon: “He can’t do that.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-05--‘He Can’t Do That’: Pelosi Blasts Trump For Suggesting He’ll Accept GOP Nom At WH

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) called President Donald Trump a “ master of diversion ” on Wednesday , accusing the President of using GOP acceptance speech discussions to sideline the suffering of millions of Americans who continue to struggle and lose their lives amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Once again he is diverting attention from the fact that people are dying in our country , ” Pelosi said , referring to Trump ’ s idea to deliver his GOP nomination acceptance speech at the White House .
“ Children are hungry .
Families are fearing eviction .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their pockets.
” Pelosi said that “ whether it ’ s legally wrong or ethically out of the question ” the suggestion that political events such as an acceptance speech for the GOP presidential nomination on White House grounds should be rejected outright .
“ He can ’ t do that , ” she added .
“ For the President of the United States to degrade , once again , the White House as he has done , over and over again , by saying he ’ s going to completely politicize it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of hand , ” Pelosi said .
Pelosi ’ s comments follow a report from the Washington Post that the President was considering using the White House ’ s South Lawn to deliver his convention speech .
Trump confirmed during an interview with Fox News on Wednesday that he “ probably ” would give his speech accepting the Republican nomination from White House property later this month .
The issue became a topic of controversy early Wednesday amid questions about the Hatch Act , which provides notable exemptions to the President and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of government property by federal employees for certain forms of political activity at work .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called President Donald Trump a “master of diversion” on Wednesday, accusing the President of using GOP acceptance speech discussions to sideline the suffering of millions of Americans who continue to struggle and lose their lives amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Once again he is diverting attention from the fact that people are dying in our country,” Pelosi said, referring to Trump’s idea to deliver his GOP nomination acceptance speech at the White House. “Children are hungry. Families are fearing eviction. Workers are concerned about getting money into their pockets.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) accused President Trump on Wednesday of once again "diverting attention" from those suffering amid the coronavirus pandemic by raising discussions about whether he can deliver an acceptance speech for the GOP nomination on White House grounds. pic.twitter.com/dugWgW6GwH — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) August 5, 2020
Pelosi said that “whether it’s legally wrong or ethically out of the question” the suggestion that political events such as an acceptance speech for the GOP presidential nomination on White House grounds should be rejected outright. “He can’t do that,” she added.
“For the President of the United States to degrade, once again, the White House as he has done, over and over again, by saying he’s going to completely politicize it is something that should be rejected right out of hand,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi’s comments follow a report from the Washington Post that the President was considering using the White House’s South Lawn to deliver his convention speech. Trump confirmed during an interview with Fox News on Wednesday that he “probably” would give his speech accepting the Republican nomination from White House property later this month.
The issue became a topic of controversy early Wednesday amid questions about the Hatch Act, which provides notable exemptions to the President and Vice President in federal laws that bar the use of government property by federal employees for certain forms of political activity at work.